MAKE THE SWITCH

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES 

 

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 SWITCH

 

IT'S TIME TO MAKE THE SWITCH

 

SWITCH light bulbs aren't just different – they're better.

They look amazing.
SWITCH bulbs are both beautiful and beautifully designed – every single piece is part of an intelligent functional system.

They make you look great.
SWITCH bulbs give off warm, incandescent–quality light that fills your rooms with a full, even glow. They turn on instantly, and work with most dimmers.

They put money back in your pocket.
SWITCH bulbs use less energy and last 25,000 hours – which means you'll get years of light from each bulb, plus an average of $150 in savings.

40

SWITCH40 provides a soft, flattering glow. Place it in the bedroom, the living room – or any other room where you want to look great.

SWITCH40 turns on instantly, and works with any dimmer. It can be used in all orientations – up, down, sideways – to provide full, warm light wherever you need it.

Available in Warm White, this bulb comes in clear or frosted glass.

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• who we are
• why switch?
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60

SWITCH60 is the perfect light bulb for every day use. It delivers all the light you expect from a regular bulb with a fraction of the energy use.

SWITCH60 turns on instantly, and works with any dimmer. It can be used in all orientations – up, down, sideways – to provide full, warm light wherever you need it.

Available in Warm White, this bulb comes in clear or frosted glass.

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• community
• who we are
• why switch?
• lightbulbs

75

SWITCH75 provides bright, warm light perfect for reading or working. The same life expectancy as of all our bulbs – 25,000 hours – it will keep you lit for years.

SWITCH75 turns on instantly, and works with most any dimmer. It can be used in all orientations – up, down, sideways – to provide full, warm light wherever you need it.

Available in Warm White, this bulb comes in clear or frosted glass.

100

SWITCH100 provides bright, soft light for areas that may need extra illumination.

SWITCH100 turns on instantly, and works with most any dimmer. It can be used in all orientations — up, down, sideways — to provide full, warm, room — filling light wherever you need it.

Available in Warm White, this bulb comes in clear or frosted glass.

 If you are from the press, or interested in doing a media piece on Switch:
deanna.siste@graylingcp.com

 

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FEATURED PRESS COVERAGE

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLEENERGY SOURCES 

(CCRES)

OIE pitanja i odgovori

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE (HCOIE)

 OIE aktualna pitanja i odgovori


Koji su oblici poticana biomase za proizvodnju električne energije i topline?
Vlada je započela s poticanjem korištenja biomase za energetske svrhe u okviru politike poticanja korištenja obnovljivih izvora energije. Od 1. srpnja 2007. primjenjuju se propisi kojima se potiče proizvodnja električne energije iz energana i/ili elektrana, koje koriste krutu biomasu iz šumarstva, poljoprivrede i drvno-prerađivačke industrije ili bioplin iz poljoprivrednih nasada, organskih ostataka, te iz otpada iz poljoprivrede i prehrambeno-prerađivačke industrije. Takva povlaštena proizvodnja električne energije ima visoke zajamčene otkupne cijene kroz ugovor o obveznom otkupu električne energije i to u trajanju od 12 godina. Trenutna iskustva vezana uz podnošenje zahtjeva nositelja projekata, koji se vode u odgovarajućem registru Ministarstva gospodarstva, rada i poduzetništva, pokazuju da postoji veliko zanimanje za uporabu biomase, ali i da postoje određene prepreke izvan energetskog sektora u pogledu organiziranja tržišta biomase za njeno energetsko korištenje (ugovori o opskrbi šumske biomase), postupaka pribavljanja dozvola u području nadležnosti zaštite okoliša, transfera i odabira tehnologije, početnih rizika razvoja projekta, osiguravanja financiranja i instrumenata osiguranja i dr.

Pitanje korištenja biomase za proizvodnju toplinske energije (za gospodarske subjekte i fizičke osobe) rješava se kroz propise u području toplinarstva. Ministarstvo gospodarstva, rada i poduzetništva priprema provedbene propise (uredba i pravilnik) za stjecanje statusa povlaštenog proizvođača toplinske energije te načina sufinanciranja takve proizvodnje, koja uključuje i ugradnju kotlova na biomasu. Propisi su u izradi i očekuje se njihovo donošenje i primjena u 2011. godini. Trenutno su za ovaj oblik uporabe biomase dostupna sredstva Fonda za zaštitu okoliša i energetsku učinkovitost, koji objavljuje povremeno javne natječaje za programe i projekte obnovljivih izvora energije i koji onda vrijede i za projekte korištenja biomase.


Da li je potrebna lokacijska dozvola za fotonaponske sunčane kolektore?
Prema čl. 104. Zakona o prostornom uređenju i gradnji („Narodne novine“, broj 76/2007) lokacijska dozvola izdaje se za sve građevine osim za zgrade čija građevinska (bruto) površina nije veća od 400 m, zgrade za obavljanje isključivo poljoprivrednih djelatnosti čija građevinska (bruto) površina nije veća od 600 m i jednostavne građevine i radove. Za postrojenje sunčane elektrane, kako je gore navedeno, prema Stručnom mišljenju Ministarstva zaštite okoliša, prostornog uređenja i graditeljstva klasa 360-01/07-02/311, urbroj: 531-10-266-07-04 od 7. 12. 2007. g. lokacijska dozvola se izdaje. Prema Zakonu o prostornom uređenju i gradnji, građevina je građenjem nastao i s tlom povezan sklop, svrhovito izveden od građevnih proizvoda sa zajedničkim instalacijama i opremom, ili sklop s ugrađenim postrojenjem, odnosno opremom kao tehničko – tehnološka cjelina ili samostalna postrojenja povezana s tlom, te s tlom povezan sklop koji nije nastao građenjem, ako se njime mijenja način korištenja prostora.

Stručnim mišljenjem Ministarstva zaštite okoliša, prostornog uređenja i graditeljstva KLASA 350-01/10-02/466, URBROJ: 531-01-10-2 od 11. listopada 2010. godine potvrđeno je da se fotonaponski sustavi koji se grade na građevnim česticama postojeće zgrade smatraju jednostavnim građevinama i potpadaju pod odredbe Pravilnika o jednostavnim građevinama i radovima (NN 21/09, 57/10), te za njih nije potrebna lokacijska dozvola.


Zbog čega su sunčane elektrane ograničene na 1 MW?
Prema čl. 7. st. 4. Tarifnog sustava za proizvodnju električne energije iz obnovljivih izvora energije i kogeneracije Hrvatski operator tržišta energije sklapa ugovore o otkupu električne energije s povlaštenim proizvođačima električne energije iz postrojenja koja koriste sunčanu energiju sve dok ukupno instalirana snaga svih postrojenja ovog tipa, za koje je ishođeno rješenje o stjecanju povlaštenog proizvođača električne energije, u Republici Hrvatskoj ne dosegne 1 MW. To znači da se ograničenje od 1 MW isključivo odnosi na postrojenja koja koriste sunčanu energiju a ne na sva postrojenja koja koriste obnovljive izvore. Jednaki princip vrijedi i za postrojenja koja koriste gorivne ćelije na vodik.

Što se tiče kvote od 1 MW za sunčane elektrane ona je tako postavljena iz razloga što se radi o iznimno skupoj tehnologiji za koju je potrebno osiguravati najviši poticaj od čak 3,4 kn/kWh za tehnologije do 10 kW snage a to stvara značajnu presiju na potrošačku zajednicu odnosno potrošače električne energije koji plaćaju troškove za poticaj.


