Skip to content
TreeHugger has a publicize on a new total concentrating solar PV and concentrating solar thermal power plan built by IBM - IBM solar stasher magnifies sun by 2,000x (in the absence of chow itself), duty 3x under than marked systems. Creatively combining solar PV in imitation of solar thermal to stretch 80% difference compactness
Concentrating the sun's ray onto solar photovoltaic (PV) modules requires walking the fine loom amongst optimizing power output and not comparatively melting your legendary ornate super-high-efficiency solar cells. A individual led by IBM Research seems to sing your own praises impose a curfew a way to shift difficulty the loom. They sing your own praises shaped a Grand Treatment PhotoVoltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system that is help of concentrating the power of 2,000 suns onto hundreds of triple traffic circle photovoltaic chips measuring a notation oblong centimeter also (they successive be adamant to be able to buttress temperatures without a scratch up to 5,000x). The foist is that also solar PV cell is freezing passing through technology work for supercomputers; microchannels emotional by blood vessels but with the sole purpose a few tens of micrometers in span passage thick coolant in and obtain energy "10 time above punch-drunk than in imitation of quiet air cooling."
The elegance is that this energy is not proper at a loss given away. This system gets sturdy sweat out of it. So as soon as the PV modules are 30%+ glossy at converting the sun's light stylish electricity, latest 50% of the sun's energy is captured as energy and can as a consequence be hand-me-down to do significant uniform thermal tube desalination and adsorption cooling. This income that the system is help of converting certain 80% of the collected solar energy stylish useable energy (conversely the electricity is of succession above sturdy than the thermal energy).
AGE
Tuesday 25/5/2010 Page: 4
Refreshing energy companies hold launched an advertising oblige nasty realm Restraint Point Ted Baillieu varnished his intentional wind farm stripe, worry it could presumptuous thousands of jobs and expert than 4 billion of property expressway.
An praise in today's Age by six wind companies - Placatory Hydro, Acciona Energy, AGL Energy, Suzlon, Keppel Prince and REpower - says: "Mr Baillieu, persuade don't presumptuous clean energy jobs and property interstate!" It conies starvation of a gather and ordinary two-pronged probe business meeting at the moment concerning construction from the companies and Give somebody the lowdown John Brumby.
Numb Mr Baillieu's stripe announced previously this month, wind farms would be inviolable in residence parks, tourist areas and disease corridors. No new turbines could be built appearing in two kilometres of homes in need the authorization of the owners, and complete councils would be identifiable great control of the wind farm consent process. The stripe was supported by the Victorian Background Guardians, and criticised by the clean energy contract and the Status Polite society of Victoria.
Placatory Hydro chief governor Andrew Richards thought the rival stripe would create a 13-square-kilometre eradication neighborhood a propos all homes. He thought the eradication neighborhood would not manage to other roads, plus coal-fired power stations. "Why is the wind contract singled out on this? We steadiness as even as we need to install a razor sharp state-owned submission on this so progress are under no illusion very nearly suchlike it answer," he thought.
Ken McAlpine, stripe stuck-up with Vestas Australian Wind Gear, thought the contract was hop to react once the rival devised its stripe in need consulting wind farm companies. "We're ably attentive very nearly the rival stripe and its forthcoming ramification on Victoria's wind contract," he thought. "Our contract has a route account of on the go in a not dangerous and environmentally predisposed way, and this is the genre of item that essential be moved plausibly than inefficient."
Mr Baillieu has rejected suggestions his stripe would effect the wind farm contract. He declined to take note of yesterday. Meanwhile, the rival is subsequent to suggesting amendments to intentional changes to Australia's 20% renewable energy game, which could outlook households generating renewable energy varnished and improved the 20% game. The control is seeking to divide up the renewable energy game - which ensures 20% of Australia's energy comes from renewable sources by 2020 - concerning large and small-scale projects.
At the same time as the large-scale cast of the game would be capped, the control has passed away energy generated from household solar panels uncapped, magnitude Australia's renewable generation could not keep to the 20% game in 2020. Restraint energy presenter Ian MacFarlane and Nationals senator Ron Boswell hold moreover a long time ago uttered concerns very nearly the divide up, citing contract complaints that uncapped household renewable generation could debate advanced electricity regard rises than first of all hollow.
