GE RENEWABLES REACH 1'111 BLADES AT BERGAMA

GE Renewable Energy (Paris, France) announced on June 22 the production of the 1,111th wind turbine blade at its LM Wind Power (Kolding, Denmark) wind turbine blade manufacturing site in Turkey, four years after the start of the production at the new plant in Bergama, İzmir.

Devoted to responding to the growing demand for wind energy worldwide, including in Turkey, Europe and Asia, these 1,111 blades are meant to capture the wind for a total capacity of about 1.58 gigawatts (GW).

Inaugurated in July 2017, the Bergama facility — represents a $80 million investment to Turkey — became the fifteenth LM Wind Power factory and the first opened after the company became a GE Renewable Energy business.

The construction of the site’s extension started at the end of April 2019, in order to set up the factory to produce the innovative two-pieces carbon fiber blade for GE’s Onshore Cypress turbine platform. Today, GE says the Bergama site counts more than 800 employees, 26% of whom are women, one of LM Wind Power’s leading sites for a diverse workforce - link

LM WIND POWER OPENS IN FUJIAN PROVINCE

As China's push to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 draws increased attention toward wind power, experts say moving wind farms to deeper waters could eliminate some of the challenges to offshore wind power and help expand the fleet of turbines.

A new plant operated by LM Wind Power, a Danish wind turbine blade manufacturer, last Friday began manufacturing 107-meter blades -- among the longest blades worldwide -- in East China's Fujian province. 

The blades are expected to roll off the production line this October and will add to the variety of Chinese-made wind turbine components available for wind farms at home and abroad.

The plant is situated at the 1,000-mu (about 66.7 hectares) offshore wind power industrial park run by the Fujian division of the China Three Gorges Corporation, the developer of China's largest hydropower project, which broke ground in 1994 in Central China's Hubei province.

Before LM, domestic companies like Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co Ltd and Dongfang Electric Corporation Limited had settled in the industrial park and produced electrical generators, blades and other components.

The bay next to the industrial park houses 59 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of over 357.4 megawatts and annual electricity output of 1.4 billion kWh - link

WELTMEISTER

You may not have heard of WM Motor or Weltmeister yet, and that’s okay. It actually happens to be one of the highest-funded EV startups in China.

Last autumn, the five-year-old startup raised 10 billion yuan (~$1.5 billion) worth of outside investments. The money raised is to help cover R&D, marketing, and the expansion of its sales channel.

Many of Weltmeister’s competitors like NIO, Xpeng, and Tesla are publicly owned entities on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). After multiple waves of tremendous funding, industry professionals thought it was a matter of time before WM Motor announced an IPO in New York.

The company instead deviated from its EV competitors, and opted to list on Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style Star board in 2021 instead of in New York.

In choosing the mass market over arguably saturated luxury, WM Motor is taking some risk. However, if it pays off, Weltmeister could quickly jump miles ahead of its competitors in sales based on practicality.

This strategy is based on an informed approach from Weltmeister. The company has previously stated that parents with young children make up 69% of its customer base. To that note, competitors like NIO and Li Auto must outsource a majority of their manufacturing. Weltmeister, on the other hand, already has its own production footprint in place, with room to increase output - link

HONDA TO PRODUCE US EV INHOUSE

DETROIT (AP) — Although General Motors will build Honda’s first two fully electric vehicles for North America, the Japanese automaker plans to change course and manufacture its own later this decade.

Company officials say they’re developing their own EV architecture, and after two GM-made EVs go on sale in 2024, Honda will start building its own.

“It’s absolutely our intention to produce in our factories,” Honda of America Executive Vice President Dave Gardner said, adding that Honda has developed battery manufacturing expertise from building gas-electric hybrids. “We absolutely intend to utilize that resource.”

Honda and GM have been partners on hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicles. Earlier this year they announced that GM would build one Honda SUV and one Acura SUV using its Ultium-branded electric vehicle architecture and battery system. 

The company said the Honda SUV would be named the Prologue, and that both SUVs will have bodies, interiors and driving characteristics designed by Honda - link

(H2V) US-JAPANESE GIANT INVESTS IN BRITAIN

Element 2 and Ways2H have joined forces to deliver as many as 40 waste-to-hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK as part of Element 2’s plans to deploy over 800 hydrogen pumps in the UK by 2027, and 2,000 by 2030.

Announcing the new partnership today (June 22), the duo said they plan to collaborate on the production and distribution of renewable hydrogen fuel for public transit and other forms of transportation in the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Under such plans, the companies said they envision as many as 40 sites that will each provide 500kg to one tonne per day of renewable hydrogen fuel – enough for a heavy-duty truck, lorry or other heavy goods vehicles to cover 11,000 road kilometres.

It is believed the first project is planned for a location in Scotland, UK.

