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OBAMA SOTU BACKS NEW ENERGY

2012-01-25T16:53:00.001-08:00

State Of The Union Address Calls For Comprehensive Energy Approach
Jessica Lillian, 25 January 2012 (Solar Industry)

"Although President Barack Obama's Jan. 24 State of the Union address contained only a singular mention of solar energy, he reiterated his commitment to expanding clean energy project development in the U.S. and ending subsidies to fossil-fuel companies…

"In a follow-up proposal posted online by the White House, Obama specifically called for a temporary extension of the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit as part of a broader manufacturing tax-reform proposal. This $5 billion investment would drive nearly $20 billion in domestic clean energy manufacturing, the White House said. The tax credit was previously oversubscribed more than three times over."

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"During his address, acknowledging that Congress' partisan divide may prevent broad action on climate change, the president nonetheless urged Congress to set a national clean energy standard. However, he made no mention of the 80% by 2035 clean energy standard that he introduced in last year's State of the Union.

"Much of Obama's energy-independence discussion centered on increased exploration of domestic oil and natural-gas resources, as he advocated for the ‘all of the above’ energy approach that has been frequently espoused by more-conservative policymakers. He noted that the same public-private partnerships used in the natural-gas sector may also be applicable to renewable energy investment…Global competitiveness in clean energy - and beyond - also requires an increased emphasis on ensuring fair trade policies, Obama said. To that end, a newly created Trade Enforcement unit will investigate cases of unfair trading practices…"

PRIVATE P.A.C.E.

2012-01-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

Figtree Sells P.A.C.E. Multi-Jurisdictional Bond Placing California on the Leadubg Edge of Energy Efficiency Financing
January 18, 2012 (Figtree Energy Resource Company)

"Figtree Energy Resource Company…[issued] a $725,000 Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bond that will fund energy-efficient and renewable-energy projects in four different California cities. This PACE bond is the first-of-its-kind in the nation; it represents a new source of money for property improvements and a dynamic job creation program for local communities. The issuance of a multi-jurisdiction bond places California on the leading edge of energy efficiency financing.

"Money raised by the bond will fund seven energy-efficient and renewable-energy projects in Fresno, Palm Springs, Clovis and Exeter, California."

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[Mahesh Shah, CEO, Figtree:] “PACE bond financing provides property owners fixed-rate, property value based and no credit check financing…The taxable municipal bond was sold to the capital markets without any state or federal funding assistance – a 100% private program…”

"Under Assembly Bill 811, California property owners in special assessment districts may enter into voluntary contractual assessments against their properties to finance energy and water efficiency products. The financed amount incurred by the property owner is repaid over time through annual property tax assessments with the charge appearing as a line item on the property tax bill…[The bill can both] lower greenhouse gas levels and reduce energy and water consumption…[and be] a stimulus program that spurs local economic growth and creates new jobs…"

COMMERCE INVESTIGATES ASIAN WIND

2012-01-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

U.S. Commerce Department Investigating Unfair Trade Of Wind Towers From China, Vietnam
20 January 2012 (North American Windpower)

"The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has launched a formal investigation into the unfairly traded imports of wind towers from China and Vietnam…[following a complaint] filed by the Wind Tower Trade Coalition (WTTC) seeking investigation into the matter.

"The DOC [found] an anti-dumping margin for China of 213.54% and an antidumping margin for Vietnam of between 140.54% and 143.29%....[T]he department has decided to investigate subsidy programs used by all levels of the Chinese government to support its wind turbine industry."

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"Additionally, WTTC participated in a hearing at the International Trade Commission for the investigation into whether there is a reasonable indication of material injury or threat of material injury to the U.S. industry by reason of imports from China and Vietnam…

"No Chinese or Vietnamese producers attended the hearing to testify on their behalf. Siemens Energy Inc. testified at the hearing in defense of their purchases of dumped and subsidized merchandise…The International Trade Commission's vote is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 10…"

THAT WACKY NAT GAS PRICE

2012-01-22T13:21:00.000-08:00

End to low natural gas prices 'inevitable'
David Parkinson, January 17, 2012 (Globe and Mail)

"After three years of deeply depressed natural gas prices (NG-FT) and facing another to come, Canada’s biggest natural gas producer is losing its stomach for the commodity...Encana Corp., (ECA-T)...[will] steer its multibillion-dollar capital spending program for 2012 toward oil and natural-gas-liquids drilling, and away from the “dry” gas deposits…With natural gas prices mired below $3 (U.S.) per million British thermal units – the first time in a decade that gas has been this cheap in the winter heating season – and with bloated inventories and unseasonably warm weather pointing to little relief in sight, drilling for gas is a money-losing proposition…"

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"…The North American industry faces the prospect of losing billions of dollars just to replace the natural depletion of existing wells and maintain production at 2011 levels…And while many experts think the oversupplied market could keep prices depressed for much of this year, they say this growing reluctance to invest in gas production is bound to eventually take a big bite out of supplies, and finally turn prices around…[though] for more than a year many people have been saying that low prices were going to slow exploration and production, and boost prices – yet prices are even lower now than they were at the start of 2011…

"One factor is that as producers have shifted their focus toward liquids-heavy gas properties, they have continued to unlock dry gas in the process – and they have been able to use the ample cash generated by liquids production to justify bringing otherwise uneconomic gas on stream…Hedging programs – under which producers agree to sell future production at fixed prices – have also helped sustain gas production…[Though] the Nymex natural gas futures contract for delivery one year from now is priced at a mere $3.67… shrewder hedgers have still been able to lock in comfortable prices for 2012…"

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"…[Abundant] shale wells not only cost ‘three to four times’ as much to develop as conventional gas wells, their rate of depletion – the amount production declines over time, a natural phenomenon with all wells –….has risen from about 23 per cent five years ago to more than 32 per cent now…[C]ombined with the 20-per-cent surge in North American gas production in the past five years, (which makes for more and more depletions to replace each year), has meant it now costs the industry about $22-billion each quarter just to replace the annual depletions and maintain current volume levels. Yet those producers are seeing only about $12-billion a quarter in cash flow…The capital gap is now…40-billion a year…"

A SOLUTION FOR BATS IN THE WIND

2012-01-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

Avoiding Bat Fatalities On Wind Farms: New Research Shows Promise
17 January 2012 (North American Windpower)

"…[R]esearchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Forest Service have developed a new technology to help wind farm operators tackle [the issue of bat fatalities]. The interactive tool, created by ecologist Ted Weller and statistician Jim Baldwin from the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station, is designed to help wind energy project operators make informed decisions on efficient ways to reduce wind farms' impacts on migratory bats.

"The tool allows users to visualize how changes in date and weather conditions affect the probability of bat presence…Weller and his research team used devices that detected the bats’ echolocation calls, and then linked the presence of bats to the weather conditions measured on-site on a given night…"

click thru for complete information on the bat protection tool

"…They found that echolocation detectors placed at 22 meters and 52 meters above ground were more effective…than those located closer to the ground…[and] multiple echolocation detectors were required to accurately characterize bat activity…The researchers then built models to predict the presence of bats based on date and weather variables…

"The researchers conducted the study at a wind energy facility in the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Resource Area near Palm Springs, Calif., and was a collaborative effort among government, industry and a nongovernmental organization…[including] PSW, Iberdrola Renewables, and the Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative. The primary funding was provided by the California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research program…"

FIRST SOLAR'S BETTER CDTE EFFICIENCY

2012-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

First Solar Sets New CdTe Efficiency Record
17 January 2012 (Solar Industry)

"First Solar, Inc., claims it has set a new world record for cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic solar module efficiency, achieving 14.4% total area efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) confirmed the record, which eclipsed [First Solar’s prior record-setting] 13.4%..."

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"The record-setting product was constructed using commercial-scale manufacturing equipment and materials at the company's Perrysburg, Ohio, factory. First Solar…updated its module efficiency road map in December 2011 to the increased goal of 14.5% to 15% average efficiency for its production modules by the end of 2015, and the process improvements developed for the record-setting cell and module continue to be implemented…"

DOW OPENS SOLAR SHINGLES BIZ

2012-01-22T13:16:00.001-08:00

Dow Solar Names Three Colo. Solar Shingle Dealers
17 January 2012 (Solar Industry)

"Dow Solar has named the first members of an authorized dealer network for its Powerhouse solar shingles…Three Colorado-based roofing contractors - Academy Roofing, B&M Roofing of Colorado Inc. and D&D Roofing - will now offer the product to the Colorado residential market… Expanded availability of both the product and the dealer network is expected… in the coming months…"

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[Jane Palmieri, Vice President, Dow Solar:] "We designed our solar product around the principle that the only people homeowners want and need on their roof are professional roofing contractors...[Naming these authorized dealers] ensures we will be in a great position to meet the needs of homeowners in Colorado by working with, equipping and training professionals who know the market."

U.S. HYDROKINETIC POWER CALCULATED

2012-01-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

DOE Reports Show Major Potential for Wave and Tidal Energy Production Near U.S. Coasts
January 18, 2012 (U.S. Department of Energy)

"The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)…released two nationwide resource assessments showing that waves and tidal currents off the nation's coasts could contribute significantly to the United States' total annual electricity production, further diversify the nation's energy portfolio, and provide clean, renewable energy to coastal cities and communities…

"…These new wave and tidal resource assessments, combined with ongoing analyses of the technologies and other resource assessments, show that water power, including conventional hydropower and wave, tidal, and other water power resources, can potentially provide 15% of our nation's electricity by 2030…[The] reports represent the most rigorous analysis undertaken to date to accurately define the magnitude and location of America's ocean energy resources. The information in these resource assessments can help to further develop the country's significant ocean energy resources, create new industries and new jobs in America, and secure U.S. leadership in an emerging global market."

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"The United States uses about 4,000 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity per year. DOE estimates that the maximum theoretical electric generation that could be produced from waves and tidal currents is approximately 1,420 TWh per year, approximately one-third of the nation's total annual electricity usage. Although not all of the resource potential identified in these assessments can realistically be developed, the results still represent major opportunities for new water power development in the United States, highlighting specific opportunities to expand on the 6% of the nation's electricity already generated from renewable hydropower resources…

"…The West Coast, including Alaska and Hawaii, has especially high potential for wave energy development, while significant opportunities for wave energy also exist along the East Coast. Additionally, parts of both the West and East Coasts have strong tides that could be tapped to produce energy."

CONVERTING WIND AND WAVE POWER TO HYDROGEN

2012-01-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

New Project Will Study How To Avoid Offshore Wind Energy's Grid-Imbalance Issues
20 January 2012 (North American Windpower)

"AWS Truepower, a provider of renewable energy consulting and information services, has announced the official start of the H2OCEAN project at the Barcelona Science Park (PCB)…[F]unded by the European Commission 7th Framework Programme…[the] H2OCEAN platform will harvest wind and wave power, using part of the energy on-site for multiple applications - including a multi-trophic aquaculture farm - and convert the excess energy into hydrogen.

"A unique feature of the H2OCEAN concept…[is] transporting excess renewable energy generated offshore through hydrogen. This conceptual model avoids the grid-imbalance problem inherent to current offshore renewable energy systems and eliminates the need for cost-prohibitive cable transmission systems…"

Parco Cientific Barcelona (click to enlarge)

"According to AWS Truepower, H2OCEAN’s design plan will take advantage of the synergies among various activities carried out within the platform, minimize environmental impacts, and increase the social and economic potential of new maritime activities.

"The consortium includes 17 companies and public institutions from five European countries from sectors including renewable energy, aquaculture, hydrogen generation and shipping."

2011 WAS BIG FOR SUN

2012-01-22T13:06:00.000-08:00

Solar Capacity Rose 54% to 28 Gigawatts Last Year, BNEF Says
Marc Roca, January 13, 2012 (Bloomberg News)

"New solar capacity around the world increased 54 percent to about 28 gigawatts last year driven by record installations in Germany and Italy, Bloomberg New Energy Finance data shows…Photovoltaic installations rose to between 26.5 and 29.4 gigawatts last year [estimated at 28 gigawatts], compared with 18.2 gigawatts during 2010….

"European governments from the Germany to Italy and the U.K. are curbing subsidies as prices for PV panels decline, aiming to choke off a boom in installations that started after they offered feed-in tariffs giving above-market rates for electricity from low-carbon sources…"

Yet nowhere near what it could do (click to enlarge)

"Solar installations grew around the world, driven by crashing panel prices…New spending on solar energy jumped 36 percent to $136.6 billion in 2011, outpacing the $74.9 billion put into wind power, and represented almost half of all renewable energy investment worldwide last year, BNEF said…

"…[But]the strength of installations in the fourth quarter isn’t a reason for optimism in 2012. European markets will slow because of subsidy cuts, and while nearly all the other markets will continue to grow, they are smaller."

WHAT OFFSHORE WIND FACES

2012-01-22T13:04:00.000-08:00

Overcoming The Cold Realities Of The Offshore Wind Power Market
Mark Del Franco, 19 January 2012 (North American Windpower)

"The offshore wind industry requires patience from developers and investors who have the vision to support projects through the inevitable peaks and valleys associated with offshore wind energy…[An example is] NRG Bluewater's decision to not extend its power purchase agreement (PPA) with Delmarva Power & Light for a 200 MW wind project off the coast of Delaware…[It was a reminder of the cold realities of today's market…

"…[T]he termination of NRG Bluewater’s contract should not necessarily be seen as the company’s failure to attract investment...[T]ime is required for offshore projects located in federal waters…due to the complexity of the regulatory leasing process."

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"…[Investors are more optimistic about…Deepwater Wind's 30 MW Block Island project…[because it] is planned for state waters three miles southeast of Block Island, R.I…[and] does not require a full federal determination…[though] it still must work with federal agencies…

"…[O]ffshore wind… is located 15 to 20 miles from the population centers…[so its power can readily be delivered] where the need is greatest…[There is] not only the cost of the power and the turbines, but also the transmission…[and offshore wind offers] economic and environmental benefits…[T]here is a lot of interest from international players, particularly from European companies that have already built offshore wind projects and are seeking U.S. participants with which to partner…"

CALIFORNIA LOADS NEW ENERGY

2012-01-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

CPUC Votes To Strengthen Renewable Energy Rules For California Utilities
16 January 2012 (North American Windpower)

"The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has voted unanimously to strengthen a key clean energy policy in California called the "loading order," which sets a priority list for electricity sources.

"California's utilities must first employ energy efficiency and conservation to meet customer demand, and then energy from renewable sources. Only after those supplies are exhausted may the utilities purchase power from fossil-fuel plants."

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":The CPUC already requires the state's three investor-owned utilities - Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison - to obtain certain minimum amounts of electricity through energy efficiency, demand-response resources and renewables.

"But before the latest CPUC decision, the energy companies ignored the loading order once they had met these other state-required targets…The CPUC has ordered a halt to that practice…"

$1.9 BILL VC MONEY IN SUN

2012-01-19T06:01:00.000-08:00

2011 Sees $1.9 Billion in Solar Venture Capital, $4 Billion in M&A; No Sign of ‘Solyndra Effect’ Yet
January 9, 2012 (Mercom Capital Group)

"…Venture capital (VC) funding and M&A activity were strong in 2011, setting records for number of deals and M&A activity…

"…VC investment in solar totaled $1.9 billion in 111 deals in 2011—the highest number of deals ever in a single year. By comparison, there were 65 VC deals in 2010, 84 in 2009, 93 in 2008, and 71 in 2007…"

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"…The top VC investor of 2011 was Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which completed eight transactions, followed by GE and Good Energies, with six transactions each. There were 182 VC investors in solar in 2011…

"…While Solyndra dominated headlines in the United States and globally, over $700 million worth of VC investment came after the solar manufacturer’s bankruptcy announcement on August 31, 2011…Fourth quarter VC funding totaled $511 million, compared to $372 million in Q3, $354 million in Q2, and $658 million in Q1…"

CALIF CPUC APPROVES 1,000 MW OF NEW ENERGY

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

CPUC Approves More Than 1,000 Megawatts of In-State Renewable Energy Capacity that Will Contribute to California’s 33% Renewables Target
January 12, 2012 (California Public Utilities Commission)

"The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)…approved five renewable energy contracts totaling 1,088 megawatts (MW) of capacity with forecast annual generation of 2,927 gigawatt-hours (GWh), furthering the state's progress towards its [33% by 2020] renewable energy goals [the most ambitious in the U.S.]…

"Southern California Edison received approval of three 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Solar Star California (SunPower) for the Quinto, AVSP I, and AVSP II projects…solar photovoltaic facilities that will provide 711 MW of new renewable capacity and an estimated 1,835 GWh of energy annually…near Los Banos and Rosamond, Calif…[T]he Quinto project…[should begin generating] in December 2014…[and] the AVSP I and AVSP II projects…in October 2016…"

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"Pacific Gas and Electric Company received approval of a 25-year PPA with Montezuma Winds II, LLC (NextEra) for the Montezuma Winds II project…a wind facility that will provide 78.2 MW of new renewable capacity and an estimated 201 GWh of energy annually…located in the Montezuma Hills of Solano County, Calif., a well-known wind resource area…[and] anticipated to begin [generating] in November 2012.

"San Diego Gas & Electric received approval of a 20-year PPA with Ocotillo Express, LLC (Pattern) for the Ocotillo Express project…a wind facility that will provide 299 MW of new renewable capacity and an estimated 891 GWh of energy annually…located 25 miles west of El Centro in Imperial County, Calif…anticipated to begin [generating] in December 2012…"

NEW YORK INVESTS $30 MIL IN BIG SUN

2012-01-19T05:59:00.001-08:00

New York Solar Companies Receive $30 Million Investment From NYSERDA
17 January 2012 (Solar Industry)

"The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the state Public Service Commission (PSC) have awarded $30 million to help fund large-scale solar power projects that will assist facilities in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley generate electricity…

"The money was awarded to solar installers, solar developers and real estate owners, including Alteris Renewables Inc., altPOWER, Bright Power, ConEdison Solutions Inc., Earthkind Energy Inc., Martifer Solar USA, OnForce Solar Inc., Ross Solar Group LLC, SolarCity, Solar Energy Systems LLC, Solartech Renewables, SunEdison, SUNation Solar Inc., SunRay Power and MS Harrison LLC."

