Wind energy was the big winner of 2020, accounting for the single largest segment of new energy capacity added in the US.
Governments around the world are looking at climate-friendly energy options in a desperate attempt to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. Wind, solar and nuclear are some of the most popular options, but wind is clearly gaining major traction in the US.
According to a report by the Department of Energy (DOE), “more wind energy was installed in 2020 than any other energy source, accounting for 42% of new U.S. capacity. The U.S. wind industry supports 116,800 jobs.”
More than 10% of in-state electricity was generated by wind in 16 states, with the Midwest benefiting the most. Iowa saw 57% of its electricity generated by wind power, while Kansas, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota all got at least 30% of their electricity from wind energy.
One of the big factors driving wind energy’s adoption is reduced cost, thanks to improved technology. Wind turbine prices have dropped “from $1,800/kW in 2008 to $770–$850 per kilowatt (kW) now.”
The DOE’s report is good news for the future of environmentally friendly energy.
3D printing is the future of manufacturing, or at least that’s what some proponents will tell you. One of the major roadblocks standing in the way of that vision is print speed of current 3D printers. It takes a long time to even print small objects so large scale production would take months when traditional manufacturing only takes days. The government wants to fix that.
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Laboratory announced last week that it has partnered with Cincinnati Incorporated to build the next generation of 3D printers. The government said this new machine would utilize polymer and be capable of printing large parts “faster and more cheaply than current technologies.”
“The Energy Department and its national labs are forging partnerships with the private sector to strengthen advanced manufacturing, foster innovation, and create clean energy jobs for the growing middle class,” said David Danielson, the Energy Department’s Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “Developing innovative manufacturing technologies in America will help ensure that the manufacturing jobs of tomorrow are created here in the United States, putting people to work and building a clean energy economy.”
So, how much faster is this new printer going to be? The government claims it can create a 3D printer that can print parts 200 to 500 times faster than current 3D printers at sizes 10 times larger than what’s currently possible.
Using the MakerBot Replicator 2 3D printer as the standard, let’s take a look at what the government is hoping to achieve. At 200 to 500 times faster than the current standard, this mythical printer would be able to print at 20,000 to 50,000mm per second. That seems almost unlikely. As for the size, a build volume 10 times larger than the current standard is certainly possible, and printers that large are already being used to print houses in Amsterdam.
“Cincinnati Incorporated has enjoyed a long working relationship with Oak Ridge National Laboratory,” said Cincinnati CEO Andrew Jamison. “Over the years we have supplied over 40 metal working machine tools to Oak Ridge and its various subcontractors. As one of the oldest U.S. machine tool manufacturers, with continuous operation since 1898, we view this exciting opportunity as starting a new chapter in our history of serving U.S. manufacturing. Out of this developmental partnership with ORNL, Cincinnati intends to lead the world in big area additive manufacturing machinery for both prototyping and production.”
The two will start on their journey by retrofitting Cincinnati Incorporated’s laser cutting machine with additive manufacturing technology. From there, the team will add “a high-speed cutting tool, pellet feed mechanism and control software into the gantry system to offer additional capabilities.”
While much of the work in 3D printers these past few years has been spearheaded by small businesses with big idea, it’s nice to see the government and its much larger vat of resources step in to hasten development. Here’s hoping they share the love once they have a working prototype up and running.
Spot prices of natural gas topped $3.72 per million Btu last week – the highest in two months – following the U.S. Energy Department’s weekly storage report that showed a tighter supply vs demand scenario.
The Natural Gas Storage Report, updated weekly by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) since 2002 – includes summaries on natural gas market prices and storage reserves estimates.
As the greater Middle-East undergoes profound Islamic awakening and political turmoil, energy prices are expected to remain high in the coming years.
United States and Europe have been excruciatingly slow to wean themselves away from addiction to Middle-Eastern energy supplies, and the current reserves in 48 contiguous states amount to 3.299 trillion cubic feet, down 187 billion cubic feet (5.4%) from last year’s level.
Production from shale using latest technological breakthroughs including combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have not yet brought North American energy outlook to the promised land.
Rising economies, led by China, the 800-lb gorilla of East-Asia, have made certain that global demand for natural gas will remain high and supplies will remain tight for decades to come.
According to British Petroleum’s latest statistical review of global energy, proven global natural gas reserves stood at 187.3 trillion cubic metres, sufficient to meet only 55.7 years of production, due to population explosion in Asia and Africa.
The world population is more than 7 Billion, with Asia producing 74 million births, or two Canadas each year.
Middle-East has the highest reserves to production ratio, with vast supplies locked under the hostile territory of Islamic Republic of Iran as well as the more friendly Arab Gulf States including Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
If the monarchies of natural gas rich Sunni States are destabilized or toppled by Islamic Jihadis in next 10-15 years, the entire energy sector will turn on its head. Natural gas and oil prices will explode to levels never seen before.
The American economy and the US dollar, already under powerful assault from China and greater East-Asia, will be mortally wounded. To safeguard American people’s future, domestic energy supplies must be expeditiously sought, and relationship with Russia, a natural ally in the fight against global terror must be repaired.
Let prices of natural gas fluctuate naturally, but US policymakers must make sure that supply of energy exceeds demand to keep American manufacturing costs competitive and household bills tolerable.
In 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a $465 million loan to Tesla Motors, the California-based electric car manufacturer founded in 2003. The loan was a part of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program, and was used as a political talking point last month by former conservative Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. Palin had used the loan as an example of “crony capitalism” by the Obama administration and called Tesla a “loser,” despite the fact that the loan program had been signed into law by former Republican President George W. Bush.
Now it appears that Sarah Palin will have to eat crow, as Tesla has repaid the entire government loan nine years early.
Tesla today announced that it has paid off the loan with one final, huge payment of $451.8 million. The funds were paid out of nearly $1 billion in funding that was raised in Tesla common stock and convertible senior note offerings this month. The company now employs more than 3,000 U.S. citizens.
“When you’re talking about cutting-edge clean energy technologies, not every investment will succeed – but today’s repayment is the latest indication that the Energy Department’s portfolio of more than 30 loans is delivering big results for the American economy while costing far less than anticipated,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.
The loan repayment is yet more good news for Tesla investors. Earlier this month, the car company’s Tesla Model S car was given a 99 out of 100 score in Consumer Reports – the highest rating the publication has ever given a car.
“I would like to thank the Department of Energy and the members of Congress and their staffs that worked hard to create the ATVM program, and particularly the American taxpayer from whom these funds originate,” said Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. “I hope we did you proud.”
