skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the UK and across Europe are facing a combination of factors strongly hindering investment in low carbon power generation and energy efficiency and promoting the burning of coal.
Now who do you believe? Today, one British tabloid newspaper is reporting that the construction of gas power plants is "twice government predictions", while another is reporting the exact opposite.
The Guardian reports Friends of the Earth analysis of the latest Government figures, from October, saying that while about 5GW of new gas-fired power generation will be needed to supply the UK in the coming decades, "power stations with more than 3GW of capacity are already now under construction and nearly 10GW of plants have received planning permission. In addition, nearly 10GW of capacity is in the earlier stages of planning".
Meanwhile, the Financial Times is warning that with 11GW of mainly coal-fired generation due to close by 2015 under the EU's Large Combustion Plant Directive, we are burning more coal because it is currently cheaper than gas.
What is the truth?
Actually, both, at different time scales. Either way, however, it's not good news for the climate.
COAL IS TOO CHEAP
Gas is today trading at just over 58p per therm, yielding baseload power for delivery today from gas generation of lb45.20 per megawatt-hour. This does not leave much room for profit when electricity is trading at 45.50 lb/MWh, and this is why coal generation is now favoured over gas.
The FT says "coal plants have been pumping at more than 75 per cent capacity, compared with 25 per cent a year ago".
This is a continuation of the trend of burning more coal over the last two years which is helping to push up the U.K.'s carbon emissions.
Partly as a result of increased demand, UK Coal moved from an interim loss of lb93.2 million to a profit of lb22.1 million in the six months to last June, following losses totalling lb270 million over the previous three years. (However, this has not stopped it from announcing plans today to close the U.K.'s biggest coal mine, Daw Hill, near Coventry, by early 2014 when current seams are exhausted.)
The demand is driving strong imports of U.S. and Colombian coal into Europe, and prices have fallen to just over 100 (lb64) a tonne.
This figure is wildly different from that predicted by the government just six months ago: 124 (lb80).
(In fact, the price of coal wasn't even the price that DECC's report said it was at the time it was published; yet these now wildly inaccurate figures are those on which the Government bases its energy policy.)
The low price for coal is also partly the reason why Drax announced last month that it was scrapping plans for a new biomass power station, calling for more support for biomass generation from the Renewables Obligation to counter an increase in its fuel costs; although it put these fuel costs at just lb33.3 per megawatt-hour, significantly less than that for gas.
TOO MANY CARBON CREDITS
None of this is helping the UK, or Europe, meet its greenhouse gas emission targets.
The problem is that with coal prices low, a recession on, and an over-abundance of EU Emissions Allowances resulting in a low price of carbon, there is insufficient disincentive to burn coal, let alone gas, and consequently even less incentive to build renewable energy generation, nuclear power stations or develop carbon capture and storage.
Hence the need for DECC's
announcement this week of a lb20 million competition to develop Carbon Capture and Storage technology, in the hope that it will reduce the price of this still unproven technology.
This combination of factors is the perfect storm for attempts to reduce carbon emissions this decade.
Carbon prices fell by over half during 2011 and are now still trading for under EUR8.
Despite rumblings from Brussels, the Commission is dragging its feet on moves to set aside allowances in order to restrict demand and stimulate the price.
Instead, it seems to be hoping that by the end of the year, when airlines begin being required to purchase carbon-emission allowances as part of their role in the Emissions Trading Scheme, this will stimulate a price rise. But that is still nine months away.
According to carbon market analyst Steven Knell, from IHS CERA, the ETS in no longer the main policy tool for reducing emissions 'because the supply and price of allowances are fixed and predetermined. The market is poorly equipped to deal with disruptions in demand levels," he says.
"This, plus the financial crisis, the consequent fall in emissions, and the fragile nature of the recovery, added to recent price decline due to the expectation that policy risks will deprive the market of demand, mean that action to fix the problem is urgently required".
The oversupply means that only 6.8% of all EUAs are trading; a poor proportion. This amounts to 550 million tonnes, which is equivalent to all the emissions of the non-power generation industry members of the market in Europe, i.e., the high energy users like steel and concrete; or, to put it another way, all of the U.K.'s allowances.
"This yields a long position and indicates what the price will be like in 2020: that it will not change sufficiently to stimulate the demand required for investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy lesser-known carbon capture and storage or nuclear power," says Knell.
The supply of carbon-emission allowances needs to decline more aggressively and prices need to be higher.
The policy overlap in Europe needs addressing, he says. "The latest agreements give the possibility to set aside some EU Allowances to promote energy efficiency in the draft of the Energy Efficiency Directive, but the amount set aside would need to be substantial," he says.
"STRONG MEDICINE IS NEEDED."
"Strong medicine is needed," concludes Knell. He points to an increase in European ambition for emission reduction cuts from 20% to 30% by 2020, which, he says is achievable due to the recession's effects.
However, Poland has just vetoed this target at last Friday's meeting of environment ministers because of its own addiction to coal-fired electricity generation. This vote is not binding on a Commission decision however, and it remains to be seen what will happen.
In the meantime, only two strategies are available to individual governments, because they can't control the price of oil, and these are to tax carbon and support the carbon price.
Therefore, any measure that favours the energy-intensive industries by reducing the impact of carbon-penalising policies in next week's Budget from the Chancellor, George Osborne, will send precisely the wrong signals to the market.
The setting of the carbon price floor, and reform of the energy market are urgently required to favour carbon-reduction investment and weather this storm.
But contrary to the impression given by the Financial Times article, whatever happens the lights will stay on in Britain, because of the number of gas-fired power stations that have received planning permission; they may not be built just yet, but they will be built when coal and nuclear generation comes off-line in the future, to meet any demand not met by offshore wind.
But whether it's coal or gas, it locks in more UK carbon emissions than desirable for the next 20 or so years. Chancellor: are you paying attention?
THE GLOBAL SOLAR ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICE PROVIDER BOLSTERS GREEK PRESENCE WITH KEY HIRE
ATHENS, GREECE - 4 FEBRUARY 2015: Alectris, a global service provider for the integrated care of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy assets, today announced the addition of Makis Tzierakis as Business Development Manager for Greece, the company's headquarters.
Makis Tzierakis, Business Development Manager, Greece, Alectris
Tzierakis is an experienced solar energy professional who entered the industry in 2006. Prior to Alectris, Tzierakis drove new business strategies for solar panel manufacturer, SUNGEN International Limited, where he introduced and maximized revenue in Greece, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt. His experience includes solar photovoltaic project development with Interglass Solar & Energy solutions Ltd. in Greece.
Tzierakis holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Business Administration from the University of Northumbria at Newcastle.
"With over a decade of international business development leadership and extensive solar experience, Makis adds depth to our European based team," said Vassilis Papaeconomou, Founder and Managing Director of Alectris. "Our clients will benefit from Makis' holistic view of solar photovoltaic development born out of his own development and manufacturing experience in the industry."
"Having experienced the installation and supply sides of the solar PV industry, I'm excited to move into a growing arena, the preservation of solar profitability with Alectris," explained Tzierakis. "Offering an integrated approach to the critical areas of operations, maintenance and asset management empowers our solar PV clients with the ease and reduced cost of one source to operate their solar PV assets no matter where they are located on the globe."
ABOUT ALECTRIS
Alectris is a global service provider for the integrated care of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy assets. Honed in the mature solar market in Europe, the comprehensive suite of Alectris services reduces the risk and delivers maximum financial returns for solar investors and plant owners regardless of site location. Powered by ACTIS, the company's award winning solar asset management and monitoring platform, Alectris provides a full service approach to solar asset protection, including solar operations and maintenance, asset management, check-up and diagnostic, engineering and improvement services. Performance excellence is the company's mission, empowering it to re-define O&M and outperform client expectations. For more information visit www.alectris.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Glenna Wiseman
Glenna.wiseman@alectris.com
909.553.3141
Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell says Government's policy shift on alternative energy, including the provision of incentives, is resulting in greater use of and investments in renewable options.
