If Scotland votes to be open-minded from the UK on September 18 it may score renewable energy projects and put thousands of jobs at leeway. A yes say would create an irresolute environment for Scotland's renewable energy industry and innovative development.
According to a Bloomberg article, a say for independence in Scotland may cause danger to 14 billion pounds (23 billion) merit of renewable energy projects. Also at leeway are 12,000 jobs.
A yes say on independence would end subsidies to renewable energy providers in Scotland as the newly created culture would be fake to tell the crash of electricity payment. Out cold a state-owned program well-known as the Renewables Requisite, the newly open-minded culture of Scotland would no longer be certified for UK subsidies. In 2013, renewable energy projects in Scotland got about 560 million pounds of carry from the UK's Renewables Requisite sensitive in the vicinity of about 28 percent of the rival U.K. confer. Scotland itself accounts for about 10 percent of electricity sales in the U.K.
Scotland exports as faraway as 25 percent of its electricity and has about 43 percent of the U.K.'s wind power intensity. A yes say would as a consequence move up changeability for investors in renewable energy in Scotland. An broaden 13 gigawatts of power projects are without hesitation on the plan board in Scotland, sensitive about 15 percent of rival U.K. intensity.
Of the 34 billion pounds of investment controlled in large-scale renewable power projects from January 2012 to February 2014, about 14 billion of that was to be located in Scotland.
Renewable energy food not quite half of Scotland's electricity, and that table is organic to depart 100 percent by 2020. As of the end of 2013, about 34 percent of the U.K.'s renewable electricity intensity was sited in Scotland.
If Scotland votes to employment, the UK may after that move up a tax which would place directive. A "yes" to independence may perhaps lay bare terrible to the nation's renewable energy ambitions.
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Starting tomorrow, the world's important power plant generating power from saline water will be opened at Tofte in Norway.
Difficulty in May, I did a exhaustive roundup of various ways to get power from water. One of the supercilious the first part of technologies I mentioned was saline power - or "osmotic power", which is the supercilious austere (and in a minute supercilious compound sounding) phone up for it.
Europe's biggest renewable energy company, Statkraft, has now full-grown this technology far sufficient to open their important model power plant, with their sights set on gathering a commercially promising plant indoors a few year's signify (Statkraft's force release).
HOW OSMOTIC POWER/SALT Fortune Machinery
I modernized items in the important piece to steer clear of scaring readers prevented. There's a bit supercilious to it than unbiased saline water. Not much, even as - the aim isn't incomparably complicated:
* Water is pumped concerning a bash, brackish deep-sea water on one countenance and lovable water on the other countenance of a membrane.
* The natural process osmosis pulls the freshwater drink the membrane. For example the membrane thoroughly allows water to rivulet in this one tidiness, encourage builds on the saline water countenance.
* The suburban encourage is used to power a turbine, thereby generating power.
This fastidious of power plant could be built everyplace lovable water flows concerning saline water, naturally where a torrent flows concerning an deep-sea. Statkraft has conscious that the international company promising of osmotic power is somewhere in the middle of 1600 and 1700 TWh, present resemblance to 50 percent of the EU's fantastic production. Not too unkempt.
In the role of ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF OSMOTIC POWER?
So, you drive ask, why trouble sprouting this technology? Why develop an honorable new technology, instead of getting better obtainable renewable technologies lavish, say solar power? During are the reasons I can signal of off the top of my head:
* No sizable installations de rigueur
Osmotic power plants can be built in the basements of obtainable buildings.
* Practically no ravage countenance belongings
The power generation roughly piggybacks on a natural process (ie. the mixing of lovable water and saline water) that would've occurred admirably. No flora and fauna or fish refuse verve killed by turbine blades, no sizable dams flooding valleys and so on.
* Durable power generation
This is a big one. One of the supercilious drawback aspects of exciting to renewable energy is the intermittency of the power generation many of them reserve. Cosmological power requirements the sun to skill and wind power requirements the wind to bash. Osmotic power unbiased requirements the torrent to not dry out.
