Recognizing the climate mitigating role blue carbon can play, The Pew Charitable Trusts began working to protect and restore coastal wetlands in 2018, engaging with agencies, researchers, and stakeholders around the country and the world. In the U.S., the Pew Trusts focus is with states since they largely set the policies governing their coastlines. To help create stronger connections among state agencies, practitioners, researchers, and NGOs working on blue carbon, Pew is launching the Blue Carbon Network, to:
To date, Pew Trusts has collaborated with the Oregon Coastal Management Program, Silvestrum Climate Associates, and researchers from the Pacific Northwest Blue Carbon Working Group to develop a first-ever, state-level blue carbon inventory and specific policy-level recommendations for maintaining and enhancing carbon storage in Oregon's estuaries. These proposals have been incorporated into the Oregon Global Warming Commission's Natural and Working Lands and Waters proposal. And in North Carolina, Pew is working with researchers and officials to build the state's first greenhouse gas inventory for coastal wetlands. This inventory will likely be among the first in the world to include seagrass in addition to other tidally influenced wetlands such as marsh.
Blue Carbon Network details are HERE . (Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 29 April, 2022) Contact: Pew Charitable Trusts, Rebecca Theim, Communications, 202.540.6828. www.pewtrusts.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Storage news, Blue Carbon news, Climate Change news, Seagrass news,
The two firms have been cooperating in Taiwan's energy storage market since 2020. Fluence was established in January 2018 as a joint venture between Siemens and The AES Corporation to bring innovation to modern power infrastructure. With a presence in 30 global markets, Fluence provides an ecosystem of offerings to drive the clean energy transition, including modular, scalable energy storage products, comprehensive service offerings, and the Fluence IQ Platform, which delivers AI-enabled digital applications for managing and optimizing renewables and storage from any provider.
In recent years, TECO Group has continued to actively deploy related fields of net zero carbon emissions, including offshore wind, solar PV, and energy storage systems. In the past three years, TECO has undertaken large-scale mechanical and electrical engineering cases of more than 10 billion TWDs, of which the deployment of onshore substations for offshore wind is about 2 GW.
(Source: Fluence Energy Website PR, 3 Mar., 2022)
Contact: Fluence Energy, Jan Teichmann, Pres. Asia Pacific, Lexington May,
Sr. Manager, Investor Relations, 713-909-5629,
InvestorRelations@fluenceenergy.com, www.fluenceenergy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence, TECO,
The partnership will focus on education around climate change, fostering climate change disaster resilience and mitigation, developing advocacy strategies and boosting community initiatives.
The United Nations defines small island developing states (SIDS) as a group of most vulnerable and capacity constrained developing countries sharing similar challenges when it comes to sustainable development .
FIFA launched a Climate Strategy in November 2021 at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland, and committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Back in 2016, FIFA became the first international sports organisation to join the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Neutral Now initiative, pledging to measure, reduce and compensate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with FIFA World Cups.
According to Pacific Islands Forum General Secretary Henry Puna, "The single greatest threat facing the Pacific and our Blue Planet is climate change, and we must urgently raise awareness, build resilience and act now to limit global warming to 1.5C. We see this partnership with FIFA as a chance to influence behaviour change and drive action from individuals, communities, businesses and governments across the world using the power of football. It will also help mobilise financing for resilience building through the Pacific Resilience Facility." (Source: Pacific Islands Forum, PR, 30 Mar., 2022) Contact: Pacific Islands Forum, www.forumsec.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Pacific Islands Forum news,
The Fluence IQ Bidding Application help maximize power generation during favorable market conditions and avoid generation during periods of oversupply and negative prices.
