Energy Sector News

[petit_bateau]

Interesting points on biomass and timber. If one only knew how much carbon it took to harvest, move, process, and dry the ton of biomass than they'd not bother.

I'm afraid they do know .... but right now the players such as Drax, Enviva, et al simply don't care about carbon. They only care about money and the rest is very thin greenwash masking the carbon reality.

Also the point being made about using biomass for bioliquids (primarily for aviation) rather than bioelectricity is a very fair one.

 

[nativewolf]

Seeing more and more projects using Fluence. Fluence is a aes and siemens JV. They have a solutions stack that competes directly with Tesla Energy for commercial battery storage, energy management, bidding.

Watch: One of the largest solar facilities in Texas achieves operation

National Grid Renewables achieved commercial operations for the 275 MW solar, 125 MWh energy storage Noble Solar project.

pv-magazine-usa.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $80.7/bbl
Brent $85.4/bbl
NL TTF gas €145/MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Dutch front-month natural gas futures surged more than 8% to above €140 MWh on Wednesday, the highest in over six weeks, extending the November gain to 17% as traders are coming to terms that frigid winter temperatures will drain gas stockpiles. Storages in the EU were 93.6% full as of November 28th, lower than 93.9% the day before. In Germany, stocks went down to 98.6% from 98.9%.

Bad Russia

IAEA's Grossi holds 'candid' talks with Rosatom over Zaporizhzhia : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Following the shelling which caused damage in and around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Mariano Grossi has met Rosatom's director general to discuss the situation, and possible safety measures.

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Good Ukraine

Ukraine 'doing everything possible to restore nuclear generation as soon as possible' : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

All four of Ukraine's operating nuclear power plants were automatically disconnected from the power grid on Wednesday "as a result of a decrease in frequency in the power system" caused by missile strikes damaging the country's energy infrastructure.

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Very bad Russia

Ukraine pleads for help to fix energy grid hit by Russian bomb raids

European firms urged to donate spare parts after sustained Russian strikes on power plants and substations

www.theguardian.com

and

Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 280 of the invasion

EU to set up court to investigate war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine; Russian strikes in Zaporizhzhia region hit gas distribution point

www.theguardian.com

Chinese velvet glove

Two Chinese cities ease COVID curbs after protests spread

The giant Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Chongqing announced an easing of COVID curbs on Wednesday, a day after demonstrators in southern Guangzhou clashed with police amid a string of protests against the world's toughest coronavirus restrictions.

www.reuters.com

EU sees 34% rise in heat pump installs (we are one of them)

Heat pumps hyped up on holiday wish lists in European households: Maguire

Households across Europe are scrambling to get hold of the latest must-have gadget this holiday season: heat pumps.

www.reuters.com

UK court struggles

UK high court approves Bulb takeover by Octopus Energy

Proposed buyout of collapsed supplier gets go-ahead despite judicial reviews lodged by rivals E.ON, Centrica and Scottish Power

www.theguardian.com

Regulatory hard talk

Ofgem tells energy network firms they must invest without increasing bills

Unions and consumer groups criticise regulator for not reducing household electricity bills

www.theguardian.com

Europe weather mild

Reduced French energy consumption largely owing to mild weather, says govt

Energy saving measures by households and businesses accounted for only a small amount of a reduction in French electricity consumption in November, most of which was attributable to milder temperatures, the government said on Tuesday.

www.reuters.com

US at 24% renewables penetration

Beating Predictions, Renewables Make 24% of U.S. Electricity in First Half of 2022

The renewables' share increased from 21% for the same time period last year.

www.tdworld.com

.... but US installs problematic

Commercial solar deployments stumbled in the first half of 2022, SEIA says

Commercial solar deployments stumbled in the first half of 2022, SEIA says Solar - Renewable Energy World

www.renewableenergyworld.com

Congestion service providers ?

