Solar Energy

The solar forest

Published

9 months ago

December 17, 2023

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The solar forest

by Robert Schreiber

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 18, 2023

In a significant development for environmental policy and climate change mitigation, a new study led by Dr. Rafael Stern, Dr. Jonathan Muller, and Dr. Eyal Rotenberg from Prof. Dan Yakir’s lab at the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department of the Weizmann Institute of Science, provides insightful comparisons between the impacts of forests and solar farms. Published in PNAS Nexus, the study offers a nuanced understanding of how different land uses affect the climate crisis, particularly in arid areas.

The study initially focused on comparing a natural forest located in an arid area to a field of solar panels, commonly referred to as a solar farm, in a similar environment. Arid regions, characterized by abundant sunlight and limited plant diversity and biomass, are prime locations for solar farms.

This choice of location is not incidental; these regions are increasingly becoming the focus of major solar energy projects worldwide. For instance, Israel has operational solar fields in the Arava and the Negev and plans for expansion in Jordan, while China and the European Union are exploring large-scale solar projects in their deserts.

The research team, equipped with a mobile measuring station designed by Yakir and Rotenberg, set out to measure the energy flow between the ground and the atmosphere in these arid areas. This meticulous process involved positioning the station near and within a solar panel field, overcoming the challenges posed by the panels’ sensitivity. Additionally, to draw a parallel with a natural forest, they utilized two decades of data collected from Yatir Forest, the largest of its kind in Israel, located on the edge of the Negev Desert.

Key Findings: Solar Farms vs. Forests

The study’s findings are revealing. Both the natural forest and the solar farm exhibit a similar albedo effect, meaning they both absorb a significant portion of solar radiation. However, their contributions to climate change mitigation vary considerably. The researchers calculated the equilibrium points at which the opposing effects on climate-heat absorption due to dark color and cooling from reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide-balance each other out.

The results show a stark contrast: It takes only about two and a half years for the heat emitted by solar farms to be offset by the carbon emissions saved through the energy they generate.

This calculation includes the carbon emissions from the manufacture, transportation, and operation of the panels, as well as those from batteries used for electricity storage. In contrast, a forest of similar size would require over a century of photosynthesis to offset its heating effect.

Implications for Different Climates

The study further extends its analysis to other climates, including humid environments like the tropics and temperate grassland regions such as Europe. Here, the heating effect of planting large numbers of trees is smaller due to darker ground and higher carbon capture rates by trees. The break-even point in these regions is reached within 15 to 18 years. However, the researchers note the limited availability of open space in these areas for new forestation.

Drs. Stern and Muller articulate the study’s central message: “In arid environments, where most of the open land reserves exist, building solar farms is far more effective than planting forests in addressing the climate crisis.” They emphasize that even small solar panel areas can offset carbon emissions equivalent to much larger forested areas.

Forests’ Role in the Broader Environmental Context

Despite the advantages of solar farms in certain environments, the study underlines the irreplaceable role of forests. Forests absorb nearly a third of humanity’s annual carbon emissions, contribute significantly to the global rain cycle, maintain biodiversity, and have numerous other environmental and social benefits. Therefore, the researchers advocate for a balanced approach: protecting and rehabilitating forests in humid regions while promoting solar panel installations in arid regions.

Research Report:Photovoltaic fields largely outperform afforestation efficiency in global climate change mitigation strategies

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Solar Energy

Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2024

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Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 05, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Argonne National Laboratory to lead the newly established Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), a national hub focused on advancing energy storage technologies. The ESRA, co-led by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is one of two new Energy Innovation Hubs announced by the DOE.

Bringing together nearly 50 leading researchers from three national laboratories and 12 universities, ESRA aims to address the most critical challenges in battery technology, such as safety, high-energy density, and the development of long-duration storage solutions using cost-effective and abundant materials. The initiative is designed to push the boundaries of energy storage science, fostering innovation and strengthening the competitive edge of the U.S. in this crucial field.

“The demand for high-performance, low-cost and sustainable energy storage devices is on the rise, especially those with potential to deeply decarbonize heavy-duty transportation and the electric grid,” stated Shirley Meng, ESRA director and chief scientist at the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science. “To achieve this, energy storage technology must reach levels of unprecedented performance, surpassing the capabilities of current lithium-ion technology. The key to making these transformative leaps lies in a robust research and development initiative firmly grounded in basic science.”

Leveraging decades of investment in fundamental science, ESRA will focus on transformative discoveries in materials chemistry, a deeper understanding of electrochemical processes at the atomic level, and establishing the scientific foundations necessary for major advancements in energy storage technology.

“ESRA creates an energy storage research ecosystem with the mission to rapidly innovate, shorten the time between basic discovery and technology development, and train the next-generation workforce,” commented Bryan McCloskey, ESRA deputy director for scientific thrusts and a faculty engineer at Berkeley Lab.

