Month: May 2023

               European Energy is part of Danish research project that will investigate the potential of Agri-PV systems, where crop and solar energy production are combined on the same site. The scheme, which will be developed in collaboration with European Energy, Aarhus University, Copenhagen University, and Slagelse Municipality, is co-financed by the Innovation Fund with Dkr22.8m (€3m). The project starts in April 2023, and the installation of the pilot plant at AU Flakkebjerg in Slagelse Municipality is planned for later in the year. Construction of the Agri-PV can commence when a rural zoning permit is obtained, and a decision is expected within the coming weeks, followed by a four-week appeal period. Agri-PV involves the installation of solar panels over agricultural land so that crops can be grown and cultivated rationally under the panel, while renewable energy is generated.

               The project will explore the potential benefits of Agri-PV, including renewable energy and food production on the same area, intensive use of field robots, increased biodiversity, the technical and economic viability of the system, and the acceptance of farmers and the surrounding community. The project will include the installation of a two hectare pilot plant on a typical eastern Danish agricultural are It will investigate the potential and challenges of growing crops in the plant and monitor its performance over a five-year period. “We are excited to participate in this project to develop and mature the potential of agricultural and energy production, thus establishing a solid foundation for future larger projects,” said head of solar energy innovation at European Energy Mads Lykke Andersen. He added:“This project is an important step towards developing more sustainable and integrated approaches to food and energy production. “In this project, we have the opportunity to uncover the potential for producing energy and food in an advanced Agri-PV setup, using field robots. A strong focus for us has been that the newly established Agri-PV systems must also contribute to increased biodiversity.”

Credits: renews.biz [Image: European Energy]

               GE Renewable Energy has signed a contract with PGE Odnawialna to replace the four 125MW pumped turbines and generators of the Porabka Zar hydro storage plant in Poland. The upgrade aims to extend the lifetime of the hydropower plant for several decades by replacing the +40-year-old turbines with new, reliable and high efficiency pumped turbines and motor generators. Porabka Zar is the second largest pumped storage power plant in Poland with an installed capacity of 500MW. The commercial operation of the four units is expected beginning of 2028.

               GE Hydro Solutions will be responsible for the design, manufacturing and supply of the new equipment as well as the excitation and governing systems. GE will also supervise the erection and commissioning of the four new units and will replace the existing stay rings as well as the existing stay vanes by new ones specially designed for Porabka Zar. Due to the confined workspace and technology used, the cutting and welding processes will be specific to this project. “This rehabilitation project is the first large-scale rehabilitation project of its kind in Poland in 40 years,” said president and chief executive of GE’s Hydro Solutions Pascal Radue. “We are delighted to be part of it and support PGE Odnawialna in this upgrade process. This demonstrates that Poland makes every effort to achieve the Net Zero goal by 2050,” he added. “This new equipment will help increase the flexibility and reliability of the plant and consequently stabilise the grid in the country.”

Credits: renews.biz [Image: GE]

               The UK risks failure in its mission to decarbonise its power sector by 2035 unless government takes action to better support the delivery of renewables, a parliamentary report has warned. “Enhanced political leadership” is required to address barriers to deployment and make the UK a more investable market to developers, according to the BEIS Committee’s Decarbonisation of the Power Sector review, published today (28 April). The report warns the investment proposition for UK low-carbon electricity has “deteriorated” in the past 12 months, which “risks putting the viability of many renewable projects in danger”. “The global race for capital in low-carbon projects has intensified, and large subsidies have increased the attractiveness of the UK’s competitors,” it states. “The US Inflation Reduction Act and international responses to it are leading to a significant market shift. “Meanwhile developers of renewable energy projects in the UK are facing substantial cost inflation and windfall tax exemptions less generous than those given to the oil and gas sector.” Trade body Energy UK said the findings echo concerns raised by industry in recent months, warning the government needs to “quickly acknowledge and respond to the challenges that have grown for low-carbon developers”. Deputy advocacy director at the group Adam Berman said: “The rising costs faced by renewables projects have not been reflected in the next Contracts for Difference auction, which risks us falling further and further behind in delivering the amount of clean domestic power we urgently need to ensure our energy security, cut bills, and reduce emissions.  “In addition to that, we have a windfall tax that gives favourable treatment to oil and gas companies over renewables developers at the very time when there is increasing competition for green investment from the United States and Europe.

               “The real and present fear is that if we don’t move quickly to improve the investment climate, that money will find a home elsewhere.” Regen chief executive Merlin Hyman added: “The message of today’s report is loud and clear: policy uncertainty and the absence of a clear delivery plan is putting the 2035 net zero power target at serious risk.” The REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) welcomed the report’s focus on accelerating the delivery of renewable energy technologies, including the call for government to address deployment barriers such as “unacceptable” planning and grid delays. REA chief executive Dr Nina Skorupska said: “As well as streamlining the current pipeline of renewables, the UK must act decisively to ensure that green investment is not diverted away from the UK to other jurisdictions.” The group added “sensible discussions” need to be had on the topic of bioenergy amid recent controversy highlighted by the review surrounding the sustainability of wood pellets used to produce electricity. The BEIS Committee has urged Westminster to provide a response to the emerging competition from abroad while paying “a more active role” in delivering upgrades to the transmission network and speeding up the consenting process for new projects. “For too long, policies for the power sector have been designed in silos, without adequate consideration of how they all interrelate and fit together,” it added. It also called for a de facto ban on onshore wind in England to be overturned and for a heightened focus on ensuring the UK’s ports have the capacity to support the rollout of offshore wind infrastructure. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (formerly BEIS) said: “We are taking real decisions to benefit this country: to deliver a secure, low-cost and low-carbon energy system, to decarbonise the UK’s electricity system by 2035, and to reduce energy bills across the UK. “The government’s support for investment in new renewable technology means we are leading the world in reaching net zero. We start from a strong position, having delivered the world’s four largest operational offshore wind farms as part of a clean energy miracle since 2010, and we have also installed enough solar to power over four million homes.”

Credits: renews.biz [Image: Unplash/Jamie Street]