#Solar Power Plant Forecasting

[solarpowerplantforecasting-blog]

Top Solar Power Plant Forecasting Company in India

Meteo Control India is one of India's leading providers of solar power forecasting services, with operations built on a solid basis of scientific knowledge, extensive expertise, and technological proficiency. Meteo Control India has created an in-house cutting-edge mesoscale modelling suite specifically designed for simulating dynamic flow and delivering high-accuracy production forecasts. The Meteo Control India solar forecasting monitoring system is intended for individual plants, supply areas, grid control zones, and solar power plants in India.

[reasonsforhope]

"China’s additions of wind and solar capacity once again exceeded forecasts and prior records in 2024, new data releases show.

Another 277GW of solar was installed through the year, 28% more than was added in 2023, according to the National Energy Administration. That brings the country’s total operational solar capacity to 887GW. Wind installations also hit a fresh record of 79GW — a 5% increase from the previous year — taking total capacity to 521GW.

That means China now has 1,408GW of wind and solar capacity — well ahead of the government’s prior target of having 1,200GW in place by 2030....

“The combination of accelerating clean energy growth and moderating power demand growth promises to bend China’s emissions down further from the current plateau,” Myllyvirta said in a post.

That’s despite coal- and gas-fired power capacity additions of 54GW in 2024, a slight decline from the prior year.

Myllyvirta said energy capacity additions tend to accelerate towards the end of each year, which means last year’s new installations will only fully show up in generation statistics from 2025.

“So the record additions in the end of 2024 are highly relevant for the 2025 emission trend,” Myllyvirta said.

Close to half of the experts surveyed by CREA last year said China’s carbon dioxide emissions had probably already peaked, or would do so in 2025, thanks in large part to its unprecedented wind and solar boom.

However, it’s still too soon to call the top. China’s fossil fuel power plants generated 1.5% more electricity in 2024 than the previous year, per the National Bureau of Statistics. This indicates that electricity consumption continued to grow faster than clean energy output.

Meanwhile, 11 million electric vehicles were sold in China in 2024, a 40% increase, according to a tally by research group Rho Motion. One in two new cars sold in the country now has a plug, meaning China is expected to see a steady decline in gasoline demand in the years ahead. The country’s crude oil imports fell 1.9% in 2024, the first annual decline in two decades, barring the Covid-induced slump.

China’s rapid progress in electrifying transport, heavy industry, and heating will help turn the tide on emissions. The eastern province of Zhejiang has reached a world-leading electrification rate of 51%, according to an analysis by US-based research group RMI."

-via The Progress Playbook, January 21, 2025

[hope-for-the-planet]

From the article:

It’s difficult to overstate how rapidly Australians have embraced solar power, and how much it has exceeded expectations. In 2011, the forecast was that rooftop solar would eventually contribute 4 terawatt hours of electricity. In the context of the Australian grid, this was next to nothing – barely 2% of total generation. For some, it raised the question of whether it was really worth the cost. More than a decade on, that number has been eclipsed more than six times over in the five eastern states connected by the country’s main power grid. Rooftop solar panels connected to the National Electricity Market generated 24.6TWh over the last year of data. Put another way, homes have contributed 11.6% of electricity – nearly as much as wind farms, comfortably more than large-scale solar farms or hydro plants, and twice as much as gas-fired power. More than 3.7m households and small businesses have solar systems. It means more than one in three homes across the country generate their own power when the sun is out.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Electricity consumption at US data centers alone is poised to triple from 2022 levels, to as much as 390 terawatt hours by the end of the decade, according to Boston Consulting Group. That’s equal to about 7.5% of the nation’s projected electricity demand. “We do need way more energy in the world than we thought we needed before,” Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI, whose ChatGPT tool has become a global phenomenon, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week. “We still don’t appreciate the energy needs of this technology.” For decades, US electricity demand rose by less than 1% annually. But utilities and grid operators have doubled their annual forecasts for the next five years to about 1.5%, according to Grid Strategies, a consulting firm that based its analysis on regulatory filings. That’s the highest since the 1990s, before the US stepped up efforts to make homes and businesses more energy efficient. It’s not just the explosion in data centers that has power companies scrambling to revise their projections. The Biden administration’s drive to seed the country with new factories that make electric cars, batteries and semiconductors is straining the nation’s already stressed electricity grid. What’s often referred to as the biggest machine in the world is in reality a patchwork of regional networks with not enough transmission lines in places, complicating the job of bringing in new power from wind and solar farms. To cope with the surge, some power companies are reconsidering plans to mothball plants that burn fossil fuels, while a few have petitioned regulators for permission to build new gas-powered ones. That means President Joe Biden’s push to bolster environmentally friendly industries could end up contributing to an increase in emissions, at least in the near term. Unless utilities start to boost generation and make it easier for independent wind and solar farms to connect to their transmission lines, the situation could get dire, says Ari Peskoe, director of the Electricity Law Initiative at Harvard Law School. “New loads are delayed, factories can’t come online, our economic growth potential is diminished,” he says. “The worst-case scenario is utilities don’t adapt and keep old fossil-fuel capacity online and they don’t evolve past that.”

