Boiling Point: High Hopes for Geothermal Energy

 2010 Jan 14

By Paul Glader

Geothermal is boiling hot these days. Wind and solar might even want to watch out.
The industry is adding 144 geothermal power plants in 14 states, says Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association. That’s up from 121 projects on the books last March and a 73% increase from the 83 projects underway two years ago.

“We’ve added 200 megawatts in the last year,” said Mr. Gawell, during a stop at The Wall Street Journal’s New York office on Wednesday ahead of the industry’s big finance forum today. “Compared to wind, it’s not much. But it is a lot for a small industry with only 3,000 installed megawatts.”
One big shot in the arm: The federal stimulus, which is chanelling $400 million to the geothermal industry in the form of tax incentives and cash grants. The trade group has seen member ship swell to about 150 from just 30 members five years ago.
Another big key: Technology. Geothermal companies are developing new technologies that allow lower-temperature water in the earth’s core to be turned into geothermal energy. That makes development possible in more place, putting states such as Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana on the map in addition to traditional geothermal heartlands such as California.
Geothermal’s potential, thanks to advanced technologies, could be huge. The U.S. Geological Survey notes about 6,000 megawatts of discovered geothermal supplies (that’s like six nuclear power plants), with undiscovered potential between 8,000 and 73,000 megawatts. New technology could—theoretically—open the door to a whopping 800,000 megawatts.

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2010/01/14/boiling-point-high-hopes-for-geothermal-energy/
 
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Sun, wind and wave-powered: Europe unites to build renewable energy 'supergrid'

2010 Jan 3


• North Sea countries plan vast clean energy project
• €30bn scheme could offer weather-proof supply

It would connect turbines off the wind-lashed north coast of Scotland with Germany's vast arrays of solar panels, and join the power of waves crashing on to the Belgian and Danish coasts with the hydro-electric dams nestled in Norway's fjords: Europe's first electricity grid dedicated to renewable power will become a political reality this month, as nine countries formally draw up plans to link their clean energy projects around the North Sea.
The network, made up of thousands of kilometres of highly efficient undersea cables that could cost up to €30bn (£26.5bn), would solve one of the biggest criticisms faced by renewable power – that unpredictable weather means it is unreliable.

With a renewables supergrid, electricity can be supplied across the continent from wherever the wind is blowing, the sun is shining or the waves are crashing.
Connected to Norway's many hydro-electric power stations, it could act as a giant 30GW battery for Europe's clean energy, storing electricity when demand is low and be a major step towards a continent-wide supergrid that could link into the vast potential of solar power farms in North Africa.
By autumn, the nine governments involved – Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland and the UK – hope to have a plan to begin building a high-voltage direct current network within the next decade. It will be an important step in achieving the European Union's pledge that, by 2020, 20% of its energy will come from renewable sources.
"We recognise that the North Sea has huge resources, we are exploiting those in the UK quite intensively at the moment," said the UK's energy and climate change minister, Lord Hunt. "But there are projects where it might make sense to join up with other countries, so this comes at a very good time for us."
More than 100GW of offshore wind projects are under development in Europe, around 10% of the EU's electricity demand, and equivalent to about 100 large coal-fired plants. The surge in wind power means the continent's grid needs to be adapted, according to Justin Wilkes of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). An EWEA study last year outlined where these cables might be built and this is likely to be a starting point for the discussions by the nine countries.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/03/european-unites-renewable-energy-supergrid 

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Why the U.S. Needs Nuclear Power Other clean energy sources can't meet the needs of a growing economy.

2009 Nov 8

By ARIS CANDRIS

As America climbs out of one of its worst recessions in decades, we must keep in mind that long-term economic growth requires an abundant, affordable supply of electricity.

By 2030, electricity demand in the U.S. is expected to grow by 21% from its current level, according to the U.S. Energy Administration. To meet our needs we have several options.

One is to increase our dependence on fossil energy sources. Unfortunately, this will only add to the environmental burden caused by burning carbon-based fuels. Another option, the Obama administration's goal, is to increase the supply of energy sources that reduce the country's carbon footprint. These sources include solar, wind, hydro, biofuels and geothermal energy, as well as new domestic sources of natural gas, which burns cleaner than oil or coal.

Toward that end, the proposed Senate climate-change bill, sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.) and John Kerry (D., Mass.), provides incentives to electric companies to use energy sources that reduce carbon emissions. The bill also expands federal loan guarantees to support the financing of new nuclear plant projects.

These loan guarantees are crucial for providing the financial security that's needed to build advanced nuclear energy plants. These new plants will promote energy independence, improve our country's economic competitiveness, and help provide a cleaner environment for future generations.

To be sure, the U.S needs to embrace all forms of renewable and sustainable energy technologies whenever possible. But the simple, unavoidable truth is that all renewable energy sources produce only a small percentage of our total electricity output. Wind and solar combined, for example, account for less than 5% of the total U.S. electricity supply. It is doubtful that they can be scaled up to a degree that would make a significant impact on rising electricity demand over the short or intermediate term.

Greater energy efficiency and conservation also make good business and environmental sense. But a 21% growth in demand for electric power, compounded by the need to replace aging power plants, is too great to satisfy with energy efficiency and conservation alone.

Nuclear energy, therefore, must play a larger role in our effort to become and remain energy independent, and to reduce carbon emissions. The growth of nuclear power will also have peripheral benefits, as it constitutes an economic stimulus package in and of itself.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704224004574489702243465472.html

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UPDATE 1-Enbridge expanding Sarnia solar-power project

2009 Dec 8

Enbridge boosting solar plant to 80 megawatts

Stocks

First Solar to build, maintain project

Enbridge shares rise 0.6 percent

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc (ENB.TO), said on Tuesday it is quadrupling the size of its Sarnia, Ontario, solar-power facility, spending C$300 million ($288 million) to increase its capacity to 80 megawatts and expanding its push into green power.

Enbridge, Canada's No. 2 pipeline company, said the investment would make the Sarnia site North America's largest solar plant, producing enough electricity to power 12,800 homes and saving 39,000 tonnes of carbon-dioxide emissions a year.

In October, Enbridge bought the Sarnia project in southern Ontario from developer First Solar Inc (FSLR.O), one of the world's largest producers of the photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The first 20 megawatt phase of the project entered commercial service on Monday.

Enbridge is best known as the operator of North America's largest crude oil pipeline network and ships the lion's share of Canada's oil exports to the United States on its lines.

But the company has been making a push into the renewable energy business, operating four wind-power projects, with a fifth, 99-megawatt project slated to be completed next December.

The solar expansion is also expected to be complete by December 2010.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0820099920091208?type=marketsNews

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