COP25
Date: 2019-12-04
"China is already the world's carbon-emitting leader, emitting nearly twice the levels of America in second place, and it is building up its lead. And in 2019, China's only significant climate change accomplishment was its slaughter of 100 million methane-producing pigs. But of course, that wasn't about climate change; it was about restraining a swine flu outbreak.

"And things are set to get worse as China opens dozens of new coal-fired power plants. China's carbon output is heading even higher in 2020, even as America's is projected to decline. This speaks to something: Chinese President Xi Jinping is lying when he says he takes climate change seriously. His dirty coal plants and opposition to European carbon tariffs, evidence Xi's global economic and political ambitions come first.

"The COP25 community doesn't seem to care. Instead, this week's summit has opened with a range of thinly veiled jabs at the United States. This, even though America is leading the world in reducing its carbon emissions.

"Why the choice to attack America and ignore China? Because most nations prefer pomp to practicality on this issue. They know they can attack America but keep trading with America. But it's not so simple when it comes to China. These nations know that China views trade through the distinct prism of Xi's mercantilist worldview. And led by President Emmanuel Macron of France, the European Union is keen to keep Beijing happy in order to maintain Chinese investment and trade deals. The contrast here between European leaders' rhetoric and activists' demands is striking.

"But it doesn't change the exigent truth. Until COP25 puts China front and center in its carbon reduction sights, these summits will continue to produce nothing but hot air." (Source: Washington Post, 3 Dec., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News COP25,  Climate Change,  

Air Liquide, Air Products, ExxonMobil , Shell
Date: 2019-12-04
In the Netherlands, the Port of Rotterdam CO2 Transport Hub and Offshore Storage Project (PORTHOS) is reporting a non-binding agreement with Air Liquide, Air Products, ExxonMobil and Shell to collectively work on preparations for the capture, transport and storage of carbon dioxide in Rotterdam for eventual storage in empty gas fields beneath the North Sea.

The carbon capture will take place at Air Liquide, Air Products, ExxonMobil and Shell refineries and hydrogen production facilities in Rotterdam. The transport and storage of the CO2 beneath the North Sea will be prepared by Porthos.

The Netherlands has clear climate objectives: the emission of greenhouse gases must be reduced by 49 pct by 2030 and by 95 pct by 2050 compared with 1990. One way to achieve the climate objectives is to capture CO2 for use or for storage underground (CCUS). The national coalition agreement and the national Climate Agreement underline the importance of CCUS for the energy transition. (Source: PORTHOS, Gas World, Dec., 2019) Contact: PORTHOS, +31 6 2246 6553, info@rotterdamccus.nl. www.rotterdamccus.nl/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Air Liquide,  Air Products,  CCS,  CCUS,  ExxonMobil ,  Shell ,  Carbon Capture,  

Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
Date: 2019-12-04
In Carson City, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) reports it is considering a proposed 1,000 MW statewide energy storage target for utilities for the end of 2030.

The proposal would create biennial targets, beginning with 100 MW by the end of 2020, ramping up to 400 MW and 800 MW by 2024 and 2028, respectively. Utilities would be required to file progress updates with the commission beginning in 2022. The proposal, which was submitted to the state Legislative Counsel Bureau on Nov. 26, could be finalized sometime in early or mid-2020.

In June, NV Energy proposed to procure 590 MW of energy storage as part of an amendment to its integrated resource plan. (Source: Public Utilities Commission of Nevada , Utility Dive, 3 Dec., 2019) Contact: Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, (775) 684-6101, puc.nv.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Public Utilities Commission of Nevada ,  Energy Storage,  

Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2019-12-04
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has released the results of its Disclosure Challenge, an initiative designed to champion the importance of energy bench-marking and data transparency in the Canadian commercial real estate market. The results have CaGBC and initiative participants, including QuadReal, Triovest Realty Advisors Inc., Concert Properties Ltd., Colliers International, and the Minto Group calling on federal and provincial governments to implement consistent building data disclosure regulations and requirements.

For Canada to reach its emissions reduction targets and transition to a low-carbon economy over the next decade it is essential that existing buildings achieve significant energy efficiency improvements. One of the barriers to meeting these goals is the current lack of publicly available data on commercial building performance in Canada.

While energy bench-marking regulations are in effect in Ontario, the Challenge marked the first time Canadian real estate owners have voluntarily disclosed their Canada-wide portfolio data. These five participants publicly disclosed available data for over 11 million square meters of space in buildings spread across the country from Victoria to Halifax including offices, warehouses, residential apartment buildings and retail shops. Insights from the Disclosure Challenge show:

In comparison with Natural Research Canada (NRCan) average site energy use intensity values, overall participant office buildings performed approximately 10 pct better than the average office in Canada, whereas participant multi-residential buildings were about even with the average.

Average energy use intensity for office and multi-residential buildings in the challenge were 286 kWh/m2 and 256 kWh/m2 respectively. As compared to high-performance efficiency standards for new office and multi-residential buildings in Canada coming into force in different jurisdictions (with a standard of 100 kWh/m2). Disclosure Challenge office buildings were approximately 65 pct less efficient and multi-residential buildings were 61 pct less efficient.

GHG Emissions intensity varied across the country and was generally correlated with the electricity supply grid intensity, so office buildings in Alberta were as high as 170 kgCO2e/m2 and apartments in British Columbia were as low as 24 kgCO2e/m2 .

View the full Canada Green Building Council Disclosure Challenge HERE. (Source: Canada Green Building Council, PR, Dec., 2019) Contact: Canada Green Building Council, Thomas Mueller, Pres. and CEO, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Canada Green Building Council,  Energy Benchmark,  Energy Efficiency,  Building Eddiciency,  

Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry
Date: 2019-12-04
In Jakarta, Reuters is reporting the Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry plans to start producing 3.7 million kiloliters per year of second-generation biodiesel from palm oil in 2022,increasing to 6.1 million kiloliters per in 2024.

Indonesia, the world's major palm oil producer, currently uses biodiesel made from fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from palm oil, which is blended with fossil fuel.

Green diesel can be made by refining fossil crude oil and palm derivatives together in a single process, or refining palm oil in dedicated refineries. (Source: Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Reuters, Dec., 2019) Contact:Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Energy_and_Mineral_Resources_(Indonesia)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil,  Green Diesel,  Biodiesel,  

Irish Minister for Communications
Date: 2019-12-04
The Irish Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has announced details of the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction, which has received government approval.

