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Wednesday, 6 March 2013

PUBLIC TURNS TO NEW LIGHTBULBS

Posted on 05:24 by Unknown
Nearly 30 Percent of US Homes Have Ditched Incandescent Light Bulbs; A new survey shows that Americans are changing their lighting habits. But awareness of new technologies is still mixed.

Katherine Tweed, March 1, 2013 (Greentech Media)

“…[A] new survey from Sylvania… shows that 29 percent of U.S. households are free of incandescent bulbs…[though] are unaware of the phase-out of energy inefficient light bulbs, even as concerns about energy efficiency increase…

“…The four most important considerations are: the amount of time the bulb will last; the bulb's brightness; the amount of energy the bulb uses; and the cost. Although people say they are more concerned about energy use than cost, less than half of the respondents say they care if there is an Energy Star label on the product they select.”

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“…[A]wareness of light-emitting diode (LED) options dropped in 2012, from 80 percent to 69 percent. At the same time, the number of homes with LED bulbs rose from 20 percent in 2008 to 35 percent in 2012…Sylvania says it is 95 percent confident about the figure showing that 29 percent of households go without incandescent bulbs.

“In coming years, as the incandescent goes extinct, LEDs will gain traction as they commandeer real estate on store shelves. Ikea announced last year it will phase out all non-LED lighting by 2016, and stores like Wal-Mart are increasing their LED offerings. More offerings on the shelves, coupled with falling prices and increased utility rebates, will mean that for the average consumer, LEDs will be a viable option…”

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Tuesday, 5 March 2013

WIND MANUFACTURING COMES BACK IN IOWA, KANSAS

Posted on 02:59 by Unknown
Siemens Restaffing Wind Turbine Manufacturing Facilities In Iowa, Kansas

25 February 2013 (North American Windpower)

“After the uncertain fate of the production tax credit (PTC) led Siemens to lay off approximately 37% of its U.S. wind energy workforce last year, the company is now in the process of restaffing its operations in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Hutchinson, Kan…Although the tax credit has been renewed, Siemens' decision to hire more workers is not a direct result of the PTC extension…”

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“…[T]he company is restaffing in order to produce wind turbine components for projects located outside the U.S……[S]ome of the company’s [upcoming] decisions will be based on the results of further guidance from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department on the definition of what constitutes ‘begin construction’ in order for projects to qualify for the PTC…”

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CALIFORNIA’S ENERGY PLAN

Posted on 02:59 by Unknown
A Glimpse Into The Future Of Renewable Energy In California

Jessica Lillian, 1 March 2013 (Solar Industry)

“California's solar market - the U.S.' largest - now stands at the edge of a new era. Although the PV portion of the [$2.2 billion] California Solar Initiative (CSI) - the state's primary incentive program for customer-sited solar generation - has all but wound down, industry advocates are optimistic that other drivers, including the state's aggressive renewable portfolio standard (RPS), will help keep the market moving forward…Californians have installed more than 140,000 solar projects - totaling nearly 1.5 GW - to date…Equally importantly, the average pre-incentive price for a CSI-assisted solar array has dropped from $9.48/W at its most expensive point to $6.10/W today - a reduction of more than 35%...

“…[The newly released final 2012 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) from the California Energy Commission] incorporates full forecasts of energy supply and demand, as well as discussion of the state's most crucial energy issues…Covering myriad energy issues, from natural gas pipeline safety to electrical infrastructure needs to nuclear capacity replacements, the document gives supportive - but realistic - treatment to California's ongoing renewable energy transition, outlining both problems and solutions.”

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“Overall, the [report’s] goal is…a renewable-centric generating portfolio that minimizes cost and risk while maximizing economic, social and environmental benefits…The CEC's recommendations for achieving this delicate balance…include five key strategies…[1]- Identifying suitable geographic zones within the state for developing DG renewable energy projects…[2] Recalculating the ‘true’ costs and benefits of renewable energy by incorporating integration costs, creating levelized cost of generation evaluations that use more accurate assumptions, and adopting ‘changes to procurement practices for utility-scale generation and DG’…

“…[3] Reducing licensing, planning, transmission and interconnection costs by better preparing the grid to accept increased levels of DG, developing a more integrated planning process, and, for PV specifically, implementing new grid-reliability and control capabilities for inverters…[4] Promoting in-state investment and job creation through renewable energy…[and, 5] Encouraging continued renewable energy research and development (R&D) and financing, in order to continue to lower system costs, improve system operability and encourage the creation of new technologies….”

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HAWAII UTILITY OPENS UP TO NEW ENERGY

Posted on 02:58 by Unknown
Hawaiian Electric Offering Waivers To Qualified Renewable Energy Projects

1 March 2013 (Renew Grid)

“Hawaiian Electric Co. [HECO] says it is seeking qualified utility-scale renewable energy projects that developers can place into service quickly at a low cost per kilowatt-hour. If one or more such projects are identified, the utility will work with the developer to seek a waiver from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Competitive Bidding Framework.

“To qualify to seek a waiver, a project must be located on Oahu and be larger than 5 MW. It can use any viable renewable technology, including wind or solar. The project must also meet all applicable archaeological, environmental and construction permitting requirements.”

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“In addition to the waiver from competitive bidding, Hawaiian Electric and any developer selected must negotiate a power purchase agreement that will be subject to PUC approval. The goal is to have one or more such projects in service by 2015.

