CleanTech Report 2019.08.15

Apple picks single-axis trackers and bifacial solar panels.
Solar now cheaper than grid electricity in every Chinese city.
Renewable energy sourcing hit record high by US companies.

CleanTech Report August 15th 2019

AFRICA

Zimbabwe Government Promotes Renewable Energy Investment

All Africa

Government is considering a number of incentives to attract investment in renewable energy as part of efforts to ease power challenges that the country is facing, a Cabinet Minister has said. Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi, said Government was focusing on promoting investment in renewable energy.

How Solar Power Finds New Uses In Rural Africa

Clean Technica

According to Lusaka Times, in 2015 the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) began installing 2000 solar powered hammer mills used to make maize flour. The bright blue building I had spotted from the guesthouse turned out to be one of them.

Diageo To Invest £180m In Renewable Energy Resources In Africa

Power Technology

British multinational alcoholic beverage company Diageo will invest £180m in renewable energy resources for its sites in Africa to ensure the efficient use of water at the facilities and also reduce its carbon footprint.

 

ASIA

Indonesia Needs $15 Billion Investment To Meet Geothermal Target By 2025

Reuters

Indonesia may require an estimated $15 billion in investment to meet its target of reaching 7.2 gigawatts (GW) of geothermal power capacity by 2025 and is studying ways to reduce project costs.

Government Plans Import Tariffs On Green Equipment To Boost Local Industry

liveMint

The Union government may raise tariffs on imports of green energy equipment in a bid to boost their local manufacturing and protect domestic companies from cheaper imports, said Anand Kumar, secretary in the ministry of new and renewable energy.

Solar Now ‘Cheaper Than Grid Electricity’ In Every Chinese City

Carbon Brief

Solar power has become cheaper than grid electricity across China, a development that could boost the prospects of industrial and commercial solar, according to a new study.

AUSTRALIA

UPC Buys Into South Australia Pumped Hydro And Solar Projects

Renew Economy

The surge in development proposals in South Australia continues, with UPC Renewables and its Philippine partner AC Renewables buying a majority stake in the Baroota pumped hydro project and a neighbouring 300MW solar project, with a view to locking in finance by the end of the year.

Fiji Urges Australia To Shift To Renewable Energy

DW

Fiji has told Australia its refusal to shift from coal to renewable energy sources amounts to an “existential threat” to Pacific islands. Neighboring low-lying Tuvalu is about to host an 18-nation regional forum.

Victoria State’s 2030 Renewables Target To Become Law

Renewables Now

The government of Australia’s Victoria state will introduce today a bill into parliament that will make into law the 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

EUROPE

The Interactive Map That Reveals Why The UK Is At Risk Of Blackouts

The Telegraph

The reaction to Britain’s blackout this past Friday has been particularly withering. The dual-shutdown of a Bedford gas plant and a Humber offshore wind-farm left 1m UK homes without power, while travel chaos reigned as traffic lights and rail networks failed.

Vattenfall Joins Solar-Plus-Wind-Plus-Storage Advocates With Dutch Project

PV-Tech

Vattenfall has added its name to the swelling list of proponents of solar-plus-wind-plus-storage, unveiling plans for its first ever triple hybrid. The Swedish energy giant has chosen the Netherlands as home to a 38MW solar installation, to be built alongside a 22MW wind element and a 12MWh storage battery system.

Continued Growth Of Black & Veatch’s Renewable Energy Business In Europe

CSR Wire

The United Kingdom has made the fastest transition to decarbonisation, while Europe has led the world in installed renewable energy capacity during the last decade – according to the World Economic Forum.

LATIN AMERICA

Atlas Signs PPA With Engie

BN Americas

President Sebastián Piñera announced in June an exit schedule for eight coal-fired power plants from the energy matrix under the concept of “Zero Carbon Energy,” which seeks to achieve carbon neutrality in Chile by 2050.

EdgeConneX Opens Its First Edge Data Centre In South America

Data-Economy

The facility was first mooted at the beginning of last year and now the “go live” button has now been pressed to help serve one of South America’s biggest economies.

Equinor Enters Argentina’s Wind-Power Market

Recharge Wind

Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor, has entered the Argentine wind-power market by acquiring a 50% stake in the 120MW Cañadón León wind farm project, which is owned and being built by local power company YPF Luz.

 

MENA

Saudi Arabia Wind Farm Claims World Record Low Energy Cost

Renew Economy

Saudi Arabia’s 400MW Dumat Al Jandal onshore wind farm has announced what it says is a world record-low onshore wind levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of 1.99 US cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

SoftBank’s Bid To Build A Solar-Power Empire Founders

The Wall Street Journal

The Japanese investor sought deals of immense scale in Saudi Arabia, India and beyond. He promised to spend hundreds of billions of dollars tackling one of the world’s toughest challenges—meeting its growing energy demand with less carbon-intensive sources.

Jordanian Projects Boost Renewable Energy Sector

ZAWYA

In a report about its services for the first half of the year, the ministry said a total of 5,329 families that meet the conditions have applied to benefit from services, according to a ministry statement.

 

NORTH AMERICA

Renewable Energy Sourcing By US-based Corporates Set For Record High In 2019

Edie

The Corporate Energy Outlook report states that corporations, globally, signed contracts to purchase 8.6GW of clean power between January and June 2019, up from 7.2GW during the same period in 2018.

Apple Picks Single Axis Trackers And Bifacial Solar Panels 

pv-magazine

Apple is one of the leading corporate renewable energy purchasers in the United States, with global 100% clean energy goals. When asked whether clean energy hurt the company’s bottom line.

A Clean Energy Breakthrough Could Be Buried Deep Beneath Rural Utah

LA Times

If you know anything about solar and wind farms, you know they’re good at generating electricity when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, and not so good at other times.

 
 

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