Duke Energy
Date: 2021-02-19
In the Sunshine State, US power company Duke Energy Corp. reports its Florida subsidiary Duke Energy Florida has begun construction on the 74.5-MW Duette Solar Power Plant in Manatee County and the Charlie Creek Solar Power Plant in Hardee County totaling 149.4 MW. Both projects are expected to come online before the year end.

The Duette project will incorporate 227,000 single-axis tracking panels and the Charlie Creek installation will use 235,000 single-axis tracking panels. (Source: Duke Energy, PR, Website, 17 Feb., 2021) Contact: Duke Energy Renewables, Chris Fallon, (704) 594-6200, chris.fallon@duke-energy.com, www.duke-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Duke Energy,  

Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology
Date: 2021-02-19
In the UK, the not-for-profit Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) is calling for the government to reconsider clawing back £1 billion from the Green Homes Grant program. With Less than 5 pct of the original budget has been spent, the government is saying that unspent money would not be carried over into the next financial year.

REA counters that such a move would negatively impact businesses and consumers in the short-term as well as undermine confidence in future energy conservation and efficiency initiatives. The association believes long-term strategies around heat decarbonisation are also 'imperative', otherwise a policy gap will quickly emerge with the non-domestic RHI coming to an end and put the government's net-zero ambitions in 'serious jeopardy', according to the REA release.

The REA promotes renewable energy and clean technology industries -- biomass, biogas, waste-to-energy, energy storage, wind, solar, renewable transportation fuels and others -- to grow a sustainable industry and decarbonise society as part of a circular economy. (Source: Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, Dr. Nina Skorupska, CBE, CEO, www.r-e-a.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology ,  

Sunnova
Date: 2021-02-19
Houston-headquartered residential solar and energy storage service providerSunnova Energy International and LenX, a technology-focused subsidiary of homebuilder Lennar Corporation, are announcing a definitive agreement under which Sunnova will acquire Lennar's residential solar platform, SunStreet.

Under the agreement, Sunnova will become Lennar's exclusive residential solar and storage service provider. The strategic partnership will also focus on the development and rollout of innovative energy technologies, such as home storage and community microgrids. (Source: Sunnova, PR, 17 Feb., 2021) Contact: Sunnova, Alina Eprimian, alina.eprimian@sunnova.com, www.sunnova.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sunnova,  Solar,  

Electriq Power
Date: 2021-02-19
Electriq Power is an energy storage solutions company that designs, engineers, and assembles fully integrated energy management and storage solutions for homes and small businesses, with systems delivered and deployed by a network of installers across North America.

Electriq's flagship product line is the PowerPod, the industry-leading smart home battery backup system designed to save on electricity costs and protect against blackouts. The system includes a battery, hybrid battery/solar inverter, an energy meter, as well as a smart home energy software to manage electricity use and optimize efficiency. The PowerPod is modular and expandable up to three systems with three battery packs per system, giving installers and homeowners system design flexibility, with up to 16.5 kW of power and 99 kWh of battery storage.

The PowerPod 2, launched in late 2020, is the next-generation version of Electriq Power's industry-leading PowerPod family. This latest system is equipped with non-toxic, non-hazardous Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4), or LFP, batteries, which are rapidly becoming the industry standard, allowing for longer battery cycle life, increased reliability, and enhanced safety. The new high-performance, cobalt-free model builds upon key features of the original PowerPod system and PowerPod LFP technology to create the optimal energy storage solution. Notable product enhancements of the PowerPod 2 include:

More power: 11.4 kW DC solar, 7.6 kW continuous backup output;

Storage duration from 10 to 20 kWh;

Outdoor-rated (NEMA 3R);

AC-Coupled option with three models of usable capacity—AC-10 (kWh), AC-15 (kWh), and AC-20 (kWh);

Grid services-ready through OpenADR 2.0b certification or Electriq-developed PowerADR protocol;

Resilient communication during power and internet outages via built-in, battery-powered LTE; Modular and easy to install, plus guaranteed commissioning during installation with LTE.

The PowerPod 2 became the first fully integrated OpenADR 2.0b-certified residential battery storage system on the market, enabling Electriq Power to seamlessly partner with energy aggregators and participate in today’s dynamic energy marketplace. Recent strategic partnerships have given Electriq Power a pathway forward into deployment and control of energy storage systems while maximizing value for microgrids. Additionally, as the company continues to build out its vision of increasing value-added services for Virtual Power Plants, Electriq Power has accelerated deployments of battery systems and established a foundation from which to provide real-time grid services to support utility infrastructure and grid operators across the country. (Source: Electriq Power, 18 Feb., 2021) Contact: Electriq Power, Aric Saunders, EVP of Sales (855) 206-9462, aric@electriqpower.com, www.electriqpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Electriq Powe,  Battery,  Energy Storager,  

Convalt Energy
Date: 2021-02-17
In the Empire State, the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency (JCIDA) is reporting New York City-based Convalt Energy plans to construct a solar panel manufacturing facility in the agency's proposed business park in the town of Hounsfield.

The company plans to invest $650 million in the venture over 10 years. In year one, Convalt plans to build a 20,000-square-feet facility which would be expanded to roughly 500,000 square feet by the fifth year. The company hopes to break ground in Q4 this year, or early 2022.

Convalt Energy is developing renewable projects in the western and central African countries of Chad, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, a 300-mw solar renewable project in Myanmar, and owns a waste-to-renewable-energy plant in India. The company also runs wind and hydro power plants in other countries, according to its website. (Source: Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency, PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: Convalt Energy , Hari Achuthan, CEO, 212.683.0400 , info@convalt.com, www.convalt.com; Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency, www.jcida.com/Jefferson-County-IDA.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Convalt 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 ,  

Lightsource bp
Date: 2021-02-17
In the UK, London-based solar energy developer and manager Lightsource bp is reporting acquisition of an 845 MW solar portfolio in Spain from Madrid-headquartered Iberia Solar, a portfolio company of Asterion Industrial Partners.

Lightsource bp and Iberia Solar will work in partnership to bring the project pipeline, which consists of five sites across the regions of Castilla la Mancha and Castilla y Leon, to "shovel-ready" status. Lightsource bp will then lead the projects to financial close and begin construction in 2022. (Source: Lightsource bp, Website, PR, 15 Feb., 2021) Contact: Lightsource bp, Kareen Boutonnat, CEO, Europe and Int'l., +44 0 333 200 0755, www.lightsourcebp.com; Iberia Solar, Erik Martel and Ignacio Martínez, founders, info@iberia-solar.com, www.iberia-solar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lightsource bp,  Iberia Solar,  Solar,  

Longroad Energy
Date: 2021-02-17
Longroad Energy, a US-based renewable energy developer, owner, and operator has announced the acquisition of First Solar's Sun Streams 2, 4, and 5 solar projects totaling 900 MWdc capacity plus the potential for 1-2 GWh of battery storage projects in Arizona.

