Amid worsening climate change-related problems for small island states, Tuvalu has established a national goal of being powered entirely by renewable energy sources by 2020.

Government officials and the donors of Tuvalu's first large-scale solar energy system alike hope the moves help inspire much larger nations later this year in negotiations of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol agreement on climate change.

The solar system installed on the roof of Tuvalu's largest football stadium now supplies 5 percent of the electricity needed by that nation's capital, Funafuti.

In its first 14 months, the operation has reduced Tuvalu's consumption of generator fuel, shipped from New Zealand, by about 17,000 litres and reduced Tuvalu's carbon footprint by about 50 tonnes.

In the process, it has also reduced the risk of diesel spills around the archipelago of four low-lying coral islands and five atolls.

Based on the project's success, the country now aims to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources by 2020, a goal requiring an investment estimated at just over $20 million, according to government estimates.

At their summit earlier this month in Italy, the richer G8 countries committed to help finance efforts by poorer nations to battle climate change.

Tuvalu's first grid-connected, 40-kilowatt solar energy system was implemented under the leadership of Japan's Kansai Electric Power Co with the support of the Tokyo Electric Power Company, both members of the e8, an international non-profit organization of 10 leading power utilities from G8 countries.

"There may be other, larger solar power installations in the world but none could be more meaningful to customers than this one," says Takao Shiraishi, General Manager of the Kansai Electric Power Co.

"The plight of Tuvalu versus the rising tide vividly represents the worst early consequence of climate change," he adds. "For Tuvalu, after 3,000 years of history, the success of UN climate talks in Copenhagen this December may well be a matter of national survival."

The Tuvalu government is working to expand the initial US $410,000 e8 project from 40 to 60 kilowatts, and will extend solar power to outer islands, starting later this year with the commission of a US $800,000, 46-kilowatt solar power system for the Motufoua Secondary School in Vaitupu, being implemented with the support of the Italian government.

With a population of 12,000, Tuvalu is halfway between Hawaii and Australia, 26 square km in size, with a maximum elevation of just 4.5 meters and most of its land less than a meter above sea level.

Tuvalu is already experiencing flooding amid predictions of a large sea level rise this century.

Says Kausea Natano, Minister for Public Utilities and Industries: "We thank those who are helping Tuvalu reduce its carbon footprint as it will strengthen our voice in upcoming international negotiations. And we look forward to the day when our nation offers an example to all - powered entirely by natural resources such as the sun and the wind."

The e8's Tuvalu project was initiated after a series of regional renewable energy feasibility workshops, jointly organized by the Pacific Power Association (PPA) and the e8.

e8 members agreed to donate and install the first facility, and are monitoring its success and building local expertise to ensure the project's sustainability.

Run by the state-owned Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC), the system in Funafuti today powers households, healthcare facilities, small-and medium-sized enterprises and other facilities.

Johane Meagher, Executive Director of the e8, expressed thanks for the support of the Pacific Power Association, with whom the e8 has established a long term collaboration to support development of small scale projects in the Pacific Islands and strengthen the capacity of the engineers and technicians of the islands' utilities to enhance renewable energy power in the Pacific region.

Meagher said, "We are proud of the role the e8 has played in creating this clean energy project, which was intended to generate far more than just electricity in Tuvalu. It is a message to the world about the urgent need to promote sustainable energy development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a massive scale."

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Sometimes, when you ask a question, you get a good answer.

A recent post on a push to increase the U.S. gasoline blend rate ended with this thought-provoker: At this rate, will cellulosic ethanol, from non-food plant materials, ever get off the ground?

Yes, replied Sam Salyer, a representative for a Massachusetts-based biofuel company called Qteros.

The company, formerly SunEthanol, recently announced an ethanol yield well beyond what the U.S. Department of Energy considers the threshold for commercial production, he wrote.

Qteros says it's achieved an ethanol yield of 70 grams per liter. The DOE's commercial standard is 50 grams per liter.

"To date, this is the most economical and viable cellulosic process announced by any cellulosic company," Salyer says.

"Additionally Qteros has achieved these results without yet genetically modifying its microbe strain - something the company is working on now which they expect will further increase their output."

Qteros uses a technology called Q Microbe, which turns biomass into cellulosic ethanol, according to company officials.

"These results confirm what we predicted: Qteros and the Q Microbe can make cellulosic ethanol a commercial reality." according to Sue Leschine, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst microbiologist who first discovered the Q Microbe near the Quabbin Reservoir in central Massachusetts.

Company officials describe the Q Microbe as a super-bug with unique properties that make it ideally suited to the production of cellulosic ethanol from a variety of non-food plant materials. They say it's the "yeast" component of the conventional bioconversion process plus the enzyme component, all in one.

Qteros has been funded by companies including BP, Valero, Soros Quantum Fund, Battery Ventures and Venrock.

