Energy in October 2011

Oct 2011:  According to a new report from Pike Research, growth in the wind-power industry is being driven by increased government incentives and an expanded awareness of small wind technologies as an alternative source of electric power. The cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that the global market for small wind systems will more than double between 2010 and 2015, rising from $255 million to $634 million during that period. Within the same forecast horizon, small wind system installed capacity additions will nearly triple to 152 megawatts, and average installed prices of small wind systems will decline to just over $4,150 per kilowatt.

Oct 2011:  The Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance consortium led by Washington State University to study the feasibility of producing jet biofuel from woody feedstocks in the Pacific Northwest, has selected Weyerhaeuser Company to be a participant in the WSU-led project. This is one of two five-year, $40 million grants. The University of Washington received the other $40 million grant.

OCT 2011:  East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. has awarded Argan, Inc. an engineer-procure-construct (EPC) contract for approximately $165 million to design and build a 49.9 MW, biomass-fired power plant near Woodville, Texas.

OCT 2011:  Pacific Gas and Electric Company has selected The Energy Alternatives Division of Cupertino Electric, Inc. to design and build a 20 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Huron, California for the utility company. Engineering of the project has begun and construction of the project is underway. The entire 20 MW project is anticipated to be complete and inter-connected by mid-2012.

OCT 2011:  LiteSolar (www.litesolar.com) has placed new Purchase Orders with Quality Bending & Fabrication (QBF) to provide parts and components for their renewable energy products. The most recent purchase orders total approximately $600,000, bringing LiteSolar’s total orders for the year to more than $750,000.

OCT 2011:  A major manufacturer of advanced thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) cells has selected Nanometrics Incorporated to install the latest generation of the TSM™ (Trajectory Solar Monitor) metrology system for in-line process monitoring and control of CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium) films.