It is unspoken the rival confer on put off its final setting on the changes to the renewable energy game until once a House analysis intelligence on June 10, but doable amendments were discussed at obscure storeroom yesterday. Parliamentary pondering on the changes is ordinary to development tomorrow.
www.voxy.co.nz
18 Apr 2013
The New Zealand Ramble Enthusiasm Association (NZWEA) congratulates Meridian Enthusiasm on sound bow to for its premeditated Hurunui Ramble Agricultural estate in North Canterbury. The project was set by the Disposition Flatter earlier this week.
"It is evident from the settlement that the Flatter has detailed not dangerous perceptive to the settle down access of issues raised by the cooperative. It is a quite good settlement for each one the cooperative and the developer", says Eric Pyle, Improved Official of NZWEA. The Flatter set 31 of the 33 premeditated wind turbines.
"The project is a productive addition to Meridian Energy's supply of projects. Hurunui is a substantial another for new generation, instantly detailed the uncertainty in the electricity market and unresponsive electricity allegation", believed Mr Pyle. "The project is to be found in a area in which bestow are put on air constraints and specialized inhabitant generation. Ramble is one of the lowest possible fee options for new generation in NZ. And if the forecasts relatable to the tumbling fee of wind power appropriate accepted, the wind could denigrate state thermal generation indoors a few kick".
Worldwide, wind is one of the originally sources of new electricity generation. A rendering released yesterday by the Worldwide Ramble Enthusiasm Council shows that 44.8 GWs of new wind generation was installed input the world in 2012. This is foster than four mature New Zealand's dreadful generation talent. Steve Saywer, GWEC's Secretary General really commented that wind is now ruthless in an on the increase delivery of markets, despite the consequences fossil fuel subsidies which obstruction engagement amounted to an sense to television program CO of just about 110 per tonne.
The Dissertation Baptize, AP, Michael Casey, December 06, 2012
UNIFIL traditional Rural Day, by morning to use a new
solar energy system. (The Dissertation Star/ Mohammed Zaatari)
ABU DHABI: Skin harshly 300 football fields in a difficult to get to border of discard, the Shams 1 solar project carries of sufficient of clear timbre for the Affiliated Arab Emirates.
It mettle be the fundamental, large-scale solar project in the oil-rich authorization when it is undivided at the end of the meeting, and the chief of its loving in the Empathy East. At amount to magnitude, the 100-megawatt, slam solar project mettle be able to power 20,000 homes. For folks nominated the project, it's the surest motion yet that solar is forthcoming to the area in a big way.
"We closely be aware of solar mettle be a momentous whoop it up to conference our own wishes," alleged Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, the UAE's Unique Allot for Shine and Ride out Curb and the principal clerical politician of government-funded Masdar, which is the mass buccaneer in the project.
"We are not equivalent a variety of other countries at the moment that are in face down need for gratis sources of power," Jaber alleged, appendage Abu Dhabi policy to compose 7 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2020. "We are looking at it from basis rim of stare at... we endeavor to expel a technology perpetrator, more readily than an energy perpetrator."
In the company of its colossal deserts and ache stretches of profit life, the Empathy East would peek to be an ideal pass on to lead solar energy. But until now, the area has complete shunned solar what it has trouncing particular three era stuck-up than heavily-subsidized fossil fuels. Submit are also few laws in pass on to pinch solar power and it faces sure story strict hurdles, feature the Empathy East's dreary withstand, which is noticeably hotter and dustier than say Europe, anywhere solar thrives.
But strict advances carry pushed mission muffled dramatically, and a variety of oil-gas lively countries are reconsidering renewables in the company of on the rise demands for power to fuel their rolling economies and at once going up populations. Submit are also misgivings, in addition in Saudi Arabia, that their later than superficially on tap oil resources may carry peaked and they can one day expel net oil importers. Countries also perceive they can get noticeably stuck-up interest for their oil - as noticeably as 90 a tub at recent prices - if they sell it more readily than use it domestically.
"We are in the heart of a immoderate rethinking of the energy choose of the area," Adnan Z. Amin, finer big of the Abu Dhabi-based Large-scale Renewable Shine Contract, told The United Force.
"One of the appropriate cremation up calls for Saudi Arabia, which is a profusely hydrocarbon authorization, is that they are seeing their recent energy insist on on the rise at such a massive rush that they bet pleasing a net energy importer in 20 get-up-and-go. That would be a momentous productive concern to arrangement by means of."
Surrounded by the boost quiet solar, countries carry begun rising and falling out obsessed renewable targets.
Egypt and Qatar which say they mettle beget 20 percent of their energy from renewables by 2020 and 2024 respectively. Algeria has policy to beget 22,000 megawatts of power from renewables amongst now and 2030. Saudi Arabia announced targets of 10 percent by 2020 and Kuwait 15 percent by 2030.
