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Algeria’s program; renewable energy at home and for export

Algeria Targets 22,000 MW Of Renewable Energy By 2030 http://cleantechnica.com/2012/11/22/algeria-targets-22000-mw-of-renewable-energy-by-2030/ NOVEMBER 22, 2012 BY ADAM JOHNSTON

North African country Algeria is upping the ante in the renewable energy game. According to a recent PV-Tech article, the country hopes to have 22 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy online by the year 2030, with a good part being exported on the international market. State-owned utility Sonelgaz, is expected to build 4.2 GW of renewables itself, providing underlying support towards Algeria’s goal.

Next year will see the first phase of the ambitious project, which will eventually include solar photovoltaic energy, concentrated solar power, and wind energy. As noted by PV Tech:

The first phase, which is expected to start in 2013, will include 1,228MW from PV power plants, followed by 2,475MW of concentrated solar (CSP) and 516MW of wind energy by 2022.

Besides Sonelgaz’s commitment to wind and solar, the utility also has a deal with the Desertec CHP project, to look at possibly exporting 1 GW to European countries.

With lots of sun to harness, Algeria, if it succeeds, could be a renewable energy market to watch out for in the years to come.

Clean Technica (http://s.tt/1uuid)
Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2012/11/22/algeria-targets-22000-mw-of-renewable-energy-by-2030/#rZLuYkJV7RGcRxAr.99

November 23, 2012 Posted by | AFRICA, renewable | Leave a comment

New report on Ireland’s potential for renewable energy economy and jobs

Renewable energy surge called for, Belfast Telegraph, 22 November 2012 Ireland must embrace renewable energy sources before fossil fuels run out, the WWF has said

More than 70% of Ireland’s electricity could be produced from renewable resources by 2030, a new report out has claimed. The research commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Northern Ireland said the availability of energy from wind, wave and sustainable biomass was significantly larger than the projected demand for the next 18 years….

. Mr Campbell said Scotland was also blazing a trail by setting ambitious targets that could save £325 million a year by reducing energy levels by 12% by 2020. “We can save money by doing this,” he added. “Why are we not doing it?”

Delegates at the conference were told that previous research by the Carbon Trust suggested that investment in renewable energy could create more than 30,000 new jobs in Northern Ireland in a sector that could be worth almost £1 billion. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/renewable-energy-surge-called-for-16241156.html#ixzz2D4m4sWB3

November 23, 2012 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Portable solar power generator saving the day still in New York

VIDEO: A Solar Thanksgiving for Battered Rockaways  http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/11/video-solar-thanksgiving-battered-rockaways?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+motherjones%2FTheBlueMarble+%28Mother+Jones+%7C+The+Blue+Marble%29
—By Tim McDonnell and James West,  Nov. 21, Since Hurricane Sandy, the historic Belle Harbor Yacht Club in the Rockaways—one of New York City’s hardest-hit neighborhoods—has become an indispensable hub for supplies, volunteers, and a much-needed round of drinks. Three weeks after the storm, the oft-maligned Long Island Power Authority still hasn’t re-connected this building, not to mention its neighbors, back to the grid, leaving locals to face the prospect of a cold, dark Thanksgiving.

But outside, the sun is shining, and a trio of local solar power companies have seen an opportunity to bridge the gap left open by the electric utility. The yacht club, among several area buildings, is now plugged into a portable solar power generator, which frees volunteers from the endless gas lines that plague those dependent on traditional generators and leaves them ready to dish out hot plates of turkey and stuffing to the beleaguered community.

November 22, 2012 Posted by | decentralised, Resources -audiovicual, USA | Leave a comment

The renewable energy revolution to take off, with energy storage

Energy storage systems signal arrival of ‘baseload’ renewables REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson  21 November 2012 It has been widely thought that the arrival of cost-competitive rooftop solar PV systems would be the biggest game changer in the electricity market. But it may be that the emergence of affordable energy storage systems will have an even more profound impact.

There are predictions that the energy storage market is going to boom. One survey suggested that $30 billion will be spent on energy storage in the next decade in Australia alone. In the US, where $1 trillion is expected to be spent on electricity network infrastructure in the next 10 years, at least one fifth of that – or $200 billion – will be spent on energy storage.

The big question is who is going to benefit most from that investment – the customer, or the utility that delivers or sells the electricity. Or maybe even both. Most people are still trying to figure that out. Continue reading →

November 22, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, Reference, renewable | Leave a comment

Solar System Backs Up Generator, Keeps Power On in Face of Sandy’s Fury

Phoenix Rising: Renewable Energy Good News Comes to Light After Hurricane Sandy By Jennifer Runyon, Managing Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com November 20, 2012

“…..When Sandy slammed into Bayonne, NJ, a one-of-a-kind solar electric system developed byAdvanced Solar Products of Flemington, NJ helped keep the power on at Midtown Community School, where 50 to 75 residents of this historic Hudson Riverfront city spent the night sleeping on cots in the warm, dry and well-lit community room.

Power from the grid was lost to all of Bayonne, including Midtown Community School (left), which also serves as a community emergency evacuation center, at about 9:00 on the evening of October 29. The lights at the school stayed on, however, because of its backup system. The large commercial-scale solar system, at the time part of the largest solar power project on the east coast, was designed and built with assistance from Advanced Solar Products (ASP) and installed in 2004.

The 272-kW PV array was designed to operate in conjunction with an uninterruptible power supply. The one at the school is a diesel generator according to Lyle Rawlings who has served as president of ASP since 1991. The generator is large enough to meet the electricity needs of the school during a power failure, but uses huge quantities of diesel fuel, which must be delivered by truck if supplies can be located at all during and after an emergency such as Sandy.

“Without our solar system on the roof of the school, we would have needed even more fuel, which would have been difficult to find because it was needed for all the repair trucks operating around the state,” said Rawlings.

In order to provide this capability, the school’s solar power system was specially modified with new controls, sensors and innovative software to enable it to automatically detect a power outage.  When it does, it immediately shifts its output from circuitry powering the school’s ordinary heating, cooling and lighting systems to the building’s emergency circuits. “Storms such as Sandy will become more frequent if we do not stem greenhouse gas induced climate change,” says Rawlings.  “Widespread adoption of solar power is an economically beneficial way to reduce greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.” …. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/11/phoenix-rising-renewable-energy-good-news-comes-to-light-after-hurricane-sandy?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-November21-2012

November 22, 2012 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Caribbean and Southeastern Coastal Wind Turbines Fare Well During Sandy Phoenix Rising

Renewable Energy Good News Comes to Light After Hurricane Sandy By Jennifer Runyon, Managing Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com November 20, 2012

“……Just about a week after Hurricane Sandy,Northern Power Systems announced that 74 of its wind turbines, including three in the Caribbean, had been in the path of Hurricane Sandy and were undamaged by the high winds. Following Irene, a category 3 hurricane that hit in 2011, Sandy was the second powerful Atlantic storm to hit Northern Power turbines within a year and all turbines that were impacted performed safely as expected.

“The losses experienced from Hurricane Sandy are a tragic reminder of how powerful nature can be,” said Troy Patton, Northern Power Systems President and CEO. “Many of our turbines, from the Caribbean to the eastern seaboard of the U.S., were directly in the path of Hurricane Sandy, but none were damaged by the high winds. At Northern Power Systems, we have the experience and commitment to continue to make products that are safe and reliable.”

As a testament to the design of Northern Power’s turbines, as soon as each turbine detected Sandy’s hurricane force winds, it automatically entered safe mode. Once conditions returned to normal, each turbine started generating electricity again, said the company. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/11/phoenix-rising-renewable-energy-good-news-comes-to-light-after-hurricane-sandy?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-November21-2012

November 22, 2012 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

In Lithuania – wind to take over from nuclear power?

