Balqon Corporation, a developer of electric drive system technology for commercial vehicles, announced that it has entered into a Joint Development Agreement with Polar Power Inc. to develop series plug in hybrid system for its line of heavy duty electric trucks and buses. Under this Agreement both companies will work towards development of a 40 kw on-board DC hybrid generator to charge batteries during daily drive cycle to increasing the range of the vehicles.- The Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) has signed a Partnership Agreement with the Government of Ethiopia to enable both countries to work together in geothermal development and capacity building. The Geological Survey of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation will be leading the program. The agreement has been initiated under an Iceland – World Bank compact on geothermal energy. The project in Ethiopia is the second to be initiated by ICEIDA following one in Rwanda. Ethiopia has geothermal potential of 5000 MW but only limited geothermal development has taken place so far.
- Solar Power World has released its Top 250 Solar Contractors. Top of the list is First Solar followed by #2 SolarCity, #3 E Light Wind and Solar, #4 Swinerton Renewable Energy and #5 Quanta Power Generation. Click here to see the full list.
- Scatec Solar, a global solar energy provider, had its 75 MW solar PV plant, Kalkbult, in the Northern Cape region connected to the regional grid Friday, three months ahead of schedule, making the power plant the first REIPPPP project to be grid connected and operational in South Africa. Scatec Solar was awarded the Kalkbult project under the first round of the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP). The completed plant consists of more than 312 000 solar panels mounted on 156 km of substructure, inverters, transformers and a HV sub-station. The power from the grid-connected PV plant will be sold through a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement with Eskom, the national utility company.
Report Ranks Energy Saving Efforts of Cities
Boston, Massachusetts took top honors for its energy saving efforts according to the 2013 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard, a report released by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). In addition to city rankings, the report also includes strategies and recommendations for all cities to lower energy use.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our progress in creating a greener, healthier city,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “Boston is a world-class city, and we know that our economic prosperity is tied to its ‘greenovation,’ which has helped create jobs and 
improve our bottom line. Reducing our energy use is just one smart step in improving the quality of life in Boston and around the world.”
In addition to Boston in the top spot, other top-scoring cities include Portland, Oregon; New York City, New York; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; and Austin, Texas. The next tier of top-scoring cities (Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia and Denver) have also developed efficiency initiatives and are poised to rise in the rankings in future years.
“Our report shows that cities are laboratories of innovation for energy-saving solutions that directly benefit people where they live, work and play,” said Eric Mackres, ACEEE’s local policy manager and the report’s lead author. “Local governments have great influence over energy use in their communities and many have initiatives that result in significant energy and cost savings.”
ACEEE said the report is the first to rank cities exclusively on energy efficiency efforts. Cities are evaluated on what actions they’re taking to reduce energy use in five key areas: buildings; transportation; energy and water utility efforts; local government operations; and community-wide initiatives.
Key findings include:
- Local leadership and commitment to energy efficiency is strong.
- Boston achieved the highest score overall, but other cities led in some policy areas. Portland scored highest in transportation and local government operations. Seattle ranked first in building policies. San Francisco tied with Boston for first in utility public benefits programs, and Austin is the city furthest ahead of its state on energy efficiency policy.
- All cities, even the highest scorers, have significant room for improvement. Boston, the highest scoring city, missed nearly a quarter of possible points.
Key recommendations for cities includes: lead by example by improving efficiency in local government operations and facilities; adopt energy savings goals; actively manage energy use, track and communicate progress toward goals, and enable access to data on energy usage; adopt policies to improve efficiency in new and existing buildings; partner with energy and water utilities to promote and expand energy efficiency programs; and adopt policies and programs to lower transportation energy use through location-efficient development and improved access to additional travel mode choices.
Steven Nadel, ACEEE’s executive director, concluded, “The good news is that cities across the country are saving money, creating local jobs, and protecting the environment by implementing energy efficiency measures.”
API’s Broken Record
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has submitted a report to Congress regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and according to Bob Greco, API’s downstream group director, the RFS is “broken beyond repair”. In a press call, he called the RFS a “reality gap” and argued that with gasoline demand being down decreasing imports and levels of 
cellulosic biofuels being “disappointing” this proves that while the RFS may have been well-intentioned six years ago, it is a “dangerous relic of America’s era of fuel scarcity.
“Today, the RFS is not just outdated; it is bad public policy that is poised to harm millions of consumers. We’re meeting with members of Congress to help them understand the severe economic consequences that could occur unless they take action,” added Greco.
Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy said that once again API is distributing misleading information in an attempt to roll back the RFS – the most successful energy policy America as ever enacted.
“Apparently API thought it was a good idea to make the 1,000th day that gasoline has averaged more than $3 a gallon to announce a policy agenda designed to keep us addicted to fossil fuels foreign oil and high gas prices,” said Buis.
