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Green-e Certifies New TRC Marketer
The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced today that 3 Phases Energy Services has earned Green-e certification for their Tradable Renewable Certificate (TRC) product: Green CertificatesT. Corporate, government and residential customers who buy 3 Phases' Green CertificatesT will have an independent assurance that their purchase supports generation from newly built wind power facilities across the U.S.A. "We are pleased to receive Green-e certification," says Erik Rothenberg, Chief Green Officer at 3 Phases. "Our organization was founded upon and committed to the idea of providing customers with the highest quality options to support renewable energy generation --certification further strengthens our assurances to customers that we are working together towards a sustainable energy future." "Through the purchase of Green CertificatesT, consumers help reduce our nation's dependence on fossil fuels to produce electricity, and contribute to the reduction of harmful air pollutants," said Gabe Petlin, Green-e Program Manager for CRS. "Green-e certification means consumers can be confident they are receiving the environmental benefits of green power as well as helping to expand the market for clean renewable energy." TRCs (or "Green Tags") are created when a renewable energy facility generates electricity. Each unique certificate represents the attributes or benefits of 100% new renewable generation and is sold separately from the electricity. When a customer buys a TRC product such as Green CertificatesT they buy the benefit of displacing non-renewable power sources such as oil, gas and nuclear from the national grid. Renewable energy or "green power" is only available to 40% of U.S. electricity users through competitive power markets and utility green pricing programs. TRCs make it possible for all electricity users to support renewable energy, regardless of whether their state is deregulating its energy markets. Now seven different Green-e certified TRC providers help bring new renewable energy plants online in the Northeast, Mid Atlantic, Great Plains, Texas, Pacific Northwest, and California. "The renewable power itself is simply electricity --a stream of electrons," said Dan Kalafatas, Director of Renewable Certificates Program for 3 Phases. "By purchasing Green CertificatesT in addition to their existing energy supply, customers can match the environmental benefits of the Green CertificatesT to the electron stream they consume from the national grid. This process results in the same benefits as a renewable power purchase." Green-e certifies that an amount of renewable energy equivalent to the customer's purchase is delivered to the national electric grid. Information on 3 Phases Energy Services certified products may be found at: www.3phases.com. Source: News Release from CRS 12/20/2002.
For more information: http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/ or http://www.nwlink.com/~van/greenlnk.html
Swiss Chemists Develop PV Electrolyte Gel
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (SFIT) recently announced the development of a new gel consisting of a room-temperature ionic liquid and a stable polymer that is able to serve as an electrolyte in dye-sensitized photovoltaic (PV) cells. The institute said the scientists, which include SFIT chemists Shaik Zakeeruddin and Michael Gratzel, have fabricated a cell containing the gel that features a light-to-energy conversion efficiency of 5.3 percent. "We can form a rubber-like sheet from the gel that can be cut into pieces for use in solar cells," said Zakeeruddin. "The electrolyte is also free of organic solvents and therefore does not destroy the plastic substrate." Zakeeruddin noted that because the gel utilizes ionic liquids, it offers a "negligible vapor pressure," as well as a "high ionic conductivity." "The fact that room-temperature ionic liquids work efficiently as mediators in these cells is in itself fundamentally interesting, and the fact that they also function efficiently in gelled form might potentially be of practical importance," said Colorado State University chemistry professor Michael Elliott. Source: Chemical and Engineering News 12/23/2003 via EIN Renewable Energy Today 1/6/2003.
Company Tests Engine to Run on Hot Water
Move over electricity, a new kind of engine is in town. Deluge Inc., a Phoenix company that has patents on a different type of engine that runs on hot water, is testing its environmental technology with the U.S. Department of Energy to replace electricity in oil wells in Wyoming. The company also is working with Arizona Public Service Co. in Phoenix to test the engine in the utility company's coal-powered plant in the Four Corners area in northeastern Arizona. Deluge expects to test its thermal hydraulic engine as early as March at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center, 40 miles north of Casper, Wyo. "We can get rid of electric power in the oil fields," said Brian Hageman, president and chief executive of Deluge. "It's really going to change things." The engine replaces electric motors, using hot water pumped by the oil wells to fuel the engine. Patrick Petit, director of minerals, energy and transportation for the Wyoming Business Council, said he has faith that the new technology will work. "We're just real excited about having an entrepreneur like Brian with a good, marketable idea come to our state," Petit said. "We see great potential for it here for our energy development. Hopefully, we can cement a broader business relationship between Deluge and Wyoming." Hageman also has attracted the attention of Houston-based Torch Energy Services Inc. to use the Deluge engine in oil wells in California and other areas. "After seeing Brian's invention, we believe his technology represents a significant deviation from typical heavy oil extraction in the San Joaquin Valley," said Jim Farr, president of Torch Energy. "We think this is real pull-through technology that could revolutionize the way heavy crude is pumped." In California, oil companies were required to replace gas-powered engines at oil wells with electrical engines, making it more expensive to operate, Hageman said. As a result, the companies are looking for alternatives to electricity, he added. Farr said oil companies could save as much as 33 percent by switching to Deluge's water-powered engine. "We would jointly assist in the development and install the product for other oil-producing customers throughout California and other areas where heavy crude is produced," he said.
Deluge, APS and Arizona State University have applied for a joint grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to study unique ways of using wasted heat that escapes from coal-powered plants, said Peter Johnston, manager of technology development for APS. "Normally in a power plant, the engineers do everything they can to extract every bit of energy," he said. "Nevertheless, there's always some heat that escapes somewhere. We will study the possibility of using the Deluge heat engine to make electricity from those heat sources." Johnston said the Deluge engine also could be used in flare stacks in landfills, where natural gas is burned off to protect the environment. "But nobody does anything with the heat that's available," Johnston said. "Maybe we can with Brian's machine." Brian Meidinger, project manager for the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center in Wyoming, said he is looking forward to testing the Deluge engine's ability to use hot water that currently is going to waste. "We think the theory behind it is sound," Meidinger said. "We really want to check out the qualitative ness of it; how much of it are we going to be able to recover?" Deluge's Hageman said a lot of things need to come together at the same time for new technology to be introduced into the energy business. For one, he said, the deregulation process needs to have some momentum. Plus, he said, the economy must have very low interest rates, and the culture must welcome change. "Right at the moment, all three of those characteristics are in place," Hageman said. "Alternative energy has been around for a long time, but the idea is now being accepted by institutions like utility companies and the government. We'll be able to take advantage of 20 years that the other companies have been pushing alternative energy into play." Hageman started tinkering with the concept two decades ago, but dedicated his efforts full time about six years ago. With six employees, Deluge is in its research and development stage, with revenue expected to be generated in 2003. So far, the company has raised nearly $7 million through the sale of private stock. As a child, Hageman considered himself an inventor. When he was 10, he made a metal detector for a school project using magnets. In 1973, Hageman began working as a field construction engineer for the Fluor Corp., with overseas assignments in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. In 1979, he became a construction engineer with the Bechtel Power Corp., working in nuclear power plant construction at the San Onofre plant in California and at the Palo Verde plant in Arizona. Hageman said he plans to manufacture his engines at his Phoenix plant, contracting out locally to make parts. "Engineers are amazed this technology was missed," he said. Contact Deluge Inc. at: 602-431-0566; http://www.delugeinc.com. Source: Biz Journals 1/3/2003.
