QUICK NEWS, June 11: THE ATTRACTION OF SOLAR; THE TEXAS WIND AND GAS FUTURE; STEADY GROWTH FOR PLUG-IN BIKES

THE ATTRACTION OF SOLAR Why Buffett, Apple, Google love solar power

Jackie DeAngelis, June 8, 2014 (USA Today)

“The $100 billion solar power industry is gaining a lot of attention both globally and domestically, attracting high-profile investment from Wall Street giants such as Apple, Google and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway…The United States is the world's third-largest solar market, right behind China and Japan, and it's growing rapidly not just because of private investment, but also because of the Obama Administration's efforts to make progress against global climate change…One notable, completed project is called Ivanpah, a partnership [in solar thermal technology] between NRG and BrightSource…The $2.2 billion project was able to get up and running thanks in part to $1.6 billion in government loans, plus Google's 20% investment…Another set of photovoltaic facilities making headlines are the Solar Star Projects developed by SunPower and acquired by MidAmerican Solar for roughly $2 billion. Berkshire Hathaway's energy unit owns MidAmerican Solar's parent, MidAmerican Renewables, which is working on a basket of different solar projects…” click here for more

From Ivanpah unit 1's tower, looking across its heliostat field to units 2 & 3. (click to enlarge)

Tweet

THE TEXAS WIND AND GAS FUTURE Report finds Texas can head toward EPA emissions cuts with gas, wind

Christine Cordner, June 3, 2014 (SNL)

“Texas can take steps toward meeting the U.S. EPA's carbon dioxide restrictions on existing power plants by pushing ahead with natural gas-fired and renewable generation development, coupled with a greater focus on demand response and energy efficiency, according to [ Exploring Natural Gas and Renewables in ERCOT, Part III: The Role of Demand Response, Energy Efficiency, and Combined Heat & Power from] the Brattle Group…[S]ubstantial gas and renewable energy capacity will likely be developed within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. market over the next two decades…[and] 3 GW of new energy efficiency programs and 2 GW to 4 GW of new demand response programs could be economically achievable, representing a 40% to 50% reduction in projected peak demand growth…

“…[Brattle’s ‘moderate’ carbon scenario foresees the capture and sequestration of 50% of CO2] by 2025…[resulting in a] 2.5-GW addition of wind capacity and 1 GW of gas-fired capacity built to replace the 3.5 GW of lost net coal-fired capacity…[The analysis did not consider] the EPA's proposed CO2 reduction rule for existing power plants…[or changes in the Texas mandatory reserve margin or] the design of ERCOT's energy-only market…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet

STEADY GROWTH FOR PLUG-IN BIKES Electric Motorcycles and Scooters; Electric Power Two-Wheelers: Market Drivers and Barriers, Technology Issues, Key Industry Players, and Global Demand Forecasts

2Q 2014 (Navigant Research)

“…[T]he power two-wheeler (PTW) vehicle industry, which includes electric motorcycles (e-motorcycles) and electric scooters (e-scooters), has been growing slowly...[and] sales volumes are likely to be low…[The market] is led by China…[but] policies and demand] indicate reduced sales in that country…[In other countries, consumers] are seeking refuge from higher gasoline prices…Overall, though, the market for e-PTWs continues to face numerous challenges, including high costs, limited vehicle availability, poor product performance, and a financial shakedown. Navigant Research forecasts that global annual sales of e-motorcycles will grow from 1.2 million vehicles in 2014 to 1.4 million in 2023, while sales of e-scooters will grow from 4.1 million to 4.6 million…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet