Hawaiians Crave More Solar

Joanna Schroeder

According to a recent opinion poll Hawaiians want more solar. The poll found that 90 percent of respondents believe that Hawaiian Electric (HECO) is slowing rooftop solar to protect its profits. The poll found that most residents are very familiar with and supportive of rooftop solar with a third of the respondents having family members with solar and more than half have neighbors with solar.

The poll was conducted by Honolulu-based polling firm SMS and commissioned by The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC), an organization that represents the majority of rooftop solar installations in the United States, including more than seven thousand projects in Hawaii.

“While it shorooftop solar in Oahu Photo Hugh Gentryuld be a point of pride that Hawaii has the highest solar per capita in the country, it shouldn’t give us any reason to slow down,” said Jon Yoshimura, a Hawaii spokesperson for TASC. “The people of Hawaii clearly want and expect more rooftop solar, and are looking to both HECO and to policymakers to advance policies that help increase access for homes and businesses.”

Responses revealed that Hawaii residents are adopting solar not only to save money, but also to drive energy independence for the state. Respondents also identified oil dependence and lack of competition in the utility sector as top reasons driving utility rates.

“Hawaii’s energy landscape is rapidly changing and we need to adopt new policies and business models that support the public’s desire to produce their own clean, homegrown energy,” Yoshimura added.

Less than half of those surveyed have a favorable opinion of HECO, while 95 percent have a favorable view of solar power companies. When respondents were informed that the number of solar permits just hit a two year low on Oahu, half said their opinion of HECO declined even further. In short says TASC, HECO’s public image is in danger if the utility continues to fall short of public expectations for rooftop solar.

“I decided to go solar for environmental and financial reasons​. I was delayed for months–many peoples’ ​interconnection approvals are delayed for years by​ the utility as a stalling tactic,” said Nancy Robberson, retired schoolteacher from Kula,​ Hawaii. “Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries should not get in the way of more solar here​. Harnessing the sun’s power should be an ​inalienable right for all.”

Renewable Energy, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFRenewable Energy Markets 2014 will be held December 2–4, 2014 in Sacramento, California. The call for abstracts is open. They are looking for 10 to 12 minute presentations featuring new data or ideas, consideration of important issues and thoughts about where renewable energy markets are headed. Categories include: organizations using renewable energy; project development; marketing renewable energy; policy and legal issues; markets and trading; and bundled electricity products.
  • The Iowa Wind Energy Association (IWEA) elected Mike Prior as the organization’s new Executive Director. Prior had served as Director of Business Development of IWEA since 2009 and had served as Interim Executive Director since December of 2013.
  • Google Inc. and SunPower Corp. have announced a new program that will provide financing to support approximately $250 million of residential solar lease projects. Both companies are investing in the program, with Google committing up to $100 million and SunPower committing approximately $150 million. Thousands of homeowners are expected to finance solar power systems through SunPower solar leases as a result of this program, joining approximately 20,000 Americans already leasing from SunPower.
  • La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has announced a CDN$42 million investment in the Parc des Moulins wind energy project operated by Invenergy Wind LLC. After this transaction, Invenergy will continue to be the majority controlling shareholder. Parc des Moulins is a 135.7 MW wind farm that has been in commercial operation since December 2013. It covers three Québec municipalities: Thetford Mines, Kinnear’s Mills and Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf.
Bioenergy Bytes

First Diesel Hybrid PV System Online in Guelph

Joanna Schroeder

Canadian Solar Inc. has completed one of the first diesel hybrid PV system in the remote microgrids in northern Ontario, Canada. The 152kW rooftop solar array on the Deer Lake First Nation Elementary School is the first project under the strategic partnership with NCC Development, LP (NCC), a First Nation renewable energy management company, in a commitment to use renewable energy (RE) microgrid solutions to assist the energy needs of off-grid First Nations and remote communities.

canadian solar logoNCC has identified more than 80 First Nations and remote communities for potential RE microgrid solution deployment, in an effort to promote photovoltaic services and projects to areas heavily reliant on diesel and challenged by limited access to electricity.

