Posts tagged daily energy report
Solar Power Industry Growth Opportunities
May 9th
Dr. Charles Gay Ph.D., President of Applied Solar, discusses the impact of the new 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard that was just passed into California law. This is the first part of a two part series.
DOE and USDA Allocate New Funds for Biofuel
May 6th
DOE and USDA Fund Biofuel Projects
The Departments of Agriculture and Energy announced $47 million in funding for eight biofuel research and development projects. Biofuels are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 50 percent compared to fossil fuels. Grant recipients must contribute at least 20 percent of matching funds for research projects and 50 percent of matching funds for demo projects. All projects must focus on feedstocks development, biofuel product development, or biofuel analysis. The largest award, $7 million, went to Domtar Paper Company to build a demonstration plant using technology that converts wastes from paper mills into sugar, oil and lignin products for biofuel. Other recipients include the University of Florida, Cellana Inc., Metabolix Inc. and the University of Kentucky.
ADB Funds Biofuel Conversion in Vietnam
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting thousands of rural Vietnamese families as they install biogas systems in their communities. The goal of the project is to create a cleaner environment by changing the daily practices of individual households. The biogas used comes from animal wastes and replaces older energy sources such as charcoal, wood chips and pressurized cooking gas. Using biogas, families can save up to $15 per month, according to Nguyen Doan Due, a technical officer who oversees facilities. Before the biogas initiative, much of the animal waste products in the area were disposed of improperly. Now, farmers can use the waste from their livestock as a source of renewable fuel. The ADP predicts that the project can reduce CO2 emissions by 40,000 tons.
GA Power is a Leading Pledger for Energy Efficiency
The EPA recognized Georgia Power among the nation’s top five pledge leaders for striving toward energy efficiency awareness under the EPA’s “Change the World, Start with Energy Star” campaign. This year, Georgia Power collected 102,429 pledges from consumers saying they would be more conscious of their energy usage. The utility has participated in the annual pledge campaign since 2006, and according to the EPA’s website, the campaign has saved $118 million by reducing 744,255,554-kilowatt hours of energy usage. Consumers can take the pledge online. Other leaders include Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Nissan. The other utility that boasts a high pledge count is Ameren Illinois.
Recyclebank and Lunera Join for Energy Challenge
Recyclebank launched its Green Schools Energy Challenge with Lunera Lighting, an LED manufacturer based in Silicon Valley. The contest aims to retrofit classrooms with energy efficient lighting and benefit schools nationwide. Teachers and administrators can enter by submitting a video depicting classrooms that show a commitment to sustainability and those with the most inventive and active programs can win the makeover, valued at $5,000. Five classrooms will be selected, after the May 20 deadline for videos, for the LED retrofit that will not only save money, but it will create a brighter learning environment for students.
Website Shows Consumers Benefits of Vehicle Technology
Johnson Controls, a worldwide supplier of lithium-ion batteries, kicked off its new Demo Drive website to help consumers realize the benefits of fuel-efficient cars and new vehicle technology such as a Start-stop car. The website will let users choose one of six driving styles that they identify with, such as “countryside commuter” or “motorway maven.” They can follow their virtual routes while discovering how the vehicle’s performance varies along the way such as fuel efficiency, CO2 emissions and more. Consumers can learn how using advanced vehicle technologies can help them save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
By: Krishna Patel
krishna.patel@dailyenergyreport.com
Energy Project Brings Rwanda Clean Electricity
May 5th
AWEA Wind Conference Scheduled this May
Anaheim, California is the place to be this May for wind industry leaders. It is the site of the Windpower 2011 Conference and Exhibition, the world’s largest annual wind power trade show. From May 22-25, industry leaders, government officials and business executives will convene in California, the leading state for renewable energy, to discuss the future of wind energy. The program has reeled in Jay Leno as Conference dinner entertainment and there will also be a 5K Race to raise money for the American Wind Energy Association’s Educational Scholarship Fund. A job fair for “Careers in Wind” will also be available. The exhibition will be open to the general public for $5 on Sunday afternoon at 3:30.
