Mr. Mark Burger

GLG News by Mr. Mark Burger, Principal Consultant

GLG News is now G+ Insights

G+ is a community for professionals, academics and entrepreneurs to connect through online discussions and in-person meetings. You will continue to see G+ Insights (formerly GLG News) here as well as on the G+ website, where you can share and discuss the G+ Insights you read.

The Uneasy Relationship of Fossil and Renewable Energies

June 14, 2011

Analysis of:Big losses for Chevron's solar EOR project | www.upstreamonline.com

The fossil fuel industries have always looked askance at solar and other renewable energies.  Conspiracy theories aside,  there are significant economic and, yes, cultural issues at play in harvesting solar power versus mining petroleum.  The Chevron solar EOR project can lead to success if it's realized that this is a demonstration project whose cost overruns can be solved by experience and replication.

Sustainable Solar Markets Post Fukushima

May 25, 2011

Analysis of:Japan May Require Solar Panels on All New Buildings By 2030 | cleantechnica.com

One challenge to the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster is coming up with replacement electricity, both new and long term. Short term answers will not be popular, like power curtailment in a humid Tokyo summer. Longer term policies, like a proposed mandatory solar requirement for new construction, can supplement new centralized power plant development and enable a more stable solar market with less reliance on subsidies..

Will this version of oil and silicon mix?

April 29, 2011

Analysis of:Total to Take Controlling Interest in SunPower | www.greentechmedia.com

The acquisition by French oil/energy company Total S.A. of a major portion of SunPower Corporation's shares may mark a new phase of involvement by a fossil-nuclear company in photovoltaic power. This phase is more passive and mundane. It might also result in greater staying power for the PV industry.

Get 3kW of PV with a Gallon Jar of Maraschino Cherries

April 20, 2011

Analysis of:Costco to Sell Home Solar Panel Kits | www.treehugger.com

Two interesting variations on the US residential photovoltaic market have come about. Costco, the land of bulk purchases and discounts, is selling PV kits of various sizes online and at various stores, with the panels coming from a contractor label, as opposed to the leading solar brands. Will this commercial institution persuade a more mainstream segment of American society to go solar?

Another example of the perfect being the enemy of good green

April 10, 2011

Analysis of:Rush to Use Crops as Fuel Raises Food Prices and Hunger Fears | www.nytimes.com

The US and world economies are shifting to a renewable based energy source gradually and griudgingly. Opposition to the reality, if not the abstract principle, of renewable sources like bioenergy create a wellspring of red herrings. The challenge is to navigate the course between "conventional wisdom" and business as usual, with my comments focused primarily on the US based situation.

Lower costs are half the battle for the growth of solar power

April 8, 2011

Analysis of:Solar Costs May Already Rival Coal, Spurring Installation | www.bloomberg.com

Improving economics of solar photovoltaic power put the technology on the verge of mainstreaming into the energy infrastructure. Lower costs are only part of the battle, however. A number of non-monetary policy changes will be needed at the national, regional and local level in markets like the US for the market share to become significant.

PV report maybe a little optimistic but in the ballpark

March 31, 2011

Analysis of:Solar Breaks Out of Niche to Match Apple’s iPad-Fueled Growth | www.bloomberg.com

I am progressive in thinking when it comes to solar and renewable energy, but regressive when it comes to filling out my NCAA brackets. I still favor the traditional powerhouses making it to the Final Four, and discount upstarts like VCU. The Bloomberg New Energy Report on photovoltaics shows that "small" energy technologies can make it past the "big" energy status quo.

Solar and other renewables is a marathon, not a sprint

March 22, 2011

Analysis of:Solar Rally Might Fizzle After Nuclear Accident ‘Hysteria,’ Investors Say | www.bloomberg.com

Hysteria works both ways, in the irrational exuberance of betting that solar or other renewables will be the dominant energy source in a decade or two, as well as panic peddling of nuclear when the inevitable disaster or near disaster occurs. Solar or any other energy infrastructure takes decades to transition. Investing in a shorter timeframe is essentially speculation, and subject to boom and bust conditions.

British Columbia May Have The Biggest Green Demonstration

January 11, 2011

Analysis of:It's No Joke in British Columbia - Time for a Carbon Tax | www.nxtbook.com

Feed-in-tariffs, power purchase agreements, renewable portfolio standards and the like have attracted most of the attention of green energy pundits.  But a broader measure, the carbon tax, is starting to rear its head.  The British Columbia Carbon Tax  is starting to make itself felt and may become another tool in the fight against pollution and waste.

Megawatt Scale Energy Storage Mainstreamed Into Grid

January 7, 2011

Analysis of:AES Energy Storage Announces First Grid-Scale Battery-Based Storage System to Commercially Operate as a Generator in United States | www.energycentral.com

Megawatt-scale battery storage systems have been around a while on a technical and demonstration basis. The recent approval by an Independent System Operator (ISO) for a New York installation is an important step in mainstreaming this technology. Large-scale battery storage that can act instantaneously will be an important component in making intermittent solar and wind power more dispatchable and valuable.

Is there a "Smart" Way to Pay For "Smart" Grid?

December 30, 2010

Analysis of:SmartGrid City Slammed - Who will pay for cost overages? | www.energybiz.com

The Xcel SmartGridCity is one example of the promise and disruption that new generation and distributive technologies and systems will bring on a regulatory system that has not changed much in nearly a century. The adversity to risk and change, especially in a time of economic uncertainty, is a challenge. It will take leadership to change the regulatory environment that will properly incorporate these innovations.

The "War" to Lower Green Power Costs

December 19, 2010

Analysis of:Global Renewables War is On | www.energybiz.com

The "War" over who dominates the solar and wind power markets will be won by those who believe in modern "warfare". Those who consider the actions by Asian markets to be "unfair" or support for solar or wind power a "violation" of free markets will be as successful as sabre wielding calvary charging machine guns and tanks. It's time for the US to take off the white gloves.

Sauce for the solar goose should be sauce for the coal gander

November 27, 2010

Analysis of:EU parliament backs German demand to prolong coal subsidies to 2018 | www.monstersandcritics.com

Looming behind the fight over reducing solar feed-in tariffs as an extravagant subsidy, is the move by the European Union to end coal subsidies.  These subsidies, in existence in some form for decades, are due to be phased out by 2018.  The fear of job losses and higher electricity prices propel the fear by Germany, Spain, Romania and others to delay what may the inevitable.

Water will be a major constraint on future power plant development

November 16, 2010

Analysis of:Carbon dioxide contamination possible even with sequestration | www.powergenworldwide.com

The noise of climate change, energy supply, security and cost issues are screening a looming factor in power plant development - water. Besides the water demands of many types of power plants, carbon sequestration, like natural gas shale extraction, is a potential hazard to water supplies. Sooner or later, these costs will have to be factored into their equations.

Dow Solar Ready to "Raise" the Roof

November 12, 2010

Analysis of:DOW POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingles Receive UL Certification | www.renewableenergyworld.com

With solar installations becoming a significant factor in new home construction, the market may finally be ready for a photovoltaic product that can replace asphalt shingles. The announcement by Dow Chemical that its Powerhouse PV product has attained UL listing may be another sign that solar may get further mainstreamed into new and existing housing. And this time it will be driven by a global brand with vast building product experience.

More Houses Should Mean More Residential Solar n 2011

November 10, 2010

Analysis of:Report: Positive outlook for 2011 residential construction market | www.housingzone.com

A 25% increase from an admittedly low new residential construction base is welcome news. Not only is it a boost for the overall US economy, it provides over 100,000 additional roofs that could receive solar panel installations. Lower prices, improved policies and a realization by prospective home buyers that solar is a desirable amenity that can control maintenance costs are all factors in the growth of this market.

Barrier Removed for State Feed In Tariffs for Solar and Wind

November 10, 2010

Analysis of:Federal Regulator Blasts Open Door to Differentiated Feed-in Tariffs in USA | www.wind-works.org

Feed In tariffs has been the primary way that solar and wind power was financed outside the US, enabling those markets to grow faster, based on performance not compliance. US solar power would especially benefit from FIT's, but fear of running afoul of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has stymied wide spread growth. That may change as FERC has reconsidered and sees no inherent reason why FIT's cannot be levied on a state level.

Energy Storage Gets Incorporated Into California Regulatory Process

October 6, 2010

Analysis of:California Assembly Bill #2514 | www.leginfo.ca.gov

California led the US into the wind and solar markets, and may do the same with energy storage technologies. The recent signing of AB2514 institutionalizes the process where utilities have to incorporate energy storage as they do with generation, transmission and distribution. This may be critical for the state to reach its 33% RPS goal.

Branding Solar, Defending Value

September 13, 2010

Analysis of:Canadian Solar sponsors U.S. baseball team, San Francisco Giants | www.pv-tech.org

Can PV be sold like toothpaste, convertibles or cruises? Some solar companies are realizing that marketing to the public may be necessary to build awareness, increase market share and defend profit margins. Companies like Yingli Green Energy and Canadian Solar are already investing in this new (for solar) frontier.

Developing An Effective U.S. Solar Feed In Tariff

August 30, 2010

Analysis of:Feed-in Tariff Advances | www.renewablesbiz.com

The US solar market succeeds in spite of the lack of robust federal policies. Success is left to progressive states like Cailfornia to develop markets that eventually spill across the country at varying rates. The latest California solar move can make a US feed in tariff (FIT) rate a serious market developer, and keep photovoltaic growth going.

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