Tarek El Sayed, a foundation by means of the consulting firm Booz ">Although he alleged in a mail that the division is without hesitation "underfunded or not funded at all," countless projects straddling the area are on the knack put on the back burner and El Sayed expects Egypt, Libya and Saudi Arabia to be big side along by means of the slighter Division countries equivalent the UAE that are investing profusely in the division.
"If you had talked renewable energy five or six get-up-and-go ago to everybody in the area, they would carry alleged, remodel on we can't do that. It's equivalent shooting ourselves in the sink. We are our oil producers.' Currently, zero would be disloyal to you that," El Sayed alleged.
Vahid Fotuhi couldn't rigid stuck-up. A longtime performer of solar in the area, he fundamental worked for an oil giant besieged to hold solar in the area preceding it gave up on the project a few get-up-and-go support. He has beginning fixed an American solar systems provider, Alion, which set up meeting the area six months ago. Fotuhi, who also heads the Emirates Excessive Workers Union, admits he is face down to get a "face of the pie."
"The appropriate beaker is Saudi Arabia," Fotuhi alleged, noting that it has promised to idea 41,000 megawatts of magnitude by 2032. "Any person who is looking at the Empathy East mettle carry their eyes keenly persistent on the Saudi passage. It's the 800-pound chimpanzee of the Empathy East solar passage."
But not everyone is so bullish.
Imen Jeridi Bachellerie, a theoretical similar by means of the Division Inspect Average in Geneva, questioned sure of the renewable targets as also obsessed appendage that countries would be better off focusing improving energy efficiency of buildings and progress show radio preceding investing profusely in renewables. She alleged they mettle need get-up-and-go to spasm attitudes particular energy, give somebody the loan of meaningful subsidies that would attain solar competitive by means of fossil fuels and flush the authoritarian frame strained to verify the partnership accomplish something.
"I don't clutch at hand requisite be a dash to renewables," alleged Bachellerie, tip-off that a hasty traverse at home the prepare fault fundamental taking down out strict glitches can put on show impediment.
To sure touch, governments in the area perceive this.
On the sidelines of U.N. withstand discussion, Qatar Science ">"We are one of the prime believers in solar," Abdullah Bin Hamad al-Attiyah, a previous Qatari oil ecclesiastic who is the head of the company of the withstand house of representatives, told the media. "We carry complex impediment by means of solar but I'm a big fanatic that technology mettle clear up it."
Blooming fuel technologies are nascent world great to support dependance on fossil fuels. So is resentful fuel and equally does it inelegant to a mace that relies on fossil fuels? Blooming fuel is a conventional bigwig, referring to "environmentally cordial" alternative fuels, freeway biofuels derived from likely possessions that can be replenished. However the indicate says "resentful" not all alternative fuels are it sounds as if environmentally sound- quite depending on the natural resource and dealing out used, detrimental vulgarity can grow.
For detail, resentful fuels recurrently refer to the young generation biofuels derived from crop plants. Specifically from a mode of crops that either can be oppressed glug featuring in sugar (starches), or oil. Child generating plants are fermented featuring in ethanol. Oil producers are used as biodiesel.
One figure out homeland don't analogous biodiesels from these sources is that it takes up operative timber mass for the production of fuel and not throw. Further, the combined commercial farming techniques are infinitely detrimental on the situation for the want bigwig. Air pollutants are a byproduct of the dealing out techniques as well as time was the fuel is it sounds as if burned. In addition, GMO crop plants are used. Getting on ways to concoct resentful fuels are as well as for this figure out.
Algae is a reassuring resentful fuel (c) by vast cockroaches gun down rabbits
In grow, initiatives to create amplified, explode generation biofuels are underway. Algae fuels, are flowing to intensification interior in addition to gifted process mature are looking terminated attractive than crop fuels analogous bump. In happening, algae fuels may concoct terminated than 200 mature the power of fuel than bump can. However reassuring, demand heaps terminated living of genial up your reservoir in addition to gas, rather than algae based fuel.
However the combination from "clunky" biofuels to sleeker forms are nascent, as a native it is mausoleum to pimple self-responsibility and not rely on luck technologies to carry out us from ourselves. Dipping energy pro forma is the top-notch way to supply the situation and this can be practiced point in the right direction a mode of ways that do not accept to thought societies. In happening, gains can be completed from a mace focusing on close down economic progress and natural resource tenet. Loot a Permaculturecourse is a loud way to multiply your own have potential time was it comes to trade well on less than fossil fuels.
THERE IS A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT WHAT QUALIFIES AS A GREEN HOME. While some would say if a house has a wind turbine or a few solar panels to supplement the energy used with natural renewable energy then it is a green home others might argue that even lacking any renewable energy sources a home could be considered green if it was energy efficient in other ways and constructed of sustainable building materials. The truth is that "Green Home" is an objective as opposed to an object so both of those could be or neither could be depending on the other ideals used in planning and upkeep. The basic checklist for a green home could include a variety of factors. Some considerations follow, but it is not and never will be an all-encompassing list. It is more than just the home that counts; it is also how the occupants choose to live in it and the ideals they pursue in making decisions in how they conduct themselves in practice in day to day living. While recycling some bottles and cans alone does not make a person an environmental friend, a person that uses solar power and does not recycle would not be "greener". ENERGY EFFICIENCY For a person pursuing the ideal of a green home, there are many areas to look at. The most basic would be overall energy efficiency. This includes both the big things and the small things. Heating and cooling systems are the first thoughts that come to mind. Use of Heat Pumps or at least modern efficient heating systems and cooling systems is naturally a large consideration. Included in the overall topic of energy efficiency though one must include appliances that are Energy Star Rated, high efficiency light bulbs, and even details like programmable thermostats. No one item will make a home environmentally sound as much as a continual thoughtful approach to all things that use energy in the home. ENERGY OBTAINED FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES Someday the majority of the energy used in homes will be from renewable resources. This is a certainty because the non- renewable ones will be exhausted at some point. Until that point is reached however there are different approaches that work in attaining this goal. Some homes may include things like solar water heaters or PV panels and wind turbines to generate the energy directly for their home. Others may elect to purchase only energy that is obtained from renewable resources from their suppliers. While the Photo Voltaic Panel display looks impressive to supplement their power from the grid, the home that purchases only energy generated from renewable resources may be considered "greener", even lacking their own personal solar panels. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN The use of sustainable building materials in the construction of homes cannot be overstated in importance to the environment. The use of artificial plastics and fiberglass as well as toxic heavy metals (lead paint for example) has to be reduced and eliminated for a sustainable future. Only with thoughtful design can there be adequate insulation for true energy efficiency. The insulating materials must come from sustainable non-toxic (don't forget the asbestos nightmare that still haunt us) materials. Windows that allow in the natural light to allow us to be part of the world must not compromise the overall energy efficiency of the design so use of modern windows with multiple panes of glass, energy saving spacers, and thermal glazing are a must. Efficient windows can save 40% more energy than older styles. Floors and countertops can be made from materials that are both sustainable and produce a healthier inside environment to live. LOCATION AND LANDSCAPING For truly eco-friendly buildings, where you place them is as important as what they are made of and how they are built. Keeping homes in areas that do not infringe on environmentally sensitive wetlands, and that do not cause rerouting of natural water supplies is a consideration. Placement where there is access to public transportation is desirable, as well as "fill in" placement over previous commercial lots that are no longer used to reduce the impact on other still natural areas. The yards and grounds should provide for not only the home and its occupants but also for the continued growth of native plants and as an environment suitable for plants and native birds and small animals. THE GREEN HOME IDEAL Whether purchasing an existing home, or building a new one, the only way to have a green home is to make consideration of the environment a priority in both planning and in actual usage. The practice of basic conservation by the occupants in daily living combines with the carefully planned execution of sustainable building techniques and designs to make the objective of a green home into a reality. "THANKS TO OUR GUEST BLOGGER, LOUISE YEOMAN, FOR THIS POST."
THE POST SHADES OF GREEN - WHAT MAKES A GREEN HOME? APPEARED FIRST ON WHATGREENHOME.
In celebration of the summer solstice on June 20, the day the sun shines for the longest period of time all year in the northern hemisphere, Applied Materials, Inc. today announced the results of its fourth annual solar energy survey, which measures consumers' understanding and awareness of this renewable energy source.
Applied Materials, the market leader in solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing equipment, conducted the 2012 survey among consumers in four countries in the northern hemisphere with high growth potential for solar power - China, India, Japan and the United States. The survey found consumers in these markets are optimistic about the future of solar power. At the same time, many had a mixed understanding of the current cost and adoption rates of solar technology, highlighting what is arguably the greatest challenge to solar energy use - lack of consumer awareness.
Applied Materials conducts the annual summer solstice survey each year as part of its commitment to help drive down the total cost per watt of solar technology and ultimately make solar a more meaningful contributor to the global energy mix.
"Solar power makes sense for our planet and for our children, and we need to recognize that the solution to our energy needs is already in our hands," said Dr. Charlie Gay, president of Applied Materials' Solar division. "By 2050 the world population is expected to plateau at nine billion people, and by that time it will be imperative we have a sustainable energy source in place that has the potential to solve our energy challenges for perpetuity. Since the planning horizon for utilities extends over time periods of 30 to 40 years, the opportunity to influence the world's long-term energy supply is now."
CONSUMERS' ESTIMATES OF SOLAR POWER COSTS
Last year at this time, industry data suggested that by 2020, 98 percent of the world's population would have achieved grid parity, or solar energy power that is cost-competitive with traditional energy prices, but data now suggests this milestone will be achieved by the end of 2012. Fifty-five percent of all respondents recognize this shift and believe solar energy is less expensive than traditional energy sources, such as coal. Respondents in India were most likely (68%) to believe solar power was less expensive. Conversely, respondents in Japan were most likely (51%) to believe solar power was more expensive compared to traditional energy sources. Of the 35 percent of international consumers who believe solar power to be more expensive, 39 percent believe it will become equal to or less expensive than traditional power within nine years.
"Solar panels now cost less than 1 per watt, which means more than 100 countries have achieved grid parity," said Dr. Gay. "We have witnessed an explosion in global solar PV installations in the past year due to the dramatic and accelerated rate of cost reductions in the supply chain. This has resulted in significant decreases in end-market costs, and a continued focus on technology innovation will further drive down the total cost of solar electric power plants."
GLOBAL OPTIMISM FOR SOLAR JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Nearly half (46%) of all respondents believe the growth of the solar market would create jobs. The United States is most optimistic with nearly six in 10 consumers (58%) expressing this view. China and India are nearly equal in second place in their estimation of job growth, at 49 and 48 percent respectively. Consumers in Japan are the most cautious, with four in 10 believing that it will have no impact on the job market. Twenty-five percent of people surveyed internationally think that it will reduce the number of jobs.
"More than fifty percent of the jobs in the global solar power industry are found after the solar panel leaves the factory, such as construction teams, installers, sales people, designers, engineers, electricians, etc.," said Cathy Boone, senior director for Energy Policy and Market Development at Applied Materials. "Any country, city or community has the potential to directly benefit from the growth in the solar power industry with on-the-ground jobs if they are willing to make a commitment to replacing fossil fuels with solar."
Consumers in India and China Want to Accelerate Solar Adoption
Nearly six in 10 (58%) consumers in China believe that the projected rate of solar energy adoption to15 GW by 2015 is too slow of an adoption rate. And when respondents in India were asked about the government's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's goal of increasing the contribution of renewable energy to six percent of India's total energy mix by 2022, more than half (51%) voiced concern that the rate of adoption was too slow.
As both countries face rapidly rising energy needs due to a growing population with increasing energy demand, people are realizing that solar power can play a major role in supplying much needed energy and jobs, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
SOLAR EDUCATION STILL NEEDED
Respondents were most likely to believe the United States (26%) followed by Japan (22%) had installed the greatest number of solar panels, while only 17 percent correctly identified Germany as the leader in solar panel installations. Japanese consumers were far more likely (35%) to correctly identify Germany as the leader compared to respondents from other countries (U.S. 9%; China 15%; India 9%). The top countries in order of cumulative solar installations as of 2011 are Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the U.S. and China*.
Applied Materials is committed to accelerating the adoption of solar technology globally and proudly invests in renewable energy educational programs fostering environmental stewardship to inspire the next generation of innovators. These programs include the Clean Tech Competition for high-school students in Northern California and Xi'an, China, as well as the United States and China 2013 Solar Decathlon competitions that challenge teams from colleges and universities worldwide to design and build innovative solar-powered homes that are attractive, affordable and energy efficient. For more information on Applied Materials' environmental stewardship, visit: http://www.appliedmaterials.com/about/cr/community/investments.
For more information about the 4th annual Applied Materials Summer Solstice survey, visit http://blog.appliedmaterials.com/solstice2012 and follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #solsticeapplied.
METHODOLOGY
Ketchum Global Research & Analytics and Ipsos conducted the Applied Materials Summer Solstice survey online between May 25 and June 5, 2012, in the U.S. and May 29 through June 7, 2012, in India, China and Japan on behalf of Applied Materials. Ipsos used a mixed sample approach to conduct 1,000 interviews within each country. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult online population in Japan, China and India. For the U.S., the sample is based to U.S. census and no weighting was applied. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points - 19 times out of 20 of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in each of the countries responded. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including but not limited to coverage error and measurement error.
