Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Exiled_Tyke

Martyn1981 said:

If £48/MWh, even £60/MWh (if the lower figure is at the 2012 baseline) is doable, I'd invest. But I suspect they need institutions with vastly larger piggybanks.  

Exactly what I was thinking! Let me in!!! 

Coastalwatch

Exiled_Tyke said:

Martyn1981 said:

If £48/MWh, even £60/MWh (if the lower figure is at the 2012 baseline) is doable, I'd invest. But I suspect they need institutions with vastly larger piggybanks.  

Exactly what I was thinking! Let me in!!! 

I'm not so sure, HM Government is backing Sizewell C at double the timescale and cost.

So I'm wondering if it isn't all a hoax. Dare I even say pipedream!

QrizB

Coastalwatch said:

Exiled_Tyke said:

Martyn1981 said:

If £48/MWh, even £60/MWh (if the lower figure is at the 2012 baseline) is doable, I'd invest. But I suspect they need institutions with vastly larger piggybanks.  

Exactly what I was thinking! Let me in!!! 

I'm not so sure, HM Government is backing Sizewell C at double the timescale and cost.

So I'm wondering if it isn't all a hoax. Dare I even say pipedream!

HM Govt's track record on energy projects could be described as "mixed" ...

paul991

makes nuclear options more uneconomic  than they already are .a  govt minister was saying the latest nuclear expenditure will put 30 pounds on our  bills, tv  interview on breakfast this  morning. I don't know what happened to the Iceland cable that was being discussed a few months  back

paul991

https://constructionreviewonline.com/biggest-projects/contracts-awarded-for-neuconnect-uk-germany-undersea-interconnector-project/

Martyn1981

I thought this was very promising as it not only shows how much progress the US could make, but that the majority of the population are in states that are actively working on the transition now with 'good' targets, and aiming to do better.

Famous last words (polite way to suggest I'm gonna open my big mouth), but there are massive advantages to RE now going forward, chiefly that they are tried and tested, and secondly that they are cost effective and getting cheaper v's FF's, even before the externality costs of FF's are included ..... so things should only get easier, fingers crossed.

As sad as the situation in Ukraine is, it's opened a lot of eyes regarding energy independence, and the wasteful nature of transporting vast amounts of FF's around the globe.

Ask A Scientist: Two Dozen States Can Meet 100% Of Electricity Demand With Renewables By 2035

Since its founding in 2017, the US Climate Alliance — a coalition of states committed to meeting the goals of the Paris climate accord — has grown to 24 states and one US territory. All told, they represent 56% of the US population, generate 62% of the country’s gross domestic product, and are responsible for 43% of the country’s annual carbon emissions.

Coastalwatch

How Much! If correct that's going to take some finding in the current climate.

Battery storage rollout needs £20bn government investment to support renewables goals

The battery storage rollout needs to continue its upwards trajectory, with increased government spending required, according to new data from Cornwall Insight.

In order to meet 2030 renewables targets - including up to 50GW of offshore wind - increased levels of GB battery storage will be needed, with Cornwall Insight suggesting that almost 10% of grid capacity will be provided by battery storage by 2030.

This increase in battery storage capacity will be needed to address stability and flexibility requirements as a result of the rise of intermittent renewables on the grid, with coal capacity due to close in the next few years and nuclear and combined cycle gas turbine capacity ageing and approaching retirement.

" . . .a significant investment will be needed to develop new technologies to compensate for these capacity losses while delivering on the government's offshore wind targets and net zero legislation," Tom Edwards, senior modellor at Cornwall Insight, said.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/battery_storage_rollout_needs_20bn_government_investment_to_support_renewab

michaels

Coastalwatch said:

How Much! If correct that's going to take some finding in the current climate.

Battery storage rollout needs £20bn government investment to support renewables goals

The battery storage rollout needs to continue its upwards trajectory, with increased government spending required, according to new data from Cornwall Insight.

