QUICK NEWS, 3-8: REVENGE ON WISCONSIN WIND?; BIG DISH FOR SUN; A NEW FAST CHARGER; SPEEDING SOLAR ADVANCES

REVENGE ON WISCONSIN WIND?
Suspension of Wisconsin siting rules threatens to shut door on wind power industry in the state; Legislative committee vote in Madison is major setback for wind energy development
March 1, 2011 (American Wind Energy Association)

"…[A] joint committee of the Wisconsin state legislature voted…to roll back wind farm siting rules developed in a multi-stakeholder process, immediately threatening all future wind power development as well as job growth…[and] the state's potential storefront of economic development from the industry.

"In a highly unusual and drastic move, the 10-member Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) suspended the Wisconsin Wind Siting Rules, known as PSC128, on the same day they were set to take effect, despite the fact that the rules had been developed by consensus over the course of two years in an open, balanced and collaborative process…[The] PSC128 rules…created a level playing field for developing the state's rich wind resources, while still protecting the health and safety of its citizens and neighbors."

Will Wisconsin’s pass up a resource that can provide 110% of the state’s electricity needs to take revenge on wind for fighting dirty energy? (click to enlarge)

"The Wisconsin wind siting bill passed the state legislature with strong bipartisan support in 2009, and the rules were finalized by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in December 2010…[They] would have been among the most restrictive and detailed rules in the entire country on siting wind turbines…[Rejecting them] discards two years' worth of work…plays favorites…[and] rewards and favors special interests…"

[Denise Bode, CEO, AWEA:] "…The wind power industry has already created over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs in Wisconsin, and…we could create a lot more. The action today in Madison indicates that the state is favoring the support of a few special interests over Wisconsin's call for economic development…"

Is the Wisconsin legislature taking revenge on the state’s workers by attacking wind? (click to enlarge)

"…[S]uspension of the [PSC128] rules will cause a lapse in the state's clean-energy development while jeopardizing over 2 million hours of construction jobs and $1.8 billion of new investment from proposed projects, many of which will not be able to go forward. While a few projects may move forward in the near future, particularly ones that have already been permitted, the wind power industry will all but be brought to a halt in Wisconsin…"

[Jeff Anthony, Director of Business Development and Wisconsin resident, AWEA:]
"…[This vote] represents an unfortunate turn of events based on politics and a blatant disregard for not only the facts, gleaned from real-world experience of siting wind farms across the rest of the country, but also the necessity for a more diversified electric-generating portfolio. Wisconsin has taken a giant step backward…[W]ind project development will be diverted to other states that have reasonable rules…Jobs that would have been located in Wisconsin are now going to migrate to neighboring states such as Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois…If the Walker administration and the state legislature were truly as serious about…creating well-paying jobs in Wisconsin…[this] would not have taken place."


BIG DISH FOR SUN
Largest Commercial Solar Dish in North America
22 February 2011 (World of Renewables)

"Southwest Solar Technologies Inc…has commissioned the largest commercial solar dish in North America, one of the largest in the world. The solar dish concentrator is used as part of the Company’s dish-turbine solar power system for generating electricity…in routine daily operational testing at the Southwest Solar Research Park, in Phoenix Arizona.

"Approximately 75 ft in diameter, the dish has a solar collection area of over 320 square meters, making it over three times larger than other solar dishes currently used for commercial power production…[and has] the capability to generate three times the power of other dish designs, which will result in higher capacity and fewer dish units per acre for the comparable power production."

The system in which the giant dish will be used (click to enlarge)

"The size of the dish is designed to optimize the turbine generator that the Company is developing in conjunction with Brayton Energy LLC of Hampton, New Hampshire. Prior efforts by others to use turbines on solar dishes have not yet been commercially successful in part because the efficiency and the costs of turbines are less favorable at smaller turbine and dish size.

