Green Skills You Need to Become an Energy Contractor

Since 2005, the nonresidential green construction market has grown from two percent to 41 percent of market revenues in 2011. That amounts to $58 billion for the nonresidential green construction sector. Electricians are among the trades that enjoy the highest demand. Here is a look at skills that will help electricians 'green' their skill set and land a job.

Familiarity with LEED certification and energy auditing are on the top of the list but there are many other important knowledge sets.

Two years ago, Software Advice reported that growth in the green construction market would require electrical contractors to become energy contractors. They based this theory on a widely distributed report which predicted that electrical contractors would be in high demand for renewable energy and energy conservation projects. In 2012, it appears that their theory is playing out.

Although the construction market is still in hard times, green construction is an industry bright spot.  The growth in the green construction market presents electrical contractors with a lucrative opportunity to become energy contractors.

In fact, recent research by McGraw Hill indicates that the electrical trade is among the trades in highest demand. Here are some of the skills that electrical contractors need to become an energy contractor.

Energy Contracting Requires Continual Skills Development

Anyone interested in “greening” their skill set needs to understand that they’re entering a nascent industry. In the United States, we’re just starting to develop technologies that will help energy contractors complement green construction efforts. As these technologies evolve, the skill set needed in the industry will change in lockstep.

Sal Ferrara, Owner of the Electrical Training Center on Long Island, sees this as one of the biggest challenges facing individuals who want to capitalize on the green opportunity.

"What’s happening is that electrical contractors are having to stay on the bleeding edge of technology, and having to learn entirely new systems such as photovoltaics, building management systems and wind turbines," Ferrara said.

To make things even more challenging, Ferrara says that individuals often have to learn multiple systems so that they can be a skilled worker flexible enough to work on multiple types of projects. This broad knowledge is also helpful since, as Michele Russo of McGraw Hill Construction notes, “general contractors working on green projects are increasingly looking for individuals that can collaborate and provide input across an entire project.”

While the types of projects that individuals will work on vary, the skill set can be broken into two general groups: renewable energy installation and energy management projects. What follows are examples for each project category illustrating how the green skill set might be employed.

Skills Required for Renewable Energy Installations

Currently, the two major types of renewable energy projects that require an electrician are solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine installations. While there is some overlap between the skills needed to install these systems, each requires unique skills.

Solar PV – Working on these types of projects requires a deep understanding of photovoltaic materials, equipment and codes–particularly article 690 of the electrical code, which addresses safety procedures. Beyond that, individuals need to know how to re-configure panels while maintaining functional modules, inverters and wiring. To get a detailed idea of the daily tasks and skills expected of a PV installer, visit the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners’ website.

Wind Turbine – The installation of wind turbines has its own set of challenges. Namely, the electrician needs to be able to install connections at high altitudes and connect and distribute power from low, medium and high voltages. Additionally, these electricians need an understanding of hydraulics, torquing and gearing. To help individuals obtain this blend of electrical and mechanical skills, a variety of industry-specific degrees and training programs have cropped up to support the wind industry.

Skills Required for Energy Management Projects

There are significant opportunities beyond installing renewable energy systems. Many green projects that electricians will be asked to work on will be in making an existing buildings more energy-efficient or creating an energy-efficient building from the ground up. These types of projects require slightly different skills.

Energy Auditing – Energy auditors require analytical abilities to understand how small changes impact overall consumption. Since HVAC and lighting generally represent the biggest chances for reduction, familiarity with lumens per watt ratios for common lighting types such as incandescents, CFLs and T8s is helpful. Additionally, an understanding of how to integrate electrical and communication systems is useful.

Familiarity with Building Management Systems (BMS) – These professionals need knowledge of integrated systems and an ability to work with things like programmable logic controls and motion-activated sensors. Because of the complexity of these systems, electricians that work with BMS need to know how to install and configure highly computerized systems.

Familiarity with LEED is essential as roughly 40 percent of LEED certification is covered by the work of an electrical contractor. Clearly, this requires extensive knowledge of LEED certification standards. However, it also requires an ability to see the relationships that exist between energy retrofitting, monitoring, materials, lighting selection, and on-site renewable energy.