Commenting on the planned developments, Tim Harper, CEO of Element 2, said, “Our hydrogen supply agreement with Ways2H is an important step in Element 2’s plan to deliver 2,000 hydrogen refuelling stations across the UK, Ireland and Europe by 2030 - link - Molly Burgess - link - more like this - link

VESTAS - 105 MW ORDER - CANTABRIA

Vestas has secured a 105MW turbine order for a wind farm project in northern Spain’s Cantabria region.

Biocantaber, a company owned by Iberdrola and Ocyener, placed the order for the supply and installation of 23 V136-4.2MW turbines and two V117-4.2MW turbines.

The project’s mixed technology configuration will offer maximum energy production in the site’s medium and high wind speeds, Vestas said.

“Iberdrola continues to show its commitment to Cantabria, together with its local partners, with a second wind farm in the region, and is expanding its supplier base with Vestas”, said Julio Castro, Iberdrola Renovables Energia CEO.

Turbine delivery is expected by the second half of 2022.

“This order showcases the versatility of our 4MW portfolio and its ability to perform in the most diverse and challenging wind conditions.

“Its full converter technology also provides our customers with the reliability they need to operate in the Spanish grid, marked by an increasing participation of renewable sources”, said Javier Ojanguren, Vestas country manager for Spain - more like this (Spain) - link - reNEWS - link

SIEMENS GREEN AMMONIA DEMONSTRATOR

By switching to renewable electricity to make ammonia we could save over 40 million tonnes of CO2 each year in Europe alone, or over 360 million tonnes worldwide. 

We can also covert back into hydrogen and burn ammonia to make electricity when the wind is not blowing.

The Siemens Green Ammonia Demonstrator brings together, in a single site, all the technologies required to demonstrate the complete ammonia energy cycle. The project helps people better understand the potential of ammonia for the rapid deployment of a bulk, carbon-free hydrogen network.

Based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK and created in partnership with the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the University of Oxford and Cardiff University, the system uses water electrolysis to provide a hydrogen supply and extracts nitrogen from the air. 

The system combines these two elements in the well-established Haber-Bosch process to make ammonia which can be used as a new form of energy storage. When burned, ammonia turns back into nitrogen and water, and does not produce the CO2 emissions associated with fossil fuels - link

OMAN ANNOUNCES WORLD'S LARGEST GREEN H2 PLANT

The government of Oman has announced plans to begin construction on what will be the largest green hydrogen plant in the world. 

Leveraging energy industry experience and the perfect conditions for creating hydrogen with renewable energy, Oman is taking proactive steps to diversify its economy away from heavy reliance on oil and gas.

The Arabian Peninsula sultanate intends to start building the plant in the Al Wusta governorate on the Arabian Sea in 2028. The project will develop in stages and full capacity is expected to be reached by 2038.

At this point, 25 gigawatts of wind and solar energy will be used to produce more green hydrogen than any other facility in the world.

The plant is expected to cost €30 bn, and funding has come from Oman’s state energy company, QC, Chinese renewable hydrogen developer, InterContinental Energy, and a Kuwait-based energy investor, Enertech.

The Oman green hydrogen plant will use renewable energy to split water in an electrolyzer, producing hydrogen. The plant’s total reliance on renewable energy will result in actual environmental benefits and a reliably green hydrogen fuel product - link

DYING TO LIVE IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Latin America is one of the world’s deadliest regions for environmental human rights defenders. 

A total of 222 environmental defenders have been killed during resource extraction and pollution conflicts worldwide since last year: 98 of them were Peruvian, and 86 were indigenous defenders of the Amazon.

The Perené river valley, located in the dense jungles of the Peruvian Amazon, is where the indigenous Asháninka have long struggled to protect their lands from resource extraction. Drug trafficking and resource exploitation such as mining, logging, and land-grabbing continue to encroach on their territory without their consent.

Many Asháninka defenders receive death threats and the Peruvian state has not responded to calls for help. A series of murders of indigenous activists occurred during the COVID-19 lockdowns as criminals and corporations took advantage of the country’s state of emergency. These have been located near to mining projects such as Pan American Silver, Southern Copper, and Las Bambas - link

BAIHETAN HYDRO BEGINS OPERATING

China began operating the world's second-largest hydropower station on Monday in what officials hailed as a milestone towards Beijing's carbon neutrality goals, despite warnings of environmental damage.

The 289-metre (948 feet) high Baihetan Hydropower Station in southwest China, second in the world only to the country's Three Gorges Dam in terms of power generation, began partial operation Monday morning, state media reported.

Baihetan was built with a total installed capacity of 16,000 megawatts, which means it will eventually be able to generate enough electricity each day once to meet the power needs of 500,000 people for an entire year, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The country has been on a hydropower building spree in recent years as it races to meet the ever-growing energy needs of the world's largest population - link - more like this - link

SCOTTISHPOWER RENEWABLES - VEGETABLE OIL POWER

ScottishPower Renewables has launched an innovative pilot project to reduce its carbon emissions by using waste vegetable oil to help power crew transfer vessels working on its East Anglia 1 offshore wind farm off eastern England.

