2013 Draws to a Close: Clean Energy Scorecard

2013 was a momentous year for the clean energy industries, markets and consumers. Here are some highlights worth noting.

In fact 2013, was the first time in history renewable sources created more NEW electricity than any other resource

Renewable sources now account for nearly 16% of total installed U.S. operating generating capacity:  water - 8.30 percent, wind - 5.21 percent, biomass - 1.32 percent, solar - 0.59 percent, and geothermal steam - 0.33 percent. This is more than nuclear (9.22%) and oil (4.06%) combined. 

Solar installations are surging in the USA. Think progress recently reported on the US solar industry’s growth, “2013 is likely to be the first time in more than 15 years that the U.S. installs more solar capacity than world leader Germany.

GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association have informed, by the end of the year, more than 400,000 solar projects will be operating across the U.S. and installations will have grown 27 percent over 2012, with a 52 percent growth rate in the residential sector alone, according to GTM’s forecast.”

The first marine energy connection to the USA utility grid. Ocean Renewable Power Company, which after five years of planning, installed an underwater turbine 2,200 feet from the Maine shore.

Concentrated solar is on the path to over 1.3 GW of new U.S. generation with Ivanpah and Solana now on-line and two more bring built in 2013. Both solar generation plants have 11 hours of storage for evening generation.

Geothermal also heating up. As of August 2013, 11,765 megawatts of (gross) geothermal power are operating globally in addition to several hundred MW in the final stages of construction. By the end of 2013 the global geothermal market is expected to reach 12,000 MW of geothermal capacity. By the end of the decade with several hundred MW of new geothermal power becoming operation per year. In 2013, some of the first demostration enhanced geothermal system (EGS) projects provided electricity to grids in Australia and the U.S.

California leads the states notably for “on bill” financing energy efficiency and renewable energy, and in September becoming the first state to mandate electricity storage on the grid. Not to be seen as weak-kneed, the state PUC set a 1.3-GW mandate for energy storage on the grid by 2020. Battery technologies are in an upswing, as is pumped hydropower, and compressed storage.

Other key findings of the poll include: The percentage of Americans who agree there is solid evidence of a changing climate has steadily increased since 2010. The Duke poll found 50 percent of Americans are convinced the climate is changing and another 34 percent say it is probably changing; this is an increase from other recent polls. 54 percent feel climate change is primarily the result of human activity (the highest level in the past couple of years).

The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently concluded, “Renewable energy sources could account for nearly half of the increase in global power generation through 2035," according to its 2013 edition of the World Energy Outlook. "Wind energy and solar energy could make up 45 percent of that expansion in renewables,” the report said.

Renewable Energy World Scordcard 2013

An Overview of the Transmission and Distribution Network in New Zealand

An introduction of the New Zealand Electric System 

electrical-engineering-portal

Robotics for optimazing Renewable Energies O&M

In one Renewable Energy Plant, the cash flow generated by selling the electricity produced is mostly the ROI (indifferent if it is by Feed-in-Tariff or by PPA contract).

From this electricity produced we have to make the reduction of O&M. Right now, there are some innovative systems to reduce the cost of this O&M process. In internet, there is the possibility to find helicopters which gets a thermographic camera to check the state of connectors and panels. At the same time, there is the possibility for getting systems which are able to clean the PV panels. In wind farms there is a device which analyze by a microwave scanner the material composition of the blades.

From the points mentioned in the first two paragraphs, we also know there is a great advance in the robotic engineering, is well known the ASIMO from Honda which can bring a cup of tea and let it on the table. Another example is the high technology of the robots of the detonation of explosives  which are working time ago.

My proposal, as an occurrence after watching, some days ago, the devices used after landing of the "CHINA SPACE" agency in the Moon, is simple. Of course I am not an expert in the O&M of the Renewable Energy industry for knowing the top subjects for O&M for every kind of technology, but for sure, may be, there is a common points in mostly cases.

The proposal would be the possibility for creating  an automatic systems which would be able to optimize the process of O&M in the Renewable Energies.

As a example, it would be possible a robot which makes the O&M in one PV Plant, I am not an expert but, one system which would be able to be controlled remotely for making the basic operations; reviewing with a thermographic camera the panels and connections, has the possibility for changing any fuse or control board in the combiner boxes. This system, at the same time can make the security control of the plant with some incorporated cameras, moving by the Plant controlling possible not authorized access. Why not, also being a meteorological station, a camera for getting a view of the state of the sky in the plant, and of course, considering, the energy of the system is taken by the PV Plant. Even, there is the possibility for making any transportation to other plants optimizing the device in case the investor has more than one plant.

On the other hand, I don't know if we can make any similar proposal for Wind Energy Farms, making in the onshore case, a similar device to travel from every wind turbine, access to every tower and get on the lift to the nacelle and review the most important points. Of course, if there is an study of the main O&M points of the Wind turbine, there is the possibility for optimizing the device for being able to make the most important actions. And, why not the same situation for offshore Wind Farms, which the helicopter used in the example but just adapted with the capacity for moving this device from every wind turbine in the offshore farm and also, keeping this helicopter in the primary substation center with an small wind turbine for its supplying. May be aslo a submarine for controlling the state of the wind turbine bases.

May be, there is no sense what I am saying, but I think the only way for getting any future to the PV Energy, 

it is optimizing the cost. Right now, as a example, in Spain PV profit is almost 4 times lower than Wind Energy.

It would be one company investing in a device which at the end it would be for all plants and then optimizing the investment of the design and production of this device and of course giving a benefit to the O&M responsible, and getting the properly ROI to continue considering PV Energy as a profit business.

It would be very greatefull to receive inputs regarding the information exposed

1_Helicopters with thermographic camera for checking solar panels

2_Explosive detonation Robotics

3_ASIMO Honda

4_Transmission Lines Inspection Robots

5_Microwave Scanner for Blade Material Composition Robot

6_China Space moon landing

7_Cleaning Solar Panels

Spanish Justice Resolution: Economic Hole in the Electric System must be paid by Utilities

Today 13th December 2013, the Spanish Justice rules:

 The hole of more than 26.000 M€ must be paid by the 5 most important Utilities in Spain: Endesa, Gas Natural Fenosa, Iberdrola, E.ON and HC (Hidrocantabrico).

This hole is a product of; the incoming of the complete management of the Electric System are lower than the cost.
In this complete systems is; the REE (Red Eléctrica de España), the Electric System Operator with the Transmission System, the 5 most important Utilities for the Distribution System, enunciated on the Top, and the Feed in Tarif for the Renewable Energies.
(For more technical details, please visit in the Blog: Australia stares down an Electricity "Death Spiral"

This Judgement Resolution makes a point of inflexion in the Spanish Electric Market, because the Utilities are not going to make any investment in the Spanish Electric System in the next years and in consequence, the end customer will suffer time by time more difficulties in the Electrical Supply.

I don't know what is the point of view of the Electric Systems suppliers, if there was any hope for increasing expectatives for 2014 in the Power Systems, may be it is too late but, I think it is moment for making "adjustements" in the Profit Plant of 2014, and may be increasing UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) portfolio...

Complete new in Expansion (Spanish)

Australia stares down an Electricity "Death Spiral"

This fantastic analysis explains the process which, it seems starts in Australia, unfortunately this is well known in Spain.

When the Electricity demand gets down, is not happening the same with the price of Electricity. In a normal business we have competence (retail business etc), some companies must faith for getting the customer, and of course get "the Customer Loyalty" giving a high quality support.

But what happens with Transmission and Distribution Electric Network Companies, the situation is very different, the real situation is: in the meanwhile the demand is falling down the customer are paying more and more for the Electricity Bill. 

In the article expose the case in Australia but in Spain was the same. 

In Spain, the consequence is nearly to the cost of 30.000 M€ (a little bit more of 26.000) at the end of this year. And only not increasing for the finish of Feed in Tarif to the PV industry during this year. We will see next year 2014.

During the Real State boom until 2008, the investment by REE (Spanish Operator) in Transport infrastructure and by the Utilities in AC Power Infrastructure for distribution systems was great. Nowadays, the demand has decrease strongly and as a result, the end customer, State, Renewable Energies (reduction of Feed in Tarif) and Utilities (Goverment law) must pay these great bill. 

Mr. Wood propose three reforms:

To reduce electricity costs, the AER (Australia Energy Regulator) needs to set rates of return for network businesses that are consistent with the low risks of a natural monopoly. It should also implement more regular capital forecast reviews to ensure the businesses are spending an appropriate amount on infrastructure.

The second reform would be to move towards network tariffs that reflect the costs that consumers place on the network. Since it is peak demand, rather than consumption, that is the major driver of those costs, a move towards peak demand tariffs would be sensible.

The third, and most difficult, action would be to explicitly review the value of the network infrastructure already installed and paid for by consumers. Falling demand means that network users no longer need all the infrastructure and would not want to keep paying for it.

Complete article: australia-stares-down-electricity-death-spiral?

IBM's Cloud Platform for Indian Renewable Energies

Great system for integrating in Cloud computing all information from Wind Farm production and cross this information with meteorological information with application for all Renewable Energies which great dependence of weather conditions.

The next application, crossing and analyzing all this information regarding production and weather conditions information, it could be a forecasting of the production.

But even is possible an step forward, with the possibility for giving directly to the customer the production in their ERP systems in economical result, giving the economic information of the safe minimal production in the Bottom-line balance.
By this way, the investor has the possibility for managing their cash flow, because has cash for internal needs, and then, improving the ROI of the global project.

Cloud-platform-for-indian-renewable-energy

El Ministro de Industria, Sr.: Soria, indica: Los fondos de Renovables que han denunciado a España querían rentabilidades del 20%

El Ministro de Industria, el Sr. Soria indica que no puede existir ningún negocio que se asegure un 20% de rentabilidad, como tampoco puede ser para las renovables, son sus palabras y la de los Servicios Jurídicos del Estado Español.

