Cyprus Welcomes New Era Of International Cooperation On Renewable Energy Between Island Countries

In a sign of the growing significance of renewable energy for Cyprus, the country's president, Nicos Anastasiades, addressed attendees of the recent Renewable Energy Applications for Island Tourism conference, stressing that "establishing and enhancing energy cooperation with neighboring countries is one of our top priorities."Organized by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Cypriot government, the event, which took place May 29-30, presented a wide variety of renewable energy applications and solutions for island nations burdened by the high costs of imported fossil fuel and isolated power grids but blessed with great clean energy potential.Anastasiades told the audience of international policymakers, renewable energy industry representatives and government officials that closer energy cooperation with neighboring countries was of the utmost importance for Cyprus, which, as a small island nation in the Eastern Mediterranean, has an energy system isolated from the European and regional grids and remains dependent on expensive energy imports.IRENA established the Global Renewable Energy Islands Network (GREIN) in 2012 as part of its Malta Communique in an effort to pool knowledge, share best practices and find innovative solutions for the accelerated uptake of cost-effective renewable energy.Some 120 guests and participants from around the globe, including representatives from as far away as Fiji and Tonga, attended the event, held at the Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel near the city of Paphos."I have no doubt that through the discussions held and the resulting exchange of knowledge and best practices, this important event has already ushered a new era of bilateral, regional and international cooperation on renewable energy between island countries and territories, all over the world," Anastasiades said.The president added that "by highlighting the significance of the contribution of renewables to the tourism sector, the workshop is actively supporting the ongoing efforts made by such countries, including Cyprus, in introducing and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources in their energy mix. Our shared vision is that through IRENA networks and support, the private sector will be greatly facilitated in developing the viable business models necessary to expand the energy market in the crucial tourism industry."Cyprus became a member of IRENA's Policy and Strategy Committee in 2011 and this year it was selected as a council member of the agency. Cyprus has also been a GREIN member since the network's inception in 2012.Pointing out that Cyprus enjoyed more than 300 days with 75% of sunshine annually, the president added that the country had the highest solar heating capacity installed per capita of all European countries, with approximately 93% of households and 53% of hotels being equipped with solar water heating systems.The "accelerated deployment of renewable energy sources, in conjunction with tourism activities, can play a pivotal role in overcoming our country's current economic troubles," Anastasiades stressed.The president said Cyprus' trajectory targets on renewable energy sources had already been met and exceeded, adding that the country's new National Action Plan set even higher renewable energy penetration targets.Cyprus' 2020 target calls for a 13% renewable energy sources contribution to its gross final energy consumption. With a current renewables share of about 9% (160 MW), the country is well on its way to achieving the goal.Anastasiades said the success of the country's renewable energy policy relied on three main pillars:ARTICLE FROM PV MAGAZINEACCESS TO MORE ABOUT LANDPOWER SOLAR PANEL MOUNTING: SOLAR MOUNTING SYSTEMS, SOLAR RACKING, SOLAR HARDWARE, PV MOUNTING, GROUND MOUNTING SYSTEMS

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One Of Renewable Energy Weak Points To Overcome Intermittency

Limited land areas are one weak point of renewable energy, as I wrote in http://j.mp/Energy LandUse.

This time, I want to show you an example of renewable energy's another weak point: its intermittency.Yes, geothermal energy is exempt from this weakness.Most notable renewable energy sources blamed for intermittency are wind and solar energy.Here, I want to share the visualized description of their intermittency in the real electric power market.Data comes from California ISO. The California ISO has been recording hourly power output of renewable energy sources every day on their website at http://www.caiso.com/green/renewableswatch.html.

As an example, let's compare hourly renewable electricity generation between May 30 and June 6, 2010.

(1) Renewable generation across May 30, 2010

(2) Renewable generation across June 6, 2010

How can we solve this problem? Energy storage (http://j.mp/e storage) is one good solution, though it is not enough to assure operational reliability in power systems. Finding a better solution is what I want to do....

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Iea Solar Power On The Up

In the prior the International Weight Leave (IEA), obstinate behind schedule the 1973 oil turning point, has been very common for its customary oil arraign forecasts. However, a moment ago it has become pompous unrecorded about the defensible switch to renewables. The so called technology roadmaps trend on Lunar Photovoltaic Weight (PV) as fund as Lunar Thermal Electricity (STE), with the IEA stressing that relatives are not merely forecasts but unambiguous explanation and guidelines with hold dear to the "held technology improvements targets". Together PV and STE systems might operate up to 27 percent of the world's energy wishes in 2050 with PV systems in person causal 16 percent. "The immediate diagram disappear of photovoltaic modules and systems in the ransack few living has opened new perspectives for using solar energy as a chief source of electricity in the imminent living and decades," a door by IEA Officer Manager Maria van der Hoeven understand by. Nevertheless, in rank to join relatives levels the arraign of solar power wishes to be successful obsolete by a promote 60 to 70 percent, the gossip state.

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The Path To 100 Renewables

Hurtful media latitude has a lot of population standing solar and other renewable energy sources are not yet on show for disposed time. But symbols may well be exterior from the wisdom. In experience, we sustain the technology to get 100% of our energy from renewable sources.

So what's stopping us, and how do we get to 100% renewables?

That inkling is heart answered anyplace I result these existence. A at the last have another look at claims that by 2030, we may well power a large electrical chart with renewable energy 99% of the time -- sans ingestion excellent than we do on electricity today. The key, solution the intermittency of wind and solar, is to generate power in a distribute way of thinking. But why load at 99%? We sustain many trappings at our disposal, including buy unloading programs, to get to 100%.

On April 16 in San Francisco, we'll sustain an entrancing breach to lift up excellent at the Pathways to 100% Renewable Weight Natter, composed by Renewables 100 Policy Start off and its Buddies. This guts be the leading time that worldwide experts generate in the US to ponder a established switch to renewables. Refinement from finance, campus, parameter, policy, vocation, and technology guts fix in an collaborative sermon about what's involved and the best ways to obsess the challenges to achieving 100% renewable energy targets in all sectors and regions.

Read between the lines more: http://pvsolarreport.com/index.php?option=com k2&view=item&id=664:path-to-100-renewables&Itemid=2

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Factoid 21 Renewables On The Rise

RENEWABLES Possibly will Meagerly Aid 25% OF U.S. ELECTRICITY AND Moving Nourishment BY 2025

On November 13, 2006, the RAND Worldwide open a 73-page reassessment, entitled "Impacts on U.S. Motivation Expenditures of Going up RENEWABLE Motivation Use" which concludes that renewable energy may possibly facade a outsized act in the U.S.'s energy future beneath the right requisites.

The Motivation Approach Amalgamation, a nonprofit organization, asked RAND to critic the impact on energy expenditures as slight as other impacts coupled with the intention memorable as 2525. This refers to having 25 percent of the energy used for electricity and bottom motor vehicle transportation fuels in the Coupled States informative by renewable energy sources by the go out with 2025. This 2525 possibility culminates in about 18 percent of major request in 2025 soul met by renewables. By way of repeat, 6 percent of American's energy use in the last part comes from renewable sources, and about unfinished of that comes from hydroelectric dams.

In the same way as many aspects of the energy divide into four parts and energy technologies are all right uncertain (e.g., future prices and costs of technology), it is insecure that a few scenarios would capture the superior of expected futures that may possibly exist. Hence, RAND researchers work a yardstick based on the Stately Motivation Modeling Mode (NEMS) created by the U.S. Motivation Line Position to consideration outstanding than 1,500 economic scenarios of unstable energy trust and technology list requisites for renewable and nonrenewable resources, as slight as future real thing energy costs.

RAND milled that conference the 25 percent renewable energy onslaught for electricity and bottom motor vehicle transportation fuels jointly by 2025 would not excellent major to your house energy use. This assumes that renewable energy production costs give up by at least 20 percent relating now and 2025 (which is consistent with deferred partake of) and that fossil fuel prices become calm on cloud nine heaps - that is, regular Oil prices do not cut pretty below the superior in the last part estimated by the U.S. Department of Energy's Motivation Line Position (EIA).

Righteous, if renewable technologies return to to stem at important charge, then future energy expenditures in a 2525 future effectiveness be 0.5 percent high-class or denigrate than the non-renewables hand baggage, crucially breaking in spite of everything. In factor, in the best-case scenarios for renewable energy, RAND's renewables husk may possibly reduce energy expenditures by about 3 percent, or 40 billion.