Kada će se podići i na koliko ograničenje za poticaje od 1MW za velike proizvođače iz solara?
Prošle godine Hrvatski sabor je usvojio Strategiju energetskog razvoja Republike Hrvatske. U ovom trenutku u tijeku je izrada Programa provedbe Energetske strategije koji će utvrditi  dinamiku izgradnje elektrana koja će proizvoditi električnu energiju iz  obnovljivih izvora u cijelosti i po pojedinim vrstama. Pri tome će se voditi računa o ciljevima koje RH mora ispuniti do 2020 godine i o utjecaju obnovljivih izvora na cijenu električne energije, tako da će prednost imati oni obnovljivi izvori koji će najmanje optereti hrvatsko gospodarstvo i najmanje utjecati na standard naših. Prednost će se također dati onim elektranama koje koriste obnovljive izvore za čiju izgradnju hrvatski gospodarski subjekti mogu isporučiti najviše opreme.

U svakom slučaju, tijekom 2011. godine predložiti će se Vladi izmjena pripadajućih podzakonskih akata i značajnije povećanje kvote. Ujedno će doći do revizije visine tarifni stavki odnosno poticajne cijene za poticanje proizvodnje električne energije iz sunčanih elektrana odnosno iz fotonaponskih modula i do razdvajanja tarifa za sustave integrirane u zgrade i one koji su montirani na zemljištu. Pri određivanju nove kvote prednost će imati sustavi integrirani u zgrade za koje će biti rezervirano više od 2/3 kvote. Podloge za navedene promjene su već pripremljene te se rasprava o očekuje tijekom prve polovine 2011. godine.


Koji je status otpad i goriva iz otpada (RDF) prema tarifnom sustavu?
Prema tarifnom sustavu za otpad i RDF nije eksplicite utvrđena visina tarifnih stavki, ali se u načelu, sukladno tumačenju direktive 2001/77/EC koja se predmetnim propisima transponira, prihvaća frakcija biorazgradivog otpada uz uvjet poštivanja hijerarhije koncepta cjelovitog sustava gospodarenja otpadom (minimiziranje, izbjegavanje, vrednovanje, odlaganje neštetnog ostatnog otpada). Dakle frakcija biorazgradivog otpada uz dokazano poštivanje uvjeta može ostvariti poticajnu cijenu kao biomasa, međutim, tu treba dokazati izbjegavanje preklapanja poticaja, odnosno da ne postoji dvostruko poticanje - s jedne strane iz pokrivanja troškova za zbrinjavanje otpada (koncesija ili drugo) i s druge strane poticajne cijene za proizvodnju električne energije iz dijela postrojenja koje se tretira kao postrojenje za proizvodnju električne energije iz obnovljivih izvora energije što podliježe energetskim propisima i aspektu povlaštenog proizvođača.
Postoji mogućnost da će tarifa za RDF biti predviđena izmjenama i dopunama tarifnog sustava.


Zašto vjetroelektrane dominiraju?
Formalno, u Tarifnom sustavu za proizvodnju električne energije iz obnovljivih izvora energije i kogeneracije utvrđuju se poticajne cijene i maksimalan udio pojedinog obnovljivog izvora (Operator tržišta kod sklapanja ugovora s povlaštenim proizvođačima treba voditi računa o zastupljenosti svih obnovljivih izvora za proizvodnju električne energije na način da udio pojedinog obnovljivog izvora energije ne prijeđe više od 80 % udjela u ukupnoj proizvodnji električne energije iz obnovljivih izvora energije koji se potiču) u sustavu poticane proizvodnje, odnosno udjela u strukturi ukupne potrošnje električne energije iz obnovljivih izvora energije. Dakle, politika preko sustava poticanja proizvodnje električne energije ne favorizira nijedan određeni obnovljiv izvor, već se to prepušta poduzetničkoj inicijativi i ostalim restriktivnim (eliminacijskim) faktorima, što je uređeno drugim propisima i odnosima (zaštita okoliša, prostorno uređenje, raspoloživost i cijena sirovine, zemljišni i imovinsko-pravni odnosi, partnerstvo lokalne zajednice i dr.). Na razvoj i udio pojedinog obnovljivog izvora energije ponajviše utječe cijena (trošak, odnosno zrelost) tehnologije, raspoloživost i cijena sirovine (biomasa) te prirodni i tehnički potencijal određenog obnovljivog izvora. To je razlog što se nameću vjetroelektrane, zbog konkurentne tehnologije (u odnosu na druge tehnologije obnovljivih izvora energije) te najvećeg potencijala u Hrvatskoj, prostorno disperziranog.

Vjetroelektrane su proizašle kao dominantno rješenje u strukturi obnovljivih izvora energije zbog gore navedenih razloga (potencijal i konkurentnost tehnologije), ali i zbog vrlo snažne poduzetničke inicijative (prvi developeri su započeli istraživanja na lokacijama u Hrvatskoj još prije desetak godina). Svjetska iskustva nedvojbeno potvrđuju da je u početnoj fazi provedbe politike obnovljivih izvora energije najveći udio strane opreme i know how-a,međutim s razvojem i realizacijom projekata, sve više i više se povećava udio "domaće komponente projekta" koja uključuje opremu, uslugu i radove. S time se razvijaju i osnažuju specijalizirani razvojni i proizvodni programi, inženjering i sl. Postoje procjene unutar Zajednice obnovljivih izvora energije (HGK) da je moguće ostvariti sinergiju odnosno udio domaće komponente u vjetroelektrani do 70 % ukupne vrijednosti, pri čemu neke poslovne inicijative idu u pravcu razvoja specifičnih proizvodnih programa kroz mješovite tvrtke i zajedničkih projekata s renomiranim stranim partnerima. Također, očekuje se da će se Končarov projekt razviti u dovoljnoj mjeri da u budućnosti osigura i regionalnu tržišnu perspektivu. Sukladno propisima o građenju (Zakon o prostornom uređenju i gradnji NN 76/07) zabranjeno je planiranje i gradnja vjetroelektrana u zaštićenom obalnom području mora (otoci i obalni pojas 1000 m), a rigorozni uvjeti instituta procjene utjecaja na okoliš sagledava sve utjecaje vjetroelektrana na okoliš (buka, krajobrazni i ornitofaunski utjecaj) te, u konačnici, kroz javnu raspravu uvažava stajalište lokalnog stanovništva. Ne smijemo zaboraviti da je i napredak tehnologije vjetroturbina doprinio i poboljšanju tehničkih pogonskih karakteristika i značajnom smanjenju utjecaja na okoliš (buka, ornitofaunski utjecaj i dr.).


Da li fizičke osobe mogu steći status povlaštenog proizvođača?
Podzakonskim aktima koji uređuju pitanje stjecanja statusa povlaštenog proizvođača električne energije iz obnovljivih izvora omogućeno je stjecanje statusa i fizičkim osobama.

Dopisom od godine 29. siječnja 2008. Klasa: 410-01/80-01/82 Ur. broj: 513-07-21-01/08-02 Ministarstvo financija, Središnji ureda porezne uprave dao je tumačenje vezano uz djelatnosti status fizičkih osoba kao povlaštenih proizvođača električne energije .

