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APAC shifting towards renewable energy auctions

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Asia Pacific (APAC) countries are adopting several strategies and roadmaps to achieve the renewable energy targets designated by their governments.

Countries such as India, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Taiwan have implemented auctions to drive their renewable energy market, according to GlobalData. 

The company’s latest report ‘Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Policy Handbook 2019’ reveals that regulatory framework and policies of the APAC countries are aiming to achieve a strong growth in the renewable energy market.

Piyali Das, Power Analyst at GlobalData, said: “Auctions are the major mechanism in APAC driving the renewable energy sources in most of the key countries, with India being the most prominent in implementing auction plans to award 80 gigawatts (GW) of solar and 28 GW of wind projects between 2018 and 2020.”

Feed in tariffs (FiTs) play a role in enhancing the renewable energy market in APAC. In countries such as Australia and India, FiTs to renewable projects is a provincial or state subject.

Pakistan has been providing FiTs in renewable sources such as solar, wind and small hydro since 2015. Taiwan provides FiT for renewable systems and is subject to annual revision.

Piyali concluded: “The regulatory framework and policy structure, supporting renewable energy resources in various APAC countries, has led to significant development in the renewable energy market. China, India, Japan are some of the leading nations in renewable energy growth trajectories. In the wake of growing energy security and environmental concerns, most APAC countries are expected to strengthen their renewable energy mechanisms, which will help the Asia Pacific renewable energy industry to maintain growth in the coming years.”

The Barbican now using 100% renewable electricity

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

The Barbican arts and cultural venue in the City of London says all its electricity requirements now come from renewable sources.

The switch to 100% renewable, which took place in the last quarter of 2018, was part of a wider City of London Corporation initiative to improve sustainability across the capital through the introduction of a 100% renewable electricity policy and sourcing strategy.

Members of the Barbican team were involved throughout the procurement and planning process to ensure not just value, but sustainability sat at the heart of the process.

The switch marks the latest action by the Barbican’s team in a sustainability drive that saw the venue crowned “Most Sustainable Venue” at the London Summer Events Show.

“The Barbican has been a strong proponent and supporter of all things sustainable for many years,” said the Barbican’s Head of Event Management, Lee Dobson. “We have won many awards over the years for our activity in this area and are delighted to have again been recognised for the environmental measures we are implementing.”

Key elements behind the Barbican’s latest award win were:

  • Ambitious targets for energy reduction: The venue is targeting a 40% reduction in energy usage by 2025, compared to 2008.
  • Zero waste going to landfill and extensive efforts to reduce single-use plastics from the venue. For example; in 2017/18 464 tonnes of waste was generated by the venue, which was accounted for as follows:

Energy from Waste 20%

Recycling 67%

Composting 13%

  • A Staff Sustainability Steering Group and competition to engage employees on sustainability issues for the venue, which have led to very high levels of engagement and involvement from the team in maximising the venue’s sustainability.
  • Extensive efforts to increase biodiversity with the introduction of a bee colony and works to the Barbican’s lakeside area including enhancement of reed beds and planters, much of which has been done as part of wider community engagement activity.

Lee added: “The Barbican will continue to strive for excellence when it comes to all areas of sustainability. As a leading arts and conference venue we sit at the heart of the community, providing a major facility where people can gather, share ideas and above all develop a legacy for the future. This legacy is a core part of our ethos, particularly those elements focused on the environment and community.”

Facebook inks virtual power purchase agreement for renewables

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Digital Realty has signed a virtual power purchase agreement on behalf of Facebook to support the social media giant’s renewable energy goals at data centre facilities.

Under the agreement, Digital Realty has executed a long-term renewable power purchase contract to secure approximately 80 megawatts of solar power capacity for Facebook.

Digital Realty contracted with SunEnergy1, which has developed and will own and operate the solar project, to be located within Virginia Electric and Power Company territory in North Carolina.

Under the terms of the agreement, all renewable energy certificates and environmental claims will be delivered to Facebook.

The partners say the agreement marks the first back-to-back utility-scale renewable energy transaction between a data centre provider landlord utilising a virtual power purchase agreement to underpin the renewable energy supply dedicated to a customer.

Digital Realty says it worked in partnership with Facebook to structure the transaction to align with Facebook’s quality standards for new renewable energy projects within the same power grid as the data centre load.

“Our scale and position as a leader in data center sustainability enabled us to execute this first of its kind agreement in support of Facebook’s sustainability goals,” said Digital Realty Chief Executive Officer A. William Stein. “Many of our customers have specific renewable energy requirements, and we work diligently to provide cost-competitive solutions tailored to their needs. We were able to take Facebook’s quality standards and timeline into consideration and deliver this solution in a competitive marketplace and at a competitive price. We are very pleased to be part of the solution enabling Facebook to achieve its renewable energy goals.”

“Facebook is committed to supporting all of its operations with 100% renewable energy and to improving overall access to renewable markets,” said Bobby Hollis, Director of Global Energy and Site Selection at Facebook. “We are thrilled Digital Realty has entered into this agreement and hope this will serve as a model for other colocation customers seeking to support their operations with high-quality, renewable energy projects.”

To-date, Digital Realty has contracted for approximately 745,000 megawatt-hours of renewable generation annually through long-term power purchase agreements, avoiding approximately 525,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

North East gets offshore wind VR training facility

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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A virtual reality system has been created at Newcastle College’s Energy Academy in Wallsend to help train future engineers in the North East region.

The Immersive Hybrid Reality (iHR) offshore wind training facility has been commissioned for the Great Exhibition of the North and has been delivered by Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapults, in partnership with Scotland’s Energy Skills Partnership, Heriot Watt University and Animmersion VR, to replicate working conditions experienced by wind turbine engineers operating on offshore wind farms.

The  VR technology allows users to locate and diagnose faults in a realistic and safe environment, helping develop the skillset needed for working within the wind industry.

The new technology part of a national initiative to create 27,000 skilled jobs within the the energy sector by 2030.

The Energy Academy opened in 2012 and has already trained over 1,200 students.

“The immersive Hybrid Reality installation at Newcastle College is a huge, innovative step in training and skills development for the next generation of offshore wind technicians,” explained Tony Quinn, ORE Catapult operations director. “We are delighted to see this project come to fruition as a dedicated training facility, provided by a high-quality education and skills provider here in the North East.”

Speaking at the Great Exhibition of the North, director of Business Partnerships Marc McPake said: “Newcastle College has always been aligned to North East LEP priorities and our training and development here at the Energy Academy is centred around the skills required by industry.

“Collaboration with employers is at the centre of everything we do and our partnership with ORE Catapult is a fantastic example of a relationship which will benefit our students and an entire industry.

“Technology and innovation are changing the future of education and training and we hope that this facility will create a lasting legacy by supporting the creation of highly skilled jobs and employment for our region.”