California Officially Becomes the First State to Ban Plastic Bags

14.11.2016

California just made history by becoming the first state in the Union to officially ban plastic bags. The California Plastic Bag Veto Referendum (Proposition 67) was approved by voters on Nov. 8 by a narrow margin of 51.97% in favor to 48.03% opposed. The narrow win came despite a $6 million campaign waged by the out-of-state plastic bag industry.

“California voters have taken a stand against a deceptive, multi-million dollar campaign by out-of-state plastic bag makers,” said Californians Against Waste (CAW) campaign co-chair, Mark Murray. “This is a significant environmental victory that will mean an immediate elimination of the 25 million plastic bags that are polluted in California every day, threatening wildlife.”

The writing was already on the wall for plastic bags in California, as San Francisco banned plastic bags in 2007 – with nearly half the state following suit soon after. The California State Legislature passed Senate Bill 270 in 2014, which was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. But, according to the Sacramento Bee, the American Progressive Bag Alliance led a campaign to repeal the bill, claiming it would kill thousands of jobs in a state and cost residents hundreds of dollars each year in bag fees.

Voters soundly defeated Proposition 65, a related measure that proposed an environmental fund created with the proceeds from a 10-cent fee on the sale of cloth and other alternative bags.

Source: inhabitat.com

IRENA/ADFD Open Fifth Round of Funding for Renewable Energy Projects

14.11.2016

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) have officially opened the fifth round of funding for renewable energy projects in developing countries. The funding round of approximately USD 50 million is part of ADFD’s USD 350 million (AED 1.285 billion) commitment offering concessional loans to renewable energy projects endorsed by IRENA.

Since 2012, the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility has enabled USD 333 million in loans to 15 renewable energy projects in 14 developing countries. Selected projects thus far have included off-grid, mini-grid and on-grid projects using wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass sources. Thanks to the first three cycles, more than 68 megawatts of renewable energy capacity will be brought online, improving the livelihoods of 760,000 people.

“Many developing countries are blessed with abundant renewable energy resources, yet access to financing can still hinder development,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “IRENA’s partnership with ADFD helps overcome this challenge by offering concessional loans to quality renewable energy projects in developing countries, which then leverage additional investment. Funding from the Facility helps boost renewable energy deployment and trigger economic growth, offering sustainable and affordable energy to people with limited or no access to electricity.”

His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of ADFD added, “The IRENA/ADFD Project Facility is a pioneering partnership that supports the developing world’s energy needs by tapping into their abundant renewable energy sources. Selected projects have the potential to improve the livelihoods of millions of people by facilitating sustainable economic growth, bolstering energy security and expanding energy access. This collaboration with IRENA exemplifies our core business of partnerships and alliances to drive advancements in all key economy sectors, especially the renewable energy sector, which will guarantee a long-term, sustainable and environmentally conscious future. At ADFD, our aim is to provide governments with the financial resources and instruments to achieve their desired development goals and ensure a secure future for their citizens.”

Through the Facility, ADFD provides consessional loans ranging from USD 5 million to USD 15 million per project. Finance is offered at 1 to 2 per cent lending rates with a 20-year loan period, including a 5-year grace period. Loans for each project cover up to half of the estimated project cost so additional co-financing must be acquired from other sources. To help facilitate additional sources of funding, project developers can register and seek financing sources from IRENA’s Sustainable Energy Marketplace.

Only projects located IRENA Member States, Signatories of the Statute, or States in Accession are eligible to apply. Applications are evaluated by an international panel of experts who review the projects based on technical feasibility, economic/commercial viability and socio-economic and environmental benefits.

The deadline for applications for the fifth cycle is 15 February, 2017. Results will be announced in January 2018.

Source: irena.org

Batteries from junkyard scrap metal and household chemicals?

14.11.2016

The increasing importance of batteries for electric cars, renewable energy, and consumer electronics has researchers looking for alternatives to the currently-dominant lithium-ion chemistry.

But could one of those alternatives be a combination of junkyard scrap metal and household chemicals?

That’s what a group of researchers are proposing, in the hope of making better use of these discarded materials.

A team from Vanderbilt University constructed a working battery by placing scraps of steel and brass in a glass jar, and added potassium hydroxide, an inexpensive salt used in laundry detergent.

They claim the resulting battery can store energy at levels comparable to conventional lead-acid batteries, and can charge and discharge at rates comparable to current supercapacitors.

