Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
, Schneider Electric
offers
integrated solutions across multiple market segments and has demonstrated
leadership with medium- and low-voltage equipment. We excel in interconnecting
commercial rooftop solar systems. Complete your project quickly and reliably with
Schneider Electric.
Unmatched level of local support.
Your projects are supported through Schneider Electric Services the nationwide
Electrical Distribution Services group includes over 150 engineers and 300 feld
service technicians. The Projects and Engineering Center offers complete substation
design, full-service contract, and project management.
You deserve a trusted solar partner.
Sohne|der E|eotr|o has been |n bus|ness for more than 175 years. No bus|ness
fourishes for 175 years without tailoring its offer to changing environments and
customer demand. We were one of the frst to recognize that turning to solar
power is a viable, long-term solution to the planets growing reliance on electricity.
We started manufaotur|ng so|ar |nverters dur|ng the 1990s, and now we a|so
manufacture transformers, combiners, and other balance-of-systems components.
Leverage Schneider Electric as your sole supplier.
Now, connect it all in one end-to-end solar solution
from a partner you can trust.
This event is
October 21 24, 2013!
Visit us at
Solar Power
International
booth #2003
For more information, enter 3 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_2 2 9/11/13 2:33 PM
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 3
PROJECT PROFILE
The Magnificent
London Array
54
36
36
COVER STORY
Going All In with
Renewable Energy
Can a region obtain 100
percent of its energy from
renewables? Elisa Wood
42
WIND
Floating Offshore
Wind Power Taking
Hold Signs are signalling
that the sector is maturing.
David Appleyard
49
WIND TECHNOLOGY
The Air Up There
Wind farm developers
are using remote sensing
technology for assessments
and operations.
James Montgomery
56
WIND
The Promise of the
Ukrainian Wind Market
Wind power in Ukraine
increased 98 percent
between 2011 and 2012.
Galina Shmidt
68
SOLAR
Solar-friendly US States
Which US states have the
most solar energy? The
answer may surprise you.
James Montgomery
75
SOLAR
PV Module Quality
Concerns Persist Even
though steps have been
made to curb the problem,
poor-quality PV modules
are still making their way
into the global marketplace.
Jennifer Runyon
features
ON THE COVER:
100 Percent Renewable
Energy: A Sneak Peak at
our 2014 Renewable Energy
World Conference and Expo
design. Don't miss the 2013
show this November!
c
o
n
t
e
n
t
s
1309REW_3 3 9/11/13 2:33 PM
Mt. Garibaldi
Mt. St. Helens
F
I
R
E
4 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
departments & columns
On RenewableEnergyWorld.com
RenewableEnergyWorld.com provides daily news and
information to help you stay on your toes.
Visit us on the web to:
Commentonahotnewsitem.
LearnsomethingnewinourIn-depthTechnologySection.
Signupforaneducationalwebcast.
CheckoutsomeofourTotalAccesspartners.
ListentoTheEnergyShow.
Startblogging.
Registertoreceiveouraward-winninge-newsletters.
79
GEOTHERMAL
Exploring the Untapped
Potential of South American
Geothermal Energy What
will it take to make use of the vast
geothermal energy resource?
Meg Cichon
82
BIOENERGY
A New Win-Win? Carbon-
eating Microalgae as a
Biofuel Feedstock An Australian
company is using the carbon from
a coal plant to grow microalgae for
biofuel. Bruce Dorminey
86
HYDROPOWER
Ocean Energy Technologies
are Speeding To
Commercialization What many
thought would take decades may only
be a few years away. Meg Cichon
90
DISTRIBUTED ENERGY
The Virtual Power Plant
Promise A new model for renewable
energy integration. Tildy Bayar
7 Editors Letter
GettingSmartAbout
RenewableEnergy
8 Renewable Technology
CreatingBestPractice
forWindO&M
10 Renewable Policy
WilltheUK'sEnergyReform
HelpRenewables?
12 Regional News
NewsfromtheGlobal
RenewableEnergyIndustry
31 Te Big Question
CanCountriesReach100
PercentRenewableEnergy?
54 Project Profle
TheWorld'sLargest
OffshoreWindFarm
62 Show Preview
OffshoreWindExploredat
EWEA'sOFFSHORE2013
64 Data Points
SustainableEnergyForAll
66 Show Preview
SolarPowerInternational
LightsUpChicago
94 Calendar
94 Advertisers index
95 Training and
Educational Events
96 Last Word
MarineRenewables
andEnergySecurity
features
1309REW_4 4 9/11/13 2:33 PM
Since 1968
For more information, enter 4 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_5 5 9/11/13 2:33 PM
Earn your Bachelors degree in Alternative and
Renewable Energy Management
WWW.EVERGLADESUNIVERSITY.EDU
Boca Raton Campus (Main Campus)
888.226.0902
Orlando Campus (Branch Campus)
866.314.4540
Sarasota Campus (Branch Campus)
888.785.8689
Online Division
855.723.9087
Everglades
Financial aid is available for those who qualify
100% online degree programs are available
through the Boca Raton Main Campus
Small classes with individualized attention
Everglades University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award
bachelors and masters degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call
404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Everglades University.
The University has enhanced my level of thinking and given me the ability to use what I have learned in the classroom to
display in the eld. Dwayne Simons, 2011 Graduate, Orlando Campus
University
For more information, enter 5 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_6 6 9/11/13 2:33 PM
G
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 7
Getting Smart About Renewables
Renewable energy education and training opportunities are becoming
more widespread with each passing year. I am always amazed that a
story I wrote back in 2008 about universities offering master degree
programs in renewable energy is consistently, year-after-year, one of
the most read stories on RenewableEnergyWorld.com. This tells me
that every year more folks want to become educated about the ever-
growing renewable energy industry.
There are so many opportunities to learn in this field. In October,
Ill be attending SPI and speaking with solar industry executives who
will bring me up to speed on the most pressing issues they are facing.
Then three weeks later, Ill attend our very own Renewable Energy
World Conference and Expo. There Ill learn from experts across all of
the renewable energy industries. These in-person events really cant
be beat for on-the-spot concentrated educational opportunities.
For hands-on training opportunities, there are institutions all
across the globe offering technical training programs for all of the
renewable energy technologies. Weve started highlighting upcoming
events in our new Training and Educational Events section (p. 95).
Finally, there are a plethora of universities and colleges that offer
degrees in renewable energy, sustainable energy, clean tech and
more. No matter where you are in your career, keeping up with the
latest trends in renewable energy is a necessity. While we hope that
Renewable Energy World gives you a healthy dose of knowledge when
you need it, when it comes to face-to-face education or hands-on expe-
rience, conferences, training institutes, colleges and universities really
are the places to be.
From t he Edi tor
Jennifer Runyon, Chief Editor
PUBLISHER James M. Callihan
CHIEF EDITOR Jennifer Runyon
SENIOR EDITOR David Appleyard
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tildy Bayar
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Meg Cichon
ASSOCIATE EDITOR James Montgomery
EDITORIAL OFFICES
REW Magazine
PennWell Corporation
98 Spit Brook Road, LL-1
Nashua, NH 03062-5737
PRODUCTION
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Meg Fuschetti
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Mari Rodriguez
SENIOR ILLUSTRATOR Chris Hipp
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER Emily Martin
AD SERVICES MANAGER Toni Pendergrass
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
Stephanie Kolodziej
ADVERTISING
For information on advertising in future issues
of the magazine, please contact:
PETER ANDERSEN +1 603 891 9385
AMY LANZA +1 603 891 9360
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Renewable Energy World is circulated free
to professionals in the renewable energy
industry. To start a free subscription visit
www.rew-subscribe.com. For customer
service contact rew@omeda.com.
Professionals outside the renewable energy
industry may start a paid subscription. For
pricing information visit www.omeda.com/
rew or call +1 847-559-7330.
CORPORATE OFFICERS
CHAIRMAN Frank T. Lauinger
PRESIDENT AND CEO Robert F. Biolchini
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Mark Wilmoth
2013 PennWell International Publications Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
whether electronic, mechanical or otherwise
including photocopying, recording or any
information storage or retrieval system without
the prior written consent of the Publishers.
While every attempt is made to ensure the
accuracy of the information contained in this
magazine, neither the Publishers nor the authors
accept any liability for errors or omissions.
Opinions expressed in this publication are not
necessarily those of the Publishers or Editor.
1309REW_7 7 9/11/13 3:37 PM
Renewabl e Technol ogy
8 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
A clear sign of market maturity is
the development of industry best
practice. Covering issues such as
health and safety, navigation, envi-
ronmental impact and the like, in
the case of wind power a number of
significant best practices covering
operations and maintenance (O&M)
have recently been revealed.
The economic importance of
an effective O&M strategy can-
not be understated. As Romax
Technologys Dr. John Coultate says,
typically up to 75 percent of the
operational expenditure for a large
wind farm is related to the sites
O&M.
