www.reuters.com
14 Sep 2012
(Reuters)-The volume of electricity produced by Britain's wind farms reached a new record on Friday, breaching the 4 GW mark for the first time as new wind farms open and benefit from stormy weather especially in Scotland. Britain's more than 4,000 wind turbines produced 4.13 GW on Friday morning, the national grid operator said, accounting for nearly 11% of the country's electricity at the time and breaching the previous record by 0.3 GW.
"As part of government targets for emissions reductions and sourcing more energy from renewable sources, it's expected that each autumn, a new record for wind power output will be set", said a National Grid spokesman, adding that thanks to precise wind forecasting systems, network managers could prepare for the boost in renewable energy output.
Britain plans to generate 15% of its annual energy consumption from renewable energy sources by 2020, up from 9% last year. More than 7 GW of onshore and offshore wind farms are currently installed in Britain, still a way off the government's target of 31 GW by 2020.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Floating turbines research on track as new wind power study touts value of offshore power generation
www.power-eng.com
13 Sep 2012
PORTLAND, Maine--A consortium of environmental groups released a report Thursday touting the value of offshore wind power along the Atlantic seaboard and urges federal and state governments to act aggressively to support its development, even as Maine researchers are moving toward placing a scale model of a floating turbine in the Gulf of Maine next spring.
Catherine Bowes and Justin Allegro of the National Wildlife Federation wrote the new report, titled "The Turning Point for Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy". Representatives from the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Environment Maine, the Conservation Law Foundation and the Maine AFL-CIO attended a press conference to make the report public on Thursday morning.
"Congress is now debating whether to continue huge subsidies for big oil and gas, and whether to extend support for clean renewable energy sources like wind", Dylan Voorhees, clean energy director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said in a release announcing the report. "In Maine, we are fortunate to have a large, untapped potential for clean, homegrown, offshore wind power. Maine people, businesses and workers agree that offshore wind power can help Maine people and our economy and environment as we cut our addiction to dirty, imported fossil fuels".
The report notes that the United States generates no power from offshore wind at present, but that "recent actions by the federal government, along with bipartisan leadership from coastal state officials, have put critical building blocks in place--a€" bringing us closer than ever before to finally tapping this massive domestic energy source". Progress reports on offshore wind development in 10 Atlantic Coast states and a discussion of how to develop offshore wind farms without threatening wildlife are included in the 54 page document.
Among the report's recommendations are to elevate the Department of Energy's scenario for achieving 54 GWs of cost-effective offshore wind power by 2030 as a national priority; codify goals for renewable energy generation; extend tax incentives including the federal Investment Tax Credit for offshore wind, the Production Tax Credit and Advanced Energy Project Credit; take direct action to secure buyers for offshore wind power; increase funding to the US Energy and Interior departments and relevant state agencies to support research and deployment of offshore wind power; enact strict pollution reduction policies related to all power sources; and coordinate offshore wind power development decisions with federal, state, tribal and regional coastal and marine spatial planning efforts "in a manner that is consistent with the goals of America's National Ocean Policy".
Read More…
13 Sep 2012
PORTLAND, Maine--A consortium of environmental groups released a report Thursday touting the value of offshore wind power along the Atlantic seaboard and urges federal and state governments to act aggressively to support its development, even as Maine researchers are moving toward placing a scale model of a floating turbine in the Gulf of Maine next spring.
Catherine Bowes and Justin Allegro of the National Wildlife Federation wrote the new report, titled "The Turning Point for Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy". Representatives from the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Environment Maine, the Conservation Law Foundation and the Maine AFL-CIO attended a press conference to make the report public on Thursday morning.
"Congress is now debating whether to continue huge subsidies for big oil and gas, and whether to extend support for clean renewable energy sources like wind", Dylan Voorhees, clean energy director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said in a release announcing the report. "In Maine, we are fortunate to have a large, untapped potential for clean, homegrown, offshore wind power. Maine people, businesses and workers agree that offshore wind power can help Maine people and our economy and environment as we cut our addiction to dirty, imported fossil fuels".
The report notes that the United States generates no power from offshore wind at present, but that "recent actions by the federal government, along with bipartisan leadership from coastal state officials, have put critical building blocks in place--a€" bringing us closer than ever before to finally tapping this massive domestic energy source". Progress reports on offshore wind development in 10 Atlantic Coast states and a discussion of how to develop offshore wind farms without threatening wildlife are included in the 54 page document.
Among the report's recommendations are to elevate the Department of Energy's scenario for achieving 54 GWs of cost-effective offshore wind power by 2030 as a national priority; codify goals for renewable energy generation; extend tax incentives including the federal Investment Tax Credit for offshore wind, the Production Tax Credit and Advanced Energy Project Credit; take direct action to secure buyers for offshore wind power; increase funding to the US Energy and Interior departments and relevant state agencies to support research and deployment of offshore wind power; enact strict pollution reduction policies related to all power sources; and coordinate offshore wind power development decisions with federal, state, tribal and regional coastal and marine spatial planning efforts "in a manner that is consistent with the goals of America's National Ocean Policy".
Read More…
Report backs greater role for wind energy
www.upi.com
13 Sep 2012
TANFORD, Calif., Sept. 13 (UPI)--Wind power can play a greater role than currently supported in meeting most or bulk of global energy demand, a report from Stanford and Delaware universities says. Scientists used a sophisticated climate model to argue that wind as an energy resource can satisfy "half to several times" the world's total energy needs within the next two decades.
wind farms have drawn criticism worldwide for being cost-inefficient, eyesores on pristine rural or seaside landscapes and noisy. Supporters of wind power's greater use contest most of those criticisms. "If the world is to shift to clean energy, electricity generated by the wind will play a major role and there is more than enough wind for that", Andrew Myers, a spokesman for the Stanford University School of Engineering said.
Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford and co-author of the report said, "The careful siting of wind farms will minimize costs and the overall impacts of a global wind infrastructure on the environment". The findings were published in the proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences by Jacobson and Cristina Archer, an associate professor of geography and physical ocean science and engineering at the University of Delaware.
The report contradicts two earlier studies that said each turbine steals too much wind power from other turbines and that turbines introduce harmful climate consequences that would negate some of the positive aspects of renewable wind power. The report calculated the number of wind turbines needed to meet half the world's power demand, about 5.75 TWs, in a 2030 clean-energy economy. They said that 4 million turbines would do the job.
The 4 million turbines producing 5 MWs each could supply as much as 7.5 TWs of power, or more than half the world's power demand, without significant negative effect on the climate. "To get there, however, we have a long way to go", Jacobson said. "Today, we have installed a little over 1% of the wind power needed".
Jacobson and Archer recommend siting half of the 4 million turbines over water. The remaining 2 million would require a little more than one-half of 1% of the Earth's land surface, about half the area of Alaska. High-wind sites including the Gobi Desert, the American plains and the Sahara Desert are prime candidates for the installations, they said. "As these results suggest, the saturation of wind power availability will not limit a clean-energy economy", Jacobson said.
The Environmental Technology Center at the University of Nottingham, England, has published 15 "myths" about wind power to debunk each with a "fact". "Many people make many claims about wind turbines and the effects that they allegedly have. We've collated our favorites and given the answers", the university said on its website. Nottingham runs international campuses in Ningbo, China; and Semenyih, Malaysia.
13 Sep 2012
TANFORD, Calif., Sept. 13 (UPI)--Wind power can play a greater role than currently supported in meeting most or bulk of global energy demand, a report from Stanford and Delaware universities says. Scientists used a sophisticated climate model to argue that wind as an energy resource can satisfy "half to several times" the world's total energy needs within the next two decades.
wind farms have drawn criticism worldwide for being cost-inefficient, eyesores on pristine rural or seaside landscapes and noisy. Supporters of wind power's greater use contest most of those criticisms. "If the world is to shift to clean energy, electricity generated by the wind will play a major role and there is more than enough wind for that", Andrew Myers, a spokesman for the Stanford University School of Engineering said.
Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford and co-author of the report said, "The careful siting of wind farms will minimize costs and the overall impacts of a global wind infrastructure on the environment". The findings were published in the proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences by Jacobson and Cristina Archer, an associate professor of geography and physical ocean science and engineering at the University of Delaware.
The report contradicts two earlier studies that said each turbine steals too much wind power from other turbines and that turbines introduce harmful climate consequences that would negate some of the positive aspects of renewable wind power. The report calculated the number of wind turbines needed to meet half the world's power demand, about 5.75 TWs, in a 2030 clean-energy economy. They said that 4 million turbines would do the job.
The 4 million turbines producing 5 MWs each could supply as much as 7.5 TWs of power, or more than half the world's power demand, without significant negative effect on the climate. "To get there, however, we have a long way to go", Jacobson said. "Today, we have installed a little over 1% of the wind power needed".
Jacobson and Archer recommend siting half of the 4 million turbines over water. The remaining 2 million would require a little more than one-half of 1% of the Earth's land surface, about half the area of Alaska. High-wind sites including the Gobi Desert, the American plains and the Sahara Desert are prime candidates for the installations, they said. "As these results suggest, the saturation of wind power availability will not limit a clean-energy economy", Jacobson said.
The Environmental Technology Center at the University of Nottingham, England, has published 15 "myths" about wind power to debunk each with a "fact". "Many people make many claims about wind turbines and the effects that they allegedly have. We've collated our favorites and given the answers", the university said on its website. Nottingham runs international campuses in Ningbo, China; and Semenyih, Malaysia.
Energy efficiency minimum standards a win for consumers
Clean Energy Council
13 Sep 2012
The availability of low quality, energy-intensive appliances imported from overseas will be reduced under new legislation passed through the Federal Senate today, in a move applauded by the Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said the Greenhouse Energy Minimum Standards legislation would help protect households from power price pain by increasing the energy efficiency levels of new appliances and streamlining the energy star rating labelling system across Australia.
"Today's decision to limit the use of poor quality appliances is good news for people who are struggling with rising electricity costs. Some of these devices have a low upfront cost that can seem appealing, but end up hurting you every time you open your power bill", he said. "Loopholes in the current system mean that in some states inferior imported products are able to slip through the net and be sold to unsuspecting customers".
Mr Green said the current energy rating labelling system-the Equipment Energy Efficiency program-would be streamlined and expanded to include more products such as insulation, window glass and gas-powered products. "At the moment there are different arrangements for placing standards and energy ratings on appliances in different states, which can be confusing for consumers. The changes introduced today will include moving to a single national regulator, cutting down on red tape for businesses and reducing fees for registering products", he said.
"With these improvements, people can be confident they are getting consistent information when purchasing large appliances like air-conditioners, washing machines and dryers". Mr Green stressed that sustained dialogue and engagement with both consumers and the industry was now important in order to ensure the program was able to deliver the maximum benefits.
13 Sep 2012
The availability of low quality, energy-intensive appliances imported from overseas will be reduced under new legislation passed through the Federal Senate today, in a move applauded by the Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said the Greenhouse Energy Minimum Standards legislation would help protect households from power price pain by increasing the energy efficiency levels of new appliances and streamlining the energy star rating labelling system across Australia."Today's decision to limit the use of poor quality appliances is good news for people who are struggling with rising electricity costs. Some of these devices have a low upfront cost that can seem appealing, but end up hurting you every time you open your power bill", he said. "Loopholes in the current system mean that in some states inferior imported products are able to slip through the net and be sold to unsuspecting customers".
Mr Green said the current energy rating labelling system-the Equipment Energy Efficiency program-would be streamlined and expanded to include more products such as insulation, window glass and gas-powered products. "At the moment there are different arrangements for placing standards and energy ratings on appliances in different states, which can be confusing for consumers. The changes introduced today will include moving to a single national regulator, cutting down on red tape for businesses and reducing fees for registering products", he said.
"With these improvements, people can be confident they are getting consistent information when purchasing large appliances like air-conditioners, washing machines and dryers". Mr Green stressed that sustained dialogue and engagement with both consumers and the industry was now important in order to ensure the program was able to deliver the maximum benefits.
Clean energy industry calls for investment stability
Clean Energy Council
12 Sep 2012
Australia's clean energy industry today called for the Federal Government to ensure the 20% Renewable Energy Target remains unchanged in order to retain its investment-grade stability and drive job creation along with lower costs for consumers.
The Federal Government's Climate Change Authority is currently undertaking a review of the target, to source 20% of Australia's energy from renewable sources by 2020. "The Renewable Energy Target is the single most important policy measure for the entire Australian renewables sector", Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said.
The Renewable Energy Target was introduced by Liberal Prime Minister John Howard in 2001 and increased by Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2009 with the support of the Coalition. "Since its introduction, it has generated some $18.5 billion of investment and thousands of jobs-many of them in regional and rural areas where most of Australia's abundant clean energy resources are found", Mr Green said. "It has seen more than 1.7 million Australian households moving to protect themselves from fossil fuel-driven price rises by installing small-scale systems such as solar panels and solar hot water.
