In a new book, "Agile Energy
Systems, Global Lessons from
the California Energy Crisis,"
authors Woodrow W. Clark II,
a senior fellow at the Milken
Institute, and Ted K. Bradshaw,
a professor at the University
of California, Davis,USA offer a
roadmap to a future that
focuses on renewable energy
along with combinations of
technologies that include the
use of hydrogen.
The key to this new "para-
digm," Clark and Bradshaw say,
is to diversify fuel sources. Using
the California electricity crisis of
2000-2001 as the prime exam-
ple of an energy supply system
gone wrong, the authors pro-
vide not only a litany of reasons
why the current deregulated
system isn't working, but why
an "agile energy system" -- one
that replaces the old vertically
integrated regulated utility
with one based on renewable
energy generation and hybrid or
combined technologies --
will supply us with a constant,
efficient supply of energy while
reducing our dependence on
fossil fuels.
Agile Energy Systems, part of
publisher Elsevier's Global
Energy Policy and Economics
Series, is divided into three sec-
tions. Part one describes the
five precipitating factors that
led to the deregulation debacle
in California. Part two examines
how "civic markets," new eco-
nomic models and planning for
complexity as sustainable eco-
nomic development can create
an agile energy system within
California. Part three examines
the emerging "clean" hydrogen
technology and its importance
to the future of energy sys-
tems. For more information,
visit: www.milkeninstitute.org
or contact: Margo Leach,
Marketing Coordinator, MS&E,
at Elsevier, Ltd., The Boulevard,
Langford Lane, Kidlington,
Oxon, OX5 1GB, UK; Email:
Product NEWS
16 reFOCUS November/December 2004 www.re-focus.net
Xantrex launches residential grid-tieinverterXantrex Technology Inc. has launched a
"developed-from-scratch" grid-tie inverter
for the renewable energy market. A leading
player in the off-grid market, this marks
Xantrex's push to offer solutions for the on-
grid market. The GT 3.0 Grid Tie Solar
Inverter is based on a new technology plat-
form that Xantrex claims offers cost-effec-
tiveness and ease of installation. "Xantrex
conducted exhaustive product research and
development to create the GT 3.0 from the
ground up," said Lloyd Gomm, Xantrex
product manager. Prior to market introduc-
tion, the GT 3.0 logged more than 15,000
test hours in home installations. The GT 3.0
maximizes energy output of PV panels
through optimized maximum power point
tracking (MPPT) and ensures the highest
energy harvest through a wide range of
conditions, including high-temperature envi-
ronments. Xantrex engineers tested it exten-
sively using Highly Accelerated Life Test test-
ing methods to detect and address potential
product design issues. The GT 3.0 was test-
ed under extreme thermal and mechanical
conditions that went above and beyond
conventional testing methods resulting in a
rugged product that is built to withstand
the rigours of all types of environments. The
GT 3.0 is, the manufacturers claim, easier to
install, neatly packaged, very quiet and is
backed up with after-sales support in the
form of person-to-person training and web
casting. The inverter is initially being market-
ed for the US market and should be opened
up to European market in the first quarter
of 2005. Xantrex officially launched the GT
3.0 in San Francisco recently at Solar Power
2004, the largest conference and expo for
solar applications in the United States.
Contact: Maria LoScerbo, Xantrex
Technology Inc. USA. Tel: +1 604.422.2589;
Fax: +1 604.420.1591; E-mail: maria.loscer-
[email protected]; www.xantrex.com
Changes at VestasThe Managing Director of VestasWind Systems A/S, Mr SvendSigaard has informed the Boardof Directors that he wishes toresign from his position after theGeneral Meeting on 25 April2005 and by 1 June 2005 at thelatest. The Board of Directorshas appointed Ditlev Engel (40years) as new Managing Directorof the company effective asfrom the same time. Engelcomes from Hempel A/S wherehe has been employed for 20years and during the latest 4½years as Managing Director.www.vestas.com
Siemens takeover BonusGerman company Siemensannounced in October that itwill acquire the Danish windturbine manufacturer BonusEnergy and thus enter thewind energy business. Withthis step, Siemens follows itsmain competitor, GeneralElectric, which took overEnron Wind (former GermanTacke) in 2002. According toSiemens, the headquarters ofthe new Siemens wind powerdivision will remain inDenmark.www.siemens.com andwww.bonus.dk
News in BRIEF
Agile energy systems
FKI withdraws from Wind FKI announced in November its proposalto exit the DeWind turbine business itacquired in 2002. FKI stated that a num-ber of recent developments had had amaterial adverse impact on the marketposition of DeWind and its operatingmodel. The rapid consolidation of windturbine manufacturers and the increasinginfluence of major wind power develop-ers have significantly increased competi-tive pressures. The major impacts can beseen in continually reducing turbineprices, increasingly onerous contractterms and conditions and higher levels ofinvestment in new product and inventory. As a consequence, the cash com-mitments required, particularly for smallturbine manufacturers, have increasedsignificantly. In addition, the decline in DeWind's traditional market inGermany has led to a much weakenedmarket position. Given the changingmarket dynamics and DeWind's currentposition, FKI has, on detailed analysis,decided not to invest further funds todevelop this business.
News in BRIEF
