http://www.powermag.com POWER Mag en-us 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 0:25:33 EST Of the $35.9 billion in loan guarantees awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) since 2009, roughly $26.5 billion have financed nuclear and renewable power projects across the nation through the Section 1703 and 1705 loan guarantee programs.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4316.html Wed, 1 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST Brazil’s power industry has long been dominated by its vast hydro resources, which historically have accounted for over 80% of the country’s generation capacity. With engineering marvels like the massive Itaipú dam and the proposed Belo Monte project, the country is a leader in the development and use of hydroelectricity on a grand scale. But as the 2001 energy crisis proved, dependence on a single source leaves the country vulnerable to severe shortages. Thanks to government programs designed to take advantage of the country’s favorable climate, Brazil is committed to diversifying its energy mix while continuing to maintain a renewable energy focus.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4333.html Wed, 1 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST The POWER editorial staff's picks for the most significant stories of 2011.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4227.html Sun, 1 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST At home and abroad, U.S. military microgrid and smart grid projects are driven by energy security concerns. The pace of such projects, however, can be slow, and the potential for civilian grids to benefit from lessons learned and technologies developed for these important installations may be limited.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4228.html Sun, 1 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST Driven by policies to limit carbon emissions, as well as government subsidies, the share of worldwide nonhydro renewable power is set to grow from just 3% in 2009 to 15% in 2035, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts in its recently released World... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4244.html Sun, 1 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST U.S. optimism has been restored by reports of abundant, reasonably priced natural gas to fuel most new generation; however, huge gaps in the fuel delivery system (thousands of miles of pipelines are needed) will soon challenge gas plant development. Meanwhile, the cloud of sovereign debt hangs over all major capital projects in Europe, where the UK moves ahead with new nuclear projects while many of its neighbors shut the door on nuclear and struggle to finance their commitment to renewables.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4255.html Sun, 1 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST The Five-Year Plan is the expression of the centralized planning goals for China’s economy. The 12th Five-Year Plan, approved by the Chinese Government on March 14, 2011, established many social and economic goals, including significant expansion of the country’s power generation industry in many new directions.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4257.html Sun, 1 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST A trade row between the Chinese government and solar panel makers around the world intensified in December. As China’s Ministry of Commerce refuted allegations that the Chinese government uses illegal subsidies, discounts for raw materials, preferential loans, tax incentives, and currency manipulation to drive down prices and amplify exports of Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) affirmed the U.S. solar industry is “materially injured” by imports, at “less than fair value,” of Chinese crystalline silicon PV cells and modules.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4280.html Sun, 1 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST The current largest photovoltaic plant in the U.S., the 48-MW Copper Mountain Solar 1, utilizes approximately 775,000 solar panels to generate emission-free electricity for about 14,000 homes without the use of water. The facility was constructed in less than a year—an unprecedented achievement for a project of this size.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4188.html Thu, 1 Dec 2011 0:00:00 EST The 5-MW Kimberlina Solar Thermal Energy Station is the first to use compact linear Fresnel reflector technology developed to generate continuous superheated steam, a key element for higher-efficiency power generation and integration with new and existing plants. The facility’s innovative technology helps deliver power even during periods of transient cloud cover.... http://www.powermag.com/renewables/solar/4190.html Thu, 1 Dec 2011 0:00:00 EST