QUICK NEWS, April 8: NEW ENERGY SPENDING DECLINED IN 2013; GE LAUNCHES TURBINE DESIGNED FOR INDIA’S WIND; SOLAR + STORAGE EXPLAINED

NEW ENERGY SPENDING DECLINED IN 2013 Report: Clean energy investments drop globally

Ryan Honeywell, April 3, 2014 (FuelFix)

“Global investment in clean energy technology fell 11 percent to $254 billion last year, according to [ 2013 Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race? from the Pew Charitable Trusts…which focused on the world’s top industrialized countries, known as the G-20…China continues to remain the most attractive destination for spending on clean energy, which includes renewables as well as smart meters and carbon capture. The Asian nation led the world with $54.2 billion in spending in 2013...The U.S. was second on the list, with $36.7 billion in clean energy investments last year — a 9 percent decline…Just three G-20 nations — Japan, Canada and United Kingdom — increased clean energy investments last year. Authors attributed that, in part, to a decline in financial incentives for clean energy technologies…The report also found that globally, solar power is quickly gaining ground on wind as the world’s leading source of clean energy. Last year marked the first time that more solar energy technology was installed across the globe than wind technology…” click here for more

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GE Strengthens India’s Localization Efforts in Wind Energy… GE’s First ‘for India’ Wind Turbine to Help Meet India’s Unmet Energy Needs

April 4, 2014 (GE Power and Water)

“…[GE’s new 1.7-103 wind turbine is] its first wind turbine developed and engineered specifically for India’s low-wind speed conditions…[T]he turbine’s large 103-meter rotor will help deliver high-efficiency output…attractive project economics…[and] a 30 percent increase in annual energy production compared to its predecessor, the 1.6-82.5 wind turbine…[This launch in strengthening GE’s] commitment to India…Renewables now constitute more than 5 percent of India’s energy mix by production and 12 percent by installed capacity…[The cost of wind power] is now close to grid parity, and advancement in technology is making its generation more predictable…” click here for more

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SOLAR + STORAGE EXPLAINED Understanding the Basics of Solar PV and Storage Technologies

Michael Barker, March 17, 2014 (SolarBuzz)

“The amount of intermittent [wind and solar] power generation sources, as a percentage of total global power production…[Solar PV had a global compound annual growth of approximately 50% over the past decade…[and is projected to] account for over 10% of total power generation within the next 15-20 years…[Energy storage is becoming increasingly important]…[There is] mechanical, thermal, and chemical [storage]…Mechanical storage [like] flywheels, pumped hydro, or compressed air energy storage]…convert electricity to another form and is then used to turn a turbine and reconvert that potential power into electricity…Thermal storage systems [like] molten salt storage and ice/water cooling systems [either heat or cool a storage mechanism]...Chemical storage systems are generally battery-based systems…[T]here are still questions surrounding the implementation…[but if] storage system prices can maintain a rapid downward cost trajectory…interest will only continue to increase…” click here for more

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