As described in a paper published in the journal ACS Energy Letters, the key to this junkyard battery is anodization of the metal components.

Anodization is a chemical treatment, commonly used on aluminum, to provide a durable finish to metal.

When scraps of steel and brass are anodized by a combination of chemicals and electrical current, researchers found that their surfaces were restructured into “nanometer-sized networks of metal oxide.”

These surfaces can store and releasing energy when reacting with the battery’s water-based liquid electrolyte.

Because the electrolyte is water-based and thus non-flammable, the researchers noted that combustion is not an issue, as it can be with lithium-ion batteries.

In tests, the battery retained 90 percent of its initial capacity after 5,000 charging cycles, researchers said.

The research team was inspired to undertake this unusual project by the “Baghdad Battery,” which many consider to be the world’s oldest battery.

It consisted of a ceramic terracotta pot, a copper sheet, an iron rod, and some form of electrolyte, according to common interpretations of its design.

As with most battery research projects, it’s worth noting that the steel-brass scrap battery’s performance in the laboratory may not translate into results that are applicable in the real world.

The research team plans to continue working on the concept, including building a full-size battery that can provide power to an energy-efficient “smart home.”

The team’s goal is not commercialization, said Cary Pint, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt and project boss.

Instead, researchers want to create a “clear set of instructions that can be addressed to the general public,” he said.

Source: greencarreports.com

Tiny Power Plant Sucks CO2 From The Air And Turns It Into Fuel

14.11.2016

Ineratec, an offshoot of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has devised a creative solution to the excess carbon dioxide (CO2) soaking the atmosphere. The company developed a small power plant that sucks CO2 out of the air and turns it into fuel. Researchers aim to switch on a pilot plant, called the Soletair Project, at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland later this year.

Ineratec’s mini power plant is so small it can fit inside a shipping container. KIT says there are three parts to the system: a microstructured reactor, a direct air capture unit created by VIT, and an electrolysis unit which runs on solar power created by Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT). The direct air capture unit extracts CO2 out of the air and then the reactor converts the CO2 and regenerative hydrogen via the electrolysis unit into fuel. The Ineratec founders say the system can produce gasoline, kerosene, or diesel.

Ineratec founder Tim Böltken told New Atlas, “We supply an entirely new, modular technology that is a real alternative to the costly large chemical facilities used for the conventional gas-to-liquid process.” Böltken said there are many other possible applications for the plant, including gathering fuel from sewage treatment facilities. He also suggested organic farmers might be able to use the system to generate energy.

VTT Principal Scientist Pekka Simell said in a statement, “The project will produce expertise for enterprises in various fields, and it will result in a multidisciplinary industrial integration that no one company can achieve on its own.”

VTT and LUT will build a demonstration plant set to being operating this year, and in 2017 LUT plans to continue testing. According to KIT, Ineratec is planning to commercialize the compact plant, which could hit the market in 2018.

Source: inhabitat.com

Aruba Commits to 100% Renewable Energy

14.11.2016

While many nations are taking steps toward energy independence, Aruba is diving in.

In 2012, the small island nation pledged to transition to 100 percent renewable energy within eight years.

Justin Locke is director of the island energy program at the Carbon War Room, an international nonprofit. He said it makes sense for islands to switch to clean power.

“Islands currently pay some of the highest electricity prices in the world. At the same time, they also have some of the best renewable energy resources,” added Locke.

Aruba’s plan includes building new solar and wind farms, converting waste to energy, and working to increase energy efficiency.

The country is also pursuing creative new strategies to reduce power demands. For example, the utility company is working to provide air conditioning using ice that is produced at night when electricity costs are lower.

“Islands provide an incredible blueprint, or guiding light, for what a renewable economy could look like from a technical, financial, and regulatory perspective, because they are actually moving in that direction now,” said Locke.

Today, Aruba gets nearly 40 percent of its energy from clean power and intends to reach 100 percent in several years.

Source: ecowatch.com

German Coalition Agrees to Cut Carbon Emissions up to 95% by 2050

14.11.2016

Germany’s coalition government has reached an agreement on a climate change action plan which involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050, a spokesperson said on Friday.

The plan, which will require German industry to reduce its CO2 emission by a fifth by 2030, and Germany’s energy sector to reduce emissions by almost a half, will be reviewed in 2018 with a view to its impact on jobs and society.

“Especially the sector targets, included in the climate protection plan, will be subject to a comprehensive impact assessment,” government spokesperson Georg Streiter said at a news conference. He said the government agreed that the reduction targets could be adjusted in 2018.

The last-minute breakthrough spares the German government some blushes for its representatives at next week’s high level segment of the Marrakech climate change conference , where pressure on Germany to show global leadership have increased after Donald Trump’s victory in the US elections.

Germany’s environment minister Barbara Hendricks first presented a list of ambitious CO2 reduction targets for various economic sectors in 2015. But proposals had subsequently become bogged down by special pleading from ministers in her own governing coalition, especially the conservative-run ministries for agriculture and transport.

Even Social Democrat leader and deputy chancellor Sigmar Gabriel had until recently vetoed the plans, expressing concerns that a phase-out of brown coal, which causes the highest CO2 emissions per ton when burned, could lead to large-scale job losses in affected regions.

According to Reuters, the final plan contains lower reduction targets for power plants than proposed in earlier drafts. A call for introducing a minimum price for pollution certificates in the European Union’s carbon trading scheme was also reportedly scrapped.

Gabriel, who is also Germany’s economic minister, said on Friday that the agreed plan represented “a very good and well-balanced solution”. He added: “Other countries will only follow in the footsteps of our very ambitious climate policy if we manage to combine the fight against climate change with the protection of industrial jobs even in energy-intensive sectors”.

The president of the Association of German Industry (BDI) criticised the action plan : “In order for [German] climate policy to set the standard around the world, it has to be manageable for businesses and allow them to remain competitive,” Ulrich Grillo said. “That’s why we reject arbitrary and tonne-high reduction targets for individual sectors.”

A spokesperson for Greenpeace International welcomed the German government sticking to its list of sector-specific reduction targets. “By committing to halving emissions in the energy sector, the government’s climate action plans effectively hail the phase-out of the coal industry and the end of the era of the combustion engine,” said climate expert Karsten Smid.

“But given that Germany’s renewables revolution is now moving at a snail’s pace, it will no longer be able to claim a leadership role on climate protection.”

Source: theguardian.com

EIB provides EUR 100m to Gruppo Dolomiti Energia with an EFSI guarantee

11.11.2016

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is supporting Gruppo Dolomiti Energia’s 2017-2020 development plan with a EUR 100m loan. The operation will be guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the guarantee fund set up as part of the Investment Plan for Europe (IPE) – the so-called “Juncker Plan”.

EIB resources will cover around half of the overall cost of Gruppo Dolomiti Energia’s investment, which is aimed at renewing and developing gas and electricity distribution networks and strengthening and maintaining hydroelectric plants in the province of Trento in northern Italy, the main area in which Dolomiti Energia (1 400 employees, turnover of EUR 1.3bn in 2015) operates.

Dolomiti Energia Holding Chairman Rudi Oss added: “For us, obtaining this loan and the European Fund for Strategic Investments guarantee serves as confirmation of the value of our projects. The EIB’s positive opinion of the Group’s investment plan for the next four years will enable us to respond even more efficiently to local energy demand, contributing to growth and sustainability in the areas in which we operate.”

Source: eib.org

Holding the line

11.11.2016

The issue that currently dominates the outlook for the oil market is the outcome of OPEC’s ministerial meeting in Vienna on 30 November. It has only been two months since OPEC last met in Algiers and announced it would examine how to set up a production ceiling of between 32.5 mb/d and 33.0 mb/d. OPEC also said it would seek to bring leading non-OPEC producers into the process. We can’t predict the outcome of the 30 November meeting, but we can see the scale of the task ahead. In this report we estimate that OPEC members pumped 33.8 mb/d in October, well in excess of the high end of the proposed output range. This means that OPEC must agree to significant cuts in Vienna to turn its Algiers commitment into reality.

Whatever the outcome, the Vienna meeting will have a major impact on the eventual – and oft-postponed – re-balancing of the oil market. But it is not the only factor at play. Unfortunately for those seeking higher prices, an analysis of the other components provides little comfort. The world’s biggest crude oil producer Russia will see its output increase by 230 kb/d in 2016, and sustained production at current record levels would result in growth of nearly 200 kb/d next year. With production also expected to grow in Brazil, Canada and Kazakhstan, total non-OPEC output will rise by 0.5 mb/d next year, compared to a fall of 0.9 mb/d in 2016. This means that 2017 could be another year of relentless global supply growth similar to that seen in 2016.

On the demand side of the oil balance, our outlook for world oil demand growth at 1.2 mb/d in 2016 and 2017 remains unchanged. There is currently little evidence to suggest that economic activity is sufficiently robust to deliver higher oil demand growth, and any stimulus that might have been provided at the end of 2015 and in the early part of 2016 when crude oil prices fell below $30/bbl is now in the past.

If the OPEC countries do implement their Algiers resolution the resultant production cut will see the market move from surplus to deficit very quickly in 2017, albeit with a considerable stock overhang that will take time to deplete. On the other hand, if no agreement is reached and some individual members continue to expand their production then the market will remain in surplus throughout the year, with little prospect of oil prices rising significantly higher. Indeed, if the supply surplus persists in 2017 there must be some risk of prices falling back.

It is not the role of the IEA to urge any oil industry player to take one course of action rather than another, and we are not doing so now. Over time, market forces will do their job and the oil price will respond to the signals provided by demand and supply. What the IEA has argued for consistently is the need for investments necessary to meet rising oil demand. Such investments ensure that the market remains close to balance and that prices are as stable and as fair for both producers and consumers as can ever be possible in such a dynamic industry.

Source: iea.org

Indonesia, Vietnam look to blaze trail for solar in Southeast Asia

11.11.2016

Indonesia and Vietnam are looking to join Thailand in blazing a trail for solar power in Southeast Asia, introducing targets to fire up green energy generation as a landmark global agreement to curb pollution is set to take effect.

Countries around the world are coming under increasing pressure to crack down on carbon emissions from sectors such as coal-fired power stations, with the historic Paris climate accord coming into force this Friday after it was signed last year.

Indonesia and Vietnam aim to each have annual solar power capacity of at least 5 gigawatts (GW) from 2020, up from close to nothing now, officials from both governments told Reuters.

That level of output would have placed the countries among the top 15 solar producers in the world in 2015 data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and would account for close to 9 percent of expected power generation in Indonesia and Vietnam at the turn of the next decade.

The regional push towards solar will add momentum to global growth in the technology and could benefit companies such as Canada’s CMX Renewable Energy Inc, as well as South Korea’s Shinsung Solar Energy and Hanwha Q Cells Korea Corp.

“It will come very quickly as it takes a short time for construction,” Hoang Quoc Vuong, Vietnam’s Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, said on the sidelines of an industry conference last week.

However, with initial costs traditionally seen as a big deterrent to solar projects, both Indonesia and Vietnam will be offering opportunities for subsidies via so-called feed-in tariffs (FIT), allowing producers to lock in sales of renewable energy at fixed prices for a few years.

“If we promote solar, there has to be subsidy,” said the Vietnam official.

“Feed-in tariffs have been issued so that the (5 GW) target can be achieved,” said Maritje Hutapea, director of various kinds of energy at the Renewable Energy Directorate General under Indonesia’s Energy Ministry.

France’s Engie (ENGIE.PA) is in talks with state power company PLN for two solar projects of 200 MW.

Source: uk.reuters.com

BelEx International Conference showcases NIS gas preparation novelties

10.11.2016

At the 15th Belgrade Stock Exchange International Conference “Upgrade Belgrade 2016“ NIS showcased its accomplishments in natural gas production and inaugurated its Amine Plant, which was put on stream this year within the Plant for Preparation and Transportation of Oil and Gas in the town of Elemir.

Amine Plant is intended for boosting the quality of local natural gas, which is attained by the capture of carbon dioxide and other gaseous impurities. The technology employed in its operation is dubbed HiPACT, which stands for High Pressure Acid gas Capture Technology, being a state-of-the-art method in gas processing, and a unique in its kind in Europe.

Being a socially responsible company, by investing 30 million euros in the Amine Plant NIS has achieved a double effect – in addition to improved gas quality and its volume, the operation of this modern plan has a positive environmental impact reflected in preventing carbon dioxide emissions into the and brings about major savings of thermal and electrical power.

Operation principle of the Amine Plant was demonstrated at this conference by Mirjana Ostojić, an expert from NIS Exploration and Production, who used the opportunity to point out that the company outputs a gas of the quality equal to the one being imported from Russia, as well as that NIS this way strengthens Serbia’s energy stability.

This year again NIS is in the capacity of a general sponsor to Belgrade Stock Exchange International Conference, which gathers major companies and financial experts from Serbia and the region.

