World:
¶ Electricity sent to the National Grid by wind turbines in Scotland was 82% higher in September than the same month last year, analysis by WWF Scotland and data company WeatherEnergy found. The grid took 563,835 MWh of power from Scotland’s windfarms in September 2015, up from 308,301 MWh in September 2014. [Scotsman]
September’s unusual weather led to green energy boom. Picture: Ian Rutherford
¶ According to a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in collaboration with Climate Policy Initiative, public and private finance that was mobilized by developed countries for climate action in developing countries grew from $52 billion in 2013 to an impressive $62 billion in 2014. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Renewables represented only 7% of the energy used in the production and consumption of food across EU member states in 2013, compared to 15% in the overall energy mix, according to a JRC Science and Policy report. The small share of renewables can be explained with the food industry’s high reliance on fossil fuels. [SeeNews Renewables]
¶ Australia’s first wind farm commissioner has been appointed to take office fort three years. The government also established a scientific panel to “provide advice on the science and monitoring of potential impacts of wind turbine sound on health and the environment,” as part of a deal with anti-wind farm crossbench senators. [Sydney Morning Herald]
The Turnbull government has appointed a wind farm commissioner to handle complaints against the industry. Photo: Rohan Thomson
¶ The largest solar power project in Punjab was commissioned at a village in Bathinda district. After inaugurating the 32-MW plant, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said Punjab was the first state in India to work out a diversification scheme which had turned farmers into green energy entrepreneurs. [The Indian Express]
¶ The Indian Government is likely to overachieve its 2030 climate intensity target without having to implement any new policies, according to Climate Action Tracker. In its UN climate plan, India has stated it would reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 33–35% below 2005 levels by 2030. [Business Spectator]
¶ It’s no secret that renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are getting cheaper and more efficient by the day, and as a result, countries around the world are increasingly beginning to embrace the technology. More capacity for renewable energy is already being added each year than coal, natural gas, and oil combined. [ScienceAlert]
Oberstdorf solar PV installation. Photo by Molgreen. CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons.
¶ SunEdison, one of the world’s biggest renewable energy investors has warned that “draconian” UK subsidy cuts will kill solar power in Britain, blaming policy changes for a pullback that led to the collapse of a big installer and nearly 1,000 job losses. Just two weeks ago Drax said it was pulling out of a £1 billion UK plan. [Financial Times]
¶ The Ehime prefectural assembly in western Japan gave its consent Friday to a plan to restart the No 3 reactor at Shikoku Electric Power Co’s Ikata plant and adopted a resolution stating the necessity of doing so. The plant is a step closer to becoming Japan’s second nuclear facility to restart under stricter safety regulations. [kyodo news]
US:
¶ America’s reliance on renewable sources of energy has reached historic levels and is poised to make even greater gains in the near future, according to report by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The report found that energy sector carbon pollution was lower last year than in 1996, down 10% reduction in the past decade. [solarserver.com]
¶ The US Energy Information Administration has released forecasts predicting total renewables used in the electric power sector to decrease by 2.7% in 2015. Hydropower generation is expected to decrease by 9.7% due to the drought in the West, and non-hydropower renewable power generation is forecast to increase by 4%. [Biomass Magazine]
San Gabriel Dam in Los Angeles County, California, 2013. Photo by Shannon1. CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons.
¶ While pipeline companies and politicians insist that bringing more natural gas to New England will lower energy prices, Massachusetts recently approved a plan that puts the cost for that gas on electricity customers. The state’s Department of Public Utilities endorsed allowing electric companies to enter into natural-gas contracts. [ecoRI news]
¶ Xcel Energy is adding luster to its growing renewable portfolio with approval by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission for the company’s purchase of 140 MW of photovoltaic solar-produced electric power from two planned developments near Roswell. They will be the largest solar farms in the state when completed. [KCBD-TV]
¶ DC Water commissioned a $470 million project that produces 10 MW of green electricity from wastewater treatment. The project includes a dewatering building, 32 sleek thermal hydrolysis vessels, four concrete anaerobic digesters holding 3.8 million gallons of solids each, and three turbines the size of jet engines. [Power Technology]
geoharvey 
October 9, 2015 at 3:42 pm
Reblogged this on nuclear-news.