June 3rd, 2009 | Posted in
Wind | No Comments
Argentina is on the move with renewable energy development. Just recently Argentina has invited bids for geothermal power projects, and now there's talk of a new wind farm, the biggest in the country. Spanish Guascor Group has been selected to develop a USD 2.4 billion wind park in southern Argentina, producing between 600 and 900 MW of power. The power plant will be twice the size of the largest currently operating wind power plant in Europe.
The project is estimated to take about three years to be completed, and will account for an increase of the stake of wind power to about 5% of the total energy matrix in the country. By 2010, the country expects about 300 MW to be produced from the new wind farm, with additional power coming in 2011.
The location of the new plant is in the south of the country, in the wind swept Santa Cruz province. Construction of 500 kW power lines has also been authorized, as a necessity if the new wind farm is going to be used at all.
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June 3rd, 2009 | Posted in
Hydro | Comments (1)
Image credit: Verbund
The ground-breaking ceremony is the step marking the beginning of construction of the 48 MW hydropower plant in Ashta, Albania. The power plant will be built by Austrian Verbund. Once completed in 2012, the power plant will supply electricity to about 100,000 households in the area. Parallel to this, Verbund is opening offices in the capital Tirana.
Albania is a growing market for electricity. The country's experiencing demand growth, and needs to increase installed power generation from the current 1.5 GW, in order to decrease energy imports. The project itself will be developed using innovative hydro-matrix technology, for the first time used in a large scale project, according to Verbund. The costs are estimated at about EUR 160 million, with a concession period of 35 years, after which the Ashta hydropower plant will revert to the Republic of Albania.
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June 2nd, 2009 | Posted in
General | No Comments
The acquisition is going to give Siemens access to further innovative projects in the area of sustainable power generation, expanding its portfolio of products and services. BGZ develops, finances and operates renewable energy projects like wind, solar biomass power plants.
Siemens will invest into BGZ through its Siemens Project Ventures equity company (SPV), harnessing BGZ's long-time experience and know-how in the development of wind energy projects, and contributing to the expansion of Siemens' renewable energy business. SPV and BGZ have been cooperating since 2006, when SPV and BGZ (it's subsidiary) established a joint venture Innovative Wind Concepts GmbH, for the purpose of developing and implementing renewable energy projects in Central and Eastern Europe.
In 2008, BGZ has had an installed base of about 950 MW in the wind power sector, and the company's customers include major energy suppliers and international financial investors.
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June 2nd, 2009 | Posted in
Geothermal | No Comments
Geothermal vents in Chile. (Image credit: Stefaan & Eric on Flickr)
The Chilean government has invited bids for geothermal exploration blocks, mostly in the north of the country. This is part of the country's push towards diversifying its energy porfolio in order to rely less on fossil fuel.
The geothermal potential in Chile has been determined to be significant, with estimates showing geothermal output could be as high as 3500 MW. Most of the geothermal blocks are in the north of the country, the home of many mines. It is estimated that investors will have to invest anywhere from USD 500,000 to USD 3 million per block for exploration.
The country has hydroelectric power installations, although they've underperformed in 2008 due to heavy droughts that hit the country. There is also wind energy potential, which the country plans to take advantage of as well by encouraging wind power projects.
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June 2nd, 2009 | Posted in
Solar | No Comments
Switching buses in San Francisco? You may find comfort in the fact that you'll be standing under solar power enabled roof at the rest shelter. The city authorities have inaugurated the first of many bus stop shelters that will feature lighting powered by solar cells embedded in the semi-transparent roof. The photovoltaic solar cells will produce electricity for power ing the LED lighting system, and will export any excess energy back into the grid.
Another interesting feature of the new bus stops is free WiFi access, which basically means that once the planned 1100 new bus stop shelters are completed, there will be a virtual WiFi blanket across the city. This will definitely help commuters kill time while waiting for the next bus ride.
These are not cheap though – at about USD 25,000 they represent a significant expense that will burden the city's budget, but city officials expect to recoup costs eventually.
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June 2nd, 2009 | Posted in
Wind | No Comments
GE Energy Financial Services signed an agreement with EarthFirst Canada to consider purchasing Dokie Ridge Wind Project in British Columbia. The project can have up to 300 MW of wind power capacity once completed. It is still under construction, but represents the largest wind power project in British Columbia at the moment.
If all conditions are met, GE Energy Financial Services is going to forge a partnership with Plutonic Power Corp, which if the acquisition goes through, will own and operate the wind farm, located about 1100 miles northeast of Vancouver. This would be the first wind energy investment in Canada, and the first time the two companies are collaborating on a wind power project, since their collaboration so far has happened in hydroelectric projects.
The Dokie Ridge wind farm consists of the partially built Dokie Phase 1 project with 144 MW of power, using Vestas V90 3 MW wind turbines, with the right for expansion of the project with another 300 MW of installed capacity.
According to the joint press release, aside from this wind energy projects, GE Energy Financial Services and Plutonic Power are collaborating on an additional three hydroelectric projects in BC – 196 MW East Toba River Montrose Creek project, 166 MW Upper Toba Valley project, and 1027 MW Bute project.
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June 1st, 2009 | Posted in
Solar | No Comments
LDK Solar, a Chinese manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers announced it has entered into an agreement with ESPE, a photovoltaic system integrator, for development of solar power plants in the Apuglia region, Italy. Construction has begun on the first of five solar power plants, totalling in 5 MW of installed solar power capacity. LDK Solar will supply wafers, while ESPE will provide engineering and construction services, as well as system integration.
Italy is one of the most interesting solar power markets in Europe, with plans to increase installed solar power capacity to about 1300 MW by the end of 2010.
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June 1st, 2009 | Posted in
Geothermal | No Comments
The Blue Mountain Faulkner 1 geothermal power plant, a 49.5 MW project, is going to be completed ahead of schedule. The project, under contract with Ormat Nevada Inc, which was planned to be completed by the end of the year, will most likely be fully commissioned in early October, three months ahead od schedule.
Blue Mountain Faulkner 1 (Image credit: Nevada Geothermal Power)
Ormat Nevada Inc is a subsidiary of Ormat Technologies Inc. NGP will be able to generate power and income three months ahead of schedule.
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June 1st, 2009 | Posted in
General Wind | No Comments
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by Korea East West Power (KEWP), Alternergy and Export Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) and the for the financing and development of wind power projects with a total of USD 150 million in project loans. KEWP has committed in principle to invest USD 50 million in wind power projects in Alternergy Philippine Holding Corporation.
This is the first concrete investment in renewable energy projects in the Philippines since the ratification of the landmark Renewable Energy Law. The Philippines have a significant renewable energy potential and an attractive set of incentives for their development. KEWP has scoped several locations for wind power projects, each with about 30-40 MW each.
The Philippines are planning to double renewable power generation from 4500 MW to about 9000 MW within the next ten years. Based on research findings, the country has about 200,000 MW of renewable energy potential, making it a very interesting market for renewable energy developers.
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June 1st, 2009 | Posted in
General | No Comments
American Electric Power (AEP) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for 1100 MW worth of renewable energy projects. The company is seeking long-term purchases. Proposals must include commercially proven technologies such as wind, low-impact hydro, commercial-scale solar, geothermal, bio-derived methane, biomass and biofuel energy projects. Power generation must be connected to the PJM Interconnection or Southwest Power Pool, and should be completed no later than the very end of 2011.
AEP's goal is to add about 2000 MW of new wind or other renewable energy sources by the end of 2011. This is part of the company's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, AEP's power generation projects generate about 310 MW of wind power, and about 1473 MW of power acquired through long-term power purchase agreements.
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