Showing posts with label pollution free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pollution free. Show all posts

The Energy End Game: Renewables vs Fossil Fuels

The combination of market forces and changing public sensibilities are driving a major shift in the energy landscape. The need for renewable energy to combat climate change is incontrovertible, while a plethora of warnings tell us that we are rapidly exhausting our carbon budgets. Ending fossil fuels is a mathematical imperative if we are to have a chance of keeping temperatures from rising above the upper threshold limit of 1.5 - 2.0 C.

In 2016 we were already seeing how diminishing profits were contributing to the fall of fossil fuel and the rise of renewables  In 2020 the momentum away from fossil fuels is undeniable. They are being shunned by investors, insurance companies and banks. Fossil fuels are approaching the end of their life cycle while renewables are becoming increasingly attractive due to the declining cost of solar and storage.

In the U.S. Donald Trump's fossil fuel powered politics rejects renewables and supports dirty energy. Although Trump is infamous for his corruption,  Republican's fossil fuel powered corruption.
has been driving the party for years before Trump came on the scene. 

Evidence for the demise of the fossil fuel industry is evident in Canada where the Teck mine, the largest tarsands mine ever proposed, has become the latest casualty of changing market dynamics and public attitudes.  The disdain for dirty energy is also being felt in Australia where people are rejecting the coal powered agenda of Scott Morrison. The polls show that people want climate action and this means we must end fossil fuels. Public attitudes are increasingly distrustful of the fossil fuel industry's anti-climate agenda.

Countries like Sweden, Norway and Ireland are transitioning to renewables. Even MENA countries are showing clean energy leadership. However, in many parts of the world government policies are an impediment to the transition to clean energy. However, despite headwinds from climate denying leaderships, the solar and wind industries continued to thrive in 2019

The transition from away from fossil fuels to renewables is already underway. Driven by a wide range of divestment narratives, the fossil fuel industry is losing its social license to operate.  The fossil fuel industry may be dying, however they can be expected to fight to the bitter end.



Germany Continues its Green Dominance in 2015 (Video)

Europe has the highest concentration of national sustainability efforts in the world. In 2015 Nordic countries once again assumed a leadership role along with France. In addition to being an economic giant Germany is also an environmental titan. Germany is ranked fourth in the Global Green Economy Index.and seventh in a RobecoSAM study. Germany has distinguished itself as an early adopter of clean power and it has a secure place in history as a renewable energy pioneer.

The country has passed legislation in support of renewable energy and it is producing results. In 2015 Germany set solar power records and surpassed some major renewable energy milestones that are the envy of governments around the world.

German efforts extend beyond renewable energy and encompass green building. Germany was ranked number 6 in the world by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2014.

The German government led by Angela Merkel has joined other major powers in endorsing ambitious climate objectives. This includes a statement calls for, "deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions," and "decarbonisation of the global economy over the course of this century."

Germany is not a newcomer to climate action and Merkel has been at the forefront of this movement for two decades. In 1996 Merkel was a German representative in the European Council of environment ministers that were the first political body to declare the goal of keeping temperatures below 2C was the goal.

Germany is a world leading renewable energy power getting as much of three quarters of its daily demand from clean sources. On July 25, 2015, Germany obtained 78 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.

Year after year German production of renewable energy has increased. In 2015 Germany generated 193 billion kilowatt hours (billion kWh), or one third of its energy from renewable sources up one fifth from the year before.

Cleantech not only reduces the countries emissions it is providing jobs. Nearly 800,000 jobs people work in the cleantech sector and 214,000 people work in renewables in Germany.

The German government has supported the growth of renewable energy and managed to radically reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. As part of a policy called "energiewende" (energy transition) policies Germany is embarking on complete de-fossilization. Germany is already on the cusp of getting 34 percent of its energy from renewables a target it had set to achieve by 2020. The country expects to get 100 percent of its electricity requirements from renewables by 2050.

Cities across Germany are ramping up their renewable energy capacity. The small German town of Feldheim gets all of its electricity from renewables and Munich, Germany's third largest city is working to get all of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025. The city of Frankfurt has pledged to have zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Frankfurt 's comprehensive energy management scheme has decoupled growth from emissions. The city has reduced its emissions by 15 percent since 1990 and grew its economy by 50 percent. The nation as a whole has also succeeded in decoupling economic growth and emissions. Germany's GDP has grown while their GHGs have fallen. 

