Wind Energy Industry Recovering

Wind Energy Industry Recovering

While global installed wind energy capacity increased dramatically during 2006-2009, the global recession sparked a 13.8% fall in annual additions during 2010, when major wind markets, including the US, Germany and Spain, faced economic struggles as a result of the global recession. These markets are soon expected to recover thanks to a huge order intake by major wind manufacturers across emerging regions. Wind power manufacturers worldwide received a high order intake in 2010, with expected delivery deadlines in 2011 and 2012, contributing to the large total of annual installations expected this year.
According to GlobalData, the value of the global wind repowering market has increased significantly during the last five years. In 2005, wind sites were repowered to an estimated cumulative capacity of 877 megawatts (MW). Since this time, the cumulative installed capacity has risen dramatically to 2,499.4 MW. Still, this explored capacity represents only around 17% of the total global repowering potential, which is estimated to exceed 50,000 MW by 2020.
In 2011, wind farms producing around 182.6 GWh of power were replaced with turbines capable of generating 773.7 GWh of power. In 2020, the repowered wind farms are expected to increase their power generation from 1,523.5 to 8,221.1 GWh due to the higher capacity and efficiency of the new turbines.

The Revolution of Solar Panels in the Home: Benefits Beyond Savings

The Revolution of Solar Panels in the Home: Benefits Beyond Savings

Incentives Galore
Not only are cheaper electricity bills an incentive to use solar panels, but the government rewards homeowners for using them as well with significant rebates, tax credits and other incentive programs. In fact, in some states homeowners can get government assistance to buy the solar panels for installation.

Since solar panels are constantly generating electricity, homeowners that are unable to use all of that energy don’t have to worry about it going to waste. Instead, a homeowner can sell that solar power credit to the electrical companies for utility credits. Though, it is rare for a homeowner to not use their energy, those that travel or leave their homes for a few weeks can store enough energy to sell back, which means turning a profit on a renewable and green purchase.

Zero Energy Homes and Alternative Energy

Zero Energy Homes and Alternative Energy

One of the problems for the industry is that only switched on home buyers are going to be able to appreciate the benefits of a low carbon home. As with many purchases consumers and builders tend to go for the cheapest short term option, consumers worry about costs and builders about profits. Without a clear compromise these beneficial types of home are not going to make a significant enough impact so we will end up building outdated housing stock that is not going to be replaced for decades to come.

Smith Electric Vehicles Launches Production of All-Electric Newton™ Step Van

Smith Electric Vehicles Launches Production of All-Electric Newton™ Step Van

T Bone Pickens Energy Plan For America

T Bone Pickens Energy Plan For America

“The country uses almost 20 million barrels (of oil) a day, and of the 20 million we import 12,” Pickens said. “Some of that oil comes from friendly sources such as Canada and Mexico, but you do have 5 million barrels from OPEC countries. So any fool can see that you’re paying for both sides of a war. And you don’t have to do it. So what is a quick solution to the problem? Get on your own resources. And we have plenty of resources in America. What is missing is leadership in America.”

The Pickens Plan is comprised of several steps that would comprehensively rearrange how America sources its energy needs.

Can We Survive Driverless Cars?

Can We Survive Driverless Cars?

The US Solar Market Looking Bright

The US Solar Market Looking Bright

Anyone installing solar panels, whether it’s on their home or as part of a large solar farm is eligible for a 30% federal grant towards this cost. This is very valuable – a domestic sized system can easily cost $15,000 or more, so it’s a generous move by the government. Critics of the scheme dislike how solar panels are still not an affordable choice for the poorest of families, but in certain states there are further subsidies available.

Additional help comes in the form of feed in tariff schemes, which pay the owner of solar panels extra money if they are connected to the national grid – the electricity the panels generate but isn’t used can be transferred into the grid for a different house to use. The first President to implement such a scheme was Carter in the 1970s, but it has really become popular for solar energy in more recent years, being introduced in California, Washington, Hawaii and Michigan at varying rates, although in 2010 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission deemed it illegal to implement tariffs above the market value of electricity due to the Federal Power Act which prohibits setting wholesale electricity rates. This does mean there is a theoretical cap on tariff rates, although hopefully an exception will be made soon to allow renewable energy to be encouraged on a large scale.