(Source: Fluenece Energy, Blog, 23 Feb., 2022) Contact: Fluence Energy, www.fluenceenergy.com; Telstra Energy, www.telstra.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence Energy, Wind, Australia Wind,
Fluence Energy is a Siemens and AES Corporation joint venture. (Source: Fluence, Website PR, 21 Feb., 2022) Contact: Greencoat Renewables, Ben Brooks, Proj. Mgr., +44 20 7832 9400 -- London, +44 20 7832 9400 -- Dublin, www.greencoat-capital.com;
Fluence Energy, Joanna Spirodek
Regional Marketing Manager, +49 1728 662155, Joanna.Spirodek@fluenceenergy.com, www.fluenceenergy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence, Fluence Energy, Wind, Energy Storage, Greencoat, Community Solar, Solar+Storage,
Fluence is a global market leader in energy storage products and services and digital applications for renewables and storage. As of September 30, 2021, the company has more than 3.6 GW of energy storage deployed or contracted in 30 markets globally, and more than 4.7 GW of wind, solar, and storage assets optimized or contracted in Australia and California. (Source: Fluence Energy Website, PR, 26 Jan., 2022) Contact: Fluence Energy, www.fluenceenergy.com; SMC Global Power Holdings, www.smcglobalpower.com.ph
More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence Energy, Solar, Battery, Energy Storage,
Biofuel production is mostly located in countries where there is already a surplus of feedstock (especially maize, soy and palm oil) and legally prescribed blending obligations.
According to UFOP, if the surplus were not used to produce biofuels, it would have to be placed on the global market where it would weigh heavily on feedstock prices. The use in biofuel production reduces the production overhang, generates extra value added and reduces the need for foreign currency for imports of crude or fossil fuels. This is primarily a problem in poorer countries. Another advantage is the amount of high-quality protein feed that is generated in biofuel production, demand for which is steadily increasing.
The amount and quality of these protein feeds have a strong influence on feedstock prices. Consequently, they also determine the amount of land dedicated to growing the feedstocks.
In other words, biofuels are by no means the price drivers in the commodities markets, according to the UFOP release.
(Source: UFOP, Website, 25 Jan., 2022) Contact: UFOP,
info@ufop.de, www.fuels-of-the-future.com/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News Fuels of the Future, Biofuel,
The existing facility is 400MW/1,600MWh and was brought online in two phases, with the most recent 100MW/400MWh Phase II commissioned in August 2021. Phase I's 300MW/1,200MWh of batteries went online at the end of 2020, although in September they were temporarily taken offline after overheating in some battery modules had been detected. Phase II remained operational at that time.
For the project, Vistra has worked with battery module and rack provider LG Energy Solution, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner Burns & McDonnell and system integrator Fluence. Construction could begin in May this year for completion by June, 2023, according to the release.
Vistra is the largest competitive residential electricity provider and largest competitive power generator in the U.S. with a diverse generation portfolio of approximately 39,000 MW. (Source: Vistra Energy, PR, Website, 25 Jan., 2022) Contact: Vistra Energy, Curtis Morgan, CEO, Jim Burke, COO, www.vistraenergy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Vistra Energy, Battery, Energy Storage, BESS,
IRENA notes "Growing trade and targeted investments in a market dominated by fossil fuels and currently valued at $174 billion is likely to boost economic competitiveness and influence the foreign policy landscape with bilateral deals diverging significantly from the hydrocarbon relationships of the 20th century." Irena also estimates, over 30 pct of hydrogen could be traded across borders by 2050, a higher share than natural gas today. (Source: IRENA, PR, Jan., 2022)
Contact: IRENA, Francesco La Camera, Director-General,
+97124179000, info@irena.org, www.irena.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News IRENA, Hydrogen, Green Hydrogen,
Under the agreement, which reserves batteries produced by QuantumScape's pre-pilot production facility, QS-0, the companies will work together to validate and test QuantumScape's solid-state battery cells for use in Fluence's proprietary stationary storage products. The companies expect to enter into a large-scale supply agreement during their collaboration. (Source: Fluence, PR, Website, Jan., 2022)
Contact: Fluence Energy, Samuel Chong VP, Treasurer & Head of Investor Relations, (872) 301-2501, www.fluenceenergy.com; QuantumScape, www.quantumscape.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News QuantumScape, Battery Energy Storage, Fluence,
Fluence will cooperate with the Taiwan-based TECO Group and its subsidiary YATEC to offer Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) services to the state-owned utility company Taiwan Power Company (Taipower)
(Source: Fluence Energy, Website PR, 20 Dec., 2021) Contact: Fluence Energy, Samuel Chong
VP, Treasurer & Head of Investor Relations,
(872) 301-2501, www.fluenceenergy.com; Ina Energy Corp, www.inaenergy.com.tw; www.taipower.co.tw: Ina Energy Corp., www.inaenergy.com.tw
More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence Energy, BESS, Energy STorage ,
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
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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
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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)
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