Watch this space for our Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Consultant, Robert Fischer’s news post.
October 2011
Dear All,
Changes in renewable energy markets, investments, industries, and policies have been so rapid in recent years that perceptions of the status of renewable energy can lag years behind the reality. This blog tries to capture that reality – enjoy the read.
RENEWABLE ENERGY – GENERAL (Policies, Events, Reports, Financing, …)
The Silent Energy [R]evolution 20 Years in the Making – Since the late 1990s, wind and solar installations have grown faster than any other power technology across the world. But it’s still too early to claim the end of fossil-based power generation. – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/08/the-silent-energy-revolution-20-years-in-the-making?cmpid=SolarNL-Tuesday-August30-2011
New Studies on Global Status and Trends in Renewable Energy:
Global investments in green energy up nearly a third to $211 billion in 2010. – For the first time, developing economies overtook developed ones in terms of “financial new investment” on utility-scale renewable energy projects. – Renewables investment (including large hydro) is clearly ahead of both gross and net investment in fossil fuel capacity. – China, developing countries are now biggest investors in large-scale renewables while Germany surges ahead on rooftop solar. – Positive trend in government research and development in renewables spotlighted—up over 120 per cent to well over $5 billion.
Read at least the executive summaries of these studies:
UNEP-Study “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011” http://www.unep.org/Renewable_Energy_Investment/
REN21-Study „Renewables 2011 Global Status “ http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdf
In case you want to dig even deeper into the status of RE I recommend the 1544 pager of IPCCs final release of its “Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation”, which is available for download from: http://srren.ipcc-wg3.de/report Chapters which add significantly to the above studies are: 8, 9 and 10. I would recommend that you start your read with having a look at the summary for policy makers and the technical summary.
The INTERNATIONAL ENERGY OUTLOOK 2011 (from US Energy Information Administration) is out. In the IEO2011 Reference case, which does not incorporate prospective legislation or policies that might affect energy markets, world marketed energy consumption grows by 53 percent from 2008 to 2035 and that half of that growth will come from China and India. – Download here http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/
A study worth to have a look at is the annual Energy Outlook from ExxonMobil. http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/energy_outlook.aspx
RE continues going strong in 2011: The American solar market remains on pace to double last year’s installed capacity by the end of 2011 behind large gains in the utility and commercial markets. – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/09/q2-report-u-s-solar-capacity-maintains-growth?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-September21-2011 This also has effects on the job market: 6.8% solar job growth since August 2010 (US). – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/09/and-now-the-solar-good-news-6-8-solar-job-growth-since-august-2010?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-September21-2011
Women’s participation in energy projects – Women in communities across India are playing an increasingly important role in identifying energy needs, confronting projects they deem unsustainable, and contributing to alternatives in the context of India’s rapid expansion of the energy sector to drive economic growth. Furthermore, their participation is contributing to a gradual process of social change and women’s empowerment. – Full report. http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/art-569025
DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS and MINI GRIDS
A BILLION AND a half people (i.e. 21%) around the world still don’t have access to electricity. Could hybrid mini grids be the best way to provide electricity – particularly to rural, often isolated, areas? – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/view/20297/switched-on-to-mini-grids/
Decentralized (distributed) power generation, with its reduced electric grid transmission and distribution losses, higher grid reliability, and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is poised to partly replace large central power plants. – Full Report http://www.companiesandmarkets.com/Market-Report/decentralized-power-generation-technology-penetration-and-roadmapping-684510.asp?prk=7c4ed5b510c1ffe12b50d9829eddaba2
Democratizing the Electricity System. A vision for the 21st century grid. – Download here http://energyselfreliantstates.org/content/democratizing-electricity-system
Bringing Energy Closer to Home: Why Distributed Generation Works. – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/09/bringing-energy-closer-to-home-why-distributed-generation-works?cmpid=SolarNL-Thursday-September15-2011
GREEN CLIMATE FUND (GCF)
UN pushes for Green Climate Fund – At the forthcoming Durban climate change talks (COP17), the UNFCCC will be gunning for international agreement on its Green Climate Fund, meant to pay for developing countries’ climate change mitigation actions and potentially eradicate energy poverty. – Full Article http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=153394 and download the decision to establish the GCF adopted at COP16 from here: http://unfccc.int/cooperation_and_support/financial_mechanism/green_climate_fund/items/5869.php
RARE EARTHS – Essential raw materials for some RE-technologies
China produces nearly 95 percent of the world’s rare earth materials; China consolidates its grip on rare earths. Full Article http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/business/global/china-consolidates-control-of-rare-earth-industry.html?_r=1
Another related article: China controls 50% of 52 critical chemicals. Full Article http://www.mining.com/2011/09/14/antimony-tops-metals-and-minerals-risk-list-china-controls-50-of-critical-chemicals/
The British Geological Survey (BGS) in its risk list 2011 (Supply risk index for chemical elements or element groups which are of economic value) has put rare earth elements on position 5. Full Article http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/statistics/riskList.html
WIND
The learning curve for utility scale wind energy still not flattening out! New developments promise to reduce electricity generation costs to as low as $0.04 per kilowatt-hour and reduce the dependency on rare earth oxides. – Full Article http://www.worldofrenewables.com/renewables_news/wind_energy/wind_energy_finance/molycorp_invests_in_groundbreaking_wind_energy_technology_compan.html
Researchers Build a Tougher, Lighter Wind Turbine Blade. – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/08/researchers-build-a-tougher-lighter-wind-turbine-blade?cmpid=WindNL-Wednesday-September7-2011
SMALL WIND
Sales of wind turbines for home use are going strong (in the US). Permitting and zoning is one of the pieces that helps drive the wind industry. – Full Article http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2011-06-27-wind-power-turbines-energy-electricity_n.htm
SOLAR-PV
Solar to be grid competitive in Europe by 2013, says EPIA. – Full Article http://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/2011/09/solar-to-be-grid-competitive-in-europe-by-2013-says-epia.html
New York City found enough room on building rooftops for solar panels to power half the city during hours of peak electricity use. – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/09/new-york-citys-solar-windfall-illuminates-americas-clean-energy-future?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-September21-2011
Silicon solar cell efficiency increased to above 20% by Schott Solar. – Full Article http://www.electroiq.com/articles/pvw/2011/08/20-2-silicon-solar-cell-efficiency-at-schott-solar.html?cmpid=ENLPVTimesSeptember12011
Concentrated Solar PV (CPV) accelerates penetration of renewable energy markets. – Full Article http://www.worldofrenewables.com/renewables_news/photovoltaics/photovoltaic_research/strategy_analytics_accelerating_cpv_penetration_of_renewable_ene.html
SOLAR-THERMAL:
Sun Strikes It Hot: What’s Happening in the Global Solar Thermal Markets? Get an update here. – http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/08/sun-strikes-it-hot-whats-happening-in-the-global-solar-thermal-markets?cmpid=SolarNL-Tuesday-August23-2011
SOLAR COOLING:
An Indian manufacturer develops a more efficient solar air conditioning system. – Full Article http://www.solarthermalmagazine.com/2011/07/26/break-through-solar-cooling-system-integrates-a-triple-effect-chiller-and-solar-parabolic-concentrators/
GEOTHERMAL
Small scale geothermal on the rise. – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/09/working-on-this-one-developers-warm-to-small-scale-geothermal?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-September21-2011
OCEAN ENERGY
Marine renewables is gaining real momentum and is set to be a multi-billion industry in the coming years:
Atlantis resources corporation connects 1MW tidal turbine to the national grid. Full Article http://www.oceanrenewable.com/2011/09/12/atlantis-resources-corporation-connects-1mw-tidal-turbine-to-the-national-grid/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Orec+%28OREC%29
Aquamarine Power unveils next-generation Oyster wave energy device. – Full Article http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/7830830542/articles/hrhrw/News-2/2011/07/aquamarine-power_unveils.html?cmpid=EnlHydroJuly262011
South Korean tidal power plant a “symbol of green growth”. – Full Article http://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/2011/08/south-korean-tidal-power-plant-a-symbol-of-green-growth.html
BIOFUELS
Tequila or ethanol? Agave seems to be another promising energy crop. – Full Article http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-07-tequila-fuel-vehicles-emissions.html
WASTE AND/OR WASTEWATER TO ENERGY
Bacteria–Energy Producers of the Future? – Full Article
Wastewater bioreactors or microbial fuel cells (MFC) utilise electrogenic bacteria. – In the early stages and not yet as efficient as a biogas digester. Full Article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20075367-54/ge-others-invest-in-wastewater-bioreactor/?tag=mncol;title
ENERGY STORAGE
Energy Storage Enables Just-in-Time Generation: Full Article “Energy storage is a matter of when, not if.”
