USDA
Date: 2021-04-07
In Washington, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service reports that over the past 28 years it has protected more than 5 million acres of wetlands, grasslands, and prime farmland -- an area the size of New Jersey -- in perpetuity through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, grasslands, and working farms and ranches through conservation easements

Wetland Easements -- totaling over 2.8 million acres nationwide -- improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, reducing flooding, recharging groundwater, protecting biological diversity while Agricultural Land Easements protect productive working lands being converted to non-agricultural uses. Agricultural land easements total more than 1.9 million acres.

Working with private landowners to protect, preserve and restore wetlands, grasslands, forests and farmlands is integral to USDA's efforts to build resiliency and reduce the impacts of climate change across the nation. Easements allow landowners to partner with NRCS to implement voluntary climate-smart management practices that maximize the amount of carbon sequestered from the atmosphere and stored in soils or plant biomass across these landscapes.

The Biden Administration USDA is engaged in a "whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation's lands, biodiversity and natural resources including our soil, air and water." (Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, PR, 3 April, 2021) Contact: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Terry Cosby, Acting Chief, 202-690-7246, www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home

More Low-Carbon Energy News USDA,  Carbon Sequestration,  

Turkey Energy Efficiency
Date: 2021-04-07
In Ankara, the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry reports the country’s investments in energy efficiency in 2020 totaled $635 million for a savings of $158 million.

Turkey's 2017 National Energy Efficiency Action Plan targeted a 14 pct reduction in primary energy consumption and 66.6 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions reduction by 2023. To help meet its goal, the country invested $4.8 billion in energy efficiency projects between 2017 and 2020 for a cumulative savings of $1.2 billion, the Ministry noted.

The Turkish Efficiency Enhancing Projects plan identified 434 projects in the commercial buildings, energy, services and agriculture sector facilities and calls for a 15 pct increase in energy efficiency for public institutions up to the end of 2023. To that end, Turkey plans to invest around $11 billion for energy efficiency in all related sectors by 2023 for an expected savings of $30 billion by 2033. (Source: Turkey Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, Daily Sabah, 7 Apr., 2021) Contact: Turkey Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, +90 (312) 212 64 20, +90 (312) 222 57 60, bilgi@enerji.gov.tr, www.enerji.gov.tr/anasayfa

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

Repsol
Date: 2021-04-05
In Madrid, Spain's Repsol is bidding for a share of Europe's €750 billion ($884 billion) pandemic recovery funds to support projects including new biofuel plants and 'green' hydrogen production made from renewable sources in a pivot away from oil and gas to supplying low-carbon energy.

Repsol has proposed 30 projects which it calculates will need total investment of €5.96 billion. The projects include a plant in partnership with oil giant Saudi Aramco to build in northern Spain, which will produce synthetic fuel for cars, trucks and aircraft using carbon dioxide captured from a nearby refinery, and hydrogen produced from electricity generated from renewables. Another potential candidate is a refinery in southern Spain where Repsol aims to start producing advanced biofuels in 2023. A planned extension to a hydroelectric plant in the northern region of Cantabria has also been included in the proposals. Repsol estimates adding a gigawatt of capacity to the Aguayo hydroelectric facility will cost around €700 million. (Source: Repsol, PR, Apr., 2021) Contact: Repsol, Josu Jon Imaz, CEO, +34 91 7538100, +34 91 7538000, www.repsol.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Repsol,  Biofuel,  Green Hydrogen,  

Greenbacker Renewable Energy,Tesla,Platte River Power Authority
Date: 2021-04-05
Kansas City, Missouri-based Greenbacker Renewable Energy LLC (GREC) reports its Rawhide Prairie Solar +Storage project with 2-MWh Tesla battery bank connected to a 22-MW solar array is now online in Larimer County, Colorado.

The 150-acre Rawhide Prairie Solar site at the Platte River Power Authority's Rawhide Energy Station will deliver solar output to Platte River under a 20-year power purchase agreement.The project brings Platte River's total solar capacity to 52 MW. The utility is committed to 100 pct non-carbon energy portfolio by 2030. (Source: GREC, PR, CleanTech, April, 2021) Contact: Platte River Power Authority, Jason Frisbie, CEO, www.prpa.org; Greenbacker Renewable Energy, Charles Wheeler, 888-292-3178, generalenquires@greenbackerreneable energy.com, www.greenbackerrenewableenergy.com; Tesla, www.tesla.com/en_CA/powerwall

More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenbacker Renewable Energy,  Solar,  Solar+Storage,  Tesla,  Platte River Power Authority,  

Aemetis,California Air Resources Board
Date: 2021-04-02
Cupertino, California-based Aemetis Inc., a renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable fuels company, has received certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) -- effective as of Oct. 1, 2020 -- for a new LCFS Tier 2 fuel pathway for the Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes ethanol production plant utilizing renewable dairy biogas as a process energy input.

The Aemetis Central Dairy Digester Project is a collection of dairy lagoon anaerobic digesters that are built, owned and operated by Aemetis Biogas LLC utilizing waste animal manure to generate renewable methane gas to produce negative CI RNG for transportation use to displace diesel fuel. The completed Aemetis Central Dairy Digester Project is expected to include over 30 dairy digesters in the current phase (with plans to expand to more than 52 dairies), and utilize 36 miles of private pipeline owned by Aemetis, a centralized gas clean up unit located at the Aemetis Keyes ethanol biorefinery, an RNG onsite fueling station and an interconnection to PG&E's natural gas pipeline.

The company plans to begin construction of the next five dairy digesters and the additional 32 miles of biogas pipeline in the second quarter, with five more dairy digesters set to begin construction in the third quarter and five digesters beginning in the first quarter of 2022 for a planned total of 17 dairy digesters and a 35-mile biogas pipeline. (Source: Aemetis, PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: CARB, Richard Perry, CEO, Melanie Turner, Information Officer, (916) 322-2990, melanie.turner@arb.ca.gov, www.arb.ca.gov; Aemetis, Eric McAfee, CEO , Todd Waltz, (408) 213-0940, emcafee@aemetis.com, www.aemetis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News RNG,  Biogas,  Anaerobic Digestion,  Aemetis,  Ethanol,  California Air Resources Board ,  

Okinawa Electric Power
Date: 2021-03-31
Japanese power producer Okinawa Electric Power reports it has begun co-burning coal and woody biomass pellets at its Kin coal-fired power plant as part of normal operations. The plant can burn wood pellets made from domestically-supplied construction waste at the 220MW No.1 and No.2 coal-fired units, with the ratio of biomass mixture at around 3 pct.

Okinawa Electric Power also uses woody biomass at its 312MW Gushikawa coal-fired power plant and forecasts using a total 30,000 tpy of wood pellets for both plants and cutting its CO2 emissions by around 40,000 tpy.

