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:

ma.leach@elsevier.com

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-

bo@xantrex.com; 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