Angola’s Kambambe hydroelectric dam to operate from October 2012
The Kambambe dam
Luanda, Angola --- ESI-AFRICA.COM --- 14 October 2011 - It’s been announced that the Kambambe hydroelectric dam, located in Kwanza Norte province of Angola, and with a total installed capacity of 180 megawatts (MW), will start its operation in full from October 2012.
This information has been released here by the administrator of production of the National Electricity Company, José Carlos Neves, during a morning programme on Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA).
The Kambambe Dam, according to Neves, is benefiting from rehabilitation and modernisation of two units, involving the replacement of major instruments of supervision and control of the venture, which had previously reduced its production by 50% of installed capacity.
He stressed that the project aims to ensure greater operational capability and availability of the project, and confirmed that completion was scheduled for October next year.
“With full operation of the hydroelectric dam the power supply to Luanda and other regions of the country will be improved,” he said.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Alternative energy
Green: Lighting the Hopes of the Grid-less
Jul 16, 2011 New York Times
Felicity Barringer
Green: Politics
From Lenin to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 20th-century political leaders made the provision of universal electricity a centerpiece of their programs and oratory. “Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country,” one slogan went. Or, in the case of F.D.R.’s Tennessee Valley Authority, “T.V.A.: Electricity For All.”
A rural family in southern India with a solar-powered light fixture.SelcoA rural family in southern India with a solar-powered light fixture.
In this century, the United Nations has updated the concept in addressing the problem that 1.4 billion people in the world are living without electricity. The new buzz phrase is “Sustainable Energy For All,” but the approach is very different, because in many cases these people cannot be connected to a grid. Given that the vast majority of the unconnected live near the equator, where the sun is at its zenith, the solutions being tried are almost all based on solar power.
One of the chief proselytizers is Richenda Van Leeuwen, who oversees the energy-access efforts of the United Nations Foundation, a philanthropic organization that works to support many of the United Nations’ humanitarian efforts. Like a Hollywood producer trying to bring together a script, a director, some actors and some financial angels, she spends her waking hours trying to assemble packages of financial resources, new technologies and new payment practices and to pinpoint willing recipients of the products.
“There are so many different targeted applications to help people solve problems on a daily basis,” she said in an interview — things like a solar-powered lantern that an Indian midwife can hang above the bed so that both of her hands are free, for example. Or the desk lamps made by the San Francisco-based company d.Light Design. Or solar-powered drip irrigation systems being used in Benin and India, or solar-powered lights for voting booths in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ms. Van Leeuwen’s goal is to provide emerging companies making these technologies with access to funds from socially conscious investors who are willing to tolerate higher risks and less financial reward. First she seeks to ensure that the price of the products is within the reach of the people who will be using them. Then there is a need for a supply chain that can distribute the devices, and a support system that ensures that there are spare parts and local people who can do repairs.
A lot of this would not have been as possible a decade or two ago, when solar power technologies were less robust and electrical lighting usually required energy-hungry incandescent bulbs. Now, Ms. Van Leeuwen said, advances in light-emitting diodes, which provide more light with less energy, and in small-scale solar power technology are spawning a new generation of devices for people who lack access to a grid.
The effort evokes the spread of cellular phones, swiftly adopted in places around the world that had no land lines. Ms. Van Leeuwen cited a recent prediction by the United Nations publication World Energy Outlook that said that if the goal of 100 percent access by 2030 is achieved, 70 percent of those with new access will get it either through a mini-grid or off-grid devices like those mentioned above.
If the prices of the new devices can be scaled to their means, these people will form a significant potential market. “If you can get a cellphone in the remotest village,” Ms. Van Leeuven said, “you can get a small-scale energy solution, too.” In 2010, she pointed out, more money was invested in renewable energy in the developing world (mostly China) than in the developed world
Jul 16, 2011 New York Times
Felicity Barringer
Green: Politics
From Lenin to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 20th-century political leaders made the provision of universal electricity a centerpiece of their programs and oratory. “Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country,” one slogan went. Or, in the case of F.D.R.’s Tennessee Valley Authority, “T.V.A.: Electricity For All.”
A rural family in southern India with a solar-powered light fixture.SelcoA rural family in southern India with a solar-powered light fixture.
In this century, the United Nations has updated the concept in addressing the problem that 1.4 billion people in the world are living without electricity. The new buzz phrase is “Sustainable Energy For All,” but the approach is very different, because in many cases these people cannot be connected to a grid. Given that the vast majority of the unconnected live near the equator, where the sun is at its zenith, the solutions being tried are almost all based on solar power.