The move to woody biomass pellet fuel is in line with the utility's plan cut greenhouse gas emissions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. (Source: Okinawa Electric Power, Korea Herald, Mar 29, 2021) Contact: Okinawa Electric Power, www.okiden.co.jp/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Okinawa Electric Power,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  Carbon Emission,  

Scout Clean Energy
Date: 2021-03-31
Further to our 19 May, 2020 coverage, Boulder, Colorado-based renewable energy developer, owner and operator Scout Clean Energy is reported to have withdrawn it's request for expedited processing of its application for site certification through Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) for its Horse Heaven Wind Farm project in Benton, County, Washington.

The slowdown is intended to allow further community input and comments on the proposed 1150 MW facility that would combine wind energy, solar energy and battery energy storage in the same location near the "Tri-Cities" of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland.

The project is expected to incorporate as many as 212 GE wind turbines at a total cost of $850 million and generate sufficient energy for approximately 140,000 homes when fully operational in 2022, as previously reported. (Source: Scout Clean Energy, Website, KEPR 30 Mar., 2021) Contact: Scout Clean Energy, Dave Kobus, Project Manager, Michael Rucker, CEO, (303) 284-7566, michael@scoutcleanenergy.com, www.scoutcleanenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Scout Clean Energy ,  Wind,  

National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium
Date: 2021-03-31
The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, which was established with funding from U.S. DOE, has selected 15 new projects to receive a total of $8 million for offshore wind support structure innovation, U.S.-based supply chain development, electrical systems innovation, and solutions for impacts on wildlife and radar.

The selections announced today include:

Four projects to develop innovative support structures (including foundations and moorings) for very large fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind turbines to achieve economies of scale;

Three projects that propose innovative solutions to supply chain and installation challenges including spiral welded towers, a self-positioning blade installation tool, and unmanned aerial devices for inspections;

Five projects to support innovations in grid interconnection and transmission;

Three technology development projects to mitigate use conflicts, including wildlife monitoring and radar interference. The 15 new projects bring the Consortium’s total funding portfolio to $28 million for 40 projects. This announcement supports a goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of U.S. offshore wind by 2030.

DOE established the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium in 2018 to address research priorities for offshore wind as defined in the National Offshore Wind Strategy, which was developed jointly by DOE and the DOI Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

The Consortium is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) with DOE and NYSERDA each providing $20.5 million to fund high-impact research projects that lower the costs of U.S. offshore wind.

Download details HERE (Source: US DOE, Wind Energy Technology Office, National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium, PR, 29 Mar., 2021) Contact: National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium, www.nationaloffshorewind.org; NYSERDA, Doreen Harris, Acting CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NYSERDA,  National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium,  Offshore Wind,  

Iberdrola
Date: 2021-03-31
Madrid-headquartered Spanish utility Iberdrola reports it has inked an agreement to purchase three Polish onshore wind farms totaling 163 MW from Cyprus-based CEE Equity Partners -- the investment advisor for two China-CEE Funds with committed funds of over $1.2 billion.

Two of the wind farms, totalling 112.5 MW, are operational with the remaining 50.4 MW project expected to break ground in the near future. (Source: Iberdrola, Website PR, 29 Mar., 2021) Contact: Iberdrola, +34 91 784 32 32, comunicacioncorporativa@iberdrola.es, www.iberdrola.es; CEE Equity Partners, +48 22 564 5500, Fax: +48 22 564 5502 -- Warsaw Office, office@cee-equity.com, www.cee-equity.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Iberdrola,  Wind,  Poland Wind,  

BASF
Date: 2021-03-31
BASF reports it is aiming to reduce its production CO2 emissions by 25 pct by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. To that end, the company plans to progressively switch to renewable energy sources and to invest up to €1 billion by 2025 in new technologies to reach its climate target and a further €2 billion to €3 billion by 2030.

In 2018, BASF's worldwide emissions totaled 21.9 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents. In 1990, this figure was roughly twice as high. The new 2030 emissions goal represents a reduction of approximately 60 pct compared to 1990 levels, which exceeds the European Union's target of minus 55 pct. (Source: BASF, PR, European Coatings, 30 Mar., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News BASF news,  Net-Zero news,  Carbon Emissions news,  

European Investment Bank
Date: 2021-03-26
The European Investment Bank (EIB) reports granting a €350 million line of credit to a consortium made up of EDF Renewables, Enbridge and wpd to co-finance construction of a planned €2 billion wind farm 10 km off the coast of Courseulles-sur-Mer, France.

The project will incorporate 64 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines totaling 450 MW and is expected to enter service in 2024. (Source: EIB, PR, NA Windpower, 24 Mar., 2021) Contact: EIB, www.eib.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Investment Bank,  wpd,  Enbridge,  EDF Renewables,  Offshore wind,  

UK BEIS
Date: 2021-03-26
In London, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has released the North Sea Transition Deal, a landmark climate transition agreement to support the offshore oil and gas industry work force and supply chain during the switch to renewable energy and a net-zero emissions economy.

The Deal includes an agreement for early reductions in production-site GHG emissions (not including emissions from product utilization) totaling 10 pctt by 2025, 25 pct by 2027 and 50 pct by 2030, with a goal of reaching net zero by 2050 -- a 15 million tonne reduction in CO2 emissions over the next ten years.

Additionally, the deal commits to delivery of investments of up to $22 billion in new energy technologies, including hydrogen production and carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS). The government has pledged to spend $1.4 billion on CCUS projects by 2025, and expects to provide additional support for the development of CO2 pipelines, storage sites and wells. The deal also commits to a voluntary industry target of 50 pct local, UK-made content for all new energy technology projects by 2030, with the same set-aside for oil and gas decommissioning activity. (Source: UK BEIS, PR, 24 Mar., 2021) Contact: BEIS, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

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

Rio Tinto, Heliogen
Date: 2021-03-26
Australian mining giant Rio Tinto reports it will seek California state regulatory approval to install a concentrated solar power (CSP) facility provided by Pasadena-based Heliogen at Tinto's borates mine and processing hub in the US desert town of Boron.

The facility could complement the gas-fired power at the Boron site and reduce emissions by about 7 pct. Rio Tinto will also consider the potential for larger scale use of the Heliogen CSP technology at Boron to reduce the site's carbon footprint by up to 24 pct, according to the release. The mining giant is also considering Heliogen's technology at its other operations around the world which accounted for 14 pct of Scope 1 and 2 emissions from the group's managed operations in 2020, the release noted.

In 2020, Rio Tinto Rio pledged to cut its total Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions 15 pct lower than 2018 levels by 2030 and its emissions intensity to 30 pct below 2018 levels by 2030.

Haliogen counts Bill Gates and Steve Case among its early backers. (Source: Rio Tinto, PR, Website, Financial Review, 24 Mar., 2021) Contact: Heliogen, Bill Gross, CEO, 626.720.4530, hello@heliogen.com, www.heliogen.com; Rio Tinto, www.riotinto.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rio Tinto,  CSP,  Heliogen,  Concentrated Solar,  Solar,  

China Carbon Emissions
Date: 2021-03-24
According to the China Iron and Steel Association, China's crude steel output will peak at around 1.16 billion tonnes in 2025, when carbon emissions in the sector will also reach a peak then fall by 420 million tonnes -- 30 pct -- by 2030.

