CCRES ALGAE TEAM

 

With oil prices reaching $105 a barrel for the first time since 2008, the biofuel industry is looking more attractive every day. As global demand rises and petroleum supplies diminish, countries are turning to algae for energy security.

 In smaller countries, like Croatia, where oil demand is low, and emission standards are poor, algae biofuel has the potential to significantly reduce reliance on foreign oil.

 CCRES ALGAE TEAM  

works on 

Biodiesel from Microalgae


The oil from the algae can be used for any combustion process. An even wider range of use for algae oil is obtained by the transesterification to biodiesel. This biodiesel can be blended with fossil diesel or can be directly driven as pure biodiesel B100.

Biodiesel from microalgae has a comparable quality as rapeseed methyl ester and meets the standard EN 14214. At biodiesel production about 12% glycerin is produced as a by-product. This glycerin is a valuable resource for the production of algae in closed ponds, the heterotrophic processes. Thus, the entire algae oil can be used as fuel.

Fish Food


Algae provide a natural solution for the expanding fishing industry:

    High-protein fish food
    Replacement for existing fish meal production
    Algae have nutrients of many young fishes available


The fishing industry recorded an annual growth of over 10% and, according to experts, will beat the global beef consumption in 2015.

The Technology developed by CCRES offers the opportunity to deliver part of the needed proteins for fish farming on the resulting algal biomass.

Protein for the food industry


The demand for high-quality protein for the food industry has been growing rapidly over the years.

The big growth opportunities are:

    Weight control
    Fitness and Sports Nutrition
    Food supplements


The market volume in the protein sector is continously growing and at the rate of US $ 10.5B in 2010 and according to experts, will steadily increase to approx. $25B until 2030.

“There is intense interest in algal biofuels and bioproducts in this country and abroad, including in US,Australia, Chile, China, the European Union, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and others,” says Branka Kalle, President of Council Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES).

Advantages algae has over other sources may make it the world’s favored biofuel. Algae could potentially produce over 20 times more oil per acre than other terrestrial crops.Algae avoids many of the environmental challenges associated with conventional biofuels.Algae does not require arable land or potable water, which completely avoids competition with food resources.

 “The Asia Pacific region has been culturing algae for food and pharmaceuticals for many centuries, and these countries are eager to use this knowledge base for the production of biofuels,”says Zeljko Serdar, President of CCRES.

Without sustained high prices at the pump, investment in algae will likely be driven by demand for other products. In the short term, the growth of the industry will come from governments and companies seeking to reduce their environmental impact through carbon collection.

CCRES ALGAE TEAM

part of 

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

News and Events by CCRES October 25, 2012

Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources News and Events October 25, 2012

