systems

European Union member states have agreed on stricter energy standards for buildings. The new rules will apply to both new and existing commercial and residential buildings. As outlined in the EU’s climate plans, the target is for all buildings to be energy neutral by 2050.

There are already energy labels for buildings, but they are mainly informative. What is new in the European Union’s plans is that, step by step, all buildings will be required to be increasingly sustainable.

The strictest standards will apply to newly constructed buildings. In relation to existing buildings, there will be a requirement that when the building is extensively renovated, its overall energy efficiency rating must be improved.

For newly constructed buildings, EU member states have agreed that from 2028 all new government buildings will be emission-free. From 2030, this standard will apply to all new buildings, including residential facilities.

Member states are avoiding the proposal of the European Commission

As for existing buildings, the rules are more complicated. European member states want the worst-performing 15 percent of commercial buildings to be rehabilitated by 2030 and no longer in the worst category. By 2034, even 25 percent of the least energy-efficient commercial buildings must be made sustainable.

By defending these percentages, European member states are moving away from the original idea proposed by the European Commission. The latter proposed linking energy standards to the existing energy label system.

The standard to be applied in this case is that commercial buildings should at least comply with the F label by 2027 and the E label by 2030. based on definitions that will be more or less consistent throughout the European Union.

Solar panels still often don’t perform as well as they should – Origin of Innovation

The need to transition to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar has never been more urgent. As the gas tap slowly turns off, electricity costs rise, and the effects of a warmer climate become painfully apparent, more people are buying solar panels.

National regulations

The problem is that the differences in building stock between member states are, if anything, greater than the cultural differences between different parts of Europe. As a result, working with uniform standards creates considerable difficulties. Partly for this reason, member states will prefer to continue to operate under national rules. This is a setback for those who favor as much adaptation as possible when it comes to setting climate and energy targets.

The text, agreed by member states, states that the aim is to “encourage renovation and phase out poorly performing buildings”. It remains unclear whether this actually means that any buildings that do not meet the standard are no longer in use.

A spokesperson for the European Union points out that the new rules need to be incorporated into national legislation by each member state, and that it is up to the member states themselves to meet the targets and implement the standards.

The apartment also comes under new rulesetc

The rules will be slightly different for existing homes compared to commercial properties. The requirements will be linked to national plans that each member state must draw up to ensure that all existing homes are emission-free by 2050.

However, two interim targets have been identified. Namely, in 2033, the average consumption of the entire housing stock of the member state must correspond to energy label D. A new measurement period will come in 2040, and this period should clarify separately for each member state whether it is climate neutral in 2050. target is reachable.

It is interesting that member states have changed the rules on which energy sources are allowed to power a zero-emission building. Now the text says it must be “carbon-free energy”. It was reportedly added under pressure from France, a nuclear power nation.

A sustainable approach to the Dutch housing crisis with prefabricated wooden houses – Innovation Origins

Due to the growing housing shortage in the Netherlands and the increased focus on sustainability in the housing sector, Eemshout from Groningen is experiencing a growth spurt.

Not a lot of time, but a lot of work to do

The new guidelines do not only apply to offices and residential buildings. For example, new requirements regarding parking spaces in enterprises are also applied. Offices with more than 20 parking spaces per person must focus on equipping 10% of their parking spaces for charging electric vehicles within five years. In addition, half of the parking spaces should be designed to be easily equipped with charging stations later.

Bicycles should also be improved to encourage sustainable transport. For example, 15% of the area surface of the parking garage of an office building should be reserved for bicycle storage.

For residential buildings, new residential buildings or buildings being renovated must provide space for a minimum of two bicycles per residential unit. In addition, if such residential complexes have more than three parking spaces, at least half of those spaces must be equipped with a charging station. The remaining parking spaces should be prepared for charging stations that can be easily installed in the future.

Solar panels will be mandatory

Finally, the package of proposals also includes new rules on the installation of solar panels. New buildings should be built in such a way that they can make optimal use of solar energy. From December 31, 2026, every new government building or private office building with an area of ​​more than 250 square meters must actually be equipped with solar panels.

In two years, the installation of solar panels will also require major renovation of existing office buildings larger than 400 square meters. Then, from the end of 2029, solar panels will be mandatory for every new home.

The European Parliament is preparing to take the next step

The fact that the European member states reached an agreement today does not mean that everything has already been resolved. The European Parliament will announce its position on the new directive next month. After that, the member states and the Parliament must come to a mutual agreement.

