Tipping point cont'd:
New renewables break capacity bar
New renewable generating capacity broke the 100GW barrier in 2014, equivalent to the entire fleet of nuclear power plants in the US, a UN report shows.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32119463
** Disclaimer **
The BBC is not responsible for the content of this e-mail, and anything written in this e-mail does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the e-mail address nor name of the sender have been verified.
Sent from a mobile device.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Re: Costa Rica Market Starting Gun - ICE issues procurement notice
As of today, only 3 projects have been presented on the 5mw size....
We'll be out of the office all of this week due to Easter Week.
We'll be out of the office all of this week due to Easter Week.
We should formalize PV La Libertad soonest....
Saludos
EK
On Sat, Mar 28, 2015 at 9:14 AM Monty Bannerman <mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com> wrote:
Translated from La Nacion Article 3/27/15:
The ICE announced that competition will bring 10 megawatts (MW) of solar energy, which will be awarded to two floors of private generation (of 5 MW each). These generate enough to power about 6,000 homes electricity.
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), meanwhile, is responsible for raising another photovoltaic project in the Guanacaste province, of 5 MW. This will be funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
These three projects of 15 MW total power, would be built in the course of 2016.
Private generators will be chosen by competition, whose date will be revealed once the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) defines outstanding issues as access charges, interconnection and the sales price per kilowatt hour (kWh) Solar .
Ulises Zúñiga, the area of Contract Management Investment Strategies, reported that so far there are more than 20 eligible projects that have expressed interest, but others may also participate.
According to Zúñiga, contestants compete for factors such as price, location, use of primary energy resources, progress made in studies and experience.
"These initiatives are part of ICE's strategy of introducing solar energy, with larger plants within the national electricity system," said Gilbert de la Cruz, director of Planning and Development Electrical ICE, through a press release .
The announcement of the ICE was published today in the official newspaper La Gaceta.
In early February ceased pilot Solar Energy Institute, which served to inject the National Electric System (SEN) 10 MW of this type, since 2010 plan . This plan will not be extended , so that the photovoltaic system on the network is locked until ARESEP set the rates.Also necessary that the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae) publish the regulation permits and concessions for generators to connect to the system. According to the Minae and ARESEP, missing will be defined by mid-April.
Monty Bannerman
ArcStar Energy
+1-646-402-5076
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Costa Rica Market Starting Gun - ICE issues procurement notice
Translated from La Nacion Article 3/27/15:
The ICE announced that competition will bring 10 megawatts (MW) of solar energy, which will be awarded to two floors of private generation (of 5 MW each). These generate enough to power about 6,000 homes electricity.
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), meanwhile, is responsible for raising another photovoltaic project in the Guanacaste province, of 5 MW. This will be funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
These three projects of 15 MW total power, would be built in the course of 2016.
Private generators will be chosen by competition, whose date will be revealed once the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) defines outstanding issues as access charges, interconnection and the sales price per kilowatt hour (kWh) Solar .
Ulises Zúñiga, the area of Contract Management Investment Strategies, reported that so far there are more than 20 eligible projects that have expressed interest, but others may also participate.
According to Zúñiga, contestants compete for factors such as price, location, use of primary energy resources, progress made in studies and experience.
"These initiatives are part of ICE's strategy of introducing solar energy, with larger plants within the national electricity system," said Gilbert de la Cruz, director of Planning and Development Electrical ICE, through a press release .
The announcement of the ICE was published today in the official newspaper La Gaceta.
In early February ceased pilot Solar Energy Institute, which served to inject the National Electric System (SEN) 10 MW of this type, since 2010 plan . This plan will not be extended , so that the photovoltaic system on the network is locked until ARESEP set the rates.
Also necessary that the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae) publish the regulation permits and concessions for generators to connect to the system. According to the Minae and ARESEP, missing will be defined by mid-April.
