#2.1 GIGAWATTS

[sbnkalny]

Sparky,

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

The United States increased its electricity generation from utility-scale solar power by nearly one-third in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.

Despite that considerable increase in solar, the climate benefits of this growth were undermined by a rapid rise in electricity demand, which was met in large part by an increase in generation from fossil fuels.

This week, the Energy Information Administration released electricity generation statistics for June, which allows for a close look at where we stand halfway through 2024. The numbers tell a story of a country moving in the right direction, but not nearly fast enough.

First, the topline: Generation from utility-scale power plants was 2.1 million gigawatt-hours from January to June, an increase of 5 percent from January to June of 2023. That’s the highest percentage increase in decades when comparing the first half of a year to the first half of the prior year.

Grid planners and analysts have warned that the country is entering a period of rapid growth in electricity consumption to meet the needs of data centers, factories and other new construction. This follows a time of modest growth, which was due to a variety of factors, including the high efficiency of new lighting, appliances and building methods.

Heat, including the second-hottest June on record, is also a major factor when assessing energy consumption this year.

Rapid growth in electricity demand makes it harder for policymakers and energy companies to deal with climate change because it increases the size of the pool that new carbon-free electricity sources need to fill, and it hurts the economic case for shutting down fossil fuel power plants.

That said, generation from carbon-free power sources grew significantly in the first half of 2024.

Utility-scale solar plants generated 102,615 gigawatt-hours, an increase of 30 percent from the first half of 2023. Wind farms, both offshore and onshore, generated 247,434 gigawatt-hours, an increase of 8 percent.

Generation from fossil fuels also grew. Natural gas power plants—the country’s largest source of electricity by a wide margin—generated 857,023 gigawatt-hours, an increase of 5 percent. Coal-fired power plants generated 303,027 gigawatt-hours, an increase of 1 percent.

Put another way, gas and coal increased by a combined 46,843 gigawatt-hours, and wind and solar increased by a combined 42,698 gigawatt-hours.

That’s pretty depressing, so I’ll also note that the sum of increases in carbon-free sources, which includes nuclear, wind, solar and others, was 51,711 gigawatt-hours, and was more than the sum of the increases in gas and coal.

The larger point is that the growth in generation from carbon-free electricity sources needs to far outpace fossil sources by a lot, and it isn’t.

[justinforprez]

Electric Cars

So I just did some math

averaged over a 24 hour period an american uses 1.25 kW continuously (10kW peak) (source EIA I can find it or just google it)

A 32 amp car charger (max for low end electric cars like the low end model 3) uses about 9 kW and could charge the car in 8 hours

thats 3 kW continuously equivalent

So thats 4.25 kW continuously with peak being 20 kW

times 165 million Americans for Bidens reduced version of the EPAs plan (originally it was 2/3 of cars)

Thats 700 gigawatts with peaks that are probably 2.8 Terawatts of generation

The USA used 4.23 or 4.18 Trillion kWh last year depending on the source

700 gigawatts continuously is 6.132 trillion kWh

EIA says we have 1.6 TW of capacity

I all that needs to be generated in the 8 hours people are at work we need an extra 2.1 TW of generation. The cheapest power is solar and thats the best for this application anyways wince we want people to charge at work. Solar is $1.16/watt and if we apply a bit of discount for scale lets just call it $2 trillion to build that much solar

Keep in mind that 4.5 cents (perkWh) of your electricity cost is distribution which is 1/2 to 2/3 so we need AT LEAST another $2 trillion in infrastructure

by 2050 that may actually be technically possible

But some environmentalists want us to consider that electricity demand is expected to double by then so $8 trillion

and 30 years inflation bring sus to an average of $12 trillion assuming spending is the same across all years adjusted for inflation (thats not how the math works, it should be more like 13 or 14 but I'm not doing more math today)

Anybody got $12 to $14 trillion I can have over the next 30 years? I promise it won't be a massive fucking waste and you'll totally get a return on your investment that beat inflation

[kazifatagar]

Solarvest Powers Revenue Growth and Expands Market Reach with Strategic Diversification

Solarvest Holdings Bhd is enhancing its growth by diversifying revenue and expanding across Southeast Asia, targeting 200 megawatts in projects by FY2025 with support from a 2.1-gigawatt project pipeline. To enter markets in Vietnam, Taiwan, and Indonesia, the company adapts to each region’s regulatory landscape, from Vietnam’s favorable solar policies to Indonesia’s coal-dependent energy…

[cyberbenb]

EU to increase capacity to export electricity to Ukraine to 2.1 gigawatts ahead of winter

The Transmission System Operators of Continental Europe will increase their export capacity to Ukraine and Moldova by 400 megawatts (MW) to 2.1 gigawatts (GW) starting Dec. 1, according to a statement Source : kyivindependent.com/eu-to-inc…

[thxnews]

Biden Turbocharges Clean Energy in Underserved Communities

Major developments aimed at tackling energy inequality are happening. The Biden administration is significantly boosting incentives and resources to drive clean energy deployment in underserved communities across America. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service announced today that applications will open on May 28 for the second year of the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program - a key provision of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act providing up to a 20 percentage point tax credit boost for solar and wind projects located in low-income areas.   Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said: "This groundbreaking incentive created by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act is creating jobs and opportunity while lowering energy costs for communities that were long underinvested in." "In the program's first year, we saw sky-high demand for these clean energy investments."  

