Author: Anela Dokso

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has named Daniel Beckley as associate laboratory director for Facilities and Operations. Beckley, who has been leading NREL’s facilities and operations in an acting capacity since January 1, 2020, will oversee a directorate that includes the laboratory’s Site Operations; Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality; Information Technology; and Security and Emergency Preparedness organizations. “Dan’s expertise encompasses a deep background in many of NREL’s core program areas. His leadership in this role will help us ensure that we continue to have, and grow, the world-class facilities and operations necessary to support…

Subsea 7 has secured a sizeable contract, worth between $50 million and $150 million, for the installation of the submarine cable system on an offshore wind farm project in Taiwan. Project engineering will start immediately at Seaway 7, a unit of Subsea 7, in Leer, Germany and in Taipei, Taiwan. Offshore activities are expected to begin in 2023. The contract is subject to a final investment decision by the client and Subsea 7 will record the contract in backlog once that decision has been made. The company did not disclose the name of the client nor the name of the project.

SunPower Corporation and Enphase Energy have agreed a strategic partnership to produce the new Enphase Energized Maxeon AC Module, featuring a factory-integrated seventh-generation Enphase IQ microinverter. The AC Module will be commercialized by Maxeon Solar Technologies, the planned spin-off from SunPower, to residential customers in key international markets through authorized installer networks and distributors starting in the fourth quarter of 2020. Enphase IQ 7 series microinverters leverage Enphase’s software-defined architecture and semiconductor integration, simplify solar installations and provide a complete AC solution that produces no high-voltage DC, delivering a safe solar solution for homeowners. In addition, the AC Module will…

Wave Energy Scotland (WES) has awarded around £1.4 million in funding for four projects aimed to bring down the cost of wave power. The teams have secured funding to develop quick connection systems to improve the installation efficiency and infrastructure of wave power devices. Apollo’s PALM connector uses a passive locking mechanism that provides the connection and load transfer between the wave energy convertor (WEC) and its moorings. This function is purely mechanical and requires only the input of a suitable deck winch on the installation vessel. Blackfish Engineering Design’s C-DART provides a remote installation system for a WEC or…

Tidal energy company Nova Innovation has secured the second contract with Wave Energy Scotland (WES) to deliver its subsea electrical connector. Nova’s MECmate product, a connector linking subsea cables and/or devices, is tailored to meet the demanding requirements of the marine energy environment. This contract award follows the successful delivery by Nova of its previous project with WES. “We are delighted to work with Wave Energy Scotland to deliver a subsea electrical connector to be used by clients in marine energy, floating offshore wind, oil & gas, and aquaculture. As a marine energy developer ourselves, we know the critical importance…

Four projects that span four states will get nearly $4.4 million in funding from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO). The funding is a part of the $54.5 million investment in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research and development projects announced by Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette. Projects selected are receiving Phase II Release 2 grants for innovations that demonstrate technical feasibility during the first phase of their research. WPTO will fund the following companies and projects: Pliant Energy Systems (Brooklyn, NY): This project plans to harness the kinetic…

Solar Alliance Energy has launched a new solar charging station for robotic lawnmowers, the Powershed.  Powershed is a new product that allows you to cut the cord and place a robotic mower anywhere the sun shines. Solar Alliance developed the design in cooperation with a researcher from the University of Tennessee and a provisional patent application has been filed with the U.S. Patent office, which provides intellectual property protection pending a full patent application. The first Powershed unit has been installed at the University of Tennessee and is currently operating. “As an innovative provider of solar energy solutions, we are excited to launch…

Cargill is expanding its portfolio with ten new global renewable energy projects, most of which will be online in the next year. Cargill currently uses 15 different renewable energy sources around the world, including wind and solar power. These renewable energy projects represent a vital component of Cargill’s expanding renewable energy portfolio and progress against its climate commitment to reduce 10% of its overall greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 2025, against a 2017 baseline. This is in addition to its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its global supply chains by 30% per ton of product by 2030, also…

Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) and OGUK have signed a reciprocal membership agreement to reflect the aligned goals of supporting the energy industry to achieve net zero emissions. AREG, the membership body for renewable energy in the north east of Scotland, and OGUK, the trade body for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry, will work closely on low carbon project opportunities and promote the work of members within their organizations. Jean Morrison, chair of AREG, and Deirdre Michie, chief executive OGUK vowed to share resources and market intelligence to deliver a sustainable transition to a lower carbon future. “There…

Researchers from UNSW Sydney have secured more than $4.9 million in Australian Research Council (ARC) funding for development of the ARC Training Centre for The Global Hydrogen Economy. The UNSW project, which was awarded funding over five years, will engage Australia’s best researchers to develop hydrogen technologies and innovations to aid the world’s transition to renewable energies. The announcement follows the recent launch of the Hydrogen Energy Research Centre at UNSW. Joint project leads for the new ARC Training Centre, Scientia professor Rose Amal and professor Kondo-Francois Aguey-Zinsou, will bring together global research institutions, industry partners, government agencies and hydrogen…