Battery Storage coming to the U.K.

The UK Could Install 12 Gigawatts of Energy Storage by 2021

Britain could have a 12-gigawatt battery market by 2021, according to a parliamentary policy group. The paper was written by the U.K. Renewable Energy Association (REA) and an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Energy Storage, an interest group made up of members of the House of Lords and House of Commons.

From article, (Britain could have a 12-gigawatt battery market by 2021, according to a parliamentary policy group. 

The paper was written by the U.K. Renewable Energy Association (REA) and an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Energy Storage, an interest group made up of members of the House of Lords and House of Commons.

Hitting that 12-gigawatt target will require major policy support, however.

The figure assumes a scenario in which all the policies contained in the U.K. government’s July 2017 smart systems and flexibility plan are rolled out on schedule and in parallel with other reforms, including tax incentives. 

In practice, a medium deployment scenario of 8 gigawatts by 2021, up from 60 megawatts of battery storage today, is more plausible, concludes the position paper.

Many of the medium-scenario drivers are “already happening outside legislation,” said the paper’s lead analyst and editor, Frank Gordon of the REA. 

The REA and the APPG believe the biggest boost for electrical storage in the U.K. will come from renewable energy producers adding batteries to solar and wind projects, so they can earn extra revenues from capacity markets and arbitrage.

The position paper’s high deployment scenario assumes 40 percent of U.K. solar generation and 25 percent of wind could have battery storage attached to it by 2021, equaling a total of some 8 gigawatts of capacity.

The medium deployment scenario would see around 3 gigawatts of solar-connected and 2 gigawatts of wind-connected battery storage. Under a low deployment scenario, around 1 gigawatt would be installed, split evenly between solar and wind.)

Me, "This is good news for battery storage companies and renewable power companies, knowing there will be a market in the UK for their products and to test out there products." 

How Trump wants to fund infrastructure improvements: He wants States and Cities, with some private funding, to contribute more to projects than the federal government.

Here's how Trump's infrastructure plan stacks up against the needs of America's roads and railways - and why it too might derail

The Amtrak crash earlier this month refocused President Donald Trump's energy on rebuilding the country's infrastructure, and Trump has touted his plan recently. America's infrastructure system is dilapidated, fragile, and unsustainable after decades of neglect.

From article, (The biggest problem Trump's infrastructure plan will have to tackle is where to find the $1 trillion needed to repair and modernize America's transportation, power, and water networks.

So far, Trump's plan includes only $200 billion in federal funds — 20% of the necessary funding for the plan — for infrastructure projects and rehabilitations across the country, and expects the rest to come from private, state, and other local sources, according to Politico. A combination of funding sources seems to be the right move — the ASCE encourages "dedicated public funding sources on the local, state, and federal levels." 

Private investors are certainly willing to engage in major infrastructure projects, and have already started putting money on the line for such projects without Trump's help. But without plans at the local level, these funds can achieve little, according to Scott Zuchorski, senior director of Fitch Rating's global infrastructure group.

"It's a good thing money is available," Zuchorski told the Washington Examiner. "But to put the money to use, there have to be projects. And that requires public-sector support, from a financial standpoint, and to be project champions to ensure the projects get done."

 A look at just a few of the problems facing America's infrastructure network reveal the deep inadequacies that have resulted from this decades-long lack of attention. Almost 40% of America's bridges are 50 years old or older according to the ASCE, and 9.1% of them are in structurally deficient. Roads and highways are becoming more dangerous as a result of inattention, with one out of every five miles of highway being in "poor" condition. Railways and waterways, like bridges and roads, suffer from out-dated architecture, and aging pipe systems, poorly maintained dams, and strained power grids that all require immediate attention over the next few years if they are to continue functioning in the face of mounting usage and environment-related challenges.

At the root of this problem is money. Insufficient funding was one of the leading causes for why the aging US infrastructure system had not been improved — bridges alone require $123 billion to be fully rehabilitated, and although major areas of infrastructure like freight rail has been able to garner large investments for ongoing projects, passenger trains still suffer from a lack of funds.

 Trump has to figure out how to secure even the slim federal allowance of $200 billion he hopes to put forward. So far, he has pledged to cut other federal programs to do so, and has floated raising the federal gasoline tax, which has remained the same for more than 20 years. Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, the top Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, told Politico that the options for Trump are dwindling.

Trump has also pledged to cut Amtrak spending, which operates a huge portion of American railways.

As for the remaining $800 billion, the Trump administration has stated that it wants states, local governments, and investors to compete for federal funding, and to put forward funds of their own. The ASCE has advocated having the federal government come up with tax credits for states that raise money, and recommended that Washington match local funds.)

