oil pan $5 / oil filter $2 /wrench $10 / air filters $5 – $5 (little italy). < >. image 1 · image 2 · image 3 · image 4 · image 5 · image 6 · image 7 · image 8 …
oil pan $5 / oil filter $2 /wrench $10 / air filters $5
Sunday, 29 November 2015
oil pan $5 / oil filter $2 /wrench $10 / air filters $5
oil pan $5 / oil filter $2 /wrench $10 / air filters $5
Friday, 27 November 2015
MLA Report: With the right leadership, we can build the energy future we want
There are few places in British Columbia that are more connected to power generation than Columbia River–Revelstoke. Home to considerable power projects like Revelstoke Dam, and part of the affected area of the Columbia River Basin, we understand this industry, and live daily with its benefits and consequences.
British Columbians have long benefitted from being owners of much of the power generated within this province, and through BC Hydro, a Crown Corporation that has traditionally provided significant dividends to the public purse, we have received access to consistent, low cost power.
Unfortunately, over the last 14 years under the BC Liberals, British Columbians have watched the cost of hydro skyrocket as government forced our Crown Corporation to make decisions that were not in the best interest of either BC Hydro or BC ratepayers.
It is time for British Columbians to make a new choice; a choice for better management of this precious resource, and better energy policy that protects rate payers, manages for sustainability, protects farmland, and moves us toward a green energy future.
Put forward by the BC NDP, PowerBC is a better plan for a brighter future for British Columbia. I believe that BC’s energy policy must be bold and progressive. We can protect BC Hydro customers from rising rates, produce good-paying jobs close to home, respect First Nations land title, and launch careers in clean energy and retrofit construction, maintenance, manufacturing and high-tech engineering.
PowerBC is about retrofitting public buildings, homes and businesses for energy efficiency, resulting in reduced energy costs and community-based jobs.
PowerBC is about maximizing current capacity in existing dams such as the Revelstoke Dam. Forward-thinking engineering built this structure for future capacity. We can still add one more turbine in Revelstoke Dam which would generate 500 megawatts of new capacity and create 390 person-years of skilled trades employment.
PowerBC is about making significant investments in clean energy. British Columbia is particularly well suited to produce renewable energy and could be an exporter of not only renewable energy, but of renewable energy technology.
Columbia River–Revelstoke has already embraced a diversity of energy production options that range from the SunMine in Kimberley to the bioenergy facility in Skookumchuk. Across British Columbia, there are tremendous opportunities for geothermal, wind, tidal and solar generation.
With the right leadership, we can build the energy future we want. If you want to learn more about PowerBC, go to bcndpcaucus.ca/powerbc.
Norm Macdonald is the MLA for Columbia River–Revelstoke. He can be reached at 1-866-870-4188 and norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca.
MLA Report: With the right leadership, we can build the energy future we want
Thursday, 26 November 2015
Heating AC Furnace Air Filters
I have several cases of different kinds of filters available. These are sold by the case – prices vary.
12 Pack AAF 14x25x1 StrataDensity Air Filter 221-375-051
$30
12 Pack AAF 14x18x1 Heating AC Air Filter 221-401-151
$30
12 Pack Glasfloss 20x25x2 ZLP20252 ZLine Pleated Heating AC Air Filter
$80
12 Pack AAF 8 3/4 x 22 x 2 Perfect Pleat HC8 Air Filter 170-02-08G22A
$140
6 Pack 16x25x4 40 HC Filter Unicorp FIL 10467
$200
12 Pack AAF Perfect Pleat HC M8 Heating AC Filter 16x20x2 170-112-500
$80
12 Pack AAF Perfect Pleat HC M8 Heating AC Filter 16x25x2 170-112-600
$80
4 Pack VORNADO Replacement Air Purifier Filter MD1-0006
$30
12 Pack Facet Aire 16 x 22 1/4 x 1 Polyester Air Filters
$60
12 Pack Purolator 12 x 12 x 1 P312-STD1 AC Heating Air Filters
$30
12 Pack UAF PE-3, 8 x 19 7/8 x 1/4 Metal Frame Filters
$100
12 Pack UAF PE-5X, 13 3/4 x 22 1/4 x 1/2 Metal Frame Filters
$160
12 Pack Flanders 20″ x 20″ x 1″ Air Filters 10055.012020 $30
3 Pack Clean Comfort FS2025 Five Seasons Air Cleaner Filter $70
12 Pack Flanders PrecisionAire 18″ x 18″ x 1″ No-Metal Fiberglass Air Filters $30
12 Pack Flanders 10255.021620 16″ x 20″ x 2″ Flat Panel HD GLS $35
Call
show contact info
to make an appointment to purchase or for more details, call Benjamin at
show contact info
***Put Benjamin’s Phone # in Craiglist search box to see other items for sale.***
Heating AC Furnace Air Filters
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
SunEdison May Call Off Acquisition of Indian Wind Energy IPP
November 25th, 2015 by Saurabh Mahapatra
More Indian news outlets are now reporting the possibility that SunEdison will back out of its acquisition of Indian wind energy independent power producer Continuum Wind Energy.
Leading business daily Economic Times has reported that the US-based renewable energy project developer may not go ahead with the acquisition of Continuum Wind Energy, after SunEdison had announced earlier this year plans to acquire the wind energy company for an estimated $600 million.
The deal was termed as one of the most significant in terms of exhibiting global confidence in the Indian renewable energy market. Continuum’s acquisition would have given SunEdison control of over 400 MW of wind energy assets (operational as well as under construction) and, more significantly, a crucial footprint in the Indian wind energy market.
The likelihood of this deal not going ahead will, however, not be a reflection on the Indian renewable energy market but on SunEdison’s financial condition.
Last month, the company announced that it will lay off 15% of its workforce. SunEdison’s stock price at the New York Stock Exchange has plummeted from a high of $31.66 on 20 July to $3.00 on 20 November, while shares of its yieldco, Terraform Power have also plummeted from this year’s high of $42.66 to less than $10. The company reported a loss of $263 million for the second quarter following a spree of acquisitions around the world. In addition to acquiring several renewable energy assets, the company also reported record capacity of 1.9 GW under construction in its second quarter earnings report.
Keep up to date with all the hottest cleantech news by subscribing to our (free) cleantech newsletter, or keep an eye on sector-specific news by getting our (also free) solar energy newsletter, electric vehicle newsletter, or wind energy newsletter.
About the Author
Saurabh Mahapatra A young solar enthusiast from India keeping an eye on all regulatory, policy and market updates from one of the fastest emerging solar power markets in the world.
SunEdison May Call Off Acquisition of Indian Wind Energy IPP
Monday, 23 November 2015
Armando Brunetti Camfil Americas Executive Vice President Delivers Keynote Address at INDA Expo
[ACCESSWIRE]
Armando Brunetti, Executive Vice President of Camfil Americas, Recently Delivered the Keynote Speech at INDA’s 24th Filtration(R) International Conference & Exposition
CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / November 23, 2015 / INDA’s 24th Filtration(R) International Conference & Exposition was recently held in Chicago with Armando Brunetti, Executive Vice President of Camfil Americas, delivering the keynote address. The event, which highlighted major breakthroughs in the filtration industry, featured a combination of educational seminars, training, product displays, and networking opportunities for filtration professionals and other guests in attendance.
About Filtration 2015
The Filtration 2015: International Conference and Exposition took place from November 17-19. With over 1,500 people in attendance and 130 exhibitors, filtration business professionals were afforded the opportunity to gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies from across the globe. In addition to Camfil Americas, the list of presenters and exhibitors included MANN+HUMMEL Innenraumfilter GmbH & Co. KG, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Nederman LLC, and DuPont Protection Technologies.
Examining Filtration Media Requirements of the Future
During his keynote address, Brunetti spoke about filtration media requirements of the future. According to INDA President Dave Rousse, “The growing potential of filter media products… is valued at $15.4 billion in North American sales to end users.” Brunetti, who has spent more than three decades in the filtration industry, touched on key issues concerning his perspectives and actions in response to the realities of global business trends and those that shape the North American market, while remaining true to the core values of his company.
Other conference speakers included Steven Dulin, Application Engineer, GE Water & Process Technologies; Hyun Lim, Ph.D., Technical Fellow, DuPont, Inc.; and Fred Lybrand, President, Americas, ELMARCO, Inc.
More information about the recent conference can be found by visiting http://www.inda.org/.
About Camfil
Camfil has developed sustainable clean air solutions for more than half a century. A major focus of the company has been to provide customers with the ideal balance of clean air and energy efficiency, with minimal environmental impact.
According to the company, when it comes to matters such as HVAC costs, “In the average commercial building, 50% of the energy bill is for the HVAC system and 30% of that is directly related to the air filtration, so it always pays for you to choose the best low energy air filter combination for the right filtration application.”
Camfil 5-star premium air filters have proven effective in lowering the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for many customers over time. The company boasts several case studies that demonstrate the cost saving afforded to customers who use Camfil filtration products and services.
According to one case study, involving a U.S. Department of Energy research and development center site that was facing air quality issues, “The government lab now only buys Camfil product knowing the lab’s filters will maintain peak air quality performance and provide energy savings. Proof came after a series of tests were performed in the lab where Camfil Hi-Flo filter outperformed the Flanders Precisionaire filter with the Hi-Flo operating at 38% higher efficiency while at the same time maintaining pressure drop 10% lower than the competitor’s filter.”
More information about Camfil’s case studies can be found by visiting http://www.camfil.us/CaseStudies/.
For more information about Camfil, or to request a Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis for your HVAC system air filters, please visit http://www.camfil.us/.
Media Contact
Lynne Laake / Sales and Marketing
Director of Marketing
Camfil USA, Inc
807 Indian Lakes Blvd, Clarksville, OH 45113, USA
Fax: +1 (973) 616-7771
Email: lynne.laake@camfil.com
SOURCE: Camfil USA, Inc via Submit Press Release 123
Armando Brunetti Camfil Americas Executive Vice President Delivers Keynote Address at INDA Expo
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Solar Home Owner Shows Off House and Tells Benefits of Solar Energy
Solar panels are attached to the roof of the home.Solar Home Owner Shows Off House and Tells Benefits of Solar Energy
Saturday, 21 November 2015
70's chev vega air filters *pending
new and going into the garbage. if you can use them, respond with name and number. will not respond to emails w/o number. thanks.
70"s chev vega air filters *pending
Friday, 20 November 2015
WIND ENERGY IN POLAND 2015
2015 is the groundbreaking year for the renewable energy sector. With the entry into force of the RES Act, as of 2016 the rules for awarding support for renewable energy sources will change. A fundamental change in the philosophy of financing further development of RES portfolio is occurring, from the quite generous yet unstable system of certificates to a cheaper formula which offers lower but more predictable support in the auction model.
On 19 November 2015, at Centrum Prasowe PAP, a press conference was held with the participation of the representatives of the nation-wide media. The conference was dedicated to the launch the 7th edition of the “Wind Energy in Poland” report, the co-authors of which are the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency PAIiIZ, TPA Horwath consultancy and BSJP law firm.
At the conference, Dominik Sołtysiak, partner at BSJP and a specialist in the field of energy law, presented some practical observations on the Act on Renewable Energy Sources.
At the moment, the report presented at the conference comes as the only, and widely recognized with the representatives of the industry, comprehensive study of wind energy in Poland. In the 7th edition of the report, there are thoroughly analyzed both the existing support scheme based on the green certificates and the new auction model, under which the first auction should be organized in 2016. The report describes the situation of the market, legal conditions, possibilities of support and risks awaiting developers and investors in this sector.
The patron of the issue is the Polish Wind Energy Association, while the media patronage was assumed by PTWP Group, the publisher of e.g. Nowy Przemysł and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
WIND ENERGY IN POLAND 2015
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Solarplicity acquires MAP Environmental's solar division
UK-facing installer Solarplicity has said its expansion is to continue after acquiring MAP Environmental’s solar division.
A statement issued by Solarplicity, the installation business founded by David Elbourne, which boasts former England rugby international Austin Healey among its directors, said that the deal marked a “new dawn” for its solar energy business.
“Our new model is already attracting great interest and we see a positive change in the way solar energy benefits customers in the UK. This culminates in our new vision for the solar energy business in the UK,” Elbourne said.
MAP Environmental most famously targeted a 400MW portfolio of solar assets last year after signing a £400 million deal with Chinese module manufacturer ZN Shine, which was backed by prime minister David Cameron.
However since then ZN Shine has shuttered its European operations after being removed from the minimum import price undertaking, and allegations of fraud were subsequently made against its European managing director.
Solarplicity has claimed that it will be taking on MAP Environmental’s pipeline as part of the deal.
The acquisition adds to already close links between the two companies. MAP Environmental chief executive Paul Wheeler is also a director at Solarplicity.
Solarplicity acquires MAP Environmental"s solar division
Wednesday, 18 November 2015
UC Merced Professors Gasification Projects in North Fork and Biochar Products Could Benefit the ...
- Details
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 17 November 2015 05:53
November 16, 2015 – By Lorena Anderson, University Communications – Two overlapping research projects involving UC Merced professors could have big implications for the region’s economy and effects on renewable energy, water and wildfires. Professor Gerardo Diaz, with the School of Engineering, received nearly $900,000 through two grants: one from the California Energy Commission for the analysis and optimization of a 1-megawatt biomass gasification plant in North Fork, and the other from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study a gasification byproduct for use in agriculture and air and water filtration.
(From left to right) Professor YangQuan Chen, Professor Gerardo Diaz, Phoenix Energy CEO and UC Merced Trustee Gregory Stangl and Phoenix Energy plant Manager Todd Machado are working on biochar projects together.
Diaz and a group of industry experts are working on a new gasification plant in North Fork, a little town in the foothills between Merced and Fresno. It’s a $5 million project that aims to take biomass from nearby Sierra forests and, using a gasifier, turn the dead material into energy.
Diaz, who has years of experience with gasification, is helping make sure the plant runs as efficiently as possible and, using an array of diagnostic equipment and tools, will evaluate the plant’s performance and the gas that’s produced.
