July 21, 2009

DOE announces nearly $14M for 28 new wind projects

EERE - July 16

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary, Steven Chu, has announced the selection of 28 new wind energy projects for up to $13.8 million in funding, including $12.8 million in Recovery Act funds. The projects will help address market and deployment challenges including wind turbine research and testing and transmission analysis, planning, and assessments. Among the firms receiving funding are Alpha Star Corporation of Long Beach; Analatom, Inc. of Sunnyvale; and V&R Energy Systems Research, Inc. of Los Angeles. Along with the new awards, Secretary Chu announced the release of DOE's 2008 Wind Technologies Market Report, detailing $16 billion in investment in wind projects made in the U.S. in 2008.

Renewable Energy Focus

Grant guidelines for renewable energy released
San Francisco Business Times - July 14
The U.S. Departments of Energy and the Treasury have released highly anticipated guidelines for a renewable energy grant program designed to keep new projects rolling even as crucial tax equity investment into those projects has dried up. The grant in-lieu of tax credit provision is part of the federal economic stimulus. The grants provide up to 30 percent of a solar, wind, biomass or other renewable energy project’s cost in cash within 60 days of when the project is placed into service or when the government receives the final application. Before the stimulus, project owners could collect a tax credit of up to 30 percent, but many sold those credits to tax equity investors for cash. The Treasury Department plans to accept applications starting August 1 and all applications must be received by October 1, 2011.

Institute Studies Clash Between Wind and Raptors

Reuters - July 16

The American Wind and Wildlife Institute (AWWI) is attempting to better reconcile high velocity wind power development with its impact on wildlife. The AWWI presents a unique junction for new milestones to be passed where conservation groups, industry and non-governmental organizations have come together to answer difficult research questions and to help the industry be proactive in dealing with this particular issue.

Is any power green enough for California?

Redding Record Searchlight - July 12

A recent report from Chico State University's Center for Economic Development, all the more relevant in light of the recent dispute over new power lines, attempts to tally the potential benefits of renewable energy in rural "Upstate California" and calls it an important source of new jobs for the region. At the same time, the report notes that the challenges - largely environmental - of developing supposedly green energy are severe. Indeed, the hurdles are high enough to render the payoff from these resources all but illusory and leave California's ambitious renewable energy goals looking more distant than ever.

Report: 'California's Solar Cities' on track

GreenBiz - July 13

This report from the nonprofit, Environment California, charts the growth of solar power installations in California, and ranks the state's top cities for solar development. According to the report, if California's solar market experiences a similar rate of growth over the coming 10 years, approximately 45-50% of compound annual growth, the state will be on track to meet its million solar roofs goal by the start of 2017. The report combines data from all of the state's solar photovoltaic rebate programs to determine which cities have the greatest amount of solar power.
Related News:
San Diego leads California in solar installations
Solar energy surges in California
California sets pace for solar power

Wind, geothermal most efficient renewables: study

Sustainable Business - July 17

According to a new study from NYU's Stern School of Business, geothermal and wind energy are more efficient and are yielding greater returns on the R&D invested in them than most other renewable energy alternatives. NYU Stern Professor, Melissa Schilling, finds that the cost of generating electricity with geothermal or wind energy is a fraction of the cost of solar energy. This is the first study to explore the trajectory of performance improvement of renewable energy alternatives. Schilling examined data on government R&D investment and technological improvement and found that geothermal energy is the most efficient renewable energy alternative and is improving the fastest. Wind energy is second.

TechNet execs meet with California leaders to advocate for clean technologies

TechNet - July 15

A prominent group of clean tech executives from TechNet have met with a variety of state government officials to discuss the importance of clean technology and innovation to California's economic, environmental and energy future. For the past four years, TechNet has worked with both the federal government and key U.S. states such as California to advocate for policies to spur green innovation, fostered by entrepreneurship, as a key driver to address the nation's energy, economic and environmental challenges. Currently, TechNet is advocating several policies for California, including: adoption of a 33% renewable energy portfolio standard for California; smarten California's electric grid; and promotion of technology neutrality.

Residential solar fees waived in Seal Beach

Alternative Energy Retailer - July 15

The city council in Seal Beach has voted to waive fees associated with the installation of solar panels on some single-family homes. The Orange County Register reports that the council's vote will only apply to single-family homes with about 320 square feet in roof area. The fees average $550 per home, and the council expects the city to lose about $3,000 in annual revenue. However, some council members stress that this fee waiver will encourage the further residential installations of solar systems.

Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals

ExxonMobil, SGI ink deal to convert algae to biofuel
Huffington Post - July 14
According to California-based Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI), which recently signed a $300-million deal with ExxonMobil to mass produce algae to biofuel technologies, algae could yield more than 2,000 gallons of fuel per acre of production per year. Approximate yields for other fuel sources are far lower. Relative to the other sources of biofuel -- such as soy beans, palm, sugar cane and corn -- algae does not have the same stigma and the amount of biofuel that could potentially be derived from algae is quite staggering compared to the other sources.
Related News:
SGI, ExxonMobil ink algae deal
ExxonMobil invests big in algae

Largest U.S. onion processor unveils biogas plant
Cleantech - July 14
Oxnard-based Gills Onions is receiving a $2.7-million award from Southern California Gas for its system that converts onion waste into electricity and cattle feed. As the largest processor of fresh onions in the U.S., Gills generates 300,000 pounds of onion waste each day. The energy recovery system mechanically extracts juices from onion waste, which then ferments in an anaerobic digester. The resulting biogas powers two 300-kilowatt fuel cells, which saves Gills $700,000 a year in energy costs. The power is equivalent to the demand of 460 homes and represents up to 30,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year, according to Southern California Gas.

Helix Wind to study small turbine performance at San Diego Facility
Helix Wind - July 14
Helix Wind plans to perform comparative testing on a variety of small turbines at its test facility in eastern San Diego County. The test plan and results, to be completed by Q3 2009, will be the first study of its kind and will be evaluated by an independent third party to conform to the AWEA standards for small wind testing. Under the plan, Helix Wind will install and test its own turbines in addition to those from several other manufacturers such as Mariah Power, Windside, VENCO Power Systems, Cleanfield Energy and Southwest Windpower. The results will be used to evaluate actual system performance under real world conditions. Experts say this will help to ensure legitimacy and success of the small wind industry.

World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
Seattle Times - July 9
The Central Washington town of Cle Elum could be the site of the world's largest solar power plant, if Washington company Teanaway Solar Reserve makes good on plans the firm recently announced. Teanaway Solar Reserve hopes to gain approval from Kittitas County to build a 75 megawatt plant, made up of 400,000 photovoltaic panels. The energy produced would be enough for 45,000 homes, said Howard Trott, the Kirkland man who heads the operation. Trott said he expects the plant to be operational by 2011. Trott said McCaw is not putting up any money for the plant, which will cost "north of $100 million." Trott would not reveal where the funds are coming from.

Renewable Energy Focus

Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals

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