The renewable vessel fuel, HVO30, is made from 30% hydrogenated vegetable oil and a marine gas oil fuel blend and will be used to power two crew transfer vessels provided by Great Yarmouth-based NR Marine Services.

HVO30 is predicted to result in around a 30% reduction in equivalent carbon dioxide emissions from the two vessels compared with standard marine fuel.

The renewable fuel is created from 100% waste vegetable oils and holds a proof of sustainability certificate from the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification system.

ScottishPower Renewables East Anglia 1 project director Charlie Jordan said: “As part of the drive to get to net zero, we’ve been working with suppliers across our East Anglia 1 wind farm to reduce carbon dioxide emissions throughout the project.

“Developing low emission vessels for use in operational wind farms is a real challenge for the industry and we’re proud to be leading the way and taking on this challenge to help us operate in a cleaner and greener way - link - more like this - link

ARCADIS OST 1 - VESTAS

The Danish manufacturer Vestas has signed a deal to provide wind turbines for a 257MW offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea.

The company said it will use a new floating installation method for the Arcadis Ost 1 offshore wind project that will not require the typical jack-up vessel and could potentially be a gamechanger for the industry.

In collaboration with the green energy company Parkwind and the vessel operator Heerema Marine Contractors, a dual crane vessel will be used.

The new method, which enables dynamic lifting and installation of all turbine components, is designed to prevent challenges with the seabed by avoiding contact with it.

It can also make the installation faster.

Nils de Baar, President of Vestas Northern & Central Europe, said: “The floating installation method we are utilising will potentially be a gamechanger for installing projects in deeper waters, saving time and further reducing the cost of offshore wind.

“Projects like Arcadis Ost 1 will continue to deliver on Germany’s offshore wind ambitions, to reach 20GW of installed wind by 2030” - link

KING ISLAND UNIWAVE200

There's a large cement structure off the coast of King Island in Tasmania, Australia, that looks like some kind of futuristic sound-weapon. 

But have no fear, it's merely the latest in wave energy technology. Called the UniWave200 and made by Wave Swell Energy, this "artificial blowhole" is a fresh take on a classic wave energy converter known as an oscillating water column.

As incoming waves flow into the chamber, air is compressed, which spins a turbine. But while most OWCs are bidirectional, meaning the turbine spins as air is pushed out by the rising waves and when air is sucked back in by the receding waves, the UniWave200 is a little different.

According to Wave Swell Energy Co-Founder and Executive Chair Tom Denniss, scale model tests actually showed a unidirectional turbine was more efficient than previous bidirectional turbines. The increased efficiency of a unidirectional turbine might help the UniWave200 achieve its goal of making wave energy into a mainstream renewable like wind and solar.

Denniss said the UniWave200 also has advantages over previous wave technologies in terms of accessibility and durability. Because the UniWave200 has no moving parts below the surface of the water, damage from the pounding of the waves is less likely and repair teams will have an easier time making fixes - link

TESLA RECALLS 285,000 CARS IN CHINA

Tesla Inc.’s aspirations in China were dealt a major blow over the weekend after the government ordered that almost all the cars it’s sold in the nation — more than 285,000 of them — be fixed to address a safety issue.

The State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement on Saturday that the action involves 211,256 locally produced Model 3 vehicles and 35,665 imported ones, as well as 38,599 China-made Model Ys. 

The California-based carmaker only began deliveries of the Model Y sports-utility vehicle in January, so the recall will affect pretty much every driver who bought one - link

(AUT) MIKE RUTHERFORD - OPINION

Toyota-Lexus and Hyundai-Kia – the smartest motor manufacturing groups in Asia, if not the world – have again upset the automotive apple cart. 

And they’ve left many outwitted rivals scratching their heads as they struggle to match the quality, tech prowess and mental strength of these firms.

Right now, Toyota-Lexus should be loyally singing from the motor-industry song sheet that reads “100 per cent-electric cars are the greatest thing since sliced bread”, but it’s not. In recent days, Director Shigeki Terashi stated that up until 2050 there will be a wide selection of vehicles and power units, not just EVs. 

“It’s too early to concentrate on one option,” he insisted. Toyota’s Chief Technology Officer, Masahiko Maeda, backed him: “Some people love battery-electric vehicles, but others don’t see the current technologies as convenient. In the end, what matters is what customers choose.” Or, regardless of what the global motor industry might prefer them to do, and politicians try to force them into, a wholesale switch to pure EVs is ultimately up to real-world car buyers, and what they decide they want and can afford.

Separately, Hyundai-Kia is strongly suggesting that 100 per-cent electric cars are hardly the only solution. “Question everything” is its advice, so when you think you’ve decided on the brand of your next car, its price, bodystyle, fuel type, plus the sort of driving experience on offer, take a deep breath. 