“Talk about irony and a total disconnect from reality. We have lowered our foreign oil imports by approximately 20 percent since the RFS was enacted in 2005 and API wants to roll back our progress to retain their market share and record profits. Seems to me they are aiming for another 1,000 days of record profits and consumer pain at the pump,” continued Buis.Read More
August EPA Biodiesel Numbers Show Record Pace
New numbers show biodiesel production already at nearly 1 billion gallons for the year, and with four months left in the year, it should easily go over the billion-gallon mark, a goal hit in each of the past two years. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) says the EPA shows 148 million gallons of biodiesel production for the month of August, putting year-to-date volume at a record pace of nearly 916 million gallons.
The monthly numbers show a total of more than 177 million gallons of Biomass-based Diesel in August. That total includes nearly 30 million gallons of renewable diesel, a similar diesel replacement made with the same resources but using a different technology.
For the year, biodiesel and renewable diesel together have already exceeded 1 billion gallons, with nearly 1.1 billion gallons total.
NBB points out biodiesel is the first EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel to reach commercial-scale production nationwide.
European Wind Industry Unites for Growth
CEOs of 13 national wind energy associations from across Europe recently met in Spain to put out a united call for a binding 2030 renewable energy target. Binding EU targets for renewables have driven the wind energy sector to become a mainstream energy technology.
“By giving investors certainty, a compulsory 2030 renewables target will allow the wind energy sector to continue to grow and provide green jobs and revenue at the lowest cost for Europe,” Thomas Becker, CEO of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), which set up the meeting in Madrid. EWEA, together with Luis Polo, CEO of the Spanish Wind Energy Association are driving the wind energy sector’s work on 2030 targets.
The CEOs also shared their worries about the drastic changes to the framework for wind energy going on in Spain which may put at risk thousands of jobs and Spain’s achievement of the 2020 target, and agreed the importance of both 2020 and 2030 targets in helping restore confidence in Europe.
The European Commission is due to make proposals on 2030 energy and climate policy by the end of the year.
BioEnergy Bytes
- Central MN Ethanol Co-op (CMEC) has signed a letter of intent to sell substantially all of its assets to Green Biologics. Based In Little Falls, Minnesota, CMEC is an ethanol production facility that produces 21 million gallons of ethanol per year. Ocean Park Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor to CMEC in connection with the sales process. The firm acted as financial advisor to CMEC on the sale of its minority stakes in Guardian Energy, KAAPA Ethanol and Bushmills ethanol earlier this year. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed and timing of the transaction closing is expected in 2014.
- Greenbelt Resources Corporation, a provider of sustainable energy production systems, has announced the appointment of Joseph Pivinski to the executive team as interim chief financial officer. One of Joe’s first tasks is to update the company’s financial statements reported via OTC Markets. Pivinski served previously as CFO and senior vice president at NASDAQ-listed Consolidated Water Co., Ltd., and as vice president of finance and CFO for Oriole Homes Corp., a then-NASDAQ publicly traded residential real estate developer based in Florida.
- Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. has announced the pricing of its offering of $100 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes due 2018, which was upsized from the previously announced $75 million aggregate principal amount of notes. The notes will be offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by the initial purchasers of the notes. The Company has also granted the initial purchasers of the notes a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $20 million aggregate principal amount of notes, solely to cover over-allotments.
- Suntech Power Holdings has announced a change in senior management, with David King stepping down as CEO and acting CFO and Zhou Weiping assuming the roles of interim CEO and interim CFO with immediate effect. The board of the Company will commence a search for a new CFO. Zhou will retain his roles as President and Director of the Company.
Growth Energy Pleased with New Holland Support
Pictured left to right: Abe Hughes, New Holland; Wesley Clark and Tom Buis, Growth Energy
“New Holland is a fantastic company, they produce top notch equipment, but they also are willing to step up for rural America,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “What we’ve seen over the last few years is New Holland take the lead in promoting biofuels.”
Buis says Growth Energy members participate with New Holland on promotional deals – in fact, one will be held next week at the Absolute Energy plant in Lyle, Minnesota. Interview with Tom Buis, Growth Energy
Growth Energy co-chairman retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark praised New Holland’s support for national security. “New Holland is the first, most visionary and innovative company (that) saw what this ethanol movement means for America, for national security and for American prosperity,” said Clark, who adds that company vice president Abe Hughes, who serves on the Growth Energy board, has been a real leader in helping reach out to the American farmer.Interview with Wesley Clark, Growth Energy
Gas Prices Stuck at $3 and Above
Today marks the 1,000th day in a row that gas prices have been above $3 per gallon. While ethanol provides drivers savings while filling up, AAA says that these gas prices are here to stay.
Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), noted, “Gas prices are now staying at over $3 and could continue to increase, but ethanol is a viable and sustainable tool that could stop gas prices from rising at the pump. Renewable fuel is plentifully available right here, right now. If Big Oil would stop putting up barriers to offering E15 and other higher level blends, gas could be cheaper. In fact, the estimated discount of E15 is 10-15 cents cheaper per gallon than gasoline. Add that up and it shows real savings.”