Under the policy, Government is facilitating access to low interest rate loans for businesses and homeowners to enable them to procure renewable energy systems, particularly for solar devices.
"We have (also) removed taxation from solar (systems). In fact, the Government has provided incentives for solar batteries to facilitate solar generation of electricity," Paulwell said.
"Also, we have introduced a net billing policy and, so far, I have signed and issued just about 220 licences to Jamaicans to enable them to generate electricity using, primarily, solar systems, and to be able to sell the excess capacity to the grid," he said.
The minister was addressing a recent public forum on the topic: 'The New Caribbean Energy Professional for the New Energy Paradigm', at the University of the West Indies' Mona campus.
Government, more than a year ago, began a targeted series of policy shifts to enable and encourage investment in renewable energy projects. As part of the measure, the provision that gave the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica the exclusive right to develop all renewable energy projects in Jamaica was removed. The Office of Utilities Regulation subsequently issued a 'request for proposals' to procure up to 115 megawatts of energy generated from renewable sources.
Paulwell said ministry surveys conducted islandwide showed that, "we are witnessing such a dramatic uptake in the use of photovoltaic (PV) equipment to generate electricity in Jamaica".
PV is a method of converting solar energy into direct current electricity using semi-conducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. A PV system comprises solar panels composed of a number of cells to supply usable power.
"So far, from those private sources (issued with licences), we are generating just under about two megawatts of capacity (for the national power grid); but there is still room for tremendous growth in this area. I know that there are many persons who are putting in systems and are not (applying) for licences... (but) are finding that it makes sense to (make) the investment, because of the (potential) savings," the minister said.
Paulwell said it was anticipated that renewable energy technology, particularly solar, "is going to improve", adding that over time, "I believe that (renewable energy) will be better (for us) than fossil fuel".
Source
Post from CleanTechLaw.org: www.cleantechlaw.org
I recently went to the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, with some biodiesel experts, including Gus Kellogg of Greenleaf Biofuels, to meet with Andy Foley, an engineering professor at the academy who is running several renewable-resource projects with cadets. We went for a ride on an out-of-service Coast Guard 41-foot patrol boat (the original 41, according to Foley). The port engine was running a mixture of 20-percent biodiesel (B20), and the starboard engine was running straight diesel. This photo, taken after the engines had warmed up for about five minutes, tells the story. And thats only a B20 ratio.
An interesting sidelight was that the B20 had been stored in an outside tank at the academy for over a year, and analysis of the B20 compared with straight petrodiesel stored for a similar time showed no degradation compared to straight petrodiesel. Because straight biodiesel (B100) is known to have a shelf life of about six months in temperate climates, Foleys research suggests that cutting biodiesel by 20 percent with petrodiesel effectively preserves it and maintains its "potency."
~ Doug Logan, "New Energy Watch"
For more hydrogen fuel cell news articles. Share on Tumblr US NAVY HAS BEGUN USING THE ELECTROLYTIC CATION EXCHANGE MODULE TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN FUEL The United States Navy has begun using a new machine that could make its armada of ships and other seafaring vessels much more efficient and environmentally friendly. The device is called the Electrolytic Cation Exchange Module, and it is designed to capture carbon dioxide from the sea and produce hydrogen fuel as a byproduct of this process. The device is meant to serve as a way to generate renewable fuel while ships are at sea, giving them a reliable fuel source that will not be quickly depleted.NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY DEVELOPERS NEW MACHINE THAT CAPTURES CARBON AND PRODUCES HYDROGEN The device itself has been developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and researchers have been working on the device for several years. In 2009, researchers were able to modify a fuel cell, giving it the ability to release carbon dioxide from seawater. Using this process, the device was also able to generate hydrogen fuel as it consumed carbon dioxide. The process itself does not require the use of toxic chemicals and does not produce anything but hydrogen, making it environmentally sound.Researchers Continue To Study The Capabilities Of Their New Machine Since the 2009 breakthrough, the device has undergone many studies. Researchers have been working to test the feasibility of the device and determine whether or not it could be used as an effective fuel producer for the Navy. While the device may be ready to be put to use to some degree, researchers are still considering ways to scale up the device to allow it to produce more hydrogen and capture more carbon dioxide from the ocean.Ocean Could Be A Valuable Renewable Energy Resource According to the U.S. Navy, carbon dioxide is one of the most abundant carbon resources in the world. The concentration of this gas in the ocean is approximately 140 times greater than the concentration of this gas in the air. The ocean presents a significant opportunity for the military's endeavors to produce renewable energy while also making itself a more sustainable and environmentally friendly organization. For more alternative energy news headlines today.
