USDA funds boost renewable energy production

The US Department of agriculture (USDA) on August 14 announced that 106 projects in 29 States, Guam and Puerto Rico were selected for funding for the production of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Funding comes through the USDA rural energy for America program (REAP).

An example of a selected project is in Washington County, Iowa, where a recipient a guaranteed loan given to construct a 50 kW (kilowatt) wind turbine on his farm. The turbine is expected to generate about 103.200 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year - enough to meet the annual requirements of the nine homes. WTE Dallmann LLC in Calumet, Wisconsin, is to help another recipient of a grant REAP, to finance the installation of an anaerobic digester that generates more than 4.80 million kWh of electricity - power for 420 houses per year. The electricity will be sold to the local utility. See the press release of the USDA and the full list of projects.

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New ARPA-E Projects to Boost Natural Gas Vehicle Technologies

A refuse truck powered by compressed natural gas in Washington state.
Credit: Western Washington Clean Cities

The Energy Department on July 12 announced $30 million in funding for 13 research projects designed to find new ways of harnessing natural gas supplies for cars and trucks. Researchers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin will work on the initiative. The grants are made through the Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). The projects are part of Methane Opportunities for Vehicular Energy, which aims to engineer lightweight, affordable natural gas tanks for vehicles and develop natural gas compressors that efficiently fuel a natural gas vehicle at home.

Today's natural gas vehicle technologies require tanks that can withstand high pressures. They are often cumbersome, and are either too large or too expensive to be suitable for smaller passenger vehicles. ARPA-E's new projects are focused on removing these barriers, which will help encourage the widespread use of natural gas cars and trucks. For example, REL, Inc. in Calumet, Michigan, will receive $3 million to develop an internal "foam core" for natural gas tanks that allows tanks to be formed into any shape. This will enable higher storage capacity than current carbon fiber tanks at one-third the cost.

The projects will also focus on developing natural gas compressors that make it easier for consumers to re-fuel at home. The Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas at Austin will use $4 million to develop an at-home natural gas re-fueling system that compresses gas with a single piston. Unlike current four-piston compressors, these highly integrated single-piston systems will use fewer moving parts, leading to a more reliable, lighter, and cost-effective compressor. See the Energy Department press release and the complete list of projects .

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Offshore Wind Gets $180 Million Boost from DOE

DOE announced on March 1 the start of an initiative to capture wind energy off U.S. coasts. As part of a planned six-year, $180 million initiative, an initial $20 million will be available this year as the first step in supporting up to four innovative offshore wind energy installations. These offshore wind projects will accelerate the deployment of breakthrough wind power technologies that will help diversify the U.S. energy portfolio. Offshore wind resources in the United States are estimated at more than 4,000 gigawatts.

The demonstration projects will help address key challenges associated with installing utility-scale offshore wind turbines, connecting offshore turbines to the power grid, and navigating new permitting and approval processes. In addition to the new funding, DOE is continuing to work with partners across the federal government to implement a comprehensive offshore wind energy strategy, conduct resource assessments, and streamline siting and permitting processes.

Applicants to the competitive solicitation are expected to form consortia of energy project developers, equipment suppliers, research institutions, and marine-installation specialists. DOE funds may be used to cover up to 80% of a project's design costs and 50% of the hardware and installation costs. Applications are due on May 31, 2012. See the DOE press release and the funding opportunity details.

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China solar energy generation boost

HONG KONG, Aug 26 Bernama)-China has a target 1 million kilowatts create concentrated solar power (CSP) by 2015, a plan which showed Government Friday as part of efforts to extend the use of alternative energy sources set.

Powered by commodity prices and concerns over air pollution, China has aggressively in the field of renewable energy invested, South of Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

According to the Chinese Government the development blueprint for the period 2011-2015 is the land of CSP plants in four Bezirken--autonomous region set up internal Mongolia, Gansu and Shinjang Uyghur of autonomous region of Tibet.

CSP plants produce electricity by converting the energy of the Sun in high-temperature heat with different mirror configurations. The heat is then channeled through a conventional generator.

The Chinese Government is planning to expand its CSP capacity to 3 million kilowatts by 2020.

Recently, China has developed world's dominant player of solar energy. Solar one, based many of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world, like Suntech, Trina solar and Hanwha in China.

The world market led the low cost of Chinese solar panels it by almost 40 percent 2010 from almost zero in 2005.

The growth in the Chinese solar industry is to support the policy of the Government, due to low labour and cost of capital and aggressive competition.

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Saudis plan to boost oil production

Only a few days after a militant OPEC meeting, were the first signs that Saudi Arabia was planning on the good on their vows to boost oil production on its own, sending crude oil futures tumbling form.

Broke Wednesday meeting of the organisation of countries up as crude result production without any decision.

OPEC fragmented into two camps: Gulf States under the direction of Saudi Arabia, who sat down for a 1.5 million barrels per day, and other Nations, against the movement due to an uncertain Outlook for the global economy.

After the meeting, Saudi Arabia's oil Minister Ali Naimi said the world's largest oil...

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Funding boost for the energy sector on ice

All times are in London TimeSearch news in the FT.com SiteSearchSearch in the FT.com SiteQuotes offersFTFM investment StrategyBreadcrumb trail navigation: FT Home > FTfm > investment StrategyServicesEmail briefings & AlertsRSS FeedsPortfolioCurrency ConverterExecutive JobsSubscribe, FT.com or view and edit your subscription details. Funding boost for the energy sector on ice

By Chris Rowland

Published: June 12 2011 07: 16 | _Last_modificated_: 12 June 2011 07: 16

Institutional investors expect the Government of the United Kingdom, to announce its proposals for the reform of the electricity market market before the intensification of the funds associated with the UK power sector. Amounting to ? 100 billion ($164bn) is required to uninstall karbonisieren achieving power generation and its goals for cutting greenhouse gases over the next 10 years for the United Kingdom. While ? 100 billion investment is large, it is to ensure no impossible sum. About two-thirds can be assumed from institutionally managed funds, and a third of commercial banks come. A displacement of less than 0.2 percent of worldwide assets at ? 40 have done over a period of 10 years, resources for the UK energy sector institutionally managed. But deliver what investors want government proposals?

Institutional investors have financed large-step up investments in the past in the UK utility sector. Today, institutional investors see UK as to invest a reasonable place, rules for renewable investment, which still pay off will warm to to uninstall karbonisieren the cross-party drive power generation and commitment for grandfather. This is a good sign, but it is far from clear investors financing the UK energy industry will remain comfortable. In the context of nuclear projects obstacles after tsunami problems in Japanese Fukushima Daiichi, Kohlenstoffneutrale power generation is a major challenge.

EDITOR's CHOICEGreenko to ? 50 m for wind farm projects - Jun 02Eon selects damage from Berlin - May 31 power Chief hits at nuclear boost - Jun 01Risers just on the fourth day of the footsie falls may 05Vattenfall to scale back on global growth - Sep 22Flexitricity aims, grid - SEP-06 strengthen

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Boost fuel supplies to Europe, Asia - Putin Russia ready

Russia is ready to increase its oil and gas deliveries to Asian and European markets to make up for rising demand, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.

"We handle the situation on the global energy market with full responsibility and are ready to increase shipments to Asia and Europe" the Russian Prime Minister told a press conference in Denmark.

Putin said the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power trust in nuclear power generation plant which undermine worldwide, increased demand for oil and gas.

"After the disaster in Japan realized that nuclear energy will... develop it means that the demand especially... will grow natural gas after hydrocarbons," said Putin.

"But in Europe, as we know, nuclear energy also rejects generation, and events in the Middle East does not improve the situation," Putin added.

Copenhagen, April 27 (RIA Novosti)

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Saudi plans crude burn boost for power generation

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