NEC 2027

Smart Energy Pilot Lanched in Netherlands

Joanna Schroeder

A smart energy pilot project is launching in Groningen and Hoogkerk, Netherlands that will allow consumers to test innovative, smart energy services related to sustainable energy choices and cost savings. Six Dutch companies along with three knowledge institutes and 40 households will participate in the project designed to ascertain which smart energy services best meet the consumer’s requirements. The goal is to give guidance on how to  Minister Kempimplement a sustainable and cost effective energy supply. This is the first time that consumers are involved in such research.

The trial forms part of PowerMatching City’s second phase. PowerMatching City is the world’s first live, total-concept smart grid. These linked, intelligent (digitally) controlled energy grids are essential for achieving a proper match between energy demand and supply. Economic Affairs Minister Kamp initiated the second phase during a festive meeting with the participants from the City of Groningen’s Thomsonstreet.

“I am delighted that today we are taking a new important step towards the energy system and the energy consumer of the future together with households, companies and knowledge institutes,” said Albert van den Noort, PowerMatching City II’s Project Manager. “Changes are often achieved through means of open innovation in which players from different backgrounds and disciplines work together. PowerMatching City is a good example of this.”Read More

Alternative energy, Electric Vehicles, Electricity, Smart Grid

US Energy Init., Promethean Sign Biodiesel Deal

John Davis

us-energyprometheanAutomotive and hybrid fuel systems and technologies developer U.S. Energy Initiatives Corp. Inc. and California-based Promethean Biofuels signed a biodiesel production agreement that will bring Promethean’s facility to its maximum capacity starting in a couple of weeks. Biodiesel Magazine reports Promethean could produce 2.1 to 3 MMgy, and the two companies could split the revenues which could top $6 million a year:

“This is a significant milestone for USEI and it is an immediate entry into the fuel production arena,” said USEI CEO Anthony Miller. “This agreement provides us with significant revenue beginning next month. Promethean is a first class operation and has been operating profitably from the beginning. This relationship just allows the plant operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week well above current levels.”

Todd Hill, managing principal of Promethean, said, “Promethean is proud to partner with U.S. Energy Initiatives, to help meet California’s mandated requirement for biodiesel under the low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). In the next few months we will ramp up towards our nameplate capacity and generate significant capital. This venture is part of an ongoing and carefully coordinated plan that Promethean has planned throughout 2014.”

USEI says this is just one of many relationships it intends to create this year.

Biodiesel

Rise in Alt Fuels Prompts Training Network

Joanna Schroeder

Several of the top alternative fuel experts in the U.S. have joined forces to form the Alternative Fuel Training Network, launched this month on the website AFVtraining.net. With a rise in alternative fuel vehicles on the road coupled with a rise in biofuels and biofuel tankeralternative fuels at the pump, a need has been created for professional alternative fuel fleet training.

“For the first time, America is experiencing a meaningful shift in our energy supply,” said Greg Zilberfarb, a nationally recognized alternative fuels expert who led the formation of the consortium. “We’re on the cusp of a quantum leap as a nation, which creates a need for fleets to learn how to effectively implement alternative fuels such as hydrogen, natural gas, propane and biodiesel.”

The consortium makes training available for mechanics, drivers and station operators. It presents a unique opportunity for a fleet to find quality training on the primary alternative fuels in one place, at a reasonable cost. All trainers are nationally recognized experts in their fields.

“Our trainers are hand-picked professionals who are the best in the business,” Zilberfarb added.  “We come to your site at your convenience, and are dedicated to helping your fleet with this important transition at an affordable price.”

A list of trainers as well more information on the training program can be found here.

 

Alternative energy, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol

Rally Without a Cause

Joanna Schroeder

As the sun shines on Capitol Hill this week, motorcycles are rolling in to to participate in the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) “E15 Fuel for Thought Lobby Day” sponsored by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Associations (AFPM). While ethanol industry representatives has shown frustration, Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) couldn’t help but chuckle.

“This is a rally without a cause. E15 is not mandated for any vehicle and EPA has RFA-logo-13specifically prohibited its use in motorcycles and other small engines. E15 is a choice some consumers with 2001 and newer automobiles may and should be allowed to make to reduce gasoline costs or promote a cleaner environment. EPA has assured that E10 will still be available at all gas stations offering E15. E10 is fully approved by all motorcycle manufacturers today. Indeed, ethanol provides the high octane many motorcycles require. Where is the problem? Why do bikers want to eliminate consumer choice for automobile drivers fed up with skyrocketing gasoline prices?”

Dinneen continued, “I guess we should be flattered that AMA would dedicate Members of Congress’ and riders’ precious time to a fuel option they cannot use and is only available in a handful of gas stations nationwide. Hard to believe that E15 is a bigger concern than road safety and driver awareness of motorcycles. After all, the ethanol industry and the Environmental Protection Agency have worked diligently to address concerns previously raised by the AMA.

Growth_Energy_logo-1CEO of Growth Energy Tom Buis questioned the fact of the exercise. “The fact of the matter is that the EPA and stakeholders have taken the necessary steps to ensure proper labeling to prevent any possible misfueling. Today’s demonstration might as well be the AMA protesting the sale of diesel at gas stations.”Read More

ACE, biofuels, E15, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA

Kyocera Corporation Donates Solar Power

Joanna Schroeder

Kyocera donates solar power system1Kyocera Corporation has donated solar power generating systems to four secondary schools in Tanzania and three primary schools in Uganda. Donation ceremonies were held at the schools in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Bushenyi (Uganda) during which Kyocera executives shared hopes that the solar systems would improve the schools’ infrastructure and contribute to the students’ educational development.

In Tanzania, ceremonies were held at two representative schools in Kilimanjaro: Vumari Secondary School also attended by His Excellency Mr. Masaki Okada, Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania, and Mabilioni Secondary School. They were warmly welcomed with music and dances by the students, their parents and other people from the community. Donations in the last fiscal year also included Kirangare and Tae Secondary Schools.

In Uganda, ceremonies took place at all three schools in Bushenyi: Nyakarama Boarding Primary School, Ryakasinga Model Primary Boarding School, and Rweigaaga Day & Boarding Primary School, with the attendance of Mr. Yukihisa Nakano, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Uganda at the first two schools.

Kyocera donates solar power system2The installations are part of larger donation projects that have been ongoing since 2009, in which Kyocera has been providing solar power generating systems to schools in Tanzania and Uganda that have no access to the electricity grid. The five-year projects consist of 600-watt solar power generating systems for 35 schools in total, each with storage batteries as well as basic equipment such as lamps, TV sets and radios — lighting up the classrooms and diversifying learning activities for the students.

In addition, the solar systems are occasionally used as an electricity source for the people of the community to charge their mobile devices. With additional installations at seven schools in the last fiscal year, donations have already been made to a total of 28 schools, with seven more to follow by March 2014.

Electricity, Energy, International, Renewable Energy, Solar

ECC Renewables Awarded Gov Geothermal Contract

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center has awarded five contractors for the development of geothermal energy for a total $7 billion joint total. ECC Renewables LLC was one of the five companies awarded a contract.

Under the 10-year contract, ECC will compete for projects to develop, construct, finance, own, and operate geothermal energy projects on Department of Defense installations US Army Core of Engineers logolocated throughout the U.S. under long-term (20+ year) power purchase agreements using private sector financing. Geothermal technologies utilize the internal heat of the earth as a power source, including ground source heat pump systems and deep well geothermal systems.

“We see an increase in demands and Congressional mandates placed on Federal agencies and all branches of the U.S. military to implement renewable and alternative energy solutions for the future,” said Paul Sabharwal, ECC Chairman of the Board. “ECC is proud to utilize this contract to help the U.S. Army come one step closer to meeting those goals.”

Sabharwal continued, “ECC is ideally suited to pursue these types of contracts. We have the right mix of development, financing, engineering, and construction resources, capabilities, and experience, combined with the passion, leadership, and trusted partnering approach needed to succeed.”

This award marks the first of four renewable and alternative energy technologies being awarded this year under the $7 billion MATOC program.  Awards for solar, wind, and biomass technologies will be awarded through the end of 2013.

Geothermal, Renewable Energy

The Coal vs Clean Energy Show

Joanna Schroeder

The Sierra Club has released a new video series of short, animated sketches that highlight a different health or environmental impact from coal – “The Coal vs Clean Energy Show.” The videos are also accompanied by a web-based game featuring the same characters, which viewers can play as they try to wrack up the highest score. Additional videos in the series will be released in the coming months.