Tesla Got A Lot of Things Right

Tesla Model 3 Early Impressions - it's as good as we hoped it would be

Tesla has finally started shipping Model 3 in significant numbers, and as a Roadster owner, an early reservation holder and a California resident, I've been lucky enough to get one of the first batches of cars sent to non-employees, and have been spending the last two days driving it, giving test rides, and trying to figure out everything I can about the car over the course of this busy holiday weekend.

From article, (Tesla has finally started shipping Model 3 in significant numbers, and as a Roadster owner, an early reservation holder and a California resident, I’ve been lucky enough to get one of the first batches of cars sent to non-employees, and have been spending the last two days driving it, giving test rides, and trying to figure out everything I can about the car over the course of this busy holiday weekend.

Without getting too into the weeds (yet), I want to share some of my early impressions.  

After seeing my car and three other “first batch to the public” cars up close in the last couple days, I can report that the cars by and large do not seem to have significant issues with panel gaps.

On to the driving.  The first thing I noticed is that the handling is superb.  The car feels very “pointy” – it’s extremely responsive on turn-in, and feels much more nimble than a Model S due to its ~1,000lb lower weight.  There is virtually no body roll due to the low center of gravity.  The steering in sport mode feels perfect and responsive, though there are comfort and standard modes as well if you prefer lighter weight on the steering wheel. Keep in mind here my daily driver is a Roadster.

I need to underline that whole paragraph.  This car’s handling is really great.  I love it.  I really really love it.  It’s my favorite thing about the car so far.

Interior room is ample.  Headroom and legroom are not going to be a concern for the vast majority of passengers, the headroom is positively cavernous and the glass roof makes the rear feel very open.  As for width, with three below-average sized passengers in the back, the shoulder room was “okay, about as good as you’d expect from a sedan this size.”  This is a real five-seater.

The car is very quiet inside, even at highway speed.  Bluetooth calls are clear and easy to understand both for the driver and for the person on the other side of the call.

The screen is is smaller and has fewer functions than that of the S/X, but it is much more touch-responsive and has a snappier user interface.  Switching the map view from streets to full satellite view happens almost instantly, dragging and zooming the map is smooth, and there’s no lag when interacting with touch buttons needed while driving.  This is good, because a touchscreen interface can require more attention than physical buttons, and lag just increases the time the driver isn’t paying attention to the road, so minimizing lag is very important and Tesla has done this very well in the Model 3.

EV fans have all spent the last few years with a strange mixture of excitement, hopefulness and nervousness, wanting the Model 3 to be everything we hoped for but fearing that it might miss that mark, or that there might be other problems with Tesla which result in the car being less than promised or expected.  But, from early impressions, Tesla seems to have done it.  The car is great.  You can all take a breath now.)

Chocolate threatened to run out? Not so says CRISPR .

Chocolate Shortage May Lead To Disappearance Within 40 Years, Scientists Say

Chocolate could reportedly vanish as early as 2050. This revelation has led scientists from the University of California at Berkeley to work with Virginia-based manufacturer Mars, Incorporated to save the cacao plant from disappearing. Warmer temperatures and drier weather conditions are expected to be the root of the cacao plants' potential disappearance, according to Business Insider.

From article, (Chocolate could reportedly vanish as early as 2050. This revelation has led scientists from the University of California at Berkeley to work with Virginia-based manufacturer Mars, Incorporated to save the cacao plant from disappearing. 

Warmer temperatures and drier weather conditions are expected to be the root of the cacao plants' potential disappearance, according to Business Insider. New technology, known as CRISPR, is being used by UC Berkeley scientists to modify the DNA of the plants. The crop's tiny seedlings would be able to survive in different climates if the experiment is proven successful.

Cacao plants originated millions of years ago in South America. The crop is only capable of growing in the lower story of the evergreen rainforest, where warm temperatures and rainfall are plentiful. It's also frequently victim to fungal disease and climate change. More than half of the world's chocolate now comes from two countries in West Africa, being Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.

However, these regions will soon become an unsuitable host environment for the cacao plant.

Jennifer Doudna, the geneticist who invented CRISPR, is overseeing the collaborative effort with Mars, the company behind Snickers and M&M's. While she recognized that some risk could come by using this technology, Doudna still believes that it could significantly influence the food eaten by people every day.)

TVA blasted for giving up on Wind Power, which it may not have needed anyway.

