FIVE LANDMARK RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

If you're deep into renewable energy and happen to be planning an around the world trip, it might be worthwhile to consider an itinerary which takes you to the five landmark projects published in Renewable Energy World.  Well, that means me, but My Absolutely Final Global Adventure (MAFGA, until I find a better acronym) currently has none of them, mostly because I've decided that the air pollution in China is deleterious to my health, and I've already been to the two American sites.

So here is one view of "enormous renewable energy infrastructure projects that kick-star revolutions" written by Terri Engels, a Boston-based green  real estate agent, which I've updated from other available info:

• Ivanpah Solar Facility:  I've had a series of postings on this solar thermal pacesetter, located alongside the road connecting Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  A sum of $50 million was used to move 150 desert tortoises away from the project.

These Towers of Power has cost $2.2 billion and at peak produce 377 MW of electricity.

• Gansu Wind Farm:  currently generates 5,160 MW, and is already four times larger than the 1320 Alta Wind Energy Center in California and 1064 MW Jaisamar Wind Park in India.  There will be 20,000 MW by 2020 at a cost of $17.5 billion.  This wind farm in China will be 15 times larger than #2 located in the USA.

• The Geysers:  is a geothermal field just north of the primary wine country in California.  There are 23 geothermal plants with an installed capacity of 2,043 MW, but only 19 are operational, and the maximum production in 1987 of 1500 MW has now declined to less than 1000 MW today.  Earlier this week I had an international update of geothermal energy.

The U.S. has long been #1 with around 3000 MW, but watch out for the Philippines.  The world is at 11,000 MW, and the potential of power from the Earth has been speculated to be as high as 2,000,000 MW.  The world currently has 6,000,000 MW of installed electricity capacity.

• Three Gorges Dam:  this $24 billion, 22,000 MW facility is eight times larger than the Hoover Dam, and is the biggest renewable energy project in the world.  More than a million people had to be displaced and landslides have killed dozens of people.  While all this sounds overwhelming, this facility last year generated 98,800,000 MWH last year, whereas the Itaipu Dam in Brazil/Paraguay produced 98,600,000 MWH.

• London Array:  while a relatively modest 630 MW of offshore wind power, it is the largest of its kind, and a source of future renewable power for the world.  However, the 1000 MW capacity was denied permission for fear of affecting the migration pattern of the red-throated diver.

Ironically, various environmental concerns have more recently surfaced around the globe about effect on endangered species, aesthetic insults, noise pollution, foul odors, not in my backyard and similar concerns affecting major wind/solar farms, biofuel facilities, and geothermal projects.  

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There are two ocean storms near Australia, Tropical Cyclone Lam now buffeting the country from the  north at 75 MPH:

and Tropical Cyclone Marcia already at 105 MPH, but expected to strengthen into a Category 3 when impacting from the east:

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TRANS CANADA: Day 10 Continued--A Magical Return Home to Honolulu

I left you in Chicago (that is the city skyline in the background), and on my middle flight home to Los Angeles, now better understand why I spend so much time, money and energy on long trips.  You just don't know what to expect and just hope the pluses overwhelm the minuses.  This one was extraordinary.    

I decided to enter the cold only a few days before I flew to Vancouver, not particularly because I wanted to, but because I could.  I only have a short period left when I will forever be restricted to my Purgatory known as 15 Craigside.  The remainder of my journey could well have been the most magical ever, especially if you value the fabulous USA, solar energy and friends.

The remainder of my journey could well have been the most magical ever, especially if you value the fabulous USA, solar energy and friends.

I start with my itinerary:

• Woke up at 5AM (midnight Hawaii time) because the bellman said I should catch the 6AM taxi ($70 with tip) arranged by the hotel.
• I noted that the first flight left such that I arrived in Chicago half an hour before boarding.  Should have been enough time for my bag to also catch this plane.
• However, the leg to Los Angeles concerned me.  The arrival time at LAX was 2:52PM, but boarding to HNL was to be 2:40PM.  How far would I have to walk?  What are the odds of my bag also making that flight?
• Turned out UAL463 actually arrived half an hour earlier.  Also, we docked at Gate 73.  UAL1498 to HNL left from Gate 72. 
• So I wandered over to my boarding area and aimlessly showed my ticket and was let on the plane.  I was the first passenger.  I think this had something to do with the walking cane I use when I go on these long trips.  It only costs $2 from Daiso in Bangkok.  But I've lost two, so you can also buy one in Daiso Japan for $3.  You saw me with this cane next to the Canadian moose two days ago.
• I should add that, after some shuffling around, a long-time University of Hawaii colleague ended up sitting next to me, and will provide details later.

