News and Events by CCRES June 21, 2013

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources News and Events June 21, 2013 Drivers Can Compare Gasoline and Electric Fuel Prices with eGallon   The Energy Department on June 11 launched the eGallon—a way for consumers to compare the costs of fueling electric vehicles versus driving on gasoline. The current national average eGallon price is about $1.14, meaning that a typical electric vehicle could travel as far on $1.14 worth of electricity as a similar vehicle could travel on a gallon of gasoline. On Energy.gov/eGallon, consumers can see the latest eGallon price for their state and compare it to the price of gasoline. Over time, consumers will notice that the eGallon price will be far more stable and predictable than gasoline prices. That’s because the eGallon price depends on electricity prices, which historically are very stable; gasoline prices depend on the global oil market, which can be very unstable and are often influenced by unpredictable international events. The eGallon provides a metric that is easily comparable to the traditional gallon of unleaded fuel. That comparison is made by calculating how much it would cost to drive an electric vehicle the same distance a similar conventional vehicle could travel on a gallon of gasoline. For example, if gasoline costs $3.60 per gallon in your state and the eGallon price for your state is $1.20, that means that for $1.20 worth of electricity you can drive the same distance as you could for $3.60 worth of gasoline. The eGallon price varies from state to state based on the price of electricity. See the Energy Department press release.   Energy Department Invests in Next Generation Efficient Lighting   The Energy Department on June 4 announced five manufacturing research and development projects to support energy-efficient lighting products. The projects will focus on reducing manufacturing costs, while continuing to improve the quality and performance of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The Energy Department’s $10 million investment is matched dollar for dollar by private sector funding. According to a new report by the Energy Department, LED lamps and fixtures installed in the United States have increased tenfold over the last two years—from 4.5 million units in 2010 to 49 million units in 2012. These installations, which include common indoor and outdoor applications such as recessed lighting and streetlights, are expected to save about $675 million in annual energy costs. During the same period, the cost of an LED replacement bulb has fallen by about 54%. Switching entirely to LED lights over the next two decades could save the United States $250 billion in energy costs and reduce electricity consumption for lighting by nearly 50%. By 2030, LED lighting is projected to represent about 75% of all lighting sales, saving enough energy to power approximately 26 million U.S. households. Projects selected include: Cree Inc. (Durham, North Carolina) will develop a modular design for LED lights that can link together multiple units to fit larger areas; Eaton Corporation (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin) will develop an innovative manufacturing process that streamlines the LED fixture design and removes unnecessary materials and parts; LEDWorks, (Rochester, New York) will develop and demonstrate new spray-printing equipment that reduces overall manufacturing costs and could help support cost-competitive mass production; Philips Lumileds (San Jose, California) will develop an alternative to the standard flip-chip device that grows an LED face-down on the sapphire substrate; and PPG Industries, Inc. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) will develop a cost-effective manufacturing process to help commercialize an integrated substrate that includes the glass foundation as well as the other necessary layers. See the Energy Department Press Release.   Energy Department Offers $9 Million to Advance Hydrogen Technologies   The Energy Department on June 11 announced up to $9 million in new funding to accelerate the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for use in vehicles, backup power systems, and hydrogen refueling components. The Energy Department will fund up to eight projects from industry, academia, and national labs. These investments will strengthen U.S. leadership in cost-effective hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and help industry bring these technologies into the marketplace at lower cost. Projects selected for funding will demonstrate, deploy, and validate hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in real-world environments. These efforts aim to reduce the costs of hydrogen and fuel cells industry-wide, expand critical infrastructure, and build a solid domestic supplier base. Selected projects will represent a wide variety of applications with potential for widespread commercialization. Topic areas include fuel cell medium-duty trucks; advanced hydrogen refueling components; rooftop installations of hydrogen-fuel-cell-backup power systems; and hydrogen meter research and development. See the Energy Department Progress Alert.   New Building Performance Database Launched by Energy Department   The Energy Department on June 17 launched the new Buildings Performance Database, the largest free, publicly available database of residential and commercial building energy performance information. This database will allow users to access energy performance data and perform statistical analyses on more than 60,000 commercial and residential buildings across the country, and new records are being added regularly. The database includes buildings' location; age; size and function; electricity and fuel consumption; equipment information and operational characteristics. The data can also be used to compare performance trends among similar buildings, identify and prioritize cost-saving energy efficiency improvements, and assess the range of likely savings from these improvements. An application programming interface (API) will allow external software developers to incorporate analytical results from the database into their own tools and services. The database tools have been designed to meet the content and usability needs of public agencies, building owners and managers, contractors, energy efficiency program administrators, and financial institutions, with over 1,000 users testing the site since March 2013. The Department hopes that public and private stakeholders will continue to submit data and expand the resource. All data is made anonymous and protected by stringent privacy and security protocols. Currently, commercial and residential buildings account for approximately 70% of the electricity consumption in the nation. The database strengthens the Department's commitment to provide U.S. industry, state and local governments, and researchers with innovative energy data tools that can help cut energy waste and save money. The database was developed for the Department's Building Technologies Office by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Building Energy Inc. See the Energy Department Progress Alert.   DOI Announces First Offshore Renewable Energy Lease Sale   The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on June 4 announced that BOEM will hold the first-ever competitive lease sale for wind energy on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The auction, scheduled to take place on July 31, will offer 164,750 acres offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts for commercial wind energy leasing. The area being auctioned is located 9.2 nautical miles south of the Rhode Island coastline. The area has the potential for an installed capacity of 3,395 megawatts, according to a report recently released by the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This total could supply enough electricity to power more than 1 million homes. BOEM issued a revised environmental assessment (EA) for commercial wind lease issuance within the Wind Energy Area offshore of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The EA considers reasonable foreseeable environmental and socioeconomic impacts from issuing renewable energy leases. The EA also considers the impacts of conducting site characterization such as surveys and assessment activities such as installation and operation of meteorological towers and buoys. As a result of the analysis in the revised EA, BOEM issued a "Finding of No Significant Impact," which concluded that reasonably foreseeable environmental effects associated with the commercial wind lease would not significantly impact the environment. See the DOI press release, the final sale notice in the Federal Register, and BOEM's EA and Finding of No Significant Impact .   DOI Approves Three Renewable Energy Projects in Arizona and Nevada   The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on June 3 announced the approval of three major renewable energy projects in Arizona and Nevada that are expected to deliver up to 520 megawatts (MW) to the electricity grid. When built, the projects will generate enough power for nearly 200,000 homes. The 350-megawatt Midland Solar Energy Project and the 70-megawatt New York Canyon Geothermal Project are located in Nevada. The Midland Solar Project will be built on private lands about 7 miles southwest from Boulder City, Nevada, and will cross 76 acres of federal transmission corridor. The New York Canyon Geothermal Project and electrical transmission facility will be built on 15,135 acres of land managed by the DOI's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) about 25 miles east of Lovelock, Nevada, in Pershing County. The 100-megawatt Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, located on 1,600 acres of BLM-managed lands in La Paz County, Arizona, will use concentrating solar power (CSP) technology with integrated thermal energy storage technology. CSP technologies use mirrors in heliostats to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a central tower to produce heat, where liquid molten salt captures and stores the thermal energy which is then used to produce electricity. CSP systems are distinguished from other solar energy technologies by their ability to store energy as heat so that consumer demand can be met even when the sun is not shining, including during the night. The BLM has identified an additional 15 active renewable energy proposals slated for review this year and next. BLM identified these projects through a process that emphasizes early consultation and collaboration with its sister agencies at DOI—the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. See the DOI press release and the BLM website.   NREL Highlights 2012 Utility Green Power Leaders   The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on June 5 released its assessment of leading utility green power programs. Under these voluntary programs, residential and commercial consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources such as wind and solar. The top 10 programs support more than 4.2 million megawatt hours /year (MWh/year) of voluntary green power. Using information provided by utilities, NREL has developed "Top 10" rankings of utility green power programs for 2012 in the following categories: total sales of renewable energy to program participants; total number of customer participants; the percentage of customer participation; green power sales as a percentage of total utility retail electricity sales; and the lowest price premium charged for a green power program using new renewable resources. Ranked by renewable energy sales in terms of MWh/year, Portland General Electric (Oregon) overtook Austin Energy in Austin, Texas, in 2012, selling the largest amount of renewable energy in the nation through its voluntary green power program. Dominion Virginia Power and Oklahoma Gas & Electric are new to the top renewable energy sales list. Ranked by the percentage of customer participation, the top utilities are City of Palo Alto Utilities (California), followed by Portland General Electric, Madison Gas and Electric Company (Wisconsin), Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the City of Naperville (Illinois) and Pacific Power (Oregon). In addition, six utilities provided green power supply that included at least 2% solar. See the NREL press release and the Green Power website.   Federal and Industry Partners Issue Challenge to Manufacturers   A coalition that includes the U.S. federal government and more than 200 major commercial building partners has recently challenged U.S. manufacturers to build wireless sub-meters that cost less than $100 apiece. The U.S. Federal Energy Management Program and U.S. General Services Administration are among the organizations issuing the challenge. A group of at least 18 manufacturers has already agreed to take up the challenge, pledging to produce devices that will meet the specifications outlined by the Energy Department and its private sector partners that have signed letters of intent to purchase the wireless sub-meters. The Energy Department worked with members of its Better Buildings Alliance and federal agencies to develop a performance-based manufacturing specification, and will offer third party verification that the wireless building metering systems meet the performance specifications. Electricity sub-meters provide building operators with the information they need to identify opportunities for savings. For example, a large commercial building might pay $10,000 a month or more for electricity, but not have any way to detect which systems are consuming the most electricity. A wireless sub-meter could be installed at various electrical panels throughout the building to give a more detailed picture of where the electricity is being used, thereby helping to identify savings. It might also allow commercial building operators to bill individual tenants for their electricity usage, creating an incentive for energy efficiency. Wireless sub-meters typically cost about $1,000 per installation now, so the goal is to reduce the cost by about 90%. The Department’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, the James A. Forrestal Building, will be used as a testing facility. See the Energy Department press release and the Better Buildings Alliance website.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)   special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