Rubbish Turns to Power at Dump Site
Household rubbish is being converted into enough electricity to power thousands of homes at a new "green" North Yorkshire waste site. The site, at the Allerton Park landfill facility, just off the A1, near Knaresborough, is now working. It converts methane gas from the 170,000 tonnes of rubbish dumped at the site each year into electricity. About 2,000 homes could have their power needs supplied by energy produced at the site. Paul Tomes, managing director of the Waste Recycling Group, which runs the site, said today: "This plant is doing two things. It is reducing the impact of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and it is contributing to the Government's drive to reduce dependence on fossil fuels." The Government is aiming for five per cent of all UK electricity needs to be met by renewable resources by the end of this year, and up to ten per cent by 2010. Mr Tomes added: "Our approach at Waste Recycling is to look at waste as a potential resource that has a value, rather than simply viewing it as a disposal problem. Creating electricity from waste is a good example of how the waste management industry can play its part in protecting our environment." Maureen Madden, clerk to Allerton and Mauleverer parish meeting, said: "We have not heard anything about this, but would certainly be interested to know more. It will be on the agenda at the next parish meeting." Mark Hill, Green Party co-ordinator for Yorkshire, said: "Our view is that this is not ideal. We would much rather see more work done to improve our chronically-low recycling and composting rates." For more information please visit http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/. Source: Newquest 1/4/2003 via Energy Central 1/3/2003.
Geothermal Project East of Twins Falls, Idaho, Plans Financing
A Denver company with plans to build a 10-megawatt geothermal power plant in the Raft River area said it has a brokerage that will help raise its first public financing for the project. U.S. Cobalt Inc., a public company on the TSX Venture Exchange, announced the signing of an agreement with First Associates Inc. of Toronto for a $1 million equity financing to advance the Raft River project's development. The private placement will consist of 2 million units, priced at 50 cents per unit. "Our hope is to complete the financing in February/March, and be ready to begin the well testing program shortly thereafter -- April/May," U.S. Cobalt President Doug Glaspey said Thursday. Then the next steps will be studying economic feasibility, arranging for project financing and acquiring a power-purchase agreement with anelectrical utility. "We won't name names right now," Glaspey said. Then construction. "Our plan is to start construction in 2004 and hopefully have the plant operating by late 2004 or early 2005," he said. The project earlier bought 560 acres and leased another 3,200 acres about 12 miles south of Malta. Geothermal power plants use hot springs' steam to generate electricity. The Raft River plant would employ 10 to 15 people, and if it makes money more geothermal plants could follow, Glaspey has said. The project's players are a little convoluted. U.S. Cobalt has an agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares and warrants of U.S. Geothermal Inc., a private Idaho corporation that has the right to acquire from Vulcan Power Co. of Bend, Ore., a 100 percent interest in the Raft River project. Glaspey is also a U.S. Geothermal shareholder. This summer, U.S. Geothermal acquired the 3,200 acres of geothermal leases surrounding the Raft River project. A technical report on the project, by GeothermEx Inc., estimated a production potential of 14 to 17 megawatts of electricity from the five existing steam wells at Raft River. GeothermEx also estimated the area's known reservoir has the potential ofproducing up to 90 megawatts. "The Raft River project is ideally located with a high-voltage transmissionline adjacent to the property that provides a direct link to the electric power grid and an interstate highway within 20 miles of the property," U.S. Cobalt said in a statement this week. On Sept. 29, U.S. Geothermal received a $212,077 geothermal resource exploration and development grant from the U.S. Department of Energy that will pay 80 percent of the $265,097 first-phase production and injectiontest program. But there's other paperwork to be done, too. Here's the companies' acquisition plan, according to U.S. Cobalt:
The acquisition is subject to shareholder approval and other conditions. Consolidated USC proposes to change its name to U.S. Geothermal Inc. when it completes the acquisition. Proceeds of the private placement will be used to meet U.S. Geothermal's obligations under its agreement with Vulcan, complete a well-test program and geothermal reservoir estimate, initiate an engineering study for production of at least 10 megawatts of power from the existing energy reserves and production wells at Raft River, and for working capital, the U.S. Cobalt statement said. Source: The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho 12/14/2002 via E-mail from Roger Hill, SNL, 12/19/2002.
Wind Farm Plan Draws Criticism
Proposals to build windmills off the Atlantic coast are meeting with resistance from environmentalists who might be expected to support an alternative, "clean" energy source. Offshore wind farms exist in Europe but not in the United States. A company planning windmills off Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts and Delaware says the farms would provide energy without emitting greenhouse gases that pollute the air. Environmental and wildlife groups argue, however, that the projects represent an offshore land grab of public property for private use. They also contend the farms will mar the natural beauty of the coastline, interfere with fishing, diminish property values, hurt recreation and tourism, and may prove harmful to migratory birds. They'd prefer that the windmills be placed farther out than within a few miles of shore as proposed, in places where their effects would me minimized. "I'm committed to wind energy, but you wouldn't put a wind farm in Yosemite Park," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of the former U.S. attorney general and president of Waterkeeper Alliance, a New York environmentalist group. Dennis Quaranta, president of Winergy LLC, based in Shirley, N.Y., said the critics are suffering from a case of NIMBY. "Everyone is a great environmentalist, until it's in their area," Quaranta said. "Then it's not in my back yard, not in my beach view, not in the ocean, not anywhere." That said, the company is willing to listen to and respond to objections, he said. Winergy recently removed three of four potential sites from its wind farm plan for Virginia after learning that the Navy was concerned because military operations take place there. "We do listen to what people have to say," Quaranta said. "We don't try to buck the system." In all, Winergy has identified about 20 offshore sites in federal waters and begun the application process for permission to build there. The company plans to add more sites. Potential customers include local utilities that could resell the power generated by the windmills, large commercial users, and state and local governments. In Virginia, Winergy wants to build a $900 million wind farm at Smith Island, near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, in federal waters three miles off the coast. The site off Virginia's Eastern Shore peninsula covers 45 square miles with an average water depth of less than 60 feet. It was selected in part because of its wind speeds, proximity to major transmission lines and lack of marine mammal activity. The 271 turbines would either be placed atop platforms or slipped over long poles that would be driven into the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The base of each windmill would be 220 to 280 feet, and the wingspan of the turbine blades would be about 330 feet tip to tip. The windmills would generate up to 975 megawatts of electricity an hour. One megawatt is enough to power 1,000 homes for an hour; since the wind likely will blow only about 30 percent of the time, one megawatt probably would power 300 homes.