April 18th, 2009 | Posted in
General | No Comments
One of the major obstacles for introducing renewable energy power to general consumers is the problems that come with electric grid integration, due to the specific regime in which renewable energy sources can be exploited (intermittance, energy storage). The latest NERC (North American Energy Reliability Corporation) report says large-scale renewable energy will require a different approach in the way the power system is planned and operated. The report "Accommodating High Levels of Variable Generation" was released on April 16, and highlights transmission additions, reinforcements, better forecasting of variable generation output, and access to flexible grid resources. These have been identified as key contributors for reliably integrating variable power resources into the electric grid.
With a significant amount of wind energy coming to the market, as well as the future expected growth of solar power, this report comes at the right time to push things forward. Much research is going to have to be done, for example on technical issues like power flow and stability modeling, but also consistent and reliable forecasting of variable resource availability.
If you want more specifics, see a more detailed outline of the report, as well as some specific recommendations.
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April 18th, 2009 | Posted in
General | No Comments
Always looking for online tools that will inform me better of the renewable energy industry situation in a particular region, I came across this neat online project. It's not that new, but it is growing and being updated all the time – Renewables Map.
Basically, it mashes Microsoft Virtual Earth with information and graphical representation of renewable energy power plants in the UK. The map shows renewable energy facilities in three states – complete (operational), under construction, and "to be developed". The people behind this project wanted to create a single source that would concentrate all useful information in one place. The data gathered, and represented on tha map, has been gathered from a wide variety of web sources, most of which are referenced. There are errors and blanks, but these are being corrected over time.
The individual behind the project, Simon Mallett, promises further development, both with the volume of displayed data and the efficiency and speed of display, as well as different ways of using the data.
Check it out here.
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April 18th, 2009 | Posted in
Solar | No Comments
Image credit: iSuppli
According to iSuppli, a market forecasting service, there is going to be a downturn on the global photovoltaic market in 2009. The forecast downturn may in fact be a positive change, one that is going to yield a more mature market and supply chaing, once growth comes back.
Some forecast figures include a 32% decline in installed PV systems, from 5.2 GW in 2008 to about 3.5 GW in 2009. Revenue generated by photovoltaic systems will also decline by about 40% due to the decrease in price per solar watt during 2009 by about 12%, bringing total revenue to about US$ 18 billion, down from US$ 30 billion in 2008.
For year the solar power industry has enjoyed growth, inviting a great number of newcomers to the market. These new companies all want a share of the growing market, which resulted in overproduction – the cause for a drop in price and revenue. The forecast declines are going to enable the market to achieve a more balanced state between supply and demand.
iSuppli further determined that the single most important event that brought the solar market slowdown is a drammatic decrease in installed capacity in Spain, the leader in the photovoltaic power industry. Having accounted for about 50% of all PV installations around the world in 2008, it is no wonder that a sharp decline of PV installation in Spain has had such a strong effect on the overall state of the industry. Then, of course, there is the global credit crunch effect that simply has a braking effect on all aspects of business.
The PV industry remains one of the most interesting in the energy sector, as it still yields good retrun on investment, and the new changes, bringing lower costs of solar electricty, will open up new markets, previously "unaware" of photovoltaics as a source for producing electricity.
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April 17th, 2009 | Posted in
Hydro | Comments (1)
Sri Lanka wind energy resource map. (Image credit: NREL)
The government of Sri Lanka will be getting a US$ 155 million loan, from the Asian Development Bank, for the improvement and expansion of Sri Lanka's electricity production. Most of the activities will be focused on underdeveloped areas and areas negulfed in conflict. The loan was approved in order to support energy efficienct, the development of renewable energy and increase connections to the rural areas.
There is a growing demand for electricity in Sri Lanka, resulting in a gap between electricity production and demand. About 20% of homes in Sri Lanka still don't have electricity. The ten year development plan, among other things, includes modernization and upgrades on the country's transmission system, but also an addition of about 200 MW of hydro power to the national grid, while encouraging private investments. As a result of the 155 million loan, it is estimated the government is going to connect at least 60,000 homes to the electric grid.
Sri Lanka already has hydro power plants, mostly micro and mini hydro facilities. There had been bigger hydropower projects, some of which have ended up to be failures due to poor planning and execution, like the Kothmale, whose accumulation eventually dried up. Micro hydropower projects exist, but are limited to supplying smaller local communities with electricity.
It would be interesting to point out that Sri Lanka has other renewable energy potentials, like wind, solar and marine power. These resources, not mentioned in the loan, could also be interesting for the country's energy generation expansion. Maybe future private investments could lead the country out of the current energy crisis.
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April 16th, 2009 | Posted in
Wind | Comments (1)
Fowler Ridge Wind Farm (Image credit: vaxomatic on Flickr)
BP Wind Energy and Dominion announced that phase one of the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County, Indiana, is now fully operational. This means Indiana just got an additional 400 MW of clean renewable energy, enough to power about 120,000 households. BP and Dominion are partners for a portion of about 300 MW of the total installed capacity so far. The two companies could increase the total installed capacity to about 750 MW in the future.
