National Grid, EPRI
Date: 2022-05-04
In Massachusetts, National Grid reports it is supporting the recently launched Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Climate READi initiative to enable global energy companies, climate scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders to address risks to energy networks from climate change disruption.

EPRI's three-year Climate READi (REsilience and ADaptation initiative) aims to develop a common framework to address and develop comprehensive, integrated approaches to physical climate risk assessment and enable better planning, designing, and operation of resilient energy systems of the future.

Other Climate READi anchor members include: American Electric Power, Alliant Energy Corporation, Ameren Corporation, Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Exelon Corporation, New York Power Authority, Pacific Gas & Electric, Portland General Electric, Southern California Edison, and Southern Company. (Source: National Grid, Website, PR, 29 Apr., 2022) Contact: National Grid, John Pettigrew, CEO, www.nationalgridus.com EPRI, Arshad Mansoor, Pres., CEO, www.epri.com/REASi

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  EPRI,  Climate Change,  

National Grid
Date: 2022-04-22
In Massachusetts, National Grid (US) reports it plans to "decarbonize" its US natural gas pipeline system with renewable natural gas (RNG) and "green" hydrogen by 2050, in keeping with the Bay State's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by that date.

The announcement coincides with National Grid's effort to team up with other utilities to seek federal funds for a regional clean hydrogen hub and to tap into $8 billion in funding included in the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congress passed last fall. The hubs would involve regional clusters of hydrogen producers and distributors, storage facilities and end users.

Presently, Natural gas provides about half of the heat for buildings in Massachusetts, and is a major source of carbon emissions. National Grid's plan calls for roughly half of the state's building heat to come from electricity by 2050, with the remainder from renewable natural gas (RNG) or “green” hydrogen, or a hybrid mix of electricity and those cleaner gas sources. (Source: National Grid, April, 2022) Contact: National Grid, John Pettigrew, CEO, www.nationalgridus.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  RNG,  Net-Zero Emissions,  CO2 Emissions,  Green Hydrogen,  

National Grid
Date: 2022-03-07
In the UK, National Grid reports it has joined the Blue Recovery Leaders Group of organizations to launch a new initiative working with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) to support and help preserve UK wetlands to help fight climate change and to help WWT reach its Blue Recovery goal of creating 100,000 hectares of new and restored wetlands as a carbon storage network of coastal wetlands across the country

WWT's Blue Recovery proposal aims to create a carbon storage network of coastal wetlands, a network of wetland features to reduce the risk of flooding, a network of accessible urban wetlands to improve wellbeing, and a water treatment network to improve biodiversity.

Download Blue Recovery Program details HERE . (Source: National Grid, Website PR, 4 Mar., 2022) Contact: National Grid, Duncan Burt, Chief Sustainability Officer , +44 0 7977 054575, www.nationalgrid.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  Carbon Sink,  Carbon Emissions,  

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Date: 2022-02-28
In Washington, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is reporting the country's biggest offshore wind auction of six lease sites brought in a total of $4.37 billion.

The largest and most expensive site, which could accommodate a minimum of 1,387 MW of installed capacity, went for $1.1 billion to Bight Wind Holdings, LLC, a joint venture between RWE Renewables and National Grid.

Attentive Energy LLC, a joint venture between EnBW and TotalEnergies, won the second most expensive lease site for $795 million. Shell and EDF Renewables-owned Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Bight, LLC, won the the largest site for $780 million, and the area adjacent to Shell and EDF's was secured by Invenergy Wind Offshore LLC for $645 million. The Central Bight went to OW Ocean Winds East LLC, an existing JV between EDP Renewables and Engie, for $765 million, while Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind LLC won the Long Beach, NY site for $285 million. (Source: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, PR, 25 Feb., 2022) Contact: BOEM, Connie Gillette, Public Affairs, Walter Cruickshank, Acting Dir., (202) 208-6474, www.boem.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,  Offshore Wind,  

Efigen
Date: 2022-02-21
Medellín, Columbia-headquartered renewable energy and energy efficiency firm Efigen, in a partnership with Bosk Capital, in agreement with Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), reports construction is underway on a 238 MW solar farm in northern Colombia. The Efigen solar farm will be connected to Colombia's national grid once completed.

Efigen is a global company with a strong presence in Latin America and Asia. The company acquires land to design and develop solar PV projects to be sold to global energy companies. (Source: Efigen Group, Website, PR, Feb., 2022) Contact: Efigen Group, Hassan Bahauddin, CEO, +57 604 322 0995. colombia@efigen.co, usa@efigen.com.co, www.efigen.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Efigen,  Solar,  

Zenobe Energy
Date: 2022-02-14
In the UK, London-based Zenobe Energy (fka Battery Energy Storage Solutions Limited), one of the UK's largest independent battery storage owners and operators, reports it has secured a £150 million investment from Infracapital.

The funding will be used for growth and to support customers with at least 500MWhr of additional grid-connected batteries and up to a further 1,000 electric buses or vehicles and associated infrastructure software systems over the next 18 to 24 months.

Zenobe presently has 170MW of grid-scale batteries in operation or under construction, which provide a range of services including balancing, power, and reactive power services in the UK to National Grid and the DNOs. The company also provides services including load shifting, storage, and off-grid operations to its industrial and commercial customers. (Source: Zenobe Energy, Feb., 2022) Contact: Zenobe Energy, contact@zenobe.com, www.zenobe.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Zenobe Energy news,  Battery news,  Energy Storage news,  

National Grid, NYSERDA
Date: 2022-02-02
In the Empire State, nearly 175,000 upstate National Grid electricity customers will benefit from new solar-energy bill credits under a joint offering from National Grid and NYSERDA. The Expanded Solar-For-All program, approved by state regulators in January, will automatically provide monthly credits to income-eligible customers enrolled in National Grid's Energy Affordability Program.

The expanded Solar-For-All "community solar" program is expected to be available later this year, following regulatory filings on next steps and implementation plans, and NYSERDA's completion of a competitive solicitation for 300MW of solar energy to support the program.

