Clean Energy

Why Wind Intermittency Is Not a Big Deal

Why Wind Intermittency Is Not a Big Deal

This post answers the recently much hyped focus on wind’s variability problem, quantifying it in clear cost terms that put it in perspective. The post helps clarify the differences between energy, capacity and the ancillary services surrounding ensuring capacity and goes on to answer some of the other related problems that have been alleged for wind energy as its penetration level increases.

Why You Need to Pay Attention to Bio Natural Gas

Why You Need to Pay Attention to Bio Natural Gas

In this post, Dallas writes about bio natural gas a potentially disruptive renewable energy technology that may be poised to expand out of the niche markets it has so far been constrained in. After describing what bio natural gas is and is not, the post delves into some of the specifics for why this sector may be ready to take off, and why it has a big upside potential. The study, which this post summarizes suggests that bio natural gas may emerge as the lowest cost renewable power in the future, once available at scale.

Is the Concentrated Photovoltaic Sector Heating Up?

Is the Concentrated Photovoltaic Sector Heating Up?

Concentrated solar photovoltaic energy or CPV is a relative newcomer to the solar power arena and is showing signs of entering into a phase of very rapid growth. It works by concentrating the sun onto a small area of active PV, which operates at around twice the efficiency of normal PV, and promises savings because it requires only a fraction of the photovoltaic material that normal systems require. The DOE has announced a $90 million loan guarantee to support a planned 30-megawatt facility near Alamosa, Colorado.

Wind Turbines May Be Shut Down in Pacific Northwest

Wind Turbines May Be Shut Down in Pacific Northwest

Wind farms up here in the Pacific Northwest may soon be shut down temporarily because there is no transmission capacity to move this green renewable power to where it is needed. A record snowfall in the mountains at the headwaters of the Columbia river system is about to begin melting and will send a surge of water down the river. Because this water cannot be sent over the spill ways without endangering already endangered Salmon and Steelhead fish it needs to be run through the turbines. There is just too much power for the regional markets and the existing transmission infrastructure to handle and thus wind farms are likely to be idled. What this exposes is the need for an improved Ultra high voltage long distance electric transmission network that is capable of moving surplus power from one region to another.

UCB Solar Powered Vehicle to Compete in World Solar Challenge

UCB Solar Powered Vehicle to Compete in World Solar Challenge

This post showcases the Impulse, a really cool solar powered car built by the CalSol student group of UC Berkeley and that has been entered to compete in the World Solar Challenge. Hats off to these young engineers and designers for putting together such a sleek racer that showcases the power of the sun and lightweight vehicle construction. Events such as these are also an important way to raise awareness of the potential of renewable energy.

WINDPOWER 2011 and Careers in Wind Summit

WINDPOWER 2011 and Careers in Wind Summit

The WINDPOWER 2011 Conference & Exhibition, organized by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), is coming up this month and will run from May 22nd through the 25th, and will be held this year in Anaheim, California. On Sunday May 22nd, it will kick off with a Careers in Wind Summit, a full, one-day event that precedes WINDPOWER, and consists of two concurrent parts: the WINDPOWER “Careers in Wind” Educational Seminars, and the WINDPOWER “Careers in Wind” Job Fair & Exhibition.

Is Social Media a Good Way to Promote Solar? Ask Solar Fred

Is Social Media a Good Way to Promote Solar? Ask Solar Fred

Interview with Solar Fred, who is a well known voice in the solar social media marketing space. The interview provides the reader with some insight into effective social media marketing, for solar and how effective a tool it can be if used well. It makes the point that in order to be effective and build trust social media marketers need to provide good information to the communities that they are trying to reach.

Does Concentrated Solar Power Have the Answer to Intermittency Concerns?

Does Concentrated Solar Power Have the Answer to Intermittency Concerns?

In this post John outlines two developments in the thermosolar concentrated solar power (CSP) arena that are enabling CSP to fulfill the role of baseload suppliers. Molten salt energy storage is naturally suited for CSP facilities and is quite efficient as an energy store — both in terms of low loss and in terms of capital expenditures (compared with batteries for example). By storing power in this way CSP plants can continue delivering power even after the sun has gone down. In addition by pairing CSP with stand-by combined-cycle natural gas generators greater overall reliability can be achieved.

Marketing Strategies for Solar Businesses

Marketing Strategies for Solar Businesses

In this post Pamela Cargill advises small solar firms on various ways that they can develop a successful forward-looking marketing strategy and move beyond the trap of reactive marketing that drowns so many small businesses in a continuous struggle to keep up.