MAKING THE BEST STORAGE CHOICE EASY

New Software Helps Renewable Energy Developers Choose Best Energy-Storage Option

11 May 2012 (North American Windpower)

“Sandia National Laboratories and the U.S. Department of Energy…[p]artnering with DNV KEMA, a global testing and consulting firm…[are] releasing Energy Storage Select (ES-Select), software designed to make it easier to conduct a quick, high-level analysis of energy-storage options and determine the value of energy-storage technologies for a specified application, including renewable energy projects.

“Developers and utilities that want to use energy storage have many technologies to consider, including flywheels, compressed air, pumped hydro, thermal storage and six types of electric batteries…According to Sandia, the tool helps companies make decisions about what storage technologies would work best in a given situation…”

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“…For example, if a business pays more for electricity during the day than at night, the owner could use the tool to quickly evaluate several energy-storage options to determine the costs and benefits of buying lower-cost electricity at night and storing it for use during the day…Users can input the application they are interested in, as well as specify such parameters as energy costs and discount rates, and the program produces a list of storage technologies and their predicted benefits and associated costs…

“ES-Select aggregates all of the inputs and assumptions - monetary value for an application, technology costs, performance characteristics and operation and maintenance costs - and quickly provides recommendations…”

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OFFSHORE WIND TRIAL SHELVED UNTIL POLITICS SHIFT

Gamesa Shies Away From U.S. Offshore Wind Market, Shelves 5 MW Prototype

Laura DiMugno, 8 May 2012 (North American Windpower)

"Citing an immature market and a difficult regulatory and political environment, Gamesa and its collaboration partner Newport News Shipbuilding have suspended the development of Gamesa's G11X-5.0 MW offshore wind prototype - a decision that is highly reflective of the uncertainties and challenges currently plaguing the U.S. offshore wind energy market.

"In March, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission approved Gamesa's plans to deploy the 5 MW offshore wind prototype in the Chesapeake Bay - an installation the company planned to complete in 2013...[But] regulatory red tape, logistical barriers and policy uncertainty have stalled U.S. offshore wind development…[Gamesa] likely would be unable to find financing for U.S. offshore wind projects if the production tax credit for wind power is not extended beyond its year-end expiration."

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The failure to extend the PTC could stop this growth.

"Gamesa and Newport News Shipbuilding are now finishing up what they call a ‘critical design review’ (CDR) of the offshore prototype project, which has focused on improving turbine reliability, servicing requirements, civil engineering efficiencies in infrastructure development, and the cost of offshore wind energy…When the CDR is complete, Gamesa will also shut down its Offshore Wind Technology Center, which opened in February 2011 in Chesapeake, Va.

"Instead, Gamesa is turning to other markets with more favorable offshore wind environments, such as its native Spain. On the same day the company announced its decision to suspend the development of its G11X-5.0 MW prototype in the U.S., it said it was launching the permitting process for the installation of a 50 Hz 5 MW offshore prototype - the G128-5.0 MW - in Spain’s Canary Islands…[A]n offshore wid farm [should be] permitted for the site by late 2013 or early 2014…"

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SOLAR GETTING YET CLOSER

UT Report: Solar Growing as Viable US Energy Source

May 1, 2012 (University of Tennessee)

"Solar power is a viable energy source for the nation, and its use is rapidly growing in the U.S. as federal incentives—similar to those that helped other energy markets to develop—are put in place.

"…[Assessment of Incentives and Employment Impacts of Solar Industry Deployment from the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the Solar Energy Industries Association] outlines a variety of benefits of solar energy…[including its] ability to reduce energy costs by providing much of the nation’s electricity needs during peak usage times…[its] potential to produce hundreds of thousands of jobs; and…[its] tremendous export potential for solar manufacturing and materials."

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"…Annual installed solar capacity has seen steady increases, especially in the past six years. It nearly doubled between 2009 and 2010 and was expected to double again between 2010 and 2011…Long-term annual cumulative growth projections range from about 5 percent to 25 percent…As the use of solar energy increases, the industry will grow as an economic force…

"…Historically, it’s taken about thirty years for energy resources—oil, natural gas, hydropower, coal, etc.—to go from innovation to early adoption to rapid growth, and, finally, to majority adoption, the report notes…The federal government currently provides incentives to every major energy production market…Ideally, the incentives can decrease as the industry matures…Fossil fuels, biofuels, and nuclear power have had significant federal engagement in the production, refining, and transportation steps…Solar energy…won’t need [as] much federal investment…"

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TOMORROW’S HOMES TODAY

Energy Efficient Homes; Building Envelope, Lighting, HVAC and Appliances, Water Heating, Energy Audits, and Soft Costs: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts

2Q 2012 (Pike Research)

"…Since the United States housing bubble burst in 2007, the residential construction and real estate markets have floundered in many OECD countries, and some have experienced a full stop in new construction…[but] the markets in China and India are experiencing unprecedented booms in residential construction…[and] energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important issue around the world as total residential energy consumption continues to rise, creating greater demands on power infrastructure and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

"Energy efficient homes, according to Pike Research’s definition, are properties that are built to exceed the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code by 15% on a kilowatt-hour per square foot basis. Construction of residential properties that achieve such energy savings – in both new construction or in existing building stock – is a highly diverse design problem complicated by factors such as local climate, availability of materials, funding, and legislation."

