Opinion:
¶ “Larsen C breakoff could have ‘dire consequences'” • A massive piece of an ice shelf in West Antarctica is poised to break off any day now, creating an iceberg the size of the state of Delaware. The possible collapse of the Larsen C ice shelf has scientists worried. Why? Expert John Abraham explains – and speaks out about Trump. [Deutsche Welle]
Larsen ice shelf
World:
¶ An $8 million wind and solar farm has been announced in Western Australia by Advanced Energy Resources in conjunction with GMA Garnet. The construction of a 3-MW wind and solar farm with battery storage will supply electricity at a GMA Garnet mining location about 120 km from the nearest electric grid substation. [Energy Matters]
¶ The world’s first commercial-scale floating wind farm, which will be sited 25 km off the coast of Scotland, is nearer to being a reality. According to a press statement, each of the five 5-MW wind turbines has been attached onto a floating substructure in Norway, and they are now ready to be towed into position and anchored to the seabed. [Gulf Today]
Building a floating wind turbine
¶ Viet Nam’s FECON Corporation and Saudi Arabi’s Acwa Power signed a memorandum of understanding for developing renewable energy projects in Viet Nam. The MOU says FECON and Acwa Power will evaluate renewable energy investment potentials, especially for wind and solar power in southern and central regions. [Viet Nam News]
¶ The UK faces a stiff challenge over the next three years if it is to meet its EU target of achieving 15% renewable energy penetration by 2020. Figures released by UK government ahead of the G20 Summit show that the UK had a renewable energy penetration of 8.9% at the end of 2016. This is far short of its EU target for 2020 of 15%. [pv magazine]
Working to meet the UK 2020 RE target (Image: Pfalzsolar)
¶ As a global technology leader in electrification, Siemens has reiterated its commitment to assisting Ghana in meeting the country’s expanding energy needs. Siemens is undertaking a new training program in Accra. The program is aimed at keeping Siemens’ partners in Ghana up to date on the company’s latest technology offerings. [News Ghana]
¶ German policymakers have outlawed negative bids in next year’s 1.6-GW offshore wind tender after the bulk of capacity in the country’s first auction in April was won by zero subsidy bids. The amendment to the Wind Energy at Sea Act has been made to prevent a downward spiral into negative prices. The price cap was lowered at the same time. [reNews]
Riffgat offshore wind farm in Germany (Credit: EWE)
¶ Photon Energy is developing a 316-MW solar power plant near Gunning, New South Wales. It would be the biggest PV project in the state and one of the largest planned in Australia, comparable in size to conventional utility scale power stations. The solar power plan would be constructed on 590 hectares of land as soon as 2019. [Sun & Wind Energy]
¶ Swedish state-owned power company Vattenfall has established a new business unit dedicated to solar plus storage. Additionally, the company will look to immediately capitalize on growth of the technology within Europe by lining up investments of €150 million in large-scale solar and battery storage projects on the continent. [Solar Power Portal]
Turbine in the Parc Cynog wind farm in Wales
¶ The US administration told India that Westinghouse Electric Co will emerge from bankruptcy and be sold by the year end, sources said, raising the prospect of a Washington-supported sale or bailout for the nuclear firm. Some form of US backing or involvement could avoid a Chinese or Russian buyer unpalatable to Washington. [The Indian Express]
¶ The amount of solar energy installed on the world’s power grids increased 50% year over year in 2016, according to a report by the International Energy Agency. Between 70 GW and 75 GW solar panels came online, with close to half those installations coming in China, where solar capacity more than doubled last year. [Chron.com]
Alamo 6 solar farm in West Texas
US:
¶ Two key moves this year will propel San Francisco’s toward an all-renewable electricity mix by 2030. They could make San Francisco, the nation’s 13th largest city, a model for others. A 2012 report showed the city’s electricity was even then 41% renewable-generated, thanks to municipal solar, hydroelectric, and biogas facilities. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Goldman Sachs became the first US bank to sign a large-scale power purchase agreement for off-site renewable energy. The agreement will make it possible to build a new 68-MW wind farm in Pennsylvania. Goldman Sachs has established a goal to get 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. (Interview) [One Step Off The Grid]
Goldman Sachs buying power from a wind farm
¶ Rocky Mountain Power is asking regulators in three states to approve an initial plan to expand the amount of wind power serving its customers by 2020 by 1.1 GW. Regulatory filings have been made in Wyoming, Utah and Idaho, though most of the new investments would be in Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Power said. [North American Windpower]
¶ PowerDocks LLC partnered with the city of Newport, Rhode Island, to launch the Blue Isles platform in Newport Harbor. It is the first aquatic microgrid platform built to power and recharge electric marine propulsion vessels using solar power. The solar panels provide free electricity and Wi-Fi to vessels docked within 300 feet. [ecoRI news]
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