geoharvey

Opinion:

¶   “3 Reasons Germans Are Kicking Ass & Taking Names With Renewable Energy” Germany is racing past 20% renewable energy on its electricity grid, but what news stories often leave out is the overwhelming popularity of the Energiewende and why it so prevalent. [CleanTechnica]

¶   “UK Nuclear Future Relies on Reactor Plagued by Delays” To ensure the future of its nuclear power industry, the UK is relying on an unproven reactor design plagued by delays and billions in budget overruns. [Bloomberg]

World:

¶   German scientists estimate that out of a total of 30 million tons of cereal straw produced annually in Germany, 8 to 13 million could be used for energy or fuel. This would provide 1.7 to 2.8 million average households with electricity and 2.8 to 4.5 million with heating. [inhabitat]

¶   Revised statistics on the small wind industry indicates that the UK surpassed 100 MW of installed small wind capacity in 2012. Total installed small wind capacity will approach 200 MW this year. By comparison, at the end of 2012, the US had an installed small wind capacity of 216 MW. [RenewEconomy]

¶   With the Coalition government set to review Australia’s 2020 Renewable Energy Target early next year, Australia’s biggest utility, Origin Energy, has declared that the nation has already nearly met its 20% goal, and that further mandatory target would only drive up the cost of electricity. [RenewEconomy]

¶   Greenpeace Australia Pacific and 100% Renewable have released a report, Strangling Renewables: Origin Energy’s campaign against renewable energy, which accuses Origin Energy of strangling renewables as part of a strategy to prolong the dominance of gas and fossil fuels. [Business Spectator]

¶   The European Commission said Tuesday it would examine British government support for a massive €19 billion nuclear plant to be built by French and Chinese firms. The deal guarantees the price for electricity produced over 35 years at about double the prevailing rate. [AFP]

¶   A Japanese government committee is now looking into a drastic overhaul of the nuclear industry, which would include building a single entity to manage the 50 reactors which are all currently offline for maintenance and security checks. [The Japan Daily Press]

¶   After years of delays, Kerala received its first allocation of power from the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project early Tuesday morning as part of a test run. Regular supply is expected to begin soon, officials said. [The New Indian Express]

US:

¶   In yet another demonstration of the US military’s transition to renewable energy, the Air Force Research Laboratory is eyeballing a computer center in Hawaii to demonstrate an advanced system for collecting, storing and using solar power. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Three US offshore wind projects are advancing. The 468 MW Cape Wind in Nantucket Sound, Deepwater Wind’s 30 MW Block Island project in Rhode Island and Fishermen’s Energy’s 25 MW scheme off New Jersey aim to wrap up final permitting and financing in the coming months. [reNews]

¶   Washington state law requires utilities to have 3% of the electricity from renewables by the end of this year. Critics of the law had forecast high customer costs. Now, the agency responsible is certifying that the law has been complied with, and the cost turns out to be very low. [The Seattle Times]

¶   The National Grid opened its Sustainability Hub to provide consumers with hands-on education about energy efficiency and emerging energy technologies. The facility, located in Worcester, Massachusetts and is a part of National Grid’s Smart Energy Solutions Program. [SmartMeters]

¶   EDF Renewable Energy has started construction of the Lepomis Solar Project, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The 5.96 MW ground-mounted fixed-tilt solar PV project will deliver power to the Town of Wareham, under a long-term power purchase agreement. [Solar Industry]

¶   Utilities in western states are required to buy a specific amount of renewable energy under state laws, but they are purchasing more than required in order to reduce their use of fossil fuels, because it will save them and their customers money. [Natural Resources Defense Council]

Opinion:

¶   “CCS or going renewable? The answer is now obvious” It could be simply the politics, by which people vote for ideas that are plainly renewable and politicians don’t fee able to support the CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) allied to fossil fuel. [The Earth Times]

¶   “Six Myths About Renewable Energy” Many of the things we think we know about renewable energy go back to the earliest arguments. Many of the debating points we hear today are based on outdated facts and assumptions that don’t hold up anymore. [Wall Street Journal]

Science and Technology:

¶   When it rains, it floods. This is the new normal, said Center for Clean and Renewable Energy Development managing director Catherine Paredes-Maceda, speaking before 120 Asia Pacific delegates at a conference on sustainable development. [InterAksyon]

World:

¶   In the German election, the FDP failed to clear 5% of the vote and will get no seats in the next Bundestag. With the FDP out, that leaves exactly zero parties in the Bundestag supporting the proposal of replacing the successful feed-in tariff with a renewable portfolio standard. [CleanTechnica]

¶   GDF Suez, EDP Renewables and Neoen Marine are forming a consortium, actively seeking to contribute to the development of offshore wind energy in France and structure an industrial sector. The partners aim to develop projects in partnership with local stakeholders. [4-traders]

¶   Finnish company Metso is to supply a biomass-fired combined heat and power plant for Oskarshamn Energi in Sweden. When the new plant is commissioned almost 99% of district heating at Oskarshamn will be produced with renewable biofuels. [reNews]

¶   A solar-thermal power plant that Areva is building for India’s Reliance Power will start operating by the end of this year. Solar-thermal plants produce steam for turbines and can deliver electricity around the clock. Areva is the biggest producer of nuclear reactors. [Businessweek]

¶   The South African Department of Energy has appeared hobbled in its lack of movement on its project to build a fleet of six nuclear reactors. The government’s sluggishness has led to growing frustration among nuclear facility construction companies. [BDlive]

US:

¶   Results of a study by the University of Virginia examining a demonstration-scale algae operation in New Mexico owned by the company Sapphire Energy show that algae biofuel at the operation easily beat out corn ethanol for Energy Return on Investment. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The case over the state’s decision to approve water rights for the proposed Green River Nuclear Power Plant starts this week. Opponents are appealing the state’s decision, claiming there is not enough water in the state as is and if a nuclear plant is built there will be even less. [ABC 4]

¶   The NRC has given Mitsubishi a notice of non-conformance relating to the design of San Onofre’s failed steam  generators, and Edison has been cited for failing to ensure that Mitsubishi’s modeling and analysis of the steam generator design were adequate. [U-T San Diego]