New plans in the works to boost use of solar power.
By Kate AlexanderAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, January 29, 2007
The high price of harnessing the sun's rays means that Austin Energy will not reach an early milestone in its long-term solar power plan.
But the city-owned utility is laying a foundation in the desert of West Texas to expand its supply of solar power. The utility's 2003 strategic plan set a goal of building the capacity for 100 megawatts of solar power by 2020 and reaching a 15-megawatt threshold in 2007.
Right now, a little more than one megawatt of the utility's total capacity of 2,900 megawatts comes from the sun, enough to generate electricity for about 750 homes.
[Click here to view the original article]
Monday, January 29
Does nuclear power now make financial sense?
On Sept. 16, 1954, in a speech to a group of science writers, Adm. Lewis L. Strauss, then head of the agency now known as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, made a bold prediction. The potential for peaceful uses of nuclear energy was so great, he said, that electricity produced by nuclear power plants would one day be “too cheap to meter.” Over the coming decades, the economics of nuclear power turned out to be more problematic. [click here for full article]
Sunday, January 28
Your hydrogen car is closer (and better looking) than you think...
Get in Honda’s FCX sedan, go for a ride and as you would expect from any Honda product, there is little drama: Put your foot to the drive-by-wire throttle pedal and off you go. It zips to 100 miles per hour, and it stops just as well. FCX gets a reported 270 miles on a full tank. There is sufficient room in back for two large adults, and its lines are almost avant-garde. [click here for full article]
Thursday, January 25
Fort Bend power plant planned: Hunton Energy would use fuel that produces low emissions
By TOM FOWLERCopyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
TOOLS
A Houston company plans to build a major power plant in Fort Bend County that it says will run on an oil refining byproduct and produce low greenhouse gas emissions.
The $2.4 billion project being developed by Hunton Energy, a unit of heating and air-conditioning contractor Hunton Group, is planned for a 200-acre site near Smithers Lake and the massive W.A. Parish power plant.
The proposed 1,200-megawatt plant, known as Lockwood Road, will be designed to produce electricity for less money per kilowatt-hour than a coal plant, Hunton Energy President Rocky Sembritzky said, thanks to a long-term contract with oil refiner Valero Energy to buy petroleum coke — a relatively inexpensive refining byproduct — to fuel the plant.
[Click here to read original article.]
TOOLS
A Houston company plans to build a major power plant in Fort Bend County that it says will run on an oil refining byproduct and produce low greenhouse gas emissions.
The $2.4 billion project being developed by Hunton Energy, a unit of heating and air-conditioning contractor Hunton Group, is planned for a 200-acre site near Smithers Lake and the massive W.A. Parish power plant.
The proposed 1,200-megawatt plant, known as Lockwood Road, will be designed to produce electricity for less money per kilowatt-hour than a coal plant, Hunton Energy President Rocky Sembritzky said, thanks to a long-term contract with oil refiner Valero Energy to buy petroleum coke — a relatively inexpensive refining byproduct — to fuel the plant.
[Click here to read original article.]
Battery Breakthrough? A Texas company says it can make a new ultracapacitor power system...
Battery Breakthrough?
A Texas company says it can make a new ultracapacitor power system to replace the electrochemical batteries in everything from cars to laptops.
A secretive Texas startup developing what some are calling a "game changing" energy-storage technology broke its silence this week. It announced that it has reached two production milestones and is on track to ship systems this year for use in electric vehicles.
EEStor's ambitious goal, according to patent documents, is to "replace the electrochemical battery" in almost every application, from hybrid-electric and pure-electric vehicles to laptop computers to utility-scale electricity storage.
The company boldly claims that its system, a kind of battery-ultracapacitor hybrid based on barium-titanate powders, will dramatically outperform the best lithium-ion batteries on the market in terms of energy density, price, charge time, and safety...
[To read original article click here].
A Texas company says it can make a new ultracapacitor power system to replace the electrochemical batteries in everything from cars to laptops.
A secretive Texas startup developing what some are calling a "game changing" energy-storage technology broke its silence this week. It announced that it has reached two production milestones and is on track to ship systems this year for use in electric vehicles.
EEStor's ambitious goal, according to patent documents, is to "replace the electrochemical battery" in almost every application, from hybrid-electric and pure-electric vehicles to laptop computers to utility-scale electricity storage.
The company boldly claims that its system, a kind of battery-ultracapacitor hybrid based on barium-titanate powders, will dramatically outperform the best lithium-ion batteries on the market in terms of energy density, price, charge time, and safety...
[To read original article click here].
Monday, January 22
Shell issues Technology Report
Royal Dutch Shell plc today issues its first Technology Report, an overview of 27 advanced technologies - some delivering benefits today and others that will shape the future of the energy industry.
The Shell Technology Report shows how the company is developing and applying technology to meet the tremendous challenge of securing the world's growing energy needs in an environmentally responsible way.
The Shell Technology Report shows how the company is developing and applying technology to meet the tremendous challenge of securing the world's growing energy needs in an environmentally responsible way.
