Fluence was formed in 2017 as a Siemens-AES Corporation JV.
JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley are lead underwriters in a syndicate of 16 banks. Proceeds will be used for debt reduction, working capital and other general corporate purposes. The company had a net loss of $74.8 million in the nine months to June 30, and revenue of $430.4 million, according to its filing documents. (Source: Fluence Energy Inc., PR, 28 Sept., 2021) Contact: Fluence Energy Inc., Brett Galura, CEO, (571) 274-9404, www.fluenceenergy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens, Fluence, Energy Storage, BESS,
Additionally, through the sourcing of high quality, proprietary natural carbon capture projects and carbon credit offtake agreements, all future residual emissions will be neutralised. Alongside significant reductions in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the Company is also actively reduce Scope 3 emissions for which it has influence or control over, such as through a hybrid support vessel fleet and the sourcing of carbon neutral materials.
(Source: Lundin Energy AB, PR, 15 Sept., 2021) Contact: Lundin Energy AB, Nick Walker, CEO,
Tel +46 8 440 54 50,
www.lundin-energy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Lundin Energy, Carbon Emissions, Carbon Neutrality,
Some locations show a higher value-add -- roughly 5.4 pct for New York City, and some show lower, 2.7 pct for Riverside, California.
Local solar installation prices, geographic location, system age and replacement value also influence the value-add of solar panels. (Source: Zillow, ecoWatch, Others, Aug., 2021)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,
"Scientists from across the globe delivered the most up-to-date assessment of the ways in which the climate is changing. It is a sobering IPCC report that finds that human influence is, unequivocally, causing climate change, and it confirms the impacts are widespread and rapidly intensifying," according to NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. (Source: NOAA, 13 Aug., 2021) Contact:
NOAA, Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., Administrator, www.noaa.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News NOAA, Climate Change,
To reach its net zero goal the compay will focus:
Subject to financing, energy storage technology and services provider Fluence, which was formed in 2017 as a Siemens-AES Corporation JV, will provide the lithium-ion battery system. Siemens will handle project management including the building of medium-voltage switchgear equipment and facilitating connection to the local high-voltage grid.
Siemens broke ground earlier this month on an 8.75MW green hydrogen electrolyser plant at the Town of Wunsiedel's local "energy park". The plant's proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser will be connected to a 6MW battery storage system that Siemens supplied and installed in 2017. The green hydrogen project is scheduled to go into operation in summer 2022, according to the release. (Source: Siemens Smart Infrastructure, PR, Energy Storage, 20 July, 2021) Contact: Siemens Smart Infrastructure, www.linkedin.com/showcase/siemensinfrastructure, www.new.siemens.com/global/en/company/topic-areas/smart-infrastructure.html
More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens, Fluence, Energy Storage, BESS ,
The pathways studied consume renewable (low-carbon) electricity and use chemical feedstocks derived from electrochemical pathways powered by renewable energy. Across these CO2 recycling pathways, the authors evaluated current globally representative production costs, sensitivities to cost drivers, carbon abatement potential, critical infrastructure and feedstock needs, and the effect of subsidies. Based on this analysis, the paper concludes with targeted policy recommendations to support CO2 recycling innovation and deployment. Key findings of the analysis include :
Based on these findings, the authors recommend the following policy actions:
Download the report
HERE. (Source: Columbia University/ SIPA, Center for Global Energy Policy, 4 May., 2021) Contact: Columbia University, www.energypolicy.columbia.edu
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,
Renewable fuel (D6) credits for 2021 traded up from $1.44 to $1.50 each and biomass-based (D4) credits traded at $1.58 each, up from $1.52 previously -- highest since Reuters began reporting data for renewable fuel credits in 2013 and biomass-based credits in 2014.
The credits, known as RINs, rose at the same time that the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday was hearing oral arguments for a case involving the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires refiners to blend biofuels into their fuel mix each year or buy RINs from those that do. The Supreme Court's decision around the case will likely heavily influence the future of the RFS.
