NEWS and EVENTS by CCRES

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

NEWS and EVENTS by CCRES

DOE Funds U.S.-India Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center

DOE announced on May 16 that it has committed $25 million over the next five years to support the U.S.-India Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center. This first-of-a-kind effort is a key component of the U.S. and India's commitment to improve energy access and promote low-carbon growth by facilitating joint research and development of clean energy technologies. Teams of scientists and engineers from the United States and India will initially focus on research in three priority areas: building energy efficiency, second-generation biofuels, and solar energy. President Obama and India's Prime Minister Singh signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 24, 2009, for their nations to work together to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technology.

DOE will provide awards under each of the center's three initial priority areas. Funding will be matched by U.S. grantees, and the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology will provide another $50 million in public and private funds for research in India. Universities, national laboratories, private companies, and others are eligible to apply. Applications are due by August 16, 2011, with selections expected later this fall.More info at http:solarserdar.blogspot.com

Green Power Leaders Shine on Campus and among Utilities

DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on May 9 released its annual assessment of leading utility green power programs. Under these voluntary programs, offered by more than 850 U.S. utilities, consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources. Green power sales from utility programs exceeded 6 million megawatt-hours (MWh) in 2010. Energy from wind, landfill gas, biomass, small hydro, and solar is included in this year's sources. Wind energy now represents more than three-fourths of electricity generated for green energy programs nationwide.

Using information provided by utilities, NREL developed rankings of utility green power programs for 2010 in a variety of categories. The rankings by renewable energy sales in kilowatt-hours (kWh/year) repeated last year's top five: Austin Energy in Austin, Texas—which sold the largest amount of renewable energy in the nation—followed by Portland General Electric (Oregon), PacifiCorp (Oregon and five other states), the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (California), and Xcel Energy (Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New Mexico). Also repeating from last year, the City of Palo Alto Utilities (California) recorded the largest percentage of customers participating, with more than 20% of its consumers enrolled in its green power program, which began in 2003. NREL has tracked green power programs since 2000.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com

Energy Star Building Projects Honored

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 12 that 79 commercial building design projects achieved Designed to Earn the Energy Star certification in the past year. In total, the projects are estimated to save nearly 46,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually and more than $7 million in annual energy costs across nearly 6.5 million square feet. Twelve of the projects attained an estimated carbon dioxide emissions reduction of 50% or more, meeting Energy Star, American Institute of Architects (AIA), and industry goals for a 50% carbon dioxide reduction in new construction by 2030. Energy Star is a joint program of DOE and EPA.

EPA estimates that if they are built as designed, the projects will prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to the emissions from more than 54,000 vehicles per year and will save more than $26 million in annual energy costs. For the past several years, EPA and AIA have worked together to promote the Designed to Earn the Energy Star certification for new building design projects. An architecture firm can achieve the certification for its projects by comparing the project's intended energy performance against the average energy use of comparable operating buildings using EPA's online tool Target Finder. Once the building is occupied, owners can track its actual energy performance using Portfolio Manager, EPA's measurement and tracking tool, and can earn Energy Star certification if the building performs as planned.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com

An Update on DOE's Loan Programs

President Obama has made it clear that the nation that wins the clean energy race will likely be the nation that leads the global economy. In just over two years, DOE's Loan Programs Office has become one of our most significant and most effective tools to meet this challenge and promote America's leadership in clean energy production and manufacturing.

In that time, DOE has issued loans, loan guarantees, and conditional commitments for loan guarantees to 28 clean energy projects, 16 of which have reached "financial close," meaning that they have met all requirements and their full loans are finalized. That equates to over $30 billion in financing for those projects with total project costs of over $47 billion. Project sponsors estimate these 28 projects will create or save over 61,000 jobs, including construction and operating jobs, while also building a foundation for clean energy technology manufacturing here in the United States.

One of the three types of loans or loan guarantees offered by the Loan Programs Office—Section 1705 loan guarantees from the Recovery Act—will expire by statute on September 30, 2011. To qualify, projects must have commenced construction and closed their loan guarantees by that date. Under 1705, DOE has issued 19 loan guarantees or conditional commitments since March 2009 that total $11 billion in investment.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com

How Elyria, Ohio, Is Putting Money Back in Its Citizens' Pockets

Elyria might be the quintessential middle-class American town. Located just off the coast of Lake Erie in northern Ohio, Elyria boasts a rich history rooted in the successes of an array of small businesses dating back to the early 19th century. Unfortunately, more and more of those businesses have had to close up shop in recent years due to the economic challenges facing many of our historic rust belt towns.

So, when the city was awarded $535,500 as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, city officials decided to take that money back to the people by encouraging homeowners to make energy improvements and weatherize their homes through rebate incentives.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com

CHIP House Takes Design to Different Heights in U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011

The team of students from the Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology, otherwise known as the SCI-Arc/Caltech Solar Decathlon team, have teamed up to take an interesting approach to the design of their Solar Decathlon home. Unlike the other houses the DOE Energy Blog has profiled, CHIP—which stands for "Compact House Infinite Possibilities"—looks nothing like a traditional home from the outside, but if all goes as planned, it will achieve ultra high efficiency energy use for its occupants.

In what can only be described as a truly "out of the box" approach to the design of the home (pun intended), the SCI-Arc/Caltech team has wrapped the polygonal home in a "skin" that acts as what the team refers to as "outsulation." This skin is a system of cellulose-filled batts fastened in layers to the outside surface of the roof (underneath the home's 235-watt photovoltaic panels) and exterior walls. This forms a shell, which is wrapped in airtight and water-resistant architectural grade polymer-coated vinyl.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com

Renewables Could Provide almost 80% of Global Energy by 2050: UN Report

Nearly 80% of the global energy supply could be met by renewables by 2050 if backed by the correct public policies, a new United Nations report shows. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released on May 9, indicates that the rising adoption of renewable energies could lead to cumulative greenhouse gas savings equivalent to 220-560 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide between 2010 and 2050. The upper end of the scenarios assessed, representing a cut of around a third in greenhouse gas emissions from business-as-usual projections, could assist in keeping concentrations of greenhouse gases at 450 parts per million.

The report's findings are contained in a summary of the "Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation." The summary is a short version of a roughly a thousand-page comprehensive assessment compiled by more than 120 leading experts from all over the world for the IPCC. The report noted that the substantial increase of renewables is very challenging technically and politically. The six renewable energy technologies reviewed included bioenergy, solar, power, geothermal power, hydropower, ocean energy, and wind energy. More than 160 existing scientific scenarios on the possible use of renewables by 2050 were reviewed.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ( CCRES )

Kingspan Group plc. by CCRES

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

promotes



Kingspan Group plc

- Global, Sustainable, Building Product Solutions



Kingspan Group plc is a building products business focused on establishing leading market positions by providing energy conserving and renewable construction systems with a global reach. Kingspan has manufacturing and distribution operations throughout the world and is recognized throughout the construction industry for its commitment to innovation, design, quality and technical expertise.

Across a wide range of sectors within the industry, Kingspan's integrated approach to the energy efficiency of buildings has made it first choice in delivering the specialist needs of architects, specifiers, developers and building owners.

Kingspan Renewables. is a division of the Kingspan Group plc. Together with other Kingspan Group companies, the Solar business has an overall goal to provide solutions towards a zero carbon lifestyle.

Kingspan Renewables

Kingspan Renewables is committed to providing world-leading, efficient and cost effective solutions to satisfy today's environmental concerns. Investment in manufacturing technology, research and design and infrastructure is the key to Kingspan's success. With over 25 years' experience in design, specifications and installation of solar thermal technology the Kingspan Solar range leads the way with premium quality products including our award-winning Thermomax solar vacuum tubes. We can offer professional system design specifications and provide technical assistance for both domestic and commercial applications.

Major Investment In Manufacturing Processes

In May 2010, a £47 million phased expansion of a new facility in Portadown, Northern Ireland was announced. The investment commenced in 2009 and is being supported by an offer of £6.5 million from Invest Northern Ireland. It will also create 163 new advanced manufacturing and engineering jobs and safeguard 152 jobs.

