Sajam Energetika 2013

Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE) 

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Sajam Energetika 2013.

 Od 01. – 04. Listopada, u poslovnim danima od utorka do petka Zagrebački velesajam priprema i organizira specijalizirane sajmove ENERGETIKA, EKOTEHNO i INTERPROTEX te stručni skup Energetska konferencija.

Spajanjem ova tri sajma nastoji se objediniti programe i projekte u području očuvanja, zaštite i unapređivanja okoliša, ljudi i imovine te u području energetske učinkovitosti i korištenja obnovljivih izvora energije.

Ovogodišnji sajam ENERGETIKA, smještena u paviljone 7 i 7a, proširuje program izlaganja na konvencionalne izvore energije objedinjujući na taj način cijeli energetski sektor. Cilj sajma usmjeren je prema poticanju poduzetnika za razvoj i proizvodnju opreme unutar energetskog sektora te povećavanju svijesti o korištenju energije i topline, energetskoj učinkovitosti i mjerama uštede energije. Pokrovitelj sajma je Ministarstvo gospodarstva RH.

Cijeli projekt ENERGETIKE odvija se kroz izložbeno - sajamski dio i Konferencijski – stručni program. Sajam će kroz izložbeni i konferencijski program pokazati kako proizvesti i koristiti energiju, s naglaskom na obnovljive izvore, a na što racionalniji i učinkovitiji način.

Hrvatska ima ogroman potencijal u Sunčevoj energiji tj. broju sunčanih dana, energiji vjetra i energiji biomase. Međutim taj potencijal nije dovoljno iskorišten što ukazuje na velike mogućnosti razvoja ovog sektora. Naime, Hrvatska se nalazi na samom dnu europske ljestvice po instaliranoj snazi energije iz obnovljivih izvora.

Za stručni dio zadužena je Energetska konferencija koja će analizirati najvažnije teme energetskog sektora sa namjerom unaprjeđenja poslovnih prilika i usmjeravanja investicija prema projektima energetske učinkovitosti i korištenja obnovljivih izvora energije.

Sajam je otvoren od 10.00 do 18.00 sati, od utorka do petka. 

Cijena ulaznice je 20 kuna.

Više na www.zv.hr 

Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE)

News and Events by CCRES April 26, 2013

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES) News and Events April 26, 2013

Energy Department Announces Projects to Develop Innovative, Advanced Drop-in Biofuels   The Energy Department on April 22 announced nearly $18 million in four innovative pilot-scale biorefineries that will test renewable biofuels as a domestic alternative to power cars, trucks, and planes, and that also meet military specifications for jet fuel and shipboard diesel. These biorefineries will be in in California, Iowa, and Washington. The projects selected for funding include Frontline Bioenergy of Ames, Iowa, which will use an innovative new pilot scale reactor and new gas conditioning processes to produce biofuel from woody biomass, municipal solid waste, and refuse; Cobalt Technologies of Mountain View, California, which will operate a pilot-scale integrated biorefinery to convert switchgrass to bio-jet fuel; Mercurius Biorefining of Ferndale, Washington, which will build and operate a pilot plant that uses an innovative process that converts cellulosic biomass into bio-jet fuel and other chemicals; and BioProcess Algae of Shenandoah, Iowa, which will evaluate an innovative algal growth platform to produce hydrocarbon fuels meeting military specifications using renewable carbon dioxide, lignocellulosic sugars, and waste heat. The pilot-scale biorefinery projects selected will use a variety of non-food biomass feedstocks, waste-based materials, and algae in innovative conversion processes to produce biofuels that meet military specifications for jet fuel and diesel. The projects will demonstrate technologies to cost-effectively convert biomass into advanced drop-in biofuels and assist these organizations to scale up the processes to commercial levels. Recipients are required to contribute a minimum of 50% matching funds for these projects. See the Energy Department press release.   Energy Department Highlights Nissan’s Better Plants Challenge Project   The Energy Department on April 17 recognized Nissan’s participation in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge and its showcase project at the company’s new energy-efficient paint plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. The 250,000-square-foot Smyrna facility, which opened in January, is expected to cut energy use by almost a third compared to its predecessor. As a partner in the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge, Nissan North America has committed to reducing energy use in its three U.S. plants by 25% by 2020, affecting 12 million square feet of plant space. Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge participating organizations receive technical assistance from the Energy Department and share best practices on industrial energy efficiency with other Challenge partners. Each year, the United States spends about $200 billion just to power commercial buildings and another $200 billion to power industrial facilities. Together, commercial and industrial buildings account for roughly half of the nation’s energy use and more than 40% of U.S. carbon emissions. The Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge serves as the industrial component of President Obama’s broader Better Buildings Challenge, which was launched in December 2011 to help America’s commercial and industrial buildings become at least 20% more efficient over the next decade. See the Energy Department press release and the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge website.   EIA: 2012 Home Energy Bills Lowest Percentage in 10 Years   U.S. consumers spent 2.7% of their household income on home energy bills last year, which was the lowest percentage in 10 years, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis released on April 18. Also, aggregate home energy expenditures by U.S. households fell $12 billion in 2012 from the 2011 level. Warmer weather contributed to lower energy consumption in 2012, and because household energy expenditures reflect both prices and consumption, these changes resulted in lower household energy expenditures. On average, households spent $1,945 on heating, cooling, appliances, electronics, and lighting in 2012. This total includes home use of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, propane, kerosene, wood, and coal, but excludes fuels used for transportation. It also excludes other household utilities such as water and telephone services. Using EIA projections for 2012 based on household data from the U.S. Census Bureau through 2010, $1,945 is the lowest level since 2002. The percentage of household income spent on home energy bills peaked at 4.3% in 1982 and steadily declined until it reached its lowest level since 1973—2.4% in 1999. See the EIA's Today in Energy.   Walmart Announces New Goals for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy   Walmart on April 15 announced the company’s next step on the path to achieving its goal of being 100% supplied by renewable energy. The company committed to achieving the production or procurement of 7 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy globally every year by the end of 2020. That would mark a 600% increase over its 2010 levels. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer will also seek to reduce the energy intensity required to power the company's buildings during the same period by 20%. Walmart expects its six-fold increase in utilizing renewable energy projects to be equal to eliminating the need for roughly two U.S. fossil fuel power plants. Based on external estimates of projected energy costs and other factors, the two new commitments are anticipated to generate more than $1 billion annually in energy savings once fully implemented. The company also expects to avoid 9 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 1.5 million cars off the road. In the United States alone, Walmart plans to install solar power on at least 1,000 of its rooftops and facilities by 2020, an increase from just over 200 solar projects currently in operation or under development. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the company has more solar power capacity and number of systems than any other company in America. It has also been cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as America’s leading user of onsite renewables, using more onsite renewable power than any other company in the United States. In addition to onsite solar, the company will continue to develop projects in wind, fuel cells, and other technologies. It will also procure offsite renewable energy from utility-scale projects, such as large wind, micro-hydro, and geothermal projects. See the Walmart press release.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)   special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

