The Power Generation Blog

Case Western Researchers Make Fiberglass Windmill Blades As Long As Two (and a Half) Football Fields

2011-10-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

The pace of technology increases in fiberglass technology is matched, perhaps, by only advances in green tech. And when the two industries align, things can get pretty awesome.

A recent report from MSN lists some advances made by researchers at CAse Western in Cleveland, OH.

Fatigue tests show the reinforced polyurethane composite lasts about eight times longer than epoxy reinforced with fiberglass. The new material was also about eight times tougher in delamination fracture tests, according to the researchers.

The researchers expect to make blades that are 250 meters long, by 2020. To give you an idea, maybe, of that ridiculous size: picture a full football field, then picture another one, then picture half of another one. That's how long the windmill blades will be.

The only expected downside of these huge strides in fiberglass and power generation technology are the usual ones, the NIMBYs. (NIMBY stands for "Not in my back yard.") Of course, I wouldn't necessarily want a gigantic windmill in my backyard, but that seems pretty unlikely. Seeing giant windmills in the distance would actually make me proud of my home area, that it wants to invest in green tech and generating power in a sustainable way. But only time will tell how well implemented Case Western's fiberglass windmill tech becomes.

2011-10-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

The SIC Power Grid of Chile

There’s some unfortunate news out of Chile this week. It looks like the South American nation is facing extended power shortages due to a crushing drought affecting the country. (Remember, south of the equator it’s the opposite season.) Since a good amount of Chile’s industrial power generation comes from hydroelectric plants, the draught is affecting the country in several very bad ways.

This power shortage could have bad effects for the rest of the world, too. Chile is the world’s leading producer of copper — it makes almost a third of the world’s supply. Though the government has said the power shortage would leave the country’s copper mines unaffected, a power shortage should cause infrastructure problems and price increases that have tertiary affects on the economy.

The power shortage is so bad that the government is thinking of instituting a power rationing plan — only the third time the government’s intervened over the last fifteen-odd years. Reservoir levels are at a pitifully low level, and a power-rationing move could reduce as much as 5% to 10% of the country’s power generation.

The main primary industrial power generators supplying energy to the drought-affected SIC power grid are Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA (EOC, ENDESA.SN), AES Corp. (AES) through its Gener SA (GENER.SN) unit, and Colbun SA (COLBUN.SN).

Fiberglass Whale Set For Cleaning Soon

2011-09-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

The biggest fiberglass structure in the world (or at least the biggest one I've ever seen...) is set to be cleaned soon.

Of course I'm talking about the gigantic whale hanging from the ceiling at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The giant blue whale is made of fiberglass of polyurethane. To give you a sense of its scale (life sized, apparently), it is 94 feet long and weighs 21,000 pounds. Despite its massive weight, hundreds of people walk under and sit under the whale model every day.

The big blue whale hasn't been cleaned in two years. Looks like it's due.

Custom Composite Battery Boxes For The Next-Next-Gen Hybrid Auto

2011-09-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Sure, you've got your Toyota Prius. Or maybe you've got a Ford Fusion hybrid. Or one of those new Chevy Volts. Those hybrid automobiles are OK. But they lack a certain... custom composite battery technology.

What do composites have to do with hybrid automobiles, you may be wondering? Well, researches out in Germany look to have developed a crash-resistant battery case for automobiles. On the one hand, it's not extremely difficult to create a crash-resistant case for automobile batteries, but given their power output (read: a sight less than a V8 Hemi), keeping weight down is a prime concern. Hence the custom composite casing.

According to this news report,

The Ernst-Mach Institute has developed a mass-production-ready, crash-safe battery housing that meets strict requirements. The battery housing that surrounds the battery that weighs 340 kilograms (749.57 lbs.) only weighs 35 kilograms (77.16 lbs.) [...] The battery housing can withstand a crash, assuming a ten-fold gravitational acceleration.“ And even if a sharp object collides with the housing at 60 km/h (45mph), the highly sensitive battery on the inside remains intact.

Not only are these composite material battery boxes lighter than metal alternatives, but they're also easily mass-producible, making them a potentially cost effective solution.

Southern Spars Spurs Innovation In Custom Composites

2011-09-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

Another week, another story about the uses of custom composites in nautical applications? What can we say: composites provide such a great combination of strength to weight that they're just the best for demanding uses, like sailing.

In this case, we're talking about the very most demanding nautical application: world-class superyachting. A New Zealand company called Southern Spars has recently unveiled some new custom composites technology it calls "TPT" or "thing ply technology". TPT is a supposedly revolutionary new laminate composite. Says Wayne Smith of Southern Spars,

"Our designers now have the ability to design products using whichever ply angles are optimal for the loading situation at every point on the spar or boom," he says.

"The plotter then lays the carbon fibre laminate more accurately and efficiently than can be achieved by hand.

"It is also possible to individually position pieces rather than being required to lay all adjacent plies parallel to one another."

That's pretty awesome, especially when you consider the unbearable loads these components will be handling on the superyacht circuit. Our neighbors to the very far south are certainly coming up with some sweet composite technology.

Custom Composites On Deck, Literally

2011-09-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

Think custom composites don't have much application in a non-power generation application? NorthJersey.com would have you know you're wrong.

Even though it comes toward the end of the season, the online paper has a nice breakdown of different deck and patio options. (If you live in the northeast, you can bookmark this one for next year.) Included in the survey is a discussion of wood versus composites:

Traditional decks are constructed of pressurized wood that has been chemically treated to help increase the life of the lumber — in fact, that’s now the law [...] Over time, wood cracks, needs to be refinished, or splinters, so treating it may slow the aging process, but it doesn’t necessarily look any younger. Composite material has a little longer lifespan and requires far less maintenance.

So when it comes to decks and patios, you select composites and that's that, right? Well, ideally. Composites cost four to five times as much as their wood counterparts up front. Then again, they last longer and require much less by way of repairs and maintenance.

At the end of the day, the choice between wood and composites will come down to your available money right now, and how much you think you can budget for the future. You also may just plain prefer wood or composites for aesthetic reasons, of course. The North Jersey story is pretty in-depth, though, with some words of wisdom from folks in the industry. Check it out for a little change of pace!

Pennsylvania Hits a Solar Power Milestone, According to PennFuture

2011-09-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania isn't known as a sunny state, but it's set to reach a milestone in solar power generation. According to a group called Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture), the state has reached a level of 100 megawatts of installed solar capacity.

A 100 MW solar capacity means solar energy can produce the amount of pollution-free energy needed to completely power over 12,600 per year. Not too bad for the Keystone State.

In just four years, again according to PennFuture, the state has grown from 3 MW to its present level of 100 MW. That's just tremendous growth! Overall, it's also accounted for more than 6,700 jobs and 600 solar-related businesses.

While many green tech ventures like solar power are time- and cost-intensive, they can be hugely beneficial one they're up and running. Solar power certainly represents an investment, and its present technological state is sure to be improved upon, but as Pennsylvania has shown, by being dedicated to an ideal, truly great levels of solar accomplishment can be reached in relatively short time.

GE Energy Adds Converteam to its $30 Billion Power Portfolio

2011-09-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

General Electric Corp. has been on an industrial power generation roll lately. They've spent over $11 billion (with a "b") the last few months, and they're set to add to that with the acquisition of Converteam, for $3.2 billion.

The GE energy unit has taken over scads of companies lately, including Dresser Inc., Wellstream Holdings, Lineage Power, and part of the John Woods Group. GE's energy-sector portfolio is now estimated to be worth north of $30 billion.

Converteam is a power generation company based out of France. It supplies power electronics, rotating machines, generators, and energy controls to for large industrial power generation outfits like gas pipelines. It looks like GE is betting big on power, which is, of course, a strong bet! So far, there's been only one direction in human progress: Upward. And as the population and industry expand, the demand for power will only increase.

Bushehr Nuclear Plant Raises Questions As Well As Power Generation

2011-09-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

In industrial power generation news that's sure to have the more hawkish among us up in arms, Iran is all set to commence nuclear power plant operations. As of midnight this past Tuesday, Iran's nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr started generating about 60 MW of energy.

Overall, the plant in Bushehr will have a 1,000 MW power generating capacity. The plant was originally started in concert with Siemens. But after the partnership fell through, it was built with Russian help; there are also some inklings of Chinese and North Korean involvement, based on Iran's recent behavior.

An Iranian Parliament member has recently been reported to be scheduled to visit North Korea, the first such visit since the 1980s.

As Iran inches into nuclear power, it is disturbing that the country maintains involvement with such totalitarian governments as North Korea. Nuclear power is a great boon, which should not go abused by those with dark motives.

The Indian State of Gujarat Suffers Power Cutbacks

2011-09-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

There was a setback to Indian industrial power generation this week. At least a dozen power generators have shut down in the Indian state of Gujarat, according to some reports.

The shutdowns are credited to a decreased demand for power, which seems kind of odd for such a brisk economy. Though there have been some heavy rains that may account for the drop off. The power generation decrease of these twelve generators accounts for over a quarter of the state's power generation, bringing total power from 13,354 MW to less than 10,000 MW.

As farming and agriculture continue to take hits from the weather, it looks like power production will continue to stay low in Gujarat, which has suffered sub-par power production since July of this year. Some private power generators like Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited have been shut down completely in recent days.

Hopefully this beleaguered Indian state can get back up to snuff in the power generation department. Paying for infrastructure is a costly affair, and having a dozen power generators sit inoperable exacerbates an already poor situation.

Kevlar Mithril Jacket Will Last Longer Than You!

2011-08-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

We use kevlar and other aramid fibers for a lot of industrial power generation applications. Since it’s appallingly strong, fire-resistant, and extremely lightweight, it can be used for just about everything. If you and your company use a lot of kevlar, you might want to check out this new garment.

Especially if you’re a big Lord of the Rings fanatic.

The Mithril Kevlar Jacket is made by Klättermusen, a Swedish company whose name also looks like something from Tolkien’s classic. Originally designed to be a motorcycle jacket, the company updated it to be a generally all-around great coat. It’s supposed to last literally longer than you, and practically forever.

It weighs about 1.3 pounds, so it’s pretty light, but not too light. The Mitrhil Jacket is also wind resistant and water repellant, made with hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and basically any outdoor activity requiring durability and protection.

The jacket has won the OutDoor Industry Gold Award for its sustainability-minded design (a jacket that last forever won’t require being wastefully replaced). It retails for a bit over $500, so hopefully it lives up to its lifespan claims.

Puget Sound's Hydrokinetics Project

2011-08-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

There’s a fascinating story out of the Bellingham Herald (based in Washington state) about fiberglass and industrial power generation via the power of the ocean. It outlines a project to put two hydro-electric turbines 200 feet deep in the Admiralty Inlet. Slated to be complete by the summer of 2013, it calls for the use of giant fiberglass and steel turbines to be installed in Washington’s famous Puget Sound to meet the state’s mandate to generate 15% of its power from renewable resources.

In charge of this massive project is the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Even though the project is being made to meet Washington state’s renewable energy mandate, it has broader applications:

If the project succeeds, scientists say, the potential for tidal power is huge. Twenty-eight coastal states consume 78 percent of the nation’s electricity, and 52 percent of the U.S. population resides in coastal counties.

Even though there are many positives coming out of the project and research behind it, there are some problems, as well. Hydro power is expensive and unreliable based on the state of technology today. Turbines break down regularly. And they may have ecological ramifications on local fish.

Regardless spending time and money on new power generation ideas—rather than refining our use of fossil fuels to extinction—seems like a good practice. There’s literally only so much fossil fuel in the ground. The oceans, if we take care of them, will last forever.

Masayuki Sono's "Postcards" Utilzies Vacuum Infusion to make Vinyl Ester Resins into Art

2011-08-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

Custom composite resins are used in the industrial power generation industry all the time. We’re used to producing composites like vinyl ester resin using a vacuum infusion process in our daily operations, but we usually don’t see this sort of technical detail in our “normal” lives.

That’s why the decision of Masayuki Sono, architect, to use a vinyl ester resin formed by the vacuum infusion process is so surprising.

In order to make a 35 foot tall 9/11 memorial called “Postcards”, Sono cantilevered two composite wings made of vinyl ester resin. The monument is meant to evoke the Twin Towers while framing a view of lower Manhattan from Staten Island. Even though the installation is very artistic and inspirational, its creation is very technical:

After conducting a structural analysis, the engineers in charge of the project specified a composite laminate of E-glass, foam core, and vinyl ester resin. Once testing was conducted, Reichhold, Inc.’s Hydrex® 100-HF, low-styrene, 100% vinyl ester resin was selected, and NEB began building the structure using a vacuum infusion technique. The resin is designed specifically for the vacuum infusion process.

By using composites, Sono was able to realize a 30% cost saving and 90% weight saving compared to using concrete. “Postcards” is just another example of custom composites making our lives a little bit better.

Fiberglass Laptops Take a Bit Out of Apple?

2011-08-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

Apple struck a blow in the personal computing industry with its “unibody” aluminum MacBooks. The Cuptertino company’s most recent business moves have seen it officially retire the white plastic MacBook, and a big upgrade to its svelte MacBook Air. This on the heels of of the company’s latest financial earnings call, which revealed Apple has a 10.7% share of the US computer market, making it the third-most-popular computer seller in America.

A lot of Apple’s popularity has to be attributed to its brilliant aluminum MacBook designs, which marry strength and (low) weight in perfect harmony. But a report in the Washington Post shows that aluminum is starting to be in short supply—precisely because Apple has that market practically cornered.

Fiberglass is now being touted as an alternative to aluminum for laptop manufacturers not named Apple:

The laptop makers plan to combine the latest fiberglass fabrication techniques with a plastic shell to produce something as tough and lightweight as magnesium-aluminum, but significantly cheaper.

By using fiberglass (rather than a metal alloy), laptop makers could expect to lop off $20 from the gross cost of manufacturing a laptop. That gross saving on a per unit basis means that your next laptop may be housed in fiberglass.

