• 
  Britcon — Building, Civil Engineering
• Elsevier Ltd is not responsible for the content of external
  websites.

• MT-Energie contracted for the expansion of existing AD plants in the UK
  Agreement calls for MT-Energie UK to construct and integrate additional digesters for two facilities on the Apsley Estate, Andover, Hampshire and at Clayton Hall Farm, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
  
• New developments in microalgae for biofuels
  Renewable Energy Focus contributor Andrew Mourant examines three cases involving advanced microalgae research that holds promise for commercial applications.
• Commercial-scale power-to-gas ‘demonstration’ project launches in Denmark
  1MW facility will use excess wind energy to produce pipeline-grade renewable gas for storage in the Danish natural gas grid.
• 2014 UK AD Biogas Industry Award finalists announced
  Honours to be presented to worthy organisations operating across all facets of the anaerobic digestion sector.

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The Solar Energy Industries Association, SEIA, recently congratulated New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s decision to transition the state’s multiple solar programs into the single, statewide NY-Sun Incentive Program. The move, according to SEIA, goes a long way in enhancing regulatory certainty for solar power in the state.

“This administration has taken real steps towards going solar, and these steps are paying off,” said Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO. “New York is moving quickly up our Solar State rankings, due largely to the actions of New York State Energy Research and Development Agency, or NYSERDA, which has recognized the value of clean, renewable solar energy to the state’s economy and environment. We congratulate the administration on its development of the MW Block program, which will drive down costs, attract significant capital investment, and limit the cost to ratepayers by imposing discipline on the market.”

The state of New York is increasingly embracing solar energy projects, as evidenced by the well-publicized support of Governor Cuomo’s office.¹ By SEIA’s count, there are more than 415 solar companies and 5,000 employees at work throughout the solar value chain in New York. According to Resch, in 2013 $343 million was invested in New York to install solar for home, business and utility use. This represents a 12 per cent increase over the previous year, and is expected to grow again this year. Estimates indicate there is enough solar energy installed in the state to power 45,800 homes.  

1. “SolarTech East: New York State of Mind,” Renewable Energy Focus May/June issue, pp 24–25.  

The UK, supported by aggressive renewable targets, policy backing and a shift towards a greener climate, propelled itself to the head of the global offshore wind power market in 2013, according to GlobalData. The company’s latest report states that the UK’s cumulative offshore wind power installed capacity increased from just over 0.3 GW in 2006 to 3.7 GW in 2013, at an impressive CAGR of 42.9%.

With installations expected to increase from 3.7 GW to 11 GW by 2020, at a CAGR of 16.9%, the UK is expected to remain the leading offshore wind power market by the end of the forecast period, boasting a 36.4% share of the global cumulative offshore installed capacity.

“The UK’s growing concerns over climate change and the security of its energy system will provide sufficient impetus for the country’s offshore wind industry to continue its growth trajectory,» said Swati Singh, GlobalData’s Analyst covering power. «The last decade has seen offshore wind progress from an immature to a proven technology, which is expected to contribute significantly to the achievement of the UK’s renewable targets.”

The UK Government has set a target for 15% of the UK’s energy to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. As offshore wind power currently contributes around 3% of the country’s total energy generation, GlobalData expects to see more investment into the industry to help achieve this goal.

“Overall project costs have risen as a result of increasing water depths, distance from the shore and average turbine size,» GlobalData’s Singh added. «With a number of UK installations anticipated between 2016 and 2020, annual investment in the market will jump from $3.3 billion in 2013 to $7.53 billion by 2020.”

The complete «Offshore Wind Turbines and Foundations» report from GlobalData is available online.

Our Non-Adjustable Bottom Mount Hooks are ideal for straight edge Stone Coat steel roofs when the overlap is less than 2″. You can mount right through the bottom of the rails or attach with your choice of L-Foot. To FInd this product and other great solar mounting solutions, visit www.solarroofhook.com.

Product # SCSRH180SS14

Germany’s juwi group has expanded its global footprint to the Philippines with its first project in Mindanao —  the second largest and southernmost major island in the Philippines. juwi has been selected as the preferred EPC partner to build a ground-mounted, grid-connected utility scale solar PV power plant by the project’s sponsors, an international developer and sector focused private equity fund. 

The solar farm is scheduled to be completed by early next year and will have an installed capacity of 6.25 MW. The plant’s 20,500 photovoltaic modules will produce more than 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. According to juwi, this first solar PV plant is a testament to how renewable energy can supplement day-time peak loads usage, as a viable alternative to traditional diesel power. According to the plant’s owners, it will be one of the largest diesel replacement power plants when it is completed. 

