Webmaster, Author at SolarBuzz Jamaica

Solar power: Making it less expensive and more efficient

March 4, 2014 Webmaster

University of Cincinnati researchers are reporting early results on a way to make solar-powered panels in lights, calculators and roofs lighter, less expensive, more flexible (therefore less breakable) and more efficient.

Fei Yu, a University of Cincinnati doctoral student in materials engineering, presented new findings on boosting the power conversion efficiency of polymer solar cells on March 3, at the American Physical Society Meeting in Denver.

Yu is experimenting with adding a small fraction of graphene nanoflakes to polymer-blend bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells to improve performance and lower costs of solar energy.

“There has been a lot of study on how to make plastic solar cells more efficient, so they can take the place of silicon solar cells in the future,” says Yu. “They can be made into thinner, lighter and more flexible panels. However, they’re currently not as efficient as silicon solar cells, so we’re examining how to increase that efficiency.”

Imagine accidentally kicking over a silicon solar-powered garden light, only to see the solar-powered cell crack. Polymers are carbon-based materials that are more flexible than the traditional, fragile silicon solar cells. Charge transport, though, has been a limiting factor for polymer solar cell performance.

Graphene, a natural form of carbon, is a relatively newly discovered material that’s less than a nanometer thin. “Because graphene is pure carbon, its charge conductivity is very high,” explains Yu. “We want to maximize the energy being absorbed by the solar cell, so we are increasing the ratio of the donor to acceptor and we’re using a very low fraction of graphene to achieve that.”

Yu’s research found that efficiency increased threefold by adding graphene, because the material was helping to rapidly transport charges to achieve higher photocurrent. “The increased performance, although well below the highest efficiency achieved in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices, is nevertheless significant in indicating that pristine graphene can be used as a charge transporter,” says Yu.

Yu’s advisor, Vikram K. Kuppa, an assistant professor in the School of Energy, Environmental, Biological and Medical Engineering (SEEBME) for the UC College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS), was a contributor to the research. Kuppa is leading the research of a variety of polymer-blend solar cells involving the use of graphene.

Future research will focus on device physics, film morphology and how to control and optimize these randomly distributed graphene nanoflakes by a variety of methods to achieve better performance.

Science Daily;

Alternative Energy Electricity Energy Saving Government News Oil Solar Energy

World’s Oil Will Run Out in Ten Years

February 11, 2014 Webmaster

The latest measurements confirm that the world’s oil and natural gas supplies are running out too fast. At some time between 2010 and 2020 the world’s supply of oil and gas will fall below the level required to meet international demand.

The US government is aware that we are about to endure a disastrous international energy shortage. According to Dr James McKenzie, a senior member of the climate change programme at the World Resources Institute in Washington, USA: “That’s why we went to war in Iraq.”

We always knew the world’s oil reserves would run out eventually. The oil was formed by natural geological processes which occurred over millions of years. Oil consumption presently exceeds 25 billion barrels a year and demand continues to spiral upward, out of control. The outcome is inevitable.

In the 21st Century we rely on oil (petrol) and gas for transport – cars, lorries, ships, aircraft – as well as electrical power. We cannot survive without oil and gas, and when the supply runs out the great engine of Western civilization will finally grind to a halt. We are heading for an event that will be remembered as one of the great disasters of human history, and life is going to get harder for everybody as the day of reckoning draws nearer.

In the years ahead, wars will be fought over oil and fuel as the oil-dependent superpowers struggle in vein to preserve our unsustainable way of life. We are entering a period of great change and there are be difficult times ahead. The process has already begun. Students of prophecy will be familiar with certain relevant verses from Christian scripture concerning the signs of the end times (Matt. 24.8; Mk 13.8, Rom. 8.22; Rev. 12.03, 21.1-4). As it was translated in 1961 in the New English Bible: “With these things, the birth pangs of the new age begin” (Mt.24:8; Mk.13:8). Whether you are religious or secular, you should be aware that the tide of history is turning.

