7 replies to this topic

[E3 wise]

By Lois Moore e3wise

For all those people who keep saying that big oil, coal, and natural gas companies are keeping Alternative Energy from going main stream, 2011 has been another example of how the economics and profitability of Alternative energy is making a dramatic impact on the United States energy future.  Main stream news media has been full of stories such as the downfall of Solyndra and the so called demise of the United States solar and wind markets yet a review of the advances made in new facilities coming on line in 2011 shows that while many alternative energy companies are struggling the development of new facilities is actually growing at a record pace.  So to set the record straight here is a review of just a few of the recent advances coming on line in 2011.

In California a leader in alternative energy several new facilities have come on line in 2011.  Western Wind Energy recently completed a 106 megawatt wind farm in Tehachapi California. A megawatt is roughly enough electricity to power 750 average American homes.  This facility will complete the last 14 megawatts by late February 2012 to bring the total to 120 MW’s that’s enough electricity for 90,000 homes.  This development along with five others new or expanded projects in California has added almost 480 megawatts of capacity in 2011 alone, that’s 360,000 homes of added capacity in  California alone and it does not stop there. New wind farms were announced in 2011 for Oklahoma 60 MW, Michigan 59 MW, Washington State 105 MW, Texas 180 MW, and even Hawaii first wind farm 69 MW and this is just a small portion  of newly constructed or approved wind and solar farms in 2011.

Next let’s review Solar increases.  Driven on by the rapid decrease in cost of Photovoltaic (PV), Concentrated Photovoltaic’s (CPV) and Concentrated Solar (CS) 2011 will set new records for instillations.  In the 3rd quarter of 2011 alone developers set a new record of 449 MW of new solar capacity roughly 337,000 homes, in one three month period alone.  In fact more solar was installed in this three month period of 2011 then in all of 2009. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) estimates that 2011 numbers are on track to set a new record with increases estimated at 140% over 2010.  Not bad for a year when the United States is still struggling to come out of the biggest economic crisis since the great depression.

   Finally on the storage front 2011 is setting records for new battery and hydrogen storage instillation capacities to transform alternative energy from an intermittent energy source to a permanent long term energy provider.  Storage has always been critical to make alternative energy available for when the sun is not shining or the wind blowing.  In November the largest battery storage system to date 97.6 MW came on line at the Laurel Mountain facility in West Virginia delivering 260,000 Megawatt hours (MWh) of clean, flexible power to the grid for homes and businesses in 13 eastern states and the District of Columbia.  Likewise several hydrogen storage facilities are being integrated into Utility and Military instillations to provide backup and primary energy, when ever and where ever needed.  Add to this new bio-fuels, geothermal, hydro and hydrogen facilities and the picture becomes clear- Alternative Energy’s decreasing cost and overall profitability will make 2011 a record year for utilities, businesses and home owners.  So to all those saying alternative energy can’t compete we say take a look at the facts, the alternative energy revolution is now and it’s here to stay.

[still learning]

E3 wise, on 23 December 2011 - 10:25 PM, said:

By Lois Moore e3wise

For all those people who keep saying that big oil, coal, and natural gas companies are keeping Alternative Energy from going main stream, 2011 has been another example of how the economics and profitability of Alternative energy is making a dramatic impact on the United States energy future. at the facts, the alternative energy revolution is now and it’s here to stay.

I notice that you have nothing in your post regarding the cost of producing any of the varied kinds of alternative energy.

Nothing about the actual  profitibility of alternative energy.  Which ones are profitable without subsidy?

As long as there is no sort of carbon dioxide tax or cap placed on CO2 emissions, seems like fossil fuel energy will remain cheaper, remain more profitable.  Not paying the externalized cost of CO2 emissions gives fossil fuel energy an advantage.  There's no need for fossil fuel companies to take other action to discourage alternative energy as long as they retain enough influence in Congress to keep that advantage.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

E3 wise, on 23 December 2011 - 10:25 PM, said:

By Lois Moore e3wise

For all those people who keep saying that big oil, coal, and natural gas companies are keeping Alternative Energy from going main stream, 2011 has been another example of how the economics and profitability of Alternative energy is making a dramatic impact on the United States energy future.  Main stream news media has been full of stories such as
the downfall of Solyndra and the so called demise of the United States solar
and wind markets yet a review of the advances made in new facilities coming on line in 2011 shows that while many alternative energy companies are struggling the development of new facilities is
actually growing at a record pace.  So to set the record straight here is a review of just a few of the recent advances coming on line in 2011. So to all those saying alternative energy can’t compete we say take a look at the facts, the alternative energy revolution is now and it’s here to stay.

We're always hard pressed to hear good news from msm, they love to report the negative. It's more sensational,
and they think it boosts their ratings.
But we know we're winning the alternative energy war, one small battle at a time.
Thanks for the post.

[eweaver15]

Eventually I think that alternative energy will win the long run because it will become profitable. Once the technology advances a little more, the production costs of equipment will drop. When we can build a solar panel that needs only minor maintenance for a 50 year life span, the profits per panel will rise quickly.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

And it's not just panels. They have paint now, solar tiles, etc.
http://en.wikipedia..../Solar_shingles
http://news.discover...wer-111223.html
http://inhabitat.com...ide-out-prefab/

[E3 wise]

You guys are absolutely right.  The solar market is blowing up with new application, techniques, and materials.  One of the really interesting things we were notified of recently is a solar paint application that catches not only visible light but also infra-red, and ultra violet, the substrate has the wiring and diode electronics and then they just paint over it.  It has the possibility to dramatically cut solar cost.
   My feeling has always been that as we as a society and economy move toward a broad acceptance of alternative energy more people will invent new application and usage. An example of this is fuel cell and hydrogen technology which is leading the number of patents filed since 2009 by over 30% when compared to other alternative energies.  Next has been new battery technologies which are striving to eliminate rare earth metals so we do not have to rely on China which holds over 97% of all rare earth metals.
   In Germany the leader today in alternative energy and much of Europe they are turning buildings into micro power plants using every surface available for solar and wind.  The reason is that they have adopted to follow Jeremy Rifkin’s plan for a Third industrial revolution.  The adopted this plan on 2008 and are already reaching many of their goals.

[E3 wise]

There are two you tube videos of Jeremy Rifkins plan that we filmed at the National Hydrogen Conferance in Feb. just search e3wise on you tube.  It wont let me post the actual links on this forum.

[zararina]

Alternative energy will become more popular as there are those who could gain from it such as manufacturers and could also mean more jobs.
And solar energy will rise as they could be cheaper ways to utilize sun power as they continue to study and develop materials or equipments for it. There are now increasing products that uses sun for energy and that was a good sign for more of it to come.