Renewable Energy

Rebate Program Encouraged Alt Fuels & Use

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:47:00 GMT

A recently exhausted rebate program in California is being credited with helping the state really increase its use of alternative fuels in vehicles.

From its inception in February 2008 to its end this past April, the Fueling Alternatives program handed out $2.6 million to encourage consumers to buy alternative fuel vehicles. And this article from the San Diego (CA) Daily Transcript says 948 rebates for as much as $5,000 were handed out to state residents who bought low- or zero-emission vehicles:

The program was funded by the California Air Resources Board with a portion of Assembly Bill 1811, which dedicated $25 million to promote alternative fuel infrastructure and vehicles. San Diego-based nonprofit, California Center for Sustainable Energies administered the program, which helped offset the cost of purchasing or leasing electric, compressed natural gas and fuel cell technologies.

?We had a tremendous response from the beginning of the program,? said Irene Stillings, executive director of CCSE in a written statement. ?But once gas hit $4 a gallon, the phone calls and e-mails really shot up.?

Rebates were awarded for an array of vehicles, ranging from low-range electric carts to high-end electric sports cars. Nearly two-thirds of the rebates, or 622 were awarded to purchasers of the compressed natural gas Honda Civic GX. Rebates for purchases of the Honda vehicle totaled more than $1.8 million.

Purchases of the Global Electric Motorcars' line of neighborhood electric vehicles were awarded the second-largest number of rebates at 116. Other popular vehicles included the Vectrix electric scooter and the high-performance electric Tesla Roadster. Six owners of the hydrogen-powered fuel cell car, Honda FCX also received rebates.

If lawmakers in California approve more funds, there could be about $5 million available for low-emission cars and motorcycles.

Farmers Eligible for Wind Energy Grants

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:04:00 GMT

Some farmers might be eligible for federal grants to cover the cost of putting in a wind energy turbine.

This ZDNet blog entry says farmers and ranchers in rural areas with fewer than 15 employees have until July 31, 2009 to apply for the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants:

The grants can be used to cover 25 percent of the total installed cost of a small wind turbine system, or another renewable energy system for that matter. They can be used in conjunction with the Federal Investment Tax Credit that applies to renewable energy technology investments. Caution, in the information I?m reading about this program, it could take up to two weeks to pull together an application, so you probably don?t want to wait until July 30 to start filling this out.

You can find more information at this USDA Web site.

Yokohama dB Super E-spec orange oil-infused tires now on sale

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:08:00 GMT

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc.

Yokohama debuted its new ADVAN ENV-R1 orange oil-infused racing tire at the Porsche GT3 Challenge at Sebring a few months back. At the time, the company promised to have new tires using the eco-friendly technology on the market for consumer use in short order. Apparently, that time is now. According to Dan King, Yokohama vice president of sales:

The eco-focused dB Super E-spec mixes sustainable orange oil and natural rubber to drastically cut the use of petroleum, without compromising performance. It also helps consumers save money at the gas pump by improving fuel efficiency via a 20-percent reduction in rolling resistance. With these innovations, the dB Super E-spec could very well be the most technologically-advanced tire ever produced.

At launch time, the new green orange tires will be available in four sizes. Not coincidentally, those sizes will fit popular hybrids like the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid/Civic GX NGV, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid. Click past the break for the official press release.

[Source: Yokohama]

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SAIC Motor to Invest US$1.76B Over 3-5 Years for New Energy Vehicles

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:56:00 GMT

Shanghai Daily. SAIC Motor, China?s largest automaker, plans to invest 12 billion yuan (US$1.76 billion) in the next three to five years to develop new-energy vehicles.

The investment will divvied up between 41 projects under its blueprint for environmentally friendly vehicles and SAIC plans to pour 2.1 billion yuan [US$307 million] into commercializing these cars this year, it said.

At an event in May, SAIC outlined short-term objectives for the introduction of new energy vehicles:

2010 launch of Roewe 750 mild hybrid sedan with a boost in fuel economy of about 20%
Proving nearly 1,000 units of new energy vehicles (all electric, ultracapacitor, fuel cell and hybrid) for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai
2012 launch of plug-in hybrid version of the Roewe 550 mid-class sedan with up to a 50% reduction in fuel consumption
2012 introduction of SAIC self-developed electric vehicles

June Hybrid Sales Up from a Year Ago

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:13:00 GMT

Hybrid car sales in June were up 9 percent from a year ago and rose 2 percent compared to last month?outperforming the an overall new car market that was down 28 percent from June 2008 and 7 percent from May.

June hybrid sales suggest that hybrids are recovering more quickly than the overall car market?just as they defied the economic downturn several months after overall car sales started to decline in 2008. June marks the sixth consecutive month of higher hybrid sales.

Nationally, car dealers sold 26,205 hybrids in June, the highest one-month total in 13 months. In June, hybrid car sales numbers exceeded 3 percent of the new car market, and could reflect the beginning of an anticipated long-term trend in which hybrid market share grows by as much as 1 percent every year. Dozens of new hybrid models will be introduced in the next few years. The world?s largest carmakers are significantly investing in increased production capacity for hybrid cars and advanced auto batteries.

The overall market continues to suffer, but declining sales have begun to slow down for four of the six major carmakers. Ford reported the smallest drop of 10.7 percent. Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com told Associated Press, ?It is unlikely things will get any worse."

The Toyota Prius led the hybrid pack with 12,998 sales, representing 49.6 percent of all hybrid sales in June. The vast majority of Prius sales?85 percent, according to Toyota? came from the new 2010 model. The introduction of the new Prius apparently affected sales of the 2010 Honda Insight and Honda Civic Hybrid, which declined by 25 percent and 42 percent respectively, compared to last month. Sales of the Ford Fusion Hybrid continued to gain momentum, jumping nearly 10 percent compared to May.