On the Path to Low Cost Renewable Fuels, an Important Breakthrough   by Leslie Pezzullo, Technology Manager, Bioenergy Technologies Office America’s homegrown fuel resources—from wood chips to the leaves and stalks of corn plants—are plentiful. Research finds that these resources could produce enough clean, renewable fuel to replace about 30% of the nation’s current petroleum consumption. Still, on the path to creating a strong, thriving biofuels industry, there are challenges we continue to address. That’s why the Energy Department is working with researchers, industry, and other partners to increase the reliability and cost-effectiveness of renewable fuel production. The good news is we are making progress—particularly when it comes to cellulosic ethanol. For the uninitiated, cellulosic ethanol is fuel produced from the inedible, organic material abundant in agricultural waste—including grasses, farm waste, and virtually every type of plant. While cellulosic ethanol represents a huge opportunity for the renewable fuels industry, the high costs and inefficiencies associated with the technology are barriers to its commercialization. However, with major technology milestones met by researchers at our national labs and industry partners, that’s all starting to change. Last fall, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) successfully demonstrated the technical advances needed to produce cellulosic ethanol cost competitively at $2.15 per gallon—a process that was modeled at $9 per gallon just a decade ago. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog. CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

News and Events by CCRES April 18, 2013

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources News and Events April 18, 2013

President's 2014 Budget Proposes Critical Investments in Clean Energy   President Barack Obama on April 10 requested a $28.4 billion Fiscal Year 2014 budget for the Energy Department, including $2.78 billion for the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The request is part of the Administration-wide effort to strengthen the U.S. economy with energy that is cleaner, cheaper, and creates sustainable jobs. As Assistant Energy Secretary Dr. David Danielson explained in an April 10 presentation, the $2.78 billion EERE portion of the request includes $615 million in funding for research and development into sources of renewable electricity generation such as wind, solar, water power, and geothermal energy. The proposed budget also includes $949 million for energy savings programs including the Federal Energy Management Program, Weatherization & Intergovernmental, building technologies, and advanced manufacturing. And the proposed FY 2014 budget includes a $957 million request for sustainable transportation, including research and development of vehicles, bioenergy, and fuel cell technologies. This segment includes $575 million for cutting-edge vehicle technologies research and $282 million in research into next-generation advanced biofuels. See the presentation on the EERE proposed FY 2014 budget . Overall, the budget request for the Energy Department invests in innovative research to lead in research, development, deployment, and production of clean energy technologies. It also creates a new Race to the Top for Energy Efficiency and Grid Modernization, and helps consumers and businesses save money and improve their energy efficiency through the President’s Better Buildings Initiative. Other highlights in the FY 2014 budget include $80 million for advanced technologies and tools that improve clean energy integration into the grid; $147 million in research and development of smart grid investments, cybersecurity for energy control systems, and National Electricity Delivery within the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability; and $2 billion for an Energy Security Trust to help transition U.S. cars and trucks off of oil. See the Energy Department press release and the White House blog.   First U.S. Grid-Connected Enhanced Geothermal System Deployed   The Energy Department on April 12 recognized the nation’s first commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) project to supply electricity to the grid. Based in Churchill County, Nevada, Ormat Technologies’ Desert Peak 2 EGS project has increased power output of its nearby operating geothermal field by nearly 38 %, generating an additional 1.7 megawatts of power. EGS technologies utilize directional drilling and pressurized water to enhance flow paths in the subsurface rock and create new reservoirs, capturing energy from resources that were once considered uneconomical or unrecoverable. Leveraging a $5.4 million Energy Department investment—matched by $2.6 million in private sector funding—the Ormat Desert Peak project is extending the life of previously unproductive geothermal wells. Since the project’s start in 2008, the Energy Department has worked with Ormat, GeothermEx, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Lawrence Berkeley and Sandia National Laboratories to develop cost-effective and innovative production technologies that utilize protective environmental best practices and monitoring. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that EGS in the United States has the potential to enable development of 100 to 500 gigawatts of geothermal resource capacity. See the Energy Department press release and the Energy Department's Geothermal Technologies Office website.   DOE and NREL Name Inaugural Collegiate Wind Competition Teams   The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on April 11 announced the teams selected for the inaugural DOE Collegiate Wind Competition, which will take place in spring 2014. The Collegiate Wind Competition is a forum for undergraduate college students of multiple disciplines to investigate innovative wind energy concepts; gain experience designing, building, and testing a wind turbine to perform according to a customized business plan derived from market data; and increase their knowledge of wind industry barriers. The 10 student teams selected through a competitive process are Boise State University, California Maritime Academy, the Colorado School of Mines, James Madison University in Virginia, Kansas State University, Northern Arizona University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Alaska—Fairbanks, the University of Kansas, and the University of Massachusetts—Lowell. The theme of the inaugural competition is to design and construct a lightweight, transportable wind turbine that can be used to power small electronic devices. A principal contest involves testing each team's prototype wind turbine in a wind tunnel under specific conditions. Each team's business plan and turbine will also be evaluated against other pre-weighted criteria. The third event of the competition will be a team-to-team debate relating to current wind market drivers and issues. The turbine from the college or university with the best overall score will be placed on temporary display at the DOE headquarters building in Washington, D.C. See the NREL press release.   USDA Announces $6 Million for Rural Smart Grid   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on April 10 announced funding for projects to improve electric service in rural areas across 13 states, including more than $6 million in smart grid funding, which increases access to information to better manage electricity use. Overall, $280 million will be available through loans for rural electric infrastructure in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas. For example, the Georgia Transmission Corporation, which serves customers in Alabama and Florida in addition to Georgia, will receive a USDA loan that includes more than $3 million for smart grid projects. The Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative in Kansas will receive a USDA loan that includes more than $192,000 for smart grid projects. Smart grid technologies involve adding communication capabilities and control systems to the electrical grid that are intended to improve home energy management for the homeowner, provide greater demand control for the utility, and create a more reliable power grid overall. Smart grid technologies are also expected to better accommodate the use of renewable energy, all forms of on-site power production, and electric vehicles. See the USDA press release. And on March 29, USDA announced that it is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program. See the USDA press release.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)   special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

