Blogs

Renewable district energy: cities' first step towards decarbonisation

By District Energy posted 14 hours ago
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Phys.org Summary As sustainable energy moves up the political agenda, low carbon solutions for heating and cooling are coming to the fore. District heating in Dresden is turning greener thanks to the Innovation Power Plant Reick Decarbonization and efficiency of the energy production process is by far the most important step towards compliance with the Paris Agreement. Thus, in order to fulfill the  EU's climate and energy goals , the heating and cooling sector must sharply reduce its energy consumption and cut its fossil fuels usage. According to Eurostat's 2018 figures, 75% of the heating and cooling systems in Europe are still generated from fossil ...
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Europe's 'largest' power-to-heat facility opened in Berlin

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Priyanka Shrestha, Energy News Live Summary A new power-to-heat facility claimed to be the largest in Europe has been opened in   Berlin . Vattenfall   said the unit, which has a total capacity of 120MW, has been connected to the district heating grid at its   Reuter West power plant . It will produce and store heat from excess electricity, generated by renewable energy sources, with the installed capacity equivalent to around 60,000 household water boilers. It works like a continuous flow water heater that uses wind energy to heat water, with the water supplied to the district heating network or used for industrial processes. Full Article ...
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Creative Energy Expands Green Platform in Toronto

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Creative Energy, Globe Newswire Summary TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --   Creative Energy , which owns and operates one of the largest thermal energy networks in Canada, today announced that Diego Mandelbaum, an experienced mechanical engineer specializing in district energy, electrification and low-carbon energy systems across industrial, commercial and institutional buildings, has joined the company as Vice President, Business Development in its new Toronto office where he will lead Creative Energy’s growth and network expansion. Prior to joining Creative Energy, Mr. Mandelbaum was a managing principal for Stantec, an international ...
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3 Ways to Accelerate the Energy Transition

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Kim Fausing, World Economic Forum Summary We are running out of time to meet the Paris Agreement and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on sustainable energy – “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”. We therefore need to speed up, but how quickly can we deliver change? And at what cost? The longer we wait, the higher the environmental, economic and social cost. But the solutions that will enable the sustainable energy transition are ready. Now, it all comes down to scale and speed of the action. Here are three concrete ways to accelerate the energy transition. 1. The energy-efficient ...
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As Temps Rise, Europe Considers A/C. That Could Make The World Even Hotter.

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Naomi Snyder, Huffington Post Summary When Alison Fullerton and her husband Jay lived in Europe for three years, it was gripped by a series of summer heatwaves. The couple ― who have since moved back to Tennessee ― bought a cute, portable air conditioner they called R2D2 because their house in Stuttgart, Germany, had no air conditioning. “There was just an attitude that we all have to do our part to take care of mother earth,’’ Alison Fullerton said. “If we complained, they’d say, ‘It’s not bad. It’s only a couple weeks of the year.’ Americans want everything to be easy.” Much of Europe, especially northern Europe, is notorious for ...
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ConEd, 8 other utilities challenge Trump's energy rule, repeal of Clean Power Plan

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Robert Walton, Utility Dive Summary President Obama's Clean Power Plan garnered criticism for its reach, which went beyond individual plant upgrades and allowed generators to reduce emissions by adding renewable resources. The EPA argues that its new rule corrects regulatory overreach, but some utilities disagree. The fence-line interpretation of the Clean Air Act "excludes measures that EPA has historically allowed the power sector to use to reduce its emissions more cost effectively under both prior Republican and Democratic administrations, such as emissions trading, averaging and increasing generation from lower-emitting sources," the utilities   ...
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Achieving the EU's climate and energy policy objectives

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Lydia Woellwarth, World Pipelines Summary During the workshops, operators presented their strategies and plans to expand their gas infrastructure, which are aimed at achieving the EU's energy and climate policy objectives. The discussion on the search for optimal solutions in the long term was also focused on the importance of innovative technologies and the potential of renewable gases. “Natural gas is a source of energy that can be used efficiently for the purposes of energy transition. The demand for gas in Poland is growing. GAZ-SYSTEM has been increasing its availability by developing national infrastructure such as the North-South Corridor and the ...
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Local View Column: New developments present opportunities for energy efficiency, clean energy

