(ENL) BRITAIN EXPORTS RECORD ELECTRICITY IN Q2

Image: Shutterstock

Britain became a net exporter of electricity for the first time in more than a decade this year.

That’s according to a study by Imperial College London and Drax, which reveals that in the second quarter of the year, the UK exported more power to Europe than ever before.

In three months, the energy exports made £1.5 billion for the country, the analysis has found.

This equated to 8% of the electricity generated within the UK, or 5.5TWh.

Transported via subsea interconnectors, Europe was in dire need of energy supply after Russia cut gas supplies.

Lead author of the study, Dr Iain Staffel from Imperial, said: “Britain has played an important role in helping to keep the lights on across Europe amid the deepening energy crisis which is being weaponised by Russia against our nearest neighbours.

“With Europe now facing long-term security of supply problems, there could be an economic argument for Britain to step up investment in power production in the years ahead to build an even bigger trade surplus and protect our nation from damaging energy shortages.”

Norway was also a net exporter of energy to Europe, thanks to its pumped hydro energy storage supply, which the researchers stress the UK should look to invest more heavily in.

Ian Kinnaird from Drax, said: “Britain desperately needs a new generation of pumped storage hydro plants to strengthen its own energy security, but it is clear the rest of Europe would benefit as well.

“We have the opportunity to become Europe’s power battery, helping our friends and neighbours reduce their dependence on energy from Russia whilst enabling more homegrown renewable electricity to power UK homes and businesses. It’s an opportunity which Britain should take, or risk being left behind by other countries.” Energy Live News - link - Kiran Bose - link - more electricity brilliance - link - more like this (National Grid) - link

(APN) WHEATRIDGE RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A renewable energy plant in Oregon that combines solar power, wind power and massive batteries to store the energy generated there officially opened Wednesday as the first utility-scale plant of its kind in North America.

The project, which can generate enough electricity to power a small city at maximum output, addresses a key challenge facing the utility industry as the U.S. transitions away from fossil fuels and increasingly turns to solar and wind farms for power. Wind and solar are clean sources of power, but utilities have been forced to fill in gaps when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining with fossil fuels like coal or natural gas.

At the Oregon plant, massive lithium batteries store up to 120 megawatt-hours of power generated by the 300-megawatt wind farms and 50-megawatt solar farm so it can be released to the electric grid on demand. At maximum output, the facility can produce more than half of the power that was generated by Oregon’s last coal plant, which was demolished earlier this month.

On-site battery storage isn’t new, and interest in solar-plus-battery projects in particular has soared in the U.S. in recent years due to robust tax credits and incentives and the falling price of batteries. The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility in Lexington, Oregon, however, is the first in the U.S. to combine integrated wind, solar and battery storage at such a large scale in one location, giving it even more flexibility to generate continuous output without relying on fossil fuels to fill in the gaps.

The project is “getting closer and closer to having something with a very stable output profile that we traditionally think of being what’s capable with a fuel-based generation power plant,” said Jason Burwen, vice president of energy storage at the American Clean Power Association, an advocacy group for the clean power industry.

“If the solar is chugging along and cloud cover comes over, the battery can kick in and make sure that the output is uninterrupted. As the sun goes down and the wind comes online, the battery can make sure that that’s very smooth so that it doesn’t, to the grid operator, look like anything unusual.”

The plant located in a remote expanse three hours east of Portland is a partnership between NextEra Energy Resources and Portland General Electric, a public utility required to reduce carbon emissions by 100% by 2040 under an Oregon climate law passed last year, one of the most ambitious in the nation.

PGE’s customers are also demanding green power — nearly a quarter-million customers receive only renewable energy — and the Wheatridge project is “key to that decarbonization strategy,” said Kristen Sheeran, PGE’s director of sustainability strategy and resource planning.

Under the partnership, PGE owns one-third of the wind output and purchases all the facility’s power for its renewable energy portfolio. NextEra, which developed the site and operates it, owns two-thirds of the wind output and all of the solar output and storage.

“The mere fact that many other customers are looking at these types of facilities gives you a hint at what we think could be possible,” said David Lawlor, NextEra’s director of business development for the Pacific Northwest. “Definitely customers want firmer generation, starting with the battery storage in the back.”

Large-scale energy storage is critical as the U.S. shifts to more variable power sources like wind and solar, and Americans can expect to see similar projects across the country as that trend accelerates. National Renewable Energy Laboratory models show U.S. storage capacity may rise fivefold by 2050, yet experts say even this won’t be enough to prevent extremely disruptive climate change.

Batteries aren’t the only solution that the clean energy industry is trying out. Pumped storage generates power by sending huge volumes of water downhill through turbines and others are experimenting with forcing water underground and holding it there before releasing it to power turbines.

But interest in batteries for clean energy storage has grown dramatically in recent years at the same time that the cost of batteries is falling and the technology itself is improving, boosting interest in hybrid plants, experts say.

Generating capacity from hybrid plants increased 133% between 2020 and 2021 and by the end of last year, there were nearly 8,000 megawatts of wind or solar generation connected to storage, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is managed by the University of California.

The vast majority of such projects are solar power with battery storage, largely because of tax credits, but projects in the pipeline include offshore wind-plus-battery, hydroelectric-plus-battery and at least nine facilities like the one in Oregon that will combine solar, wind and storage. Projects in the pipeline between 2023 and 2025 include ones in Washington, California, Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois and Oregon, according to Berkeley Lab.

Many researchers and pilots are working on alternatives to lithium ion batteries, however, largely because their intrinsic chemistry limits them to around four hours of storage and a longer duration would be more useful.

“There is no silver bullet. There’s no model or prototype that’s going to meet that entire need ... but wind and solar will certainly be in the mix,” said PGE’s Sheeran.

“This model can become a tool for decarbonization across the West as the whole country is driving toward very ambitious climate reduction goals.” AP News - link - Gillian Flaccus - link - more Oregon brilliance - link - more like this (micro grids) - link - more like this (Oregon) - link - more like this (Oregon waste) - link

(PVM) ANOTHER 293.7 MW OF SOLAR ALLOCATED IN ITALY

Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE), Italy's energy agency, has allocated 413.2 MW of renewable energy capacity in the country's ninth renewable energy auction, for projects above 1 MW in size.