Interior Department Hits Goal for Renewable Energy on Public Lands   The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on October 10 announced that the Department has reached the President's goal of authorizing 10,000 megawatts of renewable power on public lands. DOI hit the milestone with its finding that the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project site in southeastern Wyoming is suitable for wind energy development. The project is a proposed complex that could generate up to 3,000 megawatts of power. Developers expect the proposal to create an estimated 1,000 construction, operation, and maintenance jobs at peak construction, employ 114 permanent workers, and generate enough energy to power nearly 1 million homes. The decision authorizes the Bureau of Land Management to proceed with site-specific environmental analyses for the Sierra Madre and Chokecherry wind farms and infrastructures. Additional environmental reviews will be needed for the turbine layouts. The proposed project would consist of two sites encompassing up to 1,000 wind turbines on approximately 219,707 acres of land about 10 miles south of Rawlins. It will be developed in phases and operated by Power Company of Wyoming LLC. When constructed, the wind complex is expected to have a footprint of less than 2,000 acres. Since 2009, DOI has authorized 33 renewable energy projects, including 18 utility-scale solar facilities, seven wind farms, and eight geothermal plants, with associated transmission corridors and infrastructures that will enable the projects to connect to established power grids. When built, these projects will provide more than 10,000 megawatts of power, or enough electricity to power more than 3.5 million homes. They would also support an estimated 13,000 construction and operations jobs, according to project developers. See the DOI press release.   Report: Utility Efficiency Could Save Southwest Consumers $20 Billion   Expanded energy efficiency programs from utilities in six Southwestern states could save consumers $20 billion by 2020, according to a new study. The Colorado-based public interest group Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) on October 9 released The $20 Billion Bonanza: Best Practice Utility Energy Efficiency Programs and Their Benefits for the Southwest. The report finds that it is feasible to achieve a 21% reduction in electricity by the year 2020 through energy efficiency programs implemented from 2010 to 2020. The study also states that every dollar invested in energy efficiency programs returns more than two dollars in savings on business and household utility bills. The report identifies the most effective utility energy efficiency programs across the country and analyzes the costs and benefits of implementing these programs in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The $20 Billion Bonanza notes that utilities in the Southwest have made considerable progress in helping their customers save electricity, but urges further action in related policy. See the SWEEP press release and the SWEEP website.   Defense Department Publishes Annual Energy Management Report   The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) recently released its "Annual Energy Management Report" for Fiscal Year 2011. The 441-page document details DOD activities to promote energy security and leverage new energy technologies, focusing on energy at its fixed installations. The Department's annual energy bill is approximately $4 billion, partly because it manages more than 500 installations comprising nearly 2.3 billion square feet of building space in 300,000 buildings throughout the United States and overseas. This annual report discusses a variety of energy issues, including DOD efforts to manage its facility energy program and reduce energy consumption in part by increasing the supply of renewable energy. See the DOD Installations and Environment webpage and the complete report. In a new analysis of DOD investments in clean energy innovation, The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, a non-partisan research and educational institute, reported that DOD’s investments in clean energy innovation were second only to the Energy Department in 2012. The group's report, Lean, Mean, and Clean II: Assessing DOD Investments in Clean Energy Innovation, released on October 16, finds that DOD has invested $5 billion in clean energy since Fiscal Year 2009. The study also found that DOD now invests nearly twice as much in procuring new clean energy technologies than it does procuring commercial, off-the-shelf technologies. Also, of all the branches of the military, the U.S. Navy invested the most in energy innovation by committing nearly $500 million in FY2012 to next-generation technologies in electricity, transportation, and alternative fuels. See the report.   New Fast-Charging Standard Released for Electric Vehicles   A newly published technical standard could cut charging time for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric vehicles (EV) from eight hours to as short as 20 minutes. SAE International, a global industry association, announced on October 15 that its long-awaited voluntary standard, which was developed in a consensus with industry experts and Energy Department national laboratories, was approved and published. The standard represents the future of charging technology and Smart Grid interaction, according to SAE International. The standard will help reduce the amount of time a consumer spends at public charging stations and enable consumers to travel greater distances in their PHEVs and EVs before needing to charge. Ford Motor Company, which participated in developing the standard, issued a statement praising the standard because it augments and is compatible with the existing electric vehicle charging standard employed by all automakers in the United States. See the SAE International press release, a standards summary , and the Ford Motor Company press release.

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

Green Button Energy Data Access Expanding Across America   The Green Button Initiative aims to provide utility customers with their electricity usage data in a simple and standard format to help them save energy and money, and it might be coming to a utility near you. Kicked off back in January, the Green Button has already had quite a year, but it isn't done yet. On October 1, the Energy Data Initiative announced a further expansion of the Green Button to include 12 new or expanded commitments from utilities and also the first steps toward allowing customers to directly transfer their electricity usage data to third parties, such as app developers. First, in terms of the ability to download Green Button data, 12 new utilities and energy providers have joined 23 others that have already agreed to adopt the Green Button machine-readable data standard. In total, these 35 companies will enable more than 36 million households and businesses to use web and smartphone apps to pick the best rate plan for them, take advantage of customized energy efficiency tips, utilize tools to size and finance rooftop solar panels, and download virtual energy audit software that can cut costs for building owners and help get retrofits started sooner. That's a growth of nearly 5 million new U.S. households and businesses! For the complete story, see the Energy Blog. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

News and Events by CCRES October 18, 2012

photo by CCRES   Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources News and Events October 18, 2012
Interior Department Approves Solar Energy Zones on Public Lands     Solar zones in six Western states will spur development on public lands like the Ivanpah solar project, shown here, being built on BLM land in California. Credit: BrightSource Energy The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on October 12 finalized a program to spur development of solar energy on public lands in six Western states. The Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for solar energy development provides a blueprint for utility-scale solar energy permitting in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The PEIS establishes solar energy zones with access to existing or planned transmission, incentives for development within those zones, and a process for consideration of additional zones and solar projects. The Solar PEIS establishes an initial set of 17 Solar Energy Zones, totaling about 285,000 acres of public lands. The zones will serve as priority areas for commercial-scale solar development, with the potential for additional zones through ongoing and future regional planning processes. If fully built out, projects could produce as much as 23,700 megawatts of solar energy, enough to power approximately 7 million U.S. homes. The program also allows, on a case-by-case basis, for the possibility of carefully sited solar projects outside the solar energy zones on about 19 million acres in "variance" areas. See the DOI press release and the complete list of the solar energy zones.   EPA Honors Organizations for Supporting Green Power   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on September 24 presented its 12th annual Green Power Leadership Awards for achievements in advancing the nation's renewable electricity market. "Green power" is electricity generated from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydropower, and it produces little or no net increase of greenhouse gas emissions. For most municipalities, electricity usage is the single-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The 24 award-winning partners were chosen from more than 1,300 partner organizations. Utilities, renewable energy project developers, and other green power suppliers were eligible to apply for the "Supplier of the Year" and "Program of the Year" awards. Among the categories were first-ever honorees for "Sustained Excellence in Green Power," including Intel Corporation, Kohl's Department Stores, Staples, and Whole Foods Market. In addition, the "Green Power Partner of the Year" awards went to the City of Austin, Texas, Hilton Worldwide, Microsoft Corporation, and the University of Oklahoma, and the "Green Power Community of the Year" winners were Beaverton, Oregon, and Oak Park, Illinois. See the EPA press release and the Green Power website.   USDA Announces $134 Million in Smart Grid Funding   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on October 11 announced funding to modernize and improve the efficiency of rural electric generation and transmission systems. The announcement includes additional loan support of $134 million in Smart Grid technologies in 16 states. The selected projects are located in Alabama, California, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. In August, the USDA reported that it had met its goal to finance $250 million in Smart Grid technologies in fiscal year 2012. USDA also announced nearly $264 million in loans to partially finance wood-burning plants in Colorado, Hawaii, and Texas that are expected to generate 69 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Additionally, $14,565,000 was announced to finance the construction of a 5.5 MW solar-powered generating facility in Maryland. See the USDA press release.   Massachusetts Again Tops State Energy Efficiency Scorecard   Massachusetts topped the list of energy efficient states for the second year—followed by California, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland, and Minnesota—according to a new report. The nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) on October 3 released its sixth annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia according to energy efficiency measures. The report examines six of the primary policy areas in which states typically pursue energy efficiency: utility and "public benefits" programs and policies; transportation policies; building energy codes; combined heat and power policies; state government-led initiatives around energy efficiency; and appliance and equipment standards. Though the baseline year against which ACEEE assessed policy and program changes depends on the policy category, the Council based policy scores on policies that were in place as of September 2012. Among other things, the Council found that utility budgets for electric and natural gas efficiency programs rose to almost $7 billion in 2011, which was a 27% increase over 2010. See the ACEEE press release and the scorecard web-page.
CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)   special thanks to U.S. Department of Energy | USA.gov
Investing in America's Solar Workforce   By Minh Le, Acting Program Manager, Solar Program For the U.S. solar market to continue to expand—maintaining a skilled workforce remains tremendously important. This is why the Energy Department recently announced its support for the Photovoltaic Online Training (PVOT) program—a free online training tool specifically designed for code officials who grant permits and perform field inspections for residential solar installations. Using video and photographs to illustrate the correct techniques—PVOT teaches participants how to perform safe solar installations. The online course provides in-depth training in a variety of subjects—including electrical requirements and expedited permitting processes. The end goal is to increase the reach and scale of training available to code officials across the country, while also establishing a consistent and streamlined approach to the residential solar inspection and installation process. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

Waste heat recovery business

 

Waste heat recovery business

join EEIP Congress in Berlin, 24-25 October

If you are working in industrial waste heat recovery, energy efficiency in industry or providing equipment or services to save energy in industry don't miss! This is your last opportunity to register to the major energy recovery event of 2012.