Longroad has closed the acquisition of Sun Streams 2. The closing of Sun Streams 4 and 5 is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Sun Streams 2 is being constructed by McCarthy Building Companies and is expected to be operational in June 2021. Sun Streams 4 and 5 are development projects targeted for 2022 and 2024 startups respectively. Both projects are currently uncontracted and uniquely positioned to accommodate a variety of offtake structures, with or without storage, according to the Longroad release. (Source: Longroad, PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: Longroad Energy, Paul Gaynor, CEO , www.longroadenergy.com; First Solar, Georges Antoun, CCO, Kathryn Arbeit, VP, Project Dev., David Brady, Inv. Rel., (602) 414-9315, dbrady@firstsolar.com, www.firstsolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Longroad Energy,  First Solar,  Solar+Storage,  

Dominion Energy
Date: 2021-02-17
Dominion Energy reports it could invest up to $72 billion through 2035 to transition its primary power source from fossil fuels to emissions-free, clean fuel alternatives.

The company expects to invest $32 billion through 2025 to clean up its emissions profile as follows: $17 billion for zero-carbon generation -- offshore wind, nuclear power life extensions , solar energy and energy storage; $6 billion on electricity transmission and distribution projects such as making its system more resilient to cyber and climate threats; $6 billion on customer growth and other related activities; $3 billion on natural gas distribution modernization and renewable natural gas systems. More than 80 pct of those investments will reduce emissions.

Specifically, the company noted:

$17 billion for offshore wind projects, including an estimated $8 billion to build a 2.6 GW offshore wind project in Virginia that it hopes to complete by the end of 2026;

$20 billion on solar projects expanding the company's capacity from 2.2 GW to 13.4 GW by 2035;

$7 billion for energy storage projects;

$4 billion to extend the life of its zero-emission nuclear power plants;

$15 billion on electric grid transformation projects and $9 billion on natural gas distribution modernization projects and renewable natural gas.

Roughly $72 billion by 2035 would increase the company's zero-carbon power sources from 45 pct in 2020 to 70 pct by 2035 while improving its zero- and low-carbon sources from 90 pct to 95 pct. Dominion is also investing in early-stage hydrogen projects. (Source: Dominion Energy, PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: Dominion Energy Virginia, Emil Avram, VP Bus. Dev., www.dominionenergy.com

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

Date: 2021-02-17
In Kentucky, the city of Louisville Metro Office of Housing is dedicating nearly $3.4 million in allocated federal dollars to fund new affordable housing developments with priority given to energy efficiency.

The funding is available through the Office of Housing's annual HOME program that offers housing choices to a range of home purchasers and renters by creating diverse "quality of place" neighborhoods supported by public facilities and other amenities.

There is no maximum request amount for HOME funds. The Office of Housing also has an additional $80,000 for energy efficiency investments such as tankless water heaters, solar panels or other upgrades.

2021 HOME NOFA program details HERE. (Source: City of Louisville Office of Housing, PR, 16 Feb., 2021) Contact: City of Louisville Office of Housing, (502) 574-5850, www.louisvilleky.gov/government/housing

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

CleanSpark
Date: 2021-02-17
Salt Lake City-based diversified software and services specialist CleanSpark, Inc. is reporting the launch of mVoult www.mvoult.com, a stand-alone energy management controller capable of directing the operations of both existing and new energy assets for residential microgrids.

mVoult will be offered as a smart controller and mobile app specifically designed for residential applications. The Company also plans to launch a fully integrated mVoult branded battery energy storage and controls solution. The home power solution will enable the selection of optional add-ons such as solar integration or back-up generators. The company expects to begin taking pre-orders for both the stand-alone controls and the fully integrated solution in April 2021. Installations of the solution are expected to begin summer 2021.

CleanSpark, Inc. offers a suite of software solutions that provide end-to-end microgrid energy modeling, energy market communications, and energy management solutions. Offerings include intelligent energy monitoring and controls, intelligent microgrid design software, middle-ware communications protocols for the energy industry, energy system engineering and software consulting services.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, ATL Data Centers LLC, CleanSpark also owns and operates a data center that provides customers with traditional on-site and cloud-based data center services. (Source: CleanSpark, Inc., PR, 15 Feb., 2021) Contact: CleanSpark, Inc., Zach Bradford, CEO, (801) 244-4405, ir@cleanspark.com, www.cleanspark.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Microgrid news,  Energy Stoarge news,  Energy Management news,  

AW-Energy Oy
Date: 2021-02-15
Finland-based AW-Energy Oy is touting its combined WaveRoller and HydrogenHub process wave energy device that when combined with other renewable energy sources, can significantly reduce green hydrogen production costs .

Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy -- such as combining wave energy with solar -- to power electrolysis that splits water into its constituent parts. It is regarded as a leading approach in the journey to decarbonise emission-intensive industries and transport sectors. A $2/kg price is widely believed to represent a potential tipping point that will make green hydrogen and its derivative fuels the energy source of choice across multiple sectors, which includes steel manufacturing, fertilizer production, power generation, and shipping where vast near-term demand exists across Europe and internationally.

Green ammonia, a derivative of green hydrogen, is also being assessed as a way to displace fossil fuels in thermal power generation, greatly decreasing the emissions intensity of existing energy infrastructure.

The growth in green hydrogen production using wave energy could potentially be a cost-effective solution in reaching the world's latest hydrogen goals, according to the AW-Energy release. (Source: AW-Energy Oy, PR, 11 Feb., 2021) Contact: AW-Energy Oy, Christopher Ridgewell, CEO, info@aw-energy.com, www.aw-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News AW-Energy Oy,  Wave Energy,  Green Hydrogen ,  

RER Energy Group
Date: 2021-02-15
Reading, Pennsylvania-headquartered solar energy specialist RER Energy Group is reporting the official commissioning and startup of the Saranac Lake N.Y Community Solar farm -- the first community solar project of its size in the Adirondacks.

RER Energy was the site manager and installer of the 25 rows of solar panels on the 10 acre installation which is expected to generate more than 2.4 million kWh of energy per year. (Source: RER Energy Group, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, 13 Feb., 2021) Contact: RER Energy Group, Jim Kurtz, Pres., 610-332-7232, www.rerenergygroup.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News RER Energy Group ,  Commuity Solar,  

Wartsila
Date: 2021-02-10
Helsinki-headquartered Wartsila Corporation reports it has contracted to install a 10MW battery energy storage system at the Eolica Coromuel Wind Farm near the city of La Paz, Mexico. The 50MW wind energy project is under construction by San Diego-based by Eurus Energy America Corp. -- part of the Tokyo-headquartered Eurus Energy Group -- which operates wind and solar farms globally.