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"The projects were selected through a competitive process. The NYSERDA incentive pays up to 50% of the cost of a project, up to $3 million.

"The $30 million represents the first of five years of planned funding under a $150 million Customer-Sited Tier Regional Program. This program was launched in mid-2011 to encourage large businesses, colleges and universities, schools and other large buildings to take advantage of renewable energy incentives specifically for New York City and the lower Hudson Valley."

630 MW OCEAN WIND LONDON ARRAY ADVANCES

2012-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

London Array gets foundation approval
Paul Garrett, 17 January 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"An innovative type of wind turbine foundation designed for the UK's London Array offshore wind farm by contractor ABJV has received approval by industry certifiers…

"…[A] conical joint is to be used at the top of the London Array [monopole foundations] to prevent transition piece slippage. Nearly 100 have been installed already."

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"Work on the new design was prompted by some problems previously reported in other monopile foundations. As well as addressing…grouting and slippage problems, the new design takes into account variation in water depths and moveable seabed conditions across a wind-farm site.

"The 630MW, 17-turbine first phase of London Array, in the outer Thames Estuary in south-east England, is due for completion at the end of this year. It is being developed by a consortium of Dong Energy, E.on and Masdar."

MARINE ONE HOSTED BY SUN

2012-01-18T06:27:00.000-08:00

Suniva Solar Panels Powering Solar Array at Hangar Housing President’s Marine One Helicopter; Roof-top System to Reduce Site’s Electric Bills; Help Meet Rigorous DON Alternative Energy Targets
January 10, 2012 (Suniva)

"Suniva, Inc….announced its [high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells and modules] panels are being used to power the newest— and largest— solar array installed by FLS Energy at the Marine Helicopter Squadron 1’s greenside hangar at Quantico, home to the president’s Marine One helicopter.

"The 120-kilowatt system features 500 of Suniva’s ART-245 panels and is expected to produce approximately 150,000 kWh of electricity per year—enough to reduce the site’s electric bills by as much as $10,500 annually and help the base…meet rigorous energy mandates set by the secretary of the Navy (50 percent of energy used to meet the Department of the Navy’s demand must come from alternative energy sources by 2020)…"

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"The solar photovoltaic system on the hangar is expected to provide two credits toward the LEED certification required under guidelines that all DON MILCON projects meet LEED standards. The building’s energy efficient lighting and HVAC system, low flow fixtures and other energy efficient technologies are expected to provide the rest of the credits required to achieve LEED Silver Certification.

"Suniva's high-efficiency modules contain more than 80 percent U.S. content and are fully ‘Buy America’ compliant…"

200 MW WAVE ENERGY PROJECT GETS BACKING

2012-01-18T06:24:00.000-08:00

Alstom and SSE Renewables create joint venture to co-develop world's largest wave farm off the coast of Orkney, Scotland
January 17, 2012 (Alstom)

"Alstom and the leading Scottish marine developer SSE Renewables have signed a new joint venture agreement to develop the Costa Head Wave Project, an up to 200 Megawatts (MW) wave energy site located north of mainland Orkney, in The Crown Estate’s Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Strategic Area.

"Alstom and SSE Renewables will work together to obtain the necessary permits and intend to populate the site with AWS-III wave energy converters, [a floating device with a rated power output of 2.5 MW]…Alstom acquired a 40% equity share [in the technology] in June 2011.. A 1:9 scale model of the AWS-III was tested in Loch Ness in 2010. Full scale component testing will commence in 2012…with a full-scale prototype planned for deployment at the European Marine Energy Centre in 2014]…"

"The Costa Head site is located in water depths of 60 – 75m approximately 5km to the north of Orkney Mainland. SSE Renewables and Alstom propose to carry out detailed site surveys and an environmental impact assessment (EIA),to develop the site with an initial phase of around 10MW [4 AWS-III devices of 12 cells, each measuring around 16m wide by 8m deep, arranged around a structure with overall beam of up to 60m and a structural steel weight of less than 1300 tonne], before moving on to install the full site capacity. [The AWS-III will be slack moored in water depths of 65 to 150m using standard mooring spreads. Devices will be arranged in arrays or ‘farms’ of up to several hundred MW total rating. Each AWS-III will be connected to a central offshore substation via a high-voltage umbilical link]

"Wave energy is a widely distributed renewable resource worldwide, with an estimated potential market of 200 to 300 Gigawatts(GW). Its proximity to densely populated regions of Europe and North America makes it an attractive new source of renewable energy. The AWS-III technology consists of a multi-cell array of flexible membrane absorbers which convert wave power to pneumatic power through compression of air within cells that are inter-connected. Turbine-generator sets are provided to convert the pneumatic power to electricity…"

IRISH WIND BUILDER GETS BIG BACKING

2012-01-17T05:32:00.000-08:00

Mainstream raises €40 million funding
James Quilter, 16 January 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"Developer Mainstream Renewable Power has secured EUR 40 million funding to help it expand internationally...

"...[T]he money came from ‘Irish high-net-worth individuals and institutions’ and described it as one of Ireland's largest fundraisings of the last year...[It] will be used to develop projects in South Africa, Chile, Germany and the UK."

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[Eddie O’Connor, CEO, Mainstream Renewables:] "[In 2011] we won 238MW of wind and solar contracts in South Africa; we procured wind turbines for our first wind farms in Chile and Ireland which we plan to build this year and we successfully sold the first two projects in our massive offshore UK wind zone in what was the largest deal of its kind last year."

"Mainstream pipeline projects…[are the] 34.5MW Negrete Cuel development in central Chile…Preferred bidder status for the Jeffreys Bay 138MW wind farm located in the Eastern Cape, South Africa…A consortium member of the 8GW Hornsea North Sea offshore project."

RECYCLING PV TO BE BIG BIZ

2012-01-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

PV Recycling Market Predicted To Grow Dramatically Over Next Decades
16 January 2012 (Solar Industry)

"The global solar PV market has witnessed tremendous growth over the past decade, with cumulative installed capacity growing from 1,459 MW in 2000 to 40,758 MW in 2010…a compound annual growth rate of 40%... mainly came from increased installation activity in countries such as Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, France, the U.S. and Japan.

"…[T]here is a growing need for processing PV waste in the coming years…The waste generated by end-of-life modules in 2025 is expected to be approximately 24,855 tons. This waste is expected to further increase to 1,161,173 tons by 2035."

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"Crystalline modules will account for the majority of solar PV waste generated during this period, rising from 19,475 tons of waste generated in 2025, to 1,098,282 tons by 2035. Against this backdrop, PV recycling will become an emerging market during these 15 years…For every watt of PV module treated in the recycling unit, $0.58 in recycled value is expected to be generated in 2025. With a 100% collection rate, 278 MW of end-of-life modules are expected to be recycled in 2025.

"…[I]t is expected that the end-of-life modules will increase to 17,000 MW by 2035, while the per-watt recycled product value of these modules is expected to reach $1.21. The major factors driving this trend are the rising annual installation trends… the expected increase in recycling rates of module materials…[and] market price variations…"

VC BACKING BACKS OFF SMART GRID

2012-01-17T05:28:00.000-08:00

…Venture Capital Funding in Smart Grid Drops by Half in 2011; $4.6 Billion in Smart Grid M&A Activity in 30 Transactions
(Mercom Capital Group)

"…[A]nnual and fourth quarter merger and acquisition (M&A) and funding activity for the smart grid sector for 2011…[showed VC] funding in smart grid was ‘anemic at best in 2011.’ …[T]he number of VC investors increased to 92 from 87 in 2010, pointing to continued investor interest but lower risk appetite…

"VC funding in 2011 brought in $377 million in 50 deals (24 disclosed) compared to $769 million in 51 deals in 2010 (27 disclosed). The average VC funding round dropped by 50 percent in 2011 to $7.5 million compared to almost $15 million in 2010. Early rounds of funding (Seed, Series A & B) accounted for 22 of the 50 deals."

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"Top VC deals in 2011 were iControl Networks, a broadband home management company ($51.6 million), SmartSynch, a Smart Grid company that uses cellular networks for utility smart grid projects ($25.7 million), Silver Spring Networks, a provider of utility networking equipment for smart grid deployment ($24 million), Gridpoint, an energy management solutions provider ($23.6 million), and JouleX, a provider of energy management systems for data centers and distributed office environments, ($17 million).

"Top venture capital investors in 2011 were GE with six deals, Emerald Technology Ventures with five deals and Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers with five deals. The same investors were also the top three in 2010, however, with double the amount of deals each last year. Other top investors were Foundation Capital, Intel Capital and Rockport Capital with four deals each…"

2011 GLOBAL NEW ENERGY INVESTMENT

2012-01-16T05:47:00.000-08:00

Solar surge drives record clean energy investment in 2011; Total new investment in clean energy increased 5% to $260bn in 2011, despite the sluggish global economy and a painful squeeze on manufacturers
12 January 2012 (Bloomberg New Energy Finance)

"Global investment in clean energy reached a new record of $260bn in 2011, up 5% on 2010 and almost five times the total of $53.6bn in 2004…according to the latest authoritative data from analysis company Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Last year also saw the one trillionth dollar invested in clean energy globally since the company started compiling data in 2004.

"The record investment figures for 2011 are particularly striking because they were achieved during a turbulent year for the world economy in general and for the clean energy sector in particular. The industry has suffered severe pressure on the profit margins of manufacturers, a sharp fall in share prices, some notable bankruptcies, cuts in European government subsidy support, and a reduction in the availability of bank finance…"

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"The largest single type of investment was the asset finance of utility-scale renewable energy projects. This increased from a revised $138.3bn in 2010, to $145.6bn in 2011…The second-biggest category of investment last year was the finance of distributed renewable power technology, notably rooftop PV. This reached $73.8bn in 2011, up from $60.4bn in 2010…Several other categories of investment actually fell slightly during 2011. Corporate research and development in clean energy…and government research and development…Public markets fund-raising fell…

"Venture capital and private equity investment saw a modest increase of 4% in 2011 to $8.9bn…2011 was characterized by significant volatility in levels of activity, with big variations in the amount of investment in each quarter. The most buoyant period by far was the third quarter, when asset finance alone reached $47.8bn, helped by a rush of projects taking advantage of the US federal loan guarantee programme that expired at the end of September. In the following quarter, asset finance worldwide fell 28%...[largely on] the impact of the euro area sovereign debt crisis on bank lending to renewable energy projects…"

TEN NEW ENERGY STOCKS WORTH WATCHING

2012-01-16T05:37:00.001-08:00

Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2012
Tom Konrad, January 2, 2012 (AltEnergyStocks)

"There is a silver lining to the horrible year clean energy stocks had in 2011: the opportunity to buy clean energy stocks (often considered a growth sector) at prices one would expect from value stocks…With that in mind, I now focus my annual list on the most economic clean energy sectors…[and] stocks I currently consider relatively good values…[N]ow is the best time to buy clean energy stocks since the start of 2009…

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"My energy efficiency picks are…1.Waterfurance Renewable Energy (WFIFF.PK $15.3455, WFI.TO)…2. Lime Energy (LIME, $3.18)…3. Honeywell (HON, $54.35)…4. Rockwool International (RKWBF.PK $82.29, ROCK-B.CO 473 DKK10)…"

"…[E]nvironmental services companies [are] a way to invest in biomass…5. Waste Management (WM, $32.71)…6. Veolia Environnement SA (VE, $11.05)……[In] Alternative Transport…biking, light rail, and buses top my list…7. Accell Group (ACCEL.AS, €14.15/$18.33)…8. New Flyer Industries (NFYEF.PK $5.6492, NFI.TO) …

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"…[In] Renewable Energy Developers…small renewable energy power producers are looking cheap…8. Finavera Wind Energy (FNVRF.PK, $0.409) is a wind project developer…9. Western Wind Energy Corp (WNDEF.PK, $1.96) …10. Alterra Power Corp. (MGMXF.PK $0.40, AXY.TO)…"

THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE PLUG

2012-01-16T05:24:00.000-08:00

Today is really the time of electric vehicles; Everybody is talking about electric car. LEAF has already sold over 20,000 electric vehicles with lithium ion batteries so, I think today is really the time of electric cars, and they will continue to grow.
January 16, 2012 (Revolucion Eolica con Vehiculos Elecvtricos)

[Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan, talking about the LEAF:] "…Nissan has always been a company of innovation… The Nissan LEAF has really rocked our industry. If I go back three or four years, everybody laughed when we talked about bringing a commercial electric car. Now, you look around the show and everybody is talking about electric cars…I think today is really the time of electric cars, and they will continue to grow."

[Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan, talking about the LEAF:] "Now, we should not view an electric car as “the” electric car. It’s an alternative powertrain. So in the same way as we talk about diesels, or gasoline cars, or hybrid cars, or plug-in hybrid cars, we have to talk about electric cars. So it follows that there normally should be more than one car that is electric in our range."

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[Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan, talking about the LEAF:] "…[T]he second car…is actually a van. It makes perfect sense if you think about it from a very low total-cost of ownership. That car, is maybe a little more expensive than a conventional van, to buy; the payback, considering government incentives, is less than three years for a normal operator. So, for business, which is very much focused on total cost of ownership, that is definitely a good alternative to consider. Then of course, the third car will be an Infiniti. And, the fourth car is a surprise."

[Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan, talking about the LEAF:] "…the Pathfinder…[will be] a trend-change in the market from let’s say crossover, more towards SUV-like, and clearly we are somewhere following that trend. But at the same time, we have been able to understand that trend and offer something that is competitive in every way, shape and form…[W]e have been able to reduce the weight of the vehicle and improve the fuel economy by about 25%. The car is bigger. Obviously from a ride-and-handling point of view…it [is] a much more engaging car…I think you are getting an awful lot of good value for money with that vehicle, when we get to announcing the price…I think we have the most competitive car in that particular set."

WIND FIGHTS FOR RIGHTS IN CHINA

2012-01-12T05:43:00.000-08:00

Wind energy dispute may test U.S.-China IP resolve
Nicola Groom (w/Li Ran, Wang Feng, Gerald E. McCormick), January 9, 2012 (Reuters)

"…American Superconductor Corp, which makes wind turbine components and transmission grid systems, is seeking to recover $1.2 billion from Chinese wind turbine maker Sinovel Wind Group Co Ltd in four separate legal actions in China. The U.S. company has accused its former biggest customer of stealing the software AMSC makes to power wind turbines and illegally canceling contracts. [Both companies are suffering]…

"…Once it gets under way…[the case could prove to be a significant test of China's intellectual property laws, and determine the success of Western companies in pursuing claims in China.]…[T]he case could cause reverberations in the race to dominate the fast-growing market for clean energy technology…"

AMSC subsidiaries and undertakings (click to enlarge)

"Much of the underlying technology for solar, wind and other renewable energy technologies was developed in the West, though China is now a major player in the industry. For instance, the country is now the world's largest maker of solar panels, though solar energy technology was developed in the United States.

"Theft of intellectual property is among the thorniest issues in the U.S.-China relationship, alongside U.S. accusations that China is dragging its feet in allowing its currency to appreciate, and that the nation's subsidies unfairly favor domestic industries…But Western companies rarely sue Chinese companies over trade secret theft in China --in part because of perceptions they will not be viewed fairly, but also out of fear of retaliation in the marketplace…"

ARMY AND AIR FORCE BUILDING SUN

2012-01-12T05:41:00.000-08:00

Skyline Solar breaks ground on solar power plants at two military bases
Dana Hull, January 10. 2012 (San Jose Mercury News)

"Skyline Solar…has broken ground on two 100-kilowatt solar power plants at domestic military bases -- Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California and Fort Bliss in Texas. Skyline's contract from the Department of Defense is worth a modest $1.85 million, but the company hopes it will…[prove the] product. Many Silicon Valley cleantech startups regard the military as an ideal early adopter, willing to take risks on new technologies that need to be tested…

"The Department of Defense has about 300,000 buildings on its installations and spends nearly $4 billion a year on the energy needed to operate them. It is searching for clean technologies that can be standardized and installed at military bases throughout the world…Skyline is one of several solar startups using CPV technology, or concentrated photovoltaics, to concentrate the sun's energy onto photovoltaic cells. It differs from standard rooftop solar panels in that is uses an optical system to focus sunlight onto each cell. Skyline's X14 System is named for its ability to concentrate sunlight 14 times using glass reflectors."

click to enlarge

"Skyline's systems work best where the sun shines brightly and humidity is low -- in the American Southwest, northern Mexico, the Middle East and Australia. The two small military installations, each of which will generate enough electricity to power about 20 homes, will provide data about how Skyline's technology performs in different climates…

"Both projects are expected to be completed by April. Skyline will not be required to submit its plans to a lengthy environmental review process because much of the land on military bases has already been disturbed by vehicle traffic or munitions explosions…"

ON THE WAY TO WAVE POWER

2012-01-12T05:40:00.001-08:00

Eco Wave Power Company is Taking the Fast Track to Success
January 3, 2012 (PR Newswire via Sacramento Bee)

"Eco Wave Power has completed the construction and testing phase of its first sea wave energy generation models the "Wave Clapper", and the "Power Wing".

"The testing took place in the wave pool of the Hydro-Mechanical National Institute of Kiev… [which] provided Eco Wave Power with the perfect conditions for testing the unique wave energy generation technologies under controlled wave heights and wave periods."

