Consultations with Locals in Cornwall, U.K.

From thisiscornwall.co.uk

Locals see plans for new wind turbines
Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 16:36Comment on this story

CONCERNED residents were given the chance to voice their opinion at plans for more wind turbines in the St Eval area at a public exhibition.
Cornwall Light and Power (CLP) held two open meetings on Friday and Saturday at St Mawgan Village Hall, where the public was invited to find out more about the company's plans.
CLP has outlined intentions for an as-yet undetermined number of turbines at Denzell Downs, between St Mawgan and St Eval.
One who went to Friday's meeting was Mawgan Porth resident Alan Nicholson-Florence.
"I was very intrigued to see just what the plans are for the site. Now having seen them I'm not sure if I am for or against.
Options
"On a positive note, it is very impressive to have a company seeking public opinion before a planning application has been submitted. It's very commendable."
In its plans, CLP provides two options:
The first is for five 100m tall, two mega-watt turbines to be located at the site on Denzell Downs.
These would generate 26 gigawatts of energy every hour, which is enough electricity for 5,500 houses and would save between 9,700 and 25,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions.
The latter option is for eight 70m tall, 0.85 mega-watt turbines.
These would generate 18 gigawatts of energy every hour, which is enough electricity for 3,800 houses and would save between 6,600 to 15,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions.
Happier
Simon Pipkin, project developer for CLP, said: "If we came here and it was 100% against the plans, we would have to rethink to make those people happier.
"But the national and local need for renewable energy is apparent and this plan would help with this need.
"What we've done is overviewed technical issues and looked to see what we can do in the area, and created these outline plans.
Opportunity
"It's bound to change though, which is why we are holding these open sessions with the public.
"Cornwall has a fantastic opportunity to become energy independent if it can harness all the energy that's available to it."
CLP hopes to have finished the consultation periods and submit plans to Cornwall Council in May 2010.

Wind Turbine Rules for "Victor"

From the Industrial Wind Action Group

Victor OKs rules on wind turbines
The Victor Town Board adopted a new law Monday regulating wind turbines and settled a lawsuit over a fence erected by residents in a conservation area. There are no wind turbines in the town currently, but the new law was established to address potential future problems.
December 15, 2009 by Bennett Loudon in Democrat and Chronicle
The Victor Town Board adopted a new law Monday regulating wind turbines and settled a lawsuit over a fence erected by residents in a conservation area.

There are no wind turbines in the town currently, but the new law was established to address potential future problems such as aesthetic impacts, noise, interference with communication devices, lighting and danger to birds. The new law:

* Requires a permit to erect a wind turbine on a tower or the roof of a building.

* Prohibits utility-scale turbines but allows them for private homes and commercial sites.

* Sets a limit of 200 feet on towers.

* Establishes setback requirements that vary depending on how the neighboring property is used.

The new law will go into effect as soon as it is filed with state officials. A six-month moratorium on construction of wind turbines that was adopted by the board in July will expire in mid-January.

At the meeting Monday, the board also voted to settle a lawsuit against Nicholas and Kara Vassello, who erected a six-foot wooden fence on land near their home that was supposed to remain in its natural state under a conservation easement.

The town sued the Vassellos to have the fence removed and the Vassellos countersued.

Under the settlement, the town will remove the portion of the fence in the conservation area at the town's expense and the town will pay the Vassellos $9,478.08 for the 432-foot section of fence to be removed.

The fence will be removed at a mutually agreed on time after March 15.

Under the settlement, reimbursement to the Vassellos will be made within seven days of the fence removal.

The town also must fill in the fence post holes and reseed the area.

"We felt there was probably some accountability issues, that maybe our employees had acted prematurely without seeking advice of a legal counsel," said Victor Supervisor Jack Marren.

Web link: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/200912...

Interesting News from Down Under

Issue 64 - December 2009 Systems


Greetings everyone and welcome to the last issue of our newsletter for 2009!
Victoria's feed in tariff - credit to cash

The big story over the last week has been developments in Victoria regarding the state's feed in tariff.

Under the current legislation, Victoria's electricity retailers are only obliged to offer a 60c per kWh time-limited credit rather than a payment to solar power system owners.

However, market forces are seeing quite a few retailers instead offering cash payments - and some higher than the mandated 60c per kWh!

You can learn more about the credit to cash trend here and view a list of companies offering cash here.

This competition between electricity companies is making solar power an even more attractive proposition for people in Victoria. If you have been hesitating on ordering your system, now is the time to grab a no-obligation, instant online quote!

Thank you!

Energy Matters would like to take this opportunity to wish you a joyous, safe and peaceful festive season.