Wartsilia will provide a grid-connected battery storage system and long-term servicing to the system including remote monitoring, performance guarantees and replacing and repairing components as needed. Wartsilia will use the Finland-headquartered energy storage system integrator's recently launched GridSolv Max containerised lithium-ion battery storage and run on the company's GEMS energy management software platform.

Mexico is aiming to reach 30 pct renewables by 2021 and 35 by 2024. (Source: Wartsilia, PR, Energy Storage, 8 Feb., 2021) Contact: Eurus Energy Holdings, +81-3-5404-5300 / FAX: +81-3-5404-5301, www.eurus-energy.com; Eurus Energy America, Eurus Energy America, Nick Henriksen, VP, 858-638-7115, 858-638-7125 -- fax; info@eurusenergy.com, www.eurusenergy.com; Wartsila, www.wartsila.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wartsila,  Eurus Energy,  Wind,  Energy Storage,  

Amazon, Shell, Eneco
Date: 2021-02-10
In the Netherlands, the Amazon-Shell HKN (Hollandse Kust Noord) Offshore Wind Project is targeting a 2023 launch. The project will comprise a floating solar park, short-term battery storage, optimally tuned turbines, and "green hydrogen" made by electrolysis as a further storage technique.

The offshore wind farm will be operated by the Crosswind Consortium, a joint venture between energy companies Shell and Eneco, and have an overall capacity of 759MW, half of which is being purchased by Amazon to power its European operations .

The project is the e-commerce giant's largest single-site renewables project to date. In December, Amazon announced it will invest in 26 wind and solar projects totaling 3.4GW of electricity production capacity. (Source: Amazon, PR, Energy 8 Feb., 2021) Contact: Eneco, Kees-Jan Rameau, Strategic Growth Officer, www.eneco.com; Amazon, amazon-pr@amazon.com, www.amazon.com/pr; Shell, www.shell.com/newenergies; Crosswind Consortium, www.crosswindhkn.nl

More Low-Carbon Energy News Amazon,  Shell,  Eneco,  Wind,  Renewable Energy,  

Appalachian Power ,LS Power Development
Date: 2021-02-10
In the Old Dominion State, Duke Energy reports it will acquire 400 MW of energy storage from Roanoke-based Appalachian Power's Bath County Pumped Energy Storage Station in the Allegheny Mountains north of Roanoke.

New York-headquartered LS Power Development holds a 24 pct interest in the Bath County Pumped Storage Station which is touted as the "largest of its kind in the world" capable of producing sufficient power for as many as 750,000 homes, according to Dominion Energy.

The Virginia Clean Economy Act, a landmark law passed last year by the General Assembly, requires Appalachian and Dominion to invest in energy storage as well solar and wind in order to meet the state's 100 pct renewable power portfolio by mid-century. (Source: Appalachian Power, PR, Roanoke Times, Feb., 2021) Contact: Appalachian Power, www.appalachianpower.com; LS Power Development, (212) 615-3456, www.lspower.com; Duke Energy Renewables, Chris Fallon, (704) 594-6200, chris.fallon@duke-energy.com, www.duke-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Duke Energy,  Appalachian Power,  Pumped Energy Storage ,  

Carbon Leadership Forum
Date: 2021-02-10
Lever for Change is reporting the five finalist teams that will advance to the next stage of the 2030 Climate Challenge, a $10 million award launched in 2020 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 2030.

The Challenge, sponsored by an anonymous donor, will fund proven, data-driven solutions tackling greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings, industry, and/or transportation sectors in communities across the country. The finalists include:

Carbon Leadership Forum / Seattle, Washington -- Building with Biomass: Using Buildings to Sequester Carbon at Gigaton-Scale carbonleadershipforum.org

RMI / Boulder, Colorado -- Scale Zero: Healthy, Zero-Emission, Affordable Housing for All. www.rmi.org

Solar United Neighbors / Washington, District of Columbia -- First Statewide Virtual Power Plant: Equitable Transition to Clean Energy. www.solarunitedneighbors.org

World Resources Institute / Washington, District of Columbia -- Turning Point: Driving Climate Action through Southeast Transportation Electrification, www.wri.org

World Wildlife Fund / Washington, District of Columbia -- Decarbonizing U.S. Industry with Renewable Thermal Energy. www.worldwildlife.org

Finalist's project details are HERE. (Source: 2030 Climate Challenge, Website PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: 2030 Climate Challenge, www.2030climatechallenge.org Lever for Change, www.leverforchange.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Leadership Forum,  ,  

LG Electronics
Date: 2021-02-08
In Seoul, LG Electronics Inc. is reporting completion of South Korea's largest energy storage system (ESS) -- 340- MWh -- on Anjwa Island, South Jeolla Province, some 320 kilometers south of Seoul, in cooperation with KCH Group, Korea Western Power Co. and Top Solar Group.

Considering that a four-person family in South Korea consumes an average 11.7 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per day, the company said the ESS can store enough electricity for some 29,000 households to use for a day.

LG Electronics said it will offer a three-year warranty on all ESS components, including batteries that were manufactured by its LG Group affiliate LG Energy Solution Ltd. The tech firm said a 24-hour monitoring and remote control system is applied to the ESS, as well as LG Energy Solution's battery fire detection and suppression solutions. (Source: LG Electronics, PR, Website, Yonhap. 7 Feb., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News LG Electronics news,  Energy Storage news,  

TOTAL
Date: 2021-02-08
Paris-headquartered french oil and gas giant TOTAL reports it is acquiring four commercial-scale solar+storage power projects in Texas, to meet the electricity demand of its Port Arthur refining and petrochemicals platform and La Porte and Carville petrochemical sites and others. All projects, each with co-located battery energy storage systems, are in industrial areas near Houston with high electricity demand and are expected to come online between 2023 and 2024, according to the release.

Including this acquisition, TOTAL is now developing close to 4 GW of renewable power capacity in the US. TOTAL has the largest renewable energy portfolio among European oil majors. (Source: TOTAL, Financial Tribune, 7 Jan., 2021)

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

Contec Inc.,Southern Current
Date: 2021-02-05
In South Carolina, global cleaning and decontamination supplies manufacturer Contec Inc. is reporting Pisgah Energy and solar developer and EPC provider Southern Current will design, develop and install a roof and ground mounted solar project at Contec's plant in Spartanburg. The two systems, totaling 625.5 kWdc, serve as on-site electric power generation for Contec, expanding their efforts to manufacture their goods with renewable energy.

