Energy Efficiency is Still Cheaper than Building Power Plants

Energy Efficiency is still cheaper

Energy efficiency is still cheaper than building a new power plant. That's the word from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, which plans to release a report on the economics of 14 energy efficiency program administrators with particularly high energy savings.

The forthcoming report finds the average cost of the programs to be about 3.5 cents per kWh saved, says ACEEE in a recently published fact sheet. “How Much Does Energy Efficiency Cost?”

This is signficantly lower than the 7.5 cents/kWh that the Environmental Protection Agency calculated in Clean Power Plan documentation for the first year of the federal program.

Why the difference?

To be fair, the EPA did call its figure conservative - overly so, says ACEEE.

“To us, it appears that the agency wanted a relatively high cost in order to show that even if costs are high, energy efficiency is cost effective,” said ACEEE. “Most likely, energy efficiency will cost program administrators under 4 cents per kWh saved, much less than a new power plant. EPA's very conservative numbers are higher, but still show an energy efficiency cost that is likely to be less than most new power plants.”

***

Lighting the way with LaaS

More and more energy products are being offered 'as-a-service', where customers pay a subscription fee for an outside party to operate the system. And lighting is no exception. In a new report,  Navigant Research forecasts that global revenue from lighting as a service (LaaS) will grow from $35.2 million in 2016 to $1.6 billion in 2025.

“Navigant Research defines LaaS as the third-party management of a lighting system that may include additional technical, maintenance, financial, or other services,” says Benjamin Freas, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “These offerings can begin with the installation of a lighting system, continue through maintenance and management, and include the recycling or disposal of equipment at the end of its life.”

Building owners seek out LaaS to overcome one of the main barriers to installing new sophisticated lighting and lighting controls - lack of experience in operating them.

Several companies are beginning to offer various forms of LaaS, as they experiment with how best to meet customer needs, according to the report. Navigant Research anticipates that these efforts represent the start of a trend that is expected to mature and grow rapidly during the next 10 years.

An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

***

New York's energy efficiency bragging rights

New York is reporting some big numbers from its energy efficiency efforts. The state has undertaken 112,000 energy efficiency projects since 2012, which is expected to save customers $341 million annually and spur $800 million in private investment.

Both residential and commercial customers participated in the energy efficiency programs - 90,000 individual homes and 22,000 commercial buildings, including apartment buildings, hospitals, schools, art galleries and office buildings.

Homeowners are saving an average of $56 per month on electric and natural gas bills, and building owners are saving an average of $1,023 per month, according to a news release issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo's office.

In all, the projects will reduce annual electricity demand by 2 million MWh/year, the equivalent of saving enough electricity to power more than 275,000 average-size homes. They will also reduce annual heating fuel demand by 9 trillion Btu, the equivalent of heating more than 85,000 average-size homes, according to the state.

In his State of the State address, Cuomo vowed to increase energy efficiency of 500,000 households and 20,000 businesses by 2020. To meet this goal, the state will invest part of its Clean Energy Fund to help property owners and renters audit their current energy use to identify energy savings opportunities and replace inefficient systems and appliances with high-efficiency models wherever possible.

Learn more about New York's clean energy efforts at the Microgrid Knowledge 2016 conference, which will be May 19 in Manhattan.

Energy Efficiency is Still Cheaper than Building Power Plants

Energy Efficiency is still cheaper

Energy efficiency is still cheaper than building a new power plant. That's the word from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, which plans to release a report on the economics of 14 energy efficiency program administrators with particularly high energy savings.

The forthcoming report finds the average cost of the programs to be about 3.5 cents per kWh saved, says ACEEE in a recently published fact sheet. “How Much Does Energy Efficiency Cost?”

This is signficantly lower than the 7.5 cents/kWh that the Environmental Protection Agency calculated in Clean Power Plan documentation for the first year of the federal program.

Why the difference?

To be fair, the EPA did call its figure conservative - overly so, says ACEEE.

“To us, it appears that the agency wanted a relatively high cost in order to show that even if costs are high, energy efficiency is cost effective,” said ACEEE. “Most likely, energy efficiency will cost program administrators under 4 cents per kWh saved, much less than a new power plant. EPA's very conservative numbers are higher, but still show an energy efficiency cost that is likely to be less than most new power plants.”

***

Lighting the way with LaaS

More and more energy products are being offered 'as-a-service', where customers pay a subscription fee for an outside party to operate the system. And lighting is no exception. In a new report,  Navigant Research forecasts that global revenue from lighting as a service (LaaS) will grow from $35.2 million in 2016 to $1.6 billion in 2025.

“Navigant Research defines LaaS as the third-party management of a lighting system that may include additional technical, maintenance, financial, or other services,” says Benjamin Freas, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “These offerings can begin with the installation of a lighting system, continue through maintenance and management, and include the recycling or disposal of equipment at the end of its life.”