Celebrating Earth Day 2013 in a Google+ Hangout   The Energy Department is celebrating Earth Day 2013 by hosting a special Google+ Hangout on Monday, April 22 at 3 p.m. EDT. We've rounded up our panel of experts to answer your questions and share best strategies for saving energy and money in the home. The live discussion will be streamed on Google+, YouTube, and energy.gov/live. On average, U.S. families spend more than $2,000 per year on their home energy bills. Unfortunately, much of this money is wasted on air leaks and drafts. Considering that the residential sector accounts for about 22% of U.S. energy consumption, upgrading homes to run more efficiently is not only a great way to save money but can also help minimize our impact on the planet. Our Earth Day Google+ Hangout not only gives you the opportunity to learn new approaches to home efficiency upgrades, it’s also your platform to share your best energy-saving tips. During the live discussion, we will be selecting video questions to answer in addition to taking real-time questions from Twitter and Google+ tagged with #askEnergy. You can also submit questions by emailing us at newmedia@hq.doe.gov or posting in the comments on the Energy Department’s Facebook page. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog.  Earth Day - April 22 - is fast approaching. With environmental disasters escalating and international climate change talks at an impasse, your participation is needed now more than ever. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

News and Events by CCRES April 11, 2013

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources  News and Events April 11, 2013

Energy Department Announces Apps for Vehicles Challenge Winners   The Energy Department announced the winners of the Apps for Vehicles Challenge on April 1. The competition asked app developers and entrepreneurs to demonstrate how the open data available on most vehicles can be used to improve vehicle safety, fuel efficiency, and comfort. The Department awarded the Judges' Prize to New York City-based Dash, which developed an app that turns any vehicle into a "smart car," providing real diagnostics and alerts to enable drivers to maximize engine performance, minimize carbon emissions, and save money. The Popular Choice prize went to MyCarma, headquartered in Troy, Michigan, which developed an app that offers a personalized fuel economy estimate based on a driver's unique driving patterns instead of a standard test cycle. Green Button Gamer, based in Boston, Massachusetts, won the Safety Innovation award, and Fuel Economy Coach, based in Augusta, Georgia, received the Fuel Efficiency Innovation award. The Apps for Vehicles Challenge is focused on spurring innovative projects or services to reduce fuel costs and increase safety for consumers by utilizing vehicle-generated information, including data on engine speed, brake position, headlights, and distance traveled. Entries were judged based on their creativity, innovation, use of open vehicle data, consumer accessibility, and potential to help consumers improve fuel efficiency. The Energy Department announced the competition in October 2012, and from nearly 40 entries that were submitted for the first phase of the competition, seven were selected as finalists to advance to the second stage. See the Energy Department's Progress Alert and visit the Apps for Vehicles Challenge website to download the winning apps.   Energy Department Renews Funding for Bioenergy Research Centers   The Energy Department announced on April 4 that it would fund its three Bioenergy Research Centers for an additional five-year period, subject to continued congressional appropriations. The three centers were established by the Department's Office of Science in 2007 as an innovative program to accelerate fundamental research breakthroughs toward the development of advanced next-generation biofuels. The centers include the BioEnergy Research Center, led by the Department's Oak Ridge National Laboratory; the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in partnership with Michigan State University; and the Joint BioEnergy Institute, led by the Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Each center is designed to be a large, integrated, multidisciplinary research effort, funded at the rate of $25 million per year, and they have consistently received high marks from outside reviewers for both their scientific productivity and the effective management and integration of their research efforts. In their first five years of operation, the Bioenergy Research Centers have produced more than 1,100 peer-reviewed publications and more than 400 inventions, as recorded in invention disclosures or patent applications. Among the breakthroughs are new approaches for engineering non-food crops for biofuel production; reengineering of microbes to produce advanced biofuels such as "green" gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel precursors from biomass; and the development of methods to grow non-food biofuel crops on marginal lands so as not to compete with food production. In the next five years, emphasis will be on bringing new methods and discoveries to maturity, developing new lines of research, and accelerating the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into new technologies that can transition to the marketplace. See the Energy Department press release, and for more information on the centers, visit the Genomic Science Program website.   New Database Shows Benefits of Energy Efficiency Programs   The Energy Department on April 5 recognized a new publicly available database that offers federal, state, and local decision-makers information documenting the results of energy-efficiency programs in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED), a project of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, provides a one-stop resource to readily access energy efficiency program data, including energy and peak-demand savings, costs, avoided emissions, and job impacts. This is part of the Energy Department's broader effort to improve public access to energy information, empowering consumers, industry, and government agencies to make informed decisions that save money by saving energy. The REED database allows users to generate reports and download underlying data showing the impacts of ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. REED will help inform a broad range of policy issues, including energy, economic, and air quality planning, and help demonstrate the long-term, money-saving benefits of energy efficiency investments. Specifically, policymakers, program administrators and other industry stakeholders can use the REED data for a variety of purposes, including comparing efficiency program impacts across states to help identify best practices in efficiency policy and program design, as well as informing progress toward clean air and climate change goals. The database currently includes 2011 electric and gas energy efficiency program data and will expand this fall to include 2012 data from Delaware and the District of Columbia, as well as the states currently in the database. See the Energy Department Progress Alert.   Manufacturing Energy Use Down Since 2002: EIA   Total energy consumption in the U.S. manufacturing sector decreased by 17% from 2002 to 2010, according to data released on March 19 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Manufacturing gross output decreased by only 3% over the same period. Taken together, these data indicate a significant decline in the amount of energy used per unit of gross manufacturing output. The significant decline in energy intensity reflects both improvements in energy efficiency and changes in the manufacturing output mix. Consumption of every fuel used for manufacturing declined over this period. The manufacturing sector comprised more than 11% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010. The manufacturing base in the United States is broad, and includes energy-intensive industries such as petroleum refining, chemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, paper, wood products, and food, as well as less energy-intensive industries such as textiles, leather, apparel, furniture, machinery, and electrical equipment. Energy for manufacturing can be consumed in two ways: as a fuel or as a feedstock (material input to a final product). Energy consumed as a fuel includes all energy used for heat and power. Energy used as feedstock is the use of energy sources for raw material input or for any purpose other than the production of heat or power. See the EIA press release.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)   special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

