Blogs

FERC, NARUC Want Utility Workers Designated as ‘Essential’

By District Energy posted 4 days ago
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Power Magazine Summary Two agencies aligned with the power generation industry, including the group representing state public service commissioners who regulate utility services, including energy, telecommunications, and water, are asking state regulators to designate utility company workers as essential to the nation’s critical infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) on March 26 said they would partner in their response efforts to the coronavirus outbreak, working together to ensure the reliability of U.S. electricity transmission ...
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50 million lost power in 2003 blackout, but what if our energy had been locally produced?

By District Energy posted 4 days ago
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Sudbury.com Summary Imagine you are producing renewable energy on your home, and your neighbours are too. When you produce extra, you can sell energy to a neighbour. When you need a bit extra, they can sell some to you.   You help power your neighbourhood community centre, hospital and school, and make sure the lights stay on in a blackout.  This is the reality for residents that are part of the Brooklyn microgrid, and it could be the future of energy here in Greater Sudbury as well, if we choose. Greater Sudbury’s draft Community Energy and Emissions Plan sets out actions to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. They include establishing ...
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Empower Sterilizes its 79 Plants and Customer Service Centres

By District Energy posted 4 days ago
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Zawya Summary Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, conducted a massive campaign to sterilize its 79 plants, and Customer service centres across Dubai, using sustainable and eco-friendly methods, as a precautionary action to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus (covid-19). "We have harnessed all the resources available to support the preventive actions aimed at guaranteeing the health and safety of community and individuals. This move demonstrates our commitment and solidarity to the efforts to get out of this crisis", said Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO of Empower. He clarified ...
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A Resilient Pack: Keeping Our Facilities ‘Healthy’

By District Energy posted 4 days ago
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NC State Summary With a fraction of its staff, Energy Systems continues to provide round-the-clock utility and facilities operations to hundreds of campus buildings. The need for energy and operation of essential systems never stops, and NC State’s campus is no exception. With a fraction of its staff, Energy Systems continues to provide round-the-clock utility and facilities operations to hundreds of campus buildings while also monitoring for emergencies and reducing energy use in unoccupied buildings. “Our main focus is to sustain reliable service,” says Claire Stevens, an engineer for the central utility plants on campus. The utility plants are ...
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Reviewing Ikea’s geothermal chiller

By District Energy posted 4 days ago
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Canadian Consulting Engineer Summary In 2011, furniture retailer Ikea commissioned and implemented a frictionless magnetic levitation (maglev) centrifugal chiller to heat and air-condition a major distribution centre in Brossard, Que., by means of geothermal energy. The system achieved unprecedented energy efficiency for the facility, reduced its carbon footprint significantly and provided low-maintenance, highly reliable, silent operation. The distribution centre comprises a 79,750-m 2   warehouse and 1,641-m 2   single-story office complex. In the warehouse, where the roof height varies from 10 to 15 m, the geothermal heating and cooling system is ...
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EU Green Recovery is Now Needed to Restart Europe

By District Energy posted 5 days ago
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Reve Summary 31 organisations from Europe’s electricity, heating, cooling, building and transport sectors called on the European Institutions today to stick firm to the European Green Deal objectives. And to restart Europe’s economy after the COVID-19 crisis by placing renewable energy and energy efficiency at the core of the EU Recovery Plan. The EU Heads of State and the European Commission have already stated that Europe should prepare a Plan to get back to normal functioning with sustainable growth, based on the green transition and the digital transformation, as a guiding principle. The renewable energy and energy efficiency technology industries ...
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Capstone Turbine Partners With The New York Power Authority And Brenmiller Energy On A Groundbreaking Zero Carbon Thermal Energy Storage Project For A College