The reassessment extremely finds that at the same time as prices for gasoline, Habitual Gas and Coal are genuine to become calm on cloud nine, their list fine exhausted renewables motivation withstand. Its list estimates individual form motivation return to on making ETHANOL from farm wastes, wood chips and other forms of BIOMASS that are drastically cheaper and outstanding rich than hard skin so that ethanol from farm wastes motivation be genial by 2020.

RAND milled that raising the use of renewables to 25 percent of all U.S. motor vehicle fuels no more may possibly deracinate about 2.5 million barrels a day of petroleum products in the Coupled States in 2025, or 20 percent of major consumption in EIA projections -- the fit of the imports from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

RAND's simulations extremely signpost that, in record hand baggage intentional in this reassessment, profound reductions in CARBON DIOXIDE emissions from fossil fuel detonate can be achieved at a plausibly low list. In 2025, beneath the 25 percent renewables intention, carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity and fuel sectors would cut by one billion masses. That decrease is fit to eliminating one-seventh of the major U.S. CO2 emissions estimated for that go out with and two-thirds of the estimated excellent appointed relating now and 2025, according to EIA forecasts. It would extremely reduce emissions of other pollutants or the prices of emission permits, depending on how the different pollutants are in harmony.

Also, RAND extremely milled that in record hand baggage, cumulative the use of renewable fuels -- which don't swell up the atmosphere's carbon-dioxide growth -- would be cheaper than national rules forcing the decrease of carbon-dioxide emissions, about a third of which elaborate from vehicles.

RAND researchers did not critic the impact of renewable energy used address by industry in buildings in the last part using natural gas, in off-road vehicles used for edifice and performance, or in bully and jet fuel.

RAND researchers silent that gratification of amplified renewable energy use would be carried out at a to your house degree in the least high-priced routine, against a outstanding m?lange manner. In the midst of the important worries intentional is the list to bridge up use of new renewable energy technologies.

The edge dramatist of the reassessment was Smattering Bernstein, who was a RAND scholastic at the hiatus the report was armed. Not getting any younger authors are Jay Griffin and Robert Lempert of RAND. The reassessment was carried out voguish the Environment, Motivation, and Pecuniary Growth program of the RAND Means of communication, Good and Environment Distribute.

# # # # # # #

EXCERPTS FROM Formal SUMMARY:

In the sustain five living, the prices of oil and natural gas possess every one amplified nearly with oil departure from in the order of 20 a Cask in 2002 to exhausted 70 a drum in antediluvian 2006. Also, EIA and other industry forecasters now entrust that the trust of oil motivation defray at abundant levels for record of the next two decades, then again EIA projections do not be determined that prices motivation become calm at draft levels. EIA's 2025 sill for oil and natural gas prices amplified by outstanding than 30 percent originally relating the 2005 and 2006 projections. In its 2005 Annual report Motivation Opinion, EIA looked-for that the trust of vulgar oil would cut to pronounce 33 per drum by 2025; in its 2006 sill, the trust of vulgar was predicted to be at 54 a drum by 2025. Exceptional oil and natural gas prices, if extended, make renewable energy outstanding competitive in this day and age than it was taking part in drastically of the sustain quarter-century, later than energy prices were denigrate than their peaks in the 1970s.

The simulation rendition helps to moniker the state of affairs beneath which the a selection of renewable energy onslaught raises or lowers major energy expenditures. Renewable energy is prevented in the simulations to denigrate major energy expenditures in resembling all hand baggage in which draft energy trust and technology list trends return to. Base a superior of reasonable futures, therefore, the yardstick fight signpost that stretched use of renewables may possibly be achieved at appetizing costs. Changeable to renewables had faulty impacts on major energy expenditures in hand baggage later than (a) fossil fuel prices are denigrate than draft forecasted projections; (b) costs of renewable energy technologies excellent or give up less than ancient times trends as renewables use scales up, and (c) nonrenewable technology costs diminish family member to the costs of renewables, the cancel of hat has tended o happen as renewable technologies stem. If renewable technologies return to to stem at important charge, main to in the order of 20 percent denigrate renewables costs by 2025, then future energy expenditures in a 2525 future effectiveness be 0.5 percent high-class or denigrate than the non-renewables hand baggage, crucially breaking in spite of everything.

One of the outstanding thrilling consequence of this rendition is the plausibly watery superior of worth impacts in bunch terms kitty-cornered hand baggage, then again the incurable amounts are of release. Inevitable, the record extreme of the 1,500 scenarios formed no outstanding than a 6-percent ebb and flow in energy expenditures, or about 75 billion in 2025. This includes the record flattering contrive for nonrenewable energy take-off -- in which the costs of renewable energy technology pitch 30 percent taking part in the next 20 living, the same as natural gas, oil, and coal prices model 50 percent from draft projections. Nonetheless, as the EIA has prevented in deferred projections such as its Annual report Motivation Opinion report, such a pitch in energy expenditures would possess miniature or no impact on regular economic development. In 2025, that excellent in energy expenditures would competence to in the order of one-quarter of a percent of adverse people product in the Coupled States. Uniformly, in the best-case scenarios for renewable energy, RAND's renewables husk may possibly reduce energy expenditures by about 3 percent, or 40 billion. (All scenarios individual least-cost gratification of the intention at a to your house scale.) This watery superior helps describe RAND's shortest on penetrating energy expenditures against broader macroeconomic implications.

In crucially all of the hand baggage intentional, electricity expenditures pitch. But fill increases are outstanding than cancelled out in the hand baggage where major expenditures cut by reductions in the costs of oil, gas, and coal. As renewable energy supplants nonrenewable energy, request for fuels declines, and this drives deflated the prices of Fossil FUELS in the yardstick. The renewables husk may possibly deracinate about 2.5 million barrels a day of petroleum products in the Coupled States in 2025, or 20 percent of major consumption in EIA projections.

The simulations extremely signpost that, in record hand baggage intentional in this reassessment, profound reductions in carbon dioxide emissions can be achieved at a plausibly low list. In 2025, beneath the 25 percent renewables intention, CO2 emissions from the electricity and fuel sectors would cut by one billion masses. That decrease is fit to eliminating one-seventh of the major U.S. carbon dioxide emissions estimated for that go out with and two-thirds of the estimated excellent appointed relating now 2025, according to EIA forecasts. It would extremely reduce emissions of other pollutants or the prices of emission permits, depending on how the different pollutants are in harmony.

The modeling used for this reassessment is intended to see the superior of reservation pronounce future energy costs that is aimless from many earlier "best-guess" projections. Forgotten forecasts of renewable energy produce penetration possess used the NEMS work by EIA; RAND uses a all right aggregated yardstick that simulates NEMS or this reassessment. Nonetheless diverse in fill other studies, the RAND modeling in this report is based on outstanding than 1,500 simulations of the impact of the renewables intention in 2025, fully than on a handful of scenarios. By simplifying undeniable aspects of the EIA yardstick - which incorporates thousands of explanation parameters and requires profound supervision hiatus for every person run of yardstick - the authors may possibly extend the superior of renewable energy scenarios weathered. The churn out is that we are able to moniker feasible uncomplimentary points and ranges where changes in the prices of oil, gas, coal, or renewable technologies are milled to churn out in a decrease or excellent in energy expenditures.

It is thrilling to release that in RAND's supercomputer runs of the renewables intention, outstanding scenarios possess denigrate energy expenditures in 2015 than in 2025. Folks consequence norm that, the same as list savings from renewable energy motivation not gradient overnight, they extremely motivation not clutch decades to absolute. These quite sudden consequence are due to the factor that, as the penetration of renewable energy rises from 10 percent of the produce in 2015 to 25 percent in 2025, the record flattering renewable sires motivation previous to be taken; therefore, costs pitch as the U.S. increases its delivery of renewables, in spite of everything the same as costs per unit cut due to practical advances.

RAND did not yardstick undeniable expected burgeoning technologies such as renewable forms of hydrogen. In his 2003 Story of the Union words, Be in charge Bush set a intention of having hydrogen motor vehicles for peace in car dealers' showrooms by 2025. When record estimates support just stumpy produce penetration of hydrogen by 2025 and the NEMS yardstick does not yet take it, RAND chose not to die to yardstick it here.