5 Super-Sized Solar Projects Transforming the Clean Energy Landscape   2012 marked a record year for America’s solar industry. Installations surged by 76% compared to 2011—representing an estimated market value of $11.5 billion. From commercial to residential, every sector experienced significant growth, but the clear standout of 2012 was utility-scale solar. Utility-scale solar projects are designed to generate massive amounts of electricity. Unlike other sectors, the electricity generated by utility-scale projects is sold directly to wholesale utility buyers. In the recently released U.S. Solar Market Insight report, GreenTech Media and SEIA found that the utility-scale sector grew by an unprecedented 134% last year—with eight of the largest solar projects in America starting operation. Many of these projects were supported by investments from the Energy Department’s Loan Guarantee Program. These investments—in several of the world’s largest solar generation facilities—help to lower the cost of financing and accelerate the completion of transformative clean energy projects. For the utility-scale projects that came online last year as part of the loan program portfolio, see the complete story, see the Energy Blog. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

News and Events by CCRES March 07, 2013

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources  News and Events March 07, 2013

President Obama Nominates New Energy Department and EPA Heads   President Obama on March 4 nominated Ernest Moniz to replace Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy, and Gina McCarthy to take over U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leadership from Lisa Jackson. Of his new Energy Secretary nominee, Obama said "Ernie knows that we can produce more energy and grow our economy while still taking care of our air, our water and our climate." The president praised Moniz, who served as Undersecretary of Energy for President Bill Clinton and directs the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Energy Initiative, which brings together prominent thinkers and energy companies to develop the technologies that can increase energy independence and create new jobs. In announcing McCarthy's nomination, President Obama called her a top environmental official in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where she helped design programs to expand energy efficiency and promote renewable energy. She previously served as the assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. President Obama said both nominees are "going to be making sure that we're investing in American energy; that we're doing everything that we can to combat the threat of climate change; that we're going to be creating jobs and economic opportunity in the first place. They are going to be a great team. And these are some of my top priorities going forward." See the White House press release.   Agriculture Department Awards $8 Million for Smart Grid Technology   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on February 18 announced that rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 12 states will receive loan guarantees to improve generation and transmission facilities, as well as to implement smart grid technologies. The announcement includes support for more than $8 million in smart grid technologies, which help utilities make efficiency improvements to the electric grid and help consumers lower their electric bills by reducing energy use in homes and businesses. States receiving this USDA smart grid funding are Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas. Smart grid technologies involve adding communication capabilities and control systems to the electrical grid; this is expected to change how people use electricity, resulting in improved home energy management for the homeowner, greater demand control for the utility, and a more reliable power grid overall. Smart grids are also expected to better accommodate the use of renewable energy, all forms of on-site power production, and electric vehicles. See the USDA press release.   GSA Seeks Public Input for Green Building Certification   The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on February 5 announced that it is seeking additional input from the public regarding the federal government's use of third-party green building certification systems, which reflect building energy efficiency. GSA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comments through April 6, 2013, on how the federal government can best use certification systems to measure the design and performance of the federal government's construction and major modernization projects. Federal construction and modernization projects must adhere to the government's own green building requirements, and third party certification systems should help in measuring effectiveness and performance. GSA is currently evaluating three certification systems for green building standards, including the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 2009, the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes, and the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge. After the public comment period, GSA will use that feedback and make a recommendation to the Energy Department, which could include one system, multiple systems, or no system. See the GSA press release and the notice in the Federal Register.   Ultra-Efficient VW Hybrid to Debut at Geneva Auto Show   Volkswagen will debut the XL1 hybrid it calls the most fuel-efficient production car in the world at the International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland. Credit: Volkswagen Volkswagen (VW) will debut the XL1 hybrid when the 83rd International Motor Show opens on March 7 in Geneva, Switzerland. The automaker calls it "the most fuel-efficient production car in the world" and estimates the vehicle gets 261 miles per gallon (mpg). The plug-in hybrid two-seater can also cover a distance of up to about 31 miles in all-electric mode. The sports car is designed for a top speed of about 100 mph, and has a 20-kW motor and a 2-cylinder, Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engine. Lightweight carbon fiber-reinforced polymer is used in its construction. The automaker is planning to begin production in 2013. Also listed as premiering at the show is the Audi A3 Sportback TCNG, which is designed to use synthetic methane, or, as the automaker calls it, renewable "e-gas." Other concept vehicles will be unveiled at the show as well, which runs through March 17. See the VW press release and the Geneva show website.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)   special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov

St. Louis Launches Plan for More Sustainable Community   St. Louis, regarded as the Gateway to the West, is also becoming the gateway to sustainability for the state of Missouri. Central to increasing energy efficiency in St. Louis has been the Energy Department's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. St. Louis identified its City Hall, considered the crown jewel of the city's buildings portfolio, as a building that could benefit from retrofit. Before making upgrades, the city conducted an energy audit of the building and determined that it was only occupied 40% of the year. The city saw an opportunity to reduce energy use for the other 60% of the year when the systems require minimal operation. EECBG funds were leveraged to help meet these energy efficiency goals, including HVAC retrofits, internal lighting upgrades, direct digital control upgrades and whole building lighting upgrades, and resulted in energy savings up to 50%. Additionally, 52 outdated metal halide lamp fixtures were replaced with LED fixture tops in the City Hall parking structure. The new LED fixtures deliver more useful light where it is needed and use a total of 1.3 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy—compared to the 7.8 kWh required by the previous lighting—for an energy savings of nearly 83%. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

Cro Eco Energy Expo 2012

 

Cro Eco Energy Expo 2012

Već 4. godinu za redom u Varaždinu će se od 23. do 25. studenog 2012. održati Cro Eco Energy Expo u organizaciji grada Varaždina. 

Riječ je o tematski specijaliziranom sajmu posvećenom svim aktivnostima iz područja obnovljivih izvora energije. Cilj ovog projekta je otvoriti vrata novim tehnologijama, inovacijama i metodologijama u svrhu osiguranja održive i pristupačne opskrbe energijom i povećanja energetske učinkovitosti korištenjem obnovljivih izvora energije.

