Archive for June, 2011

Tres Amigas: Uniting the North American Power Grids

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Many of our major renewable energy resources are along the Rocky Mountain region and in the Southwest, says Phillip Harris, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, Tres Amigas LLC. “Uniting the three power grids to take advantage of those resources is paramount for the future of the North America,” he adds. A speaker at the marcus evans Transmission & Distribution Summit 2011, in Wheeling, Illinois, November 2-4, Harris highlights the benefits of a united grid, how companies can capitalize on it and how it would help achieve renewable energy goals. 

How would uniting the three electric power grids help North America achieve its renewable energy goals?

Phillip Harris: Many of our major renewable energy resources, natural gas, solar, wind and storage possibilities, are in the Rocky Mountain region and in the Southwest. It is time for the electrical grids in North America to be able to move power in and between themselves for the long-term best interest of the US and Canada. China is building transmission lines to get the best out of its renewable resources, while Europe will have the super grid interconnecting wind energy from the North and solar energy from the South. North America has to tap into its vast renewable resources to move forward in the 21st century.

How can companies capitalize on this?

Phillip Harris: Connecting the three power grids benefits everyone. For customers, it means more choice and access to cheaper sources of power regardless of where they are located. For developers of renewable projects, it means  having a capability to get economies of scale in projects and make competitive rates to multiple buyers. Currently, utility companies in the Rocky Mountain chain, in general, do not have the load to be able to support large economic facilities on a single utility system.

How can utility companies ensure reliability of service? What best practices for efficiency would you recommend?

Phillip Harris: Having a reliable grid is critical. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has reliability standards for the planning and operating of the North American bulk power system. Every balancing authority has to operate according to these standards. As a balancing authority, we will add reliability and keep the grid in balance even better by being able to draw on each of the grids.

Efficiency comes by having the choice of power from different source loads. Tres Amigas is perfectly located to be able to bring in cheaper and better power, as well as be able to operate reserve sharing.

Any additional comments?

Phillip Harris: If you look at the evolution of the electric grid, it is definitely time for the three grids to be able to exchange power. The Federal government tried to do this in the early 1950s, but the technology was not there. We now have the technology to achieve this. We need to do this for economical and social reasons, as well as to help North America have more clean power for the future.

Contact:
Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian
Press Manager
marcus evans, Summits Division
Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Transmission & Distribution Summit 2011

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, Illinois, November 2-4, 2011. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on grid modernization, increasing energy efficiency and protecting critical assets.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations. Lend an ear to fellow experts and live news from our events on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts!

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Tres Amigas: Uniting the North American Power Grids

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Many of our major renewable energy resources are along the Rocky Mountain region and in the Southwest, says Phillip Harris, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, Tres Amigas LLC. “Uniting the three power grids to take advantage of those resources is paramount for the future of the North America,” he adds. A speaker at the marcus evans Transmission & Distribution Summit 2011, in Wheeling, Illinois, November 2-4, Harris highlights the benefits of a united grid, how companies can capitalize on it and how it would help achieve renewable energy goals. 

How would uniting the three electric power grids help North America achieve its renewable energy goals?

Phillip Harris: Many of our major renewable energy resources, natural gas, solar, wind and storage possibilities, are in the Rocky Mountain region and in the Southwest. It is time for the electrical grids in North America to be able to move power in and between themselves for the long-term best interest of the US and Canada. China is building transmission lines to get the best out of its renewable resources, while Europe will have the super grid interconnecting wind energy from the North and solar energy from the South. North America has to tap into its vast renewable resources to move forward in the 21st century.

How can companies capitalize on this?

Phillip Harris: Connecting the three power grids benefits everyone. For customers, it means more choice and access to cheaper sources of power regardless of where they are located. For developers of renewable projects, it means  having a capability to get economies of scale in projects and make competitive rates to multiple buyers. Currently, utility companies in the Rocky Mountain chain, in general, do not have the load to be able to support large economic facilities on a single utility system.

How can utility companies ensure reliability of service? What best practices for efficiency would you recommend?

Phillip Harris: Having a reliable grid is critical. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has reliability standards for the planning and operating of the North American bulk power system. Every balancing authority has to operate according to these standards. As a balancing authority, we will add reliability and keep the grid in balance even better by being able to draw on each of the grids.

Efficiency comes by having the choice of power from different source loads. Tres Amigas is perfectly located to be able to bring in cheaper and better power, as well as be able to operate reserve sharing.

Any additional comments?

