Tag Archive for: energy

DigiOcean4Solar will enhance research on renewable energy efficiency, focusing on wave, wind, and floating solar structure interactions.

Grant awarded to advance floating solar research in offshore environments

DigiOcean4Solar, short for a Digital Ocean environment for floating Solar farm assessment, is set to advance research on renewable energy efficiency and will enable the study of interactions between waves, wind, and floating solar structures.

With offshore locations emerging as a promising solution for renewable energy, several companies are exploring floating solar farms at sea. According to the Delft University of Technology, the solar platforms, some spanning up to a square kilometer, are ideally situated near offshore wind farms to leverage existing grid connections.

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Source: Offshore Energy

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A study published in the journal Earth’s Future presents a futuristic vision of transforming highways & major roads into sources of PV energy

The roads of the future could be sources of photovoltaic energy

An international team of researchers presented a solution for the future of solar photovoltaics and road infrastructure with multiple benefits and challenges.

A study published this month in the journal Earth’s Future presents a futuristic vision for transforming highways and major roads into sources of photovoltaic energy.

The proposal includes a network of elevated photovoltaic solar panels that would not only generate clean electricity, but adding an unexpected advantage to the project’s attractions, would also offer shelter to motorists during adverse weather conditions.

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Source: REVE

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For the first time, it appears that solar and wind renewables will produce more energy in the US than coal for the year.

Renewables producing more energy than coal in the US for the first time

Predictions that wind and solar energy in the US would eventually overtake coal in terms of how much energy is produced in a year appear to have finally come true. For the first time, it appears that solar and wind renewables will produce more energy in the US than coal for the year.

Typically over the last few years, solar and wind have represented the most energy production early in the year, with coal overtaking when demand ramps up in the summer months. For 2024, that didn’t happen. Instead, solar energy ramped up 36% from the previous year, generating 118 terawatt-hours from January to July, and wind production increased 8% over the same time period, generating 275 TWh. Together, solar and wind represent 16% of the nations’s energy production.

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Source: CNET

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A study indicates that it would be financially viable to close more than 800 coal-fired power plants in emerging countries and replace them with solar installations by the end of the decade.

800 coal-fired power plants to be replaced by solar installations by 2030

Today, some 2,000 gigawatts of coal-fired power plants generate 15.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. According to the IEA(International Energy Agency), emissions must reach zero by 2040 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, closing coal-fired power plants represents a significant cost, especially when these facilities are still in debt or tied to long-term power purchase agreements.

Profitable transition opportunities

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) has identified over 800 coal-fired power plants in emerging countries that could be profitably closed down and replaced by solar installations by the end of the decade. Of these, around 600 were built more than 30 years ago and have already paid off their debt, while the remaining 200, built between 15 and 30 years ago, could also be profitably replaced.

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Source: Energy News

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In March alone, solar accounted for 99.7% of capacity added, marking the seventh month in a row in which it provided more new US electrical generating capacity than any other energy source.

Solar was almost 100% of new electrical capacity added in the US in March

In its latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” report (with data through March 31, 2024), FERC says 52 “units” of solar provided 2,833 MW of new domestic generating capacity in March or 99.72% of the total. The balance consisted of 3 MW each of new biomass and oil capacity plus 1 MW each of new hydropower and natural gas capacity.

For the first quarter of this year, solar accounted for 86.79% (or 6,497-MW) of new generating capacity brought online while wind contributed another 12.40% (928-MW). Natural gas trailed with only 49 MW (0.65%) accompanied by 5 MW of oil, 3 MW of biomass, 3 MW of “other,” and 1 MW of hydropower.

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Source: Solar Power World

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PG&E is using remote microgrids to eliminate overhead distribution lines in high fire threat areas, reducing wildfire risks.

PG&E announces 6 new remote microgrids coming in 2024

Northern California utility Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) announced Tuesday that it will expand its remote grid program, adding six new installations in 2024.

Remote grids, also known as remote microgrids, operate independently from the larger electric grid. They provide stand-alone local energy resources to defined areas, allowing the utility to remove long overhead electric distribution lines, reducing wildfire risk and service interruptions for remote customers.

Remote grids often use low-carbon energy sources, such as solar, to provide reliable electricity to customers while also minimizing emissions.

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Source: MICROGRID KNOWLEDGE

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Solar panels are often tilted to a stowed position to prevent wind damage to utility-scale assets. Array Technologies introduced a passive stowing strategy that prevents unnecessary production losses.

Passive solar tracker wind stowing boosts energy production

During high wind events, utility-scale solar assets are often automatically tilted to a stowed position to prevent damage and downtime from repairs. High wind can cause solar panels to vibrate and rotate, leading to microcracking, twisting, or shattering of panels.

However, stowing solar trackers can lead to a loss of production as they do not follow the sun in an active stow system.

Array Technologies, a leading provider of solar tracker systems, worked with independent engineering and design firm DNV to study an alternative method to active stowing called passive stowing. The analysis focused on evaluating the energy losses associated with various tracker wind stow methods and considered multiple variables, including wind velocity stowing thresholds, wind direction, dwell time, stow exit wind velocity threshold, stow angle, and stow direction.

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Source: PV Magazine

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Solar is the major driver of this energy transition. EIA said that solar will provide 41% more electricity in 2024 than in 2023.

Solar to contribute over 60% of new US electricity generation in 2024

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The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Short-Term Energy Outlook report, forecasting that the total electricity generation capacity in the United States will increase 3% in 2024 and 1% in 2025.

“Renewable energy sources—chiefly solar—will supply most of that growth,” said EIA.

Solar, wind, and hydropower in 2023 combined for roughly 21% of electricity generation in the United States. EIA expects this figure to grow to 24% in 2025.

Solar is the major driver of this energy transition. EIA said that solar will provide 41% more electricity in 2024 than in 2023. EIA said the 19 GW of solar capacity added in 2023 and the over 37 GW expected this year account for the large jump in generation. In 2025, total solar generation is expected to grow another 25%.

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Source: PV Magazine

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California’s grid operator proposes $6.1B in transmission projects aimed at increasing reliability and providing access to solar, geothermal & wind resources in AZ, NV, NM and offshore.

California grid operator proposes $6.1 billion in transmission projects

California’s grid operator proposes $6.1 billion in transmission projects aimed at increasing reliability and providing access to solar, geothermal and wind resources in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and offshore. (Utility Dive)

ALSO:

The Southwest Power Pool formally proposes a day-ahead power market for Western utilities, setting up a competition with the California grid operator’s rival plan. (Utility Dive)
Federal investigators offer a $25,000 reward for information regarding a 2023 attack on an electrical substation in southern California. (Press-Telegram)

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Source: Energy News Network

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CA, TX and FL are leading the country in solar power generation, while TX, IA and OK are the leaders in wind energy, per a new analysis.

America’s solar and wind energy hotspots, mapped

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California, Texas and Florida are leading the country in terms of solar power generation, while Texas, Iowa and Oklahoma are the leaders in wind energy, per a new analysis.

Why it matters: Solar and wind power are producing a comparatively small but growing share of America’s overall energy supply — yet they make up a bigger slice of the energy pie in some states compared to others.

The big picture: Solar installations generated nearly 240,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity across the U.S. in 2023, per the analysis from Climate Central, a climate research nonprofit.

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Source: AXIOS

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