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JULY 11th, 2005
ENDESA (NYSE:ELE) has divulged capital expenditure plans as part
of its Strategic Plan for the period 2005 to 2009. Overall the plan calls for capital expenditure budget of 14.6 billion over
the five year period. Of that amount, the company reports that 71 percent would be spent for the Spanish and Portuguese markets
alone. For the short term, in 2005, capital expenditures are expected to be 3.43 billion Euros, of which 73 percent is to
be allocated to Spain and Portugal, 15.5 percent for Latin America and 11.5 percent for the rest of Europe.
The capital expenditures will form the backbone of ENDESA overall
goal to bring its net installed capacity of renewable energies and cogeneration up to 4,423 megawatts by 2009, representing
an estimated 14 percent of its total output. The company broke down the new capacity to be added. In includes 2,230 megawatts
of wind energy capacity, 103 megawatts of solid waste and biomass capacity, 78 megawatts of mini-hydro capacity, and 39 megawatts
of co-generation capacity. Total investment in renewables is expected to be in the order of 1.63 billion Euros.
The IFC, the International Finance Corporation, affiliated with
the World Bank Group, has entered into an agreement with Consorcio Energetico Punta Cana-Macao S.A. (CEPM) to provide $10
million to the utility for the construction of an 8.25 megawatt wind power facility in the country’s tourist section.
Tourism is a considered one of the main economic drivers in the Dominican Republic. A reliable power source is considered
central to maintaining and expanding the tourist business base, which according to the IFC provides 554,000 jobs. The new
wind power facility, the first for the small country, will displace part of a diesel generation system at the utility.
The government of Portugal, as part of a plan to spend 25 billion
Euros from 2005 to 2009 has allocated 2.5 billion Euros for the development of renewable energy. The majority of the renewable
energy is expected to be for wind energy; however, tidal energy could play a bigger role as the first wave farm off the coast
of Portugal comes on-line. Portugal also has reportedly turned down a plan proposed by private investors to build a nuclear
plant in the country. Safety concerns and political issues were considered factors.
JULY 6th, 2005
ENMAX Corporation announced plans to build a $140 million, 80 megawatt
wind power generation facility in Alberta, Canada. The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2006, with construction
starting in the fourth quarter of 2005. The City of Calgary is to be the only customer for the utility and has agreed to purchase
all of the electricity generated from the facility for the next twenty years. "With these commitments, we will be the only
city in Canada to draw three-quarters of its electricity from green power," said the mayor of the City of Calgary, Dave Bronconnier.
The 37 turbines for the facility, called the Taber Wind Power generation
facility, are an advanced design to be supplied by ENERCON. In noting the difference in power output, ENMAX said the 37 turbines
will provide 80 megawatts, In comparison, the 114 turbines at the McBrider Lake Wind Farm have 114 turbines and produce only
75 megawatts.
The company noted that regulatory approval was needed before the
project commenced.
JULY 1st, 2005
Clean Power Income Fund (CLE.UN:TSX) has completed a $186 million
financing round for the Erie Shores Wind Farm on the north shore of Lake Erie. The wind energy facility, projected to produce
99 megawatts when on line in April of 2006 is to be the largest to date in Southern Ontario. Funding for the facility is to
come in three parts. Financiers include Sun Life Financial, Scotia Capital and National Bank Financial.
According to Stephen Probyn, CEO at Clean Power, the facility will
be one of Canada’s largest, "Acquiring and building what will be one of Canada's largest wind power facilities marks
a substantial expansion of our investments in windpower and in Canada."
GE Energy will supply the turbines for the facility, which include
66 GE 1.5 SEL turbines. GE will also operate and maintain the facility.
JULY 1st, 2005
Six Energy Companies Awarded
Renewable Energy Contracts
Six long-term renewable energy contracts with Southern California
Edison and several wind, biomass and geothermal energy companies were approved by the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC). The contracts in total add up to an initial 141 megawatts with a potential to reach 427 megawatts between 2006 and
2009.
The companies that won wind energy contracts were Coran Energy Group,
SeaWest Wind Power, and Western Wind. The largest initial wind contract went to Western Wind, which is for an initial contract
to supply 40 megawatts with a potential for 120 megawatts. Biomass contracts were approved for McCarthy Farms Biofuels and
Silvan BioMass. Silvan’s was the larger of the contracts, initially let for 7 megawatts with a potential for 22 megawatts.
