Alternative Energy/Innovations in Wind, Solar and Tidal - Revision history

WikiSysop: Innovations in Wind, Solar and Tidal moved to Alternative Energy/Innovations in Wind, Solar and Tidal

2010-04-17T23:50:31Z

Innovations in Wind, Solar and Tidal moved to Alternative Energy/Innovations in Wind, Solar and Tidal

← Older revision	Revision as of 23:50, 17 April 2010
(No difference)

SBauer at 21:43, 17 April 2010

2010-04-17T21:43:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:43, 17 April 2010
Line 12:		Line 12:

	=====Patents in the wind industry=====		=====Patents in the wind industry=====
	*Both in the US and in Europe, wind technology patents have been in creasing over the past ten years. In Europe, the European Patent Office (EPO) reports a 31% increase. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]		*Both in the US and in Europe, wind technology patents have been in creasing over the past ten years. In Europe, the European Patent Office (EPO) reports a 31% increase. [[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]
	*Given that the top 4 firms in the wind turbine industry account for 75% of the market, the market is very concentrated and there is a great deal of competition between the top companies. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]		*Given that the top 4 firms in the wind turbine industry account for 75% of the market, the market is very concentrated and there is a great deal of competition between the top companies. [[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]
	*GE, the largest US wind turbine manufacturer and one of the top 4 internationally, is know for aggressively enforcing its patents.		*GE, the largest US wind turbine manufacturer and one of the top 4 internationally, is know for aggressively enforcing its patents.
	**In February 2008, GE asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar imports of Mitsubishi's (Japan) turbines, arguing that their turbines infringed on one of GE's patents. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]		**In February 2008, GE asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar imports of Mitsubishi's (Japan) turbines, arguing that their turbines infringed on one of GE's patents. [[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]

	=Innovation in Solar=		=Innovation in Solar=

SBauer at 18:33, 17 April 2010

2010-04-17T18:33:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:33, 17 April 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{TOCright}}
	=Innovation in Wind=		=Innovation in Wind=
	====* Where is Wind innovation happening and what is fostering it?====		====* Where is Wind innovation happening and what is fostering it?====

SBauer: /* Patents in the Solar Industry */

2009-06-29T17:48:36Z

Patents in the Solar Industry

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:48, 29 June 2009
Line 26:		Line 26:
	=====Patents in the Solar Industry=====		=====Patents in the Solar Industry=====
	*According to the [http://cepgi.typepad.com/heslin_rothenberg_farley_/\| Clean Energy Patent Growth Index], the number of annual patents issued in the solar industry in the US seem to be holding steady over the past few years.		*According to the [http://cepgi.typepad.com/heslin_rothenberg_farley_/\| Clean Energy Patent Growth Index], the number of annual patents issued in the solar industry in the US seem to be holding steady over the past few years.
	*In Europe, patents have grown about 11% between 1998 and 2007, which is lower that the 16% growth in patents for alternative technologies generally. [[Bibliography for Item 6 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]		*In Europe, patents have grown about 11% between 1998 and 2007, which is lower that the 16% growth in patents for alternative technologies generally. [[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]

	=Innovation in Tidal=		=Innovation in Tidal=

SBauer: /* Patents in the Solar Industry */

2009-06-29T17:47:36Z

Patents in the Solar Industry

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:47, 29 June 2009
Line 25:		Line 25:
	=====Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Innovations=====		=====Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Innovations=====
	=====Patents in the Solar Industry=====		=====Patents in the Solar Industry=====
	*According to the [[http://cepgi.typepad.com/heslin_rothenberg_farley_/\| Clean Energy Patent Growth Index]], the number of annual patents issued in the solar industry in the US seem to be holding steady over the past few years.		*According to the [http://cepgi.typepad.com/heslin_rothenberg_farley_/\| Clean Energy Patent Growth Index], the number of annual patents issued in the solar industry in the US seem to be holding steady over the past few years.
	*In Europe, patents have grown about 11% between 1998 and 2007, which is lower that the 16% growth in patents for alternative technologies generally. [[Bibliography for Item 6 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]		*In Europe, patents have grown about 11% between 1998 and 2007, which is lower that the 16% growth in patents for alternative technologies generally. [[Bibliography for Item 6 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]

