Science and Technology:
¶ Fitch Ratings says utility-scale solar PV projects often outperform expectations. On average, projects assessed made 9% more electricity than projected. Factors include higher than expected solar irradiance and lower than expected grid curtailments. With limited downtimes, arrays were available over 98.5% of the time. [CleanTechnica]
Topaz Solar Farm, a 550-MW photovoltaic power station in San Luis Obispo County, California. Image by First Solar
¶ The UN released its assessment of national plans to limit climate change, submitted by 146 countries. Officials say the submissions, in their current form, won’t keep global temperatures from rising by more than the 2° C danger threshold. However the UN report says the plans are a major step and the 2° C goal is “within reach.” [BBC]
World:
¶ Green energy is benefiting from the downturn in the oil sector, with more cash available for investments and more skilled manpower at hand, the CEO of Norway’s Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable power, told Reuters. Statkraft sees growth opportunities in South America, and it has been active in Peru and Brazil. [Prairie Business]
¶ The Chinese government announced that fourteen provinces will be required to develop 5.3 GW of further solar PV projects, in addition to the earlier determined 2015 goals. Plans for the new projects are expected to be submitted within the next month, and they have to be finished and grid-connected by the end of 2016. [CleanTechnica]
Solar panels at new Zhongshan TCM Hospital Image by 罗伯特 (some rights reserved)
¶ Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd and the Electricity Regulatory Authority of the Cayman Islands announced that a power purchase agreement had been approved for a proposed 5-MW solar project. The project will provide energy to power 800 homes, reduce electric rates for customers, and significantly reduce carbon emissions. [Stockhouse]
¶ Spanish manufacturer Acciona posted a net profit of €166 million in the first nine months of 2015, an 11.6% increase over the same period in 2014, mainly due to the growth in renewable power generation and the sales of wind turbines manufactured by Acciona Windpower. Before tax earnings grew 69.5% to €248 million. [Windtech International]
US:
¶ An independent examination of two struggling coal-burning power plants in western New York has found that neither is needed to maintain reliability of the electrical grid, which could pave the way for their closure. The state’s Independent System Operator said the plants can be replaced by transmission system upgrades. [Capital New York]
The Dunkirk power plant. (Tim Lenz)
¶ The United States Department of Agriculture has announced a round of funding, in the form of loans and grants, to more than 1100 rural renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide. These are aimed at helping small businesses and agricultural producers reduce both their energy use and costs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Xcel Energy Inc is asking Colorado state regulators to approve a test of adding massive batteries to its system to store renewable energy and send the power to customers when they need it. Xcel is proposing to add the batteries to its grid system for commercial customers in a development near Denver International Airport. [9NEWS.com]
¶ US utility Exelon will defer decisions about the future of its Clinton nuclear power plant after the Midcontinent Independent System Operator acknowledged the need for changes to the design of the southern Illinois electricity market. Other factors, such as new requirements for decreased carbon emissions, influenced the utility. [World Nuclear News]
¶ DuPont has celebrated the opening of its cellulosic biofuel facility in Nevada, Iowa, with a ceremony including Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad and many other dignitaries. The biorefinery is the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant, with the capacity to produce 30 million gallons per year of ethanol from agricultural waste. [Hydrocarbon Processing]
geoharvey 
November 1, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Reblogged this on nuclear-news.