Solutions for Alternative Energy

Understanding Basic Carbon Credits

2010-03-06T17:17:25Z

Carbon credits are a global market tool, and based on the Kyoto Protocol. But not all countries have adopted these global goals and strategies. As the global threat grows, you will be hearing more about carbon sequestration, carbon credits, and the carbon market. Learn the basics.

... and another perspective:

You be the astute researcher and decision maker. Will carbon credits reduce our appetite for energy? Will it make big companies bigger and small companies smaller? Will it remove the excess carbon big producers have been spewing into the air and water over the past generations?

These are the critical issues facing the young leaders of today and tomorrow. Learn about it. Innovate this global process. Get involved in the discussion, the research, and the solution implementation. Your future career and personal health depends on it.

It won't be easy. Or simple. And big players will try to shape your thinking. Your critical thinking skills will keep you ahead of the latest craze intended to create insane levels of profit for powerful players. Your conscientious leadership can help shape even the largest companies to care for our shared survival.

Yes, I'm a bit concerned :-)

Burn Baby Burn - Managing the Carbon Cycle

2010-03-06T17:03:53Z

We need to understand the whole system of natural resources to innovate sustainably. There are many layers to understanding complex natural relationships -- ecosystems. Start with energy conversion. From soil and water to living plant. From living plant to caterpillars to a bird's stomach - protein conversion. Then burn those plants. And the complex nutrients in the soil. You get fuel for our cars and energy for our homes, but the net loss to the natural systems is...?

Will carbon credits solve this challenge to a stable natural eco-renewal-system?

The Carbon Market for Carbon Credit Profits

Capturing Methane Waste in Mines and Generating Energy

2010-03-06T16:58:56Z

The Caterpillar Company builds generator sets that have the unique ability to capture methane from coal mines and convert it into clean energy.

Methane capture from coal mines.

Anarobic Digester for Rural Recycling for Carbon Credits and ProfitsAnarobic Digester for Rural Recycling for Carbon Credits and Profits

2010-03-06T16:48:02Z

Caring for the land is deeply embedded in many family farmers, but huge cities and populations have changed the equation for many farmers. What used to be a family and local market solution is now a business. Big business. Even for family farmers.

And where you have huge profit potential, you get, well, skewed motivations.

Today's profit frontier is "anarobic digestion" for everything from manure to wood chips and sapling trees and poultry processing waste... turn rural waste into methane. Natural gas. Gold in them 'thar hills and paddies!

California Dairy Farms Turn to Methane Energy Generation

BioEnergy Solutions for Profits and Carbon Credits

Do It Yourself Portable Digester

But you can learn more by creating your own smelly manure digester. Perfect to learn about the process.

Dairy Farms Produce Methane that is sold to Natural Gas Companies as Renewable Energy

2010-03-06T16:37:59Z

Methane and agriculture are the hot new renewable energy frontier.

Rural Recycling... put everything to good use!

It takes legal work, timing, and a marketplace to turn manure into "renewable energy". But are we there yet? Dairy farmers are adopting methane energy production techniques, but permaculture techniques might provide another layer of ecological permaculture.

YOU be the innovative judge. I mean, the "innovation" judge. Are we there yet? Or do we need to look deeper into the whole "system" of agriculture and see where those cows come from, what their stomachs have evolved over the eons to digest...and how we can optimize cattle feed, cattle manure, and our hunger for convenient, heat producing fuel and energy.

YOU be the judge. And the INNOVATOR!

Corn, Alcohol as Fuel, Beef Feed - a History Lesson in $$ Connections

2010-03-06T16:10:12Z

Follow the money. Never take "science" at its word until you look into who makes money from the process, and who is threatened by a specific business sector's success. Knowing your business history is important to our very civilization's direction.

Are you ready to do your own research? At this point, I don't believe anybody! And no, I'm not really paranoid, I just have run into crooks, aggressive business strategists too often to believe that anyone has the public good at heart. "Eternal vigilence..." it still applies.

Ecological Biologist and Permaculturist, David Blume.

V2G Vehicles to Grid Are Made in Delaware

2010-02-22T19:02:16Z

The University of Delaware is exploring the potential of vehicles connecting to the smart grid.

Electric-drive vehicles, whether powered by batteries, fuel cells, or gasoline hybrids, have within them the energy source and power electronics capable of producing the 60 Hz AC electricity that powers homes and offices.

When connections are added to allow this electricity to flow from cars to power lines, we call it "vehicle to grid" power, or V2G.

Cars pack a lot of power. One typical electric-drive vehicle can put out over 10kW, the average draw of 10 houses. The key to realizing economic value from V2G is precise timing of its grid power production to fit within driving requirments while meeting the time-critical power "dispatch" of the electric distribution system.

On September 21, 2009, Delaware passed a law that requires electric utilities to compensate owners of electric cars for electricity sent back to the grid at the same rate they pay for electricity to charge the battery.

AutoPort Inc. near the Port of Wilmington, has produced the first electric car built in Delaware, and the first car ever manufactured with complete V2G controls built-in from the factory.

Auto Port Inc. is a high volume auto-conversion facility located in New Castle, DE that builds V2G capable vehicles.

www.udel.edu/V2G/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle-to-grid

EPA Issues Renewable Fuel Standards

2010-02-05T23:05:08Z

Environmental Protection Agency finalized its revision to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program in February, 2010.

Under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), Congress created requirements for how much renewable fuel (corn ethanol, biomass-based diesel, cellulosic ethanol, and other "advanced "fuels) must be blended in the nation's petroleum supply.

Although the revision does not change the fact that 36 billion gallons of biofuels are required to be consumed in 2022, it does make two significant changes.

RFS is that lifecycle GHG emissions

First, one of the unique aspects of the RFS is that lifecycle GHG emissions of qualifying renewable fuel must be less than lifecycle GHG emissions of the 2005 baseline average gasoline or diesel fuel that it replaces.

According to Green Tech Media, "when the EPA originally calculated indirect land use, corn ethanol was found to have a higher carbon footprint than an equal gallon of gasoline - and thus would not qualify under the RFS. The corn ethanol lobby (i.e. Big Agriculture) cried foul and claimed that since there was no universally agreed upon methodology for evaluating indirect-land use effects, the EPA should shelve it. The corn ethanol lobby also mobilized their Republican and Democratic friends in Congress who subsequently threatened to pass laws taking away the EPA's power to regulate "indirect land use" effects in life-cycle greenhouse gas analysis."

Under the final determinations established Wednesday, the EPA ruled that corn ethanol produced from a "new or expanded capacity from an existing natural gas-fired facility using advanced efficient technologies" complies with the 20% GHG emission threshold.

Advanced Biofuels

While the EPA kept in place the target of 36 billion gallons of biofuel in 2022 (of which corn ethanol is not to exceed 15 billion gallons), it greatly reduced the amount of cellulosic ethanol required to be blended in 2010 (from 100 million gallons to 6.5 million gallons).

Cellulosic ethanol is a wonderful improvement over corn ethanol. There are a plethora of non-food based feedstocks that can be used (e.g. agricultural residues, woody biomass, municipal solid waste, etc) and lifecycle greenhouse gases are lower due to the ability to burn the lignin and co-generate electricity. Yet, the costs of producing a gallon of cellulosic ethanol still remains higher than corn ethanol, due to the expensive enzymes required for breaking down complex polysaccharides into simple sugars for fermentation. BUT...The industry is coming to market much slower than anticipated.

While GreenTechMedia expects the first commercial facility to go online in 2010 (Range Fuel's 20 MGY facility in Colorado), 2012 should be the year where a massive ramp up occurs (see GTM report Biofuels 2010: Spotting the Next Wave).

Solar Business Opportunities Growing in New Directions

2010-02-04T19:39:32Z

Which solar business models unlock value of solar PV energy as it grows?

