Urban Renewables
Date: 2022-01-12
Urban Renewables, a Singapore-based investment firm focusing on sustainable energy solutions in urban areas, reports it has reached the 10MW milestone for its solar PV rooftop portfolio within nine months of its first project with NS BlueScope Lysaght for its manufacturing plant in Singapore in March 2021.

The company has also signed 20 PPAs and partnerships with NS BlueScope Lysaght, Geneco and REC Solar to advance solar rooftop installations in Singapore and aims to own and operate 100MW of solar PV rooftop installations by the end of 2025. (Source: Urban Renewables, Website, PR, Jan., 2021) Contact: Urban Renewables, Edgare Kerkwijk, MD, +65 6679 6068, info@urban-renewables.com, www.urban-renewables.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Urban Renewables ,  Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  

Urban Renewables
Date: 2022-01-10
Urban Renewables, a Singapore-based investment firm focusing on sustainable energy solutions in urban areas, reports its Singapore plant has reached the 10MW milestone for its solar PV rooftop portfolio within nine months of its first project with NS BlueScope Lysaght in March 2021.

The company has also signed 20 PPAs and partnerships with NS BlueScope Lysaght, Geneco and REC Solar to advance solar rooftop installations in Singapore and aims to own and operate 100MW of solar PV rooftop installations by the end of 2025. (Source: Urban Renewables, Website, PR, Jan., 2021) Contact: Urban Renewables, Edgare Kerkwijk, MD, +65 6679 6068, info@urban-renewables.com, www.urban-renewables.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Urban Renewables,  Rooftop Solar,  

California Public Utilities Commission
Date: 2021-12-15
In Sacramento, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is reported to have proposed changes to the state's 1995 vintage net metering program.The proposed changes would reduce the discounts homeowners with rooftop solar and storage systems get on their electric bills when they sell extra energy back to the grid.

The state's power companies contend the savings solar customers get from the current incentives are so high that they are no longer paying their fair share for the operation of the overall energy grid. On the other hand, the solar industry counters that the changes will make it harder for the state to achieve its target of generating 100 pct of retail electricity from renewable or zero-carbon sources by 2045.

The Golden State presently has roughly 1.3 million residential solar systems -- a growing number since 2020 legislation requiring all new construction to have solar panels. Regulators also propose creating a $600 million fund to help low income households afford solar and storage. A five-member commission will vote on the final PUC reform proposal, likely in January. (Source: (Source: California Public Utilities Commission, Website Release, Titusville Herald News, AP, 13 Dec., 2021) Contact: California Public Utilities Commission, www.cpuc.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News California Public Utilities Commission,  Solar Incentive,  Rooftop Solar,  Solar+Storage ,  

Standard Solar
Date: 2021-12-15
Rockville, Maryland-headquartered solar energy specialist Standard Solar Inc. is reporting the completion of seven rooftop solar arrays totaling 3.3 MW for Isle of Wight County Schools in the Old Dominion State. Combined, the 7 arrays arrays are projected to produce an estimated 4,252-MWh of clean energy each year while offsetting carbon emissions equivalent to 7.6 million miles driven by an average car.

The arrays, on the rooftops of Carrollton Elementary School, Carrsville Elementary School, GD Tyler Middle School, Smithfield Main, Windsor Elementary School and Windsor High School, make Isle of Wight County Schools among the first in the area to transition to renewable energy. According to a report by Generation180, 89 Virginia schools had installed solar as of the close of 2019. Standard Solar owns and operates more than 225 MW of solar across the U.S.. (Source: Standard Solar, Website PR, Dec., 2021) Contact: Standard Solar, John Finnerty, Director of Project Development, 240-479-1519, john.finnerty@standardsolar.com, www.standardsolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Standard Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2021-12-03
In Honolulu, Hawaiian Electric is reporting more than 1,004 MW of solar capacity has been integrated into Hawaiian Electric grids as of September 2021. This includes 828MW of customer-sited rooftop solar and 176 MW of grid-scale systems owned by independent power producers or the company.

This represents the cumulative capacity of 91,400 systems, nearly 95 pct of them on private homes. While Hawaiian Electric continues to seek grid-scale projects, customer-sited systems are the largest source of renewable generation by far and the biggest opportunity for growth with the utility promoting an additional 50,000 residential and business rooftop solar / solar+storage installations by 2030.

Of the 1,000+MW, the Island of Oahu accounts for 752 MW from 62,300 systems, Hawaii Island has 115 MW with nearly 15,000 systems while Maui County has added 137 MW with 14,500 systems.

Hawaiian Electric is committed to cut carbon emissions from power generation 70 pct from 2005 levels by 2030. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, Dec., 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hawaiian Electric,  Solar,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-11-12
In Washington, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports it has upgraded one million American homes with energy efficiency improvements through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program. Since 2001, the program has helped American homeowners and renters save $7.7 billion on their energy bills and cut carbon emissions equivalent to a year's worth of 11 coal-fired power plants.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® is a national home improvement program administered by the DOE in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the energy efficiency of single-family and low-rise multifamily homes. It connects homeowners with a network of over 1,300 home performance contractors and utility and nonprofit energy efficiency program administrators to make upgrades that save energy and improve the comfort, health, and safety of their homes. Together with its Weatherization Assistance Program, DOE has serviced almost eight million U.S. homes with the same home energy improvements that the transformative investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the Build Back Better agenda will accelerate.

Sponsors and their networks of contractors follow a proven "whole-house" approach set by DOE guidelines to assess and improve home energy use with the most comprehensive and economically feasible upgrades, such as sealing leaks to control outside air from entering the home, adding insulation, or installing a new clean heating and cooling system like an ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump. Additional savings can be achieved by installing rooftop solar panels, EV chargers, or connected home products like smart thermostats that can monitor and adjust energy use. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will invest in the American workforce to ramp up the manufacturing of solar panels, wind farms, batteries and other clean energy technologies for export.

Additionally, the EPA has launched new residential sector partnerships to accelerate efficiency and electrification retrofits with a focus on under-served residential households through its ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Program. With rebates for home weatherization and electrification in the President's Build Back Better agenda, these inter-agency efforts will provide consumers, utility programs and energy efficiency service providers with greater access to residential energy efficiency solutions and technologies, which will enable many more households to lower their energy burden, which is especially high for low-moderate income households. (Source: US DOE, PR, 11 Nov., 2021) Contact: DOE, Building Technologies Office , www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/building-technologies-office; Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/home-performance-energy-starr

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  ENERGY STAR,  ,  

BayWa r.e.
Date: 2021-10-08
BayWa r.e. reports it has opened a solar distribution warehouse and new office facilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and is now providing tailor-made and turn-key solar energy solutions for commercial installers and industrial businesses in the country, both on-site and off-site.

