Thread: Fossil Fuel Alternatives

• Tata Power Renewable inks 9MWp solar deal with Tata Motors' Pantnagar plant

New Delhi: Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL), a subsidiary of Tata Power, signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 9MWp on-campus solar plant with Tata Motors’ Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand, the company said in a statement.

This solar plant will be the largest on-campus solar facility in the state, it added.

The solar installation includes an effective approach towards Tata Motors sustainable future goals, with an estimated carbon emission reduction of 25 tonnes of CO2/kWp in Uttarakhand. The project will be commissioned within 6 months from the PPA execution date. The solar installation will utilize ground-mounted units for installation.

In an earlier partnership, TPREL and Tata Motors successfully established a 7 MWp solar project at the Pantnagar manufacturing facility. As a result, Tata Motors Pantnagar plant’s combined solar capacity now stands impressively at 16 MWp. The solar plants will generate annually 224 lakhs units, which will meet nearly 60% of their annualized requirement.

“Tata Power Renewables with this partnership with Tata Motors is supporting India's green energy future. The 9MWp solar power installation resonates our commitment to fostering the widespread adoption of eco-friendly clean energy solutions across industries," said Ashish Khanna, CEO, Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited.

Tata Power along with its subsidiaries is developing round the clock renewable power solutions to support the RE100 agenda of large enterprises and to support the clean energy transition of the country. The company is working closely with its C&I consumers to meet their clean energy needs by developing large scale hybrid solutions, battery storage and pumped hydro projects.

“We are pivoting our business and operations making sustainability a key priority to fulfill our aspiration of net zero emissions. Increasing sourcing and use of renewable energy with a mix of onsite and offsite interventions at all our plants is an important element of our strategy to decarbonise operations. The addition of this solar power installation by Tata Power will make our Pantnagar plant greener and more efficient," said Vishal Badshah, Vice President, Commercial Vehicle Operations, Tata Motors Limited.

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• Nordex has been awarded a contract for the delivery and commissioning of 49 turbines for a 280MW wind project in Canada.

The order is for the company’s N155/5.X turbines which will be installed at the Forty Mile wind farm in Alberta.

The wind farm has been developed by Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Canada and once completed in the first quarter of 2025, the asset will be Acciona Energía’s largest wind farm in North America.

All turbines will be cold climate versions and will be delivered with a rated capacity of 5.7MW and operated on 108-metre steel towers.

“We are delighted to provide the technology to help support Canada’s ambitious climate change targets.

“With the cold climate version, our turbines ensure smooth operation even in the challenging weather conditions found in this region where temperatures can go below minus 30 degrees,” said Patxi Landa, CSO of Nordex.

By the end of 2022, Canada was ranked eighth in the world for installed wind capacity and the Canadian Renewable Energy Association also forecasts the addition of more than 5GW of wind between 2023 and 2025.

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• Bacteria that ‘eat’ methane could slow global heating, study finds

Bacteria that consume the greenhouse gas methane could slow the rate of global heating, according to a study out this week.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas emitted from energy (natural gas and petroleum systems), industry, agriculture, land use and waste management activities.

Now a group of researchers from California University Long Beach are proposing a method of removing methane by using a group of bacteria known as methanotrophs to naturally convert methane to carbon dioxide and biomass. All the bacteria in this group “‘eat’ methane, removing it from air and converting part of it to cells as a source of sustainable protein,” according to the lead researcher, Mary E Lidstrom.

Lidstrom’s team have found a strain of bacteria within this group called methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C that can remove methane efficiently even when it is present in lower amounts. If it became widespread, the technology has the potential to help slow global heating, the researchers said.

Typically, this group of bacteria thrive in environments with high levels of methane (between 5,000 and 10,000 parts per million (ppm)). The normal concentrations in our atmosphere have much lower levels of only about 1.9 ppm of methane. But certain areas such as landfills, rice fields and oilwells emit higher concentrations of about 500 ppm.

“Bacteria that rapidly eat methane at the higher concentrations found around cattle herds, etc could make a huge contribution to cutting methane emissions, especially from tropical agriculture,” said Euan Nisbet, professor of Earth sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, commenting on the findings of the study.

The strain’s high methane consumption rate is probably due to a low energy requirement and greater attraction for methane – more than five times more than that of other bacteria, according to the study.

“The bacteria oxidise the methane to CO2 (a much less powerful greenhouse gas) and so you can even use the exhaust to pump into greenhouses and grow tomatoes,” said Nisbet.

“The biggest barrier to implementation now is technical: we need to increase the methane treatment unit 20-fold. If we can achieve that, then the biggest barriers become investment capital and public acceptance. We believe we could have field pilots tested within three to four years, and scale up would then depend on investment capital and commercialisation,” said Lidstrom.

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• Minesto completes testing on ocean current renewable technology

The system will harness the power of tidal steams and ocean currents in the North Atlantic.

Swedish renewables company Minesto has completed testing on its sea-bed connection system, which will enable renewable energy to be generated using ocean currents and tidal streams.

The company is developing a 1.2MW power plant, called the Dragon 12, using its Launch and Recovery System (LARS) technology.

The new connection system enables the LARS frame to be lowered to the sea floor and operated and controlled using remote technology and cameras.

The Dragon 12 will be installed in the Faroe Islands, located in the North Atlantic. The entire system can be operated from a boat above the water.

“Our unique connection system shows the core of our innovative technology- fast, efficient, and easy to handle,” said Minesto CEO Martin Edlund, in a statement published on 22 August.

Ocean currents can be used to rotate turbines which in turn generate electricity. According to Minesto, the use of tidal streams and ocean currents is a more predictable way of generating renewable energy than wind and solar. Given their regularity, water flow direction and rate can easily be predicted.

The Faroe Islands have an ambitious target in place to source all of their energy from renewable sources by the year 2030. The islands principally use hydro, wind, tidal and wave power in addition to a small amount of solar.

Minesto published its half-year report earlier this month with total operating income amounting to Skr25m ($2.2m) and mainly included capitalised development work of Skr22.5m.

“With the second quarter, we further accelerate our focus on driving large-scale, project-based sales of tidal energy arrays, where reference installations of our smaller power plant Dragon 4 are the key to long-term business,” said Edlund in a statement published on 17 August.

Tesla.

Infographic: Renewable Power Generation Costs Continue to Fall Despite Inflation

Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2022

The fossil fuel price crisis of 2022 was a telling reminder of the powerful economic benefits that renewable power can provide in terms of energy security. In 2022, the renewable power deployed globally since 2000 saved an estimated USD 521 billion in fuel costs in the electricity sector.

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• Jaguar to create renewable energy storage system using I-PACE batteries

Jaguar Land Rover is partnering with Wykes Engineering Ltd to create one of the UK’s largest renewable energy storage systems from recycled I-PACE batteries.

The groundbreaking renewable energy storage system will harness the power of recycled batteries from Jaguar’s electric vehicle, the I-PACE.

Reusing electric vehicle batteries for energy storage will not only help establish a circular economy for Jaguar, aiding the company’s Reimagine Strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2039, but will also help realise the full potential of solar and wind power.

Rueben Chorley, Jaguar’s Sustainable Industrial Operations Director, commented: “We’re delighted to be working with Wykes Engineering on this pioneering project that will help unlock the true potential of renewable energy.

“Developing second-life battery projects like this is crucial to helping JLR adopt a new circular economy business model and drive us toward achieving carbon net zero by 2039.”

How does the renewable energy storage system work?

The renewable energy storage system will be developed by Wykes Engineering and will use 30 second-life I-PACE batteries.

Each system can store up to 2.5MWh of energy at full capacity, with Jaguar aiming to supply enough recycled batteries to store 7.5MWh of energy by the end of 2023 – enough to power 750 homes for a day.

Each of the renewable energy storage systems is connected to an advanced inverter that optimises energy management and efficiency.

The technology can directly supply power to the National Grid during peak times and can draw power out of the grid throughout off-peak hours to store for future use.

This type of renewable energy storage system will be instrumental in decarbonising the grid by capturing solar and wind energy during sunny or windy conditions to be used at other times of the year when energy demands are higher, such as winter.

David Wykes, the Managing Director of Wykes Engineering, said: “One of the major benefits of the system we’ve developed is that the containers are connected to the grid in such a way that they can absorb solar energy that could otherwise be lost when the grid reaches capacity.

“This excess energy can now be stored in the second-life I-PACE batteries and discharged later. This allows us to ‘overplant’ the solar park and maximise the amount of power we generate for the area of land we are using.”

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• First US Gulf Offshore Wind Auction to Fuel Green Hydrogen Push

The U.S. Gulf Coast region, the nation's primary offshore source of oil and gas, has cheap electricity and lacks state mandates for renewable energy procurement, making it an unlikely place to expand one of the most expensive forms of clean energy.

That is why players in the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry are looking beyond the grid when the Biden administration holds the first-ever offshore wind auction in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, eyeing the sale instead as a way to fuel a new green hydrogen supply chain for the region's vast industrial corridor.

Hydrogen is a low-emissions fuel made by electrolyzing water that can help decarbonize heavy-emitting industries and transportation. It is considered "green" if produced with renewable energy and "gray" if the process is fueled with carbon-emitting natural gas.

The Gulf Coast auction would be a break from previous federal offshore wind lease sales, held mainly in the Northeast, where developers have spent billions of dollars on acreage for projects meant to link into lucrative power markets and access state-level subsidies for carbon-free electricity.

"When we get to the Gulf, (offshore wind) will start becoming much more disconnected from the grid," said Cheryl Stahl, principal project manager at risk assessment firm DNV. "The Gulf gets to be sort of a breeding ground for innovative solutions."

The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will auction three areas off Louisiana and Texas to offshore wind developers on Aug. 29, the first such sale in the regionalready teeming with oil and gas pipeline and port infrastructure.

The sale is part of the administration's goal to slash power sector emissions and combat climate change.

A BOEM spokesperson, John Filostrat, said the Gulf "is uniquely positioned to transition to a renewable energy future, including the development and implementation of the production and use of green hydrogen."

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• Orange Romania commits to long-term virtual procurement of renewable energy

Companies within the Orange Romania Group have signed the first vPPA (virtual Power Purchase Agreement) contract with Engie Romania, which involves the long-term virtual procurement of renewable energy.

Orange said that the 6-year agreement will allow its Romanian branch to cover 30 GWh of its annual electricity needs with green energy from solar technology.

By signing the vPPA contract, Orange and Engie Romania have joined forces in a joint project supporting Orange companies in Romania to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, a goal set in the strategic plan of the Orange Group - Lead the Future. Through this initiative, Romania joins other countries within Europe, where Orange secured a substantial 80% volume of green energy in 2023 (Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Moldova).

"We align with the objectives of the Orange Group and continue to integrate sustainability into our actions to reduce our impact on the environment," stated Liudmila Climoc, CEO of Orange Romania.

Representatives of Engie Romania, in turn, noted that the company supports its clients by offering predictable solutions for purchasing electricity from renewable sources, which are also beneficial for environmental protection.

“vPPA contracts, such as the one signed between Engie Romania and Orange, exemplify our group's strategy to offer customers green electricity and provide predictability over energy costs. It's a great example of how, in a market with high price fluctuations like the energy market, companies can ensure, through this type of contract, that they conduct economically and environmentally sustainable activities," stated Nicolas Richard, CEO of Engie Romania.

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• EU lawmakers approve a deal to raise renewable energy target to 42.5% of total consumption by 2030

European Union lawmakers endorsed a deal Tuesday to raise the share of renewables in the bloc’s energy mix, another step to accelerate its green transition away from fossil fuels.

The bill, adopted by a large majority — 470 lawmakers voted in favor, 120 against and 40 abstained — foresees an updated renewable energy target of 42.5% of total consumption by 2030, with the aim of reaching 45%. The current goal is 32%.

“Today’s vote in the European Parliament clears the way for a massive boost towards the energy transition, in a way that is affordable for citizens and reinforces the EU as an industrial bastion,” said Green MEP Ville Niinistö. “The EU is saying goodbye to fossil fuels in our energy mix. The energy crisis has shown that we must be fully independent of oil and gas, especially from Russia.”

A review by global energy think tank Ember showed that wind and solar generated a record 22% of the EU’s electricity last year and for the first time overtook gas, which accounted for 20%. Coal power accounted for 16%.

The Parliament said the legislation will also accelerate the deployment of solar panels and windmills since national governments will have to grant permits for new renewable installations within 12 months if they are located in “go-to areas” guaranteeing nature protection at the same time. Outside such areas, the process should not exceed 24 months.

The EU's legislative body also expects that the deployment of renewables in the transport sector should help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14.5% by 2030 through "using a greater share of advanced biofuels and a more ambitious quota for renewable fuels of non-biological origin, such as hydrogen.”

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• Global climate ambition gets fresh boost, as world lags on Paris Agreement goals

A one-two punch of diplomatic news shows new global ambition — and just how far off-pace the world remains on meeting Paris Agreement goals.

Catch up fast: The weekend Group of 20 heads of state meeting in India produced a joint pledge to triple renewables capacity by 2030, endorsing a plank of COP28 president-designate Sultan al-Jaber.

• The broad declaration also vows to boost finance for developing nations, including more muscular efforts by multilateral development banks.

Of note: The meeting also formally brought the African Union into the G20, potentially amplifying the group's voice on climate and energy matters.

Yes, but: The document doesn't set goals for curbing use of fossil fuels overall beyond (briefly) reiterating support for phasing down coal-fired generation. That brings us to the second piece of news.

• A day before the G20 declaration, a United Nations report tallied the huge gap between the current emissions path and Paris temperature-limiting goals.

What they found: It highlights some progress since the Paris Agreement was reached in 2015, but not remotely enough.

• It's packed with lines like this: "Urgent action and support are needed to ramp up implementation of domestic mitigation measures by realizing opportunities across all sectors and systems."

Sobering stat: Via Andrew's coverage Friday, "[e]missions reductions on the order of 43% globally, compared to 2019 levels, by 2030 are needed in order to have a chance at limiting warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F) above preindustrial levels," the report finds.

State of play: The report is part of the first "global stocktake" under Paris, meant to inform nations' pledges and plans through the largely non-binding pact.

What they're saying: The climate group E3G said the G20 outcome had several strong points but fell short.

• "[I]ncreasing renewables needs to go hand in hand with phasing out fossil fuels, which is completely missing. We need stronger, bolder action from leaders on both. All eyes now on COP28 — can the leaders deliver?," E3G's Madhura Joshi said in a statement.

The bottom line: The G20 outcome and U.N. report set the table for difficult negotiations at the late-year COP28 summit.

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• Orkney islands to trial electric ferries to cut carbon emissions

The Orkney islands are to test two electric ferries for commuting between its outlying islands as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions from shipping.

The battery-powered hydrofoil ferries, whose hulls are raised above the water, are part of a three-year, £15.5m demonstration project funded by the UK government, due to start in March 2024.

The smaller of the two ferries will carry up to 12 passengers between Kirkwall, Orkney’s main town, and the islands of Shapinsay, Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre on a year-round daily service.

The larger vessel will take up to 50 passengers and light cargo between Kirkwall and the outer islands of Westray, Eday, Sanday and Stronsay in a circuit up to five times a day. It is expected to start service in 2025.

Councillors and MSPs in Orkney and Shetland, the archipelago north of Orkney, have been pressing the UK and Scottish governments for help in replacing their ageing and highly polluting inter-island ferries.

Unlike the state-owned ferry service CalMac, which serves the Hebrides, their inter-island ferries are council-owned and operated. Scottish ministers have rejected their pleas for support to replace them.

James Stockan, Orkney’s council leader, said the islands were already leaders in zero-carbon technologies. Orkney is home to a major marine energy research centre, known as Emec, and has one of the UK’s highest number of electric vehicle chargers in relation to population.

“This work is about looking at how we can, in the future, decarbonise our fleet,” he said. “Whilst this is tremendous news, this latest development must not be confused with our drive to secure funding for replacement ferries.”

Orkney’s vessels, which are being supplied by Artemis Technologies in Belfast, are part of a package of measures aimed at removing or heavily reducing carbon emissions and pollution from shipping.

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• Coalition of world leaders calls for tripling renewable energy

Leaders from the EU, Africa and the Caribbean have issued a united demand for the world to set targets that would transform the global energy system before a child born today is halfway through primary school.

In an article published Saturday on POLITICO’s website, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of Kenya William Ruto and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley called for the world to set “a common horizon,” namely global goals to triple renewable energy capacity and double annual savings of energy use by 2030.

They issued their statement in the wake of a dire U.N. report on the state of global climate efforts released Friday. Sultan Al-Jaber, the United Arab Emirates official leading the COP28 U.N. climate talks that start in November, was also a signatory on the article.

“COP28 will offer the world a critical chance to course-correct on climate change,” they said in the article.

The leaders have previously made these demands individually, but they said they would collectively pressure other leaders. That campaign would start immediately on Saturday at the G20 summit in India, where von der Leyen will lobby the heads of the world’s largest economies to join their coalition.

"We need major economies to play a major role in setting global targets for renewables growth and energy efficiency. If the G20 can make progress on this issue it will be an important stepping stone towards COP28," an EU official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told POLITICO.

The scaling up of clean power, coupled with the overall drop in usage, would erode the dominance of fossil fuels in the global energy mix.

That presents a huge challenge for traditional energy exporters, many of whom will be represented at the G20. That includes the UAE and other oil-rich Middle Eastern nations.

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• China's renewable energy overtakes coal in H1 2023: NEA

China’s renewable energy capacity has overtaken its coal power generation for the first time, hitting 1.32 billion kilowatts (kW) in the first half (H1) of 2023, as per the National Energy Administration (NEA). The milestone was discussed by Zhang Jianhua, the head of the administration, at the 2023 International Forum on Energy Transition recently held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

The share of non-fossil energy consumption in the country amplified from 9.7 per cent in 2012 to a significant 17.5 per cent in 2022, local media reports quoted Zhang as saying.

China has been focusing on clean energy generation for the past several years including the production of hydropower, wind and photovoltaic power, and biomass power generation, in addition to having nuclear power facilities under construction.

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• Bangladesh's Summit Group to invest $3 bln in clean energy push

Bangladesh's Summit Group plans to invest $3 billion in solar, wind and hydroelectricity generation projects in south Asia as a part of its clean energy push and efforts to diversify its fossil fuel-based business, its chairman said on Friday.

Summit Power International, the Singapore-based holding company for all power generation assets of Bangladesh's Summit Group in which Japanese utility JERA holds a 22% stake, will build 1,000 megawatts of solar and wind energy projects with battery storage in India, group Chairman Aziz Khan told Reuters.

"We have signed memorandums of understanding with large Indian companies. This will be the cheapest form of electricity for Bangladesh, cheaper than even natural gas-based power," Khan said in an interview at his office.

Summit, which operates over a dozen fossil fuel-based power generation units and owns one of the country's two floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) to handle imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), also plans to build 700 megawatts of hydro power plants in Bhutan and Nepal, Khan said.

Khan said current global LNG prices were still high, adding they were continuing to destroy demand in key sectors in Bangladesh, impacting economic growth and leading to frequent power outages.

LNG had been central to Bangladesh's economic growth in the last decade, as millions gained access to the electricity grid for the first time. The super-chilled fuel, along with rapidly dwindling local gas reserves, generated about two-thirds of its electricity over the second half of the last decade.

However, high global LNG prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, difficulty paying for fuel imports amid declining forex reserves and value of its currency and unexpected spikes in demand due to erratic weather resulted in the south Asian nation facing its worst power crisis in a decade this year.

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• Microsoft funding new approach for carbon removal

Microsoft agreed to fund a carbon capture technology that uses the natural properties of limestone to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, the startup firm Heirloom Carbon announced Thursday.

The tech giant will purchase about $200 million worth of carbon credits — equivalent to 315,000 tons of carbon — over 10 years from Heirloom to fund its carbon capture operations in Louisiana and elsewhere in the U.S.

Heirloom’s direct air capture process uses processed limestone to draw carbon dioxide out of the air, where it is then removed from the stone and stored underground or in concrete.

“Microsoft’s agreement with Heirloom is another important step in helping build the market for high-quality carbon removal and supports our path to become carbon negative by 2030,” Microsoft Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Brian Marrs said in a statement.

“As an investor in and customer of Heirloom, we believe that Heirloom’s technical approach and plan are designed for rapid iteration to help drive down the cost of large-scale Direct Air Capture at the urgent pace needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement,” he continued.

In addition to a pledge to go carbon-negative by 2030, the company has also committed to paying back all carbon the company has ever produced by 2050.

Heirloom’s Louisiana facility was selected to receive up to $600 million from the Department of Energy last month, funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed under the Biden administration.

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• Peak fossil fuel demand will happen this decade

There’s a taboo in the traditional energy sector against suggesting that demand for the three fossil fuels — oil, gas and coal — could go into permanent decline. Despite recurring talk of peak oil and peak coal over the years, both fuels are hitting all-time highs, making it easier to push back against any assertions that they could soon be on the wane.

But according to new projections from the International Energy Agency, this age of seemingly relentless growth is set to come to an end this decade, bringing with it significant implications for the global energy sector and the fight against climate change.

