Renewable energy wolrd magazine sep oct 2015

VOLUME

18

ISSUE

5

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

US Clean Power Plan Finalized

Wind

Data Points

Geothermal

Bioenergy

New drivetrain technology for the industry.

UK residential solar hotspots.

Low-enthalpy geothermal raises the bar.

Renewable generation for decades at closed landfills.

p. 38

p. 44

p. 46

p. 53

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contents

The TeMihi geothermal power station in New Zealand.

Credit: Mighty River Power.

46

features

22

COVER STORY

Renewables Help US States Meet Clean Power Plan Goals The historic plan gives states one more reason to build renewable energy generation now

30 SOLAR

Inverters on Parade Intersolar 2015 attracted a wide array of innovators eager to show their new solar products to the industry.

Charles W. Thurston

Jennifer Runyon

46

GEOTHERMAL

Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Raises the Bar Low-enthalpy capture could ultimately be transformative for the geothermal-energy industry.

Chris Webb

38 WIND

Wind Turbine Manufacturers Consider New Drivetrain Technology

22

ON THE COVER The U.S. Clean Power Plan will show the world that the country is serious about renewable energy.

A changing powergeneration landscape has led to new challenges for both wind-turbine manufacturers and makers of turbine components.

Tildy Bayar

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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features

53

BIOENERGY

Renewable Electricity at Closed Landfills How can landfill managers squeeze the maximum possible amount of renewable energy out of the gases their landfills produce over time?

Alain Castro

departments & columns 5 Editor’s Letter Three Reasons 2015 Will Go Down in Clean Energy History

6 Regional News News from the Global Renewable Energy Industry

15 The Big Question Where Are the Major Geothermal Opportunities Around the World Today and What Should the Industry Do to Take Advantage of Them?

44 Data Points UK Residential Solar

62 Resources 65 Advertisers index 66 Last Word Meeting the Need for Uniform Energy-Storage Codes, Standards and Regulations

59

HYDROPOWER

Record-Breaking Conference Reveals Excitement Surrounding Hydropower HydroVision International attracted record attendance this July and highlighted many accomplishments within the industry.

Elizabeth Ingram

On RenewableEnergyWorld.com RenewableEnergyWorld.com keeps you updated on news, opinion and technology for the renewable energy industry.

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From t he Editor

CHIEF EDITOR Jennifer Runyon INTERIM EDITOR Kat Friedrich SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER

Stephanie Kolodziej EDITORIAL OFFICES

REW Magazine PennWell Corporation 98 Spit Brook Road, LL-1 Nashua, NH 03062-5737 PRODUCTION

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With the year more than half-way over, its clear to me that 2015 will be a year for the history books in terms of the clean energy transition.

First, in 2015 globally there is greater recognition of climate change.

When the head of the Catholic church calls the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy a moral imperative, people sit up and take notice. I think it could be argued that Pope Francis has done more for the clean energy industry than any other global leader in history.

Second, 2015 is the year that the United States finally got serious about cleaning up its power supply. This summer the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the final rules for the Clean Power Plan; rules that will force states to curb carbon emissions from power plants over the next 15 years. It’s big deal for America, a country that has fought curbing carbon since 1997 when it refused to sign on to the Kyoto protocol. Finally the U.S. will head to the Climate Talks in Paris this December with a firm plan in hand for how the second biggest emitter of carbon pollution will lessen its carbon impact on the world.

Third, in 2015 the U.S. began construction on the first offshore wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island. Why is this momentous? For 10+ years Jim Rogers attempted to develop the 468-MW Cape Wind and for 10 years he faced challenge after challenge, mostly through NIMBY activists with homes on Cape Cod. The message those lawsuits sent to the wind industry was clear: stay away. But the 30-MW, 5-turbine Block Island wind farm, now actively under construction, opens a new chapter in the country. With it, the U.S. shows the world that is it serious about large-scale renewable energy and its waters are open for business. ◑

While every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine, neither the Publishers nor the authors accept any liability for errors or omissions.

Jennifer Runyon, Chief Editor RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

5

REGIONAL

news

NORTH AMERICA

The Nature Conservancy Installs Bird-Safe Wind on Palmyra

Fundy Tidal-Monitoring Platforms Ready for Trials In Dartmouth, Canada, Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) is completing final testing of two advanced underwater monitoring platforms in preparation for sea trials in the Bay of Fundy.

The Fundy Advanced Sensor Technology (FAST) platforms are

A United States-based non-

recoverable instrument platforms designed to monitor and char-

profit, The Nature Conser-

acterize the FORCE site. Using a variety of onboard sensing equip-

vancy, has completed its first phase of installation of SheerWind’s INVELOX funnel-based wind-power technology at the Palmyra Atoll, 1,000 miles

ment, the platforms enable real-time data collection from the Minas Passage. They measure currents and

(1,600 km) south of Hawaii in

turbulence, seabed sta-

the Pacific Ocean.

bility, marine life activ-

Palmyra Atoll is home to

ity, and noise levels.

coral-reef and tropical-island

Tony Wright,

ecosystems. It is co-owned

FORCE’s general man-

and managed by The Nature

ager, said: “To har-

Conservancy and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a national wildlife refuge and hosts more than a million nesting seabirds.

ness the enormous

Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE)

power of the Bay of

is completing final testing of this advanced

Fundy responsibly, we

underwater monitoring platform in Canada.

have to understand it.

Credit: FORCE.

We’ve built two subsea

Low wind speeds and the

instrument platforms

risk of bird strikes meant

that will give us a clearer, moment-by-moment picture of what’s

conventional wind turbines

happening under the water.”

were deemed inappropri-

Part of a CAN $6.8-million FAST program that has supported

ate. The SheerWind design is

FORCE efforts to better understand the Minas Passage, the project

some 83 feet long (25 meters)

has included subsea data collection, subsea data cable installation,

and features a venturi sec-

shore-based radar, and meteorological equipment.

tion to increase wind veloc-

“Many ocean sensors were not designed to operate in the

ity by a factor of three to six.

With nets over the intake and enclosed blades, a single turbine has been installed inside

extreme high flows at the FORCE site in the Minas Passage. The platforms help take ocean monitoring to the next level,” said FORCE Platform Manager Simon Melrose. ￮

the venturi.

6

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

EUROPE

European Commission Sets out ETS Reform Plans A raft of energy-sector propos-

challenges of the transition.

als were unveiled by the EU Com-

According to the commission,

system of free allocation to focus on sectors that are at highest

mission. The commission plans to

this is the first legislative step

risk of relocating their produc-

reform its flagship tool for tack-

toward implementing the EU’s

tion outside the EU. In addition,

ling climate change — its EU

commitment to reducing green-

more flexible rules aim to bet-

Emissions Trading System (ETS).

house gas emissions by at least

ter align free allowances with

40 percent domestically by 2030.

production figures. It is expect-

mission proposes increasing the

To accomplish this, the com-

To achieve the target, the sec-

ed that around 6.3 billion allow-

pace of emissions cuts after 2020

tors covered by the ETS have to

ances will be allocated for free

and providing additional support

reduce their emissions by 43 per-

to companies from 2021-2030.

mechanisms to help the indus-

cent compared to 2005 levels.

These allowances will be worth

try and power sectors meet the

This includes revising the

as much as 160 billion euros. ￮

Standardized Wave Power-Offtake Device Gets Funding A 1/10-scale prototype of a marine hydrokinetic

the team to complete the scale-prototype testing

project has received $3.1 million USD in new fund-

and deliver the design and specification for a full-

ing from the Scottish government’s Marine Renew-

scale prototype.

ables Commercialization Fund (MRCF).

These developments coincided with a new

It is hoped the research can lead to standardized

analysis from Frost & Sullivan that found the UK

subsea units that will be able to be attached to a

remains the front-runner in the development of

variety of different wave-energy machines.

newer tidal-energy solutions, buoyed by a good

The Wave Power Offtake Device (WavePOD)

tidal resources and a supportive regulatory scenar-

project run jointly by Aquamarine Power, Bosch

io. Canada, China and South Korea are also show-

Rexroth, and Carnegie Wave Energy is testing the

ing steady progress. And the United States is one of

prototype at the Institute for Fluid Power Drives

the top innovators, the report said.

and Controls at RWTH Aachen University in

Research Analyst Lekshmy Ravi said, “The suc-

Germany.

cess of smaller demonstration plants will propel

When generating electrical power, the scale-

the immediate adoption of tidal stream and tidal

prototype’s drivetrain is using real-life hydrody-

barrage technologies. The deployment of hybrid

namic data from Aquamarine’s Oyster 800 device,

energy systems consisting of a combination of tidal

installed at the European Marine Energy Centre in

and offshore wind energy seems probable in the

Orkney in 2012.

long term.”

Its backers say the new funding should enable

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

7

REGIONAL

news

Serbian Onshore Wind Set to Soar

France’s Feed-in-Tariffs for Biogas and PV Increase

Total installed onshore wind

The French government is to increase its feed-in tariffs (FiTs) for

installed capacity in Serbia is set

biogas installations and small photovoltaic (PV) systems, according

to rise five-fold – from 102.5 MW

to the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Energy.

in 2015 to an estimated 522 MW

Part of an overall strategy for France to meet 32 percent of its

by 2025 – following the introduc-

energy demand by renewables by 2030, the FiT for electricity pro-

tion of a new energy law.

duced by combined heat and power installations running on bio-

According to new analysis by

gas will reportedly be raised for both new and existing installations between 10 and 20 percent under the terms of a ministerial decree.