"In addition, the equivalent of more than 2.1 million households is now powered by large-scale renewables such as hydroelectric and wind. "To date, it has also been the single largest carbon abatement scheme in Australia and without it Australia would not have achieved its emissions reductions target under the Kyoto Protocol".
Mr Green said the Renewable Energy Target in its current form stood to generate up to $30 billion more in investment and a total reduction of 380 million tonnes in carbon emissions over the life of the scheme. But the Renewable Energy Target's ability to deliver more investment, jobs, carbon abatement and energy security would be severely undermined if fundamental changes are made to it or the legislative and economic mechanisms underpinning it, Mr Green said.
"Of overriding importance is the need for policy stability and investment security to secure the funds that will deliver clean energy for Australia. "Any changes to the Renewable Energy Target will shatter this stability and remove investor confidence in clean energy, negating the industry's ability to support Australia's shift to clean energy sources and to reduce energy costs for consumers in the long-term. The fact a review is even being held is already contributing to uncertainty in the market. "Further, any change would likely damage the returns on billions of dollars of renewable energy investment already made under the current policy settings and in turn damage Australia's reputation as a safe place to invest in energy infrastructure".
Mr Green said acting on recent suggestions from some quarters that the target in total GWs should be reduced to match forecasts of lower energy demand would only serve to decrease investor confidence. "Future electricity demand is inherently difficult to predict, particularly at a time when the Australian energy market and the production and consumption of electricity are undergoing quite substantial reforms and change. "But investing in a 15 year-plus energy project requires long-term clarity about policy settings that will affect revenue sources. This security is provided by the current fixed GW target".
Mr Green said the cost of renewable energy was small compared to other considerations such as poles and wires-and it was dropping all the time. "The cost of the Renewable Energy Target contributes just 7% to the average Australian electricity bill, and this is forecast to drop to just 4% by 2020 with even greater potential savings as we all become smarter about how we use our energy".
12 Sep 2012
Australia's clean energy industry today called for the Federal Government to ensure the 20% Renewable Energy Target remains unchanged in order to retain its investment-grade stability and drive job creation along with lower costs for consumers.The Federal Government's Climate Change Authority is currently undertaking a review of the target, to source 20% of Australia's energy from renewable sources by 2020. "The Renewable Energy Target is the single most important policy measure for the entire Australian renewables sector", Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said.
The Renewable Energy Target was introduced by Liberal Prime Minister John Howard in 2001 and increased by Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2009 with the support of the Coalition. "Since its introduction, it has generated some $18.5 billion of investment and thousands of jobs-many of them in regional and rural areas where most of Australia's abundant clean energy resources are found", Mr Green said. "It has seen more than 1.7 million Australian households moving to protect themselves from fossil fuel-driven price rises by installing small-scale systems such as solar panels and solar hot water.
"In addition, the equivalent of more than 2.1 million households is now powered by large-scale renewables such as hydroelectric and wind. "To date, it has also been the single largest carbon abatement scheme in Australia and without it Australia would not have achieved its emissions reductions target under the Kyoto Protocol".
Mr Green said the Renewable Energy Target in its current form stood to generate up to $30 billion more in investment and a total reduction of 380 million tonnes in carbon emissions over the life of the scheme. But the Renewable Energy Target's ability to deliver more investment, jobs, carbon abatement and energy security would be severely undermined if fundamental changes are made to it or the legislative and economic mechanisms underpinning it, Mr Green said.
"Of overriding importance is the need for policy stability and investment security to secure the funds that will deliver clean energy for Australia. "Any changes to the Renewable Energy Target will shatter this stability and remove investor confidence in clean energy, negating the industry's ability to support Australia's shift to clean energy sources and to reduce energy costs for consumers in the long-term. The fact a review is even being held is already contributing to uncertainty in the market. "Further, any change would likely damage the returns on billions of dollars of renewable energy investment already made under the current policy settings and in turn damage Australia's reputation as a safe place to invest in energy infrastructure".
Mr Green said acting on recent suggestions from some quarters that the target in total GWs should be reduced to match forecasts of lower energy demand would only serve to decrease investor confidence. "Future electricity demand is inherently difficult to predict, particularly at a time when the Australian energy market and the production and consumption of electricity are undergoing quite substantial reforms and change. "But investing in a 15 year-plus energy project requires long-term clarity about policy settings that will affect revenue sources. This security is provided by the current fixed GW target".
Mr Green said the cost of renewable energy was small compared to other considerations such as poles and wires-and it was dropping all the time. "The cost of the Renewable Energy Target contributes just 7% to the average Australian electricity bill, and this is forecast to drop to just 4% by 2020 with even greater potential savings as we all become smarter about how we use our energy".
Monday, 17 September 2012
China pushes wind power, but no quick payoff for producers
in.reuters.com
10 Sep 2012
HONG KONG, Sept 10 (Reuters)-China will order its dominant electricity distributors to source up to 15% of their power from renewable energy including wind, but slow compliance means it may be years before the country's struggling wind power developers benefit, industry executives say. The quota system will apply to State Grid Corp of China and China Southern Power Grid Co Ltd by the end of this year, the executives say.
China boasts the world's largest wind power capacity, but a third of it sits idle as renewable energy is a money-losing business for grid operators and network construction has lagged capacity expansion. As a result, China struggles to transmit electricity from generating zones in the northwest, north and northeast to population hubs in the south and east.
"With the roll-out of the quota system and acceleration of grid construction, the problem of distributors holding back on wind power purchases will ease", said Hu Yongsheng, president of China Datang Corp Renewable Power Co Ltd. But until China reforms a pricing policy that makes selling wind power and other renewables like solar power unprofitable, the country's powerful grid operators have little commercial incentive to follow the new quotas.
That means wind power developers such as China Long¥ Power Group Corp Ltd, Huaneng Renewables Corp Ltd, Datang Renewable and China Power International New Energy Development Co Ltd will continue to struggle. Chinese wind power developers posted worse-than-expected results for the first half of 2012, with grid operators increasingly reluctant to distribute the costly and unpredictable source of power amid a sharp economic downturn. Their shares are languishing near record lows.
"Renewables should boom in China in two to three years but not now", said Joseph Jacobelli, an independent energy analyst who was formerly head of global cleantech research at HSBC Holdings PLC. "The key barrier is the current tariff-setting mechanism gives no commercial incentive whatsoever to the grids to connect and dispatch renewables", Jacobelli said, adding that it would also take China several years to build ultra high-voltage lines needed to deliver the power produced at remote wind farms to users in the south and on the coast.
Grid operators buy wind power at government-dictated on-grid, or wholesale prices, of 0.51 0.61 ¥ ($0.08 $0.10) per kilowatt-hour (kW), while the prices of electricity purchased from coal-fired plants can be as low as 0.3 ¥. The government subsidises grid firms for selling renewable energy to help shift China away from polluting coal, but the subsidies are not enough for them to make a profit. China's waning power demand growth because of the economic slowdown has also reduced the subsidies, which are closely tied to electricity sales to consumers.
Read More…
10 Sep 2012
- One-third of wind power capacity idle due to pricing, infrastructure
- Shares of Chinese power developers trading near record lows
- Government to require grid operators to buy minimum amount of renewable energy
HONG KONG, Sept 10 (Reuters)-China will order its dominant electricity distributors to source up to 15% of their power from renewable energy including wind, but slow compliance means it may be years before the country's struggling wind power developers benefit, industry executives say. The quota system will apply to State Grid Corp of China and China Southern Power Grid Co Ltd by the end of this year, the executives say.
China boasts the world's largest wind power capacity, but a third of it sits idle as renewable energy is a money-losing business for grid operators and network construction has lagged capacity expansion. As a result, China struggles to transmit electricity from generating zones in the northwest, north and northeast to population hubs in the south and east.
"With the roll-out of the quota system and acceleration of grid construction, the problem of distributors holding back on wind power purchases will ease", said Hu Yongsheng, president of China Datang Corp Renewable Power Co Ltd. But until China reforms a pricing policy that makes selling wind power and other renewables like solar power unprofitable, the country's powerful grid operators have little commercial incentive to follow the new quotas.
That means wind power developers such as China Long¥ Power Group Corp Ltd, Huaneng Renewables Corp Ltd, Datang Renewable and China Power International New Energy Development Co Ltd will continue to struggle. Chinese wind power developers posted worse-than-expected results for the first half of 2012, with grid operators increasingly reluctant to distribute the costly and unpredictable source of power amid a sharp economic downturn. Their shares are languishing near record lows.
"Renewables should boom in China in two to three years but not now", said Joseph Jacobelli, an independent energy analyst who was formerly head of global cleantech research at HSBC Holdings PLC. "The key barrier is the current tariff-setting mechanism gives no commercial incentive whatsoever to the grids to connect and dispatch renewables", Jacobelli said, adding that it would also take China several years to build ultra high-voltage lines needed to deliver the power produced at remote wind farms to users in the south and on the coast.
Grid operators buy wind power at government-dictated on-grid, or wholesale prices, of 0.51 0.61 ¥ ($0.08 $0.10) per kilowatt-hour (kW), while the prices of electricity purchased from coal-fired plants can be as low as 0.3 ¥. The government subsidises grid firms for selling renewable energy to help shift China away from polluting coal, but the subsidies are not enough for them to make a profit. China's waning power demand growth because of the economic slowdown has also reduced the subsidies, which are closely tied to electricity sales to consumers.
Read More…
Wind Power to dominate South Korea renewable energy efforts: KuicK Research
www.power-eng.com
8 Sep 2012
Delhi, India, (PR.com)--With the countries all over the world developing their wind power potential, South Korea has also joined the trend by initiating a massive wind power program that is expected to relieve the country of its huge fossil fuel imports that, currently, energize the country. South Korea has recently realized the vast wind reserves which has been given priority in the country's renewable energy revolution. A recently published research report by Kuick Research has pointed out that the country holds one of the world's largest wind resources with wind speeds in the higher limit.
The report details that South Korea has potential wind reserves of more than 340 TWh of which close to 100 TWh is onshore and a whopping 243 TW is offshore. This indicates towards huge offshore wind power potential that the administration has just beginning to tap. Another reason for the country to move offshore was because of the limited land available for wind farm development. The report gives detailed wind map studies with the wind speeds much faster than that required for power generation.
The feed-in tariff policy of the government has now been replaced by the Renewable Portfolio Standard. The research report points out the various reasons behind this reform one of which was the low revenue given to wind generated electricity as compared to solar and hydroelectric power.
The country is currently in the process of developing the world's largest offshore wind farm with capacity of 2.5 GW expected to be operational by 2019. A consortium of government and private companies being led by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy is developing this ambitious project that will catapult the country's wind power to levels at par with many countries in the world.
United Kingdom's RenewableUK has joined hands with the Korea Wind Energy Association to augment South Korea's efforts of wind power development through a 3 phase project called the UK-Korea Ocean Energy Technology Project, the first of which will be a detailed study of the country's offshore wind resources and the subsequent phases to be determined on the results of the study.
The research study shows that the government has already committed KRW 373.7 Billion in renewable energy development in 2012 and gives further details of this money being invested in various projects to help the country reach its target of including 10% power generated from renewable energy by 2022. The report also lists the various quotas of electricity produced by renewable sources of energy that will need to be included by the utility companies as part of the new Renewable Portfolio Standard policy.
South Korea heavy industry companies are augmenting the government's efforts by facilitating the availability of wind turbines by locally manufacturing them so that the companies do not have to import the equipment and the cost of wind power can be reduced. The report gives details of the wind turbine portfolio of all the companies involved.
The research report is a detailed text that emphasizes on the bright future of wind power in South Korea. It gives details to all the necessary facets required to bring about an organized wind power growth. The report details the targets and gives precise plans of the government to achieve these ambitious renewable energy targets and how exactly the country will go about the Low Carbon Green Growth Policy in the coming years to develop its most abundant resource.
8 Sep 2012
Delhi, India, (PR.com)--With the countries all over the world developing their wind power potential, South Korea has also joined the trend by initiating a massive wind power program that is expected to relieve the country of its huge fossil fuel imports that, currently, energize the country. South Korea has recently realized the vast wind reserves which has been given priority in the country's renewable energy revolution. A recently published research report by Kuick Research has pointed out that the country holds one of the world's largest wind resources with wind speeds in the higher limit.
The report details that South Korea has potential wind reserves of more than 340 TWh of which close to 100 TWh is onshore and a whopping 243 TW is offshore. This indicates towards huge offshore wind power potential that the administration has just beginning to tap. Another reason for the country to move offshore was because of the limited land available for wind farm development. The report gives detailed wind map studies with the wind speeds much faster than that required for power generation.