Dinneen continued, “If consumers had a renewable alternative at the pump, their gas prices could decrease and they would not be forced to change their driving habits and lifestyle. Vehicles are used every day to take kids to soccer practice, get to work, and go out to eat. Renewable fuels offer an alternative that can keep prices down and keep families on the go.”
Research shows that In 2011, ethanol saved drivers $1.09/gallon and families roughly $1,200 in gasoline purchases. E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) is blended in over 97% of the gasoline today, and just last Sunday E15 (15% ethanol, 85% gasoline) came back online for vehicles 2001 and newer. Right now E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is available to flex fuel vehicles and according to E85prices.com the average E85 price in Iowa is $2.73/gallon compared to the $3.65/gallon average gas price today. In fact, E85 has been reported as low as $2.39/gallon in St. Ansgar, Iowa.
How Thirsty is Energy Production?
Critics of renewable energy have dozens of reasons why alternative energy such as wind and solar just won’t work such as what happens when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. But according to a new report prepared by Synapse Energy Economics, “dirty” energy sources including coal-fired electric power, nuclear power and natural gas recovered by fracking, face an even bigger challenge. What are you going to do if the water runs dry?
The report, commissioned by the Civil Society Institute, finds: “Currently, 97 percent of the nation’s electricity comes from thermoelectric or hydroelectric generators, which rely on vast quantities of water to produce electricity … Water is increasingly becoming a limiting factor on U.S. energy production and a key obstacle to maintaining both electricity output and public health and safety. The constraints range from insufficient water supplies to meet power plants’ cooling and pollution control needs—a challenge likely to be exacerbated by 
climate change, population growth, and competition from other sectors—to the high costs of energy-related water contamination and thermal pollution.”
Synapse Associate Melissa Whited noted, “Our electric system was built on traditional, water-intensive thermoelectric and hydroelectric generators. The water requirements of this energy system are enormous and leave it vulnerable to droughts and heat waves… Going forward, our water resources will be further squeezed by population growth coupled with the impacts of climate change. The massive water use of coal, nuclear, and natural gas generators will be increasingly challenged, particularly when alternatives that require little water, such as wind and solar, are readily available.”
Other key finding of the report include:
- Thermoelectric plants withdraw 41 percent of the nation’s fresh water—more than any other sector.
- The amount of water available to serve diverse needs is a growing concern across the country, from the arid western states to the seemingly water-rich Southeast. Thermoelectric generation compounds the stress already faced by numerous watersheds and adds additional risk for the future. If current trends continue, water supplies will simply be unable to keep up with our growing demands.
- On an average day, water withdrawals across the nation amount to an estimated 85 billion gallons for coal plants, 45 billion gallons for nuclear plants, and 7 billion gallons for natural gas plants. Additional water is required to extract, process, transport, and store fuel, and this water is often degraded in the process.
- Coal mining consumes between 70 million and 260 million gallons of water per day.
- Natural gas fracking requires between two and six million gallons of water per well for injection purposes.
“Continued reliance on water-intensive electric generation technologies puts consumers and regional economies at risk of interruptions in electricity supply or on the hook for costly infrastructure investments,” said CSI Senior Energy Analyst Grant Smith. “To ensure a reliable, cost-effective supply of energy, these water-related risks must be fully accounted for in energy planning and regulation. Once the environmental costs of conventional fuels are recognized, it becomes clear that energy efficiency and renewable energy are bargains by comparison. These clean alternatives cause little if any harmful environmental impacts. On a full-cost accounting basis, clean energy would win out as the least-cost solution and solution that harbors the least risk, as our energy system would no longer threaten (or be vulnerable to) the quantity and quality of our water.”
India’s First Green Building Features Solar
Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure has completed the installation of a 930-kilowatt (kW) SunPower solar system on the rooftop of the Indira Paryavaran Bhavan building in New Delhi, India. The solar panels were selected in part due to the relatively little amount of rooftop space for the solar panels.
The building is India’s first net zero building. Its design emphasizes conservation featuring trees to reduce adverse environmental impact, adequate natural light and shaded landscaped areas to reduce ambient temperature. The building is targeted to achieve 
Platinum from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating system, known as LEED INDIA. It also is expected to receive a five star Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment from the rating system developed by the Energy and Resource Institute and supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the nodal ministry of Indian government. Managed by the Central Public Works Department of India, the project is being spearheaded by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests.
“For this urban project, with very limited rooftop space and high energy generation requirement, the selection of high efficiency solar panels was the most critical aspect,” said Ram Avatar, CMD of the New Delhi-based Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. “Thanks to SunPower solar panels, we can now hope to achieve the stringent goal of net zero energy for this building.”
The high-efficiency SunPower E-Series solar panels were installed on the building with a five-degree tilt to fully optimize its expected energy output of 1.5 million kWh annually.
“SunPower’s world leading solar panel technology will help the Indira Paryavaran Bhavan project in New Delhi generate enough electricity from its rooftop solar system to cover 100 percent of its energy demand,” addded Howard Wenger, SunPower president, regions. “We’re proud to be one of the Indian government’s sustainability partners as it maximizes clean solar power generation and cost savings at this innovative net zero building.”