US grabs lead over China in clean energy race

[ScienceRocks]

US grabs lead over China in clean energy race
April 12, 2012 by Kerry Sheridan
Enlarge
The United States has regained the lead in the clean energy race, investing $48 billion last year to surpass China, which held the world's top spending spot since 2009, said a study Wednesday.

The United States has regained the lead in the clean energy race, investing $48 billion last year to surpass China, which held the world's top spending spot since 2009, said a study Wednesday. The US surge in private investment was a 42 percent increase over 2010 and saw Washington maintain its lead worldwide in both venture capital and research and development cash, said the Pew Charitable Trusts annual report on clean energy.

However, the US boom was largely driven by expiring tax incentives, highlighting "a persistent phenomenon in which the country fails to deploy into the marketplace the clean energy innovations it creates in the laboratory," it said.

China, which fell to second, invested $45.5 billion last year, a one percent increase over 2010, but maintained its global lead in wind energy investment and in solar manufacturing, said the report.

Experts say a key difference between the United States and China is in how they attract investment -- China by having solid green energy policies that reassure investors and the United States by offering tax breaks for investment.

"China has been able to fuel its growth by having very consistent and long-term policies in place that really tell investors there is an opportunity for them to make a profit," said Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew's Clean Energy Program.

"The United States has no renewable energy target but they have decided to try and incentivize clean energy investment through a variety of tax incentives, tax credits, tax subsidies, loan guarantees," she told AFP.

Some of those programs were instituted under the George W. Bush administration and some under President Barack Obama, she said.


"What we saw this year was investors really rushed into the United States to take advantage of those tax credits before they expired."

The Pew report, which focused on private investment in Group of Twenty (G20) nations, also found that total worldwide private investment rose 6.5 percent over 2010 to a record level of $263 billion.

"Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and India were also among the nations that most successfully attracted private investments last year," it said.

Germany ranked third in 2011 after soaring to second place in 2010 as it ramped up both solar and wind power. Private investment dropped five percent last year compared to 2010.

"Germany now obtains more energy from renewable sources than it does from nuclear power, coal, or natural gas," said the report, adding that Italy has also surged, surpassing Germany's deployment of 7.4 gigawatts (GW) of solar.

Italy installed eight GW of solar energy nationwide and investments grew 38 percent to $28 billion, offsetting declines in other parts of Europe as the region struggles with a troubling debt crisis.

"Europe has been a traditional leader, in terms of attracting private investment. Last year they attracted $99 billion in private investment as a region," said Cuttino.

"But Asia and Oceania is a region of the world that is quickly growing so we keep thinking the center of the clean energy economy is moving to this region. They were second in the world attracting $71 billion."

India had the highest rate of growth among G20 nations as investment rose 54 percent to $10.2 billion, largely driven by its National Solar Mission that aims to install 20 GW by 2020.

Japan saw a 23 percent rise to $8.6 billion dollars "and we think there is going to be more growth in Japan as they kind of move away a bit from nuclear power," added Cuttino.

Australia also saw private investment rise 11 percent to $4.9 billion, with four billion of that sum going toward small residential solar projects.

"They have a newly instituted carbon policy and that is the third highest level of investment per GDP (among G20 countries), so they are doing quite well," said Cuttino.
US grabs lead over China in clean energy race

 

[Katzndogz]

This is about the most misleading article that's come along in a while. If anything, the US is winning the war to be stupid by throwing away 48 billion dolllars.

 

[Old Rocks]

Interesting the number of times that we have seen people stating on this board that Germany and Europe are moving away from renewables when just the opposite is true. Good article.

 

[whitehall]

Years ago the US won the "space race" by landing on the moon. What the hell is a "clean energy race" and how do you win it? Have Americans become so ignorant that they think the country that spends the most on useless propaganda projects is "winning the race"? How absurd.

 

[Old Rocks]

You win it by having renewable energy in place as we run out of cheap fossil fuel. About half a century left.

 

[whitehall]

You win it by having renewable energy in place as we run out of cheap fossil fuel. About half a century left.

Sorry rocky but you are living in a left wing propaganda dream world. There ain't no substitute for fossil fuel and the Country formerly known as the USA will cease to exist by the time the left wing expends all it's treasure in a search of the holy grail of alternate fuel. Maybe that's the plan.