Source: nis.eu

Revolving Solar-Powered Home for Veterans Wins California’s First Tiny House Competition

10.11.2016

Santa Clara University students recently won California’s first tiny house competition with 238 square feet of technological and design genius. Called rEvolve House, referencing its ability to track the sun throughout the day to optimize solar gain, the prototypical home was designed in collaboration with Operation Freedom Paws as a low-cost housing solution for veterans training their own service dogs.

Powered by eight 330 Watt Sunmodule solar panels, the self-sufficient tiny home stores its energy in saltwater batteries that are the first to be Cradle-to-Cradle certified, and the Colossus solar tracking mechanism increases its absorption efficiency by 30 percent. In addition to being completely off-grid, the tiny home on wheels is also beautifully designed for surprising comfort. A transforming Murphy bed in the bedroom maximizes space during daylight hours, the full-sized kitchen has a seating area and fold-out table for the same reason, and the wet bathroom uses a dry-flush toilet to eliminate black water.

rEvolve House is not only about as green as they come, with small planters on the facade and a spiral staircase leading to a rooftop terrace, but also boasts deep humanitarian intentions. “The tiny house provides the first step in the journey of empowering veterans to evolve their independence and is a safe haven for them to acclimate and begin training their dogs prior to returning to their respective homes,” the students write in their design brief.

“The Tiny House Competition – Build Small and Win Big” is a new competition in the Sacramento region, challenging collegiate teams to design and build net-zero, tiny solar houses, writes the organizer, Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD). “The event, held Saturday, October 15 at Consumnes River College, was open to all colleges and universities in California. Participation promoted an interest in energy conservation, energy efficiency and green building and solar technologies.”

Source: inhabitat.com

DONG Energy Confirms Sale of Oil and Gas Arm to Focus on Renewables

10.11.2016

Danish energy giant DONG Energy has confirmed plans to sell its oil and gas business as part of the company’s “strategic transformation” into a global leader in renewable energy.

“We have decided to initiate a process with the aim of ultimately exiting from our oil and gas business,” chief executive Henrik Poulsen said in a statement released yesterday alongside the company’s interim financial results. “This should be seen in the context of DONG Energy’s strategic transformation towards becoming a global leader in renewables and a wish to ensure the best possible long-term development opportunities for our oil and gas business.”

DONG is the latest in a string of European utilities to refocus growth efforts on clean energy, following RWE’s recent move to split its business into two units, one focused on renewables and another focused on traditional power generation.

The process of offloading DONG Energy’s fossil fuelled assets began in September, when the company completed the sale of its entire gas distribution grid to Danish state-owned energy company Energinet.dk. Analysts predict the sale of its remaining oil and gas business could net DONG up to £2bn, which it has said it will plough back into renewable energy projects.

The firm currently has seven large offshore wind farms under construction, and earlier this summer was granted planning permission for the 1.2GW Hornsea Project Two, which will be the world’s largest offshore windfarm when it comes into operation in 2020.

The news came as DONG announced a seven per cent uptick in operating profits for the third quarter of this year, driven by a 19 per cent increase in wind output over the three-month period.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Poulsen confirmed the sale will not spark a change of name for the company – DONG stands for Dansk Olie og Naturgas, which translates as Danish Oil and Natural Gas.

Poulsen gave no further details on how long the sale would take to complete, but said the company is already “engaging with potential interested buyers”.

Source: businessgreen.com

First bike-sharing scheme in Morocco launched in time for COP22

10.11.2016

The Government of Morocco, in close cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), launched a bike-sharing scheme called “Medina Bike” in Marrakech, which is the host city of the 22rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is one of a number of initiatives launched in Marrakech to promote sustainability and green development.

The initiative aims to promote sustainable transportation and encourage city inhabitants to use non-motorized vehicles by setting up 10 automatic bike rental stations in key areas around the city and equipping them with a total of 300 bicycles.

One such station was set up at the site of COP22 to make bike-sharing available to participants of the Conference, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the event.

“Today Marrakech becomes the first city in Africa to launch a bike-sharing scheme and we hope to replicate this activity in other Moroccan cities. It was rendered possible thanks to the leadership of the city’s management and the fruitful cooperation between the city, UNIDO and the GEF,” said Hakima El-Haite, the delegate Minister of Environment of Morocco at the launch ceremony.

The initiative also serves as an example of how public-private partnerships can address sustainability at the city level. In this scheme, the bike supplier and local advertising company were selected through a competitive process, and then UNIDO and the Ministry of Environment facilitated the dialogue with the Municipality of Marrakech, who ultimately granted the license to the operation system. The bikes and rental systems were then procured and deployed in less than four months.

