Monthly Archives: June 2013

Energy Storage Systems for Solar and Wind Power Integration Will Total Nearly 22 Gigawatts of Installed Capacity from 2013 to 2023

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June 26, 2013 More than 1,300 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar power generation capacity are expected to come online in the next 10 years, creating an unprecedented amount of instability on the gri…

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>“Several of the major markets for renewables, including Germany, Japan, and the United States, have enacted rules or legislation encouraging the adoption of energy storage systems for the purpose of integrating variable energy sources onto the grid,” says Anissa Dehamna, senior research analyst with Navigant Research.  “These market incentives come in various forms, including outright subsidies for ESS adoption, reforms that change how variable generation is compensated, and adjustments to connection requirements for variable power plants.”

In particular, changes to the compensation arrangements for variable power generation will have significant influence on the market for ESSs for solar and wind.  Compensation mechanisms have changed drastically over the past 10 years, according to the report, and many compensation schemes have grandfather clauses—meaning that older wind and solar systems have much different compensation rates and structures than newer systems coming online.<

See on www.navigantresearch.com

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Heat Wave May Threaten World’s Hottest Temp. Record | Climate Central

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By the end of an upcoming heat wave, we may see a new record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>All-time records are likely to be threatened in normally hot places — including Death Valley, Calif., which holds the record for the highest reliably recorded air temperature on Earth at 134°F. That mark was set on July 10, 1913, and with forecast highs between 125°F to 130°F this weekend, that record could be threatened. The last time Death Valley recorded a temperature at or above 130°F was in 1913.

Las Vegas and Phoenix, two cities well-known for their hot and dry summers, are also predicted to approach all-time record territory. Last Vegas’ all-time high temperature record is 117°F and Phoenix’s high is 122°F. Excessive heat warnings are in effect in both cities from Friday through Monday.

Las Vegas could come close to tying its record for the longest stretch of days at or above 110°F, which is 10 straight, set in 1961. Phoenix may approach its record for the number of consecutive days at or above 116°F, which is four, set in 1990. Reliable weather records began there in 1896. Forecast highs in Phoenix range between 115°F to 120°F for Friday through Sunday.<

See on www.climatecentral.org

Sustainable Energy and Federal Agencies | The Energy Collective

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In his speech on Tuesday laying out a national climate action plan, President Obama called on federal agencies to lead by example in taking actions to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>Faced with declining budgets, federal agencies are looking for innovative ways to cut costs while meeting a growing list of sustainability mandates.  Expanding the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) – metering and energy management systems for buildings, GPS-based tools for fleets, teleconferencing, e-training, teleworking, and cloud-based data storage – offer agencies new ways to reduce their energy use, cut greenhouse gas emissions and enhance productivity.

We estimate widespread deployment of  ICT could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12 percent, roughly half the amount called for under a 2009 executive order, and could save an estimated $5 billion in energy costs through 2020. […]

Using 2008 as a baseline, agencies have a goal of reducing direct emissions (Scope1 and 2) 28 percent and indirect emissions (Scope 3) 13 percent by 2020. With reductions of 7 percent through 2011, federal agencies are making good progress.  By expanding use of ICT, the federal government could go much further. […]<

See on theenergycollective.com

Standard Solar to pioneer PV micro-grid system in Maryland – PV-Tech

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The number one source for in-depth and up-to-the-minute news, technical articles, blogs and reviews on the international solar PV supply chain.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>[…] Standard Solar chief executive Tony Clifford said: “Widespread implementation of grid-connected energy storage systems is key to solar PV becoming a mainstream energy supplier.

“As one of the nation’s first commercial micro-grids, this project can truly be a game changer for PV. Not only does it provide backup power to Konterra, it also supports grid integrity and allows for participation in ancillary markets for electricity.” […]

See on www.pv-tech.org

Insecticide temporarily banned by Oregon Dept of Agriculture after Bees die in Wilsonville

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Safari and other dinotefuran insecticides have been banned by the Oregon Department of Agriculture while the state agency investigates the deaths of an estimated 50,000 insects in Wilsonville and Hillsboro.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>[…] Dinotefuran is a member of a type of insecticides called neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids can be broken down into two groups: the nitro-group and the cyano-group. Dinotefuran is a member of the nitro-group, which has been shown to be more poisonous to pollinators.

The European Union issued a temporarily ban earlier this year on three other nitro-group neonicotinoids, which goes into effect this December.

The Washington state Department of Agriculture decided against banning the ornamental use of neonicotinoids earlier this month. Instead, the Washington department will “urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to consider whether additional use restrictions are needed when the products are applied to ornamental plants.” […]<

See on www.oregonlive.com

Expect more turbulence in world markets

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The US Federal Reserve’s hint that it is likely to wind up its quantitative easing programme next year has caused jitters in world markets.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>[…] QE {quantitative easing} was in response to lessons learnt from the Great Depression of the 1930s.  That downturn, which lasted a decade, was triggered by liquidity drying up quickly and countries then putting up barriers in a failed attempt to protect their economies.

It’s the kind of collapse that Bernanke, the 14th chairman of the Fed and a scholar of the Depression, was trying to avoid when he chose a course of stimulus. Many doubt QE will be repeated.

The volatility in markets is quite possibly the final stage of Bernanke’s risky experiment to rescue the global economy from the financial crisis, which was sparked by a crisis in US subprime mortgages and the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Bros in September 2008. […]<

See on www.fm.co.za

Research and Markets: Global and Chinese Power Energy Storage Battery – 2013 Report – WSJ.com

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DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 28, 2013–

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nblmtd/2013_deep) has announced the addition of the “2013 Deep Research Report on Global

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>The report begins by defining the industry giving details on classification, application, industry chain, structure industry overview, international market analysis, China domestic market, Global market analysis, macroeconomic environment, economic situation analysis and influence, industry policy and plan, product specification, manufacturing process, and product cost structure.

The report then gives statistics on 21 key manufacturers including information on capacity, production, cost, price, profit, production value gross margin, products, customers, application, capacity, market position, company contact information and other company related information. […]

In the end, this report gives a SWOT analysis and discusses a 400MWh/year investment feasibility analysis project and investment return analysis and also gives related research conclusions and a development trend analysis of Chinese and Global Power Energy Storage Battery industry.<

See on online.wsj.com

Learn How New York City Is Cleaning the Air With Just One Change | Sustainable Products and Practices

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Want clean air? Sometimes it takes just a few simple changes. New York City, in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund, has a great story to tell about

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>… Just recently, New York City and EDF through the city’s Clean Heat Program converted over 1,200 boilers to the cleanest available fuels reducing over 150 tons of soot pollution, or particulate matter (PM2.5), from the air.<

See on thegreenregister.com

EPA tells Ohio to stop keeping fracking secrets from first responders

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Ohio lets energy companies keep emergency-management officials in the dark about the fracking chemicals they use. The EPA says that has to stop.

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Research and Energy Efficiency | The Energy Collective

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Every time energy policy is being discussed, you’ll usually find a call for more R&D spending at the top of the list of ways to solve problems. While I agree that research is great, it’s obviously not enough and, if anything, only the first step.

Duane Tilden‘s insight:

>The result of this comparison doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who is remotely interested in energy issues. There is a massive energy efficiency gap between the US and other world economies. While this is no surprise to many, it should be a lesson for all those who tell the public that meaningful action requires yet more R&D spending. The 200 million citizens of Japan and Germany are proof that even the technology and the concepts of the past can make a huge difference.<

See on theenergycollective.com