geoharvey

Book Review:

¶ In a new book, noted environmentalist Lester Brown says the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy will happen much faster than expected.“I think we’re going to see a half-century of change compressed into the next decade,” he says. “And this is partly because the market is beginning to drive this transition.” [PRI]

An electricity power plant smokestack in Berlin, Germany. Photo by Jorge Royan. Wikimedia Commons

Science and Technology:

¶ After several weeks of delays, a solar plane took off from China Saturday for a historic crossing across the Pacific that organizers hope will end in Hawaii in five days. Solar Impulse 2, with André Borschberg manning the controls, was supposed to fly May 4, but repeated bouts of poor weather delayed it. [CBS News]

¶ The Frankfurt School–UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance has published a new study on economic benefits of hybridizing diesel-powered electric grids with solar PVs. Such grids are usually remote. Significant cost reductions can be had for state-owned utilities operating them. [solarserver.com]

¶ Researchers at Stanford are trying to develop large bioreactors where billions of bacterial methane generators called “methanogens” crank out the gas around the clock. These microbial colonies would be fed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and clean electricity from electrodes, Stanford News says. [The Green Optimistic]

Phylogenetic tree of methanogens. They have been in nature for a while. Art by Crion. Wikimedia Commons.

World:

¶ The Palestinian Authority approved a national plan to reach 10% power generation from renewable sources by 2020. The renewable energy push was strengthened after Israel twice briefly cut off power to two West Bank towns over a debt of over $500 million dollars owed the Israeli Electric Company. [Ynetnews]

¶ Four solar developers will be selected to provide a combined capacity of 200 MWp as part of Jordan’s second round of renewable energy independent power producers. The four lowest bidders will sell electricity at tariffs ranging from 6.13¢ per kWh to 7.67¢ per kWh. The record low price is 5.9¢ per kWh. [Venture Magazine]

¶ The New and Renewable Energy Minister of the Indian state of Punjab inaugurated a 2.10-MW solar power plant in a village near the India-Pakistan border. He said the farmers who made India self-reliant in food grains were now all set to become entrepreneurs by harnessing solar power from their fields. [Greentech Lead]

¶ US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz launched several initiatives with other global energy leaders at the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas and the sixth Clean Energy Ministerial in Merida, Mexico. These initiatives will further strengthen momentum in the Western Hemisphere and the world. [Imperial Valley News]

¶ Rooftop solar projects in India stand to be incentivized if a proposal made by the Minister for Coal, Power and New and Renewable Energy is realized. The government is also reportedly in talks with banks to provide loans for clean energy initiatives such as solar rooftop installations as part of home loans. [Greentech Lead]

¶ A magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Japan, shaking buildings in Tokyo, but geologists said there was no danger of a tsunami and no reports of damage since the quake was extremely deep. There were also no reports of further irregularities at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. [GlobalPost]

US:

¶ Large swaths of green pasture along Massachusetts highways are being transformed into solar power fields that state transportation officials say could save taxpayers $15 million over the next 20 years. Ten sites along Route 3 and the Mass Pike have been selected for the first phase of the project. [Boston Herald]

A view of the Mass Pike, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Photo by ToddC4176. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Cutting US greenhouse gas emissions to the target level announced by the Obama administration won’t require huge policy changes, according to a new report from the World Resources Institute. Reducing emissions by 26% to 28% in the next 10 years can be achieved under existing policies and laws. [Summit County Citizens Voice]

¶ In Chatham County, Georgia, the Solarize program has flipped the switch on panels at four homes over the past few weeks and counts three more under construction. It has contracts on 35 installations in all. Solarize relies on bulk purchases to drive down the cost, and participants’ contracts total of 202 kW. [The Augusta Chronicle]

Science and Technology:

¶ Torrential downpours in Texas have flooded drought-parched lands. A heat wave has so far killed more than 1,800 people in India. Alaska, of all places, had record 91° readings. A pair of top-of-the-scale typhoons hit the Northwest Pacific. A drought is taking hold in the East. Part of the blame goes to climate change. [aol.com]

Shelf cloud of a supercell over Miami, Texas. NOAA Photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Calculations based on the EPA’s estimate of corn ethanol emissions show that last year’s production and use of 14 billion gallons of corn ethanol resulted in 27 million tons more carbon emissions than if Americans had used straight gasoline. That’s worse than Keystone’s projected emissions. [Environmental Working Group]

World:

¶ The International Energy Agency reported on progress of clean energy technologies toward climate goals. Only solar PV was deemed to be on track. Onshore wind and hydropower need to improve. Everything else is held to be “not on track.” Overall, the agency warns that efforts are falling short. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Abengoa has commenced construction of the 148.5-MW Tres Mesas wind power plant in Tamaulipas, Mexico. The wind facility will feature 45 Vestas-developed V117-3.3 MW turbines and will generate 520,000 MWh of clean electricity annually, enough to supply power needs of 71,000 homes. [Energy Business Review]

¶ The Indian state of Karnataka, which lies in the country’s Southwest, is now embarking on setting up a mega solar power park, said to be the world’s biggest. The park, with a capacity of 2,000 MW, will come up on 10,000 acres of land in a parched area. The site was chosen for its sunlight and low land use. [The Hindu]

¶ Irish renewable energy company Gaelectric and US electric carmaker Tesla Motors Inc say they have agreed to develop a 1-MW battery storage demonstration project in Ireland. Scheduled for deployment in 2016, this installation represents a part of a wider collaboration between the companies. [SeeNews Renewables]

¶ Toshiba Corporation received an order to supply a large-scale battery energy storage system for Tohoku Electric Power Company’s Minami-Soma Substation Project. The 40-MW, 40-MWh lithium-ion system, will be Japan’s largest. Construction of the system has begun, operations should start next February. [WebWire]

US:

¶ While much of the attention related to EPA’s Clean Power Plan is focused, appropriately, on the emissions and economic benefits of the new standards, a report just released by the CNA Corporation identified another benefit that may end up being worth more than all the other impacts combined: water. [Energy Collective]

Low water in Lake Mead. Photo by Cmpxchg8b. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Duke Energy Florida received approval to build, own and operate a 5-MW solar facility that will serve the Reedy Creek Improvement District near Orlando, Florida. The Board of Supervisors voted to accept a 15-year power-purchase agreement with Duke Energy Florida Solar Solutions LLC. [AZoCleantech]

¶ A solar compromise plan is one step away from landing on the desk of the governor of Nevada. The Assembly passed the measure by a 41-1 vote, displaying a strong harmony after months of conflict over raising the solar cap. The bill goes to the Senate for a concurrence vote before it goes to Sandoval. [Las Vegas Sun]

¶ The EPA has proposed lowering how much ethanol must be blended into the gasoline supply through next year, upsetting the renewable fuel industry that wants targets as set by Congress. The EPA says congressional forecasts are no longer realistic given changes that have occurred since they were put in place. [Sioux Falls Argus Leader]

¶ President Barack Obama’s administration plans to protect the greater sage grouse in the western United States by limiting oil and gas development and renewable energy in the bird’s habitat, under a new plan. Mining, energy and farming companies fear sage grouse protections could restrict their businesses. [AG Week]

¶ Exelon CEO Christopher Crane said the company will decide in September whether to close its money-losing, 1,824-MW Quad Cities plant in Illinois. He had hoped the Illinois General Assembly would pass legislation providing an estimated $300 million/year in economic support. At present, that appears unlikely. [Platts]

Opinion:

¶ “Europe needs new energy policy as nuclear giants stumble” – The European nuclear industry seems to be in terminal decline. The French government owns 85% of Areva, which designs reactors, and 85% of Électricité de France, which runs them. Now it is amalgamating the two giants in a bid to rescue the industry. [RTCC]

Science and Technology:

¶ The highest temperature recorded on Wednesday reached 116.6° Fahrenheit (47° Celsius) in the eastern Indian states of Jharkhand and Odisha. More than 1,400 people have died in the heat wave. Climate change is likely is a factor, according to a research scientist with the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. [CNN]

Elephants beat the heat in an Indian zoo. Photo by Elroy Serrao. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ NEC Energy Solutions has introduced its next-generation SLD energy storage technology, which uses lithium-ion cells based on lithium manganese oxide chemistry. SLD will be priced at up to 30% lower than the company’s existing storage solution. It will be available for installation in the first quarter of 2016. [Windpower Engineering]

World:

¶ Though Tesla has stolen the headlines by announcing its household batteries, Daimler already has a lithium-ion battery working in Germany and will go fully commercial in September. Daimler plans to offer battery storage set-ups for heavy industry, mid-sized facilities like supermarkets and, soon, households. [Motoring]

¶ Spanish wind turbine maker Gamesa has won an order to supply and install 96 machines with a combined capacity of 239 MW at ScottishPower Renewables’ Kilgallioch wind park in southern Scotland. Financial details were not disclosed, but Gamesa noted that this is the largest order for the 2.5-MW turbine to date. [SeeNews Renewables]

Wind farm using Gamesa turbines. Author: germanborrillo. License: Creative Commons, Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic.

¶ Japanese financial services group Orix Corporation and two other companies to develop a 100-MW offshore wind farm off Kashima Port in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The proposed offshore wind farm will comprise 20 turbines, each of 5 MW. It will be the largest commercial offshore wind farm in Asia. [Greentech Lead]

¶ The world’s largest container ship operator, Maersk Line, has announced an ambitious target to reduce its greenhouse gas emission. The company plans to cut emissions per container moved by 60% by 2020, from 2007 levels. This is equivalent to eliminating emissions from all passenger cars in France. [CleanTechnica]

US:

¶ Renewable energy development company SunEdison has signed deals with five municipal groups on Long Island, New York, to build seven solar installations for a total of 14 MW. Power generated by these plants will be sold to utility Long Island Power Authority through separate 20-year power purchase agreements. [PV-Tech]

¶ The biggest solar power project in Minnesota has won approval from state regulators. The $250 million Aurora Solar Project by Edina-based Geronimo Energy calls for installation of ground-mounted solar panels at 21 sites. Geronimo plans to finish the project in 2016 and sell the power to Xcel Energy. [Minneapolis Star Tribune]

¶ Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has signed a compromise between the wind energy industry and critics of the state’s green energy mandate. The deal will remove a requirement that renewable resources account for 20% of utilities’ electric capacity by 2020, but it will provide some tax breaks for windpower. [WIBW]

¶ TDI-New England wants to build a 1,000-MW power line under Lake Champlain. The developer has offered Vermont millions of dollars to lower electricity bills and to clean up Lake Champlain. State officials like the potential windfall, but they say it won’t get in the way of a vigorous review of the project.[Vermont Public Radio]

Lake Champlain. Photo by Travisleehardin. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Data from the Energy Information Administration reveals highest levels of renewable energy use in the US since the Great Depression of the 1930s, when the country was in the depression and wood was a major source of heat. Renewable energy supplied 9.8% of total domestic energy consumption in 2014. [pv magazine]

¶ Three of the world’s largest tech companies, Apple, Facebook, and Google, have called on the North Carolina General Assembly to avoid making changes to the state’s renewable energy policies. They said the policies were important parts of the reasons they had to choose to invest in the state. [Triangle Business Journal]

World:

¶ Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd has closed an A$600 million ($462 million US) green bond, the biggest certified so far under the Climate Bonds Standard. About 40% will go to refinance green property, with the rest for wind and solar energy loans in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia. [SeeNews Renewables]

Wind farm in Australia. Author: Steven Caddy. License: Creative Commons, Attribution 2.0 Generic.

¶ Within a fortnight of publicly declaring that it would not completely divest from fossil fuel investments, Scotland’s University of Edinburgh has announced that it intends to divest from three of the world’s biggest fossil fuel producers. The university will write to these companies informing them of its intentions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ The Jordan News Agency said there will be a 20-year solar power purchase agreement between the Hong Kong-based, Hanergy Thin Film Power Group, and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Jordan. The projects are valued at $1.5 billion. Hanergy recently gave Jordan a grant for transmissions. [SeeNews Renewables]

¶ Citibank lowered its long-run thermal coal forecast by 11%, citing increasing competition from natural gas and renewables and weak Chinese demand They told clients, “Global thermal coal demand is suffering from increasing environmental pressure and competition from natural gas and renewable energy.” [Platts]

¶ Discounting any immediate plans to stop coal imports, India’s Coal and Power Minister, Piyush Goyal, said that the government will open more than 60 coal mines across the country in the coming days. He said the new mines were part of the plan for state miner Coal India to double its production by 2020. [Business Today]

¶ GE’s renewable energy business on May 27th, 2015 announced it will supply Convergent Energy + Power with a 7-MW / 7-MWh battery energy storage system for the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator. The system should help the IESO balance longer duration power irregularities in the area. [solarserver.com]

¶ A nuclear power plant in southern Japan has obtained all necessary permits to restart its two reactors, planned as early as late July. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said today that it had approved operational safety plans for the Sendai nuclear power station’s two reactors, owned by Kyushu Electric Power Co. [Business Standard]

¶ IKEA’s Nordic operations are now completely energy independent after opening its third wind farm in Sweden yesterday. The furniture retail giant now operates 46 turbines in Sweden and one in Denmark, producing around 360 GWh of clean energy per year, enough to power around 72,000 households. [Business Green]

Wind farm and IKEA store in Germany. Photo by Gerd W. Schmölter. Wikimedia Commons.

US:

¶ The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted this week to divest the University’s $66 million endowment, following a report provided by a University-appointed group tasked with investigating the complete divestment from fossil fuels. It is the largest university so far to divest itself of fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Arkansas electric cooperatives will have over 100 MW of additional wind power to meet the energy needs of their members. It will come from a planned wind farm in Oklahoma, 60 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. Plans call for the turbines and other aspects of the facility to be in service by the end of 2016. [Electric Co-op Today]

¶ Two northwest Ohio lawmakers used a business pitch on Wednesday in hopes of persuading fellow Republicans to weaken past moves they argue stymie development of large-scale wind farms. They pointed to the $1.1 billion expected to be invested in a new energy-intensive data center in central Ohio by Amazon. [Toledo Blade]

¶ Exxon Mobil’s CEO again rebuffed criticism that the company was not doing enough to cut carbon emissions, arguing that current climate models were not yet strong enough to justify a drastic shift away from fossil fuels. He argued we should look for solutions to the effects of climate change as they become clear. [Dallas Morning News]

¶ Legislation to end state support for renewable energy is on the ropes, as state politicians weigh concerns over potential damage to Texas’ booming wind power industry. A bill to freeze the renewable energy credit program and halt a $7-billion transmission line expansion for wind and solar farms has languished. [Dallas Morning News]

¶ US utility Westar Energy says it will buy 200 MW of wind from the Ninnescah wind farm in Kansas, to be built for it by a unit of NextEra Energy Resources LLC. The wind park in Pratt County will enter the construction phase late in 2015 or early 2016. It is planned to start producing power next year. [SeeNews Renewables]

¶ The NRC issued a ruling on a petition by Friends of the Earth that called for a shutdown of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant over safety concerns. The NRC’s ruling didn’t stop operations, but the group’s still claiming a victory. The NRC is having the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board review the case. [New Times SLO]

Opinion:

¶ “False promise of ‘carbon capture’ exposed” – The widely touted ‘carbon capture and storage’ technology is much more expensive than wind and solar, says Greenpeace. It also represents a perverse subsidy to the fossil fuel sector that will only boost coal and oil, and delay the transition to sustainable energy. [The Ecologist]

SaskPower Boundary Dam generating station. Photo by Wtshymanski. Wikimedia Commons.

World:

¶ Clean energy employed more than 7.7 million people across the world last year, according the International Renewable Energy Agency. The number, which covers people employed directly by renewable energy firms and throughout the supply chain, marks an 18% rise on the 6.5 million jobs recorded in 2013. [GreenBiz]

¶ Full power output has been achieved at the Westermost Rough offshore wind farm, located off the East Yorkshire coast. Westermost Rough is capable of generating enough electricity for more than 150,000 homes. It is the first offshore wind farm to make commercial use of the Siemens 6-MW wind turbine. [Insider Media]

¶ Ahead of the climate change Conference of the Parties in December, France’s lower house of parliament has approved a bill aimed at boosting renewable energy and reducing reliance on nuclear power, among other environment-friendly measures. There were 308 votes for the bill, and 217 against. [Jamaica Observer]

¶ To provide uninterrupted power from renewable energy sources, experts from the UK and IITs are now working to create a new model combining the best of concentrating photovoltaic solar power, biomass energy and hydrogen. They will soon light up a remote tribal hamlet in West Bengal. [Niticentral]

¶ Solar Power Inc, a renewable-energy project developer backed by China’s LDK Solar Co, agreed to help develop 500 MW of photovoltaic systems in Japan. Japan is the second-largest solar market, and may install as much as 12.7 gigawatts of panels this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. [Bloomberg]

¶ The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says it has finished filtering 620,000 tons of extremely toxic water stored in tanks on the premises of the complex to lower its radiation level. TEPCO says, however, that 400 tons more of radioactive water is still being generated every day. [The Japan Times]

US:

¶ In a new report, the US Department of Energy says the US could get 35% of its electricity from wind power within 35 years. The report details the benefits of replacing fossil fuel power plants with wind turbines generating carbon-free electricity. One benefit is saving 260 billion gallons of water each year. [TakePart]

Wind farm in rural America.

¶ The US DOE has announced $32 million in funding to help train more American solar support workers, to further drive down the cost of solar, and to increase access to solar data. Up to $12 million will be available to develop a solar support workforce, including professionals in the real estate and utility industries. [Energy Matters]

¶ Underwriters Laboratories, a safety science company based in Illinois, is partnering with University of California, San Diego, to scale their sustainability initiatives. The partners will do research on sustainable energy, focussing on technology, as well as sharing testing techniques, results, and analysis. [Chicago Inno]

¶ Faced with mounting fuel costs, New Jersey’s Hanover Township Wastewater Treatment Plant decided to use the biogas they previously flared to power a 100 kW generator. Prior to being injected into the engine, the biogas will be conditioned to extend engine life and avoid down time. [Renewable Energy from Waste]

¶ Duke Energy will partner with LG Chem and Greensmith to build a battery-based energy storage facility at the site of Duke’s decommissioned WC Beckjord coal-fired power plant in New Richmond, Ohio. The new plant will serve to regulate and stabilize the electric power grid in the eastern US. [Cincinnati Business Courier]

¶ According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, wind and solar accounted for all new generating capacity placed into service in April. Wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower combined have provided 84.1% of the new US electrical generating capacity placed into service so far in 2015. [North American Windpower]

Opinion:

¶ “New Wind Turbine Capacity Factor Could Increase From ~40% To ~60%” – The engineer and economist Bernard Chabot has written an article explaining how wind power capacity factors for new wind turbines could increase from about 40% to 60%. Such a change has profound implications. [CleanTechnica]

Four wind turbines on the Somerset Wind Farm, in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Photo by Jeff Kubina from Columbia, Maryland. Wikimedia Commons.

Science and Technology:

¶ Just weeks after producing its first batch of synthetic diesel fuel made from carbon dioxide and water, Audi has laid claim to another synthetic, clean-burning and petroleum-free gasoline replacement fuel called “e-benzin.” The fuel was created by Audi’s project partner Global Bioenergies, in France. [Gizmag]

World:

¶ The Government of Japan signed a contribution agreement on its pledge of $1.5 billion to the Green Climate Fund, bringing the total confirmed agreements since the GCF’s November 2014 Berlin meeting up to 58.5% of amounts pledged, and well over the 50% threshold required by its governing board. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Britain’s biggest water and sewerage company is set to be powered solely with renewable energy, after yesterday signing a £500m deal with Drax. A Drax subsidiary will supply electricity from biomass power for the next five years. The deal is expected to put downward pressure on electric bills. [Business Green]

¶ A member of South Africa’s National Planning Commission told a panel discussion that the country’s coal-fired power station build program and continued reliance on fossil fuels was partly the result of the entrenchment of the interest of large mineral resources firms in government. [Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly]

¶ A $310 million grant extended by China’s Hanergy firm to expand the Jordanian national grid’s capacity will help open the door for more renewable energy projects. Last year, the government cancelled plans for five windpower plants with a total capacity of 400 MW because of limited grid capacity. [Al-Bawaba]

¶ The Edinburgh Council has revealed plans to install community-owned solar panels on buildings across the Scottish capital. Public buildings such as schools, leisure and community centres will be chosen to host the solar technology, which project chiefs say will deliver significant environmental and social benefits. [CleanTechnica]

Cockburn Street in Edinburgh. Photo by David Monniaux. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Ceres’ Investor Network on Climate Risk has grown to include over 100 institutional investors with more than $24 trillion in collective assets. The network is actively calling for an end to global fossil fuel subsidies and a strong Paris climate agreement later this year. It is also moving the corporate world. [Communities Digital News]

¶ A leading Chinese scientist has warned that China’s plans for a rapid expansion of nuclear power plants are “insane” because the country is not investing enough in safety controls. Proposals to build plants inland are particularly risky, because an accident could leave hundreds of millions of people without water. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ New Jersey wants to double its spending on energy-storage projects to $6 million. Renewable sources, such as solar and wind, could supply more power, and critical facilities like schools and wastewater treatment plants could keep up and running when the power grid fails, as it did during Hurricane Sandy. [NJ Spotlight]

¶ Switch, a tech company that runs one of the nation’s leading data centers, applied to Nevada regulators in November to generate and purchase power without the utility so it could get 100% renewable power and cut bills. A memo from the state criticizing the company’s position is being challenged. [St. George Daily Spectrum]

Science and Technology:

¶ The Solar Impulse 2, the experimental plane attempting to fly around the world without a single drop of fuel, is set to take off from China early Tuesday morning on the most challenging and dangerous part of its journey yet. Andre Borschberg will fly the craft alone during the non-stop flight from Nanjing to Hawaii. [CNN]

Solar Impulse SI2 in 2014. Photo by Milko Vuille. Wikimedia Commons.

World:

¶ There is uncertainty about the future of wind farms in the UK. Tory pledges to “halt the spread of onshore wind farms” by ending subsidies for new projects and giving local people more power over windfarm applications left many in the industry fearing the worst and have done little for investor confidence. [FarmersWeekly]

¶ Hanwha Group unveiled an ambitious plan to turn a small islet off the coast of Korea into a 100% solar-powered community. Three subsidiaries of the Korean solar group will lead on a project to transform the island of Jukdo, replacing its four diesel generators and with 100% renewable power. [eco-business.com]

¶ Goldman Sachs Group Inc plans to establish a bond facility to target $1 billion in investment in renewable energy projects in Japan, people familiar with the plan said. The initiative is part of Goldman’s 2012 plan to channel investments totaling $40 billion into renewable energy projects over the next decade. [GlobalPost]

¶ The construction on a 2.3-MW floating solar power plant has been completed in Hyogo prefecture, western Japan. It is the world’s largest floating solar power plant in terms of output. The plant is expected to generate 2,680 MWh every year. It is more efficient than land-based systems because the water cools the panels. [Xinhua]

¶ For a second consecutive year, Hydro-Québec posted a net result of $1.8 billion for the first quarter. Thanks to the company’s skillful sales programs and the solid performance of its generating and transmission facilities in very cold winter temperatures, the net result totaled $1,788 million in 2015. [Your Renewable News]

¶ Roughly 1% of Australia’s geothermal energy, which is shallower than five kilometres, could supply the nation’s total energy requirements, government estimates reveal. In the state of Victoria, some of the best geothermal areas are below beds of brown coal. The government seems to prefer the coal. [Sydney Morning Herald]

Geothermal plants do make steam, but not smoke. Wairakei Power Station in New Zealand. Photo by QFSE Media. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Testing for the first turbine at Dutch offshore wind park Eneco Luchterduinen has been successfully completed, so the wind park is now generating energy for the grid. Installation of other wind turbines is progressing well. At present, Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel Aeolus sets up the 31st wind turbine. [Your Renewable News]

¶ Recent bids in Jordan confirmed last year’s results from Dubai: Solar is now cheaper than gas-fired power in this region, with major implications for energy strategies. Bids in Jordan’s recent solar auction were just over 6¢/kWh, slightly above the record 5.84¢ from Acwa Power last November in Dubai. [The National]

¶ In the Philippines, Citicore Power expects to roll out a 250-MW solar farm with Solar Philippines this year, and develop a 60-MW hydropower facility in Luzon that will be constructed early next year. The company is also eyeing putting up a 12-MW biomass facility in the Visayas early next year. [The Manila Times]

¶ The International Atomic Energy Agency criticized Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Japanese regulatory authorities for their failure to prevent the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster despite knowing the risk of large tsunami hitting the facility, according to a copy of an IAEA report. [The Japan Times]

US:

¶ A disagreement over funding has Democrats and Republicans of the Maine legislature divided and a pair of key bills on energy lodged in a committee. One issue is whether the governor should be allowed to have the power to appoint the director of the Efficiency Maine Trust. Another is a typo in a law. [Lewiston Sun Journal]

¶ Blue Sphere Corp, a clean energy company that develops, manages and owns waste-to-energy projects, has announced that they will break ground on their a project in Johnston, Rhode Island, on Wednesday, May 28. The 3.2 MW of energy will come from uneaten food that would normally end up in local landfills. [GoLocalProv]

¶ Kansas City is famous for a lot of things: cattle, barbecue, and jazz to name a few. Now there may be more. Kansas City Power & Light announced a plan to install more than 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations over its service areas, which are in and around both Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. [Automotive News]

Science and Technology:

¶ At a news conference in Taipei, former US NRC chairman Gregory Jaczko said nuclear energy is playing an increasingly insignificant role in power generation worldwide, adding that it is more expensive than many other generating methods. He said its future was one of “decreasing use and eventual phase-out.” [Taipei Times]

Ma’anshan nuclear power plan in southern Taiwan, Nan Wan Bay, wind turbines in background. Photo by M. Weitzel. Wikimedia Commons.

World:

¶ A renewable energy project that has seen 500 Glasgow Housing Association homes fitted with solar panels is being hailed a success after saving tenants £388,000 on their combined energy bills. The solar panels have so far generated more than 2.4 million kWh of electricity, enough to make 122 million cups of tea. [STV Glasgow]

¶ Metro Vancouver has joined a push to keep the fifty year old Burrard Thermal power station on standby as a backup electricity source for the Lower Mainland, but with a proviso that it burn a renewable energy source in the future instead of natural gas. Some opposed this as burning wood is potentially polluting. [Burnaby NewsLeader]

¶ The UK’s new Conservative energy secretary, Amber Rudd, has signalled that she plans to end subsidies to the operators of new wind farms. The industry worries that a sudden end to support for new projects would hit progress being made by the industry towards being subsidy-free in the medium-term. [Scotsman]

¶ AXA, one of the largest insurance companies in the world and the largest in France, announced this week that it will sell more than $550,000,000 in coal investments by the end of 2015. It will triple its investments in renewable energy, energy infrastructure and green bond to more than $3 billion by 2020. [PlanetSave.com]

¶ As part of the EU Emissions Trading System, it is estimated that emissions of greenhouse gases from more than 11,000 power plants and manufacturing installations in 2014 were 4.5 percent lower year on year. However, airlines showed increases in carbon emissions for their operations in the EU. [Prague Post]

The 760-MW Sheerness coal generating station, located southeast of Hanna, Alberta. Photo by Paul Jerry from Medicine Hat, Canada. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Despite burning more coal for energy than all other provinces combined, Alberta is set to ween itself off the black mineral, earning praise from a coalition of physicians. Canada has laws to close or upgrade coal plants, but its provinces have pushed through stricter, faster plans, and Alberta could be next. [Calgary Herald]

US:

¶ A new government analysis of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan shows that the proposal could further weaken an already battered coal industry. Electricity generation from the carbon-intensive fossil fuel would fall by 90 GW, more than twice the decline government analysts had predicted as recently as April. [Lexington Herald Leader]

¶ The installation of charging stations for plug-in electric cars is moving ahead in New York, despite a decline in sales of the vehicles that mirrors the drop in gas prices. The sales blip bothers neither the state and federal agencies that are bankrolling the installation of this new infrastructure nor manufacturers. [Times Herald-Record]

¶ Siemens Energy unveiled a new product last week at the AWEA Windpower trade show in Orlando that it will partially manufacture in Hutchinson, Kansas, starting in 2017. The SWT 2.3-120 is a modification of Siemens’ original SWT 2.3-108 wind turbine, allowing higher performance at lower wind speeds. [Hutchinson News]

World:

¶ Australians in Melbourne have been negotiating for four years with various government bodies of the state of Victoria for an entirely solar-powered tram network in Melbourne. The network would be the world’s largest, and it would make the capital city of Victoria become a world environmental leader. [CleanTechnica]

Digital visualization by Australia Solar Group.

¶ Ben van Beurden, the chief executive of Shell, has endorsed warnings that the world’s fossil fuel reserves cannot be burned unless some way is found to capture their carbon emissions. The oil boss has also predicted that the global energy system will become “zero carbon” by the end of the century. [The Guardian]

¶ Over 2,000 business leaders, political leaders, and senior climate negotiators at the Business & Climate Summit pledged to lead a global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. The question is “who will lead?” Policymakers call for business leadership, and business leaders call for well-founded policy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Vestas has confirmed industry reports that it has signed on as supplier for an offshore project in the UK with a potential to be up to 970 MW. Navitus Bay Development Limited will receive up to 970 MW of Vestas V164-8.0 turbines, in a contract that may be worth an estimated £1.6 billion, or $2.5 billion. [CleanTechnica]

¶ How large are global energy subsidies? The answer: quite a lot larger than we thought, according to new estimates from the International Monetary Fund. They say subsidising fossil fuels costs an enormous $5.3 trillion a year, or around $10 million a minute. The fund says the figures are “extremely robust.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ Japan’s nuclear regulator has approved Kyushu Electric Power Company’s ‘construction plan’ for unit 2 of its Sendai nuclear power plant. The company hopes to restart unit 1 of the plant in July, with unit 2 following within months. New safety requirements meant the reactors needed greater security. [World Nuclear News]

¶ Inspections of containers holding contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant found that at least 10% have leaks, which could trigger a hydrogen explosion. The owner, TEPCO, reported its findings at a meeting with a study group from the Nuclear Regulation Authority on May 22. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶ According to a recently released report by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, grid parity was coming much quicker than expected. It has already been met in six major cities, and in 2017 the population at parity is likely to be 71 million instead of the 51 million projected in 2012. [CleanTechnica]

Hoboken. Photo by Jawny80. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Since hurricane Sandy, New Jersey utility PSE&G has made significant investments to harden the grid in Hoboken. Even so, the City of Hoboken is exploring the possibility of building a microgrid for the community, to support critical facilities and the most vulnerable residents, should the grid go down. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Citing financial risks of climate change and carbon-intense coal assets, shareholders with billions of investment dollars voted in favor of carbon reduction targets at FirstEnergy and Great Plains Energy, showing strong support for of shareholder proposals put forth a non-profit and an investment group. [IT Business Net]

¶ UPS recently announced an agreement to purchase renewable natural gas for its delivery vehicle fleet from Clean Energy Fuels Corp, making it the largest user of RNG in the shipping industry. UPS has a goal of driving one billion miles using its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet by the end of 2017. [Justmeans]

¶ West Warwick is on the path to becoming the first community in Rhode Island that uses renewable energy to offset all of the electricity used by its municipal and school facilities. Town voters approved issuing $18 million in bonds to pay for three large wind turbines that would be installed on private land. [The Providence Journal]

¶ Following their ambition always to be that little bit different, the guys at Intel decided to build a mini wind farm on the rooftop of their headquarters in Santa Clara, California. A micro-turbine array is being installed. It is comprised 58 wind turbines, each just under 7 ft (~2m) tall, and weighing 30 pounds (13 kg). [The Green Optimistic]

Science and Technology:

¶ A study by US wind energy experts suggests integrating more renewable generation into one of North America’s major power grids could boost its stability and resilience. The research was done by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and GE Energy Consulting based on a study in the western US. [reNews]

Stateline Wind Project, Eastern Oregon or Washington. Photo by Sam Beebe. Wikimedia Commons.

World:

¶ Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude exporter, could phase out the use of fossil fuels by the middle of this century, according to the kingdom’s oil minister. He said the kingdom plans to become a “global power in solar and wind energy” and could start exporting electricity instead of fossil fuels in coming years. [The Australian Financial Review]

¶ Global hydroelectric power capacity could double to 2,000 GW by 2050 or sooner, according to a report released this week by the World Energy Council. The report notes that hydropower worldwide has seen a resurgence since 2005 due to better management and understanding of the hydroelectric technology. [HydroWorld]

¶ European energy companies are increasingly investing in renewables rather than coal and gas, the chief executive of power company Engie, told the Financial Times. Coal and gas are uneconomic generating fuels for European suppliers, Mestrallet said, though they remain viable in some emerging markets. [Out-Law.com]

¶ Danish wind giant Dong has installed a milestone 3000 MW of offshore wind capacity across Northern Europe. The company reached the landmark figure with turbine 76 at the 312-MW Borkum Riffgrund 1 project in the North Sea. Dong has a target to construct 6500 MW offshore wind power by the end of 2020. [reNews]

Turbine 76. Dong photograph.

US:

¶ Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Co, has acquired a 103-MW solar farm from Community Energy. The Butler power plant is coming up on roughly 1,000 acres in Taylor County, Georgia. It will have more than 1 million thin-film modules made by First Solar. It is expected to be operational next year. [Greentech Lead]

¶ Nuclear power plants in Illinois need state support to be profitable. Illinois legislation backed by the Chicago-based Exelon Corp, which also runs Chicago utility ComEd, could add about $2 per month to the bills of utility customers, even those customers outside their service are, such as those of Ameren Illinois. [STLtoday.com]

¶ Minnesota utility regulators approved lower electric rates for people who charge plug-in vehicles in their garages at night. The new rates, which take effect in about two months at Xcel Energy Inc. and two other utilities, could shave 40% or more off the already low cost of charging plug-in cars. [Minneapolis Star Tribune]

¶ California state regulators approved a plan to replace a 1950s natural gas power plant in northern San Diego County with a new natural gas plant. This led to complaints that renewable energy options were being overlooked. The area is under pressure because the San Onofre nuclear plant had to close. [Los Angeles Times]

¶ Renewable energy development company SunEdison has received contracts to build 33 MW of DC rooftop solar with Southern California Edison in the utility’s most recent round of solar procurement. SCE will purchase the electricity from the 17 rooftop installations through 20-year power purchase agreements. [PV-Tech]

Opinion:

¶ “Can Regions, Cities become 100% Dependent on renewable energy? Absurd? Not anymore”- Strides are being taken to move entire regions, as well as cities, to 100% renewable energy, according to speakers at the May 13-15 Renewable Cities Forum 2015 in Vancouver. Renewables are transforming policy. [Bloomberg BNA]

Vancouver downtown, winter sunset. Photo by Pmagn. Wikimedia Commons.

Science and Technology:

¶ A project testing combination of solar PV, combined heat and power systems and battery storage at a commercial facility in Germany could be adapted and scaled up elsewhere, according to General Electric, one of the project’s partners. Other partners are solar provider Belectric, and Jenbacher, for CHP technology. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group now comprises over 75 of the world’s greatest cities. In this role it represents a quarter of the world’s economy and nearly 8% of its population. Now it is making a new effort to help cities in developing nations to get credit for low-carbon climate-related projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Marine energy company Minesto has been awarded a €13 million investment through the Welsh Government. The funding is part of the commercial roll out, including the establishment of Minesto UK Headquarters in North Wales and commissioning of the first commercial Deep Green power plant. [Renewable Energy Focus]

¶ Wind power will play an important role in Chile’s Biobio region, which has 968 MW of approved wind projects and further 572 MW proposed for installation, the energy ministry said Tuesday. Wind power is now the leading renewable energy source in Chile in terms of installed capacity, with 892 MW. [SeeNews Renewables]

¶ China’s thermal coal imports are expected to drop by 52 million tonnes or around a quarter in 2015, as the country takes steps to support its domestic producers and address environmental concerns. The expected fall weighs on already historically low prices and exacerbate a supply glut. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]

¶ Investment bank Morgan Stanley has painted a bullish outlook for the home battery storage market in Australia, saying it could be worth $24 billion, with half of all households likely to install batteries to store the output from their solar panels. That will mean more than the doubling the number with solar. [RenewEconomy]

¶ According to the 2015 “Technology Roadmap” from the International Energy Agency and Nuclear Energy Agency, nuclear power can play a modest, but important, role in avoiding catastrophic global warming, if it can solve its various problems including high construction cost without sacrificing safety. [Energy Collective] (If what?)

¶ The venting system designed to release pressure inside the containment vessel of the No 2 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant likely failed during the 2011 disaster, TEPCO said May 20. The discovery was made by a robot deployed last October to a room venting pipes from the reactor pass through. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶ California has sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (“Under 2 MOU”) with 11 other states and provinces in the Americas and Europe to limit their greenhouse gas emissions to 80-95% by 2050 from 1990 levels. The tricontinental pledge, representing 100 million people, is without precedent and very forward-looking. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines at the Judith Gap Wind Farm, just outside Judith Gap, Montana. Photo by Nomadic Lass. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Renewable energy has evolved into a multimillion-dollar industry in Montana. A new report takes a look at the economic landscape during the 10 years of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and finds renewable energy has added $17 million to the annual gross state product. Windpower stands out especially. [Public News Service]

¶ With the approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, Xcel Energy will now be able to monitor gas and electricity infrastructure using drone technology. The drones will inspect power lines, power plants, and renewable energy facilities for fallen trees, loose conductors, leaks, and other wear and tear. [WesternSlopeNow]

¶ A successful local lawsuit has ended in a de facto moratorium on fracking in North Carolina. This happened as a bill that would halt progress requirements on renewable energies continues to cycle its way through the legislature, appearing in front of committee on its way to a vote in the senate. [The Guardian]

¶ ACCIONA Windpower, a subsidiary of the ACCIONA Group that designs, manufactures and markets wind turbines, plans to install 805.5 MW of wind capacity in the US, Canada, and Mexico in 2015. Of this, 94% will be with 3-MW wind turbines. All these facilities are owned by third-party customers. [AltEnergyMag]

¶ In Vermont, Stowe Electric Department officials met last week with residents , hoping to assuage concerns over a solar project in their back yard. The project is up for a vote on May 28, as the town needs to get a bond to go ahead with the project. The immediate concerns of the residents may have been allayed. [Stowe Today]

World:

¶ The world’s first electrical car and passenger ferry powered by batteries has entered service in Norway. The ferry only uses 150 kWh per route, which corresponds to three days use of electricity in a standard Norwegian household. The ferry is powered by lithium-ion batteries charged by hydropower. [The Maritime Executive]

Battery-powered ferry in Norway.

¶ International Energy Agency and the World Bank have issued an update on progress countries have made on energy objectives. They say significant process has been made towards achieving widespread energy access, increased energy efficiency, and a greater development of renewable energy, but more is needed. [CleanTechnica]

¶ On Monday, the International Renewable Energy Agency released a report claiming that developing Djibouti’s significant renewable energy resources will allow the country to reach its goal of sourcing 100% of its energy from renewables by 2020. The country’s has geothermal, wind, and solar resources. [ESI Africa]

¶ Storing hydrogen deep underground in salt caverns and converting it into a reliable, affordable, flexible power source could help meet the UK’s future peak energy and load following demands, according to a new report published by the Energy Technologies Institute. The UK has over 30 useable salt caverns. [PoliticsHome.com]

¶ A report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency more than 7.7 million people world-wide are now employed by the renewable energy industry. This is an 18% increase from last year’s figure of 6.5 million. The solar PV industry is the largest renewable energy employer world-wide. [solarserver.com]

¶ German Chancellor Merkel and French President Hollande jointly yesterday pledged to do their utmost to ensure an ambitious UN deal to combat climate change is reached this year. The EU’s two biggest economies also urged other countries to do their part in helping achieve a global push to cut emissions. [The Daily Star]

¶ Brazil will reach an installed renewables capacity of 32.9 GW by 2017, with wind power becoming the top renewable energy technology there, GlobalData forecasts. Biomass plants represented half of Brazil’s renewable energy mix in 2014 are expected to lose the first place in the ranking to wind farms. [SeeNews Renewables]

Wind farm in Rio Grande do Sul. Author: Alexandre Pereira. License: Creative Commons, Attribution – ShareAlike 2.0 Generic.

¶ Bloomberg New Energy Finance analyzed the pre-approval of a record 34 GW of Chinese wind projects to be built over 2015-18 in an Analyst Reaction, looking at the investment involved, the developers and the geographical distribution of the approved projects. This will be windpower’s biggest year in China. [Business Spectator]

¶ Japan`s nuclear watchdog on Wednesday gave the green light to restart one more atomic reactor, weeks after the government said a fifth of the country`s electricity supply should come from atomic power. The Nuclear Regulation Authority decided a reactor at Ikata nuclear power plant meets safety guidelines. [Zee News]

US:

¶ Georgia Power is launching the 2015/2016 Advanced Solar Initiative Distributed Generation program soliciting projects totaling 100 MW. The company will acquire solar resources using a combination of competitive bidding and fixed pricing. It is holding events to help applicants learn more. [Your Renewable News]

¶ In Alaska, faced with climate change and high electricity costs, the Kodiak Electric Association set a goal of producing 95% of the community’s electrical needs with renewable energy by 2020. They actually arrived there well ahead of time, and are now 99.7% renewably powered by wind and hydro. [Business Spectator]

Kodiak Island wind farm. Photo by James Brooks. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Iron mines, electric utilities and the biofuel industry came out winners in energy-related measures passed by the Minnesota legislature. But municipal and cooperative electric companies convinced lawmakers people with rooftop solar panels don’t pay their fair share for the grid, so they will pay fees. [Minneapolis Star Tribune]

¶ The US DOE said higher wind turbine towers and longer blades could unlock wind development in all 50 states, opening up an additional one-fifth of the land area in the country. At 110 meter hub heights, the agency expects the land area with physical potential for wind deployment in the US to increase 54%. [reNews]

¶ Duke Energy announced plans to retire its Asheville, NC, coal-fired power plant in four to five years and modernize its generation and transmission system in western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. They say this will reduce environmental impacts. The coal plant will be converted to burn natural gas. [Your Renewable News]

¶ The solar capacity in the US is forecast to grow to 40 GW by 2017, up from 20 GW in 2014, according to a new video report from the US Solar Energy Industries Association. Solar will be producing enough energy to power eight million homes by 2017, with all solar markets expected to grow 25-50% in this period. [PV-Tech]

Opinion:

¶ “President Obama Regrettably Approves Oil Drilling in the Arctic Ocean” – The Obama administration granted conditional approval to Shell Oil Company to begin exploratory drilling in the Arctic Ocean off the North Slope of Alaska on May 11, 2015. The decision represents a major compromise on global warming. [Energy Collective]

Shell Oil’s Polar Pioneer Arctic Drilling Rig. Photo by Chas Redmond from Seattle WA, USA. Wikimedia Commons.

World:

¶ A house in the hills above Stuttgart can theoretically generate enough energy to power itself and an electric car, with enough left over to feed back to into Germany’s national grid. The B10 house is designed to generate 200% energy, a target it hopes to hit within the next year. Almost the entire house is recyclable. [Wired.co.uk]

¶ Around 1.6 million premature deaths would be prevented annually if the world’s governments stopped subsidising fossil fuels, according to researchers from the International Monetary Fund found. They say in eastern Europe and Turkey, 60% of the people who die as a result of air pollution could be saved. [EUobserver]

¶ SaskPower’s 140-MW Boundary Dam coal plant has an operating carbon capture and storage system (CSS), which captures 90% of carbon dioxide it produces. It sells most of it to a nearby oilfield for “enhanced oil recovery” and buries the rest. CSS reduces power output by 17% to 18%. [The Australian Financial Review]

¶ Energy giant E.ON has partnered with the UK Green Investment Bank over the construction of the Rampion offshore wind farm, which is expected to power 300,000 homes. The Green Investment Bank has acquired a £236 million stake in the new project. Total investment supported by E.ON is £1.3 billion. [Blue & Green Tomorrow]

¶ Unilever has saved 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions since 2008 in its manufacturing network. Energy consumption has been reduced by 20%, the same energy used to run 40 factories or the carbon of over 800,000 acres of forest per year. This has also resulted in significant cost savings of €244 million. [New Food]

¶ The rise of renewable energy, weak power demand and declining coal prices are pushing down the price of power in Germany. The country’s baseload wholesale price is about €32/MWh ($37/MWh), lower than both the UK and the Netherlands. The trend has pushed conventional power plants out of the market. [Interfax Global Energy]

¶ Greenhouse gas emissions from installations covered by the EU emissions trading scheme fell by about 4.5% last year, in part, due to the impact of renewables, according to the European Wind Energy Association. It is of interest that power sector emissions fell substantially more than industrial emissions. [reNews]

European sunrise

¶ A Japanese court upheld an injunction banning the restart of two nuclear reactors, in a blow to the government’s ambitions to return to atomic power generation. Fukui District Court dismissed Kansai Electric Power’s motion for a stay on an earlier decision baring restart of reactors in Takahama. [The Straits Times]

US:

¶ As the Tennessee Valley Authority is developing plans for meeting energy demands in its future, US Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, both R-Tennessee, are pushing it to steer clear of renewable power. But the TVA’s President and CEO remains firm on the need for more use of renewable energy. [The Daily Times]

¶ The ravages of climate change could severely hurt the ability of utilities in the 11 Western states to generate power unless they “climate proof” their power grid using renewables, increased transmission capacity, and energy efficiency, something they are not prepared for, according to a new study. [Standard-Examiner]

¶ Pattern Energy Group has finalized its purchase of 351 MW of operational wind capacity from Wind Capital Partners. The deal gives Pattern ownership rights facilities in central Kansas and northwestern Missouri. The company paid $242 million for the projects plus assumed debts of $102 million. [Argus Media]

¶ Nearly a dozen shareholder groups are furious with FirstEnergy for its stance on energy efficiency rules and its efforts to keep its coal-fired power plants. And outside of the early morning, closed-door shareholder meeting, a broad coalition of labor, consumer and environmental groups will stage a protest. [cleveland.com]

¶ At least 41 states are in talks with neighbors about how they might cut power-sector carbon emissions under US EPA’s Clean Power Plan, despite appeals from Republicans in Congress for state officials to refuse to comply, according to regional coordinators. Fifteen states are bringing court challenges to the rule. [Environment & Energy Publishing]

Opinion:

¶ “7 Facts That Prove the Renewable Energy Revolution Has Arrived” – The global transition to clean, renewable energy and away from nuclear and fossil fuels is well under way with remarkable developments happening every day. Here are seven important developments that may surprise you: [EcoWatch]

World:

¶ Giving local communities powers to stop onshore wind farms is one of the first things on the agenda of the new UK energy secretary, Amber Rudd. Personally, she enjoys the turbines, but her position is that they cannot be built on scale in places where people do not want them, she told The Sunday Times.
[SeeNews Renewables]

Wind turbine in UK. Author: Mark Thompson. License: Creative Commons. Attribution 2.0 Generic

¶ The Irish Green Party has called on Dublin to support domestic rooftop solar development ahead of utility-scale solar farms. Party leader Eamon Ryan says businesses and homes should be encouraged to install solar panels as the price of the technology falls. He believes large solar farms will create public opposition. [reNews]

¶ The King of Jordan inaugurated a 5.6-MW solar-run power plant at the premises of the royal court. The project comes under royal directives to establish power plants reliant on renewable energy to cover the electricity needs of the royal court and palaces. The plant will cover all the court’s electric needs. [Al-Bawaba]

¶ A deal has been reached to reduce Australia’s renewable energy target to 33,000 GWh after the government agreed to drop regular reviews of the scheme. The government and Labor reached an agreement during talks in Melbourne on Monday morning, ending more than 12 months of political deadlock. [The Age]

¶ More than 15,300 solar panels could be built on about 15 acres of land to the north of Moor Farm near Baschurch, Shropshire, UK. The proposed development will have the capacity to produce about 3.75 MW, which is enough power for about 1,140 homes. It is out of sight from all local residential buildings. [shropshirestar.com]

Solar farm in the UK

US:

¶ Warren Buffett highlights how his Berkshire Hathaway Inc utilities make massive investments in renewable energy. Meanwhile, in Nevada, the company is fighting a plan that would encourage more residents to use green power. It is opposing a proposal to increase the net metering cap in the state. [Bloomberg]

¶ US clean energy company Invenergy LLC said Friday it has secured debt and tax equity project financing for the 200-MW Buckeye wind farm in Ellis County, Kansas. Nebraska utility Lincoln Electric System in December completed the power purchase agreement for 100 MW of Buckeye’s power. [SeeNews Renewables]

¶ Siemens will supply 65 wind turbines for the Amazon wind farm Fowler Ridge in Benton County, Indiana. With a capacity of 150 MW, the wind power plant will provide Amazon Web Services’ data center. Construction is scheduled to begin in July. Commissioning is planned for the first quarter of 2016. [Sun & Wind Energy]

¶ The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Minnesota Power’s request for a certificate of need for the 500-kV Great Northern transmission line, which will cost $560 million to $710 million. The 220-mile line will carry carbon free hydroelectricity from Manitoba to Northeastern Minnesota. [CleanTechnology News]

Science and Technology:

¶ Compressed air is being studied increasingly as a medium for storing electric energy. While it is not as efficient as many other storage systems, it has the advantage of providing storage over longer terms. It is also expected to be utilized at a fraction of the cost of other systems, possibly as low as 10%. [New Zealand Herald]

World:

¶ Developers of solar farms are becoming increasingly active in Scotland. This is partly down to the fact that prime sites in the south of England have become harder to find due to land prices and grid capacity issues. The head of one company believes the industry could employ 5000 people in Scotland. [Scotsman]

John Forster says the number of people directly employed in the solar power industry in Scotland could grow from around 400 currently to up to 5,000.

¶ Ghana’s energy plan is getting financial support. It has four key projects: renewable energy mini-grids and stand-alone solar PV systems; solar PV-based net metering with storage; utility-scale solar PV/wind power generation; and a technical assistance project supported by the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa. [GhanaWeb]

¶ A long-held dream of bringing the large-scale “cloud” data storage industry to rural Scotland has come a step closer to becoming reality. Intelligent Land Investments lodged a planning application for a 10,000 square meter centre in East Ayrshire. It would be 40% powered by six nearby wind turbines. [Herald Scotland]

¶ In Bangladesh, the 2400-MW Rooppur nuclear power project is likely to cost about $10 billion, more than three times the initial estimate of the government. A couple of years ago the government had estimated that the plant would cost between $2 billion and $3 billion. The project is still in design stages. [The Daily Star]

¶ TEPCO has begun removing the cover it installed over the Unit 1 building after the Fukushima Disaster in 2011. This is part of efforts to decommission the reactor.The intent is to clear away radioactive debris on the upper part of the building and remove spent nuclear fuel still stored inside. [HNN Huntingtonnews.net]

US:

¶ After four years of drought, production at some California dams is expected to be less than 20% of normal because of low water levels. The shortfall should not cause brownouts because California relies on dams for power far less than it did in decades past, due in part to the emergence of solar and wind energy. [Los Angeles Times]

Low levels of water in Lake Shasta within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California. Photo by Bobjgalindo. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Marshall Wind Energy LLC has signed three individual long-term renewable energy power purchase agreements totaling 65 MW of renewable energy with utilities in Kansas and Missouri. The electricity will be supplied from a 72-MW wind farm in Marshall County, Kansas with 36 Vestas V110 2-MW turbines. [PR Web]

¶ Michigan Governor Rick Snyder outlined a plan during his energy address under which natural gas would represent up to 26% of the state’s electricity mix by 2025, up from 14% currently. Coal represents 59% of the mix now. Snyder expects it to fall to 43% in the next 10 years. The gas will need new pipelines. [Midland Daily News]

¶ Protestors joined hands on the beach at Fort Macon State Park, North Carolina, in a gesture supporting beach preservation and renewable energy and opposing offshore oil and gas drilling. Some carried signs and banners, and large pinwheels were put in the sand, advertising support for offshore wind energy. [Carolinacoastonline]

¶ Thanks to decreasing system prices and state and federal incentives, the number of solar installations in the state of Connecticut rose from 558 in 2008 to more than 10,000 today. Newly available financing is contributing to the increasing numbers of solar projects, even as state incentives are declining. [CT Post]

World:

¶ Nova Scotia regulators have approved a standard power purchase agreement for developmental tidal energy array projects in the Bay of Fundy. The Utility and Review Board concluded the contract is “reasonable and appropriate” for test projects approved at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy. [reNews]

Bay of Fundy. Nova Scotia Province photograph.

¶ Greenpeace Energy desk reported the figures from China’s National Energy Administration in October of 2014, revealing that China’s coal use dropped by 1.28% in 2014. However, in March of this year, new data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China indicates that coal consumption dropped by 2.9%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ The Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd has decided to install 30 MW of solar PVs using the metro railway stations as sites for solar arrays. This will meet 40% of the energy requirement including traction power. NMRCL will not spend a penny for generating this power. The project will be executed by an operator. [Times of India]

¶ Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China has yielded $22 billion worth of memoranda of understanding showing China Inc’s strong interest in the Indian story. They span a wide range of industries including renewable energy, power infrastructure, and small and medium industries. [Economic Times]

¶ The Energy Supply Association of Australia, representing the fossil fuel and renewable energy sector, has sourced data from around the world revealing household solar PV penetration in Australia is way out in front of any other nation. Almost 15% of Australian households have adopted the technology. [Daily News Biotech Wired]

¶ Australian households and small businesses now have access to some of the cheapest electricity in the developed world, despite having grid power costs that are among the highest. An analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance explains how Australia has the most affordable solar systems in the developed world. [Business Spectator]

¶ Virtual power plants for small, distributed power generation have become a fixture of Germany’s electrical grid. While their numbers remain in the low thousands, VPPs withstood a five-year trial period in the electricity market. Now, with falling battery prices, they are beginning to change the grid. [Environment & Energy Publishing]

¶ The UK’s new Secretary of State for energy and climate change, Amber Rudd, spoke of her desire to increase deployment of solar PV. Commenting on her new role, she said: “I want to unleash a new solar revolution – we have a million people living under roofs with solar panels and that number needs to increase.” [Solar Power Portal]

¶ The International Atomic Energy Agency says TEPCO should consider discharging water contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi reactor meltdowns into the Pacific Ocean. The United Nations agency is pushing for an alternative to holding the tainted water in tanks and offered to help monitor radiation. [Bloomberg]

US:

¶ The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded grants to scientists in five western states to do research in geothermal methods that can develop the region’s huge potential. It has been estimated that geothermal in this region could potentially generate enough electricity to power about 100 million homes. [CleanTechnica]

The Sonoma Calpine 3 geothermal power plant at The Geysers field in the Mayacamas Mountains of Somona County, Northern California.
Photo by Stepheng3. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ On Friday afternoon, the Vermont Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation that will encourage more renewable energy projects in the state. The bill passed by a vote of 22-6. Nevertheless, it has re-ignited a debate over the impact of solar and wind projects on the communities where they’re built. [Vermont Public Radio]

¶ The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory will collaborate with China’s PV Investment and Finance Alliance on solar photovoltaic asset development in China. NREL will give advice in areas such as documentation standardization, data management, and operations and maintenance. [Renewable Energy Focus]

¶ Consumers Energy Co has received conditional approval to begin a 10 MW community solar program, the first in Michigan, by the state Public Service Commission. Individual and business electric customers will be able to purchase subscriptions in 0.5 kW blocks, reducing their electric bills. [Crain’s Detroit Business]

World:

¶ New interest is being shown for renewable energy as a viable complementary option for mining operations. Renewable energy sources such as hydropower, wind and solar are being incorporated into broader power supply portfolios in key mining regions, as less expensive alternatives to conventional sources. [Breaking Energy]

Mining operations benefit from renewable power.

¶ Andrew Blakers, who is the director for Sustainable Energy Systems at the Australian National University, told the Australian Solar and Energy Storage conference in Melbourne that his conservative prediction was that Australia would reach 90% renewables by 2040 – just through natural attrition. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Queensland’s new Labor government has confirmed its commitment to getting 50% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and ensuring that a million of its homes had rooftop solar by 2020. The commitment by Queensland means all three Labor states are looking to ambitious renewable energy targets. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Described as the future of power supply, microgrids harnessing renewable energy resources available locally can also be programmed to manage the load. So India’s National Institute of Engineering has sought to collaborate with the University of Wisconsin, US, to establish a microgrid on the institute campus. [The Hindu]

¶ Having electricity could free over a billion people from polluting lighting and cooking methods, improving health and economic development. But simply expanding the conventional grid would more than double carbon emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa and India by 2040. Solar power provides a solution. [CleanTechnica]

¶ In India, as part of the National Democratic Alliance government’s green energy push, state-owned NTPC Ltd will call for bids from solar developers to buy 15,000 MW on behalf of the ministry of new and renewable energy. In addition, NTPC plans to set up 10,000 MW of solar capacity on its own. [Livemint]

¶ This week Finland cancelled its option for a second European Pressurised Reactor as the existing EPR project sinks into an abyss of cost over-runs, delays and litigation. It now looks like the EPR is a failed technology and its owner, French nuclear giant Areva, is fast running out of both money and orders. [The Ecologist]

US:

¶ Montana Senator Jon Tester is aiming to introduce a bill that would set a target of generating 50,000 MW of geothermal energy by 2025. The bill would make it easier for oil and gas companies to produce geothermal energy because they would not have to compete for conventional leases. [Climate Action Programme]

Montana has vast geothermal resources.

¶ Lincoln Renewable Natural Gas has filed a petition to construct a renewable natural gas plant at a farm in Salisbury. Gas from a bio-digester would be processed to make purer bio-methane, some of which would be burned to make power and some piped to Middlebury College for use there for fuel. [Vermont Public Radio]

¶ Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper cheered technology giant Intel for making a major investment in renewable power and clean energy at its Fort Collins campus. Intel installed a 963 kW solar array there. It is the largest commercial solar installation in Northern Colorado, the third largest in the state. [The Coloradoan]

¶ ITC Holdings Corp expects to spend about $4.5 billion from 2014 to 2015 to upgrade and expand its power transmission system in the Midwest. ITC put about $510 million into the Michigan Thumb project, which can be a basis for expansion of the area’s wind power from it current 1,000 MW to 5,000 MW. [Reuters]

¶ Competitive Power Ventures announced today that it has received approval from the Connecticut Siting Council to construct the proposed state-of-the-art, 785-MW CPV Towantic Energy Center in Oxford, Connecticut. The Council’s decision was approved by a 5-2 margin at a meeting in New Britain. [PR Newswire]

¶ New York has published a 2,000-page final environmental report outlining why it would be better off without the environmental, climate and public health implications of fracking. The current New York ban, imposed by Governor Cuomo, is an administrative action that could be reversed by a future governor. [Kitsap Sun]

¶ Presidential hopefuls are beginning to gather in Iowa. There, state-based academicians and researchers plan to ask the candidates a simple, but pointed, question: What will you do about climate change? The impetus for the question was raised by Iowa-based scientists in a widely endorsed document. [North American Windpower]

¶ US Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced two pieces of legislation that would encourage and safeguard the use of Maine’s natural resources to generate renewable electricity. The bills promote the sustainable harvest of biomass and streamline a cumbersome federal licensing process for small hydropower. [RealEstateRama]

Opinion:

¶ “Let’s Get Straight: Tesla Powerwall DOES = $3,000” – Something we’ve been assuming, and seen all over the interwebs, is apparently wrong. The assumption has been that the $3,000 price for a Powerwall is the wholesale price. It is the retail price. SolarCity’s higher prices we have seen include installation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “It’s a critical month for climate change at the Interior Department.” Even as a loophole coal companies use to avoid making proper royalty payments is being studied, the Interior Department is expected to announce a plan making 10.8 billion tons of coal available, 11 times the US annual consumption. [Natural Resources Defense Council]

World:

¶ The UK’s renewable energy industry set a record for new investment in 2014, attracting £10.7 billion, according to a report from the Renewable Energy Association. Investment in solar was £4.5 billion. The UK still requires a further £50 billion over the next five years if it is to meet its green energy targets. [Business Green]

Offshore windpower in the UK

¶ The report from the UK’s Renewable Energy Association, authored in conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Innovas, reveals that renewable energy increased by 20% in the last year. A total of 64,404 GWh was generated from renewable sources in 2014, compared to 53,667 GWh in 2013. [Solar Power Portal]

¶ An interdisciplinary MIT study, The Future of Solar Energy, says today’s solar panels are all that is needed to supply the world with many TW of clean solar power by 2050 (1 TW is 1,000,000 MW). The other main point the study makes is that it will take political will to finally wean the world off of fossil fuels.[CleanTechnica]

¶ The Australian state of Victoria wants to establish its own target to boost renewable energy, but it first needs Canberra to lift legal barriers preventing it from doing so. If that occurs the state has committed to reintroducing a renewables target for Victoria, which it says would top up the national scheme. [Sydney Morning Herald]

¶ Japan’s nuclear watchdog concluded that fault lines running underneath the Shika nuclear power plant in Ishikawa Prefecture may well be active, throwing the prospect of restarting the facility’s reactors into doubt. But a spokesman of Hokuriku Electric Power Co, the plant operator, took issue with the conclusion. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶ SolarCity says it is on track to install more than 1 gigawatt of rooftop solar in 2015. The company reported installations of 153 MW during the first quarter 2015, beating its own forecast of 145 MW. The company has set a target of 1,000,000 customers by the middle of 2018. It now has more than 218,000. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines in the Thumb of Michigan. Photo by No Trams To Lime Street from METRO DETROIT. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ A utility energized about 140 miles of transmission lines today that should put more energy from wind turbines in the Thumb of Michigan to be available on the grid. The Novi company, ITC Transmission, said the project cost about $510 million, and will enhance power line capacity and reliability, while creating jobs. [Detroit Free Press]

¶ While wind power is the dominant source of renewable energy in North Dakota, the North Dakota Alliance for Renewable Energy maintains there is a future for solar energy in the state as well. Consumer interest in solar power is growing, and three cooperatives already have solar projects in North Dakota. [RenewablesBiz]

¶ Toyota has combined solar panels with some old Camry Hybrid battery packs to power a ranger station and education center at Lamar Buffalo Ranch in Yellowstone National Park. The 40-kW solar power system charges 208 repackaged battery packs recovered from Toyota dealers across the US. [Energy Matters]

¶ Canadian developer Alterra Power has completed road construction and turbine foundation excavation for the 204-MW Shannon wind project, located near Windthorst in Texas. The wind farm will employ 119 GE turbines. The Shannon project is on track to begin commercial operations by year’s end. [reNews]

¶ Federal regulators have directed nuclear power plants, Diablo Canyon, in California, and Columbia generating station, in Washington state, to conduct additional, in-depth research into earthquake risks by June 2017, part of a broad review of seismic threats following Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi disaster. [Fresno Bee]

World:

¶ The UK’s new Conservative minister for energy and climate change, Amber Rudd, has made clear her unequivocal backing for action to combat climate change and for the science behind it. This is vital in a year when a major international deal to combat global warming is expected in Paris in December. [New Scientist]

March Against Climate Change, September 2014. “Margaret Thatcher was the first ever world leader to sound the alarm.” Photo by peganum from Henfield, England. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Major utility, Origin Energy, is set to launch a solar leasing program in three Australian states, focusing on small-scale residential and commercial systems. It will start rolling out the program in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, where it will install and maintain the systems, at no up-front cost. [CleanTechnica]

¶ US-based New Generation Power International will develop a 200-MW of solar and a 100-MW of wind power project in the Jamshoro-Thatta region of Sindh, Pakistan. The company has signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Sindh to develop the projects, at an expected cost of $550 million. [CleanTechnology News]

¶ A stationary energy storage system by Tesla Motors Inc will be installed at one of Enel Green Power SpA’s sites to test its integration with solar and wind farms. The companies have concluded an agreement for the testing project. The partners will now select the pilot site for the 1.5 MW-3 MWh system.
[SeeNews Renewables]

¶ The Australian Opposition says it will not pass changes to the Renewable Energy Target if they include the provision that the target will be reviewed every two years. An agreement reducing the RET had been reached, but then government added language to review the RET every two years. [Manufacturers’ Monthly]

¶ Greenpeace has released a report naming the tech companies who make the best (and worst) use of renewable energy. The report grades companies on areas including renewable energy commitment, deployment and advocacy of green power, mitigation and the transparency of their energy policies. [The Register]

US:

¶ Con Edison Development has acquired six shovel-ready solar PV projects totaling 140 MW from a PV project portfolio developed by SolarReserve, LLC and GCL Solar Energy, Inc in three California counties. Ranging in size from 20 MW to 25 MW, have the capacity to power approximately 25,000 homes. [solarserver.com]

¶ The Board of Supervisors of Riverside County, California, signed off on a major solar plant, voting unanimously to approve a 485-MW, 3,600-acre project near Blythe. The project, on private, previously disturbed land, would power about 180,000 homes and add over $500,000 per year to the county’s revenues. [The Desert Sun]

View from an airplane landing at Blythe, California in 2010. Photo by Shane.torgerson. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp, the agency redeveloping the Navy Yard, is installing a “smart-grid” system on the 1,200-acre campus in South Philadelphia. PIDC envisions an interconnected network of renewable power sources and storage devices in a self-supporting “community” microgrid. [Philly.com]

¶ Entergy New Orleans will build its first solar power project in the city, part of its effort to explore the reliability and cost of using sunlight to power local homes and businesses. The pilot project will be in service by late 2016. The company plans to install a system of over 4,000 solar panels with battery backup. [NOLA.com]

¶ New Hampshire’s Proctor Academy is adding more solar arrays as the result of a push from the school’s student environmental action group. Five new arrays will be built, bringing the school’s annual solar generation from 78,000 kWh, achieved through a system built in 2012, to approximately 250,000 kWh. [T.H.E. Journal]

¶ Duke Energy Renewables has completed the 200 MW Los Vientos III wind farm, located in Starr County, Texas. The wind farm, powered by 100 Vestas 2 MW turbines, is located approximately 100 miles west of Brownsville near Rio Grande City. Austin Energy has agreed to purchase all of the project’s output. [North American Windpower]

¶ Senators Tom Udall (NM) and Ed Markey (MA) teamed up with others to introduce a bill that would establish a national renewable electricity standard that requires the nation’s largest power providers to supply at least 30% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. [The Equation: Blog of the Union of Concerned Scientists]

¶ The possibility that the episode at Indian Point on Saturday caused significant harm to the environment fueled the opposition from several of the plant’s critics. New York Governor Cuomo, who continues to press for a permanent shutdown of Indian Point, appeared there on Saturday night and again on Sunday. [New York Times]

¶ The reactor at the Indian Point nuclear power plant in the New York City suburbs may be offline for weeks because a transformer that failed over the weekend, sparking a fire and oil leak, must be replaced, Entergy officials said Monday. The company is still investigating the cause of the failure. [Firehouse.com]

Science and Technology:

¶ A race is on to harness the tides and waves for electrical power, with more than 100 different devices being tested by companies hoping to make a commercial breakthrough. The UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, are all developing technologies to harvest the tide. [eco-business.com]

A tidal power plant being developed in Swansea Bay, south Wales in the UK. Image: Tidal Lagoon Swansea

World:

¶ Scotland renewables are important , but more are coming. By the middle of 2014, they were already greater than nuclear, the country’s second resource. Capacity was 7,112 MW by the end of the 3rd quarter. Wind alone has 8,161 MW of capacity in various stages of construction and another 3,765 MW in planning. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Nigeria’s first ever wind project, the 10-MW Katsina windfarm, is a couple of fractions of work from being completed and commissioned, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali has said. It is about 98% complete, 5 turbines have been tested, and 37 are undergoing tests now. [THISDAY Live]

¶ Taiwan has increased its target for overall renewable energy capacity from more than 10,000 MW to 13,000 MW by 2030. Taiwan is working to promote renewable energy and improve energy efficiency to cope with the challenges of climate change and meet growing electricity demand. [Focus Taiwan News Channel]

¶ Apple has announced plans to run its entire business in China through renewable energy, and to make its entire supply chain environmentally friendly. In a statement released yesterday, CEO Tim Cook said greening manufacturing operations would take years, but would be worth the effort. [Electronics News]

¶ In the wake of the recent UK general election, Prime Minister David Cameron has named new ministers to his administration. Among the new appointees is Amber Rudd, new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. UK renewable energy industry observers reacted positively to her appointment. [Renewable Energy Focus]

US:

¶ NextEra Energy Resources, LLC announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary has started construction on two distributed generation solar PV systems in Oneida County, New York. The systems, located on two parcels in Whitestown, New York, will have the capacity to produce 5.2 MW DC of solar power. [Power Online]

¶ Iowa’s 5,688 MW of installed wind capacity uses only 1% of the state’s wind resources, according to a new report, Iowa’s Wind Potential for Addressing 111(d) Goals. The resources are more than adequate to meet the state’s Clean Power Plan requirements cost-effectively and help neighboring states too. [Utility Dive]

Iowa wind farm

¶ The Block Island Wind Farm is set to break ground in July off the coast of Rhode Island, and with it, the future of offshore wind in the US seems very real. It would be the first US offshore wind farm, and if it is successful, it could prove that wind power generated by turbines off the coast is a viable enterprise. [Climate Central]

¶ Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, the latest Republican to jump into the 2016 presidential race, took to Texas’ oil capital Monday to flesh out his plan for making the United States less dependent on foreign sources of energy. His eight-point plan includes developing wind and solar power and exporting oil. [Texas Tribune]

¶ A 44-year-old requirement that North Carolina study potential environmental impacts before launching building projects may be weakened. The House passed a bill limiting the environmental study requirement to only projects costing more than $10 million. Other environmental protections are also threatened. [Asheville Citizen-Times]

¶ Representatives of 13 Western states and utilities will gather this week in Denver to grapple with the EPA’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. The meetings are part of a series of closed-door sessions convened by a former Colorado Governor after the EPA proposal was made. [High Country News]

¶ The newest nuclear reactor at Watts Bar remains a work-in-progress for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Now, 36 years after it was begun, it is one of the longest building projects in US history. In a bizarre turn, what could soon become the newest US nuclear plant is a piece of 1970s-era technology. [Tulsa World]

Science and Technology:

¶ Engineers in the Netherlands say energy-generating road surface is more successful than expected, six months into trial. Last year they built a 70-metre test track along a bike path on the outskirts of Amsterdam. Based on test results, they expect more than the 70 kWh per square metre per year. [MWC News]

World:

¶ Apple announced expansion of its renewable energy and environmental protection initiatives in China, including a new multi-year project with World Wildlife Fund to increase responsibly managed forests significantly. The new forestland program aims to protect as much as 1 million acres. [The FINANCIAL]

Forest in Lesser Khingan Mountains near Yichun, Heilongjiang, China.  Photo by Lzy881114. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ An aging, unresponsive and “sclerotic” electricity grid is stunting the growth of renewable energy in the UK, says the Solar Trade Association, which has called on the new Conservative government to upgrade the country’s power infrastructure to make it more accommodating of clean energy sources. [pv magazine]

¶ The International Energy Agency’s chief economist says nuclear energy is a must for Turkey, especially because its energy demand grows more than any other European country. Currently, Turkey relies heavily on expensive natural gas exports from Russia and Iran for its domestic electricity production. [MENAFN.COM]

¶ Minas Gerais, the south-eastern state of Brazil, will start auctions of solar photovoltaic power plants this year and will support the initiative with an initial $324 million. The state government said the auction of large-scale solar energy projects will be in August, with completion dates in 2017. [Climate Action Programme]

¶ The Swiss battery manufacturer Leclanché has received an order from Younicos AG to build a turnkey battery power plant on the Azores island Graciosa. The storage system is part of a micro-grid solution, which will increase the proportion of renewable energies used on the island from 15% to 65%. [Sun & Wind Energy]

Island of Graciosa. Photo by José Luís Ávila Silveira/Pedro Noronha e Costa. There are barely visible wind turbines in the picture. Wikimedia Commons.

US:

¶ Building off of a strong January and February, new electricity generation capacity added in the USA in March brought the 1st quarter split to 84% for all renewables, 81% for solar + wind. Utility-scale solar power now accounts for 1% of total US electricity generation capacity, small-scale solar an estimated 0.7%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ National Grid, General Electric, Clarkson University, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are partnering to make sure severe weather events like the 1998 ice storm and Superstorm Sandy won’t have such drastic effects again, by building what could be the nation’s largest municipal microgrid. [GreenBiz]

¶ A day after a transformer fire at New York’s Indian Point nuclear plant sent up thick, black smoke over the plant, Governor Andrew Cuomo warned of a new threat to the area, oil spilling into the adjacent Hudson River. The slick is contained by booms in the water, and absorbent materials will be used to remove it. [CNN]

¶ A proposed ordinance that would strictly regulate, and in some cases ban, large-scale wood-burning power plants and other waste-to-energy plants in Greenfield, Massachusetts will be the subject of a joint public hearing on Tuesday. The hearing will be on Tuesday at 6 pm at 20 Sanderson St. [The Recorder]

World:

¶ The first renewable energy scheme in Scotland to draw heat from the sea could be installed in Shetland. The archipelago’s capital of Lerwick already has the largest district heating system in Scotland, heated by burning trash. But there is not enough trash, so they are considering an ocean source heat pump. [Herald Scotland]

Lerwick, Shetland. Photo by Eric. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ A South Derbyshire village could see 40,000 solar panels installed as more information is revealed on plans for two new farms. The village of Overseal could be home to two solar farms to be installed by Inazin Power, which recently held a consultation meeting with residents to gather information on the sites. [Burton Mail]

¶ To encourage consumption of clean and renewable energy in the national capital, Delhi’s AAP government is planning to promote the usage of energy from such sources and will urge citizens to install “net meters” at their residence places and business enterprises. The drive is operating at several levels. [The Asian Age]

US:

¶ According to the US Geological Survey, the Dallas area has suffered almost 40 small earthquakes (magnitude 2.0 or higher) since the beginning of this year, the latest a magnitude-2.7 quake near Farmers Branch on Saturday. There was only one in the 58 years before 2008. The difference is probably due to fracking. [CNN]

¶ Solar energy companies are expanding in New Hampshire, even though the state budget threatens to wipe out a fund many say is vital to the industry. Renewable energy advocates are decrying a move by the New Hampshire House to pull $50 million its renewable energy fund to patch a hole in its budget plan. [Concord Monitor]

¶ A transformer failure and fire at Indian Point Energy nuclear power plant in Buchanan, New York sent smoke into the air and prompted the plant operator to shut down the impacted unit on Saturday evening. Indian Point Energy said that there were no injures and that there was no threat to public safety. [Huffington Post]

Indian Point nuclear plant. Photo by Peretz Partensky from San Francisco, USA. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Liberty Utilities, which delivers electricity to 49,000 customers in California in the Tahoe-Truckee area, is removing coal from its power portfolio. Liberty wants to buy two solar plants with a combined capacity of 65 MW or to get power from other renewable sources. They expect to save $200 million a year. [Mountain Town News]

¶ Marin Clean Energy officials are highlighting the joint power authority’s efforts to stimulate the creation of local renewable energy projects and local jobs as the authority celebrates its fifth year and the opening of its new San Rafael, California, headquarters. The company provides community choice aggregation. [Marin Independent Journal]

¶ US-based renewable energy development company SunEdison has signed combined transactions for 757 MW of operating projects. These include wind and hydropower projects in Brazil; wind and solar projects in India; wind and solar project in South Africa; and the Solarpack solar project in Uruguay. [Greentech Lead]

¶ North Carolina governor Patrick McCrory signed a one-year extension of the state’s renewable energy investment tax credit last week, a move in that will foster more solar development within the state, which is now 4th in the nation for installed solar capacity. The law will now expire on January 1, 2017. [South Carolina SC]

Opinion:

¶ “The EPA’s Clean Power Plan: Setting the Record Straight on the Benefits and Costs” – We need to correct disinformation about the Clean Power Plan. It’s not hard to find fodder: there’s plenty of misleading stuff out there, and some of it has gotten way more airtime than it should have. [The Equation: Blog of the Union of Concerned Scientists]

Science and Technology:

¶ Recently, with Tesla’s announcement, energy storage has been in the news. Contrary to a common misconception, very high levels of wind energy can be reliably integrated without energy storage. Energy storage is typically more expensive than grid operating reforms, which can provide the same flexibility services. [Energy Collective]

¶ A “massive” global expansion of solar power, possibly enough to supply about a third or more of the world’s electricity, may be necessary by 2050 to reduce the impacts of fossil fuels on the climate, according to a report published by MIT. But that means increasing solar from today’s 20 GW to 400 GW in the US. [Kitsap Sun]

World:

BMW factory in Chennai

¶ German luxury carmaker BMW plans to establish a solar power project at its factory in Chennai, India, by 2016. The project would help the Munich-based auto major meet 20% of the electricity needs of the factory. At present the factory has a rooftop solar farm that provides for 6% of the factory’s electricity. [Greentech Lead]

¶ Having surprisingly secured a majority government in yesterday’s UK general election, the Conservative Party, shorn of the left-leaning influence of previous coalition partners the Liberal Democrats, could be set to spring a few other surprises on the country’s solar landscape. The solar industry is nervous. [pv magazine]

¶ UK Prime Minister Cameron’s 2014 commitment to go ‘all out for shale gas’ may have been controversial, but now he has secured power this could be huge news for the oil and gas industry in the UK. Estimates suggest up to £6 billion of shale gas annually could be produced in Lancashire for the next three decades. [OilVoice]

¶ Vestas has won a deal to supply 149 MW of hardware at phases 1 and 2 of the Tres Mesas wind farm in the north-eastern state of Tamaulipas, in Mexico. The contract with special purchase vehicles Eólica Tres Mesas and Eólica Tres Mesas 2 covers 45 of the Danish manufacturer’s V117 3.3-MW machines. [reNews]

Vestas V117 3.3-MW turbines.

US:

¶ Cargill and Pacific Gas & Electric will be installing a 1-MWh Tesla battery system at a California beef processing facility. This battery system will be recharged on a daily basis via the PG&E electricity grid during off-peak hours, in order to lower operating costs, by buying all electricity at off-peak rates. [CleanTechnica]

¶ The U.S. Navy is planning to lease about 192 acres of land in Guam to the local electric company for construction of a system of photovoltaic solar panels in eight locations to generate about 40 MW of power. The Navy released an environmental impact study on the project and is seeking public comment. [Stars and Stripes]

¶ Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon introduced legislation to update America’s aging power grid and provide more reliable, low-cost, renewable energy. The Smart Grid Act of 2015 establishes a DOE program to move cities, electric utilities, and local businesses seeking to invest in innovative smart grid technologies. [myCentralOregon.com]

Solar Panels at Topaz Solar 7. Photo by Sarah Swenty/USFWS. Wikimedia Commons

¶ A new study in Nature Climate Change says that utility-scale solar plants taking up massive amounts of open space in the countryside actually aren’t necessary: We can get more than enough solar power by building in cities instead. The study focuses on California because it is pursuing renewable goals. [Co.Exist]

¶ Democratic Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are fighting with the biomass industry over the role plant-based energy plays in the EPA climate change plan. The senators worry about the environmental benefits of using biomass, which reduces forest growth needed to reduce carbon levels. [The Hill]

¶ California will have enough power to meet air conditioning demand this summer despite continued low hydropower supplies due to the drought. The California Independent System Operator says the grid will benefit from new generation, mostly solar, stable imports and moderate peak demand growth. [Reuters]

Science and Technology:

¶ For the first time, the global average concentration of CO2 has surpassed 400 ppm for an entire month. NOAA’s lead greenhouse gas scientist pointed out that humans burning fossil fuels have caused global carbon dioxide levels to rise more than 120 ppm since pre-industrial times, with half of that since 1980.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ Grid operators have overcome the technical barriers to integrating 30% solar PV or 40% wind on their systems. Now only the economics stand in the way, because the value of renewables to utilities can decline as their penetrations increase. But, new research shows that barrier could be ready to crumble as well. [Utility Dive]

World:

¶ Unconventional drilling (ie, fracking) creates a huge amount of waste, some of which is being sprayed onto farmer’s fields. The most economical disposal method is to dump the waste on agricultural land. This includes the grasslands, where animals graze, and crop lands. The waste also is spread into water. [CleanTechnica]

Fracking waste being spread on Albertan fields near a natural gas facility fracking at Rosebud, Alberta

¶ Germany’s anticipated installation figures for offshore wind this year are 2071 MW, nearly four times the country’s 529 MW installed during 2014, according to GlobalData, a global research and consulting firm. The report details the global quarterly intake for wind turbines, both onshore and offshore. [CleanTechnica]

¶ The Chinese system of power generation is turning green far more quickly than any other system of comparable size on the planet. Fossil fuel use has begun to decline, and though nuclear power growing, its growth is very slow compared to renewable power. Solar alone added more than nuclear last year. [Project Syndicate]

¶ The Australian government and Labor are agreeing on revisions to the Renewable Energy Target that would cut the large-scale RET down to 33,000 GWh in 2020 from 41,000 GWh. The small-scale RET, which supports rooftop solar PV and also solar and heat-pump water heaters, would be left untouched. [Business Spectator]
… However, the deal to end the lengthy stand-off over Australia’s renewable energy target hit a dramatic late hitch after Labor accused the Coalition of trying to include the burning of wood waste as a renewable energy source. The government introduced the idea as a last-minute amendment. [The Guardian]

¶ SheerWind Inc, a developer of wind-power systems based in Chaska, Minnesota, has signed a licensing agreement that will allow its technology to be marketed in Denmark. The agreement is with E-Venturi, and the first pilot project is expected to be built in Denmark before the end of the year. [AltEnergyMag]

¶ Italy’s biggest utility will invest 27% more in renewable energy in the years ahead even as a slump in oil prices makes it more difficult for solar and wind power to compete with fossil fuels on price. Enel Green Power SpA plans to increase annual capital spending to €2.1 billion through 2017, up from €1.66 in 2014. [Bloomberg]

¶ The French nuclear power dynamo has started to stall. New plants meant to showcase the industry’s most advanced technology are years behind schedule and billions of euros over budget. Worse, recently discovered problems at one site have raised new doubts about when, or even if, they will be completed. [New York Times]

US:

¶ Bank of America, one of the largest banks in the United States, has decided to slash its financing for coal mining projects, as it now considers the sector as a “highly risky” one to invest on. The bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility executive said the decision has been made an ongoing policy on the sector. [MINING.com]

Bank of America considers the coal sector too risky.

¶ The hoopla around Tesla’s battery continues apace, with Tesla founder and chairman Elon Musk saying that demand for the stationary energy storage is “just nutty,” and the Powerwall home system is already sold out through mid-2016. Tesla has already received about 38,000 sales reservations. [RenewEconomy]

¶ A group of solar energy advocates interrupted Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good’s opening remarks at the company’s annual meeting. Hulking security guards escorted them out, but the protest continued from stockholders. Duke’s CEO pointed out that the company had closed coal-burning plants and is taking up solar. [WFAE]

¶ In Colorado, UnitedWind, a Brooklyn-based company expanding to the West, partners with national banks to provide financing for everyday people who want to harvest the wind. The company works with homeowners, farms, and businesses. If you want your own wind turbine, you can lease it and get the profit. [CBS Local]

Opinion:

¶ “Tesla Powerwall Price vs Battery Storage Competitor Prices (Residential & Utility-Scale)” – Tesla Powerwall competes on price, while offering numerous benefits (it’s much smaller per kWh, requires much less maintenance, is much prettier, can be hung on the wall, can discharge deeper, and more.) [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Oil Prices Are Rising Again, But Will They Keep Going Up?” – Oil prices hit a new high for the year Wednesday, closing at just under $61 a barrel. They’ve been rallying for a month, but nobody’s predicting $4-per-gallon gasoline anytime soon. Some analysts say weak demand will send oil prices down again. [North Country Public Radio]

World:

¶ A recent report shows that renewable energy adoption is growing in the world’s emerging economies nearly twice as fast as in industrialized nations. Not only can renewable energy technologies now compete with fossil fuels on cost, they are often more reliable, safer, and at times cheaper than grid power. [CleanTechnica]

Off-grid village power plant.

¶ India’s installed renewable capacity jumped by 12.9% during the 12 months to 31 March 2015, latest data released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy shows. India added 4,089 MW renewable energy capacity in financial year 2014-15, which is 8.5% more than the targeted figure of 3,770 MW. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said countries were ahead of schedule in negotiating a global agreement on curbing greenhouse gases that can be adopted at a Paris summit in December. Technology has changed things since a similar effort failed in 2009. [Chippewa Herald]

¶ US-based SunEdison has won an 86-MW DC solar PV project in the fourth bid round of South Africa’s renewable energy independent power producer procurement program. The company will operate and maintain the facility, which will generate enough energy for about 45,000 households in South Africa. [CleanTechnology News]

¶ Red tape is hobbling France’s quest to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Even more galling, Europe’s biggest agricultural producer had 185 on-farm methane plants at the end of last year, compared to about 7,700 in Germany. Complicated French approval systems can take years. [Bloomberg]

¶ Despite warnings from climate experts, global banks collectively financed $144 billion for coal mining and coal power companies in 2014, compared to $145 billion in 2013, according to the annual coal finance report card released today by Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack and the Sierra Club. [Business Green]

Some banks are investing in coal.

US:

¶ UPS has been experimenting with renewable power for its trucks. Their latest initiative is to power a fleet of 400 trucks with renewable natural gas. It’s basically biomethane derived from renewable sources, such as decomposing organic waste in landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and agricultural sources. [Treehugger]

¶ Nebraska, the nation’s only completely public power state, has decided the public should not subsidize wind power. A bill to provide $75 million in production tax credits for renewable energy, was successfully filibustered by two senators, who suggested the state consider nuclear power instead. [McCook Daily Gazette]

¶ Exelon is amping up its threat to close three nuclear power plants unless it gets government help. The company says it’s not a bailout and instead argues it’s trying to level the playing field. Illinois already gives some incentives for renewable sources and nuclear proponents say nuclear power deserves that. [Peoria Public Radio]

¶ Hawaii looks set to be the first US state to put a firm use-by date on carbon intensive energy generation. The new compromise bill sets targets of 30% renewables in 2020, 70% by 2030 and 100% renewables by 2045. It has passed in the legislature, and is now just awaiting Governor David Ige’s signature. [Energy Matters]

¶ Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina on Monday blamed environmentalists for what she called a “man-made” drought in California, which has led to the state’s first water restrictions. She said they were to blame because no new reservoirs have been constructed despite population increases. [Huffington Post]

Opinion:

¶ “Why Tesla Batteries Are Cheap Enough To Prevent New Power Plants” Last year, analysts for Oncor Electric Delivery Company calculated the break-even point for utility-scale storage batteries at $350 per kWh. Tesla’s Powerpack, the big sister of the Powerwall home battery, will come at a cost of $250/kWh. [Forbes]

Tesla utility-scale batteries.

¶ “Tesla Powerwall: What you need to know” As more solar energy is adopted, a dedicated battery to store the energy makes a lot of sense. Tesla’s Powerwall battery promises to be able to take homes and businesses off the grid. Here’s a sanity check on how realistic it is, and what it means for the energy market. [TechRepublic]

¶ “Oil Prices Are Rebounding Now, But A Permanent Plunge May Be Coming” Oil and gas will likely be with us for centuries to come as the stuff that makes products from plastics to petroleum jelly. But better batteries could lead to the end of oil and gas for much of its current uses—transportation and power. [Forbes]

World:

¶ The UK’s largest operator and owner of solar PV assets, Lightsource Renewable Energy, has announced that it is offering up to £40,000 per MW for introduced sites. The developer is hoping to uncover new solar farm sites with suitable grid connections and a strong possibility of quick planning permission. [Solar Power Portal]

Flat Holm solar array, Cardiff, Wales. Photo by Cardiff Council Flat Holm Project. Wikimedia Commons.

¶ Chinese firm Shenergy Co Ltd said Monday it will create a $20.9 million joint venture with a Shanghai-based company, looking to add 70 MW of wind power capacity in the city. To that end, the company’s renewables arm Shanghai Shenneng New Energy Investment Co Ltd will own 60% of the company. [SeeNews Renewables]

¶ The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has signed agreements with the Solar Energy Corporation of India for four solar PV power projects with a total capacity of 600 MW. The projects will be set up under the Indian government’s push to add 20 GW of solar capacity through ultra mega solar power projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Solar power in Japan is close to becoming profitable, says the country’s leading renewables watchdog, the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation. Since 2011, when the country’s 43 nuclear reactors were idled; Japan has added 25 GW of renewable power, of which solar energy accounts for 80%. [pv magazine]

US:

¶ Gulf Power received unanimous approval from the Florida Public Service Commission of an agreement that will make the utility a leading purchaser of wind generation among Florida utilities. The agreement is the first of its kind in the state. The project, called Kingfisher Wind, will be built in central Oklahoma. [NorthEscambia.com]

Wind farm in Oklahoma.

¶ The second-ever comprehensive Clean Jobs Illinois Report found that there are 104,449 clean energy jobs in the land of Lincoln. Jobs counted were those connected with electric or alternative transportation fuels, greenhouse gas management, energy efficiency, wind power, geothermal, or solar power. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Rapid growth in small solar is changing production and use patterns, leading to calls to change net metering policies. Two Arizona co-ops have petitioned the Arizona Corporation Commission to reduce premium rates co-ops pay small-scale solar providers for power to reflect wholesale power costs. [Electric Co-op Today]

¶ Pattern Energy announced this week the closing of financing on the 150 MW Amazon Wind Farm (Fowler Ridge) project, to be located in Benton County, Indiana. The project has entered into a 13-year power purchase agreement with Amazon to provide energy for local Amazon Web Services data centers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Kearsarge Energy, based in Watertown, Massachusetts, has completed the largest Massachusetts operating SREC II Solar PV Project. The 4.9 MW DC ground-mounted Kearsarge Southwick is the company’s 13th solar project, and increases its Massachusetts track record to 37 MW of completed Solar Facilities. [Digital Journal]

World:

¶ US firm First Solar Inc has installed the first PV panels at AGL Energy Ltd’s 53-MW Broken Hill solar park in New South Wales, Australia. Upon completion in late 2015, the 650,000 solar panels at the site are expected to generate enough electricity to power some 17,000 local households. [SeeNews Renewables]

Australian Solar Farm. Author: Michael Mees meesphotography.com License: Creative Commons, Attribution 2.0 Generic

¶ Yesterday pv magazine reported that both inverter specialist Fronius and residential solar provider Sunrun have announced collaborations with the Tesla Powerwall, and today comes news that more leading solar firms have confirmed partnerships to bundle the battery with their own service or product. [pv magazine]

¶ Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy has signed seven binding Memoranda of Understanding worth $500 million under the government’s Feed-in-Tariff program. There were five agreements signed for solar projects totaling 220 MW and two wind projects totaling 100 MW. [Utilities-ME.com]

¶ Net metering has begun in Delhi, with six locations already operating in the city. Four sites are residential, one is a commercial building in south Delhi, and one is a school in the east. As of now they have received 50 applications and around 500 queries for net-metering, but the city has a potential for 2 GW. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Power companies are bracing for a hit in the UK no matter who wins the general election on May 7. The election will merely determine the biggest losers. Shares and bonds of utility companies have fallen at the prospect of a new administration undoing energy rules that have taken years to put together. [Bloomberg]

¶ Turbine maker Nordex SE has received an order from Northern Irish utility Energia Renewables. Per the contract, Nordex will supply and install 38 of its N90/2500 turbines at an extension of the Meenadreen wind farm, located in Donegal, Ireland. Nordex will begin installing the turbines in March 2016. [North American Windpower]

¶ Dissatisfied with government-orchestrated compensation, the number of local residents and others affected by the Fukushima nuclear crisis who have sued TEPCO is expected to soon top 10,000 plaintiffs. A total of 9,992 people, including evacuees, have joined 25 lawsuits filed with 20 district courts. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶ Mississippi Power is partnering with Origis Energy to develop a 52-MW solar project on 196 hectares in the state. If approved by the Mississippi Public Service Commission, the projects could be in service near the end of 2016. Mississippi Power just finished two installations with a total of 53 MW. [PV-Tech]

¶ Washington-based Solar Electric Power Association has released a report on the US solar power industry and utility rankings for 2014. The report says the US added 5.3 GW (182,000 new systems) of PV capacity last year, taking the total installed solar capacity nationwide to 16.3 GW (675,500 locations). [Greentech Lead]

Solar carport at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photo from energy.gov.

¶ Solar energy is fast becoming a “least cost” option for US utilities. Declining technology costs, policy support and retail rate levels are cited as contributing factors. Issues, including rate restructuring and grid integration, need to be addressed; meanwhile community solar programs are getting strong interest. [pv magazine]

¶ In a bid to put New Jersey back into a leadership role in clean energy, a Senate committee yesterday approved a bill that would require 80% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources such as solar and wind by 2050. Even proponents say approval is unlikely under the Governor Christie. [NJ Spotlight]

¶ Kansas would no longer require utilities to get a portion of their electricity from renewable resources, but the state also would not impose a new tax on the power under a proposal announced by the governor. It embodies an agreement between the wind energy industry and critics of the green energy mandate. [Greenfield Daily Reporter]

¶ A new study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change today, says that the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan will save over 3500 lives every year. The study by researchers at Harvard, Syracuse and Boston Universities and Resources for the Future finds a strategy to meet the plan. [News Every day]

¶ In 2015, a record 9.1 GW of solar and 8.9 GW of wind will be installed in the US, forecasts Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Wind has 13.6 GW under construction in 100 projects, says American Wind Energy Association. In Iowa, two projects by MidAmerican Energy costing $1.5 billion will add 922 MW. [SustainableBusiness.com]

¶ With all the attention being paid to Panasonic and its partnership with Tesla in the GigaFactory under construction in Nevada, people sometimes forget that there are other battery companies in the world. But Toshiba grid storage batteries will be used at a new energy storage installation near Hamilton, Ohio. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ E. coli exists in a wide variety of strains, some of which are beginning to pop up in renewable fuel and “green” chemical applications. One of these is involved in a new artificial photosynthesis study from UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The basic concept is to mimic natural photosynthesis. [CleanTechnica]

How the artificial leaf works.