The geothermal contract was to Vulcan Power Company. That contract was initial for 30 megawatts with a potential for 120 megawatts.
The contract duration’s ranged from 5 years to 50 years. Western Wind, which had the largest contract in terms of megawatts,
also had the longest length, at 50 years.
Southern California Edison, with the announcement, reported
that its renewable energy portfolio is the largest in the United States, with a total capacity of 2,588 megawatts. This includes
1,021 megawatts from wind energy, 892 megawatts from geothermal, 354 megawatts from solar, 226 megawatts from biomass and
95 megawatts from small hydro. As a point of reference Southern California Edison reports that 1 megawatt is enough electricity
to power 750 average homes during the summer months.
JUNE 30th, 2005
ENDESA Schedules New Wind Farm
ENDESA (NYSE:ELE) has announced that it plans to install an additional capacity of 21.5 megawatts at its Valpardo
Wind Farm in Avila, with an investment of 20 million Euros. The new wind generation capacity will bring the capacity in the
Castilla y Leon region up to 267 megawatts. The new installation is to be equipped with 25 Gamesa G-58 and G-52 wind turbines.
Each of the turbines, which are 55 meters in height, will have a capacity of 850 kilo volts. With the capacity, the wind farm
there, which is scheduled to start up by the end of this year, will be able to power 14,250 homes or a yearly power output
of 57 gigawatt hours. The company points out that the system to be installed there has been designed to safeguard the interests
of the unusual bird population that makes their habitat in the region.
JUNE 30th, 2005
Creststree Kettles Hill Windpower Offering Size Set - $40 Million
Creststreet announced that it has set the maximum size for its limited partnership units of Creststreet Kettles
Hill Windpower LP at $40 million. The minimum size is $35 million. Creststreet indicates that tax deductions based on the
minimum and maximum size are 63 percent and 72 percent. Kettles Hill Wind Energy Inc. plans to construct and operate wind
energy facilities and sell the energy back to the Alberta power market. The offering is expected to close on or before July
13, 2005.
JUNE 27th, 2005
Airtricity has reported plans to invest about $270 million initially
in the development of windmill parks in the states of Texas, New York as well as in the Pacific Northwest. Overall, by the
year 2010, the company plans a capital investment of over $1.5 billion in North America.
Part of the initial investment will be used to install turbines
with Renewable Generation Holdings Inc. (RGI) on a wind farm in the Abilene area. That facility is expected when complete
to have a capacity of 125 megawatts, enough to power over 75,000 homes. Turbines for the Abilene project will be supplied
from Siemens Wind Power company. In 2006, Gamesa is expected to supply wind turbines for Airtricity other wind farm projects.
JUNE 27th, 2005
Greenlight Energy has been given the green light for the development
of a 200 to 300 megawatt windmill project in rural Washington County. Construction of the facility, which may be on line as
early as 2006, is expected to cost in the order of $250 to $300 million. The energy plant to be constructed on 15,000 acres
is considered one of the largest wind farms that have been built so far and certainly the largest in Colorado, a state ranked
11th in wind energy potential, according to Greenlight.
Outlining the sought after features of the windmill site was Matt
Hantzmon, Managing Director of Greenlight Energy. "The Akron project offers many attractive features for development. The
community has been very receptive, the location is ideally situated near transmission lines and the state's renewable portfolio
standards provide strong incentives for wind energy development."
JUNE 17th, 2005
As a result of the approval of the State Government, 128 wind turbines
will be placed on Victoria Australia's second largest wind farm as part of a project to generate 192 megawatts of the 1,000
megawatts Victoria aims for by 2006. The project had run into opposition because of concerns about the aesthetics on the local
vista.
JUNE 14th, 2005
London Array Consortium Submits Proposal to Build $2.7
Billion Wind Farm
London Array, a consortium that represents CORE Limited, E.ON UK Renewables and Shell WindEnergy
Limited has announced that it has submitted consent and planning applications for a proposal to build a $2.7 billion wind
farm to generate electricity for London. The London Array project, if completed, is expected to generate 1,000 megawatts and
power for over 750,000 homes. Considered the largest wind energy project in the world to date, the plan is to place 270 wind
turbines on offshore platforms about 60 miles outside of London.
The completed project according to Core Director Erik Kjoer Sorenson,
"will supply the equivalent of a quarter of London's domestic load and will surely, once and for all, bury the myth that wind
energy is insignificant. Furthermore, it is merely the first of a number of similar sized wind power schemes that will place
the U.K. market at the forefront of offshore renewable energy development worldwide."