The feed-in tariff policy of the government has now been replaced by the Renewable Portfolio Standard. The research report points out the various reasons behind this reform one of which was the low revenue given to wind generated electricity as compared to solar and hydroelectric power.
The country is currently in the process of developing the world's largest offshore wind farm with capacity of 2.5 GW expected to be operational by 2019. A consortium of government and private companies being led by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy is developing this ambitious project that will catapult the country's wind power to levels at par with many countries in the world.
United Kingdom's RenewableUK has joined hands with the Korea Wind Energy Association to augment South Korea's efforts of wind power development through a 3 phase project called the UK-Korea Ocean Energy Technology Project, the first of which will be a detailed study of the country's offshore wind resources and the subsequent phases to be determined on the results of the study.
The research study shows that the government has already committed KRW 373.7 Billion in renewable energy development in 2012 and gives further details of this money being invested in various projects to help the country reach its target of including 10% power generated from renewable energy by 2022. The report also lists the various quotas of electricity produced by renewable sources of energy that will need to be included by the utility companies as part of the new Renewable Portfolio Standard policy.
South Korea heavy industry companies are augmenting the government's efforts by facilitating the availability of wind turbines by locally manufacturing them so that the companies do not have to import the equipment and the cost of wind power can be reduced. The report gives details of the wind turbine portfolio of all the companies involved.
The research report is a detailed text that emphasizes on the bright future of wind power in South Korea. It gives details to all the necessary facets required to bring about an organized wind power growth. The report details the targets and gives precise plans of the government to achieve these ambitious renewable energy targets and how exactly the country will go about the Low Carbon Green Growth Policy in the coming years to develop its most abundant resource.
Thursday, 13 September 2012
New hydrogen filling stations in Europe and Japan
www.4-traders.com
7 Sep 2012
The automotive industry has announced that vehicles powered by fuel-cell technology will be on the market by 2015. Air Liquide is preparing for the emergence of hydrogen in transport by supporting the rollout of the necessary filling station infrastructure globally. These developments have recently received strong government backing in Europe and Asia.
Today, Air Liquide officially opened its first public hydrogen filling station for passenger cars in Germany, in the city of Duesseldorf. This state of the art station will be followed by 10 new hydrogen filling stations that will be designed, built and rolled out in the next three years under the auspices of the German government's major demonstration project. By 2015 Germany will have a supply network of at least 50 public filling stations.
Those new steps are in line with the Group's announcement in October 2011 that it would invest in 20 new stations in Europe. Driven by the same dynamic, two other stations have been installed recently by Air Liquide in Oslo, Norway, and in the Swiss city of Brugg.
In Japan, the government sees hydrogen as a promising major energy source for cars and expects to install about 100 hydrogen distribution stations for fuel-cell vehicles by 2015. Air Liquide Japan intends to build a significant number of them and, in support of this goal, has recently set up a specialized team focused on the hydrogen business. The Group is already very active in Japan in this field, having so far installed 3 hydrogen energy stations (in Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Saga). One of these stations demonstrated the feasibility of a complete "Blue Hydrogen" chain, from wood chips to clean mobility.
Read More…
7 Sep 2012
The automotive industry has announced that vehicles powered by fuel-cell technology will be on the market by 2015. Air Liquide is preparing for the emergence of hydrogen in transport by supporting the rollout of the necessary filling station infrastructure globally. These developments have recently received strong government backing in Europe and Asia.
Today, Air Liquide officially opened its first public hydrogen filling station for passenger cars in Germany, in the city of Duesseldorf. This state of the art station will be followed by 10 new hydrogen filling stations that will be designed, built and rolled out in the next three years under the auspices of the German government's major demonstration project. By 2015 Germany will have a supply network of at least 50 public filling stations.
Those new steps are in line with the Group's announcement in October 2011 that it would invest in 20 new stations in Europe. Driven by the same dynamic, two other stations have been installed recently by Air Liquide in Oslo, Norway, and in the Swiss city of Brugg.
In Japan, the government sees hydrogen as a promising major energy source for cars and expects to install about 100 hydrogen distribution stations for fuel-cell vehicles by 2015. Air Liquide Japan intends to build a significant number of them and, in support of this goal, has recently set up a specialized team focused on the hydrogen business. The Group is already very active in Japan in this field, having so far installed 3 hydrogen energy stations (in Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Saga). One of these stations demonstrated the feasibility of a complete "Blue Hydrogen" chain, from wood chips to clean mobility.
Read More…
Gales send turbines into overdrive
www.abc.net.au
7 Sep 2012
While gale-force winds kept emergency services busy across South Australia this week, they also fired up turbines on the state's wind farms. Figures from the Australian Energy Market Operator show while the winds were howling, more than half the state's power came from wind farms. Roughly a quarter of South Australia's power came from wind farms last year.
But the Clean Energy Council's policy director, Russell Marsh, says when winds topped 90 km per hour earlier this week, that figure was much higher. "What we've seen is over the last couple of days the amount of energy generated from wind power in South Australia has gone through between 55 and 85% since Monday as a result of the very strong winds we're having at the moment", he said.
And for a few brief moments in the early hours of Wednesday morning, wind was generating so much power some of it was being exported to Victoria. Mr Marsh says emissions from South Australia's power sector have fallen every year since 2005, and have dropped 27% over the past five years. He says there is no reason other states could not emulate the success.
"South Australia has a great, great wind resource, it's probably one of the best places in Australia to build wind", he said. "And we expect to see,.. many more wind farms built, not just in South Australia but in other states along the south-east coast of Australia". But he says the figures do not suggest coal-fired power generation's days are numbered.
"We're really only starting down the path of developing both wind power specifically and renewable energy generally in Australia", Mr Marsh said. "I think we're going to see coal and other fossil fuel generation around for a number of years to come. But, certainly we reckon that wind and other renewables can certainly play their part in generating more energy in the future".
One of the criticisms of wind power has long been that times of light wind conditions result in a reduction in the amount of energy generated. But Mr Marsh denies this week's event reinforces that argument. "No it doesn't, because what the market operator's also showing is that across the year, about 25% of the state's power comes from wind", he said.
"And that has resulted in two things in South Australia. Firstly, you're seeing less generation from coal and gas as a result of the amount of wind. And also you're seeing greenhouse gas emissions in South Australia dropping. "So... what we're seeing in South Australia is evidence that deploying wind, in this case wind, in Australia actually does lead to using less fossil fuels and reduces emission".
7 Sep 2012
While gale-force winds kept emergency services busy across South Australia this week, they also fired up turbines on the state's wind farms. Figures from the Australian Energy Market Operator show while the winds were howling, more than half the state's power came from wind farms. Roughly a quarter of South Australia's power came from wind farms last year.
But the Clean Energy Council's policy director, Russell Marsh, says when winds topped 90 km per hour earlier this week, that figure was much higher. "What we've seen is over the last couple of days the amount of energy generated from wind power in South Australia has gone through between 55 and 85% since Monday as a result of the very strong winds we're having at the moment", he said.
And for a few brief moments in the early hours of Wednesday morning, wind was generating so much power some of it was being exported to Victoria. Mr Marsh says emissions from South Australia's power sector have fallen every year since 2005, and have dropped 27% over the past five years. He says there is no reason other states could not emulate the success.
"South Australia has a great, great wind resource, it's probably one of the best places in Australia to build wind", he said. "And we expect to see,.. many more wind farms built, not just in South Australia but in other states along the south-east coast of Australia". But he says the figures do not suggest coal-fired power generation's days are numbered.
"We're really only starting down the path of developing both wind power specifically and renewable energy generally in Australia", Mr Marsh said. "I think we're going to see coal and other fossil fuel generation around for a number of years to come. But, certainly we reckon that wind and other renewables can certainly play their part in generating more energy in the future".
One of the criticisms of wind power has long been that times of light wind conditions result in a reduction in the amount of energy generated. But Mr Marsh denies this week's event reinforces that argument. "No it doesn't, because what the market operator's also showing is that across the year, about 25% of the state's power comes from wind", he said.
"And that has resulted in two things in South Australia. Firstly, you're seeing less generation from coal and gas as a result of the amount of wind. And also you're seeing greenhouse gas emissions in South Australia dropping. "So... what we're seeing in South Australia is evidence that deploying wind, in this case wind, in Australia actually does lead to using less fossil fuels and reduces emission".
South Australia blown away by wind power this week
Clean Energy Council
6 Sep 2012
South Australia's blustery conditions this week had one positive: wind power provided more than half of the state's power on Wednesday, according to the Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said data from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) showed that 55% of all the electricity used by South Australians yesterday was generated by the state's wind farms, which were spinning flat out all day long.
"In the early hours of Wednesday morning, there was a peak where 80% of the state's power came from the wind and South Australia exported some of its energy to Victoria. Then early on Monday morning a record was broken when just over 85% of power came from the wind.
"According to AEMO, in the 2011 12 financial year almost a quarter of the state's electricity was generated by wind farms. This has led to a corresponding drop in generation from coal and gas plants, with wind generating more energy than coal for the first time. "South Australia has proven once again that wind power can generate real power-and lots of it", he said.
Mr Marsh said the data showed that emissions from South Australia's power sector had fallen every year since 2005 06 and had reduced by more than 27% over the last five years. "All this wind is putting South Australia well ahead of the curve on Australia's 20% Renewable Energy Target, and helping to provide farmers and local businesses in regional areas with extra income. "It also means the state's residents collectively have a lower carbon price bill, while getting fully compensated by the Federal Government under the scheme".
Fast facts:
6 Sep 2012
South Australia's blustery conditions this week had one positive: wind power provided more than half of the state's power on Wednesday, according to the Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said data from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) showed that 55% of all the electricity used by South Australians yesterday was generated by the state's wind farms, which were spinning flat out all day long."In the early hours of Wednesday morning, there was a peak where 80% of the state's power came from the wind and South Australia exported some of its energy to Victoria. Then early on Monday morning a record was broken when just over 85% of power came from the wind.
"According to AEMO, in the 2011 12 financial year almost a quarter of the state's electricity was generated by wind farms. This has led to a corresponding drop in generation from coal and gas plants, with wind generating more energy than coal for the first time. "South Australia has proven once again that wind power can generate real power-and lots of it", he said.
Mr Marsh said the data showed that emissions from South Australia's power sector had fallen every year since 2005 06 and had reduced by more than 27% over the last five years. "All this wind is putting South Australia well ahead of the curve on Australia's 20% Renewable Energy Target, and helping to provide farmers and local businesses in regional areas with extra income. "It also means the state's residents collectively have a lower carbon price bill, while getting fully compensated by the Federal Government under the scheme".
Fast facts:
- On Wednesday 5 September, 55% of SA's power came from wind farms
- A record 85.5% of power came from the wind early on Monday 3 September
- 24.2% of the state's power came from the wind in the 2011-12 financial year. Coal use dropped by 9% over the same period
- Emissions in South Australia have dropped by 27.4% over the last five years.
Queensland misses the target on energy prices
Clean Energy Council
5 Sep 2012
The Clean Energy Council has called for more collaboration to reduce electricity prices and less finger-pointing, following Energy Minister Mark McArdle's attack on Australia's 20% Renewable Energy Target this morning. Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said everyone was concerned about rising power bills, but ditching the Renewable Energy Target would be like cutting off our nose to spite our face.
"The Renewable Energy Target is a low-cost policy that stands to unlock more than $20 billion in investment and tens of thousands of jobs, much of which will flow to regional and rural areas. In recognition of this, the policy has the support of all political parties across Australia.
"In Queensland the Renewable Energy Target provides important support, particularly for the state's sugar mills, which use cane waste to produce renewable energy and generate an extra source of revenue. "Queensland is also leading the country in solar power, and all that new clean energy is helping to push back major investment in big power stations and save everyone money".
Mr Marsh said analysis by ROAM Consulting showed the Renewable Energy Target currently made up about 6% of power bills, a very small amount compared to the spiralling costs of poles and wires.
"Due to the winding back of support for renewable energy at both federal and state level and the declining cost of the technology, the cost of the Renewable Energy Target has peaked and will decline towards the end of the decade. We will be able to deliver more for less under this policy as the decade unfolds.
"In terms of an average annual household power bill, the Renewable Energy Target contributes about $100 per year today, but this is expected to fall to just under $60 in 2020. In contrast, the price of fossil fuels such as gas has risen sharply over the last couple of years, with further increases projected.
"The Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics this year estimated that renewable energy sources such as solar and wind would be among our cheapest types of power within 10 to 20 years. In the case of some types of bioenergy such as landfill gas, we are already there. Solar power fell in price by 45% last year alone", he said. "So, contrary to some recent commentary, investing in renewable energy will be key to protecting consumers against power price increases in the future".
