On Monday 06 February 2006 18:40, John Coviello wrote: > Ultimately, renewable energy will be advanced by private enterprise, just > as wind power is now rapidly developing via private interests like GE. The > public sector can help with R&D and with public policies to assist > renewable energy development. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Horace Heffner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:27 PM > Subject: A Private Enterprise Approach to Renewable Energy > > >A private enterprise strategy is feasible for forging a clean renewable > >energy economy. Unless alternative energy sources develop, like fusion, > >the principle sources for such an economy are solar and wind energy. > >Nuclear energy at present is not cost competitive. > > > > One of the problems with developing and selling wind and solar energy is > > the variability of these sources. Typically, alternative energy > > companies are small and horizontally organized. Many solar and wind > > companies have failed, in part due to the inability to market power that > > is not dependably deliverable, and in part due to variability in > > government support. > > > > The variability in delivery problem may in part be solved by use of > > improved energy storage and transportation means. See: > > > > http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/HotCold.pdf > > http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/BigPicture.pdf > > > > However, much of the reliable delivery problem can be immediately solved > > simply through effective business strategy and business synergies. The > > solution is a vertical integration approach. By diversifying energy > > sources, the reliability of delivery is increased, and great technical > > synergy is possible. By owning energy transmission systems, the delivery > > strategy can be optimized with reduced exposure to external manipulative > > schemes. > > > > Wind companies should, during buildup of capacity, also acquire or build > > conventional generating capacity for the purpose of smoothing energy > > deliveries. Small methane fueled jet engine powered electric plants > > might be a viable way to build this capacity. Energy delivery > > reliability for a wind based producer can also be improved by buying or > > building alternative power sources, like solar, or biofuel generating > > plants. Merger with existing power generating utilities may make sense, > > and should be facilitated and expedited by regulatory commissions when > > application is made by all the merging parties. This nominal approach > > can be greatly enhanced with technological improvements and a more > > integrated approach. > > > > Wind farms can readily be used to store energy in the form of liquified > > air. This capacity, combined with use of heat storage plus waste heat > > from a nearby peak load generating facility, can dramatically increase > > the efficiency of that facility, as well as the energy storage > > capability of the overall plant. There are many synergies that can > > exploit existing technology through vertical integration. > > > > A large new source of reliable power, deliverable in the form > > electricity, can readily be absorbed. Home heating can easily and > > cheaply be upgraded and augmented by electric heaters. Radio network > > based, home heating control systems can be implemented that optimize > > use of the generating, transmission and distribution systems by timing > > the use of auxiliary electric heat according to codes broadcast by > > utility management systems. Electric vehicle technology is close to > > being deliverable in a big way, so home charging can be managed in a > > similar fashion. The utility control systems could broadcast demand > > area designation codes and desired demand percentage values. The home > > systems would respond by attempting to meet auxiliary home demand with > > the designated amount of auxiliary electricity. > > > > The remaining problem, variability in government support, can only be > > attacked by reaching the critical mass required to support adequate > > lobbying. > > > > A solid business plan and big financing may be the key to quickly > > cracking the energy nut. Alternatively, a mutually formed business > > consortium or even merger of alternative energy producers and > > manufacturers might be achieved to take advantage of the dramatic and > > obvious economies of scale and synergies available to alternative energy > > producers. A vertically integrated renewable energy industry strategy > > is superior to most if not all other US business opportunities in profit > > magnitude, reliability, and feasibility. > > > > The capital sufficient to fully execute a large scale vertical > > integration strategy unfortunately lies principally in the existing > > carbon based energy industry. Some companies doubtlessly do not have > > the leadership ability or motivation to adapt to, much less to rapidly > > forge, a renewable energy future. Yet the business opportunity lies > > there for the taking. Some entity will sooner or later, by evolution > > or by design, take advantage of it. It is hopeful the foresight and > > energy to do so will come from US companies.
Be really nice if there was something to black light power, but it always seems a few months away and just out of reach. Must be hard to scale or it would get serious consideration for rocket fuel. Standing Bear