JUNE 14th, 2005
Gamesa Receives 17 Megawatt Wind Turbine Order from India
Gamesa has reported that it has received an order for twenty G58-850 Kilowatt wind turbines
from Pioneer Asia Wind Turbines, enough to generate 17 megawatts of power. The new addition will add to the 8.5 megawatts
of power currently generated at the Tamil Nadu wind farm in India.
JUNE 8th, 2005
Consumers and Business Flock to Wind Powered Companies
In what appears to be a trend, Power Mohawk Paper Mills has scheduled the use of 45 million
kilowatt hours (kWh) of wind power to run its two paper mills in New York and a new facility in Ohio. The company is reported
now to be second in the United States in the use of wind power. The number one company is Johnson & Johnson.
As some studies suggest, business that are environmentally conscience
are often preferred vendors. A statement from Thomas D. O'Connor, Jr., Mohawk's Chairman and CEO, supports that belief,
"Many U.S. paper mills have moved their production facilities offshore. Mohawk Paper, by contrast, is thriving in New York
State and has recently doubled its size through the acquisition of the Fine Papers group from International Paper Company.
Our commitment to environmental excellence has sustained -- even propelled us -- to where we are today. Response to our Wind
Power Portfolio has opened up new markets with customers committed to preserving the earth's natural resources."
Mohawk purchased its first wind turbine in 2004. Since then it has
continued to expand its wind energy resources. Commenting
on the financial aspects of wind investment was George Milner, Mohawk's Senior Vice President, Energy, Environmental and Governmental
Affairs, "There is a misconception that choosing the environmentally correct path costs a lot more but with the technological
advances in windmills, the cost of wind power is within range of traditional energy sources. And our customers find it a tangible
way to express their own commitment to sustainability."
JUNE 7th, 2005
In an effort to improve the town’s energy efficiency and to
become an exporter of electricity, the town of Kuzumaki, in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, has also seen its revenue increase from
tourism. The small town, with a population of only 9,000, in an effort to bring economic stability to its rural countryside,
has increased its energy independence level to 78 percent. This level also includes vehicle energy independence. This however
is not enough for the small town. It now aims for 100 percent and more. In order to achieve this, the town, based in a forest,
plans to add leftover biomass from forestry operations and domestic animal waste to add to its supply of wind energy, of which
it has plenty of. The company has several windmills, which it recently built to take advantage of the high winds that
sweep through the area.
Although the town initially installed the windmills as a way to
survive in the windy climate, along with dairy cows, which arrived over a 100 years ago, and a wine plant and an energy research
center (with University research ties), in recent years, the company now sees tourism as a major revenue resource. Since
completion of its windmills, the number of tourists has increased five fold, to 500,000.
MAY 18th, 2005
GE Energy's investment in renewable energy appears to have been
a success. GE Energy announced at Windpower 2005 that its wind energy bookings have reached record levels. For 2005, the company
has received orders for 2,400 megawatts of wind power. That would amount to a 300 percent increase in revenue over 2002 levels,
the first year of operation of the wind unit.
GE Energy's wind revenue in 2002 was not small change - $500 million.
For 2005, GE Energy forecasts $2 billion. That revenue is expected to be generated from orders for 1,600 wind turbines worldwide.
Of the 1,600 wind turbines, 1,100 of the wind turbines are planned for the United States, representing 1,650 megawatts of
new wind power for that country. That level, based on data obtained by GE Energy from the American Wind Energy Association
is 66 percent of the 2,500 megawatts of the total new wind energy capacity forecast for the United States this year.
Mark Little, Vice President Power Generation at GE Energy commented
on the winds' place in the overall energy market and GE's commitment to cleaner energy, "Wind power continues to be the fastest
growing segment of the global energy industry, and it certainly is a very significant part of the diverse energy solutions
portfolio that we offer to our customers around the world. As evidenced by GE's recent ecomagination launch, our commitment
to cleaner energy solutions, including wind power, is at the forefront of our company's business initiatives."
MAY 17th, 2005
Wind Power Basis of New Air-to-Water Machine
- Is Wind-to-Water-to Energy Next?
