World invested more in solar energy than coal, gas and nuclear combined in 2017, UN report reveals

Global investment in renewable energy shot up last year, far outstripping investment in fossil fuels, according to a UN report.

China was largely responsible for the surge in
 solar energy infrastructure in 2017, accounting
 for nearly half the global investment. 

As the price of clean energy technology plummets, it has become an increasingly attractive prospect for world governments.

China was by far the world’s largest investor in renewable energy in 2017, accounting for nearly half of the new infrastructure commissioned.

This was mainly a result of its massive support for solar power, which globally attracted nearly a fifth more investment than in the previous year. Other countries including Australia, Sweden and Mexico more than doubled the amount of money they pumped into clean energy projects.

Read the story by Josh Gabbatiss from the Independent - “World invested more in solar energy than coal, gas and nuclear combined in 2017, UN report reveals.”

More Than 100 Cities Worldwide Now Powered Primarily by Renewable Energy

As the price of renewable energy drops, more cities are cutting the cord with fossil fuel-based electricity.

Burlington, Vermont, gets 100 percent of its power
from renewable energy, including from solar farms
 like this one, built on locally made systems that
track the sun. 

A new report released Tuesday by the environmental group CDP finds that more than 100 cities worldwide now get the majority of their power—70 percent or more—from renewables. That's up from 42 in 2015, when countries pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the Paris climate agreement.

CDP notes that more than 40 of those cities are now powered entirely by renewables, including Burlington, Vermont, which gets its electricity from a combination of wind, solar, hydro and biomass. Burlington will have more company within the next 20 years—58 U.S. cities, including Atlanta and San Diego, having announced plans to do the same.

Read the Inside Climate News story by Georgina Gustin - “More Than 100 Cities Worldwide Now Powered Primarily by Renewable Energy.”

Infigen seeks $525m debt refinancing as profit jumps

Renewable energy company Infigen is seeking a half a billion dollar refinancing, a move that will allow it to consider reintroducing distributions to shareholders in future, as it lifted half-year profit 25 per cent.

Infigen currently operates six wind farms across
Australia and is building a seventh at Bodangora.

The wind farm energy generator has announced it will refinance its existing debt through a $525 million facility with Goldman Sachs.

Read Cole Latimer’s story in today’s Age - “Infigen seeks $525m debt refinancing as profit jumps.”

A new solar reality

The costs of renewable systems have dropped dramatically over the last two years — particularly solar — and continue to drop very quickly, Scientia Professor Martin Green argues.

Political pessimism lags behind the
 reality of solar in Australia.

Yet he says none of this yet being factored in to the political discussion over renewables.

So how do we dispel the lingering pessimism in Canberra over solar — and expand the use of this remarkable technology?

Listen to Ockham’s Razor on Radio National - “A new solar reality.”

Harness the power of nature

Dan Menezes knows renewable energy is the way of the future.

The electrical engineer recently started GV Wind and Solar to provide solar installation solutions for small and large-scale operations.

Dan Menezes understands the renewable energy is the way of the futrure.

The Shepparton resident is hoping to raise awareness of this new frontier for the solar industry.

‘‘I work closely with clients to understand their current energy usage,’’ Dan said.

‘‘I then design personalised systems which are suited to their homes and will offer them the best results.’’

With electricity costs rising rapidly, Dan believes renewable energy provides the solution for the future with wind, solar and battery storage solutions available to clients.

Having lived in Shepparton most of his life, Dan has seen first-hand the effect electricity prices can have on people.

‘‘I am here to help people in the Goulburn Valley by offering them my best advice at the best price,’’ he said.

Dan specialises in battery storage solutions which he believes offer people a number of benefits.

The batteries mean people can store solar energy from the day to be used later on that night.

Dan is hoping to eventually have a shopfront to offer his services on a larger scale.

Dan encourages anyone interested to give him a call and have a chat about how solar energy can benefit them.

● Dan can be contacted on 0432 727 377 or via email gvwindandsolar@gmail.com

Story from the Shepparton News - “Harness the power of nature.”

Renewable energy investment 'bonanza' is coming to Australia, experts say

Investment experts say Australia is fast becoming an attractive destination for large-scale batteries and renewable investment, which should ultimately bring down the costs of gas and electricity for households.

Tesla's lithium-ion battery's success in SA has
drawn the eyes of the global investment community.

The world's second-most powerful battery could be built in the Top End as part of a plan to produce more renewable energy for the Northern Territory, following the installation of Elon Musk's 100-megawatt battery in South Australia.

The Climate Council has called it a renewable investment bonanza.

"We will see I think a boom over the next decade in battery storage and also solar thermal, we're starting to see that play out now in South Australia," the Climate Council's Andrew Stock said.

Mr Musk drew plenty of media attention when he announced he would build a 100-megawatt battery in South Australia.

Read David Taylor’s ABC News story - “Renewable energy investment 'bonanza' is coming to Australia, experts say.”

Power prices forecast to fall over next two years but AEMC warns they won't last

Power prices in Australia rose almost 11% during 2017 but a new forecast says they will fall over the next two years because of the entry of 5,300 MW of new generation capacity into the national electricity market – most of it renewable.

The Liddell power station in New South Wales. Power prices in Australia rose almost 11% during 2017. 

A new assessment from the Australian Energy Market Commission predicts power prices will fall over the next two years, beginning in mid-2018.