Monty Bannerman
ArcStar Energy
+1-646-402-5076
www.arcstarenergy.com
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Fwd: World Wind Energy Market Update 2015
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Navigant Research <info@navigantresearch.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 26, 2015 at 1:55 AM
Subject: World Wind Energy Market Update 2015
To: Monty Bannerman <mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com>
From: Navigant Research <info@navigantresearch.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 26, 2015 at 1:55 AM
Subject: World Wind Energy Market Update 2015
To: Monty Bannerman <mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com>
| ||||||||||||||||
Fwd: Executive Order Substantially Boosts Renewable Energy, Cuts Emissions in Federal Government
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rebecca Van Nichols <rvan@tnag.net>
Date: Thu, Mar 26, 2015 at 12:56 AM
Subject: Executive Order Substantially Boosts Renewable Energy, Cuts Emissions in Federal Government
To: mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com
Website: www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/19/fact-sheet-redu
From: Rebecca Van Nichols <rvan@tnag.net>
Date: Thu, Mar 26, 2015 at 12:56 AM
Subject: Executive Order Substantially Boosts Renewable Energy, Cuts Emissions in Federal Government
To: mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com
| 03/19/2015 12:35 PM |   | ShareThis |
Executive Order Substantially Boosts Renewable Energy, Cuts Emissions in Federal Government
SustainableBusiness.com News
President Obama issued an Executive Order today (oh no, more overreach!), substantially raising the bar for federal agencies on emission cuts and use of renewable energy.
Wow - the Federal government must cut emissions 40% by 2025, from 2008 levels. AND they must increase the share of renewable energy to 30% of ALL energy, not just electricity.
Interesting that these are basically the same as Europe's targets - and should be our US targets - but getting the Republican majority in Congress to go along with climate goals is out of the question.
Here's what is required by 2025:
- 25% of all energy comes from renewable sources.
- Cut energy use in federal buildings 2.5% a year.
- Reduce water intensity in federal buildings 2% a year.
- Reduce per-mile greenhouse gas emissions from federal fleets 30% from 2014 levels.
Given that the federal government is the biggest energy user in the US, this executive order will have a big impact. There are 360,000 buildings, 650,000 fleet vehicles, and $445 billion a year spent on contractors.
At the White House Roundtable on Greenhouse Gases, held today with major suppliers that hold 40% of government contracts - many announced new commitments, which will be tracked publicly through a new Federal Supplier Greenhouse Gas Management Scorecard.
Obama is building on Executive Orders issued in 2009, requiring agencies to cut emissions 28% by 2020 and new buildings to be net-zero energy by 2030 - and another in 2013,requiring 20% renewable energy by 2020.
What's been achieved?
Since 2009, greenhouse gas emissions are down 17%, energy use 9%, water use 19%, and renewables have increased in share from 3% to 9% as of 2013. The federal government uses the same amount of energy as it did in 1975, when FEMP began collecting data.
As of 2013:
- Department of Energy cut emissions more than 34%
- Environmental Protection Agency cut emissions more than 57%
- General Services Agency cut emissions more than 53%
- Department of Defense - which uses the most energy in the federal government - cut emissions 10%, while making significant progress toward its goal of 3 gigawatts of renewables by 2025.
"It is not just the agencies that have environment and energy as part of their missions that are showing leadership in meeting the President's climate and energy goals. What is remarkable about this effort is how agencies ranging from NASA to the Department of Health and Human Services now see this as part of their mission," say Secretaries Ernest Moniz, Gina McCarthy, and Denise Turner Roth.
Last year, Obama issued an executive order that brings more energy efficiency and solar to the federal government, which also includes private sector commitments.
Obama's voluntary goal for the US is to cut emissions 26-28% by 2025, below 2005 levels.
Federal Contractor Commitments
Companies attending the White House Roundtable on Greenhouse Gases each do more than $1 billion a year in business with the federal government, adding up to $45 billion in contracts. Here's a sample of their commitments:
IBM: 20% of all electricity will come from renewables by 2020!, while cutting energy-related carbon emissions 35% from 2005 levels.
They will buy over 800,000 megawatt-hours a year of renewable energy, an amount equal to a city of 100,000 people. Through conservation efforts, IBM already avoids 40% of its 1990 emissions.
General Electric: reduce emissions and water consumption 20% by 2020, from 2011 levels, while investing $25 billion in R&D.
That's in addition to the $15 billion it has spent since 2005 on developing environmentally responsible products through Ecomagination. The investment has paid off in $200 billion in revenue from these products. As of 2013, GE's emissions are down 34% and water use is down 45% from 2005 levels.
Hewlett Packard: reduce emissions intensity of entire product portfolio 40% by 2020 (from 2010 levels), on top of the 20% it cut as of 2011.
Read our article, Want a Federal Government Contract? Meet Annual Emissions Targets.
