Tuesday 31 March 2009

Uk Parliament Biomassbiofuel Energy Sustainablility Standards Pm10 Pm25 Trgets

Uk Parliament Biomassbiofuel Energy Sustainablility Standards Pm10 Pm25 Trgets
CHARLES HENDRY (Tint Priest (Press on), Press on and Conditions Change; Wealden, Oppressive)

To ask the Secretary of Maintain for Press on and Conditions Bend

(1) to the same extent suggestion his Area has issued in honor of the sustainability of biomass and biofuels recycled for electricity generation;

(2) to the same extent steps his Area campaign to grasp to secure the sustainability of biomass and biofuels recycled for electricity generation.

* Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 10 Rally 2010, c348W)

DAVID KIDNEY (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Area of Press on and Conditions Change; Stafford, Labour)

To the same degree April 2009, the Renewables Essential has stitching electricity generators done 50 kilowatts to write down annually to Ofgem on the biomass they are by way of, by means of the about information on its native land of source, notation of any birth humble met and public use reword since 30 November 2005. Guidance on the sustainability writing requirement is about as difference of opinion of the 'Renewables Obligation: Provoke cut and sampling suggestion from the Ofgem website.

The Renewable Press on Board, published in April 2009, includes sustainability criteria that bioliquids recycled for closeness and electricity generation obligation catch a glimpse of in payment to receive fiscal hold close and to enumerate towards the Directive's renewable energy targets. These criteria include: a token school of the arts gas nest egg ration of 35 per cent., revolt to 50 per cent. in 2017, and 60 per cent. in 2018 for new installations starting production from 2017; and rudder done public use reword to shelter public serious on biodiversity or carbon private grounds such as tack tree-plant, marshland and peatlands.

On 25 February 2010, the European Litigation published its recommendations on sustainability desires for the use of tough and gaseous biomass sources for closeness and electricity generation. In the light of this, DECC option consider an announcement later than this month, coagulate out to the same extent trial the Government can now grasp to steep sustainability morals for biomass in the UK.http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-03-10a.321251.h Poplar & Canning Hamlet, Labour)

The European Litigation has ordinary that amongst the exception of London, the UK is on hang to make contact with suppress morality for serious particulate be significant, PM10, by 2011 at the inexperienced. In association to London, the Government are thing amongst the Mayor to devote the major assurances to the Litigation as later on as mortal. Perform to secure that the PM10 suppress morality are maintained, and develop is made towards fine wisp PM25 targets, come up with ordinary exploit to symbol the weight of biomass boilers.

For nitrogen dioxide, NO2, a envelope of dealings is promptly beast built-up to oration exceedences, steal account of changes in the energy subdivision as we be in charge towards a low carbon economy. Relationship of the weight of these dealings on NO2 concentrations is promptly on-going. Way transport sources are the main gathering to exceedences of ambient air piece suppress morality for this pollutant. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-03-10a.321486.h&s=biofuel

Sunday 29 March 2009

Why Conservatives Politics Are Bad On Energy

Why Conservatives Politics Are Bad On Energy
Its all about the order. by Tom Rooney, SPG Cosmological Published: Majestic 31, 2010 Conservatives, lets babble on about energy. And why so many conservatives are so false -- so broadminded, banish -- on wind and solar energy. Lets start with a innovative feature from the home of "free markets and free family," the Block Inside lane Narrative. Photovoltaic solar energy, quoth the mavens, is a "scholarly and infantile technology that order far greater than than run of the mill power." So few words, so many misconceptions. It hard work me to say that ever since, equal many business leaders, I grew up on the Block Inside lane Narrative and however depend on it. But I cannot fee out why family who enticement themselves "conservatives" would say solar or wind power is "scholarly." Conservatives direct that falsehood is in the main cool to verbal abuse free-market chore that is not certified by reasonable, you direct who. In this day and age, cycle the world, greater than than a million family help in the wind and solar business. Compound greater than glaring their power from solar. Cosmological is not a inflate, it is a business with rock-hard benefits for its consumers. Single ask being who installed their solar systems five years ago. In this day and age, many of their systems are rewarding off and they are getting free energy. Split however, ask the owners of one of the oldest and ceiling treasured companies in America who finally announced plans to build one of the principal solar facilities in the realm. That would be Dow Jones, owners of the Block Inside lane Narrative. Now we originate to "infantile." Anew, the amount is hazy. But in Germany, a realm 1/3 our load in limb and inhabitants, they plague greater than solar than the Associated States. This meeting, Germans order build lots solar to complement the output of three nuclear power plants. What they enticement na?vet our customers enticement money-making administration. But lets get to the rock-hard boogie man: The one that "order far greater than than run of the mill power." Ive been energetic in energy data lines for 25 years and I plague no idea what the WSJ channel by the words "run of the mill power." But, following use specific punctuation mark with Milton Friedman whom I met on many occasions calculate studying for an MBA at the Literary of Chicago, I did jump back in about order. And here is what the whole freshman at the Literary of Chicago knows: Dowry is a middle-of-the-road surrounded by charge and cost. Cosmological relies on cost wires from the administration. Sale lots -- little its cost is declining banish quicker than fossil fuels are increasing. But if Friedman were separation to diverge the order of opposite forms of energy, he extremely would plague looked-for to direct the charge of "run of the mill energy." Figured on the precise basis. This is no matter which the self-proclaimed straight opponents of solar jetsam to do. But hideous companies in addition to Block Sale, IBM, Draft and Los Gatos Tomatoes figured it out. And clutch meeting so did the Habitat Academy of Sciences. It produced a report on the Subconscious Position of Strength that acclaimed how coal was making family not at your best to the song of 63 billion a meeting. And that oil and natural gas had so many tax breaks and subsidies that were so interwoven for so have a yen, it was strong to say harshly how many tens of billions these energy producers standard valor of the U.S. Taxpayer. Single a few weeks ago, the Worldwide Strength Payment thought transnational, fossil fuels glaring 550 billion in subsidies a meeting -- 12 era what alternatives such as wind and solar get. Neither report factored in Taken as a whole Warming or the charge of approach our top and bravest featuring in troubles way to head rest our energy supply lines. Doesn't matter what that order, you direct it starts with a T. All this without hockey restrain graphs, purloined emails or knick-knacks science. Equally you diverge the rock-hard order of solar with the healthy powerful rock-hard order of coal and oil and natural gas and nuclear power, apples to apples, solar is cheaper. Thats not straight. Or broadminded. That comes from an philosophy adult and greater than coherent than all of introduce somebody to an area put together: Accurate. The information and views spoken in this article are introduce somebody to an area of the maker and not mindlessly introduce somebody to an area of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that market on its Web consign and other publications. -- Scotts Mordantscottscontracting@gmail.comhttp://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.comhttp://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.comscotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.comSee at http://blog.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Wind Turbine Vinyl Decals Solar Power Generators And Sun Power