To help electricians understand the skills and technical process that goes into achieving energy efficiency, the US Green Building Council publishes extensive information on LEED certification. Meanwhile, the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) offers a green jobs training program that helps electricians obtains the skills needed in the green construction industry.

Start Developing Green Skills Now

It’s important to understand that developing these skills will not happen overnight. Because green energy systems are becoming more complex, it takes more time to develop the skills that green construction projects demand. According to the McGraw Hill report, green contractors are demanding that their workers have more educational experience than ever before.

Source: Green Skills to Become an Energy Contractor

Related Posts
Sustainable Education is Key to Accessing the Green Economy
Green Schools are Bridging the Knowledge Gap
15 Institutions Offering 50 Green Certificate Programs
Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility
Sustainability Certificates from Irvine Valley College
The University of Vermont's Advanced Certificates in Sustainability
Green Schools Design Essentials
How to Land a Green Job
Leading the Green Job Market with a Sustainable MBA
Top Ten Green Masters Degrees
Top Five Green Master Degree
Online Green MBA Programs
GRI Training from BrownFlynn
Level 1 Sustainability Course
Course on Environmental Litigation
Stony Brook University's Sustainability Focus
Prescott College`s PhD in Sustainability
West Michigan's Green Academic Offerings
UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development
Education for a Sustainable Future (Video)
Education References in the Rio+20 The Future
Penn State's Online B.A. in Energy and Sustainability
Ecovillages Environmental Study
How to Become a Sustainability Officer

Read More»

Ball State is Building the Largest Geothermal System in the US

Ball State is building the largest geothermal system in the US. The geothermal system under construction will replace coal boilers for heating and cooling. Eradicating fossil fuel power for renewable sources of energy will reduce the university’s carbon footprint by nearly half while saving $2 million a year in operating costs. The system will connect to all buildings on campus providing heating and cooling to 5.5 million square feet.

This decision was made based on a cost comparison of new fossil fuel based boilers and renewable energy options. The more efficient geothermal-based heating and cooling system was found to be the best for the school.

This project is a stellar example of good business sense and good environmental sense. Other schools are sure to follow Ball State's lead.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Queens College Residence has a LEED Gold Rating
Green Roofs on College Campuses Around the World
Green School Buildings Offer Many Benefits
The Campus Green Builder Online Portal
Organizations and Groups in the USGBC's Center for Green Schools
USGBC's Center for Green Schools
The Federal Government's Green Ribbon Schools
The Green Market's Green Schools Series 2010
USGBC's Green School Building Resources
Environmental Revolution: Building and Operations
The Extraordinary Growth of Green Building
Green Building Environmental Benefits
Green Buildings Combat Climate
The Basic Elements of a Green College
A Green School is a High Performance School
Green School Buildings Health and Performance Benefits Part 1
Green School Buildings Health and Performance Benefits Part 2
Green Building Economic BenefitsGreen Building Social Benefits
Green School Buildings: The Many Benefits of Natural Lighting
Green School Buildings: The Many Benefits of VentilationThe Future of Green School Buildings
Green Campus Student Resources
Obama's Jobs Plan Emphasizes Education and Greener Schools
The Green School's Bamboo Architecture
The UK's Sandal Magna Community Primary School Princeton is Building the Largest Solar Array of Any University
Solar Powered Schools In California
Bill Increases Energy Efficiency in Oregon's Schools
NYU's Energy Efficient Power Generation
Mississippi State University has the first LEED® Certified Chapter House in the US
Suffolk University's Green Efforts Include Building Design
Everblue Training Institute's Comprehensive Green Building Curriculum

Read More»

Renewable Energy Can Replace Fossil Fuels

According to new research from US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), green energy can affordably replace fossil fuel as the world's primary source of electricity within 20 years.

This research adds to other studies that also support the feasibility of replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources of energy. In 2011, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report which indicates that nearly 80 percent of global energy demand could be met by renewable sources of energy by 2050. Research published in 2009 by Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi also supports the contention that renewable energy can replace fossil fuels, as does research published in 2010 by Robert Howarth.

As reported in the Vancouver Sun, the new 2012 research from NOAA debunks critics claims that the emissions attributable to uneven power production from renewable sources of power of power offer only nominal reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.