RAND's fight depend on the ranges of feasible future costs and fuel prices intentional. Assured readers may clutch issue with RAND's assumptions about these ranges. One of the advantages of the fight, depicted in the graphs and facts throughout the period of the report is they right readers to critic the implications of their own assumptions about the nation's energy future. For example, readers can see the looked-for exchange that a 25-percent diminish in forecasted oil prices would possess on major energy expenditures in 2025, compared, for example, to a 25-percent excellent.

This rendition does not chase to discern optimal or hoarse futures. It extremely DOE not chase in the argot of business-related policy, to gather round "winners and losers." RAND's aim here is outstanding decide on - to project the impact of a profound expansion of renewable energy in the next two decades on energy expenditures kitty-cornered a begin of harsh alternatives.

# # # # # # #

NOTE: On December 5, 2006 the RAND Worldwide withdrew its 2525 energy reassessment fight at the same time as of errors in the rendition.

Rand officials imaginary the reassessment local errors in the supercomputer yardstick and geometric assumptions on which consequence were based.

Reportedly, the RAND kind poise process used to review studies failed to presume not deliberate errors in the healing of obtainable subsidies for BIOFUELS and the availability of obtainable HYDROPOWERCAPACITY in the supercomputer rule, as slight as undeniable other best relating to how the renewable indigence is met and at what list.

Rand Vice Be in charge Debra Knopman imaginary the errors effectiveness possess an talk into on the study's fight but no grant has been completed. She imaginary a revised rendition would be issued antediluvian in 2007.

# # # # # # #

As of December 19, 2006, the report may possibly but be milled here or

See the Rand Corporation's December 5, 2006 news reason announcing the report's temporary bill here.

See extremely the article "Renewable Fuels May Aid 25% of U.S. Motivation by 2025 by John J. Fialka in the November 13, 2006 issue of the "Blockade Possibility Version" here.

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Event Renewable Energy World Europe Conference And Power Gen Europe

This group will bear pop on June 3 - 5, 2014 in Scent, Germany. Renewable Heat Making Europe is the basic aide group relating the rudely growing renewables estate and the mainstream power generation industry with an responsive and humorless multiple attach conference envelope important and systematic topics, return and open by uppermost practitioners from the renewable energy industry itself.

Renewable Heat Making Europe, co-located with POWER-GEN Europe, offers the major and record thorough conference and demonstrate for the European electricity and renewable energy estate. The concoction of conferences and exhibitions with a leg on each side of the all-embracing spectrum of power generation is exceptional and is spoon the central have control over towards integrating the emblem fossil fuel and fast-growing renewable generation sectors.

Force strong-willed you note down to aide Renewable Heat Making Europe 2014 in Scent, Germany and be area office of the regions uppermost group eager to renewable energy generation.

Renewable Heat Making Europe and POWER-GEN Europe are happenings where power industry professionals can achieve the big picture and really network with the route the industry is identify. No other conference and demonstrate brings cooperatively these now inevitability associates in the management of European low-carbon energy projected..

Renewable Heat Making Europe offers a eager vacancy communicate perplex, with lots of exhibiting companies displaying authoritative technology, conveniences, software and hardware. Next high-class 14,000 guests raw at the Koelnmesse high-class the three verve of the group, the networking opportunities at Europes major and primary power industry conference and demonstrate are zip to none.

Preliminary Live through Counselor

Lately uncontrolled Preliminary Live through Counselor contains all the information you need in put your name down for to plan your consider it to Renewable Heat Making Europe. You will identify the preliminary bench for our multi-track conference, exhibitor fall into line, systematic spree and shooting lodge information. To submission the steer clap here.

Conference Places of interest

The Renewable Heat Making Europe and POWER-GEN Europe Crush Keynote and Joint Plenary Set Conversation speakers include now been announced as area office of the preliminary conference programme. The Crush Keynote is constantly a middle of our almanac conference and is near here to all registered attendees: Joint Crush Keynote Period - Tuesday 3 June 2014 - 09:30 ^aEUR" 11:00 Speakers include:

*Sigmar Gabriel National Member of the clergy of Beneficial Family members and Heat, Germany (*Invited) Mr. Matthias Hartung A cut above Allowed Administrator, RWE Daylight hours SE & RWE Try AG, Germany Dipl. Vesa Riihimaki Come first, Try Vegetation border:0"/> Subscribe in a reader

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We Energies Recognized For Clean Energy Job Development

"From a news release issued by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC):"

October 11, 2010. Los Angeles, CA - The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) today awarded five Innovation Awards and six Special Recognition Awards at its 2010 Annual Meeting.

"Efforts like these are why I feel confident that the children of today will grow up to a world where solar and other clean energy technologies are as common place to them then as their cell phones, iPods and the Internet," said Ken Jurman, IREC Chair.

"This year's Innovation Awards targeted initiatives aimed at supporting clean energy workforce development, community renewables, financial incentives, clean energy ARRA projects, and efforts to grow the small wind market," said Ken Jurman, IREC chair. "Each of this year's winning submissions demonstrate initiatives and best practices that are helping move clean energy technologies closer to becoming the norm rather than the exception."

Selected through a competitive process, the 2010 Innovation Awardees include: Lakota Solar Enterprises for its Solar Energy for Great Plains Tribal Communities (clean energy ARRA project); Mountain View Solar's The JOBS Project (community renewables); We Energies' Solar for Humanity (clean energy workforce development); The Morris County Improvement Authority's MORRIS Model (clean energy financial program); and iCast's rural agricultural applications for small wind in rural Eastern Colorado (small wind)....

2010 INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS

Clean Energy Workforce Development Category:

We Energies: Solar for Humanity

Solar for Humanity, focused on workforce development and community partnerships, uses Habitat for Humanity homes as real training roofs for solar PV and solar thermal installers.

By the end of 2010, more than 90 solar PV and solar thermal systems will be installed on homes throughout the We Energies service territory, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity chapters in Wisconsin, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and non-union contractors. The partnerships were developed to help develop jobs and to create a more robust NABCEP solar installer base within the service territory, educate the general public about solar technologies and energy efficiency, and bring solar power to lower income households. All parties plan to grow and continue this effort making it the largest renewable energy training partnership in the Midwest. Visit http://www.we-energies.com/business/energyeff/solarforhumanity.htm

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Yieldcos Could Cut Renewables Costs By 20 Study Finds

Monetary newness has approachable circulated solar and helped to push down rank in overdue time, but award is also ample freedom for new patronage vehicles for large-scale wind and solar, according to a new appraise.

Prevalent use of YieldCos should pass for wind and solar rank to ball by better than 20 percent compared to surge project finance models, according to the Last out Policy Initiative^as mold," Roadmap to a Low Carbon Electricity Go through."

YieldCos nasty money flows based on unpolluted hub and after that sympathy the revenue in dividends, hush money a skeletal revisit to investors and lower-cost assets for renewable energy projects. Nearby have in stock been loads of YieldCos launched completely, as well as offerings from NRG Tell somebody to, Greencoat Set in motion, Version Set in motion and Nextera YieldCo.

THE Precincts OF Kindness FINANCING

Bequest renewable energy projects is moral one sympathy that utilities top, and potentially not sure the top figure great one. From flow and topic patronage to system corresponding and sell like hot cakes operations, effectively altogether offshoot of the party occupation quantity is suitable for eating for reconstruction.

The research from Last out Policy Push origin loads of reasons why party financing is not positively exactly to renewable energy projects. ^aThe surge quantity is habituated from financing fossil fuel hub,^a thought Uday Varadarajan, supercilious psychotherapist like Last out Policy Push. ^aThose hub have in stock a truly different boundary of risk and advance.^a

Astral and wind projects do not have in stock the self-same effective risks, nor do they have in stock the fuel risk of fossil fuel leaves. ^aWe should not be paying industries a skeletal premium for operating a lower-risk righteousness,^a thought Varadarajan.

Furthermost utility-scale renewable energy projects are funded either floor project finance, being a developer sets up a project solidarity that can copy center next to the money flows from the project, or floor an investor-owned party or self-ruling power producer by the use of its own equity and borrowing power to finance the project.

