Green Energy

Wind turbine power performance characteristics are determined by the measured power curve (the relationship between the wind speed and the wind turbine power output) and the estimated annual energy production. Before siting a farm, it is vital to have an accurate picture of the site’s wind conditions. And once turbines are in place, understanding the velocity and duration of the wind is vital to ensuring its energy is either captured or the turbine is able to adjust to variable wind conditions. Using emerging light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology enables a producer to see a few seconds into the future, helping evaluate wind parameters, and allowing wind turbine controls and blades to adjust appropriately to the conditions.

LiDAR—a play on the word radar—functions by bouncing a laser light beam off airborne particles that it comes into contact with. The reflected wave is then collected by a telescope, enabling the difference in frequency to be calculated by applying the Doppler effect to the particle speeds. This then determines the wind speed. When combined with advanced data analysis, control algorithms, and the accurate capture of multi-dimensional wind information, LiDAR enables operators to reduce fatigue and peak loads (Figure 1).

A LiDAR measurement can be done as part of the commissioning of a wind farm to compare against the warranted power curve or it can be used as an operational tool to quickly verify wind turbine performance or detect under-performance. When installed during turbine construction, LiDAR-assisted turbine control technology can redefine turbine design limits by mitigating extreme events, increasing energy capture, and reducing loads. For specific projects, turbines can be equipped with larger rotors enabling significant cost-of-energy reductions and lighter towers to reduce wind turbine costs, improving overall power generation and return on investment for the project.

Compared to standard measurement-mast-mounted cup anemometers, data can be collected much faster by a nacelle-based LiDAR system. Additionally, the installation of the nacelle-based LiDAR takes only about a half day and there is no need for a building permit as often is necessary for an onshore measuring mast.

LiDAR Technology Matures with the Wind Energy Sector

One initial finding was that if the rotor blades were turned into or out of the wind soon enough, the rotor speed is kept almost constant, even in the case of gusts. Over the 20 years of a typical turbine’s life, this substantially reduces fatigue as well as extreme loads.

Since then, LiDAR has played an increasingly integral role in wind power development.

Singapore’s national electricity and gas provider has launched blockchain-powered trading of renewable energy certificates in a new marketplace.

The blockchain is designed and built in-house by the company’s own team of digital energy experts to “ensure the security, integrity and traceability” of every renewable energy certificate (REC) transaction, Singapore Power (SP) said in a press release.

The SP Group, a unified corporate entity of former electricity and gas departments of Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, claims the blockchain marketplace will enable local and international companies meet their energy sustainability targets.

When companies purchase RECs, they are directly sold electricity from renewable sources from companies producing green energy. The marketplace, SP adds, will ‘automatically’ match buyers with sellers around the globe based on requirements and preferences.

Launched on Monday at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum, the blockchain enabled local companies City Developments Limited (CDL), a powerhouse in Singapore’s property sector and lending giant DBS Bank as the first buyers of the certificates.

“Given that buildings consume 40% of energy globally, increasing the use of solar energy and neutralising our operations’ carbon footprint has been a priority in the way we build and manage our projects,” CDL sustainability chief Esther An said.

She added:

“We are glad to support the innovative and timely initiative by SP Group to embrace blockchain technology as a platform to accelerate Singapore’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Notable sellers include solar energy producers Cleantech Solar Asia, with over 120 solar sites across Asia, and LYS Energy Solutions with their wares for sale on the marketplace.

Katoen Natie Singapore, a chemical logistics company set to launch a 6.8 MWh solar power facility – the largest single rooftop solar facility at a warehouse domestically – is also positioning itself as a seller of renewable energy on the blockchain platform.

The launch of the blockchain-powered trading marketplace follows SP’s marked foray to ‘transform’ the energy sector with commercial blockchain solutions. In May 2017, the energy supplier announced a collaboration with other global energy giants with the launch of a consortium to develop decentralized solutions.

Energy storage on a commercial scale is the holy grail for supporters of renewables, including French President Emmanuel Macron.

Unfortunately for his government, a dispute with the European Union is blocking investment for facilities that could store enough wind or solar power for hundreds of thousands of homes.

At the heart of the deadlock is a series of hydroelectric dams operated by Electricite de France SA. The state-controlled utility’s rights to run several facilities expired a few years ago and the EU wants to boost competition by giving other companies a chance to operate them. EDF says it would be unfair to exclude it from new tenders, and Macron’s government is seeking a compromise.

As the spat enters its fourth year, more than 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) of potential investment in pumped-hydro projects remain frozen. As long as the fate of their expired concessions is unclear, EDF and Engie SA, France’s dominant hydro producers, are reluctant to invest in new reservoirs and more powerful turbines. But the country will need additional storage capacity for its planned expansion in wind and solar power.

“Today, some investments on concessions are blocked because of our disagreement with the competition department” of the EU, Virginie Schwarz, director of energy at the French Environment Ministry, said at a conference this month. The government, which is about to present France’s energy road map for the next decade, is assessing ways to fund regeneration of old dams and the development of small hydro projects, she said.

That would boost France’s existing 25.5 gigawatts of hydropower capacity, which generates more than a 10th of the country’s electricity. EDF, which operates more than 20 gigawatts of these dams, has the most to lose in future tenders. That’s because it still operates most of the almost 3 gigawatts of concessions that have expired, and this number will climb to 5 gigawatts in the next few years.

French oil giant Total SA and Norwegian state utility Statkraft AS are among the companies that are prepared to bid for EDF’s and Engie’s hydro concessions when they come up for grabs. The issue has been a contentious one for the government, which owns 84 percent of EDF, as it risks being left with smaller, unprofitable dams.

Window Extension

Still, there may be a “political window” of opportunity for France to make a deal with the EU after European parliamentary elections in May next year, said Regis Collon, a spokesman for Statkraft France, which aims to operate at least 1 gigawatt of French hydro concessions by 2025.

The French government has asked the EU to extend EDF’s concession on the Truyere river in southern France. In exchange, the utility would build a pumped-hydro facility of about 1 gigawatt, according to Yves Giraud, EDF’s hydro chief, who says he hasn’t heard of any response from the EU.

France has identified as many as 2 gigawatts of storage for pumped hydro projects, where turbines pump water in uphill reservoirs when power demand troughs and generate electricity like any traditional dam when demand is most needed. They’re currently used to store energy during the night, but could also do so during the day if there’s an excess of solar or wind generation. France already has 4.2 gigawatts of such storage, which can provide power for much longer than batteries that typically discharge in a few hours.

“You can’t go through a windless week with a battery, while you actually can with some pumped hydro,” said EDF’s hydro chief.

The cost of building 1 gigawatt of pumped hydro is around 1 billion euros. However the next gigawatt would be more expensive because the best locations have been used already, according to Arnaud Renaud, head of consultant Artelys. Such costly investments may require some financial support mechanism because of fluctuating power costs, he said.

“Even if we’ll probably need them, it’s difficult to make such long-term investments with uncertain revenues,” Renaud said.

The spring of 2017 saw the installation of Big Sky School District’s 7.125 kW solar photovoltaic array on the south-facing roof of Ophir School. The system—an array of solar panels that looks down on the playground—along with a digital kiosk run by Bonneville Environmental Foundation displaying the energy data, exposes Big Sky youth to the possibilities of renewable energy.

Located near the gym in Lone Peak High School, the kiosk shows how much energy the solar array generates, allowing students to view output in real time and over time.

Also accessible online, the data shows that in the past 19 months, the array has generated more than 12,5000 kilowatt-hours of energy, enough to power an average home for 1 year or a TV for 12 years. The greenhouse gases avoided amount to about 17,700 pounds of carbon dioxide.

“We thought it was going to be cool idea,” Big Sky School District Superintendent Dustin Shipman said. “We wanted to be able to teach the kids about renewable energy options and what better way to do that when you have it right there in your own system.”

The community came together to bring the educational opportunity to fruition. Lisa Lillelund of Mango Networks coordinated funding for the $39,000 project, garnering a $29,000 Universal System Benefits Renewable Energy Grant from NorthWestern Energy. She said the project would have fallen flat without work by Energy 1, who procured and installed the solar array for a nominal fee, and two private donations from the Bulis family and Highline Partners.

“Alternative energy—especially solar—is a no-brainer in this nation,” Rob McRae of Highline Partners said. “I do think that in 10-15 years, there’s going to be tremendous growth in that industry.”

That growth is already evident. According to a September report by the Solar Energy Industries Association, in the second quarter of 2018 U.S. market installations of solar photovoltaic arrays increased by 9 percent, year-over-year, and in the first half of the year, 29 percent “of all new electricity generating capacity brought online in the U.S. came from solar PV.”

“I think people appreciate and love Big Sky because of its beauty, but the integrity of this place depends on being more environmentally friendly and having sustainable practices,” Ania Bulis said. “This [array] was an opportunity to send the right message to our children.”

Although the array doesn’t significantly offset the school’s energy costs, it sets a precedent in the community, beginning but not ending with education. Bulis thinks the next step in the right direction would be a long-term sustainability plan for Big Sky that all community members can get behind.

A next step for the school district could be more ability to function off the grid. “We would love to partner with any organization in order to expand our use of renewable energy,” Shipman said.

Inter have officially confirmed a new partnership with Invent, who are now the club’s new Green Energy partners.

“Invent, the leading Venetian-based company that manufacturers photovoltaic systems and who for some years have also provided light and gas across the entire country, have now been confirmed as the Official Green Energy Partner of FC Internazionale Milano,” a statement posted on the club website read.Invent founder Sante Bortoletto commented on the partnership.“We are enthusiastic about this collaboration. FC Internazionale Milano are one of the most renowned clubs on the international stage and we feel that we share the same ambition – to make history in our respective sectors.

However, there are also significant shared values, particularly in terms of social commitment and paying close attention to helping youngsters. Even in this field we can and must leave a lasting impressing of hope for future generations.”

Inter’s Sales & Partnership Management Director Giorgio Brambilla followed suit.“It’s a pleasure to agree this partnership with Invent. Green Energy is a particularly innovative industry, capable of offering numerous possibilities.

For this reason, we are certain that the bond between our two companies is not only based on common brand values but also to guarantee the best development for the future.”

Illinois is experiencing a boom in solar energy projects stemming from the state’s Future Energy Jobs Act, a 2016 law that sets a target of getting 25 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

Approved by the Illinois legislature in December 2016, FEJA is probably best known for instituting the first legislatively-mandated nuclear subsidies in the nation, but the act has also caused a renewed interest in renewable energy across the state.

Dave Kolata, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, told Utility Dive in April, “We are getting more new build than anticipated,” and some of the prices are coming in below expectations, he said. “We are just getting started with big deployments of wind and solar power.”

Illinois’ ranking in solar power

At the end of the 2nd quarter of 2018, Illinois ranked 34th, up from 43rd in 2017 in solar capacity. The state has only 97.84 MW of installed solar power.

Rankings and installed solar capacity are about to change for the better, so much so that Illinois could end up being the Midwest’s leader in solar energy in a matter of a few years.

The state has been building a solar energy infrastructure almost from scratch, and it is taking place at an accelerated pace. “The stakes are high,” said David Kolata, according to Inside Climate News. “I think we have a good plan and we have reasons to be optimistic in general, but there’s no question we’ll face some roadblocks and things we didn’t think of.”

In job-training programs have sprung up across the state, organized by nonprofit groups as part of the law. Developers, some new and some already established in the state, are submitting new proposals spurred by the supportive policies from the state government.

Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association, said the renewed interest is no surprise.

“Solar companies have responded to that and there are now probably about 1,000 megawatts of solar projects that have applied for interconnection, which is one of the first steps in building a project,” Gallagher said. “Illinois said the market is open and solar developers… want to supply solar power to [those] customers.”

According to SEIA, along with Woods Mackenzie Power and Renewables, over the next five years, Illinois is projected to add 1,857 megawatts of solar capacity, an 1,898 percent increase over what it has today. This is a humongous percentage, and is completely realistic, especially when taking into account that solar prices have dropped 47 percent over the last five years.

The FEJA is also creating jobs, hundreds of them, and the number of manufacturers, developers, and installers is forecast to increase. This is because the FEJA places a lot of emphasis on small projects.