In North America, where we use far more oil than anywhere else on Earth, the vast majority (71%) of electrical power generation is entirely dependent on fossil fuels – coal (52%), gas (16%), and oil (3%). The world’s natural gas is running out along with the oil, and the coal supply is not unlimited either. Nuclear energy contributes only one-fifth to the US power network, and 7% of power is hydroelectric. Only 2% of US electricity production is from renewable sources. As we continue to burning up the world’s dwindling fossil energy sources at a terrifying rate, we simultaneously unleash catastrophic damage to the natural environment.

The Insider recently reported a wave of four major electrical power outages which struck the US; then the UK; followed by Denmark and Sweden; and then Italy, Switzerland, Austria and France. The effects only lasted a few hours, but each case was the biggest power failure in the history of the affected country. These massive power cuts were separated by a matter of days. The governments were only practicing this time. This is just the beginning.

It would be prudent to pursue alternative energy sources before it is too late, but the oil corporations will never allow this to happen. So important is oil as a resource that it brings great wealth and power to those who control it. Consequently, our corrupt politicians, whose power is lavishly funded with oil money, prefer to serve the short-term interests of greedy oil executives than the long-term interests of ordinary people like you. But as long as we have food in our bellies and entertainment to keep us busy, why should we care? Thus, it is the immorality and indifference of our species that ultimately leads to our own demise.

Nothing lasts forever. Like all the great civilizations in the past, ours has a limited life-span. A few years from now the Westernized world will reach the point where there is no longer enough fuel to sustain civilization in its present form. This will literally be the end of civilization as we know it.

The Insider;

Electricity Government LNG News

Shake up, OUR

October 24, 2013 Webmaster

IN THE face of Energy World International’s (EWI) placement of its US$7-million security bond on the 360-megawatt power plant deal, it is opportune for the Government to take a hard look at the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and take some serious decisions about the place. And they must be quick about it.

The first order of business is to find an obviously strong, competent and independent-minded head for the place, with a clear understanding that part of his or her mandate is cleaning shop, even as it gets on with the job of completing the energy project.

Putting this process in train lies squarely with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. It is her obligation, under the OUR Act, to recommend the candidate for the post of director general of the regulatory body to the governor general. If, as we suspect, it was the case in the past that prime ministers allowed line ministers to effectively name the nominee, we recommend that Mrs Simpson Miller break with practice.

For ceding that responsibility, at this time, to Phillip Paulwell, would be to handicap the appointee, given the collapse of confidence in Mr Paulwell’s mining and energy ministry to get anything right, given the mess that has been made of the power plant issue.

To be fair, that is not all Mr Paulwell’s fault. Much, and perhaps most, of the blame rests with the OUR.

A CLUMSY HANDLING OF THE MATTER

That Jamaican consumers pay an unaffordable economic rent for electricity, which at US$0.42 per kilowatt-hour is among the highest in the region, is well known. Understand that it makes our firms uncompetitive, which, in turn, constrains economic growth.

Yet the OUR, which has been governing the responsibility for procurement of newer, and supposedly cheaper, generating capacity, has, at best, and perhaps charitably, been clumsy and bungling in its several attempts at the process. Its latest was the worse.

Delivering cheaper energy to Jamaica, which would be good for the economy, also coincides with Mr Paulwell’s political interest/ambition. It is understandable that when EWI declared an interest in Jamaica, with an apparently attractive proposal, that he would be keen to have that considered, notwithstanding that it was after the OUR’s initial deadline for unsolicited offers/expressions of interest.

THE OUR NEEDS A FIX

The response of those already engaged in the process, who might have felt they were in the most advantageous positions, was entirely predictable. The claim that the goalpost was being shifted was obvious.

But worse than Mr Paulwell was the OUR. The agency disagrees with the Office of the Contractor General that it breached the procurement rules; that EWI’s proposal should not have been entertained; and that if it was to be considered, the initial request for proposal abandoned and the process started anew. Beyond the technical issues of the procurement rules is the weak, or failed communication strategy on this issue, which has left the public uneasy about the basis of its decision.