SBauer: /* Patents in the Solar Industry */

2009-06-29T17:47:20Z

Patents in the Solar Industry

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:47, 29 June 2009
Line 25:		Line 25:
	=====Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Innovations=====		=====Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Innovations=====
	=====Patents in the Solar Industry=====		=====Patents in the Solar Industry=====
			*According to the [[http://cepgi.typepad.com/heslin_rothenberg_farley_/\| Clean Energy Patent Growth Index]], the number of annual patents issued in the solar industry in the US seem to be holding steady over the past few years.
			*In Europe, patents have grown about 11% between 1998 and 2007, which is lower that the 16% growth in patents for alternative technologies generally. [[Bibliography for Item 6 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]

	=Innovation in Tidal=		=Innovation in Tidal=

SBauer: /* Patents in wind technology */

2009-06-29T17:36:53Z

Patents in wind technology

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:36, 29 June 2009
Line 10:		Line 10:
	As a leader in the US, GE Wind Energy is a focus of our investigation of for-profit companies. GE Wind Power promotes five key innovations: variable speed control, unique wind volt-amp-reactive ("WindVAR") technology, low voltage ride-thru technology, advanced electronics, and active damping. [http://www.ge-energy.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/technology/index.htm] Variable speed control allows maximize energy collection while keeping the minimizing the load on the drive train. Unique wind volt-amp-reactive is a "dynamic power conversion system" used to maintain "defined grid voltage levels and power quality." The technology uses "a voltage controller placed at the point of interconnect measures utility line voltage, compares it to the desired level and computes the amount of reactive power needed to bring the line voltage back to the specified range." [http://www.ge-energy.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/technology/var.htm] This reduces grid impact of wind, which is a variable input technology. Low voltage ride-thru technology is an enhancement to WindVAR. The technology that allows reaction to system events but does not require full system shut down during event recovery. The advanced electronics developed by GE Wind Power allow turbines to continually adjust blade pitch angle to maintain optimum efficiency for every wind speed. Lastly, active damping technology helps to reduce tower oscillation. The technologies represent innovations that are refinements on a mature technology. Most of these technologies aim to increase efficiency or adapt to current electrical grid constraints.		As a leader in the US, GE Wind Energy is a focus of our investigation of for-profit companies. GE Wind Power promotes five key innovations: variable speed control, unique wind volt-amp-reactive ("WindVAR") technology, low voltage ride-thru technology, advanced electronics, and active damping. [http://www.ge-energy.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/technology/index.htm] Variable speed control allows maximize energy collection while keeping the minimizing the load on the drive train. Unique wind volt-amp-reactive is a "dynamic power conversion system" used to maintain "defined grid voltage levels and power quality." The technology uses "a voltage controller placed at the point of interconnect measures utility line voltage, compares it to the desired level and computes the amount of reactive power needed to bring the line voltage back to the specified range." [http://www.ge-energy.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/technology/var.htm] This reduces grid impact of wind, which is a variable input technology. Low voltage ride-thru technology is an enhancement to WindVAR. The technology that allows reaction to system events but does not require full system shut down during event recovery. The advanced electronics developed by GE Wind Power allow turbines to continually adjust blade pitch angle to maintain optimum efficiency for every wind speed. Lastly, active damping technology helps to reduce tower oscillation. The technologies represent innovations that are refinements on a mature technology. Most of these technologies aim to increase efficiency or adapt to current electrical grid constraints.

	=====Patents in wind ~~technology~~=====		=====Patents in the wind industry=====
	*Both in the US and in Europe, wind technology patents have been in creasing over the past ten years. In Europe, the European Patent Office (EPO) reports a 31% increase. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]		*Both in the US and in Europe, wind technology patents have been in creasing over the past ten years. In Europe, the European Patent Office (EPO) reports a 31% increase. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]
	*Given that the top 4 firms in the wind turbine industry account for 75% of the market, the market is very concentrated and there is a great deal of competition between the top companies. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]		*Given that the top 4 firms in the wind turbine industry account for 75% of the market, the market is very concentrated and there is a great deal of competition between the top companies. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]

SBauer: /* Where is Solar innovation happening and what is fostering it? /

2009-06-29T17:36:15Z

*Where is Solar innovation happening and what is fostering it?

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:36, 29 June 2009
Line 24:		Line 24:
	"Given the pressure of the recent silicon shortage, it is no wonder that enthusiasm has suddenly shifted to thin film PV. Thin films have been in the R&D phase since the 1980s, but until recently only amorphous silicon (a-Si) had been commercialized. This situation began changing around 2005, as a-Si manufacturing continued to improve, and nanotech-inspired breakthroughs occurred in CIGS and CdTe. Moreover, advances were made in hybrid cell technology (combining a-Si and ultra-thin layers of crystal silicon). All this was enough to cause a “gold rush” into thin film in 2006 by solar companies and investors alike. By 2007, around 40 PV companies were in thin filmâincluding established firms and startupsâwith some analysts projecting over 80 companies into thin films by 2010. In 2007, thin film production was in wild flux, with hundreds of megawatts either coming onstream or being readied to do so. The amount planned to come on the market by 2010âwell over 1 GWârepresents a quantum leap over 2006 TF production of a mere 100 MW. The Prometheus Institute projects that TF share of global PV production will soar to 22% by 2010 from just 7.5% in 2006.[[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Cappello 2008, 15)]]		"Given the pressure of the recent silicon shortage, it is no wonder that enthusiasm has suddenly shifted to thin film PV. Thin films have been in the R&D phase since the 1980s, but until recently only amorphous silicon (a-Si) had been commercialized. This situation began changing around 2005, as a-Si manufacturing continued to improve, and nanotech-inspired breakthroughs occurred in CIGS and CdTe. Moreover, advances were made in hybrid cell technology (combining a-Si and ultra-thin layers of crystal silicon). All this was enough to cause a “gold rush” into thin film in 2006 by solar companies and investors alike. By 2007, around 40 PV companies were in thin filmâincluding established firms and startupsâwith some analysts projecting over 80 companies into thin films by 2010. In 2007, thin film production was in wild flux, with hundreds of megawatts either coming onstream or being readied to do so. The amount planned to come on the market by 2010âwell over 1 GWârepresents a quantum leap over 2006 TF production of a mere 100 MW. The Prometheus Institute projects that TF share of global PV production will soar to 22% by 2010 from just 7.5% in 2006.[[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Cappello 2008, 15)]]
	=====Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Innovations=====		=====Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Innovations=====
			=====Patents in the Solar Industry=====

	=Innovation in Tidal=		=Innovation in Tidal=

SBauer: /* Innovation in Solar */

2009-06-29T17:35:05Z

Innovation in Solar

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:35, 29 June 2009
Line 17:		Line 17:

	=Innovation in Solar=		=Innovation in Solar=
	*Where is Solar innovation happening and what is fostering it?		====*Where is Solar innovation happening and what is fostering it?====
	The US, Germany, Spain, Japan and China are the leaders in the solar technology innovation. The innovation is happening due to "back-side" policy funding, which is defined as policies that incentivize market deployment of the technologies rather than the R&D fund incentives. The most successful back-side policy has been the Feed-in tariff used in Germany and Spain, which has jump-started their markets for solar PV, creating competition among the producers and motivating innovation. China is planning a major push in solar PV development, which will be funded through "front-side" policies which directly fund R&D in public institutions.		The US, Germany, Spain, Japan and China are the leaders in the solar technology innovation. The innovation is happening due to "back-side" policy funding, which is defined as policies that incentivize market deployment of the technologies rather than the R&D fund incentives. The most successful back-side policy has been the Feed-in tariff used in Germany and Spain, which has jump-started their markets for solar PV, creating competition among the producers and motivating innovation. China is planning a major push in solar PV development, which will be funded through "front-side" policies which directly fund R&D in public institutions.
	=====~~=''~~Solar PV Innovations~~''=~~=====		=====Solar PV Innovations=====
	"A factor favoring continued solar growth is sheer technological momentum. This is an extremely strong factor with both external and internal characteristics. Externally, the increasingly powerful methods of science are opening up exciting possibilities in optics, nanotechnology, and biomimetics, which promise future solar breakthroughs. On the internal level, solar technology is advancing at a rapid paceâand this even without major federal R&D expenditures. For variations of silicon PV, laboratory efficiencies are approaching 50%. For thin films, efficiencies are likewise improving and manufacturing techniques are being revolutionized. There are also a host of hybrid-type silicon/thin film/optical cells and systemsâsome already commercialized, others still experimentalâthat could result in performance and cost breakthroughs." [[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Cappello 2008, 10)]]<br>		"A factor favoring continued solar growth is sheer technological momentum. This is an extremely strong factor with both external and internal characteristics. Externally, the increasingly powerful methods of science are opening up exciting possibilities in optics, nanotechnology, and biomimetics, which promise future solar breakthroughs. On the internal level, solar technology is advancing at a rapid paceâand this even without major federal R&D expenditures. For variations of silicon PV, laboratory efficiencies are approaching 50%. For thin films, efficiencies are likewise improving and manufacturing techniques are being revolutionized. There are also a host of hybrid-type silicon/thin film/optical cells and systemsâsome already commercialized, others still experimentalâthat could result in performance and cost breakthroughs." [[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Cappello 2008, 10)]]<br>