CEOs call for action against climate change
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The chief executives of 10 major corporations and business groups, on the eve of the State of the Union address, urged President Bush on Monday to support mandatory reductions in climate-changing pollution and establish reduction targets. [click here to read entire article]
Friday, December 8
Boeing Claims Solar Record
Aerospace conglomerate’s Spectrolab subsidiary claims new solar cell gets better than 40 percent efficiency. [click to read article]
December 6, 2006
December 6, 2006
Cleantech Smackdown: Algae vs. Soybeans
Industry waters say the ‘Holy Grail’ of feedstocks for biofuels could be years from reality.
[click to read article]
December 7, 2006
By Jennifer Kho
[click to read article]
December 7, 2006
By Jennifer Kho
Tuesday, December 5
Future of Wind Up In The Air?
Wind turbines at 10,000 feet? Next thing you'll tell me is that they floated up there on balloons. It sounds crazy, but there are companies trying to commercialize airborne wind turbines. Check out Magenn [click here] for more.
Mercedes Green: Biodiesel-Powered Recyclable Concept
The Mercedes-Benz RECY concept is an open-air vehicle (to take advantage of the “famed southern California weather and lifestyle”) and would be powered by a four-cylinder Bluetec biodiesel motor. It has a high-strength frame and laminated wood shell, as well as hand-assembled, grain-matched wood panels that owners could replace if damaged. [Check out the RECY and other green concept cars]
Monday, December 4
Energy in Flux: The 21st Century's Greatest Challenge
What the Shifting Dynamics of Energy Mean for Corporations, Governments, Society and the International Community
Joseph A. Stanislaw, Ph.D., independent senior advisor to the Energy & Resources practice of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, has authored a new white paper, Energy in Flux: The 21st Century’s Greatest Challenge. [Click here to access the paper]
Joseph A. Stanislaw, Ph.D., independent senior advisor to the Energy & Resources practice of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, has authored a new white paper, Energy in Flux: The 21st Century’s Greatest Challenge. [Click here to access the paper]
New Investment Fund Raises $2.25 Billion To Hunt Power Sector
The Wall Street Journal
December 4, 2006
A new private-equity fund has raised $2.25 billion to scout for investments amid big changes in the nation's electricity grid.
Energy Capital Partners represents one of the largest first-time investment funds, taking in cash from 150 investors, including pension funds, university endowments and wealthy individuals.
The fund is founded chiefly by a group of former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. utility-sector bankers and investors, including Doug Kimmelman, Energy Capital Partners' senior partner.
Private-equity funds have moved aggressively into power and utility investments in the last few years, picking off assets largely sold by public companies that were in fiscal distress earlier in the decade. Those investments proved largely profitable for the buyout groups because of higher electricity-generation prices.
In an interview, Mr. Kimmelman said the group will focus its investing in power generation, renewable energy and the electricity-transmission grid. Each sector is ripe for investing, Mr. Kimmelman said, because of broader shifts in the nation's utility infrastructure.
"It's become very clear that we've got large capital needs in the power and utility world," Mr. Kimmelman said. "The infrastructure has become very aged and fragmented."
This past year has been benign in terms of conditions that could lead to utility blackouts, Mr. Kimmelman said. But he warned that "the industry is on the edge" and that severe weather, nuclear-plant outages or below-average hydropower production could force "some significant blackouts" during 2007.
"More dollars need to be spent in the generation-and-transmission side of business," he added.
Energy Capital Partners has already closed on its first investment, a $1.34 billion purchase of hydropower and coal-fired power plants in Connecticut and Massachusetts from Northeast Utilities. Mr. Kimmelman said the firm put in about $400 million in cash and took on debt to pay the remainder.
December 4, 2006
A new private-equity fund has raised $2.25 billion to scout for investments amid big changes in the nation's electricity grid.
Energy Capital Partners represents one of the largest first-time investment funds, taking in cash from 150 investors, including pension funds, university endowments and wealthy individuals.
The fund is founded chiefly by a group of former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. utility-sector bankers and investors, including Doug Kimmelman, Energy Capital Partners' senior partner.
Private-equity funds have moved aggressively into power and utility investments in the last few years, picking off assets largely sold by public companies that were in fiscal distress earlier in the decade. Those investments proved largely profitable for the buyout groups because of higher electricity-generation prices.
In an interview, Mr. Kimmelman said the group will focus its investing in power generation, renewable energy and the electricity-transmission grid. Each sector is ripe for investing, Mr. Kimmelman said, because of broader shifts in the nation's utility infrastructure.
"It's become very clear that we've got large capital needs in the power and utility world," Mr. Kimmelman said. "The infrastructure has become very aged and fragmented."
This past year has been benign in terms of conditions that could lead to utility blackouts, Mr. Kimmelman said. But he warned that "the industry is on the edge" and that severe weather, nuclear-plant outages or below-average hydropower production could force "some significant blackouts" during 2007.
"More dollars need to be spent in the generation-and-transmission side of business," he added.
