Energy Shift: China steps up push into clean energy

Plus: Word Bank offers $1B for batteries; All the things that still baffle self driving

Hi Everyone,

I learned this week I’ve been guilty of using language that is polarizing. I’m sorry for that. The Alberta Narratives Project issued a report chock full of good guidance on how to enter climate change conversations. Though it is based on feedback from Albertans, I believe it has applications for everyone – as there may not be a place more polarized than Alberta. Have a look at pages 8-11 in particular.

Please consider forwarding this on to others who are interested in learning more the energy transition.
Thanks,
Peter


China Steps Up Its Push Into Clean Energy

Excerpt: The world’s biggest energy consumer is aiming for renewables to account for at least 35 percent of electricity consumption by 2030. Previously, the government has only set a goal for “non-fossil fuels” to make up 20 percent of energy use by 2030.

The latest document also called for non-compliant firms to pay compensation fees to grid companies, which will be used to cover government subsidies for renewable projects. In recent years, China has pumped more money into renewable energy than any other country, leaving the government with a hefty subsidy bill. Bloomberg


World Bank offers $1B for batteries in emerging markets

Excerpt: The World Bank Group committed $1 billion to finance battery storage systems in developing and middle-income countries, and expects its participation to attract another $4 billion in backing from investors as well as public and private funds. Storage can retain electricity from wind and solar farms to use after sundown or when the wind isn’t blowing, and is viewed as critical to expanding the use of renewable energy. Bloomberg


Norway’s Statkraft to invest $1.2 billion/year in renewables to 2025

Excerpt: In addition to large upgrades of Nordic hydropower, the company has an ambition to reach 6,000 MW onshore wind and 2,000 MW solar by 2025, it said. Overall, it plans some $5.5 billion for investment in Europe over the seven-year period to 2025. In addition, investments are planned in new, green business opportunities, with the majority planned for Europe (42% not including Norway), but substantial growth will be added to markets where Statkraft is already present in South America and India. S&P Global 


Vestas unveils world’s first 10 MW wind turbine

Image Credit: http://www.mhivestasoffshore.com

Excerpt: The new turbine, unveiled at the Global Wind Summit will boast a rotor diameter of 164 metres and turbine blades 80 metres in length — the equivalent of nine London double-decker buses laid end-to-end – and a swept area of 21,124 metres-squared, larger than the London Eye. From base to tip, the new turbine will come in at approximately 187 metres. RenewEconomy

GE Renewable Energy sits on the sidelines, safe in the knowledge that, when its 12 MW Haliade-X is installed in demonstration form sometime next year, it will have the world’s largest feet-wet offshore wind turbine. CleanTechnica


NZ to offer more electric vehicle incentives, as EV registrations reach 10,000

Excerpt: While the details of the new EV package being put together by the NZ government are still in the making, the minister did say it may involve a ‘feebate’ scheme, where buyers of high emissions vehicles are slugged with extra purchase fees and buyers of low or zero emissions vehicles receive a rebate. The Driven


Sonnen’s newest technology deployed in UK energy market for the first time

Comment: I’ve been watching Sonnen for some time. They have grown substantially in Germany and Italy, with moves into Australia and now the UK. What’s unique is they use a blockchain-like technology in their ‘sonnenCommunity’ platform to enable homeowners with solar+storage to trade energy peer-to-peer at a 25% discount to the grid.

Excerpt: Once in place, the batteries will be controlled remotely via a digital aggregation platform being developed by sonnen’s e-services subsidiary. This will allow the power stored in residential batteries to be supplied to the Western Power Distribution and other participants when it is needed, increasing supply and reducing demand during peak times on the basis of price signals from the market.

According to Martin Allman, sonnen’s country director for UK & Ireland, this element of the project will allow the company to build on its experience of using sonnenCommunity, which allows households to share their collective power across a community of battery owners. Energy-Storage.News


Italy’s ENI to invest $1B in Kazakhstan wind power using GE’s turbines

Excerpt: The wind power plant will be equipped with 48-megawatt capacity and will increase by 25% the wind capacity of Kazakhstan. The plant is expected to start operating before the end of 2019.

For Eni, the wind power project in Kazakhstan represents the first of a series of large-scale investments in renewable energy. The Italian supermajor aims to run the 1.2 billion-euro investment plan over the next four years. Eni is targeting to fulfill 50% of Kazakhstan’s total renewable energy needs before 2050. Yahoo


New Jersey utility proposes $4 billion plan to advance state’s clean energy goals

Excerpt: The proposal calls for spending $2.8 billion on energy efficiency programs and hundreds of millions on electric vehicle infrastructure, energy storage and state-of-the-art electricity meters. Yahoo


Renault wants to build a 60 MWh energy storage system with used electric car battery packs

Comment: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan are other EV makers repurposing used EV batteries for energy storage. Think of it like taking batteries out of your flashlight and using it for your remote control – still lots of life left so why not use it responsibly.

Excerpt: Renault is launching a new  “Advanced Battery Storage” program. With the program, the French automaker is aiming to build “the biggest energy stationary storage system using EV batteries ever designed in Europe by 2020.” Electrek


All the things that still baffle self-driving cars, starting with seagulls

Image Credit: Eykholt, 2018

The list: altered stop signs, falling snowflakes, sea gulls, foam, hills, exiting vehicles, bridges and tree shadows.

Excerpt: Yet we’re still a long way from ”self-driving,” despite marketing to the contrary. Driver-assist technologies capable of steering, braking and following traffic rules (with human oversight) are now entering the market, led by Tesla. Yet “it’s important to note that none of these vehicles is capable of driving safely on its own,” says David Zuby, IIHS chief research officer. “A production autonomous vehicle that can go anywhere, anytime isn’t available at your local car dealer and won’t be for quite some time.” Quartz


Shell and NREL Launch New Multimillion-Dollar Cleantech Accelerator Program

Excerpt: The program will initially focus on “technologies enabling the grid of the future through long-term energy storage and controls.” According to Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, formerly GTM Research, Shell has made six investments or acquisitions in grid edge companies — including e-mobility, energy efficiency and demand response startups — since the beginning of 2017. Greentech Media


A Digitalised, Decentralised Future is Around the Corner

Excerpt: In the energy sector blockchain technology offers many possibilities, and could pave the way for sophisticated networks that in a decentralised and democratic manner manage the entire distributed energy value chain. From the management of energy generation and distribution to billing, sales, and payments, innovative financing, contract management, trading and incentives, and others. Modern Diplomacy