Now operational, the facility is one of the world’s most technologically-advanced solar technology productions sites. Highly sophisticated process combines leading-edge machinery and control systems to produce its Thermomax tubes to an even higher standard than before.

Working With You

All commercial and domestic installations will be different, which is why Kingspan Solar offer a FREE custom design service.

This includes:
Assistance with the design of your project and producing solar simulation.
Recommendation of an accredited dealer for the project through our network of master dealers.

The Complete Solar Package

A Package For Everyone

Kingspan Renewables supplies packages to suit all homes and businesses and provides high performance hot water solutions for all geographical areas. Kingspan Solar packages include everything you need for your installation of the world leading Thermomax evacuated tube or Kingspan Solar flat plate collectors.

Stress Free Installation

We’ve chosen the best quality European manufactured components, which guarantee optimum performance of our premium quality collectors, thereby reducing time spent in system planning. Our plug-and-play collectors and easy-fit roof brackets mean installation is quicker and easier also.

Typical domestic packages come in two different sizes:

People using Hot Water Package
1 - 2 20 Tube Thermomax
3 - 5 30 Tube Thermomax system
1 - 2 2 Flat Panel system
3 - 5 3 Flat Panel system

THERMOMAX

Thermomax - World leading solar vacuum tube collectors

Solar thermal technology transforms direct and diffuse solar radiation into useful heat using a solar collector. Each Thermomax collector consists of a highly insulated water manifold and a row of tubes. The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation and therefore, protects the system from outside influences, such as cold and windy weather or high humidity. This vacuum insulation also ensures that the energy collected from the sun is very efficiently and effectively transferred into usable heat as there is minimal heat loss.

Thermomax are the original and still the best all-round, highest performing vacuum tube collectors in the world

Thermomax vacuum solar tubes are acknowledged as the most efficient method of generating solar hot water whatever the weather - designed specifically for North American climates. In addition to domestic hot water, the superior performance of a Thermomax vacuum tube collector can also provide central heating support for standard, specialized industrial hot water heating for high temperature applications and solar cooling.

Benefits:

Provides up to 70% of your annual hot water
Vacuum tube technology provides rapid conductivity and transfer of heat, 30% more effective than flat panel collectors.
Thermomax products are designed specifically to work in North American climates, even in cold, wet and humid conditions.
Works from dawn until dusk and throughout the year.
5 year standard warranty, 20 years if installed by a Kingspan Solar Accredited Installer.
Average 25-year lifespan.
SRCC approved
Certified to withstand hail impact test DIN EN12975-2:2006 using ice-balls.

FLAT PLATE

High Performance Solar Thermal Flat Panel Technology

Thermomax flat panel high performance solar collectors are designed for european climates. Robust and hard-wearing, they are ideal for domestic use and tested and guaranteed under the extreme conditions of the BS 12975 hail test. Providing flexibility in installation, these panels can be either 'in-roof' or 'on-roof' depending on your requirements.

Benefits:

Designed specifically for hotter climates
Ideal for domestic use
10 year warranty when installed by a Kingspan Solar Accredited Installer
Undergone stringent thermal shock and tensile tests to guarantee highest quality
Tested to EN12975 for performance and durability
Tested to EN12975 hail test
Solar Keymark approved

VARISON

Varisol is a revolutionary new product from the makers of Thermomax that is set to redefine solar thermal technology the world over.

World leading technology of Thermomax direct flow tubes and unique new design combines to offer high performance and total flexibility.

The revolutionary new design of the Varisol product offers a modern and flexible alternative to the rigid manifold system. Quick and easy to install, tubes to be simply clicked together to create solar collectors of varying sizes.

Benefits for everyone

Total flexibility and high performance are not the only benefits of this unique new design. The combination of high performance polymer materials and ‘click-fit’ technology creates a product that is easier to order, store and install and is also more environmentally friendly.

Installer

Rapid installation.
No heavy manifold
Can size collectors to fit available space e.g. in between windows.

End user

Sized exactly to meet your needs
Only pay for what you need e.g. 24 tube collector - exactly sized.
Expandable as needs change - can grow the system with your family.
Match size of collector to available budget and increase when funds are available.
No gaps in larger systems improving overall appearance.
Environment

Less use of energy intensive metals.
No brazing or welding, reducing in energy manufacturing.
Polymer materials are 100% recyclable
Lighter weight and reduced packaging, minimises the impact of transport.
Distributor

Improved stock control - no manifolds to stock, so no guesswork with regard to number required and no capital tied up in manifolds that may/may not be used.

Features

Total flexibility
Precision sizing - 100%
High performance of Thermomax direct flow technology
High Performance Polymer material
Manifold component and tube pre-assembled
Box sizes of 1, 5 and 10
Expandable
Suitable for domestic and commercial application
10 year warranty with Kingspan Solar Accredited Installer
Collector size from 1-150 tubes

CONTACT

Kingspan Renewables Ltd.
180 Gilford Road,
Portadown, Co. Armagh
Northern Ireland, BT63 5LE

Phone: + 44(0) 28 3836 4500
Fax: +44 (0) 28 3836 4501
E-mail: info@kingspansolar.com

For Region Selector go to :
http://www.kingspansolar.com/contact.aspx

More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ( CCRES )

Hydroelectric Inflow Dam System by CCRES

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

promotes

Hydroelectric Inflow Dam System

Field of Invention
This invention relates to a hydroelectric power generating dam system by channeling hydraulic flow from a water catchment area into a hollow inflow column to generate hydroelectric power.

This invention uses the basic principle of hydro electric production, as found principally in conventional dam constructions using Pelton turbines, Francis turbines and Kaplan turbines.

Background
Hydropower is a proven technology and is also the largest source of renewable green energy accounting for about 20% of all electricity produced globally. Hydro-electric power plants are large and usually involve huge capital investments. They also affect the local ecology once the associated dams are flooded.
Smaller Micro hydropower system, which generates less than 100kw will be cost effective to produce renewable energy in the rural areas which are near streams and rivers.

Comparative advantages of the Invention
The existing hydroelectric dam channels water into an intake pipe and converts static hydro energy into hundreds of MW of dynamic hydro energy by rotating the turbine and generators whilst the novelty of the inflow dam column is to channel water into each column and convert the dynamic hydro energy into electric power in the micro capacity of tens of kW.

Others advantages compared to conventional dam-based and tide-based hydro electric systems:

a. Flexibility: Flexible in size, configuration and can manufactured installed and operated in one model for different sites with minimum investment.

b. Scalability: Several units can be expanded on the same site for accrued or scalable performance, while covering only a small surface area.

c. Nature force: Using still water, gravity & nature water pressure. No dependence from waves and currents.

d. Portability: No ecological footprint: The system can be installed, serviced and eventually removed without the need to construct an ecologically damaging dam and other infrastructures.

e. No interruption of operation: Installation of a network using several Inflow Dam units can be maintained on a unit per unit basis, without need for a complete system interruption.

f. Maintenance: Low maintenance costs

g. Proven realizable technologies: Use of proven technologies without violating any basic physics and engineering principles. In other words, there is no technological incertitude associated with the system. More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

Design A: Hydroelectric Inflow Dam

This design provides another hydroelectric generating system solution that can supply hundreds of kilowatts, if not megawatts to supplement an existing hydroelectric power plant. It is possible to plan for a future water catchment area, such as a smaller body of stored or running water to generate electricity in addition to flood control and/or irrigation.

It comprises of a basic power generating system, a pre manufactured inflow dam body and a discharge piping system.

The uniqueness of the invention is that it operates within the water catchment area and is built higher than the highest water level. The inflow dam walls are formed with nozzles so that jets of water that flow into the internal cavity are imparted to the impellers of the turbine for rotation. The connected generator hence generates electricity. Water downstream of the turbine flows into a discharge channel before it is released to a lower ground by gravity or siphon. The inflow dam and discharge pipe are formed modularly.

There are a few variations, for example the nozzles are arranged in two or more circumferential rows and correspond with the number of turbine sections. The nozzles are elongate and they generate water jets with cross-sectional area corresponding to each elongate impeller of the turbine.

The inflow dam has a rotatable sleeve supported on the shoulder. In use, the nozzles are in register with the apertures. When the apertures and the nozzles are not in register, water is prevented from flowing through the nozzles, for example, during maintenance.

