Renewable Energy Consulting – PPA Partners, LLC

May 17, 2010 11:29 PM

BY STEPHANIE A. WILKEN – SUN STAFF WRITER

One future renewable energy project will be the first of its kind — and it’s one step closer to coming to Yuma County after the Board of Supervisors meeting Monday.

The Yuma Sun previously reported on a planned solar research project at Arizona Western College.

The project will include 5 1-megawatt systems and cover five different types of solar collection that will enable researchers to have data that’s never before been produced, said Bruce Mercy with PPA Partners Inc. (PPA), the lead contractor on the project.

“Nowhere in the country, no where in the world is there a (research) demonstration like this,” Mercy said.

Monday, supervisors authorized PPA to pursue $22 million in Yuma County Recovery Zone Facility Bonds to help finance the $30 million project. The money is a bond that will be repaid by PPA and is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Because the five different systems can run simultaneously and will be in the same area, it will be a unique research facility for solar, Mercy said. And all of the systems are designed for a utility-sized demonstration and test, he said.

PPA will share the data with the college, which could also entice research teams to come.

“The data from this field is probably one of the most valuable components of this project,” he said. “(It’s) one of the greatest carrots that we can put out there.”

There will also be an opportunity for solar manufacturing facilities in the future, Mercy said, citing that manufacturing facilities generally locate within 60 miles of research facilities.

In addition, Mercy said the college is working on developing curriculum including advanced degrees because of the project.

PPA will fund the $30 million through two revenue sources: one from revenues from Arizona Public Service, and another from a federal tax grant.

In addition to being the largest solar array at a college or university, the project at AWC will supply the college with 100 percent of its power — a major cost savings to the college.

In 10 years, the project is expected to save the college $3.5 million, in 15 years save $15.4 million, and in 30 years, the college is expected to save almost $54 million.

And with the bright, sunny days in Yuma County, it’s the perfect place to house the project, Mercy said.

“There should be solar on everything here,” he said.

The project, he said, will have a great impact on solar research.

“We’re taking it to a degree not even considered up to this point.”

The project is expected to go online Dec. 1.

Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.

Source: Yuma Sun

5.04.2010

Guest Post by Jack Lundee – follower of all things green and progressive.

Emission reduction, green spaces, and renewable energy are some of the most talked about topics of the 21^st century. With the recent passing of Earth Day, and the undying rally for improved green efforts worldwide, some industry giants are making a large footprint.

Oddly enough, it isn’t the work of highly regarded green organizations (i.e. – Greenpeace and Global Green USA) that’s capturing everybody’s attention, but surprisingly enough extremely large technology companies, like Google for instance. Recently, Google stated that it had invested $38.8 million in two North Dakota wind farms [1]. – “On Friday we made our first direct investment in a utility-scale renewable energy project — two wind farms that generate 169.5 megawatts of power, enough to power more than 55,000 homes.” Rick Needeham, (Google’s Green Business Operations Manager), wrote within that Google is greatly interested in discovering new opportunities to invest in renewable energy projects that really ”push the envelope.”

It wasn’t enough for Google to be the world’s biggest search and advertising company; it’s evident that they truly do want to power the globe. Although, this isn’t the first time that Google has made a large investment in green energy. Back in 2007, Google dove into clean-tech fray, clearly stating that it would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to create alternative energy sources that are cheaper than coal, which as we know it is the world’s dominant fuel source and pollutant. They included that their effort RECTC (Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal), would consist of wind power technologies, solar power, and more.

It’s sometimes tough to make the connection between search and alternative energy, but with Google at the forefront of campaigns like this, it certainly makes me feel a bit more comfortable. With enough energy to power nearly 55,000 homes, Google is making a tremendous impact on sustainability for our planet. Non-profits and other similar collaborative units have been doing their part in supporting green initiatives since the beginning of the movement. For instance, Niranjan Shah and Globetrotters Engineering Corporation work closely with the USGBC (US Green Building Council) to improve building standards and provide LEED based architecture. Although, it’s the unpredictable, long tail efforts of cash cows like Google that are helping substantially. Much like the individual, businesses must play their roles in promoting sustainability.

Google entered into green technology development in startup companies and its own consumer energy tracking tools, although, they hadn’t quite moved into actual working energy fabrication. This could infer future investments by Google, perhaps leading to the acquisition of their own wind powered turbine that would facilitate their own business needs.