The GSE awarded 293.7 MW of solar capacity across 42 locations and four wind projects with a combined capacity of 119.5 MW. The PV projects range in size from 1.5 MW to 85.8 MW.

The selected bidders for the solar plants included Italian suppliers such as Acea and Falck Renewables, as well as international players such as Sonnedix. The other bidders were special purpose vehicles without clear links to noted industrial players.

All of the developers offered a maximum discount ranging from 2% to 2.50% from the auction ceiling price of €0.065 ($0.063)/kWh. The lowest bid came in at €0.06116/kWh and was offered for two solar projects in the region of Piedmont.

The highest bid of €0.06124/kWh was submitted for 11 solar projects in the regions of Sardinia, Lazio, Emilia Romagna, Apulia, Piedmont, and Veneto. The bids were slightly higher or equal to those in the eighth renewable energy auction, when discounts ranged from 2.0% to 3.02%.

In that procurement exercise, which was held in June, the GSE allocated 306 MW of renewable energy capacity, including 300 MW of solar. In the seventh auction, held in January, the Italian authorities allocated 710 MW of solar power, with bids ranging from €0.0626/kWh to €0.0637/kWh. In the sixth auction, held in September, the Italian authorities allocated 297 MW of installed solar power, with bids ranging from €0.0686/kWh to €0.0646/kWh. pv magazine - link - Emiliano Bellini - link - more Italian brilliance - link - more like this (Italy) - link - more like this (solar) - link

(CLE) BP & HERTZ TO CREATE EV CHARGING NETWORK

Rental giants Hertz are already big players in the electric vehicle space, having committed to purchasing hundreds of thousands of EVs from brands like GM, Polestar, and Tesla – and now, they’re planning to take on an even more active role in the electrification of America’s roads. 

They’re partnering with BP Pulse to install a national network of EV charging solutions for the brand and its customers.

Hertz and BP announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development of a national network of EV charging stations that will, it’s hoped, make charging their rented cars a more seamless, easily navigated experience for Hertz customers. The company hopes to have converted fully 25% of its national rental fleet to electric by 2024.

“Hertz is accelerating the adoption of electrification by investing in the largest rental fleet of electric vehicles in North America and expanding the availability of charging stations,” explains Stephen Scherr, Hertz CEO. “We are excited to partner with BP Pulse to create a national charging infrastructure for the Hertz EV fleet, thereby growing the number of charging options available to our customers and providing them with a premium electric experience and lower emission travel options.”

To their credit, BP – who, earlier this year, revealed that their BP Pulse charging stations were “on the cusp” of being more profitable than gas pumps – have expressed excitement in working with the rental company. “It’s brilliant to be joining forces with Hertz – quite simply, they are one of the biggest names on the road,” said Bernard Looney, BP’s chief executive. “Working together to deliver charging facilities and design solutions, we believe we can take the EV driving experience to the next level for US customers. And this is just the start for BP Pulse in the United States.”

It remains to be seen exactly what the Hertz and BP customer experience will ultimately look like, but anything that makes the EV rental experience better is going to lead to more EV sales – and that’s what we’re all about. CleanTechnica - link - Jo Borras - link - more Pulse brilliance - link - more like this (ev charging) - link - more like this (BP) - link

(RCH) VESTAS V236-15 CHOSEN FOR INCH CAPE PROJECT

Vestas’ giant 15MW offshore wind turbines are in line to equip the 1.1GW Inch Cape project off Scotland in another boost for the Danish OEM’s flagship machine.

Co-developers Red Rock Power of China and Ireland’s ESB named Vestas preferred supplier to Inch Cape, which won a UK contract-for-difference (CfD) support deal in the latest UK government auctions earlier this year.

The preferred supplier agreement for 72 Vestas V236-15.0 MW turbines also includes a 15-year operations and maintenance deal.

Inch Cape’s project team said: “This is another important step in the development of the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, which will be Scotland’s largest single source of renewable power when commissioned. Vestas brings a wealth of international experience and we look forward to working with the team to deliver this significant project.”

Inch Cape marks another boost for the V236, coming days after it was lined up for the 1.2GW Baltic Power project off Poland.

The V236-15MW, which will capture energy from unprecedented 43,000m2 swept-area using 115.5-metre blades, will be able to generate around 80 GWh/year – 65% higher annual energy production (AEP) than the V174-9.5MW that is already being installed in projects off Europe.

The giant machine – first unveiled in early 2021 – is slated to enter full scale production in 2024 and already has other major orders lined up, including for EnBW’s 900MW He Dreiht in the German North Sea, and Equinor and BP’s 2GW-plus Empire Wind projects off New York. Recharge - link - Andrew Lee - link - more like this (offshore) - link - more Scottish brilliance - link - more like this (Scotland) - link - more like this (Vestas) - link

(BUG) REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS FROM GREENHOUSES

Distribution network operator Vattenfall IDNO has announced it has joined forces with Clock Farm in Maidstone, Kent, to power its 6.5-hectare greenhouse using renewable energy sourced from Europe's largest river source heat pump.

In a move which is estimated to save around 3,800 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year compared to gas heating, the new project will see Vattenfall provide, own, operate, and maintain the HV electrical infrastructure which will connect the farm to the river source heat pump, allowing the farm to slash its emissions while growing fruit outside of the UK growing season.

The new system involves extracting water from the River Medway to pass through a heat exchanger before then being discharged straight back into the river, after removing a couple of degrees of heat from the water.

A second loop then transfers the heat to the plant room's six heat pumps to achieve a temperature of 45 degrees, which is then pumped through 50mm pipes above the soil, releasing heat into the greenhouses.

Heated water will also be stored in a giant tank as a backup, and to help avoid the consumption of electricity at times of peak demand when power is more expensive, the company said.

According to Vattenfall, the heat store can keep heat flowing to the greenhouses for two to eight hours, depending on outside temperatures and how much heat is needed.

Clock House Farm contracted independent connection provider Energy and System Technical (EAST), to supply and install the electrical infrastructure to power the heat pumps, working with Vattenfall for later adoption of the high voltage network.

The work involved EAST installing a new DNO substation as well as two new customer substations, two Wilson tier 2 200KVA transformers, and associated switchgear.

