ANZ ecomagination challenge winner set up to develop renewable energy technologies

Cardiff, Wales -- During March, several companies focused on developing low-carbon innovations were announced as winners of GE’s first ever ecomagination Challenge in Australia and New Zealand. The five winners, each awarded a total of AUD$100,000, will develop innovative renewable and smart energy applications in fields as diverse as wave power and engine technology. So, how do the new technologies work? And what are the prospects for future scale-up and commercialisation?

Bombora Wavepower

The first winner, Bombora Wave Power, will continue the development of its wave power technology, consisting of a V-shaped concrete device that can be mounted on the sea bed close to shore in water depths of between four and 15 metres.

As Glen Ryan, Director at Bombora Wavepower, explains, the award will be used to initiate Bombora's next development phase, which will consist of further performance validation and design optimisation. According to Ryan, the company will also be "engaging with GE and exploring an array of technical and commercial options to leverage off their global knowledge and skill base" to enable it to bring the technology to market as quickly as possible.

For brother Shawn Ryan, the main technological challenge lies in "deploying a device in a marine environment, ensuring it operates reliably over the life of the project and that it can be easily maintained." Even though he admits that Bombora are at "a much earlier stage" than other developers, he stresses that the company has spent "considerable time and effort" in ensuring that its device meets these requirements.

"We have a very simple process characterised by minimal moving components and we have minimised their exposure to the sea," he says.

Ultimately, Bombora’s goal is to be cost competitive with onshore wind, but the company will initially focus on deployments that have both a favourable industry incentive and wave resource. Although the highest yielding wave resources are typically in the mid latitudes and on the western facing coasts Ryan says that Bombora’s strategy has focused on developing a device that can also be deployed in lower yielding coastlines.

Following a two year design and engineering phase, Bombora will embark on a three year program to construct, install and test its first commercial demonstrator — with the device becoming operational around half way through the process.

"Bombora has some preliminary sites identified locally in Western Australia and will be working with governments to enable this to happen," says Ryan.

Engineair

Melbourne, Australia-based company Engineair will use its award for the further development of its novel air motor engine technology — based on a unique rotary piston concept. According to Angelo Di Pietro, Managing Director at Engineair, the engine uses compressed air, or any other pressurised medium, as the driving power, does not have a conventional crankshaft and is not subject to reciprocating motion, resulting in no vibration.

"It is clean, non-polluting and [does] not rely on petroleum. It can be charged up from a filling station in a matter of minutes, rather than hours compared to batteries," he says.

The concept, known as a Rotary Air Engine, is based on a simple cylindrical rotary piston, which rolls without any friction, inside a cylindrical stator. Di Pietro says that there is "no technical obstacle" to the scale-up of his technology and, with adequate funding, he believes that filling stations and other operational infrastructure will be relatively easy to establish.

"The technology is ready for manufacturing — with a company such as GE, the product can be sold around the world within a year," he says.

Greensync

Meanwhile, Melbourne-based Greensync will further development of an advanced software tool that enables electricity network planners to find alternatives to capital infrastructure projects. According to Phil Blythe, Managing Director at Greensync, the genesis of the technology — which reduces energy consumption by 3 percent and costs by 10 percent through monitoring and managing loads at peak times — came from working with the Australian electricity utilities on demand side management (DSM) programs.

"Our technology is software, data and highly refined algorithms that runs in the cloud. We use them to model the electricity networks, the load that flows through them, and the costs associated with all aspects of the network, such as starting a diesel generator, connecting solar, switching off large plant loads, and so on. The result is that planners can create a scenario, and forecast how the network will behave with all of these elements present," says Blythe.

The Ecomagination award will be spent on further R&D and testing, with the plan being to test the software on real network elements over 2013 and 2014.

"Big challenges for us are the number of variables involved in network design, and what simplifications we can make to enable us to build a usable tool. If we add too much detail, it will become too cumbersome and expensive, and not meet its original objective of providing planners with tools to help them move off a relatively low base in designing and costing DSM programs," says Blythe.

