Rural GA Economic Recovery & Solar Act Introduced

Joanna Schroeder

SolarCapitol9aeac5Georgia State Rep. Rusty Kidd (Independent – Milledgeville) has introduced the Rural Georgia Economic Recovery and Solar Resource Act of 2014, that if passed, would create greater access to solar and an economic opportunity for rural Georgia. According to Georgia Solar Utilities, the bill would bust the current monopoly on solar in Georgia and allow competitive bidding for construction of new solar projects by private companies, ensuring costs to drop and deliver real price-savings to customers.

What the bill does: 1) Provides a 100% voluntary solar program that would allow ratepayers to opt-in on their monthly bill. 2) Lowers power bills for customers who take advantage of the failing costs of Georgia-grown solar energy. 3) Opens the marketplace for competition in the solar industry, under the supervision of the Georgia Public Service Commission. 4) leverages private-sector investment to finance solar projects, not taxpayer subsidies. 5) Compensates utilities for grid access and other electricity transmission costs.

Georgia Solar Utilities is asking that solar supporters send a thank you note to the sponsors of the bill to help garner support. They are:

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Rusty Kidd: 404.656.0202
Co-Sponsors:

Electricity, Energy, Legislation, Solar

Burned Garbage Could Become Hydrogen Fuel

John Davis

IlyasResearchers at a Swedish university might have come up with a way to turn ash from burned garbage into hydrogen. Lund University reports a scientist there has a thesis that says the process could produce 20 billion litres of hydrogen gas a year, enough to power 11,000 homes.

“The ash can be used as a resource through recovery of hydrogen gas instead of being allowed to be released into the air as at present. Our ash deposits are like a goldmine”, said Aamir Ilyas, Doctor of Water Resources Engineering at Lund University and the developer of the technique. Refuse incineration is a widespread practice in Europe.

The technique involves placing the ash in an oxygen-free environment. The ash is dampened with water, whereupon it forms hydrogen gas. The gas is sucked up through pipes and stored in tanks.

It is the heavy, grit-like bottom ash that is used. In combustion, a lighter fly ash is also formed. The bottom ash remains in quarantine, in the open air, at the site for up to six months to prevent leaching of environmentally harmful metals and the risk of hydrogen gas being formed, since accumulation of hydrogen during indoor storage can result in explosion.

Ilyas adds this will keep a lot of ash out of landfills.

Hydrogen

Cal Energy Comm. Gives $5.5 Mil for Green Projects

John Davis

weisenmiller1Several projects ranging from biodiesel to electric vehicles to propane will be the benefactors of $5.5 million in California Energy Commission awards from the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program:

“These investments are moving the state forward toward a clean transportation sector,” said Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller. “Today’s awards will help to expand renewable biofuels, further the development of zero emission vehicles, and provide incentives to make alternative fuel vehicles more affordable. These projects protect the environment and public health, while keeping California in the lead in developing green transportation technologies.”

Buster Biofuels, LLC, based in the San Diego area, will receive $2,641,723 to convert a 7,300 square foot industrial warehouse building into a biodiesel manufacturing and fueling facility. The facility will create biodiesel from renewable waste-based materials such as used cooking oil from restaurants. The chemical process used separates the glycerin from fats or oils, leaving biodiesel and glycerin.

Motiv Power Systems, Inc., based in Foster City (San Mateo County), will receive $2,379,050 to establish a pilot production line capable of assembling 20 Motiv Electric Power Control Systems a month. Each system is comprised of electronic components that can be used with a variety of batteries and motors and installed on conventional medium- and heavy-duty chassis, modifying them into all-electric battery operated vehicles that have no tailpipe emissions.

The rest of the nearly $500,000 in awards will go toward purchasing propane vehicles.

Biodiesel, Electric Vehicles, Propane

American University Switching to More Biodiesel

John Davis

GWRCCC logo1Well, we might not like a lot of things coming out of the nation’s capital, but this one’s pretty good. American University in Washington, D.C. is switching to a 20 percent biodiesel blend for its campus shuttles. This article in Biodiesel Magazine says they’ll highlight the change during an April 2 event with the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition as part of the school’s epic Earth Month celebration:

Sponsored by the GWRCCC and the United Soybean Board, the biodiesel gathering will focus on biodiesel use in public and private fleets. The agenda features speakers from the USB and American University Fleet Management, and representatives from the National Biodiesel Board will be available to talk about biodiesel quality.

AUFM personnel will speak about the challenges and successes to implementation, and USB representatives will talk about and respond to the effective use of biodiesel in major fleet operations.

The event runs from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Quad in front of Mary Graydon Center at American University, and you can even catch a biodiesel shuttle from the metro station as well as getting a free lunch! Make your reservation to be at the event by March 29. Click here to RSVP.