European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative Launches ?140M Call for Proposals

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:19:00 GMT

The European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH) Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) has issued a second call for proposals for research. Around ?140 million (US$196 million) has been allocated to this second call, with ?71.3 million by the Commission matched by in-kind contributions of the industrial partners. The FCH JTI, an EU-wide collaborative private-public partnership, has a total budget amounts around ?1 billion (US$1.4 billion) to be invested in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development by 2014. (Earlier post.)

The 29 project topics in the second call aim to put fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies on the market two to five years sooner than what is estimated without the support the JTI offers. Selected teams of researchers will investigate bottlenecks in the whole range of applications for these energy technologies, from cars to large scale power plants, as well as the whole supply chain from hydrogen production to demonstration of the market-readiness of applications.

Research supported by the call should foster the use of hydrogen-fueled buses and fuel cell vehicles. It is intended to help develop hydrogen storage and improve fuel cell durability, performance and the cost-efficiency to make applications such as power stations or laptops ready for the market.

The funding in the second call is allocated to five specific areas:

Transportation & Refuelling Infrastructure (?26.4 million of FCH JTI funding). This includes projects such as: large-scale demonstration of road vehicles and refuelling infrastructure; development of electric driven turbocharger for fuel cells (air supply systems) to further improve system performance, efficiency and robustness; development and optimization of PEM fuel cell electrodes and gas diffusion layers (GDLs) with the overall aim of producing produce MEAs (membrane electrode assemblies) with significant specific cost reduction (i.e. cost/power); cryogenic hydrogen storage; pre-normative research (PNR) on composite storage; and pre-normative research (PNR) on fuel quality.
Hydrogen Production & Distribution (?5.7 million). This includes projects on: development of fuel processing catalyst, modules & systems; development of gas purification technologies for hydrogen production; new generation of high temperature electrolyzer; and improved solid state hydrogen storage systems.
Stationary Power Generation & CHP (?25.9 million). This includes projects on: fundamentals of fuel cell degradation for stationary power application; materials development for cells, stacks and balance of plant (BoP); operation diagnostics and control for stationary application; component improvement for stationary power applications; proof-of-concept fuel cell systems; validation of integrated fuel cell systems readiness; build and field demonstration of stationary fuel cell systems; and application specific targets for stationary power generation and related technology benchmarks.
Early Markets (?10.3 million). This includes projects on: demonstration of fuel cell powered materials handling vehicles and infrastructure; portable generators, backup and UPS power systems; demonstration of portable and micro fuel cells for various applications; miniaturized balance of plant components; PNR & RCS (Regulations & Codes and Standards) on the indoor use of fuel cells; and early demand stimulation schemes.
Cross-cutting Issues (?3.0 million). This includes projects on: development of educational programs; training initiatives for regulators; outreach programs; development of a framework for Technology Monitoring and Assessments (TMA); and development of a framework for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

The application deadline for the call is 15 October 2009 and projects selected for contract negotiations will be announced in March 2010.

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen JTI was launched on 14 October 2008. Its main goal is to speed up the development of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies in Europe to enable their commercialization between 2010 and 2020. Current membership includes the European Commission and 64 companies, from multinationals to small and medium enterprises, represented by the European Industry Grouping for the FCH JTI (NEW IG), as well as 54 universities and research institutes, represented by the Research Grouping N.ERGHY, engaging more than 2,000 researchers in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen.

Resources

Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) Annual Implementation Plan 2009

Solar One Family Day with Turtle Bay Music School

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:47:00 GMT

On June 27, Solar One had its second Family Day of the season with an Orff demonstration and Brazilian drumming with instructors from the Turtle Bay Music School. About 35 families participated on a beautiful sunny Saturday.

Thanks to Grace, Patti, Debra, Julie and Nick for a wonderful program!

Huge Solar Ship Docked in Long Beach

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:26:00 GMT

The Auriga Leader, a Japanese owned NYK cargo ship capable of carrying 6,400 cars and using over 300 solar panels as part of its power supply was docked in Long Beach yesterday, and just departed. It is the first commerical cargo ship employing solar power technology to reduce diesel emissions. The solar panels can supply up to 15% of the vessel's electrical power when docked. The ship will probably return to Long Beach in about 30 days, and could be available for visitation. Call the Port of Long Beach to find out specific details about the possibility of seeing the solar panels. The ship is in the service of Toyota, carrying its' vehicles from Japan.

New Solar Provider Launches July 4th With 'Declare Your Energy Independence' Message

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:11:00 GMT

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- American Vision, California's largest seller and installer of replacement windows, is launching a new division of their company on July 4th, American Vision Solar.

This new division of American Vision Home Solutions will provide alternative energy for homeowners and businesses through the sales and installation of photovoltaic solar panels. Solar power has increased rapidly in popularity throughout the country over the past year. California leads the country in solar energy installations as state incentives and federal tax credits offer consumers up to 50% savings in product and installation costs. Photovoltaic solar panels are most commonly designed to replace the most expensive parts of a customer's energy bill. This provides the greatest financial return to the customer.

American Vision Home Solutions will be offering this alternative energy solution throughout California, but intends to focus its initial efforts in the areas where Southern California Edison is the primary utility provider. Mike Smith, American Vision Solar CEO, explains that each of the three main utility providers in California have a credit allowance from the state which they pass on to customers who invest in solar power. "And SCE," says Smith, "has a lot to give."

Over the past 11 years, Bill and Kathleen Herren, owners of American Vision Home Solutions, have grown their business from windows to include kitchen, bath, garage, window fashions, texture coating and more. Now, with over 30,000 customers, they are well known for their unique level of customer service. Bill Herren states that adding alternative energy solutions to their list of home improvement services was a "no-brainer". Says Herren, "Our mission statement talks about revolutionizing the home improvement industry one customer at a time. And offering alternative energy to our customers certainly stays in line with revolutionizing the industry."

