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Energy Week #370: 5/7/2020
Thursday, April 30
Sun setting on a nodding donkey (Eric Gay | AP)
- “The World May Never Recover Its Thirst For Oil” • The world is learning to live with less oil. The coronavirus pandemic has destroyed demand for gasoline and jet fuel as billions of people stay home, and there’s no guarantee it will ever fully recover despite rock-bottom prices. The oil industry is bracing for the effects of the crisis to linger. [CNN]
Offshore wind farm (Phil Noble | Reuters)
- “Renewable Energy Helps Utilities Survive Virus Slump” • Energy companies from Ørsted A/S to Iberdrola SA reported robust first quarter earnings in a period that has been bedeviled by a slump in energy demand and a collapse in gas prices. Large wind and solar portfolios have so far protected those companies from the worst effects of the crisis. [gcaptain.com]
Coal-burning power plant (Lukas Schulze | Getty Images)
- “Covid-19 Crisis Will Wipe Out Demand For Fossil Fuels, Says IEA” • The International Energy Agency said the outbreak of Covid-19 would wipe out demand for fossil fuels by prompting a collapse in energy demand seven times greater than the slump caused by the global financial crisis. It said renewable energy will continue to grow. [The Guardian]
Indian Point nuclear plant
- “Indian Point 1-GW Nuclear Unit 2 Closing Permanently” • Tonight, April 30, with the push of a red button, one of the two operating nuclear reactors at the Indian Point Energy Center along the Hudson River north of New York City will shut down. The plant is 24 miles from Manhattan. Demolition is projected to cost $2.3 billion. [Power Engineering Magazine]
Friday, May 1
Source of medical materials (Photo: Aquapix | NOAA)
- “The Ocean Genome Helps Fight Disease: Here’s How We Save It” • The ocean plays a surprising role in fighting Covid-19. The “ocean genome” is a rich source of anti-viral compounds. And enzymes from a remarkable hydrothermal vent bacterium have been key to the technology in virus test kits, including those used to diagnose Covid-19. [CleanTechnica]
US shale gas plays (EIA, Wikimedia Commons)
- “The Oil Bankruptcies Are Just Beginning. Here’s Who Could Be Next” • The oil crash is blocking US fracking companies from accessing the cheap credit that fueled their prolific rise. That reversal of fortunes could prove fatal for overleveraged shale oil companies, and the weakest players are likely to be tipped into bankruptcy. [CNN]
Saturday, May 2
Alamosa solar project (US DOE image)
- “Trump Admin Sits On $43 Billion Intended For Clean Energy Loans While Unemployment Soars” • While the nation struggles to find ways to ramp up the economy so people can get back to work, over $43 billion in low-interest loans earmarked for clean energy projects sits undistributed by the Trump administration, The New York Times reported. [EcoWatch]
Have a sunny day!
- “City of Houston Surprises: 100% Renewable Electricity – $65 Million in Savings in 7 Years” • Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the City of Houston has committed to purchasing 100% renewable energy through a renewed partnership with NRG Energy. The City realize $65 million in savings over the seven-year contract. [CleanTechnica]
Wind turbines (Credit: Jason Blackeye | Unsplash)
- “International Report Makes Business Case For Renewables Investment” • A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency makes the business case for investment in renewables. It says future decarbonization is still possible despite the economic fallout from the pandemic, and it highlights climate-safe options for investment. [Environment + Energy Leader]
Sunday, May 3
MV Osprey delivering jackets for Moray Firth East Wind Farm
- “Port Of Nigg Takes Delivery Of Massive Offshore Wind Farm Jackets For Moray East Development” • The heavy lift vessel MV Osprey, delivered the first eight out of 103 jacket structures for the 100-turbine Moray East Offshore Windfarm. The jacket structures will be taken to the wind farm site in the Moray Firth for installation. [Northern Times]
Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park
- “Dubai Achieves Record Lowest Tariff For Solar Project” • The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority awarded the 900-MW PV fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Solar Park to a consortium led by ACWA Power. The winning tariff, which is 1.6953¢/kWh, establishes a new global benchmark for the cost of solar PV energy. [Arab News]
Modvion CLT tower on ferry (Modvion image)
- “Modvion Completes First Wind Turbine Tower In Sweden” • Cross laminated timber is lighter and stronger than steel, which permits a narrower base for tall wind towers. The towers are modular and can be shipped in sections to be assembled onsite, eliminating many transportation issues of wider steel masts. Now Monvion has its test mast built. [CleanTechnica]
Monday, May 4
Pilbara snakewood trees (Jim Bendon, Wikimedia Commons)
- “WA Watchdog Green-Lights World’s Biggest Hybrid Wind And Solar Hub” • A 15-GW wind and solar renewable energy project in Western Australia got a green light for environmental approval. The proposed Asian Renewable Energy Hub would supply the Pilbara power grid and develop a hub for generating green hydrogen. [The Sydney Morning Herald]
BNEF LCOE chart for 2019
- “It’s Time Coalition Listened To Experts On Climate And Energy, And Plotted A Green New Deal” • Australian prime minister Scott Morrison often says he is yet to see the evidence that lowering emissions fast enough to avert a climate crisis can be achieved in a way that doesn’t create an economic crisis too. Clearly, he is not looking. [Renewables Now]
DeepGreen’s Exploration Vessel
- “Oceans May Be Best Place To Get EV Battery Metals” • A study, which was commissioned by deep-sea mining company DeepGreen, shows it would be better to get the metals needed for batteries from ocean nodules than to mine them on land. There is less net cost for society and less environmental damage mining metals from the ocean. [CleanTechnica]
Tuesday, May 5
Utility-scale battery (Image: Southern Power)
- “California Utility Inks 770 MW Of Storage Deals” • Southern California Edison has signed seven contracts totaling 770 MW for battery energy storage to help enhance the state’s electric system reliability needs and integrate new renewable power. Most of the contracted battery projects are to be co-located with solar power plants. [reNEWS]
Solar array and a coal plant
- “Renewables Topped Coal in US Generation Every day in April” • Data from the Energy Information Administration shows that renewables generated more electricity than coal every day in the month of April. This impressive stretch actually began on March 25 and is still going on as of May 3, 40 days later. This point was not expected until 2021. [Saurenergy]
Hambach coal mine (King Otto, Wikimedia Commons)
- “Meyer Burger Plans 10 GW Of Floating Solar For North Rhine-Westphalia” • The CEO of Swiss technology company Meyer Burger said it is developing plans to build a factory in Germany to make PVs that are up to 24% efficient. He said 10 GW of the panels could cover the lake left behind when the Hambach coal mine closes. [CleanTechnica]
Wednesday, May 6
Neoen solar farm (Neoen image)
- “Neoen To Build Australia’s Largest Solar Farm After Power Deal With CleanCo” • French renewables developer Neoen will build a 400-MW solar farm in Queensland with a contract to sell most of the power to CleanCo, a state-owned clean energy company. Western Downs Green Power Hub will be Australia’s largest solar farm. [pv magazine Australia]
BYD electric truck (BYD courtesy image)
- “California On Verge Of Making Truck Manufacturers Produce Electric Trucks” • The California Air Resources Board released the final draft of the Advanced Clean Trucks standard, a policy that will require truck manufacturers to sell electric trucks. There will be a 30-day public comment period followed by a Board vote on June 25–26. [CleanTechnica]
Renewably powered tanker
- “Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy solution undergoes feasibility study for LR2 tanker” • Marine renewable energy technology company Eco Marine Power, based in Japan, announced that it has started a feasibility study regarding the implementation of its Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy design for an LR2 Tanker. [Manifold Times]
Energy Week #370: 5/7/2020
Energy, renewable energy, wind power, Solar, batteries, Nuclear, coal, oil, gas, Climate Change
Energy Week with George Harvey and Tom Finnell 