Stewart Dawson, managing director of Vattenfall Networks, said the project could prove significant for the wider agricultural sector. "The UK needs to electrify much of its food production to drive down greenhouse gas emissions," he said. "But it's not as complicated as people might think, and Vattenfall can provide the funding and electrical infrastructure to enable food producers to switch away from using fossil fuels.

"Stronger electricity networks are the thread which tie the whole net-zero plan together. Clock House Farm have seized the initiative and thanks to the innovative technology they're now using, people can enjoy fruit from Kent with reduced impact on the environment."

Oli Pascall, managing director of Clock House Farm, said: "By growing fruit out of season, the UK is able to ensure less reliance on imported soft fruit, increasing UK food security and ultimately this also helps to reduce the carbon footprint." BusinessGreen - link - Amber Rolt - link - more like this (heat pumps) - link - more Kentish brilliance - link - more like this (Kent) - link - more like this (Vattenfall) - link

(TCR) USERS, DEALERS AND MINERS - PART 4

Image Credits: Visual China Group / Getty Images

China’s electric vehicle upstart Nio has joined Tesla in sourcing raw materials directly from mines rather than its own battery suppliers as soaring prices of lithium, a critical component of EV batteries, hurt manufacturers’ supply chain stability and bottom lines.

Lithium carbonate prices in China hit a record 501,500 yuan/tonne in September, tripling the number from a year ago. The surge is so dramatic that regulators summoned key industry players for a meeting in March and called for a return to rational pricing.

Nio, an eight-year-old premium EV maker, has agreed to pay $12 million for a 12.16% stake in Greenwing Resources, an Australian lithium mining company, Greenwing said in a filing with the Australian Stock Exchange.

As part of the deal, Nio obtains the right to one nominee on Greenwing’s board and a call option to acquire between 20% and 40% of the issued capital of Andes Litio SA. Bought by Greenwing last year, Andes Litio holds options rights over the San Jorge Lithium Project located in the prolific Lithium Triangle, which spans Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia and contains most of the world’s lithium resources.

The approach puts Nio in rivalry with battery makers that have been on an investment spree to secure the critical mineral. China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology, the world’s largest EV battery provider by usage and a supplier to Tesla and Nio, has been particularly aggressive. Last year, CATL paid nearly $300 million to buy out Vancouver-based Millennial Lithium — which makes Nio’s check for Greenwing look humble.

Nio’s move comes as no surprise as the EV maker is gearing up to make its own battery packs starting in 2024. CEO William Li said on its June earnings call that the firm was stepping up battery-related investments to gain more bargaining power over upstream costs. Together, Nio had over 400 employees working on battery technologies by June.

The CEO detailed the challenges facing the EV firm and the industry at large:

In terms of vehicle gross margin, the whole industry is faced with the rising cost of batteries, raw materials and chips which has also affected our vehicle margin. In the first quarter, our vehicle margin stood at 18.1%. As the battery cost continued to surge and peaked in April, the vehicle margin in the second quarter will be under even higher pressure. To mitigate the impact of the rising material costs, we have taken a series of countermeasures such as adjusting product prices.

BYD, the Warren Buffett–backed Chinese manufacturer that is closing in on Tesla by producing a mix of hybrid and electric vehicles, has also been getting its hand on the global lithium supply. In January, the firm said that it won a contract from Chile’s mining ministry to produce 80,000 metric tons of lithium over 20 years with an offer of $61 million, but the auction was subsequently suspended by a local court under political pressure. TechCrunch - link - Rita Liao - link - more like this (users, dealers and miners) - link - more Chinese brilliance - link - more like this (China) - link - more like this (Australia) - link - more like this (ev batteries) - link

(NAT) WORLD'S FIRST - AUTONOMOUS ELECTRIC FERRY

Several countries are interested in self-propelled electric passenger ferries from NTNU and Zeabuz. The milliAmpere 2 ferry has now been launched for testing with passengers in Trondheim. Photo: Kai T. Dragland/NTNU - Norwegian SciTech News - link

Building bridges over municipal waterways isn't a simple or inexpensive endeavor, which is why many cities instead look to ferries. With that fact in mind, a new autonomous electric passenger ferry is being trialled in Norway, and it's said to be the first of its kind.

Designed by a team at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the vessel is known as the milliAmpere 2. It's part of the university's larger Autoferry project.

In a trial project that runs until the middle of next month, it is currently transporting passengers across the main channel in the city of Trondheim. Although the craft can accommodate up to 20 passengers, it's taking a maximum of 12 at a time during the testing period. And according to NTNU, "This is the first time a self-propelled electric passenger ferry has been put into trial operation along urban waterways."

As compared to an earlier prototype (named the milliAmpere), the milliAmpere 2 is considerably larger, it sports a new design, plus it incorporates more advanced technology beneath its deck. That under-deck technology includes battery packs, chargers, computers, and a dynamic positioning system.

Up on top of the deck, sensors such as cameras, LiDAR and radar modules allow the ferry to monitor its surroundings, in order to avoid collisions with structures or other watercraft. And while it is designed to run autonomously, a human operator in a land-based control room is able to watch what it's doing via those sensors, and can take manual remote control if necessary.

The technology behind the milliAmpere 2 is being commercialized by spinoff company Zeabuz. That startup is working with Norwegian ferry company Torghatten to develop an autonomous ferry, which is slated to enter use in Stockholm, Sweden next summer. New Atlas - link - Ben Coxworth - link - more like this (green ferries) - link - more Norwegian brilliance - link - more like this (Norway) - link - more like this (World's first) - link

(EUN) THE TRAIN LEAVING RUSSIA

The largest infrastructure project in the Baltic region for a hundred years is under way.

The 870 km Rail Baltica project will connect the capitals of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia with Warsaw and the rest of Europe, allowing trains from the continent to run uninterrupted.

However, the project is symbolic as well as physical. For the EU, it’s a statement about the Baltic states’ return to Europe and their decoupling from their Soviet past.

Talk of an inter-Baltic rail project has grown since the late 1990s, with a cooperation agreement being signed by Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian transport ministers in 2001. However, it wasn’t until 2010 that a memorandum was signed by representatives of the transport ministries of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland.