In 202, China's steel sector produced 1.065 billion tonnes of crude steel -- 57 pct of world production -- and accounted for roughly 15 pct of the country's total carbon emissions. (Source: China Iron and Steel Association, Hellenic Shipping News, Reuters, 21 Mar., 2021) Contact: China Iron and Steel Association, english.chinaisa.org.cn

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  

Pakistan Renewable Energy
Date: 2021-03-24
In Islamabad, the Pakistan Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) is reporting a total of 16 wind and solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of 860 MW are likely to be commissioned and come online before the end of the year.

The AED, the sole representing agency of the Pakistan Federal Government, is charged with facilitating, promoting and encouraging renewable energy development in Pakistan and introducing alternative and aenewable energies at an accelerated rate and to ensure 5 pct of the country's total power generation capacity is generated by renewable energy technologies by 2030. (Source: Pakistan Alternative Energy Development Board, PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: Pakistan Alternative Energy Development Board, 051-9222360-61, support@aedb.org, www.aedb.org

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

Green Power EMC, Silicon Ranch
Date: 2021-03-22
Tucker, Georgia-based Green Power EMC, the not-for-profit renewable energy provider for 38 Georgia Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs), and Silicon Ranch, one of the nation's largest independent solar power producers and the U.S. solar platform for Shell, reports completion of a 200-MW /AC solar portfolio of three utility-scale projects in southern Georgia. The total capacity is distributed across two counties in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the state and provides sufficient energy for more than 35,000 EMC households while offsetting more than 350,000 metric tpy of GHGs.

The three solar projects were developed, funded, and constructed by Silicon Ranch, which also owns, operates, and maintains the solar arrays. Green Power EMC is purchasing all the energy and environmental attributes generated by the facilities on behalf of its Member EMCs for the next thirty years. (Source: Silicon Ranch, Website PR, 18 Mar., 2021) Contact: Silicon Ranch, Matt Beasley, CCO, Rob Hamilton, (629) 202-4009, rob.hamilton@siliconranch.com, www.siliconranch.com; Green Power EMC, Blair Romero, (770) 270-7290, blair.romero@opc.com, www.greenpoweremc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Power EMC,  Silicon Ranch ,  Solar,  

Suncor,Svante
Date: 2021-03-22
Calgary, Alberta-based oilsands and refining giant Suncor Energy is reporting an investment in Burnaby, British Columbia-based carbon capture technology company Svante. The funds will help Svante accelerate the commercialisation of its novel carbon capture technology for the decarbonisation of industrial emissions and hydrogen production.

With the latest investment, total proceeds raised under Svante's Series D financing equate to $100 million -- the largest single private investment into point source carbon capture technology globally to date, according to Suncor.

Svante CEO Claude Letourneau noted, "Svante has generated a pipeline of potential new project opportunities capturing over 40 million tonnes of CO2 per year before 2030 from natural gas industrial boilers, cement and lime, and blue hydrogen industrial facilities, mainly in North America and spurred by both US and Canada federal CO2 tax credits and prices on CO2 emissions." (Source: Suncor, PR, GasWorld, 18 Mar., 2021) Contact: Suncor, Mark Little, Pres. & CEO, www.suncor.com; Svante Inc., Claude Letourneau, , Pres., CEO, Julia McKenna , Inv. Relations, 604.456.0504, jmckenna@svanteinc.com, www.svanteinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Suncor Energy ,  Svante,  CCS,  

Adani Green Energy,SkyPower
Date: 2021-03-22
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India-headquartered renewable energy developer Adani Green Energy Ltd. is reporting a share purchase agreement for a 100 pct stake in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) holding 50 MW operating solar project from Toronto-based SkyPower Global. The 2017-vintage project located in Telangana , India, has a long-term PPA with the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana.

The acquisition, which is subject to the customary approvals and conditions, helps AGEL raise its operating renewable capacity to 3,395 MW with a total renewable portfolio of 14,865 MW including under-construction and awarded projects.

Adani Green Energy Ltd., which develops, builds, owns, operates and maintains utility-scale grid-connected solar and wind farm projects, reports it raised $1.35 billion from 12 top global banks in funding for its under-construction renewable asset portfolio that Adani aims to grow to 25 GW by 2025. (Source: Adani Green Energy Ltd., PR, Hindu Business, 20 Mar., 2021) Contact: Adani Green Energy Ltd. , Vneet Jaain, MD & CEO , Tel : +91 79 2656 5555 , Fax : +91 79 2555 6490, www.adanigreenenergy.com; SkyPower Global, (416) 979 4625, info@skypower.com, www.skypower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Adani Green Energy news,  Solar news,  SkyPower news,  

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date: 2021-03-22
In Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reports it has revamped the Green Energy Loan Fund (GELF) to make it easier for commercial property owners to get low-interest loans for large-scale, high-impact energy efficiency projects.

The DEP and GELF work with building owners to ensure projects meet minimum energy savings requirements. In preparation for financing, GELF offers borrowers technical assistance to help building owners identify the most efficient, effective solutions to improve their building's energy performance. The improvements make it easier for borrowers to get even lower interest rates if they commit to performing a retro-commissioning -- upgrading -- several years after installation of their energy-saving project. New equipment must reduce energy use at least 25 pct, and whole building projects must reduce energy use more than 10 pct over current building energy code.

The GELP prioritizes local community development efforts and seeks to support projects in Environmental Justice areas. Nearly 30 pct of funded projects have been in buildings owned or controlled by persons of color or with low income, and more than half have been located in low-income census tracts.

The Green Energy Loan Fund has financed 16 projects for a total of $23 million in improvements to 2.1 million square feet of building space since 2009. The financing has enabled a carbon dioxide emissions reduction of 110,000 tons over the life of these projects.

Download Penna. Green Energy Loan Fund details HERE. (Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, www.dep.pa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Efficiency Loans,  

Alpha 311
Date: 2021-03-17
In the UK, Alpha 311 reports its innovative vertical wind turbines are to be installed on the 20,000-seat O2 Arena in Greenwich making the arena the first in the world to trial the new turbine system. The Alpha 311 vertical turbine can turn with minimal wind due to its size, weight and unique shaftless design.

While currently still being manufactured, 10 of the new turbines could produce up to an estimated 87,600 kWhs a year, which is equivalent to the annual total electricity used by 23 British homes. (Source: Alphha 311, Website PR, 13 Mar., 2021) Contact: Alpha 311, Barry Thompson, CEO, www.alpha-311.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Verticle Wind Turbine,  Alpha 311,  

China Wind, Renewable Enery
Date: 2021-03-17
According to the Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is taking the lead in China's renewable energy push, with wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) power capacity jumped 135 pct from 2015 levels to a record high of 35.83 GW -- more than some developed countries including the UK, Belgium, Netherlands or Japan.

New-energy electricity generation in Xinjiang reached 84.5 billion kWh and accounted for 24 pct of the total electricity produced in 2020, mostly attributed to solar power. It is equal to the energy consumption of 27 million tons of standard coal, which would have released 72.9 million tons of carbon dioxide.

