SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. announced its collaboration with Tesla Motors to provide an inverter solution that will allow for grid and photovoltaic integration with Tesla’s home battery solution, the Powerwall. The joint development by SolarEdge and Tesla builds on SolarEdge’s DC optimized inverter solution and Tesla’s automotive-grade energy storage technology to enable more cost-effective residential solar generation, storage, and consumption for the global market.- AWEA WINDPOWER 2015 Conference & Exhibition is taking place in Orlando, Florida May 18-21, 2015. Industry leaders such as GE Power & Water, Siemens, DNV GL and more will deliver insights on the technology trends spurring a “wind rush” across the country, in places like Texas, Michigan and soon the Southeast.
- Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and Consolidated Edison Development have dedicated the 250 MW Copper Mountain Solar 3 facility in Boulder City, Nev. Situated on 1,400 acres, it is the third phase of the landmark Copper Mountain Solar complex, currently among the largest PV solar power installations in the U.S. The entire complex, which also includes the recently completed 58-MW second phase of Copper Mountain Solar 2, is capable of generating more than 450 MW of power.
- The Urban Air Initiative has joined with a broad cross section of public and private interest groups supporting the call for more aggressive regional pollution control measures in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. Working together as Clean Fuels Omaha, the campaign was launched to support measures outlined by the Metropolitan Area Planing Agency (MAPA). One program, the Little Steps-Big Impact Air Quality Initiative, is an annual campaign to educate the public on the impacts of ground level ozone on air quality, and the steps that can be taken to reduce emissions.
Aemetis Starts India Biodiesel Manufacturers Assoc.
India is getting a biodiesel makers association. With a little help from California-based Aemetis (which also runs a biodiesel plant on the east coast of India), the Biodiesel Manufacturers Association (BEMA) has been launched with Sanjeev Gupta, President of Aemetis International, as the new group’s chairman and president.
The BEMA group was launched as an eight-member association with a focus on expanding the biodiesel market in India, decreasing air pollution and reducing India’s dependence on foreign oil. The organization will serve to further the interests of biodiesel manufacturers by removing regulatory hurdles while educating India corporate and retail consumers about the environmental and cost benefits of biodiesel.
“With the deregulation of the diesel market in India and ending of diesel subsidies last October, India is a new frontier for Aemetis to grow in a large 25 billion gallon diesel market,” said Sanjeev Gupta, President of Aemetis International. “With the recent approval of direct sales to bulk customers, we have launched direct delivery of biodiesel to customers and are moving rapidly to expand production at our 50 million gallon per year capacity East Coast plant in Kakinada to supply the domestic India market,” added Gupta.
“Sanjeev’s chairmanship of the newly formed organization for biodiesel producers in India recognizes the leadership position held by our Univeral Biofuels subsidiary in one of the fastest growing biofuels markets in the world,” said Eric McAfee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aemetis. “Biodiesel is now a less expensive fuel than diesel in India, with the removal of the large diesel subsidy that had blocked sales of biodiesel in India until recently. The formation of BEMA is an important milestone expanding the biodiesel market in India to replace diesel with a healthier and lower cost alternative,” added McAfee.
BioEnergy Bytes
- The energy and IT company LichtBlick and electric vehicle and battery manufacturer Tesla have entered into a global energy collaboration to intelligently integrate Tesla’s new Powerwall Home Batteries into the energy market. Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the innovative storage device in the early hours of Friday (CET) in Los Angeles. The Tesla Powerwall is particularly attractive for households, businesses and SMEs that want to optimize the use of their own solar power.
- Dominion announced the acquisition of a 20-megawatt solar facility in California from E.ON North America. The facility is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2015. Alamo Solar is located in San Bernardino County near Helendale, Calif. It has secured a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) and an interconnection agreement.
- Mortenson Construction’s Wind Energy Group has announced that it entered into a contract for construction of the Shannon Wind Project located near Windthorst, Texas, which is owned and managed by Alterra Power Corp. (Alterra). Vancouver-based Alterra acquired the project from Horn Wind, LLC, a north Texas wind developer that has successfully developed two other wind projects in the region – both constructed by Mortenson.
- Ecotech Institute has released a new eBook, “Ditch the Desk: Starting a Career in Energy Efficiency“. This free, comprehensive guide covers everything from a day in the life of energy project managers, potential salary earnings, required skills, tips for job seekers, expectations and requirements, advice from working experts and technicians and more.
