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This is my entry for RogueOlympics 2021 Round 8, with the topic "Upside Down". The RogueOlympics are a build contest by the RogueBricks Community, with each week featuring a new topic and a part limit of just 101 pieces (which my entry reaches exactly).
I really struggled with the topic this time, but I ultimately settled on the idea of two mirrored versions of a scene and turned to the topic of environmental considerations again. It is a depiction of the reality of energy production and its idealized mirror image up in the sky, symbolizing humanity's striving for cleaner energy and a more sustainable life, a goal that is not yet reached by actual reality (if it ever will be). This way it's also a fitting model for Earth Day, albeit 3 days late.
I myself had at first rather lofty aspirations with the model, trying to build a whole cityscape and maybe putting the mirror image into a lake's reflection rather than the sky. But in reality I quickly turned those aspiations down, concentrating on energy alone. This more focused topic also makes it a neat parable for the "Energiewende" specifically.
(Danish: Musikkens Hus) Inaugurated in 2014. The building contains a concert hall and practice rooms for the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and The Royal Academy of Music. There is also a restaurant with a view to the Limfjord.
All the small squares and triangels to the left are solar panels that cover the southern end of the building.
Architects: Coop Himmelb(l)au, Austria.
Apple and Google getting involved!
Within the period of one day, two of the most recognized brands in the world have possibly changed the corporate energy landscape forever.
Earlier this year, Apple announced it was signing a “direct access” deal to purchase clean energy directly from a 3rd party provider. They will spend almost $850 million over the next 25 years for this energy endeavor. This agreement for solar energy allows Apple to bypass the traditional route of receiving the energy from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). This deal has not only set a precedent for renewable energy purchases for corporations but could also have huge financial ramifications for utilities.
The following day, Google announced that they have signed a 20 year wind contract to power their “Googleplex” in Mountain View California. This move will also effectively bypass the local utility and allow them to operate “off the grid”.
Hedging energy is not a new practice for large corporations.
Years ago, Southwest Airlines famously hedged their fuel costs to protect themselves from $90 barrels of oil. Many other corporations have attempted to mitigate risk by finding a cost they could live with and locking in long term. However, the latest plays by these two technology giants may not only change the way all businesses look at their energy strategy but also fuel the drive towards corporate sustainability without the need for the local utility operator any longer.
Can corporations really go “off the grid?”
In some places like Florida it is actually illegal to disconnect from the power grid. In other places like Nevada there are companies like Tesla developing mega-batteries that will allow households that want to live ‘off-grid’ to power their entire homes for only $350 a year. Many businesses are planning to attempt to follow suit. If successful, this will basically render the utility company business model obsolete.
Our current power grid is an aging, ailing infrastructure. Depending on location, many businesses pay a large percentage of their energy bills each year just for the energy grid maintenance. With regulatory costs increasing every year to allocate funds to improve our energy infrastructure, more companies as well as individual consumers are looking for alternative solutions.
In addition to renewable projects, Micro-grids are another possibility to distribute energy in lieu of the aging grids we now utilize. Microgrids that provide localized self-generation of electricity have been around for decades.
A microgrid utilizes multiple electrical generators placed in strategic locations. It can operate as a generator placing energy on the macrogrid or as its own self-sustaining infrastructure taking the place of the traditional macrogrid.
Whether it be renewable options or microgrid technology the way that commercial energy budgets are handled is changing. Other large corporate groups are looking to find cleaner, more efficient and cost effective ways to buy their energy. Whether it be promoting new legislation or aligning with alternative generators, big business is thinking outside of the box.
While the majority of the new energy options set to bypass the traditional power grid, Independent System Operators and Utility companies are charged with changing with the times, or being left behind.
The photovoltaic system (solar cells) produces electricity and gives shade for the planting.
A part of the ETC Solar Park in Katrineholm.
etcsolpark.se (website in Swedish)
(Swedish: ETC Torp) A house with a roof made of solar cells and a greenhouse towards south. The frame and the walls are made of wood - a climate-positive building that stores carbon dioxide. The foundation consists of foam glass, no concrete is used. It is so energy efficient that it can provide energy to at least one more house. The building is a show house and you can buy a house like that from the building company ETC Bygg.
Built: 2022.
One of the buildings in the ETC Solar Park in Katrineholm.
etcbygg.se/ett-klimatsmart-hus/ (website in Swedish)
The red house is typical for Sweden. The traditional red paint contains pigment from the copper-mine in Falun, Dalecarlia.
Solar farms are cropping up all around North Carolina. If you have available land, companies will lease your land for a solar farm. This is one of three fields converted into solar farms situated close together.
Solar energy plant directing funnelled sunlight acquired from all the panels on the ground I believe. Don't quite understand the technology from it but I wonder how many hawks and songbirds fly into the intense beams and get fried? On I-15 in the Mojave Desert of California.
The tree killers making more wood chips. This tree was in the front yard of a house that recently had a solar panel array installed on the roof. Though I don't know, I suspect it was doomed because it might stunt a bit of solar radiation. I suspect this trade may be a net loss. It's surely a visual loss and a loss to squirrels and birds who called the tree "home." Also, note the lack of safety equipment --- no hard hats, safety glasses, etc. These killers work cheap.
Kylmäpihlaja is the farthest islet at the edge of Rauma archipelago, 10 kilometres from the mainland. There is a small hotel with a restaurant and an observation deck for the public in summer.
Explore, 11 de Maig de 2009, #148
Mini Trobada Flickr en La Vila Joiosa. 7 de Març de 2009
Daurats i blaus
Dorados y azules
In my July 8th Energy Alert, I said the secular bear market bottom reached in the spring of 2012 will likely hold for years to come, and with rates near a three year low Commercial Hedgers are holding near record long (BUY) positions anticipating higher rates, and with rates compressing with decreasing volatility, the next major move for rates is likely higher with a minimum objective to fill the gap left behind on 12/22/14.
As you can see in the chart above rates increased slightly since my last report:
As shown by the green line, the nearby contract of Natural Gas climbed from $2.685 per MMbtu on July 8th to $2.835 per MMbtu at the opening today. As shown in the table below, over the last month supplies continued to increase versus the 5 year average moving average:
Date Released This Year 5 Yr. Avg
July 30th 52 Bcf 45 Bcf
July 23rd 61 Bcf 57 Bcf
July 16th 99 Bcf 77 Bcf
July 09th 91 Bcf 75 Bcf
Over the last 4 weeks our storage level increased to 2,880 Bcf and it is now 3% higher than the 5 year moving average. As I have stated in previous reports how a market responds to news is more important to me than the news itself. When a market does not decline with negative news it is signaling the path of least resistance is for higher prices, which is what we are experiencing at the present time.
We have traded within a very tight range since the beginning of the year. The question is, how much longer should we anticipate remaining within this tight trading range before breaking out?
Last month I said rates were compressing with decreasing volatility. The chart below shows rates appear to be nearing a breakout point.
The chart shows we are forming a symmetric triangle, which develops when a pattern has 2 distinct converging trend lines. As you can see we have been forming this pattern over the last 3 months and we are in the later stages of the pattern.
Theoretically we could remain in this pattern into mid-September, but as time passes the convergent lines draw closer to each other and the probability of a breakout increases. What is important to note is this type of pattern forms prior to increased volatility; therefore, we are likely near a period of sharp rate changes in Electricity and Natural Gas.
Based on the factors I discussed in my reports over the last few months, I believe the breakout will likely be to the upside, but if we experience a downside breakout instead I believe it will be sharp and quickly reversed. Historically this type of pattern is resolved with a false breakout approximately 1/3 of the time, which sets up an even more explosive move in the opposite direction.
Therefore, if you have not already secured a fixed rate for Electricity or Natural Gas, I recommend you consider doing so in the near future. Remember, over the last 13 years, Natural Gas, which is highly correlated to the cost of Electricity has been higher 95% of the time. Although it is possible this could be one of the times when we experience a false downside breakout prior to rallying, I do not recommend trying to catch the exact bottom.
The purpose of hedging your cost of Natural Gas and Electricity is to reduce risk, while the role of speculators is to assume the risk hedgers are unwilling to be exposed to. Speculators have the luxury of trying to catch the exact bottom because if they miss the bottom all it costs them is opportunity cost, and opportunity cost is not as expensive as lost capital. But hedgers don’t have the luxury trying to catch the exact bottom because if a hedger misses the exact bottom it always results in lost capital.
