Friday, April 26, 2013

News and Events by CCRES April 26, 2013

 

 

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

News and Events April 26, 2013


Energy Department Announces Projects to Develop Innovative, Advanced Drop-in Biofuels

 

The Energy Department on April 22 announced nearly $18 million in four innovative pilot-scale biorefineries that will test renewable biofuels as a domestic alternative to power cars, trucks, and planes, and that also meet military specifications for jet fuel and shipboard diesel. These biorefineries will be in in California, Iowa, and Washington.
The projects selected for funding include Frontline Bioenergy of Ames, Iowa, which will use an innovative new pilot scale reactor and new gas conditioning processes to produce biofuel from woody biomass, municipal solid waste, and refuse; Cobalt Technologies of Mountain View, California, which will operate a pilot-scale integrated biorefinery to convert switchgrass to bio-jet fuel; Mercurius Biorefining of Ferndale, Washington, which will build and operate a pilot plant that uses an innovative process that converts cellulosic biomass into bio-jet fuel and other chemicals; and BioProcess Algae of Shenandoah, Iowa, which will evaluate an innovative algal growth platform to produce hydrocarbon fuels meeting military specifications using renewable carbon dioxide, lignocellulosic sugars, and waste heat.
The pilot-scale biorefinery projects selected will use a variety of non-food biomass feedstocks, waste-based materials, and algae in innovative conversion processes to produce biofuels that meet military specifications for jet fuel and diesel. The projects will demonstrate technologies to cost-effectively convert biomass into advanced drop-in biofuels and assist these organizations to scale up the processes to commercial levels. Recipients are required to contribute a minimum of 50% matching funds for these projects. See the Energy Department press release.
 

Energy Department Highlights Nissan’s Better Plants Challenge Project

 

The Energy Department on April 17 recognized Nissan’s participation in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge and its showcase project at the company’s new energy-efficient paint plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. The 250,000-square-foot Smyrna facility, which opened in January, is expected to cut energy use by almost a third compared to its predecessor.
As a partner in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge, Nissan North America has committed to reducing energy use in its three U.S. plants by 25% by 2020, affecting 12 million square feet of plant space. Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge participating organizations receive technical assistance from the Energy Department and share best practices on industrial energy efficiency with other Challenge partners.
Each year, the United States spends about $200 billion just to power commercial buildings and another $200 billion to power industrial facilities. Together, commercial and industrial buildings account for roughly half of the nation’s energy use and more than 40% of U.S. carbon emissions. The Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge serves as the industrial component of President Obama’s broader Better Buildings Challenge, which was launched in December 2011 to help America’s commercial and industrial buildings become at least 20% more efficient over the next decade. See the Energy Department press release and the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge website.
 

EIA: 2012 Home Energy Bills Lowest Percentage in 10 Years

 

U.S. consumers spent 2.7% of their household income on home energy bills last year, which was the lowest percentage in 10 years, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis released on April 18. Also, aggregate home energy expenditures by U.S. households fell $12 billion in 2012 from the 2011 level. Warmer weather contributed to lower energy consumption in 2012, and because household energy expenditures reflect both prices and consumption, these changes resulted in lower household energy expenditures.
On average, households spent $1,945 on heating, cooling, appliances, electronics, and lighting in 2012. This total includes home use of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, propane, kerosene, wood, and coal, but excludes fuels used for transportation. It also excludes other household utilities such as water and telephone services. Using EIA projections for 2012 based on household data from the U.S. Census Bureau through 2010, $1,945 is the lowest level since 2002. The percentage of household income spent on home energy bills peaked at 4.3% in 1982 and steadily declined until it reached its lowest level since 1973—2.4% in 1999. See the EIA's Today in Energy.
 

Walmart Announces New Goals for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

 

Walmart on April 15 announced the company’s next step on the path to achieving its goal of being 100% supplied by renewable energy. The company committed to achieving the production or procurement of 7 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy globally every year by the end of 2020. That would mark a 600% increase over its 2010 levels. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer will also seek to reduce the energy intensity required to power the company's buildings during the same period by 20%.
Walmart expects its six-fold increase in utilizing renewable energy projects to be equal to eliminating the need for roughly two U.S. fossil fuel power plants. Based on external estimates of projected energy costs and other factors, the two new commitments are anticipated to generate more than $1 billion annually in energy savings once fully implemented. The company also expects to avoid 9 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 1.5 million cars off the road.
In the United States alone, Walmart plans to install solar power on at least 1,000 of its rooftops and facilities by 2020, an increase from just over 200 solar projects currently in operation or under development. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the company has more solar power capacity and number of systems than any other company in America. It has also been cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as America’s leading user of onsite renewables, using more onsite renewable power than any other company in the United States. In addition to onsite solar, the company will continue to develop projects in wind, fuel cells, and other technologies. It will also procure offsite renewable energy from utility-scale projects, such as large wind, micro-hydro, and geothermal projects. See the Walmart press release.
 

