[Graeme]

GTM Forecasts US Community Solar Sector To Grow 5-Fold In 2015

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'N')ew research from GTM Research forecasts that the US community solar sector is to reach a tipping point soon, growing five-fold in 2015 and regularly reaching 500 GW by 2020.

The forecast is central to GTM Research’s latest report, US Community Solar Outlook 2015-2020, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the US community solar sector. GTM Research explains that the report “defines and segments the market, forecasts installations in total and by state, outlines the legislature that is helping and hampering community solar, and provides a snapshot of today’s competitive landscape.”

Specifically, the report forecasts community solar to reach 115 MW installed in 2015, and by 2020 the energy analysts predict the community solar market will be installing 500 MW annually — an impressive growth trajectory for a sector which only installed a cumulative 66 MW through the end of 2014. Unsurprisingly then, “GTM Research has pegged [the community solar market] as the most significant solar growth market for the United States.”

[Graeme]

This article extracts key points from above.

Three Ways The World’s Power Mix Is About To Change

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ig changes are afoot for the energy sector in the next 25 years. Coal and gas are headed out and solar and wind are rushing to take their place on a multi-trillion dollar investment bonanza, according to a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance that scopes out the power generating landscape through 2040.

The main reason for the big shift in power generation isn’t likely to be because of a grand climate agreement, national polices or carbon pricing scheme, though. Instead, it comes down to cold, hard cash with renewables offering more power-generating bang for the buck than fossil fuels. Here are the three big numbers.

1. The World Will Invest $12.2 Trillion in New Power Generation
2. Renewables Will Account for Nearly 60 Percent of New Generating Capacity
3. 2026 Will Mark the Transition to Super Cheap Renewables

[Graeme]

Scotland Got Half Its Electricity From Renewables In 2014

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'N')ew data from the Scottish government shows that the country generated 49.8 percent of its electricity from renewables in 2014, effectively meeting its target of generating half of electricity demand from clean sources by the end of this year.

The milestone means the 50 percent target was met a year early, with overall total renewable generation up 5.4 percent from 2013. The next benchmark in the government’s plan is to generate enough renewable energy to power 100 percent of the country’s demand by 2020.

Results from the first quarter of 2015 show that growth is continuing at a rapid rate. Scottish wind farms produced a record amount of power in the first three months of this year, up 4.3 percent from the first quarter of 2014. The wind farms produced a total of 4,452 gigawatt hours (GWh), enough to power some one million U.K. homes for a year.

Thanks to a massive investment in onshore and offshore wind, Scotland has established itself as a renewable energy leader in the region. According to the new figures, Scotland’s renewable electricity generation of just over 19,000 GWh made up about 30 percent of the U.K.’s total renewable generation in 2014. More than half of this came from wind, with nearly another third coming from hydropower. Only 137.9 GWh came from solar.

[ralfy]

"Renewable Energy Will Not Support Economic Growth"

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015- ... mic-growth

[Graeme]

Richard's article is a bit out of date and misleading. Are you sure you read it?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he world needs to end its dependence on fossil fuels as quickly as possible.

Some of the problems associated with integrating variable renewables into the grid are being worked out over time.

There are potential solutions to all of the problems we have identified.

The fossil fuel and nuclear industries have an understandable interest in disparaging renewable energy, but their days are numbered. We are headed toward a renewable future, whether we plan intelligently for it or not.

But equally important to the transition will be our deliberate transformation of the ways we use energy. And that implies a nearly complete rethinking of the economy—both its means and its ends. Growth must no longer be the economy’s goal; rather, we must aim for the satisfaction of basic human needs within a shrinking budget of energy and materials.

[ralfy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '
')
RE is the cheapest option, and the key to providing a sustainable future on a planet that is livable. There is a growing number of businesses that recognize that turning to 100%RE is the only option. We are using (will continue to use) energy (and material resources in a circular economy) more efficiently.

[Graeme]

I just pointed out to you that the opposite of all your statements is the case. RE IS the cheapest option; the article DOES refer to economic growth but the last paragraph refers to sustainability; business turning to RE does NOT mean that it needs more energy; it MEANS it can use energy more efficiently AND conserve the environment (and NOT continue with BAU, i.e. burn FF). I think we CAN have our cake and eat it, i.e., sustainability AND economic growth.

