Thread: Fossil Fuel Alternatives

• 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.

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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.

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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.

Part 1 of 2

• ‘Breakthrough battery’ from Sweden may cut dependency on China

Europe’s energy and electric vehicle industries could reduce their dependency on scarce raw materials from China after the launch of a “breakthrough” sodium-ion battery, according to its Swedish developer.

Northvolt, Europe’s only large homegrown electric battery maker, has said it has made a lower cost, more sustainable battery designed to store electricity which does not use lithium, nickel, graphite and cobalt.

Britain and Europe’s electric battery industry is reliant on raw materials, or completed batteries, sourced from China and other Asian nations.

Northvolt said its new battery, which has an energy density of more than 160 watt-hours per kilogram, has been designed for electricity storage plants but could in future be used in electric vehicles, such as two wheeled scooters.

“Using sodium-ion technology is not new but we think this is the first product ever completely free from critical raw materials. It is a fundamental breakthrough,” said Patrik Andreasson, Northvolt’s vice-president of strategy and sustainability. “This provides an option that is not dependent on certain parts of the world, including China.”

Asked if Northvolt would open operations in the UK, Andreasson said: “We have our hands full. We have a clear path of where we are going.”

The prototype battery has been developed at the company’s labs in Västerås, Sweden, and will be shown to customers next year. The company has not decided where the battery will be manufactured in larger quantities.

Storing electricity in batteries on an industrial scale is seen as crucial to decarbonising national electricity grids. Battery projects store energy from wind and solar panels which can be used when the wind drops or sun is not shining.

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• New Jersey Commits to a Greener Future with Adoption of Electric Vehicles by 2035

The state of New Jersey has set ambitious goals to transition towards a greener future, mandating that by 2035, all new car sales must be electric vehicles (EVs). As part of a comprehensive set of new regulations, the state plans to implement certain requirements starting in 2026. This initiative reaffirms New Jersey’s commitment to combat climate change and promote the adoption of clean energy solutions.

An official from Governor Phil Murphy’s office confirmed that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will be introducing the necessary rule to enforce this groundbreaking mandate. By exclusively requiring the sale of electric vehicles (EVs), the state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the harmful effects of conventional gasoline-powered cars on the environment.

This significant step puts New Jersey in line with global efforts to mitigate the impact of transportation on climate change. The transition from traditional internal combustion engines to electric vehicles presents a multitude of benefits, such as reducing air pollution, improving air quality, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

The introduction of this new regulation will undoubtedly accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, encouraging the automotive industry to prioritize zero-emission technologies. As the adoption of electric vehicles increases, the charging infrastructure will also expand, ensuring that consumers have convenient access to charging stations throughout the state.

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• Mindanao gears toward 50% renewable energy mix by 2030

DAVAO CITY – As Mindanao faces pressing energy and environmental challenges due to rapid industrialization and population growth, it has set a grand target of achieving a 50-percent renewable energy (RE) share in the overall energy mix by 2030.

In a press briefing Monday, Monalisa Dimalanta, chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission, noted that Mindanao is already at 37 percent in terms of renewable energy generation capacity – higher than the national target of 35 percent.

At a peak demand at 2,167 megawatts (MW) based on the Department of Energy’s 2022 data and installed capacity at already 4,570 MW, Mindanao is the only island that has excess capacity, according to Dimalanta.

“I think it’s doable, that’s why I’m excited to see the outcome of this congress because there has to be that detailed plan. Getting to 50 percent is not just a matter of increasing the generation, it has to be balanced,” Dimalanta said, referring to the two-day Mindanao Clean Energy Forum 2023 and Renewable Energy (RE) Congress that started here Monday.

To hit the 50-percent goal, Dimalanta said it is necessary to consider generation, cost, and system requirements.

Jose Raul Saniel, president of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives and general manager of Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative, sees the possibility of achieving the 50-percent RE mix in 2030.

“For us to be able to achieve this, Mindanao’s economy must grow. There should be big investments coming in so that we, the electric cooperatives, can contract with RE and cope with the increasing demand for power in the future,” he said.

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• Indonesia launches US$20 bil renewable energy investment plan

Indonesia launched on Tuesday, its investment plan to mobilise US$20 billion in financing pledged by global lenders, led by the United States and Japan, to accelerate its power sector decarbonisation and called for immediate fund disbursement.

Under Indonesia's Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), the country seeks to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 250 million metric tonnes for its on-grid power sector by 2030, versus estimated business-as-usual emissions of over 350 million.

The investment proposal, known as Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan (CIPP), was officially announced following a public consultation period after the draft was made public earlier this month.

Indonesia, one of the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters, plans to increase the portion of renewable energy in its power generation to 44% by 2030, from around 12% in 2022.

"We have to move quickly because 2030 is less than seven years away. The partnership must be enhanced and accelerated to do the priority projects, including to immediately realise the financing commitments," Erick Thohir, ad-interim chief minister for investment affairs, said at the launch.

The CIPP indicated that investments worth US$97.3 billion were needed to achieve the targets, including US$66.9 billion for 400 projects which need to start by 2030 at the latest.

Michael Kleine, the US charge d'affaires in Jakarta, said the JETP funding was expected to "jump start" energy transition investment and attract more financing.

Some environmentalists, however, were concerned about the large portion of commercial loans in the mix.

Half of the funds pledged would come from private financing, which could be commercial loans carrying market rates, equity investment or other debt instruments.

Part 2 of 2

• Renewable future one step closer for the Tiwi Islands

A renewables future is one step closer for the Tiwi Islands, with construction underway at the Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project.

