Noteworthy:
¶ The Guide to Limitless Clean Energy 2013, has this quote from Thomas Edison: “We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy — sun, wind and tide.” [Blue & Green Tomorrow]
Science and Technology:
¶ A new report from Fuel Cell Today describes how the electrolysis of water to generate hydrogen can be used in conjunction with renewable energy sources to provide a number of benefits. [Fuel Cell Today]
World:
¶ Scotland focused an 18-million pound ($27 million) fund for marine energy on wave power as it seeks to get all its power from renewables by the end of the decade. [Businessweek]
¶ Gas-fired generation in Europe is in crisis. With the energy-only market undercut by renewables, European utilities are mothballing thermal generation capacity. [Platts]
¶ The European Parliament approved a non-binding resolution calling for a mandatory EU-wide share for renewables for 2030, but failed to set the target in the 40-45% range. [EurActiv]
¶ Europe could face power blackouts if utilities shut loss-making gas plants and aging coal facilities while governments dither over how to cope with the growing impact of renewables. [Power Engineering International]
¶ Australian community solar projects appear to be gathering pace, with public launches planned for the next month. Crowd-funding is one possibility being discussed. [RenewEconomy]
¶ The problem of high power demand in the Philippines continues to plague consumers, and the country’s Department of Energy is promoting renewable energy to improve the situation. [Solar News]
¶ The UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change says more than £29 billion of private investment has gone into the renewables sector in the last three years, potentially supporting up to 30,000 jobs. [Utility Week]
¶ Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority endorsed an expert assessment that a reactor at the Tsuruga nuclear power plant in Western Japan is built directly on an active fault. [The Japan Daily Press]
US:
¶ The new secretary of energy says his top priorities are responding to climate change, safely managing the nation’s nuclear stockpile and fostering scientific research. [Northwest Public Radio]
¶ Minnesota’s governor is expected to sign into law a bill this week that will boost the state’s solar capacity from 13 MW to more than 450 MW. [PV-Tech]
¶ Environmental activists among Southern Co.’s shareholders are gearing up to confront the Atlanta-based utility’s leadership with accusations of giving more lip service to renewable energy than serious commitment. [Atlanta Business Chronicle]
¶ The New York Power Authority issued a request for proposals for power. Entergy submitted a proposal to provide 1,375 MW from its Indian Point nuclear power plant, at prices it says are competitive. [Mid-Hudson News]
geoharvey 