SBI Energy: Market Insights, Opportunities &Trends

Energy Storage Technologies in Utility Markets Worldwide from leading energy industry market research publisher SBI Energy gives you the tools to:

• Assess the state of your industry and the trends that are impacting it
• Identify exciting new opportunities and evaluate growth potential
• Review potential partners or acquisition targets

Utilities grapple with excess energy lost in off-peak times and energy shortages during peak times.

Solution: Smart grid energy storage

As utilities strategize the integration of renewable energies into the electric grid, energy storage technologies ante-up.

• $34 million in start up funding for an energy storage research hub is proposed in Obama’s 2011 budget planning.
• Companies are launching new energy storage products aimed at tapping into the growing market
• The global utility sector energy storage market is expected to grow by 15.8% per year to over $10 billion in 2015.

Energy Storage Technologies in Utility Markets Worldwide from leading energy industry market research publisher SBI Energy covers:

• Applications in which energy storage solutions can be leveraged within the utility sectors

• The electric grid and its operations, identification of opportunities for energy storage solutions

• Technologies including: pumped hydro storage, CAES, electrochemical capacitors, flywheels, and batteries

• Battery technologies including lead-acid, lithium-ion, molten salt, and vanadium redox and zinc bromide flow batteries

• SMES, or Superconducting magnetic energy storage, thermal storage and vehicle-to-grid

• Global market sizing for energy storage technologies to 2015 are provided.

(Source: sbienergy.com)

The U.S. nuclear-power industry is questioning the “scientific basis” of the Obama administration’s decision to evacuate U.S. citizens and military personnel within a 50-mile radius of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan.

SBI Energy’s Nuclear Energy Technologies Worldwide market study examined studies on the health consequences of the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island accidents conducted by several government agencies, including the U.S. NRC, and independent organizations.

In the case of Three Mile Island, comprehensive investigations concluded that despite the serious damage to the reactor and the facility, most of the radiation was contained and any that was released had negligible effects on the physical health of people or the surrounding environment.

The effects of the Chernobyl accident have been documented in reports conducted by the World Health Organization and International Atomic Energy Agency, both of which have been challenged in assessing the significance of their observations because of the lack of reliable public health information of area residents before 1986 when the accident occurred. A multi-agency study from 2006 concluded that people in the area have suffered more from a “paralyzing fatalism due to myths and misperceptions about the threat of radiation” rather than radiation itself.

(Source: sbireports.com)

01 February 2011 | Renewable Energy Focus USA

Funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) from 2009 has made a significant contribution to the US goal of doubling renewable energy capacity over the next two years.

By Renewable Energy Focus staff

Market researcher SBI Energy has looked at ARRA investments and their impact on the renewable energy market to date.

Among Its Key Findings Are:

• Domestic manufacturing capacity for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules is forecasted to grow from <1 GW annually in 2008 to 4 GW annually in 2012, according to the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA);
• ARRA investments are speeding up the rate of innovation in solar PV helping to drive down the costs of solar panels over the next five years – possibly by 50%;
• US wind power capacity grew 40% in 2009 over 2008, and according to CEA, ARRA was responsible for around 6 GW of wind capacity that might not otherwise have been installed in 2009;
• US manufacturing capacity for components such as gearboxes, generators and large casted steel parts, has lagged behind demand. The 48C Manufacturing Tax Credit program awarded US$346 million in tax credits to 52 wind manufacturing projects to add to US manufacturing capacity to supply a growing domestic market; and
• A US Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) survey indicates a 26% increase in new projects under development in 2009.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that US renewable energy generation capacity will increase 32% more than if it had not had ARRA support – reaching 155 GW in 2015.

This article is featured in:
Policy, Investment and Markets

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)