Phillip Harris: If you look at the evolution of the electric grid, it is definitely time for the three grids to be able to exchange power. The Federal government tried to do this in the early 1950s, but the technology was not there. We now have the technology to achieve this. We need to do this for economical and social reasons, as well as to help North America have more clean power for the future.

Contact:
Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian
Press Manager
marcus evans, Summits Division
Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Transmission & Distribution Summit 2011

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, Illinois, November 2-4, 2011. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on grid modernization, increasing energy efficiency and protecting critical assets.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations. Lend an ear to fellow experts and live news from our events on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts!

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

American Wire Group: Cutting Costs in Renewable Energy Production

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Copper clad aluminum takes the cost out of renewable energy production, says Bob Dorfman, President & Chief Executive Officer, American Wire Group. We may be moving on to alternative energies to decrease our overreliance on oil and its volatile markets, however the price of copper, which is used in solar and wind farms, has also doubled within the last few years. 

From a solution provider company attending the marcus evans Renewable Technologies Summit 2011, in Hollywood, Florida, August 15-17, Dorfman shares his vision of why copper clad aluminum will eventually replace copper in all power cables.

What would cut costs in renewable energy production?

Bob Dorfman: Power generation companies are looking at alternative energies to lower their costs. The price of gasoline and oil have gone off the charts. Five years ago a barrel of oil cost USD 40, while today it has reached USD 100.

The same way that automobile companies developed electric cars to reduce their overreliance on volatile oil markets, the American Wire Group has taken the cost out of the metal that the renewable industry needs. The price of metal that is required for the transfer of power generated in solar and wind farms to substations increased from 65 cents a pound in 2005 to USD 1.25 in 2011. We have created a mesh metal combining aluminum with copper, making copper clad aluminum. It has similar electrical properties, but it reduces the cost of copper needed by 30 per cent. This is a revolutionary change for the renewable energy industry. We have thought outside the box, providing a powerful solution for a global issue. Copper clad aluminum has been used in the cable TV industry for years, but we are the first to introduce it to the power portion of the electrical industry.

What are the uncertainties in the renewable energy space?

Bob Dorfman: In the renewable industry, there is always a risk that costs will be more than that of oil, although the larger wind turbines today are very efficient. In the 80s and 90s, wind turbines used to generate 750 kilowatts per hour, while today that is 2.5 megawatts. Large turbines lower costs, with not as many needed on the same wind project.

If you were to give one piece of advice to executives in this sector, what would that be?

Bob Dorfman: Educate industry leaders, the government, Senators and Congressmen of the importance of supporting the renewable energy industry. Utilizing alternative sources of energy benefits the entire country. It is very important for renewable energy to be a part of the American energy focus.

Any final comments?

Bob Dorfman: Change takes a long time, even with a powerful solution such as ours. Once the idea of change is accepted, it will be widely used. Copper clad aluminum will eventually replace copper in all power cables. We are ahead of this curve and helping the industry progress.

Contact:
Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian
Press Manager
marcus evans, Summits Division
Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Renewable Technologies Summit 2011

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, August 15-17, 2011. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on employing cutting edge technologies in the renewable sector, addressing the uncertainties of renewable resources in the planning process and embracing the latest financial models to maximize profits.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website at www.renewabletechnologiessummit.com

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations. Lend an ear to fellow experts and live news from our events on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts!

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About American Wire Group

AWG specializes in Cable for Solar Farms and Wind Farms.
We have a complete inventory of 35 KV URD Cables, Fiber Optic Cables, Aluminum Transmission overhead conductors (ACSR), Flexible Copper Conductor Cables (DLO), Bare Copper Conductor and all sizes of Substation Control Cables and PV Cable.

www.buyawg.com

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Energenic: The Future of the Renewable Energy Sector

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

While the future of renewable technologies is promising, we still have to ensure that renewable energy is a viable source of alternative energy, according to Stephen Poniatowicz, Executive Vice President, Operations, Energenic LLC. A speaker at the marcus evans Renewable Technologies Summit 2011, in Hollywood, Florida, August 15-17, Poniatowicz talks about the uncertainties in the renewable energy space today and what the future holds for the sector. 

What are the uncertainties in the renewable energy space today? How could it become self-sufficient?

Stephen Poniatowicz: The renewable technology business is young and actively supported by the US government. There is a movement to cut down on financial incentives in order to make the industry stand up on its own two feet, but this is creating uncertainty in the industry. As people start recognizing the benefits of cleaner energy, they will start to embrace it. Government initiatives to sway people away from dirtier technologies would help renewable technologies get a better foothold.