Navedenim dopisom je utvrđeno da fizičke osobe koje će kao povlašteni proizvođači električne energije (za tržište) ostvarivati pravo na poticajnu cijenu proizvedene i otkupljene električne energije, obavljati će samostalnu gospodarstvenu djelatnost, koja se za svrhe oporezivanja smatra samostalnom djelatnošću obrta i s obrtom izjednačenom djelatnošću iz članka 18. stavak 1. točka 1. Zakona o porezu na dohodak (NN br. 177/04) te članka 19. stavak 1. i 20. stavci 1. i 2. Pravilnika porezu na dohodak (NN br. 95/05, 96/06, 68/07). Naime dohodak od samostalne djelatnosti utvrđuje se, između ostalog i od obavljanja obrtničkih djelatnosti, kojima se za svrhe oporezivanja smatraju djelatnosti iz članka 1. Zakona o obrtu (NN br. 77/ do 79/07 – ispravak) te sve druge posebno nenavedene gospodarstvene djelatnosti. Posebno nenavedenim gospodarstvenim djelatnostima smatraju se djelatnosti koje fizičke osobe obavljaju samostalno u svrhu stjecanja dohotka, neovisno je li nadležno tijelo odobrilo tu djelatnost ili nije i osnovna su djelatnost poreznog obveznika. Dohodak od samostalne djelatnosti fizičkih osoba utvrđuje se u skladu s člancima 19. do 24. Zakona o porezu na dohodak, kao razlika između ostvarenih poslovnih primitaka i nastalih poslovnih izdataka u poreznom razdoblju, na temelju podataka iz propisanih poslovnih knjiga. Fizičke osobe su dužne prijaviti se u registar obveznika poreza na dohodak u skladu s člankom 62. Zakona o porezu na dohodak i člankom 91. Pravilnika o porezu na dohodak i to u roku osam dana od početka obavljanja samostalne djelatnosti, tijekom poreznog razdoblja dužne su plaćati predujmove poreza na dohodak po rješenje Porezne uprave u skladu s člankom 47. navedenog Zakona i s člankom 71. navedenog Pravilnika, po isteku poreznog razdoblja obavezne su podnijeti propisanu prijavu poreza na dohodak u skladu s člankom 39. stavak 1. točka 2. istoga Zakona te člancima 83. do 89. istoga Pravilnika, a imaju i druga propisana prava i obaveze.


Da li se priprema Zakon o obnovljivim izvorima energije?
Zakon o obnovljivim izvorima energije planira se uputiti u proceduru potvrđivanja u 2011. godini. U prvom dijelu 2011. godine pripremit će se stručne podloge za pripremu nacrta Zakona o obnovljivim izvorima energije na temelju obveze prijenosa Direktive 2009/28/EZ o poticanju uporabe energije iz obnovljivih izvora u pravni sustav Hrvatske. Kao priprema za Zakon poslužit će i izrada Nacionalnog akcijskog plana za obnovljive izvore energije prema odredbama nove Direktive 2009/28/EZ, kojeg su sve države članice dužne izraditi. Republika Hrvatska je također dužna izraditi takav plan kao pretpristupna članica za EU, temeljen na metodologiji propisanoj Direktivom. Pojedine odredbe Direktive 2009/28/EZ su uključene u Akcijski plan za obnovljive izvore energije koji je pripremljen u okviru pregovora u poglavlju 15 Energetika.


Kako su definirani ciljevi za pojedine OIE u Strategiji?
Strategija definira sektorske ciljeve udjela OIE u bruto neposrednoj potrošnji energije kako bi se ispunjavale obveze Republike Hrvatske prema EU. Proizvodnja električne energije iz OIE sudjeluje u toj strukturi s 9,2%.
Strategija definira da će se programima provedbe Strategije definirati dinamika poticane izgradnje elektrana na  obnovljive izvore energije u pojedinom četverogodišnjem razdoblju ovisno o porastu potrošnje električne energije i očekivanoj prosječnoj proizvodnji električne energije u velikim hidroelektranama (jer zbroj OIE i velikih HE je mjerodavan za ispunjavanje ciljeva glede OIE).

Strategija također definira da će se struktura poticane izgradnje obnovljivih izvora energije detaljnije odrediti u programima provedbe Strategije i to ovisno o:
- raspoloživim financijskim sredstvima za poticaje u sustavu zajamčenih otkupnih cijena električne energije,
- o procjeni doprinosa pojedinog obnovljivog izvora energije u zapošljavanju domaće industrije i usluga te
- o međusobnoj cjenovnoj konkurentnosti obnovljivih izvora energije.

Prema istim tim kriterijima Strategija je dala i dugoročne smjernice za očekivanu strukturu OIE, iako će se ta struktura dinamički (po godinama) novelirati u programima Strategije (kao što je prije navedeno):
- snaga elektrana na biomasu određena je uz pretpostavku maksimalnog mogućeg iskorištavanja biomase prema procijeni Ministarstva šumarstva, regionalnog razvoja i vodnog gospodarstva
- snaga elektrana na otpad određena je uz pretpostavku maksimalnog mogućeg iskorištavanja gorivog u otpadu u skladu s Programom zbrinjavanja otpada u Republici Hrvatskoj
- snaga bioplinskih elektrana određena je kao maksimalna procijenjena vrijednost s obzirom na značajke poljoprivredne proizvodnje u Republici Hrvatskoj
- snaga geotermalnih elektrana određena je kao maksimalna snaga koju je moguće izgraditi s obzirom na geotermalne značajke Republike Hrvatske
- snaga malih HE određena je uz pretpostavku maksimalnog mogućeg iskorištavanja malih vodotoka, no procjenjujući ekološka i druga ograničenja
- snaga sunčevih elektrana procijenjena je na gornju granicu prihvatljivosti s obzirom na visinu potrebnih poticaja ovog, danas nekonkurentnog OIE
- snaga vjetroelektrana, kao cjenovno najpovoljnijeg OIE, određena je na temelju razlike ukupno potrebne proizvodnje električne energije iz OIE da bi se ispunjavali ciljevi o udjelu OIE u bruto raspoloživoj neposrednoj potrošnji energije i električne energije proizvedene u svim ostalim OIE.


Da li je moguće sufinanciranje sredstvima EU za OIE?
Za razdoblje od 2007. godine do stupanja u članstvo EU, Republika Hrvatska je korisnica pretpristupnog programa pomoći IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance), a jedna od podkomponenti tog programa vezana je uz zaštitu okoliša i energetiku. S obzirom na relativno ograničena sredstva, relevantna tijela RH zadužena za sektore zaštite okoliša i energetike, izradila su Operativni program (strateški dokument na osnovu kojeg se vrši programiranje pomoći EU za IPA podkomponentu zaštite okoliša i energetike) u kojem su definirana dva prioritetna područja u koja će se usmjeravati sredstva IPA programa unutar navedene podkomponente u razdoblju 2007.-2009., a to su gospodarenje otpadom i upravljanje vodama. Cjelovit tekst Operativnog programa možete pronaći na: http://www.strategija.hr/Default.aspx.
Dakle, aktivnosti vezane uz sektor energetike (uključujući projekte vezane uz obnovljive izvore energije) nisu odabrane kao prioritetne za prvo programsko razdoblje od 2007. do 2009. godine. U postupku je izrada modifikacije Operativnog programa zaštite okoliša za razdoblje 2010. i 2011. koja sadrži istovjetne prioritete.

