Latest news with #solarenergy
Reuters
11 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
UK government gives go-ahead for BayWa solar project
LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - The British government has given development consent to a 140 megawatt (MW) solar farm in South Derbyshire in England, the UK's Planning Inspectorate said on Thursday. The Oaklands Farm solar park, which is being developed by renewable energy developer BayWa ( opens new tab, will also have up to 37.5 MW of battery storage capacity. The project will generate enough renewable power to supply around 35,000 homes, BayWa said in a separate release. Construction, which is expected to cost around 80 million pounds ($107 million), will start in 2026. ($1 = 0.7449 pounds)
Associated Press
13 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Solar Powers a Sustainable Energy Future on Rayonier Land
Originally published on The world's appetite for energy is growing exponentially, with each year's new electricity demands exceeding Japan's entire annual electricity consumption. In the United States alone, electricity demand is projected to rise by as much as 50 percent by the year 2040 due to growth in manufacturing, data centers and mass electrification. Amidst this surge, the need for affordable, clean energy has never been more critical. Solar energy is playing a growing role in shaping conversations about the future of sustainable energy. Why Solar is a Strategic Fit for Rayonier's Land-Based Solutions Approach With more than 2 million acres of sustainably managed U.S. forests and nearly 100 years of land stewardship, Rayonier is uniquely positioned to strengthen the U.S. energy grid through strategic solar development. Driven by our commitment to land-based solutions, we lease high-potential properties for solar energy development and storage. Our expert team collaborates closely with solar developers to optimize these projects, delivering clean energy and strengthening surrounding communities through the creation of local jobs, increased tax revenue and significant economic investment. 'Renewable energy is a good fit for Rayonier,' says Rayonier Vice President of Energy Resources Rob Fancher. 'Our timberlands provide a lot of environmental benefits, and renewable energy does the same thing. They're both very long-term, focused projects. They're both quiet, good neighbors.' Why Solar is Important to the Growing Demand for Renewable Energy On a macro level, solar energy enhances both the United States' energy independence and its pursuit of energy dominance. This reliable source of domestic power reduces the nation's need to depend on volatile global energy markets, bolstering its strategic position and global influence. Increasing U.S. energy independence also provides more price stability for both consumers and businesses. As companies strive to meet sustainability goals and reduce operating costs, locations with robust renewable energy resources are becoming increasingly desirable for new facilities. This trend is particularly evident in the advanced technology industry, including AI. The manufacturing industry is also a key driver of this shift, drawn to renewable energy's cost-effectiveness and lower emissions. What Research Shows About the Role of Solar Countless studies point to clean, renewable energy as the key to meeting energy demand and reducing the impact of CO₂ in the United States: Solar Futures StudyBloomberg's New Energy Outlook 2024International Energy Agency's Net Zero by 2050 report Rayonier's First Solar Project The first solar project on Rayonier land became operational in 2023. Longroad Energy's 150 megawatt Umbriel solar project in Polk County, Texas, delivers enough clean energy to power roughly 30,000 homes, avoiding an estimated 250,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually (the equivalent to taking 55,000 cars off the road). The project also is expected to generate about $13 million in tax revenue for the community. Project Highlights: 'Solar is the fastest-growing source of energy in the U.S.,' says Longroad Energy Vice President of Origination & Development Adam Horwitz, who led the project for Longroad. 'It's an abundant source of energy…and it's economical.' Advancements Driving Solar Forward Thanks to advances in technology in both building and generating solar power, the levelized cost of solar electricity dropped by more than 80 percent since 2008, according to this Berkeley Lab study and Lazard's 2024 Levelized Cost of Energy study. Even without national and global emissions reductions targets and federal tax incentives, market forces alone are projected to propel solar and other clean energy technologies forward. Solar is also established more quickly compared to alternatives, such as gas-powered turbines, which have a 7-8 year waiting list. How the Umbriel Project Came Together Longroad purchased about 1,900 acres of land needed for the Polk County project and leased the remaining 583 acres from Rayonier. The energy developer developed the site, found a long-term energy buyer for the solar project, secured financing, oversaw construction and brought the project into operation. Advantages of working with Rayonier on a Solar Project Working with Rayonier offers advantages to solar developers, including: Our team of experts works with the solar developer to identify ideal locations that meet their needs, buildable land at scale with access to strong power markets and transmission. The team also supports the development process by assisting with site design, layout and identification of sensitive environmental areas. Working with a single, large landowner streamlined the process for the developer, explains Longroad Landman Cody Walker: 'When you deal with multiple landowners in one area, you have different personalities, you have to manage different needs and different histories with properties to manage,' he says. 