Plus: Hydrogen takes center stage; Solar windows from rotten food; Repsol pivots to renewables
Hi everyone,
This will be my second last update for 2020, with the next issue coming on December 13. What a year, hey?
Do take a look at my comments below and tell me what you think about the electrification of transport. Skim the rest of the headlines – there is a fair amount to cover across all the topics including some nifty technology stories. And send me stories you think I’ve missed. Are you getting what you like? I welcome your feedback.
As always, keep spreading this around to colleagues, friends and family and encourage them to subscribe.
Thanks,
Peter
Observations, Comments & Questions
- Bans on internal combustion engines for cars and vans continue to grow. This Reuters article provides a run down, most notably Boris Johnson’s proposal to bring forward the UK ban to 2030. The Canadian province of Quebec said it would ban the sale of gas passenger cars from 2035, joining California for the same timeline. Missing from the article is the Canadian province of British Columbia plans to do likewise from 2040 and China’s from 2035. (see Transportation section)
- Meanwhile, GMs announcement to launch 30 new electric vehicles by 2025 and VW plans 27 new EV models by 2022. VW’s ID.3 hatchback outsold all other EVs in Europe, showing it’s popularity far outshines Tesla Model 3. Governments too have been providing subsidies, some rather lavish – as the initial cost of EVs are still considerably higher than gas-powered equivalents. Take Quebec for example – it offers $,8000 that can be stacked with another $5,000 from the Canadian Federal government.
- So what are we to make of all this? The electrification of transport accelerating, but has it reached a tipping point? Battery cost declines are continuing, so my thought is the tipping point is still some years away – but closer than many think. If so, peak oil demand will also be sooner too – bringing downward pressure on prices and having implications for economies that have relied on the good-paying jobs from this sector. So now it is your turn – tell me what you make of it.
Consumers
Investors Ask BMW, Glencore to Disclose Climate Risk in Accounts | BNN Bloomberg
Investors managing more than $9 trillion of assets have called on some of Europe’s biggest companies to include an assessment about the impact of climate change in their financial statements.
Top Banks Create Standard to Report Emissions Linked to Finance | BNN Bloomberg
A group of financial institutions including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. are introducing a global accounting standard to gauge the climate impact of financial transactions.
Unilever to halve food waste, sets €1bn sales target for plant-based food alternatives | edie
Consumer goods giant Unilever has unveiled a new “future foods” strategy that will see the company commit to halving food waste, improving nutritional standards and set a €1bn sales target for plant-based meat and dairy alternatives.
Repsol to rein in oil output, boost renewables fivefold by 2030 | BNN Bloomberg
Repsol SA will reduce its dividend next year as it outlined plans to wind down the search for oil and expand its renewable capacity fivefold during the next decade. The Spanish company, which was the first oil major to set a net-zero emissions target a year ago, will put its projects into “harvest mode” as it refocuses on higher-value oil production in fewer countries. While the dividend will be lower in 2021, it will be paid out entirely in cash, unlike the current distribution which is mostly given as new shares. Repsol expects to start growing the payment again from 2023.
Technology
Hydrogen
Spanish Energy Giants Call for Clean Hydrogen Funding and Rules | Financial Post
Spain could become a renewable hydrogen powerhouse but will need public funding and a favorable regulatory framework, the country’s energy majors told the government.
Enbridge Gas to blend hydrogen with natural gas for consumers in Markham | JWN
Consumers in the Markham area of southern Ontario will soon be receiving a little hydrogen to go with the natural gas they use to fuel their furnaces and hot water heaters. It says it will initially provide a maximum hydrogen content of up to two per cent of the natural gas stream supplied to about 3,600 customers in Markham in the third quarter.
Saudi Arabia Aims Next to Be Largest Hydrogen Exporter | BNN Bloomberg
The world’s biggest oil exporter has set its sights on also becoming the largest supplier of hydrogen, a fuel seen as pivotal for curbing climate change. Saudi Arabia has “ambitious” plans and “will not be challenged in its record of being the biggest exporter of hydrogen on earth,” Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said at a news briefing in Riyadh.
Fortescue, Origin assess green ammonia, hydrogen plants in Australia’s Tasmania | Financial Post
Fortescue Metals Group and Origin Energy Ltd announced on Tuesday separate plans to assess building ammonia export plants in the Australian island state of Tasmania, as both seek to tap opportunities in renewable energy.
Origin eyes huge Townsville green hydrogen project, five big battery options | RenewEconomy
Australian energy utility Origin Energy has thrown its hat deeper into the ring for the promising green hydrogen sector, flagging plans for a huge 300MW electrolyser in Townsville and production of more than 36,000 tonnes of green hydrogen a year for the export markets.
