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☆ A New York Town Once Thrived on Fossil Fuels. Now, Wind Energy Is Giving a Lift.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Jimmy Vielkind | Photographs Lauren Petracca For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WELLSVILLE, N.Y.—This former oil town almost 300 miles from the coast is emerging as one of the early winners in the push to develop offshore wind in the Atlantic Ocean. The hulking steel components of wind turbines slated to rise out of the ocean east of Long Island are being welded at the Ljungström factory, which for 100 years has sold parts to coal-fired power plants. Plant managers here said their pivot to wind has meant hiring 150 more people and could reopen a facility that has been dormant for several years.

☆ Inside the fierce debate over clean hydrogen, with $100 billion in federal subsidies on the line
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The impact of the tax credit on emissions reductions depends on how federal agencies implement it. On one side of the debate, some energy providers say that making the rules too strict could kill the clean hydrogen industry before it ever gets off the ground. CERAWeek returned in-person to Houston celebrating its 40th anniversary with the theme "Pace of Change: Energy, Climate, and Innovation." This hourly approach to energy accounting has been adopted by Google, which has been a forerunner in adopting clean energy, for example. In the long run, Garabedian says, his stance is about protecting his company, the industry's reputation, and the tax credit.

☆ Column: Latin America on track to harness solar power potential
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LITTLETON, Colorado, March 2 (Reuters) - Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have the largest solar power development pipeline outside Eastern Asia and North America, making the bloc a key renewable hot spot to track over the coming decade. Solar power currently generates only 3%-4% of the electricity produced across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), according to data from think tank Ember. But with nearly 250 projects constructing 19,429 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity, the region's solar power supply potential is primed to jump by at least 70% from current levels once projects are completed, GEM data shows. Collectively, those five countries account for over 88% of current installed solar capacity and about 97% of planned capacity additions that are already in construction. That compares to $0.07/kWh for China, $0.10/kWh for the United States, and $0.07/kWH for India, the top three global solar producers.

☆ Ron DeSantis' past views could come back to bite him in Iowa, a critical state for any GOP challenger to Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ron DeSantis' potential bid to dethrone former President Donald Trump could hit a critical snag in Iowa, home to the first-in-the-nation caucuses. "If you come to Iowa, you're going to talk about agriculture," Monte Shaw, the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, told Insider. DeSantis won't be alone in facing questionsTrump's own administration was hammered over its handling of the renewable fuel standard. Like Iowa's senators, he was also deeply frustrated by how Trump's EPA enforced the renewable fuel standard. Chris Carlson/APTexas Sen. Ted Cruz was hammered for months on the campaign trail for wanting to phase out the Renewable Fuel Standard.

☆ Column: China widens renewable energy supply lead with wind power push
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

China added more wind generation capacity in the past two years than over the previous seven, and in 2022 generated 46% more wind power than all of Europe, the second largest wind generation market, according to data from think tank Ember. MAJOR MILESTONESWhile China has deployed record volumes of both solar and wind power capacity over the past decade, wind generation capacity has grown more steeply than solar capacity since 2020. For industrial scale electricity generation, wind power is often preferred over solar due to the ability for wind turbines to generate electricity around the clock, while solar power generation drops off as the sun sets. Beyond cementing China's place in the international green energy hierarchy, the climb in wind power capacity has helped redraw the energy mix across several key provinces. China’s wind power generation by key ProvinceIn addition, higher generation of renewable power has helped cap power costs for consumers just as the prices of coal and natural gas have pushed sharply higher on international markets.

☆ Biden Interior proposes first offshore wind lease sale in Gulf of Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration on Wednesday proposed the first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico as part of a larger plan to install offshore wind sites along the country's coasts. The proposed lease sale is part of the Interior Department's plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by the end of the decade, which would be enough to power 10 million homes. The announcement also follows the agency's approval of the first two commercial scale offshore wind projects in the U.S. The proposed lease areas could collectively power nearly 1.3 million homes with clean energy, the Interior said. Last year, the administration released a five-year offshore drilling plan allowing some lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico.