The 1668 solar panel installation will supply power to a net-metered system to produce 944,600 kWh of power and offset Contec's electricity consumption by 53 pct. (Source: Contec, PR, Website, Feb., 2021) Contact: Pisgah Energy, Evan Becka, Pres., Rebecca Morris , 828.215.8738 rebecca.morris@pisgahenergy.com, www.pisgahenergy.com; Contec, Inc., Jack McBride, CEO, Matt Schiering, 864.641.5137, mschiering@contecinc.com, www.contecinc.com; Southern Current, 843-277-2090, www.southerncurrent.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Southern Current,  Solar,  

Sunnova
Date: 2021-02-05
Houston-headquartered residential solar and energy storage service provider Sunnova Energy International Inc, reports the launch of the industry's first 0 pct APR financing program for home solar and battery storage service.

Under the program, new Sunnova customers may be eligible to go solar for as low as 0 pct APR and $0 down with the purchase of a new Sunnova SunSafe® solar + battery storage system, or .99 pct APR and $0 down for the purchase of solar-only service, including a 25-year Sunnova Protect™ limited warranty . (Source: Sunnova, PR, 2 Feb., 2021) Contact: Sunnova, Alina Eprimian, alina.eprimian@sunnova.com, www.sunnova.com

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

Arcadia
Date: 2021-02-05
Arcadia, a monthly subscription service that connects renters and homeowners across the US to wind and solar energy through their utility accounts, today announced a new partnership with Mass.-based Biogen, a pioneer in neuroscience, that will offer all US-based Biogen employees access to 100 pct community solar renewable energy in their homes.

Arcadia's renewable energy offering is a key component of the employee engagement goals for this initiative, through which Biogen became the first Fortune 500 company committing to become fossil fuel free across its operations by 2040.

For Biogen employees participating in the company's Renewable Electricity Opt-in Program, Biogen will cover the cost premium of purchasing 100 pct renewable electricity. US-based employees have the option to participate in the Arcadia subscription program, while those in the US and international locations that have already signed up to a 100 pct renewable electricity contract with their home energy supplier can receive a fixed annual reimbursement of $200. For employees that cannot enroll in renewable electricity programs due to regulatory restrictions, who do not pay their electricity, or that want an alternative to the fixed annual reimbursement, Biogen will purchase and retire 11 MWh of renewable energy credits, an amount equal to the average household usage.

Founded in 2014, Arcadia integrates with 125 utilities in all 50 states, manages 4.5 terawatt-hours of residential energy demand, and is the largest manager of residential community solar subscribers in the US. (Source: Arcadia, PR, 5 Feb., 2021) Contact, Arcadia, Alexa Minerva, Senior Director of Partnerships, Brennan Johnson, 401-556-0662, brennan.johnson@arcadia.com, www.arcadia.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Arcadia,  Solar,  Community Solar,  Renewable Energy,  

Southern Power
Date: 2021-02-05
Atlanta-based US wholesale energy provider Southern Power reports it is adding battery energy storage capacity to its 205-MW Tranquillity Solar Facility and the 72-MW Garland Solar Facility, as well as inking 20-year PPAs with Southern California Edison (SCE) for the two sites.

Both energy storage projects will be owned in partnership with AIP Management and Global Atlantic Financial Group, who already have existing ownership interests in the two facilities. Southern Power will be responsible for operating the storage, building on their operation of both solar sites since they went into commercial operation in 2016. (Source: Southern Power, PR, Feb., 2021)Contact: Southern Power, www.southernpowercompany.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Southern Power,  Energy Storage,  

Magnora, RWE
Date: 2021-02-03
Oslo-headquartered renewable energy company Magnora ASA is reporting an agreement with global offshore energy technology and service company RWE to establish a joint floating wind company called Magnora Floating Wind.

The new company has begun operations and started work on the application for the ScotWind round in Scotland, UK. The company will also participate in the first offshore wind application round in Norway, which will open in 2021, as well as consider entering new markets. Magnora previously announced acquisitions of: Swedish offshore wind developer Kustvind AB; Sweden-based solar developer Evolar AB; and VINDR AS, the wind power development company focusing on small and medium scaled wind development projects. (Source: Magnora ASA, PR, Website, 29 Jan., 2021) Contact: Magnora ASA, Erik Sneve, CEO, es@magnoraasa.com, www.magnoraasa.com; RWE, www.rwe.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Magnora,  RWE,  Floating Wind,  

Enphase Energy,Momentum Solar
Date: 2021-02-03
Fremont, California-based energy management technology and microinverter-based solar-plus-storage systems supplier Enphase Energy, Inc. is reporting U.S. residential solar contractor Momentum Solar will now promote and install Enphase Energy Storage systems in addition to Enphase Solar systems as their all-in-one home energy management solution.

Enphase Encharge™ storage systems feature Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, which provides a long cycle life, safe operation through excellent thermal stability, and a UL9540A fire safety certification.

Enphase Storage systems are equipped with Enphase Power Start™ technology, which helps seamlessly power-up air conditioners and well-pumps. Homeowners have insight into their solar and storage systems through the Enphase Enlighten™ mobile app. (Source: Enphase Energy, Inc., PR, 3 Feb., 2021) Contact: Enphase Energy Inc., Dave Ranhoff, CCO, Christian Zdebel, 484-788-2384, pr@enphase.com, www.enphase.com; Momentum Solar, Arthur Souritzidis, CEO, www.momentumsolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enphase Energy news,  Momentum Solar news,  Battery Energy Storage news,  

Date: 2021-02-03
Fremont, California-based energy management technology and microinverter-based solar-plus-storage systems supplier Enphase Energy, Inc. is reporting U.S. residential solar contractor Momentum Solar will now promote and install Enphase Energy Storage systems in addition to Enphase Solar systems as their all-in-one home energy management solution.

. Enphase Encharge™ storage systems feature Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, which provides a long cycle life, safe operation through excellent thermal stability, and a UL9540A fire safety certification. Enphase Storage systems are equipped with Enphase Power Start™ technology, which helps seamlessly power-up air conditioners and well-pumps. Homeowners have insight into their solar and storage systems through the Enphase Enlighten™ mobile app, including the ability to go off-grid from the app.. (Source: Enphase Energy, Inc., PR, 3 Feb., 2021) Contact: Enphase Energy Inc., Dave Ranhoff, CCO, Christian Zdebel, 484-788-2384, pr@enphase.com, www.enphase.com; Momentum Solar, Arthur Souritzidis, CEO, www.momentumsolar.com

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

Seattle
Date: 2021-02-02
The Seattle City Council reports approval of Council Bill 119993 updating the city's construction and building energy codes in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency. The Bill requires all new commercial and large multifamily buildings taller than three stories to "improve the building insulation, space heating, water heating, lighting, and renewable energy," as well as: elimination of all gas and most electric resistance space heating systems; elimination of gas water heating in large multifamily buildings and hotels; improved building exteriors to improve energy efficiency and comfort; Creation of more solar power opportunities; Requires electrical infrastructure necessary for future conversion of any gas appliances in multifamily buildings.