 

[uscitizen]

We are outspending China on clean energy tax incentives and such. We will still buy much of our clean energy tech from China.

 

[ScienceRocks]

AWEA: Wind power accounted for 35% of new capacity in 2011


AWEA: Wind power accounted for 35% of new capacity in 2011 - Power Engineering
The American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) 2011 Annual Market Report reveals that the U.S. wind industry installed 6,816 MW in 2011, a 31 percent increase from 2010. U.S. wind installations accounted for 2.9 percent of electric power generation in 2011 and total 46,916 MW to date.

In 2011, wind power continued its trend as the No. 2 source of new electric capacity at 35 percent, still behind natural gas.

“Low natural gas prices have made us leaner and meaner and continue to be a driver to make us even more competitive,” said Denise Bode, CEO of AWEA, during a call with reporters.

In 2011, more than 75,000 people were employed in the U.S. wind energy sector, including 30,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector.

South Dakota and Iowa lead a record five states that received more than 10 percent of their electricity from wind in 2011. Other states in the top five were North Dakota, Minnesota and Wyoming.

National turbine manufacturing continued to expand in 2011, and the U.S. is now home to 23 turbine manufacturers. This number reflects the overall growth of the American wind industry, as the U.S. had only five turbine manufacturers in 2005, said Elizabeth Salerno, director of data and analysis for AWEA. “As the market expands, we’re getting more companies involved.”

The size of turbines is also increasing, the report revealed. Average turbine size in 2011 was 1.97 MW, an increase from the 1.77 MW average size in 2010. In 2011, a total of 8,750 MW of turbine orders was placed.

The developers with the most 2011 installations were NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE), Iberdrola and EDP. Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) was the electric utility to add the most wind capacity to its portfolio in 2011.

There are currently more than 8,300 MW of wind energy projects under construction, reflecting an annual growth rate of 35 percent year after year for the past five years. In 2012, Kansas is expected to install the most wind capacity, with a projected 1,189 MW. Following Kansas is Texas, with 857 MW expected to be installed this year.

The greatest concern to the U.S. wind power market is the scheduled expiration of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) at the end of this year. Wind turbine manufacturers have not yet received any orders for 2013 projects because of the uncertainty surrounding the PTC, Salerno said.

A House bill seeking to extend the existing PTC for wind energy (H.R. 3307, the “American Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Extension Act”) has garnered the support of 90 cosponsors. Extension legislation was introduced in the Senate on March 15 by seven senators.

The report can be purchased by interested parties here.

 

[Unkotare]

We are outspending China on clean energy tax incentives and such. We will still buy much of our clean energy tech from China.

Link?

 

[Douger]

Years ago the US won the "space race" by landing on the moon. What the hell is a "clean energy race" and how do you win it? Have Americans become so ignorant that they think the country that spends the most on useless propaganda projects is "winning the race"? How absurd.

Yessssssss.

 

[Katzndogz]

We are wasting more money than China on energy programs that have no use other than to be money laundering facilities for the democrats.

 

[starcraftzzz]

This is about the most misleading article that's come along in a while. If anything, the US is winning the war to be stupid by throwing away 48 billion dolllars.

I see so according to you less pollution is stupid
according to you cheaper clean energy is stupid because it means fossifl fuel companiesdont keep getting richer

 

[ScienceRocks]

We are wasting more money than China on energy programs that have no use other than to be money laundering facilities for the democrats.

Well, the rest of the world is doing it. The majority of the population seems to want it...
So yes if it
-works
-cheap
-makes us number one!

Well, it will sadly help the democrats.

 

[starcraftzzz]

------You win it by having renewable energy in place as we run out of cheap fossil fuel. About half a century left.---------

Sorry rocky but you are living in a left wing propaganda dream world. There ain't no substitute for fossil fuel and the Country formerly known as the USA will cease to exist by the time the left wing expends all it's treasure in a search of the holy grail of alternate fuel. Maybe that's the plan.

You're incorrect.
Solar energy alone could power the whole United states
U.S. Could Run Entirely on Solar Power by 2026

Wind power could also power the whole united states/world
Offshore wind turbines could power the entire planet, says study

 

[starcraftzzz]

We are wasting more money than China on energy programs that have no use other than to be money laundering facilities for the democrats.