GlobalData, several new projects and the government’s new

The ministry is also expected to increase the price premium

Energy Law, which came into

given to building-integrated solar PV installations of up to 100 peak

effect in January 2015, will boost

kW by 10 percent. ￮

installations to an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 48 percent.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

According to GlobalData Analyst Sneha Susan Elias, “Plant

order to receive the appropri-

Finance Deal Accomplished for Kenyan Wind

ate price support for electricity

Kipeto Wind Power Project in Kajiado, Kenya is set to go ahead with

generation in accordance with

the conclusion of a $233-million-USD financing deal with the Over-

legal requirements. Following

seas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

operators must hold Privileged Power Producer (PPP) status in

completion of the power-pur-

The United States government’s development finance institution

chase agreement with the plant

committed the debt financing for construction and operation of the

operator, Serbia’s state-owned

project as part of President Obama’s Power Africa initiative.

power utility company, Elektro-

Located south of Nairobi, the 100-MW project will be one of the

privreda Srbije, is legally obliged

first utility-scale wind projects to come online in Kenya, where over

to purchase the total electrici-

75 percent of the population still lacks access to reliable electricity.

ty produced by PPPs at an incen-

Kipeto is being developed in partnership with African Infra-

tive price. Technologies eligible

structure Investment Managers, Kenyan independent power pro-

for feed-in tariffs include hydro-

ducer Craftskills Wind Energy International, Ltd., and International

power, biogas, biomass, geother-

Finance Corporation (IFC).

mal energy, solar power, and

President and CEO of OPIC Elizabeth Littlefield said: “Kipeto is a

wind power.”

transformative project for many reasons, principally for the clean

Serbia will reach approx-

and reliable energy it will supply to Kenyan citizens. It will be one

imately 250 MW of onshore

of Kenya’s first utility-scale wind projects and can contribute more

installed capacity by 2020. This

than 20 percent of residential power consumption at current usage

is only half of its 500-MW capac-

rates.” ￮

ity cap for wind energy by 2020.￮ 8

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

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REGIONAL

news

Sudan’s Plans for 500 MW of Hydro by 2020

PV Tracking System to Be Installed in South Africa

Plans to boost generating capaci-

Construction has begun on a 558-kW ground-mounted solar tracking

ty in Sudan, including around 500

PV power plant at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s

MW of new hydropower develop-

(CSIR) Pretoria campus in South Africa.

ment, have been released by the

Under turnkey development by a Capetown-based subsidiary of

Ministry of Water Resources and

Germany’s juwi, the project will cover one hectare and will produce

Electricity.

power at a lifetime levelized cost of six euro cents/kWh (according to

A document detailing increasing hydroelectric power gener-

CSIR’s lifetime-cost-of-electricity model).

The tracking system is expected to produce more than 3.5 GWh in

ation in the country from 1,500

the first three years of operation, during which juwi will also provide

MW to 2,000 MW by 2020 has

operations and maintenance services for the facility.

been approved by the technical

Greg Austin, managing director of juwi South Africa, said: “By

committee of the economic-devel-

pushing the market towards the lowest cost per kWh offered over the

opment sector at Sudan’s Council

project’s full lifetime, the CSIR has demonstrated that it is possible

of Ministers.

for government and public entities to procure smaller-scale renew-

Among the projects, Sudan

able-energy facilities at lifetime cost rates highly comparable to

aims to complete construc-

[those from] large-scale facilities such as the various larger PV power

tion of the 320-MW Upper Atba-

plants in the Northern Cape.”

ra and Setit hydroelectric project,

Grid connection is scheduled for the end of August. ￮

including Rumela Dam on Upper Atbarah River and Burdana Dam

Solar Developments in Jordan

on Setit River. These locations are in the eastern region of the country.

The $1.9-billion-USD project began construction in 2011. Both dams are expected to be complete

by March 2016.

Even at maximum capacity, the 1250 MW Merowe plant, Sudan’s largest hydroelectric facility, cannot fully power Khartoum. Sudan routinely faces a 5-percent deficit in electricity supply during peak Of the country’s 39 million inhabitants, only 35 percent have

10

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

Zahrat Al Salam, and Al Zanbaq.

development in Jordan with a

Jordan Solar One is rated at 24

combined capacity of 57 MWp.

MW and will be constructed near

Located near the cities of Ma’an

the northern town of Mafraq.

and Mafraq, the four projects

Martifer Solar, a subsidiary of

were awarded power purchase

Martifer SGPS, will provide the

agreements under Round 1 of Jor-

engineering, procurement and

dan’s National Renewable Ener-

construction services for the

gy Plan.

portfolio and perform the sub-

Three of the projects, each

hours.

access to electricity. ￮

Four solar PV projects are under

sequent operations and main-

rated at 11 MW and located near

tenance for all four solar PV

the city of Ma’an in south-central

projects.

Jordan, are Al Ward Al Joury, Al

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

The projects were also

supported by the World Bank Group through Mul-

and OPEC’s Fund for International Development.

tilateral Investment Guarantee Agency investment

“Jordan currently imports 95 percent of its

guarantees as well as part of an IFC $207-million-

power… which costs approximately a fifth of the

USD debt-financing package. IFC also acted as the

country’s GDP. The development and construction

lead arranger for the financing together with a syn-

of renewable energy projects such as these will be

dicate of other financiers including Bahrain’s Arab

essential for its future,” said Henrique Rodrigues,

Bank, the European Arab Bank, FMO, FinnFund,

CEO of Martifer Solar. ￮

Uruguay Strikes a Wind Turbine Deal

LATIN AMERICA

Peruvian Hydro Financed Union Group has secured a $59-million-USD financing package for two hydropower plants in Peru that will generate a combined 27.4 MW. A consortium of development banks have invested in senior debt in Union Group’s El Carmen and 8 de Ogosto hydropower plants. These plants will be linked to the national power grid by a 60-km transmission line.

El Carmen, which will generate 8.4 MW, and 8 de Agosto, which will generate 19 MW, are anticipated to produce up to 215 GWh per year.

The $88-million-USD project marks the first stage of a plan to build nine hydropower plants with 125 MW of capacity in the country’s mountainous Huanuco region in central Peru.

Union Group subsidiary Generación Andina is building the plants backed by two 20-year power purchase agreements with the Peruvian government under its under Renewable Energy Resource Program.

Within Peru, Union Group is developing a hydropower portfolio of close to 1,000 MW, including two plants in the district of Monzón, Huamalies, which are due to enter service in January 2016. Union Group also recently acquired Empresa de Generación Eléctrica Canchayllo S.A.C, a subsidiary of Rurelec. The $14.3-million-USD deal includes a 5.2 MW run-of-river hydro power plant in Junin, Peru.

According to Peru’s General Directorate of Electricity of the Ministry of Energy, national electricity consumption rose on average by close to 5 percent a year between 2004 and 2014. ￮

Spain’s wind turbine manufacturing company Gamesa signed a new contract with developer Smartener for the supply of 50 MW of machines to the Maldonado II wind farm in Uruguay.

The agreement reached with Smartener encompasses the supply, installation and commissioning of 25 of its G114-2.0 MW turbines at the wind farm, located in Maldonado and Lavalleja in southeastern Uruguay.

This is Gamesa’s first contract in Uruguay for the installation of the G114-2.0 MW, a new model designed for low- and medium-wind-speed sites.

Gamesa will also provide the facility’s operations and maintenance services under a five-year agreement.

Delivery of the turbines is expected to begin in November and the wind farm’s construction should be completed by Q2 2016.

This new order is an extension of the operational first phase of Maldonado wind farm, also developed by Smartener in 2013.

To date, Gamesa has installed 150 MW in Uruguay. ￮

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

11

REGIONAL

news

Seawater Air-Conditioning Economically Viable in Caribbean Eight locations in the Caribbean

the Agence Française de Dével-

have been analyzed for seawater

oppement, Makai’s district cool-

air conditioning development in

ing modelling software was

seawater, which even in the

a study which suggests that dis-

used to assess the sites. The fea-

tropics can be as cold as 5°C

trict cooling is economically via-

sibility study also produced two

(41°F) for district cooling. It

ble for at least two sites.

conceptual designs and cost

replaces conventional A/C sys-

estimates at the most economi-

tems is large buildings such as

the Development Bank of Latin

cally attractive locations: Mon-

hotels, reducing electricity con-

America with co-financing from

tego Bay in Jamaica and Puerto

sumption. ￮

In a study commissioned by

Plata in the Dominican Republic.

The technology uses deep

ASIA PACIFIC

Flinders Island Hybrid Energy Hub Project Begins Work is scheduled to begin on the Flinders Island

Development of the Hybrid Energy Hub follows

Hybrid Energy Hub, off the southern coast of Aus-

the King Island Renewable Energy Integration Proj-

tralia. The hub will integrate wind and solar gener-

ect, which plans that the nearby island’s ener-

ation with existing diesel power-station technology.

gy needs will be supplied solely from renewables

Project Director Simon Gamble said, “Like many remote or island locations, Flinders Island is currently heavily reliant on expensive diesel fuel to

when conditions allow. The Flinders Island project will use similar technology.

Hydro Tasmania’s has worked with Tasma-

supply its electricity needs. Diesel fuel remains the

nian manufacturers to develop a series of modu-

single largest expense in these remote energy sys-

lar units to house and ship the technologies essen-

tems. Using renewable energy makes good eco-

tial for this energy solution. The technology will be

nomic sense.”

developed and tested for the first time through the

Within two years, the $12.88 million Australian dollars ($9.5 million USD) Flinders Island proj-

Flinders Island Hybrid Energy Hub project.

“These modular enabling units will provide a

ect will be capable of displacing up to 60 percent of

lower-cost and scalable solution that will allow

the annual diesel fuel used on the island to gener-

easy and rapid transport and installation for

ate electricity. The go-ahead came after Hydro Tas-

renewable-energy projects and which could also

mania signed contracts totaling nearly $4 million

serve temporary uses such as in disaster relief or

Australian dollars ($3 million USD). The Australian

in the mining industry,” Gamble said.

Renewable Energy Agency also supported the project with $5.5 million Australian dollars ($4 million

The project is due to be completed in November 2016. ￮

USD) of funding.

12

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

3 GW of Solar Projects Slated for China’s Shanxi Plans for up to 3 GW of new solar power in China’s Shanxi province have moved ahead after Hong Kong-based United Photo-

Credit: United PV. voltaics Group, Ltd. said it had won exclusive rights to develop and construct a 100-MW demonstration project there.

Located at the Datong Dem-

North America’s Premier Exhibition and Conference for the Solar Industry Moscone Center, San Francisco

onstration Base, Datong City, installed capacity at the site is anticipated to reach 3 GW by 2017.

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According to the overall planning, the target aggregate capacity of the base in 2015 is 1000 MW, including seven power plant projects with an aggregate capacity of 100 MW for each

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project and five projects with an aggregate capacity of 50 MW each. A further 50 MW will be community-based. ￮

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✺✺

The Big Question

Stakeholders weigh in on worldwide renewable-energy issues

Where Are the Major Geothermal Opportunities Around the World Today and What Should the Industry Do to Take Advantage of Them?

Geothermal technology offers renewable energy that comes from under the earth.

The energy is baseload, dispatchable, and 100-percent renewable. The industry is making slow-but-steady progress in various regions of the world. As attendees head to the Geothermal Energy Expo and Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting in September, we ask our readers this month’s Big Question.

In organizing the biggest annual event in the industry (the GRC Annual Meeting & the GEA Geothermal Energy Expo), the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) gets an insight into current trends. From these, we can see that the biggest opportunities remain in Indonesia and The Philippines in Asia and in Kenya and Ethiopia in Africa.