Pattern Energy Kicks off Amazon Wind Farm Project
Pattern Energy Group has announced the closing of financing on the 150 MW Amazon Wind Farm (Fowler Ridge) and construction is in full swing. The project is located in Benton County, Indiana and has entered into a 13-year PPA with Amazon to supply electricity to the grids that service Amazon Web Services datacenters. Upon completion, the Amazon Wind Farm project is expected to generate approximately 500,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of wind power annually.
“The Amazon Wind Farm project has successfully closed financing and is moving ahead on schedule,” said President and CEO of Pattern Development, Mike Garland. “We look forward to helping Amazon power its customers’ businesses with domestic clean energy harnessed from the winds of Indiana. We are now working with Amazon, Google and Walmart, demonstrating that America’s leading corporations are increasingly investing in, or buying power from, non-polluting energy sources like wind power. We see this growing trend driving the development of more new projects.”
The Amazon Wind Farm (Fowler Ridge) project will be comprised of 65 Siemens 2.3 MW turbines with ‘Made in America’ components. The turbine blades are being manufactured at the Siemens factory in Ft. Madison, Iowa and the nacelles are being assembled at the Siemens facility in Hutchinson, Kansas. The turbine towers will be sourced from Michigan and Wisconsin. Transformers for the project will be manufactured at the Siemens facility in Richland, Mississippi.
“Siemens is proud that our ‘Made in America’ wind components will be used at the Amazon Wind Farm. Wind power is an increasingly important part of our nation’s energy mix, and this project is part of a growing trend we see in the U.S. of technology companies and leading corporations investing in wind power,” said Jacob Andersen, CEO Onshore Americas, Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. “Our goal is to provide the most efficient and reliable equipment to ensure that wind energy is both sustainable and affordable. We’re pleased to continue our long relationship with Pattern Development and Pattern Energy, and Siemens technicians will work to ensure optimal performance of this equipment.”
Caterpillar & First Solar Enter Into Partnership
Caterpillar and First Solar, Inc. have announced a joint partnership to develop an integrated photovoltaic (PV) solar solution for microgrid applications. First Solar will design and manufacture a pre-engineered turnkey package for use in remote microgrid applications, such as for small communities. The package will feature Cat-branded solar panels manufactured by First Solar and will include a balance of system components.
“This strategic alliance provides yet more evidence of a global energy transition, where solar energy’s reliability and cost competitiveness with traditional fuels effectively allows it to complement conventional generation. It is also 
evidence of the role that solar can play in enabling the local generation and distribution of energy to address specific needs,” said Marc van Gerven, First Solar’s vice president for Global Marketing. “By entering into this alliance with Caterpillar, with its extensive experience and reach, we’re establishing an important new precedent for the commercialization and scaling of microgrid-based distributed generation solutions.”
Caterpillar will exclusively sell and support the integrated solution featuring Cat-branded solar panels through its worldwide Cat dealer network, along with its current offerings of generator sets and energy storage. As noted by Caterpillar, microgrids provide value to prime power diesel and gas customers by integrating renewable energy, such as solar power, with generator sets. This technology can help to provide reliable, affordable clean energy.
“We are excited to announce this alliance, underpinned by First Solar’s 10 gigawatts of global experience in solar energy, and coupled with Caterpillar’s knowledge of generator sets and distributed power, and the strength of our unmatched dealer network,” said Steve Niehaus, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Electric Power Division. “By working with First Solar, we will optimize the efficiency and integration of solar power with our offerings.”
Caterpillar expects to first market the new microgrid solution in the Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America regions, with the integrated PV solution, including Cat-branded solar panels, available for customers in that region in the second half of 2015.
Tesla Partners with College of Marin
During a presentation at Tesla Design Studios in Los Angeles the company unveiled a new Tesla battery that has home, commercial and utility-scale storage applications. College of Marin is the first community college to partner with Tesla to install the new battery storage products on campus.
The college received $5.3 million in government incentives to help cover the costs of site prep, installation of the lithium-ion battery pack, liquid thermal control system, and software that receives dispatch commands from a solar inverter. Concrete slabs will be installed behind the Student Services Building at the Kentfield Campus and near the Main Building at the Indian Valley Campus.
Vice President Greg Nelson expects installation to begin in mid-May and last until the end of June. Once the stationary batteries are operational, Nelson estimates the cost savings to be anywhere from $100,000-$150,000 annually for the College.
“Leveraging existing relationships made this new partnership possible. Through collaboration with our friends at Marin Clean Energy, we were able to meet the program qualifications and embark on this new venture with Tesla that has been nine months in the making,” said Nelson. “This takes College of Marin to the next stage of energy conservation, moving the College forward as a leader in sustainability. I believe this program will grow, creating opportunities for other community colleges throughout the country.”
