Please stay safe and healthy, wherever you’re reading this week.
The Renewable Oldies but Goodies: Hydropower & Geothermal
Like any new gadget, trend or song the latest and greatest are what people talk about. In the energy world, renewable energy has become the hip new item for the last few decades. For most people, wind and solar immediately come to mind, but renewable energy sources have been around for much longer than the last few decades. But, like your Spotify playlist, you never want to leave out the “oldies but goodies” — in the case of renewable energy, that’s hydropower and geothermal. The first hydropower dam was operational in 1882, while the first geothermal power plant came online in 1904. In fact, there are over 200 hydropower plants that have operated since the early 1900s!
Modernizing NRC’s Regulatory Framework For Advanced Nuclear
This week, NuScale presented a revision to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) for its Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) Sizing Methodology Topical Report, an approach that could create a precedent for other nuclear reactor companies.
In December 2019, the NRC approved the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Early-Site Permit (ESP) for a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) at its Clinch River site. The TVA is the first utility nationally to receive NRC approval for an ESP for an SMR. NuScale, as the first SMR to begin NRC licensing, is paving the way for how to implement the methodologies approved in the Clinch River ESP and in the related ongoing rulemaking.
This proposal establishes an important template for how an actual reactor design can seek approval from the NRC for an appropriately sized EPZ.
Modernizing the NRC regulatory framework needs to happen, to facilitate the licensing of new reactor technologies with enhanced safety features.
We think the key to unlocking the exciting potential of advanced nuclear and de-risking development is through demonstrations. There are a number of private sector companies developing advanced reactor designs, but it all comes down to demonstrating the technology since decarbonization without the right set of tools is extremely difficult if not impossible.
There is a virtually limitless supply of renewable energy right beneath us: geothermal heat. The Earth’s core produces heat that radiates out to the subsurface. This heat , which can be harnessed for a variety of uses including electricity generation, heating and cooling of buildings, and other industrial and hybrid applications. Geothermal energy is clean, safe, and renewable and can provide multiple economic benefits. Because geothermal electricity is reliable, always-on energy, it is an excellent match for a grid replete with intermittent renewables like wind and solar energy.
The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) published a report called GeoVision that shows incredible growth opportunities for the technology. The report estimates geothermal electricity generation could increase up to 60 GW and provide heating or cooling services for more than 73 million homes by 2050. Currently, we have 2.5 GW of geothermal capacity.
Innovation Funding for Perovskite Solar Cell Production
Dallas, TX based company nTact has been awarded $708,000 from The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop innovative ways to improve perovskite photovoltaic devices using their slot-die coating technique that can produce flexible and efficient perovskite solar cells. The next steps for this project will be to build the solution and optimize for commercialization. Read more
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Shell Announces Net-Zero by 2050 Commitment
Financial Times reported that Royal Dutch Shell announced a net-zero emissions commitment. The report that, “Shell has become the biggest global energy group to introduce a net-zero emissions target, adopting new measures to reduce its carbon footprint despite huge financial pressures from the coronavirus pandemic and oil price collapse.” Read the article
American Action Forum:
The Need for Testing Advanced Nuclear Power
American Action Forum published a piece this week. Here’s a summary:
Advanced nuclear energy can help mitigate climate change by providing energy that is both reliable and free of greenhouse gases.
Federal legislation and funding are positioning the advanced nuclear energy industry for commercialization in the coming years by supporting demonstration projects to evaluate their safety and environmental impacts.
Moving forward, demonstration projects can go beyond reviewing safety and environmental impacts of advanced nuclear technology and consider the operational costs of these facilities to identify their role in the future energy mix.
New Poll: “Clean Energy Innovation” Very Popular With Voters
Wondering what constituents in your state think of clean energy innovation? ClearPath launched a new nationwide poll recently, with data for every state and every Congressional District.
A 3,000 person nationwide survey conducted by Kristen Soltis Anderson’s firm Echelon Insights shows respondents across the country, including in some of the most conservative parts, believe clean energy innovation is a better path than government regulation.
Clean Energy Poll Highlights:
89% Believe it is possible for the U.S. to develop cleaner energy sources that can also provide more affordable energy.
87% Believe clean energy is an issue that Republicans in Congress SHOULD care about, only 50% believe they do.
58% Say that instead of regulation, they believe more innovation and better technology that lets us reduce carbon emissions is the best way to fight climate change.
Scaling Energy Storage Is a Climate Action Enabler
ClearPath’s Rich Powell and Rocky Mountain Institute’s James Newcomb recently published an op-ed in Morning Consult encouraging the federal government’s continued investments in grid scale energy storage. For example, The Department of Energy’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge, included in White House’s 2021 budget request, is meant to turbocharge the development of energy storage from basic R&D through commercialization. Read their op-ed
THE PATH AHEAD
Every Thursday in April: The University of Houston Center for Carbon Management in Energy is hosting a Webinar Series on carbon capture and sequestration technology. Stay tuned for registration details. Register here
May 13: Save the Date. Industry and Congressional leaders representing Texas energy interests will be hosting an online event, Managing the Critical Importance of Energy in America in a COVID-19 World. Stay tuned for registration details.
Modernizing NRC’s Regulatory Framework For Advanced Nuclear
Heritage Foundation On DOD’s Plan to Demonstrate Microreactor
New Poll: “Clean Energy Innovation” Very Popular With Voters