“NCC is optimistic in moving forward with our partner Canadian Solar, as we continue to build strategic collaborative efforts with leaders in the solar and renewable energy industry to foster sustainable development of Canada’s indigenous communities. As North America’s largest producer of solar power solutions, Canadian Solar’s industry leading experience and expertise will greatly contribute to our efforts,” said Geordi Kakepetum, Chief Executive Officer of NCC Development LP.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc. noted of the project, “Our partnership with NCC started 3 years ago. It underscores our strong commitment to Canada, helping to bring solar power to areas previously unable to get connected to the grid. Solar is a green, flexible, low-cost, and sustainable energy solution for these underserved First Nations and other rural areas. We are proud of our involvement in this important effort and the direct impact we will have on so many deserving families.”

During a ribbon cutting ceremony, Chief Royale Meekis, the leader of Deer Lake First Nation said, “To reduce peak load and connect five more homes, we developed a three-part plan, including conservation, load shifting, and installing a PV solar system. This is important not only for the families who are waiting to move into these new houses, but for all of Deer Lake.”

Deer Lake First Nation aims to eventually replace 50 percent of their diesel consumption with the RE microgrid retrofit solution. The focus of the partners in developing RE microgrid solutions is also to help to build much needed additional clean energy capacity, and to support future economic development in the communities.

Alternative energy, Solar

Arizona State to Offer Algae-to-Biodiesel Showcase

John Davis

azcati1Algae has a great future as a feedstock for biodiesel, as well as cleaning up wastewaters. Arizona State University will be offering a showcase on how to do both at its Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI), May 1-2.

Students from Arizona universities will demonstrate their projects to the public at the Innovation Showcase May 1, and during a formal public presentation workshop May 2. The multi-university collaboration is made possible by funding and support from the Arizona Board of Regents.

Tour the labs and the green algae testbed fields of the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation from 3-6:30 p.m., May 1, during the Innovation Showcase, hosted by the College of Technology and Innovation. Throughout the showcase, Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University faculty and students will discuss their algae projects, and AzCATI representatives will host tours throughout the center. Stop by the AzCATI booth at the Innovation Showcase in the Sun Devil Fitness Complex to learn about algae and begin a guided site tour.

The school promises more in-depth insight into the students’ leading-edge research on May 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with tours of the AzCATI facility to follow.

algae, Biodiesel

Wilks Offers Better Biodiesel Blend Analyzer

John Davis

Wilks, maker of application-specific analytical instrumentation, has built better analyzers of biodiesel blends and oil in water. The company says its new InfraCal 2 Analyzer offers additional features to its line of InfraCal Oil in Water Analyzers and InfraCal Biodiesel Blend Analyzers, including better repeatability, multiple calibrations, unlimited data storage, optional internal battery pack, touch screen display, and password protection for instrument settings.

infracal2-345The InfraCal 2 incorporates new electronics providing a better signal-to-noise ratio that improves the stability and repeatability. The InfraCal 2 for oil in water analysis now has the capability to measure from sub-ppm to percent levels, making it suitable for wastewater, produced water or frac water measurements, as well as checking hydrocarbon levels in drilling mud or drill cuttings.

For biodiesel in diesel, the InfraCal 2 has a new calibration scheme that makes it easier to get an accurate zero. It includes alerts to ensure the sample surface is clean prior to measurements – features which contribute to more repeatable readings.

Wilks goes on to say its InfraCal 2 Analyzer has a virtually unlimited amount of internal data storage and can transfer information serially or through a flash drive, giving date, time, analyst, and location information. In addition, the internal battery pack lasts up to 12 hours, bringing more capabilities right to the field without having to wait for lab results.

Biodiesel

NTSB Holds Rail Transportation Safety Forum

Cindy Zimmerman

ntsbOutgoing National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman says “regulators are behind the curve” when it comes to the transport of hazardous liquid, whether ethanol or crude oil.