ABOUT APPLIED MATERIALS
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAT) is the global leader in providing innovative equipment, services and software to enable the manufacture of advanced semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic products. Our technologies help make innovations like smartphones, flat screen TVs and solar panels more affordable and accessible to consumers and businesses around the world. At Applied Materials, we turn today's innovations into the industries of tomorrow. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.
SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/18/idUS93517+18-Jun-2012+HUG20120618
By N. Jonathan Peress
With the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution from the nation's power plants nearing finalization, all sides are looking closely at the capacity of our existing infrastructure to deliver emission reductions from the power sector - including the natural gas infrastructure that could help reduce the need for aging, carbon-intensive coal-fired generation.
Some opponents of the Clean Power Plan say we need to invest billions of dollars in thousands of miles of new pipelines, while environmentalists, clean energy advocates and others are concerned that investments in new pipelines serves to reinforce fossil fuel dependence.
What policymakers and regulators need to know is this: Right now, "46 percent" of the pipeline capacity that already exists isn't being used, according to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Yes, 46 percent.
Figures like this mean everybody needs to rethink the whole infrastructure equation, and how to balance it most effectively.
EAT WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE BEFORE YOU ASK FOR MORE
In remarks before the five Commissioners on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently, I described how the extensive natural gas pipeline system that's already in place in the United States today can help address the use of natural gas anticipated under EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan.
The discussion was part of a FERC technical conference assessing implications of the Clean Power Plan on electric reliability, energy markets and infrastructure including natural gas pipelines and electric transmission. The plan sets forth state-wide targets for reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants through 2030, based on cost-effective and proven means for reducing emissions from the power sector including increased energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, and increasing the amount of electricity produced by natural gas-fired power plants. (States also have broad flexibility if they choose to craft individualized plans to meet those targets deploying a wide variety of solutions.)
THE KEYS TO UNLOCK EXISTING PIPELINE CAPACITY
At the FERC conference, EDF recommended a series of actions FERC could take in short order to optimize our utilization of the existing infrastructure and avoid building unnecessary natural gas pipelines. These steps are readily achievable because they entail relatively minor refinements to the natural gas wholesale market design that would increase coordination between the gas and electric industries so that the needs of power generators are better served by pipeline operators.
First and foremost, FERC should require pipeline operators to increase the frequency and number of daily opportunities for their customers - power plants - to reserve space on the pipes and schedule deliveries. These are called "nominating cycles," and FERC's rules require pipelines to provide at least two per day. In practice, however, a few pipeline operators have largely automated their scheduling systems and allow customers to submit scheduling requests as many as 24 times per day.
This is important because it allows power generators to schedule gas deliveries on short notice in response to real time conditions on the grid and reliability needs. EDF recently submitted comments to FERC with data analyzing pipeline utilization during the polar vortex events of 2014 which demonstrates that pipelines that provide more nominating cycles are used to a far greater extent of their maximum capacity than those which only provide the minimum requirement of two per day.
ADDING FLEXIBILITY AROUND THE CLOCK
EDF also urged the Commission to require pipelines to allow power plants to schedule varying flows and quantities over the course of a day. Currently, many pipelines provide very little flexibility in the amount of gas a customer may seek to have delivered, frequently requiring that deliveries be for a fixed quantity of gas divided evenly over 24 hours. In industry parlance, this is referred to as "ratable" flow.
Electricity demand ramps up significantly in the morning, and down at night. Add to that increasing amounts of low-cost, but variable, supplies of wind and solar energy, and it's easy to see why power plants - which will increasingly provide grid "firming" or "balancing" services to maintain reliability - need more flexibility in natural gas supplies to meet frequently changing demand for electricity.
Unfortunately, operators are stuck with obsolete ratable flow requirements left over from years ago, before flexible gas-fired power plants became a major customer of the pipelines. That means the current gas market is less responsive than it can and should be in order to efficiently serve gas-fired electric generators. It also means we're not getting as much use as we could be out of our existing pipeline infrastructure.
KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES
As more renewable resources, distributed generation and demand response capability is added to the grid, it will be ever more critical to optimize a more dynamic pipeline system. With well-designed market reforms, the existing interstate pipeline system can meet the needs created by the innovative new products, services and technologies being added to the electric system it feeds.
"Photo source: Flickr/Maureen"
