Several farmers in North Kohala, Hawaii, are now benefitting from an innovative off-grid water-pumping system powered by a Northern Power NPS 100 wind turbine. Like many others in remote locations and island communities, North Kohala farmers have been searching for an alternative to using polluting, expensive diesel fuel to generate electricity. This microgrid project, known as SkyGrid Energy, marks the growing trend of turning to affordable, clean, renewable wind energy as the solution. The NPS 100 wind turbine is specifically designed to support microgrids with its sophisticated voltage controls and no inrush current, thereby relieving stress to the system. In addition, the NPS 100's ability to control reactive power independently of wind speed more reliably meets energy demands, a crucial component of microgrids.
The SkyGrid Energy microgrid has been fully operational since April 2013. In addition to the NPS 100 wind turbine, which is the primary source of energy production, the system also includes a battery bank and solar panels. The system is capable of pumping more than 30 million gallons of water annually and is being used to irrigate 400 acres of agricultural land and support 14 participating farms and agricultural businesses. The project was partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture. Gen-X Energy Development LLC, the project developer, plans to replicate and deploy this microgrid solution throughout Hawaii and other island communities.
"Besides providing innovation for a better world and helping increase our independence from fossil fuels, the new microgrid is also helping provide a reliable and cost-effective solution for Hawaii's agriculture industry. This Northern Power turbine is critical to this microgrid's success," said Fred Brown, Gen-X Energy Development LLC co-founder.
Northern Power Systems has been an integral part of the evolving microgrid market for 40 years. Northern Power Systems turbines have been used in microgrid projects all around the world, from Alaska to Newfoundland and the Bahamas to Antarctica.
To learn more about the SkyGrid Energy project and microgrids, please join Northern Power Systems at two upcoming events. At the Distributed Wind Expo 2013 in Rochester, NY (June 11, 2013), Alan Axworthy, Director - Application Engineering, will present a case study of the SkyGrid Energy microgrid. Later in the month, on June 24, Paul Dawson, Director - Sales, Marketing and Business Development for the Americas, will present on microgrids at the Wind-Diesel 101 Workshop, at the Renewables in Remote Microgrids Conference in Toronto, Canada.
Northern Power Systems is a fully integrated company that designs, manufactures, and sells wind turbines into the global marketplace from its headquarters in Vermont, USA, with European headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland and a significant presence in the United Kingdom and Italy. The Company's proven, next generation PM/DD, wind turbine technology is based on a vastly simplified architecture that utilizes a unique combination of a permanent magnet generator and direct-drive design. This proven approach uses fewer moving parts, delivers higher energy capture, and provides increased reliability due to reduced maintenance and downtime. Northern Power Systems currently manufactures the NPS™ 60 and 100 turbines.
With over 2.5 million run time hours across its fleet, Northern Power turbines provide customers with clean, cost effective renewable energy.
SOURCE: Northern Power Systems
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New Energy Technologies, Inc., developer of see-through solar cells for generating electricity on glass windows, recently announced that researchers have successfully achieved faster fabrication time, improved transparency, and a two-fold increase in power conversion efficiency. Researchers achieved the advances by way of a novel, patent-pending breakthrough, which enables fabrication of large-scale mini-module SolarWindow devices, important to commercial deployment of the world's first-of-its-kind glass window capable of generating electricity. Generating electricity on glass windows is possible when New Energy researchers spray ultra-small, see-through solar cells on to glass surfaces. These novel spray-on techniques have been pioneered, advanced, and unveiled in operating prototypes by scientists who initiated early research efforts with New Energy Technologies under a Sponsored Research Agreement at the University of South Florida (USF). The Company's SolarWindow technology has since progressed significantly beyond early research, and is now in advanced product development. Related Story: No Limits, Total Abundance: Transparent Solar Windows Meanwhile, these announcement are the outcome of spray-related improvements achieved during the completion phase of New Energy's early Sponsored Research at USF, led by Dr. Xiaomei Jiang. Researchers report that these latest spray-on techniques have successfully: · Boosted power conversion efficiency of each individual cell by two-fold compared to previous fabrication methods, leading to overall power output improvement of SolarWindow; · Reduced fabrication time from several days down to only a few hours, or 1/6th of the time normally required; · Improved the transparency or visual light transmission of SolarWindow modules, creating a widow tint effect; and · Achieved an aesthetically attractive, uniform coating on to glass important to consumer appeal. Specifically, these performance improvements result from spray advancements which control fabrication of various layers of coatings on glass; collectively, these layers make up the architecture of SolarWindow modules. Among other functions, the various layers allow the glass to absorb the sun's energy, generate electricity, and direct the electricity for collection and use. Researchers are hopeful that this breakthrough in mini-module spray-on device fabrication leads to improved spray-on techniques for large-scale devices, a precursor to the Company's product for commercial launch. This latest breakthrough is an exciting testament to our ongoing efforts as we continuously work to improve the quality and performance of our SolarWindow mini-modules, explained Mr. John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. Moving forward, we remain devoutly focused on producing large surface area prototypes which