QUICK NEWS, 4-7: LAND RIPE FOR SUN; SPAIN LOOKS AT OCEAN WIND IN VIRGINIA; A LEAF TO HARVEST SUN; U.S.-CHINA WIND BURYING HATCHET

LAND RIPE FOR SUN
Perfect marriage of land and need: solar
April 2, 2011 (Bakersfield Californian)

"Eastern Kern County has long been the place for energy entrepreneurs to put their plans into action. Wind and solar projects are in abundance in the Tehachapis and points east, to the great benefit of state and regional economies. As bad as things are now, they'd be worse without this important investment.

"…So it's welcome news that Kern County supervisors have given their blessing to a…solar project between Taft and Interstate 5…The 700-megawatt project positions photovoltaic solar panels on 4,868 acres -- and transitions a vast swath of land from an agricultural designation to industrial. The farming designation was in name only…Maricopa Sun LLC hasn't been able to find enough water to make a go of it during its eight years of ownership."

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"The property's visibility from the top of the Grapevine -- from a distance, it'll look like a string of small lakes -- could serve as a nice billboard for the green-energy potential of the arid southwestern corner of the San Joaquin Valley.

"With water in such short supply…and energy challenges ever present, projects like this are the perfect marriage of land and need. The Central Valley needs more green-energy projects, not fewer, and the more diverse and innovative, the better."

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"…Fresno County…[and] the French company Areva…[are discussing] the economic viability of a large solar-thermal power installation on that county's west side…[U]nlike solar photovoltaic panels, [it would use] a network of mirrors to superheat water into steam, which then drives turbines and generates electricity.

"…[With] sun in abundance…the San Joaquin Valley [residents]…must continue to strive to maximize [their] potential as food producers, but there's more than one way to fuel America's needs. And the valley's west side is the ideal place to do it [with solar energy]."


SPAIN LOOKS AT OCEAN WIND IN VIRGINIA
Va. OKs study of wind turbines in Chesapeake Bay
Scott Harper, March 30, 2011 (Newport News via Virginian-Pilot)

"…[Virginia] regulators have approved scientific surveys for a test project that aims to build one of the first offshore wind turbines in the United States, in waters at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

"The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted unanimously…to allow scientists working for Gamesa Energy USA LLC to determine if conditions are ripe for construction of a single, prototype windmill that would generate as much as 5 megawatts of electricity in waters about 3 miles west of Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore…[The] turbine would become a landmark and gateway to the Chesapeake Bay, visible…to arriving ships and boats and to motorists crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel…"

Look at that winds wealth off Virginia's coast! (click to enlarge)

"Gamesa is a Spanish wind-turbine company that recently opened offices in Chesapeake in partnership with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. As part of their Virginia experiments, the partners also want to set a windmill on land, at Cape Charles Harbor, as a way to test the viability of their products…

"Before that can happen, though, scientists will sample bottom materials, study wave patterns and currents, analyze migratory bird populations, and make small borings in a 1.2-square-mile research zone off Cape Charles. The field work is expected to begin next month…If the site proves suitable, a large, spinning turbine could be erected in the Bay and be operational by next summer…The company also would run a transmission line from the turbine to Cape Charles…"

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"Gamesa shifted its plans slightly to appease concerns from the Virginia Pilot Association and the Virginia Maritime Association, organizations that represent shipping interests. Ships often use the study area for protection against storms or to anchor while waiting to call on the ports…An artificial fishing reef also is located near the work site and is frequented by fishermen…[but they] did not oppose the project…The commission's green light…was a small but symbolic first step…

"…State energy giant Dominion Virginia Power has said it might be interested in investing in an offshore wind farm, and Gov. Bob McDonnell has championed the Virginia coastline as a way to create jobs and produce clean, renewable energy. The Navy, too, has expressed an interest in tying into electricity generated from offshore wind…There are no operational, offshore windmills in the United States today, though there are plenty in Europe…"


A LEAF TO HARVEST SUN
MIT scientist announces first "practical" artificial leaf
March 28, 2011 (Nature)

"…[H]omes of the future might be powered by [artificial] leaves…designed to mimic the process by which plants draw energy from the sun…The latest breakthrough comes from [MIT chemist] Daniel Nocera…[His] prototype solar-powered device the size of a playing card…break[s] water down into hydrogen and oxygen – valuable fuels for producing electricity via fuel cells.

"Previously Nocera had developed a catalyst that could do so with the low-voltage output from a solar cell, a major breakthrough in and of itself, since normally electrolysis (the process of breaking water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity) requires higher voltage than can easily be produced with solar cells. But Nocera's new "artificial leaf" combines the solar cell and the electrolysis unit into one piece by chemically painting the catalyst onto a solar cell and immersing it in water…"

Looks like a real life...(from Inhabitat - click thru for more info)

"The chemistry is complex but…[comparable] to the manner in which leaves generate energy from sunlight. In plants, the energy of incoming sunlight is first used to produce electrons and positive charges within the leaf. These are then used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen (the latter being trapped as carbohydrates, rather than released into the air)…"

...but it's not a real leaf. (from Inhabitat - click thru for more info)

"In his artificial leaf, a silicon chip, similar to those used in conventional solar cells, produces electrons and positively charged holes. Then catalysts on the chip use this low-voltage current to produce oxygen and hydrogen – one gas on each side of the chip…The first such device was made in 1998 by John Turner, of the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory…[but Nocera’s] new device…uses abundant cheap materials…

" …[I]t's still a few years from commercialization…[but] by integrating the catalyst with the chips, it dispenses with the need for traditional solar panels…[which] will cut costs considerably, by eliminating wires, [the need for pure water,] etc... If the process works, he says, it's a good candidate for meeting the U.S. Department of Energy's 'SunShot' initiative for developing solar power at investment costs of $1 per watt or less…"


U.S.-CHINA WIND BURYING HATCHET
US-China wind turbine talks 'very productive'-USTR
Doug Palmer (w/Mohammad Zargham), March 30, 2011 (Reuters)

"U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk…[called talks ‘productive’ and] expressed hope a dispute over China's support for domestic wind turbine manufacturers can be resolved before a World Trade Organization panel hears the case…

"The United States has filed the case because of concerns that Chinese wind turbine manufacturers receive government subsidies that give them an unfair advantage over U.S. and other foreign producers."

The United Steelworkers pushed the U.S. to file the complaint against China with the WTO to protect domestic jobs. (click to enlarge)

"Under WTO rules, countries are required to initially try to resolve disputes through consultation. If those efforts fail, the concerned party can request the WTO establish a dispute settlement panel to decide the issue…

"On another issue, Kirk said the United States remains very much interested in Japan joining negotiations on a proposed regional free trade agreement known as the TransPacific Partnership pact…[Pending] recovery…Japan [is] expected to decide by June whether to ask to join the TransPacific Partnership talks with the United States, Chile, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Brunei and Peru."