This promises to be a difficult debate, especially regarding energy standards for buildings. The expectation is that, unlike member states, the European Parliament will want to continue with energy certificates. This directive will only come into force after member states and the European Parliament agree on a compromise. Negotiations will continue at least until the first half of next year.

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Image credit above: Illustration of the proposed solar farm at the Kansas City International Airport. (Courtesy | Kansas City Aviation Department)

In early 2023, an unprecedented municipal solar farm investment at the Kansas City International Airport will make national headlines and big news is expected to surprise and delight Kansas Cityans.

A request for proposals to build solar panels adjacent to the city’s KCI runways will close Jan. 25, 2023, Kansas City Manager Brian Platt said. The developer of the facility will be determined shortly.

“We think this is the largest airport solar array and municipal solar array,” Platt told Flatland in an exclusive interview, adding that “we’ll define the structure by 2023.”

“We need to be big, bold and aggressive with our solutions,” Platt said.

Brian Platt, Kansas City City Manager. (Courtesy | Greg Pallante)

The project is expected to push Kansas City to the top of the list for companies looking for locations to open facilities in sustainability-focused regions to help attract a young, idealistic workforce, particularly high-tech, social media and information services companies.

“It puts us on the short list absolutely,” Platt said.

In addition, Platt said, “We hope this lowers energy costs for everyone.”

News of the solar farm is expected to come as the city prepares to break the ribbon on its new $1.5 billion terminal in KCI early next year.

“There will be a lot of conversations about our airport over the next few months,” Platt said.

A giant solar development in KCI will help address climate change, he said.

This would have the added benefit of insulating Kansas City residents from power outages caused by distant weather disasters, such as the early February 2021 freeze that caused power outages in Texas.

A year ago this week, Flatland was the first news outlet to report Platt’s plan to build a 300-megawatt solar farm on a 2,000-acre site in the city’s KCI.

Since then, research and meetings with energy experts have encouraged the city to increase its solar energy ambitions to 500 megawatts on 3,100 acres in KCI. To give you an idea of ​​the size, that’s more than three-quarters the size of Prairie Village, Kansas.

That 500 megawatts would power about 70,000 homes, or about a third of Kansas City. Platt called it “astronomical amounts of green energy.”

Development is likely to continue in two directions.

Initially, relatively small-scale solar power will serve as a “proof of concept” to help develop the city’s energy experience and fine-tune plans for a wider second track. The first phase will be a smaller, community-scale solar project built south and west of the airport and on its runways.

Platt said the second path would require building the balance of 500 megawatts and could take a decade.

Economically, Platt said, “in theory, it could pay for itself.” This means that the money generated from the sale of solar energy will pay for the investment required to install, commission and operate the solar equipment.

“We hope it’s cost neutral,” he said.

“There will be a lot of conversations about our airport over the next few months.”

Brian Platt, Kansas City City Manager

Now, as it was a year ago, Evergy, the local electric utility, remains largely mum about the prospect of such a major effort in its backyard that could upend Evergy’s business model, which dates back to 1881.

Platt said he would be neutral on whether the city would continue to own solar and sell the solar power to Evergy, or whether Evergy would acquire the solar generation after the city develops it.

Another possibility is that a third party would buy the solar project and then sell the electricity, though it’s unclear whether that would require changes to Missouri law and utility regulations.

Flatland asked Chuck Caisley, Evergy’s chief customer officer, as he and Platt and his team discussed solar energy in KCI, the following three questions:

1. How much total solar generation does Evergy have today and what is your target for 2025 and 2030?

2. Could Evergy be interested in, and using, the 500 megawatts of new solar generated at KCI sometime in the next decade?

3. The City is neutral on whether or not to own the solar generation to be created at KCI. Does Evergy want to have it? Does current law allow a third party to enter, own and operate a solar facility the city is developing at KCI?

Evergy responded through a spokesperson: “Chuck is unavailable. We are considering the tender offer.”

In a follow-up email, Evergy spokesman Andrew Baker listed several smaller solar projects it’s involved in — one 3-megawatt project, another 1.2-megawatt project, and 25 additional projects Evergy owns or has assets of 6.5 megawatts.

Evergy plans to add 2,290 megawatts of solar power by 2041 — so perhaps a fifth of that could come from the proposed KCI solar development.