As previously noted, "hardship waivers" were intended for refineries producing 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance. Under the now vanquished administrator Greg Pruitt's direction, the EPA handed out 54 exemptions over two years and not a single request for an exemption was denied.Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, the nation's oil refineries are required to blend billions of gallons of biofuels such as ethanol into the fuel or buy credits from those that do. But the EPA can waive their obligations if they prove compliance would cause them financial distress. (Source: Various Media, Reuters, 27 Apr., 2021)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuels Standard,
Suncor reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $168 million on revenue of $6.6 billion, compared with a net loss of $2.34 billion on revenue of $9.6 billion in the same period of 2019, with both sets of numbers heavily influenced by asset writedowns.
The company says the current loss includes a $142-million after tax transportation provision related to the recently cancelled Keystone XL oil export pipeline project, offset by a $539-million unrealized after-tax foreign exchange gain on U.S. dollar denominated debt. (Source: Suncor Energy, Canada Press, Feb., 2021) Contact: Suncor Energy, www.suncor.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Suncor , Carbon Emissions,
The installation incorporates Fluence Advancion 5 batteries -- Fluence is a Siemens-- AES JV and a leading energy storage and technology provider.
AES presently manages projects that are operational, under construction and under development, including the operation of approximately 2.5 GW of renewable energy projects and has a contracted 2.6 GW pipeline nationwide. (Source: AES, PR, Website, Saur, 28 Jan., 2021)
Contact: AES, Andres Gluski, Pres., CEO, www.aes.com; sPower, Ryan Creamer, CEO, Naomi Keller, VP Marketing, (801) 679-3514, nkeller@sPower.com, www.sPower.com;
Fluence Energy, Fluence Battery Storage System, Brett Galura, CEO, (571) 274-9404, www.fluenceenergy.com; Southern California Edison,
William Walsh, VP Energy Procurement and Management,
www.sce.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News AES Corporation , Fluence, Battery Energy Storage, Southern California Edison ,
As previously reported, AGL, has committed to build 850MW of grid-scale battery storage by FY2024.
In 2020, AGL announced plans to build batteries at Loy Yang A power station in Victoria (200MW), Liddell power station (150MW) and Broken Hill (50MW) in New South Wales and Torrens Island (250MW) in South Australia. (Source: Wartsila, Fluence, renews, Jan., 2021)Contact: AGL, Garry West, +61 3 8623 831, gwest@agl.com.au, www.agl.com.au; Fluence Energy, Brett Galura, CEO, (571) 274-9404, www.fluenceenergy.com; Wartsila, www.wartsila.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News AGL, Energy Storage, Wartsila, Fluence,
The Appalachian region plan's lead author, Leslie Marshall, associate director of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Sustainable Business, said the plan is aimed at trying to deal with a "confluence of crises" brought on by the region's reliance on fossil fuels and the treat of climate change.
The plan, which shares many of the goals of the Green New Deal, does not specify where the money will come from but suggests it could be funded through a mix of tax breaks, public-private partnerships, and alliances between labor, environmental, and academic institutions.
Research for the project received financial support from the Enel Foundation, which is run by Enel, an Italian energy company with significant renewable energy investments.
(Source: State Impact Pennsylvania, The Allegheny Front, 13 Nov., 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency news, Renewable Energy news,
"Greenpeace recently obtained leaked strategy documents advising industry to push back against measures such as the federal clean fuel standard that prompts a switch to low-carbon fuels by setting limits on greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuels. To meet it, fossil-fuel suppliers can buy or generate credits by offering low-carbon alternatives, like biofuels from waste organics or electric-vehicle charging stations. The clean-fuel-credit market is expected to attract investment in low-carbon fuel production and distribution in Canada.
"It's a smart move as the government looks to support economic recovery. Clean-fuels investments generate employment. Clean Energy Canada estimates the regulation could spur the need for up to 31,000 skilled workers to build, operate, and supply new facilities.