While it currently takes seven hours to drive from Lithuania’s capital to Estonia’s, the new line will almost halve that to just three hours and 38 minutes. The railway will begin in Tallinn before passing through Pärnu, Rīga, Panevėžys, and Kaunas before reaching the Lithuanian-Polish border; there will also be a connection to Vilnius from Kaunas.

Once completed, trains will be able to travel up to the Baltics from Poland, with passenger trains operating at top speeds of 234 km/h.

While the project doesn’t come cheap at an estimated cost of €5.8 billion, the project’s cost-benefit analysis predicts the project would bring in up to €16.2 billion in quantifiable benefits. The project’s cost for the Baltic countries is alleviated due to the EU funding up to 85 per cent of the project through its Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) instrument.

So far, the EU CEF fund has contributed €824 million to the new line.

The scheme is so colossal that its construction alone is expected to create 13,000 direct full-time jobs and another 24,000 indirect jobs.

Once completed, the line will form the latest addition to the EU’s North Sea-Baltic Corridor, a trans-European route including key cities such as Rotterdam, Berlin, and Warsaw.

For passengers, there will be regular connections with at least one international train service every two hours, resulting in eight train pairs daily in each direction. As well as making passenger journeys quicker, the project will also lower freight costs and offer a time-efficient way of transporting mass cargo.

Perhaps more important for the EU than the economic promise of the project is its political message.

While the Baltics used to be connected by European rail standards of 1435 mm gauge, since its Soviet occupation, the region’s rail system adopted the Russian gauge which is 1524 mm. This difference severely limited the Baltics’ ability to connect with Europe by rail, as passengers or cargo would need to be reloaded onto a new train at the Polish border before continuing on.

Because of its Russian gauge, the Baltics have typically relied on a West-East axis, with much of its rail trade coming from Russia. However, since gaining their independence in the 1990s, the Baltics have swung towards Brussels and away from Moscow. The countries joined NATO in March 2004, and accession to the EU quickly followed in May; both moves infuriated Russian president Vladimir Putin.

In the face of growing Russian aggression, all three countries were already looking to increase interoperability with the rest of the EU, but Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has added urgency to that. In August, the project attracted military mobility funding from Latvia’s funds, demonstrating the civil and military characteristics of the scheme.

"In the current geopolitical conditions, the strategic significance of the Rail Baltica project is increasing," Latvia’s Transport Minister said at the time. "It is particularly important to ensure reliable connectivity with Western Europe and to fully use the new rail transport connection with Europe to increase our country’s defence capabilities".

The decoupling of the Baltic state’s rail network from Russia is not the only area where the countries are trying to reduce their reliance on Russia.

Another legacy of Soviet occupation is that the Baltics’ electricity power grids are synchronised with Russia’s centrally controlled network, raising fears that Russia might cut power to the countries.

The Baltic states have agreed to complete desynchronisation from the Russian power grid and synchronise with European networks by 2025.

However, in July, Reuters reported that the European power grid network ENTSO-E would connect the Baltic states’ grids within 24 hours if the countries were to be disconnected by Russia.

Like all large projects, Rail Baltica hasn’t been without its critics. Speaking to Emerging Europe last year, Priit Humal, board member of the civil movement Avalikult Rail Balticust (Publicly About Rail Baltica), explained that Rail Baltica is as controversial in the Baltics as HS2 is in the UK. He went on to say that the major difference relates to differentials in GDP, stating that Rail Baltica is three times more expensive for Estonia than HS2 is for the UK.

There have also been concerns over the certainty of EU funds. Any decrease in EU funding would need to be made up by national governments, which could lead to higher levels of public opposition to the scheme.

However, with multiple parts of the project now under construction, it seems unlikely that the scheme will hit the buffers before its predicted completion in 2026. euronews.next - link - Callum Tennent - link - more like this (linking Europe) - link - more like this (Lithuania) - link

(HFN) 1,175 KILOMETRES ON ONE TANK OF FUEL

Global sustainable mobility leader, Alstom, has achieved a new milestone in its zero-emission long distance transportation as its Coradia iLint train crossed 1,175 kilometers without having to refuel its hydrogen tank.

The distance allowed the train to travel nearly the length of the United Kingdom without refueling.

The Coradia iLint was able to travel the distance on a full hydrogen tank without having to refuel. The only emission it released along the way was water, and it operated at a strikingly low noise level.

The locomotive is from the LNVG (Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen) and Lower Saxony transport authority fleet. It has been operating on the regular evb (Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser GmbH) passenger network since last August. Alstom partnered with the Linde gas and engineering project for the purposes of this project.

“We are pleased to be leading innovation in this area as the first railway manufacturer in the world to offer a passenger train based on hydrogen technology. With this journey, we have provided further proof that our hydrogen trains have all the prerequisites to replace diesel vehicles,” said Alstom chair of the board and CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge. 

“We are immensely proud of the pioneering work we have done in introducing hydrogen to rail transport.”

The single hydrogen tank brought the train from Lower Saxony to Munich.

The H2-powered Coradia iLint began its route in Bremervörde and traveled from Lower Saxony in Germany where the train was developed and built by Alstom. From there, it made its way through Hesse to Bavaria, then headed to Burghausen near the border between Germany and Austria. Finally, it made its final jaunt until reaching Munich. All this was accomplished without having to refuel the H2.

With the milestone journey complete, the train was then sent to Berlin, where several trips are expected to be made as a part of the InnoTrans 2022 premier International Trade Fair for Transport Technology. 

This achievement provided a clear demonstration of the range available on a single hydrogen tank, at a time in which there is considerable interest in sustainable mobility. Hydrogen Fuel News - link - Tami Hood - link - more like this (H2 trains) - link - more like this (Germany) - link - more like this (654 601) - link - more like this (Coradia iLint) - link

(MOT) THE FUTURE IS - CALIFORNIA’S AB 2097

For decades, many California cities, like Los Angeles and San Diego, have been synonymous with sprawl. But by eliminating parking minimums in areas near public transit, the Golden State just took a major step to change that.

Barring a few progressive exceptions, most California cities required all new construction to include a certain number of parking spaces. This didn’t just encourage people to drive everywhere—it also inflated the cost of housing, since a single parking space can cost tens of thousands of dollars to build. 

