nuclear-news » renewable

320.000 UK homes get electricity from offshore wind turbines

Christina MacPherson — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:53:44 +0000

World’s biggest offshore wind farm officially connected to the Grid, Environmental News Network, 10 Feb 2012, The world’s biggest offshore wind farm was officially opened today after record-fast construction in the middle of the Irish Sea. The 102 turbines of the two connected Walney wind farms cover an area of 73 square-kilometres and were formally connected to the National Grid in a ceremony today.

With a capacity of 367.2MW, the huge project can provide low-carbon, green electricity to 320,000 homes. The generating capacity of each turbine, supplied by Siemens Wind Power, is 3.6MW, and the rotor diameter of the turbines is 107m for Walney 1 and 120m for Walney 2, with a maximum height of 150m from sea level to blade tip….. http://www.enn.com/energy/article/43984

Canada’s emerging renewable energy power needs a national focus

Christina MacPherson — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:46:06 +0000

Clean energy also needs political focus, Montreal Gazette, By TIM WEIS, Financial Post February 10, 2012 Whether it is the Keystone XL pipeline, the Northern Gateway pipeline or securing an export market in China, the oil sands have dominated
much of the recent energy discussions in Canada.

What might surprise many is that Canada is quietly emerging as a renewable energy leader, but it will take the same political focus
currently being put toward oil sands to ensure we retain and grow the jobs that are being created in the country’s emerging clean energy sector.

In 2011 Canada was sixth in the world in wind energy installations, and as recently as November 2011, Ernst & Young ranked Canada as the eighth most attractive country in the world for renewable energy investment, ahead of some traditional leaders including Denmark, Spain and Japan.

Despite having fewer than 35 million people, Canada has the sixth-largest electricity system on the planet, behind only China, the
United States, Russia, Japan and Germany. Given the size of our electricity system, perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that
Canada ought to be one of the leading markets for renewable electricity.

Much of this growth was kicked off a decade ago when the Chrétien
government adopted Canada’s first wind power incentive, a policy that
had been supported by both environmental organizations and major
energy companies. The Harper government extended and expanded this
initiative in 2006. While the federal government is now scaling back
its support for renewable energy and energy efficiency, many provinces
have picked up the pace.Ontario and Quebec have the largest absolute
renewable energy targets in Canada, while Prince Edward Island has
some of the best wind energy targets per capita in the world.
Historically a coal-fired province, Nova Scotia has committed to
reduce its coalfired power by almost half in the next 10 years and to
get 40% of its power from renewable sources by 2020.

On the other hand, Alberta and Saskatchewan – two provinces that burn
coal for the majority of their electricity – currently have no
framework for replacing coalfired power with renewable sources.

The varying degrees of ambition and the long-term stability of
provincial policies leaves Canada and potential investors without a
clear national strategy for clean energy development.

While electricity is a provincial jurisdiction, Canada needs a more
co-ordinated approach to clean energy development nationally. Some
provinces have made great strides alone, but they can accomplish far
more by working together……
Like our neighbours to the south, Canada has the resources and
expertise to become a serious player in the growing clean energy
market – but that transformation will not happen by accident.

Given Canada’s vast and diverse renewable energy sources, one of the
world’s largest electricity systems could be the first to be 100%
clean and renewable. The size of the economic prize is huge and would
have lasting benefits, should Canada choose to embrace this
opportunity.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Clean+energy+also+needs+political+focus/6130685/story.html#ixzz1m7BgnYeU

New ways to store surplus renewable energy

Christina MacPherson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:45:25 +0000

As the use of renewable energy spreads, some companies are storing energy as heat rather than cold. And some are harnessing batteries at the point of generation.

Surplus Renewable Energy: An Update, NYT, By MATTHEW L. WALD, 9 Feb 2012 Last year I wrote about sudden surges in renewable energy that set up a conflict between wind producers in the Pacific Northwest and the Bonneville Power Administration, a federal agency that runs hydroelectric dams and the regional grid. ….

…at a two-day National Electricity Forum sponsored by the Energy Department and others, the federal energy secretary, Steven Chu, on Wednesday proposed a different set of solutions to the problem, which is likely to emerge elsewhere as installations of renewable energy expand and systems have to cope with surges or deficits of power they cannot predict.