By District Energy posted 2 days ago
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Eric Enberg, Duluth News Tribune Summary On Aug. 26, by a 7-0 vote, the Duluth City Council chose to move forward with the possible developments of housing on 10 acres at Enger Park Golf Course and 50 acres at the Lester Park Golf Course. These projects would be a great opportunity to create housing stock that is efficient, clean, and green. The City Council can insist developers of these public spaces take the following cost-effective actions. Councilors can insist on energy efficiency with the use of high levels of insulation, energy-efficient lighting and controls, and all-electric appliances. A firm stand must be made by the City Council that ...
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Empower CEO recognised for "pivotal role" in cooling sector

By District Energy posted 3 days ago
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Tom Oxtoby, MEP Middle East Summary Empower CEO Ahmad Bin Shafar has been honoured in recognition of his “pivotal role” in enhancing the district cooling sector in the Middle East, promoting Empower internationally, and supporting global drives towards environmental sustainability over the past 15 years. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Empower chairman, said the company’s human resources and leadership team, led by Bin Shafar, were driving forces behind the CEO’s success. “This recognition is a culmination of Empower’s efforts that have enabled it to become the world’s largest district cooling services provider, over the past 15 years,” said HE Al Tayer, ...
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Illinois marijuana growers will face energy efficiency and reporting rules

By District Energy posted 3 days ago
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David Thill, Energy News Network Summary The state law seeks to avoid blackouts and other grid problems when its marijuana law takes effect Jan. 1. When Illinois’ new law legalizing recreational marijuana takes effect Jan. 1, growers will face some of the strongest energy efficiency and reporting requirements in the country.  Marijuana can be an energy intensive crop. The new electricity load to power lighting, heating and ventilation for indoor grow facilities has strained the grid and even caused blackouts in other places after it was legalized. The Illinois law seeks to avoid those problems by mandating efficiency standards and capping the amount ...
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Take the IDEA Industry Survey

By District Energy posted 3 days ago
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We've got big plans for the future of district energy. But we need your help to implement them. Please take this brief industry survey so that we can better understand the topics and issues in district energy that are most important to you. Your feedback will help us develop conference programs and focus resources to continue informing, connecting and advancing the industry. While this survey will take less than 10 minutes of your time, your thoughtful responses will help shape our agenda for years to come. #News #MemberNe
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Empower ready to meet growing demand for district cooling services in hotels

By District Energy posted 4 days ago
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Tom Oxtoby, MEP Middle East Summary Empower has announced its readiness to meet the growing demand for district cooling services, especially in the hospitality sector, as the UAE outperforms key European markets in the number of hotel rooms under construction. Statistics shows that the total number of rooms currently being built locally, as of July, was 54,438. Empower already provides services to some 126 hotels in Dubai. Expo 2020 is expected to have a positive impact on the long-term growth rate of tourism in the UAE between now and 2023, and Empower CEO Ahmed Bin Shafar says he stands ready to meet demand. Full Article Continue Reading ...
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ENGIE enrolls Solent University in district energy scheme

By District Energy posted 4 days ago
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Sarah O'Beirne, Facilities Management Journal Summary Solent University’s new sports complex has connected to Southampton Geothermal Heating Company’s (SGHC) pioneering district energy scheme after signing a £2.8 million deal with energy and services specialist, ENGIE, over the next 20 years. The SGHC is a working partnership between ENGIE and Southampton City Council, launching more than 30 years ago.  The scheme supplies heat, chilled water and electricity to commercial and residential energy users across Southampton – currently serving a 2km radius of the energy centre. Users already included TV studios, a hospital, shopping centre, student accommodation, ...
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Electric Power Supply Association: PJM Policy to Add $5.7B Cost to Capacity Market? We Don't Think So

By Microgrid Resources Coalition posted 8 days ago
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Electric Power Supply Association Summary WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- The Electric Power Supply Association issued the following news release: Utility Dive recently published an article highlighting an August 2019 analysis released by Grid Strategies that found a strong application of the minimum offer price rule (MOPR) by FERC would increase capacity costs in PJM by $5.7 billion, or 60%, annually. However, a deep dive into the assumptions and methodologies used in the Grid Strategies report reveals significant flaws that lead us to question the integrity of the analysis. In addition, the analysis fails to consider the costs of the underlying subsidies at ...
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Where Does Our Garbage Go?