Construction of Phase 1 began back in 2008, and utilizes 182 Vestas 1.65 MW wind turbines and 40 Clipper 2.5 MW turbines. BP Wind Energy is the facility operator.
This project, and the Meadow Lake Wind Farm project bring a total of about 600 MW of active wind power capacity at the present time. Since both projects have additional phases, Indiana could be looking at an additional 950 MW of wind power in the future (350 from Fowler Ridge and 600 the Meadow Lake).
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April 16th, 2009 | Posted in
Hydro Wind | No Comments
Wind and wave generators on the same platform.
Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Co has obtained a US federal preliminary permit for a demonstration project which uses a combination of wave and wind power generation. Basically, wind turbines harness wind energy from above the ocean's surface, while wave power generators, as part of the same facility, harness energy from waves, below the ocean's surface. The company has also obtained preliminary permits for seven sites in six US states. Each site has about 100 square miles in area, and is capable of generating 1 GW. The sites are located in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Even though the permits are for wave power only, the platforms that will hold the wave power generators, can also support wind turbines. Grays Harbor Ocean Energy hopes these new projects will bring clean renewable wave and wind energy to coastal communities, as well as jobs.
We may be seeing one of these installations near San Francisco and near Ventura County. The location near San Francisco is rumored to be somewhere in between the Golden Gate and Farallon Island, in the middle of a marine sanctuary (which is bound to raise a few concerns).
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April 16th, 2009 | Posted in
Wind | No Comments
Image credit: Vestas
The new turbine, V60-850 kW, has been especially designed to be used in China. It is the latest generation of the proven Vestas KW series, and with some improvements tailored to answer the specific demands of the Chines wind and weather conditions. Some of the innovations include wind turbine blade design and temperature controly systems. The V60 is designed to be most effective in low to medium winds, the wind classes mostly represented in Chinas onshore wind power potential (about 75% of unutilized onshore wind power).
The parts for the new turbine are 90% made in China, which is a result of successful partnership Vestas has achieved with local partners. The turbines will be built in Vestas' new manufacturing facility in Hohhot, Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region (IMAR). This is going to be one of the first new facilities to support development of a stronger wind energy industry in the region.
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April 15th, 2009 | Posted in
Solar | Comments (1)
The El Dorado Energy is already operating a 10 MW solar power plant. (Image credit: Sempra Generation)
First Solar Inc is going to develop a 48 MW photovoltaic power plant for Sempra Generation, a solar power plant operator. The new power plant is going to be located some 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. Together with another 10 MW solar power plant already completed by First Solar in 2008, also for Sempra, the total installed solar power capacity of 58 MW will be the largest single PV power plant in North America. Both the existing and the new power plants will lie adjacent to the existing Sempra El Dorado Energy 480 MW power plant.
According to John Carrington, First Solar's executive vice-president, the company is pleased to have been chosen for such a large-scale solar power project, stating that this is proof that First Solar has the ability to provide a cost-effective energy solution for utility-scale projects.
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April 15th, 2009 | Posted in
Wind | Comments (1)
The Meadow Lake Wind Farm represents an important project in Indiana's initiative for increasing installed renewable energy capacity. Located in the northwestern part of Indiana, the farm will stretch across the White and Benton Counties. Indiana has a significant wind power potential, and the chosen location has many benefits, for example electrical energy transport access, and proximity to power markets. Phase I of the Meadow Lake project will see some 200 MW of wind power capacity installed. Phase II is actually quite larger, potentially bringing an additional 800 MW of installed wind power capacity to the states renewable energy total.
Meadow Lake Wind Farm will bring some 400 temporary jobs, and 20 permanent jobs once the project becomes operational. Wind turbines used for the project will be 121 Vestas V82 1.65 MW units. Horizon Wind Energy, the wind farm developer and operator, is owned by EDP Renewables, one of the largest wind power operators in the world, with more than 2.5 GW of installed wind power capacity.
Indiana wind resource map. (Image credit: NREL.gov)
In total, that's about 1 GW of wind power installed in Indiana in the "near" future, which is great news for the region.
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April 15th, 2009 | Posted in
Wind | No Comments
Scottish & Southern Energy PLC (SSE) division Airtricity has joined forces with US based Fluor Limited, the UK operations division of Fluor Corporation, to create a new consortium for winning exclusive rights for the development of wind farms under Crown Estate's Round 3 Offshore Windfarm Development Programme.
The new consortium, Seagreen Wind Energy Limited, combines the two companies' experience in offshore wind operations and project delivery, engineering and construction, as well as maintenance services. The two companies have developed the 500 MW Greater Gabbard Offshore Windfarm located near Suffolk, which is to be completed in 2011. The two companies have also received an exclusive agreement for the development of the Bell Rock Offshore wind farm in Scottish territorial waters.
It is useful to point out that this is the second consortium formed by SSE for the purpose of bidding for the Round 3 projects. Back in February, the company said it was joining forces with RWE Innogy and two Norwegian groups – Statkraft and Statoil Hydro, to form a consortium called Forewind.
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