QUICK NEWS, September 30: NEW ENERGY AND THE GRID; A BIG IPO IN WIND; EU GRID EFFICIENCY MRKT TO QUADRUPLE BY 2020

NEW ENERGY AND THE GRID What happens if you add lots of wind and solar power to the grid?

Brad Plumer, September 26, 2013 (Washington Post)

“…[As wind and solar power keep] expanding, it could pose some hassles and headaches for those in charge of the nation's electricity grid…[According to studies by] the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)… It likely wouldn't be cheap up front. But the existing electric grid could probably handle a big infusion of renewable energy without huge infrastructure changes. And, contrary to some recent arguments, putting that much wind and solar on the grid really would cut pollution…and curtail the greenhouse gases…Grid operators would need to find ways to juggle supply and demand to accommodate intermittent sources…with existing technology — from improved forecasts for the sun and wind to "demand response" programs for large consumers of electricity…” click here for more

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A BIG IPO IN WIND Wind energy company Pattern blows past IPO price in debut; At a high of $24.30, company valued at $1.24 bln

September 27, 2013 (Reuters)

“Shares of Pattern Energy Group Inc rose 10 percent in their debut, as the recent rally in renewable energy stocks rubbed off on the first-ever public offering of a U.S. wind farm operator…Pattern has solid cash flow and has been largely profitable…The company raised $352 million after pricing its offering at $22 per share, just above its expected price range of $19-$21. Pattern sold 16 million shares…California-based Pattern owns and operates eight wind power projects in the United States, Canada and Chile, with a total power-generation capacity of 1,041 MW…Pattern's net profit rose to $29.14 million for the first six months of 2013, from $6.44 million a year earlier…Revenue rose 62 percent to $102.54 million…” click here for more

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EU GRID EFFICIENCY MRKT TO QUADRUPLE BY 2020 Demand Response in Europe; Market Size, Growth Forecast, Customer Segment Opportunities, and Program Deployments in Europe: Market Analysis and Forecasts

Q3 2013 (Navigant Research)

“Europe is an emerging demand response (DR) market with significant opportunities for technology and services vendors…[B]arriers are gradually being removed…[and] several geographic areas in Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, and Ireland, are planning to introduce a capacity market…The growing number of new entrants, especially aggregators, is another indicator…[and] the major incumbents – based in either the United States or Europe – are taking steps to expand into the burgeoning European DR market…Navigant Research forecasts that annual spending on DR in Europe will grow from $139 million in 2013 to $777 million in 2020…” click here for more

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