Wurrumiyanga is home to over 2000 people, and it will soon be powered by 50 per cent renewable energy.

The Territory government is investing $6.1 million into the project, which will deliver 1.2 megawatts of additional solar PV to the community, and a Battery Energy Storage System with a capacity of 3 megawatt hours.

Local and Australian company 5B is delivering the project, with earthworks and the installation of cyclone-resilient solar arrays now complete.

Facilitating a renewal of the community's energy system is a key component to this project, which includes aging diesel infrastructure and dated solar PV technology.

The NT government described it as "an important step forward" in delivering renewable energy for Wurrumiyanga and "changing the way power is generated across our communities".

Member for Arafura Manuel Brown said on Monday that it "is great to see our largest community on Bathurst Island driving down emissions and creating stable reliable energy in line with the rest of the Territory".

"Soon we will see less and less communities around the NT rely on diesel powered generators through Territory Labor's remote power system strategy, a strategy which is changing lives in our most remote communities," he said.

The project is expected to be completed and operational by 2024, allowing the community to be powered by 50 per cent renewable energy.

_________

• San Antonio City Council approves $31M for largest municipal solar project in Texas

The San Antonio City Council on Thursday approved the largest of its kind municipal solar project.

The nearly $31 million project will result in the installation of roof top, parking, and park canopy solar photovoltaic systems at 42 city facilities.

The newly approved services agreement with San Antonio-based Big Sun Solar will also make progress towards the city's 2040 goal of zero net energy for all municipal buildings.

The projected electricity generated annually from the 42 sites is expected to offset an estimated 11% of the city’s electricity consumption from its buildings.

In addition, 23 of the installations will be parking canopies that will power on-site municipal operations and provide shade and hail protection to people and vehicles.

It will also be a job creator. Big Sun Solar reports more than 15 full-time jobs will be dedicated to the project.

“Today’s vote was a big win for San Antonio," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. "The project will reduce the amount of electricity that the city takes from the grid and sets a national example for innovative approaches to reducing carbon emissions and ensuring a healthier future for our community.”

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• Setting the standard: UBS Arena says it will soon make its own renewable energy and meet zero-waste goal

On its second anniversary, UBS Arena on Long Island announced Tuesday it's going even greener.

The sports and entertainment venue is already considered a pioneer in sustainability, with zero waste and carbon neutrality.

Crowd energy helps power the New York Islanders, but fans may not know what powers UBS Arena.

Ice resurfacers run not on fossil fuels, but electricity from renewables. An energy-efficient temperature is maintained, and lights are LED.

And now, one of the few professional arenas that's LEED certified -- that means built with the highest energy efficiencies -- is going greener.

"Sustainability is ingrained in our DNA here and it always has been," said Kim Stone, president of UBS Arena.

The venue will soon make its own renewable energy and meet its zero-waste goal.

"All the hot dogs, all the extra French fries get sorted to compost. All of our materials, vessels that your hot dog would come, all of that is recyclable, so that gets sorted. It's not going into the landfill," Stone said.

Nothing goes to waste. Oil is recycled. Leftover food is donated.

And, speaking of waste, "The lowest possible water consumption. We have waterless urinals, low-flush toilets," Stone said.

The energy consumed is carbon neutral.

"Right now, they're purchasing renewable energy credits to offset their direct emissions. They are buying clean energy, but they are also going to put clean energy on to their own site," League of Conservation voter Julie Tighe said.

That will likely take shape as a solar array.

"We have a goal that by the end of 2024 we will actually be installing on-site renewable energy," said Kristen Fulmer, head of sustainability for the Oak View Group.

The arena has cut emissions from cars with a new Long Island Rail Road station and soon the parking lot will feature electric vehicle charging stations.

Climate activists hope UBS Arena inspires a new business model.

"We need more corporations and more businesses that take the issue of sustainability and incorporate it into their business practices, just like they incorporate making money. It's that important," said Adrienne Esposito, of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

"A lot of people talk about acting on climate change. They're not just putting in a plan, they're actually executing that plan," Tighe added.

"Somebody has to lead the way. Somebody has to show others what is possible and how easy it can be. We want others to learn from us," Stone added.

_________

• Land agreements step forward for PS4bn renewable energy project

Land agreements have now been finalised between Swansea Council, DST Innovations and Batri Ltd.

Swansea Council say the agreements, subject to planning permission, will lead to the expansion of the Fabian Way park and ride site to create a green energy transport hub to potentially include a hydrogen manufacturing station for hydrogen-powered transport, an abundance of electric vehicle charging points, and restaurants and flexible working areas for visitors to enjoy.

Plans also include a new manufacturing facility on the former Morrissey site in SA1 to make high-tech batteries that would store the renewable energy generated by the project and for worldwide distribution.

In addition, the council say the proposals include the expansion of approved solar farm plans at the former Tir John landfill site to create one of the UK’s largest solar energy generating facilities.

DST Innovations is also continuing to make positive progress on all other elements of the overall project. These include a tidal lagoon, a battery farm to store the renewable energy generated on site, a floating solar panel facility, an oceanic and climate change research centre, eco-homes anchored in the water, and a hyper-scale data centre.

As well as Batri Ltd, DST’s project partners also include engineering and construction firm HDR, and infrastructure specialists Enable.

Swansea Council has also now applied to the UK Government for funding to further explore the potential for a low carbon district heating network. Using excess heat from the data centre, the heating network could heat dozens of major buildings in the SA1 and city centre areas of Swansea.

Cllr Stewart said: “We’ve set a target of becoming a net zero city by 2050. The project being proposed by DST Innovations will considerably help us reach that goal while also creating thousands of jobs and placing Swansea at the heart of global green economy innovation.

“The land agreements are a big step forward for the project and we look forward to working with DST Innovations and their partners on next steps for a scheme that’s potentially a game-changer for Swansea as we look to create a more prosperous and sustainable city for our children and generations to come.

Extra

• Doubled mortality risk from coal-fired power plants

Particulate pollution from coal associated with double the risk of mortality than PM2.5 from other sources

Exposure to fine particulate air pollutants from coal-fired power plants (coal PM2.5) is associated with a risk of mortality more than double that of exposure to PM2.5 from other sources, according to a new study led by George Mason University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Examining Medicare and emissions data in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020, the researchers also found that 460,000 deaths were attributable to coal PM2.5 during the study period—most of them occurring between 1999 and 2007, when coal PM2.5 levels were highest.

The study was published on November 23, 2023, in Science.

While previous studies have quantified the mortality burden from coal-fired power plants, much of this research has assumed that coal PM2.5 has the same toxicity as PM2.5 from other sources.

“PM2.5 from coal has been treated as if it’s just another air pollutant. But it’s much more harmful than we thought, and its mortality burden has been seriously underestimated,” said lead author Lucas Henneman, assistant professor in the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering at Mason. “These findings can help policymakers and regulators identify cost-effective solutions for cleaning up the country’s air, for example, by requiring emissions controls or encouraging utilities to use other energy sources, like renewables.”

Using emissions data from 480 coal power plants in the U.S. between 1999 and 2020, the researchers modeled where wind carried coal sulfur dioxide throughout the week after it was emitted and how atmospheric processes converted the sulfur dioxide into PM2.5. This model produced annual coal PM2.5 exposure fields for each power plant. They then examined individual-level Medicare records from 1999 to 2016, representing the health statuses of Americans ages 65 and older and representing a total of more than 650 million person-years. By linking the exposure fields to the Medicare records, inclusive of where enrollees lived and when they died, the researchers were able to understand individuals’ exposure to coal PM2.5 and calculate the impact it had on their health.

They found that across the U.S. in 1999, the average level of coal PM2.5 was 2.34 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3). This level decreased significantly by 2020, to 0.07 μg/m3. The researchers calculated that a one μg/m3 increase in annual average coal PM2.5 was associated with a 1.12% increase in all-cause mortality, a risk 2.1 times greater than that of PM2.5 from any other source. They also found that 460,000 deaths were attributable to coal PM2.5, representing 25% of all PM2.5-related deaths among Medicare enrollees before 2009.

The researchers were also able to quantify deaths attributable to specific power plants, producing a ranking of the coal-fired power plants studied based on their contribution to coal PM2.5’s mortality burden. They found that 10 of these plants each contributed at least 5,000 deaths during the study period. They visualized the deaths from each power plant in a publicly available online tool (CPIE).

The study also found that 390,000 of the 460,000 deaths attributable to coal-fired power plants took place between 1999 and 2007, averaging more than 43,000 deaths per year. After 2007, these deaths declined drastically, to an annual total of 1,600 by 2020.

“Beyond showing just how harmful coal pollution has been, we also show good news: Deaths from coal were highest in 1999 but by 2020 decreased by about 95%, as coal plants have installed scrubbers or shut down,” Henneman said.

“I see this as a success story,” added senior author Corwin Zigler, associate professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences at UT Austin and founding member of the UT Center for Health & Environment: Education & Research. “Coal power plants were this major burden that U.S. policies have already significantly reduced. But we haven’t completely eliminated the burden—so this study provides us a better understanding of how health will continue to improve and lives will be saved if we move further toward a clean energy future.”

The researchers pointed out the study’s continuing urgency and relevance, writing in the paper that coal power is still part of some U.S. states’ energy portfolios and that global coal use for electricity generation is even projected to increase.

“As countries debate their energy sources—and as coal maintains a powerful, almost mythical status in American energy lore—our findings are highly valuable to policymakers and regulators as they weigh the need for cheap energy with the significant environmental and health costs,” said co-author Francesca Dominici, Clarence James Gamble Professor of Biostatistics, Population, and Data Science at Harvard Chan School and director of the Harvard Data Science Initiative.

Mortality risk from United States coal electricity generation

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• When will global greenhouse gas emissions peak?

Reaching peak global greenhouse gas emissions – the point at which emissions stop growing and start falling – will be a crucial inflection point for the world. Instead of speeding in the wrong direction, we could finally say we’re making the turn towards our collective climate goals.

The IPCC says peaking before 2025 is a critical step to keep the 1.5°C limit within reach. With emissions set to rise in 2023, this leaves limited time to act. To assess if we can meet this milestone, we look at when global emissions might peak, as well as what we can do to get there in time.

In this report, we find there is a 70% chance that emissions start falling in 2024 if current clean technology growth trends continue and some progress is made to cut non-CO2 emissions. This would make 2023 the year of peak emissions – meeting the IPCC deadline.

The continued explosive growth of wind and solar in particular would push fossil fuels out of the power sector, leading to peak coal in 2023 and peak gas in 2024. Meanwhile, continued growth in electric vehicles could lead to peak oil in 2025.

Our analysis looks at three scenarios. The first (baseline), combines the IEA’s current policy projection – which shows global fossil CO2 emissions peaking this year – with an assumption that other gases continue growing at current rates. In this scenario, global greenhouse gas emissions enter a long-term plateau, even if fossil CO2 emissions peak.

Our second scenario (low effort) continues to use the IEA’s projection for fossil CO[at]2 but assumes internationally agreed targets to reduce hydrofluorocarbons are met, and low-cost, no-regrets action is taken to cut other non-CO2 emissions over the coming years. In this scenario, emissions peak in 2025, narrowly missing the IPCC’s ‘before’ 2025 milestone.

Our third scenario, and focus of this report, (continued acceleration) looks at what happens if current growth trends in wind, solar and electric vehicles seen at the regional and national level are maintained – with country-level analyses conducted for China, the US, the EU, India and Brazil. It also assumes signatories to the Global Methane Pledge make adequate progress towards achieving the collective target.

This is the only scenario which meets the IPCC milestone, peaking in 2023 with a high confidence (70%) when accounting for year-to-year emissions fluctuations.

IEA current policy projections tend to be conservative when compared to actual wind and solar growth data. To adjust for this, the continued acceleration scenario follows an S-curve which emulates the explosive growth of maturing technologies. This shows a faster decline in CO2 emissions compared to the IEA’s scenario and results in around 2.5 times more renewable capacity in 2030 than today.

In the continued acceleration scenario, the rapid scale up of zero-carbon technologies begins to outstrip growth in energy demand for the first time, causing fossil fuel demand to peak and start falling. With peak coal, oil and gas on the near horizon, any expansion of fossil fuel production represents a huge stranded asset risk and could slow the energy transition.

Our analysis focuses on four key actions governments can take over the next two years to peak in time. Getting behind the success of wind, solar and electric vehicles is the most powerful in terms of emissions savings, followed by concerted action on methane (Figure ES2). Other key actions, including the rapid rollout of heat pumps and energy efficiency improvements, were not assessed due to data availability but would bring emissions down even faster.

Peaking emissions on its own is not enough to limit warming to 1.5°C. In the continued acceleration scenario, global emissions fall 10% by 2030 relative to 2019 levels – less than a quarter of the way towards the 43% cuts the IPCC says is needed to keep the Paris Agreement goal within reach. Although a key milestone, a global peak must be followed by a sharp and sustained fall in emissions over the following years.

By 2030, we will need to triple renewables, double energy efficiency, accelerate the electrification of energy demand sectors, halt deforestation, and slash methane emissions by over 30%. Global clean energy investments need to be ramped up 2.5-fold, with greatest increases happening in emerging economies. New fossil fuel production plans will need to be axed, with fossil fuel production falling around 40% over the decade on the road to a full, fast and fair fossil phase out.

At COP28, it is more important than ever that governments follow the science. A commitment to peaking global emissions before 2025, alongside the above actions urgently needed this decade, would show that governments are serious about keeping the 1.5°C limit in reach. The race to peak emissions is ours to lose, but it’s also a race we can – and must – win.

Personally, I believe that muscle cars are the answer. Everyone should own and operate one.

• New Google Geothermal Electricity Project Could Be a Milestone for Clean Energy

An advanced geothermal project has begun pumping carbon-free electricity onto the Nevada grid to power Google data centers there, Google announced Tuesday.

Getting electrons onto the grid for the first time is a milestone many new energy companies never reach, said Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Google's geothermal partner in the project, Houston-based Fervo Energy.

“I think it will be big and it will continue to vault geothermal into a lot more prominence than it has been,” Latimer said in an interview.

The International Energy Agency has long projected geothermal could be a serious solution to climate change. It said in a 2011 roadmap document that geothermal could reach some 3.5% of global electricity generation annually by 2050, avoiding almost 800 megatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

But that potential has been mostly unrealized up until now. Today's announcement could mark a turning point.

Fervo is using this first pilot to launch other projects that will deliver far more carbon-free electricity to the grid. It’s currently completing initial drilling in southwest Utah for a 400-megawatt project.

Google and Fervo Energy started working together in 2021 to develop next-generation geothermal power. Now that the site near Winnemucca, Nevada is operating commercially, it's sending about 3.5 megawatts to the grid. There are three wells there.

The data centers require more electricity than that, so Google signed other agreements for solar and storage too. It has two sites in Nevada, one near Las Vegas and the other near Reno. Michael Terrell, who leads decarbonization efforts globally at Google, said the company is looking at using geothermal energy for other data centers worldwide as a portfolio of carbon-free technologies.

“We’re really hoping that this could be a springboard to much, much more advanced geothermal power available to us and others around the world,” he said.

Google announced back in 2020 that it would use carbon-free energy every hour of every day, wherever it operates, by 2030.

Many energy experts believe huge companies like Google can play a catalytic role in accelerating clean energy.

Terrell noted the company was also an early supporter of wind and solar projects, helping those markets take off.

“It's a very similar situation. Now that we’ve set a goal to be 24/7 carbon-free energy, we have found it will take more than just wind, solar and storage to achieve that goal,” Terrell said in an interview. "And frankly to get power grids to 24/7 carbon-free energy as well, we’re going to need this new set of advanced technologies in energy. Looking at this deal with Fervo, we saw an opportunity to play a role in helping to take these technologies to scale.”

The United States leads the world in using the Earth's heat energy for electricity generation, but geothermal still accounts for less than half a percent of the nation's total utility-scale electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2022, that geothermal power came from California, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho and New Mexico.

Those are states traditionally thought of as having geothermal potential because there are reservoirs of steam or very hot water close to the surface in the West.

But Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said earlier this year that advances in enhanced geothermal systems will help introduce this form of energy in regions where it's been thought to be impossible. Granholm was announcing funding for the industry.

