Of all the types of energy embraced by the green community, “combined heat and power” probably has the clunkiest name. But proponents hope that C.H.P. systems, which can be installed in homes, will one day compete with better-known technologies like solar panels.
The idea is to capture two forms of energy at once, namely heat and electrical power (which is why the technology is sometimes called cogeneration). Large systems exist on college campuses like the University of Warwick in England and also at hospitals, chemical factories and even airports. These systems use the heat left over from generating electricity to produce either hot water, which circulates through pipes to nearby buildings to provide heat, or steam, which can be used for industrial purposes.
Because the process of making electricity wastes a lot of energy, combining heat and power generation leads to greater efficiencies, said Jürgen Weiss, head of the climate practice at the Brattle Group, a consulting firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“The idea of C.H.P. is to make electricity and not waste the heat that gets generated in the process, but rather to use it for something useful,” Mr. Weiss said. That means lower utility bills and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
In recent years, engineers have started designing more residential-scale systems. These may be about the size of a refrigerator and can fit into a basement. In Britain, a system run by a Stirling engine may cost more than 6,000, or $9,500, including installation, and in Germany — where heating systems are generally more expensive — a C.H.P. system may run from 15,000 to 20,000, or $19,800 to $26,400, according to Delta Energy & Environment, a research company based in Edinburgh. Delta said it would often take homeowners 10 years to make back the cost, in the form of lower utility bills. Getting prices down will be critical, experts say.
The small systems work best in cold climates, where homes need plenty of heat. They are often fueled by natural gas and make a bit of noise, but the extra electricity they produce can be sold into the power grid. Big-name automakers like Honda Motor and Volkswagen have applied their technology to help develop small-scale systems, sometimes known as micro C.H.P.
Small systems are gaining traction in Japan after the nuclear disaster last year, which led officials to order that nearly all of the country’s reactors be taken offline. Orders have “increased dramatically” since that event and are likely to rise even more sharply in the future, according to a recent report by Pike Research, a research and consulting group in Boulder, Colorado. Honda has sold micro-C.H.P. systems in Japan since 2003 and said last year that about 108,000 households were using its units, called the Ecowill.
The home systems in Japan tend to be much smaller than those in Germany or the United States, according to Kerry-Ann Adamson, a research director for smart energy who is based in London for Pike.
Elsewhere in the world, the picture is mixed. In the United States, a basic obstacle is lack of knowledge, said Daniel Bullock, director of the Gulf Coast Clean Energy Application Center, a U.S. Department of Energy group based in a Houston suburb that promotes C.H.P. and related sources of energy.
“Most people don’t even know about C.H.P.,” Mr. Bullock said. As a result, he added, “People are willing to pay a lot more money for solar panels than what a C.H.P. system would cost.”
The low price of natural gas in the United States — a result of the plentiful supplies created by the hydraulic fracturing boom — may make the systems more appealing, Mr. Bullock said, though homeowners, lacking the negotiating power of large industrial users, may not reap the full benefit of the lower gas prices.
In Europe, Delta Energy & Environment forecasts that 40,000 to 70,000 units a year will be sold by 2015, but “an outcome with substantially lower sales is possible,” said Jon Slowe, a director for the company, adding that Britain and Germany are using incentives to push the hardest for micro-C.H.P. technology.
Germany has a target of getting 25 percent of its power from C.H.P. systems of all sizes by 2020. A draft proposal now under consideration would increase incentives for the systems, although Ulrich Fikar, a spokesman for the industry group Cogen Europe, said it was “not ambitious enough for micro-C.H.P.”
2012年4月4日星期三
2012年3月31日星期六
A Bright Future for Solar Panels
The future of solar panels is looking even brighter. New research by Cambridge University scientists has led to the development of a more efficient solar cell.
Currently, solar cells capture part of the sun's light. Much of the energy of the absorbed light is lost as heat, meaning a maximum of 34% of the sunlight is converted to electrical power. However, Cambridge scientists have made a breakthrough which could allow 44% of solar energy to be converted. More work needs to be done to realise the full benefits of the scientists' findings, but even using today's solar PV panels is providing huge savings for businesses and householders.
Boston Council in Lincolnshire recently installed solar panels on the roof of a leisure complex at a cost of GBP 105,167. The investment is expected to recover its costs within nine years and generate a profit of at least GBP 260,000 over the next 25 years. Boston Borough Council leader Peter Bedford said the energy-saving income generated may also be higher than anticipated - closer to 80 or 90 per cent rather than the 50 per cent allowed for, so the energy saving may be more.
He said: "Our investment in solar PV represents a good deal for the council, providing low-carbon clean energy and also making the facility less vulnerable to future energy price increases at a time of global insecurity."
