Xcel to eliminate GHGs from electricity mix
US utility Xcel Energy plans to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from its electricity system by the middle of the century.
The company today said it will deliver 100pc carbon-free electricity by 2050, while slashing its greenhouse gas emissions 80pc from 2005 levels by 2030, in the eight states it serves. The new goals replace a previous commitment the company made to cut its emissions by 60pc by retiring coal-fired generation and investing in new renewable energy and efficiency projects.
"This is an extraordinary time to work in the energy industry, as we are providing customers more low-cost clean energy than we could have imagined a decade ago," Xcel chief executive Ben Fowke said.
Fowke said the company would likely meet its goals through a mix of new renewable energy resources, energy storage and technologies that may not yet be cost effective or commercially available.
"We are starting this conversation today to make sure we can achieve this groundbreaking transition while continuing to keep energy affordable and reliable for customers," he said.
The company is already moving ahead with plans to retire some of its coal-fired generation in Colorado, while adding about 2GW of renewables there. It also plans to retire coal units in other states including Minnesota and is looking into using nuclear in support of wind and solar.
Xcel says it has already reduced its GHG emissions by about 35pc, down to about 60mn short tons last year.
Renewable energy, mostly wind power, generated about 27pc of the 100mn MWh of electricity Xcel delivered to customers in 2017. That share was projected to increase to 48pc by 2022 in the company's most recent corporate sustainability report, published in May. Nuclear power provides about 13pc of generation in 2017 and is projected to stay there in 2022. Coal made up 37pc of the mix last year, down from 56pc in 2005, and is projected to drop to 27pc in four years.
Clean energy advocates praised the company's announcement
"Xcel's commitment today promises to cut CO2 pollution across a wide swath of the central US. It is a huge step towards a future where we are safe from climate change, have clean air to breathe, and have the economic advantages — and jobs — that the deployment of clean energy will bring," Environmental Defense Fund president Fred Krupp said.
Xcel made the announcement in Denver, joined by Colorado's next governor, Jared Polis (D), who wants the state to transition to 100pc renewable energy by 2040. Polis said the announcement by Xcel, along "strong climate goals" set by a number of the state's cities, "shows we are leading the way forward right here in Colorado."
Colorado accounts for about 33pc of Xcel's retail load.
The state already requires Xcel to use renewables for 30pc of its electricity. Earlier this year current governor John Hickenlooper (D) signed into law a bill directing regulators to set mandates for energy storage.
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UN eyes policy crediting for carbon markets
UN eyes policy crediting for carbon markets
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Japan’s Chugoku delays Shimane No.2 reactor restart
Japan’s Chugoku delays Shimane No.2 reactor restart
Tokyo, 30 April (Argus) — Japanese utility Chugoku Electric Power has postponed the restart of its 820MW Shimane No.2 nuclear reactor in western Japan's Shimane prefecture from August to December, as reinforcement works are taking longer than expected. The reinforcement works are taking longer, as the utility is also conducting facility inspections to prepare to reactivate the reactor after an extended closure since January 2012 for stricter nuclear safety inspections, said Chugoku on 30 April. Chugoku previously planned to complete the reinforcement works in May , but has now postponed this to October. The utility had aimed to begin normal operations at the reactor in September , but has now delayed it to January 2025. Chugoku had previously modified the restart schedule multiple times . The return of the Shimane No.2 reactor could have helped Chugoku reduce its reliance on thermal generation fuels including oil, LNG and coal, especially during the peak power demand season of summer. Chugoku is currently building the 1,373MW No.3 reactor at Shimane, aiming to complete its safety-enhanced construction sometime during April-September 2025. The company has filed an application with the Nuclear Regulation Authority for a safety screening of the No.3 reactor. Its 460MW Shimane No.1 reactor was scrapped in April 2015. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Gas-fired units win Japan's clean power auction
Gas-fired units win Japan's clean power auction
Osaka, 30 April (Argus) — A planned 10 gas-fired generation units have won Japan's first long-term zero emissions power capacity auction, with the awarded capacity totalling nearly 6GW, or auction volumes sought for the first three years of the programme. Japan launched the clean power auction system from the April 2023-March 2024 fiscal year, aiming to spur investment in clean power sources by securing funding in advance to drive the country's decarbonisation towards 2050. The auction generally targets clean power sources — such as renewables, nuclear, storage battery, biomass, hydrogen and ammonia. But the scheme also applies to a new power plants burning regasified LNG as an immediate measure to ensure stable power supplies, subject to a gradual switch from gas to cleaner energy sources. The first auction held in January saw 10 new gas-fired units with a combined capacity of 5.76GW secure the funding of ¥176.6bn/yr ($1.12bn), the nationwide transmission system operator Organisation for Cross-regional Co-ordination of Transmission Operator (Occto), which manages the auction, said on 26 April. All winners can receive the money for 20 years through Occto, which collect money from the country's power retailers, although they need to refund 90pc of other revenue. Winners with a new gas-fired project should start commissioning their plants within six years and then begin refurbishment work to introduce clean fuels and technology within 10 years after commissioning. This means all the projects selected in the 2023-24 auction need to start operations by the end of 2030-31. Hokkaido Electric Power previously planned to begin operations of its Ishikariwan-Shinko No.2 gas-fired unit in December 2034 but it has advanced the start-up to 2030-31. Japan has secured a total of 9.77GW net zero capacity through the 2023-24 auction. Contract volumes include 1.3GW of nuclear, 1.1GW of storage batteries, 770MW for ammonia co-firing, 55.3MW hydrogen co-firing, 199MW biomass and 577MW of hydroelectric power projects, along with the 5.76GW of gas-fired projects. By Motoko Hasegawa Japan 2023-24 decarbonisation power capacity auction result Winner Power plant MW* Planned start-up Hokkaido Electric Power Ishikariwan-Shinko No.2 551 FY2030 Tohoku Electric Power Higashi Niigata No.6 616 FY2030 Kansai Electric Power Nanko No.1 592 FY2029 Kansai Electric Power Nanko No.2 592 FY2030 Kansai Electric Power Nanko No.3 592 FY2030 Chugoku Electric Power Yanai new No.2 464 Mar '2030 Tokyo Gas Chiba Sodegaura Power Station 605 FY2029 Osaka Gas Himeji No.3 566 FY2030 Jera Chita No.7 590 FY2029 Jera Chita No.8 590 FY2029 Total gas-fired capacity 5,756.3 Source: Occto, Argus * Sending end capacity Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
APLNG's Jan-Mar output higher: Origin
APLNG's Jan-Mar output higher: Origin
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