France has a new plan to embrace hydrogen energy

Angie Bergenson
Hydrogen energy - France Flag

New plan calls for the incorporation of fuel cells in various industries France has an ambitious new plan to make itself more environmentally friendly. Environment minister Nicholas Hulot has introduced a new plan that calls for the country to rely more heavily on hydrogen energy. The plan would have all of France embrace fuel cells in order to accommodate the demand for electrical power. France aims to be a leading fuel cell market The plan intends to make France a leader in fuel cell technology, which is expected to have…

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Renewable power capacity sets new record in 2017

Stephen Vagus
Renewable Energy Capacity - 2018 - Clover

Installed clean energy capacity reached 178 GW last year A record setting amount of clean power capacity was installed throughout the world in 2017, according to a report from REN21. The report shows that some 178 gigawatts of new capacity was installed last year. This represents the largest increase in clean power capacity ever recorded. Capacity is expected to continue well into the future as more countries begin to embrace renewable power. Solar saw significant growth in 2017 The report shows that solar saw the greatest increase in installed capacity.…

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Toyota has high hopes for hydrogen powered cars

Alicia Moore
hydrogen powered cars - Toyota FCV concept car

Automaker plans to increase production of fuel cell vehicles Japanese automaker Toyota intends to increase production of hydrogen powered cars. Currently, an estimated 3,000 fuel cell vehicles are sold throughout the world annually. Toyota believes that this number will rapidly increase due to the introduction of more efficient and affordable vehicles, however. As such, the automaker has set a goal of selling 30,000 fuel cell vehicles every year by 2020. Toyota is building two new production facilities To accomplish this lofty goal, Toyota is building two new production facilities in…

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Clean cars to again receive rebates in Texas

Tami Hood
Clean Cars - Highway in Texas

Texas brings back rebates to support clean transportation Texas has once again begun to offer rebates for those interested in purchasing clean cars. The rebates have been absent for nearly three years, which has slowed the growth of clean transportation in the state to some degree. Now, vehicles that make use of alternative fuels will be eligible for up to $5,000 in rebates. The state is hoping that the rebates will help accelerate the adoption of clean vehicles. Battery and fuel cell vehicles also receive federal subsidies Vehicles that operate…

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Bangladesh renewable energy market receives support from the World Bank

Erin Kilgore
Bangladesh Renewable Energy Market - Flag of Bangladesh

World Bank invests $55 million into Bangladesh The government of Bangladesh has entered into a new deal with the World Bank. Per the deal, the World Bank will provide $55 million to help expand the use of renewable energy in rural parts of the country. The Bangladesh renewable energy sector has been growing slowly in recent years, but new investments have been adding more momentum. The country is now working to bring clean power to rural communities in order to ensure they have reliable access to the electricity they need.…

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MidAmerican Energy to build new wind energy farm

Stephen Vagus
MidAmerican Energy - Building of Wind Turbine - Wind Energy

Utility will be able to sell 100% renewable energy to consumers for the first time MidAmerican Energy has announced plans to build a new wind farm. The wind energy system would allow the company to sell 100% clean power to its customers for the first time. The new wind farm is called Wind 12 and is estimated to cost $922 million to develop. The utility expects the new project to be completed at some point in 2020. New energy sources will help rates remain stable The majority of the cost of…

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Renewable power is making progress in the Netherlands

Angie Bergenson
Renewable Power - Windmils in the Netherlands

CBS highlights the growth of clean energy Renewable power accounted for 6.6% of all electricity generated in the Netherlands in 2017, according to CBS, the nation’s statistics agency. The Dutch government has been working to support clean power in recent years in order to combat climate change. Notably, biomass has played a major role in helping the Netherlands accomplish this goal as it has helped reduce the emissions produced by vehicles. Biomass has helped make transportation and energy production cleaner According to CBS,  solar power accounted for 30% of the…

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CEOG project uses solar power to produce hydrogen

Stephen Vagus
CEOG Project - Solar Panels

New project is the world’s largest solar-to – storage system HDF Energy, a hydrogen company based in France, has launched its new CEOG project. The project aims to become the world’s largest solar energy and storage plant. Instead of batteries, the project will use hydrogen as a form of chemical storage for the electricity it generates. The project will be built in three stages, with the first stage beginning this year as HDF Energy works to find a location for its new initiative. CEOG project will produce 50 GWh of…

