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Thomas Lankester
Farnham, Surrey, UK
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@yoatmon
"are obliged to pay the levy irregardless if they feed into the grid or make use of the power themselves".
So TSO get paid regardless of whether their services are used or not?
Reform the levy so that everyone who avoids grid transmission benefits. Otherwise where is the incentive for enterprises that effectively deploy their own demand side management / storage? Why should they pay a TSO for transmission and grid balancing services that they have invested in already?
Easy work for the TSO whilst the enterprise pays for the services twice.
BASF and RWE proposing 2GW offshore wind farm for green electricity and hydrogen for chemical industry
In Ludwigshafen, Germany, Dr. Martin Brudermüller (BASF) and Dr. Markus Krebber (RWE), accompanied by Chairman of the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industries Union (IG BCE) Michael Vassiliadis, presented a project idea that envisions a new 2 GW offshore wind farm in the German North Sea to provid...
@yoatmon
I don't understnad your comment. Offshore wind in Europe is already cheaper than coal with strike price in auctions for new capacity competing with gas. If BASF are taking a direct feed off the windfarm (i.e. not transmitting via the grid), why should they be paying a levy to the Transmission Grid Operators?
BASF and RWE proposing 2GW offshore wind farm for green electricity and hydrogen for chemical industry
In Ludwigshafen, Germany, Dr. Martin Brudermüller (BASF) and Dr. Markus Krebber (RWE), accompanied by Chairman of the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industries Union (IG BCE) Michael Vassiliadis, presented a project idea that envisions a new 2 GW offshore wind farm in the German North Sea to provid...
In what way is this a tram?
It is no more/no less than an electric bendy bus.
Ballard-powered fuel-cell tram-buses from Van Hool now in revenue service in France
Ballard Power Systems announcedthat 8 ExquiCity tram-buses built by Van Hool NV and powered by 8 Ballard FCveloCity-HD 100-kilowatt fuel cell modules have been inaugurated at a ceremony in Pau, France and are now in revenue service in Pau’s Bus Rapid Transit System. The ExquiCity 18 trams ar...
@EP
Why can't OCGTs burn biomethane from anaerobic digestion?
NASA awarding $6 million to 3-year ULI project to develop approach to electric aircraft fueled by liquid hydrogen
NASA will provide $6 million over the course of three years to support a University Leadership Initiative (ULI) project focused on the development of a fully electric aircraft platform that uses cryogenic liquid hydrogen as an energy storage method. The Center for Cryogenic High-Efficiency Ele...
@HarveyD
Where did you get those emissions intensity figures from?
They look suspect. The UK figure, for instance, is double the reality of last 12 months:
https://www.mygridgb.co.uk/last-12-months/
We've not had north of 500g/kWh (annualised) for 5 years.
Volkswagen LCA highlights carbon benefits of EV vs diesel on Golf: 119 vs 140 g CO2/km; ID. family to reduce footprint
For the same vehicle models with different powertrains, the carbon footprint of the battery-powered E variants is already better than those of the corresponding vehicles with internal combustion engines, according to a certified life cycle assessment (LCA) of the Volkswagen Golf, which compares...
There is a distinction between the cell and integrated battery module performance figures. As one would expect, the latter is lower Wh/kg.
OXIS Energy hits 425 Wh/kg with Li-S cell,expects to achieve 450 Wh/kg by end of year
OXIS Energy UK has achieved 425 Wh/kg on a High Energy 16Ah pouch Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) cell design for HAPS applications (High Altitude Pseudo Satellites) and expects to achieve 450Wh/kg at cell level by the end of 2018. OXIS aims to reach 500Wh/kg by the end of 2019 through its many collabora...
@EP
Well, referring back to my earlier post - me.
This is a 'standard replacement during after sales operations' i.e. lease contracts. So would I have an old (25% lost capacity) 22kWh pack replaced by a (5% lost capacity) 40kWh pack. Darn tootin!
I mean, why wouldn't you?
Groupe Renault launching project to build biggest energy stationary storage system from EV batteries in Europe
Groupe Renault is launching its “Advanced Battery Storage” program, which aims to build the biggest energy stationary storage system using EV batteries yet designed in Europe by 2020 (power: 70 MW / energy: 60MWh). It will have a storage capacity of at least 60 MWh, making it the biggest s...
@BigT
when you say 'add drive to cars', do you mean to individual carriages?
This has been standard for DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units) from the late '60s at least and there is no dedicated drive unit / locomotive engine on such trains.
I'd really love them to get this on my route. The old DMUs on my line belch it out in stations. And for the sections with a third rail, they could use a pickup shoe to avoid the diesel altogether.
Rolls-Royce and Alpha Trains sign letter of intent for retrofit hybridization of diesel railcars with MTU drives
Rolls-Royce and Alpha Trains intend to jointly retrofit Alpha Train’s Talent, Desiro and Lint fleets with MTU hybrid drives. The two companies signed a letter of intent to this effect at Innotrans, the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology, in Berlin. The aim is to retrofit t...
@EP
63GW of generating capacity built across a country over 3 decades vs 3 local storage installation.