Energy Project Brings Clean Electricity to Rwanda
The KivuWatt Project in Kibuye, Rwanda received additional support to build an integrated methane gas extraction and production facility and a 25-MW power plant on Lake Kivu. The project will remove harmful methane gas from the lake and harvest it as a fuel to generate electricity for the national utility of Rwanda, where much of the populations still lacks access to electricity. The $142 million project will lower the cost of electricity and represent the first large scale use of the gas. It is expected to be operational by 2012.
Solar Panels Planned for Oregon College
A solar panel project is underway at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. The 200-kW project is a joint effort by Sanyo and InSpec Group, announced right after the companies completed a 99-kW photovoltaic project for the Salem Conference Center. The panels used in the project boast a cell efficiency of 19.8 percent, on the higher end of traditional solar cell efficiencies. The school project will help the meet state-mandated requirements for solar installations on new buildings and it will generate about 225,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually for the college.
Firm Kicks off Green Competition
American Home Shield, a home warranty provider, launched its annual Live Green Save Green campaign to encourage homeowners to be more energy efficient, especially in the summer when energy use increases nationwide. Live Green Save Green focuses on communities so that homeowners can share their eco-friendly habits. American Home Shield is offering $10,000 in Sears gift cards in the Go Green Win Green Sweepstakes for users who reduce their usage.
Juhl Wind Takes Back Woodstock Wind Farm
Juhl Wind, the original developer of the Woodstock Hills wind farm, now acquired the 10.2-megawatt wind farm back. The facility, located near Juhl’s headquarters in Woodstock, Minn., has been in service since 1999. Its 17 turbines produce electricity sold to Xcel Energy, a leading national utility. Juhl Wind bought the 99.9 percent of the facility for $400,000 and the remaining .1 percent remains with the local owner. The farm is expected to continue generating revenues of about $1.2 million annually.
DOE Creates Center to Research Nuclear Reactors
May 4th
New DOE Research Center Improving Nuclear Reactors
The Department of Energy’s new research center will use supercomputers to increase the safety and power output of U.S. nuclear reactors. The Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL) has dedicated a new research facility that aims to upgrade our existing reactor fleet and improve the reliability of the technology. The research team will work at Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee. They have already completed a “virtual reactor,” a software that will be a tool to study the operations of the reactors so that researchers can determine how to reduce operating costs and minimize the waste volume while extending the lifetime of the nuclear reactors.
100-MW of Solar Power for India
SunBorne Energy and Suntech Power have joined to supply 100-MW of solar panels over the next two years to improve energy availability in India. Suntech will supply the modules for projects designed by SunBorne, including a 10-MW initiative in Gujarat, India. The solar industry in India is supported by federal and state subsidies and the country hopes to reach 2-GW of off-grid and 20-GW of on-grid PV installations by 2022. A number of the nation’s citizens do not have access to electricity and the primary energy demand is expected to increase 3.1 percent per year until 2034, according to the International Energy Agency’s 2010 World Energy Outlook.
US Navy Wind Turbine under Evaluation
The U.S. Navy is working on a small wind turbine to power military installations. Wyle, an evaluating and engineering firm, is testing the project at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The first turbine under scrutiny was the Helix Wind S322. It will be used to evaluate the abilities of a small wind turbine on an operating military installation used to power remote instruments that would otherwise use a diesel generator or the electric grid. The turbine has been nicknamed “Windy,” and it can catch wind in any direction because of its vertical axis design. The entire project will take up to two years as Wyle measures system design, radar interference, energy demands, and other factors.
Tips to Conserve Energy this Summer
With energy prices going up as summer months creep closer, here are several ways you can save without spending too much on clean energy renovations. According to one of the nation’s leading utilities, MXenergy, many Americans are reluctant to make energy efficient upgrades, but the company offered a few simple techniques that could be useful. Keeping air conditioner filters clean will increase the unit’s efficiency—in the hotter months, it is recommended to change filters monthly. Avoid running appliances during the hottest parts of the day and try using cold water when possible. Turning on fans throughout the house to keep the air circulating will reduce the strain on the AC. And lastly, adding a couple inches of insulation in the attic is a good idea because over time, insulation compresses. Solar-powered attic venting can lower attic temperatures an additional 50 degrees.