	"Given the pressure of the recent silicon shortage, it is no wonder that enthusiasm has suddenly shifted to thin film PV. Thin films have been in the R&D phase since the 1980s, but until recently only amorphous silicon (a-Si) had been commercialized. This situation began changing around 2005, as a-Si manufacturing continued to improve, and nanotech-inspired breakthroughs occurred in CIGS and CdTe. Moreover, advances were made in hybrid cell technology (combining a-Si and ultra-thin layers of crystal silicon). All this was enough to cause a “gold rush” into thin film in 2006 by solar companies and investors alike. By 2007, around 40 PV companies were in thin filmâincluding established firms and startupsâwith some analysts projecting over 80 companies into thin films by 2010. In 2007, thin film production was in wild flux, with hundreds of megawatts either coming onstream or being readied to do so. The amount planned to come on the market by 2010âwell over 1 GWârepresents a quantum leap over 2006 TF production of a mere 100 MW. The Prometheus Institute projects that TF share of global PV production will soar to 22% by 2010 from just 7.5% in 2006.[[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Cappello 2008, 15)]]		"Given the pressure of the recent silicon shortage, it is no wonder that enthusiasm has suddenly shifted to thin film PV. Thin films have been in the R&D phase since the 1980s, but until recently only amorphous silicon (a-Si) had been commercialized. This situation began changing around 2005, as a-Si manufacturing continued to improve, and nanotech-inspired breakthroughs occurred in CIGS and CdTe. Moreover, advances were made in hybrid cell technology (combining a-Si and ultra-thin layers of crystal silicon). All this was enough to cause a “gold rush” into thin film in 2006 by solar companies and investors alike. By 2007, around 40 PV companies were in thin filmâincluding established firms and startupsâwith some analysts projecting over 80 companies into thin films by 2010. In 2007, thin film production was in wild flux, with hundreds of megawatts either coming onstream or being readied to do so. The amount planned to come on the market by 2010âwell over 1 GWârepresents a quantum leap over 2006 TF production of a mere 100 MW. The Prometheus Institute projects that TF share of global PV production will soar to 22% by 2010 from just 7.5% in 2006.[[Bibliography for Item 4 in AE\| (Cappello 2008, 15)]]
	=====~~=''~~Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Innovations~~''=~~=====		=====Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Innovations=====

	=Innovation in Tidal=		=Innovation in Tidal=

SBauer: /* Patents in wind technology */

2009-06-29T17:21:19Z

Patents in wind technology

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:21, 29 June 2009
Line 11:		Line 11:

	=====Patents in wind technology=====		=====Patents in wind technology=====
	*Both in the US and in Europe, wind technology patents have been in creasing over the past ten years. In Europe, the European Patent Office (EPO) reports a 31% increase.		*Both in the US and in Europe, wind technology patents have been in creasing over the past ten years. In Europe, the European Patent Office (EPO) reports a 31% increase. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]
	*Given that the top 4 firms in the wind turbine industry account for 75% of the market, the market is very concentrated and there is a great deal of competition between the top companies.		*Given that the top 4 firms in the wind turbine industry account for 75% of the market, the market is very concentrated and there is a great deal of competition between the top companies. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]
	*GE, the largest US wind turbine manufacturer and one of the top 4 internationally, is know for aggressively enforcing its patents.		*GE, the largest US wind turbine manufacturer and one of the top 4 internationally, is know for aggressively enforcing its patents.
	**In February 2008, GE asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar imports of Mitsubishi's (Japan) turbines, arguing that their turbines infringed on one of GE's patents.		**In February 2008, GE asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar imports of Mitsubishi's (Japan) turbines, arguing that their turbines infringed on one of GE's patents. [[Bibliography for Item 1 in AE\| (Reichman et. al. 2008)]]

	=Innovation in Solar=		=Innovation in Solar=

Alternative Energy/Innovations in Wind, Solar and Tidal - Revision history

WikiSysop: Innovations in Wind, Solar and Tidal moved to Alternative Energy/Innovations in Wind, Solar and Tidal

SBauer at 21:43, 17 April 2010

SBauer at 18:33, 17 April 2010

SBauer: /* Patents in the Solar Industry */

SBauer: /* Patents in the Solar Industry */

SBauer: /* Patents in the Solar Industry */

SBauer: /* Patents in wind technology */

SBauer: /* *Where is Solar innovation happening and what is fostering it? */

SBauer: /* Innovation in Solar */

SBauer: /* Patents in wind technology */

SBauer: /* Where is Solar innovation happening and what is fostering it? /