Tag Archives: renewable power

Linde says it will triple the amount of clean hydrogen production by 2028

At-a-Glance:

Linde will invest more than $1 billion in decarbonization initiatives and triple the amount of clean hydrogen production by 2028, according to the industrial gas giant’s 2020 Sustainable Development Report. The report highlights how Linde is investing across the hydrogen value chain to accelerate the clean energy transition. To learn more, read, “Linde says it will triple the amount of clean hydrogen production by 2028.”

Key Takeaways:

  • Linde says it will pursue competitive low-carbon sources of hydrogen, including energy-efficient steam methane reformers (SMRs) with carbon dioxide capture, electrolysis with renewable power and piloting new low-carbon technologies.
  • The firm says it has the largest liquid hydrogen production capacity and distribution system in the world today and it also operates the first commercial high-purity hydrogen storage cavern.
  • Linde also has around 200 hydrogen stations and 80 hydrogen electrolysis plants worldwide.

Path to 100% Perspective: 

Future fuels can be produced using a process called Power-to-Gas (PtG), which uses surplus solar and wind energy to produce renewable fuels, like synthetic methane and hydrogen. Hydrogen as a fuel is carbon-free and synthetic methane produced using carbon recycled from the air, is a carbon-neutral fuel. Future fuels, such as synthetic methane and hydrogen can replace carbon emitting fossil fuels. These fuels produced by renewable energy can also be stored indefinitely and used on demand for long periods of time (weeks) to produce power and provide balancing services to the grid.

Future fuels enable a renewable energy power system.

 

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Big Oil Companies Push Hydrogen as Green Alternative, but Obstacles Remain

At-a-Glance:

Big oil companies have long touted hydrogen energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions. Now they are grappling with how to make that a reality. BP, Royal Dutch Shell and TotalEnergies SE are all pursuing multimillion-dollar hydrogen projects, often with government support, as they seek to redefine their future role in a world less reliant on fossil fuels. Hydrogen made using renewable energy can be produced and used without emitting carbon dioxide. The challenge is to make it using renewable power instead and produce it on an industrial scale, in the hope of bringing down costs. To learn more, read “Big Oil Companies Push Hydrogen as Green Alternative, but Obstacles Remain.” Reading these articles may require a subscription from the media outlets.

Key Takeaways:

  • Oil companies are pursuing green hydrogen, which they see as a longer-term goal, while also looking at applying carbon-capture technology to fossil-fuel-based hydrogen production as a way to clean up the gas in the interim.
  • As of the end of June, there were 244 large-scale green hydrogen projects planned, according to the Hydrogen Council, an industry group, up more than 50% since the end of January. It estimates tens of billions of dollars have already been earmarked for hydrogen projects.
  • In the U.S., the Energy Department has said it aims to reduce the cost of green hydrogen by 80% to $1 per kilogram in the next decade, in part by supporting pilot projects.

Path to 100% Perspective:

U.S. renewable energy adoption continues to rise. In 2019, renewable energy sources accounted for 17.5% of total utility-scale electricity generation, with renewable energy generation reaching 720 TWh. However, allocation of current energy stimulus, $100 billion USD, is tied to the fossil fuel sector, which limits the potential for decarbonization. More than 70% of energy stimulus funding in the U.S. is currently allocated to legacy fossil fuels, compared to less than 30% to clean energy. Large oil companies are maximizing government support to make the energy transition, but a larger federal investment in clean energy instead of fossil fuels could accelerate the decarbonization process. 

 

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US reducing power sector CO2 emissions while growing economy: study

At-a-Glance:

The US power industry has been making steady progress reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with power sector carbon dioxide emissions decreasing about 10% between 2019 and 2020 because of a mixture of pandemic impacts, energy efficiency and fuel switching away from coal, a July 20 report said. This year’s report, which has been prepared since 1997, highlighted several “dramatic shifts,” as the share of power produced by non-hydro renewables increased 20% from 2019 levels and the share from coal-fired generation decreased by roughly 17%, the statement said. To learn more, read “US reducing power sector CO2 emissions while growing economy: study.”