By District Energy posted 7 days ago
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Associated Press Summary Capstone Turbine Corporation (  www.capstoneturbine.com  ) a leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, announced today that it has partnered with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Brenmiller Energy on a groundbreaking thermal energy storage project for Purchase College, State University of New York (SUNY). The project received a one million dollar grant from the Israel-United States Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation to investigate low emission thermal energy storage as a means to increase the efficiency of standard combined heat and power (CHP) systems. The installation ...
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Here's What Colleges and Universities Can Do to Help Their Communities

By District Energy posted 7 days ago
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Amanpour and Company - AirDate March 24, 2020 Summary Across the globe, schools and universities have been forced to shut their doors to protect students and teachers and to slow the spread of coronavirus. But could they play a vital role in defeating COVID-19? Tufts University has transformed parts of its campus into a military-style hospital to treat the infected, and students are now using their skills to support the healthcare system. Walter Isaacson speaks with the university’s president, Anthony Monaco, about their efforts. #News #MemberNews #Tufts #COVID-1
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Heat network could reduce carbon emissions from Worthing’s civic buildings

By District Energy posted 11 days ago
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Worthing Herald Summary Authorities such as Worthing Borough Council have pledged to work towards carbon neutrality by 2030. One of the main challenges is to decarbonise heating for council buildings as this is responsible for 42 per cent of its annual carbon footprint. It is exploring the possibility of a heat network, sometimes called district heating, which involves a distribution system of insulated pipes that takes heat from a central source to a number of different buildings. The council has secured £93,400 of Government funding to carry out initial feasibility and study work around the possibility of a heat network for the Worthing ...
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EC gives green light to 77 mln euro investment in Sofia CHP plant

By District Energy posted 11 days ago
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SeeNews Summary The European Commission (EC) said it has approved an investment of over 77 million euro ($83.2 million) which will support the construction of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.  This will be a high-efficient plant for simultaneous production of heat and electricity, using fuel derived from unrecyclable municipal waste, the Commission said in a statement last week.  The investment, provided from the European Regional Development Fund, aims to upgrade the integrated waste management system in the city of Sofia. According to EC's estimates, when constructed, the plant will produce heat and electricity ...
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Slovenia exempts households, small firms from green power surcharge for three months

By District Energy posted 11 days ago
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Balkan Green Energy News Summary Slovenia temporarily freed small business customers and households from the obligation to pay for the support to producers of power from renewable sources and high-efficiency cogeneration. Additionally, the network charge has been significantly lowered, also as a response to the outbreak of COVID-19. As part of the emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus epidemic and maintain the financial stability of Slovenia, the new government suspended charging households and small enterprises for the support the state gives to producers of power from renewable sources and high-efficiency cogeneration. In the decree, ...
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Evoqua Names Bush Brothers & Company Winner of Third Annual Water Sustainability Award

By District Energy posted 11 days ago
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Valdosta Daily Times Summary Other finalists included IDEA Member Austin Energy Evoqua Water Technologies , an industry leader in mission-critical water treatment solutions, today named   Bush Brothers & Company   as the recipient of the 2020 Evoqua Water Sustainability Award. The award recognizes Evoqua customers for their excellence in water stewardship, including those using new or existing technologies in innovative, sustainable ways and companies that have made significant strides in water reduction. Bush Brothers & Company, America’s largest manufacturer of prepared beans, has been recognized for Evoqua’s annual award after demonstrating ...
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Empower Initiates Remote Work Policy and Ensures Uninterrupted Services to Customers

By District Energy posted 12 days ago
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Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing Summary Empower has launched a "remote work" initiative, in response to the preventive actions taken by the government, in order to ensure the safety of employees and customers as well as their families.  The initiative was launched as part of the concerted community efforts to reinforce the intensive precautions being taken in Dubai and all over the Emirates in the face of global developments related to the coronavirus pandemic. Empower confirmed that this precautionary measures will not have any impact in the level of service provided to more than  120,000 customers and beneficiaries in ...
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MRC Member Bloom Energy Among California Companies Helping to Supply Ventilators Needed in Coronavirus Fight

By Microgrid Resources Coalition posted 12 days ago
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Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times Summary Last week, Bloom Energy Chief Executive KR Sridhar realized his fuel-cell business could help alleviate the state’s critical shortage of ventilators. The San Jose company repairs and refurbishes the fuel-cell power generators it sells to large companies and nonprofits, and Sridhar saw similarities with ventilators, which help patients breathe. After speaking with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, Bloom Energy would embark on refurbishing the state’s supply of 200 older ventilators. The ventilators are especially crucial now in treating cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, because critically ...
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Empower Saves 326 Million Gallons of Potable Water in 2019

By District Energy posted 13 days ago
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Construction Week Summary The UAE’s  Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower)  has saved 326 million gallons of potable water in 2019, which is equivalent to the amount of water in 593 Olympic swimming pools. In comparison, Empower reported a total water saving of 305 million and 295 million of gallons of potable water in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The firm revealed the potable water savings to mark World Water Day, which is held on 22 March; to highlight the importance of fresh water; and to raise awareness regarding more than three billion people living without access to safe water. In 2020, Empower is focusing on its central promise ...
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Engie EPS Cites Earnings Uncertainty from Coronavirus. Sticks to Long-term Microgrid Strategy

By Microgrid Resources Coalition posted 13 days ago
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Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge Summary Engie EPS sees microgrids and energy storage as key to its growth, but expects a short-term disruption because its manufacturing facilities are in Italy, which has been heavily hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19). The technology division of France-based energy giant Engie issued the warning in its 2019 earnings results released March 19. The company reported 2019 revenues and other income of $21.6 million, up 29% year over year, with a 127% increase in its project pipeline. The 2019 growth stems from the company’s long-term strategic plan to pursue microgrids, energy storage and solar plus storage projects, according ...
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PG&E, SCE Abandon Big Microgrid Plans for Temporary Emergency Measures as Wildfire Season Nears

By Microgrid Resources Coalition posted 14 days ago
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Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive Summary California's plans to use microgrids to limit   the 2020 impacts of preventive power outages  will be delayed after utility solicitations revealed cost and deployment complexities. The top priority of a   California microgrid proceeding  is to reduce impacts on customers of the public safety power shutoffs (PSPS), implemented by the utilities to reduce wildfire risks. But bids in response to solicitations by the state's two biggest investor-owned utilities (IOUs) found only temporary microgrid deployments are financially viable and none will meet clean energy advocates' call for including customer-owned distributed ...
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Request for Information (RFI): The University of Washington Campus Energy Renewal Program

By District Energy posted 17 days ago
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Summary University of Washington Facilities is requesting information from Energy experts, and would invite any consultants, financial specialists, capital solutions providers, or other such professionals to provide your ideas and thoughts about our campus energy future. Detailed information is included in the attached RFI document. RESPONSES REQUESTED BY: APRIL 17, 2020 Questions and submissions should be sent to Facilities Procurement & Sourcing at uwfbuy@uw.edu. For more information,  visit the website.   #BusinessOpportunity #News #busines
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Request for Information: The University of Washington Campus Energy Renewal Program

By Jason Beal posted 17 days ago
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Summary University of Washington Facilities is requesting information from Energy experts, and would invite any consultants, financial specialists, capital solutions providers, or other such professionals to provide your ideas and thoughts about our campus energy future. Detailed information is included in the attached RFI document. RESPONSES REQUESTED BY: APRIL 17, 2020 Questions and submissions should be sent to Facilities Procurement & Sourcing at uwfbuy@uw.edu. For more information, visit the website
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Power Industry Weighs Impacts of Coronavirus

By District Energy posted 17 days ago
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Power Summary Utilities and power generators worldwide are altering their business practices and developing strategies for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s particularly critical for the power industry, as a reliable supply of electricity is essential to prevent even more economic disruption. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lists utilities among the 16 industries that the agency considers critical infrastructure sectors, including power plants, dams, and nuclear reactors, along with transmission systems. The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the leading utility trade group, in a   recent memo to its members   said as many as 40% ...
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