Energy Think!

Siemens awarded two climate innovation prizes by German Environment Ministry

Siemens technologies took first place in two categories of the first Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment awarded by Germany’s Federal Environment Ministry and the Federation of German Industries (BDI). German Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen and BDI Director General Werner Schnappauf presented the awards – totaling €125,000 – to winners in five categories in Berlin on Thursday. For the world’s most efficient gas turbine, Siemens Energy placed first in the “Green products and services” category. For the first dishwasher to use special minerals for speeding up the drying process, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH was awarded first place in the category “Innovation for climate protection – products and services.”

High Efficiency Solar Modules based on Micro Technology Printing Technology

Semprius, Inc. and Siemens Industry, Inc. have announced that they have entered into a joint development agreement to co-develop and deploy plug-and-play demonstration systems based on Semprius’ Solar Module Arrays and Siemens’ automation and control components. The systems are slated to be installed at numerous test sites around the world, including major utilities, commercial sites, international test locations and government facilities.

Semprius is developing concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules for large-scale solar power generation. Semprius’ proprietary micro-transfer printing technology enables CPV modules constructed from a large array of very small gallium arsenide-based, multi-junction solar cells. Module cost is minimized by using high concentration ratio. Inexpensive optics concentrate 1,000 suns onto the high-efficiency solar cells, which only cover 0.1% of the module area.

NextEra Energy Resources first renewable energy company to offer verified emission reductions

NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. and North America’s leading generator of wind power, has announced that it has expanded its product offering through the creation of U.S. wind carbon offset credits – verified emission reductions (VERs). NextEra Energy Resources is the first wind developer, owner and operator to create and offer this type of carbon offset credit.

The VERs will be sourced from NextEra Energy’s Capricorn Ridge Wind Energy Center located in West Texas. The Capricorn Ridge Wind Energy Center is the first wind project in the U.S. to create VERs under the Voluntary Carbon Standard protocol. The Capricorn Ridge project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil-fueled power plants that emit carbon dioxide. It is estimated that the project will generate approximately 212,000 metric tons of offset credits per year beginning in 2010.

China to Biuld it's First Coal-fired Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Power Plant

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the construction and operation of a coal-fired integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the first such plant in a developing nation.

The ADB Board of Directors today approved a $135 million loan to build a 250-megawatt IGCC plant in Tianjin City that can generate up to 1,470 gigawatt-hours of electricity every year.

PRC is the world’s largest coal producer and consumer. Its heavy use is causing serious pollution, including sharply lowered air quality and widespread acid rain. The large coal usage is also causing global concerns due to rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response, PRC has launched a clean coal power generation program, GreenGen, to sharply reduce pollution as well as lower the GHG emissions, with the Tianjin project being the cornerstone of the first phase.

Finding a Long term Solution to Managing Used Nuclear Fuel and Nuclear Waste

There was a time the US where the idea of expanding use of Nuclear energy was so politically unpopular that very few leaders would suggest it for fear of being attached by environmental groups. Fear of disasters from very real accidents such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl remained fresh in everyone’s mind. Now as the consequences of using fossil fuels becomes clear these same environmental groups are getting behind the idea of a Nuclear powered future. It is true that Nuclear energy produces clean electricity in vast amounts but with the current fission process waste fuel remains radioactive for tens of thousands of years. It is difficult to imagine handing down a legacy of radioactive material over 1000 of generations of future residents of planet earth. However if we can find a better way to either process the fuel or store the fuel than maybe it is worth while to keep Nuclear power as one of many power options.

Duke Energy Enters the Solar Power Market with a Texas Solar Farm Purchase

Duke Energy is adding solar power to its commercial renewable energy portfolio through the acquisition of a large-scale solar photovoltaic project under development in San Antonio, Texas.

Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), a Duke Energy Commercial Businesses unit that owns and develops renewable power assets, will purchase the Blue Wing Solar Project from juwi solar Inc., based in Boulder, Colo. The 14-megawatt (16-megawatt direct current) project will consist of 214,500 ground-mounted First Solar thin film panels.

University of Maryland to Build Underground Quantum Physics Laboratory

The University of Maryland has received a $10.3 million federal grant to build an advanced physics lab. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, a Southern Maryland Democrat, said the federal economic stimulus dollars will expand research and create jobs. The university plans to use the money to build a 21,000-square-foot Laboratory for Advanced Quantum Science. The underground lab space will be part of the Physical Sciences Complex, set for completion in 2013. Officials say Maryland was among 11 universities and one nonprofit research group to receive the construction grants for new research facilities.

2010 Waste-to-Fuels Conference & Trade Show - Florida

The 3rd Annual Waste-to-Fuels Conference & Trade Show will be conducted at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, in Jacksonville, Florida on April 18-20, 2010.

The Waste-to-Fuels Conference & Trade Show will provide a forum for informing the public and private sectors of the economic and environmental benefits of converting waste materials to alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol as well as energy recovery. Attendees will have excellent networking opportunities and a chance to visit with exhibitors to preview the newest advances in alternative fuel production products and services. The conference will be designed to attract individuals and organizations/companies nationally.

Investing in the Future of Solar Energy Technology

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will invest up to $12 million in total funding—$10 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—in four companies to support the development of early stage solar energy technologies and help them advance to full commercial scale. The goal of this effort is to help further expand a clean energy economy and make solar energy more cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity.

U.S. Army looking to Use Rechargable batteries in Field Operations

Protonex Technology Corporation a leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems today announces that, as anticipated in its results announcement of 13 January 2010, it has received a $1.85 million (£1.13M) contract award from the U.S. Army CECOM, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to develop and deliver advanced portable battery charger / APU fuel cell systems. This contract award also includes three option phases which, if awarded, could increase the total value of this contract to $6.4 million (£3.9M) and could include delivery of over 100 production units.


Finding a solution to Radar Interference from Wind Farms.	Greenland to Increase share of renewable energy through storage of hydrogen	Largest Solar PV power generation comes online in Florida	Cell Phone Towers to double as wind energy generators.	G.E. powers China's largest chicken waste biogas plant