A new analysis reveals that installing geothermal heat pumps in 70% of U.S. buildings can reduce the need for new long-distance transmission lines by 33%, explains Kelly MacGregor at NREL. The main message is that, though geothermal deployment is seen as expensive, the avoided costs are significant. Those transmission lines wonât be needed because geothermal is always local and can be deployed in both urban and rural places. Though the widespread … [Read more...]
Massive global expansion of Renewables coming. But weâre still short 20% of our 2030 target
The IEA has released the 143-page âRenewables 2023â, the latest edition of its annual report on the sector. The world added 50% more renewable capacity in 2023 than in 2022 and the next 5 years will see fastest growth yet. Under current policies and market conditions, global renewable capacity is already on course to increase by two-and-a-half times by 2030: great news but still short of the tripling we need. A key reason for the gap is the lack … [Read more...]
2023: a year of climate backlash? Or a show of Europeâs green resilience
Looking at the mainstream media 2023 seemed to be a year of climate backlash, but the real story was Europeâs green resilience, writes William Todts at T&E. Though support in the German coalition for 100% electric vehicles by 2035 started to unravel, it didnât: allowing combustion cars to keep running after 2035 on 100% e-fuels should change little given thereâs no way such vehicles, if they ever get built, could compete with EVs, says Todts. … [Read more...]
Four net-zero opportunities for 2024: wind, solar, lab-grown meat, positive tipping points
Will de Freitas at The Conversation draws attention to four reasons to celebrate 2023 and their implications for our drive to tackle climate change. Most will be familiar with the continued progress made with wind and solar, though they deserve repeating given its immense significance. Wind turbines now stand more than a quarter of a kilometre high, and will get taller. At that size, one turn of the blade will power an average home in the … [Read more...]
Clean energy is driving job growth, but skills shortages are a major barrier
The second edition of the IEAâs annual World Energy Employment report measures energy sector employment by region, fuel, technology, and value chain. Globally, energy employment rose to 67m people in 2022. Over half of employment growth since before the pandemic was in just five sectors: solar, wind, EVs, batteries, heat pumps, and critical minerals mining. In fact, clean energy jobs overtook fossil fuels in 2021. But skilled labour shortages are … [Read more...]
EU legislators must avoid crippling clean tech with a blanket ban on PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
A blanket ban on all types of PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances), or âforever chemicalsâ, is currently being considered by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). PFAS are used in cleaning products, non-stick pans, personal care products and more, so a ban on these will save lives and deliver sustainable practices. But, as Daniel Fraile at Hydrogen Europe explains, the PFAS subgroups of fluoropolymers and perfluoropolyethers are used in … [Read more...]
Europeâs grid bottlenecks are delaying its energy transition
***While you're here... REGISTER NOW for "REPowering the grid for Solar PV" with the Vice-President of Tauron, DG ENER C, Eurelectric and SolarPowerEurope - Online Wednesday September 20 from 11:00 to 12:15 CEST*** No amount of record sales and deployment in Europe of heat pumps, EVs, solar farms, wind turbines and all the rest will guarantee the region meeting its electrification targets if the grids arenât ready to integrate them. As … [Read more...]
Power to the people: citizen-centred Just Transitions challenge energy system centralisation
EU Member States need to phase-out coal and transform their carbon-intensive industries to make Europe climate-neutral. However, these should not be the only goals: transparency and justice must also accompany this path, argue Diana SĂźsser at IEECP, Serafeim Michas at TEESlab and Ricardo Antonio GarcĂa Mira at the University of A Coruna. As Member States implement their territorial just transition plans, they must ensure they benefit affected … [Read more...]
U.S. Heat Pump adoption is evenly spread across rich and poor. Surprised?
The problem with subsidising first-adopters of new technologies is that they can substantially benefit rich households. Theyâre the ones who buy the first EVs, rooftop solar, etc. Lucas Davis at the Haas School of Business presents data that shows that, in the U.S., heat pumps are being bought evenly across the income distribution. This is a surprise, not least to the author! Nationwide, 15% of households have a heat pump as their primary heating … [Read more...]
EUâs 40% domestic Cleantech ambition: same target for Wind (easy) and Solar (hard) doesnât make sense
The proposed Net Zero Industry Act includes a target for the EU to manufacture domestically at least 40% of its cleantech deployment needs by 2030. That includes the key technologies of solar PV panels, wind turbines (onshore and offshore), EV batteries, heat pumps and hydrogen electrolysers. But it doesnât make sense to have the same 40% target for all, explain Giovanni Sgaravatti, Simone Tagliapietra and Cecilia Trasi at Bruegel. The main … [Read more...]
IEA report: global manufacturing capacity is expanding rapidly for solar, wind, batteries, electrolysers, heat pumps
The IEA summarises its special briefing, âThe State of Clean Technology Manufacturing.â Itâs a global update on recent progress in key regions, focussing on five technologies â solar PV, wind, batteries, electrolysers and heat pumps â critical to the energy transition. It should be read to keep decision makers informed of investment trends and the impact of industrial strategies. Overall, manufacturing capacity for these technologies is expanding … [Read more...]
Five charts on the Energy Transition: the 2020s is the decade of maximum disruption. By 2030 the endgame will be clear
Sam Butler-Sloss and Kingsmill Bond at RMI present a succinct summary of why the energy transition matters, how the 2020s is the era of maximum disruption, and how by 2030 the transitionâs endgame will be apparent (though far from complete). Four key technologies are already entering the exponential growth stage: solar, wind, EVs and heat pumps. As early as 2030 their cheapness will flush away the fossil equivalents in succeeding decades, say the … [Read more...]
Green District Heating: can the energy crisis + new carbon targets drive new investment?
Rebecca Pool, writing for ESCI, describes green district heating projects where the operator is a âmiddle manâ between new energy generators (waste heat, renewables, etc.) and end users. The energy crisis has created an opportunity, as unpredictable gas prices combined with new carbon targets have made the long-term investment more attractive. But district heating is in direct competition from heat pumps and natural gas, so it needs to be price … [Read more...]
Geothermal Heat Pumps: can new U.S. âIRAâ support make it go mainstream?
Bidenâs Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S. is meant to drive forward the best clean energy solutions. To help make sure geothermal heat pumps play their fullest role, RMI has done a study of its benefits as well as published guides on how developers can take advantage of the various new laws and support mechanisms. Lauren Reeg, Mike Henchen, Chris Potter and Chris Stone at RMI start with a summary of the technology and its applications, before … [Read more...]
âGreen Deal Industrial Planâ explainer: 40%+ of the top low-carbon technologies must be made in the EU by 2030
The ECâs new series of proposed targets and reforms, contained in its Green Deal Industrial Plan, aim to ensure that at least 40% of the EUâs low-carbon technologies will be made within its borders by 2030. The eight âstrategic net-zero technologiesâ are: Solar (power and thermal); Onshore and offshore wind; Batteries and energy storage; Heat pumps and geothermal; Electrolysers and fuel cells; Sustainable biogas/biomethane; CCS; Grid … [Read more...]