Then reflect, reconsider, ask more questions, demand more answers. Should you be thinking car or vehicle? Instead of buying outright, might instant ‘robotaxi’ fares, or daily, weekly or monthly rental fees be preferable? Will your next vehicle have a motor that relies on either fuel from a forecourt pump or electricity from a wall socket or charging point? - link - Mike Rutherford - link

HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS RELEASING METHANE

WASHINGTON, June 27 — When climate researcher Dailson Bertassoli went to measure greenhouse gas emissions at the Belo Monte hydropower plant in Brazil, the first thing he noticed was the bubbles.

Developers have built hundreds of hydroelectric plants in the Amazon basin to take advantage of the allegedly “green” energy generated by its complex of rivers. 

But climate researchers now know hydropower is not as good for the environment as once assumed. Though no fossil fuels are burned, the reservoirs release millions of tonnes of methane and carbon dioxide as vegetation decays underwater.

So called run-of-river (ROR) dams like Belo Monte along the Xingu River, which have smaller reservoirs and channels allowing reduced river flow, were meant to address the problem, but a study Friday in Science Advances found that has not been the case - link - more like this - link

MALLORCA HITS 17.75% FROM SOLAR

The Balearics have this year been registering records for the production of energy from renewables - photovoltaic to be precise. 

On April 28, as an example, the daily production reached its highest - 17.75% of the islands' total. Since then, the levels have been below this but have nevertheless been up around the 16% mark.

The increase in this form of electricity production is notable when one considers that renewables accounted for just three per cent of the total. Over the past three years, the production has increased, but it is still way behind that of the mainland, where the average is 53% per day. The absolute record was on January 30 - 72% of all the mainland's production - link

THE FLYING BUM

UK aviation company Hybrid Air Vehicles has updated its "flying bum" Airlander 10 hybrid airship concept with a lower-carbon version featuring electric motors powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

The latest version of the airship will produce "75 per cent fewer emissions than conventional aircraft in similar roles," the company claimed.

The aircraft, which will be able to carry 100 passengers on short-haul routes when it goes into production, will still feature two diesel engines.

But Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) said a fully electric version could be available by 2030.

The Airlander 10 went viral in 2016 when photographs released of its test flight earned it the nickname of the "flying bum". Subsequent redesigns have made it svelter and less peach-shaped.

Hybrid airships combine features of both traditional lighter-than-air airships and aeroplanes, which are heavier than air and achieve lift via aerodynamic wings and powerful engines - link - India Block - link - more like this - link

DRAX - BEN CRUACHAN

Work to build Drax’s new pumped storage hydro power station could begin as soon as 2024 and entails removing a million tonnes of rock from inside Ben Cruachan. It would create hundreds of jobs.

The project would more than double the electricity generating capacity at the facility in Scotland. The 600MW power station will be located inside Ben Cruachan – Argyll’s highest mountain – and increase the site’s total capacity to 1.04GW. 

The new power station would be built within a new, hollowed-out cavern which would be large enough to fit Big Ben on its side, to the east of Drax’s existing 440MW pumped storage hydro station. 

More than a million tonnes of rock would be excavated to create the cavern and other parts of the power station. The existing upper reservoir, which can hold 2.4 billion gallons of water, has the capacity to serve both power stations - link

ORSTED COMMITS TO BLADE RECYCLING - SORT OF

Ørsted has announced its new commitment to either reuse, recycle, or recover all of the wind turbine blades in its global portfolio of onshore and offshore wind farms upon decommissioning.

The commitment, made on the company’s Capital Markets Day, is part of Ørsted’s strategy to expand its sustainability position and work towards achieving a carbon-neutral footprint by 2040.

“We want to help create a world that runs entirely on green energy, and we want to do it in a sustainable way. That includes moving towards more circular models where we reuse resources and save energy, thereby reducing carbon emissions. That is a big challenge, but we look forward to working on this challenge together with our supply chain,” said Mads Nipper, CEO of Ørsted - link

PART OF THE PROCESS

UNDERSEA ROBITS

Wind farms are now a reality in the U.S., heralding a new chapter in the country's sustainable energy production ambitions. 

But new technologies come with new challenges, and for offshore wind generation, inspection is one of the biggest.

In much the same way as energy companies operate and maintain oil and gas subsea assets, wind farm cables, structural foundations, and all other components of the turbines need continuous monitoring and maintenance. That's dangerous work for humans, but it's a job tailor made for underwater robots and smart AI-powered analytics.

Given the bright future and growing (albeit still small) footprint of offshore wind in the nation's energy power generation infrastructure, I reached out to Harry Turner, a machine learning specialist for Vaarst, a business driving the future of marine robotics, to discuss how robots and machine learning are changing the game for energy creation - link

WMC250EV

Here’s something to really twist your melon. It’s called the WMC250EV, a radical electric motorbike that’s taken traditional two-wheeled packaging, screwed it into a ball then tossed it over its shoulder. 

Why? In order to go really, really fast. But also to make bikes of the future a lot more efficient.