BayWa is presently developing large scale solar and wind energy development in Vietnam and has a 400MW pipeline of wind energy in north Vietnam and is developing 150MW solar projects in the south of the country. More than 6.7GW of rooftop solar was installed across Vietnam in December 2020 alone, bringing the total installed capacity over the whole year to 16.56GW. (Source: BayWa r.e., PR, Website, Oct., 2021) Contact: BayWa r.e., Bryse Gaboury, Vietnam General Manager, www.baywa-re.com/en/energy-solutions

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

Canadian Renewable Energy Association
Date: 2021-08-25
According to a study from the Toronto-based Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CREA), doubling Ontario's solar power generation capacity would help reduce costs for the whole energy system by up to $250 million per year by 2030.

The CREA's Impact of Behind-the-Meter Solar in Ontario study, conducted by Power Advisory LLC, modeled various scenarios for the adoption of residential and business rooftop solar PV across Ontario, including a high-ambition scenario that envisioned adding 3,000 MW of new solar capacity (double the current total), by 2030. The study assessed how additional solar would affect the province's wholesale electricity market and found increasing the deployment of rooftop solar would deliver significant cost savings for the electricity system by reducing its reliance on natural-gas generation to meet daytime summer peak electricity demand, and by reducing the need for additional, expensive power procurements in the future.

The study showed that by enabling more electricity to be generated locally, solar could also help Ontario avoid the need to invest in new electricity grid infrastructure which could translate into further cost savings.

Download the study HERE . (Source: Canadian Renewable Energy Association, Aug., 20210 Contact: Canadian Renewable Energy Association, Nicholas Gall, 613-875-2483, communications@renewablesassociation.ca, www.renewablesassociation.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  Canadian Renewable Energy Association,  

Sage Energy
Date: 2021-08-11
In the Golden State, San Rafael-based Sage Energy Consulting reports it will work with the Judicial Council of California (JCC) and evaluate 43 previously identified JCC sites for solar energy+storage installations.

Sage will provide procurement support, pre-construction, construction and post-construction management and commissioning support for rooftop solar panels, solar carports, and batteries and may assist in negotiating power purchase agreements. (Source: Sage Energy Consulting, PR Aug., 2021) Contact: Sage Energy Consulting, Russell Schmit, COO, 415-663-9914, www.sagerenew.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar+Storage news,  Sage Energy news,  Solar Energy news,  Battery Energy STorage news,  

Ameresco
Date: 2021-08-02
Framingham, Mass,-headquartered renewable energy and energy efficiency specialist Ameresco the completion of its roof mount solar PV project with the United Kingdom's Ministry of Justice.

The centrally funded £1.1 million ($1.389 million) project saw the delivery of roof-mounted solar to seven courts and three prisons in the U.K.'s Midlands. (Source: Ameresco, Website PR, 27 July, 2021) Contact: Ameresco, Leila Dillon, 508-661-2264, news@ameresco.com, www.ameresco.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ameresco,  Rooftop Solar,  

REC Group
Date: 2021-07-21
Singapore-headquartered global solar manufacturer REC Group is touting the launch of the second generation of its premium n-type mono solar panels -- REC N-Peak 2 Series.

The modules, which can deliver up to 375Wp of power, are based on passivated contact solar cells, which the company describes as the most efficient crystalline cell technology in the industry, capturing more sunlight and generating more power. The 60-cell modules also features the REC 'Twin' cell layout design where the panel is split into two twin sections, which allows for continued energy production when the module is partially shaded. REC's solar cell technology also prevents the loss of power generation capacity experienced by a standard solar panel on its first exposure to light -- Light Induced Degradation -- by preventing the boron and oxygen inside the cells from mixing at any level.

Production of the new cell is slated for August and shipping in October. (Source: REC Group, Website PR, 15 July, 2021) Contact: REC Group, +65 6495 9228, 877 785 8055 – US Office, www2.recgroup.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News REC Group,  Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2021-07-21
In the Aloha State, Honolulu-headquartered Hawaiian Electric (HECO) reports it is accepting applications for its new Battery Bonus program that pays cash incentives for residential and commercial customers on Oahu to add battery energy storage to an existing or new rooftop solar system.

The program is capped by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) at a total 50 MW supplied from storage among all participants. Incentive payments are:

$850 per kW for those accepted for the first 15MW. (For example, 5kW would yield a $4,250 payment.) Hawaiian Electric will confirm by checking battery data that the system is meeting its committed performance in the program for the customer to receive the full amount of incentive.

$750 per kW for those accepted for the next 15MW.

$500 per kW for those accepted for the last 20MW.

Homeowners and businesses with an existing solar system enrolled in a customer energy program (such as Net Energy Metering, Customer Grid Supply or others) will continue to receive full benefits from these programs. Up to 5 kW of new panels may be added under existing programs. There is no limit on the size of an individual customer's battery. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 19 July, 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, www.hawaiianelectric.com; www.hawaiianelectric.com/batterybonus

More Low-Carbon Energy News HCO.Energy Storage,  Rooftop Solar,  Hawaiian Electric,  Solar+Storage,  Battery Energy Storage,  

Q CELL
Date: 2021-06-23
Solar cell manufacturer Q CELLS is reporting a new partnership with residential clean energy services provider eStat Inc.

eStat's cloud-based energy optimization and management technology allows homeowners to build a sustainable Zero Carbon Smart Home that achieves NEM-equivalent savings and become "resilient island nano-grids" through storage batteries.

Under the partnership, Q CELLS will supply solar modules and Q.HOME+ESS HYB-G1 (Q.HOME) all-in-one home energy storage system for homeowners in Hawaii. Q.HOME will be fully integrated with eStat's cloud-based monitoring and management system, utilizing machine learning to enable home consumption to fully utilize onsite production and storage. The partnership will underscore eStat as Q CELLS' primary O&M partner in the Hawaiian market. (Source: Q CELLS, PR, Solar Builder, June, 2021) Contact: eStat Hawaii, John Borland, Dir., www.estat.energy; Q CELLS, www.q-cells.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar+Storage,  Q CELL,  Rooftop Solar,  

New Jersey, Solar
Date: 2021-06-16
In the Garden State, new warehouses of 100,000 sq-ft or more would be required to have "solar- ready" roofs once Gov. Phil Murphy signs A-3352, a bill backed by the Legislature and the commercial real estate industry. The measure was handily passed earlier this June in the New Jersey Assembly and Senate.