Ian Crawford However, the recent news that the Japanese government Director of will allow drilling for geothermal resources in parts of Communications, national parks bodes well for the industry there. Also, new legislation in Mexico will potentially be a boon for geotherGeothermal Resources Council mal energy.

I hope legislation will be passed to restore the Salton Sea in Southern California. This would involve the development of more than a GW of geothermal energy, providing a much-needed push for the industry in the United States.

In addition, the research into Enhanced Geothermal Resources (EGS) here in the United States, in particular at the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) program, might provide the breakthrough for the industry that will make geothermal energy available anywhere in the world.

Paul Gilbert, Construction Project Manager, Falck Renewables Wind

There are probably many untapped areas. But in Kenya, they have enough RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

15

✺✺

The Big Question

geothermal potential to possibly power a major part of East Africa. The added bonus is that the transmission lines that are being installed for the Lake Turkana Wind Project pass close by allowing connection points and substations to be built. External companies should be encouraged to invest and be a part of Kenya’s 5,000-MW vision for future energy provision.

Jim Goldmann, Sponsor Energy Capital

The age-old issue for geothermal power generation is proving resources and developing risk with a utility rate of return on completing a successful project. This single issue has sidelined potential projects for decades. Sponsor Energy Capital is forming a fund to solve this issue for worthy projects.

Len Hering, RADM, USN(ret), Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Energy

Geothermal is abundant in many places around the globe. I see the real problem as that in most areas where geothermal is present, there is insufficient grid capacity to handle the load that can be generated.

If you closely examine the geothermal domes that exist throughout the southwestern United States, for example, you will find that the grid necessary to support larger amounts of energy is not present or is dedicated to the transfer of energy from areas supplied by larger fossil-fuel generation plants.

The costs to upgrade this power structure and to connect these plants to the grid end up being higher than the developers of the projects can bear.

There are two important trends in geothermal energy that have the opportunity to drive new growth in the ground-source heat pump industry.

First, the development of innovative geothermal HVACfinancing models will enable many more buildings to keep their occupants comfortable while conserving enerCraig Immel gy and keeping operating costs low.

These new business models are allowing property Founder, Steady owners to avoid large upfront cash outlays for upgrading State Asset to geothermal while still keeping monthly cash payments Partners below their properties’ previous monthly heating and cooling bills.

The geothermal industry is following in the footsteps of successful solar PV financing models, which are growing rapidly by selling no-money-down solar installations.

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The Big Question

âœşâœş

Second, there is a growing recognition that geothermal heat pump systems can be used for thermal energy storage. While there is a lot excitement around solar PV and grid storage, much of that electricity is ultimately used to provide thermal comfort and water heating.

Storing BTUs underground and simply pumping them into or out of buildings as needed is a smart way to use electricity and heat energy. It is also a great opportunity for utilities to comply with the Clean Power Plan by reducing overall energy loads on the grid.

Pedro Nava, Chair, California Little Hoover Commission

In California, we need the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to recognize the importance of geothermal energy and eliminate barriers to its development.

There is something wrong when geothermal is only 4 percent of California’s renewable energy portfolio. The area around the southern end of the Salton Sea is the richest deposit of geothermal energy in North America and has resources to replace the shuttering of San Onofre.

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The Big Question

Today there are almost 80 countries around the world at some stage of exploring or developing their geothermal resources, so there are opportunities on every continent. The best scenarios for success and growth are those where there is an understanding of the resource and geology, the governments support its development Karl Gawell and the economies needs power. All three of these facGeothermal tors are found in East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Energy Association Ethiopia, making this a leading region for geothermal opportunities.

Equally strong potential exists for new geothermal development in Mexico and Indonesia as these governments each move forward on geothermal initiatives and open doors for new investment. Opportunities also abound in the ripening geothermal markets of Central American countries, Caribbean Islands, and Pacific Islands.

But don’t write off the United States. As climate emissions become a market driver, the firm and flexible attributes of geothermal power make it an essential part of any greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan. Only a small fraction of geothermal resources are developed, so it’s still a pioneer industry with a lot of room for advancement.

To take advantage of the opportunities, first support GEA as it works to open and promote new markets and to keep companies informed of new opportunities. Second, develop the best technology and the best team. Then prepare your plans knowing the risks...and seeking to reap rewards.

Frank Prautzsch, President, Velocity Technology Partners

Geothermal opportunities are best capitalized upon in physical locations where the potential exists. Such opportunities are greatest on or near major volcanic activities or tectonic plate underlap areas.

The entire tectono-magmatic activities around the Red Sea gave rise to several geothermal provinces over the continents surrounding the Red Sea, represented by thermal springs and fumaroles at several locations in the State of Eretria, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Ideally, an offshore system in the Red Sea could provide a major source of steam energy for electrical production. A high-voltage DC undersea cable could carry this energy ashore for mass storage or immediate use.

The United States Navy Operates the COSO Geothermal Well in California.

The energy produced from this facility powers an entire base plus overcapacity for adjoining communities.

Geothermal planning requires high-quality research on understanding location, technology, environmental impact, the cost of feeder transmission 18

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The Big Question

✺✺

lines, mass storage, maintenance and operation.

Most geothermal systems require extensive maintenance and lifecycle support which must be factored into the business case for any such project.

Alexander Richter, Founder and Principal, ThinkGeoEnergy

The perspectives on what constitutes a great geothermal opportunity differ. For developers and investors, it is about accessibility and supporting schemes. For suppliers, it is about the market structure, openness and competitiveness.

Overall, the key markets for suppliers are Indonesia, Philippines, Kenya, Turkey, Mexico, and the several smaller nations with smaller projects.

For investors supporting schemes such as the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility in Eastern Africa, a new insurance scheme in Mexico and Latin America, as well as good feed-in-tariffs, are helpful.

Germany, for that matter, still is likely one of the better return opportunities, despite its smaller project size and higher perceived risk.

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Kate Zerrenner, Climate and Energy Project Manager, Environmental Defense Fund

There are some good geothermal resources in East Texas.

One of the things that concerns me the most about geothermal is the water withdrawal and consumption. I know that a lot of companies are looking for ways to reduce their water impact (in particular by using recycled water much like in the natural gas industry), but the water component is still one I think needs to be part of any discussion.

If the geothermal potential is in areas that are predicted to see an increase in drought or heatwaves in the coming decades, I think that water availability should be part of the calculus of whether it is worth harvesting those resources. At the very least, developers should consider how to be smart about reducing their freshwater use.

Ted Clutter, Association Executive, Geothermal Exchange Organization

When we talk about geothermal energy development, we should not forget geothermal, or ground-source, heat pumps (GHPs). This technology for the past few decades has been quietly building its contribution to pollution reduction, job creation, and energy/cost savings for millions of people around the world.

Here in the United States, it’s a “50-state” technology that is not dependent on ideal natural conditions of heat source availability and permeable rock.

Around 700 MWt of capacity is installed every year in the United States alone, by far outpacing development of “hot rocks” on an equivalency basis with electrical production. Best of all, GHPs eliminate onsite use of fossil fuels like fuel oil, natural gas, and propane that are not only pollutants, but are hazardous as they are burned by conventional equipment.

The GHP industry is still nascent in the United States, primarily because of its higher upfront installation cost. This cost is due to the need for excavation or drilling to install ground-loop heat-exchange systems.

The industry is working to overcome that initial cost barrier through innovative financing that secures cost savings immediately for building owners. It is also seeking to apply government incentives resulting from amendments to energy-efficiency laws and renewable-energy portfolio standards.

The industry also advocates renewal of its tax credits for residential and commercial installations at the federal level, which are set to expire next year.

Several business tax incentives are now under scrutiny by a cost-conscious Congress.

Most of all, the GHP industry must continue its efforts to inform the public about its economic and environmental advantages, especially carbon emission reduction, at a time when climate change is on everyone’s minds. ◑

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COV E R S TO RY

Renewables Help States Meet

Clean Power Plan Goals JENNIFER RUNYON, Chief Editor

In early August, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final rules for its much-anticipated Clean Power Plan (CPP), an overarching method designed to cut emissions from power plants across the country. The final rules were the result of hundreds of meetings and millions of stakeholder comments.

According to EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, the

The historic carbon-cutting plan could be just enough to spur states to build more wind and solar capacity — but they have to act fast. rules are meant to capture the momentum that already existed in the electricity industry. “We are not going against the grain of how the energy world is transitioning,” she said in a publicly-broadcast interview during a luncheon at the Resources for the Future. “In order to establish energy policy, we wanted to look at where the energy world was heading and follow that.”

Setting State Compliance Plans The plan sets uniform emission rates from power

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U.S. Flag with Wind Turbine. Credit: Shutterstock

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plants that are alike across the country. Every coal and natural gas plant in the United States has the same standard goal, but each state has its own target that it must meet by reducing carbon emissions.

These targets were set based on the number and type of generating facilities that already exist in each state. States can achieve their target emission rates however they wish. In addition, they can either meet their targets alone or by linking up with other states and setting up a market for trading emission reduction credits (ERCs) or allowances.

The plan calls on states to comply by using either a rate-based system or a mass-based system. If they choose the rate-based option, then every megawatt-hour (MWh) of energy generated must average out to whatever the state target is for emissions — think of it like as being like a miles-per-hour requirement.

If the goal is mass-based, then the sum of emissions generated in the state must be at or below the state’s mass goal or allowance. State goals are listed in the PDF at this link.

For example, New Hampshire, which has one of the more stringent goals, has a 2030 rate-based goal of 858 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour (MWh). This equals 3,997,579 short tons of CO2 emissions annually in a mass-based system. In 2012, the state’s rate-based emission rate was 1,119 pounds per MWh and

Solar PV with U.S. Flag. Credit: Shutterstock.

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emitted 4,642,898 short tons of carbon annually.

Through the plan, the EPA has allowed states to set up trading mechanisms to meet their targets with the caveat that they need to be using the same mass- or rate-based system, (there are some minor exceptions here). It envisions that in a rate-based system, states could buy and sell ERCs, and in a massbased system they could buy and sell allowances.

Incentivizing Clean Energy For the renewable-energy industry, one of the most compelling aspects of the Clean Power Plan is the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP), which rewards states specifically for wind and solar power projects as well as for energyefficiency improvements for low-income households.

Essentially, once states have filed their plans with the EPA, which can take place as soon as September 2016 (unless they file for an extension until 2018), they can begin constructing new wind and solar generation.

As long as those new renewable-energy power plants are generating in 2020 and 2021, those states will receive one additional emission reduction credit (ERC) for every zero-emission MWh

Cov e r S to ry

Wind turbine on green wheat farm hill in Palouse, Washington.