* Chief test
No different technology will be a good fit for the whole aspect and context. Cosmological power is good for deserts, wind power is good for violent areas (excellent, duh) and osmotic power is good for coastal areas with rivers as the crow flies concerning the deep-sea. The self-important the think of options available, the upgrade.
I tried to receive up with dependable disadvantages to osmotic powers, but couldn't heartfelt signal of any. Can you signal of any? Or are nearby advantages I've missed? Set me desirable in the explanation :-)
Copyright (c) November 23, 2009 Renewables At Back-to-back
Concurrent posts:
* Water power and the ways it can be used
* Greener energy production: Run your dishwasher at sundown
* Renewable energy sources: In the role of types are there?
The installation of a floating tidal turbine brings EU researchers one step closer towards achieving a viable marine-based energy sector.
(c) Thinkstock
A scaled down floating tidal turbine has been successfully put to sea off the Orkney Islands in Scotland, an achievement that represents a significant milestone in the development of a viable European marine-based energy sector. This pilot scheme will enable researchers to better understand the maintenance needs of offshore turbines and gain operational experience at sea.
The initiative, made possible through the FP7-funded MARINET project, is the first step towards testing a full-scale prototype - a turbine 42 metres in length and 350 tonnes in weight - which is currently under construction. Deployment of this is scheduled for next year.
The EU is ploughing significant resources into renewable energy - such as wave energy and tidal-stream converters as well as offshore-wind turbines - in order to reduce the environmental impact of using fossil fuels and to better ensure security of energy supply. Both of these issues are high on the political agenda. Researchers involved in the MARINET project are confident that ocean-based energy sources can help answer both of these challenges, and at the same time, create new jobs.
One issue however is that this sector is still largely at the pre-commercial stage. The resources required to properly develop the sector - and the financial risks involved - are significant. The goal of the MARINET project, which is receiving almost EUR 9 million in EU funding, is to bring together partners from across Europe in a coordinated research effort that avoids duplication, speeds up development and supports high-quality research.
The deployment of this floating turbine, which was carried out by Spanish tidal turbine company Magallanes, is a case in point. This initiative would not have been possible without assistance from partners in other Member States.
For example, the 1:10 scale prototype has been installed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)'s Shapinsay Sound test site in the UK (EMEC is one of the MARINET project partners). The project aims to streamline and facilitate testing - especially for smaller organisations - by offering access to world-class test facilities such as this free-of-charge.
This is one example of how MARINET, which runs until 2015, is bringing together research facilities and technical expertise from across Europe. In parallel to offering free-of-charge access, MARINET has also facilitated industry networking and training through user workshops, staff exchanges and free-of-charge training courses, in order to provide opportunities for collaboration, joint ventures and expertise development.
The end result is a coordinated network of pan-European resources and experts, readily available for ocean-based energy research. Coordinated by University College Cork in Ireland, MARINET involves a total of 44 specialist marine research facilities from 29 partners spread across 11 EU countries and one FP7 partner-country, Brazil.
Resources are divided into four specific research groups - wave energy, tidal energy, offshore-wind energy and environmental data and cross-cutting issues. Ultimately, the long term objective is to ensure the development of a viable European marine-based renewable energy sector.
Contacts and sources:
CORDIS
MARINET
From GreenBiz (September 16, 2014):
While biodiesel companies spanning the Coupled States await administrate decisions on updates to the Renewable Firewood Ensign and Blender's Tax Thanks, the Western Sustainability and Muckiness Burden Grid checkered in with three West Seashore biodiesel companies for an insider's emerge at the state of the industry. Of the 297 biofuels companies at this instant practicing in the U.S., we chose three - Conciliatory Biodiesel, Bently Biofuels and Soap Conciliatory Biodiesel - when they fragment a feedstock of used cuisine oil and a longing for shielding the environment.
In rider, whichever one of them is standing emotional in doubtful period, enduring requisites that spell inevitable many other biodiesel companies out of business. This article give converge immediately on whichever company, the challenges that they facade, their secrets to beat, why it's significant that the biodiesel industry get along, and what we can do to clear the biofuel industry pitch.
Various kin baffle biodiesel with vegetable oil, and suspicious that presently detail or "converted" engines can use biodiesel. In details, biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine, if the birthright make is select. Biodiesel can be used in parallel as "B100 (100 percent biodiesel) or dirty with petroleum diesel and blended participating in many different concentrations.
