US utility Florida Power & Light has announced its ’30-by-30’ initiative to expand their renewables portfolio.

The initiative aims to install more than 30 million solar panels by 2030 and the project will be the largest including solar installation by a regulated utility in the world.

The program will help FPL to achieve a 67 percent fleet-wide reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, compared to the national average.

The plan will make Florida a world leader in solar adoption and will include investing in energy storage to optimise renewable energy generation, storage and use.

Eric Silagy, CEO of FPL, said: “FPL is not your traditional electric company.

“We’re a technology company that delivers power, and we’ve long believed in making smart, forward-thinking infrastructure investments to produce tangible, long-term benefits – cleaner air, lower electric rates and reliable service – for our customers and our state.

“Now we’re taking our long-standing clean energy commitment to the next level. Bottom line, this bold, innovative plan is the right thing to do for our customers and for our fast-growing state, and we look forward to working with local and state officials and our regulators to make this vision a reality.”

“As Florida’s energy needs continue to grow at a rapid pace, it is important that we diversify our energy resources. This is vital to the economic well-being of our State and quality of life for residents.”

The company’s first investment in solar was in 1984, a 10KW photovoltaic facility in Miami. Today, FPL is operating 18 utility-scale solar power plants and hundreds of other universal solar installations across Florida.

“It’s why our customers enjoy electricity that is among the cleanest and most reliable in the country for a price more than 30% below the national average, added Silagy.

The plan will allow the utility to generate 40 percent of its energy from emission-free resources by 2030.

Efforts by FPL to retire fossil fuel energy generation has resulted in reducing its reliance on foreign oil more than 99%, saving its customers more than $9.5 billion in fuel costs and in preventing 120 million tons of carbon emissions from being produced.

The utility serves more than five million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million+ people across the state of Florida.

News Source:

https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/01/fpl-aims-for-recordbreaking-30-million-solar-panels-by-2030.html

Spain has set out plans to switch entirely to renewable electricity by 2050, with goals that go further than current European Union plans.

Under the new strategy, greenhouse gas emissions from Spain would be cut by 90 per cent compared to 1990 levels by the middle of the century.

The nation intends to invest massively in wind and solar power over the next decade, while banning new licences for fossil fuel drilling and fracking wells.

It is also planning to source 70 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2050. In 2017 Spain got roughly a third of its power from renewable sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.

Experts have welcomed the move as evidence Spain is “deadly serious” about fighting climate change, and an example to other nations in setting ambitious targets.

The country’s socialist government set out this strategy ahead of other European nations in a draft law.

“It is exciting to see Spain setting the pace in its commitment to a 100 per cent renewable powered future,” said James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe. “Spain’s energy ambition is a wake-up call to all the other states across the world, as it demonstrates what we know – it is possible to power large economies by renewables in the very near future.”

The country intend to go beyond the current EU target of 32 per cent and install 35 per cent overall renewable energy by 2030, with at least 70 per cent renewable electricity.

It is also aiming to improve energy efficiency by 35 per cent, once again going beyond the EU target of 32.5 per cent.

In their announcement, the Spanish authorities have emphasised a “just transition”, shutting down coal mines but ensuring that there are sufficient retirement packages and retraining to ensure no one is left behind in the transition.

“The draft Spanish climate law is an excellent example of the implementation of the Paris agreement: it sets a long-term goal, provides incentives on scaling up zero emission technologies and cares about a good transition for the workforce,” said Christiana Figueres, former executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “As an early mover Spain will gain economically and create new jobs in the renewables sector.”

Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, described the Spanish government’s action as “groundbreaking”.

She said: “By planning on going carbon neutral Spain shows that the battle against climate change is deadly serious, that they are ready to step up, and plan to reap the rewards of decarbonisation.”

She added that Spain was showing the European Commission the way before it presented its long-term climate strategy at the end of November.

The UK is currently aiming to reduce emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, but experts have warned that stricter targets will be required to avoid the worst effects of global warming.

The government has asked its advisers to look into the measures required to implement stricter targets, but it has also faced criticism for its failure to support renewable sources like onshore wind, and its continued support for fracking.

In December nations will meet in Poland to discuss the best ways to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement and set out an urgent strategy for the coming years.