I'm not sure the point of such an apples and oranges comparison.
As a tentative start, it does go someway to addressing a perennial problem France has with a relatively inflexible generation system. EDF has protracted periods where they dump excess capacity for a pittance, then have to import to service high demand at top dollar. You can clearly see it on the UK -France interconnector patterns at GridWatch.
Maths is your friend on used batteries:
60MWh = 40kWh car pack x 0.75 of original capacity x 2000 cars
In Europe, Renault sold 30k ZOEs in 2017, enough for 15 of these facilities a year at current sales rates but sales are on something of an upward trajectory.
BTW Renault leases batteries so the desire of owners to buy slightly used batteries is not relevant.
I'd happily take a slightly used 40kWh pack to replace the old 22kWh pack of my ZOE.
Groupe Renault launching project to build biggest energy stationary storage system from EV batteries in Europe
Groupe Renault is launching its “Advanced Battery Storage” program, which aims to build the biggest energy stationary storage system using EV batteries yet designed in Europe by 2020 (power: 70 MW / energy: 60MWh). It will have a storage capacity of at least 60 MWh, making it the biggest s...
To cover days - weeks of reduced production batteries don't work as you have to linearly increase your capital costs. Anaerobic digestion plat producing (cleaned) biomethane and/or power to gas plant have a one-off capital cost but can be run over time generating more gas for the existing natural gas infrastructure. Unlike batteries these don't fill up.
Whilst less efficient for storage than batteries, there is a cross over point at which bio/renewable methane production from excess renewable electricity / AD is more economic than adding more and more battery capacity which gets underutilised.
California legislature passes SB 100: 100% renewable and zero-carbon energy by 2045
The California Assembly has passed Senate Bill 100—a bill to move California to 100% renewable and zero-carbon energy by 2045. This bill—known as The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018—increases the Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirement from 50% by 2030 to 60% and creates the policy...
But they did not write the papers.
You did check them out, right?
Fisker’s Orbit electric autonomous shuttle to feature Protean Pd18 in-wheel technology
Fisker Inc.’s Orbit autonomous electric shuttle, will feature Protean Electric’s in-wheel eDrive technology, specifically, the Pd18 system with peak torque of 1,250 N·m and peak power of 80 kW (60 kW continuous). ProteanDrive motors use patented technologies, digital control, and are packaged...
Protean has a whole slue of white papers about the 'unsprung mass' concerns and their packaging approach.
https://www.proteanelectric.com/our-thinking/
Bit proud as they are based out of my current home town and I've chatted to them at local EV events. They were well cheesed off to loose out on the drive train contract for the new London black cabs so hope this pans out for them.
Fisker’s Orbit electric autonomous shuttle to feature Protean Pd18 in-wheel technology
Fisker Inc.’s Orbit autonomous electric shuttle, will feature Protean Electric’s in-wheel eDrive technology, specifically, the Pd18 system with peak torque of 1,250 N·m and peak power of 80 kW (60 kW continuous). ProteanDrive motors use patented technologies, digital control, and are packaged...
sd
I don't know why they are quoting NEDC as Europe has moved to the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) last year.
See http://wltpfacts.eu/from-nedc-to-wltp-change/
Porsche names Mission E the Porsche Taycan; doubling investment in electromobility by 2022 to €6B; €500M for Taycan & derivatives
Series production of the first purely electric Porsche is set to begin next year. The vehicle, previously operating under the working title "Mission E”, has now been given its official name: Taycan. Porsche says that the name can be roughly translated as “lively young horse,” referencing the...
@mahonj
Taking those points:
a) a lot of the network is being already converted to polypropylene pipes anyway since 2002 through the Iron Mains Replacement Programme (IMRP)
b) no point replacing (thermal) coal with hydrogen as the UK is phasing its use out anyway. Similarly for road transport with EVs.
Servicing the fossil fuel needs of 23 million gas customers however is more of a stumbling block.
c) the 5-10% tests have already been done through ITM's trials in Germany and the on-going trials of the Leeds Gateway H21 project (https://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/3022389/gbp9m-boost-for-pioneering-hydrogen-heating-project) are working on 100% hydrogen.
Swansea study finds 30% of the UK’s natural gas could be replaced by hydrogen without major changes
30% of the natural gas fueling UK homes and businesses could be replaced by hydrogen without requiring any changes to the nation’s boilers and ovens, a study by Swansea University researchers has shown. Over time the move could cut UK carbon dioxide emissions by up to 18%. The open-access study...
Hi EP,
Yup. My 19 year old remembers us getting our glass milk bottles delivered. The switch to diesel van in the noughties was one of the reasons we stopped having our milk delivered.
If this story pans out, I may go back to using the milkman.
UK milk delivery service orders 200 electric StreetScooter delivery trucks
Milk & More, Britain’s largest milk delivery service has purchased 200 electric StreetScooters (earlier post). The £6.5-million (US$9.1-million) investment in the StreetScooters makes the business one of the largest operators of electric vehicles in the country. The new electric fleet is the...
Seriously?
First of its kind?
30 years ago almost the whole UK fleet of milk floats was electric. At best, this is a back-to-the-future moment.
