The commercial buildings market is currently the largest source of revenue for stationary energy storage companies, primarily thanks to a robust uninterruptible power supply (UPS) industry, which requires an energy storage component. That segment alone is estimated to generate $3.7 billion in global sales in 2013. In addition, there is a relatively healthy market for thermal … Continue reading Energy Storage in Commercial Buildings
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China to introduce a tax on carbon dioxide emissions
China will proactively introduce a set of new taxation policies designed to preserve the environment, including a tax on carbon dioxide emissions, according to a senior official with the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The government will collect the environmental protection tax instead of pollutant discharge fees, as well as levy a tax on carbon dioxide … Continue reading China to introduce a tax on carbon dioxide emissions
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Emerging Battery Technologies Will Address Issues of Energy Density, Cost, and Cycle Life
Currently available advanced battery technologies for cleantech applications fall short of market needs. While lithium ion batteries have emerged as an early leader in cleantech applications such as energy storage and electrified vehicles, after nearly 20 years of commercialization efforts, the competitive field remains open. According to a new research brief from Pike Research, a … Continue reading Emerging Battery Technologies Will Address Issues of Energy Density, Cost, and Cycle Life
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California Sets 50M W Target for Grid Energy Storage
That’s how much energy storage capacity the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is asking Southern California Edison to procure over the next eight years, according to a final decision issued. It’s not a lot, compared to the total of 1,400 to 1,800 megawatts CPUC is asking the massive Southern California utility to procure between now … Continue reading California Sets 50M W Target for Grid Energy Storage
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New strides in Hybrid Energy Systems
Not content with creating the first hybrid power plant in the world, Enel Green Power is also moving ahead of the pack in new hybrid systems, like combining thermodynamic solar power and geothermal energy. Enel Green Power is conducting research into hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) as a way to push the renewable energy sector … Continue reading New strides in Hybrid Energy Systems
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EU Energy Commissioner promises post-2020 policy next year » By Tom Rowe
At a special press briefing organized by The International Press Association in Brussels last night, EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger confirmed that he will be bringing forward proposals for post-2020 policy, before the current term of the Commission ends, which is 31 October 2014. He said that the Council would talk about binding targets in … Continue reading EU Energy Commissioner promises post-2020 policy next year » By Tom Rowe
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Advanced Batteries for Military Applications
The U.S. military is the largest consumer of natural resources in the world, a fact that provides significant impetus for research and development (R&D) activities toward discovering better means of storing energy. The potential exists to dramatically reduce the fuel consumption of military operations, and advanced batteries represent a crucial innovation to these ends. However, … Continue reading Advanced Batteries for Military Applications
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Lithium Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles Will Reach $22 Billion in Annual Market Value by 2020
In recent years, the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery industry has taken a number of steps forward. The technology continues to improve, leading battery cell manufacturers have built new factories that incorporate advanced production techniques, and automakers have greatly increased their research and development (R&D) efforts on plug-in electric vehicles (EVs). According to a new report … Continue reading Lithium Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles Will Reach $22 Billion in Annual Market Value by 2020
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License will lead to faster-charging batteries for electric vehicles
An enhanced battery technology that can potentially reduce the time it takes to charge cell phones, electric vehicles and other battery-powered devices from hours to minutes is the subject of a commercial license agreement between Battelle and Vorbeck Materials Corp. of Jessup, Md. Battelle operates the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, … Continue reading License will lead to faster-charging batteries for electric vehicles
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China burns half of coal consumption worldwide
China overtook the US as the world’s biggest carbon emitter in 2007 and became world’s largest energy consumer in 2010. Coal consumption in China grew more than 9% in 2011, continuing its upward trend for the 12th consecutive year, according to newly released international data. China’s coal use grew by 325 million tons in 2011, … Continue reading China burns half of coal consumption worldwide
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Consumers Remain Unfamiliar With Smart Grid Concepts
Smart grid rollouts are building momentum as utilities across the United States continue to invest in this new infrastructure in an effort to transform their power grids. However, even as utilities invest in these new technologies, they struggle to effectively communicate both the benefits of smart grids and the possibilities they make available to the … Continue reading Consumers Remain Unfamiliar With Smart Grid Concepts
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2012 Sustained Long-Term Climate Warming Trend
NASA scientists say 2012 was the ninth warmest of any year since 1880, continuing a long-term trend of rising global temperatures. With the exception of 1988, the nine warmest years in the 132-year record all have occurred since 2000, with 2010 and 2005 ranking as the hottest years on record. NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space … Continue reading 2012 Sustained Long-Term Climate Warming Trend
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Wind energy battery going back online
Xcel Energy Inc. installed the $4.7 million battery in 2008 next to a Luverne, Minn., wind farm and operated it safely for more than two years. The sodium-sulfur battery was shut down in October 2011 on the advice of its Japanese manufacturer after a similar unit caught fire there. The only battery in Minnesota large … Continue reading Wind energy battery going back online
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Sony in talks for lithium-ion battery business integration
Panasonic and Sony are Japan’s biggest makers of lithium–ion batteries. A Japanese state-backed fund wants a Nissan Motor Co Ltd and NEC Corp joint venture to buy Sony Corp’s lithium-ion battery unit to prevent rivals in China and Taiwan from getting its technology as the Tokyo TV maker looks to offload non-core businesses, the Daily … Continue reading Sony in talks for lithium-ion battery business integration
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Toyota, BMW Team Up on Green Battery
The new research effort hopes to produce lithium-air batteries that will provide more power than the lithium–ion batteries current used in hybrid and electric vehicles. BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) are pursuing their successful strategic long-term cooperation in the field of sustainable mobility today by signing binding agreements aimed at long-term collaboration between … Continue reading Toyota, BMW Team Up on Green Battery
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Renewable Energy on the way up while Western Europe’s nuclear power share depletes
To meet carbon emissions targets and reduce dependency on depleting fossil fuel reserves, the nations of Western Europe are beefing up their renewable energy generation, but significantly limiting growth within their nuclear power industries in the face of widespread public opposition, says business intelligence providers GBI Research. According to the firm’s latest report*, the top … Continue reading Renewable Energy on the way up while Western Europe’s nuclear power share depletes
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North America´s largest battery storage project at a Wind Farm
Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy’s Commercial Businesses, announced today the completion of its 36-megawatt (MW) energy storage and power management system at its Notrees Windpower Project in west Texas. The system completed testing and became fully operational in December, 2012. ‘Battery storage is an important innovation to address the variability of wind and solar … Continue reading North America´s largest battery storage project at a Wind Farm
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The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industries
2012 was a dynamic year for the fuel cell and hydrogen industries. The year saw widespread restructuring, increased rollouts of new business models, a sharp increase in sales and interest in the residential combined heat and power (resCHP) segment, and overall revenue generation of over $1 billion. The year ahead promises similar upheaval, with increases … Continue reading The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industries
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Lithium Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles Will Reach $22 Billion in Annual Market Value by 2020
In recent years, the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery industry has taken a number of steps forward. The technology continues to improve, leading battery cell manufacturers have built new factories that incorporate advanced production techniques, and automakers have greatly increased their research and development (R&D) efforts on plug-in electric vehicles (EVs). According to a new report … Continue reading Lithium Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles Will Reach $22 Billion in Annual Market Value by 2020
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Obama says U.S. to respond to threat of climate change
U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday that the U.S. will respond to the threat of climate change and the failure to do so would betray “our children and future generations.” “Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful … Continue reading Obama says U.S. to respond to threat of climate change
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