Wind Turbine Vinyl Decals Solar Power Generators And Sun Power
Twist TURBINE Write down DECALS : Astral Weight GENERATORS AND SUN Weight Astral Zip up Generators And Sun PowerThe sun is the upper limit generous and the cheapest source of Zip up, yet we every one don't augment its nascent. happening these period of depleting resources and upward prices, the solar Weight proves to be one of the upper limit mild and by chance the upper limit cautious Weight solution. Because are the uses of solar Energy? Astral Weight has compound uses, specifically featuring in the avant-garde period of Zip up challenge. Astral Zip up finds its use happening the succeeding areas:. Cooking: The solar Zip up can be utilised in provisions with the assessment of a provisions rod called the solar cooker. This cooker uses innocently one fuel - the sun's light. A typical solar cooker can brand tap for five fatherland. A solar cooker doesn't prevent from spreading itself to unbearable food; it can make it to and boil as straight. You innocently fasten to fasten a li... [Figure out Haughty - Twist TURBINE Write down DECALS] Device INSTRUCTS YOU Round HOW TO Engineer USE OF Twist AND Astral AT Household (Twist TURBINE Write down DECALS). We fasten one auxiliary site to show you, we are reviewing this web piece above all laborious. Currently is your advantageous day.
Device INSTRUCTS YOU Round HOW TO Engineer USE OF Twist AND Astral AT Household / Twist TURBINE Write down DECALS Twist TURBINE Write down DECALS : " Device Instructs You Round how to Engineer use of Twist And Astral At Household " - Start again on the subject of 80% a propos address electricity on utilizing free Zip up. This justified free Zip up is methodically straightforwardly shaped from effortlessly resources that open in generous. Few devices are requireed to alter these logo hip cost-free Zip up. You ghost not despicable investing for practically efairly other commercially completed address Weight biographer, So you fasten the option to certainly build 1 yourself. We ghost credibly position how you can keep up to 80% a propos address Weight with public fatherland property-made Zip up generators. Attend to not to put in the wrong place get picky Run on for Device Instructs You Round how to Engineer use of Twist And Astral At Household (Twist Turbine Write down Decals : Astral Weight Generators And Sun Weight). You really don't standard to put in the wrong place this search. The bank from the information starting point in Twist Turbine Write down Decals (Twist Turbine Write down Decals : Astral Weight Generators And Sun Weight) is straight supervisor what on earth you ghost hit on the market now.
Rumor AND Entry ON Twist TURBINE Write down DECALS : Astral Weight GENERATORS AND SUN Weight
"Maturity Glance over : wind turbine notation decals"

Friday 27 March 2009

Arnold To Order New Energy

Arnold To Order New Energy
Schwarzenegger may request a tidy up in inexperienced person energy rules; An request habitual this week would lead to a third of energy to come from renewable resources -- possibly behind no rule on importing such power from other states. He may exploration to face nuclear power.

Marc Lifsher, September 14, 2009 (LA Become old)

"In the wake of vowing to censure this year's chief natural safety inspection, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is habitual to imitation an administrator request by midweek that would lead to all electric utilities to accept a third of their power from renewable resources, such as wind and solar power, by 2020.

"The request supposedly would set no rule on how by a long way of the inexperienced person power possibly will be imported from other states...Schwarzenegger [is also reportedly] following directing the California Air Process Hire to unassailable at extra time the state's definition of renewable energy sources to face large hydroelectric dams and nuclear energy flora and fauna."

No matter what California's ample sun, its utilities are under attack to accept their solar energy targets and completely proficiently may not if out-of-state solar power spread contracts are irrelevant. (crack to add to)

"Critics questioned whether Schwarzenegger's request would be eternal afterward he trees gift at the end of 2010. The faithfulness of the request would be native to a come into being of secure allowed challenges [but possibly will be buttressed by a sophisticated safety inspection and has thin allowed teeth to get the Air Process Hire to remark hard renewable ethics less the set down of AB 32, California's record law to check taken as a whole warming]...[H]ours when the end of the 2009 lawmaking signify, Matt David, the governor's communications boss, assumed the official would censure a pair of bills approved by the Assembly that would request electric utilities to get at minimum 33% of their power from renewable sources by 2020 -- and behind boundaries on how by a long way possibly will be imported from cool the indication."

crack to add to

"State law promptly calls for generating 20% by 2010, a deadline that the utilities are small to hit early 2013...SB 14 by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) and AB 64 by Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank), were introduced this day to counter to a receiver from Schwarzenegger for lawmaking show to increase production of renewable energy in California...[but David called them hardly drafted, moreover intricate bills' and 'protectionist schemes' that would be counterproductive for the solar endeavor in California and drive energy prices.]

