Many of the topics discussed at the Energy and Mines World Congress earlier this month would have been borderline laughable just a few short years ago. For example, a panel of senior mine executives considered which milestone would likely be achieved first: fully electric mines, decarbonized fleets or 100-percent-renewable-energy-powered operations. The fact that a topic like this was being seriously debated is a reflection of just how much both the renewable energy and mining industries have evolved in recent years. While large companies that mine for the likes of gold, copper, lithium and cobalt have increasingly voiced the importance of lowering their carbon emissions, pure economics is the real driver behind interest in solar, wind and energy storage.

GTM 30th Dec 2019 read more »

Aberdeen must ‘strike now or miss its chance’ on offshore wind, Lewis McDonald Labour MSP warns after a new plans revealed future projects could dominate the north-east coastline.

Energy Voice 31st Dec 2019 read more »

The 2010s saw battery-electric cars move into the mainstream led by Elon Musk’s Tesla, and as that trend gains steam there are signs the decade ahead will see hydrogen gain commercial viability in transportation, particularly for heavy vehicles like trains and long-haul semis that need a more flexible powertrain than multi-ton battery packs. The first zero-emission “hydrail” project in the U.S. will be in Southern California, where the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority plans to operate a FLIRT H2 train from Swiss supplier Stadler from 2024. The first train, with two cars and a rooftop power pack containing fuel cells and hydrogen tanks, will run on a nine-mile commuter rail line between San Bernardino and Redlands, under a contract worth $23.5 million, according to the SBCTA, with an option to purchase four more trains.

Forbes 29thDec 2019 read more »

The year in solar, part IV: More storage and hydrogen advances as solar just kept getting cheaper. Battery innovations started to come thick and fast this quarter as the hunt for alternatives to lithium-ion intensified and the latest slew of solar tenders indicated the relentless pressure on solar power generation costs was showing no sign of abating.

PV 30th Dec 2019 read more »

Tesco in Canal Way, has applied to Shropshire Council to install the panels as part of a national project it is rolling out to generate enough power for 140,000 homes. The supermarket has applied to council planners to build the panels across the roof of the store – with the panels being invisible to nearby properties. It follows an announcement by the chain last month that it is looking to install solar panels on 187 of its sites.

Shropshire Star 30th Dec 2019 read more »

As of 1 January 2020 small-scale wind, solar, CHP and hydropower will be entitled to payments from energy suppliers for exporting power back to the grid. Homes and business that generate their own clean power from small-scale renewables will now be entitled to payments from energy suppliers if they export that power back to the grid, under long-awaited legislation which comes into force in the UK tomorrow. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which comes into force from 1 January 2020, means large suppliers of energy will now be obligated to offer a tariff for small-scale renewables such as solar generators, providing them with an additional source of income to help balance the UK grid.

Business Green 31st Dec 2019 read more »