Credit: Shutterstock.

created. Efficiency upgrades in low-income neighborhoods will be worth two additional ERCs. McCarthy said the reason for the CEIP was twofold. First, the EPA wanted to give states more time to meet the goals. Originally, states had to start complying by 2020, but the new compliance date is 2022. But at the same time, EPA didn’t want to stop the momentum of renewable energy in the market.

“We wanted to make sure that there wasn’t a hiatus,” McCarthy said, adding that EPA received a lot of comments from people in the renewable-energy industry that “people were sitting still now, waiting for the final rule to get done.

We were worried — and they were worried — that it would send the wrong signal to have that much empty time,” she said.

J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director at Fresh Energy in Minnesota, said she is very happy that the rule has been finalized. She has been part of energy stakeholder meetings that the state has held for the past two years. These meetings include all the Minnesota utilities, members of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, legislators, companies, and public interest advocates like Fresh Energy. She said in a recent meeting there were more than 144 people in attendance.

For Minnesota, Hamilton said the CEIP could allow utilities, if they wished, to develop and implement renewable energy sooner. “We are very intrigued because...we think that lowincome energy efficiency is very important. Having those two pieces is going to be a very important part of our discussions.”

Minnesota already has utility-scale and community solar projects under development, as well as large wind farms Hamilton said.

“And an added incentive to give an extra carbon credit for going sooner is going to be something that we very carefully consider.”

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Energy farm in Palm Springs California features solar panels and wind turbines.

Credit: Shutterstock.

Putting Solar and Wind Experts at the Ready Tanuj Deora is the executive VP and chief strategy officer at Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), an organization that works with utilities and other stakeholders to help them do many activities that advance the industry — from implementing community solar programs to figuring out rate reform.

SEPA works on stakeholder engagement, according to Deora. “A lot of folks are interested in what the Clean 26

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Power Plan can do. With our expertise in renewables, specifically in solar and increasingly in other distributed energy resources like energy storage and demand response, we can help facilitate conversations [and] make sure folks are using the same language and people aren’t miscommunicating or misunderstanding each other.”

SEPA is there to answer questions about all types of solar power, Deora said. “Our primary mission is to provide another tool in the toolbox for utilities when they think about how they want to take advantage of the CPP. And those tools are utility-scale solar, distributed solar, and some distributed energy resources.”

Another excellent resource for utilities, according to Deora, is SEPA’s 51st-state initiative. Over the last year, interested parties submitted plans to SEPA for how they would design an electric power system for a hypothetical 51st state.

In other words, if you could start from scratch, how would you design a new electric power system?

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

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There are 13 final submissions, which can be found on SEPA’s website. Each one describes a vision for a utility business model. Deora described the documents as “dense reading.�

He said that to make the plans easier to digest, SEPA summarized them in a paper available on the SEPA website.

Distributed generation is already pushing utilities to rethink how they buy and sell energy. The EPA’s new rule will further that discussion. “The CPP is an important driver on why and how the utility would need to adapt its business model,� Deora said.

Michael Goggin, the senior director of research for the America Wind Energy Association (AWEA), said he sees the CPP as a major driver for wind energy. “We think wind energy will be the lowest-cost compliance solution in many regions.� He said wind is an easy solution for compliance. “So particularly if a state already has an RPS [renewable portfolio standard], they can ratchet up the target and that will count as a compliance mechanism. If they don’t have an RPS, they could do a new RPS,� he said. Further, he said regulated-utility

states “can go through the integrated resource process and include procurement of renewables through the public utilities commission and that would count.�

In May, AWEA, in collaboration with Solar Energy Industries Association, released a handbook for regulators that explains exactly what states need to be doing to comply with the CPP, said Goggin. “It walks through what the states need to do to use renewables to comply,� he said, “and it shows how they are cheap and easy.�

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Both Goggin and Deora stressed that a key ingredient in the CPP is flexibility. There will be no one-size-fits-all solution for compliance. Each state will have to find a generation mix that works within its borders and economy.

The crucial point is that wind and solar resources, because they are zero-emission, will allow states to be even more flexible with what types of traditional generation they keep in their energy mix.

“There is a lot more flexibility in a system with zeroemission resources like wind

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energy combined with the optimal compliance mix using everything in your portfolio,” Goggin said.

Going Above and Beyond McCarthy and others hope that states will view the CPP as a minimum instead of a limit. “I have every expectation that we will go way ahead of what this actually calls for,” she said.

“If do this correctly and we set this up in a way that allows states to enter into markets to have utilities operate the same way they always have, which is regionally and nationally, then I think you’ll see this happen seamlessly,” McCarthy said.

Hamilton agreed. “What I have heard around the table is that we don’t have to be limited to what the CPP says. We can go farther and faster if that means that Minn. will benefit in other ways.”

McCarthy also said that the CPP could boost domestic manufacturing. “You know, one of the biggest criticisms of a lot of the movement in solar has been that there is too much of the equipment being manufactured in China. Well, do it here! ◑

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Intersolar 2015 Inverters on Parade Intersolar 2015 attracted a wide array of innovators eager to show their new solar products to the industry. Cost reduction, increased performance, and faster installation times were three of their goals.

CHARLES W. THURSTON

The beginning of the industry trend toward 1,500-VDC inverters increased the buzz at Intersolar 2015 in San Francisco this July. Several companies touted mid-way narrow-range inverters that combine with the best of the wide 1,000-VDC components to yield more power than their competitors.

The inverter exhibition space was crowded with at least three dozen companies showing off their latest innovations targeting cost reduction, increased performance, and faster

SolarEdge’s new StorEdge lengthens strings. Credit: Charles W. Thurston.

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installation times.

Here are a few of the most eye-catching products.

The companies are listed in alphabetical order.

ABB New products from ABB include a family of rapid shutdown devices, a new Wi-Fi

logger card, and a new revenuegrade meter.

All of these products are compatible with ABB’s solar inverters and can boost the efficiency of a PV system, according to Christopher Lawson, global director of marketing communications at the company’s Phoenix Power-One Renewable Energy Solutions location.

The rapid-shutdown device was one of many products at the show that achieve compliance with section 690.12 of the NEC 2014 standard.

The company also showed off its new VSN300 Wi-Fi Logger Card for PV system management, monitoring and control. The card includes an advanced expansion board designed for ABB’s UNO and TRIO string inverter product lines. Two of its advantages are ease of installation and cost efficiency, the company said.

Ginlong staffer stands beside a new threephase inverter. Credit: Charles W. Thurston.

Touting what it called the industry’s “first true three-phase microinverter,” APS showed off its APS YC1000. This microinverter handles 277 V/480 V grid voltages with 900 W of maximum output.

Up to 11 of these microinverters can be linked in a single 15-amp circuit, supporting 44 modules of either 60- or 72-cell layout, according to Jason Higginson, the company’s senior director for marketing.

The company also showed off its new iOS smartphone-based Energy Monitoring and Analysis (EMA) app that allows APS microinverter system owners to track solar array performance in real time. This allows system owners to perform day, month, year and lifetime analyses of the array. The app calculates energy savings based on price per kWh. It also calculates environmental savings in terms of gallons of gasoline, trees, and carbon emissions.

The new platform is optimized for high-frequency power electronics applications for inverters, electric vehicle charging systems, and threephase industrial power.

Earlier this year, Cree announced a high 99.1-percent efficient 50-kW inverter made with its MOSFETs and diodes, which staff said is “one-fifth the average size and weight of today’s silicon-based inverter units.”

While the new MOSFETs are more expensive, both the inductor and capacitor size can be reduced, staff said, so a unit-cost savings of close to 15 percent can be achieved.

Cree

Continental Control Systems

To boost inverter power, this company, based in Durham, N.C., has created “the industry’s first 900-V metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) platform,” staff said at the show.

The company promoted a new firmware version of its Modbus Revenue energy meter at the show. It updates

APS America

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Solar

every 200 milliseconds.

This Option Fast Power update supports revenue-grade meters to match feed-in limit requirements by utilities that may curtail AC power fed into the grid, according to Cynthia Boyd, the director of sales for the Boulder-based company.

“The fact that we’ve been getting inquiries about faster response times from our power meters may partly be driven by the anticipation of recent developments where PV plants and producers are evolving into an asset for grid operators,” Boyd said.

CyboEnergy The Rancho Cordoba, Calif.-based company CyboEnergy displayed its On/Off Grid CyboInverter mini-inverter. This Cree’s new MOSFET boosts inverter mini-inverter melds the functions of both central inverters power. Credit: Cree. and microinverters.

Operating in either an on-grid or off-grid mode, the unit has four input channels that can connect to four 300-W Enphase DC sources including solar panels, wind generators, hydro-genWhile he announced no erators or batteries, producing 1150 W of AC peak power. new products at the show, Each channel has its own control and maximum power point Enphase’s Greg Wolfson, tracking (MPPT) to optimize power production. The product is patdirector of storage products, ented and UL-1741 certified, the company said. offered Renewable Energy World an embargoed description of its new strategic supply relationship with SunRun for its home solar installation business.

“While AEE Solar and Sunrun’s network of certified partners have long sold and installed Enphase systems, this agreement marks the first time that Enphase will provide its module-level power electronics systems to Sunrun’s direct installation services business,” Wolfson said.

“Enphase will continue IdealPower presents its bi-directional power converter. Credit: Charles W. to work with Sunrun across Thurston. its multi-channel platform, 32

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Fronius The Fronius Rapid Shutdown Box was also on display. It offers a solution for all singlephase Fronius SnapINverters from 1.5 kW to 15 kW, according to Richard Baldinger, the group leader for solar energy marketing and sales support for the Portage, Ind.-based company. Directly connected to the inverter through the same DC conduit as the DC homeruns, the Fronius solution minimizes the number of boxes that are needed.

Fronius also showed off its new Eco inverter from its SnapINverter series. This product was designed for use in the 25.0 kW and 27.0 kW power categories in largescale solar plants.

Baldinger also said Fronius inverters will be used in the Tesla Powerwall under the companies’ new strategic agreement.

Tabuchi demos its United States market plug-and-play entrant. Credit: Charles W. Thurston.

strengthening its relationship with Sunrun’s wholesale distribution business, AEE Solar, and collaborating on operational efficiency-focused product development with SnapNrack, Sunrun’s solar photovoltaic racking and mounting systems group,” Wolfson said.