Netherlands changes grid code to reduce congestion, host more renewables

New rules in the Netherlands will allow new entities known as "congestion service providers" as intermediaries between grid operators and power plant operators, in order to make optimal use of the network.

www.pv-magazine.com

Long life big hydro

The Refurbishment of the Cahora Bassa HVDC System

Although it survived the Mozambican Civil War, the Cahora Bassa dam and hydroelectric power plant requires major refurbishment.

www.tdworld.com

Australia big battery progress

Australia’s newest big battery hits construction milestone

Hitachi Energy is delivering the 35 MVA Darwin-Katherine Battery Energy Storage System in Australia's Northern Territory. Now that civil and building works have been completed at the $30.2 million big battery site, the company will deploy tech to provide virtual inertia and system strength...

www.pv-magazine.com

Small nuclear with "significant issues"

NuScale’s small modular reactor design draft application has several ‘significant’ issues, NRC staff says

One critic of the company's SMR anchor project in Utah expects it will be delayed, but NuScale officials say they remain on track to file a stanadard design application later this year.

www.utilitydive.com

ITER snagettes

Defects found in two key components of ITER's tokamak : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project has announced defects have been discovered in the thermal shields and vacuum vessel sectors and warned that the consequences on schedule and cost "will not be insignificant".

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Finland slow nuclear

December seen as earliest date for OL3 restart : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Olkiluoto 3 will not resume producing electricity before December "at the earliest", TVO has said. Commissioning of the EPR in Finland was interrupted in October following the discovery of cracks in feedwater pumps.

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Chinese waste storage .... just happens to exhibit other interesting features
Excavation of Chinese underground lab begins : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

Serbia is getting a lot of EU care

More euros for Serbian rail freight industry, this time for Serbia Cargo

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is stepping up its support for Serbia’s rail sector, this time with a loan to state-owned operator Serbia Cargo. The bank is lending the company 43 million euros to finance its freight fleet modernisation. Do you want to read the full...

www.railfreight.com

Mongolia - China rail

Broad meets normal gauge at new border point China-Mongolia

Mongolia has opened a new railway line to the border with China. It connects Zongbayan to the border city of Khangi. Once the facilities are completed, this will provide a new, second border crossing for freight trains between the countries. Do you want to read the full article? Thank you for...

www.railfreight.com

Slow progress .... just as expected

Airbus boss warns of delay in decarbonising airline industry

Guillaume Faury expresses concern at pace of investment in facilities producing alternatives to fossil fuels

www.theguardian.com

... keep an eye on Orban and freeze those funds

EU seeks to freeze €13bn in funding to Hungary over corruption fears

European Commission says Viktor Orbán’s government’s rule-of-law reforms do not go far enough

www.theguardian.com

 

[petit_bateau]

Smart metering is a wedge to hell for too many ..... (for these and similar reasons I personally have resisted a supplier smart meter, which in any case is not very smart)

Calls for UK ban on pre-payment meter installations made under court warrants

End Fuel Poverty Coalition fears energy suppliers are using warrants to disconnect poorest ‘by the back door’

www.theguardian.com

 

[nativewolf]

Just sharing some interesting startups. This is driven by my realization that Tesla energy has just failed to scale and that the market has emerged (solar and wind) and they'll be unable to meet it. I was curious and started looking for companies other than Tesla providing solutions.

First I read about Fluence. That took me deeper into battery startups and I Realized that Gates vc firm has invested in at least 4 battery firms, quantumscape, ESS, Form Energy, and Our Next Energy (ONE). ONE was featured in a Sandy Munro video earlier this year (or last) and is led by A123 alum. Back in the day I thought A123 had promise. They seem to think that they'll make it this time and supposedly have a client. Unlike the others it is pretty simple- Lithium iron phosphate with a twist to help reduce costs and increase range. We'll see, supposed to be shipping to first client now.

How will they compete with the likes of SES (backed by several OEMs)? no idea..just lots of neat ideas out there besides the 4680.

Quantumscape is a bit famous- solid state batteries. Also featured on Munro Live. Lots of promise in solid state batteries but right now they are still just pencil eraser tiny. Huge publicity...big firm...no product yet. If they ever commercialize it is the end of the game or many competitors.

ESS and Form are both targeting industrial and commercial scale energy with Iron - salt water (ESS) and Iron air (Form). ESS is doing something others have tried before, there was a PA based startup several years ago that tried and failed to scale with saltwater based batteries. ESS is packaging in a shipping container sized offering that scales and supports multiple containers. Bunch of saltwater and iron so you know it's going to be heavy. I have some questions on energy storage on their solution but it's interesting and non toxic.

Form is interesting and seems pretty clearly set on a path to commercial success. Bit more energy/sq meter of space. No products yet. Again, iron and air? Both these companies are thinking (is what I think). They have solutions for the giant raft of solar farms and wind farms. Lower costs than the iron phosphate solutions, they just need to get the first few sales and have them running a year or two.