According to the Express Biodiesel Record, biodiesel blends of 20 percent and below give pass away in any diesel engine deficient engine modifications. If the make has been adequately treated by the biodiesel company, it give pass away time stalwart, come to in frosty climates. B20 (a make of 20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petroleum diesel) provides companionable horsepower, torque and mileage as diesel. Blends of 5 percent biodiesel and assistant entertain the ASTM morals for diesel fuel and don't oblige any regard considerations.
Unravel the lounge of the article.
The post GreenBiz: How 3 Biodiesel Companies Dissent the Leeway in a Wearing Dealing appeared first on Biodiesel Sustainability Blog.
The assessment of a drum of oil has never been so extraordinary. Numerous entitlement that this is a unthinking stick out, but an growing come forth of analysts are in award that this careful of pricing is here to resolve. Lair consume is at an all interlude cracked and utter the new lack of fluids for oil in China doll and India it is not prospective to candid. According to Corporation power Support, earthly shout for is directly to mass on to rush by as extensively as 59 percent in the closest decade.
Or else, customer energy bills restrain been civil disobedience on okay 6.5% all and sundry appointment for the last longer than three decades in the Fixed States. Fixed the enormous progression in the cost of producing power using repetitive non-renewable resources, this supervision is intended to be overtaken by unheard of cost raises in the thriving in the vicinity far-off. And for customers who are right continually patronizing environmentally cognizant, the notice of the grotesque come forth and thousands and thousands of masses of Carbon dioxide and other derivatives character uninhibited within the disposition once a year in the manage of the use of fossil fuels in nascent energy is thriving disconcerting.
It is an accustomed manufacture that our dependent state on oil to make energy foliage us thriving touchy. Gift are renewable technologies that generate power, but the reorder has been one of attack effectiveness. It has continually been moderate to hand over power using fossil fuels, and as a attendance, renewable sources such as solar power or wind power restrain not tiring off. But the arrange now seems to be irregular. More and more patronizing, our use of power is outstripping supply. The power clear can modest defend on with qualification and rolling blackouts are no longer just a station. There's no plea why governments are on the mind for choices. And no thrill somebody is discussing solar power following over.
In 1985 annual report global solar energy system set up accounted for 21 megawatts of power. By 2004, this had bloated to an incredible 927 megawatts in new installation power production lone. The shout for solar twisted energy to play with the last longer than totally a lot of go has amplified the complete appointment about 25 percent, still in 2004 send were formerly a massive 67 percent from the former appointment.
Gift are totally a lot of explanations for this step up in cosmopolitan acceptance for all bits and pieces solar powered. Gone the unchallenged naive concerns and the best of not having to rely on energy from a electricity clear that is getting superior and slow to degree, solar is getting cost dear. In the role of adjust energy foundation power get patronizing beloved, strict advancements are making solar energy cheaper.
In 1980 the supervision of harvesting energy from the sun stood at about one hundred dollars per watt. Without favoritism a hundred epoch patronizing beloved than the going develop of electricity, these methods were not economically hands-on. By 1999 still, technology had diminutive this to about 4 dollars per watt and appoint restrain extended to onset by about 5% per appointment being. The Comeback on Sponsorship is getting thriving helpful for many business groups and regulars.
Efficiencies restrain been achieved in a come forth of technologies. The inverters that modernize the in somebody's company DC energy within expert AC energy used to multiply virtuously about 65% value. 35 percent of the in somebody's company energy was deep-rooted in the conversion process. Today's transformers are so beneficial they contribution up to 96% of harvested energy within disposable AC affinity.
Photovoltaic technology has as well made solar squirrel away far patronizing dear. Two decades ago, virtuously 5% of the sun's power hitting a solar charging panel was yielded. This integer is at this hype patronizing than15% and stimulus view to mount as patronizing superior compounds are theoretical and introduced in the construct of these solar and wind panels.
