Mr. Michael Bahleda

GLG News by Mr. Michael Bahleda, Principal

Solar Thermal technologies – Promise and Challenges

December 8, 2008

Analysis of:USA-Solar thermal projects gather steam and opposition | www.latimes.com

Solar Thermal technology offers the promise for carbon free generation, but not without dealing with issues common to large central generation sources and some unique to the technology:        1. the need to demonstrate the technology      2. transmission access      3. water supply      4. low capacity factors      5. the need for complimentary storage technologies

Northwest debate on Cap and Trade reflects national issue

May 15, 2008

Analysis of:Power Companies Vie for Advantage Under Climate Plan | seattle.bizjournals.com

The basis for awarding carbon credits will determine if we take steps to clean existing emissions or move to new technologies in response to global climate issues. If credits are based on production, change will be incremental as will the associated cost impacts. Awarding credits based on system load will encourage development of non-fossil generation sources and accelerate carbon reduction.

Stimulating New Hydro in the U.S

January 21, 2008

Analysis of:Tidal energy facility partners announced | www.novanewsnow.com

Canadian efforts in Nova Scotia are demonstrating how government and industry can work together to encourage emerging hydroelectric technologies. In the U. S., hydropower is being overlooked in the efforts to add reliable, domestic renewable energy to the U.S. generation portfolio. For a fraction of the research funding and incentives provided to the wind industry, hydropower could add nearly double the name plate capacity of all the current wind capacity in the U.S.          1. The 12,000+ MW of nameplate wind capacity in the U.S. was achieved with government research support of $1 billion over 28 years.           2. For a fraction of that support hydro could provide almost double that figure (23,000 MW) in additional hydroelectric capacity by 2025.           3. To achieve the additional generation capacity hydro needs efforts in 3 areas:          a. Economic incentives          b. Investment in RDD&D          c. Regulatory support

Implications for the U.S. market

March 22, 2007

Analysis of:Huge tidal stream power station project unveiled | www.theherald.co.uk

Congratulations are indeed due to Lunar Energy for their proposed 8 MW tidal project. As was noted in the analysis by Mr. Aldersey-Williams, it is a long way from announcement to operation, but it appears there is support and momentum for this effort to move forward in Britain. This nascent industry is going to go through a long period of development before it fulfills it potential. In the U.S. the coordinated support to take this industry to commercialization appears to be lacking, and this may result in the U.S. losing the opportunity to be a leader in this emerging technology much as it did in the wind industry.

If the U.S. is going to compete in the emerging world market of renewable kinetic water power technologies, it must institute programs that put this emerging technology on a level playing field with other renewable technologies. Those programs must include research funding, production incentives and proportional regulatory requirements.

The potential impact for hydroelectric growth

March 16, 2007

Analysis of:The resurgence of tidal power | www.cbc.ca

 

Nova Scotia Power’s award to Open Hydro to install a utility scale demonstration of an underwater turbine highlights a potential turning point for the hydroelectric industry that may mark the beginning efforts to reinvigorate this segment of the renewable energy industry.

1. The effort is significant because the Bay of Fundy, where the demonstration will be conducted, represents the potential of over a 1000 MW of non-green house gas emitting generation.

2. The installation involves no dams or other enclosures eliminating many of the environmental concerns.

3. Demonstration of the technologies could open the way for development of greater tidal and in-stream resources in both Canada and the U. S.

Long term factors to keep in mind

March 14, 2007

Analysis of:Global wind energy markets continue to boom – 2006 another record year | www.gwec.net

 

As worldwide installed wind capacity increases and appears to be poised for continued growth in the U. S., it is important to remember some key issues related to continued development in the U.S. for the long term.

1. Nameplate capacity does not always equate to the same megawatt-hours per year
2. Intermittent generation sources require back-up from more dispatchable sources
3. Transmission capacity will be a large factor in adding new generation

Analysis of wave park announcement and potential

March 1, 2007

Analysis of:Agreement to Develop Wave Power Park in Oregon | www.renewableenergyaccess.com

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) recent agreement with Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC Power) to work cooperatively to develop the Reedsport OPT Wave Park in Douglas County, Oregon is another sign of utilities growing interest in using emerging wave and tidal technologies to help meet their renewable energy requirements. In supporting the development of wave technologies, PNGC is helping to lay the ground work for the growth of a renewable generation form that offers great potential and responds to aesthetic and reliability concerns associated with other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

The Reedsport project along with projects in Hawaii and Makah Bay, WA are among the first domestic projects to use wave energy to meet the growing need for reliable, domestic, renewable energy. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) estimates that this emerging hydro technology could yield as much as 2100 TWh/yr or approximately 10% of the U.S. domestic demand for electricity.

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