One of the chief proselytizers is Richenda Van Leeuwen, who oversees the energy-access efforts of the United Nations Foundation, a philanthropic organization that works to support many of the United Nations’ humanitarian efforts. Like a Hollywood producer trying to bring together a script, a director, some actors and some financial angels, she spends her waking hours trying to assemble packages of financial resources, new technologies and new payment practices and to pinpoint willing recipients of the products.
“There are so many different targeted applications to help people solve problems on a daily basis,” she said in an interview — things like a solar-powered lantern that an Indian midwife can hang above the bed so that both of her hands are free, for example. Or the desk lamps made by the San Francisco-based company d.Light Design. Or solar-powered drip irrigation systems being used in Benin and India, or solar-powered lights for voting booths in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ms. Van Leeuwen’s goal is to provide emerging companies making these technologies with access to funds from socially conscious investors who are willing to tolerate higher risks and less financial reward. First she seeks to ensure that the price of the products is within the reach of the people who will be using them. Then there is a need for a supply chain that can distribute the devices, and a support system that ensures that there are spare parts and local people who can do repairs.
A lot of this would not have been as possible a decade or two ago, when solar power technologies were less robust and electrical lighting usually required energy-hungry incandescent bulbs. Now, Ms. Van Leeuwen said, advances in light-emitting diodes, which provide more light with less energy, and in small-scale solar power technology are spawning a new generation of devices for people who lack access to a grid.
The effort evokes the spread of cellular phones, swiftly adopted in places around the world that had no land lines. Ms. Van Leeuwen cited a recent prediction by the United Nations publication World Energy Outlook that said that if the goal of 100 percent access by 2030 is achieved, 70 percent of those with new access will get it either through a mini-grid or off-grid devices like those mentioned above.
If the prices of the new devices can be scaled to their means, these people will form a significant potential market. “If you can get a cellphone in the remotest village,” Ms. Van Leeuven said, “you can get a small-scale energy solution, too.” In 2010, she pointed out, more money was invested in renewable energy in the developing world (mostly China) than in the developed world
lighting control and energy management
Future for incandescent lightbulbs looking dim
Jul 18, 2011 Miami Herald
So, how many members of Congress does it take to screw up a light bulb?
It only sounds like a joke. The fate of the incandescent bulb, the oldest and most common of household electrical devices, has morphed into a political litmus test, one championed by conservative leaders from Rush Limbaugh to Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann.
In a vote along party lines, the House last week blocked a GOP effort to repeal efficiency standards that will begin phasing out the worst watt-wasters next year. But backers like Florida Rep. Bill Posey who sees the notion of regulating bulbs as evidence of a “nanny state’’ run amok, haven’t abandoned the right to light fight.
“This is a sore spot with people,’’ said the Rockledge Republican. “My constituents overwhelmingly don’t want the government to decide what kind of light bulb they want.’’
Whichever way the Washington debate goes, the future is dimming for cheap, old-school filament bulbs, which haven’t changed much since Thomas Edison patented his design more than 130 years ago.
Along with now-common compact florescent bulbs, a new generation of light emitting diode (LED) bulbs claiming up to 23 years of life has begun showing up on store shelves and their eye-popping initial prices of $50-plus have started to drop. Both kinds last years longer and sip roughly a quarter of the juice of their predecessors.
David Schuellerman, a manager for General Electric Lighting, said demand for standard bulbs has dropped by half over the last five years, a trend he expects to continue as homeowners begin following the LED lead of business, which has already put the technology in everything from refrigerator cases to traffic signals.
Maintenance and energy saving easily justify higher initial costs, he said. “It’s compelling when you think that these large companies that have the capacity to crunch the numbers — Starbucks, Walmart, Target — like LED for their stores,’’
At Light Bulbs Unlimited in Fort Lauderdale, purchasing agent Marek Luce has seen increasing interest in LEDs, which are fully dimmable, burn much cooler and are so versatile they come in rope or tape strips now popular under kitchen cabinets. But he’s also noted some runs on incandescents by customers worried about “bulb ban” rumors.
“At times, if they need one, they’ll buy 10. It’s not like they’re buying 200 or 300,’’ said Luce, who believes consumer education will ease concerns. “Nobody feels like anybody’s opinion was asked. A lot of people are afraid of not being left with a choice.’’
The backlash has flummoxed environmentalists and energy efficiency advocates.
“Because the light bulb is so iconic, it’s being used a poster child for a political debate about how much government should regulate,’’ said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose members include 150 major corporations and organizations. “To me, it’s mind-boggling that we would try to take a step backwards from what we’ve been doing on a regular basis.’’
The standards — produced with bipartisan congressional support and signed by President George W. Bush in 2007 — were drawn up with the goal of reducing national energy demands and pollution. They mirror regulations that have been applied to appliances from refrigerators to water heaters since the 1970s.