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Norfolk district is one of a number of agencies that must approve the project. Quaranta said the permit process could take three to five years and then it would take at least a year to finish building. The corps received about 50 written comments from the public by the Nov. 19 deadline and is reviewing them, said Rick Henderson, the Norfolk district's lead project manager for Winergy's application. Henderson said many of the individuals, government agencies and private organizations supported wind energy. However, they raised questions about the effect on birds' migration routes, navigation, marine mammal activity, military operations and aesthetics. Those are the same kinds of concerns held by environmental and other groups critical of such projects, including the first offshore wind farm proposed in America, in Massachusetts' Nantucket Sound. That project, proposed by Cape Wind Associates LLC, involves 170 windmills on 25 square miles of ocean, about four miles from shore. In November, a federal judge in Boston denied a citizen group's motion for a restraining order, paving the way for construction of a data collection tower that is the first step in building that wind farm. Allowing these projects to proceed could result in a lot of additional industrial development of the coastline, including offshore oil rigs, said representatives of groups including the Humane Society of the United States and the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound. The groups also say there needs to be a federal process for environmental review specifically for offshore wind energy projects. "We do not want to just have a giveaway of the coast," said Sharon Young, marine issues field director for the Humane Society. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, said the problem is that there are no regulatory standards for the construction of industrial projects in the territorial seas or on the continental shelf. The Army Corps "has a right to give you a permit to say you're in compliance with the Clean Water Act, but it doesn't have a right to give you a permit that says you can privatize public land on the continental shelf," Kennedy said. Henderson said that in Virginia, the corps is "essentially telling the company that they can place a structure on the sea bed. The concept of granting use of public waterways to private corporations is commonplace in the United States." An official with The Nature Conservancy, which owns many of the barrier islands off Virginia's Eastern Shore, said the environmental group hopes Winergy will provide more information about the ecological effects of the project. In Virginia, the next step is for Winergy to review the public comments. If the company decides to proceed with the permitting process, it would have to respond to all of the concerns raised in those comments, Henderson said. The corps would evaluate the responses and also would need to decide whether an environmental impact study is warranted. Source: AP 1/6/2003.
UNI-SOLAR and Solar Integrated Technologies Form
Strategic Alliance
UNI-SOLAR announced today an exclusive strategic alliance with Solar Integrated Technologies of Los Angeles to utilize UNI-SOLAR(R) flexible solar electric laminates for integration with single-ply roofing membranes for Southern California. The unique qualities of the UNI-SOLAR(R) flexible laminate combined with time- proven roofing membranes will provide the basic building block to produce the first (in North America) building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) roofing membrane system for commercial and industrial uses. Solar Integrated Technologies' proprietary design will hasten the marriage of the solar industry to the commercial roofing industry. "The flexible and lightweight design of the UNI-SOLAR(R) PV modules will make solar electric roofing a reality," said Ed Stevenson, CEO of Solar Integrated Technologies. "This is the breakthrough we've been waiting on for more than 10 years. UNI-SOLAR(R) has made it possible for us to devise an easy-to-install solar electric roofing material that serves the bi-functional purpose of generating a renewable source of clean electricity while preserving the watertight integrity of the roof envelope, thereby supplying the highest value to our customers. We will trigger a revolution in the commercial roofing industry and we are thrilled to be working with the UNI-SOLAR(R) product to realize the full potential of the advanced thin-film PV technology for low-slope commercial roofing markets." "Solar Integrated Technologies is a unique company led by people with vision and we are pleased to join with them to significantly scale up our business in the commercial and industrial PV markets," said executives Georges Brys and S. R. Ovshinsky of UNI-SOLAR(R) in a joint statement. "As a leading integrator with extensive experience in the application of commercial roof systems, Solar Integrated Technologies will deliver to the market their proprietary photovoltaic roof system through a network of Certified Master Contractors. This is a unique proposition in the emerging market for solar power systems. The buyer can be assured that, unlike other companies' 'rooftop-installed' systems, the building-integrated photovoltaic roof systems from Solar Integrated Technologies utilizing UNI-SOLAR(R) photovoltaic modules provide a complete, single-source solution." Solar Integrated Technologies, based in Los Angeles, CA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SCR Group Holding Company. Mr. Stevenson patented a concept of integrating flexible photovoltaics to roofing in 1989. The unique UNI- SOLAR(R) flexible PV laminate has made that conception a reality. For additional information, please contact Richard Schoen, Executive Vice President, Building Integrated Photovoltaics at mail to: rschoen@solarintegrated.com. UNI-SOLAR(R) brand is marketed by a joint venture between Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENER) and N.V. Bekaert S.A. (Belgium), two of the world's most respected technology and manufacturing companies. The joint venture was established in April 2000 to meet the growing demand for UNI-SOLAR(R) products, and to build a manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of 30MW to meet customer demand. More information is available at www.uni-solar.com. Source: LA Times 1/6/2003.
FPL Energy Expands Industry Leading Wind Portfolio
FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group (NYSE:FPL) and the nation's largest wind energy producer, today announced that it successfully added 324 megawatts to its wind portfolio in 2002. The company said it began commercial operation in late December at its 66-megawatt Mountaineer Wind Energy Center in northern West Virginia and its 98-megawatt Hancock County Wind Energy Center in northern Iowa. In addition the company also said it completed a 37-megawatt expansion of the Stateline Wind Energy Center located on the Washington-Oregon border in early December making it the largest wind energy facility in the United States at 300 megawatts. During 2002, FPL Energy also acquired 123 megawatts of wind assets located in Texas and Pennsylvania from National Wind Power. "We're pleased that with all of the challenges in the wholesale energy sector in 2002, we were able to add to our industry leading wind portfolio through new development and acquisitions," said Jim Robo, president of FPL Energy. "We know there are significant new opportunities for wind energy development throughout the country and we plan to add 700 to 1,200 megawatts of new wind energy to our portfolio in 2003." The company already has announced plans to build more than 430 megawatts of new wind facilities in California, New Mexico and the Dakotas during 2003. As the leader in wind energy generation in the United States, FPL Energy owns more than 1,700-megawatts of wind power facilities in 10 states. "Our success in developing wind projects would not be possible without the support of landowners, neighbors, the regional environmental community and local, county and state officials. We appreciate all the support we receive in the communities where we have plant operations," Robo added. FPL Energy is the nation's leader in wind energy, with 28 wind facilities in 10 states. FPL Energy is a leading independent producer of clean energy from natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear and hydroelectric. Wind power represents approximately 24 percent of the company's portfolio, with more than 80 percent being fueled by renewable or clean-burning sources. It has more than 80 facilities, with nearly 7,300 megawatts in operation. It is a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc., nationally known as a high quality, efficient and customer-driven organization focused on energy-related products and services. Its sister subsidiary, Florida Power & Light Company, serves approximately 4 million customer accounts in Florida. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.fplgroup.com, http://www.fpl.com and http://www.fplenergy.com. Source: Business Wire 1/6/2003.