Read all the commitments:
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Fwd: Biomass power: U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel imports decline 36% in 2014
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rebecca Van Nichols <rvan@tnag.net>
Date: Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 10:32 AM
Subject: Biomass power: U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel imports decline 36% in 2014
To: mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com
From: Rebecca Van Nichols <rvan@tnag.net>
Date: Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 10:32 AM
Subject: Biomass power: U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel imports decline 36% in 2014
To: mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com
EIA: U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel imports decline 36% in 2014
March 23, 2015
Source: Energy Information Administration
After reaching record levels in 2013, United States imports ofbiomass-based diesel fuel (both biodiesel and renewable diesel) fell 36%, to 333 million gallons in 2014. Uncertainty surrounding future Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets and the absence of a late-year influx of volumes from Argentina were two main factors in this decline.
Both biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels are produced from refining vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel is blended with petroleum diesel up to 5% or 20% by volume (referred to as B5 and B20, respectively). Renewable diesel is a diesel-like fuel that meets specifications for use in existing infrastructure and diesel engines, and thus is not subject to any blending limitations.
While the RFS is meant to encourage the production and consumption of renewable fuels, obligations for 2014 still have not been finalized and those for 2015 have not yet been proposed. The initial proposal for the 2014 RFS program year, released in November 2013, stated that the 2014 biomass-based diesel obligation would remain unchanged from its 2013 value at 1.28 billion gallons, while the advanced biofuels obligation would be reduced to 2.2 billion gallons, down from 2.75 billion gallons in 2013. The uncertainty and proposed lower target levels have made it difficult for refiners to comply with the RFS recently, but the flexibility and value of biomass-based diesel volumes towards all obligation levels make it a strong driver of biodiesel consumption as long as the RFS is still active.
Two other factors help explain lower biomass-based diesel imports in 2014. In late 2013, there was a surge of biodiesel imports from Argentina as a result of European Union (EU) antidumping duties placed on Argentine biodiesel. This action by the EU temporarily diverted large volumes of Argentine biomass-based diesel that were previously destined to be exported to Europe, Argentina's largest biodiesel export market, to the United States. U.S. imports of biodiesel from Argentina fell by 57% from 2013 to 52 million gallons in 2014.
Another factor was the expiration of the $1.00 per gallon biodiesel tax credit at the end of 2013. While the credit was retroactively restored at the end of 2014, the extent to which producers considered this outcome in making decisions during 2014 remains unknown. Still, relatively high diesel fuel prices for much of 2014 kept domestic biodiesel relatively economic to blend, supporting production at levels near those in 2013. Domestic biomass-based diesel production was sufficient to meet most of the proposed reduced RFS obligations in 2014, thus reducing the need for imports. Total imports of biodiesel and renewable diesel represented an average of 23% of domestic biomass-based diesel consumption in 2014, down from an average of 34% of consumption in 2013.
The 212 million gallons of biodiesel imported into the United States in 2014 was sourced primarily from Canada (47%), reclaiming its spot as the top U.S. supplier after being surpassed by Argentina in 2013. The remaining volumes of regular biodiesel imports entered the United States primarily on the East Coast, mostly from Indonesia and Argentina. U.S. renewable diesel imports reached 121 million gallons in 2013, down 42% from 2013. Slightly more than 92% of total U.S. renewable diesel imports came from Singapore and entered the United States primarily through West Coast ports, likely destined for California LCFS compliance.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Fwd: Ontario IESO News Release - 18-Month Outlook Forecasts Adequate Electricity Supply and Continued Reliability this Summer
demand and supply numbers going forward
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: IESO <IESOinfo@ieso.ca>
Date: Monday, March 23, 2015
Subject: IESO News Release - 18-Month Outlook Forecasts Adequate Electricity Supply and Continued Reliability this Summer
To: IESO Recipient <IESORecipient@ieso.ca>
If you would prefer not to receive further messages from this sender, please send an email to customer.relations@ieso.ca.
--
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: IESO <IESOinfo@ieso.ca>
Date: Monday, March 23, 2015
Subject: IESO News Release - 18-Month Outlook Forecasts Adequate Electricity Supply and Continued Reliability this Summer
To: IESO Recipient <IESORecipient@ieso.ca>
IESO's 18-Month Outlook Forecasts Adequate Electricity Supply and Continued Reliability this Summer
Ontario's electricity system is well resourced to meet electricity demand through the summer and over the next year and a half, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) reports in its latest 18-Month Outlook.
The report, which covers the period from April 2015 to September 2016, forecasts that there is sufficient capacity to meet demand, which could reach as high as 24,800 megawatts (MW) this summer.
In a continuation of the trend seen over the last several years, peak demand is expected to decline throughout the period of this Outlook. Conservation, time-of-use rates and the Industrial Conservation Initiative contribute to the downward pressure on peak demands and in particular summer peaks.
Over the outlook period, about 2,300 MW of new supply will be incorporated into the province's existing generation fleet -- which includes about 1,700 MW of wind, 10 MW of hydroelectric, 300 MW of gas, 240 MW of solar and 40 MW of biofuel resources. Additionally, the first storage project from the 2014 procurement of 34 MW of energy storage projects, which will help manage grid needs as well as the variability of wind and solar generation, is expected to come into service before the end of this outlook period.
In addition to the planned projects, the Thunder Bay Generation Station G3 unit recently came back into service, fuelled with advanced biomass, and will contribute 153 MW to provide continued reliability in northern Ontario.
"Ontario is in a solid position with adequate generation and transmission capability to meet consumers' needs over the next 18 months," say Kim Warren, IESO's Vice-President of Market and System Operations. "The combination of conservation, time-of-use and renewable energy now play a significant role in reducing peak demand, which is quite a change from where we were five or six years ago."
With the addition of significant wind supplies, conditions for surplus baseload generation are likely to continue over the outlook period. However, it is expected that the surplus will be managed effectively using normal market mechanisms.
The IESO regularly assesses the adequacy and reliability of Ontario's power system. The 18-Month Outlook is issued on a quarterly basis, in conjunction with the Ontario Energy Report, which highlights key trends in the energy sector. The 18-month outlook can be found by visiting ontarioenergyreport.ca or http://www.ieso.ca/Pages/Participate/Reliability-Requirements/Forecasts-%26-18-Month-Outlooks.aspx.
About the Independent Electricity System Operator
The IESO manages the province's power system so that Ontarians receive power when and where they need it. It plans and prepares for future electricity needs, and works with its partners to guide conservation efforts. A not-for-profit entity established by the Government of Ontario, IESO fees and licences to operate are set by the Ontario Energy Board. On January 1, 2015, the Ontario Power Authority amalgamated with the IESO. For more information, please visit www.ieso.ca.
For more information, please contact IESO Customer Relations:
Tel: 905.403.6900
Toll Free: 1.888.448.7777
This is sent to all IESO New Release Subscribers. To edit your subscription, please visit http://www.ieso.ca/Pages/About-the-IESO/Email-Subscription-Update.aspx.
If you would prefer not to receive further messages from this sender, please send an email to customer.relations@ieso.ca.
110648
This e-mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended only for the named recipient(s) above and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient(s), any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail message or any files transmitted with it is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender immediately and delete this e-mail message.
--
Sunday, March 22, 2015
BBC News: Academics to draw up fossil fuel plan
The liberal left and young idealists strike at the heart of the fossil beast.
Academics to draw up fossil fuel plan
Climate scientists at leading universities are joining forces to discuss the basis for a set of principles governing investment in fossil fuels.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31872459
** Disclaimer **
The BBC is not responsible for the content of this e-mail, and anything written in this e-mail does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the e-mail address nor name of the sender have been verified.
Sent from my mobile.
Academics to draw up fossil fuel plan
Climate scientists at leading universities are joining forces to discuss the basis for a set of principles governing investment in fossil fuels.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31872459
** Disclaimer **
The BBC is not responsible for the content of this e-mail, and anything written in this e-mail does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the e-mail address nor name of the sender have been verified.
Sent from my mobile.
Fwd: Financing Climate-concious Investments in Latin America
Financing Climate-concious Investments in Latin America
Philip Killeen, Worldwatch Institute
March 20, 2015 | 2 Comments
PrintFollowing the conclusion of the United Nations climate negotiations in Lima, Peru, last December, a busy schedule of breakout sessions has begun for Latin American business and political leaders in early 2015.
Building on the Lima Call for Climate Action, these summits have the important objective of creating functional and market-based mechanisms to achieve "intended nationally determined contributions" of emissions reductions. The meetings are of special significance as participating countries prepare their positions leading up to major negotiations at the November 2015 climate talks in Paris.
Formulating sustainability-focused finance and investment networks for businesses in developing countries is an essential component of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC's) objective for the Paris talks: to establish a legally binding, global agreement on emissions reductions that will limit global temperature rise to within 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The fourth annual Latin American Impact Investment Forum (FLII), held in Mexico City from February 24 to 26, presented a unique opportunity to promote these networks.
