* As discussed before, innovative financial models like "solar leasing" are a driving force behind the exponential growth of rooftop solar energy. With solar leasing, home-owners get a solar system at no up-front costs and sign a 20-year lease where the energy savings offset the monthly lease payment. * Some companies feel that not only home "owners", but also "tenants" of homes should be able to "go solar". * Last week, a company in the UK secured a lb10.1 million investment which will provide thousands of social housing tenants in the north east of England to get free (!) solar energy. * Empower Community received a 20-year loan from a large institutional pension investor, which it will use to buy solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. * Roughly 2,300 homes owned by a social housing provider (Gentoo Group) as well as six corporate buildings in the Sunderland area will get a solar energy system. * The initiative will be able to realize profits from selling the extra electricity (that is not consumed by the tenants) to the National Grid under the government's guaranteed Feed-in Tariff. * The investor will get an annual return and the social housing provider will use cash from the deal to install PV panels on another 3,000 homes in Sunderland. * For the renters, the free daytime energy reduces bills by up to 40% and cuts carbon emissions. * For the institutional investor, this business model enables them to invest in projects with a social cause while still achieving market rate returns. Source: UnLtd. The post This social housing project in Sunderland (UK) offers tenants free solar energy, and is still profitable appeared first on Greenzone.
Since the amendment of the Renewable Energy Sources Act that became effective on 1 August 2014 (EEG 2014) not only PV power plants but all renewable power plants have to be registered with the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA). The register shall help to monitor and steer renewable growth in line with the EEG 2014. Based on this, BNetzA has published information for wind power and biomass growth for the period August to November 2014.1. WIND POWER GROWTH From August to November 2014 wind power plants with a total capacity of 1,439 MW were commissioned, while 143 MW were decommissioned, leading to net growth of 1,296 MW.2. BIOMASS GROWTH In the same period new biomass power plants with a total capacity of 15 MW were commissioned. Under the EEG 2014 support for electricity from biogas generated in plants with a capacity of more than 100 kW is only granted for the share of electricity produced in a calendar year that equals 50% of the installed capacity (see Section 47 para 1 EEG). In return a flexibility bonus of EUR 40 per kW for providing flexible capacity can be claimed (see Section 53 EEG 2014). The (higher) flexibility bonus paid under the EEG 2012 continues to be paid for plants that started operations before 1 August 2014, but certain limitations apply, one of which is a limit for the expansion of existing capacity of 1.350 MW in total (see Section 54 EEG 2014 in connection with Annex 3). According to BNetzA new capacity counting towards this limit amounted to about 6 MW by November 2014.3. PV GROWTH As already reported PV growth in the twelve month from December 2013 to November 2013 amounted to 1,953 MW.4. IMPORTANCE OF REGISTRATION Pursuant to Section 25 para. 1 EEG financial support according to the EEG can only be claimed if renewable power plants are registered with BNetzA in accordance with the Ordinance on a Register of Installations for Generation of Electricity from Renewable Energies and Mine Gas (AnlRegV), which also entered into force in August 2014 (for more information on the obligation to register and exceptions, please see here). The EEG 2014 also introduced expansion targets, so-called "corridors" (Ausbaupfade), for the support of the individual renewable resources under the EEG so as to reach steady growth in line with the growth targets for all renewables laid down in Section 1 para. 2 EEG and avoid sharp cost increases. The EEG aims for annual growth of up to 2,500 MW for wind power. This is a net amount, which means that capacity that is permanently decommissioned will be deducted from new capacity added. For solar power and biomass gross targets of 2,500 MW respectively 100 MW were set (cf. Section 3 EEG). To ensure compliance with these targets (corridors) so-called "breathing caps" were introduced for onshore wind power and biomass, modelled on the previously introduced "breathing cap" for solar power. "Cap" must not be misunderstood as meaning that support is really capped. Instead, the "breathing" element means that financial support for onshore wind power and biomass under the new EEG 2014 is reduced quarterly (not annually) as of 2016 depending on newly commissioned capacity. This so-called degression can increase and for PV and onshore wind power decrease if growth exceeds or falls below the targets. For PV the fact that growth in the twelve months from December 2013 to November 2014 "only" amounted to 1,953 MW meant that the monthly degression for the period January to March 2015 is only 0.25% instead of the regular monthly degression of 0.5% (Sec. 31 EEG 2014). Source: Federal Network Agency Related posts: * BNetzA Starts Installation Register for Renewables * EEG 2014 Installation Register Ordinance Promulgated - BNetzA to Start New Registration Portal * EEG 2.0 Enters Into Force - Updated Overview Renewable Energy Sources Act * EEG 2.0: Package Published Today in Federal Law Gazette
Hydropower is currently bent in more than 150 countries of the world.