One solution would be to break down the barriers between utilities so that the variability of generation can be leveled out over a larger area, Dr. Chu suggested. Routing more power to California would be a good first move, he said…..

Another would be using batteries, the secretary of energy said. The problem is that at the moment, the batteries needed to store just one kilowatt-hour (the amount needed to run an window air conditioner for an hour) cost about $350.

That is steep, given that the average price of that amount of energy is about 11 cents. But at $100, Dr. Chu said, batteries would “go viral’’ and change the energy equation.

But there are simpler solutions, the secretary said. He said he recently visited a medical center in Houston that ran a power plant that produced both electricity and steam and could run at very high efficiency when both were needed. The problem, Dr. Chu said, is that at some hours, especially at night, there was not much need for the steam. So the medical center was using it to run a cooling device that was usually a component of an air-conditioning system….

As the use of renewable energy spreads, some companies are storing energy as heat rather than cold. And some are harnessing batteries at the point of generation.

Dr. Chu described a synergy between batteries for plug-in hybrid or electric cars and batteries for the grid. “If I look at the world 10 years ago versus today, we were kind of a sleepy outpost’’ for batteries, he said, with no demand beyond “laptops, some power tools, and toothbrushes.”

“And now they’re saying it’s a $150 billion market,’’ he said.

Dr. Chu predicted that some of that would spill over into the grid. Until then, Bonneville proposes that its customers share the costs of unplugging the wind machines during times of high river flows with the wind producers. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/surplus-renewable-energy-an-update/

Vermont’s renewable energy kickstarts energy independence for the State

Christina MacPherson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:41:41 +0000

Local renewable industry poised to make ‘Vermont energy strong’ , VT Digger, Gabrielle Stebbins, 9 Feb 2012 Montpelier, Vermont – Vermont’s local renewable energy industry— made up of diverse manufacturers, construction contractors, installers, developers, and suppliers— announced today the industry is equipped to help make “Vermont energy strong” in the 21st Century.

The industry, which ranges from local fabricators assembling electrical boards and contractors that specialize in hot water, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass heating installations to regional and international manufacturers of innovative renewable energy technologies, held a press conference on pending policy issues today in Montpelier.

“The benefits of a strong renewable industry flow throughout the state by creating local jobs, producing energy locally, and providing energy security,” said Gabrielle Stebbins, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), the state trade association representing more than 300 renewables and efficiency businesses in the state. “Growing our own renewable energy in-state is in keeping with Vermonters’ desire for self reliance, a clean energy future that leaves a better legacy for our children, and keeping our dollars local.”

“The industry is ready, willing, and able to both kick-start Vermont’s economy and make‘Vermont energy strong’ in the 21st Century,” said REV Chair, Martha Staskus. “We are extremely grateful for the Governor’s strong support for assuring Vermont doesn’t miss out on the ‘energy revolution’ and for his commitment to expand Vermont’s innovative Standard Offer program in his recent State of the State address. The many diverse businesses and workers of our industry stand with him and we’re ready to get to work.”

The industry highlighted three policies being considered by the legislature and supported by Governor Shumlin critical to the growth of the industry:

1.Expanding Vermont’s Standard Offer program, which provides predictability to local, distributed renewable energy generation….

2. Funding Vermont’s Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF),….

3. Assuring quick passage of technical corrections to Vermont’s successful net metering program…….

….In addition to traditional renewable energy companies and member-businesses of Renewable Energy Vermont, the industry representatives emphasized how broad and diverse Vermont’s renewable energy industry is. Companies like Demag Cranes, J.A. Morrissey Inc, Engineers Construction Inc. (ECI), Grennon’s Solder Works, Image-Tek, Northeast Prevision, Rennline, S.D. Ireland Concrete are among the many hundreds of businesses engaged in work and creating or sustaining jobs as a result of a strong local renewable energy economy. http://vtdigger.org/2012/02/09/local-renewable-industry-poised-to-make-vermont-energy-strong/

Germany’s prosperity with wind and solar feed-in tariffs

Christina MacPherson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:29:22 +0000

Energy production using fossil and nuclear fuels is penalised in Germany by virtue of the Renewable Energy Act, which guarantees higher prices for generators of electricity sourced from wind and solar through feed-in-tariffs.

