MORE NEWS, 1-14 (SOLAR ON THE MOVE; NEW ENERGY WILL BOOST KANSAS JOBS; FOR ELECTRIC CARS, IT’S BIG AUTO VS. INDEPENDENTS; JET ALGAE BIOFUEL)

SOLAR ON THE MOVE
Sempra solar energy project makes advances in costs
Marla Dickerson, January 5, 2009 (LA Times)

“Generating clean electricity that's as cheap as power from fossil fuels is the Holy Grail of green-energy companies. A new solar project powering California homes appears to be closing in on that prize.

”Sempra Generation, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy in San Diego, just took the wraps off a 10-megawatt solar farm in Nevada…[Mark Bachman, senior equity analyst for Pacific Crest Securities] has calculated that the facility can produce power at a cost of 7.5 cents a kilowatt-hour, less than the 9-cent benchmark for conventional electricity.

”If that's so, it marks a milestone that renewable fans have longed for: "grid parity," in which electricity from the sun, wind or other green sources can meet or beat the price performance of such carbon-based fuels as coal and natural gas…

”The stock of First Solar Inc., the Tempe, Ariz., company that manufactured the solar modules for the project, has soared 20% since Bachman released his analysis..no one involved in the deal is willing to confirm Bachman's conclusions…What they will say is that this facility, known as El Dorado Energy Solar, is producing electricity at costs below anything comparable to date…

No sound, just amazing vistas of the El Dorado Solar Project, finishing with a fast-action view of the construction process. From marketwire via YouTube.

“First Solar uses a lower-cost semiconductor known as cadmium telluride, which it fashions into so-called thin-film cells that are cheaper to manufacture than their silicon-based counterparts.

”First Solar's technology is proving popular with Southern California energy companies looking to do supersized solar projects…California law requires the state's investor-owned utilities to generate 20% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2010, a figure that's set to increase to 33% by 2020. The state also has committed to cutting its greenhouse gases dramatically. Those mandates are creating opportunities for all manner of clean-energy companies…

”Some energy wonks are likely to dispute Bachman's conclusion that the El Dorado project has achieved grid parity…What's clear is that the costs of solar power are dropping dramatically across the industry as the technology is more widely adopted and producers become more efficient…”


NEW ENERGY WILL BOOST KANSAS JOBS
Report says Kansas counties could see thousands of new jobs from alternative energy business
January 9, 2009 (AP via Yahoo Finance)

“… Kansas…could potentially gain thousands of jobs from alternative energy business, according to a report from the Renewable Energy Policy Project.

“The findings were released Thursday in Wichita at a news conference announcing the formation of the Kansas Blue Green Alliance, a coalition of state labor, environmental and farm groups.

“The study said Kansas could create 11,500 jobs and draw $2 billion in investment in renewable energy…

“The report says Sedgwick County could gain more than 1,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in business making equipment for wind turbines and other alternative energy technologies.

“It estimates that Saline County could see as many as 2,300 jobs and $430 million in investments, with the most potential coming from solar energy business and the large Exide Technologies battery plant in Salina.

“…the report… looked at components used in making wind turbines, photovoltaic cell solar power plants, biomass plants and geothermal plants [and]…compared that to a list of Kansas companies that make similar products or use similar production techniques, with the connection being that they could easily convert their operations to make components of wind turbines or other alternative energy technologies…”


FOR ELECTRIC CARS, IT’S BIG AUTO VS. INDEPENDENTS
E-car startups try to compete with major companies
Ken Thomas (w/David Runk), January 13, 2009 (AP)

“Several startup automakers are in hot pursuit of electric-powered vehicles, but they face an uphill road as they challenge major car companies like Toyota and General Motors in the race for the green car market.

“California-based Tesla Motors Inc. and Fisker Automotive are displaying cars at the North American International Auto Show this week, grabbing attention with sleek electric-drive vehicles that combine environmentally friendly chic with sports car sex appeal."

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“Tesla, which started in 2004, showcased its $109,000 all-electric two-seat Roadster sports car at the Detroit show and hopes to unveil its Model S electric car in late February…Tesla has been working with Daimler AG since late 2007 in a partnership to produce 1,000 electric Smart microcars…

“Fisker is showing off the production version of its $87,900 Karma plug-in luxury sports sedan, a four-seater with solar panels and the ability to drive gas-free for 50 miles. Fisker, which expects the cars to roll off the production line in October, also unveiled the Karma S, a convertible expected in 2011…"

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“…the startups have plenty of doubters. Many question whether the niche companies will be able to survive the contraction of the U.S. auto market and the recent difficulty obtaining credit that is key to financing future growth…

“The companies face the typical growing pains of a startup auto company along with the challenges of electric transportation, competing with billions of dollars in investments by General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. GM is hoping to bring the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle to the market by 2010, and Toyota outlined plans in Detroit to bring an all-electric car to market by 2012…

“Other startups seeking the electric path include Chinese automaker BYD Co., Miles Electric Vehicles and Aptera Motors.”


JET ALGAE BIOFUEL
The Next Biofuel Frontier: Jet Engines; In the race to power planes with plants, airlines have begun test-flying a gamut of options, including the oil from algae, jatropha and camelina. From a technical perspective, it may not matter which biofuel wins, so long as there are ample contenders.
Davin Coburn, January 13, 2009 (Popular Mechanics)

“…Continental became the first U.S. airline to test synthetic paraffinic kerosenes—otherwise known as jet biofuels. Engineers filled one of the Boeing 737-800's twin engines (which required no modifications) with a 50/50 blend of oils from jatropha and algae and regular Jet A1 fuel. During the 90-minute flight, pilots turned the engine off and on and abruptly accelerated and slowed down the aircraft. The biofuel performed flawlessly—and even appeared to get better fuel economy than the engine running off traditional Jet A1…

”…Only 2.5 percent of Continental's fuel blend came from algae…But because algae can yield 10 times more bioenergy molecules per area than any terrestrial plant—and it doesn't compete with cropland—the Scripps Institution of Oceanography recently dubbed it alternative energy's "green bullet" …

”The International Air Transport Association wants its 230 member carriers to be using 10 percent alternative fuels by 2017; the European Union will cap airline carbon-dioxide emissions in 2012. These looming deadlines have helped prompt increased testing…With the latest milestone, Boeing estimates a regularly scheduled passenger flight could be powered by a biofuel blend in three years…

“The aviation industry currently burns through nearly a quarter-billion gallons of jet fuel daily, so one key to cost effectiveness will be diversification. Experts expect algae could become a viable source in the next eight to 10 years—and in the meantime, other feedstocks will get their turn in sun. Japan Airlines, which plans to conduct the next biofuel test flight at the end of this month, will run an airliner with a blend of camelina oil and conventional fuel. Oil from jatropha and camelina plants could be viable in commercial quantities in the next three to five years…”