EcoTech Institute Releases New Career eBook

Joanna Schroeder

Ecotech Institute has released another installment of their Ditch the Desk eBook series. The latest free book is a comprehensive guide covering everything from networking tips, industry trends, required electrical-engineering-coverskills and insights from Peter Luciano, a service manager with Konecranes.

eBook Ditch the Desk: The Complete eBook To Starting A Career in Electrical Engineering Technology also delves into how the renewable energy movement has created a new demand for tools, technologies and equipment to help companies and individuals use energy efficiently and finds there is an increased demand for trained professional technicians to assess these needs. These electrical engineering occupations take specialized training, cleantech industry knowledge and passion.

Now, future electrical engineering technicians have one place to access vital information about the industry, including:

  • Key industry facts about the electrical engineering sector;
  • Tips for job seekers in the clean energy field;
  • Expectations and requirements for electrical engineering jobs;
  • States where hiring is hot; and
  • Advice from current students, working industry experts and technicians.

The eBook is available for download at EcotechInstitute.com/eBook.

Clean Energy, Education

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering has announced that two companies affiliated with its incubators will participate in Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) demonstration projects: Smarter Grid Solutions and Sealed Inc. Both companies are affiliated with the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Resiliency Economy (NYC ACRE), located within the Urban Future Lab. Projects by Smarter Grid Solutions and Sealed will show how technologies and new business models can capitalize on various value streams and how the benefits can be distributed among the utility, third parties and customers.
  • Clean energy investment worldwide was $53bn in the second quarter of 2015, just 3% less than a revised $54.4bn in Q1 2015 but down 28% compared to the $73.6bn recorded in Q2 2014 according to data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Global investment this year is facing headwinds from the financial markets, with the sharp rise in the US currency over the last 12 months reducing the dollar value of deals struck in other countries; and volatility in share prices, particularly in China, holding back equity-raising by specialist clean energy companies from both public market investors and venture capital and private equity funds.
  • Yingli Solar has announced that it is supplying 240 MW of solar panels for Latin America’s two largest hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) power plants. Both projects, located in northern Chile, will also be equipped with 110 MW of CSP and 17.5 hours of thermal storage each. Yingli is providing over 780,000 multicrystalline utility-scale YGE 72 Cell solar panels to the projects, which be installed in two phases. The first phase of panel deliveries was recently completed, and the second phase will start in August. The first power plant is expected to be operational by mid-2016.
  • Solarrus Corporation and meteocontrol, two energy service providers for the solar PV industry, have announced that they formed a partnership to jointly develop a new operations platform to promote and deliver their respective services. By partnering with Solarrus, meteocontrol will now have the capability to offer North America customers the commissioning, corrective repair, and maintenance capabilities on sites that have meteocontrol hardware. Furthermore, the partnership will also be able to expand meteocontrol’s capabilities to also monitor the key performance indicators for electric vehicle charging stations and battery energy storage systems.
Bioenergy Bytes

DOE Invest $18M in Algae

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $18 million to six projects aimed at reducing the costs of algae-based biofuels to less than $5.00 per gallon equivalent by 2019.

The funds are being used to help meet the DOE’s goal of $3 per gallon for advanced algal biofuels by 2030. These biofuels can be used as replacements for petroleum-based diesel and jet fuels as well as products derived from algae can be used as petroleum replacements for products such as chemicals, beauty products, plastics and more. In the near future, algae-based technologies can achieve higher yields of oils. However,  to achieve the goals set forth by the DOE, barriers that still remain in place such as efficient cultivation, harvesting and conversion to bioproducts must be deconstructed.

The projects selected include:

  • Producing Algae and Co-Products for Energy (PACE), Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO – Colorado School of Mines, in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory, Reliance Industries Ltd., and others, will receive up to $9 million to enhance overall algal biofuels sustainability by maximizing carbon dioxide, nutrient, and water recovery and recycling, as well as bio-power co-generation.
  • Marine Algae Industrialization Consortium (MAGIC), Duke University, Durham, NC – Duke University will receive up to $5.2 million to lead a consortium including University of Hawaii, Cornell University, Cellana and others to produce protein-based human and poultry nutritional products along with hydrotreated algal oil extract.
  • Global Algae Innovations, Inc., El Cajon, CA – Global Algae Innovations will receive up to $1 million to increase algal biomass yield by deploying an innovative system to absorb carbon dioxide from the flue gas of a nearby power plant.
  • Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ – Arizona State University will receive up to $1 million for atmospheric carbon dioxide capture, enrichment, and delivery to increase biomass productivity.
  • University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA – The University of California, San Diego will receive up to $760,000 to develop an automated  early detection system that can identify and characterize infestation or infection of an algae production pond in order to ensure crop health.
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA – Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will receive up to $1 million to protect algal crops by developing “probiotic” bacteria to combat pond infestation and increase ecosystem functioning and resilience.
algae, biojet fuel, biomaterials, bioplastics, bioproducts, Video

