A Microsoft datacenter site in Quincy, Washington. (CNW Group/Ballard Power Systems Inc.)
This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less. Produced by Renewable Energy World and Tigercomm, This Week in Cleantech will air every Friday in the Factor This! podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts.
This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is EDP CEO Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade!
1. Spanish Power Is Almost Free With Renewables Set for Record — Bloomberg
Spain saw extremely low day-ahead electricity prices last week, remaining below €10 per megawatt-hour, along with some record-high clean energy production at almost 14 gigawatts in February. At one point, prices reached €2 per megawatt hour, compared to €67 per megawatt hour in France.
This market slump has impacted utility earnings – Spain’s Endesa SA said its 2023 profit dropped nearly a third. Power flows have also changed. With energy prices this low, Spain can now sell electricity even to France, one of Europe’s biggest energy exporters.
2. Fury after Exxon chief says public to blame for climate failures — The Guardian
Exxon is the largest investor-owned oil company and among the top polluters. Yet CEO Darren Woods claims big oil is not responsible for the climate crisis, and that we are responsible instead. Woods argues that the clean energy transition is too pricey, claiming people aren’t willing to foot the bill.
Despite knowing big oil is a big driver of the climate crisis, the company funded decades of front group activity to talk down climate science. They also asked politicians to attack climate solutions technologies that could provide consumers with affordable alternatives but would eat into the company’s profits.
3. New York Awards Offshore Wind Deals to Orsted, Equinor — Bloomberg
New York state has agreed to buy electricity from offshore wind farms in the Atlantic, which now gives hope to an industry that was hit hard by inflation. Selected projects will produce over 800 construction jobs and invest $2B in economic development statewide.
One of the selected projects is from Orsted, who recently had to cancel two offshore wind projects with a planned capacity of over 2,200 MW combined because of high inflation and rising interest rates. This new award will help Orsted reduce its losses to about $261 mil
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