☆ Why America's outdated energy grid is a climate problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

'A double whammy': Age and locationWind resources in the United States, according to the the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. That's especially true for tapping into the highest quality of wind energy, explained Princeton professor Jesse Jenkins, a macro-scale energy systems engineer. Solar resources in the United States, according to the the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy.

The most contentious reforms for those in Poland's ruling camp concern the judicial system. To become law, the bill needs to be signed by President Andrzej Duda. "We will now continue to follow the next steps in the legislative process," Didier Reynders, EU Commissioner for Justice, said on Twitter. Relaxing rules on wind farm investment is also among the milestones Poland has to pass to unlock the EU funds. The amendment will slash potential onshore wind investments by 60-70%, effectively discouraging them, according to the Polish Wind Energy Association which groups some 150 investors.

☆ EV batteries getting second life on California power grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A view of the SEPV Sierra solar and storage facility owned by startup, B2U Storage Solutions, in Lancaster, California, U.S. in this handout photo taken in 2022. B2U Storage Solutions/Handout via REUTERSFeb 7 (Reuters) - Hundreds of used electric vehicle battery packs are enjoying a second life at a California facility connected to the state's power grid, according to a company pioneering technology it says will dramatically lower the cost of storing carbon-free energy. B2U Storage Solutions Inc, a Los Angeles-based startup, said it has 25 megawatt-hours of storage capacity made up of 1,300 former EV batteries tied to a solar energy facility in Lancaster, California. B2U's technology allows the EV battery packs to be bundled together without having to be taken apart first. "Second life and re-use helps the overall lifecycle be more energy efficient, given all the efforts that go into making that battery," Hall said in an interview.

☆ Japan's Daikin picks Manchester, UK as test bed for green tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] The logos of Daikin Industries Ltd are seen at the company's office in Tokyo August 29, 2012. Demand for heat pumps - which rely on electricity to transfer heat - has been booming in Europe amid soaring natural gas prices, with consumers in many countries waiting months for heat pump installations. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the partnership with Daikin symbolised the city's industrial ambitions. Heat pumps, sometimes described as reverse air conditioners, use electricity to concentrate heat potential and are comparatively more energy efficient than gas boilers. Daikin, headquartered in Osaka, last year said it would build a heat pump factory in Poland as part of its expansion plans.

☆ U.S. solar prices still soaring as projects stalled
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 30 (Reuters) - U.S. solar energy contract prices have soared by a third over the past year as project developers have struggled to get imported panels, according to a report published late on Monday. But wind energy prices fell a little in recent months, thanks to major new federal subsidies. Wind PPA prices were 1.9% lower in the fourth quarter than in the third - their first decline since early 2021. The spike in solar prices resulted from the seizure by U.S. customs officials of hundreds of shipments of solar energy components at U.S. ports since June. Clark added, however, that demand was still strong for solar projects and that prices might stabilize in the second half of 2023.

☆ E.U. outlines plan for clean tech future boosted by subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

“We know that we have a small window to invest in clean tech and innovation to gain leadership before the fossil fuel economy becomes obsolete,” von der Leyen said. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 17, 2023. “We have a compelling need to make this net-zero transition without creating new dependencies,” von der Leyen said. already waved through 672 billion euros ($727.5 billion) in aid to allow member states to deal with the impact of the war in Ukraine, any E.U. member states, European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager wrote last week that the U.S. plan “risks luring some of our E.U.

☆ German regulator identifies 5,000 km to aid green power switch
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The natural regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur has planning authority over a total of 7,300 km of grid. It reports to the economy ministry, which shares the goal of increasing the use of renewable energy and distributing wind energy, concentrated in Germany's north, and solar energy from the south. "The renewable energy generated in the north of the country must be transported," Klaus Mueller, the authority's president, said in a statement. Germany plans a total 14,000 km of high voltage grids, responsibility for which would be shared between the central regulator and state level authorities in co-operation with four transmission grid companies (TSOs). Since the Green Party gained prominence as part of the coalition government installed in late 2021, Berlin has accelerated planning and approval procedures to ease the take-up of renewable power.

☆ Spain to ask EU for extension to Iberian gas price cap until end 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"We would like the gas cap to stay within the lower end of the range, about 45 or 50 euros per megawatt hour, extending it at least until the end of 2024," she added. Ribera said the EU's power grid needs to be reformed to reduce price volatility and make electricity cheaper. She added that mild temperatures in autumn and early winter had helped lower prices and support gas storage levels across Europe. Electricity prices in Spain have fallen steadily since they peaked in August, partly due to higher wind energy production. For a few days in October, the gas cap did not apply as prices were below the 40 euros ($42.70) per MWh mechanism trigger price.

☆ America Self-Sabotages Its Electrical Grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Your editorials “The Christmas Grid Emergency” (Dec. 27) and “The Cold Reality of Buffalo” (Dec. 28) give a sobering taste of what’s to come if hubristic climate policy keeps overriding human needs. Things aren’t going to improve so long as governments choose to suppress reliable methods of generating electricity in favor of alternatives whose availability depends on the wind, sunshine or clouds. U.S. wind energy facilities deliver their designated power output on average about 34% of the time. Solar panels are even less efficient, yielding an average of 24% of their rated capacity. The more we try to increase the share of total power demand obtained from these sources while retiring fossil-fuel and nuclear plans, the greater the risk of inadequate supply.

☆ Buy these global clean energy stocks, UBS says, forecasting one to rise 50%
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Skyrocketing energy costs have spurred investment in renewable energy across the world. UBS said it brought online about 200 megawatts of solar energy plants last year, enough to power 100,000 homes. NextEra Energy , one of the world's largest wind energy generators, also made UBS' list. UBS said NextEra produces more than 35% of its 58-gigawatt power generation through wind and solar power. Shares of NextEra Energy Partners , a publicly traded subsidiary of NextEra Energy based in Florida, are also expected to rise by 28%.

[1/3] Philippines' President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos are photographed with China President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Li Yuan during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, January 4, 2023. Office of the Press Secretary/Handout via REUTERSSummary Philippines, China sign 14 bilateral dealsXi pledged solution on plight of Filipino fishers -MarcosChina promised cooperation, investmentBEIJING/MANILA Jan 4 (Reuters) - China is ready to resume oil and gas talks and manage maritime issues "cordially" with the Philippines, China President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, according to Chinese state television. Xi was speaking to his Philippines counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who was on a three-day visit to Beijing. The Philippines had previously raised concerns over reported Chinese construction activities and the "swarming" of Beijing's vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea. While the Philippines is a defence ally of the United States, under previous leader Rodrigo Duterte it set aside a territorial spat over the South China Sea in exchange for Chinese investment.

☆ Here's why the U.S. electric grid isn't running on 100% renewable energy yet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +15 min

Intermittency and transmissionOne of the biggest barriers to a 100% renewable grid is the intermittency of many renewable power sources. Wind resources in the United States, according to the the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. Solar resources in the United States, according to the the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy.

☆ Porsche begins production of 'e-fuel' that could provide gas alternative amid EV push
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Porsche and several partners have started production of a climate neutral "e-fuel" aimed at replacing gasoline in vehicles with traditional internal combustion engines. The German automaker, owned by Volkswagen , said Tuesday that a pilot plant in Chile started commercial production of the alternative fuel. By mid-decade, Porsche is planning to produce millions of gallons of the e-fuel. Plans are to expand that to about 55 million liters (14.5 million U.S. gallons) by mid-decade, and around 550 million liters (145.3 million U.S. gallons) roughly two years later. Porsche officials celebrated the beginning of the e-fuel production with the filling of a Porsche 911 with the first synthetic fuel produced at the site.

