TransCanada Selling Ontario Solar Power Holdings in Move Against Renewable Energy Trend

26.10.2017

solar-cells — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

TransCanada Corp. is offloading its only solar power holdings in a $540-million deal as it moves against the industry trend of investing more in renewables.

The company said Wednesday it was selling the eight facilities in Ontario with 76 megawatts of capacity to a subsidiary of Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P., with plans to spend the proceeds on its $24-billion in near-term capital projects.

The sale leaves TransCanada’s renewable portfolio with 365 megawatts of wind power through its partial ownership of Cartier Wind, after the company sold its hydropower and wind generation assets in the U.S. earlier this year to help fund its $13-billion (U.S.) takeover of Columbia Pipeline Group.

The moves come as Canada’s other pipeline giant, Enbridge Inc., has been adding to its renewable portfolio while also making big acquisitions on the pipeline front.

In February, Enbridge bought an effective 50 per cent ownership of the 497-megawatt Hohe See wind project in Germany with plans to invest $1.7 billion in its construction, while last year it bought a 50 per cent interest in French offshore wind company Eolien Maritime France SAS for $282 million and acquired the 249-megawatt Chapman Ranch wind project in Texas that will cost an estimated $400 million to build.

Enbridge is also partnered in the development of the 400-megawatt Rampion wind project in England, which it says should be online next year, and owns operational solar and wind assets elsewhere in North America.

The diversification strategy at Enbridge is part of a bigger trend in the industry, with especially European oil and gas majors ramping up their investments in renewables.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance said this week that many big energy companies are investing in renewable energy as pressure mounts for them to diversify, estimating oil majors have completed 428 deals and spent an estimated $6.2 billion over the past 15 years to buy into clean energy companies.

Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said earlier this year that he expects the company to spend as much as $1 billion a year by 2020 on its New Energies division.

TransCanada spokesman Terry Cunha said the company continues to pursue growth opportunities in the power market across North America, considering both environmental and financial advantages.

The company bought the Ontario solar plants in 2013.

TransCanada’s 6,200-megawatt energy portfolio consists of nuclear, natural gas, co-generation and wind facilities, including the Bruce Power nuclear plant and a 900-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant under construction in Napanee, Ont.

In its corporate social responsibility report in September, Girling said that respected authorities forecast natural gas and oil will continue to be dominant energy sources for decades to come, and that outlook is reflected in the make-up of TransCanada’s business and growth plans.

Greenpeace senior energy strategist Keith Stewart said in an email that the strategy shows the company is out of touch with current trends.

“It looks like TransCanada has given up on even pretending to take climate change seriously,” said Stewart.

“The company is doubling down on a sunset industry because oil and gas is what it knows, but long-term investors should recognize that selling your solar farms to finance pipelines is the equivalent of cancelling your Netflix subscription so you can get a premium membership at Blockbuster.”

Source: thestar.com

Report: UK’s ‘Outdated’ Onshore Wind Ban Blocks Cheapest Form of New Energy

25.10.2017

The government’s “outdated” ban on developing new onshore wind farms on mainland Britain is blocking access to the cheapest available form of new electricity generation, and having a negative impacts on bills, climate change targets, and businesses.

That is the conclusion of new research by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank, which estimates electricity from 1GW of new onshore wind farms would cost £30m a year less than obtaining the same amount of power from new offshore wind farms, even when recent cost reductions from the offshore wind sector are taken into account.

Moreover, new onshore wind development costs in the UK would be as much as £100m a year lower per GW when compared to new nuclear or biomass plants, the report argues, adding that they wouldalso prove cheaper than new gas plants.

Since 2015, onshore wind farms in the UK have been denied access to any form of government support, effectively placing a freeze on new development.

Ministers said in the recent Clean Growth Strategy that remote islands of Scotland would be eligible to apply for support in the spring 2019 Contracts for Difference auction, potentially opening the door to some new projects in future.

However, the government has consistently failed to respond to repeated industry calls for well-located onshore wind farms to be allowed to compete for price support contracts.

The ECIU estimates that continuing to bar onshore wind farms from competing for contracts could cost the UK £1bn over four to five years when compared to developing other new power plants. The think tank is now calling for a policy rethink ahead of the findings of the energy costs review headed by Professor Dieter Helm, which is expected shortly.

ECIU director Richard Black described the ongoing block on mainland onshore wind farms as “perverse” given the UK’s windy weather and findings suggesting it is the cheapest form of new power generation around.

