Clean Energy Innovations

The world's first gigawatt-scale offshore solar project has been successfully connected to the grid in Shandong Province, China. On Wednesday, the first batch of panels began generating electricity, 8 km offshore from Dongying City. At 1 GW and a capacity factor of ~20%, the project is expected to generate about 1.8 TWh of electricity annually, displacing over half a million tonnes of coal from the mix. 8 km may sound like a long way, but this isn't floating solar. The panels are mounted on steel truss platforms that are fixed to the sea bed with steel piles. Each platform is 60m long and 35m wide and the facility has a total of 2,934 (!) of them. It's also "aquavoltaics" - combining solar PV with fish farming. The steel framework below the surface will be used to house fish farms, enhancing the utilisation of the area. While costs are higher than land-based solar, and the environmental conditions can be challenging, offshore solar can be a good option for countries with land constraints, the water can cool the panels, increasing their efficiency and they can be built close to load centres, reducing transmission losses. Image credit: CHN Energy #energy #renewables #sustainability #energytransition

🌍 The 2024 World Energy Outlook from the International Energy Agency (IEA) is out! This is always one of my favorite big reports of the year as it really shows the status of the energy sector, key trends and developments, and the implications for the transition and net zero. I’ve gone through and wanted to share five takeaways: 1.      Renewable energy revolution rolls on In what has become an annual tradition, the IEA has again revised its renewable energy estimates upward. Solar capacity additions have quadrupled since 2019, but they are set for an even larger increase. Even in the stated policy scenario, the IEA foresees solar PV as the largest share of energy production before 2035. Solar energy has quadrupled 2.      The future is electric, and so is demand Electricity growth is rising far faster than overall energy growth. We are adding a Japan of electricity demand annually. Estimates have been raised for future demand and while AI and data centres are growing fast, most of this growth is from rapid electrification across transportation, heating, and industry. 3.      In low-carbon supply chains, it’s still China and the rest China represented 60% of the new renewable capacity added worldwide in 2023 and hit its 2030 renewable installation goal this year, six years early. By the early 2030s, China’s solar PV generation alone may exceed the total electricity demand of the US today. China also maintains a dominant position upstream in rare earth mining and in manufacturing for most clean energy technologies. 4.      The fossil fuel peak is coming… and may have just happened for many nations In many developed nations, the demand for fossil fuels has likely peaked. However, it is the rapid shift to EVs and electrification that is confounding fossil fuel producers and has led the IEA to estimate that under current trends, coal, oil, and natural gas will have peaked by 2030. Liquified natural gas production and demand do continue to rise as a counterpoint to these trends. 5.      We can, and must, go faster Our climate goals and the creation of a resilient and sustainable energy system require that we transition faster. This means addressing issues with supply chains, including upstream availability of raw materials such as lithium and nickel. It means not just permitting reform in many nations but actually connecting these projects to existing grids, which demands infrastructure enhancements. For emerging markets, they need far more capital to accelerate their transition. Of the nearly 2 trillion USD spent on clean energy, much of it was in the developed world and China. More to come on the financial and investor implications of the report’s trends for Newsletter subscribers next week! ➡️ Full report here: https://lnkd.in/eQjm_xAM #energy #power #decarbonization #iea #netzero #renewables #solar #fossilfuels #electrification #batteries #evs #china