Projekt(e) iz sektora energetike moguće je kandidirati kroz IPA komponentu I (Jačanje institucija) međutim ta komponenta je prvenstveno usmjerena na pomoć tijelima državne uprave u usvajanju i provedbi zakonodavstva Europske unije.

Posebno napominjemo da u slučaju korištenja sredstava iz programa IPA (bez obzira radilo se o komponenti I ili komponenti III) krajnji korisnik navedene pomoći mogu biti isključivo institucije u javnom vlasništvu.

Nadalje, RH u sklopu IPA komponente II, sudjeluje i u ukupno 8 programa prekogranične i transnacionalne suradnje koji gotovo bez iznimke, kao jednu od mjera za sufinanciranje, predviđaju i energetiku (obnovljive izvore i energetsku učinkovitost). No u svakom slučaju, imajući u vidu specifičnost provedbe programa prekogranične/transnacionalne suradnje (npr. sudjelovanje više partnera), za više informacija molimo kontaktirajte Ministarstvo regionalnog razvoja, šumarstva i vodnoga gospodarstva koje je zaduženo za provedbu IPA komponente II. http://www.mrrsvg.hr/default.aspx?id=150

Na posljetku, kroz program IPARD (komponenta programa IPA) moguće je financirati ulaganja u izgradnju i/ili rekonstrukciju toplinskih sustava koji koriste organski otpad iz poljoprivrede i šumarstva (biomasu). Potencijalni korisnici tih projekta su općine i gradovi s do 10.000 stanovnika. Za provedbu ovog programa zaduženo je Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, ribarstva i ruralnog razvoja. http://www.mps.hr/default.aspx?id=4787

Kao mogućnost za sufinanciranje OIE projekata navodimo i "Okvirni program za konkurentnost i inovacije (Competitiveness and Innovation - CIP)" odnosno komponentu tog programa - "Inteligentna energija u Europi" (IEE), čiji je korisnik i RH. Taj program je namijenjen promicanju aktivnosti i pravnih mjera vezanih uz energetsku učinkovitost i korištenje obnovljivih izvora energije, te poticanje ulaganja u nove/učinkovite tehnologije. Napominjemo da naglasak IEE programa nije na kapitalnim ulaganjima već na razmjeni iskustava, policy inovacijama, strateškom planiranju i jačanju kapaciteta provedbe politike održive energije. Više informacija o ovom programu možete naći na web stranici: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/index_en.html  Napominjemo da se raspisivanje natječaja za predlaganje projekata za 2010. očekuje tijekom ožujka. Za koordinaciju programa "Inteligentna Energija u Europi", nadležno je Ministarstvo gospodarstva rada i poduzetništva.



Da li se potiču domaći proizvođači opreme koja iskorištava obnovljive izvore energije?
Po nama je to ključan aspekt energetske politike –razvojem  projekata i poticanjem proizvodnje električne, toplinske i rashladne energije iz OIE potaknuti i domaće proizvođače opreme. To je i jedan od ciljeva gospodarske strategije: povezati energetsku i industrijsku politiku. Na popisu nam je oko 40 tvrtki, domaćih proizvođača opreme za koje želimo jak ulazak u taj sektor.  MINGORP već niz godina daje potpore domaćim proizvođačima opreme i komponenata za programe OIE , ukupno 5,75 milijuna kuna godišnje od 2005. – 2007., a od 2008. godine taj iznos  je smanjen, te je u 2010. predviđen iznos od 4 milijuna kuna. Sredstva se dodjeljuju putem javnog natječaja, prema strogim kriterijima sukladno važećim propisima o sustavu državnih potpora.

 HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE (HCOIE)

News and Events by CCRES January 11, 2012

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES News and Events  January 11, 2012

Wisconsin Surpasses its DOE-Backed Home Energy Efficiency Goal DOE announced on January 6 that the state of Wisconsin has surpassed its energy efficiency goal established with the agency under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Through its weatherization program, the state has helped more than 30,500 Wisconsin households improve the energy efficiency of their homes over the last three years, saving the average household more than $400 a year on its energy utility bills. Of the 30,500 homes weatherized in Wisconsin, more than 21,600 were upgraded through the Recovery Act, surpassing the state's goal of 20,600 homes. Wisconsin's progress was an important part of the DOE's program nationally, which has completed upgrades on more than 750,000 homes across the country over the past three years. Nationwide, this is expected to save more than $400 million in just the first year. The program has also helped train thousands of workers across the country and has spurred the demand for energy-efficient technologies and products. While the Weatherization Assistance Program is limited to lower-income families, most families can save on their utility bills by taking some simple, affordable steps such as using more efficient light bulbs, sealing cracks around doors and windows, or using programmable thermostats. See the DOE press release, the list of homes weatherized by state, and the DOE Energy Savers website. DOE Releases its Critical Materials Strategy DOE released on December 22, 2011, its Critical Materials Strategy, a report that examines the role that rare earth metals and other key materials play in clean energy technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar cells, and energy-efficient lighting. The report found that several clean energy technologies use materials at risk of supply disruptions in the short term, with risks generally decreasing in the medium and long terms. Supply challenges for five rare earth metals (dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium, and yttrium) may affect clean energy technology deployment in the years ahead. In the past year, DOE has developed its first critical-materials research and development plan, provided new funding for priority research, convened international workshops that brought together leading experts, and participated in substantial new coordination among federal agencies working on critical materials. Also, the Fiscal Year 2012 spending bill includes $20 million to fund an energy innovation hub focused on critical materials, which will help advance the three pillars of the DOE strategy: diversifying supply; developing substitutes; and improving recycling, reuse, and more efficient use. The 2011 Critical Materials Strategy is DOE's second report on this topic and provides an update to last year's analysis. Using a methodology adapted from the National Academy of Sciences, the report includes criticality assessments for 16 elements based on their importance to clean energy and supply risk. See the DOE press release and the report summary. Interior Department OKs Renewable Energy Projects in California, Oregon The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced on December 29 the approval of two renewable energy projects—a solar plant in California and a wind farm in Oregon—that will be built on private lands and will use power lines that cross public lands to connect to their respective power grids. When built, the projects will deliver 379 megawatts of power, enough to power 112,500 homes. In California, the Centinela Solar Energy Project is a 275-megawatt solar energy power plant that will be located on 2,067 acres of previously disturbed private land near El Centro, California. Interior approved the right-of-way for 19 acres for the power line on public land, and Imperial County gave a green light to the solar power plant on December 27, 2011. The project would support at least 367 jobs and deliver enough electricity to power about 82,500 homes. In Oregon, the North Steens Transmission Line Project is a 44-mile, 230-kilovolt power line that will carry power from a proposed wind power project. The wind project, proposed on private land near Diamond, Oregon, would generate 104 megawatts, enough to power about 30,000 homes. Both projects underwent extensive environmental review, and they reflect strong efforts to mitigate potential environmental impacts, such as requiring funding for the acquisition of 80 acres of additional habitat for the flat-tailed horned lizard in California and implementing requirements that minimize audio and visual impacts from the Oregon project. See the DOI press release. Alternative Fuel Vehicles Roll in Detroit Auto Show The 2013 Ford Fusion has three versions: gasoline, hybrid, and an all-new plug-in hybrid that Ford says gets more than the equivalent of 100 MPG. Credit: Ford Motor Company Alternative fuel vehicles are sharing the spotlight at the annual North American International Auto Show—also known as the 2012 Detroit auto show—which opened on January 7 in Detroit, Michigan. Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and Honda are among carmakers featuring hybrids or electric vehicles (EV) and concept autos. The show runs through January 22. In its hometown, the Ford Motor Company debuted the new Fusion, saying the model was the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions for top fuel economy. Also on its home turf, General Motors Corporation exhibited its Code 130R concept, a coupe designed so that a turbocharged engine will work in tandem with GM technology to shut off the engine at stops and recapture braking energy. Nissan showed its e-NV200 Concept, which has the drive train from its Nissan Leaf EV installed in a Nissan NV200 multi-use van. And Honda unveiled its 2013 Accord lineup, which will feature the Accord Sedan with a new two-motor plug-in hybrid system that moves continuously through three modes: all-electric, gasoline-electric, and direct-drive. See press releases from Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and Honda. In addition, Energy Secretary Steven Chu is scheduled to address the Detroit Economic Club on January 11 as DOE highlights its support for U.S. auto industry innovation. DOE also released a new video, "Energy 101: Electric Vehicles", which showcases the benefits of EVs, including improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and lowered maintenance costs. See the DOE press release and visit YouTube to watch the Energy 101 video.