Hrvatska bi već danas trebala aktivno raditi na traženju rješenja za smanjenje negativne energetske bilance i učinka na okoliš te dodatno zaštiti svoje prirodne resurse čime bi se doprinijelo i otvaranju novih poslovnih prilika. Jer, osim što se njome ostvaruju uvjeti za održivi razvoj, „zelena industrija“, čije vrijednosti, domete i mogućnosti promoviramo ovim sajmom, vodič je i prema ekonomskom rastu.

Kako bi sajam bio što kvalitetnije i potpunije organiziran te otvoren i prema građanima, ali i poslovnom sektoru, entuzijastima, inovatorima te ostalim zaljubljenicima u „zeleni trend“, voljeli bismo da nam se pridružite kako bi nove tehnologije, oprema i usluge u sektoru energije bile što bolje predstavljene od strane izlagača i na taj način se što uspješnije ukazalo na prednosti korištenja obnovljivih izvora energije i novih pogleda na uštedu.

4th International Renewable Energy Fair is a regional fair event, specializing in new technologies, equipment and services in the field of renewable energy. The fair covers  various topics, that will display the current conditions in certain types of renewable energy and which should answer the open ended questions about their future.

The fair is conceived of a platform which should promote and exchange experience and knowledge in the field of renewable energy sources and which brings together companies, international institutions and numerous professionals from this area. In addition, participants are invited to participate in interesting and constructive discussion panels and presentations.

Contact

CRO ECO ENERGY EXPO 2012

4th International Renewable Energy Resources Fair trade

From November 23-25, 2012

Varaždin Arena

Opening hours: 9:00 - 19:00 pm

Information and registration at:

tel: + 385 42 659 125 

fax: + 385 42 659 126

mail: info@cro-eee.com

How to find

4th International Renewable Energy Fair will take place at the Varaždin Sports Hall at Šetalište Franje Tuđmana 1.

After coming down the highway from the direction of Zagreb, it is best to follow the road signs to the City Sports Hall. These signposts are also to be found on other access roads, coming from the direction of Čakovec, Koprivnica/Ludbreg and Slovenia.

Ukoliko ste zainteresirani za izlaganje na 4. sajmu obnovljivih izvora energije u Varaždinu obratite se na e-mail: info@cro-eee.com. 

Opširnije na www.cro-eee.com

Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije

 (HCOIE) 

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources

 (CCRES)

KONČAR – INŽENJERING ZA ENERGETIKU I TRANSPORT D.D.

 

Danas je u organizaciji Hrvatskog Centra Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE) započelo predstavljanje hrvatskih visokotehnoloških tvrtki na europskim i svjetskim portalima kojima je zajednički predznak energetika, obnovljivi izvori energije i očuvanje okoliša.


  „Želim naglasiti da će hrvatske tvrtke ovdje biti promovirane ne samo da bi prodavale svoje proizvode nego i da bi svoje znanje razvoja informacijskih i energetskih tehnologija podijelile s sličnim svjetskim tvrtkama, s razvijenim nacijama kojima se Republika Hrvatska prilagođava i politički i gospodarski. Nadam se da će naše prezentacije hrvatskih tvrtki dovesti do suradnje između država i kompanija do razine koja nije samo prijateljstvo nego i partnerstvo", istaknuo je Željko Serdar , predsjednik Hrvatskog Centra Obnovljivih Izvora Energije.


Končar je primjer tvrtke koja izvozi, koja je inovativna, uspješna na tržištu, koja je dobar uzor. Končar je izvrstan pokazatelj kako se znanjem, upornošću, vizijom, može učiniti dobro za sve zaposlenike i za promociju cijele Republike Hrvatske. Tvrtka Končar prepoznaje da je ulaganje u ljude, u mlade znanstvenike budućnost tvrtke. Vjerujemo da će Končar ostati trajna vrijednost ne samo hrvatskog već europskog i svjetskog gospodarstva.

 KONČAR – INŽENJERING ZA ENERGETIKU I TRANSPORT D.D.

 skraćeno KONČAR - KET, vodeće je nastupno poduzeće i nositelj inženjering djelatnosti u grupi KONČAR – Elektroindustrija d.d.

PROIZVODNJA ELEKTRIČNE ENERGIJE
 

Jedno od važnijih poslovnih područje KONČARA je inženjering ,djelatnost u izgradnji objekata i postrojenja za proizvodnju električne energije.
Vlastitim razvojem te različitim višim oblicima gospodarske suradnje s domaćim i inozemnim partnerima KONČAR je ovladao najmodernijim tehnologijama za proizvodnju primarne i sekundarne elektroopreme te potrebnim znanjima neophodnima za opremanje i gradnju:
-hidroelektrana,
-termoelektrana i
-drugih vrsta elektrana (vjertroelektrane, diesel elektrane itd.)
KONČAR KET nudi i oprema gore navedene objekte po načelu «ključ u ruke».
KONČAR-KET svoju inženjering djelatnost naslanja na proizvode primarne (generatori, transformatori, sklopni aparati) i sekundarne elektroopreme (uzbudni sustavi, mjerni, zaštitni i regulacijski uređaji, komandne ploče, sustavi automatskog upravljanja) iz proizvodnog programa grupe KONČAR, ali i drugih poznatih svjetskih proizvođača.













Hidroelektrane

izgradnja novih i obnova postojećih, jedno su od Končarevih ključnih poslovnih područja («core business-a») te glavna izvozna djelatnost. Od 1948. godine i prve HE Mariborski otok, snage 1 x 24MVA, u Sloveniji, preko prve hidroelektrane realizirane za izvoz 1957. – HE Chichoki Mallian, 3 x 5,5MVA, u Pakistanu, HE Đerdap 1, 3 x 190MVA, u Srbiji, i HE Haditha, 6 x 128MVA, u Iraku, nedavno završene HE Messochore, 2 x 90MVA, u Grčkoj, do danas je opremljeno više od 150 hidroelektrana u zemlji i svijetu, s ukupno više od 350 generatora, ukupne snage preko 15.000MVA).
U suradnji s poznatim domaćim i stranim proizvođačima hidromehaničke i turbinske opreme te izvoditeljima građevinskih radova KONČAR –KET je tehnološki potpuno osposobljen za realizaciju najkompleksnijih projekata ove vrste.
Neke od realiziranih hidroelektrana po svojoj tehničkoj kompleksnosti afirmirale su KONČAR-KET i na svjetskom tržištu i svrstale ga uz bok poznatih svjetskih inženjering tvrtki.


