businessspectator
Jun 03 2015
I have just spent the weekend driving the remarkable Tesla Model S. A week ago I caught up with the video of Tesla founder, Elon Musk, presenting the company’s new products, the Powerwall and Powerpack.
I get it now. It’s all about the batteries. The car itself is a big leap forward, for sure, but it’s the batteries that will kill the internal combustion engine and, eventually, coal and gas electricity generation.
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Showing posts with label Battery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battery. Show all posts
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Battery may prove way to store wind energy
www.kplu.org
5 Jul 2013
Researchers are testing a new battery power storage system that may provide some long-term solutions to storing power from the electrical grid. The tests are being conducted at a wind farm near the Tri-Cities. Currently, wind power--and hydroelectric--must be used as it is produced.
"Electric in general is difficult to store, or to save for later; you have to use it", said John Steigers of Energy Northwest, a public power consortium. "The whole system in the country is based on the premise that what is being produced has to be used".
The new battery that is being tested is huge--we're talking half the size of a railway shipping container. It utilizes modern Lithium ion technology. Steigers says the battery is being tested at several different locations. The idea is that it can store wind power that is generated at times of the day when actual use by consumers is not all that high.
"It tends to show up at night, when the loads for the system are the lowest, and when it shows up you can store it, and then later in the day when air conditioners are on and people are working it, the electricity can be used at that time", he said.
Steigers says the battery is expected to be able to store enough electricity to power 50 homes for a year. He says long-term plans for the batteries would be to site them where they are needed, at industrial areas or neighborhoods to power individual homes.
5 Jul 2013
Researchers are testing a new battery power storage system that may provide some long-term solutions to storing power from the electrical grid. The tests are being conducted at a wind farm near the Tri-Cities. Currently, wind power--and hydroelectric--must be used as it is produced.
"Electric in general is difficult to store, or to save for later; you have to use it", said John Steigers of Energy Northwest, a public power consortium. "The whole system in the country is based on the premise that what is being produced has to be used".
The new battery that is being tested is huge--we're talking half the size of a railway shipping container. It utilizes modern Lithium ion technology. Steigers says the battery is being tested at several different locations. The idea is that it can store wind power that is generated at times of the day when actual use by consumers is not all that high.
"It tends to show up at night, when the loads for the system are the lowest, and when it shows up you can store it, and then later in the day when air conditioners are on and people are working it, the electricity can be used at that time", he said.
Steigers says the battery is expected to be able to store enough electricity to power 50 homes for a year. He says long-term plans for the batteries would be to site them where they are needed, at industrial areas or neighborhoods to power individual homes.
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Four companies join up on solar energy, energy storage tech
www.elp.com
12 Jun 2013
A group of four companies plans to pool resources and work to develop solar power storage technology for the military. In time, the technology could be adapted for commercial or residential use. Lincad, Oxis Energy, Pure Wafer and Solutronic are developing a system that combines lightweight solar panels, electronics and a battery energy storage device, according to Power Engineering.
Lincad will lend their battery design expertise, while Oxis will supply the lithium sulfur cell technology. Pure Wafer will supply the military solar panels that will charge the lithium sulfur batteries during the day when the sun shines, and Solutronic will provide electronics that connect the solar panels, batteries and equipment to power.
12 Jun 2013
A group of four companies plans to pool resources and work to develop solar power storage technology for the military. In time, the technology could be adapted for commercial or residential use. Lincad, Oxis Energy, Pure Wafer and Solutronic are developing a system that combines lightweight solar panels, electronics and a battery energy storage device, according to Power Engineering.
Lincad will lend their battery design expertise, while Oxis will supply the lithium sulfur cell technology. Pure Wafer will supply the military solar panels that will charge the lithium sulfur batteries during the day when the sun shines, and Solutronic will provide electronics that connect the solar panels, batteries and equipment to power.
Saturday, 27 July 2013
New Design for solar panels that can simultaneously generate and store energy
www.azonano.com
18 Jul 2013
The potential energy available via solar power might seem limitless on a sunny summer day, but all that energy has to be stored for it to be truly useful. If you see a solar panel on a rooftop, in a large-scale array, or even on a parking meter, a bulky battery or supercapacitor is hidden just out of sight, receiving energy from the panel through power lines.
However, that's a storage method that doesn't scale well for solar-powered devices with no space for a battery pack. In a quest for a smaller, more self-sustaining solar power source, a UW-Madison electrical engineer has proposed a design for solar panels that can simultaneously generate power from sunlight and store power reserves for later, all within a single device.
Hongrui Jiang and his students developed the idea, published in the journal Advanced Materials June 6. Jiang is the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of electrical and computer engineering at UW-Madison and specializes in microscale devices. He and his students developed the technology as an offshoot of a National Institutes of Health grant to design a self-focusing contact lens that adapts to the eyes of adults suffering from presbyopia, a natural aging process that stiffens the lens and reduces the eye's ability to focus, especially at short distances.
To power that contact lens, Jiang and his team have worked out a design that balances energy harvesting, storage and usage. "We needed a multi-functional and small-form-factor device in order to integrate it all into a single contact lens structure", says Jiang.
The top layer of each photovoltaic cell is a conventional photo electrode, converting sunlight into electrons. During that conversion process, the electrons split off into two directions: most electrons flow out of the device to support a power load, while some are directed to a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer (PVDF) coated on zinc oxide nanowires. The PVDF has the high dielectric constant required to serve as an energy storage solution. "When there's no sunlight, the stored power will come back through the nano wires to power the load".
Read more
18 Jul 2013
The potential energy available via solar power might seem limitless on a sunny summer day, but all that energy has to be stored for it to be truly useful. If you see a solar panel on a rooftop, in a large-scale array, or even on a parking meter, a bulky battery or supercapacitor is hidden just out of sight, receiving energy from the panel through power lines.However, that's a storage method that doesn't scale well for solar-powered devices with no space for a battery pack. In a quest for a smaller, more self-sustaining solar power source, a UW-Madison electrical engineer has proposed a design for solar panels that can simultaneously generate power from sunlight and store power reserves for later, all within a single device.
Hongrui Jiang and his students developed the idea, published in the journal Advanced Materials June 6. Jiang is the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of electrical and computer engineering at UW-Madison and specializes in microscale devices. He and his students developed the technology as an offshoot of a National Institutes of Health grant to design a self-focusing contact lens that adapts to the eyes of adults suffering from presbyopia, a natural aging process that stiffens the lens and reduces the eye's ability to focus, especially at short distances.
