MORE NEWS, 2-5 (FORECAST IS FOR WIND; MORE COMBINED SOLAR & GAS PLANTS; WAVE-WIND DEVICE PASSES TEST; VOLT TO PREVIEW IN D.C., S.F.)

FORECAST IS FOR WIND
New forecasts aim to help with wind energy
Alysia Patterson, February 4, 2009 (AP)

"Federal researchers are developing pinpoint forecasts to help utilities predict which way the wind will blow — and how strong — so they'll know how much electricity their wind turbines will generate.

"The National Center for Atmospheric Research [NCAR] and Xcel Energy said Wednesday the new, advanced forecasts could cut consumers' costs and reduce pollution…

"Running coal and natural-gas plants just in case the wind doesn't produce enough power wastes money and releases damaging carbon dioxide into the atmosphere…NCAR, based in Boulder, Colo., has access to data the National Weather Service doesn't, so it can provide a more accurate forecast…"

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"…forecasts will use data from satellites, aircraft, weather radar, ground weather stations and sensors on wind turbines. The information will be fed into three NCAR systems: The Weather Research and Forecasting computer model, the Real-Time Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation System and the Dynamic Integrated foreCast System…Forecasts will be delivered every three hours.

"NCAR will develop a prototype model over the next 18 months and tweak it for 12 months after that before handing the operation over the Xcel…Test forecasts would be issued for Xcel wind farms in Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming."

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"The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., will develop mathematical formulas to calculate how much electricity the turbines will generate at different wind speeds…the new forecasts could save Xcel $10 million to $15 million over the first two years…NCAR initially developed the advanced weather forecasting model for the Department of Defense…

"Paul Gipe, a wind energy author who runs the Web site Wind-Works.org, calls the move a step in the right direction if the U.S. wants to hit the 80 percent clean-energy target suggested by former Vice President Al Gore…"


MORE COMBINED SOLAR & GAS PLANTS
US fossil fuel plants retrofitted with solar; Project will add steam generated by a solar thermal field to a conventional fossil fuel-powered steam cycle
Tom Young, 4 February 2009 (BusinessGreen)

"Three power companies in the US are examining the possibility of adding solar energy to their fossil-fuelled electric power plants, reducing fuel costs and plant emissions.

"Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Progress Energy and Southern Company are participating in the project with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)."

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"The project will add steam generated by a solar thermal field to a conventional fossil fuel-powered steam cycle to offset some of the fuel required to generate electric power.

"The trials will be conducted at Tri-State’s 245MW Escalante Generating Station in Prewitt, New Mexico and at Progress Energy’s 742MW Mayo Plant in Roxboro, North Carolina…

"Currently, 27 states in the US have enacted renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policies. Some include specific mandates that a percentage of the requirement be met with solar energy, and the EPRI believes that this technology could be the cheapest way of achieving this, as it uses existing plant assets…"


WAVE-WIND DEVICE PASSES TEST
Wave Device For Offshore Turbines Tested
4 February 2009 (Low Carbon Economy)

"A wave energy generation device that attaches to wind turbines and shares the transmission infrastructure has passed initial testing…[It] could add 500 kilowatts generating capacity to a wind turbine installation…

"Green Ocean Energy, the company behind the Wave Treader device, claim they will have a prototype ready for full testing by 2010, one year ahead of the date it claims the product will be ready for commercialisation."

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"The Wave Treader consists of two arms with flotation devices at the end which extend in opposite directions from the base of the wind turbine mast.

"As they rise and fall on the waves…pressure…hydraulic motors and drives electric generators…installed on wind turbines…it does not need its own additional transmission infrastructure and can cut the cost…

"Offhore Wave Energy Limited is also looking to combine wind and wave energy…"


VOLT TO PREVIEW IN D.C., S.F.
GM to Introduce New Electric Car in Washington Region
Kendra Marr, February 4, 2009 (Washington Post)

"Washington will be one of two cities to test drive General Motors' new plug-in electric car, the Volt, the automaker announced, as it began laying out plans to work with area governments and power companies to ease its introduction.

"Ed Peper, GM's North America vice president, made the announcement at the Washington Auto Show. He said Washington and San Francisco would be the first metropolitan areas to receive the Volt, and the company is seeking policies and infrastructure, such as carpool lane access for Volt drivers and charging stations at work, to make the buyers' transition from gas to electric easier…"

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"The Volt won't be for sale until late 2010. But with a price tag between $30,000 and $40,000, analysts aren't expecting the Volt to necessarily be a mass market hit…the goal is create policies that make this expensive technology more attractive…High manufacturing volumes means cheaper batteries and cheaper cars…

"Britta Gross, GM's manager of hydrogen and electrical infrastructure development, said the lack of incentives has hindered a mass migration from gasoline to alternatives fuels…GM has been discussing the Volt with Dominion Power…[and] aims to reach out to other utilities in the region soon.

"GM also wants to help state, city and county governments create permitting and policies to accomodate Volt buyers. The company plans to encourage governments, as well as companies, to buy large fleets of plug-ins to increase adoption. And it wants to make sure utilities are prepared when Volt owners begin plugging into the grid… "