Actually clean energy is far less expensive then fossil fuels.

Economists: Coal Is Incredibly Costly | ThinkProgress
^New study finds that Coal and Oil are more costly then renewable energy once health and environmental effects are included.

Life-cycle study: Accounting for total harm from coal would add "close to 17.8¢/kWh of electricity generated" | ThinkProgress
^New study fines that Coals negative effect on human health and the environmental cost the nation at least 125% more than the electricity generated from coal.
^Coal results in at least 30,000 American deaths each year.

Coal Does More Harm Than Good in Kentucky: $62 Million for Asthma Costs, $10 Billion for Lost Lives | ThinkProgress
^Another study finds that coal mining in Kentucky has a negative impact overall on the economy

http://www.hybridcars.com/news/real-price-gasoline-high-15-gallon-30217.html
^Gas costs as Much as $15 per gallon when health/environmental factors are considered


SO I ask you to plz stop lying

 

[Nova78]

You mean he has thrown away $48 billion of taxpayers money, most major solar companies have gone bankrupt, and wind energy is a joke , the chevy volt is a dismal failure , goverement backed electric car companies were a flop.....good job Obama you have cost this Country billlions .

 

[starcraftzzz]

You mean he has thrown away $48 billion of taxpayers money, most major solar companies have gone bankrupt, and wind energy is a joke

Actually only like 2% of the companies int hat industry went bankrupt

, the chevy volt is a dismal failure ,

Someone needs to tell GM that their Chevy volt is a failure given they've seen sales of the car increase by 100% since 2011.

goverement backed electric car companies were a flop.....

Do you mean GM and Chrysler of which are now having record profits and creating tens of thousands of jobs?
Or do you mean the ATVM which has created tens of thousands of jobs and saves 3 dollars for every dollar spent on it?

 

[Nova78]

You mean he has thrown away $48 billion of taxpayers money, most major solar companies have gone bankrupt, and wind energy is a joke

Actually only like 2% of the companies int hat industry went bankrupt

, the chevy volt is a dismal failure ,

Someone needs to tell GM that their Chevy volt is a failure given they've seen sales of the car increase by 100% since 2011.

goverement backed electric car companies were a flop.....

Do you mean GM and Chrysler of which are now having record profits and creating tens of thousands of jobs?
Or do you mean the ATVM which has created tens of thousands of jobs and saves 3 dollars for every dollar spent on it?

Your drink to much Koolaid ,the only way chevy volts sell is with government rebates,and as of now the plant is shut down from lack of sales.

According to the Detroit News yesterday, the Treasury Department increased its estimate of government losses in the $85 billion auto bailout by another $170 million.


In the government’s latest report to Congress this month, the Treasury upped its estimate to $23.77 billion, up from $23.6 billion.

Last fall, the government dramatically boosted its forecast of losses on the rescues of General Motors Co., Chrysler Group LLC and their finance units from $14 billion to $23.6 billion.
And not just GM:

The government booked a $1.3 billion loss on its $12.5 billion bailout of Chrysler.


The U.S government has sold its shares in Chrysler LLC at a likely loss of $1.3 billion in taxpayer money, the Treasury Department said Thursday, announcing the end of a controversial investment that resurrected the troubled auto company.

Solar Trust of America – filed for bankruptcy yesterday.The Oakland-based company has held rights for the 1,000-megawatt Blythe Solar Power Project in the Southern California desert, which last April won $2.1 billion of conditional loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy. It is unclear how the bankruptcy will affect that project.

Q-Cells, one of the biggest solar cell manufacturers in Germany and the world, has filed for bankruptcy, Spiegel Online reports. It’s the fourth German solar energy company to go bust in recent times.
Q-Cells reportedly lost ($1.1 billion) in 2011.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Toyota develops prototype battery with 5x the range @ 1/5 th the cost | Electric Vehicle News

Toyota develops prototype battery with 5x the range @ 1/5 th the cost

Toyota, in cooperation with the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, has developed a prototype battery that can be processed into sheet form. The battery has up to five times the energy storage capacity of existing Li-ion batteries, the Nikkei reported Monday.

Since the battery can easily be processed into sheet form, it can store several times the amount of electricity, volume for volume, than the current generation of electric vehicle batteries, according to the developers. This added capacity may extend the maximum driving distance per charge for compact EVs to around 1,000 km [621 miles] from the 200km or so for existing vehicles.

---
When things like this hits the market within the next 4-6 years...Well, the electric car is going to be able to compete with the gas engine!

Another project said that they have a battery bout ready to come out in the next few years that cost half and can hold 3 times.

When you can build a hybrid that can get
-200 miles + per gallion(volt like cars)
-takes only a few hours to recharge to full
-The electric engine its self can run over 100-150 miles on a full charge(no gas).


Well, the gas engine is going to start to seem kind of stupid if these advancements hit the market. Some of this battery tech about to come out is likely just the start...I think its very possible by 2020-2025 a person likely will be nuts not to have a hybrid or electric car.

 

[hortysir]

US grabs lead over China in clean energy race
April 12, 2012 by Kerry Sheridan
Enlarge
The United States has regained the lead in the clean energy race, investing $48 billion last year to surpass China, which held the world's top spending spot since 2009, said a study Wednesday.

The United States has regained the lead in the clean energy race, investing $48 billion last year to surpass China, which held the world's top spending spot since 2009, said a study Wednesday. The US surge in private investment was a 42 percent increase over 2010 and saw Washington maintain its lead worldwide in both venture capital and research and development cash, said the Pew Charitable Trusts annual report on clean energy.

However, the US boom was largely driven by expiring tax incentives, highlighting "a persistent phenomenon in which the country fails to deploy into the marketplace the clean energy innovations it creates in the laboratory," it said.

China, which fell to second, invested $45.5 billion last year, a one percent increase over 2010, but maintained its global lead in wind energy investment and in solar manufacturing, said the report.

Experts say a key difference between the United States and China is in how they attract investment -- China by having solid green energy policies that reassure investors and the United States by offering tax breaks for investment.

"China has been able to fuel its growth by having very consistent and long-term policies in place that really tell investors there is an opportunity for them to make a profit," said Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew's Clean Energy Program.

"The United States has no renewable energy target but they have decided to try and incentivize clean energy investment through a variety of tax incentives, tax credits, tax subsidies, loan guarantees," she told AFP.

Some of those programs were instituted under the George W. Bush administration and some under President Barack Obama, she said.


"What we saw this year was investors really rushed into the United States to take advantage of those tax credits before they expired."

The Pew report, which focused on private investment in Group of Twenty (G20) nations, also found that total worldwide private investment rose 6.5 percent over 2010 to a record level of $263 billion.

"Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and India were also among the nations that most successfully attracted private investments last year," it said.

Germany ranked third in 2011 after soaring to second place in 2010 as it ramped up both solar and wind power. Private investment dropped five percent last year compared to 2010.

"Germany now obtains more energy from renewable sources than it does from nuclear power, coal, or natural gas," said the report, adding that Italy has also surged, surpassing Germany's deployment of 7.4 gigawatts (GW) of solar.

Italy installed eight GW of solar energy nationwide and investments grew 38 percent to $28 billion, offsetting declines in other parts of Europe as the region struggles with a troubling debt crisis.

"Europe has been a traditional leader, in terms of attracting private investment. Last year they attracted $99 billion in private investment as a region," said Cuttino.

"But Asia and Oceania is a region of the world that is quickly growing so we keep thinking the center of the clean energy economy is moving to this region. They were second in the world attracting $71 billion."

India had the highest rate of growth among G20 nations as investment rose 54 percent to $10.2 billion, largely driven by its National Solar Mission that aims to install 20 GW by 2020.

Japan saw a 23 percent rise to $8.6 billion dollars "and we think there is going to be more growth in Japan as they kind of move away a bit from nuclear power," added Cuttino.

Australia also saw private investment rise 11 percent to $4.9 billion, with four billion of that sum going toward small residential solar projects.

"They have a newly instituted carbon policy and that is the third highest level of investment per GDP (among G20 countries), so they are doing quite well," said Cuttino.
US grabs lead over China in clean energy race

Translation:

We threw more money at flailing companies than China did.