Every year, the IEA’s World Energy Outlook maps out potential pathways the global energy system could take in the coming decades to help inform decision-making. This year’s report, to be released next month, shows the world is on the cusp of a historic turning point. Based only on today’s policy settings by governments worldwide — even without any new climate policies — demand for each of the three fossil fuels is set to hit a peak in the coming years. This is the first time that a peak in demand is visible for each fuel this decade — earlier than many people anticipated.

These remarkable shifts will bring forward the peak in global greenhouse gas emissions. They are primarily driven by the spectacular growth of clean energy technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicles, the structural shifts in China’s economy and the ramifications of the global energy crisis.

Global demand for coal has remained stubbornly high for the past decade. But it is now set to peak in the next few years, with big investments drying up outside China as solar and wind dominate the expansion of electricity systems. Even in China, the world’s largest coal consumer, the impressive growth of renewables and nuclear power, alongside a slower economy, point to a decrease in coal use soon. https://www.iea.org/topics/world-energy-outlook

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• Rockefeller Foundation announcing $1B commitment to climate-change programs

The Rockefeller Foundation announced Friday that it would invest more than $1 billion over the next five years in strategies that combat climate change.

“The Foundation has made many big bets in its history, and we believe climate change’s threats and the climate transition’s opportunities—especially for the most vulnerable—justify what will be the biggest and most impactful bet in our history,” Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, president of the foundation, said in a statement.

Among the investments, the organization said they plan to donate $5 million in Battery Energy Storage Systems around the world, $1 million to kick off mini grid development in Zambia and develop metro-grids in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They will give $20 million to Invest in Our Future for climate-smart infrastructure in the U.S. They will donate $35 million in climate-finance investments, including grants to accelerate decarbonization and other nature-based solutions.

The foundation said they will invest in overlooked communities around the world. Trillions of dollars are being invested in energy transitions in wealthier nations and localities, Shah wrote in her New Climate Strategy released Thursday.

“We need a global financial system transformation that both unlocks that level of finance and channels it toward those who need it most,” her strategy said.

Shah’s strategy will use Rockefeller resources to transform the four systems “essential to the well-being of people and the planet: energy, agriculture, health and finance.”

The Rockefeller Foundation’s philanthropic history began with an endowment of $100 million from John D. Rockefeller in 1913, the statement said.

“This new strategy aligns with the Rockefeller Foundation’s vision of encouraging scaled investment and seeking creative and science-based solutions to intractable problems,” Shah wrote.

Ahead of New York Climate Week, the foundation announced that its Manhattan-based headquarters and each of its locations in the U.S. and worldwide are taking steps to reach net zero emissions.

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• Vattenfall has announced plans to develop a 630MW offshore wind farm in the German North Sea.

Vattenfall has obtained the right to develop the N-6.6 offshore wind power project off the German North Sea coast after having exercised its right of entry.

Vattenfall plans to build the Nordlicht 2 offshore wind farm with an installed capacity of 630MW in the area.
In September 2022, Vattenfall exercised its right of entry for the N-7.2 wind farm area and the Nordlicht 1 wind farm being built on this site will have an installed capacity of 980MW.

In the course of the changeover to tendering procedures for offshore wind energy, the areas N-7.2 (2022) and N-6.6 (2023) were auctioned off by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA).

The wind farms will have a total installed capacity of 1610MW.

Subject to the company's final investment decisions, Nordlicht 1 can be connected to the grid from 2027 and Nordlicht 2 from 2028.

Christian Barthélémy, Head of Germany at Vattenfall, said: "With investments in the Nordlicht 1 and 2 wind farms, we are making an important contribution to achieving the German expansion target for offshore wind of 30GW.

“Despite the recently much more difficult framework conditions under which the entire industry is suffering, we are hereby flying the flag for offshore wind energy in Germany.

“In view of the recent sharp rise in costs for the construction and operation of offshore wind farms, we expect possible synergies at two neighbouring wind farms, which could have a cost-dampening effect."

Nordlicht 2 was originally developed under the name Atlantis 1.

Vattenfall acquired the project in 2017, but when a new offshore wind tendering system was put into place, the area was auctioned out again.

Vattenfall holds the right of entry.

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• Wood Mackenzie has said that with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) driving the economic competitiveness of renewables, annual capacity additions will nearly triple in 10 years to 110GW.

Speaking at the RE+ conference in Las Vegas, Chris Seiple, vice chairman, power and renewables for Wood Mackenzie said: "The IRA has made renewables very competitive with other technologies and wholesale power prices.

"As a result, we are seeing a land rush for development sites and a resurgence in US manufacturing to support the renewables industry.
"There are still challenges that remain, but overall, low-cost renewables present a major opportunity for investment, and we project annual capacity additions in 10 years to nearly triple what they are now."

According to Wood Mackenzie, the total costs for IRA tax credits through 2050 is estimated to be US$1.9trillion.

This will provide the economic base for growth, but not assure an entirely smooth transition, added Seiple.

Seiple said: "The complexity of turning the IRA into detailed rules has made the initial investment difficult and slowed down development, but the long-term projection is strong.

"Ultimately, economics won’t be the main challenge for future growth, but rather issues like interconnection queues, transmission capacity and labor shortages could cause bottlenecks."

Some advanced grid technologies, such as direct line ratings (DLR), have the potential to provide near-term transmission solutions and expand grid capacity, according to Wood Mackenzie.

Some studies suggest DLRs can outperform static ratings 90-95% of the time and achieve increases in capacity more than 30%, it added.

Seiple added: "There are solutions available now that can help alleviate current issues, but they are not getting traction fast enough.

"Apart from these problems, we also face increasing extreme weather events, which have added strain on grids across the globe. As we work through these challenges, we project that the IRA will significantly reduce carbon emissions and result in a 60% carbon-free power sector by 2032, which is progress, but not enough to put us on track to limit the extent of climate change sufficiently."

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• ADB Approves Support to Expand Renewable Energy in Maldives

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a financing package of $50.5 million to expand renewable energy development in Maldives.

The package consists of $41.5 million from the Asian Development Fund (ADF), an $8.5 million concessional loan from ordinary capital resources, and a $500,000 grant from the Climate Change Fund. The ADF provides grants to ADB’s most vulnerable developing member countries.

“ADB has been assisting the Government of Maldives in its efforts toward energy transition and achieving its vision for the energy sector, anchored on three pillars: renewable energy, technology innovation, and energy efficiency,” said ADB Senior Energy Specialist Jaimes Kolantharaj. “This project directly supports energy transition by facilitating the shift away from diesel-based generation and supports the three pillars to help the country move toward a climate- and disaster-resilient clean energy source while ensuring its energy security.”

ADB will support the installation of grid-scale energy storage, energy management systems, and distribution grid upgrades in 20 outer islands. This will help attract private sector investments to establish rooftop, land, and floating solar photovoltaic facilities in these areas. ADB will also provide transaction advisory support to develop public–private partnerships for solar independent power producer (IPP) projects.

In addition, the project will introduce financial instruments to mitigate delayed payment risk and a performance-based incentive scheme for solar IPPs that will incentivize timely project delivery, reduce tariffs, and provide political risk insurance for private sector investments.

The project will install emerging technologies such as ocean-based floating solar panels, ocean energy devices, small wind turbines, and flow batteries, which have the potential for replication. Further, the project will support cross-sectoral interventions that will promote gender inclusivity by supporting renewable energy-based livelihood activities for women and disadvantaged households.

The project will strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Fenaka Corporation Limited, and the regulator on financial management and sustainability of investments, design and implementation of emerging renewable energy systems and technologies, and project management. A women’s leadership program in these institutions and an internship program for women graduates will also be established.

The financing package will be supplemented with a $48 million cofinancing from the Asia-Pacific Climate Finance Fund, Clean Technology Fund, Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism, and investments from the private sector. The government will provide a counterpart of $1.97 million.

part 2 of 2

• Germany On Track to Pass 50% Mark for Renewable Power This Year

Germany is on track to generate over 50% of its power from renewable energy in 2023, but needs to ramp up the speed of its transition towards the end of the decade in order to meet its climate goals.

According to Economy Minister Robert Habeck, renewables will need to account for 80% of power generation by 2030 in order to meet Germany’s target of net-zero emissions by 2045. However, he warned that the country is not currently on track to meet this goal.

“We won’t get there at the current pace,” Habeck said at a conference in Berlin on Monday.

Habeck spoke of a boom in the solar power industry, with this year’s target of achieving 9-gigawatt capacity expected to be reached. The expansion of onshore wind energy was also progressing well, he said, with 2022’s full-year volumes already reached by the end of July 2023.

However, Habeck said that offshore wind energy expansion was being hampered by a lack of components needed to build the facilities.

The German government has set ambitious targets for the expansion of renewable energy, but it faces a number of challenges in meeting these goals. These include the need to upgrade the country’s electricity grid, to secure public support for renewable energy projects, and to address supply chain disruptions.

Despite the challenges, Habeck said that Germany is committed to accelerating its transition to renewable energy.

“We need to make sure that we are on track to meet our climate goals,” he said. “Renewable energy is the key to a sustainable future.”

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• Alectra, Toronto Hydro purchase battery-electric bucket trucks

The utilities are introducing the fully electric bucket trucks to their fleets in field and training yard pilots to assess their potential for regular and more widespread deployment

Two Ontario-based utilities are taking steps to transition their fleets to electric with the introduction of fully electric bucket trucks.

Alectra Utilities and Toronto Hydro announced plans this week to each incorporate an electric bucket truck into their operations. The move is part of both companies’ plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and 2040, respectively.

The all-electric double bucket trucks are built on an International eMV chassis. Connecticut-based Terex Utilities manufactures them. Terex is a global manufacturer of bucket trucks and digger derricks for the electric utility industry.

Terex unveiled its electric bucket truck to the market in June 2022. At that point it had already received orders from nine utility providers, including SaskPower.

Alectra nine-month pilot launch

The trucks will serve a common purpose for both Alectra and Toronto Hydro: to support power line technicians in their daily overhead line maintenance operations.

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• Audi A8 EV Coming Next Year With Over 400 Miles of Range: Report

Audi’s flagship sedan will reportedly move to an all-electric powertrain, ushering in new levels of self-driving abilities and range for the brand when it's unveiled next year. Autocar reported Friday that the Audi A8 sedan would bow next year and feature a battery of up to 120 kWh, which could offer ranges of more than 400 miles and be the most powerful model in the automaker’s stable with up to 700 horsepower or more.

The outlet reported that the final design would closely resemble the Audi Grandsphere concept from 2021 but feature a more conventional design inside and out. The electric sedan will reportedly break from the traditional three-box design from its predecessors but still seat up to four or five adults within its swoopy shape and have a low ride height. Autocar didn’t cite any sources in its report. An Audi spokesman told The Drive the report was "speculation" and did not comment.

Moving the A8 to an all-electric powertrain is mainly in keeping with what the company has said already. In 2021, Audi’s CEO said it would offer 20 EVs by 2025, and the replacement sedan for the A3 will likely be an EV, but won’t be called the A3. This year's new E-Tron will reportedly underpin the A8, co-developed with sister-company Porsche, called PPE. It should offer an 800-volt architecture that would enable fast charging at speeds up to 270 kW.

Like the Grandsphere concept, the A8 likely will lead the way in self-driving technology for Audi, which has been among the forerunners for German luxury brands, and was one of the first luxury automakers to offer Level 3 self-driving capability in selected markets. The last-gen Audi A8 was equipped with L3 technology when it launched, although it never arrived in the U.S. Only Mercedes-Benz has certified L3 self-driving cars in the U.S., in selected states. Nonetheless, the Audi A8 has been a technological tour de force before, and that’s not likely to change with the next-gen model. It’s unclear if the upcoming A8 EV will have an accompanying internal combustion-powered counterpart, but if it does, it’s not likely to be called the A8.

• WATT raises $13 million to power renewable energy in Nigeria

WATT Renewable Corporation, an independently owned provider of hybrid solar solutions, has secured $13 million in funding from Empower New Energy.

The company said this significant investment will catalyze its efforts in advancing renewable energy solutions in Nigeria. The funding also marks the largest investment to date for Empower New Energy.

WATT specializes in hybrid solar energy solutions and is dedicated to reducing carbon footprint through innovative technologies.

As an indication that the renewable energy market in Nigeria has continued to gain traction, another competitor in the renewable market Auxano Solar, an indigenous solar solution provider company, recently launched a 100 megawatts (MW) automated Solar PV manufacturing plant after securing $2 million investment.

Increase in energy portfolio
WATT said the funding will enable it to enhance its renewable energy portfolio, adding an impressive 8MW of installed generating capacity and 14.3MWh of storage capacity through end-to-end services and operation of towers in Nigeria.

This is set to make a substantial impact on the availability and reliability of clean energy in the region.

The funding is estimated to support the reduction of approximately 3,000,000 litres of diesel consumption per year, which translates to about 7,039 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually.

This represents a significant step towards a cleaner and greener environment, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

• World’s largest offshore windfarm project starts powering UK grid

The first turbine to be completed in a project to build the world’s largest offshore windfarm, in the North Sea, has begun powering British homes and businesses.

Developers confirmed on Monday that Dogger Bank, which sits 70 nautical miles off the coast of Yorkshire, started producing power over the weekend as the first of 277 turbines was connected to the electricity grid.

The project, jointly developed by Britain’s SSE and Norway’s Equinor and Vårgrønn, will produce 3.6 gigawatts of power, enough for 6m homes, when it is completed in 2026.

Snip

The developers said each rotation of the 107-metre-long blades on Dogger Bank’s first turbine could produce enough energy to power an average British home for two days.

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Global carbon emissions from power sector may have hit key turning point

Global carbon emissions from power production essentially plateaued in the first half of 2023.

Driving the news: New analysis from the non-governmental organization Ember says 2023 may mark a turning point, with the sector's emissions having risen just 0.2% during H123. "[T]he world is nearing the point of falling power sector emissions," the NGO wrote.

Why it matters: Globally, the power sector is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, while clocking in at No. 2 in the U.S. Domestically, it accounts for over 3o% of U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions, according to Energy Information Administration data.

• Ember's research gives faint hopes that warming temperatures may not add materially to an already dour outlook for carbon emissions, with power output likely to rise.

The big picture: Electricity emissions would have fallen so far this year absent the big, drought-spurred hydropower decline centered in China. That boosted fossil output to compensate, Ember said.

• And it's still possible 2023 will be the first year with "structurally" falling emissions as renewable sources grow.
• "Before this point, power sector emissions have been structurally rising, and there have only ever been falls during global economic shocks such as the 2008 financial crisis or the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic," Ember reports.

Key stats: Global wind and solar generation rose 12% in the first half of this year, while fossil generation climbed just 0.1%. Hydro power fell 8.5%.

Yes, but: Any pathway to Paris Agreement goals envisions steep carbon dioxide cuts from electricity, the world's largest emissions source, not just a plateau.

• "Reaching 'peak' fossil emissions in the power sector is a crucial milestone in the global transition to a clean, electrified economy. But the most critical part is what happens next," the report states.

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• ABP signs deal to explore opportunities in Cromarty Firth to support green energy

Associated British Ports ("ABP") has today announced a deal to investigate an area for the development of infrastructure to support offshore wind (“OSW”) manufacturing, assembly and marshalling and green energy on the Cromarty Firth in Scotland, within the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport ("the Green Freeport").

The area, which lies within the proposed Nigg and Pitcalzean area of the Green Freeport, could support both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind (FLOW) projects and play a major role in the development of current and future ScotWind leasing rounds.

The Cromarty Firth offers an attractive combination of physical and geographic advantages with a strong current group of ports and energy business and benefits from a Green Freeport location. ABP’s vision is add to this compelling existing ecosystem to help maximise the delivery of investment, jobs and opportunity for the Cromarty Firth and the wider region.

Over the coming months, ABP will work closely with key local stakeholders and the community as they consider the potential of the location.

Snip

Calum MacPherson, Chief Executive Officer of the Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport said “The Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport welcomes today’s announcement by Associated British Ports. Offshore wind presents great new potential for growing investment and good jobs for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth areas. It’s good to see an additional experienced port operator coming on board who wants to work with the existing Green Freeport members and local communities to help maximise the potential of the area.”

Over recent years, together with its customers, ABP has invested over £300 million to support the growth of offshore wind. ABP’s ports have supported the installation of over 500 turbines and provide support to over 7GW of offshore wind – over half of the UK total.

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• Iran to Build over 10,000-MW Renewable Power Plants Using Finance Scheme: Official

Iran will construct renewable power plants with teh capacity to generate 10,500 megawatts of electricity through financing scheme, the head of Iran's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA) announced on Sunday.

Speaking in an interview with IRNA, Mahmoud Kamani said efforts will be made to get licenses needed for the construction of the renewable power plants through the financing scheme.

The deputy energy minister went on to say that these power plants will be constructed in 2024 and 2025 after getting the necessary legal licenses.

Kamani called on all responsible bodies and organizations to help in the construction of the power plants.

Development of the renewable power plants will help reduce both the consumption of fossil fuels and air pollution, he said, adding, “Currently, all countries in the world are making their utmost efforts to replace fossil fuels with renewable energies and Iran should move in this direction in line with reducing air pollutants.”

https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2...cheme-official

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• MidAmerican reaches big, renewable energy milestone

The utility says last year, all the electricity its Iowa customers used came from wind, solar, hydropower, and other renewable sources.

Geoff Greenwood, Media Relations Manager, says in 2022, MidAmerican Energy reached a goal it set in 2016 - to deliver 100% renewable energy to provide electricity for Iowa customers.

"It was an unusual year, but it wasn't a fluke that we reached this milestone because for two decades, we've invested in wind energy. We've invested big. And so, this wasn't just a happy accident, this is something that we've been working on for many years."

Without building wind farms, MidAmerican wouldn't have had the infrastructure needed to take advantage of the wind. "We have invested in wind energy here in Iowa, since 2004, and we've spent something along the lines of $14 billion, with a "B" dollars. And we've added that wind energy at no net cost to our customers."

Greenwood also says customers should not expect record wind speeds every year. The utility wants to continue building capacity. "We've got a proposal before the Iowa utilities board called Wind PRIME, which would add another 2,000-plus megawatts of wind energy."

On Tuesday at 1 P.M., the Iowa Utilities Board will hold a hearing about MidAmerican's Wind PRIME proposal. Greenwood says the board is expected make a decision in December.

Currently, the utility operates more than 3,400 wind turbines in Iowa. They're located on land where the property owners have voluntary agreements with MidAmerican Energy.

https://www.wvik.org/wvik-top-storie...bles-milestone

Part 1 of 2

• Another Quarter, Another Record: EV Sales in the U.S. Surpass 300,000 in Q3, as Tesla Share of EV Segment Tumbles to 50%

Electric vehicle (EV) sales volumes set another record in Q3, as total sales of battery-powered vehicles jumped past 300,000 for the first time in the U.S. market. Year-to-date EV sales through September reached just over 873,000, putting the market firmly on track to surpass 1 million for the first time ever. The milestone will likely be achieved in November.

Total EV sales in Q3, according to an estimate from Kelley Blue Book, hit 313,086, a 49.8% increase from the same period one year ago and an increase from the 298,039 sold in Q2. Most automakers posted sizeable gains over 2022, with Volvo, Nissan, Mercedes and Hyundai delivering increases above 200%, thanks mostly to new products entering the market. In Q3, 14 new EV models that did not exist one year ago were in the mix, including Chevrolet Blazer and Silverado EVs. (The new Chevy EVs had very low sales – just an initial few to mark a Q3 launch). The EV market is transforming, to be sure.

Electric vehicle sales accounted for 7.9% of total industry sales in Q3, a record and up from 6.1% a year ago and 7.2% in Q2. As Cox Automotive has been reporting, higher inventory levels, more product availability, and downward pricing pressure have helped spur continued linear growth of EV sales in the U.S. market. EV sales have now increased for 13 straight quarters.

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• Solar-powered off-road car finishes 620-mile test drive across north Africa

The Stella Terra was designed by students at Eindhoven University of Technology and completed trip without recharging

A solar-powered car said to be the first in the world capable of driving off-road over long distances without recharging has completed a 620-mile (1,000km) test drive across Morocco and the Sahara.

The two-seat Stella Terra, designed by students at the Eindhoven University of Technology, completed the journey across a variety of challenging landscapes as part of a final test of its lightweight frame and aerodynamic profile.

The car, which runs off the energy provided by multiple solar panels on its roof, has a top speed of 90mph (145kmph), weighs only 1,200kg (1.2 tonnes) and has a range of at least 440 miles (710km) on a sunny day.

Wisse Bos, team manager of Solar Team Eindhoven, said the technology used, complementing a lightweight frame with highly efficient solar panels, was a decade ahead of anything on the market.

He said: “Stella Terra must withstand the harsh conditions of off-roading while remaining efficient and light enough to be powered by the sun. That is why we had to design almost everything for Stella Terra ourselves, from the suspension to the inverters for the solar panels. We are pushing the boundaries of technology.”

The car contains a rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion battery, which would also allow it to operate in less sunny climates but over shorter distances. Such is the level of energy provided by the solar panels on the car that it can provide sufficient electricity for cooking and charging devices such as a phone or camera.

Aged between 21 and 25, the 22 students behind the car brought the project to life after taking a year off from their studies.

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• 482-MW California solar + storage project built with union labor

Clean energy non-profit MCE is powering up its first utility-scale solar + storage project, one of the largest operating solar and storage hybrid facilities in the country.

Clearway Energy Group’s Daggett Solar-Plus-Storage project in San Bernardino County, California, generates 482 MW of solar, combined with 280 MW of energy storage. It supplies enough energy to power more than 181,000 homes. The project will store and deploy solar power when it’s needed the most to support a reliable grid.

“Flipping the switch on our first solar + storage project is a huge milestone for MCE,” said CEO Dawn Weisz. “The more we can couple solar with battery storage, the more renewable energy we can harness to maintain a reliable energy supply. This is yet another significant stride toward advancing California’s clean energy transition while supporting green jobs.”

Built in partnership with I.B.E.W. Local 477, the project created over 500 union jobs during construction.

“The Daggett Solar-Plus-Storage project embodies the path we’re on to California’s clean and reliable energy future,” said Craig Cornelius, CEO of Clearway Energy Group. “The project has brought a billion-dollar investment to an energy transition community and will provide clean, reliable, and low-cost power to California homes and businesses for years to come.”

The Daggett Solar-Plus-Storage project added 110 MW of solar and 60 MW of battery storage to MCE’s energy portfolio, enough to power over 75,000 home when it came online in August 2023. The project is contracted with five other energy providers aside from MCE.

MCE plans to add a second solar + storage project to its portfolio with Clearway’s Golden Fields project in Kern County, California, in 2025.

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• Global energy consumption to increase through 2050, outpace efficiency gains, EIA says

Global energy consumption will likely increase through 2050 and outpace advances in energy efficiency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday.

Global population growth, increased regional manufacturing and higher living standards will contribute to the increase in consumption, the EIA said. Global carbon dioxide emissions from energy will increase by 2050 in most scenarios outlined by the EIA.

Non-fossil fuel-based resources, including nuclear and renewable energy, will produce more energy through 2050, but that growth will likely not be sufficient to reduce global energy-related CO2 emissions under current laws and regulations, the EIA said.

Global electric-power generating capacity by 2050 is expected to increase by a range of 50% to 100%, and electricity generation by 30% to 76%, the EIA said.

Zero-carbon technologies account for most of the growth in both global capacity and generation.

Electricity generation from renewables and nuclear could provide as much as two-thirds of global electricity generation by 2050, according to the EIA.

Solar and wind show the highest levels of electricity generation growth. Meanwhile, coal and natural gas is expected to make up between 27% and 38% of power generation capacity by 2050, down from about half in 2022, EIA Administrator Joseph DeCarolis said on Wednesday during an event to present the outlook.

Sales of electric vehicles are expected to reach two billion by 2050, with the peak of the internal combustion engine expected between 2027 and 2033, DeCarolis said.

Battery storage capacity is due to grow significantly, increasing from less than 1% of global power capacity in 2022 to a range of 4% to 9% of global power capacity by 2050.

The Middle East and North America is expected to increase natural gas production and exports to meet growing demand, and Western Europe and Asia will remain natural gas importers. Energy demand from China, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa will incentivize crude oil and natural gas production.

International Energy Outlook 2023 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

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• Solar panels: Call for new homes to have renewable energy

Solar panels should be fitted on all new homes, major renovations and extensions in Wales, government advisers have urged.

They want an immediate review of building regulations to order the use of renewable energy in the industry.

The National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NCIW) said big interventions were needed if 100% of electricity was to come from renewables by 2035.

The Welsh government said it would carefully consider the recommendations.

As of 2021, about 55% of Wales' electricity demand was being met from sources such as solar, wind or hydro.

But this new report said ministers lacked a clear strategy for how to reach their own target, with progress on building new green energy schemes having slowed significantly in recent years.

NICW's role is to advise on the strategic infrastructure needed over the next 80-year period.

With powers over energy policy split between Cardiff Bay and Westminster, the experts acknowledged it was a "complex" area, but said the Welsh government could be doing more to provide leadership.

On housing, where control over building regulations has been in Wales' hands since the Senedd was set up, there is "little to demonstrate" that homes are being built to a more environmentally-friendly standard.

The report said housebuilders should be forced to put in green technologies to cut greenhouse gas emissions and save people money on their energy bills.

"We need to insulate ourselves - literally - from the troubles we've been having with fluctuating prices of gas and electricity," explained Nick Tune, a NICW commissioner who led the work.

A climate-friendly cul-de-sac at Pen y Ffridd Road in Bangor, Gwynedd, has two and three-bedroom properties being built for housing association Adra which come complete with enhanced insulation, solar panels, air-source heat pumps and charge points for electric vehicles.

"You're looking at maybe £20,000 more per property to install these measures," explained Adra's director of development Daniel Parry.

Grants available for social housing made it a viable and attractive option for the company, but it would be "more challenging for the private sector" and would make those homes more expensive, he added.

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• New Mexico Governor to Pursue EV Tax Credits to Achieve Zero-Emission Goals

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday said she will pursue electric vehicle (EV) tax credits and directed the state to transition to EV to achieve a zero-emission vehicle fleet by 2035.

"We will pursue EV tax credits in the upcoming legislative session to make EVs more accessible and more affordable for all. I also directed the state to walk the walk by transitioning to a zero-emission vehicle fleet by 2035," Lujan Grisham said in a post on social media platform X.

New Mexico is the second biggest U.S. oil-producing state after Texas with an output of around 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), representing almost 14% of total U.S. crude production of 13.0 million bpd, according to federal energy data.

https://money.usnews.com/investing/n...emission-goals

Part 2 of 2

• France targets solar for doubling of 2035 renewable output

France aims to more than double its renewable power capacity by 2035, bringing unprecedented amounts of solar and wind power online to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The government is targeting 140 to 175 gigawatts of installed wind, solar and hydropower production capacity in 12 years, up from 63.5 gigawatts last year, according to a presentation on Tuesday. Targets for increased use of biogas, renewable and synthetic fuels, hydrogen and carbon capture were also set.

The ambitious goals, underpinned by plans for a flurry of auctions for the installation of new generation capacity, underscore the scale of the task if France is to achieve its climate goals. The need to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels has also become more pressing since oil and gas prices soared after Russia attacked Ukraine.

Renewable energy accounted for 21 per cent of French consumption last year and the aim is to double that by the end of the decade to comply with European Union targets. The transition will require tens of billions of euros of extra public and private investments each year, and actions to boost local acceptance of things such as wind turbines and solar farms.

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• Eni's Plenitude Revises Prices for Electric Car Charging in Italy

Plenitude, the low-carbon unit of energy group Eni, is changing its prices for electric car charging, raising its lowest unit price for electricity and replacing subscriptions with new packages of discounts and fees in Italy, documents showed.

Eni's Plenitude subsidiary generates power from renewables, sells electricity, gas and energy services to households and businesses, and offers power for electric cars.

Its electric mobility business last year was still considered in a 'start-up' phase since it recorded an adjusted loss of 24 million euros ($25.2 million) at EBITDA level.

Starting from Nov. 1, Plenitude will increase its lowest unit price for electricity -- the one for charging points at alternating current -- to 0.65 euros per kilowatt hour (kWh), up from 0.60 euros per kWh, according to information sent by Plenitude to customers.

The unit prices for all the charging points at direct current will remain stable at between 0.85 euros and 0.95 euros per kWh depending on the speed of charging, Plenitude added.

Last year the company had 13,093 charging points, of which 12,099 at alternating current and the rest at direct current. Most of the charging points are in Italy.

In emails to customers, Plenitude also said that it would replace old monthly subscriptions with new packages.

The cheapest package would allow subscribers to get a 20% discount on the unit price for electricity in exchange for a monthly fee of 9.90 euros. Under this scheme, a customer would need to buy at least 80 kWh a month to get a net saving after paying the monthly fee.

Under the previous scheme, the cheapest monthly subscription allowed a customer to buy 50 kWh a month with a monthly payment of 20 euros, allowing them to save 33% on the unit power cost.

In addition, Plenitude said it would increase penalties for customers leaving their cars parked at charging points after having finished replenishing the battery. ($1 = 0.9525 euros)

https://www.usnews.com/news/technolo...rging-in-italy

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• Enlight starts commercial operations at Israeli wind farm

Enlight Renewable Energy has secured approval for commercial operation for a wind farm in Israel.

Genesis Wind was connected to Israel’s electricity grid in June 2023 and began commercial operations on 15 October, initially using 34 of 39 turbines comprising a generation capacity of 180MW.

The wind farm's total capacity is 207MW.
Gilad Yavetz, CEO of Enlight, said: “Despite the tragic events in Israel during the past week, the company is continuing to operate normally.

“After years of hard work, the vision has now become a reality, as the largest renewable energy project in Israel commences commercial operation.

“We see Genesis Wind as a major step in the Golan Heights, amongst the additional projects that we plan to develop in the region."

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• SP Energy Networks invests £24m in upgrades

SP Energy Networks is investing around £24m in its electricity transmission network across its service area in Scotland to prepare for increased uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps.

The multi-million-pound investment will connect more wind farms across the region, enable EV charging infrastructure and increase resilience in the network for customers.

SP Energy Networks is investing £6m to upgrade Coylton Substation in East Ayrshire, a key hub in Scotland’s electricity transmission network.
The project at the substation involved the replacement of two transformers which will enable energy from wind farms throughout Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway to be transported to homes and businesses across central and southern Scotland more efficiently.

Additionally, to increase the robustness of the network in Kilmarnock, SP Energy Networks is working on a £8.4m refurbishment of Kilmarnock Town Substation, scheduled to be finished in 2024.

The refurbishment of the 9.3 km XZ overhead line route, connecting Chipperlaigan compound and Ayr substation, is also underway.

Originally built in 1966, this £9.5m project, set to be completed by the end of 2024, and will also help to increase network capacity ready for a net zero future.

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• Developer unveils plans for Estonian floating wind

Respect Energy Holding has revealed plans to build an offshore floating wind farm off the coast of Estonia.

The project includes also a pilot deployment of foundation technology with hydrogen and ammonia production at the location of the floating wind turbines.

The projected investment with total capacity of up to 820MW will be established in the Wind Energy Innovation Area off the coast of Estonia.

The offshore floating wind farm is expected to be operational in 2032.

Respect Energy Holding has already received a preliminary connection conditions and signed cooperation agreements with partners from Estonia to set up a local supply chain.

The floating offshore wind farm project will be developed by Respect Energy Holding together with BaltiConnect - a professional offshore project development company.

Respect Energy Holding has also signed a cooperation agreements with the Port of Tallinn regarding the usage of the port infrastructure required to support production, assembly and operation of the floating wind farm, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and LTH-Baas – an Estonian-based cruise ship building contractor and offshore engineering company – for platform development.