archive.today article link

[rjzimmerman]

Notes: The electricity generation trajectories for wind and solar PV indicate potential generation, including current curtailment rates. However, they do not project future wind and solar PV curtailment, which may be significant in some countries by 2028.

Excerpt from this story from EcoWatch:

With solar leading the way, renewables are on track to generate nearly 50 percent of global electricity this decade. But green energy is still predicted to fall short of the United Nations target of tripling capacity, according to Renewables 2024: Analysis and forecast to 2030, a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

More than 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of global renewable capacity is set to be added between now and 2030, which is nearly three times the growth from 2017 to 2023, the report said.

“Renewables are moving faster than national governments can set targets for,” said Fatih Birol, IEA’s executive director, as Reuters reported. “This is mainly driven not just by efforts to lower emissions or boost energy security: it’s increasingly because renewables today offer the cheapest option to add new power plants in almost all countries around the world.”

Based on today’s governmental policy settings and current market trends, of the world’s renewable capacity installed between 2024 and 2030, almost 60 percent will come from China, a press release from IEA said.

That would mean nearly half the total global renewable power capacity would be in China by 2030, up from a third in 2010.

“Due to supportive policies and favourable economics, the world’s renewable power capacity is expected to surge over the rest of this decade, with global additions on course to roughly equal the current power capacity of China, the European Union, India and the United States combined,” the press release said.

This decade, solar PV is projected to account for 80 percent of worldwide renewable capacity growth. This is due to the construction of large solar plants and an increase in installations of rooftop solar by households and companies.

The expansion of wind is forecast to double between now and the end of the decade, compared with the period 2017 to 2023.

In nearly every country in the world, solar PV and wind are the least expensive options for adding new electricity generation.

Because of these trends, almost 70 countries that together make up 80 percent of renewable capacity around the world are set to meet or exceed their current renewable goals for 2030.

“The growth is not fully in line with the goal set by nearly 200 governments at the COP28 climate change conference in December 2023 to triple the world’s renewable capacity this decade – the report forecasts global capacity will reach 2.7 times its 2022 level by 2030,” the press release said. “But IEA analysis indicates that fully meeting the tripling target is entirely possible if governments take near-term opportunities for action.”

[cognitivejustice]

Creating the world’s “greenest” highway in a desert city: URB city design

Bagherian’s concept includes “water-sensitive landscape design” that includes native flora and drought-resistant plants suited to the arid climate, and soil mixed with zeolite, an absorbent crystal that aids water retention.

These “passive techniques” are complemented with smart irrigation technology, he added, “which use real-time data to adjust watering schedules based on soil moisture levels, weather forecasts, and plant needs.”

Smart tech and solar-power

The autonomous solar-powered tram is just one aspect of the proposed highway’s transport system: above the tram line, a network of green areas, parks and overpasses would increase connectivity and walkability of the city, which is currently tough to navigate on foot.

The highway would also integrate smart technology, such as “internet of things” (IoT) sensors, to manage traffic and optimize energy use.

Bagherian’s designs allow for 300-megawatt solar panels and a storage system to be embedded in the tracks, that would power the tram line, as well as generate clean energy for an estimated 130,000 homes.

And the green spaces — including parks and community gardens — would provide space for one million trees, which would also help cool the city and improve air quality.

Source

[spermarket]

Europe Biogas Plant Market Share, Trends, Scope, Analysis and Future Investment Opportunities 2034: SPER Market Research

Biogas plant is a facility that uses anaerobic digestion to turn organic waste materials into dig estate that is rich in nutrients and biogas. Methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) make up the majority of biogas, with trace amounts of other gases. Biogas is a renewable energy source that can be used to heat buildings, generate electricity, or power cars. The plant breaks down biodegradable materials such as sewage, animal dung, food waste, and agricultural wastes in a controlled, oxygen-free atmosphere using microorganisms. Biogas plants can be modest home units or massive industrial facilities. By turning organic waste into fertilizer and energy, they support circular economies, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and manage garbage sustainably. 