Universal Communication Systems, Inc. (OTC BB: UCSY) has developed another renewable energy
power source to drive its air-to-water conversion machines, wind energy. The larger air-to-water conversion systems have so
far been limited in their applications because of their reliance on electrical generators or the power grid. Michael J. Zwebner,
CEO of Universal elaborated, "We are all very excited with this new technology development. Recognizing the overall need for
large consumption of (electrical) energy to power all our AirWater machines, and the fact that the cost of the energy is the
single most inhibiting barrier to sales we have successfully developed a new energy powering system for AirWater machines
by utilizing Air Turbine Powered Electric Generators (Wind Power). These air propelled turbine systems operating in combination
with our AirWater machines can co-generate a substantial amount of the electrical power needed to produce water from air.
We now believe we have a key new solution for AirWater machines that produce water from air, and now also from this same air,
much of the energy needed to do so. We have filed for patent protection for this unique and important development."
With wind power, air-to-water machines placed on top of tall buildings
or mountaintops may someday become another source of renewable energy. The air-to-water machines could be used to fill reservoirs,
which in turn could drive water wheels placed in rivers or turbines located in dams.
APRIL 29th, 2005
EPCOR has entered into an agreement with Port Albert Wind Farms
Ltd. for the purchase of the development and interconnection rights to 270 megawatts of wind power. The rights pertain to
a region near the western shores of Lake Huron and a 660 kilowatt turbine currently in operation. The land is near Goderich,
Ontario, where EPCOR currently has a 39.6 megawatt facility under construction. That project, known as The Kingsbridge Wind
Power Project, is scheduled for completion in late 2005 or early 2006.
APRIL 14th, 2005
Wave energy may help diversify Northern California away from its
traditional roots in lumber. DG Energy Solutions LLC has included wave and wind energy as part of its plans
to upgrade the Fairhaven Power Co. (Eureka, CA), which it just acquired by DG Energy. The upgrade to the plant includes a
potential $2 million to $3 million in environmental and reliability upgrades. DG Energy President and CEO Steve Mueller has
been intrigued by the opportunities in Humboldt County, "The opportunities for new and expanded power generation at this plant
and in the Humboldt County region are intriguing. We're certainly looking to increase plant efficiency, but that's only the
beginning. Soon we look to possibly team with the community to increase our site capacity with wind and wave power. We think
it will be great for the region, providing more energy independence."
The Fairhaven plant, certified by the State of California as a renewable
energy generator, is a biomass facility. It generates 120,000,000 kWH every year with about 260,000 tons of wood waste. DG
Energy indicates that it will add four to five additional biomass plants over the next two years in North America
MARCH 31st, 2005
Green is the color to describe environmentally safe technology.
Consumers, governments and business scrutinize for green tags on products that range from PCs to clothes. This trend towards
more environmental regulation and a healthier environment throughout the world, has resulted in the most technically advanced
companies placing the environment on the top of their business plan list.
Raymor Industries Inc. (TSX VENTURE:RAR) has gone one step beyond
the realm of applying technology to minimize environmentally dangerous products and manufacturing processes. Raymor's process,
by contrast, consumes pollutants. In this case the process used to produce carbon nanotubes consumes methane, a greenhouse
gas, and then converts it to carbon nanotubes and hydrogen. Because the process uses methane, the company states that it helps
Canada meet its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. As well, because the byproduct of the process is hydrogen, the potential
exists for a source of emission-free hydrogen fuel. Besides these added benefits, the company reports that the nanotube process
is 25 times more efficient, less dangerous and less costly than other existing nanotube technology process.
Raymor's side wall carbon nanotubes (C-SWNT), which are actually
based on methane gas as the raw material, are reported to be 100 times stronger than steel, but only one-sixth the
weight. The company lists numerous areas where innovative applications of the technology can be found. These include
automobile and spacecraft components, biomedical components, chemical sensors, fuel cells, textiles and X-Ray machines. The
technology, because of its light-weight, could also give rise to the age of self-propelled air flight. Stephane Robert, President
of Raymor hinted at the technologies' potential, "There is no question that single-walled carbon nanotubes will have enormous
impact on our lives. This new process makes it easier and safer to produce the high quality nanotubes needed for breakthrough
technologies. Manufacturers around the world are looking for sustainable and efficient ways to incorporate nanotechnology
into their products. We've brought them one step closer with this Raymor process."
Raymor's technology was obtained just recently through an exclusive
worldwide rights agreement with the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS).