Biodiesel, USB

Solar in Review 2012

Joanna Schroeder

GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has recently released the U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year-in-Review 2012. According to the reporScreen Shot 2013-03-26 at 12.28.27 PMt, solar is the fastest growing energy source in the U.S. The Solar Market Insight annual edition shows the U.S. installed 3,313 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV) in 2012, a record for the industry.

Even with the cost of solar falling for consumers, the market size of the U.S. solar industry grew 34 percent from $8.6 billion in 2011 to $11.5 billion in 2012—not counting billions of dollars in other economic benefits across states and communities. As of the end of 2012, there were 7,221 MW of PV and 546 MW of concentrating solar power (CSP) online in the U.S.– enough to power 1.2 million homes.

At the state level, 2012 was another year for breaking records. California became the first state to install over 1,000 MW in one year, with growth across all market segments. Arizona came in as the second largest market, led by large-scale utility installations, while New Jersey experienced growth in the state’s non-residential market. The top 10 largest state solar markets in 2012 were: 1. California – 1,033; 2. Arizona – 710; 3. New Jersey – 415; 4. Nevada – 198; 5. North Carolina – 132; 6. Massachusetts – 129; 7. Hawaii – 109; 8. Maryland – 74; 9. Texas – 64; 10. New York – 60 MW of PV installed during 2012.

Key Report Findings include:

  • PV installations grew 76% in 2012 to reach 3,313 MW
  • There are now more than 300,000 PV systems operating across the U.S.
  • The U.S. installed 11% of all global PV in 2012, the highest market share in at least fifteen years
  • Cumulative PV capacity operating in the U.S. as of the end of 2012 stood at 7,221 MW and cumulative operating concentrating solar stood at 546 MW
  • Twelve states installed over 50 MW of solar each in 2012, up from eight in 2011
  • Weighted average PV system prices fell 27% in 2012, reaching $5.04/W in the residential market, $4.27/W in the non-residential market, and $2.27/W in the utility market

There were over 90,000 solar installations in 2012, including 83,000 in the residential market alone. The non-residential segment, which includes commercial, governmental, and non-profit systems, installed more than 1,000 MW in 2012. Leading non-residential markets included California, New Jersey, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Engine Products Group Appeals E15 Partial Waiver

Joanna Schroeder

The Engine Products Group (EPG) is challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to grant partial waivers approving the sale of gasoline containing E15 (fifteen percent ethanol, eighty-five percent gasoline) for 2001 model year and new passenger cars and light trucks. The Court of Appeals dismissed the case in August 2012 for lack of jurisdiction.

Today, EPG has filed a petition for certiorari today asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the DC Circuit Court of Appeals’ August 2012 decision that none of the trade associations or parties had standing in the case. Members of the organization include the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance), The Association of Global Automakers, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

AAMLogo“OPEI, as part of the Engine Products Group, has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the DC Circuit Court of Appeals’ claim that we did not have standing to challenge the EPA on a partial waiver for E-15,” said Kris Kiser, President and CEO of Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. “This appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court reflects the seriousness of this issue for the outdoor power equipment and small engine industry.  We feel strongly that this challenge to the E-15 partial waiver needs to be considered on its merits, and not held back on a procedural issue.  We will push on to protect our consumers from the engine failure and product harm that comes from mis-fueling with E-15.”

The petition asks the Supreme Court to accept the case for review. If the Supreme Court accepts the case, the parties will then ask that court to reverse the Court of Appeal’s ruling and find the parties have the right to challenge EPA’s partial waiver decisions that allow sale of E15 for some passenger cars and light trucks but not older vehicles and not for use in motorcycles, boats and off road engines.

According to EPG, their concern is their customers. They say it is critical that consumers have a positive experience with renewable fuels, which are an important component of our national energy security. EPG concludes, that it is not in the longer term interest of consumers, the government, and all parties involved to discover, after the fact, that equipment or performance problems are occurring because a new fuel was rushed into the national marketplace.

E15, Equipment, Ethanol

Bioprocess Pilot Facility in Germany Attracts Attention

Joanna Schroeder

Bioprocess Pilot FacilityThe Bioprocess Pilot Facility B.V. (BPF), a scale-up plant located on the Biotech Campus Delft, is attracting the right kind of attention. The “first green Minister-President” Mr. Kretschmann, the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, one of the federal states of Germany, visited BPF’s facility to learn about their technology and contribution to the country’s bio-based economy. After his visit, Mr Kretschmann said that it is good that companies and knowledge institutions have the possibility to carry out scale-up research in a facility that is unique in its experience with this type of research.

The BPF performs scale-up research into the pre-treatment of biomass feedstock, fermentation, and purification. The facility’s objective is to show how to industrially make high-quality products like plastics from biomass. BPF says its scale-up research is an essential step towards the application of laboratory findings on an industrial scale.

Launched as an independent company mid-2012, the BPF will begin expanding its plant in May 2013. The extension will house additional equipment, mostly for the pre-treatment of biomass. During construction the fermentation and up-scaling facilities will operate as usual. The BPF is available to work with companies, universities and institutes that wish to explore the scaling-up of bio-processes. The BPF also offers its facilities to companies and knowledge institutes in Germany and other countries.

biomass, International

Sun Valley Solar Launches Homeowner Loan Program

Joanna Schroeder

solar-panels-on-arizona-homeSun Valley Solar Solutions is launching a new loan program for homeowners who would like to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Arizona. The program is in partnership with aleo solar, part of the Bosch Group. According to Sun Valley Solar, PV systems can generate up to 100% of a home’s yearly kilowatt hour electricity usage from solar panels, usually installed on rooftops and tied into the grid. With more than 300 days a year of sunshine in southern Arizona, solar power is a good renewable energy choice.

Homeowners who don’t have ample cash on hand have found it difficult to finance solar PV systems. However, solar leasing, with terms between 20-25 years have provided an affordable way for homeowners to go solar. In 2012, 81 percent of solar systems installed in Arizona were leased. During 2012, Sun Vally solar says, solar lease prices for quality panel brands slowly crept up, while “prepaid” leases (paying one lump sum after installation) have been completely eliminated or virtually priced out of financial viability. An alternative option to a lease for some may the 30 percent federal tax credit (which can be spread out over five years).

Sun Valley Solar Solutions is finding that homeowners can pay as little as $90 a month for a 5kW system. The price depends on the system size needed, the amount of sunlight the panels get (south facing is best), what utility company area a home is in, and how much if any of the loan is taken as same-as-cash.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

GRC Hosting Geothermal Workshop

Joanna Schroeder

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is holding a two-day geothermal workshop in Sacramento, California, on June 10-11, 2013. Titled “Resource Assessment and GRC WorkshopOptimization,” the workshop will provide practical information to anyone interested in geothermal energy, including developers, financiers, utilities, regulators, public-interest organizations, and members of the academic community.

The goal of the workshop is to educate attendees on how to assess the suitability of geothermal resources for development and expansion once initial exploration has been completed. Presentations will focus on insights to be gleaned from well testing, reservoir simulation, geochemistry, and ongoing resource monitoring. Experienced practitioners in these areas will discuss techniques, and several geothermal operators will present case studies illustrating how the techniques have been applied to their projects.

Speakers at the workshop will include Jim Lovekin, Minh Pham, Chris Klein, and Ethan Chabora, all of GeothermEx Inc. a Schlumberger Company; Paul Spielman of Ormat; and Magalay Flores and Helio Rodriguez of Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) of Mexico.

More information on the geothermal workshop can be found on the GRC website. Registration is now open. Seating is limited. After the short course on June 12 an optional field trip will visit The Geysers Geothermal Field including Calpine’s Geothermal Visitor’s Center, power plants and viewing some surface geothermal manifestations.

Alternative energy, Geothermal

Algae.Tec Using Shipping Containers to Grow Algae

John Davis

Algaetecbioreactor1When it comes to alternatives to some of the more conventional sources of oils for biofuels, many companies are looking to go green. And some, such as the folks at Algae.Tec, are looking to green shipping containers to grow a literal green feedstock.

“What we wanted was a significant bulk outcome, in other words fuels and possibly food, producing the algae for cents on the liter, where many of the pond solutions [cost] dollars per liter to make it work,” explains Roger Stroud, the Executive Chairman of the Australia-based company. He says Algae.Tec’s enclosed photo-bioreactor contained in 40-foot shipping containers is a way to produce the green pond scum for those pennies of what it costs in open-air ponds. And they’re looking at producing biodiesel, jet fuels, and even food sources from the algae grown. But Stroud says they are still working on the commercialization process with demonstration projects just south of Sydney, as well as research and development in Atlanta, Georgia. “We’re confident in the outcome.”

rogerstroud1So why is Stroud so confident their system will be successful? Well, besides the testing and work they’ve done, he’s Australian, and that means he’s used to having to do big things against sometimes great odds. “Although [Australia] is a large continent, we’ve got [a small population]. So, we tend to be on the outside looking in, where in the U.S., you tend to be on the inside looking out,” and Australians have to look more to the world economy. That’s why Algae.Tec has worked vigorously to network globally. Projects pending in Brazil and Texas, as well as one in New South Wales, point to that global reach. Plus, he’s encouraged by the Americans’ commitment to algae and biofuels. It all comes down to the Australian, and maybe the algae industry’s, way of making the best of the opportunity that comes your way.

“We’re focused on our task, and we believe we can achieve a profitable outcome, given time.”

Listen to Joanna’s interview with Roger here: Interview with Roger Stroud, Algae.Tec

algae, Audio, biofuels