Boosting Capacity and Equity Provisions

Program Enhancements for 2024: Over 2.1 gigawatts of total capacity available, up from 1.8 GW in 2023 325 additional megawatts rolling over from very high first-year demand Expanded eligibility criteria and subcategories for equitable distribution At least 50% of capacity reserved for projects meeting additional criteria   Targeting Low-Income Residential Areas The program allocates federal tax credits to qualifying solar and wind facilities under 5 megawatts located in low-income residential areas, on tribal lands, or providing direct economic benefits to lower-income households. It aims to lower energy burdens while catalyzing private investment in historically underserved communities.   Ensuring Investments Reach Most In Need This second program year also incorporates key enhancements based on lessons learned in 2023. Most notably, at least half of the available credits in each category are now reserved for projects meeting additional socioeconomic and community benefit criteria beyond just geographic location. "The program's impact will grow even more in its second year thanks to the increased available capacity and new provisions to ensure investments reach the communities most in need of affordable clean power," said Senior White House Climate Advisor John Podesta.  

Turbocharging Clean Energy Investment

This incentive structure has already turbocharged private capital flowing into community solar projects, rooftop installations, microgrids and more across America's urban cores and rural towns. According to a recent Princeton study, low-income areas received over 5 times more proposed solar investments in 2023 compared to 2022 baselines.   Concerns Over Equity Remain However, some environmental justice advocates argue the program's impact has been inequitably distributed so far, with wealthier communities capturing a disproportionate share of the tax credits. The new 50% set-aside aims to address those concerns. "While a step in the right direction, we need to see much more from this administration in terms of actually delivering affordable clean energy to the frontline communities who have disproportionately borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution for decades," said Juan Jhones-Lugo, Energy Justice Director at The Oak Collective.   Helping Families Navigate Incentives The Treasury Department will host a public webinar on May 16 providing additional details and guidance ahead of the May 28 application opening date. All submissions within the first 30 days will be treated equally to ensure fair access. But beyond the tax credits themselves, the Biden administration is deploying a multi-pronged strategy to ease clean energy access and lower costs for American families - especially in underserved communities.   Multi-Faceted Approach Key Administration Clean Energy Cost-Saving Initiatives: $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to finance community lending State home energy rebate programs launching this summer, worth up to $8,000 per household Expanded tax credits of 30% for residential solar, heat pumps, efficiency upgrades Nonprofit coalition campaigns for consumer education and awareness Renewed focus on bridging financing gaps for low and middle-income families   Driving Affordability and Sustainability "We're using every tool available to help families across America save money by tapping into affordable clean energy," Adeyemo stated. "From generous tax credits to innovative financing, this is a top priority for the Biden economic agenda."   As climate impacts escalate and energy costs remain volatile, the administration is betting its "whole-of-government" push can finally unleash clean energy's promise of lower utility bills, efficiency gains, and greener communities from coast to coast. Access the latest program details, state-by-state information on incentives, and guidance for applicants at www.irs.gov/lowincomecredit.   Sources: THX News, The US Treasury & The White House. Read the full article

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil reaches 1 million consumers with its own generation of solar energy

[Image description: a house with photovoltaic panels in its yard.]

Brazil has surpassed the mark of 1 million consumer units with own energy generation from the solar source, according to a survey carried out by Absolar (Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association).

In all, the installations add up to 8.6 gigawatts (GW) of power, equivalent to about two thirds of the potency of the Itaipu hydroelectric plant.

Much of this own generation of solar energy is concentrated in homes, which account for 76.6% of the amount of consumers who make use of the technology, according to Absolar.

Then come the sectors of commerce and services, 13.4%), rural producers (7.6%), industries (2.1%), public authorities (0.3%) and other types, such as public services (0 .03%) and public lighting (0.01%).

Continue reading.

[rasackyousof]

The Aswan High Dam.

Legacy of Egypt's late president, Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Dam Construction

After the overthrow of the former Egyptian King Farouk by the Free Forces Movement, the government of the late president Gamal Abdel Nasser took interest in the Greek-Egyptian engineer Adrian Daninos' plan of a new Aswan Dam which he developed in 1952. 

Building on the success of the Aswan Low Dam which was built in 1902, construction of the Aswan High Dam began on January 9, 1960 with the objectives of better controlling flooding, providing increased water storage for irrigation and generating Hydro-Electric Power (HEP).

