RENEWABLE POWER Direct

(July 17, 2024)

Welcome to the July issue of RENEWABLE POWER Direct, a monthly e-newsletter from POWER magazine that provides important renewable energy news and information, including articles on new technology, operations and maintenance best practices, industry trends, innovative projects, and much more.

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Offshore Wind Group Looks to Challenge China’s Dominance of Sector | Countries active in the offshore wind industry continue to consider steps to counter China’s dominance of the sector. The latest to announce a move is South Korea, where officials recently announced they may work with a global offshore wind industry group in order to better compete with China.

GOP-Held Congressional Districts Cash in on Clean Energy Projects | More than $106.5 billion in large-scale clean energy project investments have been announced in Republican-held congressional districts in the U.S. during the period from August 2022 through June 2024. The figure was released by E2, a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for “smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment.” In contrast, Democrat-held congressional districts garnered slightly less than $15.4 billion in investments.

The POWER Interview: Growing Importance of Solar Recycling | Waste from end-of-life solar panels and other solar-related equipment provides an opportunity to recover valuable materials, along with other benefits. The International Renewable Energy Agency said that by 2030, the cumulative value of recoverable raw materials from end-of-life panels alone will be about $450 million worldwide, which the agency said is equivalent to the cost of raw materials needed today to manufacture about 60 million new panels.

In Case You Missed It: Hydropower Remains Renewable Leader Despite Climate Challenges | As the oldest renewable energy resource, hydropower is well-established as a reliable source of dispatchable energy. Yet, it is often overlooked and taken for granted. It’s commonly believed that hydro’s potential is tapped out in the U.S., but many opportunities exist to add capacity at non-powered dams and on repowering projects.

Nearly 5 GW of New Offshore Wind Power Approved for the U.S. Northeast | Over the past week, the offshore wind power sector in the U.S. received two major federal approvals that could add nearly 5 GW to the grid.

Sedimentary Geothermal Resources Offer a Bright Future for Geothermal Energy | Next-generation, or “next-gen,” geothermal resources have the potential to increase geothermal power generation in the U.S. by twenty-fold by 2050. Next-gen geothermal concepts use technologies developed by the oil and gas industry to engineer reservoirs for geothermal energy generation, vastly expanding the available resource base.

Solar Roundup: EDP Projects Highlight New Developments | EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) on July 10 marked the inauguration of Pearl River Solar Park in Scott County, Mississippi. Pearl River has an installed generation capacity of 210 MWp (175 MWac). The project features 400,000 monofacial and bifacial tracking photovoltaic panels, and is EDPR NA’s official entry into Mississippi, the company said Wednesday.

Coating Technologies Crucial for Offshore Wind Farms | Efforts to combat climate change drive the growth of renewable energy technologies as governments and utility companies increase investments in solar and wind installations to meet rising electricity demands. Onshore wind is a well-developed market, while offshore wind is beginning to expand due to its high production efficiency and significant energy production potential. According to the International Energy Agency, global offshore wind capacity is projected to increase fifteen-fold by 2040.

Avangrid Brings First Phase of Solar Farm in Texas Online | Avangrid said it has started producing power from the first phase of the True North solar project in Texas, an installation the company said is its first solar installation in the state. Avangrid, headquartered in Orange, Connecticut, on July 15 said the solar farm when complete will have 238 MWac (321 MWdc) of generation capacity, and will be the largest solar power project in the company’s portfolio.

Optimizing Solar Panel Manufacturing Efficiency and Reliability | Whether you’re a longtime solar panel maker or just embarking on a business plan, it’s easy to overlook some key business considerations. Perhaps you need to design a new warehouse and develop support systems infrastructure but don’t know where to start. Or you are unaware of technologies that will enhance your operations. Or, even more frustrating, you discover afterward you missed out on some key tax provisions.

Clearway Begins Repowering of Texas Wind Farm | Clearway Energy Group on July 8 said it has closed financing and begun a repowering project for the California-based company’s Cedro Hill wind farm in Webb County, Texas.

Struggling SolarEdge Technologies Will Cut 400 Jobs | SolarEdge Technologies said it would lay off about 400 workers, including 200 in its home country of Israel, as the company tries to become more financially stable.

How to Stay in the Renewables Stone Age | In approving the development of a 2,800-acre wind farm across prime agricultural land in the east of England, the UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, has confirmed what those who understand renewable market dynamics have known all along: That the UK’s energy transition policymaking has been flawed and riven by incompetence from the outset. With the focus on wind and solar, the most environmentally impactful renewable of all, waste-to-energy (WTE), has been completely overlooked to the point where a hugely expensive but needless price is about to be paid.