POWER magazine’s Post

Big news on the energy transition front in China.

Imagine Korean companies leading the charge in designing, constructing and operating state-of-the-art offshore wind turbines and platforms. Picture Korean-made components powering wind farms across the seas, from the North and Baltic Seas to the coasts of the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. This vision isn't just aspirational; it's within reach. Already, international and domestic firms are eyeing Korea as a strategic hub for manufacturing facilities, poised to create jobs, revitalize local economies and bolster the nation's export capabilities. South Korea, are you ready?

#G7Counties have committed to change their source of energy from conventional (#coal) based to #renewable sources of #energy by #2030 to boost their #NetZero commitments. Coal based energy sources create double penetration to the environment- 1) The energy generation process by burning coal. 2)While the extraction and transportation of the coal itself is a grievous process. Renewable sources should be prioritised in this order ideally :- 1) #HydroPowerPlants 2) #WindMills 3) #SolarPlants Since, Solar Energy depends on #lithium-ion based battery which is again a scares resource. Solar Panels will be generating #ewaste at their end of life. But Ironically Solar energy is widely promoted and accepted. #Netzero #Carbonfootprint #GHG #SDG #COP30 #Netzero2030 #LithiumBatteryRecycling #ewaste #BatteryRecyling #wastemanagement #cpcb #goi #moefcc GE Renewable Energy Coal Shastra

Gamechanger? Is it only a matter of time untill the first full Chinese offshore windfarm will be built in EU/UK waters including Chinese WTGs, Chinese Foundations, Chinese HV Cables, Chinese HV topsides transported to Europe by Chinese Heavy Transport Vessels? Is money ruling the corral or will other (stronger) rules and regulations force down the market mechanism? Guess that energy certainty regulations will at least limit the influx of Chinese WTGs..... What do you think?

Now would be a good time for all railroads to reconsider the importance of passenger rail. Why? In most states, the majority of rail freight is fossil fuels. Take Montana - 50% of the freight is coal alone. Fossil fuels must end. Moving goods and people should shift to rail. (And the G7 should move faster on eliminating the dirtiest energy.)

In addition to ramping up investments in #renewables, low-carbon #NaturalGas must also be part of the equation to combat climate change and power our economy.   Read more from our Co-Chairs, Sen. Mary Landrieu and Congressman Tim Ryan, on how the Biden administration’s decision to halt LNG exports “not only sets back our climate agenda, but also undermines his strong record of rebuilding American jobs and manufacturing.”

President Biden’s decision to pause U.S. LNG export approvals is a dangerous political move that is a major setback for America’s climate agenda and undermines his strong record of rebuilding American jobs and manufacturing. Rep. Tim Ryan and I urge his administration to rethink this counterproductive policy. Read our latest in The Hill on how embracing natural gas can help us overcome today’s urgent challenges we face on energy and climate: 125%

Good climate news this week 1 UK renewables auction secures enough power for 11m homes 2 Singapore ups renewables ambition, will import 70% more low-carbon power from Indonesia 3 China boosts Africa green financing by US$51bn, promises 1m jobs 4 UK’s new tax regime for North Sea oil & gas to cut investment in dirty North Sea oil by more than 80% 5 UK onshore wind energy pipeline up by 4.2GW 6 Malaysia launches aviation decarbonization drive 7 China suspended approvals for new steel capacity 8 US to spend $7.3bn on rural clean energy projects 9 Poland goes for 56% renewables in 2030 10 US judge rules against Missouri coal plant 11 Pope and Imam of Asia’s largest mosque make joint climate action plan https://buff.ly/4efjhHj Climate anxiety is real and widespread. This 4 years+ weekly thread⬆️ aggregates good climate news to show that climate action and climate justice are widespread - and have momentum. Just keep on clicking for a big dose of good climate news

Great collaboration work with the Government of Turkmenistan and all the relevant national players in the energy sector

The Inefficiencies of Wind and Solar: Useful Life Issac Orr and Mitch Rolling, in their newsletter Energy Bad Boys, recently wrote a newsletter titled "Disposable Power Plants: Wind and Solar are the Single-Use Plastic of the Power Plant World" about the short useful lifespans of wind, solar, and battery storage facilities. [Link: https://loom.ly/GAELiBw]. For example, Wind turbines are expected to last 20 years per NREL, but "the turbines show a considerable decline in output after ten years. The foundations, towers, and grid infrastructure can last longer, but the blades, gearboxes, generators, and other smaller hardware often need replacement after the 20-year useful lifetime." [Wind power monthly reported the significant & abrupt decline in output after ten years, link here: https://loom.ly/pSbErMI Wind turbines must be repowered [blades, gearboxes, generators] between 9 and 16 years. The US Department of Energy reports that 2 GW of wind turbines were "repowered" in 2023, and the authors write, "Everus Research estimates that 7,000 megawatts (MW) of wind will be repowered in 2024, representing half of the wind being constructed nationwide this year." The median age of wind turbines being repowered was eleven years in 2022, per Orr and Rolling. Manufacturers sell solar panels claiming they last twenty-five years. However, the degradation rate is higher, from 1.2% to 2%, more than .5% per year stated by manufacturers. Inverters convert DC power to AC power, lasting between ten and fifteen years. "Unfortunately, the cost of a replacement inverter is often not factored into the original system cost." Power Magazine reports that many solar farms must be "repowered" after ten years when many inverter failures occur. [Power mag article link: https://loom.ly/J5OZWV0 What is inefficient is that solar and wind sometimes replace natural gas turbines, which have a weighted average age of 22 years, with these plants overall averaging 40 years. The average age of US nuclear plants is 42 years, and many can run up to 80 years, with an initial 40-year license and then additions of 20 years. The authors note that in ten years after installation of wind or solar, the tax benefits have expired, and the new investment qualifies for more tax deductions.