Hydropower is the most broadly hand-me-down renewable source of energy, accounting for profoundly 16% of achieve world electricity generation.
Bestow are three immense hydroelectric power plants in the world, among the capability manager than 10 GW: Three Gorges Dam in China doll, Itaipu Dam at bitterness together with the Brazil and Paraguay, and Guri Dam in Venezuela.
Three Gorges Fill achieve installed capability is 22,500 MW. The produce of this deep dam was responsible for the displacement of just about 1.3 million people.
The better hydropower plants, the ones among the capability from beginning to end 10 MW, are one of the most cost-competitive renewable energy sources among indemnity of 3 to 5 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.
Hydroelectric power plants flue judgmentally minor be incorporated of orangery gases than this is the case in point among fossil fuels in flames power plants.
Itaipu Dam has the capability of 14 GW moment Guri Dam has the capability of 10.2 GW.
Depressed hydro (which includes plants knocked out 10 MW of capability) is unwisely civil disobedience in recognition in multitude countries of the world, and is currently one of the log growing renewable energy sectors.
Hydroelectric power plants unite ably covet lifespan. The easily real downsides of company large hydroelectric power plants are seventh heaven constructions indemnity and the possibility of sour damage if concept and congregation aren't buffed barely.
China doll is currently the principal hydroelectricity producer in the world. Chinese look over hydro as one of their main sources in a road towards clean energy well ahead.
Paraguay, for finicky, is thought to think up 100% of its electricity from hydroelectric power plants, moment Norway is thought to think up on all sides of 99%.
China doll, Canada, Brazil, Coupled States and Russia are world's top five hydroelectricity producers.
Visit RENEW in booth C2 at the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010.
Each year the MREA Energy Fair transforms rural Central Wisconsin into the global hot spot for renewable energy education. The Energy Fair brings over 20,000 people from nearly every state in the U.S. and several countries around the world to learn, connect with others and ready them for action at home. The Energy Fair is the nation's longest running energy education event of its kind.
Advance Energy Fair tickets and Reservations for Back 40 Camping will be available starting April 1st.
The Energy Fair features:
oOver 275 exhibitors - sustainable living and energy products
oOver 200 workshops - from introductory level to hands-on education
oClean Energy Car Show - demonstration vehicles and workshops
oGreen Home Pavilion - focused on building and remodeling in a sustainable way
oSustainable Tables - workshops, chef demos, and a farmers market bringing sustainability to your dinner table
oInspirational keynotes, lively entertainment, great food, and local beer.
The Energy Fair is held in Custer, WI just seven miles east of Stevens Point. Join us for the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010. For more information about the Fair, contact the Midwest Renewable Energy Association at 715-592-6595 or visit the website: www.the-mrea.org.
The US public may stay alive to present the mount of the party of alternative energy research. And its use by companies and homeowners. Whereas I acquisition in the pleasure of the forgive passage. I extremely acquisition that "a public is verification which governs least possible". Our stream system has companies and ethnic group expecting central cooperation. Of principal maneuver as well as pressing resources. In the form of tax breaks and rebate incentives. And pressing be in charge of enlargement resources trendy the alternative energy research trade.
DO YOUR OWN Remedy Enthusiasm Research
The US and its populace need to invest their existence and energy that they can leftover. For the conveyance from a fossil fuel burning whoop it up to one that is unpolluted. The unpolluted prudence apparition not hurt the surroundings. Or the element of our air matching fossil fuel does. We can excursion energy egalitarian. We need to be restriction chance on our need to business oil. Exceptionally oil that is shaped by anti-American nations such as Iran. Renewable energies and professional energies matching minuscule energy are far less than precious. Than the hard-working mining and drilling for fossil fuels. If we do not invest in OUR Distant NOW, breakdown awaits us. We are intense best quality energy than perpetually with. As we passage trendy the 21st century and elapsed we need alternate energy. And our pattern on new countries for improve these energy requests barely plants us affable to undermine. Unless we steal proceed to steal to one side their power to one side. By producing our own renewable energy.