News Source:

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/spain-switch-renewable-electicity-climate-change-wind-solar-energy-2050-a8632166.html

The majority of America’s new energy capacity additions in 2019 will come from renewable energy sources, according to figures published by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The agency estimates that 23.7GW will be added to the US electric power sector, with 64% of this coming from wind and solar power, and that 8.3GW of energy will be retired in 2019, with more than half of the scheduled retirements coming from coal.

Of the 23.7GW that will be added, 46% (10.9GW) will come from the wind energy sector, with big projects in Texas, Iowa and Illinois making up more than half of the additions for the year.

A further 18% (4.3GW) will come from major solar power projects in Texas, California and North Carolina. The EIA also estimates that a further 3.9GW of solar power will enter service in the residential and commercial sectors.

The final additions will come from natural gas (34%) and other renewables and battery storage (2%).

4.5GW of coal power is estimated to be retired by the end of the year. This includes the Navajo Generating Centre in Arizona, which will account for 2.3GW of the total when it is expected to close at the end of 2019. The total is smaller than the 13.7GW reduction in 2018, the second highest amount of coal capacity retired in a year. Despite US President Donald Trump championing coal during his election campaign, the decline of US coal production has continued under his administration.

Two nuclear power plants in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are set to be retired in September, at a combined total of 1.5GW (18%), and 2.2GW of natural gas (27%) will cease production this year.

News Source:

https://www.power-technology.com/news/new-renewable-energy-2019/

The analysis finds oil and gas-related conflict may decline, as will the strategic importance of some maritime chokepoints.

This week at the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), political and business leaders from around the world outlined the far-reaching geopolitical implications of an energy transformation driven by the rapid growth of renewable energy.

The leaders said in a new report that the geopolitical and socio-economic consequences of a new energy age may be as profound as those which accompanied the shift from biomass to fossil fuels two centuries ago. These include profound changes such as:

• in the relative position of states;
• the emergence of new energy leaders;
• more diverse energy actors;
• changed trade relationships; and
• the emergence of new alliances.

The Commission’s report ‘A New World’ suggests that the energy transformation will change energy statecraft as we know it. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are available in one form or another in most geographic locations. This abundance will strengthen energy security and promote greater energy independence for most states.

At the same time, as countries develop renewables and increasingly integrate their electricity grids with neighbouring countries, new interdependencies and trade patterns will emerge. The analysis finds oil and gas-related conflict may decline, as will the strategic importance of some maritime chokepoints.

The energy transformation will also create new energy leaders, the Commission points out, with large investments in renewable energy technologies strengthening the influence of some countries.

China, for instance, has enhanced its geopolitical standing by taking the lead in the clean energy race to become the world’s largest producer, exporter and installer of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles. Fossil-fuel exporters may see a decline in their global reach and influence unless they adapt their economies for the new energy age.

“This report represents the first comprehensive analysis of the geopolitical consequences of the energy transition driven by renewables, and a key milestone in improving our understanding of this issue,” said Commission Chair Olafur Grimsson, the former President of Iceland.

“The renewables revolution enhances the global leadership of China, reduces the influence of fossil fuel exporters and brings energy independence to countries around the world. A fascinating geopolitical future is in store for countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. The transformation of energy brings big power shifts.”

“The global energy transformation driven by renewables can reduce energy-related geopolitical tensions as we know them and will foster greater cooperation between states. This transformation can also mitigate social, economic and environmental challenges that are often among the root causes of geopolitical instability and conflict,” said Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of IRENA.

“Overall, the global energy transformation presents both opportunities and challenges,” continued Mr. Amin. “The benefits will outweigh the challenges, but only if the right policies and strategies are in place. It is imperative for leaders and policy makers to anticipate these changes, and be able to manage and navigate the new geopolitical environment.”

The Commission says countries that are heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports can significantly improve their trade balance and reduce the risks associated with vulnerable energy supply lines and volatile fuel prices by developing a greater share of energy domestically. With energy at the heart of human development, renewables can help to deliver universal energy access, create jobs, power sustainable economic growth, improve food and water security, and enhance sustainability, climate resilience and equity.

The report was launched by the Commission at IRENA’s ninth Assembly in the presence of ministers and senior policy makers from more than 150 countries. A full list of Commissioners together with the report can be found here.

News source:

https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2019/01/irena-transition-to-renewable-energy-may-create-an-entirely-different-world.html