As previously reported, China aims to reach a carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2060. (Source: Xiamen University Center for Energy Economics Research, Xinhua News Agency, China Global Times, 14 Mar., 2021) Contact: Xiamen University, Center for Energy Economics Research, www.en.xmu.edu.cn

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

USGBC
Date: 2021-03-17
In the Sunshine State, the city of Palm Coast -- pop. 81,000 -- reports its recently expanded 21,000 square feet Community Center has received US Green Building Council LEED Silver certification for environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. The project earned LEED qualifying points for:

Location and Transportation -- surrounding density and diverse uses, bicycle facilities, reduced parking footprint, green vehicles;

Sustainable Sites -- construction activity pollution prevention, site assessment, open space, rainwater management, heat island reduction (reduce effects on human and wildlife habitats by reducing the impact of heat retaining components);

Water Efficiency -- outdoor water use reduction, indoor water use reduction, building-level water metering;

Energy and Atmosphere -- fundamental commissioning and verification, minimum energy performance, building-level energy metering, fundamental refrigerant management, optimize energy performance, enhanced commissioning (verifying the training of the staff and testing to operate the energy and water systems), enhanced refrigerant management (reduce ozone depletion by minimizing the emission of harmful compounds), green power and carbon offsets (100 pct of the total building energy consumption is offset by the use of renewable energy sources);

Materials and Resources -- storage and collection of recyclables, construction and demolition waste management planning, building life-cycle impact reduction (reuse or salvage at least 25 pct of the materials for the building), product disclosure and optimization -- environmental product declarations (utilize products and materials that have environmental, economical, and socially preferred life-cycle impacts), product disclosure and optimization -- material ingredients (Install materials that have a minimum level of recycled content), construction and demolition waste management (reduce construction waste that is disposed of in landfills);

Indoor Environmental Quality -- minimum IAQ performance, environmental tobacco smoke control, enhanced IAQ strategies (utilize mechanically and naturally ventilated ideals to promote occupant comfort), low-emitting materials (reduce concentrations for chemical contaminants), construction IAQ management plan (promote the well-being of the construction workers during construction), thermal comfort (provide multiple controls of the mechanical system to the building occupants), interior lighting (provide multiple controls of the lighting to the building occupants);

Innovation -- achieved a higher level of low-emitting materials and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning products to maintain the building;

Regional Priority Credits -- surrounding density and diverse uses (extra credit granted on the location of the project), thermal comfort (extra credit granted on the location of the project). (Source: City of Palm Coast, Palm Coast Observer, Mar., 2021) Contact: City of Palm Coast, www.palmcoastgov.com; USGBC, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification,  USGBC,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-03-17
In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has selected the following projects to receive $2 million in funding for cost-shared research and development the Enabling Gasification of Blended Coal, Biomass and Plastic Wastes to Produce Hydrogen with Potential for Net Negative Carbon Dioxide Emissions program.

This FOA focuses on the advancement of net-negative carbon emitting technologies that aim to produce hydrogen or other high-value fuels, whether as the sole product or as a co-product. Developing co-gasification technologies is a way to introduce net-negative carbon technologies that can help alleviate concerns about potential feedstock availability and other operational issues. The four projects selected are described below:

Fluidized-Bed Gasification of Coal-Biomass-Plastics for Hydrogen Production -- Auburn University in Alabama plans to study the gasification performance of select feedstock mixtures in a laboratory-scale fluidized-bed gasifier. Specific objectives are to (1) study coal-plastic-biomass mixture flowability for consistent feeding in the gasifier; (2) understand gasification behavior of the mixtures in steam and oxygen environments; (3) characterize thermal properties of ash/slag from the mixture feedstock and investigate the interaction between slag/ash and refractory materials; and (4) develop process models to determine the technology needed for cleaning up syngas and removing contaminants for hydrogen production. -- Funding: DOE: $499,485; Non-DOE: $126,971; Total: $626,456

Performance Testing of a Moving-Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends to Generate White Hydrogen -- Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) plans to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a laboratory-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing will provide relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. The effects of waste plastics on feedstock development and the resulting products will be a focus of the research. The research team will review data, determine figures of merit, and interpret results to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified, as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. -- Funding: DOE: $500,002; Non-DOE: $125,000; Total: $625,002

Development and Characterization of Densified Biomass-Plastic Blend for Entrained Flow Gasification -- University of Kentucky Research Foundation in Lexington plans to develop and study a coal/biomass/plastic blend fuel by (1) producing hydrophobic layer encapsulated biomass suitable for slurry with solid content with greater than 60 wt pct of blended coal/biomass and plastic suitable for oxygen-blown entrained flow gasification with slurry feed; (2) conducting lab-scale kinetic and gasification studies on the feedstock blend; and (3) demonstrating practical operations in a commercially relevant 1 ton/day entrained flow gasifier.--Funding: DOE: $500,000; Non-DOE: $125,559; Total: $625,559

Enabling Entrained-Flow Gasification of Blends of Coal, Biomass and Plastics -- University of Utah plans to leverage a high-pressure, slurry-fed, oxygen-blown entrained-flow system to enable co-gasification of biomass and waste plastic by creating slurries of coal, biomass pyrolysis liquids, and liquefied plastic oil. Gasification performance of the most promising mixtures will be evaluated in the University of Utah's 1 ton/day pressurized oxygen-blown gasifier fitted with a custom-built hot oxygen burner. -- Funding: DOE: $500,000; Non-DOE: $291,157; Total: $791,157

The Office of Fossil Energy funds research and development projects to advance fossil energy technologies and further the sustainable use of the Nation's fossil resources. (Source: US DOE, Office of Fossil Energy, PR, 15 Mar., 2021) Contact: National Energy Technology Laboratory, www.netl.doe.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Hydrogen,  

BIRD, US DOE
Date: 2021-03-17
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with Israel's Ministry of Energy and the Israel Innovation Authority, is reporting the availability of $4 million in funding for innovative clean energy technologies. This funding comes from Binational Industrial Research & Development (BIRD) Energy, a program that promotes U.S.-Israel partnerships in bringing renewable and energy efficiency technologies to market.

Established by the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, BIRD Energy supports research and development that benefits both the U.S. and Israel, with a focus on commercializing sustainable energy technologies, create jobs, and increase energy security.

From 2009 to 2020, BIRD Energy funded 55 projects totaling $42 million. In addition to an estimated $55 million in funding matched by the private sector, BIRD Energy has attracted more than $700 million in venture capital and other follow-on investment to commercialize clean energy technologies.

For this funding offer, the deadline for executive summaries is June 30, 2021 with final proposals due August 13, 2021. (Source: US DOE, BIRD Energy, 15 Mar., 2021) Contact: BIRD Energy, www.birdf.com/bird-energy-call-proposals: US DOE, 202-586-5000, www.doe.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News BIRD news,  Clean Energy news,  Renewable Energy news,  BIRD Energy news,  

Trina Solar
Date: 2021-03-12
Shanghai-headquartered Trina Solar Co., Ltd. reports the unveiling of a new generation of TUV Rhineland IEC certified ultra-high power Vertex module with a single panel power of 670W.

