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Date: 2013-05-01
EDF Renewable Energy celebrated the completion of the Spinning Spur Wind Project Wednesday with the launch of Spinning Spur II in Oldham County, Texas. Together, the 161MW projects will generate sufficient electricity for approximately 100,000 average Texas homes.
Spinning Spur, comprised of 70 Siemens 2.3MW turbines, began delivering carbon-free electricity for the benefit of Southwestern Public Service Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy, under the terms of a 15-year PPA in December 2012.
Spinning Spur II, which will utilize 87 General Electric (GE) wind turbines with a rated capacity of 1.85MW each, is slated to begin construction in June 2013. The electricity generated will be sold under a 10-year PPA.
Spinning Spur II will be EDF Renewable Energy's third project in Texas, eventually boosting the company's installed capacity in the state to 472 MW. (Source: EDF, Todays Energy Solutions, 27 April, 2013) Contact: EDF Renewable Energy, Tristan Grimbert, Pres., CEO, http://www.edf-re.com; Southwestern Public Service Company - Xcel Energy, www.xcelenergy.com
Tags Wind news,
Date: 2013-04-22
Citing weakness in the European economy and slumpding wind turbine sales, General Electric Co. has cut the profit growth estimate for its core industrial businesses and now expects industrial profit to rise by high single digits to double digits later this year. GE had previously forecast double-digit growth.
GE reported that it sold 584 wind turbines in the first quarter, down 15 percent from a year earlier, due in part to a delay in the renewal of a federal tax credit for buyers in renewable energy.(Source: GE, Arab News, 20 April, 2013) Contact: General Electric
, www.ge-energy.com/wind
Tags Wind news, Wind Turbine news,
Date: 2013-04-10
In a release, General Electric Co said it will provide capital and technology for the 250-MW Buffalo Dunes wind farm in Kansas being built by a unit of Italian renewable power company Enel Green Power SpA, GE said in a release on Monday. GE Energy Financial Services will invest up to $230 million for a 51 percent stake in the wind project which is expected to cost $370 million to build. GE will also supply 135 wind turbines and provide operations and maintenance for the wind farm after completion. The project is expected to generate enough electricity to power 65,000 homes.
Enel Green's North American unit will hold 49 percent stake in the project with the option to increase its position to 75 percent in 2013 or 2014, and will serve as project manager.
Alabama Power Co will buy most of power under the terms of a 20-year PPA. GE and Enel previously also invested together in other U.S. wind farms, including the 235-MW Chisholm View in Oklahoma, the 200-MW Prairie Rose in Minnesota, the 101-MW Smoky Hills in Kansas and the 63-MW Snyder in Texas.
RES Americas is managing the Buffalo Dunes construction, which is expected to be completed by December, GE said. (Source: GE, Economic Times, 8 April, 2013) Contact: GE Financial Services, www.geenergyfinancialservices.com; Enel Green, www.enelgreenpower.com/en-GB/ena
Tags Wind news, news,
Date: 2013-03-20
China's Longyuan Power Group and Thailand's Electricity Generating PCL are among the shortlisted contenders for a stake in the planned NSW, Australia, Boco Rock wind farm being developed by Continental Wind Partners and Adelaide, Australia-based Wind Prospect Group.
In October, 2012, the Wall Street Journal reported that Continental Wind Partners was seeking to sell a stake in Boco Rock, which will have up to 107 MW of installed generating capacity.
Bidders may acquire 50-100 per cent of Boco Rock, depending on whether General Electric's energy investment arm, GE Energy Financial Services, exercises its right to 50 per cent of the wind farm's equity.
The entire project would have an enterprise value of about $300 million. Final bids are due by the end of next month. (Source: Continental Wind, The Australian, 19 March, 2013) Contact: Continental Wind, [email protected],
www.continentalwind.com; Wind Prospect Group, +61 8 8384 7755, [email protected], www.windprospect.com
Tags Wind news,
Date: 2013-03-18
GE Lighting is introducing its ERS LED Scalable Street Lighting range of luminaires to the Middle East region to provide energy efficient roadway lighting. This GE Lighting LED system meets a wide range of applications and recently earned a Best-in-Class designation in the "Roadway Lighting" category in the 2012 Next Generation Luminaires (NGL) Solid-State Lighting Design Competition.
GE's effort is being sponsored by the U.S. DOE, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, and the International Association of Lighting Designers.
GE's ERS LED Scalable fixtures have a modular LED system ranging from 43 watt to 258 watt. Each wattage has 10 different optics for wide applications, with two different color Temperature options (CCT).
(Source: GE, AME 18 Mar., 2013) Contact: GE Lighting, www.gelighting.com
Tags General Electric news, Energy Efficient Light news, LED Light news,
Date: 2013-02-15
A group of European firms and organizations are urging EU policy-makers to support the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) which has sunk to record lows. A Parliament committee votes on Tuesday, February 19 on whether to remove some of a huge surplus of carbon allowances (CERs) from the EU ETS.
Opposition to the proposal has been led by heavy industry and EU member Poland, which is highly dependent on carbon-intensive coal and argues there is no case for intervention in the market. EU business body Business Europe also opposes the Commission's plan, which is designed to be an emergency fix and a prelude to deeper reform.
EU carbon allowances fell below €3 last month to their lowest yet. On Wednesday, they rallied to just above €5 as traders speculated that next week's vote would be positive.
EU ETS supporters include Royal Dutch Shell, EDF Energy, General Electric, Alstom, Germany's E.ON, consumer good supplier Unilever and Statoil.
(Source: Europolitics,, Feb. 13, 2013)
Tags EU ETS news, Carbon Credits news,
Date: 2013-02-11
GE recently installed its WindBOOST control software at Zorlu Enerji Group's Gokcedag Wind Farm in the city of Osmaniye, Turkey. GE expects WindBOOST to increase the 31 GE 2.5MW turbine wind farm's annual energy output by as much as 4 percent . GE says WindBOOST is an ideal product for growing regions such as Turkey where increased development is creating energy demand in short time periods. Rotor Elektrik A.S., a subsidiary of Zorlu Enerji, owns the Gokcedag Wind Farm.
Depending upon atmospheric and other conditions, WindBOOST enables GE 2.5 wind turbines to increase their power curve up to 2.75MW. WindBOOST is automatically activated to increase each individual turbine's production and can be operated remotely. (Source: General Electric, Today's Energy Solutions, 10 Feb., 2013) Contact: General Electric Wind, www.ge-energy.com/wind;
Zorlu Enerji Group, www.zorluenerji.com
Tags General Electric Wind news, WindBOOST news, Wind Turbine news, Turbine Efficiency news,
Date: 2013-01-23
GE is reporting this week that the company's Infrastructure division orders for Q4 of 2012 were $28.5 billion -- "up 2 percent and up 7 percent excluding the effects of a decrease in orders for wind turbines and foreign exchange." The company said its' wind turbine business suffered at the end of last year as orders fell in the face of uncertainty over the future of the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC).