Respect Energy Holding is an international company based in Warsaw with entirely Polish capital, a leading market position in Poland, a presence in most European energy markets and ambitious expansion plans in more than 30 countries.

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• Kingston says no to climate-wrecking gas

Last night, Kingston City Council made it overwhelmingly clear where it stands on addressing our current climate crisis: YES to renewables, efficiency and battery storage; NO to polluting gas-fired electricity generation.

Through motions and amendments, the city made its opposition to new gas-fired generation black and white, and in doing so sent a message to our provincial electricity planners and Energy Minister Todd Smith that Kingston cares about action on climate change.

Kingston’s proactive stance is something other cities should take note of, particularly Brampton, Halton Hills and King Township, which are all facing huge increases in gas use in existing gas plants, and more pollution in their communities. It is time for these communities to also say “yes to renewables, no to more gas.”

It was Kingston residents like Aric McBay of the Providence Centre who turned things around in their community when city staff appeared willing to do the IESO’s bidding. Deputy Mayor Wendy Stephen heard what residents were saying and moved an amendment to ensure the city clearly expressed that it would not be a willing host for a gas plant. Together, they set an important precedent for citizens and councils working together to stand up for their communities and not get snowed by dubious claims made by the IESO and fossil gas companies.

It may serve the interests of big fossil fuel companies to increase gas burning, but it sure isn’t in the interest of communities where current gas plants are located, or where the Ford government wants to build new ones. And it doesn’t serve the people of this province who are already seeing the growing impacts of climate change. It is important that communities make it clear where they stand – with their residents, not with fossil fuel interests.

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/kin...-wrecking-gas/

• Rolls-Royce completes next step on its journey to decarbonising Business Aviation

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) today announces the successful completion of a series of tests with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on its latest generation of business aviation engines, the Pearl 15 and the Pearl 10X. The Pearl 15, the first member of the Pearl engine family, powers Bombardier’s Global 5500 and 6500 aircraft, while the Pearl 10X will power Dassault’s ultra-long-range flagship aircraft, the Falcon 10X.

The tests took place at Rolls-Royce’s Business Aviation headquarters in Dahlewitz, Germany, and are part of the company’s ongoing ambition to play a leading role in the journey to achieve net zero flight by 2050.

As well as proving compatibility with 100% SAF another target of the test campaign was to run a back-to-back engine test with both Jet A-1 and SAF on the same Pearl 10X engine. The aim was to confirm further improvements in the environmental footprint when switching to SAF. The results from this first back-to-back engine emission test under standard certification conditions provides important correlations for the evaluation of future SAF within our environmental strategy.

The HEFA (Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids) SAF was produced from waste-based sustainable feedstocks such as used cooking oils and waste fat. This fuel has the potential to significantly reduce net CO2 lifecycle emissions by about 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.

The back-to-back tests conducted with conventional fossil-based fuel and subsequently SAF also confirmed a cleaner combustion of the sustainable fuel, with significantly lower levels of non-volatile particulate matter (nvPM). In combination with the low NOx combustor technology of the Pearl 10X and its additive manufactured combustor tiles a reduction of all emissions was achieved.

The tests demonstrated once again that Rolls-Royce’s current engine portfolio for large civil and business jet applications can operate with 100% SAF, laying the groundwork for moving this type of fuel towards certification. At present, SAF is only certified for blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel. By the end of 2023 Rolls-Royce will have proven that all its in-production Trent and business aviation engines are compatible with 100% SAF.

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• Half of the world is past a peak in fossil power

107 economies past ‘peak’ fossil power

Half of the world’s economies are already at least five years past a peak in electricity generation from fossil fuels. Emissions from these 107 power sectors have fallen by almost 20% in the last decade. Collectively, they represent 38% of global electricity demand. Economies which are at least one year past a peak in fossil power represent 50% of global demand, setting the stage for a peak and subsequent decline in global power sector emissions.

78 post-peak economies have displaced fossil power with clean energy

The vast majority (78) of the economies already five years past a peak in fossil power have displaced fossil generation through the expansion of clean power in the years since. 45 of these economies achieved this even as overall generation increased, in most cases driven by an increase in electricity demand.

Fossil power peaks are happening in every corner of the globe

The EU, Oceania and North America are already well into a period of fossil power decline, with fossil generation dropping by 30%, 20% and 15%, respectively, from their regional peaks. Fossil power appears to have plateaued in Africa at a continent-wide level; a similar flattening is true for Latin America and the Caribbean, which has been the case for over a decade. The only regions yet to reach a peak are Asia and the Middle East. But there are success stories in these regions too: Viet Nam has reduced its fossil generation by 16% in just three years while Jordan and the UAE have almost reached five years since their peak in fossil generation.

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• Borealis signs first long-term power purchase agreement with Alpiq to supply renewable energy to Borealis production operations in Finland

Borealis, one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and sustainable polyolefin solutions and a European market leader in base chemicals, has entered into a long-term PPA with , a leading Swiss energy services provider and electricity producer in Europe, to source renewable electricity from the Finnish wind farm Merkkikallio, owned by l. As of beginning of 2024, Alpiq will supply around 90 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year of renewable energy to power Borealis’ production facilities in Porvoo, Finland, over the course of nine years. This significant partnership takes both Borealis and Alpiq closer to achieving their climate neutrality goals.

Sustainability is deeply embedded in both Borealis’ and Alpiq’s corporate strategy and purpose. With the long-term PPA now in place, both companies are taking a substantial stride forward in the transition to cleaner energy. The new PPA between Borealis and Alpiq is also making a substantial contribution to the Finnish chemical sector's aspirations to attain carbon neutrality by 2045. Borealis continues to advance toward its goal of securing 100% of its electricity consumption from renewable sources for its Polyolefins and Base Chemicals divisions by boosting the proportion of renewable power used in its Finnish production facilities. Furthermore, through the PPA with Alpiq, the renewable electricity produced will lead to an estimated reduction of around 45.600 metric tons of Scope 2 emissions (CO2 emissions resulting from the generation of purchased electricity consumed by the company) annually, or a reduction of 410 metric kilo tons Scope 2 emissions over the course of the nine-year PPA at Borealis' operations in Porvoo.

"With the signing of this agreement, Borealis takes a significant step toward realizing its ambitious Energy & Climate goals, demonstrating its commitment to advancing the energy transition. This partnership holds special significance, as it propels Borealis beyond the pivotal threshold of sourcing over 50% of our electricity from renewable sources for our operations in Porvoo," states Wolfram Krenn, Borealis Executive Vice President Base Chemicals & Operations. "Our dedication to reinventing for more sustainable living begins within our own operations.”

“The collaboration with the industry leader to support its sustainability goals is a milestone for us,” says Matti Ahtosalo, Head Northwest Europe at Alpiq. “With our Europe-wide origination business, we can utilize our renewable energy portfolio and support industries in their journey to decarbonize their processes. Through such agreements, we find long term solutions that on one hand guarantee our client a carbon free electricity supply and on the other hand facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources into the market.”

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• Scots team produces tidal turbine blade

A tidal turbine blade has been manufactured in Scotland for the first time.

The design engineers, from the University of Edinburgh, say the new structure reduces the amount of materials necessary – bringing down the weight, volume and the cost of manufacturing the blade.

The team is based at FastBlade, a testing facility for tidal turbine blades at Rosyth in Fife, Scotland.
The blade was manufactured with Tocardo Turbines for tidal energy technology company QED Naval as part of the European Tidal Stream Industry Energiser Project known as TIGER, in a service agreement brokered by Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service.

Jeremy Smith, Managing Director of QED Naval, said: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Edinburgh on this next generation of tidal turbine blades, which will help bring down the cost of tidal installations.

“We have deliberately demonstrated the design tools, processes and build method on our smaller T1 blade design, using a 6.3m rotor diameter, but we will be pulling these through into our T3 blades up to 14m rotor diameter.

“This work, and its part in the EU Interreg TIGER Project helps showcase cost savings and the benefits of tidal energy.”

The four completed blades have been deployed in QED’s Subhub tidal platform, undergoing sea trials in Langstone Harbour on the south coast of England, and the University of Edinburgh team is looking for funding to carry out detailed testing of a fifth blade at FastBlade.

FastBlade is part of the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus in Fife, for large-scale advanced engineering and manufacturing and skills development focused on the marine and energy sectors.

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• Your EV runs out of charge? No problem, Honda wants you to just swap the batteries like you would with the TV remote

When your TV remote batteries run out of juice, you just head to the store, buy a pair of AA batteries and everything’s working again. It’s not that easy with electric vehicles (EV) though… but Honda’s made it possible to just swap the batteries in your light EV like you would the remote and you can do it yourself.

Honda Motor and Yamato Transport will begin testing the concept of replaceable batteries that you can swap out yourself in light EVs.

The concept itself isn’t new. Honda launched its ‘Power Pack Exchanger e:’ battery swapping station in November 2022 together with Gachaco, a battery sharing business venture. However, previously the batteries were swapped out for electric motorcycles and the update now sees the concept applied to light 4-wheeled vehicles. Furthermore, the replaceable batteries use electricity generated from renewable energy, extending the chain of green energy management.

For the test, Honda will use its commercial MEV-VAN Concept that’s already designed for swappable batteries and is slated for release in spring 2024.

Honda’s reasoning for swapping batteries instead of charging them comprises downtime during charging and unbalanced peak power usage due to simultaneous charging at night. Swapping the battery alleviates these two major hurdles.

The MEV-VAN Concept is a light EV concept model that runs on an electric power unit equipped with eight mobile power packs, which are the replaceable batteries. While the test will start with just a single unit, Honda will introduce more during the testing period to demonstrate sequential swapping with multiple vehicles.

part 1 of 2

• Bechtel wins EPC work on Texas solar project

Bechtel has been selected by Sabanci Renewables to design and construct a 232MW (dc) solar plant in Victoria County, Texas.

Bechtel will design and deliver the site, including engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and project management.

Construction is set to begin early next year and be completed in mid-2025.
Oriana Solar will include bifacial solar panel technology that enables both sides of the hardware to absorb sunlight.

The renewable power produced at Oriana Solar will be delivered to customers on the grid managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

Bechtel completed Cutlass Solar 1 for Advanced Power in January this year and recently passed the halfway construction point at Cutlass Solar 2 for Sabanci Renewables.

“We’re delighted to expand our work with Sabanci to deliver a third renewable energy project for the people of Texas,” said general manager of Bechtel’s Renewables & Clean Power business Scott Austin.

“We will be utilising Bechtel’s 125 years of delivery expertise on this project, and as always, look to employ local people and suppliers to build a facility that will power communities with clean renewable energy for decades to come.”

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• Hellenic Cables wins East Anglia 3 gig

Hellenic Cables has signed a deal to supply Seaway7 with inter-array wires for the 1400MW East Anglia 3 offshore wind farm being developed by ScottishPower Renewables off the coast of England.