According to the release, the 670W Vertex series inherits the non-destructive cutting, high-density interconnection and other high-precision technologies of the 210mm modules but delivers higher power than other 500W+ modules in the industry. Compared to other 500W+ high-power modules, the 670W Vertex module achieves a total power increase of up to 18,760W per string, 34 pct higher than that of the 500W+ modules, the release notes. (Source: trina Solar, PR 11 Mar., 2021) Contact: Trina Solar, www.trinasolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Trina Solar,  Solar Module,  

China
Date: 2021-03-12
In Beijing, the world's large GHG emitter's just released draft 2021-2025 Five Year Plan (FYP) is awaiting approval from the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

The FYP targets are widely seen as indicators of China's economic and social development goals over the following five years but economic uncertainties brought about by the ongoing pandemic have overshadowed the 14th FYP and Chinese economists have reportedly suggested that no numerical GDP growth targets should be approved in the final plan. However, without GDP targets, it is difficult to assess the plan's impact on China's carbon emissions trajectory over the next five years, as its key climate targets are pegged to the performance of the Chinese economy.

Ahead of the release, climate experts had called for the inclusion of a carbon emissions cap. But the draft does not contain one. Instead, it continues with the approaches of previous FYPs in setting energy intensity and carbon intensity targets per unit of GDP. By 2025, according to the new FYP, China is to reduce energy intensity by 13.5 pct from 2020 levels, and carbon intensity by 18 pct. The country will also boost the share of non-fossil sources in its energy mix to roughly 20 pct by the end of the period, according to the plan.

On average, China's CO2 emissions rose by 1.7 pct each year during the 2016-2020 FYP. Despite low economic growth last year, emissions increased 1.5 pct year on year, approaching 10 billion tonnes in total. Assuming the country's GDP grows at an annual rate of 5.5 pct from 2021 to 2025, carbon emissions will still rise by 1.1 pct each year and the country could achieve a carbon emissions peak of around 10.5 billion tonnes shortly before 2030.

According to the China National Bureau of Statistics, coal provided 56.8 pct of China's energy in2020, the same year China pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. (Source: Tsinghua University Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, National Development and Reform Commission , China Dialogue, Mar., 2021) Contact: National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), en.ndrc.gov.cn; Tsinghua University Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, www.tsinghau,edu.cn

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

Clean Power Alliance
Date: 2021-03-12
Clean Power Alliance (CPA), the nation's single largest provider of 100 pct renewable energy, is reporting two clean energy-producing "new build" projects totaling 340 MW -- sufficient power for 93,000 homes -- have been added to its portfolio and are now online: the 40-MW Rosamond Central Solar Project in Kern County, CA encompasses 2.3 million photovoltaic solar modules which generate 114,780 MWh/year; the 130-turbine, 300 MW White Hills Wind Farm in Mohave County, AZ, will generate 830,000 MWh/year.

In 2021 alone, five additional projects under contract with CPA will come online: the Luna Storage Project, Sanborn Storage Project, High Desert Solar + Storage, Arlington Energy Center II, and the Johanna Energy Storage System in Santa Ana, CA, which will add 20 MWh of energy storage to the grid. (Source: Clean Power Alliance, PR, 11 Mar., 2021) Contact: Clean Power Alliance, Ted Bardacke, Executive Director, 888-585-3788, www.cleanpowerallaince.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clean Power Alliance,  Renewable Energy ,  

Ellomay Capital
Date: 2021-03-10
Tel-Aviv-headquartered renewable energy developer Ellomay Capital Ltd. is reporting its solar plant construction unit Ellomay Solar S.L.U. has centered into a €15.32 million engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement for a 28-MW photovoltaic plant in the municipality of Talavan, Caceres, Spain, with MYTILINEOS S.A.'s renewables and storage development business unit METKA EGN Spain S.L.U. Work began March 1 and is expected to be completed within 9 months.

To date, Ellomay has evaluated numerous opportunities and invested in the renewable, clean energy and natural resources industries in Israel, Italy and Spain, including:

Approximately 7.9MW of photovoltaic power plants in Spain and a photovoltaic power plant of approximately 9 MW in Israel;

9.375 pct indirect interest in Dorad Energy Ltd., which owns and operates one of Israel's largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 860 MW, representing about 6 - 8 pct of Israel's total current electricity consumption;

51 pct of Talasol, which owns a photovoltaic plant with a peak capacity of 300MW in the municipality of Talavan, Caceres, Spain;

Groen Gas Goor B.V., Groen Gas Oude-Tonge B.V. and Groen Gas Gelderland B.V., project companies operating anaerobic digestion plants in the Netherlands, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 3 million, 3.8 million and 9.5 million (with a license to produce 7.5 million) Nm3 per year, respectively;

83.333 pct of Ellomay Pumped Storage (2014) Ltd., which is involved in a project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel. (Source: Ellomay Capital Ltd., PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: MYTILINEOS S.A, www.mytilineos.gr; Ellomay Capital, Kalia Weintraub, CFO, +972 (3) 797-1111, hilai@ellomay.com, www.ellomay.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ellomay Capital,  Solar,  Energy Storage,  

Wartsila,Aboitiz Power Corporation
Date: 2021-03-10
Finnish technology group Wartsila Energy reports landing an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to supply a barge-mounted energy storage system to Aboitiz Power Corporation subsidiary Therma Marine for deployment next to its existing 100-MW thermal power barge in the municipality of Maco, offshore the Philippines.

Wartsila's 54 megawatt/32 MWh barge will include 10 Wartsila GridSolv Max systems supported by the company's advanced GEMS energy management platform. The project is expected to complete in Q4, this year.

Wartsila presently has 26 power barge installations totaling 1500 MW worldwide. (Source: Wartsila, upstream, Mar., 2021) Contact: Aboitiz Power Corp., +63 32 411 1800, www.aboitizpower.com; Wartsilia Energy, Bent Iversen, Senior Bus. Dev., +358 10 709 0000, Fax +358 10 709 5700, www.wartsila.com/energy/explore-solutions/energy-storage

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wartsila,  Energy Storage,  Floating Energy Storage,  

Bureau Veritas,Qairos Energies
Date: 2021-03-10
International inspection and classification company Bureau Veritas (BV) reports receipt of a project certification contract for EolMed, a floating offshore wind farm pilot project in France. The project is being developed by Qairos Energies along with Total, Ideol, and Vestas Wind Systems A/S.

Located in the Mediterranean Sea Aude region, EolMed is one of four floating pilot farms under development in France. It will incorporate three Vestas V164-10 MW wind turbines totaling 30MW installed on floating foundations anchored at an average depth of 60 meters.

