Off Grid

Rwanda's energy ambition received a boost this week following an endorsement of a financial instrument by the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance that will accelerate the deployment of solar home systems.

BHP Billiton plans to replace gas with renewables power to its 1.2 million tonnes-a-year Escondida copper mine in Chile.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019 rewards the development of the lithium-ion battery. This lightweight, rechargeable and powerful battery is now used in everything from mobile phones to laptops and electric vehicles. It can also store significant amounts of energy from solar and wind power, making possible a fossil fuel-free society.

GE Renewable Energy has signed an onshore wind contract with EDF Renewables in Brazil. This deal for GE's Cypress platform — the company's largest onshore wind turbine — is also GE's first contract with EDF Renewables in the country. GE will be responsible for the production and delivery of 25 turbines, that will operate at 5.3 MW.

The Asian Development Bank signed a $37 million loan agreement with Da Nhim-Ham Thuan-Da Mi Hydro Power Joint Stock Company to provide funding for installation of Vietnam's first floating solar power plant.

The ground-breaking aggregated power purchase agreements will see the pioneering universities buy £50m of renewable energy from a portfolio of wind farms. The deal fixes power prices at a competitive rate for the next ten years - and in doing so, minimises their exposure to market volatility.

​Horizon Power to become first utility in Australia to remove parts of its overhead network and replace it with an off-grid renewable energy power solution.

H&M is not far from achieving their goal to only use renewable electricity in their own operations, which stands for 96% today, or reducing the energy used per square meter by 25% before 2030. But working on energy transition and energy efficiency is not enough if a broader perspective to the business is not taken.

The new IDTechEx report, "Solar Cars, Buses, Trucks, Trains 2020-2030" explains how we even have energy-positive electric vehicles now. This is leading to dual functions with considerable benefits to society and paybacks.