In the expanded Solar-For-All's first phase, National Grid anticipates providing $240 million in total bill credits during the 25-year lifetime of the program. A proposed second phase would further expand the program, doubling the total anticipated bill credits to $480 million over the program's lifetime, subject to regulatory approvals. (Source: National Grid, Website PR, 1 Feb., 2022) Contact: National Grid, www.nationalgridus.com; NYSERDA, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  NYSERDA,  Solar,  Community Solar ,  

National Grid
Date: 2022-01-03
In the Empire State, National Grid is reporting a joint project with the Town of Hempstead to build one of the first and largest clean hydrogen projects in the country in Point Lookout on Long Island. For the project, National Grid will expand an existing hydrogen distribution system to heat approximately 800 homes and fuel 10 municipal vehicles.

National Grid is also working with the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Advanced Energy and Research Technology Center at Stony Brook University to assess the compatibility of hydrogen blending in National Grid's existing gas infrastructure.

National Grid is also partnering with Standard Hydrogen Corporation to develop the nation's first multi-use, renewable hydrogen-based energy storage and delivery system in the N.Y. Capital region Subject to regulatory approval, the system will have the ability to power fuel cell automobiles, shift energy peaking, provide backup power, and blend hydrogen into the gas network from a single system.

National Grid has joined the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) Low Carbon Resources Initiative to focus on large scale deployment of technologies like hydrogen and RNG. National Grid is also part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) HyBlend collaborative research project. (Source: National Grid, PR, Website, 15 Dec., 2021) Contact: National Grid, www.nationalgridus.com; NYSERDA, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov; GTI, 847-768-0500 847-768-0501 -- fax, info@gti.energy, www.gti.energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  Green Hydrogen,  NYSERDA,  Gas Technology Institute,  RNG,  NREL,  

Sembcorp
Date: 2021-12-15
Singapore-headquartered energy company Sembcorp Industries is reporting plans to deploy Europe's largest battery energy storage system at the Wilton International industrial complex on Teesside in northeast England. The 360MW lithium-ion system is expected to supply short-duration storage of around two hours, capable of providing fast-response balancing services to the UK's National Grid transmission system.

According to Sembcorp UK CEO Andy Koss, "Now, more than ever, flexible energy sources play an increasingly important role in maintaining secure and reliable energy supplies. With a growing reliance on renewables, the UK energy system needs to be flexible and able to respond quickly to changes." (Source: Sembcorp Industries, PR Contact: Sembcorp Industries, www.sembcorp.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sembcorp news,  Battery news,  Lithium-Ion news,  Energy STorage news,  

National Grid, CDP
Date: 2021-12-10
London-headquartered National Grid reports has been recognized for tackling climate change leadership in corporate sustainability by the global environmental non-profit CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project. National Grid was recognized for its actions to cut emissions, mitigate climate risks and develop a low-carbon economy, based on the data it reported through CDP's 2021 climate change questionnaire.

In 2020, National Grid pledged to reduce its Scope3 greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions by 37.5 pct by 2034 and to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG by 80 pct by 2030, rising to 90 pct by 2040 and to net-zero by 2050 from a 1990 baseline.

CDP's annual environmental disclosure and scoring process is widely recognized as the gold standard of corporate environmental transparency. In 2021, over 590 investors with over $110 trillion in assets and 200 major purchasers with $5.5 trillion in procurement spend requested companies to disclose data on environmental impacts, risks and opportunities through CDP's platform. A record-breaking 13,000 companies responded.

Download the full list of companies that made this year's CDP A List , along with other publicly available company scores HERE . (Source: National Grid, Website PR, 6 Dec., 2021) Contact: National Grid, Duncan Burt, Chief Sustainability Officer, +44 (0)20 7004 3000, www.nationalgrid.com ; CDP, Paul Simpson, CEO,

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  CDP,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

Siemens
Date: 2021-12-03
Zug, Switzerland-headquartered Siemens, French information technology specialist Atos, and Morocco's National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) report they are collaborating on a smart energy metering platform that will allow ONEE to efficiently process the data collected by more than 100,000 smart meters that will be installed across the country, thus optimizing energy consumption and management of the national grid while meeting Morocco's growing energy needs.

The project is part of Siemens Energy Efficiency program and encompasses the implementation of Siemens' EnergyIP meter data management platform, which enables the automated use of the collected data, raises awareness about energy consumption among end users and generates a more secure revenue stream.

Atos experts will be responsible for IT infrastructure and security tasks and will ensure the consistency of all technical solutions. They will also oversee the contract management and local services and will support the change management process. (Source: Siemens Smart Infrastructure , PR, Dec., 2021) Contact: Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Sabine Erlinghagen, CEO, Digital Grid, Eva-Maria Baumann, +49 (9131) 17-36620, eva-maria.baumann@siemens.com, www. new.siemens.com/global/en/company/topic-areas/smart-infrastructure/smart-cities.html; Atos, www. atos.net/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens news,  Smart Grid news,  Smart Meter news,  Energy Management news,  

Climate Change Ireland
Date: 2021-11-08
In Dublin, the Irish Government is touting its &euro:125 billion Climate Action Plan to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 51 pct by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. To that end the plan calls for:

An increase in renewable energy, including wind and solar, of up to 80 pct by the end of the decade, while a new offshore renewable energy plant will be constructed to tap into the potential of Ireland's maritime area

Development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) to take carbon out of the atmosphere and remove further emissions from the existing system.

The plan allows homeowners to generate residential solar and wind energy and sell excess energy back to the national grid;

The plan calls for energy efficiency retrofits of 500,000 homes by 2030, with a target of up to 56 pct reductions in housing emissions in the next decade to be supported by low-cost loans and tax incentives. The plan also will phase out fossil fuels in new buildings and is promote the use of low-carbon technology in all new and existing commercial buildings;

In the transport sector, which accounts for roughly 20 pct of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions, rail services, cycling infrastructures, and walking infrastructures will be expanded to enable 500,000 daily sustainable journeys by 2030. The plan also calls for the expansion of Ireland's electric bus and rail fleets, with 1,500 electric buses to be introduced by the end of the decade. Biofuels will be increased in Irish transport and the number of electric vehicles in Ireland will be increased to one million by 2030 for a 42-50 pct emissions reduction by 2030;

In the agriculture sector, which is the largest source of Ireland's emissions, government plans to significantly reduce chemical nitrogen fertilizer to 325,000 tpy annum increase organically-farmed land five-fold to 350,000 hectares. The plan also aims to improve animal feeding and breeding in a bid to reduce agriculture-based emissions by up to 30 pct over the next decade;

The plan additionally aims to reduce emissions in the enterprise sector by up to 41 pc tby 2030 and the Government will launch an online Climate Toolkit 4 Businesses which will allow companies to calculate their carbon emissions. The government’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) will seek to attract businesses to invest in decarbonization technologies.

Ireland will also reduce land and forestry emissions by between 37 pct and 58 pct under the plan, while a new forestry program is set to launch in 2023 to increase afforestation. (Source: Irish Central, 7 Nov., 2021)

COP26
Date: 2021-11-05
On Wednesday at COP26 in Edinburgh, 40 countries, major banks and other organizations signed on to the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement and/or joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance agreeing to phase out coal power generation by 2030.

Indonesia, South Korea, Poland, Vietnam and Chile were among the signatories to the agreement while major banks have committed to cease financing coal. This is in addition to China, Japan, Korea and the G20 commitments to stop overseas finance for coal generation by the end of the year and to hasten the deployment of clean power-renewable energy power generation.

ACWA Power, the EDF Group, EDP, Engie, Iberdrola, National Grid, Orsted, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, SSE and others also signed on to the statement. COP26 host country The UK has pledged to phase out coal power completely by 2024 and to achieve a decarbonised power system by 2035.

Statement details and full list are HERE . (Source: COP26, PR, 4 Nov., 2021) Contact: COP26, www.cop26.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News COP26,  Coal,  

China Wind
Date: 2021-05-21
In Beijing, the China General Nuclear Power Corp reports its 54-turbine Daishan No.4 offshore wind farm in Zhejiang Province is now in operation and delivering power to the national grid.

The 234-MW facility is expected to generate 618 million kWh per year -- roughly equivalent to the power generated by burning 170,000 tpy of coal. The facility is also expected to eliminate 470,00 tpy of carbon emissions. (Source: China General Nuclear Power Corp., PR, Xinhua, 18 May, 2021) Contact: China General Nuclear Power Corp., www.en.cgnpc.com.cn

More Low-Carbon Energy News China Offshore Wind,  Wind,  

CPower
Date: 2021-04-26
Baltimore-headquartered energy management specialist CPower reports it has been tapped by Con Edison and National Grid subsidiary Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation to provide of Dynamic Load Management (DLM) to their networks -- peak shaving to reduce businesses' use of electricity during periods of high demand.

Battery storage, charged with power from renewable energy or from the grid at off-peak times of lower demand, can be used to reduce businesses' draw from the grid at peak times and already the ability to use this peak shaving to lower Demand Charges, levied on commercial users of electricity in the US, offers a way to lower electricity costs significantly.

New York State's climate protection policy aims to deploy 1,500MW of energy storage by 2025 and to meet 70 pct of electricity load through clean and renewable sources by 2030 on the path to 100 pct clean electricity by 2045. (Source: CPower, PR, Website, Apr., 2021) Contact: CPower, 844-276-9371, www.cpowerenergymanagement.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CPower,  Energy Management,  Energy Storage,  Fynamic Load Management,  

BayWa r.e.
Date: 2021-04-23
The Pennsylvania-headquartered chocolate maker Hershey Co. reports it is partnering with BayWa r.e. and National Grid Renewables to develop solar projects that will help the company transition its Texas and North Carolina operations to renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprint.

To that end, Hershey has a 15-year PPA with BayWa r.e. that will enable the financing and construction of Hershey's first utility-scale, 20-MW solar farm in Camden, NC. Hershey also has a PPA with National Grid Renewables for 50 MW, 118,000 MWh per year solar project currently under construction in Denton County, Texas.

Combined, the two solar projects are projected to cut Hershey's CO2 footprint by 115,650 tpy and support the company's science-based GHG reduction targets. (Source: Hershey, PR, Baking Business, 21 Apr., 2021) Contact: BayWa r.e. Solar Projects LLC, Jam Attari, CEO, Christine Owens, VP Marketing, www.us.baywa-re.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News BayWa r.e.,  Solar,  

Enso Energy
Date: 2021-04-19
In the UK, Enso Energy, one of the UK's largest renewable energy developers, is reporting plans to construct a 49.9 MW, 250-acre solar farm north of Canterbury.

Subject to regulatory and zoning approvals, the Hoath Solar Farm project would take roughly 7 months to construct and would provide sufficient energy to the national grid for about 10,000 homes. (Source: Enso Energy, PR, Kent OnLine, 18 Apr., 2021) Contact: Enso Energy, +44 01452 764 685, enquiries@ensoenergy.co.uk, www.ensoenergy.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enso Energy,  Solar,  

National Grid
Date: 2021-04-16
"There is a long road ahead to slow climate change, but we are optimistic. We support the Biden Administration in their dedication to tackling climate and now we need to raise the bar. We urge the U.S. to adopt the ambitious target of cutting GHG emissions by at least 50 pct below 2005 levels by 2030. We care deeply about the future of this planet and the well-being of the millions of people we serve." -- Badar Khan, President, Badar Khan, President, National Grid, US, Apr., 2021) Contact: National Grid US, Badar Khan, President, www.nationalgrid.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  Climate Change,  

We Mean Business Cooalition
Date: 2021-04-16
On Tuesday, in an open letter organized by the We Mean Business coalition to President Biden, 310 businesses and investors with a footprint in the U.S. signed their support for the Biden administration's commitment to climate action and for setting a federal climate target to reduce emissions.

An excerpt from the letter states, "To restore the standing of the U.S. as a global leader, we need to address the climate crisis at the pace and scale it demands. Specifically, the U.S. must adopt an emissions reduction target that will place the country on a credible pathway to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. We, therefore, call on you to adopt the ambitious and attainable target of cutting GHG emissions by at least 50 pct below 2005 levels by 2030."

The letter demonstrates the U.S. business and investor communities' strong support for a highly ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target, or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) pursuant to the Paris Agreement, in pursuit of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Latest climate modeling shows that at least halving emissions by 2030 is achievable, and provides strong economic benefits. The Biden administration is expected to announce its NDC prior to the Leaders Summit on Climate.

Business signatories of the letter collectively represent over $3 trillion in annual revenue and employ nearly 6 million U.S. workers across all 50 states. They range in size from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large multinational corporations, and represent a number of industries. Investor signatories collectively represent more than $1 trillion in assets under management and include CalSTRS, the New York State Comptroller, the New York City Comptroller and the California State Controller's Office, among others.