Meanwhile, generating electricity by burning coal is considered a major source of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to ongoing climate change.

According to federal government statistics: “Coal provided 74% of Missouri’s electric grid generation in 2021, the second-highest share of any state behind only West Virginia. “Missouri consumes about eight times more energy than it produces.”

Evergy has announced plans to decarbonize by 2045.

Not wanting to wait twenty years for this achievement, Kansas City is now implementing its own robust sustainable energy agenda.

To accomplish this, Kansas City works with key regional energy agencies such as the US Department of Energy, DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). The Southwest Power Pool is a regional transmission organization mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure a reliable power supply, adequate transmission infrastructure, and competitive wholesale electricity prices.

The Southwest Energy Pool, contacted by Flatland, said of the planned 500 megawatts of solar in KCI: “If this resource were connected to the transmission grid, SPP would fully study its impact based on variables such as location, generation capacity, conditions in the surrounding system, etc.”

SPP experts and its spokesmen could not be reached for further comment.

A year ago, former US mayor Emanuel Cleaver told Flatland: “We’re already in line to have a big airport. But if it’s a 21st century airport with proven solar technology, it can be infinitely bigger.”

Flatland contributor Martin Rosenberg is a Kansas City journalist who created and hosts the US Department of Energy’s Grid Talk podcast about the future of electricity.

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Solar panels on City of Hill buildings and properties will save thousands of dollars in energy costs

Solar panels at the Johnson County Hills Water Treatment Plant. (Courtesy of City of Hills)

Solar panels at Hills Sewer Lagoon. (Courtesy of City of Hills)

Solar panels are pictured on the roof of the Hills Fire Station. (Courtesy of City of Hills)

HILLS – After starting the project last year, the city of Hills, south of Iowa City, has completed installing solar panels on the city’s fire station, community center and office building.

The panels save the city $500 a month in energy. They are projected to save more than $300,000 over the next 25 years, according to Friday’s news release. Average monthly fees now range from $10 to $20 per building.

“The money from the local option sales tax was used for the installation,” Mayor Tim Kemp said in a news release, “and we quickly began to see savings on our energy bills for these three buildings.”

Sales tax revenue also allowed the City of Hills to build a community stage, splash pad and additional playground equipment. Last year, the municipality also launched a ten-year plan to repave all the city’s streets.

Solar panels were also added to the Hills Water Treatment Plant and Hills Sewage Lagoons sites last month thanks to a power purchase agreement with Dubuque-based Eagle Point Solar.

Solar energy projects at the waterworks and sewage lagoons produce 34.7 and 56.7 kilowatt hours, respectively, during peak generation periods. Within a month of installation, the panels have already reduced energy costs between the two locations by more than $2,000.

The panels at the fire station, community center, and office building can produce 12.04, 11.55, and 12.04 kilowatt hours, respectively.

“It’s a win-win for the City, we’ll enjoy lower energy costs while being more environmentally conscious,” Kemp said.

The city did not provide a price for any of the solar panels.

Brittney J. Miller is The Gazette’s environmental reporter and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on issues that have not been covered.

Comments: (319) 398-8370; [email protected]

Solar Energy Farmers Pumping Sets Soon Under PM KUSUM Scheme – Sunil Kumar

Udupi: “Karnataka will soon start providing solar-powered pump sets to farmers, reducing the subsidy burden on the department,” Energy, Kannada and Culture Minister V Sunil Kumar said during a Meet the Press at Udupi Patrika Bhavan on October 22. .

Addressing the media, Minister V Sunil Kumar said the government would provide solar power to agricultural pump sets under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan. The Power Department planned to install 1,100 exclusive solar powered feeders to ensure uninterrupted power supply to irrigation pump sets across the state.

Minister Kumar further said, “We will provide solar power to feeders so that farmers can use them in pump sets. 1000 MW power feeders will provide quality energy supply to farmers. Farmers were earlier provided with solar irrigation pump sets, but this was found to be inadequate where the groundwater table has declined drastically. Those pumps could not raise water from a depth of 800-900 meters. The new system will provide farmers with quality energy.”

Minister Kumar also said, “Department of Energy was paying more attention to transparency in its work. During the 100-day Belaku Scheme, 2.5 lakh houses were energized. More than 200 transformer banks and 210 transformer repair stations have been established since he headed the department. From the heads of the electricity supply companies to the line workers, all employees were involved in the transformer maintenance campaign. He also fulfilled his promise to provide 75 units of free electricity to the homes of people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Amrutha Jyothi scheme.

