August 31 is the last day to apply for the Projects of the Year and Woman of the Year awards, which you can do by clicking here.

The awards are given for Best Renewable Energy, Best Coal, Best Nuclear and Best Natural Gas project. Finalists will be selected in all five renewable energy categories as well as the other categories.  A Readers’ Choice award will also be given to one of the finalists.

I and my awards Co-Chair Jenn Runyon recently held a Google Hangout to answer questions about the awards program, the nomination process and what happens after voting is completed. You can watch a replay of the entire Hangout at the link below, but here are a few highlights:

• Nominations do not have to be new builds. They can also be retrofits, upgrades or even innovative products or procedures that help processes move smoothly,
• Projects can be of any size, from kilowatt-sized distributed generation projects to gigawatt-sized power plants,
• Projects can be sited anywhere in the world,
• Plant owners are not the only ones allowed to submit a nomination. EPCs and other contractors can also submit a nomination as well,
• Simply submitting your project puts it in front of the eyes of the editors of PennWell, which means one of us could be interested in learning more about your project and writing an article about it. So even if it’s not picked, it could still be a winner for publicity!

More questions can be answered by watching the replay of the Hangout, or feel free to contact me or Jenn Runyon if you have any questions. Good luck, and we look forward to reading about your projects!

Lead image: Awards via Shutterstock.

Two additional plants were added to the Hydro Hall of Fame at this year’s HydroVision International closing awards luncheon and finale in Nashville, Tenn.

The Hydro Hall of Fame is a collection of 38 plants that have been in continuous operation for 100 years or more. These testaments to hydropower’s durability and long life have been chosen as inductees by the editors of Hydro Review every year since 1995, based on their age, performance history, and unique characteristics.

The Les Cedres and Stevens Creek hydropower plants were inducted into the 2014 Hall of Fame class with representatives from each plant owner in attendance to accept the award and make a few remarks on the achievement. 

Located in Quebec, Canada, the 103-MW Les Cedres hydroelectric plant is situated in the Saint Lawrence River. The plant was commissioned in 1914 with nine main vertical Francis units and three auxiliary units with a finished capacity of 78.4 MW. At that time, these were some of the largest vertical units in use in Canada. The plant also utilized Kingsbury bearings. Nine additional units were installed at a later date, bringing it to a capacity of 162 MW. Les Cedres was the first plant in Canada to be built with the goal of exporting power out of the country. An agreement was reached in 1912 with ALCOA that committed 44.76 MW of power generated to an aluminum plant in upstate New York. Owned by Hydro Quebec, the facility is still active, making it the second oldest facility still in operation in Quebec today.

The Stevens Creek hydropower plant has been in continuous operation since its commissioning in February 1914. Located on the Savannah River near Augusta, Georgia, Stevens Creek hydro was considered by local media outlets to be the greatest engineering feat in the region at the time it was commissioned. The installed capacity in 1914 was 11.8 MW, divided between five vertical units. Construction on this project was completed in two years with a workforce of more than 800 workers. The workers were cared for in the full service work camp, which was complete with a commissary, boarding houses, butcher shop, bake shop, ice and refrigerating plant, filtered water and sewage systems and a fully-equipped hospital with resent physician on site. Currently, the plant, which is owned by South Carolina Electric Gas, generates an estimated 94 GW/h annually to the Georgia grid. 

For more information on these plants, check out the Hydro Video Library here.

To nominate your 100-year old plant for inclusion in the Hydro Hall of Fame or to see more about the plants inducted into the Hall of Fame, click here. 

In countries where there are established markets for alternative and renewable energy sources, economic and financial inducements such as feed in tariffs, tax incentives, net metering and self supply schemes have significantly driven market activities in the new energy sector and provided enabling environments for individuals, businesses and the government to play their respective roles in developing a more vibrant energy market.

At the vanguard of these encouraging economic policies are industrialized nations affecting their economies positively and making an impact on the everyday lives of their people. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, could learn a thing or two from these renewable energy front runners.

Solar technologies, in particular, have overcome so many obstacles over the years and are ultimately advancing in several countries against scores of odds; many thanks to policies that have been formulated to catch up with existing energy markets which favour the large utility companies who have called the shots for many decades.

In reality, the irony of the current situation is that all the top solar energy markets in the world (Germany, China, Italy, Japan, United States, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Australia and Belgium) currently have well-run energy delivery systems and remarkable power infrastructures in place. Most are mainly seeking to diversify and reinforce their power generation capacities using alternative sources. On the other hand, countries faced with the mammoth challenges of energy insecurity and poverty, decrepit power infrastructures and in dire need for a revamp in their power sectors are the ones significantly lagging behind in the new and renewable energy race.

