DOE Offers $32M for Solar

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $32 million in funding to train Americans to enhance the country’s solar energy workforce. The monies are part of the DOE’s SunShot Initiative. The funds will also go to company’s that can develop innovative, low-cost concentrating solar power collectors and to increase access to solar data.

DOE STEP programAccording to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) the new opportunities will:

  • The Solar Training and Education for Professionals funding program will tackle soft costs by addressing gaps in solar training and energy education, both within the solar workforce and in professions that play a crucial role in solar deployment.
  • The Solar Bankability Data to Advance Transactions and Access funding program will increase data accessibility and quality, and will facilitate the growth and expansion of the solar industry by creating a standardized data landscape for distributed solar. The goal of this funding program is to support the creation and adoption of industry-led open data standards for rapid and seamless data exchange across the value chain from origination to decommissioning.
  • The CSP: Concentrating Optics for Lower Levelized Energy Costs funding program seeks to further CSP system technologies by soliciting disruptive, transformative projects for the concentrating solar collectors in the CSP plant. These innovative projects will seek to enable CSP to be cost-competitive with conventional forms of electric power generation.

“Last year, a new solar energy project was installed every two and a half minutes in the United States,” said Deputy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall. “To ensure the continued growth of the U.S. solar industry and our clean energy economy, it is critical that we support workforce training programs that will give American workers the skills they need for well-paying jobs and also make sure American consumers have access to highly-trained, credentialed professionals when they choose solar to power their daily lives.” Read More

Clean Energy, Education, Electricity, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1Navigant Research’s Electric Vehicle Geographical Forecast, analyzes the North American market for light duty plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including detailed geographic forecasts of PEV sales by U.S. state, metropolitan statistical area (MSA), Canadian province, Canadian city, and selected U.S. utility service area. With more than 133,000 PEVs sold in 2014, North America is currently the world’s strongest market for these vehicles.
  • The City of Maplewood, Missouri’s City Council has announced a proclamation to launch the EPA Green Power Community Challenge through 2015. Becoming an EPA Green Power Community will reduce the city’s carbon footprint by 6,089,716 pounds of CO2 each year. This is the same as taking 582 cars off the road each year. Maplewood’s Challenge represents a joint effort with Ameren Missouri Pure Power and St. Louis-based Microgrid Energy to encourage local businesses and homeowners to make a commitment to green power through either the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), or the installation of solar power.
  • SunEdison, Inc. has announced the completion and interconnection of the South Milford solar facility in Milford, Utah. The 3.8 MW DC facility is now the largest operating solar power plant in Utah. TerraForm Power acquired the solar power plant from its Call Right Projects List. PacifiCorp will purchase the electricity via a SunEdison 20-year power purchase agreement, which enables customers to lock-in low priced electricity at long term predictable prices.
  • amp Trillium has announced it has opened two new CNG stations for commercial trucks traveling through Texas. Located off I-20 in Brock and I-10 in Kerrville, the public-access stations service all CNG vehicles and enable three Class-8 trucks to fuel simultaneously at 10-12 diesel gallon equivalents per minute.
Bioenergy Bytes

NREL Releases E15 & Infrastructure Report

Joanna Schroeder

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a paper addressing the compatibility of E15 with gas station equipment. “E15 and Infrastructure” looks at compatibility of E15 through a literature review of published works by refueling equipment manufacturers, industry groups and federal agencies. The paper also includes a summary of applicable codes and standards, review of equipment manufacturer products, and verification with manufacturers regarding which ethanol blends work
with their products.

NREL logoThe report also addresses several misperceptions about E15 including that it is safe to store the ethanol blend in tanks. The paper states that for many decades, underground storage tank manufacturers have approved their tanks for blends up to E100, more specifically, all steal tanks and double-walled fiberglass tanks since the year 1990.

As part of the study all fuel and vapor handling equipment was reviewed to determine if it was certified by a third-party (such as UL) and if it was listed for specific ethanol blends. The aggregated list confirms there are UL testing standards available now for all gasoline–ethanol blends from 0% to 85% ethanol. The appendices includes a full list of E15 and E15+ compatible equipment. The literature review also finds that there were no incidents of E10 causing releases from UST systems were identified.

The study concludes, “There are future opportunities for retailers to remove or replace their current equipment not necessarily related to continuous changes in motor fuel composition. Credit card companies are requiring retail fueling stations to update their dispensers to accept new chip and PIN secure credit cards by October 2017, at which time fraud liability would switch to station owners if they have not updated their equipment. This presents an opportunity to increase E25 UL-listed equipment through a retrofit kit if electronics are being upgraded to accommodate the new credit cards, or if a station owner must purchase a new dispenser, it could pay a minimal amount more for an E25 dispenser. If a new dispenser is purchased, this may also present an opportunity to
upgrade to an E85 dispenser, but at significant additional cost.”

biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol

USDA Turning Wildfire Fuel into Biofuels

John Davis

usda-logoThe fuel for wildfires is being converted to biofuels. This posting on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) blog says the agency is tackling the issue of what to do with the trees killed by bark beetles, a source of fuel for forest fires. While the huge bioenergy resource (projected to be 46 million acres) has potential, it faces some real challenges, including access to industrial centers able to process it into biofuel. Several USDA programs look to overcome that issue.

