 CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)News and Events January 30, 2013 |
Energy Department Offers $12 Million to Accelerate Solar Cell Efficiency
The Energy Department on January 25 announced a
new $12 million funding opportunity to develop innovative,
ultra-efficient solar devices that will help close the gap with the
theoretical efficiency limit. That limit is defined as the highest
potential percentage of sunlight that can be converted directly into
electricity. Currently, a sizable gap still exists between the
efficiency of laboratory and commercial-scale solar photovoltaic (PV)
cells and the predicted maximum efficiencies of different solar cell
materials. Accelerating breakthroughs in solar cell conversion
efficiency will help continue to lower the overall cost of solar power.
The new initiative—the Foundational Program to
Advance Cell Efficiency II (FPACE II)—aims to accelerate record-breaking
conversion efficiencies that will close the gap with this theoretical
limit for a variety of PV cells, including silicon-based technologies
and thin-film materials such as cadmium telluride and copper indium
gallium diselenide. The new funding opportunity builds on the SunShot
Initiative's FPACE I projects, awarded in September 2011, which are
aimed at eliminating the gap between the efficiencies of best prototype
cells achieved in the laboratory and the efficiencies of typical cells
produced on manufacturing lines.
In the current solicitation, FPACE II seeks
proposals from collaborative teams of researchers from national
laboratories, universities, and industry that can develop materials
model systems and fabricate prototype devices that achieve efficiencies
near the theoretical limit. See the Energy Department Progress Alert and the Funding Opportunity Announcement.
Biodiesel Production Tops 1 Billion Gallons in 2012
The U.S. biodiesel industry broke the
billion-gallon mark in 2012 for the second consecutive year, according
to year-end production figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) noted that the total
volume of nearly 1.1 billion gallons exceeded the 2011 production by 6
million gallons.
December production totaled just 59 million
gallons, the lowest monthly volume of the year. The National Biodiesel
Board attributed the production drop to uncertainty over the biodiesel
tax incentive. Congress renewed the $1-per-gallon incentive on New
Year's Day as part of the so-called "fiscal cliff" legislation.
Biodiesel production is reported under the EPA's Biomass-based Diesel
category in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The fuel is made from a
mix of resources, such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal
fats. See the NBB press release and the EPA's RFS Web page.
DOI Finalizes Arizona Renewable Energy Zone Plan
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on
January 18 announced that it has designated 192,100 acres of public land
across Arizona as potentially suitable for utility-scale solar and wind
energy development. The publication of the Record of Decision for this
initiative, known as the Restoration Design Energy Project, caps a
three-year, statewide environmental analysis of disturbed land and other
areas that could accommodate commercial renewable energy projects. The
DOI's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) eliminated from consideration
lands in Arizona containing sensitive resources requiring protection,
such as endangered or threatened wildlife and sites of cultural and
historic importance. The plan does not eliminate the need for further
environmental review of individual sites.
The Record of Decision also establishes the
third solar zone on public lands in Arizona and the eighteenth
nationwide: the new 2,550-acre Agua Caliente Solar Energy Zone is
located in Yuma County near Dateland, and the BLM estimates that the
zone could generate more than 20 megawatts through utility-scale solar
projects. The Solar Energy Zones are part of the Obama Administration's
efforts to facilitate solar energy development by identifying areas in
six states in the West with high solar potential, few resource
conflicts, and access to existing or planned transmission. Arizona,
California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah are included in the
zones. See the Interior Department press release and the BLM's Record of Decision.
Hybrid Tops Annual "Greenest" Vehicle List
The Toyota Prius C topped the American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) fifteenth annual "Greenest"
car ratings in a list released on January 16. The compact, which debuted
in the U.S. market last year, had a "Green Score" of 58 in the ACEEE
measure of comprehensive eco-performance, which reflects the vehicle's
rating of 53 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 46 MPG highway.
Overall, the list was dominated by hybrid-electric vehicles, plug-in
hybrids, and electric vehicles (EV).
Rounding out the top five were the Honda FIT,
Prius 1.8 liter, Prius plug-in hybrid, and the Honda Civic hybrid. The
Ford Focus with a lithium-ion battery ranked tenth. The Scion IQ and
the Mercedes-Benz Smart ForTwo coupe were the only non-hybrid,
non-plug-in vehicles on the list.
Fuel economy for EVs is provided in miles per
kilowatt-hour, while the rating for plug-in hybrids is provided in MPG
for gasoline operation and in miles per kilowatt-hour for electric
operation. ACEEE is a nonprofit organization that acts as a catalyst to
advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments,
and behaviors. See the ACEEE press release
 and the full "Greenest" car list. |
CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov |
Keeping America Competitive: Bringing Down the Cost of Small Wind Turbines
How do we stay competitive in the global wind
energy market? A key component is continued leadership in manufacturing
small wind turbines—those rated at 100 kilowatts or less.
Historically, the United States has been the
leading manufacturer of small wind turbines, helping to boost economic
growth and create job opportunities. U.S. small wind manufacturers
report using 80-85 percent domestic content in their turbines, and the
small wind industry represents an estimated 1,600 American jobs. Still,
in the increasingly competitive global wind market—our continued
leadership in this field is far from guaranteed.
To help U.S. small turbine manufacturers
maintain their leading international market position, we’re investing in
two projects—led by Maine's Pika Energy and Oklahoma's Bergey Windpower
Company—as part of the Energy Department's Small Wind Turbine
Competitiveness Improvement Project. This initiative supports
manufacturers in their efforts to lower the cost of energy from small
turbines by improving their components and upgrading their manufacturing
processes. To read the complete story, see the Energy Blog.
CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES) |
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
News and Events by CCRES January 30, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
WaterWorld MIDDLE EAST 2013
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CROATIAN CENTER OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES promotes WaterWorld MIDDLE EAST 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sharing the common goal of energy efficiency and water conservation, it is fitting that WaterWorld Middle East 2013 be held at QNCC, the first green technology venue and the venue of choice in the Middle East.Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Saturday, January 12, 2013
News and Events by CCRES January 12, 2013
 CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)News and Events January 12, 2013 |
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Energy Department Awards $10 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels
The Energy Department on January 3 announced its
award of more than $10 million in funding to five projects in
California, Maryland, Texas, and Washington that will develop innovative
technologies to convert biomass into advanced biofuels and bioproducts.
These projects use synthetic biological and chemical techniques to
convert biomass into processable sugars that can be transformed into
bioproducts and drop-in biofuels for cars, trucks, and planes.
Two of these projects will develop
cost-effective ways to produce intermediates from the deconstruction of
lignocellulose, a structural material that comprises much of the mass of
plants. Biofuel intermediates are biomass-based products that can be
treated as commodities and passed from a producer to a refiner through
the supply chain, before being processed into biofuel. Three projects
will propose new conversion techniques to transform biomass
intermediates into advanced biofuels and bioproducts. See the Energy
Department Progress Alert.
Energy Department Invests $9 Million for Home Energy-Saving Products
The Energy Department on December 21 announced a
$9 million investment in building envelope technologies, including
high-efficiency, high-performance windows; roofs; and heating and
cooling equipment. The new investment supports six advanced
manufacturing projects in California, Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland,
Missouri, and Tennessee that advance whole-home energy performance.
The investment includes about $6.5 million
awarded to four projects to develop highly efficient heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and about $3 million awarded
to two projects that focus on building envelope materials. For example,
St. Louis, Missouri-based Unico will receive $2 million to develop a
cold-climate heat pump with a variable-speed compressor that will
maintain capacity and efficiency, even at very low temperatures. The
Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will develop and test
highly insulated, easy-to-install windows that use automated shading
and can capture or repel heat, depending on the season. See the Energy Department press release.
Renewable Energy Tax Credits Extended
The Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the
investment tax credits will be extended through the end of the year
under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which was passed by
Congress on January 1, 2013, and signed into law on January 2 by
President Obama. The extension of the PTC, included in the bill to avert
the so-called "fiscal cliff," would apply to all U.S. wind projects
that start construction in 2013. In addition to the PTC, the law also
covers investment tax credits for community and offshore wind projects.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said
the incentives will allow continued growth for wind energy. Last year,
the amount of wind energy installed in the United States comprised a
record-setting 44% of all new U.S. electrical generating capacity,
according to the Energy Information Administration and AWEA. See the White House Blog, the White House American Taxpayer Relief Act fact sheet, and the AWEA press release.
The law also includes geothermal, biomass, and
hydropower tax credits as well as a range of other energy efficiency and
renewable energy credits. For example, the law extends the biodiesel
tax incentive for 2012 and 2013, which expired on December 31, 2011. The
$1-per-gallon biodiesel tax incentive was first implemented in 2005.
According to a study conducted by Cardno ENTRIX, a consulting firm, the
biofuel industry would support more than 112,000 jobs nationally in 2013
with the tax credit in place versus nearly 82,000 without it. See press
releases from the National Biodiesel Board and the Geothermal Energy Association.
Also, the measure provides one-year tax credits
for energy-efficient additions such as exterior windows, doors, and
skylights which are eligible for the non-business energy property tax
credit; alternative-fuel-vehicle refueling stations; a $2,500 tax credit
for two-wheeled or three-wheeled plug-in electric vehicles; and
construction of energy-efficient new homes and the purchase of
energy-efficient appliances. See the text of the bill.
Rooftop Solar Challenge II Gets $12 Million Energy-Department Backing
The Energy Department on December 20 announced
$12 million in new funding for the Rooftop Solar Challenge II, which
will support projects that make solar energy businesses more efficient.
