Tuesday, June 3, 2008 |
Editor: C.V. Clute editor@epoverviews.com Aempfast promotes better grid management to harness Renewable Energy (New Prod. & Tech) Optimal Technologies has released a new software package that the company says will eliminate "traffic jams" on the power grids used by electrical utilities, allowing them to make better use of resources. Roland Schoettle, Optimal's CEO, says that the Aempfast analytical software will give utilities a deep understanding of their network, and that could prevent power outages and help companies do more with less.
"We [actually] have a glut of generation in the U.S.," says Schoettle. "The problem is that the network can't get the generation to the right loads. It gets stuck in congestion in the network." For example, Aempfast could give power companies the information they need to use wind farms most effectively given expected weather patterns, or how to best manage resources when one substation is down. Early testers of the application have included Southern California Edison, and PG&E have reported favorable results. (Source: CNET Green Tech, May 20, 2008). Solar Technology breakthrough from Australia (Int'l - R&D) Professor Max Lu from the University of Queensland, Australia, says they have been able to grow titanium oxide crystals which could be used in solar power cells, water purification and recycling devices. He says the material is cheap, easy to produce and will make solar energy more cost-effective. "The promise of such a crystal will, because it's such a high-reactivity surface that we're creating, enable the boosting of efficiency in terms of solar energy conversion to electricity," Lu said. This would be a breakthrough in renewable energy technology according to Lu. (Source: ABC, May 29, '08)
$4,200,000 US Floating Solar Power for Calif. winery (New Prod. & Tech.) The Far Niente winery in Oakville has unveiled a $4,200,000 US floating, 477 kw photovoltaic array in an irrigation pond which provides 100 % of the winery's power needs. The system was designed and installed by SPG Solar of Novato, using "Floatovoltaic" technology developed by Thompson Technology Industries Inc. The installation consisted of solar panels - each measuring 3 by 5 feet and producing 208 watts - mounted on foam-filled pontoons made of plastic and ribbed drain pipe commonly used in the vineyard. The floating solar installation avoided sacrificing vineyard acreage or grape production. The project received almost $2,000,000 US in rebates from PG&E, as well as a federal tax credit. (Source: San Francisco Chronicle, May 29 '08)
Vestas receives order from Eolia Renovables (Int'l - G&C) Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has received an order for a total of 37 units of its V90-2MW turbine from Eolia Renovables's Les Rotes y Monclues wind energy project in Spain. The contract includes the supply, installation, a VestasOnline Business supervisory control and data acquisition solution as well as a five-year service agreement. The project will be located in the Spanish province of Lerida in the Catalan Pyrenees. Delivery of the wind turbines will begin in '09. Eolia Renovables has 154 shareholders, including independent wind farm developers, financial institutions and private investors that have contributed their shareholdings in 24 companies which in turn own 43 renewable energy projects with a portfolio of 1,171 MW of wind energy and 64 MW of photovoltaic solar power. Eolia Renovables is part of N+1 Eolia SGER. (Source: Red Orbit, June 2, '08)
Construction begins on 650 MW Wind project in Indiana (Ind. Report) BP Alternative Energy and its project partner, Dominion Resources, have commenced construction work at the Fowler Ridge wind farm in Benton County, Indiana. Located about 90 miles northwest of Indianapolis, the project will be built in multiple phases. The first phase will utilize 222 wind turbines, including 182 Vestas V-82 1.65 MW turbines and 40 Clipper C-96 2.5 MW turbines, to produce 400 MW of power by the end of '08. Dominion and BP are partners for 650 MW of the 750 MW site, with BP retaining sole ownership of the remaining 100 MW. The second phase is expected to generate an additional 350 MW, bringing the total project output to 750 MW. Construction of the second phase is expected to begin as early as '09. Previous details of the project were included in our Jan. 28, '08 issue. (Source: Red Orbit, June 2, '08)
Forest Slash studied for Biomass power in Washington (Ind. Report) Avista, Vaagen Bros. and the Washington Department of Natural Resources are exploring the potential of using forest "slash" as a source of biomass power. A national slowdown in the housing market has led to a reduction in the supplies of sawdust, chips and bark for Avita's Kettle Falls biomass facility in Washington. Avista is looking to determine whether it can produce electricity from slash for less than the price of electricity on the open market. In the Northwest, a kilowatt of electricity sells for 6 to 8 cents on the open market, said Hugh Imhof, Avista spokesman. With some experimentation, Russ Vaagen said he's confident that slash piles can contribute to green energy. (Source: Spokesman Review, May 24, '08)
Seven companies vie for Rhode Island offshore Wind project (Ind. Report) Further to an item in our May 5, '08 issue that identified a call for proposals from the Rhode Island Department of Administration, seven developers have submitted proposals to build a $1.9 billion US wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island. The project is expected to supply up to 15 % of the state's electricity needs. The companies which submitted bids were Allco Renewable Energy Group Limited LLC, New York, N.Y.; Bluewater Wind LLC, Providence, R.I.; Dep Water Wind Rhode Island LLC, Hoboken, N.J.; DKRW Wind LLC, Houston, Tex.; Fishermen's Energy of Rhode Island, Bristol, R.I.; Great Eastern Wind LLC, Providence, R.I; and WindPowerpro.us, Woodbridge, N.J. A final decision on the successful bidder is expected by the end of the summer. (Source: Energy Current, June 2, '08)
Other publications from ep Overviews include: Bioenergy and Biofuels reports on Ethanol, Cellulosic Ethanol, Biomass and Biodiesel Developments and Opportunities.
Clean Transportation covering Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, Hydrogen and Clean Transportation Fuels and Technologies
Carbon Emissions and Markets covering Carbon Capture and Sequestration(CCS), Monitoring, Mitigation and Verification (MMV), C02, Climate Change.
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