☆ Analysts love these 3 renewable energy stocks that could see more than 50% upside
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Renewable energy expansion is predicted to grow exponentially over the next five years, according to the International Energy Agency. Suppose 3,891 gigawatts of renewable energy production capacity are installed over this period, as IEA predicted earlier this month . Wind energy stocks Hong Kong-listed China Longyuan Power offers the biggest upside potential to investors among the stocks screened. Renew Energy Global is a Nasdaq-listed company that primarily builds and operates solar and wind energy projects in India. Solar energy stocks The table below lists stocks that are part of the Global X Solar ETF.

☆ Goldman Sachs names 3 'conviction list' stocks that could profit from their efforts to go green
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Stocks identified as "Green Capex Improvers" and "Green Revenue Improvers" beat their sectors by nearly 21% and 15% respectively, Goldman said in a Dec. 7 report. Three stocks Goldman highlighted nine stocks it said have the potential to attract more investments from ESG funds. These are a mix of the so-called "green revenue improvers" and "green capex improvers," and also have "above-average corporate returns." Three of the nine stocks are on the bank's "conviction list," and analysts give them a "buy" rating. LG Chem South Korean firm LG Chem, which produces battery cathodes and electrolytes used in EV batteries, stands to benefit from greater recognition, Goldman said.

☆ California and the Midwest face 'high risk' of electricity shortages in next five years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Projected energy shortfalls have been projected in that region since 2018, Olson said. The Southwest could also suffer when demand is high and wind energy generation is low in the region. For its annual long-term electricity security assessment, NERC looks at the coming decade, but energy and capacity risk assessment goes out for the coming five years, from 2023 to 2027. There are too many moving parts and uncertainties for a risk assessment past the next five years to be worthwhile, according to NERC. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission certified NERC to measure and enforce safety standards for the energy grid in the United States in 2006.

☆ First-ever California offshore wind auction surpasses $757 million in bids
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced more than $757 million in winning bids for its auction of offshore wind development rights in California, marking the third offshore wind lease sale this year and the first ever for the Pacific region. The sale is a major milestone in the administration's goal of building offshore wind turbines across the nation's coastlines to help power communities and transition to clean energy. The White House, as part of its broader agenda to address climate change, has committed to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, enough to power 10 million homes. "Floating wind technology in its early stages but it is an advanced technology that will lead to strong growth in the deployment of offshore wind." Winning bidders include California North Floating, RWE Offshore Wind Holdings, Central California Offshore Wind and Invenergy California Offshore.

☆ Denmark's new 'energy islands' could revolutionize Europe's power systems
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Freya Graham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Denmark's energy islands will be a hub for transmitting wind-generated electricity and producing green hydrogen. Denmark is building two energy islands that could accelerate Europe's green transition. What's different about the energy islands, though, is the way that they will convert and transmit the electricity that they produce. It also means that the energy islands will be able to connect with more than one country and energy market at a time. "The world is going to build a lot of energy islands," he said.

☆ Rolls-Royce uses hydrogen produced with wind and tidal power to test jet engine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Anmar Frangoul | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The test used a converted regional aircraft engine from Rolls-Royce, with hydrogen produced at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. LONDON — Plans to reduce the significant environmental effects of aviation took a step forward this week after Rolls-Royce and easyJet said they had carried out the ground test of a jet engine that used hydrogen produced from tidal and wind power. The test, which was carried out at an outdoor site in the U.K., used a converted regional aircraft engine from London-listed Rolls-Royce. "This is a true British success story, with the hydrogen being used to power the jet engine today produced using tidal and wind energy from the Orkney Islands of Scotland," Shapps added. Using hydrogen to power an internal combustion engine is different to hydrogen fuel cell technology, where hydrogen from a tank mixes with oxygen, generating electricity.

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