Breaking Up (Hydrogen) No Longer As Hard To Do It's said that breaking up is hard to do. That's undoubtedly true. But, when the lightning does strike, the electricity is lasting. What's true for affairs of the heart also holds true for the affairs of hydrogen, as researchers at the DOE's Office of Science's Argonne National Laboratory have recently shown. Hydrogen is an important energetic element that is used in a variety of applications ranging from making semiconductors to powering fuel cells. However, it's also a difficult, expensive one to produce in pure molecular form. Hydrogen usually shows up as a pair of hydrogen atoms (H2). As Nenad Markovic, a senior chemist at Argonne, noted, "People understand that once you have hydrogen, you can extract a lot of energy from it, but they don’t realize just how hard it is to generate that hydrogen in the first place." Markovic led research at Argonne that recently showed a cheaper, cleaner way to produce pure hydrogen, one that begins with a breakup. Specifically, the team took a look at breaking up water, taking the H2 out of the H2O. Water electrolyzers already do so, typically using special metals like platinum to speed up, or catalyze, the reaction. However, in addition to being costly, platinum is also a better maker-upper than breaker-upper—it is better at fixing single hydrogen atoms up than separating them from water in the first place. Read the full story on DOE's Energy Blog. Library Patrons in New York Check-Out Renewable Energy In a hamlet on the Hudson River in upstate New York, two newly installed photovoltaic arrays at the local library are generating electricity, interest in renewable energy, and community pride. Recognizing its role as an educator and community leader, the Esopus Library used a $96,790 award from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to install the 22.5-kW roof-mounted and 5.5-kW ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. "We're hoping to be a place to come to learn about renewable energy," said Library Director Kelly Tomaseski. "We think that people will be more likely to invest in a similar project if they can see it in practice." These sentiments are shared by Adam Rizzo, president of Solar Liberty, the project installation firm. "Community centers, nonprofit buildings, and schools are especially important for promoting solar energy. Seeing is believing." The new solar system is expected to generate approximately 31,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—approximately 30% of the library’s electricity use and a savings of $4,000 in energy costs each year. Read the full story on DOE's Energy Blog. Radical Thinkers Needed to Help Get a Solar Panel on Every Roof The deadline to apply for a funding opportunity for the SunShot Incubator Program for Soft Cost Reduction is January 16, 2012. What if all cars cost more than $75,000 today? How many of us would own one? This is exactly the situation your great-grandparents may have faced before Henry Ford changed the world by thinking outside the box. Through innovative assembly line processing, he democratized automobiles, making the Model T something most Americans could own. The solar industry is in a similar situation now. Solar is an exceptionally compelling solution to addressing one’s energy needs, but it is currently too expensive for the average customer. But, just like cars, once the price is lowered to a certain point, solar energy could be on exponentially more roofs. We need help though. We need innovative thinkers to change the industry by thinking outside the panel. We need you. Read the full story on DOE's Energy Blog. CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

Energy efficiency talks

Financing aspects are dominating ongoing talks on the energy efficiency directive, but member states are keeping their hands firmly on their wallets, EurActiv has learned.

As negotiations over the energy efficiency directive reopen under the Danish EU Presidency, discussions are  focusing heavily on financing aspects.
However, several options floated by the European Parliament to break the deadlock already look like non-starters, EurActiv was told.
And opposition by some EU states is making a binding 20% energy efficiency target impossible, said Martin Lidegaard, Danish minister for climate, energy and building as he was speaking to a group of Brussels-based journalists in Copenhagen. 

Bendt Bendtsen, a Danish member of Parliament who is following the dossier for the European People's Party (EPP) told EurActiv that funding mechanisms currently contemplated by Parliament will be blocked by the EU Council of Ministers, which represents the EU's 27 member states.
“The provision on ear-marking of financing, such as national energy efficiency funds will not be part of the final piece of legislation,” Bendtsen said.
“It is generally quite difficult to convince member states to earmark funds," explained Bendtsen, adding that "this has even been the case before the crisis emerged”.
“I feel that the council has a hard job ahead, the ball is really on their table,” he said.
Danes revive talks
Both the European Commission and Parliament were forced to change their position on the proposed energy efficiency directive in order to accommodate the Council's views. Member sates first refused to sign up to binding targets on energy savings, which prompted the Commission to propose binding "measures" instead.
Now, the Council does not want binding measures either, Bendtsen said, “unless the targets are measured differently or there are opt-outs or something else”.
The Danish presidency was expected to meet the Council’s energy working group yesterday (10 January) for the first time since it took over the EU's rotating presidency on 1 January. The Danes are hoping to piggy-back on discussions over the EU's energy roadmap to 2050 in order to re-launch the stalled talks on the directive.
Funding to be discussed as part of the 2014-2020 EU budget
But financing issues are more likely to be addressed in wider talks over the EU budget for 2014-2020, the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF), which covers areas such as research and regional funding.
The funding aspect of the directive “has to be seen in the full picture of the European Regional Development Fund and 'Horizon 2020' [research agenda], but should not necessarily be a part of the directive,” an EU official told EurActiv.
Member states are avoiding signing up to a specific wording on financing issues in the text of the directive, as they do not want to prejudge the ongoing negotiations over the EU’s budget for the 2014-2020 period, EurActiv understands.
The upcoming months will see “tough talks” on the proposed directive, with “a large majority of the European Parliament” wanting binding financial facilities in place to fund the energy efficiency measures and member states being reluctant to allocating further money.
The talks are "like a poker game" where governments keep their cards close to their chests, said Claude Turmes, a Green MEP from Luxembourg who is spearheading talks for the European Parliament.
Claire Roumet of Cecodhas, a federation promoting social housing in Europe, said financing issues were crucial as renovation work in homes help bring energy bills down for the poorest. “[The EED] is looking at more than just EU finance. Tapping money for energy efficiency is not touched fully by the MFF, because it does not take into consideration all alternative types of funding,” Roumet told EurActiv.
Roumet was also adamant that binding measures were necessary. ​“If there is an obligation without specific measures, it will never be complied with," she said.
March vote in Parliament
Meanwhile, the European Parliament's committee on industry, research and energy (ITRE), which has the lead on the dossier, has pushed back its vote on the draft text from 24 January to 28 February. A full parliamentary vote is expected to take place late March.
The delay can be explained by the huge number of amendments, with more than 1,800 changes proposed to the draft energy efficiency bill.
“The number of amendments shows just how important this directive is,” said Claude Turmes MEP. The industry committee aims to integrate all those into 60-70 compromise amendments for the final vote of the Parliament.
“We are entering the eye of the storm, we are trying to build alliances with friendly governments,” Turmes told EurActiv.
On financing aspects, he said he was optimistic: “We are very much still in the negotiations, it is still very probable that we will have a text on this issue of financing in the directive".
The Green MEP said that the Parliament's insistence on having financial facilities included in the text of the directive gives the Assembly “visibility” and allows it “to have a tough discussion on financing” with member states.
Targets to stimulate investment
And as financing aspects remain the most difficult part of the negotiation, some are trying to revive an old idea – making the EU's 20% energy efficiency target legally-binding on the member states.
Proponents say a binding target would make it harder for countries to argue against energy efficiency funds, because they would be compelled to allocate some money from the EU budget to meet that objective.
"A way of seeing it is the spine is the target and the flesh is the European budget to add meat to the bone," Sanjeev Kumar of environmental group E3G told EurActiv.
And even if the EU allocates some specific funds for energy efficiency, without targets investments might remain scarce, efficiency advocates argue.
The European Commission’s last report on how the 2007-2013 budget was spent says that "certain energy and environmental investments are not progressing  as expected" and this must be redressed by the member states and regions.
"The direction for 10-20 years is vital so that you can cast these investments over a longer time," Kumar said. "It gives people certainty that their efforts will not be reversed," he added.
Claude Turmes, the Green MEP, agrees. “The more binding the target , the less risky the investment,” he said. “A clear target gives a bigger incentive to kick start investment. More flexibility and joint targets would make the energy efficiency directive easier to be agreed on,” Roumet added.
The  Danish presidency, described as “ambitious, but realistic”, its aim to finalise the so-called 'trialogue’ talks between the European Commission, Council and Parliament on the energy efficiency directive during the first six months of 2012.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