The RESS invites renewable electricity projects to bid for capacity and receive a guaranteed price for the electricity they generate. The frequency of future RESS auctions, which is dependent on the renewable electricity project supply pipeline, is envisaged as a minimum of four auctions between 2020 and 2027 to deliver on the country's 2030 targets.

Every project developer will be obliged to contribute to a Community Benefit Fund at a rate of €2 per MWhr every year. Ireland is aiming to source 70 pct of its electricity from renewables by 2030. (Source: Irish Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, PR 2 Dec., 2019) Contact: Irish Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, +353 1 678 2000 , www.dccae.gov.ie

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  

Vivint Solar
Date: 2019-12-04
Lehi, Utah-headquartered residential solar provider Vivint Solar has a new power purchase agreement (PPA) option that includes one simple rate for both solar and battery storage in California. Vivint Solar's new solar + storage PPA option comes on the heels of recent wildfires and power blackouts throughout California.

PPAs contracts in which a solar company arranges for the design, permitting, financing, and installation of a solar energy system, and in exchange, the homeowner agrees to purchase the solar energy the system produces. This option allows homeowners to benefit from powering their home with solar energy, with the convenience of having Vivint Solar finance the system, own it, operate, and maintain it on behalf of the homeowner. (Source: Vivint Solar, PR, Dec., 2019) Contact: Vivint Solar, David Bywater, CEO, 877.404.4129, www.vivintsolar.com

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

Greenlane Renewables , Integrated Biogas Alliance
Date: 2019-12-04
Burnaby, B.C.-based Greenlane Renewables Inc. is reporting AB Energy (Italy), Eisenmann Corporation (USA), Entsorga (Italy), Tietjen (Germany), and Greenlane Renewables (Canada) -- the founding members of the Integrated Biogas Alliance (IBA)-- have joined forces on a non-exclusive basis to provide the global biogas industry with a renewable energy platform solution that will lower the inherent risks facing developers, investors and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) firms in developing biogas plants, lower project execution risks and improve their bankability.

With its global footprint, reach and supply chain, the IBA has the capability to process virtually any organic waste including livestock, food and green waste, generating both renewable natural gas as well as compost and other organic fertilizers for projects anywhere in the world, according to the release. (Source: Greenlane, PR, Cdn. Biomass, Dec., 2019) Contact: Integrated Biogas Alliance, www.ibabiogas.com; Greenlane Renewables, Brad Douville, Pres., CEO, (604) 649-4459, brad.dauville@greenlanerenewables.com, www.greenlanerenewables.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Integrated Biogas Alliance,  Greenlane Renewables ,  Biogas,  

Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives
Date: 2019-12-04
Indianapolis-headquartered Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives (IEA), through its IEA Constructors unit, reports receipt of a wind energy project award for construction of the Thunderhead Wind Project in Antelope and Wheeler counties, Nebraska.

The project will utilize 108 GE wind turbines with 300 megawatts of capacity. The power will be delivered into the Nebraska electrical grid. Project work is underway for completion in September 2020.

Chicago-based Invenergy developed the project. The company owns and operates large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation and storage facilities across North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe. It has developed 150 projects with more than 24,000 megawatts of power capacity. (Source: IEA, PR, reve 3 Dec., 2019) Contact: IEA, JP Roehm, CEO, (800) 688-3775, Andrew Layman, (765) 828-2580, andre.layman@iea.net, www.iea.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives,  Wind ,  

RenewAire,USGBC
Date: 2019-12-04
Waunakee, Wisconsin-based RenewAire reports its 111,000-square-foot, 35 year-old HVAC manufacturing plant has achieved LEED Gold certification in the “Optimize Energy Performance” category in. received 60 out of a possible 110 points for its efforts. Of the 60 points awarded, RenewAire received 14 in the. The ERVs and DOAS processes, which reduce cooling/heating loads and result in smaller chillers and boilers and less refrigerants, earned two points in the refrigerant management category. Other energy performance credits came from LED lighting, which cut lighting costs by 50 pct compared to industrial/office space lighting.

RenewAire has previously received two Green Globes and a LEED Silver certification for its former headquarters, a 32,000-square-foot Madison-based indoor soccer stadium it retrofitted in 2005 for its manufacturing headquarters. (Source: RenewAire, PR, HVAC, Dec., 2019) Contact: RenewAire, Chuck Gates, CEO, (800) 627-4499, www.renewaire.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

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

Santa Barbara MTD
Date: 2019-12-04
In the Golden State, the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTS) reports it has stopped purchasing petroleum diesel and will now fuel its diesel bus fleet with renewable diesel. This transition requires no infrastructure changes and the new fuel can be dispensed into the same tank that held the old fuel.

While not zero-emission, renewable diesel represents an 80 pct reduction in emissions and carbon intensity from petroleum diesel. This transition to renewable diesel speeds up a reduction in emissions fleetwide and is in line with MDT's emissions reduction and sustainability plans. (Source: MTD Santa Barbara. PR. 3 Dec., 2019) Contact: MTD Santa Barbara, www.sbmtd.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Diesel,  Green Diesel,  

Auistralia,Climate Change
Date: 2019-12-02
According to the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy, year to June, Australia emitted 532 million tons of CO2 and equivalent greenhouse gases (Mt CO2 -e), a .01 pct drop from the previous 12-month period.

Agricultural emissions exerted the strongest downward pressure, falling 5.9 pct on the previous year to 67.4 Mt CO2-e, driven by decimated livestock numbers as a result of both drought and this year's floods in northern Queensland. Electric power generation contributed 179.9 Mt CO2 -e, down 1.2 pct for the year and 1.8 pect for the quarter, although it remained by far the biggest single source of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Department credited increased use of renewable energy and decreases in coal and natural gas power generation for falling emissions levels. Transport sector emissions also fell by 0.5 pct while emissions in all other sectors increased. Fugitive emissions rose 4.4 pct as a result of escaped methane during the natural gas extraction process. Emissions from fossil fuels burned directly by industry increased 3.6 pct.

Australia's Paris Climate Accord targeted of 26 to 28 pct below 2005 levels by 2030. Currently, Australia's emissions are 12.5 per cent below 2005 levels. (Source: Australian Department of the Environment and EnergyFinancial Review, 29 Nov., 2019) Contact: Australian Department of the Environment and Energy, 1800 057 590, www.environment.gov.au

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

Lafarge,SVante
Date: 2019-12-02
Following the implementation of Project CO2MENT, cement giant Lafarge Canada reports flue gas from its Richmond Cement Plant is now being captured using a $28-million Savante system that purifies cement flue gas by trapping its contaminants to enable an efficient and durable CO2 capture process.

