[GWSG] Torresol; renewable $; renewable %; T-U on c.c.; no denier political dividend; renewable Africa; Hyperion update

[Tilley, Al]

1.  The Spanish 19.9 megawatt concentrating solar power plant Torresol has used molten salt energy storage to become the first solar plant to generate power on a 24 hour basis (thanks to particularly good weather).  Its salt tank is generally good for 15 hours of energy production in the absence of the sun.  The heat storage allows Torresol approximately to triple its power production over time. http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/07/05/260438/solar-can-be-baseload-spanish-csp-plant-with-storage-produces-electricity-for-24-hours-straight/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+climateprogress%2FlCrX+%28Climate+Progress%29

2.  World investment in renewable energy last year was $211 billion, an increase of 32% over the previous year and 540% over 2004.  The largest investments were in wind energy.  As for the greatest growth, investment in small-scale solar doubled last year.  http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110707/bs_afp/energyenvironmentrenewablesinvestment

3.  Renewable energy in the US now supplies 11.7% of our power, more than nuclear energy and 77% as much as domestic oil production.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/07/eia-report-renewables-surpass-nuclear-output?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-July6-2011

4.  Local news: the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union has taken a strong editorial position on the need for action on climate change.  http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2011-07-07/story/climate-change-get-practical-about-issue  The support for action comes as 6 of the 11 FL Regional Councils, at least 2 of the water management districts, and many of the state’s cities are engaged in serious planning for climate change.  Jacksonville has yet to conduct a carbon inventory or do serious formal planning.  The Times-Union position will lend aid to those who wish to better Jacksonville’s efforts.

5.  A Stanford poll finds that a denier stance on climate does not help a candidate with Republican voters and greatly hampers the candidate with Democrats and independents.  http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/wooing-voters-or-not-with-a-climate-pitch/?partner=rss&emc=rss

6.  Africa has been considered primarily as a victim of climate change.  But the wrong kind of development could render Africa a serious contributor to the problem.  A meeting of 30 African energy and foreign affairs ministers was advised that as the region develops, it needs to do so renewably.  The head of the IPCC said that he saw great potential in hydro, solar, and wind power.  The ministers responded enthusiastically.  http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110708/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_africa_renewable_energy

7.  A couple of years ago I reported on Hyperion, which holds a license Los Alamos National Lab for a liquid metal cooled modular nuclear power unit.  http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/
They are still waiting for licensure from the government, and still intend to produce their unit.  Lately Stephen Chu has added his support to the modular project in general, calling it the “new nuclear option.”   http://www.fastcompany.com/1765445/mini-nukes-rolling-to-a-power-plant-near-you  While they are still years from production, and while the UCS may have safety issues to bring forward, they promise a resilient post-carbon power supply in combination with distributed renewables.  Water usage, waste production, and liability issues are all said to be rendered manageable by the new modular designs.
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