Opinion:
¶ “Nuclear Power Counts As A Renewable? Arizona Senate Committee Says So…” – Committee approval of a bill saying nuclear was renewable is especially funny considering the fact that Arizona is fast approaching some serious water-sourcing issues, and nuclear power plants require huge quantities of water. [CleanTechnica]
Science and Technology:
¶ An engineer has devised a system to convert the power of the wind directly into heat in an invention which could rid Scottish roads of frost in the winter and allow certain crops to be grown for 365 days a year. He believes one of the systems could heat up to 250 acres of farmland and also generate electricity. [Herald Scotland]
World:
¶ India could start installing 20,000 MW of solar power capacity as early as April after companies pledged to support the government’s drive for clean energy, an official told Reuters. Details of the plan, which has commitments from US, German and Chinese companies, will be announced on Friday. [Economic Times]
¶ A rebound in demand for Victorian brown coal since the end of the carbon tax continues to drive up the carbon emissions intensity of the National Electricity Market, which supplies power to about 80% of Australia’s population across the eastern states. It is up 3.3% since the carbon price was scrapped in July. [SteelGuru]
¶ A new study released by the International Renewable Energy Agency says renewable power generation technologies reached a historical level of competitiveness between 2013 and 2014. Power from geothermal, hydro and onshore wind are in the same competitive price range as traditional fossil fuels. [The Weather Channel]
¶ Siemens has handed over the first of five North Sea grid connections, the BorWin2 offshore platform, to its customer TenneT, a German-Dutch transmission grid operator, for immediate commercial operation. It is important as the first offshore grid connection for efficient high-voltage DC power. [Breaking Energy]
¶ A leaky roof at the Kingspan Environmental factory was costing the company up to £15,000 annually. Now the company has transformed that roof into a major power plant, installing 4,900 solar panels to create Ireland’s biggest rooftop solar PV installation. The company is now saving £40,000 a year. [Belfast Telegraph]
¶ Northern Ireland has one of the best wind resources in Europe. Nevertheless, until now they haven’t been able to make full use of them. That’s all about to change with AES’ plans to install Europe’s biggest electricity storage battery, a 10-MW lithium-ion battery array, at a site next to Kilroot power station. [Belfast Telegraph]
US:
¶ Aerojet Rocketdyne and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation have signed agreements with Silicon Ranch Corporation to build and manage what will be the largest solar field in Arkansas. The 12-MW project will occupy approximately 100 acres. It is valued for its predictable energy costs. [MyArkLaMiss]
¶ The National Hockey League today announced that it is ranked Number 17 on the US EPA’s National Top 100 list of the largest users of green power, making it the first professional sports league ever to achieve the distinction. The league has a number of significant green power achievements that it can point to. [NHL.com]
¶ A Massachusetts lawmaker is proposing sweeping changes to the state’s energy strategy, including measures to help fund a gas pipeline, more efficiently site electric transmission and expand the use of offshore wind generation. The state is expecting to retire 8,000 MW of existing generation in coming years. [Utility Dive]
¶ Over a hundred representatives of energy efficiency and renewable energy businesses went to Richmond, Virginia for Clean Energy Lobby Day. They met legislators, witnessed a critical subcommittee meeting, and came away with a powerful impression: the only bills utility-backed bills made it out of committee. [Energy Collective]
¶ The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is taking a closer look at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station after the plant shut down unexpectedly during last week’s blizzard, the NRC announced Monday. The special inspection at the plant is to review problems that led to the shutdown on January 27. [Barnstable Patriot]
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