At the height of the Cold war and after the US and Britain withdrew their promised funds for the construction of the dam, possibly due to their frustrations with Nasser for being neutral and playing both sides of the Cold war, Gamal Abdel Nasser turned to the Soviets for support to construct the dam. The Soviets did not let Nasser down and in 1956, they offered him $1.12 billion at 2% interest for the construction of the dam.

The Soviets also provided technicians and heavy machinery. The enormous dam was designed by the Soviet Hydroporoject Institute along with Egyptian engineers. 25,000 Egyptian engineers and workers contributed to the construction of the dam. On the Egyptian side, the project was led by Osman A. Osman's Arab Contractors.

Dam Specifications and Power production.

The Aswan High Dam reservoir, named Lake Nasser is 550 km long, 35 km at its widest, with a surface area of 5,250 km² and a maximum water depth of 180 meters. Ranked as the 6th largest man-made lake in the world by volume, the lake holds 132 km³ of water.

Completed on July 21, 1970, the Aswan High Dam is 3,830 meters long, 980 meters wide at the base, 40 meters wide at the crest and 111 meters tall. At maximum, 11,000 m��/s of water can pass through the dam.

The Aswan High Dam power plant contains twelve water turbines of the Francis type (Reaction turbines) rotating generators each rated at 175 Megawatts, with a total of 2.1 Gigawatts of power. Power generation began in 1967. When the High Dam first reached peak output it produced around half of Egypt's production of electric power (about 15 percent by 1998), and it gave most Egyptian villages the use of electricity for the first time.

The percentage of hydropower energy is steadily declining due to all major conventional hydropower sites already having been developed with a limited potential for further increase in generating capacity. Outside of the Aswan High Dam, the other hydropower sites are considered very modest and most new generation plants being built in Egypt are based on fossil fuels.

With the majority of Egypt's electricity supply being generated from thermal and hydropower stations, the main hydroelectric generating stations currently operating in Egypt are the Aswan Low Dam, the Esna Dam, the Aswan High Dam, the Naga Hamady Barrages and the Asyut Barrage hydropower plant.

As of 2009-2013, hydropower made up about 12% of Egypt's total installed power generation capacity. The latest estimates of the hydropower installed capacity are approximately 2842 MW, accounting for about 7.2-9% of the total generated mix. Also, the implementation of 32 MW hydropower project in Assiut governorate and a 2400 MW pumping and storage plant in Attaqa-Suez, that is supposed to be operating by 2022, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy & the Egyptian Holding Electricity Company add to the country's hydropower generation capacity.

Irrigation and Drought prevention.

The Egyptian countryside benefited from the Aswan High Dam through improved irrigation and prevention of drought.

The dams protected Egypt from the droughts in 1972–73 and 1983–87 that devastated East and West Africa. The High Dam allowed Egypt to reclaim about 840,000 hectares in the Nile Delta and along the Nile Valley, increasing the country's irrigated area by a third. The increase was brought about both by irrigating what used to be desert and by bringing under cultivation of 385,000 hectares that were previously used as flood retention basins. About half a million families were settled on these new lands. In addition, about 420,000 hectares, mostly in Upper Egypt, were converted from flood irrigation with only one crop per year to perennial irrigation allowing two or more crops per year.

On other previously irrigated land, yields increased because water could be made available at critical low-flow periods. For example, wheat yields in Egypt tripled between 1952 and 1991 and better availability of water contributed to this increase.

Most of the 32 km³ of freshwater, or almost 40 percent of the average flow of the Nile that were previously lost to the sea every year, could be put to beneficial use. While about 10 to 16 km³ of the water saved is lost due to evaporation in Lake Nasser, the amount of water available for irrigation still increased by 22 km³. 

[sbnkalny]

MA’AM! no! stop! those are some alternatives to this translation are: shocker, sparky, zappy, zappy dan the magnet man, Thorfinna, the shock locker, static Shock, Buzzer, zap ‘n’ Fap, Zapette, Bzzt, Pikachu, microwave, bug Zapper, Spark plug, zappity zaps, the other thor, 2.1 GIGAWATTS, 2.1 JIGGAWATTS, Buzzy, Buzz buzz, Zipadeedoodah Zipadeeay, zapdos, bill Cosby, thunder King thunder KING rai-oh just means 'thunder king thunder king'

[buzz-london]

🫢👉*Thorium theft: A 60 lakh crore scam?*😳

*Why India lost in the Race for Clean Thorium Nuclear Power!*

*MOU between Congress & Communist Party of China.*

*A Must read...as this is the worst of the scams during UPA regime.*

*How Sonia destroyed India's Thorium Technology: A ₹60,00,000 Crore worth of Thorium Scam was done by Madam Sonia Gandhi and her traitorous gang!*

We noticed illegal sand mining is going on throughout the coastal belts of India. Many of us have the false impression that this sand is used for construction works. But if we think that, we are more wrong.

*India holds the biggest reservoir of Thorium along our beaches with Tamil Nadu alone holding more than 30% of the world’s Thorium deposits!*

The sand in our beaches is full of Thorium.

