Renewable energy developments

[jovialmo]

Images have been released showing the sheer size of a new solar power plant in southern India.

The facility in Kamuthi, Tamil Nadu, has a capacity of 648 MW and covers an area of 10 sq km.

This makes it the largest solar power plant at a single location, taking the title from the Topaz Solar Farm in California, which has a capacity of 550 MW.

The solar plant, built in an impressive eight months and funded by the Adani Group, is cleaned every day by a robotic system, charged by its own solar panels.

At full capacity, it is estimated to produce enough electricity to power about 150,000 homes.

The project is comprised of 2.5 million individual solar modules, and cost $679m to build.

The new plant has helped nudge India's total installed solar capacity across the 10 GW mark, according to a statement by research firm Bridge to India, joining only a handful of countries that can make this claim.

As solar power increases, India is expected to become the world's third-biggest solar market from next year onwards, after China and the US. . . .

By 2022, India aims to power 60 million homes by the sun. It is part of the government's goal to produce 40 percent of its power from non-fossil fuels by 2030.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/...argest-solar-power-plant-161129101022044.html

 

[jovialmo]

Gas—who needs it? Amazing:

http://climatenewsnetwork.net/natural-gas-cannot-help-to-curb-climate-change/

 

[jovialmo]

Well, seems “clean coal” has had its day.

The coal industry suffered a major blow on Wednesday when the utility giant Southern Company abandoned work on its troubled Mississippi “clean coal” facility amid skyrocketing costs.

The Kemper County Energy Facility, conceived under President George W. Bush, promised to turn coal into cleaner-burning gas and provide a model for the future of coal. But after 11 years and $7.5 billion, the plant failed to produce commercially viable technology.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/kemper-clean-coal_us_59554276e4b0da2c73221799

 

[jovialmo]

The big Tesla battery going in at Jamestown in SA will also provide opportunities for SA business, especially car parts makers making stuff for Tesla energy. Hope can make stuff for Tesla’s electric cars, that’d be wild!

 

[jovialmo]

How offshore windfarms are providing more and more energy at lower cost:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJbWnQDXUAAyGeb.jpg

 

[jovialmo]

Largest windfarm in Australia/Southern Hemisphere about to be built in Vic.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/victoria-set-host-australias-biggest-wind-farm-800mw-40345/

But offshore is the way to go—drag from land slows winds. We have the Trade Winds and the roaring 40s—lets use that!

 

[jovialmo]

Pumped hydro as backup and power source:

Annual water requirements of a PHES-supported 100% renewable electricity grid would be less than one-third that of the current fossil fuel system, because wind and PV do not require cooling water. About 3,600ha of PHES reservoir is required to support a 100% renewable electricity grid for Australia, which is 0.0005% of Australia’s land area, and far smaller than the area of existing water storages.

PHES, batteries and demand management are all likely to have prominent roles as the grid transitions to 50-100% renewable energy. Currently, about 3GW per year of wind and PV are being installed. If this continued until 2030 it would be enough to supply half of Australia’s electricity consumption. If this rate is doubled then Australia will reach 100% renewable electricity in about 2033.

Fast-track development of a few excellent PHES sites can be completed in 2022 to balance the grid when Liddell and other coal-fired power stations close.

https://theconversation.com/want-en...sites-for-pumped-hydro-across-australia-84275

 

[jovialmo]

Crispin Hull reckons that in a couple of years renewable energy will supply the lack left by coal fired plants retiring etc despite the miserable Lib govt trying to stifle it. Also thinks he has a great idea to reduce demand on those stinking hot summer days:

There is another solution to the temporary electricity crisis that faces us in the next two summers (until renewable energy changes the game, despite the government's best effort not to allow it). Rather than concentrate on supply, why don't we look at the demand side as well, and introduce a system of electricity rationing, in a similar way to water restrictions and the petrol rationing during the 1970s oil crises.

Admittedly, it's easier to spot water gushing from garden irrigation systems or a car with an odd-number registration plate filling up on an even-number date than it would be to spot someone overconsuming electricity. But water and petrol restrictions were largely enforced through self-compliance rather than fines.

It could be the same with electricity.

People with odd street or unit numbers would be encouraged to turn off air-conditioning for an hour after 3pm, 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. People with even numbers would be encouraged to turn off for an hour at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. People without solar would be encouraged not to use washing machines or dishwashers at peak times, such as between 7am and 9am, and from 5pm to 8pm.

I think we would be surprised at the level of compliance. The shame factor within families can be quite powerful, often contributing to better behaviour.

It's worth a try, but no doubt political parties funded by profit-pursuing utility companies will see things differently – and go for more supply and more consumption.

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/500-years-ago-martin-luther-set-the-world-alight-20171006-gyvna4.html

Maybe we could use social media to get this idea out there? Enough to get the Parties to support the idea?

 

[jovialmo]

It seems deep ocean floating windfarms could power the world!

Why floating? Not all coasts have wide and shallow continental shelves.

In the open ocean there is 70% more wind than there is on land.

SA could put floating or fixed wind farms in the Great Australian Bight. Better than oil exploration!

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/...ng-technology-north-atlantic-statoil-caldeira

 

[Squire]

The big Tesla battery going in at Jamestown in SA will also provide opportunities for SA business, especially car parts makers making stuff for Tesla energy. Hope can make stuff for Tesla’s electric cars, that’d be wild!

That's a fantasy. Australian manufacturers are not competitive. Otherwise, they would already be competing internationally.

Australian manufacturers have a huge shipping advantage. Ships delivering goods to Australia return empty and rates for backloading on these ships would be very low.

 

[jovialmo]

Michael West reports on the decreasing price for renewable energy, much cheaper than coal:

https://www.michaelwest.com.au/mexico-proves-coal/

As he says, it is the government’s duty to plan and manage the transition.

Not the Libs tho, they want to use public money to pay an Indian coal magnate $1Bn on a dodgy coal mine.

 

[jovialmo]

In the US schools are increasingly turning to solar panels to power the schools, putting the savings in power bills towards teaching. A solar lab is part of the deal and is used in maths, physics, engineering (STEM) subjects.

I think the Rudd govt had a Solar Schools program in its sights, but under micromanaging Rudd it didn’t eventuate. I remember I had the idea of a solar lab as part of the project for each school.

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/...-education-clean-energy-rates-technology-stem

 

[jovialmo]

Hey hey! Something REAL happening in renewable energy!

Leroy @Leroy_Lynch

Australia's first offshore wind farm, an $8 billion 2000 megawatt project off the coast of Victoria’s Gippsland region, has secured financial backing from a major international green energy investment fund http://www.theage.com.au/business/energy/australia-s-first-offshore-wind-farm-international-funding-20171205-p4yxfb.html … #ausbiz #renewableenergy

7:03 PM - Dec 6, 2017

2000 megawatt = 2Gwatt

Link: http://www.theage.com.au/business/e...rm-international-funding-20171205-p4yxfb.html

Of course, we will have to import everything in the towers and generators!

 

[Squire]

Hey hey! Something REAL happening in renewable energy!

Leroy @Leroy_Lynch

Australia's first offshore wind farm, an $8 billion 2000 megawatt project off the coast of Victoria’s Gippsland region, has secured financial backing from a major international green energy investment fund http://www.theage.com.au/business/energy/australia-s-first-offshore-wind-farm-international-funding-20171205-p4yxfb.html … #ausbiz #renewableenergy

7:03 PM - Dec 6, 2017

2000 megawatt = 2Gwatt

Link: http://www.theage.com.au/business/e...rm-international-funding-20171205-p4yxfb.html

Of course, we will have to import everything in the towers and generators!

And the money. The only Australian contribution will be politicians fighting to claim credit.

 

[jovialmo]

Tasmania will have a 1Gwatt windfarm in Robins Is off the northwest coast of Tassie. enough for 500,000 homes.

Be operational in a couple of years.

Should use it to power Tassie then hydro can be used to power industry. Tassie is drying out like the rest of southern Australia.

Source: ABC News broadcast.

 

[jovialmo]

A bit of fun, a solar train:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-...e-brainchild-of-byron-bay-millionaire/9265522

They could increase power by putting solar panels between the tracks!

It would be nice if trolley buses were re-introduced: they run on electricity, could be from renewable sources, no diesel particulate emissions. Mainly I would like to see trolley buses back tho: they have the smoothest ride! Back in the late 50s–60s I rode one every so often, smooooth ride! Cheaper than trams—only need an overhead cable. Excellent for going up hills too.

 

[jovialmo]

Well, well, Newcastle Port, the biggest coal port in the world, is preparing to move to encouraging other business, containers etc, to the port. Just like investors and financiers are moving away from coal: fossil fuels cannot compete against renewables.


https://www.theguardian.com/environ...al-export-port-announces-shift-away-from-coal

Developments like this gives me hope warming will be slowed.

 

[MilesAway]

The big Tesla battery going in at Jamestown in SA will also provide opportunities for SA business, especially car parts makers making stuff for Tesla energy. Hope can make stuff for Tesla’s electric cars, that’d be wild!

Actually, I think electric cars will have less moving parts!

 

[jovialmo]

Not gonna say nothing—the grin on my face is too big—but urge you to read this:

http://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-bi...bering-coal-units-after-loy-yang-trips-70003/

The battery had already been used to sell power. If it doesn’t explode in SA summer heat it will be but the first of several such big batteries.

 

[jovialmo]

Another sign of coals continuing decline as an energy source:

Two developments this week should – but probably won’t – end the Coalition’s obsession with propping up coal-fired power generation in Australia.

Firstly, Toyota has flagged a new wave of electricity-hungry vehicles by promising to electrify every model in its range by 2025.

Secondly, mining giant BHP released a report explaining why it can no longer support industry groups that put coal power sources ahead of other sources regardless of the economics.

Both announcements are more complicated than they look, so let’s start with the demand side.

When Toyota promises to ‘electrify’ all of its models, it means it will offer electrified options for those customers who want to move away from petrol or diesel.

Those choices will include all-electric vehicles, hybrid petrol/electric vehicles, ‘ranger extenders’ that use a petrol generator to increase battery life, and even fuel cell technology that produces a flow of electrons by slowly combining hydrogen and oxygen.

Toyota says half its sales by 2030 will be electrified, and hopes to reduce carbon emissions in its new vehicles by 90 per cent, based on 2010 levels, by 2050.

Any way you slice it, that means motorists are going to start demanding more electricity.

Supplying the electrons
Firms whose main profits flow from thermal coal would love to supply that electricity, but BHP is not such a company – a fifth of its turnover comes from coal, but mostly the kind used for steel production rather than power generation.

That has allowed it to take a ‘fuel neutral’ view of energy markets.

On Tuesday BHP released a report that takes a number of industry lobby groups to task for backing coal regardless of the economic or climate-change implications.

It has ended its membership of the World Coal Association (WCA) on the grounds that the WCA “supported abandoning the proposed Australian Clean Energy Target because in their view abandoning the Clean Energy Target would improve the investment climate for HELE [high efficiency, low emissions coal] generation”.

By contrast, BHP said it believes “energy markets should not artificially favour one type of technology over another”.

“We also believe governments should focus on setting policies to facilitate efficient markets. Government intervention in resources and energy markets should only be in response to a demonstrated market failure, and informed by cost-benefit analysis.”

https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2017/12/20/time-coalition-admit-wrong-coal/