April 12 NEC Energy News
¶ “UK Renewable Boom Plunges Electricity Prices” • Wholesale electricity prices in the UK fell sharply in the first quarter of 2024 due to a significant increase in renewable energy production, as reported by Montel EnAppSys. The average prices dropped by 22% compared to the previous quarter, with average day-ahead prices close to £64.50/MWh. [Energy Live News]
¶ “Yucca Mountain Is Back; Nevadans Are Mad” • Lawmakers are digging up a zombie of a plan: storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, a long-contested site in Nevada. One US lawmaker said, “Opposition has inhibited congressional appropriations and driven the executive branch to dismantle what has otherwise been a technically successful program,” [Politico]
¶ “Small Modular Reactors Don’t Add Up As A Viable Energy Source” • The nuclear industry has been offering so-called Small Modular Reactors as an alternative to large reactors as a possible solution to climate change. However, when evaluated on the basis of cost per unit of power capacity, SMRs will actually be more expensive than large reactors. [Impakter]
¶ “A New Dawn For Solar Cells: 190% Quantum Efficiency Is Possible” • The Shockley-Queisser limit refers a theory about an upper limit of PV technology efficiency. The limit is now thought to be 33.7%. But Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems achieved 47.6%, and they are still working to improve efficiency. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Quinbrook Closes First Stage Of 2-GWh Supernode Battery Project” • Quinbrook Infrastructure is building the A$325 million ($212 million) first stage of its Supernode project in southeast Queensland. It is to host a battery energy storage system of up to 800 MW and 2,000 MWh to support a data center and provide grid services. [pv magazine Australia]
¶ “Environmentalists Protest As Biden Administration Approves Huge Oil Export Terminal Off Texas Coast” • In a move that some call a betrayal, the Biden administration has approved the construction of a deepwater oil export terminal off the Texas coast that would be the largest of its kind in the US. It will be able to ship 2 million barrels of crude oil per day. [ABC News]
¶ “US Community Solar Developer Nexamp Raises $520 Million to Accelerate Deployment” • Nexamp, a developer and operator of distributed solar with storage, announced that it raised $520 million. Proceeds from the financing are to accelerate growth as the company expands into new markets and builds its renewable energy and storage capacity. [ESG Today]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.