Under the contract, Hellenic will be responsible for the engineering, manufacturing, testing and supply of approximately 275km of 66kV three-core inter-array submarine wires and the supply of the associated accessories. Production will get underway in 2024.

The production of the lines will take place at Hellenic Cables’ manufacturing facility in Corinth, Greece.
“We are pleased to have awarded the contract to Hellenic cables for the East Anglia 3 project,” said Seaway 7 project director Geoff Norris.

“We look forward to working with them once again, building on our long-established relationship, following the success of our most recent collaboration on another large offshore windfarm within the UK.”

Hellenic Cables plant director Konstantinos Savvakis added: “We are excited to have been awarded the cable supply contract from Seaway7 for the East Anglia 3 project and support the expansion of renewable energy in the UK.

“Hellenic Cables is committed to providing reliable and sustainable cable solutions that transmit clean energy and we are proud to be part of this important project.”

East Anglia 3 is located approximately 69km north-east of the Suffolk coast and will have installed power capacity of 1400MW, producing enough green electricity to power the equivalent of more than 1m homes.

Once operational in 2026, it will be the second largest offshore site in the world.

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• Kansas City Current partner with Good Energy Solutions to install solar panels at CPKC Stadium

National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) franchise Kansas City Current have partnered with Good Energy Solutions to promote sustainability and install new solar panels at CPKC Stadium.

Contract:

• 180 REC Alpha Pure-R solar panels will be installed on top of the stadium’s main gate entrance and the team store for maximum sun exposure
• Good Energy Solutions will also receive use of marks, in-game signage and social posts
• Both parties to work together to produce a marketing strategy on the importance and details of installing the solar panels

Context:

The Current’s home stadium, which landed a ten-year naming rights deal with rail network CPKC earlier this month, will be the first to have been built specifically for a women’s soccer club. The installation of solar panels through the Good Energy Solutions partnership will see the array produce roughly 100,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, which is roughly equivalent to the burning of 70,000 pounds of coal.

CPKC Stadium is targeting a LEED Gold Certification, which would make it one of only a few stadiums to reach this achievement. The agreement with Good Energy Solutions puts the venue one step closer to being among the leaders of top solar adopters at a sports stadium in North America.

According to a study by Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), power-generated each year by NWSL facilities is enough energy to charge 150 million smartphones.

Comment:

“We are excited to partner with Good Energy Solutions to bring on-site renewable energy to our game-changing stadium,” said Scott Jenkins, Kansas City Current vice president of facility development.

“Installing these solar panels is a perfect way to demonstrate leadership in a more sustainable future, while also enhancing the fan experience. This next step in designing a highly energy efficient stadium by providing on-site solar power is a key component in our efforts to achieve LEED Gold Certification.”

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• Renewable energy cuts from output controls surge sixfold in Japan

With renewable energy sources such as solar power in wider use in Japan, output controls aimed at balancing power supply and demand have been used more frequently.
In fiscal 2022, which ended in March this year, cuts to the amount of renewable energy generation came to about 600 million kilowatt-hours, about six times more than in fiscal 2018.

In the current fiscal year, Chubu Electric Power and Kansai Electric Power, which both serve large cities with high demand, controlled output for the first time. In order to bring about a decarbonized society, Japan needs to figure out how surplus power stemming from the expansion of renewable energy output can be used efficiently.

Electric power companies control output in order to avoid supply-demand imbalances that can disrupt frequencies and, in the worst case, trigger a large-scale blackout.

According to government rules, if the electricity supply increases too much, the output of thermal power plants will first be reduced on a temporary basis, followed by solar and wind power. Nuclear power and hydraulic power are last, as their output levels are difficult to calibrate.

The spread of renewable energy, which is dependent on the right weather conditions, has increased supply fluctuations. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the share of solar power in the electricity supply mix rose from 0.4% in fiscal 2011 to 8.3% in fiscal 2021.

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• Home countries of major rainforests agree to work together to save them

Countries that are home to the world’s three major rainforests agreed on Saturday to cooperate to overcome deforestation and safeguard biodiversity but fell short of a concrete alliance to protect the vital carbon sinks.

The announcement came on the final day of the Congo Republic-hosted Three Basins summit, which brought together presidents, NGOs, technical experts, and finance sector officials to strengthen governance and preservation of the Amazon, the Congo basin, and forests in Southeast Asia.

The countries recognised the importance of cooperation and agreed to develop ways to protect the forests in a seven-point plan.

“We’ve realised that joining forces is an absolute necessity, and we’ve recognised that the initiative to unite the three basins is part of an inevitable dynamic,” said Republic of Congo environment minister Arlette Soudan Nonault.

There is an urgent need for action. The basins are home to two thirds of Earth’s biodiversity, but rapid destruction is releasing planet-warming carbon dioxide and imperilling global climate targets.

Deforestation increased 4% worldwide in 2022, according to an October report showing countries went further off track from pledges made at the 2021 U.N. climate talks to halt and reverse loss and degradation by 2030.

Over the three days of the summit in Brazzaville, experts and policymakers from countries with tropical forests discussed shared priorities ahead of the U.N. COP28 climate talks next month. They examined different funding mechanisms to help developing countries preserve their important ecosystems.

On the sidelines, Congo Republic signed a roadmap for a forest partnership with the European Union that aims by 2030 to increase the amount of its protected, restored or sustainably managed forests, create more forest-related jobs, and curb the rate of forest loss.

Environmental organisations said governments must go further than Saturday’s agreement.

“More efforts will be needed to enhance concrete collaboration between the three regions to foster real action to halt deforestation,” the World Wildlife Fund said in a statement.

Part 2 of 2

• Ola Electric raises ₹3,200 crores for its upcoming battery cell facility-

Indian EV firm Ola Electric has announced the successful closure of funding round amounting to ₹3,200 crores ($380 million) in a mix of equity and debt from from Temasek-led investors and State Bank of India (SBI).

It is expected that the latest funding will go into the completion and further expansion of the company's upcoming lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing gigafactory located in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu and strengthen the brand's EV products and market portfolio.

Ola Electric claims the development as a "clear testament to leading the change in electrification of India", and vows to accelerate its growth by ramping up its E2W manufacturing capacity and launch new products including electric cars in future, while also fast-tracking the construction of the gigafactory.

"At Ola, our vision is to end ICE age in automobiles and our upcoming Gigafactory will be a big leap in India's journey towards becoming a global EV hub", commented Bhavish Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Ola Electric.

"We are committed towards developing core technologies in EVs and cell and are rapidly scaling up manufacturing to further accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility. Our investors and lenders have shown deep faith in Ola's vision, and we thank them for the constant support and encouragement", he added, when speaking on the latest funding.

It is to be noted that Ola was the only EV automaker in the country to be selected by the Union government of India for its flagship ACC-PLI scheme, with a stated manufacturing capacity of 20 GWh. The company is now setting up its cell making facility in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, in proximity to its EV assembly, with an initial capacity of 5 GWh in the initial phase.

The said gigafactory is expected to become operational by early next year. This is likely to be one of the pioneering facilities in India to roll out battery cell in large scale, moving a step closer to making the country a cell manufacturing hub for global markets.

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• New study shows steep decrease in renewable energy costs with no signs of slowing: ‘Technological progress provides a ray of hope’

There is good news on the horizon for solar and battery storage: It is becoming more and more affordable. According to a study released by Germany’s Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), the cost of solar power has dropped 87% and battery storage by 85% in the past decade, as Electrek reports.

Although these two were the primary areas of inquiry, the think tank further notes that wind power, heat pumps, and other clean energy technologies are also seeing a dramatic price drop.

The reasons for this increased affordability are numerous, including technological advancements that make both generation and storage more efficient. In addition, private and public entities have continued to back solar incentives to keep global temperatures from reaching the threshold of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) of increase above preindustrial times.

Currently, battery storage costs less than $100 per kilowatt-hour, which is already less than the price that was predicted for 2030, per Electrek. And the prices are expected to decrease as technology continues to increase efficiency.

Batteries are important because they allow for the storage of energy generated by renewable sources, allowing entities to utilize the energy when it isn’t sunny enough for solar panels or there’s not enough wind to turn a turbine. It will also allow things that feed off the energy grid, like electric vehicles and homes, to source their energy from stored renewable sources.

Based on the information shared in the study, experts expect 63,000 terawatt-hours of solar energy to be globally available in 2050, reports Electrek. This is twice the amount of energy that is supplied by coal today. Considering that one terawatt-hour can power 70,000 homes for a year, according to Duke Energy, this amount could power more than 4.4 billion homes for a year.

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• GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES THE LARGEST-EVER STATE INVESTMENT INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY AT THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTER

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the largest state investment in renewable energy in United States history, demonstrating New York’s leadership in advancing the clean energy transition. The conditional awards include three offshore wind and 22 land-based renewable energy projects totaling 6.4 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power 2.6 million New York homes and deliver approximately 12 percent of New York’s electricity needs once completed. When coupled with two marquee offshore wind blade and nacelle manufacturing facilities, this portfolio of newly announced projects is expected to create approximately 8,300 family-sustaining jobs and spur $20 billion in economic development investments statewide, including developer-committed investments to support disadvantaged communities. Today’s announcement supports progress toward New York's goal for 70 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030 – and nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035 – on the path to a zero-emission grid as required by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Following these awards, New York will now have enough operating, contracted, and under development renewable energy projects to supply 79 percent of the state’s 2030 electricity needs with renewable energy.

“New York continues to set the pace for our nation’s transition to clean energy,” Governor Hochul said. “An investment of this magnitude is about more than just fighting climate change – we’re creating good-paying union jobs, improving the reliability of our electric grid, and generating significant benefits in disadvantaged communities. Today, we are taking action to keep New York’s climate goals within reach, demonstrating to the nation how to recalibrate in the wake of global economic challenges while driving us toward a greener and more prosperous future for generations to come.”

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said, “The Department of Energy applauds the significant step that this announcement represents for building an offshore wind energy industry here in the U.S. that revitalizes domestic manufacturing and coastal economies, while advancing our clean energy future. New York is showing President Biden’s Investing in America agenda at work, and DOE looks forward to continued collaboration on project deployment, development of a robust domestic supply chain along with transmission development to help realize both our state and federal offshore wind goals.”