are compatible with high-speed production methods, important to commercialization of SolarWindow. Currently under development for eventual commercial deployment in the estimated 85 million commercial buildings and homes in America, SolarWindow technology is the subject of fourteen (14) patent filings and is the world's first-of-its-kind technology capable of generating electricity on see-through glass windows. SolarWindow is a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology. BIPV products are expected to achieve compound annualized growth of 41%-plus through 2016, according to Pike Research. About New Energy Technologies, Inc. New Energy Technologies, Inc., together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a developer of next generation alternative and renewable energy technologies. Among the Company's technologies under development are: MotionPower roadway systems for generating electricity by capturing the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles a patent-pending technology, the subject of 45 US and International patent applications. An estimated 250 million registered vehicles drive more than six billion miles on America's roadways, every day; and SolarWindow technologies, which enable see-through windows to generate electricity by spraying their glass surfaces with New Energy's electricity-generating coatings the subject of 14 patent applications. These solar coatings are less than 1/10th the thickness of thin films and make use of the world's smallest functional solar cells, shown to successfully produce electricity in a published peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy of the American Institute of Physics. Through established relationships with universities, research institutions, and commercial partners, we strive to identify technologies and business opportunities on the leading edge of renewable energy innovation. Unique to our business model is the use of established research infrastructure owned by the various institutions we deal with, saving us significant capital which would otherwise be required for such costs as land and building acquisition, equipment and capital equipment purchases, and other start-up expenses. As a result, we are able to benefit from leading edge research while employing significantly less capital than conventional organizations. |
SOURCE: New Energy Technologies Inc.
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About 1.2 billion people – almost the population of India – don’t have access to electricity, 2.8 billion have to rely on wood or other biomass to cook and heat their homes, renewable energy accounts for 18 percent of the global energy mix, and the largest energy savings and greatest expansion of renewables happened in China.
These are just some of the findings of a unique new report by a multi-agency team led by the World Bank and supported by the World Energy Council. The report, compiled by experts from 15 agencies, is the first of a series to monitor progress towards the three objectives of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, launched in 2011 by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The initiative, whose advisory board is co-chaired by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, is mobilizing a global coalition of governments, private sector and civil society to achieve, by 2030, its three objectives of universal access, doubled renewables and doubled energy efficiency improvement.
The report puts numbers to those three objectives and identifies what needs to change where and how to do it.
“Demand continues to outpace supply of electricity: That electricity needs to be affordable, and generated more and more in a sustainable way, and used more efficiently,” said World Bank Vice President Rachel Kyte, in launching the report. “To rise to this challenge – to meet peoples’ basic needs and to do so sustainably clearly requires a scale of effort we have never seen before.”
About 80 percent of those without access to modern energy live in rural areas. Although 1.7 billion people gained access to electricity between 1990 and 2010, this is only slightly ahead of population growth of 1.6 billion over the same period. The pace of expansion will have to double to meet the 100 percent access target by 2030. To bring electricity to that one billion plus people using conventional energy sources would increase global carbon dioxide emissions by less than one percent.
The reports finds only “modest” progress since 1990 on expanding access to electricity and clean household fuels, increasing the share of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.
Dr Christoph Frei, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, said: "The report shows that there has been progress but it is also clear that much more will need to be done if we are to meet the UN Secretary General’s ambitious goals. The global energy system is undergoing arguably the biggest transformation in modern history and bold policy measures will be required to enable the energy sector to deliver on this challenge. The World Energy Council is committed to play our part in achieving these goals and guiding the policy changes needed, through our leadership network and our events such as the World Energy Congress, with our Energy Tilemma policy work and our leadership in the Global Electricity Initiative.”
Twenty countries in Asia and Africa account for about two-thirds of those without access to electricity and three-quarters of those who use solid fuels—wood, charcoal, animal and crop waste, and coal—to cook or heat their homes.
The study calculates that renewable energy accounted for 18 percent of the global energy mix in 2010, and that the improvement rate of energy efficiency, described by a compound annual growth rate of energy intensity (CAGR), was -1.3 percent between 1990 and 2010.
Twenty so-called “high-impact” countries identified in the report as accounting for 80 percent of energy consumption will need to lead the way on doubling the share of renewables to 36 percent of the global energy mix and doubling energy efficiency.
Decisive action is needed to achieve these goals, the report concludes, including more than doubled energy investments, as well as “a comprehensive package of policy measures, including fiscal, financial and economic incentives, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and pricing of carbon.”