"…[The Company is doing] detailed operational testing of the dish and the key components for the turbine generator…[In the second half of the year, it plans] to begin initial power-output testing of the combined new [solar-powered] system…designed to deliver a renewable energy solution where requirements are non-intermittent power, low water use, and scalability…"


A NEW FAST CHARGER
Siemens cuts the charging time for electric cars with a new charging point by 50%
25 February 2011 (World of Renewables)

"…Siemens is launching a charging point Charge CP700A on the European market which can charge electric cars with a normal battery capacity within an hour. The charging power has been doubled to 22 kW in the new series, which cuts the charging time in half."

[Ralph Griewing, electrical mobility team head, Siemens Energy:] "When developing the new charging point, we set ourselves three objectives: Charging must be fast, easy to do and safe. And these objectives were achieved in full…"

Siemens is entering a crowded field...(click to enlarge)

"The Siemens Charge CP700A charging point can be used to charge electric cars of different power ratings. In the fastest operating mode, the vehicle is supplied with a three-phase AC voltage at a current of 32 A, and is therefore charged at a power level of 22 kW. Charging is, however, also possible at 20 A…The charging point communicates with the vehicle over the charging cable to determine whether the electric car supports charging at maximum current or only at a reduced current level…For vehicles such as electrically powered two-wheelers…currently charged through a household plug, single-phase charging is also possible…"

[Ralph Griewing, electrical mobility team head, Siemens Energy:] "To make charging as easy as filling a car with fuel, we have equipped the charging point with a screen that guides the user through the process. The ambient lighting indicates whether the charging point is in use or available…[and] Siemens remains uncompromising as far as safety is concerned: In addition to normal locking of the connector as protection against unauthorized removal during the charging process, the charging flap on the column is also locked…"

...and an exploding market. (click to enlarge)

"…The user can log on for charging and subsequent billing by means of contact-free radio chips…The Charge CP700A charging point is of modular design and its user prompting is programmable and available in different languages. The charging point can also be linked to a control center…that can be built in…for remote monitoring and remote maintenance…[and] implementation in a Smart Grid…

"The temperature of the socket outlets and the internal space of the charging point is monitored. In the event of a fault, or in the case of unfavorable ambient conditions that would result in overheating, the charging point automatically interrupts the charging process safely and reliably…"


SPEEDING SOLAR ADVANCES
Two New Testing Labs Could Mean Big Boost For Solar Thermal Sector
Laura DiMugno, 1 March 2011 (Solar Industry)

"With only five solar thermal testing laboratories currently accredited by the Solar Rating and Certification Corp. (SRCC), the backlog of products awaiting certification is staggering. In turn, delays have rippled throughout the entire solar thermal supply chain, stalling project development…However…North Carolina State University (NCSU) and…University of New Haven (UNH) are both in the process of developing accredited solar thermal testing facilities, which would bring the total number of accredited labs to seven.

"NCSU's initiative will involve the expansion of its North Carolina Solar Center, which already serves as a solar thermal testing facility but is in the process of becoming an SRCC-accredited lab. The project received a $100,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Green Business Fund in 2009, and the initiative was launched shortly thereafter."

click to enlarge

"UNH began developing its Solar Testing and Training Laboratory last fall, after being approved for a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and a $100,000 grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. But before the lab can officially begin testing, it must undergo a lengthy and involved accreditation process…

"In the first phase of the project, senior engineering students at UNH will design and validate the automated testing systems that will be used at the facility. Then, once the lab is accredited, students will perform fee-for-service testing of solar thermal products…UNH expects to begin validating the student-designed equipment this April and to finish the SRCC accreditation process by this time next year."

click to enlarge

"There is no doubt that the need for new testing facilities is pressing. Solar development is heavily dependent upon financial incentives such as the federal investment tax credit, and in order for projects to receive these benefits, the products used must be SRCC-certified…

"[T]he current shortage of accredited testing facilities is crippling the entire solar thermal supply chain. For instance, some installers are waiting for manufacturers to introduce new collectors to the market, but because of the certification backlog…[it is uncertain when that can happen]…[But] the addition of UNH's new testing facility, in combination with the accreditation of North Carolina State University's lab, will go far toward removing these barriers to development…"