Source: unido.org

Global oil demand could peak by 2020, says Shell

10.11.2016

The rise of electric cars has led many analysts to make predictions about the future of the oil industry. ExxonMobil and OPEC have both made statements indicating confidence that the majority of vehicles on the world’s roads will continue to be powered by fossil fuels for the next few decades. But Shell recently made a prediction that is a bit less confident.

The world’s second-largest energy company by market value, Shell believes oil demand could peak by 2020, Bloomberg reports. “We’ve long been of the opinion that demand will peak before supply,” Shell CFO Simon Henry said in a conference call last week.

That peak could occur “somewhere between five and 15 years hence,” Henry said, and will be driven by “efficiency and substitution.” Shell’s vision puts it at odds with ExxonMobil which, in its annual outlook, said it expects oil demand to increase 20 percent between 2014 and 2040. The company previously said that electric cars would account for less than 10 percent of global new-car sales in 2040.

OPEC has also said that 6 percent of cars on the world’s roads in 2040 would be powered by anything other than gasoline or diesel. Among its members, Saudi Arabia believes its oil reserves will last 70 years, and that demand will grow, primarily from increased consumption in emerging markets.

However, the country is also pursuing an alternative economic strategy that would see it shift to investment as a source of revenue, in order to protect against a collapse of the oil industry. Even if oil demand peaks fairly soon, as Shell predicts, it may not decline into oblivion immediately. Oil could very well remain a part of the transportation-fuel and energy-generating mix for some time.

Shell also expects to remain in business by shifting to production of natural gas, as well as biofuels and hydrogen. Natural gas is already a major factor in the impending death of coal as a power source for electricity generation in the U.S. That’s largely because natural-gas reserves accessed through the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing (known as “fracking”) have made the fuel cheap and abundant.

Natural gas produces lower carbon emissions than coal, but is still not as clean as renewable-energy sources such as solar and wind.

Source: greencarreports.com

Thassalia: France’s First Marine Geothermal Energy Power Plant Inaugurated

10.11.2016

French utility Engie has inaugurated the nation’s first self-termed marine geothermal power station on France’s southern coast, in Marseille. The Thassalia power station will pump seawater from the Port of Marseille into heat exchangers and heat pumps to provide heat and refrigeration to a custom-built network integrated with the heart of Marseille’s business center.

Although similar plants are already in operation — including another from Engie located in Paris that functions with the River Seine – the Thassalia plant is the first in France to use saltwater and to provide heat and cooling in tandem.

Isabelle Kocher, CEO of Engie, said in an Oct. 18 statement: “The Thassalia inauguration is an opportunity for me to appreciate the involvement of this beautiful region in energy transition, especially in terms of renewable energy development and continued commitment to improve building energy efficiency. The marine geothermal power station serves as a new innovative display of this approach.”

Thomas Jung, president of the company running the Thassalia plant, told Renewable Energy World that “Marseilles has been undertaking something of a green, environmentally friendly initiative — so it was ideal timing for development of the Thassailia plant and demonstration of this technology.”

Indeed, the project represents a key component within the Euroméditerranée EcoCité sustainability initiative. According to Jung, the plant uses thermal energy from the sea to supply buildings with heating and cooling.

“Seawater is pumped up — [from] a depth of six meters, at a temperature between 16 and 24 degrees Celsius — and to cold chillers and thermal-refrigeration pumps that are able to produce cold (4 degrees Celsius) and hot (60 degrees Celsius) water at the same time,” Jung said. “The plant will reach capacities of 16 MW cooling and 18.6 MW heating. This is quite a special configuration, and serves an immediate need within the network to which it is connected.”

A back-up gas boiler has also been built into the plant to ensure supply during times of peak demand. After processing at the Thassalia plant, thermal energy is then directed through a custom-built network to customers. “In total, the plant will satisfy the energy needs of more than 500,000 m2 of space shared over the buildings connected to the network,” Jung said. The network is set to expand over the coming few years, but for now is based around underground pipes running to a little over two kilometers. The plant has cost 35 million euros (US$38.6 million), according to Engie. But for what the investment has bought, Jung says that the plant is highly cost-effective.

“We’re able to produce energy at the same costs as using traditional heating/cooling solutions; however, because our technology is clean, there are savings on the heating taxes (reduced by 15 percent) and on the long-term prices if we consider that the gas and electricity prices will go increasing in the next years,” he said.

Source: renewableenergyworld.com

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