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Partners Group invests in new Australian energy market project

Alicia Moore
Australian Energy Market - Investments

Equity firm invests more than $500 million into new project Partners Group, a private equity firm in Switzerland,  has announced that it will be investing more than $500 million to aid the development of the Grassroots Renewable Energy Platform in Australia. The project has a total capacity of 1.3 gigawatts.  This energy comes from a mix of solar and wind power, which will also be stored by and extensive battery system. The project is expected to add more momentum to the Australian energy market. Combining wind, solar, and batteries was…

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Electric cars could save California billions in storage

Erin Kilgore
Electric Cars - EV Charging

Study shows the financial impact clean vehicles could have on storage Electric cars could become a boon to grid operators in California, according to a study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The study suggests that these vehicles could help resolve the state’s “duck curve” problem. The problem involves a significant drop in energy demand during midday hours, followed by a dramatic increase in demand when the sun begins to set. Storage mandate is doing little to solve the duck curve problem State regulators had hoped to solve the duck…

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Bulgaria to build 10 new hydrogen filling stations

Bret Williams
hydrogen filling stations - pumping gas - green

Government program will help expand country’s hydrogen network The Bulgarian government has begun a new program that will help the country expand its clean fuel infrastructure. The program aims to develop 10 new hydrogen filling stations throughout the country by 2025. These new fueling stations will help ensure the adoption of clean vehicles in Bulgaria. Fuel cell vehicles could help reduce emissions There are no hydrogen filling stations in all of Bulgaria currently. The program is currently working to discover locations that would be ideal for such fueling stations. Bulgaria…

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Japanese government examines it’s Basic Energy Plan

Stephen Vagus
Basic Energy Plan - Examining the Facts

Government officials are determining the viability of new energy plan Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry is currently deliberating the viability of the government’s latest draft of its Basic Energy Plan. The plan aims to ensure that clean forms of power, such as wind and solar, play a major role in Japan’s future. Critics of the plan suggest that it does not establish a clear message concerning the government’s plans to support clean power in the future. Plan intends to ensure that clean power has a role to play…

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Toshiba and Iwatani aim to build a hydrogen supply chain for Japan

Angie Bergenson
hydrogen supply chain - map of japan - japan flag

Companies come together to expand access to hydrogen fuel Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation has launched a new demonstration project to establish a low-carbon hydrogen supply chain. The company has partnered with the Iwatani Corporation for this new initiative. A hydrogen production facility based in the Hokkaido Prefecture is at the heart of the new project. The facility produces a relatively small amount of hydrogen by drawing electricity from a local hydropower plant, which was constructed by Toshiba. New facility will be providing hydrogen to Toyota as well as…

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Toyota plans to ramp up production on fuel cell stacks

John Max
Fuel Cell Stacks - Toyota Symbol

Automaker will build new facility to mass produce fuel cell stacks Japanese automaker Toyota has announced that it will be building a new facility that is dedicated to the manufacture of fuel cell stacks. The facility is meant to help accommodate the rising demand for fuel cell vehicles. According to Toyota, mass production of fuel cell components will begin at some point in 2020. The company intends to deploy more than 30,000 fuel cell vehicles throughout the world in the coming years, establishing an even further lead in the clean…

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A new clean car is being developed by Honda

Tami Hood
Clean Car - Honda Dealer - Civic

Honda is working with China’s CATL to develop a new clean car Japanese automaker Honda has begun working on a new global partnership that could have serious implications for the clean transportation market. The company is reportedly working with CATL, the largest battery manufacturer in China to establish a new program. This program would involve the development of a new clean car that is based on Honda’s existing Fit model. The vehicle would be equipped with a battery system with a range of approximately 186 miles. Automaker has a lofty…

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Hydrogen research receives more support from the DOE

Stephen Vagus
Hydrogen Research - DOE Support

Agency is issuing more funding for promising hydrogen projects The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $3.5 million in funding for hydrogen research and development. The federal agency is looking to support projects that focus on using nuclear energy to produce hydrogen fuel. Such projects could optimize thermal and electrical energy production in the country and give nuclear power a way to help boost the expansion of fuel cell technology. The funding from the DOE is being issued through the agency’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office. Nuclear power…

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