We sincerely thank all our valued customers for making 2009 the brightest year for our company yet and we look forward to a continuing partnership with you in Australia's renewable energy revolution in 2010.

Trading hours

Please note our offices will be closed from Thursday, December 24 2009; reopening on Monday, January 4, 2010.

If you wanted to take advantage of any current special offers or to move forward on a solar power or solar hot water system quote, you'll need to get in quick!



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Renewable energy news

REC Achieves 17% Polycrystalline Efficiency
REC and ECN have together made the world's first polycrystalline solar panels with 17.0 percent efficiency.

1.3 Million Panel Solar Farm For Canada
The Sarnia Solar Project in Canada will be expanded from 20 megawatts of capacity to 80 megawatts (MW), making it the largest solar panel based solar farm in North America.

Self Cleaning Solar Panels Coming Soon?
Research from Tel Aviv University that originally focused on a cure for Alzheimer's disease has stumbled across an innovation for solar panels that could see what little maintenance is required reduced further.

Solar Powered Rover Still Mired In Mars Muck
Many people who have followed the adventures of the solar powered Mars rover duo Spirit and Opportunity have become quite attached to the contraptions and have enthusiastically cheered them on - but a sense of doom hangs in the air for Spirit.

Thailand Sets Sights On A Solar Power Future
The largest energy producing country in South-East Asia is Thailand, but the nation also has a high dependency on imported energy.

The Paper Battery
A new battery that uses paper as a substrate material may be ready for market in a short time.

U.S. Solar Panel Demand Grows in 2009
It may have been a tough year economically speaking, but U.S. grid connect solar power demand will reach at least 440 MW in 2009, up from 320 MW in 2008.

Victoria's Feed In Tariff - From Credit To Cash
Market forces have come into play that are seeing many Victorian households getting a far better deal for the clean energy they create from their home solar power systems.

Hot Water Systems As Wind Power Batteries
A recent study outlines the possibility of off-peak water heating programs to generate demand for renewable energy sources such as wind power.

Save on hot water!
Save a bundle on this Apricus solar hot water system! (VIC, SA, TAS and NSW Metro areas)


From the EM community

The Energy Matters forums is a place for everyone from newbies to knowbies to discuss all things renewable energy related, to ask questions and share tips - plus we have new categories on alternative vehicles, green building and general green living tips!

Combined wind and solar power
Susbility has 6 solar panels and a 2200W inverter and asks if it is possible to set up a 1kw wind turbine and feed the power in to the existing inverter.

Reasonable losses?
Boccas recently installed a 2.04kw solar power system supplied by another provider. The system rarely produces more than 1.4kw and Boccas is curious if this is an acceptable output, or is there some problem within the system?

Connect 3 X MPPT regulators in parallel?
Rana asks, would this work? If the connections are good then will the current divide up equally between the regulators? Has anyone else tried paralleling up similar regulators into their system to increase the current capacity in their setup?

Inverter claims
ltilley09 had a 1kw solar power installed this year and paid extra to upgrade to a 2kw inverter. It turns out that while the inverter can accept a 2kw input its maximum output is 1.5 kW. To ltilley09, this is only a 1.5 kW inverter. The supplier and manufacturer insist it is technically a 2 kW inverter. Any views anyone?

Energy efficient fridges
GeoffHammond asks - "Am I the only one that spends a week deciding which particular whitegoods to buy?" An interesting thread on choosing fridges for use in conjunction with a very important product - beer.

Australian solar manufacturing
Heliox is evaluating the solar market in Australia from a producer's perspective and would like to get some input from any party interested in the subject of photovoltaic solar power; and asks, why is there no production in a country with such a high
potential?

This is just a small sample of the recent activity in the Energy Matters forum - join our rapidly growing community and tap into a treasure trove of wind and solar power knowledge today - it's free!



News archives

You can catch up on all the renewable energy news we've published in our news section!


Solarfun Special!

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Sign the Avaaz Petition

From: avaaz@avaaz.org
Subject: Thanks - now double your impact!

Thanks for taking action - now can you invite your friends, families and colleagues to join us? Each one that joins doubles your impact on these crucial negotiations.

Over 10 million of us have already joined the call for a real climate deal - but this is crunch time! Let to add millions more this week.

Please forward this link to everyone you can:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen/97.php?cl_tta_sign=77f860f2eadb41a65fba004121961049

Thanks again for all you do!

--------

Here again the original email you can forward to your friends:

Dear Friends,

With three days to go, the crucial Copenhagen summit is failing.

Tomorrow, the world's leaders arrive for an unprecedented 60 hours of direct negotiations. Experts agree that without a tidal wave of public pressure for a deal, the summit will not stop catastrophic global warming of 2 degrees.