“We are proud to partner with Tesla and others in this innovative pilot project,” said Board of Trustees President Wanden Treanor. “College of Marin is honored to help prove the potential for this new energy source while at the same time generating considerable savings to the College’s energy bill. It is another step toward realizing a promise we made to the residents of Marin.”
RFS Uncertainty Chills Advanced Biofuel Funding
A new analysis from the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) finds delays in rulemaking for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) have chilled necessary investment in advanced and cellulosic biofuels.
According to the analysis, the industry has experienced an estimated $13.7 billion shortfall in investment over the past two years as the Environmental Protection Agency has delayed setting volume obligations for biofuels under the RFS.
(EPA) was nine months late issuing the 2013 RVOs and is more than 17 months late in issuing the 2014 rule. Further, the agency has made cellulosic biofuel producers wait an average of 29 months (more than two years) for approval of production pathways. Currently, 29 companies have unresolved petitions filed with EPA and they have been waiting on average more than 32 months for resolution. A majority of an estimated $13.7 billion shortfall in investment for cellulosic and new advanced technologies should therefore be attributed to EPA’s delays in issuing timely rules.
Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, notes that the situation came about just as plants were beginning to reach the commercial stage. “The chill in investment has had the heaviest impact on cellulosic biofuel developers,” said Erickson. “The delays in rulemaking have also undercut the industry’s ability to create new employment opportunities, resulting in the loss of more than 80,000 direct jobs.”
According to BIO, the industry has invested more than $5 billion in first-of-a-kind demonstration and commercial-scale biorefineries around the world. The analysis finds that as of April 2015, there are five commercial cellulosic biorefineries with a combined capacity of more than 50 million gallons within the United States and registered to meet the goals of the RFS, along with several pilot and demonstration plants. Additional commercial biorefineries are under construction.
Retailers Tout E15 in New Video
A new video has retailers extolling the virtues of E15. Clear the Air Chicago, a coalition advocating to make the higher blend of ethanol available citywide, is behind the video in which the retailers credit E15 with boosting business, improving customer satisfaction, and providing reliable service, while saving drivers 5 to 15 cents per gallon.
“It’s been a windfall for us,” said Roger Green, Station Owner from South St. Paul, Minnesota. “It’s been a huge increase in our inside store sales and our volume sales.”
The City of Chicago is considering a proposal that will bring E15 to Chicago gas stations.
GROWMARK Shows Off New Propane Terminal
GROWMARK showed off its newest propane terminal in South Dakota. This company news release says the April 28 open house at the Canton terminal attracted about 70 people to the event.
GROWMARK, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., acquired the Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P. in 2013 and added rail capacity. Facility upgrades were complete and the terminal was operational in January 2015.
“This opportunity made strategic sense for us,” said Kevin Carroll, GROWMARK VP Energy & Logistics. “Our retail division, STAR Energy, acquired Siouxland Propane in 2013, expanding our footprint into the South Dakota geography. This terminal will support the expanded footprint and enhance our supply for other areas of our System.”
The upgraded GROWMARK terminal provides storage capacity of more than 300,000 gallons and the capability to fill two semi-truck tanks simultaneously, each loading at a rate of approximately 570 gallons per minute. The terminal is adjacent to the BNSF railroad, and GROWMARK has upgraded the facility to allow for six railcars to unload at one time, with the opportunity to expand that to eight cars in the future.
BioEnergy Bytes
- Probe Manufacturing, Inc. has announced changes to its organization that will shift the focus of the company to its innovation & product development incubation services with emphasis in Cleantech and high growth opportunities. The company will be offering product development acceleration to startups and VC backed companies.
- During a historic visit to China the Government of Equatorial Guinea, represented by the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy (MMIE), announced on April 30 the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding with Chinese companies covering large areas of cooperation in the electricity and industrial sectors. The agreements were made during the Equatorial Guinea-Asia Economic Forum in Dalian.
- Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power has surpassed 1,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy development with the acquisition of a controlling interest in the 60-MW North Star Solar Facility in California from First Solar, Inc. The remaining interest in the project will be owned by an affiliate of First Solar.
- Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. has announced it will be exhibiting its light-weight CNG fuel storage systems at the 2015 ACT Expo in Dallas, Texas, May 4-7, 2015. Quantum will be showcasing its recently released next generation Q-Cab LITE, a back-of-cab mounted system for heavy duty truck applications that integrates three of Quantum’s large diameter tanks, and its next generation Q-Rail LITE, a frame rail mounted system for medium and heavy duty truck applications.