The next phase of Project CO2MENT will demonstrate of CO2 utilization solutions such as reinjecting it into low-carbon fuels, CO2concrete, and fly ash, will begin in 2020.

The CO2MENT Project -- a partnership between LafargeHolcim and TOTAL S.A. -- is constructiung a 1 tpd plant in Richmond, BC that will re-inject captured CO2 into concrete as a storage solution. A 30 tpd demonstration plant was completed this summer at Husky Energy's Pikes Peak South thermal project in Saskatchewan, Canada. (Source: Lafarge Canada Inc., PR, Businesswire, 29 Nov., 2019) Contact: Lafarge Jill Truscott, (403) 723-7151, jill.truscott@lafargeholcim.com; Svante, Claude Letourneau, Pres., CEO, www.svanteinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lafarge,  

Solar Roadways
Date: 2019-12-02
Sandpoint, Idaho-headquartered Solar Roadways is touting the first installation of its modular S4R solar panels at the Jeff Jones Town Square in Sandpoint. The new roadway surface mounted panels should be available to customers in the first quarter of next year, according to the release.

The LED equipped, non-skid surface, low-glare 50-watt panels -- Solar Roadways' first commercially available product -- are manufactured from all recycled materials -- under contract in Ohio where the company has a development, contracts and installations team, according to the company. (Source: Solar Roadways, PR, 30 Nov., 2019) Contact: Solar Roadways, Scott and Julie Brusaw, customers@solarroadways.com, www.solarroadways.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar Roadways,  Solar,  

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Date: 2019-12-02
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sophia reports it is testing energy efficient window panes filled with a constant flow of 70 litres of distilled water and 30 litres of ethylene glycol, which serves as antifreeze.

The window panes also act as an individual solar collectors using solar cells to absorb solar radiation and turn it into thermal energy to heat the building's interior. The advantage of using liquids instead of air inside the glass is that water is denser, so it absorbs infrared light in a broader range.

The technology is being tested for an extended period at the InDeWag experimental building pavilion in Sofia. InDeWaG -- Industrial Development of Water Flow Glazing Systems -- Innovation action project is funded under Horizon 2020, a Public Private Partnership on "Buildings Design for New High Energy Performance Buildings." (Source: euronews, European Commission, 2 Dec., 2019) Contact: InDeWag, www.indewag.eu; Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Miglena Nikolaeva-Dimitrova, www.bas.bg

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Date: 2019-12-02
The London, UK-headquartered European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reports it will lend $183 million to state-owned the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), a state-owned company for grid and network modernization, new sub-station construction to accommodate the injection of 1.3 GW of electricity produced from renewable sources.

The EBRD funded projects are expected to reduce CO2emissions by 77,000 tpy in Egypt. (Source: EBRD, Afrik21, 30 Nov., 2019) Contact: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, +44 (0) 207 338 6000, www.ebrd.com; Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, www.eehc.gov.eg

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ,  

Saipem, EDF Renewables,,
Date: 2019-12-02
Milan, Italy-headquartered engineering firm Saipem is reporting receipt of two contracts totaling €750 million for engineering, procurement, construction and installation of steel foundation jackets for 54 8MW wind turbines at the £1.4 billion Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm to be constructed near the Firth of Forth on the east coast of Scotland.

Neart na Gaoithe will have a capacity of 450MW and is being developed by EDF Renewables, which closed project financing on 28th, November. This is Saipem's first turnkey contract in the offshore wind sector. (Source: Saipem, PR, Power Tech, Nov. 2019) Contact: Saipem , Francesco Racheli, Offshore COO, www.saipem.com; EDF Renewables, www.edf-re.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  Offshore Wind,  EDF Renewables,  ,  

South African Airways ,Sunchem
Date: 2019-12-02
Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng-headquartered South African Airways (SAA) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Mango Airlines are announcing their support for the country's O.R. Tambo International Airport's plan to scale up the use of locally supplied biodiesel in its ground-handling operations.

SAA made history in 2016 as the first airline in Africa to operate commercial flights powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from Sunchem's tobacco plant, Project Solaris.

The new follow-up project, Project Reya Fofa, aims to support a feasible scale-up of feedstock production and infrastructure, and a fully localized value chain for a refinery producing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) may be achieved in the coming years to produce bio-jet fuel and green diesel. (Source: South African Airways, Biofuels, 29 Nov., 2019) Contact: South African Airways, www.flysaa.com; O.R. Tambo International Airport, +27 11 921 6262, www.airports.co.za; Sunchem, www.sunchem.nl

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviation Biofuel,  SAF,  Biodiesel,  

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviation Biofuel,  SAF,  Biodiesel,  

Global Atmosphere Watch
Date: 2019-12-02
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is reporting globally averaged concentrations of CO2 reached 407.8 parts per million (PPM) in 2018, up from 405.5 ppm in 2017. Methane and nitrous oxide also surged by higher amounts than during the past decade.

The increase in CO2 from 2017 to 2018 was close to that observed from 2016 to 2017 and just above the average over the last decade. Global levels of CO2 crossed the symbolic and significant 400 ppm benchmark in 2015.

Additionally, since 1990, there has been a 43 pct increase in total radiative forcing -- the warming effect on the climate -- by long-lived greenhouse gases. CO2 accounts for about 80 pct of this, according to figures from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Annual Greenhouse Gas Index. (Source: WMO, Nov., 2019) Contact: WMO, Clare Nullis, Media,, +41 79 709 13 97, cnullis@wmo.int, www.wmo.int; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ,  Global Atmosphere Watch,  

Vertimass,ORNL
Date: 2019-12-02
A technology developed at the U.S. DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and scaled up by Irvine, California-based Vertimass LLC to convert ethanol into fuels suitable for aviation, shipping and other heavy-duty applications can be price-competitive with conventional fuels while retaining the sustainability benefits of bio-based ethanol, according to a new analysis.

ORNL worked with technology licensee Vertimass and researchers at 10 other institutions on a technoeconomic and a life cycle sustainability analysis of the process -- single-step catalytic conversion of ethanol into hydrocarbon blendstocks that can be added to jet, diesel, or gasoline fuels to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. This new technology is called Consolidated Dehydration and Oligomerization (CADO).CADO.

The analysis, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that this single-step process for converting wet ethanol vapor could produce blend-stocks at $2/gigajoule (GJ) today and $1.44/GJ in the future as the process is refined, including operating and annualized capital costs. Thus, the blend-stock would be competitive with conventional jet fuel produced from oil at historically high prices of about $100/barrel. At $60/barrel oil, the use of existing renewable fuel incentives result in price parity, the analysis found.

The conversion makes use of a type of catalyst called a zeolite, which directly produces longer hydrocarbon chains from the original alcohol, in this case ethanol, replacing a traditional multi-step process with one that uses less energy and is highly efficient. The conversion operation could be integrated into new biofuels plants or installed as bolt-on technology to existing ethanol plants with minimal new capital investment, the researchers noted.

The project was supported by the Center for Bioenergy Innovation at ORNL, which in turn is supported by the DOE Office of Science. Scale-up R&D were supported in part by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and by Vertimass. (Source: ORNL, PR, NewsWise, Nov., 2019) Contact: US DOE Office of Science, www.energy.gov/science; DOE Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) at ORNL , Brian Davison, Chief Science Officer, Vertimass LLC, John Hannon, CEO, www.vertimass.com; DOE EERE Bioenergy Technologies Office, www.energy.gov › eere › bioenergy

More Low-Carbon Energy News ORNL,  Biofuel,  Ethanol,  Vertimass,  

sPower,Borrego Solar
Date: 2019-12-02
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is reporting its Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park, in partnership with Salt Lake City-based sPower and Borrego Solar Systems, has switched to 80 pct solar power.

The project includes a 7.5 megawatt solar carport rooftop solar array producing 11.9 million kWh of energy annually. The installation will offset 8,400 tpy of CO2 equivalents each year, which is the same as taking 1,800 cars off the road.

sPower is owned by a joint venture partnership between The AES Corporation (AES), a worldwide energy company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation. (Source: Six Flags, Businesswire, PR, 30 Nov., 2019) Contact: Six Flags, www.sixflags.com; Borrego Solar, www.borregosolar.com

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

Efficiency Canada
Date: 2019-12-02
Carleton University-based Efficiency Canada has rated Atlantic Canada's little Prince Edward Island (PEI) -- population 157,000 -- seventh in Canada's first Provincial Energy Efficiency Scorecard. British Columbia took the top spot.

The Provincial Energy Efficiency Scorecard tracks progress across the country, creating a friendly competition amongst the provinces to encourage reaching the potential that energy efficiency has to offer. The Canadian scorecard measures policy progress on energy efficiency programs to enable informed policies, buildings, transportation and industry initiatives and programs Canada-wide. (Source: Efficiency Canada, SaltWire, Dec., 2019)Contact: Efficiency Canada, www.scorecard.efficiencycanada.org

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

Wisconsin Public Service Commission
Date: 2019-12-02
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (WPSC) reports it is considering the fate of the proposed 150-MW Two Creeks and 300-MW Badger Hollow solar farms that, if built, would more than quadruple the state's solar capacity.

The proposed $390 million projects, which are being reviewed by grid operator MISO, would be developed by energy companies Invenergy and NextEra Energy Resources. Two utilities -- MGE Energy in the Madison area and Wisconsin Public Service Corp. in the Green Bay area -- are seeking to purchase all of the proposed solar project's total power production.

The proposed Badger Hollow solar farm developed by Chicago-based Invenergy would incorprorate 1.2 million solar panels covering about 2,500 acres of farmland in Iowa County in central Wisconsin. The 150-MW Two Creeks solar farm would run by NextEra. (Source: WPSC, Energy News Network, SDD, 30 Nov., 2019) Contact: Wisconsin Public Service Commission, (608) 266-5481, www.psc.wi.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wisconsin Public Service Commission,  Solar ,  

Active Energy Group
Date: 2019-12-02
London, UK-based Active Energy Group is confirming a 20-year license agreement with Westbank, British Columbia-based forestry waste management specialist RMD Environmentals Inc under which RMD will construct processing plants utilizing Active Energy's CoalSwitch technology.

RMD plans to construct and operate stand-alone and joint venture-based CoalSwitch plants in Alberta and British Columbia with the support and involvement of provincial governments, Canadian forestry managers/owners, Indigenous groups, timberlands operators and downstream production companies.

The CoalSwitch product is made from woody biomass including pulp and saw mill by-products such as bark, sawdust and thinning, and wood which is over-age, under-quality, blow-down, beetle-kill, forest-fire damaged, or industrial waste. CoalSwitch can be burned by old, coal-fired generation facilities without the need for a retrofit. (Source: RMDE, PR, Canadian Biomass, 28 Nov., 2019) Contact: RMDE, Grand Chief Ronald Derrickson, Chairman, Commercial Opportunities/Investor Relations: Richard.Spinks@rmde.ca www.rmde.ca; Active Energy Group, Coal Switch, Michael Rowan, CEO, +44 (0) 20 3021 1500, www.active-energy.com, www.aegplc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Active Energy Group,  CoalSwitch,  

Stratford Ontario
Date: 2019-12-02
In Ontario, the City of Stratford (pop. 31,500) reports it is considering plans to turn landfill organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG) at a city water plant in a residential area.

The project is reportedly being vigorously opposed by city residents due primarily to its residential area location. The city says it is aiming to utilize facilities that are already in place. If approved and constructed, the proposed project would be completed in about a year. (Source: City of Stratford, DDS, 30 Nov., 2019) Contact: City of Startford, 519-271-0250 ext. 315,/www.stratfordcanada.ca › dobusiness › waterandsewage

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane,  RNG,  Biogas,  

COP25,World Meteorological Organization
Date: 2019-12-02
With today's opening, some 25,000 delegates and heads of state will meet for the next two weeks in the Spanish capital city of Madrid for COP25, the annual UN international conference on the global climate challenge and to address related concerns best illustrated by last week's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report that "world greenhouse gas concentrations rose again in 2018, with carbon dioxide levels hitting 407.8 parts per million, a new record in human history."

COP25 was originally scheduled for Brazil but moved to Chile after Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, widely criticized by environmentalists for his policies on the Amazon region, took office last January. However, following lengthy spells of civil unrest in Chile, the Sebastian Pinera government there announced in early November that the country was ceding the hosting of COP25 to Spain, four weeks before it was set to start.