With solar electricity generating more than one terawatt-hour (one billion kilowatt hours) of electricity in the United States in 2010 and continuing to expand rapidly, the key question is, "How can companies best capture value as the industry grows?", said Michael Rogol, global PV analyst and CEO of Boston-based PHOTON Consulting.

Solar business opportunities in installation, financing and related services

"The U.S. solar power sector is very profitable, but value is migrating from companies that manufacture toward companies that provide installation, financing and other services. As profit migrates, solar companies and utilities have at least seven models to capture value," said Rogol, during his presentation at the 2010 Solar Terawatt-hours Conference Series in San Francisco.

Models to capture value in Solar Business Opportunities

Solar equipment and software engineering and manufacturing
Related equipment manufacturing such as sensors, monitors and regulators
Installation and maintenance of installed systems
Regulatory auditing - zoning, codes, renewable credits, etc .
Renewable Energy Credits
Equity investment opportunities
Sales, marketing and outreach about solar energy
Research, management and strategic consulting services
Financing of solar systems (residential, commercial and generation)
Tax incentives and rebates can add to bottom line profitability

Value Creation with Solar Energy

Strong value creation, including being low cost suppliers, agile traders, value-added service providers, system developers and bundlers of solar power with other technologies. For traditional electricity companies, the biggest challenge, Rogol noted, is to adjust their traditional businesses to create value from solar electricity.

Rogol showed how Solar Business Opportunities focusing on lower module prices are enabling swift growth in the North American solar market and how, as this occurs, profit within the sector is shifting downstream. The key to success, according to Rogol, is a strong, profitable business model capable of "unlocking value." He provided several key examples of strategies for strong value creation, including being

low-cost suppliers,
agile traders,
value-added service providers,
system developers and
bundlers of solar power with other technologies.

For traditional electricity companies, the biggest challenge, he noted, is to adjust their traditional businesses to create value from solar electricity.

Solar consultants model company, geographic and industry projections from the outside-in, cross checking company announcements with providers and buyers. Photon PV data consists of historical and five-year forward projections for price, volume, revenue, cost, operating profit, operating margin and demand for c-Si and thin film technologies.

"This is not the dot-com boom with easy access to capital. Alternative energy companies need to build profitable businesses largely on their own. To do this requires detailed understanding of changing solar power market dynamics and how the electricity sector is evolving across North America," said Rogol.

Electricity is becoming the energy source of choice for a greener economy because it is possible to generate and transport electricity without the greenhouse gas residuals of petroleum and coal based generation feedstocks.

To support companies as they assess strategic moves in solar power, PHOTON Consulting publishes three in-depth business research reports each year focused on

company risks,
market risks and
sector risks.

PHOTON Consulting's research reports provide solar companies at every step of the supply chain with the tools to make fact-based decisions in terms of price, volume and strategy.

PHOTON Consulting is the largest dedicated solar energy research consultancy and is a leading supplier of in-depth research, management and strategic consulting services specific to the PV sector. With the deepest, broadest integrated coverage, PHOTON Consulting tracks the solar energy sector from feedstock to factory gate to end customer in every active and emerging market.

PHOTON Consulting is a robust source for research and analysis in solar power based on extensive research and data in the sector. For more information on PHOTON Consulting, visit the Company's website: http://www.photonconsulting.com.

Engineered Geothermal Systems, or EGS

2010-01-28T17:20:15Z

Everywhere on Earth, a few miles below the surface, the bedrock is hot, and the deeper you go the hotter it gets. In some places, water heated by this hot rock comes naturally to the surface or close to it, where it can be easily tapped to drive a turbine and generate electricity.

We're familiar with geothermal to heat homes and buildings, but industrial scale geothermal carries with it concerns about earthquakes being caused by disrupting large systems that we aren't totally familiar with.

Research is underway in the alternative energy pursuit for cleaner, less climate changing methods of powering our insatiable hunger for air conditioning and electrical gadgets.