The secret is pretty obvious: that MASSIVE hole right through the middle of it. It’s wild – like someone got a giant apple corer and lanced it through a motorbike’s heart. Actually, that’s exactly what a clever chap called Robert White did.

He’s been helping make fast things go faster for the last 25 years, having worked on Prodrive’s LMP1 prototypes, Aussie V8 Supercars and Mercedes’ F1 car. But then he thought some of the clever tech the four-wheeled world was using could be applied to two. 

So he’s taken some of top-flight four-wheeled racing’s tricks and applied them to the world of two wheels - link - more like this - link

LEGO DISCOVERS RECYCLED PLASTIC (FINALLY)

COPENHAGEN, June 23 (Reuters) - Lego expects to begin selling toy building bricks made from recycled plastic bottles in 18 to 24 months, having found a suitable green alternative to oil-based plastic, the Danish toymaker said on Wednesday.

Lego's search for an alternative material has been a challenge, with almost 150 engineers and scientists testing many different plant-based and recycled materials over the past six years.

"We are super excited about this breakthrough," said Tim Brooks, Lego's vice president of environmental responsibility.

"We want our products to have a positive impact on the planet, not just with the play they inspire, but also with the materials we use." - link

NOTE:- Currently, Lego is made from ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) which is a petroleum-based, non-biodegradable plastic.

UPDATE

Lego’s quest to make recycled plastic bricks has failed. Now the toymaker is turning to e-methanol - link

STUPID DRAFT EU POLICY BACKS FOSSIL FUEL

A leaked draft of a key EU policy designed to cut carbon emissions in shipping, one of the world’s biggest polluters, has been described as an environmental disaster for “promoting” liquified natural gas, a fossil fuel, as an alternative to heavy oil.

The decision, says an NGO that has analysed the plans, will ‘lock in the use of fossil fuels for decades to come and make the EU’s target of net emissions neutrality by 2050 unreachable.

The green fuel law for EU shipping – FuelEU Maritime – is due to be published on 14 July. But a draft of the policy seen by the Guardian reveals the European Commission has considered but rejected requiring specific green fuels to be used by shipowners - link

BUILT IN BRITAIN - POWERING BRITAIN

Components for what will be the world's largest offshore wind farm are now being shipped from Hull.

Known as loadouts, the operation features wind turbine blades made in the Siemens Gamesa factory on Alexandra Dock in east Hull being stacked onboard an offshore support vessel called Sea Challenger before being taken to the new Hornsea Two site in the North Sea.

Lying around 55 miles off the coast, the wind farm is expected to become fully operational next year with the capacity to provide power to well over 1.3 million homes.

Crucial to the project's success will be its cluster of 165 Siemens Gamesa turbines spread across an offshore area of 462 square kilometres - four times the size of the city of Manchester - link

STATKRAFT AWARDED CONTRAT TO DELIVER GREEN HYDROGEN

Through the Green Shipping Program, HeidelbergCement and Felleskjøpet announced a tender to supply green hydrogen for a zero-emission bulkship. 

The ship will transport grain from Eastern Norway to Western Norway and rock/gravel on its way back and will be operated using emission-free green hydrogen in the combination with rotor sails. 

Earlier this spring, the parties chose Egil Ulvan Rederi AS as their shipping company and have now awarded Statkraft and Skagerak Energi the contract for delivery of green hydrogen in competition with more than ten suppliers.

"Statkraft is Europe's largest producer of renewable power, and the production of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels is in line with our strategic ambitions. 

This contract is an important milestone in our efforts to establish Statkraft as a leading hydrogen producer in Norway and Sweden and fits well with the series of other initiatives we have on hydrogen for sea and land transport," says Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, Executive Vice President at Statkraft - link - more like this - link - more like this (Sweden) - link

VESTAS SECURES 145 MW ORDER FROM LEEWARD

Vestas has secured a 145 MW order to power the Panorama Wind Farm in Colorado, U.S., which is owned by Leeward Renewable Energy.

This order consists of a mix of 2 MW platform turbines including V120-2.2 MW, V110-2.2 MW, and V110-2.0 MW turbines and follows Vestas’ earlier agreement with Leeward Renewable Energy to supply 61 MW of V110-2.0 MW and V120-2.2 MW turbines to repower the Crescent Ridge Wind project in Illinois.

“We’re proud to once again partner with Leeward Renewable Energy on a project that extends the successful run of Vestas’ 2 MW platform in the state,” said Jeff Fuchs, Vice President of Sales for Vestas in North America.

“Leeward is pleased to partner with Vestas and deliver sustainable wind energy and economic benefits to the people of Colorado,” said Andrew Flanagan, Leeward Renewable Energy’s Chief Development Officer.

The order includes supply and commissioning of the turbines, as well as a 20-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement, designed to ensure optimised performance of the asset.

Turbine delivery will begin in the third quarter of 2021 and construction is expected to be completed in December 2021 - link - picture link

UK SEES 715% INCREASE IN WIND POWER IN ELEVEN YEARS

Electricity generation from wind power in the UK has increased by 715% from 2009 to 2020.