KONČAR-KET
nudi kompletna rješenja za automatizaciju hidroelektrana koja uključuju automatiku agregata, upravljanje branom i rasklopištem, nadzor i nadređeno vođenje na nivou hidroelektrane/sliva te uklapanje u elektroenergetski sustav. Vladanje ovakvim znanjima smatramo posebno značajnim za kvalitetno bavljenje inženjeringom hidroelektrana te garantiranje njene ugovorene funkcionalnosti.





















Končar slijedi svjetski trend povećanja poslovnih aktivnosti na obnovi, modernizaciji i revitalizaciji, uključujući i povećanje snage postojećih hidroelektrana. Primjenjujući nove tehnologije te bogato dugogodišnje iskustvo i na ovom polju Končar postiže zapažene rezultate.



(«KONČAR u revitalizaciji hidroelektrana») [pdf]


















Termoelektrane
 
 izgradnja novih i obnova postojećih, sljedeće je važno područje aktivnosti KONČAR-a u opremanju objekata za proizvodnju električne energije.
Dosad je KONČAR isporučio više od 160 turbogeneratora ukupne snage 5600MVA, te raspolaže znanjem i tehnologijom za proizvodnju turbogeneratora jedinične snage do 600MVA.
KONČAR-KET posjeduje znanja i iskustva za samostalno izvođenje inženjering radova na kompletnoj elektroopremi termoelektrane, uključujući generator i njemu pripadajuće električne podsustave.
KONČAR-KET je puzdani partner proizviđačima primarne opreme i korisnicima koji detaljno poznaju tehnološki proces termoelektrane, i to za realizaciju specifične elektroopreme, kao što su elektromotorni pogoni, izvori i razvod pomoćne elektroenergije, sustavi upravljanja i zaštite i sl.

(«KONČAR - Termoelektrana Plomin 2») [pdf]

Druge vrste elektrana

 (vjetar, diesel, sunce, gorivne ćelije itd.) također su predmet poslovnog interesa KONČARA.
Na temelju rezultata vlastitiog razvoja KONČAR-KET je zakoračio u poslovno područje izgradnje vjetroelektrana kao još jednog obnovljivog izvora elektrčne energije.
Izgradnja prvog vjetroparka snage 14 x 1MW je u tijeku.

(«KONČAR - Vjetroelektrane») [pdf] 

 OBNOVLJIVI IZVORI

U primjeni novih tehnologija distribuirane proizvodnje električne energije posebno mjesto pripada obnovljivim izvorima energije. Njihova primjena postala je imperativ održivog razvoja i energetske neovisnosti. Upravo zbog toga je u KONČAR – Inženjeringu za energetiku i transport 2005. godine osnovana poslovna jedinica Vjetroelektrane.

Poslovna jedinica Vjetroelektrane je, u suradnji s drugim društvima sustava Končar, razvila vjetroagregat snage 1 MW. Vjetroagregat je u cijelosti rezultat vlastitog razvoja sustava Končar, a u njegovoj izradi sudjeluje čak četrnaest društava. Uspješno je izrađen prototip agregata koji je ispitan u tvornici, te krajem 2008. godine na lokaciji Pometeno brdo kod Splita pušten u pogon. Na istoj lokaciji planira se izgradnja vjetroelektrane sa šesnaest vjetroagregata (od kojih će petnaest biti snage 1MW, a jedan snage 2,5 MW).Trenutno se organizira serijska proizvodnja vjetroagregata snage 1 MW, a planirana proizvodnja je pedeset jedinica na godinu. Istovremeno je u tijeku razvoj prototipa vjetroagregata snage 2,5 MW, čije je instaliranje na Pometenom brdu planirano krajem 2011. godine.

Sve informacije o ovoj uspješnoj hrvatskoj tvrtci možete dobiti na :

 KONČAR – INŽENJERING ZA ENERGETIKU I TRANSPORT D.D.
10000 ZAGREB, Fallerovo šetalište 22
e-mail: info@koncar-ket.hr
Fax: 01/3667-515
Matični broj: 3654354
OIB: 29898970552

  

Poslovna jedinica:
PROIZVODNJA ELEKTRIČNE ENERGIJE	01/3667-511
PRIJENOS ELEKTRIČNE ENERGIJE	01/3667-521
ELEKTRIČNA VUČA I POMORSTVO	01/3666-380
SUSTAVI UPRAVLJANJA I ZAŠTITE	01/3667-509
DISTRIBUCIJA ENERGENATA I INDUSTRIJA	01/3667-502
VJETROELEKTRANE	01/3655-814

URED UPRAVE	01/3667-512; 01/3667-518
Financijski i opći poslovi	01/3666-534
Računovodstvo	01/3655-852
Nabava HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE (HCOIE)	01/3655-855

Renewable Energy Croatia 2012

Renewable energy resources, like wind and solar, are abundant, homegrown, and emissions-free and have the potential to help lead the nation toward energy independence.
Unfortunately, today's infrastructure is unable to maximize the benefits of significantly more renewable resources. Wind and solar resources are connected to the grid as "one-off" solutions that are generally not integrated with other generation nor optimized as a reliable first-tier energy source.

Additionally, when renewable resources are producing electricity, the possibility of congestion on transmission lines can create a barrier to their full utilization. The variability of renewable sources can also cause challenges. And when renewables are offline—when the wind doesn't blow or it's a cloudy day— other power generation will be needed to fill in the gaps.

Without infrastructure expansion and changes to the way the power system is operated, it will be difficult for the Croatia to produce more than 20% of its electricity (the target percentage for many EU states) from variable renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar.

The Variability of Renewable Power

Wind and solar power are inherently variable, meaning sometimes the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. Then what? Fortunately, smart grid technologies can help manage the unpredictability of wind and solar to help alleviate reliability and stability issues caused by power fluctuations. This will become increasingly important as more wind and solar power is connected to the grid.

