Plus: BP’s money not wanted for the arts; Car2Go exits 5 cities, including Calgary
Hi Everyone,
I am offering up four stories that I came across this week that all exemplify how the synergies across multiple technology advancements are being harnessed in service of smarter energy use, saving customers money (or making more for a company) and reducing emissions. Anyone trying to forecast future carbon emission scenarios ought to be paying attention to these type of stories. It is not just one technology becoming cheaper due to large scale deployment, but many combinations of new, smarter technology. This is just the beginning stages, s watch for more disruption to come. Exciting times.
Have a look at the circular economy story (near the bottom) about how Algramo is disrupting Unilever’s business model. Another fascinating and encouraging example of how to move away from the buy-use-toss model on which most of consumerism is built.
Enjoy the rest of the posts and headlines. Please forward on to others you think would be interested and encourage them to subscribe.
Thanks,
Peter
AI Starts to Live Up to Its Energy Efficiency Potential | Forbes
Comment: OK, this is a bit more on the geeky side, but shows how 3 technologies are being combined to provide real value: solar, batteries and artificial intelligence. These types of synergies across technologies offers insights into how fast further disruption in the energy system can be expected. Presents interesting opportunities for those paying attention or surprise to anyone not.
Excerpt: One solutions provider, Stem Technologies, estimates that its Athena AI platform adds 5%-20% project value from demand charge and load shift savings through storage, and another 10%+ from optimized integration into utility demand response, wholesale, and other programs. This can create approximately 50% additional developer revenue, and 1.5-2 times the developer profit. Stem is seeing significant growth: entering 2019, Stem surpassed 100 MWh of deployed AI-driven energy storage systems, an industry milestone.
Samsung, Bulb and Chameleon partner for ‘huge leap forward’ in home energy tech | Current News
Image: Chameleon Technology
Comment: Yet another example the combining multiple technologies in service of smarter energy use: Smart phone app, internet-of-things, cloud computing and smart meters.
Excerpt: In the app, consumers can view their energy usage “almost in real-time”, the companies say, and remotely schedule any smart appliances or tools to use energy at a more convenient or cheaper time.
Shell launches smart hybrid heat system using machine learning | Current News
Comment: Now let’s add machine learning to the list of technologies being leveraged to save customers money and reduce energy use.
Excerpt: Shell is to use machine learning for the management of hybrid domestic heat pumps in a new partnership with PassivSystems.
The B-Snug system for domestic customers uses machine learning to continuously monitor the temperature in the home and analyses weather forecasts to automatically switch between an air source heat pump and traditional boiler.
Centrica to use hot water tanks for frequency response in VPP | Current News
Comment: Now here we have a utility thousands of home electric hot water tanks as a virtual power plant (VPP) by timing the heating of water in such a way that it helps with managing the load on the grid.
Excerpt: The tanks are also set to reduce heat losses, water and energy usage by up to 40% a year, through a combination of sensory and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The hot water levels in the tank are monitored and the household usage habits learned in order to personalise water volumes and heat only what is needed.
The future of energy storage is here: An Inside look at Rocky Mountain Power’s 600-battery DR project | Utility Dive
Excerpt: The future of residential energy storage takes shape with the new 12.6 MWh Utah project using solar and battery systems as a virtual power plant.
Carbon price could allay ‘astounding’ cost to attain New York’s zero carbon target: Report | Utility Dive
Comment: Yet another example of how carbon pricing could work to reduce emissions and save money.
Excerpt: The state’s power grid operator concluded that a price on carbon in wholesale markets could lower the cost to implement the state’s electric sector goal for zero emissions by 2040 by $850 million. The state’s power grid operator concluded that a price on carbon in wholesale markets could lower the cost to implement the state’s electric sector goal for zero emissions by 2040 by $850 million.
Royal Shakespeare Company to end BP sponsorship deal | edie
Comment: BP’s sponsorship supported over 80,000 16- to 25-year-olds to attend world class arts events at subsidized rates. Now their contribution to the arts is not wanted.
Excerpt: They added: “Amidst the climate emergency, which we recognise, young people are now saying clearly to us that the BP sponsorship is putting a barrier between them and their wish to engage with the RSC. We cannot ignore that message.” The sponsorship deal will conclude at the end of this year – more than two years early. There has been growing criticism of fossil fuel corporations’ involvement in the arts over the past year as concern about the scale and severity of the climate crisis grows.
Americans really want the US to adopt renewable energy sources | Business Insider
Comment: Coal ranked last. Here were the others ranked in order or preference: solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, gas, biomass, petroleum, and nuclear.
Excerpt: The question: “If cost were not an issue, which of the following types of power would you prefer to generate your area’s electricity? Rank them in order of preference.”
Climate change debate polarization shows lack of leadership, says oilsands CEO | CBC
Summary: Both Steve Laut, Vice Chairman of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and Derek Evans, CEO of MEG Energy are frustrated with the polarization of debate about energy and climate change. Both companies have expressed the aspiration to get to net zero emissions through a “multitude of technologies”, including carbon capture and storage. CNRL says it has reduced is overall emissions intensity by 20% between 2014 and 2018.
Other headlines of interest…
Energy Storage/Hydrogen
- Why engineers in Alberta think they’ve found a way for the oilsands to produce clean fuel | CBC
- Two huge renewable hydrogen projects planned for Queensland | RenewEconomy
Solar (& Battery)
- First Solar Inks 1.7GW Series 6 Module Deal With Intersect Power | Greentech Media
- California group contracts “astoundingly” low-cost solar and battery storage | RenewEconomy
Wind (& Battery)
- Big utility ditches coal for wind because it’s cheaper | E&E News
- GE to deliver world’s biggest wind turbines for huge UK Dogger Bank project | RenewEconomy
Transport
- Car2Go’s exit from 5 cities raises car-sharing viability questions | Smart Cities Dive
- Minneapolis pilots ‘mobility hubs’ | Smart Cities Dive
- First (hybrid) electric cruise ship hopes to turn the tide in war against ocean pollution | NBC News
- 15 Tesla Semi electric trucks to replace diesel trucks at Pepsi facility | Electrek
- Volvo Offers A Glimpse Of Its Dual-Motor XC40 Electric SUV | CleanTechnica
- Delta Airlines to invest $2m on biofuel | Nigerian Tribune
Transition
- Hydrogen power, modular nuclear and the other technology Xcel Energy has its eyes on | MPR News
- Why China’s Renewable Energy Transition Is Losing Momentum | Yale E360
- China aims to shut 8.7 GW of coal power by year-end – regulator | Reuters
Energy Efficiency
- Pittsburgh becomes second city in the world to join UN energy efficiency program for buildings | Utility Dive
Finance
- Norway Wealth Fund Gets Nod to Sell $6 Billion in Oil Stocks | BNN Bloomberg
Circular Economy
- The startup disrupting Unilever | GreenBiz
First (hybrid) electric cruise ship hopes to turn the tide in war against ocean pollution | NBC News