According to SPER Market Research, ‘Europe Biogas Plant Market Size- By Feedstock, By Digester Type, By Application- Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecast to 2033’ states that the Europe Biogas Plant Market is estimated to reach USD 5.47 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 9.44%. 

The market for biogas plants in Europe is being pushed by a growing emphasis on sustainable waste management and renewable energy. To assist biogas production to meet climate goals and carbon neutrality targets, governments around Europe are putting supportive laws, incentives, and subsidies into place. The move toward decarbonization and rising energy demand have increased investments in biogas infrastructure. Anaerobic digestion technology advancements increase scalability and efficiency, which drives market expansion. The increasing use of circular economy principles promotes the production of biogas from organic waste from municipalities, businesses, and farmers. Furthermore, the need for bio-based fuels, such as bio methane, as an alternative to natural gas, encourages the growth of biogas facilities throughout the area. 

Considering the region's emphasis on renewable energy, the European biogas plant industry confronts a number of difficulties. The high upfront and ongoing expenses deter small and medium-sized businesses from implementing biogas technology. Investors face uncertainty due to regulatory complexity and diverse government policies among EU nations. Plant operations are limited by a lack of feedstock, particularly in metropolitan locations. Market expansion is further hampered by competition from other renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Lower energy yields may be the consequence of technological inefficiencies in the upgrading and generation of biogas. Another major obstacle to the market's growth is public opposition to biogas facilities because of worries about its odor, land use, and environmental impact. 

Germany dominates the European market for biogas plants mainly due to its vast agricultural sector and advanced waste management systems, which supply a plentiful supply of feedstock for the production of biogas. Some of the key players are - AB HOLDING SPA, EnvitTec Biogas AG, Future Biogas Limited, IES BIOGAS and Naskeo Environmennement S.A.   

Request a Free Sample Report: https://www.sperresearch.com/report-store/europe-biogas-plant-market.aspx?sample=1

Europe Biogas Plant Market Segmentation:

By Feedstock: Based on the Feedstock, Europe Biogas Plant Market is segmented as; Bio-Municipal Waste, Agriculture Residue, Energy Crops, Others.

By Digester Type: Based on the Digester Type, Europe Biogas Plant Market is segmented as; Wet Anaerobic Digestion, Dry Anaerobic Digestion.

By Application: Based on the Application, Europe Biogas Plant Market is segmented as; Power Generation, Heat Generation, Transportation.

By Region: This research also includes data for Germany, U.K, France, Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, Benelux, Rest of Europe.

For More Information, refer to below link: –  

Europe Biogas Plant Market Growth

Related Reports:  

United States Floating Photovoltaics Market Growth, Size, Trends Analysis- By Product, By System, By Application- Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecast to 2033

Saudi Arabia Heat Exchangers Market Growth, Size, Trends Analysis- By Type, By End Use Industry- Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecast to 2033

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[astronomyforastrologers]

The Unlikely Nature of Scary Cosmic Scenarios ~ 05 Feb 2025

The Unlikely Nature of Scary Cosmic Scenarios ~ 05 Feb 2025, Philip Sedgwick            

As if everything going on in the world isn’t enough, recent astronomical projections have slated two doomsday scenarios for us and managed to show up on news feeds. The scenarios involve the Earth enduring a collision from a Potentially Hazardous Object (PHO) originating with the category of asteroids known as Near Earth Objects (NEO).

Initial calculations suggest that 2024 YR4, an asteroidish thing with an estimated diameter between 130 and 330 feet, may crash into the Earth on 22 December 2032. Expect a heap of last-minute holiday shopping that year! To rain on the shopping procrastination parade, the probability of impact stands at a mere 1.3%. If a weather forecaster provided a 1 - 2 % chance of rain, no one would be sufficiently bothered to change outdoor plans.

If you want to have some solar system fun, check out this groovy orbit gizmo. Here’s screenshot of the orbit of 2024 YR4. The link to the very fun orbit tool used for this pic is: Orbits

If 2024 YR4 is not enough, come 24 September 2182, asteroid Bennu may impact what’s left of Earth. The projected collision is only fair. After all, this asteroid with a period of 1.19 years, was struck by the OSIRIS-REx probe on 20 October 2020. The probe pogo-sticked off Bennu, collecting a sample of the asteroid’s raw materials and successfully returned to Earth with the booty. Analysis of the materials of Bennu suggest it contains the critical materials to create life. How ironic; Bennu contains the potential to create life on Earth and equally maintains the potential to end life on Earth.