The OUR is a critical regulatory agency. But it is need for an urgent fix. That is why we feel that a public-private sector oversight group should be part of the strategy for this energy project.

Mobile Jamaica Gleaner;

Electricity Government JPS News Oil

Cost of electricity rises to record high

October 20, 2013 Webmaster

The cost of electricity has risen to a new record this month on continued slide in the value of the dollar and higher cost of fuel.

Higher fuel and IPP charges have pushed the cost of electricity up by 3.5 per cent this month after a four per cent increase in September. Together both increases mean the cost per kilowatt hour of electricity is at its highest level ever for households.

RJR News;

Alternative Energy Electricity Energy Saving Government News Solar Energy

No Word On Bidders For Renewables Project

October 17, 2013 Webmaster

Up to yesterday, there was still no word from the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) on the security bond from the three selected preferred bidders for the 115 megawatts of electricity-generation project using renewable energy-based power-generation facilities on a build, own and operate basis.

On October 1, the OUR announced that it had selected three companies which would supply 78 megawatts of the required amount. They had until this past Tuesday to provide the OUR with the applicable proposal security.

The named preferred bidders were Blue Mountain Renewables LLC, to supply 34 megawatts of capacity from wind power at Munro in St Elizabeth; Wigton Windfarm Limited, to supply 24 megawatts of capacity from wind power at Rose Hill, Manchester; and WRB Enterprises Inc, to supply 20 megawatts of capacity from Solar PV through facilities in Content Village, Clarendon.

The proposed delivery price to the national grid for these projects ranged from US$0.1290 to US$0.1880.

Jamaica Gleaner;

News

Energy World does fine line in hot air, but not much LNG

October 5, 2013 Webmaster

Below is a repost from our newsletter that went on Sept. 21 2013 when we all thought Energy World International had won the 360MW bid. Well they’re back ladies and gentlemen so below is an article you should read.

HAS anybody seen an LNG facility lying about? We seem to be missing a couple of liquefied natural gas plants. In this corner of the universe, the mighty Energy World Corporation has more LNG projects on the boil than BHP.
Rivalling the oil majors Chevron and Shell, it has three in Australia, and one project each in Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea – according to its presentation materials to the stock exchange – but Energy World’s sharemarket value remains a paltry $737 million. Why is this so?
Either this stock is the greatest bargain since Woodside was a penny dreadful or somebody has been purloining its LNG plants. They are nowhere to be seen. Can there be any other explanation?
One vile and unseemly character has made the scurrilous allegation that Energy World keeps on raising money to build the same LNG plant.

It will never actually build an LNG plant, claims this dastardly off-the-record source. It just says it is building an LNG plant to raise money from unsuspecting sharemarket dabblers.
Surely it was time to rise and defend the honour of Energy World, impugned as it was by such pusillanimous and despicable innuendo.
Alas, our petitions for an audience with chief executive Stewart Elliott at the group’s global headquarters in Hong Kong were to fall on deaf ears. Neither Stewart, nor his crack Energy World team, was available to respond either by phone or email.

How was its ”successful Alice Springs LNG operation” with the Northern Territory Power and Water Corp getting along? We called the NTPWC. ”We no longer have an LNG contract with them.”
How about Energy World’s planned 2-5-million-tonne plant proposed for the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, along with a deep-water port and power station? This development appeared to have been accidentally located – at least in a company presentation – on acreage already pegged by US oil group Talisman.
We called Talisman. ”Regarding your inquiry, we would like to inform you that Talisman has no arrangements with Energy World.”
That was peculiar. The tie-up had been mentioned in the PNG press and an editor told us, ”EWC clearly put Talisman’s part-owned fields in its presentation.”
Energy World rather got ahead of itself in late 2007 when it told shareholders it was ”building” its first LNG plant in Indonesia. It had just raised $100 million with the aid of its trusty broker Tricom Securities.
The following year, it returned to raise another $156 million from the mums and dads. ”Our first 500,000 tonnes per annum LNG liquefaction facility remains on target for production in the last quarter 2009,” was the line.
It banked a further $86.5 million in a share sale to investment guru Richard Chandler last year. The money did not go to waste. Some $200 million left the company in ”property, plant and equipment” payments in 2008 and 2009. Roughly $40 million went to Slipform Engineering (H.K.) Ltd, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by the Energy World chief himself, Stewart Elliott.
Energy World’s latest annual report makes for an interesting read, particularly the related party deals in the rear of the Ernst & Young-audited accounts.
There is a $2.34 million fee for ”executive management services” paid to Energy World’s major shareholder, Energy World International (EWI). EWI is also owned by Stewart. But that’s just for starters.
EWI must have a property division, too, as it leases a couple of properties to Energy World, one being an apartment in Sydney’s leafy Seaforth for $6000 a month.
In true Demtelian spirit there is also a raft of other payments to Slipform: all up $13.4 million departing Energy World in the direction of Stewart’s private companies for ”engineering services” and so forth.
And Stewart’s services must be indispensable, as it appears Energy World has since struck another $US618 million worth of contracts with a suite of Stewart’s companies. More related-party transactions than a Greek wedding, in short.
The good thing for Stewart is that if Energy World ever went bust paying lavish consultancy fees to his other companies, Stewart would still be standing front and centre in the creditors’ queue clutching a humungous proof of debt. Were this to transpire, he would be agreeably placed to claim ownership again of the very LNG equipment he had already sold, and perhaps then vend it into another exciting opportunity to list on the stockmarket.

Perhaps Energy World could try its luck with an LNG plant in the basement of 100 Market Street, Sydney, below the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. An ASIC liquefaction facility would complement its portfolio of projects nicely. Although we must confess the latter, projects that is, have been hard to find.
The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy didn’t know anything about the LNG plant proposed for Port Bonython. Nor was the relevant state agency or Quilpie Shire Council aware of Energy World’s impending LNG plant in Gilmore in Queensland.

Finally, though, there were traces of EWC LNG DNA. Upon inquiry into the touted Phase I, 2MTPA LNG plant and 500k pipe proposed development at Abbot Point we got this: ”Energy World Corporation (EWC) is known to the office of the Queensland Co-ordinator-General and EWC is discussing a proposal with officers that relates to Abbot Point. The next steps in progressing this proposal rest with EWC.” Take that, vile sceptics!

EWC’s claims have been greatly exaggerated and, although the company has been unable to deliver on its promises and properly inform the market, it is fair to point out that its claims to build an LNG facility in Indonesia are fair dinkum. For the benefit of EWC shareholders, here is an email received overnight from the chief financial officer of Chart Industries in the US:

I can confirm that Chart received a purchase order in June 2007 covering the LNG liquefaction process design together with the supply of proprietary equipment including Cold Boxes, Brazed Aluminum Heat Exchangers, Air Cooled Heat Exchangers and ancillary equipment for four (4) 500,000 tons/year LNG Liquefaction Trains to be installed by EWC in Southeast Asia. The purchase order value was in excess of USD $100 million. The equipment was delivered to EWC on various dates commencing November 2008 with the final piece of equipment delivered in early 2012.
Subsequent to receipt of the above purchase order, Chart and EWC signed a Strategic Alliance Agreement in August 2007 to jointly pursue additional LNG liquefaction projects that EWC will build, own and operate. This Agreement remains in place at this time.

Chart has also provided a similar scope of equipment to EWC for a smaller 160 tons/dayLNG Liquefaction project to be installed by EWC in Australia. This equipment was delivered mid 2011.

Should Business Day receive responses to questions from EWC claims relating to the central Australian operation and PNG operations these will be published.