The sleeve for controlling the water flow through the nozzles of the inflow dam may be arranged rotatable within the inflow dam column or outside the inflow dam column. Another variation is the sleeve being slidable vertically (up and down) within or outside the inflow dam column. The choice of the sleeve depends on the shape of inflow dam design.

Design B: Hydroelectric Inflow Dam - (Submerged Inflow Dam System)

In this design, the inflow dam is submerged in the water and the internal cavity of the inflow dam is filled with water flowing from the top to rotate the impellers of the turbine to generate electricity. The discharge channel after the turbine acts like a draft tube and it helps create suction and increases the dynamic hydraulic flow and head.

The sleeve is operable to extend above the top end of the inflow dam so that water is prevented from entering the inflow dam during maintenance. A seal may be provided between the sleeve and the external surface of the inflow dam. When in use, a fluid cylinder may control the sleeve for regulating the head and the amount of water flow to the turbine.

Design C: Hydroelectric Inflow Dam - (Network System)

This system allows a user to select a number of designs A or B Hydroelectric inflow dam systems to operate according to the demand in electricity and availability of water head/hydraulic flow. This allows some of the inflow dams to be closed for maintenance without disrupting the supply of electricity from the hydro-electric system.

Design D: Hydroelectric Inflow Dam - (Galaxy System)

The Network System (Design C) forms only one or part of the galaxy hydroelectric inflow dam networks systems.

The advantage of the design is that it is not necessary to build a dam that will affect the local ecology. These social and environmental costs often outweigh the benefits from the traditional hydropower system.

Many reservoirs are built to store drinking water. However, only a small percentage is sent to the desalination plant while the rest remain untouched. The Hydro-electric Inflow Dam System can turn this high percentage of unused water into hydro-power while using it as a controller to control the output water flow similar to a water tap.

Using potential gravitation energy, water resources from the reservoirs are used to power the hydro-electric generator by moving it from reservoir A to reservoir B. The final destination will be the water desalination plant or re-channelling it back to the 1st reservoir or sea. Water can also be moved to a new area or country to form a new reservoir.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

About the company

Mr Lam Teng Choy (Henry), is the founder of M/S IP Management Pte Ltd, which is a firm dedicated to commercialise Mr Lam’s inventions. The company has notably developed a novel hydropower production architecture called the “Inflow Dam”, where modular, portable Inflow units with turbine produce electricity with no ecological footprints. The system can be installed in still water basins, channels, tidal reservoirs and in other locations such as two or more reservoirs at different elevations. Mr. Lam owns international patent application PCT/SG 2009/000247 filed on 10.7.2009.

Henry Lam owns another invention relating to Ocean and Wind renewable energy. This IP discloses various forms of water and wind currents converter devices, for example, to tap surface waves, surface-currents, under-currents and flowing currents.

In the second invention, he uses a fundamental mechanical “Double acting rack and rake wheel” device to convert various components of ocean waves and fluid currents, including wind currents, into electricity. These devices can potentially produce million megawatts of power. These inventive devices are disclosed in patent application PCT/SG 2010/000281 filed on 26.7.2010.

About the Inventor and His Spirit:

Mr Lam Teng Choy (Henry) inventions are in relation to devices that harness the energy from the Hydro, Ocean and Wind power. This includes the Hydroelectric inflow dam and Conversion of Kinetic Energy of Fluid Currents into Electricity.

Whilst impact of his inventions has only become recognizable after filing his 2 patents in the years 2009 and 2010, he has, during his free time, worked on engineering aspects of his concepts. Many of his designs, such as the modular and portable Hydroelectric inflow dam to minimise the ecological impact proved to be a revolutionary idea. Some of his inventions provide stimulating sparks to other researchers. As an inventor, Lam has gone beyond his limitations in terms of education, and thought of interesting ideas and concepts. Hence, he has invented various renewable energy converter devices.

Lam was born into a humble family. His early childhood was spent in a rental flat with his parents and 3 brothers. He later joined the SAF Boys School for 2 years at the age of 15. He proceeded to become a full time Army Guards Specialist in the next 10 years and completed his service in year 1990.

In 1988, he got married and now has 3 children. He worked as a sales personal in the medical field, did products packaging, and ready mix concrete before he became a property agent, which is his present job.

His curiosity and interest in scientific observations were stimulated by shortage of supply of fuels and environmental impact to the world. In 2002, Lam had an opportunity to build a prototype of a solar power system together with an expert holding a PhD and his team in a workshop. He learnt the basic knowledge of motors and generators. At the workshop, he learnt more about renewable energy. He was also picked up some skills like planning, purchasing and building a prototype system.

Lam is always curious about renewable energy in nature. His curiosity further reinforces his desire to find the underlying reason behind the difficulty of harnessing nature’s power. His earlier concept of the Hydroelectric inflow dam system was inspired from water collection at the HDB lift upgrading site and a canal in his neighbourhood. It inspired his interests in renewable energy, in particular, Ocean, hydro and wind power.

Although Lam’s primary job position is a housing agent, his curiosity on this subject coupled with his little engineering knowledge and acute observation lead to the development of his inventive concepts for which he is proud of.

Lam has no former education in renewable energy, and his inventions are largely ignored by others. Lam’s approach to his inventions was the result of intense observations and detailed information obtained from the internet and school science textbooks. His tools of investigation are almost exclusively visual and unconventional imagination.

Lam drawings on various renewable energy converter devices become his masterpieces. These drawings are the results of hard work of an inquiring mind and imagination. His approach is not scientific, that is devoid of experimentation or the testing of theories, but the result of broad appreciation about environmental impact and motivation to provide useful and practical solutions.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ( CCRES )

MASDAR CITY by CCRES

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES 

promotes 

MASDAR CITY 

 Aspiring to be one of the most sustainable cities in the world, approximately 6km2 Masdar City is an emerging global clean-technology cluster that places its resident companies in the heart of the global renewable energy and cleantech industry. Situated 17km from downtown Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is a high-density, pedestrian-friendly development where current and future renewable energy and clean technologies are showcased, marketed, researched, developed, tested and implemented. 

 The city, which at full build out will house 40,000 residents and hundreds of businesses, will integrate the full range of renewable energy and sustainability technologies, across a living and working community. As with most dynamic technology clusters, the city has a top-notch research university that is a source for innovation, technologies, R&D and highly skilled graduates. 

 The Masdar Institute, developed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is already operating in Masdar City, and its students are the city’s first residents. Other major partners include Siemens, which will establish its Middle East headquarters and Centre of Excellence in Building Technologies R&D centre; GE, which will build its first ecomagination Centre; Schneider, which will operate an R&D centre; BASF; the Swiss Village Association; the Korea Technopark Association, and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). 

 A place where businesses can thrive and innovation can flourish, Masdar City is a modern Arabian city that, like its forerunners, is in tune with its surroundings. As such, it is a model for sustainable urban development regionally and globally, seeking to be a commercially viable development that delivers the highest quality living and working environment with the lowest possible ecological footprint. It is a community where cutting-edge cleantech research and development, pilot projects, technology testing, and construction on some of the world’s most sustainable buildings are all ongoing. As such, Masdar City offers a fertile environment that inspires creativity and growth to organisations operating in this strategic and dynamic sector. As an emerging hub and a magnet for talent, 

financial capital and entrepreneurship in the fast-evolving renewable energy and cleantech industry, Masdar City provides a unique competitive advantage to companies, other organisations and ancillary service providers operating in, and serving this sector. As an industry cluster, the city creates a dynamic, vibrant, international and entrepreneurial community that offers numerous benefits, including potential access to capital, a critical mass of sector knowledge, a large pool of high-quality talent, and a launching point into local, regional and international markets. Significantly, 

Masdar City serves as an open technology platform that gives partner companies an unmatched opportunity to develop, test and validate their technologies in a large scale, real-world environment – and in particular, with consideration to the region’s climate conditions and consumption patterns. Masdar operates through five integrated units, including an independent, research-driven graduate university, and seeks to become a leader in making renewable energy a real, viable business and Abu Dhabi a global centre of excellence in the renewable energy and clean technology category. 