Navigator, the PR firm engaged to develop an action plan to counter the clean-fuel standard, advises its unnamed clients to use a "counter-punch strategy" -- to pay lip service to government's climate agenda, wait for the clean-fuel-standard announcement, then orchestrate a hard push-back. Part of the scheme is to convince Canadians that "fighting climate change is a losing battle" by arguing action is too costly. It's dishonest. Energy companies -- and the politicians they're seeking to influence -- know Canada must decarbonize the fuel supply to reduce GHG emissions.
"All the major federal political parties have pledged to meet or exceed Canada's 2030 targets. The clean-fuel standard is projected to reduce annual GHG emissions by 30 million tonnes by 2030 -- equivalent to taking 7 million cars off the road and accounts for 15 pct of Canada's current emissions-reduction target -- more than can be achieved with any other single climate-policy instrument.
"B.C.'s (British Columbia) low-carbon fuel requirement has been in place since 2010 and is credited with delivering one-quarter of B.C.'s emissions reductions between 2007 and 2012 with limited impacts to consumers' pocketbooks. As part of its CleanBC plan, the province recently announced further reductions to the carbon intensity of transportation fuels over the next decade using this instrument. California, Oregon, and the EU have parallel policies. Their experience shows that a clean-fuel standard can reduce emissions, drive innovation, and increase renewable alternatives availability.
"Too often, industry opposition to environmental policies isn't driven by facts but by vested interests. Climate action is in everyone's interest. Government must stand firm on the policies needed to achieve timely emissions reductions. The sooner Canada adopts its clean fuel standard, the better."
Download the UN Emissions Gap Report 2019 HERE.
(Source: David Suzuki, Suzuki Foundation, The Straight, 20 Oct, 2020) Contact: Suzuki Foundation, David Suzuki, 604-732-4228, www.davidsuzuki.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Clean Fuel Standard, Renewable Fuels, Suzuki Foundation, Environment and Climate Change Canada,
AMS' software and technology platform utilizes portfolio optimization, advanced price forecasting, artificial intelligence, and market bidding to ensure energy storage systems and other flexible generation assets are responding favorably to power market price signals. AMS is currently active in Australia's National Electricity Market and California ISO market.
(Source: Fluence Energy, PR Website, 15 Oct., 2020)
Contact: Fluence Energy, Brett Galura, CEO, (571) 274-9404, www.fluenceenergy.com, www.fluenceenergy.com; Advanced Microgrid Solutions, www.advancedmicrogridsolutions.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence Energy, Microgrid, Advanced Microgrid Solutions,
The ordinance, passed in 2016, requires all building owners with 50,000 or more square feet to track and report information about their energy and water use in the hope of encouraging building owners and managers increase energy efficiency and reduce their energy use.
Under the city's program, building owners receive a report from the city on their building's energy performance compared to other similar buildings. More than half of the city's buildings have reported their energy use but hundreds of the city's largest buildings haven't yet complied with the ordinance.
In 2019, more than 500 of Pittsburgh's larger buildings collectively reduced energy consumption by 23 pct compared to 6 pct in 2014.
(Source: City of Pittsburgh, Public Source Pittsburgh, 25 Sept., 2020) Contact: City of Pittsburgh, Grant Ervin, Chief Resilience Officer, 412-255-2621, www.pittsburghpa.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmarking, Energy Efficiency,
MSCS's recommendations begin with the creation of a Montana Climate Solutions Network (MCSN), a broad affiliation of diverse stakeholders who would support planning and implementation of climate strategies in Montana.
Among the specific proposals to reduce the impacts of climate change are to work with communities to identify their highest-priority risks and vulnerabilities and implement hazard mitigation plans, promote agricultural research that will sustain production in higher projected temperatures and extreme water shortages, implement strategies to make communities more fire-resistant, and to encourage the development of cleaner energy production options such as wind, solar, decarbonized fuels from hydrogen and biomass, and micro-hydro electricity generation projects.