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

  special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

On the Path to Low Cost Renewable Fuels, an Important Breakthrough

 

by Leslie Pezzullo, Technology Manager, Bioenergy Technologies Office
America’s homegrown fuel resources—from wood chips to the leaves and stalks of corn plants—are plentiful. Research finds that these resources could produce enough clean, renewable fuel to replace about 30% of the nation’s current petroleum consumption. Still, on the path to creating a strong, thriving biofuels industry, there are challenges we continue to address. That’s why the Energy Department is working with researchers, industry, and other partners to increase the reliability and cost-effectiveness of renewable fuel production.
The good news is we are making progress—particularly when it comes to cellulosic ethanol. For the uninitiated, cellulosic ethanol is fuel produced from the inedible, organic material abundant in agricultural waste—including grasses, farm waste, and virtually every type of plant. While cellulosic ethanol represents a huge opportunity for the renewable fuels industry, the high costs and inefficiencies associated with the technology are barriers to its commercialization. However, with major technology milestones met by researchers at our national labs and industry partners, that’s all starting to change.
Last fall, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) successfully demonstrated the technical advances needed to produce cellulosic ethanol cost competitively at $2.15 per gallon—a process that was modeled at $9 per gallon just a decade ago. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

Monday, April 22, 2013

SUPEUS – studenti za budućnost






U organizaciji Hrvatskog Centra Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE) nastavljeno je predstavljanje hrvatskih visokotehnoloških tvrtki, udruga i poduzetnika na europskim i svjetskim portalima kojima je zajednički predznak energetika, obnovljivi izvori energije i očuvanje okoliša.
 „Želim naglasiti da će hrvatske tvrtke, udruge i poduzetnici ovdje biti promovirane ne samo da bi prodavali svoje proizvode nego i da bi svoje znanje razvoja informacijskih i energetskih tehnologija podijelile s sličnim svjetskim tvrtkama, poduzetnicima iz razvijenih nacija kojima se Republika Hrvatska prilagođava i politički i gospodarski. Nadam se da će naše prezentacije hrvatskih tvrtki i poduzetnika dovesti do suradnje između država, kompanija i poduzetnika do razine koja nije samo prijateljstvo nego i partnerstvo", istaknuo je Željko Serdar , predsjednik Hrvatskog Centra Obnovljivih Izvora Energije.


SUPEUS – studenti za budućnost





SUPEUS - Studentska udruga za promicanje energetske učinkovitosti i savjetovanje predstavlja ambiciozni tim studenata tehničkih i prirodoslovnih fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu čija je glavna zanimacija promoviranje energetske učinkovitosti, održive gradnje i obnovljivih izvora energije, a glavna djelatnost su seminari, radionice i ostali informativno edukacijski projekti kojima nastojimo povezati studente, tvrtke i fakultete. Udruga trenutno broji 25 redovnih članova, 29 članova pripravnika, 2 alumni člana i 8 počasnih članova.  Članovi su studenti  Arhitektonskog fakulteta, Fakulteta elektrotehnike i računarstva, Fakulteta strojarstva i brodogradnje te Građevinskog fakulteta, studenti Prirodoslovno matematičkog fakulteta – Znanosti o okolišu, Ekonomskog fakulteta, Fakulteta kemijskog inženjerstva i tehnologije i Rudarsko naftno geološkog fakulteta. Hrvoja Turibaka, Josipa Markežića, Marka Miškovića i Hrvoja Turkovića na osnivanje SUPEUS-a potaknulo je višegodišnje aktivno praćenje i sudjelovanje u projektima energetske učinkovitosti, obnovljivih izvora energije i održive gradnje.. Vođeni željom promoviranja održivosti među studentima, odlučili su osnovati Udrugu. Prvi sastanak osnivača održan je 1. ožujka 2011. godine na Fakultetu elektrotehnike i računarstva. Dana 14. ožujka 2011. održana je i osnivačka skupština na kojoj je donesena službena odluka o osnivanju Udruge te je donesen statut. Udruga je registrirana pri Gradskom uredu 6. svibnja 2011., a službeni početak rada Udruge je 27. rujna 2011., kada je rad Udruge službeno predstavljen. Tijekom godinu i pol rada, članovi Udruge uspješno su pripremili i odradili pet projekata, a svaki je naišao na odobravanje studenata, profesora, ali i tvrtki. Uz to, članovi Udruge redovito svoje znanje proširuju i nadopunjuju na internim seminarima. Članovi SUPEUS-a redovito prolaze i službene edukacije u području savjetovanja o energetskoj učinkovitosti, obnovljivim izvorima energije i održivoj gradnji, a priliku za dokazivanjem imaju kroz odjel savjetovanja. Profesionalnost, znanje i konstantna želja za dokazivanjem glavne su odlike svakog člana SUPEUS-a. SUPEUS je u 2012. godini postao partnerski član Savjeta za zelenu gradnju u Hrvatskoj (GBC) i Hrvatske stručne udruge za sunčevu energiju (HSUSE). Na taj način omogućili smo neposrednu povezanost i suradnju studentskih i poslovnih organizacija.



Udruga je uspješno odradila nekolicinu projekata u kojima su najuspješniji SUPEUS Case Study, BUS 2012 te izdavanje stručnog časopisa SUMA.






SUPEUSOV MAGAZIN ili skraćeno SUMA, jest magazin o obnovljivim izvorima energije, energetskoj efikasnosti i održivoj gradnji, a svečano je promoviran 8. ožujka 2013. godine na Fakultetu elektrotehnike i računarstva. Časopis objedinjuje sve aktivnosti i događanja te je jedan od najvećih projekata Udruge. Prvi broj časopisa posvećen je Hrvoju Turibaku, prvom i počasnom predsjedniku Udruge od kojeg je sama ideja i potekla. Tiskan je u nakladi od 1500 primjerak i izlazit će jednom godišnje. Namijenjen je studentima, tvrtkama, organizacijama i profesorima koji su zainteresirani ili rade na području energetske učinkovitosti i obnovljivih izvora energije. Ovim projektom, na jednom je mjestu pružen pregled svih projekata Udruge, aktualnih događanja, projekata i planova na području energetske učinkovitosti i održivog razvoja, ali i otvorena mogućnost studentima da objavljuju svoje radove, članke i ideje neovisno o članstvu u Udruzi. Časopis je rezultat isključivo studentskog rada.

Budućnost ugodnog stanovanja, ili skraćeno BUS, bio je drugi i dosad najveći projekt Udruge. To je besplatni seminar namijenjen studentima koji pokriva područja energetske učinkovitosti, obnovljivih izvora energije i održive gradnje. Ideja za organizacijom ovakvog projekta potekla je nakon prisustvovanja članove Udruge brojnim konferencijama i skupovima za stručno usavršavanje. Ideja je bila vrlo jednostavna: organizirati seminar za studente na kojem će predavati profesori, renomirani stručnjaci i predstavnici tvrtki, te prezentirati najvažnije i najaktualnije teme iz svijeta energetske učinkovitosti, obnovljivih izvora energije i održivosti.

Prvi seminar Budućnost ugodnog stanovanja održan je krajem 3. mjeseca 2012. godine i bio je prvenstveno namijenjen studentima arhitektonske, građevinske, elektrotehničke i strojarske struke. Međutim, sudionika je bilo i s drugih fakulteta, kao što su EFZG, RGN, PMF, FKIT... Ukupno trinaest predavanja bilo je podijeljeno u tri bloka predavanja s dvije pauze. Pri blok više se doticao građevinske i arhitektonske struke, drugi strojarske i treći elektrotehničke struke. Svako predavanje bilo je koncipirano tako da ga razumiju studenti koji ne studiraju dotično područje, ali da opet studentima koji su bolje upoznati sa sadržajem predavanja ne bude dosadno. Cilj je naravno bio okupiti što više studenata s različitih fakulteta, zainteresirati ih za različita područja i omogućiti im da nauče nešto novo.



Održana predavanja:



-        Energetska certifikacija i potencijal energetske obnove zgrada u RH – Željka Hrs-Borković, dipl.ing.arh.

-        Arhitektura s više ugodnosti – prof. Ljubomir Miščević, dipl.ing.arh.

-        Toplinska zaštita zgrade – prof.dr.sc. Ivana Banjad Pečur, dipl.ing.građ.

-        Inteligentni sustavi u zgradarstvu – Renato Krikšić, dipl.ing.el.

-        Primjena termografije u zgradarstvu – prof.dr.sc. Srećko Švaić, dipl.ing.stroj.

-        Važnost osiguranja kvalitete izvođenja energetski efikasne zgrade – Bojan Milovanović, dipl.ing.građ.

-        Brickhouse 2020 – Tomislav Franko, dipl.ing., Wienerberger

-        Dizalice topline danas i sutra – prof.dr.sc. Vladimir Soldo, dipl.ing.stroj.

-        Trigeneracija – prof.dr.sc. Dražen Lončar, dipl.ing.stroj.

-        Uporaba sunčeve energije u termotehnici – doc.dr.sc. Damir Dović, dipl.ing.stroj.

-        Moderni sustavi rasvjete – dr.sc. Josip Zdenković, dipl.ing.

-        Fotonaponski sustavi - doc.dr.sc. Ljubomir Majdandžić, dipl.ing.

-        Eksperimentom do koncepta kuće budućnosti – Maison Air at Lumiere, Pariz - Jan Mihelčić, dipl.ing.arh.







Glavni cilj projekta bio je povezati studente različitih fakulteta kroz temu energetske učinkovitosti. S obzirom na broj prijavljenih studenata (326) može se reći da je glavni cilj ostvaren. Što se tiče sadržaja samog seminara rezultati anonimne ankete provedene među sudionicima pokazali su da postoji želja i potpora za daljnjim organiziranjem ovakvih događaja. Vrijednost cijelog projekta prepoznale su i tvrtke, njih 20, koje su omogućile organizaciju cijelog projekta, kao i tri medijska partnera koji su popratili projekt.