Hydrogen Fuel Station Underway in Michigan
Air Products is building a hydrogen fueling station in Flint, Michigan to fuel a hydrogen fuel cell for the Mass Transportation Authority (MTA)’s alternative fuels test program. The Flint MTA already owns one hydrogen fuel cell bus that can use the station, scheduled to be operational by April 2012. Air Products has already been installed 120 hydrogen fueling stations across the U.S. and in 19 countries worldwide. There are over 350,000 hydrogen fills per year at the company’s tanks.
By: Krishna Patel
krishna.patel@dailyenergyreport.com
Germany’s First Offshore Wind Farm in the Baltic
May 3rd
Germany Inaugurates Offshore Wind Farm
Germany’s first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea was inaugurated at a ceremony attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The 50-MW park will generate 185-gigawatt hours of electricity per year, enough to power about 50,000 average sized homes. There are now two parks off the two coasts, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Renewable energy accounts for 17 percent of Germany’s electricity, the majority of which is generated through wind power.
Two Schools Win DOE National Science Bowl
A Sacramento high school team and a middle school team from San Ramon won the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl. Mira Loma High School won the first prize, an all-expense trip to the International Science School in Sydney, Australia. And Gale Ranch Middle School defeated Shahala Middle School from Vancouver, Washington for the championship. One hundred teams participated in the DOE’s competition. The first National Science Bowl was in 1991, to encourage students to pursue careers in math and science.
Connecticut High School Powered with Solar Fuelcell
UTC Power has planned to install a fuel cell at Hamden High School in Hamden, Conn. that will provide up to 90 percent of the school’s annual electricity requirements. The 400-kW fuel cell will also produce thermal energy as a byproduct that will be used to heat the school, including the swimming pool. The heat and power system will be supported in part by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The CCEF also supported 4-kW solar installation at a community center and a 5-kW system at a local middle school.
Wall Underway Around Japanese Nuclear Plant
A wall is going to be built around Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant to protect it from future tsunamis, according to reports published Monday in the Mail and Guardian. The wall will be about two meters high (10m above sea level) and 500 meters long, made of rocks and wire mesh. Tokyo Electric Power also plans to triple the number of nuclear workers on staff to reduce radiation exposure of individuals. Confidence in the government has slipped in its handling of the nuclear disaster, according to polls.
By: Krishna Patel
krishna.patel@dailyenergyreport.com
Survey Says: US Drivers Warming to EVs
Apr 29th
U.S. Drivers Embrace EVs
According to a Nielson Energy Survey, Americans are warming to electric vehicles, with a majority of consumers (85%) saying they would be interested in driving a plug-in either when their car needs replacement or the technology becomes mainstream. About 58 percent of drivers surveyed prefer plug-in hybrid electric cars such as the Chevy Volt to all-electric models such as the Nissan Leaf. The former generally have a longer range and the option to use gas power, giving drivers a little comfort.
Toyota Headquarters Powered by Hydrogen Fuel Generator
A one-megawatt hydrogen fuel generator will power the Toyota Motor Sales headquarters in Torrance, California. The system, made by Ballard Power, will provide electricity as well as heat. The fuel system uses hydrogen produced by the steam produced by renewable biogas generated at a landfill. Heat created will be used to provide hot water as well as space heating in the employee activity center and the Lexus headquarters building in the office campus.
California Golf Club Installing Solar Panels
Stevinson Ranch Golf Club will soon be powered by two solar photovoltaic systems that will provide energy to the clubhouse and lift pump. The Golf Club is one of California’s top-rated clubs. Cenergy Power has begun construction on the two systems—one is a 113-kW ground mount system and the other is an 82-kW carport solar installation. Both systems will be capable of generating over 300,000 kilowatt-hours of clean solar power.
Atlanta Businesses Eligible for Rebates for Energy Upgrades
Atlanta businesses can prepare for the winter by making their energy appliances more efficient and get a rebate from MXenergy while they’re at it. All MXenergy consumers who upgrade from now until June 30 can receive up to $1500 in rebates. By converting from electric to gas, a business can get $1,000 in energySMART rebates. Upgrading the heating system can get consumers $500.
First Mexican Flight Powered by Jetfuel
Mexico’s domestic carrier, Interjet, conducted the first biofuel flight in the nation using an Airbus A320 plane. The jet fueled up with a 30 percent biofuel blend developed at a jatropha plant. Jatropha is a local biofuel source harvested in southern Mexico. Jatropha oil us used in biodiesel in the Philippines and Brazil as well and it was even referred to as one of the best products for future biodiesel production by Goldman Sachs in 2007.
| By: Krishna Patel krishna.patel@dailyenergyreport.com |
Two High Schoolers Reduce School’s Energy Use
Apr 28th
High Schoolers Encourage School to Reduce Energy
Two high school juniors helped their school reduce its energy consumption by 13 percent, merely by encouraging their school to measure its energy use. The two girls, Shriya Indukuri and Daniela Lapiduos, are students are Harker Upper School in San Jose, California. They requested that their school administration use simple meters to measure energy usage and discovered that the air conditioning in the gym was left running through the night. The findings helped the school reduce consumption and save money and the two students behind the mini-movement founded their own non-profit, SmartPowerEd to help other school do the same.
DOE Hosts Tribal Summit for Energy
Energy Secretary Steven Chu is hosting a summit with American Indian and Alaska Native Leaders on May 4-5 to discuss the development of clean energy projects on tribal lands. The Tribal Summit will be held at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia and will also be streamed online. Chu hopes to gain approval for clean energy projects by emphasizing the benefits for the tribes in terms of jobs and revenue brought in by the projects. The leadership of all 565 federally recognized tribes has been invited as well as national and regional tribal organizations.
Indiana Senate Passes Energy Bill
The Indiana State Senate passed a bill creating a voluntary Clean Energy Portfolio Standard (CPS) that sets a goal of 10 percent of the state’s electricity to be generated through clean energy sources by 2025. The Senate passed the bill 31-19, including an amendment that decrees that at least half of the energy produced by utilities participating in the CPS must come from within Indiana. The bill, written by Senator Bev Gard, passed in the state House last week with a bipartisan vote as well of 62-34. All it is waiting for now is a signature by Governor Mitch Daniels.
Churches Can Go Green Too
Many churches are “greening their congregations” by fitting in environmental responsibility into their practices, encouraging church members that they can “lesson their negative impact on God’s beautiful creation.” There are several tips offered to churches such as hiring an energy auditor to assess the church’s energy usage and eliminate unnecessary uses. Also, churches can switch out their traditional light bulbs for more efficient LEDs or Compact Fluorescents. There are multiple non-profit organizations that champion the cause of “greening congregations” and others that offer tips to parish leaders.
9.6-MW Solar Project Completed in California School District
The largest school-based solar power installation in the United States has been completed atop 10 schools in the Antelope Valley Union High School District in California. The 9.6-MW project was constructed and designed by PsomasFMG beginning August 2010 and cost a $52 million. It is expected to save the district $40 million in energy costs over the next two decades. The solar panels should produce enough clean energy to power about 80 percent of the school district’s electricity needs.
NYC Converting Landfills To Solar Plants
Apr 26th
Mayor Bloomberg Plans to Convert Landfills to Solar Plants
New York City’s Mayor Micheal Bloomberg announced plans to build solar power plants on old landfills as a part of his PlaNYC initiative. The goal of PlaNYC is to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. About 250 acres of 3,000 will be converted to solar powerhouses. When all projects are operational, the landfills will generate enough electricity to power 50,000 homes. Mayor Bloomberg also outlined plans for the creation of NYC Energy Efficiency Corp., whose mission will be to fund renewable energy installations for property owners. The company will be funded using $37 million in federal stimulus money.
NPRA Responds to the President’s Oil Corruption Team
The National Petrochemical and Refiners Association quickly responded to President Obama’s intents to create a team to investigate corruption in the oil market and his call to bring oil and gas subsidies to an end. NPRA President Charles Drevna took a staunchly opposing view blaming the Obama administration’s policies for the high fuel prices the country’s dependence on foreign oil sources. He argued that the best way to relieve American consumers of high energy costs would be “to allow increased use of our own abundant domestic energy resources and lift burdensome environmental regulations”. President Obama, in his weekly address last week, announced that the Attorney General, along with a selected team, will look into allegations of price gauging and other corrupt measures possibly undertaken by oil companies. He also called for Americans to support his administration’s investment in renewable energies.
