Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Coastalwatch

A sad effect of all this for those in car sales and rental industries is as pointed out on the article below. The graph showing depreciating stats of various models of car suggest that EV's are going to have a head start once restrictions are lifted. While these figures refer to the US only it may well be that it's an indication of what may occur across many developed nations.

I couldn't help but think when walking past a driveway proudly displaying a sparkling '69 plate Audi, that what a stranded asset it may turn out to be. Unless of course as, with so many new vehicles today, it's merely on rental!

Used Car Sales Are Collapsing — What Happens Next?

Manheim, the auction company owned by Cox Automotive that passed along that info, expects that prices have been down approximately 10%. For people on the market for a used car, that’s good news. For the people and companies selling used cars, that’s problematic. On a large scale, there are a lot of implications.

Auto companies’ in-house leasing businesses are in the ditch. Vehicles coming off of leases are worth considerably less than these businesses expected when they launched the leases, which in many cases means losing money. It could mean losing billions of dollars.

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/04/17/used-car-sales-are-collapsing-what-happens-next/?utm_source=CleanTechnica+News+(2020)&utm_campaign=2b13f0cfba-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_29_12_34_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-2b13f0cfba-332776605

ASavvyBuyer

Coastalwatch said:

My, that's quite a revelation following the introduction of lockdown in India. But I'm still disappointed, as we still can't see them from our bedroom window!

Not really the same, but at least we can see the Brecon Beacons from our front room

Coastalwatch

Meanwhile nearer to home, or Scotland more specifically:-

Ofgem backs Shetland subsea power cable plans

Energy regulator Ofgem has approved plans for a subsea power cable which would take energy from Shetland to the Scottish mainland.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) wants to build a 600MW electricity transmission link.

Ofgen said this would allow new wind farms on Shetland to export renewable electricity to the rest of Britain.

The regulator said the scheme would also help ensure the supply of electricity on the islands.

However, the approval of SSEN's revised proposals is subject to evidence that a Viking Energy wind farm project will go ahead.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-52397784?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business&link_location=live-reporting-story

Martyn1981

New York has approved off-shore win procurement of 1GW to 2.5GW (target of 9GW by 2035). The US is starting to ramp up off-shore wind as an additional tool for the RE toolbox.

Green light for 2.5GW New York offshore wind sale

The New York Public Service Commission has given the go-ahead for the US state to start procurement of up to 2500MW of new offshore wind capacity this year.

The commission decision taken on 23 April authorises the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to procure at least 1GW and grants the latter organisation the flexibility to consider 2.5GW, if the “pricing and other terms are sufficiently compelling”.

Martyn1981

Fairs fair, and credit where credit is due - The Church of England is not backing down in the 'fight' against ExxonMobil and their lack of climate action, and lack of transparency on lobbying.

Church fund urges other ExxonMobil investors to sack board over climate

The Church of England’s investment arm has urged shareholders in ExxonMobil to vote against re-electing the oil company’s entire board for failing to take action on the climate crisis.

The Church Commissioners and New York State Common Retirement Fund have written to fellow ExxonMobil investors ahead of an annual shareholder meeting on 27 May, hoping to support for the protest votes, which include forcing ExxonMobil to disclose its lobbying activities and their cost .

“Our voting intentions are, again, a measure of our profound dissatisfaction with ExxonMobil’s approach to climate change risks and the governance failures that underpin it,” the letter said.

“As the world, ExxonMobil’s peers and investors confront the climate emergency, ExxonMobil is carrying on as if nothing has changed. It is crystal clear to us that ExxonMobil’s inadequate response to climate change constitutes a broad failure of corporate governance and a specific failure of independent directors to oversee management,” the letter added.

Last year, ExxonMobil appealed to US regulators and successfully blocked a C of E-led resolution that would have forced the oil firm to disclose its emissions reduction targets. In protest, the C of E called for ExxonMobil to install an independent chairman, and it gained 40% backing.

