Biomass is a renewable source of energy and its use does not contribute to global warming. In fact, it can reduce the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide as it acts as a sink, and soil carbon can also increase. Of all the forms of renewable energy, only hydropower and wind produce similar amounts of electricity […]
Author Archives: GEC
Europe As the largest market in the world, Germany historically has dominated the European market overwhelmingly, with three dominant companies. These were SolarWorld AG, an integrated solar company involved in all steps of the value chain, Q-Cell, a new participant with ambitious plans and Schott Solar (formerly RWE Schott Solar). The solar boom in Spain […]
In 2009 the installed base of solar PV capacity reached 1,642 MW. The USA was the original pioneer of the solar industry, which developed from the NASA space programmes, with the need to invent generating capability of low weight and no fuel. The USA was the first country to develop solar PV seriously and by […]
In the sub-tropics and tropics, jatropha is a very promising biofuels feedstock. It is a wild, non-edible shrub that grows on barren land, and does not compete with food crop production. Its seeds contain large amounts of oil that can be processed into biodiesel, and used as a fuel for jet engines. Extra revenue can […]
Soy Beans Soy bean is a legume native to East Asia but can be grown in most warm climates. Only 45% of all soy is grown in this region. The rest is grown in the US, Brazil, Ar-gentina and other parts of the world. There have been reports that areas of the rainforest in Brazil […]
Offshore capacity will play an increasingly important role in Spain’s future wind energy production. In March 2009 the Spanish government approved an offshore wind map that establishes a grading system for suitable areas as well as exclusion zones. The government also published a resolution in April 2009 that gives legal status to the map, meaning […]
Wind energy is in a position to make a significant contribution to Spain’s electricity supply. Its supply of 16.4% of the power demand in 2010 is up from 14.4% in 2009, placing it behind only combined cycle gas and nuclear power. The share of renewable, nuclear and gas in meeting energy demand has been increasing […]
1989 Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act This act completed the process of deregulating wellhead prices. It required the removal of all price controls on wellhead sales with effect from 1 January, 1993, allowing natural gas prices to be freely set in the market. 1991 Mega-Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Mega-NOPR) FERC requested comments from consumers and […]
Natural Gas Policy Act The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was created out of the old FPC and directed to reform natural gas pricing. Essentially this was a reversal of the Phillip’s decision as it allowed the deregulation of wellhead gas prices. Production increased dramatically in response to pent-up demand which led to a gas […]
Hydro power is much more significant as a generator of electricity. At 15.9% hydro power currently has a larger share than nuclear power which has 13.5%. Hydro power is the most important renewable energy source for the generation of electricity. Hydroelectric resources The theoretical size of worldwide hydropower is about 3,000 GW, four times greater […]