Dr Frei added: “Access to secure, clean, and affordable energy is fundamental to improving the lives of people across the world. The goals of Sustainable Energy for All are important and we must seize this opportunity to make a better future."
The report shows that China has recorded the largest energy savings and greatest expansion in renewable energy globally. India has electrified an annual average of 24 million people and provided 20 million a year with access to modern cooking and heating fuels since 1990.
“In the report, we refer to high-impact countries that offer the most potential to make rapid progress towards the goals,” said Vivien Foster, Energy Sector Manager at the World Bank, who led the report team. “This report suggests that they can draw lessons from the experience of what we call fast-moving countries. Interestingly, China and India fall in both categories.”
It also calls on countries, international organizations, private sector investors and civil society to increase energy investments focused on the three objectives by at least $600 billion a year until 2030, more than doubling the current estimated $409 billion. The additional $600 billion would include $45 billion for electricity expansion, $4.4 billion on modern cooking, $394 billion in energy efficiency, and $174 billion on renewable energy.
SOURCE: World Energy Council
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The Scandinavian-German manufacturer Innotech Solar (ITS) is demanding the enforcement of anti-dumping duties for Chinese solar modules. This has been prompted by Chinese manufacturers selling their photovoltaic modules below their production costs in order to undercut European competitors. In the event that the European solar industry falls, Chinese prices would rise significantly.
“A glance at the annual financial statements of Chinese suppliers shows that instead of economizing, these companies are simply selling their PV modules below manufacturing costs. In some instances, their losses are just as high as their sales,” explains Dr. Thomas Hillig, Vice President Module Sales & Marketing at Innotech Solar. “If Chinese manufacturers were not selling their modules at levels that distort the competition, their prices would actually be up to double as high.”
According to Hillig, as soon as Europe loses its own photovoltaics industry, Chinese manufacturers would no longer provide their solar modules at unprofitable prices. “Fair competition is only possible if all market players follow the same set of game rules. We are in no doubt that China is distorting the market for PV modules by dumping its products in a targeted manner and this unfair competition must not remain unpunished by the EU,” continues Hillig. “If we do not act now to enforce anti-dumping duties that bring about a discernible increase in prices, Chinese suppliers will dramatically increase their module prices once the European competition has collapsed.”
Innotech Solar’s business model boasts an innovative production process that brings about cost benefits. The company’s in-house research teams have developed a process that economically restores the performance of low-efficiency solar cells to their full capacity by using thermal imaging to detect low-performing cell areas and automatically isolating them with special lasers.
The company optimizes solar cells from different manufacturers in the German city of Halle an der Saale and manufactures all of its modules in Glava, Sweden. Apart from its EVA film, which it obtains from the Japanese market leader for this material, Innotech Solar only uses components from European manufacturers of proprietary products. A multitude of tests by independent experts, such as the Fraunhofer Institute, Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin or PV Lab, have demonstrated the high performance, longevity and positive environmental impact of Innotech Solar modules.
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Smart wind turbines with batteries will be deployed courtesy of GE and Invenergy in Texas this year, feeding energy into the state's grid from a source that has at times accounted for over a quarter of its total electricity.
GE said Invenergy ordered three 2.5-megawatt turbines that come with sodium-nickel battery storage and power-regulations software for an 86-turbine wind farm going up this year. That announcement comes just two months after GE revealed its “brilliant” turbine and Duke Energy tested a 36-megawatt battery system at a wind farm in West Texas.
The energy captured will be used during times of peak demand, when air conditioners and factories need it the most.
Texas leads the country in installed wind capacity—a figure that continues to grow. As a result, grid operators are turning more to energy storage to gain more certainty from their power sources. Fortunately, GE says its system will allow for predictable energy flow over 15 to 60 minute periods.
“This new marriage of battery storage and advanced software within a wind turbine allows forward-thinking wind energy producers like Invenergy to shift the winds in its favor – increasing wind power’s efficiency and short-term predictability,” Keith Longtin, who manages the wind product line for GE’s renewable energy business, said in a statement.
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There are now more solar energy workers in the state of Texas than there are ranchers, according to solar research group The Solar Foundation.
The group's data mapping out solar jobs across the nation also showed that there are more solar jobs in California than actors, and more solar workers than coal miners nationwide. Sunny states like California and Arizona topped the list. Wyoming came in last, with just 50 workers, while Utah showed a mere 290 solar workers despite being one of the country's sunniest states.
Even the states with less sunshine like New Jersey and Michigan showed a high number of solar jobs—thanks to favorable tax and regulatory policies that help attract developers to cope with high electricity prices.
Related story: Massive Military Solar Project Commences in Hawaii
The study also showed that almost half of solar jobs involve installing solar panels, paying around $18 and hour ($38,000 a year), which is higher than the median national wage of $34,750, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Related story: Solar Roadways Light the Way for the Future of Infrastructure
About another quarter of those jobs involve the manufacturing of solar panels, lending the other quarter to development, sales and marketing.