A director with at NOAA said that wind and solar could supply 70 per cent of electricity demand in the lower 48 states, with fossil fuel and hydro/nuclear renewables each accounting for just 15 per cent by 2030.

Sandy MacDonald, director of the earth system research lab at NOAA, presented the research at a symposium of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual convention.

NOAA embarked on the renewable energy project three years ago, collating 16 billion pieces of weather data derived from satellite observations and airplane observations and weather station reports.Then it designed a program to filter the information to remove unlikely venues for wind or solar power arrays - such as national parks and urban areas - and came up with a map showing robust wind resources in the middle of the continent and decent ones in the northeast Atlantic states, as well as strong solar production areas in the desert southwest.

NOAA took the research a step further and considered how best to balance potential power production with electricity demand. Their research revealed the bigger the grid, the more effective it can be at transitioning to green energy, MacDonald said. An optimal system would encompass coordinated energy generation and transmission over an area of five million square kilometres.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Renewable Energy Is Our Only Hope
Fossil Fuel Calamities and Deadly Weather
US Energy: Coal Declining While Renewables Increasing
Renewable Energy in 2012: The Global Economic and Environmental Climate
Independence Day: Declaration of Freedom from Fossil Fuels
Two More Reasons to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels
Moving Planet: Beyond Fossil Fuels
Hybrids Could Substantially Reduce US Fossil Fuel
Sustainable Growth Excludes Fossil Fuel
End Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Read More»

Obama 2013 Budget Seeks to Make Renewable Tax Credits Permanent

President Obama's 2013 budget has proposed business-tax reform including support for renewable energy. His reforms would make the temporary tax credits for renewable energy production permanent as well as making them refundable. The budget is part of the President's energy plan to double electricity output from clean sources by 2035.

As evidenced by his State of the Union addresses in 2009, 2010,, 2011, and 2012, the President has been a stalwart champion of renewable energy.

The Treasury Department has indicated that making renewable tax credits permanent will "provide a strong, consistent incentive to encourage investments in renewable energy technologies."

"This Framework recognizes that, as we expand manufacturing in the United States, the tax code should encourage doing so in way that is sustainable and that puts the United States in the lead in manufacturing the clean energy technologies of the future. This will create jobs here at home and can also have important spillover benefits. Moving toward a clean energy economy will reduce air and water pollution and enhance our national security by reducing dependence on oil. Cleaner energy will play a crucial role in slowing global climate change, meeting the President's goal of producing 80 percent of our nation's electricity from clean sources by 2035."

There are very real concerns that the expiration of the production tax credit (Section 1603 grant program) at the end of 2011 will have a profoundly negative impacts on the renewable energy sector and result in hundreds of job losses.

In addition to the proposal to make renewable energy tax credits permanent, the Obama administration is also seeking to lower the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 28 percent, and to 25 percent for manufacturing. The President's proposed reforms would also make permanent a 17 percent tax credit rate for Research and Experimentation (R&D).

It is now up to Congress to decide whether the tax reforms proposed by the President become law.

Click here to see the press release or here for the full PDF of the budget.

For information on the environmental elements of the Obama budget click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
President Obama's 2013 Budget Seeks to Increase EV Tax Credits
Obama Budget 2013: Striving to Put an End to Oil Subsidies
The Renewable Energy Standard
President Obama's 2013 Environmental Budget
Renewable Energy Is Our Only Hope
President Obama's Environmental Efforts
Government Incentives are Growing Renewables
High Oil Prices Stimulate Renewable Energy
IPCC Report Indicates that Most of the World's Energy Requirements can be Met with Renewables

Read More»

Renewable Energy Is Our Only Hope

Renewable energy is capable of meeting our energy requirements. To stave off the most catastrophic impacts of global warming we need a two-pronged strategy that includes energy efficiency and renewables.

Anyone who has reviewed the science of climate change realizes that global warming is caused chiefly by the burning of fossil fuels. To combat climate change we must reduce our greenhouse gases including carbon.

To ward off the most serious impacts of climate change, we must keep the earth from warming more than 2 degrees C. If the earth warms by more than 2 degrees it will cause catastrophic climate change impacts. An increase in global mean temperature of 2 degrees C. above pre-industrial levels will increase the likelihood of irreversible and potentially catastrophic climate change.

