Trina Solar Modules Now Producing Electricity At India’s 2nd Largest Solar Power Project

23.06.2017

Trina Solar recently issued a press release boasting of the fact that its solar modules have started feeding electricity to the grid in India from a large-scale project of SB Energy, a joint venture company of Softbank, Foxconn Technology and Bharti Enterprises.

The project, with a capacity of 455 megawatts (DC), is perhaps the second largest solar power plant developed by a single company in India, with the largest operational project being the 648-megawatt power plant in Tamil Nadu owned by Adani Green Energy. The SB Energy power plant is part of the 1 gigawatt NTPC solar power park at Kurnool.

Trina announced that it shipped more than 700,000 TALLMAX 72-cell polycrystalline panels to the project which was commissioned on 29 March 2017 and recently started commercial operations. As mentioned in earlier articles, SB Energy was the sole winner of the 350 megawatts (AC) solar power tender launched by India’s largest power generation company NTPC Limited for a solar power park in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The auction took place in December 2015 and was awarded to SB Energy at a tariff of Rs 4.63/kWh (7.12¢/kWh), the lowest in India at that time.

SunEdison also secured rights to develop a 500-megawatt (AC) project at the solar power park through a separate auction. Once commissioned, the project will overtake SB Energy as the operator of India’s second-largest solar power project.

SB Energy is among the leading solar power developers in India and remains at the forefront of the sharp decline in solar power tariffs. Last month, the company secured rights to develop 100 megawatts capacity out of the 250 megawatts offered by Adani Enterprises at the Bhadla solar power park. The capacity was allocated at Rs 2.63/kWh (4.1¢/kWh), one of the lowest tariffs in India at the time. Two days later, the company also won 300 megawatts capacity offered by IL&FS, an infrastructure company, at the same solar power park at Rs 2.45/kWh (3.8¢/kWh) another record low in India.

Source: cleantechnica.com

California Named US State With Worst Air Quality, Yet Again

22.06.2017

los-angeles- — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The state of California has again been named by the American Lung Association as the US state with the worst air quality — mostly as a result of having the highest ozone/smog levels out of any state in the country, but also high particle pollution levels.

What that means is that California has now ranked at the top of 17 out of 18 of the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air reports. This reality is no doubt partly due to the fact that the state’s population has been growing fairly rapidly in recent years — it’s hard to reduce air pollution when every type of activity, from transportation, to agriculture, to climate control, keeps growing.

Another clear reason is the state’s heavy auto dependency and auto-oriented design, which results in a great deal of driving, traffic congestion, and pollution. It’s also home of Carmageddon.

The 3 worst regions in the US as regards smog levels are all in California, according to the report — with Los Angeles-Long Beach, Bakersfield, and Fresno-Madera topping the list.

“The Los Angeles basin is exposed to the highest ozone levels in the country,” noted Steve LaDochy, PhD, professor of geosciences and environment at California State University, Los Angeles, an expert in air pollution and climate. “It is getting better here, but it’s still the worst.”

The press release provides more: “The annual study ranks the cleanest and most polluted areas in the country by grading counties in the US based on harmful recorded levels of ozone (smog) and particle pollution. The 2017 report used data collected from 2013 to 2015.

“The air quality in the state was significantly better in northern California, found the report. Nonetheless, more than 90% of Californians still live in counties with unhealthy air. …

“LaDochy suspects that California’s continuously growing population is largely to blame for the state’s failing grades on ‘State of the Air’ reports and more residents is also behind the Central Valley’s recent drop in air quality, according to the report.”

LaDochy noted: “Population in (the Central Valley) has really bloomed; it’s nearly doubled. The coast is so expensive, so more and more people are moving to central California.”

To put numbers to that assertion … going by the figures provided by the US Census Bureau, the population of California has increased from 15.8 million (in 1960) to 39.2 million (as of 2016).

Source: cleantechnica.com

Flights Cancelled In Phoenix Because Of Extreme Heat (+118° Fahrenheit)

22.06.2017

The intense heat wave that’s been gripping much of the western US in recent days has actually forced the cancellation of a number of flights out of Phoenix, Arizona — owing to the simple fact that the Bombardier CRJ aircraft to be used for the flights in question weren’t designed to operate above 118° Fahrenheit.