"The U.S. business community is committed to doing its part to reduce emissions because it is good for the economy and helps us build back better. Companies want to work with the Biden administration toward a better future for all," said Maria Mendiluce, CEO of the We Mean Business coalition. "I applaud businesses and investors for raising their voices in support of at least halving U.S. emissions by 2030. This is what the climate crisis requires, and will strengthen the country's competitiveness and create more good jobs"

"A strong national emissions reduction target is just what we need to catalyze a net-zero emissions future and build back a more equitable and inclusive economy," said Anne Kelly, vice president of government relations at Ceres. "Businesses of all sizes recognize that reducing emissions is vital to keeping the U.S. competitive, and protecting the health and well-being of people and the planet. By setting a strong target, the Biden administration can ensure the U.S. is ready to return to its role as a global climate leader and spur further action from the private sector."

We Mean Business is a global coalition of nonprofit organizations working with the world's most influential businesses to take action on climate change. The coalition brings together seven organizations: BSR, CDP, Ceres, The B Team, The Climate Group, The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Together we catalyze business action to drive policy ambition and accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy.

Business signatories to the letter include Apple; Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.; BT Americas; Boston Consulting Group; Burton; Coca-Cola; Danone North America; DSM North America; Edison International; Facebook; GAP Inc.; General Electric; Google; H&M; Hewlett Packard Enterprise; HP Inc.; IKEA Retail U.S.; Johnson & Johnson; Kellogg Company; LafargeHolcim; Levi Strauss & Co.; Lyft, Inc.; MARS; Mastercard; McDonald's Corporation; Microsoft; National Grid; New Belgium Brewing; Nestle; Nike; Novozymes North America; Orsted North America; Ralph Lauren Corp.; Schneider Electric; Siemens; Solvay; Starbucks; Tiffany & Co; Unilever; Verizon; VF Corporation; and Walmart, among others. (Source: We Mean Business Coalition, PR, Apr., 2021) Contact: We Mean Business Coalition, Maria Mendiluce, CEO, Kristen King, 904-608-1745, kristen@wemeanbusinesscoalition.org, www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  

NYPA
Date: 2021-03-22
In the Empire State, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Town of Tonawanda and the City of Tonawanda have partnered for the installation energy-efficient LED streetlights throughout the municipalities under the state's Smart Street Lighting NY program that calls for at least 500,000 streetlights throughout the state to be replaced with LED technology by 2025.

The installation of more than 7,600 LED streetlights in Tonawanda is expected to begin this month for completion before the year end. The $7.5 million project will be implemented by NYPA. The town is financing the lighting installation and the more than $12 million purchase of the lights from National Grid through a municipal bond. (Source: NYPA, Niagara Gazette, 22 Mar., 2021) Contact: NYPA, Gil Quiniones, Pres., CEO, www.nypa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NYPA,  LED Light,  LED Streetlight,  

Mass Saves, Eversource, National Grd
Date: 2021-02-19
In the Bay State, Mass Save® program sponsors Eversource and National Grid are reporting the communities of Framingham, Andover, Cambridge, Chelsea, Haverhill, Lawrence, Marshfield, Methuen and Westborough have been selected to participate in the 2021 Municipal Partnership and will benefit from funding and support to implement energy efficiency outreach in their communities.

The Municipal Partnership provides grants of up to $25,000 to Massachusetts municipalities that meet the partnership's goals for implementing energy efficiency outreach in their residential and small business communities and achieve exceptional energy savings by completing energy assessments and the installation of energy upgrades. These incentives are in addition to energy efficiency incentives already available to residents.

The MassSave® program, which is open to homeowners and renters, includes a no-cost energy audit and report that makes it easy to improve a home's energy efficiency. Mass Save will also install energy-saving products such as ENERGY STAR LED light bulbs; advanced power strips; low-flow showerheads; faucet aerators; and programmable thermostats or discounted wireless thermostats, all at no cost to home owners and renters. Program participants may also qualify for additional offers, rebates, and incentives for insulation, energy efficient HVAC and others based on the Home Energy Assessment report and household income levels. Mass Save is a collaborative of Massachusetts' natural gas and electric utilities and energy efficiency service providers including Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid and Unitil. (Source: Mass Save, City of Framingham, PR, 17 Feb., 2021) Contact: Mass Save, www.masssave.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News MassSave,  Eversource,  National Grid,  Energy Efficiency,  

Social Energy
Date: 2021-01-29
U.K.-based residential energy aggregator Social Energy reports it is planning an international expansion after receipt of "a significant investment" from Minneapolis-based alternative investment manager CarVal Investors.

Social Energy offers low-cost energy to residential customers and sells solar and Duracell home battery systems then aggregates their output using an artificial intelligence-based metering system called the Social Energy Hub. Social Energy uses the aggregated capacity to offer services such as demand response and frequency response to U.K. electricity system operator National Grid ESO, and flexibility services to distribution system operators such as U.K. Power Networks.

About 70 pct of the revenue from these services is split between Social Energy's customers, allowing the energy company to offer a faster payback than residential solar and battery owners would receive with a standard self-consumption model.

In the U.K., Social Energy claims it can help residential customers save an average of £226 ($310) per year and has 6,300 U.K. customers, according to the company. (Source: Social Energy, PR, Jan., 2021) Contact: Social Energy, www.social.energy; CarVal Investors, www.carvalinvestors.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Social Energy ,  Solar,  Battery,  Energy Storage,  

NOCO
Date: 2021-01-20
Tonawanda, NY-based diversified energy company NOCO is reporting a master agreement with developers to purchase the solar credits from approximately 15 community solar array installations generating roughly 60 million kWh per year across the National Grid and NYSEG service territories.

The $120 million contractis in keeping with the company's goal to offset 40 pct of its electric portfolio with solar purchases by its residential and commercial customers by 2024.

NOCO is a full-service energy company serving homes and businesses throughout Western and Central New York State since 1933. NOCO's products and services include renewable energy and clean air solutions, bio-products, natural gas, electric, propane, heating oil, commercial fuels, HVAC, used oil and fluid waste recycling.(Source: NOCO, PR, Website, Jan., 2021) Contact: NOCO, James Dentinger, Pres., 800-662-6776, www.noco.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Community Solar,  

Gas Technology Institute,EPRI, National Grid
Date: 2021-01-18
National Grid US has joined the Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI), a five-year initiative to develop and demonstrate key clean energy technologies and decarbonisation solutions. These include bioenergy, renewable natural gas (RNG), and clean hydrogen. LCRI is jointly led by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Gas Technology Institute (GTI).