And where thoughts turn to cut-
ting costs, there are always market
opportunities. Launching A Guide
to Offshore Wind Operations and
Maintenance which explores the
relevant concepts and trends in the
sector GL Garrad Hassans Head
of Strategy and Policy, Joe Phillips,
affirms this, saying: Offshore wind
O&M is set to become a two billion
pound a year industry by 2025. The
opportunity this presents for new
entrants to the offshore wind space,
especially small- and medium-sized
enterprises, is huge.
Given the potential scale of the
O&M business, the thinking is that
the emergent nature of the offshore
wind market will allow small and
medium enterprises to exploit
opportunities based on their
local presence, commercial
and technical flexibility, or
specialized and innovative techno-
logical solutions.
But there are still opportuni-
ties onshore too. The American
Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
has released its Operation and
Maintenance Recommended
Practices 1.0, which, while explic-
itly not a guide to best practice,
does nonetheless offer suggestions
from experts in the field who have
refined their procedures over time.
AWEA believes that many new
companies and technicians are set
to join the wind sector, working to
operate and maintain the 45,000
or so individual U.S. machines. The
Recommended Practices is designed
to serve as a baseline for the provi-
sion of those services.
With O&M services becoming
an ever bigger and more important
business sector, best practice guides
and basic performance standards
are, likewise, becoming far more
desirable and documents such as
these are important bricks in that
road. But the best practices of the
future will undoubtedly change and
evolve as the industry adopts more
sophisticated technology, materials,
sensors and communications. That
means that the best practices of the
future wind industry will be shaped
by the companies that are getting
involved in O&M now.
Creating Best Practice
for Wind O&M
David Appleyard,
Senior Editor
1309REW_8 8 9/11/13 2:33 PM
For more information, enter 6 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_9 9 9/11/13 2:33 PM
Renewabl e Pol i cy
10 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
Currently wending its way through
Parliament, theUKgovernments
sweepingElectricity Market Reform
package aims to stimulate much-
needed investment in low-carbon
power generation by providing
stable and predictable incentives
for renewables, nuclear and carbon
capture and storage.
The package replaces the current
Renewables Obligation (RO) with
Contracts for Difference (CfDs),
which guarantee that power gener-
ators will earn a fixed amount, or
strike price, for their electricity.
If the wholesale electricity market
price is less than the strike price,
the generator will receive a top-
up sum; if the wholesale electricity
market price is more than the strike
price, the generator must pay back
the difference. This should enable
cert ainty for developers as revenues
will be based on a known price.
When draft strike prices were
published in June, theRenewable
Energy Association (REA) and
theSolar Trade Association took
issue with the biomass and PV
prices. Both groups say CfDs will
create additional risks for smaller
independent power producers
(IPPs), and that the strike prices are
not high enough to mitigate them.
Under CfDs, the REA says it will
be difficult forIPPs to make their
projects viable. Because IPPs
do not sell power directly, get-
ting it to market involves costs
not incurred by utilities.
Wind, wave and tidal trade
bodyRenewableUK has noted that,
while the Renewables Obligation
guarantees a 20-year return,
CfDs will only be available for
15, thereafter reverting to mar-
ket rates. This will certainly have
an impact on onshore and offshore
wind farms yet to be built, said
Maf Smith, RenewableUKs deputy
chief executive.
Juliet Davenport, CEO of renew-
able power supplier Good Energy,
believes CfDs risk skewing the mar-
ket towards nuclear and the Big Six
[utilities], at the expense of renew-
able energy and smaller suppliers.
They will restrict competition rather
than attracting the new investment
the industry needs. AndutilitySSE
has said CfDs will benefit nuclear
generators more than renewables:
a wind farm, for example, could be
curtailed when the electricity mar-
ket price is highest.
More than half ofUKrenewable
energy executives surveyed by the
REA believe that CfDs will encour-
age new renewable development.
The government says it is listening
but until we see the final Bill in early
2014, it is difficult to say whether its
mechanisms will encourage or sti-
fle the uptake of renewable energy in
the UK. The devil, as always, will be
in the details.
Will theUKs Energy Reform
Help Renewables?
Tildy Bayar,
Associate Editor
1309REW_10 10 9/11/13 2:34 PM
Bringing energy and the environment into harmony.
ASIA
Rendering of Lockheed Martins
Proposed OTEC pilot plant. Credit
Lockheed Martin.
1309REW_12 12 9/11/13 2:34 PM
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 13
Can Japan Sustain Its Solar Growth?
ASIA Despite forecasts pre-
dicting phenomenal growth
for Japans solar energy sector,
some analysts say the nations
boom may be hampered by
significant problems.
This year, driven by a gener-
ous feed-in tariff scheme, Japans
total solar capacity 7.4 GW at
the end of 2012 will roughly
double, according to Bloomberg
New Energy Finance, bringing
the nation to second place glob-
ally, behind only China, in solar
market growth and to third
place, behind Germany and Italy,
in total installed solar capacity.
However some have cited the
high costs of installing solar pan-
els in Japan as a factor limiting
growth. In a Bloomberg inter-
view, Thomas Kaberger, exec-
utive board chair of the Japan
Renewable Energy Foundation,
said, Its difficult to explain why
solar PV installation should cost
three times as much in Japan as
in Germany. We must succeed in
bringing down the costs.
Others cite land procurement
and grid problems. Permitting
and approval for grid inter-
connection are challenging in
Japan, according to analysts,
and a survey earlier this year
by the Japan Renewable Energy
Foundation found that, as
opposed to the priority connec-
tion system in place in other
countries, because grid connec-
tion approval in Japan has been
left to the discretion of
[ cont >]
Photovoltaic Power Plant and
Mountain in Japan via Shutterstock
a recovery in 2013 and record
installations in 2014 due to an
improved policy and investment
climate. The report said that 5.6
GW of new wind capacity would
be added before the end of 2014.
This year has seen positive
policy changes in India, with the
GBI reinstated in March and an
increase in wind feed-in tariffs
(FiTs) across six of the seven key
wind states. The report points to
tariff increases of 2-36 percent
in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Wind
FiTs across these states range
from INR 3.51-5.92/kWh (around
$6-11/kWh), the report said, with
four states which hold around
70 percent of Indias installed
wind capacity offering a tar-
iff that is lower than the lowest
tariff bids received for new coal
capacity in 2012.
In addition, INR 8 billion (US
$160 million) has been allocated
to the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE) to sup-
port the GBI for wind projects.
And the government has com-
mitted to providing low-interest
funds for five years from the
National Clean Energy Fund to
the Indian Renewable Energy
Development Agency (IREDA),
which provides debt financing for
renewable energy projects. HSBC
reports that another lender, the
Power Finance Corporation, has
cut its lending rate to renewable
energy projects by 50 basis points,
or 0.5 percent (while cutting
its rates to conventional power
plants by only 25 basis points).
Indias government has fore-
cast a wind potential of around
50 GW across the nation, but
new studies indicate a poten-
tial of over 100 GW. A National
Wind Mission, similar to the
Jawaharlal Nehru National
Solar Mission, has been pro-
posed to accelerate future wind
development.
Solar power in India will soon
follow winds lead, the report pre-
dicted, becoming cost-compet-
itive with new coal capacity as
early as 2016.
NORTH AMERICA
First Offshore Wind Lease Off US
Coast Goes to Deepwater Wind
NORTH AMERICADeepwater
Wind New England is the win-
ner of the first competitive lease
sale of renewable energy in U.S.
federal waters, pledging approxi-
mately $3.8 million for two sites
in an auction July 31 by the U.S.
Department of Interior (DOI)
and Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM).
Three companies were involved
in the bidding process: Deepwater,
Sea Breeze Energy, and U.S. Wind,
before Deepwater won with its
$3,838,288 bid for the two par-
cels. The area spans more than
164,000 acres off the eastern
state coasts of Rhode Island and
Massachusetts, with combined
potential of nearly 3.4 GW of wind
power generation.
1309REW_18 18 9/11/13 2:34 PM
Harvesting solar energy
with SolarMax!
What makes solar power plant operators as happy as farm-
ers? Quite plainly: maximum results day in and day out. With
the powerful SolarMax inverters you can easily create the
best prerequisites for maximum energy yields.
SolarMax stood for top-class Swiss quality for more than
20 years: outstanding materials and workmanship, absolute
reliability, effciency, and durability. Furthermore, we offer our
customers extensive warranty coverage and excellent advice
combined with intelligent solutions for plant monitoring.
Come follow us to the sunny side plant SolarMax inverters
into your solar power plant.
More than
20 years Swiss Quality
and Experience
M
a
x
im
ize
yo
u
r yield
www.solarmax.com
This is the best site for off-
shore wind in the U.S.,said
Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey
Grybowski. This is an enormous
step forward for the industry.
The company now has both
federal and state approval for
itsproposed Deepwater Wind
Energy Center(DWEC), 150-200
turbineswith combined 1-GW
nameplate capacitylocated 20-25
miles from land (no closer than
13 miles to shore) and virtu-
ally invisible from shore, accord-
ing to the company. DWEC plans
include a regional transmission
system linking Long Island to
southeastern New England.
After a 30-day antitrust review
of the auction, Deepwater will
have 10 days to sign and return
the leasing form, file for finan-
cial assurance, and pay the bal-
ance of its bid (minus an up-front
$900,000 deposit), and then six
months to submit a site assess-
ment plan to BOEM. Deepwater
will then have roughly four years
to submit a detailed plan to build
and operate the wind project with
a 25-year operational lifetime. The
firm projects construction could
begin as early as 2017, with com-
mercial operations by 2018.
BOEM will host a second
competitive lease sale for off-
shore wind in Sept., target-
ingabout 112,000 acres off the
Virginia coast. More auctions
for offshore parcels along the
East Coast are planned for later
this year and into 2014. Visit
RenewableEnergyWorld.com for
updates on this story.
10 kHz
12
20 m
Temposonics
sensors detect positions with a resolution of 0.5 m and sample rates up to 10 kHz while
offering 12 selectable analog or digital outputs. All benets are available on stroke lengths up to 20 m.
Temposonics
Editors note: For an in-depth look at Wind Resource Planning, check out our
feature The Air Up There: Remote Sensing Gains Ground on page 49.
EU PV GRID Project Proposes Solar Stability Plan
Europes solar photovoltaic (PV)
industry has presented propos-
als for improved grid integration
of photovoltaic power plants as
part of its EU PV GRID project,
which is developing both tech-
nical solutions for grid integra-
tion for 17 European countries
and cost-efficient alternatives to
grid expansion.
State-of-the-art PV systems
are small power plants that pro-
vide valuable system services for
the networks, thus fulfilling a
key role for regional stakehold-
ers in the Energiewende, said
Jrg Mayer, Managing Director
of the German Solar Industry
Association (BSW), coordinator
of the EU PV GRID project.
Introducing a package of mea-
sures the document offers a pri-
oritized review of all technical
solutions available on the net-
work, consumer and PV system
sides in order to enhance the dis-
tribution grids hosting capacity
and operational efficiency.
In the first phase of the proj-
ect, the most appropriate techni-
cal solutions were identified. In
a second phase, based on these
results, the 21-member consor-
tium will investigate actions that
will allow a swifter and more
economical implementation
those technical solutions.
Phase one addressed the two
main distribution grid con-
straints: voltage fluctuation
and congestion management.
Among the solutions
EUROPE
Terra Global Energys met masts
collect data for the proposed 400-
MW Ethiopian Wind Farm. Credit
SgurrEnergy.
[ cont >]
1309REW_25 25 9/11/13 2:35 PM
news R
E
G
I
O
N
A
L
26 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
Renewable Transport Fuels Could be
Competitive with Fossil Fuels by 2020
EUROPEAdvanced biofuels, bio-
methane and electric vehicles
could out-compete conventional
transport options like gasoline
by the end of the decade, the
International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA) concluded in a
new study.
IRENA said the signs are
encouraging, but continued
research and development,
funded by both public and pri-
vate sources, remains essential,
as are continued investments in
recharging stations for electric
cars and refueling stations for
EIB Support for
Renewables Investment
EUROPEFollowing a 10-month
review of its energy sector
lending policies, the European
Investment Bank (EIB) has
adopted new guidelines to sup-
port investment in renewables.
EIB said it will now focus on
financing energy efficiency,
renewable energy and energy
networks as well as related
research and innovation, and it
will no longer support fossil-fired
power developments that do not
meet strict carbon emissions cri-
teria. This essentially removes
EIB support for coal-fired plants.
Mihai Tanasescu, EIB Vice
President responsible for energy
lending, explained the new pol-
icy, saying: Adoption of the
new lending criteria reflects
the urgent investment chal-
lenges currently facing the
energy sector. Prioritizing lend-
ing to energy efficiency, renew-
able energy, energy networks
and energy RDI projects will
help EU to meet its energy
and climate objectives and
create local employment across
Europe. The new Emissions
Performance Standard will
ensure that outside these sec-
tors the Banks energy lending
makes a sustainable and posi-
tive contribution to economic
growth.
Over the last five years EIB
lending to power generation proj-
ects using fossil fuels declined,
with coal and lignite power sta-
tions representing less than 1.5
percent of its overall portfolio.
The new energy lending cri-
teria include streamlined guide-
lines for lending for energy
efficiency projects designed
to enhance co-financing of
national energy efficiency pro-
grams and enable increased
financial support for near-zero
energy buildings.
Department of Alternative
Energy Development and Effciency
Register yourself and your colleagues NOW for Asias premier event dedicated to the renewable and alternative
energy industries. There is no better place to meet the key decision makers in the renewable energy industry.
JOINT OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION WEDNESDAY 2 OCTOBER 2013 9AM
Dr. Twarath Sutabutr, Deputy Director-General, Department of Alternative Energy Development
and Effciency, Thailand
Mr. Soonchai Kumnoonsate, Governor of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Thailand
Dr. Piyasvasti Amranand, Chairman, Energy for Environment Foundation, Thailand
Mr. Markus Lorenzini, Head of Energy Sector, ASEAN Pacifc Cluster, Siemens, Indonesia
TOPICS DISCUSSED AT THE CONFERENCE INCLUDE:
EXHIBITION OPENING HOURS:
Wednesday 2 October 2013: 10:30 18:00
Thursday 3 October 2013: 10:00 18:00
Friday 4 October 2013: 10:00 16:00
LEADING INDUSTRY EXHIBITION
Discover new ideas, technologies and developments
at the regions foremost exhibition for the conventional
power and renewable energy generation industries
from leading companies and suppliers from around
the world.
Renewab|e Energy Strategy Renewab|es Teohno|ogy Hydropower
REGISTER NOW AT: WWW.RENEWABLEENERGYWORLD-ASIA.COM
JOIN US IN BANGKOK, THAILAND ON 2 - 4 OCTOBER 2013
REGISTER NOW AND DISCOVER MORE ABOUT
ASIAS RENEWABLE INDUSTRY
RREEGGIISSTTEERR NNOOWWAANNDD DDIISSCCOOVVEERR MMOORREE AABBOOUUTT
ADVANCING ASIAS ENERGY FUTURE
1309REW_30 30 9/11/13 2:35 PM
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 31
www.awea.org/events
Join the wind industrys leading owners, project developers, and wind assessors
as they share latest challenges facing the wind resource assessment community.
Youll appreciate the technical nature of this critical event, have the opportunity to
discuss many scientic methodologies with other attendees. This important seminar
will explore the industrys needs, focus on state-of-the-art techniques and technologies,
and provide critical insight into key matters by which we make our energy predictions.
December 10 11, 2013 Las Vegas, NV
For more information, enter 14 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_47 47 9/11/13 2:51 PM
siemens.com / wind
The secret to higher performance
is simplified design.
The Siemens D3 platform
We know the value of keeping things simple.
Our D3 direct drive wind turbines have a
highly efficient generator concept that
contains less than half the moving parts of
a conventional geared wind turbine
improving performance, reliability and
maintainability.
In addition, the gearless and simplified design
allows for easier and more cost-effective
transportation and installation. Offering three
rotor sizes and a standard rating of 3.0-MW,
the D3 platform is a perfect combination of
The secret to higher performance
is simplified design.
performance and profitability for all wind
conditions. Drawing on over 30 years of
experience in wind power and a global
network of highly skilled employees,
Siemens has proven itself to be a trustworthy
and reliable business partner. As the world
looks for energy solutions, if anyone has
the answers, then Siemens does.
Learn more about our wind power
solutions and join us when we think, talk,
act energy at the World Energy Congress
2013: siemens.com / wec
For more information, enter 15 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_48 48 9/11/13 2:51 PM
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 49
WI ND TECHNOLOGY
The Air Up There:
Remote Sensing Gains Ground
Wind energy
developers
are increasingly
adopting remote
sensing technologies
for site assessments
and operations.
JAMES MONTGOMERY,
Associate Editor
Five years ago, First Winds
in-house meteorological team
zeroed in on a couple of new
potential wind farm areas in
Maine that were different: moderate-elevation plateaus instead
of the traditionally preferred high-elevation ridgetop locations.
At the time, those sites looked like a little bit of a gamble,
recalled Dave Fowler, First Winds director of development for
the New England region. But the company put up a few mete-
orological (MET) test towers at those sites, and after a couple
of years added newer remote-sensing technologies to broaden
the wind data collection and found there was really impres-
sive wind resource at those locations, added Matt Kearns, First
Winds VP of development for the Northeast region. One of those
sites became the companys 34-MW Bull Hill operation, which
came online in the fall of 2012. The other, offcially pitched to
Maine state offcials this summer, is the proposed 186-MW
Bingham Wind project in southern Aroostook County, which
will be the largest wind farm in New England upon completion.
Without the data provided by newer remote-sensing technol-
ogies, First Wind likely wouldnt have pursued proj-
ects on these new lower-height locations, which are
opening up whole new areas in Maine for potential
development, according to Fowler.