Gasification is a thermo-chemical conversion process that essentially “cooks” biomass in an oxygen-starved environment. Without sufficient oxygen, the material does not burn, but gives off a hydrogen-rich gas, while the biomass converted into solid carbon. The “syngas” given off in the process is cooled and cleaned, and can be used as a substitute natural gas to create electricity or liquid fuels.
“There’s a lot of biomass out there now, especially because of the drought and climate change,” Diaz said. “This gasification plant will cut down on the financial and environmental costs of transporting material that is removed, help with forest management and restoration plans, reduce the amount of fuel for wildfires, and create jobs and ancillary services in the region.
“Part of what is so exciting about the project is the collaborative effort,” he said. “No single entity could do this alone, but we have a group with people from the industry, from academia, biomass managers — all experts in different areas.”
Gasifying biomass achieves several goals:
- It is a cleaner way of producing renewable energy — gasification plants are considered carbon-negative because they produce solid carbon instead of CO2.
- It rids forests and fields of materials that would otherwise rot and produce methane or help fuel wildfires. Wildfires regularly threaten lives and property, cost untold millions to control and clean up, and greatly contribute to poor air quality and climate change.
- It produces biochar, a soil amendment that helps increase crop yield, refreshes worn out soils, retains soil moisture, reduces the need for fertilizers and sequesters carbon that would otherwise be emitted as greenhouse gases.
The biochar is where the two UC Merced projects overlap. Diaz and his co-principal investigator, Professor YangQuan Chen, are working with partner Phoenix Energy on yet another use for the byproduct — as activated carbon for water and air filtration systems.
“Our biochar co-product is almost as valuable as the energy we produce,” said Greg Stangl, CEO of Phoenix, a Merced-based renewable-energy company and longtime UC Merced partner.
Most of his company’s demands for biochar as an agricultural product come from outside the state, but Stangl, Diaz and Chen aim to change that. Diaz and Chen said the demand will grow when incentives for water-efficient agriculture are implemented in California.
Right now, though, they want to take the gasification leftovers and make activated carbon. Nationally, public utilities and industry spend about $2 billion a year on activated carbon, mostly from Asian coconut shells or coal-based carbon.
Diaz, Chen and Phoenix received more than $300,000 from the USDA to find the right way to activate the carbon.
“Carbon activation is almost as much an art as a science,” Stangl said. “You have to engineer the microscopic pores in the carbon so they trap the particular molecules you want them to filter out.”
In homes, activated carbon is used in water filters such as pitchers or sink-enhancements, and also in fish tank filters, air purifiers, home air filters and many other applications. Industrially, it’s used by local water treatment districts for water cleanup and for removing foul odors from the air.
Phoenix has the gasification plants, and Diaz has the expertise. Chen is an expert in precision controls, and will help optimize the reactor that performs the biochar activation process using steam and heat.
“We have a research enterprise based around biochar, but it’s not just the research,” Chen said. “This has a potentially huge benefit for California. This could be critical to the sustainability of the Central Valley.”
Stangl said this project has many layers, including reducing dependence on imported activated carbon, creating jobs to boost the area’s economy and helping the environment, including the creation of renewable energy.
“That’s why this partnership with UC Merced makes so much sense,” he said.
Source: UC Merced
UC Merced Professors Gasification Projects in North Fork and Biochar Products Could Benefit the ...
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
A year after fixed-fee increase, Green Bay utility seeks another
A year after receiving an 83% increase in the fixed customer charge on monthly electric bills, Wisconsin Public Service Corp. is seeking another increase in that fee — this time by an additional 32%.
The state Public Service Commission will consider the Green Bay power company’s proposal this week and by the end of the year is expected to vote on a proposal from an Eau Claire utility to more than double its fixed charge.
The new bids to increase the monthly charges come after the Green Bay utility, Milwaukee-based We Energies and Madison Gas & Electric Co. all won approval of big increases a year ago.
The proposals — and those this year — met with widespread opposition from consumer advocates and other organizations, including AARP. Those critics say the higher fees discourage customers from conserving energy and hurt low-income electricity customers.
Utilities say higher fixed charges are offset in part by lower rates tied to electricity usage and are designed to help them better allocate costs associated with costs that aren’t linked to the price of energy, such as repairing power lines damaged by storms.
WPS also says rural electric cooperatives have imposed higher fixed charges on their members. Their rates aren’t regulated by the state, however.
If approved, the fixed charge paid by WPS customers will have more than doubled since last year, from $10.40 to $25 a month, Patricia Finder-Stone of AARP said during a public hearing on the Green Bay utility’s proposal.
“It makes consumers pay more before they even turn on their lights,” she said. “This increase has a disproportionate effect on seniors and others that are living on limited or fixed incomes.”
Last year, the PSC ultimately approved an increase of 85% to $19 a month for Madison Gas & Electric Co.; 75% to $16 a month for We Energies of Milwaukee; and 83% to $19 a month for WPS.
Wisconsin has become an outlier on fixed charges based on what utility regulators have approved around the country.
A review of decisions in other states by Renew Wisconsin found that 35 utilities proposed to increase their fixed charges in 2014 and so far in 2015. Of those, 14 utilities were required to keep the charges unchanged, while 18 were allowed increases between 1 cent and $4.30 a month. The biggest increases were the three in Wisconsin, ranging from $6.83 to $8.71.
“Only in Wisconsin have large increases been granted,” said Tyler Huebner, executive director of Renew Wisconsin, a renewable energy advocacy group.
When ruling last year, Wisconsin commissioners agreed with utilities that they should be able to charge higher fixed fees in response to changes taking place in the energy sector as costs fall for renewable energy that customers can generate themselves.
PSC staffers and analysts are recommending that the commission hold off on further increases to the fixed charge for WPS.
“Given the small amount of time since the current rates went into effect, the commission may wish to hold off on additional fixed charge increases until more information is available as to how WPSC’s customers are responding to the price signals” from last year’s decision, said Corey Singletary, energy policy analyst at the agency.
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A year after fixed-fee increase, Green Bay utility seeks another
Monday, 16 November 2015
Nearly half of British offshore wind farms 'locally sourced'
With the UK government expected to this week set out new plans for cost-effectively decarbonising the energy sector, two new reports aim to underline the economic benefits of investing in offshore wind power, despite it remaining one of the more expensive forms of renewable energy.
Analysis by BVG Associates will today show 43 per cent of the content used to build and run UK offshore wind farms has been sourced locally. The report commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), sea bed-owner The Crown Estate and trade body RenewableUK, is the first of its kind to show the level to which UK companies are reaping rewards from the expanding offshore wind industry.
FURTHER READING
The report details how the sector in the UK is well on track to meet its self-declared target for 50 per cent UK content in offshore wind farms. RenewableUK said the performance translates to £840m of offshore wind investment being retained in the UK in the past year alone.
Wind industry companies have come under pressure in recent years to prove their investments are creating local jobs by attracting new manufacturing plants or supply chain opportunities. With some earlier projects, such as Thanet offshore wind farm, sourcing only 20 per cent of its content from UK operations, fears had been mounting that the country would once again miss out on attracting local investment in manufacturing capacity, repeating the experience of the onshore wind sector.
But Benj Sykes, co-chairman of the government and industry led Offshore Wind Industry Council, predicted local content share for offshore wind farms will now increase further as the industry develops. “We expect the amount of UK content to grow as more companies base their operations here,” he said. “This includes the recent opening of a blade factory on the Isle of Wight, and Siemens’ landmark blade manufacturing and turbine assembly plant scheduled to open in Hull next year. This means more jobs and investment in local communities, proving that the offshore wind industry is making a substantial contribution to the British economy.”
The report reveals that currently the actual content in wind turbine supply remains low, at just three per cent, while most large electrical components, such as switch gear transformers, were also imported. However, UK businesses, such as Harland and Woolff and BiFab, contributed significantly to the construction of offshore platforms and foundations, and a large chunk of investment for operations and maintenance is sourced in the UK.
Meanwhile, a separate report from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) today, predicts the wind industry as a whole could generate 366,000 jobs and €591bn in investments across the bloc by 2030.
The report predicts wind power will be the largest single source of European electricity supply by the end of the next decade, overtaking coal and gas. But it warned the sector would only be able to secure this prospective leadership position if governments show a renewed commitment to delivering on their clean energy and climate change policies.
It comes after a separate report last week from the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted renewable energy globally will overtake coal as the number one source of energy by the early 2030s. Renewable energy technologies accounted for nearly half of all new electricity plants in 2014, and are now the second largest power generator after coal.
The European Union has agreed to source 27 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, but it has yet to explain how that goal will be shared between member states – an uncertainty that has sparked concern across much of the wind power industry.
Today’s EWEA report calls for countries to develop national renewable energy action plans among a range of policy proposals that could help boost the industry.
The report predicts that under a “central scenario”, wind power will deliver 334,000 jobs and €474bn in investments by 2030. But this could rise significantly to 366,000 jobs and €591bn if the EU shows a stronger commitment to helping the industry succeed, the EWEA added.
“Wind power can be the foundation of the European energy system within the next 15 years,” said Giles Dickson, chief executive of EWEA in a statement. “Wind power makes economic sense. But policymakers must demonstrate more determination than is on show today. Wind power can deliver economic growth in Europe by boosting investments, creating jobs and reducing electricity bills. A new market design, a reformed ETS and rigorous accountability on 2030 targets are essential if these goals are to be achieved.”
The wind energy industry has enjoyed an impressive run of form, as costs have fallen and ever more efficient onshore and offshore turbines have emerged. The pace at which the sector’s impressive expansion continues now rests to a large extent in the hands of Europe’s policymakers.
Nearly half of British offshore wind farms "locally sourced"
Company Shares of Real Goods Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGSE) Drops by -55.65%
Real Goods Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGSE) has lost 55.65% during the past week and dropped 64.34% in the last 4 weeks. The shares are however, negative as compared to the S&P 500 for the past week with a loss of 53.98%. Real Goods Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGSE) has underperformed the index by 64.16% in the last 4 weeks. Investors should watch out for further signals and trade with caution.
Real Goods Solar, Inc. has dropped 61.94% during the last 3-month period . Year-to-Date the stock performance stands at -94.69%.The company shares have dropped 96.96% in the past 52 Weeks. On November 18, 2014 The shares registered one year high of $18.4 and one year low was seen on November 13, 2015 at $0.45. The 50-day moving average is $1.17 and the 200 day moving average is recorded at $1.93. S&P 500 has rallied 0.9% during the last 52-weeks.
Real Goods Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGSE) witnessed a decline in the market cap on Friday as its shares dropped 0.1% or 0.0005 points. After the session commenced at $0.52, the stock reached the higher end at $0.539 while it hit a low of $0.4518. With the volume soaring to 515,027 shares, the last trade was called at $0.51. The company has a 52-week high of $18.4. The company has a market cap of $6.3 million and there are 12,294,407 shares in outstanding. The 52-week low of the share price is $0.4518.
Currently the company Insiders own 13.99% of Real Goods Solar, Inc. shares according to the proxy statements. Institutional Investors own 10.21% of Real Goods Solar, Inc. shares. During last six month period, the net percent change held by insiders has seen a change of 329%. On a different note, The Company has disclosed insider buying and selling activities to the Securities Exchange, The Securities and Exchange Commission has divulged in a Form 4 filing that the director of Real Goods Solar, Inc., Belluck David L had purchased shares worth of $1,244,133 in a transaction dated on July 15, 2015. A total of 378,156 shares were purchased at a price of $3.29 per share. The information is based on open market trades at the market prices.Option exercises are not covered.
Real Goods Solar, Inc. is a solar energy company. The Company serves commercial, residential, and utility customers. The Company provides a solar solution, from design, financing, permitting and installation to ongoing monitoring, maintenance and support. The Company offers free home solar quotes, as well as solar system financing, design, engineering, permitting, installation, rebate acquisition, maintenance, and monitoring. Effective May 14, 2014, the Company acquired Elemental Energy LLC, doing business as Sunetric.
Company Shares of Real Goods Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGSE) Drops by -55.65%
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Ms201t air filters
Air filter for ms201t chain saw.
It’s a mesh filter so your 201 has power similar to the 200t’s.
Air flow on the 201’s has always been a problem for a lot of tree trimmers.
This helps along with a muffler modify to increase speed and better trigger response.
I have 3 for sale. Posting will remain up until they are gone.
Thanks for reading and make it a great day!!!!
Ms201t air filters
Saturday, 14 November 2015
U Travelers Can Use Green Travel Fund to Stay Environmentally Friendly
Those who travel on behalf of the U, such as on a business trip or for a football game, can help reduce emissions with the Green Travel Fund.
When people travel for the U, they receive a reimbursement check for their expenses. The new program allows participants to donate any portion of that money to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to counter the increased carbon footprint caused by travel.
In 2014, students and employees traveled more than a combined 17 million miles by air and car on university-related trips (though the majority of the U’s gas emissions come from non-renewable energy sources on campus, with travel constituting less than five percent of the U’s carbon footprint).
Donations in the program go to the Sustainable Campus Initiative’s revolving loan fund, which contributes to large scale sustainability projects on campus and within the community. The donations could potentially be used to replace heating systems with more energy efficient models or to install solar panels, but specific projects have yet to be decided upon.
“It goes back into the campus renewable energy projects, so it’s kind of a great full circle,” said Sarah Lappé, Office of Sustainability outreach coordinator.
The idea for the fund was outlined in the U’s 2010 Climate Action Plan, but efforts to implement it did not start until two years ago. In order to make the program a reality, offices and departments from across campus coordinated, including Travel Services, Tax Services & Payroll and Accounting and the Office of Development.
“I think everybody worked hard to figure out how to make it possible,” said Stephanie Dolmat-Connell, Office of Sustainability senior research analyst.
Other universities offered similar programs prior to the U’s unveiling of the Green Travel Fund, as did some major airlines, such as Delta, which offers a carbon offset option. Those behind the U’s program were inspired to create a local version of these programs that would impact this community, specifically.
The overall goal of the program is “to make our campus a greener place and … give [people] a way to offset their travel in a way that makes sense to them,” Dolmat-Connell said.
The program has gained traction since it went public at the end of October. Faculty and staff from the Sustainability Office were among the first to get involved when they donated to the fund after attending a conference in Minneapolis.
s.legg@dailyutahchronicle.com
@sarahnlegg
Related
Friday, 13 November 2015
Gov. Cuomo Vetoes LNG Terminal, Making Room for Offshore Wind Power in New York
New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo has once again demonstrated important clean energy and climate leadership today by vetoing plans for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, called the Port Ambrose project, proposed for the waters off Long Island’s South Shore. (The governor’s veto is allowed under the federal Deepwater Ports Act, which gives adjacent states veto power over proposed deepwater terminals in federal waters.) The governor’s veto clears the way for an offshore wind project proposed for the same ocean site, resolving a very visible and concrete conflict between fossil fuel energy and renewable energy. “This facility is right in the middle of an area that has been proposed for possible renewable energy. That would disrupt that plan,” the governor said, citing climate change and other dangers as his motivation for vetoing the LNG terminal. The governor’s veto is a victory for our climate–with clean energy winning out over dirty fossil fuels–and a win for our local economy, too.
The governor’s veto puts an end to the ill-conceived Port Ambrose project. As I explained earlier, the project would have effectively blocked development of the state’s significant offshore wind power resources in this area, called the New York Bight, by occupying the area best suited for offshore turbine siting, thereby making construction and operation of a wind power project there substantially more difficult and expensive. The approval process for offshore wind power in this portion of the Bight has already been moving ahead, with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in the process of designating this portion of the Bight as a federal Wind Energy Area, and preparing, after that, to hold an auction for the right to develop offshore wind in this area. There is already at least one offshore wind power project waiting to be developed there: the Long Island-New York City Offshore Wind Project, which three New York utilities proposed long before plans for the Port Ambrose LNG terminal was submitted for approval. Private developers have also expressed interest in developing offshore wind at this site.
As this map indicates, the proposed Port Ambrose LNG terminal would have conflicted with an offshore wind power project proposed in 2011 and now moving through the siting process.
The LI-NYC project has the potential to power more than 200,000 metropolitan-area homes, pollution-free. A Stony Brook University study found that a 250-megawatt offshore wind power project could create nearly 3,000 local jobs. (The LI-NYC project is slated to start at 350 megawatts and might eventually grow to 700 megawatts.) And offshore wind power can improve the reliability of our region’s overstressed electric grid. That’s because offshore wind power generates the most electricity when we need it most: on cold winter days and hot summer afternoons.
Offshore wind power is essential to helping New York meet its ambitious climate goals as well as its forward-looking clean energy plans. Thanks to the governor’s veto today, and the hard work over two years by a coalition of national, state, and local groups, including NRDC, to oppose the LNG terminal, this proposed offshore wind power project, and others put forward for the area by private developers, won’t be blocked by a fossil fuel project that we never needed. Residents of Long Island and the rest of New York know only too well from our experiences of Hurricane Sandy that we need to end our reliance on dirty fossil fuels and build a clean energy economy right here in New York, right now. With any luck, in fact, these offshore wind power proposals will be able to move forward soon. Only two weeks ago, BOEM head Abby Hopper stated that moving forward with offshore wind power in New York was BOEM’s “No. 1 priority at the moment. All systems go.”
As world leaders prepare for the upcoming climate talks in Paris, there’s new reason for optimism that we can tackle climate change and move forward on clean energy. At the national level, President Obama’s Clean Power Plan is setting historic new carbon pollution standards for power plants. And just last week, President Obama vetoed the Keystone XL pipeline. Here in New York, in the lead up to Paris, Governor Cuomo is speaking out on climate and clean energy, establishing ambitious state climate and clean energy goals and revolutionizing the role of utilities with the Reforming Energy Vision process. Today’s decision nixing Port Ambrose in favor of offshore wind is a further demonstration of the governor’s leadership and his commitment to walking the walk on climate and clean energy.
Gov. Cuomo Vetoes LNG Terminal, Making Room for Offshore Wind Power in New York
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Sonnenbatterie, Ecotricity and SMA-backed Energy Storage events and media to target UK market
Top names have signed up to support the Energy Storage division of Solar Power Portal’s publisher Solar Media, which has launched a series of events and media activities for next year, targeting the UK’s nascent industry.
Germany’s market leader in the residential storage space, Sonnenbatterie, multi-national grid-scale storage developer NEC Energy Solutions, solar inverter maker SMA and “green utility” Ecotricity are just some of the big names already signed up as partners to Energy Storage.
With the involvement of the PV Tech Storage editorial team, Energy Storage has been fact-finding and meeting with stakeholders to get the clearest idea of the best ways to help the industry grow, in both PV-related and non-PV applications for energy storage.
There is a sense of urgency in the timing, as Britain’s renewable energy industry appears to be on the brink of severe cuts to policy support. Residential solar feed-in tariff (FiTs) rates are expected to be cut by as much as 87%, rendering the support mechanism essentially meaningless.
David Hunt, chief of Hyperion Executive Search, a recruitment agency specialising in renewables, told Solar Power Portal’s sister site PV Tech Storage he believed the UK solar market will be a challenging one for at least the next year and a half. Hunt was himself a solar installer in Britain before setting up Hyperion.
“Clearly the UK policy landscape for the solar sector is at present is not good, cuts to the RO [Renewable Obligations] and proposed cuts to the FiT will make the UK a difficult market for the next 12-18 months,” Hunt said.
“There may be a surprise in the consultation results coming, but the likelihood is a tough period in the UK with some closures and consolidation.”
While for the most part manufacturers, which typically spread their risk over a number of markets, are less affected, as has been seen in Germany, many solar installers and developers are now taking a closer look at energy storage. In some cases, companies have been diversifying to include storage alongside their solar offerings, or in other cases, mothballing solar operations and switching over to storage. With incentives gone, the business case for storage at household level is likely to be found in self-consuming PV power generated onsite, which would lead to savings on electricity bills over time.
“Like most companies in the renewables sector we have had to adapt, and are helping many of our clients who are doing the same,” Hunt said.
“Of course developers and installers alike are looking at other technologies to balance the loss of solar income and opportunities. Energy storage is by far the hottest topic in the industry at present, from utility scale for the developers, to domestic scale for the installers. Installers see storage as a logical step; most are in essence electrical contractors, so the technology isn’t too difficult to grasp, and many have a database of ‘low hanging fruit’ existing customers for whom they have installed solar PV, some of whom are on the highest FIT tariffs. Offering to retrofit energy storage to these is the obvious first step.”
Energy Storage events and media
There are clearly both barriers and opportunities ahead. The need to solve these and other problems, as well as offering reinforcement of the more positive aspects of the industry and to get the message out on what storage can do, for the environment and for flexibility in the electricity network, has inspired the Energy Storage team under the leadership of new division director Dan Caesar to put together a calendar of events.
Starting this week with a closed-doors steering committee discussion on Friday about the prospects for commercial-scale energy storage in the UK, the division will also go on to host Energy Storage Business Models in London in February, looking at the best ways to monetise those business models.
After that, in April, the company will host the Energy Storage Summit at Twickenham Stadium, which recently hosted matches in the Rugby Union World Cup, as well as Energy Storage 100, a celebration of the 100 most influential companies in the space.
Finally, Solar Media’s flagship show, Solar Energy UK, which is in Birmingham in the third quarter of each year, will host Energy Storage UK for the second time after a successful first outing this year.
As David Hunt of Hyperion said, there are clearly challenges in establishing an energy storage industry, both within the context of what it can do for solar and as a standalone industry. Yet despite what we have seen in the past few months in renewables policy, the UK, closing in on 9GW of installed PV generation capacity, is attracting interest from around the world for storage.
“Along with Australia the UK is certainly a key target market for storage manufacturers, certainly those with solutions for the domestic sector, such as Sonnenbatterie and Aquion (maker of the Aqueous Hybrid Ion battery),” Hunt said.
“An established base of installed PV, and a receptive and established network of distributors and installers makes entry relatively easy and attractive. There are many similarities with the UK and the German markets, and logically there is an assumption that the UK will follow suit on storage as it has on solar.”
Partners to have already signed up include Sonnenbatterie, British Solar Renewables, Ecotricity, NEC Energy Solutions, Wattstor, Green Acorn, Sunamp, Rexel, CCL components, SMA, Cumulus, ChargeSync, Hyperion, Camborne Capital and Smart Power Systems.
Solar Media is the publisher of Solar Power Portal and Next Energy News as well as the international sites PV Tech and PV Tech Storage. For more information on the Energy Storage division and related platforms and events, contact Liam Callaghan, Account Manager. Email: lcallaghan@solarmedia.co.uk
Sonnenbatterie, Ecotricity and SMA-backed Energy Storage events and media to target UK market
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Wednesday, 11 November 2015
The business guide to green power: 12 ways to invest in renewable energy
Do you want those RECs bundled or unbundled? And will your PPA be physical or virtual? Have you even thought about the annual financial implications of the ITC?
For the uninitiated, the variety of ways companies can now throw their weight into the market for renewable energy quickly starts to devolve into alphabet soup.
Still, with more companies setting sustainability targets or eyeing falling wind and solar costs with heightened interest, replicable models for businesses to invest in renewable energy projects are increasingly in demand.
But we’re not talking about just any green energy certificate of participation. More businesses are focusing on the concept of “additionality,” or making sure their money truly makes a dent in new renewable energy capacity — especially since the financial conditions for investment are also becoming more favorable.
“The landscape has changed a lot in the last two-to-four years,” John Powers, vice president of business development for clean energy broker Renewable Choice Energy, told GreenBiz. “In certain regions of the U.S., it is cheaper to lock in long term agreements with fixed rates that are significantly less than what power trades for in those same markets.”
As the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has illustrated, investment in clean energy takes on many different forms and has increased at variable rates over the last decade.
Clean energy advocates have attempted to seize on an investment climate made more appealing with the example of highly visible companies executing multimillion-dollar deals, such as Walmart, Ikea, Apple and Google.
Activist groups like Greenpeace, along with more business-friendly NGOs, such as the World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund and Rocky Mountain Institute, are all increasing their calls for action. The new Clean Power Plan and upcoming COP21 United Nations climate talks add to the urgency, with groups like CDP, We Mean Business and the RE100 signing businesses up for clean energy commitments.
Still, realizing that there may be an opening to invest in clean energy isn’t the same as hammering out a coherent strategy on renewables.
For one, renewable energy deals that are becoming more popular in some states are impossible to replicate elsewhere due to the way power markets are regulated. Challenges like sustainability budget constraints, limited manpower or unclear environmental commitments can also come into play.
“The key thing for businesses is to figure out what they want to get out of it,” said Jennifer Martin, executive director of green power standard-setter the Center for Resource Solutions. “If you’re manufacturing consumer goods, you don’t want to have to develop a whole energy business.”
For those interested in the marketing and reputational benefits of buying clean energy, “green tags,” or credentials linked to carbon credits or offsets, could suffice. Those interested in reducing exposure to energy pricing volatility often commit to a long-term renewable energy procurement deal. Others are exploring the potential returns on clean energy equity investments.
“There’s definitely a growing sophistication among buyers of renewable energy,” Powers said. “To respond to that, we need a growing sophistication in product offerings.”
Green tags
Green tags, Renewable Energy Certificates, Renewable Energy Credits, Renewable Electricity Credits, it’s all the same concept: ensuring that a company gets credit for supporting renewable energy.
Martin, whose nonprofit Center for Resource Solution sets the standards for what qualifies as a REC through its Green-e program, said that RECs serve as a paper trail for clean energy.
“RECs are really the accounting mechanism for tracking who uses renewable energy at the end of the day,” she said. “No matter what kind of transaction you’re doing… the RECs need to flow from the generator to the end user.”
In some states, many of them concentrated in New England, energy utilities face high Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that increase pressure to obtain renewable energy credits. While the supply of RECs has constricted in markets like Massachusetts, with solar going for several hundred dollars per Megawatt hour (Mwh), states with either no standards or an excess supply of RECs have resulted in depressed prices.
The issue of additionality — that a project wouldn’t be built without investment from a certain company — arises when the price of RECs drop so low that it becomes difficult to determine whether purchasing the credits will actually add to renewable energy capacity. In addition to the wide regional variation in pricing, Martin said that the debate over additionality can sometimes miss the point.
“What businesses want to do is be able to tell a story about renewable energy,” she said. “What they’re trying to do is show that they made a difference.”
Similar logic often extends to carbon offset projects designed to compensate for emissions.
“The business case for either buying RECs or offsets is because you want to make an environmental impact, or make certain claims that are important to you, your shareholders or your customers,” Powers said.
1. RECs
Anyone that wants to claim that they are using green power, even in the case of a company that directly procures their own energy in the form of on-site systems like rooftop solar, will involve a REC to document who is using the renewable power.
The pricing for RECs, however, can vary from less than $1 per Mwh to hundreds of dollars due to the regional supply and demand equation dictated by portfolio standards and clean energy supply. The reason RECs can get so competitive in markers with high portfolio standards is the specter of a compliance payment if the targets aren’t met.
“They’re hugely variable by region,” Martin said. “One of the things that is going to change the calculus is the new Clean Power Plan. It could be very beneficial for the state to increase the amount of renewable energy.”
2. Unbundled RECs and REC swaps
One quirk of the REC system is that the credits can be traded. They are considered “unbundled” when the certificates are sold separately from the physical energy produced. For example, a company may want to buy energy from a remote solar farm, where the energy is sold to a third user or utility, with the company still claiming the RECs.
“Where unbundled RECs get criticism is in the argument around additionality,” Powers said. Since a REC is about the intrinsic value of producing energy in a clean way (with negligible or no carbon emissions), they may be sourced from a large, long-established wind farm, as opposed to being financially additional to a brand-new power producer.
To this end, Martin noted that one element of green power guidelines in flux is “the new date,” or how long renewable energy developments can be considered new enough to warrant credits. The current standard is 15 years, and the proportion of clean power required within a development has also been clarified over time.
3. Carbon offsets
On a fundamental level, carbon offsets are a way of paying for infrastructure projects that reduce net carbon emissions. They are useful since it is often impossible for a business to not produce any carbon, meaning that offsets are used to balance out greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts.
There are a variety of offsets that can mitigate GHGs, from planting trees that sequester carbon to corporate energy efficiency programs or preventative measures that generate varying degrees of controversy, such as flaring leaching methane gas from unregulated landfills.
Power purchasing
Buying renewable energy to power a corporate office is nowhere near as easy as picking a provider and signing a contract.
In deregulated energy markets, customers can buy retail wind or solar and slap it right on the company real estate. Or, they can sign a long-term deal to buy the power generated by an off-site renewable energy plant.
In regulated utility markets, things can get complicated fast. Deals are more theoretical and often rooted in hedging energy prices. The outcome of providing capital to finance new renewable energy capacity is the same.
“The corporate buyer — Google, Walmart, etc. — they’re providing that structured and guaranteed revenue for a long period of time that allows a bank to say ‘Ok, I’ll loan you $200 million to build this thing,’” said Peter Mostow, an energy attorney with the law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Still, the barriers to entry for various types of power purchasing remain high, feeding into interest in new forms of aggregated clean energy developments.
With all of these deal types, much bigger energy diplomacy concerns also come into play.
“This is really contentious territory,” Mostow said. “You’re striking right at the heart of the utilities’ business models.”
4. Physical PPAs
Say you’re a company that wants to buy electricity generated at an off-site wind or solar farm to power a given real estate asset. If you’re game for a 12-15 year commitment, a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) could be your answer.
“A regular PPA, they never say it, but its sometimes called a ‘physical delivery PPA,"” Mostow explained. “Electricity is actually being generated at point A, moved across the wires, and delivered at Point B.”
(At least that’s the idea logically speaking. As Mostow notes, “In reality, the electrons that are generated at a solar plant never actually go to the customer. The grid is a big giant balancing or accounting system.”)
Regardless of where the electrons land, a company’s commitment to buy power for a term usually longer than a decade helps a renewable energy developer and potential lenders ensure that there will be a buyer for their power.
5. Virtual PPAs
Physical PPAs can work in California or other deregulated energy markets, but they can’t work in regulated markets with tight limitations on who is able to sell power.
As a workaround, companies, renewable energy developers and third party brokers have devised “virtual” or “synthetic” PPAs as a way to reap the financial and reputational benefits of PPAs — but without any power actually changing hands. While a company still powers its operations with grid-supplied electricity, both they and the developer benefit from a long-term fixed cost deal on energy generated from a project (which can be physically located anywhere).
Say the agreed-upon rate for a wind farm VPPA is $40 per megawatt. If the wholesale rate for energy generated by that project drops to $30 on a given day, the developer is buoyed by the extra $10 from the corporate buyer. But if grid prices spike and going rate for wind power jumps to $50, the scenario is reversed and the corporate buyer gets the extra $10.
“That $10 helps the corporate customer offset the utility bill that they’re paying at their data center of wherever,” Mostow said. “It’s a hedge for them, too.”
Powers adds that virtual PPAs also make sense strategically for businesses with a highly distributed power load, like a slew of retail stores, or if facilities are leased instead of owned.
6. Aggregated purchases
One obvious pitfall for PPAs is the high financial barrier to entry, with utility-scale renewable energy developments usually carrying a price tag well into nine figures. If that’s out of the question at any one company, what about pooling resources in an aggregated or syndicate-style deal?
“Think about it as getting people together and buying in bulk together,” Powers said.
While hammering out a deal with five equal parties is possible in theory, he notes that coordination can be difficult since, “This is a CFO-level decision at every company that’s making it.” Alternatively, having an “anchor” company — or one company willing to take on the bulk of the investment and then sell off smaller stakes as PPAs — could also work.
7. On-site power
While PPAs deal with utility-scale solar, corporate customers operating in deregulated markets also have the option of buying or leasing a renewable energy generation system (often solar) for on-site use. Adobe, Coca-Cola, Google, Kaiser Permanente and Kohl’s are among those pursuing these arrangements.
“On the on-site solar side, the commercial and industrial segment has been a bit under-served,” said Hervé Touati, managing director of RMI’s Business Renewables Center. “It has not seen the same growth as the utility segment or the residential segment. I think that will be corrected.”
Equity investment
As with most emerging markets, the evolution of clean energy has brought with it more variation in the financial maneuvers that companies and investors seek out to make money on a trend.
One of those avenues is equity investments — a tack taken by companies including Ikea and Google, Touati said — which vary in structure but share a common emphasis.
“There are few companies that have done investments,” Touati said, which differs significantly from actually buying renewable power. “One is about making money off investments, and the other is about procuring green energy.”
Uncertain returns, however, can be a dealbreaker.
“The thing about energy as an investment is that energy is not a high margin business. It’s an infrastructure business,” Mostow said. “I’ve seen a lot of my corporate clients look at maybe we should just be equity investors. It doesn’t usually meet their hurdle for investment.”
8. Venture capital, private equity or stock purchases
More direct is the option for various investors or corporates with available capital to invest in privately-held clean energy companies (a $5 billion market as of 2014, according to ACORE), or to buy stock in those that have already gone public (an $18.7 billion segment last year).
At the project level, another option is to be a stock or equity investor in a solar or wind farm.
9. Tax incentives
One key variable in the case for renewable energy equity investment is the federal Investment Tax Credit currently offered to renewable energy project owners and investors. The catch: with the 2006-era policy set to expire in 2016, uncertainty about the future of this revenue mechanism is starting to loom larger.
10. YieldCos
In the lexicon of green energy, public entities created to own renewable power projects and deliver returns in the form of dividends — a class known as YieldCos — have started to come on strong in recent years with larger renewable energy companies like SunEdison. The new packaging of clean energy investments isn’t coming without growing pains, however, and has in some ways lumped renewables into broader volatility.
“Investors have stepped up to finance a host of energy-related products in recent years, contributing to a glut in supply that has spurred a dramatic collapse in commodities prices,” Bloomberg recently reported. “That’s helping to fuel additional market scrutiny of commodities’ players — from giants such as Glencore to U.S. shale explorers and even solar panel operators.”
11. Green bonds
On the lower-risk end of the spectrum, green bonds — or government bonds tied to projects designed to combat climate change — are an area that clean energy advocates have been hopefully watching for years.
Often pitched as a way for smaller investors to contribute to daunting infrastructure financing, the market is expected now exceeds $60 billion. Up next: settling on what really counts as green infrastructure and testing investors’ appetites for continuing to grow the market.
12. Securities, mutual funds and beyond
While equity investments are more universally understood financial arrangements, more esoteric mechanisms associated with Wall Street are also making their way into the market for clean energy.
Goldman Sachs claims credit for the first rated “securitization” of solar energy, or converting an illiquid asset into a security, for a Japanese bond project. Investing in mutual funds that include an increasingly broad array of renewable energy options is another option.
The business guide to green power: 12 ways to invest in renewable energy
Sunday, 8 November 2015
Incentives for Renewable Energy Investment in ASEAN
In this article ASEAN Briefing will look at the tax and other incentives provided to companies seeking to invest in renewable energy in Singapore, as well as examine those of other countries within ASEAN. Following our previous article on the solar energy market in ASEAN, we will place an emphasis on the incentives on this industry in the countries covered.