To power that contact lens, Jiang and his team have worked out a design that balances energy harvesting, storage and usage. "We needed a multi-functional and small-form-factor device in order to integrate it all into a single contact lens structure", says Jiang.
The top layer of each photovoltaic cell is a conventional photo electrode, converting sunlight into electrons. During that conversion process, the electrons split off into two directions: most electrons flow out of the device to support a power load, while some are directed to a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer (PVDF) coated on zinc oxide nanowires. The PVDF has the high dielectric constant required to serve as an energy storage solution. "When there's no sunlight, the stored power will come back through the nano wires to power the load".
Read more
Monday, 8 July 2013
German ZSW produces Lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, solar power storage systems with 10,000 charge cycles
www.solarserver.com
25 Jun 2013
Scientists at the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg, ZSW (Germany) have developed top-class lithium-ion batteries. In terms of the cycle stability-an important parameter for the lifetime-the high-performance cells now exceed the current international state of technology: more than 10,000 full cycles have been achieved so far, ZSW reports in a press release.
More than 85% of the initial capacity remaining after 10,000 complete charging, discharging cycles With other values, such as the power density, the batteries are equivalent to those produced by leading Asian manufacturers. The active materials for the batteries exclusively originate from German companies. ZSW has designed the cells, developed the manufacturing process and produced a small sample series in the 18650 format. The technology has created the basis for manufacturing large size pouch cells and large size prismatic cells. Lithium-ion batteries are intended for use in electric vehicles and as solar power storage systems.
"After 10,000 complete charging and discharging cycles with a complete charge and discharge cycle per hour (2 C), our lithium batteries still have more than 85% of the initial capacity", reports Dr. Margret Wohlfahrt-Mehrens, Head of the Accumulator Material Research Department in Ulm. "That also provides excellent prospects for a long calendar life".
A long service life, such as for electric mobility, is an essential requirement from automotive companies. Batteries with the lithium-ion technology must be able to do their work in cars for at least ten years without the battery capacity dropping to less than 80% of the rated value.
Read More…
25 Jun 2013
Scientists at the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg, ZSW (Germany) have developed top-class lithium-ion batteries. In terms of the cycle stability-an important parameter for the lifetime-the high-performance cells now exceed the current international state of technology: more than 10,000 full cycles have been achieved so far, ZSW reports in a press release.
More than 85% of the initial capacity remaining after 10,000 complete charging, discharging cycles With other values, such as the power density, the batteries are equivalent to those produced by leading Asian manufacturers. The active materials for the batteries exclusively originate from German companies. ZSW has designed the cells, developed the manufacturing process and produced a small sample series in the 18650 format. The technology has created the basis for manufacturing large size pouch cells and large size prismatic cells. Lithium-ion batteries are intended for use in electric vehicles and as solar power storage systems.
"After 10,000 complete charging and discharging cycles with a complete charge and discharge cycle per hour (2 C), our lithium batteries still have more than 85% of the initial capacity", reports Dr. Margret Wohlfahrt-Mehrens, Head of the Accumulator Material Research Department in Ulm. "That also provides excellent prospects for a long calendar life".
A long service life, such as for electric mobility, is an essential requirement from automotive companies. Batteries with the lithium-ion technology must be able to do their work in cars for at least ten years without the battery capacity dropping to less than 80% of the rated value.
Read More…
Compressed air technology to store wind energy
www.nwpr.org
24 May 2013
Renewable energy storage is one step closer becoming a reality in the Northwest. Researchers are proposing a new system that could store enough wind power to power 80,000 homes for a month. But researchers aren't proposing fields lined with batteries. They're using some of the Columbia River Basin's natural geography and compressed air.
If Northwest states are to meet renewable energy goals, they'll need to find a way to store power. Wind and solar vary with the weather. Most of the region's wind power kicks up at the same time as hydroelectric. That can produce more energy than the power grid can handle.
"Without a storage technology, that energy is going to be wasted", McGrail says. "Right now we don't have anything to do with it. We either have to shut down the wind farms or spill excess water over the dams".
Now, researchers have found a way to capture extra energy and store it until people need it. This technology would divert that wind-power to machines that compress air. Next, that compressed air would be pumped thousands of feet underground into airtight cavities in the earth's basalt subsurface.
When people needed more power in the summer or winter, a valve would release the compressed air. That would spin turbines and create energy. Steve Knudsen is with Bonneville Power Administration. He says more storage could help balance power on the grid. "You shouldn't ever have to curtail the generation out of wind plants", Knudsen says.
Alabama and Germany already use this technology. But the amount of power stored at those sites is a drop in the bucket compared to what these researchers are proposing. They say they could store enough energy to power 80,000 homes for a month.
Researchers have picked out two sites that will work well-both in Central Washington. BPA says the next step is for utilities to test the technology on a smaller scale.
24 May 2013
Renewable energy storage is one step closer becoming a reality in the Northwest. Researchers are proposing a new system that could store enough wind power to power 80,000 homes for a month. But researchers aren't proposing fields lined with batteries. They're using some of the Columbia River Basin's natural geography and compressed air.
If Northwest states are to meet renewable energy goals, they'll need to find a way to store power. Wind and solar vary with the weather. Most of the region's wind power kicks up at the same time as hydroelectric. That can produce more energy than the power grid can handle.
"Without a storage technology, that energy is going to be wasted", McGrail says. "Right now we don't have anything to do with it. We either have to shut down the wind farms or spill excess water over the dams".
Now, researchers have found a way to capture extra energy and store it until people need it. This technology would divert that wind-power to machines that compress air. Next, that compressed air would be pumped thousands of feet underground into airtight cavities in the earth's basalt subsurface.
When people needed more power in the summer or winter, a valve would release the compressed air. That would spin turbines and create energy. Steve Knudsen is with Bonneville Power Administration. He says more storage could help balance power on the grid. "You shouldn't ever have to curtail the generation out of wind plants", Knudsen says.
Alabama and Germany already use this technology. But the amount of power stored at those sites is a drop in the bucket compared to what these researchers are proposing. They say they could store enough energy to power 80,000 homes for a month.
Researchers have picked out two sites that will work well-both in Central Washington. BPA says the next step is for utilities to test the technology on a smaller scale.
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Funnel Wind turbine generates jaw-dropping power
news.discovery.com
15 May 2013
In order to get off oil as our main energy source, renewable energy needs to be cost-competitive with natural gas and coal. Innovations in solar and wind power are making strides toward that goal, but it will take a major paradigm shift to bring them both down in cost.