Becoming Bankable
MET towers and anemometers have been the work-
horse wind assessment technology for decades,
gathering wind data at relatively minor expense.
The MET tower approach is still highly reliable
and most stakeholders will accept a well-executed
MET tower-based campaign, according to Matthew
Filippelli, lead engineer at AWS Truepower. Now,
though, remote sensing technologies such as sodar
(SOnic Detection And Ranging) and lidar (laser
light plus radar) are expanding the scope of the
wind assessment data, and thus the confdence in a
sites wind energy resources.
Much of the increased adoption of remote sens-
ing is driven by the industrys shift toward bigger
A lattice wind meterological tower. Credit: DNV
Kema.
1309REW_49 49 9/11/13 2:52 PM
50 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
Wi nd Technology
wind turbines, with taller hubs and longer rotors. By the end of
this decade, a third of wind turbine installations in Europe will
be IEC Class III lower-wind-speed turbines in the 80-100 meter
range, calculates Feng Zhao, managing consultant with Navigant
Research. In the U.S., developers including First Wind are mov-
ing into regions like New England that have untapped areas with
lower wind regimes, and deploying taller turbines to tap the
higher and more reliable winds that make these sites feasible.
At only 60-80 meters in height, traditional MET towers require
extrapolation to calculate wind resource data up at these new
wind turbine heights. More extrapolation means less certainty
about the sites potential production, and uncertainty means
increased risk and diffculty getting a project fnanced. Now, all
wind evaluation methods are being applied to bankable energy
investments, added Katy Briggs, head of DNV Kemas energy
analysis section: Some come with measuring campaigns and
accuracy of data, some maybe have more uncertainty in measur-
ing wind speed data, but the industry is accepting the data.
Comparing MET Options
As developers become savvier about wind resource mapping
beyond standard MET towers, here are their choices:
Taller MET towers have the advantage of being based on the
longstanding reliable low-cost technology, but they quickly lose
that edge, with a decked-out 100-meter MET tower
costing up to 10 times more than the standard
MET tower, Zhao points out. Extra-tall MET tow-
ers also run the risk of running into permitting
and approval problems from local authorities to
the FAA. However, taller MET towers are built for
a longer lifetime of on-site data collection, so they
can be cost-effective for a long-term wind resource
monitoring strategy, Briggs noted.
Tinkered with since the 1980s to characterize
wake effects behind wind turbines, sodar gradu-
ally has become part of up-front wind site assess-
ment campaigns. Relatively small, low-power
(usually provided by a solar PV panel), and por-
table, these units can be quickly installed for
early site assessment even before deploying a
MET tower and moved around to expand data
collection and the wind resource profle. Sodar
devices also are in a similar
cost range as MET towers,
according to Briggs. Sodar
isnt as accurate or as scal-
able as lidar, though, with
capabilities generally dete-
riorating above 120 meters,
Feng points out. And its data
capture and delivery can be
eroded by various environ-
mental conditions: obstruc-
tions (trees, buildings, steep
hillsides), precipitation, and
even high wind speeds that
generate their own acoustics.
Lidar was developed in
the early 1960s by combin-
ing lasers and radar to gener-
ate much higher-quality data
between long distances. Its
initial application was map-
ping the moons surface for
exploration, then quickly
adopted in aviation and
A sodar unit in the field, with protective cattle
fencing. Credit: DNV Kema.
1309REW_50 50 9/11/13 2:52 PM
in co-operation with
windenergyhamburg.com
YOUR GATEWAY
TO THE WORLD OF WIND ENERGY
HAMBURG, 2326 SEPTEMBER 2014
WindEnergy Hamburg the new global trade show brings together
businesses from across the entire wind industry value chain, onshore and
offshore. It is the only event of its kind that will provide a comprehensive
overview of the current status and future of the industry.
International exhibitors and buyers are coming to meet and do business
in Hamburg the European capital of the wind industry.
Come join us and make it your gateway to the world of wind energy!
See you at WindEnergy
Hamburg 2014!
Wi nd Technology
meteorology, though wind energy assessment wasnt investigated
until the early 2000s. Lidar generally provides data with better
accuracy, especially at greater heights (up to 200 meters), and is
less susceptible to adverse site conditions. Advanced lidar devices
can obtain data from several kilometers away, vertically or hori-
zontally. However, lidar is signifcantly more expensive than sodar
and traditional MET towers. It also tends to require more power
(exceeding 100 W), which is problematic for sites that arent grid-
connected or in case of an outage; these units generally require
backup which adds even more cost.
Both sodar and lidar have faster setup and mobility vs. fxed
MET towers, but this needs to be used in moderation. Industry
consensus is that a one-year duration of measurements taken
in a fxed location provides the best reduction of uncertainty,
according to Robert Poore, senior advisor for renewable energy
services at DNV KEMA. That assumes synchronous use with
multiple onsite MET towers providing longer-term (2-4 years)
data, providing the fullest picture of a sites wind resource.
All MET options have some
degree of susceptibility to
environmental conditions, so
A lidar unit in the field. Credit:
Renewable NRG Systems.
For more information,
enter 16 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_51 51 9/11/13 2:52 PM
of the worlds
wind energy
comes from
Hempel protected
wind turbines*
More than
PROUD TO BE A PART OF PROGRESS
Hempel has provided and developed protective
coatings for the wind industry since 1980. Weve
grown with it and learnt from it and today we are a
global supplier. With Hempel you get more than the
most advanced coating technologies, you get the
support and understanding that helps to take energy
output higher.
Find out more at www.onshore.hempel.com
*
W
W
E
A
2
0
1
1
Visit us at stand WD01
For more information, enter 17 at REW.hotims.com
Wi nd Technology
the choice between them is very site-dependent. Sodar has trou-
ble with nearby tall structures or objects that can interfere with
sound signals. Lidar, being based on light, cant penetrate fog.
Cup anemometers on towers are susceptible to icing.
Operations and Beyond
The decision about what MET technology to deploy doesnt end
with site assessment and selection; its not as well-known that the
technology has value throughout a wind farms lifespan for power
forecasting and modeling, Filippelli points out. Sodar and lidar
get attention at construction, but MET towers provide a good, use-
ful data source throughout the entire project lifespan.
Remote sensing technologies, though, are getting a lot more
experience in operation now, Briggs offered. The kinks are get-
ting worked out. Side-scanning lidar, for example, likely will
gain favor in forecasting at operational wind plants, for early
identifcation and preparation of changes in approaching winds
that could change power output.
And investors are getting
on board as well. Poore indi-
cated that there are examples
where some smaller projects,
or portions of larger ones,
have been partially fnanced
based solely on remote sens-
ing measurements. The time
is coming, he predicted,
when entire larger utility-
scale projects will pursue and
obtain a fnancing decision
based solely on remote sens-
ing measurement technol-
ogy. In most cases, though, he
admits that there will always
be a MET tower involved in a
wind project.
1309REW_52 52 9/11/13 2:52 PM
Experience in
Wind, Strength
in Design,
Partnership in
Business
www.ingeteam.com
At Ingeteam, we apply the concept i+c
to every project that we undertake -
innovation to nd the best solution and
commitment to provide the best service.
With 22 GW of installed wind power
capacity worldwide, our engineering
teams can provide you with exible
solutions (power converters, generators,
turbine controller, CMS, electric pitch
controls, and SCADA management
systems) for wind turbines up to 10 MW
for onshore and offshore applications.
The formula of the new energy
Europe
(+34) 948 288 000
wind.energy@ingeteam.com
(+34) 943 028 200
wind@indar.ingeteam.com
China
(+86) 513 8105 5518 ext 6221
wind.china@ingeteam.com
Brazil
(+55) 19 30 37 37 73
wind.brazil@ingeteam.com
USA
(+1) 414 934 4100
wind.usa@ingeteam.com
Generators
Converters
Low & Medium
Voltage
up to 10 MW
For more information, enter 18 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_53 53 9/11/13 2:52 PM
t
h
e
54 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
July 4, 2013 marked the inauguration of the worlds largest
offshore wind farm The London Array. With 175 Siemens
3.6-MW turbines and a total installed capacity of 630 MW,
the offshore wind farm is a historic milestone for the
United Kingdom and the development of renewable energy,
according to Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, one of
developers of the project.
The offshore wind farm is located about 20 km off the coasts
of Kent and Essex in the U.K. and the project covers an area of
100 square kilometers. Development partners of the project
include DONG energy with a 50 percent stake, E.ON with a 30
percent stake and Masdar with a 20 percent stake. In all, the
project took four years to construct.
Profling Stand-out Renewable
Energy Projects Worldwide
London Array Debuts to Great Fanfare
1.
2.
1309REW_54 54 9/11/13 2:52 PM
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 55
1. One of the two
offshore substations
for The London
Array.
2. The London Array
offshore wind farm
includes 175 Siemens
wind turbines.
3. About 450 km
of export cables
transport the wind
energy from the
offshore wind farm
to the substations.