EnviroMission Plans 1,000-Meter Solar Tower
EnviroMission, Ltd. recently announced plans to construct a 1,000-meter solar tower in New South Wales, Australia. The company said it hopes to begin construction on the tower by the end of the year, and complete the project by 2006. EnviroMission engineers said the tower will be about the width of a football field and will be covered with a large glass roof that will serve to heat the air inside the structure, creating drafts that will be harnessed by a series of 32 turbines. The engineers estimate that the tower will have a generation capacity of about 200 megawatts (MW). EnviroMission chief executive officer Roger Davey said the project may ultimately prevent more than 700,000 tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from being released into the atmosphere per year. Davey estimated the cost of construction at approximately $1 billion Australian (about $563 million U.S.). "We have got to the point where it's not if it can be built, but when it can be built," said Davey. "We have proved that it does work and that it can be built, but what we have got to get a handle on is the cost and we are working very strongly through that now." Davey noted that the project has received the full support of the Australian federal government and the government of New South Wales. Additionally, the project has been granted clearance by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia. Contact: EnviroMission, phone +61-3-8823-5333, website http://www.enviromission.com.au. Source: Reuters 1/3/2003 via EIN Renewable Energy Today 1/6/2003.
For more information on Renewable Resources go to: http://www.eren.doe.gov/repis/
Report on Wind Integration with Wholesale Markets
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) recently released a study Eric Hirst conducted on wind integration with the BPA system. The report can be downloaded from the Publications page at: www.EHirst.com. Please let Eric know if you have any comments on the report. Eric summarizes the report in the statement below: "As the amount of wind capacity installed in the Pacific Northwest increases, so too does the need to carefully analyze and quantify its effects on bulk-power planning and operations. These effects are both physical (MW of capacity reassigned from one function to another) and financial (generating-unit operating costs and wholesale-market opportunity costs). Integrating wind output into a large power system is challenging because of wind's unique characteristics. Relative to other electricity-productiontechnologies, wind output is uncertain, uncontrollable, and variable. This study focused on the time between day-ahead operational planning (e.g., production of a system load forecast and preparation of hourly schedules for generating-unit operation) and real-time operations (i.e., the minute-to-minute movements of certain generating units to maintain the necessary generation: load balance). Specifically, this study examined day-ahead forecasting errors for the BPA system load and wind output plusthe real-time requirements for the regulation and load-following (intrahour balancing) ancillary services.
This study used data on the electric-energy outputs from wind farms as well as data from the BPA hydroelectric system to address these wind-integration issues. These data cover the first four months of 2002. They include 1-minute energy outputs from four wind farms in Washington and Oregon (witha total capacity of 164 MW), BPA's day-ahead hourly system-load forecast and forecast errors, BPA control-area load at the 1- and 5-minute levels (to analyze regulation and load following requirements, respectively), and the amount of generating capacity available each hour but not needed for energyor ancillary services. Because wind output is largely uncorrelated with BPA load, the effects of wind on the BPA power system are generally small and occasionally large. In addition, the effects of wind are roughly symmetrical, sometimes "consuming" capacity and at other times "producing" capacity. For example, 1000 MW of wind capacity might require or provide about 100 MW of capacity to the BPAsystem. Therefore, it is difficult to unambiguously determine how much generating capacity BPA should set aside day ahead to accommodate wind output. The cost to integrate wind with the BPA power system, including adjustments for day-ahead forecast errors and real-time regulation and load following requirements, is likely to be well under $5/MWh of wind output for 1000 MW of wind capacity. Although the physical requirements for wind integration appear, based on this initial analysis, to be small, BPA should consider additional research in this area. BPA might repeat the present analysis with additional data as they become available (e.g., with a full year of data). Also, BPA should use its new optimization model (Columbia Vista) to quantify the physical and economic effects of day-ahead uncertainties (not just in wind, but in loads, customer contracts, and other factors) on operations, power purchase andsale opportunities, and costs. Source: E-mail from Eric Hirst 1/3/2003.
Free Industrial CHP Screening Tool Available
A Windows-based software for evaluating potential industrial CHP applications using distributed energy resources is now available on the DOE DER Web site. In collaboration with the original software's Australian developer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has recently updated the Cogen Ready Reckoner to assess potential CHP projects in either metric or English units, in U.S. or Australian dollars, using a variety of potential reciprocating and gas turbine generation equipment. The software will compare, on a lifecycle basis, industrial CHP applications using DER with a traditional utility/on-site boiler baseline. The software can also simulate waste heat from electricity generation used to provide hot water, steam, or absorption cooling. The software is available at no charge on the DER Web site. Comments regarding the software can be sent to Randy Hudson at ORNL. Download the software at: http://www.eren.doe.gov/der/chp/chp-eval2.html. Source: DOE Distributed Energy Resources Update, December 2002
IEA Unveils New Report, Database on Renewables
The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently announced it has published a new report that provides "a comprehensive range of statistics...on electricity and heat production, supply and final consumption, as well as installed capacity of renewables and waste sources in the 30 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries." Additionally, the group said it has released a new fact sheet, titled "Renewables in Global Energy Supply," that provides information on the "contribution of renewables in the [total primary energy supply (TPES)], the role they play in world electricity production and the outlook for their global development." "The dispersion of renewables and waste production, notably that of off-grid production [such as domestic solar collectors] creates transparency and measurement problems for national administrations when gathering statistics," the agency stated. "[The new report, titled 'Renewable Information 2002'] defines, clarifies and classifies renewable and waste energy statistics." According to IEA, renewable energy and waste-to-energy systems accounted for 13.8 percent of the world's TPES in 2000, while "the share of [OECD members] in the global renewables supply was approximately 24 percent." The group noted that the information contained in the Renewables Information 2002 report is also available in the Renewables Information Database on the IEA website. Contact: IEA, website http://www.iea.org. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today 12/18/2002.
