$4 billion — in tax subsidies, tax giveaways, to the oil companies

give a little pork barreling to solar, wind and other renewables .... you can have your fat and eat it too ...  => US Congress

Illinois & Wind Energy = PTC renewals => Common Sense

We need your help.  In the next two weeks, the US House of Representatives will vote on legislation to extend the payroll tax holiday, and it is vital that Congress also include an extension of the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) in that bill. But they will only include the PTC if they believe their constituents support it. 

That's where you come in. You know that the loss of the PTC would dramatically slow wind energy installations in Illinois and other states. So help us tell the Illinois Congressional Delegation that the PTC must be included in the pending tax legislation. Specifically, Congressmen Bob Dold (R-Libertyville) and Bobby Schilling (R-Moline) will play a great role in determining whether or not the PTC is extended in the next few weeks, and we need you to let them and the rest of Illinois' Representatives know how important this economic instrument is to creating certainty in your market.

Renewable Energy Investment Surpasses Fossil Fuels for 1st Time!!!

Renewable energy is surpassing fossil fuels for the first time in new power-plant investments, shaking off setbacks from the financial crisis and an impasse at the United Nations global warming talks.

Electricity from the wind, sun, waves and biomass drew $187 billion last year compared with $157 billion for natural gas, oil and coal, according to calculations by Bloomberg New Energy Finance using the latest data. Accelerating installations of solar- and wind-power plants led to lower equipment prices, making clean energy more competitive with coal.

"The progress of renewables has been nothing short of remarkable," United Nations Environment Program Executive Secretary Achim Steiner said in an interview. "You have record investment in the midst of an economic and financial crisis."

The findings indicate the world is shifting toward consuming more renewable energy even without a global agreement on limiting greenhouse gases. Delegates from more than 190 nations converge in Durban, South Africa, on Nov. 28 to discuss new measures for limiting emissions damaging the climate.

The renewables boom, spurred by about $66 billion of subsidies last year, intensified competition between wind- turbine and solar-panel manufacturers, gutting margins from the biggest producers led by Vestas Wind Systems A/S and First Solar Inc. The 95-member WilderHill New Energy Index of renewable- energy stocks has tumbled 40 percent this year, steeper than the 14 percent drop in the MSCI World Index.

Sun setting on solar equipment industry; only to rise on stronger consolidated players

The solar-equipment industry is beginning a consolidation that’s already the biggest in at least two years as plunging prices for photovoltaic systems force weaker companies to team with competitors or close shop.


Mergers and acquisitions announced so far this year total $3.3 billion, up 33 percent from the $2.47 billion in all of last year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Evergreen Solar Inc. (ESLR) of the U.S. today set a Sept. 20 meeting for its creditors after seeking bankruptcy protection this month. German solar-panel maker Q-Cells SE (QCE) in July said it’s open to takeover bids.

Tumbling solar-cell prices are provoking deals. Their 42 percent drop in 2011, stemming from tougher Chinese competition and declining solar-energy incentives in Europe, contributed to California’s Sunpower Corp. (SPWRA) and Roth & Rau AG (R8R) of Germany agreeing to takeovers. Ascent Solar Inc. took a Chinese partner.

A sell-off in solar stocks has made acquisitions cheaper. The Bloomberg Industries Global Large Solar Index dropped 36 percent this year through yesterday, compared with a 3.8 percent decline in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index in that period.

“The industry is ripe for consolidation,” Michael Schostak, director of business development and communications at Auburn Hills, Michigan-based Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ENER), a maker of thin-film solar laminates, said in an interview.

Adam Krop, an analyst at Ardour Capital Partners in New York, put Energy Conversion on his list of vulnerable companies. Aaron Chew, an analyst at New York-based Maxim Group LLC, named Daystar Technologies Inc. (DSTI) and Q-Cells.

Evergreen said it plans to sell itself at an auction. Hopewell Junction, New York-based cell maker SpectraWatt Inc. this month also filed for protection from creditors.

Q-Cells, once the world’s largest maker of solar cells, hired investment bank and bankruptcy adviser Houlihan Lokey to look at financing options, it said last week.

“It’s totally feasible that Q-Cells goes under,” Chew of the Maxim Group said in an interview. The company’s shares reached a record low Aug. 10 after forecasting a “three-digit million-euro” loss for the year.