Last year, the Energy Department launched an effort to achieve “aggressive cost reductions” in enhanced geothermal systems. This month, in announcing $44 million to advance geothermal deployment nationwide, DOE said the United States has potential for 90 gigawatts of geothermal electricity — the equivalent of powering more than 65 million American homes — by 2050.

Enhanced geothermal companies, including Fervo, are now going after heat deeper below ground, unlocking potential in many more places. Latimer is a former drilling engineer in the oil and gas industry.

Drilling technology and practices drastically improved during the shale boom that transformed the United States into a top oil and gas producer and exporter. But there has been very little tech transfer from the oil and gas industry to geothermal, said Sarah Jewett, vice president of strategy at Fervo.

“They were using all of the old, for lack of a better word, janky stuff from old-school oil and gas development,” she said. “We basically just went to the oil field service companies and said, ‘Give us all your best stuff.' And we have been using all of the modern drilling technology to do our development." That has led to far greater efficiency and lower cost, she said.

In a presentation at ClimateTech 2023 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Latimer talked about how Fervo is pioneering horizontal drilling in geothermal reservoirs. In Nevada, Fervo drilled some 8,000 feet down, turned sideways and drilled about 3,250 feet horizontally.

By drilling horizontally, Fervo can reach much more of the hot reservoir, instead of having to have to drill many vertical wells.

Fervo pumps cold water down an injection well, then over hot rock underground to another well, the production well. The path between is created by fracking, or fracturing the rock. The water heats up to nearly 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) before returning to the surface. Once there, it transfers its heat to another liquid with a low boiling point, creating steam. The pressure of steam expanding spins a turbine to produce electricity like in a coal or natural gas-fired plant. The geothermal water, now cooled, is put back down the injection well to start the cycle again, in a closed-loop system.

Well tests this summer were very favorable, according to Fervo. Latimer wants to replicate them now in as many places as possible, as quickly as possible, to help transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The venture capital firm DCVC invested $31 million in Fervo last year, said Rachel Slaybaugh, a partner there. They did it, she said, because Fervo was ready to add power to the grid while competitors weren't there yet. Slaybaugh said it’s a plus that Latimer used to run a drill rig— it was the right team, who knew what kind of company they were building.

Both Fervo and Google said geothermal is valuable as an “always-on” clean technology that can be scaled up before 2030 as the world tries to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. Fervo's next project, in Beaver County, Utah is slated to begin delivering clean power to the grid in 2026 and reach full production in 2028.

“This is unlocking something deeply sought after in the market today as we transition away from fossil fuels, and that is, round-the-clock renewable energy," Jewett said.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-sta...r-clean-energy

The common sense majority is being cowed into silence by activist zealots
Small groups are being allowed to impose their views on green policy and identity politics on all of us

PHILIP JOHNSTON

28 November 2023 • 8:00pm

Philip Johnston




Red robed protesters from Extinction Rebellion take part in blockading the oil rig maintenance facility at Cromarty Firth Port Authority.


Last winter there was misery in the Alps. A shortage of snow led to predictions of a disaster under such headlines as “Is this the end of skiing?” They were accompanied by photographs of thin strips of artificial snow on slopes usually buried under feet of the white stuff. Over the New Year, parts of north-west Switzerland recorded temperatures close to 20C.

The BBC reported: “Many resorts are aware that they only have two options: close or adapt their business model to cope with mounting climate threats.”

Well, this year the northern Alps have more pre-season pistes open than at any time in recent history after days of heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures.

The point of this story is not to deny that there is a global warming trend, but not to confuse weather with climate. Nowadays, every storm, blizzard, flood, dry spell, forest fire or deluge is attributed to climate change.

This means it is often hard to discern a long-term change from a short-term event. When fires in parts of the world where they have been commonplace for centuries – and are key to plant growth – are said to be solely the consequence of warming, people are being deliberately misled. This apparent inability to distinguish between the vagaries of the weather and climate change does not help in the debate about what to do about it.

Neither, in truth, do the annual jamborees organised by the UN for the past quarter of a century and whose latest iteration starts in Dubai tomorrow. Most people would regard a refusal to see every unusual weather event as a symptom of global warming as common sense. It is possible to acknowledge long-term trends without seeing normal autumn gales and winter storms in the context of climate change.

But the zealots think differently. A group called Climate Genocide Act Now, which is linked to Extinction Rebellion, is planning legal action against this newspaper for what it calls misleading and inadequate coverage of climate change. It wants the case heard, believe it or not, in the International Criminal Court (ICC) and says it has a professional legal opinion noting that policies causing climate change can be prosecuted as crimes against humanity.

This includes questioning the cost of getting to net zero, challenging the timetable for introducing electric cars and reporting on the difficulties of installing heat pumps. The failure to connect weather events like the recent Storm Ciaran to the broader narrative of climate change is another point of criticism, as are adverts encouraging people to take a foreign holiday.

“We’re planning to get a dossier of evidence covering six months, and submit a case to the International Criminal Court to say that this is evidence of incitement of crimes against humanity. We think we’ve got a chance of getting there,” the group’s leader said. At least it will be good work for the lawyers.

This is clearly a tiny group of fanatics, and yet such people increasingly wield an inordinate amount of influence in many walks of life, not least the arts world. Ahead of the COP 28 conference in Dubai, the actress Olivia Colman is appearing in a campaign video dressed up as a latex-clad oil executive, criticising the relationship between pension funds and the fossil fuel industry.