"Among the different tests, Eco Wave Power has examined the characteristics of 8 different unique floaters shapes (all with the same volume)…All the experiments were monitored by officials from the Hydro-Mechanical Institute…[T]he tests results were determined to be successful…

"…[T]he company has already secured funding for three ocean energy generation models, the last of which will be a full-size commercial scale power plant, with the ability to supply electricity to at least 1000 households…The Eco Wave Power wave energy converter is a simple and inexpensive technology to harvest wave energy from high and low waves…"

CHINA – EU AIRLINES EMISSIONS WAR

2012-01-11T05:35:00.000-08:00

China airlines won't pay EU carbon tax
Alison Leung and Harry Suhartono (w/Narayanan Somasundaram, Edmund Klamann, Matt Driskill and Ian Geoghegan), January 6, 2012 (Reuters)

"China's airlines will refuse to pay any charges under the European Union's new carbon trading scheme, while other Asia Pacific carriers, already battling a weak travel market, are likely to pass on the extra cost to passengers…The EU's Emissions Trading Scheme ETS.L was launched in 2005 as one of the major pillars of the bloc's efforts to combat climate change. From January 1, all airlines using EU airports are included in the cap-and-trade scheme."

[Cai Haibo, deputy secretary-general, China Air Transport Association CATA.L:] "China will not cooperate with the European Union on the ETS, so Chinese airlines will not impose surcharges on customers relating to the emissions tax…"

From a University of Minnesota/Duluth greenhouse gas inventory (click to enlarge)

"CATA represents the country's four major airlines: flag-carrier Air China Ltd (0753.HK) (601111.SS), China Southern Airlines (600029.SS) (1055.HK), China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS) (0670.HK) and Hainan Airlines (600221.SS)…Chinese airlines would consider taking legal action against the EU over the move to charge for carbon emissions on flights to and from Europe…[and will] take their time on this, mindful that U.S. airlines recently lost a legal challenge against the ETS, and given that collection of the tax from airlines will not be until March 2013…

"CATA estimates the scheme will cost Chinese airlines 800 million yuan in the first year and more than triple that by 2020…Germany's Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), the world's second-largest long-haul carrier after Dubai's Emirates, warned passengers…to brace for higher ticket prices…The EU says its ETS, which already applies to other industries, is the fairest way to cope with aviation's contribution to global warming…[T}he International Air Transport Association (IATA), has said the ETS would cost airlines 900 million euros in 2012 and the industry will not generally be able to pass this on to consumers because the market is too weak…The IATA forecast a 49 percent fall in 2012 industry-wide profit to $3.5 billion…"

BUFFETT BUYS MORE WIND

2012-01-11T05:34:00.001-08:00

Buffett's MidAmerican Utility Buys Three Iowa Wind Energy Projects. MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. acquired three wind farm projects in Iowa that will have a combined wind power capacity of 404.8 megawatts at completion and 176 wind turbines.
January 9, 2012 (Regulacion Eolica con Vehiculos Electricos)

"MidAmerican Energy…[will] develop new wind farm projects in Iowa. As part of its latest wind energy plans, the company has also entered into agreements to acquire three wind power projects in Iowa that will have a combined capacity of 404.8MW with 176 wind turbines…

"Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy is announcing it will build three new wind farm plants in five Iowa counties. Ann Thelen, spokeswoman for MidAmerican, says the moves will enhance the company’s wind energy portfolio, adding more than 400 megawatts of wind power…[Through] an agreement with Clipper Windpower…[MidAmerican will] acquire about 200 megawatts of wind farm projects in Audubon and Guthrie counties and also a 101.2 megawatt wind farm in Adair County…"

The nation's 7th best wind resource (click to enlarge)

"Another agreement is with RPM Access for a 103 megawatt wind farm in Marshall and Tama counties. Combined, 176 new wind turbines will reach into the sky with the wind farm projects. There will also be expansion at the existing Rolling Hills wind farm, which covers parts of Adair, Adams and Cass counties.

"…[When the wind farm projects are complete, approximately 29% of [MidAmerican’s] total generation capacity will be powered by wind energy…{MidAmerian has] invested approximately four-billion dollars in the state of Iowa for our wind power generation…[It] will again be working with Seimens Energy to manufacture the wind turbines at its [Iowa] facility in Fort Madison…"

LA RENEWS ROOFTOP SUN PUSH

2012-01-11T05:32:00.001-08:00

New proposal seeks to encourage solar panels on LA rooftops, parking lots
Molly Peterson, January 9, 2012 (KPCC/NPR)

"Ambitious goals Los Angeles city officials have set for solar energy remain out of reach. Changes in leadership at the L.A. Department of Water and Power have slowed renewable energy policies. So has the domestic economy. Now the DWP is floating a new proposal designed to encourage solar farms on large rooftops and parking lots…Germany started its own program to encourage solar farms on large buildings 21 years ago; in English, the German policy of buying power from large rooftops translates as ‘feed-in tariff’… California law now requires that utilities do something like that…

"DWP plans to buy solar energy generated on big buildings under long-term fixed-rate contracts. These projects would be at least five times bigger than most residential solar systems, and they’re different from home systems, where the electric meter spins forward and back…[F]eed-in tariff contracts offer more predictability as DWP tallies its energy resources. Local businesses recognize the value too…"

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"…[M]illions of dollars in tax revenue could juice L.A.'s coffers if large local solar projects take off…[but] this kind of system creates a new market for power. That’s tricky…

"…How much to pay for solar energy is only one the matter DWP’s cautious about…It’ll take different engineering to deliver electricity in the other direction on transmission lines…A study…found that a full 600 megawatt feed-in tariff program would create up to 18,000 jobs…"

UK SOLAR ON THE VERGE

2012-01-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

Solar energy industry may be on threshold of an exciting era; This year we must use our subsidy more wisely, and if industry, NGOs and government pull together, solar will shine in 2012
Greg Barker, 9 January 2011 (UK Guardian)

"This has been the most challenging few weeks to date in the life of the nascent UK solar sector. After a short burst of unprecedented sales growth, with installations more than doubling between June and October, we had to intervene very quickly indeed to ensure the entire subsidy for this and other exciting micro-generation technologies supported by feed-in tariffs, wasn't swept away by excessive returns for a lucky few…

"…[I]t is easy to see why solar is so popular. It is reliable, intuitive, easy to install and is a great solution for people worried about rising electricity bills or wanting to do their bit to fight climate change. But with the price of solar falling quickly in a very short period of time, the subsidised tariff payments were suddenly offering new customers financial returns completely out of step with other green technologies or government-backed schemes. Double-digit yields, index linked and guaranteed to be paid at that rate for 25 years."

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"In the current financial climate when interest rates are at record lows, it really was too good to be true. Unfortunately the scheme the coalition inherited just wasn't designed to adapt to these dramatic price falls.

"This government believes in solar. We see its huge industrial and employment potential. We get the strong case for smart, well-targeted subsidy, to help early deployment and build a thriving UK sector. However that is not the same as a blank cheque. And we are equally determined to stand up for consumers alarmed by rising energy prices and have shown ourselves willing to take action to curb rising energy bills…[T]he challenge for the new year is to make sure we use the remaining subsidy far more wisely…"

700 MW OCEAN WIND FOR BALTIC

2012-01-10T05:17:00.000-08:00

E.on plans 700MW Baltic wind farm
Paul Garrett, 3 January 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"German utility E.on has announced plans to build a 700MW offshore wind farm in the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Poland. The project would be one of the largest of its kind."

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"The site earmarked for the wind farm is the Southern Middle Bank, about 100 kilometres from the coast of Sweden and bordering the Polish economic zone…The project…has been costed at SKR 20 billion (€2.24 billion)…The Southern Middle Bank is used for sand and gravel extraction, fishery and as a shipping route."

NEW ENERGY UNHOOKED

2012-01-10T05:15:00.000-08:00

Renewable energy projects stalled amid squabbling
January 9, 2012 (AP via San Jose Mercury News)

"A long-running disagreement between federal agencies and Southern California Edison has stalled millions of dollars in renewable energy projects expected to provide power to facilities in California's national parks and forests.

"…[A]n $800,000 solar project at Death Valley National Park, photovoltaic panels at the visitors center at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and a solar power system at the U.S. Forest Service's facility at Mono Lake are among many taxpayer-funded projects that are stalled while federal agencies try to come to an agreement with Edison to tie the projects to the state's electrical grid."

California could get over half its electricity from rooftop PV - but not if they keep bickering. (click to enlarge)

"The impasse involves contract restrictions imposed by federal law. Generally federal agencies are not supposed to sign contracts that would leave them liable for unknown future damages because they would be committing money that Congress hasn't allocated. Other utilities in California, however, have signed similar agreements with the agencies with few problems…

"An Edison spokesman declined to discuss the projects because of the ongoing negotiations. The squabble has captured the attention of Gov. Jerry Brown, whose office is sending the governor's advisor on renewable energy, Michael Picker, to meet with all the parties in coming weeks to help hammer out differences…The situation has made it difficult for the parks to meet renewable energy goals…"

CAPE WIND OCEAN POWER GETS BOOST

2012-01-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

Cape Wind edges ahead after PPA victory
Paul Garrett, 3 January 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"National Grid US is free to buy power from the proposed Cape Wind offshore wind farm, after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court…upheld a disputed power purchase agreement (PPA).

"The deal was challenged by the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound on the grounds that it would result in much higher electricity prices than other renewable-energy options…[The Court found that the] benefits of PPA-1 outweighed its costs…[siding] with an earlier decision by the Department of Public Utilities that the 15-year PPA should stand."

A Massachusetts voter (click to enlarge)

"The Alliance’s president and CEO Audra Parker…maintained that the Cape Wind project would never be built.

"Cape Wind president Jim Gordon said the ruling was a ‘big boost’ for the 130-turbine project, which has had a decade-long gestation period and is to be located 4-11 miles offshore from Cape Cod in the Atlantic Ocean. However, with a buyer still to be found for the remaining 50% of its output, its future remains uncertain."

INDIA SOLAR GROWING SLOWLY

2012-01-08T20:54:00.001-08:00

India to Build 400 Megawatts of Solar, Two-Thirds Less Than Plan
Natalie Obiko Pearson, December 30, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"India will complete 400 megawatts of solar power connected to the grid this fiscal year, two-thirds less than previously forecast by state and central governments…[It] has so far built 180 megawatts during the year ending March 31…

"Gujarat had planned to build more than 900 megawatts during the fiscal year as part of a regional solar program…In addition, the central government’s Solar Mission had a forecast of 302 megawatts…"

(from WikiCommons - click to enlarge)

"The mission involved 150 megawatts of operations awarded by auction, 98 megawatts of rooftop developments and 54 megawatts of capacity under a program to consolidate state-level projects.

"India’s renewable energy capacity has grown 20 percent in 2011 to 22,447 megawatts…Wind farms made up most of the increase, adding a total of 2,827 megawatts."

YEAR LOOKS GOOD FOR EFFICIENCY

2012-01-08T20:52:00.000-08:00

Energy Efficiency in 2012: Forecast Is Mostly Sunny
Steven Nadel, January 6, 2012 (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)

"Looking forward into 2012, I see more reasons for optimism than pessimism. Many states and utilities are committed to ramping up their energy efficiency programs…The private market continues to invest in energy efficiency, although efforts have been slowed by the economic downturn. New energy-efficient products continue to enter the market and energy efficiency is one of the hot areas for “Cleantech” investments…

"At the federal level, new vehicle and equipment efficiency standards will be issued in 2012. Fuel…economy standards for passenger vehicles will be finalized…raising these standards to an average of nearly 50 mpg by 2025. Final decisions are due from DOE on standards for 13 products…And recent EPA regulation updates on emissions of toxic pollutants, along with other pending regulatory updates for power plants, will encourage utilities to look at efficiency investments as an alternative to upgrading aging power plants."

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"A major driver in 2012 will be the state of the economy. Our economy is finally growing again, although too slowly…[E]nergy efficiency can contribute to job growth…The Brookings Institute estimates that there are about 2.7 million clean economy jobs in the U.S., including about half a million added over the 2003-2010 period…While there are many reasons for optimism in 2012, all is not rosy…[ARRA] funding will end in early 2012…Policymaking in Washington is paralyzed…[and] the energy savings realized are still modest relative to the cost-effective opportunities.

"…[ACEEE] will be working to advance three themes in 2012…assisting and encouraging states, utilities, and others who are interested in increasing their energy efficiency efforts…documenting what works (and what doesn’t) so that programs and policies can be as effective as possible…[and] laying groundwork for the future…"

ABOUT BETTING ON SOLAR

2012-01-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

Fundamentals For Solar Energy Look Great, But Companies With The Right Strategy Are Lacking
Simit Patel, December 25, 2011 (Seeking Alpha)

"…Here is a short summary…of the current situation in the solar energy market:

"...Solar ETFs have been some of the worst performing ETFs in 2011 -- which of course piques my buying interest quite a bit…[T]hese stocks could continue to go further down…[but] the underlying fundamentals have changed; concerns over peak oil and the need to transition away from fossil fuels are only growing, and players like China and Google are still viable candidates for being the "smart money" that can bring the demand to push prices higher -- demand upon which small-time players like individual investors can piggyback on…"

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"...But while solar as a sector is set to grow for years and will help the world transition away from fossil fuels, not all parts of the solar value network are the same…[T]he value network is still evolving rapidly as new technologies -- particularly those related to storage -- continue to come on to the scene…[O]ne trend that…will drive much of how the value network changes and profit opportunities are created, is the rapidly declining price of solar panels. As solar panels continue to fall in price, I suspect profit opportunities will transition to firms that specialize in installation and the development of custom solar solutions…companies that are more service-oriented and customer-relations centric rather than pure product makers."

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"And here is… why I have yet to make an investment in the solar sector. There simply isn't a company I've found that has the strategy…a stable balance sheet and competent leadership. The solar ETFs, KWT and TAN, could be viable ways of playing the entire sector, though I don't think they have the right kind of companies…in their portfolio. And so, I'm still on the sidelines when it comes to solar…"

EVER BIGGER WIND

2012-01-03T10:39:00.000-08:00

For taller wind turbines, generating power is a breeze
Mark Jaffe, December 25, 2011 (Denver Post)

"…[T]he National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden had to redo its wind maps…as wind-turbine towers get taller and blades get longer…[T]he industry standard…[was 50 meters and] is now 80 meters…

"…[A]s the towers have grown from 164 feet to 262 feet, they have edged into the reaches where the winds are stronger and more sustained…At 80 meters above ground level, the wind speeds across a large portion of [Colorado’s] Eastern Plains and Front Range [have gone from 7.4 meters to 8.4 meters a second to] between 8.5 meters and 10 meters a second…[For Indiana]…80-meter towers and technology has meant the difference between not having an economical wind source and having one…"

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"…The new technology combined with the steadier winds are driving down the costs of wind generation, according to economic analyses…A California Energy Commission analysis estimated that a 0.5 meter increase in wind speed — raising the resource from "good" to "excellent" — would cut 1.2 cents off the cost of electricity from a new wind farm to 10.8 cents a kilowatt-hour…In a U.S. Energy Information Administration study, the difference between a top wind resource and a poor one is more than 3 cents a kilowatt-hour, with the best resource producing wind at 8.1 cents a kilowatt-hour.

"It isn't just that the taller towers and bigger blades capture more wind at 80 meters, it is that they can also turn more of the time…Electricity from coal and gas is cheaper because the sources can run 70 percent to 90 percent of the time — this is called the capacity factor…The capacity factor for wind farms has been around 30 percent…[Some wind project] capacity factors [are now up] to 50 percent…[and] wind power has become more marketable…"

$$$ TO TRANSCONTINENTAL WIRE HOOKUP

2012-01-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

Tres Amigas Announces $12 Million Investment from Mitsui & Co., Ltd.; Smart Green Information Technology and Renewables to be Focus
December 27, 2011 (Business Wire)

"…[T]he U.S.-based national grid interconnection project known as the Tres Amigas SuperStation, announced…Mitsui & Co., Ltd., a global trading, IT and industrial infrastructure services company, has agreed to invest $12 million. In exchange, Mitsui will obtain an equity position and…further internationalize their…Smart Grid IT, renewable energy development and management, and CO2 emissions mitigation strategies.

"The SuperStation project represents, in essence, the world’s first high capacity 'Renewable Energy Hub,' although trading of conventional sources of electricity will be accommodated, too. This first-of-its-kind power transmission hub is designed to interconnect America’s three primary electricity grids, the Eastern (Southwest Power Pool), Western (Western Electricity Coordinating Council) and Texas (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) networks by utilizing information technology…"

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"…Coordinated via market-based dispatch through the Tres Amigas SuperStation…the new strategy will allow customers to purchase a reliable portfolio of power with the largest possible component of solar and wind power. The clean generating capacities and the needs of varying regions, including the state’s renewable portfolio standard requirements, will have more opportunities to be accommodated.

"The buildout of the $1.5 billion SuperStation is expected to occur in stages. Engineering design for Phase I is well underway, with construction scheduled to commence in 2012, and Phase I commercial operations scheduled for 2015. The initial power transfer capacity will be 750 MW between the Western and Eastern grids…[allowing] energy producers and marketers…to transfer sizable blocks of power from region to region. Energy purchasers will also have access to regions heretofore inaccessible…In addition to improving the reliability, efficiency and economics of the nation’s separate grids, the SuperStation will provide value-added services and larger market opportunities to intermittent power sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and storage…"

CHINA TURNS ON WORLD’S BIGGEST SOLAR-WIND HYBRID

2012-01-03T07:02:00.001-08:00

China's first wind-solar power storage demonstration project comes on stream
Niu Huizhe and Li Xiaohui, December 26, 2011 (Xinhua News Agency via Electro IQ)

"China's first integrated wind-solar power demonstration project has been completed and put into operation…[in] north China's Hebei province, according to a source at North China Grid Co., Ltd, constructor of the project.

