Report – Bioenergy Does Not Raise Prices

Joanna Schroeder

There has been a pervading argument that an increase in renewable energy in the U.S. will increase the price of energy. According to a new report, “Renewables Are Driving Up Electricity Prices. What Wait?” This is not true. The paper was authored by Nancy E. Pfund & Anand Chhabra with DBL Investors examines the 100 year old utility business model …

Clean Energy, Electricity

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Solar Power, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a Joint Development Agreement with SG Panama Solar LLC, a division of SDL Solar, to develop, build, own and operate solar assets. The agreement calls for SPI to provide technical and financial support to complete the development and implementation of over 100 MW of identified solar projects in the Republic …

Bioenergy Bytes

Cali 1st State to Generate 5+% Solar Power

Joanna Schroeder

A recent Today in Energy article states that California has become the first state to generate more than 5 percent of its annual utility-scale electricity generation from solar power. The EIA Electric Power Monthly reported that the state’s utility-scale (1 MW or larger) solar plants generated a record 9.9 million MWh (megawatt hours) of power in 2014. a 6.1 million …

Clean Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar

Egypt Solar Energy Market Report

Joanna Schroeder

The Egypt Solar Energy Association (ESEA) has a released a report detailing the growth of the Egyptian solar industry: “Egypt’s Solar Energy Market – FiT Program and Beyond 2015”. Over the past several weeks, solar has made gains with the announcement of 2.3 GW of power to be generated by photovoltaic energy within the next few years. In addition, leading …

Clean Energy, Electricity, International, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd. has officially announced the establishment of a local warehouse in Cape Town, South Africa. This new facility will initially store 500 kW of modules and will expand its storage capacity to 1MW later in 2015. Suntech established a full time presence in South Africa in 2014 as part of its expansion efforts in the region. …

Bioenergy Bytes

Proterra EV Buses Travel Million Miles

Joanna Schroeder

Proterra battery-electric(EV) buses have been driven one million miles. The company recently congratulated its customers on achieving the EV industry milestone and held a celebratory event at its plant in Greenville, S.C. where they honored their transit agency partners for their leadership as EV pioneers. Each transit agency was honored with award commemorating their early adoption of EV bus technology …

Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Miscellaneous

Bennet Files Amendment for Bridge to Tax Reform

Joanna Schroeder

Trade groups are calling for national support of the Bennet Amendment for Bridge to Tax Reform. U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) has filed an amendment to the annual budget resolution being considered this week by the Senate that would make room for renewable and efficiency tax credits. The amendment specifies “a fund for “creating clean energy jobs, including extending over …

Clean Energy, Electricity, Geothermal, Hydro, Miscellaneous, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

European Wind Energy Association Chief Executive Officer Thomas Becker is stepping down as the head of the association for personal reasons after two years of service Following his appointment in December 2012, Mr. Becker outlined his vision for an industry group that placed renewed emphasis on how the wind energy sector could contribute to jobs, exports and green growth. EWEA’s …

Bioenergy Bytes

Sens Wyden, Risch Intro Geothermal Energy Bill

Joanna Schroeder

Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, have introduced legislation to encourage geothermal energy production on public lands. Coined the Geothermal Production Expansion Act, the bill would prevent speculative bidders from driving up the price of leases for developers seeking to use the land for geothermal projects. The bill streamlines the federal geothermal leasing program by allowing for the …

Clean Energy, Electricity, Geothermal, Legislation, Renewable Energy

Solar Goes to Space

Joanna Schroeder

Solar has gone to space. SolAero Technologies has announced that 32 of its SolAero solar panels populated with high-efficiency triple-junction ZTJ solar cells are powering the four Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission spacecraft that launched successfully on March 12, 2015 aboard the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The MMS will study magnetic …

Alternative Vehicles, Education, Solar