Building a 21st Century Electric Grid   As part of President Obama’s initiative to make America a magnet for jobs by building a 21st century infrastructure, on June 7 he signed a Presidential Memorandum that will speed the modernization of the nation’s electric grid. This will help make electricity more reliable, save consumers money on their energy bills, and support homegrown American clean energy jobs and industries by making renewable energy easier to access across the country. Transmission projects often cover hundreds of miles and involve multiple federal, tribal, state and local jurisdictions with diverse interests and responsibilities. Collaborating early to minimize duplication and delays is vital to getting critical projects to construction to better serve American homes and businesses. The June 7 Presidential Memorandum directs federal agencies to create an integrated pre-application process across the federal government to help identify and address issues before the formal permit application process begins, and streamline the coordination of permitting processes across the federal, state, and tribal governments. The memorandum also directs agencies to identify and improve the use of energy corridors on federal lands that are most suitable for siting electric transmission projects, to help expedite permitting while improving environmental and community outcomes. These energy corridors are designed to reduce regulatory conflicts, minimize negative impacts on natural and cultural resources and address concerns of local communities, decreasing the potential for permitting delays. For these corridors, agencies will work together to integrate new and innovative ways to avoid, minimize and mitigate the impact on environmental and cultural resources. The memorandum also prioritizes meaningful engagement with stakeholders and the public to arrive at the best quality projects with the least conflicts and most support. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

CCRES Neighborhood Program

Did you ever stop to think about what makes your community a good place to live? On the other hand, it may be you don't think you live in a good community. If you don't think so, what is it about the community you don't like? Is it the people, the traffic and congestion, the housing, the services, a combination-what is it?

Being homeless for example can be a temporary point in time,

or it can be a long, lonely, fearful, stressful and hungry time. Not all people

that are living on the street are the ones that you see as you walk down the

street or pass at an intersection. There are many, some say well over a thousand,

which are on the street due to an issue that sent them to the streets that they

had no real control over.

The economy may have had a role; the loss of a house

due to a bad mortgage; job loss due to layoffs; the list goes on and on. We are

not here to expound on all of the people issues that plague our towns, we are

here for one simple purpose:

 CCRES Neighborhood Program 

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES believe that giving turns ordinary money into change, a change for the better.

That's why we ask each of our CCRES partner to think about what they can do in their community to give.

Whether it's volunteering for a community event, helping out a neighbor in need, or making a donation, the act itself doesn't matter. Even the smallest act of giving can spark change.

In neighborhoods all across the Croatia, the CCRES Neighborhood Program is also helping families and business owners make energy efficiency upgrades that are saving them money and improving the comfort of our buildings.

CCRES continues giving, we urge you to do the same. Ask yourself the question:

What can you do?

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Offer your skills.

Consider offering your skills rather than goods. Help an elderly neighbor with household fixes, offer to repaint a community playground, rake leaves or mow the lawn of a neighbor who is unable to do it. Often these skills are needed just as much, if not more than money or goods.

Give to Charity.

It doesn't have to be about money.

Volunteer.

Inform yourself  for volunteer activities in your community.

Check out for many well-known organizations.

Visit a nursing home.

Take some of your free time and visit a nursing home. Read a book with an elderly person, talk about topics in the news, play cards and bring a little joy into both of your lives. You will probably come out with a new friend!

Help a school in your community.

Offer to help distribute school lunches, check or grade papers for teachers, help during recess, or manage school activity functions.

Clean up your community.

Participate in a local environmental clean-up day or start your own with family and friends. Go to your local parks, beaches, or hiking trails and pick up litter.

Send Holiday mail for Croatian heroes.

During the holiday season you can send a card to a Croatian soldier through the partnership between CCRES and HVIDRA.

Volunteer at a church.

Offer to help with the day care, cleaning the church, bringing fresh flowers for the services, or offer to do office work at the church administration office.

Donate clothing.

Are your clothes too tight, too loose, tags still on something you never wore? Give it away. You can stop by your local RED CROSS or KARITAS , and many communities have drop-off boxes where you can leave your donated goods.

Give a new Toys .

Donate a brand new toy to your local children nursery to help bring joy to a child in need. Contact your children nursery to learn how you can donate.

Give to a local food bank.

You can donate a few of the canned goods you currently have in your pantry. With the recent economic crisis, food banks aren't being given as much from donors and more people are needing to be served. Contact your local food bank today to find out how you can donate or visit solarserdar.blogspot.com.

Donate books.

If you have books that have not been read in over a year, chances are you are not going to ever read them again. Give them away! Donate your used books to libraries, schools, or shelters so someone else can enjoy them like you once did.

Making a Donation to the CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

Without generous private donations the CCRES would be unable to continue the valuable work it does in bringing objective information to an often overheated debate.

Making a donation is simple: 

a cheque payable to CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES can be posted to the following address:

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Medarska 24,

10 000 ,Zagreb,

CROATIA

or on:

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

BANK ACCOUNT 2484008-1105745975

IBAN HR0324840081105745975

SWIFT RZBHHR2X

More info at: solarserdar@gmail.com

We also believe that the restoration of dignity is a

critical part of the solution. We look forward to your

questions and assistance.

Who are we and where did we come from:

 We are a not for profit educational organization located in Zagreb. All

of the proceeds from this project will go towards our mission and the expansion

of our mission.

The area was selected for many reasons; first it will be the launching site for a

regional and national roll out when we are successful with the first site.

Second it is where we live currently and we see the issues every day here as

well as other places, but here is where we can be most effective at this time.

As an ongoing support we will partner with local

and region organizations, both for profit and those not for profit organization

that we can team with for solutions. We will also provide a job for our clients

both as staff at the locations as well as assistance to our partners when and

where it is available.

We are concerned business people, members of the community, former

homeless people, caring individuals and maybe your next door neighbor.

We have begun at 2011 an organization called CCRES, it is a not for profit

organization. 

Combined with all of our resources we have many years of business, life, community, 

and family experience.

All of which will be put to work on this project, we will succeed and we will

see this project to the successful completion of the opportunity to assist.

CCRES offers annual memberships for research institutions, public and private sector organizations, individual associates and students. Memberships are provide access to E-Newletters and invitations to CCRES seminars and other events.

 Annual Memberships:

 To become a member, please click JOIN NOW!  

Additional Benefits: 

Invitations to CCRES seminars, tours, lunches and other special events. Advance notice of joint-funding opportunities. Access to CCRES facilities. Receipt of E-Newsletter. Recognition and logo presence for CCRES websites. Ability to sponsor additional fellowships, meetings or seminars. A seat on the CCRES Advisory Board. Exclusive invitations to events. Listing on the CCRES webpage and blogs. High-profile inclusion in CCRES marketing materials.

By sharing best practices on things like workforce development and financing options, local efficiency programs can dramatically increase the number of Croatian homes that are energy efficient.

We will, with your help, make a difference in the community.

