India Could Reclassify Hydropower as Renewable Energy

24.10.2016

The National Democratic Alliance government of India will present legislation to the Cabinet to reclassify hydropower as a clean renewable energy source.

Speaking at a conference to mark the construction of a new Ministry of Mines, Coal, Power, New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) headquarters building in New Delhi on Oct. 19, MNRE Minister, Piyush Goyal, said, “hydropower of all sizes and shapes shall be considered renewable energy.”

The classification change may likely aid hydropower projects currently in financial limbo become eligible for tax incentives. This, according to local news reports, could make investment in hydropower projects become more attractive.

Currently, hydropower in India is categorized as conventional energy and the country’s installed capacity is about 43 GW, according to the MNRE.

MNRE is studying a committee report on hydropower and after the review is completed the ministry will present its recommendation to the Cabinet for approval, Goyal said.

The ministry did not provide a planned date to present its findings to the Cabinet.

Source: hydroworld.com

Landin, Schienebeck: Biomass Energy is Part of a Clean Energy Solution

24.10.2016

Congress is about to make a decision that could have profound effects on the forests of Wisconsin and the future of American energy. They are considering if the United States should treat “biomass” energy generated from forests — one of the most renewable, recyclable and greenest resources on the planet —as a part of our clean energy solution.

For years, the answer was clear. The U.S., like the rest of the world, had an energy policy that recognized the carbon benefits of forest biomass. Officials understood that much of it comes from wood and paper manufacturing byproducts that would have wasted away in landfills. And they realized that, unlike fossil fuels, strong markets for paper and wood products encourage continued forest management and replanting of trees that will capture and store carbon for generations to come.

Without public notice or scientific basis for a change, government policy shifted in 2010. The Environmental Protection Agency began to regulate greenhouse gases emitted from biomass the same as it did fossil fuels. The EPA committed to revising the policy by 2014, but has yet to do so.

Congress now is trying to break that gridlock and provide much needed clarity, introducing legislation based on well-established science and widely accepted data. In other words, Congress is doing its job.

But this effort faces obstacles from detractors who base their opposition on a flawed view of the way forests and the forest products industry interact. They portray our industries as “destroyers” of forestland, instead of as its most enthusiastic stewards. Fortunately in Wisconsin, we have strong bipartisan support for recognizing biomass as clean energy.

The reality is our forests are flourishing in Wisconsin and throughout America. Indeed, 49% of the land in Wisconsin is forest. According to a 2014 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources economic report, Wisconsin forests are responsible for 65,000 good-paying jobs in the pulp, paper, forestry, logging and wood products industries, generating more than $24 billion in economic activity. Nationwide, with a strong marketplace for wood products, our volume of growing trees has increased by 50% since the 1950s, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

There is no better example of sustainable biomass energy than the forest product industries themselves. The pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products sectors use biomass to generate roughly two-thirds of our power so we are able to dramatically reduce our fossil fuel purchases. And we do it with leftovers from the manufacturing process — along with wood lost due to insects, disease and fire — that would otherwise decompose naturally emitting the carbon back into the atmosphere.

Even more critically, biomass powers the growth of our most powerful natural “carbon capture” technology, the American forestland, which, in addition to filtering 25% of our drinking water, preserving critical wildlife habitat and protecting the cultural and economic foundation of hundreds of communities and 2.4 million jobs, also offsets 13% of total U.S. CO2 emissions each year.

This fundamental scientific truth is recognized by the European Union and the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, along with 100 nationally recognized U.S. forest scientists, representing 80 top research universities, who wrote to the EPA to make this case. Our government policy should reflect this reality.

Source: jsonline.com

PepsiCo Launches 2025 Sustainability Agenda

24.10.2016

PepsiCo, Inc. announced an ambitious global sustainability agenda designed to foster continued business growth in a way that responds to changing consumer and societal needs. The company’s efforts, which focus on creating a healthier relationship between people and food, include specific 2025 goals to continue transforming PepsiCo’s food and beverage product portfolio, contribute to a more sustainable global food system and help make local communities more prosperous.