Ovogodišnji BUS imat će jedinstvenu temu, a to je Grad. Seminar će se održati 4. 5. 2013. godine na AGG-u u Zagrebu u Velikoj predavaonici (81), Kačićeva 26, 10000 Zagreb. Cijeli seminar organiziran je kroz 4 bloka. U prvom bloku i uvodnom dijelu nastojat će se prezentirati vizije i koncepti za razvoj suvremenog grada te važnost uključivanja javnosti u razvojne projekte. Kroz različita predavanja prezentirat će se i što sve obuhvaća stanovanje u jednom gradu. U drugom bloku prezentirat će se rješenja za konkretne probleme koji se javljaju u gradu. Predavanja će se dotaknuti otpada, proizvodnje i distribucije energije, promet, priprema i obrada voda, energetske obnove grada itd. Mogućnosti financiranja projekata su jedna od tema trećeg bloka seminara, dok u posljednjem bloku će se kroz predavanja prikazati planirani i realizirani projekti, studije, istraživanja i zanimljivosti iz područja EE i OIE.



Za detaljnije informacije pozivamo sve zainteresirane da prate stranice Udruge: http://supeus.hr/ i Facebook stranicu cijelog događaja: http://www.facebook.com/BUS2013?notif_t=page_new_likes  




Velika nam je čast i zadovoljstvo bilo predstaviti Vam SUPEUS - Studentsku udrugu za promicanje energetske učinkovitosti i savjetovanje.

Sigurnost i pouzdanost, iskustvo i poslovna strategija u osmišljavanju i realizaciji projekata glavne su prednosti  SUPEUS - Studentske udruge za promicanje energetske učinkovitosti i savjetovanje.
 

Željko Serdar

Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE)


Thursday, April 18, 2013

News and Events by CCRES April 18, 2013

 

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources

News and Events April 18, 2013

 

President's 2014 Budget Proposes Critical Investments in Clean Energy

 

President Barack Obama on April 10 requested a $28.4 billion Fiscal Year 2014 budget for the Energy Department, including $2.78 billion for the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The request is part of the Administration-wide effort to strengthen the U.S. economy with energy that is cleaner, cheaper, and creates sustainable jobs.
As Assistant Energy Secretary Dr. David Danielson explained in an April 10 presentation, the $2.78 billion EERE portion of the request includes $615 million in funding for research and development into sources of renewable electricity generation such as wind, solar, water power, and geothermal energy. The proposed budget also includes $949 million for energy savings programs including the Federal Energy Management Program, Weatherization & Intergovernmental, building technologies, and advanced manufacturing. And the proposed FY 2014 budget includes a $957 million request for sustainable transportation, including research and development of vehicles, bioenergy, and fuel cell technologies. This segment includes $575 million for cutting-edge vehicle technologies research and $282 million in research into next-generation advanced biofuels. See the presentation on the EERE proposed FY 2014 budget PDF.
Overall, the budget request for the Energy Department invests in innovative research to lead in research, development, deployment, and production of clean energy technologies. It also creates a new Race to the Top for Energy Efficiency and Grid Modernization, and helps consumers and businesses save money and improve their energy efficiency through the President’s Better Buildings Initiative.
Other highlights in the FY 2014 budget include $80 million for advanced technologies and tools that improve clean energy integration into the grid; $147 million in research and development of smart grid investments, cybersecurity for energy control systems, and National Electricity Delivery within the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability; and $2 billion for an Energy Security Trust to help transition U.S. cars and trucks off of oil. See the Energy Department press release and the White House blog.
 

First U.S. Grid-Connected Enhanced Geothermal System Deployed

 

The Energy Department on April 12 recognized the nation’s first commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) project to supply electricity to the grid. Based in Churchill County, Nevada, Ormat Technologies’ Desert Peak 2 EGS project has increased power output of its nearby operating geothermal field by nearly 38 %, generating an additional 1.7 megawatts of power. EGS technologies utilize directional drilling and pressurized water to enhance flow paths in the subsurface rock and create new reservoirs, capturing energy from resources that were once considered uneconomical or unrecoverable.
Leveraging a $5.4 million Energy Department investment—matched by $2.6 million in private sector funding—the Ormat Desert Peak project is extending the life of previously unproductive geothermal wells. Since the project’s start in 2008, the Energy Department has worked with Ormat, GeothermEx, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Lawrence Berkeley and Sandia National Laboratories to develop cost-effective and innovative production technologies that utilize protective environmental best practices and monitoring. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that EGS in the United States has the potential to enable development of 100 to 500 gigawatts of geothermal resource capacity. See the Energy Department press release and the Energy Department's Geothermal Technologies Office website.
 