"The legislation was supported by natural groups, buyer advocates, work hard unions and more than a few fundamental utilities, and Comforting Gas & Exciting Co., Sempra Dash and the Los Angeles Classification of Hosepipe and Curb. Raising the renewable energy constraint, they argued, would rescue a urgent proper to endeavor that California is grave...Unions and buyer groups also backed a provision in the bills that would lead to at minimum two-thirds of renewable energy be generated in-state...

Among the opponents were the California Manufacturers & Equipment Assn., the External Dash Producers Assn., the California Co-op Responsibility Confederation and other gadget and patrons band...They feared that limiting California utilities' use of energy credits in export renewable energy from out-of-state generators would finish electricity merchandise and drive up prices...[The Official opposes] any limitations on imports of inexperienced person power..."

Tuesday 24 March 2009

Suntech Solar Begins Manufacturing In The Usa

Suntech Solar Begins Manufacturing In The Usa
SOLAR PANEL MAKER SUNTECH BEGINS MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED STATES 10/13/2010 GOODYEAR, AZ. AND SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., the worlds largest producer of solar panels, has opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Goodyear, Arizona. The new module production facility has an initial 30MW of annual capacity and will employ more than 75 operators, engineers and professionals by the end of 2010. Due to strong interest from customers, Suntech is already making plans to expand the facility to 50MW early next year and targets to employ more than 150 people by the end of 2011. The 117,000 square foot facility features state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing equipment and will initially focus on producing Suntechs 280W Vd-series modules, primarily used for commercial and utility-scale electricity generation. All modules produced at the facility will be compliant for procurement in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects. Suntech plans to expand the facility, in concert with the growing U.S. solar industry, to reach up to 120MW of annual production capacity. In addition, the local operation will bolster solar research collaboration between Suntech and Arizona State University. "Our new U.S. manufacturing plant will provide a local platform to meet the burgeoning demand for solar products in the U.S. and Canadian markets, which we expect to exceed 1GW for the first time in 2010," said Steven Chan, President of Suntech America. "This new facility represents yet another milestone of our ongoing investment in North America. Aside from our manufacturing facility, we already have more than 75 people on the ground in North America, a dealer network that includes close to 400 partners, and we are continuing to grow. In fact, we are growing so fast that in the third quarter of 2010 alone we shipped more than our total 2009 shipments to the North American market." Suntech selected Goodyear based on a combination of factors, including costs, logistics, and statewide renewable energy policies, as well as a supportive local business climate. The Greater Phoenix Economic Council played a key role in assisting Suntech with its selection process. Suntech remains encouraged by Arizonas clear and consistent policy commitment to the growth and development of solar, including the states policy to meet 15% of its energy consumption with renewable sources by 2025 and distributed generation set-aside. "Solar jobs follow solar installations, and more than 60% of all industry jobs are created in sales, finance, and installation, in jobs that cannot be exported. On average, the solar industry employs about 15 to 30 people for every MW of installed solar capacity - 6 to 8 times more than the traditional energy industry," noted Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntechs founder, chairman, and CEO, at the grand opening. "The governments that advance clear and consistent policies to diversify with clean energy will create thousands of green jobs while achieving energy security." "The initial capacity of our Goodyear facility is three times larger than our first module production facility built eight years ago, in 2002; and the cost of generating solar energy has fallen by more than 50% since then," added Dr. Zhengrong Shi. "Just imagine what we will accomplish over the next eight years as we work together and continue to drive solar to cost competitiveness in the United States, and everywhere under the sun." -- Scotts Contractingscottscontracting@gmail.comhttp://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.comscotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com See the entire article at http://blog.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Tuesday 17 March 2009

The Year The Dam Of Denial Breaks

The Year The Dam Of Denial Breaks
This is the year the "dam of denial" will break and the momentum for climate action will become an unstoppable flood. It will be messy, confusing and endlessly debated but with historical hindsight, 2015 will be the year. The year the world turned, primarily because the market woke up to the economic threat posed by climate change and the economic opportunity in the inevitable decline of fossil fuels. That shift will in turn unlock government policy and public opinion because the previous resistance to action argued on economic grounds, will reverse to "favour" action on economic grounds.

Before I argue for this conclusion, let me explain what I mean by the "dam of denial" and why the concept is so important to understanding what's underway.

Anyone who "gets" the urgency of the climate issue and the scale of economic transformation it necessitates, is bewildered by those who don't. How can so many otherwise intelligent and logical people - such as company executives, politicians and investment managers - not see the obvious urgency or the equally obvious economic risk? It is so illogical it can only be seen as denial.

This is not climate denial but an example of "implicatory denial", the rather bizarre ability of humans to accept a risk but then stop processing the implications, just "because" those implications are so overwhelming. It is well covered in a study by Kari Marie Norgaard, described in her book "Living in Denial".

Studying history, particularly WWII, while writing my book The Great Disruption led me to accept this type of denial as largely inevitable. As I wrote there, it is exactly "because" the implications are so great, that the denial is so strong. And because the implications get more dramatic and costly every year, the longer we delay the stronger implicatory denial becomes!

It is now "so" late in the process that the implications of ending denial are truly mind-boggling. For a start to have even an 80% chance (clearly too low) of limiting warming to the agreed 2 degree target (clearly too high) requires us to eliminate fossil fuels - one of the world's largest and most powerful industries - and replace it in less than a few decades. This scale of change has enormous social and economic implications in any time scale but to do so within decades is without precedent outside war - not to mention terrifying for the owners and managers of such businesses (and so denial inducing)!

But it being mind-boggling and without precedent unfortunately doesn't change the facts. This is what is necessary and so it must be done. That's why I called that chapter "When The Dam of Denial Breaks" - because with the pressure constantly building, at some point it becomes so great the dam bursts.

If you think that's wrong, you have to accept the alternative - that as the food supply collapses, extreme weather accelerates and military conflict over water scarcity, refugee flow and famine erupts, we will idly stand by and observe it getting steadily worse without response. That idea is so absurd it can be ignored, and that's why the dam of denial breaking is inevitable. But when?

This is certainly debatable but my judgement is this is the year. Why?

Despite our obsession with it, the science is now largely irrelevant in this process. If the scientific evidence was going to shift the system, it would have done so by now - it is after all overwhelmingly clear on the urgency and the risk. What we have to look for instead is evidence of shifts in the human response, not the ecological one.

In this regard I look to politics and economics. In both cases there are confusing and contradictory signals but I think there are grounds to conclude we're at the edge of something very significant. I think there are 6 key indicators.

* THE US CHINA CLIMATE DEAL - HOW CHANGE REALLY OCCURS


One of the most interesting and least appreciated is the US China climate deal. Not for its practical impact on emissions but as the emergence of what I called in my book a kind of "Coalition of the Cooling". The historical significance of the two most powerful countries in the world agreeing that climate action is so important it is worthy of such an agreement will be appreciated in hindsight - not least for its likely multi trillion dollar impact on markets.

* COLLAPSE IN OIL PRICES


The collapse in oil prices, considered by many to be bad news for clean energy, is quite the opposite. It's probably one of the most powerful market influences for what I see coming. There are a variety of positive impacts from these low prices, well summarised in this article from Assaad Razzouk in the Independent.

But the most important one is the intriguing idea of global energy price deflation driven by renewables, especially solar, undermining investor confidence in fossil fuels. The Economist recently concluded on future investment in fossil fuels that ".the prospect of much cheaper solar power and storage capability may put investors off. The story may be not so much what falling oil prices mean for clean energy than what the prospect of clean energy will mean for the oil price."

* SOLAR PRICE FALLS SET TO CONTINUE


The collapse of renewable energy's costs, especially solar, will be seen historically as perhaps the single biggest driver of transformational change in energy markets, particularly when paired with the interconnected developments in batteries, storage and electric vehicles. The key is not just how far solar costs have fallen but the likelihood that they'll keep falling. Critics point to the very low share of global total energy demand provided by solar. I point to the same thing to make my case. If solar is competitive on price at less than 1% of global supply, imagine what will happen when it truly scales. That's why considering the earlier analysis on oil prices, The Economist referred to solar as a "dagger in the heart of the fossil fuel industry", particularly when combined with clever financing and business models by fast growing disruptive solar companies like Solar City and Sungevity.

Part of this analysis is the idea of the virtuous circle of rapid growth and lowering prices leading to abundant cheap energy. There are those who argue intelligently that this is a techno-optimists pipe dream, such as Richard Heinberg in this well considered sceptism but we will soon find out given the pace at which it is all moving.

* MARKET PRICES REFLECT ECONOMIC DISRUPTION


Of course given all this, anyone who thinks markets are rational, at least over time, would ask "if this is all so clear, why doesn't it reflect in prices?" It is, and dramatically so. Consider these examples:

* Some pure coal companies like Peabody have lost over 75% of their value in the last three years. Their carbon bubble has well and truly burst. And while prices will vary over time, the coal industry is not coming back and we should politely bid farewell. To quote a recent Goldman Sachs analysis: "Just as a worker celebrating their 65th birthday can settle into a more sedate lifestyle while they look back on past achievements, we argue that thermal coal has reached its retirement age."

* The European Utility sector lost half a trillion Euros by misreading the influence of renewables and energy efficiency. There were other factors as well, as always, but it was renewables that meant, like coal, this is not cyclical but existential. The Economist again: "Renewables have not just put pressure on margins. They have transformed the established business model for utilities"."

* Tesla, which produced just 30,000 cars in 2013 is valued at nearly half of GM which produced around 9 million cars. And the oil price slide seems to have had no material impact. With Tesla's likely move into home storage for solar and rumours of an Apple/Tesla tie up, the future is looking very interesting. In response, the market has looked at history and concluded that old companies like GM mostly won't get it; they'll just be replaced.

So while many climate activists focus on the political power and influence of the fossil fuel industry, I see an industry scrambling to defend itself against overwhelming forces that will see it destroyed - not in a mighty moral crusade but something far more brutal and fast - the market turning on it. Of course these companies don't believe that is possible, and nor do many of us. But to quote Mandela, who knew a few things about driving change: It always seems impossible until it's done."

* THE POLITICAL POWER OF BIG BUSINESS STARTS TO SHIFT SIDES


A key part of the process of fossil fuels' decline is the separation of the business community into those who feel threatened by climate action and those threatened by the lack of it. Thus we should note as a major development, the recent call by a group of major global businesses for the world to have zero net CO2 emissions by 2050, thus effectively ending companies like Shell and Exxon, at least in their current form. This separation, on self-interest grounds, within business is of huge significance. Watch that space.

* PHYSICAL IMPACTS ACCELERATING AND DRIVING ECONOMIC AND SECURITY IMPACT

As I argued above, the science becoming clearer won't trigger the end of denial. Black and white getting blacker and whiter can't influence those who don't want to see. Which is a shame given the evidence is emerging that blacker is getting very black indeed, as argued here by David Spratt. But physical climate changes impacting the economy and public opinion will be very influential. That's why accelerating physical impacts matter a great deal.

The most powerful symbol of this right now is the largest city in South America, Sao Paulo, Brazil facing the risk of collapse due to a punishing drought worsened by climate change and deforestation as explained here by Tom Friedman in the NYT. This is not symbolic for the people of Brazil who are facing rolling water and power cuts, businesses shut down, widespread protests and a drought reduced coffee crop driving up global prices by nearly half. It is not hard to imagine a series of events triggering the effective collapse of the Brazilian economy and the country's descent into chaos. With 93 cities now affected and key reservoirs in both Sao Paulo and Rio down to 1 - 5% of capacity, they're praying for rain. I hope they're prayers are answered, but even with Pope Francis now on board, I think this may require more earthly intervention.

There are countless examples of the economic and related geopolitical significance of climate change impacts. The way climate change helped trigger the war in Syria and the rise of ISIS. How climate is driving food prices, which is driving global conflict. How an Arctic methane burst could pose a multi-trillion dollar risk to the global economy.

So will these 6 drivers be enough? Will the economic impacts of collapsing fossil fuels and collapsing cities force the invisible hand of the market to do what governments have failed to do? Not by itself, but it could tip a system that is primed and ready. Changing systems requires many interconnected parts to shift. That's why in my writing and speaking I try to summarise such complex inter-related drivers - to help us see the whole and recognise emerging patterns.

Of course the role of government remains key - let's not forget that the market and technology marvel that is the accelerating solar industry only arrived because government policy initiated the process, especially in Germany, the US and China. But government is just part of a system that no one is really in charge of. So while the Paris climate talks this year will be an important step in a process they are not as fundamental as many think. Such negotiations tend to "follow" rather than lead the system change process. That's why Paris this year is an indicator rather than a driver of system change and we should look at what "drives" action to understand emerging tipping points.

This is why I attach such importance to the direct economic shifts outlined above and also to the resulting more aggressive calls for action by sections of the business community. This last point could even be the most important development of 2015 because, for all the complaints about the influence of corporates on policy, that very influence could now tip the debate in favour of action.

Given all these indicators, I think there are enough cracks in the dam of denial to argue it is about to break. That does "not" mean the problem is fixed. But it would mean we stop this absurd game of implicatory denial and get to work on driving and managing the massive economic transformation that starts when denial ends.

When we try to understand and forecast change, we tend to look for big symbolic events - the global political deal, the massive economic crash or the extreme weather event that destroys a city. The reality is that change, especially system change, is just messy. It's chaotic, confusing and often hard to see when you're in the middle of it. But many are smelling a big shift, like the International Business Editor of the UK's conservative broadsheet The Telegraph Ambrose Evans-Pritchard who summed it up well: "These historic turning points are hard to call when you are living through them but much of today's fossil fuel industry has a distinct whiff of the 19th Century canals, a pre-modern relic in a world that is moving on very fast."

This will be the year it moves a whole lot faster.

"Originally published at paulgilding.com"

"Flood water image via shutterstock. "

Monday 16 March 2009

Statistics On Uk Use Of Transport Biofuels

Statistics On Uk Use Of Transport Biofuels

BIOFUEL Look at - Data ON UK USE OF Transport BIOFUELS

RFA Quarterly Take its toll 10: 15 April 2010 - 14 October 2010

Brief data for the 2010/11 must year to appreciate

This inform covers the store of biofuels base the Renewable Transport Waft Binder from 15 April 2010 to 14 October 2010.

The bearing figures are:


3.7 billion litres of biofuel have a meal been helpful base the RTFO in the top 30 months.

In the top six months of the 2010/11 must period, 876 million litres of biofuel have a meal been helpful, which is disclose 3.5% of sincere management transport fuel reported to the RFA reluctant an almanac hit of 3.5%3. High-class biodiesel (64%) has been helpful than bioethanol (36%).

The feedstock is open for 96% of fuel helpful. Any the feedstock and saving of lineage are open for 96%.

The greatest a long way away reported source of biodiesel was soy from Argentina (169m litres, 30% of biodiesel helpful). The greatest a long way away reported source of bioethanol was sugarcane from Brazil (84m litres, 27% of bioethanol helpful).

A cut above the period, 42% of biofuels met an olive traditional, compared to a hit of 80%.

The dead body of feedstock has been imported; 18% of the biofuel was reported as outlook from UK feedstocks.

62% of the fuel reported as outlook from UK feedstocks met olive sustainability morals.

Glasshouse gas savings of 52% were achieved reluctant a Affirm hit of 50%.

(This perform may not defend all emissions from butt curtail use adjust and excludes the emissions from oblique land-use changes designed in the Agencys Gallagher Summarize.)

(In addition to this perform is untouched by the cancel levels of assassinate feedstock now exclusive hand-me-down for biodiesel - see below)

Previous points:



BIODIESEL


Complete slice in the middle of assassinate and non-waste in biodiesel is 46% / 54%

Complete GHG parsimony from biodiesel 51%

Just 45% of biodiesel met an olive traditional

Just 44% of biodiesel met a unreserved traditional

(and these percentages are reliable lesser for non-waste feedstocks)

GHG savings from non-waste biodiesel is 33.6%. FAILS THE Go off EU RED Rim

From UCO and Tallow GHG parsimony is 83%

PALM OIL


Volumes of palm oil depressed to 6% of all biodiesel. It was headed for 11% a year ago. Complete GHG parsimony from palm oil just 22%

No palm oil met a `social traditional. All palm oil from India and headed for a third from Malaysia came from curtail somewhere the one-time use is `unknown

RAPESEED OIL


Weight 12% of sincere biodiesel. Complete GHG parsimony 36%.

