Last month OWOE introduced a new tool that can be used to quickly design a floating platform for real world offshore wind and oil and gas production platforms and estimate its final cost.
OWOE Introduces a Unique Floating Platform Creation Tool
A real world case for renewables – Puerto Rico
Islands represent unique challenges for supply of energy. By nature they tend to be distant from conventional, large scale energy sources, and they tend to lack natural resources necessary to produce power locally, which is particularly true for small islands. A case in point is Puerto Rico. This month my wife and I traveled to Puerto Rico for the first time for a much-needed vacation. Dealing with, or even thinking about, energy was one of the furthest things in our mind. However, two days into our stay, energy became the most important aspect of our vacation.
Continue reading A real world case for renewables – Puerto RicoToxic Nature of Energy Dialogue in the US
A perfect example of the toxic nature of the energy dialogue in this country arose last week in Southern California. There has been a long running environmental disaster north of Los Angeles involving a methane gas leak from an injection well at the Southern California Gas storage facility near the town of Aliso Viejo and the community of Porter Ranch.
Continue reading Toxic Nature of Energy Dialogue in the USRecent Controversy over Renewable Energy Credits
As another example of the complexities of energy in today’s world, we have the latest controversy surrounding Renewable Energy Credits, (RECs – pronounced “wrecks”). A REC is a financial tool in the form of a certificate that represents the generation of one megawatt-hour of electricity from a renewable energy source. RECs are not tied to the physical delivery of electricity and can be bought and sold on the open market. For example, a utility that has been mandated to generate a minimum level of electricity from renewable sources can buy RECs as opposed to developing their own sources or purchasing green power from another provider. A company that produces renewable power earns RECs and can then sell them. The benefit to the purchaser is to be able to take credit for the green power and meet their commitments at an acceptable cost, while the benefit to the seller is receiving income to offset the cost of their investment.
Continue reading Recent Controversy over Renewable Energy CreditsThe Human Side of the Oil Price Collapse
To the typical American consumer, the recent collapse in the price of oil is viewed as a good thing on several levels: 1) it means more money is available from income to spend on other fixed or discretionary expenses and 2) it means the evil oil companies are hurting. The downsides are rarely considered or understood. For example: 1) some of the highest paying professions in the US are in the oil industry and employees are being laid off by the tens of thousands, 2) economies in cities like Houston, and entire states like North Dakota, that are highly dependent on the oil industry are in a tailspin, leading to foreclosures, business failures, and reduced public spending, 3) oil companies that took on too much debt during the oil boom are declaring bankruptcy and defaulting on their debts, which has contributed to the recent stock market slide, and 4) one of the goals of the Saudi Arabian orchestrated price collapse, that of destroying the US shale oil industry and maintaining Saudi market share has been successful.
Continue reading The Human Side of the Oil Price CollapseTransportation Update – The EV Revolution
As a follow-up to the previous OWOE blog “What about transportation?”, OWOE visited a Tesla showroom the other day and viewed the Tesla Model P90S. It is a spectacular car and an impressive piece of engineering, but comes with a price tag of $144,000. There aren’t many people who can afford that. In addition it advertises a 253 mile range and 12 hours for a full recharge using a 240V charger. So, while we applaud Tesla for its groundbreaking efforts and it’s obvious success in creating excitement in the electric vehicle (EV) market, these numbers emphasize the hurdles EVs and the entire transportation industry need to overcome to move to a renewables future.
Continue reading Transportation Update – The EV RevolutionWhat about transportation?
With all the recent news around the Paris climate agreement and the US Clean Power Plan, one key component of the renewable energy puzzle that hasn’t been addressed is the transportation sector. Transportation accounts for approximately 30% of the total energy consumed in the United States and, correspondingly, about 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions (see figure for 2013 greenhouse gas emission data from EPA). Yet very little has been said about how the country and world will transition from a fossil fuel based transportation system to renewables.
Continue reading What about transportation?Paris Climate Change Agreement and More
December has been another big month for the environment with the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (also referred to as the Paris Climate Talks and COP21) ending in a broad, world-wide agreement to reduce greenhouse gasses in an attempt to combat global warming. The agreement confirmed the target of keeping the rise in temperature from the pre-industrial world to below 2°C, which scientists believe is necessary to prevent a global catastrophe. The agreement even establishes for the first time, that the world should be aiming for a rise of only 1.5°C to protect island states, which are the most threatened by the rise in sea levels. The Paris agreement requires all countries to review their contributions every five years from 2020; they will not be able to lower their targets and are encouraged to raise them. In addition, countries will aim to achieve carbon neutrality in the second half of the century. See CPO21 for more information.
Continue reading Paris Climate Change Agreement and MoreReflection on DOE Solar Decathlon and Cal Poly INhouse
This past October U. S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015 concluded with final judging of the 14 entries at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. The Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. Stevens Institute of Technology won top honors overall (see photo); University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, took second place; and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, came in third place.
Continue reading Reflection on DOE Solar Decathlon and Cal Poly INhouseCancellation of Keystone Pipeline – A win for climate change or misplaced symbolism?
On Friday President Obama announced that he had rejected the request from TransCanada to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline which ultimately would have transported 800,000 barrels a day of heavy oil from the Canadian oil sands to the US Gulf Coast refineries. This ended a seven-year review that had become a contentious political issue and symbol of the debate over his climate policies.
Continue reading Cancellation of Keystone Pipeline – A win for climate change or misplaced symbolism?