Turnover from wind energy was nearly £6 billion in 2019.

The UK has the largest offshore wind farm in the world, which is located off the coast of Yorkshire.

Employment in offshore wind in the UK has increased significantly since 2015, with 7,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in 2019.

According to the National Grid, 2020 was the "greenest year on record" for Britain, with record high levels of wind energy generation - link - picture link

CORSIA TARGETS NOT ENOUGH

In 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) set out climate protection targets for global air transport for the first time as part of its CORSIA programme .

After 2020, air traffic should only be expanded in a climate-neutral way. In addition, the aim is to halve carbon dioxide emissions from air transport by 2050, compared to the base year of 2005.

A research study led by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) has now concluded that the CORSIA targets have the potential to mitigate the increased climate impact of air transport, but that it is very likely that the current measures will not be sufficient to support achieving the 1.5-degree Celsius target established in Paris.

This is because non-carbon-dioxide effects, particularly the climate-warming effect of condensation trails, have not been taken into account so far. Research findings from the past few years have made it increasingly clear that contrails and nitrogen oxides together have a greater climate impact in air transport than carbon dioxide emissions alone. The results of the study have now been published in the specialist journal Nature - link - more like this - link

SUD MARNE WIN FOR VESTAS

Vestas has secured a 122MW turbine order for the Sud Marne wind project, its largest to date in France. The project is in the Marne department and is being developed by TTR Energy.

It will be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2022 and Vestas will deliver the turbines in the second quarter of next year.

The contract includes the transport, supply and installation of 30 V150-4.2MW turbines, some of which to be delivered in 4MW operating mode.

Vestas will service the turbines for 20 years.

Vestas France country manager Hugues Faivre said: “We are really proud of partnering with TTR Energy for Vestas’ largest order ever received in France.

“We expect that the reliability and high competitiveness of our 4 MW platform will contribute significantly to increase the yearly energy production of the wind park and optimise our customer’s business case.”

Vestas installed its first turbine in France in 1991 and since then has delivered over 5.8GW of wind capacity, consisting of over 2300 wind turbines, in the country, equal to a 30% market share - link

GM & WABTEC TO ENGINEER H2 LOCOMOTIVES

In just the last week, General Motors signed agreements with not one but two companies to develop applications for its Hydrotec hydrogen fuel cell systems. 

At first glance, that might seem a little surprising, since last week we also saw Honda discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the Clarity. That move was just the latest bit of support for the hypothesis that hydrogen power might join Betamax and the Zune in the history books.

In fact, the history books are where you'll find GM's first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, the 1966 Electrovan. And in recent years we've seen some fuel cell EVs developed by GM for military applications. But neither of these new deals involves making a hydrogen-powered car.

Instead, last Tuesday the automaker announced it would work with Wabtec—which has already developed a battery-electric locomotive—to engineer freight locomotives powered by GM's fuel cells and batteries. Then, on Thursday, GM revealed it was working with Liebherr-Aerospace to develop aerospace applications (like auxiliary power generation) for fuel cells. Intrigued, I spoke to Charlie Freese, GM's executive director for Global Hydrotec and the man in charge of GM's fuel cell program. Why does the company still think the lightest gas only has room to expand? - link

IN MEMORY OF STIG

A Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons inspired dream sequence depicting a cat with it's own credit card - kerching - link

(H2V) OIL 4 WALES MOVES INTO H2 REFUELLING

Riversimple Movement and Oil 4 Wales have joined forces to develop hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in Wales.

Formalising the agreement today (June 17), the duo said the planned infrastructure will be located at Oil 4 Wales’ depots and service stations across the country, supporting its Green 4 Wales brand which hopes to decarbonise the sources of both heating and transport fuel.

Headquartered in Carmathenshire, Oil 4 Wales supplies over 160 million litres of fuel to commercial and residential customers annually with its 24 depots and refuelling stations – and soon hydrogen fuel will be part of such offering.

Commenting on the collaboration, Chris Foxall, Finance Director at Riversimple, said, “Refuelling Infrastructure is an important part of unlocking the incredible decarbonisation opportunities that come with a domestic hydrogen economy and, while the demand for hydrogen is being built by companies like Riversimple, Hyundai and Toyota, it’s important to ensure we have forward-thinking partners who are willing to respond to this new clean form of mobility - link

ELECTRIC COACH TOO ADVANCED FOR UK - DOH

A fully-electric coach found itself stranded in Cornwall after being unable to charge at five different locations across the Duchy.

The Carbon Battle Bus was on a tour of the UK and last week travelled from London to Cornwall but was unable to complete its tour after finding the charging points did not work.

They went to Cornwall to tie in with the G7 summit in Carbis Bay where world leaders were discussing climate change and the need to reach targets for zero carbon.

Planet Mark, the organisers of the Zero Carbon Tour, successfully travelled from London to the Eden Project, a distance of 263 miles with one recharge, in the electrically powered Yutong coach.