GE CEO Jeff Immelt said the PTC extension should boost the aggregate of GE's wind orders over the next two years, but added that it was too early to say exactly how that would play out on a quarter-by-quarter basis.
(Source: GE, PR, 21 Jan., 2013) Contact: General Electric Wind, www.ge-energy.com/wind
Tags General Electric news, Wind Turbine news,
Date: 2013-01-11
In 2012, Invenergy LLC, Beech Ridge Wind Farm's parent company, announced plans to erect 33 wind turbines on Mead Westvaco-owned property just west of the company's existing 67-turbine wind farm installation. On Aug. 24, 2012, Beech Ridge Energy II LLC filed an application for a siting certificate with the West Virginia PSC, seeking approval to build and operate the expanded $115 million electric generating facility.
According to documents filed with the PSC, Invenergy and Beech Ridge II estimate that the expansion project will result in about 150 temporary construction jobs and a total annual tax revenue of $600,000 to Greenbrier County.
The Beech Ridge Wind Farm is located in Greenbrier County near Rupert, West Virginia. Invenergy owns the project and selected White Construction to provide the balance of plant (BOP) services. The site consists of 67 General Electric 1.5 MW wind turbines and now supplies 100.5 megawatts of clean renewable power.
Construction is scheduled to begin in July, 2013 for completion in Dec. 2013.
(Source: Invenergy, Register Herald, Jan. 7, 2013)
Contact: Invenergy, David Groberg, VP, Wind Development, (301) 610-6412, [email protected], www.invenergyllc.com
Tags Invenergy news, Beech Ridge Wind news, Wind news,
Date: 2013-01-02
According to the The Global Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage Market 2012-2016, the global molten salt thermal energy storage market will grow at a CAGR of 17.25 percent over the period 2012-2016. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increase in positive attributes of molten salt as well as an increase in R&D initiatives.
The Global Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage Market 2012-2016 report covers the Americas, and the APAC and EMEA regions. It also covers the global molten salt thermal energy storage market landscape and its growth prospects. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market including key vendors Abengoa Solar S.A., Areva S.A.S., General Electric (GE) Energy LLC., and Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne Inc. The other vendors include Siemens Energy Inc., Acciona Solar Power Inc., Applied Materials Inc., Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, BrightSource Energy Inc., Corning Inc., Directed Vapor Technologies International Inc., DuPont E.I., Hitachi Ltd, and SCHOTT AG.
TechNavio's research portfolio in the Clean Tech series includes reports on the EV market, wind turbine market, solar panel market, smart grid market, fuel cell market, photovoltaic inverter market, lead acid battery market, microgrid market, EV battery market, EV charging market, CNG vehicle market, e waste market, smart water meter market. (Source: TechNavio, researchMoz, Jan. 1, 2013)
Contact: TechNavio, (630) 530-7340, [email protected], www.technavio.com; ResearchMOZ, http://www.researchmoz.us/energy-market-reports-3.html,
[email protected], http://www.researchmoz.us/global-molten-salt-thermal-energy-storage-market-2012-2016-report.html. One free hour of analyst time is available to report purchasers.
Tags Energy Storage news, Thermal Energy Storage news, TechNavio news,
Date: 2012-12-21
In NOvember, GE celebrated its 20,000th wind turbine installation. The U.S. power generation giant entered into the wind sector in 2002 when it purchased the wind power assets from the then recently bankrupted Enron. "Ten years ago, we had 2,000 units across the globe; today we have over 20,000 units. It's [changed] from being a very small part of power generation installs over the last four years," said Matt Guyette, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer for GE Wind.
According to AWEA, the U.S. wind industry has added more than 35% of all new generating capacity over the past five years, second only to natural gas, and more than nuclear and coal combined.
U.S. wind generation increased 27% last year and the figure is likely to be high for 2012, as the first three quarters saw a record-breaking 4,728 MW installed.
(Source: General Electric Wind, GreenTech, Dec. 19, 2012) Contact: General Electric Wind, www.ge-energy.com/wind
Tags General Electric Wind news, Wind news,
Date: 2012-12-10
General Electric has teamed with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory to design a new kind of wind turbine. Individual wind turbines are not necessarily excessively expensive, but a large number of turbines requiring a major capital investment are necessary to generate a viable amount of electricity. With this in mind, GE has begun developing a new kind of wind turbine with fabric blades that significantly reduce turbine costs without negatively impacting electric power generation. GE estimates that the new blade design could help reduce the cost of wind turbines by as much as 40%. Affordable wind turbines could help boost the adoption of wind energy systems, especially in emerging markets around the world. The fabric blades are currently being tested for their viability in actual wind energy systems.
In other GE News --
a group comprising GE Energy Financial Services, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and Union Bank, N.A., has invested nearly $247 million in Chicago-based Wind Capital Group's recently commissioned 201MW, 134 wind turbine Post Rock wind farm. Wind Capital Group, supported by its parent company, NTR plc, maintains a substantial equity stake in the project and serves as managing member of the project which is located 80 miles outside Wichita, KS. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. (Source; GE, Todays Energy Solutions, 9 Dec ., 2012)
Contact: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, (504) 231-6000, www.vt.edu: General Electric, Victor Abate, Renewables VP, www.ge.com; Wind Capital Group, www.windcapitalgroup.com
Tags General Electric news, Wind news, Wind Capital Group news,
Date: 2012-12-03
In Pendelton, Oregon, Portland GE (PGE) is in its second year of testing the giant cane known as Arundo donax and other biomass sources as potential coal replacements at its Boardman Power Plant.
According to the utility's research and development director Wayne Lei, 18 different products have been charred and tested at Washington State University in a scaled-down apparatus. Six of the substances have warranted a longer look, including corn stover, wheat straw, poplar chips, special biomass sorghum and a methane digester fiber from cow manure left over from the digesting process. Researchers are testing whether the biomass has to be chipped, the percentage of liquid, solid and gas produced from the process as well as how much time is required and how much material can be charred at one time. Lei says Arundo donax will be the "anchor crop" for the power plant, but if other biomass proves usable they could reduce the giant cane acreage needed. The PGE plant would need about 8,000 tpd of biomass when fully operational. That volume would require 60,000-80,000 acres of irrigated land if only giant cane were used as fuel for the plant.
The fast-growing perennial giant cane plant has its drawbacks.
Some states, like California, have deemed the plant a noxious weed as it has a propensity to choke out native vegetation and take over waterways. (Source: Oregonian, Dec.2, 2012) Contact: PGE, Steve Corson, (503) 464-8444, www.portlandgeneral.com
Tags Portland General Electric news, Biomass -to-power news, Giant Cane news, Giant Grass news,
Date: 2012-11-28
General Electric Co.'s East Cleveland-headquartered lighting unit reports that it will acquire closely held Boulder, Colorado-based Albeo Technologies Inc., a maker of energy efficient light-emitting diode fixtures. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Over the past five years, Albeo raised approximately $12.8 million from investors that included Green Spark Ventures LLC, Braemer Energy Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank, Bisberg said. (Source: GE, Nov., 26, 2012) Contact: Albeo Technologies, (866) 825-5420, www.albeotech.com; GE Lighting, www.gelighting.com
Tags Albeo Technologies news, GE Lighting news, LED Light news,
Date: 2012-11-14
General Electric Company (GE) plans to invest over $100 million in two Kenyan wind power projects that will generate close to 150 MW of power beginning in 2013. The company is in negotiations with Kenya Power and Lighting Company on the issue of a PPAs and expects to break-ground on the projects in 2013. (Source: GE, All Africa, 12 Nov., 2012) Contact: The Kenya Power and Lighting Company, +254 20 3201000
Tags Kenya Power news, General Electric news, Wind news,
Date: 2012-11-02
Glasgow, Scotland-based Kennedy Renewables' GE turbine-powered Little Raith Wind Farm in Fife, Scotland, is slated to be fully operational this December. Little Raith is Kennedy's first wind project.
Nine advanced technology GE 2.75-megawatt (MW) wind turbines will power Little Raith, generating electricity to power 15,000 U.K. homes. The project marks the debut installation of GE's 2.75-MW platform in the UK and offers the flexibility in generator size and overall physical parameters required by permitting in the U.K. and Ireland.
Located 20 miles from Edinburgh, Little Raith will support the European Union target for the UK to produce 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Additionally, the county of Fife has set a goal of reducing its carbon emissions 25 percent by 2013.
(Source: GE, heraldonline.com, Oct. 30, 2012) Contact: GE, www.ge.com;
Kennedy Renewables, Brian Kennedy CEO, www.kennedyrenewables.co.uk
Tags Kennedy Renewables news, General Electric news, Wind Turbine news,
Date: 2012-10-17
In Ontario, General Electric is working with an extensive supplier network and its sister GE manufacturing plant in Peterborough to meet the requirements of the Green Energy Act. The Peterborough facility is currently ramping up to assemble the hubs of wind turbines to support projects in the province. GE is modeling its Ontario wind project plans on its execution of similar successful local content requirements in Brazil and Quebec, where it enabled quick supply chain ramp up through GE's local manufacturing and supplier presence. Eleven projects in Ontario will utilize GE turbines and by 2015 GE wind turbines in the region will deliver approximately 1,200 megawatts (MW) of wind energy in Ontario, enough to power 320,000 homes. This year GE also will complete delivery of 593 1.5-77s for eight projects in Quebec. This effort is part of 2004's milestone announcement by Hydro-Quebec, highlighting the largest single award for new wind generation capacity in the industry.
Canada's wind installed base is set to nearly double between 2011 and 2014, to an expected 10 gigawatts (GW) of capacity. Ontario will be 3.2 GW of that build out. Since 2008, wind and solar have accounted for 30 percent of energy capacity additions to the Ontario market and will comprise more than half of planned capacity additions from 2012-2016. By 2016, wind and solar are projected to account for 15 percent of Ontario's capacity mix, up from 5 percent in 2011. (Source: GE, Oct. 16, 2012) Contact: GE, Victor Abate, Renewables VP, www.ge.com
Tags General Electric Wind news,
Date: 2012-10-17
According to a just released report commissioned by not-for-profit CO2Sense, investing in CCS in Yorkshire and Humber (UK) will generate £1.3 billion for the area's economy and create 4,000 skilled-jobs. The report comes just weeks before the government is due to announce the winners of billion pounds worth of funding and finance measures (under the electricity market reform) for a national CCS Commercialization Programme co-funded by the European Union. Two major projects in Yorkshire and Humber have been shortlisted for the funding.
The report claims that Yorkshire and Humber is Europe's best strategic location to build a CCS cluster and that putting this funding into the region will increase the area's economic output by 0.8 percent per year, attract as much as £11 billion in foreign investment and a further 11,000 jobs. The investment would also help attract new industries to the area as well as boost existing industries such as power, steel, chemicals and cement which have been in decline since the 1960s.
The report was commissioned by on behalf of the Yorkshire and Humber CCS Cluster Steering group, comprised of National Grid, 2Co Energy, Drax, General Electric, Amec and Tata Steel.
The report also received support from a number of high-profile organizations including the IPPR North, CBI, TUC and Committee on Climate Change.(Source: CO2Sense, Insider Media, Oct. 15, 2012) Contact: Jan Phillips , CO2Sense, + 44 0113 237 8419, [email protected], www.co2sense.org.uk
Tags CO2Sense news, CCS news,
Date: 2012-10-03
Following on our Feb. 24, 2011 coverage, Google-backed power conversion technology, energy efficiency specialist Transphorm has raised $35 million in a financing round led by Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) -- a government/manufacturing partnership with a procurement budget of up to $25 billion annually -- and Nihon Inter Electronics Company (NIEC), which will help Transphorm manufacture its power devices.
Existing venture investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Foundation Capital, Google Ventures, Quantum Strategic Partners, Lux Capital and Bright Capital also participating. To date, Transphorm has raised $104 million.
INCJ is comsprised of the Japanese government and 27 major corporations, including Sharp, Sumitomo Electric, Toshiba and General Electric Company, Japan. INCJ has the capacity to invest up to ¥2 trillion (approximately ($25 billion).