Building owners seek out LaaS to overcome one of the main barriers to installing new sophisticated lighting and lighting controls - lack of experience in operating them.

Several companies are beginning to offer various forms of LaaS, as they experiment with how best to meet customer needs, according to the report. Navigant Research anticipates that these efforts represent the start of a trend that is expected to mature and grow rapidly during the next 10 years.

An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

***

New York's energy efficiency bragging rights

New York is reporting some big numbers from its energy efficiency efforts. The state has undertaken 112,000 energy efficiency projects since 2012, which is expected to save customers $341 million annually and spur $800 million in private investment.

Both residential and commercial customers participated in the energy efficiency programs - 90,000 individual homes and 22,000 commercial buildings, including apartment buildings, hospitals, schools, art galleries and office buildings.

Homeowners are saving an average of $56 per month on electric and natural gas bills, and building owners are saving an average of $1,023 per month, according to a news release issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo's office.

In all, the projects will reduce annual electricity demand by 2 million MWh/year, the equivalent of saving enough electricity to power more than 275,000 average-size homes. They will also reduce annual heating fuel demand by 9 trillion Btu, the equivalent of heating more than 85,000 average-size homes, according to the state.

In his State of the State address, Cuomo vowed to increase energy efficiency of 500,000 households and 20,000 businesses by 2020. To meet this goal, the state will invest part of its Clean Energy Fund to help property owners and renters audit their current energy use to identify energy savings opportunities and replace inefficient systems and appliances with high-efficiency models wherever possible.

Learn more about New York's clean energy efforts at the Microgrid Knowledge 2016 conference, which will be May 19 in Manhattan.

California RFP Seeks Help with Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings

The Calfornia Energy Commission is seeking a consultant team to provide technical support for its programs to increase energy efficiency in existing buildings

The commission has up to $1 million available for the contract.

The team will help the commission implement portions of Assembly Bill 758 (Skinner, 2008), Senate Bill 350 (de Leon, 2015), and Assembly Bill 802 (Williams, 2015), and any other complementary mandates or executive orders. Among other things, the legislation focuses on updates to the state's Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan; work on building energy-use benchmarking and public disclosure for nonresidential and multifamily buildings; and the state's authority to collect data for long-term demand forecasting for statewide resource planning.

The commission will choose the winner based on a point system. The team should have knowledge and experience concerning:

• Building energy use benchmarking and public disclosure programs


• Residential and nonresidential real estate purchase and sale requirements Residential building energy science and related energy modeling;


• Nonresidential building energy science and related energy modeling;


• Business and industry needs related to building energy use and efficiency savings;


• Building energy efficiency savings measurement and verification approaches using metered energy consumption data;


• Best practices and limitations of using calculated energy savings


• Behavior and comfort preferences that affect energy savings in electricity and gas retail end uses


• Building Energy Efficiency Standards and energy-related installation practices relevant to existing buildings;


• Utility and other ratepayer funded energy efficiency programs for residential and nonresidential buildings;


• Data analysis approaches that leverage and build upon available solutions.


• Best practices for data standardization, security and public accessibility in governmental and private agencies.


• Energy consumption forecasts and demand analysis

Bids are due April 18 for a two-year contract expected to begin in June.

For more details contact, Rachel Grant Kiley, contracts office manager; California Energy Commission; 1516 Ninth Street, MS-18; Sacramento, California  95814; (916) 654-4379; Rachel.Grant-Kiley@energy.ca.gov.

The RFP is available on the CEC website.

Track energy efficiency RFPs by subscribing to the free Energy Efficiency Markets newsletter.

Evaporative Cooling or Mechanical Chilling: Which Works Best in Power Production?

Sam Abdalla. Stellar Energy

Energy efficiency isn't just about how we use energy; it's also about how we produce it. Whether a power plant uses evaporative cooling or mechanical chilling can influence its efficiency. Sam Abdalla of Stellar Energy explains.

If you're outside working on a hot summer day, it's inevitable that moisture will appear on your brow.  A dry breeze evaporates the perspiration and cools down your body. This is nature's way of keeping you productive because no one works efficiently when they are too hot. Nature's cooling technique is effective - as far as it goes. But clearly, you'll cool down more in an air conditioned room than by relying on outdoor breezes. This is especially true when it is humid, since damp air cannot absorb as much moisture as dry air.

So AC is more effective and predictable than nature to remove the sweat off your brow on a hot August day.

How does this apply to power generation? Like us, the gas turbines used in power plants operate less efficiently when the air is too hot.

And interestingly, the two most common technologies for cooling power plants - evaporative cooling and mechanical chilling – mirror the way we cool down our bodies. They even share similar pros and cons.

Here is a more detailed description of the two cooling technologies, as they are used in power production.