The Hidden Industrial Coal Power Generator of Camp Lejune

2011-08-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Looks can be deceiving. Obviously. The Camp Lejune Globe has a charming (if brief) story about the steam industrial power generator on the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejune.

Marines, sailors and patrons aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune drive on Holcomb Boulevard every day and at one point or another, glance over at the rusty industrial building and have no idea that they are looking at the steam generator plant.

The unnoticed plant actually houses two massive industrial power generators: one, dating back 70 years, is exclusively coal powered, and another, only 25 years old, runs on natural gas and diesel. Overall, the story is a lovely look at how industrial power generators don’t have to be big, flashy, or noxious in order to keep a community powered.

Industrial Hydropower Generator Development in Africa

2011-08-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

Africa, roughly speaking, is growing its hydro-electric power generation capabilities. According to Dean Pratt, a power executive with ties to Africa, “There is great potential for hydro-power in Africa, particularly in South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, the DRC, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Uganda.”

That’s great news for a whole continent that’s been suffering from social and economic woes for the better part of four hundred years.

This September, according to the same piece, Johannesburg will host a hydropower event, that will boast presentations and events based on industrial power generators, hydropower schemes, and more.

Smart Grid Power Generation From an Automation Standpoint

2011-08-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

InTech, the trade publication for automation technology, has an interesting overview of Smart Grid technology. Calling it a “new buzzword in industrial circles”, the piece walks the reader through the ins and outs of Smart Grid.

In a nutshell, Smart Grid describes a sort of lean, super-efficient way of manufacturing and delivering energy. They make the analogy that Smart Grid is like an assembly line, where you need to balance the line so you don’t get a bottleneck at one station holding up other stations. Smart Grid is predicated on eliminating waste and continually improving efficiency.

One important part of the real-life applications of Smart Grid power generation is the equipment used. The InTech piece gives the example of a large, anonymous electric user:

Siemens Access Energy Management engineers worked with facility engineers and consultants to define what the existing EPMS system could do to help them with the solution. The solution was to install new closed transfer switches and some additional generator sets. The new and existing generator sets and transfer switches would be tied to the EPMS system for manual control of the utility to on-site generation. There was also a need to send generated KW, data to the existing Building Automation System (BAS), via staged dry contact closures at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% loading to shed load in various buildings to reduce HVAC loads during peak summer and winter months. The BAS to EPMS link was also setup with e-mail alarming if any communications were lost to the electrical generator panel. If the system failed or lost communications, the generator system would fail in “safe mode.”

The example highlights how having the right industrial power generators and power generation equipment facilitates the very most efficient Smart Grid practices.

If you’ve ever wondered at what “Smart Grid” means, or how it can help you and your business, then check out the InTech essay.

Huntsville, Alabama Tornado Lessons

2011-08-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

When a series of tornadoes rocketed through the Huntsville, AL area, there was massive destruction. But now that we’ve got some distance on the tragedies, we can also learn from them. Popular Mechanics just published an overview of the lessons we learned from the terrible Huntsville tornadoes.

For individuals, they advise you to stay together—don’t get cut off from the community and its ability to band together. Keep cash in hand so you can keep supplies and food in hand. Hand-crank radios are the best way to stay in touch with civilization and its larger goings on: whether rescue announcements, messages from the government, or important community info, you need to know what’s happening.

One of the most important lessons is also one of the most surprising. In the event of an emergency, it’s a good bet to go to a national hotel chain. Big hotels not only have big stocks of food and supplies, but they also have industrial power generators, which can continue to supply life-saving power when the utilities go down.

Be sure to check out the whole post for more details on the lessons we learned from the Huntsville tornadoes.

2011-07-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Bloomberg’s got some pretty good news for the power generation industry in America, at least. Total power-plant energy output was 89.8 million megawatt-hours last week, up 3.8% from the previous year. The numbers come from Genscape, an energy information company. They create their power generation numbers by measuring output at 280 monitored power plants, and have a margin of error less than 2%.

Azerbeijan Sees Power Increase with Three New Units

2011-07-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

Azerbaijan is increasing its power generation capacities in a big way with a recent move. The former Soviet country is adding three industrial power generation units to its arsenal this week, all operated by BP.

The units are made by Rolls Royce, and will be installed in the Chirag Oil Project to supply the area near the Caspian Sea with power.

Each unit measures 60” long by 15”7’ wide by 14”3’ tall, and each weighs 185 tons. Their total cost and installation will total about $6 billion, and they should help Azerbaijan’s power generation situation, which has seen a steady oil production over the last two years of about 40 million tons of oil per year.

Autoclaves and Ultrasonic Baths in the Kitchen? Must Be Art.

2011-07-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

It started with an innocuous question: “If music can be art, why can’t food?” Well, former Microsoft whiz kid Nathan Myrhvold—a physicist and engineer by trade—is used to asking (and solving) such thorny questions. That’s why, after retiring at 40, Mryhvold holed himself up in a lab with an autoclave, centrifuge, tanks of liquid hydrogen, ultrasonic bath, and regular cooking equipment, as well, to create the formidable tome Modernist Cuisine.

And it is quite a formidable tome. At six volumes, 2,438 pages, costing more than $600, Modernist Cuisine is quite the doorstopper. Mryhvold spent years crafting the techniques used in the book, and gaining knowledge about food.

One of the keys to enabling this kind of allusiveness is increasing our knowledge of culinary history. “Even those who are very into food are — and I don’t want to sound arrogant — ignorant about the history of food,” says Myhrvold. He points out that the molten-centred chocolate cake, star of those near-pornographic Marks & Spencer adverts, was invented within our lifetime. More surprisingly, it isn’t just the rich who eat foreign food: “Africa survives on maize and cassava — those are the number one and two staple crops — and they are both from South America.”
Myhrvold is a font of odd facts such as this. Mark McClusky of Wired likened talking to him to taking several graduate seminars all at once. My favourite anecdote is the history of Egypt’s national dessert, Om Ali. “It is clearly not an Egyptian dessert,” he says, “because it is puff pastry with nuts and heavy cream poured over the top. It’s bizarre — puff pastry cannot possibly be Egyptian. The story is that it was [thought up by] an Irish chef at the British embassy named O’Malley.” He laughs, loudly.

The book is not a normal cookbook. In fact, as the question above suggests, it’s more about art than eating. But still, it’s quite the culinary accomplishment.

Cape Wind Has No Fear In Wind Power Expansion

2011-07-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Green power generation in the New England area is getting a big, green boost. A six state area covered by Cape Wind, a $2.5 billion project to build 130 wind turbines, will see an increase in its green energy very soon.

Recently, National Grid signed a 15 year agreement locking in 50% of Cape Wind’s power at 18.7¢/kWh. Once the Cape Wind project is completed, it is expected to supply about 75% of the energy needs of residents in Cape Code, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard.

Even though the Cape Wind project seems like a great boost to the green power generation industry, it has seen some opposition from local residents and politicians. One prominent group, the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, includes John Kerry and Mitt Romney. Despite that, Cape Wind is optimistic. Its CEO, Jim Gordon noted they’d been at it for more than ten years, and they’ve been victorious against opposition groups every time. They have a perfect 15-0 record, and it seems like Cape Wind will be right at the forefront of supplying the US northeast with wind generated power for years to come.

Autoclave For Zimbabwe, by Way of Kansas

2011-07-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Many power generation manufacturers use an autoclave to help form custom composite materials. So it’s pretty cool to see this project, by a group of college students in Kansas. What was the project? Well, some engineering students designed and also built a solar-powered autoclave.

According to this story in the Beaumont Enterprise, a group of four students worked on the autoclave over the course of their senior year as part of a special design course.

They landed the project because Dougherty and Scott Hoffman, a Honeywell engineer, crossed paths at the right time. Dougherty was looking for class projects and Hoffman was needing assistance to help his friend, Dr. Mark Byler, a medical missionary in Zimbabwe, who was in need of a reliable autoclave.
Hoffman did some research at first, but quickly realized that it would be too time-consuming for him. So, he’s glad the KU students were willing to take on the challenge.

The fact that the students worked with a medical missionary from Zimbabwe is really great. They got to get some essential experience while helping out an ailing nation, even if just a bit. By next May, the students will be done with the autoclave and a community in Zimbabwe will have another autoclave.

Kevlar, Steel, and Plastic Glass: Anatomy of a Popemobile

2011-07-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

Ever since Pope John Paul II was the target of as assassination attempt in 1981, the so-called Popemobile has been fitted with extra defenses to keep the leader of the Catholic church safe in transit. The Telegraph has an extremely interesting breakdown of the Popemobile, going over its clever uses of Kevlar, hydraulic seats, and three” “plastic glass.”

According to the story, the Popemobile is based on a Mercedes-Benz M-class, but that’s where its similarities to a consumer car ends. The vehicle was specially designed with two kind of contradictory needs, “safety and visibility.”

The Popemobile’s body is Kevlar-plated half-inch thick plate steel, and its windows are three-inch thick plastic glass. The vehicle can withstand explosives, and it also has an air filter to protect occupants against biological attacks. In all, the vehicle can reach speeds of 70 mph even though it weighs five tons.

The Popemobile is one of the iconic vehicles of the world, and it shows well how Kevlar and steel can combine to create something special.

Kevlar: So Heat Resistant It Helps You Juggle Fire!

2011-07-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

We use kevalr as an insulating material in industrial power generation. Since it’s stronger than steel and incredibly resistant to heat, it’s an extremely versatile material for a ton of power gen applications. Of course, kevlar’s strength and heat resistance means its great for many other, as well.

Another kevlar application, outlined here, is fire juggling. Pretty ~~cool~~ hot, huh?

The article talks a bit about the what and how of fire juggling, including its main tool, the “poi”:

Originally from New Zealand, the poi typically is a rope or chain with a ball attached at one end. It’s now used worldwide as a hobby, for exercise or for performing arts. Modern fire poi usually is a ball chain with a Kevlar blend material for a wick, soaked in lamp oil, lighter fluid or kerosene.

For the Fire Family, the fire jugglers in question here, they also need to pony up $800 a year for insurance, which actually seems pretty reasonable when you consider they’re juggling fire.

The group also offers workshops, so if you happen to live near Evansville, Indiana, be sure to check it out. And be thankful for kevlar. Not only does it keep police and soldiers safe from harm and insulate giant power generation machines, it also allows people to chase their dreams and juggle fire.

2011-07-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

When we talk about fiberglass, we’re usually thinking of custom components for power generation. Of course, fiberglass has a bunch of other applications, as well. But here’s one use that we haven’t ever come across: a “CowParade”.

Down in Austin, Texas, there will be a literal “cow parade”, with about 100 colorful critters lining the sidewalks. To make it all happen, a group of local artists all worked together to decorate fiberglass cows.

The CowParade in Austin is expected to be the largest public art even in the world. There are CowParades all over the world. The events actually function as charity events, which have raised more than $25 million for children with cancer and blood disorders.

This is one of the coolest uses of fiberglass we’ve come across. The material is sturdy and light, and apparently makes for great cow canvases. If you’re in the area this summer, be sure to check out Austin’s CowParade!

Over a Hundred Boats Later, Renn Tolman is Still Afloat

2011-07-14T03:45:00.000-07:00

Boat building seems like it would be the provenance of your fairly well-kitted shop, right? Not so. At least, not for a man in Homer, Alaska. Using dory-style plywood, fiberglass, and epoxy, Renn Tolman has made more than 100 boats in his home shop.

Just recently, Tolman crafted his 104th boat. And we’re not talking a small, rowboat style craft. No, this latest is 20 feet long, a Standard Tolman skiff. The vessel is extremely seaworthy, ready to brave chop and storm.

The entire boat is extremely well-fashioned, with fiberglass reinforcing wood on every surface. Overall, the boat took about five weeks in shop to make, along with a few extra days to install its 60 horsepower four-stroke outboard engine.

Tolman is a great, lifelong success story that shows that fiberglass and composites aren’t just in the realm of the industrial power generation industry.

Fiberglass to Carbon Fiber: History of the Corvette

2011-07-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

Vette, the magazine focusing on, what else, Corvettes, has a comprehensive history of the body materials used throughout the beloved sports car’s history. From fiberglass to carbon fiber, Vette has a great historical record. The best part is, it’s all available online.

Here’s an excerpt, but make sure to click through to read the rest. Even if you don’t have a Corvette or aren’t particularly a car nut, it’s a great history of material engineering.

Fiberglass was first considered for use on a GM vehicle by legendary designer Harley Earl. Besides a certain “exoticness” for the early ’50s and the undeniable weight advantage, fiberglass offered an economical way to create the low-volume Corvette without investing in expensive sheetmetal-stamping dies.
GM’s Parts Fabrication Operation was tasked with figuring out the intricate requirements for the ‘53 Corvette’s body, while supplier Molded Fiber Glass Company (with some support from Owens Corning Fiberglass) got the contract to build them. Amazingly, the company was awarded the business in April 1953 and was asked to deliver the bodies by the June 1953 start-of-production deadline—and they had never built a car body previously.
Not surprisingly, there were plenty of unknowns when it came to designing and building those first Corvettes. Tests had to be done to determine how many layers of fiberglass were needed for the various areas of body, as well as the interior “tub.” And for products so large, the correct ratio of resin and plastic hardener had to be determined, not to mention figuring out how long it would take for each hand-laid body to cure. Also, it wasn’t clear at first how many separate parts would be required to construct each body, and a surface finish suitable for production-quality paint was far from assured.

Yacht and Surf Combo Duo Make Waves

2011-07-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

What do yachting and big-wave surfing have in common? I mean, other than both involving water recreation? The answer, perhaps surprisingly, is carbon fiber.

The New York Times reports that upscale yacht designer Juan Kouyoumdjian has just completed a monstrous yacht, dubbed the Mar Mostro. The big pleasure boat measures a full seventy feet long (70!) and is made of carbon fiber. Not sure if switching up to a new material is a good idea? Mr Kouyoumdjian is hoping to win his third consecutive Volvo Ocean Race with the Mar Mostro. It seems like he knows what’s going on with yachting.

