QUICK NEWS, July 13: WHAT IS IN THE WIND; QUICKER, CHEAPER CPV; IOWA KNOWS WIND, WANTS MORE; U.S. TIDAL OPPORTUNITIES

WHAT IS IN THE WIND
Global Wind Energy Outlook; Onshore and Offshore Wind Energy Market Opportunities and Challenges, Technology Issues, Key Industry Players, and Global Capacity, Installation Cost, and Production Revenue Forecasts
3Q 2011 (Pike Research)

"Despite the challenging market conditions for the global wind energy industry, this is a dynamic time for innovation in the market as companies are pushing turbines to sizes never before thought practical or economical. Some of the world’s top engineering challenges of the 21st century are taking place in factories longer than football fields…"

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"…[T]here is also much at stake as the companies push limits and take major risks in an increasingly competitive sector…China’s leadership in wind energy deployment is both an opportunity and a challenge for European and American companies looking to compete in that market and internationally. Europe remains a technology leader and [with offshore deployments] is carving out the next frontier…"

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"…The United States is lagging in many respects, but most industry players are optimistic for what the future holds as costs continue to drop dramatically. In some markets, wind energy has already reached grid parity, a trend that will continue to become more common around the world…"


QUICKER, CHEAPER CPV
SolFocus Announces New CPV System that Leverages Proven Panel Technology and Optimizes Installation for Large-scale Deployments; Latest SF-1136SX CPV array delivers very high efficiency and comes pre-assembled, ensuring rapid installation
July 11, 2011 (SolFocus)

"SolFocus announced… its latest Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) solution -- the SF-1136SX. The new SolFocus CPV array produces more power and also reduces field assembly time by over 50%, allowing for extremely rapid installation at much lower cost…"

schematic of CPV (click to enlarge)

"The new design capitalizes on the success of the company's proven SF-1100P concentrator panel, but increases the level of factory integration, simplifies the mechanical structure, and improves logistics packaging. Each SF-1136SX provides 15.6kWp DC power and is sized for easy installation, minimal impact from the wind, and reduced touch-points in the field…

"The SF-1136SX is constructed using Multi-Panel Assemblies (MPA's) of four panels each, with nine MPAs comprising a single array. The MPA's are precision-assembled at the factory and completely eliminate any field alignment requirements. Installation of the equipment now comprises a series of non-specialized assembly steps, followed by a totally automatic calibration process prior to the start of energy generation…"

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"SolFocus systems are industrialized, using field-proven materials such as glass and aluminum to ensure that they will withstand years of harsh outdoor exposure and continue to generate energy at the predicted high level. Additional benefits include reduced structural steel, more kilowatts per tracker and the lightest environmental footprint of any solar technology…The SF-1136SX will begin to be deployed early in the fourth quarter this year…"


IOWA KNOWS WIND, WANTS MORE
Recent Iowa Poll Results; Wind energy has an extraordinarily strong image among Iowa voters…
June 28, 2011 (Public Opinion Strategies)

"…Wind energy has an extraordinarily strong image among Iowa voters, above that of all other energy sectors…With an 85% favorable image, wind energy companies have a stronger image than solar energy companies (76% favorable), natural gas companies (68% favorable), nuclear power companies (51% favorable), coal companies (48% favorable), and oil companies (30% favorable)…"

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"...A majority of Iowa voters name wind energy as their preferred energy source for the state…[O]ver half of voters (51%) choose wind energy. The next closest
preferred energy source is natural gas (15%), while 13% say they prefer nuclear power.
Solar energy (8%), coal (5%) and oil (2%) round out the remainder of the preferred
energy sources…Wind energy is the preferred energy source across partisan lines as well, with one-third (33%) of Republicans, 52% of Independents, and 67% of Democrats choosing wind energy as their preferred energy source…"

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"...Wind energy is perceived to have major economic benefits for the state…Over eight in ten voters (81%) say wind energy companies have been good for the state’s economy, while fully 77% say these companies have helped bring new jobs to the state. These economic benefits of wind energy show that Iowa voters view wind energy as more than just an important source of renewable energy for the state…"


U.S. TIDAL OPPORTUNITIES
U.S. Department of Energy introduces database for tidal energy resources
July 7, 2011 (PennWell via HydroWorld)

"The U.S. Department of Energy, in partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology, has introduced a new database highlighting the energy potential available in the United States from ocean tides.

"This online database is an important step toward providing information that can improve the performance, lower the costs and accelerate the deployment of innovative waterpower technologies, DOE said."

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"Georgia Tech, in partnership with DOE, has developed the first national database detailing the potential extractable energy from the nation's tidal streams, a press release states.

"Researchers at Georgia Tech Savannah used advanced regional ocean models to simulate tidal flows along the entire U.S. coastline. DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory validated the model's accuracy, and the resulting data are now publically available…"