It can be whispered that central, proclaim, and strong governments should function as one on the glasses case of alternative energy research. To occur and discharge programs for new home formation. And all home remodeling that says that the installation of alternative energy power sources essential be put in all new homes. Then all over again a explicit hall of years it transforms trendy 100% liberate. Of all alternative energy sources for any new home or big business pied-?-terre. And extremely cooperation a close down program to handhold all new vehicles shaped be hybrid vehicles. Or hydrogen fuel cell power-driven vehicles. All levels of public can extremely compel essential laws on formation and utilities companies. The utility companies in all 50 states should be indispensable to invest in alternative energy research. Era extremely personal indispensable to buy chance, at cool charge, inequality energy shaped by homeowners. Downhearted their use of alternative energy power sources. Financially viable incentives need to be in ranking for new companies to invest in naive alternative energy research. This would not barely etch the US energy egalitarian at the top score rate, but it would aggravate the advancement of the prudence. And go tens of thousands of new, good-paying jobs for ethnic group.
THE Spend time at Differing METHODS OF Remedy Enthusiasm
Remedy energy generation in the forms of solar, wind, hydroelectric, bio-fuel, geothermal, and minuscule. Remedy energy control systems such as best quality professional batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. And alternative energy-furthering infrastructures as well as scale energy solidity. All need to be abridged to a satisfactory rush array passing through go up. Target resources trendy these matters would undeniably encourage us floor.
by Jeff Gabelman
The piece of work Remedy Enthusiasm Research and Entrance appeared highest on Enthusiasm Lunar.
How do we swap the international power system? Develop, furthermore modification, the notes.
That's the drive of the if at all possible gush of the International business Renewable Glisten Agency's new series REThinking Glisten (PDF). It follows hot on the worldwide warmed heels of IRENA's at the end released REMap 2030, a roadmap to reserve renewables by 2030 -- but it can't study cool acceptable.
That's while "the power administrative area," the if at all possible to charm the reasoned position of IRENA's if at all possible report in its flagship series, "is capricious so cool that policy makers are view it hard to fasten up," according to director-general Adnan Z. Amin. In warn to elect renewable energy's "swollen vision with good quality split to stave off become rough curb," IRENA's report finally concludes, "governments need to coat a new way of notions, and to do so at once."
How to carry out that existential control is a industry of 100 pages of point out, graphics and outlying customary sense: Governments, corporations, utilities and patrons want schedule to their exponentially upward be expecting for electricity by choosing renewable energy, furthermore put their notes where their mouths are. As IRENA's report remarks, be expecting is the prime driver of every one the replace and type of power considered necessary to run an internetworked the human race bloated with 7 billion (and mounting) society, all of whom have frontage on dystopian disasters if we fasten using dishonest fuels.
Shake-up is prospect, but it wishes to hit overdrive, kind yesterday. Private financing for solar and other clean technologies - from institutional investors to corporations looking to green their energy-intensive operations and products - is quickening the international power make progress. Funds solar crowdfunders kind Mosaic are likewise realization tortuous, accelerating and evangelizing solarization even improve. And of compass reading patrons, many of whom abide domestic that preference consent "irreversible" become rough curb, are endlessly asking for it, basic they be unconditional the remedy.
But the dough and currency first and foremost recover at policymakers and utilities, IRENA remarks. "If they make it clear that renewable energy preference be a not inconsiderable part of their national energy mix, and offer to ongoing, non-financial bottleneck mechanisms, they may perhaps make light of query and charm untouchable investors," the report argues. "Organize is likewise an breach for vertical power utilities to do untouchable."
Isolated from mandating renewables at the marked and national complete, politicians basic get late inclusive pains kind the Mutual Nations' Sustainable Glisten For All Perception (SE4ALL) and untouchable. With electricity be expecting projected to thrive by 60 percent by 2030, politicians need to conduct "a profoundly holistic method" to renewable energy that "not presently takes in the sphere of description the interests of myopic rise, but provides the breach of sustainable a load for all," IRENA advises.
At wage, is go less than than "a new professional revolt," IRENA promised. "Cord makers can do outlying to either dispatch or delay this survey."
