Opinion:
¶ “6 reasons the clean energy revolution doesn’t need Trump’s blessing” • As much as Trump and his oil-soaked administration want to make fossil fuels great again, the global clean energy revolution is getting to the point of being unstoppable. Here are a few reasons the renewables revolution will continue without Trump’s blessing. [Inhabitat]
Solar powered houses in Germany
¶ “Data busts the myth of cheap fossil fuels” • Carbon Tracker Initiative has released a global study that might surprise the general public, “End of the Load for Coal and Gas?” It found renewable energy is now more cost-effective than fossil fuels, conflicting with conventional wisdom that coal and gas are the cheapest fuels available. [GreenBiz]
¶ “Even Trump can’t dismiss the success of renewables” • What impact will the climate-sceptic, coal enthusiast President Trump have on the prospects for renewable energy? How will Brexit affect the UK’s renewable sector? And what’s driving the growth of clean energy in Asia? These were key questions at a Guardian roundtable. [The Guardian]
The answer is blowing in the wind
(Photo: Billy Hustace / Getty Images)
World:
¶ Vestas received a firm and unconditional order to supply 29 V126 3.45-MW turbines for the 100-MW Corti wind park from Greenwind SA, a subsidiary of Pampa Energia. Turbine delivery is planned for the third quarter of this year, and commissioning is expected less than a year later, in the second quarter of 2018. [North American Windpower]
¶ Finnish retailer of food and goods Kesko has announced that it will source 100% sustainably produced, renewable electricity for all of its operations, from January 2017 onwards. The company will source “green” electricity, which is certified by the northern European “renewable energy guarantee of origin.” [ESM – The European Supermarket Magazine]
Finland’s Kesko to use 100% renewable electricity
¶ DP Energy has submitted a marine licence application to Northern Ireland authorities for its 100-MW Fair Head tidal array. The Irish developer is seeking permission from Belfast’s Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs to install tidal turbines on the seabed and associated infrastructure to bring the power ashore. [reNews]
¶ Enel Green Power has brought online two new utility-scale PV plants in South Africa, at 82.5 MW each. Together the plants are capable of generating more than 300 GWh per year. The Adams and Pulida solar PV plants, located respectively in the Northern Cape and Free State provinces, are supported by a 20-year PPA with Eskom. [PV-Tech]
Enel Green Power project in South Africa (Source: Enel)
¶ Eskom, the public electric utility in South Africa, will not oppose court action challenging the legality of government decisions around the procurement process for a fleet of new nuclear reactors. The utility said in papers filed in the Western Cape High Court that it would abide by the court’s decision in this matter. [Daily Maverick]
US:
¶ According to Greentech Media, SunShot has shattered its 2020 goal of reaching $1.00 per watt for utility-scale solar utility costs 3 years earlier. Founded back in 2011 when Stephen Chu was the US DOE Secretary, the SunShot goal was to get utility-scale costs down to $1.00/watt. In 2011, the costs stood at about $4.00/watt. [CleanTechnica]
Solar power plant (photo via lbl.gov)
¶ Southern California Gas Co, Los Angeles, along with CR&R Environmental, a waste management company in Stanton, California, announced they have begun construction of an eight-inch pipeline that will bring carbon-neutral renewable natural gas into the SoCalGas distribution system for the first time. [Waste Today Magazine]
¶ Rough terrain, isolated homes and vast distances add to the costs of extending grid lines to more homes of Navajo people. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority uses off-grid solar systems as a more cost-effective way to bring power to homes. They cost less than half of the $35,000 to $50,000 it could cost to extend grid lines by one mile. [Cronkite News]
Navajo solar system (Photo: Katrin Mehler / Cronkite News)
¶ The plunging cost of solar power is leading US electric companies to capture more of the sun just when President Donald Trump is moving to boost coal and other fossil fuels. Solar power represents just about 1% [actually 2% – ghh] of the utility power today, but that will grow as major utilities take up smaller solar projects. [Electric Light & Power]
¶ Power producers are set to announce their opposition to legislation that would guarantee markets for the Millstone nuclear plant. Calpine Corp, Dynegy, NRG Energy, and the Electric Power Supply Association all say state assistance to the nuclear plant could drive up energy costs for businesses and residents. [Hartford Courant]
geoharvey 
February 7, 2017 at 2:43 pm
Reblogged this on nuclear-news.