At some point in the near future, the company is expected to address the commercial energy-storage market — the range from 10 kWh to 100 kWh — with a plug-and-play system including its inverters.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

Ginlong

Ginlong Technologies presented what Susanna Huang, the general manager of the Dublin, Ohio company, called the industry’s “first four-MPPT 30-kW and 36-kW three-phase inverter.”

The new 70-pound inverter is UL 1741 certified, CEC-listed and DNV GL-tested. The inverter also features 98.2-percent peak efficiency in an “ultra-wide” input voltage range of 200 V to 800 V. Ginlong also recently announced a strategic supply agreement with AEE Solar.

Ideal Power The Austin-based company showed its new grid-resilient 125-kW bi-directional power conversion system, scalable to over a megawatt for large-scale applications.

The new system includes the company’s patented Power Packet Switching Architecture (PPSA). This chip-based conversion system precludes traditional wound metal cores in inverters, reducing the size and weight of conventional power conversion systems by one-quarter to one-eighth, said Bill Alexander, CTO of the company.

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The PPSA technology was refined through a variety of grants including a SunShot award.

complete faster, high-quality installations at larger voltages when needed, since the main balance-of-system components ship connected in place.”

The new units are compatible with the company’s GridZero technology and Advanced Battery Charging in a plug-and-play format.

KACO KACO announced its blueplanet 1500 TL3 with Ampt Mode at the show. This product is a 1,500-kVA transformer-less solar inverter with protection class IP 54/NEMA 3R for outdoor use, said Ben Castillo, a technical sales and marketing lead for the Rocklin, Calif.based company.

The inverter is also available as part of a 3,000-kVA integrated power station. When used in combination with Ampt String Optimizers, the blueplanet 1500 TL3 achieves a 50-percent increase in rated output power, lowering the specific cost of a system inverter solution by 33 percent, the company said.

“With the MPPT on each string, the blueplanet 1500 TL3 inverters operate with a higher and narrower input voltage range. This optimized input range allows each inverter to deliver 50 percent more power, increasing the rated output power and lowering the inverter cost per watt,” staff said.

Outback Power Technologies Outback’s star at the show was its new preassembled 4 kW or 8 kW FLEXpower Radian that staff said “allows installers to 36

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

Schneider Electric Schneider touted its new Conext Core XC ES inverter line of central inverters designed for advanced battery-based energy storage applications. This line has been designed to be integrated into the company’s ES Box, a medium-voltage power conversion substation ranging from 500 kW to 2 MW. The new line is also compatible with the Conext Control SCADA-based monitoring and control system. Schneider also showed off its new Conext Insight, a remote monitoring and asset management platform for decentralized grid-tie and battery-based systems.

SolarEdge StorEdge was the new product announced by SolarEdge at the show.

It is an all-in-one solution that uses a single DC-optimized inverter to manage and monitor both solar generation and energy storage.

The StorEdge inverter was recently announced to fully support the Tesla Powerwall for electric vehicles.

The new inverter includes rapid shutdown capability and includes a full monitoring solution that can display power production, home consumption, and battery status in a single view.

StorEdge is expected to be available by the end of 2015.

The company also launched its SE14.4K and SE33.3K threephase inverters, meant to minimize the number of required inverters in an array and have integrated safety, monitoring and communication features.

Designed to operate with two SolarEdge commercial power optimizers, the P600 and P700, the new inverters can allow up to 2.5 times longer strings than traditional inverters do.

Sparq Systems Microinverter-maker Sparq Systems announced that it has licensed a portfolio of GE-applied and granted patents. It has partnered with GE Global Research on the construction of a next-generation microinverter system and AC module solution.

More than a microinverter bolted to the module frame, the anticipated solution will replace a standard junction box and

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

Solar

comply with new grid requirements by delivering adjustable reactive power and performing other grid-stabilizing function requirements.

“The microinverter and AC module that GE Global Research is designing with Sparq can change the way solar is deployed around the world by improving grid stability and resilience,” said John Vogel, vice president of technology development at GE Ventures.

Kingston, Ontario-based Sparq Systems now produces the Q1000 four-port microinverter with a 1,000-W footprint

and a monitoring system scalable to fleet management.

Tabuchi Electric Company of America Finally, a newcomer to Intersolar North America was Tabuchi, which demonstrated its plug-and-play EneTelus Intelligent Battery System (EIBS).

This is a grid-friendly inverter and storage system, said Daniel Hill, director of sales and marketing in North America for the San Jose-based company.

The EIBS features a three-MPPT 5.5kW bidirectional inverter, an automatic transfer switch, and a battery management system for the Panasonic-supplied 10-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

“Rather than creating a patchwork of batteries and inverters, we’ve optimized our technology to include everything in one system. Our all-in-one solutions make it much simpler for solar installers to sell and install storage, marking a critical step in reducing intermittency and powering the solar revolution,” said Harumi McClure, the company’s general manager. ◑

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WIND

Wind Turbine Manufacturers Consider New Drivetrain Technology A changing power-generation landscape has led to new challenges for both wind-turbine manufacturers and makers of turbine components.

Will a shift toward new technology ensue?

TILDY BAYAR, Contributing Editor

In response to the changing nature of power generation and distribution, some manufacturers of utility-scale wind turbines are considering moving away from electrical drivetrains based on doubly-fed induction generators toward those using full-converter technology. This potential paradigm shift could

Tests simulate the different kinds of fault conditions that could happen in a real power grid through circuit tests in multiple combinations. Credit: ABB.

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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

ultimately determine which wind OEMs will dominate in a changing energy market.

Below the OEM level, but working symbiotically toward the same efficiency and profitability goals and subject to the

same market factors, are the companies that manufacture and supply wind turbine components. One such firm is Finland’s ABB, which makes both types of drivetrain package.

On a recent visit to the company’s electrical drivetrain testing facility in Helsinki, Renewable Energy World spoke with ABB staff about how they test the different components, why they need to test them, and what’s in store for the future.

The test setup is self-powering, consuming its losses to drive the motors downstairs that run the

Two Drivetrain Concepts

testing rigs. Credit: ABB.

A wind turbine’s electrical drivetrain is composed of the generator, the converter, the transformer, and medium-voltage switchgear.

The difference between doubly-fed and full-converter drivetrains lies primarily in the type and size of the generator and that in the full converter type, all the power is fed through the converter. Fullconverter drivetrains are offered in low-speed (also called directdrive), medium-speed, and high-speed versions.

The electrical drivetrain sits between mechanical and electrical forces, said Teijo Kärnä, wind market manager at ABB Finland. It must withstand both types of interactions and also fulfil grid-code compliance requirements at the turbine and power-plant levels.

It is perhaps not surprising, then, that electrical drivetrain components are responsible for one-third of all wind turbine failures, resulting in 37 percent of annual turbine downtime.

According to Kärnä, the high number of failures is due to how the different components within the drivetrain interact with each other. If one component is optimized, how well does it operate with a different supplier’s converter? In other words, he said, failure rates are about how well you can optimize your overall design to maximize reliability and minimize downtime.

While the doubly-fed drivetrain model has traditionally dominated the market, full-converter drivetrains are catching up fast. Drivers for this trend include the need for compliance with new and more demanding grid codes and a growing need to optimize power generation at lower wind speeds. Increasingly, today’s wind turbines need to produce higher-quality output

more reliably and be able to help stabilize the grid by feeding in reactive power.

According to Timo Heinonen, content manager at ABB Motors and Generators, the full-converter concept “multiplies all the benefits of the doubly-fed system.”

“It offers a full-speed-range, full-grid compliance with the most advanced grid-fault support and ride-through function, full control of the generator and the grid, and total grid decoupling of mechanical parts,” Heinonen said.

ABB noted that an OEM’s choice of electrical drivetrain will result in different wind turbine weights, sizes, and maintenance needs.

Thus, the company cautioned that selecting a drivetrain must be undertaken with

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39

Wind

care, weighing the turbine’s requirements against the necessary certifications and gridcode specifications.

In addition, because where the turbine will be installed — and thus which grid codes will apply — is not always known ahead of time, sometimes the OEM is forced to estimate, which can lead to extra costs. Testing can eliminate this, the company said.

The Importance of Grid Codes Grid codes define the technical specifications that a gridconnected power-generating installation has to meet to ensure the safe, secure and economic functioning of a regional or national electricity network.

In Europe, many grid codes have recently been modified to cope with the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources, bringing new challenges for OEMs and component makers.

Kärnä said that in Europe, power-plant operators “are not allowed to disconnect anything [in the event of a grid failure] — the plant must be online at all times and be in a position to support the grid.” And individual wind turbines, he said, can no longer “[operate as] conventional units, but must operate in the same way as a power plant.”

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

ABB is given requirements by OEMs, but the grid-code requirements are first set by the transmission-system operators or distribution-system operators.

“The OEM is just happy if they are able to comply with the requirements for the turbine,” Kärnä noted.

While a wind turbine can’t comply with all of the grid-code requirements on its own, as these are typically applied at the point of common coupling for an entire wind farm, the quality of the power that the turbine produces is nevertheless increasingly important, as electrical problems such as flicker, harmonic distortion, and fault ride-through will all affect the grid.

In addition, said Kärnä, the challenge for OEMs and component manufacturers is often not to fulfil the grid-code requirements as such, but to understand their intended functionality and the details of the technology requirements, as the grid codes themselves can be moving targets.

Jari-Pekka Matsinen, account manager and area sales manager at ABB Oy BU Drives & Controls, PG Wind Converters, said that “at the moment, OEMs are satisfied” with today’s European grid-code requirements.

However, Matsinen said, “there have been discussions, specifically in Germany,” in which some OEMs using full-power technology were actively promoting its capability to support the grid

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

In the frequency-converter testing hall, different breaker configurations are arranged to demonstrate transient grid conditions. Credit: ABB.

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under different kinds of fault conditions.

“How the turbine should operate under symmetrical and asymmetrical faults, however, is more or less questionable,” Matsinen said.

“At least so far, the current trend in grid-code development has been that grid support shall always be conducted as a positive sequence current, regardless of the type of fault,” Matsinen said.

Matsinen said the price tag for this grid-code development was that OEMs using doubly-fed drivetrains were suffering because of the advantages offered by the full-power types.

For example, a doubly-fed generator can operate similarly to conventional synchronous generators, but only if the grid-code requirements do not ask for something different.

The grid-code requirements of today are perhaps less favorable for doubly-fed technology and have “cost a lot of money for these turbine makers,” Matsinen said, noting that the doubly-fed technology is both feasible and able to comply with current gridcode requirements.

Today, because of the high penetration of renewable energy on the German grid, instability is increasingly likely. And grid-code requirements are not only about avoiding failures, Matsinen said; they also work to guarantee power quality.