“The cash from your pensions has helped us dig, drill and destroy more of the planet than ever before. We’ve even managed to build a few little wind turbines to keep Greta and her chums happy,” she says. “Every little drop from your precious nest egg adds up, so while the global temperature may go up a teensy, weensy degree or two our profits are literally soaring.”

When it comes to misrepresentation, there is quite a lot in that statement. We have built more than a “few little wind turbines” and we need oil and gas to keep the lights on, so either we import it or extract it from our own territory. Our pension funds need to be profitable to sustain an ageing population. But I suppose these considerations don’t matter to the eco-fanatics, not least when the Bank of England itself has a specific climate change remit.

We give too much credence to these small but very vocal campaign groups. One of the most potent is Stonewall, which seems to have managed to bludgeon the public and corporate sectors into spending vast sums to conform to its demands for diversity and inclusivity. Most major companies employ people whose only (well-paid) job is to impose a particular ideology on its workforce.

The NHS, struggling to clear a record backlog of cases, employs hundreds of diversity officers while many businesses covet Stonewall’s imprimatur as a diversity champion. Schools and colleges still seem to be enrolled on Stonewall programmes to promote transgender inclusion. But its reach is wider still. Yesterday, we reported how the UK’s human rights watchdog, the EHRC, could be blacklisted by the UN apparently after Stonewall objected to the way the organisation defended biological sex.

Why do we allow these pressure groups so much influence? The guilt generated by Black Lives Matter, an anti-capitalist movement that wanted to dismantle the police, has caused normally rational people to hand over their life savings to atone for their family involvement in slavery hundreds of years ago.

Universities ban speakers because they refuse to say a man can menstruate; the police arrest preachers for saying something disobliging about Pride marches; teachers are unwilling to tell parents that their eight-year-old boy wants to be a girl; and we are accused of genocide because we point out the cost of heat pumps.

It is telling that these pressure groups never take their climate change campaign on to the streets of Beijing or protest for trans rights in Jeddah or demand reparations for slavery from the oil-rich Arab nations. They target the West because it provides them the latitude to make a very nice living from their insidious social engineering while the majority is cowed into silence.

I hesitate to say this, but there is a small chance it might snow here in the next few days, which is unusual this early in the winter though hardly unprecedented. That’s another offence to be taken into consideration by the ICC in The Hague.

THE TELEGRAPH!!

Originally Posted by taxexile

THE TELEGRAPH!!

Part 1 of 2

• World’s biggest experimental nuclear fusion reactor launched in Japan

The world’s biggest operational experimental nuclear fusion reactor – a technology in its infancy but billed by some as the answer to humanity’s future energy needs – has been inaugurated in Naka, Japan.

Fusion differs from fission, the technique used in nuclear power plants, by fusing two atomic nuclei instead of splitting one.

The goal of the JT-60SA reactor is to investigate the feasibility of fusion as a safe, large-scale and carbon-free source of net energy – with more energy generated than is put into producing it.

The six-storey-high machine, in a hangar in Naka, north of Tokyo, comprises a doughnut-shaped “tokamak” vessel set to contain swirling plasma heated up to 200mC (360mF).

It is a joint project between the European Union and Japan, and is the forerunner for its big brother in France, the under-construction International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

The ultimate aim of both projects is to coax hydrogen nuclei inside to fuse into one heavier element, helium, releasing energy in the form of light and heat, and mimicking the process that takes place inside the sun.

Researchers at ITER, which is over budget, behind schedule and facing major technical problems, hope to achieve nuclear fusion technology’s holy grail, net energy.

Sam Davis, the deputy project leader for the JT-60SA, said the device would “bring us closer to fusion energy”.

“It’s the result of a collaboration between more than 500 scientists and engineers and more than 70 companies throughout Europe and Japan,” Davis said at Friday’s inauguration.

The EU energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, said the JT-60SA was “the most advanced tokamak in the world”, and called the start of operations “a milestone for fusion history”.

“Fusion has the potential to become a key component for energy mix in the second half of this century,” Simson added.

The feat of “net energy gain” was managed last December at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US, home to the world’s largest laser.

The US facility uses a different method to ITER and the JT-60SA known as inertial confinement fusion, in which high-energy lasers are directed simultaneously into a thimble-sized cylinder containing hydrogen.

The US government called the result a “landmark achievement” in the quest for a source of unlimited, clean power and an end to reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels that cause climate change as well as geopolitical upheaval.

Unlike fission, fusion carries no risk of catastrophic nuclear accidents, such as the disaster in Fukushima in Japan in 2011, and produces far less radioactive waste than current power plants, its exponents say.

__________

• Electric plane set to deliver mail across New Zealand in decarbonisation push

Parcels and letters will soon be distributed by electric aircraft between regions of New Zealand as the sparsely populated country embarks on a “new age of propulsion” in its attempts to decarbonise its reliance on aviation.

On Wednesday, Air New Zealand announced it had purchased a battery-powered, all-electric five seater cargo aircraft, which will be put to use running mail between airports with New Zealand’s postal service from 2026.

The next-generation ALIA aircraft, designed by US aero firm Beta Technologies, will take off and land like a conventional airplane. The roughly 12 metre-long aircraft weighs three tonnes and can reach speeds of up to 270km an hour, meaning it will likely travel slower than conventional aircraft. It will be able to carry up to 560kg of cargo.

Much like electric cars, the futuristic aircraft also comes with range anxiety. While it can fly more than 480km, it is only expected to be flown on routes of about 150km domestically in New Zealand. Recharging its battery from empty will take between 40-60 minutes, slightly longer than refuelling a similar sized traditional aircraft.

