Science and Technology:
¶ “Minesto to fly Wales kite” • Minesto, a Swedish company, is poised to start subsea testing of its 500-kW tidal kite off the coast of Wales after completing initial commissioning sea trials. The company said the DG500 will undergo “flying” full subsea trajectories off Holyhead as part of the next phase of tests, which cover power take-off and generation. [reNews]
DG500 tidal kite (Minesto image)
¶ “New ‘flow battery’ could charge electric vehicles in seconds, say researchers” • A new type of energy storage system could revolutionise energy storage and drop the charging time of electric cars from hours to seconds, claim its creators. Electric cars based on the flow battery could be charged in seconds, as the electrolyte is a pumpable liquid. [Envirotec]
¶ “Renewable Energy Could “Effectively Be Free” by 2030, Says UBS Analyst” • A research analyst at Swiss investment bank UBS believes the cost of energy renewables could be so near to zero by 2030 “it will effectively be free.” Renewables could soon be less expensive than all other energy sources, and that this “is great news for the planet.” [Inverse]
Wind turbines
World:
¶ “National Energy Guarantee endorsed by Coalition party room despite backbench concern” • Australia’s Coalition party room approved the plan for the NEG after debate, in which former prime minister Tony Abbott expressed strong concerns. The NEG aims to cut emissions in the electricity sector by 26%, decrease energy bills, and ensure reliability. [ABC News]
¶ “731.5 Megawatt Borssele III & IV Offshore Wind Farms Reach Financial Close” • The Blauwwind Consortium announced that it had reached financial close on the Borssele III/IV wind farms set to be constructed in the Dutch North Sea with a total installed capacity of 731.5 MW. Commercial power production is expected to begin in 2021. [CleanTechnica]
Gwynt y Mor wind farm
¶ “62% Of Capacity Added In Q2 2018 In India Came From Solar” • According to latest data released by various agencies of the Indian government, India added more solar power capacity in Q2 2018 than in any second quarter. A total of 1,372 MW of solar power capacity was added during the quarter. That was 62% of capacity change. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Female Solar Engineers Bring Hope To Farmers In Togo” • In Agome-Sevah, a village in the southeast of Togo, farmers are now smiling and hope to rise out of poverty due to solar electricity installed in the entire village by four illiterate women. One maize farmer said his wife would no longer have to walk miles to have corn ground. [CleanTechnica]
Installing a solar system (Photo: Lar Bolands)
¶ “India Cancels 2.4 GW of Solar Capacity Awarded In Largest Tender” • In a shocking decision by the Solar Energy Corporation of India, five major solar developers lost 2.4 GW of capacity they had secured last month in the. The reason given for the action was that the spread of price bids was too wide, and that the tariff bids quoted were high. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ratch’s 42.5-MW solar project in Queensland delivers first power” • The 42.5-MW Collinsville solar project in Queensland has started to generate electricity, according to developer Ratch Australia Corp. The project is undergoing a staged testing and commissioning process and is expected to reach full commercial operation in September. [Renewables Now]
Collinsville Solar PV Project (collinsvillesolar.com.au)
¶ “First virtual power plant enters UK Balancing Mechanism” • Energy technology innovator Limejump entered the Balancing Mechanism with the first virtual power plant admitted into the market. UK regulator Ofgem allowed the move after Limejump built a portfolio of renewable generators, batteries, and demand response assets. [Power Engineering International]
¶ “Renewables step into the breach to counteract power plant problems during Europe’s heat wave” • Europe’s summer heat wave has had a significant impact on power plants, with nuclear and coal plants either reducing their output or closing down temporarily. Renewables compensated for serious shutdowns and curtailments over the summer months. [REVE]
Wind turbine in a desert
¶ “Blow for coal power as EU carbon emissions price hits 10-year high” • The amount polluters pay for emitting carbon in the EU has hit a 10-year high, in a blow for coal power station owners and a boost for renewable energy. The price of carbon in the bloc’s emissions trading scheme reached €18 (£16, $20.55) per tonne, triple the level of a year ago. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ “Of New Power Generation, How Much is on the Roof? Quarterly Update – 2018 Q1” • Over the past year, distributed generation, which is electricity produced locally from rooftop solar on homes and businesses or in nearby community solar gardens, has provided on average 18.5% of the electric power that came from new capacity. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “EIA Data Undermines Trump’s Love Affair With Coal and Nuclear” • Reports published over recent weeks by the Energy Information Administration and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission show that coal and nuclear continue their decline across the country. Meanwhile installations of renewable energy continue to increase. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Siemens to help California city save millions through solar energy” • An energy savings performance contract with Siemens will allow the city of Wasco to use energy savings to fund a solar project situated on a former burn dump. The renewable energy produced will help offset approximately 60% of the city’s current energy usage. [pv magazine USA]
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