Thank you.

HCOIE RADIONICA I STRUČNI SEMINAR

 HCOIE RADIONICA I STRUČNI SEMINAR

HCOIE radionica i stručni seminar je dvodnevni događaj koji smo održali u prostorijama strukovnog Udruženja HCOIE na temu mogućnosti primjene fotonaponskih, odnosno sustava za pretvorbu Sunčeve u električnu energiju, te pretvaranje solarne energije u toplinsku.

 

 

 

Ovakvim tipom radionica i seminara željeli smo upoznati stručne suradnike, članove, studente, male i srednje tvrtke, obrte, ali i druge pravne i fizičke osobe koje su zainteresirane za proizvodnju energije Sunca s aktualnostima iz struke kako bismo doprinijeli povećanju kvalitete obrazovanja te omogućili svima zainteresiranima priliku za širenje znanja. 

 

Na radionici je bilo riječi o teoretskim osnovama i mogućnostima primjene istih, a potom su u praksi bili prikazani najuspješniji primjeri iz prakse, odnosno ostvareni projekti, o čemu su govorili predstavnici investitora, odnosno proizvođača i isporučitelja opreme. 

 

 

Namjera je i ove radionice bila organizirati edukaciju na kojoj će se polaznicima omogućiti visok stupanj interakcije s predavačima te upoznavanje s opremom.

 

Ukoliko želite sudjelovati na nekoj od budućih HCOIE radionica i seminara, molimo popunite pristupnicu koja se nalazi na stranicama HCOIE nakon kojeg ćete biti obaviješteni o programu i datumima narednih seminara i radionica.

HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE (HCOIE)

News and Events by CCRES May 03, 2013

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources  News and Events May 03, 2013

Energy Department Offers $13 Million to Advance Ocean Energy Technologies   The Energy Department on April 30 announced up to $13 million in funding to develop and test advanced components and technologies to boost the performance of marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy systems. The Energy Department plans to select up to 10 awards aimed at developing advanced controls, power systems, and device structures specifically for MHK applications, which harness energy from waves, tides, or currents. Through the new funding opportunity, the Energy Department intends to support projects that increase the power-to-weight ratio of MHK devices or improve system reliability through investment in three component technologies. The Department will select up to six projects to develop advanced control systems, including software or hardware, and perform numerical modeling or testing to assess performance improvements; up to two awards will be selected that focus on developing lighter, more compact, and more efficient power take-offs (PTOs) to increase system and component reliability and modularity and to make PTOs longer-lasting and easier to repair; and up to two projects will develop and test an advanced device structure that minimizes the loads transmitted to other components and increases the device’s ability to withstand extreme conditions. See the funding opportunity announcement at the Water Power Program Financial Opportunities Webpage. The Energy Department also launched a new Energy 101 video on a range of innovative MHK technologies and the Department’s research and development efforts to improve performance and lower costs. Additional information on these efforts is available through Open Energy Information’s new Water Power Gateway. See the Progress Alert and the Water Power Gateway.   New Battery Design Could Help Solar and Wind Power the Grid   Researchers from the Energy Department's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have designed a low-cost, long-life “flow” battery that could enable solar and wind energy to become major suppliers to the electrical grid. The research is a product of the new Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), an Energy Department Energy Innovation Hub. Established last November and led by Argonne National Laboratory with SLAC as a major partner, JCESR is one of five such Hubs created by the Energy Department to accelerate energy research. While solar and wind power make a substantial contribution to the nation’s energy supply, they also create significant power fluctuations, which can sometimes exceed the tolerances of the electrical grid. “Flow” batteries can smooth those fluctuations. Typically, flow batteries pump two different liquids through an interaction chamber where dissolved molecules undergo chemical reactions that store or give up energy, and have a membrane that only allows ions not involved in reactions to pass between the liquids while keeping the active ions physically separated. The new flow battery uses a simplified design without a membrane, and is a less expensive design compared to other batteries, which may improve its scalability and cost-effectiveness. In laboratory tests, it also demonstrated excellent energy storage performance through the equivalent of more than five and a half years of daily charge and discharge cycles. See the Energy Department press release and the JCESR website.   