Opinion:
¶ “Experts Are Horrified by the Military’s Portable Nuclear Reactor” • Project Dilithium, which the US Army announced last month, involves shipping small, portable nuclear reactors to military bases where they can provide electricity for stretches of about three years. The concept is making many nuclear power experts nervous. [Futurism]
Portable reactor – what could go wrong?
¶ “Green New Deal Is Feasible And Affordable ” • The Green New Deal combines ideas across several parts of the economy because the ultimate goal is sustainable development. That means an economy that delivers a package deal: good incomes, social fairness, and environmental sustainability. Fears that it is unachievable are wrong. [CNN]
World:
¶ “ScottishPower Targets £2 Billion Smarter UK Spend” • As it targets new sectors such as electric vehicle charging, smart grids and energy storage, ScottishPower is to spend up to £2 billion in the UK in 2019. The plans include a 50-MW battery storage project at its Whitelee wind farm in Scotland, the UK’s largest onshore project. [reNEWS]
Wind farm (Credit: ScottishPower)
¶ “BYD Breaks Ground On Its New 20-GWh Battery Factory In Chongqing” • BYD has broken ground at its new Chongqing battery plant. The plant diversifies its battery cell production capacity beyond its older factories in Eastern China. The company is now turning the factory it announced last year into a reality. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “EPC Decmil Breaks Ground On 255-MW Solar Farm In Australia, Energy Storage To Be Added” • Maoneng Australia said energy storage can improve the reliability of solar power and minimize the negative impacts of electric system modernization, as it broke ground on a 255-MW solar project in New South Wales. [Energy Storage News]
Breaking ground for a solar system (Maoneng Australia)
¶ “Decentralized Renewable Energy-Focused European Super Grid Is Least Cost Option” • Research from the Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland showed that a cross-border European super grid based on decentralized renewable energy supply is the least cost option to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Iberdrola To Invest €13.3 Billion In Renewables By 2022” • Spain’s Iberdrola will invest €34 billion ($39.6 billion) in global growth by 2022, with €13.3 billion of the amount allocated for renewable energy projects, according to the updated 2018-2022 plan. It will set aside €16 billion for networks and €3.8 billion for generation and supply. [Renewables Now]
Wind farm in New Mexico (Iberdrola image)
¶ “Indian State Of Gujarat Gets Lowest Bid Of 3.59¢/kWh In 500-MW Solar Auction” • According to media reports, a subsidiary of US-based UPC Energy Limited quoted a tariff bid of ₹2.55/kWh (3.59¢/kWh) for 50 MW in an auction of 500 MW solar power capacity in Gujarat. It is one of the lowest bids ever offered in India. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Norther Delivers First Power” • First power has been delivered to the grid from MHI Vestas turbines at the 370-MW Norther offshore wind farm, which is off the coast Belgium. Of the 44 V164-8.4MW wind turbines to be installed at the wind farm, a total of 12 units have so far been erected, and four of these are already powered up. [reNEWS]
Wind turbine installation (Credit: Norther)
¶ “Indian State Tamil Nadu Eyes 9-GW Solar Capacity By 2023” • The government of Tamil Nadu, in its solar energy policy 2019 document, has specified an operational solar power capacity target of 9 GW by 2023. The government had previously set a goal of achieving 5 GW of operational solar power capacity by the same year. [CleanTechnica]
US:
¶ “HECO Achieves 27% Renewable Mark Despite Loss Of Geothermal Due To Kilauea” • Despite the loss of geothermal power, the Hawaiian Electric Companies lost no ground in the effort to reach 100% renewable energy in 2045. The 2018 consolidated renewable portfolio standard remained the same percentage as it was in 2017, at 27%. [Big Island Now]
Lava flow near geothermal plant (Hawaii National Guard)
¶ “24M Ships First High Energy-Density Semi-Solid State Batteries” • The quest for a better battery for electric vehicle applications took a step forward this week as 24M, an innovative company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced it has shipped the first semi-solid state lithium-ion batteries to commercial customers. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “GM Partners With DTE Energy For Michigan Wind Energy” • As part of its commitment to increasing its renewable energy footprint globally and finding clean energy solutions located near its operations, General Motors Co has entered into an agreement with DTE Energy for 300,000 MWh of wind energy in the state of Michigan. [Windpower Engineering]
Wind farm in Michigan
¶ “Iron Mountain Announces Approved Science-Based Target” • Global data storage giant Iron Mountain Incorporated announced that it received formal approval from the Science Based Targets initiative of its 2025 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, one of only 150 or so companies which have received such approval. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Another Pennsylvania Township Commits To 100% Clean Energy” • Radnor Township Commissioners voted 6-1 to pass a “Ready for 100” resolution to transition to 100% clean energy by 2050. Radnor residents expressed their gratitude for the Commissioners’ leadership and forward-thinking, according to the Sierra Club. [Windpower Engineering]
Have an undeniably superb day.
geoharvey 