The project is said to be the UK's first, and the largest of its kind in Europe, according to Highview. (Source: Highview Power, Smart Energy, 22 Oct., 2019)
Contact: Highview Power,
Javier Cavada, CEO, +44 (0) 203 350 1000, www.highviewpower.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Highview Power, Energy Storage,
The energy storage tariff would allow customers to lease Tesla Powerwall batteries from GMP and pay either a one-time, upfront fee or a monthly payment. The customer-owned tariff would see the customer lease or purchase a battery from a range of approved providers. The proposed tariffs are extensions of two successful pilot programs that included electric vehicle chargers.
If approved by the PUC, each program will be open to a maximum of 500 customers per year, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. (Source: Green Mountain Power, Energy News, Oct., 2019) Contact: Green Mountain Power, Josh Castonguay, VP, (802) 770-3392, josh.castonguay@greenmountainpower.com, www.greenmountainpower.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Tesla Powerwall, Green Mountain Power, Energy Storage,
Sunverge worked with Consumers Energy to evaluate the energy provider's distribution circuits and identify grid locations suitable to test the potential benefits and value from behind the meter battery storage. Using this analysis, Consumers Energy selected a circuit in the Grand Rapids area to conduct the pilot.
(Source: Consumers Energy, PR, BusinessWire, 23 Oct., 2019) Contact: Sunverge, Martin Milani, CEO , www.sunverge.com; Consumers Energy, www.consumersenergy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Consumers Energy, Sunverge ,
The global algae biofuel market study also comprises the detailed value chain analysis for providing a comprehensive view of the market. Moreover, the study also includes Porter's Five Forces model for algae biofuel, to understand the competitive landscape of the global market. The study includes a market attractiveness analysis of all the segments related to the market.
Algae Biofuel Market by Type (Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Methane, Jet Fuel, Biobutanol, Biogasoline, Green Diesel, and Others) and for Application (Transportation, Aerospace, and Other Applications): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2017 -2024 report details HERE. (Source: Zion Market Research, Oct. 2019) Contact: Zion Market Research, 386-310-3803, www.zionmarketresearch.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Algae Biofuel, Zion ,
In June, the city's Clean Energy Partnership -- a collaboration with CenterPoint and Xcel Energy -- created a general outline for an inclusive on-bill financing program.
Minneapolis has made inclusive financing a priority in a move help an increasing number of city residents seeking energy efficient appliance and energy efficiency upgrade financing in preparation for the city's upcoming 2020 residential energy disclosure ordinance. Under the ordinance, homes and apartment energy consumption will be scored and made available to postential purchasers and renters. (Source: Xcel Energy, CenterPoint, Oct., 2019)
Contact: Xcel Energy Media Relations, (612) 215-5300, www.xcelenergy.com; CenterPoint Energy, www.centerpointenergy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Xcel Energy, CenterPoint Energy, , Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency Financing,
More specifically, the report found While West Virginia's renewable energy production decreased from 2013 to 2017 -- one of only nine states for which that is the case. The remaining 41 states all increased renewable energy production over that time period, and the average increase in production across all states is greater than 25 pct.
California, Rhode Island, Oregon, Arizona, North Carolina, New York, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Nevada are the top 10 in that order while southern states -- Arkansas, Delaware, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama and West Virginia -- dominate the bottom 10.
In determining its ranking, the report considered: renewable output as a percentage of total energy production; 5-year change in renewable energy output; per-capita carbon emissions;
5-year change in carbon emissions; number of policies and incentives encouraging renewable energy development; total USDA energy investments; and average USDA funding per program.
(Source: Smart Asset 10.14.2019, VermontBiz, 16 Oct., 2019)Contact: Smart Asset, www.smartasset.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,
NYSERDA will accept concept papers focusing on any of the four innovation challenges through December 12, 2019. This is the fourth round of NYSERDA's Next Generation HVAC Challenges since launch in 2017.
The funding is intended to bring new HVAC systems to the market to help the state save more energy, increase energy efficiency and meet sustainability goals of reducing energy use by 185TBtus by 2025.