In 2013, 279 billion out of the out-and-out 359 billion for all low-carbon investments, as well as renewable energy, energy effortlessness, electric vehicles and other projects, came from clear bed linen financing or project-level financing, according to CPI.^A

Promising Hard work FOR YIELDCOS

The mold was bullish on the feat of YieldCos to push down the map of large-scale renewables, but it also outlines loads of challenges that run for YieldCos in the renewable sell like hot cakes. ^aAre award leaving to be heaps PPAs to truthfully protect continued promotion of the YieldCo market?^a asked Varadarajan. ^aAre we leaving to get the institutional investors accusatory on these?^a

A choice of of the precincts may possibly be cumulative hard work, back YieldCos for renewable energy are noticeably perplexing. Whereas one issues may possibly comport yourself themselves out in outlook time, CPI outlined four be in front of that a YieldCo must have:

* Routine Perfectly Straight, Lifelong Income FLOWS. That includes paying out effectively all of the unpick money generated from central projects to YieldCo owners, more or less than retaining a fine portion to invest in new projects, owning a diversified set of projects and investing in effective hub.
* Routine LIQUIDITY IN THE Money. The YieldCo should be exchange-traded and have in stock a large set of investors that attracts cost-effective gulf scene.
* Routine Money AT LOW Invoice. CPI information that one of the drawbacks seen by institutional investors like tons surge YieldCos is their skeletal rank and proposed law. ^A
* Verve Lasting AS Self OF THE PORTFOLIO OF OPTIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS. In tons ways, this is a cumulative hurt, but YieldCos need to comport yourself like investors, as positively as cost-effective regulators, to keep warm the YieldCo as an righteousness variety.

^aMaturity may possibly treaty like top figure of these issues,^a thought Varadarajan, toting up that ideally, YieldCos may possibly surface shine off blocked hold up. To assistance YieldCos strong-smelling better rudely, award may possibly be a blanket for clear banks, such as those in Connecticut or New York, superfluous Varadarajan.

Atypical catch for YieldCos is whether they may possibly be one of the vehicles to gaping the mid-tier sell like hot cakes of renewables that are less significant than party scale but huge than residential. ^aThe thing cry YieldCos is they have in stock to be truly large,^a Izzet Bensusan, fall short and CEO of Karbone Element thought at the Renewable Set in motion Assist Summit Block up System on Wednesday. ^aThat method you have in stock to go truthfully inclusive [in project selection] to exist up to your investors' outlook.^a^A

A Segregate FOR MUNICIPALITIES?

YieldCos may possibly put it on an interesting blanket in utility-scale renewable projects in outlook time, but award is also a impending blanket for municipalities, CPI origin.

^aWind and solar are truthfully bond-like investments,^a thought Varadarajan. ^aYou may possibly positively see utter grip financing^a for renewable projects.

He pointed to Los Angeles Company of Sea and Power^as prepaid power-purchase potential for wind power from the Milford Twist Watch over in Utah that recycled Southern California Collective Thorough knowledge Authority and utter tax-exempt bonds.

The row may possibly be better tasty in Europe, he noted, but it is positively sufficient in the U.S. ^aUnlike institutional investors, municipalities may possibly invest exactly in renewable energy projects defective the liquidity concerns, extreme as they invest in telephone lines,^a the appraise authors wrote.

Metropolitan financing may possibly also be supported by telephone lines or clear banks, where less significant municipalities would be able to record assets.

The buzz focuses on large-scale renewable projects, but award are other areas where sell like hot cakes and cost-effective newness are considered necessary. Whereas YieldCos may not exactly finance other hub, such as grid-balancing technologies or energy effortlessness, ^aYieldCos may possibly be a Trojan horse for the deposit of this,^a thought Varadarajan. ^aYieldCos and a demand-side upset are outlook. The deposit force have a high opinion of for example it^as a understandable fan retort.^a

"Greentech Media^A (GTM) produces industry-leading data, research, and conferences in the business-to-business greentech sell like hot cakes. Our mushroom areas encirclement solar, judicious lattice, energy effortlessness, wind, and other non-incumbent energy markets. For better information, visit:^A greentechmedia.com^A, have a high opinion of us on twitter:^A @greentechmedia, or such as us on Facebook:^A facebook.com/greentechmedia."

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Looking To Reduce Co2 Emissions 40 From The Power Plant Sector

"Mar 4, 2014 by Mike Jacobs"

"Mike Jacobs is a Stuck-up Energy Specialist for the Association of Bothered Scientists' Live through & Energy Cast."

Haul grid boss PJM has an display. Have a fight of a three-year burrow of the power plant punctual operations from Chicago to Virginia demo that raising renewable energy to 30 percent of the electricity supply can shield CO2 emissions by 40 percent. And this can be realize moment maintaining the honesty of the electric system.

REALLY? WHO Alleged THIS?

PJM Interconnection, LLC., is the federally chosen machinist for the power grid in 13 states jump D.C. PJM, adoration the other ISOs (Self-ruling Develop Operators) or RTOs (Home Move Organizations) are charged with coordinating power plant operations and verbosity exchanges to consistently appreciate electricity sale. These ISOs maintain several layers of organization. If PJM did everything against its own set of laws, an aggrieved festivity can clarify the enterprise to the National Energy Regulatory Situation (FERC), where the ISOs are in harmony. (You may maintain heard of FERC in the second sit out of "Assets of Cards," thing 19.)

Moving fine hair to the burrow of 30 percent renewable energy, and momentous CO2 reductions, PJM adult the essentials for this major sweat, concert with GE and other consultants. They examined the verbosity operated by PJM (and added), the set of 1,400 power plants that dispense 61 million sophistication, plus the fuel wishes and operate of the hurry power plants. (You can discover friends to the weighed down report and formal summary here.)

To anticipate how the power supply would draw on in the engagement 2026 with 10 mature even more wind power and solar than beforehand habit on the system, the burrow used distinct hourly energy sale and wind and solar patterns. The wind and solar services were storming out for 10 scenarios, plus the 2 percent ongoing renewable generation, up to 30 percent energy from wind and solar in different mixes.

Tell ME Another time, In the function of IS THE CO2 REDUCTION?

The PJM map out with log CO2 abbreviation is 30 percent renewable energy, using the best sites for wind, plus a low part of offshore wind, and one-sixth of the renewable energy expectations from solar. The CO2 emissions repositioning from on top of 500 million a lot in engagement 2026 when habit the grid as fix, to a new lifeless of 300 million a lot with this afterthought of renewable energy. That is a 40 percent abbreviation.

This necessity be manageable when in the manner of EPA secret code for carbon emissions from ongoing power plants. If the EPA 111(d) secret code take advantage of to all fossil fuel power plants, and the new very good allows a transfer to low-carbon electricity generators for malleability, this PJM renewables merging burrow shows a way adopt. The ISOs and RTOs are well-positioned if the EPA 111(d) malleability can be met downhill the management of fleets of power plants and the interruption of fossil fuel plants with zero-carbon electricity freight.

Mixture of CO2 reductions reaches 40%

ARE THESE STUDIES ANY GOOD?

PJM debate for power plant retirements in 2012

Indubitably. Call to mind, PJM is beforehand error the grid debate with the retirements of a number of 50 plants with a total on top of 13,000 MW. One of PJM's primarily roles is to investigate the impacts on the grid from all this repositioning and impression out how to consistently appreciate electricity sale in its service obtain. (See map of plant retirements underside.)

In other screenplay, no one has a even more truth belief, or even more essentials, on the operations of the power system in the PJM topic than PJM itself. This is an company with a total 2012 reduced of 322 million for habit the grid. In every person topic with an Self-ruling Develop Functioning or Home Move Resound, existing is no other even more perceptive council on the suspect of habit the inhabitant power grid. If PJM says that ill at ease the power plant punctual to donate 30 percent of electricity from wind and solar can be realize with CO2 hoard as distinguished as 40 percent, no one is even more credible.

In the function of Something like Unconventional THE PJM REGION?

Submit are solid indications that other regions can clout CO2 reductions with distinguished levels of renewable energy. We give an account the rise in renewable energy and grid operators successes selected the U.S. with undergo of wind aristocratic 20 and 30 percent of the supply (in one hour) in our Ramping Up Renewables report.

Subsidiary studies by operate operators with 20 and 30 percent renewable energy (on an annual report ransack) can be get going at the Party Variable-Generation Fusion Classification web location. Every person topic has a different mix of plants and resources, so the notation basic be examined. But it is clear from this new PJM burrow that using renewable energy to shield power plant carbon emissions is a industrial first-rate that we can use for malleability with these opportunity secret code.

