QUICK NEWS, April 29: Climate Changes Militaries To Greenies; Contract Certainty Backs EU Solar Boom

Climate Changes Militaries To Greenies Militaries go green, rethink operations in face of climate change; “Militaries are great planning organizations, we need to utilize that great planning capability to get further ahead of the climate threat than we have.”

Linda Givetash, April 27, 2019 (NBC News)

“…[North American Treaty Organization (NATO)] military officials from 29 countries — including the United States — will test whether energy efficient equipment and hybrid diesel-solar power systems can be easily integrated into their operations in [military exercises in] Poland this June…[This new focus] on energy efficiency and reduced fuel consumption is indicative of a wider [adaptation by militaries] to environments reshaped by climate change and intensifying natural disasters…Lightweight equipment that can be powered by renewables rather than fuels that need to be imported are better for responding to natural disasters such as floods and wildfires…NATO provided support when Sweden faced historic wildfires last summer…The war games will come amid a global movement — from school strikes and protests to debates in Congress over the proposed Green New Deal — that is placing response to climate change at the center of the political agenda…

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Experts warn that climate change is poised to not only cause more extreme weather events but also spark conflicts from the Arctic, where disappearing ice is sparking a geopolitical race for dominance, to Africa's Sahel region which is grappling with increased water scarcity and extremist groups…These conditions also drive migration, already being seen in Central America…Armed forces help launch humanitarian relief after a disaster, yet those operations don’t get the same level of foresight applied to other threats such as nuclear war or terrorism…A more recent report the Department of Defense released in January highlighted numerous Air Force, Army and Navy infrastructure currently at risk of damage due to flooding, drought, desertification and wildfires…” click here for more

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Contract Certainty Backs EU Solar Boom European solar comes of PPAge; From scorching Seville to rainy Rostock, investors claim that power purchase agreements (PPAs) have made European solar farms bankable without government subsidies. By providing lower risk for cheaper capital, they are powering a renaissance in established PV markets and lowering the cost of solar electricity in Europe.

Benedict O’Donnell, April 20, 2019 (PV Magazine)

“…[S]olar PPA activity in Europe grew from 360 MW in 2017 to more than 2.4 GW in 2018…There are various sources for funding new PV capacity with PPAs becoming a more relevant one as grid parity evolves…The news offers timely respite to Europe’s battered solar sector as governments across the region phase out financial incentives for renewable energy…[N]ew European photovoltaic parks have attracted investment on the back of falling costs for solar technology, relatively high electricity rates, and – usually – excellent irradiation. But the final ingredient that has brought these projects into existence has been the security of a long-term buyer for their electricity…As long as the probability of default of the offtaker is low and PPA terms and conditions are reasonable, funding should not be an issue at all…[T]he cost of generating electricity from renewables dropped below wholesale electricity rates on Southern European electricity exchanges over a year ago…

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…[I]n principle it should no longer be necessary to sign a PPA but guarantees of price stability entice investors, lowering interest rates…[G]overnment incentives like feed-in-tariffs, net metering schemes, and auctions were necessary to roll out renewable energy technologies on electricity markets until their cost dropped below that of incumbent energy sources. Since this transition, the second challenge has been to remove the subsidies…Every time a government says that it will hold an auction or feed in a new incentive for renewable energy, international investors paralyze capital flows until they know what will happen…That slows down the roll-out of PV and forces unnecessary costs onto consumers. Today, the largest and fastest moving solar projects in Europe are unsubsidized. They produce the same environmental benefits for the grid but cost nothing to their users… Dealing with risk is exactly where PPAs can help…” click here for more

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