SBI Energy: Market Insights, Opportunities &Trends

Two years after the enactment of ARRA, indications are strong that the Recovery Act is aiding the U.S. in attaining its goal of doubling renewable generation capacity over the next two years.

Photo: treehugger.com

Renewable energy has taken hold in the U.S. with installations of new wind turbines and solar panels occurring regularly.  The U.S. is making significant progress toward attaining its goal of doubling renewable generation capacity over the next two years, due in large part to support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) introduced in 2009.

ARRA investments are funding research projects to develop next generation renewable energy technologies, such as solar thin films and new wind turbine designs that will create a cost competitive alternative to electricity currently generated from coal or natural gas power plants while simultaneously creating long-term economic market growth. Consider the following examples:

·          Aided by ARRA investments, The Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) reports that domestic manufacturing capacity for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules is forecasted to grow from <1 GW per year in 2008 to nearly 4 GW per year in 2012.

·          ARRA investments are accelerating the rate of innovation in solar photovoltaics and according to the CEA, the new technology will drive down the costs of solar panels over the next five years; possibly by 50%.

·          U.S. wind power capacity grew 40% in 2009 over the prior year, despite weak economic and investment conditions. In July 2010, the CEA reported that ARRA was responsible for approximately 6 GW of wind capacity installation that might not otherwise have occurred in 2009. 

·          U.S. manufacturing capacity for components such as gearboxes, generators, and large casted steel parts, has lagged behind actual demand. The 48C Manufacturing Tax Credit program awarded $346 million in tax credits to 52 wind manufacturing projects to facilitate additional U.S. manufacturing capacity to ensure the U.S. is able to supply a growing domestic market through domestic production.

·          An April 2010 U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) survey indicated a 26% increase in new projects under development in 2009 and concludes that the stimulus funding played an important role in propelling geothermal growth amidst recessionary economic conditions.

Overall, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that U.S. renewable generation capacity will increase 32% more than without ARRA support – reaching 155 GW in 2015. Two years after the enactment of ARRA, indications are strong that the Recovery Act is aiding the U.S. in attaining its goal of doubling renewable generation capacity in the next two years.

-SBI Energy

(Source: sbienergy.com)

New York, December 08, 2010 — The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, December 6, 2010 that a “framework agreement” has been signed between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The agreement will allow French state–owned Areva, to sell nuclear reactors to India’ Maharashtra state complete with nuclear fuel for 25 years.

Manufacturers of nuclear reactor components, such as Areva, are entering a pivotal period as the new landscape of global nuclear energy production takes shape. Nations like India who are committed to constructing next-generation nuclear facilities will rely on these manufacturers to provide high quality products that foster a safe, secure, and enduring environment for energy production.

“India’s shortage of fossil fuels is driving its assertive investment in nuclear technology. Their government has given approval for construction of new nuclear reactors using indigenous technology,” says Shelley Carr, publisher of SBI Energy, a market research firm.

India’s dedication to developing nuclear electricity as a cleaner alternative to coal–fired power has nations–the United States, for example–fiercely competing for a piece of its lucrative opportunity. According to Nuclear Energy Technologies Worldwide: Components and Manufacturing, a study by SBI Energy, India has six reactors currently in manufacturing and ten additional units planned through the next decade. Of this ten, six will be supplied from France as part of the newly signed agreement. Local media reports the value of the first two French reactors is estimated at $9.4 billion. SBI Energy’s study forecasts the total nuclear energy installed capacity in India will accelerate its domestic production of reactors and grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13% through 2013 to reach 39.4 MWh.

SBI Energy’s Nuclear Energy Technologies Worldwide: Components and Manufacturing report covers several components of the nuclear energy technology industry around the world including the overall market value of nuclear energy technology manufacturing. The report examines shipments, imports and exports, as well as the economic and market trends driving the nuclear technology industry. For more information, please visit: http://www.sbireports.com/Nuclear-Energy-Technologies-1926673/.

About SBI Energy
SBI Energy, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes research reports in the industrial, energy, building/construction, and automotive/transportation markets. SBI Energy also offers a full range of custom research services. To learn more, visit www.sbireports.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Why aren’t alternative fuels taking off more quickly? It’s a valid question given the large quantity of proposals for massive solar and wind turbine installations in the U.S and around the globe this year.  Meanwhile, we hear little news of new alternative fuels projects.  The answer, according to a new market study, Specialty Pipelines for Renewable and Alternative Energy Substances, lies in the transportation logistics.

Crude oil, finished fuels, and natural gas pipelines crisscross the United States and the globe. But in many cases, these existing pipelines are not suitable for the transport of sensitive biofuels. The chemical disposition of biofuels is substantially different from conventional fossil fuels.  For example, the corrosiveness and water solubility of ethanol makes it incompatible with most existing pipelines. 

Industry concerns also persist regarding the contamination of jet fuel, which has strict quality control, by residual biodiesel left in the pipeline. Current pipeline deliveries of biodiesel remain limited to B5 blends through pipelines that do not traffic jet fuel. 

An additional inhibiter to immediate alternative fuel success resides in the lack of existing pipelines in remote regions where Biomethane and biogas are produced. As a result, biofuels are largely transport by truck or rail, which drives up costs and limits how effectively biofuels can be brought to market.

In order to support current and future alternative fuels development, producers and investors are looking towards specialty pipelines for their distribution needs. As a result research publisher SBI Energy forecasts that the market for specialty pipelines is expected to increase nearly 4-fold between 2010 and 2015.   Substances carried in specialty pipelines - carbon dioxide, ethanol, biodiesel, and biomethane/biogas - have found market growth due to high petroleum prices, the development of enhanced oil recovery methods using carbon dioxide injection, carbon capture and sequestration system development, the presence or potential for carbon emissions penalties in several world markets.  The fastest growing segment, Ethanol, will expand significantly as construction proceeds on dedicated ethanol pipelines, creating a market in excess of $1,000 million by 2014. The projected 2011-2015 CAGR for this market is 27.2%.

(Source: sbienergy.com)