Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Martyn1981

Water simple idea.

PS - Is it just me, or does Octopus Energy seem to be cropping up, more and more, in RE news, developments, etc etc?

Energy from data centres could heat UK swimming pools after green investment

Up to 150 public swimming pools in the UK could be offered an innovative way to cut their energy bills by recycling heat from computer data processing centres after a £200m investment by Octopus Energy into a green tech firm.

The tech startup Deep Green has already piloted using energy from processing centres to heat swimming pools, with the concept trialled last year in Exmouth, Devon.

The new investment announced on Monday is likely to result in the energy solution expanded to leisure centres across the country over the next two years.

In Exmouth, the swimming pool was able to slash its heating bill by more than 60%. In return, Deep Green gets free cooling which provides it with a significant competitive edge over traditional data centres.

Installed on-site, Deep Green data centres do not require additional grid upgrades or planning permission and can be up and running in a matter of weeks, the company says.

The technique works for the data centre and the pool – the heat from the computers warms the water and the transfer of heat into the pool cools the computers.

The new investment came via Octopus’s dedicated energy transition fund.

NigeWick

Martyn1981 said:

Water simple idea.

PS - Is it just me, or does Octopus Energy seem to be cropping up, more and more, in RE news, developments, etc etc?

I reckon that as they grow, they will naturally become ever more visible. They're supposed to be training thousands to fit heat pumps and associated gubbins.

Martyn1981

Just saw this. So like the UK, the US is now directing funding into marine energy research (albeit a pitiful amount). I appreciate that marine energy is a tough one - loads of energy, but it tends to destroy the devices trying to extract it - but the more the merrier, and hopefully cost effective solutions will emerge.

A $1.3 Million Bet On Marine Energy Is More Than It May Seem

The relentless motion of ocean waves and tides is a tantalizing prize for clean power innovators on the prowl for a steady, infinite source of renewable energy to harvest day or night, regardless of the weather. The technology has yet to go mainstream, but a new $1.3 million funding pot for a group of marine energy projects in the US indicates that things are ready to pop.

$1.3 Million For Wave Energy

The US could fulfill 60% of its electricity demand with wave energy alone, but there’s a catch. “But before the country (and the world) can tap into that well of power, we need a new fleet of technologies to harness those waves—affordably,” says the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

That thing about affordability piles one catch onto the other, but solutions have been emerging. The funding total of $1.3 million is focused on shepherding new marine energy devices through the crucial testing phase as efficiently as possible, including tidal energy devices as well as wave energy devices. If all goes according to plan, the funds will help to accelerate the timeline towards commercializing the technology.

Martyn1981

Positive piece about the net benefits to jobs from the growing green economy. Whilst the UK needs to 'ramp up' training, I assume this applies to pretty much every country at the moment.

‘UK needs to ramp up green skills training’

According to Green Skills Outlook, produced by Economist Impact for ScottishPower’s parent company, a majority (71%) of business leaders agree green skills will be the most important driver, yet just 51% are implementing or planning to implement green skills programmes for their workforce.

Meanwhile, almost two thirds (63%) think that the green transition will create more jobs than it eliminates, with three quarters (74%) saying that the jobs it creates will be higher quality for workers.

UK business leaders are generally optimistic about the green transition, with over two thirds (68%) confident that it presents more opportunities than challenges.

shinytop

Martyn1981 said:

Positive piece about the net benefits to jobs from the growing green economy. Whilst the UK needs to 'ramp up' training, I assume this applies to pretty much every country at the moment.

‘UK needs to ramp up green skills training’

According to Green Skills Outlook, produced by Economist Impact for ScottishPower’s parent company, a majority (71%) of business leaders agree green skills will be the most important driver, yet just 51% are implementing or planning to implement green skills programmes for their workforce.

Meanwhile, almost two thirds (63%) think that the green transition will create more jobs than it eliminates, with three quarters (74%) saying that the jobs it creates will be higher quality for workers.

UK business leaders are generally optimistic about the green transition, with over two thirds (68%) confident that it presents more opportunities than challenges.

As long as they are proper technical jobs researching, designing and implementing solutions.  

