Letter Stephen Littlechild: The energy regulator Ofgem has announced a shortfall of £58.6m in this year’s renewables obligation schemes, because several suppliers have been unable to pay. The shortfall is to be recovered from other suppliers. So prudent suppliers, and ultimately their customers, will have to bail out imprudent ones. Ofgem is considering tighter conditions on new suppliers entering the market. But would this solve the problem? Surely questions should be asked about the administration of this scheme. How were some suppliers allowed to build up debts of £58m? Should there not be more frequent monitoring, say at quarterly or monthly intervals rather than annually, with payments on account throughout the year?

Guardian 16th Dec 2018 read more »

Industry and academia are coming together in an EU-funded R&D project to make offshore wind one of the most affordable energy sources. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and Aalborg University (AAU) in Denmark are to lead a new research project, Integrated Implementation of Industrial Innovations for Offshore Wind Cost Reduction or i4Offshore, that aims to further reduce the cost of offshore wind power. The project will also test installation solutions with a minimal environmental footprint. Supported by a European Union (EU) grant of €20M, from the EU’s European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the project will demonstrate and test new offshore wind technology, leading to solutions which will make consumers’ electricity bills lower and more environmentally-friendly compared to fossil fuels and other renewable energy sources such as solar or hydropower.

Offshore Wind Journal 17th Dec 2018 read more »

One of the world’s largest wind farms off the coast of North Wales could be about to get bigger. The 160 turbine Gwynt y Mor, situated around eight miles off the coast of Colwyn Bay, started generating power in 2015. Prior to being built the £1.8bn project with 150 metre high turbines attracted huge opposition with fears about the impact on tourism in Llandudno, concerns that proved unfounded.

Daily Post 15th Dec 2018 read more »

As climate discussions are underway among global leaders at COP24, the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference, a new report released Tuesday showcases the feasibility of a European energy transition to 100% renewable sources. The new scientific study shows that the transition to 100% renewable energy will be economically competitive with today’s conventional fossil fuel and nuclear energy system, and lead greenhouse gas emissions to zero before 2050. The study’s financial case for an energy transition becomes even stronger when taking into account significant projected job growth and the indirect economic benefits for health, security, and the environment, that were not factored into the study. Undertaken by LUT University and Energy Watch Group, the first-of-its-kind scientific modeling study has simulated a full energy transition in Europe across the power, heat, transport, and desalination sectors by 2050. The study’s publication came after approximately four and a half years of data collection, and technical and financial modeling under the research and analysis of 14 scientists. “This report confirms that a transition to 100% renewable energy across all sectors is possible and not more expensive than today’s energy system,” said Hans-Josef Fell, former German parliamentarian and president of Energy Watch Group, during its COP24 press conference, “It demonstrates that Europe can switch to a zero-emission energy system. Therefore, European leaders can and should do much more for climate protection than what is currently on the table.”

Power & Energy Solutions 12th Dec 2018 read more »

A milestone was reached for renewable energy in November when more than 100% of Scotland’s electricity demand was met by wind turbines for the first time – enough for nearly six million homes. Scottish weather is powering a revolution. With ever-larger wind turbines being built at sea, and wave and tidal power being developed, the problem will soon be how to use this surplus energy. Some is already exported to England via interconnector cables and in 2020 there will be another running from the Aberdeen area to Norway. But this will not be enough and the race is on to find ways to store cheap energy to sell back to the grid when demand is high. Large batteries are helping, but another proven method is pump storage. This uses virtually free surplus electricity at night to pump water into upland reservoirs to be used to power turbines during peak periods. Scotland has had these schemes since the 1960s but there is potential for many more and two new ones are proposed to pump water uphill from Loch Ness to reservoirs in the hills. Using electrolysis to make hydrogen for heating and vehicle fuel is even more ambitious but has huge possibilities. Orkney is leading the way by planning hydrogen driven ferries.