Then I kept reading and learned about Rondo Energy (gates backed as well so 5)- really neat solution using Iron & bricks (yep) and is focused on energy/heat needs of industrial entities. How cool is that? Most big industrial processes are giant consumers of heat (cracking in a distillation chamber, cement, metals smelting, making good pizza (checking if you are skimming), etc. Very much a company to watch and I wish them every success.

All backed by Bill Gates firm. Used to be the kiss of death for his firm to invest in your energy startup. Now...now the firm looks brilliant with 5 well regarded startups and only 1 needing to really make it for them to have a giant homerun. Frankly I don't see why they can't all be successful.


Companies like Fluence will be buyers if the utility/energy ones can get any traction.

Then there are companies like Amprius that are focused on niche markets- aviation in this case.

 

[navguy12]

Just sharing some interesting startups. This is driven by my realization that Tesla energy has just failed to scale and that the market has emerged (solar and wind) and they'll be unable to meet it. I was curious and started looking for companies other than Tesla providing solutions.

First I read about Fluence. That took me deeper into battery startups and I Realized that Gates vc firm has invested in at least 4 battery firms, quantumscape, ESS, Form Energy, and Our Next Energy (ONE). ONE was featured in a Sandy Munro video earlier this year (or last) and is led by A123 alum. Back in the day I thought A123 had promise. They seem to think that they'll make it this time and supposedly have a client. Unlike the others it is pretty simple- Lithium iron phosphate with a twist to help reduce costs and increase range. We'll see, supposed to be shipping to first client now.

How will they compete with the likes of SES (backed by several OEMs)? no idea..just lots of neat ideas out there besides the 4680.

Quantumscape is a bit famous- solid state batteries. Also featured on Munro Live. Lots of promise in solid state batteries but right now they are still just pencil eraser tiny. Huge publicity...big firm...no product yet. If they ever commercialize it is the end of the game or many competitors.

ESS and Form are both targeting industrial and commercial scale energy with Iron - salt water (ESS) and Iron air (Form). ESS is doing something others have tried before, there was a PA based startup several years ago that tried and failed to scale with saltwater based batteries. ESS is packaging in a shipping container sized offering that scales and supports multiple containers. Bunch of saltwater and iron so you know it's going to be heavy. I have some questions on energy storage on their solution but it's interesting and non toxic.

Form is interesting and seems pretty clearly set on a path to commercial success. Bit more energy/sq meter of space. No products yet. Again, iron and air? Both these companies are thinking (is what I think). They have solutions for the giant raft of solar farms and wind farms. Lower costs than the iron phosphate solutions, they just need to get the first few sales and have them running a year or two.

Then I kept reading and learned about Rondo Energy (gates backed as well so 5)- really neat solution using Iron & bricks (yep) and is focused on energy/heat needs of industrial entities. How cool is that? Most big industrial processes are giant consumers of heat (cracking in a distillation chamber, cement, metals smelting, making good pizza (checking if you are skimming), etc. Very much a company to watch and I wish them every success.

All backed by Bill Gates firm. Used to be the kiss of death for his firm to invest in your energy startup. Now...now the firm looks brilliant with 5 well regarded startups and only 1 needing to really make it for them to have a giant homerun. Frankly I don't see why they can't all be successful.


Companies like Fluence will be buyers if the utility/energy ones can get any traction.

Then there are companies like Amprius that are focused on niche markets- aviation in this case.

I love pizza

 

[petit_bateau]

(Sorry no news today. Went to a good funeral/memorial. Catch up tomorrow .)

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $80.3/bbl
Brent $85.9/bbl
NL TTF gas €135/MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Russian onslaught continues ....

'Putin's missile barrage on Ukraine's grid is message to Europe' - DTEK | Enlit World

According to DTEK's Vadym Utkin, the latest Russian missile attacks against Ukraine's grid is a message not only to Ukraine, but to the continent itself.

www.enlit.world

.... with this aim

‘There are no lights, it’s scary’: a family prepares for winter in eastern Ukraine

After Russia’s latest strikes on the power grid, blackouts are unpredictable and the house is cold and dark

www.theguardian.com

.... and this consequence : $60 cap on Russian oil agreed by EU

EU states agree $60 a barrel cap on Russian oil after Polish green light

Poland, which was pushing for low cap, says deal will keep it at least 5% below market rate

www.theguardian.com

... and more help will be rquired

Ukrainian energy leader to Europe: Help us rebuild war-damaged grid

A Ukrainian energy leader is asking suppliers to create "priority lanes" to help repair and fortify the country's electricity grid.

www.renewableenergyworld.com

Small car company delivers one big lorry in remote southern state

Price rises are real

Solar PV and energy storage prices 'soared', NREL market report says

Solar PV and energy storage prices 'soared', NREL market report says Solar - Renewable Energy World

www.renewableenergyworld.com

Sizing up storage

How much GWh storage capacity is needed for a resilient energy system?