The success of ESRA’s efforts will lead to the development of high-energy batteries that are fire-resistant, capable of providing long-duration storage for multiple days, have a lifespan of several decades, and are constructed from low-cost, widely available materials.

“ESRA will pave the way for innovative energy storage solutions that drive both U.S. prosperity and security,” said Argonne Director Paul Kearns. “As the lead laboratory for ESRA under the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Argonne takes pride in spearheading this collaborative effort that unites world-leading experts and taps the impressive scientific resources available in national labs and academia.”

The DOE has committed up to $62.5 million in funding for ESRA over the next five years.

In addition to its research goals, the Argonne-led hub will prioritize training a diverse, next-generation battery workforce to meet future manufacturing demands. This will be achieved through innovative training programs that involve industry, academia, and government partnerships.

“Cultivating a diverse workforce dedicated to safeguarding America’s energy resilience is key to ESRA’s mission,” noted Wei Wang, ESRA deputy director for crosscuts and director of the Energy Storage Materials Initiative at PNNL. “Through our strategic equity and inclusion initiatives, we plan to create a robust training ground for energy storage science from the undergraduate to postdoctoral levels.”

With Berkeley Lab and PNNL as co-leads, the ESRA collaboration brings together comprehensive expertise across the energy storage spectrum. Their state-of-the-art capabilities in technology discovery, modeling and simulation, and materials synthesis and characterization complement those of Argonne, setting the stage for significant advancements in energy storage.

Argonne is joined by 14 partners in this initiative, all of whom are deeply involved in ESRA’s scientific endeavors, governance, strategic development, and the training of the next generation of battery scientists and engineers. This collaboration among national laboratories and universities is vital for discovering new materials, accelerating the development of technology, and commercializing new energy storage innovations.

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UN’s Guterres says China-Africa ties can drive ‘renewable energy revolution’

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2024

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UN’s Guterres says China-Africa ties can drive ‘renewable energy revolution’

by AFP Staff Writers

Beijing (AFP) Sept 5, 2024

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told African leaders Thursday that expanding ties between China and the continent could “drive the renewable energy revolution”.

Guterres and more than 50 African leaders are attending this week’s China-Africa forum, according to state media.

Guterres told the gathering that “China’s remarkable record of development — including on eradicating poverty — provides a wealth of experience and expertise”.

“It can be a catalyst for key transitions on food systems and digital connectivity,” he said.

“And as home to some of the world’s most dynamic economies, Africa can maximise the potential of China’s support in areas from trade to data management, finance and technology,” Guterres added.

Guterres also told the leaders it was time to correct “historic injustices” against the continent.

“It is outrageous… that the continent of Africa has no permanent seat on the Security Council,” he said.

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Solar Energy

Major Qatari plant to double solar capacity by 2030: minister

Published

5 days ago

September 2, 2024

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Major Qatari plant to double solar capacity by 2030: minister

by AFP Staff Writers

Doha (AFP) Sept 1, 2024

A large new solar plant planned in Qatar will double the Gulf emirate’s previously projected renewable energy capacity by 2030, Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi announced on Sunday.

The photovoltaic farm, which will be built in the Dukhan area some 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of the capital Doha, will increase the gas-rich state’s solar production capacity to four gigawatts by the end of the decade, Kaabi said.

The plant “that will be established in Dukhan area will produce 2,000 megawatts, which is twice more than the capacity of Qatar’s production of solar energy of the current projects,” the minister, who is also chief executive of state-owned QatarEnergy, said.

In October 2022, Qatar inaugurated its first large-scale solar farm at al-Kharsaah, west of Doha. The emirate announced in August of the same year another solar project with two plants at Ras Laffan in the north.

Through the combined projects, including at Dukhan, Qatar would achieve “4,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2030”, Kaabi said.

This will “constitute 30 percent of the total production of energy of the state of Qatar” with a yearly reduction of “4.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions,” he added.

Kaabi said the existing projects should produce 1.7 gigawatts of energy “in first quarter of next year, or early next year”.

The energy minister also announced plans to more than double Qatar’s urea production making the country the largest producer of the fertiliser in the world by the end of the decade.

He said Qatar would “maximise the production of chemical fertilisers” through “a complex with global standards” which would “increase our production capacity from 6 million tonnes annually to more than 12.4 million tonnes annually”.

Qatar is one of the world’s top liquefied natural gas producers alongside the United States, Australia and Russia. Natural gas is a major ingredient in urea manufacturing.

In February, Qatar announced plans to expand its output from its North Field project, saying it will boost capacity to 142 million tonnes per year before 2030.

Over the past year, Qatar has inked a series of long-term LNG deals with France’s Total, Britain’s Shell, India’s Petronet, China’s Sinopec and Italy’s Eni among others.

csp/dcp

QatarEnergy

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