Kouyoumdjian isn’t just sticking with the high class world of yachting, though. He’s also working with the big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton to design some other carbon fiber creations.

The two recently finished creating a thirteen foot stand-up paddle board, inspired by Kouyoumdjian’s yachting background. His entry into the world of stand-up paddle boarding brings some more validity toe the nascent sport, which features races from distances between three and forty-five miles.

Whether you’re yachting around the globe or designing a surfboard to travel over forty miles, it seems that carbon fiber is the one miraculous material that keeps you safely afloat.

Carbon Fiber to Help Finally Get Flying Cars Off the Ground?

2011-07-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

The future is now (finally), and it’s all because if carbon fiber. If you’re a certain age, then you probably thought flying cars would be part of the future (the present, now). And until now, you would have been very disappointed with the present (what you thought would be the future, then). Why now? Because it looks like we finally have flying cars.

According to Auto Guide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just approved for the very first time a flying car, which you can buy today.

The Terrafugia Transition, costing a cool $250,000, has a 500 miles range, 26 foot wings (which fold up in less than a minute), and maxes out at 115 MPH in the air and 65 MPH on the ground.

And if you think the price tag is prohibitively expensive, the initial run of 100 is already sold out. Get ready for a lot of Where we’re going we don’t need roads jokes.

iPhone 5 to be Made of Carbon Fiber?

2011-07-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Apple uses innovative materials for its products. From its iconic (and still unmatched) machined aluminum laptops to its front and back glass iPhone, the little-big company from Cupertino. Now, rumor has it that Apple is getting into carbon fiber machining, maybe.

The International Business Times reported that Apple may radically redesign its next iPhone (tentatively dubbed, of course, the iPhone 5). Among the changes to the phone—including a higher resolution camera, better display, and 1080p HD video playback, is a rethinking of its body. Gone will be the all-glass design (criticized by many as being too fragile). The iPhone 5 may be made of something like carbon fiber, specifically a fiber-in-matrix material like carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

Free Your Hands, and Your Mind Will Follow!

2011-07-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Carbon fiber machining is an fast-evolving discipline, but here’s a story that’s particularly awesome. A little company called Parlee Cycles has created a new bicycle (a concept bicycle, actually) that’s made out of carbon fiber. Now carbon fiber bikes aren’t anything new, but Parlee Cycle’s take on the carbon fiber bike is.

You see, Parlee has created a bike that you can shift with your brainwaves. That’s pretty cool, huh?

The bike is one the Toyota Prius Projects, which reward innovation in transportation and technology. The Parlee Bike, by John Prolly, uses two parts for this telepathic shifting: A special helmet that’s fitted with neurotransmitters, and a special seat post that “talks” to the helmet. When you think of shifting, the thought is transmitted to the seat post, which then tells the bike to change gears.

We know about carbon fiber technology, and this is by far one of the coolest projects yet. Check it out at its Toyota Prius Projects webpage.

Autoclave Fabrication Makes the Lamborghini Aventador A Very Light Automobile

2011-05-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Autoclave fabrication is used for industrial power generation manufacturing, sure. But it’s also a pretty widespread (if a bit esoteric) way for manufacturers of all stripes to manufacture precisely formed, virtually perfect composites.

One of the flashiest deployments of autoclave—and one of the downright coolest uses of autoclave, besides maybe some aerospace stuff—is Lamborghini’s use of autoclave fabrication for making its new 2012 Lamborghini Aventador, the successor to the much-lauded Murcielago.

The Aventador shaves off about 10% of the Murcielago’s (already pretty svelte) 1750 kg, bringing it down to 1575 kg. Composite materials like carbon fiber comprise the car’s entire structure, allowing Lamborghini to use a material that’s half as heavy as steel but equally strong.

The way Lamborghini was able to use carbon fiber composites to create the Aventador was by using autoclave ovens. To wit,

Through the use of a material composed of short fiber prepregs omnidirectional with a thermoplastic resin, the pieces are forged in a few tens of seconds under 60 bar pressure and a temperature of 120 ° C. They are thus much simpler to design than those made by traditional process consisting of a superposition of unidirectional fabrics impregnated with a thermosetting resin before curing in an autoclave oven. But more importantly, they are truly recyclable.

The Aventador is a supremely sexy vehicle. Its also made from a high amount of recycled/recovered materials and boasts reduced CO2 emissions, meeting strict European auto standards.

Some Recent Advancements In Resin Infusion

2011-05-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

Resin infusion is a popular method for creating custom composite materials, which are used throughout the power generation industry. As one of the leading methods in the composites industry, advances are being made in resin infusion constantly. Composites World has the rundown on a new advance in resin infusion.

The development CW goes over is a “tunable” polyurethane-based resin system, being engineered by Huntsman Polyurethanes. It works like this:

Two-part polyurethanes (PURs) traditionally have been limited to small parts or to continuous processes, such as pultrusion, because of fast reaction time and rapid increase in viscosity after PUR’s two components are mixed. But Connolly reported that the VITROX resin combines isocyanates, polyols and a unique, proprietary catalyst system that permits processors to “dial in” a desirable gel time and viscosity profile, yielding previously unachievable processing benefits together with mechanical properties that exceed those achieved with some epoxies.

The result of Huntsman’s polyurethane innovation is that impact-resistance, high-performance parts may be able to be formed by resin transfer molding and resin infusion using these new, “tunable” polyurethanes. Hopefully, we’ll see this sort of research help coax resin infusion manufacturing to become more widespread in the power generation industry.

Compression Molding for Power Generation Parts

2011-05-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Compression molding has a great track record for helping form the parts needed by the power generation industry. Now, companies called Southwest Windpower and PCT are leading the way in using innovative manufacturing processes for making wind turbines and other power generation products.

According to Today’s Energy, Southwest Windpower is switching over to compression molding:

Southwest Windpower recently switched to a newer process called compression molding. While the mold is much more expensive ($600,000 versus the typical $75,000), the finished cost of a compression molded blade is approximately 70% less expensive than the typical hand lay-up process. These updates result in increased energy production and lower product cost.

Of course, other proven innovators like Amsterdam, New York’s PCT have used compression molding for forming all manner of parts. The military, aviation, industrial, and consumer industries all use parts made by PCT’s compression molding capabilities.

Custom Composites Getting Muscles from Mussels!

2011-05-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Custom composites (including composite resin matrices) are used throughout many manufacturing industries. The power generation industry uses composite resin matrices like epoxy resins, polyester-vinyl ester, and polymide materials.

Aside from resin composites, there are a variety of other types of composite materials. Some of the most exciting advances made in composite technology are in high-strength carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are used in applications like constructing the world’s strongest cables, fibers, and fabrics, which all have uses in myriad industries. Any advance in carbon nanotube technology is good for the world’s technological innovations.

And some these advances are coming from the least likely of places… like the ocean.

According to Materials Review, certain species of mussel, the Mytilus edulis sports an adhesive foot whose proteins can be used in composites research. The strongly binding properties of this mussel’s feet are being translated to carbon nanotube composites, increasing some composites’s tensile strength by 500%!

As composites research continues, it makes sense to think that white-coated technicians in labs are going to make the biggest strides. But as we’ve seen for some time now, mother nature still has a few tricks left up her sleeve.

Carbon Fiber From China Going To Iran?

2011-05-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here’s something a bit different in the power generation news world: a dispute about carbon fiber, and its role in building nuclear facilities.

This piece in Front Page Magazine traces the connections between China and Iran and the latter country’s efforts to gain nuclear weaponry. The United Nations has recently issued a report stating that the two countries frequently trade “prohibited ballistic missile related items.” Even worse, Iran is just weeks away from opening a nuclear power plant, the Bushehr plant, which is capable of creating nuclear weapons.

One of the most salient things that Iran is importing is carbon fiber. Carbon fiber can be used in nuclear reactors due to its robust physical characteristics. Robert Einhorn, of the US State Department, claims that China is sending a lot of carbon fiber Iran’s way. According to the UN, there are over 200 companies set up to sell Iran materials for its nuclear efforts.

We’ll see if the United States or any other UN nations take action to prevent Iran from gathering carbon fiber and other materials for its nuclear enrichment projects. The Chinese ambassador to the UN claims to support the organization’s efforts at keeping nuclear weapons from Iran, but the country will have to put its money where its mouth is.

Oil Seeping Into Louisiana, But Not From Where You'd Think

2011-04-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Some bad news in general for the power industry and the American environment as a whole. A recent report out of New Orleans, Louisiana has it that some oil is washing up on shore.

It might not seem like a big deal, after all wasn’t the BP oil spill huge? It is bad, though. There’s an oil sheen reportedly stretching 100 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The water samples containing oil (petroleum hydrocarbons, oil, and grease, actually) were well above the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s standards for clean water.

According to the Coast Guard, this oily substance is caused by the Mississippi River’s flow and not from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill.

It’s troubling that Louisiana faces oil contamination from the north as well as the south, from the BP spill. Is it’s situated at the mouth of the Mississippi, the state serves almost like a drain for all the sediment and other materials in the Mississippi’s lengthy flow.

If Louisiana’s present struggle with oil contamination isn’t compelling enough evidence for looking for non-petroleum-based energy sources, I don’t know what is. Our hearts go out to all those still suffering from the state’s tragic disasters.

America's Tallest Building To Become A Solar Farm?

2011-04-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Quick—what’s the tallest building in America? If you said the Empire State Building, you’re wrong. And even if you said the Sears Tower, you’d be wrong. (They changed the name of it to the Willis Tower last year.)

The Willis Tower, the tallest building in America, is set to become a solar farm later this year, one of the largest—it follows—in America.

A company called Pythagoras Solar will replace all the windows on the west side of the 56th floor of the Willis Tower with photovoltaic glass. This special glass will allow light to come in and occupants to look out while collecting as much energy as a conventional solar panel.

If the project goes according to plan, the solar panels on the Willis Tower could generate up to 2 MW of power—as much as a 10 acre field of solar panels.

Hopefully this project goes well, because our cities represent a huge untapped resource for generating solar power. Utilizing windows and roofs in urban environs could really help America as it transitions to evolving power needs.

American Nuclear Power Remains Underutilized

2011-04-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Even with the terrible events in Japan and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, demand for power remains as rapacious as ever. And as fossil fuels start running out, the need for sustainable energy is growing.

According to Bloomberg, nuclear power generation at two of the leading nuclear reactors in the United States has remained the same. This staying level could actually count as a decrease, since power generation nationwide actually increased over the last year, a sign of the public’s reluctance to embrace nuclear power.

The two nuclear reactors in question, Salem 1 and Salem 2, are located in New Jersey. The two are currently running at 90% capacity. Other nuclear power plants around the country are facing similar stagnation. A nuclear reactor, the Byron 1, lies inert 85 miles west of Chicago. It requires repairs. The Byron 2 plant, though, is operating at 96% capacity.

The McGuire 2 reactor in North Carolina recently faced a control rod malfunction. The plant is currently shutdown until it can undergo troubleshooting and repair. The McGuire 1 unit is operating at maximum power, though.

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, the average nuclear reactor in the United States had a 41 day outage.

Hopefully the tragedy in Japan won’t chasten further shutdowns of nuclear power plants in America. Even though the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has faced an unforeseeable tragedy of epic proportions, it doesn’t mean that a similar thing will happen at other nuclear power plants. And nuclear power is cleaner than fossil fuel-based power generation.

The Lasting Impact from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

2011-04-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

The terrible tragedy in Japan was the massive earthquakes and tsunamis that ensued. Of course, aside from the horrible loss of life and property sustained by Japan, there is an even worse, lasting impact on Japan: The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Now, there’s radiation being found in the water filling trenches around the nuclear plant.

The trenches were built to stop potentially contaminated water from spreading out from the plants. These trenches have collected the water, but its contamination is slowing down the clean-up efforts of relief workers.

According to James Acton, an associate in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment, the environmental damage stemming from the tragedy in Japan is on par with the massive British Petroleum oil spill. Hopefully, it won’t get any worse than that.

International Electric Car News Round-Up

2011-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Electric cars. Compared to our gasoline-chugging autos, they’re like a piece of the future set in the present day. Of course, they don’t have a lot to do with industrial power generation, but they’re related to many of the challenges facing industrial power generation.

Here are a couple of electric car stories.

Out in Israel, a company called Better Place is setting up batter swap stations for electric cars. Normally, you need to plug in your electric car, to charge it. However, charging a car is a slow proposition. The ability to get powered back up in a matter of minutes is a game changer when it comes to electric automobiles. No longer limited to a few hundred miles range, nor tied to a ten hour charging process, electric cars could really take off in Israel.

In other international electric car news, the first fuel cell-powered cabs are taking to the streets in London. It’s not a new thing for cars like Priuses to be employed as cabs, but these fuel cell cars are a more advanced technology. Add that to the cache of London’s distinctive black cabs, and you’ve got a stylish, power-saving way to get around London. Intelligent Energy, the company behind London’s new fuel cell black cabs, hopes to have a fleet of them ready by London’s 2012 Olympic games.

Venezuela Is a Major Player in Oil, Yet Remains Under-Powered

2011-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

It’s difficult to maintain a good supply of power in the best of situations. Whether you’re worried about a steady supply of coal (clean or not), keeping a steady grid, and a myriad of other things that can come up. Bu worrying about potentially despotic rulers are above and beyond the run of the mill power generation problems.

Venezuela, under the rule of Hugo Chávez, is seeing massive power generation problems.

For the last 12 years of the Chávez regime, the Venezuelan government has face huge problems with its power generation. According to energy expert José Manuel Aller, a professor with Simón Bolívar Univesity, the country has systemic problems meeting its power needs.

Aller says that Venezuela’s electricity grid needs to expand by 500 MW per year. But since Chávez has been in control of the country, Venezuela’s power has only grown by 100 MW per year—at best.

