August 24th, 2010 | Posted in
Hydro | No Comments
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has commissioned a feasibility study for a major new pumped storage facility in Amador County, California. The facility would be used to provide a backup system for the power grid, in the case of large fluctuations of electricity production from wind and solar energy facilities. The intermittency of wind and solar as energy sources causes major issues for power grid operators, who constantly have to be prepared to compensate for sudden drops or peaks in electricity supply from these sources, in order to keep the grid stable. Pumped storage is one of the best solutions for storing energy for later use.
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August 24th, 2010 | Posted in
Wind | No Comments
An 84 MW community wind farm project has been approved for development in County Clare, Ireland. The project, to be developed by West Clare Renewable Energy (WCRE), will feature 28 3 MW wind turbines, which will be spread out across the western slopes of Mount Callan, a small mountain near Ennis and Miltown Malbay. The project represents a EUR 200 million investment.
Once completed and operational, the wind farm will be capable of generating enough clean electricity to supply all homes and business in County Clare. The project is expected to create about 300 local jobs.
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August 24th, 2010 | Posted in
Solar | No Comments
Bosch Solar Energy announced the formal opening of the company's new solar cell production facility in Armstadt, Germany. The facility, once fully completed, will have production capacity of about 10,000 cells an hour, or about 90 million solar cells a year. Bosch Solar Energy is investing a total of EUR 530 million into this location, with the goal to integrate the production process to be able to output all solar products from ingots, to finished and assembled solar modules.
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August 23rd, 2010 | Posted in
Solar | No Comments
ReneSola has signed two major wafer supply deals with two companies from Taiwan, totalling in 836 MW of capacity.
The first agreement, with Neo Solar Power Corporation, will require ReneSola to delivery 239 MW of multicrystalline wafers starting from July 2010 to December 2013, and another 141 MW of monocrystalline wafers from October 2010 to December 2013.
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August 23rd, 2010 | Posted in
Wind | No Comments
Mansell Construction (UK) has been awarded the contract to build the operations & maintenance base for the London Array wind energy project, at Ramsgate Port. The facility has been designed by BBLB Architects to include positive sustainable measures. It will take advantage of natural light, and will incorporate a grass roof and use combined heat and power.
Construction is to start in September this year, while completion is expected in June 2011.
[source: Mansell Construction, image: BBLB architects]
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August 23rd, 2010 | Posted in
Wind | No Comments
Melloussa wind farm in Morocco.
After a long tender process, involving sixteen bidders, Nareva Holding has been awarded the development rights for the Tarfaya wind farm in Morocco. The wind farm is to have 200 MW of installed capacity. The final choice for the awarded company was made from the two remaining companies in the tender – Nareva and GDF Suez.
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August 20th, 2010 | Posted in
Solar | No Comments
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) has officially started its 12 MW Wyandot Solar Farm, in Wynadot County, Ohio (USA). The power plant was officially dedicated by the state governor Ted Strickland.
The project features 159,000 ground mounted solar modules, and generates enough electricity to power about 9000 average Ohio households. It was completed in June 2010, and is the largest solar power plant in Ohio.
All power produced at the power plant is exported to Columbus Southern Power and Ohio Power Company under a long-term power purchase agreement.
[source: PSEG]
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August 20th, 2010 | Posted in
Solar | Comments (1)
The State of Illinois (USA), has passed new legislation which enables a ramp-up of solar energy development in that state. The state government has approved a USD 4 million grant for the development of 62 MW of new solar energy capacity in Rockford, Illinois. This was announced at the opening of a solar panel manufacturing plant in Rockford, belonging to Wanxiang America Corporation.
The new solar project will be one of the lagest PV projects in the US, capable of generating enough clean electricity to supply about 10,000 average homes in the state. Additionally, this project will also create new jobs.
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August 20th, 2010 | Posted in
Wind | No Comments
Duke Energy announed its decision to discontinue the small coastal wind energy demo project in North Carolina, USA. The project was to feature three wind turbines, installed at Pamlico Sound. The project has lost its economical viability, so the company has decided to scrap it.
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August 20th, 2010 | Posted in
General | No Comments
Vestas announced plans to relocate its North American HQ in Portland to a new building, which will achieve LEED Platinum certified, and will be adapted to accommodate 250 employees, featuring latest energy saving technology and "ecoproof" terrace and gardens.
Construction activities on the existing structure of the building will begin in October this year, while Vestas expects its employees to officially move in in 2012. To keep things even cleaner, the roof will be packed with solar panels. The total cost of this project is about USD 66 million. Vestas says this is a long term relocation investment.
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