Joining LGRI is in keeping with National Grid's effort to advance the potential of clean hydrogen, hydrogen R&D and hydrogen fuel blending as part of its Net-Zero by 2050 Plan. (Source: National Grid, PR, EPRI Website, 15 Jan., 2021) Contact: EPRI Low-Carbon Resources Initiative, 650-855-2121, www.epri.com/lcri; Gas Technology Institute, 847-768-0500 847-768-0501 - fax, info@gti.energy, www.gti.energy; National Grid US, Dean Seavers, Pres., www.nationalgridus.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Gas Technology Institute,  EPRI,  National Grid US,  Hydrogen,  Bioenergy,  

ACEEE
Date: 2021-01-08
According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Rhode Island ranks fourth in the nation as a leader in cost-effective energy efficiency programs, incentives, and energy efficiency investments that help residents and businesses use less energy to provide the same output. In doing so, these investments reduce energy consumption and costs as well as shrink the state's carbon footprint and create jobs throughout the green economy.

According to the press release, Rhode Island has set aggressive energy savings targets for electric and gas utilities' programs that help residential and commercial customers save energy as part of its energy efficiency resource standard. The State government is also adopting cost-saving efficiency measures that are reducing energy demands and operating costs and has also entered into an innovative Strategic Energy Management Plan (SEMP) with National Grid that is actively supporting the deployment of cost-effective efficiency investments across public sector facilities. (Source: State of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families, PR, 8 Jan., 2021) Contact: State of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families, www.dcyf.ri.gov; ACEEE, www.aceee.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News ACEEE,  Energy Efficiency,  

GE Renewable Energy
Date: 2020-12-30
GE Renewable Energy is reporting receipt of contract to supply eight units of its 3MW-137 wind turbines for the Phuoc Minh wind farm in Ninh Thuan region, Vietnam. of the country.

. A consortium of PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corporation, Henste Engineering and IPC Group will provide full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the project which is expected to generate more than 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year to the national grid when fully operational in Q3, 2021. (Source: GE Renewable Energy, PR, renews.biz, 29 Dec., 2020)Contact: GE Renewable Energy, Onshore Wind South Asia, Gilan Sabatier, www.ge.com/renewableenergy

More Low-Carbon Energy News GE Renewable Energy,  Vietnam Wind,  

National Grid
Date: 2020-12-30
In the Empire State, National Grid is reporting the recent conversion of 2,300 roadway lights with the City of Lackawanna as part of its Streetlight Conversion Program. These new company-owned energy efficient LED streetlights will save on energy and maintenance costs to the City as well as improve visibility.

In total, the National Grid new LED Streetlight Conversion Program has saved upstate New York municipalities more than 18,000 MWh, or the equivalent of average energy consumed annually by approximately 1,660 U.S. homes. Additionally, National Grid has returned over $2 million in energy efficiency incentives to qualified municipalities that participated in the Streetlight Conversion program.

Since initially launching its LED Streetlight Conversion Program in 2017, National Grid has converted 40,000 traditional high-pressure sodium streetlight fixtures to LED.

Download the National Grid Streetlight Conversion Program details HERE. (Source: National Grid, PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: National Grid, National Grid, www.nationalgridus.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  LED Light,  LED Streetlight,  

Ofgem, Hydrogen
Date: 2020-12-02
In Scotland, 300 homes in Fife are slated to become the first in the world to use 100 pct green hydrogen to heat their properties as part of a 4-year trial that could help households across the country replace fossil fuel gas.

The test aims to determine whether zero carbon hydrogen, made using renewable energy and water, could help the UK meet its fossil fuels reduction and climate goals.

UK energy regulator Ofgem, has awarded £18 million to support the project and the Scottish government is adding £6.9 million in grant funding. Ofgem is also supporting a £12.7 million project from National Grid for "offline" hydrogen trials, using old gas grid pipes, to test the safety of transporting hydrogen. (Source: Ofgem, Guardian, 30 Nov., 2020) Contact: Ofgem, Jonathan Brearley, CEO, +44 0207 901 7225, www.ofgem.gov.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ofgem,  Green Hydrogen,  

Gresham House
Date: 2020-11-30
In the UK, Gresham House Energy Storage Fund is reporting completion of its investment in the 50MW battery project located near Wickham Market, Suffolk.

Wickham is a battery-only site with c.50MW/40MW export/import capacity, and 74MWh storage capacity. It is connected to the distribution network and expected to generate its revenues from trading whereby it imports and exports power in order to earn income from the wholesale market, and from National Grid's FFR tenders and Balancing Mechanism.

The project, which was acquired from Gresham House Devco Limited and Noriker Power Ltd., increases the total capacity of the 12 operational utility-scale battery storage projects in the portfolio to 315MW. (Source: Gresham House, PR, 30 Nov., 2020) Contact: Gresham House Energy Storage Fund, www.greshamhouse.com; Noriker Power Ltd., www.noriker.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  Battery Energy Storage,  

Still Waters Green Technology
Date: 2020-11-27
In the UK, London-headquartered independent battery energy storage system (BESS) asset manager Still Waters Green Technology (SWGT) has announced the £12 million non-recourse Phase One Financial Close with Santander (Bank) UK, of a 30MW utility-scale, subsidy-free BESS asset in Swindon.

It is the first project finance funding structure that has adopted a multi debt tranche approach to the tiered risk profile of the BESS revenue model.

This project supports the growth of renewable energy sources by providing up to 65GWh of annual import and export capacity to the National Grid during its Phase One development -- critical to meeting the UK's carbon emission reduction target and Net-Zero ambition. (Source: Still Waters Green Technology, PR, Website, Business Leader, 26 Nov., 2020) Contact: Still Waters Green Technology, Olivia He, CEO, +44 (0) 207 519 6865, info@swgt.co.uk, www.swgt.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  Renewable Energy,  

Red Rock Powe,ESBr
Date: 2020-11-11
Edinburgh-based Red Rock Power Limited is reporting a 50:50 joint venture with ESB, the leading Irish energy group, for Inch Cape Offshore Limited and its offshore wind farm development The 72-turbine Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm will be one of Scotland's largest single sources of renewable energy projects and power up to 1 million homes when connected into the national grid at Cockenzie in East Lothian.

