Covering Climate Now signs on more than 170 news outlets

MORE THAN 170 NEWS OUTLETS from around the world have now signed up for Covering Climate Now, a project co-founded by CJR and The Nation aimed at strengthening the media’s focus on the climate crisis.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/covering-climate-now-signs-on-more-than-170-news-outlets.html

Company trying to tackle renewable energy curtailment enters European market

This week, Scottish software company Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS) announced that it will be expanding into Europe after completing successful trials with a utility company in Germany.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/company-trying-to-tackle-renewable-energy-curtailment-enters-european-market.html

Hydro Tasmania accelerating site investigations for pumped storage hydropower

Hydro Tasmania says it is accelerating detailed investigation of three key opportunities for pumped storage hydro development in the state as part of the Battery of the Nation initiative. Work has begun on a full feasibility assessment of pumped hydro development opportunities at Lake Cethana and Lake Rowallan in the northwest and near Tribute Power Station on the West Coast.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/hydro-tasmania-accelerating-site-investigations-for-pumped-storage-hydropower.html

ABB delivers solar plant at Antarctic research base

The Uruguayan government agency Instituto Antarctico Uruguayo (IAU) is collaborating with ABB, Uruguayan utility company UTE and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) to provide a second solar power installation at the IAU’s research base in the Antarctic.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/abb-delivers-solar-plant-at-antarctic-research-base.html

More Tesla solar-panel fire incidents emerge in wake of Walmart suit

One evening last year, David Burek noticed charred wood and a burning smell in his attic, near his young sons’ bedroom. He climbed a ladder and saw a melted connector wire from the solar panels installed on the roof of his North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, home. Firefighters rushed over and discovered that flames had burned through the shingles, the roof and a support beam. Luckily, a recent rain had doused it.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/more-tesla-solarpanel-fire-incidents-emerge-in-wake-of-walmart-suit.html

Are regional transmission organizations the future for renewables in the Southeast?

Renewable energy, particularly solar, is poised for significant growth in the southeastern United States. The Southeast has also mostly retained a vertically integrated utility model, and most utilities in the region have not joined a Regional Transmission Organization or Independent System Operator (collectively known as, RTO). Recent developments have led stakeholders and policymakers in the Southeast to rethink whether it is beneficial for some utilities to join RTOs – something that is generally seen as a positive development for renewable energy.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/are-regional-transmission-organizations-the-future-for-renewables-in-the-southeast.html

Trump says he’s unwilling to risk US energy wealth for windmill ‘dreams’

President Donald Trump said he was not willing to sacrifice the abundant fossil energy wealth of the U.S. on “dreams” such as renewable power.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/trump-says-hes-unwilling-to-risk-us-energy-wealth-for-windmill-dreams.html

Brazil to support construction of four new hydropower plants

Brazil has included four hydropower plants among the projects that will receive support as part of the country's investment partnerships program, called Programa de Parcerias de Investimentos or PPI. 

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/brazil-to-support-construction-of-four-new-hydropower-plants.html

Hawaiian Electric Companies issue largest clean energy procurement to date; aim to end coal use, replace oil

Last week, the Hawaiian Electric Companies began Hawai‘i’s largest procurement effort for renewable energy resources to end the use of coal and reduce reliance on imported oil for power generation, moving the state closer to its goal of using 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/hawaiian-electric-companies-issue-largest-clean-energy-procurement-to-date-aim-to-end-coal-use-repla.html

World’s largest hospital solar PV project online now in Aman, Jordan

This week Aman, Jordan-based Philadelphia Solar announced that the 8.2-MW solar PV project that it installed at the Abdali Medical Center in Jordan has entered commercial operation.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/worlds-largest-hospital-solar-pv-project-online-now-in-aman-jordan.html

SolarEdge founder and co-chairman dies at 54

In a statement, SolarEdge Technologies announced that the company's founder and co-chairman, Guy Sella has passed away.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/solaredge-founder-and-cochairman-dies-at-54.html

BNEF finds that hydrogen’s plunging price could boost its role in a carbon-free future

The cost of producing hydrogen gas with renewables is likely to plummet in the coming decades, making one of the most radical technologies for reducing greenhouse gases economical.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/bnef-finds-that-hydrogens-plunging-price-could-boost-its-role-in-a-carbonfree-future.html

DOE: U.S. onshore wind projects achieving record capacity, employment

The U.S. land-based wind industry installed 7,588 MW of capacity last year, bringing the overall utility-scale total to more than 96 GW. 