Environmentalists blast TVA for killing major wind project

One of America's biggest wind energy projects is twisting in the wind, and environmentalists are blaming the Tennessee Valley Authority for the failure of the pioneering $2.5 billion effort to bring more renewable energy into the Tennessee Valley.

From article, (Clean Line Energy Partners, a Houston-based developer of five major transmission lines for wind-generated electricity, has dropped its interconnection agreement with TVA for one of its most promising projects after the federal utility declined to buy what Clean Line officials said would be cheaper and cleaner power for TVA.

The nation's biggest wind generator, NextEra Energy Resources, has bought the Oklahoma portion of the proposed 700-mile-long Plains and Eastern Line to serve Oklahoma and Midwest customers. But for now, plans to bring wind energy from the windy areas of Oklahoma and Texas into the less-windy Tennessee Valley and Southeastern part of the United States are stalled and unlikely to be resurrected for years.

"TVA killed what could have been one of the biggest and most important renewable energy projects in America," said Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in Knoxville. "This was one of the best renewable energy deals in the Southeast and could have brought 3,500 megawatts of clean, renewable power to our region at an extremely low cost — cheaper than what TVA is now paying for its power.")

Me, "What should be pointed out is the TVA for a while now has continually stated it does not need any new electrical power generation. It has enough to power the homes and businesses it provides for."

Nissan Leaf: A Turning Point in Electric Cars?

Is 225-Mile 2019 Nissan LEAF Intended To Lure Away Premium Car Buyers From Gas Competitors?

Is the 2019 Nissan LEAF designed to lure buyers who would otherwise go with conventional vehicles from a premium brand (like BMW, Audi, etc.)? That was the question posed and answered by a very interesting article published on Push EVs recently.

From article, (Is the 2019 Nissan LEAF designed to lure buyers who would otherwise go with conventional vehicles from a premium brand (like BMW, Audi, etc.)?

One of the advantages of all-electric vehicles is that they are relatively simple, and thus cheaper to make (minus the battery packs), so as battery costs drop, there’s the option to sell relatively high-spec cars with fancy extra features at affordable prices (once battery costs fall enough).

Rather than paraphrase here, I’ll just highlight some of the most interesting parts of the Push EVs article in question: “Make no mistake, behind closed doors Nissan expects the 2019 MY Leaf to compete with the petrol and diesel BMW 1 Series hatchback. It doesn’t care about the small electric BMW i3.

“Performance and price wise, the 2019 Nissan Leaf can compete with the BMW 1 Series hatchback, furthermore the Leaf will have the refinement that only electric drivetrains can provide.”

 What’s worth remembering here is that around 10,000 BMW 1 Series hatchbacks are sold in Europe every month. If the 2019 Nissan LEAF does manage to steal sales from it, then that could represent a tipping point of sorts in the European electric vehicle market. Perhaps, though, such a tipping point will have to wait for the release of a new long-range Renault offering?

Worth noting here as well is that the Tesla Model 3 is not expected to ship in large quantities to Europe until early 2019, probably around the same time as the 2019 LEAF.)

An InfoGraph to understanding the impact of Electric Cars.

Here's how electric vehicle adoption has grown worldwide [Infographic]

If you're reading this, chances are you don't need to be convinced that electric cars (especially Teslas) are the future. However, most of us often find ourselves having to explain what's going on to less-enlightened friends, co-workers and relations. For those who read about electric vehicles only in the mainstream press, it's easy to get ...

From article, (Those who are just starting to learn about electric driving often fail to understand that the current generation of EVs has been evolving for a decade, and that electrification is not a US-only phenomenon, but is in fact proceeding at a faster pace in Europe and in China’s colossal auto market. Most people also aren’t aware of the large number of plug-in models available. This infographic covers all these bases, weaving a timeline of mobility milestones through a set of charts depicting the geographic spread of EVs and the top models on sale in the US.

No, this graphic was not created by EV experts – it contains a few minor inaccuracies and ambiguous statements – in particular, it fails to dispel the all-too-common confusion among hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure EVs. However, it’s an accessible plug-in primer for those who are just learning of the existence of plug-in vehicles (and that’s a larger group of people than you might think).

It also has a certain dilettantish charm that, in a way, offers yet another sign of how far electrification has come. Even auto finance companies are finding it necessary to explain the rise of EVs to their customers these days, an indication that the e-mobility revolution is steadily spreading to every niche in the automotive ecosystem.)

The Next Step In Car Battery Technology.

New technology means you may never need to charge again

Modern life depends on batteries. But today's battery technology isn't nearly as advanced as we need, often running down at precisely the wrong moment. Scientists have been searching for better batteries since Thomas Edison went looking for a way to power his friend Henry Ford's Model T.