Mr Marsh said the Energy Minister appeared to have been wrongly advised on some of the costs and projected impacts of the Renewable Energy Target. "Renewable energy across the country currently produces around 10% of our electricity. This will rise to around 20% by the end of the decade, driven by the lowest cost forms of generation available under the target", he said.
"We welcome the Queensland Competition Authority looking at the full costs and benefits of the Renewable Energy Target. The Productivity Commission has also recently looked at this policy as part of its work on the carbon price. "There are steps we can take to reduce power prices, but we need to work together rather than looking in the wrong place for scapegoats", he said.
5 Sep 2012
The Clean Energy Council has called for more collaboration to reduce electricity prices and less finger-pointing, following Energy Minister Mark McArdle's attack on Australia's 20% Renewable Energy Target this morning. Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said everyone was concerned about rising power bills, but ditching the Renewable Energy Target would be like cutting off our nose to spite our face."The Renewable Energy Target is a low-cost policy that stands to unlock more than $20 billion in investment and tens of thousands of jobs, much of which will flow to regional and rural areas. In recognition of this, the policy has the support of all political parties across Australia.
"In Queensland the Renewable Energy Target provides important support, particularly for the state's sugar mills, which use cane waste to produce renewable energy and generate an extra source of revenue. "Queensland is also leading the country in solar power, and all that new clean energy is helping to push back major investment in big power stations and save everyone money".
Mr Marsh said analysis by ROAM Consulting showed the Renewable Energy Target currently made up about 6% of power bills, a very small amount compared to the spiralling costs of poles and wires.
"Due to the winding back of support for renewable energy at both federal and state level and the declining cost of the technology, the cost of the Renewable Energy Target has peaked and will decline towards the end of the decade. We will be able to deliver more for less under this policy as the decade unfolds.
"In terms of an average annual household power bill, the Renewable Energy Target contributes about $100 per year today, but this is expected to fall to just under $60 in 2020. In contrast, the price of fossil fuels such as gas has risen sharply over the last couple of years, with further increases projected.
"The Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics this year estimated that renewable energy sources such as solar and wind would be among our cheapest types of power within 10 to 20 years. In the case of some types of bioenergy such as landfill gas, we are already there. Solar power fell in price by 45% last year alone", he said. "So, contrary to some recent commentary, investing in renewable energy will be key to protecting consumers against power price increases in the future".
Mr Marsh said the Energy Minister appeared to have been wrongly advised on some of the costs and projected impacts of the Renewable Energy Target. "Renewable energy across the country currently produces around 10% of our electricity. This will rise to around 20% by the end of the decade, driven by the lowest cost forms of generation available under the target", he said.
"We welcome the Queensland Competition Authority looking at the full costs and benefits of the Renewable Energy Target. The Productivity Commission has also recently looked at this policy as part of its work on the carbon price. "There are steps we can take to reduce power prices, but we need to work together rather than looking in the wrong place for scapegoats", he said.
Sunday, 9 September 2012
Kiwi wave energy device gets US trial
www.nzherald.co.nz
3 Sep 2012
A kiwi-designed device which generates electricity by ocean wave energy is one step closer to breaking into the massive US energy market. The Wave Energy Technology-NZ (Wet-NZ) converter will be tested off the Oregon coast over the next two months. It is a major milestone for the eight-year project, which was a collaboration between Industrial Research Ltd (IRL), a Crown Research Institute, and private Wellington company Power Projects Ltd.
Success with the trial meant the possibility of full-scale commercialisation in the US, said Gavin Mitchell, IRL general manager of industry engagement. "This US deployment is a great opportunity to promote New Zealand technology in one of the world's most important energy markets". The device was designed to extract as much energy as possible from three different types of wave motion.
A half-scale, 18.4 metre long version would be moored to the sea floor off Oregon in an upright position, with wave movement converted into energy by a system of on-board hydraulics. Mitchell said the next step after this test would be to get further funding from the US government to develop and trial a full-scale version of the device. That would need to be tested in bigger, more powerful waves in another part of the country, he said.
The designers had also applied to the US navy to be considered for a 12 month test in Hawaii. "That's to allow the navy to evaluate energy devices to look at rolling it out at their bases worldwide". Wave-energy technology was still in its early stages both in New Zealand and internationally, Mitchell said. "Imagine where wind turbines were 15 years ago-there were early trials and then suddenly there was a mass adoption. "At the moment, there are only one or two devices as advanced as ours".
Wet-NZ technology used wave energy rather than tidal power, he said. Getting the project to this testing point was possible due to a US$2 million grant from the US Department of Energy and a partnership with US company Northwest Energy Innovations. The New Zealand Government had also provided funding to get the project scaled up from proof-of-concept to prototype. Wet-NZ had been refined based on the results of deployments at various sites around New Zealand, as well as extensive wave tank modelling. IRL is a Crown Research Institute with the task of supporting New Zealand industry.
3 Sep 2012
A kiwi-designed device which generates electricity by ocean wave energy is one step closer to breaking into the massive US energy market. The Wave Energy Technology-NZ (Wet-NZ) converter will be tested off the Oregon coast over the next two months. It is a major milestone for the eight-year project, which was a collaboration between Industrial Research Ltd (IRL), a Crown Research Institute, and private Wellington company Power Projects Ltd.Success with the trial meant the possibility of full-scale commercialisation in the US, said Gavin Mitchell, IRL general manager of industry engagement. "This US deployment is a great opportunity to promote New Zealand technology in one of the world's most important energy markets". The device was designed to extract as much energy as possible from three different types of wave motion.
A half-scale, 18.4 metre long version would be moored to the sea floor off Oregon in an upright position, with wave movement converted into energy by a system of on-board hydraulics. Mitchell said the next step after this test would be to get further funding from the US government to develop and trial a full-scale version of the device. That would need to be tested in bigger, more powerful waves in another part of the country, he said.
The designers had also applied to the US navy to be considered for a 12 month test in Hawaii. "That's to allow the navy to evaluate energy devices to look at rolling it out at their bases worldwide". Wave-energy technology was still in its early stages both in New Zealand and internationally, Mitchell said. "Imagine where wind turbines were 15 years ago-there were early trials and then suddenly there was a mass adoption. "At the moment, there are only one or two devices as advanced as ours".
Wet-NZ technology used wave energy rather than tidal power, he said. Getting the project to this testing point was possible due to a US$2 million grant from the US Department of Energy and a partnership with US company Northwest Energy Innovations. The New Zealand Government had also provided funding to get the project scaled up from proof-of-concept to prototype. Wet-NZ had been refined based on the results of deployments at various sites around New Zealand, as well as extensive wave tank modelling. IRL is a Crown Research Institute with the task of supporting New Zealand industry.
World's biggest offshore windfarm planned off Scottish coast
www.guardian.co.uk
31 Aug 2012
Scheme with enough capacity to power 40% of Scottish households has been submitted for planning permission The world's biggest offshore wind farm could be built off the northern Scottish coast, after a scheme with enough capacity to power 40% of Scottish households was submitted for planning permission.
The £4.5bn complex would have 339 turbines covering 300 km² off Caithness, making it 50% bigger than the giant London Array scheme off Kent. It is expected to be the first in a series of deep water schemes under "Round 3" licensing. The renewable industry has hailed it as a watershed moment but warned these new deep water farms might only be fully realised if the government provides policy stability by pushing through its proposed Energy Bill.
The 1.5 GW farm is being developed by Moray Offshore Renewables, a joint venture between Spanish oil company Repsol, and an arm of Portuguese power group EDP, which has recently become partly owned by China's state-owned Three Gorges Corporation. It has already attracted controversy because it is opposed by American billionaire Donald Trump, who says the 200 metre-high turbines will spoil the view from his planned new golf course.
Dan Finch, project director for the scheme due to come on stream in 2018, said working more than 12 miles from shore allowed it to take advantage of the excellent wind resource in the outer Moray Firth.
"We estimate that the project will be capable of supplying the electricity needs of 800,000 to 1m households,.. Each year this development could save between 3.5m and 4.5m tonnes of CO₂ compared with coal fired generation, and between 1.5m and 2m tonnes of CO₂ compared with gas fired generation", he said.
The industry body, RenewableUK, said a further 4.5 GWs of offshore wind schemes should follow into the planning process this year with a total of 18 GWs expected to become operational over the next eight years. But Maria McCaffery, RenewableUK's chief executive, emphasised that this progress could only be achieved if the policy certainty laid out in the upcoming Energy Bill was achieved.
"We're marking a watershed moment as Round Three starts to become a reality with this planning application. It's the first of many coming forward. As well as delivering secure supplies of low carbon electricity to British homes and businesses, our global leadership role in offshore wind can provide tens of thousands of jobs across the country, building and maintaining these turbines".
The Moray Firth wind farm, which will be given significant subsidies, compares with the 1 GW at the London Array, which is currently in the construction phase, and compares with the largest British coal-fired plant, Drax in northern Yorkshire of 4 GWs, and the planned new EDF Energy nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset with a combined output of 3.2 GWs and a bill of at least £10bn.
China Three Gorges Corporation acquired a 21% holding from the cash-strapped Portuguese government in Energias de Portugal, EDP, for €2.69bn (£2.13bn). The Beijing-based energy company was responsible for construction of the also controversial Three Gorges Dam-project, the world largest hydroelectric power plant, that went into operation in 2008.
31 Aug 2012
Scheme with enough capacity to power 40% of Scottish households has been submitted for planning permission The world's biggest offshore wind farm could be built off the northern Scottish coast, after a scheme with enough capacity to power 40% of Scottish households was submitted for planning permission.The £4.5bn complex would have 339 turbines covering 300 km² off Caithness, making it 50% bigger than the giant London Array scheme off Kent. It is expected to be the first in a series of deep water schemes under "Round 3" licensing. The renewable industry has hailed it as a watershed moment but warned these new deep water farms might only be fully realised if the government provides policy stability by pushing through its proposed Energy Bill.
The 1.5 GW farm is being developed by Moray Offshore Renewables, a joint venture between Spanish oil company Repsol, and an arm of Portuguese power group EDP, which has recently become partly owned by China's state-owned Three Gorges Corporation. It has already attracted controversy because it is opposed by American billionaire Donald Trump, who says the 200 metre-high turbines will spoil the view from his planned new golf course.
Dan Finch, project director for the scheme due to come on stream in 2018, said working more than 12 miles from shore allowed it to take advantage of the excellent wind resource in the outer Moray Firth.
"We estimate that the project will be capable of supplying the electricity needs of 800,000 to 1m households,.. Each year this development could save between 3.5m and 4.5m tonnes of CO₂ compared with coal fired generation, and between 1.5m and 2m tonnes of CO₂ compared with gas fired generation", he said.
The industry body, RenewableUK, said a further 4.5 GWs of offshore wind schemes should follow into the planning process this year with a total of 18 GWs expected to become operational over the next eight years. But Maria McCaffery, RenewableUK's chief executive, emphasised that this progress could only be achieved if the policy certainty laid out in the upcoming Energy Bill was achieved.
"We're marking a watershed moment as Round Three starts to become a reality with this planning application. It's the first of many coming forward. As well as delivering secure supplies of low carbon electricity to British homes and businesses, our global leadership role in offshore wind can provide tens of thousands of jobs across the country, building and maintaining these turbines".
The Moray Firth wind farm, which will be given significant subsidies, compares with the 1 GW at the London Array, which is currently in the construction phase, and compares with the largest British coal-fired plant, Drax in northern Yorkshire of 4 GWs, and the planned new EDF Energy nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset with a combined output of 3.2 GWs and a bill of at least £10bn.
China Three Gorges Corporation acquired a 21% holding from the cash-strapped Portuguese government in Energias de Portugal, EDP, for €2.69bn (£2.13bn). The Beijing-based energy company was responsible for construction of the also controversial Three Gorges Dam-project, the world largest hydroelectric power plant, that went into operation in 2008.
German shipyards see future in wind power
www.spiegel.de
30 Aug 2012
After years of decline, Germany's shipyards are now pinning their hopes on offshore wind farms, a key component of the country's energy revolution. Some have converted entirely to building equipment for wind farms. But the initial euphoria has worn off as the true challenges of the transition become clear.
Two years ago, Tomas Marutz became the head of the Nordseewerke in Emden, Germany. The shipyard is one of the biggest and oldest in the country. But Marutz's most important task now is, he says, "to get shipbuilding out of people's heads".
That's no easy task for a man who speaks about ships like a father talking about his children. He is fascinating by the process of shipbuilding, from the lucky penny that is tossed under the first sheet of steel used in construction to the moment when a finished ship is launched from the docks. Building ships isn't just a question of "welding individual pieces together", he says. "It is a holistic creation".