In order to solve the energy issues faster, the Energy Department has proposed to hold “Vidyut Adalat” on the third Saturday of every month. The department has planned to address all energy issues especially in rural areas through this monthly ‘Vidyut Adalat’. Kumar explained that while the tenders for setting up 1,108 electric vehicle charging stations were being finalised, ESCOMs were holding Vidyuth Adalat every third Saturday to address electricity-related grievances on the spot.

Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) and other officials of Power Corporations have been asked to visit even the last village in their respective taluks. Officials should take the initiative to solve energy problems and other issues on the spot or quickly.

Speaking about the Department of Kannada and Culture, Sunil Kumar said that he took the initiative to select the Rajyotsava awardees on the recommendation of the common man. Nevertheless, the Department received 28,000 applications for the award, and 67 were to be selected. The department would ensure that unsung heroes are selected for awards.

District Working Journalists Union President Rajesh Shetty Alevoor, Secretary Nazir Polya, Treasurer Umesh Marpalli, Pathirka Bhavan Convener Ajith Shetty, Co-convener Ankith Shetty were present.

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Farmers have called on Liz Truss’ successor as UK prime minister to abandon plans to ban solar power from most of England’s farmland, arguing it would cut a vital income stream and harm food security.

Truss, who resigned on Thursday, and her environment secretary Ranil Jayawardena hoped to ban about 41% of England’s land area, or about 58% of agricultural land, from using solar energy, the Guardian revealed last week.

They planned to do this by reclassifying less productive farmland as “best and most valuable” by making it harder to use for energy infrastructure.

Members of the Country Lands and Business Association (CLA), which represents 33,000 landowners, told the Guardian that having solar power on their less productive land would allow them to subsidize food production in less successful years, as well as provide cheap electricity for their properties and homes across the country. gives their local area.

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CLA president Mark Tufnell grows oats, wheat and barley on his Cotswolds estate. He said: “We have members who, if the need arises, these are temporary places, and then they can concentrate on growing more food on their other land.

“The sun would be on their less good land, and … if they choose to do it, why shouldn’t they be allowed to do it?”

He added that the land was not used for agriculture because locusts were easy to remove and the area could be grazed by sheep. “There is no reason why the area below this should not be grazed by sheep, but it can also provide very good habitat for agricultural birds and increase biodiversity to help the environment.

“I don’t see them saying that we will set aside these lands with the stroke of a pencil, I don’t see that it helps, and I think that it is not possible to help food security in any case.”

The real problem with the government’s solar strategy, he says, is how difficult it is to put solar power on rooftops.

Tufnell said: “There’s so much they haven’t been able to do, like encourage rooftop solar, change the planning system to allow it. I already have 49kW and would like to have another 100kW in my premises but the hardest thing to do is to connect to the grid affordably. They are very slow, the cost is incredibly high and in my case I might have to put in a mini substation which is very expensive.

“My job is to put solar panels on the building that I am converting into an office and workshop, and if there is any surplus, I would like to use it on the houses in the village. “But it’s so difficult and expensive that it’s very unpleasant, and if I hadn’t been so persistent, I honestly thought I couldn’t be bothered.”

Harry Teacher, a fruit and arable farmer in Kent, has a large solar park on his land, which helps bring in income when his farm has a bad year.

He said: “We built a park in 2014, putting ground-mounted panels on frames on about 61 hectares. We are a fruit and arable farm, but we are quite diversified and any farmer was encouraged to find sources of income other than farming and solar panels were part of that diversification. It is a constant source of income for us. This gives our business even more strength.”

Not understanding all the fuss, the teacher added, “As a suggestion, they are easily hidden by a large hedge. They do not make noise, there are no moving parts. Carbon is now a serious thing we all have to consider, solar panels should be a part of it. If the argument is loss of land for food – you know planning applications for solar parks are made on a temporary basis – ours is for a 25 year period. If for any reason, which is not uncommon, we run out of food, we can collect it all and return it to agriculture.

“We definitely make more money from our solar panels than from farming. People have a gut reaction to any kind of greenfield development, and it’s more of a reaction to people’s reaction to seeing solar parks – I don’t think it’s a real fear for food production.”