For many decades, the proportion of Nigeria’s population without access to the nation’s power grid has always been between 40 to 60 percent. As a result, the federal government proactively launched its power sector reforms in 2010 which was aimed to be a catalyst for growth and to improve the standard of living of Nigerians. This conspicuously included solar energy as one of the main alternative sources of energy to be harnessed. With very favourable natural conditions and increasing energy demand, solar in Nigeria is justified. Her population, 170 million people, further reinforces the economic prospects and boundless market opportunities available. These, amongst many, are some noteworthy indicators which will play significant roles in developing the solar marketplace in Africa’s number one economy.

As with all forms of energy, with the right strategies, the large scale deployment of solar technologies can guarantee its success and encourage market growth which inevitably will bring down costs. Given solar’s potential, the solar energy sector in Nigeria should not be solely controlled by forces of demand and supply. These will only result to very high costs and low patronage as currently experienced. To forestall the discouraging solar market trends in Nigeria, practical measures should be taken to engage interested parties and stakeholders in order to provide support and give confidence.

Practices currently employed in solar advancing markets evidently show that the forces of demand and supply alone will not effectively bring about the desired energy revolution. Nigeria could learn a lot from global renewable energy best practices and policies. The benefits of these are tremendous. Not only will there be increased power generation but also jobs creation, better standard of living and an improved economic outlook in general.  

Lead image: Nigeria flag via Shutterstock

The finalists were selected from four major categories: Renewables, Gas, Coal and Nuclear.

The finalists for Best Renewable Project are NRG Energy’s Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station in California, Ontario Power Generation’s Atikokan Generating Station Biomass Conversion Project, the Arizona Solana project built by Abengoa, the Pantex Wind Project in Texas, nominated by the Tennessee Valley Infrastructure Group Inc., and the UN City solar project by SolCell Ltd. Dansk Solenergi Int. in Denmark.

The 2014 Best Gas Project finalists are Kansai Electric Power’s Kansai Himeji No. 2 Thermal Power Station in Japan; and Siemens Energy’s Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center in Florida.

The Best Coal Project finalists are the Boundary Dam Integrated Carbon Capture and Sequestration Project, owned by SaskPower in Saskatchewan, Canada; and the Columbia Energy Center Air Quality control Retrofit, performed by Black Veatch.

The Best Nuclear finalists are the Kudankulam 1 Nuclear Power Plant, owned by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited in India, and the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran, built by Rosatom.

“The world’s appetite for energy continues to grow,” said Richard G. Baker, senior vice president of PennWell’s Power Generation Group. “Companies like those represented by this year’s project finalists are instrumental in meeting the growing demand. Power Engineering and Renewable Energy World magazines are once again pleased to be able to recognize some of the exceptional power generation projects that were completed in the past year.”

The winners of the Projects of the Year Awards will be announced during a gala awards banquet on Monday, Dec. 8, at the Odyssey Pavilion at Epcot in Orlando, Fla. as part of the POWER-GEN International Conference and Exhibition and the co-located NUCLEAR POWER International Conference and Exhibition, Renewable Energy World Conference Exhibition North America, the Financial Forum and GenForum.

The finalists will be profiled in a larger story on RenewableEnergyWorld.com in the month of November. 

Lead image: Ivanpah. Credit NRG.

The Energy Storage Association (ESA) is the forum for energy storage stakeholder engagement, and has been an active and tireless proponent for the advancement of the energy storage industry for the last 25 years. 

And what a change those years have brought.  

From humble beginnings, when eight pioneering U.S. power utilities sent their executives to Washington to convene the first dedicated and influential gathering to discuss energy storage as a critical component of the energy grid. To today, where ESA has grown to over 130 members, and in addition to executing year-round education, policy activities and networking opportunities, we host the world’s largest and most impactful energy storage event with hundreds of attendees, speakers, and exhibitors.

In 2015, we are excited to announce that we will be convening the energy industry in Texas for our 25th Annual Conference, to discuss the state of the energy storage industry and the path forward for continued success and growth.  Our Annual Conference is the most in-depth and comprehensive educational opportunity available for the industry, and the premiere networking and business development event on the calendar.  

This year, we are very excited to be working closely with our Host Utility, Oncor, to take advantage of everything that Dallas has to offer.  We are again developing a comprehensive program of keynote speakers, storage experts, and market influencers, and will be providing attendees a deep understanding of energy storage technology, policy and markets. 

«Storage is the best opportunity to have the most significant, and positive, impact on improving service to customers, but the only way we can make it a reality is to share information among peers,» said Don Clevenger, Oncor SVP of Strategic Planning. «Oncor is very excited to invite the global energy industry to join us in Dallas next year to learn more about the future of energy storage, and see how we are making storage a core facet of our long-term planning.”

Texas is an emerging market for energy storage on multiple fronts.  The Public Utility Commission of Texas is currently overhauling the way it procures ancillary services like frequency regulation and load following, and already has a number of programs and incentives in place to encourage development of storage projects.  