Supporters insist the standards will save consumers billions of dollars over the long haul.
By 2020, when all bulbs will have to be about 28 percent more efficient than current standard bulbs, the average household bill is expected to drop by 7 percent, or $85 a year, according to an analysis by the National Resources Defense Council. Another study by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy put overall savings for Americans at $12.5 billion a year, over $900 million in Florida alone. The study also claims the new standards would eliminate the need for 33 power plants nationwide.
The rules, which match standards already in place in Europe, have support from lighting manufacturers, trade associations and the Obama administration.
Last week, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu dismissed claims by critics that the standards amounted to a de facto ban of incandescents.
They do effectively phase out the cheapest standard bulbs by 2014, starting with 100 watt ones that are supposed to be off store shelves by January. But manufacturers say they already have halogen-based incandescents available that offer similar quality light and dimming options but will cost a bit more.
“The only difference is they help American consumers save more money,’’ Chu said.
But to some conservatives, the bulb regs have become a lightning rod.
Limbaugh, on his radio show, called them an assault on personal choice, proclaiming, “Let there be incandescent light and freedom.’’ Bachmann, the Minnesota representative and Tea Party favorite considered an early GOP presidential front-runner, proposed one bill to repeal the standard.
The House voted on a second similar one from Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas. It won a majority, 233 to 193, but failed because it was introduced under a rule requiring two-thirds approval.,
The debate extends beyond Washington. Last month, the Texas Legislature passed a bill allowing use of incandescents — but only if they’re made in the state. South Carolina and Pennsylvania are considering similar measures
Critics point to the high cost of alternatives and pollution concerns from mercury used in compact florescent bulbs, which are supposed to be recycled and require careful cleanup if they’re broken — both concerns supporters contend have been exaggerated,
Maureen Martin, senior fellow for legal affairs at The Heartland Institute, a free-market think tank based in Chicago, believes congress has long overstepped its authority with efficiency standards.
“Just because we have always done something in the past doesn’t make it right,’’ she said. But she also acknowledged that the debate was bigger than the bulb.
“It has become a symbol for low-flow toilets and all the other restrictions that have been imposed on everyday things,’’ she said. “People are so fed up at the grass roots level.’’
Florida Rep. Posey supported the repeal, even though it was opposed by an LED manufacturer in his district, Satellite Beach-based Lighting Science Group.
The company’s chief executive, Jim Haworth, issued a statement crediting the tougher standards with sparking industry innovation, helping his company grow from 100 to 350 employees in the last year and reducing energy use and pollution. Haworth called lighting, which consumes 19 percent of global electrical output, the “low hanging fruit’’ in energy conservation.
Posey, who said he used both traditional and florescent bulbs in his home and offices, stressed the repeal wasn’t intended to promote aging light bulb technology but aimed at preserving consumer choice and cutting through the regulatory red tape.
“To have 40 pages of federal code over what kind of light bulb you can have is ridiculous,’’ he said.
Though the repeal failed, foes have already launched a back-door attack with an amendment that would strip the efficiency program of funding, but with the Senate controlled by Democrats, their hopes appear to be flickering.
Bob Keefe, a spokesman for the environmental group NRDC, said GOP ideologues had hijacked a common sense measure that had already made many appliances more efficient.
“I don’t think anybody really wants to go back to ice boxes or 1960s refrigerators, do they?’’
Jul 18, 2011 Miami Herald
So, how many members of Congress does it take to screw up a light bulb?
It only sounds like a joke. The fate of the incandescent bulb, the oldest and most common of household electrical devices, has morphed into a political litmus test, one championed by conservative leaders from Rush Limbaugh to Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann.
In a vote along party lines, the House last week blocked a GOP effort to repeal efficiency standards that will begin phasing out the worst watt-wasters next year. But backers like Florida Rep. Bill Posey who sees the notion of regulating bulbs as evidence of a “nanny state’’ run amok, haven’t abandoned the right to light fight.
“This is a sore spot with people,’’ said the Rockledge Republican. “My constituents overwhelmingly don’t want the government to decide what kind of light bulb they want.’’
Whichever way the Washington debate goes, the future is dimming for cheap, old-school filament bulbs, which haven’t changed much since Thomas Edison patented his design more than 130 years ago.
Along with now-common compact florescent bulbs, a new generation of light emitting diode (LED) bulbs claiming up to 23 years of life has begun showing up on store shelves and their eye-popping initial prices of $50-plus have started to drop. Both kinds last years longer and sip roughly a quarter of the juice of their predecessors.
