Science and Technology:
¶ Monsoon season now brings more extreme wind and rain to central and southwestern Arizona than in the past, according to new research led by the University of Arizona. Although there are now fewer storms, the largest monsoon thunderstorms bring heavier rain and stronger winds than did the monsoon storms of 60 years ago. [AZ Big Media]
Arizona Monsoon
World:
¶ China installed a record 24.4 GW worth of new solar capacity across the first half of 2017, according to new figures from the country’s solar PV association. The figure is 9% up on 2016’s own record installation numbers. This pushes the country’s installed solar capacity up to 101.82 GW, of which 84.39 GW is utility-scale. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Germany’s offshore wind farms delivered to the grid 8.48 TWh of electricity in the year’s first six months, Deutsche Windguard figures show. German offshore wind has already produced more electricity in 2017 than in the whole of 2015, which had 8.29 TWh. About 900 MW of new offshore capacity is expected to be added in 2017. [reNews]
Riffgat offshore wind farm (EWE image)
¶ Major wind power developers including Adani and Mytrah Energy signed Power Purchase Agreements with Power Trading Corporation for supply of 550 MW of power as part of India’s first wind power auctions scheme. The wind power projects under first wind auction are likely to be commissioned by September 2018. [ETEnergyworld.com]
¶ A report by energy market analysts EnAppSys says renewable energy sources set a host of records in the UK in the second quarter of 2017. Renewable energy was up 56% from the same period last year. Meanwhile the report also showed coal plants struggled in the quarter and produced less than 2% of total generation. [Power Engineering International]
Houses of Parliament
¶ Solarcentury, will partner with the European Union and United Nations Development Programme to build two solar-powered mini-grids with lithium batteries in Eritrea. The 2.25-MW project sounds small, but it will provide grid-quality power to 40,000 rural people and businesses, who are used to living off the grid or live with diesel power. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Irish utility ESB and new partner REG Power Management have taken the wraps off a pair of early-door Scottish onshore wind farm projects totaling up to 200 MW. A development services agreement signed today covers the 50-turbine Knockodhar and 15-unit Greenburn projects, described as being in the “concept stage.” [reNews]
Wind project in Wales developed by REG (REG image)
¶ Amidst lobbying by environmentally conscious stakeholders, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka approved a revised coal-free power generation scenario for the next 20 years at a present value of $15.52 billion. In the process of doing this, it saves $1.13 billion over the Ceylon Electricity Board’s coal-heavy option. [Daily Mirror]
US:
¶ Just as the Trump Administration was celebrating its “Made in America Week,” the Financial Times reported that CSX is not planning to buy new locomotives to haul additional coal. In fact, it is laying off 700 workers. Its CEO told the Financial Times that “Fossil fuels are dead,” and that “coal is not a long-term issue” for the company. [CleanTechnica]
CSX train (Photo: Don O’Brien, flickr.com, Creative Commons)
¶ Under a newly approved settlement agreement between Microsoft Corp and utility Puget Sound Energy, the tech giant will be able to purchase clean energy from the wholesale market to power its Puget Sound facility in Washington state. Under the terms of the contract, Microsoft will buy only carbon-free energy. [North American Windpower]
¶ Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co and SunPower Corp announced the two companies have signed a contract to build a 10-MW (AC) solar PV power plant in Covington, Oklahoma. Construction on the plant is expected to start next month. SunPower will design and build a SunPower Oasis Power Plant system at the Covington site. [Electric Light & Power]
Solar array in the Midwest
¶ Governor Phil Scott affirmed Vermont’s commitment to meeting the state’s long-term goal of getting 90% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050, and he created a commission to advise him on the best way to do it. He asked the 21-member commission to report back to him with an action plan by July 31, 2018. [Valley News]
¶ Vestas is to supply 200 MW of turbines for the Flat Top 1 wind farm in Texas. An order for 100 V110 2MW turbines came from a subsidiary of Alterra Power Corp. Vestas will manufacture turbine components at its Colorado factories. Deliveries should start in the fourth quarter of 2017, with commissioning planned for the first quarter of 2018. [reNews]
V110 2MW wind turbine Credit Vestas
¶ The University of Virginia is continuing to expand its portfolio of carbon-free generation and achieve key sustainability targets. It has announced another partnership with Dominion Energy. Under a 25-year agreement, the University will purchase the entire output of a proposed 120-acre solar facility in Middlesex County. [Augusta Free Press]
¶ In an application to the NRC, PSEG Nuclear, which operates in New Jersey, is seeking approval to increase the power output of its Hope Creek nuclear plant by 1.6%. With few new plants being built, the industry has used power uprates to add capacity; over the years, it has added capacity equivalent to seven new nuclear plants in this way. [NJ Spotlight]
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