5 renewable energy developments to look out for in 2019

Coronavirus’ effect on the renewable energy sector

Article | March 12, 2020

Both renewable power projects and conventional energy operations have felt the constriction of global supply chains, which are currently being limited in a global effort to fight and contain the spread of the virus. Many manufacturers of wind turbines and their critical components are based in Asia, such as Goldwind in China, as well as producers of photovoltaic panels and batteries (particularly lithium). Market reticence about bringing in products from affected areas has seen significant constriction in the importation of these materials and parts - the price of batteries has dropped by 60%, owing to the industry’s concentration in Asia.

A Clean Energy Source of the Future?

Article | March 27, 2020

You know things are getting exciting when German bureaucrats are turning emotional, as happened one month ago in Berlin: “Hydrogen is the shit! And we need it desperately.” Thomas Herdan, the bureaucrat in question, is a prominent policymaker in the German Economic Ministry and, until that moment, was known for analytical thoughtfulness rather than for enthusiastic outcries. His excitement, however, is shared by governments and businesses around the world. The International Energy Agency IEA estimates that every year, the world’s governments pour $700 million into R&D for hydrogen applications alone. A few months ago, the U.S. announced $40 million in funding for 29 hydrogen projects across the country. As IEA puts it, hydrogen currently has “unprecedented political and business momentum”.

This electricity sector strategy could save wallets and ecosystems

Article | February 27, 2020

Electricity is a unique kind of commodity— although it is not perishable, it is (still) hard to store on a large scale. Electricity must be generated relatively close to where it is demanded and at the time it is demanded. Therefore, operators must constantly keep an eye on the use of electricity. When demand is high, operators will signal the generators to increase their output; if less, generators get the instruction to generate less electricity. Roughly, this is how the grid works. The devil is in the details: the flexibility of power plants is unique to its type. Nuclear and coal power plants take the longest to start up and shut down, followed by oil/diesel power plants.

The direct and indirect impact of AI on sustainable growth

Article | March 3, 2020

The propagation of artificial intelligence (AI) is making a significant impact on society, changing the way how we work, live, and communicate. AI today is allowing the world to diagnose diseases and develop clinical pathways. It is also being used to match individuals’ skill sets with job openings and create smart traffic that leads to the reduction of pollution. There are many examples of applying AI technologies in the sustainable growth of the planet and organisations. It is time to solve some of the world’s biggest problems with emerging technologies such as AI.