“To succeed in today’s volatile and changing world, corporations must do three things exceedingly well: focus on delivering strong financial performance, do it in a way that is sustainable over time and be responsive to the needs of society,” said PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. “The first ten years of PepsiCo’s Performance with Purpose journey have demonstrated what is possible when a company does well by also doing good. We have created significant shareholder value, while taking important steps to address environmental, health and social priorities all around the world.”

“PepsiCo’s journey is far from complete, and our new goals are designed to build on our progress and broaden our efforts,” Nooyi continued. “We have mapped our plans against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and we believe the steps we are taking will help lift PepsiCo to even greater heights in the years ahead. Companies like PepsiCo have a tremendous opportunity – as well as a responsibility – to not only make a profit, but to do so in a way that makes a difference in the world.”

Source: pepsico.com

Climate-Friendly Transport in Chinese Cities

24.10.2016

Traffic in China’s cities is steadily increasing. GIZ is advising the country on how to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and make the transport sector more climate friendly.

Climate change mitigation is a major challenge for China’s cities – particularly as automobile transport is increasing rapidly. 144 million cars have already been registered by 2016. The result: air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion and land use are all increasing.

Working on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is supporting China in the low-carbon transformation of its transport sector. One priority is electro mobility. The key question is: What measures must be implemented so that electro mobility also helps mitigate climate change? To address this, GIZ is analysing vehicle emissions – from electricity generation to vehicle use through to recycling. Since electro mobility cannot resolve traffic congestion by itself, other measures such as car sharing and carpooling can play a role in helping protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, at the beginning of 2016 a German provider introduced a car sharing model, which is well-known in Germany, to the Chinese city of Chongqing with its 30 million inhabitants – and other cities are due to follow suit.

China’s cities are also undertaking short-term measures to address their climate impact. GIZ is supporting them with a tool for measuring emissions. The emissions model, originally designed for Europe, has been adapted to the Chinese transport sector and has already been applied by six large cities in their transportation decision-making processes. For example, Beijing used the model to test which type of toll system makes the most sense for reducing CO2 emissions. The city of Shenzhen is monitoring when and how the most carbon dioxide emissions are released per minute and by street. Another measure being used to mitigate greenhouse gases is a digital parking space management system and a smart phone app developed by GIZ together with the China Automotive Technology and Research Centre (CATARC) in Shenzhen. Drivers can use the app to find and reserve empty parking spaces, thereby avoiding congestion and unnecessary driving. This improved parking space management system will mitigate two million tonnes of CO2 between 2015 and 2020.

Source: giz.de

Ecoplexus Commences Construction on 30 MW of Solar PV Projects in North Carolina

24.10.2016

Ecoplexus Inc. (San Francisco, CA, U.S.) a developer of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, recently announced that it has begun construction on three more ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) installations in North Carolina.

The Baker, Benthall Bridge, and Turkey Creek solar parks represent a combined investment of more than USD 45 million, the company notes.

These PV facilities will be interconnected into Dominion North Carolina Power’s electrical grid, increasing the capacity of clean energy the utility has to distribute around the state.

This will be an essential addition to the state’s power supply after Hurricane Matthew swept along the East Coast on October 7th and 8th, leaving almost 100,000 people without power.

Solar projects are on schedule despite Hurricane Matthew

Despite the hurricane’s best efforts to delay construction, all three solar projects are on schedule to be completed by the end of the year.

Two of the three PV projects will be added to Ecoplexus’ growing IPP asset base and the third will be owned by a large U.S. utility with Ecoplexus providing ongoing asset management and operations and maintenance services for all the facilities.

These projects will provide 50 gigawatt-hours of solar power annually, enough to power 5,200 homes.

