EGEB: Taller wind towers and electricity cheaper, Texas lawmakers fear the wind, more

Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial and political review/analysis of important green energy news.

Hawaii strains to permit batteries as self-supply permits grow – By last week, 420 residential rooftop solar systems attached to batteries were ready to be installed as soon as the battery systems are given the go-head. Unfortunately, the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has given building permits to only 33, citing safety concerns. – On the one hand, yes, its tough that it is taking a bit for these departments to get moving, however, we see the other hand hands many battery-powered+grid solar residential projects coming, and this number will only grow. Any of our readers in Hawaii? I’m wondering what size systems are being recommended to make sure no electricity gets back onto the grid.

Texas lawmakers approve tax break limitations for wind turbines near military bases – In other news, Texas lawmakers are simple-minded liars who are being paid off by fossil fuel interests. From the NavyTimes.com website – Navy: Wind farm opposed by some North Carolina lawmakers won’t harm radar – This project in North Carolina had the exact same logic put forward. Looks like national fossil fuel groups – Koch Brothers, ALEC, etc – finding strategically weak politicians that need money and don’t care about lying to their voters.

Concrete for taller wind turbine towers passes tests, could help expand wind energy nationwide – Taller wind mills makes its so almost the whole country is viable economically. When turbines are 140 meters (about 459 feet) off the ground, that blue band expands to the Southeast, moves around the Appalachians and covers parts of the Northeast, according to studies by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory based in Golden, Colorado. A 20-meter increase (about 66 feet) in tower height creates a 10 percent boost in Iowa energy production. – The price of wind will keep falling.

Wind Turbine Inspection Solutions – Speaking of wind turbines, this page is a complete marketing document for the company offering wind inspection services, but I thought it was cool to see what services are often needed. Structural integrity of the blades and the towers – specifically quality of welds – seems to be the most important focus.

Florida’s Amendment 1: A cautionary tale for 2018? – A few days after early voting had begun in Florida last October, an 84-year-old woman called Mary Ellen Klas, the state capital bureau chief of the Miami Herald, with an urgent question. Was there anyway she could take back her vote? – A bit of a deeper dive into the political fraud that occurred in Florida while the electric utilities manipulated the public against a bill in their benefit, and tried to slip one in that was definitely going to hurt the people. We covered this.

Hanwha Q CELLS changing sales strategy due to near-term industry uncertainties – Covering this for one sentence: The company also noted that its multi-PERC cell conversion efficiencies were approaching 20% and 22% for mono-PERC. Hanwha Q CELLS also noted that it had produced more than 5GW of PERC cells since production started in 2015. PERC volume building – volume means experience. Well priced 20-22% panels will be a game changer.

Shell Will Test Energy-Generating Kites This Summer – Test every idea. I know nothing about kite electricity – but it keeps getting attention.

Start from the left, attack aggressively – strategize the more you move to the right. Commercial customers that I visit almost always get their lighting and other efficiency work done first – you ought to give it a thought as well.

https://twitter.com/NormaPadron_/status/868868873935781890

Header image from Trina Solar’s PR department of a solar cell production line

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