The Chaska, Minn.-based company Sheer Wind thinks it has a design that could bring the cost of wind power down to a price competitive with natural gas. Daryoush Allaei, Sheer Wind's chief technical officer, told DNews that a utility-scale system of these wind turbines--that is a 100 to 500 MW power plant--the cost could be as low as 1¢ per kW. For comparison, conventional tower and blade wind power plants cost about 45 to 80¢ per kW and natural gas plants cost about 2 to 3¢ per kW.
The company's Invelox captures wind using wide-mouthed funnels. Inside, passageways turn the wind horizontally and taper it into a narrow space, which naturally accelerates the flow. The higher speed wind is then channeled into a turbine positioned at ground level. According to the company, the system works even if wind speeds are slow at the top. For example, a wind entering at 10 mph is increased to 40 mph by the time it enters the turbine. After passing through the turbine, the wind is exhausted back into the environment at 15mph.
The unit is about 50% shorter than traditional wind towers and the turbine blades on the generator are 84% smaller--as a result, equipment and maintenance costs are lower.
Read More…
15 May 2013
In order to get off oil as our main energy source, renewable energy needs to be cost-competitive with natural gas and coal. Innovations in solar and wind power are making strides toward that goal, but it will take a major paradigm shift to bring them both down in cost.The Chaska, Minn.-based company Sheer Wind thinks it has a design that could bring the cost of wind power down to a price competitive with natural gas. Daryoush Allaei, Sheer Wind's chief technical officer, told DNews that a utility-scale system of these wind turbines--that is a 100 to 500 MW power plant--the cost could be as low as 1¢ per kW. For comparison, conventional tower and blade wind power plants cost about 45 to 80¢ per kW and natural gas plants cost about 2 to 3¢ per kW.
The company's Invelox captures wind using wide-mouthed funnels. Inside, passageways turn the wind horizontally and taper it into a narrow space, which naturally accelerates the flow. The higher speed wind is then channeled into a turbine positioned at ground level. According to the company, the system works even if wind speeds are slow at the top. For example, a wind entering at 10 mph is increased to 40 mph by the time it enters the turbine. After passing through the turbine, the wind is exhausted back into the environment at 15mph.
The unit is about 50% shorter than traditional wind towers and the turbine blades on the generator are 84% smaller--as a result, equipment and maintenance costs are lower.
Read More…
Morocco kicks off construction of 160 MW solar thermal project
www.ecoseed.org
15 May 2013
Morocco has officially commenced the construction of a 160 MW concentrated solar power plant near the desert city of Ouarzazate.
The 7 billion dirhams ($817.55 million) project is expected to become the world's largest solar facility of its kind when finished by 2015, surpassing the 100 MW Shams 1 solar thermal plant in the United Arab Emirates (see related story).
A consortium led by Saudi developer ACWA Power, won the contract to develop the plant last September. Construction of the project will employ around 1,000 employees while operation will generate 60 permanent jobs.
The Noor 1 C.S.P, project is part of the two-phase Noor 1 Solar Complex, due for completion by 2020. The complex is expected to cover 3,000 hectares and have an overall capacity of 500 MW-enough to provide electricity for Ouarzazate's 1.5 million people.
The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy is developing the Noor 1 C.S.P, project as well as several other utility-scale solar power projects using various solar technologies at the Noor 1 Solar Complex. In addition, they have already identified five sites for solar power stations including Ouarzazate, Ain Bni Mathar, Foum Al Oued, Boujdour and Sebkhat Tah.
In its bid to ease dependence on fossil fuel imports, the Morocco is exploring the use renewable energy sources particularly solar power. It has one of the highest rates of solar insulation of any country, amounting to around 3,000 hours per year of sunshine.
In 2009, the North African nation launched what has been touted as the world's largest solar power plan costing around $9 billion. It aims to generate 2,000 MW of solar capacity by 2020 and contribute 18% to the country's annual electricity generation. Significantly, the entire solar plan will help the country save 1 million ton oil equivalent per year and prevent 3.7 emissions of CO₂ equivalent.
According to the International Energy Agency, Morocco is the "largest energy importer in North Africa with limited resources of its own". It is already spending more than $3 billion a year on fuel on electricity imports and is experiencing power demand growth of 6.5% average a year.
15 May 2013
Morocco has officially commenced the construction of a 160 MW concentrated solar power plant near the desert city of Ouarzazate.
The 7 billion dirhams ($817.55 million) project is expected to become the world's largest solar facility of its kind when finished by 2015, surpassing the 100 MW Shams 1 solar thermal plant in the United Arab Emirates (see related story).
A consortium led by Saudi developer ACWA Power, won the contract to develop the plant last September. Construction of the project will employ around 1,000 employees while operation will generate 60 permanent jobs.
The Noor 1 C.S.P, project is part of the two-phase Noor 1 Solar Complex, due for completion by 2020. The complex is expected to cover 3,000 hectares and have an overall capacity of 500 MW-enough to provide electricity for Ouarzazate's 1.5 million people.
The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy is developing the Noor 1 C.S.P, project as well as several other utility-scale solar power projects using various solar technologies at the Noor 1 Solar Complex. In addition, they have already identified five sites for solar power stations including Ouarzazate, Ain Bni Mathar, Foum Al Oued, Boujdour and Sebkhat Tah.
In its bid to ease dependence on fossil fuel imports, the Morocco is exploring the use renewable energy sources particularly solar power. It has one of the highest rates of solar insulation of any country, amounting to around 3,000 hours per year of sunshine.
In 2009, the North African nation launched what has been touted as the world's largest solar power plan costing around $9 billion. It aims to generate 2,000 MW of solar capacity by 2020 and contribute 18% to the country's annual electricity generation. Significantly, the entire solar plan will help the country save 1 million ton oil equivalent per year and prevent 3.7 emissions of CO₂ equivalent.
According to the International Energy Agency, Morocco is the "largest energy importer in North Africa with limited resources of its own". It is already spending more than $3 billion a year on fuel on electricity imports and is experiencing power demand growth of 6.5% average a year.
Wireless sensor for devices harvests solar energy
www.designnews.com
14 May 2013
Two Israel-based providers of electronics components have collaborated to provide solar power harvesting technology that can power wireless sensors so they require little or no battery power to operate.
Sol Chip and Cellergy are offering a high-performance energy harvester that combines Cellergy supercapacitors and Sol Chip's solar power harvesting technology and can be integrated into a range of devices and applications to provide power for short-range wireless communication.
The companies envision the technology being used to enable the so-called Internet of Things in which devices can identify and communicate with one another over the Internet or a network. These devices will be used in a number of industries, including agriculture, smart lighting control, smart water management, environmental monitoring, medical, security, and safety.