Not only is the power generation operation not growing fast enough, but up to 60% of its equipment is obsolete and out of service. The Chávez regime hasn’t spent any money—and no major outside investment has helped—on growing the power infrastructure.

Right now, 19 states in Venezuela (of 23) are facing electricity rationing. That rationing still isn’t enough, either. The country also suffers from regular blackouts.

Venezuela is a major player in the international oil trade. It’s the 40th-largest country by population, as well. Hopefully, if the government can find some stability, it will also find some outside funding to keep it sufficiently powered.

Geothermal Power Growth in America

2011-04-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

There may be a lot of bad things happening in the Gulf of Mexico (see the BP oil spill), but it is still a place of massive power generating potential—with or without its oil.

A big part of that power generating potential is geothermal power production. There are many new projects focused on generating power using geothermal pressure. Presently, America leads the world in geothermal power generation, with 3,102 MW generated annually by geothermal.

Geothermal power generation is also generating jobs, according to the Geothermal Energy Association. This year, there are 146 projects in 15 states all looking to develop geothermal power generation. One of the biggest ones is focused on using the massive amount of geothermal energy generated along the Gulf of Mexico, but there are also projects in NEvada, California, Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho, and Alaska.

It’s certainly a good sign for American power production that there are businesses exploring alternate energy sources. It’s good not only because it will upgrade our power generation capabilities and lessen our reliance on other countries’s resources, but it also generates jobs and tax revenues that keep America running—much like the power they also generate.

Italian Solar Power A Bit Sotto Voce

2011-03-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Is Italy pulling the rug out from under solar power producers? It seems like they may be.

Previously, Italy had offered plush incentives to solar operators as it ramped up quotas and incentives for overall solar production.

Now, Reuters reports, the Italian government is changing its renewable energy incentives in solar to apply only to photovoltaic plants that are on the grid by this May. Previously, companies had until 2013. Another program is being created for solar plants that get on line after the May deadline, but it’s expected to be much more limited than the original plan.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

An In-Depth Look At Solar's Future

2011-03-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Investors Business Daily has a comprehensive look at solar power generation subsidies. The whole thing is worth a long read if you’re interested in solar power or power generation in general.

The piece begins by noting that with all the upheaval in the Middle East, it should be a boom time for renewable energies like solar power. As oil prices increase (which they have been), investment in solar power usually increases. But that’s not the case right now.

That link may be weakening. Oil price spikes are reliably fickle. And the solar industry’s history in Europe, its largest market, is rife with lessons of boom and bust. Italy’s recent talk of drastic cuts to its solar subsidies — still the lifeblood of this industry — spurred a two-week sell-off in solar stocks. In addition, the potential for fast-growing capacity in China to overwhelm flagging demand further clouds the picture.

Solar power is heavily dependent on subsidies—as it says above. It’s an expensive form of power, infrastructure-wise. While its power is clean, it’s also very expensive to make the equipment that makes the power. Since clean energy is more expensive, the so-called free market generally wouldn’t make it a winner. That’s where government intervention comes in. And with the global economy still uncertain, governments around the world are hesitant to push ahead with aggressive solar power goals they set during boom years.

A way to cut down the costs of producing solar energy would make it more attractive, but since solar power is an unattractive option for business, the development of new solar technology is increasing at a slow rate.

The whole piece is worth checking out. Make sure you read it here.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

Record Profits in Ontario a Bad Thing?

2011-03-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Financial Post has seen some holes in Ontario Power Generation’s financial numbers.

On the surface, they look good. The state-owned power generation company generated $10.5 billion in revenue and $1.2 billion in net income. And while revenue rose only 1% from last year, its net income enjoyed a 13.4% increase. That seems good, right?

Overhead for OPG has increased while it employed 20 fewer workers. The company’s debt also increased $1.2 billion, a 10.4% increase. A close look also uncovers some other problems. In the Financial Post’s words,

OPG was profitable because its nuclear decommissioning fund had a market gain of $668-million. OPG, with hundreds of millions in unfunded pension and benefit liabilities, doesn’t make money on what it actually produces -electricity.

Some of OPG’s largest projects—two large hydro power generation projects and several nuclear power-related projects—have all come in over budget.

And, as seen in its American neighbor, Canada’s OPG is also seeing some tension with its workforce, 90% of which has a collective bargaining agreement. Overall, OPG looks to be likely to increase its power rates during the year in order to keep up with its budgeting needs.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

China's Wind Woes

2011-03-11T08:00:00.001-08:00

There’s a shocking story by Nasdaq that claims that half of China’s wind power is lost because of their poor power grid. And since China is the world leader in wind power, that amounts to a lot of (wasted) hot air!

In the first half of 2010, China wasted 2.8 billion kilowatt-hours of solar energy. The country has in place the capacity to make 41.83 gigawatts. China has put in place an unprecedented amount of wind power generation infrastructure in order to meet a goal of 15% non-fossil fuel power generation by 2020.

However, a large number of its wind power turbines are located in western China, in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions and Gansu province. Much of its power is used 4,000 kilometers away, though. This great distance between the site of power generation and its use accounts for all the lost power.

Another shortcoming of wind power in China and elsewhere is that wind is an inherently unpredictable (and therefore unreliable) source of energy. This has caused the demand for fossil fuel power generation to rise, defeating the purpose of wind power.

China is doing a great amount of work in renewable energy, but it has a long way to go.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

The Sunshine State Seizes On Its Natural Strength

2011-03-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

A “solar power innovator and leader.” That’s what Reuters has called the Florida Power and Light-commissioned Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center in Martin County, Florida.

The Next Generation station is made up of 190,000 solar panels; it does work in combination with a preexisting natural gas power plant, though. Still, it’s a great advance for the state of Florida. Besides providing clean energy, it’s also going to generate $5 million in tax revenue for its home county.

The Florida-based solar project is meeting a bit of pushback, though. The Miami Herald reports that legislators are bickering over what the best clean energy technology best suits the state. In the debate is Florida Power and Light, Florida Crystals, and domestic solar panel companies.

Even though the Next Generation station is a great boon for Florida, many smaller businesses are clamoring for some money and jobs, as well.

A bill passed in 2008 has mainly benefited Florida Power and Light, allowing it to charge a set rate for its solar power. Many business owners say the bill gives the company an unfair advantage. Florida Crystals, a local company that produces solar and biomass energy at a lower cost than Florida Power and Light agrees.

No matter, the market and local legislators seem primed to iron out the wrinkles in Florida’s plan to produce large amounts of renewable energy, and that’s good for everyone.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

Bakersfield Gets Steamy with Glasspoint Solar-Oil Hybrid

2011-03-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Bakersfield, California. Once known for its abundant oil, is still a thriving city--the eleventh largest in California. And while Bakersfield enjoys a beautiful climate, a city doesn't sustain double digit growth with sunshine alone. Or can it?

According to this Forbes blog, a new company called Glasspoint is setting up shop in an old oil field of Bakersfield. Actually, what Glasspoint is setting up is more like a greenhouse than a shop.

The company recently built a half-acre greenhouse-looking structure that combines renewable energy with typical fossil fuel power. It all comes together in an incredibly clever way.

The glass structure contains a multitude of solar reflecting mirrors made of aluminum, all hanging by wires. As the sun passes overhead, the mirrors are shifted to best focus the sunlight onto hanging pipes filled with water. (Anyone who's ever used a "solar shower" will be familiar with the idea.) The water boils into steam, and the steam is then injected into the ancient oil field to push up aged crude oil.

The whole process works similar to hybrid automobiles. By combining renewable energy (or at least potentially lower-impact, in the case of automobiles) with traditional power generation, a unique hybrid approach begins to take hold.

Glasspoint's service is meant not to compete with traditional solar power, but rather the way oil is already harvested. Traditionally, oil companies use the steam process to force out oil from deep underground; to do so, they use natural gas. Glasspoint's business is predicated on replacing natural gas in both more environmentally friendly and less expensive ways. The first goal is obviously met--in optimal circumstances. The second goal is also met--apparently the Glasspoint glass houses will cost about half as much as gas to operate.

There are a few problems with Glasspoint's project, though. To start, the initial installation is about half an acre; to properly power the oil field it's situated on, it would take about 100 acres of such houses. The cost power a larger field (like the one owned by oil giant Chevron) is estimated at $700 million to cover 3,200 acres.

As oil supplies become depleted, it takes more energy to extract the oil. It makes sense that you'd want to spend as little energy as possible to produce more energy. Other oil producing nations like Oman, Qatar, and even Spain are looking to solar-powered oil extraction. American reserves are supposed by many to be economically unfeasible, but if the cost to extract oil can be reduced, our supplies could be said to increase quite a bit. Let's hope the sun keeps shining on beautiful Bakersfield.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

Driving Becomes Electric!

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

What if all cars were electric? It's not such a crazy idea as that sounds, as this piece from Triple Pundit spins out a little thought experiment.

To begin, it points out that all electric cars (as conventionally thought--like a Prius, say) actually cause carbon emissions. After all, your electricity has to come from somewhere. Since that's the case, we can then think of all carbon-emitting cars (read: gasoline-powered cars) in terms of electricity.

While the piece doesn't actually come up with how much electricity it takes to power a gasoline car, it does find the opportunity cost of making a gallon of gas is about 6 kilowatt hours of electricity, or 20 miles traveled in an electric car.

The whole piece is worth looking into, so check it out!

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

How To Judge the First Biorefinery in America

2011-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

In the power generation market, we often focus on the big names: Coal, nuclear, wind, and water. Even geothermal gets a lot of press. One power source that is relatively little-heralded is biomass power. Luckily, Renewable Energy World is here to give us the lowdown on how to evaluate a biomass refinery.

Specifically, they look at the proposed Abengoa Bioenergy Biorefinery of Kansas (ABBK), which, besides featuring lots of bios, would be the first commercial-class biorefinery in America.

The way the ABBK works is by taking in biomass (like corn, wheat, switchgrass, and other fuel-rich materials) and producing ethanol from them. The ethanol is then burned like, for instance, oil to produce electricity with a high pressure steam turbine.

In order to properly power the ABBK, its site needs a 425 acre plot to grow the actual energy sources; the refinery itself would occupy 385 acres. It would take 18 months to construct the ABBK, and it requires improved infrastructure, including road and rail upgrades.

While it would require lots of money and materials to get off the ground, the ABBK would have other positives (aside from creating energy from renewable resources and resulting in improved infrastructure of the community). The ABBK would employ up to 260 workers, pumping into the local economy about $16 million during construction and around $4 million per year during operation. While the ABBK would still emit greenhouse gasses, it would result in a net reduction compared to fossil fuel use.

The Renewable Energy World piece delves quite deeply into the various issues surrounding the ABBK, including funding, waste disposal, environmental impacts, and more. It's worth your time to check out if you're at all interested in power generation or renewable energy.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

Can Europe Avoid California's Power Problems?

2011-03-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we published a piece on problems the Columbia River Valley is facing, including having too much wind power and too poor a power grid Today, there's a story from Renewable Energy World about Europe facing a similar dilemma--from the opposite end!

In order to meet a carbon reduction goal for 2020, Europe is hoping to make wind power comprise 20% of its total energy output. Therefore, European leaders have realized the need to radically change its power grid.

The European Wind Energy Association is looking to build large offshore wind power stations to start harvesting all the renewable wind energy blustering over the ocean. But in order to make off shore wind power a success, Europeans are working on creating something called the North Sea grid, carrying wind and water power from Norway to the rest of Europe.

Formed in 2009, the North Sea Countries' Offshore Grid Initiative counts Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom among its members. This intra-Europe push toward building a healthy power grid infrastructure will go a long way toward to making renewable energy a reality in Europe.

Europe's power goal for 2020 is just the first step in its ambitious renewable energy plan. By 2050, Europe hopes to have 50% of its electricity generated by renewable energy sources. Its focus on the power grid can hopefully help it obviate some of the challenges California is facing.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

The Columbia Runneth Over

2011-03-02T07:18:00.000-08:00

We've recently covered some of the struggles facing industrials wind power generators. Now, the Bonneville Power Administration, the governing body of power generation in the Columbia River Valley, is facing a wind power-related dilemma.

To wit, there's just too much power. As the New York Times puts it,

If the region's grid is carrying high power output from wind generators at a time when the river flow is extremely high, the combination of wind power and hydropower would exceed the demand for electricity, in expected scenarios.

Besides the overabundance of power to worry about, there are also grave environmental concerns at play. If too much water flows over hydro power dams on the Columbia, the spillover will ravage protected salmon and other fish species.

The BPA has proposed offering wind power generators that excess hydropower at no cost in return for them to power down. Area coal generators would also see reduced rates on power. However, such a solution would cost the area tens of millions of dollars, perhaps up to $50 million per year as the problem recurs. Another problem with this proposed solution is that wind power generators receive federal tax credits for generating renewable energy, which they would lose and not be reimbursed for.

The real problem here is that the power grid is insufficient to effectively transmit power from areas such as the Columbia River Valley to other areas that need power. The Columbia River is known to regularly overflow whenever there is above average snowfall, which happens (somewhat paradoxically) frequently. Were the power grid upgraded, such an excess of power would be a great boon rather than a problem.

Finally, another confusion added to the mix is that coal power is being seen as an increasingly appealing option. Since the BPA will offer coal plants a reduced rate, it creates an economic incentive for coal power. No matter that coal power generally results in ecological waste (which is the reason why the abundance of hydro power is a problem in the first place).

This problem in the Columbia River Valley is an odd confluence of counter-intuitive problems, but it highlights the overwhelming need for a better energy grid, something like smart grid technology, implemented throughout California and the US.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

Will Any Farm Do? Japan's Home Fuel Cell Offering: The Ene-Farm

2011-02-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

We've covered hydrogen fuel cell technology in the past, but our posts have been limited to more industrial-sized applications. The Bloom Box, for instance, power facilities owned by eBay and other businesses.

Now, Panasonic (in conjunction with Tokyo Gas) is looking to sell a home-oriented fuel cell. This new domestic fuel cell product is dubbed the "Ene-Farm," and it offers a 40% energy efficiency rate—the highest in the world.