And more, better paid jobs sounds more expensive. Who'll be paying? (I think I know the answer). 

Martyn1981

shinytop said:

Martyn1981 said:

Positive piece about the net benefits to jobs from the growing green economy. Whilst the UK needs to 'ramp up' training, I assume this applies to pretty much every country at the moment.

‘UK needs to ramp up green skills training’

According to Green Skills Outlook, produced by Economist Impact for ScottishPower’s parent company, a majority (71%) of business leaders agree green skills will be the most important driver, yet just 51% are implementing or planning to implement green skills programmes for their workforce.

Meanwhile, almost two thirds (63%) think that the green transition will create more jobs than it eliminates, with three quarters (74%) saying that the jobs it creates will be higher quality for workers.

UK business leaders are generally optimistic about the green transition, with over two thirds (68%) confident that it presents more opportunities than challenges.

As long as they are proper technical jobs researching, designing and implementing solutions.  

And more, better paid jobs sounds more expensive. Who'll be paying? (I think I know the answer). 

Haven't heard that old chestnut for some time.

So, RE generation typically employes more people than FF generation on a pro-rata basis. But RE gen saves on the fuel cost, v's FF generation.

Exiled_Tyke

Martyn1981 said:

shinytop said:

Martyn1981 said:

Positive piece about the net benefits to jobs from the growing green economy. Whilst the UK needs to 'ramp up' training, I assume this applies to pretty much every country at the moment.

‘UK needs to ramp up green skills training’

According to Green Skills Outlook, produced by Economist Impact for ScottishPower’s parent company, a majority (71%) of business leaders agree green skills will be the most important driver, yet just 51% are implementing or planning to implement green skills programmes for their workforce.

Meanwhile, almost two thirds (63%) think that the green transition will create more jobs than it eliminates, with three quarters (74%) saying that the jobs it creates will be higher quality for workers.

UK business leaders are generally optimistic about the green transition, with over two thirds (68%) confident that it presents more opportunities than challenges.

As long as they are proper technical jobs researching, designing and implementing solutions.  

And more, better paid jobs sounds more expensive. Who'll be paying? (I think I know the answer). 

Haven't heard that old chestnut for some time.

So, RE generation typically employes more people than FF generation on a pro-rata basis. But RE gen saves on the fuel cost, v's FF generation.

Couldn't agree with you more. Where does this assumption come from that RE jobs creates problems.  The Uruguay article I posted about 3 weeks ago is a real example of how RE can create great jobs whilst benefiting the economy as a whole (including the poorest). Meanwhile FF seems to be just benefitting the already very rich. 

Martyn1981

Exiled_Tyke said:

Martyn1981 said:

shinytop said:

Martyn1981 said:

Positive piece about the net benefits to jobs from the growing green economy. Whilst the UK needs to 'ramp up' training, I assume this applies to pretty much every country at the moment.

‘UK needs to ramp up green skills training’

According to Green Skills Outlook, produced by Economist Impact for ScottishPower’s parent company, a majority (71%) of business leaders agree green skills will be the most important driver, yet just 51% are implementing or planning to implement green skills programmes for their workforce.

Meanwhile, almost two thirds (63%) think that the green transition will create more jobs than it eliminates, with three quarters (74%) saying that the jobs it creates will be higher quality for workers.

UK business leaders are generally optimistic about the green transition, with over two thirds (68%) confident that it presents more opportunities than challenges.

As long as they are proper technical jobs researching, designing and implementing solutions.  

And more, better paid jobs sounds more expensive. Who'll be paying? (I think I know the answer). 

Haven't heard that old chestnut for some time.

So, RE generation typically employes more people than FF generation on a pro-rata basis. But RE gen saves on the fuel cost, v's FF generation.

Couldn't agree with you more. Where does this assumption come from that RE jobs creates problems.  The Uruguay article I posted about 3 weeks ago is a real example of how RE can create great jobs whilst benefiting the economy as a whole (including the poorest). Meanwhile FF seems to be just benefitting the already very rich. 

