This week in clean energy: big news for electric vehicles! In Dubai, drivers of electric vehicles will be exempt from toll and parking charges in hopes that more people will choose sustainable transportation options. Shell will be transitioning their corporate fleet to plug-in hybrids following their CEO’s announcement that his next car will be electric. Dyson, known for their innovative vacuum cleaner, is pursuing a future in EV, their first car slated for release in 2020.
A new technology out of Spain is challenging what we imagine when we think of wind turbines. They are experimenting with blade-less wind turbines as a possibility in the near future. In Europe, wind energy progress is booming and is set to have 200 gigawatts of wind energy by 2020, putting it ahead of America. Lastly, a new technology is aiming to harness the power of evaporation for energy generation.
What news have you been reading this week? Share with us @GreentownLabs!
Bloomberg Technology– Want Free Parking? Drive an Electric Car in Dubai
- Dubai, with its 14-lane highways and car-dependent residents, will provide free parking and toll-free driving to encourage motorists to shift to electric cars as a way of cutting carbon emissions in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.
“As an incentive, DEWA’s registered users will be able to have their electric vehicles charged by DEWA’s Green Charger electric vehicle charging stations, completely free until the end of 2019”
Forbes– It’s Not Just The CEO’s Car: Shell Converts Corporate Fleet To Plug-In Hybrids
- Shell CEO Ben van Beurden made headlines worldwide when he told an interviewer in July that his next car would be an electric vehicle, but he stopped short of a full disclosure: van Beurden’s new car is part of a company-wide conversion of the corporate fleet.
“It’s to testify to the fact that for some time to come we feel that renewable electrical and fossil-fuel related energy supply will have to cohabitate”
Greentech Media– Europe Could Have 200 Gigawatts of Wind by 2020, Putting It Ahead of America
- Europe’s total installed wind power capacity could surpass 200 gigawatts in 2020, according to a forecast issued by trade body WindEurope this week. And up to 15 percent of that capacity could be offshore.
“The offshore build-out, which will account for a quarter of new capacity over the next four years, will put the European Union ahead of the U.S. in terms of total installed capacity in 2020”
Futurism– Evaporation-Harvested Energy Could Meet 70% of the United States’ Power Needs
- Energy harvested from the evaporation process could provide the bulk of the United States’ power requirements, according to a new study. What’s more, it could simultaneously help regions affected by droughts retain water held in lakes and reservoirs.
“We have the technology to harness energy from wind, water, and the Sun, but evaporation is just as powerful”
Renewable Energy World– Dyson To Take on Tesla with its Own Electric Vehicle
- In a letter to employees that was released on Twitter, James Dyson, founder of the company that created the famous vacuum and hand-dryers found in many airport bathrooms across the globe, announced that the company has set its sights on the electric vehicle (EV) market and plans to release a new car by 2020.
“Any EV charging strategy should include the introduction of smart tariffs, three-phase power supply into new homes, ubiquitous access to charging where we live, work and play, and the incorporation of renewable power and energy storage systems to reduce grid stress”
CNBC– The future of wind turbines could be bladeless
- In Spain, one business is looking to design wind generators that produce renewable energy without blades.
“Our goal is to develop a new wind generator that minimize(s) the amount of mechanical elements to reduce the maintenance costs and… environmental impact”