Renewable Energy Schemes in the US
Implementation of the US' renewables portfolio standards (RPS) seems to be as uneven as US electricity deregulation. RPS schemes vary from state to state in details, but the schemes all have similar technologies that are eligible for RPS such as wind, solar, biomass and hydro. The RPS sets out net electric sales requirements from power providers that provide a blend of renewable energy in the total energy supply. RPS is either implemented on a individual state basis, as there is no federal legislation regarding RPS, or through a voluntary scheme such as Automated Power Exchange (APX) or Natsource. Massachusetts was the first state to enact RPS in November 1997 in its electric restructuring legislation. The portfolio standard sets down the same requirements on any electric supplier selling electricity in the state. The requirement can be traded among suppliers so that one with more credits can sell to another with less credits. If a supplier in Arizona, where the RPS calls for a 0.4% make-up of renewable energy, has 2% renewable energy in its supply then it could sell the excess to another supplier who does not have 0.4% renewable energy in its supply. The RPS schemes could help introduce diverse energy supplies in the US and cut down dependence on exported fossil fuels. If the US can increase renewable energy to 20% by 2020, combined with legislative policies, energy costs would be lower, according to an October 2001 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Many RPS programs encourage in-state generation and reflect the installed renewable power supply or expected growth in renewable power sources, the programs also encourage more environmentally sound generation and develop a mix of power supply, according to the US Department of Energy agency. The potential revenue stream from green credits can add more revenue into a producer's pro forma making financing for future renewables projects more viable, said APX Northeast director, Gary Zielanski.
There are green credits available for trading in portions of the country and players are trying to create a liquid market, Zielanski said. It's spotty trading at best and for a commodity in its early stages there is, of course, growing potential for trading volume, he said. The twelve state-level programs are in Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas. Most states that have RPS have also deregulated electric markets except for Hawaii, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Nevada's utilities commission has delayed its deregulation start date. There are several voluntary schemes in the US that do not depend on obligations. Automated Power Exchange (APX) runs wholesale markets for green certificates in California and the midwest. A company called Sterling Planet is offering green power right across the US, even in states which still have regulated power industries, by buying certificates through APX at the order of customers, who remain with their existing power supplier. APX saw large trading volumes of 660,000 MW in 1999 and 990,000 MW in 2000 in the western US. But the volume dropped dramatically to 270,000 MW in 2001-to date as 2001 credits are still being traded in early 2002-because of the suspension of all trading activity in California, which has a substantial renewable power capacity, due to the state's power crisis from exaggerated power costs. APX green credit trading in the midwest for 2001 is approximately 25,000 MW. APX is developing a program for the New England ISO (Independent System Operator) which will help verify compliance with varying environmental regulations. APX said it expected to launch the program in mid 2002. Natsource, an environmental and energy brokerage, has brokered European green certificates. In the US they helped broker green certificates in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and New England. In the northwest US, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) inked a deal April 2001 to jointly market the environmental attributes of renewable generation under their 'Green Tags' program. Under the agreement, BPA will buy the power from green generators, and then assign the 'greenness' to BEF for the latter to market separately using the tags. The revenue will be used to expand a $15-mil fund for renewable resource development.
Arizona
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) approved the Environmental Portfolio Standard May 2000 with solar, wind, hydro, biomass and waste generators, solar water heating and solar air conditioning as eligible technologies. The program begins with a minimum makeup of 0.2% renewables in 2001 increasing to 1.1% in 2007 and holding at that rate until 2012 when the program expires. Key provisions include solar power making up 50% of the eligible renewable technology source in 2001 increasing to 60% from 2004 to 2012. In 2004, the ACC will review the costs and benefits of the program and determine whether to freeze the requirement at 0.8% or continue to increase according to schedule. The program will be paid for through a ratepayer charge of $0.000875/kWh capped at $0.35/month for residential customers, $13/month for commercial customers and $39/month for industrial users. The ACC estimates less than 100 users will be affected by the $39 cap.
California∗
SB 1078 was signed into law September 12, 2002. This law defines qualified renewables and sets forth the following Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for retail electric sellers other than municipal utilities:
Connecticut
Connecticut included the renewable portfolio standard as part of its restructuring bill (HB 5005) signed into law April 1998. Eligible technologies fall under two categories. Class I includes solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas and photovoltaics (solar cells). Class II includes trash-to-energy, biomass and certain approved hydro facilities. The program begins at a minimum of 0.5% renewables in the electric supply in 2000 and increasing to 6% in 2009 for Class I, and for Class II it begins at 5.5% requirement in 2000 and increasing to 7% in 2007. Power producers are required to provide annual compliance reports to the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC). The DPUC may invoke license revocation or suspension, prohibit addition of customers or civil penalties for substandard compliance.
Hawaii
Hawaii signed a renewables portfolio standard goal to be established by 2003 under Act 272 in June 2001. The goal does not make it mandatory for utilities to meet these requirements but it encourages them to reach the RPS requirements. The program applies to solar water heat, solar space heat, solar thermal electric, solar thermal process heat, photovoltaics, landfill gas, wind, biomass, hydro, geothermal electric, fuel cells, geothermal heat pumps, waste, cogeneration, ocean thermal energy and wave energy. The requirement begins with 7% renewable energy in the electric supply by Dec 31, 2003, increasing to 8% by Dec 31, 2005, and 9% Dec 31, 2010. A non-compliant utility has 90 days to report to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with an explanation for non-compliance. The PUC will either grant a waiver or an extension to meet the requirement. Hawaii imports 90% of its energy supply, and its utilities are regulated.
Illinois
The Illinois Resource Development and Energy Security Act signed into law June 2001 sets out the renewable portfolio standard making utilities meet a 5% renewable mix in the electric supply by 2010 and increasing to 15% by 2020. The Act does not have guidelines for compliance, start schedule or credit trading, but it does set aside $500-mil for wind, biomass and solar technology development. Eligible technologies include photovoltaics, wind and biomass.
Maine
Maine finalized its renewables portfolio standard in November 1999 which set out a requirement of 30% renewable energy in the total electric supply for sale beginning with the start of retail competition in 2000. Maine has the nation's largest in-state renewables supply--mainly from hydro and biomass--making up about 50% of the electric output. The Maine Public Utilities Commission will make recommendations for any RPS changes to the state legislature by 2005. Electric suppliers are given a two-year period to meet the RPS if they meet at least 20% of the requirement in the first half of the period. Non-compliant facilities may face penalties such as having their license revoked or payment to a renewable resource research and development fund. Eligible technologies include solar, wind, biomass, hydro, renewable transportation fuels, waste and high efficiency cogeneration systems.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts drew up plans to include a renewable portfolio standard in its 1997 electric restructuring legislation. The Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources (DOER) was charged with setting up the RPS. On Feb 6, 2002, the DOER released final rules calling for a minimum1% renewables mix in the electric supply in 2003 increasing to 4% by 2009. After 2009, the standard would continue to rise by 1% a year until the state decides to suspend the annual increase. The final rule limits participation to new renewables a provision strongly opposed by the Competitive Power Coalition of New England (CPC), which says existing renewables should receive credit. While the CPC supports the overall idea of the renewable portfolio standard, it says that not counting existing renewables clashes with the state restructuring law. The group says it will ask the state Legislature to intervene. Eligible technologies have to be new renewables--installed after Dec 31, 1997--which include solar thermal electric, photovoltaics, wind, biomass, hydro, renewable transportation fuels, geothermal electric, fuel cells, waste, ocean thermal, wave and tidal.
Minnesota
Minnesota's renewable portfolio standard begins in 2005 with a minimum requirement of 1% renewable in the electric supply increasing by 1% annually to 10% by 2015. By 2010, at least 0.5% of the renewable mix must come from biomass energy and by 2015 the biomass mix must make up 1% of the renewable mix. Eligible technologies include photovoltaics, wind, biomass, hydro under 60 MW that is not mandated by state law or the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). An ongoing review of the utilities will be conducted by the PUC and utilities are required to present reports on their progress in adding renewable-generated electricity to their supply. The PUC will periodically report its findings and advise on increasing renewable requirements to the state congress.
Nevada
Nevada implemented the renewable portfolio standard in its 1997 electric restructuring legislation. The minimum requirement is 5% beginning 2003 and increasing by 2% every two years to 15% in 2013 and remaining at 15% thereafter. Eligible technologies include wind, biomass, geothermal and solar.
New Jersey
New Jersey's renewable portfolio standard comes under its 1999 electric restructuring legislation. Eligible technologies are classified as Class I, which include wind, solar, fuel cells, ocean energy, landfill gas and biomass that is "cultivated and harvested in a sustainable manner," and Class II, which includes hydro and waste-to-energy facilities that meet high environmental standards. Minimum requirement in 2000 was 2.5% for Class I and II renewables. After 2001 the minimum requirement is 0.5% beginning Jan 1, 2001, and increasing to 1% by Jan 1, 2006, and then increasing by 0.5% every year stopping at 4% in 2012 with Class I renewables. Credit trading is implemented by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The RPS is funded through a surcharge on the wires charge, the same as existing demand-side management costs. BPU estimates funding at $30-mil.
Pennsylvania
New Jersey's renewable portfolio standard comes under its 1999 electric restructuring legislation. Eligible technologies are classified as Class I, which include wind, solar, fuel cells, ocean energy, landfill gas and biomass that is "cultivated and harvested in a sustainable manner," and Class II, which includes hydro and waste-to-energy facilities that meet high environmental standards. Minimum requirement in 2000 was 2.5% for Class I and II renewables. After 2001 the minimum renewables requirement is 0.5% beginning Jan 1, 2001, and increasing to 1% by Jan 1, 2006, and then increasing by 0.5% every year stopping at 4% in 2012 with Class I renewables. Credit trading is implemented by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The RPS is funded through a surcharge on the wires charge, the same as existing demand-side management costs. BPU estimates funding at $30-mil.
Texas
The Public Utilities Commission of Texas established the renewable portfolio standard in December 1999 with the Renewable Energy Mandate Rule. The mandate calls for utilities to develop 2,000 MW of new renewable capacity by 2009--in addition to the 880 MW of installed renewable capacity--which they are well on the way to achieving thanks to the explosion of wind installations in the west of the state. The minimum requirement began with the addition of 400MW of renewables by 2002. Penalty for non-compliance is the lesser of $0.05 or 200% of mean REC trade value in compliance period for each missing KWh.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin enacted its renewable portfolio standard Oct 27, 1999, and it was the first state to adopt RPS in a regulated market. The minimum requirement began with 0.5% Dec 31, 2001 and increasing to 2.2% by 2011. Eligible technologies include wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, tidal, fuel cells using renewable fuel and hydro power less than 60 MW. Non-compliance of requirements can incur fines up to $500,000. Wisconsin's credit trading program allows electric suppliers to their excess in annual credits to other suppliers. Credits can be accumulated and used in following years. Source: Platts Global Energy 1/6/2003 via Western Newsclips 1/6/2003. *Inserted by WAPA 1/6/2003
Renewable, Environmental, and Program Presentations
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has several renewable energy presentations on its web site, including a Powerpoint presentation by PIER Program Director Terry Surles, which was given in Washington, DC on December 4, 2002. for details please visit: http://www.energy.ca.gov/pier/papers.html. Source: E-mail from CEC 1/7/2003.
For more information on Educational Resources go to: http://www.thegateway.org
Wind Power Advocates Say Wind Could Benefit from SMD
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released a white paper on December 12, 2002 that outlines how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC's) Standard Market Design (SMD) could benefit wind power and other renewable energy resources. The group is urging FERC to speed its progress on implementing the SMD to help ensure that wind energy producers have a "fair chance to compete in the nation's electricity markets." AWEA claims existing transmission policies are hampering wind power development and some of the SMD provisions would help rectify the problem. AWEA policy director Jim Caldwell said the SMD would "treat wind fairly," in terms of setting rates for use of the transmission system, and expand the capacity of the grid to serve all users. The group, however, does not agree with FERC's proposal to charge penalties for deviations in scheduled electricity delivery, as wind is an intermittent resource. AWEA suggests that the SMD provide exceptions for wind because its intermittency does not allow for "strategic" withholding of power for market manipulation purposes. Caldwell also stated that the proposed rules on access charges and congestion management will be "much more efficient." Source: AWEA News Release, December 23, 2002; EnergyWashington.com, December 31, 2002
DOE Files Comments, Suggestions for SMD
On December 20, 2002, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) filed
comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on its
proposed Standard Market Design (SMD). The Department stated that it
supports FERC's efforts to:
DOE provided several suggestions on cost allocation policies, including:
The Department's complete comments and suggestions on the proposed SMD (Submittal 20021223-5018) are available on FERC's web site at www.ferc.gov/. Source: AWEA Electricity Restructuring - Weekly Update January 3, 2003
AWEA Releases Second Transmission White Paper
On December 12, AWEA released a new white paper on transmission policy that lays out actions the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) could take in its Standard Market Design (SMD) proceeding to ensure that power from new, renewable sources like wind has a fair chance to competein the nation's electricity markets. AWEA estimates that several thousand megawatts of 'new' transmission capacity could be obtained in the Midwest alone without building new transmission lines byimplementing a series of reforms. The white paper notes that FERC has taken very positive steps towardresolving problems identified two years ago by the industry in its first transmission white paper, and stresses the need for swift progress in following through on those initiatives. The SMD and two Notices ofProposed Rulemaking (NOPR) on interconnection issues are currently pending before FERC. "The utility transmission network is the 'Interstate highway system' our electricity generating companies must use to 'haul their product to market' in major population centers," explained AWEA executive director Randall Swisher. "That being the case, it's absolutely critical that:
"Clean, cost-competitive wind energy is a domestic energy source that is renewable, meaning it will never run out. The nation's transmission policies should treat wind and other renewables fairly, so that theseresources can be developed to their maximum potential for the benefit of all Americans, said AWEA policy director Jim Caldwell. The paper addresses three sets of issues, according to Caldwell:
The white paper details the significant progress that has been made over the past two years on these issues, while laying out the remaining work to be accomplished. "On the first two issues (access charges and congestion management), the policy debate is essentially over and the new proposed rules of the road will be much more efficient and treat wind fairly," Caldwell said. "The real issue is time. Finalizing the details and getting these reforms in place will be a difficult and lengthy process. The third issue, of expanding and managing the nation's transmission system, is only now coming to a head in manyforums across the country. The white paper is available from the AWEA Web site at http://www.awea.org/policy/documents/Transmissionwhitepaper12-2002.pdf. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly 1/3/2003.