Energy Capital Partners has already closed on its first investment, a $1.34 billion purchase of hydropower and coal-fired power plants in Connecticut and Massachusetts from Northeast Utilities. Mr. Kimmelman said the firm put in about $400 million in cash and took on debt to pay the remainder.
Sunday, December 3
Drilling might resume in Alaska bay
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is deciding whether to lift a ban on oil and gas drilling in federal waters off Alaska's Bristol Bay, home to endangered whales and sea lions and the world's largest sockeye salmon run. [Click to read article]
Thursday, November 30
Round Rock manufacturer gets Central Texas into wind turbine business, adding 150 jobs
Teco-Westinghouse Motor Co. and Composite Technology Corp. of Irvine, Calif. have signed a deal that will bring 150 new jobs to Round Rock -- as well as wind turbine manufacturing to Central Texas.
Under the agreement, Teco-Westinghouse will manufacture Composite Technology's subsidiary turbines, called DeWind D8.2 turbines, for distribution in North America...[Click here to read the complete article]
Under the agreement, Teco-Westinghouse will manufacture Composite Technology's subsidiary turbines, called DeWind D8.2 turbines, for distribution in North America...[Click here to read the complete article]
Sunday, November 19
MIT Global Entrepreneurship Video
The MIT Enterprise Forum recently held a conference to discuss Global Entrepreneurship. A video was recently made available. The video, taped live, of the Global Broadcast "Global Entrepreneurship: Inefficiency as Opportunity in the Developing World," is now available on MITWorld as video 395.
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/395/
Energy technology has particular applications within this context. Enjoy...
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/395/
Energy technology has particular applications within this context. Enjoy...
Thursday, November 16
Wind industry confident turbines, radar can coexist
Science News
Nov. 5, 2006
By Bernie Woodall
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Wind power advocates see a series of recent approvals for major wind farms as proof that the burgeoning industry's growth will not be stunted by U.S. Department of Defense concerns that turbines can interfere with radar.
However, additional scrutiny brought on by a defense department report may prolong the approval process of wind farms, said Laurie Jodziewicz of the American Wind Energy Association, an advocate group for the U.S. wind power industry...[Click here for the full article]
Nov. 5, 2006
By Bernie Woodall
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Wind power advocates see a series of recent approvals for major wind farms as proof that the burgeoning industry's growth will not be stunted by U.S. Department of Defense concerns that turbines can interfere with radar.
However, additional scrutiny brought on by a defense department report may prolong the approval process of wind farms, said Laurie Jodziewicz of the American Wind Energy Association, an advocate group for the U.S. wind power industry...[Click here for the full article]
AWEA THIRD QUARTER MARKET REPORT: U.S. WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY COMPLETES WORLD’S LARGEST WIND FARM,
Oct. 24, 2006
The U.S. wind energy industry is on track to install a record 2,750 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity in 2006, which will produce about as much electricity as is used by the entire state of Rhode Island and help strengthen energy security, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said today in its Third Quarter Market Report. In other record-breaking news, one of the projects completed this quarter, FPL Energy’s 735-MW Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Texas, has shattered all previous records for the country’s and world’s largest wind farm. One megawatt of wind power produces enough electricity on a typical day to serve the equivalent of 250-300 homes...[Click here for full article]
The U.S. wind energy industry is on track to install a record 2,750 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity in 2006, which will produce about as much electricity as is used by the entire state of Rhode Island and help strengthen energy security, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said today in its Third Quarter Market Report. In other record-breaking news, one of the projects completed this quarter, FPL Energy’s 735-MW Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Texas, has shattered all previous records for the country’s and world’s largest wind farm. One megawatt of wind power produces enough electricity on a typical day to serve the equivalent of 250-300 homes...[Click here for full article]
Wednesday, November 15
India Expanding Solar Powered Traffic Lights
NEW DELHI: States are all set to solarise traffic signals in keeping with the guidelines of the national energy policy that suggest use of renewable sources of energy. While Delhi, Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh have since long implemented these guidelines, others joining the league are Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana. Most of these states have applied to the ministry of non-conventional energy sources (MNES) for subsidies for installing solar-powered traffic signals...[Click here for original article]
GE's Oil & Gas business supplying IGCC turbines to Qatar Shell GTL Ltd.
Sept. 25, 2006
GE's Oil & Gas business will supply six PG6581B (Frame 6B) gas turbines, equipped with dual fuel IGCC (integrated gasification combined-cycle) type combustion systems, to Qatar Shell GTL Ltd. for the Pearl GTL (gas-to-liquids) project in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. In addition to the 42-megawatt gas turbine-generators, the scope of GE's contract includes IGCC combustion engineering, combustion system lab testing, spare parts and training. The project marks the first time GE's Oil & Gas business will supply Frame 6 units with IGCC technology. "Qatar's abundant natural gas supply makes it an ideal base for the rapidly growing GTL industry," said Mohammad Ayoub, Region General Manager, GE Oil & Gas -- Middle East. "The technology also supports the environment by supplying a cleaner transport fuel, which has immense applications in practical life...[Click here for full article]
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