The project recently received approval to increase its capacity to up to one gigawatt having already secured both onshore and offshore consents in 2019. (Source: Red Rock Power Lyd, Website Press Release, 9 Nov., 2020) Contact: Red Rock Power, Guy Madgwick, CEO, +44 (0) 131 557 7101, www.redrockpower.co.uk; Inch Cape Wind, +44 (0) 131 557 7101, www.inchcapewind.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Inch Cape Wind,  Red Rock Power,  Wind,  Offshore Wind,  ESB,  

Glenn Falls
Date: 2020-11-09
In the Empire state, the city of Glen Falls reports it will replace its current leased streetlights with energy-efficient LED lighting, beginning next year. The $2.6 million project will be paid for over a 15-year period with the savings generated by the new lights.

To complete the conversion, the city recently secured a $2.6 million low-interest loan through the state's Power Authority, which will also carry out the work beginning sometime in January. The project is expected to take around three months to complete. The loan also comes with a separate $225,000 grant, which the city is currently deciding how to spend.

The currently leases its 1,500 streetlights through National Grid for around $140,000 a year. (Source: City of Glenn Falls, 7 Nov., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News LED Streetlight,  Energy Efficiency,  

BP, Eni, Equinor, Shell,Total
Date: 2020-10-28
International energy giants BP, Eni, Equinor, Shell and Total and National Grid are reporting their formation of the Northern Endurance Partnership, a joint alliance, and the submission of a £75 million bid for government funding from the second round of the UK's £170 million Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge for a project that will shuttle carbon emissions captured from the Teesside and Humber industrial hubs to a porus rock aquifer beneath the seabed for permanent sequestration. The partnership claims Endurance could potentially cut the UK's emissions in half.

The planned offshore pipeline network is key to the success of two major industrial decarbonisation projects being plotted on the UK's east coast -- Zero Carbon Humber and Net Zero Teesside -- aimed at capturing CO2 from local industry and then either finding other industrial uses for the CO2 or storing it under the North Sea. Both projects, Zero Carbon Humber and Net Zero Teesside, plan to capture and transport 17 million and 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions respectively every year, with commissioning in both cases earmarked for 2026. (Source: BP, UK Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, Business Green, 27 Oct., 2020) Contact: UK Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, www.idric.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  BP,  Eni,  Equinor,  Shell,  Total,  UK Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge ,  

Zero Carbon Humber
Date: 2020-10-23
In the UK, Zero Carbon Humber has sent an open letter to energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng, calling on the government to back a major funding bid. This follows on from the 12 organisations behind the project submitting a bid to the second phase of the government's Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund for £75 million of funding.

The Zero Carbon Humber letter argues that if the bid was successful it would help unlock a potentially multi-billion pound project, reduce the UK's annual emissions by 15 pct and help the UK meet its international legally binding climate target.

The Zero Carbon Humber partnership, which was first announced in May 2019, members include: Drax, National Grid Ventures , Equinor, international trade bodies, business and investment groups, local authorities , academic institutions and others.

According to Zero Carbon Humber's website, "Industrial powerhouses like the Yorkshire and the Humber region are an essential and valued part of the UK's economy but produce high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions: the Humber is the most carbon intensive industrial cluster in the country, emitting 12.4 million tpy. Developing carbon capture usage and storage (CCS or CCUS) technology and hydrogen (H2) starting in Yorkshire and the Humber would preserve jobs by enabling energy intensive industries to continue to operate and thrive even against a backdrop of ever tighter emissions targets linked to the UK's carbon budgets. Without CCUS, the Humber will face perhaps insurmountable challenges. By drawing on the existing skills and infrastructure in it and the wider region, the Humber can become the base for the UK's first zero carbon industrial cluster, helping to create a cleaner environment for future generations whilst delivering new jobs and export opportunities for British businesses." 2021. (Source: Zero Carbon Humber, Current News, 23 Oct., 2020) Contact: Zero Carbon Humber, www.zerocarbonhumber.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  UK Carbon Emissions,  

DNV GL,National Grid ESO
Date: 2020-10-19
DNV GL, the world's largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has been appointed by National Grid ESO as a lead partner in the Offshore Wind Coordination project in Great Britain.

The project will analyze a coordinated approach for offshore grid development and shape the future national strategy of Great Britain's offshore grid through feeding into the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy's (UKBESS) Offshore transmission network review. The UK regulator OFGEM is also participating in the project.

The project will review and recommend ways to improve how offshore wind farms are connected to the onshore transmission network. To that end, DNV GL will assess: technology availability (HVDC equipment); analyze technical and regulatory barriers and solutions; study implications on power system security and stability; develop offshore and onshore grid designs and; conduct societal cost-benefit analysis of the offshore grid.

As offshore infrastructure is anticipated to be shared among multiple projects, it is projected that a harmonized development approach will result in optimal utilization of infrastructure, higher integration of offshore wind energy, reduction of carbon emissions and consumer bills, and provision of operational benefits to the onshore grid. Offshore wind continues to be a key electricity source for the UK government and supports its commitment for the country to be net zero by 2050. (Source: DNV GL. National Grid ESO, Oct., 2020) Contact: DNV GL, www.dnvgl.com; National Grid ESO, www.natopnalgrideso.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News OFGEM,  DNV GL,  Offshore Wind,  National Grid ESO ,  

hode Island Office of Energy Resources
Date: 2020-10-12
In Providence, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) is reporting the launch of a new $1.5 million incentives pilot program for residential and commercial energy storage paired with renewable energy systems. Storage projects must also meet the technical requirements of National Grid's demand response program, called ConnectedSolutions, with the aim of ensuring all systems have the capabilities to participate in demand reductions during peak events and help reduce energy costs for Rhode Island electric customers.

The incentive program is being made available through Rhode Island Commerce's Renewable Energy Fund and supported thanks to the state's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Incentives will be made available in four rounds between September 2020 and May 2021.

Download program details HERE. (Source: RI Office of Energy Resources, PR, Contact: RI Office of Energy Resources, www.energy.ri.gov; Rhode Island Climate Change Program, www.climatechange.ri.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources ,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Storage,  RGGI,  

Omni Navitas Renewables
Date: 2020-09-11
In the Pine Tree State, the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) reports it is considering Boston-headquartered Omni Navitas Renewables LLC application to construct three 5-MW solar installations in the town of Otto and two installations in Machias.