“We need to know how to support the grid to survive under normal load-consumption conditions and how to balance with renewable energy to stabilize it,” Matsinen said.

In terms of coming grid-code developments, ABB has focused its testing where it expects change. As the system monitors grid voltage for faults, if it notes a drop in voltage that might have previously triggered a fault, it will cut out — but under today’s grid codes the voltage can fall as low as zero and still not trigger a fault. Thus, the current concern is with the duration of fault events.

Matsinen said that “the failure modes are more or less there; the voltages cannot go any lower than zero — and now we are already there. The only variable that can be extended is duration.”

Grid codes differ throughout Europe, presenting further problems for OEMs. One of the strictest codes, if not the strictest, is the UK’s, Matsinen said.

ABB has extended its testing even beyond the average range to explore whether the equipment will stand up to failures lasting 500 milliseconds, a number that Matsinen said is “fully 42

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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

compatible with all known international grid codes.”

Significant changes such as China’s revisions to its grid code can mean that OEMs may have to retrofit their previously commissioned turbines, incurring huge costs, in order to comply with the new requirements and take advantage of higher feed-in tariffs.

With ABB components, Matsinen said, these OEMs “can take advantage of our lab-test results and simulation tools beforehand so they really know what to do. For example, in the case of China’s latest grid-code revision, only the converter’s control software needed to be upgraded in order to comply with the requirement.”

Expectations for the Future Kärnä said he does not particularly prefer one drivetrain concept. “There are advantages and disadvantages with any concept: direct drive, medium speed or high speed.” In the offshore wind market, he said, ABB approaches the issue client-by-client.

“All technologies are equal, but it depends on your perspective — manufacturing, installation, operations and maintenance — all are different flavors. There is still

Wind

a place for all of these in the market for the foreseeable future,” Kärnä said.

Kärnä said that directdrive would not become a major concept during the next five years. “Globally, mainly due to the Asian market, doubly-fed will prevail onshore.”

For offshore wind installations, Kärnä said, it will be “PMGs [permanent magnet generators] and induction generators [direct drive or medium-speed].”

And the next step? Beyond PMGs, Kärnä said, the

industry should expect not big changes but “further refinements — around dimensioning and magnet materials, but of course also [around] differences in medium-speed, high-speed, and direct-drive — mainly because of the manufacturing processes and technology.”

The challenge for direct-drive turbines is the larger dimensions of all of the components, Kärnä said, especially in terms of where to manufacture them and how to transport them.

“Going up to 8 MW,” Kärnä said, “you have a huge generator manufactured on the shore in the harbor because you can’t transport it anymore.” For this scale of production, he said, “you have to have a sustainable market.”

Looking to the future, Kärnä said which technology will dominate “remains to be seen.” Today, he said, there are around three or four players in Europe’s offshore wind market. “Two have medium-speed, two have direct-drive, and one of those has an option for high-speed… so from that I could not draw any conclusions.” ◑

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domestic installations per 10,000 households based on official data by the government.

NUMBER OF SOLAR INSTALLATIONS PER 10,000 HOUSEHOLDS

0 -75

76 -150 151- 225 226 -300 301-375 376 - 450 451-525 526 - 600 601- 675 676 -750 751-

TOP AND BOTTOM 5 AREAS Mid Devon

949

South Cambridgeshire

TOP 5

783

Monmouthshire

740

Peterborough

730

Wrexham

685

Westminster

20

Hammersmith & Fulham

19

BOTTOM 5

City of London 13 Kensington & Chelsea 12 Tower Hamlets 10

44

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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

ORKNEY ISLANDS

SHETLAND ISLANDS

GREATER LONDON

825 826 -900 901- 975

MAP AND INFORMATION CREDIT: http://www.theecoexperts.co.uk T The he E Eco co E Experts xpertts RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

45

G E OT H E R M A L

Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Raises the Bar Low-enthalpy capture could ultimately be transformative for the geothermal-energy industry.

CHRIS WEBB

Just over a year ago, work began in Indonesia to build the long-delayed $1.6-billion Sarulla project, the world’s biggest geothermal power plant. But in geothermal terms, size isn’t always everything. Other nations are investing in low-enthalpy geothermal energy, which could be a massive game-changer for this industry.

According to Asian Development Bank and International Geothermal Association, Indonesia, one of Southeast Asia’s biggest economies and home to the world’s largest geothermal resources, is striving to meet a power demand growth of more than seven percent a year, with plans to add 60 GW of capacity to its existing grid by 2022.

Indonesia’s 330-MW Sarulla project, begun 25 years ago with minimal publicity, was stalled during the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. Now resurrected, its first phase is expected to begin operation next year, with a further two stages of development set to follow within 18 months.

Dominated by fossil-fuel energy, the Indonesian grid will benefit from a reduction of 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year when Sarulla is completed in 2019, according to project developers.

But another geothermal contender is vying for the spotlight. Low-enthalpy technology could ultimately outshine its forebears.

Italy-based Exergy has claimed a “world first” with its lowenthalpy Akça geothermal plant in Turkey, which features a 46

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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

binary plant equipped with a dual pressure-level cycle on a single turbine. The company said this system provides up to 20 percent more power than a single pressure-level system.

The technology, said the company, increases the

The TeMihi geothermal power station in New Zealand. Credit: Mighty River Power.

feasibility of low-enthalpy 3-8 MW plants, allowing efficient operation with resource temperatures down below 100 degrees Celsius.

In early July, Exergy, which is noted for its design, engineering and manufacture of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems and its Radial Outflow Turbine (ROT) technology, announced the operational launch of the plant for Akça Enerji.

Situated in the Denizli region of Turkey, the Akça plant is a low-enthalpy geothermal plant with a fluid temperature of 105 degrees Celsius (220 degrees Fahrenheit). It generates a power

output of 4 MW. The ROT supports two pressure levels using a single expander, producing up to 20 percent more power than single-pressurelevel systems, according to Exergy’s figures.

“This new binary plant configuration will increase

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47

G e ot h e r m a l

The Akça geothermal plant in Turkey. Credit: Exergy.

the feasibility of low-enthalpy 3-8 MW range plants down to 100 degrees Celsius and open up new possibilities... to exploit lowenthalpy small resources more efficiently and economically than ever before,” said Exergy’s CEO, Claudio Spadacini.

The Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources confirmed in June that the plant meets the required performance targets.

While high-temperature resources with high pressure and ample water flow can be used for power plants in the hundredsof-megawatts range, researchers and developers around the world are examining how low-enthalpy technology may exploit more of the potential offered by geothermal.

Leading the way is New Zealand, where Susan Krumdieck, professor at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, said she believes the country could potentially become an exporter and developer of smaller-scale geothermal power plants for low-temperature geothermal and industrial waste-heat resources.

“The University of Canterbury, Christchurch projects focus on modeling, design and economical development of practical ORC power plants,” Krumdieck said. Large ORCs over several MW are currently used in geothermal power generation. “We need to be able to prospect lower-energy resources with knowledge of the 48

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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

new types of ORC that could use them.”

Geothermal power is witnessing a rapid growth worldwide. With a current installed capacity of 18,500 MWe, there has been an increase of approximately 73 percent in the last five years, according to International Geothermal Association.

Geothermal power generation is characterized by high fixed initial costs and relatively low variable running costs.

For this reason, geothermal power stations are normally used for base load with reported high capacity and availability factors, according to Alberta Geothermal Energy Association.

G e ot h e r m a l

Spadacini said the ROT single-disk, multiple-stage two-pressure-level turbine combines high efficiency at reasonable cost with lowenthalpy resources. “We’re talking as low as 100 degrees Celsius… where the geothermal potential [for electricity generation] grows by an order of magnitude. In that sense...the Akça low-enthalpy plant...resulting in a generation cost of some $100/MWh demonstrates the very high potential of low enthalpy as base-load geothermal power production.”

It is a technology that is at the top of the agenda in New

Zealand, where Contact Energy commissioned the country’s biggest geothermal power plant last year, nudging installed capacity to slightly over 1 GW. First commercially tapped by the Kiwis in the 1950s, New Zealand’s significant underground resources made the country one of the earliest large-scale users of the technology in the world.

Geothermal electricity in 2014 contributed approximately 7,000 GWh of a total of 43,000 GWh of electricity produced — roughly 16 percent — according to GNS Science.

But, in the field of low-enthalpy geothermal power, there remains much work to be done. “We need to understand the offdesign performance of existing plants in order to make design and operational strategy adaptations as the resource characteristics change over time,” Krumdieck said. “We need to understand the different types of expanders that can be used in small ORCs to be able to model turbines and design, manufacture and test them.”

But, Krumdieck said, bringing low-enthalpy technologies to market will not be easy or cheap. “High temperature and pressure, large-scale hydrothermal resource geothermal power generation is viable with binary technology and flash steam

The exterior of the TeMihi geothermal power station in New Zealand. Credit: Mighty River Power.

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G e ot h e r m a l

Plan many years ago.”

“Maybe low-temperature, low-enthalpy technology would be a better fit with these developing countries that don’t have robust grids. It is possible that shallow, horizontally-drilled and fracked wells could supply small power plants and heat resources. There are a lot of companies with fracking capabilities. There are a number of legacy wells around that turned up as duds A geothermal plant in the Taupo, New Zealand area. Credit: Chris Webb. for big plants but might be used to develop the smaller, low-temgenerators, [but] usually only perature plants,” Krumdieck said. if there is government subsidy In a recent report compiled jointly by CRL Energy and East of the geology research and Harbour Energy for GNS Science, the authors said: “It is clear drilling. It is the next-biggest that in a number of possible low-enthalpy applications, iniand lowest-cost baseload gential capital costs are a barrier to uptake. For large-scale develeration, but is much more of opments, exploration and development are high-risk activities a government cost than wind or solar. And we are talking about a big power plant, which begs the question: do we have a grid robust enough to take it?”

The potential for large-scale geothermal power generation in Chile, Africa, Indonesia, The Philippines and China is huge, Krumdieck said. “But it takes geological science and a lot of investment in drillAn exterior view of a geothermal plant in the Taupo, New Zealand area. ing and proving and resource engineering. Indonesia’s government has announced that it is going big-time on geothermal, but it is not supporting the exploration. It is mostly using wells that New Zealand drilled under the Colombo 50

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

Credit: Chris Webb.

with no guarantee of return. Despite this higher risk and initial investment requirement, the operation and maintenance costs are low. The balance of high capital but low ongoing costs means that often, when analyzed across the life of the project, geothermal projects are economically attractive.” ◑

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B I O E N E RG Y

Extending Renewable Electricity Generation for Decades at Closed Landfill Sites How can landfill managers squeeze the maximum possible amount of renewable energy out of the gases their landfills produce over time?