Nationwide, some 119,000 people are employed by the solar industry, marking one of the fastest growth rates for any industry in the country.
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Reconfirming its commitment to a more sustainable future, Australia proudly announced the opening of the 420 MW Macarthur Wind Farm on April 11—the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere. But the magnitude of the project was not the only impressive feature of the $1 billion venture: it was also the first to purchase the Vestas V112-3.0 MW wind turbine, capable of picking up low to medium wind speed to fully take advantage Australia's vast wind resources. As a bonus, the project spurred job growth and was delivered three months ahead of schedule almost exactly on budget.
Under a joint venture between Australian-based AGL Energy and New Zealand-based Meridian Energy, Vestas, a leading international wind turbine manufacturer, commenced site work in late 2010 with the project partner Leighton Contractors. Vestas' new V112-3.0 MW turbines had never before been deployed, but held tremendous promise to set new industry benchmarks for the cost of energy per Gwh, boasting a larger rotor diameter and efficient power train design.
“Vestas won a project of international significance based on a product that was still just at a blue print stage,” says Giles Rinckes, Project Director. “But because of Vestas' reputation and the faith the customer had in the company, the investment was made swiftly and successfully.”
COME RAIN OR SHINE
That's not to say the project was shy of its own set of challenges. For the past decade, Australia had experienced a period of intense drought—a condition expected to continue throughout the construction phase in Macarthur. When the drought unexpectedly broke, however, heavy rainfall on site posed a number of significant challenges including the redesign of some of its civil works.
“Vestas and Leighton Contractors didn't leave or stop the progress,” says Rinckes. “We worked through the rain.”
It was a massive, technically complex job that required meeting high standards of grid compliance, pulling equipment from all over the world and intensive operations, coordination and planning on the ground.
“Despite all of the challenges, we finished in January of this year—three months ahead of schedule,” says Rinckes. “That's just a bonus to the quality of the job successfully delivered to the client.”
ECONOMIC BOOST
With a total of 140 of Vestas' V112-3.0 MW turbines, the Macarthur Wind Farm has a contracted power output of up to 420 MW, or enough to power 220,000 homes in Victoria. In a country where coal reigns, that equates to the diversion of some 1.7 million tons of greenhouse gases each year, according to Vestas.
In light of uncertain economic conditions, careful consideration was taken into account to ensure the farm would exceed its return on investment.
“We wanted to make sure that our business will survive in tough market conditions,” says Rinckes. “These turbines were selected specifically to match Macarthur's wind conditions and provide optimum generation for the customer over the next 20 years.”
During the construction stage, direct, indirect and induced employment resulted in 2,100 jobs and 115 long-term jobs over the life span of the farm, 30 per cent of which were filled by local workers. A number of local businesses, including manufacturers of turbine towers and leading travel tower fleet like Summit Tower Hire also contributed a fair share of contracted work.
“It's great to work with local companies close to the wind farm that we can invest in,” says Rinckes. “There's a whole host of Australian companies that are extremely competent in the wind energy space.”
With the Macarthur installation, Vestas has contributed to more than half of the cumulative wind energy capacity in Australia. Thanks to the country's efforts to reach its Renewable Energy Target of generating 20 per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2020, Australia is now enjoying the benefits of large-scale clean energy investment. But the project's successful commissioning down under could have an even larger impact abroad.
GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS
With the majority of sites bearing high wind speed conditions already developed, Vestas' flagship turbine responds to one of the greatest limitations facing the industry: the ability to tap the huge potential available in low to medium wind sites in markets around the world.
“Based on the 3 MW turbine platform, we also just released a series of new turbines based on that same technology,” says Naveen Raghavan Balachandran, Senior Director, Business Development and Public Affairs at Vestas. “The new designs will be able to cater to the entire wind spectrum.”
The new variants include the V112-3.3 MW, the V117-3.3 MW and the V126-3.3 MW, all based on the same proven technology of machines deployed in Macarthur, enabling customers to benefit from energy production across low, medium and high wind sites.
“That's going to open up the possibilities for wind power in a lot more markets in environments no other wind energy company could successfully operate before,” says Balachandran, a revolutionary addition to the overall renewable energy market.
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Construction has started on the first phase of a massive solar project by Forest City Military Communities and SolarCity® to provide solar electricity to 6,500 military family residences at Ohana Military Communities (OMC), which serves Navy Region Hawaii and Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The latest SolarStrong™ project is scoped for a planned 24 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity, which would make it the largest SolarCity has undertaken to date. SolarCity and Forest City have finished installing the first 700 kilowatts of solar capacity at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and will soon initiate the first installations on Navy Region Hawaii. Representatives from Forest City and SolarCity will join in a traditional Hawaiian blessing today to celebrate the initiation of the project. SolarStrong, SolarCity’s five-year plan to build more than $1 billion in solar energy projects for U.S. military housing communities, is expected to create up to 300 MW of solar generation capacity that could provide energy to as many as 120,000 military housing units.