Alternative Energy Electricity Energy Saving Government JPS News Solar Energy

OUR Names Preferred Bidders For 115MW Electricity-Generation Project

October 2, 2013 Webmaster

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has selected three preferred bidders for the supply of up to 115 megawatts of electricity-generation capacity from renewable energy-based power-generation facilities on a build, own, and operate basis.

In a release yesterday, the OUR said from the proposals for energy-only, the evaluation panel recommended three entities as preferred bidders with capacity amounting to 78 megawatts. These comprise two projects offering energy from wind, amounting to 58 megawatts; and one offering solar, amounting to 20 megawatts.

The preferred bidders are Blue Mountain Renewables LLC, to supply 34 megawatts of capacity from wind power at Munro in St Elizabeth; Wigton Windfarm Limited, to supply 24 megawatts of capacity from wind power at Rose Hill, Manchester; and WRB Enterprises Inc, to supply 20 megawatts of capacity from solar PV from facilities in Content Village, Clarendon.

The proposed delivery price to the national grid for these projects ranged from US$0.1290 to US$0.1880.

The preferred bidders have been directed to provide the OUR with the applicable proposal security by October 15.

The OUR said on June 3 that it had received 28 bids from 20 interested entities, which submitted proposals to supply renewable energy electricity generation of greater than 100 kilowatts and up to 115 megawatts to the national grid.

The bids were tendered by both local and international entities, with eight proposals received from local companies. Two proposals were received for wind, one for biomass, and 25 for solar energy.

Jamaica Gleaner;

Alternative Energy Electricity Energy Saving Government News Solar Energy

PV Production Grows Despite a Crisis-Driven Decline in Investment

September 30, 2013 Webmaster

Global production of photovoltaic (PV) cells grew by 10% in 2012 in comparison to 2011 despite a 9% decline in solar energy investments according to the annual “PV Status Report” released by the European Commission‘s Joint Research Centre. Europe remained a leader in newly installed capacities accounting for 51.7% (16.8 GW) of the 30 GW installed worldwide.

Abundant solar resources in combination with zero emissions from solar installations have attributed to PV energy systems a key role in the transition to a low carbon energy supply. This potential has driven development of more efficient PV modules and transformed the sector into one of the fastest growing industries. Production of PV cells and modules has gone from 46 MW in 1990 to 38.5 GW in 2012. Statistically documented cumulative installations worldwide accounted for almost 100 GW in 2012 placing the EU in the lead position with its share of over 69 GW.

Within the EU, Germany has kept its leading position in PV installation with an additional 7.6 GW in 2012, while Italy‘s newly installed 3.5 GW have allowed it to reach an electricity production covering 7.3% of the total electricity demand during the first seven months of 2013.

A steep, 80% drop of solar modules prices between 2008 and 2012, triggered by an overcapacity of production, created serious financial problems for manufacturers, but led to a consolidation of the industry and fuelled an extensive growth for the PV market in Asia: 60% in 2012 and a projected 100% in 2013. The rise in annual production has resulted in China and Taiwan to accounting for 70% of the global production.

Even with the on-going difficult economic conditions, the number of the new PV markets is increasing. This, along with rising energy prices and the pressure to stabilise the climate will maintain a high demand for solar power systems. Electricity production from PV modules has already proved that it can be cheaper than current conventional consumer electricity prices in many countries. In addition, renewable energies which are not fuel-dependent, are, in contrast to conventional energy sources, among the technologies to offer the prospect of a reduction in prices.

Science Daily;

Alternative Energy Electricity Government JPS LNG News Solar Energy

The Future Of Power In Jamaica

September 25, 2013 Webmaster

Is there an energy problem in Jamaica? The growing energy crisis in Jamaica has been a cause for concern ever since the Government divested the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS).

Consumers and producers complain about the high cost of energy. Firms often blame their low productivity, low output, high price for final goods and services, as well as low profitability, on the high cost of energy in Jamaica.

The lowest consumers pay in Jamaica is $40, or US39 cents per kilo watt hour, compared to the United States where energy cost is as low as 12 cents per kilo watt hour in some places.

Jamaica consumes approximately 605 mega watts of energy per day. The country has the capacity to produce in excess of 700 mega watts per day from the old, inefficient power plants across the island. However, plans are being put in place to replace 475 mega watts of our daily usage with cleaner, more efficient sources; a 360-mega watt plant and 155 mega watts from renewable sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind mill and hydro. These two projects combined, are expected to reduce the cost of energy to the consumer by 25 to 30 per cent by 2016.

What is being done about the issue?

The winner of the bid to establish the renewable-energy sources has not yet been announced, but Azurest Cambridge Consortium has won the bid to possibly build this new energy plant that will supply 360 mega watts of Jamaica’s daily usage.

The estimated cost, including buildings, barges, the plant and other infrastructure is US$690 million. Total cost, minus labour, is estimated to be US$580 million. In total, the plant will use three barges, the first barge will be delivered 17 months after Azurest and JPS sign off on a power-purchase agreement. Negotiation are expected to start within the next three weeks, and should take about three to four months.

Azurest plans to sell the energy to JPS, at a price between 13 and 22 cents US per kilo watt hour, earning no more than 20 per cent return on its investment.

The US$100 million core equity committed to project, with hopes of raising US$50 million locally, and the rest overseas, in a 78 per cent to 22 per cent debt-equity ratio.

How will they finance the rest?

The International Finance Corporation plans to raise funds to possibly support the establishment of the 360 mega watt-power plant project in Jamaica, by issuing bonds on the domestic market.

IFC plans to raise US$500 million, or J$51 billion, from the issue. The bonds will have a triple-A rating and will be targeted at pension funds, banks and other investors. The bonds will also carry lower interest rates than the Bank of Jamaica Treasury Bill Rates.

This strategy to raise funds is not new as it was employed in the Dominican Republic to raise approximately US $10 million to fuel two micro-finance operations in the country. The IFC is unsure as to the exact date these bonds will reach the market, but know it will occur during the course of Jamaica’s four-year agreement with the IMF.

Upon establishment of the plant, Azurest will sell all the energy it produces to the JPS, who operate both a monopoly and a monopsony market.

What is a monopoly market?

This is a situation where there is only one seller of goods and/or services in the market. There is no competition as other firms cannot enter the market freely due to barriers to entry.

In this case, based on JPS’s contract with the Government, no other firm can supply electricity in Jamaica.

Given that JPS is the only supplier in the market, if unregulated; it can charge any price it desires. The company usually charges a price higher and supply less than what is efficient.

What is a monopsony market?

A monopsony market is the other way around, instead of one sell such as the case with the monopoly, in this case there is only one buyer of goods and/or services.

JPS is the only company that buys energy in Jamaica. Any company can produce energy, but given that JPS is the only distributor of electricity, it is the only company that buys energy.

In this case, if unregulated once more, the JPS can push the cost price down because there are no other firms in this purchasers market.

Who regulates?

In Jamaica, The Office of Utilities Regulation monitors JPS’s activities.

It regulates and prevents any abuse of monopoly and/or monopsony power that the JPS might be tempted to exercise.

The Jamaica Gleaner;

Alternative Energy Electricity Energy Saving Government News Solar Energy

China Funding Street-Light Project In Dominica

September 19, 2013 Webmaster

Dominica is implementing a US$34-million solar street-light project with assistance from China, Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmore has said.

He said the 33-month project would involve installation of 4,851 solar street lights across the country, and that Beijing would be providing 2,500 of those lights.

“The prime minister has been able to use his good office to seek funding and assistance from The People’s Republic of China. We are in the process of launching a comprehensive national street lighting project that will seek to bring solar lights to all our main roads in Dominica, including urban areas,” he said.

Blackmore said the project would be executed in separate phases.

“What we intend to do is first of all address our main roads. During the first phase, we intend to install 2,500 solar street lights. That will significantly improve the security and safety of our roads for pedestrians and persons who use the road,” he added.

Jamaica Gleaner;

1 … 33 34 35 36 37 … 66