"The views spoken in this blog are make somewhere your home of the author, and do not vitally indicate the views of the Sustainable FERC Justification or Immature Course Protection Conference."

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Vestas Marching Into Untapped Philippines Wind Market

The Famous Wind Turbine OEM's are analytical for New Markets and Vestas is not different. Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel met with Philippines Come first Benigno Aquino III, Secretary of Energy Jericho Petilla, and other officials to contemplate the country's efforts to prefer wind and other renewable energies. The Come first emphasised the combined policies and other efforts the supervision is cargo to diversify its praise energy mix and supporter investment in renewable energies."Consequent the discourse with Come first Aquino, Ditlev Engel meant, "This discourse re-affirms Come first Aquino's and the Philippine government's uncontrolled commitment to wind and renewable energy. The Philippines is involving the highest modern markets in the district in language of implementing policies to prefer wind energy."Afterward the 2008 Renewable Energy Act to the 2012 renewable energy feed-in-tariff legislation, the Philippines has set ambitious goals to diversify its praise energy base and invest in ultra renewables, tremendously wind energy. Vestas is working with its clients and the supervision to newborn ornament the country's renewable energy policies and sponsorship it prolong its goal of proper the itemize one wind energy producer in the district by 2015. Although in the Philippines, Ditlev Engel in the same way met with Vestas clients to contemplate present industry developments. In connection with the everyday, Ditlev Engel concludes, "Vestas is firm to restrict the growing Philippine market to energy. Our need is to construct the market person in charge - here as provide with as in other emerging wind energy markets in Asia and nearly the world."

Credit: energy-technologies.blogspot.com

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Survey Finds Germans Want Shift To Renewables

Deutsche Welle, 18 October 2013

A NEW Outlook CONDUCTED After At the last PARLIAMENTARY POLLS Recount Ceiling GERMANS Average A Adroit TRANSITION TO DECENTRALIZED Anodyne, RENEWABLE Enthusiasm. BUT Revolt ELECTRICITY PRICES May possibly Hose down Promptness FOR THE Green Anticipate.

Stylish all the negotiations involving Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and other vigor coalition cronies in Berlin these sequence few weeks, one issue forth has remained exalted on the planner all along: seeing that sway energy Germany's much energy edge take?

Germany's energy transition, or "Energiewende" as it is familiar domestically, is a long-term make to junior carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuels later than renewable sources of energy. Germany hopes to blow at smallest 35 percent of its electricity from thriving sources by 2020; by 2050, the renewables allot is prearranged to come about 80 percent.

But acceptable how arrived is the ambitious thriving energy make with Germans? Hurriedly while the German elections, research setting up TNS Emnid surveyed exceptional 1,000 descendants to get a sense of the nation's heart on energy issues.

An moving dead body - one 84 percent - of populace interviewed believed they believe the new parameter to drive for a rushed switch to an energy system power-driven 100 percent by renewable sources of energy.

In additional room, 83 percent believed they purport the profits and appointment of the energy U-turn to be thin make even with culture and energy companies. Instantly, it's general covert households and small companies that are shouldering a bring in of "for all appointment" for an upturn of renewables. Solid large, energy-intensive companies carry in up-to-the-minute time been exempted from paying the surcharge.

PRICING Self-possessed A Danger

Not the same scrutiny by research stripe Forsa in summer came up later than a on your doorstep merchandise. At the spot, 82 percent of the respondents believed they were in charity of the energy transition but were critical of the way it was like implemented. Revolt energy prices for German clients was cited as the biggest harm.

A thoughtlessly, citizen-driven energy transition enjoys the endorsement of end up of all important taking sides parties. Not absurdly, exceptional 90 percent of constituency of the German Greens hazard the make. Connecting the center-left Social Democrats it's exceptional 80 percent and exceptional 70 percent of even get-together end up showed their move backward.

The Emnid scrutiny similarly asked respondents seeing that they burden of the energy policies of the parameter led by Chancellor Merkel so far. Sphere-shaped 55 percent believed the policies peek too strongly in charity of energy companies, 22 percent believed they were satisfied later than the policies in the function of 19 percent believed the interests of utilities weren't adequate lovesick taking part in savings account.

'A Point PLAYING FIELD'

Germany's energy transition is sooner than clear to somebody migrant open the realm. Over a million culture and farmers sooner than carry solar panels installed on their roofs or are shared owners of a windpark and the Emnid scrutiny predicts that could boom to exceptional 20 million culture in the much.

In the region of a third of populace surveyed believed they would entirely verge on to get financially twisted in energy systems in their neighborhoods in the function of a advance 30 percent believed they would inspection the hypothesis.

"This mean to carry a monetary piece in the energy transition is especially distinct with middle-income groups. It's not acceptable locked up to the burdened," Ren'e Mono, a renewable energy advocate from Berlin, told DW.

The problem for the "extraordinarily exalted commendation of the energy transition" is the hit of Germany's Renewable Enthusiasm Act (EEG), according to Mono. The law allows characterless culture deteriorating point opinion to invest in renewable energy systems and similarly allows owners of solar panels and wind turbines to stash their electricity to the web at a engraved figure exceptional 20 time. That makes the patronage enjoyable and weak to calculate. The EEG "has created the lattice so that culture similarly carry a train playing field," Mono believed.

Greatly experts verge on Hubert Weiger, chairman of the ground stripe BUND, are urging the German parameter, at this instant twisted in coalition meeting, to accept culture desires taking part in savings account and not put the brakes on the rapidity of the energy transition. Gerd Billen of the Glory of German Consumer Organizations warned lawmakers against jeopardizing the exalted fame and move backward for the thriving energy rising. "Regulars are paying for the energy transition," Billen believed. "Enthusiasm prices straightforwardly cannot be legal to boom advance."

Connected ARTICLE:

THE SECRETS OF GERMANY\'S Fiscal Getting

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How Much More Transmission Do We Need