The Everlasting Solar Battery--Sol Chip's contribution to the collaboration--addresses the needs of remote or mobile devices that operate autonomously by prolonging battery life, reducing environmental hazard and improving battery-charging technology, Zack Sharon, Sol Chip's sales and marketing director, told Design News. "The technology harvests light energy to extend battery life or replace batteries in many applications and reduces system overall cost", he said.
The Sol Chip device is essentially a single-chip solar cell with integrated battery management and charging circuitry. The device can recharge batteries or charge super-capacitors, and has a patent-pending architecture that provides higher efficiency with an extremely lean and cost saving implementation, Sharon told us. The harvester combines the Everlasting Solar Battery with Cellergy's supercapacitor technology to store the energy, which allows for more energy storage than typical capacitors.
Energy harvesting is becoming a method of choice for low-power devices that typically run on batteries but don't need a lot of energy to power them. A number of semiconductor and electronics components companies are building ultra-low-power components or micro energy-harvesting devices that can be embedded in devices like medical sensors, smoke alarms, security systems, and other devices.
According to Sharon, the addressable market for the Sol Chip-Cellergy technology is estimated at 1 billion units in 2022, with many segments growing more than 10% per year. "Initial target segments include wireless sensors and wireless sensor networks, smart power grids, smart cities, and active RFID", he said.
14 May 2013
Two Israel-based providers of electronics components have collaborated to provide solar power harvesting technology that can power wireless sensors so they require little or no battery power to operate.Sol Chip and Cellergy are offering a high-performance energy harvester that combines Cellergy supercapacitors and Sol Chip's solar power harvesting technology and can be integrated into a range of devices and applications to provide power for short-range wireless communication.
The companies envision the technology being used to enable the so-called Internet of Things in which devices can identify and communicate with one another over the Internet or a network. These devices will be used in a number of industries, including agriculture, smart lighting control, smart water management, environmental monitoring, medical, security, and safety.
The Everlasting Solar Battery--Sol Chip's contribution to the collaboration--addresses the needs of remote or mobile devices that operate autonomously by prolonging battery life, reducing environmental hazard and improving battery-charging technology, Zack Sharon, Sol Chip's sales and marketing director, told Design News. "The technology harvests light energy to extend battery life or replace batteries in many applications and reduces system overall cost", he said.
The Sol Chip device is essentially a single-chip solar cell with integrated battery management and charging circuitry. The device can recharge batteries or charge super-capacitors, and has a patent-pending architecture that provides higher efficiency with an extremely lean and cost saving implementation, Sharon told us. The harvester combines the Everlasting Solar Battery with Cellergy's supercapacitor technology to store the energy, which allows for more energy storage than typical capacitors.
Energy harvesting is becoming a method of choice for low-power devices that typically run on batteries but don't need a lot of energy to power them. A number of semiconductor and electronics components companies are building ultra-low-power components or micro energy-harvesting devices that can be embedded in devices like medical sensors, smoke alarms, security systems, and other devices.
According to Sharon, the addressable market for the Sol Chip-Cellergy technology is estimated at 1 billion units in 2022, with many segments growing more than 10% per year. "Initial target segments include wireless sensors and wireless sensor networks, smart power grids, smart cities, and active RFID", he said.
Samsung receives POWERS award for development of 7 MW offshore wind turbine prototype
www.windtech-international.com
13 May 2013
Scottish Enterprise has awarded Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) GBP 6.04million POWERS funding to support the development of its latest 7MW offshore wind turbine prototype at Fife Energy Park.
This award will support SHI's total investment of GBP 100 million in Scotland, which will help launch a test demonstration project followed by turbine manufacturing facilities in the longer term. Subject to the conclusion of commercial negotiations, SHI will begin construction of the 7MW prototype turbine later this year. The turbine will be placed on the sea bed around 35 meters from the shore, with permission from the Crown Estate.
13 May 2013
Scottish Enterprise has awarded Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) GBP 6.04million POWERS funding to support the development of its latest 7MW offshore wind turbine prototype at Fife Energy Park.
This award will support SHI's total investment of GBP 100 million in Scotland, which will help launch a test demonstration project followed by turbine manufacturing facilities in the longer term. Subject to the conclusion of commercial negotiations, SHI will begin construction of the 7MW prototype turbine later this year. The turbine will be placed on the sea bed around 35 meters from the shore, with permission from the Crown Estate.
Turkey’s biggest wind farm starts operation
www.bbj.hu
13 May 2013
The biggest wind farm in Turkey, Enerjisa Bares Wind Power Plant in Balikesir in the west of the country, has started producing electricity. The plant, built with a €135 million syndicated loan arranged by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will increase Turkey's current wind power-generated electricity by about 8% and help the country diversify away from expensive imported fossil fuels, the London-based lender said in a statement on its website. The energy that Bares started producing Saturday can provide clean electricity to about 170,000 households in Turkey. Enerjisa Energy Company, the owner of the power plant, is a joint venture of Sabancı Holding and Germany's E.ON.
13 May 2013
The biggest wind farm in Turkey, Enerjisa Bares Wind Power Plant in Balikesir in the west of the country, has started producing electricity. The plant, built with a €135 million syndicated loan arranged by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will increase Turkey's current wind power-generated electricity by about 8% and help the country diversify away from expensive imported fossil fuels, the London-based lender said in a statement on its website. The energy that Bares started producing Saturday can provide clean electricity to about 170,000 households in Turkey. Enerjisa Energy Company, the owner of the power plant, is a joint venture of Sabancı Holding and Germany's E.ON.
Monday, 1 July 2013
Brazilian indigenous people turn to wind power as dam alternative
www.wired.co.uk
13 May 2013
The indigenous people of Brazil's most northerly region have been conducting a wind power trial, in a bid to convince the government that it's a realistic alternative to the country's controversial hydroelectric dams.
Roraima is both the northernmost and least populated of Brazil's states, wedged between Venezuala and Guyana. Internationally, it's most well known for Mount Roraima, a 31km2 table mountain with 400m-tall sides that inspired both Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World and Pixar's Up. It's also the site of some of Brazil's highest-average wind speeds, coming down from the mountains and speeding across the grasslands and savannah in the east of the state at an average of between six and nine metres per second according to the Wind Energy Atlas of Brazil.