EEIP (Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes) and DENEFF (German, industry led initiative for energy efficiency) are inviting you to 'Energy Recovery in Industry: Opportunity for energy efficiency', a two day business Congress which will take place on 24-25 October in Berlin (Melia Hotel Berlin, Friedrichstrasse, close to German Bundestag). The event is supported by the European Commission, CP Pump Systems, Reining Heisskühlung, Turboden, Finnfjord, Elkem, DÜRR, MAN, Norsk Energi, energynet.de and Thomas Industrial Media.

Starting from the challenges such as regulation and financing and moving to the solutions, from technology & services to revenue streams and specials like grid access, the Congress presents business case for energy recovery in industry.

Speakers are from the EU Institutions, German Parliament, German Energy Agency (dena), International Energy Agency (IEA) as well as from energy intensive industries, solution providers, banks and investment funds. Participants include those from the industrial end-users and those working with industrial cogeneration, pumps, heat technologies, energy management systems or consulting how industrial facility can save or better use energy.

Taking place with at the heart of Berlin and with participation fee subsidized from the European Union, the Congress is an unique opportunity to meet your peers and discuss how to connect business and regulation for energy recovery at European industries. The event is bilingual  (German).

German programme and information at http://www.scribd.com/doc/104101604/EEIP-Kongress-pack-DE
 
If you are on Twitter you can already follow the stream related to the event at #EnRec12 
 

 Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES) specijal thanks to Mr. Dusan Jakovljevic
and  EEIP and DENEFF team.

Environmental Infrastructure Forum (EIF) 2013

  

With great pleasure Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES) announces the second annual Environmental Infrastructure Forum (EIF) 2013.
The EIF, which is held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, will run 27 - 29 January 2013 at the Al Qasr Ballroom in the luxurious Jeddah Hilton on the North Corniche in Jeddah, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Electricity and Co-generation Regulatory Authority.

NEW FOR 2013!
Based on the success of 2012′s inaugural forum, and due to popular demand, the organisers of the EIF are delighted to announce the first EIF exhibition, Jeddah’s only dedicated organisational showcase in the environmental infrastructure space in 2013.
Learn more

2012 Highlights

• 14 Mayors from around Saudi Arabia signed the National Environment Awareness and Sustainable Development Programme “Be’aty: Green Flag – Green Country” agreement at the opening ceremony. Click here to view the full list
• The National Commercial Bank and Mercedes-Benz Juffali Automotive Company (JACO) confirmed their commitment to green issues by sponsoring EIF

EIF is the only event in the region to tackle sustainable development and infrastructure together, with the support of the Saudi government. The three day strategic conference will focus on the following issues;

1. Embedding environmental excellence in Saudi and the Middle Eastern infrastructure, design and construction projects
2. Building regulations and energy efficiency to combat the challenge of seasonal power demands
3. Latest technology in design and BIM to reduce post construction energy consumption
4. Incorporating sustainability in construction and transportation infrastructure

If you are currently operating in the Middle Eastern construction, environmental design and transportation sectors, or would like to participate in future projects in the region, then this forum is an essential tool for developing your business.
REGISTER ONLINE or CALL Russell Clarke to attend! 0044 203 328 9572

Why Now?

Following the success of the sister event, the Gulf Environment Forum, EIF was launched as construction and the expansion of infrastructure systems in the Middle East continue to boom. US$4.3 trillion is forecast to be spent on construction in the next 10 years across the MENA region, with Saudi Arabia showing the fastest growth rates.
EIF gives all stakeholders the chance to identify the opportunities associated with the development of new airports, railways and other public transport systems along with the construction of new urban developments and the expansion of existing towns.
Current tenders / projects;

• 275,000 homes to be built each year until 2015
• Six new economic cities to be constructed
• Riyadh light railway
• North south railway connection
• Abu Dhabi to Qatar, Qatar to Bahrain causeway
• $33 billion being spent on residential and office towers in Jabal Omar, Makkah

Who Should Attend?