But these days, Marutz doesn't have the chance to enjoy such moments. Submarines and container ships are no longer being built at the shipyard, which once belonged to German steel and shipbuilding giant Thyssen. Nowadays, the company is building towers and steel bases for wind turbines used in offshore wind farms off the German coast.
Read More…
30 Aug 2012
After years of decline, Germany's shipyards are now pinning their hopes on offshore wind farms, a key component of the country's energy revolution. Some have converted entirely to building equipment for wind farms. But the initial euphoria has worn off as the true challenges of the transition become clear.
Two years ago, Tomas Marutz became the head of the Nordseewerke in Emden, Germany. The shipyard is one of the biggest and oldest in the country. But Marutz's most important task now is, he says, "to get shipbuilding out of people's heads".
That's no easy task for a man who speaks about ships like a father talking about his children. He is fascinating by the process of shipbuilding, from the lucky penny that is tossed under the first sheet of steel used in construction to the moment when a finished ship is launched from the docks. Building ships isn't just a question of "welding individual pieces together", he says. "It is a holistic creation".
But these days, Marutz doesn't have the chance to enjoy such moments. Submarines and container ships are no longer being built at the shipyard, which once belonged to German steel and shipbuilding giant Thyssen. Nowadays, the company is building towers and steel bases for wind turbines used in offshore wind farms off the German coast.
Read More…
Maryland switches on 16 MW grid connected solar system
www.elp.com
29 Aug 2012
Baltimore, Constellation announced the completion of a 16.1 MW grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) solar installation in Emmitsburg, Maryland., as part of the state of Maryland's Generating Clean Horizons initiative.
Constellation financed, owns and operates the about $50 million solar facility on behalf of its customer, the state of Maryland. Electricity generated by the system is purchased by the state's Department of General Services and the University System of Maryland under 20 year solar power purchase agreements with Constellation.
The grid-connected system is expected to produce more than 20 million kW of emissions-free electricity per year. Generating the same amount of electricity using nonrenewable sources would result in the release of 17,981 metric tons of CO₂ annually, according to US EPA data.
The ground-mounted solar power plant was constructed by FirstSolar, using about 220,000 of its advanced thin film PV panels situated on 100 acres of land leased by Constellation from Mount St. Mary's University. In addition to the 16.1 MW system, Constellation developed a 1.6 MW solar power system on the site that will supply power directly to the university.
In February 2009, the Maryland Energy Administration, in partnership with the University System of Maryland and the Department of General Services, approved the award of four renewable energy projects under the Generating Clean Horizons program. The initiative was intended to spur the development of large-scale, commercial renewable energy projects, and the state issued requests for proposals for long-term power purchase agreements from renewable sources delivering clean power to the grid by 2014.
Constellation currently owns and operates more than 112 MW of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction for commercial and government customers throughout the US In Maryland, Constellation has developed nearly 25 MW of solar projects for customers, including Anne Arundel County, Coppin State University, General Motors, Maryland Science Center and McCormick & Co.
By structuring its solar projects as power purchase agreements or solar services agreements, Constellation offers solar installations that may require no upfront capital from customers and may provide fixed power costs that are less than projected market rates.
29 Aug 2012
Baltimore, Constellation announced the completion of a 16.1 MW grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) solar installation in Emmitsburg, Maryland., as part of the state of Maryland's Generating Clean Horizons initiative.
Constellation financed, owns and operates the about $50 million solar facility on behalf of its customer, the state of Maryland. Electricity generated by the system is purchased by the state's Department of General Services and the University System of Maryland under 20 year solar power purchase agreements with Constellation.
The grid-connected system is expected to produce more than 20 million kW of emissions-free electricity per year. Generating the same amount of electricity using nonrenewable sources would result in the release of 17,981 metric tons of CO₂ annually, according to US EPA data.
The ground-mounted solar power plant was constructed by FirstSolar, using about 220,000 of its advanced thin film PV panels situated on 100 acres of land leased by Constellation from Mount St. Mary's University. In addition to the 16.1 MW system, Constellation developed a 1.6 MW solar power system on the site that will supply power directly to the university.
In February 2009, the Maryland Energy Administration, in partnership with the University System of Maryland and the Department of General Services, approved the award of four renewable energy projects under the Generating Clean Horizons program. The initiative was intended to spur the development of large-scale, commercial renewable energy projects, and the state issued requests for proposals for long-term power purchase agreements from renewable sources delivering clean power to the grid by 2014.
Constellation currently owns and operates more than 112 MW of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction for commercial and government customers throughout the US In Maryland, Constellation has developed nearly 25 MW of solar projects for customers, including Anne Arundel County, Coppin State University, General Motors, Maryland Science Center and McCormick & Co.
By structuring its solar projects as power purchase agreements or solar services agreements, Constellation offers solar installations that may require no upfront capital from customers and may provide fixed power costs that are less than projected market rates.
Industry to ride "solar-coaster" as Victorian Government cuts support
Clean Energy Council
3 Sep 2012
The solar industry is bracing itself for yet another boom-bust cycle following today's decision by the Baillieu Government to slash the incentive for Victorians to purchase solar power systems, according to the Clean Energy Council.
Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said the national solar industry had seen so many ups and downs due to government policy changes that it had coined its own phrase – the "solar-coaster". "We're obviously disappointed at this decision to reduce support for solar power, which will make it harder for everyday Victorians to reduce their power bills and put industry jobs under pressure," Mr Marsh said.
"It is appropriate that the Victorian government reduces the level of its support scheme, given the recent reduction in the cost of solar power systems. However, the proposed feed-in tariff of 8¢ per kilowatt-hour is too low and does not reflect the fair and reasonable value of the electricity and other benefits that solar power systems provide to our energy system."
Mr Marsh said the Victorian solar policies to date had been very successful. "The solar industry now employs approximately 4800 Victorians and has stimulated $1.34 billion of private investment in Victoria. This change could have a serious negative impact on an industry that has been delivering major economic benefits to the state," he said.
Energy Minister Michael O'Brien announced today that the Victorian Government would reduce the level of support to householders under the Victorian feed-in tariff scheme from 25¢ per kilowatt-hour down to 8c at the beginning of next year.
Mr Marsh said recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirmed that Victorians from all walks of life were installing solar power systems to save on their electricity bills. "If you've thinking about installing solar power, it's definitely the time to do it – but you also need to make sure you do your research.
Download the Clean Energy Council’s consumer guide from www.solaraccreditation.com.au,” he said.
3 Sep 2012
The solar industry is bracing itself for yet another boom-bust cycle following today's decision by the Baillieu Government to slash the incentive for Victorians to purchase solar power systems, according to the Clean Energy Council.Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said the national solar industry had seen so many ups and downs due to government policy changes that it had coined its own phrase – the "solar-coaster". "We're obviously disappointed at this decision to reduce support for solar power, which will make it harder for everyday Victorians to reduce their power bills and put industry jobs under pressure," Mr Marsh said.
"It is appropriate that the Victorian government reduces the level of its support scheme, given the recent reduction in the cost of solar power systems. However, the proposed feed-in tariff of 8¢ per kilowatt-hour is too low and does not reflect the fair and reasonable value of the electricity and other benefits that solar power systems provide to our energy system."
Mr Marsh said the Victorian solar policies to date had been very successful. "The solar industry now employs approximately 4800 Victorians and has stimulated $1.34 billion of private investment in Victoria. This change could have a serious negative impact on an industry that has been delivering major economic benefits to the state," he said.
Energy Minister Michael O'Brien announced today that the Victorian Government would reduce the level of support to householders under the Victorian feed-in tariff scheme from 25¢ per kilowatt-hour down to 8c at the beginning of next year.
Mr Marsh said recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirmed that Victorians from all walks of life were installing solar power systems to save on their electricity bills. "If you've thinking about installing solar power, it's definitely the time to do it – but you also need to make sure you do your research.
Download the Clean Energy Council’s consumer guide from www.solaraccreditation.com.au,” he said.
German offshore wind sector needs more than just new law: executives
www.reuters.com
28 Aug 2012
(Reuters)-Changing regulations will not be enough to make Germany's planned offshore wind expansion work, executives and industry experts say, arguing the industry needs to find other ways to support one of the main pillars of the country's energy shift.
Germany's cabinet will discuss on Wednesday a draft law on expanding the use of offshore wind parks, a reaction to the slow expansion that network operators said was caused by insufficient regulation. "Certainly, the new law is a step in the right direction", Mike Winkel, head of renewable energy at E.ON, Germany's largest utility, told the annual Handelsblatt conference on renewable energy. "But the main goal has to be to get the grid connections done in time. Greater certainty for investors can only support this", he added.
He pointed to lengthy procedures to approve and connect offshore projects that were slowing down the offshore expansion. Grid operators are reluctant to build power lines at sea because they have to pay compensation should they break down. So many wind farms could lack the means to transfer the power they are generating back to the mainland.
The government is trying to address this bottleneck by passing on those costs to power consumers to reduce the risk for investors who have been very hesitant to invest in the offshore sector so far. That way, the government wants to make sure it can meet its goal of installing more than 10,000 MWs of offshore capacity by 2020, and 25,000 MW by 2030, to replace 20,500 MW in nuclear capacity gone by the end of 2022.
Read More…
28 Aug 2012
(Reuters)-Changing regulations will not be enough to make Germany's planned offshore wind expansion work, executives and industry experts say, arguing the industry needs to find other ways to support one of the main pillars of the country's energy shift.
Germany's cabinet will discuss on Wednesday a draft law on expanding the use of offshore wind parks, a reaction to the slow expansion that network operators said was caused by insufficient regulation. "Certainly, the new law is a step in the right direction", Mike Winkel, head of renewable energy at E.ON, Germany's largest utility, told the annual Handelsblatt conference on renewable energy. "But the main goal has to be to get the grid connections done in time. Greater certainty for investors can only support this", he added.
He pointed to lengthy procedures to approve and connect offshore projects that were slowing down the offshore expansion. Grid operators are reluctant to build power lines at sea because they have to pay compensation should they break down. So many wind farms could lack the means to transfer the power they are generating back to the mainland.
The government is trying to address this bottleneck by passing on those costs to power consumers to reduce the risk for investors who have been very hesitant to invest in the offshore sector so far. That way, the government wants to make sure it can meet its goal of installing more than 10,000 MWs of offshore capacity by 2020, and 25,000 MW by 2030, to replace 20,500 MW in nuclear capacity gone by the end of 2022.
Read More…
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Aura Systems joins forces with Cyclone Power to develop renewable power generation
www.power-eng.com
26 Aug 2012
Aura Systems, Inc, and Cyclone Power Technologies, Inc, announced that the two companies have formed a technology development alliance to combine the all-fuel Cyclone Engine with the AuraGen induction motor and control unit.
According to a release, the partners anticipate that the integrated renewable power generation system will be able to provide a turn-key distributed solution for customers looking to produce grid-tied or stand-alone electricity from renewable and waste resources.
Cyclone's steam engines are capable of converting recovered exhaust heat from industrial furnaces, biomass gasifiers and other waste sources into mechanical power. The AuraGen technology fits "extremely well" with Cyclone's engines, especially in applications where fluctuations in heat create variations in engine RPM. AuraGen units produce consistent rated power, at a range of engine speeds, as well as generating AC and DC power simultaneously in a variety of voltages.
Christopher Nelson, President of Cyclone, said, "Securing the partners needed to provide turn-key renewable power generator systems to our customers, both current and prospective, is an important part of our growth strategy. Aura has the generator technology, engineering team, production capabilities and resources to provide the electrical solution from start to finish. We are very pleased to be working with Aura and look forward to a long and successful working relationship".
Melvin Gagerman, Chairman and CEO of Aura, said, "We recognize the uniqueness of Cyclone's engine technology and the talents of its engineering team. This is an attractive partnership for Aura that we think provides an excellent market extension for our AuraGen product line".
26 Aug 2012
Aura Systems, Inc, and Cyclone Power Technologies, Inc, announced that the two companies have formed a technology development alliance to combine the all-fuel Cyclone Engine with the AuraGen induction motor and control unit.
According to a release, the partners anticipate that the integrated renewable power generation system will be able to provide a turn-key distributed solution for customers looking to produce grid-tied or stand-alone electricity from renewable and waste resources.
Cyclone's steam engines are capable of converting recovered exhaust heat from industrial furnaces, biomass gasifiers and other waste sources into mechanical power. The AuraGen technology fits "extremely well" with Cyclone's engines, especially in applications where fluctuations in heat create variations in engine RPM. AuraGen units produce consistent rated power, at a range of engine speeds, as well as generating AC and DC power simultaneously in a variety of voltages.
