Aside from President Obama’s latest strategy to expand domestic renewable energy production and kick-start the US economy, other renewables news includes:

Vertical or horizontal? Wind turbine research gets new impetus

Staying stateside, I found an interesting article on RenewableEnergyWorld.Com. This time it was about a resurgence of interest in offshore use of vertical-axis wind turbines. According to the online report, US-based Sandia Laboratories wind-energy researchers are re-evaluating vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) to help solve some of the problems associated with offshore energy generation.

Compared to horizontal-axis wind turbines, (HAWTs), the insensitivity of vertical rotors to wind direction changes allows for much larger rotors. What’s more, VAWT engineering is simpler and more accessible, so reducing operation and maintenance costs. Against this, there’s the more complex nature of VAWT blades and the ensuing manufacturing challenges. Further work also needs to be done on the problems associated with cyclic loading of the drivetrains. VAWT has been around for decades, but has fallen into the shadow of the horizontal-axis technology.

Maybe, however, with this new research initiative, we’re set to see a new shape on the UK wind-power generation horizon in the future.

Bye the way, if you are interested in protecting your source of electricity, whether it comes from a renewable source or not, visit Riello UPS’s website to find out about power protection, UPS systems, power problems, UPS technologies and the different types of UPS available. The company also offers quality solar inverters.

Subsidy cuts for UK onshore wind energy generation

At the same time, the BBC News Business website is reporting that the subsidy for onshore wind energy generation is to be cut by 10% – a fraction of the 25% cut that the UK Treasury is thought to have wanted. The latest cut is just one of several cuts which the UK’s Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) believes will encourage up to £25bn in new investment in energy generation by 2017.

Red tape too…

And on the subject of cuts, how about DECC’s recent announcement that it has scrapped 86 rules and slimmed down 48 more to make life easier for UK businesses. The cuts and changes should eliminate red tape and reduce barriers to investment in the UK’s low carbon economy. As part of the government’s so-called ‘red tape challenge’, industry commentators have estimated that, along with other reforms to the energy market, the changes could save businesses around £400 million over the next two decades.

Did you ever stop and think about the possible costs of power supply disruption to your organisation? Read more here………..

A recent review of the latest in renewable energy news brought a selection of interesting projects, products and ideas to my attention. Here are a few of the latest gems…

In Northern Ireland, according to The Belfast Telegraph, Amber Green Solar is focusing on the solar voltaic market, which uses cells that do not require direct sunlight to work – in a part of the UK that shares similar solar radiation with Wales, London, the English Midlands and Munich, Germany.

The energy-supply implications of Japan’s tsunami continue to emerge

On the other side of the globe, and hardly surprising in the aftermath of the 2011 tsunami and the problems at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the Japanese government is pushing ahead with the adoption of renewables and improved energy efficiency. This accompanies increasing pressure from the Japanese populace for the ending of nuclear power generation – and the urgent need to cut energy consumption following the shut down of all the country’s nuclear plants in May 2012.

Renewable Revolution or Nuclear Nightmare?

Staying out in the Far East, and capturing the current mood in Japan, an online article from The Ecologist was rather ominously headlined as ‘Renewable Revolution or Nuclear Nightmare?’ The piece, which unsurprisingly referenced Fukushima, asserts that the rapid spread of solar power across China, India, Africa and South America is being driven not by subsidy, but by the market.

DECC poised to confirm subsidy banding review

Meanwhile, online sustainability website businessGreen recently reported that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is poised to confirm a renewable energy subsidy banding review. Writing on the site, journalist Jessica Shankleman concluded that the majority of renewables developers expect to see a gradual decline in the level of ROC [Renewable Obligation Certificate] support between 2013 and 2017. She adds that ‘DECC is proposing to increase support for marine energy to 5 ROCs/MWh, up from just 2 ROCs/MWh currently as part of a plan to boost investment in early-stage technologies

Early engagement: the answer for renewables and power-supply
management solutions alike

Coming closer to home again, an opinion column caught my eye in the Devon-based Western Morning News. In the piece, which appeared last weekend, the article’s author highlights our shared responsibility to tackle climate change, fuel dependency and fuel poverty – and in doing so, to embrace renewable energy and all the challenges that it brings. And because renewable energy brings visual impact, the writer recognises that such impact will always spark a reaction in rural communities. The answer? Early engagement on the subjects of what consumers want, feel and fear. It’s an approach that resonates with anyone like me who’s focus is on the power supply management needs of large and small enterprises. As well as the key to appropriate adoption of renewable technology, early engagement is also vital in the selection of suitable power-supply management solutions.

By the way, anyone wanting to know more about environmentally friendly power protection might be interested in visiting the Riello UPS corporate site. And check out our solar inverters.

A conservative MP calls for an end to inefficient tariffs, Branson calls in the ‘green’ troops after salvo from anti wind MPs threatens renewable’s future, and Lego invests in offshore wind farm for the future of children.

It’s been an interesting week for renewables. Seemingly receiving little support in Chancellor George Osborne’s budget, now it seems everyone who is anyone in business, politics and the energy sector is rallying and having their say.

Analysis of the budget focuses on the fact that Osborne has given a real boost to the gas industry and fossil fuels sectors rather than renewables, which seems to fly in the face of the Conservative’s own aims to be the greenest Government ever. A group (calling themselves the 102 Group) consisting of Sir Richard Branson, Dale Vince and Caroline Lucas have written to David Cameron urging him to recognise the importance of renewables, provide more support for new technologies and asking for a planning system that recognizes the value of a move to local energy.

Raab calls for an end to inefficient tariffs

Conservative MP Dominic Raab, in an article written for the Telegraph newspaper, has called for an end to what he terms the green “boondoggle”, asking the Government to overhaul the energy tariffs and subsidies systems that were introduced by the last Labour Government.

Lego acquires offshore wind farm

In a move to supply all of its energy requirements from renewable sources, toy maker Lego, famous for manufacturing primary coloured building blocks for children, has bought half of a German offshore wind farm from DONG Energy. The wind farm will have 77 3.6MW wind turbines once it is finished.

Riello UPS fully supports renewable energy through all of our UPS products and services and we currently supply a range of quality solar inverters through a strategic partnership with AROS Solar Technology. In the range we have solutions from 1.5kW right up to 500kW for both commercial and domestic use. AROS is an established leader in producing inverters for solar Photovoltaic application. More details can be found by clicking the links above.

A few developments of interest on the renewables front this month: first of all, engineers at Highview Power Storage demonstrated their long-awaited and smaller-scale Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) technology. Then, the Co-operative edged closer to its aim of bringing a clean energy revolution to communities across the UK  by pledging funding and support and Tim Yeo, chairman of the Commons’ Energy and Climate Change Committee, called on the Government to work towards reinstating the UK’s pole position as an exporter of wave and tidal power.

Is liquid air storage the answer to unreliable wind energy?

Earlier this month, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Imeche) became the platform for the launch of the UK’s first demonstrable LAES technology, hailed as the answer to the highlighted weaknesses of wind energy. The fact that turbines produce too much energy when there is heavy much wind and not enough on still days renders them highly inefficient and expensive to operate. Wind farm producers are compensated for switching off turbines in high wind conditions and this is said to have cost the UK consumer £24 million in 2011.

How the technology works is that LAES takes electricity from the grid at peak times, such as on windy days, and uses it to cool air until it liquefies at 196 degrees Celsius. The liquid air is then stored, cheaply and safely, under pressure until it is needed and when brought back to normal temperature it turns back into gas, expands by 700 times and is rushed through a turbine. This then creates electricity, which can be fed into the grid.

UK company Highview Power Storage has been developing the technology in association with Imeche for the past five years and recently completed a successful year-long pilot – the first LAES plant in the world – connected to the National Grid and hosted by Scottish and Southern Energy in Slough, Berkshire, UK.

The energy storage market is said to be worth some $100 billion over the next ten years and could create 100,000 jobs.

Other companies have focused on Battery energy storage using Lithium Ion batteries, which although quick and viable, have been found to be limited and unable to scale to the degree required. Other technologies such as pumped hydro need green belt space and billions of litres of water.

Co-op gives to community renewable energy projects

The Co-operative has pledged £1 million to renewable energy projects run by local communities.

The Community Energy Challenge is an initiative that has set out to summon local community energy co-operatives to come up with ideas for renewable generation. It will offer six to eight of the most ambitious finance and support to get them off the ground.

UK could be the world-leading exporter of wave and tidal power

So say MPs on the Commons’ Energy and Climate Change Committee. It makes sense, as we are and island nation, that the UK could take the lead when it comes to exploiting the power of the sea but is being number one in the world enough of an incentive to get Government and industry backing?

Earlier this month, the Government was called to increase its support for wave and tidal power in a new report from MPs warning that the country is at risk of repeating mistakes, which allowed it to lose its early lead in the development of the wind power industry.

Currently, seven out of eight full-scale prototype marine energy installations worldwide are in UK waters, making us the current world leader in the development of wave and tidal energy technologies.

Marine power could provide as much as 27GW of capacity in the UK by 2050.

An over cautious approach by the Government, say MPs, may allow other, less risk averse countries to steal the UK’s lead. The industry is worried that Government plans for subsidies for marine and tidal only extend to 2017, thus leaving them vulnerable in the future.

According to The Carbon Trust, the first commercial wave farms are likely to deliver energy costing 38-48p/kWh and the first tidal farms 29-33p/kWh, which will require a subsidy if anyone is to be persuaded to pay the premium tariff required to fund investment payback. Obviously, costs will fall as the technology matures but even so, at those prices it will take a while for this to happen.

Whatever form of power generation your supply is made up of, and if you rely on electrical equipment for your very commercial survival, you will need adequate and reliable power protection and that means a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) and generator, or some form of protection and back up system (flywheel UPS, fuel cell, batteries, capacitor). To found out more and view our full range of products and systems, visit Riello UPS’s website.

Electricity generated from renewable energy sources in the UK has increased 50% in the past year, according to statistics released by DECC (Department for Energy and Climate Change) in October 2011.

Electricity from renewables comprised 6.3% of the UK’s total energy consumption when the figures were announced in April 2010 and that figure rose to 9.6% this year, a healthy 50% increase.

Supplies from hydro and wind rose by 74.7% and 120% respectively but renewables still only supply around 10% of the UK’s total energy needs and that has got to change if we are to meet our carbon reduction targets alongside our growing energy needs.

However, the wind industry is making a tremendous contribution to the nations energy supply and is now providing enough power to supply nearly 3.25 million homes in the UK.

Electricity sourced from nuclear generation accounted for 21.3% of total according to DECC. So, despite the massive rises in low carbon energy and encouraging growth in the renewables industries, we are still relying on fossil fuels for two thirds of our energy needs.

As you know, here at Riello we are big fans of renewable energy and have developed our range of UPS and ancillary products to support renewable energy installations such as Solar (with our AROS solar inverters). We are continuing to bring products and solutions to market that support the drive towards renewables.