All of the consultation cables you see strung with a leg on each side of the western Attached States and Canada possibly will sheathe more or less the Win four and a imperfect get older. New Federal policies and a neighborliness industry beat on linking cities to several of the greatest extent malicious energy projects on difficult to get to wildlands has resulted in plans to add up to seven thousand slap miles of new consultation resentment in the west, missing, plus guaranteed new resentment in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. The Age-old House's further demand on consultation seeks to set off a fast-track sanction system for these resentment, it seems that to respond to renewable energy projects, but fails to regular an institutional bait for the energy industry to invest in efficiency or circulated generation as a under costly alternative to new consultation and difficult to get to power plants. This map shows consultation resentment as of 2009, and plainly ancestors that are 230 kilovolt (kv) or huge. Hateful RELATIONSHIPThe consultation system is discomforted, and we will be predominantly reliant on a restorative grid for somewhat several place, successive lower than an genre draw with coarse employment of rooftop solar and energy efficiency investments. However, as technology avails under malicious alternatives - a smarter grid, energy efficiency, and circulated generation - the disbelief we must be asking is how distant new consultation do we in effect need to transition to a clean energy future? That disbelief will get a different key depending on who you ask. One central theme is clear - swashbuckler owned utilities are staunch advocates for new consultation when they are jump a restorative safe popular to the same extent they invest in new resentment. Entrepreneur owned utilities - plus Southern California Edison, PG&E, SDG">ONLY One time THEY ARE TOLD Task companies habitually plainly invest in energy efficiency and circulated generation to the same extent they are wanted to do so by state regulators. California's assemblage and Folks Utilities Problem involve wanted utilities to adopt eager efficiency programs, and a still-growing rooftop solar program, for example. Arizona, on the other chuck, is back-pedalling on its rooftop solar incentives, perhaps swayed by the participation of the neighborliness companies. Nevada has missed a lot of opportunities, and is redoubling investments in the standing quo. Nevada's neighborliness company - NV Might - was threatened by a plan in the Nevada assemblage that would involve included incentives for rooftop solar, and stepped in to implore the assemblage and rewrote the plan. The plan that approved the Nevada assemblage no longer includes any observe of rooftop solar, but it will acknowledge NV Might to stay investing in a tonic of large solar plants on clean and tidy renounce, new natural gas plants, and heaps of consultation resentment. Main consultation resentment are huge than 100kv. Highest of the resentment you see trip fill lands in the renounce southwest are 230kv or huge. Above Readership Wished-for FOR THE Leave behindWe are about to panel upon an coarse investment in new consultation resentment - electric resentment to our cities and natural gas pipelines to feed new power plants - that neighborliness companies want will TV presenter us to an old hypothesis where they melody us how, and from where we receive our electricity. A 2011 report from the North American Emotional Stability Company (NERC) famous haughty" SEVEN THOUSAND Wished-for Slurp up MILES OF NEW Lines" in the western Attached States out of action 2021. A new 230 kv consultation fly can slaughter - at a token - 1.4 million dollars "per mile", but the improve slaughter per mile is distant patronizing if the fly crosses unconventional realm, and you can add millions patronizing for substations, according to the Western Electricity Coordinating Legislature (WECC). The Crack of dawn Powerlink fly that runs 117 miles from San Diego to the Royal Valley slaughter ratepayers haughty 2 billion dollars, so you can see that these token slaughter estimates can end up substance distant patronizing. Appearing in is a sampling of the new resentment wished-for in the southwest:"COOLWATER-LUGO Allude to"Plus the well thought-out consultation projects in the west, Southern California Edison (SCE) claims the Coolwater-Lugo fly would acknowledge for the accessory of patronizing large-scale renewable energy projects and relieve grid reliability. The fly would height ongoing consultation in several areas, but create a new consultation send on out of action North Lucerne Valley to connect to a substation east of Barstow. Save for the wished-for Gemstone Divider Coil project east of Apple Valley may mandate a new substation and few miles of consultation resentment lay down ongoing corridors, it's not clear why SCE requests to add 35 miles of new resentment to a substation east of Barstow."SUN ZIA Allude to "The wished-for Sun Zia consultation fly would cover 515 miles from New Mexico to Arizona, trip natural renounce and greatest ecosystems, plus the San Pedro Watercourse Valley. This fork of Arizona supports lush bird habitat and a migration send on. The consultation fly would contravene habitat and fix a jeopardy to migrating birds. Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra The world, and Emissary Paul Grijalva involve questioned the need for the fly, noting that upgrades to ongoing consultation corridors would normal be stacks."SOUTHLINE"Special wished-for consultation fly called "Southline" would cover with a leg on each side of 360 miles of New Mexico and Arizona. The disciple, Western Conspire Robustness Distribution, claims the fly would acknowledge for improved renewable energy generation and bear with overcapacity. As with the covering of Sun Zia, it is patronizing normal that fossil fuels will benefit from the fly patronizing than renewables, and if utilities were wanted to do so, they possibly will invest in patronizing circulated generation and energy efficiency to ease overcapacity concerns and neat the need for energy imports."Harrow Wound Allude to"The Los Angeles Responsibility of Tarn and Robustness requests to add in the environs of 88 miles of new resentment from the western Mojave Leave behind, and with a leg on each side of Angeles National Copse. The resentment will connect the city to a mushrooming detach of wind turbines near the small towns of Mojave and Tehachapi, plus several projects that are deadly to fair-haired eagles and may nag the California condor as the sort out recovers and anxiously expands its depth."Centenary WEST Filtered Allude to"This is another multi-state fly that would excellent 878 to 919 miles of New Mexico, Arizona, and California, depending on which direction is elected. One of the wished-for routes would cut power out of action striking renounce mountains and valleys innermost the margins of Senator Feinstein's wished-for Mojave Trails National Monument. No large consultation resentment at this instant figure on this fork of the direction."TRANSWEST Particular Allude to"This 725 mile fly would connect Wyoming and Nevada, presumably delivering wind energy from the Sierra Madre and Chokecherry wind projects to the west shoreline. The Sierra Madre and Chokecherry projects - to the same extent built - possibly will take home several of the greatest extent incurable wind facilities to fair-haired eagles and other raptors in the muscle. Next in the environs of 1,000 wind turbines well thought-out, the project will industrialize haughty 355 poise miles of grassland.Old PlatterOur hurting to turning over apart from fossil fuels has delivered this rupture to neighborliness companies on a snowy serving dish. Requiring utilities to form renewable energy generation gives them an validate to invest heavily in new infrastructure. A neighborliness company righteous cares whether their consultation resentment run to a poisonous coal power plant or a fair-haired eagle-killing wind facility - as hope as state regulators melody them they can pass the charge to us, and as hope as they don't involve to cast their own business print by investing in energy efficiency and rooftop solar. As environmentalists, we prerequisite evaluator what mix of depredation we take in our renewable energy future, continuation in deduce that difficult to get to central projects and their accompanying consultation resentment tend to mandate a lot of carbon-intensive materials and support processes. All consultation fly will mandate tons of new bonding agent, aluminum, and foil. Might efficiency, circulated generation, and facilities on anxious lands moment to the substance centers, on the other chuck, mandate distant under of these materials.If we take a patronizing sustainable band, we involve a wrestle on our hands. The light tuber in the heads of neighborliness companies is burning fair - they can make heaps of means from this transition to renewable energy by consoling difficult to get to, national projects. One time we ask for investments in circulated generation, neighborliness companies dryly criticism the idea as too stylish, unearned, or dire to the grid. Utilities take to melody us to the same extent, where, and how we will transition to clean energy, successive if it is a band that leftover distant to our ecosystems. Their unprocessed listing is apologetic, hitherto, and we prerequisite fitting the tables in this get along.

Origin: www.garvindirect.com

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Wind Energy A Wasteful Use Of Resources Eroi

The Energy Return on Investment (EROI) measures the energy output given by a certain power supply technique over its lifetime in relation to the energy required to extract the fuel and build the power station to provide that same power supply. Recent research into the German energy system reveals the EROI for different types of power supply based on the most detailed study yet into the area :

http://festkoerper-kernphysik.de/Weissbach EROI preprint.pdf

They first of all calculated the unbuffered EROI for each power supply, which does not include storage systems. They then calculated the buffered EROIs, taking into account pumped storage which is required to balance wind power, so that like to like comparisons can be made with other power plants.

The results show that nuclear and hydro come out best with coal and CCGT (gas) on respectable positions. Renewables in general dont come out too well. Solar CSP, which are built in deserts, comes out the best. As for wind, when you add in all the concrete, steel, water, magnet processing and oil that goes into their manufacture, installation and maintenance, you get a relatively small amount of energy back over the turbine's lifetime :

Figure 1: EROI of different power sources

THE LIFETIME OF WIND TURBINES

One could argue that the EROI for wind may be slightly higher in Ireland with the slightly higher wind speeds over Germany. However, a lifetime of 20 years was assumed in this study. The lifetime of wind turbines, in particular the larger ones, is now been questioned as the experience in Denmark shows that turbines installed between 1990 and 2000 lasted on average for 15 years [Figure 1].

Figure 2: Decommissioned Danish Wind Turbines from 1990 to 2000. (Graph provided by John Dooley based on data from Danish Energy Agency)

Figure 3: Example of wind turbines variable output (Graph provided by John Dooley based on data from Danish Energy Agency)

And Figure 3 shows how a wind turbines output is not consistent over its lifetime. In fact, the output deteriorates on average at around year 10. So the EROI of wind would be even worse if the above factors had been taken into account in the analysis.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EROI

So why is the EROI important ? Well, one needs to put it into context. Our modern society evolved around the use of coal and later oil as sources of energy. Our present society would be unimaginable without them. The fallacy thrown around by wind lobbyists (and that of many other renewables) is that wind energy is comparable with fossil fuels. You can't build a modern grid from the bottom up with wind energy. Just ask our 18th and 19th Century ancestors. But you can build a modern grid around fossil fuels and then integrate other less reliable sources into it, but always at an additional cost to the consumer. The fossil fuel plants still have to kept running and open for business.

As Charles A.S. Hall explains :"The importance of EROI is far more than simply whether it is positive or negative. Several of the participants in the current debate about corn-derived ethanol believe that corn-based ethanol has an EROI of less than 1:1, while others argue that ethanol from corn shows a clear energy surplus, with from 1.2 to 1.6 units of energy delivered for each unit invested. But this argument misses a very important issue. Think of a society dependent upon one resource: oil. If the EROI for this oil was 1.1:1 then one could pump the oil out of the ground and look at it and that's it. It would be an energy loss to do anything else with it. If it were 1.2:1 you could refine it into diesel fuel, and at 1.3:1"you could distribute it to where you want to use it. If you actually want to run a truck with it, you must have an EROI ratio of at least 3:1 (at the wellhead) to build and maintain the truck, as well as the necessary roads and bridges (including depreciation). If additionally you wanted to put something in the truck and deliver it, that would require an EROI of, say, 5:1.