Corn Growers Rally for the RFS Again

Joanna Schroeder

rfs-worksCorn growers will be rallying for rural America on Capital Hill Wednesday, July 15 at Upper Senate Park to support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  More than 250 corn growers will be on hand and have invited all others who support the RFS) to join them.

The main goal of the rally is to call on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to raise the RFS volumes for corn-based ethanol that were cut in the final rules for 2016. According to the National Corn Growers Association, biofuels such as ethanol strengthen and support American farmers and rural economies.

Featured speakers will include U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth, and NCGA President Chip Bowling.

Agribusiness, corn, Ethanol, RFS, Uncategorized

IFC Invests in Renewable Energy

Joanna Schroeder

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has announced the company is investing $25 million power company Alcazar Energy to develop and multiple solar and wind projects in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. The hope is that the projects will aid the country’s economic growth while meeting growing power needs.

Screen Shot 2015-07-09 at 3.08.46 PM“MENA’s solar potential alone is massive,” says Maroun Semaan, Alcazar Energy co-founder and chairman. “Enough solar energy hits the region every year to satisfy the planet’s demand for power. The investment from IFC will help tap into that potential and boost power generation across the region at more competitive costs.”

Many areas throughout the MENA countries don’t have access to realiable power supply. However, cited by IFC show that power demand will grow by 84 percent by 2020. It is estimated that around $280 billion of investment will be required over the next five years to meet MENA’s growing electricity demand and the goal is to ensure much of the power demand is met by renewable energy sources.

“Powers shortages are a key barrier to economic growth and development across the region,” added Mouayed Makhlouf, IFC regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. “By harnessing the region’s considerable renewable potential, we can increase supply of sustainable, clean energy, helping to boost economic growth and alleviate poverty.”

The initiative is part of IFC’s broader regional strategy that focuses on improving the region’s infrastructure through renewable energy projects and fostering regional integration by helping companies expand operations to different parts of the region.

Clean Energy, Electricity, International, Solar, Uncategorized, Wind

BIO Announces Conference Workshops

Joanna Schroeder

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has announced the schedule of workshops for the 2015 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology. These workshops are designed for focused discussions on the newest trends in business strategies, investment opportunities and technology development in industrial biotechnology. The BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology will be held July 19-22, 2015 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Canada.

Screen Shot 2015-07-09 at 2.53.27 PM“Industrial biotechnology is driving innovation in the chemical industry and biobased industry has shown great potential in creating new jobs and business opportunities across manufacturing, industrial and agricultural sectors in the United States and around the world,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section. “Government policies supporting the development of biomass and biobased products signals to private investors that there is a strong market for these products. The confluence of policy and investment drives us towards a bioeconomy that can provide better, greener, and more sustainable products that meet consumer demands.”

The workshops will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Click here for a full list.

advanced biofuels, biomaterials, bioplastics, bioproducts, Biotech

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1FPL Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida Power & Light (FPL), have announced an energy conservation project that will save Miami International Airport more than $40 million in energy and water over the next 14 years. The Sustainability Project at MIA is part of a large-scale energy and water conservation effort contracted to FPL Services by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD). The Sustainability Project at MIA is one of the largest energy performance contracts ever undertaken in Florida.
  • Wuxi Suntech, a subsidiary of Shunfeng International Clean Energy, Ltd. (SFCE), has achieved a new round of efficiency breakthroughs for its silicon solar cells. The Hypro modules that use these solar cells, together with Sunways inverters, will contribute significantly to the optimized and integrated EPC solar solutions that SFCE is rolling out around the world. Tested by the National Center of Supervision and Inspection on Solar Photovoltaic Products Quality, the conversion efficiencies of Suntech’s monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cells have reached yields as high as 20.82% and 19.11% respectively, positioning Suntech as a leader in the global photovoltaic industry.
  • The total onshore wind installed capacity in Serbia will soar from just 20 MW in 2014 to an estimated 542 MW by 2025, boosted by announcements over the past three years for a number of new projects, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. The whitepaper states that Serbia’s nascent onshore wind sector will expand more than fivefold by the end of 2015, when it is expected to have an installed capacity of 122 MW. By 2025, the sector is forecast to increase at an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 35%.
  • SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. a global leader in PV inverters, power optimizers, and module-level monitoring services, and Sunrun, the largest dedicated residential solar company in the U.S., have formed a strategic supply relationship. As part of the agreement, SolarEdge will serve as Sunrun’s preferred supplier of optimized inverter solutions available for use in Sunrun’s home solar installations and through its distribution business, AEE Solar.
Bioenergy Bytes