From article, ("Solid state technology is finally taking off,” Josh Duettner-Garrett, CEO of Colorado-based Solid Power, told NBC News.

His firm, which focuses on developing solid state batteries, this week entered into an alliance with BMW, who already committed to offering some form of battery option for virtually every product it builds over the coming decade, whether conventional hybrid, plug-in or pure battery-electric vehicle, or BEV.

Today’s lithium-ion batteries are a big improvement over early lead-acid, nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride technologies. But the new long-range vehicles coming to market, like the 200-plus mile Tesla Model 3 and Chevrolet Bolt, require over 700 pounds of batteries.

Complicating matters, it can take hours to recharge. And lithium technology isn’t cheap. Prices for automotive batteries have tumbled from around $700 a kilowatt hour in 2010 to less than $200 today, according to industry data. But that still adds up to more than $10,000 for the 60 kilowatt-hours needed to power a car for 200 miles.

Solid state technology is expected to make big leaps in three critical areas, according to experts, among other things packing in at least twice the power in a given size of battery – what experts call energy density. Eventually, that could more than double again.

That would let an automaker halve the size of its battery pack for the same range – or deliver at least double the distance between charges. Or they could strike a balance between range and increased performance, offering a 300-mile SUV, for example, with sports car acceleration.

Solid state batteries also offer the potential for ultra-quick charging, said Duettner-Garrett. “The Holy Grail is to have…recharging your vehicle mirror the experience of refueling your gasoline vehicle.” In other words, just five to 10 minutes.

As for price, a recent study by the Boston Consulting Group estimated lithium-ion batteries will drop to $70 a kilowatt-hour within five years. But solid state, said analyst Xavier Mosquet, could be 20 percent cheaper.

The new technology is called solid state because it replaces the liquid electrolyte in today’s batteries with ceramic materials. That’s yet another plus because the liquid in lithium-ion cells is as flammable as gasoline – which is why airlines have banned them from their cargo holds. Several crashes and other incidents have been caused by defective lithium batteries.)

The only way CO2 emissions go down is if there is a tax on them.

Greenhouse gas emission costs go up for businesses

The days of discounted greenhouse gas emissions are coming to an end for businesses. New Zealand companies now have to pay 83% of the cost of their carbon units, as part of changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme. They previously paid only half price.

From article, (The days of discounted greenhouse gas emissions are coming to an end for businesses.

New Zealand companies now have to pay 83% of the cost of their carbon units, as part of changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme.

They previously paid only half price.

The subsidy deal was introduced during the global financial crisis to help businesses struggling with the cost of the ETS.

National's climate change spokesperson Todd Muller says businesses will pay full price next year, which will help this country achieve its pollution reduction targets.

Mr Muller said if businesses don't move closer to paying market price for their emissions, this country won't meet its 2030 targets.

"The either off-set that by buying a credit through the scheme, with forestry being a great example of where they can offset their obligations.)

Floating Cities are the Future?

Floating City in the South Pacific Ocean is the World's First

The hurricane season in the Western hemisphere has come to a close, leaving many island-nations and southern United States scrambling to make repairs and cut damages. Within growing conversations about human damage to the environment and its impact on freak natural disasters, Seasteading, a non-profit organization, is build the first floating city that could reverse damage done to the environment.

From article, (Established in 2008 in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley, The Seasteading Institute plans on building a floating city off the coast of French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean. The city, according to the Institute, are a pilot to test how humankind can learn to live together in environmentally-friendly dwellings. The organization’s goal is to maximize entrepreneurial freedom and reverse damage accrued to the environment. Earlier this year, The Seasteading Institute signed a memorandum of understanding with the French Polynesian government to begin working on the floating island project by 2020.

The floating city, also called a “seastead,” will consist of a community living at sea that is largely responsible for setting its own rules and creating its own culture. Located in a natural lagoon off the coast of French Polynesia, the socio-economic framework of the seastead will be similar to the concept of special economic zones and will be governed under a “special government framework.” Although the city’s governance is yet to be determined, local French Polynesian laws and International Law may be applied to the island city in varying degrees, according to The Institute.

Coupled with homes, restaurants, offices, schools, and hotels at its core, the seastead will focus on the creation of new job opportunities for residents of the city. The Seasteading Institute emphasizes the importance of aquaculture, vertical farming, and scientific and engineering research in creating new jobs, but also in maintaining a sustainable ecosystem in and around the floating city.