“Those shipments have increased by over 440 percent (since 2005) but our regulations have not changed,” Hersman said at the National Press Club prior to the start of a two day forum on Safety of Rail Transportation of Crude Oil and Ethanol. She says accidents are happening “far too often, safety has been compromised” in oil train shipments.

Some of the concern brought about by recent accidents involving both oil and ethanol shipments revolves around the rail tank cars themselves, particularly the DOT-111, which she says is not safe enough for hazardous liquids. “Carrying corn oil is fine, carrying crude oil is not,” said Hersman.

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen testified at the NTSB forum about the safety record of ethanol shipments via the DOT-111A railcar, the intense focus of the RFA on safety training and best practices within the ethanol industry, and the need for the NTSB to focus on the root cause of recent derailments, including track conditions and human error.

RFA-logo-13Noting that 70 percent of ethanol travels to the marketplace via rail and has done so for over 30 years, Dinneen gave credit to the railroads that since 2012 have successfully shipped 99.997 percent of hazardous material carloads. “From 2006–2013, the U.S. ethanol industry moved over two million shipments of ethanol,” Dinneen testified. “However, during that period only 226 cars derailed with only 91 releasing product.”

Dinneen further testified that in each of the ethanol derailment incidents that have occurred, the NTSB determined the derailment to be the result of rail operation, such as substandard track integrity, switching failures, inspection errors, maintenance problems or lack of communication between train crews. “Keeping the cars on the track by eliminating the root causes of these DOT-111A tank car derailments is the only way to achieve a perfect safety record,” said Dinneen.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, transportation

Renewable Fuels Fuel Jobs and Economy

Cindy Zimmerman

A new industry report released today shows how the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is creating jobs and significant economic impact.

fuels-americaThe Fuels America coalition released an economic impact study by John Dunham & Associates showing that the industry supports more than 850,000 American jobs and drives $184.5 billion of economic output.

Renewable fuels now represent nearly 10% of America’s fuel supply and have helped reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil to the lowest level in years. The analysis takes into account the entire supply chain for renewable fuels and quantifies the impact to the U.S. economy, including:

• Driving $184.5 billion of economic output
• Supporting 852,056 jobs and $46.2 billion in wages
• Generating $14.5 billion in tax revenue each year

The full analysis is publicly available on the Fuels America website, including localized reports for every state and every congressional district in the country.

Fuels America held a telephone press conference introducing the report results featuring comments from Jon Doggett, National Corn Growers Association public policy; Adam Monroe, Novozymes; Larry Ward, POET; and John Dunham, report author.

Listen to or download here: Fuels America new economic report

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Fuels America, RFA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFThe 22nd edition of FENASUCRO, the trade fair for sugar, ethanol, and energy technology, will take place in São Paulo, Brazil from August 26-29, 2014. FENASUCRO is the meeting place for producers, professionals, and top manufacturers of equipment, and products & services for the sugarcane agro-industry. The event offers visitors the chance to explore the entire production chain: soil preparation, planting, growing treatments, harvest, industrialization, mechanization, use of by-products, sugarcane product and by-product transportation and logistics.
  • DONG Energy Wind Power’s Country manager, Benj Sykes, has been announced as the new co-chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) by Business and Energy Minister, the Rt. Hon Michael Fallon MP, who also co-chairs the group. Sykes replaces Keith Anderson, the Chief Corporate Officer of ScottishPower, who has held this role since 2010, and will remain a member of OWIC.
  • Otto Pirker from Verbund will chair Hydropower Development: Europe 2014 Summit, taking place in Porto (Portugal) on September 17-18, 2014. The event will comprise two days of formal presentations, interactive panel discussions and excellent networking opportunities, providing an ideal setting to convene with your peers to discuss both current operational and future planned hydro power plants, energy markets reform, potential barriers and support policies as well as project economics and finance.
  • UNICA, together with other unions and associations of producers from South and Central Sugarcane Technology Center (CTC) region, announced its estimate for the harvest 2014/2015 of cane sugar. The projection indicates a grind of 580.00 million tons, down 16.94 million tonnes compared to the total processed in the last harvest, which totaled 596.94 million tons.
Bioenergy Bytes

U.S. Forest Services Seeks Wood to Energy Proposals

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking proposals that expand wood energy use and support responsible forest management. The Forest Service also released a Wood Energy Financial App for use by community and business leaders seeking to replace fossil fuel with wood energy.