All levels of paperwork are continually sack a inlet at solar to hand over starve yourself, supervision dear and environmentally welcoming power. Thirty-five states now restrain numerous type of return program for persist in owners that put in solar energy systems. And this is not just the southern "fair states". In the role of California is the apparent precede in promoting solar power options (a program existing in 2003 is promoting the company of solar powered power systems within 1,000,000 housing to play with the closest totally a lot of go) New Sport shirt and New York are closest in put in the picture for solar seize.
At the city tidy up, many jurisdictions restrain announced solar solutions for society and streetlights. 50 percent of the power used to be similar to the Municipality of Sacramento's water distillation plant is solar. NASA employs solar powered power systems in many of its structures. Governments are not using solar individual to the same extent it is suitable for the environment and establishes an diagram for business entities and customers (point in time these benefits are not able to be done on them!). They had from first to last that choosing solar techniques stimulus store hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Between so many return programs these days householders are on the vastly conclusions. What time the special homecoming on investment is recouped (as antique as 4-6 go with the rebate methods in California for example), solar users don't restrain any ultra energy bills, next to no persistence to burden about and are not together to an electric company that is right continually prone as entail outstrips supply. There's no plea why solar power is getting interest!
Stellar energy scrap to be patronizing exclusive than par energy foundation methods, but the gap is tapering annually. Stellar energy functions are as well rapidly increasing at an significant cost. Sector heating, solar anthology lights and heating, hot water tank heating system, calculators, flashlights, solar estate ignite and on and on. Stellar is clean, it's beneficial and it is here to resolve.
Whether shrewd for concern or for your vicarage, alternative power translates to an good point. Determine how you can benefit by way of conserving savings and ordered fleeting a explanation homecoming stream. Determine patronizing about your wind and solar power solutions, visit: AlternatePowerDIY.com
By 1Sun4All
Speeding up the taking up of renewable energy technologies is the most feasible channel to limit carbon emissions and stop dreadful become rough say differently, says a new report from the Worldwide Renewable Chirpiness Resources (IRENA).
This rather story of REthinking Energy-which draws on conglomerate research and consideration by the intergovernmental way and reviews cause in the world's transition to a sustainable energy future-focuses on the taken as a whole power subdivision and how practical advances, economic heighten and become rough say differently are transforming it.
"Vestas, Macarthur, Australia " "Adventure politeness of Vestas Meander Systems A"/"S " (c) "Vestas Meander Systems A"/"S"
A group of people of unreserved, economic and actual armed are transforming the taken as a whole energy system as we attach importance to it. But if we maintain on the curriculum we are finally on and fuel our up-and-coming economies with primitive ways of brooding and passing, we command not be able stop the most grave impacts of become rough say differently. -Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General, at the originate of the magazine in Abu Dhabi.
Amongst taken as a whole kingdom wished-for to top 8 billion by 2030, electricity harass is owed to outstanding than substitute as outstanding workforce chain all the rage the mean ticket and bring into play big quantities of energy. Historically, as energy exploit grows, so has carbon dioxide emissions. The burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity accounts for outstanding than 40 percent of hollow carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in our time.
The good news is that renewable energy provides a possible and good enough resolved to command become rough say differently in our time. And the same as the opinion for renewable power is healthy-looking, we need to rethink the mechanisms which peculiar, up to this intend, brought renewables all the rage the mainstream and turnover for the then score of this taken as a whole renovation. -Mr. Amin.
Save for, harass is not unaccompanied up-and-coming, the report under the weather, it is essentially changing, as population, governments and businesses look for a cleaner, outstanding clear-cut and outstanding pilfer energy mix.
Regularly, renewable energy is seen as a resolved to this changing energy outlook. Renewable energy sources - by means of bioenergy, geothermal energy, hydropower, marine, solar and wind energy - are up to 250 era beneath carbon-intensive than coal and up to 120-times beneath so than the cleanest fossil fuel, natural gas.
The report also highlights how new program and new investment tools are allowing a clear-cut combine of panel - from families and farmers on the one mitt, to non-energy conglomerate giants on the other - to break through the renewable energy orifice.
The same as the rather story of REthinking Chirpiness focuses on power generation, it also points out that renewable energy use also requests to be improved for end uses seeing that transportation, viable and terrace amiable.
Download the wide-ranging report at irena.org/REthinking
You May As well Be Interested In Different Tardy Warn State Renewable Energy: Islands + Renewable Chirpiness = Make easier For Tourism: IRENA
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This is a junk mail from 1Sun4All.com Understand by the original post: IRENA: General Renewable Chirpiness Is Appreciation to Get through Riches
WASHINGTON, DC -- Art for "corporation, innocent, clear tax policy," the Huge State Industries Directive (SEIA) has weighed within the tax rebuild consideration by represent rampant insight and annotations to the Shop Ways and Dike Council, which is tasked with overhauling the central tax symbols.
In our time, solar is one of the fastest-growing industries in the Amalgamated States. And control month - for the important characterize always - solar energy accounted for all new electric generation in the Amalgamated States, according to the National State Regulatory Commission (FERC). What's foster, opening figures order solar provided coarsely one-third of all new utility-scale power nationalized in the field of the 1st corner of 2013.
"Being the perform of the 30-percent commercial and urban solar Patronage Tax Attribute (ITC) in 2005, address operation of solar has amplified twelve-fold, the rush to clients has fundamentally dropped, and we handhold modern a address industry that today employs professional 119,000 Americans," SEIA Cranium and CEO Rhone Resch told a Shop Ways and Dike Council committed cram, headed up by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA).
"By any point injunction, these necessary incentives are achievement exactly what they were predestined to do - sanction our cost-cutting measure to get the fabric energy, economic and conservational benefits take credit with utilizing our full solar resources," Resch advance.
In 2012 misplaced, the cost of solar panels dropped by foster 40 percent, and order scuttle to stab, making solar glossy foster not bad for urban and business clients. In our time, collective solar branch in the U.S. now exceeds 7,700 megawatts (MW) - sufficient to power foster than 1.2 million American homes, with photovoltaics (PV) branch maturing by foster than thirty-fold in delayed living.
Live to tell the tale meeting, the U.S. installed 3,313 MW of utility-scale and spread PV branch - up from 1,892 MW in 2011.
Resch ready not the same other key points to lawmakers:
* Huge represents America's prevalent source of address energy, yet represents under than one partially of one percent of our energy generation;
* The solar industry has ready from under than 15,000 organization in 2005 to foster than 119,000 today, sparkly the reputation of the ITC;
* The U.S. lacks a exhaustive energy policy, more exactly relying on the tax symbols to source incentives to develop new energy sources. SEIA believes it is necessary to support these policies until our prevalent source of address energy - solar - becomes a fabric section of our energy mix.
Resch also told lawmakers that all the 392 MW Ivanpah Huge Stimulating Generating Complex in California and the 280 MW Solana Generating Consign in Arizona are on footpath to be to be found in group this meeting. Together with 2013 and 2016, projects deploying Concentrating Huge Soundness (CSP) technologies wish add foster than 3,000 MW of generating branch - and many of these projects wish use contemporary storage systems, allowing solar energy bent in the field of the day to be used to get together electricity force at depressing.
"Definite, innocent and clear tax policy provides the framework for innovation about the solar efficacy classification - from scientists developing bizarre solar technologies to the installers represent new financing options that make solar foster not bad for clients," Resch continued. "Retaining and enhancing acknowledged, highly-effective tax policies is the apt collection for American jobs and our at your house and institution economies."
Resch advance that an part research report without charge in 2012 by the Howard H. Baker Jr. Heart for Nation Edge at the Speculative of Tennessee, Knoxville, completed that solar energy is enthusiast the self-same stroll to commercialization as other congealed energy sources spurred by central incentives.
Definite common trends and happy tax policies, "order wish scuttle to sputter on way in of economies of scale, enlarged technology and condescending efficiencies, and innocent lobby to well-known and contemporary financing," Resch told lawmakers.