Evaporative Cooling

In evaporative cooling, shower like nozzles create a curtain of water, and an air stream is sent through the water curtain to cool the air.  The cooled air then enters a compressor where it gets compressed. It then enters a chamber where it combines with fuel to combust and activate the power plant's turbine in order to produce power.

Evaporative cooling happens with varying degrees of efficiency. Much depends on the humidity of the place.  A power plant facility in Oregon is likely to be less successful at evaporation than one in Arizona. A dry day anywhere lends itself to more efficient evaporative air cooling than a humid day.

Mechanical Chilling

In contrast, mechanical chilling uses an AC-like system to chill the air before it enters the combustion turbine. The process is akin to refrigeration that funnels vapor compression. The power plant operator controls the process and the temperature. Whether it is a dry or a humid day will not matter; the combustion turbine is fed chilled air that is a consistent and optimal temperature.

So what is the practical value of one approach over the other? Which makes sense when?

There are several factors to consider when making a decision on which air cooling technology to install in a power production facility.  These include:

1. The expense or scarcity of water


2. The value of predictable power plant output


3. Immediate capital cost versus long-term economics

Water Use

Growing concern exists about use of water in energy production. This is particularly true in high-growth desert regions in the Middle East or places like California that suffer from a severe drought while demanding large amounts of electricity. Cooling through evaporation necessitates large volumes of water. On the other hand, mechanical chilling can be done in a closed cycle that runs dry or in an open cycle that uses water.

Predictability

The efficiency of a power plant that uses evaporative cooling shifts with the weather. The plant may produce fewer megawatts on humid days when it is unable to properly cool the air entering the combustion turbine. Like us, the plant using this system just doesn't work as efficiently when it is hot and humid.

In contrast, humidity has little influence on the generating facility that uses mechanical chilling. Output is consistent regardless of the weather. The operator can adjust the thermostat as needed, and generate much more power.

Costs

Just as nature's breezes are less expensive than central air conditioning, evaporative cooling costs less to install than does mechanical chillers.

But, of course, capital costs are only one input into power plant economics.

Another big consideration is the power plant's ability to produce megawatts when market prices are high. Peak electricity pricing typically occurs on the hottest, most humid summer days, as demand rises because homes and office buildings are cranking up their air conditioners. This is often the time when power plants are also most likely to fail, which limits supply, further escalating prices.

Unfortunately, these peak summer days when electricity prices are high also are when plants that rely on evaporative cooling generate fewer megawatts. So while the plant owners may have saved money on installation costs, they also lose the opportunity to fully capture peak profits.

So in considering evaporative cooling versus mechanical chilling, power plant owners have much to consider. How humid or dry is the local climate?  Is water a precious resource? And finally, does the system's sticker price reveal its true costs when power market prices are taken into account?

In power markets, where prices can shift dramatically within minutes, control and predictability have value. We can control the thermostat; we cannot control the weather.

This article was originally published on Stellar Energy's blog. The author, Sam Abdalla, is Stellar Energy's director for international business.

California RFP Seeks Help with Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings

The Calfornia Energy Commission is seeking a consultant team to provide technical support for its programs to increase energy efficiency in existing buildings

The commission has up to $1 million available for the contract.

The team will help the commission implement portions of Assembly Bill 758 (Skinner, 2008), Senate Bill 350 (de Leon, 2015), and Assembly Bill 802 (Williams, 2015), and any other complementary mandates or executive orders. Among other things, the legislation focuses on updates to the state's Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan; work on building energy-use benchmarking and public disclosure for nonresidential and multifamily buildings; and the state's authority to collect data for long-term demand forecasting for statewide resource planning.

The commission will choose the winner based on a point system. The team should have knowledge and experience concerning:

• Building energy use benchmarking and public disclosure programs


• Residential and nonresidential real estate purchase and sale requirements Residential building energy science and related energy modeling;


• Nonresidential building energy science and related energy modeling;


• Business and industry needs related to building energy use and efficiency savings;


• Building energy efficiency savings measurement and verification approaches using metered energy consumption data;


• Best practices and limitations of using calculated energy savings


• Behavior and comfort preferences that affect energy savings in electricity and gas retail end uses


• Building Energy Efficiency Standards and energy-related installation practices relevant to existing buildings;


• Utility and other ratepayer funded energy efficiency programs for residential and nonresidential buildings;


• Data analysis approaches that leverage and build upon available solutions.


• Best practices for data standardization, security and public accessibility in governmental and private agencies.


• Energy consumption forecasts and demand analysis

Bids are due April 18 for a two-year contract expected to begin in June.

For more details contact, Rachel Grant Kiley, contracts office manager; California Energy Commission; 1516 Ninth Street, MS-18; Sacramento, California  95814; (916) 654-4379; Rachel.Grant-Kiley@energy.ca.gov.

The RFP is available on the CEC website.

Track energy efficiency RFPs by subscribing to the free Energy Efficiency Markets newsletter.