The funding opportunity builds on the success of 2011's Rooftop Solar
Challenge and is part of the Department's broader efforts to spur solar
power deployment by making it easier, faster, and cheaper to finance and
install solar energy systems.
The challenges are aimed at streamlining and
standardizing local permitting, zoning, metering, and connection
processes and improving finance options to lower costs for residential
and small commercial rooftop solar energy systems. Through the first
round, 22 regional teams have worked to dramatically reduce the
non-hardware or soft costs of solar. This has included standardizing
installation and permitting fees across multiple jurisdictions,
establishing group purchasing discounts, and expanding online
permitting. These soft costs can comprise 40% of the cost of going
solar. The teams selected for round two, which may include teams
selected in the first round, will be evaluated throughout a
two-and-a-half-year project period using solar market maturity models
developed by the Department's SunShot Initiative. See the Energy
Department Progress Alert.
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CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov |
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Pinpointing America's Geothermal Resources with Open Source Data
When it comes to harnessing America's vast geothermal energy resources, knowing where to look is half the battle.
Geothermal energy—the heat contained within the
earth—represents a growing part of the country's clean energy mix.
Still, for continued growth of this industry, gaining easy access to
reliable, comprehensive geothermal data remains a critical barrier.
To help solve this challenge, the Energy
Department is partnering with the Arizona Geological Survey—among other
public and private sector contributors—to create the National Geothermal
Data System at www.geothermaldata.org.
This interactive, open source database provides project developers and
other industry partners with the critical information they need to cut
the time in identifying and developing new production areas and to
reduce upfront discovery costs. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog.
CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES) |
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
ACE USA : the Right Risk Partner Makes the Difference
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Renewable Energy: the Right Risk Partner Makes the Difference ACE USA has released a white paper exploring the insurance and risk management issues facing the renewable energy industry during project development. This new report explains the importance of effective and proactive risk management strategies, throughout a project lifecycle. To access the whitepaper click here.  For more question about the white paper and more information about ACE Custom Casualty Energy and its range of products and services, please contact: Darren Small Vice President and Underwriting Manager ACE Custom Casualty Energy www.acegroup.com/us |
Monday, January 7, 2013
Multaqa Qatar 2013
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| Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES) shares to you Multaqa Qatar 2013 The leading MENA risk and insurance forum 11 – 12 March 2013, Ritz Carlton, Doha |
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Hosted by the Qatar Financial Centre Authority and organised by Global Reinsurance, Multaqa Qatar 2013 is the Middle East’s leading risk and insurance event. Now in its seventh year, Multaqa Qatar combines a world-class business conference with an integrated networking programme bringing together over 450 international insurance executives to meet and do business. If you have business operations in the GCC or are looking to expand into the region Multaqa Qatar 2013 is a must attend event. What's more, attendance is complimentary - by invitation only. If you have not yet applied for your invitation, we strongly recommend that you do this in the next few weeks to avoid disappointment. We will shortly be closing registration for 2013. With just over 8 weeks to go, the online Qatar Club Room is now open. Our delegation are now using the Meeting Scheduler to make contact with each other, ahead of the event. Once you have registered and been approved, you can also take full advantage of this service. Who is attending? Over 250 senior executives have already confirmed their participation at Multaqa Qatar 2013. With a limited number of places available make sure your company is represented at this important event. Here are just some of the companies who have confirmed their attendance: Aon • AQR • Apex Insurance • ACR • ARIG • Aspen Re • AXA Insurance • Bahrain National Insurance • Bahrain Kuwait Insurance • Echo Re • Gen Re • General Takaful • Hannover Re • IAT Reinsurance • JLT • Lockton • Marsh • Miller • Misr • MNK Re • Munich Re • Oman Insurance • Partner Re • Protection Insurance • Q-Re • QIC • RFIB • Saudi Re • SEIB • Swiss Re • Takaful Re • T'azur • Trans Re Zurich • Trust Re • United Insurance Brokers • Willis • Zarish Sal Click here to apply for your invitation today if you have not yet confirmed your attendance. Contact: Registration/delegate enquires Debbie Kidman, Head of Events, Global Reinsurance Tel: 0044 20 7618 3094 Debbie.kidman@ Speaker enquiries Jane Wicks, Programme Designer, Global Reinsurance Jane.wicks@globalreinsurance. Exhibiting William Sanders, Publisher, Global Reinsurance William.sanders@ |
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| Business and leisure programme Multaqa Qatar 2013 carefully combines an outstanding conference agenda with ample opportunities for meetings and networking activities. Click here for the full business programme. Meeting Zone Multaqa Qatar 2013 also incorporates the GR Meeting Zone and online meeting scheduler helping you to connect with other attendees before, during and after the event. Keynote presentations This year's event features a line up of international speakers including:
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