Click below to sign the petition for a real deal in Copenhagen -- the campaign already has a staggering 10 million supporters - let's make it the largest petition in history in the next 72 hours! Every single name is actually being read out at the summit -- sign on at the link below and forward this email to everyone!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen/97.php?cl_tta_sign=77f860f2eadb41a65fba004121961049

An Avaaz team is meeting daily with negotiators inside the summit who will organize a spectacular petition delivery to world leaders as they arrive, building a giant wall of boxes of names and reading out the names of every person who signs. With the largest petition in history, leaders will have no doubt that the whole world is watching.

Millions watched the Avaaz vigil inside the summit on TV yesterday, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu told hundreds of delegates and assembled children:

“We marched in Berlin, and the wall fell.
"We marched for South Africa, and apartheid fell.
"We marched at Copenhagen -- and we WILL get a Real Deal.”

Copenhagen is seeking the biggest mandate in history to stop the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. History will be made in the next few days. How will our children remember this moment? Let's tell them we did all we could.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen/97.php?cl_tta_sign=77f860f2eadb41a65fba004121961049

With hope,

Ricken, Alice, Ben, Paul, Luis, Iain, Veronique, Graziela, Pascal, Paula, Benjamin, Raj, Raluca, Taren, David, Josh and the whole Avaaz team.

-------------------

ABOUT AVAAZ
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, and Geneva.

Proteus Tidal Power Generator

Blog owner's question: Do water turbines have cages to protect sea life from the blades? They apparently exist. But are they used? Ask your local politicians and whatever company is proposing to supply water turbines in your area. The one below may or may not have protection for sea life and may or may not result in increased water temperatures.


Neptune Renewable Energy Launches Proteus Tidal Power Generator
Posted on Monday, December 14, 2009 posted by posted by Mak @ 2:36 AM

Neptune Renewable Energy has announced the development of a breakthrough tidal power generator, which will undergo sea trial at Hull early next year. The generator dubs the action of Proteus,which consists of a 6m x 6m vertical axis, crossflow turbine mounted within a patented, symmetrical Venturi diffuser duct and beneath a very simple steel deck and buoyancy chambers. Similar to Proteus,the £1 million, 150-ton generator is being claimed to be 30% more efficient than conventional hydro dam designs and can provide a continuous supply ofrenewable energy.

The state-of-the-art generator features a steel hull, turbine and buoyancy chambers, which allows it to work equally well in ebb and flow tides. The system consists of a vertical axis cross-flow turbine mounted within symmetrical venture diffusers that efficiently convert tidal energy into electricity.

NREL has selected the Humber Estuary for the first deployment of Proteus, as given its depth and tidal flow, is considered one of the best locations in the British Isles for tidal stream power. Once deployed, the advanced Neptune Proteus NP1000 should generate at least 1000MWh of electricity each year.

Nova Scotia Ice Wine Recipe

Nova Scotia produces great wines!

Nova Scotia Vidal Icewine Vinaigrette Decadent Salad Dressing

From the Halifax Wine Examiner

Chef Shaun Zwarun at DesBarres Manor
www.desbarresmanor.com

Make my Nova Scotia Ice Wine with Vidal grapes
Mulled Wine - A Christmas Favourite
Medal Winning NS Wines - The Perfect Holiday Gift

As it uses a quarter of a bottle of $30 Vidal Icewine, I’m guessing its one of the most expensive salad dressings you may ever make. Sorry the cooking sherry is not a substitute.

The recipe comes from Chef Shaun Zwarun who won the Taste of Nova Scotia, Cuisine of the Year award in 2008, and works from DesBarres Manor, a lovely country inn in Guysborough.

Honeydew and Pancetta Salad with Vidal Icewine Vinaigrette

For the Vinaigrette
4 Tbsp Vidal Icewine
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp raspberry vinegar
2 Tbsp lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste

For the salad
1 honeydew melon cut into 12 slices (¼-inch thick)
12 slices shaved pancetta
12 oz baby greens

To Prepare
1. Combine the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until oil is emulsified.
2. Place melon slices in a glass baking dish and drizzle with ½ of the dressing. Gently toss to coat
the melon slices.
3. Place three slices of honeydew on each of four salad plates. Fold three slices of shaved pancetta
over top of the melon on the plates.
4. Place a small bunch of greens to the side of the melon on each of the plates. Drizzle the
remaining vinaigrette over the greens, dividing equally.

Audrey Firth, Manager and Cellar Keeper, at DesBarres recommends pairing this with Jost Eagletree Muscat.

