ARPA-E to Fund New Clean Energy Projects

2011 ◽  
pp. 042811132534
Author(s):  
Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 373-392
Author(s):  
Felix Amenumey ◽  
Melissa Pawlisch ◽  
Okechukwu Ukaga

The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) is a project designed to give local citizens and other stakeholders a voice in planning and determining their energy future. In total, there are seven CERTs operating in seven regions across Minnesota, USA. CERTs connect citizens with technical expertise to facilitate planning and implementation of energy conservation and renewable energy projects. These technical resources are helping the teams identify and prioritize the most appropriate and cost-effective opportunities within their regions. This paper will describe one of these energy teams (the Northeast CERT) and its efforts in promoting clean energy production and conservation. A key product of the Northeast CERT is a strategic energy plan that highlights the region's top energy priorities. As part of its project priorities, the Northeast Minnesota CERT is working to set up demonstration projects at every school and community in the region. Toward this goal, the team is currently collaborating with two schools in the region to set up renewable energy projects such as wind and solar, which in turn would help students to understand that renewables and conservation can and should be an integral part of our energy system.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelines Daihana Donastorg ◽  
Suresh Renukappa ◽  
Subashini Suresh

Purpose Currently, renewable energy (RE) sources represent a crucial pillar in obtaining sustainable development, one of the global goals for all countries. However, this presents a unique challenge for emerging and developing countries. As the technical and financial issues remain a significant barrier in implementing RE projects, several mechanisms are available to aid the financial aspect of investing and implementing clean energy projects. This paper aims to discuss new and traditional trends in the financial area of renewable investment, focusing on the Dominican Republic (DR), identifying the gaps in the financial area regarding RE. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was conducted in the DR. This country is located at the heart of the Caribbean. Given the complexity of RE and developing countries issues and the scarcity of comparable research in the area, an interpretivist research paradigm along with the qualitative methodology was adopted. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The study sample includes: directors, chief executive officers and managers responsible for the implementation of RE strategies in their respective departments/organisations. NVivo software was used for data management and the collected data was analysed using content analysis. Findings The research highlighted several severe financial handicaps regarding RE in the DR: The lack of RE assets recognition; lack of RE investment loans; perceived RE risk; and lack of financial guarantor. After extensive interviews with critical actors in the RE sector in the DR, the possible solutions and recommendations for avoiding locking the energy and economic sector in fossil fuel debt are: (a) diversification of RE technology assets recognition, (b) implementation of government RE fund, (c) RE education on all actors and (d) introduction and adoption of new financial trends such as green bonds, bank pooling, cooperatives and more. Originality/value This paper provides information and knowledge related to financial tools and policies that are available for the RE projects in the DR. The results have a socio-economic impact. This research provides a better understanding of the key financial tools to be explored by RE project developers in the developing countries. This study shows the gaps that exist between the knowledge that the stakeholders should possess and the actual knowledge that exists in the country regarding the financial aspect of an RE project.


Similar to other business projects, clean energy projects also has orientation for profit maximization in developing countries. Environmental problems caused by industrial wastes have been becoming serious issues in developing countries. Hence, recycling industrial wastes, in order to create more renewable and clean energy, has been recognized as one of ways to reduce adverse impact of global warming and negative effect of greenhouse gases. According to statistics, Viet Nam discharges about 400,000 tons of waste tires annually and this number in the US is estimated about 4,200,000 tons per year (source: vnu.edu.vn). This creates many environmental issues. Hence, this paper aims to propose a business model to solve problems mentioned below in the paper. Building a tire shredding plant in California, USA (for example) to cut the whole tires into small shredded tires then export to developing countries like Vietnam is one method to convert wastes into clean energy and protecting our environment. This is one main objective of this research paper. Another purpose of this study is to find out a financial model to evaluate socio-economic values of renewable energy projects that help to protect our environment, as well as a modern viewpoint of not including or adding (+) new debt issuances to increase net cash flow when estimating FCFE cash flow. Using pyrolysis technology to crack carbon linkage into smaller linkages, and then convert waste tires into renewable energy (FO-R oil, carbon black and steel). This is an application of chemical engineering. Through the economic and technical analysis of this model, we can see the practical benefits of the energy project in terms of economic efficiency, profitability, which bring surplus value for investors, effective solutions for customers and a quality energy product for the society. And it also suggest the relevant government of developing countries to consider proper policies to encourage environment protection and businesses in the field of converting industrial wastes such as tires into clean energy.


Daedalus ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kassia Yanosek

Historically, energy transitions have occurred gradually over the span of several decades, marked by incremental improvements in technologies. In recent years, public interest in accelerating the next energy transition has fueled a clean-energy policy agenda intended to underpin the development of a decarbonized energy economy. However, policies to date have encouraged investors to fund renewable energy projects utilizing proven technologies that are not competitive without the help of government subsidies. A true transition of the energy mix requires innovations that can compete with conventional energy over the long term. Investments in innovative technology projects are scarce because of the “commercialization gap,” which affects projects that are too capital-intensive for venture capital yet too risky for private equity, project, or corporate debt financing. Accelerating innovation through the commercialization gap will require governments to allocate public dollars to, and encourage private investment in, these riskier projects. Policy-makers will face a trade-off between prioritizing policies for accelerating the energy transition and accounting for the risks associated with innovation funding in a tight budgetary environment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-275
Author(s):  
Miroslav Antevski ◽  
Dobrica Vesic ◽  
Ljiljana Kontic

Energy security may be defined, generally, as the availability of clean energy sources at affordable prices. If a country or region does not have its own sources of energy in the necessary extent, their energy security is in a long-term threat. To this point, countries seek to achieve diversification of energy sources and transport routes. This is one of the reasons for launching new energy projects in Europe and Asia; the other is an attempt by Russia to consolidate its dominant position on the part of the international energy market; the third factor is the oil transnational corporations. Russia is the dominant natural trading partner and Europe?s energy supplier. Problems with the transit of natural gas and oil from Russia to Europe, which directly threaten its energy security, were the reason to launch the new energy projects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-27
Author(s):  
Maximilian Bonnici ◽  
◽  
Henry Greene ◽  
Isabelle Bonnici ◽  
◽  
...  

Clean energy may offer a more environmentally friendly outcome than fossil fuels. However, clean energy is beset by uncertainties when the sun does not shine through and the wind does not blow. Worse still, science has not yet overcome scalability issues that are compounded by lack of technological knowhow on how to store solar and wind energy. The electrical “green-outs” of August 2020 in California are a reminder that without storage facilities for clean energy, utilities are driven to spot markets for electricity rendered from traditional sources of energy as economic setbacks occur due to compromised supplies of electricity. Without means of energy storage, new technology cannot fully replace the old. One can only hope that the dream to build a future based on renewable energy will lead to discoveries that will overcome scalability and storage issues.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document