The Montana Climate Solutions Plan also calls for regularly updated energy efficiency standards for household appliances and for Investor Owned Utilities and rural cooperatives to implement on-bill energy efficiency financing programs. The plan also calls for a carbon pricing -- carbon tax -- mechanism at the state level in the event a national carbon tax is not implemented. To that end, the plan calls for Montana to track and influence the development of federal legislation through its Congressional delegation and through its membership in the U.S. Climate Alliance.
Download the Montana Climate Solutions Plan, HERE . (Source: Montana Climate Solutions Council, Website, Great Falls Tribune, 12 Sept., 2020) Contact: Montana Climate Solutions Council, deq.mt.gov/DEQAdmin/dir/Climate
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Carbon Emissions,
The chemical structures of all photoswitches are influenced by the energy of light. This means that the structure and therefore the properties of the photoswitch can be changed by lighting it. One of the possible fields of application for photoswitches is molecular electronics, in which the two forms of the molecule have different electrical conductivity. Another area is photopharmacology, in which one form of the molecule is pharmacologically active and can bind to a specific target protein in the body, while the other is inactive.
Most chemical reactions begin in a state where a molecule is high in energy and then goes on to a low energy molecule. In the new study, the researchers did the opposite -- a low-energy molecule becomes a high-energy molecule. Researchers will now explore how stored energy can be best released from the energy-rich form of the molecule. The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). (Source: Linkoping University, FreeNews, 1 Sept., 2020)
Contact: Linkoping University, Bo Durbeej, Professor of Computational Physics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, www.liu.se
More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar, Solar Energy Storage,
To date, 5B has installed its prefabricated systems throughout Australia in the Northern Territories, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia.
AES Corp., a global grid scale battery storage installations specialist and co-founder of Fluence Energy, has invested in 5B and anticipates adding 2 to 3 GW of solar power annually using 5B's systems in upcoming projects, including projects in Panama and Chile as a part of an expansion of the 10 MW Los Andes solar facility in the Atacama Desert. (Source: AES, PR, Clean Technica, 30 Aug., 2020) Contact: AES Corp.,
Andres Gluski, Pres., CEO, www.aes.com; 5B, Chris McGrath, CEO, www.5b.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News AES, Solar, Energy Storage,
"This report examines the quality of firms' building stock, their spending on energy efficiency measures and the factors that influence their decisions regarding that investment. It highlights that both high-quality information and advanced management practices make a crucial difference in the likelihood of investment in energy efficiency. The regulatory framework needs to be supportive, yet also push for higher energy building performance standards, while financing conditions should facilitate timely investment by firms to realize the enormous gains that can be achieved through energy efficiency improvements."
Download the Who is Investing in Energy Efficiency and Why It Matters report
HERE. (Source: European Investment Bank, July, 2020) Contact: EIB, www.eib.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News European Investment Bank news, Energy Efficiency news,
"Opportunities exist to make real, durable, changes and be more resilient to future crises, by implementing economic stimulus packages that also help meet climate targets, especially for mobility, which accounts for half the decrease in emissions during confinement." -- Prof. Corinne Le Quere , University of East Anglia, May, 2020) Contact: Prof. Corinne Le Quere, www.uea.ac.uk/environmental-sciences
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Chnage news,
The attached Space-based Quantification of per capita CO2 Emissions from Cities report provides the first independent estimates of direct per capita CO2 emissions (E pc) from space-borne atmospheric CO2 measurements from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) for a total 20 cities across multiple continents. The analysis accounts for the influence of meteorology on the satellite observations with an atmospheric model. The resultant upwind source region sampled by the satellite serves as an objective urban extent for aggregating emissions and population densities.
The study suggests that E pc declines as population densities increase, albeit the decrease in E pc is partially limited by the positive correlation between E pc and per capita gross domestic product.
Download the NASA Space-based Quantification of per capita CO2 Emissions from Cities study
HERE. (Source: NASA, IOP, Environmental Research Letters, Open Access, Feb.,2020) Contact: NASA, www.nasa.gov/oco2;
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., 818-354-0307, janelee@jpl.nasa.gov, www.jpl.nasa.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News NASA, Carbon Emissions,
The letter, which noted that the "carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass are well established", cites a report from UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) which notes -- "In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit. Demand for wood helps keep land in forest and incentivizes investments in new and more productive forests, all of which have significant carbon benefits."
Reviewing more than 30 years of scientific research on forest biomass utilization, scientists from Yale, Harvard, and Georgia to Washington, Idaho, Berkeley and others identified four fundamentals for science-based decision-making on biomass energy production:
The study reveals both customer demand and perceptions about performance are driving green engagement. Most builders believe that the top factors influencing consumer decisions about whether to invest in a green home are concerns about cost and performance, with related issues -- like their return on investment and the quality of the home -- following close behind. However, most builders and remodelers say it's a careful balance of production with demand. Lack of market demand was cited as the top reason why many companies are not ramping up their green building. Forty-two pct of single-family and 31 pct of multifamily builders reported doing no green projects at all.
Cost is also a major influencer in the green building market. However, 70 pct of single-family home builders believe that their customers will pay more for a green home, suggesting that many home buyers understand the benefits of green.
(Source: National Association of Home Builders, Jan., 2020) Contact: National Association of Home Builders, www.nahb.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News National Association of Home Builders, Energy Efficiency, Green Building,
In the short term, energy-related CO2 emissions are influenced by the weather, fuel prices and disruptions in electricity generation. In the long term, CO2 emissions are influenced by public policy, reduced costs and improved efficiencies of new technology, demand-side efficiency gains and economic trends, according to the report.
A major factor in recent reductions in the carbon intensity of electric generation in the U.S. is the reduced generation of electricity using coal while increasingly using natural gas. Natural gas emits less CO2 for the same amount of electricity generated, and non-carbon generation (including renewables), which do not emit the gas.
Between 2005 and 2018, EIA has calculated that cumulative U.S. C02 emissions reductions attributable specifically to shifts from coal to natural gas and to non-carbon generation totaled 4,621 million metric tons (MMmt). Of this total, 2,823 MMmt resulted from decreased use of coal and increased use of natural gas; 1,799 MMmt resulted from decreased use of coal and increased use of non-carbon generation sources.
Between 2005 and 2017, total U.S. electricity generation increased by almost 4 pct while related C02 emissions fell by 27 pct. During the same period, fossil fuel electricity generation declined by roughly 9 pct, and non-carbon electricity generation increased by 35 pct.
Download the U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2018 Report HERE. (Source: US Energy Information Administration, 14 Nov., 2019) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2, CO2 Emissions, Natural Gas Emissions, Climate Change,
Climate Transparency is an open global consortium with a shared mission to stimulate a 'race to the top' in climate action through enhanced transparency. For this purpose, comprehensive, comparable and credible information about government climate action is spread by bringing together the most important actors in assessing and communicating climate action for the benefit of key influencers and decision makers.
According to its website, he Climate Transparency consortium produces the Brown to Green Report every year, providing a comprehensive overview of how the G20 countries are doing on the transition to a low-carbon economy. The report draws on the latest emissions data and covers over 80 indicators on decarbonisation, climate policies, finance, and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Providing country ratings, it identifies leaders and laggards of climate action in the G20. Additionally, a country profile is produced for each of the G20 countries.
(Source: New Climate Institute, Nov., 2019) Contact: New Climate Institute, www.newclimate.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Carbon Emissions, Climate Institute,
The letter, which noted that the "carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass are well established", cites a report from UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) which notes: "In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit. Demand for wood helps keep land in forest and incentivizes investments in new and more productive forests, all of which have significant carbon benefits."
Reviewing more than 30 years of scientific research on forest biomass utilization, scientists from Yale, Harvard, and Georgia to Washington, Idaho, Berkeley and others identified four fundamentals for science-based decision-making on biomass energy production:
Paper Abstract -- "Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from freshwater ecosystems are almost universally predicted to increase with climate warming. Glacier-fed rivers and lakes, however, differ critically from those in non-glacierized catchments in that they receive little terrestrial input of organic matter for decomposition and CO2 production, and transport large quantities of easily mobilized comminuted sediments available for carbonate and silicate weathering reactions that can consume atmospheric CO2.
"We used a whole-watershed approach, integrating concepts from glaciology and limnology, to conclusively show that certain glacier-fed freshwater ecosystems are important and previously overlooked annual CO2 sinks due to the overwhelming influence of these weathering reactions.
"Using the glacierized Lake Hazen watershed (Nunavut, Canada) as a model system, we found that weathering reactions in the glacial rivers actively consumed CO2 up to 42 km downstream of glaciers, and cumulatively transformed the High Arctic's most voluminous lake into an important CO2 sink. In conjunction with data collected at other proglacial freshwater sites in Greenland and the Canadian Rockies, we suggest that CO2 consumption in proglacial fresh waters due to glacial melt-enhanced weathering is likely a globally relevant phenomenon, with potentially important implications for regional annual carbon budgets in glacierized watersheds."
Download report details HERE.
(Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Aug., 2019) Contact: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, www.pnas.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, CO2, Carbon Emissions, Climate Change,
TGOD will use Fluence's high-intensity, high-bay VYPR lighting solutions in two greenhouses measuring over 1.4 million square feet in total.
Fluence Bioengineering, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc., creates energy-efficient LED lighting -- Grow Light -- solutions for commercial crop production and research applications. (Source: Fluence, PR, BusinesWire, 8 Aug., 20190 Contact: Fluence,
David Cohen, CEO, www.fluence.science/fluence-by-osram-emea; The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., www.tgod.ca
More Low-Carbon Energy News LED Light, Fluence,
According to the report, emissions reductions "must be vital to the whole of government and to every level of government in the UK. Policies must be fully funded and implemented across all sectors of the economy to drive the necessary innovation, market development and consumer take-up of low-carbon technologies, and to positively influence societal change."
Download the CCC Net Zero-- The UK's Contribution to Stopping Global Warming report
HERE. (Source: The Committee on Climate Change, May, 2019) Contact: Committee on Climate Change, www.theccc.org.uk
More Low-Carbon Energy News TheCCC, Committee on Climate Change, Climate Change,
The battery system will be provided by Fluence, the joint venture between AES and Siemens. The company said BASF will benefit from blackstart capabilities, islanding, if required, and a more reliable power supply. (Source: Siemens, Energy Storage News, 30 May, 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens news, Energy Storage news, BASF news,
According to the report, improved energy efficiency and performance of buildings presents a win-win-win opportunity, reducing stress on the electricity network, offering bill savings, supporting a least-cost pathway to a zero carbon built environment, and improving health and resilience outcomes for households and businesses.
The National Construction Code is a ready-made policy instrument to influence the operational energy use of new buildings and major renovations. The Code regulates the building envelope and fixed equipment, including heating and cooling equipment, lighting and hot water. Built to Perform shows that setting strong energy standards for new buildings in the Code could, between now and 2050, reduce energy bills by up to $27 billion, cut energy network costs by up to $12.6 billion and deliver at least 78 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings.
The ASBEC report was produced with the support of the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living, the RACV and dozens of building industry and government partners. The project has been delivered in partnership with CSIRO, Energy Action (EA), Strategy. Policy. Research. (SPR) and the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre at the University of Wollongong (UOW). (Source: ASBEC, PR, Jan., 2019) Contact: ASBEC, Suzanne Toumbourou, Exec. Dir., (02) 8006 0828, admin@asbec.asn.au, www.asbec.asn.au; ClimateWorks Australia, www.climateworksaustralia.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,
The poll noted more then half of the respondents expected at least 60 pct of their project pipeline to involve green construction by 2021. The research also notes a significant change in the perceptions surrounding "green" buildings. For example, the number of survey respondents who believe that green construction costs more than traditional building methods has decreased dramatically from over 75 pct in 2012 to less than 50 pct in the most recent survey.
The poll notes "green" building benefits include 88 pct savings in operating costs in the first year and a 7 pct increase in building asset values for new "green" construction, which has a clear influence on all green building professionals to continue their relationship with "green."
(Source: AIA, CRL, 3 Jan., 2019) Contact: AIA, www.aia.org; World Green Building Council, Terri Willis, CEO, www.worldgbc.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News World Green Building Council, Green Building, Energy Efficiency,
The Institute notes that earlier assessments of the size of the country's forest carbon sink had been underestimated and did not take the faster growth rate of forests under the influence of global warming and a warmer climate. The Institute added that even though the Finnish carbon sink will shrink because of wood usage, it would not be reduced to a critical level any time before 2050. The current level of forest use is roughly 70 million cubic meters annually. The government has aimed at an increase up to 80 million.
The Institute study was in compliance with EU land usage decree requirements that members inform the EC by the end of 2018 about estimated carbon sink levels of their forests in 2021-2025. They will then be analyzed by experts from the EU and members. The EU Commission will define the final values in 2020. (Source: Finnish Natural Resources Institute , Xinhua, 12 Dec., 2018) Contact: Finnish Natural Resources Institute, +358 29 532 6000, www.luke.fi/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Sink, CO2, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Emissions, Forest Carbon,
Forest Concepts, a manufacturer of precision woody and herbaceous feedstocks for bioenergy and bioproduct applications, leveraged NREL's capabilities in biomass conversion modeling to help quantify the impact of their feedstock characteristics based on various particle shapes and sizes. The NREL team is part of the Consortium for Computational Physics and Chemistry (CCPC), which uses high-performance computing to support the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO).
Prior to the development of the NREL models, Forest Concepts provided feedstock pricing based on volume and size of the biomass particle. Using the NREL models, Forest Concepts can now provide information to their customers such as standardized performance, required conversion conditions, and expected yields based on the size and shape of feedstock particles.
BETO recognized early on the value of developing detailed biomass feedstock particle models to understand how the properties of each particle impact the yield and composition products from the conversion process. Moving forward, these capabilities will be leveraged by the newly established Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) whose mission is to quantify, understand, and manage variability in biomass from field through downstream conversion and to understand how biomass composition, structure, and behavior impact system performance.
FCIC is an integrated and collaborative network of eight national laboratories dedicated to addressing technical risks and understanding how biomass properties influence collection, storage, handling, preprocessing and conversion technologies with the goal of improving the overall operational reliability of integrated pioneer biorefineries. (Source: NREL, PR, 10 Dec., 2018)
Contact: NREL, Peter Ciesielski, Scientist, www.nrel.gov;
US DOE BETO, energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bioenergy-technologies-office; Forest Concepts, James H. Dooley, CTO, (253) 333-9663, www.forestconcepts.com;
Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium, https://fcic.inl.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News NREL, Forest Concepts, Bioenergy, Biofuel, Biomass, BETO ,
The decision to completely stop production of petrol and diesel powertrains showcases the company's shift in focus towards battery-driven vehicles.t may also be influenced by VW's recent
"diesel-gate" emissions scandal that cost the company €27 billion in fines and penalties. (Source: VW, DriveSpark, Others, Dec., 2018)
More Low-Carbon Energy News VW, Vehicle Emissions,
"In the first year of the Trump administration, we've seen a 2.7 pct reduction in CO2 from 2016 to 2017. I'm not aware of a formal process within the administration" (to incorporate it into decision-making) Wheeler said. Wheeler noted "a 14 pct reduction in CO2 emissions in the United States since 2005," a time frame dominated by the 2009-2017 Obama administration which implemented strict environmental policies that influenced the reversals that the Trump administration seeks to take credit for while at the same time seeking to amend, reverse or eliminate.
"I think we really need to take a hard look at where the markets are going, where technology is going, where innovation is going, and what has driven the reduction in CO2, and we need to give credit for that CO2 reduction," Wheeler said.
Wheeler added that although he respects the efforts of career government scientists who worked on the report, he noted that the work was begun under the Obama administration and that the Trump administration did not play a part in the work. "We did not review it. I did not see the National Climate Change Assessment report until it was released," Wheeler proclaimed, the implication being that it was in some way lacking in credibility with the the Trump administration's touch.
Download the National Climate Assessment report HERE. (Source: Office of EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler, 28 Nov., 2018) Contact: Office of EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler, www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epas-acting-administrator
More Low-Carbon Energy News US EPA, National Climate Change Assesment,
The increase in CO2 from 2016 to 2017 was smaller than from 2015 to 2016 and practically equal to the average growth rate over the last decade.
The influence of the El Nino event that peaked in 2015 and 2016 and contributed to the increased growth rate during that period sharply declined in 2017. For CH4, the increase from 2016 to 2017 was lower than that observed from 2015 to 2016 but practically equal to the average over the last decade. For N2O, the increase from 2016 to 2017 was higher than that observed from 2015 to 2016 and practically equal to the average growth rate over the past 10 years.
Download the WMO State of Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere report
HERE. (Source: World Meteorological Organization Greenhouse Gas Bulletin Bulletin -- No. 14, Nov., 2018) Contact: WMO, +41 (0) 22 730 81 11,
+41 (0) 22 730 81 81 - Fax,
wmo@wmo.int, www.wmo.int, https://public.wmo.int
More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenhouse Gas.Climate Change, WMO, GHGs, World Meteorological Organization,
The scope of the ISO 14001 certification includes the environmental aspects of the company's design, manufacturing and service of products Corvus can either directly control or influence considering the life cycle perspective of lithium-ion based energy storage systems (ESS).
The ISO 14001 standard provides organizations with a framework to protect the environment and respond to changing environmental conditions in balance with socio-economic needs.
As the leading manufacturer of energy storage systems for maritime applications, Corvus offers the innovative Orca ESS solutions portfolio and has unsurpassed experience from 170+ projects, totaling over 120MWh and two million operating hours. (Source: Corvus Energy, MarEx, 5 Nov., 2018) Contact: ISO, www.iso.org/certification.html; Corvus Energy, Andrew Morden, Pres. & CEO, Sean Puchalski, VP Strategic Marketing, (604) 227-0280 ext. 123, spuchalski@corvus-energy.com, www.corvus-energy.com
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"We've always been really clear that we support a carbon price -- obviously there's different ways a carbon price can be designed but from our perspective a carbon price is a really important part of a long term and effective response to climate change. I think in the Australian context what we'd really like to see is a really well integrated climate and energy policy which looks at affordability, reliability and emissions reductions, and that's what we're aiming for. At the moment we don't have a long term and effective climate and energy policy," Dr Wild says.
Dr. Wilds added, "We accept the IPCC's assessment of climate change science that warming of the climate is unequivocal, the human influence is clear and physical impacts are unavoidable. We believe that the world must pursue the twin objectives of limiting climate change in line with current international agreements while providing access to affordable energy."
Dr Wild also noted that "under all current plausible scenarios, fossil fuels will continue to be a significant part of the energy mix for decades."
(Source: BHP, AFR, Financial Review, 22 Oct., 2018) Contact: BHP Billiton, Dr. Fiona Wild, VP Sustainability and Climate Change, +61 3 9609 3333, www.bhpbilliton.com, www.bhp.com
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