Although the growth in renewables has led to the shutdown of many gas- and coal-fired power plants, power producers believe their plants will still be needed to provide backup capacity. But grid storage batteries are becoming increasingly competitive with âpeaker plantsâ, says Paul Siblerud of US storage company ViZn Energy Systems in an interview with Roy L. Hales of The EcoReport, citing a new study by Energy Strategies Group. … [Read more...]
Worldâs first power-to-liquids production plant opened in Dresden
A Power-to-Liquids (PtL) demonstration rig which is the first of its kind in the world was officially inaugurated on 14 November by Dresden-based sunfire GmbH. The ceremony was attended by German Federal Minister of Education and Research Johanna Wanka, Board Member Pieter Koolen of venture capitalist Bilfinger, Â as well as a number of other high-ranking representatives from the worlds of politics, industry and research. French energy companies … [Read more...]
Interview Joe Phillips, DNV GL: âFor offshore wind there is only one way forward: togetherâ
âOffshore wind offers great promise but the industry is at a very delicate stage now. We canât afford to make mistakes in construction that lead to cost overruns,â warns Joe Phillips, Head of Strategy & Policy for Renewables at DNV GL, one of the largest technical energy consultancies in the world. DNV GL has recently issued an âoffshore wind cost reduction manifestoâ that commits the company to help reduce costs in the sector by 25% and … [Read more...]
Cleantech innovation in Europe: here are the gamechangers of the future
At a âbusiness boosterâ event in Barcelona, sixty European cleantech startups supported by KIC InnoEnergy, presented themselves to the world. They offered an impressive variety of new technologies and market innovations, ranging from new storage devices and solar chips to energy saving techniques, financing models and consumer engagement platforms. In this article we present to you some of the gamechangers of our future energy system â all made … [Read more...]
Donât get too excited, no one has cracked nuclear fusion yet
Aerospace giant Lockheed Martinâs recent announcement that it could make small-scale nuclear fusion power a reality in the next decade has understandably generated excitement in the media. Physicists, however, arenât getting their hopes up just yet, writes Matthew Hole, Australiaâs representative on the IAEA International Fusion Research Council of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Chair of the Australian ITER Forum. … [Read more...]
Cleantech innovation in Europe: the pace is picking up
The pace of innovation in the European energy sector is stepping up. âEnergy is no longer seen as a commodity that simply needs to be there. It is perceived as a challenge for which solutions need to be foundâ, says Elena Bou, Innovation Director of KIC InnoEnergy, a top European company in the field of sustainable energy innovation, in an interview with Energy Post. According to Bou, successful innovation begins with âasking the right … [Read more...]
Energy storage: stormy growth but no one-size-fits-all solution
The debate over which energy storage technology will prove to be the best in the long-term is misguided, argues Chris Dalby of Oilprice.com. There will be no one-size-fits-all winner. He discusses some of the latest developments in energy storage, which show that different situations will lead to different solutions. … [Read more...]
IEA: Solar costs heading to 4c/kWh, rooftop solar âunbeatableâ
The traditionally conservative International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts the cost of solar energy will fall to around 4c/kWh in coming decades as the sun becomes the largest source of power generation across the world. The latest âSolar Roadmapâ published by the IEA on Monday shows that the speed with which solar is reaching âsocket parityâ has taken the world by surprise, writes Giles Parkinson of Reneweconomy.com.au. … [Read more...]
Worldâs largest cleantech investor unveils strategy
Cheng Kin Ming, whose recent investments in solar companies are estimated to be worth nearly $20 billion â making him the worldâs largest private investor in clean technologies â has unveiled his vision for the Age of Green Cities at The Next Generation Solar PV Finance event in New York. He spoke publicly for the first time about his strategy to accelerate the worldâs transition to green cities. His approach is to identify the worldâs best, … [Read more...]
IEA: Solar energy could be the largest source of electricity by mid-century, if âŚ
The sun could be the worldâs largest source of electricity by 2050, ahead of fossil fuels, wind, hydro and nuclear, according to a pair of reports issued today by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The two IEA technology roadmaps show how solar photovoltaic (PV) systems could generate up to 16% of the worldâs electricity by 2050 while solar thermal electricity (STE) from concentrating solar power (CSP) plants could provide an additional 11%. … [Read more...]
NEC and RSE in Italy show how renewable energy producers can make money by helping to balance the grid
NEC Italia SpA, which calls itself âthe smart energy competence center for Europe and the Middle Eastâ, and Ricerca Sistema Energetico SpA (RSE), a specialist in electro-energy research, will on 18 September release details of a new study showing how variable renewable energy sources can actually help balance the grid (rather than upset its balance). In this way, producers of renewable energy will be able to offer additional services to grid … [Read more...]
Zero energy at zero cost: industrialising the building sector
The Netherlands has found a way to refurbish existing buildings to net zero energy, within a week, with a 30-year buildersâ guarantee and no subsidies. With new kitchen and bathroom! Now revolutionary renovation programme Energiesprong (literally: Energy Jump) is looking to take its learnings to France and the UK. … [Read more...]
The future of energy storage in Europe
With the increase of variable renewables on the grid, the need for electricity storage will only grow. But what kind of storage? According to Philip Hiersemenzel of German battery manufacturer Younicos, business opportunties will for now lie in short duration services. Based on his companyâs modelling, he says large-scale grid storage does not make sense â yet. Without storage, 40% renewables is max. Mike Stone of Energy Storage Report … [Read more...]
Four scientific breakthroughs that can take us to a new, clean energy world
Discussions on the energy transition usually focus on the economics of renewables and cost comparisons with fossil fuels and other energy sources. What is usually ignored, are innovations in materials and chemical processes, which are nonetheless increasingly important as agents of change in the energy sector. Innovation watcher Denis Kuznetsov discusses four scientific breakthroughs in materials research that could shake up the energy sector in … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Circular economy: âFrance aims to lead by exampleâ stresses French Sustainable Development official
In an exclusive interview with viEUws at Green Week 2014, Jean-Paul Albertini - French Executive Commissioner for Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy - talks to viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen about the implementation of circular economy in Europe. Albertini discusses the benefits which a circular economy could bring to Europe. He claims that such an economy … [Read more...]