The airline will now determine which routes on which it will run the initial flights, as it will need to install specialist charging cubes at airports to recharge the aircraft between runs.

Air New Zealand’s purchase is the first in its mission to bring next-generation aircraft into its fleet. It also has options for an additional two of the ALIA aircraft and rights for a further 20 under the deal with Beta.

The airline is considering zero-emissions aircraft options from three other companies, including smaller passenger aircraft, which it has been evaluating since last year.

Greg Foran, Air New Zealand’s chief executive, told the Guardian he hopes the airline will be running zero-emissions electric flights carrying passengers by 2030. “With cargo, it becomes a bit easier. And as we get really good at that, then you say all right, well, it’s worked out, what happens if we put some passengers on?”

__________

• Community groups power the switch to renewable energy

Australia's community groups produced enough renewable energy in a year to power 2800 households or remove the equivalent of 7700 cars from the roads, a study has revealed.

The Community Energy Collective Impact report, released on Wednesday, also found community groups had raised more than $86 million to fund their projects over the past 12 months and doubled their number of members since the previous survey.

But the report, prepared by the Community Power Agency, University of Technology Sydney and University of Melbourne, also called for more state and federal government assistance to help the groups overcome regulations, tackle skill shortages and fund more projects.

The call comes just days after the federal government committed to increasing Australia's renewable energy capacity by 2030 at the COP28 conference in Dubai.

The study identified 55 active community energy groups with more than 44,000 members - more than double the number of people involved in similar groups in 2015.

It found the groups had secured $86.8 million in funding over the past year and invested most in solar technology, followed by battery storage, energy efficiency and electric vehicles.

_________

• Tesco Boosts Renewable Capacity with 100-Store Solar Project

Tesco announces solar power project to enhance renewables capacity

The project will involve Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with renewables investors. Already, Tesco has started using onsite and offsite PPAs to increase direct renewable electricity generation.

The initiative has kicked off with the Thetford store fitted with more than 1,000 solar panels as part of a PPA with Atrato Onsite Energy.

Construction will begin before year-end on four more stores, set to generate an additional 2 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of electricity. This adds to the existing 40 Tesco stores equipped with solar panels, generating 10.5GWh of solar electricity in the last year, equivalent to powering 3,800 homes.

Tesco Group’s chief executive officer Ken Murphy said: “As we all face into the effects of climate change, scaling up our use of clean renewable energy has never been more important.

“That’s why we are continuing our work to source green electricity from our own estate, setting out ambitious plans to install solar panels on the roofs of 100 of our large stores across the UK over the next three years – moving us further towards our target to be carbon neutral in our own operations by 2035.”

The latest five stores to receive solar panels are Thetford, Stevenage, Wisbech, Kings Lynn, and Stockport. Each installation is expected to generate between approximately 275 megawatt-hour (MWh) and 660MWh of renewable electricity per year.

The global retailer highlights that long-term PPAs are crucial in sourcing renewable electricity, ensuring procurement over about 20 years.

After surpassing its 2030 target of adopting 100% renewable electricity in its operations earlier than planned, Tesco is now striving to increase the proportion of renewable electricity directly sourced.

Part 2 of 2

• In the salt deserts bordering Pakistan, India builds its largest renewable energy project

Rising from the bare expanse of the large salt desert that separates India from Pakistan is what will likely be the world’s largest renewable energy project when completed three years from now.

The solar and wind energy project will be so big that it will be visible from space, according to developers of what is called the Khavda renewable energy park, named after the village nearest to the project site.

At the site, thousands of laborers install pillars on which solar panels will be mounted. The pillars rise like perfectly aligned concrete cactuses that stretch as far as the eye can see. Other workers are building foundations for enormous wind turbines to be installed; they also are transporting construction material, building substations and laying wires for miles.

When completed, the project will be about as large as Singapore, spreading out over 726 square kilometers (280 square miles). The Indian government estimates it will cost at least $2.26 billion.

Shifting to renewable energy is a key issue at the ongoing COP28 climate summit. Some leaders have voiced support for a target of tripling renewable energy worldwide in any final agreement while curbing use of coal, oil and natural gas, which spew planet-warming gases into the atmosphere.

Once completed, it will supply 30 gigawatts of renewable energy annually, enough to power nearly 18 million Indian homes.

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• Governor signs historic energy bills

On Tuesday afternoon, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a slate of new clean energy bills recently passed by the State House and Senate.

These bills are designed to transition Michigan from a majority fossil-fuel-powered state into a national leader in renewable energy within the next two decades.

The Clean Energy Future Plan is one of the most ambitious climate mandates in the country and has been gaining national attention for its size and scope.

“We are now looking at 100% by 2040 for clean energy,” State Sen. Sam Singh (D- East Lansing) said at a bill signing ceremony Tuesday.

Supporters of the plan in our own state said it will help fight climate change, create a healthier environment for the state, and provide more jobs.

“It’s gonna help us move Michigan to a clean energy by 2040, it’s gonna be a great opportunity to create more jobs, here in Michigan but at the same time be able to protect the health and welfare of our citizens across the state,” said Singh.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrest also cheered the new laws.

“And will put us in the driver’s seat in terms of leadership in responding to the climate crisis in America,” he said.

Details of the plan released by senate democrats include an electric grid with a 100% clean energy standard, improving energy efficiency and reducing waste.

Also, it would expand the Public Service Commission’s ability to include utilities and prioritize affordability, and require electric and gas providers to offer low-income energy waste reduction programs to assist customers.

