US Signs Agreement with China on Building Energy Efficiency
DOE and the Chinese Ministry of Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) signed an agreement July 15 to foster collaboration on the development of more efficient building designs. The US and China will exchange experts to share efficient building technologies, including high-performance heating and cooling, insulation, lighting, cold storage, geothermal heat pumps, building-integrated solar power, and solar thermal systems.
The two nations will also explore the feasibility of developing a shared project in China to demonstrate green buildings, building energy savings, and renewable energy technologies. The US and China recognize that improving energy efficiency in buildings benefits both nations, and that by working in tandem, they can accelerate the adoption of new clean energy technologies.
An additional focus of the pact is the development of sustainable communities that rely heavily on the use of renewable energy. The US and China will analyze lessons learned from their combined experience with energy-efficient buildings and communities, examining options for policy incentives or regulatory reform to encourage energy-efficient development in China. The US will provide support for MOHURD’s "eco-cities" initiative, which aims to build integrated green cities that are sustainably designed, use renewable power, and have efficient transportation systems. The partners will also collaborate on developing standards and guidelines for such sustainable cities. See the DOE press release.
The US and China also plan to develop the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, which will facilitate joint research and development of clean energy technologies by teams of scientists and engineers from both countries. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Chinese Minister of Science Wan Gang, and Chinese Administrator of National Energy Administration Zhang Guo Bao announced their plans for the joint research center on July 15. The center will initially address building energy efficiency, clean vehicles, and clean coal technologies, including carbon capture and storage, and it will also serve as a clearinghouse to help researchers in each country. The US and China have pledged $15 million to launch the joint research center, which will have headquarters in each country. The two countries intend to start operations at the new research center by year-end. See the DOE press release.
At Half-Way Point, 2009 is the Fifth Warmest Year on Record
The first half of 2009 is tied with 2004 as the fifth warmest half-year on record for the world as a whole, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Combined land and ocean surface temperatures for January through June were 0.55°C above the 20th century average, falling just 0.09°C below the record temperature recorded in 1998, when global temperatures were elevated by an El Niño event.
But the outlook for the rest of the year is for more elevated global temperatures, as a new El Niño event began in June. The effects of that event are already evident, as global ocean surface temperatures in June set a new record, at 0.59°C above the 20th century average. Overall, June 2009 ranked as the second-warmest June on record and the warmest ever in the Southern Hemisphere. The US was spared the heat, as temperatures were only slightly above the 20th century average. See the NOAA press releases on the El Niño and global and U.S. temperatures, as well as the global temperature analysis from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.
DOE Offers $52.5M for Concentrating Solar Research
DOE offered $52.5 million on July 15 for R&D and demonstration of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems that provide low-cost electrical power both day and night. CSP technologies concentrate the sun’s energy and capture that energy as heat, which then drives an engine or turbine to produce electrical power. Such plants can include low-cost energy storage, which allows them to provide electricity even when the sun is not shining. However, CSP technologies currently used in utility-scale power plants typically do not have the capability or the capacity for energy storage, and therefore, operate only during daytime hours.
The new funding will seek to improve energy storage technology and develop novel system designs that will extend operations to a level of production that would make it possible for a CSP plant to displace a traditional coal power plant. The competitive funding opportunity for up to 13 awards focuses on developing a CSP system capable of operating at least 18 hours per day. It involves two areas: Research and development of concepts and components for such a CSP system; and development of a complete CSP system that can operate into the night, including an evaluation of the system and testing of the components for a future prototype. Applications are due by October 15. See the DOE press release and view the Funding Opportunity Announcement by searching the public opportunities on FedConnect for reference number DE-FOA-0000104.
DOE Awards $162M for Clean Energy in Six States & Puerto Rico
DOE awarded $162 million in Recovery Act funds to Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Under DOE’s State Energy Program (SEP), states and territories proposed statewide plans that prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The funds will support loan, grant, and rebate programs; capital financing programs; education and training efforts; energy audits; building retrofits; building energy code upgrades; coupons for purchases of Energy Star appliances; and partial funding for alternative-fueled vehicles and fueling stations.
For example, Louisiana will undertake a "lead-by-example" initiative, providing funding for energy efficiency retrofits for state government buildings, along with funding to encourage the deployment of efficient LED traffic lights and solar street lighting across the state. Colorado will offer access to low-cost capital financing for clean energy projects in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The state will also promote greater energy efficiency in new and existing homes with programs such as a "whole house tune-up" that bundles efficiency incentives for homes.