German cities also support for car free zones and green spaces. There German city of Hamburg has what may be the most climate friendly motto's in the world: “Understanding climate change — reducing climate change — master the effects of climate change.”

In 2015, Hamburg announced plans to eliminate fossil fuel powered cars in the next couple of decades and cover a two-mile section of the Autobahn with greenspaces. These "roof-parks" will cover 60 acres and have forests, gardens, and trails.

Germany's support for renewable energy also extends to other countries. In 2015 the nation gave India a 125 billion Euro loan for green energy projects. The Indo-German partnership is designed to fund transmission infrastructure of renewable energy projects. The German loans will fund green energy projects in Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Germany is a model for the world that is a real world refutation of some of the criticism leveled against renewables. The fossil fuel lobby frequently point to the problem of intermittancy of renewables (eg the sun is not always shining and the wind is not always blowing). However, as pointed out in a Bloomberg article, Germany proves that intermittancy can be overcome.

In this short film, Germany Trade & Invest focus on Germany’s Renewable Energy Revolution. Scientists, industry leaders, and politicians review the country's achievements, next steps, and the opportunities the energy transition offers.



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New German Law Supports Renewable Energy

Germany is already a global renewable energy leader and legislation passed by the nation's upper house of parliament on July 11th will make the nation's power supply even greener. The new law will facilitate the country's move away from nuclear and fossil-fuel generated power.

Renewable energy has boomed under a policy known as "energy transformation." The new law will go even further by replacing nuclear power with renewables over the next eight years. It will also end the countries reliance on most fossil fuels by 2050.

After making concessions to the European Union on subsidies and a surcharge imposed on imported electricity, the new law can now come into effect as planned on August 1. The new law reduces green energy subsidies and spreads the costs among all sectors of industry even those power hungry industries that had previously been except. German power companies must also contribute toward a renewable energy subsidy fund and those that benefited from subsidies must repay $40.8 million for the aid they received in 2013 and 2014. Under the new law foreign firms that import renewable energy will enjoy the same conditions as German companies that produce energy domestically.

Germany is moving forward despite concerns that increased energy costs would undermine competitiveness. This sends a message to those nations who say that higher power prices are prohibitive.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Economic Benefits of Renewable Energy and Efficiency (IEA)

According to a report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy storage can stave off climate change and provide significant economic benefits.

The report titled, “Energy Technology Perspectives.” indicates that these measures could generate net savings of $71 trillion” by 2050. Such actions could also keep global average temperatures within the internationally agreed upon upper threshold limit of 2°C (3.6°F).

The new report includes suggestions for ways that developing countries could reduce their energy footprints. It specifically points to the value of integrated solid waste management, like biodigesters. It also addresses the merits of public transit, clean cookstoves and solar power generation..

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Course - The Renewable Energy Mini MBA

The  Renewable Energy Mini MBA 16-20-June-2014 Green Power Academy / London A premium 5-day Business School for Renewable Energy focusing on the technology, markets, commercialization, planning, finance & strategy.

Course overview

Renewable energy capacity continues to be installed apace. And on a range of scales from small-scale and off-grid, to multi-MW utility-scale power plants and biorefineries. With rapidly decreasing costs this means that “grid parity” and subsidy-free renewable energy markets can become a reality.
Yet the renewable energy industry is buffeted by economic factors and other barriers in many markets, including:
  • Reducing policy support
  • Under-developed supply chains
  • Collapsing carbon markets
  • Cheapening gas supplies
  • Concerns about visual, socioeconomic or environmental impacts
Understanding these issues is critical to renewable project profitability. From technology development to business model revolutions and political drivers. It is a challenge to make sense of such a fast-paced and dynamic market. And one where few one-stop, integrated information sources exist.

And that’s why the Renewable Energy Mini MBA course agenda is our most popular. It will provide you with a complete, up-to-date and easy to understand analysis of the renewable energy market. And to provide clarity on what is a complex and interconnected series of scientific and economic influences.
Delegates will understand that technology, finance, policy and resource availability cannot work in isolation. Instead, you will learn and model how all must fit together. In order to create a sustainable, affordable and profitable low-carbon energy world.

