QUICK NEWS, 12-23: NEW ENERGY FOR UTAH; DOE BACKS $1.45 BIL AZ SOLAR POWER PLANT; HAWAII TO PUMP 300 MW STORAGE; HOW TO FIND NEW ENERGY TRAINING

NEW ENERGY FOR UTAH
Study: Renewables Can Meet Utah's Future Energy Needs
21 December 2010 (Solar Industry)

"Solar and wind energy can be the mainstays of Utah's electricity system, according to…Utah: A Renewable Energy Roadmap…[It] uses local wind and solar energy data to show how renewables, along with effective energy-storage technologies and energy-efficiency measures, can safely, reliably and affordably provide the majority of the state's electricity needs by the middle of this century…

"The report also concludes that PacifiCorp, which supplies about four-fifths of Utah's electricity, is on the right track by focusing new generation on wind and natural-gas combined cycle plants. But it strongly recommends that Utah pursue compressed air energy-storage to make the wind energy available when it is needed."

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"Other key findings and recommendations…[1] The lowest-cost way to a clean electricity sector with low carbon dioxide emissions is to use Utah's plentiful renewable energy sources with compressed air storage, supplemented by natural gas…[2] Nuclear power is far riskier financially than renewables and natural gas…

"…[3] Renewable scenarios analyzed in the study will use 15 billion to 20 billion gallons of water per year less than continued reliance on coal. Even more water will be saved when compared to a mix of nuclear energy and coal with carbon capture and storage…"

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"…[4] Implementing a distributed grid in conjunction with large-scale commercial renewable generation will likely be more cost-effective than a purely centralized approach because extremely large standby and storage capacity is needed to accommodate long periods with low wind and solar supply.

"The report also recommends development of an intelligent electricity grid system and the implementation of aggressive building and appliance standards to increase efficiency."


DOE BACKS $1.45 BIL AZ SOLAR POWER PLANT
DOE finalizes Abengoa $1.45 billion loan guarantee
Sarah Mcbride (w/Gerald E. McCormick), December 21, 2010 (Reuters)

"A unit of Spanish conglomerate Abengoa SA…got the final sign-off on the U.S. Department of Energy's largest renewable-energy loan to date, a $1.45 billion loan guarantee for a 250-megawatt solar thermal power plant in Gila Bend, Arizona…[To build] renewable energy resources and [lessen] dependence on fossil fuels…regulators have [this year] approved several large-scale renewable energy plants in the Southwest, but many of them haven't yet lined up financing.

"With the loan guarantee…Abengoa Solar Inc will be able to start construction on its Gila Bend plant, which at 250 megawatts will be big enough to power at least 75,000 homes."

Schematic of parabolic trough technology with tracking capacity (click to enlarge

"The size of Abengoa's DOE loan guarantee tops [a conditional loan guarantee for $1.37 billion] awarded to BrightSource Energy…to support its 370 megawatt Ivanpah plant in California."

Schematic of parabolic trough technology with storage capacity (click to enlarge

"Abengoa's Solana plant will use parabolic trough technology, meaning arrays of mirrors will collect energy from the sun and use it to heat fluid. The fluid will power steam generators that produce electricity. The plant will store electricity using a molten-salt technology.

"The project should generate some 1,600 to 1,700 construction jobs, and about 80 operational jobs upon completion…Arizona Public Service utility unit will purchase Solana's output…Abengoa also has a 250-megawatt parabolic-trough plant under development in California…"


HAWAII TO PUMP 300 MW STORAGE
300 MW Energy-Storage Project Planned For Hawaii
16 December 2010 (Renew Grid)

"Gridflex Energy LLC, a developer of bulk energy-storage projects for renewable energy, has proposed a pumped-storage hydroelectric project that would use the ocean as the lower of two reservoirs. The 300 MW project, called the Lanai Pumped Storage Project, is intended to provide the Hawaiian electric grid with a way to absorb a planned 400 MW of wind power on a grid that only has about 1,200 MW of peak demand."

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"For most pumped-storage projects, two reservoirs are constructed. During times when energy is in lower demand, wind energy can be used to pump water uphill. When power is needed during high-demand periods, the water is released through turbines. The Lanai Pumped Storage Project would use the ocean as its lower reservoir. Design features would be put into place to ensure a watertight upper reservoir, corrosion resistance for equipment and protection of marine organisms, Gridflex explains…"


HOW TO FIND NEW ENERGY TRAINING
CEC Launches Renewable Energy Training Courses Web Directory
21 December 2010 (North American Windpower)

"The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has launched a tri-national Web-based directory, listing over 100 renewable energy training courses. The new Web directory presents a list of courses offered in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. for training in the wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, bioenergy, hydrogen and fuel-cell industries.

"…[A June 2010] report, commissioned by the CEC, analyzed the state of renewable energy training in North America, identified opportunities for improvement and made recommendations from a North American perspective."

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"The report found that a tri-national collaborative system could help build and share best practices between Canada, Mexico and the U.S."

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"The CEC report also shows that of 235 courses identified, 83% are located in the U.S., 14% in Canada and only 3% in Mexico. Regional challenges identified include green markets not yet sufficiently established for academic institutions to offer resources, as well as a lack of qualified trainers.

"Institutions providing green training identified in the report are predominantly colleges and universities (65%), followed by private companies (20%) and then associations related to renewable energy or trade unions (almost 10%)."