Science and Technology:
¶ A new report explains how ‘wrong time’ renewable energy generated by solar or wind could be used to liquefy air as a means of storing energy, which could then be used to generate electricity when needed, and provide a convenient and low-cost fuel for vehicles. [Click Green]
World:
¶ Aquamarine Power, based in Edinburgh, is currently testing their second full-scale prototype, the Oyster 800, at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. It is planning to put up to 50 such machines off the island of Lewis, as part of a 40 MW system. [Your Renewable News]
¶ The world’s largest and most powerful offshore wind turbine is now standing at Energy Park Fife in Scotland and is due to become operational later this year. The 7 MW Fife turbine will deliver enough electricity to power 4,800 homes. [Your Renewable News]
¶ Citing the nation’s renewable energy solicitations, Frost & Sullivan (Mountain View, California, U.S.) forecasts that renewable energy will grow from 1% of South Africa’s energy supply in 2012 to 12% in 2020. [solarserver.com]
¶ TEPCO said Monday that rainwater from a weekend storm became contaminated as it collected behind barriers meant to stop radiation leaks. The toxic water overflowed those barriers at several locations, with some of it possibly spilling into the Pacific Ocean. [New York Times]
¶ Radiation cleanup in some of the most contaminated towns around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant is far behind schedule, so residents will have to wait a few more years before returning, officials said Monday. [The Japan Times]
¶ Taxpayers will underwrite the Hinkley Point nuclear generator to the tune of up to £1 billion a year – with no guarantee of lower power bills. Energy Secretary Ed Davey also failed to say how many people would get work from the construction of the £16 billion plant. [Mirror.co.uk]
¶ A backlash was growing yesterday over the agreement with French-owned energy giant EDF to build a nuclear power plant which could put British electricity bills up for 35 years, with a £1billion per year subsidy going to French and Chinese companies. [Express.co.uk]
¶ Energy Minister Fergus Ewing responded today to the UK Government’s announcement about the nuclear plant, saying “Nuclear energy cannot be relied on for our energy needs,” and pointing out that UK subjects will be paying for the plant past mid-century. [The Edinburgh Reporter]
¶ The UK nuclear deal sets the wholesale price of power from the plant at £92.50/MWh for 35 years. Solar providers anticipate solar is set to require around £86/MWh for 15 years in the year 2019/20, with the price going down from there. [Click Green]
US:
¶ Suniva, Inc., a metro-Atlanta based manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells and modules, is celebrating six years as America’s leading U.S.-based solar manufacturer. [Your Renewable News]
¶ Some low-income neighborhoods across the US are getting a helping hand from a nonprofit solar installer, which leads teams of volunteers and green job trainees in installing solar PV systems exclusively for low-income homeowners. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Three coastal nuclear power plant sites in the path of Sandy — Millstone Power Station in Connecticut and the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear plants in New Jersey — were identified as being the country’s most vulnerable nuclear plants to storm surge in a research paper. [The Rushville Republican]
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