OSU Spinoff NuScale Goes Nuclear

Joanna Schroeder

Oregon State University (OSU) spinoff NuScale Power has been awarded up to $226 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The company is developing a new form of nuclear power and is a spinoff company based on the pioneering research of OSU professor Jose Reyes. Today Reyes has become one of the international leaders in the creation …

Energy, Nuclear Energy, Research

November 2013 Short-Term Energy Outlook

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its November 2013 Short-Term Energy Outlook and Winter Fuels Outlook. The report comes at the same time the 2013 World Energy Outlook was released by the International Energy Agency. Here are some highlights from the report: The weekly U.S. average regular gasoline retail price has fallen by more than 40 cents per …

biofuels, Electricity, Energy, Natural Gas, Oil, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

Farm Bill Conferees Urge Energy Funding

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate version of the farm bill includes $800 million in mandatory funding for energy programs while the House version contains zero – one of the relatively minor differences in the two bills that could get resolved quickly in conference. Several senators spoke in support of providing mandatory funding for the energy title during the first meeting of the House …

biofuels, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Clarity Needed in Energy Subsidies Debate

Joanna Schroeder

Attempts to compare subsidies for different energies in the UK are “apples to oranges” and muddle a skewed debate further, the CEO of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) said today. With the European Commission preparing guidance on public intervention in energy markets, EWEA is calling for greater clarity and more transparency on public support. “At a time when everyone …

Alternative energy, Energy, International, Wind

Fossil Fuels Still Dominate Energy Consumption

Joanna Schroeder

According to new Vital Signs Online trend report released by Worldwatch Institute, coal, natural gas, and oil accounted for 87 percent of global primary energy consumption in 2012. This occurred as the growth of worldwide energy use continued to slow due to the economic downturn. The analysis shows the relative weight of these energy sources keeps shifting, although only slightly. …

Energy, Natural Gas, Oil, Research

Turbines Begin Operation at Echo Wind Park

Joanna Schroeder

The first 13 wind turbines at DTE Energy’s Echo Wind Park have been commissioned, with the entire facility set to begin commercial operation by the end of November. The 70-turbine Echo Wind Park in Huron County, Michigan will be operational by the end of 2013 and add another 112 megawatts (MW) to the DTE Energy’s renewable energy portfolio. The wind …

Electricity, Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

Conergy Begins Third Thailand Solar Project

Joanna Schroeder

Conergy is constructing is another large-scale solar project in Thailand with a total capacity of 21 megawatts. This is the third consecutive project for the Bangkok-based Siam Solar Energy 1 Co., Ltd. (SSE1), a subsidiary of Thai Solar Energy Company Limited (TSE). Conergy has closed power plants for SSE1 with a total capacity of more than 70 megawatts since the …

Electricity, Energy, International, Renewable Energy, Solar

DOE Awards $60M in Solar Projects

Joanna Schroeder

Energy Secretary Moniz has announced $60 million in funding to support innovative solar energy research and development. The awards are part of DOE’s SunShot Initiative and will help lower the cost of solar electricity, advance seamless grid integration and support a growing U.S. solar workforce. “The tremendous growth in the U.S. solar industry over the past few years is helping …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

EC&R Climate Dedicates Two Solar Projects

Joanna Schroeder

E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) has dedicated two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the Tucson, Arizona area with a combined total of 15 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity. Both projects have long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Tucson Electric Power (TEP). According to Dr. Christophe Jurczak, CEO of E.ON Climate & Renewables Global Solar, these two projects are among the …

Alternative energy, Energy, Solar