The company says that in addition to its financial investment, Nihon Inter Electronics is now in a business alliance with Transphorm to mass-produce Transphorm's next-generation GaN (Gallium nitride) power devices. "The alliance will help bring the long-awaited practical realization, commercialization and mass production of state-of-the-art GaN power conversion solutions." (Source: Transphorn, Oct.2, 2012)
Contact: Umesh Mishra, CEO, Transphorm, (805) 967-6274, www.transphormusa.com
Tags Transphorm news, Energy Efficiency news,
Date: 2012-09-21
GE's Energy Storage business reports that it has received $63 million in new orders for its Durathon battery since the company launched the business earlier in July. Early in the launch , 10 new telecom customers in Asia, Africa, U.S and India purchased the new battery to power over 3,500 cell towers. (Source: GE Energy Storage, 20 Sept. 2012) Contact: GE Energy Storage, Prescott Logan, www.geenergystorage.com
Tags General Electric news, Durathon Battery news, Battery news,
Date: 2012-09-20
The Oregon Manoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) Applied Exergy has developed a new technology they call Thermal Approach to Grid Energy Storage (TAGES). By utilizing a new kind of micro-channel heat exchanger technology developed at Oregon State University, energy generated from renewable sources is used to cool water down into an icy slurry, in effect "storing" the energy in the ice. When the stored power is needed, waste heat from almost any source can be used to melt the mixture back into liquid form so it can flow through the turbine blades of a generator, producing electricity. The melted water is then returned into the tank to be re-frozen and used again. The unit is essentially an air-conditioner combined with a steam power plant, according to Chief engineer Kevin Harada. The plant's efficiency is based on temperature differences. The slurry works better than solid ice becuase it melts faster.
Applied Exergy secured a $150,000 grant from the Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center to build a demo model and over $500,000 in grants and private investments. Local utility company Portland General Electric is evaluating the technology for future use, and the company is seeking an additional $15 million in financing for its manufacturing and infrastructure plans.
According to the company, the TAGES system should cost less than $1,000 per kilowatt-hour of generating capacity to install. The units are built to be moveable and stackable, and easily integrate into current HVAC systems. (Source: ONAMI, Corvallis Gazette Times, 16 Sept., 2012) Contact: ONAMI/Exergy, (541) 713-1348, www.onami.us
Tags Energy Storage news, Ice Energy Storage news, Applied Exergy news,
Date: 2012-09-13
In Portland, Oregon, Earth Advantage Institute (EAI) a nonprofit sustainable building organization, has launched its Earth Advantage® Commercial (EAC) green building certification program. The new program is based on a model founded by EAI in the late 1990s. Prior to EAI becoming a nonprofit in 2005, the first EAC program was a subsidiary of Portland General Electric and was responsible for certifying over 50 buildings.
The updated program offers a rigorous green building certification that is accessible and cost effective for commercial buildings smaller than 100,000 square feet. Ninety five percent of all commercial buildings fall into this smaller category; however, green certification is often overlooked due to its perceived complexities and cost. EAC is a specific green building solution for this building type.
The program is based on three levels of certification: Platinum, Gold, and Silver. The measures are cumulative and prescriptive, allowing for a greatly simplified certification process, which EAI's pilot program found to be missing in the market segment.
Organization that employ graduated Project Trustees from the EAC training include: Ambient Architecture, Brightworks Sustainability Advisors, Chesshir Architecture, Green Hammer Design & Build, Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch, Pinnacle Architecture, Steele Associates Architect, and System Design Consultants. (Source: Earth Advantage Institute, RedOrbit, Sept. Sept. 12, 2012) Contact:
Earth Advantage Institute, (503) 968-7160,
www.earthadvantage.org
Tags Green Building news,
Date: 2012-09-05
GE has launched a new turbine, the 1.85-82.5, that is designed to make the most of strong and steady, but not turbulent winds conditions typical of the Brazilian coast. The new turbine -- named for its 1.85 megawatt capacity (MW) and 82.5 meter blades -- is being featured at the Brazil Windpower Conference in Rio de Janeiro, which runs through Friday.
More than 300 GE wind turbines are now installed in Brazil and last year, GE secured agreements to supply wind and gas turbines for projects that will produce 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of electricity.
GE's new turbine is designed to increase annual energy production by eight percent at 9 m/s, meaning that fewer wind turbines will generate the same amount of energy. This helps drive profits for wind developers, and helps keep wind energy economically viable. The new turbine has a higher nameplate, meaning it produces more electricity. Using the new model in Brazil means fewer turbines are needed on a wind farm.
Brazil has been ramping up wind installations and today is one of the world's most promising markets for onshore wind energy. By 2020, it is expected that Brazil's installed wind capacity will exceed 15 GW.
In 2011, half of all new wind power projects in Central and South America were in Brazil, and wind is the country's fastest growing source of new power generation.
Brazil also has a unique method to develop new energy projects. Called a reverse auction system, the government auctions off power projects to the developers that can do it for the lowest possible price.
(Source: GE, Aug. 30, 2012) Contact: GE, www.ge.com
Tags General Electric Wind Turbine news,
Date: 2012-08-27
GE and Gama Holding have completed its second wind farm project in Turkey. The 10 MW project Karadag Wind Farm in Izmir in the Aegeon region went online this month with four 2.5 MW turbines. Like many other countries, Turkey is trying to increase the share of sustainable renewable power in its energy mix and has set a goal of 30 percent for 2023. The developing nation's electricity demand grows at a rate of six percent per year, according to official estimates. GE is the biggest maker of wind turbines in the U.S. The company recently surpassed 2 GW of installed capacity worldwide. With six facilities and over 600 employees, GE today powers nearly 25 percent of Turkey's electricity needs.
In March, GE and Gama inaugurated the 22.5 MW Sares wind farm and together the operations will generate enough electricity to power 59,000 average Turkish homes and prevent 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year.
(Source: GE, Aug. 23, 2012)
Tags Gama Holding news, General Electric news, Wind news,
Date: 2012-08-22
Portland General Electric (PGE) has issued a request for qualifications to pre-qualify bidders for a request for proposals which the company plans to release in October. The RFP will seek a third-party provider to organize qualifying non-residential customers to temporarily reduce their use of electricity at the utility's call, supplying energy capacity to help PGE manage its load during periods of peak demand. Responses to the request for qualifications are due by September 14, 2012. Potential bidders who do not respond to the request for qualifications will not have an opportunity to participate in the RFP.
PGE said it wants to find new demand response options that will add flexibility and resilience to the company's system. Customer participation in PGE's demand response program will be entirely voluntary, and will involve only a few hours each year. Customers who participate in similar programs typically receive an incentive for reducing load, while the utility gains access to power at a lower cost than building a physical generation resource to meet peak load needs. Interested parties can register for notifications of postings and announcements by emailing [email protected]. This registration is for PGE's demand response RFP and should not be confused with other RFPs PGE currently has in development or underway for new generating resources.
PGE, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a fully integrated electric utility that serves approximately 828,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon. Visit our website at PortlandGeneral.com.
(Source: Portland General Electric, PR, Aug. 20, 2012) Contact>: PGE,
Steve Corson, (503) 464-8444,
www.portlandgeneral.com
Tags Portland General Electric news, Demand Response news,
Date: 2012-08-13
The following editorial appeared in the Aug. 12, Albany Times Union:
"Our opinion: There are choices to be made, statewide and nationally. Our collective goal should be a cleaner, less costly way to live. What better time than a sizzling hot summer, with so much political dialogue as ill-informed as ever, to cool down and tune in more reasoned voices. We need to have a serious conversation about energy.
Cleaner and renewable energy is what makes more and more economic sense. Nuclear power in particular is on the verge of obsolescence.
"So comes the word -- admittedly consistent with our own sentiments -- from Jeffrey Immelt of General Electric Co. 'It's really a gas and wind world today,' he says. What a different place New York would be under the scenario envisioned by the CEO of a company that used to be a major producer of nuclear power plants. Already the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is about to stop licensing new plants until the industry finds a safer way to dispose of nuclear waste.
"Think of the potential for jobs if energy policy takes such a sharp but sensible turn. GE's renewable energy headquarters are in Schenectady. Its Global Research Center in Niskayuna is where wind and solar technologies are being further refined.
"Suddenly, these are more than exotic quests. The price of solar panels is down 75 percent over the past three years. That's enough to make solar energy competitive with retail electricity prices in some countries.
"Wind energy, meanwhile, is the beneficiary of the steadily declining price of offshore turbines. New York needs what still would be the Great Lakes' first offshore wind farm. Or, better yet, one off the coast of Long Island. Wind energy is critical for the state to meet its goal of getting 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015. Whatever happened to plans for a turbine farm in Lake Erie or Lake Ontario shouldn't be the last such venture here. 'People don't really appreciate the extent to which the technology continues to improve,' says Bill Moore, CEO of Deepwater Wind, which developed the massive Tug Hill wind farm in upstate New York.
"The energy conversation we need would continue, of course, with an even greater emphasis on natural gas. All indications are that the Cuomo administration is about to approve natural gas hydraulic fracturing. Natural gas prices are so low that Mr. Immelt says the vast supplies that hydrofracking could put on the market might make such energy 'permanently cheap.' That puts his bullish outlook against the more cautious perspective of New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. 'A sustained gas glut could undermine new investments in wind, solar, nuclear and energy efficiency systems and thus keep us addicted to fossil fuels for decades,' Mr. Friedman warned on these pages last Sunday. 'We have to do this right,' he says of natural gas extraction, especially fracking.
"No energy technology is without its drawbacks. But hydrofracking raises especially urgent questions.
Why, for instance, is the Cuomo administration ready to allow fracking without a more vigilant effort to remove contaminated wastewater from well sites? Why wouldn't it impose taxes on the very companies so eager to drill for natural gas?
We await some answers -- along with more progress toward better alternatives like wind and solar. (Source: Times Union, Aug. 12, 2012)
Tags Renewable Energy news,
Date: 2012-08-06
In an effort to cut excessive energy usage, many homeowners have made the switch to more energy efficient light bulbs, such as CFLs. For many, however, CFL use is limited to areas that can withstand a bright direct light. Now, a new generation of GE Energy Smart and Reveal bulbs combines the savings of compact fluorescent light bulbs with the dimming capabilities of other lighting alternatives.
GE say's that although there are other dimmable CFLs on the market, the new GE offerings will do something competitors can't: GE's new CFLs dim down to five percent of light output -- most CFLs on the market today only dim down to 20 percent. By combining the efficient nature of the CFL with the dimmable technology of incandescent bulbs, consumers will enjoy energy savings from $44.00 -- $81.00 over the lifetime of the bulb.
The bulbs will be available in a variety of wattage options.
(Source: GE, August 3rd, 2012) Contact: GE, www.ge.com
Tags General Electric news, CFL Bulbs news,
Date: 2012-07-25
Following on yesterday's report, GE Reorganizes Energy Businesses, US industrial giant General Electric (GE) has reported net income of $3.1bn (£2bn) for Q2 of 2012, down from $3.7bn for the same quarter in 2011.
Despite a strong second quarter showing in most of its energy sectors, GE reported that its infrastructure orders were down by 1%, primarily driven by a 37% decrease in wind turbine orders. (Source: BBC, GE, July 24, 2012) Contact:GE, www.ge.com
Tags General Electric news, Wind Turbine news,
Date: 2012-07-24
In an effort to reduce layers and decrease costs, GE plans to reorganize its energy business into three separate businesses: GE Power & Water, GE Oil & Gas and GE Energy Management, all of which will report to company CEO Jeff Immelt. The spinoff will be effective in the fourth quarter of 2012 and will be phased out by the end of 2012. (Source: General Electric, EBR, July 23, 2012)
Tags General Electric news,
Date: 2012-07-20
Chicago-headquartered Invenergy Wind LLC recently reported the completion of construction and start-up of the first phase of its Bishop Hill Wind Energy facility in Galva, Illionis. This first phase of the 233-turbine, 200-megawatt project features 133 General Electric wind turbines that produce enough energy to power about 120,000 homes.
A second phase of the Bishop Hill project, the 81-megawatt Bishop Hill II wind project, was developed by Invenergy and acquired in March by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. Bishop Hill II is in construction in Henry County.
A third phase of the Bishop Hill project planned by Invenergy also is in development and would feature 83 turbines.
The nation's largest independent wind power generation company, Invenergy and its affiliated companies currently have 6,600-megawatts of wind, solar and thermal projects under contract, in construction, or in operation. (Source: Invenergy, Cambridge Chronicle, July 18, 2012) Contact: David Groberg, VP, Wind Development, Invenergy,(301) 610-6412, [email protected], www.invenergyllc.com
Tags Invenergy news,
Date: 2012-07-11
Commits additional $70MM investment to double capacity, adding 100 more jobs; Announces order for 6,000 breakthrough batteries GE reports that it will invest an additional $70 million to expand its Schenectady plant, effectively doubling production and adding 100 new jobs, which will bring the total factory workforce to 450 when at full capacity. The advanced manufacturing battery plant , which is part of the company's new Energy Storage business, produces GE's new Durathon battery products, which are half the size of conventional lead acid batteries but last ten times longer. The Durathon battery is the result of GE's $100 million initial investment in battery technology developed at the company's Global Research Center in nearby Niskayuna, NY.
The battery plant has received support from state and local government in New York, where GE has done business for 130 years. New York State committed $15 million when the new plant was announced in May 2009, and $5 million was committed by Schenectady County's Metroplex Development Authority.
South African engineering firm Megatron Federal has signed a purchase agreement for 6,000 Durathon batteries, which will be delivered in 2013. These batteries will ensure the continuous operation of telecom installations in Nigeria, and enable the customer to lower fuel consumption and emissions of the diesel generator powered telecom towers by up to 50 percent.
(Source: GE, July 10, 2012) Contact:
GE Corporate,
Leigh Farris, (203) 551-1863,
[email protected], www.ge.com,
or,
GE Global Research,
Todd Alhart, (518) 338-5880,
[email protected]
Tags General Electric news, Advanced Battery news,
Date: 2012-07-09
GE will purchase 5 million gpy of biofuels, beginning January 2015, for use at the company's Cincinnati-area jet engine testing facilities. Ohio biofuels advocates are hoping that GE's appetite, albeit initially small, will encourage biofuels investments and related jobs growth in the Buckeye State.
The University of Dayton is among area research organizations trying to improve harvesting of oils for biofuels and the
Ohio Aerospace Institute is working with state government, federal agencies, commercial airlines, universities and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation to organize a cooperative effort to produce and sell Ohio biofuels.
(Source: Dayton Daily News, GE, July 8, 2012)
Tags General Electric news, Aviation Biofuel news,
Date: 2012-07-05
GE reports that Swedish energy developer Triventus Wind Power AB will use GE's proven wind turbine technology to power a new 27.5-megawatt (MW) wind farm project being built near Falkenberg on Sweden's west coast. GE will supply Triventus with 10 of its 2.75-103 wind turbines. When it begins operating, the wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 7,500 houses in Sweden. Like other Swedish wind farms, the Triventus project will be supported through the country's Green Certificate Support system.
The wind turbines are slated to be delivered to the project site during the first and second quarters of 2013. The wind farm is scheduled to begin commercial service in the second quarter of 2013. GE Energy also will provide maintenance support to the units under a five-year service agreement. (Source: GE, 2 July, 2012)
Contact:GE, www.ge.com; Triventus Wind Power AG, www.triventus.com
Tags General Electric Wind Turbine news,
Date: 2012-06-15
GE Global Research is partnering with Ithaca, N.Y.-based International Climbing Machines (ICM) to advance technology that will make wind turbine inspections faster and more reliable. The partners are using a remote-controlled, robotic device that can scale the wind tower with a wireless, high-definition video camera attached to its back to obtain a more accurate picture of the overall health of the wind turbine blades. From the safety of the ground, an inspector would have a real-time, view of the blades from less than 10 meters (33') away, allowing for a more thorough examination and evaluation of their condition.
According to Waseem Faidi, Manager of the Nondestructive Evaluation Lab at GE Global Research, "the inspection technology platform GE is developing with ICM provides a closer view of the turbine blade to detect repair and service needs. And, in the future, GE researchers are working on technology that will allow inspectors to see through the blade materials and identify potential issues well in advance of any service needs. This all will mean faster diagnosis and repair -- minimizing the risk of failure or forced down-time of the turbine."
This new technology was recently tested at a wind farm in Texas with positive results.
GE scientists are also developing a microwave scanner that could be fitted onto the robotic vehicle, enabling an even better view of the wind blades. The use of microwaves would allow inspectors to see through the blade material giving an even earlier indication of structura; breakdowns. At GE's India Technology Center, scientists are also testing the use of small, helicopter-like vehicles that would provide for a similar view. (Source: GE, PR, June 13, 2012)
Contact: GE Global Research, www.ge.com/research
Tags General Electric Wind news, GE Global Research news,
Date: 2012-05-31
Renewable gasoline developer Cool Planet Energy Systems has appointed Howard Janzen as president and CEO and Michael Bukowski as vice president of Fuel Production. Cool Planet is developing technology to convert cellulosic biomass, including agricultural waste and fast growing energy crops, into sustainable gasoline.
Cool Planet plans to produce refinery equipment for the conversion of biomass to liquid fuels and its Cool Planet Biofuels division will partner with a wide range of commercial interests to operate these mini-refineries around the world.
Cool Planet's investors include General Electric, Google, BP, Conoco Phillips, NRG and the constellation energy division of Exelon as well as venture capitalists North Bridge Venture Partners and Shea Ventures.
(SOURCE: Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc, PR, May 30, 2012) Contact: Mike Rocke, VP, Business Development, Coo lPlanet Biofuels, (805) 484-2537, [email protected], www.coolplanetbiofuels.com
Tags Cool Planet Biofuels news,
Date: 2012-05-22
Cleveland-headquartered power and control systems giant Eaton Corp. is reporting that it will acquire Cooper Power Systems, a powerhouse in electric grid gear, catapulting the 90-year-old Eaton into a new class of smart grid competition. Terms of the transaction announced Monday set a value of $72 per share of Cooper stock in cash and shares in the new company, for an equity value of $11.8 billion. Eaton has secured a $6.75 billion bridge financing commitment from Morgan Stanley and Citibank to finance the cash portion of the acquisition. The combined companies had a collective $21.5 billion in 2011 revenues, according to Monday's statement. GTM Research analyst Ben Kellison estimates the combined companies will rank sixth in smart grid-related revenues amongst grid and power giants like Siemens, Schneider Electric, General Electric, Alstom and ABB/Ventyx.
The deal, set to close in the second half of 2012, will create a company headquartered in Ireland and tentatively titled Eaton Global Corporation Plc, or a variant thereof.
Eaton reported 2011 sales of $16 billion globally, and its portfolio includes data center and building controls, vehicle drivetrains, power distribution and control gear and hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use. It's a major player in plug-in vehicle charging, where it faces a familiar set of competitors like Siemens, Schneider, GE and ABB (Source: Eaton PR,. May 21, 2012) Contact: Eaton Corp., Mark Horner, (412) 893-3590, [email protected], www.eaton.com; Contact: Mike Stoessl, President, Cooper Power Systems, (713) 209-8400, www.cooperindustries.com
Tags Eaton Corp. news, Cooper Power Systems news,
Date: 2012-05-16
GE has unveiled a new co-digestion biogas power project under the name Synergy Biogas in NewYork, US. The plant built, owned and operated by CH4 Biogas is located at the Synergy Dairy, a 2,000-head dairy farm southwest of Rochester. Synergy Biogas plant is specifically designed for the co-digestion, or processing, of animal and food wastes. The biogas created in the 120,000-gallon co-digester is fueling a General Electric biogas engine to generate 1.4MW of renewable electricity.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is providing $1 million in incentives for the facility which will produce an estimated 17,500 cubic yards of bedding material for livestock while reducing manure odors. The project is expected to reduce the dairy farm's greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 8,500 tons of CO2 annually.
Under its renewable energy marketing program, National Grid utility will purchase the electricity generated by the biogas plant. (Source: GE, 12 May, 2012) Contact: NYSERDA, Francis J. Murray Jr, President/CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.org; General Electric, www.ge.com
Tags Methane news, NYSERDA news,
Date: 2012-05-08
GE is redefining the concept of green, sustainable design with its new 3,800 sq.-ft. office in Sowwah Square, the commercial business district development and a central component of Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality's flagship development, Al-Maryah Island. The new GE office uses recycled, renewable and sustainable materials in its design, apart from the company's ecomagination-certified products. The new GE office features an innovative architecture and integrates sustainable design leading to LEED Environmental Pre-certification, a rating that reflects the environment-friendliness of the development. The office has been designed by AK Design, a multi-disciplinary architectural and interior design firm, with a focus on openness and transparency. (Source: GE, 8 May, 2012)
Tags General Electric news,
Date: 2012-05-08
GE's new software PulsePOINT Advanced Monitoring System and Diagnostic Services installed in wind turbines uses GE-proprietary anomaly detection algorithms in conjunction with SCADA data and GE Bentley Nevada condition monitoring equipment to help identify problems with turbines before any damage leads to downtime or a major failure. The data is collected 24/7 through hundreds of sensors. PulsePOINT uses the data to identify potential problems and plots a course of corrective action.
PulsePOINT, the culmination of years of research and development and more than $3 million in investments, is currently operating on data from over 12,000 GE turbines worldwide. (Source: GE, Green Chip Stocks, April 30, 2012) Contact: GE, www.ge.com
Tags General Electric Wind Turbine news,
Date: 2012-04-30
Chile's largest landfill is expanding its bioenergy capacity, adding six 1.4 MW GE Jenbacher engines to the existing seven. The 8.4 MW expansion will bring the total power generation to 18 MW, enough for about 75,000 homes. The expansion should be ready for operation between 2012 and 2014, according to GE.
In addition to the Loma Los Colorados Landfill project, GE will supply three of its 2.7 MW ecomagination-approved J620 Jenbacher biogas engines as part of Chilean water utility Aguas Andinas' wastewater treatment plant expansion and renewable energy project near the capital city of Santiago. The engines will be fueled by methane-rich biogas created by the digestion of sewage sludge collected at the treatment plant. (Source: GE, Biomass Power & Thermal, April, 26,2012) Contact: Prady Iyyanki, CEO, Jenbacher , GE Power & Water, www.ge.com
Tags General Electric news, Jenbacher Engine news,
Date: 2012-04-05
One Stop Green, LLC is partnering withGeneral Electric to offer EV charging stations and integrated carports. One Stop Green will offer wall mounted WattStations, some of the most affordable personal EV chargers on the market, as well as the DuraStation, a hardier, yet sleek EV charger made for commercial use. The WattStation can be hardwired directly to the home or be plugged in, allowing the owner to take the EV charger when they move out of the home. .
One Stop Green already promotes solutions within the solar, wind, water, lighting, green building and green living sectors of the green market and now with the addition of EV charging stations will support the green commercial and personal transportation infrastructure.
(Source: One Stop Green, LLC, April, 4, 2012)
Contact: Nathan Kaufman, One Stop Green, LLC, (713) 541-2739,
www.OneStopGreen.com
Tags One Stop Green news,
Date: 2012-04-04
Fairfield, Ct.-based General Electric Co. (GE), the largest U.S. turbine maker, will pay about $191 million for 51 percent of a wind farm under construction in northern Oklahoma that will cost about $375 million. The 235-megawatt Chisholm View project is about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City and will use 140 of GE's 1.6-megawatt turbines.
The project will sell power to Southern Co.'s Alabama Power utility under a 20-year PPA. Enel SpA's North American unit will own the remaining 49 percent.
Chisholm View is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will be eligible for the production tax credit, which provides 2.2 cents a kilowatt-hour for power produced by wind. The credit will expire Dec. 31.
GE Energy Financial Services, an investment unit of the company, has invested in wind farms in five countries, with 9.6 gigawatts of capacity, according to the statement. (Source: GE, April, 2, 2012) Contact: General Electric Energy, www.ge.com
Tags General Electric Energy news, Wind M&A news,
Date: 2012-03-29
Siemens announced today the signing of two major contracts with Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) that will improve the power infrastructure in and around Doha, and enable the monitoring and optimization of energy consumption in the capital.
Under the first contract, worth $188 million, Siemens will supply equipment for Phase 10 of the Qatar Power Transmission System Expansion project that will ensure uninterrupted power supplies to households, business centers, shopping malls, hospitals and schools throughout Doha. The equipment includes gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), power and earthing transformers, shunt reactors, protection relays, relay protection panels and substation control systems for substations located in and around the capital.
The Phase 10 project will be broken down into two stages, with Stage 1 consisting of six 66/11KV turnkey substations and Stage 2 comprising seven 132/66/11KV turnkey substations. Both stages are set to be completed over two years. (Source: Siemens, March 28, 2012) Contact: Kahramaa, www.km.com.qa
Date: 2012-03-28
World Health Energy Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: WHEN), a public holding company developing JV partnerships for algae production for biodiesel, is reporting progress with its Letter of Intent with Prime Inc., an Indian industrial and transport Company, to develop a $100 million biodiesel production facility. WHEN provided Prime, Inc. with samples of its Spirulina algae which were tested by independent labs selected by Prime, Inc. As a result of these tests, Prime, Inc. India decided to add a Spirulina Algae project to its original Memorandum of Understanding.
The proposed sites for algae biofuel development are in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India and will utilize an Algae Enhancement Technology, known as the GB3000 system, used for growing algae for the production of biofuel and other products. Prime Inc. India's current clients include Exxon, Shell, General Electric (GE) and Siemens.
World Health Energy Holdings, Inc. recently acquired GNE-India, an algae technology company with the distribution and licensing rights to a unique and innovative technology, the GNE GB 3000 system, to grow algae quickly and efficiently for the production of biodiesel and commercial fish food protein. GNE-India owns and retains the territorial rights for distribution and sales of the proprietary technology to both India and Sri Lanka. The company has exclusive distribution and licensing rights to the GNE GB 3000 system in India and Croatia. Earlier this year, the GB 3000 system was used to grow a combination of local algae species, as well as Chlorella, targeting the product to the fish feed and biodiesel markets. (Source: World Health Energy, March 26, 2012) Contact: World Health Energy, David Lieberman, CEO, World (212) 444-1019, www.worldhealthenergy.com
Tags Algae Biodiesel news, World Health Energy Holdings news,
Date: 2012-03-27
The Australian government is "gutsy" to follow through on its pledge to introduce a carbon tax, the world's top industrial conglomerate says. General Electric vice chairman John Rice said the $23 a tonne tax applying from July 1 would prompt the company to allocate more resources to carbon-reducing technologies. Mr Rice said GE, which made the nuclear power plant reactors at Fukushima and was heavily involved in renewable energy, had long believed in a trading mechanism to reduce carbon emissions and encourage the development of new technologies.
It was courageous for the Australian government to move before the rest of the world in introducing a price on carbon emissions, he said. "I applaud the Australian government for having the courage to go through with it because I think over the long run, the world is going to be better served if there is a cost associated with the production of carbon," Rice told ABC Television on Sunday. "It takes gutsy politicians and so we applaud the Australian government, the prime minister for following through.
Rice also said the US economy appeared to be out of the woods for the time being.
"The US economy is very resilient," he said. (Source: GE, March, 25, 2012)
Tags Australia Carbon Tax news,
Date: 2012-03-21
India's renewable energy ministry is seeking to extend a tax break for wind farms in the world's third-largest market for turbines, said two government officials with direct knowledge of the matter. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has applied for approval from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Cabinet to extend the incentive known as accelerated depreciation, which is set to expire on March 31, 2012. The tax break may benefit Suzlon Energy Ltd., India's largest wind-turbine maker, as the company is more dependent than other suppliers on customers who claim accelerated depreciation, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. If the incentive lapses, demand for turbines in India could slump by 15 percent in the financial year starting April, according to the London-based researcher.
About 90 percent of wind projects built before 2009 claimed accelerated depreciation, and the incentive still drives about 25 percent of yearly installations, according to Mumbai-based Ambit Capital Pvt.
India installed some $3 billion of turbines from manufacturers including Vestas Wind Systems A/S, General Electric Co., and Gamesa Corp. Tecnologica SA last year, according to the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers' Association. The two biggest suppliers, Suzlon and Enercon India Ltd., along with Leitner Shriram Manufacturing Ltd. are the most dependent on accelerated-depreciation customers. (Source: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, March 19, 2012)
Date: 2012-03-09
From the company that brought you the first full line of smart grid-enabled appliances, GE is now launching additions and enhancements to its innovative suite of Brillion™ home energy solutions and laying the foundation for an energy-saving "connected home."
Whole-Home Sensor: The new Whole-Home Sensor, an integral part of home-energy solutions, is being used in several utility test pilots, including test homes in Warner Robins, Ga., as part of Flint Energies' recently announced pilot project. It will be available broadly in the second quarter of this year. The sensor sends consumption data from large 240-volt applications, such as a panel box or pool pump, to the home's Nucleus™ energy manager, which then communicates that data to a consumer's existing smartphones or personal computers -- helping them make smarter energy choices. Knowledge of whole-home energy consumption provides consumers with insights into their electricity costs before the bill arrives; offers them feedback on electricity-intensive activities, such as water heating; and allows them to quantify the benefits of their personal energy-efficiency efforts.
Smart-Plug Controls: On a more granular level, GE is also adding Brillion-enabled Smart Plugs, which act as sensors for electronics and non-smart devices that plug into standard 120-volt outlets. These sensor plugs communicate with the Nucleus energy manager, enabling consumers to track electrical usage by the outlet for most 120-volt appliances and devices. These sensors turn any standard 120-volt consumer good into a 'smart home' capable device. The sensors can be moved from device to device, enabling the consumer to perform an audit of their electrical appliances and electronics or to monitor them continuously for ongoing feedback -- providing critical insights to help consumers reduce energy consumption.
More Connected Communications Features: GE's Brillion-enabled thermostats help consumers adjust heating and cooling schedules from their Nucleus software interface and alter household temperatures and operating modes remotely from their iPhone.
GE's new GeoSpring™ hybrid water heater has connected capabilities and features that will allow consumers to more easily and more efficiently provide hot water to their families. Other Brillion-enabled appliances will undergo similar communication enhancements over the coming months. (Source: GE, March 6, 2012)
Tags General Electric news,
Date: 2012-02-06
A new Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) pilot program is starting with two wind energy operates will add flexibility to the Northwest electric grid and enable better accommodation of variable renewable energy sources. Portland General Electric and Snohomish PUD have both agreed to provide twice-an-hour scheduling of wind energy transmission through BPA's system, increased from the once-an-hour schedule they've operated the system with for more than a century. As a result BPA will be able to better manage its reserves, mostly in the form of water it uses to generate hydropower. It should also ultimately result in lower costs for BPA and lower prices for customers.
PGE and Snohomish PUD have also agreed to provide wind energy data every half hour in exchange for a 34 percent reduction in the rate BPA charges them for load-balancing services. PGE operates 450 megawatts of wind on the BPA grid, while the PUD has 97 megawatts. The program will allow BPA to reduce by 23 megawatts the balancing reserves it holds in case wind facilities generate less energy than scheduled and 34 megawatts of reserves it holds in case wind plants produce more energy than scheduled. BPA will accept other wind energy operators into the two-year pilot program up to a total of 1,200 megawatts of of wind power. While wind energy operators have been doing intra-hour scheduling on a voluntary basis, the pilot program will make the stepped-up schedule a requirement, making it something that BPA can bank on.
BPA manages 75 percent of the Pacific Northwest's high-voltage electric transmission system and has been working to keep up with the abundance of new wind power coming online in recent years. (Source: BPA, February 2, 2012) Contact: BPA, (503) 230-3000, www.bpa.gov; Snohomish PUD, (360) 563-2200, www.snopud.com; Portland GE, Steve Corson, (503) 464-8444, [email protected], www.pgn.com
Tags BPA news, Portland General Electric news, Snohomish PUD news,
Date: 2012-01-20
GE announced the availability of its new SGM3000, a family of IEC smart energy meters designed specifically for utilities facing growing energy demands. GE's new IEC smart meter will lay the foundation to help Australia and the Middle East overcome 21st century energy challenges, building a more efficient, sustainable and reliable electric grid. Key features of GE's new family of meters include:
Tags General Electric news, Smart Meter news,
Date: 2012-01-03
Camarillo, California-based Cool Planet BioFuels Inc. reports that BP Technology Ventures has invested in Cool Planet Biofuels Ltd's C Round funding with follow-on investments by the company's current investors, General Electric, Google Ventures, ConocoPhillips, NRG and North Bridge Venture Partners. Cool Planet is developing bio-based gasoline that it says is chemically indistinguishable from crude-oil-derived product and can only be detected by radiocarbon isotope analysis.
In addition to BP and ConocoPhillips, several other energy companies are in the process of testing and evaluating Cool Planet's fuel. The company says it completed its B Round financing in spring 2011 and has pulled in its C Round, led by Shea Ventures, a year ahead of schedule in order to accelerate the development of its modular fuel production plants. Cool Planet also expects to announce additional energy company strategic relationships throughout 2012. (Source: Cool Planet BioFuels) Contact: Mike Rocke, VP, Business Development, Cool Planet Biofuels, [email protected], www.coolplanetbiofuels.com
Tags Cool Planet Biofuels news, BP Technology Ventures news,