For more information on legislative activities go to: http://thomas.loc.gov
'Volatility' Likely to be Buzzword for Nation's Energy Industry in '03
The energy industry predicts lots of changes in the year ahead, from Xcel Energy Inc.'s new prices to whipsawing commodity prices for oil and natural gas. Petrie Parkman & Co., a Denver-based oil and natural gas industry investment firm, keeps a close eye on the industry's status. Asked for a prediction for 2003, Petrie Parkman analyst Steve Enger said the year will see a lot of change in oil and natural gas prices. "Volatility. Big V, big O and keep going," Enger said. "We've seen a lot of volatility recently in oil and gas and we see no reason not to see it continuing," Enger said. That will be particularly true for the first quarter of 2003, he said. Worries about war with Iraq and a strike by oil workers in Venezuela, which normally supplies more than 13 percent of imported oil to the U.S., pushed oil prices above $30 per barrel in December, a two-year high. "Supplies are not coming to the market," Enger said. The current high price of oil will roll through to the gas pump but not for a few months, he predicted. "If we do see crude prices persist at these levels or move up, you'll see gas prices move up as well. Now they're low and for the first quarter as well, but by the second quarter and when the driving season is closer, if prices are still higher we'll see higher gas prices too," Enger said. On the natural-gas side, prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange have been sliding upward toward the $5-per-thousand-cubic-feet mark in recent weeks as an early cold winter bites deeply into natural-gas storage reserves. The industry also is troubled by slowing production levels, down about 5 percent from the previous year. But it's unlikely natural-gas prices will skyrocket like they did two years ago, Enger said, when prices broke records to peak at $10 per thousand cubic feet. "We could see that, but we're not expecting that," he said. "We don't think the supply and demand factors are there to take gas to $10 [per thousand cubic feet]."
U.S. Department of Interior Report: The industry is looking forward to a report, expected to be highly controversial, from the U.S. Department of Interior on how much land in the West is restricted from oil and natural-gas production, said Marc Smith, executive director of the Denver-based Independent Petroleum Association of the Mountain States. The association, which represents producers in several Western states, estimates that 40 percent of public lands in the West has been deemed off limits because it's designated as wilderness areas, and another 20 percent to 30 percent of the public land is severely restricted due to rules about when production can occur during the year or other developmental rules, Smith said. "It's going to raise the question of where should we be looking for new sources of energy," Smith said of the report. The report will hold special significance if the demand for natural gas continues to be strong in the face of falling production, he said. "Once again, the industry will be required to ramp up very quickly to bring up supplies, which once again will raise the question of how long it takes to get a drilling permit," Smith said. On the utilities front, Xcel Energy Inc. and state regulators will spend much of 2003 wrangling over the base price of electricity and natural gas for the largest utility in state, which serves 70 percent of Coloradans. Public hearings over the prices of natural gas and electricity Xcel can charge are scheduled for February, and the players are far, far apart on the numbers. Xcel has asked state regulators to approve a $93 million increase in base electricity rates. The Office of Consumer Counsel wants rates cut by $15.2 million while the staff at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission thinks a cut of $16.7 million in electric rates sounds about right. A similar pattern exists on the gas side, with Xcel calling for an increase and the other two parties favoring a rate decrease. The rate case is the first time electricity prices have been reviewed since 1993, said Ken Reif, director of the OCC. Ultimately, factoring in the price of fuel to generate electricity - which in Xcel's case is increasingly natural gas - electricity prices are going to be higher in the future, Reif said. The rate case is split into two parts. The first centers on how much the total price of electricity and natural gas should be. The second phase is focused on spreading the cost between residential and business customers. Source: Biz Journals 1/3/2003.
19 States Active with GeoPowering the West
19 states are participating with GeoPowering the West. For more information about specific geothermal power and energy development activities in each state, go to: http://www.geothermal-biz.com/state_info.asp. Source: Geothermal biz.com Newsletter 1/6/2003.
For more information on marketing and research go to: http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/emaa/index.html
Request for Proposals - Arctic Energy Technology Development Laboratory
The University of Alaska Farbanks Arctic Energy Technology Development Laboratory (hereafter referred to as AETDL) requests pre-proposals to conduct projects to develop and deploy technologies for satisfying Alaska's unique energy needs. One page pre-proposals are due by 1/31/2003. Proposals on electrical power generation technologies for rural and remote regions and fossil energy will be accepted. AETDL's mission is to promote Research, Development and Deployment (RD&D) of energy technologies in Arctic regions by bringing together resources from the University of Alaska (UA) and Alaska's energy industry. Industry will be involved in defining areas of research, reviewing proposals, and evaluating the results of the research projects. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is providing financial assistance to UAF under Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC26-01NT41248. UAF will submit projects selected under this RFP as new research tasks under the Cooperative Agreement for DOE's consideration. The Cooperative Agreement may be viewed at http://www.uaf.edu/ine/erc/home.html. For more information contact Juli Philibert at fnjap1@uaf.edu. Source: E-mail from University of Alaska Fairbanks 1/6/2003.
PIER's Energy-Related Environmental Research
The California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program has released an exploratory grant solicitation for PIER's Energy-Related Environmental Research program area (PIEREA). For information about this solicitation and to download documents, please go to:http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/index.html#PIEREA. Source: E-mail from CEC 1/6/2003.
Proposal Title: Wind Energy Assessment Study for Nevada
Submitting Organization: Desert Research Institute - Division of Atmospheric Sciences/Western Regional Climate Center
Industry Partner: Distributed Generation Systems Inc. (Evergreen, CO),
Non-Industry Partner: UNLV - College of Engineering; UNR - NV Bureau of Mines and Geology
Amount Requested: $455,637
Cost Share: $82,442
Total Proposal Amount: $538,079
Project Description: The subcontractor will collect wind data and perform analysis on the data to show how wind direction and speed fluctuate as a function of time. The analysis results will be particularly helpful to manufacturers placing large wind turbines in locations similar to the study sites.Note: Reviewers agreed this proposal was overpriced. In the negotiation process, we will try to reduce the amount of money requested by no less than $25,000. Source: Curtis Framel, U.S. Department of Energy, Seattle Regional Office, 1/7/2003.