In order to meet 2030 renewables targets - including up to 50GW of offshore wind - increased levels of GB battery storage will be needed, with Cornwall Insight suggesting that almost 10% of grid capacity will be provided by battery storage by 2030.

This increase in battery storage capacity will be needed to address stability and flexibility requirements as a result of the rise of intermittent renewables on the grid, with coal capacity due to close in the next few years and nuclear and combined cycle gas turbine capacity ageing and approaching retirement.

" . . .a significant investment will be needed to develop new technologies to compensate for these capacity losses while delivering on the government's offshore wind targets and net zero legislation," Tom Edwards, senior modellor at Cornwall Insight, said.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/battery_storage_rollout_needs_20bn_government_investment_to_support_renewab

What in terms of gw and gwh would that 20bn get us compared to HPC (same order of magnitude)?

QrizB

michaels said:

Coastalwatch said:

How Much! If correct that's going to take some finding in the current climate.

Battery storage rollout needs £20bn government investment to support renewables goals

The battery storage rollout needs to continue its upwards trajectory, with increased government spending required, according to new data from Cornwall Insight.

In order to meet 2030 renewables targets - including up to 50GW of offshore wind - increased levels of GB battery storage will be needed, with Cornwall Insight suggesting that almost 10% of grid capacity will be provided by battery storage by 2030.

This increase in battery storage capacity will be needed to address stability and flexibility requirements as a result of the rise of intermittent renewables on the grid, with coal capacity due to close in the next few years and nuclear and combined cycle gas turbine capacity ageing and approaching retirement.

" . . .a significant investment will be needed to develop new technologies to compensate for these capacity losses while delivering on the government's offshore wind targets and net zero legislation," Tom Edwards, senior modellor at Cornwall Insight, said.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/battery_storage_rollout_needs_20bn_government_investment_to_support_renewab

What in terms of gw and gwh would that 20bn get us compared to HPC (same order of magnitude)?

Taken entirely at face value, the two projects are a similar price.

The article says "almost 10% of grid capacity" will be provided by battery storage, which would be equivalent to around 3.1GW continuous. HPS is rated at 3.2GW and will run 11 months in 12, which is 2.93GW continuous.

However, the capital cost of HPC won't cost "the government" anything; it'll be funded by electricity billpayers.

The article is talking about £20Bn of government money (from taxpayers, as opposed to billpayers) to develop new technologies; the implication being that this is in addition to the capital cost of the storage systems themselves.

Martyn1981

Good to see battery recycling starting to scale up as it will be so important in the coming years to provide materials for massively growing demand.

Hydrovolt, The Largest Battery Recycling Facility In Europe, Begins Operations

Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt and Norwegian aluminum supplier Hydro are partners in Hydrovolt, a joint venture which has constructed the largest battery recycling facility in Europe. Located in Fredrikstad in southern Norway, the Hydrovolt factory is now in commercial operation and expects to recycle 12,000 tons of depleted batteries a year initially, rising to 70,000 tons by 2025 and 300,000 tons by 2030. 12,000 tons is enough to handle all depleted batteries from electric vehicles on the road in Norway today.

The fully automated Hydrovolt recycling process allows up to 95% of materials to be recovered from batteries that have reached the end of their useful service life. The so-called black mass composed of the nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium inside the batteries will be supplied to Northvolt to support its goal of using 50% recycled material in battery production by 2030.

The recycling of batteries will contribute directly to the sustainability of the battery industry and is necessary for fulfillment of emerging European regulations governing batteries, including forthcoming mandatory recycling targets. The recovery of the black mass will reduce dependence on mining as a source for primary raw materials, as well as the risks and vulnerabilities associated with it.

Electric vehicles are ideally suited to being part of a circular economy because nearly all of the material in EV batteries can be recycled to make new batteries that are as good as or better than the originals. Tell your EV hating friends to put that in their pipe and smoke it!