QUICK NEWS, 9-15: MONEY AND BIG SUN; TRANSMITTING OCEAN WIND; CA SMALL NEW ENERGY TO CONNECT; MICH OPENS BIGGEST EV BATTERY PLANT

MONEY AND BIG SUN
Are institutional investors getting behind renewables?
Andrew Williams, 9 September 2010 (CSP Today)

"Mindy Lubber, President of Boston-based sustainable investor organisation Ceres, recently predicted that the vast majority of future funding for alternative energy companies will come from large institutional investors, pension and hedge funds and private equity firms, rather than from governmental support…There is now growing evidence of increased investment in clean energy in general, especially from socially responsible investors (SRI’s)… However, many institutional investors do not yet distinguish between the various types of solar power…

"A number of government programmes, particularly in the U.S., are boosting the investment appeal of [concentrating solar power (CSP)]...Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and regional or state carbon-caps boost demand for all types of renewable energy, including CSP. California has been a major player in the CSP industry, thanks to [ambitious policies and plentiful sun]…"

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"Two examples of…[federal policies boosting CSP] are the US$1.45 billion loan guarantee for the Abengoa CSP plant in Arizona, and the US$1.37 billion loan guarantee for a BrightSource CSP plant in California. [Lubber says that opening federal lands, a national transmission upgrade and a price on carbon are still needed]…

"A recent Ceres report, The 21st Century Utility: Positioning for a Low-Carbon Future, claims that, in California, CSP and other solar technologies are already at or near grid parity [at which CSP generated electricity is equal in cost, or cheaper than, grid power], with CSP in Arizona and Nevada also getting close…[G]rid parity predictions depend on exactly what types of power are being compared and in which countries. They also depend on whether or not externalities arising as a result of conventional power are included in the calculations. [CSP peak power is already competitive]…"

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"It is difficult to predict where the bulk of investment in CSP is likely to come from in coming years. This is at least partly because it very much depends on what direction energy policy will take in the future…[but evidence] suggests that many institutional investors are now attaching growing importance to clean energy investments.

"As we edge ever further along the road to ‘peak oil,’ and governments across the globe increasingly turn their attention to viable alternative sources of power, it seems likely that this trend will gather pace in the coming years."


TRANSMITTING OCEAN WIND
New design for offshore wind substations in the wings
Rikki Stancich, 9 September 2010 (Wind Energy Update)

"…Following a massive investment into new manufacturing kit in order to gear up for the pending boom in offshore wind projects, Harland & Wolff is now open for business…[A] Siemens contract will see Harland & Wolff deliver two innovative substations for the 576MW, 160 turbine Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm…13km off the coast of North Wales. The substations will be completed by June 2012.

"The platforms have been designed using stiffened panels typical of shipbuilding and offshore structures…[T]his approach offers cost and weight savings, increased watertight integrity, structural flexibility and opens opportunities for floating, self-installing projects in the future…"

A rival and more traditional substation design. (click to enlarge)

[David McVeigh, Sales and Marketing manager, Harland & Wolff:] "The substations will utilize the latest Siemens transformers. From a construction point of view, the substation structure will be…more typical of a watertight marine structure or vessel, rather than clad beam and column structure…[T]his is lighter, stronger, and more durable…[and] more adaptable throughout the life of the structure…"

[David McVeigh, Sales and Marketing manager, Harland & Wolff:] "Harland and Wolff have a lot of experience in the offshore oil and gas sector…A huge investment in new plant and equipment that is particularly suited to the offshore wind industry, has dramatically reduced costs…[U]sing the appropriate tools for the job has enabled us to reduce the welding man-hours to one-third of what they were…[W]e produce bespoke offshore modules for the same price, and in the same timeframe, as modular units offered by some competitors…"

A big offshore project engages an army of providers. (click to enlarge)

[David McVeigh, Sales and Marketing manager, Harland & Wolff:] "Safety is of paramount importance…The design of the module is to the very latest DNV and UK HSE standards…We are working closely with the operator to ensure O&M input is incorporated at the earliest stage possible in the design process…For the last eight months we have been speaking with…developers, O&M contractors, installation contractors and offshore wind farm operators in order to gain an understanding of the problems they experienced with substations…[and] we have designed a transformer platform that addresses a considerable number of the issues…The driver for this is not simply to be concerned with reducing manufacturing costs alone, but thinking about the whole substation life cycle…"

[David McVeigh, Sales and Marketing manager, Harland & Wolff:] "We all understand the large number of offshore wind farms to be developed in order to meet the Government’s targets…With our existing facilities we are capable of producing a great number of jackets and substations every year. Almost uniquely, with the large amount of hard starting ground adjacent to our docks and quaysides, we can build and hold the jackets and just-in-time deliver them…"


CA SMALL NEW ENERGY TO CONNECT
California ISO To Take New Perspective On Small-Generator Interconnection
10 September 2010 (Renew Grid)

"The California Independent System Operator Corp. (California ISO) says it is implementing a plan aimed at improving how it assesses the grid impact of small power-generation projects.

"The California ISO says small wind, solar and geothermal projects, taken collectively, affect the grid just as a single large generator does. In turn, the grid operator intends to…[examine] interconnection requests in clusters…[to move] projects through the study process…[and] minimize overbuilding and undue costs associated with transmission expansion…"

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Keith Casey, vice president of market and infrastructure development, California ISO:] "The current serial study process was designed when we were receiving 15 or 20 interconnection requests a year. That has increased to 150 small generator projects in the past two years…"

"The organization's board of governors has approved the plans, which will now move to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for consideration and approval…"


MICH OPENS BIGGEST EV BATTERY PLANT
North America's largest plant for lithium-ion auto batteries opens in Livonia
Zlati Meyer, September 14, 2010 (Detroit Free Press)

"President Barack Obama congratulated A123 Systems…on opening the largest lithium-ion automotive battery manufacturing plant on the continent during a surprise phone call at the grand opening…Gov. Jennifer Granholm…U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Michigan members of Congress…also addressed the hundreds of employees and guests…[T]he president explained that this is about the country's future…[and] the next generation of cars…

"A123 Systems received a $249-million U.S. Department of Energy grant as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and $125 million in state incentives from the 21st Century Job Fund…Granholm said…\that in the future, 40% of battery manufacturing, previously largely in Asia, will take place in America -- and most of that in Michigan."

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"An estimated 300 people work at the 291,000-square-foot building…formerly a videotape-dubbing facility… A123 Systems expects to bring thousands of new jobs to Michigan when it expands…"

The 20Ah Prismatic cell; 300-to-400 power a car. (click to enlarge)

"The [plant opening] was heralded as a sign that manufacturing isn't dead in Michigan, that public-private partnerships are the answer in today's global marketplace and that America is on its way to ending the country's dependence on foreign oil…

"The company makes a prismatic cell, a thin white rectangular battery about the size of a license plate, that produces 20 amp hours and 66 watt hours, said Jason Forcier, vice president of A123 Systems' Automotive Solutions Group division. An estimated 300 to 400 prismatic cells are needed for one electric car battery pack…The cost of a typical hybrid plug-in battery is $10,000-$12,000, a price expected to be halved within four years, he explained. A123 Systems will be able to make up to 1 million a month, enough to accommodate 30,000 vehicles a year…"