'When it's one landowner, one use, you can easily work together to make the project work for both parties.' Taking neighbors' concerns into account Cody worked closely with neighbors to ensure their concerns and expectations were taken into account during the project, as well. Kim Mueck, whose family owns nearby property, says they were at first skeptical about the project. Kim says she expected noise and traffic, but was pleased that wasn't the case after the solar project was built. 'We got Cody's number and, any time we needed anything, the weekends, the holidays, if there was a problem, they were there,' she says. 'It turned out to be a great relationship. The road to get to our own property is way better. They did leave a tree buffer there between our property and the solar farm, so you don't really see it.' 'Once the construction's done and it's here, it's just here,' she says. 'You don't see a lot of people. It's not noisy. There's not a lot of traffic. Like I said, you pass through it to get to our property, but once you're back there, you really don't know it's there.' Optimizing Land for its Greatest Sustainable Purpose The Rayonier team is trained to look carefully at all of our properties, striving to find the best possible purpose for every acre. The majority of Rayonier's land base is best suited for forestry activities, but our business development team is trained to recognize special sites and unique characteristics that are ideal for solar, wind and other critical land-based solutions. Only Select Land is Right for Solar 'As we evaluate the properties that are best for solar, we find that to be a very small percentage of our portfolio overall,' explains Rayonier Business Development Landman Jose Villarreal. Rayonier estimates that only a low, single-digit percentage of its forest land may ultimately become active solar projects. Rayonier's properties that are especially attractive to solar companies have proximity to a population in need of the energy and convenient access to power transmission infrastructure. While the recent ramp up in solar projects across the nation may seem expansive, the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Futures Study states that the most aggressive growth in solar energy development would use, at most, 10.3 million acres of land across the entire U.S. by 2050. That equates to less than 5 percent of land in all U.S. states (except for Rhode Island, which comes in at 6.5 percent). Working with Sustainability-Centric Companies to Deliver Clean Energy Rayonier uses a careful vetting process in determining which companies to work with to deliver clean energy. We choose to work with companies that, like us, put sustainability first; go well beyond the minimum standards to protect the environment; and treat our neighbors and communities with respect. Choosing the Right Partners for the Long Term 'We want to work with solar development companies that share in our core values and our long-term commitments to environmental stewardship,' says Rayonier Energy Resources Manager Zan Frederick. He says his team was pleased with the steps Longroad Energy took to protect the environment around the project site. Designing Solar Projects with a Commitment to Environmental Stewardship While the project site encompassed about 2,500 acres, only 1,300 were developed for solar, allowing Longroad to work around sensitive features, such as streams and wetlands. 'The project from the very beginning was sited and designed to avoid and protect wetlands,' says Longroad Environmental Manager Lindsey Kester. 'We had wetland ecologists survey the project area to identify those boundaries in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, and then our engineers sited and designed the project to avoid those boundaries. It's a thoughtful process and it doesn't just end with a plan. We have a whole team that ensures that that plan is in compliance through construction and operation through the life of the project.' Construction of the solar project included the development of reservoirs, silt fences and other modalities to prevent impacts on wetlands and the surrounding area. The Longroad team also planted seed lots designed to ensure there will be vegetation such as flowering grasses on the ground year-round, stabilizing the soil. 'That vegetation includes native pollinator plant species that help enhance that environment and provide new habitat where wildlife can thrive,' Lindsey says. You can learn more about Longroad's approach to environmental stewardship by visiting their website here. High Standards for the Life of the Project Our solar leases typically span 30 years or more. When the projects come to a close, the developer will remove all materials, enabling us to resume use of the property for whatever its next highest and best use is, such as forestry. By leasing land for solar projects on select sites, Rayonier ensures the land will be held to the same standards we hold all of our properties to: sustainable land management that will benefit our communities and planet for many years to come. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Rayonier
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
These Were the 2 Worst-Performing Stocks in the S&P 500 Over the Last Month
