Nordex to deliver 295 MW of wind turbines for project in Sweden

April 13th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

Nordex has received an order from Skelleftea Kraft AB, a Swedish energy company, for 118 wind turbines, totalling in 295 MW, for the Blakien project (250 MW), and two smaller projects, the Jokkmokksliden and Storliden, with 25 MW and 20 MW respectively. All projects are located in the north of the country, where average wind speeds are about 7 m/s, and harsh cold conditions. For this reason, Nordex will deliver "special" cold weather versions of the turbines, which have a new de-icing system which prevent ice formation on the blades.

The first installations will happen this year, for the two smaller projects, in order to connect them to the grid as soon as possible. The largest project, the Blaiken wind farm, also to be the largest wind farm in Sweden, is already in the preparation stage, to ensure the deadline for the installation of 100 turbines will be met.

[source: Skelleftea Kraft]


South Africa getting USD 3.75 billion loan from the World Bank

April 13th, 2010 | Posted in General

The World Bank has approved a USD 3.75 billion loan to South Africa, for financing energy projects in the country on the southern tip of the African continent.

The projects which will receive funding from the loan are the Medupi power plant in Lephalale, and concentrated solar power and wind energy projects, to be supported by Eskom. The loan is part of a multi-year investment program, which represents a foundation of the expansion of electricity generation capacity in South Africa.

[source: ESKOM]

Recurrent Energy to develop 144.5 MWac of distributed solar power projects in Ontario

April 13th, 2010 | Posted in Solar

Recurrent Energy has been awarded with a contract to develop 144.5 MWac of distributed solar power generation facilities in the Canadian province of Ontario. The contract has been awarded by the Ontario Power Authority. The project is being developed under the green feed in tariff program (FiT), which operates under the Green Energy and Green Economy Act.

The distributed solar power generation development will result in about 2500 jobs in the province. Some of the job activities will be in manufacturing, engineering, construction, project development and other related services. Recurrent Energy expects to invest funds in the vicinity of USD 400 million for solar modules, electrical equipment, steel and metal fabrication and related services like installation and management. Ontario Power Authority will purchase all generated electricity as well as renewable energy credits (RECs) from Recurrent Energy. Completion of all the projects is expected in 2011 and early 2012.

Canada, and especially Ontario, is aggressively pursuing a plan to install as much clean energy capacity as possible in the near future. Most of the development are in the areas of wind and solar energy projects.

[source: Recurrent Energy, image: Recurrent Energy]

Nicaragua riding the wind

April 13th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

An operational 40 MW wind farm in Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) has recently granted a development license to Blue Power & Energy for a thirty year period, during which the company is to develop a 39.6 MW wind farm. The wind farm will feature 22 wind turbines, each with 1.8 MW of capacity.

The Nicaraguan government is promoting renewable energy projects, aiming to transform the country's energy matrix, which is currently largely reliant on fossil fuels. Between 2008 and 2009, MEM has licensed wind energy projects such as Amayo I, II and Aeolus Amayo Nicaragua, totalling in about 100 MW of capacity. According to studies, Nicaragua has about 800 MW of "usable" wind energy potential.

[source: Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and Mines, image: RealtorNicaragua]

MHI building wind turbine manufacturing plant in Arkansas, US

April 13th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

Mitsubishi MWT95 2.4 MW wind turbine.

MHI announced last week it is planning to build a wind turbine manufacturing plant the US state of Arkansas. The new plant is supposed to make nacelles, as we previously published the rumor in February, one of the core components of a wind turbine, apart from the tower, generator, and the actual rotor and blades. Operation of the new plant is expected to begin in the second half of 2011, initially capable of outputting parts for 600 MW of capacity. By investing in this project, MHI is trying to expand its position in the US wind energy market, currently one of the fastest growing markets in the world. So far, the company's manufacturing facilities have all been located in Japan.

The actual location of the US production plant is near Fort Smith, Arkansas. The plant will be operated and managed by Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, MHI's subsidiary based in Florida. The plant site has been secured, having roughly 90 acres in area, while construction is to begin sometime during 2010. Initially, the plant will employ about 300 workers, and will be manufacturing nacelles for 2.4 MW wind turbines. Another wind turbine type MHI is considering for manufacture in the new plant is the low windspeed, long blade wind turbine.

MHI has been involved in wind turbine manufacture and marketing for three decades now, and delivered more than 3500 units to the US market alone. With the anticipated growth of the US wind market in the coming years, MHI has positioned itself well to be able to answer the growing demand for wind turbines in this region.

[source: MHI, image: MHI]

Trina Solar to supply PV modules to Greenzone for a project in Thailand

April 11th, 2010 | Posted in Solar

Trina Solar's subsidiary, Changzhou Trina Solar Energy, has established a strategic partnership with Greenzone, a system integrator, to supply its modules for PV projects in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Initial shipments commenced in March 2010.

