World:
¶ Two stunning auction results in India and Chile in the last week have underscored the gains that large-scale solar has made against its fossil fuel competitors. In both countries, solar is now clearly the cheapest option compared to new coal-fired power stations. In Chile, the auction produced a record low price for unsubsidised solar, 6.5¢/kWh. [RenewEconomy]
¶ Electric vehicle and battery storage developer Tesla Motors says it is receiving “very strong” demand for its new battery storage products in Australia, which are due to be rolled out in the next month or two. Australia has been chosen as one of the first countries for the Tesla Energy “Powerwall” product, a 7-kWh lithium-ion system. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Rocky Mountain Institute’s new casebook, Renewable Microgrids: Profiles From Islands and Remote Communities Across the Globe, profiles 10 islands and remote communities actively embracing this transition in order to provide examples for other communities looking to make the switch away from oil to efficiency and renewables. [CleanTechnica]
¶ While the developing world is ditching the diesel and embracing solar, often with the direct financial assistance of British companies and the government, ministers in the UK are set to grant vast subsidies to support the creation of 1.5 GW of diesel power capacity to plug the country’s growing energy gap. Meanwhile, subsidies for solar are being cut. [pv magazine]
¶ Enbridge has bought a $750 million stake in a UK project that was developed and is being constructed by E·ON Climate & Renewables UK Limited, one of the world’s largest utilities and a leading developer of wind energy projects. The project will utilize 116 Vestas V112-3.45 MW turbines and is expected to reach full commercial operation in 2018. [Junior College]
Enbridge buys a 750 million stake in United Kingdom project
¶ The largest state in Austria now runs on 100% clean and renewable energy, officials have confirmed. The premier of Lower Austria, which has a population of 1.65 million, told a news conference that the state is now generating its electricity solely from renewable sources, led by hydroelectric power, which supplies 63% of the state’s energy. [pv magazine]
¶ Lekela Power, a pan-African renewable power company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the governmental-owned Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for a 250-MW wind farm. The project will be situated in the Gulf of Suez area to capitalize on Egypt’s unique wind resources. It is Lekela Power’s third project in Egypt. [Sun & Wind Energy]
¶ According to market research of Deutsche Bank, solar energy is now the cheapest source of electricity in Chile and newly installed PV capacity could exceed 1 GW in 2015. In a round of tender in October 2015, renewables won 100 % of the contracts. The reason being that right now both solar and wind power are cheaper than fossil fuels in Chile. [Sun & Wind Energy]
US:
¶ A3.91-acre, 230-kW solar farm was built on a former municipal landfill-turned neglected park in Newark, Delaware, using money from the state’s Green Energy Program. The intent was to save the city money and make solar energy available to residents who don’t have the means to install their own panels. In its first year, it outperformed hopes. [Cecil Whig]
Newark Post File Photo by Josh Shannon.
¶ Plans for what is being billed as “the world largest fuel cell power plant” in a former gravel pit west of the Naugatuck River got some up-close and personal scrutiny during a pair of hearings held by the Siting Council in Beacon Falls, Connecticut.Council members heard testimony from the president of the company that will own the facility. [New Haven Register]
¶ Michigan Democratic lawmakers won amendments adding more energy efficiency and a renewable goal to the energy overhaul package passed out of the House Energy Policy Committee.The bill package includes two house bills to amend broad energy policy including that surrounding renewables, energy choice, energy efficiency and rate processes. [MLive.com]
¶ The recent news of yet another pending nuclear-plant closure means that Entergy will be juggling three complicated, expensive decommissioning projects in New England and New York.Company administrators and federal officials say the coming shutdowns of FitzPatrick and Pilgrim won’t negatively affect decommissioning work at Vermont Yankee. [vtdigger.org]
FitzPatrick Nuclear in New York. Courtesy photo
¶ New York’s Attorney General is investigating whether ExxonMobil Corp lied to the public and investors about its knowledge of climate change and its risks. This follows articles published by InsideClimate News and the Los Angeles Times saying their investigations showed Exxon concealed its own scientist’s work on climate science. [The Hill]
¶ Southern California Edison plans to spend $12 billion over the next three years to modernize the electric grid. Critics say the costs are misplaced, as the company is seeking the state’s approval to replace the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant with three natural gas-fired plants, rather than looking into local renewables and battery storage. [L.A. Biz]
geoharvey 
November 6, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Reblogged this on nuclear-news.