Another reason why I came on this trip is because I had two regional upgrades that would have expired at the end of this month.  On checking in I found out that UAL had upgraded the first and third planes.  However, the magical Chicago-LAX leg was a window seat (F) in Economy Plus.

Let me start by saying that I had four Bloody Marys:

I looked at the back of the can and read the ingredients:

One can provides 62% of your sodium requirement, and I was already pass this limit.  When you add the pretzels and peanuts, who knows where I was for the day.  I still had half the total trip left.   For the record, I also had another to Honolulu, with a can of beer:

Took me a long time get here, but the highlight of my trip was not all that snow in Canada.  We have a beautiful country, and my photo-taking began with the Rocky Mountains, which stretch from British Columbia down to New Mexico.  This is just around Denver:

It gets better and I saw sights I never saw before, probably because of the lighting angle and time of day:

I have twenty more, but, next, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam (note the low water level) and Las Vegas:

Having run a solar energy research institute in my past, I was especially excited about the $2.2 billion Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, located between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.  The three power towers have a gross capacity of 392 MW.  At one time it was the largest solar facility in the world, but #1 is now in India at 648 MW, larger than the smaller nuclear fission power plants.  I might add that the biggest wind farm is in Gansu, China, up to 6,000 MW in 2012, but with an expectation of reaching 20,000 MW by 2020, the equivalent of 20 nuclear power plants.

Close by is the following scene, which looks like this should be in Hawaii:

Finally, approaching LAX:

I might add that a little girl was sitting next to me totally catered to by her father.  She kept elbowing me and I could have filed an improper behavior charge for harassment, but I got back at her by taking her photo:

Which now leads to my seat mate on the flight to Honolulu.  Murli Manghnani, who also is in the School of Ocean and Earth Technology at the University of Hawaii.  He has been a researcher here since 1963, and at the age of 80, still active.  He was on his final flight back to Honolulu after a short trip to India, back through Hawaii, then on to New Orleans to receive an award.  He is 80 years old, and surely the oldest employee at the UH.  He said that he would be making around 20% more if he retired, and is considering perhaps doing so.  To the left is a photo when he became a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.  

Here at sunset are the Big Island volcano peaks:

Amazingly enough, my bag was the first piece of luggage to arrive onto the baggage carousel.

Finally, this morning home at 15 Craigside, where I was greeted by a white orchid:

Business must like what is happening with the Congressional tax package, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 143 to 24,652, another all-time record.

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MY 2018 RESOLUTIONS

The 15 Craigside Photo Club held our monthly gathering, and our assignment was to combine "framing" with our New Year's resolutions.  I start with palm fronds and Diamond Head framing a rainbow:  I will be chasing more rainbows this year.

This shot was taken last month from House Without a Key, the site of my photo at the top of this blog.

The next four came from my trans-Canada trip last month.  Here, the Vancouver Aquarium:  I will be visiting more aquaria this year.

I caught this middle train (below) from Vancouver to Toronto.  The framing effect are those columns, while my resolution was to stop catching this type (the standard "old" train like Amtrak, too) for they are too dangerous for old people, or anyone.  First, the train is a quarter mile long and shaking all the time when moving, so you're bouncing between walls and doors and windows.  In Canada, these trains don't move much because freight has the priority.  The dining car meant walking outside (between trains) five time each way, where you experience snow, cold, dangerous railings, icy walkways and more.  Try sleeping in moment magnitude 3-7, yes 7, something I experienced in Tokyo.  Mind you, the varying views of snow were memorable, here to the  left my train framed by snow-covered Christmas pine trees.

In Toronto, I had lunch at what was once (1975-2007) the highest man-made structure, the CN Tower.  That's the city, showing my hotel, framed in the windows, and my resolution was to eat more Japanese wagyu beef:

On the return flight from Chicago to Los Angeles I fully realized how barren and beautiful our country can be.  Here, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead framed by the engine and wing of the plane, with a close-up of the dam.  Note the low water level:

Thirty-three miles to the left is Las Vegas, and my resolution was to see my brother who lives there this year.  I have a trip to Vegas planned for February.  

I thought I'd show two more photos, the first for the startling color and the second, a striking shot of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System:

The photos of the entire club have been showing at the entrance of the 15 Craigside dining room, and will soon be shifted to the basement exhibition wall.

Our club took our annual photo:

The Dow Jones Industrials again broke its all-time high, up 206 to 25,575.

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