Latest Updates: renewable energy RSS

• Build A Homemade Wind Generator
  Tate 05:59:14 pm on November 11, 2008 | 8 | # |
  Tags: homemade wind generator, renewable energy, wind power

  With oil prices now hovering around $60/barrel, the appetite for wind and solar energy has waned quite a bit but that doesn’t mean that we can forget about alternative energies.  The demand picture may have changed as the world economy falters but the supply picture won’t.  Once the economy improves, cheap oil will be increasingly difficult to come by and prices will rise again. . in a big way.

  Perhaps now is the time to look into building your own homemade wind generator!  Parts are likely much cheaper and you’ll be well positioned and an expert on wind generators once oil prices skyrocket again.  Many families around the the world are discovering that its not too difficult to get your own wind generator built and up and running which is much cheaper than buying a pre built wind generator. .. perhaps just a couple hundred bucks.

  In a nutshell, you’ll need to construct a wind turbine tower first and one site recommends just using an old telephone signal tower which can be erected in parts.  The most complex part of the construction process is putting together the hubs and blades but with a little patience and elbow grease you’ll be up and running in no time potentially slashing your electricity bill by half.

  One of the most popular step by step guides to build your own wind generator is provided by Michael Harvey who has been building wind and solar power systems for friends and family for the past 6 years.

   

• Solar Electricity For Some High !!
  Srikant Rajan 07:26:31 am on October 14, 2008 | 1 | # |
  Tags: renewable energy, solar electricity, solar plant, solar power, winery pwoer system

  Constellation Wines US (CWUS) , has begun the installation of one of the  largest solar power energy system for its winery located at Monterey County, California.The capacity is anticipated to be 1 MW and will cover 170000 square feet of the main winery warehouse roof and would provide 50 % of the winery’s total energy requirement.Kelly McMahon, Director of Sales for Pacific Power Management, who is working with Constellation on this project says “   During the summer months, when the winery is not crushing grapes, the system will export enough electricity onto PG&E’s power lines to supply all of the electrical needs for about 25 percent of the roughly 1,695 households in Gonzales   “

   

• Power Grids To Get Smarter
  Srikant Rajan 02:10:54 pm on September 28, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: grid integration, gridPoint, Hybrid, plug in, power grid, renewable energy, v2green

  Grid integration technology is slowly gaining a foothold in the much ignored domain of energy transmission.GridPoint has raised $120 million to bolster its “   smart grid   “ technology development .It has also acquired V2Green , an enterprise engaged in providing technology to utilities for managing electricity demands of plug-in vehicles.GridPoint termed this acquisition as “   first step in an acquisition strategy to be fueled by the $120 million investment from undisclosed previous investors  “

  The company has built what it calls the SmartGrid Platform, which gives utilities more insight into the grid so that they can, for instance, strategically discharge and store power according to demand. Such development can act as a potential push for advancing the commercialization of plug in hybrids.

   

• Nuclear Waiver For a Green India ?
  Srikant Rajan 04:33:34 pm on September 8, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: nuclear energy, oil imports, renewable energy, solar energy

  India has received approval from 45 member Nuclear Supplier Group for civilian nuclear corporation , ending 34 years of nuclear isolation.This development places India in a unique position to leverage its business expertise , technical manpower with a host of cutting edge technologies to advance development of nuclear energy.This NSG waiver is expected to promote entry of private players in the power generation sector and entail an estimated investment of $40billion in the coming decade.

  Politics apart , from a sustainability viewpoint this waiver has enormous implications.The development of nuclear energy is no doubt a significant fallout of this policy but access to latest technologies also presents India an opportunity to utilize the same in other domains such as medical appliances , solar energy.In essence it may ease in development of alternative power in India and thus reduce dependence on oil imports

   

• US Wind Power Sector Blowing Strong
  Srikant Rajan 12:41:03 pm on August 9, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Iberdrola, renewable energy, US, wind power, wind turbine

  The first wind farm to be constructed in Arizona has already found buyers of its power yet to be produced.The Dry Lake Wind Project , being built by Iberdrola Renewable’s has entered  into agreement with Salt River Project (SRP), according to which SRP would purchase 100% of power generated by this wind farm.The contract also give SRP an option to buy additional power in case of capacity expansion.