(Source: NYSERDA, PR, 19 Oct., 2019) Contact: NYSERDA, Alicia Barton, Pres., CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News NYSERDA, Energy Efficiency, HVAC,
The new code will help both consumers and municipalities interested in voluntarily adopting higher efficiency standards for new and renovated building construction projects.
NYStretch is expected to deliver roughly 11 pct in energy savings over the model energy codes that will be the basis for the 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (2020 ECCC-NYS), with ROI ranging from 6to 12 years.
(Source: NYSERDA, 11 Oct., 2019)Contact: NYSERDA, Alicia Barton, Pres., CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News NYSERDA, Energy Efficiency, Building Energy Efficiency,
The South Korean Government is calling for 13 GW of offshore wind to be installed by 2030 and set a target of at least 30 pct renewable energy by 2040.
The Ulsan area is considered well-suited for commercializing floating wind, due to the combination of industry-leading shipyards, maritime expertise and port facilities in the region.
(Source: WindPower Korea, EDPR Renewables, Aker Solutions, reve, 189 Oct., 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, Aker Solutions, EDPR,
The funds will be to support sustainable development, renewable energy and energy efficiency infrastructure in roughly 100 municipalities in the Kingdom. (Source:
MENAFN, EIB, 19 Oct., 2019) Contact: EIB, www.eib.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News European Investment Bank , Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy,
Akuo Energy develops, finances, builds and operates renewable energy power plants all over the world.
Akuo Energy is the first French green IPP. It develops and operates power plants that go beyond simply producing
renewable power and create additional social benefits for the inhabitants of the areas in which they live, according to the company website.
(Source: EURACTIV, 18 Oct., 2019) Contact: O'MEGA1, AKUO ENERGY,
+33 1 47 66 09 90,
akuoenergy@akuoenergy.com,
www.akuoenergy.com/en/omega-1
More Low-Carbon Energy News Akuo Energy, Solar, Floating Solar,
BTG Bioliquids is focused on the delivery and deployment of a patented fast pyrolysis technology. The company doesn't produce pyrolysis oil but instead focus on delivering to our clients the core components of a pyrolysis installation, according to the company website.
(Source: BTG-BTL, PR, 21 Oct., 2019) Contact: BTG-BTL, +31 (0)53 486 2287,
office@btg-btl.com, www.btg-btl.com; TechnipFMC, +31 (0)79 3293 600, tpbenelux@technipfmc.com,
www.technipfmc.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News BTG-BTL, TechnipFMC, Bio-oil, Biofuel,
The assets being sold include the 55MW Cape York solar farm and a 20MW/80MWh battery storage installation to be located near Cooktown, Nowingi, a 253MW solar project with 80MW/320MWh of battery storage in Victoria, and the 253MW Sturt solar project with a 100MW/400MWh battery storage proposal. (Source: Lyon Solar, Renew Economy, 20 Oct., 2019) Contact: Lyon Solar, 612 8098 0213, www.lyonasia.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Lyon Solar, Solar,
The notice does not change the proposed volumes for 2020 and 2021. Instead, it proposes and seeks comment on adjustments to the way that annual renewable fuel percentages are calculated. Annual renewable fuel percentage standards are used to calculate the number of gallons each obligated party is required to blend into their fuel or to otherwise obtain renewable identification numbers (RINs) to demonstrate compliance.
Specifically, the agency is seeking comment on projecting the volume of gasoline and diesel that will be exempt in 2020 due to small refinery exemptions based on a three-year average of the relief recommended by the Department of Energy (DOE), including where DOE had recommended partial exemptions. The agency intends to grant partial exemptions in appropriate circumstances when adjudicating 2020 exemption petitions. The agency proposes to use this value to adjust the way we calculate renewable fuel percentages. The proposed adjustments would help ensure that the industry blends the final volumes of renewable fuel into the nation's fuel supply and that, in practice, the required volumes are not effectively reduced by future hardship exemptions for small refineries. Consistent with the statute, the supplemental notice seeks to balance the goal of the RFS of maximizing the use of renewables while following the law and sound process to provide relief to small refineries that demonstrate the need.
Download the Renewable Fuel Standard Program -- Proposed Volumes for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021
HERE. Contact: EPA Renewable Fuel Standard, 800-385-6164, www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/forms/fuels-program-helpdesk
More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel Standard, Biofuel, Biofuel Blend,
The data includes programs offered by U.S. territories, local governments, and electric and gas utilities. Incentives can include tax incentives, grants, loans, rebates, industry recruitment/support, performance-based incentives, technical resources, feed-in tariffs, renewable energy credits, solar renewable energy credits and green building incentives.
DSIRE also includes information on rules, regulations and policies related to the incentives, including public benefit funds, building energy codes, appliance/equipment efficiency standards and energy standards for public buildings.
The database is limited to incentives and policies from only investor-owned utilities in the U.S., and electric cooperatives and municipal utilities with more than 30,000 customers. (Source: DSIRE, Arizona Business Daily Reports, Oct., 2019) Contact: Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, www.dsireusa.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Building Energy Efficiency,
Many Swiss cantons (states), cities and towns have already declared a 'climate emergency' since February. Similar moves are also pending in the Swiss parliament.
Critics mote the declaration of a 'climate emergency' has largely symbolic value as long as it is not linked to a concrete action plan.
(Source: Swiss Info, 19 Oct., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,
OxEon is proposing an efficient method of producing biofuel from dairy-yogart manufacturing process biological wastes from a yogurt plant in Idaho. OxEon instruments will break down biogas released by decomposing waste into carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas, the building blocks of hydrocarbons, then put these blocks together into usable hydrocarbon fuels.
OxEon Energy LLC was started in 2017 and has had significant success in attracting commercial, state, and federal government business utilizing its core capabilities in energy transformation technologies. The company expects further growth in its core technologies of high temperature electrolysis, hydrocarbon reforming, synthetic fuel production and power generation by high temperature fuel cells, according to the company website.
(Source: OxEon Energy Llc, Utah Public Radio, 16 Oct., 2019)Contact: OxEon Energy, Lynn Frost, CEO, 801-677-3000, www.oxeonenergy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel, Biogas,
The $12 million buoy, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, will be transported to the U.S. Navy Wave Energy
Test Site in Kanehoe Bay Hawaii for 12 months testing.
Ocean Energy plans to construct an additional five buoys for deployment at the Oregon wave Energy Test Site off the coast of Newport, Oregon. (Source: Vigor Industrial LLC, Ocean Energy, Env. Oct., 2019) Contact: Vigor Industrial LLC, Brian Akin,
(503) 247-1777, www.vigor.net;
Ocean Energy, John McCarthy, CEO, info@oceanenergy.ie,
+353 (0)21-4816780,
+353(0)21-4816778 - fax, www.oceanenergy.ie
More Low-Carbon Energy News Wave Energy, Ocean Energy, Vigor,
MIT and ENI cooperation has resulted in numerous research successes and 30 patent filings for low-carbon technologies and innovations including the development of nanotechnologies and materials for lightweight, flexible solar photovoltaics, advancing magnetic fusion energy technology and others, according to a joint statement.
(Source: MIT, Ruhmuna Daily, 19 Oct., 2019)
ENI, Claudio Descalzi, CEO, +39 06 598 21,
+39 06 598 22141 - fax., www.ein.com; MIT Energy Initiative, Louis Carranza, Assoc. Dir., energy.mit.edu
More Low-Carbon Energy News Low Carbon Energy,
"We're incredibly frustrated and very disappointed." -- Emily Skor, CEO, Growth Energy, (202) 545-4000, www.growthenergy.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Chuck Grassley, Emily Skor, RFS,
The flights used a 30/70 blend of low-carbon, drop-in SAF and traditional, petroleum-based Jet A fuel. The emissions associated with using 70 pct Jet A were more than offset by the company's purchase, for a per-flight-hour fee, of verified emission reduction (VERs) credits through a third-party offset provider. The offsets represented more than 200 percent of the carbon emitted during the trip. (Source: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., PR, 21 Oct., 2019) Contact: Gulfstream Aerospace, www.culfstream.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Credits, VERs, Carbon Neutral,
The flights used a 30/70 blend of low-carbon, drop-in SAF and traditional, petroleum-based Jet A fuel. The emissions associated with using 70 pct Jet A were more than offset by the company's purchase, for a per-flight-hour fee, of verified emission reduction (VERs) credits through a third-party offset provider. The offsets represented more than 200 percent of the carbon emitted during the trip. (Source: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., PR, 21 Oct., 2019) Contact: Gulfstream Aerospace, www.culfstream.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News SAF, Aviation Biofuel,
With its renewed membership, ExxonMobil will: extend its membership in MITEI's Center for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage CCUS; join MITEI's Center for Energy Storage, which seeks to develop new energy storage technologies for use in renewables-heavy electric power systems, electricity-powered transportation, and other applications; and join MITEI's Mobility Systems Center, its newest Low-Carbon Energy Center.
Among MITEI projects supported by ExxonMobil is a new multi-level energy assessment tool, the Sustainable Energy System Analysis Modelling Environment, which assesses lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from various energy sectors. Other ExxonMobil-supported MITEI research includes an assessment of the future role for carbon capture and storage (CCS)technology in a portfolio of climate mitigation options and a project that models the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of solar power and demonstrates its low carbon intensity.
ExxonMobil will also continue to support energy education through MITEI's undergraduate and graduate programs, including the Energy Fellows Program, which enables graduate students to engage in research in low-carbon energy areas of their choice and prepares them for careers addressing energy and climate challenges.(Source: ExxonMobil, PR, 21 Oct., 2019)
Contact: ExxonMobil , Robert Armstrong,
www.exxonmobil.com, www.twitter.com/exxonmobil; MIT Energy Initiative, Louis Carranza, Assoc. Dir., energy.mit.edu
More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS, CCUS, ExxonMobil,
The Finance Minister noted France would also review its public export guarantees in line with its Paris Climate Agreement commitment to stop financing coal-related projects that increase the growth of carbons emissions. (Source: ShipInSight, Reuters, 17 Oct., 2019) Contact: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Le_Maire
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Tax, Maritime Fuel, Aviation Fuel, Fuel Carbon Tax,
Carbon neutrality is the highest level of carbon management performance under Airport Carbon Accreditation. In order to reach it, airports need to reduce CO2 emissions from those sources under their control as much as possible, and compensate for the remaining residual emissions with investment in high-quality carbon offsets. Carbon neutral airports at Level 3+ of the Airport Carbon Accreditation have to provide evidence of undertaking all the actions required by the programme prior to investing in carbon offsets.
(Source: ACI Europe, Travel Daily News, 17 Oct., 2019) (Contact: ACI Europe, Olivier Jankovec, Director General, www.aci-europe.org;
Airport Carbon Accreditation, www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Airport Carbon Accreditation, ACI Europe, Carbon Emissions, Carbon Offsets,
Sedgwick County Commissioners have banned commercial wind facilities from the county and also enacted permitting legislation requiring new commercial-scale solar facilities to receive FAA approval if they are to be sited within a mile of airport facilities.
The legislation is in response to public concerns about the supposed health effects and noise from wind turbines, bird and bat deaths caused by commercial wind and solar facilities, and interference with area airports and air traffic.
NextEra has developed wind and solar facilities in 35 states, including six in western Kansas. The August decision was the first time a major wind farm had been rejected in Kansas in a decade.
(Source: Heartland Institute, Oct., 2019)
Contact: NextEra Energy, info@nextrenewables.com, www.nextrenewables.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News NextEra, Wind, Solar, Renewable Energy,
Air Liquide Engineering & Construction will provide a technology solution that purifies blast furnace offgas which will be injected into a bioreactor to produce bioethanol.
The project, which is supported by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, will be constructed ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Ghent, Belgium and is slated to become operational at the end of 2020 when it will produce 80 million lpy bioethanol.
(Source: Air Liquide, PR, 17 Oct., 2019) Contact: Air Liquide, Corporate Communications, +33 (0)1 40 62 58 49, media@airliquide.com, www.airliquide.com; LanzaTech, Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, (630) 439-3050, jennifer@lanzatech.com, www.lanzatech.com; ArcelorMittal, Alan Knight, Corporate Responsibility GM, +32 9 347 31 11, www.corporate.arcelormittal.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Air Liquide, LanzaTech, ArcelorMittal, Bioethanol, LanzaTech,
Fayetteville Public Works Commission will use the funding to support the participation of 10 eligible households in their PWC Community Solar Weatherization Pilot project.
Blue Ridge Energy's Community Solar Savings Pilot will serve 10 households, with each receiving a bill credit for the energy generated by solar panels plus a rate reduction from the standard residential energy charge.
Roanoke Electric Cooperative will serve 20 homes participating in the Upgrade to Save Community Solar Program. The community solar participation will allow the households to share in the community solar garden and receive future billing credits estimated at approximately $365 per year per eligible household for a period of no less than 15 years. (Source: NCWAP, rrspin.com, 15 Oct., 2019) Contact:
N.C. Weatherization Assistance Program , www.nc.gov/weatherization-assistance-program
More Low-Carbon Energy News Roanoke Electric Cooperative, Solar, Community Solar,
The New York property is Teknion's fourth to achieve WELL certification, and its second showroom this year. The New York showroom is also Teknion’s twelfth LEED certified showroom. (Source: Teknion, Woodworking Network, 16 Oct., 2019) Contact: Teknion, www.teknion.com;
International WELL Building Institute, 646.883.5001, 646.607.1058, info@wellcertified.com, www.wellcertified.com; US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News WELL Building, Energy Efficiency, USGBC, LEED Certification,
The report presupposes capacity increases of more than 100GW of solar and wind, rising from 33GW today to more than 140GW in 2050, as well as 20GW of new nuclear and the inclusion of 3GW of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the system.
In this scenario, there could be an 'excess' in renewable generation of 185TWh by 2050. Aurora suggests this could be used to produce hydrogen to decarbonise heating, transport or industry, however. To meet these necessary increases in storage and flexibility, Aurora has called on government, Ofgem, and the system operator to follow three principles: price the externalities, define the system needs and to let the market decide.
Aurora Energy Research is a consultancy which offers data-driven analytics on European and global energy markets to provide intelligence on the global energy transformation through forecasts, reports, forums and consultancy services.
(Source: Aroura Energy Research, Current News UK, 16 Oct., 2019) Contact: Aurora Energy Research, Ana Barillas, Principal, Richard Howard, Research Director, +44 (0) 1865 952 700,
oxfordoffice@auroraer.com, www.auroraer.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,
Under their agreement, Borealis will use Neste's 100 pct renewable propane produced with Neste's proprietary NEXBTL technology as renewable feedstock at its facilities in Kallo and Beringen, Belgium, starting at the end of 2019.
Neste's proprietary NEXBTL technology can utilize nearly any bio-based oil or fat as raw material, including lower-quality waste and residue oils to produce various premium-quality renewable products.
Borealis's process will be certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC Plus) whose full value chain scope ensures that the renewable feedstock used is certified renewable, sustainably produced and traceable to point of origin. (Source: Neste, Borealis, Green Car Congress, 17 Oct., 2019)
Contact: Borealis, +43 1 22 400 300, www.borealisgroup.com; Neste, +358 10 458 4128, (713) 407-4400 - Houston, Texas office, www.neste.com, www.neste.us
More Low-Carbon Energy News Neste, Borealis,
Along with its investment, Suncor will provide technical resources to support the operations of Enerkem's Alberta Biofuels (EAB) plant in Edmonton. The plant is the first commercial-scale plant in the world to turn non-recyclable, non-compostable mixed municipal solid waste into cellulosic ethanol.
(Source: Enerkem, Biofuels News, Oct., 2019) Contact: Enerkem, Dominique Boies, CEO and CFO , 514) 875-0284, dboies@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com;
Suncor Energy, www.suncor.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic Ethanol, Enerkem, Suncor Energy,
Neste supplies its "drop-in" Neste MY Renewable Diesel to 17 cities in the East Bay area, and other west coast areas.
The East Bay Clean Cities Coalition (Oakland) works with vehicle fleets, fuel providers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to save energy and promote the use of domestic alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in transportation.
(Source: East Bay Clean Cities Coalition, PR, 16 Oct., 2019) Contact: East Bay Clean Cities Coalition, www.cleancitieseastbay.org; Neste, +358 10 458 4128, (713) 407-4400 - Houston, Texas office, www.neste.us www.neste.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Neste, Clean Cities, Renewable Diesel,
Transportation emissions reportedly account for roughly 40 pct of the region's emissions.
(Source: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Public News Service, 17 Oct., 2019) Contact: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Craig Kenworthy, Exec. Dir., 206-343-8800,
206-343-7522,
www.pscleanair.org/528/Clean-Fuel-Standard
More Low-Carbon Energy News Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Renewable Fuel,
The emissions reduction target is part of the county's Climate Action Plan aimed at reducing the county's carbon footprint. The full plan is expected to be completed sometime this winter.
(Source: Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, CBS19 News, 17 Oct., 2019) Contact: Albemarle County Board of Supervisors , 434-296-5843, www.annmallekforsupervisor.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions, Carbon Footprint,
Following the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, the Russian government proposed introducing new climate legislation in two phases -- a five-year stock-taking exercise to measure company-level emissions and set appropriate quotas for reducing emissions and a carbon cap on the country's biggest polluters and penalties for those that exceed their quotas. Earlier plans also envisaged the creation of a national fund to support emissions reduction and a system of nation-wide carbon trading.
(Source: Kommersant, Moscow Daily, Oct., 2019)
Contact: Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, eng.rspp.ru
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,
Legislation that advances energy efficiency in buildings, especially residential buildings, provides numerous benefits in addition to energy and pollution reductions: supporting small businesses and creating jobs across America, strengthening the durability and resilience of buildings, improving health and comfort, and increasing energy affordability, according to BPA.
BPA notes the buildings sector is responsible for nearly a third of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While buildings are a significant contributor to our climate crisis, they can also be a key part of the solution. With an aging building stock across the country we have only scratched the surface on investing in energy efficiency improvements. Congress can address barriers to retrofitting these existing homes and buildings and advance energy efficiency across the entire buildings sector by supporting workforce development and training, providing incentives for homeowners, and ensuring that building efficiency is part of any conversation on clean energy and climate. (Source: Building Performance Association, PR, Oct., 2019) Contact: Building Performance Association, Kara Saul Rinaldi, VP Gov. Affairs, (202) 276-1773, kara.saul-rinaldi@building-performance.org, www.Building-Performance.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,
The Manchester research group, has discovered that the bacteria species called Halomonas, which grows in seawater, provides a viable "microbial chassis" that can be engineered to make high value compounds. This in turn means products like bio-based jet fuel could be made economically using production methods similar to those in the brewery industry and using renewable resources such as seawater and sugar. The breakthrough behind this approach is the ability to re-engineer the microbe's genome so to change its metabolism and create different types of high value chemical compounds which could be renewable alternatives to crude oil, according to the release.
Dr Benjamin Harvey and his team of researchers at the ONR facilities in China Lake, California, have pioneered this exciting work on converting biological precursors to relevant jet fuels.
Following on from this research, Professor Nigel Scrutton explained, "Effective biofuels strategies require the economic production of fuels derived from a robust microbial host on a very large scale -- usually cultivated on renewable waste biomass or industrial waste streams -- but also with minimal downstream processing and avoids use of fresh water. With Halomonas these requirements can be met, so minimizing capital and operational costs in the production of these next generation biofuels. In the case of the jet fuel intermediates we are bio-producing, they are chemically identical to petrochemical derived molecules, and will be able to 'drop-in' to processes developed at China Lake."
(Source: University of Manchester, PR, Oct., 2019) Contact: University of Manchester, Professor Nigel Scrutton, Director of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, +44 (0)161 306 5200,
mib@manchester.ac.uk,
www.mib.ac.uk; U.S. Office of Naval Research Global, 703-696-5031,
703-696-5940 - fax,
onrpublicaffairs@navy.mil, www.onr.navy.mil/en/Science-Technology/ONR-Global
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel,
San Antonio is the second major Texas city to adopt the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Austin passed a similar climate plan in 2014 and Houston and Dallas are working on their own climate planning efforts.
(Source: City of San Antonio, Rivard Report, 17 Oct., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Emissions, Climate Change, CO2, San Antonio,
As part of the upgrade, the mill installed more than 200 LED fixtures. The SWEPCO incentive will help cover some of the upfront costs of this project, which has an expected payback period of less than two years with an annual savings of roughly $82,000.
This project is part of SWEPCO's Commercial Standard Offer Program.
(Source: SWEPCO, PR, 15 Oct., 2019) Contact: Southwestern Electric Power Co., Malcolm Smoak, Pres., CEO,
Mike Nix, Energy Efficiency and Consumer Program Coordinator, www.swepco.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Southwestern Electric Power Co., Energy Efficiency, LED Light,
Subject to regulatory approval, the battery installation could be online in early 2021. The project, which is subject to regulatory approval, is in accord with Duke's recently released 15-year resource plan. (Source: Duke Energy, gtm, 14 Oct., 2019) Contact: Duke Energy North Carolina, Stephen De May, Pres., www.dukeenergy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Battery Energy Storage, Duke Energy,
An impact assessment of the new green standard backed a 30 pct improvement on energy standards for new dwellings compared with 2013 as its "preferred option.". The assessment noted the new plans would deliver "a world-leading performance standard incorporating low-carbon heat in new homes by 2025."
The higher-level new standards are estimated to cost £10.46 billion over 70 years. Improvements would be sought via tougher building regulations based on overall carbon performance and primary energy targets, with mandatory energy efficiency requirements, improvements to ventilation and air-tightness standards.
However, the 30 pct improvement in energy efficiency and carbon reductions was estimated to deliver £7.7 billion in energy savings via lower heating bills as well as £3.3 billion in non-financial benefits such as carbon savings and air quality savings in the same period.
The proposed changes could come into force in 2025. as part of plans to deliver on climate change targets.
(Source: UK Housing Secretary, Inside Housing, 15 Oct., 2019) Contact: UK Minstry of Housing, https://twitter.com › mhclg
More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Building, Energy Efficiency,
In 2018, the EIB invested over €16 billion in climate-action projects.
(Source: EIB, Bloomberg, 15 Oct., 2019)Contact: European Investment Bank, www.eib.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy, Clean EnergyEuropean Investment Bank ,
From 2021-2030, the RGGI states have agreed to reduce the program's CO2 limit by 30 percent, building on the 47 percent CO2 reduction the states have already achieved for their power plants since 2008. The states have also agreed to add a new mechanism, called an emissions containment reserve, to the market in 2021. The reserve is meant to speed CO2 reductions by removing allowances from RGGI's quarterly auctions if the clearing price falls below a predetermined threshold, which will start at US$6/st in 2021.
Recently, many of the RGGI states have committed or recommitted to ambitious policies to address climate change, such as reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Many of the same northeastern U.S. states are considering creating a separate cap-and-trade program for the transportation sector, the largest source of CO2 in the states and across the country. That program could work in tandem with RGGI to help the states use markets to drive emissions lower.
RGGI member states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. New Jersey will re-join next year while Virginia are expected to sign on in the near future.
Download the RGGI proceeds investment report HERE.
(Source: RGGI, Refinitiv, Argus, 14 Oct., 2019) Contact: RGGI, www.rggi.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News RGGI, Carbon Emissions, Cap-and-Trade ,