http://antares.org/blog News and Insights from the Renewable Energy Industry Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:44:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://antares.org/blog/doe-2013-budget-breakdown/#comment-285 Sara Aaserud Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:44:23 +0000 http://antares.org/blog/?p=176#comment-285 Wow, I had no idea that 42% of the DOE's budget goes towards nuclear energy/weapons...that actually makes me kind of sad. At least funding for renewables is looking somewhat better! Wow, I had no idea that 42% of the DOE’s budget goes towards nuclear energy/weapons…that actually makes me kind of sad. At least funding for renewables is looking somewhat better!

]]> http://antares.org/blog/welcome/#comment-54 Christopher Lindsey Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:39:56 +0000 http://antares.org/blog/?p=23#comment-54 Mac, thanks for the question. Torrefied wood pellets, in particular, have the potential to change on-facility energy conversion efficiencies. However, there is energy required to complete the torrefaction process. The use of low grade waste heat might provide an avenue to provide a "net" gain on an energy balance basis. The key issue I see is cost. Relative to green wood chips, torrefied wood (especially if pelletized) could be several times more expensive even taken into account the increased energy content of the material. Mac, thanks for the question. Torrefied wood pellets, in particular, have the potential to change on-facility energy conversion efficiencies. However, there is energy required to complete the torrefaction process. The use of low grade waste heat might provide an avenue to provide a “net” gain on an energy balance basis. The key issue I see is cost. Relative to green wood chips, torrefied wood (especially if pelletized) could be several times more expensive even taken into account the increased energy content of the material.

]]> http://antares.org/blog/welcome/#comment-53 James AL McElroy, Jr. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:19:38 +0000 http://antares.org/blog/?p=23#comment-53 Do you see any biomass feedstocks on the immediate horizon which might increase the BTU efficiencies to the point of feasibility for small, 5MW-10MW, plus facilities? In your 5MW Power Plant vs. the Grid Transmission "upgrade" comparison, would a highly efficient, readily-available biomass [feedstock-fuel] made the consideration to build the generator feasable? Mac. Do you see any biomass feedstocks on the immediate horizon which might increase the BTU efficiencies to the point of feasibility for small, 5MW-10MW, plus facilities? In your 5MW Power Plant vs. the Grid Transmission “upgrade” comparison, would a highly efficient, readily-available biomass [feedstock-fuel] made the consideration to build the generator feasable? Mac.

]]> http://antares.org/blog/home-pv-estimation/#comment-3 Ali Schmidt Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:03:11 +0000 http://antares.org/blog/?p=27#comment-3 There are a couple of larger cities in the US with online tools that calculate solar potential and system paybacks with just an address - making it even easier to evaluate solar energy. For example, the San Francisco Solar Map (http://sf.solarmap.org/#) estimates the building roof size, calculates the potential PV system size, and gives results in terms of annual electricity production, cost savings, and carbon emissions reductions. Boston has a similar program too, http://gis.cityofboston.gov/SolarBoston/. There are a couple of larger cities in the US with online tools that calculate solar potential and system paybacks with just an address – making it even easier to evaluate solar energy. For example, the San Francisco Solar Map (http://sf.solarmap.org/#) estimates the building roof size, calculates the potential PV system size, and gives results in terms of annual electricity production, cost savings, and carbon emissions reductions. Boston has a similar program too, http://gis.cityofboston.gov/SolarBoston/.

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