“For a government committed to making energy cheaper, this risks not only locking people into higher bills, but also runs contrary to its aim of having the lowest energy costs in Europe,” he said in a statement.

He also pointed to analysis carried out before the recent record-breaking offshore wind auctions showing that new onshore wind could be built without the need for subsidy, at below £50/MWh, even when additional costs relating to intermittency are taken into account.

“David Cameron promised no new subsidies for onshore wind,” Black argued. “But it now doesn’t need a subsidy – research indicates fixed-price contracts would more than pay for themselves. So, given that the government also knows it needs new low-carbon policies the question is, why not enable onshore wind where local people want it and where it won’t harm wildlife, while continuing to support a healthy mix of other low-carbon energy generation?”

Elsewhere, today’s ECIU report also argues the UK is set to fall to bottom place among comparable EU nations in terms of wind farm efficiency and that without further investment in new technology the country risks losing its place as a global leader in wind energy.

Dr Jonathan Marshall, ECIU energy analyst, said changing tack on onshore wind policy would be widely supported by the public.

“People are overwhelmingly in favour of renewable forms of energy, and onshore wind is one of the most popular forms of generation; surveys show that people are far keener on living next to an onshore wind farm than a fracking site or a small nuclear reactor,” he said. “The opportunity of repeating the British success story on offshore wind should also be a powerful motivator, and there would be added benefits in diversifying the UK’s energy mix. A policy rethink on onshore wind looks increasingly overdue.”

Responding to the report today, a spokesperson for BEIS said the government does “not believe that more large-scale onshore wind power is right for England”.

“We are pleased to see that established technologies, such as onshore wind and solar, are driving costs down,” BEIS said in a statement. “If this continues, and they have local support, they may play a significant role in the energy mix in future. We’re committed to supporting the development of onshore wind projects in the remote islands of Scotland and will set out further details shortly.”

But RenewableUK executive director Emma Pinchbeck welcomed the findings of the report, and called on the government to let the lowest cost options for energy compete on the market. “Having seen the record-breaking fall in the cost of offshore wind last month, we now need to discover how much the cost of onshore wind has fallen too – and that hasn’t been possible because it’s been excluded from competitive auctions,” Pinchbeck said in a statement. “New onshore wind, in places where there it has public support, can help Ministers achieve their goal of making energy costs for UK consumers the lowest in Europe.”

Source: businessgreen.com

Azure Power Wins 250 Megawatt Solar Project In India At Record Tariff

25.10.2017

Solarna-energija — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

An auctioned organized by India’s largest power generating company, NTPC Limited, yielded the lowest-ever tariff for a solar project obligated to use Indian-made solar modules.

NYSE-listed Azure Power secured the bid to set up a 250 megawatt solar power project at a tariff of Rs 3.14/kWh (4.8¢/kWh). Several other developers participated in the auction with bids ranging between Rs 3.14/kWh (4.8¢/kWh) to Rs 4.95/kWh (7.6¢/kWh). Interestingly, this was the first time ever that a foreign module manufacturer had participated in the auction that requires developers to use only Indian-made modules. Canadian Solar Holdings had offered to set up 100 megawatts.

Waaree Energies and Adani Green Energy had also participated in the auction albeit unsuccessfully; both the companies own substantial solar cell and module manufacturing facilities in India.

The last auction that mandated Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) was secured by Tata Power Solar at a tariff of Rs 4.84/kWh (7.4¢/kWh). The power purchase agreement for the project was signed in December 2016. The latest auction, thus, marks a huge correction of 35% from the previous auction.

Azure Power is one of the leading solar power developers in India with a portfolio of more than 1.6 gigawatts. With the latest auction the company will now be the largest supplier of electricity to NTPC Limited and its subsidiary NVVN Limited.

The company also recently raised Rs 200 crore ($30.5 million) in debt funding from Dutch development agency FMO. The funds will be used for setting up 300 megawatts of capacity currently under construction. It also raised $500 million through green bonds issue earlier this year. With an interest yield of 5.5% for the issue, investors had offered to invest over $1 billion.

Source: cleantechnica.com

The Netherlands Will Miss 2020 Renewables Targets, Government Review Shows

25.10.2017

Despite recent investments into new wind energy capacity, the Netherlands will miss its 2020 targets for renewables and greenhouse gas emissions reductions by a fair margin, according to a government review published last Thursday.

The review findings are that renewable energy will provide (based on current projections) only around 12.4% of the country’s energy supply by 2020 — well under the 14% target that was set for 2020 as part of the agreement with the European Union.