  SRP’s optimistic estimation of power demand is partly governed by strong business sense .The existing transmission line in Arizona are in proximity with the proposed wind farm,which would save a significant amount of additional construction for building up transmission capabilities.And Iberdrola seems to have got right its market estimate regarding wind power viability . It had recently signed up with GE for delivery of 200 wind turbines .Judging by the present demand ,  Iberdrola  would find good use for all 200 of the wind turbines.

   

   

• No Tax Credits and No End to Speculation
  Srikant Rajan 04:04:26 pm on August 2, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: anwr, oil industry, renewable energy, speculation, tax credits

  A key legislation aimed at extension of tax credits to the renewable energy sector failed to garner key support in the US senate. In a double whammy , another bill aimed at limiting excessive speculation in the oil industry was also not approved.President Bush has repeatedly favored development of oil reserves , and adds that there is enough available to fuel demand for the next 10 years( ………and what after that ??? ).Democrats oppose encroaching of protected ecosystems (ANWR), and support development of renewable energy.

  The recent fall of crude price/ barrel highlights that speculation does indeed contribute to high oil prices.However , there is no denying the fact that oil reserves are limited and alternate energy sources need to be developed, for which financial and policy support is essential.

   

• A Strong Wind Blows
  Srikant Rajan 09:32:30 am on July 10, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: clne, GE, General Electric, natural gas, renewable energy, t boone pickens, wind power

  Wind energy seems to be the new favorite of all renewable energy technologies. Billionaire T Boon Pickens has invested a couple of billions ($12 Billion) in his wind farm and also initiated the  Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) .Pickens believes the dependence on foreign oil can be weaned through a rigorous adoption of a multitude of energy technologies, and rightfully so. He further adds that Bush is too ethanol focused and believes natural gas as one of US energy assets. Now GE has declared that its renewable energy investments have exceeded $4billion with $100 million invested in upcoming wind projects.

  GE’s present investments include a total of 76 wind farms and a generating capacity in excess of 4000 MW. This seems to be beneficial to GE from a business perspective as investments in wind projects provide a steady demand for their in house turbines.

   

   

• UK’s Green Plan
  Srikant Rajan 01:28:33 pm on July 9, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: gordon brown, government regulation, london, renewable energy, UK

  UK has released its blueprint for an energy plan aimed at removing bottlenecks in renewable energy projects. This plan seeks to provide financial incentives as well as ease the technical and regulatory hurdles in development of renewable power projects. Prime Minister Gordon Brown anticipates generating 15% of total energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020 and further expects a tenfold increase in UK’s renewable power generating capacity. Business secretary John Hutton adds that such a huge increase in green power would aid reduction of carbon emissions, enhance UK’s competitiveness and create nearly 160,000 new jobs.

  The key point of these measures is a proposed extension of renewable energy credits to encourage private investment in this sector, to the tune of nearly £100 billion .Notably, this plan even covers the hurdles in connection of the renewable power to the main grid system .Andy Lee, chairman of the Renewable Energy Association says “ The proposals appear to cover every aspect and they are taking a much wider view of the issues than has been the case in the past. The proposal for a simple feed-in tariff for onsite technologies is very welcome ”.

   

   

   

• Senate Kills Energy Acts 3044 and 6049
  Tate 05:33:51 pm on June 13, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: barack obama, consumer first energy act, energy act 6049, renewable energy

  A couple days ago, two energy acts that many feel were important to continuing the momentum of renewable energies were killed by Republicans in the Senate, which feel the acts provide unnecessary, permanent tax hikes in exchange for subsidies.  I don’t have all the details on this yet but hope to have an article up on the main site soon detailing what these acts proposed and why they were shot down. 

  Said Barack Obama:

  “Today, Senate Republicans turned a blind eye to the plight of America’s working families and our nation’s worsening dependence on foreign oil. At a time when Americans are struggling with skyrocketing energy prices, including paying over $4.00 a gallon for gasoline, Senate Republicans blocked debate on important legislation that would have provided tax relief for low-income families and spurred on investments in job-creating research and development and alternative energy.

  “Senate Republicans also refused to extend critical investments in renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and cellulosic ethanol. I am particularly disappointed that the tax credit for the installation of biofuels pumps at gas stations, a provision I helped enact in 2005, is among the provisions that were blocked.

  “These proposals alone would not have solved our serious energy problems, but they would have provided American families with some much-needed relief from record high gas prices. They also would have put America on track to having real alternatives to foreign oil and helped make our economy less vulnerable. We must stand with American families and not with those that are taking advantage of them, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to pass these important measures.”