In 2009, the G8 countries and the Major Economies Forum agreed to that global warming should be limited to a maximum of 2 degrees C. above the pre-industrial period. At the Cancun climate negotiations in 2010, Parties to the UNFCCC agreed to the 2 degrees C. upper limit of global warming.

The Carbon level in the atmosphere is now just under 400 parts per million (ppm), to keep the earth from warming beyond 2 degrees C.we need to reduce carbon to an upper limit of 350 ppm.

How do we keep the earth from warming as our population is increasing and our energy demands are growing?

To keep the earth from warming we must rapidly move toward an economy based on renewable fuels. Their are a couple of studies which indicate that the world could rely entirely on green energy sources within 20 years if we dedicate ourselves to that course.

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report which indicates that nearly 80 percent of global energy demand could be met by renewable sources of energy by 2050.

For more information on the potential of renewable energy to meet our energy needs see the two studies below:

1. Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi, “A path to sustainable energy by 2030”, Scientific American, November 2009, pp 58 – 65.

2. Robert Howarth, “Preliminary assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas obtained by hydraulic fracturing”, Cornell University , 1 April 2010.

To replace fossil fuels with renewable sources of energy will take enormous amounts of money and energy. Given enough time and will, we can replace hydrocarbons. However we do not have much time, and we do not at present have enough will.

Renewables are our only hope for the future. Even if we fail to rise to the challenge and society collapses, we will revert to smaller, more independent communities, where we will be forced to use small scale renewable power. One way or another, renewable energy is our future.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Even the Axis of Evil is Investing in Renewables
UK Government Investments in Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The EU Debt Crisis did Not Curb the Growth of Renewables in 2011
China is Leading in terms of Renewable Energy Attractiveness
The Renewable Energy Standard
Government Incentives are Growing Renewable Energy
Surge in Growth Predicted for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
High Oil Prices Stimulate Renewable Energy
France's Innovation in Renewable Energy
Businesses Will Lead the Transition from Oil to Renewable
IPCC Report Indicates that 80% of the World's Energy Needs Could be Met by Renewables
Renewable Energy Storage
Investing in CleanTech: Efficiency Upgrades and Renewable Energy
Even the Axis of Evil is Investing in Renewables
Ontario's Green Energy Act is Leading the Green Energy Economy
Africa a Renewable Energy Superpower
East Africa Can Learn from Iceland's Geothermal Energy Industry
South Africa and the Rise of Renewable Energy on the Continent
Lesotho's Renewable Energy Projects One of the Largest in Africa
Arab Spring Fueling the World's Most Ambitious Solar Project in North Africa
Arab Spring and the Environment in North Africa
Norway a Model of Sustainability for the Arab World

Read More»

The EU Debt Crisis did Not Curb the Growth of Renewables in 2011

A Think Progress article by Stephen Lacey, asked whether the European sovereign debt crisis derailed renewable energy in 2011. Even though financial difficulties have caused a few countries to reduce their support, Lacey concludes that "2011 was still a huge year for deployment — with wind and solar alone representing almost 70% of new capacity."

According to a report from the European Wind Energy Association, Renewable energy has increased more than ten times in the last eleven years. In 2000 there was only 3.5 GW of installed renewable energy in Europe, in 2011 that number had grown to 32 GW (mostly wind and solar).

The growth of renewable energy in Europe has already outpaced forecasts in many countries. The EU currently has a target of 20 percent of its final energy (heat, electricity and fuels) from renewable energy. Numerous countries have already surpassed their targets in the electricity and heating sectors, and it’s likely that the entire region will move past the goal well ahead of schedule.

It’s expected that renewable electricity sources will meet 34 percent of demand in Europe by 2020, with 25 of 27 countries to surpass their targets beforehand.