Homeowners can make comparable savings by installing solar panels. Energy suppliers such as British Gas pay for any excess electricity generated as it's fed back to the National Grid. You can even earn money for every kilowatt hour of electricity you generate through the Government's Feed-in Tariff (also known as Clean Energy Cashback), even if you use it.
An average system is 3 kWp and will cost around GBP 10,000 (including VAT at 5%). Most domestic PV systems cost around GBP 3,000 to GBP 3,500 per kWp installed. A 3 kWp system can generate over 2,500 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. If your system is eligible for the Feed-In Tariff scheme it could generate savings and income of around GBP 670 per year.
Solar energy is going to become more efficient and even cheaper to install. According to Jenny Chase, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, solar power is now cheaper than diesel 'anywhere as sunny as Spain'.(i) The economy of scale through increased global use will soon mean cheaper solar panels and electricity for everyone.
Currently, solar cells capture part of the sun's light. Much of the energy of the absorbed light is lost as heat, meaning a maximum of 34% of the sunlight is converted to electrical power. However, Cambridge scientists have made a breakthrough which could allow 44% of solar energy to be converted. More work needs to be done to realise the full benefits of the scientists' findings, but even using today's solar PV panels is providing huge savings for businesses and householders.
Boston Council in Lincolnshire recently installed solar panels on the roof of a leisure complex at a cost of GBP 105,167. The investment is expected to recover its costs within nine years and generate a profit of at least GBP 260,000 over the next 25 years. Boston Borough Council leader Peter Bedford said the energy-saving income generated may also be higher than anticipated - closer to 80 or 90 per cent rather than the 50 per cent allowed for, so the energy saving may be more.
He said: "Our investment in solar PV represents a good deal for the council, providing low-carbon clean energy and also making the facility less vulnerable to future energy price increases at a time of global insecurity."
Homeowners can make comparable savings by installing solar panels. Energy suppliers such as British Gas pay for any excess electricity generated as it's fed back to the National Grid. You can even earn money for every kilowatt hour of electricity you generate through the Government's Feed-in Tariff (also known as Clean Energy Cashback), even if you use it.
An average system is 3 kWp and will cost around GBP 10,000 (including VAT at 5%). Most domestic PV systems cost around GBP 3,000 to GBP 3,500 per kWp installed. A 3 kWp system can generate over 2,500 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. If your system is eligible for the Feed-In Tariff scheme it could generate savings and income of around GBP 670 per year.
Solar energy is going to become more efficient and even cheaper to install. According to Jenny Chase, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, solar power is now cheaper than diesel 'anywhere as sunny as Spain'.(i) The economy of scale through increased global use will soon mean cheaper solar panels and electricity for everyone.
2012年1月10日星期二
Martinez school board to spend $6.2 million on solar panels
With school funding threatened every year by state budget shortfalls, Martinez school board members hope a $6.2 million investment in solar panels will pay off by reducing energy costs and thereby freeing up money for the district's other needs.
Four board members on Monday agreed to spend the money to install solar panels. John Fuller abstained from voting.
According to an analysis by the solar contractor, the school district will save an estimated $475,000 in the first year the panels are up and running. Superintendent Rami Muth said the solar project will allow the district to control its own destiny by providing a stable source of funds.
"This is going to give us another way to be able to weather those (state budget) storms," Muth said.
The total savings are a combination of lower electricity bills and rebates through the California Solar Incentive program. Through the rebate program, which PG&E runs, the school district will receive 12 cents per kilowatt hour of energy the solar panels produce. If energy costs increase over time, the district could save even more.
The money for the solar project comes from the $45 million bond voters approved in 2010. The board has issued about $25 million in bonds so far. Taxpayers will pay about $2.33 for every dollar in bond funds the district spends, according to Aaron Jobson, of Quattrocchi Kwok Architects.
The solar panels are scheduled to be installed later this year. The solar contractor will guarantee for 10 years that the panels will produce at least 95 percent of the energy they are capable of producing.
The company also will perform routine maintenance on the panels during the 10-year period. The panels come with a 25-year manufacturer's warranty and have a life expectancy of 40 years, Jobson said.
The board has separated the proposed bond projects into three phases. In addition to the solar panels, the first phase includes districtwide technology infrastructure upgrades, additions to the performing arts building and gym at Alhambra High School, a remodeled kitchen at Las Juntas Elementary School, and minor improvements at the Vicente Martinez High School and Briones Independent Study School campus.
However, board member Kathi McLaughlin expressed concern about delaying reconfiguring the driveway and parking lot at Las Juntas and renovating the Vicente Martinez and Briones campus until the second phase.
She urged the board find ways to cut costs on some of the other first-round projects or to find another funding source for the solar panels so the Las Juntas and Vicente projects can be completed in the first round.
The $45 million bond will be repaid over 25 years at a total projected cost of $99 million. Martinez property owners are paying nearly $62 per $100,000 of assessed valuation to repay $48 million in existing school bonds.
Four board members on Monday agreed to spend the money to install solar panels. John Fuller abstained from voting.
According to an analysis by the solar contractor, the school district will save an estimated $475,000 in the first year the panels are up and running. Superintendent Rami Muth said the solar project will allow the district to control its own destiny by providing a stable source of funds.
"This is going to give us another way to be able to weather those (state budget) storms," Muth said.
The total savings are a combination of lower electricity bills and rebates through the California Solar Incentive program. Through the rebate program, which PG&E runs, the school district will receive 12 cents per kilowatt hour of energy the solar panels produce. If energy costs increase over time, the district could save even more.
The money for the solar project comes from the $45 million bond voters approved in 2010. The board has issued about $25 million in bonds so far. Taxpayers will pay about $2.33 for every dollar in bond funds the district spends, according to Aaron Jobson, of Quattrocchi Kwok Architects.
The solar panels are scheduled to be installed later this year. The solar contractor will guarantee for 10 years that the panels will produce at least 95 percent of the energy they are capable of producing.
The company also will perform routine maintenance on the panels during the 10-year period. The panels come with a 25-year manufacturer's warranty and have a life expectancy of 40 years, Jobson said.
The board has separated the proposed bond projects into three phases. In addition to the solar panels, the first phase includes districtwide technology infrastructure upgrades, additions to the performing arts building and gym at Alhambra High School, a remodeled kitchen at Las Juntas Elementary School, and minor improvements at the Vicente Martinez High School and Briones Independent Study School campus.
However, board member Kathi McLaughlin expressed concern about delaying reconfiguring the driveway and parking lot at Las Juntas and renovating the Vicente Martinez and Briones campus until the second phase.
She urged the board find ways to cut costs on some of the other first-round projects or to find another funding source for the solar panels so the Las Juntas and Vicente projects can be completed in the first round.
The $45 million bond will be repaid over 25 years at a total projected cost of $99 million. Martinez property owners are paying nearly $62 per $100,000 of assessed valuation to repay $48 million in existing school bonds.
2012年1月4日星期三
Solar thermal technology seen bolstering renewable energy adoption
The quest to develop an improved renewable energy storage system is intensifying, as researchers continue to make progress in their drive to spur the adoption of green technology.
One of the biggest hurdles facing the widespread adoption of solar panel and wind turbine systems is that they are still reliant on the whims of nature. Solar panel arrays are capable of generating a substantial amount of electricity when the sun is shining, but energy storage technology has not progressed as rapidly, confounding experts.
However, engineers are growing increasingly optimistic that solar thermal power could overcome the energy storage obstacles currently facing clean technology companies. The New York Times reports that researchers are betting the energy generation scheme, which harnesses the sun's heat to boil water and create electricity, can circumvent storage issues and potentially drive clean adoption throughout the U.S.
Scientists contend that the water used in solar thermal systems can be used to heat salt, which would effectively store energy for later usage. Such a system is optimal, according to experts, because it would supply energy to homes and businesses during the nighttime hours when the sun is no longer helping to drive energy generation.
More specifically, researchers and industry experts are hoping that solar thermal power plants could help meet electricity demand during peak demand hours, designated between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Renewable energy company SolarReserve is currently constructing such a power plant in the Nevada desert, and executives from the firm asserted it should be operational by next year.
Moreover, BrightSource, a company that is backed by more than $165 million in financing from California-based technology giant Google, plans to build three separate solar thermal plants in the Golden State. While BrightSource's facilities would begin generating energy in 2016 and 2017, they are projected to have a massive electricity generation capacity.
In total, the two firms' four solar thermal plants would be able to power tens of thousand of households on a typical summer evening – a feat today's solar panel systems are not capable of accomplishing.
Admittedly, there are hurdles solar thermal technology companies must overcome, but high-profile companies besides Google, including Chevron and Good Energies, are investing in it. Engineers assert that solar thermal plants could play a crucial role in energy production by the end of the decade, and while they will not replace conventional solar panel systems, they will complement them by generating electricity at night.
It is often difficult to connect renewable energy systems to the U.S. electric grid, experts say, with the nation's power supply network plagued by power outages and other grid disruptions. Balancing the supply and demand of energy has become increasingly important and complex, and solar thermal plants could help augment electricity production during times of elevated consumption levels. This would help power providers ensure demand is met, and as a result, would reduce the frequency of power outages.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that state legislation in California is also helping drive the creation solar thermal technology plants. California signed into law regulations mandating power providers derive more than 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. With time quickly dwindling, utilities are working feverishly to comply with the stringent laws, variations of which other states have passed.