MARCH 30th, 2005
Texas reaffirms a global trend that indicates the conversion to
renewable energy will occur faster than government's around the world have scheduled. The Public Utility Commission has reported
that Texas is expected to meet a 2009 mandate this year. That mandate was for Texas to add 2,000 megawatts of renewable generating
capacity. The 2,000 megawatt goal was established in 1999. Texas lawmakers are currently debating where to set the next renewable
energy minimum and by what time. One plan calls for 20 percent by 2020. Presently most of Texas' renewable energy is from
the wind.
MARCH 7th, 2005
Contract Gust Makes Cartier Quebec's Top Wind Energy Company
Cartier Wind Energy,
in late February, announced long term wind-generated electricity supply contracts had been signed with Hydro-Quebec Distribution.
The contracts require the supply of 740 megawatts of wind energy. Cartier reported that the contracts would make the company
the largest wind energy producer in Quebec Canada.
FEBRUARY 24th, 2005
Ultracapacitors Energize Maxwell’s Revenue Growth
Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MXWL) has projected that its fourth quarter, 2004 revenue will reach $8.5 million,
up more than 25 percent sequentially. The company foresees continued growth in its first quarter of 2005. Maxwell says that revenue growth is across all products lines, but specifically pointed to its Ulltracapacitor
sales, which increased 20 percent sequentially. Maxwell says that demand for
its large cell Ultracapacitors is a couple of quarters ahead of its plans to increase production capacity. The Ultracapacitors
are used in hybrid bus drive trains and wind energy applications.
FEBRUARY 3rd, 2005
Superconductive
Power System Saves Wafer Fabs Millions
American Superconductor reported that an order from a major semiconductor wafer fabrication facility contributed to
record revenues at its Power Electronics Systems business. American’s PQ-IVR system is considered an ideal power source
solution for wafer fabs. The company says that sub-second voltage sags often shut down wafer fabs abruptly, costing millions
in terms of lost wafers and productivity. The PQ-IVR system is an energy storage
system based on American’s Superconductor Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) technology. The magnet has a storage capacity
of 3 MJ and occupies only 10 square feet. American expects several more orders
for the systems. Altis Semiconductor, a joint wafer fab facility of IBM Microelectronics and Infineon Technologies, is one
of American’s semiconductor companies.
Besides its reliable power source, American Superconductor also has done well with its high temperature superconductor
wire and its supermachines (motors based on high temperature superconductor technology). For its most recent quarter, ended
December 31, 2004, American Superconductor reports an 89 percent increase in revenue over last year. Revenue increased to
$23.2 million for its third quarter from year ago levels of $12.3 million. Unlike
companies in the semiconductor market, which for the most part have reported sequential declines in revenue, this company
has reported a 144 percent sequential quarter to quarter gain. In its second quarter American Superconductor had sales of
$9.5 million.
For its fiscal year, which ends in March, American Superconductor forecasts revenue to be in the range of $58 million
to $61 million. For the nine months to date, the company has recorded $45.4 million in revenue. American Superconductor sells its high temperature superconductive wire for electric utility power cable
applications. Its supermachines are used in wind energy farms, ship propulsion and industrial energy generation applications.
With the semiconductor industry powering their fabs with the technology, one has to wonder when superconductive chips or for
that matter superconductive micromachines will be on the market.
FEBRUARY 1, 2005
United Kingdom Most Energy Friendly
The
Ernst &
Young Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices recently reported that the United Kingdom was the most attractive
renewable energy market. According to a press release from the United Kingdom
Trade and Investment organization, Ernst & Young has reported that the United
Kingdom is the global leader in wind generation. The United Kingdom has an aggressive program to further develop the wind resources
off its coast line. One of the reasons is Tony Blair’s commitment to the UK’s
government’s renewable energy policy. This policy, like New York’s
state policy, requires that a fixed percentage of electricity come from renewable energy. The UK has set 10.4 percent renewable energy sources as its goal for the year 2010.
FEBRUARY 1st, 2005
The Sun King and the Wind Queen
FPL
Energy, LLC announced it and its affiliates have purchased an ownership interest for 141 megawatts (MW) of solar power generation.
The purchase includes five 30 megawatt Solar Energy Generating Systems in the Mojave Desert (California).
With the purchase, FPL Energy has claimed the title of largest generator of solar energy in the United States – capable of producing 310 megawatts. FPL Energy also claims
the United States wind generator title
with a capacity of 2,750 megawatts.
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