Photovoltaic cells which form the elements of all solar panels now achieve efficiencies of 30% or more. 
Renewable Energy
This webpage was developed in response to much interest in the area of renewable energy. The areas covered here include recent news, renewable energy sources, energy conservation, and key contributors in advancing an ever-increasing percentage of renewable energy generation.This is a critical topic since energy prices will rise at incredible rates as energy demand far exceeds energy supply. The International Energy Agency, in its 2005 World Energy Outlook, projects energy needs around the globe will increase by 50 percent by 2030 if capacity is not rapidly increased soon.
This data underscores the importance of finding new energy sources, preferable renewable sources, to meet the accelerating demand, especially as both China and India increase their per capita energy consumption through modernization.
The IEA predicts a 52 percent increase in associated carbon dioxide emissions too. Both these fossil fuel and carbon dioxide trends mean a non-sustainable future. Almost everyone agrees that the business-as-usual scenario needs to change.
Read on as there are many things that can be done by individuals, governments, and corporations to develop new energy sources and utilize the energy we consume today more efficiently.
Recent News
June 2008 Solar Industry UpdateSolar Industry reported that the U.S. installed a total of 254 MW of solar of which 150 MW was grid-tied photovoltaics. California led the way with 87.1 MW followed by New Jersey (16.4 MW), Nevada (14.6 MW), Colorado (12.4 MW), and New York (4.4 MW). Furthermore, 42 states support net metering where PV owners can sell excess electrical production back to the grid. In 2007, a total of 12, 714 grid-tied PV system installations were completed across the country.
Manitoba Hydro Expands Wind Capacity - April 2008
Manitoba Hydro is beginning the process of negotiating an agreement with St. Joseph Wind Farms for a new wind farm in the province. The talks are the next stage in the utility's plans for 300 MW of new wind generation to be deployed in the near future.
E85 Stations Beginning to Open - September 2007
The first E85 retail station opened in Miami on September 13, 2007.
State of Renewable Energy - September 2006
Only six percent of total U.S. energy generated comes from renewable sources. However, it is expected that this percentage will continue to grow in the years ahead, especially as the technologies that harness renewables become economically competitive with fossil fuel production methods.
The St. Leon, Manitoba wind farm was recently activated. Look for an article on this renewable energy installtion in the near future.
Since the turn of the millenium, wind energy generation has more than tripled; solar cell production has increased by more than 600 percent; production of ethanol has more than doubled; and biodiesel production has expanded nearly four-fold. Money continues to enter the business of renewable energy with a cumulative investment since 1995 approaching $180 billion.
Source: Worldwatch Institute
Lynn Woolsey - Congressional 6th District
In December 2005, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey responded to Rob’s concerns regarding current Republican party abuses of power and their continued catering to corporate special interests. This was evident in Lynn’s reply:
“Congress recently passed H.R. 3893, the misleadingly named ‘Gasoline for America’s Security Act,’ in response to the high gasoline prices that came about in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, H.R. 3893 does nothing to control skyrocketing gas prices and home-heating costs, fails to promote energy independence, and rewards the oil industry with tens of millions of dollars in subsidies*. That’s why I joined every one of my Democratic colleagues in opposing this misguided legislation. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives shamefully kept the vote on this bill open for an extra 30 minutes in order to sway members to change their vote, and H.R. 3893 was eventually adopted. This is just another example of the Republican’s abuse of power.”
* One of the concerns of many citizens around the world is the huge cost to remove the last half of the world’s oil reserves. It will become much more costly to meet the expected 50 percent increase in demand by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency - about $20 trillion in new investments. This is money to be used to extract a precious, dwindling, and non-renewable resource, instead of investing in green, renewable sources of energy.
Renewable Energy Sources
Wind
20 Percent of U.S. Energy Supply from Wind Soon?
Wind power has the potential to become a major contributor to America's electricity supply and a critical part of the country's climate change solution, says a new report from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The report looks at the major obstacles in the way of achieving the 20 percent mark by 2030 and describes how they can be overcome. "DOE's wind report is a thorough look at America's wind resource, its industrial capabilities, and future energy prices, and confirms the viability and commercial maturity of wind as a major contributor to America's energy needs, now and in the future," says Andy Karsner, the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Check the full report: Wind to Produce 20% of U.S. Energy
Global wind energy markets had another record year in 2007, reaching more than 94 GW. A total of 20 GW of new wind projects were built, with the US, China and Spain leading the way. Wind generation cuts out the production of 122 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.
"Wind power is now the fastest-growing segment of the power-generation industry."
- IEEE, June 2006
 | Part of a wind farm in Northern California is shown here. Energy provided by wind is one of many renewable energy sources. |
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| One of the wind towers being erected for the first phase of the Cartier Wind Energy Project in Quebec, Canada. The January 2007 edition of 'A World Perspective' newsletter includes a comprehensive article on wind energy. The Cartier wind farm's second of six stages was put into service in November 2007. |  |
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 | A wind turbine used to generate power near Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. |
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| One of the wind turbines in operation for the St. Leon Wind Energy Project in Manitoba, Canada. The January 2007 edition of 'A World Perspective' newsletter includes a comprehensive article on wind energy. The St. Leon wind farm is featured in this article too. |  |
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Wind Power Progress - Germany
Germany used wind power for about seven percent of its electricity requirements during 2007 and expects to double its share of wind energy to 14 percent by 2020.
Wind Power Progress - Canada
In 2007 Canada added 386 MW of new wind power, bringing the country's total installed capacity 1,846 MW. Wind generation now produces enough electricity to power 560,000 homes. Another 700 MW of wind power are expected to be added in 2008. This represents a $1.5 billion in investment. Robert Hornung, president of Canwea said, "Wind energy must be a key component of any Canadian strategy to address climate change and Canada has still only scratched the surface of its massive wind energy potential."
The first commercial-scale wind power project built under Ontario's renewable energy standard offer program was turned up in Ravenswood, Ontario. Sky Generation's six-turbine, 10 MW wind farm is one of more than 200 small-scale renewable energy projects under the program since November 2006. Ontario Energy Minister Gerry Phillips said, "Wind power is a great way to reduce our reliance on coal and clean up our air."
Source: Canwea, Feb 5, 2008
A March 2007 report by Emerging Energy Research highlights that Canada's wind power capacity is expected to grow nearly tenfold by 2015. This expansion translates into an $18 billion investment, placing the country among the top five or six markets in the world. According to EER's Joshua Magee, "In the past two years the Canadian wind power market has evolved from relative obscurity to become one of the world's largest and fastest growing wind power markets."
Wind Power Progress - U.S.
New transmission lines are required in many cases to reach wind generation facilities. For example, in North Dakota, a new $29 million, 60-mile transmission line will be built by Minnkota Power Cooperative of Grand Forks, ND and another partner to reach a new wind farm being built.
Source: ENERGYBIZ March/April 2008
U.S. wind power capacity achieved the 10 Gigawatt (or 10,000 megawatts) level in August 2006. This amount of electricity is enough to power 2.5 million homes. Wind energy production began slowly, reaching 1 GW in 1985, and then it took more than a decade to double to 2 GW in 1999. Since then, wind power has increased fivefold to 10 GW. In 2006, 3 GW of wind power will be added to the grid.
From William Sweet's Kicking the Carbon Habit, 2006
It is "less expensive to replace a coal-fired electricity generator with a wind farm or a nuclear plant than it would be to capture and sequester the coal plant's carbon emissions."
Solar
- RHONE RESCH, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, July 2007
27 percent of Americans believe solar will be the major source of electricity by 2022. However, with only $159 million of federal funding allocated in 2007 for solar research, it seems that perceptions may not mesh with reality. On the other hand, both nuclear power and coal research dollars amounted to $303 million and $427 million, respectively. Could it be that political lip service is only being payed to develop truly renewable energy sources in the United States? Show solar the money!
The solar cell has been around for more than a century. The primary reason for its poor acceptance has been a low efficiency. Typical efficiencies in current production runs achieve about 20 percent, much to low for widespread deployment.
However, recent advances made by Spectrolab, leveraging work on III-IV materials for space applications, has led to an unprecedented product with a 40 percent conversion efficiency in December 2006.
 Spectrolab is now in production with solar cells that produce electric power with a 40 percent efficiency. |  Each cell is made from gallium arsenide grown on germanium made possible by an improvement in conversion efficiency within the company's metamorphic photovoltaic structures. |
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Research progress has led to efficiencies on the order of 50 percent being achieved in the laboratory. For example, JDS Uniphase demonstrated this improvement in May 2006. Look for more success in the future.
Rapid Growth in Solar Manufacturing
A U.S. government report shows year 2005 as one of rapid growth in solar manufacturing. Shipments of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules jumped by 72 percent in 2005, while shipments of solar thermal collectors increased by more than 10 percent over last year. The annual report on solar thermal and PV manufacturing activities is produced by the Department of Energy’s (DOE's) Energy Information Administration (EIA).
In the meantime, businesses and homeowners that own their generating facilities reap the benefits of low or non-existant utility bills. Here are a few examples of solar installations recently made operational in California.
| | Power Generation |
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| Nevada Solar One, Boulder City, NV | 64,000 kw |
| Serpa Solar Power Project, Portugal | 11,000 kw |
| Sonoma Valley Sewage Treatment Plant, CA | 1,700 kw |
| Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. by Chico Electric, CA | 1,400 kw |
| City of Oakland, CA | 1,100 kw |
| Arizona Public Service, AZ | 1,000 kw |
| Sonoma Mountain Village, Rohnert Park, CA | 1,000 kw |
| Rodney Strong Vineyard, Healdsburg, CA | 750 kw |
| Sonoma County Water Agency, Airport - Santa Rosa, CA | 500 kw |
| Microsoft Campus, Mountain View, CA | 480 kw |
| Saint Francis Winery, Sonoma Valley, CA | 457 kw |
| Merryvale Vineyards, Stanly Ranch, CA | 277 kw |
 | A row of solar panels used to generate power along an Amsterdam highway in the Netherlands. |
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007 Highlighted the Importance of Solar Energy in the Early 1970s
The Bond movie, ‘The Man with the Golden Gun,’ references the then-recent 1973 energy crisis. Britain had not recovered from the crisis when the film was released. It featured a solar device that taps sunlight called the ‘Solex Agitator.’ By converting sunlight into electricity, the villian Scaramanga claimed that he “literally [had] the sun in his pocket.” Instead of using concentrated solar for generating power for the common good, a weaponized solution was developed. As Bond’s rival proudly boasts, “This is the part I really like,” and proceeds to engage in destruction.
Key to James Bond’s mission was recovery of the solex agitator.
 Solar panels were used to collect and focus the sunlight. They formed a part of Scaramanga's laser and power generator system to produce high power energy beams. |  Key to Bond’s mission was recovery of the solex agitator. This tiny device was the main element needed in a process to turn the power of the sun's rays into electricity. It was crucial for the British to recover as it would solve the energy crisis. |  After harnessing the sun’s energy and processing it using the solex agitator, Scaramanga’s system directed the power into a laser, which he used to destroy Bond's plane. |
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The solar satellite concept used in the Bond movie has come in and out of favor for the past three decades. It is more likely that the photovoltaic approach will find widespread deployment.
 Photovoltaic shipments have increased globally but the U.S. deployment has not kept pace. U.S. share has fallen from almost 50 percent to less than 10 percent during the past 15 years. |  Compared to Germany, the U.S. geography is better suited to capturing energy from the sun. However, Germany is ahead of the U.S. in terms of PV deployment. |
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Ethanol
Lewis Smith recently wrote in April 2008, "...efforts to make more ethanol from corn have driven up the prices of pizza in Chicago, spaghetti in Rome, and tortillas in Mexico City. So this is not such a good idea!" Reply Letter from Congressperson Lynn Woolsey, March 18, 2008
"While I strongly encourage the development and use of alternative fuels, we must be careful not to embrace new sources of energy that may cause more damage than foreign oil. Over the past five years, corn producers have shifted from devoting only 3 percent of their crop to ethanol production to dedicating more than 20 percent. As a result, the price of corn has doubled, and we have seen surging prices of foods dependent on corn continue to make life harder for farmers, ranchers, and consumers. We must not allow skyrocketing gas prices to be replaced by escalating food prices."
"Additionally, ethanol corrodes our existing pipelines and will require substantial investment in building and retrofitting new infrastructure to make ethanol's transportation by pipelines feasible. Today, tanker trucks running on fossil fuels are the only feasible way to transport ethanol across our country. However, even if these hurdles are overcome, ethanol's fuel efficiency is still less than fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel, and ethanol-powered vehicles require consumers to purchase more ethanol at prices comparable to gasoline to drive the same distance they would go in a vehicle running on gasoline. Be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind as I fight for a sensible energy policy that emphasizes conservation over exploitation, renewable resources over fossil fuels, and planning for the future over clinging to the failed policies of the past."