Bureau Veritas will provide technical expertise and assessment of the floating foundations, their mooring system and the dynamic sections of the inter-array cables. (Source: Bureau Veritas, PR, 9 Mar., 2021) Contact: Bureau Veritas, Bruno Ferreyra, Exec. VP., Delphine Doungouss, Media, +33 (0)1 55 24 70 95, delphine.doungouss@bureauveritas.com, www.bureauveritas.com; Qairos Energies, www.qairos-energies.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bureau Veritas,  Offshore Wind,  

Clean Energy, Total
Date: 2021-03-10
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. and its largest shareholder, Total SE, are reporting a 50/50 joint venture to develop carbon-negative renewable natural gas (RNG) production and fueling infrastructure facilities in the U.S..

The initial firm commitment is $100 million and can increase to $400 million as development opportunities progress. Total will be providing credit support for Clean Energy development in the RNG value chain, including $45 million for contracted RNG fueling infrastructure. The companies have already partnered to expand the use of RNG in the heavy truck market with the Zero Now program, which allows fleets to purchase RNG trucks for the same price as diesel trucks. (Source: Clean Energy Fuels Corp., PR, 9 Mar., 2021) Contact: Clean Energy, Andrew J. Littlefair, CEO, Pres., www.cleanenergyfuels.com; Total SE, www.total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clean Energy news,   Total news,  RNG news,  

New Democratic Party
Date: 2021-03-08
In Toronto, the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) is touting its Ontario Climate. Jobs. Justice. A Green New Democratic Deal and its commitment to make Ontario net-zero by 2050 and creating as many as one million total jobs throughout the life of the deal. The NDP Plan calls for:

A mandate for all newly built public, residential and commercial buildings to be net-zero emissions by 2030, alongside a world-leading building energy efficiency retrofit program;

Ontario's first zero-emissions vehicle strategy, ramping up electric vehicle sales to hit a 100 pct target by 2035, requiring all new home construction to include electric vehicle charging capacity and giving $600 for installation of residential electric vehicle charging stations at existing homes;

Electrifying all municipal transit fleets and systems by 2040;

A new, more fair emissions cap-and-trade program;

Establishing Ontario's first Youth Climate Corps and planting one billion trees by 2030;

Restoring the powers of the provincial Environment Commissioner.

The NDP plan stands in stark contrast to Conservative Premier Doug Ford's "anti-environment crusade that has gutted conservation authorities, paid hundreds of millions of dollars to tear down wind farm projects and cancelled Ontario's cap-and-trade program." (Source: New Democratic Party, PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: New Democratic Party of Canada, www.ndp.ca

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

9H Research Foundation
Date: 2021-03-08
In Wyoming, the Laramie-based 9H Research Foundation reports it will donate possibly millions of dollars to the University of Wyoming (UW) in the form of clean energy installations and in-kind support services for construction of a philanthropic student research facility and the creation of a world-class clean energy engineering curriculum at UW.

First Solar, the largest U.S. solar manufacturer, made a $300,000 in-kind donation to the project with more than 2,000 advanced thin film solar photovoltaic modules totaling nearly 1 megawatt of capacity. Other funders include Creative Energies Solar, Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium, Alt E Wind & Solar, RiskThinking.AI, and Black Bean Capital Partners.

To drive innovation and provide students with hands-on research experience, 9H Foundation is hiring additional student interns and funding $15,000 worth of projects for seven student groups to design and build solar and energy storage projects out of the new research facility. (Source: 9H Research Foundation, Gillette News Record, 7 Mar., 2021) Contact: 9H Energy, 9H Research Foundation Gene Humphrey, Co-Founder, info@9henergy.com, www.9henergy.com; University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Science, 307-766-4253, enginfo@uwyo.edu, www.uwyo.edu; First Solar, David Brady, Inv. Rel., (602) 414-9315, dbrady@firstsolar.com, www.firstsolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News First Solar,  9H Research Foundation,  Solar,  

Siemens
Date: 2021-03-08
Siemens is reporting the 30,000 sq-meter Circle at Zurich Airport, six-building building complex has been awarded the Swiss Minergie Certificate and US Green Building LEED Platinum certification, the USGBC's highest sustainability label.

Siemens installed over 30,000 energy efficiency and sustainability components in the building including: heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) components to ensure an optimized climate throughout the complex; "smart" fully automated and optimized building automation systems; and an end-to-end solution for the reliable supply of electricity. Power to the complex is supplied through approximately 1,000 meters of busbars from the main low-voltage supply systems. Integrated measuring devices make the power flows transparent, enabling operators to identify areas of potential savings. A total of 600 air circuit breakers and molded case circuit breakers are used in the main low-voltage distribution system and in the busbar tap-off units. The circuit breakers feature selective tripping, which contributes to a reliable energy supply and infrastructure. (Source: Siemens, PR, XNX Today, 8 Mar., 2021) Contact: Siemens, www.siemens.com/smart-infrastructure

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens news,  Energy Efficiency news,  

Turntide Technologies
Date: 2021-03-05
Sunnyvale, California-based "Smart Motor" startup Turntide Technologies has completed an $80 million funding round that brings its total funding to date to $180 million. Investors include Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, and others.

The funding will be used to develop a building automation software program -- Riptide IO -- and extend its Building Operation System platform to more buildings, including schools and offices.

The company's Smart Motor System -- the world's most energy-efficient, cost-effective, internet-enabled motors and controls -- has helped reduce energy consumption for clients by an average of 64 pct compared to the conventional electric motors used in home HVAC applications, according to the company. (Source: Turntide Technologies, Website, Fortune, Mar., 2021) Contact: Turntide Technologies, 669-224-4377, www.turntide.com

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

Date: 2021-03-03
In the Badger State, the City of Madison is reporting Dane County, the City of Madison, and local nonprofit Slipstream will receive nearly $1 million through the US DOE Building Technologies Proving Ground -- Public Sector Field Validation Funding Opportunity for an energy efficiency retrofit of the City-County Building.

The funding will be used to retrofit the City-County Building with triple-paned windows, cost-effective LED lighting and integrated automation control systems. The project will demonstrate whole-building energy savings resulting from integrated HVAC and lighting systems that save 10 pct and 60 pct, respectively, while providing key grid services simultaneously.

The project is expected to total about $1.5 million, with Dane County with the City of Madison contributing approximately $500,000 in matching funds.

The project, which is expected to get underway this spring and continue through 2022, will also leverage technical expertise from Focus on Energy and MGE, the local energy utility. (Source: City of Madison, PR, 1 Feb., 2021) Contact: Dane County, Ariana Vruwink, vruwink.ariana@countyofdane.com; City of Madison, Katie Crawley, 608-335-7071, kcrawley@cityofmadison.com

Tesla, Neoen
Date: 2021-03-01
In the Land Down Under, Neoen is reporting Tesla will supply its Megapack batteries and software for the new 300 MW/450 MWh Victoria Big Battery energy storage project.

Neoen also reports its total capacity in operation and under construction is currently over 3 GW but expected to reach 5 GW before the year end. (Source: Neoen, PR, TechAu, 27 Feb., 2021) Contact: Neoen, Louis de Sambucy, Neoen Australia MD, www.neoen.com; Tesla, www.tesla.com/en_CA/powerwall

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

Summit Carbon Solutions,Glacial Lakes Energy
Date: 2021-03-01
Further to our 22nd Feb. report, South Dakota-based Glacial Lakes Energy (GLE) reports its four biorefineries with 360 million gpy total capacity have joined Alden, Iowa-based Summit Agricultural Group's previously announced Summit Carbon Solutions (SCS) carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) project. The project is projected to result in 10 million tpy reduction in CO2 emissions -- the carbon footprint equivalent of 2 million autos.

Glacial Lakes Energy has signed an offtake agreement with Summit to supply the carbon dioxide at its plants located in Huron, Aberdeen, Mina, and Watertown. This partnership will allow more than 1.6 million tpy of CO2 to be captured, transported, and sequestered underground through Summit's transportation and storage platform which originates in Iowa and concludes in North Dakota.

Glacial Lakes Energy is a four-plant biorefinery company operating in central and northeast South Dakota and solely owned by more than 4,000 shareholders of Glacial Lakes Corn Processors. Glacial Lakes Energy process roughly 125 million bpy of locally sources corn into 360 million gpy of ethanol, more than 1 million ypy of livestock feed, and 5,000 tpy of corn oil. (Source: Glacial Lakes Energy, Green Car Congress, 26 Feb., 2021) Contact: Glacial Lakes Energy, 605-882-8480 , www.glaciallakesenergy.com; Summit Carbon Solutions, Summit Ag, Jon Probst, (515) 854-9812, jprobst@summitag.com www.summitag.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Summit Carbon Solutions,  Glacial Lakes Energy ,  Corn Ethanol,  CCS,  

CIBC
Date: 2021-02-26
Following up on our 16 Dec, 2020 coverage, in Toronto, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) reports it has joined the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), an initiative led by the financial industry to develop a harmonized global standard to measure and disclose the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of loans and investments. Using jointly developed GHG accounting methodologies will help the bank align its targets with the Paris Climate Agreement, according to the bank release.

In 2019, CIBC committed $150 billion in support of environmental and sustainable finance activities by 2027 and has to date achieved 28 pct of this goal. The bank also issued the climate-related disclosure report Building a Sustainable Future aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.

In 2020, CIBC issued a $500 million(US), five-year green bond to help finance new and existing green projects, assets, and businesses that mitigate the risks and effects of climate change. These include renewable energy, green buildings, clean transportation, natural resource conservation, biodiversity conservation, energy efficiency, and pollution prevention and control. Also in 2020, CIBC ranked among the top-tier of global banks for climate change action by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

CIBC, which recently became the first Canadian bank to join RMI's Center for Climate-Aligned Finance, has more than 10 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients and $768.545 billion (Cdn) in total assets. (Source: CIBC, Website News, Feb., 2021) Contact: CIBC, Nima Ranawana, 647-456-4556, nima.ranawana@cibc.com, www.cibc.com; Partnership for Carbon Accounting, www.carbonaccountingfinancials.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CIBC,  Carbon Emissions ,  Partnership for Carbon Accounting,  

Climate Change
Date: 2021-02-26
"We've got ten years left on climate (change). We need to get this sh*t right.

"It's nice to get Wall Street and Silicon Valley on board with a vision of building a better planet, but I'm not doing this for the money. I'm doing it because -- in my heart of hearts -- we're totally f***ed if we don't stop climate change." -- Donnel Baird, CEO, BlocPower, Feb., 2021, www.blocpower.io

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  

China Offshore Wind, Global Wind Energy Council
Date: 2021-02-26
According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), China installed 3GW of offshore wind in 2020, half of all new capacity built globally last year. "China's record-breaking growth is expected to continue in 2021, driven by an offshore wind installation rush to meet China's feed-in-tariff deadline by the end of this year," the GWEC noted.

Globally, the UK remains the top producer of offshore wind capacity, with China in the second spot followed by Germany. The offshore wind industry installed slightly more than 6 GW of new capacity globally in 2020, bringing the total global offshore wind capacity to 35GW. (Source: Global Wind Energy Council, 25 Feb., 2021) Contact: Global Wind Energy Council, www,gwec.net

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

ePURE
Date: 2021-02-26
ePURE, the European renewable ethanol trade association, notes that as part of its European Green Deal roadmap, the EU is considering revising two key legislative tools it uses to drive decarbonisation -- the Emissions Trading System (ETS) which creates a market for carbon emissions by allowing emitters to buy or sell emission allowances, and the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) which sets binding greenhouse-gas emissions reduction targets for EU Member States for sectors not covered by the ETS, including transportation.

Among the policy options being considered are an extension of the scope of the ETS to include road transport and a possible phase-out of the ESR. ePURE has provided the following suggestions on how they can be better integrated with other EU policies to become more effective at achieving Europe's climate goals.

A successful decarbonisation policy in transport must ensure a total coherence of actions between car manufacturers, fuel suppliers and retailers. But an ETS for road transport would seriously disrupt the existing growing synergy between these stakeholders, hamper efforts to reduce emissions from transport, increase fuel prices and create social discontent.

A more effective solution would better integrate existing EU policies. For example, the targets of the EU Renewable Energy Directive should be increased in line with higher Green Deal ambitions. Other policies, such as the Energy Taxation Directive and CO2 standards for cars and vans must be revised in order to integrate the CO2 content and the biogenic content of fuels, thus better reflecting the real environmental performance of biofuels. These actions, however, do not necessitate the extension of the ETS to road transport, and their revision should be carried out independently.

At first glance the ESR has so far been a success with the EU achieving and even surpassing its 9.3 pct emissions reduction objectives as a whole by 2020 as early as in 2018, due mainly to progress in sectors that were the easiest to decarbonise, such as buildings and waste. There has been little to no decarbonisation in the transportation and agriculture sectors, which account for over 50 pct of the ESR emissions, and meeting the already agreed 2030 target of 30 pct. Moreover, there have been many differing levels of progress among Member States.

ePURE suggests the EU should not abandon what works but rather should strengthen and improve the legislative tools that actually boost renewable energy and fuels and encourage carbon abatement. This includes keeping ESR targets, the sole legally binding targets for Member States to reduce emissions in sectors not currently in the ETS. Keeping the existing legislation and increasing their ambition levels, including ESR, RED II and the Fuel Quality Directive is a safety net that the EU should not phase out without good reasons. (Source: ePURE, Website PR, 15 Feb., 2021) Contact: ePURE, Emmanuel Desplechin, Secretary-General, +32 2 657 6679, info@epure.org, www.epure.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News ePURE,  Ethanol,  GHG,  Greenhouse Gas,  Carbon Emissions,  

Honda, ENERGY STAR
Date: 2021-02-26
Giant auto maker Honda is reporting four of its auto plants, two transmission plants and two engine plants in the U.S. have all earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR Certificate for Outstanding Energy Efficiency -- the only automaker to earn the EPA distinction for energy efficiency at every mass production auto plant it operates in the U.S.

Honda's ENERGY STAR certified plants include: Honda Marysville Auto Plant and East Liberty Auto Plants in Ohio; Honda Manufacturing of Indiana; Honda Manufacturing of Alabama; the Anna Engine Plant, located in Anna, Ohio; the Honda Transmission Manufacturing plant, in Russells Point, Ohio and Honda Precision Parts of Georgia. Additionally, the Honda of Canada Mfg. auto and engine plants also earned first-time recognition in 2020 by the Canadian Department of Natural Resources.

Through its Green Factory initiatives, Honda is working to address the environmental impacts of product manufacturing by reducing water use, energy use, waste and emissions. Honda has reduced the CO2 emissions intensity of automobile production in North America by 27.5 pct since 2010 and has cut waste to landfills from manufacturing by 93 pct since 2001. The company also is moving toward the use of renewable wind and solar power for the majority of the electricity it consumes in its manufacturing operations.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA. Over the past twenty years, American families and businesses have saved a total of nearly $450 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 3.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions with help from ENERGY STAR. (Source: Honda, DOE ENERGY STAR, Feb., 2021) Contact: DOE ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

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

EPA, Renewable Fuel Standard
Date: 2021-02-24
In Washington, the US EPA reports it will support a January 2020 decision by the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and farm groups lawsuit over "improperly granted" renewable fuel standard (RFS) "hardship" waivers granted to oil refineries under the Trump administration. The lawsuit is expected to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this spring.

The EPA under Trump issued 85 retroactive small refinery exemptions for the 2016-2018 compliance years, undercutting the renewable fuel volumes by a total of 4 billion gallons, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)

As previously noted, "hardship waivers" were intended for refineries producing 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance (Source: US EPA, 22 Feb., 2021)Contact: RFA, www.ethanolrfa.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News RFA,  Renewable Fuel Standard,  "Hardship Waiver",  Ethanol Blend,  

Columbia Basin Trust
Date: 2021-02-24
In British Columbia, the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre is receiving more than $90,000 in grant funding from the Columbia Basin Trust to support building energy efficiency upgrades. As one of 15 projects receiving a total of $634,000, from the trust's public building energy sustainability grant program, the upgrades will increase energy efficiency and reduce costs.

The Art Center will use the funding to replace low-efficiency propane boilers and a hot water tank, replace drafty windows with high-efficiency units and draft seal doors. (Source: Revelstoke Review, 23 Feb., 2021) Contact: Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre, www.revelstokeartgallery.ca; Columbia Basin Trust, www.outrust.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

EnBW,Commerz Real
Date: 2021-02-24
EnBW Group, a German utility company and wind developer, reports Wiesbaden-based investment management services company Commerz Real AG has acquired a 49.9 pct stake in a 133 MW EnBW portfolio of 14 German onshore wind farms with a total of 47 turbines. Financial details have not been released.

EnBW will continue to manage, service and maintain the wind farms and market the green power they generate. Completion of the transaction is subject to clearance by relevant regulatory authorities and is expected this spring. (Source: EnBW, PR, Website, 23 Feb., 2021) Contact: EnBW, Stefanie Klumpp, +49721 63-00, stefanie.klumpp@enbw.com, www.enbw.com; Commerz Real, +49 611 7105 0, : +49 611 7105 5410 -- fax, www.commerzreal.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News EnBW,  Wind,  

Duke Energy
Date: 2021-02-24
In the Palmetto State, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) has approved Charlotte-based Duke Energy's Green Source Advantage program for large customers. The program enables large customers to negotiate all prices and contract length terms directly with a renewable energy supplier of their choice as well as retaining the renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated by the renewable facility.

The program will be available until the total capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) is fully subscribed. Of this 200-MW capacity, 35 MW will be set aside for local government and university customers for nine months. The remaining 165 MW will be reserved for large nonresidential customers -- 125 MW for Duke Energy Carolinas and 40 MW for Duke Energy Progress.

Download Green Source Advantage Program details HERE. (Source: Duke Energy, Website PR, 23 Feb., 2021) Contact: Duke Energy, www.duke-energy.com

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

EPA
Date: 2021-02-23
DES MOINES — The federal government announced Monday that it will support the ethanol industry in a lawsuit over biofuel waivers granted to oil refineries under President Donald Trump’s administration. The Environmental Protection Agency said it is reversing course and will support a January 2020 decision by the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a lawsuit filed by the Renewable Fuels Association and farm groups. The lawsuit is headed to arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court this spring. The appeals court concluded the EPA improperly granted exemptions to refineries that didn’t qualify. The EPA under Trump issued 85 retroactive small refinery exemptions for the 2016-2018 compliance years, undercutting the renewable fuel volumes by a total of 4 billion gallons, (15.1 billion liters) according to the Renewable Fuels Association. Roughly a month after President Joe Biden took office, his EPA reversed the federal government’s stand, saying the EPA agrees with the appeals court that the exemption was intended to operate as a temporary measure. (Source: US EPA, 22 Feb., 2021)

Siemens Gamesa
Date: 2021-02-22
Reporting from Madrid, Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa is confirming a firm order from a consortium of EDF Renewables, Enbridge and Wpd for 64 units of its SWT-7.0-154 direct drive offshore wind turbines for the 448MW Courseulles-sur-Mer (Calvados) offshore wind project 10km off the Bessin coast in northern France.

The total project cost is expected to come in at roughly €2 billion. (Source: Siemens Gamesa, PR, Website, Various Trade Pub, 22 Feb., 2022) Contact: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Andreas Nauen, CEO, www.siemensgamesa.com;EDF Renewables, Sandi Briner, 858-521-3525, www.edf-re.com; wdp Europe GmbH, Christian Schnibbe Head of Marketing & PR, +49 (421) 16866-10, +49 (421) 16866-10 -- fax, c.schnibbe@wpd.de, info@wdp.de, www.wpd.de

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens Gamesa,  EDF Renewables,  Wpd,  Enbridge,  

US EIA
Date: 2021-02-22
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), during the week ending on February 12, ethanol production fell to its lowest level in five months -- 911,000 bpd, down from 937,000 bpd during the prior week -- while stockpiles grew.

A Successful Farming report notes the U.S. Midwest, which produces more ethanol than any other region in the country, saw its production drop to 868,000 bpd from day from 895,000 bpd from the previous week and the lowest output level since late September. The East Coast and Gulf Coast regions stayed at an average of 12,000 bpd while the Rocky Mountain and West Coast production levels were unchanged at 9,000 bpd, on average, according to the EIA. Stockpiles increased to 24.297 million barrels in the seven days ending on February 12.

In other ethanol industry news, the US EPA has announced all 16 "hardship waiver" exemption petitions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from 2020 are still pending. In total, 66 petitions that date back as far as 2011 are still pending.

As previously noted, "hardship waivers" were intended for refineries producing 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance. (Source: US EIA, Ag Central News, 20 Feb., 2021) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US EIA,  Ethanol,  RFS,  "Hardship" Waiver,