In 2011, solar PV accounted for 26.7% of capacity additions, wind power accounted for 21.4% of additions, and natural gas made up 22% of installations. Below that was coal at 4.8%, fuel oil at 1.6%, large hydro at 1.3%, and concentrating solar power at 1.1% of capacity.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Renewable Energy Is Our Only Hope
UK Government Investments in Efficiency and Renewable Energy
China is Leading in terms of Renewable Energy Attractiveness
The Renewable Energy Standard
Government Incentives are Growing Renewable Energy
Surge in Growth Predicted for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
High Oil Prices Stimulate Renewable Energy
France's Innovation in Renewable Energy
Businesses Will Lead the Transition from Oil to Renewable
IPCC Report Indicates that 80% of the World's Energy Needs Could be Met by Renewables
Renewable Energy Storage
Investing in CleanTech: Efficiency Upgrades and Renewable Energy
Even the Axis of Evil is Investing in Renewables
Ontario's Green Energy Act is Leading the Green Energy Economy
Africa a Renewable Energy Superpower
East Africa Can Learn from Iceland's Geothermal Energy Industry
South Africa and the Rise of Renewable Energy on the Continent
Lesotho's Renewable Energy Projects One of the Largest in Africa
Arab Spring Fueling the World's Most Ambitious Solar Project in North Africa
Arab Spring and the Environment in North Africa
Norway a Model of Sustainability for the Arab World

Read More»

Africa a Renewable Energy Superpower?

According to a study by Frost & Sullivan titled "Mega Trends in Africa: A bright vision for the growing continent", investment in renewable power in Africa is set to grow from a total of US$3.6-billion in 2010 to $57-billion by 2020. According to the UN over 600 million people do not have electric power on the continent of Africa.

The combination of a massive unmet demand (which includes remote communities) and an abundance of renewable power potential (solar, wind and geothermal) make Africa ideal for massive renewable energy development.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the development of Africa's renewable energy sector will lead to greater diversification of the continent's energy mix, decreased dependency on any one feedstock, and greater security of supply.

Smart grids will play a major role in high growth African economies. "Smart electricity development in Africa will be driven through grid incorporation of renewable power, and technological leapfrogging through investments into greenfield transmission and distribution infrastructure projects," Energy & Power Systems Industry Analyst Ross Bruton said.

The study specifically cites the growth potential from wind power at wind farms in Ashegoda Ethiopia and Tanzania's Singida Wind Farm and solar projects like South Africa's Upington and Desertec in North Africa.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Africa Industrialization Day: Leapfrogging with Sustainable Energy
WWF is Conserving Nature and Combating Poverty in Namibia
East Africa Can Learn from Iceland's Geothermal Energy Industry
South Africa and the Rise of Renewable Energy on the Continent
Lesotho's Renewable Energy Projects One of the Largest in Africa
Arab Spring Fueling the World's Most Ambitious Solar Project in North Africa
Arab Spring and the Environment in North Africa
Norway a Model of Sustainability for the Arab World
House Made of Plastic Bottles in Nigeria
Sun Powered Entrepreneurship in Ghana

Read More»

East Africa Can Learn from Iceland's Geothermal Energy Industry

East Africa can learn a lot from Iceland where more than one quarter of that country's energy needs are generated by geothermal sources. Geothermal is a renewable resource and an attractive energy option where it is available. Since the 1970s Iceland has relied on geothermal to provide a considerable portion of its energy needs and this could be a model for East Africa, where geothermal potential is abundant. Iceland's exploitation of geothermal has completely replaced coal, and given rise to business, investment and tourism.

In addition to making electric power from geothermal sources, Iceland uses the waste heat from geothermal power plants to heat over 90% of its buildings at low-cost.

East Africa is an ideal location to tap geothermal power. Specifically Africa’s Rift Valley, which stretches from Djibouti to Mozambique and takes includes parts of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. The region can generate over 14,000 megawatts of geothermal power. That is enough energy to provide electricity to 150 million people.

Kenya is already exploiting geothermal energy with more on the way. In the 1980s, with the help of the World Bank, Kenya built a geothermal plant at the Rift Valley site of Olkaria. In 2010, the country obtained another Bank credit to expand its geothermal capacity by an additional 280 megawatts to add to the 198 megawatts of installed geothermal capacity.

The development of geothermal power can help to provide reliable climate friendly energy to businesses and citizens throughout East Africa.