Ethanol "Gas" Stations Appearing Across the U.S.
As of December 2007, there are 1,411 E85 stations available across the United States
The first E85 retail station opened in Miami on September 13, 2007. Miami's station marks the opening of South Florida’s first public E85 ethanol pump located at U-Gas, 210 Northwest 79th Avenue, in Miami. General Motors is a key driver in the push for more ethanol fueling stops as they are now building cars that are capable of handling a gasoline blend of 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol.
“At GM, we believe ethanol has by far the greatest potential of anything we can do over the next decade to actually reduce U.S. oil consumption, reduce oil imports and reduce carbon gas emissions,” said Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “That’s why GM is committed to building vehicles that can run on E85 ethanol and has more than 2.5 million E85 FlexFuel vehicles on the road today, with plans to double production by the end of the decade.”
“We are excited to see E85 come to Miami,” said Executive Director of the NEVC, Phil Lampert. “We commend our members General Motors and CleanFUEL distribution for their hard work in establishing this new site.”
There are currently 13 E85 fueling facilities in the state of Florida, only three opened to the public.
Source: National Ethanol Vehicle Association
Corn Ethanol versus Cane Ethanol
| Energy Balance GHG Emissions (percent less than gasoline) | 1 : 1.3 22% | 1 : 8 56% |
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Canola Oil Biodiesel versus Soybean Biodiesel
| Energy Balance GHG Emissions (percent less than gasoline) | unknown unknown | 1 : 2.5 68% |
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Future - Cellulosic (old plant matter) Ethanol
Energy Balance GHG Emissions (percent less than gasoline) | 1 : 2 to 36 91% |
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Concerns for the long-term effects of using ethanol-based gasoline, E85, have been raised by Stanford's professor Mark Z. Jacobson. He suggests that burning ethanol produces ozone, which actually worsens air pollution. Jacobson's computer simulation estimates that by 2020 the U.S. death rate would increase by 4 percent, while the LA-area death rate would be 9 percent higher.
Source: IEEE Spectrum, July 2007
In 2006, U.S. ethanol production set a new high, achieving 4.9 billion gallons. This output reflects a 25 percent increase over the 3.9 B produced in 2005.
In 2007, a 45 percent increase to 7.1 billion gallons of ethanol is expected to be produced by this growing industry.
Biofuels
According to a Feb 2008 New York Times report, "Almost all biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of producing these “green” fuels are taken into account." Two published studies provide a comprehensive analysis of the emissions effects of the huge amount of natural land that is being converted to cropland globally to support biofuels development. Cropland absorbs mush less carbon than the rain forests or even the scrubland that it replaces.Biofuels Produce Even More Greenhouse Gases than Previously Thought
Communities across Iowa can enjoy sustained economic growth and prosperity-all while promoting a biofuels and renewable energy future that protects Iowa's storied landscapes, promotes sustainable agricultural practices, protects the environment, and provides a solution to global warming.
Biofuels in Iowa
Hydrogen
The U.S. House of Representatives in May 2006 established a $50 million reward program to encourage innovation in hydrogen-based energy solutions. Called the H-Prize, the federal government is hoping the funds will lead to hydrogen fuel production, or development of hydrogen vehicles, or enable infrastructure solutions for hydrogen fuel distribution. Showing that almost every government representative is supportive of energy alternatives, only six house members voted against the bill. Nuclear
Nuclear power is NOT a renewable resource. Energy Conservation
Industrial Energy Saving AssessmentsThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) began Industrial Energy Saving Assessments (IESS) in October 2005. This is a program with excellent potential to conserve energy, the latest target being paper mills. In April 2006, the DOE began helping the Alabama River Newsprint plant and the Boise Cascade Wallula Mill to identify energy-saving opportunities in their steam and heating system processes.
To date, the DOE's IESS teams have conducted 73 visits to both federal and manufacturing facilities, 44 of which have been to energy-intensive manufacturing concerns.
Conservation Ideas
One of the short term actions leading to energy independence is energy conservation.
