Canada Opens First Carbon-Capture Coal Plant
Canada recently opened its first large-scale power plant that will burn coal while reducing carbon emissions by 90 percent, as the country aims to continue fossil fuel utilization without worsening global warming. The 110-megawatt Boundary Dam power plant will cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 1 million metric tons annually, by trapping it and pumping it underground. Carbon capture and storage, or CCS, is expected to play a key role in meeting power demand without contributing to climate change, says the International Energy Agency.
91 New Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems Launched in 2013-2014
Navigant Research has released a new report stating that between January 2013 and September 2014, 91 new grid-scale energy storage systems were either announced or launched. The total capacity is 362.8 megawatts. Lithium-ion technology was the leading technology, while flywheels and flow batteries are also merging as other options for storing electricity produced by renewable energy systems. A separate Navigant research report found that the market for grid energy storage and support services will boom in the next ten years from $675 million annually to $15.6 billion.
Japanese Power Firms Move to Restrict Solar
Electric utilities in Japan are moving to put the brakes on the nation’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector as concerns mount that the addition of large amounts of solar power is creating oversupply issues for some regions while stressing the country’s decentralized power grid. Just recently, half of Japan’s 10 general electric utilities, which collectively accounts for roughly 50,000 megawatts, have announced that they would suspend reviews of proposals for new generation from clean energy producers or take measures that would ensure additional energy will not compromise their transmission and distribution systems.
Russian Oil Output Near Record as Sanctions Have Yet to Make an Impact
Russian oil production climbed to near record last month, an indication that the biggest source of revenue for the country has yet to be affected by U.S. and European sanctions. Russia increased output 0.7 percent to 10.61 million barrels a day. The figure is within 0.3 percent of the record in January. The U.S. and the European Union have targeted Russia’s oil industry by banning exports of some equipment and technology, blaming Vladimir Putin’s government for stirring a separatist insurgency in Ukraine, though Russia denied involvement. The impact on production will probably not be seen until next year, says oil and gas analyst Ildar Davletshin.