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/doe-u-s-onshore-wind-projects-achieving-record-capacity-employment.html

Re-Powering underway at NextEra’s 150-Megawatt Osceola County Wind Farm

With its original commissioning dating back to 2008, NextEra’s 150-megawatt (MW) Endeavor Wind Energy Center I & II projects in Osceola County are undergoing a prudent re-powering process. Blattner Energy construction crews moved into the Osceola County wind farm area this spring and started work. Blatter Energy is an Avon, Minnesota based heavy construction contractor.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/repowering-underway-at-nexteras-150megawatt-osceola-county-wind-farm.html

Hydrogen is expected to account for 10% of China’s energy network by 2050

The Chinese government recently issued a whitepaper on the status and prospects of the hydrogen fuel and fuel cell sectors, indicating that energy derived from hydrogen will become an important part of the Chinese energy network.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/hydrogen-is-expected-to-account-for-10-of-chinas-energy-network-by-2050.html

Largest Cherokee County wind farm now under construction

After a 23-year wind farm construction hiatus, work on a 2nd Cherokee County wind farm has begun. Developed by San Diego based EDF Renewables, the 200-megawatt (MW) Glaciers Edge Wind Project north of Marcus is scheduled to be on line by the end of 2019.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/largest-cherokee-county-wind-farm-now-under-construction.html

Nine solar projects go live in Georgia

Duke Energy Renewables, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, announced that nine solar projects developed with SolAmerica Energy totaling 14.1 megawatts (MW) have begun commercial operations across central Georgia under Georgia Power’s Renewable Energy Development Initiative. These projects bring Duke Energy Renewables, operating through its REC Solar business unit, to 27.4 MW of solar projects in Georgia.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/nine-solar-projects-go-live-in-georgia.html

Can Italy strike twice?

Italy’s National Energy Strategy aims to increase wind and solar power’s share of gross final energy consumption by 2030. The country boasts a track record of meeting past renewables targets, but can it be successful once more? Stefania Belisario, associate director, Infrastructure, S&P Global Ratings, assesses the factors either driving or impeding progress.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/can-italy-strike-twice.html

Lekela reaches financial close for its West Bakr Wind project

Lekela announced that it has reached financial close on its first wind project in Egypt, West Bakr Wind. Construction will begin shortly, delivering 250 MW of clean, reliable power at a highly competitive price.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/lekela-reaches-financial-close-for-its-west-bakr-wind-project.html

Bernie Sanders’ ‘Green New Deal’ aims to have renewables power homes by 2030

Bernie Sanders wants renewable energy to power U.S. homes and vehicles by 2030 -- and he wants to do it by enlisting the federal government in building and running new solar, wind and geothermal electricity projects.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/bernie-sanders-green-new-deal-aims-to-have-renewables-power-homes-by-2030.html

Ireland’s renewables expansion to attract massive investment says report

Ireland is set to add 5.8 GW of non-hydro renewable power capacity over the next decade to reach a total 9.6 GW by 2030.

 

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/ireland-s-renewables-expansion-to-attract-massive-investment-says-report.html

The IEA’s hydrogen report doesn’t miss the point. It just buries It.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently released a major new report on hydrogen, underscoring the remarkable political and business momentum surrounding the fossil fuel alternative, and touting its potential as a vital component of global efforts to build a “clean, secure, and affordable energy future.” The report takes a bold and prescient stance, and has rightfully inspired a torrent of press coverage about the future of hydrogen and its role in the renewable energy mix.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/the-ieas-hydrogen-report-doesnt-miss-the-point-it-just-buries-it.html

Walmart sues Tesla over fires linked to rooftop solar systems

Walmart Inc. sued Tesla Inc., claiming it failed to live up to industry standards in the installation of solar panels on top of hundreds of stores, resulting in multiple fires across the U.S.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/walmart-sues-tesla-over-fires-linked-to-rooftop-solar-systems.html

University of Notre Dame breaks ground on 2.5-MW hydroelectric generation facility

The University of Notre Dame and South Bend’s Venues Parks & Arts have broken ground on a 2.5-MW hydroelectric generation facility at an existing city-owned dam on the St. Joseph River in downtown South Bend, Ind.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/university-of-notre-dame-breaks-ground-on-2-5-mw-hydroelectric-generation-facility.html

Norwegian battery startup with $4.5B plan has vision for Nordic hub

Freyr AS, a startup planning to build one of Europe’s first battery gigafactories in Norway, has a bigger vision for the region: a “Nordic Battery Belt.”

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/norwegian-battery-startup-with-45b-plan-has-vision-for-nordic-hub.html

New study shows benefits of local renewable energy marketplaces

The financial benefits of buying and selling locally produced energy from rooftop solar, wind turbines and batteries within communities have been revealed in a test case run by energy tech firm LO3 Energy.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/new-study-shows-benefits-of-local-renewable-energy-marketplaces.html

Virginia looks to New York green bank for possible clean energy financing

Virginia’s energy office is exploring whether to align the state with a billion-dollar New York clean energy financing program.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/virginia-looks-to-new-york-green-bank-for-possible-clean-energy-financing.html

Europe’s wind potential is 100 times higher, could power the world

Europe can potentially generate 100 times the current amount of energy generated, and produce enough power to power the world until 2050, if it were to maximize land use for onshore wind capacity.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/europe-s-wind-potential-is-100-times-higher-could-power-the-world.html

Softbank invests $110M in new energy storage system

Energy Vault, the creator of a new way to perform utility-scale energy storage, announced that SoftBank Vision Fund (Vision Fund) invested $110 million in its Series B funding round. Energy Vault will use the funds to accelerate global deployment of its technology, which enables renewables to deliver baseload power for less than the cost of fossil fuels 24 hours a day, said the company. As part of the investment, Andreas Hansson, Partner for SoftBank Investment Advisers, will join the Energy Vault board of directors.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/softbank-invests-110m-in-new-energy-storage-system.html

The energy transition is underway: 10 charts tell the story

The renewable energy transition promises to reduce carbon emissions, but it’s happening at different speeds around the world. Read on for some key insights from BloombergNEF’s New Energy Outlook 2019, which provides a detailed road map to the future.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/the-energy-transition-is-underway-10-charts-tell-the-story.html

ARENA to provide $40 million funding for South Australia’s first pumped hydro plant

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), on behalf of the Australian government, has announced up to $40 million in funding towards the deployment of a pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) project in South Australia.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/arena-to-provide-40-million-funding-for-south-australia-s-first-pumped-hydro-plant.html

Net zero carbon emissions ‘impossible’ without hydrogen says UK energy alliance

The UK’s North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) is calling for government investment in hydrogen projects to meet ambitious carbon reductions targets in Britain.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/net-zero-carbon-emissions-impossible-without-hydrogen-says-uk-energy-alliance.html

Stanford researchers develop technology to harness energy from mixing of freshwater and seawater

A new battery made from affordable and durable materials generates energy from places where salt and fresh waters mingle. The technology could make coastal wastewater treatment plants energy-independent and carbon neutral.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/stanford-researchers-develop-technology-to-harness-energy-from-mixing-of-freshwater-and-seawater.html

Who will benefit from the surge in behind-the-meter battery installations?

The electric utility industry has been buffeted by two recent trends that threaten to upend the profitability, and in some cases the future viability of, those companies that are slow to adapt to a new, rapidly changing landscape. Specifically, in the past decade, the industry has had to grapple with both waning demand and the growth of distributed energy generation.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/who-will-benefit-from-the-surge-in-behindthemeter-battery-installations.html

London finds no easy answers after once-in-a-decade blackout

When two U.K. power plants shut down almost simultaneously in London’s first major blackout for a decade, it triggered a storm of questions about how to avoid another failure.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/london-finds-no-easy-answers-after-onceinadecade-blackout.html

On the brink of blackouts, Texas makes case for power plant boom

It may be time to start building power plants in Texas again.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/on-the-brink-of-blackouts-texas-makes-case-for-power-plant-boom.html

U.S. wind energy prices are at historical lows, DOE report says

The national average price of wind power purchase agreements dropped to below 2 cents/kWh in 2018, according to the annual Wind Technologies Market Report released by the U.S. Department of Energy.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/u-s-wind-energy-prices-are-at-historical-lows-doe-report-says.html

U.S. announces changes to implementing regulations of the Endangered Species Act

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has unveiled changes to the implementing regulations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that Interior says is “designed to increase transparency and effectiveness and bring the administration of the Act into the 21st century.”

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/u-s-senate-announces-changes-to-implementing-regulations-of-the-endangered-species-act.html

What is the future of the utility?

Many of us are somewhat familiar with what an electric utility does. Our house receives electricity, and we get a bill in the mail each month for it. Here in North Carolina, that bill is likely coming from Duke Energy. In other parts of the country it may be PG&E or Dominion Power. For at least a century, these utility monopolies have built power plants, installed transmission and distribution lines, billed customers for their electricity use, and the utility made a predictable margin for their work.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/what-is-the-future-of-the-utility.html

BNEF says corporate energy market is strong

Coming on the heels of Gap’s announced 90-MW PPA with Enel Green Power, BloombergNEF released its 2H 2019 corporate energy market outlook in which it said that corporations signed contracts to purchase 8.6 GW of clean energy in 2019 through July, up from 7.2 GW at the same time last year.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/bnef-says-corporate-energy-market-is-strong.html

Gap signs PPA for 90 MW of wind

Global apparel retailer Gap Inc. announced that it has signed a 90-MW virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for the Aurora Wind Project with Enel Green Power North America, marking one of the largest offsite renewable energy contracts by an apparel retailer.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/gap-signs-ppa-for-90-mw-of-wind.html

Vattenfall combines wind, solar, batteries in Netherlands energy park

According to Vattenfall, the project will help provide less pronounced energy peaks and an overall more efficient use of energy infrastructure

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/vattenfall-combines-wind-solar-batteries-in-netherlands-energy-park.html

First major US offshore wind farm delayed by government

The Trump administration cast the fate of the nation’s first major offshore wind farm into doubt by extending an environmental review for the $2.8 billion Vineyard Wind project off Massachusetts.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/first-major-us-offshore-wind-farm-delayed-by-government.html

100 MW of solar and 10 MW of battery storage coming to San José CCA in 2022

This week, San José’s Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) which is called San José Clean Energy (SJCE) and EDP Renewables SA (EDPR), through its fully owned subsidiary EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA), signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for 100 MW of new solar energy capacity and 10 MW of battery storage at the Sonrisa Solar Park in Fresno County, California. The project is anticipated to be operational in 2022.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/100-mw-of-solar-and-10-mw-of-battery-storage-coming-to-san-jos-cca-in-2022.html

Australian brewer eyes thermal energy storage system

South Australian energy storage company 1414 Degrees and Stone & Wood Brewing Company have agreed to undertake a feasibility study for the integration of 1414 Degrees’ electrically charged Thermal Energy Storage System (TESS-IND).

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/australian-brewer-eyes-thermal-energy-storage-system.html

Report covers costs of various storage technologies, including pumped storage hydro

A report recently released by the U.S. Department of Energy defines and evaluates cost and performance parameters of six battery energy storage technologies (BESS) and four non-BESS storage technologies.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/report-covers-costs-of-various-storage-technologies-including-pumped-storage-hydro.html

In battle to break up utilities, Arizona steps to the front line

Of all the efforts to break up utility monopolies in the U.S., the one unfolding in Arizona may be the most important to watch.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/in-battle-to-break-up-utilities-arizona-steps-to-the-front-line.html

Dominion Energy plans four energy storage pilot studies in Virginia

The four proposed central Virginia lithium-ion projects will cost about $33 million to build and offer 5-years’ worth of test data, according to Dominion.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/dominion-energy-plans-four-energy-storage-pilot-studies-in-virginia.html

Sunverge raises $11 million for utility distributed energy resource controls

The round was led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund with participation from Equinor Energy Ventures and Evergy Ventures

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/sunverge-raises-11-million-for-utility-distributed-energy-resource-controls.html

Forecast shows continued decline for coal

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its Short Term Energy Outlook for 2019 and we have summarized the key highlights for you below.

source https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/08/forecast-shows-continued-decline-for-coal.html