Phil Thompson, CEO of Balance Power, explains how much GWh storage capacity is needed for a resilient and renewable energy system.

www.enlit.world

Discounts driving traffic

RZD to offer discounts on the Moscow-Mumbai corridor

Russian Railways (RZD) will offer a 20 per cent discount for the transportation of containers along the eastern branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The discount will be valid throughout 2023. The decision was taken by the board of RZD on 1 December. In addition to...

www.railfreight.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $82.4/bbl
Brent $88.0/bbl
NL TTF gas €135/MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

temperatures across Europe continued to fall raising demand for heating and reducing stockpiles. Storages in the EU were 91.6% full as of December 4th, below 91.9% the day before. Meanwhile, gas flows on the Yamal-Europe pipeline to Poland from Germany fell to zero while flows via Ukraine continued despite the EU’s bar on seaborne Russian oil imports and an oil price cap on Russian oil coming into effect. Also, last week negotiations started on a European Commission proposal for a cap on gas prices, and members are racing to reach a deal by December 13th.

Tit begets tat, except that targetting military assets is legal, unlike the war crime of targetting civil infrastructure

Explosions rock two Russian airbases far from Ukraine frontline

Russia confirms blasts at military facilities as Kyiv finds way to target long-range bombers

www.theguardian.com

China unlocks Covid box of Pandora ...

Fears of deadly infection surge as China abandons zero-Covid policy

Dramatic U-turn following widespread unrest leaves country ill-prepared for Omicron

www.theguardian.com

and

Covid is weakening, China state media claims, as major cities lift lockdowns

Unnamed expert tells state media outlet Yicai that Covid could be downgraded from a category A disease to category C

www.theguardian.com

China-Saudi axis of realpolitik

Saudi prince seeks Mideast leadership, independence with Xi's visit

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosts China's leader this week at a delicate moment in U.S.-Saudi ties, signalling Riyadh's resolve to navigate a polarised global order regardless of the wishes of its Western allies, analysts said.

www.reuters.com

Fantastic summary of Tesla Semi

Tesla Semi, a deep dive

Musk: "There are some people out there that say it can't be done. I dunno who might say that, but I've heard rumors. So we... just did it. "

www.evuniverse.io

Shale : ROI wanted as money talks

Europe can't look to U.S. shale to fill any OPEC gap

U.S. shale oil drillers turned from scrappy wildcatters into multi-millionaires over the past two decades, propelling the United States to become the world's largest producer, but now they are running out of runway.

www.reuters.com

Decarbonising chemicals

Market interventions killing industry’s access to renewable power – BASF Renewable Energy CEO

BASF Renewable Energy CEO Horatio Evers on the challenges of securing enough renewable power to decarbonise the largest chemicals company.

www.energymonitor.ai

Getting ready for the 20MW units

Project to Develop 20+ MW Floating Offshore Wind Technology Kicks Off

A consortium of thirteen partners has launched the NextFloat project in Paris aimed at accelerating the rollout of the next generation of floating wind technology for a competitive, more scalable, and industrial deployment.

www.offshorewind.biz

Brazil juggernaut

Lula faces stiff challenge to fulfil vow to reverse Amazon deforestation in Brazil

President’s predecessor Bolsonaro unleashed record destruction on rainforest and emboldened loggers, land grabbers and illegal miners

www.theguardian.com

... and in related news

The world’s largest food companies have gone backwards on net zero

An analysis by Just Food of some of the major food companies’ progress on net zero shows the scale of challenge ahead.

www.energymonitor.ai

Big battery live in .... Brazil

Brazil’s first large-scale battery goes online

Grid operator ISA CTEEP has started commercially operating a large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Registro substation in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. The 30 MW/60 MWh BESS is expected to provide backup power to the grid during hours of peak demand in summer.