DOE and NREL Name Inaugural Collegiate Wind Competition Teams

 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on April 11 announced the teams selected for the inaugural DOE Collegiate Wind Competition, which will take place in spring 2014. The Collegiate Wind Competition is a forum for undergraduate college students of multiple disciplines to investigate innovative wind energy concepts; gain experience designing, building, and testing a wind turbine to perform according to a customized business plan derived from market data; and increase their knowledge of wind industry barriers.
The 10 student teams selected through a competitive process are Boise State University, California Maritime Academy, the Colorado School of Mines, James Madison University in Virginia, Kansas State University, Northern Arizona University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Alaska—Fairbanks, the University of Kansas, and the University of Massachusetts—Lowell.
The theme of the inaugural competition is to design and construct a lightweight, transportable wind turbine that can be used to power small electronic devices. A principal contest involves testing each team's prototype wind turbine in a wind tunnel under specific conditions. Each team's business plan and turbine will also be evaluated against other pre-weighted criteria. The third event of the competition will be a team-to-team debate relating to current wind market drivers and issues. The turbine from the college or university with the best overall score will be placed on temporary display at the DOE headquarters building in Washington, D.C. See the NREL press release.
 

USDA Announces $6 Million for Rural Smart Grid

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on April 10 announced funding for projects to improve electric service in rural areas across 13 states, including more than $6 million in smart grid funding, which increases access to information to better manage electricity use. Overall, $280 million will be available through loans for rural electric infrastructure in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas.
For example, the Georgia Transmission Corporation, which serves customers in Alabama and Florida in addition to Georgia, will receive a USDA loan that includes more than $3 million for smart grid projects. The Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative in Kansas will receive a USDA loan that includes more than $192,000 for smart grid projects. Smart grid technologies involve adding communication capabilities and control systems to the electrical grid that are intended to improve home energy management for the homeowner, provide greater demand control for the utility, and create a more reliable power grid overall. Smart grid technologies are also expected to better accommodate the use of renewable energy, all forms of on-site power production, and electric vehicles. See the USDA press release.
And on March 29, USDA announced that it is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program. See the USDA press release.
 

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

  special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

Celebrating Earth Day 2013 in a Google+ Hangout

 

The Energy Department is celebrating Earth Day 2013 by hosting a special Google+ Hangout on Monday, April 22 at 3 p.m. EDT. We've rounded up our panel of experts to answer your questions and share best strategies for saving energy and money in the home. The live discussion will be streamed on Google+, YouTube, and energy.gov/live.
On average, U.S. families spend more than $2,000 per year on their home energy bills. Unfortunately, much of this money is wasted on air leaks and drafts. Considering that the residential sector accounts for about 22% of U.S. energy consumption, upgrading homes to run more efficiently is not only a great way to save money but can also help minimize our impact on the planet.
Our Earth Day Google+ Hangout not only gives you the opportunity to learn new approaches to home efficiency upgrades, it’s also your platform to share your best energy-saving tips. During the live discussion, we will be selecting video questions to answer in addition to taking real-time questions from Twitter and Google+ tagged with #askEnergy. You can also submit questions by emailing us at newmedia@hq.doe.gov or posting in the comments on the Energy Department’s Facebook page. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog.

 Earth Day - April 22 - is fast approaching. With environmental disasters escalating and international climate change talks at an impasse, your participation is needed now more than ever.

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

EKO ZADAR DVA d.o.o.

 
 
U organizaciji Hrvatskog Centra Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE) nastavljeno je predstavljanje hrvatskih visokotehnoloških tvrtki i poduzetnika na europskim i svjetskim portalima kojima je zajednički predznak energetika, obnovljivi izvori energije i očuvanje okoliša.
 „Želim naglasiti da će hrvatske tvrtke i poduzetnici ovdje biti promovirane ne samo da bi prodavali svoje proizvode nego i da bi svoje znanje razvoja informacijskih i energetskih tehnologija podijelile s sličnim svjetskim tvrtkama, poduzetnicima iz razvijenih nacija kojima se Republika Hrvatska prilagođava i politički i gospodarski. Nadam se da će naše prezentacije hrvatskih tvrtki i poduzetnika dovesti do suradnje između država, kompanija i poduzetnika do razine koja nije samo prijateljstvo nego i partnerstvo", istaknuo je Željko Serdar , predsjednik Hrvatskog Centra Obnovljivih Izvora Energije.
 
EKO ZADAR DVA d.o.o.
 
Tvrtka EKO ZADAR DVA d.o.o. na čelu s mr.sc. Vladimirom Matjačićem, dipl.oec. u prvoj je  fazi izgradnje vjetroelektrane radnog naziva ZD4.
 
 

Uz cestu Benkovac-Karin Donji, na sjeverno-istočnoj strani u kršu Bukovice, u tijeku je prva faza izgradnje vjetroelektrane radnog naziva ZD4 u vlasništvu privatne tvrtke Eko Zadar Dva d.o.o. Benkovac.
Za mjesec-dva započet će s komercijalnim radom prve četiri vjetroturbine snage 9,2 megawatta (MW), a na jesen i još šest vjetroturbina snage 18 MW.
Divovska konstrukcija
- Ulaganje je 360 milijuna kuna, za prvu fazu 120, a za drugu 240 milijuna kuna. Od toga su 30 posto vlastita sredstva, a 70 posto krediti Hrvatske banke za obnovu i razvitak (HBOR) te Zagrebačke banke (ZABA), kazao je Vladimir Matjačić, direktor Eko Zadar Dva d.o.o., predsjednik Nadzornog odbora i suvlasnik Heplasta iz Preloga u Međimurju, tvrtke koja proizvodi polietilenske i polipropilenske cijevi.
Ukupna snaga tih vjetroelektrana iznosi 27,2 MW, a proizvodnja će biti oko 90 milijuna kilovatsati (kWh) ili 25 tisuća MW godišnje, što je dovoljno za opskrbu preko 20 tisuća domaćinstava "zelenom energijom". Vjetroelektrane će u usporedbi s proizvodnjom električne energije pomoću kamenog ugljena i plina smanjiti emisiju štetnih tvari u atmosferu za oko 60.000 tona CO2 godišnje.

Divovska konstrukcija vjetroturbine je teška preko 130 tona. Rotor ima masu 62 tone, a gondola oko 80 tona. Promjer rotora agregata iznosi 108 metara, a na visinu od 90 metara podiže ga 500-tonska dizalica Zagrebtransa.
Koncesija 20 godina
- Investitori su domaći dok je stupove i vjetroagregate isporučio te ih montira Siemens Hrvatska. Od ukupne investicije od 360.000 milijuna kuna u Hrvatskoj ostaje preko 50 posto, prvenstveno u kupnji potrebitog materijala, gradnje komunalne infrastrukture te troškove izvođača radova i ishođenja potrebne dokumentacije.

Prihod od prve četiri vjetroturbine je oko 2,5 milijuna eura godišnje. Kada se cjelokupnoj investiciji dodaju troškovi rada, održavanja, administracije, osiguranja te ostali čimbenici potrebni za rad vjetroelektrane, realan povrat uloženog novca je oko 10 godina.
Iskorištavanje energije vjetra najbrže je rastući segment proizvodnje energije iz obnovljivih izvora.
- Koncesija je 20 godina dok će shodno ugovoru proizvedenu električnu energiju po definiranoj cijeni Hrvatski operator tržišta energije (HROTE) otkupljivati 12 godina. Preostale godine su po sadašnjim propisima tržišna utakmica.
Osim 400 MW trenutno na listi, Hrvatska u sljedećih sedam godina treba izgraditi dodatnih 800 MW vjetroelektrana. Riječ je o dijelu obveze da Hrvatska do 2020. godine 20 posto svoje električne energije proizvede iz obnovljivih izvora.
 
EKO ZADAR DVA d.o.o. 
Knezova Šubića Bribirskih 15/B, Benkovac  


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* -Savjetovanje u energetici* -Projektiranje energetskih i industrijskih postrojenja i objekata* -Kupnja i prodaja robe* -Poslovanje nekretninama* -Proizvodnja električne energije* -Trgovanje, posredovanje i zastupanje na tržištu energije
 
 
LISTA PROJEKATA VJETROELEKTRANA ZA PRIKLJUČENJE NA ELEKTROENERGETSKU MREŽU
 

Velika nam je čast i zadovoljstvo bilo predstaviti Vam tvrtku EKO ZADAR DVA d.o.o.
Sigurnost i pouzdanost, kvaliteta usluge, iskustvo i poslovna strategija u osmišljavanju i realizaciji sustava glavne su prednosti tvrtke 
EKO ZADAR DVA d.o.o.
 
Željko Serdar
Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE)

Thursday, April 11, 2013

News and Events by CCRES April 11, 2013

 

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources 

News and Events April 11, 2013

Energy Department Announces Apps for Vehicles Challenge Winners

 

The Energy Department announced the winners of the Apps for Vehicles Challenge on April 1. The competition asked app developers and entrepreneurs to demonstrate how the open data available on most vehicles can be used to improve vehicle safety, fuel efficiency, and comfort. The Department awarded the Judges' Prize to New York City-based Dash, which developed an app that turns any vehicle into a "smart car," providing real diagnostics and alerts to enable drivers to maximize engine performance, minimize carbon emissions, and save money. The Popular Choice prize went to MyCarma, headquartered in Troy, Michigan, which developed an app that offers a personalized fuel economy estimate based on a driver's unique driving patterns instead of a standard test cycle. Green Button Gamer, based in Boston, Massachusetts, won the Safety Innovation award, and Fuel Economy Coach, based in Augusta, Georgia, received the Fuel Efficiency Innovation award.
The Apps for Vehicles Challenge is focused on spurring innovative projects or services to reduce fuel costs and increase safety for consumers by utilizing vehicle-generated information, including data on engine speed, brake position, headlights, and distance traveled. Entries were judged based on their creativity, innovation, use of open vehicle data, consumer accessibility, and potential to help consumers improve fuel efficiency. The Energy Department announced the competition in October 2012, and from nearly 40 entries that were submitted for the first phase of the competition, seven were selected as finalists to advance to the second stage. See the Energy Department's Progress Alert and visit the Apps for Vehicles Challenge website to download the winning apps.
 

Energy Department Renews Funding for Bioenergy Research Centers

 

The Energy Department announced on April 4 that it would fund its three Bioenergy Research Centers for an additional five-year period, subject to continued congressional appropriations. The three centers were established by the Department's Office of Science in 2007 as an innovative program to accelerate fundamental research breakthroughs toward the development of advanced next-generation biofuels. The centers include the BioEnergy Research Center, led by the Department's Oak Ridge National Laboratory; the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in partnership with Michigan State University; and the Joint BioEnergy Institute, led by the Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Each center is designed to be a large, integrated, multidisciplinary research effort, funded at the rate of $25 million per year, and they have consistently received high marks from outside reviewers for both their scientific productivity and the effective management and integration of their research efforts.
In their first five years of operation, the Bioenergy Research Centers have produced more than 1,100 peer-reviewed publications and more than 400 inventions, as recorded in invention disclosures or patent applications. Among the breakthroughs are new approaches for engineering non-food crops for biofuel production; reengineering of microbes to produce advanced biofuels such as "green" gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel precursors from biomass; and the development of methods to grow non-food biofuel crops on marginal lands so as not to compete with food production. In the next five years, emphasis will be on bringing new methods and discoveries to maturity, developing new lines of research, and accelerating the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into new technologies that can transition to the marketplace. See the Energy Department press release, and for more information on the centers, visit the Genomic Science Program website.
 

New Database Shows Benefits of Energy Efficiency Programs

 

The Energy Department on April 5 recognized a new publicly available database that offers federal, state, and local decision-makers information documenting the results of energy-efficiency programs in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED), a project of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, provides a one-stop resource to readily access energy efficiency program data, including energy and peak-demand savings, costs, avoided emissions, and job impacts. This is part of the Energy Department's broader effort to improve public access to energy information, empowering consumers, industry, and government agencies to make informed decisions that save money by saving energy.
The REED database allows users to generate reports and download underlying data showing the impacts of ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. REED will help inform a broad range of policy issues, including energy, economic, and air quality planning, and help demonstrate the long-term, money-saving benefits of energy efficiency investments. Specifically, policymakers, program administrators and other industry stakeholders can use the REED data for a variety of purposes, including comparing efficiency program impacts across states to help identify best practices in efficiency policy and program design, as well as informing progress toward clean air and climate change goals. The database currently includes 2011 electric and gas energy efficiency program data and will expand this fall to include 2012 data from Delaware and the District of Columbia, as well as the states currently in the database. See the Energy Department Progress Alert.
 

Manufacturing Energy Use Down Since 2002: EIA

 

Total energy consumption in the U.S. manufacturing sector decreased by 17% from 2002 to 2010, according to data released on March 19 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Manufacturing gross output decreased by only 3% over the same period. Taken together, these data indicate a significant decline in the amount of energy used per unit of gross manufacturing output. The significant decline in energy intensity reflects both improvements in energy efficiency and changes in the manufacturing output mix. Consumption of every fuel used for manufacturing declined over this period.
The manufacturing sector comprised more than 11% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010. The manufacturing base in the United States is broad, and includes energy-intensive industries such as petroleum refining, chemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, paper, wood products, and food, as well as less energy-intensive industries such as textiles, leather, apparel, furniture, machinery, and electrical equipment. Energy for manufacturing can be consumed in two ways: as a fuel or as a feedstock (material input to a final product). Energy consumed as a fuel includes all energy used for heat and power. Energy used as feedstock is the use of energy sources for raw material input or for any purpose other than the production of heat or power. See the EIA press release.
 

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

  special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

5 Super-Sized Solar Projects Transforming the Clean Energy Landscape

 

2012 marked a record year for America’s solar industry. Installations surged by 76% compared to 2011—representing an estimated market value of $11.5 billion. From commercial to residential, every sector experienced significant growth, but the clear standout of 2012 was utility-scale solar.
Utility-scale solar projects are designed to generate massive amounts of electricity. Unlike other sectors, the electricity generated by utility-scale projects is sold directly to wholesale utility buyers. In the recently released U.S. Solar Market Insight report, GreenTech Media and SEIA found that the utility-scale sector grew by an unprecedented 134% last year—with eight of the largest solar projects in America starting operation.
Many of these projects were supported by investments from the Energy Department’s Loan Guarantee Program. These investments—in several of the world’s largest solar generation facilities—help to lower the cost of financing and accelerate the completion of transformative clean energy projects. For the utility-scale projects that came online last year as part of the loan program portfolio, see the complete story, see the Energy Blog.

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

Friday, April 5, 2013

News and Events by CCRES April 05, 2013

 

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources 

News and Events April 05, 2013


EPA, Energy Department Recognize 2013 Energy Star Partners of the Year

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Energy Department on March 26 recognized 118 awardees for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment. Recipients of the 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Sears Holdings Corporation, PepsiCo, JC Penney, Food Lion, USAA Real Estate, Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia, and Toyota.
The winners were chosen from nearly 20,000 Energy Star partners, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies, and home builders, for their long-term commitment to climate protection through greater energy efficiency. Energy Star partners complete a rigorous application process that demonstrates their commitment to the partnership and the environment.
Organizations are recognized in several categories. The Sustained Excellence awards went to 70 organizations for exceptional leadership year after year in the Energy Star program and their dedication to environmental protection through superior energy efficiency. The "Partners of the Year" honors were bestowed on 41 organizations for strategically and comprehensively managing their energy use. The seven "Excellence Award" winners received recognition in part for their superior efforts in the Home Performance with the Energy Star program as well as specific activities to promote energy-efficient products, homes, or buildings. See the EPA press release and the complete list of winners.
 