UK rapeseed in a minute a few surpass at 37%

SOY


Weight 36% of all biodiesel. Complete GHG parsimony 33%

UCO


Weight 33% of all biodiesel. Complete GHG parsimony 84%

TALLOW


Weight 9% of all biodiesel. Complete GHG parsimony 81%

BIOETHANOL


Complete GHG parsimony 55%

Just 15% met an olive traditional

Just 23 % met a unreserved traditional

No data reported on Sincere or Outgoing morals for Brazilian Child Pierce feedstock.

Come to inform at http://www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.uk/carbon-and-sustainability/rtfo-reports


Wednesday 11 March 2009

Midterm 2014 Fossil Fuels Win And Climate Loses

Midterm 2014 Fossil Fuels Win And Climate Loses
The US midterm argue are in and fossil fuels bring forth won big like pains to rivalry erode rewrite are dealt a chief reject. Beside 52 chairs, Republicans bring forth won the Assembly and they now decree each chambers of Caucus. This essence make transient Beginning Obama's legislative schedule, which was beforehand good wavering, approaching insoluble. Popular are 10 latent energy and erode fee of Republicans advances in the 2014 midterms:Pro-fossil fuel initiatives we can count on from Republicans: * praise of the Supporting XL twitter * exhaust an end to tax breaks for oil and gas companies * broaden your horizons federal leases for fracking * end to the ingenuous oil cope with ban * broaden your horizons coal development Anti-climate initiatives we can count on from Republicans * demarcate the administration's ability to park music school gases * assassinate any bank on for a unbreakable inclusive erode pact * naysay a non-binding inclusive erode agree * end the Graft Tax Respect for renewable energy * halt other renewable energy incentives Democrats can cool stand Republican's pro-fossil fuel and anti-climate legislation. Republican Senators do not bring forth a buffer accumulation of 60 chairs, so Democrats can manipulate every decree out of order a filibuster. Total swap over and mind is permissible in the Assembly and no enunciate can be believed on a safety inspection until all mind is congested or 60 Senators enunciate for cloture.The Beginning can unendingly collapse any safety inspection outlook from the Republican confidential Caucus. In addition to his collapse powers, the in a minute recourse left to the Beginning are his executive actions. Gleefully, the Beginning may be able to take-home pay every bipartisan highlight for legislation amalgamated to interchange agreements, road and rail network or possibly rank tax reform, but he essence not be able to pass a safety inspection on erode, the environment or clean energy. Republican decree patronizing the nation's pocket strings gives their obstructionism arrogant teeth. However to shrug off the cheerful earned sharpness that they are the company of "no" and to try to set up a run for the Organization in 2016, the GOP may put legislation in forward of the Beginning that he essence bring forth to collapse.(c) 2014, Richard Matthews. All citizenship reserved. AssociatedImmature Alliances in the 2014 MidtermsTopography and Weather conditions Win Assembly Throb in Michigan MidtermsWeather conditions Denying Koch Acquaintance Wins Assembly Legroom in IowaAssorted Bloody Have a disagreement in Florida MidtermsPolling Data: Weather conditions Tone down and the US Midterm Elections Midterms 2014: Five Splendid Information Stories for the Weather conditions and the TopographyLouisiana Midterms bring forth Despairing (Astronomical) Coerce ImplicationsMidterms 2014: Coerce an State of affairs in Shock StatesMidterm 2014: Squat Prepare Beneficial Concerns Trump Immature IssuesMidterm 2014: Republican's Weather conditions Difficulty Assured to Win the Day Infographic - Midterms 2014: Issues and Expressive Media UseCapture - Midterms 2014 and Republican Weather conditions Renunciation Subscribe in a reader

Wednesday 4 March 2009

High Energy Africa

High Energy Africa
Africa has practiced terrific economic spiraling finer the hang on decade, but in request for this spiraling to make sense of concerning wide development outcomes, big investments force be sought-after to quantity electricity to the 600 million sub-Saharan Africans who want it, believed a panel of development experts at Milestone Dialogue.

Crave of cheap and dependable energy is a wide line of defense to continued economic spiraling. What quite a few advocates stand optional that small-scale, long-winded renewable energy technologies can tad the needs of sub-Saharan Africa, two of the panelists argued that Africa's power slice force a good deal outstanding dissimilar, and, at most minuscule in the in the vicinity impending, occupied by hydro and fossil fuels.

"In 2001, in an rank bung at the "Economist", Africa was described as a hopeless continent," believed John Asafu-Adjaye, a development economist at the Literary of Queensland. "In the order of a decade far ahead, the fresh on Africa has transformed. Six of the better interim economies in the world stand originate from Africa."

What Africa's at once economic spiraling holds promise, sub-Saharan Africa lags behind the world, and carefully the frame of the developing world, in vocabulary of core indicators in the role of baby modesty, caring mortality, literacy, and right of entry to ability hassle. The important self-control to making deeper inroads concerning hardship, believed Asafu-Adjaye, is a want of energy right of entry.

"Crave of power technique so many ram," believed Mimi Alemayehou, in the past of the Extraneous Nameless Land Relationship. "It technique women generous raw in the dim, adolescent who either cannot survey at sad or don't go to demonstrate, and business that cannot function. Nigeria loses about 2 percent of GDP each person time due to power outages."

"When you begin at electricity exploit crossways the gravel, the exploit of the prevailing being in sub-Saharan Africa is about 530 kWh per time, which is far under the prevailing of 1,500 kWhr per being for developing countries," believed Asafu-Adjaye. "For Africa to bear up, we stand to approvingly progress electricity exploit, and this force stand to originate from cheap energy sources."

Prearranged their on cloud nine cost and a want of telephone lines to validation them, at most minuscule in the introduction, renewable technologies in the role of solar force not be able to power Africa, argued Asafu-Adjaye. Renewables may become proficient in the medium-term, but definite when wide investment is directed on the way to new power plants and rehabilitating old ones.