UK milk delivery service orders 200 electric StreetScooter delivery trucks
Milk & More, Britain’s largest milk delivery service has purchased 200 electric StreetScooters (earlier post). The £6.5-million (US$9.1-million) investment in the StreetScooters makes the business one of the largest operators of electric vehicles in the country. The new electric fleet is the...
Harvey, in what way do you consider the Renault ZOE 40 to not qualify?
Québec issues final regulations for ZEV mandate; in effect 11 January 2018; targeting ~10% ZEVs and LEVs by 2025
Québec Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment, and the Fight Against Climate Change Isabelle Melançon has issued the final regulations in support of Bill 104 – An Act to increase the number of zero-emission motor vehicles in Québec in order to reduce greenhouse gas and other pollu...
It will be interesting to see how the switch from the discredited NEDC to WLTP in Europe pans out over the next 2 years of phase in. We have several car models to bench mark the new figures against (and WRT EPA).
https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/car-leasing-news/wltp-replaces-nedc-september-2017/
BMW Group investing €200M over four years in new Battery Competence Center; Gen 5 electric drivetrain in 2021; 700 km range
The BMW Group will invest €200 million (US$233 million) over the next four years in its new BMW Group Battery Cell Competence Center in Munich. This interdisciplinary competence center aims to advance battery cell technology and introduce it into production processes; the center will open in ear...
Whilst this is to be applauded from dust and replacement perspectives, how big an issue is brake dust and wear as we shift to cars where electromagnetic (contactless, regenerative) braking dominates?
Bosch subsidiary Buderus Guss introduces brake disc that generates up to 90% less brake dust
According to the Baden-Württemberg state environmental agency, brakes and tires are responsible for 32% of driving-related particulate emissions—roughly half of which is brake dust. Significantly reducing brake dust is therefore essential to improving the air, especially in cities. Now, the B...
Natural gas, by definition, is a fossil fuel (formed naturally by organic matter decomposition and diagenesis over millennia to millions of years). So 'RNG' is an oxymoron on human timescales.
This is referring to the artificial generation of biomethane.
UPS to purchase 10 million gallon equivalents a year of renewable natural gas from Big Ox Energy; largest RNG commitment to date
UPS announced an agreement with Big Ox Energy (a wholly owned subsidiary of Environmental Energy Capital LLC) to purchase 10 million gallon equivalents of renewable natural gas (RNG) per year. This is the largest investment in RNG to date for the company, and the agreement runs through 2024. Us...
@Centurion
Whilst the road to deployment of disruptive Li ion electrodes has been slow and tortuous, capacity from conventional Li technologies has provided stead (and sometimes remarkable) improvements. My 2013 ZOE has a 22kWh battery pack but it took under 4 years for a 41kWh replacement to be developed. The typical 100 mile range of 2010 is heading for >200 miles by 2020.
And at lower cost.
PPG partners with SiNode Systems to commercialize high-energy silicon-graphene anodes
PPG has entered into a partnership with SiNode Systems to accelerate the commercialization of high-energy silicon-graphene anode materials for advanced battery applications in electric vehicles. The 30-month project will enable the partners to rapidly develop and demonstrate anode materials tha...
On the other hand, none of our current weather is unaffected by climate change.
WMO reports GHG concentrations at highest in 800K years
Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surged at a record-breaking speed in 2016 to the highest level in 800,000 years, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. Globally averaged concentrations of CO2 reached 403.3 parts per million in 2016, up fr...
Obviously Dearman have a vested interest, nonetheless, they have pointed out a glaring loophole.
Dearman flags diesel loophole in new London T-Charge anti-pollution scheme
Dearman, the UK-based developer of clean cold power systems based on its engine powered by liquid nitrogen (earlier post), has identified a diesel loophole in the new London T-Charge levy on the most polluting vehicles. (Earlier post.) The £10 (US$13) per day levy applies to vehicles whose mai...
@Cheese
Well 150kWh charge taking days is a bit of an exaggeration. It is actually 22 hours at 7kW (single phase).
Rice University team finds asphalt-lithium metal anode enables faster charging, resistance to dendrite formation; Li-S test cell
Rice University team finds asphalt-lithium metal anode enables faster charging, resistance to dendrite formation; Li-S test cell The Rice lab of chemist James Tour has developed anodes comprising porous carbon made from asphalt that showed exceptional stability after more than 500 charge-dischar...
@Dave
If you are offered a domestic storage unit with a given capacity and at 30% cost reduction - what is not to like?
(http://www.powervault.co.uk/article/powervault-and-renault-give-ev-batteries-a-second-life-in-smart-energy-deal/)
And as mahonj points out, some people abhor waste and actively seek out re-usable and recycled goods.
Nissan unveils electric ecosystem for Europe: new EVs, infrastructure; charging options; V2G
At its Nissan Futures 3.0 event in Oslo, Nissan unveiled its plans around the four key pillars of its future electric ecosystem in Europe, announcing the launch of new electric vehicles; additional infrastructure investment; battery charging and home storage advances; and “free power” for Nissa...
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