Pumped hydro storage project in Washington state – “As Washington state begins its transition to a carbon-free electrical supply, a new project under development near Goldendale has the potential to deliver an abundance of clean electricity to support the Northwest energy grid. This project already has the support of a wide range of stakeholders. The proposed Goldendale Pumped Storage Project, eight miles south of Goldendale next to the Columbia River, would create 1,200 megawatts of clean electricity to integrate into the existing power grid, as well as tap into and use power already being generated by the Northwest’s wind and solar-energy projects.” Source: Seattle Times
The issue with solar cars – Scrolling around google news and this excellent opinion piece by Brad Tempelton of Forbes came up. It details the issues faced by companies just slapping solar panels on cars to sell solar cars and how this practice can actually be less environmentally friendly than traditional cars. It’s worth a read for sure. Source: Forbes
Certification awarded for first solar-powered pool heaters – “UMA Solar and Techno-Solis were awarded the first OG-400 certifications for their solar swimming pool water heating systems from the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC)… The certification proves compliance with the ICC 902/APSP 902/SRCC 400 Solar Pool and Spa Heating System Standard… The ANSI-approved solar pool and spa heating system standard addresses minimum requirements for solar water heating systems designed for and installed in residential and commercial swimming pools and spas. Compliance with this standard will be required in the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. UMA Solar earned OG-400 certification for its Heliocol HC family of solar pool heating systems, which make use of its OG-100 certified HC unglazed solar thermal collectors. Techno-Solis’ Swimmaster family of solar pool heaters were awarded OG-400 certification. The collection features Techno-Solis’ C15T or C20T unglazed collectors that are also OG-100 certified.” Source: Solar Builder Mag
Carnival to introduce battery power on cruises – “Carnival Corporation today announced that its popular German brand AIDA Cruises has signed an agreement with Corvus Energy, the world’s leading marine battery supplier. The agreement, signed August 20, is another significant step in Carnival Corporation’s leadership in environmentally friendly ship design and operations.The installation and operation of lithium-ion battery storage systems onboard the AIDA Cruises fleet begins with the electrification of the first AIDA ship in 2020. The goal of the partnership is to – for the first time – allow for the practical use of electrical energy from battery storage systems onboard large cruise ships. AIDA’s pilot program in electrification will test the system’s use of stored battery power for emission-free ship operation for an extended period as well as to meet onboard energy needs. Following the pilot electrification program aboard an AIDA vessel, the effort will expand to Carnival Corporation’s popular Italian brand, Costa Cruises.” Source: Carnival
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Pumped hydro in the Goldendale area… would be less effective than first glance. Just 200 miles north also on the Columbia River… connected to the same transmission network as the proposed Goldendale facility is an existing pumped hydro facility that is often underused — or not used at all. Grand Coulee dam was constructed to provide irrigation for the Columbia River Basin. It has attached to it pumped hydro facilities that allows the pumping of water from the dam upto a reservoir that is used to feed the irrigation canals. Those same pumps were designed to be reversible and provide generation. It’s just not done… as a priority. But it already exists. No major capital spending to create a new facility.
East of the Continental Divide there is already a pumped hydro facility with nearly the same size as the Goldendale proposed site… Gordon Butte – its construction is to start soon – now that it has permits BUT it is awaiting commitment by the utility and transmission operators to buy in on allowing the storage and its use. It would also allow for build out of wind and solar… but this time in Montana where coal is still being used in power plants. The transmission lines that Gordon Butte would attach to….. well they feed energy back to Washington — the Puget Sound region.
The Goldendale project would buffer renewables possibly in California. The NW is becoming more interconnected in the scheduling of generation of energy and consuming loads and more of our utility and producers join the west coast energy imbalance market. California already connects with the transmission network near The Dalles with a HVDC system that is bidirectional — able to send energy from California to the NW. It sounds at first glance like a perfect match for the Goldendale facility until you realize that storing the California energy also competes with our ability to send our excess generation down south.