Lithuania May Partly Replace Nuclear Power With Wind, Lobby Says Bloomberg, By Torsten Fagerholm – Nov 19, 2012 An expansion of wind power in Lithuania may help the country to improve its energy independence and offset a shortfall caused by closure of nuclear capacity.
Installed wind power capacity is likely double to 500 megawatts by 2015, five years ahead of schedule, paving the way for energy independence without nuclear power, Continue reading →

November 21, 2012 Posted by | EUROPE, renewable | Leave a comment

The India Energy [R]evolution – jobs and energy security

The India Energy [R]evolution report jointly drafted by Greenpeace, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) focuses on the socio-economic impacts of renewable energy and proposes the pathway to ensure India’s energy security in the long run.

“With consistent and long term renewable energy policy frame work, India could build up a local renewable energy industry with an annual turnover of more than-INR 54,000 crore, creating more up to 24 lakh jobs by 2020.

Renewable energy can create more jobs: Greenpeace, Electric Light and Power, New Delhi, Nov 17 (IBNS) Replacing fossil fuel with renewable energy can create more jobs and provide cheap electricity, said environmental organization Greenpeace.

Greenpeace has launched the second version of the Indian Energy [R]evolution – a roadmap to secure India’s growing energy needs without having to depend on the depleting and polluting fossil fuels.

The roadmap comes at a critical time when the country is facing massive power shortage due to the inability of fossil fuels to meet its economic aspirations.
Future of India’s growth lies with massive expansion and deployment of renewable energy technologies through key policy reforms and significant investments, without putting any negative impact on its pristine forest and dependent marginalised communities.

The India Energy [R]evolution report jointly drafted by Greenpeace, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) focuses on the socio-economic impacts of renewable energy and proposes the pathway to ensure India’s energy
security in the long run. Continue reading →

November 19, 2012 Posted by | India, renewable | Leave a comment

Africa racing ahead with renewable energy

Africa’s renewable energy sector to be worth $57b by 2020 – UN Ghana Business News, By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, November 18, 2012 The demand for power in Africa is expected to grow, driving the projected worth of continent’s renewable energy sector to $57 billion by the year 2020, a senior UN official has said. Mr. Said Adejumobi, the Director, Governance  and Public Administration Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for
Africa (ECA) told a business forum of investors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the sector recorded “a staggering 1,583% increase between 2004 and 2011.”

He indicated that the enormous growth amounts to $3.6 billion in 2011 from $750 million in 2004 and is mainly due to the large unmet demand, combined with abundantly available sources of renewable energy in Africa…. The key growth areas in the sector he said, include wind, solar and geothermal power, he therefore emphasised the need for foreign direct investment into the continent’s energy and power infrastructure. “Investment in renewable energy, is a major priority for Africa,” he said.

The Forum according to Sam Cho, who heads the ECA’s private sector section brought together investors, banks, government investment agencies and those in the energy sector to discuss interests, concrete investments and other areas of collaboration. Among those present at the Forum are emerging market investors from China, India, Korea and Brazil, financing departments from the World Bank, the AfDB, DBSA, AFC and Ecobank.
http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2012/11/18/africas-renewable-energy-sector-to-be-worth-57b-by-2020-un/

November 19, 2012 Posted by | AFRICA, renewable | Leave a comment

Romania’s boom in wind and solar energy

Renewable energy: sense and necessity, The Diplomat, 16 Nov 12 Romania offers one of the most substantial and, therefore, attractive support schemes for renewable electricity production in the European Union.

Even though it took four years to pass the law governing thisfield, investors haven’t just been biding their time, but have spent a billion Euro on investments in the construction of wind farms, photovoltaic units, micro-hydropower and biomass plants November 2012 –

The renewable energy “boom” began in Romania in late 2009, in the midst of the global economic and financial crisis. At that time  when many investors and speculators were counting the losses they had incurred through misfiring investments in real estate  wind plants with tiny installed capacity of barely 14 MW were in operation across
the country.

A small step, which in 2010 turned into a leap, propelling the wind turbines’ installed capacity to 462 MW. A year later, another 520 MW of wind power “sprang” out of the country’s
soil, and in 2011 Romania reached 982 MW of operational wind turbines.