The result is an organisation greater than the sum of its parts and one where the synergies of shared knowledge and technological advancement provide this commercial and results-driven company with a competitive advantage that includes an ability to move with agility and intelligence within an industry that is evolving at great speed. This holistic approach keeps Masdar at the forefront of this important global industry, while ensuring it remains grounded in the pursuit of pioneering technologies and systems that also are feasible. 

As a result, it delivers innovation to the market while deriving profits for its shareholders. Masdar is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Government-owned Mubadala Development Company, a catalyst for the economic diversification of the Emirate. Abu Dhabi is home to 8% of proven global crude oil reserves, while the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is one of the 10 largest oil companies in the world; what’s more, the Emirate has enough hydrocarbon reserves at current production levels to last 100 years. 

So why has the leadership of this Emirate, which is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, committed billions of dollars to developing Masdar and establishing Abu Dhabi as a global centre of excellence in renewable energy and clean technologies? For the Planet With a heritage tied to life in the harsh and unforgiving desert, Abu Dhabi’s leadership well understands the lessons of traditional desert living, where sustainable practices and resource conservation are not just slogans, but are essential to survival in such surroundings. 

That’s why the emirate’s leadership understands the tremendous challenges posed by climate change, environmental degradation and the need to find sustainable energy sources. For Abu Dhabi’s Future: Abu Dhabi has traditionally played a leading role in global energy markets as a significant hydrocarbon producer. 

Through Masdar, it seeks to leverage its substantial resources and experience in this sector to maintain its leadership position in an evolving world energy market that is increasingly looking to renewable energy. Through Masdar, Abu Dhabi aspires to be an international hub for renewable energy, new energy and sustainable technologies, thereby balancing its already strong hydrocarbon position. This leadership is expressed in other ways as well. While Abu Dhabi has always been known as a global energy player, through Masdar, it is demonstrating what a responsible oil producer can do to help create a balance between hydrocarbons and renewable energy in addressing both climate change and energy security. For Abu Dhabi’s People: Abu Dhabi has embarked on a two-decade programme to transform its economy from one based on natural resources to one based on knowledge, innovation and the export of cutting-edge technologies. Guiding this transformation is a document called the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, which provides a comprehensive plan, including the steps to be taken to transform the emirate’s economy over the next two decades. 

Key goals include increasing the non-oil share of the economy from approximately 40% to more than 60% and significantly diversifying the scope of economic activity to include priority sectors such as education, banking & finance, tourism, pharmaceuticals, media, aviation & aerospace, transportation & logistics, and manufacturing in areas such as aluminum and petrochemicals. It also puts a strong emphasis on value-added knowledge-based industries, such as renewable energy and sustainable technologies. Masdar will contribute significantly to this diversification in a number of ways. Across its five integrated units, the company will help: Expand the export base. Encourage private-sector entrepreneurship. Invest in education and research that stimulates innovation. Train, attract and retain skilled workers in knowledge-based sectors. 

Encourage investment in areas that generate intellectual property gains. Grow the non-oil sector’s share of the emirate’s economy and decouple economic growth from fluctuating oil prices. This is because more than half the world’s population now lives in cities, a percentage that is expected to rise to 70% by 2030, and because cities today are responsible for over 70% of global CO2 emissions. But, only if sustainability is economically feasible will enough communities be able to implement the technologies and systems, and do so on a big enough scale to achieve meaningful progress in this realm. 

That’s why Masdar City is not only committed to building one of the most sustainable cities in the world, and one that is an attractive place to live, but also to achieving this in a commercially viable manner. From our experience planning, designing, developing and operating a sustainable city, achieved by deploying the latest commercially viable technologies, and integrating them in systems that deliver further cost and resource savings – we know how to deliver sustainability in a way that makes sense financially. 

Creating any sustainable urban development or re-development requires a unique focus across all areas of design, development and operation. Five of the most important are: planning and design, power, water, transport and supply chain. 

More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com. 

 CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ( CCRES )

METRO-PORTAL.HR

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE

prestavlja Vam

METRO-PORTAL.hr

Metro-portal neovisan je urbani news portal koji se bavi temama zanimljivim urbanim obrazovanim čitateljima. Osim vlastite produkcije vijesti koje su koncentrirane na gradske teme i najvažnije događaje u zemlji i svijetu koristimo i vijesti i priče našeg medijskog partnera Metro Internationala. Iz mreže Metro World Newsa dobivamo ekskuzivne izvještaje i intervjuje i ostale zanimljive sadržaje iz više od 80 redakcija širom svijeta. Dakle, kod nas ima puno toga čega nema na drugim hrvatskim news portalima.

Broj čitatelja u stalnom je porastu te se možemo pohvaliti 27. mjestom na Gemisovoj ljestvici najčitanijih hrvatskih portala s više od 160.000 jedinstvenih čitatelja mjesečno (podaci za ožujak 2010.)

HRVATSKOM CENTRU OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE najzanimljivi dio METRO-PORTALA
je EKOSFERA.Na : http://metro-portal.hr/vijesti/ekosfera/.

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sfere EKOLOGIJE,ENERGETSKE UČINKOVITOSTI,OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE,ENERGETIKE i svih drugih područja koji su vezani uz ZELENI način života.

METRO-PORTAL je portal koji ste tražili, a on je samo jedan klik mišem od Vas


http://metro-portal.hr/



REDAKCIJA

urednistvo@metro-portal.hr

Urednica portala: Zrinka Budak

Novinari: Goran Gledić, Darija Kraševac, Maja Paulić, Tomislav Vuković

Informacije o događanjima i PR objave slati na metroportalpromo@gmail.com

Suradnici: Nenad Bartolčić, politički komentator Metronom

Produkcija: Gandalf d.o.o.



MARKETING I PRODAJA OGLASA

Marta Plaksij, tel. 091 44 00 222, mail: oglasavanje@metro-portal.hr

Više informacija o HCOIE na http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE ( HCOIE )

The Honeywell Wind Turbine CCRES

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

promotes

The Honeywell Wind Turbine

Gearless Blade Tip Power System ™ – the future of wind power.

The Honeywell Wind Turbine utilizes a system of magnets and stators surrounding its outer ring, capturing power at the blade tips where speed is greatest, practically eliminating mechanical resistance and drag. Rather than forcing the available wind to turn a generator, the perimeter power system becomes the generator by swiftly passing the blade tip magnets through the copper coil banks mounted onto the enclosed perimeter frame. The Blade Tip Power System ™ addresses past constraints such as size, noise, vibration and output. WindTronics’ proprietary systems are breaking traditional technological barriers across multiple markets, for homes and businesses, for both energy generation and energy recapture even in moderate winds. The Honeywell Wind Turbine is the highest output, lowest cost per kWh installed turbine ever made (in class and size). So powerful, so simple.

Today's wind energy... like no other.

How to redesign a turbine to start at 0.5 (1/2) mph

By practically eliminating mechanical resistance and drag, the Honeywell Wind Turbine produces up to 1500 kWh's per year depending on height and location. The Honeywell Wind Turbine’s BTPS perimeter power system and unique design of the multi-stage blades allows the system to react quickly to changes in wind speed, ensuring that the maximum wind energy is captured, without the typical noise and vibration associated with traditional wind turbines.
The Honeywell Wind Turbine is a gearless, wind turbine that measures just 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter, weighs 185 lbs (84 kgs) and has an increased operating span over traditional turbines with a start-up speed as low as 0.5 mph (0.2 m/s), with an auto shut off at 38 mph (17.0 m/s). Traditional gearbox turbines require minimum wind speeds of 7.5 mph (3.5 m/s) to cut in and start generating power.
The Honeywell Wind Turbine is designed to be installed by a licensed electrician wherever energy is consumed, turning homes and businesses from points of total consumption to distributed energy sources, in a cost effective and efficient manner. The Honeywell Wind Turbine and Smart Box Inverter/ controller has a combined MSRP $6,495 (installation not included).

Where to place your turbine.

Directional Fins
The directional fins continuously guide the turbine for maximum wind exposure. The system starts turning at 0.5 mph (0.2 m/s), automatically shuts down in high winds (+38 mph [+17.0 m/s]) through its electromagnetic braking system and is designed to withstand winds up to 140 mph (62.6 m/s).

Wind Energy Recommendations and FAQ’s

Many factors will affect the output of the turbine at each location depending on placement. Your location can be effected by trees, terrain and obstructions such as buildings next door, even placement on one end of a building or the other can affect the output. Correct site assessment is important to enhance the performance of your turbine regardless of your product choice.
Always seek the highest elevation and lowest obstruction field as possible (33 feet minimum, higher the better).
You may advise your city, town or neighbors that you’re installing a new wind turbine, but at 185 lbs, 6’, 35 dB at 10 feet, it may be not necessary. We’re here to help you.
An average annual wind rating of 12 mph is recommended as a good minimum wind speed to keep in mind, off grid locations might consider less.
The Honeywell Wind Turbine is designed for all environments from hot to cold and coastal to mountaintops.
Electrical connection is very similar to a backup generator connected to the building or solar power to the grid.
The system is designed to be installed by a licensed electrical contractor. Our Smart Swap warranty program allows contractors to replace components easily
The roof box QuadPod system is designed for pitched or flat roof tops. As roof construction and roof lines vary, pole mounted installations are recommended for residential environments for optimal cost, flexibility and performance. A standard utility pole can be easily installed in most markets for under one thousand dollars.
WindTronics has created a range of tools to assist in identifying proper site selection based on wind, rates and rebates.

Energy Management Systems

The SmartBox Control System incorporates a proprietary control system that is specifically designed to capture the most efficient power from wind at its unpredictable patterns and dynamics. It functions as a sophisticated energy management system and also provides a simple and seamless interconnection to the grid. The Honeywell Wind Turbine and the SmartBox offers cutting-edge turbine technology to the individual, enabling each to harness, utilize and manage the energy at their local wind zone. The SmartBox is the control system that consists of a charge controller and a non-grid tie 1.5 kW inverter. Included within the charge controller is an automatic AC transfer switch that will automatically switch between your AC grid and power generated via the turbine.
The Honeywell Wind Turbine works seemingly with Grid Tie or DC Charge controllers.

Utility Grid Tie System

The wind turbine can also be configured with the Aurora® grid tie inverter for simple connectivity to any utility or building (F.I.T. or Net Metering).
Aurora inverters operate at 96% efficiency and comply with standards set for grid tied operation, safety, and electromagnetic compatibility including: UL1741/IEEE1547 & CSA-C22.2 N.107.1- 01, VDEO126, CEI 11-20, DK5940, CEI64- 8, IEC 61683, IEC 61727, EN50081, EN61000, CE certification, El Real Decreto RD1663/2000 de España.

Or contact us now: info@windtronics.com
Also available thru Rural and Public Utility Companies and Honeywell Distributors.

Now accepting Dealer Applications! Please email us at dealer@windtronics.com.

Get in touch for more information on the Honeywell Wind Turbine

For Customer Service / Technical Support

Toll Free: 1-877-946-3898
(Dial 2 for Customer Service, Dial 3 for Technical Support)
Local: 231-332-1200
Email: info@windtronics.com WindTronics, Inc.
380 W. Western Suite 301
Muskegon, MI 49440 USA


Careers at WindTronics

Staffing applications for the Windsor Production Facility to apply at HR@windtronics.com
Press Inquiries should be directed to the following:

Helen McClenahan
Weber Shandwick
hmcclenahan@webershandwick.com

More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ( CCRES )

Male vjetrenjače HCOIE

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE

Male vjetrenjače

Energija vjetra je čista i često bez konkurencije - najjeftinija. Ova grana proizvodnje energije trenutačno upravo cvjeta. A velike nade ulažu se i u sasvim mala postrojenja s vjetrenjačama koja mogu stajati i u dvorištu.

Energija vjetra preuzima u svijetu sve veću ulogu u opskrbi strujom. Po brdima i po obalama Europe, Kine, Indije i SAD-a gradi se sve više i više parkova s vjetrenjačama za eksploataciju energije vjetra. A trend je da ti parkovi budu sve veći i veći.

U međuvremenu se postavljaju vjetrenjače snage više od 5.000 kilowatta. Time se npr. može pokriti potreba za strujom za oko 3.000 kućanstava u Njemačkoj. No tehnički, logistički i financijski izazovi za podizanje takvih divova, prije svega na moru, su ogromni.



Karta srednje brzine vjetra Hrvatske

A sada - male vjetrenjače

Kod korištenja energije vjetra pojavio se još jedna zanimljiv trend. Sve više se postavljaju i manja postrojenja za energiju vjetra. Od mikro-postrojenja snage od tek 100 watta, do srednje velikih od 100.000 watta. Ovisno o veličini, njih se postavlja na brodove, ulične svjetiljke, kuće, škole, industrijske pogone ili u blizini naselja. Posebno u izoliranim područjima u kojima često puše vjetar, a koje je teško priključiti na strujnu mrežu, postrojenja s takvim vjetrenjačama pokazala su se vrlo ekonomičnim. A budući da u svijetu još uvijek 1,5 milijardi ljudi živi bez struje, ova tehnologija nudi neku perspektivu. Osim toga i u gradovima ova mala postrojenja na krovu ili kraj kuće postaju ljudima sve zanimljivija.

Prije 15 godina je iskorištavanje energije vjetra bilo u povojima. U međuvremenu, npr. u jednoj industrijskoj zemlji poput Njemačke, koja za proizvodnju treba jako puno energije, velike vjetrenjače pokrivaju već 7 posto potreba za strujom, dok solarna energija sudjeljue s tri posto. Računa se da bi 2010. trećina njemačke struje trebala dolaziti ili od sunca ili od vjetra.

Kina, SAD, Velika Britanij, Danska...

I dok su velike vjetrenjače postale konvencija, mala postrojenja za iskorištavanje vjetra su tek na počecima. Na nedavno održanim tematskim sajmovima predstavljene su nove ideje na tom polju. Glavni zaključak iz rasprava s takvih sastanaka je da ukoliko tehnička i pravna pitanja budu rješena, te bude dovoljno vjetra, tehnologiji malih postrojenja za iskorištavnje energije vjetra ništa ne stoji na putu. Trenutačno je struja dobivena tim putem dva puta skuplja od one dobivene iz velikih postrojenja s vjetrenjačama.

Većina manjih vjetrenjača do sad se gradila i instalirala u Kini. Oko milijun i 750.000 ljudi koji do tad nisu imali struje, opskrbljuju se sad energijom na taj način. U međuvremenu trećina malih vjetrenjača proizvedenih u Kini, izvozi se na strana tržišta. I dok su za ovu tehnologiju zainteresirane i Indija i Južna Koreja, u SAD-u se iz toga već radi biznis. Najveće tvrtke za proizvodnju manjih vjetrenjača nalaze se upravo u SAD-u.

Što se dinamike razvoja u Europi tiče, na prvom su mjestu momentalno Velika Britanija i Danska. U Njemačkoj, Portugalu i Španjolskoj potrošači zahtijevaju da im vlade omoguće poticaje za investiranje u takvu tehnologiju, kao što se to već čini u Britaniji ili Danskoj.



Više informacija na http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE ( HCOIE )

NEWS and EVENTS by CCRES

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES


News and Events

DOE and USDA Award $47 Million in Biomass Research Grants

DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on May 5 a total of $47 million to fund eight research and development projects that will support the production of biofuels, bioenergy, and biobased products from biomass sources. The advanced biofuels produced through these projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared to fossil fuels.

The projects are funded through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, and they will help increase the availability of alternative renewable fuels and biobased products. Funding is provided through USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture and DOE's Biomass Program. Each award was made through a competitive selection process, and recipients are required to contribute a minimum of 20% of matching funds for research and development projects and 50% of matching funds for demonstration projects. Awardees must pursue projects that integrate science and engineering research in three areas: feedstocks development, biofuels and biobased products development, and biofuels development analysis.