One of the biggest hurdles facing the widespread adoption of solar panel and wind turbine systems is that they are still reliant on the whims of nature. Solar panel arrays are capable of generating a substantial amount of electricity when the sun is shining, but energy storage technology has not progressed as rapidly, confounding experts.
However, engineers are growing increasingly optimistic that solar thermal power could overcome the energy storage obstacles currently facing clean technology companies. The New York Times reports that researchers are betting the energy generation scheme, which harnesses the sun's heat to boil water and create electricity, can circumvent storage issues and potentially drive clean adoption throughout the U.S.
Scientists contend that the water used in solar thermal systems can be used to heat salt, which would effectively store energy for later usage. Such a system is optimal, according to experts, because it would supply energy to homes and businesses during the nighttime hours when the sun is no longer helping to drive energy generation.
More specifically, researchers and industry experts are hoping that solar thermal power plants could help meet electricity demand during peak demand hours, designated between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Renewable energy company SolarReserve is currently constructing such a power plant in the Nevada desert, and executives from the firm asserted it should be operational by next year.
Moreover, BrightSource, a company that is backed by more than $165 million in financing from California-based technology giant Google, plans to build three separate solar thermal plants in the Golden State. While BrightSource's facilities would begin generating energy in 2016 and 2017, they are projected to have a massive electricity generation capacity.
In total, the two firms' four solar thermal plants would be able to power tens of thousand of households on a typical summer evening – a feat today's solar panel systems are not capable of accomplishing.
Admittedly, there are hurdles solar thermal technology companies must overcome, but high-profile companies besides Google, including Chevron and Good Energies, are investing in it. Engineers assert that solar thermal plants could play a crucial role in energy production by the end of the decade, and while they will not replace conventional solar panel systems, they will complement them by generating electricity at night.
It is often difficult to connect renewable energy systems to the U.S. electric grid, experts say, with the nation's power supply network plagued by power outages and other grid disruptions. Balancing the supply and demand of energy has become increasingly important and complex, and solar thermal plants could help augment electricity production during times of elevated consumption levels. This would help power providers ensure demand is met, and as a result, would reduce the frequency of power outages.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that state legislation in California is also helping drive the creation solar thermal technology plants. California signed into law regulations mandating power providers derive more than 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. With time quickly dwindling, utilities are working feverishly to comply with the stringent laws, variations of which other states have passed.
2011年4月28日星期四
Evergreen, ReneSola Fall After Reporting Weak Solar Panel Sales
Evergreen dropped 54 cents, or 26 percent, to $1.54 as of 10:221 a.m. in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Earlier it was down as much as 34 percent, the largest intra-day decline since October 2002. ReneSola’s American depositary receipts fell as much as 78 cents, or 8.8 percent, to $8.07 a share. A close at that price would be the lowest since Dec. 17.
Evergreen Chief Executive Officer Michael El-Hillow said slower-than-expected sales may force the company to raise cash. Marlboro, Massachusetts-based Evergreen held about $33 million in cash and cash equivalents as of April 26, down from $38.5 million on April 2.
“Uncertainties regarding feed-in-tariffs and other subsidy programs have substantially slowed the demand for solar panels in 2011,” El-Hollow said in a statement yesterday.
Wunderlich Securities Inc. analyst Theodore O’Neill downgraded the company today to “sell” from “hold.”
ReneSola said product sales slumped 15 percent in the first quarter to $328.2 million, from $386.4 million in the fourth quarter. For the second quarter, sales will be in the range of $280 million to $300 million, less than the $337.1 million that analysts had expected.
“We hold a cautious outlook for demand in Europe, particularly due to the uncertainty and policy changes in Italy,” the Jiashan, China-based company’s Chief Executive Officer Xianshou Li said today in a statement.
Evergreen Chief Executive Officer Michael El-Hillow said slower-than-expected sales may force the company to raise cash. Marlboro, Massachusetts-based Evergreen held about $33 million in cash and cash equivalents as of April 26, down from $38.5 million on April 2.
“Uncertainties regarding feed-in-tariffs and other subsidy programs have substantially slowed the demand for solar panels in 2011,” El-Hollow said in a statement yesterday.
Wunderlich Securities Inc. analyst Theodore O’Neill downgraded the company today to “sell” from “hold.”
ReneSola said product sales slumped 15 percent in the first quarter to $328.2 million, from $386.4 million in the fourth quarter. For the second quarter, sales will be in the range of $280 million to $300 million, less than the $337.1 million that analysts had expected.
“We hold a cautious outlook for demand in Europe, particularly due to the uncertainty and policy changes in Italy,” the Jiashan, China-based company’s Chief Executive Officer Xianshou Li said today in a statement.
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