But the AEMC, which played a significant role in designing the Turnbull government’s proposed national energy guarantee, says the price reductions won’t last if governments don’t settle an energy policy that provides incentives for investing in dispatchable power.

Read Katherine Murphy’s story on The Guardian - “Power prices forecast to fall over next two years but AEMC warns they won't last.”

Turnbull to rely on state schemes he once rubbished as reckless

State government anger over the federal government’s new energy plan is reaching boiling point, both because of the Coalition’s co-opting of what is supposed to be an independent board, and its decision to essentially rely on state-based renewable targets that it once derided as reckless.

Turnbull government relies on schemes it once called "reckless".

The seething anger from the states is completely overshadowing the proposal for the National Energy Guarantee, not least because it cannot be implemented without their approval.

But they have been astonished by the federal government’s decision to go behind their backs, obtain a policy proposal from the newly constituted Energy Security Board – which is supposed to report to the states through the COAG energy council – and then use the ESB directors to sell the idea to media, politicians and business.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Giles Parkinson - “Turnbull to rely on state schemes he once rubbished as reckless.”

Small town of Glen Innes to become renewable energy hub scattered with wind turbines

Tim Moses has 14 wind turbines
being constructed on his property.

A small town in northern New South Wales has become an epicentre for renewable energy, with hundreds of millions of dollars being invested in wind and solar farms.

Perched on the Great Dividing Range, Glen Innes gets wind from all directions and as turbines fill the skies, the local economy is reaping significant gains.

For up to 30 landowners, having turbines on their land is an opportunity to "drought-proof" their income.

Tim Moses, a second-generation cattle producer is diversifying.

Read the ABC News story by Phillipa McDonald - “Small town of Glen Innes to become renewable energy hub scattered with wind turbines.”

Renowned Australian scientist Tim Flannery warns NT against investing in gas, Jemena pipeline

Former Australian of the Year and climate expert Tim Flannery has warned the Northern Territory not to invest in "dying" fossil fuel industries like gas.

Tim Flannery believes the Northern Territory
would lose out if it invested in gas.

Professor Flannery, the former chief commissioner of the now defunct Climate Commission, was brought to Darwin by the Environment Centre and Nightcliff Sea Breeze Festival organisers to speak at the festival on the weekend.

Ahead of the event, he told the ABC despite the Territory's economic woes, investing in gas infrastructure or fracking would mean the NT would lose out economically and environmentally.

"There is no conflict between going renewable and economic development; what we do have is an industry that is determined to hang onto life," Professor Flannery said.

Read the ABC News story - “Renowned Australian scientist Tim Flannery warns NT against investing in gas, Jemena pipeline.”

Australia’s first renewable and advanced energy startup accelerator program launches in Sydney

Sydney will be home to Australia’s first startup accelerator program focused on developing the state’s renewable and advanced energy sector with the establishment of ‘EnergyLab’.

The NSW Deputy Premier and
 Minister for Small Business
 John Barilaro.

The private-sector led, NSW Government supported Jobs for NSW has provided a $120,000 grant to support the fitout and first year operating costs of EnergyLab at the historic Blackfriars School House on the UTS Chippendale campus.

“The energy industry is changing rapidly providing a huge opportunity for research, new technologies, businesses and jobs in renewable and advanced technology,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro said.

Read the NSW Government Department of Industry release - “Australia’s first renewable and advanced energy startup accelerator program launches in Sydney.”

Germany sets new record for renewable energy

O

n Saturday, July 25, Germany set a new national record for renewable energy by meeting 78 percent of the day’s electricity demand with renewables sources, exceeding the previous record of 74 percent set in May of 2014.

According to an analysis by German energy expert Craig Morris at the Energiewende blog, a stormy day across northern Europe combined with sunny conditions in southern Germany led to the new record, the exact figures of which are still preliminary.

Morris writes that most of Germany’s wind turbines are installed in the north and most of its solar panels are in the south.

Read the ClimateProgress story - “Germany Just Got 78 Percent Of Its Electricity From Renewable Sources”.

Schlesinger questions the value of biomass

by William H. Schlesinger

B

William H. Schlesinger.

urning biomass to generate electricity is officially listed as being 'carbon neutral'.

But claims that it helps prevent climate change are not as straight-forward as they seem.

Read what William Schlesinger has to say - “Why renewable 'biomass' is not as good for the climate as we'd hoped”.

Seeing our cities in a new light

Our energy poor future will bring futures we haven’t yet comprehended.

Among them is maybe a darkness that will allow us to see our cities in a new way.

The Urbanful story, and pictures: “What city skies would look like in a world without electricity” gives us an insight into what is possible.

Alternative energy enthusiasts argue that even though we may well end our addiction to fossil-fuel power, other renewable sources will allow us to keep the lights on.

Diesendorf removes the doubt, in less than15 miniutes

Extensive reading and listening had left me in doubt about the ability of renewable energy to replace that from fossil fuels the world now depends upon.

However, in less than 15 minutes listening to Mark Diesendorf on Ockham’s Razor on Radio National changed all that.

In a session headed: “Renewing Renewables”, Diesendorf produced a convincing argument for switching quickly from our fossil fuel powered electricity generators to a system almost wholly dependent upon renewable supplies, such as solar and wind.

It’s worth spending 13 minutes listening to Diesendorf.