Distributed Energy First, Wait On New Transmission Lines

Today's message from Bill Brown, our friend up at www.nmglobalwarming.org

Greetings, All -- Below is an article related to the emerging debate on distributed versus centralized clean energy systems.

"This article" treats a new report -- a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy and the wind power industry -- that outlines the technological feasibility of wind providing about 20 percent of USA electrical power by 2030. The report argues for major expansion of the national electrical transmission grid to reach centralized or connected wind systems whether offshore or in high-wind inland areas. The report cautions that "... its findings were not meant to predict that such growth would, in fact, be achieved, but only that it is technically possible...."
"The reality of clean energy development currently lies between the extremes of fully centralized and fully distributed solar and wind systems. Clearly, distributed solar panels and residential wind turbines continue to be employed by individual property owners throughout the country. Equally clearly, large centralized solar and interconnected wind power systems continue to be built throughout the country. However, an emerging middle ground is being considered (and constructed) via community or municipal sized clean energy power systems...."
"Many possibilities for our nation, communities, and individuals in terms of a new, clean energy future and economy are apparent within this debate. In my next post, I hope to treat some of these possibilities, many of which are being turned into reality by those looking ahead to a future free of the inefficiencies, escalating costs, hidden costs, and overall problems with old technology, obsolescent fossil fuels."
-- Bill Brown
www.nmglobalwarming.org
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April 28, 2008
Distributed Energy First, Wait On New Transmission Lines
by David Morris

A debate between advocates of distributed and centralized renewable energy systems is just beginning. It is overdue. Consideration of scale in renewable energy systems has been delayed in part because we first had to bring solar energy in all its forms to market, and in part because the distributed nature of renewable energy resources seemed inexorably to lead to their being harnessed in distributed fashion.

Only recently have we begun to realize that a renewable energy future does not inevitably mean a decentralized energy future. Indeed, right now the fastest growing part of the renewable energy industry may be the large solar central power systems being built in remote locations in the southwest to serve customers in Los Angeles, and the huge wind farms being built in the Midwest to serve customers in Chicago.

The preferred scale of solar energy did arise briefly 30 years ago when NASA vigorously lobbied for Congress to fund a series of solar power satellites. NASA maintained this would be a highly efficient solar electric system because in space the sun shines 24 hours a day. A more self-serving argument was that the electricity beamed down to earth could become the first economic export from future space stations.

The Congressional Office of Technology Assessment was asked to examine the issue. It in turn invited my organization, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance to prepare a report comparing solar power satellites to rooftop solar arrays. We found rooftop systems were much less expensive. We also concluded, intriguingly, that an optimal solar electric house would export 50 percent of what it generates and import 50 percent of what it consumes. Self-reliance, not self-sufficiency, works best. "

Go to link to read more from Renewable Energy World.

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from TouchArt.net and OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com