"Our commercialisation is initially focused on Australia and New Zealand at this point in time, to which we have several utilities with whom we are speaking with for forthcoming trials. Beyond that, we will towards the international markets in U.S. and Europe through partnerships," he adds.

Outpost Central & Hydroxsys

Two more winners, Auckland-based companies Hydroxsys and Outpost Central, will use their awards to further development of their water management technology.

Hydroxsys has designed membrane technology that captures and recycles 90 percent of water and around 85-90 percent of energy from industrial processes to be fed back into the manufacturing process.

Meanwhile, Outpost Central has developed a small battery-powered device to connect water meters and sensors to the cloud to provide detailed information on water consumption and efficiency. Current customers include water utilities, farmers, mining companies and large industrial users of water.

"The Outpost web platform transforms them from being blind to their water consumption to having rich information on their usage patterns. One customer identified 290 million liters per year of water savings by identifying leaks, faulty equipment and improved irrigation efficiency within a few months of deploying the Outpost system," says James Riddell, Director at Outpost Central.

"The cash prize has been fantastic, but even more important to us has been the recognition of our efforts and vision by GE — a global leader in innovation and sustainability," he adds.

Although it was 'relatively easy' to get the first systems up and running, Riddell explains that the real technological and operational challenges come from scaling the technology and the business processes as the company grows.

"There are so many processes and developments that go on behind the scenes in a growing technology company. Manufacturing in volume, automated test systems, billing systems, support systems, reducing the cost to allow margin for distribution channels, scaling the databases and software, finding good people to join the team. Creating a prototype is the easy part!" he says.

"The advantage of our architecture is that we have full visibility of every device we ever sell as they are all connected to our cloud platform. This gives us vital feedback for support and the continuous improvement of the technology," he adds.

The product is already commercialised, with customers in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia and Europe — with a long-term aim being to find the right partners to "begin a push into Europe and the U.S."

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U.K. Delays Smart Meter Rollout by a Year on 'Challenge'

The full-scale release of more than 50 million meters to about 30 million homes and businesses will now run from the fall of 2015 to the end of 2020, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said today in a statement to parliament. The government previously planned to install the units from 2014 through 2019.

The rollout is a “complex task, which must be fulfilled with great care to ensure consumers receive the best possible benefits,” Angela Knight, chief executive officer of the Energy U.K. lobby group, said today in an e-mailed statement. “Allocating extra time to the program will mean that it can be completed in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.”

The program is aimed at cutting energy use, emissions and consumer bills by providing users with instantaneous information on the power consumption of appliances through computerized meters. Utilities including Electricite de France SA (EDF), EON SE, SSE Plc (SSE), Centrica Plc (CNA), RWE AG (RWE)’s Npower unit and Iberdrola SA (IBE)’s Scottish Power division will be required to install them in customers’ homes, and can recoup the costs through bills.

“Completing the national rollout will be an enormous logistical and technical challenge for the industry,” Davey said in today’s statement, without detailing the setbacks facing the suppliers.

Copyright 2013 Bloomberg

Thirteen major companies join Department of energy charging challenge

The Department of energy announced on May 31 13 large employers in the United States and eight stakeholder groups of the new workplace to help recharge challenge, to expand access to the work place charging stations across the country have joined. The workplace recharge challenge is a collaborative effort, the number of employers in the United States offers workplace recharge tenfold in the next five years. The first 13 employers signed charged workplace promise as partners, including 3 M, the Chrysler Group, Duke Energy, Eli Lilly and company, the Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Google, Nissan, the San Diego Gas & electric company, Siemens, Tesla Motors and Verizon. The promise undertakes each partner organization claims charging workers for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) to assess, develop and implement a plan to install workplace charging infrastructure for at least a large construction site.

Eight organizations signed the Ambassador promises to develop and plans to support and promote charge making initiative work including: the California PEV cooperative, CALSTART, the electric drive Transportation Association, the electrification Coalition, international parking Institute, NextEnergy, Plug-In America and Rocky Mountain Institute. The Department of energy will provide technical assistance and a forum for partners and ambassadors, information to share.