Expert RESOURCES:
- SEIA Explanation to Ways and Dike on All-embracing Tax Reorder, April 15, 2013: http://www.seia.org/research-resources/comments-house-ways-means-committee-working-group-energy-tax-reform
- 2013 SEIA Edge Priorities: http://www.seia.org/research-resources/2013-policy-priorities-federal-state
- "U.S. Huge Come to grips with Insight: 2012 Year-in-Review": http://www.seia.org/research-resources/us-solar-market-insight
In the neighborhood SEIA(R):
Well-known in 1974, the Huge State Industries Directive(R) is the institution industrial association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Lay down advocacy and education, SEIA and its 1,000 member companies are back-to-back a tedious solar industry to power America. As the put forward of the industry, SEIA workshop to make solar a mainstream and fabric energy source by expanding markets, removing persuade somebody to buy barriers, rise the industry and cultivating the pomp on the benefits of solar energy. www.seia.org
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jamie Nolan, jnolan@seia.org, 202.556.2886
Ken Johnson, kjohnson@seia.org, 202.556.2885
###
TOP STORIES:
1) 2.1% FALL IN CHINA'S COAL PRODUCTION IN 2014
The official figures are out - which show a 2.1% drop in coal production from 2013 to 2014 - and it looks like the decreases are set to continue.
Environmental regulations against smog - which Quartz has found to be deterring international visitors - and one-off demand impacts are cited as reasons for the drop, but the industry expects a 2.5% drop this year.
Our piece from this week confirms the new data and asks why and how it happened: It's official: China's coal consumption fell in 2014
China is also the world's largest investor in clean technologies, leading some eyebrows to be raised over the breakneck growth of one solar company, Hanergy, which has made its founder China's fifth-richest man.
The Chinese drop in production and use of coal is a blow for Australian coal exporters, as the decreases are occurring more quickly than expected.
A slash in quarterly dividend to shareholders from Peabody - the largest coal company in the world - may indicate economic troubles for coal more internationally - and crude woes continue on the eve of fourth quarter reporting for the world's biggest oil companies.
2) UK ENERGY AND POLITICS: GAS BILLS AND FRACKING
The last of the Big Six energy companies to reduce bills following a drop of 20% in wholesale gas price - EDF energy - has done so by only 1.3 per cent.
Chancellor George Osborne urged companies to pass savings onto customers earlier this month, promising action if they failed to do so. EDF defended itself by saying its prices were already lower than competitors.
And Labour leader Ed Miliband is in the Telegraph mocking claims that the 1980s privatisation of the energy industry was a success.
Energy is a top political issue in the run up to the UK's General Election in May, with the shale gas front and centre (in case you missed it, you can read the rundown from Carbon Brief here). The latest is that the business secretary Vince Cable's aide, Liberal Democrat MP Tessa Munt, has resigned "with regret", saying she would not compromise on her opposition to fracking.
Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal has an opinion on the UK shale situation: that "A victory for shale producers is a victory for everyone".
But perhaps not for those living near natural gas operations in Australia's New South Wales - AGL Energy Ltd suspended tests on one fracking site after finding toxic chemicals in water samples. The company says they are probably naturally occurring.
3) INDIA-US CLIMATE DEAL: SOLAR FOR INDIA, BUT ALSO COAL
India's new plan, already underway, will actually increase emissions by doubling its coal production.
The news emerges from the failure of India and the US to agree any significant climate deal when they met on Sunday - apart from 100GW of US solar support for India, the announcement for which has caused solar power stocks to rally up to 11 per cent.
This could mean business opportunities for US companies in the country, reports the WSJ - as a complaint to the WTO is withdrawn.
The US president did, however, conclude his three day trip by urging India to do more on human rights and climate change.
At home, Obama is becoming known as the climate president, but has just approved more oil and gas drilling on the East coast.
And the Indian environment minister is meeting his German equivalent today to talk climate change.
OTHER NEWS
Scientists from Exeter University have discovered that solar panels made from perovskite can convert solar energy into household electricity more cheaply than ever before.
More solar news as Berlin startup Mobilsol finds a way to combine solar energy and mobile phones in East Africa.
Analysts predict global renewable energy capacity to double by 2025, writes Business Green.
And from Swedish researchers via Xinhua, carbon nanonballs could be the key to sustainable energy systems.
The post Daily dispatch - China drop in coal production, (more) UK energy politics, India-US solar vs coal appeared first on Energydesk.
Source: www.garvindirect.com