As reported by Climate News Network, the Makuxi people think this might give them a chance to put forward a different idea for the Brazilian government's Lights For All programme, which has been trying to bring electricity to off-the-grid households since 2003. The latest figures, from 2003 to 2011, record 14.3 million people living in 2.8 million households now enjoying the benefits of reliable grid power--so much that it's actually reversed the migration of people from rural areas to cities. Most of that grid electricity--82.7%--has come from hydroelectric dams.
Read More…
13 May 2013
The indigenous people of Brazil's most northerly region have been conducting a wind power trial, in a bid to convince the government that it's a realistic alternative to the country's controversial hydroelectric dams.
Roraima is both the northernmost and least populated of Brazil's states, wedged between Venezuala and Guyana. Internationally, it's most well known for Mount Roraima, a 31km2 table mountain with 400m-tall sides that inspired both Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World and Pixar's Up. It's also the site of some of Brazil's highest-average wind speeds, coming down from the mountains and speeding across the grasslands and savannah in the east of the state at an average of between six and nine metres per second according to the Wind Energy Atlas of Brazil.
As reported by Climate News Network, the Makuxi people think this might give them a chance to put forward a different idea for the Brazilian government's Lights For All programme, which has been trying to bring electricity to off-the-grid households since 2003. The latest figures, from 2003 to 2011, record 14.3 million people living in 2.8 million households now enjoying the benefits of reliable grid power--so much that it's actually reversed the migration of people from rural areas to cities. Most of that grid electricity--82.7%--has come from hydroelectric dams.
Read More…
Sturgeon opens community wind farm
icscotland.icnetwork.co.uk
13 May 2013
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to open a wind farm in which residents have a cash stake. Neilston wind farm is the first joint ownership venture between a wind farm developer and a community in Scotland. Residents of the East Renfrewshire village bought a 28% share in the four-turbine, 10 MW-capacity scheme by onshore wind farm developer Carbon Free Developments.
They raised £950,000 to purchase their stake, loaned in part by the Scottish Government and other organisations including the West of Scotland Loan Fund and Social Investment Scotland. The idea is that the loans will be paid off with income raised from selling electricity to the National Grid. It is expected that money will be become available for use by the Neilston Development Trust from 2018 19 onwards.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The Neilston Community Wind Farm is a great example of community-led regeneration, which is why the Scottish Government is supporting this £15.6 million development with a £250,000 investment as a pilot for the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
"Industry figures show that Scotland's renewable energy sector has attracted £2.8 billion of investment in Scotland since 2009. This government is focused on supporting the growth of local and community ownership of renewable energy so that communities can share the rewards of Scotland's vast natural resources".
Pauline Gallacher from the Neilston Development Trust, which purchased the stake, said: "We want to make Neilston a better, more sustainable place to live and realised that we, as a community, needed to secure income to make this happen.
"We partnered with Carbon Free Developments to build our own wind farm and now we have secured funding for 20 years that will deliver projects across the community. We didn't rely on grants to fund this-all the capital we raised was in the form of loans and will be repaid. "I think we've shown that communities in Scotland can control their own destiny by becoming involved in the development and ownership of renewables".
13 May 2013
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to open a wind farm in which residents have a cash stake. Neilston wind farm is the first joint ownership venture between a wind farm developer and a community in Scotland. Residents of the East Renfrewshire village bought a 28% share in the four-turbine, 10 MW-capacity scheme by onshore wind farm developer Carbon Free Developments.
They raised £950,000 to purchase their stake, loaned in part by the Scottish Government and other organisations including the West of Scotland Loan Fund and Social Investment Scotland. The idea is that the loans will be paid off with income raised from selling electricity to the National Grid. It is expected that money will be become available for use by the Neilston Development Trust from 2018 19 onwards.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The Neilston Community Wind Farm is a great example of community-led regeneration, which is why the Scottish Government is supporting this £15.6 million development with a £250,000 investment as a pilot for the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
"Industry figures show that Scotland's renewable energy sector has attracted £2.8 billion of investment in Scotland since 2009. This government is focused on supporting the growth of local and community ownership of renewable energy so that communities can share the rewards of Scotland's vast natural resources".
Pauline Gallacher from the Neilston Development Trust, which purchased the stake, said: "We want to make Neilston a better, more sustainable place to live and realised that we, as a community, needed to secure income to make this happen.
"We partnered with Carbon Free Developments to build our own wind farm and now we have secured funding for 20 years that will deliver projects across the community. We didn't rely on grants to fund this-all the capital we raised was in the form of loans and will be repaid. "I think we've shown that communities in Scotland can control their own destiny by becoming involved in the development and ownership of renewables".
Island keen to embrace solar power
www.portnews.com.au
13 May 2013
WORLD Heritage listed Lord Howe Island is starting its transformation from a dependence on diesel generators to sustainable solar power with help from Wauchope Solar. The connections between the Hastings Valley and Lord Howe Island continue to grow. This began with direct flights and the supply ship, Island Trader, now operates between Port Macquarie and Lord Howe Island.
Port Macquarie's commercial wharf was officially opened in November 2009 and the business community of Port Macquarie has been encouraged to develop trading links with businesses on the island. Wauchope Solar has done exactly that and is now on its third trip to the island for the next round of solar power installations.
The Lord Howe Island Board has been developing a plan with the help of CSIRO National Solar Energy Centre in Newcastle to minimise diesel consumption helping to make Lord Howe Island a showcase in environmental sustainability.
Wauchope Solar founder Stuart Watson said he had a great affinity with Lord Howe Island and had been impressing on the locals and the Lord Howe Island Board the benefits of renewable power on the island for the past 15 years.
"Now this dream is becoming a reality as the islanders embrace the opportunity to power their homes with solar", Mr Watson said. Mr Watson hopes the Lord Howe Island example will inspire the mainland. He has been a long time supporter and proponent of the benefits of solar power and considers the future of solar generation to be huge.
13 May 2013
WORLD Heritage listed Lord Howe Island is starting its transformation from a dependence on diesel generators to sustainable solar power with help from Wauchope Solar. The connections between the Hastings Valley and Lord Howe Island continue to grow. This began with direct flights and the supply ship, Island Trader, now operates between Port Macquarie and Lord Howe Island.
Port Macquarie's commercial wharf was officially opened in November 2009 and the business community of Port Macquarie has been encouraged to develop trading links with businesses on the island. Wauchope Solar has done exactly that and is now on its third trip to the island for the next round of solar power installations.
The Lord Howe Island Board has been developing a plan with the help of CSIRO National Solar Energy Centre in Newcastle to minimise diesel consumption helping to make Lord Howe Island a showcase in environmental sustainability.