Report Assesses Potential U.S. Hydropower Upgrades   The Energy Department on April 22 announced a new study outlining key improvements that can be made to hydropower production in the United States to provide more efficient and cost-effective electricity to homes and businesses. Developed with funding from the Energy Department, the Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI) report, "Quantifying the Value of Hydropower in the Electric Grid," identifies and assesses the quantifiable benefits from potential improvements. The report cites potential upgrades such as installing turbines that can operate with lower water levels, utilizing new power plant designs that can increase revenue and efficiency, and monetizing the services hydropower provides to the nation's electric grid. Hydropower supplies about 7% of U.S. electricity generation and is currently the nation's largest source of renewable electricity. Hydropower is widely valued for the ancillary services, or flexibility, it provides to the power grid—allowing storage capabilities, enabling fast stops and starts, and responding rapidly to imbalances of supply and demand to maintain power system stability. For example, pumped storage hydropower plants can pump water uphill when electricity supply exceeds demand, such as during nighttime hours or times when renewable energy sources are generating more power than consumers are using. This ability to store energy until it is needed—and to absorb excess renewable energy generation—lowers electricity prices and enables the generation of more renewable electricity. The researchers looked at improvements that could boost the efficiency and output of hydropower plants and at pumped storage hydropower systems, particularly in their potential to be integrated with variable renewable sources such as wind and solar power. According to the report, hydropower plants could see their largest revenue and efficiency increases by deploying new hydropower technologies, making operational improvements, utilizing hydropower's flexibility more in grid resource planning, and monetizing the energy storage capability of pumped storage. Among the key findings from the report: relying more heavily on hydropower to address changes in electricity supply and demand could provide more flexible reserve power options and reduce wear and tear on conventional thermal-generating equipment; and expanding the effective operating range of hydropower units by reducing the minimum amount of water needed to use the turbines stably can increase the production value of plants by 60%. EPRI also published nine accompanying case studies and supplemental reports that discuss the elements covered in the final report in greater detail. See the Energy Department Progress Alert and the complete report .   EIA Opens New State Energy Portal Online for Consumers   The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced on April 11 that it has launched a publicly available, comprehensive online view of the U.S. government's national and state energy data and information. The agency designed the new online portal with a range of users in mind, including policy makers, energy analysts, and the general public, who want to locate and compare state energy data and rankings and customize their own maps and charts, using an assortment of interactive tools. Users can view an array of energy facilities and resources, including information about renewable resource potential for wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy. In addition to customizable maps, the portal summarizes each state's ranking of its energy production, consumption, prices, and more. The state energy portal adds a unique visual dimension to each state's energy resources and infrastructure. See the EIA press release and the state energy profile website.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)   special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

