This newsletter peddles many and various stories, but none as big as the Inflation Reduction Act. It is not a stretch to imagine that the next generation will point to Joe Biden’s initiative as the moment that the energy transition got its wings. COMPANY NEWS Ørsted Posts All-Time High Offshore Wind EarningsEarnings from the company’s … Read More
circulareconomy
Battery recycling/CCS/folding solar/algae & focus on Geothermal Energy Storage
Two stories today about drilling holes in the ground: This is just my view, but I suggest that the Government would be better advised to support Enhanced Geothermal that CCS. If CCS was really the answer it would have been built years ago. I shall watch with interest to see how enthusiastically the Harbour/BP venture … Read More
Green Day/solar/aquifer thermal storage/hydrogen/clothing & focus on SMR nuclear
Looking forward to “Green Day” where the Government responds to Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Review and, less directly to the USA’s Inflation Reduction Act. It must be said that the IRA has raised the bar for Government involvement in Net Zero spending, first in the US, then the EU and now, hopefully, the UK. It … Read More
CfD/budget/biodiversity/IMF & focus on hemp
The budget wasn’t all bad (see below), but it is quite depressing that the two industries that got the big bucks were CCS and nuclear. It suggests that the Treasury really don’t understand the priorities of the energy transition, and got swayed by the best funded lobby groups. A missed opportunity. COMPANY NEWS Dunelm launches … Read More
Environmental Titbits – waste oil/energy storage/agrivoltaics/vertical farming/blue bonds & focus on electricity grids
At a time when the conversation in the UK is al about shortages of salad ingredients, it is pleasing to see that Grow Up Farms, a pioneer of vertical farming, has landed a contract to sell red and green salad mix bags in selected Iceland stores. I worked with this company in their early days, … Read More
DRS/UK Net Zero Review/vanadium flow batteries & focus on long term energy storage
Re-reading this week’s ‘bits, it occurs to me that if the Government were to implement enough of the recommendations of Chris Skidmore’s review, we would be a lot less likely to suffer disasters such as British Volt. COMPANY NEWS Lightsource bp closes first tax equity deal with Wells Fargo for 481 megawatt solar portfolioLightsource bp … Read More
recycled yarn/v2g/pumped hydro/microalgae & focus on electric planes
I have had to add another section this week entitled “UK Politics”, for rather obvious reasons. I sincerely hope this is a temporary addition. Maybe you could cheer yourselves by watching a recommended documentary on the bbc about oil flaring, called “Under Poisoned Skies”. Not exactly cheerful, but watch it HERE COMPANY NEWS Gresham House … Read More
waste-to-H2/composite sleepers/China ETS/cotton & focus on ESG Invsting
“Perfect is the enemy of good” was a quote attributed to Voltaire. Maybe he was dreaming of the Chinese ETS when he said it. UK news 40 waste-to-hydrogen refuelling stations planned for the UKElement 2 and Ways2H have joined forces to deliver as many as 40 waste-to-hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK as part of … Read More
heat network/circular fashion/CCUS/hydrogen
Celebrating the UK’s first new coal mine for 30 years?? Company news Total to buy 1,600 Source London EV chargepoints from BolloréFrench utility Total is set to acquire a major electric vehicle chargepoint network from the Balloré Group.The 1,600 strong Source London network, which partners with around 20 London Boroughs, was launched in 2010 by … Read More
Wind/hydrogen/plastics recycling & focus on mini-grids
Contrary to some of the “green critics” mentioned in the Titbit below, I think it is right that the EU is supporting both Green and Blue Hydrogen. Blue Hydrogen can be produced in a zero carbon, or even carbon positive fashion provided some biogas is included in the mix, an easy fix in countries with … Read More