Reprinted with permission from Cleantechnica Related posts:

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Seattle Steam, a company that's been using old school technology to heat downtown buildings for more than 115 years, is turning to an even older fuel source-wood-in its efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

In Fall 2009, the company plans to fire up a new boiler which will allow it to derive more than half of its source fuel from biomass-specifically, wood waste from a number of local sources including composting, construction waste and wood culled from city waste streams. The switch will reduce Seattle Steam's carbon emissions by about 55,000 tons annually, the company says.

Privately owned Seattle Steam provides heat to about 200 customers in Seattle's downtown and First Hill neighborhoods via 18 miles of underground pipe. For hospitals, food producers and the city's art museum, it also offers high-temperature steam and humidity control. While the company's customers are already eligible for points from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for connection to a district energy system, the switch to biomass could mean additional LEED credits, Seattle Steam CEO Stan Gent says.

Because the new biomass boiler will be more expensive to operate and maintain than the existing natural gas system, Gent says the company is not expecting a quick return on investment in the $25 million project. However, added costs will not translate to higher rates for customers, he says.

For Seattle Steam, the move to biomass represents a first step in switching to renewable energy sources. The company has applied for stimulus funds for a combined heat and power plant, which would boost its renewable energy percentage to more than 80 percent, Gent says.

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Made in the USA is back. Nordex USA, Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers of wind turbines, has just announced that it will build a manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The plant is expected to begin producing turbines in 2010 and create approximately 600 jobs. With a typical wind turbine requiring about 8,000 components, that could mean a ripple effect in related jobs in the supply chain.

Sustainable Wind Power Means More Local Manufacturing
Germany-based Nordex announced its intention to build wind turbines in the U.S. last year. Local sourcing makes sense for wind turbine production, because of the high number of components needed to manufacture them. The main components are bulky, so transportation can add a huge chunk to the cost of installing wind power. Local sourcing of production cuts into that cost. Nordex is not alone in targeting local manufacturing. In addition to wind power, solar companies such as Stirling Energy Systems are beginning to turn to U.S. manufacturing for sustainable energy sourcing.

U.S.A. a Top Market for Wind Power
Because of its wide open, sparsely populated spaces, the U.S. has much more potential to tap wind power than Europe. Just one example is the massive new wind farm built by E.ON Climate and Renewables in Roscoe, Texas. According to Nordex USA, the U.S. could well be the world's biggest wind market as early as next year. That means more sustainable power - and more jobs Related posts:

1. What factors affect the output of wind turbines? Wind energy is undoubtedly one of the cleanest forms...

Published by the Consumer Federation of America, Environment America, Energy Future Coalition and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the report indicates that studies of the technical potential for easily implemented efficiency improvements show efficiency could lower demand by as much as 30 percent in states from all regions of the U.S. at costs well below the current cost of electricity.

"Efficiency and renewables are the lowest-cost, cleanest options we have for meeting future energy needs while also saving consumers billions on their monthly bills," said Dr. Mark Cooper, CFA's Director of Research and author of the report. Cooper told reporters in a recent conference call that efficiency and renewables "should be the cornerstone of our national energy policy, whether or not we adopt policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

Siting a recent study published by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the report indicated that a 25% renewable energy standard (RES) could actually reduce electricity cost and could also lead to a net consumer energy savings, slashing the equivalent carbon dioxide emissions of 43.5 million cars, or 70 coal-fired power plants.

"If we do adopt policies like a cap and trade system, energy efficiency standards and renewable energy standards would be even more vital to keep consumers' electricity bills down," Cooper noted. "Without a robust EERS and a RES, utilities will have little incentive to increase their use of consumer-friendly efficiency and renewable energy sources and will continue to build capital-intensive central station facilities that maximize their profits, but clobber the consumer pocketbook."

While the report suggests that lighting upgrades represent the biggest bang for the buck, huge savings can be made in building heating and cooling. In addition to insulating and sealing building leaks, the increased proliferation of variable speed motors can have a marked immediate impact on building energy use, particularly for larger buildings.

Variable speed motors prevent blowers from cycling on and off, thus smoothing-out energy demand spikes and lengthening the life of the motors. Variable speed motors eliminate the all-or-nothing nature of HVAC, providing greater control and consistency in building heating and cooling.

"The stakes for consumers are huge. By choosing these low-cost options, by 2030 consumer savings of 6 cents per kilowatt hour would total annual savings of over $200 billion per year," Cooper added.

The report's authors emphasize that a good energy audit will help building owners prioritize and see their biggest gains.

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The California solar market faces a serious potential roadblock next week, warns Solar Nation.  The policy that allows us to roll our meter backwards when we generate more solar electricity than we use — Net Metering — is capped at 2.5 % of system peak load. Once we reach that limit, solar net metering sunsets out.

And we are now almost at that limit. If the Legislature does not extend net metering by June 30th, that solar roof you planned in a year or two might soon be unaffordable.

If you want to stop it, take action through Solar Nation: Don’t kill Net Metering!

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