“Many regions in the country heavily depend on fossil fuels or diesel to generate electricity, especially the island-region of Mindanao where load shedding and brownouts are prevalent, renewable energies such as wind and PV solar power can provide a clean, quick and cost-effective alternative,» said Kai Klingenhagen, business development manager for juwi in the Philippines.

According to Amiram Roth-Deblon, juwi regional director, Asia-Pacific, juwi has been active in the Philippines since 2010, working closely with developers, investors, local utilities and authorities to focus on realizing utility-scale renewable energy plants where it is needed the most.

Roth Deblon described the Philippines as «one of the fastest growing economies in Asia with great potential for renewable energies.” Due to a projected power deficit forecast for 2015, the Government of the Philippines is currently increasing the volume of power generation from solar energy plants from 50 MW to 500 MW.  Thus, solar power projects that fall below that threshold will be guaranteed rates of return for the duration of 20 years.

Voith was awarded a contract by the utility ENDESA Chile to equip the Los Cóndores Hydropower Plant, located in Chile’s Maule Region. The power plant will be fed with water from the Maule Lake.
 
Voith’s electromechanical scope comprises two Pelton turbines, two generators, plant and product engineering, manufacturing, erection, supervision, commissioning and project management services. The project’s key components will be manufactured at Voith Hydro in São Paulo, Brazil.

Since the 1940s Voith has delivered hydro equipment to major projects in Chile, such as Alto Maipo and La Confluencia. “Our excellent references in recent projects in Latin America, and Voith’s long-standing presence in Chile have been decisive factors in winning this new contract,” said Marcos Blumer, president  CEO of Voith Hydro in São Paulo, Brazil. 

According to the World Atlas of the International Journal of Hydropower Dams, Chile represents a promising hydropower market. The publication estimates the technically feasible hydropower potential is about 162.000 gigawatt hours per year. In 2012, the generation from hydropower was 20.146 gigawatt hours. Moreover, the magazine predicts that Chile could implement a further 900 MW hydropower capacity at existing irrigation dams.

For more information on this Capsells product, go to capsells.com/products/all-in-one-40-watt-led-solar-pathway-light.html.

This All-in-One is a 40 Watt LED pathway light that is powered by its own solar panel and battery providing you up to 12 hours of motion activated lighting. The all aluminum fixture can be wall or pole mounted (available separately) virtually anywhere as there is no wires to install.

The night light feature provides 30% illumination all night long and will fully illuminate when the infra red motion sensor is triggered. The 80W/18V Solar Panel is integrated into the back of the aluminum light fixture for a simple installation.

Great for:

• playgrounds, courtyards and outside storage areas.
• parking lots, pathways, private roads, and gates.
• perimeter lighting, entrances, exits and muster areas.
• situations where lighting is not economical or practical.

Specifications

• Dim (Night Light) Mode 30%: 1200 lm
• Bright Mode 100%: 4000 lm
• Lighting Hours 12 hours per night
• Battery Autonomy: 2 days
• Installation Height – 6 to7 Meters (18 to 21 Feet)
• Operating Temperature: -20C to +60C
• Color Temp: 6500K
• Dimensions (mm): 1250 x 430 x 65
• Battery Type: Lithium Iron (LiFePO4)
• Battery Capacity: 30AH / 12.8V
• Fits Pole Diameters of: 60-110mm
• Fixture Housing Material Aluminum Alloy

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based developer of ReVenture Park, Forsite Development Inc., has received the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 “Excellence in Site Reuse” Award.¹ Franklin Hill, EPA Region 4 Superfund Director, presented the award during a special ceremony at the Grand Unveiling of ReVenture Park. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis, and officials from the EPA were on hand.

Specifically, Forsite Development, Inc was recognized for its commitment to safely and sustainably reusing a property along the Catawba River in Mecklenburg County that was formerly contaminated by years of industrial operations. Forsite Development, Inc. worked with EPA, the state, Clariant Corporation and local partners to redevelop the 667-acre Martin-Marietta, Sodyeco, Inc. Superfund site. Clariant Corporation² acquired the site in the mid-1980s and closed the site in 2005 when it was no longer economically viable.

“Old, unused manufacturing facilities should not be liabilities,” said Tom McKittrick, principal of Forsite Development, Inc. “Developing an Eco-Industrial Park on a shuttered industrial complex is an opportunity where the private sector, public policy and environmental interests align to promote the clean energy economy. We are transforming this liability into an asset – the essence of recycling.”

ReVenture Park entered into a Brownfield agreement with NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources in March 2013. The agreement removes uncertainties associated with future cleanup liabilities and permits suitable redevelopment of the site while continuing cleanup actions required to make the site safe. ReVenture Park reuses the site’s extensive existing infrastructure – rail and interstate access, a wastewater treatment facility, 300,000 square feet of existing industrial space, utility substations and transmission lines, and a 360-million gallon containment pond to create a platform for large-scale renewable energy and alternative fuel projects and other environmentally minded businesses. Currently there are nearly a dozen companies calling ReVenture Park home.

REFERENCES

1. EPA Region 4 created the “Excellence in Site Reuse” award to recognize those who have made outstanding efforts to reuse a Superfund or Superfund Alternative site through cooperative efforts with EPA. Selected recipients have gone above and beyond to ensure sites are reused in a manner compatible with site remedies and that makes sites’ beneficial use possible for many years to come.
2. Clariant has spent upwards of $40 million cleaning up contamination caused by previous owners.

Kyocera Corporation, Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation and Ciel et Terre International have announced plans to begin construction on what it calls the world’s largest floating solar installation.

Terms of the deal call for Kyocera TCL Solar LLC to develop and operate utility-scale floating solar power plants utilizing Ciel et Terre’s Hydrelio© floating solar platforms in two installations totaling 2.9 MW at Nishihira Pond and Higashihira Pond in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The 1.7MW plant, planned at Nishihira Pond, will become the world’s largest solar power generating system installed on water, according to the Kyocera.

Kyocera and Century Tokyo Leasing jointly established Kyocera TCL Solar LLC in August 2012 for the purpose of constructing and operating multiple utility-scale solar power plants in Japan under the country’s feed-in-tariff system, which commenced in July 2012. Since the company launch, it has constructed 28 solar power plants, of which 11 plants have begun operation.

Due to the rapid implementation of solar power, securing tracts of land suitable for utility-scale solar power plants is becoming more difficult in Japan. In addition to ground-mount systems and rooftop systems for factory buildings and warehouses, Kyocera TCL Solar will start the floating solar power generation business utilizing the country’s abundant water surfaces. Due to great variation in the amount of rainfall by season, there are many reservoirs throughout Japan for agricultural and flood-control purposes.

Kyocera TCL Solar plans to develop floating installations for reservoirs in the country, totaling approximately 60MW by the end of this fiscal year (March 31, 2015). The installations will utilize floating solar platforms developed and patented by Ciel et Terre, which have a proven record of success during more than three years of operation in France.

Under the business, Century Tokyo Leasing will provide finance for the installations, and the Kyocera Group will undertake the supply of solar modules and related equipment in addition to construction, maintenance and operation. Ciel et Terre will be responsible for the supply of floating solar platforms as well as technical input for installing the systems on water. Through the business, the companies hope to contribute to the expansion of renewable energy and development of a low carbon society. 

For more information on this Capsells product, go to capsells.com/products/all-in-one-30-watt-led-solar-pathway-light.html.

This All-in-One is a 30 Watt LED pathway light that is powered by its own solar panel and battery providing you up to 12 hours of motion activated lighting. The all aluminum fixture can be wall or pole mounted (available separately) virtually anywhere as there is no wires to install.

The night light feature provides 30% illumination all night long and will fully illuminate when the infra red motion sensor is triggered.

60W/18V Solar Panel is integrated into the back of the light fixture for a simple installation.

Great for:

• perimeter lighting, entrances, exits and muster areas.
• playgrounds, courtyards and outside storage areas.
• parking lots, pathways, private roads, and gates.
• Where lighting is not economical or practical.

Specifications

• Dim (Night Light) Mode 30%: 000 lm
• Bright Mode 100%: 3000 lm
• Lighting Hours 12 hours per night
• Battery Autonomy: 2 days
• Installation Height – 6 to7 Meters (18 to 21 Feet)
• Operating Temperature: -20C to +60C
• Color Temp: 6500K
• Dimensions (mm): 1170 x 430 x 65
• Battery Type: Lithium Iron (LiFePO4)
• Battery Capacity: 25AH / 12.8V
• Fits Pole Diameters of: 60-110mm
• Fixture Housing Material Aluminum Alloy