Wauchope Solar founder Stuart Watson said he had a great affinity with Lord Howe Island and had been impressing on the locals and the Lord Howe Island Board the benefits of renewable power on the island for the past 15 years.
"Now this dream is becoming a reality as the islanders embrace the opportunity to power their homes with solar", Mr Watson said. Mr Watson hopes the Lord Howe Island example will inspire the mainland. He has been a long time supporter and proponent of the benefits of solar power and considers the future of solar generation to be huge.
Denham invests in Australian wind power
www.stockjournal.com.au
9 May 2013
US PRIVATE equity firm Denham Capital Management has strengthened its commitment to Australia's renewable sector, investing $US75 million in a portfolio of wind power projects forming the basis of new entity OneWind Australia. Denham, which has more than $US7.3 billion in assets, is joining the Australian arm of Portugal's Enersis Group, National Power and Kato Capital to create OneWind.
The new venture will develop and finance several wind farms in NSW, South Australia and Tasmania with a total capacity of one GW, The Australian Financial Review reports. The projects, which would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to develop, would help meet Australia's 2020 renewable energy target, which is expected to be almost entirely filled by wind power.
The investment follows Denham's decision last year to set up a new office in Perth, where it has been scouting for opportunities in metals and mining. The firm already backs international solar power developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, which is developing solar ventures in Australia.
Denham co-founder Carl Tricoli said last November that the firm may invest up to $US600 million of its latest $US3 billion fund in Australia across its three key sectors: metals and mining, oil and gas, and power and renewables.
Scott Mackin, co-president of Denham and head of the firm's power and renewables team, said on Tuesday that Denham's investment would accelerate the pipeline of projects, which has been developed by the other partners.
"We believe that the combined skills, capital and projects that we collectively bring to the table create exciting opportunities for the partnership", Mr Mackin said. He said late last year that he was particularly interested in solar and wind projects that could undercut the cost of "brown" coal-fired power, including remote mining sites.
The portfolio of projects in OneWind includes the 100 MW Glen Innes wind farm in NSW, the 250 MW Lincoln Gap project in South Australia, and the 240 MW Cattle Hill venture in Tasmania.
9 May 2013
US PRIVATE equity firm Denham Capital Management has strengthened its commitment to Australia's renewable sector, investing $US75 million in a portfolio of wind power projects forming the basis of new entity OneWind Australia. Denham, which has more than $US7.3 billion in assets, is joining the Australian arm of Portugal's Enersis Group, National Power and Kato Capital to create OneWind.
The new venture will develop and finance several wind farms in NSW, South Australia and Tasmania with a total capacity of one GW, The Australian Financial Review reports. The projects, which would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to develop, would help meet Australia's 2020 renewable energy target, which is expected to be almost entirely filled by wind power.
The investment follows Denham's decision last year to set up a new office in Perth, where it has been scouting for opportunities in metals and mining. The firm already backs international solar power developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, which is developing solar ventures in Australia.
Denham co-founder Carl Tricoli said last November that the firm may invest up to $US600 million of its latest $US3 billion fund in Australia across its three key sectors: metals and mining, oil and gas, and power and renewables.
Scott Mackin, co-president of Denham and head of the firm's power and renewables team, said on Tuesday that Denham's investment would accelerate the pipeline of projects, which has been developed by the other partners.
"We believe that the combined skills, capital and projects that we collectively bring to the table create exciting opportunities for the partnership", Mr Mackin said. He said late last year that he was particularly interested in solar and wind projects that could undercut the cost of "brown" coal-fired power, including remote mining sites.
The portfolio of projects in OneWind includes the 100 MW Glen Innes wind farm in NSW, the 250 MW Lincoln Gap project in South Australia, and the 240 MW Cattle Hill venture in Tasmania.
Iowa blowing Nebraska away on wind power
journalstar.com
11 May 2013
t's a touchy subject among Nebraskans invested in or watching the development of renewable sources of energy. Nebraska has more potential to turn wind into power, but Iowa's doing it to a vastly greater degree.
Last week, a unit of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, said it plans to invest $1.9 billion to build wind farms in Iowa that would increase its wind generating capacity in the state by about half.
MidAmerican Energy Co., Iowa's largest utility, plans to build as much as 1,050 MWs of new wind power plants in the state, adding to about 2,285 MWs of projects that it already owns and operates. The Sierra Club has criticised Nebraska's public power industry for not getting more wind power going.
The state's public power utilities say one reason they're behind is because they're limited by federal law, which offers federal production tax credits to private companies only. So public power districts can only hope to encourage a private company to build a wind farm and then buy the power. Another reason, though, is the difference in state-level incentives.
Iowa's are all over the map and include more aggressive renewable requirements, not just incentives. Nebraska's incentives are barely there and haven't worked well, and a couple of amendments are pending in the Nebraska Legislature right now. MidAmerican, based in Des Moines, Iowa, says it is the largest U.S, owner of wind generation capacity among rate-regulated utilities.
Iowa ranks third among states with the most wind generating power, with 4,536 MWs of installed capacity, behind Texas and California, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Nebraska is halfway down the list of states with more than 400 MWs, which is expected to double over the next 18 months as $600 million in wind power investment is spent.
Read More…
11 May 2013
t's a touchy subject among Nebraskans invested in or watching the development of renewable sources of energy. Nebraska has more potential to turn wind into power, but Iowa's doing it to a vastly greater degree.
Last week, a unit of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, said it plans to invest $1.9 billion to build wind farms in Iowa that would increase its wind generating capacity in the state by about half.
MidAmerican Energy Co., Iowa's largest utility, plans to build as much as 1,050 MWs of new wind power plants in the state, adding to about 2,285 MWs of projects that it already owns and operates. The Sierra Club has criticised Nebraska's public power industry for not getting more wind power going.
The state's public power utilities say one reason they're behind is because they're limited by federal law, which offers federal production tax credits to private companies only. So public power districts can only hope to encourage a private company to build a wind farm and then buy the power. Another reason, though, is the difference in state-level incentives.
Iowa's are all over the map and include more aggressive renewable requirements, not just incentives. Nebraska's incentives are barely there and haven't worked well, and a couple of amendments are pending in the Nebraska Legislature right now. MidAmerican, based in Des Moines, Iowa, says it is the largest U.S, owner of wind generation capacity among rate-regulated utilities.
Iowa ranks third among states with the most wind generating power, with 4,536 MWs of installed capacity, behind Texas and California, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Nebraska is halfway down the list of states with more than 400 MWs, which is expected to double over the next 18 months as $600 million in wind power investment is spent.
