NoGridUSA.org electroblog

Sterling Engines Having Price Problems

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:17:29 +0000

I had such high hopes for Sterling Engine Technology for production of electricity from solar power or biomass. A lot of people, a lot smarter than me have commented on the following article.

Solar Shakeout Continues: Stirling Energy Systems Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Solar Power Price Possibly being reduced?

admin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:42:32 +0000

An article from Renewableenergyworld talks of price reduction to possible $0.50 per Kilowatt for Solar PV power. The Chinese are pursuing, but Eastman Kodak is helping. Check it out http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/06/how-the-oil-veto-is-being-broken?cmpid=SolarNL-Tuesday-June7-2011

Have you noticed something recently?

When the stock market goes up, so does the price of oil. When it goes down, so does the oil price. (Picture from Wikipedia.)

What we’ve seen in the latest unemployment numbers is another example of what I call the oil price veto. So long as growth depends on oil, oil traders will have the power, and the incentive, to stop growth in its tracks.

The only way forward for the economy is to end the veto. You can’t do that by finding new oil. All that does is change the name holding the veto pen. The incentive will still exist to keep prices as high as possible, because as you use more of a resource it always becomes more rare.

The way to end the veto is to to harvest the abundant solar power all around us. As solar power becomes commonplace, and as it becomes cheaper than oil power, all prices will have to decline. The fact is, we can power the whole global economy hundreds of times over from just the sunlight falling in our midst. Cynics like Jim Cramer (below, from CNBC) insist this is impossible only because they haven’t yet seen a renewable technology, in a manufacturing plant, which scales fast enough to do the job.

Most solar power systems are made like computer chips. Computer manufacturing can scale, but when you’re building large panels using the technology, it scales only as quickly as a manufacturing plant can scale, not the way a chip plant does.

Thin film is seen as showing promise because such cells are created using technology derived from printing. But thin film cells are notoriously inefficient, and the process – while it seems simple – is actually quite complex, and many steps are expensive.

One solution, according to Andrew Barron of Rice University in Houston, is liquid phase deposition (LPD), which can place a reflective coating of silicon dioxide and silicon oxides onto a substrate at room temperature using a chemical bath. Barron himself has other interests (including finding the molecular key to cure HIV), so LPD was licensed to Natcore Technologies, which went public, found Chinese funding , and is now trying to scale the process up with help from Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY.

How does Kodak enter into this? From its work on chemical film, Kodak knows how to make chemicals, coat thin substrates, dry the results, and convey that along a manufacturing line. Kodak, in other words, can help Natcore (and its Chinese partners) scale up what Dr. Barron (last seen teaching Rice engineers the basics of management) found in his lab about five years ago.

The Kodak deal is big because it might result in a new commercial process for making thin film cells that can drive the cost under 50 cents per watt, while reducing installation costs 60% with a film that can simply be layered-on existing buildings. And, since this is the last step before mass production begins, it might do this quickly.

When analysts like Cramer say solar is impossible, that it can’t scale, that only natural gas and coal hold any promise, they’re saying it because they don’t see what Natcore, Kodak and Rice see. A process like this, once developed through manufacturing, does change the equation.

What’s most important to note is that Natcore isn’t alone in this race. There are lots of other companies and collaborations going on around the world, all aimed at dropping the cost of generating solar power rapidly.

Will Natcore succeed? I don’t know.

But someone will.

And sooner than Cramer thinks.

Green Power, Other, Solar Energy, Energy Efficiency

The information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

admin — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:15:55 +0000

Check out this article from the Modesto Bee. This is the FIRST article I have seen that actually mentions that solar power costs are much more costly than conventional power, despite all the hype. Hype? Yes, Hype about how the more we use Solar, the cost for panels will decline. So far No. The article does not mention, but it should be noted that Solar panels need to be replaced about every 20-25 years. They are not designed or made for indefinite use.

http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/02/1495066/green-energy-gets-real.html

MID rates poorly with everyone

admin — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:50:38 +0000

Ed Bearden, a community editor with the Modesto Bee wrote a good opinion piece on MID. He looked at the history of MID and what it was originally all about. Now its about making money, growing and making a profit. Not about service any more. See the following Link. Note the Modesto Bee site loads extremely slow.

BEARDEN: Dubious business going on at publicly-owned MID

Time for New MID Board of Directors

admin — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 22:28:11 +0000

Modesto Irrigation District voted for a 7% rate increase in 2011. A graph in the newspaper showed that over the last 10 years, we had increases in all years and 9 of 10 were over 7%. Total increase in electricity cost: 216.4%. OUCH!!! In ten years! Does anyone want to know why our economy sucks in this Valley? What business would want to move here when rates for a basic commodity have not doubled, but quadrupled in 10 years. Makes me want to bring my industry to town…NOT. Source is Stanislaus Taxpayers Association

This blog is about electricity, but they also screwed us on water, raising rates over 200% in just six years. My small business pays $76 per month for the privilege of using the toilet about 4 times per day. Total use of water is 24 cubic feet per month on average or 180 gallons a month. So lets say, that’s 3 to 4 flushes per day or 6 gallons a day. Cost per day to use the bathroom is $2.64. Paying a quarter at a pay bathroom would be cheaper!

MID is a ‘Public Utility.” It is not suppose to make a profit, but like a lot of “Public” Entities, we have found during this Depression, that many just raise rates or taxes without any regard to efficiency or good common business practices.

It is time to make a move. We need to seek new Boards of Director members NOW, so when the next election comes around, we are ready. The current Board of Directors needs to get its act together and make some heads fly. The General Manager should be the first to be axed if for no other reason than to staple some of the bad feelings that ratepayers have towards MID to someone to trash. It may not do any good, but most would feel better. It’s also time to get some transparency into this system. Mistakes have been made….BIG mistakes over the last 10 years. Be honest and lets put them behind us and move on, with new people who take ratepayers seriously, not as another source of financing for a game not played well.