Gas continues to be the leading – and fastest growing -- source of climate pollution in the Evergreen State with offices, homes and buildings causing 27 pct of the state's climate pollution and are also the single fastest growing source. The legislation would reduce Seattle's total building emissions by 12 pct by 2050. Read More (Source: City of Seattle, Seattle PI, 1 Feb., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency news,  

Brewer Renewable Energy
Date: 2021-02-01
Virginia-headquartered Brewer Renewable Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Seahorse Capital, reports it is advancing plans to construct a new 100-MW solar farm on a combination of cultivated farmland and managed timberland in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The $85 million solar facility will have the option of up to 100 megawatts and 400 MWh hours of energy storage which can provide power to roughly 20,000. The project is expected to be operational in 2023.

Orangeburg County has invested more than $500 million in new solar projects total 460 MW over the last three years. (Source: Brewer Renewable Energy LLC, Orangeburg Times-Democrat, 31 Jan., 2021) Contact: Brewer Reneable Energy LLC, Brewer Renewable Energy, LLC , www.linkedin.com › bill-brewer-00176275; Orangeburg County Development Commission, Gregg Robinson, Exec. Dir., 803-536-3333, www.ocdc.com

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

Panasonic
Date: 2021-02-01
Osaka-headquartered electronics giant Panasonic Corp. reports its unprofitable solar cell manufacturing operations at its Malaysian plant and its unit in Unnan, Shimane Prefecture, will be terminated by the end of March 2022.

Despite the planned ending of its solar cell production, Panasonic will still continue sales of solar power systems to households and businesses. The Shimane plant will focus on the production of equipment used in electricity management. (Source: Panasonic, PR, Japan Times, 31 Jan., 2021) Contact: Panasonic, www.panasonic.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Panasonic,  Solar,  

University of Arkansas
Date: 2021-02-01
In Arkansas, the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) Board of Trustees is reporting approval of a seven-acre solar array and solar learning lab that will issue a Certificate of Proficiency in Solar Energy Technology. The certificate curriculum is adopted from Solar Energy International.

With this curriculum, UAHT will become an approved training provider for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), according to the release.

The certificate program, which is expected to begin this fall, is part of the path to completing the Associate of Applied Science in Power Technologies degree at UAH

The UHAT solar lab $200,000 in grant funding from AEP/SWEPCO Foundation. In addition, Entegrity Energy Partners, which was selected to design and install the solar project, as well as First Solar and OMCO Solar, are donating solar modules and racking equipment to help complete the laboratory.

There are presently more than 42,5610 homes in Arkansas powered by solar, with twenty-six solar companies active in the state. (Source: University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, PR, 28 Jan., 2021) Contact: University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, 870-777-5722, www.uaht.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  

Enel Green Power
Date: 2021-02-01
Enel Green Power (EGP) reports it constructed 3,106 MW of renewable capacity worldwide in 2020, beating its 2019 record of 3,029 MW. The new renewable capacity includes around 46 facilities, mainly wind (2,284 MW) and solar (803 MW). EGP also refurbished and repowered about 1.2 GW of plants in operation (250 MW wind, 847 MW hydro and 73 -- roughly 508 MW in Europe, 879 MW in Latin America, 1,386 MW in North America, mainly in the United States; and 333 MW in Africa, Asia and Oceania. The new capacity is expected to generate around 11.3 TWh per year, while avoiding 6.86 million tpy of CO2 emisssions.

EGP presently has around 49 GW capacity across a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower and aims to generate 145 GW of renewable power by 2030 and to fully decarbonize its generation mix by 2050. (Source: EGP, PR, 30 Jan., 2021) Contact: EGP, Salvatore Bernabei, CEO, www.enelgreenpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enel Green Power,  Enel Group. Renewable Energy,  

Priority Power Management, Satori Energy Solutions
Date: 2021-02-01
Texas-based Priority Power Management, LLC, an independent energy management services and consulting firm, is reporting acquisition of Chicago-headquartered Satori Energy Solutions, LLC.

Satori provides expertise and service to more than 55,000 industrial, municipal, and residential clients in 25 states and the District of Columbia, Canada, and Mexico. The company's capabilities span the spectrum of Energy Structuring and Market Intelligence Operations, including: energy procurement, market price monitoring, contract administration, review, and negotiation, transaction due diligence, demand-side curtailment program evaluation, energy and invoice auditing, capacity PLC notification, budgeting and forecasting, and utility account and service setup.

Satori also has experience and expertise in energy transition, from sustainable energy and energy resiliency solutions, including community solar aggregation and behind-the-meter installations, to purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and carbon offsets, LEED certification, and ENERGY STAR® Certification and energy benchmarking.

Priority Power is the #1 Independent Energy Solutions Provider focused on Energy Infrastructure, Energy Transition Program Management, Market Intelligence Operations, and Energy Structuring. Priority serves over 1,600 clients, totaling $2.4/BN in energy spend across 37 states. Priority is backed by Ara Partners, a private equity firm specializing in decarbonization investments in the industrial and manufacturing, chemicals and materials, energy efficiency and green fuels, and the food and agriculture sectors. (Source: Priority Power Management, LLC, PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: Ara Partners, (917) 439-3507, www.arapartners.com; Priority Power Management, LLC, John J. Bick, Managing Principal, (972) 314-9040, JBick@PriorityPower.net , www.prioritypower.net; Satori Energy Solutions, 312-850-2300, www.satorienergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Management,  Energy Efficiency,  

EDF Renewables North America,EnterSolar
Date: 2021-01-29
EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) is reporting its 100-pct acquisition of EnterSolar, a national provider of distributed generation solar solutions to corporate commercial and industrial (C&I) customers. EDF previously held a 50-pct stake in EnterSolar in a strategic partnership they announced on September 24, 2018.

As a wholly-owned EDF subsidiary, EnterSolar will operate as a part of the Distributed Solutions Group and benefit from a broader range of offerings, including energy storage and smart electric vehicle charging. (Source: EnterSolar, Website News, 27 Jan., 2021) Contact: EDF Renewables, Sandi Briner, 858-521-3525, www.edf-re.com; EnterSolar, 917-580-3198, www.entersolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News EDF Renewables North America,  Solar,  EnterSolar,  

iSun
Date: 2021-01-29
In Vermont, South Burlington-based solar energy services, smart city innovations and clean mobility infrastructure specialist iSun -- fka The Peck Company -- has been selected by competitive bid to provide solar EV carport, rooftop and ground-mount solar technologies to the Meriden Housing Authority for two locations in Bristol, CT.

The contract is valued at $2.2 million and the project is expected to be completed this Spring. (Source: iSun Energy Inc, Vt. Business Mag., 26 Jan., 2021) Contact: iSun Energy Inc., Jeffrey Peck, CEO, 866-666-4786, www.isunenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News The Peck Company,  Solar,  

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,  

Arctech Solar
Date: 2021-01-29
Arctech Solar, a leading solar tracking, racking and BIPV systems provider, released the attached The Next Generation of Artificial Intelligence Solar Tracking Solution white paper detailing major upgrades for its tracking solution that can improve power generation of solar power plants by up to 7 pct.

The white paper explores the AI-powered solar tracking solutions that are capable of overcoming the problem of energy production losses suffered by solar power plants due to challenging weather conditions, ubiquitous terrain undulation and inevitable variability in site construction, while ensuring a reliable increase in energy yield throughout the life cycle of PV power plants.

According to the white paper, Arctech's solar tracking solution integrates four strategies: the tracking control strategy on a real terrain, the cloud strategy based on real-time weather data, the bifacial strategy for bifacial modules and trackers and the control strategy based on sharing parameters with inverters.

Access the white paper HERE. (Source: Arctech Solar, PR, Website, 29 Jan., 2021) Contact: Arctech Solar, US, 916.879.7890, www.archtechsolar.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Arctech Solar,  Solar,  

LAVO
Date: 2021-01-27
Australia-based LAVO is touting its hybrid hydrogen Green Energy Storage System as a replacement for lithium-ion battery units, which leave a massive carbon footprint during production.

The Green Energy Storage System for residential solar systems can store more than 40 kWh of electricity which is supposedly enough for days of off-grid power for an average household. Measuring 66 x 49 x 15.7 inches and weighing 714 lbs, the system's Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to monitor and control energy usage remotely. (Source: LAVO, Website, PR, Men Gear, Jan., 2021) Contact: LAVO, Alan Yu, Pres. www.lavo.com.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage news,  Hydrogen news,  Solar news,  

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,  

University of Hawaii Maui College
Date: 2021-01-27
In the Aloha State, the University of Hawaii Maui College is reporting its campus in Kahului is now powered by 100 pct renewable energy and has achieved net-zero energy status through a combination of solar photovoltaic energy, distributed energy storage and energy efficiency measures.

Distributed energy storage and energy-efficiency were instrumental in the school reaching its goal. The also school installed more than 3,300 photovoltaic modules with 13.93 MWh of battery storage and is part of a partnership with Johnson Controls and Mauo, a subsidiary of Pacific Current.

The state of Hawaii has committed to achieve 100 pct renewable energy by 2045 and a collective goal for the university system's 10 campuses to be "net-zero" by January 1, 2035. (Source: University of Hawaii Maui College, PR. 25 Jan., 2021) Contact: University of Hawaii Maui College, www.maui.hawaii.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  Solar PV,  Energy Efficiency ,  Renewable Energy,  

Leeward Renewable Energy
Date: 2021-01-27
Dallas-headquartered Leeward Renewable Energy LLC is reporting plans to acquire a utility-scale solar platform for about $261 million. Leeward, which is owned by the province of Ontario, Canada pension fund OMERS said it would acquire about 10 gigawatts of projects being developed by Tempe, Arizona-headquartered First Solar. Many of the projects are slated for California and other parts of the U.S., with construction expected to begin within two years.

Leeward operates about 2 GW of wind power generation in the U.S. The First Solar deal is expected to bring the company's operating capacity to 5 GW of renewable energy by 2025. (Source: Leeward Renewable Energy, PR, 22 Jan., 2021) Contact: Leeward Renewable Energy, Jason Allen, CEO, John Wycherley, VP Bus. Dev., 214.515.1100, www.leewardenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Leeward Renewable Energy,  Solar,  

Enviva Biomass
Date: 2021-01-25

Together renewable fuels will further displace coal and natural gas -- As countries take aggressive action on climate change to decarbonize their respective economies by 2050, the direction is clear -- all carbon-neutral and carbon-negative renewable fuels will need to work together if we want to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century. As the global energy demand for alternative fuels increase, 2021 will mark a turning point for the industry as wind, solar, geothermal, woody biomass, hydrogen, and lithium-ion battery energy providers (among others) make a collective and coordinated effort to combat the global climate crisis.

The aftermath of COVID-19 will push economies into a renewable future -- The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed how societies, businesses, and governments view the world. As various industries saw a decline in the demand for products and/or services throughout the pandemic, the energy industry witnessed the opposite. Energy production and distribution remained essential regardless of the pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic we've seen an increased global interest in reducing carbon emissions. Looking ahead, we expect renewable fuels will continue to play a crucial role in power generation for decades to come. For this reason, we don't foresee a job loss, rather a job transfer -- or perhaps a job boom - in renewables in 2021. For those currently working in fossil fuels, this shift will present a great opportunity to transition skills as the energy sector continues to evolve into a clean energy future.

Europe will continue to be the "Poster Child" for renewable energy implementation, but there will be some regulatory uncertainty. -- Delivering Europe's long-term ambition to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050 requires an extensive set of urgent measures to scale up action. At the very least, the world-leading sustainability criteria established by the Renewable Energy Directive II (REDII) will need to be fully implemented by all member states if Europe plans to meet their 2030 and 2050 emission reduction goals. At best, member states will need to further amend the directive if they wish to succeed in cutting carbon emissions by 55 pct in the next decade from 1990 levels.

Bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source in the EU and will be critical to increased deployment of wind and solar -- The use of bioenergy has more than doubled since 2000 as a result of its end-use as heat, transportation, and electricity. In fact, biomass is the only renewable fuel on the market that is readily available today and can replace fossil fuels for heat generation. In heavy industries such as steel, aluminum and cement, sustainably sourced wood-based biomass offers a carbon-neutral fuel replacement for coal and gas-fired furnaces (and combined heat and power plants). As a dependable and dispatchable renewable fuel, sustainably-sourced biomass represents a prime solution to complement the intermittency of wind and solar (among other renewables) that will reduce carbon emissions by more than 85% on a lifecycle basis.

