photo: runs brooklyn
California utilities’ appetite renewable energy has spawned big opportunities for solar startups, wind farm operators and other green power providers. But those companies face a huge hurdle: the best sun and wind are often in areas away from transmission lines, and the high cost of connecting a renewable energy plant to the grid can strangle a startup. But yesterday the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, approved California’s plan to spread those connection costs among the state’s utilities until a green power station is up and running and generating revenue as well as electricity. That ruling should speed the development of renewable energy in California – and elsewhere – as well as make it easier for green power startups to obtain financing for their projects so they can secure renewable energy contracts with PG&E (PCG), Southern California Edison (EIX) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SRE). "Growing concerns about losing ground toward a goal of U.S. energy independence, environmental sustainability, and climate change have heightened interest in harnessing renewable energy resources as a response to there critical issues," said FERC commissioner Suedeen Kelly in a statement. "The successful integration of renewable energy generation into large power systems if fundamental to successfully addressing energy independence, environmental sustainability and climate change concerns."
Green Wombat 
This is an excellent step. An additional step is needed now, and that is a policy that specifically encourages efficient new grids. For example: encouraging new grids in the future to increasingly incorporate HTS/high-temperature superconductor wire cables. (Test cables are currently in the grids of Long Island, Albany, NY, and Columbus, Ohio, by different companies); and embedded smart grid management.
I think we are finally looking at energy in the right way. We now need to create solar panels on all shopping malls, public and private businesses to create space and feed the grid at multiple locations. We have all these rooftops that are not serving any purpose besides shelter. WE can expand the solar energy input without disturbing any undeveloped land and the enegy to power the buildings will be extremely close to the source. Schools can power all there lighting and electricity which will save on the cost of utilities. The money saved can go into improving the school systems.
We need to look beyond building solar power plants but creating solar buildings that feed the grid from multiple sources.
Newswatch 4.24.07: Kleiner expands to China
Kleiner Perkins expands to China (NY Times) Trying to avoid EU find, MSFT defends royalty demands (NY Times) Warner, Bertelsmann in $100m settlement over Napster (AP) HP to unveil data warehousing software (Mercury News) Yahoo will offer song lyrics on…
We applaud PG&E for being one the best IOU in Renewable Energy Procurement. However, despite these folks who speak against.
In due respect to all piers, inclusive thereof Brent, Geomark, et al, please note of the followings:
We cannot disclose trade secrets, however can elaborate (considering the facts that our copyrights and pending registration patents are in place) on the “Supper System” to be implemented by Solar MW Energy, Inc.
Also, we applaud Mr. Todd Woody, for his viable comments. (There was a wrong link to one of our affiliate, however did not apply to our affiliate. It was another person/entity, who did not like PG&E.
Please note, that we strongly believe that PG&E is the leader in the procurement of Renewable Energy, as well as one of the best utility (IOU)
The “Supper System”:
(Please note that the Copyright Laws protects the “Entire design system embodied into one mass”, and Patents covers “Individual Components”)
– Parabolic trough technology was invented around 1860 by Mr. Mouchot, (Copyright has expired some 62 years ago), implemented in a utility scale by LUZ, over a decade and half ago, as weal as the “Dish-Tower” (some decade ago) implemented by Stirling.
– In 2005, two inventors(confidential names) perfected the tried-and-true parabolic trough technology’s design of Mr. Mouchet, that was utilized by SEGS over a decade and half ago and subsequently and recently by Nevada Solar One, (not a LUZ II / BrightSource – they have another (own system of one of the best functional design) including few small pilot projects in between (also known as Concentrated Solar Power CSP), as follows:
+ Instead of one parabola collector (mirrors), will utilize “Twin Parabolic Collectors” (mirrors), which do not break (designed to withstand over 80 mph wind force and up to 7.6 earthquake magnitude, on single gear axis.
Said Twin Parabolic Collectors (TPC) are of rigid structural integrity thermoplastic mirrors (manufactured in China – confidential Mfgs).
(Can assemble this super pre-assembled system in less than 3 months per 100 MW solar plant, at total costs mfg+assembly of less than 1.5 cents of levelized costs)
+ The Twin Parabolic Collectors are not mounted on “labor intensive and costly aluminum space frame. Instead, such are mounted on Super Rigid Thermoplastic Structural Integrity System. (Again, manufactured in China – confidential Mfgs.) Can also assemble this super pre-assembled system, in 3 months for costs of less than 1 cent of levelized costs)
+ Instead of single pipe receivers (pipe in glass (vacuum) pipe, the Super System will utilize “Twin Parabolic Receivers – one for each of the Twin Parabolic Collectors, designed to be a bent in parabolic shape carbon steel tube, primed with best carbon coating (trade secret coating), which will heat the Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) to over 400 degree Celsius. These receivers do not brake, nor leak. A Clamp system (can remove one only without the rest in series) with Super Connection System – Triplex Leg Tube-Pipe System.
+ It is a know fact that the solar alone capacity factor may not exceed 33%, even in Zone 9 Solar Iradiaion, being where the solar plants will be. (Just a hint – in the Mojave Desert, close to the Kramer Substation, Kramer Junction, Cluster 7, CAISO Zone SP-15).
Therefore, that is why the second tube in the twin parabolic collector’s system is implemented, to collect the HTF during sunlight and directly go to the storage of the MS (underground -trade secret system) Storage Tanks (Hot & Cold), to be utilized during off-peak (7 hours duration), increasing the capacity factor by 29%, to a cumulative for the solar field of up to 62%.
+ Renewable Portfolio Standards for California allows up to 25% use of natural gas-assist system for Qualifying Facility (QF) under PURPA. Such QF’s receive another substantial incentive – called Production Credit (dollar amount per mWh is confidential to disclose).
+ Utilizing the “Super Combined Cycle System” (SCCS), that includes Wartsila reciprocating natural gas-fired engines from Finland, each at Nominal 8.2 MW, which uses only 1 gallon/h of water and have Oxidation Catalyst / Ultra Low Emission System (near-zero pollution), the capacity factor is improved by another 24%, to a cumulative of 86% capacity factor.
+ The hot exhaust plumes from the Wartsila’s engines, instead of going to be wasted and released to the air, are re-directed to: System 1 to the MS Hot Underground Storage Tank, and System 2 to the Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS), thus increasing the capacity factor by another 11%, to an aggregate of 97% capacity factor.
This Supper System can be integrated, and can be supper-peak, base load and/or anything in between, and the plant can start in less than 9 minutes and develop for less than 9.2 cents levelized costs, with insignificant O&M’s costs.
With the carbon fiasco, fossil fuel plant will soon reach 10 cents levelized costs, and therefore not only the IOUs will be thrilled, but the ratepayers, when such Super System Solar Thermal Hybrid Powers Plants – Utility Scale are develop and operational.
And the sooner, the better, if the Financial Community also accept, at least 101 Educational Course. Some already see the “Green Base Load – Production Incentive Driven Fix Income” and are questioning……….
This Supper System of the two inventors falls under the Copyrights Laws, construed as “Design Embodied Into one Mass System”