"The project is the largest new energy project in the world that integrates wind power generation, solar PV power generation, power storage and intelligent power transmission…"

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"With an initial investment of 3.3 billion yuan, the project is currently equipped with installed capacity of 100-megawatt (MW) wind power, 40-MW solar PV power and a storage capacity of 20 MW…The power plant generates] electricity through solar PV power during the daytime and electricity through wind power at night, which [increases wind output] by 5-10 percent…

"…[T]he power storage and intelligent power transmission…[will] break down the bottleneck…of grid connection…North China Grid Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of State Grid Corp, China's largest power grid operator…"

MPG AND ELECTRIC MPG

2012-01-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

Electric cars 101: What does MPGe mean, exactly? Electric and dual-fuel cars need a new calculation: MPGe. But the EPA's new measurement doesn't tell the whole story.
Chris Gaylord, December 25, 2011 (Christian Science Monitor)

"…The 2012 Mitsubishi i stands as America's most fuel-efficient car, at 126 miles per gallon in city driving…[but] 126 m.p.g. will still be impossible…[T]he Mitsubishi i is an all-electric vehicle…[I]t's actually 126 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). The EPA rolled out this new term to help translate electric-car efficiency into a figure that most Americans understand…

"…MPGe works well as a shorthand, but it doesn't tell the whole story. Let's look at how the EPA calculates MPGe…Gasoline and electricity use completely different units (gallons versus kilowatt-hours)…[but] a gallon of gasoline [generates] 115,000 British thermal units of heat…[The] electricity… to generate the same amount of heat…[is] 34 kilowatt-hours (kWh)… One gallon of gasoline produces the same amount of energy as 34 kWh."

click to enlarge

"…[T]he Mitsubishi i will go 126 miles on 34 kWh]…126 miles per the equivalent of a gallon of gas…[the] MPGe…[But comparing] MPGe to m.p.g…compares energy consumption, not fuel costs…[K]ilowatt-hours per 100 miles…[required of] 2013 vehicles…makes actual pocketbook calculations much easier…[T]he 2012 Chevrolet Volt…offers all-electric driving with a gasoline tank as backup. Its EPA label touts both 37 m.p.g. and 93 MPGe…[but] the Volt takes 36 kWh of electricity to drive 100 miles. Or… 2.7 gallons [of gasoline] per 100 miles.

"Multiply 36 kWh by however much you pay per kWh on your home electri¬city bill…12 cents per kWh…[is] the national average…[That comes to] $4.32 to drive 100 miles using only electricity…[Multiply that] by the [gasd pump] price…2.7 gallons multiplied by the national average of $3.275 per gallon…equals $8.84 to drive 100 miles on gasoline…[D]ealers are not required to post such numbers on 2012 models…[Click here for] how far each electric car will travel on a single charge, how long it takes to fill up the battery, and how much the average driver will save…"

MORE E-RECYCLING THAN EVER

2012-01-03T06:57:00.000-08:00

E-Waste Environmental Crisis is Being Mitigated by Strong Growth in Electronics Recycling and Reuse
December 29, 2011 (Pike Research)

"…[T]he business and environmental challenges associated with electronic device disposition at end-of-life (EOL) [is growing] greater and greater. According to a new report from Pike Research…the total volume and weight of EOL electronics, which is known as e-scrap, will more than double in the next 15 years, rising from 676 million cubic feet (and 6.0 million tons) in 2010 to 1,465 million cubic feet (and 14.9 million tons) by 2025…

"… This trend will place increasing pressure on industry players, governments, and advocacy groups to find new ways to expand electronics recycling and reuse. E-scrap that is not recycled, reused, or stored becomes e-waste and is buried, incinerated, or dumped, representing a significant environmental hazard."

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"…Pike Research anticipates that the electronics recycling movement [to 2025] will make strong progress…[and] forecasts that electronics recycling and reuse will rise from 122 million cubic feet (and 1.1 million tons) per year in 2010 to 789 million cubic feet (and 7.9 million tons) annually by 2025…By the early 2020s, the firm expects that recycling and reuse activity will surpass the annual volume and weight of electronic devices that become e-waste, and thus will play a large part in mitigating the e-waste crisis…

"…Pike Research anticipates [however] that the total volume of e-waste in landfills will continue increasing throughout the period…[because] unwanted electronic equipment is still easily and inexpensively sent to landfill burial rather than being directed toward reuse or recycling. Trans-boundary shipments of e-waste from developed countries to developing countries continue, and the informal recovery of components and materials in developing countries remain a concern for human health and the environment…[T]he gap may be narrowed in the coming years if national and regional governments modify their legislative mandates to close perceived loopholes and increase e-scrap diversion…"

A CHANCE TO BUY A SOLAR COMPANY CHEAP

2012-01-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

First Solar Never So Cheap in Takeover Boon for Energy: Real M&A; For acquirers willing to wager on the future of solar power, First Solar Inc. has gotten $22 billion cheaper.
Tara Lachapelle, Christopher Martin and Richard Weiss (w/Rachel Layne, Sarah Rabil, and Daniel Hauck), December 25, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"First Solar has tumbled 76 percent this year, the biggest drop in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Inde, as…[it] shifted its focus to large power plants. Once worth $25 billion, First Solar was valued [at the end of 2011] as low as $2.64 billion…The world’s largest maker of thin-film solar panels may now attract takeover interest from General Electric Co. or Siemens AG on the expectation that demand will increase…during the next decade as prices become more competitive with fossil fuels and other forms of electricity…

"… First Solar’s stock…plunged 25 percent since Dec. 14 when it reduced 2011 profit and sales forecasts, projected earnings next year that missed analysts’ estimates and said it will fire about 100 employees in the second restructuring in six weeks. The company is reorganizing to focus on large utility-scale power plants instead of smaller, rooftop installations after ousting its chief executive officer in October and replacing him with Michael Ahearn, the founder and chairman…"

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"Plunging prices for solar panels have eroded profit margins across the industry as manufacturers ramped up production capacity faster than demand increased, creating a global glut of supply. The spot price of solar panels…[fell 47 percent in 2011]…First Solar uses cadmium-telluride in its thin-film panels, which require less time and energy to manufacture than the more common ones based on silicon semiconductors…

"The market for solar power surged 67 percent [in 2010] to $55 billion on new projects with a capacity of about 18,000 megawatts…New solar installations may reach 24,000 megawatts [for 2011] and hold steady at about that rate [in 2012]…[and] climb to as much as 34,700 megawatts in 2013…"

EFFICIENCY IN 2011

2012-01-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

Energy Efficiency in 2011: Progress on Many Fronts, Treading Water on Others
Steven Nadel, December 28, 2011 (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)

"With 2011 drawing to a close, now is a good time to take stock of energy efficiency accomplishments over the past year...[U]tility-sector spending on energy efficiency programs is likely to be more than $6 billion for the year…[It was also a] peak year for energy efficiency spending by state and local governments using funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA—the stimulus bill passed by Congress in 2009). As a result, many homes and buildings were weatherized and millions of pieces of efficient equipment installed.

"…[In addition,] many states were active on energy efficiency policy this year. Our 2011 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard found that 35 states have either adopted building codes specified in ARRA or are on a clear path for doing so, up from 17 states in 2010...Likewise, two states (Arizona and Missouri) have improved the business case for utility investments in energy efficiency, with cases pending in four additional states (Maryland, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Washington)…"

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"At the federal level, the first-ever efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks were finalized and new standards for passenger vehicles proposed. The truck standard will reduce truck fuel use by 6–23%, depending on truck type, and the passenger vehicle standard is projected to bring average new vehicle fuel economy to just under 50 miles per gallon by 2025. In addition, new standards were established for six categories of appliances…These standards will reduce the energy use of these products by about 10–25%...

"…EPA issued new regulations for emissions of toxic pollutants by power plants…[but 2011] was not a good year for federal energy legislation…[T]wo energy efficiency bills [with] strong bipartisan majorities…[failed to reach the floor]…And in a year-end compromise with the House of Representatives, funding restrictions were enacted on enforcement of lamp efficiency standards. Fortunately, the law is still in effect and U.S. manufacturers have indicated they will follow the law, even if it is not enforced…"

WHAT EV BUYERS THINK

2012-01-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

Electric Vehicle Consumer Survey; Consumer Attitudes, Preferences, and Price Sensitivity for Plug-in Electric Vehicles and EV Charging Stations
December 29, 2011 (Pike Research)

"As consumer interest in fuel efficient vehicles remains high, two automakers, Chevrolet and Nissan, ended 2010 with the launch of their first highway-capable plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) for the mass market. These vehicles...enable drivers to reduce both gasoline expenses and greenhouse gas emissions…

"…[O]ther auto manufacturers are working to electrify their lineups…Toyota plans to launch [a] PEV Prius in January 2012, and [many] other manufacturers have plans to launch plug-in electric models in the near future."

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"To assess consumer demand, preferences, and price sensitivity for PEVs and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, Pike Research conducted a web-based survey of 1,051 U.S. consumers in the fall of 2011…[B]ased on Americans’ driving and commute patterns, PEVs should be a strong fit for a large number of consumers…

"…[R]espondents indicated strong fundamental interest in PEVs, with 40% of participants stating that they would be extremely or very interested in purchasing such a vehicle, assuming the price were right. However, price sensitivity is an issue that continues to loom over the industry, as survey participants’ willingness to pay was much lower than the prices currently planned by automakers…"

WHY A NEW ENERGY ECONOMY

2011-12-21T06:36:00.006-08:00

The 4 E’s of a New Energy Economy
Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., December 19, 2011 (Clean Edge)

"…[Colorado is] the American manufacturing home to the world’s largest wind turbine company, Vestas Wind Systems…[and] to some of the world’s leading renewable energy companies…[and] smart grid companies…[O]ur primary utility, Xcel Energy, is the country’s leader in wind energy…[E]ach state has the opportunity to achieve their own New Energy Economy…[and] advance what I call the “Four Es”: Energy Security, Economic Security, Environmental Security, and Equity.

"…[E]nergy efficiency as well as clean, domestic, secure, and renewable energy sources can reduce our heavy dependence on foreign oil, and on aging, high-emitting coal plants – and perhaps one day eliminate them entirely…[O]ur troops in the field risk their lives to transport diesel fuel to power remote generators in dangerous parts of the world. We owe them an alternative…"

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"…[A New Energy] economy creates jobs and economic prosperity…[D]uring the Great Recession [Colorado] actually saw growth in one industry: the clean-tech/clean-energy industry…[Perhaps] no industry in the world…faces a more significant opportunity to modernize and change than the energy industry. ..America should be at the forefront of that effort…

"There is perhaps no greater challenge facing the next generation than reducing harmful emissions associated with energy generation and consumption. We continue to see the staggering impacts of climate change throughout the globe…We have an obligation to future generations…Inaction at the federal level means states need to lead…[And] we need to ensure that our move to clean energy is not achieved on the backs of our poorest citizens…[But to naysayers who] say that we can’t afford clean energy…I would argue we can’t afford not to pursue a new energy agenda. It is up to our generation to recognize and address the challenges of the 21st century with 21st century technologies…"

ROOFTOP SOLAR AND REAL ESTATE VALUES

2011-12-21T06:35:00.001-08:00

Fixing The Value Problem: New Tool Assesses The Worth Of PV Installations
Jessica Lillian, 20 December 2011 (Solar Industry)

"How much is that PV installation on the roof worth? An April study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory confirmed that homes with PV enjoy a sales-price boost of approximately $3.90/W to $6.40/W when the properties are sold.

"…[M]ore and more homes and businesses are outfitted with PV…[but] real estate appraisers and finance professionals have struggled to find a consistent method that allows them to properly add a solar installation's value to the property and associated mortgage…[Often] PV installations have received little or no value in real estate transactions…[Researchers] at Sandia National Laboratories…[recently]
unveiled a new tool…to [value the PV system in the real estate transaction]…"

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"Sandia's tool relies on…income capitalization…which can be used when comparables are limited or nonexistent…[T]he appraiser or homeowner determines the capitalized value of the net income that the solar installation can generate…[T]he user enters several values [in a prepared Microsoft Xcel spreadsheet], including the local electricity rate, the local utility's escalation rate, and operations and maintenance expenses over the remaining useful lifetime of the array.

"The PV system's energy production is determined using solar resource calculations tied to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's PV Watts model, which accounts for factors such as resistance and shading. The user also inputs the age of the modules and inverters, the system's location, and its slope and azimuth…Ultimately, the model provides a range of appraisal values - a low figure, medium figure and high figure - for the present value of all energy remaining in the system…As more PV systems are installed, more data will become available - thus allowing the tool to undergo steady accuracy improvements…"

WIND, BIRDS AND SOLUTIONS

2011-12-21T06:33:00.003-08:00

On radar: Solutions to sidestep avian mortality; A clutch of vendors are touting radar as a way of cutting the worrying cull that wind farms inflict upon bird and bat species. Will this expensive remedy work, though?
Jason Deign, December 15, 2011 (Wind Energy Update)

"…DeTect has installed its Merlin avian radar system at 40 wind farms worldwide. And Robin Radar of the Netherlands now offers a similar system…A radar tracks any sizeable flying object and when it gets close to a wind farm the operator has the option of switching off nearby turbines or issuing a deterrent such as an alarm call.

"The systems are even capable in some cases of distinguishing different types of birds based on characteristics such as wind beat frequency. DeTect has a product called Vesper to detect bats and the insects they feed on…The radar companies point to the success of their technology in reducing bird strikes in the aerospace industry and elsewhere."

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Even the companies behind them admit it is still a little too early to tell…[O]nly a quarter of the Merlin systems currently deployed are actually used in combination with a wind farm supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for mitigation purposes. The rest are only used for monitoring, often as part of site evaluations…[and] DeTect’s smallest system sells for $500,000 and Robin Radar’s systems cost…quite a few hundred thousand euros…[so] wind farm owners will likely want to know what alternatives are available…

"…DTBird camera-based visual bird tracking system sold by Liquen of Spain…comes with an automated acoustic alarm or turbine-shutdown feature and works on a turbine-by-turbine basis…This can be configured to respond only to particular types of birds, such as endangered raptors, and costs less than 1% of a turbine’s value to install and less than 1% of its annual operating profits to maintain…A visual system has the advantage that its effectiveness, or otherwise, is captured on film…[L]ess than 5% of birds stray into the rotor path after the alarm has sounded…However, DTBird does not work at night (although a more expensive night-vision model is under development) and, as with radar systems, there is no peer-reviewed data to support its efficiency; only a few turbines in Spain and Italy are currently equipped with it…"

NEW ENERGY RQRMTS TIED TO UTILITY MERGER OKS

2011-12-19T15:11:00.002-08:00

Utilities in Power Squeeze as States Tie Mergers to Clean Energy
Julie Johnsson and Bradley Olson, December 16, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"The surging pace of power-industry consolidation, with more than $31 billion in transactions pending in the U.S., is giving state officials… leverage to wrest more clean-energy investments from merging companies.

"Exelon Corp. (EXC)…will invest $1 billion in Maryland, almost doubling its previous offer [ and has agreed to develop some 180 megawatts of New Energy, more than seven times its initial 25 megawatt pledge], to gain [Governor] O’Malley’s support for the company’s $8.05 billion takeover of Baltimore- based Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG)…Similar discussions are under way in Massachusetts, where Governor Deval Patrick’s administration is in talks with Boston- based Nstar (NST) and Northeast Utilities over how their combined companies would help meet the state’s renewable energy goals…"

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"Tying state approval for mergers to investments in wind and solar may raise costs for utilities and drive more spending on renewable energy at a time when projects are faltering because of falling fuel prices…State officials and regulators have traditionally used their approval authority for utility mergers to protect the interests of consumers, often demanding concessions such as lower electrical rates or customer rebates.

"As natural gas prices have fallen amid a U.S. production glut, renewable energy has become a more expensive option. Many projects aren’t commercially feasible without government incentives, so companies may need to be forced to invest…When considering whether a utility merger is in consumers’ best interests, [advocates believe] it’s appropriate for states to add renewable energy to the mix of considerations that include electric rates and reliability…"

OBAMA ADMIN PUTS $4BIL UPGRADE BLDGS

2011-12-19T14:01:00.001-08:00

President Obama Announces $4 Billion Investment in Energy Upgrades to Buildings
December 2, 2011 (Clean Edge News)

"President Obama announced nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades to buildings over the next 2 years…investments [that] will save billions in energy costs, promote energy independence, and, according to independent estimates, create tens of thousands of jobs in the construction sector. The $4 billion investment includes a $2 billion commitment, made through the issuance of a Presidential Memorandum, to energy upgrades of federal buildings using long term energy savings to pay for up-front costs, at reportedly no cost to taxpayers…

"… 60 CEOs, mayors, university presidents, and labor leaders committed to invest nearly $2 billion [more] of private capital into energy efficiency projects; and to upgrade energy performance by a minimum of 20% by 2020 in 1.6 billion square feet of office, industrial, municipal, hospital, university, community college and school buildings. This announcement builds on a commitment made by 14 partners at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in June to make energy upgrades across 300 million square feet, and to invest $500 million in private sector financing in energy efficiency projects."

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"The commitments were announced by President Obama…former President Clinton…[and] representatives from… the Better Buildings Challenge…[an] Initiative…to support job creation by catalyzing private sector investment in commercial and industrial building energy upgrades to make America’s buildings 20 percent more efficient over the next decade, reducing energy costs for American businesses by nearly $40 billion. Last year, commercial buildings consumed roughly 20 percent of all the energy used by the U.S. economy.