With over 14GW of wind energy currently deployed, and 7GW on the way – the way energy is generated and delivered in Texas is evolving.  ESA has been and will continue to be an active participant in the state’s stakeholder process, and by bringing the global industry to Texas in 2015 we hope to continue to propel these markets forward.

This year, the Annual Conference’s Honorary Chair will be David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and former Under Secretary (Acting) and Assistant Secretary for Policy International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy.  David brings a global perspective to energy challenges and will assist in developing the conference program and proceedings.

“There has never been a more exciting time in energy storage,” said Sandalow.  “Costs are falling.  Demand is rising.  And dynamic businesses that understand the market and regulatory environment are poised for dramatic growth.” 

As a global industry, storage is crossing the Rubicon. We are seeing systems go into operation in the U.S. and around the world that are producing a tangible track record of success – in fact, the largest battery project in the U.S. was just unveiled yesterday by Southern California Edison and their partners LG Chem and ABB. 

These energy storage systems – more than 900 worldwide — are demonstrating to grid operators, utilities, investors and customers that energy storage is helping to create a more resilient and responsive grid.   

And the location of these systems around the world is no mystery; markets are born at the intersection of policy, technology and opportunity – and our Annual Conference provides the most in-depth education and knowledgebase in all three areas, with experts from all facets of energy working with global leaders to chart the path forward storage.

The ESA’s 25th Annual Conference provides attendees a unique opportunity to gain a complete understanding of the key drivers for energy storage and what conditions are shaping markets, to network with the senior leaders in the energy industry, and to create opportunity to be part of shaping the future of the energy storage industry.

More news and announcements regarding this pivotal event will be coming soon.  For now, you can find learn more at Annual-Conference.EnergyStorage.org. 

School districts across America are beginning to see the light, as they realize the potential of solar energy. From providing learning opportunities for students to safeguarding teachers’ jobs, solar is proving to be a valuable addition to any school district.

Prepared by The Solar Foundation with data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the first nationwide study was conducted to evaluate how solar energy is impacting schools across America. The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, reveals that solar installations among U.S. schools have grown 110% year-over-year from 2008 to 2012.

Benefits of Schools Going Solar

Solar installations on school campuses can protect districts against rising electricity prices, and generate savings that can be used to preserve programs like art and music – curriculums that are often the first to go in the face of budget cuts. “Perhaps most importantly, solar installations on schools can provide teachers with a unique opportunity to teach concepts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and pique student interest in these critical subjects,” say study researchers.

Schools are major energy consumers, thanks to heating and air conditioning that run during peak hours and the massive amounts of electricity it takes to operate the classrooms and cafeteria.

As of September, there are 3,727 solar PV systems in schools throughout America – representing $77.8 million in annual utility bill savings. This translates to an annual average of nearly $21,000 per school; enough to fund 2,200 new teachers’ salaries, according to The Solar Foundation.

Solar Schools in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is ranked fourth in the U.S. in terms of installed solar capacity. With 237 megawatts (MW) of solar installed during 2013, that’s enough to power more than 38,500 homes.

The Bay State also earned the #4 spot in the nation as far as solar school capacity. There are currently 181 schools in Massachusetts with on-site solar electric systems, for a total PV capacity of 25,400 kilowatts (kW). “Solar is enabling many Massachusetts schools to save money, enrich learning and keep teachers in the classroom – all while providing local jobs and generating emissions-free electricity,” said Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director of The Solar Foundation.

Drury High School is just one example of solar energy’s success.

In North Adams, Mass., Drury High School has 41 kW of solar electric capacity, funded through $400,000 in federal and state grants. Throughout its two years in operation, the school has offset almost 140,000 pounds of CO2 emissions; incorporated solar into a pre-engineering curriculum, and saved enough money to “preserve its current teaching staff and academic programs,” reveals the solar schools study. More impressively, Drury High School is using the money saved to create a summer program where students will make recommendations to a local homeless shelter on how to reduce its electricity usage and costs, following an energy audit.

Untapped Potential

Taking into account the flat rooftops and ample parking lots of schools across America, The Solar Foundation concluded that there are 72,000 schools in the U.S. that could go solar in a cost-efficient manner. And, if these schools installed an average-sized system, the total PV capacity on K-12 schools would reach 5.4 gigawatts (GW)—that’s equal to more than one-third of all the solar PV capacity currently installed in America!

In The Bay State alone, the untapped potential of school solar installations is enormous. “An analysis performed for this report found that seven school districts across Massachusetts could each save more than $1 million over 30 years by installing a solar PV system,” SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch said in a statement. “In fact, Worcester and Springfield could each save nearly $2 million and Brockton about $1.5 million. That’s a huge amount of money.”

Resch acknowledged that many schools are facing hard times, and solar can offer some relief. “ In a time of tight budgets and rising costs, solar can be the difference between hiring new teachers—or laying them off,” he said.

The original article was posted on the Clean Energy Collective blog.