Spain curtails PV for first time
The Spanish authorities applied solar curtailment for the first time on Easter Sunday, when power generation exceeded demand and the wholesale electricity price went from €168.50 ($182)/MWh to just €3.70/MWh.
NREL’s storage projections for 2050
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) final report on the future of storage presents “key learnings” from a series of six in-depth studies.
To speed interconnection, consider public control of grid operators, says US law professor
To speed the interconnection of utility scale solar and storage, “maybe we want somebody running the show that has more of an interest in getting all these resources in the grid,” said law professor Shelley Welton in a webinar for “100% clean energy states.”
Power-to-gas-to-power designs to incorporate hydrogen in solar-wind microgrids
Researchers in Mexico have looked at integrating hydrogen-based power-to-gas-to-power into an existing rural microgrid. They said this solution could become competitive if electrolyzer, fuel cell and hydrogen tank costs are halved, or if diesel prices keep rising.
World will need 5.2TW of solar this decade to avoid climate breakdown
The International Renewable Energy Agency’s latest global outlook has spelled out just how ‘woefully’ far the world is from capping temperature rises at 1.5C, and lamented: ‘The stimulus and recovery efforts associated with the pandemic have also proved a missed opportunity.’
Tesla to supply Megapacks for new 150MW/350MWh Australian big battery
Following the early success of its solar integrated Gannawarra Energy Storage System, Edify Energy has again opted for Tesla Megapack as its preferred battery energy storage system for its combination of storage projects totalling 150MW/300MWh in the Australian state of New South Wales.
Upgrading US transmission lines could enable 27GW more renewable power per year
“Advanced conductors” can deliver more electricity than conventional transmission lines, using existing transmission towers. Renewables trade group ACORE calls for greater use of advanced conductors, “to accelerate low-cost decarbonization.”
LuxpowerTek launches multi-string DC-DC converter
The Chinese electronics specialist has unveiled the first DC/DC converter in its product offering, dubbed the DC-coupled LSP 100K. The device features an efficiency of 97.9% and a European efficiency of 97.5%.
UK considers reform of renewables subsidy regimes
A conference about the UK’s electricity market showed organizations are considering the future of the country’s energy sector and how to achieve a net zero economy.
California’s solar market is now a battery market
A look at the interconnection queue of California’s grid operator shows that the US state’s market has already shifted to batteries – sometimes with solar, and sometimes without.
