Energy Management Articles
Corporate Clean Energy Buying Surged to New Record in 2018
Corporations bought a record amount of clean energy through PPAs, in 2018, shattering the previous record set in 2017, according to this column from BloombergNEF. Moving forward even at this accelerated rate, will RE100 companies meet their 2030 targets?
Business combine to cut emissions, save $19.3B
Ten years of the world’s biggest purchasers – including Bank of America, Dell, Kellogg Company, Unilever and Walmart – requesting transparency from their suppliers has triggered a step-change in environmental action, leading to 633 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions reductions and collective cost savings of $19.3 billion reported by over 5,500 suppliers in 2018.
C&Is in Illinois, Massachusetts lead with LEED
Illinois achieved the lead position on the U.S. Green Building Council’s 2018 list of Top 10 States for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The ranking of states based on the number of LEED-certified square feet per person placed Massachusetts in second place
Penn State to add 70MW offsite solar
Penn State announced the development of 70 megawatts of large-scale offsite solar to support the University's Strategic Plan, which cites stewardship of the planet's resources as a key priority. The project to install large-scale solar arrays will provide 25% of Penn State's state-wide electricity requirements over a 25-year term.
Kingston Technology plots solar + storage
Kingston Technology will add a 1.5 MW solar power and battery storage construction project at its corporate headquarters in Fountain Valley, Calif.
Mexico's Energy Market Reform: Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities in the Competitive Supply Market
Since Mexico instituted its landmark energy reform in 2016, businesses operating in the country have faced an equal amount of opportunity and uncertainty. As this white paper from Enel X explains, this access to third-party energy suppliers offers a significant opportunity--even as the competitive supply market is fraught with risk.
DHL expands green fleet with e-vans
DHL is preparing to roll out a new fleet of 63 electric delivery vans to serve U.S. markets as part of its mission to reduce emissions. The company has set a target of operating 70% of first- and last-mile delivery services with clean transport modes by 2025 as part of its longer-term corporate commitment to reduce its logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050.
Facebook, Google, Amazon lead RE procurements
Tech giants Facebook, Google, and Amazon are leading the charge for corporate procurement of renewables within the U.S., combining for market share of just over a third (35.1%). After announcing 1.5 GW of procurement in 2018, Facebook is the largest
Weekend reads: Lessons from the polar vortex; EV charging at the Super Bowl
Waiting for the Super Bowl to begin? Kick back and relax with these must-read energy stories from around the web:
ATL will offset emissions from Super Bowl air travel
For the first time, carbon emissions from Super Bowl fans’ air travel to the game will be offset. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Rocky Mountain Institute and The Good Traveler are partnering to offset the equivalent of 1,624 air miles for each of the 71,000 fan seats
BP to align strategy to Paris goals
The board of BP LLC agreed to back a shareholder resolution at its annual meeting later this year that will require the company will be required to fully adapt its business strategy to the Paris Agreement goals, including setting GHG reduction targets and linking results with executive compensation.
Shell acquisition shows EV focus
Shell New Energies US LLC has acquired Greenlots, a provider of EV charging and energy management software and solutions. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenlots will retain its brand identity and leadership team, functioning as the foundation for Shell's continued expansion of electric mobility solutions in North America.
Vatican Basilica to cut energy use by 90%
An energy efficiency program implemented in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter, a renaissance church located in the Vatican city, Rome, is expected to reduce energy use and costs by 90%.
Monetizing Energy Assets for Data Centers
Data centers are in demand as the growth of cloud computing and the subsequent challenge of powering big data has led to a data center construction boom. This white paper, presented by CPower, offers a complete guide to how these data centers can earn revenue with demand-side energy management.
Middlebury College premieres Energy2028 Plan
Middlebury College announced a commitment to power its core Vermont campus with 100% renewable energy by 2028. The College also set ambitious goals to reduce energy consumption, to phase out direct fossil-fuel investments in its endowment, and to create new educational programs and opportunities that will help empower future generations of environmental leaders.
Fujitsu develops blockchain-based exchange for electricity users
Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. announced that they have applied blockchain technology to develop a system for trading related to energy shortages and surpluses among electricity consumers, including factories and retail stores.
Amherst College aims for carbon neutrality by 2030
Amherst College announced the adoption of a Climate Action Plan that sets a goal for the College to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The plan was unanimously approved by the College’s Board of Trustees.
U.S. Climate Alliance up to 19 members
With the addition of New Mexico and Illinois, the U.S. Climate Alliance, a national coalition of states committed to reducing GHG emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement, now has a total of 19 members.
Why we’re putting 1.6 million solar panels in Tennessee and Alabama
Hundreds of engineers, electricians, and construction workers are building two new, energy-efficient Google data center campuses in the Southeastern U.S.—one in Tennessee and another in northern Alabama. As this blog post from Google notes, they are not stopping there.
Hershey begins goal-setting process
The Hershey Company announced a package of environmental initiatives and commitments, that includes joining the Science Based Targets initiative, a global effort that champions the latest in climate science to set science-based targets as an effective way to help companies transition to a low-carbon economy.
Corporations shatter record for clean energy PPAs
Corporations purchased 13.4 gigawatts (GW) of clean power through PPAs in 2018, more than double the 6.1GWs recording in 2017. The PPAs were signed by 121 corporations in 21 different countries, positioning corporates alongside utilities as the biggest buyers of clean energy globally.
Weekend reads: Top green companies; Horses & sheep in RE
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read energy stories from around the web:
Final agenda and opening keynote announced for 2019 Innovation Summit
Led by a trio of energy and sustainability experts from Merck, Smart Energy Decisions announces the final agenda, speakers, and confirmed sponsors for the 2019 Innovation Summit, an invitation-only event set for March 11-13 at the Houstonian in Houston, Texas.
Michigan’s first rooftop solar + storage premieres
Michigan’s first-ever rooftop solar array and battery storage system has begun operation at the Bridge Street Market and adjoining buildings within Circuit West, a 13-block district of Grand Rapids. The system includes nearly 1,800 solar panels accompanied nearby by a 500-kilowatt battery.
IKEA to open in VA with solar and EV
IKEA announced that its future Norfolk, Virginia store will be equipped with solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations when it opens this spring. This installation will represent the 56th solar project for IKEA in the U.S.
Facebook secures solar with back-to-back VPPA
Facebook has secured approximately 80 megawatts of solar power for its data centers through a VPPA signed by Digital Realty, which signed the deal with SunEnergy1, which has developed and will own and operate the solar project
What to Expect from Energy Markets in 2019
The energy markets are complex, and it can be difficult for large energy consumers to monitor the constantly changing energy world to determine how activity in the market could affect them. In their annual energy market outlook, Enel X North America’s Intelligence and Analytics team breaks down what large energy consumers need to know about the major developments set to take place in 2019.
Google signs its first clean energy deal in Asia
Google has signed a long-term PPA to purchase the output of a 10-megawatt solar array, part of a larger solar farm, in Tainan City, Taiwan, to power a data center located about 60 miles away in Changhua County. This represents the company’s first clean energy agreement in Asia.
Del Monte reports 18% reduction in carbon footprint
Del Monte Foods has reduced its carbon footprint by 185 from FY2016 to FY 2017. The announcement was made with the release of the company’s first sustainability report.
Brown to offset 100% campus electricity
Brown University announced agreements for two renewable energy projects that are expected to produce enough combined solar and wind power to offset all on-campus electricity use.