Guardian 14th Dec 2018 read more »

Scottish installer Campbell & Kennedy (C&K) has completed the first tranche of a solar PV installation project across two academy trusts which forms part of a multi-million-pound energy saving scheme. The installs, completed on eight schools owned by the two trusts, total around 1,800 panels and have a combined capacity of more than 500KWp.

Solar Power Portal 13th Dec 2018 read more »

Water utility Northumbrian Water has unveiled plans to install battery storage systems made using end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries at several of its water treatment works, in a move to store power generated using its onsite renewable arrays.

Edie 13th Dec 2018 read more »

Solar Power Portal 13th Dec 2018 read more »

UK’s large-scale solar ‘could cost less than £40/MWh by 2030’. The Solar Trade Association says the government must introduce supportive policies to help the technology realise its full potential. That’s the verdict from the Solar Trade Association (STA), which in November 2014, had anticipated solar’s Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) to be around £80/MWh by 2019 – the group’s updated analysis shows the price reduction has already exceeded expectations and is now predicted to be between £50-60MWh next year. The STA says this makes it highly competitive with Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) and onshore wind, suggesting it is now attractive for commercial and industrial consumers under long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Chris Hewett, CEO of the STA, said: “We have a clear message for government and corporate energy buyers today: UK solar electricity is now cost-competitive with fossil fuels. “By establishing the right policy framework for solar and storage, including expediting a smart, flexible energy system, government can enable this technology to realise its full potential in delivering an affordable, low carbon future energy system.”

Energy Live News 12th Dec 2018 read more »

Power Technology 12th Dec 2018 read more »

Edie 12th Dec 2018 read more »

UK integrated solar manufacturer Viridian has signed a national supply agreement with Keepmoat Homes, expanding the roster housebuilding firms it supplies. The exclusive supply agreement will expand on Keepmoat’s use of Viridian’s Clearline fusion system, which is currently in use within various housing developments across the UK and Scotland. Viridian has been on a run of supply arrangements with the country’s housebuilders having already signed up the likes of Persimmon and Bloor Homes earlier this year.

Solar Power Portal 12th Dec 2018 read more »

U.S. solar takes hit from Trump tariffs but is cheaper than ever: report. U.S. solar installations fell 15 percent in the third quarter as the Trump administration’s tariffs on overseas-made panels forced developers to put off large projects, according to a report commissioned by the industry’s primary trade group. Solar energy system prices are at historical lows in all segments of the market, the report said. U.S. module prices are down more than 15 percent from a year ago.

Reuters 13th Dec 2018 read more »

Cincinnati, Ohio became the 100th city in the nation to establish this goal when its City Council approved a resolution committing to 100% renewable energy by 2035. Cincinnati’s community-wide commitment builds upon its Green Cincinnati Plan from May, which commits the city to powering its municipal operations with 100% renewable energy and advances other aggressive climate measures aimed at creating an equitable energy system.

Wind Power Engineering 6th Dec 2018 read more »

Activists storming Capitol Hill today in the name of a “Green New Deal” are joining progressive Democrats who say the United States must obtain its electricity within a decade from 100 percent renewables. Such an ambitious goal, they argue, is critical to avoiding the most catastrophic effects of climate change laid out in a string of recent reports from Scientists across the globe. But is it possible? That depends, researchers say. How soon? Who’s willing to pay? And what about other forms of low-carbon power?

E&E News 10th Dec 2018 read more »

Politicians take note: “The energy transition is not a question of technical feasibility or economic viability, but one of political will.” Indeed, according to a new study, it is possible to rapidly transition to a Europe 100% powered by renewables and with zero greenhouse gas emissions. Solar PV leads the charge, followed by wind. Overall, eight policy recommendations have been laid out to achieve this bold goal by 2050. A new study published by the Energy Watch Group and LUT University, and funded by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, states that it is not only possible for Europe to transition to a world powered 100% by renewables by 2050, but that it would create more jobs and be more cost effective than the present fossil fuel-led system.

PV Magazine 11th Dec 2018 read more »