’Smart Grid’ - It’s a term used often these days to describe a range of technologies that can help solve the many problems of our aging electricity distribution system. It has a multitude of dimensions, but collectively it is becoming the hottest investment opportunity in the electrical energy sector.
At the consumer level, smartening the grid means providing technologies such as sophisticated metering devices that allow consumers to monitor and control their energy use. At the distributor level, smartening the grid means applying advanced technologies that help manage power loading and distribution to better match demand patterns; that minimize energy loss or wastage; or the deployment of advanced technologies and strategies that can be used to turn the high voltage transmission system into what some have termed a "smart self-healing grid."
Once looked on indifferently by many utilities, advances in energy management technologies have made smartening the electrical distribution grid the next big play in the energy market.
While four years ago Microsoft had no interest in playing a direct role in smart-grid technology development, things have changed dramatically. After the U.S. Department of Energy set aside $4 billion to fund smart grid development and demonstration projects, Microsoft has launched its own web-based home energy management application dubbed Hohm See GLOBE-Net article Microsoft launches home energy monitoring tool.
In his latest column, Hamilton describes the Microsoft application as "an easy - to-use tool that helps consumers lower their energy bill and reduce their impact on the environment."
Other systems heavyweights are also entering the field. IBM Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., and Google all have signaled their intent to pursue technologies designed to improve the efficiency of various components of the electrical grid.
It’s not just big utilities and software developers that are players in this new market. Smaller entrepreneurs have made some real gains also.
Ottawa-based Lixar SRS for example, quietly made a name for itself as one of the top energy management software providers in North America.
A web technology services company, Lixar developed an extremely user-friendly, web-based interface to allow consumers to map their energy use and to lower their electricity consumption.
In a pilot project in Milton, Ontario, Lixar SRS worked with Milton Hydro, Direct Energy, and Bell Canada on an experiment to test different technologies designed to allow households to monitor energy use through the Internet or through smart-phone devices.
Consumers were able see the energy use of particular appliances, monitor historical trends of their energy consumption, and control their energy use remotely. The project showed that a network-centric power grid allowed consumers to reduce their energy consumption by 16%-18%.
As happens all too frequently investment opportunities in Canada were limited. But Lixar SRS caught the attention of American investors and last week sold its energy business to Arlington, Virginia-based GridPoint Inc.
Through its relationship with GridPoint, Lixar SRS could secure substantial contracts with major U.S. utilitiy companies like XCEL Energy and Progress Energy. Industry sources suggest Duke Energy has also expressed interest in Lixar’s technology.
Smartening the grid will not be an overnight process, and many technologies likely will be put in play to re-invent North America’s electricity transmission system.
For companies like Lixar SRS, a smart grid system presents one of most exciting and potentially profitable business opportunities in North America for the next few decades
Friday, July 10, 2009
First Fuel Cell Flight
The world's first piloted aircraft capable of taking off using only power from fuel cells, Antares DLR-H2, took off from Hamburg airport at 13.00 on July 7th, 2009. The Antares DLR-H2, developed by the German Aerospace Center, flies with zero CO2 emissions and has a much lower noise footprint than other motor gliders.
The Antares DLR-H2 motor glider has set the bar for new standards in zero-emission energy conversion and demonstrates the progress made in fuel cell technology.
"We have improved the performance capabilities and efficiency of the fuel cell to such an extent that a piloted aircraft is now able to take off using it," explained Professor Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Executive Board at DLR. "This enables us to demonstrate the true potential of this technology, also and perhaps specifically for applications in the aerospace sector."
The Antares DLR-H2 is based on the Antares 20E motor glider with a wingspan of 20 meters (66ft), constructed by Lange Aviation, a company based in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. With its fuel cell propulsion system, Antares has a cruising range of 750 kilometers (466 miles), achieved in a flying time of five hours. The existing propulsion and aerodynamics limits the top speed to 170kph (106 mph), but future designs may reach 300 kph (186mph).
The fuel cell system uses hydrogen as its fuel, and this is converted into electrical energy in a direct electrochemical reaction with oxygen in the ambient air, without any combustion occurring. The only by-product of the zero-particulate reaction is water.
The Antares DLR-H2 motor glider has set the bar for new standards in zero-emission energy conversion and demonstrates the progress made in fuel cell technology.
"We have improved the performance capabilities and efficiency of the fuel cell to such an extent that a piloted aircraft is now able to take off using it," explained Professor Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Executive Board at DLR. "This enables us to demonstrate the true potential of this technology, also and perhaps specifically for applications in the aerospace sector."
The Antares DLR-H2 is based on the Antares 20E motor glider with a wingspan of 20 meters (66ft), constructed by Lange Aviation, a company based in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. With its fuel cell propulsion system, Antares has a cruising range of 750 kilometers (466 miles), achieved in a flying time of five hours. The existing propulsion and aerodynamics limits the top speed to 170kph (106 mph), but future designs may reach 300 kph (186mph).
The fuel cell system uses hydrogen as its fuel, and this is converted into electrical energy in a direct electrochemical reaction with oxygen in the ambient air, without any combustion occurring. The only by-product of the zero-particulate reaction is water.
Canada Agrees To 2°C
The Government of Canada, on July 8th 2009, made a statement that "Canada recognizes the broad scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2°C".
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
In a December 2008 study -Deep Reductions, Strong Growth An Economic Analysis Showing Canada can Prosper Economically While Doing its Share to Prevent Dangerous Climate Change by M.K. Jaccard and Associates - demonstrated that governments cannot argue that fighting climate change means job losses and declining standards of living, a position held by many governments including Ottawa.
The study, commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, found that the Canada's economy could grow by almost 2% per year over the next decade while the country reduces its greenhouse gas pollution to 25% below the 1990 level. This will help meet the 2020 target that is aligned with a 2°C degree limit (a 25% reduction in net emissions by 2020, relative to the 1990 level) while still adding over a million net new jobs from 2010 to 2020.
Meeting the 25% reduction target requires a significant price on carbon pollution as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of clean technology. By 2020 Canadians will save more than $5.5 billion each year at the gas pump because of more efficient vehicles, more public transit and shorter commutes
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
In a December 2008 study -Deep Reductions, Strong Growth An Economic Analysis Showing Canada can Prosper Economically While Doing its Share to Prevent Dangerous Climate Change by M.K. Jaccard and Associates - demonstrated that governments cannot argue that fighting climate change means job losses and declining standards of living, a position held by many governments including Ottawa.
The study, commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, found that the Canada's economy could grow by almost 2% per year over the next decade while the country reduces its greenhouse gas pollution to 25% below the 1990 level. This will help meet the 2020 target that is aligned with a 2°C degree limit (a 25% reduction in net emissions by 2020, relative to the 1990 level) while still adding over a million net new jobs from 2010 to 2020.
Meeting the 25% reduction target requires a significant price on carbon pollution as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of clean technology. By 2020 Canadians will save more than $5.5 billion each year at the gas pump because of more efficient vehicles, more public transit and shorter commutes
Canada Agrees To 2°C
The Government of Canada, on July 8th 2009, made a statement that "Canada recognizes the broad scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2°C".
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
In a December 2008 study -Deep Reductions, Strong Growth An Economic Analysis Showing Canada can Prosper Economically While Doing its Share to Prevent Dangerous Climate Change by M.K. Jaccard and Associates - demonstrated that governments cannot argue that fighting climate change means job losses and declining standards of living, a position held by many governments including Ottawa.
The study, commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, found that the Canada's economy could grow by almost 2% per year over the next decade while the country reduces its greenhouse gas pollution to 25% below the 1990 level. This will help meet the 2020 target that is aligned with a 2°C degree limit (a 25% reduction in net emissions by 2020, relative to the 1990 level) while still adding over a million net new jobs from 2010 to 2020.
Meeting the 25% reduction target requires a significant price on carbon pollution as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of clean technology. By 2020 Canadians will save more than $5.5 billion each year at the gas pump because of more efficient vehicles, more public transit and shorter commutes
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
In a December 2008 study -Deep Reductions, Strong Growth An Economic Analysis Showing Canada can Prosper Economically While Doing its Share to Prevent Dangerous Climate Change by M.K. Jaccard and Associates - demonstrated that governments cannot argue that fighting climate change means job losses and declining standards of living, a position held by many governments including Ottawa.
The study, commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, found that the Canada's economy could grow by almost 2% per year over the next decade while the country reduces its greenhouse gas pollution to 25% below the 1990 level. This will help meet the 2020 target that is aligned with a 2°C degree limit (a 25% reduction in net emissions by 2020, relative to the 1990 level) while still adding over a million net new jobs from 2010 to 2020.
Meeting the 25% reduction target requires a significant price on carbon pollution as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of clean technology. By 2020 Canadians will save more than $5.5 billion each year at the gas pump because of more efficient vehicles, more public transit and shorter commutes
Canada Agrees To 2°C
The Government of Canada, on July 8th 2009, made a statement that "Canada recognizes the broad scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2°C".
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
In a December 2008 study -Deep Reductions, Strong Growth An Economic Analysis Showing Canada can Prosper Economically While Doing its Share to Prevent Dangerous Climate Change by M.K. Jaccard and Associates - demonstrated that governments cannot argue that fighting climate change means job losses and declining standards of living, a position held by many governments including Ottawa.
The study, commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, found that the Canada's economy could grow by almost 2% per year over the next decade while the country reduces its greenhouse gas pollution to 25% below the 1990 level. This will help meet the 2020 target that is aligned with a 2°C degree limit (a 25% reduction in net emissions by 2020, relative to the 1990 level) while still adding over a million net new jobs from 2010 to 2020.
Meeting the 25% reduction target requires a significant price on carbon pollution as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of clean technology. By 2020 Canadians will save more than $5.5 billion each year at the gas pump because of more efficient vehicles, more public transit and shorter commutes
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
In a December 2008 study -Deep Reductions, Strong Growth An Economic Analysis Showing Canada can Prosper Economically While Doing its Share to Prevent Dangerous Climate Change by M.K. Jaccard and Associates - demonstrated that governments cannot argue that fighting climate change means job losses and declining standards of living, a position held by many governments including Ottawa.
The study, commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, found that the Canada's economy could grow by almost 2% per year over the next decade while the country reduces its greenhouse gas pollution to 25% below the 1990 level. This will help meet the 2020 target that is aligned with a 2°C degree limit (a 25% reduction in net emissions by 2020, relative to the 1990 level) while still adding over a million net new jobs from 2010 to 2020.
Meeting the 25% reduction target requires a significant price on carbon pollution as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of clean technology. By 2020 Canadians will save more than $5.5 billion each year at the gas pump because of more efficient vehicles, more public transit and shorter commutes
G8 Summit Progress
In a good day for the environment, the G8 countries agreed on new targets for fighting climate change that will be presented to the G5 emerging economy countries on July 9th in L’Aquila, Italy. “Europe and the United States are in favour of cutting carbon dioxide emissions and will adopt a united stance vis-à-vis the emerging economies with a view to arriving at a pledge into which everyone must enter,” said Mr. Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister and G8 summit chairman.
The G8 major industrial countries agreed to limit global warming to just 2°C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels by 2050, with new low carbon emission reduction targets of 80% by 2050 for developed nations, to help achieve a 50% global reduction. This target will need the co-operation of the major emerging industrial economies of China and India.
The devil is in the details though, as tough negotiations between all countries on which dates to use as a reference and how to achieve the targets are now urgently required. However, it now looks more likely that progress will now be made at the United Nations conference in Copenhagen this December.
The UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown was quoted in the BBC as saying that, "I hope tomorrow when we meet other countries we'll follow that through and this is a very significant development, the first time it's ever been done."
In a sign of the times, today, July 8th 2009, the Government of Canada made a statement that, "Canada recognizes the broad scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2°C".
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
The G8 major industrial countries agreed to limit global warming to just 2°C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels by 2050, with new low carbon emission reduction targets of 80% by 2050 for developed nations, to help achieve a 50% global reduction. This target will need the co-operation of the major emerging industrial economies of China and India.
The devil is in the details though, as tough negotiations between all countries on which dates to use as a reference and how to achieve the targets are now urgently required. However, it now looks more likely that progress will now be made at the United Nations conference in Copenhagen this December.
The UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown was quoted in the BBC as saying that, "I hope tomorrow when we meet other countries we'll follow that through and this is a very significant development, the first time it's ever been done."
In a sign of the times, today, July 8th 2009, the Government of Canada made a statement that, "Canada recognizes the broad scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2°C".
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
Thursday, July 9, 2009
G8 slammed for climate failure
Antonio Hill, Oxfam spokesperson, said: “The G8 might have agreed to avoid cooking the planet by more than two degrees, but they made no attempt to turn down the heat any time soon. “It is disappointing that G8 leaders are ignoring what they must do now to limit warming below 2 degrees. This limit commits the G8 to follow the science which is good. But 2050 is too far off to matter -- poor people are being hit today. We must see emissions cuts of at least 40% by 2020 and G8 money to help the poorest countries cope with climate chaos. “Unless the G8 come up with at least $150 billion to help poor countries adapt to the killer effects of climate change and to stop things getting any worse there will be no deal in Copenhagen in December. Brown has led the way by recognising the scale of what is needed and the rest of the G8 must follow his lead.” On Development, Aid and Trade On failure to meet aid promises. Emma Seery, Oxfam spokesperson, said: “The buck stops here. The failure of the G8 to deliver the $50 billion in aid promised to poor countries is a crisis of credibility which will cost 3 million lives. What is the G8 for if they will not show leadership to save the lives of millions? They have two days left to show us their emergency plan to meet their broken promise.” On the economic crisis hitting poor countries Jeremy Hobbs, Oxfam International executive director, said: “Because of the economic mess caused by the G8's irresponsible financial management, economic growth in Africa in 2009 will drop from 7% to 1% which will cost them $245 billion dollars. Their failure to deliver promised aid amounts to criminal negligence. It is like pushing someone into dangerous waters and then refusing to save them. “There may be some green shoots in the rich world, but the pain in the poorest countries is getting worse by the day. This economic crisis in poor countries is a matter of life and death.” So far rich countries have found a staggering 8.4 trillion to bail out banks- 70 times global aid levels. On Resumption of the Doha Round Jeremy Hobbs, Oxfam International executive director, said: “Restarting Doha is important, but the deal currently on the table will not deliver for poor countries. Any new trade negotiations require a new deal that puts the poorest first. “Its become an annual tradition for the G8 to talk about the importance of finishing the trade round - but that is all it is - talk.” On Food Gawain Kripke, Oxfam spokesperson, said: “Ending hunger should be on the G8 menu in Italy. Leaders must put new money on the table to improve agriculture and reverse the trend of increasing global hunger. "Funding commitments should be specific and clarify what is new money rather than existing or reallocated. Playing accounting games with hunger is not funny. “We already know that around 9 of the $13 billion they disbursed since January 2008 to tackle the food crisis, was nothing more than recycled cash. This is unacceptable with more than 1 billion people are going hungry. This G8 must not be business as usual, and take urgent action.“
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)