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COP22: Countries Challenge the World to Advance Clean Energy

November 20, 2016

Meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco, during the most recent United Nations climate change conference (COP22), Mission Innovation countries—a group of nations whose stated mission is to accelerate the pace of clean energy innovation—launched seven innovation challenges, designed as a global call to action for the research community, industry, and investors.

The challenges are:

Smart Grids
Off-Grid Access to Electricity
Carbon Capture
Sustainable Biofuels
Converting Sunlight (to create storable solar fuels)
Clean Energy Materials
Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings

“Collaboration is essential to advancing our global response to climate change and meeting our Mission Innovation goals,” said James Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources. “Canada will continue to invest in clean energy research and technology development and work with international partners to leverage efforts to accelerate energy technology innovation to advance the transition to a low-carbon global economy.”

After welcoming Finland and the Netherlands to the group during COP22, the Mission Innovation countries are now 23 members strong, including the three largest CO₂ emitting countries in the world: China, the U.S.,…

New York City Sets Ambitious Citywide Energy Storage Target

September 30, 2016

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New York City is aiming to have 100 MWh of energy storage by 2020 under an unprecedented target set by Mayor Bill de Blasio on September 23.

The city’s first-ever energy storage deployment target will help reduce reliance on the grid by making variable sources of energy production, such as solar panels, usable for more of the day, Blasio said as he announced the target to celebrate Climate Week. “Energy storage also helps increase the City’s resiliency by providing backup energy when the grid is offline.”

The mayor on September 23 also called on the Department of Buildings to issue permits for more than 3,000 solar panel installations this year alone, bringing the citywide total to more than 8,000 installations in 2016.

“This solar growth puts the City on track to meet its OneNYC goals of installing 100 [MW] of solar power on public buildings and spurring the installation of 250 MW on private buildings by 2025,” his office said in a statement last week.…

Enbridge, Spectra to Merge, Create Energy Infrastructure Giant

September 10, 2016

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A merger proposed between Canadian firm Enbridge and Houston-based Spectra Energy Corp. could create the largest energy infrastructure company in North America.

The companies announced on September 6 that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in a stock-for-stock merger transaction that has an enterprise value of $ 127 billion. The transaction was reportedly approved by both companies’ boards of directors and could close in the first quarter of 2017, if shareholders and regulators approve it.

If completed, Enbridge shareholders would hold 57% and Spectra shareholders would own 43% of the combined company, which is to be called “Enbridge Inc.” It would be headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, though Houston would remain the company’s gas pipelines business unit center.

The merger would bring together the companies’ myriad energy infrastructure assets in North America, including liquids and gas pipelines, U.S. and Canadian midstream businesses, a regulated utility portfolio, and several renewable projects.

“Enbridge has been assessing opportunities to extend and diversify our sources of growth,” Enbridge President and CEO Al Monaco told investors in a webcast on Sept.…

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Solar Projects in Georgia

September 8, 2016

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Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy’s Commercial Portfolio, announced on September 7 that it will add six Georgia solar projects to the 2.8-GW renewable energy portfolio the company owns and operates.

The projects are relatively small in terms of capacity—averaging about 1 MW DC each (769 kW AC)—but they are the first Duke Energy has acquired in Georgia, giving it projects in 14 states (Figure 1). SolAmerica Energy developed the sites, located in the southern and central part of the state, under an engineering, procurement, and construction agreement with REC Solar, a Duke Energy affiliate.

1. Duke Energy Renewables U.S. portfolio map. Courtesy: Duke Energy

“In acquiring these solar sites, we add Georgia to our growing U.S. renewables footprint,” said Rob Caldwell, president, Duke Energy Renewables and Distributed Energy Technology. “SolAmerica and REC Solar have completed quality projects that will deliver clean energy to Georgia Power’s customers for years to come.”

The projects—constructed with panels manufactured by Yingli—are part of the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative.…

District Energy Systems Improve Efficiency and Reduce Carbon Emissions

June 27, 2016

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Although it’s not widely publicized, a majority of the energy used to generate electricity is wasted in the form of heat discharged to the environment. For better or worse, that’s just the way a typical thermal power plant works.

Fuel, such as coal, biomass, natural gas, or uranium (in the case of nuclear plants), is used to heat water, producing high-temperature and high-pressure steam. The steam is admitted into a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. However, not all of the energy stored in the steam is converted to useful work through the process.

In order for the cycle to continue, the steam exhausted from the turbine must be returned to its liquid form inside a condenser. In a fairly standard arrangement, the condenser is cooled by river, lake, or ocean water. The cooling water from the condenser is often simply released back to its source, and with it, the energy that was transferred inside the condenser.

Waste Not, Want Not

The average U.S.…

Utility Paradigm Changing Globally in Response to Distributed Energy and Digitization

June 23, 2016

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Enrico Viale, head of global thermal generation for the Italian energy company Enel, kicked off an international power industry event yesterday with a keynote presentation describing the “needs” of utilities in the future.

Enrico Viale, head of global thermal generation for the Italian energy company Enel, gave the keynote presentation at Power-Gen Europe on June 21, 2016 in Milan. Courtesy: Lee Buchsbaum

With more than 100 power plants in 33 nations generating and distributing energy to more than 60 million customers, Enel’s multi-platform fleet is rapidly changing. “We are in the middle of a transition to a new energy paradigm characterized by the rise of renewables and distributed energy. These pose challenges to traditional generation and power network systems,” he told attendees at Power-Gen Europe in Milan, Italy, on July 21.

From Viale’s global perspective, all utilities are being influenced by four major factors: “persistent market volatility, a growing environmental culture, calls for sustainability, and the megatrend of digitalization.”…