As an initiative under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the FLII offers participant environmental enterprise ventures the opportunity to vie for the resources of the newly capitalized $10 billion UNFCCC-created Green Climate Fund. Supplementing this financing, the IDB has pledged to commit 25 percent of its total 2015 lending toward environmental sustainability and renewable energy projects in the private sector, a total of $3.5 billion.
Typically, businesses in developing countries lack the demonstrable credit-worthiness or collateralizable assets to compete for financing in open capital markets. This is particularly the case for non-vetted, environmentally conscientious enterprises. Development-focused finance networks, however, are particularly beneficial for small enterprises and risky ventures, as they are tailored to ensure long-term financial viability rather than to maximize investor returns.
For example, the IDB offers equity investment and direct loans that are coupled with local technical expertise services in an effort to both build capacity and strengthen credit-worthiness. The sustained involvement of these financing networks serves to improve scalability potential for business growth and to guarantee transparent corporate governance structures that are compliant with legal, environmental, and social standards.
The environmental and societal impacts of these investments are substantial on both the local and regional scale. In 2013, the IDB contributed a total of $3 million in loan and grant awards to the Colombian venture capital fund, Fondo Inversor. This fund has supported the implementation of numerous climate-aware projects, such as Waya, a hotel that has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Also in 2013, IDB financing of $1.18 million through FOMIN, an IDB subsidiary multilateral investment network, funded implementation of a low-carbon development strategy for small businesses in Guyana. More substantially, IDB loan assistance of $200 million in Uruguay contributed to the development of the Montes del Plata eucalyptus plant-based biomass electricity generation facility in 2011. This remains Uruguay's largest-ever private sector investment.
Given the IDB's reputation for due diligence, regional venture capital partners are able to attract new investors with the Bank's backing. With $30 million provided in loan and equity investment from the IDB, the IGNIA Fund venture capital group in Mexico raised over $100 million for small and medium-sized enterprises, providing sanitation and health services to low-income groups. Beyond their health impacts, these investments demonstrate how by expanding lending operations into previously untapped markets, IDB financing opens pathways for other lending networks to follow.
Whether these investment commitments will serve to sufficiently catalyze sustainability entrepreneurship and environmental impact is yet to be seen. With an annual gross regional product of $5.7 trillion in Latin America, businesses will require substantially more financing to be directed toward sustainability than the so-far modest contribution of these investment networks. These efforts are further nuanced by the development of robust trade and investment relationships for non-renewable energy sources and resource-extractive industry in Latin America. Amid these relationships, China has rapidly emerged as an influential economic partner to the region and will play a central role in directing the trajectory of development.
Trade between Latin America and China has grown dramatically, from $12 billion in 2000 to $289 billion in 2013. This rapid growth can be accounted for almost entirely by increased Chinese demand for commodities such as oil, metals, and soybeans — products with high carbon footprints. However, given the enormous potential for growth in Latin America's renewable energy sector, there appears to be a sizeable role for a country like China in investing in low-carbon development.
The 2013 IDB report Rethinking Our Energy Future estimates that Latin America's renewable energy endowment is large enough to meet domestic electricity demand through 2050, 22 times over. Representing a diversified energy pool, the region could produce over 78 petawatt-hours annually from solar, wind, marine, geothermal, and biomass sources.
During talks with Costa Rica at the January 2015 China-CELAC Forum — which brought together China and the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States — Chinese President Xi Jinping indicated a commitment to increased financial and technical cooperation on clean energy and climate issues. He also pledged $250 billion in investment in Latin American energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing projects. The greatest beneficiaries of this support are Venezuela and Ecuador, receiving credit lines from China's Export-Import Bank of $20 billion and $5.3 billion, respectively, to stabilize their oil price-shock affected economies by subsidizing the export of hydrocarbons to China.
As the formative UN climate talks in Paris draw closer, the development of sustainability-related microfinance schemes in Latin America is crucial to demonstrating regional commitment to emissions reductions while balancing the need for growth. The China-CELAC forum represents an untapped source for potential growth for both parties, particularly if they can successfully integrate China's domestic "Green Credit Guidelines." Outlined in February 2012 by the China Banking Regulatory Commission, these guidelines require investor banks to "effectively identify, assess, monitor, control, and mitigate environmental and social risks."
Through these and other initiatives, environmentally conscientious investment and microfinance opportunities, such as those showcased during the fourth annual Latin American Impact Investment Forum, will become much more appealing and cost-efficient targets for investment capital.
This article was originally published on the Worldwatch Institute blog and was republished with permission.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
--
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