Evaporative Cooling or Mechanical Chilling: Which Works Best in Power Production?

Sam Abdalla. Stellar Energy

Energy efficiency isn't just about how we use energy; it's also about how we produce it. Whether a power plant uses evaporative cooling or mechanical chilling can influence its efficiency. Sam Abdalla of Stellar Energy explains.

If you're outside working on a hot summer day, it's inevitable that moisture will appear on your brow.  A dry breeze evaporates the perspiration and cools down your body. This is nature's way of keeping you productive because no one works efficiently when they are too hot. Nature's cooling technique is effective - as far as it goes. But clearly, you'll cool down more in an air conditioned room than by relying on outdoor breezes. This is especially true when it is humid, since damp air cannot absorb as much moisture as dry air.

So AC is more effective and predictable than nature to remove the sweat off your brow on a hot August day.

How does this apply to power generation? Like us, the gas turbines used in power plants operate less efficiently when the air is too hot.

And interestingly, the two most common technologies for cooling power plants - evaporative cooling and mechanical chilling – mirror the way we cool down our bodies. They even share similar pros and cons.

Here is a more detailed description of the two cooling technologies, as they are used in power production.

Evaporative Cooling

In evaporative cooling, shower like nozzles create a curtain of water, and an air stream is sent through the water curtain to cool the air.  The cooled air then enters a compressor where it gets compressed. It then enters a chamber where it combines with fuel to combust and activate the power plant's turbine in order to produce power.

Evaporative cooling happens with varying degrees of efficiency. Much depends on the humidity of the place.  A power plant facility in Oregon is likely to be less successful at evaporation than one in Arizona. A dry day anywhere lends itself to more efficient evaporative air cooling than a humid day.

Mechanical Chilling

In contrast, mechanical chilling uses an AC-like system to chill the air before it enters the combustion turbine. The process is akin to refrigeration that funnels vapor compression. The power plant operator controls the process and the temperature. Whether it is a dry or a humid day will not matter; the combustion turbine is fed chilled air that is a consistent and optimal temperature.

So what is the practical value of one approach over the other? Which makes sense when?

There are several factors to consider when making a decision on which air cooling technology to install in a power production facility.  These include:

1. The expense or scarcity of water


2. The value of predictable power plant output


3. Immediate capital cost versus long-term economics

Water Use

Growing concern exists about use of water in energy production. This is particularly true in high-growth desert regions in the Middle East or places like California that suffer from a severe drought while demanding large amounts of electricity. Cooling through evaporation necessitates large volumes of water. On the other hand, mechanical chilling can be done in a closed cycle that runs dry or in an open cycle that uses water.

Predictability

The efficiency of a power plant that uses evaporative cooling shifts with the weather. The plant may produce fewer megawatts on humid days when it is unable to properly cool the air entering the combustion turbine. Like us, the plant using this system just doesn't work as efficiently when it is hot and humid.

In contrast, humidity has little influence on the generating facility that uses mechanical chilling. Output is consistent regardless of the weather. The operator can adjust the thermostat as needed, and generate much more power.

Costs

Just as nature's breezes are less expensive than central air conditioning, evaporative cooling costs less to install than does mechanical chillers.

But, of course, capital costs are only one input into power plant economics.

Another big consideration is the power plant's ability to produce megawatts when market prices are high. Peak electricity pricing typically occurs on the hottest, most humid summer days, as demand rises because homes and office buildings are cranking up their air conditioners. This is often the time when power plants are also most likely to fail, which limits supply, further escalating prices.

Unfortunately, these peak summer days when electricity prices are high also are when plants that rely on evaporative cooling generate fewer megawatts. So while the plant owners may have saved money on installation costs, they also lose the opportunity to fully capture peak profits.

So in considering evaporative cooling versus mechanical chilling, power plant owners have much to consider. How humid or dry is the local climate?  Is water a precious resource? And finally, does the system's sticker price reveal its true costs when power market prices are taken into account?

In power markets, where prices can shift dramatically within minutes, control and predictability have value. We can control the thermostat; we cannot control the weather.

This article was originally published on Stellar Energy's blog. The author, Sam Abdalla, is Stellar Energy's director for international business.

Better understanding of transformer failures and maintenance necessity

Transformer failures Generally speaking, the transformer requires less care compared to other electrical equipment. But, as I already stated in some of the earlier technical articles, transformer failures can cause a huge problem in power system, since it's one of the most critical link and it can take a while to replace if it fails. Let's […]

Energy Storage Industry Convenes on Social Media to Announce that “#StorageIsHere”

oin in the #StorageIsHere Twitter Chat on March 30th at 1:30pm ET

Washington, D.C. – March 29, 2016 – During the week of March 28 - April 1, the Energy Storage Association (ESA) and their partner organizations, member companies and energy industry allies, will be flooding social media channels with #StorageIsHere. 

Better understanding of transformer failures and maintenance necessity

Transformer failures Generally speaking, the transformer requires less care compared to other electrical equipment. But, as I already stated in some of the earlier technical articles, transformer failures can cause a huge problem in power system, since it's one of the most critical link and it can take a while to replace if it fails. Let's […]

Energy Storage Industry Convenes on Social Media to Announce that “#StorageIsHere”

oin in the #StorageIsHere Twitter Chat on March 30th at 1:30pm ET

Washington, D.C. – March 29, 2016 – During the week of March 28 - April 1, the Energy Storage Association (ESA) and their partner organizations, member companies and energy industry allies, will be flooding social media channels with #StorageIsHere. 

Why Do Americans Invest in Energy Efficiency?

Why do Americans invest in energy efficiency? Do they want to combat global warming, make their homes more comfortable, save money or take advantage of tax rebates?

A survey of 2,100 Americans by Harris conducted for HomeServeUSA found that their top reason for investing in energy efficiency is to save money, says Myles Meehan,  a spokesman for HomeServe USA in this podcast (see player above).

In spite of all the bad news about climate change, that’s not Americans’ first motivation for investing in energy efficiency, the survey found. Eighty-four percent of the respondents said they choose energy efficiency to save money.

Thirty percent of the respondents said they choose efficiency to conserve natural resources, and 19 percent said they’re concerned about climate change, according to HomeServe USA.

The study, of a random sample of people aged 19 and over, also looked at the respondents’ general perceptions of energy costs. Interestingly, 42 percent said they expected their winter costs to stay the same, while 24 percent said they expected their costs to decrease this winter.

It’s possible the focus on warmer temperatures and lower oil prices prompted the respondents to say their prices would be the same or lower, says Meehan.

The survey also took a look at the efficiency measures consumers are choosing, and found they’re focusing on smart thermostats, changing to efficient lights and changing the air filters in their furnaces.

HomeServe USA also found that 17 percent of respondents already plan to invest in efficiency, 13 percent are doing it because tax credits and other incentives are available, and 6 percent were convinced by family or friends.

HomeServe USA provides home repair solutions, including HVAC repairs, and conducted the survey to better understand consumers’ attitudes about saving energy, Meehan said.

“We provide plans that help homeowners take care of repairs, and energy efficiency is a  natural fit or our company,” he said.

Follow other trends in distributed energy by subscribing to our free Energy Efficiency Markets newsletter.

10 Factors To Consider When Specifying Transformers

Guidelines to specifying transformers The following ten factors MUST be considered when specifying transformers // Kilovoltampere (kVA) Rating Voltage Ratings, Ratio, and Method of Connection (Delta or Wye) Voltage Taps Typical Impedance Values for Power Transformers Insulation Temperature Ratings Insulation Classes Sound Levels Effects of Transformer Failures Harmonic Content of Load Paralleling transformers 1. Kilovoltampere (kVA) […]

#StorageIsHere Campaign

The energy storage industry is booming - with more than 240% growth in the U.S. alone last year, and more installations in the last quarter of 2015 than ALL of 2013 and 2014 combined.  Even President Obama recently highlighted the role of energy storage in Florida!

We created the #StorageIsHere campaign to help tell that story - and from March 28 - April 1 energy storage companies from around the world will be sharing information about their rapidly growing companies, successful projects and the impact that energy stoirage is having on our entire energy economy.

Why Do Americans Invest in Energy Efficiency?

Why do Americans invest in energy efficiency? Do they want to combat global warming, make their homes more comfortable, save money or take advantage of tax rebates?

A survey of 2,100 Americans by Harris conducted for HomeServeUSA found that their top reason for investing in energy efficiency is to save money, says Myles Meehan,  a spokesman for HomeServe USA in this podcast (see player above).

In spite of all the bad news about climate change, that’s not Americans’ first motivation for investing in energy efficiency, the survey found. Eighty-four percent of the respondents said they choose energy efficiency to save money.

Thirty percent of the respondents said they choose efficiency to conserve natural resources, and 19 percent said they’re concerned about climate change, according to HomeServe USA.

The study, of a random sample of people aged 19 and over, also looked at the respondents’ general perceptions of energy costs. Interestingly, 42 percent said they expected their winter costs to stay the same, while 24 percent said they expected their costs to decrease this winter.

It’s possible the focus on warmer temperatures and lower oil prices prompted the respondents to say their prices would be the same or lower, says Meehan.

The survey also took a look at the efficiency measures consumers are choosing, and found they’re focusing on smart thermostats, changing to efficient lights and changing the air filters in their furnaces.

HomeServe USA also found that 17 percent of respondents already plan to invest in efficiency, 13 percent are doing it because tax credits and other incentives are available, and 6 percent were convinced by family or friends.

HomeServe USA provides home repair solutions, including HVAC repairs, and conducted the survey to better understand consumers’ attitudes about saving energy, Meehan said.

“We provide plans that help homeowners take care of repairs, and energy efficiency is a  natural fit or our company,” he said.

Follow other trends in distributed energy by subscribing to our free Energy Efficiency Markets newsletter.

10 Factors To Consider When Specifying Transformers

Guidelines to specifying transformers The following ten factors MUST be considered when specifying transformers // Kilovoltampere (kVA) Rating Voltage Ratings, Ratio, and Method of Connection (Delta or Wye) Voltage Taps Typical Impedance Values for Power Transformers Insulation Temperature Ratings Insulation Classes Sound Levels Effects of Transformer Failures Harmonic Content of Load Paralleling transformers 1. Kilovoltampere (kVA) […]

#StorageIsHere Campaign

The energy storage industry is booming - with more than 240% growth in the U.S. alone last year, and more installations in the last quarter of 2015 than ALL of 2013 and 2014 combined.  Even President Obama recently highlighted the role of energy storage in Florida!

We created the #StorageIsHere campaign to help tell that story - and from March 28 - April 1 energy storage companies from around the world will be sharing information about their rapidly growing companies, successful projects and the impact that energy stoirage is having on our entire energy economy.

Here is why you MUST use variable speed drives in pumping applications

Variable speed drives in pumping applications Pumping applications represent a significant opportunity for applying variable speed drives (VSDs) in new, as well as retrofit installations. The majority of pumping applications need to be controlled. It is unlikely that a pump will run continuously at a maximum speed. Variable speed drives are crucial when limiting the life […]

How Utilities can Prepare for the Invasion of the Virtual Power Plants

Several trends are shaping the market for energy storage, but perhaps none is more dramatic than the advent of the virtual power plant.

A new report from Navigant Research argues that energy storage enabled virtual power plants will “invade energy markets,” in the coming years. The report’s authors argue that virtual power plants (VPPs) will serve as precursors to a fully functional energy cloud.

How to manage harmonic currents affecting the neutral

Measures to eliminate harmonic currents A number of measures can be taken to eliminate or reduce the effects of harmonic currents in the neutral conductor, in particular third harmonic currents. Let’s talk about the following five measures // Modifications to the installation Star-delta transformer Transformer with zigzag secondary Reactance with zigzag connection Third order filter […]

Rotating Magnetic Field in AC machines

Rotating Magnetic Field // The fundamental principle of operation of AC machines is the generation of a rotating magnetic field, which causes the rotor to turn at a speed that depends on the speed of rotation of the magnetic field. We’ll now explain how a rotating magnetic field can be generated in the stator and […]

3 Main causes of false differential current in transformer

Differential current // Certain phenomena can cause a substantial differential current to flow, when there is no fault, and these differential currents are generally sufficient to cause a percentage differential relay to trip. However, in these situations, the differential protection should not disconnect the system because it is not a transformer internal fault. Such phenomena can be […]

Guidelines To Metering Challenges and How To Overcome Them

Metering Challenges // In the course of any metering exercise, there will be challenges that arise – these may occur in planning, specifying, purchasing, installing, or in the maintaining of the metering system. This technical article focuses on five common metering challenges with the hope that identifying these early in the process mitigates potential impact // Metering planning […]

Main substations installed on public MV network

Substations in public distribution systems This technical article is a reminder of the main substations installed on MV networks. It is concluded by two layouts showing their applications in real terms. A substation or installation is a physical entity defined by its position and its function within electrical networks. Let’s discuss now about the four public […]

Robots Climb Walls to Prevent Power Plant Outages

Robots Help Prevent Power Plant Outages

Everyone wants to prevent power plant outages: Utility customers  don’t want to go without power. And power plant owners especially want to avoid outages because they’re costly and often require them to resort to using replacement power based on dirty fuels.

Enter the wall-climbing robots from Gecko Robotics. Magnetic adhesion technology allows the robots to crawl up the walls of power plants on wheels that adhere to magnetic surfaces, inspecting power plants for issues that can cause outages, says Jake Loosararian, CEO of the company.

“Many type of advanced sensors or other types of instruments gather data, taking measurements to measure corrosion, cracking or deformation in equipment,” he explains. Using a customized software program, the robots deliver real-time updates about this data to inspectors at the base level.

The real-time reports help inspectors and companies that own the power plants make quick decisions, he says.

But most important, the robots quickly and efficiently gather information that helps avoid power plant outages, saving plant owners millions of dollars.

“When plants are down, owners can lose up to $10,000 an hour, and when they are down for 7 to 8 days, it adds up,” Loosararian says.  “We can do the inspection in one to two days, and the cost savings can reaches millions. We  have plant managers who’ve told us, ‘Your inspection helped us avoid an outage.'”