“USDA through the Forest Service is supporting development of wood energy projects that promote sound forest management, expand regional economies, and create new jobs,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These efforts, part of the Obama Administration’s ‘all of the above’ energy strategy, create opportunities for wood energy products to enter the marketplace.”

Wood Enery AppThe U.S. Forest Service published in the Federal Register the announcement of requests for proposals under the Hazardous Fuels Wood-to-Energy Grant program. The program will provide about $2.8 million to help successful applicants complete the engineering design work needed to apply for public or private loans for construction and long-term financing of wood energy facilities. In addition, the agency announced $1.7 million in funding availability under the Statewide Wood Energy Team cooperative agreement program inviting public-private teams to seek funding to advance wood energy. Activities may include workshops that provide technical, financial and environmental information, preliminary engineering assessments, and community outreach needed to support development of wood energy projects.

“Building stronger markets for innovative wood products supports sustainable forestry, reduces wildfire risk, and creates energy savings for rural America,” added Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.

The Forest Service has also released an eBook which contains a Wood Energy Financial App that allows users to do a simple and quick analysis to see if wood energy is a viable alternative for their community or small business. The App, which can be accessed from the Web or an eBook. The App and eBook were developed through a partnership with Dr. Dennis Becker, associate professor and Dr. Steve Taft, extension economist at the University of Minnesota; Eini Lowell, wood technology specialist at the Pacific Northwest Research Station; Dan Bihn, engineer at Bihn Systems and Roy Anderson, senior consultant at The Beck Group.

advanced biofuels, biomass

UK Announces 8 Major Renewable Energy Projects

Joanna Schroeder

The UK government has announced support for eight major renewable electricity projects giving a big boost to green energy and green jobs. By 2020, the projects will provide up to £12 billion of private sector investment, supporting 8,500 jobs, and they could add a further 4.5GW of low-carbon electricity to Britain’s energy mix (or around 4% of capacity), generating enough clean electricity to power over three million homes.

Once completed and in operation, the projects will contribute around 15TWh or 14 percent of the renewable electricity estimated to be produced by 2020, helping to put the UK well on the way to meeting its renewable energy target. The clean energy projects will also reduce emissions by 10 MtCO2 per year compared to fossil fuel power generation.

The projects have been offered under Contracts for Difference (CfD), which form part of Government’s Electricity Market Reform programme. They include offshore wind farms, coal to biomass conversions and a dedicated biomass plant with combined heat and power.

offshore-wind-power-Photo Christopher ThomondEnergy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said of the announcement, “These contracts for major renewable electricity projects mark a new stage in Britain’s green energy investment boom. By themselves they will bring green jobs and growth across the UK, but they are a significant part of our efforts to give Britain cleaner and more secure energy.”

“These are the first investments from our reforms to build the world’s first low carbon electricity market – reforms which will see competition and markets attract tens of billions of pounds of vital energy investment whilst reducing the costs of clean energy to consumers,” Davey continued. “Record levels of energy investment are at the forefront of the Government’s infrastructure programme and are filling the massive gap we inherited. It’s practical reforms like these that will keep the lights on and tackle climate change, by giving investors more certainty.”

The eight projects have been awarded contracts under the Final Investment Decision (FID) Enabling for Renewables process, allocating the first CfDs that are being introduced through the Electricity Market Reform programme. Under CfDs, generators and developers receive a fixed strike price for the electricity they produce for 15 years. As a result, these contracts are vital to give investors the confidence they need to pay the up-front costs of major new infrastructure projects. The contracts are supported by the new legislative framework introduced through the Energy Act 2013. Further CfDs will be made available in the fall.

Alternative energy, bioenergy, Clean Energy, International