But where naturally heated water is not available at or near the surface, this process can be recreated by drilling one very deep well to inject water into the ground, and another well nearby to pump that water back to the surface after it has been heated by passing through cracks in the hot rock.

Such systems are known as Engineered Geothermal Systems, or EGS.

Grants recently awarded to MIT researchers by the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) could help to pave the way for a method of generating electricity that produces no greenhouse gas emissions, and that could become a major contributor to meeting the world's energy needs.

Most energy analysts agree that geothermal energy -- tapping the heat of bedrock deep underground to generate electricity -- has enormous potential because it is available all the time, almost anywhere on Earth, and there is enough of it available, in theory, to supply all of the world's energy needs for many centuries.

But there are still some unanswered questions about it that require further research. DoE last year awarded $336 million in grants to help resolve the remaining uncertainties, and three of those grants, totaling more than $2 million, went to MIT researchers.

A 2006 report by an 18-member team led by MIT Professor Jefferson Tester (now emeritus, and working at Cornell University) found that more than 2,000 times the total annual energy use of the United States could be supplied, using existing technology, from EGS systems, and perhaps 10 times as much with improved technology.

Biosphere 2 Learnings -- Earth Matters

2010-01-27T17:14:07Z

The Environmental Protection Agency of the US federal government is in the center of many controversial actions because, well, they are at the center of many controversial, unknown, unclear problems. No group of people gets "it" right all the time, and the EPA certainly has had its share of political and economic woes. I've met a number of employees of the EPA and have found them to be concerned, competent, and committed to their purpose of protecting people and the environment. And they face a lot of pressure. Like we all face.

The following blog entry from Dr. Barbara Karn about how important and "big" the environment plays in our survival is worth noting.

Sustainability is often described as a three-legged stool, with one leg each for the environment, the economy, and society.

The Biosphere experiment taught us that the legs are not even, and our major support comes from the environment. Without the natural capital provided by our environment, we'd have no society or economy.

Convincing evidence for the importance of the natural environment came from the Biosphere 2 project.

In the early 1990's, a huge structure called Biosphere 2 was built in the Arizona desert. Over 3 enclosed acres housed a variety of ecosystems with manmade recycling systems designed to imitate earth's natural systems.

The project, however, could not independently sustain humans or the other organisms inside. There were problems with oxygen and food, and outside electricity had to be used. Biosphere 2 taught us that people don't have the ability to design a self-sustaining ecosystem for human life.

The Reality is... Reality

If we lose our natural ecosystem by failing in environmental protection, in the words of Dr. Gro Brundlant, chair of the first World Commission on Environment and Development, there will be no sanctuary.

EPA's mission, protecting the environment and human health, is key to our sustainability and survivability.

California Solar Thermal for Water Heaters Launches 2010

2010-01-26T23:43:59Z

The California Solar Initiative Solar Thermal Program launched January 20th, 2010,

The climate-change fighting, energy efficiency California Statewide solar water heating rebate program, called "CSI-Thermal" seeks to place @200,000 solar water heaters in California in its single family and multi-family program that runs through 2017.

Applications will be accepted April 1, 2010.

The CSI - Thermal program is being developed and is expected to run from April 2010 through 2017. A 30 percent federal tax credit is also available on the installed cost of the system less the rebate.

The goals of the CSI Thermal Program are to:

· Significantly increase the size of the solar water heating market in California by increasing the adoption rate of solar water heating technologies, including achieving:

o Installation of natural gas-displacing systems that displace 585 million therms, equivalent to placing a solar water heater on 200,000 single-family homes;

o Installation of electric-displacing solar water heating systems that displace 275.7 million kilowatt-hours per year of electricity by the end of 2017; and

o Expansion of the market for other solar thermal technologies that displace natural gas and electricity use, in addition to solar water heating.

· Support reductions in the cost of solar water heating systems of at least 16 percent through a program that increases market size and encourages cost reductions through market efficiency and innovation.

· Engage in market facilitation activities to reduce market barriers to solar water heating adoption, such as high permitting costs, lack of access to information, and lack of trained installers.

Eligible Customers for the CSI-Thermal Incentive Program

Eligible customers are gas or electric water heating customers of SDG&E, PG&E and SoCalGas & SoCal Edison. The program will run for 8 years, until December 31, 2017, or until the program funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first.

This rebate program is a four-step declining incentive structure over the life of the program and the rebate is calculated based on the expected energy savings of your solar water heating system. Incentive amounts depend upon your current water heating fuel source (natural gas or electricity).

Residents who heat their water with natural gas may receive a maximum incentive of $1,875.

Residents who heat their water with electricity may receive a maximum incentive of $1,250.

Commercial or multifamily buildings who heat their water with natural gas may receive a maximum incentive of $200,000, while commercial or multifamily buildings who heat their water with electricity may receive a maximum incentive of $100,000.

Eligible SWH Equipment for the CSI-Thermal Program

Solar water heating ( SWH) equipment must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation ( SRCC). SRCC OG-300 certified equipment must be installed on single-family homes and SRCC OG-100 certified collectors must be installed on multifamily and commercial buildings. At the start of the program, only solar water heating technology will be eligible for the rebate. Other Solar Thermal technologies such as space heating, radiant floor heating, space cooling, etc will not be eligible. We expect that those technologies may be introduced into the rebate program at a later date.

Administration: PG&E, SoCalGas, Edison and California Center for Sustainable Energy

The CSI Thermal Program will be administered by PG&E, Edison, SoCalGas, and by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) in the SDG&E territory.

PG&E and SDG&E, in coordination CCSE, will disburse incentives to both electric and natural gas ratepayers who install eligible solar water heating systems in their territories.

Edison will disburse incentives through the CSI Thermal Program to customers who install electric displacing solar water heating systems. SoCalGas will disburse incentives to customers in its territory who install natural gas displacing solar water heating systems.

Incentives are as follows:

Natural Gas Displacing Incentives:

Step	Incentive for Average Residential Solar Water Heating System	Incentive per Therm Displaced
1	$1,500	$12.82
2	$1,200	$10.26
3	$900	$7.69
4	$550	$4.70

· Incentives are paid up-front based on estimated first year therms displaced.

· Incentives decline in four steps based on program participation.

· Forty percent of the incentive budget is reserved for single-family residential systems; 60 percent for commercial and multifamily systems.

Electric Displacing Incentives:

Step Level	Electric Displacing Incentive ($/kWh)	Incentive for Average Residential System
1	0.37	$1,010
2	0.30	$820
3	0.22	$600
4	0.14	$380

· Incentives paid up-front based on estimated first year kWh displacement.

Contactor Participation Requirements

The requirements for contractor participation are currently being developed. We expect that contractors will need to attend a training workshop to learn about the application process, program guidelines and SWH installation techniques. We may also ask for verification of liability insurance, workman's compensation and auto insurance coverage. This requirement will be determined by March 1, 2010.

Contractors Submit Paperwork

Contractors will be responsible for submitting the rebate applications. The Program Administrators (PG&E, SoCal Edison, SoCalGas and the California Center for Sustainable Energy) are currently developing the application process and creating an appropriate online application database.

Installation Team Training

Some great technical resources posted in our "Contractors Corner." We recommend you become very familiar with the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation installation guidelines (www.solar-rating.org). It is also strongly encouraged for you to seek training from SWH equipment manufacturers.

The California Public Utilities Commission

CPUC will be holding public workshops in the first quarter of 2010 to discuss the following: system sizing requirements, development of an online incentive calculation tool that estimates energy savings, development of energy-efficiency requirements and metering requirements. Your input is welcome and encouraged! Refer to the CPUC website for postings on workshop details.