Conventional reciprocating engines and gas turbines have problems combusting landfill gas that is below 30-40 percent methane. So, when a landfill becomes inactive, the quality of the emitted landfill gas drops. And as the landfill gas’s methane content goes below 30 percent, the traditional decision is to decommission the power generation equipment, at which time the landfill will stop generating revenues from the sale of energy.

However, what many people don’t realize is that a landALAIN CASTRO, Ener-Core fill will typically continue to emit low-quality methane gas for another 65 years after it has become inactive.

The owners and operators of an inactive landfill must comply with laws for how they manage these gas emissions after the power-generation equipment has been decommissioned and removed.

In most cases, the local laws will require the owner of the inactive landfill to continue flaring the gas for as long as there are gases being emitted. But, after a landfill has been closed for many years, the methane content will eventually drop to levels that are 20 percent and lower.

At this stage in the life cycle of a landfill, the low-level methane gas is too weak to burn with a flare system.

The system installed at the Schinnen landfill. Credit: Ener-Core.

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

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53

Bioenergy

Recovered

However, the landlandfill gas Turbines Reciprocating (% methane) can run engine’s operation fill must still comply on 30% is limited by 60 Landfill continues with the laws. And methane methane content to produce methane gas (40% lower limit) 50 hence, many older for another 65 years landfill sites must use 40 and pay for a supple30 mental fuel just to 20 destroy the methane.

10 This is a real oper5 ational cost issue, as landfills will conClosed – Not accepting waste Active – Accepting waste Still producing methane for another 65+ years Typically 30 -35 years tinue to emit methLandfill gas production stages ane gases for another 65 years after they Landfill gas production stages. Credit: Ener-Core. have been closed.

The methane content of these gases is simply too 2.475 MW of total capacity). low to be utilized in any useAfter the landfill was closed, the gas energy density decreased ful manner with traditional to the point where the engines were struggling to operate. equipment.

Attero actively managed the landfill gas collection to optimize the gas quality by separating the low-quality wells from Case Study: Attero the high-quality ones. This extended the operational life of the Attero, one of the largest engines by several years. But eventually, the engines had to be producers of biogas in the decommissioned, as they simply could not operate on such lowNetherlands, was facing quality gases. this problem at its Schinnen By 2012, the landfill gas’s calorific value had dropped to the landfill. The original landpoint where only one reciprocating engine would still run at fill gas-to-electricity project, 50-percent power for around three to four days per week. The commissioned in 1995, used landfill gas had to be flared for the rest of the week. three 825-kW engines (with Attero decided to seek alternatives for reducing its flaring costs — with the requirement that the landfill gas quality was going to TABLE 1

Days per week Operating

Potential kWh generated per year

250-kW Powerstation

7

2,080,500

Maximizes kWh per year

400-kW engine

3

1,497,600

28% fewer kWh per year

400-kW engine

2

998,400

52% fewer kWh per year

How different systems and parameters result in different amounts of kWh generated. Credit: Ener-Core, Inc. 54

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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

Bioenergy

TABLE 2

GAS COMPOSITION/TEST DETAILS 1st Condition

2nd Condition

Methane (CH4)

7.75%

5.80%

Nitrogen (N2)

84.20%

91.15%

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

8.00%

3.00%

LHV (Btu/scf)

71

53

Steady run time (hrs)

5.5

3

EXHAUST DETAILS Methane (CH4)

140 ppm

150 ppm

Nitrogen (N2)

78.7%

81.2%

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

3.2%

2.5%

Water (H20)

3.2%

2.5%

Carbone Monoxide (CO)

37 ppm

34 ppm

Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX)

<1 ppm

<1 ppm

Oxygen (O2)

14.0%

13.2%

Gas composition test details. Credit: Ener-Core, Inc.

be below 30 percent methane (<300 Btu/scf or <12 MJ/Nm3).

The company researched technologies from all over the world and ultimately decided to replace its last struggling reciprocating engine with a 250-kW Power Oxidizer Powerstation (supplied by Ener-Core, Inc. — the author of this article).

There are two distinct advantages of the Power Oxidizer Powerstation: First, the system is not limited by the physics of the combustion process. It hence has the ability to operate on gases that contain as little as 5 percent methane. This enables Attero to continue generating power (and revenue) from its landfills for many decades after they have been closed and their methane quality levels have fallen.

Second, the system operates with very low NOx (nitrogen oxide) exhaust emissions of below 1 ppm (part per million). In fact, the levels of NOx are likely the lowest of any waste-gas-to-power technology in the world.

Ener-Core’s oxidizer technology (the “Power Oxidizer”)

replaces the combustor in a gas turbine.

Combustion is the traditional method used during the last 200 years to release the heat energy from fuel gases. Combustion burns gas to power gas turbines, reciprocating engines, boilers and heaters.

Modern combustors are designed to run on high-quality gases (typically, gases that are close to pipeline specifications).

Hence, the lower-quality gases that exhibit qualities that are far outside the pipeline specifications in terms of energy density or contaminant level are not easily used by any combustion-based technology. This is particularly true in areas where the air-emissions regulations are strict.

The Power Oxidizer allows the combustion of the difficult-to-use industrial waste gases from oil and gas fields, coal mines, landfills, and industrial plants.

As shown in the image on the next page, Ener-Core’s process accelerates the naturally-occurring chemical oxidation reaction that occurs between hydrocarbons and air so that the oxidation reaction takes place in one to two seconds. (The same reaction typically takes 10-20 years if the gases are released to the atmosphere.)

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

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Bioenergy

The reaction is conH2O tained within a vessel, Heat energy is released No so a precise amount of pollutants CO2 heat energy at pressure 1 second + Power is released. The gas-turoxidizer bine prime mover can (proprietary) Oxidation reaction occurs then harness that pressurExit conditions Vessel temperature above fuel auto-ignition controlled to ized heat energy to turn match turbine power needs the generator and feed it Dilute mixture delivered to oxidizer back to the facility or utilAir & fuel mixed and preheated before oxidizer ity grid.

1.5% fuel by volume This unique capabilCompressed air Turbine system from turbine ity of productively using (third-party) Electricity system the low-energy-density gas (often below 30 percent methane) presented Attero with an opportunity to Power oxidizer and turbine system. Credit: Ener-Core. continue enjoying revenues through the sale of renewoperation and measuring able power long after a landfill became inactive. the exhaust emissions of the It also represented an opportunity for Attero to save on the methane gas (typically 6-8 costs of flaring these gases. The 250-kW Powerstation was delivpercent methane) that is emitered to the site in early 2014, with the installation completed by ted from oil-drilling sites.

June 2014. The image on page 53 shows the system installed at Ener-Core was able to the Schinnen landfill. demonstrate that its 250-kW As the landfill methane production from the inactive landPowerstation could generate fill continues to drop over time, the reciprocating engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opercontinuous energy from this ation becomes more limited due to the lack of landfill gas above 30 percent methane. low-quality gas that typicalTable 1 shows the expected annual power generation for the ly gets flared or vented from smaller 250-kW Powerstation in comparison to the limited interoil drilling sites. Image 5 mittent operation of the reciprocating engine operating at 400 shows the low-energy-densikW. The Ener-Core Powerstation technology maximizes the ty gas test results as well as kWh generation from the below-30-percent methane gas, allowthe exhaust emissions. These ing Attero to continue generating renewable electricity from the results were used by the decaying landfill.

Canadian integrated oil comClosed landfills are not the only source of low-energy-density pany for the initial project gas. This type of problematic gas with low hydrocarbon content permitting with environmenalso exists in oil and gas fields all over the world. tal regulators.

In August 2014, Ener-Core completed the pilot phase of a Today, a wide range of methane emissions reduction project for a major Canadian industries produce low-qualintegrated oil company. The pilot phase involved testing the ity waste gases that are not 56

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Bioenergy

suitable for combustion and hence not suitable for power generation using traditional technologies.

These applications include oil and gas drilling processes, oil and gas refining systems, steel mills, coal mines, petrochemical plants, food processing plants and alcohol distilleries.

As the traditional power technologies often cannot operate on the low-quality waste gases that are emitted by these industries, the industries have historically resorted to deploying emissionsdestruction equipment such as thermal oxidizers and scrubbers to reduce the emissions of their waste gases.

However, the scrubbing, flaring, and other emissions-destruction processes offer no return on investment for these industries.

Ener-Core believes that the best way to assist these traditional industries in becoming more environmentally-sustainable is to provide them with tools that enable them to productively convert their waste gases into clean power.

In most cases, this clean power can be used and/or sold in a financially profitable manner, thereby making it even more

attractive to become environmentally-sustainable. â&#x2014;&#x2018; Alain Castro is the Chief Executive Officer of EnerCore, Inc. Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: The article was adapted from the Power-Gen Europe Paper of the Year in the renewable energy category. Find out who will win Paper of the Year during Power Gen Week by attending Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo, North America, December 8-10, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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21-23 JUNE 2016

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CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

CALL FOR PAPERS

Deadline for Abstracts 30 October 2015 Do you want to influence the European power industry?

Share your vision and knowledge with an audience of premier power companies and high-level influencers at Europe’s biggest annual energy conference. Submit an abstract for the 2016 POWER-GEN Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe Conference in Milan next June and make your contribution to Europe’s energy future.

A full listing of suggested conference topics and themes and how to submit your abstract are included on: www.powergeneurope.com/conference.html Take this opportunity to represent your company and network with the power elite.

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H Y D RO

Record-Breaking Conference Reveals Excitement Surrounding Hydropower HydroVision International attracted record attendance this July and highlighted many accomplishments within the industry.

countries. This event was held July 13-17 in Portland, Ore. The conference covered the breadth and depth of the global hydroelectric power market over three days of educational sessions. There were also two days of co-located workshops, meetings and seminars — along with four technical tours of hydro facilities. Below are some highlights of this event.

Kicking off the Event

The conference began with a keynote session that featured officials from host utilities Pacific Power and Portland GenELIZABETH INGRAM eral Electric. Representatives of United States Department of Energy (DOE), United States Department of Commerce, and HydroVision International is a number of major trade organizations also attended. the world’s largest hydropow“We are particularly proud to have HydroVision Internaer industry event. 2015 attentional here in Oregon,” said Maria Pope, senior vice president dance shattered all the conferof power supply and operation for Portland General Electric. ence’s records with nearly 3,800 “The region’s rich resources have left us with a legacy of lowregistered attendees from 60 cost, reliable energy.”

Pope’s sentiments were echoed

by Pacific Power President and Chief Executive Officer Stefan Bird. “Hydro helps us achieve our public-policy goals,” Bird said. “It helps us keep the lights on and allows for additional renewables.”

The keynote session also provided an update on the DOE’s “Hydropower Vision” initiative, which seeks to provide a long-term road map for the industry and an overview of international opportunities for national manufacturers.

Leaders from the InternationThe HydroVision International exhibit hall. al Hydropower Association, National RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

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Hydro

Hydropower Association, Canadian Hydropower Association, and Northwest Hydroelectric Association were also included via a short documentary.

During the keynote session, three facilities were inducted into the Hydro Hall of Fame. The Hydro Hall of Fame is a collection of 42 hydroelectric plants that have been in continuous operation for 100 years or more. These testaments to hydropower’s durability and long life have been chosen as inductees by the editors of Hydro Review every year since 1995. The decisions are based on their age, performance history, and unique characteristics.

This year’s inductees are: • 943-kW Dewey Lakes, owned by Alaska Power & Telephone, began generating energy in 1902 within the Klondike-era gold rush community of Skagway.

• 25-MW River Mill, owned

by Portland General Electric, located about one mile west of Estacada, Ore, began generating power in 1911.

• 31-MW Prairie du Sac, located on the Wisconsin River, owned and operated by Alliant Energy, began powering communities in the area in 1914.

Immediately after the keynote session concluded, the 60

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

exhibit hall was formally opened with a reception.

Learning Galore

Pacific Power President and Chief Executive Officer Stefan Bird.

HydroVision International’s educational aspects are second to no other conference in the hydropower industry.

One special offering is the Waterpower Hydro Basics course, designed for those who are new to hydro or need a refresher course. This intensive two-day course features instruction on all aspects of the hydropower industry. Attendees can go on a technical plant tour to see the technology they have

learned about in action.

Content for this course is developed by the Hydro Training Institute. All session leaders and instructors are subject matter experts.

In addition, there are more than 70 conference sessions offered in eight tracks. Panel presentation session tracks run the gamut of subjects from asset management to water resources.

Technical paper and poster gallery sessions are also offered.

In 2015, the Oregon Wave Energy Trust co-located its Ocean Renewable Energy Conference with HydroVision International, bringing together the marine and hydrokinetic energy industry and the traditional hydropower market.

Welcoming Graduate Researchers and International Delegations One special feature at HydroVision International was the presence of the fellows involved in the Hydro Research Foundation (HRF) program. These graduate students introduced their research and shared their findings with a wide audience of hydro personnel.

The primary purpose of HRF is to advance hydropower’s role in our clean energy future through research and education. HRF has been progressing education and research related to hydropower since 1995.

HRF provides a one-year award to allow students to conduct

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

Hydro

Waterpower Hydro Basics conference sessions.

focused research related to conventional and pumped-storage hydropower, as well as to attract student researchers to careers in hydro.

The awards are made possible by a grant from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program of the DOE. Since the beginning of the grant, 55 students have been funded to pursue advanced degrees. More than 70 percent of the graduating students are now working in the hydro industry.

In addition, for the first time in 2015 HydroVision International was chosen by the Department of Commerce to host its International Buyer Program Select. This is a joint United States government-and-industry effort designed to stimulate exports by promoting major national industry exhibitions to international markets.

This program brought several international delegations to the 2015 event, where they had access to the exhibit hall and all conference sessions, as well as the opportunity to take advantage of export counseling and matchmaking services.

Recognizing Women On July 14, PennWell’s Hydro Group, the organizer of HydroVision International, presented 10 influential women with the second annual Women with Hydro Vision awards.

This award program is designed to recognize women who have made and/or are continuing to make significant contributions to the hydro industry by sharing their unique talents and vision.

The Women with Hydro Vision honorees received awards for dam safety, engineering consulting, communications, plant

services/maintenance, environmental protection and mitigation, equipment supply, marine and hydrokinetic energy, new development, policies and regulations, research and technology, and power plant portfolio management.

These women were all nominated by their peers and were selected for this honor based on the influence and impact they have had on the larger hydropower industry.

The awards were given at the Women with Hydro Vision Luncheon. This year, Chandra Brown, deputy assistant secretary of manufacturing with the United States Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, assisted with presenting the awards.

Planning for Next Year Planning is well underway for the 2016 event, which will be held in Minneapolis. A steering committee meeting was held in June to determine the content for the panel presentation sessions.

A call for abstracts has been issued. The technical papers committee will meet in December to choose the best submissions.

For more information on this dynamic event, visit www.hydroevent.com. ◑

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Renewa ble Energ y Wor ld Resources White papers, market research, online educational classes, and upcoming events for the renewable energy industry.

Educ at ion a nd Tra ining

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21 September - 30 October, 2015 Mastering RETScreen 4 for Clean Energy Project Analysis Hands-on modeling class using RETScreen 4. Michael Ross designed this course for experienced RETScreen users who want to become elite designers. Experience required.

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The Future of Energy and Utilities Read this white paper for insight into the trends and factors driving the future of energy and utilities, and the resulting implications for the industry.

Mercom Capital Group’s Q1 Smart Grid, Battery Storage and Efficiency Funding and M&A - 2015 • Venture capital funding deals, including top investors, QoQ trends, and a breakdown of charts and graphs by stage; • Debt and other funding deals; • Mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including QoQ trends, with charts and graphs by technologies; • Battery and storage funding deals; • Efficiency funding deals; • New cleantech and smart grid funds.

Mercom Capital Group’s Q2 Solar Funding and M&A Report - 2015 Mercom Capital Group’s Quarterly Solar Funding and M&A Reports are comprehensive high-quality reports delivering superior insight, market trends and analysis.

These reports help bring clarity to professionals concerning the current financial landscape of the solar industry.

C a lenda r Selected multi-day conferences, expos and events for the Renewable Energy Industry Solar Power International POWER-GEN Middle East Energy Storage 14 - 17 September 4 - 6 October 2015 North America Anaheim, CA, USA Abu Dhabi, UAE 13 - 15 October 2015 San Diego, CA, USA GRC Annual Meeting All Energy Australia and GEA Geothermal 7 - 8 October 2015 International Energy and Energy Expo Melbourne, Australia Sustainability Conference 20 - 23 September 2015 12 -13 November 2015 RenewableUK Reno, NV, USA Farmingdale, NY, USA 6-8 October 2015 AWEA Offshore Windpower Liverpool, UK EWEA 2015 29 - 30 September 2015 17 - 20 November 2015 Baltimore, MD, USA Paris, France

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Intersolar India 18 - 20 November 2015 Mumbai, India GeoPower & Heat Summit 1-2 December 2015 Istanbul, Turkey

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CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

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by all participating stakeholders from all parts of the industry.

Legally enforceable CSRs often originate as voluntary, model CSRs that are then adopted by governing authorities. Typically, federal, state and local governments and others adopt these models, rather than drafting them from scratch, and then amend them as needed. For example, the federal government can demand compliance with certain CSRs for installations at buildings owned or leased by federal agencies.

Similarly, equipment and installations owned or operated by a utility are covered by the utility’s rules and standards. Codes or standards adopted by utilities, insurance companies, or other corporate or governmental entities through tariffs, policies, specifications or contracts may receive the full force and effect of the law.

Finally, manufacturers of system components would be responsible for documenting

Adver t iser ’s Index

component compliance. Similarly, the installers would be responsible for installation and builders, contractors and engineers would be responsible for their work.

We recommend the development and implementation of CSRs to facilitate the deployment of energy-storage systems and ensure their safe and reliable installation and operation. ◑ Kyle E. Wamstad is an associate in Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP’s Atlanta office. He represents power-sector, natural gas-sector, and renewable energy-sector clients in various transactional and regulatory matters.

Michael A. Stosser is a lawyer in Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP’s New York and Washington, D.C. offices. He advises clients on the development and financing of energy-storage systems and on federal and state regulation of electric systems.

For more information on the products and services found in this issue

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority . . . 2

Power-Gen/Distributech Africa 2016 . . . 64

Asia Power Week. . . 33

Power-Gen Middle East . . . 35

Everglades University . . . 37

REW.com . . . 51

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy . . . 57

REW North America 2015 . . . 14

Hamburg Messe & Congress . . . 19

Siemens AG . . . 3

Hammond Power Solutions . . . 17

Socomec Inc. . . . 63

Karlsruher Institut Für Technologie . . . 17

Solar Promotion International . . . 13, 43

Mercom . . . 29

Spice Solar . . . 21

Nexans . . . 9

Strategen Consulting . . . 37

NHA 2016 . . . 41

Surrette Battery Co. . . . 28, 63

Northern States Metal . . . 27

Trojan Battery . . . CV2

Power-Gen Europe . . . 58

U.S. Battery Manufacturing Co. . . . 63

Power-Gen India & Central Asia 2016 . . . 52 The Adveritser’s Index is published as a service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions.

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

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Last the

WORD

Meeting the Need for Uniform Energy-Storage Codes, Standards and Regulations Now is the time for energy-storage industry stakeholders to work together to develop requirements for safety and reliability that apply across the entire value chain.

Kyle E. Wamstad

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP Atlanta

Michael A. Stosser

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, New York and Washington, D.C. 66

The energy-storage industry is now at a stage where stakeholders need to develop a coordinated vision for safety codes, standards and regulations (CSRs). Although standards in the solar industry can provide a guide, the energy-storage industry needs to collaborate to ensure safe and reliable products.

The deployment of energy-storage systems has necessitated the development and implementation of safety standards to ensure safe and reliable operations. Not only do these standards have obvious effects on manufacturers, owners and operators, but they also have policy and legal implications that are critically important to regulators.

Energy storage is quickly becoming an integral part of the electric grid. However, the development of the technology has outpaced the development of applicable safety CSRs. While CSRs must be standardized to be effective, creating such standardization is hindered by the variety of chemistries, components, and

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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE

deployment environments for energystorage systems currently in use or under development.

Updates to existing or new CSRs are needed to uniformly develop best practices for performance, reliability and safety. New or updated CSRs must be clearly articulated and universally implemented in order to avoid confusion among market participants up and down the value chain. Coordination across federal, state and local levels is required to implement prudent installation and operation standards.

Energy storage-specific CSRs may be developed from existing CSRs that apply to the solar industry. The solar industry does have clearly developed CSRs for other purposes that can provide a guide to the energy storage industry.

However, it is imperative that, as energy storage CSRs are developed and adopted, the new regulations do not become a patchwork of standards among different agencies exercising their specific authorities. The CSRs must be developed [ cont on pg. 65]