[ralfy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', 'I') just pointed out to you that the opposite of all your statements is the case. RE IS the cheapest option; the article DOES refer to economic growth but the last paragraph refers to sustainability; business turning to RE does NOT mean that it needs more energy; it MEANS it can use energy more efficiently AND conserve the environment (and NOT continue with BAU, i.e. burn FF). I think we CAN have our cake and eat it, i.e., sustainability AND economic growth.

[Graeme]

We are substituting FF for RE because our society cannot control pollution associated with the former. We cannot have a functioning society without a regulated economy. I reject any notion of anarchy AND hence the notion that there are no solutions to our problems. From what I can see so far, our society is just beginning to mimic natures solution of dealing with waste. It is recycled and used again. This seems to me to be the best ideal general outcome to the issues you constantly raise. The devil is in the details, which are still being worked out. FF are being phased out and RE phased in mainly for economic reasons.

Why Buffett Bet A Billion On Solar Energy

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')ven though not all renewables are created equal, power purchase agreements (PPAs) for PV projects with utilities in the U.S. Southwest are now coming in under seven cents per kWh for a twenty year period. At that rate, the cost to operate an electric vehicle is 2 cents per mile. Hydropower in Seattle will push you around for the same price. The first ‘eye-opener’ for large scale solar was the Austin Energy PPA last year that was priced at 5 cents. What this country needed was a good 5-cent kWh, and now we have it.


The biggest difference between rooftop and most of the utility scale arrays yet to be built is that it makes sense, when possible, to track the sun. Since not everyone can afford to build houses that track the sun, let’s just assume that all residential rooftop arrays will be fixed. In the commercial sector, and in the case of community solar, there is more flexibility and tracking arrays may make sense, especially when mounted on the ground.

The arithmetic is pretty simple. You get about 20 percent more yield by tracking the sun. A rooftop array is pointed directly at the sun (known as direct normal irradiance) only for a short while each day, assuming the roof pitch is right, and most aren’t. If it costs 1o percent more to get that 20 percent extra yield, do it.

Critics will say that more structure and added tracking motors and mechanisms will add to the chance of system failure. This, however, is a fallacy. Consider the venerable oil drilling donkey, which cycles once every 7 or 8 seconds. At this rate (480 cycles per hour, and 11,520 cycles per day), these ancient and effective oil rigs cycle more in a day than a tracking PV array in its 30-year lifetime. (365.25 days x 30 years = 10,957 cycles.)

An acre of desert PV will easily yield 300,000 kWh (150 kW per acre x 2,000 hours of direct normal sun) and a million miles per year for an EV. Since 2,500 to 3,000 hours are available in many places, the figure jumps to between 375,000 and 450,000 kWh per year, yielding between 1.25 million and 1.5 million miles per acre per year.


The calculation for rooftop solar is not quite as straightforward as multiplying the number of kilowatts by the number of hours of sun in a year. NREL has done the math on how many kWh you get from a fixed (non-tracking) array per day from a square meter depending upon location. It is roughly the measure of how many hours per day the panels will produce peak power. The US average is around four hours which means that,

For an individual homeowner, a 3-kW PV system in a less than arid region will still yield 4,000 kWh (3 kW x 4 hours x 365 days) and enough EV miles to cover the average annual 12,000 – 15,000 miles of commuting. Even at 15 cents per solar kWh (and, as mentioned, many PPAs are coming in at half that figure or less), you will save about 10 cents per mile over the gasoline price. The 5-year fuel savings will pay for a 3-kW system.

[ralfy]

My understanding is that RE is being used not because of pollution but because oil prices went up. The problem is that energy returns across the board are low.

What we've had for more than three decades is essentially a deregulated economy. In fact, many of the problems faced today have to do with deregulation. For more details, see the article shared earlier, which looks at the Limits to Growth standard run, where no regulation takes place for population or resource use.

Recycling works only if a global economy remains static or even starts to shrink, but that also means the end of economic growth. To ensure the latter, recycling and increased resource consumption have to take place. With that comes the effects of peak oil and pollution.

[kublikhan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ralfy', 'T')he problem is that energy returns across the board are low.

[ralfy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kublikhan', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ralfy', 'T')he problem is that energy returns across the board are low.

[Graeme]

AN UP-TO-DATE ANALYSIS OF THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF PV SYSTEMS

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') high energy return on energy investment (EROI) of an energy production process is crucial to its long-term viability. The EROI of conventional thermal electricity from fossil fuels has traditionally been viewed as being much higher than the EROI of renewable energy, and specifically of photovoltaics (PVs).

However, this is largely a misconception fostered by the use of outdated data and, often, a lack of consistency among calculation methods.

As the PV market grows, it is becoming increasingly important to fully understand the energy performance of PV technologies and make fair comparisons with the energy performance of fossil fuels. Consequently, a large number of studies have been recently published on this topic.


It’s helpful to remember that EROI values are not set in stone. The EROI of oil and natural gas has shrunk from more than 100 in the 1930s to around 30 in the 1990s, and down to approximately 20 by 2011. Even lower values, closer to 10, have been estimated for specific fields that are getting closer to exhaustion.

EROI values for coal have been calculated to be in the 40 to 80 range and appear to have remained fairly stable, since coal reserves are farther from being depleted.

Improvements in PV technologies over the last decade have brought about notable increases in their EROI. When calculated in terms of the electricity output per unit of primary energy invested, the EROI of PV currently ranges from 6-12, which makes it directly comparable to that of conventional thermal electricity without CCS (4-24).

When the EROI is expressed in terms of its Primary Energy Equivalent, the EROI of PV is up to 19-38, which puts it squarely in the same range of EROI as conventional fossil fuels (oil in the range of 10-30; coal 40-80).


Recent research clearly demonstrates that EROI values of PV electricity are comparable or even superior to the EROI values of fossil fuels.

Two additional aspects further strengthen the case of PV. Firstly, technological improvements in the PV industry are occurring at a fast pace, providing incremental life cycle energy efficiency gains to existing PV technologies. Even higher efficiency, third-generation devices might become available in the long-term. Secondly, the wider implementation of efficient recycling and reuse practices will further improve the energy return of PV systems. Combine these effects and the EROI of PV can only increase over time.

[Graeme]

Public Investment in Clean Energy ''Poised for Exponential Growth'

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') push to allow MLPs for renewables could add hundreds of billions in investment.

A bill that would allow clean energy projects to leverage master limited partnerships, which are used by the oil and gas industry, was reintroduced in the Senate on Wednesday.

“Congress should level the playing field and give all sources of domestic energy -- renewable and non-renewable alike -- a fair shot at success in the marketplace,” Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), sponsor of the bipartisan bill, said in a statement. “This practical, market-driven solution will unleash private capital and create jobs.”

The current MLP market is worth more than $460 billion, according to investment firm CBRE Clarion Securities.

But even without access to MLPs, which are publicly traded entities that are allowed to act like traditional corporations in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service, financing vehicles for clean energy projects are already being unleashed. Investment in clean energy hit nearly $340 billion in 2014. Another $5 trillion is expected by 2030.

The investment in green bonds has quadrupled in just two years, from less than $20 billion in 2013 to an expected $80 billion this year, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Chairman Michael Liebreich said at the Renewable Energy Finance Forum in New York City on Wednesday.

[Graeme]

LEADING CHINESE COMPANIES ENCOURAGED TO SET 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS WITH RE100

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')oday RE100 – a global initiative to engage, showcase and support influential companies committed to 100% renewable power – launches a capacity building program in Beijing, led by The Climate Group in partnership with the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA).

Designed to encourage Chinese companies to develop strategies for reaching 100% renewable power, the rollout of RE100 in China gives influential businesses from a range of sectors an immediate opportunity to respond to the INDC China released on June 30, as well as demonstrate climate leadership as part of an international initiative.

The Chinese government is increasingly looking to corporates to help meet the country’s renewable energy goals through stronger feed-in-tariffs, which in turn bring economic opportunities to the companies. Rooftop solar projects can now offer the industrial and commercial sectors an average payback period of seven to nine years and an 8% rate of return.

Changhua Wu, Greater China Director of The Climate Group said: “Companies participating in RE100’s capacity building activities will be able to develop a deeper understanding of how renewable power investments can provide energy security, help manage electricity costs and improve reputation – while delivering on China’s climate ambition.”

[Graeme]

A Tale Of Renewable Energy Innovation Through Patents And Standards

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')atents meanwhile, are the “who’s who” of renewable energy innovation. They tell you who is developing what, where, and which countries and companies are leading the charge in which technology. They can also help policy makers judge the efficacy of policies to promote renewable energy innovation, e.g. if you implement incentive policies for renewable energy technology research and development and you see no patent activity, your policy may not be working.