World:

¶ According to analysis by the conservation charity of WeatherEnergy data, for Scottish homes with PV panels, there was enough sunshine last month to meet 113% of the power needs of an average home in Edinburgh. In Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness the percentage was 111%, 106%, 104%, respectively. [SeeNews Renewables]

¶ A report from the French government’s environment and energy agency body that showed shifting to 100% renewable energy by 2050 is feasible. The report found it would cost little more than the existing 75% nuclear power supply. But the case for 100% renewables is not being discussed by the government. [Green Left Weekly]

¶ Research from commercial law firm EMW shows that 20,655 green energy patents were filed globally in 2014, for solar power, wind energy, biofuels and waste-generated energy – down from 35,590 in 2012. EMW said this sharp decline has been mainly caused by oversupply in the solar panel market. [The Guardian]

¶ The government of Bangladesh is considering amending its policy on renewable energy to increase use of solar and wind power by allowing private businesses to own large power plants. Large solar and wind power plants can be set up only on government lands under existing regulations. That may soon change. [Financial Express Bangladesh]

¶ Brown coal’s share of the main Australian electricity grid has surged to its highest level since September 2012, increasing the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The data came as climate change ministers from around the country met to discuss how state governments might co-operate on emissions. [Sydney Morning Herald]

Australian coal plant.

¶ The Australian federal government could agree to a higher renewable energy target before the end of the week as it finds itself isolated on the issue and sees a need to bring uncertainty to an end. Cabinet is likely to discuss the matter now that the Labor leader agreed to accept a 2020 target of 30,000 GWh. [The Australian Financial Review]

¶ The International Atomic Energy Agency delayed a report about meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to give Japanese officials another chance to explain radiation leaking into the Pacific Ocean. The IAEA’s report on plans to decommission the stricken reactors will be published in “mid-May.” [Bloomberg]

US:

¶ In Northern California, there lies a relic from the heyday of US nuclear power, shut down in 1976. The remaining cost to decommission the plant will be about $441 million, according to its owner, PG&E Corp. Nuclear operators are supposed to lay up enough money to cover the costs, but most haven’t. [The Japan Times]

Humbolt Bay Power Plant. Photo from the US Department of Energy.

¶ NextEra Energy Resources has been awarded a bid to develop solar power array projects in New Mexico. The two projects include a 50-MW solar array on 640 acres in Doña Ana County, and a second array, expected to be the largest in the state, will generate 150 MW, on 2,770 acres in Otero County. [Las Cruces Sun-News]

¶ A number of billionaires are committed to carbon-free energy. Warren Buffett invested $15 billion in solar and wind energy by early 2014. Ted Turner is working with coal-heavy Southern Company to acquire solar and wind plants. Philip Anschutz is working on a 3,000-MW wind farm in Wyoming. [Independent Online]

Opinion:

¶ “Is Solar Power About To Crush Big Oil, Big Coal And End Global Warming?” – Something amazing has happened in the energy market. The cost of solar power has fallen to the point where, in a growing number of places, it’s cheaper than the electricity that utilities deliver from their coal-fired power plants. [Investing.com]

¶ “Fracking Could Be More Dangerous Than We Realize” – British Columbia has no regulatory requirement for groundwater monitoring at hydraulic fracturing sites unless specified by a permit. And earthquakes are caused by fluid injection during hydraulic fracturing in proximity to pre-existing faults. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ The Chevy Volt is in a class of its own compared to other plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The Volt emits significantly less smog-forming pollution than other PHEVs, according to a GM study presented to the Society of Automotive Engineers. The Volt has far fewer engine starts than other PHEVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ A new type of wind turbine from a startup company, Vortex Bladeless, relies on an aerodynamic phenomenon called vorticity, in which wind flowing around a structure creates a pattern of small vortices or whirlwinds called a Kármán vortex street. No problema as long as they are relatively small. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ Following a call Friday by General Electric, a coalition of peak industry, manufacturing, and business groups, have joined in to demand an end to the stand-off on the renewable energy target, which began over a year ago when the government reviewed the target and tried to have it drastically scaled back. [The Australian Financial Review]

¶ Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed for expediting projects in the areas of irrigation, affordable housing, at a high-level meeting on infrastructure with focus on rural development, power, coal, renewable energy and petroleum and natural gas. He reviewed the status of stalled infrastructure projects. [Press Trust of India]

¶ As the cost of electricity from South Africa’s utility, Eskom, rises and frustration with load-shedding increases, companies are forking out millions to generate their own power – and even cemeteries are turning to renewable energy. Private cemeteries run by property group Calgro M3 convert to solar power. [Times LIVE]

¶ A minor leakage of radioactive water has been detected at Fukushima Daiichi. A total of 40 millilitres of water was discovered, according to TEPCO. The company stated that it placed bags of sand around the tank to prevent water from contaminating other areas. [RT] (40 millilitres is less than 3 tablespoons. So they are putting down sandbags?)

Slogan sign “nuclear (power generation), a bright and future (source of) energy” in Futaba town, Fukushima pref. Photo by Hohoho, Wikimedia Commons.

US:

¶ New York’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recently flipped the switch on a 50-kW solar PV system at Fort Niagara State Park. The solar energy system is expected to save $9,100 annually and bring a clean, modern source of energy to the park, enhancing energy efficiency efforts. [Buffalo News]

¶ SolarCity Corporation announced on May 1 to offer Tesla Motors Inc’s newly released solar energy storage home battery unit, Powerwall. The company will be offering Tesla Powerwall, 10 kWh model, for $5000 under a nine-year lease plan, or the customers can buy the battery pack for $7,140 flat. [Business Finance News]

Tesla:

¶ “Tesla’s Home Battery Offering In Context — Pricing Much Lower Than Expected” I think one of the lessons of the day is to trust Elon Musk. When he said approximately a month ago that Tesla would be announcing a “major new product line” on April 30, he wasn’t using the term “major” in a light way. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Home Storage Powerwall

¶ Green Mountain Power is the first utility in the country to partner with Tesla to offer Tesla’s new home battery to customers. It says a radical change to the grid will begin in Rutland City. The batteries will become available in October, and GMP plans to offer incentives as well as in-bill financing to buyers. [Rutland Herald]

¶ “7 Things You Need to Know About Tesla’s New Home Battery” The internet has been a flurry of speculation for weeks. But now, after the big unveiling late last night, the time for speculation is over. Quell your curiosity, and spend 10 minutes learning everything you need to know about Tesla’s new battery. [Triple Pundit]

¶ Almost three hours before Tesla’s big announcement, inside a Northwestern University classroom near Chicago, famed nuclear critic Arnie Gundersen had the inside scoop: Elon Musk would announce an industrial-scale battery that would cost about 2¢ per kWh, putting the final nail in the coffin of nuclear power. [Forbes]

World:

¶ A £70 million tidal project that was shelved last year could now be revived after a global leader in the industry bought up the scheme. The 10-MW Skerries Tidal Stream Array, which was to be Wales’s first commercial tidal energy farm, would see seven massive tidal generators located in up to 130 ft of water. [WalesOnline]

Artist’s impression of turbines developed by Marine Current Turbines of Bristol

¶ Since 2005, Venezuela’s socialist government has sent $70 billion of subsidized oil to Nicaragua and other Caribbean area nations, according to Barclays Investment Bank. This secured political allies, countering US influence. Now, the US is encouraging a regional shift toward renewables and independence from oil. [Wall Street Journal]

¶ Germany’s DanTysk offshore wind power plant has officially been inaugurated. The installation features 80 Siemens wind turbines with a total capacity of 288 MW. The wind power plant can generate up to 1.3 billion kWh per year, enough to match the annual consumption of about 400,000 German households. [Renewable Energy Focus]

US:

¶ According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2015, electricity-generating companies will add 20 GW of capacity to the grid. Of that amount, about 68% will come from renewable energy sources. And this good news is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to renewable energy around the world. [Investing.com]

¶ President Barack Obama has signed bipartisan legislation to bolster energy efficiency measures in commercial buildings and homes. One component of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act promotes energy efficiency for renters through a branch of the Energy Star program, which is called “Tenant Star.” [State Journal]

¶ Caterpillar and First Solar, Inc today announced a strategic alliance to develop an integrated PV solar solution for microgrid applications. Under the agreement, First Solar will design and manufacture a pre-engineered turnkey package for use in remote microgrid applications, such as small communities and mine sites. [3BL Media]

¶ US Representative Scott Perry continued his efforts this week to remove government barriers to the development of hydropower in the US by sponsoring an amendment to HR 2028, the Energy-Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 that would restore funding for this vital energy resource. [RealEstateRama]

¶ Xcel Energy is seeking state regulators’ approval to develop and own the proposed 200-MW Courtenay wind farm near Jamestown, North Dakota. The 100-turbine Courtenay project is expected to create about 200 construction jobs and provide about $850,000 in annual tax revenue to local governments. [Energy Business Review]

Opinion:

¶ “FirstEnergy Wages All-Out War on Clean Energy” – While some in the utility industry are adapting to account for low-cost renewable power and climate change, others are fighting it. In Ohio, FirstEnergy gained regulatory approval to abandon its energy efficiency programs. But their situation has not benefitted. [Environmental Defense Fund]

Science and Technology:

¶ André Borschberg, co-founder and pilot of Solar Impulse 2, has rejoined the SI2 team in Nanjing, China, and is preparing for the biggest flight for the solar-powered airplane to date. The flight across the Pacific is projected to last 120 hours, 5 days, and 5 nights in a very small cockpit the size of a closet. [CleanTechnica]

Solar Impulse 2

¶ Infratech Industries, Inc opened a solar plant at a wastewater treatment facility in South Australia, and it could potentially change the way we harvest solar energy. According to the company’s director, the panels are 57% more efficient than land-based systems because they’re kept cool by the water. [Grist]

World:

¶ ScottishPower Renewables has officially opened the newly repowered Coal Clough windfarm. The company has invested £22.5 million to replace 24 wind turbines installed in 1992, with eight modern turbines, increasing the total generating capacity of the windfarm from 9.6 MW to 16 MW. [Renewable Energy Focus]

¶ Divisions are emerging in the Australian Coalition government as MPs fret over job losses caused by the ongoing uncertainty over the renewable energy target. Industry leaders have called on the government to accept a suggestion by Victorian Liberal MP Dan Tehan to adopt a new target of 33,000 GWh. [The Australian Financial Review]

¶ The Total Environment Centre says data shows energy use on the North Coast of New South Wales is declining about three times as fast as the overall national energy market, despite a 5% population increase over the same period. High power costs are driving people to efficiency and rooftop solar systems. [Northern Star]

¶ TEPCO started freezing soil at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in trial operations for an underground wall aimed at preventing groundwater from flowing into the damaged reactors and becoming radioactive. The work was conducted at 18 points around the No. 1 through No. 4 reactor buildings. [Asahi Shimbun]

¶ A new report from the banking and financial services company, HSBC, has warned of increasing risk of “stranded assets” in the fossil fuel industry. It raises questions that are going to need to be addressed in the coming years, if not sooner, as nations gear up for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. [CleanTechnica]

¶ The world’s nuclear reactors are showing their age. Almost 200 of the 434 nuclear reactors in operation worldwide are due to be retired by 2040, at a cost of more than $100 billion, according to the International Energy Agency. All but one of the existing plants in the UK are due to be shut down within a decade. [The Engineer]

Obsolete nuclear power plant.

US:

¶ Tesla unveiled a suite of energy products, including a wall-mounted battery for use in consumers’ homes. The Powerwall is a lithium-ion battery designed to be mounted on a wall, and connected to the local power grid. It will be sold to installers for $3,500 for 10 kWh, and $3,000 for 7 kWh, starting in late Summer. [CNN]

¶ Republic Services, Inc announced today a new landfill gas-to-energy project located at Sunshine Canyon Landfill near Los Angeles. The 20-MW renewable energy project is capable of generating enough electricity to power nearly 25,000 area homes, fueled by methane from decomposition of waste. [Your Renewable News]

¶ The 400-MW Grande Prairie wind farm in Holt County, Nebraska will be powered by 200 V110-2.0 MW machines made by Vestas. Delivery is to start in the second quarter of 2016 and the project is expected to be completed by the end of the same year. The contract includes a five-year service agreement. [SeeNews Renewables]

¶ New Jersey legislators are preparing to take another crack at dramatically ramping up how much of the state’s electricity comes from renewable energy, such as solar and wind power. A bill before the Senate Environment and Energy Committee would require 80% of the electricity to come from renewable sources. [NJ Spotlight]

¶ DTE Energy has the green light to build the Fermi 3 nuclear power plant. The NRC approved a license to construct and operate a new nuclear power plant at the same site as Fermi 2. The company says a final decision on whether to build would be based on factors such as customer demands and carbon regulations. [Monroe Evening News]