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"…In order to achieve [the 15%] level of energy savings over the 2009 IECC, home builders and retrofitters must adopt a systems approach to home design and construction, integrating all aspects of home operation.

"The Pike Research report analyzes the global market opportunity for energy efficient homes, including a focus on key market segments such as building envelope improvements, lighting, HVAC and major appliances, water heating, energy audits, and soft costs associated with energy efficiency…"

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10 REASONS TO INSTALL SOLAR

10 Ways to Leverage Solar Panels to Reduce Your Electric Bill

May 6, 2012 (Compare Electricity Rates)

“…The advantages and savings [of residential solar] ]can be significant and quickly offset the installation cost…[Federal incentives] help offset the cost of installation…[allowing] lower energy cost in a shorter time frame…[Panels can] provide electricity just for appliances or lighting, to reduce your dependency on the utility company…[and] lower your bill…Since your consumption will be lower, and your home is more energy efficient, you may qualify for lower rates.

“Feed-in tariffs…[allowing homeowners to] sell surplus energy generated by…solar panels back to the electric grid…Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) allow homeowners to lease equipment from a private company…[T]he company then sells surplus electricity to its customer at a lower price than the local utility. This…[allows the homeowner to avoid] the expense of installing his own equipment."

“Net Metering…[allows homeowners with solar power to use their electric meters to measure electricity production as well as consumption] and calculate the difference. As you generate electricity with you solar panels, you are in essence banking credit with you local electric company.

“…The resale value of your home will increase by as much as 20% with the installation of solar panels…[Y]our solar panels [can] provide the power to your home heating system…[providing substantial financial [savings]...[T]he solar panel array…[can also do water heating, even in a] winter power outage… DIY kits available to consumers…can greatly reduce your initial cost, which in turn brings you to quicker profitability…”

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U.S. WIND BUBBLES BEFORE NO-PTC-INDUCED BUST

U.S. Wind Power Industry Installed 1.695 GW In Q1

3 May 2012 (North American Windpower)

“…The [U.S.] wind energy industry installed 52% more capacity in the first quarter than it did in the same quarter in 2011. Continuing a trend that became evident at the end of last year, under-construction numbers were also exceptionally strong in the first quarter, clocking in at 8.916 GW, with 2.284 GW of that total starting construction just this quarter…

“…[1.695 GW of wind energy capacity installed in the first quarter, with 788 wind turbines added in 17 states, bringing the country's total installed wind power capacity to 48.611 GW, according to the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) first quarter market report,…”

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“…[Projects are being built in 31 states and Puerto Rico with] California (370 MW), Oregon (308 MW), Texas (254 MW), Washington (127 MW) and Pennsylvania (121 MW) were the top five states for new wind power additions.

“…New Hampshire (388%), Arizona (72%), Massachusetts (17%), Pennsylvania (15%) and Oregon (12%) [had the largest growth in the first quarter]…The top states for wind projects under construction were Kansas (1.34 GW), Texas (914 MW), Oklahoma (894 MW), California (777 MW) and Illinois (705 MW).”

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SMART METERS DOWN IN U.S., UP GLOBALLY

Smart Meter Unit Shipments in North America Peaked in 2011 and will Decline 42% by 2013, while Global Market Continues to Grow

2Q 2012 (Pike Research)

“Smart meters and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) have transformed a placid, 140-year old electricity metering market into a high-tech, high-growth juggernaut. In 2008, less than 4% of the global installed base of 1.5 billion electricity meters could be considered ‘smart,’ but 4 years later this penetration has grown to over 18%, and is forecast to exceed 55% by 2020…

“…[G]lobal growth will continue…[but growth] peaked in North America in 2011, and annual smart meter shipments are expected to decline sharply. According to a new report from Pike Research, unit shipments of smart meters in North America were 12.4 million in 2011 and will decline to 7.2 million by 2013, a 42% drop over just 2 years. After 2014, they will begin a gradual rise through the end of the decade."

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“…The global smart meter market…[will grow] at a compound annual growth rate of just under 5% between 2010 and 2020…[with] very dynamic and even volatile regional market characteristics…These swings make the market both enticing and challenging…

“Pike Research’s analysis shows that, while the North American market faces dramatic near-term contraction, the European market is beginning a similarly dramatic growth period. The Asia Pacific region will continue to outpace all other regions, driven by major deployments in China, utilizing a different breed of smart meter technology…[O]ver the next 8 years…penetration rates reach 64% in Europe in 2020 and nearly 70% in Asia Pacific…”

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