Source: solarserver.com

Energy Department Invests $21 Million in 17 Projects to Speed Solar Adoption

24.10.2016

The US Energy Department announced last week that $21.4 million in funding for 17 new projects to help reduce the “soft costs” commonly found with solar energy, such as installation, permitting, and connecting to the grid. As more U.S. consumers turn toward renewable energy each year, nine of the awards will focus on how the solar industry can sustain and accelerate this growth by understanding the motivations and factors that influence the technology adoption process, particularly in low- and moderate-income communities. The other eight awards will focus on tackling solar market challenges at the state and regional levels through better strategic energy and economic planning.

“Soft costs have been a pervasive barrier to widespread solar energy in the United States,” said Dr. Charlie Gay, Director of the Solar Energy Technologies Office. “Finding new ways to cut these costs remains critical in accelerating solar deployment nationwide and making solar affordable for all Americans.”

Source: energy.gov

Petrol Cars Allowed to Exceed Pollution Limits by 50% Under Draft EU Laws

24.10.2016

Auspuh, Zagašenje — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

New European cars with petrol engines will be allowed to overshoot a limit on toxic particulates emissions by 50% under a draft EU regulation backed by the UK and most other EU states.

Campaigners say that a simple €25 (£22) filter could drastically cut the pollution, but the Guardian has learned that car-makers have instead mounted a successful push for loopholes and legislative delay.

Bas Eickhout, a Green MEP on the European parliament’s environment committee and dieselgate inquiry panel, promised action to ensure that the lessons of theVW scandal were learned.

“With this ridiculous proposal, the EU’s member states are again trying to dilute EU laws at a terrible cost to human health. We will call on the European commission to come to the European parliament and explain themselves on this issue,” he said.

Particulate matter (PM) is the largest single contributor to the estimated 600,000 premature deaths across Europe from pollution-related heart and lung diseases each year. Children and the elderly are worst affected, and the associated health costs could be as high as €1.6tn a year in Europe, according to the World Health Organisation.

Although exhaust fumes from diesel and petrol engines are one of the largest sources of particulates emissions, most EU member states support raising the EU’s pollution standard 50% above the legal limit set down in the Euro 6 regulation. Behind the scenes, vehicle makers have pushed strongly for a staggering 300% over, according to material seen by the Guardian.

The draft regulation is still being discussed by EU member states and the auto industry has not given up hopes of wrenching further concessions on particulate emissions ahead of a final decision on 7 December.

One Powerpoint slide shown to EU expert groups by the European automobile manufacturers association (Acea) says that a 300% latitude in meeting the letter of the law would be “realistic” because of “measurement uncertainty” in emissions tests.

Florent Grelier, a clean vehicles engineer at the Transport and Environment (T&E) campaign group, told the Guardian she feared that EU attempts to improve air quality were being “bent to the will of the automotive industry”.

“This is a petrolgate scandal in the making,” she said. “Unless the European commission and governments establish strict test procedures to protect the industry from its own short-sightedness, within a few years we will see continuing high levels of particles killing hundreds of thousands of citizens prematurely.”

Under EU law, car-manufacturers are already obliged to use filters for diesel engines, but not for the rapidly-growing 40% of the petrol engine market which is made up by uncontrolled gasoline direct injection engines. These release more particulate matter than modern diesel cars.

Gasoline particulate filters could reduce these emissions by a factor of around 100, and would cost manufacturers just €25 per car, according to research by T&E. But car manufacturers have argued this would violate the principle of technology neutrality.

A spokesman for Acea declined to comment on the issue.

Calls by the auto industry for a delay in implementing the new regulation have been well received by several car-producing EU countries. Spain and Sweden argued for a one-year legislative delay that would push its introduction back to 2019, in minutes of a technical committee meeting earlier this month seen by the Guardian.

The UK took no formal position on when the new regulation should enter into force but warned of “unintended adverse effects” if PM limits were given a separate starting date to standards for another pollutant, nitriogen oxide (NOx) , which will now begin in 2019.

An EU group of national experts – the technical committee on motor vehicles – is now expected to sign off on the final proposal to amend the Euro 6 regulation for real world driving emissions, in December.

The issue of “conformity factors” – or compensating for uncertainties in emissions tests – last year led the committee to impose a NOx limit 110% higher than the one written into the Euro 6 regulations last year.

