Category: North America


OPEC investing in renewable energy projects around the world

June 24th, 2010 | Posted in General

The OPEC has decided to invest in renewable energy project development around the world. A total of USD 170 million will be invested in 14 projects in countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. According to Central America Data, about 20% of the total amount is to be invested in Latin American countries. Some of the countries are Colombia (USD 30 million), Cuba (USD 12 million), the Dominican Republic (USD 5 million) and Nicaragua (USD 4 million).

There are no details about which renewable energy technologies will be developed, but judging from the recent developments in Latin American countries, wind and hydro are the most likely. We couldn't verify this bit of news with OPEC yet, so take this with a little salt (that's why we have the Rumors category ;) ).

[source: Central America Data]


Iberdrola Renovables switches on Peñascal wind farm in Texas

June 17th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

Iberdrola Renovables has officially started up its Peñascal wind farm, located in Texas, US. The wind farm is actually split into two wind farms – Peñascal I and Peñascal II – both totalling in 404 MW of installed capacity. The wind farm is the largest wind energy facility currently operated by Iberdrola in the world. Peñascal generates enough power at peak times to be able to supply about 150,000 average US households with clean electricity. It uses 168 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MHI 92 wind turbines, each with 2.4 MW of power generating capacity.

The construction of the wind farm provided some 200 jobs for the local community, and now provides 20 permanent jobs in maintenance and operation. Environmental parameters were taken into account from the very start of the development, such as bird migration patterns in the region.

Peñascal wind farm features a radar system used to detect the arrival of large flocks of birds, and in such a case shuts down the turbines.

[source: Iberdrola]

USW and AWEA want to make the US a leader in wind energy

June 11th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

United Steelworkers (USW) and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) have formed a joint framework agreement, marking the beginning of the path towards making a "Partnership for Progress" in accelerating the development of wind energy in the US.

The idea behind the Partnership is to make sure the US takes full advantage of the vast renewable energy potential it possesses. Furthermore, the framework is expected to support the "promise" of green jobs. The emphasis seems to be put on the fact that much of the equipment used for developing renewable energy, mostly wind energy, is produced and supplied by foreign companies coming from China, for example (does this also include companies from Western Europe? For example, Siemens supplies the US wind market with turbines, but they are made in the company's US manufacturing facilities). USW and AWEA want the US to regain the leading position in manufacturing, by harnessing its substantial resources and labor force, and supply clean energy components around the world.

The agreement has four components:

  • assessment of the current position in the US
  • identifying goals through result-oriented targets
  • creation of a partnership on a public policy agenda aiming to expand domestic supply chains, while ensuring availability of qualified and skilled workers
  • periodis assessments of activities and effects

While the idea to revive the US green energy manufacturing industry is a welcome one, a question arises – should we anticipate the US wind energy market to become "closed" to foreign manufacturers? An ongoing legal battle between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and GE seems to add to that thesis. The pressure is now on the policy makers…

[source: USW and AWEA]

US DoE offers USD 102 million conditional commitment to US Geothermal

June 11th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has offered a USD 102 million conditional commitment for a loan guarantee to US Geothermal, for the purpose of building a 22 MW geothermal power plant in southeast Oregon.

The new project will be using an improved technology for extracting energy from rock and fluids in the earth's crust with more efficiency. The supercritical binary geothermal cycle is touted to be more efficient than traditional binary technology. The supercritical cycle allows developers to use lower-temperature geothermal resources to generate power. More energy will now be available from existing wells, but developers will also be able to tap into geothermal areas previously discarded due to lower temperatures.

US Geothermal estimates the creation of about 150 jobs during the construction period, and ten permanent jobs once the power plant becomes operational.

[source: US DoE, image: US Geothermal]

Acciona's Eurus wind farm gets USD 375 million loan from ten entities

June 11th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

Acciona's Eurus wind farm project in Mexico has reached an important milestone, with the company having obtained financing for the project through a USD 375 million loan guaranteed by ten separate entities. This will be the single largest loan facility for a renewable energy project in Latin America.

The Eurus wind farm will have 250.5 MW of installed capacity, representing the largest wind project ever built by Acciona, and will be the biggest wind energy facility in Latin America. It is located in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Power produced at the wind farm will be exported to Cemex' cement plants, and will cover about 25% of the energy needs for the factories.

The financial agreements for the loan were signed with global and regional entities, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (IDB) and Corporación Financiera Andina (CAF). Other signatories include Spanish, French, German and Mexican banks and companies.

[source: Acciona]

AMSC and HHI working on 5 MW wind turbine

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have expanded their strategic alliance to include a joint development effort for a new 5 MW wind turbine. The new unit is aimed at the growing offshore wind energy market. The turbine is being developed by AMSC WindTex and HHI, while AMSC will be making electronic components. Full-scale production of the new units is expected to begin by the end of 2011.

AMSC and HHI already collaborated on the 1.65 MW and 2 MW wind turbines which HHI has been successfully marketing for onshore applications over the past couple of years. HHI sees the offshore wind market as a superb opportunity for the company to expand its wind turbine manufacturing sector.

[source: AMSC]

Panama reviewing 25 applications for 3.144 GW of wind energy capacity

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

The Panamanian Public Services Authority is reviewing 25 applications for wind energy development, which if accepted, could total in 3144 MW of installed wind energy capacity in this Central American country, effectively doubling the amount of power produced from wind energy.

Two major projects under review are 600 MW Donoso wind farm (also the largest of the group), proposed by Fersa Panamá, and the 500 MW Eólico Bocas Bay wind farm in Bocas del Toro.

[source: Central America Data, image: Merriam-Webster]

Italian investment in Honduras bringing a new hydropower project

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Hydro

Italy is investing USD 31 million in the Nacaome Region of Honduras, which will result in a new hydropower plant, the José Cecilio del Valle power plant. Along with the power plant, the project will include irrigation.

According to the Italian spokesperson in Honduras, efforts are now under way to organize the project, communicate it to the local communities and to government entities. There was no mention of the amount of capacity to be installed at the new hydropower plant, but judging from the investment amount, the plant will be a small to medium sized facility.

[source: Central America Data]

Review begins for 5 proposals for Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project

June 8th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has officially begun a review process for five proposals for the development of offshore wind farms on Lake Erie and Ontario, near the coast of New York. The wind farms are part of the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project (GLOW), and could result in hundreds of megawatts of clean electricity if the state's assessment of the proposed projects has a positive outcome.

The review process will happen over phases, involving a multi-disciplinary approach. GLOW is regarded as a 1-2 punch project, since it will bring clean energy to the power grid, and much needed jobs and investments in the local economy. Once the initial phase of the review process is complete, the public will be included in further phases of the process. New York State has set a goal to achieve 15% renewables by 2015, and the GLOW project would be a significant contributor to this effort, if adopted and completed. According to NYPA's plans, GLOW will reach construction phase in 2013, and begin exporting power to the grid in 2015/2016.

[source: NYPA]

Honduras planning 800 MW of RE for 2016

June 7th, 2010 | Posted in General

Honduras has recently awarded contracts for renewable energy development, which will bring about 800 MW of clean energy to the nation's energy portfolio. The planned capacity is to be developed and installed by 2016. Investors have promised some USD 2.1 billion in RE project investments over the next six years.

In total, 52 renewable energy projects are to be built totalling in 800 MW of capacity – 250 MW of which is already reserved for purchase by ENEE. It is estimated that some 50,000 jobs will be created as a result of new developments over the next six years.

[source: Central America Data]

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