Read More…
Blade runners: 56-metre trucks make special deliveries to wind farms
www.canberratimes.com.au
11 May 2013
Emerging from fog amid an array of flashing lights, trucks more than 50 metres in length carry the beginnings of a new wind farm beneath the nose of the now-not-so-big Merino in Goulburn.
Under police escort they ease around and over the wide roundabout, and make their way slowly into town, with a handful of residents venturing into the cool dawn to watch them manoeuvre around modified corners on their way to the under-construction Gullen Range wind farm near Bannister.
As one project grows, 14 more proposals for wind farms in NSW can be assessed in the next months under the controversial Part 3A planning laws, which have since been phased out by the state government. Delivery of the components for the 73 turbine Gullen Range wind farm began on Monday, and will continue for 28 weeks, Goldwind Science & Technology Co Australia says.
The longest trucks trundling through Goulburn are just under 56 metres, more than double the length of an average B-double truck. They are travelling on regional roads that have been extensively upgraded by Goldwind Science & Technology Co. More than $3.3 million has gone on work on Kialla and Gurrundah roads and the widening and improving of intersections in Goulburn and Crookwell. According to the project's website, the farm is due to be connected to the grid early next year, and is expected to produce nearly 160 MW of renewable power at full capacity.
Seven more projects in the region are eligible to be assessed under the Part 3A legislation, including Yass Valley wind farm and Collector wind farm, as the NSW government phases out the law which previously granted the Planning Minister consent authority for major projects. The seven projects would house up to 650 turbines on wind farms from Collector to Boorowa to just north of Crookwell.
Under the transitional Part 3A period, applications already under way have until June 30 to lodge documents with the NSW Planning Department, which can then refer the projects on to the independent Planning Assessment Commission (PAC). wind farm opponents Yass Landscape Guardians claimed the sped-up Part 3A process had "curtailed" community consultation by energy company Epuron over the Yass Valley Wind Farm.
Guardians chairman Mark Glover said the organisation conducted its own telephone survey of residents and landowners within eight km of the proposed Yass Valley farm. It found 70% of the 112 respondents did not support the development, and that Epuron had not contacted most of them. "The survey clearly shows that the majority do not want these turbines in the community for a variety of reasons", he said.
Epuron project manager Andrew Wilson said the company's involvement was interrupted when the project was sold to Origin Energy and then re-acquired it last year, but denied it had neglected consultation with the community. "We've got a significant consultation that's been under way", he said. "Consultation is an ongoing thing".
Mr Wilson said Epuron would not respond to the Yass Landscape Guardians' survey results as it was not an independently conducted survey. He said other surveys, by Epuron and by the NSW government, had shown broad support for wind farms in the area. "We're obviously aware of opponents, and in the last six months there have been significantly more vocal opponents to the wind farm but equally there has been strong support, and that hasn't changed in my view over the years".
Mr Wilson said the company was lodging its final planning documents, and intended to have the project continue under the Part 3A assessment process. In Collector, RATCH Australia is expecting a decision shortly on its proposed 63 turbine wind farm between the Federal and Hume highways. Opponents of the Collector wind farm used the town's Pumpkin Festival earlier this month to protest against the project.
A feature of their protest were anti-wind farm T-shirts. RATCH Australia's Anthony Yeates said the proposal had been lodged with NSW Planning under Part 3A, and the company was confident a decision would be made soon. '' We understand that our project complies with all the requirements of the draft NSW Wind Farm guidelines", he said.
11 May 2013
Emerging from fog amid an array of flashing lights, trucks more than 50 metres in length carry the beginnings of a new wind farm beneath the nose of the now-not-so-big Merino in Goulburn.Under police escort they ease around and over the wide roundabout, and make their way slowly into town, with a handful of residents venturing into the cool dawn to watch them manoeuvre around modified corners on their way to the under-construction Gullen Range wind farm near Bannister.
As one project grows, 14 more proposals for wind farms in NSW can be assessed in the next months under the controversial Part 3A planning laws, which have since been phased out by the state government. Delivery of the components for the 73 turbine Gullen Range wind farm began on Monday, and will continue for 28 weeks, Goldwind Science & Technology Co Australia says.
The longest trucks trundling through Goulburn are just under 56 metres, more than double the length of an average B-double truck. They are travelling on regional roads that have been extensively upgraded by Goldwind Science & Technology Co. More than $3.3 million has gone on work on Kialla and Gurrundah roads and the widening and improving of intersections in Goulburn and Crookwell. According to the project's website, the farm is due to be connected to the grid early next year, and is expected to produce nearly 160 MW of renewable power at full capacity.
Seven more projects in the region are eligible to be assessed under the Part 3A legislation, including Yass Valley wind farm and Collector wind farm, as the NSW government phases out the law which previously granted the Planning Minister consent authority for major projects. The seven projects would house up to 650 turbines on wind farms from Collector to Boorowa to just north of Crookwell.
Under the transitional Part 3A period, applications already under way have until June 30 to lodge documents with the NSW Planning Department, which can then refer the projects on to the independent Planning Assessment Commission (PAC). wind farm opponents Yass Landscape Guardians claimed the sped-up Part 3A process had "curtailed" community consultation by energy company Epuron over the Yass Valley Wind Farm.
Guardians chairman Mark Glover said the organisation conducted its own telephone survey of residents and landowners within eight km of the proposed Yass Valley farm. It found 70% of the 112 respondents did not support the development, and that Epuron had not contacted most of them. "The survey clearly shows that the majority do not want these turbines in the community for a variety of reasons", he said.
Epuron project manager Andrew Wilson said the company's involvement was interrupted when the project was sold to Origin Energy and then re-acquired it last year, but denied it had neglected consultation with the community. "We've got a significant consultation that's been under way", he said. "Consultation is an ongoing thing".
Mr Wilson said Epuron would not respond to the Yass Landscape Guardians' survey results as it was not an independently conducted survey. He said other surveys, by Epuron and by the NSW government, had shown broad support for wind farms in the area. "We're obviously aware of opponents, and in the last six months there have been significantly more vocal opponents to the wind farm but equally there has been strong support, and that hasn't changed in my view over the years".
Mr Wilson said the company was lodging its final planning documents, and intended to have the project continue under the Part 3A assessment process. In Collector, RATCH Australia is expecting a decision shortly on its proposed 63 turbine wind farm between the Federal and Hume highways. Opponents of the Collector wind farm used the town's Pumpkin Festival earlier this month to protest against the project.