Solar energy supporters see the trend to solar as an opportunity for warehouse operators to reduce or eliminate their electricity bills and sell any excess power back to the grid. (Source: Various Media, NJ Spotlight, 14 June, 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rooftop Solar news,  Solar news,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-05-26
The U.S.DOE Building Technologies Office (BTO)in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the Brattle Group has developed A National Roadmap for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings.

The Roadmap outlines DOE's national goal of tripling the energy efficiency and demand flexibility of the buildings sector by 2030 and defines technology attributes, integration considerations, and barriers to achieving the full potential, adoption and deployment of grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs). The report makes 14 recommendations to overcome those barriers in "action steps" that all key industry stakeholders can take to expand the prevalence of grid-interactivity in buildings.

GEBs can remake buildings into a clean and flexible energy resource. By combining smart technologies and distributed energy resources with energy efficient buildings, GEBs can provide comfort and convenience for building occupants, sell services to the power grid, and cut costs and pollution. All buildings, including federal buildings, can benefit from implementing GEB technologies. In fact, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently published a complementary blueprint for practical guidance and tools to integrate GEB technologies into federal energy savings performance contracts and has committed to 100 pct renewable energy for all federal buildings by 2025.

A grid-interactive efficient building can offer services that cut costs, eliminate waste, and improve grid operations. For example:

Efficient lighting and appliances plus a tight building envelope can cut electricity demand across the board.

Load shedding allows the building to cut demand during peak hours, or as requested by the grid manager.

Load shifting takes advantage of cheaper or cleaner power by shifting demand from one time of day to another when renewable energy is abundant on the grid.

Modulating load with batteries and other electronic devices allows the building to maintain grid frequency or control system voltage.

Generating power, like from rooftop solar, cuts bills, reduces losses on the grid, and reduces the need for more power plants. (Source: US DOE EERE, PR, May, June, 2021) Contact: US DOE, National Roadmap for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/building-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  LBNL,  Brattle Group,  

Maxeon Solar Technologies
Date: 2021-05-19
Singapore-headquartered Maxeon Solar Technologies is touting its new Maxeon Air technology platform -- a frameless, thin, lightweight and conformable solar panel that can be time and cost effectively adhered directly to a roof without the need for racking or other mounting systems.

Maxeon Air panels will be featured in selected projects in Europe in the second half of 2021. The first installations will target roofs that are not engineered to support the weight of conventional solar systems. In Europe alone, there is an un-served annual market for low-load roofs of over 4 GW, the company estimates.

Maxeon IBC solar cell panel's factory integrated adhesive layer enable installation directly on a roof surface without metal frame racking, anchors or ballast. The cells incorporate a solid metal foundation and stress relieved cell interconnects that protect against corrosion and enables fault tolerant circuits that allow energy flow and have the unique ability to share current in reverse bias voltage while shaded, avoiding damaging or dangerous high temperatures.

The product is slated to be commercially available beginning in Q1, 2022. (Source: Maxeon Solar Technologies, PR, Solar Builder, 18 May, 2021) Contact: Maxeon Solar Technologies, Jeff Waters, CEO, www.maxeon.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Maxeon Solar Technologies news,  Colar Cell news,  Solar Panel news,  Rooftop Soler news,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2021-05-12
In the Aloha State, Hawaiian Electric (HECO) reports it has filed its Customer Energy Resources for Hawaii: A Customer-First CER Strategy for a 100 pct Clean Energy Future with the state Public Utilities Commission. The strategy aims to increase energy efficiency, rooftop solar and similar customer energy resources (CERs) to the scale needed to reach the state's clean energy benchmarks.

Release of the CER strategy follows consultation and cooperation with the rooftop solar industry that has further smoothed and hastened the interconnection process during the COVID-19 pandemic and removed barriers to customers quickly getting rooftop solar and energy storage benefits. As a result of this continuing process, in 2020 nearly 6,000 new rooftop solar systems were installed across Hawaiian Electric's service territory -- 55 pct increase from 2019.

The CER strategy details the "Equity Principle" that expansion of CERs benefit all customers, including those with moderate or fixed incomes and must fairly allocate utility costs among customers based on benefits they receive or provide the grid. Customer energy resources are technologies and devices on the customer-side of the meter that can alter energy use.

The Strategy envisions a modern grid with about half of all customers' electricity needs coming from the "edge of the grid" (that is, from customers) not the "center of the grid" (large power plants that push power out to customers.)

The strategy also notes that energy efficiency and conservation are essential to customer involvement. Hawaiian Electric continues to collaborate with Hawaii Energy, the Public Utilities Commission's independent entity that administers the state's energy efficiency programs. Energy efficiency is incorporated in resource planning, including the state's Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, which targets a continuing 30 pct electricity sales reduction by 2030.

Download the Customer Energy Resources for Hawaii strategy HERE. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 10 May, 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, Scott Seu, Pres., CEO, Shannon Tangonan, 808.351.4978, shannon.putnam@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hawaiian Electric,  Rooftop Solar,  Solar,  Community Solar,  

DTE Energy
Date: 2021-05-10
In Michigan, DTE Energy has announced that it has commissioned a new solar+storage array at the Ford Research & Engineering Center in Dearborn. The array is the third that DTE has constructed with Ford.

The 2,159-panel solar array generates 1,127 mWh of clean energy includes an integrated battery storage system and will be used to power newly installed electric vehicle chargers. (Source: DTE, PR, 7 May., 2021)Contact: DTE Energy, Trevor Lauer, Pres., COO, (313) 235-9994, www2.dteenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News DTE Energy ,  Solar,  Solar+Storage,  

Tesla
Date: 2021-04-28
In an earnings call, Tesla reported its energy storage deployments grew 71 pct year-over-year in Q1, 2021, largely due to "the popularity of its Powerwall product." Tesla deployed 260 MWh of storage in Q1 of 2020 and 1,584 MWh in Q4, dropping to 445 MWh in Q1, this year.

Tesla also noted rooftop solar deployments climbed to 92 MW in Q1, its strongest quarter in 2.5 years. Solar roof deployments grew 9x compared to the same period last year. The growth curve slowed, however, from the fourth quarter of 2020 when the company installed 86 MW. (Source: Tesla, PR,27 Apr., 2021) Contact: Tesla, Tesla Power Pack, www.tesla.com/en_CA/powerpack; Tesla Solar, www.tesla.com/solarpanels

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tesla,  Tesla Powerwall,  Energy Storage,  Solar,  

Solarize Philly, Philadelphia Energy Authority
Date: 2021-04-23
In the Keystone State, the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) is reporting the outcomes of City's first program to provide rooftop solar installations for low- and moderate-income homeowners, in celebration of Earth Day 2021.