Key Takeaways:

  • An S&P Global Platts analysis earlier this year showed the US now has at least 20 states, plus the District of Columbia, with aggressive plans in the works for 100% renewable power, carbon-free power or net-zero emissions, roughly double the number from a year ago, while 12 states have not initiated any clean energy plans.
  • The 100 largest power producers in the US own nearly 3,500 power plants and account for more than 80% of the sector’s power generation and reported air emissions, according to the benchmarking report, which relies on data from state agencies, along with the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Energy Information Administration.
  • The top five producers of zero-carbon power in 2019 were Exelon, NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, Tennessee Valley Authority and Entergy.
  • The top five generators with the lowest CO2 emissions rates in 2019 were Exelon, Public Service Enterprise Group, NextEra Energy, Entergy, and Dominion Energy, according to the report.
  • Facilities in Texas produced 483 million MWh compared with just 42 million MWh in Wyoming, but only about 19% of the power produced in Texas comes from coal, compared with 83.9% in Wyoming, he added.

Path to 100% Perspective: 

State, provincial, municipal and in some cases national governments are declaring mandatory targets for 100% clean power. These regulatory targets are often considered renewable mandates as it is commonly understood that wind, solar, hydro and other renewable energy sources are needed to replace fossil-fuel power plants in a zero-carbon emissions future. According to the UCLA Luskin Center For Innovation November 2019 report of the Progress Toward 100% Clean Energy in Cities and States Across the U.S., a growing number of investor owned utilities are making 100% commitments, whether the states they supply energy to mandate the requirement or not. This private-public commitment to decarbonization is continuing to build momentum toward a renewable energy future. 

Top Solar States Per Capita 2012 vs. 2020 — CleanTechnica Report

At-a-Glance:

CleanTechnica has developed a new report on the top solar power states per capita, by comparing the results from the first half of 2020 with the results from 2012. Also note that this report does not include all 50 states, unlike the previous one, because the data back in 2012 didn’t include all 50 states. It just included the top 25 states in terms of overall solar power capacity. For the full 2020 ranking, see this report. To learn more, read “Top Solar States Per Capita 2012 vs. 2020 — CleanTechnica Report.”

Key Takeaways:

  • Two things to note in the two charts. First, how much solar power capacity per capita has increased in each of these states. Secondly, how the rankings have shifted around.
    • Nevada rose from #3 in 2012 to #1 in 2020
    • California rose from #6 in 2012 to #3 in 2020
    • North Carolina rose from #11 in 2012 to #5 in 2020
  • The US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has some interesting “quick facts” on each state in the country. Below are a few comparative highlights:
    • California-first in the nation
      • Total Solar Investment in State: $68,148.93 million.
      • Solar Companies in State: 2,006
    • North Carolina-second in the nation
      • Total Solar Investment in State: $8,999.31 million.
      • Solar Companies in State: 216
    • Arizona-fifth in the nation
      • Total Solar Investment in State: $12,772.41 million.
      • Solar Companies in State: 307
  • North Carolina jumped up the charts from #7 to #2. New Jersey had almost the opposite result, dropping from #3 to #7.

Path to 100% Perspective:

These future power systems will need four cornerstones to maintain reliable power in the clean power system of the future. The “Generation Cornerstone” is foundational to a 100% renewable future when wind and solar farms will generate most electricity. The “Constant Balance Cornerstone” keeps power flows on the grid balanced, minute by minute by collecting excess power in short-term battery-style energy storage with typical durations of one hour or less that continuously charge and discharge as needed to supply constant, reliable power. The “Daily Shift Cornerstone” ensures the lights stay on by shifting overbuilt renewable power during the day to meet load and charge storage, and discharging that stored energy at other times of the day when it’s needed. The “Reliability Cornerstone” ensures system reliability by using flexible generation to make up the difference.

 

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