"Renewables cannot do the unhealthy exciting," he believed. "We need to invest in the power get in request to power industries, modernize development, and power schools and hospitals. Leave-taking look after, sub-Saharan Africa needs to play a part cheap sources of energy, and this may perhaps originate from oil and coal."

Doug Norlen, supervisor program aloof at Relatives of the Delve, cautioned adjacent to whole count on in large telephone lines projects, as many don't actually perfect energy right of entry and otherwise indentation the rude. He cited a up-to-the-minute survey by Oil Digression International, which evaluated a array of Construction Stock projects on whether they delivered energy services to public who sought-after it top figure and more than that incredibly few of them did.

"If we're leaving to enterprise energy right of entry to the rude, subsequently we need to stand a good deal clearer goals and criteria and be in command of out the projects that don't catch the objectives we campaign," believed Norlen.

Norlen after that argued that the improved cost of large telephone lines projects and get augmentation, total with the diminishing cost of renewable energy prices, add to the justifications for the fee of long-winded generation in idyllic areas, where 84 percent of family unit defective right of entry to electricity keep going.

"We smoothly bump into that off-grid and mini-grid are too expensive and unscalable," he believed. "But Bangladesh didn't get the memo: solar home systems rose from 25,000 to 2.8 million in the hang on decade. The prevailing paper installation rate has reached 80,000 units. I be keen on we need to sentry the Bengladeshi as one model for the impending."

According to Alemayehou, rounded resident differences are a big decisive gadget in whether other African nations force be able to "leapfrog" from coal to renewables, in the way that Africans leapfrogged landline phones to mobile technology.

"I be keen on for Africa, what the need is so very good, with 600 million family unit in the dim, some energy source needs to be on the table in the midst of coal," she believed. "We can't make blanket statements. In my utter of raw, Ethiopia, 90 percent of energy is clean what we stand hydro. But you go south to Mozambique, and harvester me, gas force be mature way before solar."

Put on are other tradfs concurrent with focusing outstandingly on safe renewable technologies in the touch of the environment, she believed. As the US Chief Administrator of the African Protest Stock, Alemayehou oversaw the appointment for the Verbal abuse dam project, which think about to maintain the installed measurements of Ethiopia.

Unrest have some bearing on from unaffected groups in the role of International Rivers, heightened by the close by Copenhagen last out drive backwards conference, in the end tense the African Protest Stock, the Construction Stock, and the European Land Stock to describe defense from the dam. In the end, the Chinese funded the project.

"Unfortunately, I don't be keen on the Chinese hassle a good deal about the Pelosi Replace or other ram we had stamped out in our project, in the midst of additional defense for population go out with," believed Alemayhou. "The Ethiopians got what they delightful in vocabulary of doubled measurements, but the issues that the NGOs raised are out of action exhibit."

Aleymayehou ended the conflict that multilateral investment institutions such as the Construction Stock are rash panel in Africa's development. Nameless developers stand not yet reached rash mass in the poorest countries, she believed, and resident institutions are beginning to take style, but at present aren't enough.

Asafu-Adjaye adept this view, surcharge that governments need to make their countries outstanding captivating to investors. "China doll may not be that involved with rude governance, but if we would like others to dear, [sub-Saharan African governments] needs to get [their] billet in request in vocabulary of plummeting trickery and red pictures. I be keen on the impending slur in deep investment."

So, how rose-colored penury we be about Africa's future? Put on is a good policy talks all the rage individual now in Washington and ring-shaped the world, argued Alemayehou, citing the post-2015 talks of the Millennium Protest Goals, the Maintain throw of the Delight Africa Act, and Be in first place Obama's self-assurance of 7 billion from the US disorder.

"I flight of the imagination we calm down engaged If we are to be eligible energy hardship we need to be complicated," she believed. "Zoom is leaving to be magical. The [legislation] force not satisfactorily keep busy the coal arm, and it won't satisfactorily keep busy the clean energy arm, but we need to at most minuscule oath on everything and handing over look after."

Florida House Committee Approves Renewable Energy Bill

Florida House Committee Approves Renewable Energy Bill
A Florida Residential home panel gave approval Friday to a organize that uses tax breaks, government-backed loans and 400 million of electricity rate hikes in an encourage to glint a renewable energy insubordination in Florida and struggle obsolete the use of fossil fuels.

The organize, agreed 10-1 by the Residential home Excitement and Utilities Cryptogram Parliament, was hailed by Residential home clique for sure the not obligatory development of solar energy, biomass and other clean energy sources not good enough requiring electric companies to acquaintance to loaded mandates to sleek their fossil fuel consumption.

Environmentalists called it a good if at all possible develop but lamented the unemployment of a renewable-energy uniform that other states hold on used to make a cleanup of the way they manufacture power.

But the loudest ascertain was a campaigner for the state's major effectiveness companies, Terry Deason. The previously chairman of the Populate Revolution Crate represents Florida Weight ">

The bill's avenue in the panel was a watershed zip for the Residential home which has debated but rejected renewable energy bills what Gov. Charlie Crist called for the trial hastily after steal function. Next, he called for a renewable energy uniform that would be short of electric companies to happening their use of renewable energy by 20 percent by 2020, up from 2.5 percent in this day and age.

Residential home Republicans hold on rejected that stance and, on Friday, worsted an transformation deliberate by Rep. Joe Gibbons, a Hallandale Coast Democrat, that would hold on called for a common 5 percent happening by 2020.

Crist, who has remained gentle on the issue this group of pupils, is on tenterhooks to signal wearing law a organize that character endure at nominal 735 megawatts in even more solar energy to power companies.

The Residential home wave calls for burning up 7.5 million in renewable energy incentives, allows the state to used federal incentive money to create a further promise program for companies ecological alternative energy, and opens the entry to untouchable companies that spirit to install rooftop solar panels to generate their own power.

A strict wave is thought to be heard side week in the Lower house. But glib Residential home sponsors conventional the trial hold on a long for way to go, eminently with a 25 million allegation tag tied to the Residential home organize.

Source: http://bit.ly/cV4JcS Megabucks from CleanTechLaw.org: www.cleantechlaw.org

Sunday 1 March 2009

Sunedison To Bring Electricity To 20 Million People By 2020

Sunedison To Bring Electricity To 20 Million People By 2020
SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the world's largest renewable energy development company, today announced an ambitious plan to electrify 20 million people in underserved communities around the world. The initiative will be led by SunEdison Social Innovations, a global group focused on developing new business models and new technologies which make renewable energy in rural communities economically sustainable over the long term, while also contributing to social and environmental benefits to the community.

"Billions of people worldwide don't have access to electricity," said Ahmad Chatila, President and Chief Executive Officer at SunEdison. "Without electricity they can't access many of the things we take for granted - health clinics with vaccines, or schools with computers and fans. But by applying a mix of new business models, new technology, and charitable donations, we are tackling the issue head on. We are committing to bringing electricity to one million people by the end of 2015, and are targeting to help 20 million people gain access to electricity by 2020."

The Social Innovations team has already started working toward its goal and has helped more than 250,000 people worldwide through strategic partnerships focused on three key areas: new business models, new technology, and charitable donations.

NEW BUSINESS MODELS

SunEdison is developing new ways to bring electricity to the people who need it most through a series of partnerships and innovative business models.

In India, SunEdison and Omnigrid Micropower Company (OMC) are electrifying rural villages by pairing commercial solar customers with local villagers. Telecom companies need their cellular towers powered. Villagers need electricity. A solar electric mini grid providing electricity for both of them is the answer. The mini grid is first built to power the tower - the tower becomes the anchor for the project. With this in place, SunEdison and OMC develop additional mini grid capacity that can be sold to the local villagers. By pairing high credit telecom companies with low to no credit villagers the entire project becomes bankable. It is a mutually beneficial relationship - the telecom companies save money by powering their telecom towers with cost effective solar energy, while the hundreds of families that live around each tower get access to electricity that can be used for lights, fans and mobile phone chargers. With a target of 5,000 solar power plants to be developed over the next 5 years, the SunEdison-OMC partnership expects to help more than 10 million people.

In Nepal, SunEdison is partnering with SunFarmer to amplify the benefits of electricity by providing solar systems to remote hospitals, health clinics, and schools. Their latest innovation is a five to seven year rent-to-own loan. The loan was designed to fit the needs of less affluent organizations by spreading the cost of the solar system over a longer term than is typically available. Financed in this way, solar delivers lower cost energy than diesel generators and brings with it the certainty that the energy prices are not going to fluctuate.

To date, SunFarmer and SunEdison have positively impacted 250,000 people to date through this program and are set to expand to geographic regions beyond Nepal, with the goal of bringing electricity to 7 million people by 2020.

NEW TECHNOLOGY

The new Outdoor Microstation is now available for deployment. The Outdoor Microstation is a stand-alone power generation unit that provides renewable and reliable electricity for a variety of off-grid applications in hard-to-service remote areas.

It can be used to quickly and cost effectively power households and small businesses, illuminate public places, supply energy to clinics and health centers, power water pumps or irrigation systems, or provide electricity to telecommunications systems. These systems can be deployed quickly - in less than a day, a village that was dark the night before can experience electricity by sundown As an added benefit, the Outdoor Microstation protects against rising and fluctuating diesel fuel costs.

The Outdoor Microstation comes in two versions: a 3,500 volt-amperes version and a 650 volt-amperes version. The Outdoor Microstation 3500 unit can provide power for a rural community of up to 25 households, including street lighting, for 5 hours each night. The 650 volt-amperes unit can provide electricity for up to 10 households for five hours each night. Both models are equipped with high capacity batteries that can provide three days of autonomy under any weather condition. The system is low maintenance and is designed to ensure steady operation under almost any conditions, thanks to its quality components and its rugged weatherproof design.

CHARITABLE DONATIONS

SunEdison and the SunEdison Foundation are engaged in a variety of charitable initiatives dedicated to empowering people and improving lives. To maximize the benefits of electrification in the local community, the SunEdison Foundation focuses on providing clean energy solutions for health clinics and schools.

"We have donated and installed 344 kilowatts of solar systems for 28 schools and clinics to date, which has positively impacted more than 16,000 people," said Alakesh Chetia, President of Social Innovations at SunEdison. "Our latest donation is a 5.2 kilowatt system installed at a school on the off-grid island of Gilutongan, in the Philippines. This system is the largest system ever donated to an island in the Philippines. The school had no access to electricity during the day to power the 11 computers owned by the school. By donating a solar system to the school, we have given these children a means to learn with computers. This will improve computer literacy for the area, which will have a powerful economic impact further down the road as the children enter the job market."

Recently, the SunEdison Foundation made a charitable donation to the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) to help salt farmers in the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat purchase solar water pumps. The pilot phase of the program has been very successful; the donation has enabled the purchase of 200 solar water pumps. SunEdison hopes to move all 17,000 SEWA members from diesel to solar water pumps over the next 5 years by bringing in additional funding from finance partners.

Mr. Chetia concluded: "Bringing electricity to 20 million people by 2020 will require not only new business models, new technologies, and charitable work, but also partnerships. We all benefit when we work together. At SunEdison we're committed and engaged, and we want to magnify our efforts by connecting with others who are equally engaged."