Christopher Nelson, President of Cyclone, said, "Securing the partners needed to provide turn-key renewable power generator systems to our customers, both current and prospective, is an important part of our growth strategy. Aura has the generator technology, engineering team, production capabilities and resources to provide the electrical solution from start to finish. We are very pleased to be working with Aura and look forward to a long and successful working relationship".
Melvin Gagerman, Chairman and CEO of Aura, said, "We recognize the uniqueness of Cyclone's engine technology and the talents of its engineering team. This is an attractive partnership for Aura that we think provides an excellent market extension for our AuraGen product line".
Growing demand for Renewable energy
www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au
27 Aug 2012
THE new 2012 Australian Energy Update report shows strong growth in the use of renewable energy, according to the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE). "Renewable energy (excluding biomass) recorded the strongest consumption growth in 2010 11 at 21%, followed by natural gas and oil consumption which both increased by 7%" said BREE Executive Director and Chief Economist Professor Quentin Grafton.
"The strongest final energy consumption growth was observed in the mining and transport sectors. "Total energy consumption, including transformation activity, increased by 3% in 2010 11 to 6100 petajoules, supported by stronger economic growth". Total final energy consumption in Australia grew by 2% to 3839 petajoules in 2010 11. Total electricity generation remained, more or less unchanged at about 253 000 GWs in 2010 11 with declines in coal-fired generation offset by increased generation from natural gas and renewable energy sources (including solar, wind and hydroelectric).
"A 3% fall in energy production in 2010-11 to 16,640 petajoules, reflected lower production of coal, crude oil and uranium oxide primarily due to weather-related events" according to Professor Grafton. "Energy statistics and their analysis are critical to industry, government and the community to make better decisions about our energy future,
2012 Australian Energy Update
27 Aug 2012
THE new 2012 Australian Energy Update report shows strong growth in the use of renewable energy, according to the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE). "Renewable energy (excluding biomass) recorded the strongest consumption growth in 2010 11 at 21%, followed by natural gas and oil consumption which both increased by 7%" said BREE Executive Director and Chief Economist Professor Quentin Grafton.
"The strongest final energy consumption growth was observed in the mining and transport sectors. "Total energy consumption, including transformation activity, increased by 3% in 2010 11 to 6100 petajoules, supported by stronger economic growth". Total final energy consumption in Australia grew by 2% to 3839 petajoules in 2010 11. Total electricity generation remained, more or less unchanged at about 253 000 GWs in 2010 11 with declines in coal-fired generation offset by increased generation from natural gas and renewable energy sources (including solar, wind and hydroelectric).
"A 3% fall in energy production in 2010-11 to 16,640 petajoules, reflected lower production of coal, crude oil and uranium oxide primarily due to weather-related events" according to Professor Grafton. "Energy statistics and their analysis are critical to industry, government and the community to make better decisions about our energy future,
2012 Australian Energy Update
One in five big Japan firms wants exit from atomic power by 2030
www.reuters.com
27 Aug 2012
(Reuters)-About one in five big Japanese firms wants to see the share of nuclear power in the electricity supply reduced to zero by 2030, a Reuters poll showed, amid a growing anti-nuclear clamor after last year's Fukushima atomic disaster. But underlining concerns about a rise in energy costs without atomic power, the rest of the respondents supported a continued role for nuclear power, with the biggest group opting for a share of 15%.
The poll comes as Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda considers options for a medium-term energy plan while vowing to reduce reliance on atomic energy without saying by how much or when. Energy policy has become a major headache for Noda and his Democratic Party of Japan, its ratings battered ahead of a general election likely to take place in November and give the ruling party a drubbing.
The government is considering three options for its energy portfolio: reduce nuclear power's role to zero as soon as possible, aim at 15% by 2030, or seek a 20 25% share by the same date. The share was about 30% before the disaster, which forced the government to scrap a 2010 plan to boost nuclear power's share to more than half of electricity needs by 2030. In the Reuters poll, 19% of big firms sought to cut nuclear power's role to zero, but 39% called for 15% by 2030, as a majority of companies brace for slower economic growth as reliance on nuclear power declines.
One-quarter said they wanted to see a 20 25% share and the remainder called for even greater percentages, according to the poll of 400 big firms, taken alongside the monthly Reuters Tankan business sentiment survey. A total of 268 responded during the August 6 21 survey period.
The poll reflects to some extent the stance of Japan's major business lobby, Keidanren, which advocates the need for nuclear power out of concern that high energy costs could force firms to move overseas, costing jobs and growth. "It's unrealistic for Japan to ditch nuclear power in 15 years or so", one rubber company said in the survey. "It should inevitably become around 15% while we seek alternative energy sources for overage reactors". The poll compared with a government survey of nearly 300 people which showed almost half-by far the largest group-favored the zero option.
Meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused radiation to spew over large areas, forcing more than 160,0000 people to flee. In the following months, all of Japan's remaining reactors were shut for safety checks. Two reactors resumed operations last month. The Reuters poll found 85% seeking more strict safety standards and measures for restarting the rest of the reactors which remain shut, mostly for safety checks.
To cope with increased electricity costs amid a prolonged shutdown of reactors, 69% said they would cut expenditure and 36% would seek cheaper power suppliers, according to the poll, which allowed respondents multiple choices. Underlining conditions of prolonged deflation, 26% said they would pass the cost on to their customers, while 13% would shift operations out of Japan, according to the poll. Since last year's disaster, 15% of firms have boosted in-house power generation, while 80% made no change in their power procurement, the poll showed.
27 Aug 2012
(Reuters)-About one in five big Japanese firms wants to see the share of nuclear power in the electricity supply reduced to zero by 2030, a Reuters poll showed, amid a growing anti-nuclear clamor after last year's Fukushima atomic disaster. But underlining concerns about a rise in energy costs without atomic power, the rest of the respondents supported a continued role for nuclear power, with the biggest group opting for a share of 15%.
The poll comes as Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda considers options for a medium-term energy plan while vowing to reduce reliance on atomic energy without saying by how much or when. Energy policy has become a major headache for Noda and his Democratic Party of Japan, its ratings battered ahead of a general election likely to take place in November and give the ruling party a drubbing.
The government is considering three options for its energy portfolio: reduce nuclear power's role to zero as soon as possible, aim at 15% by 2030, or seek a 20 25% share by the same date. The share was about 30% before the disaster, which forced the government to scrap a 2010 plan to boost nuclear power's share to more than half of electricity needs by 2030. In the Reuters poll, 19% of big firms sought to cut nuclear power's role to zero, but 39% called for 15% by 2030, as a majority of companies brace for slower economic growth as reliance on nuclear power declines.
One-quarter said they wanted to see a 20 25% share and the remainder called for even greater percentages, according to the poll of 400 big firms, taken alongside the monthly Reuters Tankan business sentiment survey. A total of 268 responded during the August 6 21 survey period.
The poll reflects to some extent the stance of Japan's major business lobby, Keidanren, which advocates the need for nuclear power out of concern that high energy costs could force firms to move overseas, costing jobs and growth. "It's unrealistic for Japan to ditch nuclear power in 15 years or so", one rubber company said in the survey. "It should inevitably become around 15% while we seek alternative energy sources for overage reactors". The poll compared with a government survey of nearly 300 people which showed almost half-by far the largest group-favored the zero option.
Meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused radiation to spew over large areas, forcing more than 160,0000 people to flee. In the following months, all of Japan's remaining reactors were shut for safety checks. Two reactors resumed operations last month. The Reuters poll found 85% seeking more strict safety standards and measures for restarting the rest of the reactors which remain shut, mostly for safety checks.
To cope with increased electricity costs amid a prolonged shutdown of reactors, 69% said they would cut expenditure and 36% would seek cheaper power suppliers, according to the poll, which allowed respondents multiple choices. Underlining conditions of prolonged deflation, 26% said they would pass the cost on to their customers, while 13% would shift operations out of Japan, according to the poll. Since last year's disaster, 15% of firms have boosted in-house power generation, while 80% made no change in their power procurement, the poll showed.
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Report warns of India nuclear power safety
www.upi.com
23 Aug 2012
NEW DELHI, Aug. 23 (UPI)--An Indian government auditing agency criticized India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board for not being truly autonomous and for its lack of a radiation safety policy. India's Comptroller and Auditor General, in a report released Wednesday, warned that a Fukushima or Chernobyl-like disaster could occur in India if the government doesn't address nuclear safety, NDTV reports.
While AERB is responsible for supervising safety issues for the plants, it doesn't have power to make rules, enforce compliance or impose penalty in cases of nuclear safety oversight, the report states. No legislative framework is in place for decommissioning of nuclear power plants, says CAG. Furthermore, AERB doesn't have a mandate other than the prescribing of codes, guides and safety manuals on decommissioning.
The report says that in the 13 years since AERB's safety manual was issued, "none of the nuclear power plants in the country, including those operating for 30 years, and those which had been shut down, had any decommissioning plan". India's 20 nuclear plants have an installed capacity of 4,780 MWs. The government aims to generate 20,000 MWs of power from nuclear power by 2020. But proposed construction sites have faced fierce opposition from locals and activists.
The auditing agency also said that AERB had no radiation safety policy in place. "At the policy level, AERB has not yet prepared a radiation safety policy even after three decades of its existence. Standard setting is an essential part of the functions of a regulatory authority", the report said. AERB Secretary R. Bhattacharya told the publication Livemint that "there's no document that says 'Radiation Safety Policy,' but we have detailed codes and guides on managing ionising and non-ionising radiation". "It's at the core of what we do", Bhattacharya said.
Independent experts say changes are necessary at AERB. "The formation of AERB has never been an open, transparent process", Livemint quoted M.P. Ram Mohan, a fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute and a nuclear policy researcher, as saying. "Also, a law to manage hazardous nuclear waste has been in draft discussions for years now. Hopefully, CAG's report could trigger some action".
NTPC, the country's largest power producer, separately announced this week that it has put on hold its plans to set up nuclear power projects jointly with Nuclear Power Corporation of India, reports The Hindu newspaper. An unnamed NTPC official in The Hindu report said around 40 engineers from NPCIL's Mumbai office who were being trained to build nuclear plants have been relocated to NTPC's thermal power plants.
23 Aug 2012
NEW DELHI, Aug. 23 (UPI)--An Indian government auditing agency criticized India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board for not being truly autonomous and for its lack of a radiation safety policy. India's Comptroller and Auditor General, in a report released Wednesday, warned that a Fukushima or Chernobyl-like disaster could occur in India if the government doesn't address nuclear safety, NDTV reports.
While AERB is responsible for supervising safety issues for the plants, it doesn't have power to make rules, enforce compliance or impose penalty in cases of nuclear safety oversight, the report states. No legislative framework is in place for decommissioning of nuclear power plants, says CAG. Furthermore, AERB doesn't have a mandate other than the prescribing of codes, guides and safety manuals on decommissioning.
The report says that in the 13 years since AERB's safety manual was issued, "none of the nuclear power plants in the country, including those operating for 30 years, and those which had been shut down, had any decommissioning plan". India's 20 nuclear plants have an installed capacity of 4,780 MWs. The government aims to generate 20,000 MWs of power from nuclear power by 2020. But proposed construction sites have faced fierce opposition from locals and activists.
The auditing agency also said that AERB had no radiation safety policy in place. "At the policy level, AERB has not yet prepared a radiation safety policy even after three decades of its existence. Standard setting is an essential part of the functions of a regulatory authority", the report said. AERB Secretary R. Bhattacharya told the publication Livemint that "there's no document that says 'Radiation Safety Policy,' but we have detailed codes and guides on managing ionising and non-ionising radiation". "It's at the core of what we do", Bhattacharya said.
Independent experts say changes are necessary at AERB. "The formation of AERB has never been an open, transparent process", Livemint quoted M.P. Ram Mohan, a fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute and a nuclear policy researcher, as saying. "Also, a law to manage hazardous nuclear waste has been in draft discussions for years now. Hopefully, CAG's report could trigger some action".
NTPC, the country's largest power producer, separately announced this week that it has put on hold its plans to set up nuclear power projects jointly with Nuclear Power Corporation of India, reports The Hindu newspaper. An unnamed NTPC official in The Hindu report said around 40 engineers from NPCIL's Mumbai office who were being trained to build nuclear plants have been relocated to NTPC's thermal power plants.
Electricity prices spark welcome political collaboration
Clean Energy Council
23 Aug 2012
Today's inquiry into Australia's rising electricity prices is welcome news for both consumers and the clean energy industry, according to the Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said rising electricity prices could only be addressed through political collaboration and a genuine will to address the issue in good faith for the benefit of all consumers.