The first of 50 Installations are underway through PEA's Solar Savings Grant Program that covers two-thirds of the total solar installation cost, with the remainder provided through a low-cost loan.

The Solar Savings Grant Program is a part of Solarize Philly, a citywide program to help all Philadelphians go solar. Nearly 6,500 Philadelphia homeowners have expressed interest in the program, over 750 homes have gone solar, and over $12MM has been invested in communities across the city since the program launched in 2017. Solarize Philly is the largest initiative of its kind in the country.

The Solar Savings Grant Program was made possible with support from Solarize Philly, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Solar States, Centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation, the William Penn Foundation, Spark Therapeutics, and the National Energy Improvement Fund. (Source: Solarize Philly, PR, 22 Apr., 2021) Contact: Philadelphia Energy Authority, 215.686.4483; Solarize Philly Program, (215) 686-4483, solarize@philaenergy.org, www.solarizephilly.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solarize Philly ,  Solar,  Philadelphia Energy Authority ,  

Azelio
Date: 2021-03-31
Azelio reports receipt of and order for two of its TES.POD® energy storage units from Swedish-based Industrisi Amal AB.

Azelio's TES.POD will store surplus energy from a 446 kW rooftop solar PV system. The installation will increase the projects renewable energy supply capacity by 24 pct and reduce CO2 emissions from energy use by 168 tpy.

The system will combine the TES.POD with solar PV already installed by Svea Solar -- Sweden's largest solar PV installer and current collaborator with Azelio for joint projects. (Source: Azelio, Website PR, 29 Mar., 2021) Contact: Azelio, Jonas Eklind, CEO, +46 709 40 35 80 jonas.eklind@azelio.com, Ralf Wiesenberg - VP Business Development, +34 699 30 86 36, ralf.wiesenberg@azelio.com, www.azelio.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Azelio,  Energy Storage,  Solar,  

Solar,Solar United Neighbors
Date: 2021-03-24
In Arizona, Solar United Neighbors (SUN) reports Northern Arizona Solar Co-op's 160 members have selected Rooftop Solar to install solar panels.

SUN expands access to solar by educating Arizona residents about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them to organize group solar purchases, strengthening Arizona solar policies and building a community of solar supporters. Local partners of the Northern Arizona Solar Co-op include the City of Flagstaff, City of Sedona, and Coconino County.

Not-for-profit Solar United Neighbors works in Arizona and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar co-ops are part of the organization's mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies. (Source: Northern Arizona Solar Co-op, PR, Flagstaff Bus., 21 Mar., 2021) Contact: Rooftop Solar, Derek Turner, VP Marketing, Northern Arizona Solar Co-op, coops.solarunitedneighbors.org; Solar United Neighbors, www.solarunitedneighbors.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Canadian Solar,  Recurrent Energy,  Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric, HECO
Date: 2021-02-17
Driven by higher solar energy and wind production and lower consumer demand, Honolulu-headquartered Hawaiian Electric (HECO) achieved a 34.5 pct consolidated renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in 2020.

The 34.5 pct is the consolidated RPS for Oahu, Hawaii Island and Maui County, up from 28.4 pct in 2019. Hawaiian Electric exceeded the state requirement to reach 30 pct by 2020 and has more than tripled the amount of renewable energy on its electric grids in 10 years, up from just under 10 pct in 2010. Even if electricity use had been the same as in 2019, Hawaiian Electric would have still reached a renewable portfolio standard of 32 pct.

HECO's 2020 RPS highlights include:

Maui County reached 50.8 pct RPS, hitting the 50 pct mark for the first time. With a mix of solar, wind and biofuels, Maui County's RPS represents a nearly 25 pct increase from 40.8 pct RPS in 2019.

Oahu recorded a 30.5 pct RPS, exceeding 30 pct for the first time and up 5 percentage points from 25.2 pct in 2019.

Hawaii Island hit 43.4 pct, compared to 34.7 pct in 2019.

Total electricity generated by renewable energy resources increased 13 pct over 2019.

Some of the factors that drove the year-over-year increase include:

A full year of production from West Loch Solar and Clearway Energy grid-scale solar facilities;

Increased production from private rooftop solar, with nearly 6,000 new systems coming online in 2020. There are 87,848 systems and 3.7 million solar panels, including rooftop and grid-scale facilities, producing electricity on the five island grids;

Higher wind production and lower electricity use due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next RPS milestone required by state law is to reach 40 pct by 2030. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 15 Feb., 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, Scott Seu, Pres., CEO, Shannon Tangonan, 808.351.4978 shannon.putnam@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News HECO,  Hawaiian Electric ,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2021-01-27
Honolulu-headquartered Hawaiian Electric (HECO) is reporting a 55 pct jump in new customer sited rooftop solar systems in 2020 compared to 2019.

In 2020, 5,965 new rooftop solar systems were installed across Oahu, Hawaii Island and Maui Counties up 55 pct from the 3,840 systems in 2019. Of the new systems, 4,624, or 78 pct include battery storage.

At the end of 2020, there were 87,848 private customer systems generating 968 MW connected to HECO's five island grids, including 9,751 with energy storage. In total, about 3.7 million panels are in use.

With this increase, 36 pct of single-family homes on Ohu, 29 pct in Maui County and 21 pct on Hawaii Island have rooftop solar.

For customers who cannot take advantage of private rooftop solar, HECO will soon launch its shared community solar program to extend the financial and environmental benefits of clean energy to a wider range of residents such as renters and customers with low-to-moderate incomes. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 25 Jan., 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, Peter Rosegg, 808.371.7474, peter.rosegg@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News HECO,  Hawaiian Electric,  Rooftop Solar,  Solar,  Community Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2021-01-22
In Honolulu, Hawaiin Electric is launching a new Quick Connect rooftop solar installation program that will accelerate the process for turning on new systems.

For the next 12 months, customers on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii islands installing new systems on circuits where the new program is available will not need the standard approvals before activating their systems.

An approval process that typically takes several weeks or months for each step to be completed can now be handled after the system is built and turned on, substantially reducing the wait for many new solar customers. If successful, Quick Connect may be extended beyond one year.