David Schuellerman, a manager for General Electric Lighting, said demand for standard bulbs has dropped by half over the last five years, a trend he expects to continue as homeowners begin following the LED lead of business, which has already put the technology in everything from refrigerator cases to traffic signals.
Maintenance and energy saving easily justify higher initial costs, he said. “It’s compelling when you think that these large companies that have the capacity to crunch the numbers — Starbucks, Walmart, Target — like LED for their stores,’’
At Light Bulbs Unlimited in Fort Lauderdale, purchasing agent Marek Luce has seen increasing interest in LEDs, which are fully dimmable, burn much cooler and are so versatile they come in rope or tape strips now popular under kitchen cabinets. But he’s also noted some runs on incandescents by customers worried about “bulb ban” rumors.
“At times, if they need one, they’ll buy 10. It’s not like they’re buying 200 or 300,’’ said Luce, who believes consumer education will ease concerns. “Nobody feels like anybody’s opinion was asked. A lot of people are afraid of not being left with a choice.’’
The backlash has flummoxed environmentalists and energy efficiency advocates.
“Because the light bulb is so iconic, it’s being used a poster child for a political debate about how much government should regulate,’’ said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose members include 150 major corporations and organizations. “To me, it’s mind-boggling that we would try to take a step backwards from what we’ve been doing on a regular basis.’’
The standards — produced with bipartisan congressional support and signed by President George W. Bush in 2007 — were drawn up with the goal of reducing national energy demands and pollution. They mirror regulations that have been applied to appliances from refrigerators to water heaters since the 1970s.
Supporters insist the standards will save consumers billions of dollars over the long haul.
By 2020, when all bulbs will have to be about 28 percent more efficient than current standard bulbs, the average household bill is expected to drop by 7 percent, or $85 a year, according to an analysis by the National Resources Defense Council. Another study by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy put overall savings for Americans at $12.5 billion a year, over $900 million in Florida alone. The study also claims the new standards would eliminate the need for 33 power plants nationwide.
The rules, which match standards already in place in Europe, have support from lighting manufacturers, trade associations and the Obama administration.
Last week, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu dismissed claims by critics that the standards amounted to a de facto ban of incandescents.
They do effectively phase out the cheapest standard bulbs by 2014, starting with 100 watt ones that are supposed to be off store shelves by January. But manufacturers say they already have halogen-based incandescents available that offer similar quality light and dimming options but will cost a bit more.
“The only difference is they help American consumers save more money,’’ Chu said.
But to some conservatives, the bulb regs have become a lightning rod.
Limbaugh, on his radio show, called them an assault on personal choice, proclaiming, “Let there be incandescent light and freedom.’’ Bachmann, the Minnesota representative and Tea Party favorite considered an early GOP presidential front-runner, proposed one bill to repeal the standard.
The House voted on a second similar one from Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas. It won a majority, 233 to 193, but failed because it was introduced under a rule requiring two-thirds approval.,
The debate extends beyond Washington. Last month, the Texas Legislature passed a bill allowing use of incandescents — but only if they’re made in the state. South Carolina and Pennsylvania are considering similar measures
Critics point to the high cost of alternatives and pollution concerns from mercury used in compact florescent bulbs, which are supposed to be recycled and require careful cleanup if they’re broken — both concerns supporters contend have been exaggerated,
Maureen Martin, senior fellow for legal affairs at The Heartland Institute, a free-market think tank based in Chicago, believes congress has long overstepped its authority with efficiency standards.
“Just because we have always done something in the past doesn’t make it right,’’ she said. But she also acknowledged that the debate was bigger than the bulb.
“It has become a symbol for low-flow toilets and all the other restrictions that have been imposed on everyday things,’’ she said. “People are so fed up at the grass roots level.’’
Florida Rep. Posey supported the repeal, even though it was opposed by an LED manufacturer in his district, Satellite Beach-based Lighting Science Group.
The company’s chief executive, Jim Haworth, issued a statement crediting the tougher standards with sparking industry innovation, helping his company grow from 100 to 350 employees in the last year and reducing energy use and pollution. Haworth called lighting, which consumes 19 percent of global electrical output, the “low hanging fruit’’ in energy conservation.
Posey, who said he used both traditional and florescent bulbs in his home and offices, stressed the repeal wasn’t intended to promote aging light bulb technology but aimed at preserving consumer choice and cutting through the regulatory red tape.
“To have 40 pages of federal code over what kind of light bulb you can have is ridiculous,’’ he said.
Though the repeal failed, foes have already launched a back-door attack with an amendment that would strip the efficiency program of funding, but with the Senate controlled by Democrats, their hopes appear to be flickering.