“Just like the coal character in The Coal vs Clean Energy Show, the coal industry continues to turn a blind eye to the dangerous health and environmental effects of mining and burning coal,” said Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “We hope this series helps to educate viewers on the dangers of coal and the benefits of clean energy, in a fun and engaging way.”

Clean Energy, Climate Change, Environment, Video

Genscape Monitoring Empowers Wind Generators

John Davis

Genscape LogoA company that monitors the output of power plants says its product can also help wind farms optimize their operations. Genscape’s technology of using electro-magnetic frequency monitors allows it to see how much power is flowing through power lines and from plants. The company’s managing director of power intelligence Chris Seiple says they then make that information available to traders and other market participants to give real-time transparency to what is going on within the power market. He says information like that can especially help wind power generation operations because of the wind power’s unpredictability.

“Wind variation, because it’s unpredictable, can have a very big influence on the volatility of the power market that day,” Chris says, adding that once a wind farm is built, the information really comes in handy for those farm owners optimizing their operation. Now, wind farm owners have to decide every day whether they will sell tomorrow’s power at today’s price, but not know the output, or wait until tomorrow and sell at tomorrow’s price, but not know what that price would be. Either choice involves risk, but Chris says their technology offers predictions of wind output levels and pricing. “That can be used to help wind producers make better decisions about how to schedule that power into the market.”

He says bringing more transparency into the market also helps consumers by making wind energy producers more efficient and able to pass that efficiency and reliability to the customer.

And he believes Genscape allows the whole energy sector, including renewables, work together better for the good of all.

“What we do in providing a lot more visibility in what’s happening in the market minute-to-minute and providing that transparency improves the reliability of the system.”

Listen to Joanna’s interview with Chris here: Chris Seiple, Genscape

Audio, Wind

Renewable Energy Roadmap for Central America

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new report, The Way Forward for Renewable Energy in Central America,  authored by the Worldwatch Institute, Central America is far from harvesting its enormous renewable energy resources to their fullest potential. The region is a worldwide leader in hydropower and geothermal and is developing wind energy, yet has room to expand.

Renewable Energy in Central America“Central America is at a crossroads,” said Alexander Ochs, Director of Climate and Energy at Worldwatch and co-author of the study. “As the economies of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama expand, regional use of fossil fuels is growing quickly while the use of traditional fuel wood, primarily for cooking, remains unsustainably high.”

Ochs continued, “These developments come with significant health, societal and economic costs, including rising greenhouse gas emissions and worsening air and water pollution. Central America has the potential to meet 100 percent of its electricity needs with sustainable renewable energy, but the proper policies and measures need to be put in place now.”

The report assesses the status of renewable energy technologies in Central America and analyzes the conditions for their advancement in the future. It identifies important knowledge and information gaps, evaluates key finance and policy barriers, and makes suggestions for how to overcome both. The study serves as a “roadmap of a roadmap,” scoping the improvements needed to facilitate the transition to a sustainable energy system and establishing the necessary methodology and groundwork for comprehensive regional and national energy strategies.

The reports focuses on four “high-impact” areas for transitioning Central America’s energy systems:Read More

Environment, Geothermal, Hydro, International, Renewable Energy

City of Santa Clara Adds Solar to Energy Mix

Joanna Schroeder

The City of Santa Clara is aiming to become more sustainable and has set a goal of installing 30 megawatts of customer-installed solar power by 2017. With a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) several projects included solar power including a new solar project at Henry Schmidt Park. Vista Solar, who managed the project, selected SunPower solar panels for the rooftop project.

gI_128741_DSC_9581 copyIn one week, Vista Solar finished the project on-time and on-budget. “Working with Vista Solar went really smoothly. We had great communication from Vista Solar, and we are really happy with our solar system,” said Mary Medeiros McEnroe, Public Benefit Program Manager for the City of Santa Clara.

Henry Schmidt Park’s lighting, internal electric baseboard heating, and other electrical appliances are now being powered by solar energy. The City of Santa Clara is turning to Vista Solar again for a 125 kW solar system at the Jenny Strand Solar Research and Development Park.

Electricity, Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar