Global cumulative installed capacity of small wind turbines will increase more than fivefold from 912.6 MW in 2014 to 4.8 GW by 2025, at an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.4%, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company’s latest report* states that small wind power capacity, which refers to wind turbines with capacities lower than 100 kilowatts, is expected to grow in European countries including Germany, Spain, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine, while India and Japan will lead growth in Asia.- The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has launched a six-figure digital and newspaper ad campaign to thank three key Senate Democrats, including Michael Bennet of Colorado, for voting last month to defend the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan against Republican attack. The other two senators are Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Mark Warner of Virginia.
- The United States just experienced its largest quarter for energy storage deployments since the fourth quarter of 2012. According to GTM Research and the Energy Storage Association’s (ESA) U.S. Energy Storage Monitor, the U.S. deployed 60.3 megawatts of energy storage capacity in the third quarter of the year. This represents 53.1 megawatt-hours.
- ConEdison Solutions and Volvo Group North America have announced completion of a 5,000-panel parking-lot solar canopy at Volvo Group’s Hagerstown, Maryland powertrain manufacturing facility. The canopy – which will generate clean, renewable electricity at the facility – is among the largest solar carport installations on the East Coast.
Clean Energy Victory Bonds for a Clean Climate
A new bill was introduced in the U.S. this week in conjunction with COP21: the Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2015. If passed, it would help the U.S. meet its climate goals. Introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA), the Act would also create more than 1 million jobs. The Clean Energy Victory Bonds would begin as low as $25 and the funds raised would be invested in clean energy. The bill is endorsed by Green America and the American Sustainable Business Council who have been touting clean energy bonds for several years. A similar act was introduced in 2012 but failed to gain momentum.
Todd Larsen, executive co-director of Green America, said of the bill, “This bond fills a real need for individual and institutional investors, offering them a low risk opportunity to invest in clean energy sectors such as solar, wind, second generation biofuels, electric vehicles, and residential and commercial energy efficiency programs. It will also provide the incentives companies need in the clean energy sector to maintain the United States’ leadership and create over 1 million jobs in the U.S.”
The groups say the Clean Energy Victory Bonds will create major benefits:
- Leverage $50 billion investment to provide up to $150 billion in public and private financing to fund the production of innovative energy technologies, at a time when the U.S. is falling behind other countries in clean energy manufacture and installation.
- Help create at least one million competitively-paying jobs in the U.S.
- Support America’s clean energy sector, helping to ensure that the U.S. remains a world leader in this increasingly crucial and competitive industry.
- Reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources of energy, enhance national security, and limit price increases and fluctuations.
- Provide a secure, competitive, government-backed investment vehicle for average Americans and investment institutions alike seeking a safe place for their money.
- Offer flexible redemption options at interest rates superior to most bank accounts.
- Help all Americans to invest in the future of their country and benefit from their investments.
- Promote a cleaner environment through the financing of clean energy technologies.
- Protect the health and safety of Americans by reducing local air and water pollution throughout the country.
The groups note that tax incentives for renewable energy come and go, often without predictability, leaving investors and industry scrambling. The Clean Energy Victory Bond, they say, would extend vital tax credits for a decade, giving emerging industries the support they need to develop and become increasingly competitive.
“From a business perspective, the Clean Energy Victory Bond makes great sense,” added Richard Eidlin, co-founder & VP of policy for the American Sustainable Business Council. “The market is speaking, and it’s speaking in favor of clean energy. As the world comes together in Paris to address climate change, it is more important than ever for renewable energy industries to have a new source of investment capital to build the market momentum.”
Companies Embrace Solar
A new report finds growth in the use of solar energy has surged 183 percent among America’s top companies in the four years. “Solar Means Business 2015,” also found 59 percent growth in solar installations since last year. The study, the first in four years, was released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
For the fourth year in a row, Walmart ranked No.1 with 142 MW of solar PV capacity at 348 locations. Other top companies recognized for both their amount of solar capacity and number of solar installations include Kohl’s, Apple, Macy’s, Walgreens, Target, IKEA, Prologis, FedEx, Intel, General Motors, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Bed Bath & Beyond, Safeway, Hartz Mountain, Staples, L’Oreal, Kaiser Permanente and Toyota.
“These blue-chip companies have realized investing in solar is a common-sense, cost-effective decision that pays dividends for both the environment and their bottom lines,” said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch. “Not only are they helping to create thousands of American jobs in solar, the nearly 1,700 systems currently in operation are generating enough clean, reliable electricity to offset nearly 890,000 metric tons of harmful carbon emissions a year.”