Wait! There’s more! Upward-looking, plutocratic entrepreneurs have decided we should mine asteroids. Recent estimates of the asteroid Psyche’s worth exceed the global economy - this is more solid that crypto currency! No wonder those tech moguls now devote so much attention to the natural resources of our solar system. How many asteroids are there? Is this how ka-ching is correctly spelled?

In the category of mining asteroids, there are a number of top contending companies: Karman+, TransAstra, AstroForge, Origin Space and Asteroid Mining Corporation. All seek a competitive timeline edge and projections are that in 2029, they’ll be able to set up shop and do their mining thing. Here’s the $64,000 question and one that is not rhetorical: How many asteroids can be mined before the center of gravity of the asteroid belt becomes impacted? Wouldn’t this gravitational shift potentially influence the orbit of Mars? Isn’t it possible that the result would be like a bad pool table break? Isn’t it curious that the first contending company on the list is Karman+? Again, isn’t it interesting that Bennu, impacted by those studying space potentially could strike Earth and wipe out life and simultaneously plant the seeds of life?

Why is it that astronomers feel the need to blast the news outlets with their possible asteroid strike which falls into the category of only minimally likely? Is this the result of being excluded from campfire story time? Don’t we have enough to think about with drones hovering overhead - authorized by the FAA and conducting unstated “research?” Is this an attempt to get humans to ponder cosmic possibilities, despite the concerns of the real world and thus, engage the highest minded themes of Pluto in Aquarius?

Actually, there is supposed to be a moratorium on announcing potentially disastrous solar system catastrophes. It is supposed to be a length of time such that several astronomical organizations using high-power computers that do not use AI for calcs to come to a consensus agreement on the probability of Earth impact. All the “transiting gravel” (as it has been called by astrologers in the past - which now would include the Kuiper Belt) out there that we know about has been pretty much considered and determined to pose no threat. Likely it would be something new that gets discovered somehow, somewhere that potentially poses hazard to Earth. Will the Earth be struck by asteroid-like objects in the future? Absolutely. Every year Earth is hit by some 17,000 meteorites.

Fortunately, Earth possesses (at least currently, it does) an atmosphere that causes most incoming objects to burn up, or mostly diminish upon arrival. Do the odds go up with asteroid mining? Possibly, that depends upon how well the mining operation attends to all details of its operation. Should anything be considered at this time regarding the human influence on the environment of the entire solar system? Absolutely.

The point is, nothing catastrophic on a cosmic calamity scale appears on the calender in the foreseeable times ahead. While the world engages in circumstances and situations that may appear to defy the nature of Pluto in Aquarius, there is no need to stress over any incoming solar system body of which there is current knowledge. But two interesting thoughts arise from such speculation. Is an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure (or whatever weights and measure system fits the adage in your neck of the world)? Absolutely. Are efforts to see if we can successfully deflect an incoming asteroid useful? Yes, and like any prevention system, we apply our hope and faith in never needing that system? Larger and potentially more evolving, would nations and their leaders be more inclined to seek collaboration for saving our bacon as opposed to imposing tariffs on our bacon, and thus cause realization that all humans are equally subject to cosmic events?

And here, insert a wink from Pluto that is absolutely impossible to interpret.

More soon.

Yes, I do work with some of that transiting gravel. I actively use Psyche and asteroids elevated to dwarf planet status and I consider all of the larger, named objects in the Kuiper Belt when I conduct consultations. Is the effort worth it? Perhaps intangibly so. Is such inclusion preventative? Hard to calculate unknown things that did not happen, but navigating life with less chaos and disruption always seems a good plan. To get that good plan going, use the links below to order reports, ask questions or schedule sessions.

And if you have not watched my short film METEORIC yet, and have 20 minutes, there's a link below!

One Stop Shopping Order Form Astrological Texts

METEORIC the Movie on Vimeo ZAP! on Vimeo

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil forecasts water reservoirs below half capacity by year-end

Despite lower levels compared to last year, Electricity System Operator assures supply conditions remain secure

After enduring a historic drought, Brazil’s hydroelectric reservoirs are expected to close 2024 below half their storage capacity but with conditions deemed favorable for energy supply, according to the National Electricity System Operator (ONS). Three of the country’s four submarkets are projected to end the year with levels above 40%, leaving the National Interconnected System (SIN) with an estimated storage level of 48.7%.