The selected proposals include Cellana LLC of Hawaii, which will develop a protein supplement from algae as a byproduct of algal biofuels production; Exelus, Inc., of New Jersey, which will redesign a process to make hydrocarbon fuels using new catalysts and chemistry that avoids the high temperatures and large energy inputs required by current processes; and Metabolix, Inc., of Massachusetts, which will enhance the yield of biobased products, biopower, or fuels made from switchgrass. DOE's Biomass Program works with industry, academia, and national laboratory partners on a balanced portfolio of research in biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

USDA Announces Project to Develop Next-Generation Biofuels

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on May 5 the first Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project area, which will promote the production of dedicated feedstocks for bioenergy. This initiative, encompassing 39 counties in Missouri and Kansas, will help spur the development of next-generation biofuels. The first BCAP project area proposes enrolling up to 50,000 acres for growing a crop of native grasses and herbaceous plants for energy purposes. Producers in the project area will plant mixes of perennial native plants, such as switchgrass, for the manufacture of biomass pellet fuels and other biomass products. Those will be used for power and heat generation. Bioenergy facilities are those facilities that produce heat, power, biobased products, or advanced biofuels from biomass feedstocks.

The project is a joint effort of the agriculture producers of Show Me Energy Cooperative of Centerview, Missouri, and USDA to spur the expansion of domestically produced biomass feedstocks for renewable energy. Crop producers will be eligible for reimbursements of up to 75% of the cost of establishing a bioenergy perennial crop, and they can receive up to five years of annual payments for grassy crops, and up to 15 years of annual payments for woody crops. Signup began on May 9.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

DOE Offers $90.6 Million Loan Guarantee for Colorado Solar Facility

DOE announced on May 10 the offer of a conditional commitment for a $90.6 million loan guarantee to Cogentrix of Alamosa, LLC, for one of the largest high-concentration solar photovoltaic (HCPV) generation projects in the world. Then guarantee will support the construction of the Alamosa Solar Generating Project, a 30-megawatt (MW) net capacity HCPV project located in south-central Colorado near Alamosa. Cogentrix estimates the project will create about 75 construction jobs and 10 operations jobs.

The proposed facility will use HCPV systems consisting of concentrating optics and multi-junction solar cell panels controlled by a dual-axis tracking system. The tracking system rotates and tilts the cells throughout the day so the surface of the solar panel maintains an optimal angle with respect to the sun. The multi-junction solar cells are nearly 40% efficient or about double that of traditional PV panels used in areas with high amounts of direct sunlight, according to the project sponsor. The project, which is expected to produce approximately 75,000 megawatt hours of energy per year, will sell all of its electricity to Public Service Company of Colorado. It will be enough to power more than 6,500 homes, and it will avoid the emissions of more than 43,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

DOE's Loan Programs Office administers loan guarantee programs that support the deployment of innovative technologies that avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, it has the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program, which supports the development of advanced vehicle technologies. Under the two both programs, DOE has issued loans or loan guarantees and offered conditional commitments for loan guarantees totaling more than $30 billion to support 28 clean energy projects across the United States.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

Turning Sunlight and Water Into Hydrogen Fuel

In a key step toward advancing a clean energy economy, scientists have engineered a cheap, abundant way to make hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water. The team, led by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory researcher Jens Norskov, paired a molybdenum sulfide catalyst with a light-absorbing electrode to split water into its components.

Hydrogen is an energy-dense fuel that releases water upon combustion. Today, most hydrogen is produced from natural gas, which results in carbon dioxide pollution. An alternative is called photo-electrochemical (PEC) water splitting. When sunlight hits the PEC cell, solar energy is absorbed and used to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. However, the process requires a catalyst and while platinum is already recognized as an efficient catalyst, its high cost makes widespread use difficult.

Innovation in Electric Vehicle Technology? Easy as A123

To find an example of the innovations highlighted at the "Electrifying the Economy—Educating the Workforce" Michigan workshop recently, the Energy Blog traveled to the A123 Systems' battery production plant in Livonia, Michigan. Thanks to DOE support, A123 is rolling out advanced battery technology that is helping power many of the electric vehicles that are on America's roads today.

A123 Systems began as a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). With Department of Energy support, it grew from a small start-up company in 2001 to an international business with more than 2,000 employees. What's more, in just one decade of partnership with the DOE, A123 has developed advanced lithium-ion batteries based on a unique nanoscale lithium-iron-phosphate cathode material that allows batteries to operate with improved safety, excellent cycle and calendar life, and higher rates of charge and discharge than previous generations of lithium batteries.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

New Rules Facilitate Renewable Energy Development on Public Land

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has moved to simplify right-of-way applications for lands with wind and solar energy development potential. On April 26, BLM published in the Federal Register rules that would allow the agency to temporarily segregate lands in a wind or solar energy right-of-way application from mining claims or other land appropriations. Under existing regulations, areas included in a proposed right-of-way, remain open to appropriations such as the location and entry of mining claims while the BLM is considering the application.

However, since 2006, there have been complications as the BLM has processed 24 solar and wind energy development right-of-way applications. In two proposed right-of-ways, mining claims were located after the applications were submitted but before the right-of-ways could be authorized. Over the past two years, 437 new mining claims were located within wind energy ROW application areas in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, while 216 new mining claims were located within solar energy ROW application areas. To help resolve conflicts, the BLM published two rules: a proposed rule and a temporary interim final rule. The two rules grant the BLM authority to temporarily remove lands included in a renewable energy ROW application and lands offered for wind or solar energy lease from land appropriations such as mining claims. The segregation would be effective for two years and can be extended for an additional two years.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

United States' Clean Energy Patents Soar in 2010: Report

The number of U.S. patents issued in 2010 for clean energy technologies jumped to 1,881, according to the recently released Clean Energy Patent Growth Index. This was a 170% increase over those recorded in 2009. The report, published by the Cleantech Group at Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C., noted that the past year showed the largest year-to-year jump since the firm began tracking clean energy patents in 2002. The index surveys filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in technologies including solar power, wind power, hybrid and electric vehicles (EV), fuel cells, hydropower, tidal and wave power, geothermal power, and biomass and biofuels. The report noted solar patents were up 134% while hybrid and EVs vehicles increased 60% over the previous year. Patents are seen as an indicator of successful innovation and research.

General Motors claimed first place, overtaking last year's leader Honda by registering 135 patents. The automaker's inventions covered hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cells, and solar power. For example, GM patented a multi-injection combustion cycle system for spark-ignition direct-injection engines to improve fuel and air mixing. General Motors also patented a method of operating a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle heater to preheat the battery, improving electric driving range. GE finished fifth, and Ford Motors took the eighth spot in the annual tally.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

Purdue's IN Home Rallies for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011

One of the newest teams to the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon this year is Purdue University. The fresh team has joined this year to rally against many of its Big Ten competitors and prove that even without an architecture program, Purdue can succeed on the National Mall. Starting with just four students in 2009, Purdue's team has grown to a group of 200 people planning, designing, engineering, and building the last two years. To get the inside scoop, we spoke with Project Manager Kevin Rodgers about Purdue's Net-Zero IN Home (Indiana Home).

Purdue's Solar Decathlon team is using three words to describe the IN Home: efficiency, practical, and essential. "We are going with a home that is very realistic but appealing to a specific Midwestern style to fit in most neighborhoods," said Rodgers, who also works as a mechanical engineering technology research assistant.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ( CCRES )

Is a state-wide Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) a possibility?

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

ask you

Is a state-wide Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) a possibility?

California, USA -

- The long battle between public and private power is flaring up again. California is the hot spot because the state legislature has lined up on the side of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), a form of public power lite in which communities choose power sources but distribution is left to the incumbent utilities.

Several communities have tried but none succeeded until the Marin Energy Authority (or Marin Clean Energy) started operations last year. MEA started with 8,500 customers but is adding news customers continually. It estimates it will reach 70,000 customers by 2012. The total potential is about 100,000 customers, or more if other communities join them.

“We are filling a niche market for mid-sized renewable energy generation in the 20 to 60 MW range,” said Dawn Weisz, interim director of MEA. “When we went out to solicit renewable power offers, Pacific Gas & Electric told us we would not get any bids. We were looking for 40 MW. We were offered over 600. Almost all was solar.” Three firms are short-listed: LS Power, Sun Power and enXco.

Since 2002, Marin has spent or borrowed about $3.5 million to get its CCA up and running. Their pioneering work means that entry for other communities will be cheaper.

Ms.Weisz has been working on CCA for nine years and has the scars to prove it: “PG&E spent $4.1 million in Marin County and $46 million state-wide to prevent the birth of this CCA or any other.”

She does not mince words when describing what she and the elected officials who backed CCA were up against: “There were almost daily glossy mailers full of inaccurate information and fear tactics slandering our program.”

Direct calls to residents caused many to “opt out” because of false information about lights going out and bills doubling, said Ms.Weisz. As a result, 20% of potential CCA customers opted out. A recent California Public Utilities ruling turns over the process of polling potential customers to the CCA.

The fact that state legislation allows CCAs to count customers "in" unless they specifically "opt out" is a measure of the support state lawmakers have provided. Legislation now pending prohibits incumbent utilities from many of the aggressive tactics that have torpedoed CCAs elsewhere in the state.

Marin’s efforts began as a measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the county. Says Ms. Weisz: “When we were reviewing the GHG reductions that would come from various measures we realized that all were very small compared to a CCA, which would take over choosing power sources. With one fell swoop you could eliminate all GHG from power sources.”

When it launched last fall, Marin Energy Authority’s goal was to offer 20% renewable energy to its customers,” said Ms.Weisz. “We were able to offer 27.5% compared to the state-mandated 20%.” The state recently increased the mandate to one third. PG&E has about 17% under contract, according to Ms. Weisz.

The Marin CCA offers two grades of service: ight green and deep green. Deep green is 100% renewable and costs about 10% more than traditional energy service. Overall, the light green rates are competitive with PG&E. Over the long run, as the cost of renewables goes down, CCA rates could even be lower.

Ms. Weisz praised their full service contractor, Shell Energy North America, for helping Marin Clean Energy get started. The CCA is lean with only four full-time employees, but it hopes to wean itself away from the full service contract it has with its technical and legal team within two years.

MEA has begun contracting for its own energy sources, having put 3.2 MW of landfill gas generation under contract. The CCA’s ultimate goal is to divert the county dollars going to outside energy sources to the local economy. They pay for locally-generated renewable energy better than PG&E – a typical rate of 7 cents a kilowatt-hour (kWh) plus 1 cent. They are presently fighting before the public utilities commission for the right to administer energy efficiency money. At present every customer pays into a “public goods” fund which is doled out by the incumbent utility. Marin Clean Energy thinks it can do a better job and create more local jobs with the money.

An intriguing possibility for the Marin CCA is unlimited expansion. They have had so many inquiries from other local governments that they have set up a program to assist by including them or consulting with them.

Nothing in the law limits a CCA to a specific geographic territory. All that is required is an ordinance from a local government. The Marin Energy Authority presently includes the county and seven cities. The board is working on a plan for including other jurisdictions.

Is a state-wide CCA a possibility? Or will other local governments go their own ways using Marin has a model? Either way, a vast new market for distributed local renewable energy sources could be opening up in California.
More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ( CCRES )

PROVEDBA ENERGETSKE CERTIFIKACIJE ZGRADA U RH I REGIJI, ENERGETSKA OBNOVA ZGRADA I SUVREMENI ENERGETSKI KONCEPTI U ARHITEKTURI

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE
poziva Vas na
DVODNEVNI STRUČNI SKUP

PROVEDBA ENERGETSKE CERTIFIKACIJE ZGRADA U RH I REGIJI,
ENERGETSKA OBNOVA ZGRADA I SUVREMENI ENERGETSKI
KONCEPTI U ARHITEKTURI
TE
MJERENJE I VERIFIKACIJA UŠTEDA U PROJEKTIMA ENERGETSKE
UČINKOVITOSTI

10. i 11. SVIBNJA 2011.

od 12:00 do 19:00 SATI

Kongresni Centar Hotela Antunović

Zagrebačka Avenija 100A , Zagreb

Koji organiziraju

HRVATSKA UDRUGA ENERGETSKIH CERTIFIKATORA – HUEC
HEP ESCO
ENERGETSKI INSTITUT HRVOJE POŽAR


PRVI DAN


11:15 – 12:00 Prijava sudionika
12:00 – 12:15 Otvaranje skupa i uvodno predavanje – Željka Hrs Borković, d.i.a, predsjednica Hrvatske udruge
energetskih certifikatora (HUEC)
12:15 – 12:30 Stanje arhitekture i graditeljstva u RH danas – Hrvoje Hrabak, d.i.a, predsjednik Udruženja hrvatskih
arhitekata (UHA)
12:30 – 13:00 Novi zakonodavni okvir Ministarstva zaštite okoliša, prostornog uređenja i graditeljstva (MZOPUG),
EPBD II, provedba energetske certifikacije zgrada u RH – stanje i trendovi – mr. sc. Nada Marđetko
Škoro, d.i.g, MZOPUG
13:00 – 13:30 Dosadašnje iskustvo u provedbi ENCERT izobrazbe i izdavanju energetskih certifikata u Energetskom
institutu Hrvoje Požar (EIHP) - Željka Hrs Borković, d.i.a, EIHP
13:30 – 14:00 Provedba energetske certifikacije zgrada u zemljama regije – gosti iz regije
Priprema za provedbu energetske certifikacije zgrada u Makedoniji – Svetlana Petrovska, d.i.g, Snežana
Janevska, d.i.s, CeProSARD, Skopje, Makedonija
Realizacija sistemskih mjera u Crnoj Gori za poboljšanje energetskih karakteristika zgrada i njihovo
certificiranje – Milorad Burzan, d.i.e, Ministarstvo ekonomije, Podgorica, Crna Gora
Energetsko certificiranje zgrada – Republika Kosovo – Nezir Myrtaj, prof., Head of Division for EE and
RES, Ministry of Economic Development
14:00 – 14:30 Diskusija
14:30 – 15:00 Pauza
15:00 – 15:30 Potencijal energetske obnove zgrada i primjeri dobre prakse – Toni Borković, d.i.a, EIHP
15:30 – 16:00 Energetska obnova zgrada kulturne baštine – zaključci međunarodne konferencije održane u
Dubrovniku 6-8. travnja 2011 pod nazivom Energy Management in Cultural Heritage - dr.sc.Vlasta Zanki,
d.i.s, UNDP
16:00 – 16:30 Suvremeni energetski koncepti u arhitekturi– dr.sc. Marina Malinovec Puček, d.i.s, EIHP
16:30 – 17:00 Potencijal obnovljivih izvora energije u RH – Laszlo Horvath, d.i.e, EIHP
17:00 – 17:30 Pauza
17:30 – 17:45 Financijski aspekti energetske učinkovitosti – Jozo Bevanda, dipl. oec. HUEC
17:45 – 18:00 Daljnji razvoj metode proračuna, algoritam za proračun primarne energije - dr.sc. Damir Dović, d.i.s,
Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje u Zagrebu (FSB)
18:00 – 18:15 Računalni program KI Expert – Silvio Novak, d.i.g. Knauf Insulation
18:15 – 18:30 Računalni program EnCert-HR 2010 – Mateo Biluš, d.i.a, Arhitektonski fakultet u Zagrebu(AF)
18:30 – 19:00 Diskusije i zaključci 1. dana skup

