The Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies working together to advance clean energy, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2014 State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards. This year’s winners, as chosen by an independent panel of five distinguished judges, ¹ are as follows:   

• The Alaska Energy Authority and the Kodiak Energy Association for Kodiak, Alaska: A 99% Renewable Energy Community
• The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the Connecticut Microgrid Program
• The Connecticut Green Bank for the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program
• The Energy Trust of Oregon for the City of Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant
• The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Internship Program
• The New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division for the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit
• The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for its CHP Acceleration Program
• The Sacramento Municipal Utility District for SMUD’s Community Renewable Energy Deployment Program

“These award winners illustrate the tremendous creativity and commitment being shown by state agencies across the country in implementing clean energy,” said Warren Leon, executive director of CESA. “With eight very different programs highlighting diverse technologies including solar PV, wind, energy storage, hydropower, anaerobic digesters, microgrids, and combined heat and power, the 2014 State Leadership in Clean Energy  award winners demonstrate that clean energy can create jobs, clean up the environment, and benefit local economies. These are programs to emulate.”

1. CESA member organizations from across the US submitted nominations for the leadership awards. Entries were judged based on public benefits and results, cost effectiveness, leadership and innovation, and replicability. Winners were chosen by an independent panel of distinguished judges: Steve Lindenberg (senior advisor for renewable power at the US Department of Energy); Andrea Luecke (president and executive director of the Solar Foundation); former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (Director of the Center for a New Energy Economy); Larry Sherwood (vice president and COO of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council); and Robert Thresher (research fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory).

The Modu-Rack™ DB-P Ground Mount System is one of Daetwyler Clean Energy racking systems for small commercial to utility scale projects.

 The numerous benefits of DCE’s Modu-Rack™ DB-P results in the lowest system costs:

• Less foundations = lower cost
• Integrated Wire Management System
• Integrated array grounding
• High wind capacity (130 mph)
• Installation is fast

To learn more about our Modu-Rack™ DB-P, visit our website.

• Renewables in smart grids: Part II
  In the first installment of this feature, REFocus contributor Cristina Brooks discussed the basics of smart metering in relation to energy storage. Part II delves into greater detail, comparing grid and energy storage issues and metering concepts in California, Sweden and Canada.
• Renewables in smart grids: Part I
  REFocus contributor Cristina Brooks discusses the impact of smart metering on the penetration of renewables, taking into account trends on both sides of the pond. Brooks also examines how solar PV and wind generators are preparing for the changes that smart metering will bring to distribution.
• Lightweight OXIS lithium sulfur batteries a step closer for UK forces
  In the UK, battery technology company OXIS Energy has delivered the third phase of a research programme to improve its lithium sulfur cells for the Ministry of Defence, which wants to lighten the load on army personnel who have to carry several kilogrammes of batteries while on patrol.
• Fraunhofer develops compact charger for electric cars
  Researchers at the Fraunhofer ISE have developed a new three-phase charger to be used in charging stations and in electric vehicles.

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• 2014 Clean Energy Venture Awards presented at NREL ‘Industry Growth Forum’
  Renewable energy firms recognized for innovative ideas and concepts.
• Nominations now open for Regen SW’s Green Energy Awards 2014
  Awards programme celebrates the projects, companies and innovators behind the sustainable energy revolution in the south west of England.
• BioDigester named “International Bioenergy Project of the Year”
  A biodigester owned by US anaerobic digestion company CleanWorld has won the “International Bioenergy Project of the Year” at the Renewable Energy World Power Engineering Awards Gala in Orlando, Florida.
• Ashden Awards tackles global energy challenge head on
  This year’s line-up of Ashden Award finalists showed a number of creative business models to tackle the global energy access challenge by bringing solar power to the poor, writes Julia Hawkins

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SunEdison, Inc., and TerraForm Power, Inc., have signed a definitive agreement to acquire First Wind, one of the leading developers, owners and operators of wind projects in the US.  With the purchase, SunEdison is poised to become the leading global renewable energy development company. 

• SunEdison will purchase more than 1.6 GW of pipeline and backlog projects, which have been added to TerraForm Power’s call right project list and are expected to be operational in 2016-2017.  Included in the transaction is an additional 6.4 GW of project development opportunities.   
• TerraForm Power acquires 521 MW of contracted wind generation assets from First Wind and adds 1.6 GW to its list of call right projects scheduled for drop down in 2016-2017.  The acquisition increases the generation capacity of TerraForm Power’s operating portfolio by more than 50% and provides further geographic diversity in Maine, New York, Hawaii, Vermont and Massachusetts. In addition, subsequent to the acquisition, TerraForm Power’s call right project list with SunEdison will double to 3.2 GW of solar and wind projects.  
• Total consideration for the acquisition of First Wind is up to $2.4 billion, comprising $1.9 billion in upfront consideration and a $510 million earn-out.  SunEdison’s portion of the total consideration is $1.5 billion, which entails an upfront consideration of $1.0 billion and the earn-out.   As part of its upfront consideration, SunEdison will issue a $340 million seller note.  The earn-out will be payable by SunEdison subject to completion of certain projects in First Wind’s backlog.  TerraForm Power will acquire First Wind’s operating portfolio for an enterprise value of $862 million. 
• Concurrently, SunEdison will put in place a $1.5 billion non-recourse warehouse financing facility, for projects expected to be dropped down into TerraForm, which will provide certainty of financing for the Company to complete the build-out of its backlog and pipeline projects, including those acquired from First Wind.  SunEdison has raised its 2015 project installation guidance from 1.6-1.8 GW to 2.1-2.3 GW.   

Tocardo Tidal Turbines, producer of tidal and free-flow water turbines, has acquired IHC Tidal Energy, the tidal energy division of Dutch maritime company Royal IHC. The take-over will accelerate the expansion of Tocardo’s Dutch and international tidal energy business. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of IHC Tidal Energy is a meaningful expansion of our product offering and will enhance our capacity to acquire and implement tidal energy projects across the globe,” said Hans van Breugel, CEO of Tocardo. Specifically, the acquisition allows Tocardo to offer clients both vertical-ax turbine and horizontal-ax turbine technologies. ¹ This gives Tocardo’s clients the ability to fully exploit the energy potential of fast-flowing sea currents, Breugel added.

For IHC Tidal Energy, the purchase means the company can now focus on its core activities.² As Bram Roelse, CEO of Royal IHC, explains: “IHC Tidal Energy is a stable and healthy company, but its activities no longer fully fit Royal IHC’s strategy.”

Tocardo’s purchase of IHC Tidal Energy follows on the heels of the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the delivery of tidal turbines with a total capacity of 28MW to South Korean energy company Ekornergy. Tocardo also made headlines earlier this month when it was appointed by the Isle of Man Government as one of its two preferred partners to supply tidal turbines for a major new renewable energy initiative.

REFERENCES
 

1. IHC Tidal Energy has developed a tidal turbine with a vertical ax, which after several test trials is nearing readiness for the commercial market. For several years Tocardo has been manufacturing tidal turbines with a horizontal ax. This technology has been sold to Nepal to generate electricity in the country’s fast-flowing rivers. 
2. Royal IHC, which is focused on the continuous development of design and construction activities for the specialist maritime sector, is known for its expertise in efficient dredging and mining vessels and equipment.

Fronius USA is dedicated to the growth and sustainability of the solar industry. We are constantly implementing ways to reduce the cost of ownership while increasing the quality, reliability and uptime of our products. With the Fronius Service Provider program, installers, integrators, EPC’s, OM providers and solar distributors receive hands-on training to service Fronius inverters.

Become an FSP — Easy As 1, 2, 3

1. Register online or by emailing pv-training-usa@fronius.com
2. Attend the 8 Hour product training of your choice (Fronius IG, Fronius IG Plus, Fronius CL or Fronius Galvo)
3. Sign the Fronius Service Provider Agreement and receive your NABCEP credits and account number.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Program

What is the Fronius Service Provider Training and why would I need it?

• Fronius Service Provider trainings are hands-on trainings per inverter series: 1-day training course for the Fronius IG series, 1-day for the Fronius IG Plus series, and 1-day for the CL series. An optional ½ day Datcom training is also available. Fronius Service Provider Certification is required for field service work on Fronius inverters.

What is the cost and what do I receive for attending a training?

• Each Fronius Service Provider full-day training course qualifies for 8 hours of NABCEP CEC’s. Each 1 day training is $295 per person and includes meals, materials and Fronius swag.

How do I move forward once completing a training?

• Upon completion of each training and a signed agreement with Fronius, installers will become Fronius Authorized Service Provider on that inverter series. This authorizes the installer to perform board level replacement in the field, offers a $250 in-warranty service reimbursement, and priority service with Fronius Tech Support.

 / Sign up today and join the over 2,300 FSP providers in 30 countries who are currently delivering world-class service to their customers. Register and inquire about training courses near you by filling out our Fronius Service Provider Registration Form, emailing us at pv-training-usa@fronius.com or calling (219) 734-5666.

Two half-day Fronius training sessions for qualified PV professionals on the Fronius IG Plus V series of inverters, covering such topics as inverter technology, system design, string sizing, installation best practices, troubleshooting, and product features and benefits.

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011

Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Room 206E

Time: Two time slots available, one in the morning one in the afternoon

• 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Event Summary: Two half-day Fronius training sessions for qualified PV professionals on the Fronius IG Plus V series of inverters. This detailed technical course will be taught by our head Canadian and Austrian instructors. We will cover various topics including: inverter technology, system design, string sizing, installation best practices, troubleshooting, and product features and benefits.  This class has been certified for continuing education credit by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

Learn about our innovative products and features, including MIX technology and the Datcom monitoring system. See why Fronius is synonymous with quality, reliabililty and value.

Please register here.

Fronius offering CL Inverter Training at Solar Power International in Dallas, TX on Monday, October 17, 2011 — 9:00am — 3:00pm

Get comprehensive product training on the Fronius CL PV central inverter. Our unique modular system design of up to 15 identical power stages utilizing the Fronius MIX™ concept makes the Fronius CL a smart choice for commercial PV systems. We will cover various topics, including Fronius inverter technology, product features and benefits, system design, best practices in installation procedures and highlights of Fronius DATCOM system options. This course is certified for continuing education credits from the National Association of Board-Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).   Class is free!

Register now.  Space is limited!

Date/Time:  Monday, October 17, 2011 / 9:00am — 3:00pm (lunch will be provided)

Location:
Hyatt Regency Dallas
300 Reunion Blvd.
Dallas, TX  75207
(214) 651-1234
Map

Gamesa has renewed the contract with the company Società Energie Rinnovabili (SER), the JV between API and Iberdrola, to provide operation and maintenance services for 244,65 MW, which correspond to the whole fleet that SER operates in Italy.

Under the terms of the deal, Gamesa will perform maintenance services on 231 Gamesa wind turbines (189 G52-850 kW, 33 G87-2.0 MW y 9 G80-2.0 MW) located in 11 wind farms of Italy for a period of four years and a half, with an option to extend the deal for further two years. This contract strengthens Gamesa’s presence in the operation and maintenance services business.