OTVORENA OSUDA MEDIJSKOG LINČA SPRAM OBITELJI KOSTELIĆ

OTVORENA OSUDA MEDIJSKOG LINČA SPRAM OBITELJI KOSTELIĆ

Obitelj Kostelić idealan su primjer “zamašnjaka”.Idealan su primjer kako mali timovi moraju funkcionirati.Prije svega, obitelj Kostelić pokazala je da je izvorište i uporište svega obitelj.Obitelj je ta koja donosi mir i snagu.U današnje vrijeme, kad se na svjetskoj razini, na sve načine, a posebice putem medija nastoji razarati i umanjiti značaj obitelji, a na prijestolje se stavljaju pojedinac i virtualne zajednice, obitelj Kostelić na najljepši mogući način pokazuje i dokazuje da je obitelj ishodište i temelj svega. U obitelji se stekne odgoj, radne navike, nauči se što su prave vrijednosti.Osim osobnih motiva tih sjajnih sportaša, uvijek je bio prisutan još jedan, a to je domoljublje.
 DOMOLJUBLJE.
Da se vratimo na početak.Idealan primjer kako mali timovi moraju funkcionirati.To se odnosi i na našu Hrvatsku,malu zemlju,koja po prići nekih ne može i neće opstati sama,već treba neku drugu obitelj,jaću,veću, koja će se brinuti o njoj.Hrvatska kao mali tim može idealno funkcionirati,naravno pod predpostavkom da na nju gledamo kao na svoju obitelj.Kada se obitelj Kostelić prvi puta našla na postolju s hrvatskim barjakom u ruci bio je to za neke alarm,sada je već medijski  poziv na linč.Isto smo vidjeli puno puta.Kada će već jednom netko javno reći da to nije neki "hrvatski jal",nego suživot s ljudima kojima ovi ljudi nisu obitelj,ova zemlja nije pri srcu, i koji riječ DOMOLJUBLJE ne povezuju s njom.

HVALA KOSTELIĆI na lekciji svima nama,ispričavam se ,vama.

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE

German solar energy 2012

  

CCRES promotes

German solar energy 2012

Germany’s solar energy output defied government subsidy cuts to rise by a record 60% last year, according to the German Solar Industry Association BSW-Solar.

“Solar power has become an indispensable ingredient for the success of the energy transformation,” said Carsten Körnig, BSW-Solar’s chief executive.
The clean energy technology generated more than 18 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2011, BSW-Solar figures showed, enough to power the state of Thuringia – or 5.1 million households for a whole year.
The renewables surge comes despite a 13% cut in Germany’s solar subsidies last year, which will be augmented by a further 24% reduction in 2012, implemented in two phases.
Yet because of sharp oil and gas price increases, coupled with price falls in solar technology, Körnig predicted that by 2014, solar power would not need any more government support than ocean-based wind-farms.
“What the solar industry now needs are reliable political conditions,” he said. “This is indispensable for the continued expansion of renewable energy sources and for maintaining an attractive climate of investment in Germany.”
BSW-Solar has called on the government not to tinker with the German government’s proposals for a phase-down of subsidies.
Since 2007, solar panel prices in Germany have already fallen by close to 50%.
Solar power currently contributes some 3% of Germany’s electricity supply, but this is forecast to grow to around 10% by 2020.

More Solar Power than ever before

Record level of production: In 2011, German solar power systems generated enough electricity to cover the power consumption of Thuringia / Support for solar power is reduced by 15 percent as of 1 January 2012, reaching the level of household electricity prices / Increased growth in the solar heating market

The year comes to an end with record levels in the production of solar power. In 2011, solar power systems in Germany produced over 18 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, according to figures provided by the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) at the close of the year. That amounts to 60 percent more than in the previous year and is approximately equal to the electricity consumption of the state of Thuringia; this volume could theoretically supply 5.1 million households with electricity for an entire year. Solar heating usage also saw a marked increase in 2011, according to the Association's figures. “Solar power has become an indispensable ingredient for the success of the energy transformation,” explained Carsten Körnig, Chief Executive Officer of the German Solar Industry Association. One key reason for the high demand is the sharp increase in prices for oil and gas; another is found in the significantly lower costs for solar technology. Since 2007 alone, prices for turnkey solar power systems have fallen by more than half. This has allowed the support for solar power systems to be reduced by the same extent. In 2012, after another reduction in the level of remuneration for solar power at the turn of the year, the level of support will have already reached the price level for household electricity.

This is considered to be a significant milestone on the path to the full competitiveness of solar power with other energy sources. According to Körnig, “The solar industry is making good on its promise to radically reduce costs. As a next step, in 2013/2014 we will be able to match the support level of large ocean-based windfarms in initial market segments. This is the result of major efforts on the part of industry and research, combined with the effects of tough competition in international markets.”

Recent advances in cost reduction also mean that the further expansion of solar power in Germany will have a negligible impact in terms of cost. At the beginning of 2011, support for solar power was able to be reduced by 13 percent. On 1 January 2012, there will be an additional reduction for new systems by 15 percent, while another reduction by up to nine percent will take place in the middle of the year, as set out in the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which was passed in the summer of 2011.