Once in service, the awarded offshore wind and land-based renewable energy projects will:

• Produce approximately 19 million megawatt-hours of new renewable energy per year, enough to power more than 2.6 million New York homes.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9.4 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of taking more than 2 million cars off the road every year.
• Provide public health benefits resulting from reduced exposure to harmful pollutants—including fewer episodes of illness and premature death, fewer days of missed school or work, less disruption of business, and lower health care costs.
• Deliver a host of benefits to disadvantaged communities in line with the Climate Act goals, with over $3.5 billion in commitments to disadvantaged communities made by developers.

https://www.nycclc.org/news/2023-10/...rgy-electrical

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• Portugal’s 48-Hour Renewable Energy Feat: A Testament to Sustainable Ambition

As the clock chimed 10:30 pm on Friday, Portugal embarked on a journey few nations have completed. The country, nestled on the Iberian Peninsula, would be powered entirely by renewable energy for the following 48 hours, a testament to the potency of wind and water, and a triumph of human ambition over fossil fuel dependence. This exceptional feat was made possible by a confluence of favorable wind and rain conditions, according to REN – Redes Energéticas Nacionais, Portugal’s transmission system operator.

A Green Milestone

Over the weekend, Portugal’s electricity consumption was wholly supported by a triumvirate of renewable sources: wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. They accounted for 97.6 GWh, 6.6 GWh, and 68.3 GWh respectively, ensuring the consumption of 137.1 GWh. The surplus energy, the country’s green bounty, was exported to neighboring Spain. The weather forecast for Sunday suggested the continuation of this renewable reign, marking the entire weekend as a period of 100% green energy production and export.

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• Fossil fuel firms spent millions on US lawmakers who sponsored anti-protest bills

Fossil fuel companies have spent millions of dollars on lobbying and campaign donations to state lawmakers who sponsored anti-protest laws – which now shield about 60% of US gas and oil operations from protest and civil disobedience, according to a new report from Greenpeace USA.

Eighteen states including Montana, Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, West Virginia and the Dakotas have enacted sweeping anti-protest laws which boost penalties for trespass near so-called critical infrastructure, that make it far riskier for communities to oppose pipelines and other fossil fuel projects that threaten their land, water and the global climate.

Another four states have enacted narrower versions of the same law, but which could still be exploited to issue trumped-up charges against peaceful protesters. Many were based on a “model bill” promoted by the industry-funded American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec).

According to the report, nine of the top 10 companies that lobbied most for anti-protest bills since 2017 are fossil fuel companies, including US companies ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and Marathon Petroleum, as well as Canadian companies Enbridge and TC Energy (Trans Canada).

In addition, 25 fossil fuel and energy companies have contributed more than $5m to state anti-protest bill sponsors in this timeframe, data from political finance trackers Open Secrets and Follow the Money shows.

• Masdar, EDF Renewables and Nesma Renewable Energy Win Bid for 1,100MW Solar IPP Project in Saudi Arabia

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, EDF Renewables and Nesma Company have signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) to develop the 1,100 MW Al Henakiyah solar power plant. Once operational, it is expected that the project will power more than 190 thousand homes per year and displace more than 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

The estimated US$1 billion project leverages the expertise of global renewables leaders, Masdar and EDF Renewables, and leading Saudi conglomerate Nesma Company. The Al Henakiyah Solar Plant is expected to reach financial close in early 2024 and connect to the grid in 2025. The SPPC awarded the consortium the project after it submitted the most cost-competitive bid of US$16.84 per megawatt hour.

With plans to boost the local economy, at least 19 percent of the equipment, materials and services will be provided by Saudi companies during the construction phase. In addition, during the first five years of operations, Saudi nationals will make up 50 percent of the project's workforce. This proportion will rise to 75 percent during the project's entire operational life.

Al Henakiyah Solar Plant, in Al Madinah province, Saudi Arabia, will help to achieve the target of increasing the share of the renewables in the country’s energy mix to around 50% by 2030. Set to be one of the world’s largest single-site solar plants, the project will be developed, built, owned and operated by the consortium as part of a 25-year agreement with the off-taker SPPC.

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• NTPC Renewable Energy Starts Commercial Operation From Its Maiden Project In Gujarat

NTPC Renewable Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, has declared the commercial operation of its first project -- the 50 MW wind project at Dayapar in Kutch, Gujarat.

With this commercial operation, which started Saturday, the total installed capacity of the NTPC Group has become 73,874 MW and the total renewable energy (RE) operational capacity now stands at 3,364 MW.

Dayapar is the first project of NTPC Renewable Energy. NTPC REL was incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC on October 7, 2020, to accelerate the addition of renewable energy capacity to NTPC.

Apart from Dayapar, there are 15 other renewable energy projects under different stages of execution, totalling a capacity of 6,210 MW. Also, when fully commissioned, the Dayapar wind complex will add 450 MW to NTPC's existing wind portfolio of 100 MW.

In addition to solar and wind capacity, NTPC REL is also investing in green hydrogen technologies. Based on green hydrogen storage and microgrid principle, it is setting up a large capacity in Ladakh.

NTPC Green Energy (NGEL), another wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, has commissioned a renewable energy capacity of 2,711 MW and is setting up two solar projects -- a 40 MW solar project at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and a hydrogen hub at Pudimadaka in Andhra Pradesh.

As part of its long-term growth plan and sustainability, NTPC targets to have 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032. (ANI)

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• Electric planes, once a fantasy, are beginning to take to the skies

Chris Caputo stood on the tarmac at Burlington International Airport in Vermont in early October and looked to the clouds in the distance. He had piloted military and commercial aircraft over a long career, racking up thousands of flight hours, but the trip he was about to take would be very different.

That’s because the airplane Caputo would fly runs on batteries. Over the next 16 days, he and his colleagues flew the plane, an CX300 built by their employer, Beta Technologies, down the East Coast. They would make nearly two dozen stops to rest and recharge, flying through congested airspace in Boston, New York, Washington and other cities. When the journey came to an end in Florida, Beta handed the plane over to the Air Force, which will experiment with it over the next few months. The trip offered a vision of what aviation could look like years from now — one in which the skies are filled with aircraft that do not emit the greenhouse gases that are dangerously warming up the Earth. “We’re doing some really meaningful work for our state, our country and the planet,” Caputo said. “It’s hard not to want to be a part of it.”

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• India-led alliance set to fund solar projects in Africa in a boost to the renewable energy transition

An alliance of nations that push for more solar power worldwide are set to announce nearly $35 million for projects such as mini grids and rooftop installations, mainly in Africa, according to the group’s director general.

At the sidelines of the group’s annual meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, Ajay Mathur said the International Solar Alliance expect a $25 million investment from the Indian government, alongside its own cash injection of $10 million for smaller solar power infrastructure.

Officials from 116 nations are discussing how to harness solar power to ramp up clean energy use and reduce reliance on planet-warming fossil fuels at the gathering, which runs until Thursday.

The United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, as well as more than 30 African countries are members of the ISA. China, the market leader in solar energy, is not yet part of the alliance.

India’s power minister and ISA president R. K. Singh said that the alliance’s funding mechanism, known as the Global Solar Facility, is aiming to raise $100 million to help deploy solar projects around the world.

Singh said that because of a lack of investment so far, Africa “has not been able to leverage its potential” in terms of solar power.

Singh said the alliance is focused on getting the 733 million people worldwide currently without electricity hooked onto renewables. Then, he said at a press conference, “we are certain investments will start flowing into Africa.”

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• Taiwan's Greater Changhua 1 & 2a another step closer to completion

Taiwan's renewable energy sector is celebrating a significant achievement as it nears the completion of the Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms.

Taking advantage of a favourable weather window, the project has now successfully installed more than 100 wind turbines, with less than ten turbines remaining to be installed.

This remarkable feat positions the Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms as Taiwan's largest offshore wind project, both in terms of the number of installed wind turbines and grid-connected capacity.

The Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms, boasting a combined capacity of 900 MW, are a testament to Taiwan's commitment to clean and sustainable energy sources. The completion of these projects marks a significant step forward in the nation's efforts to harness its offshore wind energy potential.

The team behind this accomplishment expresses their gratitude and extends heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in making this milestone possible. Their dedication, hard work, and relentless pursuit of clean energy have brought Taiwan one step closer to achieving its renewable energy goals.

This achievement highlights the remarkable progress being made in Taiwan's renewable energy landscape and underscores the nation's position as a global leader in offshore wind energy. The Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms will not only reduce carbon emissions but also pave the way for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for Taiwan.

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• Report: Corporate net zero targets jump, but only 4% meet UN climate goals

The number of companies setting net zero emissions targets has risen over 40% to 1,003 since June 2022, but 4% of the targets meet United Nations criteria for reaching the goal.

The big picture: That's according to the latest analysis from Net Zero Tracker, which examines net zero targets in the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world's largest companies, and found the 16-month jump to October brought an aggregate annual revenue which covered such targets, some $27 trillion.

Between the lines: Gaps in company net zero targets mirror problems at the national or international level, per Axios' Andrew Freedman.

• A UN report in September found countries were facing major gaps between the course of global greenhouse gas emissions under current plans and what's needed to meet the Paris Agreement's targets.

What they found: 37% of corporate net zero targets cover Scope 3 emissions, those that are not produced by the company itself but are tied to its value chain, while 13% specified quality thresholds for carbon offsets.

• This signals an overreliance on low quality offset credits, rather than emissions reductions, per the report that was published Monday.

What they're saying: "A clear line in the sand on net zero has surfaced. Countless net zero targets are credibility light, but now we can say for certain that most of the world's largest listed companies are on the right side of the line on net zero intent," said Net Zero Tracker project lead John Lang, in an a statement.

• "With credible net zero target-setting a proxy for forward-thinking, future-proofing companies, it begs a simple question: are the firms we're investing in, working for and buying from on the right or wrong side of the line?"

A setback for small nuclear reactors as Idaho plan scrapped

The big question now is whether the demise of an Idaho nuclear plan is a momentary bummer for next-wave small reactors — or a really bad omen.

Driving the news: NuScale, a developer of small modular reactors (SMRs), said a project with Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) won't happen.

• It's "unlikely that the project will have enough subscription to continue toward deployment," they said Wednesday, calling the decision mutual.

Why it matters: While it's just one project, it's a reality check nonetheless. There are big hurdles facing SMRs, despite strong interest as a climate-friendly power and industrial heat source.

The big picture: Inflation pushed up the price tag of the plant that was targeted to start operations in 2029.

• The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, citing UAMPS filings, reported in January that the target power price soared 53% since mid-2021.

Catch up fast: NuScale was first to win Nuclear Regulatory Commission design approval for an SMR.

• Per Bloomberg, SMR backers hoped it would be the first U.S. project to enter operation.

State of play: NuScale's Q3 earnings deck projects optimism about other plans in the pipeline.

• But its share price dropped 30% in after-hours trading following the announcement.
• The Energy Department had provided $232 million for the project since October 2020.

What we're watching: An agency spokesperson said the work will be valuable in the future, adding:

• "While not every project is guaranteed to succeed, DOE remains committed to doing everything we can to deploy these technologies to combat the climate crisis and increase access to clean energy."

bad idea from the start

Please tell me more.