The program aims to speed connections for customers and increase rooftop solar on those circuits with the most existing capacity while reducing administrative work for contractors and Hawaiian Electric.

Hawaii leads the nation in per capita use of rooftop solar, with over 20 pct of customers, including 36 pct of single-family homes on Oahu, with solar systems connected to island grids, according to the release.

Quick Connect program details and specifications for eligibility are HERE. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 20 Jan., 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric Companies, Peter Rosegg, 808.371.7474, peter.rosegg@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hawaiian Electric,  

New Mexico, Renewable Energy
Date: 2021-01-15
In Santa Fe, New Mexico legislators are preparing to introduce a bill in the upcoming 2021 Legislative Session to allow community solar developments in the state.

In the 2020 Legislative Session, lawmakers called for the creation of a community solar working group to study the concept and its application in New Mexico.

The passage of community solar legislation would provide homeowners a larger-scale, cheaper option than individual home rooftop solar arrays and allow widespread use of solar power on a scale smaller than large utilities. (Source: Carlsbad Current-Argus, 12 Jan., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News New Mexico Solar,  Community Solar,  

New Mexico General Services
Date: 2021-01-08
In Santa Fe, the New Mexico General Services Department's $32 million State Buildings Green Energy Project -- an initiative to cut the energy consumption of 30 buildings in Santa Fe and reduce the state government's carbon footprint -- is reporting construction is expected to get underway before the month end on 4 carport solar arrays on government buildings at a total cost of $9.7 million.

The Green Energy Project includes installation of rooftop solar arrays on 16 buildings, the installation of window film, water conservation measures, and upgrades to HVAC systems and controls, lighting, and transformers.

Upon completion, the project is expected to slash electric power bills for the buildings by 50 pct and save the state more than $1 million per year. (Source: New Mexico General Services Department, Pr., Jan. 2021) Contact: New Mexico General Services Department, 505-827-2000, www.generalservices.state.nm.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2020-12-11
In Honolulu, the University of Hawaii and Hawaiian Electric have agreed to collaborate on an innovative renewable energy initiative to help the university achieve its net-zero energy goal and bring online more cost-effective, renewable energy resources to benefit the entire state. A request for review and approval of the "green tariff" was submitted to the Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday, 8 Dec.,

The initiative aims to develop a project to lower energy costs for the university and increase overall renewable energy generation for the state. Hawaiian Electric hopes other large institutions will be able to benefit from similar projects identified through competitive bidding that provide renewable electricity at lower rates. Key elements of the proposed program include:

The university will provide a project location at no cost for a renewable energy facility. A university-utility working group is evaluating sites for possible renewable development.

Hawaiian Electric will seek independent developers who will compete to offer the best proposals to build a renewable facility, including energy storage, on that land to provide power to the utility grid on Oahu.

The university will benefit from the lower costs provided by renewably generated and stored electricity produced by the facility. All customers benefit from the availability of an energy storage system on the Oahu grid that can be used, as needed, by Hawaiian Electric.

This effort supplements the university's continuing effort to promote energy efficiency and to use distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar, demand-response grid services and other measures. Under Act 99 (2015) the University of Hawaii has the goal "to become net-zero with respect to energy use, producing as much (renewable) energy as the system consumes across all campuses by January 1, 2035."

Under Act 97 (2015) the Hawaiian Electric Companies must meet a 30 pct renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2020, 40 pct by 2030, 70 pct by 2040, and 100 pct by Dec. 31, 2045. By the end of this year, Hawaiian Electric will exceed the 30 pct RPS. (Source: Hawaiian Electric Companies, PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: Hawaiian Electric Companies, Peter Rosegg, 808.371.7474, peter.rosegg@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Energy,  Hawaiian Electric,  Renewable Energy ,  

Toledo Solar
Date: 2020-11-16
In the Buckeye State, Toledo Solar Inc. reports receipt of $1.7 million in grant funding from the US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to develop semitransparent cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaics, a solar-cell material that could be suitable for use in windows, building facades, and rooftop solar modules a new solar-cell technology believed to be suitable for integration into building construction.

The company will work with the University of Toledo's Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Center, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), and Project Vision Dynamics Inc. "to complete development of attractive, low-cost, high-efficiency solar window units and solar building facades through manufacturing innovations in CdTe module technology," according to the release. Prof. Michael J. Heben, the managing director of UT's Wright Center for Photovoltaics noted "Previously proposed options for incorporating photovoltaic power into building structures ave not made sense from a manufacturing point of view -- Toledo Solar's approach is entirely novel, and entirely doable, so the University of Toledo is very excited to be part of this effort."

Toledo Solar is the only U.S. manufacturer of CdTe thin film PV for both residential and commercial rooftop markets, according to the company website. (Source: Toledo Solar,PR, Toledo Blabe, 14 Nov., 2020) Contact: Toledo Solar, 567-202-4145, info@Toledo-Solar.com, www.toledosolar-inc.com; US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Toledo Solar,  Solar,  

Houston Advanced Research Center,International Living Future Institute,
Date: 2020-11-16
In the Lone Star State, the Woodlands-based not-for-profit Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) reports recept of Zero-Energy status from the Seattle-headquartered International Living Future Institute, making it the first commercial building in Texas to accomplish the feat.

Today, 100 pct of HARC's energy is sourced from on-site renewable energy, made possible by a $136,000 Green Mountain Energy Sun Club grant that supported the purchase and installation of additional solar panels, associated inverters and hardware on the roof of HARC's LEED® Platinum building.

The HARC building and campus grounds is 50 pct more energy efficient when compared to LEED® base targets and employs several sustainable features in its design. The building footprint and impervious paving are minimized, bioswales are designed to retain and filter water on-site to reduce the impact to nearby waterways, and the site’s biodiversity is preserved by protecting and restoring native vegetation. The building is also oriented to maximize the daylight reaching the building's interior spaces and rooftop solar installation. Other sustainable strategies include an added high-performance building envelope and rain screen that performs 2.5 times better than a typical enclosure and low-flow fixtures to conserve water while mechanical systems utilize a geothermal heat exchange system for optimal energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort. (Source: Houston Advanced Research Center, PR, Nov., 2020) Contact: Green Mountain Sun Club , Diana Maddock, diana.maddock@greenmountain.com, 713-703-4989 www.gmesunclub.org; International Living Future Institute, 206 223 2028, www.living-future.org; Houston Advanced Research Center, Kacey Wilkins, kwilkins@harcresearch.org , 281-364-6092, www.harcresearch.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Houston Advanced Research Center,  International Living Future Institute,  ,  

Masdar
Date: 2020-10-14
In the UAE, renewable energy developer Masdar -- the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company -- is reporting an agreement with Yas Island developer Miral to develop Abu Dhabi's largest rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project to date at Warner Bros World™ Abu Dhabi theme park on Yas Island.