Automated demand response technologies will act as a lever that utilities can pull to help lower demand in the event there is a gap in renewable power generation—for instance, if the wind stops blowing. To address such contingencies, a utility may incent consumers to opt into programs that allow certain devices (i.e., water heaters) to be temporarily switched off during peak times.
In the future, storage technologies could also help utilities manage the short-term imbalances in the supply and demand of energy, sometimes caused by the fluctuations of a lot of renewable energy. Batteries will store energy during times of excess wind energy production and discharge that energy via smart grid automation technologies when energy demand exceeds supply.

Grid Congestion

In some parts of the country, overburdened power lines make it difficult to move electricity from wind farms into the grid for consumption. There have been cases when wind farms are forced to shut down—even when the wind is blowing—because there is no capacity available in the lines for the electricity they create.

Without adequate transmission to transport power from "renewable" rich areas (like Dalmacija region) to densely populated areas, it is only cost effective to use renewable sources in certain areas of the country—at least for now.

While building new infrastructure would certainly help, smart grid technologies can also help utilities alleviate grid congestion and maximize the potential of our current infrastructure. Smart grid technologies can help provide real-time readings of the power line, enabling utilities to maximize flow through those lines and help alleviate congestion.

As smart grid technologies become more widespread, the electrical grid will be made more efficient, helping reduce issues of congestion. Sensors and controls will help intelligently reroute power to other lines when necessary, accommodating energy from renewable sources, so that power can be transported greater distances, exactly where it's needed.
   
    

Distributed Generation

Traditionally, electricity has flowed one way, from a power station to a customer. However, as more energy is generated by alternative sources, power will be entering the network from multiple locations, including the distribution network (i.e., distributed generation). These sources are often cleaner or more efficient; for example, combined heat and power plants (CHP) are more than 75% efficient, compared to traditional generation, which is only 49% efficient on average.1

Unfortunately, the current grid was not designed with multi-directional power flow in mind. Two-way power flow, sophisticated controls, and grid automation technologies can help bring wind, solar and other alternative energy solutions safely into the distribution grid and move it where it's needed, when it's needed.

In some regions, individuals can contribute to energy production on the distribution grid by generating electricity at their home—for example, solar on rooftops. Where available, enhanced net-metering incents consumers to sell power back to the grid during peak pricing hours—so, consumers make money, and utilities are able to better manage peak demand. Whole neighborhoods could become solar or wind generation plants, introducing excess power back into the grid to meet demand.

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

Pokrenimo zajednicu - zajedničkim djelovanjem do nižih računa za energiju

Sudionici dvodnevne konferencije "Pokrenimo zajednicu - zajedničkim djelovanjem do nižih računa za energiju" koja je održana ovoga tjedna u Zagrebu pozvali su sve jedinice lokalne samouprave da svojim primjerom i ostvarenim uštedama energije izravno potiču primjenu mjera energetske učinkovitosti i ušteda energije u Hrvatskoj. 

Također, pozvali su lokalne samouprave da svojim primjerom i ostvarenim uštedama energije izravno potiču primjenu mjera energetske učinkovitosti i ušteda energije, izrade programe i planove za učinkovito korištenje energije i akcijske planove za održivo korištenje energije uz sudjelovanje zainteresirane javnosti, te što više koriste fondove EU i sredstva Fonda za zaštitu okoliša i energetsku učinkovitost.
"Od poticanja ulaganja u energetski učinkovite tehnologije i podizanja razine svijesti građana o važnosti i prednostima štednje energije, izravnu će korist imati lokalna zajednica u vidu zapošljavanja, prihoda, ostvarenih ušteda, energetske sigurnosti, udobnijeg stanovanja i čistog okoliša", upozoreno je.

S tim ciljem preporučeno je lokalnim samoupravama da povećavaju vidljivost lokalnih EE Info centara i lokalnih energetskih savjetnika među građanima te potiču sustavnu edukaciju i povezivanje lokalnih energetskih savjetnika u RH, da omoguće poticaje organizacijama civilnog društva i građanskim inicijativama za provedbu kampanja za podizanje svijesti i edukaciju građana o mjerama uštede energije i energetske učinkovitosti, te da organiziraju lokalne akcije i skupni nastup investitora u EnU i obnovljive izvore energije.
U radu konferencije u organizaciji udruge DOOR sudjelovalo je 140 predstavnika javnog, civilnog, obrazovnog i poslovnog sektora iz svih krajeva Hrvatske te iz susjednih zemalja. Na konferenciji je održan niz stručnih predavanja, predstavljeni su dobri primjeri iz prakse te su potaknute brojne diskusije, a osim podizanja svijesti svih sudionika i usvajanja novih znanja i iskustava, konferencija je rezultirala i usvajanjem zajedničkih zaključaka.
"Smatramo da je održiva lokalna i regionalna energetska politika nužna za izlazak iz gospodarske krize te postavlja temelj za održivi razvoj lokalnih zajednica, regije i cijele države. Primjena mjera energetske učinkovitosti i poticanje štednje energije ključ su za smanjenje opterećenja na budžet kako javnog sektora, tako i svakog hrvatskog kućanstva. Energetska učinkovitost je najbrži i najisplativiji način za postizanje energetske neovisnosti i ostvarivanje nacionalnih i europskih ciljeva za suzbijanje klimatskih promjena", zaključili su sudionici konferencije.
Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE)

