Bloomberg: Solar and Wind Just Passed Another Big Turning Point
Wind power is now the cheapest electricity to produce in both Germany and the U.K., even without government subsidies, according to a new analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). It's the first time that threshold has been crossed by a G7 economy. But that's less interesting than what just happened in the U.S.
To appreciate what's going on there, you need to understand the capacity factor. That's the percentage of a power plant's maximum potential that's actually achieved over time. For the first time, widespread adoption of renewables is effectively lowering the capacity factor for fossil fuels.
Washington Post: D.C. Mayor Reverses Course and Backs Pepco-Exelon Merger
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has agreed to back a $6.4 billion takeover of Pepco, the city’s electric utility, by Exelon, a Chicago-based nuclear energy giant, according to people close to the deal.
Bowser’s administration initially opposed the merger, which was turned down by District Public Service Commission in a unanimous decision Aug. 25. And her decision is sure to enrage environmentalists who rejoiced last month when District regulators surprised Wall Street and struck down the merger.
MarketWatch: Shell CEO to Call for Effective Carbon Pricing
The chief executive of oil firm Royal Dutch Shell PLC will tell a gathering of industry executives Tuesday that the world must find economic ways to reduce its dependence on the most polluting fossil fuels, calling on governments to institute an effective system for pricing carbon.
According to excerpts of Ben van Beurden's speech to the Oil & Money conference in London seen by The Wall Street Journal, the boss of one of the world's biggest oil and gas companies is promoting a carbon-pricing plan that will encourage investment in renewables and favor cleaner-burning natural gas over more carbon-intensive coal.
Radio Liberty: Hint Russia May Work With OPEC Sends Oil Prices Soaring
Oil prices jumped in world markets October 5 after Russia's energy minister over the weekend said Russia might attend an OPEC meeting to discuss the depressed state of oil prices.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told the Sochi-2015 international investment forum October 3 that Russia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries might organize a meeting between technical specialists.
"Russia is ready to participate in discussing the situation emerging in the oil and gas markets," he said.
PV Magazine: Enphase Partners With Genesis for NZ Storage Trial
Enphase Energy, the U.S. developer of microinverters, is set to trial launch its AC battery solution in New Zealand as part of a collaboration with Genesis Energy, the nation’s largest gas and electricity utility.
The partnership will see Genesis incorporate the modular AC battery as part of the Enphase Home Energy Solution, which will be offered to its solar PV customers.