The seastead itself, which will be set afloat around one kilometer (~0.5 mile) from French Polynesia, is planned to be entirely self-sufficient and renewable. The panels upon which the man-made islands will be built, equipped with scores of solar panels, are also planned to help in reversing coral bleaching. Joe Quirk, co-founder of Blue Frontiers, the organization that will administer and build the seastead, believes that the floating city could help regenerate coral reefs. “[We] have devised a plan to position the platforms to create some shadows to lower the temperatures. So as the sun moves about, you get enough light on the ocean floor to spark photosynthesis, but you lower the heat just enough to have a restorative effect.”)

Wi-Fi gets Even More Advanced

From article, (When asked to share insights into the global Wi-Fi market, Watson pointed to some key trends including:

• There are 8 times as many devices connected to Wi-Fi as there are to mobile/cellular data networks; therefore, the future of Wi-Fi looks much more like a utility rather than an add-on. This expectation is driving the need for ubiquitous coverage to accommodate emerging technologies and the increasing number of connected devices.
• There is a move towards a free public Wi-Fi model where Ruckus anticipates larger cities to roll out smart city initiatives to improve efficiencies and drive wider connectivity.
• The newly certified 802.11ac Wave 2 standard is opening the door to gigabit Wi-Fi. Significant advantages this standard includes: one access point can transmit multiple data streams to multiple connected device simultaneously; better overall performance with the ability to transmit larger files; more bandwidth and flexibility; and greater interoperability options. 802.11ac Wave 2 has gained ground quickly, as it provides wireless speeds as fast as–or even faster than–wired networks. Many businesses are already using Wi-Fi as the primary way to connect to the local area network (LAN)—and they are rapidly migrating to 802.11ac Wave 2 to take advantage of its performance and capabilities.
• We are going to see an increase in people connecting to devices, along with devices connecting to devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) market in growing exponentially, and we are likely to see more practical roll outs of IoT deployments, particularly for global sustainability.
• The ability to use virtual reality modelling (high definition video) over Wi-Fi in localised environments. Networks have always been a constraining factor but we are starting to truly realise ubiquitous communication – one where we can disregard the network, but still get a fantastic experience.
• Everyone is talking 5G but we are likely 2 – 5 years away from a realistic delivery data. It has not been ratified as a standard and there is no clear path to market. While early adopters with low market share will try and be first to market in the hopes of gaining market traction, proof of concepts will need to be completed and verified – where standardisation will drive uptake.)

Wi-Fi to be seen as a "utility" in 2018

According to Gartner, artificial intelligence, immersive experiences, digital twins, event-thinking and continuous adaptive security, create a foundation for the next generation of digital business models and ecosystems will be the top strategic trends for 2018. No matter the industry, there will be significant potential for disruption as technology becomes embedded in everything in the digital business of the future and Ruckus agrees.

What changes are instore for Clean Energy as a Democrat NJ Governor takes over.

From article, (Climate Change and Clean Energy

Based on its platform, the new administration expects to be heavily focused on climate change reduction and clean energy initiatives at or near the top of its environmental priorities. To begin, Murphy’s platform stated that he would restore the Office of Climate Change within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The governor-elect also promised that he would immediately bring New Jersey back to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) after Governor Christie withdrew from RGGI in the prior administration. (RGGI is a voluntary cooperative effort among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont to cap and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector.) Aside from RGGI, increasing cooperation between New Jersey and other states with similar goals and interests on other cross-boundary environmental issues can also be generally anticipated—especially if USEPA can no longer be counted upon to take the lead for national or multi-state actions under Trump. Indeed, the prospect of New Jersey joining other states in litigation attacking what may be claimed as failures by USEPA to enforce or implement federal environmental laws—for example, greenhouse gas restrictions—is also quite imaginable.

Solar and Wind Energy and Accessibility of Electric Vehicles

Incoming Governor Murphy has promised to increase the amount of electricity that utilities are required to purchase from local wind and solar sources, leading to the goal of 100 percent carbon-free electricity in New Jersey by 2050. He also has set ambitious interim goals for increases in wind and solar power in the state for 2021 and 2030. Murphy additionally plans to increase the accessibility of electric vehicles, including providing more charging stations. It remains to be seen if these goals can be achieved, particularly if, as expected, the federal government declines to or only minimally assists with logistics and funding.)

Environmental Predictions Under Governor Murphy | New Jersey Law Journal

ALM Staff | A long-running fight over commercial development in a bedroom community leaves Ponce Inlet victorious. David Gialanella | In a case lodged by Montclair State University over plans for a road construction project, the New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to take up the issue of how closely state and local government entities must coordinate on such undertakings.