Search
Comcast finishes planetary system installment for Washington DC center
"We are proud to be part of the lasting campaigns taking place throughout Washington, D.C. as well as will certainly remain to discover brand-new means to go
Feb 21, 2020 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Rooftop PV, USA, North America, Comcast, Mary McLaughlin, Mayor Muriel, Tommy Wells
Solar energy project to be explored at Washington Dulles Airport
large-scale 100-megawatt solar energy project on approximately 1,200 acres at Washington Dulles International Airport will be jointly explored by Metropolitan
Oct 7, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, USA, Dominion Energy, North America, large-scale solar, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Washington Dulles Airport, Mike Stewart, Keith Windle
Washington state reveals policies to guide utilities to carbon-free generation by 2045
Washington State Department of Commerce as well as the Washington Utilities as well as Transportation Commission (UTC) have actually taken on rules for
Jan 12, 2021 // Markets & Finance News, Policy, USA, Washington, utilities, North America, legislation, pacific power, avista, puget sound energy
Innergex’s 470-MW Solar Project Wins Key Approval in Washington
Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) has recommended Innergex Renewable Development's proposal for a 470-MW solar park with energy
Dec 2, 2024 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, USA, Washington, Innergex, North America, Benton County
Washington's 150-MW Lund Hill Solar Farm Now Connected to Grid
commercial operation of the 150-MW Lund Hill solar farm in Klickitat County, Washington. This is now the largest solar PV plant in the state, supplying Puget Sound
Mar 1, 2023 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, USA, Washington, North America, PV Power Plant
Sunnova Broadens its Solar and also Storage Solutions to Washington, D.C.
of consumer demand," said William J. (John) Berger, President of Sunnova. "Washington D.C. has one of the most enthusiastic renewable resource objective in the
Feb 12, 2021 // Residential, Storage, Battery Storage, International, Electricity, William J. (John) Berger, Sunnova Energy International, Michael Grasso
World’s Second-Largest Ferry Operator Switching From Diesel to Batteries
Washington State Ferries, which runs the second-largest ferry system in the world, is switching from diesel to batteries amid a growing trend toward electrification in shipping.
Ian Sterling, public information officer for Washington State Ferries, said the move would cut the cost and pollution caused by the current annual consumption of almost 20 million gallons of diesel across a fleet of 22 vessels ferrying 25 million people a year.
The government-owned ferry operator’s annual fuel consumption is on par with that of a "midsize airline,” he said, making it the state’s biggest diesel polluter.
Washington State Ferries is among the bodies mandated to strive for zero emissions under legislation introduced by state governor Jay Inslee, said Sterling. But the switch to batteries is "not just because the governor said [to do] it."
“This is a good idea because it quiets the boats [while] obviously removing tons of diesel fuel emissions. But even if you’re not an environmentalist, this is a good idea for the taxpayer because we expect it to pay for itself relatively quickly, based on the price of fuel. It saves millions of dollars annually.”
Washington State Ferries had looked at using hybrid or liquid natural-gas-powered vessels as far back as around 2012, said Sterling, but found the technology wasn’t mature enough. Now, improvements in battery technology coming out of the automotive sector are prompting a second look.
As a result, Sterling said people in Washington state would likely be riding on some sort of electric-powered ferry “in the next couple of years.”
Not as easy as it sounds
Nevertheless, it will take a long time to electrify the entire fleet because of difficulties in installing charging facilities and signing electricity supply agreements in some locations. Washington State Ferries runs services across most of Puget Sound, which covers more than 1,000 square miles.
The ferry operator’s electrification program will start with the most polluting vessels, three Jumbo Mark II ferries, which consume 5 million gallons of fuel a year between them and are soon due to have midlife propulsion system upgrades.
As part of the upgrades, each vessel will have two of its four diesel generators and locomotive engines replaced with battery systems supplied by Siemens.
Likely the first ship to undergo the conversion will be the MV Wenatchee, an iconic vessel that has appeared in TV series such as Grey’s Anatomy.
Switching the three Jumbo Mark IIs to fully electric operations would cut emissions by an estimated 48,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year, the equivalent of taking 10,000 cars off the road.
Meanwhile, Washington State Ferries is also initiating a new-build program for electric ferries that should see Olympic class electric-diesel hybrids entering operation three years from now.
The Washington State Ferries program will also require a major quayside electrification effort, with Seattle-Bainbridge Island and Mukilteo-Clinton likely to become the first routes with charging points at both ends.
Washington State Ferries was far from unique in moving away from diesel. British Columbia Ferry Services, a major private-sector operator, moved to liquid natural gas some time ago and is now eyeing electrification of its fleet, Sterling said.
Global trend
August saw the launch of the world’s largest all-electric ferry to date, a 200-passenger, 30-car carrying vessel called Ellen covering the stretch between Fynshav and Søby in southern Denmark.
And in July the U.K. government announced that all new ships ordered for its waters from 2025 onward would have to be equipped with zero-emission technology.
Citing data from the Maritime Battery Forum, Jostein Bogen, global product manager for energy storage and fuel cells at ABB Marine & Ports, said there are currently 101 battery-operated car and passenger ferries in operation worldwide, with a further 76 under construction.
“Ferry electrification is expected to continue growing in the future,” said Bogen. “We are already seeing numerous cases of application across Scandinavian countries, and the technology has now started spreading to other parts of the world as well.”
Recent ABB projects include the electrification of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration’s Landeyjahöfn to Westman Island ferry and a fleet of new Maid of Mist all-electric ferries to take tourists to the Niagara Falls, Bogen said.
“The main drivers we see are global and local emissions regulations,” he said. “Additionally, we see that public opinion is becoming a strong driver. There is an increased awareness about the importance of sustainable maritime transportation, including ferries.”
Dec 2, 2019 // Storage, Transport, USA, ABB, Washington, UK, Europe, North America, Ian Sterling, Washington State Ferries
Trina Solar Invests $400M in Vietnam Plant
increasingly turning to Vietnam to avoid trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Will Trina Solar Invest $1 Billion in Vietnam?
Trina Solar is looking to
Sep 27, 2023 // Manufacturing News, Asia, Trina Solar, Vietnam
DOE Awards $100 Million to Group14 Technologies for Battery Production
maker as well as supplier of advanced silicon battery technology based in Washington, United States.
According to the new law, DOE is deploying its first phase of
Oct 20, 2022 // Markets & Finance News, Storage, Joe Biden, Battery Manufacturing, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BAM-1, BAM-2, Battery Active Materials factory, Battery Materials Processing, Rick Costantino, Group14, Rick Luebbe, SCC55
Greenbacker Secures $75M to Power Solar, Storage Projects
includes 457 assets of power production capacity and storage in 32 states, Washington, DC, Canada and Puerto Rico.
How Much Funding Has Greenbacker Secured?
The
Aug 18, 2023 // Markets & Finance News, Storage, greenbacker
Qcells Sells 142-MW Solar Project to Puget Sound Energy
Hanwha Group, has transferred a 142-MW solar project in Garfield County, Washington, to Puget Sound Energy (PSE), the state's largest utility. The Appaloosa solar
Oct 2, 2024 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, PV Power Plant, Qcells USA
NorthRenew Sells 300-MW Hybrid Project to PacifiCorp
diverse mix of generating resources across western states including Oregon, Washington, California, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. This move further solidifies
Feb 21, 2024 // Plants, Commercial, PacifiCorp, NorthRenew
REC Silicon May Sell Montana Facility
— REC spent months warning of the shutdown of its polysilicon plant in Washington state before actually sandbagging it — the move shows the trade war isn’t
Oct 4, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Markets & Finance News, USA, China, Trump, Asia, North America, REC Silicon, Montana facility, James A. May
Sponsor protects concession for 50-MW solar project in Dominican Republic
Renovable BAS is an associate of California-based private equity fund Washington Capital Global Finance, which has existed in the Dominican market for over a
Jul 4, 2022 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, Dominican Republic, North America, Solar Project
Equinor examines developing solar project on Brazilian port
because 2014, the website was established by Prumo Logistica and is managed by Washington DC-based institutional capitalist EIG Global Energy Partners.
As formerly
Feb 4, 2021 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, South america, Brazil, Equinor, Solar Project