In the January 2005 Newsletter (story on page 2 ‘Perspective 1 - A Carbon-Free Energy World (Part 1 of 2)’) a number of conservation ideas were highlighted:
“...energy conservation continues to be one of the best ways to reduce energy consumption. There are a myriad of things that can be done such as walking or cycling instead of driving; carpooling; planning more round trips that complete a number of errands instead of making multiple trips; turning off all lights when leaving a room; unplugging appliances when finished using them; raising air conditioning settings to 80 degrees in summer and lower thermostat to 65 degrees in winter; lower water heater settings; washing clothes less frequently and in cold water; drying clothes on lines instead of in dryers; shutting down computers and copiers when not in use, and so on. Conservation - a daily habit.”
One more simple change we can all implement is to replace just one incandescent lightbulb with a compact flourescent lightbulb. The Department of Energy estimates that if every household in the United States did this, eight billion kilowatt-hours would be saved annually. This is akin to one million automobiles being taken off the roads.
Featured Contributors to Renewable Energy Generation
Private industry Delivers Wind Power to Manitoba HydroAn upcoming article by yours truly on the Cartier Wind Energy project highlights its six phases. The first phase, the Baie des Sables wind farm, has a planned power output of almost 110 megawatts. This is slightly more than the recently activated St. Leon wind farm in southern Manitoba, providing 99 megawatts to Manitoba Hydro. Sixty-three windmills comprise the first ever wind farm in this western Canadian province.
City of Oakland Lights Up a 1.1 MW Solar System
The City of Oakland dedicated one of California’s largest municipal solar projects in April 2006. It is a 1.1 megawatt solar array that generates enough electricity to power more than 200 homes. The solar array is made up of over 6,000 solar electric tiles converting sunlight directly into direct current electricity, which in turn is converted to alternating current electricity that homes can utilize. The solar array is located on the roof of the Oakland Ice Center covering an area of 85,000 square feet. It is estimated that this system improves air quality by eliminating 385 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually and delivers an estimated $244,000 in yearly energy savings.
Catavento Building a Centralized Solar Power Plant with GE and Powerlight
Catavento's Serpa Solar Power Plant will produce enough electricity to supply 8,000 homes and prevent more than 30,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The 11 megawatt facility will employ 52,000 photovoltaic modules in one of Europe's more sunnier areas - Serpa, Portugal - about 120 miles southeast of Lisbon. 150 acres of farm land are being used to house the almost US$80 million investment in solar panels
Nevada Solar One Building a Centralized Solar Power Plant
By March 2007, a 300-acre solar power plant will be operational in Boulder City, Nevada. Solargenix Energy is building the 64 megawatt facility using 19,300 solar receivers made by the German technology firm Schott AG. The $100 million power plant will meet the power needs of about 40,000 households and will jumpstart a renewable energy industry in southern Nevada.
Microsoft's Silicon Valley Campus Adds Solar
Microsoft is reducing its carbon footprint with the installation of a 480 kilowatt solar power system at its Mountain View, California campus. The solar system converts sunlight directly into electricity to power part of the buildings and equipment on the Microsoft campus. High-efficiency solar panels were integrated into the rooftop as part of the plan to reduce the company’s exposure to higher electric rates. The installation is currently the largest solar system in Silicon Valley.
Sonoma Valley Sewage Plant Going Solar
5,500 solar panels will be used to deliver 40 percent of the Sonoma Valley sewage treatment plant's electricity needs - 1.7 MW of the 4 MW required annually. The $7.4 million project, for which PG&E will rebate $2.8M, features solar panel arrays that tilt toward the sun. A special tracking system to adjust for the sun's movement through the sky maximizes the power capture of the solar array. Sonoma Valley operators expect to save $10 million over the 40-year life span of the solar equipment when it begins running in the winter of 2006.
Arizona Public Service Builds First Solar Trough System in U.S. in 17 Years
The Arizona Public Service Company commemorated its one megawatt solar trough power plant on Earth Day, April 22, 2006. Arizona's first such facility features more than 100,000 square feet of parabolic-shaped mirrors. These reflective troughs comprise six rows of mirrors, each over 1,200 feet long and 15 feet high. Their role is to focus the sun's energy to heat oil, which in turn vaporizes an organic fluid to spin a turbine to drive a generator. Power is produced by the generator and then the vapor is condensed and reused in a continuing cycle.
This solar trough is unique in that it boils an organic fluid instead of water commonly used in other such plants. Since the organic fluid evaporates at a lower temperature than water, the power plant produces more power at a lower operating temperature. The one megawatt of generating capacity is enough to power about 200 homes.
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