Under the agreement, Masdar will provide a full turnkey solution for the 7-MWp project, including the design, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance. The project will incorporate 16,000 solar modules to generate roughly 40 pct of the theme park's annual energy demand when fully operational in Q4, 2021. (Source: Masdar, PR, Website, Construction Week, Oct., 2020) Contact: Masdar, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, +971 2 653 3333, www.masdar.ae

More Low-Carbon Energy News Masdar,  Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  

O2 Power, Ayana Renewable Power
Date: 2020-09-28
India's O2 Power and Ayana Renewable Power have reportedly emerged as the front-runners to acquire Azure Power Global's 305 MW rooftop solar assets valued at in a potential deal valued at roughly $200 million. The deal is reportedly backed by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ).

O2 Power is a $500-million renewable energy platform with an 800 MW solar portfolio in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, according to the company website. (Source: O2 Power, Mint, 27 Sept., 2020) Contact: Azure Power, Ranjit Gupta, CEO, +91-11-4940-9854, pr@azurepower.com, www.azurepower.com; O2 Power, info@O2power.in, www.O2power.in; Ayana Renewable Power, +9180-48511001, www.ayanapower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News O2 Power,  Ayana,  Azure Power,  Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2020-09-18
In Honolulu, Hawaiian Electric has submitted eight contracts for new gridscale renewable energy and storage projects on Oahu and Maui to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for review and approval.

The six projects on Oahu and two on Maui are part of the largest renewable energy procurement ever for Hawaii. If approved and completed, the combined projects are expected to lower electric bills and provide the generation and storage needed to retire the state's only coal plant, the 180-MW plant at Campbell Industrial Park by September 2022.

On Maui, the renewable energy projects will help enable the retirement of the 38 MW oil-fired Kahului plant in 2024.

The eight contracts submitted for regulatory review represent nearly 300 MW of new renewable generation and about 2,000 MWh of storage and If completed on schedule in 2022 and 2023, would add approximately 9 percentage points to the renewable portfolio on the five islands served by Hawaiian Electric.

The company's renewable portfolio is expected to reach 30 pct by the end of this year with the anticipated return to service of Puna Geothermal Venture on Hawaii Island.

At the end of 2019, Hawaiian Electric had 902 MW of solar capacity on its five island grids, including approximately 684 MW of solar capacity from customer-sited rooftop solar systems that now number over 85,000. These new projects, if approved and completed, will increase solar capacity by roughly 35 pct. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 16 Sept., 2020) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, Jim Alberts, VP Business Development, Strategic Planning, (808) 543-7780, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News HECO,  Hawaiian Electric,  Renewable Energy,  Wind,  Solar ,  

Tucson Electric Power
Date: 2020-08-17
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is reported to have rejected several new residential rooftop solar installation applications under new Arizona Corporation Commission rules governing the maximum solar generation capacity on any one neighborhood circuit.

The rule is designed to prevent "solar saturation" and protect the system from damage due to an excessive amount of power being exported back onto the power grid.

The neighborhood solar capacity rule has led to the rejection of applications in 11 areas of Tucson that already have reached solar "solar saturation", according to TEP. (Source: TEP, Tuscon,com, Aug., 2020) Contact: TEP, Joseph Barrios , (520) 884-3725, jbarrios@tep.com, www.tep.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tucson Electric Power,  Rooftop Solar,  

Georgia Power
Date: 2020-07-29
Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power reports its Smart Neighborhood Initiative -- a real-world R&D project -- has been recognized by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) as part of its annual awards that celebrate innovation and collaboration of utilities, industry players and individuals shaping the future of energy. The initiative was included in Southern Company's designation as a 2020 SEPA Utility Business Models Power Player of the Year.

Georgia's first-of-a-kind Smart Neighborhood, located in Atlanta, includes 46 technology-enhanced townhomes equipped with battery backed rooftop solar arrays, optimal insulation for maximum efficiency, advanced heating and cooling systems, LED lighting, home automation, including smart thermostats, smart locks and voice control.

The Smart Neighborhood is a real-world research and development (R&D) project, including a supporting partnership with the Southern Company Energy Innovation Center. The company collaborated with U.S. DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on the initiatives. The information and data collected from the distributed energy resources will provide researchers valuable operational experience as the company continues to evaluate microgrids along with residential battery storage and rooftop solar. Information from the HVAC systems, heat pump water heaters and other technologies will help inform new programs and services for customers.

Georgia Power also offers a full suite of smart-home options, which includes easy access to products and services to help make customers' homes more energy efficient and connected. The company brings together popular products in the Smart Neighborhood, including the latest in smart thermostats and smart home products such as smart filters, lighting, door locks, light switches, vents, smoke alarms and doorbells, to a single online portal.

Download Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood Initiative HERE. (Source: Georgia Power, PR, 28 July, 2020) Contact: SEPA, www.sepapower.org; Georgia Power, www.georgiapower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Georgia Power,  Energy Efficiency,  

CleanSpark
Date: 2020-07-29
Salt Lake City-based CleanSpark, Inc. is reporting receipt of a contract a contract to provide controls and storage for a commercial microgrid located in Southern California. This microgrid project is designed to provide economic optimization and cost avoidance, as well as energy resiliency for the facility. CleanSpark's patented mPulse controls platform will manage a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) paired with photovoltaic rooftop solar panels.

CleanSpark offers software and intelligent controls for microgrid and distributed energy resource management systems and innovative strategy and design services. (Source: CleanSpark Inc., PR, 29 July, 2020) Contact: CleanSpark Inc., Zach Bradford, CEO, Investor Relations, (801)-244-4405, info@cleanspark.com, www.cleanspark.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CleanSpark,  Energy Storage,  Microgrid,  

Duke Energy Renewables
Date: 2020-07-15
REC Solar, a subsidiary of Duke Energy Renewables, is reporting completion of a 1 MW rooftop solar installation for the Cincinnati-based grocery chain Kroger Co. The installation is at a 300,000-square-foot bakery facility serving two Kroger subsidiaries in California. The installation includes nearly 3,000 solar panels and can produce more than 2 GWh per year of power -- sufficient to power 240 homes.