“…[HECO believes] renewable energy on long-term, fixed-price contracts [can cut its ratepayers bills and believes] there may be projects substantially ready to go that can be built quickly and at a cost that can help reduce our heavy dependency on fossil fuels…”

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Monday, 4 March 2013

U.S. WIND GETS ITS MOJO BACK

Posted on 03:05 by Unknown
Extended U.S. Tax Credit Blows Fresh Air Into Wind Projects

Housley Carr, February 27, 2013 (Engineering News-Record)

“Wind-farm construction in the U.S. nearly ground to a halt after ending in a frenzy late last year. But the pace of turbine installation is set to pick up substantially later this year, largely thanks to the recently enacted extension of the federal production tax credit, say utility and wind-sector experts…

“The tax-credit extension approved by Congress and signed by President Obama in January as part of the "fiscal cliff" compromise provides a $22/MWH tax credit for the first 10 years of a wind farm's operation. For the first time, the latest extension applies to all projects under construction by Dec. 31, 2013, even if they are not completed until next year. Under the previous tax credit, a wind farm had to be completed and operational by the end of 2012 to qualify.”

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“Several utilities already are moving to take advantage of the lower wind-power prices the tax-credit extension provides…Last year, with lower wind-turbine prices and strong competition among developers, wind-power prices offered by developers in regions with the best wind resources, such as the Great Plains, were often below $40/MWH; without the tax-credit, most offers likely would have been above $60/MWH—a big difference to utilities already concerned about the generally higher cost of renewable energy…

“A spokeswoman for Duke Energy Renewables, which built 800 MW of new wind capacity in 2012, says the tax-credit extension ‘removed uncertainty; and enabled utilities to plan RFPs and long-term power purchase deals. [Washington energy lobbyist Frank Maisano] predicts a stronger rebound in wind-farm construction in the Great Plains and Midwest, with fewer regulatory hurdles and less opposition from environmental groups.”

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A PARTNER FOR RENEWABLES

Posted on 03:04 by Unknown
Diesel Generator Sets; Distributed Reciprocating Engines for Portable, Standby, Prime, Continuous, and Cogeneration Applications

1Q 2013 (Pike Research/Navigant)

“Diesel-fueled generator sets (gensets) are distributed power generation units that use reciprocating internal combustion engines to produce useable energy from gaseous fuels. Distributed generation has the advantage of going online more quickly than traditional large centralized power stations, reducing demand pressure on the electrical grid and reducing inefficiencies that are common in centralized power generation, transmission, and distribution…

“As a source of emergency standby, prime, or continuous power, diesel-fueled gensets are poised for continued growth in most regions and power classes but face increasing competition from natural gas and dual-fuel configurations.”

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“The number of specialized segments within the genset market spanning power classes, applications, and end-use customers offers a rich ecosystem of opportunities for market participants…

“As a whole, the market has experienced steady growth, but a boom in unconventional gas resources and tightening regulations targeting stationary generator emissions point to a turning point in the industry. Pike Research forecasts that diesel genset installations will reach 82 GW per year by 2018, representing $198 billion in cumulative revenue between 2013 and 2018…”

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SOLAR ON EVERY NEW HOME IS COMING

Posted on 03:04 by Unknown
California City Wants to Require Solar on Every New Home; A Republican mayor campaigns for a historic requirement for solar on new homes.

Herman K. Trabish, March 1, 2013 (Greentech Media)

“Rex Parris, the mayor of Lancaster, California, wants every new home in his city to host solar. And starting next January, that could be a reality…[As] homebuilder KB Home celebrated its 1,000th new home with solar panels from SunPower…Mayor Parris announced his city will institute a first-of-its-kind requirement that solar be installed on every new single-family home built in Lancaster after January 1, 2014.

“The new law will be written into Lancaster’s “Residential Zones Update” on residential solar. Along with a range of green building provisions, it specifies that new single family homes meet minimum solar system requirements…Residential homes on lots from 7,000 square feet must have a solar system of 1.0 kilowatt to 1.5 kilowatts. Rural residential homes of up to 100,000 square feet must have a system of at least 1.5 kilowatts.”

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“The standards spell out simple, common-sense rules for both roof-mounted and ground-mounted systems…A builder’s model home must show the kind of solar system the builder will offer…Builders of subdivisions will be able to aggregate the houses’ requirements…[E]ach phase [of a project] must meet the requirement…Multi-family developments can meet the requirement with a rooftop system or a system on a support or shade structure…[and] builders may choose to meet…[the] requirement off-site by providing evidence of purchasing solar energy credits…

“Mayor Parris, who frequently promises to make Lancaster “the solar energy capital of the world,” expressed confidence that he has the City Council votes for approval, despite resistance from the building industry…Even with resistance from some members of the building community, the market is shifting…One of every five built in California this year will be solar powered…Mayor Parris, a Republican, noted that…[when you show Republicans] a solution, they will take it…”

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  • ▼  2013 (231)
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      • THE MONEY IN SMART BLDG ENERGY MANAGEMENT
      • CHINA WIND TO PANAMA VIA CHICAGO
      • EU SUN MARKET SHIFTING
      • WHY BRITS LIKE NEW ENERGY
      • WORLD INVESTORS HAVE $14TRIL FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
      • BUILDING-INTEGRATED PV GETS BOOST
      • CELLULOSIC BIOFUELS GO COMMERCIAL SCALE
      • COMMUNITY WIND GETS GO IN MAINE
      • SOLAR LAND PLANNING CRITIQUED
      • REPUBLICAN LEADERS BACK OBAMA CLIMATE ACTION
      • LOW SUN COSTS HOLD
      • HEAT WAVE SPIKES GRID STRESS AND POWER PRICES
      • BIOFUELS MAKER SAPPHIRE PAYS OFF DOE LOAN
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      • BIG MONEY GOING INTO WIND
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