Related Story: Army Scientists Scout Energy Solutions for the Battlefield
Primarily financed by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the new project at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Navy Region Hawaii is expected to reduce Hawaii’s dependence on the imported oil it uses to produce the majority of its electricity. The projects will help the state make a significant advance toward its ambitious Clean Energy Initiative goal to use 70% clean energy, including 40% renewable energy, by 2030. The project will also help the Department of Defense, currently the largest energy consumer in the United States, make additional progress toward its goal to have 25% of its energy requirements met by renewable energy by 2025.
Forest City is a leading developer and manager of distinctive and diversified real estate projects, with properties in 26 states and the District of Columbia. The company currently manages military family housing units in eight states from Hawaii to South Carolina for the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force under the Armed Forces’ Public-Private Venture (PPV) Privatized Family Housing program.
“Our partnership with SolarCity on this renewable energy initiative is a strong positive for the military and for the environment. Sustainability is a corporate core value at Forest City,” said Thomas Henneberry, president of Forest City Military Communities. “This is our first involvement with the SolarStrong project and we’re hopeful to find opportunities to expand it to other portions of our portfolio.”
"Top Navy leaders support these initiatives because we are stronger, safer and less vulnerable when we embrace renewable energy and support sustainability -- in all of our communities,” said Rear Admiral Frank Ponds, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii. “We need to diversify our energy resources, and we need to build strong partnerships. For example, through the joint energy security initiative here in Hawaii we have a strong commitment to solar energy as well as other promising alternative and renewable energy sources and solutions. We are moving forward together at every opportunity to promote sustainability and security. This is the right thing to do for the Navy, for Hawaii and for the nation -- not only now, but also for generations to come."
Related story: The US Army's Great Drive for Renewable Power
"This project not only benefits our military ohana, it reduces our energy costs which directly affect how our tax payer's dollar is spent. Additionally, it reduces our reliance on foreign oil, and helps contribute to Hawaii's goal to generate 40% clean energy from locally generated renewables by 2030," said Col. Brian Annichiarico, commanding officer, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
“Project by project, our SolarStrong initiative is assisting the Department of Defense’s impressive effort to change the way our nation’s military consumes energy,” said SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive. “The road to the Department’s goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025 is being paved, in part, with solar panels by sustainable developers such as Forest City.”
“We are pleased to be able to help finance the most recent and largest planned SolarStrong project so far,” said Jonathan Plowe, head of New Energy & Infrastructure Solutions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “Bank of America Merrill Lynch remains a leader in financing solar power, and is proud to work with SolarCity, Forest City and the U.S. military to promote the use of clean, renewable energy and create jobs for Americans, including veterans and military family members.”
Read more in Energy Digital: The Military Issue
In addition to SolarStrong, SolarCity is pursuing a veteran hiring initiative as part of its Workforce Development program. The company has hired more than 100 veterans this year in various positions within the company including IT, sales, managerial, administration, design and installation. The company has collaborated on hiring processes by partnering with several veteran programs across the country, including Veteran Affairs national offices, JPMorgan Chase & Co’s ‘100,000 Jobs Mission,’ Swords to Plowshares, The California National Guard, The California Conservation Corps and Veterans Green Jobs.
In addition to the Navy Region Hawaii and Marine Corps Base Hawaii projects announced today, there are additional SolarStrong projects underway at Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range in Texas, Hickam Community Housing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Los Angeles Air Force Base, and Peterson and Schriever Air Force Bases in Colorado. Each project was financed in part by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
SOURCE: SolarCity
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Global wind and solar company, Mainstream Renewable Power today announced its sponsorship of a rowing expedition attempting a world first through the infamous Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic this summer. Three experienced Irish adventurers and one Canadian are attempting to become the first ever people to cross the 3,000 km passage by human power alone in a single season - a feat which is only possible due to the melting ice which normally renders it impassable.
Irishmen Paul Gleeson, Denis Barnett and Kevin Vallely along with Canadian Frank Wolf will set off from Inuvik in the North West Territories on the first of July in their 25ft long customized rowing boat "The Arctic Joule". The four men will row in continuous shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week as the route will be in constant daylight for the majority of the journey, which is expected to take two to three months, ending at Pond Inlet in Nunavut.
Eddie O'Connor, Chief Executive of Mainstream Renewable Power said: "Mainstream is proud to sponsor this expedition because it draws attention to the disasters of global warming. The expedition can only happen because the polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate. The melting of the permafrost and the release of methane hydrate is perhaps the biggest single calamity that mankind faces and it's all down to human-induced global warming. This expedition allows us to demonstrate to the world that there is an answer to global warming. We don't have to do without electricity. We can have our electricity supplied by renewable sources."
He continued: "Just last month, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said that if we have any hope of keeping climate change below two degrees Celsius, the peak year of carbon emission has to be 2016. I hope this expedition will show world leaders that we need to act now."
This announcement comes as EU Environment Ministers met at Dublin Castle last week to discuss a range of important environmental and climate issues as part of the Irish Presidency agenda.
Speaking about the expedition Paul Gleeson said: "We are very pleased that such a successful, Irish renewable energy company with a global presence feels as passionately about this as we do. It wasn't long ago that the Northwest Passage was the sole domain of steel-hulled ice-breakers. We hope by making this traverse completely under human power in a row boat, without sail or motor, in a single season we will be able to demonstrate first-hand the profound effects climate change is having on our world."
The Northwest Passage is a route through the various islands of the Canadian archipelago which over the years has witnessed some incredible tales of courage, disaster and hardship. In 1845, fellow-Irishman, Francis Crozier from County Down joined Sir John Franklin on the same expedition in the HMS Terror, an expedition which ended in disaster and to this day remains unsolved.
SOURCE Mainstream Renewable Power
Photo sourced via PR Newswire
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A bipartisan bill introduced to the Senate last week could serve renewable energy developers with some of the same tax benefits the oil and gas industry currently enjoys.
The Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act would change the tax code and allow renewable and clean-energy companies to structure businesses as master limited partnerships, averting double taxation while trading ownership interests on the market. Oil and gas and other fossil fuel-related industries already enjoy such freedoms, allowing them access to private capital at significantly lower costs than investors in other energy projects, according to Senator Chris Coons.
“That starves a growing and vital part of our domestic energy sector of the capital that it needs to grow,” Coons told Bloomberg. “That just doesn’t make any sense.”
Republican representative Ted Poe and other Republicans also support the effort, despite their strong ties to the oil and gas industry.
“The tax code currently hinders the US' ability to develop all energy and be more energy-independent,” Poe said at a press conference.
The bill would also encourage smaller investors to get involved in the market, bringing more resources into the renewable energy sector.
“There’s also evidence that MLPs could drive down the cost of renewables themselves by driving down the cost of capital for those projects, which is an exciting thing for the industry,” Andrew Savage, a spokesman for Vermont-based solar technology manufacturer AllEarth Renewables, told BNA April 24
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If the U.S. ceases to burn coal, shuts down a quarter of existing nuclear reactors, and trims its use of natural gas by 2050, the resulting increased reliance on wind, solar and other renewables will not result in a less reliable electricity grid, according to a major new report prepared by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc., for the nonprofit Civil Society Institute (CSI).
The new study finds that, in the envisioned 2050 with a heavy reliance on renewables, regional electricity generation supply could meet or exceed demand in 99.4 percent of hours, with load being met without imports from other regions and without turning to reserve storage. In addition, surplus power would be available to export in 8.6 percent of all hours, providing an ample safety net where needed from one region of the U.S. to the next.
Grant Smith, senior energy analyst, Civil Society Institute said: “This study shows that the U.S. electricity grid could integrate and balance many times the current level of renewables with no additional reliability issues. Recent improvements in both renewable technologies themselves and in the technologies that are used to control and balance the grid have been proceeding at a rapid pace, and the incentives and rewards for success in this area continue to drive substantial progress. In contrast, the alternative—continuing to rely on increasing combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity, and producing ever-increasing levels of greenhouse gases—is far less feasible, and presents much more daunting technical, economic, and social challenges to human and environmental welfare. In comparison, the challenge of integrating increasing levels of solar and wind power on the U.S. power grids requires only incremental improvements in technology and operational practices.”
Report co-author Dr. Thomas Vitolo, analyst, Synapse Energy Economics, Inc.: “Put simply, the message today is this: It is a myth to say that the United States cannot rely on renewables for the bulk of its electricity generation. This study finds that the projected mixes, based entirely on existing technology and operational practices, are capable of balancing projected load in 2030 and 2050 for each region—in nearly every hour of every season of the year.”
In 2011, Synapse prepared a study for the Civil Society Institute that introduced a “Transition Scenario” in which the United States retires all of its coal plants and a quarter of its nuclear plants by 2050, moving instead toward a power system based on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Synapse study for CSI showed that this Transition Scenario, in addition to achieving significant reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants, ultimately costs society less than a “business as usual” status quo strategy -- even without considering the cost of carbon. The 2011 study also projected that, over 40 years, the Transition Scenario would result in savings of $83 billion (present value) compared to the status quo strategy.