ASavvyBuyer

The Dutch grid operator TenneT together with several other grid operators has announced they will be building a platform that will allow home batteries & electric vehicles to store and deliver electricity back to the grid. Millions of cars that are only used 5-10 percent of the time and then only use 10-20 percent of their capacity will be able to accept the surplus and return it over a period of days.

https://www.tennet.eu/news/detail/equigy-platform-gives-european-consumers-access-to-tomorrows-sustainable-energy-market/

About the Equigy platform:

In tomorrow's energy world, millions of small decentralised electricity producers, consumers and storage facilities such as electric vehicles, domestic batteries and heat pumps will help to cope with grid bottlenecks and balance fluctuations between generation and consumption. In this way, they take over tasks that today are mainly carried out by large power plants such as coal- and oil-fired power plants with a capacity of several hundred megawatts.

For millions of decentralised small storage units in households in the one to two digit kilowatt range across Europe to be able to offer their free capacity for grid stabilisation, automated processes and IT solutions are needed that make this possible in a simple, fast and cost-effective way. With the Equigy platform, the TSOs create the conditions for this. As an open source solution, the platform will be available free of charge.

"Now that the conventional power stations are closing, we are preparing for a future in which we are largely dependent on consumers with their electric cars, home batteries and heat pumps to stabilise the grid reliably, sustainably and cost-effectively. In order for all these devices to work together to balance the grid, the Equigy platform provides an important technical basis. With this platform, data can be exchanged between the devices, market players and grid operators. This means that everyone will soon be able to help realise the energy transition and also benefit financially from it," says TenneT CEO

Martyn1981

Pretty big news. Following the successful legal challenge that it wasn't doing enough to meet climate targets, the Dutch Government is now ramping up measures for reducing emissions and expanding RE. The surprise to me was this bit

The headline change is a 75% reduction in capacity at the country’s three coal-fired power stations, all of which have been opened in the past five years. The government is also reportedly in negotiations to close one of these plants.

Could that scare other countries into reconsidering new coal plants, even ones to replace old coal plants, if there is a risk of legal challenges later on? I guess it will depend where they are built, and why, since a legal challenge in China (for example) may not be as successful.

Dutch officials reveal measures to cut emissions after court ruling

The Dutch government has announced measures including huge cuts to coal use, garden greening and limits on livestock herds as part of its plan to lower emissions to comply with a supreme court ruling.

Climate litigation activists described the move as “an enormous win”. The small non-profit Urgenda Foundation, which filed the initial legal challenge in 2013, said this and earlier compliance measures totalled about €3bn euros, which confirms the impact of the world’s most successful climate lawsuit to date.

Under the new package, coal-fired power stations will have to scale back or close completely , cattle and pig herds will be reduced, subsidies will be provided to home owners to use less concrete and more plants in their gardens, and industry will have to find alternatives for several polluting processes.

In addition, it will provide about €400m for household energy saving measures such as double glazing, €360m to compensate farmers for livestock reductions, and €30m for LED lighting in greenhouses.

Along with earlier steps – including lower speed limits to control emissions of nitrogen dioxide, €2bn for rooftop solar and other forms of renewable energy, solar panels on all school rooftops, more sustainable forestry and changes in the use of concrete, the measures are expected to save 8 megatonnes of emissions this year and provide extra benefits in terms of air quality and wildlife habitat.

Coastalwatch

Martyn1981 said:

Along with earlier steps – including lower speed limits to control emissions of nitrogen dioxide,

Now wouldn't that be an interesting proposition if introduced. Say limiting FF cars to 45 or 50mph. Can you imagine the repercussions! Undoubtedly humungous protestations from their owners but what greater incentive would one need to encourage most people to go electric and for what cost? As I don't think there would even be a need to offer financial incentives as additional encouragement!

Solarchaser

I gotta be honest. I winced at speed reductions.

I know, Greater good, but.... from a business perspective, it will increase my working day, and from a personal perspective. I like going fast lol

Coastalwatch

Solarchaser said:

I gotta be honest. I winced at speed reductions.
I know, Greater good, but.... from a business perspective, it will increase my working day, and from a personal perspective. I like going fast lol

When working I was always encouraged to work Smarter, not harder(faster). Guess you'll be first in the queue for a Tesla then!