The U.S. Department of Energy has been a strong advocate for new forms of energy for several years. The federal agency has been responsible for much of the progress the country has made in the renewable energy sector for some time, but has also served as a stumbling block for this progress through its support Continue reading →
Low-cost, durable and fast with a long life-cycle – and it ‘smooths’ intermittent electricity from renewable sources. The CSIRO-developed UltraBattery could be the key component of an Australian smart grid of the future. via How UltraBattery could help our grid — EcoGeneration — The magazine for Australia’s clean energy industry.
While the smart grid, cybersecurity and renewable energy sources garner most of the press corps’ attention these days, arguably the biggest challenge transmission and distribution companies face is maintaining the performance of the grid’s most valuable — and aging — assets. Utilities have installed substation transformers, breakers, capacitor banks and the like over several decades. Continue reading →
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has unveiled a list of 10 ways the renewable fuels industry is helping to improve the environment. According to IRFA, renewable fuels offer positive impacts on the environment compared to petroleum-based counterparts. “Renewable fuels make our planet a better place to live with healthier air and water, and that’s Continue reading →
In a post on the Google blog, Gary Demasi, the company’s Director for Global Infrastructure, writes about Google’s interest in expanding the use of renewable energy and ways to make more of it available not only to Google but others as well. “The most straightforward way to do this is for utilities to offer a Continue reading →
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced yesterday its plan to create the Honda Smart Home US, a showcase for environmental innovation and renewable energy enabling technologies that demonstrates Honda’s vision for sustainable, zero-carbon living and personal mobility. via Honda Smart Home US To Use Solar Power To Charge Fit EV – HybridCars.com.
Portugal’s electricity network operator announced that renewable energy supplied 70 percent of total consumption in the first quarter of this year. This increase was largely due to favorable weather conditions resulting in increased wind and water flow, as well as lower demand. Portuguese citizens are using less energy and using sources that never run out Continue reading →
REN. Portugal’s electricity network operator, reports that renewable energy supplied 70 percent of the country’s total power consumption in the first quarter of this year. The notable increase was due in large part, REN states, to favorable weather conditions resulting in increased wind and water flow combined with lower electric demand. Hydropower supplied the majority Continue reading →
Initiatives aimed at cutting carbon emissions and establishing long term energy security will see renewable energy claim a 36% share of global cumulative installed capacity by the end of the decade, according to a report from GBI Research. The report explains that solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy will be the primary technologies forecast to Continue reading →
The off switch is a fast-growing source of power in some parts of the electricity grid. Grid operator PJM last week released a report, spotted by Greentech Media, detailing the results of its demand-response programs after a new pricing rule was put in place last spring. Since last April, $8.7 million of revenue was generated Continue reading →
Renewable power generation is one the most crucial ways of achieving the goal of sustainable development for all countries. Significant capacity additions are being witnessed annually. In 2012, 772.3 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity was installed in 2011 across the world. Of this capacity, wind and solar PV (Photovoltaic) are the major renewable sources of Continue reading →
In last week’s Insights, I noted how green building and renewable use was trending upward, according to some recent studies. This trend is commendable. However, the “The World Green Building Trends” report by McGraw-Hill Construction and United Technologies that I drew from in last week’s Insights also noted that legislation appears to be a driver Continue reading →
Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has announced a $125 billion investment program into alternative and renewable energy, with $22 billion earmarked for electricity and water infrastructure expansion and renovation projects. Kahramaa president, engineer Essa Hilal Al Kuwari told Eco-Business.com, “This budget was announced to fund the country’s infrastructure projects and to cater the Continue reading →
In the previous article we discussed why 2012′s smart grid growth isn’t sustainable without a new business model and in trying to develop a framework for a smart grid, policy makers and regulators often overlook the importance of building a system that can accommodate Variable Renewable Energy (VRE). via Smart Grid: Smart grid touchstone: accommodating variable Continue reading →
Last week, the White House released President Barack Obama’s “Blueprint for a Clean and Secure Energy Future,” which includes renewable energy, smart grid and electric vehicle (EV) initiatives. “The United States is on the path to a cleaner and more secure energy future,” the blueprint says, adding that since President Obama took office, renewable energy Continue reading →
What happens when demand outpaces supply? The smart grid industry is facing this exact challenge. The added conundrum is that suppliers need to build on existing systems to accommodate creative forms of energy, such as variable renewable energy (VRE), and also stay within environmental emissions standards. How much VRE can be accommodated through the smart Continue reading →
What happens when demand outpaces supply? The smart grid industry is facing this exact challenge. The added conundrum is that suppliers need to build on existing systems to accommodate creative forms of energy, such as variable renewable energy (VRE), and also stay within environmental emissions standards. How much VRE can be accommodated through the smart Continue reading →
Over the past decade, there has been significant focus on minimizing carbon emissions. This has led to higher emphasis on identifying environmentally friendly energy sources like nuclear, solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biofuels, and tide/ocean energy. Also, unlike earlier when oil and gas reserves were considered to be infinite, the new realization of the finite limits Continue reading →
Drivers of plug-in electric vehicles this month surpassed their 10,000th charging session using Austin Energy’s Plug-In EVerywhere network of charging stations, saving 7,363 gallons of gasoline. In terms on money, this means about $24,000 in gas money saved for motorists based on $3.25 per gallon of gasoline. The charging stations, powered with 100 percent renewable Continue reading →
For Silicon Valley leaders, the challenge was irresistible. As California has taken a leading role in promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases, regional leaders have scrambled to find ways to help businesses and residents alike meet new state goals to reduce emissions and rely more on renewable energy. Two years ago, a collaboration-oriented nonprofit Continue reading →