Combined, America’s top corporate solar users installed 1,686 systems totaling 907 MW of solar. Representing a “Who’s Who” of the corporate world according to SEIA. These companies, says the association, are playing an increasingly important role in the development, expansion and promotion of solar nationwide, while also reducing their operating expenses, benefiting customers and shareholders alike.
The report notes that growth in corporate solar adoption is no longer limited to traditional solar markets, but that “solar is a smart business decision wherever your business may be.”
Global RFA Urges COP21 to Support Biofuels
As world leaders continue to meet in Paris for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21), the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is asking them to signal their support for biofuels as one of the tools to fight climate change.
“This conference is a real opportunity for world leaders to recognize the role that renewable fuels have played, and will continue to play, in the transition to a low-carbon global economy,” said GRFA president Bliss Baker. “The climate problem is accelerating and biofuels represent one of the most cost-effective solutions to reduce oil use and greenhouse gas emissions from transport in the short and medium term.”
So far, 36 countries have already recognized the opportunity presented by biofuels in reducing GHG emissions and combating climate change, and have included them in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) plans. Studies have shown that most biofuels, like ethanol, are proven to reduce harmful GHGs from 40% to 90% compared to fossil fuels around the world.
“Given the significant contribution biofuel is making in reducing global GHG emissions today, we believe COP 21 participants should call for an increase in biofuel use through the introduction of supportive policies, particularly for advanced biofuels,” concluded Baker.
Army Turning Artillery Shells into Biodiesel
You’ve heard about pounding swords into plowshares. Well, how about making bombs into biodiesel? This article from the U.S. Army says that’s the idea behind Army researchers, in concert with biofuel maker Algenol Biotech LLC, using algae to turn the propellant in artillery rounds into biodiesel.
“Because the algae-based process uses photosynthesis, it actually consumes carbon dioxide,” said Pamela Sheehan, project officer and principle investigator for the M6 recycling research program at the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, or ARDEC, at Picatinny Arsenal.
“So not only is the process not carbon-dioxide generating, it goes beyond being carbon neutral to a carbon-dioxide consumer,” she said. Eliminating the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during destruction of propellant helps the Army reduce its carbon footprint and take action against climate change.
When circumstances allow it, the military recycles metal parts during the demilitarization processes.
However, the algae-based demilitarization method would allow the Army to recycle nitrogen, which is present in all propellants and explosives.
“We’ve conceptualized a process to develop a capability to extract and conserve that nitrogen using a hydrolysis process,” Sheehan said. Hydrolysis is a chemical process of decomposition.
“The nitrogen then is in the form of nitrite and nitrate, and we want to use that nitrogen to grow algae in a reactor. The algae utilizing the nitrogen will grow, and as they grow will produce ethanol, and an oil product that can later be refined into diesel fuel,” she said.
Officials also point out that the process will provide a source of revenue from what is usually a costly, waste-stream process.
RFA Announces E85Prices.com Contest
Users of the popular fuel market website E85prices.com can not only find where the cheapest 85% ethanol is being sold near them, they also have a chance to get it for free.
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has announced a new contest for E85Prices.com users to win free E85. Each month, RFA will draw one random user from those that have submitted E85 price experiences during the past month and reward them with a $100 E85 fuel card. The more users submit prices, the better chance they have of winning.
“We want to drive consumers to the website in order to capture more data and reward them for doing just that,” said Robert White, RFA’s vice president of industry relations. “Data has never been more important for expanding retail availability of higher ethanol blends and defending the Renewable Fuel Standard against the ‘blend wall’ rhetoric. This new effort will help ensure that our station database and associated price reports are the most accurate possible.”
RFA purchased E85prices.com in February and has since released a new version of the website and the associated mobile app. Users can submit prices for all blends of ethanol like E15 and E30, but must always submit prices for E85 and regular unleaded.
Existing users do not need to do anything new in order to qualify. Non-users need to register at www.E85prices.com and submit your pricing experiences.
BioEnergy Bytes
- Hanwha Q CELLS Turkey, the Turkish branch of globally leading photovoltaics provider Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. has finished construction and grid connection of an 8.3 MW solar power plant in Burdur, Turkey. The system is the first part of a project totaling 18.3 MW.
- As SheerWind, Inc. is nearing completion of a 200 kW INVELOX pilot project for Army National Guard-Michigan and is breaking ground for another in Florida for Tampa Electric, the Company is seeking qualified accredited Investors for growth funding. Funds will be used to meet increasing global demand for commercialization and delivery of its INVELOX technology.