To achieve these lower-cost and low-emissions results, the Transition Scenario included large amounts of renewable energy resources with “variable output,” such as wind and solar. While the need for variable-output resources is well defined, questions have been raised about the impact of large-scale wind and solar integration on electric system reliability. To address this, Synapse paid careful attention to the amount of wind and solar in each region when designing the Transition Scenario for the 2011 report, taking steps to ensure that the projected regional resource mixes could respond to all load conditions.
The new 2013 study for the Civil Society Institute takes the analysis one big step farther, in order to explore the extent to which the Transition Scenario’s resource mixes for 2030 and 2050 are capable of meeting projected load for each of the 10 studied regions — not just during peak demand conditions, but in every hour of every season of the year as consumers require.
METHODOLOGY
Synapse developed a spreadsheet-based hourly dispatch model to test the capability of the Transition Scenario resource mix in each study region to meet hourly demand in that region. Hourly load data for each region was based on 2010 actual demand, and was adjusted — considering changes in demographics, wealth, and energy efficiency—so that the peak load and annual energy requirements closely matched those in the 2011 Transition Scenario. Data for these tasks were obtained from FERC 2011, NERC 2012, and U.S. EPA 2011. The generators used in the model came from the BBAU 2011 Transition Scenario.
To model the hourly generation of variable resources, a number of National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) studies and data sets were used. To model hourly wind generation, data sets from NREL’s Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study (EnerNex Corporation 2011) and Western Wind and Solar Integration Study (GE Energy 2010) were applied to the power curve of a Vestas V 112 3.0 MW turbine. To model solar output, site specific data from NRELs PVWatts calculator was used. Annual hydroelectric capacity factors from the 2011 report were used for the Northeast, Southeast, Eastern Midwest, and Texas regions; monthly hydroelectric capacity factors from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation were used for the Northwest, California, Arizona/New Mexico, Rocky Mountains, Western Midwest, and South Central regions.
SOURCE: Civil Society Institute
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The Geothermal Energy Association's annual U.S. and International Geothermal Energy Finance Forum (#GEAFinance2013) brought together leaders from the geothermal, finance and investment communities for a day of seminars and discussions. The forum, hosted April 11 at the Marriott Marquis New York, focused on finance's role in the growth of the U.S. geothermal industry, as well as geothermal projects, policies and development worldwide.
"For the industry to reach the next level, we need to expand support from the finance community," said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell. “Governments are providing greater support, but it won’t be enough to fund the expected thousands of megawatts of new projects in the pipeline. We must engage new private investors to grow the geothermal industry."
Related story: Are Volcanos the New Source of Geothermal Energy?
Panels at the forum included a worldwide geothermal development update delivered by Benjamin Matek, GEA geothermal industry analyst, and Mark Taylor, head of geothermal and CCS research for Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
"Only 6 percent of the estimated global geothermal resource is currently online," Taylor said. "By 2030, we expect 28 to 29 GW to come online. There are a lot of places in the world geothermal has not been tapped."
In addition to the United States, a number of leading geothermal markets were represented at the Finance Forum, including Angola, Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Rwanda and Uganda. Many of the program speakers remarked that developers can increase success by distinguishing the most fruitful possible projects from the abundance of the global geothermal resources through proper resource studies upfront, thus avoiding major risks further along a project’s timeline.
Top Ten: Geothermal Energy Locations
A discussion centered on private geothermal project finance highlighted the benefits of investing in this clean energy. "It's baseload, it's 24/7, it's a really good investment," said Sid Sinha, senior vice president of Marathon Capital. "It's a proven technology and it's been around for decades."
The keynotes were delivered by Rohit Khanna, program manager of the World Bank Group's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, and Ambassador of Kenya Elkanah Odembo, who stressed that Africa is rapidly changing, growing and evolving.
"There is business to be done on the continent, there is money to be made. If you make an investment in geothermal, you will get significant returns," Odembo remarked.
Khanna echoed Odembo's sentiment and passion for geothermal. World Bank has invested $1.8 billion in developing countries, Khanna said.
"Geothermal is a triple-win: clean, reliable and home-grown," he stated.
Related story: Google Funded Geothermal Map Reveals Great Potential
Discussions at the Finance Forum focused on issues such as geothermal project finance in the United States and abroad, geothermal project risk, and a worldwide geothermal development update. The global geothermal market is on the upswing in 2013, and recent reports show an estimated 18.6 GW of geothermal power currently in development across 70 countries, accounting for $100 billion in investment. Much of this development is being spearheaded by American companies, a number of whom were represented at the event.
The GEA Finance Forum was made possible by event sponsors Power Engineers, Galena Advisors, Chevron, Hydro Resources and Whitehall.