4. The Cleve Hill
Onshore Substation
was constructed first.
5. One of the 175
foundations on
which Siemens wind
turbines a built.
6. Close-up of one of
the 3.6 MW turbines.
Photos Courtesy
London Array Limited.
By the Numbers
175
450
630mw
100km
2
Number of
Turbines
Kilometers
of Cabling
(about 280 miles)
Area
(about 1.1 the size of Manhattan)
Rated Capacity, enough
power for nearly 500,000
UK homes
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1309REW_55 55 9/11/13 2:52 PM
56 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
WI ND TECHNOLOGY
The Promise
of the Ukrainian
Wind Market
For the last 20 years Ukraine has led the republics of
the former USSR in wind energy development. It is the
only country in the CIS community with an established wind
industry and a functioning green tarif mechanism.
GALINA SHMIDT, Ukranian Wind Energy Association
Last year (2012) was another successful year for wind power
in Ukraine, bringing the total installed capacity to around 300
MW, an impressive 98 percent increase in cumulative national
installations, which were just 151.1 MW at the end of 2011.
The frst phase of modern industrial wind development in
Ukraine dates back to 1997 when the Programme for Wind
Farm Construction was adopted in order to stimulate wind
sector development. The program was mainly focused on
converting military-industrial enterprises for into wind power
manufacturing sites. A rather ambitious goal of reaching
1,990 MW by 2010 was set at that time, but unfortunately the
goal was not met due to a severe lack of funding.
Although Ukraine is one of Europes leading coal -
producing countries and possesses some uranium, oil and
natural gas reserves, the nation relies heavily on imported
energy, primarily from Russia, leaving the economy vul-
nerable to bilateral disputes and external shocks. To reduce
its dependence on imported energy, and recognizing the
need for diversifcation of its energy supply, in April 2009
the Ukrainian government introduced attractive green tar-
iff rates for renewable energy sources that are fxed until
2030. The current rate for a 2+ MW wind turbine is 11.31
cents per kWh. In the future the tariff will be reduced by
10, 20 and 30 percent from
2013 levels for power plants
that generate electricity from
renewable energy sources
that are commissioned
from 2015, 2020 and 2025,
respectively.
Ukraine currently has
three main mechanisms for
stimulating renewable power
1309REW_56 56 9/11/13 2:53 PM
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 57
Ochakovskaya Wind Park.
Credit UWEA.
generation: the green tariff, tax benefts and preferential condi-
tions for connecting to the grid.
Mr. Nikolay Pashkevich, head of the State Agency on Energy
Effciency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEE), which is
responsible for renewable energy development in the country,
considers the adoption of the green tariff law on April 1, 2009
to be the major impetus for the development of renewable ener-
gies in Ukraine. It is this law that has allowed our country to
get such increase in renewable energies only for a few years,
he said. According to SAEE, 153 renewable energy projects are
currently operational in
Ukraine, totaling 874 MW of
installed capacity. In the last
six months 733 GWh of green
electricity have been gener-
ated. For comparison, in 2012
the total capacity of Ukraines
renewable energy indus-
try amounted to 146 MW
with an annual output of 242
GWh. This is vivid evidence
of the effciency of the law,
Pashkevich said. In fact, this
law is a guarantor of invest-
ments in renewable energies.
Domestically manufac-
tured small and MW-class
wind turbines represent
Ukraines current wind
energy market. Of the 84.75
MW of operating wind power
plants, 17 were constructed
under the State Programme
for Wind Farm Construction.
Since 2011, nearly all of the
new wind capacity has been
brought online through pri-
vate investment.
According to the Ukrainian
Wind Energy Association
(UWEA), 18.32 MW of new
wind capacity were added
during the frst six months of
2013, with total wind capacity
reaching 315.76 MW by June
30 out of which 290.76 MW
were fully grid-connected and
selling electricity at the green
tariff rate. In addition, con-
struction work has begun on
a number of sites located in
1309REW_57 57 9/11/13 2:53 PM
58 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
wi nd Technology
A recent tender victory by
Fuhrlaender Windtechnology
for the supply of 22 2-MW
wind turbines for a 45-MW
wind farm in the town of
Yereimentau in Kazakhstans
Akmola region is an indi-
cator of Ukrainian wind
turbines competitiveness
within the former Soviet
Union. This project is not
only the frst modern wind
farm to be constructed in
Kazakhstan, but also the frst
non-Ukrainian wind proj-
ect where modern MW-class
wind turbines of Ukrainian
origin are to be installed.
the Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions as well as in the
Crimea. Total investment amounted to around 84 million.
UWEA expects a total installed capacity of about 500 MW by
the frst half of 2014 and believes that a national wind capacity of
1 GW by the end of 2015 is feasible.
Wind Parks of Ukraine is one of the leading companies in the
nations wind energy industry. By July 2013 the company had
installed and was operating 130 MW of wind power in several
Ukrainian regions. Approximately 70 MW of additional capacity
are scheduled to be completed this year. The company expects its
project portfolio to comprise 1,350 MW by 2020.
Development of an entire wind power supply chain has been
a priority for Ukraine. In September 2012, Ukrainian com-
pany Fuhrlaender Windtechnology inaugurated a factory in
Kramatorsk to produce licensed wind turbines. Fuhrlaender is
the frst company in Ukraine to produce MW-class turbines, and
its factory can be considered the start of Ukraines domestic pro-
duction of modern wind equipment.
Construction at the Novoazovskaya Wind Park. Credit UWEA.
1309REW_58 58 9/11/13 2:53 PM
Transformers. Switchgear. Substations.
Integrated solutions. Automation. Engineering Services.
With over 75 years of experience in the energy sector, CG is an established
manufacturer of three-phase distribution and power transformers, and a strong
competitor in the market of substations, integrated solutions, automation systems
and services. At CG we continually focus on providing smart solutions to our
customers challenges.
www.cgglobal.com
For more information, enter 19 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_59 59 9/11/13 2:53 PM
60 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
wi nd Technology
The Fuhrlaender Windtechnology Factory. Credit UWEA.
The main barrier to the continued successful development
of renewable energy in Ukraine is grid connection. The
Ministry of Energy and Coal Industrys position is refected
in the draft Revised Energy Strategy of Ukraine till 2030,
a nuclear and coal power-oriented document. The main
arguments from those who are holding back renewable energy
development include the dependence of renewables on weather
conditions and the necessity of creating additional backup
capacity to ensure grid stability. Initially, the National Power
Company Ukrenergo [a national grid operator] claimed that
Ukraines technically achievable renewable energy potential
amounted to 7-8 MW. Nowadays, three years after the
introduction of the green tariff, the fgure of 1.5 MW has been
introduced into the draft Revised Energy Strategy, criticized
Andrey Konechenkov, UWEA chairman.
According to Vladislav Eremenko, general director of wind
farm developer, Wind Parks of Ukraine, the country has all of
the necessary ingredients to support a successful wind power
industry. Ukraine can
provide all the supply chain
from [the] production of
wind turbines to wind farm
construction, maintenance
and operation, Eremenko
said. The opening of the
plant in Ukraine to produce
licensed wind turbines,
trained installation and
maintenance personnel,
designers and builders
all of these are the
components of one big
process the process of
Ukraines transition to clean
and reliable electricity, he
concluded.
1309REW_60 60 9/11/13 2:53 PM
Proven high speed drivetrain provides easy route
to higher power levels offshore
Almost all offshore turbines use high speed (HS) drivetrains both induction and
doubly-fed and the majority rely on ABB generators. With the expansion of ABBs
HS permanent magnet generator (PMG) range up to 7 MW, turbine OEMs now have
an easy route to upgrade from doubly-fed to full converter solutions. The benets
include low maintenance, superior grid compliance and fast offshore introduction.
First launched in 2003, ABBs robust PMGs offer small size and low weight, combined
with efciencies as high as 98 %. Their patented rotor technology ensures proven
short circuit withstand without demagnetization. Leading turbine OEMs rely on ABB
technology, with over 30,000 generators delivered for all drivetrain types from direct
drive and hybrid to HS. Read more at: www.abb.com/motors&generators
Visit us at EWEA Offshore
Nov 19 21, in Frankfurt
Hall 3.1, ABB stand 31E90
For more information, enter 20 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_61 61 9/11/13 2:53 PM
62 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
SHOW PREVI EW A SPECI AL ADVERTI SI NG SECTI ON
Offshore Wind Explored
News that plans for a huge new dockside development
on the UKs east coast designed to support
ofshore wind development have moved forward is
characteristic of the times. Ofshore wind is becoming
a big business and major investments in related
infrastructure are being brought to the table as a result.
The announcement that the government was minded to grant
approval places Able UK the company behind the 450 mil-
lion (US $675 million) Marine Energy Park on the South Bank
of the River Humber one step closer to realizing the 906
acre (366 ha) development. When completed, the Park will pro-
vide 1279 metres of quayside facilities purpose-built for the
manufacture, assembly and installation of offshore renewable
technologies, notably wind.