EIF provides a unique opportunity for business professionals, industry experts and government agency attendees to discuss and debate the latest developments, challenges and opportunities available in the construction of environmentally sound and sustainable infrastructure and transportation systems across the GCC.
High level, public and private sector delegates from a broad cross section of the industry will be present for three days of networking, learning and identifying future business opportunities.

Job titles

• CEO / VP / Partner
• General Manager
• Project Director / Manager
• Construction Director / Manager
• Sustainability Director / Manager
• Urban Development Director / Manager
• Procurement Director / Manager
• Architect / Designer / Engineer
• Site Manager
• Transport Planner
• BD / Sales / Marketing

Conference Cost / Booking

Contact Sharif de Boer for details
Email – sharif@bme-global.com
Tel – +44 203 463 1098

2012 Speakers

H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al-ShehriGovernor, ECRA

H.E. Eng. Daif Allah Bin Aeysh Al OtaibyMayor of Eastern Region, Eastern Region Municipality

John Harris

H.E. Dr Osama Al BarMayor of Makkah, Makkah Municipality

Contact

If you have any queries about the event, please contact a member of the team for details. The relevant department can be found below.
Conference bookings - Sharif de Boer
Email – sharif@bme-global.com
Tel – +44 203 463 1098
Sponsorship and exhibitor bookings - Russell Clarke
Email – russell@bme-global.com
Tel – +44 203 328 9572
Speaker enquiries – Simon Smith
Email – simon@bme-global.com
Tel – +44 203 328 6526
Marketing and media enquiries – Will De’Athe-Morris
Email – will@bme-global.com
Tel – +44 203 328 6523
Event Management – Olga Serebryakova
Email – olga@bme-global.com
Tel – +44 203 328 6517
Organised by

BME Global Ltd
Unit 1, 8 Tyers Gate
London
SE1 3HX
www.bme-global.com

Focusing primarily on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the EIF will examine, amongst other important topics, resilient cities, new city construction projects, and sustainable approaches across the whole project life cycle,while paying specific attention to infrastructure development and conservation in industrial, commercial, and residential centres.

Zeljko Serdar

President& CEO
Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

News and Events by CCRES October 11, 2012

photo by CCRES   Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources  News and Events October 11, 2012

Energy Department Offers $1 Million for Hydrogen Fuel Technology   The Energy Department on October 5 announced new funding to evaluate the most promising technology paths toward achieving achieving $2 to $4-per-gallon equivalent of hydrogen by 2020. The funding will assist in the Department's broader efforts to give drivers and businesses more options and to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil. To help meet this aggressive goal by 2020, the projects selected through this program will help identify cost-effective materials and processes to produce hydrogen from renewable energy sources and natural gas. Researchers will also analyze production and delivery technologies to identify key technical challenges and priorities; they will also continue to evaluate technical progress and hydrogen cost status. This effort will include annual analyses of key technology challenges using the Energy Department's hydrogen analysis models in addition to other industry tools. Applications are due by November 8, 2012. See the Energy Department Progress Alert.   Energy Department Announces Federal Energy Management Award Winners   The Energy Department on October 4 announced the winners of the thirty-first annual Federal Energy and Water Management Awards. These awards recognize the commitment made by federal agencies to invest in efficiency measures that save taxpayer money and increase U.S. energy security. This year's award winners saved a total of 6 trillion Btu of energy, nearly 2 billion gallons of water, and almost $165 million during fiscal year 2011. Their initiatives also helped offset more than 78 billion Btu of fossil-based energy through a combination of renewable energy generation and purchases. The energy savings are equivalent to removing more than 100,000 cars from the road for one year, or eliminating the average annual energy use of more than 55,000 households. This year, 33 individuals, teams, and organizations from across the federal government received awards for a variety of outstanding and innovative efforts that have improved energy, water, and vehicle fleet efficiency. Winners include staff serving the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy; the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, Interior, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; the General Services Administration; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Among other accomplishments, awardees implemented facility-wide changes to operations and maintenance practices, saving 580 billion Btu by upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment and by installing high efficiency lighting, building materials, and energy management control systems. This includes saving 78 billion Btu through the installation of renewable energy systems such as solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, cogeneration systems using landfill gas, and geothermal heat pumps. Some of those recognized demonstrated the substantial benefits of using performance-based contracts to meet mandated energy goals, while others pursued building facilities that meet the requirements for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification with state-of-the-art technologies and environmentally-friendly workspaces. See the Energy Department Progress Alert and the complete list of winners.   Big Data Challenge Series Launched for U.S. Governmental Agencies   NASA on October 3 announced the launch of the Big Data Challenge, a series of competitions hosted through the NASA Tournament Lab (NTL). The Big Data Challenge series will apply the process of open innovation to conceptualizing novel approaches to using "big data" information sets from various U.S. governmental agencies. This data comes from the fields of health, energy, and Earth science. Competitors will be tasked with imagining analytical techniques and software tools that use big data from discrete government information domains. They will need to describe how the data may be shared as universal, cross-agency solutions that transcend the limitations of individual agencies. The competition will be run by the NTL, which is a collaboration between NASA, Harvard University, and TopCoder, a competitive community of digital creators. The TopCoder Open Innovation platform and process allows U.S. government agencies to conduct high risk/high reward challenges in an open and transparent environment with predictable costs, measurable outcomes-based results, and the potential to move quickly into unanticipated directions of software technology. The National Science Foundation and the Energy Department are partners in the competition. Registration is open through Oct. 13 for the Ideation Challenge phase, the first of four idea generation competitions in the series. See the NASA press release and the competition details.   USDA Announces New Funding for Rural Smart Grid Technologies   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on October 4 announced new funding to modernize and improve the efficiency of rural electric generation and transmission systems. The announcement includes support for $9.8 million in loan guarantees for Smart Grid technologies in 10 states. The funds will go to entities in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. See the USDA press release. Last month, the USDA announced that it had met its goal to finance $250 million in smart grid technologies in fiscal year 2012. In 2009, the Energy Department released the first Smart Grid System Report, which examined Smart Grid deployment nationwide. The report noted that Smart Grids have the potential to dramatically change how we manage electricity use in the United States. See the July 22, 2009 edition of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network News newsletter.

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

Increasing Solar Energy Awareness in El Paso   With nearly 300 sunny days a year, El Paso, Texas, is an ideal location for solar energy installations, which is why the city recently launched its first Renewable Energy Education Project using solar energy. Located in downtown El Paso's Calvary Man Triangle, the project's centerpiece—the Aztec Calendar Pavilion—is a domed-shaped public gathering and performance space made with a combination of steel, concrete, solar panels, light condensers, and crystal prisms. It incorporates Aztec designs, paying homage to the civilization’s impressive architectural accomplishments. The pavilion provides four 110V AC solar-powered outlets where visitors can charge their electronic devices using clean solar energy. Excess solar energy will be fed back into the city’s power grid. Visitors to the pavilion will be able to have a unique educational experience learning how solar energy works and seeing a real-time digital readout displaying current energy usage statistics. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)

News and Events by CCRES October 04, 2012

photo by CCRES Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources  News and Events October 04, 2012