Bob Keefe, a spokesman for the environmental group NRDC, said GOP ideologues had hijacked a common sense measure that had already made many appliances more efficient.
“I don’t think anybody really wants to go back to ice boxes or 1960s refrigerators, do they?’’
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Electricity no longer a cheap commodity
Eskom may lose management of national electricity grid
Cape Town, South Africa --- ESI-AFRICA.COM --- 08 June 2011 - The Cape Chamber of Commerce has welcomed plans to take away the management of the national electricity grid from Eskom, and to allocate it to a new and independent operator.
Business Live reports that the changes were outlined in the Independent System and Market Operator Establishment Bill that is to go before Parliament shortly. The Bill was published on 13 May and the public have until 13 June to comment on it.
“This is a long overdue development and we hope it will create a level playing field for independent power producers (IPPs) to contribute to solving the country's energy crisis,” said, Chamber president Michael Bagraim.
Eskom's failure to conclude purchase agreements with IPP’s has been heavily criticised, as have the long delays in making use of co-generation projects.
“The problem is that when Eskom is given the job of buying in power it will naturally favour its own power stations, and the IPPs will just not feature until we have another emergency on our hands,” said Chamber energy portfolio committee chairman Peter Haylett.
He explained that the Bill provided for the new company which, like Eskom, would be owned wholly by the state, and would take over the distribution network and control the purchase and sale of electricity. This model had been successful in other countries and it should also work in South Africa.
Haylett said that the new company would inevitably employ former Eskom distribution staff, but he hoped there would be some new blood at the top in order to develop a culture of independence and win the confidence of IPP’s.
“I think the government has realised that it needs help in financing new power stations and the best way to do this is to bring in the private sector,” he suggested. The big bonus is that this will open up opportunities to use new methods of generating electricity, such as combined-cycle gas power stations and more wind power, which complement each other perfectly. Both gas and wind power projects can be constructed in under three years, while coal and nuclear plants take eight to 10 years to build. This will speed up the supply of new capacity,” he pointed out.
Haylett said breaking Eskom into two independent companies should make it easier to manage the electricity industry as each company would be able to focus on its specific task. It would also introduce competition with IPP’s and this should improve efficiency and keep costs in check.
“We are sure the frustrated IPP’s which have been watching from the sidelines will welcome this Bill. The challenge now will be to make it all happen as quickly as possible,” Haylett concluded.
Cape Town, South Africa --- ESI-AFRICA.COM --- 08 June 2011 - The Cape Chamber of Commerce has welcomed plans to take away the management of the national electricity grid from Eskom, and to allocate it to a new and independent operator.
Business Live reports that the changes were outlined in the Independent System and Market Operator Establishment Bill that is to go before Parliament shortly. The Bill was published on 13 May and the public have until 13 June to comment on it.
“This is a long overdue development and we hope it will create a level playing field for independent power producers (IPPs) to contribute to solving the country's energy crisis,” said, Chamber president Michael Bagraim.
Eskom's failure to conclude purchase agreements with IPP’s has been heavily criticised, as have the long delays in making use of co-generation projects.
“The problem is that when Eskom is given the job of buying in power it will naturally favour its own power stations, and the IPPs will just not feature until we have another emergency on our hands,” said Chamber energy portfolio committee chairman Peter Haylett.
He explained that the Bill provided for the new company which, like Eskom, would be owned wholly by the state, and would take over the distribution network and control the purchase and sale of electricity. This model had been successful in other countries and it should also work in South Africa.
Haylett said that the new company would inevitably employ former Eskom distribution staff, but he hoped there would be some new blood at the top in order to develop a culture of independence and win the confidence of IPP’s.
“I think the government has realised that it needs help in financing new power stations and the best way to do this is to bring in the private sector,” he suggested. The big bonus is that this will open up opportunities to use new methods of generating electricity, such as combined-cycle gas power stations and more wind power, which complement each other perfectly. Both gas and wind power projects can be constructed in under three years, while coal and nuclear plants take eight to 10 years to build. This will speed up the supply of new capacity,” he pointed out.
Haylett said breaking Eskom into two independent companies should make it easier to manage the electricity industry as each company would be able to focus on its specific task. It would also introduce competition with IPP’s and this should improve efficiency and keep costs in check.
“We are sure the frustrated IPP’s which have been watching from the sidelines will welcome this Bill. The challenge now will be to make it all happen as quickly as possible,” Haylett concluded.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
electricity crisis
return to the top
3. Google And Citibank Each Throw $55m To The Wind
May 25, 2011 Associated Press
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) -- Google Inc. is throwing $55 million to the wind in California.