But as important as renewable energy patents and standards are, they have not always been easy to find, especially in one place.

To fix this gap, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today launched a new, free, platform to make patents and standards more accessible. The International Standards and Patents in Renewable Energy platform (INSPIRE), brings two million patents and 400 standards for renewable energy technology together in the same place. According to the Agency’s Director-General Adnan Z. Amin, the platform “consolidates vast collections of renewable energy patents and standards, which can foster collaboration between innovators, spur improvement through product comparison and help identify partners, matching domestic energy needs to innovative energy solutions.”

[Graeme]

RELEASE: Global Commission Finds Economic Growth Can Close the Emissions Gap

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')A new report released by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate identifies ten key economic opportunities that could close up to 96 percent of the gap between business-as-usual emissions and the level needed to limit dangerous climate change. The report calls for stronger cooperation between governments, businesses, investors, cities and communities to drive economic growth in the emerging low-carbon economy.

“This report shows that success is possible: we can achieve economic growth and close the dangerous emissions gap,” said former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón, chair of the Commission. “Today’s report shows us that a goal we once thought of as distant is within our reach. We can achieve global prosperity and secure a safe climate together. The low carbon economy is already emerging. But governments, cities, businesses and investors need to work much more closely together and take advantage of recent developments if the opportunities are to be seized. We cannot let these opportunities slip through our fingers.”

[ralfy]

In capitalist systems involving profits and returns on investment, economic growth is achieved through the opposite of cooperation.

[Graeme]

You can't have business without cooperation. In fact, the nature of business is changing:

Mapping the Connections Between Cities, Inequality, and Creative Economies

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')apitalism is in transition. It’s pulling away from its previous industrial model to a new one based on creativity and knowledge. In place of the natural resources and large-scale industries that powered the economies of previous centuries, economic growth today turns on knowledge, innovation, and talent.

In a new report released Wednesday, my Martin Prosperity Institute colleagues Charlotta Mellander and Karen King and I evaluate 139 nations worldwide on their ability to compete and prosper in this new, creativity-powered knowledge economy.

The map below shows how the nations of the world stack up on our Global Creativity Index—a comprehensive measure of creative competitiveness based on six indicators organized across the three key factors (“the three Ts”) driving today’s economic development: technology, talent, and tolerance. On the map, the nations that perform the best are in purple; the nations that do most poorly by our ranking are in light blue.

Australia takes the top spot on the GCI, followed by the United States. New Zealand comes in third, Canada fourth, and Denmark and Finland are tied for fifth. The rest of the top 10 includes Sweden in seventh place, Iceland in eighth, Singapore in ninth, and the Netherlands in tenth. While much has been made of the recent economic performance of the so-called BRIC nations—Brazil, Russia, India, and especially China—these rank much lower on our index: Brazil is in 29th place, Russia 38th, China 62nd, and India 99th.

[Graeme]

Top Trends Defining Global Shift To Clean And Renewable Energy

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')lean Energy Canada has released a report defining the 10 top trends which drove the global shift to clean and renewable energy in 2014.

Tracking the Energy Revolution — Global 2015 reports on the 10 most influential clean energy technology, policy, and business global trends in 2014. This is the second time Clean Energy Canada have released this report, analyzing the global shift to clean energy, as well as pinpointing alternate perspectives, challenges, and developments that could affect the trends.

“There’s no shortage of bad news these days, but the good news is that renewables are capably delivering the energy we need and plateaued the growth of carbon pollution last year,” said Merran Smith, Executive Director of Clean Energy Canada. “Innovation is exploding and leading economies are embracing clean, safe, and affordable energy. It’s an exciting time, and a tremendously hopeful time.”

In no order, the top 10 trends determined by Clean Energy Canada are:

A New Hope: Renewables Stall Out Carbon Pollution
As Solar Prices Drop, Affordability Rises
Tesla’s Gigafactory Poised to Unleash Battery Revolution
100 Percent Renewable Energy Goes Mainstream
Climate Diplomacy Rising: Superpowers Move From Finger-Pointing to Handshaking
Wind Spreads Like Wildfire
Developing World Plugging In to Renewable Power
Carbon Pricing is Fast Becoming the New Normal
Global Clean Energy Economy Surging
Divestment Movement Gains New Allies