Alternative Energies
Keith Lambert
Energy Storage
Emerson
Wind
Jerry Burhans
Bluedot has announced the launch of its latest product update: a Depot Charging Tracking solution for "dummy" or non-smart chargers. This new development now enables fleets to efficiently track charging activities at non-connected charging stations, optimizing sustainability reporting and enhancing operational visibility.
Companies began investing in electrification by building charging infrastructure, often deploying non-connected stations as part of their first steps toward sustainability. However, these "dummy" chargers have largely gone unmonitored, leaving fleet managers with limited insights into electricity consumption and sustainability impact. Without tools to accurately track kWh usage, fleets have struggled to make data-driven decisions, meet sustainability goals, and benefit from incentives like the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits in certain regions.
Bluedot's past efforts to streamline public charging for fleet drivers and managers tackled critical challenges like network accessibility, expense management, and reimbursement for home charging. Now, Bluedot is taking fleet management to the next level.
Bluedot's new solution gives fleet managers the ability to:
With Bluedot's Depot Charging Tracking, fleet managers can generate precise reports that align with sustainability targets, calculate energy use, and leverage available incentives. This streamlined approach transforms fleet operations by integrating previously "invisible" charging activities into strategic sustainability planning.
This latest addition underscores Bluedot's commitment to making EV fleet management more accessible and comprehensive, ensuring that all aspects of fleet charging—public, home, and depot—are efficiently tracked and managed.
Bluedot | bluedot.co
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson issued the following statement on the election results.
“We congratulate President Trump on his election, and we look forward to working with him and Congress on a pro-energy agenda that protects affordability and reliability,” Matheson said. “America is at an energy crossroads and the reliability of the electric grid hangs in the balance. Critical generation resources are being retired faster than they can be reliably replaced. At the same time, electricity demand is skyrocketing as power-hungry data centers and new manufacturing facilities come online. Smart energy policies that keep the lights on are more important than ever.”
Among electric co-ops’ ongoing policy priorities:
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association | https://www.electric.coop/
Oceantic Network, the largest non-profit focused on offshore wind and other ocean renewables, issued the following statement from President & CEO Liz Burdockfollowing the 2024 U.S. presidential election:
“On behalf of our 450+ offshore wind supply chain members, Oceantic Network congratulates President Donald Trump on an historic political comeback. The American people voted resoundingly for domestic economic prosperity. Eight years ago, the first Trump administration laid out the fundamental framework for our modern offshore wind industry and oversaw seven federal lease sales that netted $456 million for the federal treasury. Industry responded by making the first supply chain investments that are now creating jobs in Texas and South Carolina. The momentum started by that administration resulted in thousands of new jobs and $40 billion in new investment. This includes $24 billion in direct investments towards manufacturing, vessel-building and shipyard upgrades, port infrastructure, transmission planning, and workforce development across 39 red and blue states.
“With President Trump in office, we have the opportunity to harness even more investment and measurable economic benefits for communities across the country. The U.S. offshore wind industry stands ready to welcome new investments in American factories and shipyards. Oceantic looks forward to working with the Trump-Vance administration and the new Congress to advance our nation’s economy, combat rising costs, and deliver more domestic energy.”
Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/
The electric vehicle industry stands ready to work with President-elect Donald Trump, Congressional Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and all groups that want to ensure our nation’s innovation and economic competitiveness remain the best in the world. The next four years are critical to ensuring that these technologies are developed and deployed by American workers in American factories for generations – a goal that unites every state regardless of their electoral college votes.
We encourage members of both parties to support policies that provide business and trade certainty so that EV manufacturers up and down the supply chain can unleash the next chapter of American automotive dominance. The United States’ global competitiveness depends on it.
Zero Emission Transportation Association | https://www.zeta.org/
Vaisala expands its offering for renewable energy customers by acquiring the UK-based software, weather monitoring systems and services company Nevis Technology Limited. The acquisition enables Vaisala to further develop its business in the offshore wind area with solutions for safer and more efficient installation, crew transfer, and service operations.
Nevis Technology specializes in providing and maintaining helideck and environmental monitoring systems and data portals for the offshore energy industry, with offshore wind parks as a growing customer segment. The main applications for its systems are offshore platforms and vessels.