Mike Smith states, "We're encouraging everyone to declare their independence from high energy bills and unnecessary dependence on unnatural resources. We've even written a Declaration of Energy Independence that people can read on our website. Which is also why we felt July 4th was the perfect day to launch an alternative energy solution."

Treasure Valley Solar Becomes Earthsponse Elite Dealer and Announces Move into the Solar Industry

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:09:00 GMT

BOISE, Idaho, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Treasure Valley Solar announced today that it has incorporated new solar products into their business after training select team members in the renewable energy field. The company recently partnered with Earthsponse, an alternative energy firm that provides its dealers with the best products and continuing education to ensure that they will be leaders in the renewable energy industry.

The training session, held at the Earthsponse facility in Binghamton, New York, included four days of classroom and hands-on training in crystalline, thin film, and solar thermal applications. Treasure Valley Solar now offers EnerWorks, Kyocera, and EPV Solar products as well as energy audit services.

The growing demand for alternative energy products has been rapidly moving from large-scale applications to more residential and commercial solutions. The government's decision to renew tax rebates and incentives increased production and created a large opportunity for green growth. Increased availability and lower costs are pushing homeowners and businesses across the globe to join the environmental movement.

Bruce Saunders, Founder of Treasure Valley Solar, is excited about the growth in the renewable energy industry: "Partnering with Earthsponse is a great opportunity to bring solar to as many people in our community as possible. It allows me to spread the word that solar technology is on center stage today in Idaho."

Electric BMW Halbo Saves The Planet But Not You

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:08:00 GMT

Designed for the BMW Motorrad Innovation Contest, the Halbo turns saving the planet into an extreme sport.

Conceived by designer Pierre Yohanes Lubis, the electric bike is much more planet friendly than say a petro-based vehicle. But, if the concept were to become popular it's just unsafe enough to thin the herd.

Enfinity Will Develop China's Largest and First PV Power Station

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:07:00 GMT

WAREGEM, Belgium and SHANGAI, July 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- A Joint Bidding Team, Initiated by Enfinity, Won the First 10 MWp Solar Concession Project

The Dunhuang PV Project involves an investment of 200 million yuan (27 mio euro), with an annual power production of 16.37 million kWh, and a franchised operation term of 25 years. In late March 2009, the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) planned an open tender to confirm the on-grid electricity price and technical solutions. A total of 13 enterprises including major domestic power giants got the upper hand in the bidding, with tender prices ranging from 0.69 yuan/kWh (0.071 euro/kWh) to 1.9 yuan/kWh (0.196 euro/kWh). The joint bidding team, which is initiated by Enfinity, has won the project with the price of 1.09 yuan/kWh. CGNPC and LDK Solar are the partners on the bid.

"The project is expected to start construction within 4 months and has to be completed within the 18 following months", commented Gino Van Neer, founder of Enfinity. All PV systems will be PV tracker panels, installed on land. Enfinity is in the process of setting up the Dunhuang joint venture company and confirming the EPC contract. In the near future Enfinity will develop a total of 500 MWp of PV installations in the Dunhuang region.

"Winning this bid is an important milestone for Enfinity's international expansion strategy and it will act as an entrance ticket towards the high potential Asian market," says a very proud Gino Van Neer.

NDRC of China also intent to set up a bench mark FIT (Feed in tariff) at 1.09 yuan/kWh that Enfinity proposed. Enfinity as the only foreign player who participated in the tender has attracted a lot of attention in Asia.

Followed by the success of the Dunhuang project, Enfinity is continuing the development in China. This week, Enfinity had its first self-developed project in Shizuishan (Ningxia province) approved by the provincial level government. The 10MWp project is ready to be submitted to NDRC for the FIT approval.

LDK Solar Provides Business Update

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:06:00 GMT

XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), a leading manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, today provided an updated outlook for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009. For the second quarter of 2009, LDK Solar estimates shipments between 220 and 230 megawatts ("MW"). This compares to its previously issued guidance for the second quarter of 2009 of wafer shipments in the range of 200 to 220 MW. The company expects to record between $215 and $225 million in revenues.

LDK Solar additionally provided an update on its financing activities. The company secured a loan in the aggregate principal amount of RMB 500 million (equivalent to approximately US$73 million), with a term of one year, from The Export-Import Bank of China. The company also secured a loan in the aggregate principal amount of RMB 500 million (equivalent to approximately US$73 million), with a term of three years, from Huarong International Trust Co., Ltd. to support LDK Solar's polysilicon plant construction. Huarong International Trust Co., Ltd. is a state-controlled company permitted under the relevant PRC laws and regulations to provide enterprises with financing facilities. LDK Solar had a healthy cash position of more than $250 million and pledged bank deposits and time deposits of more than $170 million as of June 30, 2009.

"During the second half of the second quarter, our wafer shipments were driven by stronger than expected demand," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar. "Our annualized wafer capacity at June 30, 2009 reached 1.5 gigawatts ("GW"). We are encouraged by the recent improvement in market demand and expect to resume the expansion of our wafer plant with the goal of reaching 2.0 GW annualized wafer capacity by the end of 2009."

"The construction of our polysilicon plant continues to remain on schedule. The second train is targeted to reach mechanical completion in the third quarter of this year and the third train is expected to reach mechanical completion in the first quarter of 2010. We are very pleased to receive continued financial support for our growth plans from our local banks and view this as a testament to the promising future of the solar industry in China," concluded Mr. Peng.

This outlook for the three months ended June 30, 2009 is an estimate. Results are subject to change based on further review by the management. LDK Solar plans to report its full second quarter 2009 results in mid-August 2009. Once the reporting date is finalized, LDK Solar will issue a press release announcing the date and details of its second quarter conference call.

Vanguard Energy Partners Helps Quick Chek Launch Its First Solar Electric Array

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:02:00 GMT

BRANCHBURG, N.J., July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard Energy Partners, LLC, today announced the completion of Quick Chek's first renewable energy project -- a 110kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system that will help power its corporate headquarters in Whitehouse Station, NJ. Vanguard will be working with the premier fresh food chain to explore additional solar energy initiatives within its nearly 120 stores in New Jersey and southern New York.

Vanguard, a leader in the northeast for design and installation of large scale solar projects, installed 627 roof-mounted Sharp modules that will generate approximately 120,000 KWH/AC in the first year or more than 20% of the electricity for Quick Chek's corporate offices from the clean, renewable power of sunlight. The energy production from the building's new photovoltaic system is the equivalent of conserving 9,782 gallons of gasoline and taking 16 cars off the road.

"Vanguard is pleased to help Quick Chek's renewable energy generation initiatives and its support for our state's green mandates for alternative energy sources. Quick Chek's decision to implement solar energy is a clear sign of their industry leadership and strategic use the financial incentives currently offered by New Jersey's 'world class' Clean Energy Program" said Alex Rivera, Vice President of Vanguard Energy Partners, LLC.

Noveda Technologies' SunFlow Monitor(TM), recipient of the 2007 Market Innovator Award by the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, will track in real time--via the internet--the solar production, facility consumption and system efficiency at Quick Chek.

"Throughout our history, we've prided ourselves on being forward-thinking stewards of our environment, constantly researching and implementing methods such as energy management refrigeration systems and LED lighting packages that not only create efficiencies and save dollars, but conserve energy," said Quick Chek Vice President of Sales and Merchandising John Schaninger. "We're excited to continue our partnership with Vanguard where our future plans include exploring additional solar energy initiatives across our portfolio of fresh food store locations."

Cyclone Power Improves Performance And Durability of Waste Heat Engine

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:31:00 GMT

Cyclone Power Technologies has achieved positive results from performance tests recently conducted on its Waste Heat Engine (WHE) (earlier post), and expects the final stage of testing prior to on-site beta installation to begin in July.

The WHE is a self-starting steam engine capable of producing up to 18 hp (10 kW of electricity) from low to medium-temperature waste heat sources. Cyclone is targeting WHE systems for applications such as small-scale cogeneration, solar thermal electricity production, biomass combustion, and engines for auxiliary power units for trucks and RVs.

The WHE is derivative of Cyclone?s external combustion Green Revolution Engine. (Earlier post.) Unlike its more powerful counterpart, the WHE operates in a low-pressure, low-temperature range using waste heat as low as 225 °F (107 °C) and pressure as low as 25 psi (172 kPa). By contrast, the GRE employs super-critical pressure (3,200 psi, 22 MPa) and super-heated steam (1,200 °F, 649 °C).

The tests involved running the WHE on heat generated from a simulated industrial furnace. The company recently modified certain design elements and materials of the WHE in an effort to reduce heat conductivity losses and engine wear. The company also improved the design of the heat exchanger to generate higher steam temperatures and pressures.

The net results of these improvements, as demonstrated by the performance testing, is expected to be an engine that operates at a broader range of temperatures, achieves higher overall efficiencies and has greater lifetime durability.

Waste Heat Engine power generation tests using the exhaust heat of a small industrial furnace.

ODAC Newsletter - July 3

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:09:00 GMT

A weekly review from a UK perspective - "The first round in the great Iraqi oil sale was an interesting affair if not a very conclusive one. In the live TV auction which took place on Tuesday, only one deal was reached as international oil companies refused to meet the terms demanded...

Book Review: Blackout

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:57:00 GMT

Coal. Under the surface we seem to have a lot of it. It's fairly inexpensive but this is changing as demand rises to meet increased energy needs especially in countries like China. So we have a lot, its cheap, let's use it, what's the problem? Right? Wrong!

Author Richard Heinberg writes in Blackout: Coal, Climate and the Last Energy Crisis, ?In short: two of the defining trends of the emerging century?the development of the Asian economies and climate change?both center on coal. But coal is finite non-renewable resource. Thus, a discussion of the future of coal must also intersect with a third great trend of the new century: resource depletion.?

In the first part of the book, Heinberg takes the reader through a deep analysis of just how much coal is available throughout the world. Keep in mind, forecasts assume that current energy use stays the same, but it is increasing each year, making coal available for a shorter amount of time. Best estimates are that the world will see Peak Coal by 2025 and many believe that the world has already witnessed Peak Oil.

Now, you're just waiting for me to say there is no such thing as clean coal. So there, it's out in the open. In the second section of the book, Heinberg talks about the link between coal and greenhouse gas emissions and discusses the technologies to create ?clean coal?. They are all challenged to say the least.

At the end of Blackout, Heinberg details three scenarios that involve coal, climate and energy. They are all very disturbing, but Heinberg has a way of tackling issues head on.

?For strategic purposes, it is important to understand our human tendency to discount future problems. We must assess which threats will come soonest, and make sure that out sometimes frantic efforts to respond to these immediate necessities do not exacerbate problems that will show up later. Peak Oil is clearly the most immediate energy and resource supply threat the policy makers must deal with?.?

He continues, ?If energy scarcity forces policy changes before climate fears can do so, then perhaps world leaders will find that it makes more sense to ration fuel themselves, rather than the emissions they produce.?

Heinberg continues by warning if we don't get a grip on the real amount of fossil fuels supplies we have left as well as a deeper understanding of the environmental and economic consequences of burning fossil fuels..hello Blackout.

Wow, conservation?what a novel concept?good thing the fuel economy standards (aka CAFE standards) were finally improved.

??Otherwise, the policies pursued are likely to be ineffective, counterproductive, and inconsistent.? Can you say proposed Climate Bill?