A Renewable Boost for Natural Gas   The race to transition to cleaner, greener natural gas power plants is getting a boost from an unlikely source—solar energy. A new system developed by the Energy Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) converts natural gas and sunlight into a more energy-rich fuel called syngas, which will allow hybrid solar-gas power plants to use about 20% less natural gas to produce the same amount of electricity while also lowering the plant's greenhouse gas emissions. The system works through concentrating solar power, which uses a reflecting surface to concentrate the sun's rays like a magnifying glass. In the case of the new system from PNNL, a mirrored parabolic dish directs sunbeams to a central point, where a device absorbs the solar heat to make syngas. The four-foot-long, two-foot-wide device contains a chemical reactor and several heat exchangers. The concentrated sunlight heats up the natural gas flowing through the reactor's channels, where a catalyst helps turn the natural gas into syngas. The heat exchangers recycle leftover heat from the chemical reaction gas, increasing the efficiency of the system. In fact, tests on an early prototype of the device demonstrated that more than 60% of the sunlight hitting the parabolic dish was converted into chemical energy contained in the syngas. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

News and Events by CCRES April 26, 2013

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES) News and Events April 26, 2013

Energy Department Announces Projects to Develop Innovative, Advanced Drop-in Biofuels   The Energy Department on April 22 announced nearly $18 million in four innovative pilot-scale biorefineries that will test renewable biofuels as a domestic alternative to power cars, trucks, and planes, and that also meet military specifications for jet fuel and shipboard diesel. These biorefineries will be in in California, Iowa, and Washington. The projects selected for funding include Frontline Bioenergy of Ames, Iowa, which will use an innovative new pilot scale reactor and new gas conditioning processes to produce biofuel from woody biomass, municipal solid waste, and refuse; Cobalt Technologies of Mountain View, California, which will operate a pilot-scale integrated biorefinery to convert switchgrass to bio-jet fuel; Mercurius Biorefining of Ferndale, Washington, which will build and operate a pilot plant that uses an innovative process that converts cellulosic biomass into bio-jet fuel and other chemicals; and BioProcess Algae of Shenandoah, Iowa, which will evaluate an innovative algal growth platform to produce hydrocarbon fuels meeting military specifications using renewable carbon dioxide, lignocellulosic sugars, and waste heat. The pilot-scale biorefinery projects selected will use a variety of non-food biomass feedstocks, waste-based materials, and algae in innovative conversion processes to produce biofuels that meet military specifications for jet fuel and diesel. The projects will demonstrate technologies to cost-effectively convert biomass into advanced drop-in biofuels and assist these organizations to scale up the processes to commercial levels. Recipients are required to contribute a minimum of 50% matching funds for these projects. See the Energy Department press release.   Energy Department Highlights Nissan’s Better Plants Challenge Project   The Energy Department on April 17 recognized Nissan’s participation in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge and its showcase project at the company’s new energy-efficient paint plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. The 250,000-square-foot Smyrna facility, which opened in January, is expected to cut energy use by almost a third compared to its predecessor. As a partner in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge, Nissan North America has committed to reducing energy use in its three U.S. plants by 25% by 2020, affecting 12 million square feet of plant space. Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge participating organizations receive technical assistance from the Energy Department and share best practices on industrial energy efficiency with other Challenge partners. Each year, the United States spends about $200 billion just to power commercial buildings and another $200 billion to power industrial facilities. Together, commercial and industrial buildings account for roughly half of the nation’s energy use and more than 40% of U.S. carbon emissions. The Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge serves as the industrial component of President Obama’s broader Better Buildings Challenge, which was launched in December 2011 to help America’s commercial and industrial buildings become at least 20% more efficient over the next decade. See the Energy Department press release and the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge website.   EIA: 2012 Home Energy Bills Lowest Percentage in 10 Years   U.S. consumers spent 2.7% of their household income on home energy bills last year, which was the lowest percentage in 10 years, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis released on April 18. Also, aggregate home energy expenditures by U.S. households fell $12 billion in 2012 from the 2011 level. Warmer weather contributed to lower energy consumption in 2012, and because household energy expenditures reflect both prices and consumption, these changes resulted in lower household energy expenditures. On average, households spent $1,945 on heating, cooling, appliances, electronics, and lighting in 2012. This total includes home use of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, propane, kerosene, wood, and coal, but excludes fuels used for transportation. It also excludes other household utilities such as water and telephone services. Using EIA projections for 2012 based on household data from the U.S. Census Bureau through 2010, $1,945 is the lowest level since 2002. The percentage of household income spent on home energy bills peaked at 4.3% in 1982 and steadily declined until it reached its lowest level since 1973—2.4% in 1999. See the EIA's Today in Energy.   Walmart Announces New Goals for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy   Walmart on April 15 announced the company’s next step on the path to achieving its goal of being 100% supplied by renewable energy. The company committed to achieving the production or procurement of 7 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy globally every year by the end of 2020. That would mark a 600% increase over its 2010 levels. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer will also seek to reduce the energy intensity required to power the company's buildings during the same period by 20%. Walmart expects its six-fold increase in utilizing renewable energy projects to be equal to eliminating the need for roughly two U.S. fossil fuel power plants. Based on external estimates of projected energy costs and other factors, the two new commitments are anticipated to generate more than $1 billion annually in energy savings once fully implemented. The company also expects to avoid 9 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 1.5 million cars off the road. In the United States alone, Walmart plans to install solar power on at least 1,000 of its rooftops and facilities by 2020, an increase from just over 200 solar projects currently in operation or under development. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the company has more solar power capacity and number of systems than any other company in America. It has also been cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as America’s leading user of onsite renewables, using more onsite renewable power than any other company in the United States. In addition to onsite solar, the company will continue to develop projects in wind, fuel cells, and other technologies. It will also procure offsite renewable energy from utility-scale projects, such as large wind, micro-hydro, and geothermal projects. See the Walmart press release.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)   special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

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

SUPEUS – studenti za budućnost

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

SUPEUS – studenti za budućnost

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

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

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

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

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

Održana predavanja:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Željko Serdar

Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE)