Tag Archives: fuel
IEA: Renewable Power To Exceed Gas By 2016 And Double Nuclear
Silvio Marcacci CleanTechnica Natural gas is widely considered the bridge to take us from fossil fuel dependence to a clean energy future – but that bridge may be a lot shorter than anyone could have predicted. Global renewable electricity production by region image via IEA The International Energy Agency predicts power generation from renewable sources will exceed natural gas and be twice the contribution from nuclear energy globally by 2016 – just three short years from now. IEA’s second-annual Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report (MTRMR) forecasts renewable generation will grow 40 per cent in the next five years despite difficult economic conditions. Wind and solar lead renewables charge Renewable energy is now the fastest-growing sector of the global power market, and will represent 25 per cent of all energy generation worldwide by 2018, up from 20 per cent in 2011. In addition, renewable electricity generation is expected to reach 6,850 terawatt-hours (TWh) and total installed renewable capacity should hit 2,350 gigawatts (GW), both by 2018. Wind and solar photovoltaic generation is powering this jump, and non-hydro renewable power will double from 4 per cent of gross generation in 2011 to 8 per cent in 2018. IEA cites two main drivers for their incredible outlook: accelerating investment and deployment, and growing cost competitiveness versus fossil fuels. Strongest growth in developing countries Even though government funding has been inconsistent, private investment has remained strong, especially in developing economies. Rural electrification, energy poverty, and rising demand have been major challenges for policymakers in these countries, and renewables have become an increasingly attractive option for diverse and non-polluting power. Countries with non-hydro renewable capacity above 100MW image via IEA Non-developed countries, led by China , are expected to contribute two-thirds of all renewable market growth between now and 2018, compensating for slower growth and market volatility acorss Europe and the US. Indeed, non-hydro renewable power will make up 11 per cent of gross generation in these countries by 2018, up from 7 per cent in 2012. By itself, China will account for 310GW, or 40 per cent of all global renewable power capacity increases over this time period. Falling costs, rising capacity Solving energy poverty issues without harmful emissions is key to renewables growth , but the larger reason for IEA’s outlook is more likely falling costs. The report finds renewables now cost-competitive with fossil fuels across many countries and a wide set of circumstances. Solar PV annual capacity additions by region image via IEA IEA notes wind is competitive with new fossil fuel in multiple markets, including Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, and New Zealand, and solar is competitive both in markets with high peak prices and decentralized power needs. “As their costs continue to fall, renewable power sources are increasingly standing on their own merits versus new fossil-fuel generation,” said Maria van der Hoeven of IEA. IEA – policy uncertainty is public enemy #1 However, the IEA warns renewables still face a challenging future. Global investment fell in 2012, and policy uncertainties loom over clean energy technology in several important markets. In addition, grid integration challenges have materialized in some regions as renewables penetration has hit new levels. “Policy uncertainty is public enemy number one,” said Van der Hoeven . “Many renewables no longer require high economic incentives, but they do still need long-term policies that provide a predictable and reliable market and regulatory framework.” Read more: http://www.businesss…r#ixzz2XPwhHSpo Continue reading
Alchemy — Turning Plants Into Fuel
Sean Nealon, UC Riverside A new book focuses on aqueous processing of cellulosic biomass, which includes wood, grasses, and agricultural and forestry residues, for conversion into fuel A University of California, Riverside professor in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department edited a recently published book that provides in-depth information on aqueous processing of cellulosic biomass, which includes wood, grasses, and agricultural and forestry residues, for conversion into fuels. Charles Wyman, who also holds the Ford Motor Company Chair in Environmental Engineering in the Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) of the UC Riverside Bourns College of Engineering, led the development of the book “ Aqueous Pretreatment of Plant Biomass for Biological and Chemical Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals .” The book, published by John Wiley & Sons, contains 23 chapters written by experts from throughout the country. Charles Wyman’s passion for renewable energy was first expressed through a junior high school science fair project focused on solar energy storage. It grew as he earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Princeton, became a leader in biomass conversion at the Solar Energy Research Institute, now known as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and as an endowed professor at Dartmouth College. In 1996, during his tenure at National Renewable Energy Laboratory, he edited the book Handbook on Bioethanol: Production and Utilization. He also co-founded Mascoma Corporation, a startup company focused on advanced technology for biomass conversion to ethanol, in 2005. The just-published book focuses on aqueous pretreatment of cellulosic biomass to promote sugar release for biological, catalytic, or thermochemical conversion into fuels and chemicals. Introductory chapters provide the rationale for converting biomass to fuels; its importance to national security, balance of trade, and the environment; and insights into biological and catalytic processing to fuels. Also included are in-depth information on the chemistry and biology of cellulosic biomass, leading pretreatments to facilitate its biological and chemical conversion to sugars, and methods important to assess the effectiveness of biomass conversion technologies. In recent decades, interest in converting cellulosic biomass to fuels has closely tracked the price of petroleum: support jumps when petroleum prices are high and wanes when prices drop. “That creates a big challenge,” Wyman said. “The volatility of oil prices and associated enthusiasm for alternatives results in a very unstable environment in which to build a business.” Yet, cellulosic biomass conversion has unique and powerful benefits. It has the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and imported petroleum dependence andis widely available and inexpensive. For example, cellulosic biomass costing $60 per dry ton has about the same cost per energy content as petroleum at about $20 per barrel. “The challenge is, and has always been, reducing the cost of breaking down cellulosic biomass into sugars and other fuel precursors that can be converted into products, and aqueous pretreatment plays a pivotal role for leading biological, catalytic, and thermochemical routes” Wyman said. Continue reading