Japan giant buys into Australian green hydrogen pioneer and big South Australia project | RenewEconomy
Australia’s renewable hydrogen ambitions has gained some financial and industrial muscle with news that Japanese giant Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has bought a stake in local green hydrogen and ammonia project developer, H2U.
Innovative Calgary companies test their energy technologies in Saskatchewan | Calgary Herald
Proton Technologies sees a bright future in old oil and gas wells. The Calgary-based company has developed an environmentally sustainable way to extract hydrogen — a clean form of energy — from mature oil and gas reservoirs.
Flanders earmarks €125 million for hydrogen research and innovation | Brussels Times
The Flemish government has earmarked €125 million euros in its €4.3 billion recovery plan for research and innovation on hydrogen, the regional Minister of the Economy, Hilde Crevits, announced on Friday.
Energy Storage
Shell’s Sonnen launches ‘affordable’ all-in-one home battery storage system in US | Energy Storage News
Germany-headquartered residential battery storage manufacturer sonnen has launched an “all-in-one” system in the US which comes at a recommended retail price of US$9,500.
Ovo, Shell Unit to Turn Spanish Homes into Virtual Power Plants | Bloomberg Green
Ovo Energy Ltd has partnered with a Royal Dutch Shell Plc subsidiary to offer rooftop solar and batteries to homes in Spain.
Geothermal
Saskatchewan driller hits ‘gusher’ with ground-breaking geothermal well that offers hope for oil workers | Edmonton Journal
A first for Canada and the world, the well can produce enough electricity to power 3,000 homes. A small, Saskatoon-based company has drilled and fracked the world’s first 90-degree horizontal well for geothermal power in a potentially landmark move that signals the arrival of a new energy source in Canada and provides fresh opportunities for oil and gas workers to apply their skills in renewable power.
Dogger Bank will supply 5% of the UK’s electricity or 6 million homes. Credit: Equinor
Filipino student invents solar windows out of rotten food. Wins James Dyson Award.
Solar and Wind
World’s Biggest Wind Park to Be Built Offshore U.K. | BNN Bloomberg
SSE Plc and Norwegian energy major Equinor ASA will proceed with the world’s biggest wind park in the North Sea after reaching financial close on the joint venture. Dogger Bank, off the English east coast, will produce enough clean, renewable electricity to supply 5% of the U.K.’s demand, or the equivalent of six million homes. The decision comes just days after the European Union announced a $940 billion push into wind at sea to meet stricter pollution targets.
Filipino student invents solar windows out of rotten food. Wins James Dyson Award | Mashable
Mapua University Manila student, Carvey Ehren Maigue was named the first ever winner of the James Dyson Award for Global Sustainability. The new material he invented comes from rotting fruits and vegetables. It absorbs UV light from the sun and converts it into electricity. What makes them special is that unlike regular solar panels, the system works just as well even if the material isn’t receiving heat from the sun. Particles are derived from fruits and vegetables and suspended in a resin substrate. When hit by sunlight, the particles absorb and emit light along the edges. Then, the light is captured and converted to electricity.
Perth-based ClearVue begins construction on solar glass greenhouse | RenewEconomy
Perth-based renewable energy company ClearVue has begun construction on a “world-first” clear solar glass greenhouse at Murdoch University south of Perth.
Huge 2GW wind, solar and storage project gets underway in Mongolia | RenewEconomy
Chinese wind turbine manufacturer MingYang Smart Energy has begun construction of a 2GW hybrid project in Inner Mongolia which, upon completion, will boast 1.7GW of wind power capacity, 300MW of solar PV capacity, and 320MW of battery capacity with three hours of storage.
Largest solar project in US history announced | The Hill
The largest solar power project is slated to be developed as a means to provide clean energy to large companies like telecommunications conglomerate AT&T and fast-food chain McDonald’s in a billion dollar project headquartered in northeastern Texas.
US research identifies new resin material to make wind turbine recycling easier | RenewEconomy
Researchers at the United States’ Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have demonstrated a new material for the construction of wind turbine blades that can be recycled and could end up transforming the wind energy industry.
Stanford scientists invent ultrafast perovskite solar module manufacturing process | RenewEconomy
Researchers from California’s Stanford University say they have developed a new and ultrafast perovskite manufacturing process which is cheaper and four times faster than traditional manufacturing.
Transportation
Fossil fuel-based vehicle bans across the world | Reuters
Britain will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, five years earlier than previously planned, as part of what Prime Minister Boris Johnson is casting as a “green revolution” to cut emissions to net zero by 2050.
China plans to phase out conventional gas-burning cars by 2035 | Nikkei Asia
China plans to make all new vehicles sold in 2035 “eco-friendly,” part of a goal that promises to give a tailwind to Japanese automakers like Toyota Motor, which specializes in hybrid engines.
