Energy Efficiency, Solar, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  July 5, 2019

Holiday Weekend Reads: Freedom photons; The office of tomorrow

Need a break from family, friends and fireworks? Sit back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:

Diversifying the Northeast power mix: Is offshore wind + storage key to the region's reliability? (Utility Dive)  Offshore wind and battery storage are about to come into the Northeastern power mix in a big way. With more states requiring offshore wind targets, almost 18 GW are mandated to come online by 2035 in states across New England. But how that intermittent capacity will fit into an increasingly clean energy mix, how it will impact system reliability and whether the region's utilities are ready for more change, remains in question.

World's Largest Solar Power Plant Switched On (Forbes)  This is a headline you may well read more than once in the coming years. It is also possible that the subsequent world’s-largest-solar-plants may also be built not a million miles away from the current title holder. As of today, the Noor Abu Dhabi project with a total capacity of 1,177MW is the largest operational single site solar project in the world. It’s important to make the distinction between this and a ‘solar park’. These are essentially areas of land ear-marked for solar and often with ready-to-go grid connections, where multiple projects will be built under the same banner, but developed and financed individually.

Connectivity, Flexibility and Sustainability in the Office of Tomorrow (Commercial Property Executive) The modern workplace is rapidly evolving. Tenants overlook antiquated lobbies, outdated fitness centers and segmented office environments that discourage collaboration, and they search for next-generation workspaces. Today’s work environment focuses on creating a harmonious blend of open and private spaces that both encourage interaction and provide place for solitary retreat, experiential moments that draw a connection to the surrounding community and a sense of place, and sustainable features reflective of the environmentally conscious generation joining the workforce.  

The future of hydrogen: Researchers at Puu Waawaa ranch explore energy solutions (Hawaii Tribune Herald)  Tucked among the old-time paniolo ranches in North Kona is a cutting-edge ranch of a different kind. The Puu Waawaa energy ranch, the brainchild of visionary video-game developer and entrepreneur Henk Rogers, is an off-grid laboratory devoted to testing and developing renewable energy systems. Rogers, the founder of the Blue Planet Foundation, is pushing to make the state’s energy use 100% renewable by 2045, ending the state’s reliance on fossil fuels that Rogers says is acidifying the ocean and killing the coral reef.

Freedom photons because solar power is July 4 (PV Magazine)  Its quite easy to slip into philosophical thoughts when considering solar power. What is purer then living off of light? How much closer to the source of all that is could you make yourself? Maybe the Egyptians and their Ra were onto something…In the United States, we see polling regularly putting solar power related questions from 2/3 of Americans wanting a national new home rooftop mandate, to 89% wanting more solar farms. There’s not much in the world that polls at 89% outside of playing in the grass, puppies and kittens, and apple pie.

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