The robots also make inspection more efficient. Generally, when people do the inspections, teams of 6 to 12 people set up scaffolding, often in boiler areas that are 100 feet high, he says. Setup requires two to three days, and inspections can take seven to eight days.

“The quicker the inspection, the quicker the boiler can turn on and begin making energy. This is essential because each hour the power plant is down, they are losing tens of thousands of dollars,” he says. “We’ve made this whole inspection process seven times more efficient.  Most importantly, from our perspective, we’ve made it safer. It can be dangerous; people get injured and sometimes die. Our vision is to eliminate injuries and deaths through automation.”

Right now, the robots climb the walls of fossil-fuel fired plants, but the do-gooder founders of the company want their robots to enter the renewable energy field soon.

“We want to move more into distributed energy; we want to integrate our technology int0 all different types of verticals, and the next step is renewables,” he says.

Read more about technologies that avoid power plant outages on MicrogridKnowledge.com.

Matching transformers for parallel operation

3 rules for parallel transformers // The following rules must be obeyed in order to successfully connect two or more transformers in parallel with each other: The turns ratios of all of the transformers must be nearly equal. The phase angle displacements of all of the transformers must be identical. The series impedances of all […]

Recommended Practice For Cableways Selection and Installation

Cableways // The term cableways refers to conductors and/or cables together with the means of support and protection, etc. for example: cable trays, ladders, ducts, trenches, and so on… are all cableways. This technical article covers the following topics // Selection of materials and shapes Design recommendations Metal and non-metal cableways are available Implementation of […]

Are dry type transformers really cost less?

Comparison to dry type transformers To many industrial and commercial organisations dry type transformers are seen to be advantageous compared with oil filled units. They avoid the perceived fire risk of oil filled transformers and can thus be accommodated inside a building or even on the roof of an office block. Savings can be made […]

Underground residential distribution – More hidden and more reliable

Underground residential distribution / URD A classic underground residential distribution circuit is an underground circuit in a loop arrangement fed at each end from an overhead circuit (see Figure 1). The loop arrangement allows utilities to restore customers more quickly. After crews find the faulted section, they can reconfigure the loop and isolate any failed […]

CT DEEP Launches RFP, Includes Some Provisions for Energy Storage

The CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) has launched an RFP for 2-20MW’s renewable, passive demand response and energy storage procurement. 

ESA on the Ground in MA

The Energy Storage Association is leading a collection of New England companies in advocating for S. 1762 today in the Massachusetts State House. The ESA also delivered a letter today to State House leaders signed by more than 20 storage and clean tech companies and organizations calling for the inclusion of S. 1762 in an upcoming omnibus energy bill in MA. 

SDG&E Seeks Energy Storage, Renewable and Other Clean Energy Resources

SAN DIEGO, March 7, 2016 -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced it is seeking up to 140 megawatts (MW), of new "preferred energy resources," including energy storage, renewable energy, distributed generation, energy efficiency and demand response. The solicitation for additional preferred energy resources builds upon SDG&E's significant investments in clean energy. The utility currently has more than 60 renewable contracts representing more than 2,400 MW of renewable energy, the equivalent of powering more than 700,000 San Diego homes for a year. In 2015, SDG&E became the first California utility to supply its customers with a third of its energy, 33 percent, from renewable resources. "We're not only committed to reducing air emissions and meeting California's climate goals, we're leading the way," said SDG&E's Chief Energy Supply Officer, Scott Drury. "Through renewable energy investments, we've helped to advance clean energy technologies resulting in emissions reductions that are comparable to taking more than 250,000 gasoline-powered cars off local roadways."

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3 Reasons For Increased Efficiency Loss In Rewound Motors

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Led by Building Efficiency, the Advanced Energy Market is Bigger than Beer

Credit: Michael Stern via Wikimedia Commons

Building efficiency led the 8 percent growth in global advanced energy in 2015, according to a new report from the Advanced Energy Economy.

“The U.S. advanced energy market hit $200 billion, nearly double the nation’s beer market, larger than pharmaceutical manufacturing, and closing in on wholesale consumer electronics,” said AEE  in releasing the report last week.

“One of the things we want to tell the world is a lot of these better energy solutions are here today in the marketplace; people and companies and utilities are investing in them now and they are growing,” said Bob Keough, spokesman for AEE. “Increasingly, they are competing on their own in terms of price and value.”

While building efficiency may elicit yawns for some, there’s lot to be excited about in this sector. It was the largest single segment of advanced energy technology in the US by revenue, yielding $63.6 billion, he said.The report, conducted by Navigant Research, defines advanced energy technologies as high efficiency, advanced technologies, Keough noted.

“Building efficiency has been one of the most consistent drivers of revenue over the last five years, up steadily year after year, and up 50 percent overall between 2011 and 2015,” he said.

New technologies and higher investments in them drove the growth. More net zero energy buildings are being constructed, and installation of new lighting systems is growing.