However, in order to make the return leg over the Tamar and through the South West of England the coach needs a recharge.

But the five charging points that they attempted to use in Cornwall were unable to charge the bus.

Planet Mark said that this showed why there was a need for more investment to be made in infrastructure to help meet zero carbon targets - link - more like this - link

LAND ROVER H2 DEFENDER

Modern electric cars are finally gaining traction on American roads. Tesla and other automakers are redefining the family vehicle, while companies like Rimac are building the next battery-powered hypercar. 

But despite the fact that this new tech is still in its infancy, manufacturers are still looking for the next big breakthrough in automotive power sources.

Enter hydrogen: a seldom-used fuel source for vehicles that reaps all the benefits of an electric powertrain while promoting ultra-fast refueling times. The latest company to jump onboard is luxury British automaker Land Rover, which is developing a prototype of its Defender SUV that’s powered completely by hydrogen - link

REFINERIES EMITTING BENZENE

13 refineries emit dangerous benzene emissions that exceed the EPA’s ‘Action Level,’ a study finds.

In Houston and Corpus Christi, the impacted communities are predominantly Black and Latino. Scientists say the dangers of benzene, a carcinogen, are not well understood.

The day is etched in Lemont Taylor’s memory unlike any other. He met his doctor on Dec. 14, 2014 to go over lab results from an earlier visit. A few minutes and a couple dozen words later, Taylor’s life had changed.

“I was told I had stage four bladder cancer and 30 percent chances of survival,” he recalled. “I was in shock.”

A longtime resident of the Hillcrest neighborhood of Corpus Christi, Texas, Taylor, who is African American, believes growing up around refineries and chemical plants led to his ordeal.

“I blame the refineries, the emissions from these refineries,” said Taylor, 68, “From the tender age of 6 to the age where I am now. And they were unregulated back then. Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) didn’t come in until the mid-80s. Well, guess what TCEQ…we’d already been there since the ‘60s.”

A predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhood, Hillcrest is dwarfed by a 15-mile industrial expanse known as Refinery Row on one side and oil tanks on another. From his window, Taylor could see CITGO, Flint Hills Resources and Valero refineries with their flame-tipped towers and futuristic mash-up of tanks and pipe - link

WUDONGDE HYDROPOWER

The Wudongde hydropower plant on the Yangtze River has begun full operation, Reuters has reported, citing state-owned Chinese media.

The 12-generator plant cost close to $19 billion to build and has an installed capacity of 10.2 GW. It first started generating electricity last year, but now all its generators have been put online so it is fully operational.

The plant is the seventh-largest hydropower facility in the world.

According to a China Central Television report cited by Global Times, the Wudongde hydropower plant would have the capacity to produce 38.91 billion kWh annually at full capacity. This will be the equivalent of saving some 12.2 million tons of standard coal and eliminating 30.5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.

The project has not been spared environmentalist opposition. According to the opponents, the massive structure has caused irreparable damage to the fragile ecosystems of the area, the Reuters report notes. According to the Chinese authorities, however, the benefits of the clean power project outweigh the drawbacks. In addition to generating electricity from a renewable source, the authorities say the dam provides easier navigation of the river and better flood control - link

RIP JAMES, JOSEPH & DAVID

A MEMORIAL service will take place in Forbury Gardens to remember the victims who lost their lives in the terror attack.

On Sunday, June 20, the public will be invited to remember James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails at a Memorial Service.

The memorial service will take place at 4pm, one year on to the day of the Reading attacks.

Family and friends of James, Joe and David, those injured and witnesses are invited to remember the occasion - link

MORJAR BHUJ

GE Renewable Energy has been selected by Continuum Green Energy India to supply, install, and commission 55 sets of its 2.7-132 onshore wind turbines for the 148.5 MW Morjar, Bhuj, wind farm in Gujarat, India. 

The project was won by Continuum Green Energy during the tranche-VI auction of wind projects by Solar Energy Corporation of India and is estimated to produce green energy to power 125,000 households in India.

NCRTC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to use blended renewable energy for its Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System Corridor. The MoU has provisions to explore possible opportunities in electric/transformative mobility, hydrogen-based economy, and other alternative sources of fuels and energy. 

NCRTC, as part of its Energy Management Policy, intends to maximize the use of blended renewable energy such as solar power for meeting its full energy requirement. SECI will help in arranging blended renewable energy to NCRTC round the clock at affordable rates for Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor and extend the same cooperation for other future corridors - link

MINUS 253 DEGREE SHIPPING

Hydrogen is touted as an inevitable green fuel of the future. Tell that to the people who'll have to ship it across the globe at hyper-cold temperatures close to those in outer space.

Yet that is exactly what designers are attempting to do. In the biggest technological challenge for merchant shipping in decades, companies are beginning to develop a new generation of vessels that can deliver hydrogen to heavy industry, betting plants worldwide will convert to the fuel and propel the transition to a lower-carbon economy.