Despite having given formal notice on withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, the U.S. will attendant the Madrid meeting. (Source: UN COP25, Various Media, 30 Nov., 20190 Contact: COP25, www.ifema.es/en/cop25; World Meteorological Organization, Petteri Taalas, Secretary General, +41 (0) 22 73 0811, www.wmo.int

More Low-Carbon Energy News COP25,  Climate Change,  World Meteorological Organization ,  

Vancouver Airport Authority
Date: 2019-12-02
In British Columbia, the City of Vancouver Airport (YVR), Canada's second busiest airports, reports it is aiming to develop a biofuel supply chain to reduce conventional aviation kerosene fuel emissions.

To that end, the Vancouver Airport Authority has partnered with the Green Aviation Research and Development Network, the Waterfall Group and Netherlands-based SkyNRG -- a consortium of companies that source and market aviation biofuels -- to launch BioPortYVR, a new project to develop a source and pipeline for biofuels for YVR and other regional airports. (Source: Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR), Burnaby Now, Nov.28, 2019) Contact: Vancouver Airport Authority, Marion Town, Env. Affairs, 604-207-7077, 604-207-7070 - fax., customercallcentre@yvr.ca, www.yvr.ca; SkyNRG, Maarten van Dijk, Director, Merel Laroy, +31 6 3083 3505, merel@skynrg.com, www.skynrg.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviation Biofuel,  SkyNRG,  

Traverse City Light & Power
Date: 2019-12-02
In Michigan, Traverse City Light & Power (TCL&P) reports its Board of Directors has approved a resolution seeking a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Rural Development's Rural Energy Savings Program.

If granted, the funds would support TCL&P's on-bill financing program allowing customers to borrow up to $30,000 at no interest for 10 years for renewable energy and energy efficiency installations and upgrades. The repayment, plus a $5 administration fee, would be secured through a lien on the property and added to the customer's monthly power billing.

Qualifying borrowers could use the money for everything from insulation upgrades to new windows to renewable energy projects like rooftop solar, as previously reported.

TCL&P executive director Tim Arends previously touted the idea as a way to help curb the utility's peak energy demand. The USDA gave tentative approval to the utility's application, as previously reported. (Source: Traverse City Light & Power, Traverse City Record Eagle, 1 Dec., 2019)Contact: Traverse City Light & Power, Tim Arends, 231-922-4940, www.tclp.org

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

Weizmann Institute of Science
Date: 2019-12-02
In Israel, researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have developed bacteria that survives solely on carbon dioxide (CO2) from their surroundings, instead of their regular food. The findings point to the possible future development of carbon-neutral alternative fuels.

The study , which was reported in the scientific journal Cell identified crucial genes for the process of carbon fixation, through which plants take carbon from CO2 to turn it into biomass. The research team added and rewired the needed genes to the bacteria. They also inserted a gene that allowed the bacteria to get energy from a readily available substance called formate, which can be produced directly from electricity and air.

The bacteria were gradually weaned off the sugar they were used to consuming and developed a taste for CO2. The researchers believe that the bacteria's new diet could ultimately be healthy for the planet.

biotech companies use corn syrup for cell cultures to produce commodity chemicals. Such cells could be induced to live on a diet of CO2 and electricity and spare the large amounts of corn syrup they live on today.

According to the study, bacteria could be further adapted to use renewable electricity, rather than taking their energy from a substance such as formate, and then store energy for later use. Such bio-fuel would be carbon-neutral, a crucial green development in the battle against climate change. (Source: Weizmann Institute of Science,The Jewish Press, 1 Dec., 2019) Contact: Weizmann Institute of Science, Professor Ron Milo, +972-8-934-9106 www.weizmann.ac.il

More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2,  Biofuel,  

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterre
Date: 2019-12-02
"Our war against nature must stop, and we know that it is possible. We simply have to stop digging and drilling and take advantage of the vast possibilities offered by renewable energy and nature-based solutions." -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterre 1 Dec., 2019)

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

Date: 2019-11-29
We will not be publishing today, 29 November, 2019, in celebration of the U.S. Thanksgiving Holiday.

We will resume our regular publishing schedule on Monday, 2 December, 2019.

Thank you and have a joyous and safe Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.

Great Wolf Lodge,Energy Efficiency
Date: 2019-11-29
Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor waterpark chain, is expected to save more than $1.3 million in energy costs and realize a 10% reduction in carbon emissions during the first year of its new energy efficiency upgrades.

Great Wolf Lodge partnered with Dalkia, a building energy solutions provider to develop an end-to-end building energy plan, implementation and support for a range of energy improvements for the the company’s resort in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The plan included building energy software, LED lighting improvements, water conservation devices, HVAC upgrades, and on-site electricity generation with a combined heat and power (CHP) unit. Once these improvements were in place, Great Wolf Lodge New England immediately began to realize savings on electricity, natural gas, and water bills.

Similar efficiency projects were initiated at nine other Great Wolf Lodge resorts across the US. Thus far, Dalkia’s efficiency upgrades has saved 11,211,938 kWh of electricity. The energy cost-cutting impacts of Dalkia’s work is projected to provide $1.3 million in savings for Great Wolf Lodge, along with a 10% reduction in carbon intensity of their operations its first year of deployment. (Source: Great Wolf Lodge, Environment Energy Leader,, 25 Nov., 2019] Contact: Great Wolf Resorts, www.greatwolf.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency news,  

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

EURIMA
Date: 2019-11-29
The European Commission is assessing whether to extend the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to cover the emissions associated with the heating and cooling of buildings. This paper points out several reasons why this would not be the best approach to deliver a highly energy-efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050.

Buildings are the EU’s biggest CO2 emitter. Our homes, offices and buildings are the EU’s biggest CO2emitters, as well as its single largest energy user. Decreasing and decarbonising the energy consumption to heat, cool and use buildings is crucial for the transition to a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 at the latest. Since most of the buildings that we will occupy in 2050 are already built, the main challenge is to renovate these 210 million existing buildings to make them less energy-hungry. At the current rate of renovation, it would take another century to achieve a decarbonised building stock, instead of the targeted30 years. Further inaction risks the EU missing its climate objectives by up to 400 million tonnes of CO21.Around 50 million people still live in energy poverty. Deep renovation of their homes would lower their energy bills and make their houses more comfortable and healthy. Well-insulated buildings moreover offer the flexibility to receive energy when it is available, thereby allowing the effective integration of renewables in the energy system during the entire year

.Integrating buildings in the EU ETS is complex and time-consuming. Urgent action on buildings is vital to overcome the climate and social crises facing Europe today. Integrating the building sector in the EU ETS is complex and likely to take at least several years. That is time we do not have, and which diverts attention from more effective short-term measures. The EU should instead prioritize a Green Deal for housing to unlock vast investments for building renovations, while creating local jobs and more energy-efficient and affordable housing.