In 2012, some 290 offshore turbines across nine proj-
ects with a combined capacity of 1166 MW were commis-
sioned, bringing the total installed offshore capacity to 5 GW.
Installations were up a third on the previous year with the
trend towards larger projects expected to continue into the
future. But with recent fore-
casts from the European
Wind Energy Association
(EWEA) indicating that by
2020 Europes installed off-
shore wind capacity could be
as much as 40 GW, the sec-
tor is seen as a major growth
market. By 2030, EWEA
believes, offshore wind capac-
ity could total 150 GW, meet-
ing 14 percent of the EUs
total electricity consumption.
1309REW_62 62 9/11/13 2:55 PM
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 63
Growing evidence that offshore development is gathering pace
and scale suggests that there are enormous opportunities for the
maritime sector in areas such as laying foundations and cables
and the installation and maintenance of turbines and trans-
former stations. The shipbuilding and oil and gas marine equip-
ment industries in particular are well placed to beneft from this
additional business, given their existing offshore expertise.
This close connection between these two sectors and the
development of related infrastructure as seen on the Humber
and elsewhere is one area that will be addressed in the forth-
coming EWEA OFFSHORE 2013 conference, which is scheduled
to take place in Frankfurt in November.
Indeed, one whole track of the conference is dedicated to this
theme, under the title: Industrializing the supply chain.
This track highlights the notion that learning from, and inte-
grating, maritime experience presents both opportunities and
challenges. With a panel of industry researchers exploring and
identifying the possible synergies and risks of integrating vari-
ous technologies, they will reveal how experiences from other
maritime industries can help overcome bottlenecks in the
offshore wind industry.
Among the many anticipated highlights is a pre-
sentation by Stefan Frber of Germanys Bremenports
GmbH & Co. KG in the Synergies with other maritime
technologies session.
This organization is currently implementing plans
for a new offshore terminal at the River Weser, close
www.ewea.org/offshore2013/
to both production sites and
with access to deep water,
and Frber is set to answer
key questions about this proj-
ect, known as the Offshore-
Terminal in Bremerhaven
(OTB). His insights will shed
light on another great exam-
ple of investment in port
infrastructure.
Indeed, despite the diff-
culties the offshore indus-
try may be experiencing in
Europe two areas also
extensively addressed by
the conference program are
issues such as fnancing and
policy stability industry
leaders are feeling positive
about the future. Conference
Chair Henrik Poulsen, the
CEO of Dong Energy, says
the best years are still
ahead of us. That said, there
is obviously no room for com-
placency. Its crucial that we
as an industry pick up the
challenge and join forces to
meet our common goal.
For more on the confer-
ence program and all of the
theme tracks and confer-
ence sessions, visit the EWEA
OFFSHORE 2013 website.
1309REW_63 63 9/11/13 2:55 PM
WHILE THE WORLD IS MAKING PROGRESS, IT ISNT MOVING FAST ENOUGH.
BUSINESS AS USUAL WONT GET US THERE.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE?
The sustainable energy for all initiative sets 3 global goals for 2030:
ENERGY ACCESS Providing universal access to modern energy
Global access to electricity
Pace needs to increase by 38% to reach goal by 2030
1990
20
40
60
80
100
2010 2030
During the last 20 years 1.7 billion
people gained access to electricity
Business as usual would leave
12-16% of the worlds population
without electricity
1.2 billion people have no access
to electricity today
2. Energy efficiency
3. Renewable energy
1. Energy access
2030 goal:
100% global
access to
electricity
& modern fuels
for cooking
Objective 1
FOR ALL
THE FIRST GLOBAL TRACKING FRAMEWORK LAYS OUT THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
64 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
p
o
i
n
t
s
d
a
t
a
1309REW_64 64 9/11/13 2:56 PM
Primary world energy consumption
Doubling the rate of improvement in global ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Doubling the share of worlds mix of RENEWABLE ENERGY
Pace needs to increase by 2.5 times historical growth rate to reach goal by 2030
WHAT CAN GOVERNMENTS DO?
Energy intensity
10.2
megajoules $/PPP
Consumption
367
exajoules
1990
Energy intensity
7.9
megajoules $/PPP
Consumption
534
exajoules
2010
Energy intensity
4.7
megajoules $/PPP
2030
1990 2010 2030
Countries with a high level of energy intensity use more energy to create a unit of GDP than countries with lower levels of energy
intensity. The World Bank measures energy intensity in primary energy terms and GDP at PPP [purchasing power parity].
(Courtesy World Bank Global Tracking Framework)
Increase financing Take bold policy steps, such as:
Phasing out untargeted fossil fuel subsidies
Using targeted subsidies to promote access
Establishing a price for carbon
Adopting strict standards for energy efficiency
Introducing policy incentives for renewable energy
Promoting a good investment climate for energy
Meeting the renewable energy
and energy efficiency goals can
help slow climate change.
Primary
world energy
consumption is
36% lower than
it would have
been without the
improvements
Renewable
energy
16%
18%
36%
$400 billion
annual spending
currently
$11.2 trillion
annual spending
needed to achieve
the goals
Objective 2
Objective 3
SOURCE: WorldBank.org WorldBank.org/se4all
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 65
1309REW_65 65 9/11/13 2:56 PM
October 2124
McCormick Place
Chicago, Illinois USA
Powered by:
66 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
Show Previ ew A SPECI AL ADVERTI SI NG SECTI ON
Solar Power International (SPI) is where solar professionals convene each year
to stay up to date on solar trends, innovations, and the state of the industry. With nearly
600 exhibiting companies, 15,000+ attendees, the industrys most comprehensive
conference program, and daily networking events, you cant beat the return on
investment delivered by attending SPI.
And, this isnt your typical trade show! SPI takes attendees out of the ordinary with
engaging discussions, applicable best practices, exciting innovations, and idea-sharing
with business leaders. You will see the people and products and access the information
and ideas that prepare you and your company for the future of solar.
Overall Schedule-at-a-Glance
Preliminary schedule, subject to change. All events are located at McCormick Center unless otherwise specified.
Pre- and Post-Conference Workshops
Sunday, 10/20 ............... 8:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
Monday, 10/21 .............. 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Friday, 10/25 ................. 8:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
Exhibit Hall and Posters Open
Tuesday, 10/22 ............. 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 10/23 ........ 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, 10/24 ............ 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions and Solar Idea Swaps
Tuesday, 10/22 ............. 10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 10/23 ........ 11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, 10/24 ............ 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
General Sessions
Monday, 10/21 .............. 5:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 10/23 ........ 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m.
1309REW_66 66 9/11/13 2:57 PM
Resources at your
fingertips at Solar
Power International:
Exhibitorsandproductdisplaysin
morethan30productcategories
offeringsolutionswithresidential,
commercial,andutilityapplications.
Sixconferencetracks,workshops,
andSolarIdeaSwaps.
Neweducationalformatsand
opportunities,includingQuickTalks
andEducationalPosters.
Fourfeaturedshowfloorareas,
includingtwonewofferings
Start-UpAlleyandIndustryTrends
thatdelivercutting-edgetrainingand
accesstoup-and-comingcompanies.
Yourcolleagues!Whetheryoure
seekingpolicyinformation,
connectionswithprojectdevelopers,
educationonintegratingwithutilities,
oraccesstofinancingandfunding,
SPIhasitall.
Tackling Issues, Solving Problems,
Delivering Solutions
SPIConcurrentSessionsandSolarIdeaSwapsinvite
attendeestobemoreengaged.Thought-provoking
learningformatswillenableyoutoapplycontenttoyour
company,yourprojectandyourcareer.Tracksinclude:
BusinessGrowthandDevelopment
FinanceSolutions
IntegrationwithUtilities
PolicyandRegulations
MarketsandMarketingStrategies
Operations,Performance,andMaintenance
Bring Timely Topics into Focus
with SPIs New Quicktalks
25-minutesessionsthatpackapowerful
punchwithquickcontentontimelytopics
fromrecognizedindustryexperts.
Educational Posters Bring a New Presentation
and Format for Educational Content to SPI
Posterpresentations,featuredontheExpofloor,will
giveattendeesauniquelookatindustryresearch
results,innovations,ananalysisofapracticalproblem-
solvingeffort,orrecommendedbestpractices.
Special Events Schedule
Opening Reception
Monday,10/21.............. 6:30p.m.8:30p.m.
IncludedinFullConferenceRegistration.
Professional Women in Solar Breakfast
Tuesday,10/22............. 8:30a.m.10:00a.m.
Exhibit Hall Happy Hour
Tuesday,10/22............. 5:00p.m.6:00p.m.
SPI Block Party at the Museum
of Science and Industry
Tuesday,10/22............. 7:00p.m.10:00p.m.
IncludedinFullConferenceRegistration.
Poster Reception
Wednesday,10/23........ 4:30p.m.6p.m.
Special Performance by The Second City
Wednesday,10/23........ 5:00p.m.6:00p.m.