There are at least three projects developing pilot ships that will be ready to test transporting the fuel in Europe and Asia within the next three years, the companies involved told Reuters.

The major challenge is to keep the hydrogen chilled at minus 253 degrees Celsius—only 20 degrees above absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature—so it stays in liquid form, while avoiding the risk that parts of a vessel could crack.

That's almost 100 degrees Celsius colder than temperatures needed to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG), which required its own shipping revolution about 60 years ago - link - more like this - link

EU ACCUSES BRITAIN OF FAVOURING BRITISH INDUSTRY

A new front has opened up in the post-Brexit tensions between Boris Johnson and the EU over Brussels’ concerns that the British wind turbine industry is being favoured for government contracts worth billions of pounds.

With the support of the governments of France and Spain, the European Commission has privately warned UK officials that the government’s procurement policy could be in breach of the trade deal signed on Christmas Eve.

The clash highlights the difficult line that the government is trying to tread in promising to support British companies in the post-Brexit era while fulfilling its commitment to being open to investment from around the world, including Europe - link

KCC RUNS H2 BUS TRIAL

Picture: - Winners of the happiest person in Kent competition celebrate new hydrogen bus

A week-long trial of a bus powered by hydrogen has been launched in Kent.

Kent County Council (KCC) is running the trial in Sevenoaks to learn more about the technology involved in running the bus, which costs around £500,000, and asses whether it could be viable alternative to diesel transport.

In comparison, a diesel or petrol bus costs around £130,000.

The trial of the zero-emission bus, by Caetano, which only emits water, started today, Clean Air Day, and will run until next Thursday.

It will not be replacing a route, but rather touring the Sevenoaks area, showcasing the new technology to members of the community, such as school groups, and other bus operators.

During the trial the bus will only need refuelling once, at Heathrow. Because the technology is so new there are limited refuelling stations.

The single decker, called an H2 City Gold is powered by hydrogen with an electric drivetrain - link - more like this - link

VOLVO - FOSSIL FREE BY 2040

The opening of the first dedicated Fuel Cell Test Lab in Volvo Group, marks a significant advancement in the manufacturer’s ambition to be fossil-free by 2040.

As part of the company’s commitment to the Science-Based Targets initiative – a necessary measure to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – and the Group’s long-term ambition to be 100% fossil-free by 2040, this pioneering investment will offer Volvo Group unique conditions to test and develop hydrogen fuel cell technology solutions in heavy construction machines and other applications.

The dedicated lab, located at the Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) Technical Center in Eskilstuna, Sweden, represents a big step forward in the company’s commitment to hydrogen. 

The lab is also the first facility in Volvo Group to be testing complete fuel cell units, and will as such be a strong contributor to the company’s dedication to fuel cell technology. - link

NORWAY/UK - SUBMARINE POWER FLOWS

The first megawatts of electricity will flow between Norway and the U.K. Wednesday along the longest submarine power cable in the world. 

Once fully operational Britain is expected to import supplies of low carbon power on a regular basis.

Tests on the 1,400-megawatt, 450-mile long cable will be complete in time to transport power from Norway’s hydro reserves this winter. In return, Britain will be able to send Norway its excess wind-generated power.

“We expect Norway to export fairly consistently through the North Sea Link over the short/medium term,” said Glenn Rickson, head of European power analysis at S&P Global Platts. 

“As of now Nordic stocks are at the top end of the recent historic range so, unless there is a prolonged dry spell this summer, that should be good news for flows to the U.K.” by the winter - link

GALP ENERGIA - SINES

LISBON, June 14 (Reuters) - Portugal's Galp Energia plans to install a 100-megawatt electrolyzer to power its refinery in Sines with green hydrogen by 2025, a project which could be expanded to up to 1,000 MW and be worth 1 billion euros ($1.21 billion), Chief Executive Andy Brown said on Monday.

He told Reuters in an interview that the refinery, located south of Lisbon, was Portugal's biggest consumer of hydrogen from natural gas, but Galp (GALP.LS) wanted to gradually produce the zero-carbon fuel through a process of electrolysis using renewable solar energy.

Such hydrogen is now more expensive to extract than the heavily polluting conventional method of using heat and chemical reactions to release it from coal or natural gas, known as brown and grey hydrogen, respectively.

But Brown said "because of the cost of gas and the cost of CO2, at a certain point it can be profitable".

"It's a very exciting opportunity, we think we can profitably replace that hydrogen with green hydrogen," he said, adding that Galp should invest "between 100 million to 200 million euros in the first 100 MW by 2025".

"To fully convert the refinery to green hydrogen that will be closer to 1 billion euros – these are big investments," he said, adding that much still depended on whether Europe and Portugal give the right incentives for such renewable fuels.

Galp will be able to produce green ammonia or synthetic fuels, and as the project gains scale it could also sell green hydrogen to transport companies or highly polluting industries such as steel or cement manufacturing - link