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Utility-Scale Renewables Get Significant Support from State Clean Energy Funds

Since 1998, state clean energy funds in the U.S. have committed nearly $400 million to 234 utility-scale renewable energy projects totaling 2,249 MW of capacity, according to a report released by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), in conjunction with the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA). Of the 2,249 MW of new renewables capacity currently supported, 1,116 MW have been built to date, leaving 1,133 MW still in the development pipeline. This backlog is partly a reflection of unforeseen difficulties in the development process, such as permitting challenges, difficulty securing a power purchase agreement, and periodic lapses in the federal production tax credit (PTC). Wind power continues to be the most favored technology, having captured more than 60% of total funding provided (at nearly $250 million), and accounting for more than 80% of the total capacity supported (at 1,878 MW). States are increasingly using new and innovative incentive structures to support projects. While 78% of aggregate funding has been awarded through real-time production payments (e.g., x/kWh over a y-year period), a few states now offer variations on that theme. For example, rather than pay for production over time as the project generates power, several states have instead awarded an “advance […]

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France Dependence on Nukes Doesn't Reduce CO2 Emissions

A new report, “Low-Carbon Diet without Nukes in France,” examines the feasibility of phasing out nuclear power in France while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 40 percent in the next few decades. France is considered as exemplary by advocates of nuclear power, which provides almost 80 percent of French electricity generation, because the use of that energy source has been crucial to its relatively low greenhouse gas emissions. The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER) report is the first to detail technologies and policies that could meet the same lifestyle and economic choices as a high-nuclear, high carbon emissions future without nuclear energy and significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions. “The nuclear industry has presented itself as part of the solution to global warming” said Annie Makhijani, a co-author of the report and Project Scientist at IEER. “But nuclear power creates serious long-term security issues in the form of risks of proliferation, severe nuclear accidents, and vulnerability to terrorism. It’s not a desirable trade-off. The IEER analysis shows that nuclear power is not necessary even in France to achieve a low-carbon emissions future.” France obtains 75 to 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear power, making it one of […]

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San Francisco: Landmark Transamerica Pyramid Building to Add $3.4M CHP System

Northern Power, a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp. (Nasdaq: DESC), has been awarded a $3.4 million contract to design, install and commission a 1.1 megawatt (MW) combined heat and power (CHP) system for the landmark Transamerica Pyramid at 600 Montgomery Street in San Francisco, California. The 48-story building, managed by Lowe Enterprises, is known as the “Pyramid,” and is located in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district. The contract is from AEGON USA Realty Advisors, a unit of Netherlands-based Aegon NV (NYSE/ADR: AEG). Aegon is one of the top five commercial lenders in the US. System Details Northern Power’s CHP system will consist of two 560 kW natural gas-fired reciprocating engine generators, which will operate in parallel with the utility’s downtown network grid. The two generators are designed to provide approximately 70% of the electrical requirements of the 530,000 square foot commercial office building. Recovered waste heat from the engines will be used to heat the building, displacing 100% of the steam currently purchased for heating purposes. Additionally, waste heat will drive a 320-ton absorption chiller that will be installed to create chilled water for the building. By recovering waste heat from the engine’s exhaust system and using […]

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SatCon Announces 3.2 MW in PV Inverter Orders

SatCon Technology Corporation (Nasdaq NM: SATC), a developer and manufacturer of power electronics and motors for the alternative energy markets, has received multiple purchase orders from four new customers for 13 commercial grade inverters equaling 2.3 megawatts (MW), including an order from one of the largest photovoltaic integrators in North America. In addition, a customer that has been operating a trial unit issued a follow-on purchase order for 3 commercial grade inverters totaling 0.9 MW. These photovoltaic inverters trade named PowerGate(TM) are scheduled for delivery prior to the end of the current fiscal year. Said Clemens van Zeyl, President, SatCon’s Power Systems Canada Division responsible for Alternative Energy products, “It is very encouraging to see our customer base in the sector continuing to grow and it is very rewarding to see that our emphasis on high-efficiency commercial grade inverters is being embraced by our customers.” David Eisenhaure, SatCon’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, “With our growing customer base, we are expecting our revenues from photovoltaic inverters to approach twenty percent of our total corporate revenues for the current fiscal year, up from approximately ten percent in the prior year.” SatCon Technology Corporation is a developer and manufacturer of electronics […]

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SatCon Announces 3.2 MW in PV Inverte Orders

SatCon Technology Corporation (Nasdaq NM: SATC), a developer and manufacturer of power electronics and motors for the alternative energy markets, has received multiple purchase orders from four new customers for 13 commercial grade inverters equaling 2.3 megawatts (MW), including an order from one of the largest photovoltaic integrators in North America. In addition, a customer that has been operating a trial unit issued a follow-on purchase order for 3 commercial grade inverters totaling 0.9 MW. These photovoltaic inverters trade named PowerGate(TM) are scheduled for delivery prior to the end of the current fiscal year. Said Clemens van Zeyl, President, SatCon’s Power Systems Canada Division responsible for Alternative Energy products, “It is very encouraging to see our customer base in the sector continuing to grow and it is very rewarding to see that our emphasis on high-efficiency commercial grade inverters is being embraced by our customers.” David Eisenhaure, SatCon’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, “With our growing customer base, we are expecting our revenues from photovoltaic inverters to approach twenty percent of our total corporate revenues for the current fiscal year, up from approximately ten percent in the prior year.” SatCon Technology Corporation is a developer and manufacturer of electronics […]

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