And, of course, the temperature in Phoenix on Tuesday, when the flights were cancelled, was over 118° Fahrenheit.

To be more specific here about the details, American Airlines reportedly cancelled 50 flights out of Phoenix Sky Harbor aboard Bombardier CRJ aircraft on Tuesday — a fair amount of business to cancel, but I guess that there was no safe choice other than cancellation. The primary issue is apparently that hotter air usually means thinner air, which can make takeoff an issue, depending upon other variables.

Providing some background to the news, Climate Central noted in its coverage: “All-time record hot or not, the extreme weather has the potential to be life-threatening. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning and its Phoenix office has said ‘heat of this magnitude is rare, dangerous and very possibly deadly.’

“Perhaps it’s no surprise these cities could be in line to set records. Phoenix is the second-fastest warming city in the US over the past 50 years while Las Vegas comes in at third and Tucson at seventh. Climate change is largely responsible for boosting those background temperatures, increasing the odds of setting record highs like the ones currently broiling the region. The heat island effect only compounds the risks of deadly heat in cities.”

While the recent extreme heat in the southwestern US will probably lead to some people taking a second look at global warming (or heating) and climate change science and predictions, I wouldn’t count on there being any major change in the demographics of belief — people tend to forget by the time that winter rolls around (seriously — year after year), and jokes can be made about how maybe climate change won’t be a bad thing.

The news concerning flight cancellations is interesting, though, as it serves as example of the way that rising temperatures will impact services and infrastructure in ways that are at first not obvious. Expect to see more of the same over the coming years and decades, as rising temperatures bring down quite a number of the services and infrastructure that modern industrial society depends upon.

Source: cleantechnica.com

Major New Irish Wind Farms Come Online

22.06.2017

Wind-turbine — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The power grid in Ireland and Northern Ireland has received a major green energy boost this week, after three wind power projects came online.

Gaelectric will today officially open the Inishative and Cregganconroe wind farms in Northern Ireland, which together will deliver 27.6MW of renewable power capacity.

The announcement came just days after SSE announced the first phase of its giant 169MW Galway Wind Park project has been officially completed and is now fully operational.

The Gaelectric developments follow over £41m of investment in the two projects.

They mark the latest phase in the company’s plan to deliver approximately 400MW of consented wind energy projects on the island of Ireland by the end of 2017.

“These openings mark yet another important milestone for our business and further strengthens Gaelectric’s platform in the energy market,” said Patrick McClughan, head of corporate affairs for Gaelectric Developments Ltd. “Our total permitted portfolio now stands at 140MWs in Northern Ireland and represents a total investment of approx £170m.”

The company’s expanding wind energy portfolio also complements its plans to develop a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) facility in Larne, Co. Antrim, which promises to store energy as compressed air in caverns specially engineered for the purpose.

The news follows SSE’s announcement that 22 turbines boasting 66MW of capacity have come online at the Comhlacht Gaoithe Teoranta (CGT) Galway Wind Park project.

“Phase one is an impressive wind farm in its own right, and its completion is a major milestone in the context of the overall Galway Wind Park project,” said James O’Hara, SSE’s Project Manager for Galway Wind Park.

The second phase of the project, which unlike the first phase is owned by a 50/50 joint venture between SSE and forestry company Coillte, is due to be completed later this year.

SSE said once completed the project will be Ireland’s largest onshore wind farm, and will help cut emissions by around 190,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, while providing clean energy to almost 80 per cent of the homes in Co. Galway.

The announcements follow news earlier this week that Greencoat Renewables Plc announced plans to list on the London and Irish Stock Exchanges, as it seeks to raise up to €250m to support expansion plans primarily focused on the Irish wind energy market.

Source: businessgreen.com

Domestic Appliances Guzzle Far More Energy than Advertised – EU Survey

21.06.2017

Struja, energetska efikasnost, strujomer, — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

TVs, dishwashers and fridge freezers have been found to guzzle up to twice as much energy as advertised on their energy labels, in a wide-ranging EU product survey.

When tested under real-world conditions, the €400,000, 18-month investigation found widespread overshooting of the goods’ colour-coded A-G energy classes, due to the outmoded and selective test formats on which these have been based.

Switching on modern TV features such as “ultra-high definition” and “high-dynamic range” in real-world test cycles boosted energy use in four out of seven televisions surveyed – one by more than 100 per cent.

In an echo of past “defeat device” scandals, another TV set increased its energy consumption by 47 per cent when tested in a cycle based on real-world viewing, instead of the European standard measurement.

“This model stands out as potentially detecting and adjusting its behaviour to reduce average power consumption when measured with the EN 62087:2016 test video clip,” the report says.

The video clip is a standard test sequence introduced a decade ago by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to measure home viewing patterns.

Regulators in the UK and Sweden have already complained to the European commission about TV sets that seem to cut their energy use when they recognise the IEC clip being played.

Chris Spiliotopoulos, an expert at the European Environmental Citizens Organisation for Standardisation, which co-authored the report, said: “Policy-makers should now step up and provide the right direction for standardisation bodies to better represent real-life conditions.

“To get the best deal for our citizens and planet, we can no longer rely on outdated and unrepresentative test methods that may provide an unfair playing field.”

Ecodesign innovations are expected to cut around nine per cent of the EU’s emissions by 2020 and 15 per cent by 2030, while saving consumers nearly €500 per year in energy bills. But much will depend on how streamlined products become in real life.

No brands are named in the new report, which focuses on test practices, but a similar study in the US last year found that the energy use of Samsung and LG TV sets spiked by as much as 45 per cent outside lab conditions.

Some products were more energy efficient than their labels indicated, but three of seven TVs tested increased their energy uptake by a third when their firmware updated. This often happens automatically when a new TV is installed at home. Five sets shut off their energy-saving features without warning.

Half of the fridge freezers covered in the latest research increased their energy use by up to 32 per cent during everyday routines, such as opening the fridge door, or putting food inside. One model continued operating in power-hungry mode for 24 hours.

Dishwashers surveyed in the report also consumed up to 73 per cent more energy than advertised, when not used in the eco mode that is standard in official test cycles. A recent study by the University of Bonn found that four fifths of real-life washes were done in other settings.

Changing the dishwasher setting to “holiday” mode had no effect on power-saving and even raised energy usage in one case, the new survey found.

“The more artificial the test, the easier it is to detect,” said Stéphane Arditi, a policy manager at the European Environment Bureau (EEB), which co-authored the report.

“The test standard has balanced the situation towards being comparable, reproducible and affordable – but at the expense of accurately reflecting real-life use. It is time to rebalance that towards a more representative standard.”

The Collaborative Labelling and Appliance Standard Program (Clasp), and Topten.eu also contributed to the survey.

Source: businessgreen.com

NB Power announces expansion of Kent Hills wind farm

21.06.2017

NB Power has announced an expansion of the Kent Hills wind farm in Albert County.

The expansion will see TransAlta build five new wind turbines, in addition to the 50 already on the site, which will add 17.25 megawatts of generating capacity to the company’s wind farm.

According to TransAlta, this will power an additional 7,300 homes a year.

The new turbines will make up for the wind farm producing a lower-than-expected amount of energy so far.

When the wind farm was originally built, it was believed the number of turbines would be enough to fulfil the agreement TransAlta signed for the sale of power to NB Power. That wasn’t the case.

NB Power spokesperson Marc Belliveau said the lower than expected energy production can be attributed to a nationwide overestimating of wind capacity.

“The industry was so new,” he said Tuesday.

TransAlta is providing the capital for the expansion of the wind farm near Riverside-Albert, but information about the cost of the project and the cost of the power was not available from the company, and NB Power said it didn’t know the cost.

The new turbines, which collectively will be called Kent Hills 3, are expected to be up and running by late 2018, but more regulatory work is still ahead, Belliveau said.

“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done as far as outreach for that, speaking to the community, First Nations engagement and so on, before the construction would begin,” said Belliveau.