As the U.S. and nations around the world look to replace fossil fuels to minimize the threat of global warming, geothermal power will grow in its value and importance in the years ahead. Geothermal can provide both firm and flexible power. It can bring the reliability of 24/7 baseload power or complement other energy technologies by firming up more intermittent power generation. It can also provide power for small co-production projects to large utility scale power plants.
The industry will continue the conversation when GEA hosts the National Geothermal Summit in Reno from June 26-27.
SOURCE: Geothermal Energy Association
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In Australia, the world's biggest exporter of coal, energy from wind is now cheaper than fossil fuels, including coal and gas, according to recent findings from Bloomberg.
Electricity generated from a new wind farm can be supplied for A$80 per megawatt hour, whereas energy from a new coal-fired plant will run at about A$143 or A$116 from a new station powered by natural gas. However, coal-fired power stations built in the 1970s and 1980s can still produce cheaper power. Not to mention, Australia's price on carbon emissions has played an integral role in the shift.
The price on carbon (A$23 a metric ton of CO2 emitted as of last year) continues to rise, making it harder for fossil fuel-powered plants to compete. Meanwhile, the cost of wind generation has fallen by 10 percent since 2011 with the help of lower equipment expenses, and the cost of solar has dropped by 29 percent.
“The fact that wind power is now cheaper than coal and gas in a country with some of the world’s best fossil fuel resources shows that clean energy is a game changer which promises to turn the economics of power systems on its head,” Michael Liebreich, chief executive officer of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said in a statement.
By 2020, the country plans to get at least 20 percent of its power from renewable energy. As of 2011, renewables accounted for nearly ten percent of Australia's electricity production.
Wind power is well on its way to comprising the majority of Australia's renewable energy portfolio in the decades to come, especially after just completing construction of the Western Hemisphere's largest wind farm, the Macarthur Project, with the help of Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world's largest turbine maker.
With a weak demand for energy in the country, such investments will play a critical role in reaching renewable energy targets.
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A higher carbon price could make providing all of Australia's energy needs cost-effective by 2030, suggests a new study published in Energy Policy.
Under the current carbon tax that went into effect last July, any firm emitting over 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually must acquire a permit for the cost of $23 per metric ton of CO2 emitted—a price expected to rise over the next four decades. The study tested a number of simulations to figure out when national electrical supply provided entirely by renewables would become cheaper than a fossil fuel-powered scheme. According to researchers' findings, a renewable energy-powered Australia would become cost-effective between 2030 and 2034, with a CO2 price of $50 to $60.
With mature projects in place, wind power alone is expected to provide about half of the country's electricity generation, with solar, hydroelectricity and biofuels providing the rest. Such moves are particularly critical in a land where climate change has led to unbearably hot summers, among other climatic extremes.
Related Story: The Tides Turn in Renewable Energy
In face, it's already paying off. Thanks to a recent reduction in power demand and a burgeoning renewables market, Australia's carbon emissions are at a ten year-low, according to research firm RepuTex. Coal-fired power has also slumped to its lowest level of output, and now comprises of 74.8 per cent of the country's energy mix compared to 85 per cent in 2009.
"Renewables are basically cancelling out coal," RepuTex executive director Hugh Grossman told AAP.
Of course, the innovative carbon pricing mechanisms introduced last July have played an integral role.
"This is a very positive step for the global effort on climate change. It shows that the world's most emissions-intensive advanced economy is prepared to use a market mechanism to cut carbon emissions in a low-cost way," said Deutsche Bank carbon analyst Tim Jordan to MSNBC.
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New York has the potential to get all of its power needs from renewable energy by 2030, according to a new study led by researchers at the universities of Stanford and Cornell.
The theoretical roadmap laid out would require massive investments in wind turbines, solar panels and offshore wind resources off the Long Island coast, the Associated Press reports.
Nonetheless, “It's doable,” says co-author Robert Howarth, a Cornell professor of ecology and environmental biology. "It's way outside of the realm of what most people are talking about ... But I think people have been too pessimistic about what can be done."
Currently, New York's renewable energy portfolio is funded by a surcharge of less than a dollar on monthly electricity bills under the 2004 program enacted under then-Governor George Pataki. The city's current goal is to obtain about 10.4 million megawatt hours of energy, nearly 30 percent of total energy, from renewables each year by 2015—a goal that is now nearly halfway completed.
Although it is still iffy as to whether or not New York will hit the 2015 target, the larger point is that the city is making significant progress.
"To me, the long-term commitment to continue to invest in resources is more important than the particular target you set," Valerie Strauss, interim executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, told the AP.
Since 2004, New York has jumped from 48 megawatts of wind capacity to over 1,600 megawatts today. University researchers believe that wind will play a large role in the state's overall power portfolio by 2030, with a huge chunk of power coming from offshore turbines.
This year, authorities will review the state's renewable energy program and the possibility of extending it beyond 2015.
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