One such program, the Sustainable Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies (BANR), is led by Colorado State University. BANR brings together scientists, educators, and extension specialists from universities and government agencies to work with industry partners to address the major challenges that impact economical and sustainable utilization of insect-killed trees for the production of biofuels and biochar.

Because collecting beetle-killed trees is more of a salvage operation than a harvest, BANR has created teams to address the various challenges. The first order of business is locating the feedstock, which BANR does through various sensing approaches. They will also develop models to predict future beetle infestations. Another team is tackling the logistical problems of harvesting, collecting, transporting, and storing the raw biomass without negatively impacting natural forest regeneration and water resources. Specifically, goals for this aspect of the operation include benchmarking the performance of equipment used to harvest, process, and deliver beetle-killed trees, and then optimize the logistics for site conditions, specific end uses, and facility locations.

USDA also wants to educate youth by developing middle and high school science units that focus on bioenergy; professional development for K-12 teachers; research opportunities for K-12 teachers and undergraduate students; and online coursework for undergrads, graduate students, and K-12 teachers.

biofuels, biomass, Government, USDA

SMART Adds Propane AutoGas

Joanna Schroeder

SMART has added 61 new Connector paratransit propane autogas fuel system buses. This, says SMART, makes them the second largest propane autogas powered paratransit fleet in Michigan and one of the top five largest in the country.

“SMART is committed to responsibly and eco-consciously serving the communities in southeast Michigan. By using domestically produced propane we help support local jobs and our economy,” said John C. Hertel, IMG_4653general manager. “In addition, using the autogas technology will improve our operations, lower costs and preserve the environment in which we work, live and play.”

SMART says the propane autogas investment will reduce emissions, save money, and extend the life of the vehicles. The total fuel and maintenance savings is projected to be $1.1 – $1.7 million over the lifetime of the fleet with a return on investment of less than four months. In addition, SMART says the cost of building on-site refueling stations at each of its three terminals was determined to be less expensive than other refueling station options. The vehicles and propane stations are grant funded.

“Residents in Southeast Michigan are breathing easier due to SMART’s decision to fuel paratransit buses with propane autogas,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech, whose company did the propane autogas conversions. “Plus, this abundant alternative transportation fuel means reduced operating and ownership costs for the transit agency.”

Delivery of all 61 SMART Connector autogas vehicles has been on-going since February and to date 14 vehicles have been placed into service. The full fleet is expected to be in service by the end of July.

Alternative energy, Propane

Renewables “Rock” U.S. Energy Growth

Joanna Schroeder

The SUN Day Campaign’s Ken Bossong, has noted once again that renewable energy sources are dominating the new energy landscape according to the latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Office of Energy Projects. The reports shows wind and solar accounted for all new generating capacity placed in-service in April. For the month, two “units” of wind (the 300 MW Hereford-2 Wind Farm Project in Deaf Smith County, TX and the 211 MW Mesquite Creek Wind Project in Dawson County, TX) came on line in addition to six new units – totaling 50 MW – of solar.

In addition, wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower together have provided over 84 percent (84.1%) of the 1,900 MW of new U.S. electrical generating capacity placed into service during the first third of 2015. This includes 1,170 MW of wind (61.5%), 362 MW of solar (19.1%), 45 MW of geothermal steam (2.4%), and 21 MW of hydropower (1.1%). The balance (302 MW) was provided by five units of natural gas.

Hereford Wind ProjectFERC has reported no new capacity for the year-to-date from biomass sources nor any from coal, oil, or nuclear power.

The reports finds the total contribution of geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind for the first four months of 2015 (1,598 MW) is similar to that for the same period in 2014 (1,611 MW – in addition to 116 MW of biomass). However, for the same period in 2014, natural gas added 1,518 MW of new capacity while coal and nuclear again provided none and oil just 1 MW. Renewable energy sources accounted for half of all new generating capacity added in 2014.

“Members of Congress and state legislators proposing to curb support for renewable energy, such as Renewable Portfolio/Electricity Standards and the federal Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit, are swimming against the tide,” noted Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “With renewable energy’s clear track record of success and the ever-worsening threat of climate change, now is not the time to pull back from these technologies but rather to greatly expand investments in them.”

Today renewable energy sources now account for 17.05 percent of total installed operating generating capacity in the country: water – 8.55 percent, wind – 5.74 percent, biomass – 1.38 percent, solar – 1.05 percent, and geothermal steam – 0.33 percent (for comparison, renewables were 13.71 percent of capacity in December 2010 – the first month for which FERC issued an “Energy Infrastructure Update”).