*India was Number one in the Thorium based Fast Breeder ( FBT) Nuclear Technology until PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Union Defence Minister A.K. Anthony captured it for 10 years under the orders of the Congress President Sonia Gandhi.*

Once the Sonia Gandhi led UPA Government came to power the Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh followed an unwritten policy of severely downsizing the indigenous Thorium Based Technology Programme (Fast Breeder Reactor or FBT) thereby *making India dependent on the foreign countries for an advanced nuclear technology,* key scientists claim on the condition of anonymity.

Indian Nuclear Scientists at the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) claimed that *by 2013 India would have mastered the technology to build Thorium based 1 Gigawatt Nuclear Reactors which is now being supplied by China to Pakistan!

*The smuggling and illegal mining of the beach mineral sand started flourishing in the Kerala costal lines after 2007 when Ilmenite was delisted from the 'list of Prescribed Substances' by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the UPA-I rule.*

Not many Indians know that the RARE EARTH Mineral Titanium is processed from Ilmenite.

Indian Nuclear Scientists said, “since the UPA government assumed office in 2004 with Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister, 2.1 million tonnes of the RARE EARTHS that contain Monazite , Ilmenite, Cerium, Garnet, Zircon and Rutile equivalent to 195,300 tonnes of Thorium at 9.3 per cent recovery had disappeared from the sea shores of India!”

This RARE EARTH (Monazite, quite rich in Thorium) is reported to have been mostly exported to other countries by a powerful mining cartel.

*China received so much of the Thorium from us that it will last them for the next 24,000 years!*

The Chinese are now developing THORIUM MOLTEN SALT REACTOR (MSR) TECHNOLOGY. So China now is taking the Lead in the Race for Clean Nuclear Power! This should have been ours but for the Italian Lady and her traitorous Sepoys!

*Now do you understand the implications of the agreement between Congress & Communist Party of China.*

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/thorium-theft-a-60-lakh-crore-scam/videoshow/22278985.cms

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/thorium-theft-a-60-lakh-crore-scam/videoshow/22278985.c

[don-lichterman]

South Korean Catholics call for environmental policy change

South Korean Catholics call for environmental policy change

South Korea Catholics observe Laudato Si’ Week to stress the importance of protecting the planet An aerial view of the 2.1-gigawatt coal power plant being constructed in Samcheok city in Gangwon province of South Korea. (Photo: www.forourclimate.org) Published: May 28, 2022 04:18 AM GMT Updated: May 28, 2022 04:31 AM GMT Hundreds of Catholics marched on the streets of South Korea this week…

[christinamac1]

Nuclear power's economic failure - a ''renaissance in reverse''

Nuclear power’s economic failure – a ”renaissance in reverse”

China is said to be the industry’s shining light but nuclear growth is modest ‒ an average of 2.1 reactor construction starts per year over the past decade. Moreover, nuclear growth in China is negligible compared to renewables ‒ 2 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity were added in 2020 compared to 135 GW of renewables. Nuclear power’s economic failure, Ecologist, Dr Jim Green, 13th…

[itswallstreetpr]

For Solar Investors, the Future is Now (FSLR, GSFI, RUN, TAN, SPWR, CSIQ)