I'm a huge fan of Heinberg and he doesn't disappoint with Blackout. You can buy this book or any book I review by clicking here.

BTW - Richard Heinberg is going to be a guest on the premier of national radio program Pure Energy, hosted by Sean O'Hanlon. The show debuts on July 13, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. EST on 880 The Biz and can also be heard live on www.PureEnergyShow.com.

Utility Scale Solar Heating Up

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:52:00 GMT

Utility scale solar got a big boost this week as Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a new plan to designate 24 tracts of public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as study areas for development of solar power plants.

The effort is in support of President Obama's target to generate 10% of U.S. electricity from renewable sources by 2010, and 25% 2025. The nation currently generates more than 1000 megawatts (MW) from photovoltaics, and 600 MW from thermal concentrated solar power (CSP) systems.

The BLM plans to spend $22 million evaluating about 670,000 acres, or more than 1,000 square miles of land, in Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah in search of sites with at least three square miles of good solar exposure, favorable slopes, access to roads and transmission lines, and minimal environmental impact.

Salazar estimated that the areas could generate nearly 100,000 MW, and announced his intention to have 13 commercial scale solar power plants under construction by the end of 2010. BLM is already considering environmental reviews for two NextLight Silver State arrays in Nevada, totaling 407 MW. (For comparison, typical coal-fired power plants in the U.S. are 500 to 700 MW in size. One megawatt of coal-fired capacity will power 400 to 900 homes, depending on their location and demand for air conditioning.) The BLM has already begun the process of developing environmental impact statements for three solar projects in California, including two by Stirling Energy Systems totaling 1,600 MW of capacity, and the 400 MW Ivanpah project by BrightSource Energy.

BrightSource Energy CSP plant (pictured on the right), which uses an array of small, flat mirrors on heliostats that track the sun and focus its rays on a central "power tower" where the generator is located.

Applications for 10 MW or larger plants would be fast-tracked under the new program, which will radically streamline the permitting and development process and assume responsibility for one of the most burdensome aspects of getting utility scale solar plants built: environmental reviews.

The BLM has been struggling to process a backlog of pending applications for 470 renewable energy projects, including 158 commercial solar projects totaling some 97,000 MW?enough to power 29 million homes, and equivalent to 29% of the nation's electricity demand, according to the agency.

At present, zero permits have been approved. Progress has been impeded by concerns over species protection, availability of water (primarily for the cooling cycles of the power plants), and a maze of approval processes in multiple government agencies with overlapping jurisdictions.

Projects nearing approval will be expedited under the plan, and existing applications for projects in approved areas will be given priority.

"With coordinated environmental studies, good land use-planning and zoning, and priority processing, we can accelerate responsible solar energy production," Salazar said.

Minimizing Environmental Risks

Environmental reviews have been especially troublesome, since utility scale solar projects require large (10-15 square mile) areas to be "walled off." But isolating even a five square mile tract can impact wildlife corridors and drainage. Many projects have been put on hold over concerns about endangered and protected species including the Mojave ground squirrel, the desert tortoise, the California kit fox, and the Yuma clapper rail.

In March, California Senator Dianne Feinstein threatened to propose legislation that would designate more than 800,000 acres between the Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park as a national monument and off-limits to development, because it contains desert tortoise habitat, wildlife corridors, and endangered cactus. She wrote Salazar, requesting that 12 proposed solar projects in the area be stopped.

At the Concentrating Solar Thermal Power 2009 conference San Francisco, CA last month, I came to understand just how challenging the environmental aspect was in a presentation by Charles Ricker, the Senior Vice President of Business Development for BrightSource Energy. Oakland, California based BrightSource is one of the world's premier CSP developers, with 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of commitments, equivalent to 25% of the world's solar thermal generating capacity.

Ricker related his company's long and torturous slog to build the Ivanpah project. After securing a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 300 MW with California utility PG&E and a 100 MW PPA with Southern California Edison, getting well along in the permitting process with the California Energy Commission (CEC) and BLM, raising capital, securing access to transmission lines, buying a Siemens turbine and a Riley boiler receiver, and negotiating a contract for construction that was to break ground later this year, the discovery of 25 desert tortoises in the area held up the whole works.

Avoiding such deal-killers will be a key focus of the new BLM process. The study will specifically exclude "sensitive lands, wilderness and other high-conservation-value lands as well as lands with conflicting uses" such as mining claims, according to the Department of Interior press release. "Areas with a known density of cultural sites" and those "of known Tribal concerns" will also be excluded.

Once a given area is approved for development, companies applying for projects will be able to incorporate the BLM clearances as part of the environmental impact studies required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Consequently, it should greatly reduce the cost of doing the environment evaluations, as well as the investment risk.

Fat Incentives

Helping to shoulder the burden of environmental clearing, permitting and approval is a critically important benefit at a time when raising the necessary capital continues to be a major hurdle. Banks are still very reluctant to lend for renewable energy projects. One presenter at the CSP 2009 conference explained that Florida Power & Light had to tap 12 banks to round up a lousy $350 million in financing for what was essentially a no-risk renewable energy utility project!

Another presenter noted that banks will still not finance storage systems for CSP projects because of their lack of a commercial track record. This is extremely unfortunate as thermal storage offers the potential for CSP plants to operate 24/7 and compete head-to-head with coal-fired and nuclear plants, providing round-the-clock "baseload" capacity. Numerous technologies including high pressure concrete, mineral oil, molten salts, and direct steam storage are now available or under development that could crack this all-important limitation and pave the way for utility solar to take over a large part of the nation's electrical supply load. Without storage, solar plants can't function when the sun is down.

In an effort to make utility scale solar projects more attractive to investors, a host of government incentives have been launched.

First, the new BLM process will be funded by $41 million dollars given to the agency under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 "to advance the nation's development and transmission of renewable energy on public lands."

The federal stimulus package also offered a package of incentives designed to further minimize the investment risk for commercial solar plants. A cash grant program from the Treasury covers 30% of the project cost with no limit, and functions like a tax credit. Better yet, Treasury must grant it if a project meets the application requirements.

Congress also appropriated $6 billion for a program administered by the Department of Energy that will subsidize the risk premium (10-15% of the total loan) to backstop the investment risk for projects that are ready to start construction by Sept 30, 2011.

Additional financial incentive programs are available at the state level. Arizona will assess property taxes on a mere 20% of the depreciated property value. New Mexico offers a production tax credit against state taxes for 10 years, capped at 200,000 MWh/year, and a 6% "advanced energy tax credit." Nevada has an abatement incentive that will reduce normal sales taxes of 6.5% - 7.75% to just 2.6%, and reduce property taxes by as much as 55% for CSP projects; the incentives expire in 2049. Colorado offers a permanent property tax assessment that will value solar energy projects at the same level as comparably sized non-renewable facilities, giving them an assessed value that is far lower than the actual value on a sliding scale. Utah offers a sales tax exemption as well.

With policy and financial support at its back and the BLM clearing the path ahead, the future looks bright indeed for utility scale solar, the cheapest solar watts around. It's not easy to find publicly traded stocks that are positioned to benefit from the technology's next wave of expansion, but that's why we're here.

Until next time,

Chris

Energy and Capital

Japan Post Deploying 40 EVs This Fiscal Year

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:43:00 GMT

Japan Post Service Co. will deploy 40 electric vehicles this fiscal year, with the first units in operation later this month.

The i-MiEV and Plug-in Stella. Click to enlarge.

The company is signing five-year leases for 20 units apiece of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Subaru Plug-In Stella. The EVs will mainly be in use in its branches in Kanagawa Prefecture, where there is a recharging infrastructure.

Japan Post Services is also testing custom-built electric vehicles for mail pickup, and will also test the plug-in Prius from Toyota at the end of the year.

Solutions & sustainability & community - July 3

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:12:00 GMT

Economy takes its toll on Amish
Greening a mountain community: Estes Park, Colorado
Why Are Chickens Leading the Sharing Revolution?

ITM Power Retrofitted Ford Focus Completes Eco Rally 2009

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:11:00 GMT

A couple of weeks ago I talked about the ITM Power / Ford Focus hydrogen retrofit participating in Great Britain?s Eco Rally 2009. This is a follow up to that story.

The modified 2.0 liter Ford Focus is actually a dual fuel vehicle that can run on either compressed hydrogen gas or gasoline. British Chancellor Alistair Darling actually took the car for a spin as did Zac Goldsmith who drove the first leg of the rally.

According to Goldsmith, ?I think it?s a magnificent car. I like it because it?s so simple. I couldn?t tell the difference, driving with gas or hydrogen, it?s the same vehicle, same motion, very easy, very uncomplicated. I like the fact that it?s a fairly straightforward retrofit so we?re not talking hundreds of thousands extra, given that this is a one-off prototype, not conveyor belt made, so if it became mainstream, you?re talking something quite affordable ? I fail to see the real obstacles, I don?t think they exist, except in politicians? minds, and I?d like to see a bit of clarity and maybe a bit of courage? (from them).?

There is also a video taken at the Revolve Eco Rally that ITM Power fans may find of interest outlining the general attributes of the car and how it runs. And there is an even more interesting video (in my opinion) sent in by Lee C. that gives people a glimpse inside the ITM Power facility and laboratory.

Much of this video talks about the home hydrogen fueling station which electrolyzes water cheaply to create hydrogen and compress and store it for vehicle use. The same unit can also be used to power one?s home as well. Solar, wind or grid energy can be used to power this unit. Hydrogen can also replace natural gas in many appliances within the home.

GE to Create Center of Excellence in Europe for Automated Manufacturing of Carbon Composites

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:08:00 GMT

GE Global Research, the technology development arm of the General Electric Company, and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a world-class carbon composites manufacturing Center of Excellence on the TUM campus in Garching, near Munich, Germany. The Center of Excellence will focus on automated manufacturing of complex composite structures for use in wind turbines, jet engines, and deep sea oil & gas applications.

Automated manufacturing of carbon composites addresses the key challenges in industrialization by reducing cost, improving quality, and increasing the rate and speed of production. This technology is intended to provide a significant improvement over today?s carbon composite manufacturing processes and is to enable a new suite of commercial applications not practical or possible today.

These applications include the development of a longer, advanced wind blade for increased wind capture and stronger risers to enable high-pressure deep-sea oil exploration and production.

The Center of Excellence will benefit from Global Research Europe?s carbon composites manufacturing lab, which opened in September 2007, and the TUM?s newly created Lehrstuhl Carbon Composite (LCC) institute, led by Professor Dr. Klaus Drechsler. The establishment of the LCC at the TUM has been enabled through an endowment by SGL Carbon SE, headquartered in Wiesbaden, which is one of the world?s leading manufacturers of carbon-based products.

Composites, consisting of carbon fibers and resins, are stronger than the metals that they replace and also are lighter weight, which allows for new product design and enables product efficiency such as fuel savings. GE Aviation used composites in the fan blade of the GE90 jet engine, which was commercialized in the mid 1990s and have since expanded the use to the fan case for the GEnx. In both engines, reductions in weight due to use of carbon composites have led to improved fuel economy and performance over previous-generation engines. GE researchers are applying carbon composite technology to wind turbine blades, which could ultimately result in weight savings of 30%.

Prius Not Your Thing? Meet The Electric Raptor

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:05:00 GMT

There seems to be a craze catching on with matching classic metal with modern, alternative power sources. I guess not everyone wants to drive a Smartcar or a Prius, but at the same time doesn't want to pay for gas. That is the case of software engineer Raul Atkinson, who finally decided that since nobody made an electric car he would want to drive, he'd simply build one himself.

Of course, it couldn't look like an electric car. We are all entitled to our opinions, but I still live in America, home of the muscle car, luxury SUVs, and a seemingly endless series of scenic roads. So Atkinson's idea of dumping an electric powerplant into a Daytona kit car is not only appealing, but downright sexy?in an Earth-friendly way.

E-One Moli Energy Building New Li-ion Plant in Taiwan

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:57:00 GMT

Taiwan-based E-One Moli Energy Corp. (Molicel) is building a new lithium-ion battery plant in Taiwan with a monthly production capacity of 12 million units.

The expansion will make E-One Moli one of the world?s top manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries. The company says that it will focus on the laptop-computer, cordless power tool, and electric or hybrid-electric vehicle market.

The new plant is located next to its first plant in the Southern Taiwan Science Park; construction work is slated for completion by the end of 2009.

E-One Moli currently manufactures and markets a variety of cylindrical and prismatic lithium-ion cells, using different cathode materials. The company says that it is working with strategic partners to develop the next-generation of cells for transportation and electrical energy storage.

Liberty from Foreign Oil

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:37:00 GMT

As the Statue of Liberty's crown reopens to the public this Independence Day for the first time since September 11, 2001, it's a good time to consider what true liberty and independence means. To paraphrase the famous quote from one of our founding fathers, Patrick Henry, ?Give me liberty or give me foreign oil.?

Jay Hakes, author of ?A Declaration of Energy Independence,? says September 11, 2001 was a preview of America's future ? one possible future.

On September 12, 2001 the United States awakened from a nightmare, finding itself standing at a crossroad, facing a choice between two very different futures: One choice would lead the country to increased dependence on foreign oil and a future dominated by terrorism and war. The other choice would lead to American energy independence and a world economy that is no longer desperate for oil.

On the main page of Hakes' website ?American Energy Independence,? there are photos of two paintings by artist Michael D?Antuono.

?The first painting titled ?Dependence? depicts a burqa-clad Statue of Liberty encircled by vultures in an apocalyptic environment clinging to a barrel of oil instead of a book and a gasoline nozzle raised above her head in place of her torch.

The second piece titled ?Independence?, offers an optimistic alternative to the first with our Miss Liberty this time embracing a solar panel and wind turbine as eagles and doves glide through an idyllic blue sky.?

Hakes has a great way of thinking about Energy Independence we should all consider as we fill up our cars and prepare to watch the fireworks bursting in air this holiday:

Energy Independence is a civilization changing idea, like freedom, one that should be thought of much like we think of our national independence?our liberty, which is both an ideal and a physical reality. Energy Independence can and should be pursued with the same patriotic spirit that fought for, won and sustains American democracy and freedom.

The phrase ?Energy Independence? is a slogan embodying an idea that resonates with the character of America?it is a call for return to economic balance and protection from vulnerability created by over-dependence on petroleum to fuel our cars, trucks and airplanes?it is a public outcry voiced by citizens demanding government leadership in energy production, distribution, security and fuel choice.

God Bless America!

Reported US Hybrid Sales Up 5.2% Year on Year in June; 3% New Vehicle Market Share for the Month

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Hybrid new vehicle market share by month. Click to enlarge.

Reported sales of hybrids in the US increased 5.2% by volume in June 2009 year-on-year to 26,205 units, representing 3% of new vehicles sold?marking the highest monthly new vehicle share since April 2008, and the fourth straight month of increasing share. For the first half of 2009, hybrids held a 2.6% new vehicle share.

Hybrids significantly outperformed the total light-duty vehicle market, which dropped 27.7% by volume to 859,847 units, according to figures from Autodata. The SAAR (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in June was 9.69 million?lower than May’s 9.91 million.

Reported US hybrid sales by month. Click to enlarge.

Toyota. Toyota posted sales of 16,744 hybrid vehicles in June, down 5.8% by volume year-on-year. The improved performance (relative to recent months) was led by the Prius, which, with the 2010 model on sale, posted June sales of 12,998 units, up 10.5% by volume year-on-year.

Camry and Camry Hybrid remained Toyota?s volume leader in June, posting combined monthly sales of 26,394 units, with Camry Hybrid accounting for 2,093 units, or 7.9%. Camry Hybrid sales were down 31.5% from the prior year-ago month; sales of the conventional model were down 37%. Highlander Hybrid posted 1,098 sales, down 27.3%; sales of the conventional Highlander models were up 8%.

US LDV SAAR. For the first six months of 2009, SAAR settled slightly below 10 million units. The red line is the moving average (3-month period). Click to enlarge.

On the Lexus side, the RX hybrid posted 527 units, down 60.4% from 1,330 units in June 2008. Sales of conventional RX models in June 2009, however, jumped up 52%. The GS 450h hybrid posted a 63% drop year-on-year to 27 units, while the LS 600h saw a 57.5% drop to 31 units. Sales of the conventional GS models were down 63% year-on-year, while sales of conventional LS models were down 47%.

Overall, Toyota’s US sales in June dropped 32% by volume compared to June 2008.

Honda. American Honda posted total hybrid sales of 3,662 units in June, up 34.5% year-on-year. The improvement was driven by sales of the new Insight, Honda’s hybrid leader in the month, with 2,079 units sold.

The Civic Hybrid posted 1,583 units, down 41.6% from June 2008. Sales of conventional Civic models were down 48% year-on-year.

Overall, Honda posted a 30% drop in light-duty vehicle sales in June.

Ford. Buoyed by sales of the new hybrid Fusion and Milan, Ford’s hybrid vehicles posted sales of 3,649 units, a June sales record and up 91% versus a year ago.

Overall, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales for the month totaled 148,153, down 11% versus a year ago?the best performance of any of the major automakers.

General Motors. GM reported a total of 1,454 hybrid vehicles delivered in the month, up 26.5% year-on-year. GM hybrids currently comprise the Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura and Vue BAS hybrids; and the Tahoe, Silverado, Yukon, Sierra, and Cadillac Escalade two-mode hybrids.

Overall, GM light-duty vehicle sales in June were down 33.4% by volume to 174,785 units year-on-year.

Nissan. Nissan posted 666 units of the Altima Hybrid, down 50% from June 2008. Sales of conventional Altima models were down 32%.

Overall, Nissan sales in June were down 23.1% year-on-year.

Celebrate Energy Independence

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:05:00 GMT

As Americans celebrate Independence Day this weekend, it is a good time to reflect on our need to increase our energy independence.

The good news is, we are becoming less dependent on foreign sources of oil for our transportation fuel needs. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), ethanol displaced almost 322 million barrels of oil in 2008. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) notes that is the equivalent of eliminating oil imports from Venezuela for 10 months, or looked at another way, it would mean that the U.S. would not have to import ANY oil for 33 days. It also saved American consumers and taxpayers $32 billion, an average of more than $87 million a day.

Despite well-publicized cases of economic troubles in the ethanol industry, the production and use of ethanol continues to increase. The latest EIA figures show that American ethanol facilities produced 640,000 barrels per day in April 2009, up by 78,000 barrels from last year. Ethanol demand, as calculated by the RFA, continued to strengthen heading into the summer driving season, with demand at 673,000, up 29,000 from March.

Jay Hakes, author of ?A Declaration of Energy Independence,? says American Energy Independence means energy security, energy abundance and energy self-sufficiency.

Energy Independence is a civilization changing idea, like freedom, one that should be thought of much like we think of our national independence?our liberty, which is both an ideal and a physical reality. Energy Independence can and should be pursued with the same patriotic spirit that fought for, won and sustains American democracy and freedom.

The phrase ?Energy Independence? is a slogan embodying an idea that resonates with the character of America?it is a call for return to economic balance and protection from vulnerability created by over-dependence on petroleum to fuel our cars, trucks and airplanes?it is a public outcry voiced by citizens demanding government leadership in energy production, distribution, security and fuel choice.

God Bless America.

Efficient air conditioning could potentially save billions of gallons of gas

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:46:00 GMT

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., Green Daily, USA

The U.S. Department of Transportation and National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) are hard at work developing new ways to make the air conditioners more efficient and reduce the interior tempteratures in our cars and trucks. What's the big deal? Apparently, a whopping seven billion gallons of gasoline are used each and every year in the United States alone to run automotive AC units, which represents 5.5-percent of the country's fuel use. Burning that fuel emits more than 58 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Surely, then, anything that can be done to make air conditioners more effective is worth looking into, and the NREL has a helper called ADAM. The 160-pound Advanced Automotive Mannequin features 120 sensing zones and is used to effectively monitor the ambient and surface temperatures inside a car, among other things. The end result of the organization's findings could be a savings of some three billion gallons of gasoline per year. That's hot stuff.

[Source: Wired]

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IAV and TESIS DYNAware Present Second-generation Thermodynamic Engine Simulation Software Package

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:24:00 GMT

TESIS DYNAware and IAV Automotive Engineering presented the second generation of the thermodynamic real-time simulation software DYNA4 Engine Themos.

For the development of engine control units (ECUs), DYNA4 Engine Themos performs function development as well as hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) applications. The software can accurately represent the entire engine process, so the models can be used in the early stages of control unit function calibration.

DYNA4 Engine Themos is also suitable for the selection and optimization of engine components with the aim to reduce fuel consumption?or in combination with additional model components?for the simulation of hybrid vehicles. All models are fully implemented in Matlab/Simulink.

The fast-simulating engine models are part of the process-driven simulation environment DYNA4 and thus allow the continuous application of DYNA4 Engine Themos from function development to HIL tests in real-time.

We know from our experience in numerous engine and control unit engineering projects that function developers do not only depend on the correct behavior of controlled systems but a high precision representation of reality becomes more and more important. In the new DYNA4 Engine Themos we emphasized great importance to this aspect.
?Kurt Blumenröder, President and CEO at IAV

High accuracy is one important requirement for testing and development of modern ECUs, e. g. through simulation of the crank angle resolved cylinder pressure. In DYNA4 Engine Themos, a physical model of the combustion process and gas dynamics allows for effects of variable valve lift and timing, multiple injections, exhaust gas recirculation and boost pressure control as well as exhaust gas aftertreatment. All engine model versions are integrated in a simulation environment with driveline and driver models, so that typical driving cycles can be simulated realistically and then analyzed.

Researchers Develop Urea Electrolysis for Conversion of Urine and Urea to Hydrogen

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:58:00 GMT

Researchers at Ohio University have developed a new technology that accomplishes the direct conversion of urine and urea to pure hydrogen via electrochemical oxidation with an inexpensive nickel catalyst.

Hydrogen production from urine. Credit: RSC. Click to enlarge.

A report on the work led by Professor Gerardine G. Botte was published in Chemical Communications, a journal of the UK Royal Society of Chemistry.

Urea?the major constituent of urine?has four hydrogen atoms per molecule ((NH₂)₂CO) which are less tightly bonded than the hydrogen atoms in water molecules. A voltage of 0.37V is required to split the molecule, compared to the 1.23V needed to split water.

During the process, urea is adsorbed on to the nickel electrode surface, which passes the electrons needed to break up the molecule. Pure hydrogen is evolved at the cathode, while nitrogen plus a trace of oxygen and hydrogen are collected at the cathode. Carbon dioxide generated during the reaction reacts with potassium hydroxide in the solution to form potassium carbonate.

Botte suggests that the technology could scale-up to produce hydrogen while cleaning up wastewater.