PV-Tech: GE Eyes 20-30 MW Inverters

The prospect of a 30 MW solar inverter may seem a long way off, but it is very much in the sights of power electronics giant GE. 

In a briefing for journalists in London this morning, company executives outlined some of the next-generation technologies GE plans to implement across its fast-growing power conversion business, which encompasses solar, wind and other renewables. Much larger inverters and a shift to silicon carbide technology were both center stage in GE's plans.

Guardian: Are Mini Nuclear Reactors the Answer to the Climate Crisis?

Mini nuclear power plants could be trucked into a town near you to provide your hot water, or shipped to any country that wants to plug them into their electricity grid from the dock. That is the aim of those developing “small modular reactors” and, from the U.S. to China to Poland, they want the U.K. to be at the center of the nascent industry. The U.K. government says it is “fully enthused” about the technology.

With the U.N. climate change summit in Paris imminent, the question of how to keep the lights on affordably, while cutting emissions, is pressing.

Washington Post: Electric Cars and the Coal That Runs Them

As the world tries to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and combat climate change, policymakers have pinned hopes on electric cars, whose range and convenience are quickly improving. Alongside the boom has come a surging demand for power to charge the vehicles, which can consume as much electricity in a single charge as the average refrigerator does in a month and a half.

The global shift to electric cars has a clear climate benefit in regions that get most of their power from clean sources, such as California or Norway. But in areas supplied by dirtier power, like China, India and even the Netherlands, which is on track to miss ambitious emissions targets set for 2020, the electric-car jump has slimmer payoffs. In some cases, it could even worsen the overall climate impact of driving, experts say.

Reuters: China Says Keeping Leaders Away Is Key to Climate Talk Success

Keeping state leaders away from the negotiations will play a major role in ensuring that crucial talks on a new global climate deal in Paris next week proceed smoothly, China's top climate change negotiator said in an interview on Monday.

Representatives from nearly 200 countries will gather in the French capital to begin talks aimed at thrashing out a new global deal to cut climate-warming greenhouse gases.

Xie Zhenhua, China's veteran climate chief, told Reuters in an interview that he was confident there was now sufficient "political will" to secure a new deal, and that changes to the "design" of the talks would help avoid the failures of Copenhagen in 2009.

UPI: Sweden Sets Goal of Fossil-Free Economy

The Swedish government said it has a "minister for the future" that aims to steer the country toward a fossil-free economy by 2030.

The Swedish government said it has one of the lowest levels of emissions among members of the European Union and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.