For more information click here.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

renewables, clean, renewable energy, power, electricity, climate change, global warming, GHGs, greenhouse gases, pollution, pollution free, emissions free,

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French Support for Renewable Energy

The French people want renewable energy and the government is responding to the popular demand from its citizens. This is the finding in a March 2014 CSA survey which indicated that 65 percent of those polled said that they would invest in renewable energy (wind and solar/photovoltaic) today if they had to personally invest in one energy source. Renewable energy is popular in France with 75 percent choosing solar and 69 percent choosing wind. Only 15 percent chose nuclear, 7 percent chose gas and 1 percent chose coal.

The French government is a strong supporter of renewable energy. France has put forth the ambitious goal of reaching 19 GW of wind energy by 2020. The country currently produces 8.2 GW or 3 percent of the nation's energy mix from wind power.

Levels of solar energy production in France have quadrupled from around 1 MW in 2010 to 4.3 MW in 2013.

The poll also found that 80 percent of French citizens want to see investment in renewables even before traditional forms of energy reach the end of their life cycle.

In France, the transition to renewable energy is facilitated by the popular support of the French people.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Renewables Bright Future Despite 2 Consecutive Years of Clean Energy Declines

While some are suggesting that clean energy may be in decline, others are saying the future of renewables has never been brighter. After a record investment of $318 billion in 2011, they have declined steadily over the course of the last two years. In 2013 alone they decreased by 11 percent to $254 billion. The wind industry has seen declines in installed capacity. As reported in Cleantechnica, there were 35,467 megawatts (MW) of new wind turbine capacity installed globally in 2013, this represents a decrease of nearly 10,000MW compared to 2012’s installed totals.

While these declines are discouraging they should not be taken as early evidence of a general trend, particularly not in America. The declines can be attributed to sluggish global economic growth, uncertainty over the future of the US production tax credit (PTC) and the shale gas boom.

The combination of government regulation, price declines and industry maturation suggest that renewables can expect to grow well into the future. Renewable energy is now more price competitive with conventional power than it has ever been and this increasingly includes natural gas. Investors are reaping profits which should increase further investment. Public market financing is up by 176 percent and distributed generation is buoying growth in developing markets.

The situation is so promising that investment banking behemoth Citigroup hailed the arrival of what it called "the age of renewables" in a recent report.  To make their point they cited price parity of solar and wind with the full range of fossil fuels including natural gas.

What happens in the United States is significant for global totals because the US is the world's largest electricity market. According to an analysis released at the end of March and reported in Greentech Media, Citi says the big decision-makers within the US power industry are focused on "securing low-cost power, fuel diversity and stable cash flows, and this is drawing them to the increasingly attractive economics of solar and wind."

Citi’s report notes that gas prices are rising and becoming more volatile. This has made wind, solar and other renewable energy sources more attractive because they are not sensitive to fuel price volatility. Citi says solar is already becoming more attractive than gas-fired peaking plants, both from a cost perspective and a fuel diversity perspective. And in baseload generation, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydro are becoming more economically attractive than baseload gas.

“We predict that solar, wind, and biomass continue to gain market share from coal and nuclear into the future,” the Citi analysts write. “As solar, wind, biomass, and other power sources gain market share from coal, nukes, and gas, the LCOE metric increasingly becomes important to the new build power generation decision-making,” it says.

Solar and wind are becoming more attractive for different reasons. While residential-scale solar is still new, Citi points out that it is already price competitive with residential electricity prices. “In 2013, solar was the second-largest source of new generation capacity behind natural gas -- its prospects look bright in 2014 and beyond as costs continue to decline and improve the LCOE picture," Citi Says

While the cost of wind continues to decline, the most promising development contributing to growth is the reduction in financing costs.

Citi was less optimistic about hydro, geothermal, and marine energy sources because of physical limitations. According to Citi, the future of both coal and nuclear look very bleak as they are priced out of the market.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Event - 2014 Power Up Energy Expo

This premier energy conference along the Gulf Coast will take place on April 28-30 in Florida at the Pensacola Beach Hilton. Now in its sixth year, Power Up attracts hundreds of industry professionals from all sectors of the industry to discuss the latest, cutting-edge technologies and most innovative projects around the world. This event is brought to you by the Gulf Coast Energy Network.

