Carbon Trader

Up-front costs and lack of federal incentives remain obstacle to strong growth.

Driven by consumer concerns over climate change and rising electricity prices, the U.S. small wind turbine market grew 14% and deployed 9.7 megawatts (MW) of new power generating capacity in 2007, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said today in its annual small wind turbine market report.  Small wind systems have rated capacities of less than 1 kilowatt (kW) up to 100 kW and are used for a broad range of applications, from charging batteries on sailboats and recreational vehicles to powering individual homes, farms, and small businesses.

“Consumers are eager for clean energy solutions, and a small wind system is one of the most productive ways to generate clean, reliable, fuel-free electricity,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher.  “To fully meet growing customer demand we need policies that make it easier and less costly to invest in small wind systems.” 

AWEA and small wind system advocates are calling for a 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC).  Such a credit could lead to an estimated 40%-50% annual growth, similar to the growth in the solar photovoltaic (PV) market following the adoption of a federal ITC for solar in 2005.  Currently, there are no federal incentives in place for small wind systems.  Several states have incentives for small wind, and, not surprisingly, they are also the states with the largest small wind system markets.  Impractical and prohibitive zoning practices, as well as balkanized grid interconnection standards, pose additional barriers to growth. 

According to the AWEA small wind turbine report, in 2007:

    * Over 9,000 small wind turbine units were sold, with total sales value of $42 million;

    * Total small wind generating capacity in the U.S. is now 55-60 MW;

    * Small wind systems in the U.S. displace an estimated 60,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, the equivalent of taking 10,000 cars off the road;

    * About 50 companies manufacture or plan to manufacture small wind systems in the U.S.;

    * The U.S. is the world’s largest small wind turbine market; and

    * Exports account for about 40% of U.S. small wind system manufacturers’ sales.

See the full Small Wind Market Report at

http://www.awea.org/smallwind/pdf/2008_AWEA_Small_Wind_Turbine_
Global_Market_Study.pdf
   More information about small wind systems is available at http://www.awea.org/smallwind/.

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Pamela Anderson is building an eco-friendly hotel in Abu Dhabi. In keeping with the eco ideology of the project, Pam will only be using eco-friendly materials to build the hotel.

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National Geographic aired its newest documentary, on the Kingdom’s first truly intelligent office buildings- the Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC) with its three integral Norwin A/S Wind Turbine Generators, in the UK February 5, 2008. The program will be broadcast throughout February in the UK and in March in the US on the National Geographic Channel. The three (3) Norwin 225 kW horizontal-axis 29m diameter wind turbines are mounted on bridges at 60, 98, and 136 Meters which span the two 50-storey sail-shaped commercial office towers, which taper to a height of 240 meters, support the three 29m diameter horizontal-axis wind turbines. Inspired by Arabian wind towers, the sail-shaped towers funnel the sea breeze into the three wind turbines. They act as aerofoils, funneling, and accelerating the wind velocity between them. The vertical sculpting of the towers also progressively reduces the pressure so that when combined with the rising velocity of the onshore breeze at increasing heights, a near equal regime of wind velocity on each turbine is achieved. Through its positioning and the unique aerodynamic design of the towers, the prevailing on-shore Gulf breeze is funneled into the path of the turbines, helping to create power generation efficiency. Once operational, the wind turbines will deliver approximately 11-15 per cent of the BWTC’s energy needs, eliminating around 55,000 kilos of carbon from being emitted into the air annually. Incorporating the wind turbines as an alternative source of energy for the buildings will generate 1100 to 1300 MWh per year, which is equivalent to lighting 300 homes for more than a year and will create substantial annual savings.

This is the first time that a commercial development has integrated large-scale wind turbines within its design to harness the power of the wind to generate an alternative energy supply. The use of ‘type-rated’ turbines with minimal modifications ensured that the additional cost incurred by incorporating turbines into the project was reduced to around 3.5% of the overall project value making it a financial viable venture and since its initial design launch there have been a number of derivative projects in the region, a true testament to the viability of the project’s design. The two 50-storey iconic towers, will not only provide local and international companies with a landmark business address but are further set to create office space that achieves new standards in technological advancement. The towers are integrated on top of a three-storey podium, which accommodates a new boutique shopping centre, fine dining, business center and car parking.

World Trade Center Bahrain is featured as a rising symbol of achievement and a reflection of the region´s fastest-growing economy, the WTC Bahrain will be the world´s newest landmark and has already established a landmark low carbon environmental achievement. The site for the Bahrain World Trade Center is prestigiously located on the main King Faisal Highway in Manama, Bahrain

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I had a really interesting discussion with a leading mining industry consultant who has spent much time involved in strategic and operational decisions for mining houses around the globe.

He was telling me that in Australia when you purchase an airline ticket, you are prompted to find out if you would like to make a contribution to a fund as part of responsible handling of your carbon footprint. i.e. a computer will calculate that your plane trip from Sydney to Melbourne will have a AUS$1.3 impact on the environment and then ask you to make a voluntary payment here.

What is apparently interesting (and I can’t verify this) is that a number of Australians are quite happy to agree to pay this amount, the moment they pay for their transaction. I am quite a big believer that similar offerings will come into South Africa very soon and it will be interesting to see how South Africans will embrace something along these voluntary lines.

 Are South Africans mature enough to make this contribution willingly? Are they more willing to pay this than a govt. tax for instance? Or will cash strapped South Africans simply refuse to not be parted from their hard earned cash?

Do YOU think SA is ready??

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The Olympic air quality control process conference was held recently in Beijing, unveiling that the preparations for pollution reduction during the Olympics is ready.Specific plans for the suspension of production and emission reduction of metallurgy, building material and petrochemical industries have been created. Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation will halt its most production; 27 cement manufacturing companies including Beijing Yanshan Cement Factory and 106 quarry and lime companies in the southwestern Beijing are ready for suspension of operations. Of the 18 metallurgy and building material companies, two will stop production, two will stop operations of main production equipment, and the other 14 will stop operations of some pollution-creation procedures. The four coal-fired power plants Beijing Gaojing Thermal Power Plant, Beijing Jingneng Thermal Power Co., Ltd, Guohua Electric Power and Beijing Huaneng Thermo-electricity Plant are aiming at emission reductions of 30% during the Olympic Games.

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