News Round Up: Coal is struggling to survive while renewables are poised to weather the storm

UK enjoys a month without coal power for first time for 138 years

The United Kingdom recently went a full 30 days without employing any coal to power its country. The last time this occurred in the UK was in 1882, the year coal was first used. The country plans to have completely phased coal out by 2025 and operate without emissions when the weather permits. As technologies improve, the plan is to be completely emission-free by 2050. While this achievement should be celebrated, it should also be noted there has been a significant reduction in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full story here.

In a First, Renewable Energy Is Poised to Eclipse Coal in U.S.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported the United States is on track to produce more power from renewables than coal this year. Only a decade ago coal was responsible for almost half of the electricity in the U.S. This shift is in large part due to the state of the coal industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coal is a decidedly more expensive energy source and with the steep decline in energy consumption energy producers are favoring natural gas and renewables. Read the full story here.

Amazon Going Solar — Big Time

Powered by Facts has been a proponent of Amazon, the commerce behemoth, investing more readily in renewables. Amazon has just announced it is investing in five new utility-scale solar projects in the U.S., China, and Australia. Together, these projects will generate 1.2 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity each year. For perspective, this is enough to power 113,000 American homes. These projects are a big step forward towards Amazon’s renewable energy pledge. Read the full story here.

As Commercial Solar Takes a Hit From COVID-19, Virtual PPAs Continue Their Rise

Recently, there has been a shift towards virtual power purchase agreements, or “corporate offtakes,” which operates similarly to a regular PPA but the project can be built and operated anywhere. Actors in this space expect to weather the economic downturn. This may lead to consolidation in solar projects; however, it will help the solar industry survive and, ideally, thrive. Read the full story here.