No sé si estará en lo cierto, cada uno tiene su opinión, pero lo cierto es que ha España no ha llegado ningún inversor de Renovables desde el estallido, de la "modificación", de la remuneración del "Régimen Especial", por algo será.

Es cierto que algunas políticas del pasado no fueron apropiadas con ciertas tarifas a la producción en Régimen Especial, y que si en un inicio lo fueron deberían haber tenido ajustes a nivel paulatino, a medida que dichas tecnologías adquirían mayor rendimiento y por tanto, una reducción de dichas tarifas.
Ahora es demasiado tarde para cambiar todo, pero lo que si que es cierto es que España se enfrenta a un pleito por parte de ciertos inversores en el Tribunal del Banco Mundial (Fondos internacionales RREEF y Antin a través de Deutsche Bank y BNP) por la reducción de dichas tarifas en la Termosolar, puesto que como es lógico, no se pueden cambiar las reglas del juego una vez aprobadas, puesto que si hubiera sido así, posiblemente no existiría dicha inversión. Los propios inversores ya no hablan de la Fotovoltaica, sino de la Termosolar, que como es sabido, todavía está en fase de "incubación" tecnológica.

En mi opinión, y por desgracia, España ha quedado como el país ejemplo de como no se deben hacer las cosas, y creo que es así. Podemos estar de acuerdo o no, pero que le pregunten a millones de españoles por que no se cambian las reglas del juego ante el problema de las hipotecas, cuando sabemos que el valor de dichas viviendas ya no es el que se plasmo en su día, pero con ..... hemos topado


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Endesa's new bidirectional charging Point Halve Charging/Discharging time

Endesa has developed their firs V2G (Vehicle to Grid) CHAdeMO EV Charger

The systems offers the possibility to charge the EV and also to integrate the electricity into the Electric Grid from a EV.

It seems the Utility companies think in a EV charger with integrate electricity technology. From that point it gets a lot of question by my side.

First of all, how will be the data network infrastructure for controlling all this EV charge points, for knowing demand response, for the forecasting of generation by Utility or Electric System Operator. I think it is not possible only with Ethernet cable or optic fiber, I consider very expensive with the high number of points in the future, but it will be a challenge. Why, because there is no possibility to use only one physical layer or system. I think wireless will be great in a open parkings like you can see on picture, but what is going to hapen in underground parkings, may be solution it will be PLC (Power Line Communication) and may be other possibilities, but of course the complexity for managing all the complete system in future with thausend of this EV charger in the cities, it will be a challenge.

What is great would be the possibilities and the complexity for the total integration of the control for all this EV charger the day of tomorrow. It is clear if the Utilities spend more resources in a more complex EV charger, with possibility to integrate electricity, it has one, or more, reasons. May be the possibility for integrating this electricity from the EV to the Grid in case of emergency, in case of, for whatever situation, meterological or "others" situation which can be a complex situation for the Utility's Customer, or get a dangerous situation for the Critical Infraestructure and it is necessary electricity resources. In the most of cases, the main generation for supplying cities are not close to this cities, then whatever problem in the transport Power lines or any substation in the city and create those issues.

Then, this EV charge with possibility to integrate electricity is going to give respons in that cases, with the integration of the electricity from the EV to the grid. May be  it seems not available, but with the high number of EV can be parked in the future "Smart Cities", why not can be a solution for any issue of Power Supply coming from the Utilities, Critical Infrastructure or transportation.

The challenge it will be Network Infrastructure for controlling all this EV charge with electric integration.

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Lunar Solar Power Generation - The most incredible project of Solar Energy coming from Japan

One project is thinking to produce Energy in the Moon

http://www.shimz.co.jp/english

Shimizy Corporation proposes the LUNA RING for the infinite coexistence of manking and the Earth

Video Space Solar Shimz

Enel anuncia Plantas Solares en el marco de licitación de Chile

Se trata del primer anuncio de Plantas Solares que suministrarán electricidad en el marco de una licitación en el mercado regulado en Chile y con financiación propia de Enel


Noticia Completa LATAM PV Magazine

Octocopter Amanzon: A Revolution in Logistic Industry

Amazon presents the revolutionary new way for shiping low weight package from bulk point to final user.

The revolutionary system can deliver packaging even in 30 minuts from the last bulk point in the supply chain to the end consumer. Of course, the system works with electric motors.

If this systems are working with electric motors, and then with electric batteries, of course, with the high number of devices "flying" every day for our skies, companies like Amazon is going to use Renewable Enegies for reducing the cost of operation.

It will be the first time, one logistic process will use electricity for shiping, the owner of Amazon knows with this implementation the cost of electricity it will be almost 0 (only the cost of O&M of the Farm and the "Octocopter") after the ROI of the PV or Wind Farm.

Of course, this new application will reduce and make a revolution on the logistic industry which the possibility for being implemented in thousend of applications, all of them supplies by electricity coming from Sun or Wind, cost 0 in raw material.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyxXLHT7H1E