The acquisition strengthens Vaisala’s position as a weather systems and intelligence partner for the offshore wind market, in line with the company’s strategic priority of expanding in energy transition.
“This acquisition completes our helideck and metocean monitoring solutions with a market-leading software for the offshore energy industry. It enables us to offer our offshore customers a comprehensive solution combining sensor data and systems with integrated weather forecasting,” said Alexis Crama, Vice President for Renewable Energy Business in Weather and Environment at Vaisala.
“Moreover, Nevis Technology has a very skilled team of professionals with extensive offshore knowledge and culture. I am looking forward to working together with the team and warmly welcome our new colleagues to Vaisala,” Alexis Crama continued.
Founded in 2018, Nevis Technology Ltd is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland. The company has been growing profitably, reaching net sales of over GBP 1.5 million in 2023. Following the acquisition, 14 professionals will join Vaisala.
Vaisala | www.vaisala.com
As it approaches its one-year mark, the HyPEF Project (Promoting an Environmentally-Responsible Hydrogen Economy by Enabling Product Environmental Footprint Studies) proudly announces key progress in establishing new rules for transparency and environmental sustainability of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH) products. These achievements mark significant advances in the project’s mission to develop specific Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs) for hydrogen-related products, fostering a sustainable hydrogen economy in Europe.
Launched in January 2024, the three-year HyPEF Project, funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership under the European Commission, aims to provide scientifically robust frameworks for evaluating the environmental impacts of FCH products. As the hydrogen economy is expected to play an increasingly vital role in the transition to clean energy, ensuring the environmental sustainability of hydrogen production, storage, and use is crucial. HyPEF addresses this need by developing specific environmental footprint rules that can help standardize sustainability assessments across the hydrogen value chain. HyPEF’s research sets the stage for transparent environmental assessments and supports regulatory and policy frameworks that promote the adoption of FCH products as environmentally responsible investments.
Milestones Achieved
Setting the Ground for FCH PEFCRs
In June 2024, HyPEF published a critical report, Learnings from Relevant Existing P(EF)CRs, which provides an extensive analysis of selected environmental assessment guidelines, highlighting their relevance to FCH products. The report identifies gaps and opportunities to customize PEFCRs for FCH products, such as electrolysers, hydrogen storage tanks, and fuel cells. This groundwork is instrumental in drafting robust environmental assessment rules for these products, ensuring they meet European sustainability standards.
First List of FCH Product Categories Released
In July 2024, the project released its second core document, FCH Product Categories, a comprehensive categorization of FCH products tailored to the product environmental footprint method and the hydrogen life cycle—from production to utilization. This document identifies 11 main product categories and 14 subcategories, establishing a milestone for future PEFCRs specific to hydrogen-related products. These categories cover essential technologies such as electrolysers, compressors, hydrogen tanks, and fuel cells.
HyPEF | www.hypef.eu
Following President Donald Trump’s reelection, Brooklyn SolarWorks released the following statement:
“Brooklyn SolarWorks has shown resilience and determination through every election cycle, and we will continue to drive the conversion from fossil fuels to renewable energy in New York City under President Trump’s leadership. We believe President Trump’s commitment to increasing oil and gas production is counterproductive in the fight against climate change, and we feel skeptical that he will support our nation’s transition to clean energy.
“The Federal Solar Tax Credit, which incentivizes residential and commercial solar installations, was set to be phased out by 2023 due to the Trump administration’s inaction during his first term. Fortunately, the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) boosted and extended the credit, and provided Americans with a host of other clean energy incentives. Although we cannot say for certain at this time, it is possible that the incentives provided by the IRA could be at risk again during President Trump’s second term.
“These incentives, however, are still in place for now, offering us a unique opportunity to harness their potential. New Yorkers can and should take advantage of the law while they can.
“Regardless of what lies ahead at the federal level, we feel fortunate to have the support of our city and state, both of which are continuously making strides in clean energy deployment and leading the nation in climate policy.
“New Yorkers deserve more sustainable buildings, healthier air, and more green jobs. We stand by our commitment to make renewable energy accessible to all New Yorkers regardless of change in direction of national policy. We’ll continue to advocate for bold, transformative changes that may seem daunting today, but will pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.”
Brooklyn SolarWorks | https://brooklynsolarworks.com
Solar Nov 15, 2023
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