Opinion:
¶ “How Eon’s Transformation Will Change The Energy Debate In Europe” – The decision to divide Eon has the potential to be far more significant than any policy pronouncement and could light the blue touch paper on a transformation of the energy system that will revolutionise the way energy is consumed. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Seven Reasons Cheap Oil Can’t Stop Renewables Now” – Oil prices have fallen by more than half since July. Just five years ago, this would have put the renewable-energy industry on bankruptcy watch. Here are seven reasons why humanity’s transition to cleaner energy won’t be sidetracked by cheap oil. [Bloomberg]
Science and Technology:
¶ Eos Energy Storage will be making its MW-scale Aurora system commercially available starting in 2016 at a price of $160/kWh, according to a recent press release. The company’s standard offering is a containerized 1-MW DC battery system that can provide roughly 4 hours of continuous discharge for cost-effective energy storage. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ Royal Dutch Shell has joined the ranks of energy companies who are slashing their spending. Shell said it was scaling back its planned capital investment by $15 billion over the next three years in a move that signals caution. Oil is now trading around $45 per barrel, down from over $100 per barrel this summer. [CNN]
¶ The government of the Indian state of Karnataka might not consider any more thermal power projects in future, the energy minister said. He warned that the summer might be tough because of coal mining licence cancellations by the Supreme Court. He pegs his hopes on renewable energy, especially solar power. [The New Indian Express]
¶ In Turkey, the Geycek Wind Power Plant officially opened. Each year, the plant is expected to produce around 400 million kWh of electricity with 70 wind turbines, and provide for the whole electricity requirement of the city of Kırşehir. It will eliminate 245,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. [Daily Sabah]
¶ ETESA, Panama’s state transmission company, selected five groups to build PV projects with a combined capacity of at least 172 MW in the country’s first solar auction. The developers offered an average price of $87.25/MWh. Decisions one projects were based on price and need for a power supply. [Recharge]
¶ The Australian Renewable Energy Agency invested $1 billion into more than 230 projects, fellowships, and scholarships. The news comes only days after the Bureau of Meteorology and science agency released a report which claims Australia will be subject to massive current and future climate impacts. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Over the course of last year the electricity generated from solar installations across the UK almost doubled. Official data finds that at the end of 2014 solar generated almost 5 GW, up from 2.8 GW at the end of 2013. The latest figure is enough power to supply 1.5 million homes across the country. [Blue & Green Tomorrow]
US:
¶ The city of Ann Arbor has worked out a license agreement with DTE Energy to construct a large solar array at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport. City officials say it could be the largest solar installation in the entire state of Michigan. Initially, it would be up to 1.6 MW, but a second phase could it to 2.15 MW. [MLive.com]
¶ Not only is demand for electric power in the US falling, but competition from renewable energy sources is growing. In the past few years, that competition is not just from other large power producers, but from utility customers themselves. The rising opportunity for consumers is a problem for utilities. [Huffington Post]
¶ Supporting the Administration’s effort to double renewable energy generation by 2020, the US DOE announced more than $59 million in funding for solar energy innovation. Innovative solar manufacturing technologies will get $45 million, and $14 million will go to multi-year solar community deployment plans. [PennEnergy]
¶ Delays and cost overruns are piling up for a new plant in Georgia that was supposed to prove nuclear energy can be built affordably. Instead, the companies building first-of-their-kind reactors at Plant Vogtle expect they will need an extra three years and $1 billion to finish construction. [Savannah Morning News]
geoharvey 
Leave a comment