Webinar: The Future of Electrification and What It Means for Clean Energy

Tuesday, June 26, 1-2pm ET 

 

 

There is great potential for electricity to replace liquid and solid fuels for transportation, industrial processes, agriculture, and heating and cooling. In April the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) published the U.S. National Electrification Assessment, which examines four possible pathways of how electrification could proceed in the coming years and decades. In the report’s most ambitious scenario, electricity's share of total energy supply would rise from 19 percent today to 50 percent by 2050.

 

In this webinar, Francisco de la Chesnaye, Senior Program Manager at EPRI, will present the report’s findings and discuss the potential implications for state renewable energy initiatives. There will be opportunity for audience questions.

For more info visit:https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/270973932131618305

Australian solar plant to have world's largest power storage capacity

The joint venture between two major Japanese power providers has invested in renewable-energy projects abroad, such as this Indian solar farm. (Photo courtesy of JERA) 

TOKYO -- A roughly $1 billion solar energy project in Australia will employ one of the biggest power storage facilities in the world, with Japanese and Western companies contributing funds.

As part of this, a 250-megawatt plant in the state of South Australia will use a 100MW lithium-ion battery storage system. The storage capacity will be on par with a wind farm battery system from Tesla in Australia, now the largest of its kind on the planet. Power generated at the forthcoming plant will be sold to local utilities.

For the rest of this story visit:https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Australian-solar-plant-to-have-world-s-largest-power-storage-capacity

Webcast: Solving the 'Flexibility Gap' How Hydro, Solar and Wind Can Work Together

May 14, 2018 12:00PM EDT

A certificate of attendance will be offered.

How are renewables, including pumped-storage hydropower, working together to provide energy storage and meet transmission grid flexibility?

Get the answers in 1 hour from 3 dynamic speakers. Debate and discuss energy storage in general and how intermittent renewables such as wind and solar can be balanced using pumped-storage hydro.

What You'll Learn:

•	Ideas and insights on how wind, solar, and hydro can work together to provide energy storage
•	Success stories of how existing technology can provide energy storage without requiring batteries
•	What's next for energy storage policy and market development?

Who Should Attend:

•	Developers, Utility Executives, Engineering Managers, C-level Executives, Consultants, Installers, Policymakers, and Investors

To Register: 

https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1190750&tp_key=31071ba922&sti=em2&pwhid=68c376539d091da92bc964a79fb48fc9e052b971a359f93c1b266a0c4f1b495d18d9e0dda4db0d916e38e47459278eb504810105e243e96a20860558c7a11ba0

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry Announces $68.5 Million for Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today (May 1), U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced up to $68.5 million in available funding for early-stage research of advanced vehicle technologies that will enable more affordable mobility, strengthen domestic energy security, and enhance U.S. economic growth.

“Transportation is fundamental to the American way of life,” said Secretary Perry. “Investing in early-stage research of advanced transportation technologies can give families and businesses greater choice in how they meet their mobility needs while reducing energy costs and making our transportation more efficient and reliable.”

Funded through the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, projects selected through this Vehicle Technologies Office funding opportunity will address priorities in advanced batteries and electrification, including cyber security related to electric vehicle charging; materials for both lighter weight vehicle structures and advanced powertrains; technology integration and energy-efficient mobility systems; and engines and fuels, including technologies for off-road applications as well as the co-optimization of engines and fuels.

For the rest of the story visit:
https://www.energy.gov/articles/secretary-energy-rick-perry-announces-685-million-advanced-vehicle-technologies-research

What Are Flotovoltaics?

Photo by Adam Warren (NREL).

What are flotovoltaics? It's floating solar and an emerging application where solar panels are designed and installed to float on bodies of water.

Localities in the United States are showing an increasing interest in installing this innovative solar technology and our technical experts at NREL have received numerous requests for analytical support as this new exciting new application for solar power begins to reveal its potential.
Learn more about flotovoltaics in our new FAQ at https://www.nrel.gov/technical-assistance/blog/posts/stat-faqs-part1-floating-solar.html

https://www.nrel.gov/technical-assistance/blog/posts/stat-faqs-part1-floating-solar.html

Aging Wind Farms Are Repowering with Longer Blades, More Efficient Turbines

By Lyndsey Gilpin, InsideClimate News

Mar 28, 2018

Old wind farms that have towered over the same fields for more than a decade may be generating more power now than ever before.

As America's biggest wind farms age, their owners are starting to "repower" them with more efficient turbines, new electronics and longer, lighter blades that can sweep more wind with each rotation. The result is a thriving new industry, new jobs and more renewable energy.

For the rest of the story visit: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27032018/wind-power-blades-capacity-clean-energy-technology-jobs-ge-siemens-leeward-midamerican-repowering

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27032018/wind-power-blades-capacity-clean-energy-technology-jobs-ge-siemens-leeward-midamerican-repowering

What makes a wind turbine break? NREL's drivetrain experts want to know.

One way to reduce the cost of #wind energy is to understand how to keep a wind turbine operating smoothly. Check out how researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are investigating the likely causes of premature drivetrain failure.

Check out this video to help explain this : https://youtu.be/U3eJxUc9ltE

Distributed Solar PV for Electricity System Resiliency

Distributed solar systems have the potential to supply electricity during grid outages resulting from extreme weather or other emergency situations. As such, distributed solar can significantly increase the resiliency of the electricity system.

In order to take advantage of this capability, however, the systems must be designed with resiliency in mind and combined with other technologies, such as energy storage and auxiliary generation.

A new paper from NREL presents the basics of designing distributed solar systems for resiliency - including the use of energy storage, hybrid fuel-use and microgrids - and provides policy and regulatory considerations for encouraging the use of these distributed system designs.

Learn more at : 
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/62631.pdf?platform=hootsuite

When Does Energy Storage Make Sense? It Depends.

February 25, 2018 by Lars Lisell

“It depends” is an engineer’s favorite response to just about every question.  But “it depends” is an appropriate response when evaluating whether installing an energy storage system is a good idea. Energy storage can be confusing. The technology adds value to electrical systems by charging when there is excess energy on the system, storing the power until it is required, then discharging when the energy system requires additional energy. Unlike traditional generators that turn fuel into electricity, an energy storage system is used to move energy around.  A few common applications for energy storage include moving energy use from a period of high consumption to a period of low consumption, storing renewable generation to be used at night, or storing grid power to be used during periods of grid outage.  For an energy storage system to make economic sense, the value of providing this service to a facility or the electrical system must exceed the cost of the energy storage system.  How can a consumer determine if an energy storage system makes sense for a facility?  The answer often lies in the utility bill.[1] 

For the rest of the story visit: https://www.nrel.gov/technical-assistance/blog/posts/when-does-energy-storage-make-sense-it-depends.html?platform=hootsuite

The George Washington University Institute Solar Knowledge Library

The Solar Knowledge Library provides engaging and accessible videos about key solar energy topics, as well as links to more in-depth resources. The videos are aimed at educating professionals that are not part of the solar industry but still play a key role in expanding solar deployment opportunities in the United States.

For more information visit:  https://solar.gwu.edu/solar-knowledge-library