Quebec to ban sale of new gasoline-powered cars from 2035 | Reuters
The Canadian province of Quebec said on Monday it will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger cars from 2035, joining California and others in announcing moves to shift to electric vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
GM announces plans for 30 new EVs by 2025 | Electrek
GM has committed to an additional $7 billion in funding for electric car and autonomous vehicle programs and will launch 30 new EVs globally through 2025, CEO Mary Barra announced today. Two-thirds of these new EVs will be available in North America, and 40% (!) of GM’s US model line will be battery electric vehicles by 2025. GM also announced it would be moving its US debut of the Cadillac Lyriq SUV up from late 2022 to early 2022.
GM: New batteries cut electric car costs, increase range | AP News
General Motors says a pending breakthrough in battery chemistry will cut the price of its electric vehicles so they equal those powered by gasoline within five years. The technology also will increase the range per charge to as much as 450 miles.
Mercedes-Benz commits to eliminate cobalt from its EVs | Mining Journal
German automaker Mercedes-Benz has committed to eliminating the use of cobalt in batteries that power its expanding line-up of electric vehicles. The company plans a shift away from using cobalt amid questions about the provenance of the metal as it experiments with different future cell chemistries.
Tesla, Lucid, Rivian, and others join forces to create ZETA: a push for electric cars only by 2030 | Electrek
Twenty-eight companies in the electric vehicle industry, including big names like Tesla, Lucid, and Rivian, have joined forces to create a new organization called ZETA, with the goal to push for 100% electric vehicle sales by 2030.
Victoria’s proposed electric car road usage tax gets mixed reactions | ABC News
The Victorian Government’s plans to tax electric vehicle owners a road usage fee could discourage people from taking up the new technology, an industry group says.
Rivian sells out first version of its electric pickup truck | Electrek
Rivian confirmed that it has already sold out the reservation slots for the first version of its electric pickup truck.
VW’s ID.3 Quickly Climbs to Top of Europe’s Electric-Car Market | BNN Bloomberg
Volkswagen AG’s ID.3 hatchback rose to the top of Europe’s electric-car sales charts a few months after hitting the market, narrowly beating a Renault SA model and trouncing Tesla Inc.’s Model 3.
Policy
Europe Seeks $940 Billion Boost for Giant Offshore Wind Farms | BNN Bloomberg
The European Union wants a massive increase in offshore wind to help clean up the electricity industry and aid the recovery after the pandemic.
Germany splurges US$5.9b to foster auto-sector restart | The Edge Markets
Germany’s auto industry secured 5 billion euros ($5.9 billion) in government aid to help weather the coronavirus crisis and invest in the transition to electric cars.
Fossil fuel-based vehicle bans across the world | Reuters
Britain will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, five years earlier than previously planned, as part of what Prime Minister Boris Johnson is casting as a “green revolution” to cut emissions to net zero by 2050.
Quebec to ban fossil fuel cars by 2035 | Reuters
The Canadian province of Quebec said on Monday it will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger cars from 2035, joining California and others in announcing moves to shift to electric vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
ICE ban brought forward to 2030 in ‘landmark moment’ as Johnson releases Ten Point Plan | Current News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has released his eagerly awaited Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial revolution, setting out pledges to create 250,000 jobs.
Europe May Not Need a Carbon Border Tax, Policy Maker Signals | BNN Bloomberg
Fresh pledges from some of the world’s largest polluters to slash emissions further may curb European Union plans to start a carbon border levy.
Victoria fast-tracks rooftop solar and battery rollout, part of A$800m energy savings package | RenewEconomy
The Victorian government has unveiled a massive nearly $800 million home energy saving package that will incentivise smart appliances and heating systems, boost the energy efficiency standards of new and existing homes, and expand the state’s solar and battery rebate scheme.
NSW budget delivers $50m to accelerate pumped hydro storage projects | RenewEconomy
The NSW government has delivered on a $50 million pledge to fund the accelerated development of pumped hydro energy storage projects in the state, with funding secured in the state budget handed down on Tuesday.
[UK] Government targets 12GW of renewables in latest CfD auction | edie
The Government has confirmed that the fourth round of the CfD scheme will open in late 2021 and will aim to double the 5.8GW of renewable capacity procured in the previous round. Up to 12GW of renewables are being targeted to assist with the nation’s net-zero emissions target for 2050.
Victoria budgets $540m to develop six new Renewable Energy Zones | RenewEconomy
Victoria’s Labor state government has set aside $540 million to develop six dedicated renewable energy hubs across the state, as it works to unlock – and accommodate – gigawatts-worth of new large-scale solar and wind power on the path to 50% renewables by 2030.
Canada bids to toughen its stance on climate change, some critics unmoved | Reuters
Canada, which has never met any of its climate change targets, on Thursday unveiled measures to toughen Ottawa’s stance on global warming and ensure the country hit a goal of net zero emissions by 2050.