On 22nd September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 2097, which will ban parking requirements for new housing within a half-mile of public transit, effectively eliminating parking minimums in large swaths of California’s cities.

In a statement announcing the new law, Newsom linked the housing shortage to the climate crisis, noting that the farther people have to commute every day, the higher their greenhouse-gas emissions. Thanks to AB 2097, he said, “We’re making it cheaper and easier to build new housing near daily destinations like jobs and grocery stores and schools. This means more housing at lower prices, closer to walkable neighborhoods and public transit.”

As Streetsblog notes, the win for housing and transportation advocates is owed in large part to UCLA professor Donald Shoup, whose research has shown the environmental and monetary cost of parking minimums. The law will not prevent developers from including parking spaces in new projects, but it will give them the choice to cut costs by forgoing car storage spaces. 

This might seem inconsequential—after all, developers are still allowed to cater to car owners, and cities don’t become walkable overnight. But taken together with the state’s announcement last month that all new cars have to be emissions-free by 2035, it’s a monumental step toward a greener, cleaner California. Mother Jones - link - Abigail Weinberg - link - more like this (culling cars) - link - more like this (California) - link

(INS) TESLA ADDS 500,000 SQ FEET TO GIGA TEXAS

Tesla has changed its application for Giga Texas to include an additional 522,720 feet (12 acres) of space. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Twitter that the additional land will be used for an "ecological paradise" located next to the main factory. However, Musk insisted that Tesla needs to "first get the factory financially on its feet" before the green space can be built.

The designated area will be from the south end of Giga Texas to the Colorado River and will feature a boardwalk and a number of amenities. Musk also confirmed that the entire space will be open to the public.

Giga Texas itself encompasses over 250 acres with more than 10,000,000 square feet of factory floor. The facility opened last April and is currently capable of producing around 250,000 vehicles per year. When at full operating capacity, Tesla estimates Giga Texas will make over 500,000 cars a year.

Tesla currently has six manufacturing plants globally, five of which are large enough to be deemed "Gigafactories". This year the automaker expects to produce 1.4 million vehicles, a 50% increase from the 930,422 EVs Tesla made in 2021. 

Tesla's next Gigafactory could be in Canada. Canada’s industry and innovation minister recently confirmed negotiations with Tesla had taken place, with the automaker reportedly looking at several sites in Ontario and Quebec. Insideevs - link - Ben O'Hare - link - more like this (Texas) - link - more like this (electric cars) - link - picture - link - more like this (Tesla) - link

(SFG) CALTRAIN DEBUTS NEW ELECTRIC FLEET

A lime green line at the foot of the doorway starts the tour into the all-new Caltrain electric feet.

Caltrain has run in the Bay Area since 1863, and prides itself as the oldest continually operating rail system west of the Mississippi. It will soon take a huge leap into the future of locomotive transportation.

Stepping on board, there’s an immediate tantalizing aroma of that fresh-train smell. Like leaving the car wash. Evergreen fresh.

A robotic female voice announces that the doors are closing, and then you’re sealed inside the most advanced train on the market. Power outlets for each seat. Space underneath for luggage or scooters. The paired seating like today’s Caltrains remains, but they’re well spaced from one another.

On the wall inside each passenger car is a live screen showing rider destinations akin the newest BART cars. The only oversight onboard might be the trash/recycling bins that are sized relatively small for a train that is set to fit 2,169 riders at max capacity.

Wisnet security cameras appear throughout the cars, but the digitals eyes don’t dampen the polished interior. Connecting the train carts is a white tunnel that resembles the narrow hallways on Princess Leia’s Tantive IV ship from the opening of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”

Once a tin can of calamity, the Caltrain bathroom is now fit for an astronaut with generous room and multiple steel handles to help hang tight over the occasional bumps along the Peninsula tracks.

Up front, inside the conductor’s cockpit, Caltrain engineers are giddy to give these all-electric trains a ride. The new console replaces most of the buttons with screens, and comes with cruise control, a new amenity. The trains can hit up to 110 mph but don’t expect these speeds when the trains come on board. There’s enough oversight and cameras inside the console to ensure the driver can’t pick their nose without someone else knowing.

Stadler — as in, the Stadler Plant in Salt Lake City where the EMUs are built — adorns the nose of the train in black lettering serving as a new nickname for the fleet.

Not everyone rides Caltrain, but if you live along the South Bay or near its train station in SoMa, then you’re familiar with that iconic horn. Once a button, the horn is now a toggle that’s ready to broadcast whenever a train approaches a four-way intersection.

Production on the fleet began in 2019, and Caltrain broke ground on the Electrification Project in 2017. The first electric trains arrived in the Bay Area in March.

Expected to debut for public use in 2024, the new trains mark a pivotal transition for the South Bay transit system. Its current fleet of diesel-electric locomotive powered trains were yesterday; the electric multiple units (EMU) are inbound for tomorrow.

Until then, anticipation grows as train enthusiasts begin to catch glimpses of the sleek fleet on the tracks as the EMUs continue to appear on the Peninsula for testing on the tracks. SFGATE - link - Silas Valentino - link - Charles Russo - link - more like this (electric trains) - link - more like this (California) - link

(WEV) EQUIPMAKE LAUNCHES 220KW - 11KW P/KG DRIVE

A leading automotive electrification specialist has launched a new electric drive system.

Equipmake’s Ampere-220 e-axle is a compact, lightweight, high power electric drive system for manufacturers of high-performance electric vehicles.

Debuted at Cenex-LCV, it combines one of the most advanced 3D-printed electric motors in the world with all power electronics, including the company’s own silicon carbide inverter, and an integrated transmission system in a compact unit that directly powers the vehicle’s axle. This brings a step change in off-the-shelf performance for electric sports cars and supercars.

Ian Foley, Equipmake CEO, said: “Equipmake has always been at the forefront of innovation in electric motors, with our APM range offering class-leading power densities thanks to their compact, lightweight designs. Ampere showcases the next leap, and combined with our own power electronics, including our silicon carbide inverter, and transmission system, we have created the Ampere-220 e-axle.

“With such a huge amount of performance in a compact, lightweight electric drive unit, one that is also ISO 26262-compliant and ASIL-D ready, Ampere-220 e-axle provides the total off-the-shelf high performance electric solution for manufactures of electric sports cars and supercars. It further underlines Equipmake’s position as a leading provider of state-of-the-art electrification systems to the automotive industry,” he said.