Grenzone has been awarded the contract to design and build a 2.2 MW turnkey PV power plant in the northeast region of Thailand. Trina Solar is expected to supply approximately 9,600 PV modules to Grenzone for the project which is expected to go online in August 2010.

[source: Trina Solar]

Satcon scores 150 MW PV inverters order from GCL Solar for installations in China

April 11th, 2010 | Posted in Solar

Satcon Technology Corporation announced an order for 150 MW of its 500 kW solar PV inverters from GCL Solar Limited, marking the second phase of the partnership between the two companies that was established in 2009.

Satcon will begin supplying the inverters in April, with all deliveries scheduled for completion in October of 2010. Satcon's 500 kW units will be used on multiple utility scale projects across China and will build on the already successful collaboration between the two companies, which includes the 3 MW and 20 MW power plants completed in December of 2009, China's largest rooftop and ground mounted installations respectively.

Commenting on the news, Satcon's President and CEO, Steve Rhoades said: "GCL is one of the world's most progressive large scale solar innovators. Their projects have set the new standard in utility scale solar design and installation, and mark a new chapter in the global solar PV power industry. We are honored to partner with GCL and be a part of this world class team of solar power leaders."

[source: Satcon]

VIASPACE wants to bring its Giant King Grass biomass product to India

April 11th, 2010 | Posted in Biomass

VIASPACE, the company that grows Giant King Grass as a renewable energy crop, is seeing a large market opportunity for its product in India, where increasing use of agricultural waste and rising prices are causing biomass electrical energy providers to seek other less costly and more reliable sources of fuel.

The company's Chief Executive Dr. Carl Kukkonen recently returned from business meetings with eight biomass energy companies in India. He noted that due to increasing demand, agricultural waste is becoming scarce, and prices are rising dramatically. In addition, agricultural waste is seasonal, and its quality as a fuel source varies depending on what crop is available. As a result, power plant owners are aggressively seeking alternative, reliable and lower-cost sources of renewable biomass for fuel.

According to Kukkonen, one of the Indian companies has already visited the company's grass operation in China, and confidentiality agreements have been signed with several companies in order to proceed with further steps in business discussions.

India plans to provide electricity to its 40% of poor citizens, and then raise the country's electricity use to near Western country levels, which would require a 40-fold increase in electricity output. And to promote the use of renewable and low-carbon energy, India provides guaranteed subsidies for electricity generated from biomass and other eco-friendly sources.

[source: VIASPACE]

AES Solar Energy closes on 173 million EUR project financing for 43 MW PV project in the Puglia region of Italy

April 11th, 2010 | Posted in Solar

AES Solar Energy, a joint venture between The AES Corporation and Riverstone Holdings, announced that one of its subsidiaries closed on long-term project financing facilities of 173 million EUR to finance the construction of the 43 MW solar PV Cellino San Marco (CSM) project in the Puglia region of Italy. CSM is the largest solar PV project in Italy to reach financial close.

A total of five banks participated in this financing: Société Générale (as Documentation, Technical & Modeling Bank and Hedging Coordinator), Unicredit Mediocredito Centrale (as Documentation Bank), BNP Paribas (as Insurance Bank), Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Dexia Crediop (as Agent). SACE is taking this opportunity to step up its involvement in financing solar PV projects, participating via providing a guarantee for a portion of Société Générale's commitment. The facilities cover approximately 85% of estimated project costs at completion and the final maturity date is 18 years post construction.

Construction on the project is underway and the project is expected to reach commercial operation by the end of 2010, qualifying it for a 20-year regulated feed-in tariff under the "Conto Energia" scheme. CSM will use First Solar thin film panels.

[source: AES Solar Energy]

Department of Energy to invest nearly $18 Million for advanced biofuels user facility

April 11th, 2010 | Posted in Biomass

U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi recently announced that the Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will build an advanced biofuels process development facility aimed at speeding the commercialization of advanced biofuels by allowing researchers and the private sector to test and integrate innovative technologies. The facility, funded with nearly $18 million from the Recovery Act, will allow researchers to integrate process steps and test innovative technology pathways, such as those being developed at DOE's Office of Science Bioenergy Research Centers. This facility will be the only one of its kind available for public use.

As part of the Obama Administration's continued commitment to building a robust and sustainable transportation system, the Advanced Biofuels Process Development Unit (PDU) will leverage the efforts of the Department's National Laboratories and the private sector to help move new technologies into the marketplace. The PDU will provide universities, national laboratories, and industry partners the opportunity to scale up promising processes discovered in their laboratories. Planned capabilities include unique pretreatment of biomass, enzyme production, fermentation for the production of multiple biofuels, and product purification in quantities sufficient for engine testing at partner institutions.

The PDU is scheduled to be fully operational by early 2011, and multiple possible sites for the facility are now being considered in the San Francisco East Bay region.

[Via: DoE]

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