Energy Department Offers Online Training for Residential PV Inspectors   The SunShot Initiative's free online tool will help code inspectors learn needed skills to ensure best practices. Credit: Craig Miller Productions The Energy Department on October 1 announced a free online training program for building and electrical code officials who perform inspections for residential photovoltaic (PV) solar energy installations. This training program will help establish a consistent and streamlined PV inspection process in jurisdictions throughout the country, saving time and reducing costs for consumers. The Photovoltaic Online Training (PVOT) program is a learning tool that uses video and photographs to illustrate correct techniques for safe solar installations that comply with all relevant building and electrical codes. It includes seven online modules, providing lessons in subjects such as roof and ground-mounted PV arrays, electrical requirements, equipment ratings, and expedited permitting. The first six lessons contain sequential material while the final module provides a virtual walk along a roofline, similar to what an inspector sees in a real-world situation. The PVOT program tracks each participant's progress and test scores, and meets professional licensing requirements for ongoing education in most cities and states. The curriculum complies with current National Electrical Code requirements and industry standards, which are referenced throughout the modules. Although the program is geared to code officials, it is also appropriate for solar installers, architects, students, and consumers who are interested in this growing field. While participation in the course is free, there is a nominal fee for obtaining continuing education units through the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI). The Interstate Renewable Energy Council developed the PVOT program for the Energy Department as part of its SunShot Initiative's Solar Instructor Training Network, which aims to strengthen the quality and capacity of solar PV professional training across the country. See the Energy Department's Progress Alert.   Interior Department Approves Transmission Line for California Solar Project   The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on September 26 approved construction of the transmission line for First Solar's Campo Verde Solar energy project, which will cross public lands southwest of El Centro in Southern California. The 139-megawatt solar energy project is expected to support more than 250 construction and operation jobs. At full capacity, the Campo Verde facility will produce enough electricity to power 41,700 homes. Electricity from the Campo Verde photovoltaic plant will be transmitted to San Diego Gas and Electric Company's Imperial Valley Substation. The Campo Verde facility is located on about 1,443 acres of privately-owned land. DOI approved the right-of-way for the power line to cross 17 acres of public land. See the DOI press release.   Registration Now Open for 2013 Science Bowl Teams   The Energy Department on October 2 announced that registration is now open for the 2013 National Science Bowl. This marks the beginning of the 23rd year of the nation's largest science competition, which is sponsored by the Energy Department's Office of Science. Local middle school and high school students form teams that compete in regional competitions. The winning teams from the regional competitions then advance to the National Science Bowl competition in Washington, D.C., next spring. Designed to encourage students to excel in science and math and to pursue careers in those fields, the National Science Bowl brings together thousands of students from across the country to compete on a range of science disciplines in a fast-paced, Jeopardy-style format. In 2013, there will be a new high school regional competition in Alaska, as well as five new middle school regional competitions, including events in Alaska and Puerto Rico. Winners of the regional competitions will be awarded all-expenses paid trips to the National Finals in Washington, D.C., scheduled for April 25-29, 2013. To register for their respective regional competitions in the upcoming Science Bowl, teams should go to the National Science Bowl website. See the Energy Department press release and the competition website.   NREL Study: Hybrid Vans Get 20% Higher Fuel Economy   The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently completed a performance evaluation report that showed hybrid electric delivery vans had a 13% to 20% higher fuel economy compared to similar conventional vans. The new NREL report, Eighteen-Month Final Evaluation of UPS Second Generation Diesel Hybrid Electric Delivery Vans, details the impact of hybridization on fuel economy and performance and identifies the conditions under which hybrids offer maximum fuel savings. The NREL team collected and analyzed in-service fuel economy, maintenance, and other vehicle performance data on 11 hybrid and 11 conventional step vans operated by the United Parcel Service (UPS) in Minneapolis. The hybrid vans feature hybrid propulsion systems with 44-kilowatt electric motors, lithium-ion batteries, and regenerative braking, which captures energy normally lost during braking to power the electric motor. See the NREL press release and the complete report.

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

Celebrating Innovation and Open Data at the Energy Datapalooza Dozens of the nation's leading entrepreneurs and innovators gathered at the White House on October 1 to celebrate new products, mobile phone applications, and services that lower energy costs, improve energy efficiency, and protect the environment. The event—"Energy Datapalooza"—was the first annual showcase for the Energy Data Initiative, launched by the Administration earlier this year to liberate data as a fuel of innovation while rigorously protecting privacy. The common thread throughout the new products showcased at the Energy Datapalooza: they all use freely available open data from the U.S. government. "We use open data in all of our products," says Martha Amram, CEO of WattzOn, an energy efficiency company that saves homeowners money. "The government datasets and technologies are valuable but often complex in the raw form. We integrate open data along with proprietary and third-party sources to deliver innovations that make a real difference for people." For the complete story, see the Energy Blog. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)