www.pv-magazine.com

Somebody else's money is always preferable

How central banks rank on green policies

As rising interest rates threaten to curtail much-needed green investment, central banks must urgently update their policy toolkits.

www.energymonitor.ai

GE-Simens patent spats

Siemens Gamesa Loses UK Patent Dispute over GE Haliade-X Offshore Wind Turbine

Judge Richard Meade of London's High Court has ruled in favour of GE in a patent infringement dispute with Siemens Gamesa over the design of the GE Haliade-X offshore wind turbine.

www.offshorewind.biz

Politics hurts ourselves, UK (not that this is a project going anywhere fast, if at all, ever)

£18bn project to link UK to huge wind and solar farm in Sahara delayed by a year

Exclusive: Dave Lewis, chair of startup hoping to provide 8% of Britain’s energy, tells how political turmoil has delayed undersea cable project

www.theguardian.com

Adaptation matters, great result

Jabal: the new drought-tolerant wheat scientists say can withstand extreme heat

The variety is a cross between commercial and wild wheats – bred in a bid to develop crops that are more resilient to the climate crisis

www.theguardian.com

China - Laos rail, working

China-Laos Railway: new fruit service to celebrate first anniversary

The first train loaded with fruit coming from Thailand and Laos entered China on 2 December. The train departed from the Laotian capital Vientiane and reached China via the Boten-Mohan border crossing. Do you want to read the full article? Thank you for visiting RailFreight.com. Become a member...

www.railfreight.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $76.0/bbl
Brent $81.8/bbl
NL TTF gas €133/MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Quite a drop in oil prices. Wonder to what extent the Russia cap has caused that.

About that EU gas cap

https://a9w7k6q9.stackpathcdn.com/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/EU-Commission-proposal-for-joint-gas-purchasing-price-caps-and-collective-allocation-of-gas-an-assessment-NG-176.pdf

Big HV cables, progress on Ireland-France

Eirgrid and RTE ink first Celtic Interconnector agreement

The newly-greenlit Celtic Interconnector will be the first connection between Ireland's grid and continental Europe.

www.smart-energy.com

Oops, France

REC scraps plan to build 4 GW solar module factory in France

REC says it has dropped its plans to set up a factory in France due to "various market changes." It wanted to invest €680 million ($716 million) to produce heterojunction solar modules in the town of Hambach.

www.pv-magazine.com

US grid vandalism

StackPath

Japanese solar snail

Tokyo preparing mandatory PV requirements for new buildings, homes

The Tokyo municipal authorities are working on new regulations to make solar installations mandatory for new homes with total rooftop areas of more than 20 square meters, and for buildings with rooftops smaller than 2,000 square meters.

www.pv-magazine.com

V2H, Panasonic

Panasonic unveils vehicle-to-home system for PV-powered homes

Panasonic claims that its new vehicle-to-home system can increase the self-consumption rate of residential solar and storage capacity to 90%.

www.pv-magazine.com

IEA re renewables acceleration

Renewable power’s growth is being turbocharged as countries seek to strengthen energy security - News - IEA

Renewable power’s growth is being turbocharged as countries seek to strengthen energy security - News from the International Energy Agency

www.iea.org

Interesting flattening of US aviation fuel

Less U.S. jet fuel consumption on average in 2022 than in 2019

www.eia.gov

EU standard gauge with everything

Standard gauge in all of EU, plans need to be ready by 2025-2026

Every state member of the European Union will need to have a transformation plan to adopt the 1435 mm railway gauge by 2025-2026. This was the outcome of a meeting involving the ministers of transport of EU countries held in Brussels on 5 December. The European Commission proposed this summer...

www.railfreight.com

Iran slow burn

Iran’s moment of truth: what will it take for the people to topple the regime?

The long read: Three months after the uprising began, demonstrators are still risking their lives. Will this generation succeed where previous attempts to unseat the Islamic hardliners have been crushed?

www.theguardian.com

and

Iran: mass strike starts amid mixed messages about abolishing morality police

Shopkeepers and lorry drivers from almost 40 cities are participating in mass walkouts

www.theguardian.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $72.7bbl
Brent $78.9/bbl
NL TTF gas €149/MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

ZNPP belong to Ukraine (as if there was ever any doubt)

Regulators back Ukraine for Zaporizhzhia ownership : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

European safety regulators have backed Ukraine as the rightful owner and authority to oversee the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, Russia's Rosenergoatom has appointed Yury Chernichuk as 'director' of the plant.