The Ene-Farm is a marvel of energy efficiency. It offers a 35% energy consumption reduction and a 48% CO2 emission savings compared to drawing power off the grid. These reductions are estimated to save $600 to $715 per year on their power bills. The Ene-Farm does cost about $33,000 though. At that price, it would take about 46 years to recoup your costs, but it's not cheap saving the environment.

The units will be available starting April 1, 2011 from Tokyo Gas.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

Con Edison's Pushing Solar in the Big City

2011-02-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

New York City is the largest city in America. To go along with its giant infrastructure needs, it's also the most demanding city to power. This need has forced city residents to be especially resourceful when it comes to getting enough precious power to all five boroughs.

During 2010, New York (and neighboring Westchester County) added 4.5 megawatts of renewable solar energy through power supplier Con Edison. There were 203 solar projects added to the grid in 2010, a 51% increase over the previous year's solar projects.

Overall, there are 8.5 megawatts of solar power pouring into Con Edison's grid. The solar energy is concentrated predominantly in Queens and Westchester. The energy company has been able to make so many inroads in solar energy by means of a $181 million federal funding reward from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

(Via SmartPlanet)

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies: www.pactinc.com

Wind Warriors Fighting Jobs and the Environment In Maine

2011-02-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Grassroots efforts fall all along the political spectrum. Sometimes people protest bilious coal factories. Others protest windmills.

There's a recent story about a group of "wind warriors" in Freeport, Maine who are against the growing wind industry centered in rural Maine. At the Mountaintop Industrial Wind Legislative Summit, 100 "wind warriors" descended to protest the growth of wind power generation.

This quixotic quest is spurred on by a litany of complaints about wind power. There are those who don't want the noise and bother of wind-related construction projects. Others are against the noise generated by wind turbines. And some "wind warriors" don't like the impact wind turbines make on the landscape and property values.

Exactly what the "wind warriors" are protesting, though, is a green energy initiative that has already created more than $1 billion in investment in Maine. More than a third of that has gone directly to workers and local employers.

The aims of the "wind warriors" are narrow, short sighted, and selfish. You could characterize their take on wind power as among the common reactions to any building and development projects: Not In My Backyard. One so-called warrior reacted to these claims by saying, "The mountains of Maine are not in anybody’s backyard. They are, in fact, the character of the state of Maine." But what better character could there be than preserving the environment by ramping up green energy, and creating jobs and income for the local economy?

Can China Learn From Europe's Solar Successes (And Failures)?

2011-02-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

By pursuing a dedicated strategy for modernization, China has been emerging among the top industrialized nations in population, manufacturing, GDP, and many other indicators of economic success. Energy production is no different.

A recent story in Bloomberg laid out China's plan to make a big splash in the solar energy industry. The Chinese government is going to model its system after Europe, spending the next year studying European countries like Germany.

The chairman of the Solar Photovoltaic Committee of China’s Renewable Energy Society expressed his interest in learning from Germany. The European countries have been making great strides in solar energy, gaining more than $65 billion in investment for the year 2010.

Many European countries—and America—have tried spur growth in alternate energies like solar through incentives and other economic devices. But economic ups and downs have rendered subsidies somewhat ineffective in creating growth. China began offering solar energy subsidies in 2009, though it canceled 39 solar energy projects, as well. Hopefully, China—and the rest of the world—will be able to figure out how to properly spur solar power growth. Its learning-based approach is heartening.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies:

www.pactinc.com

Will Regulation Help The Environment--Or Eventually Harm It?

2011-02-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that the world would cease to function without it, the industrial power generation industry has always faced a few hurdles. The latest set-back for industrial power generation has popped up in Chicago, at the Fisk Generating Station.

The Fisk Generating Station is 108 years old, so clearly it's not among the most cutting-edge or cleantech facilities in the world. Area residents have a decent claim to make when they cite high rates of asthma and respiratory issues; Midwest Generation, who owns the Fisk Generating Station, claims they've been cleaning up their act since taking over in 1999.

On the one hand, yes, the residents are right that old facilities need to be kept up to modern environmental stands. But on the other hand, shutting down a plant doesn't guarantee a better environment. Since it takes long years to build new power generation facilities, residents would only face higher energy costs. The ordinance many residents are pushing for would call for a drastic reduction in particulate matter and CO2 emissions--however, again, either the cost of cleaning up the plants would be passed onto residents, or the ownership would pursue a more profitable business elsewhere. It wouldn't necessarily result in any better living situation; in fact, higher prices and less competition may result in residents having to rely on even less savory power suppliers.

The best course of action may be to work on building investment and development interest in building more cleantech, environmentally friendly power generation options while still relying on conventional coal for the moment. Increasing regulation may help the environment in the immediate situation, but it could stifle development and innovation in the future, which would ultimately be a tragedy for everyone.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies:

www.pactinc.com

Why Preheater Seal Upgrades are Important

2010-10-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

Thermal efficiency is a major concern when dealing with large utility boilers. By using a regenerative air preheater, you can increase efficiency with the last-expensive heat recovery system that also has the ability to endure harsh environments and extreme temperatures. The largest hindrance to the air preheating system is air leakage, which can lead to problems such as fouling, corrosion, increased auxiliary power consumption, ammonium bisulfate plugging and higher pressure differentials. These can all lead to a loss of efficiency and in turn, money. An article by powermag.com discusses the necessity of air preheaters in this month's offerings:

"The air preheater is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of the boiler combustion air system. Evaluating and optimizing a heater's performance is difficult given how entwined it is with the entire combustion system and the lack of standardized calculation tools. Reducing leakage by using modern seal technology will improve combustion efficiency, maintain fan performance, and keep your downstream air quality control equipment operating within spec."

By implementing and maintaining high-quality and high-durability air preheaters, you can rest assured that your large utility boiler will give you the maximum output without losing time and efficiency due to air leakage-related wear and tear. In a time when the economy isn't so great, even those in the power generation industry need to tighten their belts and watch their pocketbooks whenever possible. So, invest in an air preheater today and start saving that revenue for more important things: like operation expansion!

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies:

www.pactinc.com

To read the article from powermag.com, follow this link:

http://www.powermag.com/issues/features/Air-Preheater-Seal-Upgrades-Renew-Plant-Efficiency_3032.html

And Array We Go! - On The Future of Solar Panels

2010-09-20T05:11:00.000-07:00

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

A new technology has emerged in the field of renewable energy. Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a new kind of antenna forged from carbon nanotubes that concentrate one-hundred times more solar energy than a standard photovoltaic cell. This is a revolutionary discovery, as the amount of surface area needed to create an efficient solar panel is going to be decreasing in the near future. Just as computer chips have gotten exponentially smaller and more powerful over the years, so will solar arrays. An article from Power Online discusses this exciting topic in one of their latest articles:

"[These] new antennas might also be useful for any other application that requires light to be concentrated, such as night-vision goggles or telescopes. Solar panels generate electricity by converting photons (packets of light energy) into an electric current. Strano's (Charles and Hilda Roddey Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and the team leader of the researchers who have discovered this new technology) nanotube antenna boosts the number of photons that can be captured and transforms the light into energy that can be funneled into a solar cell."

The article maintains that in the future, your entire roof might not need to be covered in solar panels, but rather just have a few small locations where these new antenna arrays are present. However, there will likely be a myriad of other uses for these nanotubes, ranging from the powering of smaller devices to advances in satellite, space station and space shuttle construction. With this new breakthrough, it is likely that the renewable resource industry will see a huge boost in the months to come as the process is streamlined for mass production.

To learn more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies:

www.pactinc.com

To read the article from Power Online, click this link:

http://www.poweronline.com/article.mvc/Researchers-Develop-A-Way-To-Funnel-Solar-0001

Electric Intelligence and the Smart Grid...

2010-09-08T05:11:00.000-07:00

(Image courtesy of Ecolectic)

Power Magazine recently ran an article that takes a look at the 2009-2010 Platts/Capgemini Utilities Executive Study that was just recently released in July. 106 senior executives were asked questions regarding the power generation industry, particularly regarding the advent of smart grids and their effect on those in our field. For those that don't know (and if you don't, I'm surprised you read this blog), a smart grid is a system of electricity deliverance that uses computer feedback and collected data to make sure that people are getting the most efficient amount of power for their needs while taxing the power supplier less. It keeps them from sending out too much power that would otherwise be wasted. The article from Power Magazine had this to say:

"The executive summary notes that 45% of respondents' companies have a smart grid strategy in place, while 52% said their utility has one in development. "Over two-thirds of participants also said they expect their smart grid strategies will change over the next five years as a result of evolving technologies." Full smart meter implementation has been reached by 37% of respondents and advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) by 35%."

The gist of the article is that full, nation-wide implementation of these smart grids is possible in the near future, but would require more cooperation from suppliers and technology vendors. By getting a 100% implementation rate of smart meters in American homes, not only will those in the power generation field save money, but the American public will save money as well. For those in our field, this is a goal that we should definitely be striving for.

To learn more about power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies' website:

www.pactinc.com

To read the article from Power Magazine, follow this link:

http://www.powermag.com/smart_grid/What-Utility-Executives-Think-About-the-Smart-Grid_2872.html

To view the results of the study, click here:

http://www.us.capgemini.com/PlattsStudy/register2010.asp?chnid=

Competition, Culture and Change: Optimizing Power Generation

2010-08-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

(Image Source: Reliability Management Group)

Time wasted, efficiency failures and low team morale are all all problems which those of us in the power generation industry must face on a day-to-day basis. A recent article by Power Magazine discusses the implementation of a WPO (work process optimization strategy) that can help combat lulls in efficiency that some in our field may face due to the current recession, as well as the increasing market demand regarding power generation companies. Items on the to do list include time management, streamlining daily and weekly scheduling processes, proper planning and management of tasks, training, computerized maintenance and a measurement system for success regarding the implementation. A brief summary of one of the most important parts of the new strategy is discussed in the article as follows:

"Managers want to know how the WPO is working and what they can do to remove obstacles to improvement. For years, supervisors cited work interruptions, manpower shortages, and coordination missteps as being the problems that prevented work from getting done as quickly or as well as they had hoped. Those obstacles remain, but the behavior modification is that now supervisors are supposed to document them, not just talk about them. This is a huge change that causes concern among supervisors, who wonder, 'Will we be held responsible for events out of our control? What happens to me if I'm at fault?'"

The importance of having an accurate and reliable measurement system is evident. Without a way to gauge the amount of progress you've made, it is unlikely that you will be able to develop a concise strategy for improvement during the next work cycle (quarter, season, etc.). By reporting work process mesures and key performance indicators, as well as a record of variables that occur which may decrease efficiency, the manager(s) of a power generation company can be sure, not only if they are taking the correct steps in their endeavors, but also what is causing the hiccups in their operations. In an era where power generation is one of the inciting factors of our species' development, power generating corporations should take heed to make sure that they're supplying their consumers energy in the most efficient way.

To read more about industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies:

www.pactinc.com

To read the article from Power Magazine, click here:

http://www.powermag.com/issues/features/Work-Process-Optimization-Meeting-the-Challenge-of-Change_2883_p5.html

Flue Symptoms: Separating Carbon Dioxide from Flue Gasses

2010-08-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Image Source: netl.doe.gov

A recent article from Power Online discusses a recent advancement of a research team at the Georgia Institute of Technology that could potentially usher in a new era of clean burning flue systems. As we’re all aware, in the United States, coal-burning power plants are responsible for roughly 33% of the country’s total carbon output. By using hollow fibers, the researchers have discovered a way to remove large volumes of carbon dioxide from flue emissions. The article from Power Online discusses some of the applications as well as its potential effect on the industrial power generation community:

“’The challenge with this [process] is to have a technology that not only physically works, but that can be built on a large scale and operated inexpensively,’ says David Sholl, who leads the membrane project as a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering…

… Membranes could theoretically separate the carbon dioxide from other gasses with less energy input. But no existing membrane materials can do the job while being robust enough to operate in the hostile flue-gas environment – and inexpensive enough for the large areas needed.'”

At The Power Generation Blog, we are always excited about potential new technologies in our field, but beyond that, we like to concern ourselves (whenever possible) with new energy producing processes that help out the environment. By reducing carbon emissions in coal plants, we can help our ecosystem while not having to move to alternative forms of power production. Coal won’t be as available as it is today for forever, but in the interim we might as well use what he have while finding more efficient and more environmentally-friendly ways to implement it.

To read more about power and composite technologies, visit PCT:

www.pactinc.com

To read the article from Power Online, follow this link:

http://www.poweronline.com/article.mvc/Hollow-Fibers-ARPA-E-Funding-Supports-0001

Big Plans Ahead for Nigeria...

2010-08-11T05:09:00.000-07:00

A recent article from Power-Gen Worldwide discusses a large investment that the nation of Nigeria, private investors and international development and finance agencies will be making over the course of the next four years. Nigeria has recently fallen victim to power shortages that have begun to affect the country's infrastructure. The new project, which will cost the country and investors around $3.5 billion, will be implemented in order to increase the electrical output of the country from that of a 330/132 kV electrical grid to the new 700 kV grid, effectively more than doubling their energy supply. In the article from Power-Gen Worldwide, the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, was paraphrased regarding the state of the nation:

"Nigeria suffers from acute electricity shortages and President Jonathan has made increased power supplies a key part of government policy ahead of national elections scheduled for January. A reform of the power sector will be announced on 26 August, the presidency said. This will include a greater role for private-sector investors. Nigeria has urged its main upstream partners, such as Shell and Chevron, to increase gas supplies to the domestic market to increase power generation capacity. Most of the country's gas is supplied to the 22m tonnes/year Nigeria LNG plant on Bonny island or flared off."

This news is important for several reasons. First off, it serves as an excellent example of developing nations realizing that in order to prosper, major changes need to be implemented regarding power generation in order to facilitate the country's rapid expansion as new technologies become available to them. Secondly, this is an incredible opportunity for power generation investors to get in on the ground floor of a potential emerging world power. Finally, this news is important because it shows that the power generation industry is not something that can be affected by the now world-wide recession, even in developing nations. There are evidently good things on the horizon for those of us in the power generation industry.