Today Germany has over 150 million solar panels installed or 25,000MW,

Germany has the wind at its back, MATTHEW WRIGHT, ABC 9 FEB 2012, Germany is currently the world-leader in installing renewable energy THE recent clinching of a $1.9 billion Australian defence contract by the Germans illustrates to carbon price knockers that they need look no further for proof that an economy which relies on renewable energy can outsmart one dependent on fossil fuels.

Germany’s electricity sector delivers 21 per cent of its power from renewable sources, such as the wind and the sun. …..

what of Germany, which finds itself at the epicenter of the EU debt maelstrom?

How is it possible that a nation shouldering the lion’s share of bailing out Europe’s basket-case economies has its finances in the best shape ever in two decades?

The yearly German unemployment rate keeps falling and at 6.7 per cent in January was the lowest since reunification. The Berlin based BGA Exporters and Wholesalers group estimated total German exports hit a record $US1.3 trillion last year.

This is hardly a picture of an economy that has been struggling under the impost of a carbon cost and renewable energy subsidies.

The legislation has encouraged a phenomenal uptake of solar roof panels for a nation that hardly boasts sunny weather. ….

Critics who claim that pricing carbon using feed-in-tariffs, taxes or emissions trading is somehow linked to an underperforming economy and high jobless rates ought to be silenced by Germany’s success in bursting that myth.

And if the proof in the pudding is not enough for the naysayers, they could look to volumes of published material demonstrating that the early costs of encouraging renewable energy benefit an economy in a matter of years.
Respected energy experts Dr Wolfram Krewitt and Dr Joachim Nitsch’s published research while at the German Aerospace Centre that is regularly cited to drive home this point.

In a peer reviewed paper they wrote: “While the success of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act in supporting the use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation is widely acknowledged, it is partly criticised for imposing unjustified extra costs on society.

“[This] paper makes an attempt to estimate the external costs avoided in the German energy system due to the use of renewable energies for electricity generation, and to compare them against the compensation to be paid by grid operators for electricity from renewable energies according to the Renewable Energy Sources Act.

“… [R]esults clearly indicate that the reduced environmental impacts and related economic benefits do outweigh the additional costs for the compensation of electricity from renewable energies,” Krewitt and Nitsch concluded.

Another misleading argument renewable energy doubters like to peddle is that the rise in renewable energy use and the reduction in coal use is only possible in economies that also have a nuclear sector, to supply supposedly ‘reliable’ electricity when ‘the sun don’t shine and the wind don’t blow’.

Germany also recently burst this myth…..http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2012/02/09/3426757.htm

The facts on renewable energy in Southern USA

Christina MacPherson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:40:28 +0000

Mythbusting facts about renewable energy in the southern U.S., http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/02/mythbusting-facts-about-renewable-energy-in-the-southern-u-sRenewable Energy World, By Lauren Glickman , February 7, 2012
Renewable energy sources (like wind power) and energy efficiency can help the southern U.S. meet what is expected to be growing future electricity demand, but a lingering set of myths is hampering their development in the region, according to a new study, “Myths and Facts About Electricity in the U.S. South,” by researchers from Duke and Georgia Tech. These misimpressions could have serious consequences–the South’s population is expected to increase by 28 percent over the next 20 years, and wise use of resources will be needed to satisfy energy demand while reducing energy-related pollution.

The researchers used economic and energy modeling to examine the myths. To avoid repeating the myths and thereby giving them further credence, I’m going to list some selected findings with the most significance for wind power as a set of “mythbusting facts” instead:

Future growth in electricity demand in the South can be met by renewable energy and efficiency: “… [I]nvestments in energy efficiency and renewable energy over the next two decades could meet incremental growth in electricity demand and eliminate the need to expand fossil-fueled electricity generation… Besides the energy saving from energy efficiency policies, the growth of renewable energy also produces energy savings. In particular, customer-side renewable energy such as combined heat and power and heat pump water heaters could reduce future consumption significantly. On the supply side, renewable generation such as wind and biomass are forecasted to grow significantly to meet future demand in a cleaner way.” http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/02/mythbusting-facts-about-renewable-energy-in-the-southern-u-s