The e-axle features the Ampere electric motor, drawing on both Equipmake’s world-leading expertise in electric motors – featuring a spoke rotor design, which has also featured in the Ariel HIPERCAR in the form of Equipmake’s APM motor – and pioneering knowledge in additive manufacturing and thermal engineering from Bristol-based HiETA.

It has a peak power of 220kW (295hp) and a maximum motor speed of 30,000rpm. Weighing just under 20kg, it offers power density of 11kW per kg, which is more than twice that of a conventional electric motor. 

The key to its performance is its combination of Equipmake’s spoke design with additive manufacturing, allowing Ampere’s metal structure to be 3D-printed, rather than milled from a solid billet. more to this article at WhichEV - link - the ever brilliant Shumaila Iftikhar - link - more like this (electric hypercars) - link 

(RCH) WORLD'S FIRST - OFFSHORE H2 PRODUCTION UNIT READY

Picture - Offshore Engineer- link

The world’s first offshore wind-powered hydrogen production unit is set to be launched off France following tests on land by the technology’s developer Lhyfe.

The Sealhyfe hydrogen production facility, built around a Plug Power electrolyser, will be connected to the FloatGen floating wind prototype being operated by BW Ideol at the Ecole Centrale de Nantes (ECN) SEM-REV test site some 20km off the coast of Brittany.

The pilot H2 unit, which is anchored around 1km from the floating wind turbine – in operation since 2018 – and wired into an underwater hub, is to run for 12 months as part of the field-proof programme.

“We wanted to take up a major technological challenge, to prove – by producing hydrogen at sea for the first time – that it is possible to do it as of today,” said Lhyfe CEO Matthieu Guesné.

“By paving the way for the mass production of renewable hydrogen at sea, Sealhyfe is fully in line with the EU’s strategy to deploy an offshore hydrogen chain and wishes to help build the energy sovereignty of countries.”

BW Ideol CEO Paul de la Guérivière said: “Lhyfe’s project is an important and much needed step towards the development of integrated and autonomous renewable power production systems, using floating wind and green hydrogen in this specific instance. Developing such solutions is essential to accelerate the energy transition.

“Being the floating wind asset owner, we look forward to studying all aspects of the interaction between the wind turbine and the hydrogen production system. This added return on experience will further contribute to BW Ideol’s unique preparedness for the development and execution of future commercial-scale deployments.”

Sealhyfe has the capacity to generate up to 400kg of green hydrogen a day, equivalent to 1MW of power, according to Lhyfe, which expects to be producing some 3GW from offshore wind “by 2030-2035”.

“This offshore pilot site meets all the necessary conditions to validate the offshore hydrogen production technology before large-scale industrial deployment, aiming first and foremost at demonstrating the reliability of an electrolyser at sea,” said Guesné Jean-Baptiste Avrillier, director of ECN, added: “This ambitious project confirms the role of our SEM-REV site in accelerating the development of renewable marine energies and the active contribution of the school to meet the challenges of energy transition.”

FloatGen, which flies a 2MW Vestas turbine, produced almost 13GWh in its first two years at sea. The unit, built as part of an EU technology demonstration programme, is slated to operate through to 2024.

The combination of floating wind and hydrogen production has attracted the interest a number of leading of major developers. One of the first schemes will be the Dolphyn project being built by Engie-owned Tractebel with engineers ODE and consultancy ERM that aims channel 2MW output from the 50MW Kincardine array off Scotland to produce hydrogen that would be pumped in to oil industry capital Aberdeen from 2024.

Three “hydrogen focused” floating wind projects totalling 2.8GW of generation also emerged recently as winners from the clearing process of the giant ScotWind seabed leasing round. Recharge - link - Darius Snieckus - link - more like this (green H2) - link - more like this (France) - link - more like this (offshore) - link - more like this (World's first) - link

(AEV) BEHOLD - THE NEOCEAN ELECTRIC FLYING BOAT

Neocean is a French company that produces and sells a PWC (personal watercraft) called the Overboat, the latest iteration of which was presented at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival, as the New Atlas reports. That iteration is the F Series of the Overboat, which is an electric catamaran-like ski that comes with retractable hydrofoils. It’s an electric flying boat, as Neocean puts it.

The Overboat has been around for some time and is already available in certain territories in Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, and Switzerland) and the United Arab Emirates. The flagship model is the C Series, which is a catamaran, twin-hull ski offered in two sizes: the Overboat 100C and the Overboat 150C, for one or two passengers, respectively.

The F Series adds the retractable, inverted T-shape hydrofoils that lift the sit-atop watercraft above the waves and thus offer minimal friction, a much smoother and stable ride, and increased speed. The Overboat 150F, for instance, which is the only one that requires a special license in order to operate and is a two-seat watercraft, offers top speeds of 20 knots (23 mph / 37 kph).

On both models of the F Series, the lift is achieved at a speed of 10 knots (12 mph / 19 kph), but the per-charge range is estimated at two hours of runtime in the lower-consumption cat mode. The F150 is powered by a 10-kWh battery pack, while the smaller F100 gets a smaller 5.7-kWh battery pack. Charging takes under two hours, and the C Series models offer the possibility of battery swapping for extended time out on the water.

The merits of the F Series Overboat go beyond the fact that it’s noiseless and produces no wake and no pollution. It is also quite an elegant daysailer, with teak, yacht-inspired landing on both sides for excellent grip and the occasional functionality of a beach platform, lightweight dual poly-fiberglass hulls, smart controls, and smart technology, including a smart control system that adjusts the incidence of the hydrofoils at a rate of 100 times per second, to ensure a smooth and most comfortable ride.

The operator (and passenger on the two-seat version) sits atop the raised platform connecting the two hulls, but they might as well sit anywhere else. The Overboat F Series can be controlled remotely, just like a drone, which renders it very useful for search and rescue or covert missions. These two uses are showcased in the video at the bottom of the page. Neocean highlights the agility and stability of the watercraft even when it’s operating in unmanned mode.