"…[T]he U.S. Chamber of Commerce has recognized [the Presidential Memorandum] as critical to job creation…[It implements] existing federal authority to utilize Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs)… to promote energy efficiency and create new jobs…[N]ew energy efficient equipment [will be] installed at Federal facilities at no up-front cost…[The] improvements [will be] paid for over time with…[utility bill [savings], and the private sector contractors guarantee the energy savings."

FACEBOOK MOVE BY GREENPEACE UNFRIENDS COAL

2011-12-19T12:55:00.001-08:00

Facebook Unfriends Coal and Likes Clean Energy Thanks to Greenpeace
Raz Godelnik, December 16, 2011 (Triple Pundit)

"Greenpeace is celebrating…[its] Unfriend Coal Campaign that called on Facebook to power its data centers with clean energy instead of coal. After 20 months of mobilizing, agitating and negotiating to green Facebook, and with more than 700,000 people who took part in its campaign…Facebook finally agreed to go green, presenting a new commitment to give preference to clean and renewable energy.

"The new agreement between Greenpeace and Facebook shows not only the journey Facebook completed during these 20 months, but also how Greenpeace is becoming one of the most powerful players in the world when it comes to mobilizing businesses and encouraging them to do the right thing."

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"If you look at the details of the agreement, you see that Facebook wasn’t the only one that needed to make some adjustments to its initial positions – there are also differences between the original demands Greenpeace made with the pledges Facebook eventually made…

"…Greenpeace had to compromise with regards to its initial demand that Facebook will become coal free by 2021…[A]nother] element of vagueness…[is Facebook] pledging to give preference to clean energy…[W]ould it be at any cost, or only if it doesn’t cost the company?…Still, this is an important progress. As Greenpeace knows very well, there’s black and white only in the world of watchdogs. The world of green business is about the shades of grey and most of the time compromise is necessary to actually get something done…[W]e should give it a ‘like.’"

HAWAII UTILITY BUYS WIND

2011-12-19T12:54:00.001-08:00

Hawai'i Public Utilities Commission Approves Contract For Kawailoa Wind Energy Project
December 13, 2011 (First Wind)

"The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission…approved an agreement between First Wind and Hawaiian Electric Company for the utility to purchase renewable energy produced by the proposed 69-megawatt (MW) Kawailoa Wind project on Oahu’s North Shore…Under the contract, Kawailoa Wind Power, a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based First Wind, will sell as-available renewable energy to Hawaiian Electric at pre-determined prices over 20 years, providing a valuable hedge against fluctuating oil prices.

"The Kawailoa Wind project will be built on former Kawailoa Plantation land…owned by Kamehameha Schools. It will employ 30 Siemens SWT-2.3-101 wind turbines, each able to generate up to 2.3 MW…When completed, Kawailoa Wind will be the largest wind energy project in the state, able to generate clean, renewable energy equivalent to that needed to power approximately 14,500 Oahu homes. The project is scheduled to…be operating by the end of 2012…"

First Wind's Kaheawa project. Kawailoa will have bigger turbines. (click to enlarge)

"…First Wind developed a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for Kawailoa Wind, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources. The HCP is a wildlife conservation effort that includes research funding and actions to protect and minimize incidental harm to federally listed species in the vicinity of the wind energy project…

"First Wind also owns and operates two other wind energy projects in Hawaii…[T]he 30 MW Kaheawa wind energy project above Ma’alaea, Maui provides up to 9 percent of the electricity distributed by Maui Electric Company and is in the process of expansion. Kahuku Wind Power on Oahu's North Shore is also a 30 MW wind project that generates energy equivalent to the power for 7,700 Oahu homes…"

EASTERN UTILITY BUYS WESTERN SUN

2011-12-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

Duke Energy Buys Two Arizona Solar Farms
13 December 2011 (Solar Industry)

"Duke Energy Renewables, a unit of Duke Energy, has purchased two large solar farms in Arizona, marking the company's first solar acquisitions in the western U.S.

"The company has purchased the Ajo solar project and Bagdad solar project from Recurrent Energy. Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) will buy all of the output from both solar farms from Duke Energy Renewables under the terms of two 25-year power purchase agreements. (APS originally signed these agreements with Recurrent Energy.)"

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"The Ajo solar project, located in Pima County, uses nearly 21,000 photovoltaic panels that can collectively generate almost 5 MW of electricity…[It went] operation in late September…The Bagdad project, located in Yavapai County, will use approximately 72,000 solar panels that can collectively generate 15 MW of electricity…[It will go operational] by the end of this year.

"…International engineering and project management company AMEC designed and built the Ajo and Bagdad projects. AMEC will be responsible for operating and maintaining the sites under the terms of five-year service agreements…"

THE EV FUTURE OF CAR COMPUTING

2011-12-19T05:53:00.001-08:00

Electric Vehicle Telematics; Navigation, Infotainment, Range Conservation, Charging Station Location, Battery Performance, Charging Costs, and Other Key Connected Applications for Consumer and Fleet Markets
4Q 2011 (Pike Research)

"Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are set to be some of the most “connected” vehicles on the road. Telematics systems for PEVs come in two varieties: basic telematics provide simple data connections for emergency services, charging equipment locations, and diagnostics/vehicle monitoring; and connected vehicle telematics provide live traffic, weather, streaming content, and cloud computing-based applications…

"…Telematics provides the connection to utilities, grid operators, data providers, and owners’ smartphones. PEV telematics delivers information on electric usage, pricing, and state of charge to smartphones, while connected vehicle telematics will be used to deliver additional content and provide unique tools for PEV owners."

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"PEV telematics are expected to play a significant role in the smart grid, as well. The ability of these vehicles to communicate with both utilities and the grid will help utilities anticipate the location and duration of PEV charging…

"…Advance knowledge of where a load on the grid will be located or the length of time that a vehicle may be attached to the grid will ultimately help utilities manage the grid. PEV telematics will also aid in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) energy transfer, which will help manage demand response or grid balancing…This Pike Research report analyzes…plug-in electric vehicle sales, sales of basic and connected vehicle telematics, and global revenue forecasts through 2017, segmented by world region…"

THE EU’S NEW ENERGY PLANS

2011-12-18T15:24:00.000-08:00

Energy Roadmap 2050: Renewables crucial for decarbonisation of the energy sector
Alexandre Roesch, December 15, 2011 (European Photovoltaic Industry Association)

"After several months of intense discussions, the European Commission presented…its Energy Roadmap 2050, exploring five decarbonisation scenarios to achieve an 85% domestic energy related CO2 emissions reduction by 2050.

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"The Roadmap recognises the increasing role of electricity in this evolution, highlighting the…importance of starting the transition now…Renewables are, together with energy savings, seen as crucial pillars for the energy system transformation…beyond 2020…[I]n all scenarios, the share of renewable energy rises substantially, up to 97% in the electricity portfolio of the High Renewables Scenario."

Against this background, however, the Roadmap lacks ambition when it comes to the post-2020 regulatory framework for renewables. It simply mentions the need for concrete ‘milestones’ for 2030, whereas EPIA and its umbrella association EREC (European Renewable Energy Council) are calling for a binding 45% renewable target for 2030.

"While all decarbonisation scenarios feature similar overall system costs, proving that a purely renewable-based strategy is economically sound, the Roadmap leads to unrealistic conclusions when it comes to the prices of electricity in the High Renewables Scenario...[ due to its reliance on a questionable economic model]…This document will now serve as a basis for a political discussion under the Danish presidency, which intends to produce Council conclusions in June 2012."

SUN PLANS IN THE 2ND BIGGEST SUN STATE

2011-12-18T15:22:00.001-08:00

N.J. Solar Market Preview: With A New Energy Plan, What Lies Ahead In 2012?
Jessica Lillian, 13 December 2011 (Solar Industry)

"With the release of [New Jersey’s 2011 Energy Master Plan (EMP)], the PV industry is keeping a watchful eye on New Jersey - currently the second-largest solar market in the U.S.

"…New Jersey's solar sector continued to undergo significant upheaval as 2011 progressed, and [the EMP] could provide market relief…Projects have flooded the market, the prices for solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) have tumbled, and ratepayer impact is a growing concern. The presence of solar arrays on prized spots on undisturbed land has also drawn criticism in this densely populated, land-constrained state."

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"…[W]ithout some sort of intervention, New Jersey risks becoming a victim of its own solar development success…[T]he most important component of the EMP is its directive to temporarily accelerate RPS requirements in order to inject to more SREC demand and allow for the building of additional solar projects…The state will increase RPS requirements over the next three years and reduce the outlier years…[I] f the RPS were to remain on its old schedule, New Jersey could expect to experience "significant" job loss in the solar sector over the next two to three years.

"…[The EMP also reduces] the solar alternative compliance payment (SACP), which is available to utilities as a substitute for holding SRECs…SRECs in New Jersey have experienced dizzying price movement this year, including a second-quarter drop from approximately $600/MWh to $160/MWh…As a result, they have finally decoupled from the SACP…With the SACP reduction, the EMP aims to reduce cost burdens for ratepayers who do not participate in the solar market, while still supporting continued project development…"

OCEAN WIND BLDR DESPERATELY SEEKING BACKER

2011-12-18T15:21:00.000-08:00

NRG Energy's Bluewater Wind Puts The Brakes On Offshore Wind Farm
13 December 2011 (North American Windpower)

"NRG Energy… is halting active development of offshore wind projects for the near term. This includes the development of the Mid-Atlantic Wind Park, which had been planned off the coast of Delaware by NRG's subsidiary, Bluewater Wind…[but] Bluewater Wind has been unable to find an investment partner and intends to terminate the project's 200 MW power purchase agreement (PPA) with Delmarva Power & Light Co…the first offshore wind PPA in North America - by Dec. 23.

"Since NRG acquired Bluewater Wind in November 2009, the company has made significant financial investments in development to move the offshore wind project forward...[T]he outlook for offshore wind was positive [then]…[Now] the outlook for offshore wind and for the Delaware project has changed dramatically…[due to the elimination of] funding for the DOE’s loan-guarantee program applicable to offshore wind, and the failure to extend the federal investment and production tax credits for offshore wind…[ rendering] the Delaware project both unfinanceable and financially untenable…"

If Bluewater can build its project, it will have a big market. (click to enlarge)

"NRG will close its Bluewater Wind development office but preserve its options by maintaining its development rights and continuing to seek development partners and equity investors. If and when market conditions improve and the company is able to find partners, NRG says it will look to deploy the wind park and explore other viable offshore wind opportunities in the Northeast…

"NRG Bluewater's founder and president, Peter Mandelstam… has spent the last two weeks in Europe talking up the project to potential investors…[and said alternative plans are] in the works…"

WIRES FOR SOLAR POWER TOWER GET GO

2011-12-14T19:06:00.001-08:00

Secretary Salazar Approves Transmission for Solar Thermal 'Power Tower' Project in Southern California; 150 MW Facility Will Generate Up To 450 jobs, $48 Million in Tax Revenue
December 8, 2011 (Bureau of Land Management)

"…[After extensive environmental review and mitigation of impacts, the U.S. Department of the Interior] approved a transmission line, access road and substation on public lands that will connect a 150-megawatt solar energy project to the power grid in California. The proposed project, Rice Solar Energy Project, will be built on private land in Riverside County and, when constructed, the facility is expected to power 68,000 homes, create up to 450 jobs, and generate more than $48 million in state and local tax revenue over the first 10 years of operation…"

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"Proposed by Rice Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of SolarReserve LLC, the thermal ‘power tower’ facility will be located on 1,410 acres of previously disturbed private land near Blythe. The above-ground 230 kilovolt transmission line that crosses eight miles of land administered by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will connect with the Western Area Power Administration's Parker-Blythe #2 transmission line. The project’s innovative molten salt storage system can capture solar energy and deliver power to the grid even after the sun goes down…"

NEW JERSEY OCEAN WIND MOVES AHEAD

2011-12-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

Fishermen's Energy taking first steps to developing offshore wind farm
Katie Eder, December 7, 2011 (NJBiz)

"…[R]enewable offshore wind energy could power a substantial part of the New Jersey coastline by 2013. The latest energy master plan, finalized by the Chris Christie administration…supports the potential for offshore wind development, but the Board of Public Utilities requires a year’s worth of actual wind measurements before it can approve the installation of turbine equipment at a specific site — and Atlantic City offshore wind energy developer Fishermen’s Energy is aiming to get that data stat.

"Last month, a group of Fishermen’s engineers from Lockheed Martin installed a wind measurement device — typically used to detect wind hazards for military defense, meteorological research and airports…With the readings from the equipment, known as the WindTracer, Fishermen’s hopes to get BPU approval to develop the country’s first offshore wind farm 2.8 miles off the coast of Atlantic City."

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"…Rich Dunk, alternative energy applications director for Rutgers University, said the WindTracer is potentially ‘the most cost-effective monitoring technology for offshore wind resource assessments, (and) will enhance the accuracy and reliability of offshore weather forecasts…While Fishermen’s has installed and maintained a series of meteorological towers onshore at a cost of more than $6 million, the WindTracer’s price is considerably cheaper, at less than $2 million. The equipment’s accuracy in measuring wind speed and direction is also sizable, taking 300-foot samples within a 20-mile range every few minutes.

"…Christie supports offshore wind power because it has the potential to create long-term economic benefits for New Jersey…[H]e signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act, which calls for 1,100 megawatts of wind energy installed by the end of 2012. With its WindTracer equipment and meteorological towers, Fishermen’s has begun to develop a demonstration offshore wind farm that will produce 25 megawatts of energy…[Next is funding] to cultivate full-scale wind energy — and make New Jersey the leader in offshore wind power within two years."

GREENVOLTS CPV GETS BIG BACKER

2011-12-14T19:02:00.000-08:00

ABB invests in utility-scale concentrating photovoltaic solar power company; Strategic stake in US-based GreenVolts strengthens ABB’s focus on renewables
December 14, 2011 (ABB)

"ABB, the global power and automation technology group… has agreed to invest approximately $20 million as part of a $35 million financial round, for a substantial minority stake in California-based GreenVolts, a leading provider of turnkey concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems.

"Through the investment ABB gains access to GreenVolts’ proprietary technology and can now offer turnkey solutions for concentrating photovoltaic power plants in addition to its current capabilities in solar thermal and conventional photovoltaic power plants."

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"GreenVolts’ CPV system is more efficient than traditional photovoltaic and thin-film modules. By optimizing and integrating field-proven, high-performance components such as proprietary optics and tracking technology into a complete system, GreenVolts delivers energy yields that can be 30 to 40 percent higher than traditional panel-based systems…

"GreenVolts solar systems are designed to meet the operational requirements of a wide range of applications for utilities and industries as well as commercial, agricultural, and public sector customers. The technology complements ABB’s recent acquisition of a stake in Novatec Solar, a leading provider of Linear Fresnel concentrating solar power technology…"

WORLD’S BIGGEST SUN BUILDER

2011-12-14T05:56:00.001-08:00

BELECTRIC once again leading the global EPC market for solar PV systems
2011 December 8, (SolarServer)

"In 2011, BELECTRIC (Kolitzheim, Germany) is once again the global market leader in development and construction (EPC) of ground-mounted solar power plants and roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) systems.

"For the second year in a row, BELECTRIC has installed more photovoltaic power around the world than any other company in the industry…391 MW installed…[a]cross all continents…62 solar power plants were constructed in addition to a multiplicity of large-scale roof-mounted photovoltaic systems, photovoltaic greenhouse systems and photovoltaic car park systems…"

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"With 2,000 employees in 15 countries, BELECTRIC's leading position on the market is primarily due to full integration and in-house project planning. Nearly all system components (BOS), such as substructures and cable systems, are manufactured in house, enabling perfect adaptation of the system design and construction processes, which in turn results in reduced costs per generated kWh (LCOE) in the long run and high-quality results…within the specified time frame.