To learn more about Power Generation Technology, check out Power and Composite Technologies:

www.pactinc.com

To read the article from Power-Gen Worldwide, click this link:

http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/articledisplay/0386927987/articles/powergenworldwide/t-and-d/t-and-d-infrastructure/2010/08/nigeria-sets_out_plans.html

Going Down Under & Thinking Outside the Box

2010-08-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

The North Head Sewage Treatment Plant in Sydney Harbor has recently been fitted with a $124 million hydroelectric plant which uses treated wastewater to produce electricity. This marks the first time in Australia's history that a hydroelectric plant has been used to generate power from treated sewage. This is accomplished by hydroelectric assemblies located in a 60-meter shaft that treat wastewater as it falls down. According to sydneywater.com.au, this means that the North Head plant now generates around forty percent of its own power. An article in Power Magazine discusses a brief history of this innovative technology:

"Sydney Water is pioneering the plant in Australia, but it isn't the first in the world to harness hydroelecricity from a wastewater plant. U.S.-based Aquarion Water Co. has launched a program that taps excess forces inside water pipes, using technology designed by New York alternative energy company Rentricity. That company's Flow-to-Wire system relieves excess water pressure delivered to customers at elevations lower than the water source. The inherent pressure differentials are used to spin turbines to create power."

These new approaches to otherwise wasted sources of energy are likely to become a staple of the power generation industry in the coming years. As the world's resources begin to become less and less available, companies will have to start looking for ways to generate power that would have previously been skimmed over. The application of the North Head sewage treatment plant of their wastewater to a hydroelectric power plant is just one of the few examples of how new ways of generating power can save money and improve efficiency.

To read the article from Power Magazine, follow this link:

http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/global_monitor/Australia-Gets-Hydropower-from-Wastewater_2789.html

To view the list of improvements to the North Head facility from Sydney Water, follow this one:

http://www.sydneywater.com.au/majorprojects/North/NorthHeadSTD/index.cfm

Cap-and-Trade Legislation and the Industry Standard

2010-07-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

(Image source: Stand Up For America)

The idea behind cap and trade policies is pretty simple: In order to lower our national fuel emissions, the government puts a "cap" on the amount of carbon emissions the nation can release and then companies "trade" for vouchers which allow them to output carbon from their factories. If they don't have enough vouchers, they can't allow processes to take place which emit further carbon. To those of us in Industrial Power Generation, this is a lot more desirable than having the EPA regulate carbon emissions, a situation which would have dire consequences for those companies that generate power with carbon byproducts. Power Magazine has an article relating to the Electric Power 2010 convention, at which many leaders in the power generation industry gathered to discuss changing trends as they relate to the field of power generation. Of the convention, the magazine had this to say:

"Rarely does unanimity strike a power industry panel, but the APA and its "conservative" cap and trade provisions, according to Connaughton, [Executive VP of corporate affairs at Constellation Energy] recieved a resounding vote of approval from the panel. Connaughton called it a major step forward and said that it "adds creative thinking from the power sector." Murphy [Regional VP of NRG Energy] said his firm was pushing for cap and trade and that it has to happen sooner than later. Trent [Duke Energy Group executive and president of Commercial Businesses] supported the legislation and noted that the EPA will regulate carbon without it. Adams [Senior VP of operations, Calpine Corp.] was favorable toward the bill because it nicely positions efficient gas-fired capacity. The slightest waver came from Kormos, [Senior VP of Services, PJM] who said he was supportive of any legislation at this point just for the certainty of it.

In the industry of power generation, we face several restrictions regarding our carbon emissions. That isn't to say that we're not trying to save the environment ourselves; renewable energy is the fastest growing aspect of our business, and in a time when everyone else is going green, we refuse to be left behind. With that said, carbon offsets being purchased by environmental groups, the actions of the EPA and several other factors may seem like a hindrance to us at times. The 2010 Power Industry Executive Roundtable reminds us that cap and trade is a good idea, because the alternative could be devastating.

To read the full article from Power Magazine, click here:

http://www.powermag.com/issues/features/Industry-Pivots-on-Natural-Gas-Hails-Cap-and-Trade_2810.html

To learn more about the latest developments in industrial power generation, check out Power and Composite Technologies:

http://www.pactinc.com/

Biofuels Processing On the Move

2010-07-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

(Image courtesy of BBC news at bbc.co.uk)

The idea of an army of un-manned, robotic harvesters traversing the midwest over and over again to mine for resources from waste-materials in the topsoil might seem like something out of science fiction. However, scientists at Purdue University have discovered a process by which they might be able to process organic waste and other biomass (ranging from wood chips to rice husks) into biofuel using mobile conversion plants. Essentially, the robots would follow a pre-determined route (much like a Roomba) and retrace this path at logical intervals to collect waste material, which they would then convert to fuel via a new process deemed "fast-hydropyrolysis-hydrodeoxygenation". Poweronline.com gave this explanation of the process:

"The new method, called fast-hydropyrolysis-hydrodeoxygenation, works by adding hydrogen into the biomass-processing reactor. The hydrogen for the mobile plants would be derived from natural gas or the biomass itself. However, Agrawal (a distinguished professor of chemical engineering at Purdue) envisions the future use of solar power to produce the hydrogen by splitting water, making the new technology entirely renewable."

For decades, man has tried to figure out ways to create self-sustaining technologies, and processes by which we can reduce or entirely eliminate our waste byproducts through recycling and other means. In agriculture, crop-rotation, mulching and controlled burns have been in use for centuries to allow resources that would otherwise go to waste work for the farmer. In the modern era, it seems like we will be able to let new, more-advanced technologies take care of that for us - and they're even automated! I'm sure if we went back ten years and told someone that there would someday soon be an affordable robot that would vacuum your house for you, they might have thought you were crazy. Today we have the Roomba, and tomorrow we'll have a robot for collecting what would otherwise be wasted from our agricultural endeavors.

For more information on this new process, follow the link:

http://www.poweronline.com/article.mvc/New-Biofuels-Processing-Method-For-Mobile-0001?VNETCOOKIE=NO

New Emissions Standards for Mercury Removal

2010-07-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

(Mercury cycle inside of a coal plant, image courtesy of Southern Company)

According to a recent article from Power magazine, the EPA is likely going to release a new emissions standard for dealing with the mercury in power plants. This new proposal could come as early as March of next year, which means that many power generation plants will need to make drastic revisions to their machinery which works directly with mercury. Some companies, like Southern Company (The ones responsible for this week's graphic) have already started to develop innovative new technologies to help them lower the amount of mercury released from their plants.

The article from Power magazine has this to say regarding their new technologies:

"Mercury emissions from Southern Company's bituminous coal units have been reduced substantially as a result of co-benefit control. Currently, these AQCSs are designed and operated for removal of nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). The result is highly variable mercury emissions from a system not engineered for mercury control. This variability must be accounted for in evaluating co-benefit systems and their potential to comply with limits on mercury and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that are expected to be part of the electric generating units' Haps maximum achievable control technology rules."

Pre-eminently developing similar technologies or replicating Southern Company's process might be the best bet for other industrial plants to save themselves money and the headaches that can sometimes can be associated with new emissions regulations. At the Power Generation Blog, we recommend that if your power plant uses coal and vaporizes mercury that you start to look into these new processes now and not wait for next March when the rules will most likely change.

Sizzling Summer Scorches Power Production

2010-07-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

(Image courtesy of the World Meteorological Organization)

The United States isn't the only country suffering from the effects of a blistering Summer. It was recently reported that because of a heat wave, China's twenty-four hour electricity consumption rate reached its highest level in all of history, when it hit nearly 13 billion killowatt-hours on Monday, July fifth. The previous world record, from last July, was exceeded by over five percent. The article, from English.news.cn, stated the following information regarding the stress on China's power generation infrastructure:

"The heat wave is affecting at least 16 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC), which issued an orange-level heat alert on Tuesday, the second highest level. With temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius, the electricity load in Beijing, Tianjin, Fujian and north China hit record high on Monday."

In order to avoid power shortages throughout the rest of the Summer, Chinese power officials are working diligently to predict electricity-demand patterns from the sixteen effected areas. Whether or not global warming is real or just a theory is a whole different topic, but those in the industry of power generation would do well to take a cue from the problems China is experiencing. Until new technologies are developed and as long as global temperatures continue to rise, power costs and the demands on the resources of every nation will continue to increase.

For more information on the Chinese heat-wave, in English, click the link:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-07/06/c_13386638.htm

To learn more about the demands of power generation in the United States and Germany, visit the PACT website:

http://www.pactinc.com/

Opening the Flood Gates: Water Quality and Quantity in Power Generation

2010-06-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

As was reported by Power Magazine, a study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office and reported on in “Running Dry at the Power Plant” (EPRI Journal, Summer 2007) predicts that water shortages will be experienced in the U.S. within the next 10 years under average climate conditions, and the situation will be more severe under drought conditions. With the global temperature fluctuating sporadically over the last few years, it is likely that the trend of unpredictable weather systems will continue for some time. What does this mean to those in the industry of power generation? As water is one of the fundamental elements of electricity generation, it is likely to have a profound impact.

Water is used as the standard coolant in most power generation processes, ranging from renewable energy resources to the heat-retention systems in nuclear power plants. The issue comes when the water used is either recycled back into the system or dumped, leaving potentially hazardous particulate matter in the water that can pollute the environment in which it ends up. The article from Power Magazine states that:

"Specific tower components have been developed and continue to undergo improvement as a direct result of decreasing water availability and increasing difficulty in obtaining permits for new cooling towers. For example, high-efficiency film fills maximize tower thermal performance, and modern drift eliminator designs can limit drift loss to as low as 0.0005% of the circulating water flow rate. Cooling tower fill is used to achieve the most economical heat transfer rate by providing increased contact surface area between the water and air."

It will be important for those in the power generation industry to monitor changes in cooling technology as water resources become more scarce. It is likely that in the future, our power generation output will be determined by the amount of water that is available for cooling applications in the industry. Until new methods of heat distribution and cooling are developed we will be dependent on water, and as water shortages continue to become more and more frequent, it is likely that our conservation of the element will determine our success for decades to come.

To read the article from Power Magazine, follow the link:

http://www.powermag.com/issues/features/Appraising-Our-Future-Cooling-Water-Options_2718.html

Roadmap 2050: Where Power Generation is Going in the Next Half-Century

2010-06-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) has recently published 'Roadmap 2050: A Practical Guide to a Prosperous, Low-Carbon Europe' which plans out the decarbonization of the continent over the next forty years. The guide supplies information on four potential scenarios, ranging from having forty to one-hundred percent of energy supplied by renewable resources by 2050. The guide isn't idealistic though, as it also discusses the primary argument against a high-renewable energy scenario: that renewable energy is not always as dependable as CCS and nuclear power.

One of the more interesting tidbits from an article on the subject at Power-Gen Worldwide:

"With the exception of existing hydroelectric facilities, almost all of the power generation capacity required to supply Europe in 2050 will need to be built in the next 40 years. This is a major undertaking regardless of the energy mix, and would pose a massive challenge even in a high-carbon scenario.The key finding of the Roadmap 2050 project is that the challenge is basically the same in either a high-carbon, low-carbon or zero-carbon energy scenario, in terms of overall cost and scale."

The steps outlined in the plan would need to be implemented by 2015 for the EFC to reach its intended goal. Several energy-efficient measures that would reduce cost and demand will be put into place, and investments in regional networks alongside local smart grids are on the agenda. There are also plans in place to reform the market in order to create a positive investment scenario. The Roadmap 2050 project is a sure sign that carbon efficiency in power generation is a trend that is extending its reach to all parts of the world.

To read the article at Power-Gen Worldwide, follow the link:

http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/articledisplay/0030708475/articles/powergenworldwide/Business/Policy/2010/04/european-power_sector.html

The Economics of Heat-Recovery Steam Generators

2010-06-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

During the 1990s and 2000s, many combined-cycle plants were implemented in the United States for a wide range of applications. With the economic turbulence we have experienced in the last decade, deregulation of the electricity market and the ever-rising price of natural gas, many of these plants began to make sacrifices to keep their production levels high, sometimes at the cost of efficiency.

With demand of production peaking at several times during a standard workday, some manufacturers had to start "double-cycling" their plants, meaning they would cover the morning peak, shut down production, and then restart to cover the afternoon or evening peak. As most of these plants were not designed to handle this stress, many manufacturers are noticing reduced life of their components and experiencing higher costs for replacement and repair than they had originally anticipated. An article from Power Magazine has this perspective:

"In actuality, few owners are capable of accurately projecting these statistics over a 30-plus-year life cycle. The assumed inspection and maintenance programs in the conventional LCA (Life-Cycle Analysis) for the typical combined-cycle plant are based on fixed periodic intervals and statistical information derived from baseloaded units. But an inspection and maintenance program for any unit should take into account the actual operation of the HRSG, not merely the theoretical operating profile. Deviate from those design assumptions, and the actual life of critical components may be severely compromised"

Manufacturers will quickly find that the hidden costs of maintaining these over-exhausted machines might take a hefty chunk out of their companies' budgets. Cycling occurs when machines are run and then shut down to meet grid demand and provide owners with the most efficient and cost-effective production values. Unfortunately, it simply isn't practical to run these machines in cyclic conditions without incurring the cost of unforeseen maintenance and part replacement.

To read the article at Powermag.com, follow the link:

http://www.powermag.com/issues/cover_stories/Economic-Operation-of-Fast-Starting-HRSGs_2715.html

Hydropower: The Most Popular Source of Power Generation Worldwide

2010-06-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

It was recently reported by globaldata.com that Hydropower is the most efficient and popular renewable resource for electricity generation in the entire world. As the demand for energy rises across the globe, the nations of the world are looking for the highest possible return on their energy investment. Hydroelectric power is ideal for this because of low maintenance costs, inexpensive operation and high energy yield. It is likely that the renewable energy industry will trend toward water-based power in the near future and for decades to come.