Kenya is already benefiting from Iceland's geothermal knowledge and expertise and other African nations, particularly those in the Rift Valley, are wise to follow.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
Africa Industrialization Day: Leapfrogging with Sustainable Energy
WWF is Conserving Nature and Combating Poverty in Namibia
Africa a Renewable Energy Superpower
South Africa and the Rise of Renewable Energy on the Continent
Lesotho's Renewable Energy Projects One of the Largest in Africa
Arab Spring Fueling the World's Most Ambitious Solar Project in North Africa
Arab Spring and the Environment in North Africa
Norway a Model of Sustainability for the Arab World
House Made of Plastic Bottles in Nigeria
Sun Powered Entrepreneurship in Ghana

Read More»

IPCC Report Indicates that Most of the World's Energy Needs Could be Met by Renewables

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released a report which indicates that nearly 80 percent of global energy demand could be met by renewable sources of energy by 2050. On May 9, the IPCC released the Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation. The report compares 164 different scenarios and most of these scenarios project a substantial increase in the deployment of renewable energy. The report predicts that by 2050 wind power could supply more than a fifth of our energy and with the right technical advances solar power could provide one-third of our energy.

The report indicates that renewable energy can reduce greenhouse gases by 33 percent, contribute to sustainable economic growth, create jobs, and provide cheaper electricity to poor rural areas. The report suggests that we can become so energy efficient that the predicted population of 9 billion by 2050 could use less energy than 7 billion people on the planet today.

The IPCC report was prepared by 120 scientists and it is the most comprehensive high level review of renewable energy to date. The report predicts that the costs will fall considerably in the coming years due to technological advances. The report also predicts that enewable energy options will surge and account for a much larger percentage of the total energy usage.

“Most of the 164 scenarios showed renewable energies would rise to supply above 100 exajoules (EJ) a year by 2050, reaching 200-400 EJ a year in many scenarios. In 2008-2009, 140 GW of the 300 GW of new global electricity generating capacity came from renewables.

According to the report the six of the most promising renewable energy technologies include solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and ocean. The fastest-growing technology is grid-connected solar electric power, which saw a 53% increase in installed capacity during 2009. However, the report suggests that solar photovoltaics will continue to be among the more expensive options for some years.

The biggest single source, accounting for about half of the global total, is the burning of wood for heat and cooking in developing countries.This is not always truly renewable, as new trees to replace the burned wood are not always planted.

To make renewable energy more competitive we need to get the costs down. The report also indicates that renewable energy would be "economically attractive" if the environmental costs of fossil fuel emissions were included in prices.

Unlike fossil fuels, the expansion in renewable energy is not limited by any notion of a finite supply.The report concludes there is more than enough to meet the world's current and future energy needs. The report says that almost half of current investment in electricity generation is going into renewables, but growth will depend on having the right policies in place.

The report indicates that we could cut in global greenhouse gas emissions of about one-third compared with business-as-usual projections by 2050. Currently, renewables supply 12.9% of the global energy supply.

"With consistent climate and energy policy support, renewable energy sources can contribute substantially to human well-being by sustainably supplying energy and stabilising the climate," said Professor Ottmar Edenhofer, co-chair of the IPCC working group that produced the report."However, the substantial increase of renewables is technically and politically very challenging," he added.

The IPCC report indicates that, “The projected expansion is likely to continue even without new measures to promote a shift from fossil fuels as part of a U.N.-led fight against climate change.” Governments have agreed to limit the global average temperature rise to 2C at the most. To achieve the reductions agreed to at UN climate talks in Cancun, at the end of 2010 governments must make use of renewable energy sources on a very large scale. To meet international climate targets, governments will need to advance ambitious national policies and strong international cooperation to stimulate renewable investment.

To achieve even more growth in renewables requires ambitious national policies and strong international co-operation. According to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, "It is also clear that ambitious national policies and strong international cooperation are together the key to the swift and extensive deployment of renewable energies in all countries."

"While the report concludes that the proportion of renewable energy will likely increase even without policies," the reports authors said in a press release, “past experience has shown the largest increases come with concerted policy efforts.”

The IPCC brought together the most relevant and best available information to provide the world with this scientific assessment of the potential of renewable energy sources to mitigate climate change. It concludes that, “The technical potential of renewable energy technologies exceeds the current global energy demand by a consider amount, globally, and in respect of most regions of the world.”

