Plus: World’s large wind turbine; new battery tech offers hope
Hi Everyone,
I apologize for missing some hyperlinks in last week’s email. I added them in on my website.
Here in my home province of Alberta, the conservative government announced it would stick with an ‘energy only’ electricity market and ditch the prior government’s plans to add in a capacity market component. Alberta and Texas are the only markets designed with ‘energy only’. The Globe and Mail had more on this here if you’re interested. I still wish we could see a way to reward demand response – something non-existent here.
With the population in African nations set to grow and demand for energy with it, I have my eye out for energy moves there. Check the stories list below to see what Kenya and Namibia are up to.
I offer my reflections on a few key stories. The one on cities banning natural gas is worth highlighting.
Please continue to forward on to others you think might be interested and encourage them to subscribe.
Thanks,
Peter
As Cities Begin Banning Natural Gas, States Must Embrace Building Electrification Via Smart Policy | Forbes
Comment: I have previously lamented the almost non-existent progress being made to reform building codes towards net-zero. Banning of natural gas in all new buildings in Berkeley California (from Jan 1, 2020, with exceptions and caveats) is the latest expression of the frustration with not enough movement to reduce oil and gas demand to address climate change. This latest development aims to take advantage of the drive to decarbonizing the electricity sector.
GTM says Rock Mountain Institute claims there are cost-effective solutions available for colder climates, such as pairing of electric heat pumps with solar panels. Anyone know of whether this actual works? In snowy conditions?
Regardless, this definitely got my attention for its potential impact on demand for natural gas, if this took off.
How re-engineering an old technology could give us EVs with 700 miles of range | Digital Trends
Comment: Alright, I admit going for the click-bait headline. Yet this offers a reasonable example of all the bright minds trying to help us ‘find the next gear’ in energy storage. And who knows, they may be onto something here.
Excerpt: The difference with XNRGI is that they’ve got a portfolio of published patents tied directly to their Powerchip battery technology, and they’ve applied for several more. The company has also received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for their research. With patent protection and funding in place, XNRGI is eager to tell the world what they’ve got.
“We believe that we can now simultaneously address all of the issues with Lithium-ion batteries,” said XNRGI CEO Chris D’Couto.
GE reveals new parts for the ‘world’s largest offshore wind turbine’ | CleanTechnica
Comment: Look at the size of this thing! See those people standing nearby? The nacelle looks as big as a two-story house. Imagine a blade longer than a football field. Wow.
Excerpt: The Haliade-X was first announced back in March 2018, with dimensions measuring in at 260 meters in height and boasting a 220-meter rotor capable of generating enough clean electricity for 16,000 households. Blades for the turbine will measure in at 107 meters long, and help the turbine generate 67 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in gross annual energy.
Credit: GE Renewable Energy
Wind and solar’s stunning progress in Australia | RenewEconomy
Comment: A doubling of investment from one year to the next is sure sign of a sector coming into its own. It’ll be interesting to see what 2109 shows. Globally, investment in renewables has flattened out, according to the IEA.
Excerpt: Investment has now recovered in extraordinary fashion, with industry advocate the Clean Energy Council estimating in its 2019 Clean Energy Australia report, that $20 billion in new investment occurred in the 2018 year, double that of 2017, setting a new record for the Australian clean energy sector.
Big Pro-Nuclear Victory in US Gives Momentum To Global Nuclear Expansion | Forbes
Comment: Given the sheer size of the global energy system and the decades of forecasted oil and gas demand, targets to limit temperature increases seem further out of reach. In case you missed the previous post asking you to consider the case for nuclear, it is worth watch the videos I posted.
Excerpt: Ohio nuclear plants provide eight times more electricity than all of the state’s solar and wind combined.
Plus the other stories I found interesting…
Transport
- California, four automakers defy Trump, agree to tighten emissions rules | ReutersVW prepares Zwickau factory for 330,000 all-electric cars per year | Electrek
- Driverless Bus Hits Pedestrian in Vienna, Interrupting Trials | Bloomberg
- UK invests nearly $100 million into electric vehicle research | CNBC
Wind & Solar
- South Australia has 10GW wind and solar in pipeline as it heads to 100% renewables | RenewEconomy
- New York signs deal for 1.7GW of offshore wind as it moves to 100% renewables | RenewEconomy
- 1.4GW Danish interconnector moves forward as suppliers named | Current News
- Kenya launches Africa’s largest wind farm | Africanews
- Namibia announces $338M, 5-year renewable energy strategy | Bloomberg (via Renewable Energy World)
Other
- Battery storage companies set $1.4B record in venture capital funding: Report | Utility Dive
- PSEG to shut most fossil power plants by 2046 to cut carbon emissions | Reuters
Lime scooters are now in downtown Calgary
I have yet to try one. It is hard to judge exactly how they are being used. My sense is people are mostly using them as an alternative to waking, though some might have otherwise taken a cab. After seeing countless stories of the phenomenal expansion elsewhere, especially in the US, it’ll be interesting to watch how long they last, how they get used, etc.