Energy Storage Industry Grows To Integrate Wind, Solar. – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/08/energy-storage-industry-grows-to-integrate-wind-solar?cmpid=WindNL-Thursday-August25-2011
Renaissance for Pumped Storage in Europe. – Full Article http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/3463566501/articles/hydro-review-worldwide/vol-19/issue-3/articles/new-development/renaissance-for-pumped-storage-in-europe.html?cmpid=EnlHydroAugust92011
Battery Storage Could Get a Huge Boost from Seaweed. Lithium-ion batteries could hold up to 10 times as much energy per cell if silicon anodes were used instead of graphite ones. – Full Article http://www.technologyreview.in/energy/38531/?nlid=&nld=2011-09-19
Fuel Cell Today sees promising outlook for fuel cell sector in new 2011 Industry Review. – Download http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/analysis/industry-review/2011/the-industry-review-2011
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Download the: 2011 Energy Efficiency Indicator Global Survey Results here http://www.institutebe.com/Energy-Efficiency-Indicator/2011-global-results.aspx
A comprehensive report highlighting the lessons learned from energy efficiency programs is available from ACEEE: http://aceee.org/research-report/u115
Using Waste Heat for Cooling – a new approach: http://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/10330
TRANSPORT
Buy a new car or a backup generator to be prepared for ESKOM’s load shedding: Nissan Rolls Out a System that Lets Your Electric Car Serve as a Backup Battery for Your House. – Full Article http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2011-08/nissan-rolls-out-system-lets-leaf-serve-backup-battery-japanese-households
Are biofuels a cleaner way to fly? – Full Article http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/06/engineering-a-cleaner-way-to-fly?cmpid=BioNL-Tuesday-June28-2011
Mercedes envisions the zero-emissions luxury sedan of 2025. – Full Article http://www.gizmag.com/mercedes-benz-f-125-research-vehicle/19868/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=1ae67700fc-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email
Technical University Munich’s (TUM’s) sporty MUTE electromobility vehicle concept. – Full Article http://www.gizmag.com/mute-electric-vehicle-concept/19875/
OTHER COOL STUFF
Walk the talk…walk to charge – Let your shoes generate power and charge your phone or laptop. – Full Article http://www.technologyreview.in/energy/38469/?nlid=&nld=2011-09-19
Did you know that ESKOM’s power stations alone consumed 316,202 million liters of water in 2010 (Source: ESKOM’s Annual Integrated Report 2010)? E.g. Tshwane consumes 178,000 million liters of water annually (Source: http://www.wrc.org.za/pages/Resources_Regionalstats.aspx).
I’ve been a practicing solar energy professional for over 10 years: My bachelor’s was in EE, master’s degree in solar energy engineering and now work as a solar project developer and investor. I picked up this book at the PV America conference a couple of days ago – and read the whole PV grid-connected section towards the end of the book. I also read through the early “intro” chapters and the
The book covers a huge, but highly relevant selection of topics. Bottoms up, if you’re building up from basics, it covers all the relevant basics in the early chapters, and technology-specific basics wherever relevant. e.g. the PV coverage of cell-basics, equivalent circuits and modeling, and adding up to modules and array performance, system sizing and economic analysis is very well done – you have enough knowledge after reading these chapters to do calculations, basic-to-advanced designs, and understand more detailed texts.
As a reference, almost anyone would benefit from the more advanced and thorough discussions. e.g. in the discussion on DC, standalone PV systems, you can quickly go through key issues relating to PV module performance with specific types of loads, e.g. resistors, DC motors etc, and understand the impact of max power point trackers, and design issues. The author has thought through the text from the readers’ point of view: Every relevant angle was discussed and covered with clear text, plus wherever relevant, numerical calculation examples are given such that a reader can replicate in real-life situations.
A complaint and a couple of warnings. My one gripe: Much of the industry data in the book is “old”, i.e. 2002-2003 vintage. I have access to more recent data, but an update to the book might be useful. Caution (who’s this book for): If you’re not an engineer by training, have no technical background, and don’t like numbers, this book will be of limited use to you – though far from useless. Also, if you’re an experienced engineer working in either solar or wind design, your main utility for this book will be as a reference, a quick overview of basics and less-used topics.
All in all, I was waiting for a book like this for a while. I’m glad I bought this, despite a discounted (conference) price above $120, and look forward to using it as a reference for a long time.
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