The article projects a market analysis for hydropower for the next ten years, as small and mini hydroelectric plants begin to be widely developed. Globaldata estimates that by 2015, small hydropower will produce 140 gigawatts of electricity and by 2020 that number will be closer to 210 GW. Considering that in 2001 the entire output of the world's hydropower was 695.8 GW and by 2009 that number was 888.8GW, this is no small drop in the bucket.

The entire report is incredibly interesting to those in the power generation field. Here is a quick abstract:

GlobalData’s “Global Small Hydro Power Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2020” report gives an in-depth analysis of Global small hydro power market and provides forecasts up to 2020. The research analyzes the growth, evolution of global small hydro power market up to 2008 and gives historical and forecast statistics for the period 2001-2020. This research also gives detailed analysis of the market structures of the technology and regulatory policies that govern it. Detailed information on key current and upcoming assets give a roadmap to this industry’s development.

As the world's demand for power continues to increase exponentially along with our population and the rapid growth of technology, companies who are looking for an efficient renewable resource should consider riding the wave of hydropower into the next decade.

Iowa and Texas Face Off Over Wind Supremecy

2010-05-25T06:33:00.000-07:00

There's a little friendly rivalry between Iowa and Texas (and as we know, competition spurs innovation). The Dallas News reports that Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced, "I just want Texas to know that we're coming after you." The governor said this remark at the Windpower 2010 convention in Dallas. Iowa presently generates 3,670 megawatts of wind power whereas Texas generates approximately 10,000 megawatts of wind power. Iowa is the second-largest producer of wind power in America.

It is clear why Iowa wants to move into wind power. Beside the technology offering a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly source of energy, it also offers new avenues for job creation. Texas presently has about 10,000 jobs linked to the wind power industry, and it projects about 41,000 jobs by the end of the decade. The state has plans to spend upwards of $5 billion in order to double its wind power generation infrastructure and offer the energy from as far away as Northwestern Texas down to the metropolitan centers in the east.

Texas is really an exemplary state for wind power growth: Back in 1999, the state only generating about 116 megawatts of wind power. It's thought that Texas' largely deregulated power market has been responsible for its enormous growth. The state has also enjoyed relatively unbroken economic prosperity as the rest of the country has endured more ups and downs. One area in which Texas still suffers is in transmitting its power across state lines. The state does not share much of its power grid with other states. However, it seems that that may just be a function of state's unique personal identity.

European Union Pushes For Smart Grid Funding

2010-05-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Europe is getting hammered pretty hard by the declining global economy. But this hasn't hindered European Union from trying to secure funding for a supergrid. Recently, the EU's Minister for Communication, Energy, and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan reached out to business leaders in Dublin. Ryan had a lot to say to the Business & Leadership Green Economy conference. Ryan exhorted business leaders to reduce carbon emissions and create a "revolution" in the green economy. He noted that there are many viable green energy technologies, including wind energy, but in order for green technology to take off, Europe will need a better energy grid. He said,

"To give us the modern electrical economy we need a modern grid, at home, and to connect north-western Europe.

“European energy ministers are working on this; it’s not pie in the sky. When I go to energy council ministers, we talk about how we could connect Britain to Norway, how we fund these, the timelines.

“We are setting out the plans and we’ll be going to Europe for a review of funding for 2014. The opportunity is to match funding arrangements for future smart grids with climate-change objectives and I think we’ll succeed. Airtricity’s Eddie O’Connor has been talking about this for years, everyone is taking this serious as one of main projects in Europe."

As we've noted before, an efficient energy revolution will fail to take place unless a smart grid gets implemented. It's great to see the European Union look to the long term, past these present economic woes, and at a future composed of smart grid and green energy.

Solar Thermal Is Heating Up in Texas

2010-04-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

It looks like Texas is going to get its first solar thermal power generation plant. Austin-based ThermalSoul has plans to construct a facility that can generate up to 10 megawatts of electricity, which can power up to 9,000 homes. Solar technology is a growing energy industry, but ThermalSoul's facility will be slightly different than what most people think of when they think of solar power. Rather than harnessing power directly from the sun using solar panels, the Austin plant will convert solar power to thermal energy, which it can store in thermal liquids. Thermal solar power, therefore, works even when the weather is overcast or raining. Thermal solar power is up to ten times as efficient as direct solar or wind power, as well.

Even though thermal solar power is an emerging industry, it's also a growing one. Some major players are entering the arena, including Duke Energy's spinoff, Solargenix Energy, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Google. For right now, ThermalSoul is leading the charge in Austin. It hopes to generate power for the same cost as coal.

2010-03-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

We've been covering hydrogen fuel cell technology a lot, lately. Well, here's another story. A company called eHydrogen Solutions, Inc. has created some exciting-sounding hydrogen fuel cell technology. The company's new H2-Reactor Development Project looks to pull of something fairly audacious: It wants to use only water and reactive metal alloys to produce energy. According to the company,

The reactive metals cause water molecules to release hydrogen and oxygen, which immediately reacts with aluminum to produce aluminum oxide (alumina) which can be recycled back into aluminum. Recycling aluminum from nearly pure alumina is less expensive than mining the aluminum-containing ore bauxite, thereby creating a reusable, sustainable, and zero-emission power source.

This sounds like bare magic. It's actually just a slight refinement of the idea underlying the Bloom Box technology, which also produces nominal waste. The company that eventually dominates the hydrogen fuel cell energy market will be the one that wins the race to the bottom on cost, still. The industrial power generation game is still ruled by cash.

The Unsung Hero of Industrial Power Generation?

2010-03-24T06:16:00.001-07:00

We've been getting into the broader aspects of industrial power generation. So it seemed like a good time to get back to some specific basics. Industrial power generation calls for the working in concert of a fairly large amount of parts. In industrial power generators, one of the most important parts is the rotor. A rotor is a solid steel drum formed with axially extending channels that carry electrically-conductive windings. These windings are electrically insulated from the rotor body by slot armor, which is sometimes called slot insulation.

Selecting the right slot armor is one of the most important things an industrial power generation company can do, since slot armor is more or less what prevents an industrial power generator from failing in a very bad way. Most leading slot armor products come in U-shaped, Z-shaped, and L-shaped configurations, and have a Class H temperature rating (meaning they withstand temperatures up to 180°C). Slot armor should also be constructed from materials that have high levels of electrical insulation properties, low coefficients of friction, and a good amount of flexibility to fit into tight spots.

Many leading manufacturers of slot armor generally use their own trademarked engineered laminates. These laminates are made from materials like epoxy glass, aramids, and dielectric films. Because of the amount of electricity and heat present in industrial power generators, the custom composite materials going into your slot armor are going to be extremely important. Make sure you know the exact specifications and operating conditions of your industrial power generators while you're speccing out slot insulation.

On the Bloom Box

2010-03-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

By now, you must have heard about the magical-seeming Bloom Box. It's been all over the Internet, and 60 Minutes ran a segment on the idea, last month. On their site, Bloom has a neat flash video that outlines how the Bloom Box words, roughly speaking.

The Bloom Box is a fuel cell, and a fuel cell is basically a little power plant. By combining heat, fuel, and air, it generates electricity, which is then stored in a battery. One thing that separates the Bloom Box from other fuel cells is that some of its parts that would normally be made from toxic materials are actually made from an ink coating. That is, the anode and cathode portions of the Bloom Box are made from a mysterious, proprietary ink material. The electrolyte is made from a ceramic material.

Basically, the Bloom Box generates a massive amount of heat--about 1800ºF--but the amount of heat it generates is nearly the amount of heat it needs to generate power. Its rated efficiency is greater than 50%. To put that in perspective, most solar power is rated at 10% to 15%.

Presently, a 100 kilowatt-hour Bloom Box energy server contains thousands of solid oxide fuel cells. (Incidentally, each of those fuel cells has enough energy to power a light bulb.) They are pretty large units. Each one costs around $800,000. However, eBay has claimed it's saved over $100,000 since adopting Bloom Box technology. They cost about $0.09 per kW hour versus $0.14 for typical power costs in California. Another benefit of the Bloom Box is that it boasts (in Google's case) 98% uptime.

It remains to be seen if the Bloom Box technology is scalable. It may never become applicable for domestic applications. But it is a good first step, and its nice to see such a unique power generation product get mainstream attention.

What Happened to Cap and Trade?

2010-03-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

We have been covering cap and trade for a little while. Let's check in and see what's going on with its latest developments. With the so-called cap and trade bill may be dead, as Lindsay Graham has said, but it now looks like the Environmental Protection Agency is trying to save the measure, after being left for dead in the Senate. The EPA's website has a page dedicated to cap and trade:

Cap and trade is an environmental policy tool that delivers results with a mandatory cap on emissions while providing sources flexibility in how they comply. Successful cap and trade programs reward innovation, efficiency, and early action and provide strict environmental accountability without inhibiting economic growth.

Examples of successful cap and trade programs include the nationwide Acid Rain Program and the regional NOx Budget Trading Program in the Northeast. Additionally, EPA issued the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) on March 10, 2005, to build on the success of these programs and achieve significant additional emission reductions.

It is now thought that the EPA will use the existing Clean Air Act, which was set up in the 1990s to combat acid rain, in order to institute a cap and trade regulation. Indeed, the EPA has made a 2011 budget request for a $7.5 million initiative to look into a "market-oriented" greenhouse gas reduction, which sounds a lot like cap and trade. Such a plan on the EPA would be audacious, and surely face many challenges. The US Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest not-for-profit lobbying firm, has already filed a petition asking the EPA to reconsider its course of action.

It remains to be seen how the presence or absence of a cap and trade bill would influence the power generation industry. While it's thought that power generation costs would rise, it also seems likely that the power generation companies will be able to pass onto consumers rising costs of energy production. Whether the country's quality of life, health, and safety would improve is certainly uncertain, but a move to sustainable, clean energy--even at an increased cost upfront--seems to be the only way for America to sustain its still-growing population.

President Obama Pushing Nuclear Power

2010-02-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

President Obama has been pushing hard for climate change reform, despite recent political losses for his party, inability to push through healthcare reform, and seeing all his federal nominations blocked. Unfortunately for him, it seems as if his climate change bill is destined for failure.

The President's thinking on the matter is fairly succinct, according to the New York Times.

"There is so much natural gas now that we've moved into the shale plays, the real challenge is, how do you use the available gas to meet near-term energy goals?" Obama said. "It takes the government to get out of the way and do the things it can do."
Besides the cap and trade aspect of Obama's energy reform vision, he is also trying to sell the public on nuclear power. The President has been touring the country trying to drum up support for his plan. He told a crowd in Maryland,

"Nuclear energy remains our largest source of fuel that procures no carbon emissions," he said. "We'll need to increase our supply of nuclear power. It's that simple."

Residents of Maryland hope that the government will open up its purse and subsidize the creation of a nuclear reactor at Calvert Cliffs, as he already did for a nuclear reactor in Burke, GA. The President awarded a conditional grant of $8.3 billion for Southern Co. to build a nuclear reactor in Burke.

But not everyone is for such a spending plan.. The Gaston Gazette has published an editorial denouncing the Obama plan to build nuclear in Georgia, saying,

Using loan guarantees to "jump-start" the building of more nuclear reactors, however, is a poor way to get the job done. It is argued that private investors have been reluctant to lend money for nuclear projects, in part because regulatory requirements are onerous, and it is true that it takes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission four years to issue a permit for a nuclear plant.

They go on to cite a Cato Institute analyst who claims that nuclear power plants too long to be completed. This line of thinking fails to capture exactly why the administration seems to be pushing nuclear power, though. If cost-effectiveness were the only criterion for what energy solutions were the best to pursue, then so-called green technology would never take off, which doesn't necessarily speak poorly about green-energy. All the money in the world won't be able to purchase a clean planet.

Argentina Expands Its Nuclear Power

2010-02-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal just released an article stating that Argentina will complete its third nuclear power plant by the end of 2010. The nation's Planning Minister, Julio De Vido, said that the plant is called Atucha II, and that it will be completed ahead of schedule. It was previously thought to finish construction by the first or second quarter of 2011.

Atucha II, along with the Argentine-Paraguayan Yacreta hydroelectric plant, will add more than 2,000 megawatts of power generation to the country, increasing its capacity by 10%. The plants will go far toward decreasing the blackouts, which have heavily plagued the country for the last three years when natural gas began suffering shortages.

Strangely, Atucha II was originally thought to go live back in 1987, but political and economic forces conspired to sideline the project for more than 20 years. The plant will be built next to Atucha I, which went live in 1974. Argentina's second nuclear plant, Embalse, commenced operations in 1984. All tolled, the three plants will generate more than 1700 megawatts of power. Nuclear power accounts for more than 6% of Argentina's overall power generation.

Composits in Power Generation and Beyond

2010-01-27T07:47:00.000-08:00

Composite materials like Kevlar, carbon fiber, resin epoxies, polyesters, and vinyl esters are relied on heavily by the power generation industry. Composites are extremely versatile due to their

excellent dielectric qualities;
superior mechanical strength with regard to their weight;
low thermal conductivity; and
corrosion resistance.

Some common components made by composites include collector assemblies, slot armor, turn insulation, tape kits, wedges, and thermocouples--just to name a few.

If composites were used to create and shield the massive power generation machines used to power whole cities, then you would think they were pretty robust. But now, NASA has announced that they've found a way to make composite materials even cooler: They've built an all-composite space capsule.

The properties we outlined above--a good strength to weight ratio; high corrosion and heat resistance; low thermal conductivity--all contribute to making composite applications perfect for space. In particular, the ability of composites to be formed in complex shapes while retaining their great strength and structural integrity is very important. Mike Kirsch, the NASA Engineering and Safety Center project manager sounds very optimistic when he says,

"We are very pleased with the entire test series. Throughout testing, there were no anomalies and performance aligned amazingly well with analytical predictions."