2011 Electric Rates UP-UP and AWAY 11%?

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:38:07 +0000

Yes that is right. The economy is in the trash in Stanislaus County with unemployment hovering around 20%, 12.5 % of all homes (21,000) have been foreclosed on within the last 3 years. MID will raise our rates in 2011. How much? I guess 11% just to keep on the up and up. Maybe more? Here is why.

I attended the MID board meeting today, October 12. While discussing the budget for next year, we learned two things:

1. The Operating budget jumped from $375 Million to approximately $393 Million or roughly $18 million dollars. This is a 6% increase from 2010.

2. The amount of Customers MID has today, is approximately 5% less than the amount of customers that MID had before this great recession (I call it a depression). This sounds low to me, but it’s all I got. I am going to assume that these customers dropped out primarily in the last year. In order to make up the lost revenue from the 5% to pay the 6% increase in budget, it’s up to who’s left. Who is left? That’s right, the current ratepayers. Cough up 11% my kindred brothers, MID is on the move.

Inflation is at 1.2% so even if the average Social Security Recipient received their COLA, which for the second year in a row they won’t, they will still need to pay 9.8 % more for electricity. Let’s put electricity into perspective. Probably the 3rd or 4th largest monthly bill you have.

Of course we did hear that the Woodland III power plant should be coming on line. We didn’t hear the revenue projections of that project. Will it be a Peaker, that can put money in MID’s pocket? or is it just another power plant to feed the lines to Modesto? I don’t know. I would like to know.

Here is what I do know: I know a lot of people who can barely afford to live getting hit with three or four hundred dollar electric bills. I have heard the rude service, the condescending “pay up or we’ll shut you off,” rhetoric. It’s time to stop this. We are too early for Nogrid, but we can plan on it.

If you have the time, attend a MID board meeting and make your voice heard. The more people we have the better off we will be.

MID votes down biomass plant

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:59:37 +0000

This was my first meeting at the MID board to hear and comment on discussions involving all kinds of things. Today, the reason I showed up was to defeat the biomass facility that would raise rates for the ratepayers, once again, and lock us into these high rates for at least 20 years. CRAZY!!!!!!

The meeting was a 9 AM in the morning. First, why does the board have a meeting in the morning when most ratepayers work? Even most of the board members have other things to do during the day. I found out, since it took over two hours to get to the meat of the meeting regarding the Biomass plant. A lot of opposition left because they had to work. Heck, I left early because unless my business is open, I’m not getting any money. I think it may be time to petition the Board to meet in the evenings when rate payers can attend the meetings to voice their concerns about ever increasing rates.

So what happened? To make a long story somewhat shortened, MID had already voted against this plan. There are lots of reasons and if you want to read more, look here: http://voiceofmodesto.org/wordpress/

But the local yokel who backed the plan threatened to sue MID for not going through with his plan. He claimed oral contract, yada yada yada. MID’s lawyer stated that there was not oral contract and that the agreement they signed when they first started discussions, clearly outlined that cancellation was the right of either party, and the Board of Directors of MID had to agree to the plan. It was clear that the Board was going to vote down the plan, so I left the meeting early. I can’t believe it was voted down 3-2…that there were actually two of these idiots who wanted to raise our rates. I’ll dedicate a blog spot for that later.

I did learn a lot at the meeting though and essentially we are going to have higher rates. Read next section for Why.

GE CEO calls US Energy Policy Stupid

admin — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 23:34:52 +0000

Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric called US Energy Policy, ‘Stupid’ and praised the Chinese for actually moving forward with simpler Energy Policies. (See related post located “In The News,” section. The Chinese have created a simple, lightly regulated policy that moves new, less expensive and more effective energy, including Green Energy to where it is needed. General Electric, of course has a big stake in the energy field since they produce Smart Meters, Generators, switching equipment and all kinds of electrical devices, including ‘Smart Appliances” ready to be hooked up on a GE Smart Grid, monitored by GE Smart Meters.

Mr. Immeld is correct, we do not have a decent Energy Policy, and with Congress fighting the way they are, I doubt if we will have a Decent Energy Policy ever. The key word in that last sentence is Decent. Unless it is without a grid, I would say, do away with it. No grid needed.

I realize that there are lots of people waiting to make a buck on the Smart Grid, but all the Energy policies I’ve seen bantered about on Capital Hill, all point to Nuclear, Smart Grid, Wind, Solar, and on and on. I have not heard one energy policy statement that says, ‘affordable energy is a goal.’ Why are we not focused on Energy Costs and prices in this country? Why are we always focused on some technological, digital, blinking light piece of machinery that does nothing to save or lower the cost of energy, but makes us think that we, as consumers, are in control? (how is that for a run on long sentence?) Why? Cost of Energy and Efficiency should have a higher priority than letting us figure out how to do without electricity during periods of high demand. Why do we have periods of high demand? BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN WE NEED THE ENERGY! Figure out how to provide inexpensive power whenever its needed and then you will have the key to success. You know my view: Decentralized Power Production with limited distribution.

GE CEO calls US Energy Policy ‘Stupid’

admin — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 23:19:20 +0000

Read it here and look on my blog

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB40001424052748703384204575509760331620520.html

$34.5 million for security

admin — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 23:14:42 +0000

Go ahead and spend tax payers dollars for something that should not be in the first place. Faced with an Aged Grid, that the government is pushing hard to become Smart, security is needed. I’ve got an idea, give NoGridUSA.org 34 million and we will get a lot of houses up and running with Fuel Cells. We can forget about the grid.

US backs 10 Smart Grid projects with $34M to bulk up cybersecurity

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/66581