The Alternative Green Energy Thread

JKenH

Global electricity production continues to rise - IEA

• Total renewable electricity production was 268.0 TWh in November 2021, an increase of 3.1% compared to November 2020, and mostly stable compared to October 2021 (-0.6%). The share of total renewable electricity in the electricity mix was 30.9% in November 2021.
• Combustible fuel power production was 475.4 TWh in November 2021, up by 2.6% compared to October 2021 and up by 4.9% compared to November 2020, with a share of 54.8% in the electricity mix. Natural gas power production rebounded in November 2021, with 260.0 TWh production, an increase of 2.3% compared to the previous month, and 8.0% on a year-on-year basis.

The most striking changes were exhibited by renewables generation in Australia, where November 2021 was abnormally wet and cloudy. There was a drop in solar power production to 2.8 TWh, a 7.3% fall month-over-month. Despite growing solar installed capacity, this represented a decrease of 2.5% compared to November 2020. However, the climate conditions were beneficial to wind and hydro power production. Hydropower production was 1.4 TWh, representing a 37.9% increase from the same month in 2020, while wind power production was 2.2 TWh, up by 12.8% (year-on-year).

https://www.modernpowersystems.com/news/newsglobal-electricity-production-continues-to-rise---iea-9502718

JKenH

T1 and T4 capacity market results announced.

5GW T1
42GW T4

https://www.emrdeliverybody.com/Capacity%20Markets%20Document%20Library/T-4%20DY%2025-26%20Provisional%20Capacity%20Auction%20Report%20v1.0.pdf

JKenH

Germany mulls extending nuclear plants' life-span - economy minister

Germany is weighing whether to extend the life-span of its remaining nuclear power plants as a way to secure the country's energy supply in the face of uncertainty over Russian gas supplies, the country's economy minister said.

Asked by German broadcaster ARD whether he could imagine letting nuclear plants run longer than planned under Germany's exit plan, which foresees shutting down the country's three remaining plans by the end of 2022, Robert Habeck said: "It is part of my ministry's tasks to answer this question. I would not reject it on ideological grounds - but the preliminary examination has shown that it does not help us."

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-mulls-extending-nuclear-plants-life-span-economy-minister-2022-02-27/

QrizB

JKenH said:

Germany mulls extending nuclear plants' life-span - economy minister

I was coming here to post that, you beat me to it!

michaels

JKenH said:

Germany mulls extending nuclear plants' life-span - economy minister

Germany is weighing whether to extend the life-span of its remaining nuclear power plants as a way to secure the country's energy supply in the face of uncertainty over Russian gas supplies, the country's economy minister said.

Asked by German broadcaster ARD whether he could imagine letting nuclear plants run longer than planned under Germany's exit plan, which foresees shutting down the country's three remaining plans by the end of 2022, Robert Habeck said: "It is part of my ministry's tasks to answer this question. I would not reject it on ideological grounds - but the preliminary examination has shown that it does not help us."

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-mulls-extending-nuclear-plants-life-span-economy-minister-2022-02-27/

I thought the greens were part of the current governing coalition?  Can't see them accepting this?

Cardew

Your energy bill has gone up to pay for green technology that’s not being used

Customers charged over £1.1bn for upgrades to prepare the power network for heat pumps and electric car chargers that families never bought

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/environment/2022/02/27/energy-bill-has-gone-pay-green-technology-not-used/

Verdigris

I thought the greens were part of the current governing coalition?  Can't see them accepting this?

The Greens have accepted Germany increasing their military expenditure to over 2% of GDP, so I suspect, as the basic cause for the change is the same, they'll accept re-lifing nuclear plants.

Verdigris

Cardew said:

Your energy bill has gone up to pay for green technology that’s not being used

Customers charged over £1.1bn for upgrades to prepare the power network for heat pumps and electric car chargers that families never bought

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/environment/2022/02/27/energy-bill-has-gone-pay-green-technology-not-used/

Perhaps more people would have bought more electric cars and heat pumps if the Telegraph and Mail weren't actively campaigning against them?

QrizB

michaels said:

JKenH said:

Asked by German broadcaster ARD whether he could imagine letting nuclear plants run longer than planned under Germany's exit plan, which foresees shutting down the country's three remaining plans by the end of 2022, Robert Habeck said: "It is part of my ministry's tasks to answer this question. I would not reject it on ideological grounds - but the preliminary examination has shown that it does not help us."

I thought the greens were part of the current governing coalition?  Can't see them accepting this?

Robert Habeck *is* a Green.

JKenH

What does Russia’s invasion of Ukraine mean for energy and climate change?

Lengthy article on how the Ukraine crisis could drive Europe to reduce its reliance on gas and also covering the impact of sanctions on materials required for clean energy. 

My impression is that the crisis will drive Europe to be more energy self sufficient, the quickest route being via renewables. Unfortunately the impact of sanctions may also have a negative impact on emissions as Russia diverts its natural resources to Asia which appears less concerned about environmental issues. 

https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-mean-for-energy-and-climate-change