Energy Management Articles
Digital Realty improves efficiency, achieves Energy Star
Digital Realty, a global provider of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions, announced it has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR® certification for superior energy performance in 24 data centers in 2018.
City of Philadelphia secures largest PA solar project
The City of Philadelphia has approved a 70-megawatt solar PPA in Adams County, Penn., to power government facilities in Philadelphia. The project is the largest in Pennsylvania by sevenfold, and a significant step toward the City’s clean energy goal of sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.
Toyota reports progress on Environmental Challenge 2050
As part of the release of Toyota’s North American Environmental Report, the company recapped a year of positive impacts it has made as part of the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, a long-term commitment to support and foster a more inclusive and sustainable society.
Mercedes-Benz signs Germany’s first PPA
Mercedes-Benz has signed a PPA to power its operations in Germany with wind, representing the first corporate renewable PPA signed in that country.
Webinar replay: Buyer aggregation - an emerging path for renewable energy purchasers
This webinar, sponsored by EDF Renewables, will provide an overview of the emerging trend of buyer aggregation. Not every major energy buyer is able to take down a significant volume of renewable energy to secure the lowest pricing. Enter the aggregation model
United Airlines to power flights with biofuel
United Airlines is expected to use biofuel created from a waste-to-energy plant for their planes.
Weekend reads: Ups & downs of clean energy; Utility grid of the future
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read energy stories from around the web:
Renewable Energy Purchasing vs. Climate Goals
While renewable energy goals are part of a very promising trend towards adding more renewable energy to the grid, this column by Neil Kolwey suggests setting a strong climate goal based on energy efficiency and more selective renewable purchases is a more meaningful approach.
Brandeis University upgrades with LED
Brandeis University has retrofitted a large part of its campus with LED lighting that is expected to reduce annual lighting costs by 78% for savings of about $32,000 per year.
Maersk to cut carbon emissions by 2050
Danish group AP Moller Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping company, has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Sustainable Energy Solutions for Corporations
From grid-scale renewable power purchases to on-site production, this white paper, presented by EDF Renewables, discusses sustainable energy solutions that businesses are forging across the value chain.
Verizon sets clean energy goal
Verizon has set a goal to reach 50% clean energy use by 2025. Now at 2% renewables, the company previously indicated that it would only go to 4% in the foreseeable future.
Intel signs 100 MW PPA
Intel Corp. has signed a PPA to provide 100 megawatts of solar power to the Intel Chandler-Ocotillo facility in Arizona. The 15-year agreement was signed with Salt River Project, a not-for-profit public power utility.
Norfolk Southern highlights efficiency achievements
Norfolk Southern Corporation announced it improved locomotive fuel efficiency by 5% in 2017 vs. 2016, conserving 23 million gallons of diesel fuel and avoiding more than 233,750 metric tons of GHG emissions.
University of Illinois to add second solar farm
The University of Illinois (UI) plans to add a second solar farm that is expected to help the campus meet its goal of generating 5% of its energy needs from renewable sources as part of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCap). The existing solar installation currently generates about 2% of campus use.
Bank of America commits to long-term RECs
Bank of America will purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated from the first commercial integrated solar-wind hybrid power generation project in the U.S., to be built in Minnesota.
Martha’s Vineyard to modernize with microgrids
The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority is implementing a plan to modernize its public transit system. The agency is currently replacing its fleet of 33 diesel buses with battery electric models
Collaborative Offsite PPA Structures for Renewable Energy Buyers
This white paper, presented by Schneider Electric, introduces the fundamental concepts of PPAs, examines the opportunities and challenges presented by collaborative smaller sized or aggregated transaction, and provides practical recommendations for buyers interested in pursuing these types of PPA structures.
Ohio trucking terminal adds microgrid
Pitt Ohio, a regional trucking and logistics company, will deploy a renewable energy microgrid at its trucking terminal in Parma, Ohio. The microgrid uses solar, wind power and battery-based energy storage to optimize on-site power and distribution for cost and reliability
University of Kansas signs wind PPA
The University of Kansas has signed a 20-year wind PPA to cover roughly 100% of its electricity needs. The agreement, signed with Westar Energy, will provide the campus with 31 MW from the 300-MW Soldier Creek Wind farm, which is expected to begin operations by the end of 2020.
Weekend reads: Green New Deal gains momentum; Beijing turns to solar
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read energy articles from around the web:
SED’s Distributed Energy Forum premieres in 2019
In response to growing interest in Distributed Energy Resources (DER) among corporate and institutional energy buyers, Smart Energy Decisions has announced the launch of an innovative new event focused on helping large electric power users understand the opportunity and offer a roadmap for success in the adoption of DER.
Chattanooga airport first to hit 100% solar
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport will become the first in the U.S. to run on 100% solar power.
University of Pittsburgh turns to hydropower
The University of Pittsburgh announced that starting in 2022, 25% of its electricity will be purchased from a new hydropower plant currently under construction five miles from campus. The announcement is part of the University’s plan to get the research institution to 50% renewable power by 2030.
Partners HealthCare adds fuel cell system
Partners HealthCare, an integrated health system founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, will deploy 4.1 megawatts of fuel cell-based energy systems at locations throughout Massachusetts.
The Invisible Enemy of Energy Management Programs (And 5 Steps to Beat it)
The efficiency you get out of your building today is rarely what your building is capable of. In this column, Sal Alhelo of JCPenney discusses the issue of efficiency degradation and how to avoid it in five steps.
Disneyland Paris considers solar plant
Disneyland Paris is considering building a solar power plant that would supply 15% of the electricity load for its site on the outskirts of the city.
200 MW solar allocated to Facebook data center
Facebook’s new data center in Newton County, Ga. will be supplied with 100% renewable energy, courtesy of contracts with two solar developers for three new solar projects.
Xcel Energy targets zero-carbon electricity by 2050
Xcel Energy announced it will deliver 100% carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050. The Minneapolis-based energy provider also plans to reduce carbon emissions in the eight states it serves by 80% by 2030 from 2005 levels in the eight states it serves.
Lowe’s signs first RE agreement
Lowe’s has signed the company’s first renewable wind energy agreement. The deal calls for 100 megawatts of wind, which is enough to power all 143 Lowe’s stores in Texas.