The city of La Habra, California, supported the project. (Source: Duke Energy Renewables, PR, Charlotte Business Journal, 14 July, 2020) Contact: REC Solar, www.recgroup.com; Duke Energy Renewables, Rob Caldwell, Pres, (704) 594-6200, rob.caldwell@duke-energy.com, www.duke-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Duke Energy Renewables,  Solar,  REC Solar,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-07-13
In Washington, DC, City View, a three-story, 58-unit affordable community in the Anacostia neighborhood has received U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold certification.

The $12 million project's LEED qualifying sustainable features include: a rooftop solar panel array. Energy Star rated windows; individual energy efficient HVAC and hot water heater units; low-consumption plumbing fixtures and appliances; and others. (Source: USGBC, Multi Housing News, 13 July, 2020) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Gold,  Energy Efficiency,  

Hawaiian Electric Company
Date: 2020-07-06
In Honolulu, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is reporting its 29 grid-scale renewable energy projects planned or under construction on four islands represent between $3.5 billion and $4 billion in investment in the state's clean energy economy.

The number of projects in progress -- 14 on Oahu, 8 on Hawaii Island and 7 in Maui County -- is unprecedented in Hawaii. All but three would be built, owned and operated by independent power producers who will sell their electricity to HECO.

These projects, along with the continued expansion of private rooftop solar, have the potential to move HECO to a renewable portfolio standard of more than 60 pct by the end of 2025, up from about 28 pct today. That would include being nearly 90 pct renewable in Maui County and nearly 100 pct on Hawaii Island.

A number of projects are expected to come online this year, though some are still awaiting final regulatory and governmental approvals. They include: Honua Ola, a 21.5-MW biomass plant on Hawaii Island formerly known as Hū Honua; Na Pua Makani, a 24-MW wind project on Oahu; and, Mauka FIT 1, a 3.5-MW solar project on Oahu. In addition, the 38-MW Puna Geothermal Venture on Hawaii Island is expected to return to service this year after completing repairs to damage caused by the 2018 volcanic eruption.

In addition to reducing the Aloha State's dependence on imported fuels for power generation, these projects also create construction and technical jobs, draw upon goods and services from local businesses, provide lease payments to local landowners and government agencies and generate tax revenue. (Source: HECO, PR, 1 July, 2020) Contact: HECO, Jim Alberts, Snr. VP Strategic Planning and Business Development, (808) 543-7780, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hawaiian Electric Company,  HECO,  Renewable Energy,  Wind,  Solar Hawaii Renewable Energy,  

Solar
Date: 2020-06-29
Valparaiso, Indiana-based real estate developer and home builder Wayne Enterprises reports the commissioning of their 40.33 kW bifacial roof-mount solar energy system for their new downtown Valparaiso Vale View facility.

The system was installed by West Layfayette-based Emergent Solar Energy and is expected to generate approximately 50,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually enough emissions-free, clean energy to offset nearly 2,000 tpy of carbon dioxide -- equivalent to offsetting emissions from 3 million miles driven or the amount sequestered by more than 1,400 acres of U.S. forests. (Source: Wayne Enterprises, PR 27 June, 2020) Contact: Wayne Enterprises, Matthew Welter, CEO, www.wevalpo.com; Emergent Solar Energy, 765-753-9155, www.emergentsolar.energy{

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  bifacial ,  

Enphase Energy
Date: 2020-05-27
Fremont, California-headquartered global energy technology and solar microinverters specialist Enphase Energy, Inc. reports it is using its Enphase Ensemble™ technology to support a University of Washington (WU) initiative to develop control systems for unrestricted penetration of photovoltaic (PV) solar on the grid.

In addition to roughly $1 million in US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), grant funding , Enphase will provide test platforms and invest approximately $420,000 over the project's three-year timeline.

Enphase will run specialized test scenarios and gather data at the Company's single- and three-phase, on- and off-grid rooftop solar R&D facility in Austin, Texas. The test array is equipped with Enphase microinverters featuring the Company's custom ASIC, which powers the software-defined architecture that allows Enphase to reprogram a test fleet of microinverters with control architectures and algorithms developed by the University of Washington. The control architectures and algorithms will be tested to validate controller performance under real-world weather variability.

The Enphase Encharge storage system features embedded grid-forming Enphase microinverters that enable always-on functionality and will be compatible with both new and existing Enphase IQ solar systems with IQ 6™ or IQ 7™ microinverters, providing a simple upgrade path for existing Enphase solar customers. (Source: Enphase Energy Inc., PR, 26 May, 2020) Contact: Christian Zdebel, 484-788-2384, pr@enphase.com, www.enphase.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enphase,  Renewable Energy,  Renewables Grid.Rooftop Solar,  

California Energy Commission
Date: 2020-05-11
In Sacramento, the California Energy Commission (CEC) reports it has approved off-site "community solar" solar projects as an option to its recently enacted rooftop solar requirement for most new homes and low-rise apartments in California to install rooftop solar. With the approval, participating builders are now required to offer home buyers a choice between rooftop or community solar delivered via existing transmission lines.

California's solar mandate, which went into effect on Jan. 1, this year, required most new single-family homes or low-rise apartments to install rooftop solar panels owned by the homeowner or leased from a solar company, that would sell the generated electricity back to the homeowner at a discounted rate. (Source: California Energy Commission, Builder Mag., May,2020) Contact: California Energy Commission, www.energy.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News California Energy Commision,  California Rooftop Solar,  Community Solar,  

Governor Ralph Northam
Date: 2020-04-13
Following up on our 11th March coverage, in the Old Dominion State, the Office of Governor Ralph Northam (D) reports the Governor has signed the Virginia Clean Economy Act into law. The legislation covers energy efficiency promotions and puts a timeline standard stating that coal-fired plants are to close by 2024, and Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power will be 100 pct carbon-free by 2045 and 2050, respectively. Under the Act:

Energy companies will pay penalties for not meeting the Act’s objectives and the revenue from the penalties will go towards job training and programs in disadvantaged communities.;

There will be a reduction of energy burned for low-income users and all energy-efficient standards and pilot programs are to be “in the public interest.”

5,200 megawatts of offshore wind generation to harvest energy for generating electricity is "in the public interest." Distributed generation facilities including solar power, will have 16,100 megawatts of solar and onshore wind generation as it is also considered "in the public interest."

Net metering will be used, which credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid making it easier for the growth of rooftop solar power in the Commonwealth.

