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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

There is so much general ignorance on the basic issues confronting renewable energy and electric transportation that it’s sometimes hard to know how to react to articles like this one on “vehicle to grid,” i.e., the concept that large number of EVs can eventually be used to provide power back to the electrical grid at times of peak load, or at least offer “ancillary services” in the form of wave-form regulation, etc.  The average reader could infer that we’re somehow right around the corner from V2G, and this is most certainly not the case.  In fact, in the four years that I’ve been attending conferences on the subject, I haven’t seen too much substantive movement in this direction; in particular, the technical standards under which all this will (or could) happen are still under discussion.

The good news is that the concept makes a great deal of sense.  I.e., the introduction of significant quantities of battery storage will provide a number of benefits in addition to reducing/eliminating our dependence on gasoline and diesel, with their litany of negative environmental and political consequences.  In addition to V2G, electric transportation will enable a large increase in the amount of wind energy we are able to generate and use productively, as the wind blows hardest at night, during off-peak periods.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

It’s not news that there’s a growing trend towards building green homes, but what if you live in a home that’s not so green-friendly?  Well, for starters, you’re not alone.  In the U.S., there are about 125 million single-family homes with the majority being built before energy-efficient developments, according to the National Association of Home Builders.  Don’t panic, it’s not too late to come to the greener side, and no you don’t have to demolish your green-less home and re-build a new one.  Homeowners that want to make the switch to a greener home should consider a few modest upgrades that will put them on the right path to becoming a green-hero.

Start with an energy audit.  An energy audit is exactly what you need when you’re looking to improve your home’s energy efficiency.  An energy assessment will give you an evaluation on your home’s green status.  It will determine where and how energy is being lost, which systems are operating inefficiently, and what cost effective measures can be taken to better green your home. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Energy Storage

Renewable power is one of the major ways that people will use energy in future.  The fossil fuels that were the basis of the vast improvements in living over the past 250 years are declining.  Apart from the damage they do to the climate system, they will not be around for ever.  So if we are to continue a technological lifestyle we will need to power our world by renewables.

A major issue with renewables is their variability.  The sun doesn’t shine at night, which is when we want electricity for lighting, heating, and other needs. Wind is variable: sometimes there is too little, sometimes high winds generate too much power – Denmark has been exporting power to Germany when it has a surplus, but this is not satisfactory.  As more renewables are used for power, the problem of storage becomes acute. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Solar Thermal

According to a study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), concentrated solar power (CSP, aka solar thermal) can make a “significant contribution” to California’s grid-mix, and play a role in the state’s quest to meet its renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which is 33% by 2025.

I’m not sure why we needed a study to determine this; was that ever in doubt?

In any case, I remain active in my pursuit of an investor for my friends at Ahura Energy, whose cost-related breakthrough in this space will move this entire enterprise along that much faster.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

I hope readers enjoyed the webinar I did recently with solar energy hedge fund manager Shawn Kravetz; I certainly learned a great deal in the course of the interview.  I wanted to take a moment and introduce another “friend of a friend” who writes extensively on solar energy stocks: Harris Roen.  You may want to check out his report – or at least sign up for his free newsletter; I always look forward to it.

Today’s publication includes a graph that depicts the fall of the widely watched Ardour Solar Energy Index (SOLRX) in 2008, and attempts to get at a reasonable production of the future.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Wow, I sure wish I had bought some stock in Tesla when the ultra-sexy Model S came out.  The company, though still not profitable, looks very close to turning that corner, and the market knows it.

In terms of the overall issue of the EV adoption curve, it’s hard to know where we are – and the success of a $100K car — of any type – does little to answer that question.  Having said that, I would have to think that all the people spending that type of loot on a high-end BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. would be moved to consider the Tesla, not only for its styling, but for its performance.  The base 85-kW-hr powertrain delivers 362 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, while the performance version makes 416 hp and 443 lb-ft.

Trust me: that level of torque gets your attention in a very big way. The first time I nailed the accelerator in a recent test drive I was terrified; it felt as if the car was about to flip over backwards.

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Smart Grid

I concluded the 45-minute talk I gave yesterday at the Santa Barbara Savvy Investors’ Club with a short section on cleantech opportunities, during which I highlighted my belief that smart-grid is going to play a fantastically important role in the very near future.  Proof-points supporting this prediction are all around us, including this recent article, announcing a joint venture between Siemens and Teradata. From the article:

Siemens Smart Grid Division and Teradata today announce a global strategic cooperation in the field of big data. Through this collaboration Siemens Smart Grid further optimizes its portfolio of solutions which will provide energy utilities with a much higher level of transparency on the status and activities in their networks. This will enable the customers of Siemens Smart Grid to improve reliability of their infrastructure and to run their grids more efficiently in an increasingly cost-sensitive environment.

It’s regrettably common for renewable energy advocates to view smart-grid as some sort of futuristic phenomenon that will come along later.  From my perspective, the precise opposite is true; smart-grid is the enabler of clean energy.  In its absence, we will have a very tough time integrating large amounts of solar, wind, etc., into our grid-mix; both the variability of the resources and high levelized cost of energy will remain quite thorny.

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Efficiency

Insulation. It’s hardly the most glamorous of topics is it? Compared to much more fashionable renewable energy solutions like solar panels and geothermal installations it could even be considered positively boring. After all, how can anybody get excited about the process of stuffing a gap full of material? You can’t even see it working! What possible use could it have when it doesn’t even generate energy for your house to use?

Well, as it turns out, it has plenty of use. In fact, as bold a statement as it may be, a good insulation solution should always be the first step towards making a home as energy efficient as possible, even before solar or any other renewable technology comes into play. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Here’s an article from the Sierra Club that includes a cool animated piece on oil from tar sands, illustrating why this subject, and the Keystone XL pipeline in particular, is such a bad idea.  It’s bad for everyone living on the planet, but, as you’ll see, it’s worst of all for Americans.

Great work, IMO.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

I never know what to make of the frequent references I come across to the International Monetary Fund.  Who exactly are these mysterious and terribly powerful people?  How do they work?  What are their true motivations?

In any case, they most certainly get some points for being on the right side of this “subsidies for fossil fuels” issue.  In fact, if this article is an accurate depiction of their stance on the subject, they’ve nailed it exactly: the world’s attempt to make gasoline artificially cheap is ruining the planet, by encouraging its use, as well as by destroying any viable process for the development of alternative sources of energy.

The IMF calls for “reforms.”  I second that.

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