"…With an equity ratio of 60% and a high credit limit, BELECTRIC is viewed as one of the most reliable partners by investors and banks responsible for project financing. At an index of 122, the independent rating from Creditreform is further proof of BELECTRIC's market leadership… When it comes to modules, BELECTRIC relies on the expertise and years of experience of First Solar and Solar Frontier…"

NORWAY FLOATS MAINE WIND

2011-12-14T05:42:00.000-08:00

Floating Maine wind farm under consideration
Tux Turkel, December 10, 2011 (Portland Press Herald)

"The Maine coast could become home to a pilot project [from the Norwegian energy giant Statoil North America Inc.] to create the country’s first deepwater, floating wind farm…

"If the four-turbine [test] project wins [a commercial lease on the outer continental shelf 12 miles from the nearest land and] approvals and the developer goes forward, it could be operating in 2016 and generate as much as 12 megawatts, equivalent to the power needs of about 18,000 homes…Statoil’s application is a major step for Maine’s ambition to create an offshore energy industry…[where] wind resources are better…and the sites are far enough from land to minimize the visual impact for coastal residents…"

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"To go forward, Statoil will need timely permit approvals from various government agencies, and decide in pending studies that the project makes business sense…It also will have to conclude that Maine is the best place for a commercial test of the technology, which Statoil and other companies are exploring in other countries…

"Ultimately, the state is trying to encourage development of a commercial-scale wind farm with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts by 2020. Additional wind farms are contemplated by 2030, leading to…billions of dollars in investment for the state and supporting industries…Statoil’s test project alone is valued at about $20 million…A UMaine study last year…concluded that in 2020 it will be possible to generate power in the 10-cent-per-kilowatt range, on par with conventional sources. The cost of producing power from Statoil’s four test turbines would be more than twice as much because it’s a small project…"

WAVE HARVESTER SEEKS BUILDER

2011-12-14T05:38:00.001-08:00

EON Supplier Pelamis Looks for Industrial Player for Wave Farms
Louise Downing, November 25, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"Pelamis Wave Power Ltd., a U.K. maker of ocean energy technology, is looking to partner with a ‘strong’ industrial company in the next year to help bring its technology to market and deliver on its projects…The company, venture capital-funded for about nine years…has hired Ernst & Young to facilitate…looking at industrial players across the globe…

"Energy from the waves and tides has the potential to meet as much as 20 percent of current U.K. electricity demand, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The government last month proposed boosting the number of [Renewable Obligation Certificates, or ROCs] on offer to marine energy developers from two to five…[making them] eligible to receive about 230 pounds ($387) a megawatt- hour…[which will help Pelamis find a partner by adding certainty and transparency]…"

"The most likely strategic investors in Pelamis would be large power engineering companies that have not already chosen a wave technology to back…[such as] Siemens AG (SIE), which is backing Marine Current Turbines Ltd. in tidal power; Areva SA, which has invested in solar and wind technology companies; and General Electric Co. (GE), which is a big player in wind turbines…

"Pelamis is currently testing two machines at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, northern Scotland, for its utility customers ScottishPower Renewables Ltd., part of Iberdrola SA, and EON AG. It’s also established a joint venture with Vattenfall AB to build a 10-megawatt project off the Shetland Islands…It has the technology, the sites and the customers though it doesn’t yet have the capability and capacity to deliver…"

WIND CITY, WYOMING

2011-12-13T07:05:00.001-08:00

$750 million wind farm proposed for area
Josh Mitchell, December 10, 2011 (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)

"The city of Cheyenne stands to make more than $100 million [from leasing land and property taxes] and possibly draw a wind blade manufacturing facility…The Morley Company of Jackson Hole [with strong financial backing from a Dutch bank] is proposing building a 300-megawatt, $750 million wind farm composed of 120 towers on the west end of the city-owned Belvoir Ranch, which is six miles west of the city…

"The project would only consume a small portion of the 17,000 acres that the city owns at the Belvoir Ranch…[T]he city of Cheyenne only stands to gain from the plan…[It] won't be required to invest any money in the project…[but] could make between $72 million and $130 million by leasing the land to the company over 30 years…[though] it could be several years before the wind farm is actually developed…[if] Congress [is slow to] renew the federal tax credit for wind farms when it expires in a year…[Morley hopes] construction of the wind farm [can] start in three years."

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"The development of transmission lines in Wyoming to transmit the wind energy to market also could contribute to the timing…[S]ix transmission line projects [are] being developed in Wyoming…[by the] Wyoming Infrastructure Authority…Wyoming stands to make money by selling its wind energy to California, which is under governmental mandates to use increasing amounts of renewable energy…

"A new wind farm in the area also would increase the likelihood of drawing a manufacturing center…to build parts for the industry…[T]hree international companies are interested…[especially because there is] railroad access for shipping…A wind turbine manufacturer would be an estimated $500 million investment… and bring about 250 jobs…Prior to developing a wind farm at the Belvoir Ranch, there would have to be studies to ensure that wildlife and artifacts would not be harmed. This could take more than a year…Laramie County resident Paul Edner…said wind towers diminish the skyline."

UPDATE ON SUN WAR WITH CHINA

2011-12-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

Solar Trade Complaint: Rumors, New Twists And Questions Answered
Jessica Lillian, 8 December 2011 (Solar Industry)

"…[The bipartisan] International Trade Commission (ITC)…voted 6-0 that there is a ‘reasonable indication’ that [Chinese solar cell and module trade practices] practices are detrimental to the U.S.' solar manufacturing industry…In response, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) - which has maintained a neutral position on the case - sought to [clarify and inform]…

"The ITC's task is to ascertain whether the practices of the Chinese government have caused injury to U.S.-based solar manufacturers…[I]ts preliminary investigation…[found] unanimously that injury has likely occurred…The [U.S. Dept. of Commerce (DOC)]'s concurrent investigation will focus on PV product pricing, in order to determine whether Chinese modules were sold at ‘unfairly’ low prices (i.e., dumped) and whether producers and exporters have benefited from ‘unfair’ government subsidies…"

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"The ITC will look at three factors - price, volume and impact - by collecting a wealth of quarterly pricing data…The initial complaint filed by SolarWorld and its partners in the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing specifically excluded thin-film PV modules from the investigation. Petition respondents, however, have said that they believe thin film should be defined as a 'like product' and, thus, covered in the investigation…

"The next date to watch is Jan. 12, when the DOC is expected to make its preliminary determination on the countervailing-duty portion of the case…A final determination is planned for March 27, when the department will also release its preliminary determination on the anti-dumping component of its investigation…From May through July, both the ITC and DOC will make a series of final determinations, with orders for the countervailing-duty case scheduled for May 18 and orders for the anti-dumping case scheduled for Aug. 1…The U.S. government, however, has in place a measure to stop [importers from rushing as much product as possible into the U.S.]…"

FEDS RULE FOR WIND

2011-12-13T06:48:00.000-08:00

FERC Rules In Favor Of Wind Power In BPA Curtailment Case
Laura DiMugno, 8 December 2011 (North American Windpower)

"The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has ruled in favor of wind power in the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) highly contested decision to curtail wind and other forms of generation this spring during a period of hydropower oversupply.

"FERC ruled that BPA's actions unduly discriminated against wind energy and gave preferential treatment to hydropower when it opted to curtail 350 MW of wind generation instead of allowing water to spill over hydroelectric dams…"

"As a result of the ruling, BPA will no longer be allowed to use this policy, and must submit to FERC, within 90 days, a revised open-access transmission tariff that…provides transmission service that is ‘not unduly discriminatory or preferential’…[FERC also recognized in its ruling the wider issue of a lack of sufficient transmission capacity to integrate variable energy resources, especially wind power]…

"BPA expressed disappointment with FERC’s decision, and acknowledged that oversupply will continue to be a challenge in the region…At the time, BPA claimed its curtailment decision was necessary to protect salmon and steelhead, maintain the reliability of the power grid and avoid shifting costs to customers. However, a report issued this fall by salmon industry group Save Our wild Salmon (SOS) denies the validity of those claims…"

WHAT DURBAN’S DEAL DOES AND DOESN’T DO

2011-12-11T09:14:00.001-08:00

Climate Deal Doesn't Make Things Better
Arthur Max and Karl Ritter (with Seth Borenstein), December 11, 2011 (Time Magazine)

"The hard-fought deal at a global climate conference in South Africa keeps talks alive but doesn't address the core problem: The world's biggest carbon polluters aren't willing to cut emissions of greenhouse gases enough to stave off dangerous levels of global warming…With many scientists saying time is running out, a bigger part of the solution may have to come from the rise of climate-friendly technologies being developed outside the U.N. process…

"A report released before the Durban talks by the U.N. Environment Programme said greenhouse gas emissions need to peak before 2020 for the world to have a shot of reaching that target. It said that's doable only if nations raise their emissions pledges…In Durban, they did not…Sunday's deal extends by five years the Kyoto Protocol…The Durban agreement also envisions a new accord with binding targets for all countries to take effect in 2020. [Negotiators overcame gridlock in the final hours and kept the process moving by laying out rules for monitoring and verifying emissions reductions, protecting forests, transferring clean technologies to developing countries and scores of technical issues]…"

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"…Climate talks have been bogged down by rifts between rich and poor, between fully industrialized nations and emerging economies, about how to share the burden of reducing greenhouse emissions…Meanwhile, the atmosphere keeps filling up with heat-trapping gases from the burning of fossil fuels…Figures from the U.N. weather agency show the three most powerful greenhouse gases reached record levels last year and were increasing at an ever-faster rate…And the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the total heat-trapping force from major greenhouse gases has increased 29 percent since 1990…

"…[S]ome say the diplomatic effort to solve the climate issue has already failed, and that the answer lies in the development of green technologies outside the U.N. process…Even in Durban, there was a growing recognition that the transition to a low-carbon economy must be underpinned by a revolution in new energy...The process now lives on, but the difficult part lies ahead: raising the targets for emissions cuts enough to slow the rise in temperatures. Right now, there are few signs suggesting that's going to happen…That means efforts to reduce emissions through national and local regulations, and in the private sector through new technologies…"

JAPAN’S WINDLENS

2011-12-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

…Japan Designs New Wind Turbine with Triplet the Output of Traditional Models
5 December 2011 (Energy Digital)

"…[I]n the same month as one of the world's worst nuclear crises devastated Fukushima, an incredibly innovative wind turbine system [began field testing in Japan]. With a promise to generate two to three times the power of traditional models, the new turbine designs exemplify the potential for a cleaner [non-nuclear] energy future…[The new turbine design] could make the cost of wind power less than coal and nuclear energy.

"The two major concerning issues with traditional turbines have been their general inefficiency and intolerable noise…[A]ttaching an inward curving ring around the perimeter of a turbine's blades increases the focus of airflow…through the blade zones at two to three times the speed…[It also mproves safety and reduces noise]…"

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"…[A] hexagonal-shaped [floating] base for the turbines…would be low in cost, but still strong enough to endure marine conditions…[B]ases would…make it easier to link other turbines at sea together and enlarge platforms…

"Although the 'wind lens' appears simple, it consists of complex technological planning and extensive field testing…As of March…two units of turbines with a capacity of 70 to 100 KW (blade diameter of 12.8) have been installed…[S]maller units with a capacity of 3 to 5 KW (blade diameter of 2.5 meters) have been picked up by some industrial users and installed in many locations…The floating Windlens systems have been tested in a water tank at an in-house laboratory at the University, but actual field test installations for the first marine turbines are almost ready…"

TRAVELING SMART

2011-12-11T09:12:00.000-08:00

Smart Transportation Systems; Intelligent Transportation Technologies in the Age of Smart Cities: Traffic Management, Smart Charging, Public Transit, and Vehicle-to-Vehicle Systems
4Q 2011 (Pike Research)

"…Smart electric vehicle (EV) charging, citywide traffic monitoring, real-time traveler information, transit signal priority, and centralized fleet vehicle management can all be classified as forms of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) or smart transport. What makes them smart is the use of embedded intelligence to connect vehicles to each other and to infrastructure, as well as to central operational sites. Transportation systems are also considered smart when they are applied to achieve smart policy goals in the urban environment, such as enhanced mobility, lower emissions, reduced fuel consumption, improved safety, or economic competitiveness."

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"Demand for ITS will grow in both the developed and developing economies. Developed economies will see ITS as a cost effective way to maximize existing transportation infrastructure and improve city services. Developing cities will incorporate ITS as they build out their transportation infrastructure. Pike Research estimates that global investment in smart transportation systems will total $13.1 billion between 2011 and 2017. Most of this investment will be in intelligent traffic management systems, as this is the sector with the broadest range of potential applications. It is also the sector that is applicable for all cities and it is expected that interest will grow in developing countries in the latter part of this forecast period…"

BUFFET BUYS BIG SUN

2011-12-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

Buffett Gets High Rates, U.S. Incentive in $2 Billion Solar Bet
Christopher Martin (w/Marc Roca, Noah Buhayar, Will Wade and Dan Kraut), December 7, 2011 (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

"Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which agreed to buy [the $2 billion 550-megawatt Topaz solar farm from First Solar Inc.] in California may have picked the right time to invest in the industry.

"The 550-megawatt Topaz project will qualify for a federal incentive because it began construction last month, and will sell power under a long-term [power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric] that was completed before prices for solar panels fell 44 percent in the last year…"

"Topaz, which will use First Solar panels, may be the last large solar farm to qualify for the U.S. Treasury Department incentive program, which is set to end this year. It will likely sell power at a higher price than projects that are seeking utility contracts now…First Solar projects that are currently being built will sell power for 14 cents to 16 cents a kilowatt-hour…By 2014…its solar farms [will likely] sell power at 10 cents to 12 cents a kilowatt-hour…

"Prices for power sold under these long-term contracts are coming down, and the expected expiration Decenber 31 of the Treasury Department 1603 program, which offers cash grants equal to about 30 percent of renewable energy projects’ development costs] may further erode profit margins for large projects…First Solar received $3.1 billion in federal loan guarantees for three other solar projects that it later sold…The billionaire’s endorsement may also help First Solar sell other solar farms, even if they have power-purchase deals with lower rates…"

ARNOLD BACKS U.S. NEW ENERGY

2011-12-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

An unfair fight for renewable energies
Arnold Schwarzenegger, December 4, 2011 (Washington Post)

"…[I]t is absurd that our federal government spends tens of billions of dollars annually subsidizing the oil industry, which pulls diminishing resources from underground, while the industry focused above ground on wind, solar and other renewable energies is derided in Washington.

"Federal support for development of new energy sources is lower today than at any other point in U.S. history, and our government is forcing the ¬clean-energy sector into a competitive disadvantage. To bring true competition to the energy market, ensure our national security and create jobs here rather than in China or elsewhere, we must level the playing field for renewable energies…[W]e should not demonize fossil fuels…[But] support for energy innovation has always helped drive America’s growth."

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"Renewable energies, however, have not been treated the same way. When the oil, gas and nuclear industries were forming, federal support for those energies totaled as much as 1 percent of federal spending. Subsidies available to the renewables industry today are just one-tenth of 1 percent…[T]he conversation in Congress shouldn’t be about attacking green energy or cutting all oil subsidies…[It] should be about leveling the playing field so that renewables are bound by the same rules as fossil fuels. We must make it a national priority to clear the red tape and bureaucracy that puts renewables at a disadvantage…

"Imagine what the renewables industry would look like if the federal government leveled the playing field and showed the same dedication we have in California. Our green sector is the brightest spot in California’s economy, having grown 10 times faster than any other business sector since 2005. Today, one in every four jobs in the U.S. solar industry is in California. One-third of U.S. clean-tech venture capital flows into our state. Nurturing the green-tech sector was the right thing for me to do as governor, and it is the right thing for the federal government to do…"

YERGIN PREDICTS EU WILL LEAD NEW ENERGY

2011-12-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

EU to lead race for renewables
December 5, 2011 (UPI)

"While the outlook for the United States is uncertain, European countries are set to lead the development of renewable energy [according to Pulitzer Prize-winning energy analyst Daniel Yergin]…The European Union has established ambitious targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and expanding renewable energy use by 2020 [Yergin said]…Europe is leading the way in new renewable energy technology."

[Yergin:] "Europe, particularly Germany, will be a laboratory for offshore wind…It's the next frontier for renewable power."

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"The United States is rich in alternative resources like shale natural gas…[and this] is expected to shake up the energy mix in one of the world's top consumers of conventional fossil fuels.

"Though the United States doesn't have firm national laws regarding renewable energy, some states do and lawmakers are focusing on a national renewable agenda…Nevertheless, with the U.S. economy slowly moving out of recession, the focus on renewable energy should wan, said Yergin…"

SUN MOVES ON, VC SOLAR BUY-IN UP

2011-12-07T05:56:00.001-08:00

2011 Venture Capital funding in solar to date surpasses 2010 levels; More than half a billion VC dollars raised since the Solyndra bankruptcy announcement
December 5, 2011 (Mercom Capital)

"According to the preliminary numbers compiled by Mercom Capital Group, Venture Capital (VC) funding in the solar sector so far this year has surpassed 2010 totals. Year to date VC funding (as of Nov. 30, 2011) amounts to $1.71 billion compared to $1.67 billion in in 2010."

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"The number of venture deals this year crossed the 100+ mark for the first time and will make 2011 the best year in terms of number of venture deals in a year...[M]ore than half a billion VC dollars went into 30+ deals since the Solyndra bankruptcy announcement, at the end of August."

CHINA WIND UPGRADING

2011-12-07T05:51:00.001-08:00

53% of China's turbines upgraded following safety inspections
Wu Qi, 2 December 2011 (Windpower Monthly)

"China has upgraded 53% of its wind farms following a nationwide inspection to ensure safety operation, according to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC)...[S]ince August when it started a nationwide inspection of wind farms, [SERC] has examined 360 wind farms that are connected to the grid and 80 wind farms that are under construction. The inspection found around 1,700 hidden dangers.

"Since last year, wind turbines have frequently broken down in Chinese wind farms and the malfunctions continue to rise...SERC said that in the first eight months this year, there have been 193 accidents on wind turbines. They included 54 accidents that led to a 100-500MW being disconnected, and 12 accidents that each led to over 500MW of turbines being disconnected."

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"...[SERC said the] accidents exposed fluctuations in Chinese wind farm operation, discordance in wind farm planning and construction, difficulty in wind power grid-access and consumption, and low overall competitiveness of wind turbine manufacturing sector...

"[Only] 34 key wind farms with an overall capacity of 4.34GW, have a low voltage ride through (LVRT) capacity [that protects the grid]. This was a priority for SERC...Grid-access inspection, another priority, is making slow progress...because China has only one testing organisation with qualifications for the inspection..."

CLIMATE TALKS SLOWING, CHANGE SPEEDING UP

2011-12-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

U.N. climate talks move slowly as new studies urge more dramatic emissions cuts
Juliet Eilperin, December 6, 2011 (Washington Post)

"…[A]s researchers warned that if nations don’t bolster their plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions, much more costly reductions will be needed after 2020...[and with] just three days left in the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Durban, South Africa, the major contributors to the world’s carbon output were divided over how to forge a more comprehensive approach to reducing emissions.

"The fundamental sticking point...is the same conflict that has dominated international negotiations for years: The existing global-warming treaty does not impose binding emissions cuts on some of the world’s top emitters, either because they were not originally bound or because they refused to ratify the agreement. Now, with the first commitment period of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol set to expire at the end of next year, delegates are wrangling over what sort of process should guide talks aimed at forging a new global warming treaty by 2020."