BSW-Solar now appeals to the Federal Government, following a period of considerable uncertainty, to allow this recently tightened legislation to run its course. According to Körnig, “What the solar industry now needs are reliable political conditions. This is indispensable for the continued expansion of renewable energy sources and for maintaining an attractive climate of investment in Germany. It's the only way to ensure that the contract between generations contained in the energy transformation will work. And it's the only way that Germany can continue to be successful in the now highly competitive growth markets.” Currently, solar power contributes roughly three percent of the German electricity supply; by 2020, this share is expected to expand to roughly 10 percent. Please see our illustration on the record levels of solar power production at:

www.solarwirtschaft.de/fileadmin/media/Grafiken/pdf/BSW_Infografik_Stromproduktion_111221.pdf. 

Survey shows: Mid-agers investing in solar heating

 

Following weak figures in 2010, 2011 saw renewed increases not only in the production of solar power, but also in the use of solar heating. In order to better gauge the use of solar heating, the information portal co2online, on behalf of BSW-Solar, conducted a survey of 1500 solar heating users. The survey showed that “mid-agers” in particular are deciding to invest in solar heating; according to the survey, the average age for these users of solar heating is 47. The prospects of long-term reductions in energy costs are a central factor in this trend. For 64 percent of those surveyed, cost savings are an important reason for investing in solar heating. 46 percent stated that concern about price increases for fossil fuels such as oil and gas are a key reason. “The only reason that rated higher, at 81 percent, was environmental protection through solar technology,” explained Jörg Mayer, Chief Executive Officer of BSW-Solar. “Apparently, reducing costs on the expenditure side is becoming an increasingly important argument among the older generation.”

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

Largest Photovoltaic Power Plants In The World

CCRES 

promotes

Largest Photovoltaic Power Plants In The World

Photovoltaics is a semiconductor technology used for generating electricity by converting the heat from the sun rays into direct current electricity. These power plants encourage the use of green sources of energy which are not only available in abundance but also they help the environment by reducing or dependence on the pollution generating fossil fuels for power generation. A number of solar cells composed of a photovoltaic material are used to make a solar panel, and a number of such panels are installed in the solar photovoltaic power stations. Some of these world's largest solar photovoltaic power stations promoting green energy are given in this article.

Photovoltaic power plants

 

1. Solarpark Seftenberg

 

Solarpark Senftenberg

This photovoltaic power plant is the world's largest and is located at a place close to the city of Senftenberg, Eastern Germany which was earlier used as an open-pit mining area. This 78 MW plant consisting of 62 central inverter stations and around 330,000 crystalline solar modules was completed within just 3 months and is capable of generating power for about 25,000 houses. In fact, the total installed capacity of this complex is 166 MW because it includes another plant sharing the common infrastructure having an overall capacity of 70 MW and one more power plant with a capacity of 18 MW which was completed one year earlier. Three German banks financed the € 150 million investment for this 78 MW plant. Besides setting new standards in the building of large PV installations, this project has also shown that in comparison to other types of power plants, the large-scale photovoltaic systems can be completed much faster. The plant is able to generate power at lower cost despite of the fact that its location is not-always-sunny Germany. Utility scale projects like this not only speeds up the transformation to renewable sources of energy but also plays an important role in securing energy supply needs.

 

2. Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant

 

Sarnia

The Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant located near Sarnia, Ontario in Canada with a total capacity of around 80MW is one of the world's largest and modern photovoltaic plants. This project developed by Enbridge was completed in two phases, the first phase delivering 20 MW was completed in December 2009 and the next phase which is capable of delivering 60 MW was completed in September 2010. The Sarnia power plant covers a total of 950 acres of land out of which around 966,000 sq mt is covered by 1.3 million thin film solar panels. The expected annual yield of this plant is about 120,00 MW. To produce the same amount of power in a coal plant will lead to an emission of 39,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. You can just imagine the damage that could be caused to the environment by such huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

3. Lieberose Photovoltaic Park

 

Lieberose

The Leiberose Photovoltaic Park operated by the Juwi Group (which has a 20 year contract on the land) is the world's third-largest plant of its kind. This plant located in Leiberose, Brandenburg, Germany went fully on line in October 2009 and has a total capacity of 71.8 MW. The solar park consists of 700,000 solar panels and supply electricity to 15,000 houses. The solar panels used here are highly energy efficient and converts a large portion of the solar energy into electrical energy. Not only does it produce cheap and green energy, but also reduces the use of pollution generating fossil fuels.

4. Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station

 

Montalto di Castro

The Montalto di Castro photovoltaic power station located in Viterbo, Italy is the largest photovoltaic power plant in Italy. Before being acquired by SunPower, it was developed in several phases by the independent developer SunRay of which the first phase having capacity of 20 MW got completed in late 2009. The three phases which were commissioned in 2010 have a capacity of 8 MW each, thus increasing the total capacity of this plant to 44 MW.

5. Finsterwalde Solar Park

 

Finsterwalde

Until November 2010, the Finsterwalde Solar Park with a total capacity of 80 MW was the world's largest photovoltaic plant. This one is also a German Project and is located in Finsterwalde, Germany. This power plant is a joint venture of LDK Solar along with Q-Cells International and was developed completely in three phases. The first phase of this power plant equipped with LDK solar wafers and Q-cells modules was commissioned in the year 2009 while the other two phases were completed later in 2010.
Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources ( CCRES )

News and Events by CCRES January 04, 2012

 

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources 

 

News and Events by CCRES

January 04, 2012

DOE's Top Energy Innovator Challenge Open to Public Voting

DOE announced on December 19 that it will give the public the chance to vote for the most innovative and promising technologies supported by the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" challenge. In all, 36 start-up companies elected to participate in this first-of-its-kind effort. These companies have signed 43 option agreements allowing them to license cutting-edge technologies developed and patented by one of DOE's 17 national laboratories and the Y-12 National Security Complex, one of four production facilities in the National Nuclear Security Administration's Nuclear Security Enterprise. Competitors used a streamlined application process and a greatly reduced upfront fee of $1,000.

Beginning in mid January, Americans will be able to view profiles of the companies and vote on those that could contribute most to the country’s economic and energy future. An expert panel will evaluate the companies and identify those that have most advanced their business plans. See the top innovator Web page.

Among the companies competing are Vorbeck Materials, based in Jessup, Maryland, which is using a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory-developed method for building tiny chemical structures to greatly improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. And, Boulder, Colorado-based e-Chromic LLC will use electrochromic technology developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to create a new thin-film window material that reflects sunlight on demand, making windows more energy efficient while reducing cooling costs for consumers. See the DOE press release and a White House blog on startups.

DOE Researchers Report Breakthrough for Cheaper Biofuels

New molecular breakthroughs could help in designing E. coli that better digest switchgrass and other plants to help make biofuels. Credit: Todd Johnson

Researchers at DOE's Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) announced on December 22 a major breakthrough in engineering systems of RNA molecules using computer-assisted design. The innovation could lead to important improvements across a range of industries, including the development of less-expensive advanced biofuels. Scientists will use these new "RNA machines" to adjust genetic expression in the cells of microorganisms. This will enable scientists to develop new strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) that are better able to digest switchgrass biomass and convert released sugars to form gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels. JBEI is led by researchers at DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

A breakthrough with E. coli could lower the cost of producing advanced biofuels from switchgrass or other non-food biomass plants, with the potential to replace gasoline. While the work at JBEI remains focused on the development of advanced biofuels, JBEI's researchers believe their concepts could help other researchers to develop many other desired products, including biodegradable plastics and therapeutic drugs. For example, some researchers have already started a project to investigate using the "RNA machines" to increase the safety and efficacy of medicine therapies to treat diseases, including diabetes and Parkinson's.