Biomass to assist the development and deployment of a hydrogen economy -- Looking ahead to more future-oriented solutions, such as the development of the hydrogen economy, biomass is projected to play an important role. The most obvious is to use biomass directly to create hydrogen through gasification and thereby avoid carbon emissions that are associated with natural gas. Even further down the road, when surplus solar and wind could potentially be used to create hydrogen at scale, there will be an exciting opportunity to produce aviation and other fuels with carbon capture of biomass that could result in even fewer net greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, as decarbonization efforts in the steel and cement industry rapidly increase, they too will look to bioenergy solutions for support.

BECCS on the short rise -- Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is one of the very few options on the table that can remove carbon from the atmosphere. Once matured, BECCS could mark the beginning of a new era for low-carbon fuel applications that will enable us to meet and/or exceed international net zero targets while still enjoying air travel and heavy goods transport, which is difficult and very expensive to decarbonize. We expect 2021 will be the year that we see true progress in climate change mitigation, as a result of new initiatives/policies, new innovations, and new collaborations that are already taking shape.

ENVIVA Holdings, LP is the world's largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source used to generate electricity and heat. Through its subsidiaries, ENVIVA owns and operates wood pellet processing plants and deep-water export terminals in the Southeastern United States and exports pellets primarily to power plants in the UK, Europe and Japan that previously were fueled by coal, enabling them to reduce their lifetime carbon footprint by up to 85 pct. We make our pellets using sustainable practices that protect Southern forests. ENVIVA Holdings, LP conducts its activities primarily through two entities: ENVIVA Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership (NYSE: EVA), and ENVIVA Development Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned private company. (Source: Enviva Holdings, LP, Jan., 2021) Contact: ENVIVA Holdings, LP., www.envivabiomass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enviv news,  Woody Biomass Wood Pellet news,  CCS news,  Renewable Fuel news,  

ENVIVA
Date: 2021-01-25
The following has been submitted by the world's largest industrial wood pellets producer, ENVIVA Holdings LP:

Bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source in the EU and will be critical to increased deployment of wind and solar -- The use of bioenergy has more than doubled since 2000 as a result of its end-use as heat, transportation, and electricity. In fact, biomass is the only renewable fuel on the market that is readily available today and can replace fossil fuels for heat generation.

In heavy industries such as steel, aluminum, and cement -- sustainably sourced wood-based biomass offers a carbon-neutral fuel replacement for coal and gas-fired furnaces (and combined heat and power plants). As a dependable and dispatchable renewable fuel, sustainably-sourced biomass represents a prime solution to complement the intermittency of wind and solar (among other renewables) that will reduce carbon emissions by more than 85 pct on a lifecycle basis.

Biomass to assist the development and deployment of a hydrogen economy -- Looking ahead to more future-oriented solutions, such as the development of the hydrogen economy, biomass is projected to play an important role. The most obvious is to use biomass directly to create hydrogen through gasification and thereby avoid carbon emissions that are associated with natural gas. Even further down the road, when surplus solar and wind could potentially be used to create hydrogen at scale, there will be an exciting opportunity to produce aviation and other fuels with carbon capture of biomass that could result in even fewer net greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, as decarbonization efforts in the steel and cement industry rapidly increase.

ENVIVA is the world's largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source used to generate electricity and heat. Through its subsidiaries, ENVIVA Holdings, LP owns and operates wood pellet processing plants and deep-water export terminals in the Southeastern U.S. and exports primarily to previously coal-fired power plants in the U.K., Europe and Japan. We make our pellets using sustainable practices that protect Southern forests and employ about 1,100 people and support many other businesses in the U.S. South. ENVIVA Holdings, LP conducts its activities primarily through two entities: ENVIVA Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership (NYSE: EVA), and ENVIVA Development Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned private company. (Source: ENVIVA Holdings, LP, Jan., 2021) Contact: ENVIVA Holdings, LP. ENVIVA Biomass, Enviva Partners, LP, (301) 657-5560, www.envivabiomass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enviva,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  Renewable Fuel,  CCS,  

JinkoSolar
Date: 2021-01-25
JinkoSolar, one of the largest solar module producers in the world, reports it is constructing the world's largest -- 20 GW -- solar cell factory in Chuxiong, Yunnan Province, China.

The facility, which is slated to be fully operational by the end of the year, will triple the company's overall production capacity to 30 GW, according to the release. (Source: JinkoSolar, PR, Website, CleanTechnica, 23 Jan., 2021)Contact: JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd., Ripple Zhang, +86 21-5183 3105, pr@jinkosolar.com, www.jinkosolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Jinko Solar,  Solar,  

City of Seattle
Date: 2021-01-25
In Washington State, the City of Seattle reports it is proposing updates to the 2018 Seattle Energy Code. The proposed updates align with the Seattle 2030 District Goals, particularly that all buildings to be carbon neutral by the year 2050 -- a timeline that may be advanced to 2030 with the introduction of the Green New Deal.

In order for buildings constructed today to reach the 2030 or 2050 targets the updated code may include:

Building envelope that functions at Seattle's 2050 standard for dependable energy savings for decades.

Eliminate combustion -- buildings should be carbon neutral today to avoid major upgrades later.

Buildings should incorporate efficient electrical systems for space heating and water heating, heat pump systems and similar equipment.

Renewable energy -- on-site installations, solar readiness for larger future rooftop systems aligned with the City's building goals and be as cost effective as possible for both owners and tenants.

The code is intended to regulate the design and construction of buildings for the maximum energy efficiency and conservation as well carbon emissions reduction over the life of each building. Download code summary details HERE

(Source: 2030 Districts, City of Seattle, PR, Jan., 2021) Contact: City of Seattle, 2030 District, Matthew Combe, matthewcombe@2030districts.org, www.2030districts.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News City of Seattle,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Consumptio,  

Borrego
Date: 2021-01-25
In the Golden State, San Diego-based Borrego, a leading developer, EPC and O&M provider for large-scale renewable energy projects throughout the U.S., has unveiled a reorganized corporate structure and strategy focused on utility-scale solar and energy storage opportunities.

Borrego implemented most of the organizational changes in 2020. The three business units -- development, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and operations and maintenance (O&M) -- have already begun operating independently and competing for business in the marketplace, drawing on each other's strengths when needed. The development and EPC businesses also set up utility-scale divisions last year.

As part of this strategic shift, each of the company's businesses has a goal of operating at gigawatt scale by 2024. In order to accommodate the industry trend to larger-scale projects, Borrego also transformed its strategic sales approach in 2020 by shifting its emphasis from single-transaction, smaller, behind-the-meter projects to supporting long-term partners. (Source: Borrego, Website News, PR, 23 Jan., 2021) Contact: Borrego, Mike Hall, CEO, www.borregoenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Borrego,  Solar,  Renewable Energy,  

Inficold
Date: 2021-01-25
Noida, India-based thermal energy storage technology startup Inficold is reporting receipt of $900,000 in grant funding from the Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund, the UK charity Shell Foundation and others to expand its thermal energy storage manufacturing, sales and servicing capabilities.

Inficold has developed inverterless solar integration for refrigeration systems, which reduces the overall system cost and improves solar utilisation. Inficold plans to ramp up production by over 10 times and is developing other sustainable cooling solutions in air conditioning space. (Source: Inficold, PR, Cooling Post, 24 Jan., 2021) Contact: Inficold India, info@inficold.com, +91-782 981 0381, www.inficold.com

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

ENVIVA
Date: 2021-01-25
The following has been submitted by ENVIVA Holdings, LP, the world's largest industrial wood pellets producer:

Together renewable fuels will further displace coal and natural gas -- As countries take aggressive action on climate change to decarbonize their respective economies by 2050, the direction is clear -- all carbon-neutral and carbon-negative renewable fuels will need to work together if we want to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century. As the global energy demand for alternative fuels increase, 2021 will mark a turning point for the industry as wind, solar, geothermal, woody biomass, hydrogen, and lithium-ion battery energy providers (among others) make a collective and coordinated effort to combat the global climate crisis.

Europe will continue to be the "Poster Child" for renewable energy implementation, but there will be some regulatory uncertainty. -- Delivering Europe's long-term ambition to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050 requires an extensive set of urgent measures to scale up action. At the very least, the world-leading sustainability criteria established by the Renewable Energy Directive II (REDII) will need to be fully implemented by all member states if Europe plans to meet their 2030 and 2050 emission reduction goals. At best, member states will need to further amend the directive if they wish to succeed in cutting carbon emissions by 55 pct in the next decade from 1990 levels.

Bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source in the EU and will be critical to increased deployment of wind and solar -- The use of bioenergy has more than doubled since 2000 as a result of its end-use as heat, transportation, and electricity. In fact, biomass is the only renewable fuel on the market that is readily available today and can replace fossil fuels for heat generation. In heavy industries such as steel, aluminum, and cement, sustainably sourced wood-based biomass offers a carbon-neutral fuel replacement for coal and gas-fired furnaces (and combined heat and power plants). As a dependable and dispatchable renewable fuel, sustainably-sourced biomass represents a prime solution to complement the intermittency of wind and solar (among other renewables) that will reduce carbon emissions by more than 85 pct on a lifecycle basis.

Biomass to assist the development and deployment of a hydrogen economy -- Looking ahead to more future-oriented solutions, such as the development of the hydrogen economy, biomass is projected to play an important role. The most obvious is to use biomass directly to create hydrogen through gasification and thereby avoid carbon emissions that are associated with natural gas. Even further down the road, when surplus solar and wind could potentially be used to create hydrogen at scale, there will be an exciting opportunity to produce aviation and other fuels with carbon capture of biomass that could result in even fewer net greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, as decarbonization efforts in the steel and cement industry rapidly increase, they too will look to bioenergy solutions for support.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) -- is one of the very few options on the table that can remove carbon from the atmosphere. Once matured, BECCS could mark the beginning of a new era for low-carbon fuel applications that will enable us to meet and/or exceed international net zero targets while still enjoying air travel and heavy goods transport, which is difficult and very expensive to decarbonize. We expect 2021 will be the year that we see true progress in climate change mitigation, as a result of new initiatives/policies, new innovations, and new collaborations that are already taking shape.

COVID 19 Pandemic aftermath -- Throughout the pandemic we've seen an increased global interest in reducing carbon emissions. Looking ahead, we expect renewable fuels and energy will continue to play a crucial role in power generation for decades to come.

ENVIVA Holdings, LP is the world's largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source used to generate electricity and heat. Through its subsidiaries, ENVIV Holdings owns and operates wood pellet processing plants and deep-water terminals in the Southeastern U.S. and exports pellets primarily to formerly coal-fired power plants in the U.K, Europe and Japan. ENVIVA makes pellets using sustainable practices that protect Southern forests and employ about 1,100 people and support many other businesses in the U.S. South. ENVIVA Holdings, LP conducts its activities primarily through two entities: Enviva Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership (NYSE: EVA), and ENVIVA Development Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned private company. (Source: ENVIVA Holdings, LP, Jan., 2021) Contact: ENVIVA Holdings, LP, www.envivabiomass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ENVIVA,  Renewable Energy,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

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,  

Cordelio Power,Axium Infrastructure
Date: 2021-01-22
Toronto, Ontario-based Cordelio Power and Axium Infrastructure are reporting Axium's purchase of a 49 pct interest in Cordelio's 396 MW "Denfield" Ontario renewable energy portfolio of four wind projects and two solar projects in southwestern Ontario. Cordelio will continue to manage the Denfield assets.

Cordelio, which is wholly owned by CPP Investments, manages over 1,000 MW of renewable generation assets across North America, including 396 MW of wind and solar projects in Ontario plus a 656 MW (net) wind and solar portfolio stake owned by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The company's growth pipeline includes 2,500 MW of wind, solar and storage projects in the western and midwestern US.

Axium Infrastructure had $5.6 billion (Cdn) in assets under management as of September 30, 2020, as well as approximately $1.7 billion in co-investments. (Source: Cordelio Power, Website PR, Jan., 2021) Contact: Axium Infrastructure Inc., Anne-Sophie Roy, Senior VP Inv. Relations, 514-954-3781, asroy@axiuminfra.com, www.axiuminfra.com; Cordelio Power, 647-515-3337, 647-352-9533, info@cordeliopower.com, www.cordeliopower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cordelio Power,  Wind,  Solar,  Renewable EnergyAxium Infrastructure ,  

ReneSola
Date: 2021-01-22
Integrated solar project developer ReneSola Ltd is reporting sale of its remaining 13MW of project development rights in Poland to Warsaw-based renewable energy project developer and EPC service provider Warszawskie Przedsiębiorstwo Mostowe Mosty.

In November 2018, ReneSola Power was awarded 26 solar utility projects in Poland with capacity of 1 MW for each. These remaining 13MW of project rights being sold are part of those 26 solar projects awarded to ReneSola Power. All of the 26 projects are under Poland's Contract for Difference (CFD) regime and eligible for a 15-year guaranteed tariff, according to the company website. (Source: ReneSola Power, PR, Website, Jan., 2021) Contact: ReneSola Power, Yumin Liu, CEO, www.renesolapower.com; Warszawskie Przedsiębiorstwo Mostowe Mosty, +48 22 811 45 41, www.mosty.pl

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