New Brunswick/Nova Scotia power development

A sea of difference
Published Saturday December 12th, 2009
Power: Nova Scotia explores tidal energy, as New Brunswick's policies keep development at bay
C1QUENTIN CASEY
FOR THE TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
HALIFAX - If the current drive to harness the powerful Bay of Fundy tides can be classified as a race, then it is clear New Brunswick is trailing Nova Scotia.

Photo Submitted Last month this turbine was lowered onto the Bay of Fundy’s seabed by two groups which have partnered on a pilot energy project – Nova Scotia Power and OpenHydro, an Irish tidal technology firm. The one-megawatt unit is the first commercial tidal turbine to be deployed in the bay. But that's not necessarily bad news for some New Brunswickers - including the premier - who are calling for a cautious approach to what they classify as an unproven technology.

That contrasts with Nova Scotia, where tidal energy work is intensifying. Developers in the Bluenose province are already producing power from a massive turbine successfully planted on the ocean floor last month.

While New Brunswick researchers are still determining which sites have the most potential for tidal projects, Nova Scotia developers are envisioning a day when 300 turbines could be placed in the bay - converting the roaring tides into enough electricity to power 100,000 homes.

At this point, ground zero for tidal development in the Bay of Fundy is located about three kilometres off shore in the Minas Passage, about 10 kilometres west of Parrsboro, N.S.

There, under the cold bay waves, sits a massive turbine about 10 metres in diameter. The turbine, with blades that are pushed by the rushing tides, sits atop a large metal tripod that is 25 metres long. The whole unit weighs 360 tonnes.

The device was lowered onto the seabed last month by the two groups partnering on the pilot project: Nova Scotia Power and OpenHydro, an Irish tidal technology firm.

The one-megawatt unit is the first commercial tidal turbine to be deployed in the Bay of Fundy, thanks in part to $9 million from the Nova Scotia government.

And so far, so good.

The unit has remained in position and is producing power. Though not yet hooked to shore by a cable, the turbine's power is being converted to heat and released into the water.

"All systems are working," says Nick Murphy, who is overseeing OpenHydro's operations in North America, which include a similar project in Washington's Puget Sound.

"It's a step toward larger projects in the future. We're very confident that this is doable with more than one unit. The economics look very viable in comparison to other renewable power sources."

For OpenHydro, the goal is to perfect their tidal technology and then sell the turbines to governments and utilities looking to fight their dependence on dirty coal and oil power sources.

The Irish firm has already tested its technology extensively in Europe and was the first company to pump electricity from tidal streams into the United Kingdom's national grid.

For Nova Scotia Power, the vision includes up to 300 turbines one day below the surface - silently and invisibly generating emission-free power.

Across the bay in New Brunswick, however, the adoption of tidal power is moving at a slower pace.

Back in May 2008, Irving Oil Ltd. announced it was partnering with the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, based in St. Andrews, to research 11 potential sites for tidal power generation.

The two-year project is examining tidal patterns, climatic conditions and behaviour of aquatic life in the selected areas, such as Head Harbour Passage, Cape Enrage and Cape Spencer.

Jeff Landry, manager of business development for Fort Reliance, Irving Oil's parent company, says the group hopes to have a list of preferred sites narrowed down by this time next year.

After that, the goal is to put some form of pilot technology in the water.

But for that to happen, the New Brunswick government must first adjust its approach to tidal power.

The province's current policy confines potential developers to research. Demonstration projects, such as the one in Nova Scotia, are not allowed.

"Hopefully in the near future the government's policy will catch up with us," Landry said. "Otherwise, all of the research we're doing would largely be for not."

According to the Department of Natural Resources, a new tidal policy is now in development and will be complete sometime next year. Department officials expect the policy to push the tidal sector beyond the research and exploration phase, but declined to offer details.

David Coon admits New Brunswick is moving slower than Nova Scotia on tidal power, but argues that may be a good thing.

The executive director of the New Brunswick Conservation Council says tidal developments must be approached cautiously because of the risk posed to marine life.

"It's something we should be going slowly on for ecological reasons," he said. "I wouldn't put tidal at the top of the list in terms of which renewable technologies we'd want to fast-track."

Premier Shawn Graham is also hesitant about jumping fully into the tidal game.

Though he says he is encouraged by the new trials, he warns that many questions remain.

"It's still unproven on what the cost competitiveness is for these tidal power projects. Anyone can set up a project where it costs 20 cents a kilowatt," he said.

"If it's not within the 10 cent per kilowatt range it means you either have to increase power rates or find another subsidy.

"I'm encouraged by the potential, but it's not an immediate solution to the challenges facing our province."