"Now say you wanted to include depreciation on the oil field worker, the refinery worker, the truck driver, and the farmer; you would need an EROI of 7:1 or 8:1. If their children were to be educated you would need perhaps 9:1 or 10:1, to have health care 12:1, to have arts in their lives maybe 14:1, and so on. Obviously to have a modern civilization one needs not "just surplus energy, but lots of it-and that requires "either a high EROI or a massive source of moderate-"EROI fuels. If these are not available, the remaining"

"low-EROI energy will be prioritized for growing food "and supporting families."

And to get to the stage where activist groups like Greenpeace can fly a bunch of unemployed people to Lima on a jet plane to desecrate an ancient structure in a protest against fossil fuels, you probably need something like an EROI of 20:1. And that's the trouble with fuel sources with such high EROI - it leads to large levels of waste. And the plans for large scale wind farms, storage units, pylons and interconnectors (all require significant use of fossil fuels and rare earths) are now becoming just that - wasteful projects.

What the green organisations don't tell you is that if their plans come to fruition, and oil and coal is kept in the ground, some very tough choices will need to be made about division of resources. Of course green (and most of their left wing supporters) groups usually don't concern themselves with "the law of unintended consequences :

"If the energy and hence economic pie is no longer get"ting larger-indeed, if because of geological constraints"it can no longer get larger-how will we slice it? This" may force some ugly debates back into the public vision."If EROI continues to decline then it will cut increas"ingly into discretionary spending (the engine for eco"nomic growth) and we will need to ask some very hard" questions about how we should spend our money."A problem with substitutes to fossil fuels is that, of the" alternatives currently available, none appear to have" all the desirable traits of fossil fuels, especially liquids."These include sufficient energy density, easy transport-"ability, relatively low environmental impact per net unit" delivered to society, relatively high EROI, and avail"ability on a scale that society presently demands. Thus" it would seem that the United States and the rest of the"world are likely facing a decline in both the quantity" and EROI of its principal fuels. How we adjust to this" will be a critical determinant of our future."

Google engineers, once very pro-renewables, are only now beginning to realize the folly of investing large amounts of money and resources into renewables (full article here) :

"At the start...we had shared the attitude of many stalwart environmentalists: We felt that with steady improvements to today's renewable energy technologies, our society could stave off catastrophic climate change. We now know that to be a false hope..."Renewable energy technologies simply won't work; we need a fundamentally different approach."So the question is how long will it take for governments to realize their mistake or will they carry on spending citizen's money on wasteful projects ? It is estimated that 500 BILLION DOLLARS has been invested in capital costs alone in European renewable projects - a lot of money that could have been invested in genuine environmental causes, education and health.

"Based on this US comparative pricing, the major Nations in Europe have expended of the order of about 0.5trillion on Renewable Energy installations to generate an amount of electrical energy that could have been provided by conventional sources for about 16th of the capital cost. This 16th of the cost also represents an estimate of the approximate cost of the spinning reserve needed to support the Renewable Energy Technologies as they are intermittent and non-dispatchable (link)."

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Utilities Embrace Renewables Especially Solar Energy

Caption: Electric Vehicle Day - San Diego: A National Drive Electric Week Event, was held in September 2014. SDG">"Utilities continue to partner with renewable energy firms to meet RPS goals."

Utility-scale solar energy projects are among the leading renewable energy resources being deployed by investor-owned utilities in order to fulfill renewable-related mandates. Solar energy continues as a leading choice due to the fact that prices for equipment and installation have been falling for the last couple of years.

In addition to meeting renewable portfolio standards (RPS), in regard to renewables and cleantech initiatives, utilities are engaged in developing storage solutions, establishing community solar initiatives, and building infrastructure to support the electric vehicle market, among other activities. They also continue to collaborate with industry partners in order to diversify their renewable energy portfolios.

Solar panels at the San Diego County Operations Center Campus. Photo: Cleantech San Diego

In California, Gov. Jerry Brown has set a significant goal for energy storage as it relates to renewables, 1.3 gigawatts by 2020. Companies such as electric car manufacturer, Tesla Motors, and others are contributing to the development of energy storage solutions. "Commercial and industrial users are starting to generate electricity and store and use it at different times," says Jason Anderson, president and CEO, Cleantech San Diego. "And more importantly, reduce peaks and hopefully, drive some of the costs of their energy use."

Cleantech San Diego is an economic development organization formed to accelerate the adoption of clean technologies in the region. The organization works closely with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), the University of California-San Diego (UCSD), the private sector and others to promote the benefits of clean technologies, including what they mean for new job creation and new company growth.

Utilities are critical to the success of cleantech partnerships, such as renewable energy projects, because they deploy and utilize smart grids. They also install infrastructure, such as local charging stations for electric vehicles. In San Diego, SDG&E will join stakeholders in an effort to increase commercial solar rooftop installations in the region. San Diego is already a national leader in residential solar rooftop installations, Anderson says.

What's more, UCSD is home to one of the world's most renowned microgrids, where it generates 92 percent of its own electricity. The university manages the generation and distribution of renewable resources such as wind energy, fuel cells, solar energy, and heat from a waste water treatment facility.

San Diego's utilities and commercial owners are expanding the number of charging stations to support the expansion of the electric vehicle market. There are 12,000 EVs in the region. Anderson says SDG utilities are looking at that from a grid management perspective," he says.

Teaming Up for Success

Utilities often take a couple of approaches in regard to renewable energy, either installing renewable energy systems themselves or working with different partners and/or approaches in order to comply with RPS requirements. By following the partner approach, "It gives us the ability to work with the solar development community while focusing on what we do, which is providing power to our customers," says Bret Jones, senior program manager, external affairs, Colorado electric utility operations, Black Hills Energy.

San Diego Region Accelerates Cleantech Innovations

By Rachel Duran

The San Diego region continues to be a national leader in renewable energy and cleantech initiatives, where organizations conduct innovative research in smart grids, data management and water usage. Industry players range from utilities to industry to universities to the military.

San Diego is a global leader in biofuels research, including algae biotech which generates 175 million in economic output to the region.

Photo: CleanTECH San Diego

"The Navy and the Marines are doing a number of things on their bases around generation, primarily solar generation," says Jason Anderson, president, Cleantech San Diego, which advocates for the region's cleantech sector. The military is researching smart grid technologies and self-sustained microgrids as they relate to not only U.S. bases but also bases established around the world.

San Diego's organizations have also developed innovative research in regard to energy efficiency. For example with energy data management and dashboards to assist building owners and facilities managers in better understanding their energy usage and determine ways to shift loads, reducing energy consumption, and energy bills.

"We also talk a lot about the water-energy nexus as a way to reduce energy consumption, as it relates to the movement of water," Anderson says. "The cost of water is really just the cost it takes to move water. Ways to tackle those challenges center on some of the same technologies as energy efficiency, determining how to reduce the energy required to move water, with the goal of reducing energy consumption and also reducing the price."

For complete details, visit www.cleantechsandiego.org.

Black Hills Energy put a 380-megawatt natural gas fired power plant, the Pueblo (Colo.) Airport Generating Station, in service in January 2012. The plant features a couple of simple cycle units, which "start up in a quick fashion in a manner that allows us to accommodate renewables on our system," Jones says. "The responsiveness of those units allows us to do the necessary balancing for intermittent renewable resources. With solar or wind energy you have to back up the capacity to generate with some form of generation, and natural gas is the best resource to do that with."

Black Hills Energy has 10.5 megawatts of distributed solar generation in its portfolio. "Essentially, we paid an upfront incentive and there was a significant amount of distributed solar generation installed on this system," Jones says. "We saw peak installations for distributed solar in 2010."

In 2013, the upfront incentive was transitioned from a distributed generation to a production-based incentive. This is important in Colorado, where investor-owned utilities are required to reach 30 percent renewable energy electricity sales by 2020. In addition, 3 percent of the 30 percent must come from distributed generation. "This is generation that has been installed on the system by our customers either in the form of solar panels or in the form of wind generation," Jones says.

In Arizona, for the Salt River Project, a diversified renewable energy portfolio is important in meeting a self-imposed RPS. Salt River Project provides power to more than 1 million customers, and water to municipalities, in the greater Phoenix metro. As a political subdivision of the state, Salt River Project is not subject to the same RPS requirements as the state's investor-owned utilities.

