Americas

Energy_Carbon and Climate

Energy Generation: IEA Finds Notable Growth In Renewables, Decline in Coal, Oil

The International Energy Agency (IEA) shared that energy generation from renewable energy sources grew by 16% across the 34 nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2015. A 1% decrease in combustible fuels was also noticed; such as coal, gas, and oil, as well as combustible renewables and waste energy sources.

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Siemens And Pattern Combine For Major Wind Power Plant In New Mexico And Texas

Siemens (Wind Power and Renewables Division) has agreed with Pattern Energy Group LP to deliver, install and service a total of 141 wind turbines for the Broadview Wind project. The project combines two adjacent projects in New Mexico and Texas with a total installed capacity of 324 megawatts (MW). Siemens Financial Services Division will provide loans for the project totalling nearly $100m. The project is expected to supply about 180,000 average U.S. homes and Siemens is expected to commence installation this month.

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Report: Renewables Can Supply All Of USA Power Needs

A new report lays out the reasons and means to alter the United States’s energy supply entirely to renewable energies. It examines the fall in wind and solar costs and the fact that solar growth has exceeded energy advocates’ expectations. It states that The United States has the technical potential to achieve its electricity needs more than 100 times over with solar energy and more than 10 times over with wind energy. Detailed studies on clean energy systems have shown that there are no obstacles in achieving a move to 100% renewable energy; it is entirely possible to make a complete transition at a cost that would be comparable or less than is currently spent on dirty energy.

US Solar Economy

Sunnova Energy Secures $175m From Goldman Sachs In The Growing US Solar Economy

The capital secured with Goldman Sachs ensures Sunnova’s continued growth in the US residential solar market and the company will use the funds for its expansion plans. It has a strategy of partnering with local installers to invest in assets, in order to provide affordable solar power, while creating job opportunities across the US. CEO John Berger stated, “our focus on profitable, scalable growth and a well-capitalised company has established Sunnova as a clear leader in the rapidly growing solar economy and Goldman Sachs’ financing will allow us to continue… bringing consumers a cost-effective, clean choice for their electricity.”

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E.ON CEO Unimpressed With Government Policy Changes; Calls For Market Stability

Michael Lewis, CEO of E.ON Climate and Renewables GmbH, has voiced caution on the UK government clean energy policy reversals. “The UK has been E.ON’s largest market in terms of gross investment but since the election last year, there have been a number of very substantial policy reversals here. This sends completely the wrong signals to investors.” He outlined that, the “EU generally and the UK specifically needs to come together and deliver some coherent policies across the renewable energy area”.

Chile Solar

Chile Emerges As The Clean Energy ‘Tiger’ Of Latin America

Chile now plays host to the largest PV plants in Latin America. According to a CIFES report, the first quarter of the year saw an increase of around 254MW in solar, in addition to 6MW wind and small hydro and biomass projects. With this, the country continues to hold its position as the largest solar market in Latin America. While 10% of Chile’s power demand is now successfully met through renewable energy, their current volume is set to double under mandates set by new legislation, setting a new objective of 20% renewable energy in 2025, as well as further targets during the preceding years.

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Electric Vehicles – An Astonishing Opportunity For Utilities, Storage And Grids

Utilities have been slow to adopt renewable innovations like wind and rooftop solar, according to some critics, however, utilities now have the opportunity to seize a share of the $400bn US petrol market from the oil companies. Capturing market share for light-duty vehicles alone, “power sales would rise by about 25%, adding roughly $100bn per year to electric utility revenues and saving car drivers about $300bn a year”, states Michael Shepherd, Chairman of E-Source, highlighting a superb opportunity for utilities to boost significantly the growth of EV transportation.

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Intersolar, ees North America Workshop Program for Installers And Developers

Intersolar and ees North America, the most attended solar plus energy storage industry exhibition and conference dedicated to the North American market, will host more than 20 workshops this year to educate installers and project developers on the key trends and new products shaping the industry. The featured workshops this year are developed in partnership with the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) and the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries (NAATBatt).

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Stunning Growth of Clean Energy In Mexico

The recent state power auction in Mexico awarded 5.38 million megawatt-hours of energy to renewable energies; solar won 74 percent and wind won the remaining 26 percent. Solar in Mexico will now grow by an astonishing 521 percent in 2016, far exceeding projections made only months earlier. With the concentration of project developers in the country now matching the strategic objectives of its government, Mexico has the resources to become a strong and internationally significant clean energy hub.

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Energy Efficiency And Production: California Leads The Way

Even with the 2nd largest energy consumption and expenditure in the USA , California has some of the lowest per capita consumption patterns in the country. This; when combined with its robust renewable energy production (nearly 4000MW solar projects installed), and a more diversified energy portfolio, sees it trailblazing towards its landmark energy targets. In addition, shielding its economy from the volatility of oil prices, California provides a model that can be used nationally, as well as globally.

Metro_Public Transport

Santiago Pioneers Public Transport First; Solar Powered Metro Serving 2.2M Daily

Total and SunPower have announced that SunPower has signed a power purchase agreement for the supply of 300-gigawatt hours per year of clean solar energy to Metro of Santiago. With this agreement, the Metro of Santiago will become the first public transport system in the world to run mostly on solar energy. It currently serves 2.2 million passengers per day. “This project supports our ambition to become the responsible energy major,” says Bernard Clément, senior vice president of Business & Operations, of the New Energies division of Total.