Energetska certifikacija zgrada, odnosno klasifikacija i ocjenjivanje zgrada prema potrošnji
energije, odnedavno je postala zakonska obveza za sve zgrade na tržištu nekretnina u
Republici Hrvatskoj. Energetski certifikat jest dokument koji predočuje energetska svojstva
zgrade, ali i jaki marketinški instrument s ciljem promocije energetske učinkovitosti i nisko
energetske gradnje i postizanja višeg komfora života i boravka u zgradama. Energetskim
certificiranjem zgrada dobivaju se transparentni podaci o potrošnji energije u zgradama na
tržištu, energetska učinkovitost prepoznaje se kao znak kvalitete, potiču se ulaganja u nove
inovativne koncepte i tehnologije, potiče se korištenje alternativnih sustava za opskrbu
energijom u zgradama, razvija se tržište novih nisko energetskih zgrada i modernizira
sektor postojećih zgrada, te se doprinosi ukupnom smanjenju potrošnje energije i zaštiti
okoliša.
Energetska certifikacija zgrada, kvalitetno provedena i implementirana, može odigrati
ključnu ulogu u povećanju standarda gradnje i kvalitetnom osmišljavanju energetskog
koncepta novih zgrada, pokretanju sustavne energetske obnove i moderniziranju postojećih
zgrada. Time se značajno doprinosi integralnom projektiranju uzimajući u obzir cijeli životni
vijek zgrade, kao i ukupnom smanjenju potrošnje energije i zaštiti okoliša. Integralni pristup
razmatranju energetskog koncepta zgrada za struku je danas najveći izazov, koji treba
znanje i multidisciplinarnu suradnju svih sudionika u projektiranju i gradnji.
Očekuje se da će energetska certifikacija zgrada potaknuti niz novih aktivnosti u
graditeljstvu kroz integralan pristup osmišljavanju energetike zgrada kao što su:
• energetski pregledi zgrada
• energetska obnova i osuvremenjivanje postojećih zgrada
• integralno planiranje suvremenog energetskog koncepta novih zgrada.
Novi integralni pristup projektiranju i gradnji te obnovi naših zgrada zahtjeva jako
inženjersko multidisciplinarno znanje i razmatranje zgrade, kao složenog organizma, te
usku suradnju svih struka koje sudjeluju u procesu od projektiranja i gradnje. Održive
metode projektiranja i gradnje imaju danas šanse odgovoriti na nove ekonomske,
energetske i ekološke izazove s kojima se susrećemo. To je jedini mogući način smanjenja
potrošnje energije i smanjenja ovisnosti o uvozu sve skupljih i sve manje dostupnih
energenata. Takav pristup otvara nova radna mjesta i doprinosi gospodarskom razvoju i
napretku, te nam pomaže ostvariti zacrtane ciljeve energetske učinkovitosti i zaštite
okoliša.
Unatoč svemu, održiva niskoenergetska gradnja i obnova zgrada danas još uvijek nije
prepoznata kao novi smjer u arhitekturi. S jedne strane ona zahtjeva veće investicije, s
druge strane postoji nedostatak znanja svih sudionika u projektiranju i gradnji te je nužna
intenzivna edukacija ali i financijsko poticanje koji bi mogli pokrenuti graditeljski sektor.
Potencijal energetske učinkovitosti jasno se izražava kroz podatak da se više od 40 posto
ukupne potrošnje energije troši u zgradama i da su ovdje moguće najveće uštede. To je
mogućnost koja nam se pruža za oporavak graditeljstva koju ne bi smjeli propustiti.
Financijski instrumenti poticanja energetske obnove i gradnje niskoenergetskih zgrada
ovdje mogu odigrati ključnu ulogu. Ulaganje u niz energetskih obnova te gradnja
niskoenergetskih zgrada i primjena novih tehnologija može pokrenuti značajne investicije u
građevinskom sektoru nužne za oporavak tog sektora. Zato se moramo koncentrirati na
ključne barijere i prepreke i početi ih sustavno otklanjati.
Seminar daje pregled trenutnog stanja provedbe energetske certifikacije zgrada u RH i
regiji, novosti u zakonodavnom okviru, te ističe potencijale i ključne barijere koje treba
prebroditi kako bi građevinski ali i energetski sektor osjetili prednosti provedbe energetske
certifikacije zgrada.

DRUGI DAN


11:15 – 12:00 Prijava sudionika
12:00 – 12:30 Novi zakonodavni okvir Ministarstva gospodarstva, rada i poduzetništva (MINGORP) u području
energetske učinkovitosti – Igor Raguzin, dipl.ing, MINGORP
12:30 – 12:45 Djelatnost Fonda za zaštitu okoliša i energetsku učinkovitost (FZOEU) temeljem Zakona o
učinkovitom korištenju energije u neposrednoj potrošnji - Irena Dubravec,d.i.s, FZOEU
12:45 – 13:15 Obveze gradova i županija u području energetske učinkovitosti – mr.sc. Vesna Bukarica, d.i.e, Fakultet
elektrotehnike i računarstva u Zagrebu (FER)
13:15 – 14:30 Regulatorna struktura i osnove mjerenja i verifikacije ušteda – mr.sc. Hrvoje Glamuzina, d.i.e, Ivana
Rogulj, d.i.e, HEP ESCO
14:30 – 15:00 Pauza
15:00 – 16: 30 Alati i tehnike za mjerenje i verifikaciju ušteda – mr.sc. Hrvoje Glamuzina, d.i.e, Ivana Rogulj, d.i.e,
HEP ESCO
16:30 – 17:45 Opcije i metode iz Međunarodnog protokola za mjerenje i verifikaciju ušteda IPMVP– mr.sc.
Hrvoje Glamuzina, d.i.e., Ivana Rogulj, d.i.e., HEP ESCO
17:45 – 18:00 Pauza
18:00 – 18:45 Primjene opcija i diskusija
18:45 – 19:00 Diskusije i zaključci 2. dana skup

Prema preuzetim obvezama Direktive 2006/32/EC o energetskoj učinkovitosti i
energetskim uslugama, a temeljem Zakona o učinkovitom korištenju energije u
neposrednoj potrošnji (NN 152/2008) uvodi se obveza donošenja programa i planova za
poboljšanje energetske učinkovitosti te njihovo provođenje, mjere energetske
učinkovitosti, a posebno djelatnost energetskih usluga i energetskih pregleda, obveze
javnog sektora, energetskog subjekta i velikog potrošača te prava potrošača u primjeni
mjera energetske učinkovitosti.
Zakon obvezuje na izradu Nacionalnih akcijskih planova energetske učinkovitosti, te
drugih planskih dokumenata na razini Županija i gradova. Zakon implementira i obvezu iz
EPBD direktive o redovitim energetskim pregledima kotlova za grijanje i sustava za
klimatizaciju.
Primjenom mjera energetske učinkovitosti smanjuje se emisija stakleničkih plinova i
ostalih onečišćivača, odnosno ispunjavaju se ciljevi nacionalne politike zaštite okoliša. S
druge strane se povećava konkurentnost poduzeća (korisnika energije) kroz nižu
potrošnju energije za isti ili veći učinak. U svakom slučaju, mjerenje konačnog učinka
neophodno je kako bi rezultati ulaganja u energetsku učinkovitost dobili vjerodostojnost,
te poslužili kao dobar primjer za buduće projekte.
U okviru EU programa za poticanje energetske učinkovitosti 'IEE' u tijeku je provedba
projekta PERMANENT čiji je cilj promicanje standardiziranih procedura za mjerenje i
verifikaciju ušteda u projektima energetske učinkovitosti. Za razliku od potrošnje
energije, uštede energije ne mogu se mjeriti. Uštede se mogu procijeniti samo
usporedbom potrošnje energije prije i poslije implementacije projekta energetske
učinkovitosti. Zbog promjena na objektu koje nastaju u međuvremenu primjenjujemo
prilagodbe. Međunarodni protokol za mjerenje i verifikaciju ušteda (IPMVP, International
Measurement and Verification Protocol) je najšire prihvaćen skup smjernica o ‘mjerenju ’
i transparentnom izvještavanju o stvarnim uštedama, za svaki oblik projekta energetske
učinkovitosti. IPMVP procedure podrška su nebrojenim ugovorima o projektima s
otplatom iz ušteda diljem svijeta, pojednostavljujući ESCO terminologiju i fokusirajući se
na upravljanje rezultatima. IPMVP je preveden i prilagođen u zemljama partnerima
PERMANENT projekta. Razumijevanje IPMVP-a važno je za projektante u potrazi za
investitorima i ulagačima u svoje projekte ili za korisnike u potrazi za energetskim
uslugama.
U sklopu drugog dana seminara predstavnik MINGORP-a dat će pregled novog
zakonskog okvira u području energetske učinkovitosti i obveza gradova i županija, a
stručnjaci tvrtke HEP ESCO d.o.o., školovani te licencirani za provedbu treninga o
mjerenju i verifikaciji ušteda, provesti će stručnu edukaciju u tom području.
Na ovome seminaru polaznici će dobiti uvid u aktualno izdanje IPMVP protokola te
načine kako se različite metode mjerenja i verifikacije ušteda mogu primijeniti na projekte
energetske učinkovitosti.
Više informacija na http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE ( HCOIE )