Greener Pastures For Biopower
June 10, 2013 By Mackinnon Lawrence, principal research analyst, Navigant Research Recent data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) paints a cloudy picture for electricity produced from biomass — or biopower — in the United States. According to EIA, total net electricity generation from wood biomass reached 37.54 TWh in 2012, increasing less than 0.2 percent over 2011 totals (37.45 TWh). Relative to wood biomass production, electricity produced from waste biomass jumped to 20.03 TWh in 2012, representing a 4.2 percent increase over 2011 totals (19.22 TWh). Both segments trail growth rates observed among competing renewable technologies like wind and solar. Installed biopower capacity across Europe is nearly four times that of the U.S. and, according to Navigant Research forecasts, electricity generation from biomass in the region is expected to reach nearly 300 TWh by 2020 under an aggressive scenario. Sluggish expansion in the U.S. belies biopower’s potential as a renewable source of baseload power production. Dedicated large-scale facilities — defined as power stations with installed capacity in excess of 50 MW — for a time, were hailed as potential cornerstone players in emerging renewable energy portfolios. Using either wood biomass or the biogenic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW), these facilities have substantial potential. Waiting for Harvest Proponents point to a range of potential biomass sources across the country that could support broader scale-up efforts. The thinning of forests across the Western U.S. produces an abundance of fuel while reducing the threat of wildfires, a danger that has ravaged many Western states in recent years. Pine beetle infestation across the Rocky Mountain region has led to efforts to identify potential markets for millions of acres of dead timber. ______________________________ The biopower industry must galvanize support in Washington despite a checkered public image. ____ _______________________ Despite the availability of this fuel at no cost, save for the expense of aggregating and collecting it, access has proven to be logistically challenging. Much of this biomass is located on federal land, which under existing federal regulations and protected by a complex patchwork of laws designed to support broader conservation efforts. The hard-to-harvest nature of these resources, which are scattered across millions of acres of variable terrain, also prevents their aggregation at a price point that can simultaneously pay for the service while also competing with incumbent fossil fuel resources. Beyond logistical challenges associated with feedstock aggregation, challenging economic conditions have also led to anemic growth in recent years. Shale gas, in particular, has emerged as a cheap and abundant source of fuel for baseload power generation across the U.S., and could serve as a bridge fuel for renewable power generation technologies, just as a slew of coal-fired plants are scheduled to sunset or shutter operations due to tightening emissions regulations under proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Meanwhile, the logistics associated with collecting, aggregating, transporting and processing biomass feedstock drive up the cost of biopower production considerably. Based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s transparent levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) database, dedicated biopower facilities operations and maintenance (O&M) costs are on average 40 percent to 240 percent more expensive than natural gas. Project developers indicate that biopower facility economics decline rapidly once feedstock is sourced beyond 50 miles. Combined with a lack of 24/7 applications for heat c-produced at biopower facilities, the cost of unsubsidized electricity generation from biomass can be prohibitive. Greener Pastures While larger dedicated biopower facilities face significant headwinds, a number of biopower-related opportunities are beginning to materialize across the United States. Growing demand for biomass that has been compressed, or “densified” to support aggressive bioenergy targets across the European Union, is driving a boom in the pellet production capacity in the U.S. Southeast. Unlike the Western U.S., much of this forest cover sits on private land and is already harvested for commercial purposes by a well-established lumber industry. Supporting biopower stations of more than 100 MW across the European Union, European utilities such as RWE and Drax have vertically integrated their operations by owning and operating pellet production facilities in Georgia and Louisiana. United States pellet production is expected to expand from three million tons in 2009 to 10 million tons by 2015. Integrated biorefineries, which are primarily designed to produce advanced biofuels and biochemicals, represent a potential growth area for electricity production from biomass as well. First-of-a-kind facilities have recently commenced production providing electricity for onsite consumption and export to the grid. Under an optimistic scenario, Navigant Research forecasts that nearly 5 GW of new cogeneration capacity at biorefineries could come online by 2020 in the United States. This represents an eleven-fold expansion over installed generation capacity in 2012 (465 MW). To realize potential growth in these segments, the biopower industry must galvanize support in Washington despite a checkered public image. Scrutiny over emissions, sustainability, and deforestation has led to the cancellation of projects in several states and made policymakers reluctant to extend the incentives needed to support industry growth. Ultimately, biopower’s future in the U.S. remains promising, but for now the sector lacks the right mix of incentives and market signals to drive faster expansion. About the Author Mackinnon Lawrence is a principal research analyst contributing to Navigant Research’s Smart Energy practice, with a focus on advanced biofuels and bioenergy. Lawrence has extensive experience as an attorney, consultant, and analyst with deep expertise on topics ranging from environmental policy and international affairs to clean energy. Continue reading