What Are Crop Conditions Like In Your Area

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s on your grill this July 4th?”

Hot dogs and hamburgers came out on top and the other category included ribs and brats. We hope everyone had a safe and tasty Independence Day!

Here are the poll results:

  • Hot dogs – 22%
  • Hamburgers – 22%
  • Steak – 17%
  • Chicken – 17%
  • Other – 17%
  • Fish – 5%
  • Pork chops – 0%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, How are the crops in your area looking?

Lots of areas in the United States are suffering from either too much moisture or not enough this growing season. Whether it’s the drought in California causing farmers to fallow land, too much rain in Texas delaying the planting of cotton, or so many areas in the Midwest getting so much rain that fields are being flooded, Mother Nature is throwing lots of curve balls. How do the crops look in your part of the country? And please feel free to leave some comments.

ZimmPoll

UAI: EPA Emissions Model on Ethanol Flawed

John Davis

UAIEPA1A group representing ethanol and air quality interests says the government’s emissions model regarding ethanol is flawed. The Urban Air Initiative filed documents with the U.S District Court in Washington, D.C., that show the model used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to measure tailpipe emissions inaccurately blames ethanol for increased air pollution, jeopardizing any hope for ethanol expansion.

The written arguments were filed as part of an ongoing legal challenge by the Urban Air Initiative, Energy Future Coalition, the State of Kansas and the State of Nebraska. These groups are asking that the EPA suspend its use of the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) model based on faulty and incomplete data. States are required to use this model to demonstrate compliance with federal air quality standards and would effectively be prohibited from using more ethanol under this model.

The Urban Air Initiative hired a certified fuels modeling consulting firm to run the MOVES model by adding various levels of ethanol to gasoline. But due to faulty fuel blending in the model, ethanol blends are shown to increase most of the pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act, when in fact the opposite is true when using fuels currently marketed to consumers.

“The consultant confirmed our fears, which was that this model is biased against ethanol and blocks the goal of Urban Air Initiative to reduce toxic emissions and promote a cleaner fuel for today and future generations,” said UAI President Dave VanderGriend. “We have clear data to support that when simply adding ethanol to gasoline, a better fuel is created with fewer toxic emissions. However, the calculations in the MOVES model were primarily directed by oil interests and do not reflect what happens in the real world.”

The new data submitted to the court follows a series of steps the plaintiffs have taken during the past year, including a direct appeal to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to suspend the model.

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

EWEA Calls on EU for Climate Policy Reform

Joanna Schroeder

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) is calling on the EU to make modernization changes to the EU Trading System in order to better integrate renewable energy and reduce the use of fossil fuel-based energy sources.

EWEA logo“The ETS needs root and branch reform. The instrument must be realigned with Europe’s political ambition on climate change. The removal of surplus permits and the elimination of free allocation would be the first steps to achieving this,” said EWEA Chief Policy Officer Kristian Ruby.

Ruby noted that in addition to stimulating a higher price on carbon, ETS reforms post-2020 must include tools that will drive fossil fuel-dependent Member States toward decarbonised and renewable energy portfolios. For example, Ruby explained, the modernisation fund, which will set aside a share of ETS allowances for investment projects between 2021 and 2030, must be key to addressing renewable energy integration in lower income Member States.

“Putting measures in place to phase out the most polluting assets in Europe should be a top priority in this reform, particularly for those Member States in Central and Eastern Europe that rely heavily on coal-fired generation,” continued Ruby. “Already we see that wind energy, particularly onshore, represents the strongest business case for European countries trying to balance decarbonisation pledges with economic competitiveness and growth. With a functioning ETS and a robust carbon price, we can speed up Europe’s energy transition and reach our goals in a more cost-effective manner.”

Ruby also called for the European Investment Bank to play a role in improving the ETS.

Clean Energy, International, Wind