Renewables – Center of Excellence for Clean Energy

Wind surpasses hydro as most used renewable

Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Wind is now the top renewable source of electricity generation in the country, a position previously held by hydroelectricity.

Annual wind generation totaled 300 million megawatthours (MWh) in 2019, exceeding hydroelectric generation by 26 million MWh. Wind generation has increased steadily during the past decade, in part, because the Production Tax Credit (PTC), which drove wind capacity additions, was extended. Annual hydroelectric generation has fluctuated between 250 million MWh and 320 million MWh in the past decade, reflecting a stable capacity base and variable annual precipitation.

Hydrogen: A green and sustainable energy source?

Posted on Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Hydrogen could be a feasible alternative to fossil fuels because of its affordability and environmental friendliness. It is found throughout the environment, but producing it involves efficiently separating it from other compounds.

There are currently a number of ways this can be done, but methods can be slow and expensive. A team of scientists believes that hydrogen fuel could be generated “on-demand” because of a separation process structured around bismuth, a chemical element.

Washington statewide low-carbon fuel standard promoted by governor

Posted on Wednesday, January 15, 2020

At a recent visit to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Gov. Jay Inslee said a low-carbon fuel policy would increase access to biofuels for the aviation industry.

The aviation industry is a portion of the economy that’s particularly challenging for reducing greenhouse gases.

Inslee thinks the policy’s financial incentives would push fuel suppliers to develop supply chains for biofuel.

seattletimes.com

Hydropower: Untapped energy?

Posted on Friday, January 10, 2020

The world’s energy systems are inseparably linked to water. That is why engineers are working on harnessing the power of ocean energies and undammed river currents. Examples of ocean energies include wave energy, tidal energy, thermal energy and underwater energy created by ocean currents.

Although the process of capturing ocean energy has not yet reached maturity, it is extremely promising. Converters are able to capture the energy contained in waves by trapping air pockets to drive turbines, using wave motion and even generating energy from wave height differences.

World’s largest floating wind turbine connects online

Posted on Thursday, January 9, 2020

The largest floating wind turbine to date just went online off the coast of Portugal.

One of the three platforms that will make up the WindFloat Atlantic off-shore wind farm was connected to the grid via a 20-kilometre (12.4-mile) long cable on New Year’s Eve.

Once the other two platforms come online, WindFloat will be able to provide enough clean energy for around 60,000 homes.

500 solar power systems installed by Target

Posted on Thursday, January 9, 2020

One of the top U.S. corporate solar power installers, Target completed its 500th rooftop solar installation in California, appropriately enough considering that it is the #1 state in the country for solar power.

The solar installations helped Target add more than 240 megawatts of solar across their buildings. This equals the power needed for nearly 46,000 homes in the U.S. Target chose solar because it wants to meet energy needs in a way that is good for the communities where it operates and the environment while also reducing the cost of its energy. One rooftop solar installation generates enough energy to offset between 15% and 40% of one of Target’s property’s energy needs.

Texan wind power grows again as huge turbines start spinning

Posted on Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Texas is known for its oil production, but it is increasingly a major player in wind energy. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the Lone Star State had more than 27 gigawatts of installed wind capacity and 14,198 wind turbines during the third quarter of 2019. The nearest rival in terms of installed capacity, Iowa, had less than half (8.965 GW) of Texas’ installed capacity during the same period. Capacity refers to the maximum amount that installations can theoretically produce.

Making hydrogen energy out of water more cheaply

Posted on Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Scientists have shown how using only water, iron, nickel and electricity can create hydrogen energy much more cheaply than before.

In research recently published in Nature Communications, scientists from UNSW Sydney, Griffith University and Swinburne University of Technology showed that capturing hydrogen by splitting it from oxygen in water can be achieved by using low-cost metals like iron and nickel as catalysts, which speed up this chemical reaction while requiring less energy.

Iron and nickel, which are found in abundance on Earth, would replace precious metals ruthenium, platinum, and iridium that up until now are regarded as benchmark catalysts in the ‘water-splitting’ process.