As a hedger do you really want to be at risk when a market has been higher 95% of the time over the last 13 years? If your answer is, “No”, then you understand why we recommend hedging your cost of Natural Gas and Electricity at today’s low historical price levels.
Not every client’s risk tolerance and hedging strategy is the same, but we trust the above report will help you put into perspective the risk/reward opportunities at this time. I invite you to call one of our energy analysts to help you plan a hedging strategy appropriate for your situation.
Tomato plants. The black squares are parts in a photovoltaic system (solar cells) that produces electricity and yet you have enough light for the plants inside the greenhouse. Solar cells on roofs can convert more energy when the sun is high in the sky and less in cloudy conditions or when the sun is low. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) will increasingly influence our built environment, roofs, walls, windows and so on.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building-integrated_photovoltaics
One of the buildings at the ETC Solar Park in Katrineholm.
etcsolpark.se (website in Swedish)
Added to Monthly Scavenger Hunt (MSH) September 2013 10. New Accrual
These four flower power producers (there's a fifth one off-frame to the right) made their debut as solar energy collectors last month at Seattle Center. You can conduct your own electronic symphony by interacting with them--they produce harmonic tones as you move around them.
They're a demonstration project for alternative energy sponsored by Seattle City Light.
The historic COP21 climate meeting in Paris. Great photo moments and video. Open to connect.
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Portugal - Amareleja é uma freguesia portuguesa, com +/- 108 km² de área e cerca de 2 800 habitantes, pertencente ao Concelho de Moura - Distrito de Beja.
É neste momento a maior Central do mundo deste tipo e foi planeada e construída para produzir energia não poluente durante 25 anos.
The man who appreciates the beauty of nature and the world is much richer and happier than those who do not notice this.
Thank you to everyone who stopped to watch, leave a comment, award, an invitation to the group! :)
Thanks to those who gave just smile and admiration and those who remained dissatisfied! :)
BEFORE: Cooling Tower at thermal Bayswater Power Station in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia. Viewing the sun through the steam spoke to me of a coming generation, now with us, when electricity will be generated directly from solar energy.
NOW: I spent my day, today, contributing to the development of a major pumped hydro project that will draw on solar energy to store water in a reservoir 350 m above a lower lake. This pumped hydro project will stabilise the grid and provide electricity on demand in off-peak periods.
Solar panels, solar school, green houses, café and shop at the ETC Solar Park in Katrineholm.
etcsolpark.se (website in Swedish)
The Heliotrope was built 1994 as the first home in the world that produced more energy than it expends. The building has on one side triple-paned thermal insulated glass and it rotates to track the sun. Thus the maximum possible energy and light is let into the home. The other side of the building is highly thermally insulated. In the hot summer days, the house will instead turn the insulated backside to the sun, to keep the home comfortably cool.
On the roof there is a large mounted photovoltaic unit, totally 54 m2 with 6.6 kW peak output. The panel tracks the sun throughout the day automatically and computer controlled (turning independently from the building itself). Affixed as balcony railings there are vacuum-solar thermal collectors for hot water and heating. The ventilation system includes earth-to-air heat exchangers and ventilation with heat recovery.
Rainwater is collected, filtered and reused. Garbage and feces is decomposed in an odorless dry composting.
The house is the private home of its architect, Rolf Disch. It´s situated in Ziegelweg 28, Freiburg, Germany.
Rolf Disch Solar Architecture www.rolfdisch.de (website also in English)
Check out the huge solar energy installation here. There are 89 dual-axis trackers capable of keeping the solar modules at the optimum angle to the sun. It is estimated to be 35% more efficient that a similar sized fixed-tilt system.
The annual electricity output is estimated to be 1,904,404 kilowatt-hours (kWh), more than a third of the district's annual electricity needs.
I'm hoping to have the opportunity to shoot closer in at some point.
Taken by a camera lofted by a kite.
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A building near us setting a good example
The water is Willow Lake, Flushing Meadows Park
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It was installed by BEP (Best Energy Power). They also put panels over the parking lot. There is a car charger (in the lot). They split the system into several parts so if one panels goes down the majority of the system still functions.
-- Local resident Peter Ngai