Singapore, more than any other country in the ASEAN region depends on the import of fossil fuels for its energy needs. The smaller size of the city-state also means the country has less room available to install renewable technologies, and cannot build large solar farms like Thailand or hydropower projects as Vietnam has. Recognizing these limitations Singapore has created incentives for R&D in renewable energies that make use of the conditions specific to the country.
The increasing energy demands in Singapore and across the region have meant that renewable energy has come to be seen not only as an alternative energy source, but also as a potential area of key economic growth. Singapore for example has set the target of creating 18,000 jobs and generating S $3.4 billion (US $2.4 billion) through renewable energy by the end of this year.
Research and Development Incentives in Singapore
In order to encourage investment in energy, water and green building solutions, Singapore has invested more than S $800 million (US $570 million) since 2011. These incentives include solar energy solutions, as well as providing a wide array of incentives across most of the renewable energy sector. These have been aimed both at companies and individual citizens in an effort to make Singapore a more sustainable city.
Singapore is seeking to take advantage of its strategic location to both harvest solar power and attract investment to the region. The country is betting on its location in the tropics, exposing it to solar rays 50 percent stronger than those received by the solar powerhouses of Germany and Japan. Additionally, it is well-connected to ASEAN in terms of physical and economic infrastructure, which could attract companies seeking to provide electricity to the millions in the region that still lack the service. The city-state has become a major hub for companies such as Phoenix Solar and Yingli, both of which have investments in other countries in the region such as Malaysia.
The government has developed a solar PV leasing plan, under which residents and small businesses can lease solar panels from solar companies and only use the energy that they need. This allows for solar energy generation in a country that does not have extensive land resources to set up large solar farms. During the leasing period solar companies still own, install, and maintain the solar panels. However, unlike some other governments in the region, Singapore does not provide a feed-in tariff through which producers can sell the power they produce.
Besides the multiple government initiatives that have attracted many companies in the R&D sector, the country currently provides 35 government funding and incentive programs. One example of these programs is the Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET) that provides up to 20 percent in funding for registered companies that invest in energy efficient equipment in new or existing facilities. Another initiative is the Design for Efficiency Scheme (DfE) which aims to encourage businesses to build new facilities or expansions to adopt green technologies into their facilities. Companies can qualify for a subsidy that covers up to 50 percent of the costs or up to S $600,000 (US $428,000).
RELATED: Pre-Investment Services from Dezan Shira & Associates
Incentives in Other ASEAN Markets
Thailand
Thailand’s reliance on imported fossil fuels, second only to Singapore in the region, meant that in 2012 imports accounted for 55 percent of overall commercial demand for energy in the country. Recognizing the increasing demand, the government developed the Alternative Energy Development Plan in 2012 with the goal to produce 25% of its energy from renewable sources by 2021. In order to achieve this goal Thailand offers both tax-based and non-tax-based incentives for companies investing in renewable energy.
Incentives offered include the reduction or elimination of import duties on machinery and raw materials, reduction of corporate income taxes, permission to bring foreign workers, own land and remit foreign currency abroad. Thailand also has set in place a rooftop solar feed-in tariff program (FIT), under which energy produced by through energy sources is purchased by the government and reimbursed at price dependent on the cost of the energy generation technology. Additionally, government support is provided through multiple agencies such as the Energy Policy and Planning Office and the Department of Alternative Energy Development, both of them under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy.
The Philippines
The Philippines, much like Thailand and Singapore, is dependent on imports of oil, natural gas and coal to serve its energy needs. However, the country also faces an increasing energy demand among its growing population, which often leads to power outages during the summer months. In response, it has taken multiple initiatives such as the National Renewal Energy Program which entered into effect in 2011 and calls for renewable energy production to increase from 5438MW to 15,304MW by 2030.
To achieve this goal the government has developed a feed-in tariff (FIT) program that pays companies for energy generated through non-conventional measures. FIT rates are guaranteed at a fixed rate for 20 years and help ensure that investors see a return in their investment. Additionally, renewable energy developers enjoy a seven year tax holiday, at the end of which they pay only 10 percent of income tax; as well as being able to import technologies from abroad duty-free for ten years.
Vietnam
Vietnam like many of its neighbors has seen increasing energy demands among its growing population, which has put strains on its energy grid and forced the country to invest in hydropower, wind and solar energy. Among the incentives offered to companies is accelerated depreciation in power generation, import duty exemption for clean technology products, an incentive tax rate of 10 percent for 15 years, and tax reduction of 50 percent with tax exemption for four years for new projects, among many others.
Further incentives include subsidies by the Environmental Protection Fund, which covers the difference between the real inputs costs and the selling price of the power generated. Additionally, Vietnam also offers feed-in tariff incentives – however these are offered in the wind energy sector as opposed to the solar sector, which has helped the wind sector account for 78 percent of all clean energy investor between 2006 and 2013.
RELATED: Renewable Energy and Investment in ASEAN
Malaysia
Malaysia presents an interesting case in the region; while it is the third largest producer of solar panels in the world it has been slow to implement the technology when it comes to solar farms. In an effort to promote investment in the domestic PV market the government launched the Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaic Project (MBIPV) to provide financial incentives. Since 2011, Malaysia like many other countries in the region has been providing feed-in tariffs for solar energy producers, but also has extended these tariffs to other renewable energies.
In order to benefit from the Feed-in Tariff developers need to be approved by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority and conclude a Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement. Under this tariff companies investing in PV panels or mini hydro power projects qualify for and FIT tariff for 21 years. Companies in the biomass or biogas industry can take advantage of the tariff for 16 years. Additionally, this past May it was announced that investments in geothermal energy that generate up to 30MW would also be eligible for the feed-in tariff.
Further Support from Dezan Shira & Associates
To learn more about investment opportunities in ASEAN’s renewables industry, or country specific comparisons on incentives for green power generation, please get in touch with the specialists at Dezan Shira & Associates for further consultation.
Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email asean@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. |
The 2015 Asia Tax Comparator
In this issue, we compare and contrast the most relevant tax laws applicable for businesses with a presence in Asia. We analyze the different tax rates of 13 jurisdictions in the region, including India, China, Hong Kong, and the 10 member states of ASEAN. We also take a look at some of the most important compliance issues that businesses should be aware of, and conclude by discussing some of the most important tax and finance concerns companies will face when entering Asia.
The first edition of Tax, Accounting, and Audit in Vietnam, published in 2014, offers a comprehensive overview of the major taxes foreign investors are likely to encounter when establishing or operating a business in Vietnam, as well as other tax-relevant obligations. This concise, detailed, yet pragmatic guide is ideal for CFOs, compliance officers and heads of accounting who need to be able to navigate the complex tax and accounting landscape in Vietnam in order to effectively manage and strategically plan their Vietnam operations.
In this issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, we take a look at the various types of trade and tax treaties that exist between Asian nations. These include bilateral investment treaties, double tax treaties and free trade agreements – all of which directly affect businesses operating in Asia.
Incentives for Renewable Energy Investment in ASEAN
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