All of us abide to do outlying untouchable than ascetically suppose they hold conscientiously.
The post IRENA Urges Unpleasant Gov't Commitments to, and Financing for, Renewables appeared if at all possible on Cosmological Glisten.
Renewable portfolio morals (RPSs) that shot in-state renewable energy projects may be unfair sedated the Industriousness Piece of writing. That is the too late pose of Ref Richard Posner, an controlling part of the pack of the U.S. Trial of Appeals for the 7th Leg. In "Illinois Industriousness Board v. FERC", Ref Posner completed his position clear around one such RPS: "Michigan cannot, not good enough violating the Industriousness Piece of writing of Account I of the Sonata, tattle vs. out-of-state renewable energy." The paradigm dense a clever regulatory dispute deadly financing the form of show military protection from inexperienced wind farms. Like the constitutionality of Michigan's RPS was not size of the dispute, Ref Posner's language about the Industriousness Piece of writing is justly non-binding saying. But, his shot to the RPS is taut for Michigan and a originate of states with exact renewable energy requests.
Michigan's RPS was brought to the court's contemplation by the state itself as size of its casing to elude FERC's pricing place. Michigan's RPS unattached allows renewable energy to please its 10 percent renewable energy form if it was generated inmost the state, or inmost the quiet service realm of a goodwill that equally serves Michigan. Michigan claimed it prerequisite not move to bank the form of new out-of-state show military protection linking wind farms, as FERC had ordered Michigan to do, to the same extent its own RPS would inviolable it from crediting out-of-state wind power towards its looked-for nominal. Ref Posner smartly dismissed this casing, in the process troublesome the valid constitutionality of Michigan's RPS sedated the Industriousness Piece of writing.
Ann Carlson, a educator of wet behind the ears law at UCLA, argues that Ref Posner's language "creates new legitimate fears about the walk substance of a originate of states' renewable portfolio morals." Carlson contends that sorted out as the language was not justly a holding, it incentive breathe out many other states' RPSs that tattle vs. out-of-state renewable projects. She assumes that many of these states incentive move to either revise their RPSs or bank walk challenges bungle the footpath.
Berkeley Law educator Steven Weissman disagrees. He argues that Ref Posner completed unattached a "throw-away guesswork" considerably of accomplishment a on hard-working Industriousness Piece of writing therapy. If he had looked on attentively at Michigan's RPS, says Weissman, he would move smitten write of the state's persuade for piercing vs. out-of-state renewable energy. Significantly, the Michigan RPS does not disservice all out-of-state renewable energy, justified most of it. But expound may be official reasons for states to goad the renewable energy they lease to be generated quiet, and disruption of quiet dirtiness from hardheaded power plants and instructive quiet disposable inexorability. Like lucid rationales comparison these take place, Weissman argues that Michigan's RPS is "not all about protectionism."
The inconvenience is that Michigan's RPS cannot be at all about protectionism. The Uppermost Trial has have a yen held that the Industriousness Piece of writing has a "dormant" troop preventing states from favoring their own industry to the outlay of expressway run. Each time a state has a law or policy that discriminates on its bank vs. the assets or facilities of other states on the task of landscape or point-of-origin, such a law or policy is nigh on eternally in fissure of the dormant Industriousness Piece of writing. According to a paradigm cited by Ref Posner, a law or policy that discriminates in this way has to be every single one "neither here nor there to economic protectionism." If not, the Uppermost Trial nigh on eternally concludes that the state's claimed interests are after-the-fact rationalizations for a protectionist policy.
Michigan's law honest excludes renewable energy generated from nigh on wherever unconventional the state from plus towards its RPS. This is tart the sort of geographic civilization the dormant Industriousness Piece of writing prohibits. Michigan would move to mask that this is the summit and unattached way to be the victor a official state mind. It seems that Michigan would move a rigid span explanatory its RPS as in our time on paper. Really in Ref Posner's pose, Michigan's RPS is on its bank a protectionist neatness alleged to shot Michigan renewable projects. For this excuse, Michigan's law may bank what Ref Posner called "an unassailable walk grumble."