Accompanying the projected failure to achieve the above discussed renewable energy goal, the review also notes that the country’s efforts to achieve a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 25% (as compared to 1990 levels) by 2020 as part of the Kyoto Protocol deal are likely to fall short. Current projections show the country achieving an only 23% emissions reduction by 2020 (as compared to 1990 levels).

“Green campaigners said the figures showed the government had to do more, quickly. ‘If we keep on like this the Netherlands will still be bungling at the bottom of European lists in 2030,’ the Dutch Union for Renewable Energy, representing renewables companies, said,” as reported by Reuters.

“Economic Affairs Minister Henk Kamp said the projections had improved since last year, due to ‘the successful roll-out of wind energy on the sea’. Stung by a court ruling in 2015 that found the Dutch government was failing to live up to its obligations, Kamp began a more ambitious roll-out of wind turbine farms in the North Sea and earmarked 100 million euros ($118 million) in extra spending to combat climate change.

“Parties in a new government this month agreed to close five coal-fired plants by 2030 and increase taxes on polluters.”

The new review predicts that the share of the Dutch energy mix held by renewable energy will increase to 23.9% by 2030 — well under the European Union goal of a 27% share by 2030. Correspondingly, the government review projects that greenhouse gas emissions will only be reduced (as compared to 1990 levels) by 34% by 2030 — well under the goal of 40%.

Interestingly, the report predicts that there will be more jobs within the country in the renewals energy sector by 2020 than in the fossil fuel sector.

Source: cleantechnica.com

Nantes Chooses Breakthrough ABB E-Bus Technology

25.10.2017

World’s fastest flash-charging connection technology from ABB to power first fully electric 24-meter buses

ABB has won a $20 million order from Swiss bus manufacturer HESS to supply its flash-charging technology for 20 e-buses and related infrastructure for the French city of Nantes. The buses will be operated by public transport operator, Société d’Economie Mixte des Transports de l’Agglomération Nantaise (Semitan).

Batteries mounted on the roofs of the Nantes buses will be charged in 20 seconds with a 600-kilowatt boost of power at selected stops while passengers are embarking and disembarking. It takes less than one second to connect the bus to the charging point, making it the world’s fastest flash-charging connection technology. A further 1 to 5 minutes charge at the terminus at the end of the line enables a full recharge of the batteries.

ABB’s flash-charging technology and onboard traction equipment, which make the flash-charging possible, are part of its innovative TOSA (Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation) solution, which is the world’s leading technology of its kind.

The fleet will run on the Busway Bus Rapid Transit (Line 4) route connecting the historic center of Nantes with municipalities on the southern side of the river Loire. The new bus system will increase passenger capacity by 35 percent enabling sustainable transport for about 2,500 commuters every hour.

Since the route’s inauguration in 2006, passenger numbers have increased, leading to overcrowded buses. The 24 meter long, fully electric buses from HESS will be the first of their kind in the world to be equipped with the flash-charging technology, enabling a higher passenger capacity, emission-free public transport and noise reduction. The buses are expected to be operational by the end of 2018.

“This revolutionary technology requires no overhead lines and provides silent, zero-emission mass transit as a viable alternative to fossil fuel powered buses, offering a model for future urban transportation,” said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Grids division. “The project exemplifies our commitment to deliver customer value through technology and innovation, and reinforces our position as a partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid, in line with our Next Level strategy.”

Each of the new e-buses can carry 151 passengers and will be equipped with energy-efficient ABB drivetrain technology, comprising traction and auxiliary converters, permanent magnet traction motors, roof-mounted battery units and energy transfer systems.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 136,000 employees.

(Source: abb.com)

Hydroelectric Power is Most Damaging to Ecology

25.10.2017

Mala hidroelektrana — Foto-ilustracija: Wikimedia/Dr Richard Murray

Hydroelectric power is the most damaging to ecological systems, followed by solar power and wind power, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reports, citing a study. The study was conducted by the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Shenzhen’s Southern University of Science and Technology and James Cook University of Australia.

The researchers assessed the environmental impact of renewable energy on the environment by comparing hydroelectric power, solar energy, and wind energy.

The results were published in the Trends in Ecology and Evolution journal on Monday. The study found that hydroelectric power does the most damage to the ecology, followed by solar power and wind power.

Researchers said reservoirs constantly emit carbon dioxide, the main source of the greenhouse effect, as well as biogas and nitrogen monoxide, all of which are harmful to the environment.

