Up to 6-cent per kilowatt-hour extra value with concentrated solar power

Date:

June 10, 2014

Source:

DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Summary:

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) projects would add additional value of 5 or 6 cents per kilowatt hour to utility-scale solar energy in California where 33 percent renewables will be mandated in six years, a new report has found.

 solar power

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) projects would add additional value of 5 or 6 cents per kilowatt hour to utility-scale solar energy in California where 33 percent renewables will be mandated in six years, a new report by the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has found.

The report, "Estimating the Value of Utility-Scale Solar Technologies in California Under a 40% Renewable Portfolio Standard," finds that CSP, with its ability to store energy for several hours or more, helps maintain firm capacity in the hours when the sun is below the horizon. Compared to variable generation technologies this translates to an increase in value of 5 cents per kilowatt hour under a 33% renewable standard -- the mandate for 2020 -- or 6 cents per kilowatt hour under a 40% renewable standard. The added value means that at peak demands, CSP can help lower electricity bills.

"CSP adds significant additional value when compared to less flexible generation sources," NREL CSP Group Manager Mark Mehos, co-author with Jennie Jorgenson and Paul Denholm of the study, said. "As the penetration of renewables rises, so does the relative value of CSP. CSP could also allow greater penetration of PV by making the grid more flexible and reducing curtailment of PV by generating energy after the sun sets. We intend to investigate this in more detail for the remainder of this year."

While photovoltaic modules capture the sun's light and turns it into useable electricity, CSP technologies concentrate the sun's energy and capture that energy as heat, which then drives an engine or turbine to produce electrical power. However, the thermal energy CSP generates can be held back for several hours via storage systems such as molten salts -- and then used after the sun sets when demand is still high for, say, air conditioning, television, and lighting.

The new report, funded through the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in support of its SunShot Initiative, compares the total operating costs of a system with and without an incremental amount of CSP with thermal energy storage or solar PV. It also analyzes capacity value. The report is the second in a series of analyses of the value of CSP with thermal energy storage. The previous report, "Estimating the Performance and Economic Value of Multiple Concentrating Solar Power Technologies in a Production Cost Model," is available on NREL's web site.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Report: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/61685.pdf

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140610205520.htm

Green IT Products and Services for the Subcontinent

Conserving ecosystem and forest cover implies adopting right attitude to conserve energy resources and environment for a better use of technology, systems and factors impinging on our subsystem of economy. In the past, we have had a number of achievements to our credit where we have had the CHIPKO movement saving trees. Again a similar project, the green revolution produced significantly more better results in crop cultivation technology. Our value of technology embracing environment and efficient use of natural resources has made us venture into other outlook of the resource we generate and conserve.

Green IT Products and Services for the Subcontinent   
Green IT Products and Services for the Subcontinent  
Green IT Products and Services for the Subcontinent   

This new outlook which we reserve our technological impetus and endowments caters to a few select organizers. Social non profit organizations, people in government and high ranking officials can assemble these services to produce the worthwhile additional services and products. Engineering IT products and services with the help of all available such customization and assurance is not all in vain. Through the capability of the willing organizations and services from the government many new ventures for products and services in IT domain could have started. Though the IT bubble did not ascertain with certain capability of the ills and misinterpretations livid with investing too early, the distraught traders again rebuild the IT new ventures in capital investment in a fast paced manner.

The last decade saw a number of effective and efficient technologies being supported from applications, CRM, ERP and software to a quality which is unequivocally substantial in producing significant parameters to completion with eco-conservation and eco-efficiency, the basis of Green IT. The design and development of the IT pattern of the services is effectively standardized to provide exceptional quality. Over the years the pattern of Green IT in the ITES services industry has benefited a great deal on the basis of sustained efforts in progressive thinking for IT industry. The effort in changing the system aspects of the IT generation of products needs devised and improvised solutions for customers. In a time of rapid turmoil the capability of customization, services quality and the capacity to produce Green IT got tested. Since the IT generation is true of bringing effective programming, apps, software, websites and developing new ideas into action in the web then we can assume of important end insightful drawn about the necessity of reducing costs and eco-efficiency. Green IT can sustain the challenge of the resolute power in handling economy challenge as also reducing the effort in bringing innovation to our pedestals.

http://goarticles.com/article/Green-IT-Products-and-Services-for-the-Subcontinent/9050737

Problems with Going Green and How to Overcome Them

Before taking the plunge into a green lifestyle, you should know that there are problems with going green. We tell you how to overcome them so that you can weigh your options and choose wisely.

Problems with Going Green and How to Overcome Them

Problems with Going Green and How to Overcome Them
Problems with Going Green and How to Overcome Them

Go green! Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Do your bit. Play your part. These are just some of the phrases we're constantly bombarded with, in our everyday life. Everyone thinks that everyone should be doing something about the dire straits that our environment is in, and the only solution anyone can come up with, unfortunately, is just one mantra: go green. Sure it makes us feel like we're being responsible citizens of the world and that we're ensuring, in our own little ways, that our future generations have a better ecosystem and a more healthy environment to thrive in than the one we've obviously managed to pillage and defile with such ease. But is it easy to actually 'go green'? Some may nod in agreement, some may shake their heads vehemently, disqualifying it as a viable way of life. Since everyone's making such a big deal about how awesome it is to go green, let's play the devil's advocate and see what kind of problems going green can pose, and some solutions (if any) to counter them.

What the Problem Is: Too Little Information

Honestly ask yourself: what does going green mean? Does it mean that you should stop using anything that has any kind of chemical substance in it? If yes, good luck with trying to live in the jungle. No high-speed Internet there, so whatchugonnado? Or does it mean that you have to give up on practices and products that lead to deforestation or unfavorable use of rapidly depleting natural resources. Yes? Well, how, may we ask, will you reach work if not for your car or even the very efficient public transport system in your city. You'll walk or cycle? Ummm, know a road or bike that isn't made of chemicals? We can go on with such questions, but we'll never get a definite answer. Why? Because there isn't one.

No one really knows what exactly going green entails, so everyone just formulates their own version of how to feel a little less guilty about the environment and decides to proclaim it as going green. Now we're not saying that the effort isn't laudable. We're just saying if you have the passion and the drive to come up with ideas, why not take it on as a worldwide movement without having to worry about the money or sustainability part of it? Any answers?

What the Solution Could be.

Research. Do as much research as you can about the different and various meanings that going green has been attributed with over the years, pick one that seems the most doable by you, and follow it. The best part is, no one knows why they're doing what they're doing, so the chances of you doing it wrong aren't very high.

What the Problem Is: Too Much Information

Don't be surprised. While there's too little information about what going green is, it is also true that there's so much of it, in bits, fragments, and pieces. One gets so overwhelmed that he can't help but begin doubting that the whole concept is nothing but urban legend. You're supposed to recycle plastic, but only some types can be. You're supposed to use solar energy for electricity, but there's hardly any sunlight where you live. You should stick to cloth grocery shopping bags, but aren't they made from plants, which are green too? So, does that mean that in order to protect plants, you've to make bags out of them? All these seem too ridiculous to you, don't they? Give it some time, and you'll realize you have similar questions, but no answers.

What the Solution Could be.

The best solution we can dare to offer to this obviously subjective conundrum is: pick a side or remain neutral. You make your decision based on what makes most sense to you: the arguments for or against going green. If you truly believe that everything that is being said about going green will hold true under any circumstance, you've already decided that it's worth it. If you're more confused than convinced, then first of all, join the club, and next, refrain from making any major lifestyle change until you truly are convinced. Why? Coming up next!

What the Problem Is: It Costs the Earth (pun unintended).

Going green poses another problem that no one really advertises next to those glossy green posters: it is an extremely expensive way to live. At least for the middle or earning class. If it's so great to live green, why can't affordable products and practices that encourage it be made so that this class can benefit from it too? They comprise the majority of the world population, so why does a hybrid car that runs on renewable energy cost almost a third more than its regular, gas-run counterpart? Why is solar energy so much more expensive than conventional electricity? Because we haven't reached a stage where it is feasible to reduce prices without covering production costs. But then, aren't we supposed to be talking about the bigger picture, and NOT be worrying about trivial things like profit margins?

What the Solution Could be
Rethink your decision. Make a financial plan. Calculate if you're going to be able to sustain a living while you attempt to sustain the environment. Don't do it just because it's in vogue. Consider all the lifestyle changes you'll have to make to accommodate this way of living, and make an informed decision


Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/problems-with-going-green-and-how-to-overcome-them.html

Tips for Eco Friendly Living

Eco friendly living does not call for such drastic measures to be taken that they will be difficult to embrace. It calls for simple steps that will help better the environmental condition. 

I used to always believe I led quite a responsible life, and that I am quite aware about environmental issues. But then I saw An Inconvenient Truth, and my perception about environmental issues was never the same again. I heard a lot of people criticize some of the claims made in the film, and how the film was poorly researched and had got some major facts wrong, etc., and I felt a deep pity for all these people. Sometimes the whole purpose of an artist is so lost among piles of humbug. Did Al Gore create the film to earn money? No. He did it to make people aware. Okay so he got a few numbers wrong - but is that really important? Is that really the point we should all be discussing? There are far too many environmental issues than we are all aware of, and can handle. But did these issues materialize out of thin air? No. They are the consequences of our own actions. And just as we say 'sorry' to someone if we have hurt them, we should take responsibility and charge of the situation we are finding ourselves in today. It is in our hands to save our Earth from any more damage than it has already been inflicted with... after all, where else do we have to go?

Why are Companies Going Green?

There are numerous companies all round the world, which are opting for environmental-friendly technologies, in order to reduce the carbon footprint. But how do these large organizations go green without incurring huge costs to themselves? The following article provides essential information about some companies that are opting for 'green ways' of operation.

In the past, most companies were resistant to implement technology that would help in reducing pollution, which is a major environmental issue. However, with the growing awareness among people, and the pressure from green bodies, not to mention consumers, most companies have changed their strategies, and have implemented these technological aspects to prevent environmental degradation.

Automobile and insurance companies are the major organizations, which have implemented strategies of going green. Automobile companies have made vehicles that emits less carbon compounds and sulfur, while insurance companies offer better premiums for people opting for eco-friendly and hybrid cars. The above mentioned examples is just one way of companies going green; there are several others. New items are being developed, which help to save energy and reduce pollution, which has become a major global environmental issue.