While CFLs have been the lighting systems that yielded the biggest revenues in the past, LEDs and lighting controls are now big income generators, Keough noted.

Meanwhile, energy storage revenues increased more than 1,000 percent in one year — from $58 million in 2014 to $724 million in 2015. “It’s a  market segment that’s really taking off,” said Keough.

While California’s energy storage mandates are driving much of the growth, other parts of the country are also seeing investments in energy storage.

“Some of the utilities in California are buying more energy storage than they’re mandated to because they’re finding it’s so cost effective,” said Keough. “It’s starting to take hold everywhere. PJM in its control center has installed a  battery system from AES  that they claim saves $20 million a year.”

Frequency Reg Market Drives Storage

One of the drivers of the growth in energy storage is utilities’ need for frequency regulation.

“That’s often the area where utility-scale storage is going first because it’s a fast-response technology and very valuable as an ancillary service,” said Keough.  “Some California utilities are seeing energy storage as eventually being a peaking resource, as well as managing the variability of renewable energy.”

One of the AEE companies, Stem, is growing a market in which large energy users with high peak demand charges use battery storage to store energy when it’s inexpensive to use during periods of peak demand, which brings down their demand charges, Keough said.

In terms of job creation, energy efficiency leads the pack, said Keough. And so does California.

“There’s a lot happening in energy efficiency and we’re seeing new jobs created and transformation of existing jobs,” he said.  “The  number of people involved in installing HVAC equipment who are now installing high-efficiency equipment has grown. AEE has only quantified job growth in California to date, and found that there were more than 400,000 advanced energy jobs in the state in 2014. “We expect to verify that the number has grown to over half million jobs in 2015,” he said. “‘The vast majority are energy efficiency jobs. There’s no substitute for people installing equipment and materials.”

The advanced energy industry generated jobs at a 5 percent rate in California from 2013 to 2014, which was more than double the rate of overall state job growth — which was 2.2 percent –and about three times faster than the national job growth rate of 1.6 percent, according to a separate report from AEE, “California Advanced Energy Employment Survey.” Building efficiency and advanced electricity generation represent more than 90 percent of this employment, the report said.

The latest AEE report not only demonstrates that advanced energy technologies — especially building efficiency technologies — are being embraced by utilities, companies and businesses alike. They’re also an important contributor to the economy and environment — and that’s nothing to yawn about.

Read the AEE report here.

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18 Initial Checks Of Electrical Installations Every Electrician MUST Perform

Testing of electrical installations // Before any testing of low voltage electrical installations (and equipment) is carried out, a detailed physical inspection must be made to ensure that everything is: To a relevant National or Harmonized European Standard Erected/installed in compliance with the IEE Regulations Not damaged in such a way that it could cause […]

US Energy Storage Market Grew 243% in 2015, Largest Year on Record

The U.S. energy storage market just had both its best quarter and best year of all time. According to the GTM Research/Energy Storage Association’s U.S. Energy Storage Monitor 2015 Year in Review, the U.S. deployed 112 megawatts of energy storage capacity in the fourth quarter of 2015, bringing the annual total to 221 megawatts. This represents 161 megawatt-hours for the year.

Things you MUST verify when designing low voltage switchgear

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Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Issues RFP for Energy Efficient Refrigeration Program

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is seeking assistance with its program for energy efficient refrigeration system operations and maintenance practices.

The organization seeks a contractor to collaborate on its  Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association Certified Refrigeration Energy Specialist initiative.

The program strives to create a market for industrial refrigeration professionals and generate cost-effective energy savings in the Northwest.  Industrial scale refrigeration and cold storage operations account for almost 10 percent of the electricity used by industrials in the Northwest, according to NEEA.

The winning bidder will help with market channel development, provide technical assistance, coordinate stakeholders, collect and analyze data and assist with administration and support.

The request for proposals (RFP)  encourages companies or teams to respond. They should have experience in industrial energy efficiency, the refrigeration and cold-storage industry, utility incentive programs, and project administration.

NEEA will weigh bids based on:

• Responsiveness to the RFP and demonstrated understanding of the issues surrounding the project

• The thoughtfulness and appropriateness of the proposed methodology used to accomplish the desired results of the project.

• The experience and qualifications of the individuals who will execute and manage the project. (Note: Proposed staffing is a significant factor.)

• The experience of the firm or team of firms making the proposal

• The capability to execute the plan, including past experience and aptitude for collaboration

• The cost of the contract as time & materials on a not-to-exceed basis

An intent to respond is due March 9; proposals are due March 24. NEEA expects to choose finalists March 31 and the winner April 21.  Work is expected to start in June.

The RFP can be found on NEEA’s website. The contact for information is Warren Fish, 503-688-5402, wfish@neea.org.

NEEA includes more than 140 Northwest utilities and energy efficiency organizations, working on behalf of more than 13 million energy consumers.

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