The S&P 500 is hovering near an all-time high as investors have brushed off concerns about tariffs. Enphase Energy tumbled recently on signs that solar credits could be eliminated. Brown-Forman posted another quarter of weak results, due in part to pressure from tariffs. 10 stocks we like better than Brown-Forman › Stocks have rallied in the last month on signs that the economy has thus far been resilient to tariffs and on hopes that the U.S. and China can negotiate a trade agreement. However, not every stock has been a winner. Let's take a look at two of the worst-performing stocks on the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) over the last month to see if either of them is worth buying. Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH), a leading maker of microinverters used with solar panels, took a dive on Tuesday, as the Senate kept cuts to wind and solar energy incentives that were in the House version of the tax and budget bill. Enphase was one of several solar stocks that tumbled on the news, falling 24%, and as of June 17, it's down 30.7% over the last month. That performance continues a weak run for the stock, which is down over the last five years, as solar stocks have struggled due to competition from China, a volatile regulatory environment, and falling prices. Enphase reported first-quarter earnings in April, with solid top-line growth of 35% to $356.1 million and a profit of $29.3 million. Nonetheless, an end of regulatory credits could put significant pressure on its business. Brown-Forman (NYSE: BF.B), maker of Jack Daniel's and other spirits, has also struggled due to regulatory challenges. In Brown-Forman's case, it's due to tariffs imposed on American whiskey exports, impacting its top brands, which also include Woodford Reserve. As of June 17, the stock was down 28.5% over the last month. In its first-quarter earnings report, the company said that revenue fell 7%, or 3% on an organic basis. Brown-Forman also said it named new distributors in 13 markets across the U.S., part of an effort to deliver a boost to domestic sales. Still, with geopolitical pressure on American spirit brands, and broader weakness in the category, Brown-Forman seems likely to continue to struggle. Before you buy stock in Brown-Forman, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Brown-Forman wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $658,297!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $883,386!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 992% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Enphase Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. These Were the 2 Worst-Performing Stocks in the S&P 500 Over the Last Month was originally published by The Motley Fool
Sustainability Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- Sustainability Times
'Slashed by 30%': This U.S. Wastewater Plant Just Installed a 240-kW Solar Canopy That's Changing Everything
IN A NUTSHELL 🌞 The City of Pendleton, Oregon, has installed a solar canopy at its Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility to boost energy efficiency. at its Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility to boost energy efficiency. 💡 The solar canopy is expected to generate approximately 325,000 kWh of electricity annually, reducing energy costs by about 30% . of electricity annually, reducing energy costs by about . 🌿 By shading the chlorine contact chamber, the canopy improves water quality and supports a healthier aquatic ecosystem. and supports a healthier aquatic ecosystem. 🏗️ The project, delivered through an Energy Savings Performance Contract, involves state grants and aims for future integration with a battery energy storage system. The City of Pendleton, Oregon, has taken a significant leap towards energy sustainability with the installation of a pioneering solar canopy at its Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Facility (WWTRRF). This innovative project not only represents a milestone in the city's energy initiatives but also promises to enhance the performance of the facility. By generating approximately 325,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, the canopy is set to reduce energy costs significantly while contributing to environmental conservation efforts. This endeavor, led by Ameresco, marks a notable advancement in the region's commitment to sustainable infrastructure. Solar Canopy Helps Reduce Energy Costs The solar canopy project in Pendleton is a testament to the city's dedication to developing efficient energy solutions. As highlighted by Kyle Willman, Superintendent of the Wastewater Treatment Resource Recovery Facility, the installation of the solar canopy is a major step forward. It not only aids in reducing energy costs but also minimizes the environmental footprint of the facility. By providing on-site energy production, the canopy helps in cutting down the operational expenses substantially. Moreover, the canopy offers additional benefits beyond just energy savings. By shading the chlorine contact chamber, it plays a crucial role in improving water quality and reducing effluent temperatures. These improvements contribute to a healthier aquatic ecosystem, benefiting the entire community. The partnership with Ameresco and the support from state and local authorities have been instrumental in realizing this forward-thinking investment, demonstrating the power of collaborative efforts in achieving sustainability goals. 