It has been 13 years since the World Bank concluded that Africa had “huge technical potential for clean energy projects.” More than a decade after, how much has Africa lived up to this potential? The African Development Bank Group found that some 640 million people do not have access to energy in Africa, with more […]
The Future of Battery-Free Stationary Energy Storage
Energy storage technology is key to the transition from fossil fuels to clean, sustainable power. Renewables such as solar and wind will have a greater role in electricity generation, but their intermittent nature means they cannot be relied upon 24/7; effective storage techniques must be found to ensure we reap the full benefits. Batteries currently […]
Building New Renewables Is Cheaper Than Burning Fossil Fuels
It’s now cheaper to build and operate new large-scale wind or solar plants in nearly half the world than it would be to run an existing coal or gas-fired power plant. That’s the latest analysis from BloombergNEF, which sees that even with the risk of rising commodity prices, a new solar park or wind farm […]
Test-Bedding Technologies Crucial to Accelerating Solar Deployment: Experts
SINGAPORE : The world has set its sights on soaking up more sunshine to reduce the use of fossil fuels, but deploying solar panels is not just a matter of plug and play. Solar energy systems often need to be tested first, so they can be fine-tuned before widespread deployment, where mistakes are more costly […]
Hyundai Aims to Sell One Million EVs Per Year by 2025
The move will result in a 50% reduction in models powered by fossil fuels, one of the people said, adding the strategy was approved by top management in March. PARIS/SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Group will slash the number of combustion engine models in its line-up to free up resources to invest in electric vehicles (EVs), two […]
‘Couple Green Hydrogen With Hydropower to Create Net-Zero Future’ Says IHA
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) has released a research and policy paper that outlines how hydropower could be pivotal in supporting growth in green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis using decarbonized electricity and water, and it is set to be an important component of the transition to net-zero carbon economies, IHA said. Most […]
What is Carbon Lock-in and How Can We Avoid It?
Put yourself in the shoes of a government planner, power company executive, school superintendent, manufacturer or homeowner. You need to buy an expensive piece of equipment that could be used for decades to come. Spending on projects like power plants, boilers, buildings, vehicles and other types of infrastructure is always an exercise in current budget […]
The Great Unfunded Green-Hydrogen Dream of Europe’s Oil Refiners
Europe’s oil refiners have big plans to boost the use of green hydrogen to help them make fuel, an important component of the petroleum industry’s plans to cut its operational carbon emissions. But with the clock ticking in the battle against climate change, the reality of what the industry has committed to remains modest. Green […]
Power Politics: Gwede Mantashe Insists on Fossil Fuels When Solar Can be ‘Insanely Cheap’
It is hard to explain the South African government’s commitment to fossil fuels, given the country’s problems with drought and the fact that solar power gets cheaper by the day. It is also difficult to fathom what the government’s plans are with regard to a just transition. Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe […]
The Wind and Solar Boom Is Here
Just one word, Benjamin: Solar. Well, actually, one more: Wind. The sun, the air and the chemistry to bottle their limitless power — it’s looking more and more as if these constitute the world’s next great technological advance, a leap as life-changing for many of us as was aviation, the internet or, of course, plastics. […]