A feature of their protest were anti-wind farm T-shirts. RATCH Australia's Anthony Yeates said the proposal had been lodged with NSW Planning under Part 3A, and the company was confident a decision would be made soon. '' We understand that our project complies with all the requirements of the draft NSW Wind Farm guidelines", he said.
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Solar Power: Australian scientists successfully print solar panels
www.policymic.com
21 May 2013
3D printing is all the rage at the moment, from the debate over 3D printed guns to plans to print pizza with a 3D food printer. Scientists in Australia, however, have shown that regular printing can still do amazing things too. Researchers at Australia's Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium (VICOSC)--a collaboration between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of Melbourne, Monash University and industry partners--have successfully printed an A3 sheet of photovoltaic cells.
The sheets are the largest flexible, plastic solar cells that have been printed in Australia, having gone from printing cells the size of a finger nail just a few years ago. Research Dr David Jones eventually sees the cells, which produce 10 50 watts of power per m², "being laminated to windows that line skyscrapers [and] we'll also be able to embed cells onto roofing materials". Given the cost of the printer alone, $200,000, and its size (see below), this is not exactly the kind of thing that just anyone can start doing.
21 May 2013
3D printing is all the rage at the moment, from the debate over 3D printed guns to plans to print pizza with a 3D food printer. Scientists in Australia, however, have shown that regular printing can still do amazing things too. Researchers at Australia's Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium (VICOSC)--a collaboration between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of Melbourne, Monash University and industry partners--have successfully printed an A3 sheet of photovoltaic cells.The sheets are the largest flexible, plastic solar cells that have been printed in Australia, having gone from printing cells the size of a finger nail just a few years ago. Research Dr David Jones eventually sees the cells, which produce 10 50 watts of power per m², "being laminated to windows that line skyscrapers [and] we'll also be able to embed cells onto roofing materials". Given the cost of the printer alone, $200,000, and its size (see below), this is not exactly the kind of thing that just anyone can start doing.
Cattle breeder to tell of wind turbine success
www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk
13 Jun 2016
A FARMER has had a windfall after building a turbine on his land that creates his own electrictity and sees any surplus going on to power peoples' homes. Farmer and cattle breeder James Weightman not only sells his home grown Blonde D'Aquitaine Bulls all over the UK, but he's now selling his home grown electricity. He has installed a 500kW urban fringe wind turbine to power the entire farm and he sells the remaining electricity back to the National Grid.
The project has been such a success that the Weightman family, along with gfw-Renewables, turbine suppliers EWT, and funders Barclays Bank, are holding an Open Day at Hallfield Farm, Easington, on Thursday, May 16, from 10am-4pm.
It has been organised so other landowners and farmers can see what is involved in wind turbine projects, how turbines operate, what the benefits are, and what pitfalls to look out for. Since its installation, the turbine at Hallfield Farm has greatly exceeded expectations and continues to feed sustainable 'green' energy back into the local grid connection. James said: "After nearly 18 months of preparation work, it was great to see our turbine finally commissioned.
"It has now been operational since October 2012 and is already a fantastic asset to the farm, offsetting our carbon footprint and reducing the impact of rising energy costs on our business". Renewable energy continues to be at the forefront of the Government's carbon reduction agenda, with the UK committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 20% by 2020.
13 Jun 2016
A FARMER has had a windfall after building a turbine on his land that creates his own electrictity and sees any surplus going on to power peoples' homes. Farmer and cattle breeder James Weightman not only sells his home grown Blonde D'Aquitaine Bulls all over the UK, but he's now selling his home grown electricity. He has installed a 500kW urban fringe wind turbine to power the entire farm and he sells the remaining electricity back to the National Grid.
The project has been such a success that the Weightman family, along with gfw-Renewables, turbine suppliers EWT, and funders Barclays Bank, are holding an Open Day at Hallfield Farm, Easington, on Thursday, May 16, from 10am-4pm.
It has been organised so other landowners and farmers can see what is involved in wind turbine projects, how turbines operate, what the benefits are, and what pitfalls to look out for. Since its installation, the turbine at Hallfield Farm has greatly exceeded expectations and continues to feed sustainable 'green' energy back into the local grid connection. James said: "After nearly 18 months of preparation work, it was great to see our turbine finally commissioned.
"It has now been operational since October 2012 and is already a fantastic asset to the farm, offsetting our carbon footprint and reducing the impact of rising energy costs on our business". Renewable energy continues to be at the forefront of the Government's carbon reduction agenda, with the UK committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 20% by 2020.
Gaelectric inaugurates £20m Carn Hill wind farm in Ireland
wind.energy-business-review.com
10 May 2013
Irish renewable energy company Gaelectric has inaugurated its £20m Carn Hill wind farm at Newtownabbey, county Antrim in Northern Ireland. The 13.8MW wind farm featuring six wind turbines is estimated to generate enough renewable power to cater to the energy requirement of nearly 8,000 homes per annum.
Gaelectric group finance director Barry Gavin said the opening of this wind farm marks the company's transformation from a pre-revenue renewable energy development group to an energy development and operating group. "The Carn Hill wind farm development is the first of a number of renewable energy projects that Gaelectric is progressing in Northern Ireland", added Gavin.
Commenting on the occasion, Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "Renewable energy is arguably our biggest economic opportunity. Wind farms are part of the story. Today's event is positive proof of what can be achieved.
"We will need to scale up our ambition. We can do that while respecting the needs of residents, landowners and our wonderful heritage", elaborated Attwood. Gaelectric, meanwhile, has eight wind farm projects at different stages of development in Northern Ireland and 13 projects on the island of Ireland.
10 May 2013
Irish renewable energy company Gaelectric has inaugurated its £20m Carn Hill wind farm at Newtownabbey, county Antrim in Northern Ireland. The 13.8MW wind farm featuring six wind turbines is estimated to generate enough renewable power to cater to the energy requirement of nearly 8,000 homes per annum.
Gaelectric group finance director Barry Gavin said the opening of this wind farm marks the company's transformation from a pre-revenue renewable energy development group to an energy development and operating group. "The Carn Hill wind farm development is the first of a number of renewable energy projects that Gaelectric is progressing in Northern Ireland", added Gavin.
Commenting on the occasion, Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "Renewable energy is arguably our biggest economic opportunity. Wind farms are part of the story. Today's event is positive proof of what can be achieved.
"We will need to scale up our ambition. We can do that while respecting the needs of residents, landowners and our wonderful heritage", elaborated Attwood. Gaelectric, meanwhile, has eight wind farm projects at different stages of development in Northern Ireland and 13 projects on the island of Ireland.
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