MORE NEWS, 1-26 (ELECTRIC CARMAKERS RACE FOR GOLD RING; SUN GOES WHERE WIRES DON’T IN INDIA; CANADA PROVINCE TO SPEND BIG ON WIND)

ELECTRIC CARMAKERS RACE FOR GOLD RING
Startups charge into electric-car market; High-end vehicles may have trouble competing with major automakers
Ken Thomas, January 24, 2009 (AP via Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

"Several startup automakers are in hot pursuit of electric-powered vehicles, but they face an uphill road as they challenge major car companies…

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


Tesla (click to enlarge)

"Tesla, which started in 2004, showcased its $109,000 all-electric two-seat Roadster sports car…and hopes to unveil its Model S electric car in late February…

"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 growth…"


SUN GOES WHERE WIRES DON’T IN INDIA
'Solar energy can light up India's villages'
Stuart Irvine, director, Centre for Solar Energy Research , 21 January 2009 (Times of India)

"… efficient and affordable third generation [III-Gen] solar technology could help reduce [India’s] dependence on polluting fuels…

"…I-Gen cells were of crystalline silicon, fairly high-cost, manufactured in relatively small volumes. The II-Gen cells had higher efficiency, whether made of thin wafers or silicon. The III-Gen has more complex, integrated devices that can reduce reflection and capture more of the solar spectrum…

"…Cost components are photovoltaic (PV) modules, power electronics and installation. One-half of the total cost you pay would be the module cost. The rest is spread over the balance of the system…solar power is not the cheapest of options; as production increases, however, the costs tend to decrease…China and India are now becoming manufacturing centres. A company in Kolkata, for instance, is working on an innovative technique to make PV modules with thin film made with cheaper, compound material to increase conversion efficiency…"

click for Global Green's full report on India

"…There are two kinds of storage as far as solar energy is concerned: on-grid and off-grid. In the UK, it's largely the on-grid that's important. The DC electricity produced by PV modules are converted to AC in the grid. There's two-way energy traffic. The building will supply electricity to the grid during the day and buy from it in the night…If you have large tracts of unproductive land that gets sunlight, it's attractive from a seller's viewpoint because you can feed energy to the grid and get paid for that without having to buy back.

"Off-grid needs battery storage. This is important in India where you have the rural electrification scheme; solar energy can light up India's villages. Solar energy would charge batteries that are then used to power lighting, television sets and refrigerators. Solar energy-charged batteries would be for high-efficiency lighting purposes and for other low-power domestic requirements."


CANADA PROVINCE TO SPEND BIG ON WIND
New wind energy projects could spur $72 billion in investment, 52,000 new jobs
John Shmuel, January 23, 2009 (National Post)

"The Ontario government announced…long-term contracts for six new wind energy projects in the province.

"The announcement brings Ontario's installed wind energy capacity to 1,500 MW. Currently, the province sits at 782 MW of capacity, enough to power 230,000 homes…

"The new wind energy projects are expected to total 492 MW in power output: in comparison, a CANDU 6 nuclear reactor produces 740 MW. Canada's total installed capacity sits at 2,369 MW — Ontario is currently the wind technology leader in the country…"

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"The announcement helps boost CanWEA's vision of wind energy providing 20% of Canada's electricity needs…Wind Vision 2025 says if the goal is met, it will result in $79-billion in new investment and 52,000 new jobs. It also highlights $165-million in new revenue can be created for rural municipalities hit by declining traditional resource industries."