Stepping UP in 2021: #3 Sustainable electricity and corporates’ critical solar role
Despite the global Covid-19 pandemic and recession, corporate purchases of clean energy are booming. Several factors are driving this trend, including falling costs, a heightened appetite for sustainability among consumers and investors, and increased political will for net-zero development. In recognition of this, the UP Initiative spent Q3 2021 investigating sustainable electricity supply. How are PPA models evolving? What are the critical issues around residual energy? And how can greenwashing be avoided? Read on to discover more.
Microgrids: A solution for modern-day energy challenges
Interest in microgrids has been growing as the country and the world confront more frequent, extreme weather events and an increased urgency to consider alternative energy sources. Microgrids aren’t a new concept, but they’re fast gaining traction for a variety of organizations to address modern-day energy challenges.
Three solar installations to feed Meta data centers completed in Georgia
The three projects add 287 MW of solar energy to the Peach State, and bring the capacity of projects supporting Meta’s (Facebook) operations to 435 MW.
Li-Cycle to upsize Rochester Hub facility in face of growing demand
The facility will be expanded to process 35,000 tons of “black mass” annually, enough material for 225,000 electric vehicles.
How to balance Oahu’s renewable energy and agricultural needs
The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Dr. Matthias Fripp has released a white paper outlining what different land use scenarios would mean for the island in terms of land availability, total electric generation costs, and the overall design of the electric system on Oahu.
Record solar numbers expected this year but IEA highlights pricing concern
The Paris-based body expects the world will have installed almost 160 GW of solar this year, a record number, but still not enough to keep the prospect of a net zero global economy by mid century in sight.
Amazon procures over 1 GW of U.S. solar projects
The company announced 5.6 GW of solar globally. The first U.S. projects are planned for Arizona and Georgia.
American Battery approved to build battery recycling facility in Nevada
The facility will include a battery recycling building, an office building with laboratories, and a finished goods warehouse.
Ohio siting board approves 264 MW of new solar
Clearview Solar I and Ross County Solar are the state’s latest utility-scale project approvals with more expected.
Want faster decarbonization? Look to consumer action first, study says
The study by Brattle Group and Oracle found that consumer actions like adopting residential solar could cut emissions twice as much as utility action alone.