BLM Seeks Solar Energy Proposals for Colorado Lands

 

The U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking proposed solar energy development projects on 3,714 acres of BLM-managed land in Conejos and Saguache counties in southwestern Colorado. The BLM’s current actions come after two years of planning to pave the way for utility-scale solar development on public lands that will be capable of producing 20 megawatts or more of energy. The 60-day public notice appeared in the Federal Register on March 22, 2013. See the Federal Register notice.
This public notification is the first step to possible competitive solar energy development on public lands in the San Luis Valley. Last year, EPG Solar 1, LLC filed applications to develop solar energy on public lands within the De Tilla Gulch and Los Mogotes East Solar Energy Zones. Once the 60-day notice period closes, the BLM will review all submissions to see if other companies are interested in developing solar energy in these areas. See the BLM press release.
 

Air Force Announces Energy Efficiency Achievements, New Energy Plan

 

Picture of a jet fighter landing with mountains in the background.
An F-35 Lighting II, with an engine delivering 60% more thrust than other aircraft of the same weight, lands at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christopher Tam
The U.S. Air Force on March 21 highlighted its recent energy use reductions, touting savings of $1.5 billion in energy costs in 2012, and announced current initiatives under the new Air Force Energy Strategic Plan. The Air Force is the largest single consumer of energy in the federal government, and in fiscal year 2012, spent more than $9 billion for energy, with more than 85% of those costs in aviation fuel. However, the service has already significantly reduced energy consumption and increased use of renewable energy, helping drive down its energy costs.
In addition to cutting fuel use, the Air Force also reduced facility energy intensity by more than 21% since 2003 and is on track to meet its goal of reducing energy intensity by 37.5% by 2020. Last year, 5.5% of the Air Force's electricity came from renewable energy sources, and by 2025, it plans to get 25% of its electricity from renewable energy.
The new energy plan, the first update since 2010, calls for an increase in on-site energy production through renewable energy. In 2006, the Air Force set a goal of reducing aviation fuel consumption 10 percent by 2015. The military branch is also following a net-zero approach to water and energy installation to help meet a 2030 federal net-zero energy goal for all new facility construction and alterations. See the Air Force press release and the Air Force Energy Strategic Plan PDF.

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JBEI Researchers Engineer Plant Cell Walls to Boost Sugar Yields for Biofuels

 

Researchers at the Energy Department's Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) are taking major steps toward achieving new breakthroughs for biofuels using lignocellulosic biomass, the most abundant organic material on Earth. This ample resource could supply the sugars needed to produce advanced biofuels, which can supplement or replace fossil fuels if several key technical challenges are met. One of these challenges is finding ways to more cost-effectively extract those sugars.
The JBEI, a scientific partnership led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), advances the development of next-generation biofuels that can provide renewable transportation energy. JBEI researchers have focused on reducing the natural resistance of plant cell walls to release their sugars. In the past, extracting sugars from their lignin cage has required the use of expensive and environmentally harsh chemicals at high temperatures, a process that can drive production costs of advance biofuels prohibitively high.
In order to achieve the partnership's goal, researchers rewired the regulation of lignin production—or biosynthesis—in engineered plants and created an artificial positive feedback loop to enhance secondary cell wall biosynthesis in specific tissues. This reduces the resistance of plant cell walls and boosts sugar content without impacting plant development. Now, the researchers believe their lignin rewiring strategy could also be transferrable to other plant species, and are working to improve the technique. See the LBNL press release.
 

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

  special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

National Parks Move Transportation Forward in America's Great Outdoors

 

America's National Parks have always attracted pioneers in transportation. In the early 1900s, the new transcontinental railroad encouraged people to “See America First,” particularly the National Parks. Today, the National Park Service is leading by example. Working in partnership with the Energy Department’s Clean Cities National Parks Initiative, National Parks across the country are using alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies to reduce air pollution and lower fuel costs.
Building on the success of its existing National Park Service projects, Clean Cities is now partnering with five additional parks to implement specific projects that improve the parks’ environment and increase the sustainability of their operations. Most of the projects focus on shifting many of the parks' vehicles to run on alternative fuels, such as propane, biodiesel and electricity—a transition that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and minimize fuel costs.
The projects will also educate park visitors on improving the sustainability of their own driving habits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during park visits and when they return home. For example, parks such as Yellowstone and Grand Teton are educating visitors on the benefits of reducing the amount of time they idle their cars or visiting sites in the parks by biking, walking, or using park shuttles. If just 25% of visitors at the 13 parks in the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative reduce their idling by five minutes, it would save 192,000 gallons of gasoline and more than 2,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog.

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)