The new legal provision was opposed by the Michigan Township Association. The lobbying and education organization for Michigan townships tells 6 News the law will undermine local authority.

Supporters counter this is about “freedom of choice” for landowners in Michigan.

“We are making it easier for landowners to build solar panels and wind turbines, and big batteries on their properties,” Whitmer told those assembled for the bill signing ceremony.

And Hamtramck Democrat State Rep. Abraham Aiyash echoed the governor.

“Our farmers have input and agency in what they do with their land and their futures,” he said.

The new laws will also require utilities to generate 50% of their energy from renewable sources by 2030.

Senate Republicans panned the new laws in a press release.

“It’s a dark day for Michigan,” the GOP lawmakers wrote. They trashed the laws as “Far left unworkable energy mandates.”

While the goals are built into the law, lawmakers also created pressure relief valves to back off the 2040 deadline. To do so, however, utilities and the state would have to show “good cause” for the delay.

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• Detroit's newest road can charge electric cars as they travel on it

Detroit is now home to the country's first stretch of road that can wirelessly charge an electric vehicle (EV), whether it's parked or moving.

Why it matters: Wireless charging on an electrified roadway could remove one of the biggest hassles of owning an EV: the need to stop and plug in regularly.

• Electrified roads could also be helpful in keeping electric buses, delivery vans, long-haul trucks and robotaxis operating around the clock.

Driving the news: Officials on Wednesday celebrated the completed installation of inductive-charging coils made by Israeli startup Electreon on a quarter-mile section of 14th Street in Detroit's Michigan Central, a mobility innovation district.

• The road will be used to test and perfect Electreon's wireless-charging technology in a real-world environment before making it available to the public in the next few years.
• In 2024, Michigan will begin seeking bids to rebuild part of US-12 (Michigan Avenue), where additional inductive charging is to be installed.

How it works: When an EV equipped with an approved receiver nears the in-road charging segments, the road transfers electricity wirelessly through a magnetic field.

• The electricity is then transferred as energy to the vehicle's battery.
• It works whether the vehicle is parked (static charging) or driving (dynamic charging).

Of note: You don't have to worry about getting zapped by coming in contact with the pavement; it's safe for drivers, pedestrians and wildlife, Electreon says.
Context: Electreon is one of more than 60 tech and mobility startups that are members of Detroit Newlab, an innovation hub anchored by the once-dilapidated Michigan Central train station currently under renovation by Ford.

• Its wireless charging technology is already being tested in several cities in Europe, Israel and China.

The bottom line: With the first (albeit short) electric roadway in the U.S., Detroit continues to stake its claim as America's transportation innovation hub.

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• Work starts on Glasgow Airport solar farm

Construction activity to build Scotland’s largest airport-based solar farm is underway following the completion of the development phase of the project.

Glasgow Airport, in partnership with energy transition adviser and developer Ikigai Group, has completed the development phase and the subsequent financial close for a 20MW array with Zestec Renewable Energy.

Approximately £18.5m is being invested to create the solar farm.

The 40-acre ground-mounted scheme will be located on Glasgow Airport-owned land next to Barnsford Road.

It will be built in phases to accommodate the current and future demand of the airport as well as neighbouring businesses which will be able to access low-cost, green energy via power purchase agreements.

Construction will take place over the coming months, with completion of the first phase expected in summer 2024.

The plant will be owned and operated by Zestec, which is owned by funds managed by Octopus Energy Generation.

Operations director of Glasgow Airport Ronald Leitch said: "The development of the solar farm marks a key milestone in our sustainability journey by giving the airport the ability to generate clean energy on-site.

“This will advance our plans to decarbonise our own operations while supporting the net zero ambitions of our airport partners and neighbours.

“Importantly, it also creates the foundation to turn the airport into an energy hub and allows us to progress our plans to support zero emission flight.

“We are looking forward to working with Ikigai and Zestec, both of whom share our vision for a sustainable future.”

Following a successful tender process led by Ikigai, Zestec was selected as the preferred partner to undertake the development, including construction, procurement and operation of the project.

Chief operating officer of Zestec Toby Smith said: "We are excited to include this solar plant in our growing family of behind-the-meter solutions designed to help Glasgow Airport decarbonise its operations.

“Our collaboration with the airport and Ikigai aligns perfectly with our goals.”

• Sierra Leone gets $52 M for its first large-scale grid-connected solar IPP

In a significant step towards clean energy and improved electricity access, a consortium of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and renewable energy fund manager Frontier Energy have announced a co-investment of over $52 million for the Planet Solar project in Sierra Leone. This greenfield 50 MW project will be the country’s first large-scale grid-connected solar Independent Power Producer (IPP).

The investment underscores the country’s commitment to diversifying its energy mix and addressing the urgent need for clean, affordable, and stable power. Only 23% of Sierra Leone’s population has access to electricity, and 80% of the country’s electricity is generated from fossil fuels.

“This project is a critical step towards unlocking Sierra Leone’s abundant renewable energy potential and accelerating progress towards net-zero emissions. By supporting Planet Solar, we are not only providing clean energy to underserved regions but also laying the foundation for a more sustainable future,” said Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII.

The solar capacity is expected to increase the operational domestic electricity supply by about 30%, benefitting commercial and industrial entities, public institutions, and households connected to the main grid. This will bring power to communities in Freetown, the Western Area, and beyond.

The project also aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Climate Action (SDG 13). It is supported by the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator initiative, co-led by BII and FMO, which aims to unlock investment opportunities and mobilize commercial capital in frontier markets across Africa.