The Mountain-View-based Internet search giant says it's partnering with Citibank to help finance the Alta Wind Energy Center wind farm in the Tehachapi Mountains.
The Los Angeles Times reports Google and Citibank are each plunking down $55 million.
The Kern County wind farm will generate 1.5 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power 450,000 homes through Southern California Edison.
The Alta Wind project is being built in phases. Segments are already generating 720 megawatts of energy and another 300 megawatts goes online by the end of the year.
Google and Citibank are buying the fourth phase of the project, known as Alta IV, and will lease it back to developer Terra-Gen to operate over a long-term contract.
---
Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com
3. Google And Citibank Each Throw $55m To The Wind
May 25, 2011 Associated Press
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) -- Google Inc. is throwing $55 million to the wind in California.
The Mountain-View-based Internet search giant says it's partnering with Citibank to help finance the Alta Wind Energy Center wind farm in the Tehachapi Mountains.
The Los Angeles Times reports Google and Citibank are each plunking down $55 million.
The Kern County wind farm will generate 1.5 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power 450,000 homes through Southern California Edison.
The Alta Wind project is being built in phases. Segments are already generating 720 megawatts of energy and another 300 megawatts goes online by the end of the year.
Google and Citibank are buying the fourth phase of the project, known as Alta IV, and will lease it back to developer Terra-Gen to operate over a long-term contract.
---
Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com
Building Management and control
. White House sees compromise with Republicans on some energy issues
May 26, 2011 Platts
The White House believes an energy package that supports development of electric vehicles, energy efficiency and energy research and development could attract the bipartisan support needed to pass in the current Congress, a presidential adviser said Wednesday.
"We have a tremendous opportunity with electrification of the fleet and energy efficiency at large," said Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change. "There is bipartisan support."
Speaking at an energy event moderated by National Journal, Zichal said provisions supporting EVs and efficiency could serve as the base for additional bipartisan provisions approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to advance domestic energy production and research and development.
"We've been focused on finding those areas where there is a history of bipartisan support," Zichal said. "The administration has been working very closely with both sides of the aisle [in] both the House and Senate to answer that question -- what is doable -- because it is an imperative."
Rather than the large comprehensive energy bills of the past, lawmakers focused on high gasoline prices appear to be "coalescing around a smaller package" that includes research and development, efficiency and can attract the bipartisan support necessary to get through Congress, she said.
A bill (S. 948) by Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley and Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander to advance electric vehicle deployment "has a lot of great ideas" and the White House has included components from the bill its in budget proposal, Zichal said.
"We are hopeful it can serve as the unpinning for [moving] a broader package through Congress," she said.
A bill in the House of Representatives to expand the use of natural gas vehicles through tax breaks has not been "specifically embraced" by the White House, but the administration is "open to working with Congress" on the legislation, she said.
That Republican bill (H.R. 1380) has some Democrats among its 188 cosponsors and is expected to pass the House. But whether legislation from the Senate geared toward EV development could gain support in the Republican-controlled House remains in question.
On Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to vote on bills that would create an agency to provide financial assistance to develop and deploy low-emission energy technologies, to amend the Federal Power Act to protect the grid from cyber attacks and other threats, and to authorize the Department of Energy to demonstrate long-term geological storage of carbon dioxide from power plants.
The committee is expected to debate and vote on Merkley and Alexander's EV bill in June.
In a separate discussion with National Journal, Alexander said he believed the best way to deal with high gasoline prices "is to create an environment for electric vehicles to succeed."
Alexander said that his bill with Merkley is aimed at creating a five-year "jumpstart" for putting EVs on the road nationwide. The plan would require about a $3-billion commitment from the federal government, he said. The bill would create a program under DOE for communities to compete for federal grants to help deploy EVs and provide other incentives to get EVs on the road.
Electricity that goes unused overnight across the country equates to generation from 60 nuclear power plants and could fuel 40% of the nation?s cars and light trucks, according to Alexander. "All we have to do is plug it in at night," he said. "And we get a cheaper fuel than oil."
May 26, 2011 Platts
The White House believes an energy package that supports development of electric vehicles, energy efficiency and energy research and development could attract the bipartisan support needed to pass in the current Congress, a presidential adviser said Wednesday.
"We have a tremendous opportunity with electrification of the fleet and energy efficiency at large," said Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change. "There is bipartisan support."
Speaking at an energy event moderated by National Journal, Zichal said provisions supporting EVs and efficiency could serve as the base for additional bipartisan provisions approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to advance domestic energy production and research and development.
"We've been focused on finding those areas where there is a history of bipartisan support," Zichal said. "The administration has been working very closely with both sides of the aisle [in] both the House and Senate to answer that question -- what is doable -- because it is an imperative."
