QUICK NEWS, Decemeber 11: CALIF SUN SHINES BRIGHTER; A WHOLE NEW BIG WIND CONCEPT; CONTROLING ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL’S SEISMIC ISSUE

CALIF SUN SHINES BRIGHTER California Poised to Regain US Solar PV Dominance…

December 4, 2012 (SolarBuzz)

“Driven by a combination of policy initiatives, California is poised to regain its dominant position in the US solar PV market in 2013…Once the dominant player in the US on-grid PV market, California’s share gradually declined as New Jersey, Arizona, and other states on the East Coast launched their own initiatives to deploy PV and to diversify their energy portfolio. In 2011, California’s share dropped to 30% while New Jersey’ share jumped to 17%...

“California’s baseline market demand has been supported by the California Solar Initiative (CSI), the nation’s largest rate-payer-funded program. While CSI has been instrumental in the development of residential and non-residential net-metered systems (used to lower electricity costs on-site), California has instituted several other programs to support larger systems to satisfy the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements.”

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“California has one of the most ambitious RPS goals; it requires both public and investor-owned utilities to procure 33% of all electricity delivered to retail customers from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this requirement, the state’s utilities have solicited and contracted not only large-scale centralized projects, but also mid-sized systems, often below 20 MW and interconnected to the distribution grid. Several contracted large-scale projects in California that are under development include the 550 MW-AC Topaz Solar Farm, the 550 MW-AC Desert Sunlight and the 250 MW-AC California Valley Solar Ranch.

“…[Research findings show] the California solar PV market will experience 60% Y/Y growth in 2012, continuing to lead the nation with the long-term commitment to solar and other renewable and energy-efficient technologies. The US solar PV market will grow 51% Y/Y in 2012, but it is projected to experience slower growth in 2013 at 30% Y/Y, due to the over-supply of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) on the East Coast and phasing out of the Treasury Cash Grant…”

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A WHOLE NEW BIG WIND CONCEPT CWE gets Arizona planning OK for second wind tower

Darius Snieckus, December 4, 2012 (ReCharge News)

“Authorities in Arizona have approved a plan by US renewables developer Clean Wind Energy (CWE) to build a second 685-metre, wind-powered downdraft tower near the city of San Luis, clearing the way for a proposed two-unit project that hopes to supply power to one million homes.

“CWE’s scheme is built around hollow cylindrical structures equipped with a water-spray system, designed to each generate 850MW from high-speed ‘downbursts’ of air that turn turbines in their foundations.”

“More than 1,500 acres has been set aside for the Arizona development. The first tower was approved earlier this year…The green light comes on the heels of a $5m investment deal with New York financiers Deer Valley Management…

“Two crane companies that will build the downdraft towers – Denmark’s Krøll Cranes and Tower Cranes of America – recently bought shares in CWE. Expectations are that the San Luis project is ‘12-24 months away’ from ground-breaking…In October CWE inked a letter of intent to buy a site in Mexico for another two-tower development.”

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CONTROLING ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL’S SEISMIC ISSUE Major stimulation completed at Habanero 4

10 December 2012 (Geodynamics Ltd)

“Geodynamics Limited…has successfully carried out a major stimulation of the Habanero 4 well over a 14 day period from 17 to 30 November 2012…During the stimulation and the subsequent pressure decline after the stimulation ended, Geodynamics’ seismic monitoring network detected more than 24,000 micro-seismic events…extending up to 1,500 metres away from the well.

“The data from the stimulation is currently being processed and analysed to further understand the behaviour of the fracture system at Habanero. The reservoir will now be allowed to re-establish equilibrium conditions before conducting a third open flow test estimated to be carried out in February 2013…”

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“Geothermal energy produced from hot fractured rocks, also known as Engineered or Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), is generated by special high heat producing granites located 3km or more below the Earth's surface. The heat inside these granites is trapped by overlying rocks which act as an insulating blanket…

“…The heat is extracted from these granites by pumping water through fractures in the granite and bringing the hot water to surface. Geodynamics believes that energy produced using EGS technology is capable of generating base-load power at a cost that will be very competitive with other energy sources (both low carbon and otherwise).”

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