The 3-day expo is the premier energy conference along the Gulf Coast and offers a great opportunity to network with peers and learn about the most innovative technologies in energy, construction, architecture, and alternative transportation and fuels.

This is now a truly global event. "With nine countries represented last year, Power Up has truly evolved to become an international event" said Dave Robau, Founder and Executive Director of the Florida-based Gulf Coast Energy Network and Co-Chair of the 2014 Power Up Programs Committee.

Power Up attracts the most respected leaders in business, industry, and academia and this year Power Up will feature Mr. Ralph Avallone, President of the Green Energy Council and author of "The Great Green Revolution." I am so pleased to have Mr. Avallone at Power Up to share his unique insight and his vision for a 21st Century America powered with clean, renewable energy." Mr. Avallone will also be available for a book signing session at Power Up.

The public is invited to view outdoor exhibits and special demonstrations at no charge.

For more information or to register click here.

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Event - Renewable Energy World Europe Conference and POWER-GEN Europe

This event will take place on June 3 - 5, 2014 in Cologne, Germany. Renewable Energy World Europe is the must attend event connecting the rapidly growing renewables sector and the mainstream power generation industry with an insightful and thought-provoking multiple track conference covering strategic and technical topics, chosen and presented by leading practitioners from the renewable energy industry itself.

Renewable Energy World Europe, co-located with POWER-GEN Europe, offers the largest and most comprehensive conference and exhibition for the European electricity and renewable energy sector. The combination of conferences and exhibitions across the entire spectrum of power generation is unique and is serving the vital move towards integrating the traditional fossil fuel and fast-growing renewable generation sectors.

Make sure you register to attend Renewable Energy World Europe 2014 in Cologne, Germany and be part of the regions leading event dedicated to renewable energy generation.

Renewable Energy World Europe and POWER-GEN Europe are events where power industry professionals can appreciate the big picture and truly engage with the direction the industry is heading. No other conference and exhibition brings together these now essential partners in the harmonization of European low-carbon energy future..

Renewable Energy World Europe offers a dedicated trade show floor, with numerous exhibiting companies displaying state-of-the-art technology, services, software and hardware. With over 14,000 visitors expected at the Koelnmesse over the three days of the event, the networking opportunities at Europe\s biggest and best power industry conference and exhibition are second to none.

Preliminary Event Guide

Recently released Preliminary Event Guide contains all the information you need in order to plan your visit to Renewable Energy World Europe. You will find the preliminary agenda for our multi-track conference, exhibitor listings, technical tour and hotel information. To access the guide click here.

Conference Highlights

The Renewable Energy World Europe and POWER-GEN Europe Opening Keynote and Joint Plenary Panel Discussion speakers have now been announced as part of the preliminary conference programme. The Opening Keynote is always a highlight of our annual conference and is available to all registered attendees: Joint Opening Keynote Session - Tuesday 3 June 2014 - 09:30 – 11:00 Speakers include:

*Sigmar Gabriel Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, Germany (*Invited) Mr. Matthias Hartung Chief Executive Officer, RWE Generation SE & RWE Power AG, Germany Dipl. Vesa Riihimaki President, Power Plants & Executive Vice President, Wärtsilä Corporation, Finland

Joint Plenary Panel Discussion

Wednesday 4 June 2014 - 14:00 - 15:30 Topic: Navigating the Power Transition This year panel topic develops the overall joint theme of the events, â€Å“Navigating the Power Transition. The panel will take as its starting point the fact that the energy mix in Europe has changed significantly and is fully expected to edge increasingly towards renewables. The panel will be asked to expound their views on how the industry should adapt, what national and European governments can do to smooth the transition, what technologies will be needed to cope with the change and what shape the industry will take as a result of the re-alignments taking place. Is the transition creating a crisis in the industry that will see some incumbents fail or an opportunity for a re-positioning that will produce new business opportunities?