The South has enough renewable energy resources to meet requirements of a federal Renewable Energy Standard (RES): The researchers examined this issue using “[updated] resource availability for wind and hydropower and the capital cost for residential and commercial solar PV … The results indicate that if an RES is implemented, the share of renewable electricity generation would increase significantly, to 22% in 2025, due to the strong growth of wind and biopower on the utility side as well as the customer-side renewable generation such as CHP and solar photovoltaics. The RES program described in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 [a proposed bill which was not passed by Congress] includes provisions that would allow credits for qualified state energy efficiency programs to satisfy up to 20% of the RES requirement, which translates into requiring only 20% of the total electricity demand in 2025 to be met by renewable sources. [Accordingly], the South as a whole would have sufficient resources to comply with the standard.”

Renewable energy can be expanded substantially in the South without a major impact on utility bills: ”Our modeling results show that the effect of an RES on rates in the South could be negligible … For the average household in the South over the next two decades, monthly energy bills under an RES are expected to change by less than $2 relative to the Reference case … Moreover, with complementary renewable policies and updated resource availability inputs, as represented in the RE scenario, forecasted rates in 2030 could be slightly lower than in the Reference case … These reductions are largely the result of greater renewable resource supply and increases in customer-owned renewable generation such as CHP, heat pump water heaters, and demand-side solar PV. As a result, the RE scenario could save the South’s residential sector on the order of $100 billion over the next two decades, while driving a large expansion of renewable generation in the region.” (emphasis added) (Some utilities in the South are already finding that buying wind power from the southern Plains states can save money. For an example of one such recent purchase, see More savings for ratepayers in Southeast as Louisiana utility ups wind purchases, January 26.)

Renewable energy and energy efficiency can complement each other to effectively reduce fossil fuel use: The researchers looked at an “RE scenario,” focusing only on renewable energy growth, and an “EERE scenario” which combined efforts to increase both renewable energy and energy efficiency. The results? “Though the EERE scenario leads to less new renewables in 2030 than seen in the RE scenario, renewable generation still increases significantly, while simultaneously displacing over 170 billion kWh of fossil generation … Furthermore, a comparison of the new incremental generation in 2030 shows that while the RE scenario reduces non-renewable energy growth by 50% relative to the Reference case, the EERE scenario leads to negative growth. Combining the policies would retire 80 billion kWh of existing natural gas generation in addition to avoiding 204 billion kWh of incremental fossil fuel generation … The truth is that rather than being caught in rival relationships, energy efficiency and renewable energy are aligned. Certainly, there is less renewable growth over time when aggressive efficiency policies are adopted, but that is because there is less generation growth overall. They both work towards the same goal of realizing a clean energy future, and our scenario analysis indicates that they are compatible in this pursuit.”

The implications of electricity generation choices for water use should be considered:The effect of various generation options on water consumption is rarely considered, even though more than half (54%) of all freshwater withdrawals in the South are for thermoelectric (nuclear, coal, gas) generation. The EERE scenario mentioned above, which combines energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, was projected to save 865 billion liters annually by the year 2030, or an amount equal to roughly three weeks’ household water use by all of the homes in the region. In part, this is because major renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar PV, use no water for cooling (see also New report highlights power plant stress on freshwater supplies in Southeast, November 21, 2011).

(The Southeast’s growing prominence in the wind power supply chain will be a major focus of the WINDPOWER 2012 Conference & Exhibition, scheduled for June 3-6 in Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta is a manufacturing hub, and holds tremendous potential to play a major role in the further expansion of wind development as a source of competitive energy for America. Atlanta’s global access, innovation, and talent create an unparalleled logistics network that could prove to be an important link in the wind industry supply chain, helping to supply demand and boost the efficiency, predictability, and consistency of wind project development in the U.S.) http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/02/mythbusting-facts-about-renewable-energy-in-the-southern-u-s

Social ownership of South Africa’s renewable energy sector

Christina MacPherson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:45:48 +0000

Renewable energy plans can create 50,000 jobs (With Video), Business Live 7 Feb 12 The Department of Energy will seek to ensure that government commits R22 billion over the next five years to green projects and aims to create 50,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector. This was revealed by Energy Minister Dipuo Peters who was speaking at a National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) conference on Monday, which was looking at social ownership of SA’s renewable energy sector.