The biogas can be released by rotten plants at the bottom of reservoirs. As the current passes through the turbines and drainage channels, the biogas dissolved in the water can also be released, they said.

In addition, construction of dams for hydroelectricity lowers biodiversity in the areas where they are located because a large number of trees have to be cut down.

The study cited the Cheow Larn Reservoir in southern Thailand as an example, saying its construction has seriously damaged the neighboring tropical rainforest, where tigers and other wild animals inhabit.

Statistics show that worldwide, about 3,700 large hydroelectric dams were under construction or being planned as of March 2014. Nine in 10 were in developing countries.

The study showed that solar power plants can result in the elimination of certain plant species, as evidenced in the southwestern United States.

US authorities estimated the number of birds dying from hitting solar panels range from about 38,000 to 138,000 a year.

While wind power is less ecologically damaging, the study said about 570,000 birds die after crashing into the wind turbines each year. Breeding is also affected by noise from the turbines.

Dr. Luke Gibson, an HKU honorary assistant professor who was in charge of the study, called on governments and power companies around the world to consider the impact on the ecology when making plans for renewable energy facilities.

(source: ejinsight)

Severe Chinese Air Pollution Cuts Solar Energy Potential As Much As 35%

25.10.2017

China is currently on track to install close to 50 GW worth of solar energy in 2017, nearly half of total global demand, but new research from Princeton University has concluded that China’s severe air pollution is “significantly reducing” the country’s solar energy output because the pollution is blocking light from the sun reaching solar installations.

China’s severe air pollution issues are no secret and have been a hot topic for years. Many will remember the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing, China, were beset by concerns for athletes’ health given the high levels of air pollution in the region. In 2009, research concluded that the Beijing Olympics were, unsurprisingly, the most polluted games ever.

But China has been making huge efforts to minimize its pollution levels, specifically as regards to pollution stemming from electricity generation. A study published last year concluded that coal combustion was the single largest source of air pollution-related health impact in China, contributing to 366,000 premature deaths in China in 2013 alone. One method that China has been relying on to reduce its energy-related air pollution is to transition toward renewable energy sources like solar. A report from 2014 revealed that China wanted to install 70 GW worth of solar by 2017 in an effort to reduce air pollution — an effort we can quite confidently say they achieved, considering China’s cumulative solar capacity at the end of the first half of 2017 was 112.34 GW.

However, all that hard work to reduce air pollution from coal combustion might be stuck in a circular loop of its own creation, according to new research from Princeton University and published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Specifically, the study, Reduction of Solar Photovoltaic Resources Due to Air Pollution in China, found that severe air pollution in China is blocking the light from the sun reaching solar panels to such a degree that in the most polluted areas of northern and eastern China, aerosol pollution is reducing the potential solar electricity generation by as much as 35%.

“Developing countries with severe air pollution that are rapidly expanding solar power, such as China and India, often neglect the role of aerosols in their planning, but it can be an important factor to consider,” said Xiaoyuan (Charles) Li, a Ph.D. candidate in Princeton’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the study’s lead author.

The issue is worse in winter, as well, with air pollution’s wintertime effect on solar electricity generation as significant as that of clouds.

The researchers used a solar photovoltaic performance model combined with satellite data from NASA instruments that measure irradiance from the sun and analyze aerosol components and clouds in the atmosphere. They conducted nine separate analyses spanning from 2003 to 2014 covering all of China in an effort to compare the impact of aerosols compared to clouds on solar electricity generation.

“Reduction in solar generation due to clouds has been a primary focus in the past,” said Denise L. Mauzerall, a professor of environmental engineering and international affairs at Princeton’s School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs who serves as Li’s faculty adviser and helped develop the study. “But this is the one of the first times atmospheric air pollution has been taken into account in determining solar photovoltaic cells’ ability to generate electricity.”

Source: cleantechnica.com

Italy Sets Sights on 2025 Coal Power Phase-Out

25.10.2017

Termoelektrana, Ugalj, Zagađenje — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The Italian government today announced its intention to phase-out domestic coal-fired power by 2025 when it formally adopts its national energy strategy next month.

The move would see Italy join a growing list of nations committed to ending reliance on carbon-intensive electricity plants over the next 10 to 15 years.

The proposal is set out in a government consultation document published today, which aims to ensure Italy delivers on its target of sourcing 27 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, Reuters reports.

The energy strategy is expected to be adopted on 10 November.

Italy’s biggest energy utility Enel has also said it will not invest in new coal-fired power plants, according to the news agency.

Italy follows France, the UK and Canada in signalling an end-date for domestic coal fired power generation. France has set a phase out date of 2022, while the UK government was the first country to set a date for ending the use of unabated coal, declaring its last coal plant wouldclose by 2025. Canada recently announced it would phase out unabated coal power by 2030.

The commitment from Italy means some coal plants in country that have operated for as little as 15 years would have to be retired, further fuelling concerns some coal power projects could be left as stranded assets.

Earlier this month UK and Canada challenged more governments around the world to bring an end to coal-fired power generation, announcing plans to jointly launch a new global alliance at next month’s COP 23 climate summit in Bonn aimed at speeding up the transition to cleaner sources of electricity.

The Netherlands has also recently announced plans to close its five remaining coal plants by 2030, while the global coal sector was also recently hit by reports suggesting China is planning to stop or delay work on 151 planned or under construction coal facilities.

Chris Littlecott, programme leader for fossil fuel transition at think tank E3G, welcomed the announcement from the Italian government.

“Italy’s positive commitment to phase out coal by 2025 demonstrates real international leadership as it completes its year holding the G7 Presidency,” he said in a statement. “Italy now joins its G7 peers in Canada, France and the UK in taking action to phase out coal power generation over the next decade. Together, they can lead a growing coalition of countries and regions that are now acting on coal.”

Source: businessgreen.com

Nicaragua Confirms it is to Join Paris Agreement, Leaving US Further Isolated

24.10.2017

climate-change — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The Paris Agreement has received a further boost ahead of next month’s annual UN climate summit, after Nicaragua confirmed it would sign and ratify the international treaty.

The Latin American nation had been one of just two countries not to sign the accord, alongside war-torn Syria. The Nicaraguan government opted out of the international agreement in protest at its largely voluntary nature, arguing it was not ambitious enough and represented a “path to failure”.

However, in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s announcement this summer that the US would trigger the process to quit the agreement reports suggested the Nicaraguan government was considering a change of heart.

Yesterday, Reuters reported that the Latin American government had issued an official statement confirming it now planned to sign up to the Paris Agreement.

Vice-president Rosario Murillo told local radio the relevant documents had already been submitted to the UN, suggesting the government had reversed its previous decision not to submit a national climate action plan as required by the Paris Agreement.

“It is the only instrument we have in the world that allows the unity of intentions and efforts to face up to climate change and natural disasters,” Murillo said of the treaty.

The move will leave the US further isolated as it prepares to attend the COP 23 Summit in Bonn. The US remains a signatory to the accord until the four year exit process runs its course. Under the process the earliest the US can formally leave the agreement is a day after the 2020 US presidential election, fuelling speculation that a any defeat for President Trump would result in the country’s time outside the agreement being short-lived.

The annual UN conference, which will this year be chaired by Fiji, is expected to be mainly focused on technical discussions about the rule book that will underpin the system of reporting, monitoring and updates when the Paris Agreement comes into full effect in 2020.

However, last week Fiji’s Prime Minister and chair of the summit Frank Bainimarama called for “absolute dedication” from delegates in pursuit of the Paris Agreement’s more ambitious goal of keeping temperature increases below 1.5C.

Source: businessgreen.com

12 Global Cities Commit to Create Green and Healthy Streets By 2030

24.10.2017

On Monday, the mayors of London, Paris, Los Angeles, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Quito, Vancouver, Mexico City, Milan, Seattle, Auckland and Cape Town committed to a series of ambitious targets to make their cities greener, healthier and more prosperous. By signing the C40 Fossil-Fuel-Free Streets Declaration, the pioneering city leaders pledged to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025 and ensure that a major area of their city is zero emission by 2030. The policies are designed to fight air pollution, improve the quality of life for all citizens and help tackle the global threat of climate change.

Signatories to the declaration “envision a future where walking, cycling, and shared transport are how the majority of citizens move around our cities.” The cities therefore commit to:
Increase rates of walking, cycling and the use of public and shared transport.
Reduce the number of polluting vehicles on city streets.
Lead by example by procuring zero emission vehicles for city fleets.
Collaborate with suppliers, fleet operators and businesses to accelerate the shift to zero emissions vehicles and reduce vehicle miles in cities.

“Air pollution caused by petrol and diesel vehicles is killing millions of people in cities around the world. The same emissions are also causing climate change,” said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and C40 chair. “In Paris we are taking bold action to prioritize the streets for pedestrians and cyclists. Working with citizens, businesses and mayors of these great cities we will create green and healthy streets for future generations to enjoy.”

Cities will report back every two years on the progress they are making towards the goals of the C40 Declaration.

“The largest sources of air pollution are also the largest sources of carbon emissions—and in many cities, transportation is the biggest culprit,” said UN Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change and C40 board president, Michael R. Bloomberg. “C40 Mayors understand thriving cities require clean air. By switching to cleaner vehicles, we can fight climate change and save many lives.”

Source: ecowatch.com

India To Auction 4.5 Gigawatts Of Wind Power Projects By February 2018

24.10.2017

Sticking to its announced road map to expedite wind energy auctions, India will put 4.5 gigawatts of capacity on the block by February 2018.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has announced that auctions of 1.5 gigawatts of capacity each will take place in October, December 2017 and February 2018. So far two auctions have been organized at the central level with 1 gigawatt capacity each.

Both the auctions have yielded record low tariffs. The first auction saw allocation of 1,050 megawatts capacity at the lowest tariff of ₹3.46/kWh (5.3¢/kWh) while in the second, 1,000 megawatts was allocated at the lowest tariff of ₹2.64/kWh (4.0¢/kWh). The latest tariff is cheaper than not only almost all thermal power plants but also almost all solar power plants in India.

These are the first auctions in India’s wind energy market. Buoyed by the success and competition among developers, several state governments have also initiated auctions while moving away from the feed-in tariff regime.

India has set a target for 60 gigawatts of operational wind energy capacity by March 2022 while the current operational capacity stands at around 38 gigawatts. In all likelihood the country would exceed this target. The central government has announced plans to auction 4-5 gigawatts every year while state governments will host separate auctions.

While highly beneficial to the government and power utilities, these auctions may pose financial threats to the bidders. Tariff bids have collapsed 24% in a matter of few months, highlighting the desperation among the project developers and turbine manufacturers. This increased competition is the direct result of states moving away from feed-in tariff regime to reverse auctions.

Recently completed projects under the feed-in tariff regime remain stranded, unable to inject power into the grid as power utilities have refused to procure this relatively costly power.

Source: cleantechnica.com

IDVORSKY ELECTRIC TRACTOR: Our Idea for a Sustainable Future

24.10.2017

Idvorsky Electric, električni traktor, Dalibor Marković, Nikola Popov, Ivan Jovanov — Foto: Privatna arhiva

In the current decades, the world is becoming more and more aware of how important it is to reduce the emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere, both in the field of industry and in the transportation. Also, there is an increase in the number of people who are turning to organic food production, without the use of pesticides and other chemicals, due to their health. But what’s the point of the most sophisticated organic seed and the minimal treatment of fruits and vegetables, when the soil is processed by agricultural machinery, which emits into the air, ground and water tons of exhaust gases, usually caused by impure oil and other fuels?

The road that Dalibor Marković, Nikola Popov and Ivan Jovanov have passed since the first mentioning of an electric tractor till today is pervaded through struggle, learning, research, satisfaction, enthusiasm and disappointments, delusions and failures, victories and defeats. Everything that one creative process of creating startup and innovation implies. In the current decades, the world is becoming more and more aware of how important it is to reduce the emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere, both in the field of industry and in the transportation.

Also, there is an increase in the number of people who are turning to organic food production, without the use of pesticides and other chemicals, due to their health. But what’s the point of the most sophisticated organic seed and the minimal treatment of fruits and vegetables, when the soil is processed by agricultural machinery, which emits into the air, ground and water tons of exhaust gases, usually caused by impure oil and other fuels?

Three young men from Serbia – Dalibor Marković, Nikola Popov and Ivan Jovanov – found a way to tackle this problem. They launched a startup project “Idvorsky Electric” and presented a fully electric lightweight tractor on the international competition. Not only is the electric tractor energy efficient, but it is also completely ecological. In our bulletin ECOMOBILITY you have a unique opportunity to get to know the team named by the middle name and the birthplace of our world-renowned scientist Mihailo Idvorski Pupin.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

On one occasion, at the end of 2015, three friends and colleagues from Faculty of Electrical Engineering were lively discussing profession and the future. The spirit of entrepreneurship inherent in their generation and the common desire to engage in innovation, inspired their conversation. The technological world, and especially a part of that world that is close to them, was full of exciting events and novelties. Display of the future that the new technology brings on a daily basis was no longer based only on the picture of the supercomputer, the Internet, smartphones, networked devices, and virtual reality anymore. Burning need for clean energy, as well as the awareness about sustainable development, have led to a large specter of innovations their branch – the electric power industry.They were especially fascinated by the electric vehicles development trend, as well as the main protagonist of this philosophy, Elon Musk and the achievements of his company “Tesla”.

– Nikola, the newest doctor of science from our company, mentioned during the discussion that frequent problems with old father’s tractor on the family estate prompted him to think about the electric version of a light tractor. Soon, his idea got us completely occupied, and wider audience found it very interesting – Ivan Jovanov, one of the three minds of this project, told us. And with their idea and just a few months of development, as the only team from the region called “Idvorsky Electric”, they finished in the final of the eminent startup competition, at the Stanford University, as part of a global entrepreneurial summit, which was personally hosted and supported by the then US President, Barack Obama. After this great experience and return from San Francisco, we quickly concluded that it is necessary to “pivot” around the original idea that we had taken to America, whose concept was to electrify the existing, old tractors. After deeper acquaintance with this multidisciplinary issue, we realized that, although it is technically possible to process the existing diesel tractors into electric, this type of end product would not achieve economic sustainability nor comparable functional capacity of a standard tractor – said Ivan and continued:

– A modern market requires that the goal of any innovation or technology transfer must be improved product functionality or some features, such as the impact on the environment, and clear economic viability. Electric cars, as pioneers of vehicle electrification, successfully acquired customers. Even those early, expensive versions, although highly unreliable and with the pronounced feature of range anxiety, found their wealthy customers and eco enthusiasts who recognized electric cars as the herald of a sustainable future or a kind of a status symbol. On the other side, the future user of an electric tractor, or any other operation tool, must have undoubtedly economic benefits as the basic condition for considering the purchase and using a product. Of course, there should be no doubts that among farmers there are elitists and those, who are early adopters of changes, but it certainly should not rely on it during positioning the electric tractor on the market.

We were particularly fascinated by Elon Musk and the achievements of his “Tesla” company

The whole idea of the construction of this tractor is based on the technology wave advanced for the development of electric cars. However, this variation of the topic of electric vehicles – as well as others that have already come to life along with cars – like electric trucks and buses – requires a complete development and custom design of the new powertrain technology for the needs of a particular vehicle.

This challenge would not only involve the engineering of the electric tractor itself, but also a creation review of the entire concept of using this tractor (infrastructure of charging, maintenance, business model, and economics of use, etc.), considering that similar products do not exist on the market yet.

– With our, almost tremendous effort, as well as advice of good people of similar enthusiasm, professionals in the field of agriculture, mechanical engineering and technology, we have succeeded in setting the hypothesis of a sustainable model of an electric tractor, after considerable time spent on researching and working on basic engineering – explains Ivan.

Detailed modeling and complete analysis of the technical and economic sustainability of the concept have become the task of a serious feasibility study. The proportions and width of the challenges of such a project outweigh the power of the three enthusiasts. Only a feasibility study requires a dedicated team of experts of various specialties, organization and means for its development, which are estimated at around 120,000 euros.

– The final development, general and detailed design, prototype and product organization of electric tractors are far away at this moment, considering that investments in this kind of projects, even in much more stimulating development environments, exceed tens or even hundreds millions of dollars – Ivan is real.

The further course of this project is critical and very uncertain, but the Idvorsky team never loses hope.

– Mоney and other social conditions have to be provided, to meet materialization of this project in Serbia. Our contribution to launching the spark is certainly not sufficient. However, it has generated valuable knowledge and experience which belongs to the future so that our efforts are not in vain.

Adapted by: Tamara Zjačić and Vera Rakić

This story first appeared in our bulletin ECOMOBILITY that was published in July, 2017.

Indian Module Makers Beat Chinese Prices In 300 Megawatt Tender

24.10.2017

In a major boost for the Indian solar module and cell manufacturers, Energy Efficiency Services Limited recently acquired 300 megawatts of modules for multiple uses. The order has come at a time when Indian manufacturers await a decision by the government to levy anti-dumping duties on Chinese modules.

According to media reports, four Indian companies agreed to supply a total of 300 megawatts of solar modules to the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) for use at rooftop solar power systems and to power rural sub-stations for agricultural purposes.

Adani Green Energy is said to have quoted the lowest price of modules at ¢0.30/watt. Three other companies — Tata Power Solar, Bharat Heavy Electrics Limited, and Central Electronics agreed to supply the modules at the above price.

The modules will be used for setting up rooftop solar power systems at government buildings owned by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation in India’s capital city. The municipal body has identified several buildings which it plans to cover with rooftop solar power systems aggregating to 20 megawatts capacity.