'Eco-Friendly Solar Cell Shocks the World': Record-Breaking 16.65% Efficiency Ignites Global Race Toward Clean Energy Domination Innovative Energy Solutions This solar canopy is part of a broader infrastructure improvement initiative undertaken by the City of Pendleton. Delivered through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with Ameresco, the project guarantees both price and performance, ensuring the participation of disadvantaged and local businesses. Lou Maltezos, President of Central & Western USA and Canada Regions at Ameresco, expressed pride in collaborating with the city to build a resilient future. Such innovative energy solutions not only bring significant economic benefits but also support essential city infrastructure. By offsetting about 30% of the WWTRRF's total energy consumption, the project exemplifies how strategic energy initiatives can enhance operational efficiency. Additionally, the project's funding through state grants, utility incentives, and city resources underscores the importance of leveraging various financial avenues to drive sustainable development. Future plans for a battery energy storage system (BESS) promise to further decrease operational costs, highlighting the city's commitment to long-term energy resilience. World's Largest Solar Telescope Unleashes 5.6-Ton Tech Beast to Capture Unprecedented Images of Massive Sunspot Activity Contributions to Environmental and Economic Goals The impact of the solar canopy extends beyond immediate energy savings. By reducing effluent temperatures and improving water quality, the project supports a healthier aquatic ecosystem. Such environmental benefits are crucial in maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources. The reduction in energy consumption directly contributes to Pendleton's broader efforts to achieve net-zero emissions, aligning with global energy transition goals. Economically, the project has been a boon for the local community. It has facilitated job creation and supported local businesses, driving economic growth. The participation of disadvantaged and local enterprises in the project underscores a commitment to inclusivity and community empowerment. By setting a precedent for future projects, the solar canopy initiative serves as a model for other cities aiming to enhance their energy resilience and environmental stewardship. World's Most Powerful Flexible Solar Cell: Japan's Stunning Breakthrough Reaches 26.5% Efficiency, Setting Unprecedented Global Performance Standard Future Prospects for Sustainable Infrastructure The success of the solar canopy project in Pendleton sets the stage for future advancements in sustainable infrastructure. The planned integration of a battery energy storage system (BESS) will complement the solar canopy, further reducing operational costs and improving energy reliability. Such initiatives are crucial in preparing urban infrastructures to withstand future energy demands and environmental challenges. As cities across the globe grapple with the realities of climate change and energy scarcity, innovations like the solar canopy in Pendleton offer a glimpse into a more sustainable future. The collaboration between public entities, private companies, and local communities is essential in driving these changes. With the ongoing support for renewable energy projects, how will other cities follow in Pendleton's footsteps to build a resilient and sustainable future? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (20)
Zawya
21 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
China's Sunrev to invest $200mln in solar component industrial complex in Egypt's Sokhna
Egypt - Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed on Wednesday the signing of a contract to establish an integrated industrial complex for the production of solar energy components in Ain Sokhna's industrial zone, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). The project will be developed by Chinese firm Sunrev Solar. The contract was signed by Cao Hui, Managing Director of TEDA, and Qi Fei, Managing Director of Sunrev Solar, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir, and Chairperson of SCZONE Walid Gamal El-Din. The project will involve the construction of two integrated factories in its first phase: one for producing solar cells and another for solar modules, each with a capacity of 2 gigawatts. The second phase will focus on localising the production of key raw materials—such as silicon ingots and wafers—completing the full solar component value chain. Prime Minister Madbouly highlighted the strategic advantages of SCZONE in attracting diverse investments, especially in renewable energy. He reiterated the government's commitment to localising new and renewable energy technologies and providing incentives to support their growth. SCZONE Chairperson Walid Gamal El-Din described the project as one of the zone's largest industrial investments in renewable energy components. Spanning 200,000 square metres, the project will see a total investment of $200m—$90m for the first phase and $110m for the second. It is expected to create over 1,800 direct jobs across both phases and generate annual export revenues of up to $300 million. The foundation stone will be laid on Thursday, with the first phase scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2026. Gamal El-Din emphasised that the project reflects the confidence of major international investors in SCZONE's business climate and supports the authority's broader strategy to localise advanced industries and integrate solar energy production chains—from raw materials to finished products. He reaffirmed SCZONE's commitment to providing all necessary support to ensure the project's timely execution. Sunrev Solar is one of the world's leading manufacturers of solar energy components. This investment aligns with Egypt's national strategy to transition to a green economy, promote clean energy industries, and advance the goals of Egypt's Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Strategy.