It is incredibly humbling and exciting that the frontiers of human knowledge can be expanded using the same kind of high tech materials that allow us to charge our cellphone and brew coffee in the morning.

Power Generation Links

2010-01-08T05:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some power generation links for your Friday morning perusal.

Is Google getting into the power generation business? They're making some decent strides in the alternate energy and smart grid sectors.
The UK's recent love affair with reducing its carbon emissions has left it vulnerable to natural gas shortages. Luckily, the recession has decreased demand for energy.
China's overall power generation capacity has risen more than 10% and its green energy capacity has increased, as well. Its supply still fails to meet demand, however.
General Electric is scaling back its solar power operations; it considers wind power to be a profitable sector.

Often Overlooked Cost of Power Generation

2009-12-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

We came across this article concerning the poor conditions surrounding power generation in Africa. Entire families are perishing from the noxious fumes of power generators throughout the developing areas of Africa. In Lagos, Nigeria, the phenomenon is especially terrible.

Observers said that there are thousands of people dying from similar ailments days or months after they had inhaled the poisonous fumes without detecting them especially from industrial generators. With these and many cases of poisonous fumes from generators decimating especially the country's productive population, many residential quarters, especially in Lagos metropolis now live in fear. If the trend is not checked, death tolls could rise to an unimaginable proportion.

Large manufacturers leak toxins and pollutants into the environment, and the effect is multiplied by the pollution let loose by power generation that's needed to fuel them. This predicament is made even more dire given the fact that Nigeria is undergoing an energy crisis. With an aging infrastructure, pollution increases and inefficiency abounds. But without outside capital investment, there is little hope for the power generation situation to improve.

Laramie River Station Rewind Video

2009-12-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

Check out this video about the Laramie River Station, which sports a new power generation turbine. There's some good information about industrial generator rewind, which the turbines featured can undergo to improve the longevity of the power generation plant.

The blades are manufactured in England, the rotor is forged in Poland, and the fixed blades and fit-up assembly is done in Mexico. Each upgrade costs about $8 million. Once all three units have a new turbine, LRS will put out an extra 36 megawatts. Another project during this plant outage is the generator rewind. All these bars, or windings, are sawed off and pulled out. Maintenance planner and scheduler Myron Mattern says these are basically copper pipes, made to allow water through for cooling. Once all the windings are out, the generator is cleaned down to the bare steel. Then, two rows of new windings are fitted in -- 84 bars in all. Hence, a rewind. [...]

The reason this rewind had to be done was because General Electric found that this model of generator was having water leakage problems. Mattern says fixing this problem now is cheaper in the long run.

Power Generation Seeing Frenzied Growth in China

2009-12-11T13:31:00.000-08:00

We've written about how alternate energy's growth has been waxing and waning in China. Well, there's a recent story from BusinessWeek about China's economy, which has been growing (perhaps too) quickly, lately. This growth includes gains made in the power generation industry, which has seen its fastest rise in over five years. The only downside to all this growth is the threat of an economic bubble (which can see an ensuing burst), and inflation.

In related news, China's largest wind power producer, China Longyuan Power Group Corp., raised more than $2 billion in its initial public offering, yesterday. Wind power production companies have more than tripled in Hong Kong trading this year, and China expects more than twenty percent of its electrical power to be generated from wind by 2020.

Solar Power: 'It's like watching the Internet mature in 1995'

2009-11-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

There's a great post by the Scientific American about the growth potential of solar power generation in the U.S. It quotes Harry Fleming, CEO of Acro Energy Technologies, who says memorably,

"It's like watching the Internet mature in 1995."

The post goes on to elaborate, saying that the cost of solar panels is dropping dramatically; the installation cost for solar panels is dropping--not as dramatically--but enough to decrease the pain in the pocketbook that causes most consumers and businesses to balk at entering the solar grid.

George Musser, the author of the post, plans on updating it as he installs solar panels on his house. It looks like a good page to bookmark. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Nuclear, Thermal Power Generation Projected To Rise For Latin America's Largest Power Producer

2009-11-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

There is news from Mexico that by 2013 the country will account for more than 20% of Latin America’s regional power generation. In 2008, Latin America produced about 1,130 terawatt hours of power, annually. With pressing global environmental concerns, renewable energy sources such as hydro-electricity, thermal generation, and nuclear power are set to rise.

Presently, oil is the dominant energy fuel for Mexican power; it accounts for 52.8% of 2008 energy production, but increases in renewables are expected. Thermal power is expected to comprise 46.20% of regional power production by 2013, and nuclear power generation is expected to rise 30%.

There are a lot more interesting statistics and projections in this Nuclear Street post.

Slow Progress in Greenhouse Gas Reduction

2009-10-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

There is more progress being made on the climate change problem facing the United States. The Obama administration is promoting measures to reduce greenhouse emissions, and the President appeared at a solar energy installation in Florida earlier this week. The New York Times reports that the Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, told a Senate panel,

“When the starting gun sounded on the clean energy race, the United States stumbled, but I remain confident that we can make up the ground... When we gear up our research and production of clean energy technologies, we can still surpass any other country.”

This optimism is heartening for supporters of green energy, but the American Clean Energy and Security Act still languishes in the wake of the healthcare bill. The development of clean energy should add jobs to the economy and help modernize the power grid, but consumers, I suspect, will be skeptical of rising energy costs being passed along to them from power generation companies. Only time will tell if the Obama administration can come up with a real plan to reduce greenhouse emissions while keeping price increases to consumers low.

British Prime Minister Sounds the Alarm Bell

2009-10-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

''There are now fewer than 50 days to set the course of the next few decades." (via NY Times)

Secret Carbon Tax Revealed in the UK

2009-10-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

There is news from the United Kingdom today of a so-called ‘secret plan’ by the British government to tax electricity consumption from carbon-burning power generation plants. This tax is meant to fund the construction of the United Kingdom’s first new nuclear reactors in more than twenty years. This tax is expected to increase an annual household’s energy bill by about £44 per year. Many people are upset since the government ministers have made repeated promises that the nuclear industry would no longer benefit from public subsidies.

The new construction of nuclear power plants and this tax are being carried out because there are growing concerns about the UK’s aging nuclear infrastructure. There is a growing peak energy gap caused by the retirement of old nuclear plants and the long lead time to opening new ones. Adding to this energy gap is public enmity towards plans for the construction of new coal plants. Power companies such as E.ON and EDF Energy are hesitant to build new nuclear power plants because of rising construction costs and falling energy prices. The cost to construct new nuclear plants is in the multi-billions of pounds.

A European energy executive has told the Guardian,

New nuclear will not happen without sorting out the carbon price,

which is bad news for consumers and government ministers, alike. According to the government, the only way to bridge the energy gap and commence swift construction of new nuclear plants is by artificially raising the price of electricity with a carbon tax. The Office of Nuclear Development, a new government unit created to facilitate building new nuclear plants, has promised nuclear companies that the price of carbon under the European Union emissions trading scheme will be disallowed to fall below €30 to €40 per ton. Currently, the price is €13 per ton. Consumers have made clear their desire for cheap, clean energy. Unfortunately, the only way for the government oftentimes to push through such measures is by raising taxes. As the old saying goes, “Cheap, good, and fast: pick two.” The rest of the world should be chastened by these developments in the UK. The power-generation infrastructure of many leading nations is aging at what seems a fast pace. As new, cleaner power generation technologies are created and their costs become reasonable, consumers are going to want to take advantage. However, lower prices means less incentive for energy companies to deliver on substantial improvements to the power grid. The only way to bridge the enthusiasm gap between consumers and power generation companies may be government intervention in the form of higher taxes or incentives.

The Nation's Largest Solar Photovoltaic Plant To Open This Week

2009-10-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

In one week, the nation’s largest solar photovoltaic plant will commence operations in Arcadia, Florida. It is called the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center. The Next Generation Solar Energy Center is opening weeks ahead of schedule and about $22.2 million under budget.

The Solar Energy Center uses more than 90,000 photovoltaic panels to turn solar energy into electricity that can support the electricity needs of more than 3,000 homes. Plant officials are working with local officials to expand the Center to increase its capacity to at least 150 megawatts. Presently, the plant has a 75 megawatt capacity. Combined with other ongoing solar energy projects that have recently launched in Florida, the solar energy center in Martin County and the one at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida has increased its solar energy capacity to 110 megawatts.

In addition to its solar capacity, the Solar Energy Center is the world’s first hybrid solar thermal plant. Besides the more than 100 workers the plant will employ during its operations, it has employed more than 600 construction workers, who are all on site right now.

Lockheed Martin to tap ocean waves for electricity generation

2009-10-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

Lockheed Martin Corp. and Ocean Power Technologies Inc. said Tuesday they have agreed to develop utility-scale power-generation systems based on Ocean Power Technologies’ system for generating electricity from waves.

Good News For Nature?

2009-10-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Energy Information Administration (EIA), the official energy statistic bureau of the United States government, released its latest outlook report recently, and it contains some good news for opponents of fossil fuels.

Carbon dioxide emissions from coal, oil, and natural gas are expected to drop by 5.9% this year due in large part to the economic downturn and a groundswell of support for green energy and renewable energy sources, which has started to reduce fossil fuels consumption. The EIA outlook report says that reduced coal consumption accounts for 63% of the CO2 emissions decrease. A decrease in petroleum consumption and natural gas account for 30% and 7% of the reduction, respectively.

The EIA outlook report also says that there is an expected rise in power generation from hydroelectric dams and wind farms: 5.4% and 19%, respectively. Power generation from nuclear power plants is expected to remain steady, while solar and renewable biomass power are on a decline relative to last year.

Ups and Downs for China's Wind-Power Program

2009-09-28T06:09:00.000-07:00

There is some mixed news out of China for renewable energy supporters. Recently, China has expressed its intention to have renewable energy meet 15% of its energy needs by 2020, which would double its 2005 percentage. However, due to its massive size and creaking infrastructure, many environmental benefits may be lost.

Last year, up to 30% of China’s wind-power capacity was unconnected to the energy grid. Additionally, due to wind energy’s natural unreliability, the country is producing more new coal power plants that can meet and uncovered demand left by failure in the energy grid or wind-power generation. Therefore, if the grid is functioning poorly or if there is simply little or no wind-power being generated, then coal power will still fulfill China’s energy needs. Since coal power plants have a length start-up time, it seems inefficient to use them as a backup source of power for wind-power turbines, though.

Another hurdle facing China’s widespread adoption of renewable energy is its seemingly ancient power grid. If it wants to utilize fully renewable energy sources, it will have to reinvent its power grid utilizing smart grid technology (which we’ve gone over here). By having precise power allocation and management, China’s power distributors can manage the existing energy more efficiently thereby reducing the overall cost and strain on the nation’s energy production.

China’s seeming difficulty with implementing renewable energy highlights troubles that other nations are facing with renewable energy. Besides necessitating redundant power production facilities, there is a high cost for constructing the new renewable energy plants. In addition, many people perceive renewable energy projects as costing jobs by closing down existing plants only to replace them with more efficient plants. However, the opposite is the case. Many plans to increase renewable energy production have deadlines well into the future. Within a few years, we will all have a much clearer picture of how the renewable energy movement will play out.

Another Sayano-Shushenskaya Update

2009-09-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

After news broke of possible corruption that lead to the tragedy at Sayano-Shushenskaya, Prime Minister Putin has ordered a thorough investigation of the accident. On 17 September, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin accused current and former managers at the power plant of committing "fraudulent schemes" to gain money for the plant. The Deputy PM said that higher-ups at Sayano-Shushenskaya created fake companies that then gained money to do work on the plant. Of course, this accusation--even if proven true--does not positively link the corruption with the failure of the plant, but it does provide a particularly troubling view of the state of the Russian power industry.

Prime Minister Putin has now proposed, besides a thorough investigation of the Sayano-Shushenskaya tragedy, the installation of so-called "black boxes," which can monitor power plants and provide critical data concerning their viability and safety.

The Governator Agrees With Us

2009-09-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

We made a post yesterday about how green energy creates jobs (and creates more jobs than fossil fuel energy). Well, in an executive order yesterday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a parallel point about protectionism. Responding to the legislature's wanting to require a large part of its renewable energy to come from in-state, he said,

I am totally against protectionist policies because it never works.

Schwarzenegger offered as support the observation that California gets other resources and products such as water and automobiles from outside California--so why not energy? Protectionist policies do have a historically poor track record dating from the recent banking meltdown to China's and North Korea's historically heavily protectionist policies. It makes sense for a free market conservative such as Schwarzenegger to advocate against protectionism, and we have to agree with him with regard to renewable energy.

Will Green Energy Create or Cut Jobs?

2009-09-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

A recent report, which was based partly on research by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, was just released by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC). It states that a shift toward renewable energies and away from fossil fuels could create more than 2.7 million (extra) jobs. Besides the increase over fossil fuels in job growth, a shift toward renewable energies could help combat global climate change.

The report says, in part, “A switch from coal to renewable electricity generation will not just avoid 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions, but will create 2.7 million more jobs by 2030 than if we continue business as usual.” Rather than eliminating jobs--as some commentators believe the ramping down of fossil fuel power generation--the report concludes that jobs will actually increase. By investing money and development in solar, wind, tidal, and biomass, two grave problems can be addressed simultaneously. For instance, after the automobile industry, the wind turbine industry is currently the second-largest steel consumer in Germany. The study projects that jobs in power generation will rise from about 9 million today to more than 11 million by 2030; it projects renewables jobs will rise from 1.9 million to 6.9 million. On a related note, it projects that if things continue as they have been, that jobs in coal power generation will fall by about half a million, to 8.6 million by 2030.

The report goes on to say that in 2008, for the first time, both the United States and the European Union added more power generating capacity from renewable energy than from conventional sources such as gas, coal, oil, and nuclear power. The report adds ammunition to supporters of sustainable energy and helps to deflate opponents of sustainable energy who criticize the movement on the grounds that it will stifle job growth.