- Tri Global Energy, a renewable energy company with utility-scale wind energy projects, has added solar to its portfolio of renewable energy resources with the formation of a new business unit–TGE Solar–and the acquisition of K12Solar, a California-based provider of roof-top solar photovoltaic energy systems.
- Green Power EMC, participating EMCs and Silicon Ranch Corporation have dedicated a 20 MW AC solar generating facility in Jeff Davis County in southeast Georgia near Hazlehurst. Construction was recently completed on the ground-based solar facility, which is situated on a 135-acre tract and includes about 87,000 solar panels. This makes it one of the largest solar generating facilities in Georgia.
ARF Aims to Educate Iowans about Cruz
Iowans are about to see an aggressive education push aimed at Senator Ted Cruz regarding his opposition to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The campaign is sponsored by America’s Renewable Future (ARF) and includes a a grassroots constituency group coined, Farmers Against Cruz, and includes digital and radio ads along with direct mail. The ads highlight what ARF calls Cruz’s hypocrisy with his support of oil industry subsidies and staunch opposition to the the RFS that does not receive subsidies. ARF recently gave Cruz a bad rating on its midterm grading reporting for his opposition to the RFS.
“Ted Cruz wants to decimate Iowa farmers and risk 73,000 Iowa jobs by repealing the RFS,” said ARF Co-Chair and farmer, Rep. Annette Sweeney, “Since he isn’t being honest about why, we are making sure Iowans know that Ted Cruz would rather support subsidies for oil companies than stand up for Iowa farmers.”
A report from Oil Change International, the oil industry receives subsidies costing American taxpayers $20.5 billion annually. Subsidies for biofuels like ethanol ended in December 2011. ARF says Cruz has close to a million dollars personally invested in oil companies, which is roughly equivalent to the over $1 million campaign contributions he has received from the oil industry. The Super PACS propping up his campaign have received over $25 million from oil interests.
“Cruz owes Iowans an explanation and the truth,” added Sweeney, “In the meantime, we have an obligation to the 50,000 caucus-goers who have pledged to caucus for a pro-RFS candidate to let them know that Ted Cruz is dangerous.”
RFA Offers Webinars on International Buyer Program
The Renewable Fuels Association is offering two free webinars next week for ethanol producers to learn more about the International Buyer Program that will be part of the 2016 National Ethanol Conference, February 15-17 in New Orleans.
The National Ethanol Conference (NEC) has been selected to be a participant of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program, which recruits pre-screened foreign buyer delegations and brings them to selected trade shows and conferences to allow U.S. companies to connect with international buyers. International trade specialists will be at the International Trade Center onsite at the NEC to provide export counseling, matchmaking services, market analysis and more. The registration deadline for U.S. exporters to participate in the IBP is December 31, 2015.
The webinars will provide an overview of benefits to U.S. companies under the International Buyer Program, as well as market insights including demand, policies, and key players. They will also give information on how to register for the Exporter Interest Directory that will be distributed to the international buyers.
The webinar topics, dates and times are:
Ethanol Opportunities in Asian Markets, including Philippines, China, and India
Monday, December 7
10AM EST/9 AM CST
Free registration link
Ethanol Opportunities in Latin American Markets, including Brazil and Mexico
Tuesday, December 15
11AM EST/10 AM CST
Free registration link
Any U.S. ethanol company interested in exporting product overseas or expanding sales to new markets is encouraged to learn more in the webinars and register for the IBP.
Funds Available for Blender Pumps in Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that funds are now available through the new “Fueling Our Future 100” initiative and interested retailers in Iowa can apply for cost share funding to assist with the purchase and installation of blender pumps and underground storage tank (UST) infrastructure for higher blends of ethanol.
“We continue to see that when consumers have a choice at the pump they will choose to increase the amount of clean burning, homegrown renewable fuels they use,” said Northey. “Through this program we will see a total investment of $10 million to help build the renewable fuels infrastructure in the state.”
Iowa received a $5 million grant from the USDA Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) program to support the initiative which will be matched by non-federal funds, including $2.5 million from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP). The fueling sites applying for assistance will also be required to provide a minimum of $2.5 million.
“Thanks to the USDA’s blender pump program, Iowans will now be able to benefit from the wider availability of E15 and E85,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Managing Director Lucy Norton. “More blender pumps in Iowa means more competition at the pump, resulting in even lower fuel prices, better air quality and stronger energy security.”
ProtecFuel and the IRFA will be hosting a free retailer workshop on Monday, December 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to assist retailers in understanding and applying for grant funding. For more information and to register for the free retailer workshop, please visit: www.IowaRFA.org/ProtecWorkshop.