Proposal Title: Renewable Energy Hydrogen Based System for Off Grid Application
Submitting Organization: Desert Research Institute - Division of Hydrologic Sciences
Industry Partners: NRG Tech Inc., Independent Power Corporation (Nevada), Arizona Public Service
Non-Industry Partner: UNR - College of Engineering
Amount Requested: $490,570
Cost Share: $251,813
Total Proposal Amount: $742,383
Project Description: The proposed project is phase III of a 5-phase program to develop cost-effective, renewable-hydrogen-based off-grid power system for rural Nevada and the Southwest. The project objective is to test and evaluate how well a hydrogen (or potentially hydrogen/propane mixture) internal combustion engine system can provide continuous power for off-grid applications.
Proposal Title: Exploratory Drilling Program to Evaluate the Lifetime and Current Potential of the Florida Canyon Geothermal System, Pershing County Nevada
Submitting Organization: UNR - Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy
Industry Partner:PRESCO Energy LLC (Englewood, CO), Apollo Gold Inc./Florida Canyon Mining Inc. (Imlay Nevada)
Amount Requested: $499,997
Cost Share: $0
Total Proposal Amount: $499,997
Project Description: The objectives of this project are to develop new methods to evaluate the lifetime and resource potential of geothermal systems in general and to develop the geothermal resources within the Humboldt House Geothermal Area (HHGA). (The HHGA resource area shows promise for becoming the single largest geothermal production field in Nevada.) The project will perform geochemical and petrographic analyses and provide preliminary interpretation of all data in terms of a geologic model of HHGA. Source: Curtis Framel, U.S. Department of Energy, Seattle Regional Office, 1/7/2003.
Proposal Title: Construction and Performance Evaluation of an Advanced Energy Efficient Building with Building-Integrated Solar Cooling/Heating/Daylighting System
Submitting Organization: UNLV - College of Engineering/UNLV Center for Energy Research
Industry Partner: Duke Solar (Nevada and North Carolina), Innovative Design (North Carolina), Energy Efficient Builders
Amount Requested: $422,663
Cost Share: $422,664
Total Proposal Amount: $845,327
Project Description: The objective of the proposed project is to demonstrate a building-integrated solar system (solar cooling and heating) in an energy-efficient building. A 32,000 sq ft building incorporating Duke Solar's Power RoofTM technology and Energy Efficient Builders SOLARCRETE building wall system will be built (construction of building is not part of proposed project scope). The subcontractor will monitor the building (including energy consumption, comfort levels, and daylighting) and monitor the Power Roof performance (including energy collection and delivery in terms of space heating, space cooling and domestic hot water). Source: Curtis Framel, U.S. Department of Energy, Seattle Regional Office, 1/7/2003.
Proposal Title: Optimized and Accelerated Deployment of Renewable Distributed Energy Generation in Nevada
Submitting Organization: UNLV - Center for Energy Research
Industry Partner: PowerLight (California)
Amount Requested: $431,755
Cost Share: $169,513
Total Proposal Amount: $601,268
Project Description: The subcontractor will develop an integrated set of engineering and regulatory practices to allow the most orderly, efficient and widespread development of renewable distributed generation (DG) projects in Nevada. The specific thrust is to get a large photovoltaic system (5 MW) built on the roof of the Convention Center with emphasis on meeting the RPS requirements for the aggregated load of several large Las Vegas casinos.Note: Reviewers agreed this proposal was significantly overpriced. In the negotiation process, we will try to reduce the amount of money requested by $100,000. Source: Curtis Framel, U.S. Department of Energy, Seattle Regional Office, 1/7/2003.
Proposal Title: Design, Fabrication, Performance, and Information Dissemination for a Zero Energy Building (ZEB) in Southern Nevada
Submitting Organization: UNLV - Center for Energy Research
Industry Partner: Pulte Homes (Las Vegas, NV division)
Amount Requested: $291,543
Cost Share: $150,000
Total Proposal Amount: $441,543
Project Description: The subcontractors are proposing to build a Pulte Homes house on the UNLV campus in an area that is highly accessible and visible to residents and visitors, with inclusion of renewable energy and efficiency features to be characterized and considered for incorporation in building of future homes. The team will collaborate on a detailed design, hardware selection, performance monitoring and outreach plan development.Note: Reviewers and Buildings Program people at NREL have suggested this project would be more aligned with programmatic goals if the Pulte Homes house were built in an actual Pulte residential development. There are concerns that if the house were built on campus, it would become an obsolete monument to the technology in several years and that its purpose could be better served if built in a residential area, then used for a period of time for student and NAHB tours. We are trying to negotiate this aspect of the subcontract; it is still uncertain whether or not UNLV and Pulte has strong objections. Source: Curtis Framel, U.S. Department of Energy, Seattle Regional Office, 1/7/2003.
Proposal Title: Development of a High-Performance Generator for Wind Turbines
Submitting Organization: UNR - Electrical Engineering Department
Industry Partner: Southwest Windpower (in Arizona)
Amount Requested: $119,248
Cost Share: $125,000
Total Proposal Amount: $244,248
Project Description: The proposed project will define a novel electromechanical power converter for wind-turbine sources of electrical energy. The project will include mathematical modeling of the Southwest Windpower concept for a commutated flux generator (including optimization of the structure and parameters) to formulate design specifications and build a prototype for mass production. Source: Curtis Framel, U.S. Department of Energy, Seattle Regional Office, 1/7/2003.
Proposal Title: Further Development of the SES Dish Stirling Power System
Submitting Organization: UNLV - Center for Energy Research
Industry Partner: Stirling Energy Systems (SES)
Amount Requested: $190,405
Cost Share: $38,030
Total Proposal Amount: $228,435
Project Description: The proposed project will investigate and implement upgrades to the SES dish/Stirling system on the UNLV campus. Upgrades include eliminating black powder formation in the power conversion unit, enhancing mirror maintenance and testing a new controller for large field applications. The proposed project also includes a system performance/reliability/economic assessment and support of day-to-day system operation. Source: Curtis Framel, U.S. Department of Energy, Seattle Regional Office, 1/7/2003.
Proposal Title: Dish/PV Power System Development
Submitting Organization: UNLV - Center for Energy Research
Industry Partner: SAIC
Amount Requested: $410,079
Cost Share: $180,000
Total Proposal Amount: $590,079
Project Description: The proposed project will modify the SAIC dish/Stirling system on the UNLV campus to a prototype dish/PV system for electricity generation. The proposed system will incorporate optimizing the SAIC dish to to the PV receiver (e.g. redesigned mirror facets and control system) and concentrating PV cells from existing PV cell manufacturers assembled into a monolithic PV receiver at the focus of the dish. A testing and evaluation program will allow students to fine tune the optics of the dish and receiver, and maximize the power output, while documenting the power produced daily, monthly and annually. Source: Curtis Framel, U.S. Department of Energy, Seattle Regional Office, 1/7/2003.
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