The solar industry remains one of the fastest-growing secular trends in play for long-term investors as well as swing traders looking for high-beta areas of the market for well-timed speculation. Recent data from Our World in Data and BP shows that total global solar installations have soared over the past two decades, growing from 0.65 gigawatts in 2000 to 708 gigawatts in 2020, which is enough to power the majority of homes in the US. In other words, the industry has arrived at a point where it is already viable as a prime competitor with carbon-based energy sources. The future is now. This has major implications for investment plans looking out over coming years. We take a look at a few of the more interesting plays in the solar space below, with a focus on recent catalysts. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) engages in designing, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of photovoltaic solar power systems and solar modules. It operates through the Modules and Systems segments. The Modules segment involves in the design, manufacture, and sale of cadmium telluride solar modules, which convert sunlight into electricity. The Systems segment offers development, construction, operation, and maintenance of photovoltaic solar power systems. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) recently announced that it just broke ground on its third manufacturing facility in Ohio at a ceremony that was attended by United States Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, Jon Husted, and US Representatives Bob Latta (OH-05) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). The new 3.3-gigawatt (GW) DC facility, which is scheduled to commence operations in the first half of 2023, represents a $680 million investment. When fully operational, the facility is expected to scale the company’s Northwest Ohio footprint to a total annual capacity of 6 GWDC, which is believed to make it the largest fully vertically integrated solar manufacturing complex outside China. “First Solar’s new factory in Ohio is a model of President Biden’s vision for keeping America competitive by investing in clean energy and creating good jobs,” said Secretary Walsh. “Not only does this facility advance innovative manufacturing for a sustainable future, First Solar is also investing in its workers through skills training, competitive pay, and robust benefits. Empowering all of America’s workers is how we’ll build back a better economy and win the future.” And the stock has been acting well over recent days, up something like 11% in that time.  First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) managed to rope in revenues totaling $629.2M in overall sales during the company's most recently reported quarterly financial data – a figure that represents a rate of top line growth of -2.1%, as compared to year-ago data in comparable terms. In addition, the company has a strong balance sheet, with cash levels exceeding current liabilities ($1.8B against $660.9M). Green Stream Holdings Inc (OTC US:GSFI) is a smaller name that’s just starting to get traction with a growing list of potentially major projects in the community solar space. The stock has been left behind in the solar growth trend because the company got behind in its financial filings during the pandemic, which is not unheard of for smaller companies.  However, the company has recently gotten current and continues to push out very interesting announcements as it makes strides toward building its vision. Green Stream Holdings Inc (OTC US:GSFI) most recently announced that it has engaged KMB Design Group, a nationally known full service engineering solutions provider, to assist with installations of ground-mount solar farms in the State of New York. The interconnection applications are for Cornish Hill Road, Cooperstown, NY and Hadley, S Shore Road, Corinth, NY. CEO James DiPrima said: “An Interconnection Agreement is a contract with a utility for distributed generated systems, including solar photovoltaics. The agreement is a written notice to a utility company of plans to construct, install and operate any system which will be connected to the grid and must be submitted prior to the start of construction. After the utility receives the required documentation, the application is reviewed for approval. Management is excited to enter this stage of operations, as it can be an important step in our efforts to continue to increase shareholder value.” According to the company’s release, the Cornish Photovoltaic system will consist of approximately 15,600 panels anticipated to produce 7.4kW of direct current to sequential inverters for participation/partnership with a registered New York State Community Solar provider at 312 Cornish Hill Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. The Hadley project shall consist of the installation of 4,980 kWdc / 7,020 kWac of Photovoltaic modules installed on a ground mount racking system at Hadley - PV Installations, S Shore Road, Corinth, NY 12822. Green Stream Holdings Inc (OTC US:GSFI) also noted that the projects will be interconnected directly with the utility at one point of interconnection with a new service feeder from the utility substation. The scope of work will include Interconnection Drawings, electrical permit/construction drawings, and support through the construction phase. Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ:RUN) is an interesting player in the solar space that has been consolidating along support in the $40 level after a stunning run higher during the second of last year. The company engages in the design, development, installation, sale, ownership, and maintenance of residential solar energy systems. It sells solar service offerings and install solar energy systems for homeowners through its direct-to-consumer channel. The firm also offers plans such as monthly lease, full amount lease, purchase system, and monthly loan. Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ:RUN) recently announced, along with GRID Alternatives, a national nonprofit that provides access to clean, affordable renewable energy, transportation, and jobs to economic and environmental justice communities, that the two companies are celebrating the ten year anniversary of their partnership this week. Together, Sunrun and GRID have expanded access to clean energy, reducing energy bills for families and facilitating job training for individuals seeking solar careers. Since 2011, Sunrun has served as GRID's primary third-party owner on rooftop solar projects and has hired more GRID trainees than any other organization besides GRID Alternatives itself. In addition, Sunrun employees have volunteered thousands of hours at GRID solar installations. “We are pleased to celebrate a decade-long partnership with GRID that has expanded access to resilient and affordable energy options, while bringing in new talent and strengthening our industry’s workforce,” said Lynn Jurich, co-founder and Co-Executive Chair of Sunrun. “This partnership is a vital part of our shared work to build the clean, resilient and democratic energy future we need.” Even in light of this news, RUN has had a rough past week of trading action, with shares sinking something like -3% in that time. That said, chart support is nearby, and we may be in the process of constructing a nice setup for some movement back the other way.  Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ:RUN) managed to rope in revenues totaling $401.2M in overall sales during the company's most recently reported quarterly financial data – a figure that represents a rate of top line growth of 121.3%, as compared to year-ago data in comparable terms. In addition, the company is battling some balance sheet hurdles, with cash levels struggling to keep up with current liabilities ($857.5M against $1.1B, respectively). Other interesting solar tickers to watch include Invesco Solar ETF (NYSEARCA:TAN), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR), and Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ). Read the full article

[architectnews]

Ten global projects that demonstrate the possibilities of low-energy architecture

Low-energy buildings can "make communities more resilient to climate shocks," says author Jared Green. Here he picks ten examples of low-energy buildings from his book Good Energy: Renewable Power and the Design of Everyday Life.

Following the recent IPCC climate report, there has been an increased focus on the impact of emissions from buildings, with the built environment thought to be responsible for around 40 per cent of global CO2 emissions.

The 35 projects featured in Green's book aim to demonstrate how low-energy buildings, which are more energy-efficient and have lower CO2 emissions than regular buildings, can be both well-designed and affordable.

"Low-energy buildings integrate photovoltaic panels, energy efficiency strategies, and all electrical systems, so they are critical to shifting us away from fossil fuels," Green told Dezeen.

Read:

UK industry group calls for new rules to force architects to calculate embodied carbon emissions

"These buildings are much healthier for people and the planet and also significantly reduce energy expenses over the long-term," he added.