Neocean promises that innovation and technology drive the Overboat towards a more sustainable future, but with no compromise on the kind of fun experience offered. autoevolution - link - Elena Gorgan - link - more like this (electric recreation) - link - more like this (France) - link

(PIN) CLIENT EARTH, PLASTC LAWSUITS AND GREENWASHING

Major brands are increasingly at risk of litigation.

British environmental law charity ClientEarth has released a series of briefings detailing how companies using plastics for packaging or fashion can avoid litigation as legislation against greenwashing, chemical use and waste disposal becomes increasingly stringent.

Numerous companies have ended up in court over the past several years, with pressure mounting on brands to take responsibility for their environmental impact and give consumers an honest account.

Rosa Pritchard, plastics lawyer at ClientEarth and author of the briefings, tells PackagingInsights that businesses using plastics in all sectors are at risk, and the likelihood of being taken to court is rising.

"Companies across the plastics value chain, from fossil fuels companies to consumer goods giants and waste management companies, should be on high alert – as they are increasingly exposed to lawsuits,” she asserts.

"We want decision-makers in these companies, and those who are investing in them, to know that litigation risks are growing. They need to factor these risks into their decision-making on plastics, including in what approaches they should take to the plastic crisis, noting litigation on greenwashing and promoting so-called ‘false solutions’ to the plastic crisis is a particular threat.”

Avoiding lawsuits

The briefing is divided into four key areas of potential conflict: greenwashing, hazardous chemicals, environmental damage, and waste disposal and recycling. Each of these subjects gives way to possible legal trouble if companies are not well informed and diligent in their practices.

Greenwashing lawsuits have spiked sharply in the past year as consumer awareness over misinformation is rising. An example includes the US and Canadian suits filed by consumers against big-name consumer companies (Keurig, BlueTriton and Coca-Cola), alleging that claims regarding the recyclability of products are misleading.

The agreement for a global plastics pollution treaty by the United Nations also brought the expectation of a “tidal wave” of lawsuits in the near future. Pritchard says that vigilance is now necessary both to prevent litigation and to avoid adding to the already tightening web of legal restrictions.

“Litigation is expensive and resource-intensive for companies. It generates huge public attention and can cause irreparable reputational harm to companies. There is also a risk – especially with innovative cases, which we see in the plastics space – that new precedents will be set in the courts which fundamentally affect what companies can and can’t do,” she says.

Chemicals and waste

The advice issued on hazardous chemicals follows several EU decisions to phase out thousands of potentially dangerous chemical additives, many of which are commonly used in plastics.

“Plastics-related litigation is already on the rise, and there’s no reason to think this will change anytime soon. Across the value chain, concern about the health impacts of plastic additives is giving rise to lawsuits in the US,” says Pritchard.

“Consumers and citizens, NGOs, shareholders, competitor companies, and groups whose livelihoods are affected by the plastics crisis are already holding companies accountable for their plastic impacts, and they are increasingly using the courts to do so."

The briefings on disposal and recycling are similar. False recycling promises made by large companies have also brought lawsuits, some of which have been successful, against major brands and retailers. One such example was a Californian suit against TerraCycle that forced the company to change its labeling practices and implement supply chain certification.

“At the end-of-life phase, we have seen lawsuits against consumer goods companies for plastic waste, a major investigation into the perpetuation of the recycling ‘myth’ by the fossil fuel industry and a number of criminal prosecutions against companies and directors involved in the waste trade,” continues Pritchard. Packaging Insights - link - Louis Gore-Langton - link - more like this (plastic pollution) - link - more like this (greenwashing) - link - more like this (Terracycle) - link

(GUA) WORLD TRASHING AVIATION POSTER CAMPAIGN

The ‘Ruinair’ poster in Brighton was put up at one of 500 advertising sites across Europe, all but one used without permission

As Kate, 23, walked out of Seven Sisters station, in Tottenham, north London, she noticed an airline advertisement attracting unusual attention.

“I was on my way back home, I was coming out of the station, and I saw two people taking pictures of the billboard,” she said. “I thought at first it was just a normal airline ad, so I just walked past. Then I did a bit of a double take.”

Art activists have filled more than 500 advertising sites across Europe with satirical artworks highlighting how flying is fuelling the climate crisis – and the role of the advertising industry in helping cover it up.

In recent days, at sites in London, Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield and Brighton, and 11 other European cities, activists have pasted over the usual paid-for adverts with artworks highlighting the climate trashing effects of the aviation industry.

The billboard in Seven Sisters was one – an artwork created by Michelle Tylicki. It showed the view across an outstretched aircraft wing as it soared through the sky – above landscape ablaze with raging wildfires.

“Fly responsibly? Creating a less sustainable future,” its slogan read. In the bottom right corner was the logo of Dutch airline KLM. “Currently being sued for greenwashing,” it added. The airline is facing legal action over adverts that campaigners say are misleading.

As well as KLM, posters pasted up by activists have targeted the airlines Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Ryanair (restyled as “Ruinair”), EasyJet, SAS Airlines, ITA Airways and Etihad, and the industry body Iata.

They highlight the large carbon footprint of flying, that the majority of flights are taken by a tiny fraction of the total population, and that airlines have missed all but one of the industry’s self-imposed sustainability targets.

All but one of the sites were used without permission, a spokesperson said, by activists and artists from the anonymous Brandalism group and the Subvertisers International network across Europe. Videos shot by the group showed activists wearing hi-vis vests and Covid-style face masks working in broad daylight with telescopic ladders.

Tona Merriman from Brandalism said: “The allure and glamour of high-carbon lifestyles such as frequent flying has been purposefully crafted by the advertising industry and shows no signs of relenting – despite one of the hottest summers on record.

“Advertising agencies such as Ogilvy, VCCP, Dentsu, DDB Munchen need to consider their role in driving up emissions for airlines they work for such as British Airways, Easyjet, KLM and Lufthansa. We call on employees in those firms to refuse work for high carbon clients.”

Kate, who preferred not to give her surname for work reasons, said she was impressed by the bold campaign. “I think because I did such a double take about it, probably a lot of other people will experience that too, and I think it sticks in your mind more,” she said. The brilliant Guardian - link - Damien Gayle - link - more like this (polluting aviation) - link - more like this (KLM) - link

(ELE) BEHOLD - THE TESLA SOLAR NEIGHBOURHOOD

The world’s first Tesla solar neighborhood is becoming a reality in Austin, where Tesla is deploying solar roofs and Powerwall in a brand-new development.