The report indicated that renewable energy could provide up to 77% of the world's power by 2050, but this is less than 3% of total potential (under the 164 scenarios reviewed). The report indicates that wind power alone is capable of supplying more than 100% of future demand, and solar power many times more.

Although not included in the IPCC report, the WWF’s new Energy Report details a road map for achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050. Leading the WWF to say that the IPCC report, “underestimates the potential of deploying renewable energy even faster, especially when combined with top level energy efficiency."

The IPCC report demonstrates that with the right governmental backing we could get almost 80 per cent of our energy from renewable energy sources by 2050. If we do not see government support the IPCC report also lays out a bleaker vision for the future. Under this scenario we could consume more energy by 2050, and only 15 percent of the world's energy needs would be met by renewable energy.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
British Government to Lead the Growing Green Economy
Renewable Energy Standard Vs. Clean Energy Standard
Republican Opposition to Obama's Clean Energy Standard
High Oil Prices Stimulate Renewable Energy
Businesses Will Lead the Transition to Renewable Energy
Government Incentives are Growing Renewable Energy
Greenpeace Campaign is Asking Facebook to Unfriend Coal
Surge Predicted for Efficiency and Renewables in 2011
Ten Videos from the 2011 Renewable Energy World
Sustainable Growth Excludes Fossil Fuels
France's Innovation in Renewable Energy on Display
Renewable Energy Storage
Obama’s 'Renewable Energy Revolution' Speech
Bullfrog Power's Green Energy for Canadian Small Businesses
Bullfrog Power and Canada's JUNOs
Investing in Efficiency Upgrades and Renewable Energy
China can School the US About Green Growth
The Chinese Government is Investing in Clean Energy while the US Congress Dithers

Read More»

Geothermal Stock Review

Geothermal offers abundant energy with minimal environmental impact and it is located right beneath our feet. Geothermal systems use the Earth's stable ground temperature to heat in winter and cool in summer. Geothermal, (also know as Geoexchange) has been recognized by both the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy as the "most efficient and environmentally friendly way to heat and cool a building." The downside of geothermal has always been the large up-front cost associated with the ground loop.

Obama's massive energy overhaul of federal buildings may justify the the up-front cost given the savings provided by geothermal in the long term. In addition, a new federal tax credit for geothermal systems was passed in 2008 (10% for commercial installations, $2000 for residential), which serves as an additional stimulus for the growing private sector market.

This is an opportune time to consider geothermal investments. Here are 4 geothermal companies located in North America.

Geothermal Heat Pump Stock Picks

Waterfurnace Renewable Energy (WFIFF.PK): Waterfurnace manufactures heat pumps for both residential and commercial buildings. According to their third quarter financial statements, the company is in good shape from a liquidity perspective. They eliminated an unused line of credit in the quarter, paid off the balance of outstanding bonds they had used to build their facilities and their current assets exceed total liabilities. Their cash flow from operations is growing. Waterfurnace paid a dividend of over 3%.

LSB Industries, Inc. (LXU): Their climate control division, which includes heat pumps and air handling systems, accounts for about 41% of sales. LSB has a strong balance sheet and their current assets exceed total liabilities. Both Waterfurnace, LSB boast strong balance sheets and inexpensive valuations. They are likely to receive a boost from the stimulus package.

Nevada Geothermal Power (NGLPF.OB): Although Nevada Geothermal is currently unprofitable, their Blue Mountain geothermal project has sufficient financing to take it to production, which the company expects near the end of 2009. As the expectation of revenue draws nearer, expect the stock price to appreciate.

Raser Technologies, Inc. (RZ): Raser is an energy technology company focused on geothermal power development and technology licensing. It has an innovative business model for developing geothermal power plants. Using United Technologies's modular PureCycle turbines, they can start development of a geothermal site with only a 10MW plant, and then expand rapidly. They are currently commissioning their first project, consisting of 50 PureCycle units in Utah. Having recently raised $20M in new equity capital, Raser appears to be adequately funded in 2009. This should be long enough for them to start earning revenues.

Geothermal's simplicity comes with low operating cost and low environmental impact, it has a long life expectancy and requires very little maintenance. It is a system that pays for itself in a short number of years. Geothermal is an efficient means of reducing our reliance of fossil fuels and the noxious emissions that come with them.

Read More»