Renewables Gradually Shifting to Centre
Stage in Europe
Published: Tuesday, 13 November
2001
by Ian French
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Green Energy
conference organisers
Many delegates from across Europe and the US attended
the recent Eyeforenergy 'Commercialising Green Energy'
conference in Brussels. Covering many interesting
issues and technical innovations impacting the renewables
markets as it develops from virtually an embryonic
(some would say rhetorical stage) to a credible and
viable energy generating sector.
Featuring high on the priority of many speakers were
the issues surrounding policy developments, the regulation
of emissions through 'green certificates' and their
trading on the open market. Whilst the requirement
for such tools are generally agreed upon, a single
model and European model will remain a challenge for
some time to come. Agreements regarding MWh values,
generating sizes, certificate longevity, which technologies
and what exclusions are just some of the issues that
will need to be addressed before a resolution can
be reached.
 |
16% generation
by renewables
Other, more definite, beneficial environmental progress
and potential for the future was highlighted through
the implementation of individual company policies
such as that adopted by Fortum's energy utility Birka
Energy of Sweden. Through its environmental strategy,
Birka has increased its production through hydropower,
biomass, solar and wind generation from 9 percent
to 16 percent of its electrical output between 1998
and 2000. It also advises its customers on reducing
energy consumption and energy efficiency, and delivers
efficient closed cycle district heating and cooling
systems.
Other innovative approaches to energy production are
being tackled by G.A.S Energietechnik of Germany.
Its lean
 |
G.A.S. doing
well in landfill methane recovery
caloric gas utilisation concept is circumventing the
problem of depleting methane contents within landfills.
Until recently, concentrations of at least 40 percent
methane were necessary to allow cost-effective operations
of reciprocating engines to commence. Now concentrations
down to 25 percent can be utilised using a gas permeation
module to increase concentrations through a filtration-type
process. Furthermore, the waste gas from the process
can be pumped back into the landfill to attain higher
internal pressures to facilitate easier gas extraction.
This is a significant development in the landfill
sector where low concentrations of methane are commonly
flared to the atmosphere.
The renewables sector represents one of the most exciting
and challenging areas of energy production. Currently,
the market remains fairly uncompetitive compared to
the more traditional and cut-throat sectors such as
gen-sets, gas turbines and boilers.
Many key companies are taking advantage of these early
conditions to develop their position in the market.
As others continue to make progress however, so the
market will become increasingly competitive. Whilst
this will inevitably push some in to the abyss, it
will also lead to greater pressure on prices and advance
technological development. Customers and end-users
will increasingly see greater benefits of the technology
enabling a larger and more sustainable global market
to develop to the advantage of all.
Click on the link to see Frost & Sullivan's extensive
Renewables Portfolio analysing
European, Latin and North American markets. Follow
this link to our brief analysis of the
Australian
Renewables market.
e-mail:
power@frost.com