While the price of solar panels has decreased in the past few years, it is still an expensive technology. Hybrid plants that combine solar, wind and gas-fired power, is a saleable option that also decreases a facility’s carbon footprint. We are also seeing the concept of distributed generation develop, small generating stations close to the source. This is taking a technology that has been around for more than 80 years and rearranging it to a network type of system.

Clearly, the renewable energy sector has to make sure it can compete with other technologies. At the end of the day, people still have to pay for it. As we see wider deployment across the world, the price of production and installation will come down. The industry is on its way to becoming more competitive with the traditional generation technologies.

What do power generation directors overlook when managing energy development and generation projects?

Stephen Poniatowicz: There seems to be a thinking that all coal, solar and wind generation opportunities are similar, when they have different risk profiles. Many executives over-simplify operational idiosyncrasies. Solar generation, for example, is dependent upon the green energy credits that may be offered, which is influenced by government regulation. How that plays out greatly influences the profitability of renewable energy projects. On the other hand, some generation technologies could be more technically oriented. Some executives do not evaluate each project as they should.

How could they ensure value to stakeholders?

Stephen Poniatowicz: Consider how the more traditional methods provide value to stakeholders, for example power purchase agreements, which most project finance companies are in favor of. Stakeholders want to see a guaranteed, long-term revenue stream. In the US this is an interesting dynamic as the capacity varies depending on the system operating in the region. In PJM, the capacity only has established value three years out; a multi-year contract beyond that time period, which most power generation projects have, creates a great deal of uncertainty. Likewise, competing in the energy commodity market creates uncertainty.

What helps our sector is that we have the ability to generate power close to the user and protect businesses from the volatility that they would experience from fluctuating energy prices. This helps generation operators ensure better revenues and profitability on an ongoing basis.

What is your outlook for the future?

Stephen Poniatowicz: The future is promising. As people start recognizing the long-term environmental impact of traditional generation fuels, there will be even greater interest in renewable technologies. The challenging part of this is the dollars and cents associated with that.

Any final comments?

Stephen Poniatowicz: Take a long-term view. There are certain challenges to making this a viable business today, but we have to work together to do the right thing globally.

Contact:
Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian
Press Manager
marcus evans, Summits Division
Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Renewable Technologies Summit 2011

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, August 15-17, 2011. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on employing cutting edge technologies in the renewable sector, addressing the uncertainties of renewable resources in the planning process and embracing the latest financial models to maximize profits.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations. Lend an ear to fellow experts and live news from our events on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts!

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

American Wire Group: Cutting Costs in Renewable Energy Production

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Copper clad aluminum takes the cost out of renewable energy production, says Bob Dorfman, President & Chief Executive Officer, American Wire Group. We may be moving on to alternative energies to decrease our overreliance on oil and its volatile markets, however the price of copper, which is used in solar and wind farms, has also doubled within the last few years. 

From a solution provider company attending the marcus evans Renewable Technologies Summit 2011, in Hollywood, Florida, August 15-17, Dorfman shares his vision of why copper clad aluminum will eventually replace copper in all power cables.

What would cut costs in renewable energy production?

Bob Dorfman: Power generation companies are looking at alternative energies to lower their costs. The price of gasoline and oil have gone off the charts. Five years ago a barrel of oil cost USD 40, while today it has reached USD 100.

The same way that automobile companies developed electric cars to reduce their overreliance on volatile oil markets, the American Wire Group has taken the cost out of the metal that the renewable industry needs. The price of metal that is required for the transfer of power generated in solar and wind farms to substations increased from 65 cents a pound in 2005 to USD 1.25 in 2011. We have created a mesh metal combining aluminum with copper, making copper clad aluminum. It has similar electrical properties, but it reduces the cost of copper needed by 30 per cent. This is a revolutionary change for the renewable energy industry. We have thought outside the box, providing a powerful solution for a global issue. Copper clad aluminum has been used in the cable TV industry for years, but we are the first to introduce it to the power portion of the electrical industry.

What are the uncertainties in the renewable energy space?

Bob Dorfman: In the renewable industry, there is always a risk that costs will be more than that of oil, although the larger wind turbines today are very efficient. In the 80s and 90s, wind turbines used to generate 750 kilowatts per hour, while today that is 2.5 megawatts. Large turbines lower costs, with not as many needed on the same wind project.

If you were to give one piece of advice to executives in this sector, what would that be?