Last year, Tesla signed a breakthrough deal to deploy solar roofs and Powerwalls on a “large scale” in a new community in Austin, Texas. The project is in partnership with Brookfield Asset Management and Dacra, where they are offering Tesla Solar Roofs and Powerwalls as packages on brand new houses in a new 12,000-home development project called Easton Park.

It has been identified as an important project for Tesla, one where they can penetrate the new housing market with solar and energy storage.

The project has been going on for a year, but we haven’t heard much about it.

Now Electrek has learned that Tesla is ramping things up at Easton Park by focusing solar roof installation crews on the new house projects. Last quarter, we reported that Tesla stopped scheduling new solar roof projects as the product is still lagging way behind schedule.

Now sources familiar with the matter confirmed to Electrek that Tesla is starting to plan new solar roof installations again for the fourth quarter, and the focus is on new houses, like the ones in Easton Park

linkThere are already quite a few houses in Easton Park with Tesla Solar Roofs and Powerwalls, like the one above. Brookfield Asset Management has many listings with the “Tesla Solar Package” in the Tesla solar neighborhood:

An Easton Park resident going by Mario D. explained why he decided to go with the Tesla package:

I did a cost-benefit analysis: I went to the Tesla site and put in the same characteristics of the house we’re buying and what it would cost to add a Tesla Roof. There’s a big cost savings for at getting it at install.

Mario’s system produces more electricity than he needs, and he can sell the rest back to the grid:

I can generate passive income long-term by using the same energy-saving habits I already have.

Electrek recently reported that Tesla is setting up a company to sell retail electricity in Texas, and it is deploying a virtual power plant. These new installations in Easton Park could eventually be included in Tesla’s upcoming Texas virtual power plant. electrek - link - Fred Lambert link - more like this (residential solar) - link - more like this (solar shingles) - link - more like this (Austin, Texas) - link

(TDR) EVIATION SIGNS 50 AIRCRAFT LOI WITH GLOBAL X

Island-hopping in the Caribbean is set to get a whole lot more eco-friendly.

Electric plane developer Eviation says it has inked a deal with GlobalX, a regional flight company that operates in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Following on from news in July that it joined forces with Parker Aerospace to develop Alice, its nine-seater electric aircraft, Eviation has now put pen to paper with GlobalX in a letter of intent that will see it provide 50 Alice planes to the company.

Due to be delivered by 2027, the 50 Alice planes will allow GlobalX to offer zero-emissions flights to passengers on short haul routes.

Specifications for the electric plane described by the company as “targets” include a flight range of 440 nautical miles (814km), and a maximum cruising speed of 250 knots (463km/hr). A payload of 1.133 tonnes, and take-off needs of approximately 800 metres are also specified.

Designed on a “clean sheet” platform powered by mangi650 propulsion units from Australia’s magniX, Eviation’s Alice is currently also being evaluated in a cargo format by GlobalX. Ed Wegel, chair and CEO of GlobalX said in a statement that the flight operator plans to use the Alice aircraft for a range of uses.

“Eviation’s Alice aircraft is setting the standard in sustainable aviation, and we plan to offer the aircraft to our cruise line, tour operators, leisure travel providers, and business clients with a need for short-haul charter flights across Florida,” he said.

“The Alice aircraft will allow us to offer sustainable, regional flights to and from major markets, and is the first step in our initiative to be a zero-carbon emissions airline by 2050.”

Though details such as charter costs are unsurprisingly not yet nutted out, there is some promise for cheaper island-hopping as well.

As The Driven reported in 2018, flying via an Eviation Alice could be a lot cheaper due to the much-reduced maintenance and power costs of electric motors compared to conventional aircraft engines.

That this could become reality was also hinted at in comments made by Eviation president Gregory Davis.

“We are delighted to enter this agreement with GlobalX, whose investment in zero-emissions flight demonstrates the airline’s commitment to cleaner skies, lower operational costs, and the provision of the most innovative options for air travel,” he said via a statement. The Driven - link - Bridie Schmidt - link - more like this (electric aviation) - link - more like this (Florida) - link - more like this (Eviation) - link

(WEV) TEVVA'S FIRST 7.5 TE GOES ON TRIAL

Tevva‘s first ever electric truck, a 7.5-tonne commercial vehicle, has rolled off its assembly line, with the 19-tonne variant to be launched this week.

The electric and hydrogen truck maker completed the assembly of its first series production 7.5-tonne battery-electric truck and handed it over to Kinaxia Logistics in Tilbury, Essex.

Kinaxia, a logistics group operating within the UK transport, warehouse, and fulfilment sector, plans to trial the vehicle as it gears towards electrification as part of its overall environmental reduction strategy.

The vehicle is the first in a series of commercial vehicles from Tevva and includes its 7.5-tonne, 12-tonne, and 19-tonne hydrogen-electric trucks. The 19-tonne model will be unveiled at the IAA Transportation show in Hanover, Germany.

The 7.5-tonne electric variant offers a range of up to 180 km (110 miles), while its hydrogen-electric version has an extended range of up to 440 km (270 miles) due to its dual energy technology.

The vehicle completed hot climate testing in Sierra Nevada, Spain, where it repeatedly climbed to altitudes of more than 2,500 metres while fully laden (2.5 tonnes of load).

The truck also underwent cold weather testing 300 km north of the Arctic circle in Finland earlier in the year. According to the company, Tevva trucks have accrued nearly half a million kilometres of real-world driving.

All models are available in left and right-hand drive and are designed to decarbonise the freight and logistics sectors.

Tevva CEO and founder Asher Bennett said: “We believe our battery and dual energy vehicles will change the face of the transportation sector and help companies and countries reach their net-zero emission targets.”

Also commenting on the occasion, Kinaxia Logistics Chief Executive Simon Hobbs said: “As a large and growing transport organisation, we are constantly looking at ways to improve our environmental performance, in particular with regard to CO2 emissions.’’

The CEO added that they are excited to test the truck and explore this option further. WhichEV - link - Tabassum Baloch - link - more like this (Hanover) - link - more like this (Tevva) - link - more like this (H2 trucks) - link