Rather than the large comprehensive energy bills of the past, lawmakers focused on high gasoline prices appear to be "coalescing around a smaller package" that includes research and development, efficiency and can attract the bipartisan support necessary to get through Congress, she said.
A bill (S. 948) by Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley and Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander to advance electric vehicle deployment "has a lot of great ideas" and the White House has included components from the bill its in budget proposal, Zichal said.
"We are hopeful it can serve as the unpinning for [moving] a broader package through Congress," she said.
A bill in the House of Representatives to expand the use of natural gas vehicles through tax breaks has not been "specifically embraced" by the White House, but the administration is "open to working with Congress" on the legislation, she said.
That Republican bill (H.R. 1380) has some Democrats among its 188 cosponsors and is expected to pass the House. But whether legislation from the Senate geared toward EV development could gain support in the Republican-controlled House remains in question.
On Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to vote on bills that would create an agency to provide financial assistance to develop and deploy low-emission energy technologies, to amend the Federal Power Act to protect the grid from cyber attacks and other threats, and to authorize the Department of Energy to demonstrate long-term geological storage of carbon dioxide from power plants.
The committee is expected to debate and vote on Merkley and Alexander's EV bill in June.
In a separate discussion with National Journal, Alexander said he believed the best way to deal with high gasoline prices "is to create an environment for electric vehicles to succeed."
Alexander said that his bill with Merkley is aimed at creating a five-year "jumpstart" for putting EVs on the road nationwide. The plan would require about a $3-billion commitment from the federal government, he said. The bill would create a program under DOE for communities to compete for federal grants to help deploy EVs and provide other incentives to get EVs on the road.
Electricity that goes unused overnight across the country equates to generation from 60 nuclear power plants and could fuel 40% of the nation?s cars and light trucks, according to Alexander. "All we have to do is plug it in at night," he said. "And we get a cheaper fuel than oil."
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Energy management
Retailers need to save money to make money
Apr 26, 2011 Guardian
The spike in oil prices undoubtedly has piqued consumers' interest in energy-efficient products. When they visit retailers to make such purchases, however, the venues in which they shop are notorious for their energy waste. Lights are often left on 24 hours a day; refrigerators do a good of a job chilling shoppers as well as products; and packaging is often excessive. Furthermore, most consumers simply do not have an appreciation for how much energy is used transporting products from factory to warehouse to store. Yet, as the retail sector becomes even more competitive, thin margins make it incumbent on these companies to invest in initiatives that can both reduce energy consumption and maximise profits.
Walmart has won plenty of recognition for its energy efficiency initiatives. The world's largest retailer's trucking fleet delivered 77 million more cases in 2009 while driving 100 million less miles (161 million kilometres) in 2008. More stores boast everything from white roofs (which reflect sunlight), LED lighting installations, and additional energy-saving features that are specific to local climate conditions. Walmart's success, however, has not gone unnoticed by its competitors.
Minnesota-based Target also has aggressively worked on reducing its carbon footprint. Like Walmart, the chain partners with the US government's "Energy Star" coalition, and 150 of Target's stores and facilities have met the program's strict standards for energy efficiency. Low-wattage light fixtures illuminate most stores' floors, and enclosed refrigerated cases have sensors that only light them up when shoppers traipse by them. In addition, Target reduces its overall energy consumption by boosting recycling efforts at stores, which decreases the amount of waste sent to landfill. Meanwhile, at its headquarters, the central office has done its share to save electricity by installing an automated system that nudges computers into standby mode after business hours.
Just as Walmart's focuses on energy efficiency in its stores abroad, European retail chains with extensive global operations work on reducing their utility bills, too. Ahold, the Dutch conglomerate that operates both the omnipresent Albert Heijn in the Netherlands and Giant supermarkets along America's east coast, has incrementally reduced its CO2 emissions per square metre of sales area in the last few years. Design is a large part of Ahold's energy efficiency agenda. At Albert Heijn stores, integrated heating and cooling systems use wasted energy from cooling systems to heat the stores, eliminating the need for natural gas for heat. Across the pond, Ahold removed many unnecessary lighting fixtures in its Giant and Stop & Shop stores, reducing energy waste. Other stores benefit from daylight harvesting, a system in which photosensors reduce light fixtures' illuminance during daylight hours, which not only make the stores appear more airy, but reduces energy consumption. Finally, Ahold has given its stores the flexibility needed to experiment with alternative energy systems, from fuel cells to solar arrays to the purchase of renewable energy credits in places where renewable energy technologies are not feasible.