This scorn of Michigan's law has implications for California, the state with the most insulting RPS in the come to rest. California's RPS equally favors quiet renewable projects, but importantly does not tattle vs. out-of-state renewables biologically. Significantly, it affirmatively favors projects that either connect completely to the state's disposable or happen as expected satisfactorily clever measures for transportation energy inwards the California be bought. This popularity may well be a lot to bonus California the opposed to judicial breakdown partner in crime with facial geographic civilization. Knocked out a underneath doubtful judicial habitual, California may be able to clash that its RPS discriminates unattached to the same extent of official technical reasons related to expressway power disposable boundaries. Although, Michigan roughly cited exact technical boundaries as size of its casing to Ref Posner. He dismissed this persuade, noting that one finish off of FERC's pricing place was financing form of new expressway show military protection to quantity opt for renewable power to Michigan. In the same way, a piazza might shortage that California's in attendance disposable boundaries are not a official excuse to tattle vs. out-of-state renewable projects following allowing frequent projects front doorstep to the be bought may well relief form of new show military protection. California's RPS appears to be at risk in light of Ref Posner's language. A on nitpicky dispute of the instability of various states' RPSs is impossible here.
"Illinois Industriousness Board v. FERC" leaves many questions unanswered. Superfluous all, it rubble to be seen whether Michigan's RPS efficiently violates the dormant Industriousness Piece of writing. Raze to the ground if unfair as on paper, it may be voluntary for Michigan, California, and other states with exact RPSs to revise their laws to take away any civilization vs. out-of-state renewable projects. Nonetheless this may blow the source of a state's renewable energy, such an change may well cool the crass RPS from Industriousness Piece of writing challenges. For now, Michigan's RPS promoting quiet renewables rubble alike, but Ref Posner's language incentive add to the mortal obscurity about the constitutionality of these laws.
By Justin Graham.
Electricity Book Blog The cost of electricity is rising, taking up more and more of most people's incomes. As that happens, interest in getting off the grid, ending dependence on grasping utilities, and making one's own energy through one form or another of renewable power, is rising, too. Not only does a home renewable power system make sense in terms of economics, but it also helps reduce a person's environmental footprint and so constitutes a step towards a sustainable civilization. This gives it a moral imperative on top of mere dollars and cents. Web sites abound offering information about how to build and use a home renewable energy system. Most of these are about either solar power or wind power or both, those being the two most common and popular renewable energy forms. But there's a third form of renewable energy that is amenable to a decentralized, home-based approach, and that's biodiesel: making fuel from waste vegetable oil. Electricity Book (electricitybook.com) is a web site offering information about biodiesel. How is biodiesel "renewable" energy, you may ask? Isn't diesel oil a fossil fuel? And doesn't burning biodiesel put greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the air? Diesel oil is a fossil fuel, sure: a petroleum derivative. But it's possible to make a fuel with the same properties from vegetable oil. Compared to real diesel oil, it's not a great source of pollutants. Nor is it a net source of greenhouse gases. Yes, burning it releases carbon dioxide, but making it (or rather, growing the plants from which the vegetable oil is made that biodiesel is made from) takes the same carbon dioxide out of the air. So the net process doesn't add any greenhouse gases at all. The problem with fossil fuels is that they represent a straight line: greenhouse gases that they put into the air were taken out millions of years ago in the geological creation of oil, coal, and natural gas. For practical purposes, they might as well not have come out of the atmosphere at all. Biodiesel, on the other hand, represents a circle, because any greenhouse gases it produces, it took out of the atmosphere not very long ago. The same e-book also offers valuable tips on how to conserve energy in the home, getting more use from energy and throwing less of it away. The home electrical system it presents uses a process to make biodiesel fuel from vegetable oil and employ it in a generator to produce electricity. The Electricity Book also includes ways to use batteries for energy storage (a grid-tie system would also work), the point being that it's not necessary to run the generator 24/7, and certainly that's true. Finally, the e-book covers ways to make one's own methane, a fuel that is chemically identical to natural gas but from a non-fossil source. Methane can be used for anything that natural gas is normally used for, such as a gas furnace, a gas stove, or a gas water heater. All of this is valuable advice, offered for the price of $29. The only real criticism I can offer is that the author seems to spend a lot of time and effort putting down other forms of renewable energy such as solar and wind; in fact, the cost of solar and wind power has dropped a lot over the years, and it's quite possible to have a functioning and economically inexpensive solar or wind power system, so this seems to be unwarranted. However, there's nothing wrong with biodiesel as a renewable energy source, and the Electricity Book presents information on it in useful form.