BIOPAD - BIOENERGY PROLIFERATION AND DEPLOYMENT
BioPAD is promoting the wider use of bioenergy and developing applications targeting the whole process from supplying fuel to producing energy.
The project is led by the Western Development Commission (Republic of Ireland) and brings together partners from Northern Ireland (Action Renewables), Scotland (Environmental Research Institute) and Finland (Finnish Forest Research Institute, Metla).
BioPAD is funded by the Northern Periphery Programme (www.northernperiphery.eu) of the European Regional Development Fund (Interreg IVB).
It will improve our understanding of the links between supply of bioenergy and the demand for energy by mapping supply chains for different bioenergy fuels and different energy conversion methods.
BioPAD will help us to ensure that targeted policies and actions can increase bioenergy use and help capture the benefits of it locally.Developing local bioenergy supply chains provides sustainable enterprise opportunities for individuals, communities and municipalities in Northern Europe through the use of renewable energy.
FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE OR UNDER: WWW.BIOPAD.EU
Do you know that average 100w light bulb? Well, one African consumes as much as 7 of those light bulbs a year in electricity, Africa is nearly of the grid while an American consumes as much as 100 light bulbs. Current human energy use is 15,7 terawatts, that is 15,7 trillion watts, if everybody everywhere would start using electricity at the rate Americans do, the global consumption would more then quadruple to 62.8 TW.We produce electricity from several sources of which 87% is from fossil fuels like oil, coal or natural gas. Hydro-electrical power plants using the force of falling water around the world make about 7% of our production while nuclear power plants produce about 4%. Only 2% of the energy humans produce world-wide comes from renewable sources like the sun, the wind, using geothermal waters or tidal waves. So we rely our activity as a race on a dying giant, fossil fuels. They may have been a powerful resource in the past but we're burning through them a million times faster then nature provides them for us. They will go out one day.So let's see if we could rely our society strictly on electricity from renewable sources.The Sun delivers 173.000 TW on top of our atmosphere, that is 11.000 times our current use. The Algodones Dunes near Yuma, Arizona is the sunniest place in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records, there's barely a cloud in the sky 90% of the year. Researchers say that the deserts in South-West US could deliver 80% of the worlds current energy consumption. And there are other deserts much larger, like the Sahara desert in Africa. If we could collect 0.01% of the Sun's energy reaching the Earth it would be more than the humans use today. Of course there is only one problem with solar energy, night. But with more efficient transmission lines and a portfolio of renewable energy program that includes storage, the Sun's potential is vast.Dams around the world can provide 1,9 TW of hydro-electrical energy which is 12% of our current use. The Itaipu Dam on the border of Brazil and Paraguay produces more electrical energy then any other hydro-electrical power plant in the world and it provides almost the entire energy need for the city of Sao Paulo, home to more than 11 million. Sao Paulo is 600 miles away but Brazil decided to build innovative high-voltage transmission lines to minimize energy loss. Dams can't be the solution for every country, they flood landscape and unbalance ecosystems, but Brazil showed renewable energy can go the distance.Plants like corn and sugar cane are used to produce Etanol which is mixed with gasoline or can be used alone as fuel for our cars. If all the gasoline in the would suddenly disappear, Brazil would be the only country that could go it alone and still run it's cars. Today all the cars in Brazil run on FlexFuel a biofuel made out of Etanol or a mix of gasoline and Etanol. Producing fuel out of plants used for food may have an effect on food prices but labs like the NREL in the US have lunched programs to see if biofuels can be made out of agricultural waste. It does work! And researchers are trying to bring the costs down. So with plants capturing roughly 11 times human energy use they are a growing opportunity.New Zealand takes advantage of another energy, geothermal power plants harvest the heat of the Earth brought to the surface by geysers and turn it as much as 10% of New Zealand's electricity. Globally geothermal energy offers 44TW of electricity, 3 times our current use. But we can can mine the heat faster than nature provides it. Heat is present even if you don't see geysers and mud pots so it can be extracted without harming this natural wonders. A study by MIT showed that the accessible hot rocks beneath the US contain enough energy to run the country for 130.000 years. And like hydroelectric, geothermal can provide peaking power, ready to go at a moment's notice if the Sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow.And the wind blows everywhere, here is where US is very lucky. From Texas in the South to the Canadian border lies the Nation's Wind Corridor. All along this nearly 2.000 miles there's the potential to turn free, non-polluting energy source into electricity. But this takes decisions and actions and not by the government. In Texas it was farmers and ranchers who took the decision to rent their land so wind turbines could be installed. Now they receive between 5.000 and 10.000 a year for every turbine and with each farm hosting between 10 and 20 turbines it's a welcomed income. World-wide wind can provide 1.220 TW, that is 78 times current human usage. No form of energy production is free of environmental concerns, in the early days of wind farms there was little to no concerns for migrating birds, but studies showed that well placed wind turbines have no impact on the migrating habits of our little flying friends.And there is efficiency orientated measure that could be taken. Huston is the largest municipal purchaser of renewable energy. LED lights have been installed for the traffic lights and smart meters installation for homes is already ahead of schedule. 30% of the electrical energy city government uses comes from wind, with a target of 50%. That translates into savings of 3.5 million per year. The city already operates a fleet of hybrid cars and now is investing in an infrastructure to make driving this cars easy and practical. Globally, efficiency could cut the demands by a third by 2030.There are many ways to go and we can easily hit that renewable energy target:11.000 times our energy use is sent to our planet by the Sun,.12 times our energy usage comes from dams around the world,11 times our energy demands could be provided by biofuels made out of agricultural waste,3 times of our energy use could be extracted from the Earth hot activity,78 times of our electricity needs could be delivered through wind farms andefficiency could cut the demands by a third.So by 2030 our energy production could transform from one that is 87% from fossil fuels into this:26% solar13% wind13% geothermal5% hydro4% biofuels 61% of our current electricity needs could come out of renewable sources13% fossil fuels26% existing and new nuclear energy sourcesThere is even a viable and realistic plan that could use only Water, Wind and Solar energy to power up our activities, that means 100% energy from free renewable source!To make it short, renewable sources could easily provide the energy we use today and they will always be here. The sources are free, so the costs would be high only for the initial investments after that there would only be the costs for maintaining the infrastructure.We live our lives on this planet as if we are the last ones here when we should be living as if we are the first. In our ignorance and greed we cut down the trees that take in our CO2 and give us fresh air to breathe. We pollute the rivers and catch more fish then we actually need. This little dot in the Universe we call Earth is our playground, we are visitors here, we can enjoy our stay and leave this planet healthier than we've found it.To really change something the old must go, otherwise the new would only be a new form of the old, so all this needs is decision to start something new, to switch entirely to renewable sources for our energy needs. The possibility to run all our activities on green, low-cost, always renewable energy is already here, the technology exists and the sources have been here forever.Sebastian Writes For Find New York;