By District Energy posted 8 days ago
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Alexander Morse, Rockefeller Institute of Government Summary The United States produces more garbage today than it ever has. In 2015 (the most recent data available),   the US generated   more than 262 million tons of municipal trash, an increase of 4.5 percent from the 2010 annual total and a 7.8 percent increase from the 2000 annual total. Although a 14 percent population increase may explain increased rates of total municipal waste, the US rate of garbage per person per day exceeds peer countries. Collectively, the US generates about 4.5 pounds of garbage per person per day, which is 55 percent more than, for example, the   United Kingdom average ...
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Masdar and EDF to Establish Energy Services Company

By District Energy posted 8 days ago
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Energy Central Summary Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, and French low-carbon electricity leader, EDF, have signed an agreement to establish a 50:50 joint venture energy services company (Esco). At a special ceremony at the World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi, attended by Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi, chief executive officer, Aerospace, Renewables and ICT at Mubadala, and Marianne Laigneau, group senior executive vice president of EDF in charge of the International Division, the agreement was signed by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, chief executive officer of Masdar, and Valerie Levkov, EDF senior vice-president, ...
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World has to decarbonise, gas is the biggest challenge: ENGIE

By District Energy posted 8 days ago
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Hatem Hussein, Emirates News Agency Summary ABU DHABI, 12th September, 2019 (WAM) -- Energy providers need to adapt to a new decarbonised and digital world to successfully meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, said Dr. Michael Webber, Chief Science and Technology Officer of French energy group ENGIE. "ENGIE operates in almost 70 countries on 5 continents; so we have a global view. We sell gas, electricity and energy services, and believe that the world must decarbonise," Webber told Emirates News Agency, WAM. "We are rethinking the energy sector ... we have set decarbonisation as a priority; not only for the company but also for ...
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ASU completes $35 million in summer upgrades

By District Energy posted 8 days ago
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Arizona State University Summary While most students escape the summer heat to enjoy a much-deserved break, Arizona State University makes a host of needed enhancements to its campuses between May and August. By aligning the many departments that work to improve and repair campus facilities, classrooms, residence halls and laboratories, ASU successfully wrapped up nearly 150 projects totaling more than $35 million in investment to ready all campuses for the start of their 2019 fall semester. One of the projects included expansion of its CHP facility, a recent winner of ENR Southwest Project of the Year , designed to provide reliable power to the research ...
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Singapore Institute of Technology is to have a new smart campus

By District Energy posted 8 days ago
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Shamini Priya, Open Gov Summary There is a   new smart school campus   in town which is the first of its kind in South-east Asia to have a multi-energy micro-grid network. The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will be having a new campus which will employ technology and innovation methods for managing the energy needs of the campus. Construction works for this new campus follow a ground-breaking ceremony, on 10 September 2019, which was officiated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. It will rely on various energy sources to meet its energy needs. These energy sources include gas, electricity and thermal energy. These various energy sources ...
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Caton Towers Co-op Moves to Cut Carbon Emissions

By District Energy posted 8 days ago
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Sue Treiman, Habitat Summary Long after exploding toilets put Brooklyn’s   Caton Towers   in the news, the 283-unit cooperative is generating a new kind of excitement. Make that “cogenerating” it.  The co-op, located in the   Kensington   neighborhood, is installing a   combined heat and power   (CHP) system that will simultaneously produce electricity and hot water, saving energy and money while providing power back-up in an emergency. “It’ll offer payback along with resilience,” says the   En-Power Group ’s director of engineering, professional engineer   Amalia Cuadra , who oversaw this project.  The building-owned machine will generate enough ...
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