530,000 Potential Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Sites Globally

April 2, 2019 | 137 views

Building on research carried out for Australia, ANU researchers say they have identified more than enough potential pumped hydro storage sites globally to make a world running on 100% renewables-based electricity a reality. Pumped-hydro energy storage (PHES) involves a pair of reservoirs established at different heights that are connected by a tunnel. Depending on water availability, the reservoirs may be covered to reduce evaporation.

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Solar Alliance

Solar Alliance is committed to providing affordable solar systems so we can all participate in the global transition to clean, renewable energy.

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ENERGY

A vision for renewable energy

Article | July 15, 2022

Right now, renewable energy makes up a very small part of the entire energy sector of Bangladesh. But as we move into the future, and concerns about the environment become too great to ignore, exploring cleaner and greener sources of energy becomes the need of the hour. Our economy is booming, and our population is growing, so it goes without saying that our energy requirements are immense. There is plenty of scientific evidence that burning fossil fuels indiscriminately is not sustainable in the long term, so we do need to up our game in looking at alternatives.

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SOLAR+STORAGE

2020: The Year of Convergence in Corporate Renewables

Article | December 17, 2021

The rapid growth of corporate renewable procurement has been nothing short of a buyer-driven revolution in the United States’ electric sector. Almost 20 gigawatts (GWs) of corporate power purchasing agreements (PPAs) were completed in 2019 across the globe, up from 13 GWs of corporate PPAs in 2018 and triple the numbers from 2017.1,2 And the majority of this growth has come from the United States. Fortunately for those of us committed to renewable energy, we expect this trend to continue. But as should be expected in such a dynamic, buyer-driven sector, we are starting to see some noticeable shifts in the marketplace as it evolves and grows. I wanted to highlight some of the trends Constellation is watching for this year.

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STRATEGY AND BEST PRACTICES

2020 Trends That Will Make Waves In The Energy Industry

Article | July 8, 2022

In the renewable world, energy is generated by weather and the amount of energy that can be produced depends on the current conditions. Energy storage can ensure a power supply is maintained when weather conditions are not optimal for generating energy. While energy storage products have already been introduced to all levels of the market there are several technology hurdles to overcome before energy storage will reach maximum potential. We believe there will be great advancements in 2020 on:

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Solar Power, Great For The Environment? Or Is It The Last Thing We Need?

Article | February 10, 2020

Solar power is an undeniably a green, renewable form of electricity generation - but many organisations with questionable motives (even here in New Zealand) are trying to persuade the public (and Government – hi lobbyists!) that solar power isn’t that environmentally friendly, and that it's even harmful. At the expense of bullish corporate profits, solar power is often thrown under the bus. This article lists the facts - putting an end to the negative spin on solar so often found in the media. When solar panels produce power, they do not; create any air pollution, use zero water, create carbon emissions, noise pollution, and they won’t disturb surrounding ecosystems. Solar power is a renewable energy source, the sun’s rays are infinite, fill your boots.

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Solar Alliance

Solar Alliance is committed to providing affordable solar systems so we can all participate in the global transition to clean, renewable energy.

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SUSTAINABILITY

GKN Hydrogen, SoCalGas and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory agree to collaborate

GKN Hydrogen | July 01, 2022

GKN Hydrogen and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced the companies will work with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on an innovative green hydrogen storage solution. GKN Hydrogen's HY2MEGA can enable safe, long duration clean energy storage without the need for compression. At scale, this combined technology could provide resilient power in case of widespread outages. It also highlights the technologies needed to reach carbon neutrality and accelerate clean fuel initiatives. Two HY2MEGA hydrogen storage subsystems will connect to an electrolyzer and fuel cell at the ARIES facility on NREL's Flatirons Campus near Boulder, Colorado. The electrolyzer will use renewable sources and produce green hydrogen to be stored in the HY2MEGA. The HY2MEGA stores the hydrogen in a solid state (metal hydrides), under low pressure in a compact footprint. According to GKN Hydrogen, its one of the safest ways to store hydrogen. The fuel cell will then convert the green hydrogen to produce renewable electricity. The two HY2MEGA's will add an additional 500 kgs of hydrogen storage on site. The three-year project is set to launch at the end of this year. SoCalGas will leverage the large-scale hydrogen storage capabilities of GKN Hydrogen's HY2MEGA from this project to help accelerate the commercialization and deployment of green hydrogen projects. Ultimately, green hydrogen generation and storage will help decarbonize the energy system while assuring stability of the electrical grid to enable even higher penetrations of renewable sources of electricity." Neil Navin, vice president of clean energy innovations at SoCalGas "This project is exactly what the ARIES platform was designed for: demonstrate the benefits of a new technology that efficiently stores energy produced from renewable electricity," said Katherine Hurst, group manager and research scientist at NREL. "It brings together a national laboratory, a clean energy technology developer, and a large utility to work on solutions that help decarbonize the power grid. We are looking forward to working with GKN Hydrogen and SoCalGas to advance this technology." "Collaborations on green hydrogen projects are essential as we tackle this climate emergency," said Frank Wolak, President and CEO of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA). "This project will demonstrate how hydrogen storage can help reduce carbon emissions and is an innovative step towards a clean future for everyone." Bruno Biasiotta, Chief Executive Officer at GKN Hydrogen said, "We are really honored to be working with great organizations like NREL and SoCalGas to validate and demonstrate green hydrogen as a megawatt scale energy source. To accelerate the energy transition hydrogen cannot just be part of the discussion, it must be part of the solution. This project will demonstrate that large scale green hydrogen storage with HY2MEGA can be used to help decarbonize and accelerate the shift to cleaner fuels." About GKN Hydrogen GKN Hydrogen is pioneering safe, emission-free green hydrogen storage to help organizations and societies around the world achieve their carbon neutrality goals today, and in the years to come. By leveraging GKN's world-leading position in powder metal solutions, they are bringing to market green, safe, and compact hydrogen storage solution based on metal hydrides and offering a range of modular HY2 energy systems. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transition—providing electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment. SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America. In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego.

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SOLAR+STORAGE

Major new initiatives to be launched at first ever Green Hydrogen Global Assembly

The Green Hydrogen Global Assembly | May 11, 2022

The Green Hydrogen Organisation is excited to announce the first-ever Green Hydrogen Global Assembly and Exhibition, to be held in Barcelona on 17 and 18 May 2022. Press passes are available for the assembly, where major announcements will be made and significant agreements reached to take forward green energy security in Europe and beyond.   The assembly, co-hosted by the Spanish government, comes at a critical moment in history. Energy security is more important than ever, and the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report has confirmed the world needs to act fast to stave off climate disaster.   Groundbreaking new initiatives will be launched at the assembly, including announcing The 100 by 2030 Campaign, The Green Hydrogen Standard, The Green Hydrogen Contracting for People and Planet Guidance, The Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance and COP27 Call to Action. Details of these new ambitious programs will be announced at the assembly. The Green Hydrogen Global Assembly is co-hosted by Spain's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera, and Green Hydrogen Organisation Chair and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.  Government speakers include Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera, Oman's Minister of Energy and Minerals Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Rumhy, Argentinian Minister of Productive Development Dr. Matias Kulfas, South African Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy Diego Mesa Puyo, Moroccan Minister of Investment Machine Jazouli, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, and video addresses from President of Colombia Ivan Duque, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and China's Special Envoy on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua.  Industry speakers include Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh, Enagás CEO Arturo Gonzalo Aizpiri, thyssenkrup CEO Martina Merz, Acciona Chair and CEO José Manuel Entrecanales, H2 Green Steel CEO Henrik Henriksson, Korea Zinc CEO Yun Choi, ACWA Power CEO Paddy Padmanathan, Fortescue Future Industries Founding Chair Dr. Andrew Forrest, and video addresses from Enel CEO Francesco Starace and Envision Group CEO Lei Zhang. Speakers from international organisations include International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Director General Franceso La Camera, Energy Transitions Commission Chair Lord Adair Turner, and International Energy Agency (IEA) Renewable Energy Head Paolo Frankl. The horrors of the Ukraine crisis have brought energy security to the top of the global agenda. Threats to cut off gas supplies and the EU's plans to end oil imports from Russia show the inherent problem with relying on the fossil fuel industry, and now is the time for the world to make a major energy shift into green energy. Dependence on fossil fuels produced in only certain parts of the world is a poor energy strategy, and something that we already have the technology to move away from. The G7 announcement that global leaders are committed to phasing out dependency on Russian oil and gas shows the urgency of our need for green energy. The dire IPCC report shows how pressing an issue switching to green energy is. The report said it is "now or never" for climate change.   Green hydrogen is the solution the world needs, both in energy security, and in shifting to cleaner, greener energies in order to save our world and our environment.  The assembly is bringing the right people together at the right time and several initiatives will launch to take green hydrogen to the next level including the new Green Hydrogen Standard. It is likely that the European Commission's REPowerEU action plan and the contentious Delegated Act on additionality will both be adopted on 18 May during the assembly which will provide a crucial backdrop to the event. The Green Hydrogen Global Assembly and Exhibition offers an important and unprecedented opportunity to discuss these issues in detail and provide global leadership on addressing the dual challenges of climate change and energy security.

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ENERGY

Thompson Energy Solutions - Electrifying the Future

Thompson Machinery | February 21, 2022

Thompson Machinery, the local Cat dealer in Middle and West Tennessee, and North Mississippi, is rebranding its Thompson Power division to align with evolving energy markets and innovative products being developed by Caterpillar Inc. Thompson sells and services Cat commercial and industrial generator sets, industrial engines, marine engines, microgrids, and renewable energy systems. Thompson Power will now be known as Thompson Energy Solutions. The marketing strategy is intended to acknowledge Thompson's focus and commitment to new products and services in the energy market. We are excited to see Caterpillar's fully renewable energy products, such as the Cat MEC500 Mobile Equipment Charger and Cat generator sets capable of operating on 100% hydrogen." Daniel Clark, Vice President of Thompson Energy Solutions Last September, Caterpillar announced the company will begin offering Cat generator sets capable of operating on 100% hydrogen, including fully renewable green hydrogen, on a designed-to-order basis. More immediately, the company will launch commercially available power generation solutions that can be configured to operate on natural gas blended with up to 25% hydrogen. Thompson Energy Solutions is also rapidly expanding its rental fleet with Cat mobile generators ranging from 20kW to 2 megawatts. "The additional investment will increase our power generation rental fleet investment by 50% within 12 months," explains Daniel. "Targeting a growing customer base not only in construction, but healthcare, manufacturing, and commercial and industrial segments is a key component to the strategy. We are excited to share the new brand identity and the expanded rental fleet with our customers." Additionally, Thompson Energy Solutions is supporting the company's truck division called Thompson Truck Centers, which is now focusing on heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV). "A turnkey solution for zero-emissions battery-electric trucks that includes the electrical infrastructure greatly differentiates us in the marketplace," says Allan Wainscott, GM of Thompson Truck Centers. "Thompson has a rich history of supporting the on-highway truck market, as well as power systems. Making it easy to charge each truck, while providing superior parts and service, is how we plan to partner with our customers to help them succeed."

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SUSTAINABILITY

GKN Hydrogen, SoCalGas and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory agree to collaborate

GKN Hydrogen | July 01, 2022

GKN Hydrogen and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced the companies will work with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on an innovative green hydrogen storage solution. GKN Hydrogen's HY2MEGA can enable safe, long duration clean energy storage without the need for compression. At scale, this combined technology could provide resilient power in case of widespread outages. It also highlights the technologies needed to reach carbon neutrality and accelerate clean fuel initiatives. Two HY2MEGA hydrogen storage subsystems will connect to an electrolyzer and fuel cell at the ARIES facility on NREL's Flatirons Campus near Boulder, Colorado. The electrolyzer will use renewable sources and produce green hydrogen to be stored in the HY2MEGA. The HY2MEGA stores the hydrogen in a solid state (metal hydrides), under low pressure in a compact footprint. According to GKN Hydrogen, its one of the safest ways to store hydrogen. The fuel cell will then convert the green hydrogen to produce renewable electricity. The two HY2MEGA's will add an additional 500 kgs of hydrogen storage on site. The three-year project is set to launch at the end of this year. SoCalGas will leverage the large-scale hydrogen storage capabilities of GKN Hydrogen's HY2MEGA from this project to help accelerate the commercialization and deployment of green hydrogen projects. Ultimately, green hydrogen generation and storage will help decarbonize the energy system while assuring stability of the electrical grid to enable even higher penetrations of renewable sources of electricity." Neil Navin, vice president of clean energy innovations at SoCalGas "This project is exactly what the ARIES platform was designed for: demonstrate the benefits of a new technology that efficiently stores energy produced from renewable electricity," said Katherine Hurst, group manager and research scientist at NREL. "It brings together a national laboratory, a clean energy technology developer, and a large utility to work on solutions that help decarbonize the power grid. We are looking forward to working with GKN Hydrogen and SoCalGas to advance this technology." "Collaborations on green hydrogen projects are essential as we tackle this climate emergency," said Frank Wolak, President and CEO of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA). "This project will demonstrate how hydrogen storage can help reduce carbon emissions and is an innovative step towards a clean future for everyone." Bruno Biasiotta, Chief Executive Officer at GKN Hydrogen said, "We are really honored to be working with great organizations like NREL and SoCalGas to validate and demonstrate green hydrogen as a megawatt scale energy source. To accelerate the energy transition hydrogen cannot just be part of the discussion, it must be part of the solution. This project will demonstrate that large scale green hydrogen storage with HY2MEGA can be used to help decarbonize and accelerate the shift to cleaner fuels." About GKN Hydrogen GKN Hydrogen is pioneering safe, emission-free green hydrogen storage to help organizations and societies around the world achieve their carbon neutrality goals today, and in the years to come. By leveraging GKN's world-leading position in powder metal solutions, they are bringing to market green, safe, and compact hydrogen storage solution based on metal hydrides and offering a range of modular HY2 energy systems. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transition—providing electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment. SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America. In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego.

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SOLAR+STORAGE

Major new initiatives to be launched at first ever Green Hydrogen Global Assembly

The Green Hydrogen Global Assembly | May 11, 2022

The Green Hydrogen Organisation is excited to announce the first-ever Green Hydrogen Global Assembly and Exhibition, to be held in Barcelona on 17 and 18 May 2022. Press passes are available for the assembly, where major announcements will be made and significant agreements reached to take forward green energy security in Europe and beyond.   The assembly, co-hosted by the Spanish government, comes at a critical moment in history. Energy security is more important than ever, and the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report has confirmed the world needs to act fast to stave off climate disaster.   Groundbreaking new initiatives will be launched at the assembly, including announcing The 100 by 2030 Campaign, The Green Hydrogen Standard, The Green Hydrogen Contracting for People and Planet Guidance, The Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance and COP27 Call to Action. Details of these new ambitious programs will be announced at the assembly. The Green Hydrogen Global Assembly is co-hosted by Spain's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera, and Green Hydrogen Organisation Chair and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.  Government speakers include Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera, Oman's Minister of Energy and Minerals Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Rumhy, Argentinian Minister of Productive Development Dr. Matias Kulfas, South African Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy Diego Mesa Puyo, Moroccan Minister of Investment Machine Jazouli, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, and video addresses from President of Colombia Ivan Duque, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and China's Special Envoy on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua.  Industry speakers include Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh, Enagás CEO Arturo Gonzalo Aizpiri, thyssenkrup CEO Martina Merz, Acciona Chair and CEO José Manuel Entrecanales, H2 Green Steel CEO Henrik Henriksson, Korea Zinc CEO Yun Choi, ACWA Power CEO Paddy Padmanathan, Fortescue Future Industries Founding Chair Dr. Andrew Forrest, and video addresses from Enel CEO Francesco Starace and Envision Group CEO Lei Zhang. Speakers from international organisations include International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Director General Franceso La Camera, Energy Transitions Commission Chair Lord Adair Turner, and International Energy Agency (IEA) Renewable Energy Head Paolo Frankl. The horrors of the Ukraine crisis have brought energy security to the top of the global agenda. Threats to cut off gas supplies and the EU's plans to end oil imports from Russia show the inherent problem with relying on the fossil fuel industry, and now is the time for the world to make a major energy shift into green energy. Dependence on fossil fuels produced in only certain parts of the world is a poor energy strategy, and something that we already have the technology to move away from. The G7 announcement that global leaders are committed to phasing out dependency on Russian oil and gas shows the urgency of our need for green energy. The dire IPCC report shows how pressing an issue switching to green energy is. The report said it is "now or never" for climate change.   Green hydrogen is the solution the world needs, both in energy security, and in shifting to cleaner, greener energies in order to save our world and our environment.  The assembly is bringing the right people together at the right time and several initiatives will launch to take green hydrogen to the next level including the new Green Hydrogen Standard. It is likely that the European Commission's REPowerEU action plan and the contentious Delegated Act on additionality will both be adopted on 18 May during the assembly which will provide a crucial backdrop to the event. The Green Hydrogen Global Assembly and Exhibition offers an important and unprecedented opportunity to discuss these issues in detail and provide global leadership on addressing the dual challenges of climate change and energy security.

Read More

ENERGY

Thompson Energy Solutions - Electrifying the Future

Thompson Machinery | February 21, 2022

Thompson Machinery, the local Cat dealer in Middle and West Tennessee, and North Mississippi, is rebranding its Thompson Power division to align with evolving energy markets and innovative products being developed by Caterpillar Inc. Thompson sells and services Cat commercial and industrial generator sets, industrial engines, marine engines, microgrids, and renewable energy systems. Thompson Power will now be known as Thompson Energy Solutions. The marketing strategy is intended to acknowledge Thompson's focus and commitment to new products and services in the energy market. We are excited to see Caterpillar's fully renewable energy products, such as the Cat MEC500 Mobile Equipment Charger and Cat generator sets capable of operating on 100% hydrogen." Daniel Clark, Vice President of Thompson Energy Solutions Last September, Caterpillar announced the company will begin offering Cat generator sets capable of operating on 100% hydrogen, including fully renewable green hydrogen, on a designed-to-order basis. More immediately, the company will launch commercially available power generation solutions that can be configured to operate on natural gas blended with up to 25% hydrogen. Thompson Energy Solutions is also rapidly expanding its rental fleet with Cat mobile generators ranging from 20kW to 2 megawatts. "The additional investment will increase our power generation rental fleet investment by 50% within 12 months," explains Daniel. "Targeting a growing customer base not only in construction, but healthcare, manufacturing, and commercial and industrial segments is a key component to the strategy. We are excited to share the new brand identity and the expanded rental fleet with our customers." Additionally, Thompson Energy Solutions is supporting the company's truck division called Thompson Truck Centers, which is now focusing on heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV). "A turnkey solution for zero-emissions battery-electric trucks that includes the electrical infrastructure greatly differentiates us in the marketplace," says Allan Wainscott, GM of Thompson Truck Centers. "Thompson has a rich history of supporting the on-highway truck market, as well as power systems. Making it easy to charge each truck, while providing superior parts and service, is how we plan to partner with our customers to help them succeed."

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