US to Cut Funds for Geothermal & Hydropower - Renewable Energy Sources

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US to cut funds for two renewable energy sources

From the September 15, 2006 edition - CS Monitor. By Mark Clayton | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Geothermal and hydropower are mature enough for private enterprise to take the lead, the government says.

Excerpts:
1. The US Department of Energy (DOE) is quitting the hydropower and geothermal power research business - if Congress will let it.

2. Declaring them "mature technologies" that need no further funding, the Bush administration in its FY 2007 budget request eliminates hydropower and geothermal research, venerable programs with roots in the energy crises of the 1970s.

3. "Zeroing out" such research could end up being a penny-wise, pound-foolish move, some energy advocates say

4. The idea that geothermal is a mature technology that doesn't need further research isn't correct according to many industry professionals. Today more than 60 geothermal plants with the capacity of about three big coal-fired power plants produce less than 1 percent of the nation's electricity (in the USA)

5. Together, high-tech hydropower and geothermal resources could contribute at least enough power to replace more than 100 medium-size coal-fired power plants with emissions-free electricity - about the number now on the drawing board.

6. Some energy industry experts also feel that research should be done on the next generation of hydropower - ocean, tidal, wave and conduit energy coming on. Power from tidal flows, waves, and irrigation canals are expanding the definition of hydropower - none of which are likely to get DOE research funding...

Personalities mentioned: Craig Stevens, chief spokesman for the DOE; V. John White, executive director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, an environmental group based in Sacramento, Calif.; Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association, a Washington trade group.; Linda Church Ciocci, executive director of the National Hydropower Association, a Washington trade group; Robbin Marks, director of the hydropower reform campaign at American Rivers, a Washington environmental group; Jerry Taylor, the Cato Institute's director of Natural Resource Studies; Trey Taylor, cofounder and president of Verdant Power in Arlington, Va.

Organizations mentioned: Department of Energy, Govt of USA; National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Original news article link here

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Portugal Announces New Wave Energy Project

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There was an announcement last week that the world's first commercial wave energy project will begin delivering wave-generated energy to the north of Portugal later this month.

The result of two decades of research at Lisbon's Superior Technical Institute, will bring the first 2.25 megawatts ashore at Aguçadoura, in northern Portugal.

It is funded by a consortium headed by leading Portuguese renewable energy company Enersis. The venture uses groundbreaking Pelamis wave devices manufactured by Edinburgh firm Ocean Power Delivery, considered the world's leading wave technology.

Enersis director for new projects Rui Barros is co-ordinating this project.In his opinion, harnessing the waves is the only one where Portugal might have a real future, owing to its geographical position and extensive coastline

There are predictions that wave power could account for up to 30 percent of the country's gross domestic product by 2050.

As part of the government supported alternative energy plan, another 28 wave power devices will be installed in Portugal within a year for wave energy. The project is supported by state run power company Energias de Portugal.

Relatively new in development, modern research into wave power had its beginnings in response to the 1973 oil crisis. Professor Stephen Salter of the University of Edinburgh pioneered research into wave energy with his prototype machine "Salter's Duck."

This machine, which still remains the standard for wave energy, converted around 90 percent of the wave power by bobbing up and down on the surface of the water — like a duck! Though the project early promise, a few setbacks and lack of government support saw the project shelved.

However, with the Portuguese system could change all that and wind energy could again become big on the world renewable energy agenda.

Scotland, for instance is another country keenly interested in wind energy and they have already started interacting with the Portuguese team for research insights on wind energy usage. Significant budgets have already been allocated for renewable marine energy in Scotland, and these would now be directed towards installing the Pelamis wave devices at the European Marine Energy Center in Orkney.

According to some estimates, wave and tidal power could supply a fifth of U.K. energy needs.

See link from World Press that provides more details.

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