The workplace recharge challenge supports Grand Challenge, the wider efforts EV all in March 2012, President Obama of announced PEVs as cheap and convenient for American families as gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 10 years to make. Part of the announcement the Department published the EV everywhere Grand Challenge which describes PEV technology blueprint, and barriers, as well as the steps to move forward, reach the goal EV anywhere deployment. See the DOE press release and the EV everywhere grand challenge blueprint and Web page.

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On the roof, solar challenge II gets $12 million Department of energy support

The Energy Department on December 20 announced $12 million in new funding for rooftop projects supported solar challenge II, to make solar energy companies more efficient. The possibility of financing builds the rooftop solar challenge on the success of 2011 and is part of a larger Department to encourage solar power deployment by making it easier, faster and cheaper to finance and install solar energy systems.

The challenges are processes in fine and improving the funding at a lower cost for residential and small commercial solar roof systems for the optimization and standardization of local zoning, dosing, and connection. Dramatically reduce 22 regional teams have through the first round of the non-hardware costs or soft for solar. Standardize this comprised installation and fees over multiple jurisdictions allow establishing group purchasing discounts and advanced online at Nice. These soft costs can go 40% of costs include solar. The teams are selected for the second round, which selected may include teams in the first round, in the entire period of solar market maturity models, developed by the Department of SunShot initiative with two and a half years project judged. The Department of energy progress warning message is displayed.

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Announcing the Apps for Vehicles Challenge

By Patrick B. Davis, Vehicle Technologies program manager

Here at the Energy Department's Vehicle Technologies Program, we’re revved up about the next great smartphone app: yours.

That's why we're launching the Apps for Vehicles Challenge, which is looking for the best business plans, app ideas, and product designs that use open vehicle data to help vehicle owners save fuel, save money, and stay safe.

Improving fuel efficiency is a national priority. With the country spending about $1 billion per day on foreign oil, the Obama Administration spearheaded changes to fuel economy standards that will double fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks by 2025. Automotive manufacturers are working to meet this target, but everyday drivers, businesses, and the public sector can also contribute toward meeting these national goals. For example, the Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Program is managing some of the most fascinating research projects and deployment programs in the country to support the cars and trucks of the future. Furthermore, in terms of what individual vehicle owners or fleet managers can do, there is an emerging set of tools that leverage open data to improve safety and fuel efficiency. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog.

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First commercial product meets air conditioning on the roof challenge

The Department of energy announced on 24 may Daikin McQuay rebel roof system of units is the first DOE rooftop unit (RTU) challenge. Five manufacturers - Daikin McQuay, carrier, Lennox, 7AC technologies and Rheem - participate in this challenge, high-efficiency commercial air conditioning systems to market, a DOE-issued specification for to meet the saving of energy and power. If built to meet the specification, these units are expected to reduce energy consumption by as much as 50%, compared to units built to current standards. If the specification meets all 10-20 tons of RTUs companies more than energy costs save $1 billion annually would nationwide. Five companies have until 1 April 2013, a product for which to submit independent evaluation according to the specification.

Manufacturers nationwide have a strong motivation to produce highly energy-efficient air conditioners for commercial buildings. Members in DOE commercial building energy alliances (CBEA), such as target, Wal-Mart, and other participating commercial builders have expressed an interest in the equipment that meets the new energy-efficiency specification at an affordable price. The Department of energy examines potential demo sites for high-performance products that the challenge of RTU and is precise company for a the development of analytical tools, with which the energy estimation and cost savings with high RTUs in their facilities. The specification for the RTU challenge, to promote the launch of low-cost, high-performance commercial RTU air-conditioning systems was developed by DOE technical experts and informed by industry partners. See attention progress the Department of energy and the CBEA website.

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SunShot Shoots for the Moon with First Grand Challenge Event

By Ramamoorthy Ramesh, director SunShot Initiative & Solar Energy Technologies Program

About two years ago, my good friend Arun Majumdar, director of ARPA-E, coined the term "SunShot" in one of our meetings. We decided then that all of the solar program efforts going forward would focus on the common goal of making solar electricity cost-competitive by the end of the decade. Such a goal was incredibly ambitious, so it was fitting that the initiative’s name would be inspired by President Kennedy’s "moon shot" speech that launched NASA's effort to put a man on the moon.