Source: theguardian.com

U.S. Energy Shakeup Continues as Solar Capacity Triples

24.10.2016

Solar power capacity in the U.S. will have nearly tripled in size in less than three years by 2017 amid an energy shakeup that has seen natural gas solidify its position as the country’s chief source of electricity and coal power continue to fade, according to monthly data published by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Cutting carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants is a major part of the U.S. strategy for tackling climate change as the country seeks to meet its obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement and keep global warming from exceeding more than 2°C (3.6°F).

Reducing those emissions requires changing the fuels used to produce electricity, including using more natural gas and renewables than coal, historically the country’s largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change.

Renewables still make up only a fraction of the U.S. power supply — 8 percent this year. That’s expected to grow to 9 percent next year, and the biggest driver of that growth is solar.

Solar power has been on a tear in recent years partly because of cheaper solar panels and a federal tax credit for solar installations. Congress extended the solar tax credit early this year, helping to fuel a 39 percent annual growth rate for solar power-producing capacity, to 27 gigawatts by next year from about 10 gigawatts in 2014, or enough to power about 3.5 million homes, the data show.

“Because of pent-up demand due to uncertainty over the federal tax credit, solar had a record year in 2016,” said Doug Vine, senior energy fellow at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. “Solar capacity buildout is expected to be similar next year.”

By contrast, wind power generating capacity is expected to grow by about 8 percent next year after growing nearly 15.5 percent in 2016.

For most of the past century, coal has been king in the electric power industry. But it has begun to falter as a major energy source in the U.S. because falling natural gas prices have encouraged electric power companies to build more gas-fired power plants.

At the same time, new mercury pollution regulations for coal-fired power plants have taken effect, renewable energy has become cheaper to produce and electric power companies have begun to gear up for the Clean Power Plan — the Obama administration’s climate policy aiming to slash carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

For the first time in history, more electricity is produced using natural gas than with coal. That has helped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because natural gas releases roughly half the carbon dioxide as coal.

This year, 35 percent of U.S. electricity is expected to be produced using natural gas, and 30 percent will be produced using coal, according to the data. Last year, each produced about 33 percent of U.S. electricity.

With natural gas prices rising, the share of U.S. electricity produced with coal is expected to rise slightly to 31 percent in 2017. But with natural gas expected to generate 34 percent of America’s electricity next year, it is expected to remain the biggest player for the second year.

“Coal is now in many markets the marginal player,” said Daniel Cohan, professor of environmental engineering at Rice University. “There’s definitely been switching from coal to gas, and many analysts think that the majority of coal power plants are losing money.”

As more and more companies are required to install expensive scrubbers on their coal-fired power plants to reduce mercury and other air pollution, the future of coal plants in many areas is likely grim, he said.

“If they’re losing money or breaking even, it’s not going to make sense for them to put in scrubbers,” Cohan said. “It’s likely to tip a growing number of coal plants to shut down.”

Source: climatecentral.org

COP22: from Paris to Marrakesh

21.10.2016

After close to 200 countries signed up to a historic Climate Agreement in Paris at the end of 2015, the focus this year is firmly on the follow-up meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco in November, the 22nd Conference of the Parties, or COP22.

Last year’s Paris Agreement was a statement of collective determination to make real progress in what had been an elusive search for global consensus in battling climate change. In Paris parties agreed to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius.

This remains a challenging task, as it means that industrialised countries will need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by mid-century and become carbon-neutral thereafter. And climate change will continue, so adaptation will grow as well.

Both climate change mitigation and adaptation will need climate finance investments. If 2015 was about the principle that – finally – something had to be done, 2016 is about how to achieve this new set of ambitious environmental goals and make them a concrete reality.

“COP22 is currently referenced as the ‘implementation’ COP,” explained Jan-Willem van de Ven, Associate Director and Head of Carbon Market Development at the EBRD’s Energy Efficiency and Climate Change department, who is coordinating the Bank’s work at the meeting.

This year’s Marrakesh session, from 7-18 November, won’t be just for diplomats and political leaders. Morocco will host a simultaneous meeting for engineers, researchers, scientists, and policy-makers to devise actionable pathways for meeting the goals of the treaty.

2016 has already been dubbed the “Year of Green Finance”, with a spotlight on how to deliver the trillions of dollars’ worth of investments needed to make a decisive difference on global warming.

Now when the 2015 Paris Agreement ratification threshold has been reached, the priorities this November will be strengthening the steps to deal with both climate change itself and its effects, so-called climate change mitigation and adaptation.

A key focus for negotiators will be to further develop the regulations and decisions to implement the Paris Agreement. As an example, in Paris it was agreed to schedule every five years a global stock-take that would help countries determine how to increase and accelerate their emission reduction targets.

The rules and procedures on monitoring these processes are yet to be agreed. Due to the complexity of issues and number of parties involved these will remain slow negotiations, but the process is moving forward.

Ways will be sought to support individual countries in translating into action their climate pledges as per their National Determined Contributions (NDCs) through capacity building, technology transfer and climate finance.

The responses will be strengthened by developing collaborative initiatives and there will be sessions on how to mobilise the finance, technology and skills to deliver the climate goals.

The EBRD – through its new Green Economy Transition (GET) approach, an initiative that places even more emphasis on climate finance – stands ready to support the countries where it works in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

By 2020, the EBRD aims to be dedicating 40 per cent of its annual investments to green economy projects, doubling the pace of financing in this sector compared with the last five years.

As in 2015, the EBRD will play an active role in the COP22 conference and it is organising a number of events itself as well as participating in other meetings. The planned EBRD-led activities will focus on capacity building in relation to the NDCs, energy efficiency, carbon market policies, adaptation and technology transfer.

As this COP is in Morocco, an EBRD country of operations, the Bank will profile its work in the country and the region.

As part of the climate finance day organised around COP22, the Bank will showcase the MoroccoSustainable Energy Financing Facility. Through SEFFs, the EBRD indirectly lends to local banks for on-lending for energy efficiency and small-scale renewable energy projects. Morocco’s MorSEFF has been extended to two commercial banks in Morocco, BMCE and BCP.

Source: ebrd.com

Energy Efficient Prosperity: Green Buildings

21.10.2016

A couple of years ago, the Ngewana family sat around the kitchen table of their Cape Town home and set themselves a target: over the next six months, they would try to cut their electricity use by 40% by retrofitting their two‑story home and making some small but important changes to their daily habits.

Even though the family knew there was a lot they could do, they were not sure where to start. They teamed up with the Green Building Council South Africa to make a range of no-cost, low-cost and “invest to save” improvements, and they also set goals to reduce their water use and waste.

To limit the amount of electricity they needed for heating and cooling, they installed insulation, ceiling fans, a flat-panel solar hot water heater, and a closed-combustion wood pellet stove. The family built on these investments by making a raft of low-cost and free changes to their everyday practices – for example, by replacing old light bulbs with more efficient ones and switching them off whenever they left the room.

Within three months, the Ngewanas had already surpassed their electricity target, and were enjoying the increased comfort that came with their energy savings. As a family with two parents in well-paid jobs and three young adults living at home, the Ngewanas enjoyed an income and lifestyle that were notably above the South African average.

In developed and emerging economies alike, the buildings in which we live and work offer huge potential for energy savings. Buildings are some of the largest energy users in the world, accounting for 30% of total energy use.

For countries seeking to confront major challenges like rising energy demand and energy insecurity, it’s essential to reduce our buildings’ energy consumption. By 2050, over 85% of the projected growth of building energy demand is expected to occur outside the OECD.

This is especially true for populations that are gaining greater access to material wealth and goods. As we build more factories and new homes, we lock in patterns of energy use and behaviour that will affect us for years to come.

Large residential blocks in countries like Ukraine offer a stark example of this. In addition to a residential energy sector that was once highly subsidised, Ukraine has a history of slow legislative change, limited awareness, and few resources to adopt and maintain energy efficient practices. Yet residents wanted more comfortable homes but also lower energy bills.

Improvements to building energy efficiency are also having a significant impact in countries like India. The Indian Green Building Council has brought in green building rating systems and is helping to achieve building energy savings of 30% to 50%. Investments are generally paid back over just two to three years, showing how green buildings make good business sense.

Meanwhile, back in South Africa, the Green Building Council recently developed a new “ socio economic category” for rating the energy efficiency of buildings.

The method takes into account socio-economic considerations that affect energy use and comfort in buildings, such as poverty, unemployment and levels of health and education. “ These can all be addressed, at least to some degree, through the way we design, build and operate buildings,” said the council’s chief executive, Brian Wilkinson.

Source: iea.org

Oslo Introduces First-of-its-Kind “Climate Budget” to Cut Emissions in Half by 2020

21.10.2016

When Oslo’s city government launches its budget in 2017, the city will no longer simply count money, but it will also track carbon emissions. For a long time, Oslo has had ambitious emission reduction targets, yet emissions have increased by 15 percent since 1990. To ensure the city’s low-carbon ambitions are followed by action, the 2017 city budget has allocated a reduction of 836,000 tons of CO2 to relevant sectors in Oslo.

In late spring, the city council passed a new Climate and Energy Strategy, which aims to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2020 (from 1990 levels) and to become carbon neutral by 2030. In order reach the carbon emissions reduction goal, Oslo needs support from the national government to develop a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project for renewable energy at the Klemetsrud Plant, which accounts for 15 percent of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

To reach the 2020 target, the Norwegian capital has identified 42 measures that directly affect the city’s emissions and are now outlined in a new chapter in the city budget, called the “Climate Budget.” The Climate Budget, a first of its kind plan, shows estimated emission reductions, its financing and each agency in charge.

Also new, is the visualization of shared responsibility in transitioning to a carbon neutral future—including Oslo agencies, municipal companies and the city districts. The 42 measures will also mobilize and involve Oslo urbanites, the business community and NGOs – all crucial in making Oslo a leading green city.

Just like the use of public funding is monitored throughout the year, the progress on climate measures will be scrutinized by the city as well. Through continuous reporting and debates on the progress of each measure, the city government aims to inform and involve the city council and the people of Oslo.

Oslo’s main source of emissions is transportation, fossil fuel use in buildings and waste incineration. While many of these measures can be implemented without the need for additional funding, measures to increase the use of bicycles as a form of public transport, improve the public transport system and phase out oil boilers from buildings will require additional funding in 2017.

More facts about the Climate Budget:
• The Climate Budget counts 42 measures that together will reduce Oslo’s carbon emissions from 1.4 million tons in 2013, to 600 000 tons in 2020.
• The responsibility for implementing and seeing the measures through is distributed across the city departments. In addition, the recently established Climate Agency will have a role as a knowledge hub and agent for the implementation of the measures in Oslo.
• The measures that will reduce emissions the most towards 2020 are financial incentives and the national ban on oil boilers from 2020, full scale CCS at the waste incineration plant and a long list of measures aiming to reduce emissions from car traffic, construction sites and goods transport.
• In the 2017 budget approximately 225 mill. NOK (approximately 25 mill. EUR/ 28 mill. USD/ 21 mill. GBP) have been allocated specifically for climate measures.

Source: c40.org

Wind Power Could Supply 20% of Global Electricity by 2030

21.10.2016

Although solar power gets more press, the wind power industry is growing nearly as fast. The (GWEC) released an historic report Tuesday in Beijing, saying 20 percent of the world’s total electricity could come from wind by as early as 2030. With last year’s Paris climate deal as a strong motivating factor, the group predicts the world’s total wind power capacity could grow by nearly five times over the next 14 years, reaching as much as 2,110 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.

The GWEC report outlines that, although not cheap, the long-term benefits of wind power infrastructure will begin paying off immediately. The GWEC estimates an annual investment of $224 billion would be required globally in order to grow the wind power industry to its potential capacity. Meanwhile, 2,110GW of clean, renewable wind energy would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.6 billion tons each year.

China has been an unlikely leader in the wind power industry, boosting its capacity by 17 percent last year over 2014 figures for a total of 433GW. Chinese leaders still plan to add 60GW before the end of this year. Despite the increased capacity, China is still struggling to create ways to utilize that renewable energy efficiently. In July, China’s energy regulator said 21 percent of all wind-generated electricity was wasted in the first half of this year, due in large part to new coal-fired power plants which make it more difficult for wind power to reach the grid. Chinese leaders did pledge earlier in the year to shutter 1,000 coal mines, which many took as a sign of the beginning of the end of fossil fuel use there, but the battle between coal and wind rages on.

China, and many other places on the planet, will have to improve their grid infrastructure in order to take full advantage of plentiful wind energy. The energy regulator said that more than 40 percent of the wasted power occurred in regions of China that are already underserved by the grid, clearly illustrating how the failure is on the part of the infrastructure and not the nearly infinite potential ofrenewable energy. While government leaders can work to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in finite supply, they must also work to improve the infrastructure that allows residents to reap the benefits of the wind.

Source: inhabitat.com

The World’s First Wind-Hydro Turbines Will Generate Energy Even When There’s no Breeze

21.10.2016

One of the biggest challenges wind farms face is how to generate power when there’s no wind. Max Bögl Wind AG and GE Renewable Energy are attempting to solve that issue by combining wind turbines with hydropower technology. The wind-hydro plant will be the first of its kind, and it’s set to be fully operational by 2018.

The innovative renewable energy plant is designed to generate power even when wind isn’t blowing. It will feature the tallest wind turbines in the world, according to GE Reports, which stand 584 feet tall. The turbine bases serve as reservoirs containing 1.6 million gallons of water, and the wind farm will be surrounded by an additional reservoir containing 9 million gallons of water.

To function, the wind-hydro plant must be located on a hill. Water will flow down the hill to generate hydro electricity, and it will be pumped back up the hill when energy is not needed. This enables the wind-hydro plant to continually produce power. GE Renewable Energy and Max Bögl Wind AG found an ideal location in Germany‘s Swabian-Franconian Forest.

GE Renewable Energy onshore wind general manager Cliff Harris told GE Reports, “Germans in this area are known as tinkerers and inventors. So the mentality of this technology really fits with the population. It’s a bit risky, and it can’t work everywhere. But the plant will run for several decades, and we expect the benefits will be felt over that time.”

The wind farm will generate 13.6 megawatts of energy, and the hydroelectric plant can generate 16 megawatts. A pilot project with four wind turbines is slated to connect to the grid in 2017, and the hydropower plant will be operational in 2018. The project will help Germany achieve its goal of generating a minimum of 45 percent of its energy via renewable sources by 2030.

Source: inhabitat.com

New Source Solar Panels Pull Clean Drinking Water from the Air

21.10.2016

A new kind of solar panel is being tested in water scarce regions of Ecuador, Jordan, and Mexico where the device, called Source, pulls moisture from the atmosphere to provide clean drinking water. Developed by the Arizona-based startup Zero Mass Water, the setup uses solar energy to produce potable water for a family of four or an entire hospital, depending on how many panels are in use. Last year, the company raised $7 million to back a series of pilot programs to prove how simple and cost-effective access to clean water can be.

Founder and CEO Cody Friesen is also an associate professor at Arizona State University’s School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy. Zero Mass Water is the second startup to stem from Friesen’s work at ASU, and it promises a reliable source of affordable drinking water without the need for additional infrastructure. Because the devices can be used alone or in groups, the solar-powered system can scale up or down to meet the water needs of as many or as few people as desired.

A single solar panel can produce enough clean water for a family of four, and it’s easy to use because the water flows from a faucet on the back side of the solar panel setup. Source works by passively absorbing moisture from the air using a special humectant material. The solar panel converts solar energy to electricity, which is used to power the process that drives the water back out of the collection material. The water is then evaporated to remove pollutants, leaving behind clean, safe drinking water.

Around the world, there are many places primed for this type of sustainable, standalone passive water source. ZMW plans to use Source to provide fresh water to Syrian refugees in Jordan and to Jordanian families, affecting 100,000 households by the end of 2017, with funding from the Clinton Foundation, Duke Energy International, and other investors. Although the pilot programs to date have been conducted in developing countries and areas where water supplies have been contaminated or disrupted by violent conflicts, Friesen sees no reason that residents of the United States couldn’t put Source to work for them as well, and effectively skirt problems with municipal lead contamination and the other threats that increasingly limit access to clean drinking water across the country.

Source: inhabitat.com

Tesla Motors Starts Production on Self-Driving Electric Car

20.10.2016

Tesla Motors is starting to build its electric cars with all the sensors, cameras and other gear needed to drive completely on their own when regulations allow the technology to take over that responsibility.

The announcement made late Wednesday by Tesla CEO Elon Musk marks the Silicon Valley automaker’s next step toward selling cars that can navigate the roads without the help of a human.

Google, ride-hailing service Uber and an assortment of other automakers also are working on a range of self-driving cars in an effort to ultimately turn the steering over to robots.

Tesla has offered an automatic steering and braking system called Autopilot in its cars since last summer, but that technology is meant to be monitored at all times by a driver.

Source: wjhl.com

Solar & Wind Cheaper To Replace Coal In UK Than Biomass

20.10.2016

A new study has concluded that transitioning to wind and solar power would be a cheaper option for the United Kingdom to replace its coal fleet than using biomass electricity generation.

According to a new study published this week by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and conducted by London-based Vivid Economics, which examined the full system costs of renewable energy technologies like wind and solar in comparison to biomass as a replacement for the UK’s coal fleet, wind and solar came out as the cheaper option.

The UK already uses a lot of biomass for electricity generation, with the report concluding that “biomass supplies the lion’s share” of the country’s renewable electricity generation. However, as the authors of the report note:
“…recent science shows that many forms of biomass produce more carbon emissions than fossil fuels like coal and natural gas—especially biomass from forests—increasing carbon pollution precisely when the United Kingdom aims to rapidly decarbonise its electricity sector.”

The study therefore analyzed three key costs:
1. The latest technology costs across biomass, solar, onshore wind, and offshore wind technologies
2. The cost of ensuring a reliable electricity supply
3. The cost of GHG emissions given the United Kingdom’s legislative commitment to keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius — the basis for international commitments on climate change enshrined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement

The study concluded that, by 2020, “when fully accounting for the total economic cost of different energy technologies, biomass is more costly than wind and solar alternatives.”

“The science already shows that burning biomass on a mass scale for electricity increases carbon pollution and is extremely harmful to the environment,” said Sasha Stashwick, a senior advocate with NRDC, a US-based environmental organization.

“The emissions risks associated with biomass are simply too big to be ignored, and now we see that the economics of biomass don’t make sense as the UK strives to replace coal and decarbonize its power sector. This report clearly indicates that when you account for total economic costs, cleaner alternatives like wind and solar are the lower-cost solution for a coal-free UK. It’s just good economic sense.”

The report further concludes that solar and wind are likely to be the least-cost method to ensure UK reliability of supply by 2025. In addition, biomass is already a mature technology, and unlikely to see further cost decreases, whereas both wind and solar continue to see cost declines, and are predicted to continue to see cost declines into the future.

“Phasing out coal is absolutely necessary as the UK aims to curb climate change, but we can’t afford to backtrack by focusing on unsustainable forms of biomass that are neither clean nor cheap,” added Matt Williams, Policy Officer with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). “It is critical that we focus on renewable forms of energy that deliver emissions reductions and protect wildlife and the natural environment while providing value for money, so as to ensure that the UK hits its legally binding climate change targets.”

Source: cleantechnica.com

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