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"...[D]elegates are “stuck” on whether industrialized nations would adopt new climate targets under the Kyoto treaty starting in 2013 and what role the United States, China and India would play under a new climate framework...The European Union...[will] agree to a second round of emissions cuts only if the United States and major developing countries such as China and India sign on to a 'road map' that aims to forge a binding agreement on reductions by the end of the decade.

"Negotiators for China — which is the world’s top greenhouse gas emitter but is not obligated to make cuts under the Kyoto treaty — said publicly last weekend that they might be open to joining a legally binding treaty, but they have shown little willingness to make concessions in private sessions with other countries...American officials have emphasized that they want a better sense of what a binding agreement would look like before they sign off on a process to create one..."

CHINA TALKS CLIMATE DEAL

2011-12-06T06:06:00.000-08:00

Flexibility at Durban gives hope
Lan Lan and Li Jing, 2011 December 6 (China Daily)

"China's openness toward a legally binding climate deal that would come into effect after 2020 has given a boost to the ongoing climate change talks in Durban…Experts said the flexibility that China showed is encouraging, but it's also important to pressure developed countries for much deeper emission reduction targets…"

"…Xie Zhenhua, China's top climate negotiator… laid out five preconditions [for] a legal framework, including an extension of the Kyoto Protocol and actions by developed countries to help developing countries adapt to climate change…Xie, deputy minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, said there are no new requirements, but countries need to implement the commitments and legal documents that have already been agreed to."

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"Tim Gore, Oxfam climate change policy adviser, said what seems to be missing in China's conditions is requesting deeper emission reduction targets from developed countries before 2020…The fate of the Kyoto Protocol, regarded as the cornerstone and most crucial issue at the meeting by developing countries, is still in the air one week into the conference…

"…Developed countries are being urged to sign onto a new round of enforceable pledges under the Kyoto Protocol…The first commitment period of the treaty will expire in 2012…So far, no country has said they will not continue the Kyoto Protocol, while some said they won't have a second commitment period…A plausible outcome of the Durban meeting seems to be that the EU and some other developed countries confirm their targets for a second commitment period…China also announced it is looking to expand cooperation with climate vulnerable countries, such as small island states, least-developed countries and African nations…"

NEWT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

2011-12-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

Fact Check: Gingrich on Climate Change; Newt Gingrich went too far when he claimed that "I've never favored cap-and-trade."
Brooks Jackson, December 5, 2011 (FactCheck.org via USA Today)

"…[H]e's never favored the approach taken by Democrats, but he said in 2007 that he would ‘strongly support’ cap-and-trade if combined with ‘a tax-incentive program for investing in the solutions.’ …[I]n House testimony in 2009 that he [said he] still might support a cap-and-trade system covering ‘the 2,000 most polluting places,’ if packaged with incentives for nuclear power and ‘green coal,’ among other things.

"…[He] has said there's enough scientific evidence to warrant government action, and has never stood with those conservatives who dismiss evidence of human causation as a hoax.’…But at times he's hedged his stand on the evidence…[saying] the evidence is ‘sufficient’ to warrant acting ‘urgently’ and that there is a ‘wealth of scientific data’ that warming is taking place. But at other times he's said that global warming is ‘probably’ happening and that there's no ‘conclusive’ proof of it, or that humans cause it. He's even suggested that the Earth may be about to move ‘into a long cooling period.’"

"And he's also gone from voicing strong — though conditional — support for a cap-and-trade approach to his current position focused entirely on encouraging development of new technologies, with no mention of capping emissions.

"The former speaker's most recent attempt to explain his evolving position came in a Dec. 3 appearance at a Fox News forum...[but] Gingrich went overboard when he [said] he "never favored cap-and-trade." That's not true. He would have been accurate to say he never favored ‘[Nancy] Pelosi's cap-and-trade…But the truth is that he said in 2007 that he ‘strongly’ supported the concept of a cap-and-trade system to address climate change, if packaged with incentives. He even said the world would be ‘much better off’ if President George W. Bush had not rejected the idea of a mandatory cap on carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants in 2001, and adopted such a cap-and-trade-plus-incentives package…"

SUPPORT FOR NEW ENERGY

2011-12-06T05:47:00.000-08:00

New Money, Investors, and Finance Models Needed to Keep US Renewable Energy on Track
21 November 2011 (Bloomberg New Energy Finance)

"With electricity demand weak and stimulus funds dwindling, the US renewable energy sector must attract new investors and make use of unique tax-based financing structures in the next 18 months or risk a sharp drop in new project builds, according to new research by specialist research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance…

"The clean energy industry in the US has been a major beneficiary of public support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in the form of over $65bn in tax credits, grants, and soft loans. But nearly all of those stimulus funds have now been deployed. Unless the private sector steps into the breach with substantial new investment, project development will slow…"

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"…Growth in the US renewable sector has been largely driven by the availability of tax equity or its temporary substitute in the aftermath of the financial crisis, the cash grant…Alternative sources of tax equity may need to emerge to meet [the $7 billion] market demand for project finance…There is a vast pool of potential incremental tax equity supply: the 500 largest public companies in the US alone paid $137bn in taxes over the past year…Expiry of the cash grant should not be expected to result in collapse of the US renewable sector…However, significant uncertainty will remain until Congress reaches a decision about whether or not to extend the production tax credit…

"…The three primary tax equity structures offer distinct advantages to developers and tax equity investors…partnership flip…sale leaseback…[and] an inverted lease…The economics of these structures can be attractive…[Developers can get] returns of 6-19% and investors [can get] 10-49% for wind projects…The choice of investment versus production tax credits (ITC vs. PTC) comes down to the three ‘P’s: performance, perspective and priorities…The optimal tax equity structure depends on the project characteristics... but perfect optimisation may be a pipedream..."

INVESTIGATING CHINA SUN

2011-12-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

ITC Ruling Will Initiate Complete Investigation Into Solar Disparity
Michael Bates, 2 December 2011 (Solar Industry)

"The International Trade Commission (ITC) has made a preliminary determination in its anti-dumping and countervailing-duty investigation into Chinese solar cell and module trade practices, having voted 6-0...that there is a "reasonable indication" that those practices are detrimental to the domestic solar industry.

"With this vote, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has been given the green light to continue investigating the allegedly unfair or illegal importation of Chinese crystalline-silicon photovoltaic products - namely, that cells and modules are being sold in the U.S. at prices under fair value and that the Chinese government is unfairly subsidizing its own manufacturing base."

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"Hanging in the balance of these investigations is whether anti-dumping and countervailing duties will be established to prevent Chinese anti-competitive practices and level the playing field for U.S. solar manufacturers.

"The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), led by SolarWorld Industries America Inc., filed the cases with the ITC and DOC in October…The DOC is expected to make a ruling, perhaps as soon as mid-January, regarding preliminary remedies. These remedies could include, for instance, a requirement that Chinese importers deposit estimated duties on imports they made…"

SUPPORTING WIND

2011-12-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

Looming tax-credit expiration puts wind industry "under a dark cloud"
Mark Jaffe, December 1, 2011 (Denver Post)

"After two strong sales years,Vestas Wind Systems, which has four factories in Colorado, is bracing for the market to "fall off a cliff" if Congress fails to renew a wind-energy tax credit.

"The wind-production tax credit, or PTC, is set to expire at the end of 2012, and that could lead to as much as an 85-percent drop in wind installations…Denmark-based Vestas, the world's largest wind-turbine maker, has invested $1 billion in four plants in…[in the U.S.] and created 1,700 jobs, including suppliers…"

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"There is a lobbying effort to extend the credit, with Democratic and Republican lawmakers supporting the effort…The tax credit is equal to 2.2 cents for each kilowatt-hour generated and is the element that helps the industry with financing and competition with other types of power plants…

"…[Forecasts] for 2012 [suggest] a record 10.7 gigawatts of wind installations in 2012, and without the tax credit, that is projected to drop to 1.5 gigawatts in 2013…"

SOLAR IS SUCH A DEAL

2011-12-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

Affordable solar: It's closer than you think; It's time to stop thinking of solar energy as a boutique source of power, says Joshua Pearce.
Marcia Goodrich, December 1, 2011 (PhysOrg)

"…[Joshua] Pearce, an associate professor of electrical engineering and materials science at Michigan Technological University…[said solar energy] is about to go mainstream…It's a matter of economics. A new analysis by Pearce and his colleagues at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, shows that solar photovoltaic systems are very close to achieving the tipping point: they can make electricity that's as cheap—sometimes cheaper—as what consumers pay their utilities.

"…First, the price of solar panels has plummeted… [in the last 2 years by] 70 percent…But more than that, the assumptions used in previous studies have not given solar an even break…To figure out the true cost of photovoltaic energy, analysts need to consider several variables, including the cost to install and maintain the system, finance charges, how long it lasts, and how much electricity it generates. Pearce and his colleagues performed an exhaustive review of the previous studies and concluded that the values given those variables were [inaccurately assessed]…"

An LCOE cited by the Pearce study as accurate - but dated (click to enlarge)

"…[M]ost analyses assume that the productivity of solar panels will drop at an annual rate of 1 percent or more…[but the new study found it is…much less, between 0.1 and 0.2 percent…[Equipment cost in 2011] is under $1 per watt for solar panels purchased in bulk on the global market, though system and installation costs vary widely. In some parts of the world, solar is already economically superior, and the study predicts that it will become increasingly attractive in more and more places…

"Based on the study, and on the fact that the cost of conventional power continues to creep upward, Pearce believes that solar energy will soon be a major player in the energy game…[when] market economics catches up…"

GOOGLE EASES OFF NEW ENERGY RESEARCH

2011-12-01T05:49:00.000-08:00

More Spring Cleaning Out of Season
Urs Holzle, November 22, 2011 (The Google Blog)

"…[W] e’re in the process of shutting a number of products which haven’t had the impact we’d hoped for, integrating others as features into our broader product efforts, and ending several which have shown us a different path forward. Overall, our aim is to build a simpler, more intuitive, truly beautiful Google user experience…

"…Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal (RE [less than] C)… was developed as an effort to drive down the cost of renewable energy, with an RE [less than] C engineering team focused on researching improvements to solar power technology. At this point, other institutions are better positioned than [Google.org] to take this research to the next level…"

From GoogleGreen via YouTube

"…[W]e’ve published our results to help others in the field continue to advance the state of power tower technology, and we’ve closed our efforts…

"…[Google Ventures and Google Treasuries] will continue our work to generate cleaner, more efficient energy—including our on-campus efforts, procuring renewable energy for our data centers, making our data centers even more efficient and investing more than $850 million in renewable energy technologies."

IEA SHOWS THE NEW ENERGY WAY

2011-12-01T05:48:00.000-08:00

To maintain renewable energy’s rapid growth, new IEA study assesses challenges and shows how to overcome obstacles
23 November 2011 (International Energy Agency)

"Renewables are now the fastest-growing sector of the energy mix and offer great potential to address issues of energy security and sustainability, but their rapid deployment is also bringing a host of challenges…Deploying Renewables 2011: Best and Future Policy Practice, analyses the recent successes in renewable energy, which now accounts for almost a fifth of all electricity produced worldwide, and addresses how countries can best capitalise on that growth to realise a sustainable energy future…"

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"...The new IEA book…Provides a comprehensive review and analysis of renewable energy policy and market trends…Analyses in detail the dynamics of deployment and provides best-practice policy principles for different stages of market maturity…Assesses the impact and cost-effectiveness of support policies using new methodological tools and indicators…[and] Investigates the strategic reasons underpinning the pursuit of RE deployment by different countries and the prospects for globalisation of RE…"

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG SAVINGS

2011-12-01T05:40:00.000-08:00

LED Lighting to Capture 52% of the Commercial Building Market by 2021
November 22, 2011 (Pike Research)

"Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are gaining significant momentum as an alternative to incandescent and fluorescent lighting in commercial buildings, particularly as the cost of LED lighting technology continues its rapid decline…

"…While the market share of LED solid-state lighting (SSL) is currently quite low, a new report from Pike Research forecasts that LED share will reach 52% of the commercial lighting market by 2021…LED lighting costs for various SSL products will be reduced by 80% to 90% in many cases during the next decade."

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"…[I]ncandescent and less efficient T12 and T8 fluorescent lamps will be almost completely eliminated over the next 10 years. To take more than 50% of the market, LEDs will take share from compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting, and general linear fluorescents.

"Pike Research forecasts that the global market for commercial lighting will reach $42 billion in 2011 and see a peak of nearly $54 billion in 2012 before gradually declining to about $30 billion by 2021. The decline will be due to the extended lamp life of both fluorescents and LEDs as they become the primary lamp types, increasingly displacing demand for replacements for less efficient and shorter-lived incandescent lamps…"

CHINA DODGING SUN TARIFFS

2011-11-30T06:41:00.001-08:00

Chinese Solar Companies May Move Production to Dodge U.S. Tariff
Zachary Tracer, Noember 22, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"Chinese solar companies are considering shifting manufacturing to other countries to avoid paying tariffs that may result from a trade complaint.

"LDK Solar Co. (LDK) and JA Solar Holdings Co. (JASO) said they may move some production operations if the U.S. imposes duties on solar products imported from China. Suntech Power Holdings Co. (STP), the world’s biggest solar-panel maker, said the dispute would be ‘extremely damaging to the entire U.S. solar industry.’ …The statements…show that Chinese manufacturers are developing strategies to avoid potential duties, and that the complaint may not give U.S. solar companies the relief they’re seeking…"

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"Chinese companies may avoid the tariffs by buying solar cells from Taiwanese companies and assembling them into modules outside China…Suntech and Canadian Solar Inc., which makes panels in China, already have plants in North America, and JA Solar has an existing relationship outside China with a company to which it could outsource some manufacturing.

"SolarWorld Industries America Inc…and six unnamed U.S. manufacturers filed the trade complaint last month with the U.S. International Trade Commission and Commerce Department, asserting that import duties on Chinese imports will compensate for unfair financial support China provides to its solar industry…The U.S. imported $2.4 billion of solar panels from China in 2010…A tariff would increase prices for developers, homeowners, utilities and others who purchase solar panels in the U.S…[Analysts expect] the trade complaint will pass and tariffs will be imposed…"

U.S. NOT SO SUNNY RIGHT NOW

2011-11-30T06:40:00.000-08:00

Get ready for a 2012 reality check: Current US solar policy will leave PV market short of solar industry’s expectations
November 17, 2011 (Clear Sky Advisors)

"While the long-term market outlook for the US solar PV market is positive, 2012 will not offer suffering module manufacturers the reprieve they were hoping for…ClearSky Advisors Inc. predicts installed volume will grow 7% to 1,628 MW in 2012. However, falling equipment prices – especially for PV modules – means that overall market value for 2012 will be flat or may even drop…

"Continued overcapacity in the solar supply chain will see the cut-throat competition in the solar PV supply-chain continue, with average selling prices for modules continuing to fall at least for the first part of 2012. Not until 2014 will market conditions improve markedly…"

(from Clear Sky Advisors - click to enlarge)

"In the short-term…opportunities [will be] in carefully targeted markets. The diversity of state-level solar policies means that the US market must be treated as many local markets – each with its own set of policies and conditions that determine the magnitude of the local opportunity…

"…[M]arket growth in 2015 will be increasingly dominated by utility scale projects…[D]ecreases in equipment prices will make solar power cost competitive in certain areas toward the end of the forecast period…The West will remain the largest regional market…California and New Jersey will be the single most important states…even if both states will face intermittent market disruption…"

CHINESE HOMEGROWN PV ZOOM

2011-11-30T06:29:00.000-08:00

China PV Installations Forecast to Surpass Both the US and Japanese Markets in 2011; Asia Pacific Markets Projected to Reach More than 4.8 GW in 2011; Utility-Scale Ground-Mount Installations in China and India Drive Markets
November 22, 2011 (Solarbuzz)

"In the Asia Pacific region, the photovoltaic (PV) market is forecast to grow 39% Q/Q and 130% Y/Y in Q4’11. Q4'11 installations of more than 2 GW of PV capacity are expected, which will significantly raise the region's share of the global market this year, according to… NPD Solarbuzz…

"The region is poised to grow an additional 45% in 2012, as Asian governments introduce new installation targets. China's National Energy Administration recently revised its official cumulative solar installation target up from 10 GW to 15 GW for 2015, representing just one of the most recent examples. China is projected to account for 45% of regional demand in Q4'11 and is on course to surpass both the US and Japanese market sizes in 2011."

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"Elsewhere, regional demand is being driven by national incentive programs in India, while Japan is also growing rapidly ahead of its new FIT program. Other emerging markets in the region such as Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia are projected to deliver a combined 700 MW of additional demand in 2012.

"Non-residential ground mount systems are projected to account for 64% of the regional market by Q4’12, up from just 16% in Q1’11. This share growth will come at the expense of the residential segment which falls from 58% in Q1’11 to just 20% by Q4’12…Internal rates of return (IRRs) on PV systems in the four major markets will build over the next four quarters, ending 2012 at levels between 10% and 13%, as system prices drop faster than incentive rates…"

THE SUPERCOMMITTEE FLOP & NEW ENERGY

2011-11-29T05:48:00.001-08:00

Debt Committee's Inaction Not So Super For Renewable Energy Policy
Mark Del Franco and Jessica Lillian, 22 November 2011 (Windpower Monthly)

"The failure of the debt supercommittee to reach a resolution for cutting more than $1.2 trillion over 10 years brings further uncertainty about key renewable energy incentives. [Due to intractable partisanship, it is unclear if the group even broached renewable energy policy].…

"Reportedly…[ agreement] broke down along party lines - Democrats aiming to initiate tax increases and Republicans balking at the idea. This also meant that the future of key incentives important for renewables, such as extensions of the Sec. 1603 cash-grant program, (which expires at the end of this year) and the production tax credit (which, for wind, expires at the end of 2012, and 2016 for solar), is still murky…"

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"…Frank Maisano, an energy analyst at Washington, D.C.-based Bracewell Giuliani…envisions a few scenarios that extend renewable energy policies…[E]xtensions could be part of a continuing resolution - an omnibus bill whose passage is needed in order to keep the government running - that has to be passed by Dec. 16…[or] part of a separately introduced bill…[G]iven the political split on Capitol Hill, the second scenario is less likely…

"…Christi Tezak, senior energy and environmental policy analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co…[is less optimistic]…[She noted that extending the cash-grant] program adds to the deficit…[O]ther than the payroll tax extension, which the White House has indicated it would like to see extended even if it is not offset, all other program extensions appear to need to be paid for…[Tezak said she] would be very surprised if any expiring program other than the payroll tax gets extended this year…"

ABUNDANT NEW ENERGY HARVEST

2011-11-29T05:47:00.001-08:00

Energy Harvesting Unit Shipments to Reach 235 Million Annually by 2015
November 10, 2011 (Pike Research)

"…According to a new report from Pike Research, unit shipments for energy harvesting enabled devices will experience strong growth over the next few years, increasing from 29.3 million units in 2010 (mostly kinetic wristwatches and wireless sensor networks) to 235.4 million units by 2015 (comprising a much greater diversity of consumer and industrial applications)…

"Pike Research’s analysis indicates that the consumer market for energy harvesting will represent approximately 42% of all unit shipments by 2015. Key applications in this sector include mobile phones, laptop computers, remote controls, portable lighting, and the continuing market for wristwatches powered by kinetic energy…"

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"…[I]ndustrial applications will represent the majority of the energy harvesting market, with a compound annual growth rate in excess of 100% for the sector as a whole. Key emerging industrial markets during that period will include wireless sensor networks (which will represent a large majority of the industrial sector), military devices, medical devices, and automotive devices.

"The principal technologies used for the transduction of ambient energy into usable electrical energy include photovoltaic (PV), thermoelectric, piezoelectric, and electromagnetic. Pike Research forecasts that, between now and 2015, PV energy harvesting technologies will be most prominent in the market, capturing approximately 40% of total revenue share by the end of that period. Electromagnetic and piezoelectric technologies will each garner about one-quarter of the total market, with thermoelectric energy harvesting representing approximately 12%..."

CONSOLIDATION IN SUN

2011-11-29T05:28:00.000-08:00

NRG Energy Acquires Solar Developer Solar Power Partners, an Industry Leader in the
Fast Emerging Area of Distributed Solar Generation
November 21, 2011 (NRG Energy)

"NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) has acquired…Solar Power Partners, a leading developer of commercial and industrial (C&I) distributed solar projects.

"In addition to 30 megawatts (MW) of distributed solar projects in operation or under construction, NRG also will secure development rights to Solar Power Partners’ extensive pipeline of development projects in California, Hawaii, Arizona, Connecticut, New Mexico, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ontario and Puerto Rico. SPP sites include grocery stores, hospitals, universities, office buildings, municipal buildings, schools and airports…"

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"Solar Power Partners will become an integral part of NRG Solar, an NRG subsidiary. The company has completed almost 50 commercial solar facilities and brings a team with deep experience developing, financing and operating projects. Solar Power Partners also specializes in creating long-term partnerships with customers to tailor each solar system to meet specific needs…

"NRG is…[a] Fortune 500 company…[and] one of the largest solar power developers in the country…NRG Solar LLC, a subsidiary of NRG, has more than 2,000 MW of photovoltaic and solar thermal projects under development or in construction across the southwestern United States…"

SINOVEL-AMSC LEGAL BATTLE SPREADS TO IRELAND

2011-11-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

Mainstream halts 1GW Sinovel supply deal
James Quilter and John McKenna, 24 November 2011 (Windpower Monthly)

"Mainstream Renewable Power has placed its 1GW supply deal with Sinovel [reached in July] ‘on hold’ pending [the resolution of Sinovel’s] legal dispute with AMSC…
onents.

"Mainstream said it decided to put the deal on hold following the conviction of an AMSC employee in Austria for supplying AMSC grid codes to Sinovel. AMSC and Sinovel are going head-to-head in the Beijing High Court over the row."

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"…[The deal was to have Sinovel] supply Mainstream with a steady flow of turbines through 2012 and 2013 reaching an average of 250MW per annum from 2014 onwards…
"…Sinovel has not started production on any Irish projects. Mainstream said it is
currently looking at alternative suppliers. It hopes to install 50MW in Ireland in 2012."

MONEY FLOWS TO NEW ENERGY BUT CLIMATE CHANGE GOES ON

2011-11-27T14:17:00.000-08:00

Windmills, solar panels lead pack in attracting investment
Alex Morales (with Louise Downing and Ben Sills), November 25, 2011 (Bloomberg News via The Vancouver Sun)

"Renewable energy is surpassing fossil fuels for the first time in new power-plant investments, shaking off setbacks from the financial crisis and an impasse at the United Nations global warming talks.

"Electricity from the wind, sun, waves and biomass drew $187 billion US last year compared with $157 billion US for natural gas, oil and coal, according to calculations by Bloomberg New Energy Finance…Accelerating installations of solar and wind power led to lower equipment prices, making clean energy more competitive with coal…The findings indicate the world is shifting toward consuming more renewable energy even without a global agreement on limiting greenhouse gases. Delegates from more than 190 nations converge in Durban, South Africa, on Nov. 28 to discuss new measures for limiting emissions damaging the climate…"

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"The renewables boom, spurred by about $66 billion US of subsidies last year, intensified competition between wind- turbine and solar-panel manufacturers, gutting margins from the biggest producers led by Vestas Wind Systems A/S and First Solar Inc. The 95-member WilderHill New Energy Index of renewable- energy stocks has tumbled 40 per cent this year, steeper than the 14 per cent drop in the MSCI World Index.

"The zeal to replace fossil fuels…belies the failed efforts at the UN talks to broker a deal that would limit carbon dioxide emissions from coal and oil blamed for global warming. Without a deal, existing pollution caps under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol expire next year…Debate in South Africa…will include how to establish a fund that would channel an unspecified portion of $100 billion US a year in climate aid pledged by rich nations to developing countries by 2020…Monitoring and verifying emissions cuts…[and creating] a mechanism for transferring CO2- reducing technology between states…"

SMALL WIND GETS CERTIFIED

2011-11-27T14:08:00.000-08:00

Bergey Windpower’s 10 kW Residential Wind Turbine becomes the First Certified Small Wind Turbine in America
November 22, 2011 (Business Wire)

"Bergey Windpower, the nation’s oldest manufacturer of small wind turbines,…[announced] that its best-selling BWC Excel 10 wind turbine is the first to receive full certification to the new wp-content/uploads/2011/05/AWEA_2009-Small_Turbine_Standard1.pdf"target="_blank">AWEA Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard [and its new 5 kW turbine is currently undergoing certification testing] …

"The Bergey Excel 10 is a 23 ft diameter horizontal-axis turbine designed to provide the annual energy requirements for homes, farms, and small businesses. More than 2,000 Excel turbines have been installed in 46 states and more than 50 countries. It has only three moving parts, requires no annual maintenance, and was the first small wind turbine to carry a 10-year warranty…"

The Bergey Excel 10 (click to enlarge)

"The AWEA standard was developed over a five year period by a committee of over 30 individuals drawn from industry, research organizations, universities, retailers, and users…[It] references a number of existing international (IEC) standards, has been adopted in Canada and, with some minor changes, in the United Kingdom…

"Certification of the Excel 10 turbine was granted by the Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC), an independent organization funded by several states and the U.S. Department of Energy…California, New York, Oregon and Wisconsin, which provide substantial rebates for small wind turbines, now require partial or full certification to the AWEA standard and a number of other states plan to do the same…"

BILL GATES CALLS FOR NEW NEW ENERGY

2011-11-22T13:28:00.000-08:00

Bill Gates calls for massive increase in energy research; Even though it's supposed to be a time of federal fiscal austerity, Bill Gates says its time to double down on energy research.
Martin LaMonica, November 21, 2011 (C/NET)

"The software industry icon and philanthropist…published an editorial in Science calling for a massive boost in federal energy research and development from about $5 billion a year now to $16 billion…amid rancorous political fallout from failed solar company Solyndra…[and the failure of the super committee] to devise a long-term plan on balancing the federal budget…

"Gates [and other members]…of the American Energy Innovation Council…[including] former Lockheed Martin CEO Norm Augustine, General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, and venture capitalist John Doerr…[have] called for a sharp increase in funding for research and development to improve the energy security of the country, boost its economy, and help preserve the environment."

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"In its most recent report, the American Energy Innovation Council said there needs to be a significant role for government energy research to spur technical innovation. The energy industry is different from other fields in that energy requires large amounts of capital, the field is not entirely competitive because of regulations, and utilities do not invest as much in research and development of new technologies.

"That report also suggested ways to pay for a research funding increase, including eliminating current subsidies for fossil fuel industries, diverting royalties from domestic energy production, and charging fees on electricity use or a price on carbon emissions…"

THE ARRIVAL OF V2G

2011-11-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

Nearly 100,000 Vehicles to be Enabled with Vehicle to Grid Technologies by 2017
November 15, 2011 (Pike Research)

"The batteries used in plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) will be increasingly utilized by property owners and grid operators to provide a wide variety of energy services…Vehicle to grid (V2G) technologies, over time, will represent a more and more favorable alternative to investing in new power generation assets…

"…By 2017, according to a new report from Pike Research, approximately 90,000 light-duty vehicles and an additional 1,500 medium/heavy duty trucks will be enabled with V2G technologies, creating a strong foundation for V2G-based demand response, vehicle to building, frequency regulation, and other ancillary service applications…"

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"…[T]he highest demand for V2G, especially in the early years, will be in energy markets that are more open to new technologies and with higher concentrations of intermittent renewable power. As adoption grows, V2G will compete with traditional generation sources as well as with emerging technologies, such as stationary battery storage, for revenue from ancillary services such as frequency regulation and demand response.

"Pike Research’s analysis indicates that investment in V2G by automakers, utilities, and energy aggregators will be strongly influenced by the global and regional penetration of PEVs. Dozens of PEVs must be aggregated in a given area to produce sufficient power capacity to interest grid operators…The number of vehicles that could participate in V2G will grow from just over 100,000 light duty vehicles in 2011 to more than 5 million in 2017. But substantial investment in infrastructure and vehicle-based technology will be necessary to enable V2G services on a large scale…"

THE SOUND OF WIND

2011-11-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

Wind Turbine Trip Measures Up to Low Noise Expectations; Even standing less than 1,000 feet away, visitors say they couldn't hear the blades turning.
Heather Asiyanbi, November 14, 201 1 (Mount Pleasant Patch)

Several staff members and officials from Mount Pleasant traveled to Fond du Lac County…[to measure] the noise levels of wind turbines similar to those proposed by SC Johnson for their Waxdale plant. The Brownsville, WI, location features 86 wind turbines over 12 square miles, at least one of which sits less than 500 feet from a landowner who leases his land for the turbines.

"…[M]easurements were taken at 800 and 1,200 feet away from a geared turbine. The SCJ turbines would be gearless and probably quieter…At 800 feet, measurements came in at 46 - 47 decibels, and at 1,200 feet it was less than 40 decibels…[In comparison] a passing car on the paved road came in at 62 decibels…Since Waxdale is located in a mixed use neighborhood of residential, commercial and industrial development, it's not unreasonable to think most of the surrounding area would muffle the noise from the turning blades."

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"SCJ is proposing two or three wind turbines of between 300 and 400 feet tall to generate some of the electricity needed to power the Waxdale plant. Predicted to produce about 15 percent of the total energy needed, the turbines are part of SCJ's plan to generate 100 percent of Waxdale's energy needs on-site with 60 percent coming from renewable energy sources…

"…[Local residents have] expressed concerns about the turbines on several levels: noise, sun flicker, aesthetics, property values and deaths of flying wildlife…SCJ's wind turbines are…[under consideration by] the Village Planning Commission…"

WIND BRINGS BENEFITS TO OREGON

2011-11-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

Wind blows money into pockets of Sherman County residents
Richard Cockle, November 12, 2011 (Oregon Live)

"Every household in windswept Sherman County will soon get a Christmas gift in the mail: a $590 check…This is the third consecutive year that checks will go out for the people's share of annual wind-energy revenues…[T]he $416,540 cash outlay may be unprecedented in the United States…The checks are loosely modeled after dividend payments to Alaskans for oil gurgling through the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline. The county also gives its four tiny towns -- Wasco, Moro, Rufus and Grass Valley -- annual checks of $100,000 each.

"Roughly 550 wind turbines rearing 300-plus feet into the breezy high desert sky have brought dramatic changes here. Twelve wind farms are now on line, producing 1,000 megawatts of alternative energy -- enough to power 100,000 homes -- and providing the county government with $9 million annual revenues…Under the county's agreement with the wind companies, the payments will continue until 2025…"

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"…[C]ounty leaders figured regular folks deserved a cut of the windfall for having to look at the gigantic structures -- not just the 35 or so landowners who reap payments from the companies for allowing wind turbines on their wheat farms. The property owners receive an average of $6,000 a year per wind turbine -- and some have up to 30 on their wheat farms…

"…Wind revenues have made some significant capital projects possible, including a new $2 million library...[and] $1 million more went for a building to be completed next month in Moro to house the Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Service, 4-H, planning and wheat district offices. The county installed high-speed Internet access two weeks ago available to the public for a fee. The sheriff's office has expanded from four to five deputies…"

GLOBAL PV MARKETS

2011-11-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

Global Photovoltaic (PV) Market & Insights into Chinese and Japanese Photovoltaic (PV) Markets (2010 - 2015)
15 November 2011 (World of Photovoltaics)

"The PV market is observed to be one of the fastest growing sectors buoyed by different government incentives and intense R&D activities…PV technology is emerging as the major technology for generation of power in the world; which is evident from the continuous growth witnessed in the last decade…[spurred by innovative] subsidy programs in Germany and Japan…

"…[Of PV cell materials], amorphous silicon is observed to generate maximum revenue. This is mainly due to its low temperature coefficient and low power loss. Trackers help to increase the solar array’s efficiency by up to 40%...The key applications of PV systems include consumer electronics and telecommunications, building integrated PV applications, grid connected power supply, military and space applications…[BIPV leads the applications…due to the gradual adoption of this technology in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings…"

(from the MarketsAndMarkets report - click to enlarge)

"The Chinese PV market is largely driven by the growing demand for energy and the huge volume of export market. It is expected that the government of China will continue with its small scale and targeted incentive programs…Federal policies drove the expansion of PV market in Japanese region. The country’s new national solar goals include 28,000 MW of new solar capacity by 2020 and 53,000 MW by 2030…

"The global photovoltaic market is expected to reach $130.0 billion in 2015 from $55.7 billion in 2010 at a CAGR of 18.5% from 2010 to 2015…"

CHINA BUYS OCEAN WIND BIGTIME

2011-11-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

China to invest big in offshore wind power
November 10, 2011 (China People’s Daily)

"China plans to increase the combined installed capacity of its offshore wind power sector to 5 gigawatts by 2015 and 30 gigawatts by 2020, with investments totaling 100 billion yuan, according to the recent national wind power meeting hosted by the National Energy Administration.

"…[O]ffshore wind power represents today’s most advanced wind power generation technology…[but] China's fledging offshore wind power sector lacks experience and has virtually only one offshore wind power project in operation: the Shanghai Donghai Bridge…"

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"China possesses the basic capacities of offshore wind power design, construction and equipment manufacturing. With the advent of the 6-megawatt wind power generating set…China has become the second country in the world after Germany that can independently manufacture a 6-megawatt wind power generation set…[and] China has already constructed a batch of pilot offshore wind power projects, and the 54 wind power generating sets under eight enterprises of China, including the Sinovel Wind Group, Goldwind Science and Technology and Shanghai Electric, have already had offshore wind power operation demonstrations…

"…[E]xperience has been accumulated for the future large-scale development of China's offshore wind power…[and, as a result,] the National Energy Administration and State Oceanic Administration of China jointly issued the Rules for the Implementation of the Provisional Regulations on Offshore Wind Power Development, Construction and Management…"

SMALL TOWN, BIG SUN

2011-11-20T14:15:00.000-08:00

Solar PV Leads Small Town into Solar Big Leagues; Gainesville Expects 7 MW Solar PV by Year End Florida Town Rivals California in Per Capita Solar
Paul Gipe, November 19, 2011 (Wind-Works)

"After only three years of development, a small town in Florida has moved into the ranks of the solar big leagues worldwide…The municipal utility serving Gainesville, Florida expects that by year end 2011 the town will have installed 7.3 MW of solar photovoltaic (solar PV) systems.

"The university town was one of the first in the US to implement a feed-in tariff for solar PV after a previous program using grants, tax credits, and net metering had failed to install any significant number of systems…Gainesville Regional Utilities [GRU] serves a population of 200,000 people…so [its] feed-in tariff program has resulted in the installation of 0.036 kW per person. This is equivalent to that in California which has had various programs for solar PV in place since the early 2000s."

(from Paul Gipe, Wind-Works.org - click to enlarge)

"However, Gainesville will have to increase its installation rate 20 times to catch up with the German state of Bavaria, which is the region with the world's highest concentration of solar PV of 0.60 kW per person. Puglia Italy is not far behind Bavaria with 0.49 kW per person.

"…In 2011, [GRU] estimates solar PV will have generated nearly 10 million kWh…The Gainesville feed-in tariff program has been modified annually since its introduction to reflect the falling costs of solar PV and to more equitably distribute installations across all ratepayer classes…More than one-third of the installed capacity has been installed on rooftops in projects less than 100 kW…"