CSI Program Calendar

Do I have to wait until April 1, 2010, to sell and install SWH systems in order to receive the incentive? No. The CSI-Thermal Program will provide a rebate to projects that meet the program requirements and were installed after July 15, 2009. You will have to wait until April 1, 2010, to apply for the rebate for single-family projects and May 1, 2010, for multifamily and commercial projects.

San Diego Solar Water Heating Pilot Program

As part of the California Solar Initiative, the Solar Water Heating Pilot Program (SWHPP) provides incentives to business and customers who install qualifying solar water heating systems. The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) is administering the program. CCSE is authorized to provide $1.5 million in rate payer funds as incentives for the Solar Water Heating Pilot Program. These incentives will go to qualified, licensed contractors to promote the installation of clean, renewable solar water heating systems.

How can I learn more about the CSI Program?

If you are a SDG&E electric customer seeking to retrofit your current water heating system, contact the California Center for Sustainable Energy for an informational packet and list of registered installers. You may contact them directly for additional details: swh@energycenter.org

Solar Water Heating Offsets 75% of Conventional Energy Use

2010-01-26T23:38:57Z

As of January 20th, 2010, the California Solar Initiative Solar Thermal Program is underway.

A new California Statewide solar water heating rebate program, called CSI-Thermal applications will be accepted April 1, 2010.

The CSI-Thermal program is currently being developed and is expected to run from April 2010 through 2017. A 30 percent federal tax credit is also available on the installed cost of the system less the rebate.

Solar water heating ( SWH) systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve fossil fuel resources, while cutting energy use and saving money on utility bills. Systems can offset up to 75% of the natural gas, electricity or propane used by your current water heater. SWH systems work to supplement the existing water heater - you do not need to replace or remove it.

SWH systems preheat the water used in a home or business (such as showers, dishwashers or sinks) and can help protect consumers against future gas and electricity shortages, as well as price increases. They help preserve the environment by eliminating carbon dioxide emissions and reducing harmful pollutants. For more information visit the Solar Water Heating Resources.

NASA's One Person Puffin Looks Kinda Like a Jetpack

2010-01-24T23:36:13Z

Mailroom delivery will never be the same :-) Can't you just see the corporate mail being delivered in one of these... oh, I forgot, email is taking over that duty!

NASA engineers are developing a one person flying machine that combines a multitude of transportation dreams into a single little flying vehicle called the Puffin. It takes off like a helicopter and flies like a plane. The engineers anticipate that the Puffin will cruise at 140 mph and shift into a super mode to hit about twice that. And it's electric.

NASA unveiled the Puffin at the American Helicopter Society meeting in San Francisco. NASA plans to finish a one-third size demonstrator by March 2010 and see how well it transitions from cruising to hovering.

I can't imagine who would fly one of these high tech monstro...I mean helicopters, so it must be for the military.

Tesla Shows 1,000th Production Roadster

2010-01-24T07:40:06Z

Tesla booth at the North American International Auto Show, (Till Jan. 24, 2010) in Detroit. On display is Tesla's 1,000th production car - a special Roadster Sport custom-painted in "Millennial White" with other unique details. This $175,000 car will be sold and Tesla will donate the full value to three Detroit area charities, the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation and several leading community organizations in Detroit.

Also on display is Roadster No. 750 - the only dirty car on the show floor, splattered in mud, salt and grime. Tesla employees drove this car straight into Cobo Hall after the 3,600-mile Roadster Road Trip from Los Angeles, demonstrating that the Roadster is a fun yet rugged all-season super car. This historic journey took the Tesla team through nine states, three times zones and two snowstorms - without a drop of gasoline. They gave rides to fans, taught people about Tesla technology and recruited students at college towns. The Tesla team charged the car at conventional electrical outlets in hotel parking lots, RV parks, and a few homes of friends and owners. The Tesla team chronicled the journey on their website , with photos and first-person blogs from their drivers.

750 met up with Very Orange Roadster Sport #684 for a tour around Detroit.