Other German solar companies are struggling. Solon SE (SOO1) said on Aug. 16 that it will cut 15 percent of its jobs after inventory rose 45 percent in the first quarter to 160 million euros ($230 million) from a year earlier.

Roth & Rau, the German maker of solar-cell manufacturing equipment, agreed in April to a takeover by Swiss competitor Meyer Burger Technology AG, after first-quarter inventory more than tripled to 97 million euros.

Schostak of Energy Conversion said the most likely takeover targets offer commodity crystalline silicon products and that his company is talking to potential partners about integrating its flexible cells into products from roofing tiles to backpacks. He didn’t name the companies.

Daystar Technologies, a Milpitas, California-based maker of thin-film solar cells, is “in discussions” with potential investors to “provide financing, manufacturing capabilities or other opportunities,” Chief Financial Officer Chris Lail said in an interview.

Oh Governor Brown how about that offshore wind power?

Based on a 5 MW wind turbine on a 264 foot tower with wind speed cutoff of 15.66 mph at water depths up to 660 feet, 112% of California's electricity needs could be provided with offshore wind energy alone!!!

A significant amount of offshore wind energy potential does exist in California, with 330 TWh developable annually in all waters. The vast majority (86%) of California’s offshore wind resource exists in deep waters (160-660 feet). And guess what? The feedstock is always priced the same = zero.

What is mindboggling is that instead of California having enabling legislation; we have a study going on. That would be government speak for let’s put it off to a committee or better yet the next administration!!!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory atmospheric scientists are working with a Norwegian company (SWAY) to possibly leverage that wind as a valuable energy source.

LLNL has signed a memorandum of understanding with SWAY, a renewable energy company that has developed floating towers for wind turbines located in deep water. Though California has not yet approved offshore wind turbines, SWAY will launch a 1/5 scale prototype of the technology off the coast of Norway during June 10 to demonstrate how the system could work in the Pacific Ocean.

Towers for offshore wind turbines typically sit 0-30 meters deep in the water and are anchored to the ocean floor. Based on technology that was originally used for deep-sea oil drilling, SWAY has developed a system to generate more offshore power by locating turbine towers deeper in the ocean – at depths from 60-400 meters. The turbines would sit on top of the floating, tethered tower.

"California has an abundance of deep water wind resources, so this is an opportunity for the state," said Nalu Kaahaaina, LLNL's Low-Carbon Energy Program leader. "This technology is clean, reliable and even more consistent than traditional onshore wind turbines."

Power generation from offshore wind turbines is significantly higher than onshore wind turbines.

"We have offshore wind resources in California and the wind is blowing all the time," said Roger Aines, LLNL's Carbon Fuel Cycle Program leader. "If SWAY has success in Norway, the technology could be useful in California."

Now my wonder as to why the study since Siemens and Vestas are the leaders in offshore wind.

Siemens and Vestas are the leading turbine suppliers for offshore wind power. Dong Energy, Vattenfall and E.on are the leading offshore operators. There are about 4 GW of offshore wind power capacity operational, mainly in Northern Europe. According to BTM Consult, more than 16 GW of additional capacity will be installed before the end of 2014 and the United Kingdom and Germany will become the two leading markets. Offshore wind power capacity is expected to reach a total of 75 GW worldwide by 2020, with significant contributions from China and the United States.

Offshore turbines require different types of bases for stability, according to the depth of water. To date a number of different solutions exist:

• A monopile (single column) base, six meters in diameter, is used in waters up to 100 feet deep.

• Gravity Base Structures, for use at exposed sites in water 65- 264 feet deep.

• Tripod piled structures, in water 65-264 feet deep.

• Tripod suction caisson structures, in water 65-264 feet deep.

• Conventional steel jacket structures, as used in the oil and gas industry, in water 65-264 feet deep.

• Floating wind turbines are being developed for deeper water.

Some of those old oil platforms on California’s coast might go to new use?

Offshore wind energy costs of under 6 cents per kWh. Capital costs are around 30-50% higher than onshore, due to larger machine size, subsea cable for tie-in (up to 25 miles offshore) and the costs of transporting and installing at sea. This is partially offset by higher energy yields – with capacity factors at 45%. If the wind systems are mass-produced, their capital costs will drop, which will reduce the cost of electricity to 3 or 4-cents per kilowatt hour (kWh).

Pretty cool!!!