Energy Update
If we learn anything from the Texas blackouts, and the death and suffering that have resulted, it should be this: distributed resilient solar+storage systems are no longer a luxury – they are an essential tool to protect citizens from power outages, and modernize the grid so outages become less frequent and severe.
Renewable energy is moving into a new stage in its evolution.
Renewables account for more than two thirds of new generating capacity additions in the U.S. This means that renewable energy is claiming an increasing share of the national generation mix. EIA estimates that wind power accounted for 9% of U.S. electricity generation in 2020., surpassing hydropower as the predominant renewable electricity generation source in 2019.
Last week, US residential solar and storage installer Sunnova announced it has secured a position of 85 megawatts in the recent ISO-New England Forward Capacity Auction (FCA15). Sunnova’s aggregated residential solar portfolio will offer competitive renewable energy capacity to help meet the region’s future energy needs. The company expects the complete portfolio to begin participating with the FCA15 commitment year beginning June 2024.
By Babalwa Bungane
Despite the economic and supply chain impacts felt across the world in 2020 due to COVID-19, the global wind energy industry has continued to power ahead and reach new records.
Record low temperatures, including snow in Texas, have led Texas electric grid operator to ration electricity. Even before the winter event is done, misinformation is spreading that wind turbine blades froze, and hence, renewables are the leading cause for Texas blackouts.The fact is, due to cold weather, a lot of generators, including nuclear, coal, natural gas, and renewables, had a tough time operating.
The world’s largest experimental nuclear fusion reactor is in development in Provence, southern France. ITER (originally the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject funded and run by seven member entities: the European Union, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States; Overall, 35 countries are participating in the project directly or indirectly.
Boston University prioritized impact over location in deciding to buy electricity from a South Dakota wind farm.
Boston University has started sourcing all of its electricity from a newly built wind farm in South Dakota, a move intended to maximize the university’s greenhouse gas reductions and hopefully provide a model for how other large institutions can also amplify their climate impact.
(Mon, 22 Feb 2021) This week's net withdrawals from underground natural gas storage facilities were the largest net withdrawals reported in two years, exceeding the five-year average net withdrawals for the week by 95 billion cubic feet (Bcf). Net natural gas withdrawals from storage facilities totaled 237 Bcf for the week ending February 12, 2021. This weekâs storage activity matched the 12th-highest value on record since 2010.
Iberdrola is planning what it says will be the first industrial scale floating offshore wind farm in Spain. The 300-MW project will cost more than €1 billion said the company. It will be located off the Spanish coast.
The renewable facility could become a driver of the country’s industrialization and job creation, said Iberdrola, estimating that it would provide more than 2800 jobs per year in research, design and engineering before the wind farm becomes operational in 2026.
by Jill Feblowitz
These days, companies and governments alike are making commitments to net zero emissions. While commitments are good, making progress requires investment. That means putting money on deploying existing technology in the near term, while continuing to fund innovation to deliver cost-effective approaches in the future. The current picture looks promising, but there is always a chance the momentum will lag.
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