Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Martyn1981

interesting twist on the news regarding the big battery in Australia (129MWh, not 129kWh as the article states).

The article explains how the gas generators can no longer game the system to earn enormous money from the gas peaker plants that step in briefly when there's a shortage.

Removing the very short, but very expensive periods like that will then reduce the average cost of leccy.

Tesla’s Battery In South Australia Breaks Stranglehold Of Natural Gas Industry


.... and a bonus article on a virtual powerstation:

The 2,900 Home sonnenCommunity Demonstrates The Potential Of Neighborhood Solar+Storage

In total, the carbon-neutral community will represent a 23 megawatt-hour (MWh) energy storage bank with 11.6 MW of power output potential. The energy storage capacity and power output potential of the 2,900 homes would be aggregated into a virtual power plant (VPP) that allows the collective to negotiate and respond to needs of the grid as a single unit. Mandalay Homes and sonnen continue their ongoing dialogue and collaboration with the local utility as homes in the community are brought online.

Coastalwatch

Thanks Mart for posting those two topics, both interesting with the second one being very pertinent to us here. It is for a development of 1000 homes, the plan covering the area until 2036. What an opportunity to engage in a similar such project detailed in your post. Apologies for not having a news topic to accompany the post so maybe it won't make publication. Fully endorse the new format by the way.

Coastalwatch

Hadn't seen this elsewhere on here so thought I might be forgiven for adding it if a few days after initial publication!

Solar sets new generation record in Q2 as coal hits fresh lows

The latest Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), released by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) last week, confirmed that solar generation in the three months from April to June 2018 stood at 4.65TWh.
That figure, reached on the back of a prolonged dry and clear spell in the UK, was a new record for solar in the UK and contributed towards total renewable generation of 24.3TWh.
The figures were enough for renewables to provide almost one-third (31.7%) of total UK electricity generation throughout the period, with coal slumping to a record low contribution of just 1.6%.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/solar_set_new_generation_record_in_q2_as_coal_hits_fresh_lows

Martyn1981

T'would be nicer if they were charged from renewables, but this is part of the displacement of peaker plants by battery storage.

Centrica completes brace of battery storage units with combined 100MW capacity

Centrica has completed the deployment of almost 100MW of energy storage capacity across two projects in the UK that are able to respond to peaks in demand within two minutes.

The 49MW projects are in Brigg in North East Lincolnshire and Peterborough on land adjacent to Centrica’s existing gas-fired power plants.

The plants are comprised of five 9.8MW ‘engines’ each supplied by Wärtsilä, which also delivered EPC services for both sites, and are expected to typically run for a few hours a day.

Martyn1981

Article from this week's Carbon Commentary newsletter (back from a summer pause).

We've been talking about RE generation in excess of that that can be stored in frequent use batts. Hydrogen is a solution especially if operating from dirt cheap excess that would otherwise be spilt/curtailed.

3, Direct Air Capture to methane. Climeworks is one of the two leaders in direct capture of CO2 from the atmosphere. It recently completed a plant in Italy that combines the collected CO2 with hydrogen from water electrolysis to make methane. The gas is then used to provide fuel for standard natural gas trucks. This is a trial, funded by the EU, and no detail is provided on the economics of the operation. But I think that direct air capture of CO2 reacted with hydrogen created from surplus electricity is likely to be a vitally important route for energy storage and low carbon transport.

Coastalwatch

Don't know if Mart's taken the day off! But thought it interesting that investment opportunities in renewables are being taken up by the Pension fund of a well known High St bank!

HSBC UK Pensions Scheme is to invest £250 million in UK solar and wind farms under a new agreement with renewables investor Greencoat Capital.

The pledge, announced yesterday as part of Green Great Britain Week, will see the pension fund invest in operating solar and wind farms, with Greencoat responsible for identifying assets.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/hsbc_to_invest_250_million_in_uk_solar_and_wind_farms

Martyn1981

Coastalwatch wrote: »

Don't know if Mart's taken the day off!

I was laying a laminate floor at the cat rescue. Managed to get DPM, underlay and laminate all for free, some bits and bobs I have lying around (DPM sheets ..... as you do), plus donations of old floor that came up.

I have managed to get materials out of the skips at the recycling centre too, but that's normally not allowed, but 2 pens worth of flooring and a nice set of glass cabinet windows for free, and I only went to drop off some rubble!

Not exactly green energy issues, but certainly news, and green and ethical moneysaving.

But cheap/free lino still eludes me! And that's very useful for making life easier for cleaning.

Anna's Rescue Centre


From a green energy news standpoint, anyone have any thoughts on this - As the colder weather approaches the building (effectively a stable with T&G cladding) will need some heating. They already have a mobile A/C unit with an exhaust hose for the hot air (donated during the incredible summer heat wave).

Rather than use conventional hot air blowers, would the A/C unit be more efficient if I housed it outside the stable, but with the hot air pipe going into the rescue centre?

Martyn1981

We've all heard the 'one' about there not being enough land to generate all our leccy from RE?

Well, here's the results for Germany:

WWF says 2% of Germany’s surface is enough for 100% renewables

An analysis of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) assumes that a maximum of 2.5% of Germany’s land is needed for the energy transition. With a higher share of solar in the electricity mix, however, this percentage would be lowered to 2%. The study also says that the expansion of renewables will not endanger nature protection.

There is no room in Germany to completely switch the power supply to renewable energies – this is a popular objection to the further expansion of photovoltaics and wind energy. The environmental association WWF has now published a study, which invalidates this argument: In the country there is enough space available to convert its electricity system from fossil to renewables, and at the same time to protect the interests of nature conservation, is the conclusion. The study was conducted by Öko-Institut, Prognos and the landscape planners Bosch & Partner.

The authors of the study investigated where photovoltaic and wind energy expansion could take place, taking into account restrictions such as the necessary distances to settlements or the protection of nature and species. If demand is to be covered primarily by wind turbines (“Energy Turnaround Reference” scenario), about 2.5 percent of the country’s land will have to be used. For 2050, the authors expect 178 GW of onshore wind, 51 GW offshore wind and 154 GW of photovoltaic power. By contrast, only around 2.0 percent of the country’s total area will be needed if solar energy were to play a greater role. The authors defined a scenario (“focus solar”) with 115 GW of onshore wind, 51 GW offshore wind, and 313 GW of photovoltaic power. The calculation is based on the fact that almost the entire rooftop potential of photovoltaics is exploited.

Coastalwatch

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Not exactly green energy issues, but certainly news, and green and ethical moneysaving.
But cheap/free lino still eludes me! And that's very useful for making life easier for cleaning.

Anna's Rescue Centre

From a green energy news standpoint, anyone have any thoughts on this - As the colder weather approaches the building (effectively a stable with T&G cladding) will need some heating. They already have a mobile A/C unit with an exhaust hose for the hot air (donated during the incredible summer heat wave).

Rather than use conventional hot air blowers, would the A/C unit be more efficient if I housed it outside the stable, but with the hot air pipe going into the rescue centre?

Hi Mart, I have to applaud you passion and committment to the above matter but with only T & G cladding I do reckon trying to heat that stable will be almost like trying to heat the atmosphere!

Inheriting a similarly constructed workshop when we moved in a couple of years ago I pondered on the same problem. Eventually settling for lining it with 50mm thick Celotex finished off with plaster board. The latter being the most economical option available, if not the most durable. It's certainly helped to keep it cool in summer and warmer in winter.

With regard to the A/C unit then I suspect it's got to be mounted outside otherwise it would surely be fighting itself. While the hose might be pumping out hot air the unit itself would surely be emitting an equal amount of cooling air, wouldn't it?

As a birdwatcher I'm afraid I can't share your passion for domesticated felines but hope the above may assist!;)

michaels

Martyn1981 wrote: »

I was laying a laminate floor at the cat rescue. Managed to get DPM, underlay and laminate all for free, some bits and bobs I have lying around (DPM sheets ..... as you do), plus donations of old floor that came up.

I have managed to get materials out of the skips at the recycling centre too, but that's normally not allowed, but 2 pens worth of flooring and a nice set of glass cabinet windows for free, and I only went to drop off some rubble!

Not exactly green energy issues, but certainly news, and green and ethical moneysaving.

But cheap/free lino still eludes me! And that's very useful for making life easier for cleaning.

Anna's Rescue Centre


From a green energy news standpoint, anyone have any thoughts on this - As the colder weather approaches the building (effectively a stable with T&G cladding) will need some heating. They already have a mobile A/C unit with an exhaust hose for the hot air (donated during the incredible summer heat wave).

Rather than use conventional hot air blowers, would the A/C unit be more efficient if I housed it outside the stable, but with the hot air pipe going into the rescue centre?

It is an interesting question, what is more efficient for space heating, a fan heater or the exhaust from a portable ac unit?

I am thinking the exhaust will be bringing outside air in and thus expelling already warm inside air but I guess it depends how the portable unit is configured.