Category Archives: System Operator

Renewables (wind energy and solar power) contribute 27 pct of German electricity consumption in Q1

Renewable energy contributed 27 percent of total electricity consumption in the first quarter of 2014, hitting record as the Europe’s largest economy is on its ambitious path of energy transformation, an energy lobby group said on Friday. The production of electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, reached 40.2 billion kilowatt … Continue reading Renewables (wind energy and solar power) contribute 27 pct of German electricity consumption in Q1

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racking energy generated and used in the U. S. for 2013

Americans consumed more about 97.4 quads of energy last year. (One quad, Q, equals 1 quadrillion Btus.) That was a 2.3-Q jump over energy use the previous year, according to analysts at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Dept. of Energy. In terms of energy sources, wind energy increased the most, 18%, going from 1.35 … Continue reading racking energy generated and used in the U. S. for 2013

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Renewable energy will power Africa’s ambitious future

As a native of Kenya, I am fortunate to have personal experience of how renewable energy can transform a country that is developing fast. Energy sources in Kenya have diversified since 2000, when renewable power capacity contributed 5.4 per cent of the country’s total energy mix. By 2012, this figure had grown to 16.2 per … Continue reading Renewable energy will power Africa’s ambitious future

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U.S. could double hydropower capacity in future

The U.S. Energy Department said on Tuesday it has found over 65 gigawatts (GW) of potential new hydropower development across the country, nearly equivalent to the current U.S. hydropower capacity. “The United States has tremendous untapped clean energy resources and responsible development will help pave the way to a cleaner, more sustainable and diverse energy … Continue reading U.S. could double hydropower capacity in future

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Spanish island El Hierro to be fully powered by wind energy, hydroelectric

Spain’s Canary Islands, El Hierro, is making a splash by becoming the first island in the world fully energy self-sufficient through combined water and wind power. A wind farm opening at the end of June will turn into electricity the gusts that rake the steep cliffs and green mountains of the volcanic island off the … Continue reading Spanish island El Hierro to be fully powered by wind energy, hydroelectric

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France looks to rely less on nuclear power and more on wind energy

France may be the world’s most nuclear energy dependent country, but times are changing as the country looks to increase the amount of wind–sourced electricity in its power mix. When French President François Hollande took the reins of power in 2012 he pledged to reduce the country’s nuclear dependency from 75% to 50% by 2025. … Continue reading France looks to rely less on nuclear power and more on wind energy

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Climate change: Indonesia’s adaptation and mitigation efforts

Global climate change is happening and it is definitely real, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) asserted in its latest report released in Yokohama, Japan, on March 31. The most comprehensive assessment document to date by this UN Panel dedicated to providing the world with a state of knowledge in climate change shows impacts … Continue reading Climate change: Indonesia’s adaptation and mitigation efforts

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Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Various Energy Sources

According to the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) about one third of US carbon dioxide emissions are generated in industry and power production. Considering that reducing carbon dioxide emissions is a key facet of climate change mitigation, it does one well to note which fuel sources generate the fewest emissions. According to data released by … Continue reading Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Various Energy Sources

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IPCC report calls for substantial emission reductions

Shares of low or zero carbon energies including those from wind energy, solar power, hydro and biomass should be increased, and fossil power generation without carbon dioxide capture and storage technology be phased out by the end of this century. Substantial reductions of greenhouse gas are needed in order to limit global temperature increase to … Continue reading IPCC report calls for substantial emission reductions

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IPCC: fossil fuels out, renewables in to tackle global warming

Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in the coming decades is the International Panel for Climate Change’s (IPCC) recommendation in its latest report. This change is “affordable”, says the IPCC: it would knock only 0.06% off expected annual economic growth rates of 1.3%-3%, without quantifying the enormous health benefits of … Continue reading IPCC: fossil fuels out, renewables in to tackle global warming

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UN panel: We can still slow global warming

But how do we actually stop global warming — or at least slow it down? That’s the subject of a big new report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The topic this time is “mitigation” — how humanity could stop producing so many of the greenhouse gases. The upshot: Global greenhouse-gas emissions from … Continue reading UN panel: We can still slow global warming

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Decarbonizing the Future: Seizing Power for Global Change

As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meets on measures to reduce the impact of climate change, the answer to the global problem remains clear: The world must stop betting on a dirty fossil fuel energy system and should instead double-down on investment in clean, sustainable renewable energy. While no easy task, the good news is that … Continue reading Decarbonizing the Future: Seizing Power for Global Change

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General Motors (GM) Plans $449M Investment in Advancing Battery Technology for Electric Vehicles

In preparation for the next generation of electric vehicles and advanced battery technologies, General Motors will invest $449 million to upgrade manufacturing processes at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly and Brownstown Battery Assembly plants.   “General Motors is committed to building award-winning products and developing technologies in America, which helps to grow our economy from a resurgent auto … Continue reading General Motors (GM) Plans $449M Investment in Advancing Battery Technology for Electric Vehicles

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Renewables account for 44% of 2013’s newly-installed generating capacity

Renewable energy’s share of world electricity generation continued its steady climb last year despite a 14 per cent drop in investments to US$214.4 billion, according to a new report released today. According to Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2014 – produced by the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance, the … Continue reading Renewables account for 44% of 2013’s newly-installed generating capacity

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Lithium Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles Will Surpass $26 Billion in Annual Revenue by 2023

The steady increase in sales of electric vehicles (EVs) has led to advances in EV batteries, particularly those using lithium ion (Li-ion) technology.  While early hybrid vehicles featured nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, Li-ion batteries have taken over, particularly in the latest generation of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). According to a new report from Navigant Research, … Continue reading Lithium Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles Will Surpass $26 Billion in Annual Revenue by 2023

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Threat from global warming heightened in latest U.N. report

Global warming poses a growing threat to the health, economic prospects, and food and water sources of billions of people, top scientists said in a report that urges swift action to counter the effects of carbon emissions. The latest report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says the effects of warming are … Continue reading Threat from global warming heightened in latest U.N. report

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Lithium-ion batteries successfully pass ageing test

The BPT-S 5 Hybrid from Bosch uses lithium-ion batteries, which continue after years of intensive use to reliably provide households with electricity from its own PV system without the need for maintenance. This has now been proven through ageing tests, which have been carried out by the independent Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives … Continue reading Lithium-ion batteries successfully pass ageing test

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Rising energy demand a threat to water supplies

Rising demand for energy, from biofuels to shale gas, nuclear power, coal and oil, is a threat to freshwater supplies that are already under strain from climate change, the United Nations said in a report on Friday. It urged energy companies to do more to limit the use of water in everything from cooling coal-fired … Continue reading Rising energy demand a threat to water supplies

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Opportunities and investment for energy storage technologies

Energy storage technologies – spanning everything from electric water heaters to pumped hydro – are valuable components in most energy systems and could be an important tool for achieving a low-carbon future.  In a new report released today, the IEA estimates that China, India, the European Union and the United States alone should invest at … Continue reading Opportunities and investment for energy storage technologies

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