For renewable energy supporters, what may be the best news: renewable energy capacity is now greater than that of nuclear (9.14%) and oil (3.92%) combined. In fact, the installed capacity of wind power alone has now surpassed that of oil. In addition, total installed operating generating capacity from solar has now reached and surpassed the one-percent threshold – a ten-fold increase since December 2010.

biomass, Electricity, Geothermal, Hydro, Natural Gas, Nuclear Energy, Oil, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

NV Energy & TASC Reach Net Metering Compromise

Joanna Schroeder

Nevada-operating utility company NV Energy has reached a net metering agreement after working with The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC). The state is one of several currently attempting to alter favorable net metering policies as rooftop solar energy grows in popularity.

The Alliance for Solar Choice logoAmendment to SB 374 would:

  • Define the existing 3% net metering cap to be 235 megawatts. This 235 megawatts will be the maximum amount of net metering permitted under the current net metering rules until December 31, 2015.
  • Require the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to design a future net metering tariff, with wide latitude for the Commission to structure that tariff.
  • Require the Commission to finalize the new tariff by December 31, 2015. Should the Commission not meet this deadline, the existing net metering tariff will remain in place until the Commission finalizes the new tariff.

TASC and NV Energy thanked several policymakers and organizations for their support during the negotiation process including: The Governor’s Office; State Senator Patricia Farley; State Senator James Settelmeyer; State Senator Kelvin Atkinson; the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada; the Nevada Bureau of Consumer Protection; and Rose McKinney-James, representing Bombard Electric, LLC.

Clean Energy, Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1JinkoSolar has announced that its production facility in Penang, Malaysia has officially begun operations. The production facility, which began construction in March 2015 and received TUV certification in late April, has begun to produce highly-efficient cells and multi-crystalline modules. Full production capacity of 500 MW of cells and 450 MW of modules per year is expected to be reached within two months.
  • SolarCity has announced the hiring of J. Radford Small as Senior Vice President, Business Development and Investor Relations. In his new role, Radford will help execute the company’s long term growth strategy with a focus on increasing shareholder value. Radford joins SolarCity from Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he was a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Clean Technology and Renewables group.
  • In an effort to expand awareness of the importance of diversity in the workplace – as well as solar energy’s growing contributions to the economy and environment – the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is now featuring a Spanish-language section on its website. An Español click-through button is now located just below SEIA’s logo on its home page banner. Among other things, the new Spanish-language section will include a Solar 101 tutorial, information about the solar industry’s diversity efforts and how solar has become one of the fastest-growing industies in America.
  • According to the Borneo Post, a biodiesel plant with a capacity of 10 tons per day in the village of Telagasari, Kelumpang Hilir, Kotabaru District, South Kalimantan, should begin operating at the end of 2015. The project is waiting to complete the central government grant process to be used for plant improvements including some new machinery.
Bioenergy Bytes

Massachusetts Town Preps for $4 Mil Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

co-op powerA Massachusetts town is making final preparations for a $4 million biodiesel plant. This story from WWLP 22News says hundreds of families in the town of Greenfield have invested in the Co-op Power project.

The plant will be able to collect and recycle used cooking oil to produce 3 and half million gallons of biodiesel fuel per year. That fuel will then be used for heating, construction equipment and transportation.

However, Co-op Power, which is the company building the plant, says they need to raise about 850,000 dollars more to make this plant a reality.

The CEO of the company told 22News, the inspiration behind this plant is the need for sustainable energy production, “Yea, this plant here is owned by hundreds of families in the region and we got together and decided that a biodiesel plant was one of the most important things we could do to help us transition to a more sustainable future,” said Lynn Benander, Northeast Biodiesel Company.

Co-op Power will have an update on the project later this week. The company hopes to raise all the money it needs by June 1st.

Biodiesel

EcoTech: Clean Jobs Continue to Grow

Joanna Schroeder

Clean jobs continue to grow with more than one million green energy job postings across the nation during Q1 2015 according to Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index. The index is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics and includes jobs in which workers’ duties involve making their company’s production processes more environmentally friendly or use few natural resources.

Clean Job Openings Q1 2015“As more businesses look for ways to conserve energy and renewables continue to gain traction, more jobs are becoming available,” said Chris Gorrie, Ecotech Institute’s President. “States have come to see clean energy sources as an important piece of infrastructure, opening the door to great opportunities in renewable energy.”

In Q1 2015 there were 1.2 million clean job postings in the U.S. with the top states for jobs being California, Texas and New York. States with the Highest Rise in Clean Jobs Openings, Compared to Q1 2014 include: Rhode Island, New York, Texas, North Carolina and Maryland.

States with Most Clean Jobs per 100,000 People:

  • North Dakota
  • Iowa
  • Rhode Island
  • Colorado
  • Wyoming
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Ohio
  • Indiana
  • South Dakota

EcoTech Institute created the Clean Jobs Index to provide objective information about renewable energy jobs and to compare states’ use and development of clean and sustainable energy.

Clean Energy, Education, Electricity