By the end of 2012, the total capacity of operating turbines is estimated to reach approximately 1,500 MW, 350 MW less than the target
of 1,850 MW set by the Government in the National Renewable Energy
Action Plan (NREAP). …… According to data provided by Transelectrica, 27 companies are planning to install almost 100 MW in photovoltaic panels next year  “ a substantial capacity compared to the existing figure of about 13 MW. The projects by the 27 companies are scattered through 11 counties, mainly focusing on Giurgiu, Timis and Ialomita. ….

November 19, 2012 Posted by | EUROPE, renewable | Leave a comment

Renewable energy the choice of most Americans – of all political views

 Americans of all political persuasions really like renewable energy and will almost always choose it as a priority over fossil fuels.

Poll: Independent Voters Favor Renewable Energy Over Keystone XL Pipeline By 4-1 Margin Think Progress, By Stephen Lacey   Nov 15, 2012  Environmental groups celebrated last fall when President  Obama delayed  the  northern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would pipe carbon-intensive tar sands crude from Canadian strip mines to refineries in Texas.
Now that Obama is back in the White House for a second term, those same forces are banding together   to encourage the president to kill the pipeline altogether. A new poll suggests that these groups have public opinion on their side. Continue reading →

November 16, 2012 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

UK’s Conservative Party driven by climate denialism, and anti wind power fervour

Anti-wind zeal already runs through the party…… the objections of many Tories suggest a deeper animus, fuelled by Euroscepticism, climate-change denial

Mr Cameron made a windpower sceptic, John Hayes, energy minister, and appointed yet another, Owen Paterson, as environment secretary.

as turbines get bigger and more efficient, the costs for operating and maintaining them are falling

Wind farms and renewable energy A lot of hot air The government’s energy policy gets mired in politics
http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21566680-governments-energy-policy-gets-mired-politics-lot-hot-air Nov 17th 2012  THE hatred some Conservative MPs feel for windmills is  amazing.On November 14th Chris Heaton-Harris, a Tory MP charged with running his party’s campaign for a by-election in Corby, was secretly taped bragging that he had supported a rival, James Delingpole. A climate-change sceptic, Mr Delingpole had briefly stood as an independent on an anti-wind platform. Mr Heaton-Harris suggested this was a put-up job, designed to implant the issue into the “DNA of the Tory party”. Continue reading →

November 16, 2012 Posted by | climate change, renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Google’s Investment in Renewable Energy Approaches $1 Billion http://mashable.com/2012/11/15/googles-renewable-energy-1-billion/
 November 15, 2012 by Todd Wasserman Google announced a $75 million equity stake in an Iowa wind farm on Thursday, bringing the company’s total investment in renewable energy to “more than $990 million.” Continue reading →

November 16, 2012 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Qatar moving ahead on renewable energy

Qatar puts focus on renewable energy initiatives, AMEinfo.com Qatar: November 14 – 2012“………as part of its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and increasing sustainable energy production, Qatar has overseen a range of internal initiatives
as part of its Vision 2030.

In this, Qatar is one of the region’s leading proponents of energy diversification. The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook report shows that this is in line with a
global shift in attitudes towards energy generation and consumption. Continue reading →

November 16, 2012 Posted by | MIDDLE EAST, renewable | Leave a comment

International Energy Agency says Energy Efficiency and renewables can fight global warming

The IEA says energy demand out to 2035 could be halved through energy efficiency measures – in the building sector, including appliances, the transport sector and the industry sector. This would require an estimated $US11.8 trillion investment, but this would be more than offset by an $18 trillion reduction in fuel costs.

How energy efficiency and renewables can save the planet http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/how-energy-efficiency-and-renewables-can-save-the-planet-44897 By Giles Parkinson , 13 November 2012 The International Energy Agency has raised hopes that time can be bought for the world to finally get its act together on climate change – as long as it implements a rapid uptake of energy efficiency measures.

In its latest World Energy Outlook, the IEA says energy efficiency could buy the world an extra five years to reach conclusive and effective climate change policies. Without such measures,it says, the world by 2017 will have exhausted its carbon budget to try and keep keep the world to an average rise in global temperatures of 2C. It says 81 per cent of that budget has already been used. Continue reading →

November 15, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

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