"The news that all sides of politics will work together on this issue is extremely welcome. There is no silver bullet solution to rising power bills, but the kinds of steps that we have seen in Parliament today are very much in the right direction", Mr Green said.
The Australian Parliament also passed the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Bill today and a progress report was released on the National Energy Savings Initiative-a policy designed to help consumers save on their bills through and reduce peak electricity demand.
Mr Green said energy efficiency was one of the most effective policy solutions that governments could introduce to both reduce emissions and protect consumers from rising electricity bills.
"Although all sides of politics recognise the value of using energy more efficiently, the devil is well and truly in the detail. Brokering a coordinated national solution to energy efficiency across jurisdictions remains a substantial challenge, but it was extremely heartening to see bipartisan support for today's Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Bill in the Parliament", he said.
Mr Green said a smarter energy system was required which empowered consumers to make more efficient use of the power we all need to use. "The inquiry is a great opportunity for the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors to drive real change in the market, removing the barriers in the national framework to their ongoing development".
23 Aug 2012
Today's inquiry into Australia's rising electricity prices is welcome news for both consumers and the clean energy industry, according to the Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said rising electricity prices could only be addressed through political collaboration and a genuine will to address the issue in good faith for the benefit of all consumers."The news that all sides of politics will work together on this issue is extremely welcome. There is no silver bullet solution to rising power bills, but the kinds of steps that we have seen in Parliament today are very much in the right direction", Mr Green said.
The Australian Parliament also passed the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Bill today and a progress report was released on the National Energy Savings Initiative-a policy designed to help consumers save on their bills through and reduce peak electricity demand.
Mr Green said energy efficiency was one of the most effective policy solutions that governments could introduce to both reduce emissions and protect consumers from rising electricity bills.
"Although all sides of politics recognise the value of using energy more efficiently, the devil is well and truly in the detail. Brokering a coordinated national solution to energy efficiency across jurisdictions remains a substantial challenge, but it was extremely heartening to see bipartisan support for today's Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Bill in the Parliament", he said.
Mr Green said a smarter energy system was required which empowered consumers to make more efficient use of the power we all need to use. "The inquiry is a great opportunity for the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors to drive real change in the market, removing the barriers in the national framework to their ongoing development".
Wave energy facility operational
democratherald.com
22 Aug 2012
(US) NEWPORT — One of the first public wave energy testing systems in the United States began operation this week off the Oregon coast near Newport. It will allow private industry and academic researchers to test new technology. The Ocean Sentinel is a $1.5 million device developed by the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center, or NNMREC, at Oregon State University.
OSU described it as "a major step forward for the future of wave energy" and said it should do its first testing within days — a "WetNZ" device developed by private industry.
The mobile wave energy test device will be used by many companies and academic researchers in the quest to develop wave energy technology, measure and understand the wave resource, and study the energy output and other important issues, OSU said.
"The Ocean Sentinel will provide a standardized, accurate system to compare various wave energy technologies, including systems that may be better for one type of wave situation or another," said Sean Moran, ocean test facilities manager with NNMREC.
"We have to find out more about which technologies work best, in what conditions, and what environmental impacts there may be," Moran said. "We're not assuming anything. We're first trying to answer the question, 'Is this a good idea or not?' And if some technology doesn't work as well, we want to find that out quickly, and cheaply, and the Ocean Sentinel will help us do that."
Experts say that, unlike some alternative energy forms such as wind power, it's probable that no one technology will dominate the wave energy field.
Read More…
22 Aug 2012
(US) NEWPORT — One of the first public wave energy testing systems in the United States began operation this week off the Oregon coast near Newport. It will allow private industry and academic researchers to test new technology. The Ocean Sentinel is a $1.5 million device developed by the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center, or NNMREC, at Oregon State University.
OSU described it as "a major step forward for the future of wave energy" and said it should do its first testing within days — a "WetNZ" device developed by private industry.
The mobile wave energy test device will be used by many companies and academic researchers in the quest to develop wave energy technology, measure and understand the wave resource, and study the energy output and other important issues, OSU said.
"The Ocean Sentinel will provide a standardized, accurate system to compare various wave energy technologies, including systems that may be better for one type of wave situation or another," said Sean Moran, ocean test facilities manager with NNMREC.
"We have to find out more about which technologies work best, in what conditions, and what environmental impacts there may be," Moran said. "We're not assuming anything. We're first trying to answer the question, 'Is this a good idea or not?' And if some technology doesn't work as well, we want to find that out quickly, and cheaply, and the Ocean Sentinel will help us do that."
Experts say that, unlike some alternative energy forms such as wind power, it's probable that no one technology will dominate the wave energy field.
Read More…
Polymer-based organic solar cells set world record in efficiency
revmodo.com
22 Aug 2012
We can preach about the environmental benefits of solar power all we want, but until it costs the same as fossil fuels, we're not going to see energy companies tearing up oil fields to erect solar farms.
The good news is that the quest for cheaper solar power just took a giant leap forward: Chinese researchers set a new world record in power conversion efficiency for polymer-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. The 9.31% efficiency was certified by the Newport Technology & Application Center's Photovoltaic Lab in Long Beach, Calif.
Unlike traditional, rigid solar cells, organic solar cells are made from flexible polymer. Instead of bulky wires, polymer solar cells use organic electronics, a branch of electronics that deals with conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules. As a result, OPV is lightweight, has a better performance in low light and is easier to manufacture, making it a potentially cost-effective renewable energy technology on par with current conventional energy technologies. Organic solar cells do not require exotic and toxic materials, so the final solar cell is nontoxic, an important factor for end-of-lifetime disposal or recycling.
Read More…
22 Aug 2012
We can preach about the environmental benefits of solar power all we want, but until it costs the same as fossil fuels, we're not going to see energy companies tearing up oil fields to erect solar farms.
The good news is that the quest for cheaper solar power just took a giant leap forward: Chinese researchers set a new world record in power conversion efficiency for polymer-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. The 9.31% efficiency was certified by the Newport Technology & Application Center's Photovoltaic Lab in Long Beach, Calif.
Unlike traditional, rigid solar cells, organic solar cells are made from flexible polymer. Instead of bulky wires, polymer solar cells use organic electronics, a branch of electronics that deals with conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules. As a result, OPV is lightweight, has a better performance in low light and is easier to manufacture, making it a potentially cost-effective renewable energy technology on par with current conventional energy technologies. Organic solar cells do not require exotic and toxic materials, so the final solar cell is nontoxic, an important factor for end-of-lifetime disposal or recycling.
Read More…
Monday, 27 August 2012
BOC to fuel Scotland s first fleet of hydrogen buses
www.equities.com
BOC, the industrial gases and clean energy business, is to provide the refuelling technology for Scotland s first fleet of hydrogen-powered buses. The project, which includes funding from the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, the Technology Strategy Board and the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, aims to have 10 buses operating on the streets of Aberdeen by 2014.
Launching the programme at Aberdeen s Marischal Hall, Scotland s First Minister Alex Salmond said, Hydrogen buses will produce zero local emissions. Aberdeen is already Europe s offshore energy capital and this exciting new project can help position it as a leading city for low carbon technology and green transport. With a strong group of project partners, this initiative will boost Scotland s profile as a key hydrogen technology hub and a world-leading investment location for pioneering low carbon energy and transport systems.
Aberdeen City Council leader Barney Crockett commented: This funding is a vital contribution to Aberdeen City Council and its partners work to introduce a fleet of hydrogen buses to the area. I believe this initiative will stimulate further innovative hydrogen technology projects and attract even more high-level investment to this city. It is a crucial step towards Aberdeen becoming a world-leading, smart hydrogen city.
For BOC, a member of The Linde Group, the project represents another stage in establishing hydrogen power as a viable transport option in the UK. Nick Rolf, BOC Innovation Manager for Hydrogen Systems, noted: This will be the UK s largest demonstration of hydrogen fuel-cell buses and cements Aberdeen s position as a pioneer in the field of low carbon mobility. The project will also provide a template for the production of hydrogen from renewable sources on a scale that is unmatched elsewhere in the UK.
The hydrogen-powered buses will be operated on First and Stagecoach bus routes in the city by early 2014 and refuelled at Scotland s first commercial-scale hydrogen refuelling station, which will be owned and operated by BOC. The design of this state-of-the-art station will also allow the refuelling of hydrogen-powered passenger cars as they become available in the future.
A novel aspect of this project is that the hydrogen will be produced by electrolysis. A 1MWe electrolyser provided by BOC will split ordinary water into hydrogen and oxygen. Scottish & Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) will work with BOC to harness the electricity from a nearby wind farm to power the electrolyser which will also operate in a grid balancing capacity. The hydrogen produced will be stored for use with the bus fleet but can be converted back to electricity to supplement mains supplies at times of peak demand.
BOC, the industrial gases and clean energy business, is to provide the refuelling technology for Scotland s first fleet of hydrogen-powered buses. The project, which includes funding from the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, the Technology Strategy Board and the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, aims to have 10 buses operating on the streets of Aberdeen by 2014.
Launching the programme at Aberdeen s Marischal Hall, Scotland s First Minister Alex Salmond said, Hydrogen buses will produce zero local emissions. Aberdeen is already Europe s offshore energy capital and this exciting new project can help position it as a leading city for low carbon technology and green transport. With a strong group of project partners, this initiative will boost Scotland s profile as a key hydrogen technology hub and a world-leading investment location for pioneering low carbon energy and transport systems.
Aberdeen City Council leader Barney Crockett commented: This funding is a vital contribution to Aberdeen City Council and its partners work to introduce a fleet of hydrogen buses to the area. I believe this initiative will stimulate further innovative hydrogen technology projects and attract even more high-level investment to this city. It is a crucial step towards Aberdeen becoming a world-leading, smart hydrogen city.
For BOC, a member of The Linde Group, the project represents another stage in establishing hydrogen power as a viable transport option in the UK. Nick Rolf, BOC Innovation Manager for Hydrogen Systems, noted: This will be the UK s largest demonstration of hydrogen fuel-cell buses and cements Aberdeen s position as a pioneer in the field of low carbon mobility. The project will also provide a template for the production of hydrogen from renewable sources on a scale that is unmatched elsewhere in the UK.
The hydrogen-powered buses will be operated on First and Stagecoach bus routes in the city by early 2014 and refuelled at Scotland s first commercial-scale hydrogen refuelling station, which will be owned and operated by BOC. The design of this state-of-the-art station will also allow the refuelling of hydrogen-powered passenger cars as they become available in the future.
A novel aspect of this project is that the hydrogen will be produced by electrolysis. A 1MWe electrolyser provided by BOC will split ordinary water into hydrogen and oxygen. Scottish & Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) will work with BOC to harness the electricity from a nearby wind farm to power the electrolyser which will also operate in a grid balancing capacity. The hydrogen produced will be stored for use with the bus fleet but can be converted back to electricity to supplement mains supplies at times of peak demand.
Wind turns corner for green, ethical investors
www.irishtimes.com
21 Aug 2012
ETHICAL INVESTMENT-two words that you might imagine have gone somewhat out of fashion in these financially fatigued days. Not, it appears, when it comes to Northern Ireland, where the opportunity to "earn a return on an ethical investment" has inspired a new wave of investors to take a chance on a pioneering green energy venture.
Drumlin Wind Energy Co-operative-which hopes to raise up to £3.4 million to build the North's first community wind farm co-op-says it has been pleasantly surprised by the response to its public share offering.
The Drumlin Wind Energy Co-op launched its offering in Belfast in June and it has attracted more than £562,755 of investment so far-which its directors say has "exceeded expectations". The co-op wants to build and operate five 250kW single wind turbines in locations including Pomeroy, Kells, Larne and Ballyclare. Drumlin Wind was set up by Energy4All-a not-for-profit organisation in the UK owned by the community co-operatives it creates.
Energy4All emerged in the mid-1980s following the arrival in the UK of a Swedish company that successfully exported the Swedish concept of community ownership of wind farms. This led to the creation of the UK's first community wind farm co-op-Baywind in Cumbria-which now has more than 1,300 members and is proud to boast "profits".
Baywind created Energy4All to help other UK communities create locally owned wind farm ventures; today it administers a total of seven additional co-ops which have attracted more than £15 million of investment.
Drumlin Wind, which has a board of local directors, needs to raise minimum capital of £1.5 million to enable it to install two wind turbines in the North. If it fails to raise the minimum amount, everyone who has invested to date will get their money back.
Read More…
21 Aug 2012
ETHICAL INVESTMENT-two words that you might imagine have gone somewhat out of fashion in these financially fatigued days. Not, it appears, when it comes to Northern Ireland, where the opportunity to "earn a return on an ethical investment" has inspired a new wave of investors to take a chance on a pioneering green energy venture.
Drumlin Wind Energy Co-operative-which hopes to raise up to £3.4 million to build the North's first community wind farm co-op-says it has been pleasantly surprised by the response to its public share offering.
The Drumlin Wind Energy Co-op launched its offering in Belfast in June and it has attracted more than £562,755 of investment so far-which its directors say has "exceeded expectations". The co-op wants to build and operate five 250kW single wind turbines in locations including Pomeroy, Kells, Larne and Ballyclare. Drumlin Wind was set up by Energy4All-a not-for-profit organisation in the UK owned by the community co-operatives it creates.
Energy4All emerged in the mid-1980s following the arrival in the UK of a Swedish company that successfully exported the Swedish concept of community ownership of wind farms. This led to the creation of the UK's first community wind farm co-op-Baywind in Cumbria-which now has more than 1,300 members and is proud to boast "profits".
Baywind created Energy4All to help other UK communities create locally owned wind farm ventures; today it administers a total of seven additional co-ops which have attracted more than £15 million of investment.
Drumlin Wind, which has a board of local directors, needs to raise minimum capital of £1.5 million to enable it to install two wind turbines in the North. If it fails to raise the minimum amount, everyone who has invested to date will get their money back.
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Asia eyes green energy in Australia
www.theasset.com
21 Aug 2012
Renewable energy currently comprises around 9% of Australia's energy generation against the Australian Government's renewable energy target of reaching 20% generation by 2020.
With a carbon pricing scheme in place since July, along with several well funded federal and state government financing schemes, the shift to renewable energy has become one of the main themes in the Australian energy industry.
In addition to connecting renewable power to the national grid, there are a range of mining and infrastructure projects around the country which have started planning to use standalone and dedicated renewable sources, from wind to solar and even tidal power.
Wind ventures
With such a solid focus on increasing renewable output, the sector has attracted strong interest from international investors and energy companies. In keeping with the trend elsewhere in the economy, mainland Chinese companies have been prominent, particularly in wind, which is currently the most developed of the renewable sectors in Australia.
Investors from other Asian countries have been active as well, and their interest has spanned not only wind but also geothermal and bioenergy.
Perhaps the first of these forays was the Roaring 40s wind power joint venture, formed in 2005 by Hong Kong CLP Group and state-owned Hydro Tasmania. That venture was unwound last year with the assets being split between the partners, but in its six-year history, Roaring 40s was a major pioneer of wind farm development both in Australia and overseas, with projects in India, Hong Kong and mainland China.
In Australia, those wind projects were centred in South Australia-an early adopter with wind now comprising more than 30% of the state's energy mix-and in Hydro Tasmania's home state. In the break-up of the Roaring 40s joint venture, Hydro Tasmania took the Tasmanian projects while CLP Group emerged with the two South Australian wind farms.
Those assets were subsequently transferred to CLP Group's Australian subsidiary TRUEnergy, which is considering selling one of the wind farms, the 111MW (MW) Waterloo project. ANZ Bank was recently hired to advise on that sale.
TRUEnergy retains a 50% interest in the smaller 66MW Cathedral Rocks project, in partnership with Spanish company ACCIONA Energy. It also has plans for a large 180MW solar farm in Victoria, a plan which has received backing from Ted Baillieu, the current Premier of Victoria.
Read More…
21 Aug 2012
Renewable energy currently comprises around 9% of Australia's energy generation against the Australian Government's renewable energy target of reaching 20% generation by 2020.
With a carbon pricing scheme in place since July, along with several well funded federal and state government financing schemes, the shift to renewable energy has become one of the main themes in the Australian energy industry.
In addition to connecting renewable power to the national grid, there are a range of mining and infrastructure projects around the country which have started planning to use standalone and dedicated renewable sources, from wind to solar and even tidal power.
Wind ventures
With such a solid focus on increasing renewable output, the sector has attracted strong interest from international investors and energy companies. In keeping with the trend elsewhere in the economy, mainland Chinese companies have been prominent, particularly in wind, which is currently the most developed of the renewable sectors in Australia.
Investors from other Asian countries have been active as well, and their interest has spanned not only wind but also geothermal and bioenergy.
Perhaps the first of these forays was the Roaring 40s wind power joint venture, formed in 2005 by Hong Kong CLP Group and state-owned Hydro Tasmania. That venture was unwound last year with the assets being split between the partners, but in its six-year history, Roaring 40s was a major pioneer of wind farm development both in Australia and overseas, with projects in India, Hong Kong and mainland China.
In Australia, those wind projects were centred in South Australia-an early adopter with wind now comprising more than 30% of the state's energy mix-and in Hydro Tasmania's home state. In the break-up of the Roaring 40s joint venture, Hydro Tasmania took the Tasmanian projects while CLP Group emerged with the two South Australian wind farms.
Those assets were subsequently transferred to CLP Group's Australian subsidiary TRUEnergy, which is considering selling one of the wind farms, the 111MW (MW) Waterloo project. ANZ Bank was recently hired to advise on that sale.
TRUEnergy retains a 50% interest in the smaller 66MW Cathedral Rocks project, in partnership with Spanish company ACCIONA Energy. It also has plans for a large 180MW solar farm in Victoria, a plan which has received backing from Ted Baillieu, the current Premier of Victoria.
Read More…
Thursday, 23 August 2012
How offshore wind turbines could be more efficient
phys.org
17 Aug 2012
As wind farms are increasingly sited offshore rather than on land, and installed at water depths of up to 40 metres, a Cambridge University engineer is urging the wind power industry to look again at the design of the heavy supporting towers and foundations used out at sea in order to improve the energy payback achieved.
Jim Platts of the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) believes that the wind power sector could achieve significantly higher payback ratios if turbine manufacturers used guyed towers (towers held in place by steel cables) made in composite materials rather than free-standing towers made in conventional steel materials.
A preliminary study undertaken at IfM suggests that payback ratios for offshore wind farms could be doubled if the industry embraced new construction methods.
"The development of the wind turbine industry, and the way in which it works with the civil engineers who make the heavy supporting towers and foundations, which are not visible out at sea once the turbines are installed, mean that we have ignored something which is almost embarrassingly obvious in our race to meet the targets set for renewable energy production", said Platts.
"We urgently need to reduce the high levels of energy embedded in offshore wind turbines which make them both ineffective in energy payback and costly in financial terms. We can do this fairly easily if we invest in more innovative methods for making and installing the towers and foundations that support them".
Read More…
17 Aug 2012
As wind farms are increasingly sited offshore rather than on land, and installed at water depths of up to 40 metres, a Cambridge University engineer is urging the wind power industry to look again at the design of the heavy supporting towers and foundations used out at sea in order to improve the energy payback achieved.Jim Platts of the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) believes that the wind power sector could achieve significantly higher payback ratios if turbine manufacturers used guyed towers (towers held in place by steel cables) made in composite materials rather than free-standing towers made in conventional steel materials.
A preliminary study undertaken at IfM suggests that payback ratios for offshore wind farms could be doubled if the industry embraced new construction methods.
"The development of the wind turbine industry, and the way in which it works with the civil engineers who make the heavy supporting towers and foundations, which are not visible out at sea once the turbines are installed, mean that we have ignored something which is almost embarrassingly obvious in our race to meet the targets set for renewable energy production", said Platts.
"We urgently need to reduce the high levels of energy embedded in offshore wind turbines which make them both ineffective in energy payback and costly in financial terms. We can do this fairly easily if we invest in more innovative methods for making and installing the towers and foundations that support them".
Read More…
Renewable energy sparks new interest from investors
au.news.yahoo.com
20 Aug 2012
Australia is tipped to figure prominently in takeover activity across the power utility sector over the next couple of years as investors eye renewable energy assets and the NSW privatisation. PricewaterhouseCooper's half-yearly analysis of the Asia Pacific power sector out today says the new carbon tax and the plan to source 20% of Australia's electricity from renewable sources by 2020 is fuelling interest in renewable energy assets.
There is also a growing focus on the proposed privatisation of NSW's remaining power stations. PwC says interest is both from Australian energy retailers and "a number of Asian players looking at the opportunity to acquire substantial generation capacity".
Chinese companies could figure prominently as they are increasingly looking for growth offshore to make up for domestic tariff restrictions which limit their ability to pass on costs. Both Chinese and Japanese groups have been active in Australia over the past few years, including China Shenhua's purchase of windfarms in Tasmania last year.
The value of M&A deals in the Asia Pacific sector more than tripled in the June half to $US23.6 billion ($22.6 billion) from $US7.5 billion for the same time last year. But $US12.5 billion of the latest figure was attributable to the partial nationalisation of the scandal-plagued Tokyo Electrical Power Company in the wake of last year's earthquake and tsunami. Significantly, deal-making in renewable energy held firm during the June half at $US680 million, while the rest of the world more than halved.
20 Aug 2012
Australia is tipped to figure prominently in takeover activity across the power utility sector over the next couple of years as investors eye renewable energy assets and the NSW privatisation. PricewaterhouseCooper's half-yearly analysis of the Asia Pacific power sector out today says the new carbon tax and the plan to source 20% of Australia's electricity from renewable sources by 2020 is fuelling interest in renewable energy assets.
There is also a growing focus on the proposed privatisation of NSW's remaining power stations. PwC says interest is both from Australian energy retailers and "a number of Asian players looking at the opportunity to acquire substantial generation capacity".
Chinese companies could figure prominently as they are increasingly looking for growth offshore to make up for domestic tariff restrictions which limit their ability to pass on costs. Both Chinese and Japanese groups have been active in Australia over the past few years, including China Shenhua's purchase of windfarms in Tasmania last year.
The value of M&A deals in the Asia Pacific sector more than tripled in the June half to $US23.6 billion ($22.6 billion) from $US7.5 billion for the same time last year. But $US12.5 billion of the latest figure was attributable to the partial nationalisation of the scandal-plagued Tokyo Electrical Power Company in the wake of last year's earthquake and tsunami. Significantly, deal-making in renewable energy held firm during the June half at $US680 million, while the rest of the world more than halved.
As smart electric grid evolves, engineers show how to include solar technologies
phys.org
17 Aug 2012
Reza Arghandeh of Blacksburg, Va., a doctoral candidate in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, won the best student paper award at the 20th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, held in conjunction with the American Society of Mechanical Engineering Power 2012 Conference at Anaheim, Calif.. His advisor is Robert Broadwater, professor of electrical and computer engineering, who specializes in electric power system analysis and design.
In their paper, they acknowledge that solar power resources are "intermittent, seasonal, and non-dispatchable". However, the current national climate with its deregulation policies, electricity tariffs, control strategies and demand management are "significant tools for flexible and resilient operation of power systems with photovoltaic adoption levels", Arghandeh argued.
"Selling the household generated electricity into the electric energy market and the storage of electricity in storage systems and demand control systems provide a variety of economic opportunities for customers and utility companies to use more renewable resources", he added.
Some residential houses are already doing just this-selling power back to an electrical distribution industry. But Arghandeh and Broadwater's work provides an optimization algorithm for a Distributed Energy Storage (DES) system on a broad scale. The system they developed presents a fleet of batteries connected to distribution transformers. The storage system can then be used for withholding distributed photovoltaic power before it is bid to market, Arghandeh explained.
"Withholding distributed photovoltaic power, probably gained from rooftop panels, represents a gaming method to realize higher revenues due to the time varying cost of electricity", he said.
Read More…
17 Aug 2012
Reza Arghandeh of Blacksburg, Va., a doctoral candidate in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, won the best student paper award at the 20th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, held in conjunction with the American Society of Mechanical Engineering Power 2012 Conference at Anaheim, Calif.. His advisor is Robert Broadwater, professor of electrical and computer engineering, who specializes in electric power system analysis and design.
In their paper, they acknowledge that solar power resources are "intermittent, seasonal, and non-dispatchable". However, the current national climate with its deregulation policies, electricity tariffs, control strategies and demand management are "significant tools for flexible and resilient operation of power systems with photovoltaic adoption levels", Arghandeh argued.
"Selling the household generated electricity into the electric energy market and the storage of electricity in storage systems and demand control systems provide a variety of economic opportunities for customers and utility companies to use more renewable resources", he added.
Some residential houses are already doing just this-selling power back to an electrical distribution industry. But Arghandeh and Broadwater's work provides an optimization algorithm for a Distributed Energy Storage (DES) system on a broad scale. The system they developed presents a fleet of batteries connected to distribution transformers. The storage system can then be used for withholding distributed photovoltaic power before it is bid to market, Arghandeh explained.
"Withholding distributed photovoltaic power, probably gained from rooftop panels, represents a gaming method to realize higher revenues due to the time varying cost of electricity", he said.
Read More…
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