"They can also enable a new relationship with energy grids, increasing the decentralization of energy systems, which can make communities more resilient to climate shocks – such as more extreme storms and hurricanes and more dangerous flooding, heatwaves and wildfires."

Read on for Green's pick of ten low-energy projects from his book:

Zero Carbon House, Birmingham, United Kingdom

"Architect John Christophers transformed his own home into one of the most sustainable houses in the United Kingdom. He grafted a contemporary addition, covered with photovoltaic panels and solar water heaters, onto the side of his original two-bedroom house built in the 1840s.

"The house is now energy-positive, creating more energy than it uses. It has seen a net reduction of 1,300 pounds (660 kilograms) of carbon dioxide annually, compared to the estimated CO2 emissions from the home before it was remodelled.

"Christophers lined the entire structure with a membrane that stops air and heat from escaping and incorporated rammed-earth floors pulled from the foundation of the home, mixed with red clay."

Belfield Townhomes, Philadelphia, US

"In the Logan neighbourhood of North Philadelphia, developer Onion Flats designed and built three 1,920-square foot (178-square metre) townhouses.

"This was the first public housing created in North Philadelphia in five decades and the first certified Passivhaus project built in Philadelphia. Each townhouse was built in just three months at a local factory using prefabricated components at a cost of $249,000.

"The passive townhouses include super-insulated walls, triple-pane windows and a heat-recovery pump that draws in fresh air, filters it and then efficiently heats or cools the interior. Each house has rooftop photovoltaic panels with a five-kilowatt capacity.

"If tenants stay within their set energy budgets, the townhouses consume zero energy. If they use more they will be drawing more energy from the grid than the photovoltaic panels."

Trent Basin, Nottingham, United Kingdom

"With rooftop photovoltaic panels, a 2.1-megawatt-hour Tesla battery, and sophisticated energy management software, the Trent Basin residential community has been able to generate and store its own energy, feeding directly into the UK power grid. The pitched roofs of the community take their form from the local red brick factory buildings of Nottingham.

"By connecting to the grid, the community energy system for over 100 homes is able to trade energy generated on-site, selling stored energy when demand is high and storing excess power from the grid when public demand is low.

"Since the energy systems went online in 2018, the community's photovoltaic panels have generated 310,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy and saved 110 tonnes of carbon emissions."

SMA x ECO Town Harumidai, Sakai City, Japan

"Daiwa House Industry Company, one of Japan's largest homebuilders, has shifted its focus to prefabricated communities that produce more energy than they use. Since 2017, this project, which includes 65 homes, has produced 427 megawatt hours of renewable energy, 15 per cent more than it used.

"This has reduced carbon emissions from electricity generation by an estimated 95 per cent.

"Homeowners use the company's proprietary home-energy management system, which automatically moves energy into storage for use at night and lets them track how much energy they generate and use.

"Each family's share in the energy-conservation effort is displayed in a ranking, with high-ranking families receiving points that can be used for the electric vehicle car-sharing service."

UC Davis West Village, Davis, US

"At 224 acres (90 hectares), this project is one of the largest planned sustainable communities in the US. The 663 nearly zero-energy mixed-use buildings are powered by rooftop photovoltaic panels and house 3,000 students, faculty and staff.

"The development also encourages low-carbon transportation. SWA Group, which led planning, design and implementation phases for the landscape architecture, built on the existing bicycle culture of the campus to create a bicycle-first transportation system.

"Bike parking was conveniently integrated into building courtyards and public areas, whereas vehicle parking was moved into centralized areas farther away to further incentivize biking and walking."

The Sustainable City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

"This 114-acre low-carbon development created by Diamond Developers is home to 3,000 people from 64 countries. The developers took a holistic approach to sustainability, designing a community that can produce its own food, conserve and reuse water, and meet 87 per cent of its energy use through rooftop photovoltaics combined with energy-efficiency measures.

"Solar panels on both homes and common spaces generate 1.7 gigawatt hours of renewable energy annually. The entire development is estimated to offset some 8,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year."

SDE4 at the National University in Singapore, Singapore

"This building is inspired by the region's simple timber Malay houses, which are characterized by deep overhangs, raised platforms, and loose room divisions that enable continuous cross ventilation.

"A team including Serie Architects, Multiply Architects, and Surbana Jurong scaled up this vernacular approach to a 92,440-square foot (8,588-square metre) six-story building for Singapore's National University.

"SDE4 is Singapore's first zero-energy building. Covered in photovoltaic panels, the building has an energy-generating capacity of 500 megawatt hours and more than half the building is open to the environment and naturally ventilated.

"In classrooms that require cooling, a 'hybrid cooling system' augmented with ceiling fans reduces energy use by an estimated 36 to 56 per cent over a conventional building in Singapore."

