This blog site initially focused on renewable energy and the environment. It has been a while since my last update of the subject, so here goes:
- SoftBank of Japan and Foxconn Technology of Taiwan have bid to supply 750 MW of renewable energy electricity in India for between 3.8 - 5 cents /kWh. Electricity rates vary by country (cents/kWh):
- Of course, these averages depend on what year, and a variety of other factors, for Wikipedia lists India from 0.1 to 18 cents/kWh (7 average), Australia at 15-26 cents/kWh, China from 4-4.5 cents/kWh, and the U.S. from 8-17 cents/kWh. Of course, many countries subsidize electricity: Argentina 3.1, Kuwait 0.3-3, Saudi Arabia 1-7.
- Elon Musk has been fabulously successful in certain renewable areas. Tesla, 800% growth in the past 5 years and 40% in a year:
- Musk advises Donald Trump and has touted humans on Mars by 2022 and his Hyperloop taking passengers between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 30 minutes. His cost would be a tenth that of the currently planned $68 billion bullet train project. Mars? $10 billion/person for the Mars expedition.
- It was estimated two years ago that he was getting $4.9 billion in government support for Tesla, SolarCity and SpaceX, led by Nevada tax incentives of $1.29 billion for Musk's Gigafactory (lithium battery production on space three times the size of Central Park, New York, to become the largest building the world...by footprint).
- I've enjoyed comparing Musk to me, with some humor, of course, and, so far, he has been mostly right and I continue to witness what is happening with considerable amazement...but, while hoping he will succeed, still strongly feel that things will soon begin to crash. His Model 3 will be crucial...but Mars in five years???
- The key to wind and solar is energy storage. Perhaps Musk's lithium battery will prevail. The further good news is that larger companies are beginning to buy out smaller ones, a good sign that progress is being made.
- Of course, energy storage is a lot more than batteries. Read about an expanded 480 MW pumped storage facility in Switzerland. Last year, the 1000 MW Linthal Valley (right) system in that country was connected to the grid, with GE supplying the equipment. These are huge efforts, for the average nuclear power plant is about 1000 MW.
- In Hawaii, protesters have largely curtailed geothermal energy expansion. Here are five myths:
- Renewables cannot supply energy 24/7: this is one of the attractions of geo-power.
- Geo-plants take up a lot of space: geothermal energy has the smallest land footprint of any comparable energy source. Per gigawatt:
- Geo = 404 square meters
- coal = 3642 SM
- solar PV = 3237 SM
- Causes pollution: closed-loop systems do not emit any greenhouse gases and they consume less water.
- Only accessible in limited areas: geo-heat pumps can be installed anywhere, and in the future hot dry rock could compete.
For those wanting to get directly involved:
- Solar Power International: join 18,000 attendees and 650 exhibitors in North America's premier energy gathering
- September 10-13
- Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas
- Early Bird registration by June 5
- Member $795
- Non Member $995
- After June 5
- Member $895
- Non Member $1095
- Onsite
- Member $995
- Non Member $1195
- Students: $250
- Press: $0
- BioMarine 2017
- October 1-3
- Rimouski, Quebec
- $832 for members and $1000 for non-members for if you register by May 31, up to $1331 for non-members after that (students??)
- Algae Biomass Summit 2017
- October 29 - November 1
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Cost varies from $650 if you are a student registering by August 1 to $1695 if you are a nonmember registering on-site.
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