Global CO2 emissions from energy rose less in 2023 than the year before even as total energy demand growth accelerated. The major expansion of technologies like solar, wind & EVs is limiting the increase in emissions & bringing them closer to a peak. More in new analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA) → https://iea.li/49RHNfw Much of the rise in CO2 emissions in 2023 came from an exceptional fall in hydropower due to extreme drought, with fossil fuels filling the gap. Without the unusual hydropower drop, global CO2 emissions from electricity generation would've declined: https://iea.li/3OYVAc0 In the last 10 years, the CO2 intensity of global GDP has fallen 20%, thanks to both the improvement in energy efficiency and the decline in emissions intensity of global energy supply. CO2 growth is therefore increasingly decoupling from GDP growth. The growth of clean energy technologies – including solar, wind and nuclear power – in recent years is having a significant impact on CO2 emissions. Without them, the rise in #emissions since 2019 would have been three times higher. Advanced economies saw a record decline in their #CO2 emissions in 2023 even as their GDP grew. With low-emissions sources now providing over half of their electricity generation, advanced economies' emissions have fallen back to their levels of 50 years ago. New IEA analysis shows that clean energy technologies provide clear opportunities to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels this decade. Wind & solar PV deployed in the last 5 years already avoid huge amounts of coal & gas demand annually. More in our Clean Energy Market Monitor: https://iea.li/3uZ9VOL Similarly, the deployment of electric cars over the last 5 years has ensured that global oil demand has remained below its pre-pandemic level in energy terms. Electric cars have so far cut about 1 million barrels of oil equivalent annually. Exacerbated by extreme weather, #coal accounted for 65% of the rise in global emissions from energy in 2023. This was driven by growing demand in emerging & developing economies, with the largest increase coming from China, which suffered from a record shortfall in hydropower. China also continues to play a huge role in the overall growth of clean energy. Globally, additions of solar grew by 85%, wind by 60% & electric cars by 35% in 2023 – but those of heat pumps fell somewhat, highlighting the importance of continued policy support for transitions. Find out more on these key #energy & #climate trends, plus IEA's role in shaping a secure & sustainable energy future 👇 · CO2 emissions report: https://iea.li/3OYVAc0 · Clean Energy Market Monitor: https://iea.li/3uZ9VOL · IEA Ministerial communique: https://iea.li/3P3Xbxn

Norway Converts Deep Ocean Pressure Into Electricity Using Subsea Energy Vaults Norwegian researchers have completed successful trials of a revolutionary underwater energy storage system that uses deep-sea pressure to generate power on demand — offering a clean alternative to batteries in coastal grids. Installed off the coast of Bergen, the system consists of massive hollow spheres anchored 400 meters below the surface, which can store and release energy using water and gravity alone. The process is mechanically simple but incredibly effective. When surplus wind or hydro power is available, electricity is used to pump water out of the spheres against immense ocean pressure. When energy is needed later, valves open and water rushes back in, spinning turbines to generate electricity — just like a hydro dam, but inverted and underwater. The pilot system achieved a round-trip efficiency of 80% during six months of continuous cycling. Because the surrounding water pressure is so high, the system can store large amounts of energy in a small volume — making it ideal for islands, offshore wind farms, or areas with unstable grids. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, this subsea system is made of concrete and steel, doesn’t degrade with use, and poses no fire or chemical risk. It’s also invisible — a critical feature for environmentally sensitive marine zones. Norway’s invention turns the crushing power of the deep ocean into a silent, emission-free energy reservoir — a hidden battery beneath the waves.

🌍Global Standards Certifications for BESS Container-Based Solutions🔋 As Battery Energy Storage Systems become critical to modern power infrastructure, compliance with international standards ensures safety, performance, and interoperability across components from cells to containerized systems. Here’s a breakdown of key standards at each level with snapshot🔻: 1️⃣ Cell / Module Level: ✅ IEC 62619 and IEC 63056 ensure safety and performance for industrial lithium-ion cells. ✅ UL 1642 and UN 38.3 verify safety and transport compliance of lithium cells. ✅ RoHS and REACH (NPS) ensure environmental and chemical safety. ✅ IEC 60529 governs ingress protection (IP rating) against dust and water. ✅ IEC 60730-1 applies for safety of electrical controls, often embedded in smart modules. ✅ IEC 60332-1-2 addresses flame retardancy for wires and components. ✅ UN 3480 ensures proper sea and road transport labeling and packaging. ✅ UL 9540A helps assess fire propagation behavior of individual cells. 2️⃣ Pack / Rack Level: ⚡️ IEC 62619, IEC 63056, and UL 1973 provide safety and performance compliance for energy storage packs and systems. ⚡️ IEC 62485-5 focuses on installation safety in battery systems. ⚡️ IEC 61000-6-2, 61000-6-4, and 61000-4-36 ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). ⚡️ IEC 62477-1 offers safety guidelines for power electronic converters in racks. ⚡️ RoHS, REACH, and UN 38.3 apply at this level as well. ⚡️ UL 9540A evaluates thermal runaway propagation between cells in modules/racks. 3️⃣ Container / System Level: 🧿 IEC 62933-2-1 and IEC TS 62933-5-1 / UL 9540 ensure complete system safety and performance. 🧿 IEC 62040-1 covers general safety for uninterruptible power systems. 🧿 NFPA 855, NFPA 69, and NFPA 68 provide fire protection, explosion prevention, and ventilation design standards. 🧿 UN 1364 and UN 3536 regulate transport and hazard labeling for large systems. 🧿 IEC 60529 (IP ratings) and IEC 62485-5 address protection and operational safety. 🧿 UL 1973, UL 9540A, RoHS, and REACH also remain applicable. Compliance with these standards builds trust, ensures grid compatibility, and supports the global transition to sustainable energy. #BESS #BatteryStorage #EnergyStorage #IECStandards #ULStandards #FireSafety #SustainableEnergy #RenewableIntegration #CleanTech #GridModernization #ESS #Electromobility #EnergyTransition #SmartGrid #GreenEnergy #SafetyFirst

NEW RESEARCH - WHY THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS DISRUPTIVE & COULD BE MUCH FASTER THAN WE THINK: The clean energy transition isn’t just about swapping out old tech for new—it’s a complex, non-linear process full of feedback loops, tipping points, and unexpected consequences. Our new “Systems Archetypes of the Energy Transition” brief is a must-read for anyone shaping policy, investing, or innovating in this space. Key takeaways: 1) Feedback loops drive change: Reinforcing loops (like learning-by-doing and economies of scale) have made solar, wind, and batteries cheaper and more widespread, often outpacing even the boldest forecasts. 2) Path dependence is real: Early advantages for a technology (think BEVs vs. hydrogen cars) can snowball into market dominance, making policy choices and timing critical. 3) Limits and synergies: As renewables grow, market dynamics like “cannibalisation” can dampen investment—unless we design markets and storage solutions to keep the momentum going. 4) Policy design is everything: Well-intentioned fixes (like price caps or broad subsidies) can backfire, while smart, targeted interventions can unlock positive feedbacks across sectors. 5) Tipping points and decline: The decline of fossil fuels isn’t just a mirror image of clean tech growth—it comes with its own feedbacks, risks, and opportunities for a just transition. The brief also offers practical guidance on using causal loop diagrams and participatory systems mapping—powerful tools for understanding and managing the complexity of the transition. If you’re working on energy, climate, or innovation policy, I highly recommend giving this a read. Let’s move beyond linear thinking and embrace the systems view—because the future will be shaped by those who understand the dynamics beneath the surface. This briefing was led by Simon Sharpe at S-Curve Economics CIC, Max Collett 柯墨, Pete Barbrook-Johnson, me at Environmental Change Institute (ECI), University of Oxford & Oriel College, Oxford & the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and Michael Grubb at UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources.

⚡️🌊 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭: 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 20% ‘𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠’ 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 & 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬! 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬: 🔹 Tender open for 1 GW #offshorewind in not centrally pre-investigated North Sea area N-9.4 (146 km²) 🔹 Operation planned for 2032 🔹 Two-phase bidding: Phase 1 asks for support bids; If zero bids are oversubscribed in phase 1 (as in past auctions, see comments 👇), phase 2 uses a dynamic auction to select bidders willing to pay the most for the concession to build a wind park. 🔹 100% price-based award—no qualitative or non-price criteria, unlike other German auctions (see link in comments), and unlike the new European Commission rules for renewable auctions starting January 2026. Watch out for a discussion paper on non-price criteria with my Frontier Economics colleagues Michael Zähringer & Lyuba Ilieva to be published soon... 💡 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 The #auction's key innovation is is letting developers build up to 20% more offshore wind capacity than the High Voltage Distributed Current (#HVDC) offshore grid connection can handle—a concept called 'overplanting'. Thanks to wind’s variability, this boosts cable utilization with minimal curtailment—mostly when electricity prices are low and the onshore grid stressed anyway—slashing system costs significantly. Shoutout to my colleague Gregor B. for the great visual! 👏 ⁉️ 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧? Could offshore #hydrogen (offshore electrolysis + undersea pipeline) push cost even lower...?

Turning tofu waste into biogas 🌎 The conversion of tofu production wastewater into biogas is addressing critical environmental and energy issues in Indonesia. Tofu production produces large volumes of organic wastewater that, if untreated, flows into rivers, causing water quality degradation, odors, and harm to aquatic ecosystems. As this waste accumulates, its impact becomes an environmental burden for communities near tofu processing areas. Through anaerobic digestion, a process that breaks down organic materials in the absence of oxygen, tofu wastewater is now transformed into biogas. This biogas provides a clean, renewable fuel source for cooking, reducing reliance on traditional, less sustainable fuels. Anaerobic digestion also minimizes methane emissions from waste, offering a dual benefit in renewable energy generation and greenhouse gas mitigation. Results show that this treatment approach can reduce organic load in the wastewater by as much as 83%, effectively decreasing pollutants and improving water quality in affected rivers. Biogas produced from this method is accessible and scalable, with the potential to supply cooking fuel to entire communities while reducing environmental impacts at the local level. This shift highlights a model of waste valorization where waste materials become valuable resources. By integrating biogas systems in tofu-producing regions, communities can sustainably address both waste management and energy needs, reinforcing the benefits of circular economy principles in the food industry. While the transformation of tofu wastewater into biogas is promising, certain precautions are necessary to ensure its sustainability. Anaerobic digestion systems require careful maintenance and consistent monitoring to manage biogas production efficiently and prevent potential leaks or malfunctions, which could offset environmental benefits. Additionally, scaling this solution across regions requires initial infrastructure investments and training to equip local operators with the skills needed to operate the technology safely. Regular assessment of water quality and emissions is also essential to ensure the process remains environmentally sound, as improper handling of residual sludge or untreated water could reintroduce pollutants into the ecosystem. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #innovation #circular

Battery recycling using orange peels - pioneered by Prof Madhavi Srinivasan from the Energy Research Institute @ NTU. "One day, while she was at an orange juice vending machine, she thought why not just use one type of fruit peel for their project. She and her team then proceeded to make use of only orange peel, collected from the same canteen stall, to recover precious metals from spent batteries. Orange peel is rich in sugars and natural acids that boost the dissolution of metals, They have partnered with battery recycling and processing company Se-cure Waste Management (SWM) since 2023 to dissolve metals found in lithium-ion batteries being recycled by SWM with chemical solvents derived from fruit peel waste. The battery recycling facility can process up to 2,000 litres of spent shredded battery mixed with fruit-peel-derived solvents to extract electrode materials such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, and manganese. NTU and SWM plan to commercialise this process in 2024 and sell the recycled materials to battery makers around the world. “We have collected data that the cost reduction (of) using our technology is 20 to 40 per cent,” said Prof Madhavi, referring to the cost of the extraction process." https://lnkd.in/ghJnr4GR

This technical report outlines the implementation possibilities of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facilities at food and beverage production sites. Are you: 🫵 a food and beverage producer? 🫵 a company interested in regenerative energy sources 🫵 a company focused on resource-efficient production 🫵 a company seeking environmentally friendly treatment of residual material or wastewater 🫵 a decision-makers and stakeholders in the environmental, resource efficiency, and greenhouse gas emission sectors Then this IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme report is for you! In the food and beverage industry, agricultural biomass is the cornerstone of production. The byproducts from this process hold immense potential as feedstocks for anaerobic digestion (AD). This report delves into the integration of biogas plants within production facilities, utilizing residues, wastes, by-products, or wastewaters as feedstock. There is no waste in the Bioeconomy - just underutilised resources - that's why Scion is working with several partners to accelerate the adoption of AD technology across the country. We are focused on developing tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of the food and beverage industry, ensuring efficient resource utilization and significant reductions in carbon emissions. #Biogas #AnaerobicDigestion #RenewableEnergy #Bioeconomy #CircularBioeconomy #FoodAndBeverageIndustry #SustainableProduction #WasteManagement #CarbonFootprintReduction #EnergyEfficiency #ResourceUtilization #EnvironmentalSustainability #Innovation #Science #Technology #Energy