We have been doing everything in our power to reduce energy costs for consumers and to ensure that American innovators and companies can lead the global transition to a clean energy economy. As the price of solar panels has decreased, the solar energy industry in the United States has exploded. Solar installations doubled from 2009 to 2010, and the domestic market grew to $6 billion in 2010.

We now know that SunShot goals are within our reach. By tapping into the best and brightest minds in science, industry, and academia, we are already making progress. The SunShot Initiative is funding more than 250 projects that explore every possible way to drive down the cost of solar, from developing an efficient solar cell that’s as thin as a human hair to creating a GIS-based tool that can perform site assessments from space. But there is much work left to do.

The SunShot Grand Challenge: Summit and Technology Forum next month will give us the opportunity to highlight the progress of the past two years and reassess the challenges that must be overcome in order to reach the 2020 goal. We are inviting everyone who is contributing to this effort to join us at what promises to be an exciting event June 13–14 in Denver, Colorado. For the rest of the story, read the complete Energy Blog.

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President Launches DOE's 'EV-Everywhere Challenge'

The Obama Administration launched a new program aimed at helping increase acceptance of EVs, such as the Chevy Volt shown with a replica lithium-ion battery.
Credit: GM Corp

President Obama on March 7 launched DOE's EV-Everywhere Challenge, allowing scientists, engineers, and businesses to collaborate to make electric vehicles (EV) more affordable than gasoline-powered vehicles in 10 years. The challenge is part of a strategy to help reduce dependence on foreign oil.

The DOE initiative, which will bring together DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Vehicle Technologies Program, its Office of Science, and its Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy ARPA-E, will aim to make electric vehicles affordable. The team will target dramatic technological and cost improvements in batteries, electric motors, power electronics, lightweight structures, and fast-charging technology. The goal is to enable U.S. companies to be the first to produce a 5-passenger affordable EV with a payback time of fewer than 5 years.

The challenge will involve working with industry, universities, national laboratories, and government partners to set technical goals for cutting costs for the batteries and electric drivetrain systems, reducing the vehicle weights while maintaining safety, and increasing fast-charge rates. As part of the initiative, DOE will organize a series of EV-Everywhere Challenge workshops across the country over the next few months. And, DOE will announce over the next few months a series of additional "Grand Challenges," each focused on technical innovations and reductions in cost that will enable clean energy technologies to compete directly, without subsidies, with the energy technologies currently in wide use. See the DOE press release and the President's remarks.

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DOE's Top Energy Innovator Challenge Open to Public Voting

DOE announced on December 19 that it will give the American public the chance to vote for the most innovative and promising technologies supported by the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" challenge. In all, 36 start-up companies elected to participate in this first-of-its-kind effort. These companies have signed 43 option agreements allowing them to license cutting-edge technologies developed and patented by one of DOE's 17 national laboratories and the Y-12 National Security Complex, one of four production facilities in the National Nuclear Security Administration's Nuclear Security Enterprise. Competitors used a streamlined application process and a greatly reduced upfront fee of $1,000.

Beginning in mid January, Americans will be able to view profiles of the companies and vote on those that could contribute most to the country’s economic and energy future. An expert panel will evaluate the companies and identify those that have most advanced their business plans. See the top innovator Web page.

Among the companies competing are Vorbeck Materials, based in Jessup, Maryland, which is using a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory-developed method for building tiny chemical structures to greatly improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. And, Boulder, Colorado-based e-Chromic LLC will use electrochromic technology developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to create a new thin film window material that reflects sunlight on demand, making windows more energy efficient while reducing cooling costs for consumers. See the DOE press release and a White House blog on start-ups.