Yep, this fits in with the studies that have calculated that 'dealing with AGW', or 'addressing CO2 emissions', is actually cheaper than not doing it. Something that flies in the face of the argument that a green economy will have us all living in caves - as per the recent nonsense said by the hosts of COP28. Although to be fair, that was their scaremongering statement based on abruptly ending the use of FF's today, a strawman argument designed purely to introduce the false notion that we will 'lose out' or 'suffer' in some way.

There was a recent news article on a 'cheaper to act, than not' study/report, but it was a few weeks ago, and I forget where I saw it, but if I find it, or see another, I'll post.

Coastalwatch

Martyn1981 said:

shinytop said:

Martyn1981 said:

Positive piece about the net benefits to jobs from the growing green economy. Whilst the UK needs to 'ramp up' training, I assume this applies to pretty much every country at the moment.

‘UK needs to ramp up green skills training’

According to Green Skills Outlook, produced by Economist Impact for ScottishPower’s parent company, a majority (71%) of business leaders agree green skills will be the most important driver, yet just 51% are implementing or planning to implement green skills programmes for their workforce.

Meanwhile, almost two thirds (63%) think that the green transition will create more jobs than it eliminates, with three quarters (74%) saying that the jobs it creates will be higher quality for workers.

UK business leaders are generally optimistic about the green transition, with over two thirds (68%) confident that it presents more opportunities than challenges.

As long as they are proper technical jobs researching, designing and implementing solutions.  

And more, better paid jobs sounds more expensive. Who'll be paying? (I think I know the answer). 

Haven't heard that old chestnut for some time.

So, RE generation typically employes more people than FF generation on a pro-rata basis. But RE gen saves on the fuel cost, v's FF generation.

In 2017 our consumption of energy totalled 20206 kWh's

Made up of

Gas 8074 kWh

Leccy 2404 kWh

Diesel 256 Gals = 9728 kWh's (9524 miles)

In 2023 our consumption of energy totalled 11116 kWh's

Made up of

Gas 0 kWh

Leccy 8016 kWh's

EV's   3100 kWh's  (10270 miles)

FF'S 0 kWh

Martyn1981

Not sure we've talked about Turkey before? But this article has my head spinning, since the sheer scale of the storage pipeline and contraxcts being mentioned are vast, simply vast. Some figures in the 200-260GW range.

These are just pre-applications, but even the 25.6GW in the headline is a massive amount of power. Though energy doesn't yet seem to get a mention. And the sentence I've boldened is quite important I think:

Speaking with Energy-Storage.news yesterday, Can Tokcan, managing partner at Turkish energy storage system integrator and manufacturer iNOVAT, said the developments were “very positive for the industry,” although it remains to be seen “how much of that [near 30GW] will be realised and in what time span”.

“Everybody has an expectation, but we will see how it’s actually realised,” Tokcan said.

I'd also say, that whilst my reading of the article suggests these are the power figures for the storage, the sheer scale makes me wonder if the power figures relate to the output of the wind/PV farms to which they are co-located. And perhaps that is how the final sentence I've quoted below might be read.

Turkey pre-licenses 25.6GW of colocated energy storage, slaps 30% duties on imported LFP

The government of Turkey, currently processing applications for large-scale energy storage facilities at renewable energy plants, will raise import duties for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery products.

Shortly before the end of 2023, Turkey’s Energy Markets Regulatory Authority (EMRA) said that it had given pre-licensing status to 493 project applications representing 25,630MW of energy storage planned for deployment at wind or solar PV plants in the country.

As reported by Energy-Storage.news in April last year, about 20GW of licences are expected to be issued over a period of three years. At that time, the government had already received nearly 4,400 applications totalling 221,000MW and pre-licensed an initial 744MW across 12 projects.

EMRA president Mustafa Yilmaz said on 29 December 2023 that in total, the regulator received 5,968 applications, for proposed transmission-connected projects with installed power exceeding 260GW, for delivery in the 2023-2028 timeframe. This demonstrated a “satisfactory” investment appetite, the president said.

The 25.6GW of pre-licences granted, meanwhile, represent an investment value of around US$35 billion should they all be built, the president said.

Pre-licences were split across solar PV and wind technologies as follows: 193 pre-licences granted for wind projects totalling 13,529MW and 300 solar PV projects of 12,101MW combined generation capacity.