NEW
NEW
Full Expo, Education, Registration,
and Housing details available at
www.solarpowerinternational.com
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 67
1309REW_67 67 9/11/13 2:57 PM
68 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
SOL AR
The Sunniest States
for Solar Energy
in the US
Solar PV panels sparkle in the sun from coast
to coast in the US but as a new report shows,
the top 12 best US states for solar energy are not
necessarily those with the best solar resource.
JAMES MONTGOMERY, Associate Editor
This summer the Environment America Research & Policy
Center released a report that highlighted the top 12 U.S.
states for solar energy ranked by several criteria: from
new and cumulative installed capacity to actual electrical
generation to a variety of solar-friendly political support.
Most are unsurprising, but there are some worthy com-
parisons and criticisms to be made.
Nearly all of them share the same characteristics: clear
renewable electricity standards with carve-outs for solar,
strong statewide interconnection policies, strong net
metering policies, and accommodation for creative fnanc-
ing options including third-party ownership and property
assessed clean energy (PACE) fnancing.
These 12 states account for barely a quarter of the
nations population (28 percent), but almost all of its
installed solar energy (85 percent). The progress of these
states should give us the confdence that we can do much
more, stated Rob Sargent, energy program director with
Environment America. More than half of U.S. states have
the technical potential to generate at least 20 percent of
their electricity from rooftop solar PV, and that jumps to
30 percent for sun-drenched California, Arizona, Nevada
and Colorado.
Groups contributing to the
report included the Solar Energy
Industries Association (SEIA),
Institute for Local Self-Reliance,
Vote Solar, Clean Energy
States Alliance, Massachusetts
Department of Energy Resources,
Environment California Research
and Policy Center, Frontier Group,
the Tilia Fund, the John Merck
Fund and the Energy Foundation.
1309REW_68 68 9/11/13 2:58 PM
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 69
12. Maryland
Residential and commercial
solar PV system prices
in Maryland fell by twice
the national rate in 2012,
according to SEIA. Building our states solar
market is a top priority, stated Governor
Martin OMalley. Today, we have more than
1,410 times more solar on our states grid
and 2,000 more solar installation jobs than
in 2007. Andthe states goals for its RPS(20
percent by 2022) and reduction in energy
consumption (15 percent per-capita reduced
electricity consumption by 2015) are among
the most aggressive in the country, he added.
2013 Cumulative Solar Watts Per Person
19
2013 Cumulative Solar Electricity Installations (MW)
109
2012 Cumulative Solar Watts Per Person
13
2012 Cumulative Solar Electricity Installations (MW)
74
1309REW_69 69 9/11/13 2:58 PM
70 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
Sol ar
11. North Carolina
North Carolina owes its
presence on the list to
several large-scale solar
energy installations. Apple made a splash
bybuilding out a 20-MW solar project at its
data center in Maiden. Google, which has a
data center in Lenoir, has called for the state
toestablish a renewable energy tariff for large
business. Because much of its solar energy
adoption has been in larger projects, North
Carolina ranks well below the other states
on the top 12 list in adoption of net meter-
ing. North Carolina alsowas prominently
targetedby abroad effort to roll back RPS
levelsin two dozen states.
10. Massachusetts
Solar installations in
Massachusetts have been
among the highest in
the country, and resi-
dential solar installationshave quad rupled
over the past two years in a state bet-
ter known for long New England winters
than strong solar resources. Mass achusetts
is already approaching a goal of 250 MW
installed solar capacity by 2016; the state
has since proposed a new target of 1.6 GW of
cumulative installed solar capacity by 2020.
Massachusetts also has a 400-MW carve-out
in its RPS which also will likely max out well
ahead of its target (2014), so the state is try-
ing to fast-track an expansion of that.
9. Vermont
Vermont has won recognition for its
groundbreakingstreamlined solar
permit ting rules, emphasizing res-
idential and small solar installa-
tions, whichwere further expanded
in 2012. Vermont is also at the forefront of the
net metering debate; a report earlier this year
found that solar net meteringis a net-positive
for the state.
Unlike the other top 12 states, Vermont
does not have a formal RPS it has goals
of 20 percent of electricity retail sales from
renewable energy and combined heat/power
by 2017. There also are targets for providers
annual electricity of 55 percent of retail sales
in 2017, increasing to 75 percent by 2032.
2013 Cumulative Solar Watts Per Person
30
2013 Cumulative Solar Electricity Installations (MW)
198
2012 Cumulative Solar Watts Per Person
19
2012 Cumulative Solar Electricity Installations (MW)
129
2013 Cumulative Solar Watts Per Person
23
2013 Cumulative Solar Electricity Installations (MW)
229
2012 Cumulative Solar Watts Per Person
14
2012 Cumulative Solar Electricity Installations (MW)
135
2013 Cumulative Solar Watts Per Person
34
2013 Cumulative Solar Electricity Installations (MW)
21
2012 Cumulative Solar Watts Per Person
26
2012 Cumulative Solar Electricity Installations (MW)
16
1309REW_70 70 9/11/13 2:58 PM
Wind / PV
CHP / Backup
diesel
Network operations
Contract management
Billing
Energy trading
Weather forecasting
DEMS
Decentralized energy
management system
Biomass
Modeling
Forecasting
Scheduling
Real-time
optimization
Storage
Load and generation
Connected external processes
Industry Commercial
Current
Effectivity
Optimized
92 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
Di s tri buteD energy
sources with stable, controllable sources such as biomass plants,
using the fexibility of the biomass source to smooth out any dis-
crepancy between planned and actual production.
How a VPP Works
A VPP relies on software systems to remotely and automati-
cally dispatch and optimize generation, demand-side or storage
resources (including plug-in electric vehicles and bi-direc-
tional inverters) in a single, secure web-connected system,
explains Werner.
In order to bring diverse, independent resources into a unifed
network, complex planning and scheduling are required. The
key ingredient that makes it all work, said Werner, is software.
There is a server system installed in a control room, with com-
munication channels like mobile phone or DSL connections to
connect to the energy management system, he explained.
You have several advanced applications in the energy man-
agement system like forecasting applications, scheduling appli-
cations and an automatic generation control, he continues.
The VPP uses weather forecasts for calculating the electrical and
thermal loads which have to be supplied, as well as for forecast-
ing the generation of renewable units. These forecasts are used
in the scheduling application, which is similar to a short-term
unit commitment and economic dispatch in large power systems.
It calculates the schedule for the entire VPP and all the distrib-
uted energy resources. The operator of the VPP uses the schedule
to market the energy and
the power on the energy
exchange, or as tertiary or
secondary control reserve.
Looking to the Future
There is currently no stan-
dard interface for the com-
munication between the VPP
control systems and the dis-
tributed energy resources,
Werner said. Today you
need to know what the dif-
ferent communication inter-
faces can provide which
makes the connection a bit
more complicated. Sometimes
the cost for the interface is
big. If you have a new energy
resource, you need to fgure
out the best way to make the
connection between the unit
and the VPP. In the future,
with a standard interface, you
will not have this problem.
A standard interface is in
Dems-Graphic: Schematic of a sample virtual power plant. Credit Siemens.
1309REW_92 92 9/11/13 3:11 PM
Virtual
power plant
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 93
Di s tri buteD energy
the works, he said, with an initial version in development. Some
of these interfaces are already up and running, Werner said,
but the majority of the distributed energy resources which are
already installed do not support this communication protocol.
The lack of a standard interface is the only technical problem
with VPPs, according to Werner. But there is the non-technical
problem of differing market conditions, and different regulatory
conditions in different energy markets. There is not a general
concept of operating a VPP Germany is different from the UK,
which is different from the U.S., he explained.
You have to defne a VPP solution for each energy market.
In the European grids you will see similar market conditions
and similar regulation conditions, but you may have to adapt a
German system if you want to use it in Canada or the U.S.
And energy markets are often moving targets, he continued.
We had a project started, a VPP for a particular energy exchange
with renewable energy. The regulatory authority in Germany
told us that there were some aspects which did not ft with the
regulation conditions, so we
changed the model to partic-
ipate in the market for con-
trol reserve. Two years later
the regulations changed, and
we could integrate renewable
energy into the energy mar-
ket for direct marketing. We
adapted the business concept
within a running project, he
said, something VPPs are par-
ticularly suited for due to their
low costs.
In Germany a VPP can
participate in the market for
control reserve and second-
ary control reserve, but there
are other energy markets in
the world where thats not
allowed: you need concen-
trated conventional units for
those markets. I think this
has to be changed as we see
more and more distributed
renewable energy sources in
energy systems, Werner said.
But this change is hap-
pening. The VPP concept
will be increasingly typical
in energy markets, Werner
believes. What we see is
that, in countries such as the
UK and France, the concept
is discussed more and more.
New operational concepts are
needed for renewable energy
to participate in the mar-
ket, Werner said: Otherwise
the restrictions of the electri-
cal grids will limit the fur-
ther increase of renewable
generation.
A Virtual Power Plant aggregates different types of energy generation
and controls it as if it was one source. Credit Siemens.