Due to the lowest bids placed by the module manufacturers, the cost of generation at the NDMC rooftop solar power systems would likely be ₹4.87/kWh (7.5¢/kWh) for the first year with 3% escalation every year for 25 years. This may seem quite high compared to the utility-scale solar power tariffs but Delhi has limited solar energy resources and land availability which pushes up the cost of generation.

The modules would also be used in Maharashtra at various rural sub-stations that power the water pumps for farmers across the state. Solar power systems of 0.5 to 2 megawatts in capacity will be installed at these sub-stations and will be used to supply electricity to the water pumps. The cost of generation in this case will likely be ₹3.00/kWh (4.6¢/kWh). The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company currently supplies electricity to the water pumps at ₹6.00/kWh but is unable to bill the farmers as they are exempted from paying power bills. Thus, these small solar power systems would create savings of 50% for the state’s power utility.

EESL was recently in the news for ordering 10,000 electric sedans for various departments of the Indian government. It had also issued a tender for setting up thousands of charging stations for electric vehicles.

Source: cleantechnica.com

GE Renewable Energy Continues Strong 2017 Growth

24.10.2017

GE Renewable Energy recorded yet another strong quarter with $3 billion in orders and double the growth in its international onshore wind orders, according to figures pulled out of GE’s larger third-quarter earnings report published last week.

It is not always easy to gauge the performance of GE’s renewable energy division because it is a division of a larger company, so we are sometimes reliant upon the parent company extracting the information from their overall quarterly earnings report. Given the company’s stature, therefore, it is unsurprising that GE Renewable Energy made some noise this past week given that it recorded revenue of $2.9 billion, a 5% year-over-year increase. The company also took in $3 billion worth of orders, including increased international onshore wind orders.

Some of the key highlights from GE Renewable Energy’s third quarter included supplying 600 MW (megawatts) worth of wind power to Australia, including to the Cooper’s Gap wind project, the country’s largest onshore wind farm. GE Renewable Energy also provided 87 wind turbines worth 150 MW to Pakistan and 50 MW worth of wind turbines to Oman and the Gulf region.

GE Renewable Energy also has its hands in the hydropower and offshore wind industries, but both had quieter quarters. The company signed a deal during the third quarter to rehabilitate units 5 to 8 of Hydro Quebec’s La Grande II plant in Canada and was selected to provide 3X Synchronous Condenser and associated equipment for Araraquara project in Brazil.

Meanwhile, GE Renewable Energy also shipped during the third quarter nacelles and blades for the 18 MW demo wind offshore wind project in Xinghua Gulf to China, and boasted construction work in Israel and Germany.

Source: cleantechnica.com

India’s Largest Generator Achieves First-ever 100 Million kWh Solar Generation In A Month

23.10.2017

solar-panels- — Photo-ilustration: Pixabay

India’s largest power generator NTPC Limited achieved a unique feat that signals the company’s direction in the future. The company reported over 100 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar power generation in a month for the first time ever, achieved in August 2017.

According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), solar power plants owned by NTPC across the country generated a total of 103 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in August 2017. This was a 14.4% increase from the electricity generated in July 2017. India’s total solar power generation between July and August 2017, on the other hand, increased by a measly 0.3%.

The small increase in India’s total solar power generation between July and August 2017 could be explained by the heavy rainfall in the southern region where a large majority of the country’s solar power capacity is installed. The same is reflected in NTPC’s own generation in the southern region. Solar power generation from NTPC projects in 2017 in the southern region has declined from a high of 41 million kilowatt-hours in March to 32 million kilowatt-hours in August.

NTPC’s solar power generation during the first 8 months of 2017 was 657 million kilowatt-hours, up 237% compared to the generation during the same period in 2016. In comparison, India’s total solar power generation increased 87%, from 6,977 million kilowatt-hours to 13,020 million kilowatt-hours during the first 8 months.

The southern region remains the largest contributors to NTPC’s total solar power generation. During the first 8 months, the company’s solar power projects in the southern region generated 298 million kilowatt-hours, representing a share of 45%; this was closely followed by projects in the northern region where the total generation was 230 million kilowatt-hours, or 35% of the company’s total generation.

NTPC owns some of the largest solar power parks in the country in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. At 103 million kilowatt-hours in August 2017, NTPC’s solar power generation is more than that of the entire eastern region and north-eastern region; this signifies the size of NTPC’s solar power portfolio which it plans to increase to 15 gigawatts over the next few years.

Source: cleantechnica.com

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