The state will establish a carbon cap-and-trade program to reduce emissions from power plants in compliance with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). (Source: Office of Governor Ralph Northam, Website, WAVY.com. 12 April, 2020) Contact: Office of Governor Ralph Northam, 804-786-2211, www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office, www.governor.virginia.gov; RGGI, www.rggi.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  RGGI,  Carbon Emissions,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  

International Living Future Institute
Date: 2020-04-13
Portland-headquartered architecture firm ZGF is touting a commercial, 58,700-square-foot, mixed-use PAE Living Building that broke ground last month in Portland. With an expected opening date of summer 2021, the PAE Living Building is slated to be the largest commercial-use Living Building not only in Oregon but also, as it stands now, in the entire world.

The 5-story building, which meets the highest level of seismic criteria, is on track track to achieve full seven-petal Living Building Challenge certification performance standard established by the Seattle-based International Living Future Institute (ILFI).

The building will include: a five-story vacuum-flush composting waste system, the first urinal-to-fertilizer system, and a photovoltaic-powered battery storage system with a two-way power connection with the city's grid; a 71,000-gallon rainwater collection system that will allow the building to meet 100 pct of its water needs through on-site collection and treatment; a 133 kW on-site rooftop solar array and an 195 kW off-site array that combined will enable the building to produce more than 5 pct of its energy needs over the course of a year.

The PAE Living Building is expected to consume 18.6 kilo-BTUs per square foot per year -- by comparison, 40.8 kilo-BTUs per square foot per year is consumed by new built-to-code Portland office buildings. The building is aiming for net-zero energy upon completion. (Source: ZGF Architects, Architects Newspaper, 10 April,2020) Contact: International Living Future Institute, 206 223 2028, www.living-future.org; PAE Engineers, www.pae-engineers.com; ZGF Architects, www.zgf.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Building,  Living Building,  Energy Efficiency Solar,  

Tata Power
Date: 2020-04-01
In India, Mumbai-based Tata Power subsidiary Tata Power Solar reports it is now offering its rooftop solar installations and related services in 90 Indian cities.

To date, the company has installed more than 375 MW of rooftop projects and 2.76 GW of utility-scale projects in 13 states. The company has also built utility-scale projects in 13 Indian states with a total capacity of around 2.76 GW. (Source: (Source: Tata Power, PR, Mar., 2020) Contact: Tata Power Solar, www.tatapowersolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tata Power,  Tata Renewables,  Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  Indai Solar,  

Tata Power
Date: 2020-03-20
In India, Mumbai-based Tata Power subsidiary Tata Power Solar reports it is now offering its rooftop solar intallations and related services in 90 Indian cities. To date, the company has installed more than 375 MW of rooftop projects and 2.76 GW of utility-scale projects in 13 states. (Source: Tata Power, Various Media, 19 Mar., 2020)Contact: Tata Power Solar, www.tatapowersolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tata Power,  Solar,  Solar India,  Rooftop Solar,  

Virginia Renewable Energy
Date: 2020-03-11
In the Old Dominion State, the recently passed Virginia Clean Economy Act will create a state Renewable Energy Portfolio program requiring 30 pct or more of Virginia's electricity comes from renewable energy sources by 2030. By 2050, the Act requires that 100 pct of the state's electricity will be zero-emissions.

The Act includes measures to harness wind and solar power, expand home rooftop solar and reduce energy waste through mandatory efficiency standards. The act also sets a 5.2-gigawatt offshore wind power target, one of the largest state commitments to offshore wind to date and one with the potential to power up to 1.5 million Virginia homes. The Act also confirms the Old Dominion State's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) cap-and-invest program, which to date has provided net benefits of over $4 billion to participating members, while helping them slash carbon emissions over 50 pct. (Source: PR, Mar., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  Wind,  Solar,  Virginia Renewable Energy,  

Australia
Date: 2020-03-09
In the Land Down Under, the Liberal government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison is touting the launch of a $350 million initiative to lead the energy grid away from fossil fuel, promote renewable energy and cut carbon emissions. It will also invest $68.5 million to create the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 Co-operative Research Centre (RACE for 2030). And, in what seems a contradiction, the government will also fund a $4 million investigation of the economic case for a new coal-fired power station in north Queensland State.

Working with private industry, RACE for 2030 will fund research into a "distributed grid"; a national strategy for charging stations required under the forecast growth in electric vehicles; harnessing rooftop solar and paying householders for their energy; and trial community scale micro-electricity grids.

Under the Paris Agreement, Australia committed to reducing emissions by at least 26 pct on 2005 levels by 2030, but may have to use "carryover" credits gained under the previous Kyoto Protocol to achieve half of its Paris target, according to the Brisbane Times report. (Source: Various Media, Brisbane Times, 8 Mar., 2020) Contact: Office of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  Renewable Energy,  

Virginia Tech
Date: 2020-02-28
In the Old Dominion Sate, Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg reports approval of more than $3.1 million for the 5th phase of the school's ongoing Five-Year Energy Action Plan, a comprehensive blueprint to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption and costs within five years.

One of the cornerstones of the Energy Action Plan is leveraging data to optimize energy usage to achieve energy efficiency at scale on campus. Ten new buildings are added to the university's energy management platform during each phase. Proposed projects under Phase 5 (2019-20) of the Energy Action Plan include:

LED lighting overhaul in a range of buildings

Lab ventilation optimization and retro-commissioning of HVAC energy systems

Power plant compressed air system optimization

Integration of 10 additional energy-intensive

buildings into the university's energy management platform

Ongoing smart metering, meter replacement and maintenance, and

Implementation of a rooftop solar project at the Sterrett Facilities Complex. (Source: Virginia Tech, 25 Feb., 2020) Contact: Virginia Tech, Office of Energy Management, Christopher H. Kiwus, Associate VP, Chief Facilities Officer, 540-231-4300 www.facilities.vt.edu/energy-utilities/energy-reduction-efforts.html, www.vt.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Virginia Tech,  Energy Efficiency ,  

California Rooftop Solar
Date: 2020-02-26
Following up on our Dec. 18, 2019 coverage, the California Energy Commission (CEC) reports it has approved a proposal to amend its mandatory new building rooftop solar program to allow some new Sacramento housing developments to use offsite "community" solar in place of individual building rooftop solar installations.

The new solar rules were approved by the legislature and former California Governor Jerry Brown in 2018, making California the first state to mandate solar. The California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates the new mandates will add about $9,500 to the price of an average house while saving roughly $19,000 in reduced energy bills over 30 years. (Source: California Energy Commission, CalMatters, 23 Feb., 2020) Contact: California Energy Commission, (916) 465-4500, www.energy.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rooftop Solar,  California Rooftop Solar,  Soalr,  Rooftop Solar,  California Energy Commission,