Bob Dorfman: Educate industry leaders, the government, Senators and Congressmen of the importance of supporting the renewable energy industry. Utilizing alternative sources of energy benefits the entire country. It is very important for renewable energy to be a part of the American energy focus.

Any final comments?

Bob Dorfman: Change takes a long time, even with a powerful solution such as ours. Once the idea of change is accepted, it will be widely used. Copper clad aluminum will eventually replace copper in all power cables. We are ahead of this curve and helping the industry progress.

Contact:
Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian
Press Manager
marcus evans, Summits Division
Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Renewable Technologies Summit 2011

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, August 15-17, 2011. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on employing cutting edge technologies in the renewable sector, addressing the uncertainties of renewable resources in the planning process and embracing the latest financial models to maximize profits.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website at www.renewabletechnologiessummit.com

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations. Lend an ear to fellow experts and live news from our events on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts!

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About American Wire Group

AWG specializes in Cable for Solar Farms and Wind Farms.
We have a complete inventory of 35 KV URD Cables, Fiber Optic Cables, Aluminum Transmission overhead conductors (ACSR), Flexible Copper Conductor Cables (DLO), Bare Copper Conductor and all sizes of Substation Control Cables and PV Cable.

www.buyawg.com

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Energenic: The Future of the Renewable Energy Sector

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

While the future of renewable technologies is promising, we still have to ensure that renewable energy is a viable source of alternative energy, according to Stephen Poniatowicz, Executive Vice President, Operations, Energenic LLC. A speaker at the marcus evans Renewable Technologies Summit 2011, in Hollywood, Florida, August 15-17, Poniatowicz talks about the uncertainties in the renewable energy space today and what the future holds for the sector. 

What are the uncertainties in the renewable energy space today? How could it become self-sufficient?

Stephen Poniatowicz: The renewable technology business is young and actively supported by the US government. There is a movement to cut down on financial incentives in order to make the industry stand up on its own two feet, but this is creating uncertainty in the industry. As people start recognizing the benefits of cleaner energy, they will start to embrace it. Government initiatives to sway people away from dirtier technologies would help renewable technologies get a better foothold.

While the price of solar panels has decreased in the past few years, it is still an expensive technology. Hybrid plants that combine solar, wind and gas-fired power, is a saleable option that also decreases a facility’s carbon footprint. We are also seeing the concept of distributed generation develop, small generating stations close to the source. This is taking a technology that has been around for more than 80 years and rearranging it to a network type of system.

Clearly, the renewable energy sector has to make sure it can compete with other technologies. At the end of the day, people still have to pay for it. As we see wider deployment across the world, the price of production and installation will come down. The industry is on its way to becoming more competitive with the traditional generation technologies.

What do power generation directors overlook when managing energy development and generation projects?

Stephen Poniatowicz: There seems to be a thinking that all coal, solar and wind generation opportunities are similar, when they have different risk profiles. Many executives over-simplify operational idiosyncrasies. Solar generation, for example, is dependent upon the green energy credits that may be offered, which is influenced by government regulation. How that plays out greatly influences the profitability of renewable energy projects. On the other hand, some generation technologies could be more technically oriented. Some executives do not evaluate each project as they should.

How could they ensure value to stakeholders?

Stephen Poniatowicz: Consider how the more traditional methods provide value to stakeholders, for example power purchase agreements, which most project finance companies are in favor of. Stakeholders want to see a guaranteed, long-term revenue stream. In the US this is an interesting dynamic as the capacity varies depending on the system operating in the region. In PJM, the capacity only has established value three years out; a multi-year contract beyond that time period, which most power generation projects have, creates a great deal of uncertainty. Likewise, competing in the energy commodity market creates uncertainty.

What helps our sector is that we have the ability to generate power close to the user and protect businesses from the volatility that they would experience from fluctuating energy prices. This helps generation operators ensure better revenues and profitability on an ongoing basis.

What is your outlook for the future?

Stephen Poniatowicz: The future is promising. As people start recognizing the long-term environmental impact of traditional generation fuels, there will be even greater interest in renewable technologies. The challenging part of this is the dollars and cents associated with that.

Any final comments?

Stephen Poniatowicz: Take a long-term view. There are certain challenges to making this a viable business today, but we have to work together to do the right thing globally.

Contact:
Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian
Press Manager
marcus evans, Summits Division
Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Renewable Technologies Summit 2011

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, August 15-17, 2011. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on employing cutting edge technologies in the renewable sector, addressing the uncertainties of renewable resources in the planning process and embracing the latest financial models to maximize profits.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations. Lend an ear to fellow experts and live news from our events on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts!

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com