The investment in energy efficiency goals is not cheap. France-based Carrefour, for example, spends 30M euros (US$42.3M or GDP£26.4M) annually on energy efficiency programs, a tiny sum compared to its worldwide revenues (90 billion euros) but 3% of its net profit. But just as making small changes within a home can reduce consumers' energy bills, retailers' can reap sizeable dividends by attaching freezer doors, streamlining trucking fleets' delivery routes, and installing cost-effective lighting systems. Automation also can add to the bottom line by the quick detection of refrigerant leaks and shutting down information and communication systems when they are not needed.
While solar panel and wind turbine installations make for great public relations campaigns, they are at a pilot stage. Not only is this large equipment expensive to install, but retail stores face numerous constraints when they attempt to do so, including the fact that they often lease, not own, the land and buildings on which the equipment operates. With their vendors already supplying them with consumer products at the thinnest of margins, retailers will continue to invest in energy efficiency programs and experiment with renewable energy pilot projects. Cutting energy use is not only about good public relations, but – while economies are still weak and as energy prices are on the rise – about staying competitive
Apr 26, 2011 Guardian
The spike in oil prices undoubtedly has piqued consumers' interest in energy-efficient products. When they visit retailers to make such purchases, however, the venues in which they shop are notorious for their energy waste. Lights are often left on 24 hours a day; refrigerators do a good of a job chilling shoppers as well as products; and packaging is often excessive. Furthermore, most consumers simply do not have an appreciation for how much energy is used transporting products from factory to warehouse to store. Yet, as the retail sector becomes even more competitive, thin margins make it incumbent on these companies to invest in initiatives that can both reduce energy consumption and maximise profits.
Walmart has won plenty of recognition for its energy efficiency initiatives. The world's largest retailer's trucking fleet delivered 77 million more cases in 2009 while driving 100 million less miles (161 million kilometres) in 2008. More stores boast everything from white roofs (which reflect sunlight), LED lighting installations, and additional energy-saving features that are specific to local climate conditions. Walmart's success, however, has not gone unnoticed by its competitors.
Minnesota-based Target also has aggressively worked on reducing its carbon footprint. Like Walmart, the chain partners with the US government's "Energy Star" coalition, and 150 of Target's stores and facilities have met the program's strict standards for energy efficiency. Low-wattage light fixtures illuminate most stores' floors, and enclosed refrigerated cases have sensors that only light them up when shoppers traipse by them. In addition, Target reduces its overall energy consumption by boosting recycling efforts at stores, which decreases the amount of waste sent to landfill. Meanwhile, at its headquarters, the central office has done its share to save electricity by installing an automated system that nudges computers into standby mode after business hours.
Just as Walmart's focuses on energy efficiency in its stores abroad, European retail chains with extensive global operations work on reducing their utility bills, too. Ahold, the Dutch conglomerate that operates both the omnipresent Albert Heijn in the Netherlands and Giant supermarkets along America's east coast, has incrementally reduced its CO2 emissions per square metre of sales area in the last few years. Design is a large part of Ahold's energy efficiency agenda. At Albert Heijn stores, integrated heating and cooling systems use wasted energy from cooling systems to heat the stores, eliminating the need for natural gas for heat. Across the pond, Ahold removed many unnecessary lighting fixtures in its Giant and Stop & Shop stores, reducing energy waste. Other stores benefit from daylight harvesting, a system in which photosensors reduce light fixtures' illuminance during daylight hours, which not only make the stores appear more airy, but reduces energy consumption. Finally, Ahold has given its stores the flexibility needed to experiment with alternative energy systems, from fuel cells to solar arrays to the purchase of renewable energy credits in places where renewable energy technologies are not feasible.
The investment in energy efficiency goals is not cheap. France-based Carrefour, for example, spends 30M euros (US$42.3M or GDP£26.4M) annually on energy efficiency programs, a tiny sum compared to its worldwide revenues (90 billion euros) but 3% of its net profit. But just as making small changes within a home can reduce consumers' energy bills, retailers' can reap sizeable dividends by attaching freezer doors, streamlining trucking fleets' delivery routes, and installing cost-effective lighting systems. Automation also can add to the bottom line by the quick detection of refrigerant leaks and shutting down information and communication systems when they are not needed.
While solar panel and wind turbine installations make for great public relations campaigns, they are at a pilot stage. Not only is this large equipment expensive to install, but retail stores face numerous constraints when they attempt to do so, including the fact that they often lease, not own, the land and buildings on which the equipment operates. With their vendors already supplying them with consumer products at the thinnest of margins, retailers will continue to invest in energy efficiency programs and experiment with renewable energy pilot projects. Cutting energy use is not only about good public relations, but – while economies are still weak and as energy prices are on the rise – about staying competitive
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