News and Events by CCRES February 01, 2012

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources  February 01, 2012

News and Events President Obama's State of the Union Address Touts Clean Energy President Obama called for clean energy tax credits and a clean energy standard in his annual State of the Union address on January 24. Credit: Pete Souza, White House President Obama called for clean energy tax credits and a clean energy standard in his annual State of the Union address on January 24. Saying, "I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy," the president framed the issue in terms of international competition, pledging not to "cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here." He also announced two initiatives to advance the deployment of clean energy technologies. "I'm directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes," said President Obama. "And I'm proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world's largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history—with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year." President Obama also emphasized the need for greater energy efficiency, proposing to help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and to give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings, potentially cutting their energy bills by $100 billion over the next decade. In addition, the president referenced a number of tax incentives that would aid domestic manufacturing of clean energy technologies, including an extension of the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit. See the president's State of the Union address on the White House website, as well as the White House fact sheets on the president's proposals for energy and manufacturing. DOE Solar Decathlon 2013 Moves to California Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on January 26 that the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 will be held at a new location in Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. For first time since the competition began in 2002, the event has moved from the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Chu also named the 20 teams from colleges and universities across the United States and from around the world that will compete in the biennial event. The participants will now begin a two-year process to build solar-powered, highly energy-efficient homes that combine affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence. Throughout the two-year process, the teams will design, construct and test their homes before reassembling them at the Solar Decathlon 2013 competition site. Teams compete in ten categories ranging from best architecture and engineering to energy production for heating and cooling. Students gain real-world experience in a growing global industry. Teams selected include Arizona State University and the University of New Mexico; Czech Technical University (Czech Republic); Hampton University and Old Dominion University; Middlebury College; Missouri University of Science and Technology; Norwich University; Queens University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College, (Canada); Santa Clara University; Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology; Stanford University; Stevens Institute of Technology; The Catholic University of America, George Washington University, and American University; The University of North Carolina at Charlotte; The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College; University of Calgary, Canada; University of Louisville, Ball State University, and University of Kentucky; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of Southern California; Vienna University of Technology (Vienna, Austria); and West Virginia University. See the DOE press release and the Solar Decathlon website. Vote Now For America's Next Top Energy Innovator Voting is underway online in the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" challenge, a DOE-sponsored quest to identify the most innovative and promising start-up companies. Voting will end at 8:59 a.m. EST on February 6. The top start-up companies out of the 14 participating in the challenge, based on the public vote and an expert review, will be invited to be featured at the 2012 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit, a gathering of clean energy investors and innovators, at the end of February. Companies in the challenge are pioneering a variety of technologies, ranging from reducing HVAC energy to using composite materials to build low cost lithium-ion batteries. The participants in the challenge have signed option agreements allowing them to license valuable, cutting-edge technologies developed and patented by DOE's national laboratories and the agency's Y-12 National Security Complex. See the DOE press release and profiles of participants. DOE Launches New Round of America's Top Energy Innovator DOE announced the February 1 launch of the second year for its "America's Next Top Energy Innovator," a program that allows startup companies to license groundbreaking technologies developed by DOE's national laboratories. Under the initiative, an entrepreneur can pay $1,000 for a technology and use it to build a business. As part of the project, DOE reduces both the cost and paperwork requirements for startup companies to obtain an option agreement to license some of the 15,000 patents and patent applications held by the national laboratories. During the first round, 36 companies signed option agreements with the national laboratories. In the new round, entrepreneurs and start-ups must identify the technology of interest and submit a business plan to be considered for the program. Participants will have until December 10, 2012 to submit their plans to a laboratory. From February 1 to December 10, the department will reduce the total upfront cost of licensing DOE patents in a specific technology for portfolios of up to three patents from a single laboratory. This represents an average savings of $10,000 to $50,000 in upfront fees. Other license terms, such as equity and royalties, will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will typically be due once the company grows and achieves commercial sales. See the DOE press release. Defense Department Studies Solar Energy Potential at Desert Bases The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) could generate 7,000 megawatts (MW) of solar energy on four military bases located in the California desert, according to a DOD study. The yearlong study, released on January 13, looked at seven military bases in California and two in Nevada. It found that while most of the surface area is unsuited for solar development because of military use and other factors, the suitable sites are large enough to generate more than 30 times the electricity consumed by the California bases. That would equal about 25% of the renewable energy that California requires utilities to use by 2015. The study concludes that 25,000 acres are suitable for solar development, and another 100,000 acres are "likely" or "questionably" suitable for solar. According to the study, the most economically viable acreage is found at Edwards Air Force Base (24,327 acres), followed by Fort Irwin (18,728 acres), China Lake (6,777 acres), and Twentynine Palms (553 acres). Finally, the study finds that private developers can tap the solar potential on these installations with no capital investment requirement from DOD, and that the development could yield the federal government up to $100 million a year in revenue or other benefits such as discounted power. DOD is seeking to develop solar, wind, geothermal, and other distributed energy sources on its bases to reduce both their $4 billion-a-year energy bill and their dependency on the commercial electricity grid. Such on-site energy generation, together with energy storage and so-called smart-microgrid technology, would allow a military base to maintain its critical operations "off-grid" for weeks or months if the grid were disrupted. See the DOD press release.

Announcing the Clean Energy Trust Semifinalists On January 6, the Clean Energy Trust announced the semifinalists for its inaugural student clean energy challenge. Semifinalists were chosen from more than 40 innovative clean energy business plans submitted from eight Midwestern states. The 16 semifinalist teams represent five states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio) and 11 universities, with the most teams coming from Purdue University (four teams) and Northwestern University (three teams). Within the submissions, Clean Energy Trust reviewers saw a broad assortment of undergraduate and graduate students, male and female students, engineers and social science majors, as well as those who have gone to school to focus on entrepreneurship and those who recently learned of the business plan competition opportunity. Many teams developed business plans around technologies straight from their university labs while some teams chose technologies from DOE national labs or other technology sources from across the country. Read the full story on DOE's Energy Blog. Why Did the LED Light Bulb Cross the Road? By Roland Risser, program manager, Building Technologies Program Everyone knows that laughter is good for you. Studies suggest it can buffer stress and increase your resistance to disease. Also, it just feels great to laugh. Advertisers have long used the allure of laughter to sell their products, and many Americans tune in to the Super Bowl just to chuckle at the funny commercials. However, when it comes to selling people on smart energy solutions, it could be hard to find a punch line. Could using humor as a marketing strategy make energy efficiency a bit more digestible? Energy Impact Illinois, a grant recipient of DOE's Better Buildings Neighborhood Program, is trying to find the funny in energy efficiency. The goal? Communicate the benefits of home energy upgrades and motivate local residents to take action in improving their buildings. The program has enlisted two comedians from The Second City—a comedy theatre whose alumni include Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Murray—to play "The Energy Bills," friends who visit Chicago-area homes distributing energy saving tips. "Little Bill" knows all the tricks to make your home more energy efficient and your bills, well, little. "Big Bill's" actions show how everything from overuse or misuse of appliances to not understanding heating and cooling can result in energy waste—costing you money. The contrast of the Bills is quite amusing, but jokes aside, Energy Impact Illinois is spreading an important message. You have a choice between two bills. Instructions on how to learn more or participate in Energy Impact Illinois' program are on their website, Facebook page, and Twitter account. The website also offers a tool called MyHomeEQ, which lets Chicago-area residents calculate about how much energy they could save with energy upgrades and helps them come up with customized plans to get rid of their Big Bill, all while connecting them with local contractors. Read the full story on DOE's Energy Blog.   Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)