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DOE Awards $12 Million in the Rooftop Solar Challenge

The SunShot Initiative's Rooftop Solar Challenge will boost installation of solar panels like these shown on a Chicago building.
Credit: Social Security Administration

DOE announced on December 1 its $12 million in funding for the awardees of the Rooftop Solar Challenge. The Challenge supports 22 regional teams in 18 states to spur solar power deployment by cutting red tape. The effort streamlines and standardizes permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes, while also improves finance options for residential and small commercial rooftop solar systems. This project is part DOE's SunShot Initiative, and is designed to make solar energy more accessible and affordable, increase domestic solar deployment, and position the United States as a leader in the global solar market.

Using a "race to the top" model, the Rooftop Solar Challenge incentivizes the regional awardees to address the differing and expensive permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes required to install and finance residential and small business solar systems. The 22 teams bring together city, county, and state officials, regulatory entities, private industry, universities, local utilities, and other regional stakeholders to clear a path for rapid expansion of solar energy and serve as models for other communities across the country. The teams will implement step-by-step actions to standardize permit processes, update planning and zoning codes, improve standards for connecting solar power to the electric grid and increase access to financing. Non-hardware costs like permitting, installation, design, and maintenance currently account for up to 40% of the total cost of installed rooftop photovoltaic systems in the United States.

The SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort to make solar cost-competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade. See the DOE press release, a complete list of awardees, and the SunShot Initiative website.

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Protests challenge Japan's use of nuclear energy

Anger over the Government dealing with the accident at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima has in recent weeks after revelations broke out, the damage in the plant and the release of radioactive material, was much worse than previously assumed. Mothers for their children to health, as well as farmers and fishermen angry about their damaged livelihoods, worried, kan criticised in particular the Government of Prime Minister Naoto

The disaster has prompted a national debate about Japan's strong reliance on nuclear power despite the history of the country's devastating earthquake and a deep public mistrust of the nuclear industry. Perhaps Mr Kan had shut down the separate nuclear power plant in Central Japan its only step, which has won support, until it can strengthen its tsunami defense. But the public disenchantment has added the last politicking in a deadlocked Parliament.

"We now know the dangers of default priority nuclear power, and it time is changing," Hajime Matsumoto, one of the organizers of the rally, said a lot in a central Tokyo square, which eventually grew about 20,000 people, organizers estimated.

"And, Yes, I think that Japan can change," he shouted as the crowd shouted back and people pumped their fists in the air.

Supporters of the rally here in Tokyo and in coordinated events in many other cities in Japan, saying the demonstration was notable not because of the size, but because it happened in a country, the conformity and order as values.

"The Japanese demonstrators, been great" said at least before recently Junichi Sato, Program Director of the environmental group Greenpeace Japan, who said, he know enough poorly attended rallies organized had. "take it to make the first steps to listen."

Many in the crowd said they were protesting for the first time.

"For my children I here" said Aki Ishii, had her 3-year daughter in tow. "We want only our old life back, where the water is safe and the air is pure." Her daughter was wearing a sign that said "Please let me again outside play."

Yonebayashi Fujimoto, a rice and vegetable farmer, said it was his first protest to. "I would like to tell people, that I just worried about the soil, the water," he said. "I farm now with a Geiger counter in one hand, my tools in the other."

"It's crazy," he added.

And while the rally usually ordered way started - Organizer "Let us all good manners remember!" said at the beginning, as demonstrators lined up in neat rows - the mass finally one took more turn rowdy.

As Tokyo gathered demonstrators in the square after several marches through the city, there were some clashes with the police. A police officer, refused to give his name, said breathless, that demonstrators gather not entitled to would have been on the course.

Police officers "dispel Mesos!" shouted through megaphones.

"Shut up and go way!" a young man shouted back.

At 9 A.m. police moved the crowd but by force to crush. There was some pushing and shoving, but no serious clashes.

Mr Matsumoto, organizer, saw yet, elated. He said "who would have thought so many people show up?". "I think that Japan on the cusp of something new."

But some passersby were less enthusiastic.

"What they really can do?", Airi Ishii, 21, said a buyer, who stopped to watch the rally with her boyfriend. "It looks like fun, but if you think, nothing changes, it is naive."

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