The five solar facilities will cost roughly $8.5 million and $8.8 million each to construct for an estimated $43 million total. Power from the facilities would be purchased by National Grid. (Source: Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency , Olean Times Herald, 10 Sept., 2020) Contact: IDA, Corey Wiktor, Exec. Dir., 716-699-2005, www.cattcoida.com; Omni Navitas Renewables LLC, 844-966-7652, www.omni-navitas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Omni Navitas Renewables,  Solar,  

Apple
Date: 2020-09-04
Apple reports it is investing in the world's largest onshore wind turbines as part of its commitment to becoming 100 pct carbon neutral by 2030.

The wind turbines, which will be located near the Danish town of Esbjerg and will power an Apple data center in the town of Viborg, are expected to generate 62 gigawatt hours per year -- sufficient to power almost 20,000 homes with the excess power feeding into the Danish national grid. (Source: Apple, PR, 9TO5MAC, 3 Sept., 2020)Contact: Apple, www.apple.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Apple,  Onshore Wind,  Apple Data Center,  

National Grid ESO
Date: 2020-07-29
According to a new research report from London-headquartered National Grid ESO, carbon emission from the UK's electricity systems could turn negative as early as 2033 and reach zero carbon emissions by 2050 or earlier with "immediate action across all key policy areas and technologies" -- fundamental changes for energy consumers, particularly in heating, transportation, and energy efficiency.

National Grid expects a significant boom in renewable energy projects, an extensive rollout of electric vehicles, significant transformation and reductions in consumer energy consumption, and better energy efficiency. The report also notes the on-going Covid-19 pandemic will have an impact on the energy landscape in the future. (Source: National Grid ESO, PR, July, 2020) Contact: National Grid ESO, Mark Herring, Head of Strategy, +44 (0) 1926 65 3000, www.nationalgrideso.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid ESO,  Carbon Emissions,  UK Carbon Emissions,  

Rye Development,National Grid
Date: 2020-07-06
In Oregon, Boston-based Rye Development and Portland-based National Grid are reporting their $740 million Swan Lake Energy Storage closed-loop pumped-hydro energy storage project is moving forward with a 15-year property tax break recently approved by Klamath County Commissioners in mid-June.

The 394-watt project, once constructed, will span a total 300 acres and include two 65-acre reservoirs, to be located about 11 miles northeast of Klamath Falls. Construction is slated to get underway in December 2021 and anticipated to be finished in 2025, according to developers. (Source: Rye Development, Herald & News, 5 July, 2020) Contact: National Grid Ventures , Nate Sandvig, Dir. U.S. Strategic Growth , www.nationalgrid.com; Rye Development, www.ryedevelopment.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rye Development,  Energy Storage,  Pumped Hydro,  National Grid,  

Utica
Date: 2020-07-01
In the Empire State, the city of Utica reports preparation work is underway on a $11.2 million project to purchase 7,500 streetlights, brackets and poles from National Grid and replace the existing streetlights with energy efficient LED units.

The LED upgrade will also allow localized dimming options, security cameras and outage reporting. The takeover and upgrade to LEDs is expected the save the city $80,000 per month in energy costs. The project was originally slated for March but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: City of Utica, Utica Observer-Dispatch, 29 June, 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficient Streetlight news,  LED news,  

UK National Grid
Date: 2020-06-15
In the UK, National Grid is reporting Britain has completed two months without burning coal to generate electricity. The last time coal was burned at any of Britain's four coal-fired power stations was April 10, 2020, according to the National Grid, the utility company.

The UK government has pledged to close all coal-powered energy generation sites by 2024. (Source: National Grid, UK Business Insider, 12 June, 2020) Contact: UK National Grid, www.nationalgrid.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Coal news,  UK National Grid news,  

Asian Development Bank
Date: 2020-06-12
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reports the inking of a $17.7 million financing package with Spectra Solar Park Limited (SSPL) for a 35-MW solar PV plant in Bangladesh. The solar park is one of the first private sector solar plants in Bangladesh to be financed by multilateral institutions.

When fully on line, the plant will generate more than 50 GWh per year of electricity for the national grid and avoid 33,200 metric tpy of carbon dioxide emissions. The project aligns with the Government of Bangladesh's aim to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels through renewable energy under Bangladesh Vision 2021. (Source: ADB, Dhaka Tribune, 10 June, 2020) Contact: Asia Development Bank, Takehiko Nakao, Pres. +63 2 632 4444, www.adb.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Asian Development Bank,  Solar,  PV,  

National Grid,UNFCCC
Date: 2020-06-10
National Grid reports it is supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) global "Race to Zero Campaign" and has to date cut its emission by 70 pct over 1990 levels.

To future meet its goals, National Grid is also: reducing SF6 emissions used in electrical equipment and swapping for alternatives; increasing energy efficiency; moving to renewable energy sources; researching the potential of hydrogen and renewable natural gas; and promoting similar actions among its supply chain and communities, targeting indirect emissions in particular.

In the US, National Grid it is working with customers to improve energy efficiency, investing in future energy systems through National Grid Partners, and supporting both solar and wind developments through Geronimo Energy. (Source: National Grid, PR, Energy Insider, 9 June, 2020) Contact: National Grid, John Pettigrew, CEO, www2.nationalgrid.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Grid,  Carbon Emission,  UNFCCC,  

Ofgem, Energy Networks Association
Date: 2020-05-29
In the UK, Britain's five gas networks -- Cadent, National Grid, NGN, SGN, and Wales & West Utilities have outlined a "Zero Carbon Commitment" and plan to spend £904 million on zero-carbon energy infrastructure and hydrogen deployment across the UK, subject to Ofgem funding approval which is expected in July.

If approved, the spending would focus on projects across Britain between 2021 and 2026, under the RIIO-2 price control. The gas networks claim that spending could help the UK use "blue hydrogen" developed from carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, and "green hydrogen" from renewable electricity -- with the latter becoming cost-competitive by 2030.

Under the plan, £446 million would be spent on a new network infrastructure for the industrial use of hydrogen, including £391 million for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects in the north-west of England, Aberdeenshire and the Isle of Grain. A further £264 million would be spent on projects to expand the capacity of local gas networks by connecting hydrogen and bio-methane generation projects and transport refueling stations. £150 million would be used to run large-scale trials for domestic use of hydrogen heating, cooking and transportation and how these are connected to the gas grid. £43 million would be spent to research blending more zero-carbon hydrogen with the natural gas currently used in the UK's gas networks.

According to the Energy Networks Association (ENA), £182 billion could be invested to make hydrogen cost-competitive with the current natural gas-based system and would reduce energy system costs to the UK public by £189 billion by 2050. (Source: ENA, edie, 28 May. 2020) Contact: Energy Networks Association, www.energynetworks.org; OFGEM, Chris Lock, +44 0207 901 7225, www.ofgem.gov.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Blue Carbon,  Ofgem,  Net-Zero Emissions,  

First Solar,Geronimo Energy
Date: 2020-05-08
Tempe, Arizona-headquartered thin-film solar module maker First Solar Inc. is reporting a framework supply agreement with Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Geronimo Energy, a National Grid company, for 415 MW of its high-performance, eco-efficient Series 6 photovoltaic (PV) modules for delivery in 2022. 2022.

Geronimo Energy has more then 2.4 GW of wind and solar operational or under construction, and a multi-gigawatt development pipeline.

First Solar recently expanded its manufacturing capacity to meet the demand for Series 6 modules, starting production at its new module manufacturing facility in Lake Township, Ohio, in October 2019, making First Solat the largest solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere. (Source: First Solar, May, 2020) Contact: Geronimo Energy, Ben Adamich, (952) 988-9000, info@geronimoenergy.com, www.geronimoenergy.com; First Solar, Kathryn Arbeit, VP, Project Dev., David Brady, Inv. Rel., (602) 414-9315, dbrady@firstsolar.com, www.firstsolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News First Solar,  Solar,  Geronimo Energy ,  

Aura Green Energy, WWB Corp
Date: 2020-04-29
Japan's Aura Green Energy Co. is reporting a 50-50 joint venture with solar panel system provider WWB Corp. for the construction of a rice husk fueled power generation plant that incorporates solar panels near Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The biomass-solar hybrid power plant is expected to launch in 2021.

The ¥400 million ($3.7 million) project will have a total of 1,500 kilowatts. Any surplus power is to be sold to the national grid or a local power company as an IPP. The project is partly subsidized by the Japanese government, at about ¥110 million under the Joint Crediting Mechanism, a greenhouse gas emission reduction plan to exchange reduced carbon dioxide emissions. (Source: Aura Green Energy, Khmer Times, Mainichi News, 28 April, 2020) Contact: WWB Corp., +81 3 64332789, www.enfsolar.com/directory/panel/48599/wwb; Aura Green Energy, +81 17-752-0682, www.gec.jp

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aura Green Energy,  Solar,  WWB Corp,  

ACEEE
Date: 2020-02-24
According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) just released 2020 Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard, the 52 largest U.S. electric utilities have dramatically increased their overall energy savings as they adopt innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Utilities leading the way are National Grid Massachusetts and Eversource Massachusetts, which tied for first place for the second time, followed by San Diego Gas & Electric, Commonwealth Edison in Illinois, Baltimore Gas and Electric and Pacific Gas & Electric, in that order. Rounding out the top 10 are the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), DTE in Michigan, Portland General Electric, and Eversource CT in that order.

The scorecard notes that, as a group, the utilities boosted their annual energy savings by 20 pct since 2015, saving almost 20 TWh of electricity in 2018 from programs administered that year -- enough to power 1.8 million homes.

The report highlights the ways in which the utility landscape has transformed since 2015, the baseline for the 2017 scorecard. New technologies are emerging -- states, utilities, and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the important role of energy efficiency with more than 900 different efficiency programs in 2018, about 300 more than in 2015. Additionally, 32 utilities piloted new programs that involve smart thermostats, online marketplaces for energy-saving products, commercial energy efficiency financing, and integration of efficiency with other DERs such as demand response and storage.

While overall energy savings increased, this upward trend was not universal, and seven utilities saw their energy savings decrease by more than 20 pct since 2015.

The scorecard also found that, while there is increased focus on changing utility business models nationally, utilities are generally slow to change these models and are often reluctant to give customers access to energy usage data.

The scorecard, which received no utility funding, increases the availability of utility-sector energy efficiency data to enable benchmarking and help utilities strengthen their programs. ACEEE focuses on the 52 largest electric utilities by retail sales volume, including all 51 utilities from its 2017 Scorecard, plus Tampa Electric.

Download the 2020 Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard at www.aceee.org/utility-scorecard. (Source: ACEEE, 21 Feb., 2020) Contact: ACEEE, Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., www.aceee.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News ACEEE,  Energy Efficiency,  

IRENA
Date: 2020-01-27
IRENA is reporting the Kingdom of Jordan's investments in the renewable energy sector have reached more than $5 billion, placing the country of 10.4 million inhabitants among leading countries in providing a legislative environment and attracting investment in the sector.

According to the report, "2014 witnessed the kingdom's serious development of the solar and wind energy projects supplying clean energy to the national grid with a total capacity of approximately 1,500 megawatts, which account for some 20 pct of total electricity generated." (Source: IRENA, Jordan Weekly, 26 Jan., 2020) Contact: IRENA, www.irena.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News IRENA,  Jordan,  Renewable Energy,  

SSE Renewables
Date: 2020-01-20
SSE Renewables is reporting construction is underway on the world's largest offshore wind farm -- Dogger Bank Wind Farms -- a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor -- near the coastal village of Ulrome, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Dogger Bank Wind Farms is comprised of three offshore wind farm sites in the North Sea, totaling 3.6 GW -- Creyke Beck A (1.2GW), Creyke Beck B (1.2GW) and Teesside A (1.2GW). The three wind farms will make use of the world's most powerful turbine, GE's Haliade-X, and will be capable of generating sufficient power for over 4.5 million homes each year.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering, one of the UK's leading civil engineering contractors, headquartered in Ruthin, North Wales, has been awarded the contract to install the onshore cable infrastructure for the Creyke Beck A and Creyke Beck B sites. The onshore infrastructure includes the installation of approximately 20 miles of electrical cables that will connect to the existing National Grid substation at Creyke Beck, Cottingham. The works will also involve completing bulk earthworks at the onshore HVDC convertor station locations in East Riding. (Source: SSE Renewables, PR, 17 Jan., 2020) Contact: SSE Plc, www.sse.co.uk; Equinor, Eldar Saetre, CEO, Pal Eitrheim, VP New Energy Solutions, www.equinor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News SSE Renewables,  Equinor,  Offshore Wind,