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Russian dark tankers

‘Dark activities’ of Russian-linked oil tankers have doubled, analysis shows

Maritime intelligence firm points to rise in tankers switching off trackers for sanctions-busting transfers

www.theguardian.com

... mixed cap results

G7 Russian oil price cap evolves from revenue squeeze to market anchor

When U.S. officials first floated the idea of capping Russian oil export prices in response to a planned European embargo in March, they pledged to squeeze revenues to Russia's war machine, while avoiding a devastating oil price spike.

www.reuters.com

Delayed ? of course not !

Three-year extension agreed to Hinkley Point C contract : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

EDF, China General Nuclear and the UK government have agreed a three-year extension to the contract for difference for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant under construction in Somerset, England. While the 'long-stop date' has now been moved to November 2036, EDF maintains the plant's...

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Funding difficulties, that is why 50% required

UK government takes 50% stake, confirms backing for Sizewell C : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

The UK is to invest GBP679 million (USD815 million) and become a 50% partner with EDF in the Sizewell C nuclear project. The money "allows for China General Nuclear's exit from the project, including buy-out costs, any tax due and commercial arrangements".

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Lots of residential batteries, BYD has surpassed Sonnen to become the leading battery supplier

Germany likely installed 220,000 new residential solar batteries in 2022, says EUPD Research

EUPD Research said that Germany's residential storage market more than doubled year on year in 2022. It noted that BYD has surpassed Sonnen to become the leading battery supplier.

www.pv-magazine.com

Shipowners et al ask for forced switch - to ammonia, now !

Shipping decarbonisation: Industry to IMO: No. More. Excuses.

Maritime leaders and clean fuel producers are ready to decarbonise shipping with green hydrogen – and ask the IMO to increase ambition.

www.energymonitor.ai

.... and on cue more hydrogen is coming (to make that ammonia)

The Hydrogen Stream: Global renewables capacity for hydrogen to surge by 2027, says IEA

The International Energy Agency says that it expects the use of renewables to support global hydrogen production to surge over the next five years. The Netherlands and Denmark, meanwhile, have revealed plans to expand electrolysis capacity.

www.pv-magazine.com

UK, too little too late

How much is the UK government really spending on its new insulation plans?

The UK government is starting to take energy efficiency seriously with its new plans for insulating Britain. But is it already too late?

www.energymonitor.ai

BML for PV

Feds to update solar development rules for western public lands

Feds to update solar development rules for western public lands Policy & Regulation - Renewable Energy World

www.renewableenergyworld.com

India for gas, obviously smog is causing behaviour change

India to step up gas imports to address summer power demand

India has asked state-run firms to increase imports of natural gas in anticipation of higher power demand next summer, three government sources said, aiming to avoid repeating a power crisis in April that was its worst in more than six years.

www.reuters.com

Awareness of grid vulnerability spreads ....

North Carolina county in dark for third day after attack on power substations

Tens of thousands of households and businesses in North Carolina remained without power for a third day on Tuesday as authorities investigate what they describe as an orchestrated gunfire attack that disabled two substations.

www.reuters.com

SMR dash for cash, pre revenue

Nuclear SMR developer X-energy to merge with Ares Management-backed SPAC, creating $2B company

X-energy says 67 GW from SMRs will need to be installed by 2040 in the U.S., Canada and U.K. to offset the retirement of coal and other fossil fuel plants and meet expected increases in demand.

www.utilitydive.com

German solar $.06/kWh

Germany allocates 609 MW in tender for large-scale solar

Germany concluded its latest renewables tender with a final average price of €0.0580 ($0.06)/kWh, which is slightly higher than the €0.0510 level from the last such exercise. Bids ranged from €0.0520/kWh to €0.0590/kWh.

www.pv-magazine.com

Chinese solar juggernaut ....... 20GW

Chinese PV Industry Brief: Linyang Energy to build 20 GW TOPCon factory

Linyang Energy has revealed plans to build a new solar factory in Jiangsu province, while Daqo has said it will build a new silicon production base in Inner Mongolia.

www.pv-magazine.com

 

[ThomasD]

What are the chances that Switzerland would implement something like this? Would they really cut peoples electric and could this happen here?

Switzerland Weighs Restrictions On EV To Conserve Energy - Could It Impact Tesla's Ambitions?

Switzerland could be the first to impose driving bans on e-cars to restore energy security, as media reports quoted a draft regulation on restrictions and prohibitions on the use of electrical energy. The paper restricted the private use of electric cars for essential journeys like professional...

www.yahoo.com

 

[petit_bateau]

What are the chances that Switzerland would implement something like this? Would they really cut peoples electric and could this happen here?

Switzerland Weighs Restrictions On EV To Conserve Energy - Could It Impact Tesla's Ambitions?

Switzerland could be the first to impose driving bans on e-cars to restore energy security, as media reports quoted a draft regulation on restrictions and prohibitions on the use of electrical energy. The paper restricted the private use of electric cars for essential journeys like professional...

www.yahoo.com

In all of Europe (both EU and UK) there are a set of tiered emergency plans for different levels of energy shortages, of different types of energy or of all of them. Every country has been rapidly revising them the last year due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Indeed, at some levels access to energy for non-essential purposes is curtailed. At extreme levels it is basically just military + emergency services + critical utilities that get access to fuel and electricity.

So public purchase of gasoline or diesel to drive for pleasure both get curtailed, as does the corresponding amount of BEV-juice. If you generate your own, that does not get curtailed.

So, yes this stuff is true, but is being presented in an alarmist way to drive anti-BEV FUD.

I have no idea what is the status in the USA. Actually I do, but the planning is so disorganised in the USA for this stuff that it makes one wince.

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $72.4bbl
Brent $77.1/bbl
NL TTF gas €138/MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Yesterday oil prices dropped, today gas has followed, despite the icy blast coming down from the north across Europe.

US has succeesfully auctioned 8GW wind on West coast, all floaters I think

California Lease Sale Winners Are: RWE, Equinor, CIP, Ocean Winds, and Invenergy. Floating Wind Farm Capacities Higher than Initially Estimated

The winners of the first US offshore wind lease sale on the Pacific coast and the first-ever to procure floating wind capacity in the country are: RWE Offshore Wind Holdings, Equinor Wind US, Invenergy California Offshore, California North Floating (Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners), and...

www.offshorewind.biz

US next up auction is 4GW offshore NJ

New Jersey to Offer Up to 4 GW in Next Offshore Wind Auction Round

The State of New Jersey plans to put up for auction up to 4,000 MW of offshore wind capacity in its third solicitation round scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2023.

www.offshorewind.biz

Massive battery uptake

More than 1 million European homes powered by solar batteries

SolarPower Europe’s latest analysis reveals that 9.3 GWh of battery energy storage systems have been installed in more than 1 million European households this year.

www.pv-magazine.com

Polishing a turd

BP, Equinor, and Ithaca to Explore Electrification Options of West of Shetland Oil & Gas Fields

Electrification solutions could include power from the shore, potentially from onshore wind or from offshore wind. Full electrification of the abovementioned fields would require around 200 MW of power, Equinor said.

www.offshorewind.biz

UK bad

Cumbria coalmine is owned by private equity firm with Caymans base

West Cumbria Mining, which set up Whitehaven office during push for new mine, owned by EMR Capital

www.theguardian.com

and

New Cumbria coalmine ‘like opening a Betamax factory’, says Tim Farron

Cumbrian Lib Dem MP condemns decision to give green light to Britain’s first new coalmine in 30 years

www.theguardian.com

Germany good

Germany slashes VAT for residential PV to 0%

The German parliament has approved a new package of tax breaks for rooftop PV, including a value-added tax exemption for PV systems up to 30 kW in size.

www.pv-magazine.com

Oil sanctions bite Turkish bottlenect

Western officials in talks with Turkey over oil tanker delays -UK

Western officials are in talks with Turkish counterparts to resolve oil tanker queues off Turkey, a British Treasury official said, after the G7 and European Union rolled out new restrictions on Dec. 5 aimed at Russian oil exports.

www.reuters.com

Reuters take on yesterday's IEA report

Column: 'Dispatchable' renewables in spotlight after upbeat IEA report

This week's upbeat renewable energy supply outlook by the International Energy Agency (IEA) contained an important but overlooked lament about the slow roll-out of so-called dispatchable renewable energy sources.

www.reuters.com

 

[navguy12]

From within the Reuters piece, I really wish burning bio fuels was not part of the future of renewables discussion.

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $72.3bbl
Brent $77.1/bbl
NL TTF gas €138/MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

China baby steps

'It's dead out here': China's slow exit from zero-COVID

Enduring anxieties about the coronavirus are likely to hamper a speedy return to health for the world's second-largest economy.

www.reuters.com

EU-USA trade war / maybe

Europe wants its own clean energy industrial policy. It has to deal with the American one first

Can Europe have its own Inflation Reduction Act moment? EU leaders must first figure out the climate law's impact on member countries.

www.renewableenergyworld.com

Now that is what I call a big number, 176GW wind for Brazil

71 Offshore Wind Applications Now Filed in Brazil, Proposals Total 176.6 GW

Four more applications for environmental investigation licences for offshore wind projects have landed on the desk of Brazil's Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA), bringing the total to 71 applications and 176.6 GW in proposed capacity.

www.offshorewind.biz

Internal EU politicking

Emergency EU energy measures held hostage by gas price cap dispute

EU energy ministers will try again on 13 December to overcome deep divisions over a proposal to cap the wholesale price of natural gas.

www.energymonitor.ai

Name and shame

The ten countries that produce the world's dirtiest electricity

Renewables may be booming, but some countries remain almost totally fossil fuel-powered. We take you through the top ten dirtiest power grids.

www.energymonitor.ai

Ukraine energy

A map of Ukraine's power stations and energy grid

Russia has stepped up its bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Here is a detailed map of the country’s power stations.

www.energymonitor.ai

Honest, real German hydrogen

TES and EWE to build 500MW green hydrogen electrolyser in Wilhelmshaven

The green hydrogen electrolyser will come online in 2028, with plans for an additional unit to eventually bring the total capacity to 1GW.

www.energymonitor.ai

Honest, a real USA hydrogen project

This one's real: Green hydrogen project moves toward reality in Texas

Press releases often tout lofty green hydrogen project plans that go nowhere. This one's for real.

www.renewableenergyworld.com

It is all about batteries

U.S. battery storage capacity will increase significantly by 2025

www.eia.gov

It is also all about heat pumps

Heat pumps key for decarbonising global heating – IEA report | Enlit World

The latest IEA report 'The Future of Heat Pumps' highlights the key role of heat pumps in decarbonising space and water heating.

www.enlit.world

Greenwashing of biofuels

After COP's failed fossil phase-out, the case for phasing-in biofuels

It seems that the debate on “phasing out” fossils will remain somewhat philosophical. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a clear path forward.

www.renewableenergyworld.com

UK politics

Why repowering is key to hitting the UK's onshore wind targets

The UK government has decided to end its effective ban on new onshore wind, but clearer guidance on repowering is key for net zero.

www.energymonitor.ai

Turkish-Asia rail

First Turkey-Uzbekistan train inaugurates new corridor

The first freight train on the railway line from Turkey reaches Uzbekistan via Iran and Turkmenistan reached its final destination on Saturday 3 December. This is the first freight train running on the 4,500-kilometre-long line, developed by Uzbekistan Temir Yollari (Uzbek Railways). The train...

www.railfreight.com

 

[nativewolf]

I have to say the energy analysts, EIA and others, so massively underestimated everything about renewables that I don't know how to take anything that comes from a govt source re renewable projections.

 

[petit_bateau]

I have to say the energy analysts, EIA and others, so massively underestimated everything about renewables that I don't know how to take anything that comes from a govt source re renewable projections.

I know what you mean. It does depend to an extent which country ....... I'm guessing you mean the US's EIA. I find their factual backwards-looking and current stuff to be good, but their forwards-looking stuff to be patchy.

This stuff varies by country, by organisation, and by individual/team. So for example some US national labs (e.g. Sandia, NREL, etc) have different de facto industry affiliations and that has definitely coloured their past work. Also I have noticed some stuff get curtailed for essentially political reasons. The general quality of work is improving in the Western and Asian world imho. Even IEA are beginning to put out some stuff that indicates they are getting it (though always check their projections carefully as they are very often just fossil lobby material).

One has to know enough to recognise stuff that fails the sniff test.

 

[nativewolf]

Yes USA centric post on forward projections

 

[nativewolf]

Science | AAAS

www.science.org

Lots of chit chat on the Livermore labs nuc fusion results. This is a good read of what it is and isnt.