“We want to ensure that the state, through its entities, invests R22 billion in green projects with a commitment of R3 billion towards local manufacturing in the next five years, and at the same time create 50,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector,” Peters said.

She also emphasised that foreign companies can invest in SA’s energy sector, but they must bring with them their technology so that local companies can adopt it.

“The renewable energy drive in China could succeed because companies relocated; based in China, where intimately they perfected the technology and now they’re exporting the technology to SA. So we are also saying as part of our requirement for localisation, let us insist
that these companies that want to invest here, they must bring this
technology to SA.” … http://www.businesslive.co.za/southafrica/sa_markets/2012/02/07/renewable-energy-plans-can-create-50000-jobs-with-video

Renewable energy economy now paying off for Californians

Christina MacPherson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:41:28 +0000

The California renewables market is robust and competitive, Switchboard, Peter Miller, February 7, 2012 The market for renewable electricity is robust and competitive according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

In a report on the state’s 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) released yesterday, the CPUC provided a snapshot on the impressive progress that has been made in building the state’s clean energy economy.

According to the CPUC: The state’s three largest private utilities collectively served 17% of
their load with renewable energy in 2010. All three of the state’s largest utilities are projected to meet the requirement to provide an average of 20% renewable power from 2011 to
2013. Over 830 MW of renewable capacity came on line in 2011. Bid prices in response to the 2011 solicitation dropped 30% compared to 2009.

This growth in the renewable energy market bodes well for California’s residents and demonstrates the benefits of the state’s ambitious renewable energy policy. The RPS has led to a steady increase in reliance on renewable electricity, which means growing energy security
and price stability for California utility customers. And a competitive, orderly market means that costs are coming down, helping to keep energy clean and affordable for residents of the Golden State. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/pmiller/the_california_renewables_mark.html

Decentralised solar power saving money in USA schools

Christina MacPherson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:30:17 +0000

70 Percent Of Energy Needs Met Via Solar Power, Earth Techling, by Kristy Hessman, February 7th, 2012 Solar panels are popping up on school campuses across the nation as financial incentives become more readily available for schools that implement renewable energy as a way to offset their energy costs. In Arizona, Constellation Energy and Buckeye Union High School District have just completed a 4.3-megawatt solar generation project. The project will provide up to 70 percent of the electricity needs for three area high schools. Buckeye Union High School and Youngker High School in Buckeye and Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear will be the recipients of the new renewable energy. The school district has agreed to purchase and receive all of the electricity generated by the solar panels at a fixed rate from Constellation Energy under a 25-year deal.

The solar power systems include 15,468 photovoltaic panels on 29 carport rooftops and two ground-mounted installations. The project is expected to generate more than 7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. That equals a savings of more than 3,875 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent emissions from 760 passenger vehicles annually, according to U.S. EPA data for the Arizona region.

“We’re pleased to celebrate the addition of three solar installations in our school district,” Beverly Hurley, superintendent of Buckeye Union High School District, said in a statement. “This addition will play an important role in meeting the district’s electricity needs and will serve as an educational tool for our students to learn about solar energy production.”

The installations, were developed by GV Enterprises and REgeneration Finance and built by CORE Construction. The project was coordinated with help from the Arizona Corporation Commission-approved APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program. The program offers financial incentives, covering up to 40 percent of the installation costs, to customers who add renewable energy systems to their homes or businesses. http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/02/schools-go-solar-in-arizona-of-all-places/

Hawaii’s smart grid will show the way to efficient renewable energy

Christina MacPherson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:06:07 +0000

Smart Grid Program Will Help Integrate More Renewable Energy Onto Hawaii’s Grid North American Wind Power, 02 February 2012 Honeywell and Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) have launched a pilot program that aims to demonstrate how smart grid technology can help integrate more intermittent renewable energy - such as wind power and solar energy - onto the electric grid.

During the two-year program, the utility will connect with commercial and industrial customers to temporarily reduce the need for electricity – which the companies say is critical to maintaining gridreliability as Hawaii reduces its dependence on fossil fuels….
http://nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.9328