ONS Managing Director Marcio Rea acknowledged the decline from around 60% at the end of 2023 but emphasized there is no risk to supply. Speaking to journalists last week, Mr. Rea noted that rainfall above the historical average in the Tietê, Grande, Parnaíba, and Madeira river basins raised reservoir levels.

“The energy situation is stable, thanks to a robust system supported by solar and wind generation; it’s a much more robust system than in the past,” said Mr. Rea. Christiano Vieira, ONS operations director, explained that while reservoir levels are lower than last year’s, the situation remains under control because “it rained in the right places”—specifically, at the headwaters of rivers where most reservoirs are located.

To safeguard energy reserves, Mr. Vieira noted that the operator implemented measures such as minimizing power generation at hydroelectric plants in northern Brazil and reducing water flow at the Jupiá and Porto Primavera hydroelectric plants in São Paulo to store more water in reservoirs. These actions were taken under the guidance of the Electric Sector Monitoring Committee (CMSE), with ONS providing critical input.

Continue reading.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

By Marcia Dunn

Updated 9:45 PM, 11 May 2024

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth produced stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early Saturday, with no immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated.

The effects of the Northern Lights, which were prominently on display in Britain, were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.

Many in the U.K. shared phone snaps of the lights on social media early Saturday, with the phenomenon seen as far south as London and southern England.

"There were sightings from top to tail across the country,” said Chris Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, Britain’s weather agency.

He added that the office received photos and information from other European locations including Prague and Barcelona.

NOAA alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to take precautions.

“For most people here on planet Earth, they won’t have to do anything,” said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

The storm could produce northern lights as far south in the U.S. as Alabama and Northern California, NOAA said.

But it was hard to predict and experts stressed it would not be the dramatic curtains of color normally associated with the northern lights, but more like splashes of greenish hues.

“That’s really the gift from space weather: the aurora,” Steenburgh said.

He and his colleagues said the best aurora views may come from phone cameras, which are better at capturing light than the naked eye.

"Snap a picture of the sky and there might be actually a nice little treat there for you,” said Mike Bettwy, operations chief for the prediction center.

The most intense solar storm in recorded history — in 1859 — prompted auroras in central America and possibly even Hawaii.

“We are not anticipating that but it could come close," NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl said.

This storm poses a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids, not the electrical lines ordinarily found in people’s homes, Dahl told reporters.

Satellites also could be affected, which in turn could disrupt navigation and communication services here on Earth.

An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003, for example, took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.

Even when the storm is over, signals between GPS satellites and ground receivers could be scrambled or lost, according to NOAA.

But there are so many navigation satellites that any outages should not last long, Steenburgh noted.

The sun has produced strong solar flares since Wednesday, resulting in at least seven outbursts of plasma.

Each eruption, known as a coronal mass ejection, can contain billions of tons of plasma and magnetic field from the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona.

The flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth, NOAA said.

It is all part of the solar activity ramping up as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle.

NASA said the storm posed no serious threat to the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

The biggest concern is the increased radiation levels, and the crew could move to a better shielded part of the station if necessary, according to Steenburgh.

Increased radiation also could threaten some of NASA’s science satellites.

Extremely sensitive instruments will be turned off, if necessary, to avoid damage, said Antti Pulkkinen, director of the space agency’s heliophysics science division.

Several sun-focused spacecraft are monitoring all the action.

“This is exactly the kinds of things we want to observe,” Pulkkinen said.

[capitalism-is-parasitism]

Nationalize the grid

Regulators let utilities charge their customers enough money to cover what they spend on assets like combustion turbines and wires, plus a generous rate of return (up to 10 percent) for their investors. This longstanding arrangement incentivizes power providers to build expensive things whether society needs them or not, in lieu of lower-cost, cleaner options, and to invoke their duty to keep the lights on as a post hoc rationalization. PAYWALL (sorry): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/13/opinion/electricity-demand-surging.html MORE (because paywall): Nearly a decade ago, Dominion and Duke partnered to build a 600-mile-long pipeline across West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, largely to supply their own new power plants. Back then, the companies cited their own forecasts of rising energy demand and claimed more gas supply was needed to back up intermittent wind- and solar-generated power coming onto the grid. But it soon became clear that there wasn’t any need for those plants, and most were canceled. The pipeline’s core premise had proved to be a mirage. And in 2020, faced with relentless grass-roots opposition, Dominion and Duke finally abandoned it…

But utilities aren’t like other shareholder-owned companies. They are granted the right to be monopolies in exchange for providing essential services to society. And regulators’ job is to hold them accountable to the public interest. This century-old model is in dire need of an upgrade, so that utilities can be compensated for achieving goals — such as using clean, affordable energy and building a resilient grid — that are in everyone’s interest.

[man-and-atom]

We have repeatedly pointed out that claims about the cheapness of electricity from wind and solar mean remarkably little in terms of the actual cost to the consumer. In Switzerland on 22 April, an erroneous forecast of solar feed-in led to a generation deficit of about a gigawatt, which lasted for several hours. This was made good at a cost of around 30 million Swiss francs by purchasing make-up power at a price of up to CHF 12 000 per megawatt-hour.

At that price, the £89·5 (CHF 102) per MWh guarantee to Hinkley Point C, widely derided as the foremost example of long-delayed and over-budget nuclear power, looks reasonable. So it is not surprising that a new study from a group at the Eidgenossisches Technisches Hochschule (Federal Technical University) has stirred up controversy.

The conclusion is simple, and in its broad outlines, is nothing that hasn’t been recognized since the 1970s. In the harsh climate of Switzerland, energy consumption is particularly high in the winter, but solar power is available only in the summer. Hydroelectricity, which undergirds the Swiss power grid, has good years and bad years (which is why Switzerland began building nuclear power plants in the 1960s). With an annual electricity demand estimated, on the basis of electrification of transport and heating, at 113 terawatt-hours (compared to a 2023 consumption of 66 TWh, although a Government study, assuming strong conservation measures, anticipates a demand of only 80—90 TWh by 2050), it would be necessary to transfer tens of TWh from the summer to the winter months. Pumped hydro is far cheaper than other storage systems, and the Alpine topography of Switzerland makes it feasible on this scale, which is not true of most countries.

The ETH group estimated that a combination of pumped hydro with electrolysis plants and hydrogen storage facilities to allow for winter operation of gas turbines, enabling decarbonization with renewable electricity, would require investments of CHF 563×10⁹, about 70% of present annual GDP. By contrast, baseload nuclear, requiring about 8 GW of generation, should cost CHF 48×10⁹.

Critics insist that the future cannot be simply extrapolated from the past, but this seems like the notorious “and then a miracle occurs” mathematical proof. With a short timeline for decarbonization, a “wait and see” approach cannot be taken. It is also suggested that time-of-use pricing might reduce the annual load variation somewhat, and that nuclear may be more expensive than predicted. With a differential of more than a factor of ten, however, it seems that there is plenty of room for the overall conclusion to remain broadly true. Against this, of course, is current legislation mandating a “nuclear exit”. Fission is a route to decarbonization which is more likely to succeed, because it imposes less hardship.

[reasonsforhope]

"This year the world will make something like 70bn of these solar cells, the vast majority of them in China, and sandwich them between sheets of glass to make what the industry calls modules but most other people call panels: 60 to 72 cells at a time, typically, for most of the modules which end up on residential roofs, more for those destined for commercial plant. Those panels will provide power to family homes, to local electricity collectives, to specific industrial installations and to large electric grids; they will sit unnoticed on roofs, charmingly outside rural schools, controversially across pristine deserts, prosaically on the balconies of blocks of flats and in almost every other setting imaginable.

Once in place they will sit there for decades, making no noise, emitting no fumes, using no resources, costing almost nothing and generating power. It is the least obtrusive revolution imaginable. But it is a revolution nonetheless.

Over the course of 2023 the world’s solar cells, their panels currently covering less than 10,000 square kilometres, produced about 1,600 terawatt-hours of energy (a terawatt, or 1tw, is a trillion watts). That represented about 6% of the electricity generated world wide, and just over 1% of the world’s primary-energy use. That last figure sounds fairly marginal, though rather less so when you consider that the fossil fuels which provide most of the world’s primary energy are much less efficient. More than half the primary energy in coal and oil ends up as waste heat, rather than electricity or forward motion.

What makes solar energy revolutionary is the rate of growth which brought it to this just-beyond-the-marginal state. Michael Liebreich, a veteran analyst of clean-energy technology and economics, puts it this way:

In 2004, it took the world a whole year to install a gigawatt of solar-power capacity... In 2010, it took a month In 2016, a week. In 2023 there were single days which saw a gigawatt of installation worldwide. Over the course of 2024 analysts at BloombergNEF, a data outfit, expect to see 520-655gw of capacity installed: that’s up to two 2004s a day...

And it shows no signs of stopping, or even slowing down. Buying and installing solar panels is currently the largest single category of investment in electricity generation, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), an intergovernmental think-tank: it expects $500bn this year, not far short of the sum being put into upstream oil and gas. Installed capacity is doubling every three years. According to the International Solar Energy Society:

Solar power is on track to generate more electricity than all the world’s nuclear power plants in 2026 Than its wind turbines in 2027 Tthan its dams in 2028 Its gas-fired power plants in 2030 And its coal-fired ones in 2032.

In an IEA scenario which provides net-zero carbon-dioxide emissions by the middle of the century, solar energy becomes humankind’s largest source of primary energy—not just electricity—by the 2040s...

Expecting exponentials to carry on is rarely a basis for sober forecasting. At some point either demand or supply faces an unavoidable constraint; a graph which was going up exponentially starts to take on the form of an elongated S. And there is a wide variety of plausible stories about possible constraints...

All real issues. But the past 20 years of solar growth have seen naive extrapolations trounce forecasting soberly informed by such concerns again and again. In 2009, when installed solar capacity worldwide was 23gw, the energy experts at the IEA predicted that in the 20 years to 2030 it would increase to 244gw. It hit that milestone in 2016, when only six of the 20 years had passed. According to Nat Bullard, an energy analyst, over most of the 2010s actual solar installations typically beat the IEA’s five-year forecasts by 235% (see chart). The people who have come closest to predicting what has actually happened have been environmentalists poo-pooed for zealotry and economic illiteracy, such as those at Greenpeace who, also in 2009, predicted 921gw of solar capacity by 2030. Yet even that was an underestimate. The world’s solar capacity hit 1,419gw last year.

-via The Economist, June 20, 2024

--

Note: That graph. Is fucking ridiculous(ly hopeful).

For perspective: the graph shows that in 2023, there were about 350 GW of solar installed. The 5-year prediction from 2023 said that we'd end up around 450 GW by 2030.

We hit over 600 GW in the first half of 2024 alone.

This is what's called an exponential curve. It's a curve that keeps going up at a rate that gets higher and higher with each year.

This, I firmly believe, is a huge part of what is going to let us save the world.

[enchantedliving]

‘Tis The Seaon of The Witch! October’s astro-beauty and wellness forecast is here, and it’s a gorgeous month: Moon magic, Libra loveliness, Scorpio smoulder…and, Eclipse Season! (It’s a good one, I promise.) Spicy cosmic happenings, lunar vibes, and potion recipes – including my very first concoction for Enchanted Living –  are here for you…

Autumn is lush with beauty and starry sensuality! Tune into your monthly cosmic beauty and wellness guide, with plant-powered bewitching recipes and sorceress secrets.

To order “The Beauty Witch’s Secrets: Recipes and Rituals For The Modern Goddess” https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Witchs-...

Signed copies, intuitive readings, classes, workshops, and eco-luxe skin and body care potions at https://www.thebeautywitch.com/

00:00 October Vibes! 00:14 Libra Season 02:02 Libra Tarot 02:46 Mercury Enters Libra 03:30 Venus Enters Virgo 04:25 Pluto Direct 06:18 Mars In Scorpio 07:08 New Moon Solar Eclipse In Libra 09:25 New Moon Potion 10:26 Mercury Enters Scorpio 11:03 Scorpio Season 11:21 Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Taurus 13:10 Full Moon Potion

[mrudula01]

Sustainable Power Generation Drives Floating Power Plant Market

Triton Market Research presents the Global Floating Power Plant Market report segmented by capacity (0 MW- 5 MW, 5.1 MW- 20 MW, 20 MW – 100 MW, 100.1 MW – 250 MW, above 250 MW), and source (non-renewable power source, renewable power source), and Regional Outlook (Latin America, Middle East and Africa, North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe).

The report further includes the Market Summary, Industry Outlook, Impact Analysis, Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Market Maturity Analysis, Industry Components, Regulatory Framework, Key Market Strategies, Drivers, Challenges, Opportunities, Analyst Perspective, Competitive Landscape, Research Methodology & Scope, Global Market Size, Forecasts & Analysis (2023-2028).

Triton's report suggests that the global market for floating power plant is set to advance with a CAGR of 10.74% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2028.

Request Free Sample Report:

Floating power plants are innovative power generation units on floating platforms on water bodies. They serve as primary or backup power sources for specified facilities, utilizing renewable energy sources (solar, wind, etc.) and non-renewable (diesel, natural gas, etc.). These plants offer the advantage of mobility, making them ideal for temporary power generation to tackle local energy shortages.

The increasing popularity of offshore wind projects is due to several market factors, such as the growing demand for clean and sustainable energy sources and advances in offshore wind technology. Also, supportive government policies and the urgent need to combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions further elevate the demand for floating power plants.

Furthermore, the popularity of floating power plants based on IC offers opportunities to the floating power plant market. These innovative power generation systems offer flexibility, scalability, and rapid deployment, catering to remote areas and serving as backup solutions in grid instability situations.

However, challenges like technical complexities, high costs associated with logistics and accessibility, and a shortage of skilled workers for solar panel installation limit the floating power plant market's expansion.

Over the forecast period, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to register the fastest growth. A growing population and increasing industrialization fuel growth prospects. The region is home to a rapidly growing population, which in turn drives the need for expanded power generation capacity. Furthermore, Asia-Pacific is experiencing significant economic growth, with many countries emerging as major global players. This economic expansion is accompanied by a surge in industrial activities and the establishment of new manufacturing units, creating a heightened demand for electricity to support these sectors. Floating power plants present a viable solution to meet this demand, especially in areas with limited land availability.

Floating Power Plant AS, Upsolar Group Co Ltd, SeaTwirl AB, Caterpillar Inc, Mitsubishi Corporation, Wartsila Corporation, Siemens AG, MAN Energy Solutions SE, Kyocera Corporation, and Vikram Solar Limited are prominent companies in the floating power plant market.

Due to its complexity, the floating power plant market poses a moderate threat of new entrants. Capital-intensive development and deployment, along with the need for specialized expertise, act as barriers. Additionally, a skilled workforce in offshore engineering and renewable energy is crucial. Nevertheless, government policies supporting renewable energy adoption, such as feed-in tariffs, subsidies, and favorable regulations, are vital in attracting new players by mitigating financial risks and offering long-term incentives.

Contact Us:

sales@tritonmarketresearch.com

Phone: +44 7441 911839

Website: https://www.tritonmarketresearch.com/

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

Amid a deluge of terrifying headlines about destructive tornadoes, blistering heat waves and DVD-sized gorilla hail, here’s a surprising bit of good news: Global carbon dioxide emissions may have peaked last year, according to a new projection.

It’s worth dwelling on the significance of what could be a remarkable inflection point.

For centuries, the burning of coal, oil and gas has produced huge volumes of planet-warming gasses. As a result, global temperatures rose by an average of 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than at the dawn of the industrial age, and extreme weather is becoming more frequent.

But we now appear to be living through the precise moment when the emissions that are responsible for climate change are starting to fall, according to new data by BloombergNEF, a research firm. This projection is in roughly in line with other estimates, including a recent report from Climate Analytics.

Thanks to the rapid build-out of wind and solar power plants, particularly in China, global emissions from the power sector are set to decline this year. Last year, the amount of renewable energy capacity added globally jumped by almost 50 percent, according to the International Energy Agency.

And with the rise of electric vehicles and heat pumps, similar gains are anticipated in the transportation sector and residential buildings.

Forecasting emissions is an inexact science. Greenhouse gas levels fell during the Covid-19 pandemic, then spiked as the world emerged from lockdown. Other wild cards, such as melting permafrost or huge wildfires, could further scramble projections. Nevertheless, the data suggests that after centuries of growth, humans are finally on the cusp of reducing the overall production of heat-trapping gases.

The decline in emissions will not be swift. Even if every government and business in the world made combating climate change a top priority, it would still take at least two decades, and an estimated $215 trillion, to make a full transition to an emissions-free world.

Doing so, the report said, would require the immediate adoption of what would essentially be a wartime approach to constructing renewable energy and subsidizing low-carbon technologies, and a set of strict regulatory measures designed to curb emissions-heavy modes of transportation, energy production and industry. For example, BloombergNEF projects that no new internal combustion engine vehicles could be sold after 2034.

In such a scenario, the BloombergNEF report forecasts that it may be possible to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, resulting in an average global temperature rise of 1.75 degrees above preindustrial levels.