Moderator: Karel Beckman, Editor-in-Chief, Energy Post, Netherland

Panelists

- Mr. Thorsten Herdan, Managing Director, VDMA, Germany
- Dr. Roland Fischer, Chief Executive Officer, Fossil Power Generation Division, Siemens AG, Germany
- Mr. John Easton, Vice President of International Program, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), United States
- Prof. Emmanouil Kakaras, President, European Power Plant Suppliers Association (EPPSA), Belgium
- Mr. Jim Lightfoot, Chief Operating Officer, Gas-CCGT, E.ON Generation GmbH, Germany

To view the full programme visit: www.renewableenergyworld-europe.com

Four Ways to Register

1. Online: Click here for the Online Registration Form
2. Email: Email completed Registration Form to registration@pennwell.com
3. Fax: Fax completed Registration Form to +1 (918) 831 9161 or +1 (888) 299 8057 (U.S. only)
4. Mail: PennWell / REWE 2014, PO Box 973059, Dallas, TX 75397-3059

*Save 10% on the Individual Conference Fee by registering before 16 May 2014.

For detailed pricing information and to register online click here.

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The Growth of US Renewable Energy in 2013

Renewable energy is an increasingly important part of the US energy mix. Clean sources of power have been growing exponentially over the last several years and that growth continued in 2013. Several states are on the road to producing substantial portions of their energy from renewable sources. California, is expected to produce one third of its electricity from renewables by 2020, and Maine has committed to 40-percent renewable energy by 2017. Additionally, Federal agencies must source 20 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2020.

According to the “Energy Infrastructure Update” report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects, US renewables accounted for more than 37 percent of all new, domestic power generating capacity installed last year.

The two renewable energy leaders are solar and wind. In 2013 there were 266 new solar projects with a combined capacity of 2,936 MW and there were 18 new wind units with a combined capacity of 1,129 MW.

Biomass saw the installation of 97 new units with a combined capacity of 777 MW, while there were 19 hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 378 MW. Geothermal added four new units with a combined capacity of 59 MW.

It should be noted that capacity is not the same as actual generation. The U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates that the actual net electrical generation from renewable energy sources in the US is about 13 percent as of November 2013.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video - Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson Talks about Renewables on the David Letterman Show (Part 2)



On the David Letterman Show, Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson states that to combat climate change all new electricity must be derived from renewable energy. This is already largely the case in both the US (50 percent) and Europe (70 percent). David Letterman indicates that he has invested in wind, solar and geothermal in his home. While Jacobson acknowledges that there is a great deal that individual citizens can do in terms of installing renewable energy, he also clearly states that we need government policy and mandates. Jacobson also explains that we need to educate the public to help expedite the transition to clean energy. He concludes by saying "everything will be ok if we put our mind to it....it is a social and political problem primarily."

To read more about Jacobson's clean energy plan click here.

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Video - Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson Talks about Renewables on the David Letterman Show (Part 1)



On the David Letterman Show, Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson talks about a science based plan to combat climate change and air pollution. He emphasizes that we need to transition away from fossil fuels and incorporate renewable sources of energy like wind and solar which can meet all our energy demands. However, to do so, government policies need to be shifted away from fossil fuels and towards renewables and electric vehicles. Jacobson has developed plans both nationally and by state for clean electricity, transportation, heating and cooling.

To read more about Jacobson's clean energy plan click here.

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Event - Canadian Renewable Fuels Summit 2013: Fueling Growth and Innovation

This event will take place Monday December 2 to Wednesday Dec 4, 2013, at the Centre Sheraton in Montreal Montreal, Quebec. Canada is now a frontrunner in the worldwide effort to create clean, renewable sources of transportation fuel. The benefits of this approach are many. From an economic standpoint, our industry generates $2 billion in economic activity each and every year and has created more than 14,000 jobs in total – most of those in rural Canada. At the same time, renewable fuels production will help to reduce GHG emissions by over 4.2 mega-tonnes. This is the equivalent of taking over 1 million cars off the road each and every year.

Learn from industry experts, engage in valuable peer to peer collaboration, find solutions for your business challenges, discover new products and services. The CRFS is a great opportunity to exchange ideas and gain a global perspective on the renewable fuels industry. We offer insightful plenaries and are now offering concurrent industry breakout sessions.

Click here for more information on the event.

Click here to register.

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