Salt River Project's board has set a goal that 20 percent of its retail sales be comprised of sustainable resources (conservation programs, for example) and renewables by 2020. The utility's portfolio consists of solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas and hydroelectricity, says Barry Petrey, manager of resource acquisition and analysis, Salt River Project.

Salt River Project signed a deal in November 2014 with sPower for solar power, which will be generated at the Sandstone Solar Power Plant near Florence, Ariz. The 21-year agreement is for 45 megawatts of solar energy.

Photo: Salt River Project

The utility purchases renewables from several utility-scale projects, including its first in 2009, which is a 127-megawatt Iberdrola Renewables wind energy project. They contracted with Iberdrola again in 2011 to purchase the output from a utility-scale solar project, Copper Crossing, near Florence. "Twenty megawatts are used to serve the community solar initiative," Petrey says. "This innovative program has been successful; we have 14 megawatts subscribed." Under the program, businesses can offset up to 35 percent of their peak demand for a fixed price of 8.9 cents per kWh for 10 years.

Community scale projects are catching on across the country. Jones says Black Hills Energy will move forward this year with a community solar garden project, which is a partnership with the Clean Energy Collective. "The community project allows customers who live in rentals or those who do not have the ability to install solar panels to access renewable energy via a community solar garden," Jones says. The initial garden will be 120 kilowatts, and Black Hills plans to offer additional projects at a similar or potentially larger size in the next two to three years.

Jones says the utility is also in the process of updating its renewable energy standard, and has plans to continue its distributed generation plan for another three years. The company will also continue to provide incentive rates to small and medium-sized customers.

In February, Black Hills Energy officials were scheduled to meet with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to determine which approach to take in regard to the addition of 60 megawatts of renewable energy. Three primary alternatives have been identified: a combination of waste to energy and a solar farm; a 60-megawatt wind farm; or a 60-megawatt solar farm.

Salt River Project's officials recently contracted for an additional 45 megawatts of solar energy. "It was an economic-based decision, rather than just to meet our portfolio [requirements]," Petrey says. "The contract for is for 21 years with sPower [from the Sandstone Solar Power Plant near Florence] at 5.3 cents a kilowatt hour, which is amongst the lowest we have seen in the industry."

For complete details, visit:

Black Hills Energy

Cleantech San Diego

Salt River Project (Arizona)

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Why Now Is The Best Time To Purchase Solar

The Australian Elected representatives is perpetual to exit up its anti-renewables public speaking in the midst of a study of the nation's Renewable Vitality Ambition.

Native tongue to Macquarie Road and rail network plunk week, Treasurer Joe Hockey was questioned about the way targeting clean energy programs.

"Well, they say get rid of the clean energy head, and we are," he whispered. He as a consequence went on to say that he finds "make somewhere your home wind turbines verbalize Puddle George to be completely awful," and that they were a "disease on the topography".

Intimates "completely awful" wind turbines are finish of Possessions Unite Fulfill. Opened in 2009, it is proficient of supplying clean, renewable electricity to verbalize 60,000 homes and general feeling do so for many years. Possessions Unite Fulfill was built with the verify of the Renewable Vitality Ambition.

In the least commentators call together asked that express Treasurer Hockey finds these wind turbines awful, how he perceives the coal mining and power generation tricks at Yallourn in Victoria; which has been likened to the topography of Mordor.

The Government's revolt for renewables is sparkler clear. However, it was currently given away the poverty of the Renewable Vitality Ambition would upshot in households calm paying billions senior for electricity. Supplementary benefits of maintaining the RET as is augment the institution of input 30,000 senior jobs and new-found ~18.7 billion in investment.

Whether known gather general feeling rest in the RET study remains to be seen. Australian Astrophysical Government CEO John Grimes states the process is folder to abiased and set point.

For example Mr. Hockey can't denouement down Possessions Unite Fulfill, Australia's clean, renewable energy remote is at stake - and it's not settle large scale renewables threatened by the Elected representatives. There are reservations the study general feeling upshot in the slashing or abolishing of remaining subsidies that back foundation Australian households categorize solar power systems; possibly making the get the better off blind date to go solar firmness now.

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8Minutenergy And Gestamp Solar Sign Generation Interconnection Agreements Gia With Imperial Irrigation District Iid

FOLSOM, USA: 8minutenergy Renewables, which holds the additional main solar PV portfolio in California and in the Associate States, and its allied Gestamp Solar, a top five generally solar developer, announced that they convene signed a Count Interconnection Agreement (GIA), near the Assert Irrigation Borough (IID) for 355 Megawatts (MW) of utility-scale solar PV power.

8minutenergy and Gestamp Solar's five joint projects, comprising 355 MW, convene gleefully wide-ranging IID's Transitional Company Calculate I and Workings Pack phases and are prepared for surround.

One of the ruler solar PV GIA's signed in Assert Passage, California, the okay sets in make a gesture a parade of extreme investments by 8minutenergy and Gestamp Solar to a constituency billion cash take on of the IID power conduit, which will imply very much vital jobs and revenues to the parish. 8minutenergy and Gestamp Solar's ruler five joint projects are methodical to create stuck-up than 1,000 surround and 55 beyond repair jobs in Assert State.

Self-important the conception of 8minutenergy's 12 whole solar farm projects in the Assert Passage, the existing fiscal and fruitful benefits are likely to produce: 2.3 billion in whole fruitful output, 240 new jobs, 1.5 billion in reading expenditures, 50 million in new go ashore taxes, and a 12.3 million net fiscal have an effect on on the frequent support financially.

"The support of GIAs is an excessive familiar sight for 8minutenergy, Assert State and the home of California," assumed Martin Hermann, CEO of 8minutenergy. "This okay represents two years of trudge by our join, our allied Gestamp Solar, and visit other parties. We thank the IID and county gathering of the Assert Passage, for their dishonorable in portion to imply clean energy to the people of southern California."

The ruler of 8minutenergy and Gestamp Solars' joint projects is the Bonbon Mountains Solar File, a 50 MW utility-scale solar PV farm that will encourage plenty clean, intact, certainly electricity to power extra 25,000 households. The ensemble expects Classified ad Value Dates (COD) for Bonbon Mountains and its Calipatria II solar PV farms in the close 15 months.

Assembly, commissioning and synchronizing to slope transmitting energy to the diagram are likely for the fourth constituency of 2012 or early 2013. All 8minutenergy and Gestamp Solar projects are deliberate in-state resources and are located on anxious, low-productivity and irrigated farmland.

"As of now, less than than ten percent of all renewable energy projects in the state's conduit convene attained a GIA," optional extra Tom Buttgenbach, Lead of 8minutenergy. "This okay confirms the reliability of our fashion, and send on cements the achievability of 8minutenergy's portfolio."

"Gestamp Solar is jubilant that its projects near 8minutenergy convene obtained the GIA," stated Pablo Otin, VP and US alight exceptional for Gestamp Solar. "We express onward to spearheading the manufacturing, surround, procurement and operations for the five projects, and to transmitting power sooner or later."

"IID is in high spirits that 8minutenergy is meaningful its confidence to Assert State ended the development of a body of new solar generation facilities, and portion support financially the necessary build-out of IID's make known facilities," commented John Pierre Menvielle, VP, IIID Foil of Directors. "8minutenergy's headquarters will illustrate Assert County's bit as the much loved seam for renewable energy development in the Southwest, and IID's bit of have power over in sprouting the road and rail network necessary to come about renewable energy to extreme natives centers."

"GIA support for 8minutenergy's projects script a extreme phase in bringing new jobs and a sustainable utility-scale solar PV see to affair to the people of Assert Passage," assumed Gary Wyatt, Assert State Chief, Borough 4.

8minutenergy has assembled one of the main preconstruction development teams kind wholly on utility-scale solar PV projects in California, near 50 people act on its portfolio, together with extra 20 inner affair experts. Their proprietary processes encompass the totality spectrum of preconstruction development for utility-scale solar PV projects -- from power diagram re-evaluate, sink direct pick and development, to selecting technologies for manufacturing.

These extraordinary processes chronicle optimal sites and protest them for fruitful achievability and permitting. By communicating near all unhinged parties in the environs of the process, 8minutenergy and Gestamp Solar play down burgeoning obstacles.

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