School in Port, Port, Switzerland

"The jagged roof of this kindergarten and elementary school in Port, a small suburb of Biel, holds 1,110 photovoltaic panels that have the capacity to generate nearly 300 kilowatts of power at peak times. According to designer Skop architects, the school not only powers itself but also 50 surrounding homes.

"Wood is used as the primary construction material. 'Wood is used throughout both the facade and the interiors,' Skop partner Martin Zimmerli said.

'As a result, the school can be seen as a large carbon sink. All the timber comes from sustainable forestry.'"

Council House 2, Melbourne, Australia

"The 134,500-square foot (12,450-square metre) CH2, a government office building, was designed by architect Mick Pearce and Australian architecture firm DesignInc to function like an ecosystem, with 'many parts that work together to heat, cool, power, and water the building.'

"Compared to conventional Melbourne office buildings, CH2 has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 87 per cent and cut energy and water use by 60 per cent.

"The western facade of this highly responsive building is programmed to track the movement of the sun. In the winter, the recycled-wood shutters open to let in light; during peak afternoon sun in the winter, the shutters close."

Bullitt Center, Seattle, Washington, USA

"This energy-negative building was designed by Miller Hull Partnership with the ambitious goal of becoming the most sustainable commercial building in the world. The coplanar canopy roof hosts 575 photovoltaic panels that generate 230 megawatt hours of energy annually.

"The building's core structure was built to last 250 years, rather than the standard 40-50 years for contemporary commercial buildings. Given the amount of embodied carbon they contain, buildings that endure are the most sustainable.

"The Bullitt Center already stores 600 tons of carbon dioxide in its structural timber frame and uses just 25 per cent of the energy that a conventional building in Seattle would use."

The post Ten global projects that demonstrate the possibilities of low-energy architecture appeared first on Dezeen.

[noncyowen]

Dominion Cuts Millstone Nuclear Plant Output as Henri Rips Past

Dominion Cuts Millstone Nuclear Plant Output as Henri Rips Past

Article content (Bloomberg) — Dominion Energy Inc. is reducing output at the Millstone Power Station nuclear plant in Connecticut as Tropical Storm Henri blows through the region. But it doesn’t plan to shut the facility.  Generation has been cut to 82% for both units at the 2.1-gigawatt power plant to reduce the risk of any damage from debris during the storm, Dominion spokesman Craig Carper…

[hudsonespie]

How Ports Are Being Reinvented for the Green Transition

When it comes to launching the energy transition, maritime policy is one of the key battlegrounds. But many ports, aware of their ecological and economic vulnerability, have committed to sustainable development strategies.

According to the latest research, sea levels will rise considerably (from 1.1 to 2 metres, on average) by 2100, putting about 14 per cent of the world’s major maritime ports at risk of coastal flooding and erosion. Ports in France, including 66 that are used for maritime trade, are also under threat, and will have to adapt their infrastructure.

Maritime transport accounts for about 80 per cent of global merchandise trade by volume. Shipping is responsible for three per cent of global CO2 emissions, which have increased 32 per cent over the past 20 years. If nothing is done, shipping emissions could climb to 17 per cent of global emissions by 2050.

Enter the “ports of the future.” Ports govern globalized economic activity and are true “energy hubs,” bringing together all kinds of transport (maritime, land-based, waterway and aeronautic). Now, they’re aiming to cut back on real estate, be more respectful of the environment and better integrated into cities, particularly through the concept of “urban ports.”

Freedom from oil

At least US$1 trillion will have to be invested between 2030 and 2050 to reduce shipping’s carbon footprint by 50 per cent by 2050. As of last year, oil-derived fuels accounted for 95 per cent energy consumption in transportation. Meanwhile, maritime traffic is predicted to increase by 35 to 40 per cent over the same period.

This dependence on hydrocarbons also represents an economic vulnerability for the maritime shipping sector due to new environmental standards.

In France, liquid bulk transport has been in decline since 2009 (decreasing three per cent on average since 2016), despite a slight uptick in 2017 (2.1 per cent). Fuel shipping (50 per cent of shipping by weight in major maritime ports) has also decreased by 25 per cent since 2008.

The golden age of oil cannot will not hold for much longer, given its environmental impact and increasing scarcity. As the consumption of hydrocarbons and coal drops, we should also see a steady decrease in fuel shipping.

The French government’s National Low-Carbon Strategy (“Stratégie nationale bas carbone,” or SNBC) aims to reduce emissions from the industrial sector by 35 per cent by 2030 and 81 per cent by 2050. This will mean a nearly complete decarbonization of maritime transport, creating a real technological challenge for the sector.

To meet these targets, ports are working to become carbon-neutral by redesigning their logistical operations (flow management) and means of production (value creation), as part of an industrial reconversion approach. They’re banking on new environmental technologies to generate a double dividend, both environmental and economic.

Three approaches could be used to achieve these goals: energy efficiency, renewable energy production and industrial ecology.

Building the ships of tomorrow

A 2021 study by the Getting to Zero coalition found that zero-carbon fuels had to represent at least five per cent of the fuel mix by 2030 for international shipping to comply with the Paris Agreement. Around 100,000 commercial vessels will be affected by this energy transition, according to GTT, a company specializing in the transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

In this vein, an ambitious environmental certification program, Green Marine Europe, launched in 2020 in order to create the European maritime industry of tomorrow.

New fuels with smaller carbon footprints, such as liquefied natural gas, ammonia and ethanol, and the accelerated adoption of alternative propulsion systems will be needed for the sector to become greener.

In 2020, Bordeaux’s port was fitted out with an LNG-powered dredger, which requires less energy and is more environmentally friendly, thanks to its water injection-dredging mechanism. (Delphine Trentacosta), Author provided

Hydrogen fuel (initially “grey,” now increasingly “green”) represents another viable alternative in the medium-term for fleets subjected to heavy rotation. Although the project is currently in its early stages (involving small vessels of 60-80 seats), more ambitious initiatives have been launched, such as the Hydrotug boat in construction for the port of Antwerp.

The arrival of steam-powered engines put an end to the use of large wind-propelled clippers in the late 1800s. But technologies that harness the wind could make a major comeback, with ships using sails and kites to reduce fuel use.

Offshore wind turbines, a promising solution

Developing electric facilities and technology is also essential to the energy transition, whether through electrified wharfs, turning port seawalls into energy producers, or developing electric ferries that use solar power, bioenergy or marine power.

As the energy transition progresses, we will see ports go from consuming large quantities of a single energy source to using multiple energy sources and becoming electricity producers.

On that note, offshore wind turbines will profoundly change French coasts over the coming years. The first sites will be near ports (with the first French offshore 80-turbine wind farm due to launch in Saint-Nazaire in 2022). In the medium term, the objective is to reach a capacity of 5.2 to 6.5 Gigawatts of offshore wind energy in France by 2028.

This technology brings a new vibrancy to port areas in search of industrial diversification, optimized real estate revenue and local expertise (construction and maintenance operations).

The forthcoming offshore wind farm near Quai Hermann du Pasquier in the city of Le Havre, which will launch in 2022, is being presented as the “biggest industrial renewable energy project in France,” and symbolizes the port’s industrial and energetic transition. What’s more, after 53 years of service, the thermal power station in this area, which used 220 tonnes of coal daily, closed down on 31 March 2021.

Finally, it should be noted that offshore wind farms represent an opportunity for ports to produce their own hydrogen by electrolysing seawater.

Bringing city and port closer together

The energy transition forces governments to reconsider the connections between city and port. Development projects based on an entirely oil-based economy and the globalized boom in shipping container transport in the second half of the 20th century disconnected city and port at every level. Ports were removed from urban settings due to a lack of space, with huge industrial port zones created on the city’s outskirts.

Now this separation is being questioned, marking the return of the port as a space that’s open to the rest of the city.

For port cities, where ships coexist with residents, industry, businesses and tourism, pollution has motivated citizens into action. Local environmentalism has pushed ports to become open to cities, by promoting the development of circular economies and industrial ecology.

Many ports have launched energy transition projects, aiming to transform city-port relations. The port area is turning out to be an excellent setting to try out new practices founded on greater co-operation between local players.

In La Rochelle, for example, environmental and energy-based issues provided an opportunity to start a shared, collaborative discussion about the future of the metropolitan area. The La Rochelle Zero Carbon Territory project, where the greater urban area aims to become carbon neutral by 2040, the energy transition is being undertaken through concerted planning between the city and its port. The port has committed to initiatives that limit its environmental and energy-related impact, while providing benefits to the local economy.

The roof of the submarine base in the La Rochelle port was fitted out with 7,580 solar panels in 2018. (Olivier Benoît), Author provided

In Le Havre, as in Bordeaux and elsewhere, this city-port interconnection is being strengthened by combining energy-related challenges and digital opportunities.

In time, this should lead to the birth of “smart port cities” (connecting “smart cities” with the “ports of the future”), for a “new model for urban and industrial port areas, blended together by innovation.”

Making ports the site of modern energy

Although the environmental challenge is clearly huge and complicated, this energy transition gives us the opportunity to reinterpret ports as laboratories, and to test new practices and technologies. Case in point: the Port of Rotterdam decreased its CO2 emissions by 27 per cent between 2016 and 2020.

Ports have always been showcases of industrial revolution, with the arrival of steam, propellers and then metal hulls. They often feature the most recent energy-related technology, as shown by the painting of the port of Le Havre, by Camille Pissarro.

Now it’s up to them to keep this legacy alive, as true gateways to a more durable and resilient economy.

Sylvain Roche is an associate researcher focused on energy and territorial transition at Sciences Po Bordeaux.

Translated from French by Rosie Marsland for Fast ForWord.

This article appears courtesy of The Conversation and may be found in its original form here.

from Storage Containers https://maritime-executive.com/article/how-ports-are-being-reinvented-for-the-green-transition via http://www.rssmix.com/