Biological systems are very complex, which makes it difficult to engineer systems of microorganisms that will produce desired products in predictable amounts. JBEI’s work—featured in the December 23 issue of Science magazine—is the first of its kind to set up and adjust an RNA system in a predictable way.

Specifically, researchers focused their design-driven approach on RNA sequences that can fold into complicated three-dimensional shapes called ribozymes and aptazymes. Using JBEI-developed computer-assisted models and simulations, researchers then created complex RNA-based control systems that are able to program a large number of genes. In microorganisms, "commands" sent into the cell will be processed by the RNA-based control systems, enabling them to help develop desired products.

A major goal of synthetic biology is to produce valuable chemical products from simple, inexpensive, and renewable starting materials in a sustainable manner. Computer-assisted models and simulations like the one JBEI developed are essential for doing so. Until now, such tools for biology have been very limited, and JBEI’s breakthrough in applying computer-assisted design marks an important technical and conceptual achievement for this field. JBEI is one of three Bioenergy Research Centers established by the DOE’s Office of Science in 2007. See the DOE press release and the JBEI website.

DOE Awards $7 Million to Reduce Electric Vehicle Charger Costs

DOE announced on December 21 awards totaling nearly $7 million in research and development funding that will help to reduce the current costs of electric vehicle chargers by 50% over the next three years. With DOE support, manufacturers in California, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania will work to improve the development and design of charging equipment. This research will promote "smart" charging capabilities that can help ensure electric vehicles enhance, rather than strain, existing electrical grid capacity.

Two of the four selected projects will focus on improving electric vehicle chargers that attach to consumers' homes and are used by the owners to charge their vehicles while they are at home. Two other projects will focus on chargers used at commercial and public locations to charge large numbers of vehicles, including commercial fleets of delivery vehicles.

These research and development investments will leverage additional investments from the industry grantees. See the DOE press release and the DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability website.

Interior Department OKs Two Major Renewable Projects

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced on December 20 the approval of two utility-scale renewable energy projects, including the first renewable project on public lands in Arizona and a solar energy project in California. Combined, the two projects will generate nearly 500 megawatts (MW), enough to power 150,000 homes, and create 700 jobs during peak construction. Also, DOI announced the first major step in developing an offshore wind transmission line on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.

DOI approved the Sonoran Solar Energy Project, proposed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, making it the first-ever renewable energy project approved for construction on public lands in Arizona in the desert southwest of Phoenix. The project's photovoltaic (PV) panels are expected to generate 300 megawatts, and the project will create 374 jobs through construction, operation, and maintenance. Also approved was the Tule Wind Power Project, located 70 miles east of San Diego, which will produce 186 megawatts of electricity via 62 wind turbines sited on public lands, or enough to power up to 65,000 homes. Proposed by a subsidiary of Iberdrola Renewables, the project is expected to create 337 jobs.

DOI also took the next step toward developing a Mid-Atlantic Wind Energy Transmission Line. Atlantic Grid Holdings, LLC has requested a right-of-way grant to develop a high-voltage direct-current line that would collect power generated by wind turbine facilities off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. With the new line, up to 7,000 MW of wind turbine capacity could be delivered to the grid. DOI's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management opened a public comment period on the potential environmental effects of the proposed project. The agency is also asking whether other developers are interested in constructing transmission facilities in this area in order to determine whether there is overlapping competitive interest. See the DOI press release, a DOI fact sheet on onshore renewable energy, and a fact sheet on offshore renewable energy.

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

How do you calculate battery capacity in amp-hours (Ah) at different “C” rates?

  

How do you calculate battery capacity in amp-hours (Ah) at different “C” rates?

For instance, I know that a battery with a capacity of 200 Ah at C/20 has a different capacity at C/100.

When you size a PV system with a battery bank of, say, 800 Ah, how do you tell what C-rate the battery bank is using?

C-rates are also called “hourly rates,” and are based on the length of time of discharge. A C/20 rate means that battery capacity is calculated based on completely discharging it over the course of 20 hours. So, if you have a 1,000 amp-hour battery bank, charging or discharging at 50 amps would be a C/20 rate (1,000 Ah ÷ 50 A = 20 hrs.).

The informal solar industry standard for comparing deep-cycle battery capacity is at the C/20 rate, because it approximates the 24-hour discharge period of most off-grid systems. Many battery manufacturers’ data sheets also provide capacity information for C/5 and C/100 rates, which are useful in other industries.

It is possible to calculate battery capacity at any given C-rate, if you know Peukert’s exponent for the battery. Peukert was a German scientist who derived the formula for the relationship between battery capacity and discharge rate. Battery manufacturers do not typically provide Peukert data on their spec sheets, but it may be available by contacting them.

It = C × [C ÷ (I × H)] k – 1; where
H = rated discharge time in hours;
C = rated capacity at that discharge rate;
I = actual discharge current in amps;
k = Peukert exponent
It = effective capacity at the discharge rate “I”

Most flooded lead-acid batteries have a Peukert exponent between 1.2 and 1.4, while most absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries are between 1.05 and 1.2—but keep in mind that these figures will increase as the batteries age. Peukert’s exponent for a given battery can also be calculated if the manufacturer provides you with the capacity ratings at two different discharge rates. That math is complicated, but there’s a helpful spreadsheet (and detailed information on applying Peukert’s law) at www.smartgauge.co.uk/peukert_depth.html

A typical renewable energy system will be charging or discharging at different C-rates throughout the course of any given 24 hours. With a battery monitoring system that logs data to a computer spreadsheet, it’s possible to calculate the C-rate at any given instant. And though it seems strange, your usable battery bank capacity is continuously changing.

Fortunately for the typical home RE system owner, discharge C-rates are, on average, quite low. Consider a 48 V battery bank of 1,000 Ah in a system that’s designed to provide 10 kWh of backup energy per day. Those 10 kWh equal 208 Ah. This divided by 24 hours equals 8.7 A. That’s a daily average rate of C/115 (1,000 ÷ 8.7), far slower than the C/20 rate used for comparison when selecting batteries. It’s true that large loads that are used during those 24 hours will increase Peukert effects and reduce usable battery capacity, but this example is also figured with no solar input. On sunny days, the C-rate of discharge will be even slower.

Folks working with electric vehicles must pay closer attention to Peukert’s law. A typical EV’s battery bank has much lower capacity than one in a typical solar home, since both battery weight and bulk must be minimized in vehicles. Also, EV motors use battery energy at very high rates—under some conditions, the battery might be fully discharged in less than an hour.

For solar energy applications, simply using proper system sizing guidelines such as online spreadsheets or consultation with your local RE dealer will keep the batteries’ C-rates reasonable, usually much better than C/20. Peukert’s exponent will only raise its ugly head if you drastically undersize your battery bank for your loads, or in specialized applications like electric vehicles.

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

Sretna nova godina 2012!

Happy new year 2012!

Alles Gute für das Neue Jahr 2012!

Feliz año nuevo 2012!

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)