1309REW_93 93 9/11/13 3:11 PM
94 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
Renewabl e Energy Wor l d Cal endar September and October 2013
Adver t i ser s I ndex Scan the QR code for information on the products and services found in this issue.
GulfSol 2013
Dubai, UAE
3-5 September 2013
E. des@gattacaltd.com
W: www.gulfsol.com
RETECH 2013
Washington, DC, US
9-11 September 2013
E: cfox@accessintel.com
W: www.retech2013.com
Asia Pacific Clean Energy
Summit and Expo
Honalulu, Hawaii
9-11 September 2013
E: wenning@techconnect.org
W: http://www.ct-si.org/
events/APCE2013/
The Renewables Event
Birmingham, UK
10-11 September 2013
W: www.
therenewablesevent.com
Renewable Energy India Expo
Greater Noida, India
12-14 September 2013
UBM India Pvt. Ltd
W: www.
renewableenergyindiaexpo.com
SR Marine Conference,
Exhibition & Dinner 2013
Inverness, Scotland
16-17 September 2013
E. info@scottishrenewables.com
W: www.scottishrenewables.com
Powering MENA
Ministerial Summit
Jordan
17-18 September 2013
E. oliver.reed@estratevents.com
W: www.ese-poweringafrica.com
Solar Asia Expo
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
17-19 September 2013
T: +(603) 2176 8788
E: adzli.ariff@ubm.com
W: www.solarasiaexpo.com
Intersolar South America
So Paulo, Brasil
18-20 September 2013
T: +49 7231 58598-0
W: www.intersolar.net.br
HydroVision Brasil
Sao Paulo, Brasil
24-26 September 2013
T: +1 918-831-9704
E: tchambers@pennwell.com
W: www.hydrovisionbrasil.com
Renewable Energy World Asia
Bangkok, Thailand
2-4 October 2013
T: +44 1992 656 647
E:leec@pennwell.com
W: www.powergenasia.com
28th European Photovoltaic
Solar Energy Conference
and Exhibition
Paris, France
1-3 October 2013
T: +49-89-720 12 735
E:wip@wip-munich.de
W: www.photovoltaic-
conference.com
The Caribbean Renewable
Energy Forum (CREF)
Aruba, Caribbean
9-11 October 2013
T: +1 845 440 7800
E: mperks@
caribbeanenergyforum.com
W: http://www.
caribbeanenergyforum.com
22nd World Energy Congress
Daegu, Korea
13-17 October 2013
T: +82-2-3489-4400
E: info@daegu2013.kr
W: www.daegu2013.kr
Renex Eurasia
Ankara, Turkey
15-18 October 2013
T: +90 (0)212 3346900
E:info@sodex.com.tr
W: www.renex.com.tr
Solar Power International
Chicago, Il, USA
21-24 October 2013
E: info@solarpowerinternational.
com
W: www.
solarpowerinternational.com
Turkey-MENA Renewable
Energy Congress
Istanbul, Turkey
24-25 October 2013
E:info@szwgroup.com
W:http://www.szwgroup.
com/renewable2013/
Renewable Energy World
Conference and Expo,
North America
Orlando, Florida
11-14 November 2013
T: +1 918-831-9704
E: cchitty@pennwell.com
W: www.renewableenergyworld-
events.com/
ABB OY61
American Wind Energy
Association47
Bechtel Advertising1
CG Power Systems Belgium NV59
Dresser Rand11
Everglades University6
Exxon Mobil45
Hamburg Messe51
Hempel A/S52
Hytorc, Division of Unex Corp5
Ingeteam SA53
MTS Sensor Technologie
GmbH & Co. KG23
Multi-Contact AG85
Nexans9
Power Generation Week41
Hydrovision International 201471
Hydrovision Russia 2014CV3
Hydrovision Brasil 201335
REW Asia 201330
REWNA 2013CV4
PVSYST SA95
Renewable World21
Schneider Electric2
Siemens AG48
Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC66-67
Solar Promotion International
GmbH15
Sputnik Engineering19
UniracCV2
Wind Parks of Ukraine27
The Adveritsers Index is published as a service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions.
Selected multi-day conferences, expos and events for the Renewable Energy Industry
1309REW_94 94 9/11/13 3:11 PM
PVSYST SA | 107 route du Bois-de-Bay - 1242 Satigny - Switzerland | admin@pvsyst.com
available on www.pvsyst.com aavailaable o on www w om .co yst. vsy w.pv w
Designed for engineers, architects, researchers, education
Renewabl e Energy Trai ni ng Event s
The Green Power Mini-MBA
Green Power Academy
Dubai, UAE
22-26 September 2013
MREA PV 205.02
Intermediate Photovoltaics
Midwest Renewable
Energy Association
Custer, Wisconsin, USA
23-24 September 2013
GRC Pre-Annual
Meeting Workshop -
Geothermal Exploration
in the 21st Century
Geothermal Resources Council
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
27-28 September 2013
Geothermal Energy
3-Day MBA
Green Power Academy
Santiago, Chile
7-9 October 2013
Solar Training - Solar Electric
Lab Week (Grid-Direct)
Solar Energy International
Paonia, Colorado, USA
7-11 October 2013
Commercial Solar:
Commissioning from A to Z
Heatspring Learning Institute
21 Oct-15 Nov 2013
Online
Biomass One-Day Course
The European Energy Centre
Coventry University, UK and
Edinburgh Napier University,
Scotland and Online
Offered Year Round
Wind Power Finance School
Green Power Academy
London, UK
28 Oct-1 Nov 2013
Solar PV Installer Boot
Camp Training + NABCEP
Entry Level Exam Prep
Heatspring Learning Institute
Various Locations,
USA and Online
October and November 2013
Renewable Energy for
the Developing World
Solar Energy International
4 Nov-15 De 2013
Online
Hydro Plant Maintenance
and Reliability
Marcus Evans
Denver, Colorado, USA
5-7 November 2013
Deep-cycle Battery
Manufacturing Webcast
Trojan Battery Company
6 Nov 2013
Online
Here we offer a sampling of short renewable energy educational events and certificate programs throughout the world.
If you would like your training event to considered for inclusion in this listing, please email REWNews@Pennwell.com subject line: Education and Training.
For more information, enter 23 at REW.hotims.com
1309REW_95 95 9/11/13 3:11 PM
Last
the
96 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MAGAZINE
Anders Jansson
is co-founder and
CEO of Minesto, an
energy technology
company in the field
of marine energy,
with a patented and
proven technology
(Deep Green) to
harvest energy from
low-velocity tidal
and ocean currents.
He has eight years of
experience developing
and commercializing
marine energy
technology, both as
an entrepreneur and
business leader. He has
a background from
Chalmers University of
Technology.
Marine Renewables Deliver Security
Those who remember the oil cri-
ses in the 70s, when OPEC stran-
gled oil supply to the West drastically
raising the price of oil, do so with a
shiver. Price controls, rationing, long
petrol queues, cold buildings, and
dark streetlights are some memen-
tos. Many economists blame the oil
embargo for the near decade-long
recession in the 70s.
Most countries in the world are
still net importers of energy. The U.S.,
Japan and Europe are hugely depen-
dent on imported energy. Out of the
27 EU countries, 26 are net import-
ers. And the dependency is increasing
in many countries. The EUs import
dependency was 54 percent in 2010
compared to 40percent in the 1980s.
A disturbingly large number of
nations are almost completely depen-
dent on energy imports. In this motley
group we find Luxemburg, Cyprus,
Malta, Morocco, Singapore, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, the Maldives,
Ireland, South Korea, and many
Pacific Islands. Many of these nations
are isolated (e.g. island nations) and
also poor, adding insult to injury.
The good news is that renewables
have the potential to partially or com-
pletely replace imports. Access to
inexpensive and secure local energy
can be a growth enabler in develop-
ing countries, creating local jobs.
Some nations are well positioned
to use multiple energy sources
like solar, wind, biogas and marine
energy to achieve a clean, safe and
reliable power supply. Some tropical
island nations have an abundance of
sun as well as tidal and ocean cur-
rents from which energy can be har-
vested. Tidal and ocean currents are
highly rich in energy; a water current
of 1.5m/s contains as much kinetic
energy as a wind blowing 40m/s.
For example South Korea has
a vulnerable energy system and
imports 85 percent of its energy.
Events this summer resulted in elec-
tricity shortages during a period of
extreme heat. But South Korea has a
long coastline with energy-rich ocean
and tidal currents. Estimates show
that it could potentially but realis-
tically harvest half of the energy it
needs from the surrounding oceans.
South Korea has a strong political
will to increase the local renewable
energy supply, and programs are in
place to support this development.
Opponents of renewable energy
often state that it isnt reliable since it
is dependent on weather. This is not
true for tidal and ocean energy, which
has higly predictable, stable currents.
Many nations can move away from
unsustainable energy import depen-
dency to a healthy and secure supply
of clean energy good not only for
them but for the entire planet.
1309REW_96 96 9/11/13 3:16 PM