Source: cbc.ca

World Bank Commits $54.4 Million To Reliable Electricity & Renewables In Mongolia

21.06.2017

The World Bank announced last week that it would contribute $54.4 million in financing to help the Mongolian government address important electricity reliability issues while also supporting the development of the country’s first large-scale solar PV power plant.

The landlocked nation of Mongolia suffers from numerous bottlenecks in its electricity distribution, due to obsolete and inefficient distribution networks, leading to significant distribution (transmission) losses — as high as 25% on some Mongolian networks. In a country with a population of just over 3 million, more than 300,000 people live without electricity.

The new financing from the World Bank will help to address some of these distribution issues by upgrading assets and expanding distribution capacity. Specifically, the World Bank will look to upgrade and expand the capacity of power distribution infrastructure in the Baganuur-Southeast and the Erdenet-Bulgan distribution networks, which are responsible for providing electricity to nine of the country’s twenty-one provinces.

“More reliable access to electricity will improve the lives of families and help businesses thrive,” said James Anderson, World Bank Country Manager for Mongolia. “The World Bank is committed to continuing our partnership with Mongolia to strengthen the power sector and explore options for renewable energy to help the country pursue sustainable development.”

As regards to renewable energy, the World Bank will work to build the country’s first large-scale solar PV farm, a 10 MW project developed outside the Central Energy System which will provide electricity to Mongolia’s western region — a region which is highly reliant upon energy imports, sourcing 70% of its power from imports.

“We are encouraged by the government’s target to increase the share of renewables to 30 percent by 2030,” — said Peter Johansen, Senior Energy Specialist of the World Bank. “With its abundant solar and wind power resources, the country is now considering to more effectively and efficiently incentivize renewable energy investment to fully use its potential.”

Mongolia currently only has 5.100 MWe worth of solar PV capacity, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, as part of a larger renewable energy capacity of 84.7 MWe, dominated by 50.60 MWe of onshore wind capacity, and 23 MWe of large-scale hydropower. The new solar capacity addition will therefore triple the country’s cumulative solar capacity, bringing a significant boost goal of boosting its renewable energy capacity from 7.62% in 2014 to 20% by 2020 and 30% by 2030, as part of its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the Paris Climate Agreement (PDF). Additionally, Mongolia’s INDC includes a promise to reduce electricity transmission losses from 13.7% in 2014 to 10.8% by 2020 and 7.8% by 2030.

Source: cleantechnica.com

Middle East & Africa Wind Capacity Set To Increase By 40 Gigawatts By 2026, Predicts MAKE

21.06.2017

New wind power capacity in the Middle East and Africa region in 2016 amounted to 676 megawatts, but MAKE Consulting expects the region’s capacity to skyrocket over the next decade, with an expected 40 gigawatts being installed between 2017 to 2026.

Leading renewable energy industry analysts MAKE Consulting published its 2017 Middle East and Africa Wind Power Outlook this week, revealing that the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region installed 676 megawatts (MW) of new wind capacity in 2016, compared to 682 MW installed in 2015. This brings the region’s cumulative wind power capacity up to 4.2 gigawatts (GW) — not bad, considering the region only had 1 GW at the end of 2010.

The region’s new capacity additions were led by South Africa and Morocco, which accounted for 80% of the MEA’s total capacity additions last year. Specifically, South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (RE IPPPP) continues to support new wind power capacity growth, although the RE IPPPP Round 4 has been impacted by ongoing delays in the government’s signing of Power Purchase Agreements. Meanwhile, in Morocco, the Law 13-09 (which allows private power producers to supply electricity to the grid or a third party via a Power Purchase Agreement) remains a strong driver of new wind power growth.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, MAKE Consulting points out that the Middle East currently remains behind Africa in terms of wind power development, only accounting for 8.7% of total cumulative capacity.

Looking forward, MAKE Consulting predicts the MEA region to install nearly 40 GW of new wind power capacity between 2017 and 2026, driven by significant wind resources across the region and a more developed and experienced value chain. This last will specifically result in the gradual reduction of wind power’s Levelized Cost of Electricity, dropping 15% between 2017 and 2022. Already auctions in countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates has resulted in some of the cheapest bidding prices globally for both wind and solar projects — confirming that the global trend of declining renewable energy prices is not avoiding emerging economies and markets.

Source: cleantechnica.com

Report: Community Energy Projects Powering 130,000 UK Homes

21.06.2017

Solarni paneli, krovovi — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

More than 200 community energy organisations are now operating enough solar, hydro and wind schemes across the UK to power 130,000 homes, a new analysis of the nascent sector has revealed.

The first ever Community Energy State of the Sector report today reveals that a total of 222 community energy organisations are operating renewable energy schemes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland boasting collective capacity of 121MW, or the equivalent to the domestic consumption of 85,500 homes.

When that capacity is combined with Scotland’s estimated community energy capacity of 67MW, it means the UK community energy sector can power 130,000 homes, or as many households as there are in Cardiff or Coventry, the report said.

Unlike for the rest of the UK, data for Scotland is collected separately by the Energy Savings Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Yet in England, Wales and Northern Ireland alone, the 222 community energy organisations identifed by the report boast as many as 30,000 members and are supported by more than 1,700 volunteers.

Together they have raised £190m of investment for their schemes, the bulk of which are focued on solar projects.

Much of the finance has come from community share issues, the report shows, alongside a total of £1.9m, initial investment funding from the government.

Altogether, the report estimates community-run decentralised power installations have helped to reduce equivalent CO2 emissions by 110,000 tonnes by delivering renewable electricity generation and energy efficiency improvements across more than 70 local communities.

Community Energy England chief executive Emma Bridge said the review of the sector was the most comprehensive to date. She praised the achievement of local energy organisations across the UK in benefitting communities and the environment.

However, Bridge also highlighted the challenges faced by the sector in the face of reduced government support, which she said was “seriously threatening the future viability of the sector”.

“These projects have proved that they are both innovatory and resilient in a very tough climate but the unprecedented cuts in subsidy and tax incentives present them with their biggest challenge yet,” she said.

The report argues changes to tax relief schemes such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment (SEIS) have made it harder for community organisations to access tax breaks, while a number of projects have stalled as a result of reductions in Feed in Tariff (FITs) subsidies and the removal of the Renewables Obligation.

“There is a clear link between recent subsidy changes and an increasing number of failed or stalled community projects,” explained Bridge. “These, or similar, support mechanisms are essential in providing the community energy sector with the security and viability to progress their projects and objectives.

She added: “If government is serious about creating a new renewable energy industry to meet the nation’s power needs it has got to share this confidence, embrace the community energy sector and restore the modest support that it needs to thrive.”

However, a spokesmand for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) defended the government’s record on community energy and highlighted its recent second £290m Contracts fo Difference auction for renewables projects.

“This government is committed to empowering communities and these projects, which put local people in the driving seat, are an important part of a clean, secure and affordable energy system,” BEIS said in a statement. “It’s only right that we now focus funding on new low-carbon technologies so they can develop, delivering better value for money for bill payers and a further boost to our renewables industry.”

Source: businessgreen.com

Michigan to Fast-Track Tuscola County Wind-Farm Expansion Project

20.06.2017

Wind - Power — Foto - ilustracija: Pixabay

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has approved a proposal by Consumers Energy Co. to accelerate the expansion of its wind-farm project in Tuscola County.

In 2016, the Commission approved Consumers purchasing 19 wind-turbine generators for its Cross Winds Energy Park II (CWEP II), with the option for the utility to buy 33 more for a future development called Cross Winds Energy Park III (CWEP III).

Consumers originally had set 2022 as the date to begin construction of CWEP III, but now has moved that up to 2019 (Case No. U-18345).

“The advancement of these wind-energy projects will help to meet the expanded renewable energy portfolio standard set in the state’s new energy laws,” MPSC Chairman Sally Talberg said. “This also means customers will benefit from the declining costs of wind energy.”

Consumers says changes to the project timetable won’t affect customers’ rates.

Source: windpowerengineering.com

May 2017 Was 2nd Warmest May On Record, Behind Only May 2016

20.06.2017

Klimatske-promene — Photo-ilustration: Pixabay

May 2017 was the second warmest (or hottest) May on record — in terms of global average surface temperatures. It was only a tenth of a degree behind the current record holder, May 2016.

Overall, global average temperatures during May 2017 were about 1.6° Fahrenheit higher than normal — “normal” being the 1951–1980 baseline. This is based on newly released data from NASA.

As one can see in the image above, higher than normal temperatures encompassed much of the globe — with particularly abnormal temperatures being observed in some parts of Antarctica, Northern Africa, and Western Europe.

Some parts of Antarctica actually saw temperatures some 13.8° Fahrenheit (7.1° Celsius) higher than normal — a sign of the fact that there are parts of Antarctica that are likely far less stable than previously assumed, as we have reported numerous times in recent months and years.

Climate Central provides more: “With May in the record books, NASA data also shows that this was the second-warmest spring on record, again trailing only 2016. NASA climate researcher Gavin Schmidt said the first five months of the year make it likely that this will be the second-hottest year on record trailing only, you guessed it, 2016.

“Last year’s record heat got a boost from El Niño. The absence of El Niño this year in some ways makes the planetary heat even more shocking, though it certainly fits a pattern.

“After all, May marked an all-time monthly peak for carbon dioxide levels in what’s become an annual rite of passage. Scientists found that carbon dioxide at Mauna Loa Observatory, the marquee measuring station, reached 409.65 parts per million (ppm) last month. That coupled with the second-hottest May on record are major markers of the current state of the world’s climate.”

So, again, to reiterate what’s going on here — the pace of change continued to accelerate (temperatures during May 2017 and 2016 were essentially equal despite the lack of an El Niño this year) despite the fact that official emissions figures are supposedly flat.

Source: cleantechnica.com

Elgin Entrepreneur’s Power Project to Use 3,700 Solar Panels

20.06.2017

It may not always be sunny in Elgin, but building permits were issued in late May and work is underway on what officials say will be one of the city’s largest solar energy installation.

Rainy Investments is in the midst of having more than 3,700 solar panels installed on roofs on a 12,000-square-foot industrial building along the 1100 block of Davis Road.

According to information provided by Elgin’s Community Development office, “the panels will generate approximately 1.2 megawatts of electricity, and this renewable energy can then be purchased by users at a below-market rate.”

That amount is enough electricity to power approximately 170 single-family homes, according to information provided to Elgin by Commonwealth Edison.

Community Development Director Marc Mylott said the project was made possible in part by City Council adopting a comprehensive solar energy ordinance in November 2014 and the state of Illinois passing the Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the act into law last year, and it went into effect June 1.

“We 100 percent wouldn’t be doing the Elgin project without the Future Energy Jobs Act,” Ken “Bucky” Buckman said. Buckman is CEO of Rainy Investments, which owns and operates the building, and CEO of Rainy Solar Investments, which owns and operates the roof and solar plant project related to it.

According to reports, the act allows Commonwealth Edison to have a 0.195-cent-per-kilowatt-hour charge that ComEd’s parent company, Exelon, said is needed to keep two nuclear power plants open. At the same time, it also creates a pool of money, made by utility companies charging and collecting 0.189-cents-per-kilowatt-hour, that is to fund alternative energy projects.

According to the Citizens Utility Board the new law will invest $750 million in programs that incentivize solar and wind energy development, provide training for new energy jobs and help low-income, seniors and disabled military veterans cover their utility bills.

Buckman said the financing of his project also involves the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit program. The Solar Energy Industries Association website states the program offers a 30 percent tax credit for solar systems on residential and commercial properties.

Thomas Russe, senior vice president private banking at Sterling Bank in St. Charles said he has assisted Buckman on other endeavors along with the complicated financing involved in a startup project in a budding industry.

Buckman said, “The Elgin Community Development office and its director, Marc Mylott, have been key to helping us smoothly get the project going, too.”

Buckman, who lives on Elgin’s far west side, describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur” and said he bought the building for $4 million. The roofs project is running $3.9 million for the purchase and installation of silicon solar panels and $400,000 in costs for reinforcing the roofs to support the panels.

One roof being fitted with the panels is 20 or so feet above ground. That roof is flat, Everton Walters said, and a challenge is working around small domes cut into the structure to allow natural light into the building space below it. Walters is president, CEO and founder of WCP Solar Services in Naperville and is overseeing the Elgin project.

The other roof involved is another 30 or so feet above the lower roof. That roof has a slight pitch for drainage. So, while the panels on the lower roof are set at a small angle, those above are put in place flush to to that roof, Walters said.

“This project is a $4.3 million test of the new laws. If all works out, and the model is proven, over the next 9-12 months, we will deploy regionwide on a scale of more than $100 million in projects,” Buckman said. “Of course, whenever a business plan relies on government incentives or programs, that’s rather risky in itself.”

The building has one tenant in place, Meyer Metal Systems, and two other spaces for lease, Buckman said. Ironically, Buckman said, none of the electricity generated above will be used to power the buildings below the solar project.

Weather permitting, installation of the panels should be completed by the end of July, Walters said. Buckman said he hopes to have the Elgin-generated energy feeding into the grid within 3 to 6 months past that, but he has built a window of a year into his planning, given that the state’s act is new and his will be one of the first projects to take advantage of it.

Of Buckman’s project, Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain said, “It’s the wave of the future. Businesses get that. We have people employed in solar and wind energy in Elgin. We don’t have anybody employed in coal.”

Source: chicagotribune.com

EU Moves to Restrict Hormone-Disrupting Chemical Found in Plastics

20.06.2017

A chemical found in CDs, DVDs, kettles and water bottles could soon be restricted after the EU authorities ruled that it posed a threat to human health because of its effects on hormones.

The European chemicals agency (Echa) voted unanimously that bisphenol A (BPA) was an ‘endocrine disruptor’, linking it to a range of hormone-twisting health effects including cancer, learning difficulties and diabetes. The substance has already been singled out for its toxicity to the human reproduction system.

The Green law group ClientEarth, which contributed to a 20-year battle against BPA, said the decision was “historic” and called for rapid action by the authorities.

“Now BPA is finally recognised as an endocrine disruptor, the EU and national governments must act fast to limit the irreversible damage this chemical does to people and the environment,” said ClientEarth’s lawyer Alice Bernard.

BPA is one of the world’s best-selling chemicals, with 3.8m tonnes of the substance produced in 2006, around a third of which was sold in Europe.

Originally developed as a synthetic mimic of the female sex hormone oestrogen, it was marketed as an industrial chemical and, in 1957, kickstarted the plastics revolution when it was polymerised with phosgene to produce what is today known as polycarbonate.

More than 90 per cent of the world’s population are thought to have BPA in their urine according to epidemiological studies with one report by the German Federal Environment Agency finding traces in the urine of 591 out of 599 children tested.

But unease among health professionals grew as a growing body of studies linked the chemical to an increased risk of cancer, cell tumours, miscarriages and birth defects.

Natacha Cingotti, a spokeswoman for the Health and Environment Alliance, said that the Echa vote was “long overdue and of crucial importance so that measures to reduce people’s exposure to the substance can be introduced in the future”.

“Endocrine disrupting chemicals that are omnipresent, such as bisphenol A, are one of the defining human health challenges of our times,” she added.

NGOs fear that industry groups are likely to challenge the Echa judgement, with the Plastics Europe trade association already opposing Echa’s earlier finding that BPA is toxic to human reproduction.

Jasmin Bird, a spokeswoman for Plastics Europe told the Guardian: “We are highly concerned about this development. We believe that it weakens the strong principle of science-based regulatory decisions in the EU, and will result in further uncertainty without providing benefit to the safety of consumers.”

Bird cited a previous assessment by the European food safety authority which that BPA was not an endocrine disruptor.

Even so, Echa is now expected to recommend constraints on BPA’s use under the EU’s Reach regulation, possibly as soon as next year.

“We can’t predict when it will happen,” an Echa spokesman said. “Most probably it will happen, but not very quickly.”

Source: businessgreen.com

IKEA Dishes Up Smart Tech-Enabled Drive to Halve Food Waste

20.06.2017

It may be famous as the world’s largest furniture retailer, but IKEA also serves food to 650 million customers each year. As such the company yesterday announced it was extending its wide-ranging sustainability efforts to include a new initiative to cut food waste across its stores by 50 per cent by the end of fiscal year 2020.

The company said the new Food is Precious initiative would slash food waste levels by extending a successful trial, initially piloted in the UK, across all its 400 stores operating in 48 markets.

The pilot scheme saw a smart scale-based technology deployed in IKEA’s UK and Ireland stores to measure food waste and identify areas where savings can be made.

The company said the approach has already saved food waste equivalent to over 176,000 meals.

The system is now in place in 84 stores globally and has led to a reduction in food waste of 79,200kg, equal to 341,000kg of CO2 savings. IKEA said a staff survey found over 70 per cent of employees were proud of the initiative, while 50 per cent are taking measures at home to decrease food waste.

Michael La Cour, managing director at IKEA Food Services AB, said the initial results from the roll out had been “very encouraging”.

“Thanks to engaged co-workers and the measuring solution, we see up to 30 per cent food waste reduction already after a few months,” he said. “I am following the development closely and hope it can encourage others to start thinking about food as a precious resource.”

The company also announced yesterday that it has joined the Champions 12.3 coalition, which brings together businesses, governments, and NGOs working to deliver the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal on food waste.

And in related news, the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), the leading qualifying body for food professionals in Europe, has this month published a major new report highlighting how its members can help tackle many of the sustainability challenges faced by the food industry.

John Bassett, IFST Policy and Scientific Development Director said the new report would be followed by a series of new initiatives to help develop and promote environmental best practices. “We aim to provide practical support for those looking to implement sustainable practices, and proactive messaging to encourage joined up, evidence based policy and strategy development by UK government and food system stakeholders throughout the farm to fork continuum,” he said.

Source: businessgreen.com

Wisconsin’s Next Step to Suppress Climate Science

20.06.2017

Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled government may be moving to control state-produced scientific research and tamp down emphasis on climate, according to a new report.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal contains an item that would dissolve the science services bureau within the Department of Natural Resources and transfer the scientists to other programs.

The move would give the state’s business-friendly DNR chief more control over research priorities and output. The Journal reports that this proposal is the latest in a long line of moves by the Walker administration to suppress climate science and related priorities.

“This is just part of the continued effort to discourage the use of science or evidence in this administration’s decision-making,” Sen. Jon Erpenbach, a Middleton Democrat on the budget committee, told the Wisconsin State Journal.

“Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans don’t want science to get in the way of their politics.”

Source: ecowatch.com

Nike Makes Air Max Shoebox from Recycled Milk Jugs and Coffee Lids

19.06.2017

Nike is thinking inside the box—the shoe box, that is. 30 years after the Air Max 1 changed the sneaker industry forever, the sportswear giant is revolutionizing the shoe’s packaging with a polypropylene receptacle derived entirely from post-consumer recycled milk jugs, juice containers, and coffee-cup lids. The brainchild of Arthur Huang, CEO of Taipei-based engineering firm Miniwiz, the revamped shoe box features a modular design that makes stacking for storage or display a cinch. Even better, it can be repurposed as a hardshell backpack.

Another bonus? At the end of its life, the shoe box can easily be recycled. No waste, no haste. The container’s pro-planet traits dovetail neatly with Miniwiz’s own business philosophy, Huang said in a statement.

“These are all intentional features and qualities which revolve around the intent of every Miniwiz product—reducing the impact on the environment in every way it can,” Huang said. “In this case, we’re adding features and efficiency to an existing product—shoe boxes—and by reusing non-virgin materials in a sustainable and responsible way.”

The sneaker the container was designed to support, the NikeLab Air Max 1 Royal, takes a similar resource-conserving tact. It’s clad in Nike’s Flyknit fabric, which the company stitches together using a seamless technique said to produce 60 percent less waste than conventional cut-and-sew means.

“We love Flyknit as a technology,” Huang said. “It gives designers a new canvas to create cool, while lowering environmental impact. We want to be associated with that and are glad that we are a part of this revolution.”

Source: inhabitat.com

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