Month: July 2021

Historic drought to shrink California’s hydroelectric generation by 19%

As a result of harsh drought conditions in California in 2021, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects the state’s hydroelectric generation to be lower in 2021 than it has been in recent years. In the first four months of 2021, hydroelectric generation in California was 37% less than in the same four months in 2020 …

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Major hydrogen initiatives underway at US Department of Energy

DOE announces 52M for 31 hydrogen projects; issues RFI for projects to which Avangrid responds Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $52.5 million to fund 31 projects to advance next-generation clean hydrogen technologies and support DOE’s recently announced Hydrogen Energy Earthshot initiative. The first Earthshot, Hydrogen Shot, which was launched one month ago, seeks to …

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Atmospheric scientists collaborate to improve offshore wind research through better buoys

A new collaborative project led by researchers at the University at Albany Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) could soon offer a new approach to tap into this vast amount of renewable energy. The project, in partnership with DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and funded through $500,000 in support from DOE, aims to design, install …

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Since 2018 law, Iowa utilities are doing a lot less to help customers save energy

by Karen Uhlenhuth, Energy News Network Iowa’s largest utilities have dramatically scaled back efforts to help customers conserve energy since a 2018 law gutted the state’s efficiency requirements. MidAmerican Energy reported kilowatt-hour savings for 2020 that were 64% lower than what the utility achieved the year before the law took effect. Alliant Energy’s savings were …

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Parkwind secures funding for 257-MW Arcadis Ost 1 floating wind farm

Belgium-based Parkwind has secured funding from multiple financial institutions to implement its first renewable energy project outside the country. The company will use a €150 million (US$177.8 million) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to construct its $675.9 million Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm. Other financial institutions supporting the German wind farm include KBC, …

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Digging deeper: How US sanctions on Chinese PV may impact the market

The U.S. is taking a multifaceted approach to addressing forced labor allegations against Chinese suppliers of silicon and polysilicon. This article assess the impacts for the solar panel supply chain On June 24, 2021, the Biden administration took several steps to respond to allegations of forced labor and human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other …

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Major overhaul planned for 570-MW Wivenhoe Pumped Storage in Queensland

Queensland’s largest hydropower station, the 570-MW Wivenhoe Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Station, will undergo a $14 million overhaul to ensure it continues to produce cleaner, cheaper energy for years to come. Major maintenance works will start at the Wivenhoe station this month, creating 100 jobs under the Palaszczuk Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. The plant …

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SRP begins work to transition workers, economy away from coal

Arizona’s Salt River Project (SRP) announced in January 2020 plans to close its Coronado Generating Station (CGS), a coal-fired power plant, no later than 2032 and to reduce its workforce by 40% by 2025. Last week SRP announced that it is putting together and economic transition plan to help the community make the transition. In …

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Upstream oil and gas company signs PPA for 6.5-MW solar project

Last month Priority Power Management, LLC (Priority Power), an independent energy services provider announced that it has entered into a Solar Development Services Agreement (DSA) with FireBird Energy LLC, an upstream oil and gas company operating numerous properties in the Midland Basin in Texas. Under the DSA, Priority Power will develop a 6.5-MW solar photovoltaic …

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