What is the EU ETS? The EUETS sets a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted by installations from the power, industry and aviation sectors. The cap is reduced over time so that emissions go down. Within the cap, companies receive or buy emission allowances which they can trade with each other, thereby creating a carbon price. The building sector is already covered by a cap on how much greenhouse gases can be emitted as part of the Effort Sharing Regulation; the EU’s other climate legislation targeting sectors not included in the EU ETS.

Carbon pricing does not deliver more affordable, energy-efficient homes. According to the International Energy Agency2, most of the energy efficiency potential is available at a negative cost. This means that these efficiency measures already pay for themselves, even in the absence of a carbon price. The reasons why these measures, such as energy renovation, are not taken are usually not economic in nature, but rather the result of market-barriers and -imperfections. In the case of the building sector, these barriers include split incentives between those making investments (i.e. home-owners) and those paying energy bills (i.e. tenants), the inability to come up with high upfront costs and a lack of information on renovation opportunities and financing options. Including the building sector in the EU ETS would do nothing to overcome these barriers to make buildings more energy-efficient. Even worse, the introduction of a carbon price for the heating and cooling of buildings could lead to higher energy bills for tenants or homeowners who are not able to, or cannot afford to, renovate their homes.

Governments should remain responsible for the built environment. Extending the EU ETS to buildings would mean that governments are no longer accountable for introducing measures to decarbonise the building stock under the Effort Sharing legislation. Under the Effort Sharing Regulation, each Member State has annual climate targets that it needs to meet. By integrating buildings in the EU ETS, the sector would be taken out of the Effort Sharing Regulation, putting the responsibility of climate action instead on heating fuel suppliers. The integration of the building sector in the EU ETS could lead to the dismantling or shying away from more effective EU and national energy efficiency legislation, under the pretext that this would undermine the functioning of the carbon market. This would be dangerous as the decarbonisation of the building stock requires dedicated policies beyond a carbon price. It is up to governments to put in place programmes to accelerate renovation, to introduce minimum energy performance standards for buildings and to prioritize measures to alleviate energy poverty. These actions will not happen through the EU ETS, but by policymakers taking ownership of the transition to a climate-neutral built environment.

Green Deal for housing should be a key priority for Europe. Without urgent and accelerated action to renovate up to 97% of the European building stock by 2050, it will be impossible to meet the EU’s climate objectives. Fortunately, buildings’ operational emissions can be cut by 100%, mostly by using already commercially available solutions such as insulation. Including the building sector in the EU ETS distracts from taking effective measures to overcome the main barriers hampering the renovation of the EU building stock and the alleviation of energy poverty. The EU instead needs to put in place an enabling framework to ensure that the worst energy performing buildings are phased out over time, to guarantee quality homes for people and clear a pathway to climate-neutrality. The European Green Deal presents a perfect opportunity to deliver on comfortable, affordable and energy-efficient housing. This Green Deal can help unlock 130 billion euro per year to fill the investment gap for energy-efficient buildings3. Over 2 million jobs in Europe could be created throughsuch investments in energy efficiency –in particular in the deep renovation of buildings4. (Source:EURIMA - European Insulation Manufacturers Association, Nov., 2019) Contact: EURIMA, Femke de Jong, femke.dejong@eurima.org

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

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Insulation,  

Date: 2019-11-29
Atmospheric levels of climate-changing greenhouse gases hit a record high in 2018, “with no sign of a slowdown, let alone a decline,” the World Meteorological Organization said. In a report released Monday, the WMO said despite international pledges made under the Paris Agreement, the levels of carbon monoxide, methane and nitrous oxide all surged by higher amounts in 2018 than average for the past decade. The global average of carbon dioxide concentration reached 407.8 parts per million in 2018, up from 405.5 parts per million in 2017, the U.N. agency said. The concentration of methane was the highest recorded since 1998 while the levels of nitrous oxide, which is responsible for eroding the ozone layer was the highest ever recorded. "This continuing long-term trend means that future generations will be confronted with increasingly severe impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, more extreme weather, water stress, sea level rise and disruption to marine and land ecosystems," according to a summary of the report. The report was released ahead of next month’s global climate summit in Madrid. “It is worth recalling that the last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of carbon dioxide was 3-5 million years ago," WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said. At the time, the Earth's temperature was as much as 5 degrees warmer and sea levels were as much as 65 feet higher than they are now, he said. (Source: WMO, VOA News 26 Nov., 2019)

Hibikinada Offshore Wind Farm , MHI Vestas
Date: 2019-11-29
220 MW Hibikinada Offshore Wind Farm will be the first in Asia Pacific to feature MHI Vestas’ V174-9.5 MW wind turbines. MHI Vestas has confirmed that its flagship V174-9.5 MW was selected as the preferred wind turbine for the Hibikinada Offshore Wind Farm. Hibikinada is the first awarded, commercial-scale wind power project to be announced in Japan, the strongest signal to date that the Japanese offshore wind energy market is rapidly stirring to life. Once installed, the wind power project will feature the most powerful wind turbines operating in Japan. The landmark project will be developed by Hibiki Wind Energy, a consortium of five partners who have the ambition to build a new energy infrastructure in Japan to advance the country’s renewable energy transition. (Source: MHI Vestas, reve, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Hibikinada Offshore Wind Farm, www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/Japan/kitakyushu-port---hibikinada-japan-jp43.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News MHI Vestas news,  Offshore Wind news,  

More Low-Carbon Energy News MHI Vestas,  Offshore Wind,  

Global Wind Energy Council
Date: 2019-11-29
The wind power energy industry installed 51.3 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity last year, a 3.6 percent fall when compared to 2017‘s growth, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said Tuesday. Despite this reduction, the international trade association said that the growth of the worldwide wind energy market had “been stable” since 2014, with more than 50 GW of new capacity installed each year. Total installed capacity stood at 591 GW at the end of 2018, which represents an increase of 9.6 percent compared to the end of 2017, the GWEC added. Installed capacity relates to how much energy can be produced at maximum output, not what is currently being generated. GWEC CEO Ben Backwell said that China had led “both onshore and offshore growth,” adding that “huge growth” was expected in Asia “through the coming decade and beyond.” Breaking the figures down, the onshore sector was responsible for 46.8 GW of new capacity in 2018, while the offshore wind market added 4.49 GW. In the onshore sector, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa were responsible for 10 percent of new installations last year. China led the way in offshore, installing 1.8 GW, while the U.K. and Germany installed 1.3 GW and 0.9 GW, respectively.

another industry body, WindEurope, said that 12 countries in the EU had failed to install “a single wind turbine” last year. onshore wind fell by more than half in Germany last year and “collapsed in the U.K.,” stating that, in the EU, 2018 was “the worst year for new wind energy installations since 2011.” (Source: Global Wind Energy Council, reve, 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: WEC, Ben Blackwell, CEO

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind news,  Global Wind Energy Council news,  

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

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

Lehigh University
Date: 2019-11-27
According to Carlos Romero, director of Lehigh University's Energy Research Center (ERC) in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the addition of renewable energy into the electrical grid is forcing conventional power plants to adapt to new power generation realities. To address the new realities, an interdisciplinary team, promoted by Lehigh's Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE), is launching a project on thermal energy storage (TES) for applications in fossil-fired power plants.

The team matches the ERC's expertise in power generation and energy with appropriate expertise in civil engineering within Lehigh's Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) Engineering Research Center.

Other project partners include: Advanced Cooling Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy-Virginia, Slaw Precast (concrete), Nycon (steel fiber), Hanson Cement and others.

The research group recently received a three-year, $2 million grant from the US DOE Transformative Power Generation Program to support the design, engineering, optimization, and testing of the Lehigh team's heat Thermal Energy Storage (TCM-TES) concept. (Source: Lehigh University Energy Research Center, PR, Nov., 2019) Contact: Lehigh University, Energy Research Center, Carlos E. Romero Director and Principal Research Scientist, (610) 758-4092, cerj@lehigh.edu, www.lehigh.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  Battery,  

Greek Culture Ministry
Date: 2019-11-27
In Athens, the Greek Parliament, through the Culture Ministry, is calling for bids in the neighborhood of €2.8 million improve the energy efficiency of the 1843 vintage parliament building. Upgrades are expected to include: new pipes and air conditioning systems, replacement of a total of 191 windows and doors and the addition of an exterior insulating layer on the roof of the building.

Upon completion, the upgraded Parliament building is expected to consume at least 30 pct less energy and emit 39 pct less CO2 on an annual basis. The Greek Culture Ministry will supervise the project. (Source: Greek Culture Ministry, TheMayor.eu, Nov., 2019) Contact: Greek Culture Ministry, www.culture.gr

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

Efficiency Canada
Date: 2019-11-27
In its just released provincial energy efficiency scorecard, Efficiency Canada, a new Carleton University headquartered think tank in Ottawa, has ranked Newfoundland and Labrador in 10th place for its lack of policies on everything from promoting electric vehicle use to improving efficient construction codes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "There's just a general lack of attention in Newfoundland to implementing efficiency policies relative to other jurisdictions" including British Columbia which came in first.

According to the score card, B.C.'s provincial government is charting progress toward 2032, when all new builds will have to be net-zero energy ready and produce as much clean energy as they consume.

In an effort to address energy efficiency, and by extension climate change, Newfoundland recently expanded its home energy savings program, doubling in the last budget year to $2 million in grants to low income households for insulation, hat pumps and other energy efficiency upgrades. (Source: Efficiency Canada, CBC, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Efficiency Canada, Brendan Haley, Policy Director, info@efficiencycanada.org, www.efficiencycanada.org ; Newfoundland Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment, www.mae.gov.nl.ca

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

World Bank
Date: 2019-11-27
The World Bank International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is reporting the issuance of a $28.6 million five-year Sustainable Development Bond as part of ongoing efforts to focus attention on the sustainable use of oceans and coastal areas -- the "Blue Economy." Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd., through its Impact Advisory and Finance Department, acted as the sole manager of the transaction.

World Bank bonds support the financing of sustainable development projects and programs designed to promote strong governance of marine and coastal resources to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, reduce pollution in waterways and oceans and address climate change. The World Bank issues $50-$60 billion in the global capital markets every year.

"Absorbing approximately 30 pct of the CO2 created by humans and generating 50 pct of the world's oxygen, yet significantly underfunded from a private capital perspective, ocean health is critical," according to Marisa Drew, CEO of the Impact Advisory and Finance Department at Credit Suisse.

(Source: World Bank, Credit Suisse, The Asset, Nov., 2019) Contact: World Bank International Finance Corporation, www.ifc.org; Credit Suisse, www.credit-suisse.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Credit Suisse,  World Bank,  Low-Carbon Economy,  

Ideol, Taisei Corp
Date: 2019-11-27
Paris-headquartered wind energy developer Ideol and Tokyo-based construction company Taisei Corp. are reporting a MoU for the joint development and promotion in Japan of concrete foundations for floating offshore wind using Ideol's patented Damping Pool technology.

Under the MoU, the companies will also work to contribute to the acceleration as well as the growth of the domestic floating offshore wind market. (Source: Ideol, Taisei Corp, PR, Offshore, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Ideol and Taisei Corp Contact: Ideol, +33 (0)4 86 20 80 50, www.ideol-offshore.com/en; Taisei Corp., www.taisei.co.jp

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ideol,  Taisei Corp,  Floating Wind,   Offshore WindOffshore Wind,  Wind,  

WindPower Korea, EDP Renewables, Aker Solutions
Date: 2019-11-27
Following up on our 21st October coverage, EDP Renewables, a consortium founded by EDP and Aker Solutions reports it has joined WindPower Korea with investments in the development company Korea Floating Wind Power (KFWind). Principle Power, which had a role in originating the KFWind project portfolio, will supply its WindFloat foundation technology for the 500-MW project.

As previously reported, KFWind inked a MoU with the City of Ulsan to cooperate on the development of floating wind projects and support the Ulsan region as a manufacturing hub for domestic and export offshore wind markets.

South Korea is targeting 13 GW of offshore wind installed by 2030, and 30 pct or more renewable energy by 2040. (Source: WindPower Korea, EDP Renewables, Aker Solutions 25 Nov., 2019)Contact: WindPower Korea, +82-2-584-5326, kwsuh@windpowerkorea.com, www.windpowerkorea.com; Aker Solutions, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; EDP Renewables, +351 21 001 25 00, www.edpr.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  WindPower Korea,  EDP Renewables,  Aker Solutions ,  

ScotlandPower,Committee on Climate Change
Date: 2019-11-27
In the UK, a recent report from the Committee on Climate Change -- the official policy advisory group for the UK government -- warns that any hope the UK has of meeting its carbon-neutral by 2050 goal will require construction of at least 1,000 MW of onshore wind capacity every year for the next three decades as well as a quadrupling of offshore wind farm construction -- an unlikely scenario since wind farm construction in the UK has plummeted 80 pct since 2015 due primarily to a lack of government support.

Even so, Glasgow-based ScottishPower Renewables, an amalgam of the 6 largest utility companies in Scotland, reports it is planning a major expansion of onshore wind projects and has identified 100 potential onshore sites in Scotland, and a few in Ireland, according to a Guardian report. (Source: The Guardian, Committee on Climate Change, CleanTechnica, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Committee on Climate Change, www.theccc.org.uk; ScottishPower Renewables, Lindsay McQuade, CEO, +44 0 141 614 0000, www.scottishpowerrenewables.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Committee on Climate Change,  ScotlandPower,  Wind,  Onshore Wind,  

World Meteorological Organization
Date: 2019-11-27
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports world wide CO2 and other greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere are at a record high and still rising faster than ever with no sign of slowing down.

In a report released Monday, the WMO said despite international pledges made under the Paris Climate Agreement (COP 15), the levels of carbon monoxide, methane and nitrous oxide all surged by higher amounts in 2018 than average for the past decade. The global average of carbon dioxide concentration reached 407.8 parts per million in 2018, up from 405.5 parts per million in 2017, the U.N. agency said. The concentration of methane was the highest recorded since 1998 while the levels of nitrous oxide, which is responsible for eroding the ozone layer was the highest ever recorded. The report was released ahead of next month's global climate summit in Madrid.

This follows the overwhelming scientific consensus delivered earlier this month that the Earth is indeed facing a climate emergency. Over 11,000 scientists world wide, including 409 from Canada, signed a letter pleading for world leaders to take the crisis seriously, for the wealthy to change their habits and for those in denial to accept that global warming is human driven.

Specific to Canada, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed Canada to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and to reduce CO2 levels by 30 pct by 2030. In December 2018, Climate Change Canada projected Canada's total emissions by 2030 are only on track to be 19 pct below 2005 levels. (Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada,Various Media, Nov., 2019) Contact: Environment and Climate Change Canada, (800) 668-6767, www.canada.ca › environment-climate-change; World Meteorological Organization, www.public.wmo.int/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News World Meteorological Organization,  Climate Change,  ,  

Acciona
Date: 2019-11-27
Madrid-headquartered engineering group Acciona SA reports it has been selected to construct a 20,000 bpd advanced biofuels HVO and SPK project using Honeywell UOP technology near the Paraguayan capital city of Assuncion. HVO is a renewable substitute for diesel and and SPK is a renewable aviation fuel.

Financial details of the agreements were not disclosed but the project is expected to come in at roughly $88 million. (Source: Acciona SA, Successful Farming, Reuters, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Acciona SA, +34 91 663 28 50 / Fax - +34 91 663 28 51, www.acciona.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Acciona ,  Alternative Fuels,  

European Commission
Date: 2019-11-27
In Bulgaria, the Sophia Globe is reporting the European Commission (EC) has approved Bulgaria's application for about €94 million aid for the construction and operation of a co-generation plant in the capital city Sofia.

The facility, which would use biomass wastes and other pre-treated and non-recyclable refuse, is expected to cut primary electric and heat costs by roughly 46 pct. When fully operational in 2023, the facility would generate about 55MW of heat and 19MW of electricity. (Source: EC, Sophia Globe, 25 Nov., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Commission,  

Siemens Gamesa
Date: 2019-11-27
Madrid-headquartered wind turbine major Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) reports the unveiling of a new 11MW version of its direct-drive offshore wind turbine with a 193-metre rotor.

According to SGRE offshore wind CEO Andreas Nauen, "Digitalisation allows us to increase the capacity of our current largest 10MW machine to 11 MW, boosting its annual energy production, while keeping the levelized cost of energy down." (Source: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Windpower, 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, www.siemensgamesa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens Gamesa,  Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Thailand
Date: 2019-11-27
In Bangkok, the Ministry of Energy has announced that B10 palm oil diesel is to become the standard diesel type in Thailand from 1 January 2020. The move is intended to help raise crude palm oil prices and increase national biodiesel consumption by 2.1 million lpd -- roughly 40 pct.

The ministry expects the energy sector to help absorb two thirds of the national production of crude palm oil (CPO), or at 2.2 million tpy and help the country save on oil imports by 1.8 million lpd. (Source: Thailand Ministry of Energy, Pattaya Mail, 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: Thailand Ministry of Energy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Energy_(Thailand), www.energy.go.th/2015/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News B10,  Biodiesel,  Palm Oil Biodiesel,  

Southern California Gas ,Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Date: 2019-11-27
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and the Richland, Washington-based US DOE Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are reporting receipt of $300,000 in US DOE funding to design, fabricate and demonstrate a modular Integrated CO2 Capture and Conversion to Methanol (ICCCM) prototype for the combined capture and conversion of CO2 into methanol at an industrial CO2 source -- electric generation or anaerobic digestion facility.

Over the next two years, the project will evaluate the compatibility of certain catalysts and solvents, design and build and test a reactor a project that would advance the development of Integrated CO2 Capture and Conversion to Methanol (ICCCM). SoCalGas has spent more than $10 million on the research and development of low or zero carbon technologies in the last three years. (Source: SoCalGas, Energy Global, 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: SoCalGas, Yuri Freedman, Senior Director of Business Development, www.socalgas.com; PNNL, Dr. David Heldebrant, www.pnnl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methanol,  Carbon Capture,  ,  Southern California Gas ,  Methanol,  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,  

IOS New England
Date: 2019-11-27
IOS New England, the operator of the New England electricity grid is telling the region's political leaders that if they want to quickly add more renewable energy into the system, they should put a price-tax on carbon emissions or institute other market mechanisms.

The ISO's comments were in response to a letter from a group of New England senators upbraiding ISO for failing to support the region's renewable energy goals, and preserving the fossil fuel status-quo.

ISO countered that the integration of renewable resources has always been one of the organization's goals when existing fossil fuel generators are retired. Setting a system-wide price on carbon-emissions would be the most effective way to move that ahead, the ISO said. (Source: IOS New England, Maine Public Radio, 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: ISO New England, Gordon Van Welie, CEO, www.iso-ne.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News IOS New England,  Carbon Price,  Carbon Tax,  Renewable Energy,