Hybrid Car Sales Increase
There has been a 46 percent increase in hybrid and clean diesel car sales, fueled by high gas prices and a recovering economy, in March 2011 as compared to last year, according to auto analyst firm Baum and Associates. Efficient cars now hold the same market share as “true” SUVs, at seven percent, the report said. Even used cars demonstrate greater demands for fuel-efficient cars over pickups and SUVs. The study showed that hybrids and clean diesels sold at three times the rate of the overall market compared to March 2010. Moreover, the demand for Toyota Prius models is increasing in both new and used car markets, according to the report.
Pennsylvania Energy Company Gives Back
A Pennsylvania utility launched its “Fueling Your Day with Love Campaign” to serve underprivileged children in the community. The Equitable Gas Company partnered with Pittsburgh McDonald’s restaurants to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh. The Ronald McDonald house provides temporary housing for families who have traveled in search of life-saving medical care for their children. Through Memorial Day, if customers buy 17 million ounces of drip coffee, the energy company will donate $17,000 to the charity.
BP Sponsors Research in the Gulf
A BP-sponsored research initiative in the Gulf of Mexico announced the availability of additional funding for projects that will study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred about one year ago. The spill was one of the worst in American waters and did unprecedented damage to wildlife and the environment. On May 24, 2010, BP announced $500 million over a 10-year period to create an independent research program, Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, to explore the effects of the spill. The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative is now offering $37.5 million per year to create four to eight Research Consortia to study the accident’s impact on the region
Obama Creates Team to Investigate Oil Companies
Apr 25th
Obama Forms Team to Investigate Oil Fraud
President Obama made a number of public appearances last week in the name of clean energy, stopping at ElectraTherm, a small renewable energy company in Nev., and the headquarters of Facebook. In the Nevada speech, Obama announced the creation of a team that aims to stomp out corruption at the pump. Along with the Attorney General, the team will work to expose cases of fraud and manipulation in oil markets, such as price gauging, that affect gas prices. “We’re going to make sure that nobody is taking advantage of American consumers for their own short-term gain,” Obama said to a round of applause from his audience. While ensuring that he will not cut domestic oil drilling, the President underscored his plan to reduce tax breaks for oil companies. “Instead of subsidizing yesterday’s energy sources, let’s invest in tomorrow’s,” he said, again to applause.
Indiana House Passes Energy Bill with 10% Renewables Goal
The Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill including the state’s first voluntary Clean Energy Portfolio Standard, setting a goal for 10 percent of the state’s electricity generation to come from clean energy by 2025. An amendment to the bill, proposed by Representative David Frizzell (R-Indianapolis), emphasized that at least half of the energy produced to meet the 10 percent goal would be met using energy resources within the state. The amendment passed unanimously last Tuesday, April 21. The bill awaits the Senate vote before session’s end on April 29.
Go Green with a Motorcycle
One solution to the overbearing gas prices—switch to a motorcycle. The American Motorcyclist Association encouraged drivers to spare the environment and their wallets by adopting a motorcycle. With Earth Day celebrations focused on conservation, AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman noted, “For motorcyclists, every day is Earth Day.” The average motorcycle can yield about 50 miles per gallon, allowing motorcyclists to save at the pump. Also, it is obvious that less raw materials are used in production compared to cars, with thousands of pounds of less metal and plastic per bike. They also reduce environmental harm because of their easy ability to weave through traffic and fuel efficiency.
Mall of America Converts to LEDs in Parking Lot
The Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minn., is going to replace 5,400 bulbs on its parking ramp with LED bulbs from Acuity Brands beginning this July. The project will reduce energy consumption in the parking ramps by two-thirds. The energy saved is enough to power over 11,000 homes for one year. The Department of Energy and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided a grant to aid the funding of the conversion project. Besides the LED initiative, the Mall is planning a sustainability program that is still on the drawing boards.
New Device Absorbs both Heat and Light from the Sun
Researchers at Wake Forest University have created a new polymer-based-solar-thermal device that can generate power not only from sunlight, but also from heat, a feature current solar panels do not possess. Using both resources, the creation is capable of reducing the cost of heating a home by up to 40 percent. The device uses a fluid that flows through the modules to collect heat while a solar cell produces electricity using sunlight. Tests have resulted in a 30 percent efficiency of converting solar energy to power. The average standard solar cell has an 8 percent efficiency, with the best producing no more than 17 percent. The product is still undergoing testing, but will soon be ready for the market.
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