Solar Energy

Using electric water Heaters to store renewable Energy could do the work of 2 million home Batteries – and save us Billions

By David Roche, University of Technology Sydney | – Australia’s energy transition is well under way. Some 3 million households have rooftop solar and sales of medium-sized electric cars are surging. But as we work towards fully electric households powered by renewable energy, have we overlooked a key enabling technology, the humble electric water heater? […]

Green Energy

Germany gets 1/3 of its Electricity from Wind, 48% from Renewables in First Quarter

Clean Energy Wire

( Clean Energy Wire ) – Wind power has become Germany’s most important electricity source again in the first quarter of 2023, according to an analysis by the statistical office Destatis. Onshore and offshore turbines supplied nearly one third (32.2%) of the electricity produced between January and March, while total electricity production was 7.8 percent […]

Climate Crisis

Number of Solar PV Panel Installations in Germany hits 3 Million, can cover 10% of Electricity Demand

Clean Energy Wire

By Jessica Bateman | – Clean Energy Wire / Bloomberg ( Clean Energy Wire ) – The number of solar panel systems in Germany hit three million on Monday (29 May), with total solar PV installed capacity reaching more than 70 gigawatts (GW), according to industry association BSW Solar. With this capacity, the country can […]

China

India, 3rd biggest CO2 Emitter, will Pause new Coal Plants for 5 Years in favor of Batteries, New Solar

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Sibi Arasu at the Associated Press reports that the Indian government is going to pause new coal plants for 5 years in favor of concentrating on new battery power. This step is a huge about-face for India, and it matters. Some 73% of Indian energy still comes from coal, and […]

Batteries

Tipping Point? Global Investments in Low-Carbon Energy Outstrip Fossil Fuel Commitments by 1.7 to 1 for First Time in World History

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Globally, investors will sink $1.7 trillion into low-carbon energy this year — for the first time more than will be invested in fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency. Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the IEA, said, “For every dollar invested in fossil fuels, about 1.7 dollars are […]

China

China’s Solar Power Installations Skyrocket by 36.6%, may install 100 Gigs of New Solar this Year

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – In the first four months of 2023, China’s solar power installations increased by an incredible 36.6 percent year over year, to a total of 440 gigawatts.And no wonder. China’s major power firms’ investments in solar energy skyrocketed by 156.3% over those four months in the previous year, to $10.6 billion. […]

Climate Crisis

Spain Runs entirely on Green Energy for 9 Hours for First time, in Harbinger of Green Future

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Spain, the world’s 15th largest economy and the fourth-largest in Europe, recently ran for 9 hours entirely on wind, solar and hydro. It is not the first time the renewables supplied all of the country’s domestic electricity needs on the peninsula, but it is the first time they did so […]

Climate Crisis

Time for some Climate Optimism: These 4 Charts on the Unstoppable Growth of Solar will Blow your Mind

The Conversation

By Andrew Blakers, Australian National University | – (The Conversation) – Last year, the world built more new solar capacity than every other power source combined. Solar is now growing much faster than any other energy technology in history. How fast? Fast enough to completely displace fossil fuels from the entire global economy before 2050. […]

Agriculture

How shading crops with Solar Panels can improve Farming, lower Food Costs and reduce Emissions

The Conversation

By Joshua M. Pearce, Western University | – If you have lived in a home with a trampoline in the backyard, you may have observed the unreasonably tall grass growing under it. This is because many crops, including these grasses, actually grow better when protected from the sun, to an extent. And while the grass […]