The funds are part of the Obama Administration’s national strategy to support job growth while making a historic down payment on clean energy. The Recovery Act appropriated $3.1 billion to the State Energy Program, giving priority to achieving national goals of energy independence while helping to stimulate local economies. For the six states and Puerto Rico, the new funds represent 40% of the State Energy Program funds available to them under the Recovery Act, following an initial 10% of the funds that were awarded to support planning activities. The second half of the funds will be released when they meet the reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act. See the state-by-state list of funding and energy plans in the DOE press release.
DOE Awards $13.8M to 28 New Wind Energy Projects
DOE selected 28 new wind energy projects on July 16 for up to $13.8 million in funding, tapping $12.8 million in ARRA funds. The projects will help address market and deployment challenges, including wind turbine research and testing and efforts to better integrate wind power into the nation’s electrical grid.
The 14 wind turbine research and testing projects include work on improved wind turbine towers, blades, gearboxes, lubricants, and generators; advanced manufacturing techniques; and technologies for monitoring the performance of operating wind turbines. The wind integration projects involve analyses of wind measurement and forecasting techniques, energy storage systems, and means of integrating wind power into electrical grid operations, including operating techniques, software models, market simulation tools, and other strategies and decision support tools. For a complete list of projects, see the DOE press release.
DOE also released the 2008 Wind Technologies Market Report, which details the $16 billion investment made in U.S. wind power projects in 2008. The report finds that U.S. wind power capacity increased by 8,558 megawatts in 2008, continuing the US four-year streak of leading the world in annual wind capacity growth. The rapid growth rate also led the US to overtake Germany and claim the world lead in cumulative wind power capacity. The demand for wind power spurred expansion of wind turbine manufacturing in the US, creating about 8,400 new jobs in 2008. Wind power also remained competitive in wholesale power markets in 2008, although the industry is contending with continuing upward pressure on wind power prices. See the full report (PDF 1.9 MB).
DOE Offers $21.45M for Community Renewable Energy Projects
DOE offered $21.45 million in ARRA funds last week for up to four U.S. communities to use in planning and installing utility-scale renewable energy projects. The projects will demonstrate how multiple renewable energy technologies can be deployed at scale to supply clean energy to communities. The renewable energy systems may include solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal, and ocean energy systems, as well as upgrades to existing hydropower systems.
Applicants must provide matching funds and will ideally be ready to implement their projects with readily deployable renewable energy systems. Completed applications are due September 3, and DOE will select the projects by the end of November. See the DOE press release and see the full Funding Opportunity Announcement by searching the public opportunities on FedConnect for reference number DE-FOA-0000122.
DOE Delivers $63M for Weatherization in Indiana, New Mexico
DOE delivered over $63 million in funding from the ARRA to Indiana and New Mexico, allowing the states to dramatically expand their weatherization assistance programs. The states may spend up to 20% of the funds to hire and train new workers. The new spending will help the states achieve their collective goal of weatherizing 22,400 homes, creating new green jobs while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The new funds represent 40% of the total weatherization funds available to those states under the Recovery Act and follow the award of 10% of the funds in March to support planning and ramp-up activities. The second half of the weatherization funds will be released when the states meet the reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act. Details on the awarded funds, as well as the weatherization goals, can be found in the DOE press release. See also the Web site for DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program.
DOE Awards $47M for Smart Grid
DOE awarded $47 million in ARRA funds to eight ongoing smart grid demonstration projects. The new investment adds to the $17 million in funds DOE had awarded these projects in 2008, thereby accelerating their timelines.
Most of the projects relate to technologies to help transmission and distribution systems operate better, but a few are directly related to clean energy. For example, the city of Fort Collins, Colorado, will research, develop, and demonstrate an integrated system of mixed clean energy technologies and distributed energy resources, allowing the city to reduce its peak electrical demand by at least 15%.
The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago will focus on implementing distributed energy resources and creating demand-responsive microgrids – small power networks that can operate independently of the utility power grid. The University of Hawaii will explore the management of its electrical distribution system to better accommodate wind power. See the DOE press release and the article from DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on microgrids.
DOE also released the first Smart Grid System Report, which examines smart grid deployments nationwide. The findings show that while many smart grid capabilities are just beginning to emerge, the adoption of various technologies – such as smart metering, automated substation controls, and distributed generation – is growing significantly.
The report also notes that smart grid capabilities are socially transformational. As with the Internet or cell phone communications, smart grid technologies have the potential to dramatically change how we experience electricity in the country, but improvements in physical and cyber security and information privacy will require consumers, manufacturers, and utilities to closely follow a range of best practices for the smart grid. See the full 84-page report (PDF 4.6 MB).
DOE has begun the development of a Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse, tapping Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for the $1.3 million initiative to develop and maintain the clearinghouse website, which will provide information to the public about smart grid initiatives nationwide. The Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse was mandated by the Recovery Act.
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EREE Network News is a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
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