Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: green renewable power, ARRA, green energy, renewable energy, renewable energy standard, renewable power standard
RAM recently spent time in Washington as part of a Business Advocacy effort. Energy professionals from 20 States went to Washington to talk to legislators to explain to them why their leadership is needed. Here is a link to one of the press reports of our efforts.
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=39961#middle
Please paste it in your browser to read a summary article.
I took time to go to Washington to speak to Indiana’s two Senators and four of its Congressmen. I went to make a clear request, “please make 2010 the year that America will get a meaningful energy plan and pass a mandatory Renewable Energy Standard”!
Today, America is in a state of confusion! Despite massive amounts of funds being proposed for spending on the development of green renewable energy, very little money has actually been awarded. Many projects are being delayed until lenders and project developers get clear direction as to where the country is going!
Today, twenty eight States have passed some form of Renewable Energy Standard, or Voluntary Energy Standard, or Renewable Energy Standard. But, none are exactly the same. Some propose a target that 15 % of all electric energy comes from green energy sources by 2015, some 20% by 2020, some more, some less. The definition of what a “renewable energy standard” is varies from State to State!
Lenders are confused. Project developers are confused. Nothing is being done! Now is the time for leadership. Hopefully our Federal government will be part of that leadership. If not, we hope they will at least get out of the way and let private enterprise take the lead!
How can your help? Call your Senator or Congressman. Ask them what they are doing to make sure a bill passes in 2010! We cannot let partisan politics stop America’s march to green renewable power development! Get involved or get out of the way!
Rudd Asset Management (RAM) specializes in energy efficient power plant designs that are fueled by green renewable fuels. Let us show you how to put biomass fuels to work for your energy needs. Contact us at (219) 476-6911.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: CHP, cogeneration, energy efficiency, Green Power, Renewable Power, tri-generation
In the news you hear a lot about “green” and renewable power. We think of wind, solar or biomass projects. But, would it surprise you to know that a number of States and the Federal Government also view energy efficiency as “green”. Well, they do.
When you stop to think about it, it makes good sense. What better way to benefit the Earth than to use much more of the energy that we consume every day! The average power plant often operates with an energy efficiency of 30 – 40 %. Over half the energy of the fuel is wasted! How much ‘greener” can you get than to use more of the energy that we consume!
Rudd Asset Management (RAM) is very active in cogeneration and tri-generation designs. We can show you how to put the power of Combined Heat and Power to work for you and your projects!
A well designed CHP project can often save capital costs and O&M costs! We can show you how to increase your project profits and be “green”! Contact RAM to find out how!
Rudd Asset Management (RAM) specializes in energy efficient power plant designs that are fueled by green renewable fuels. Let us show you how to put biomass fuels to work for your energy needs. Contact us at (219) 476-6911.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: modeling, project management, risk, Risk management, stochastic analysis
Projects are done based on assumptions. Whether the assumptions are on performance, or cost, or benefits, they are still “assumptions”. How good are they? Can you make them better?
When a typical spreadsheet analysis is done, it is done with ‘deterministic” values. We expect the value to be “6”. Yet, we know that the number could be as low as 4 and as high as 9. We expect 6, but there is a belief that the value could vary. What effect could that variance have on your project?
What happens in a complex project when you have a lot of variables. What happens if all of your assumptions are too high? Too low? Rudd Asset Management (RAM) can help you find out.
RAM can help you model your projects with “stochastic” analysis. We can work with you to understand your assumptions and model them to allow for variance. What happens if everything goes wrong? If you do experience a “big bad outcome”, how “bad” is it? RAM can help you allow for it.
Risk is part of all projects. But, you do not have to ignore it. You can allow for it. You can make better projections. Let RAM show you how!
Rudd Asset Management (RAM) specializes in energy efficient power plant designs that are fueled by green renewable fuels. Let us show you how to put biomass fuels to work for your energy needs. Contact us at (219) 476-6911.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Biomass, Green power. Renewable power, retail power prices, solar, wholesale electric prices, wind power
Today there is a lot of focus on green renewable power. The Federal government has made green renewable power a priority. But, what makes a good green power project? Some states are better than others for various reasons. How do you differentiate them? How do you evaluate them?
Where are the “greenest” pastures? Rudd Asset Management (RAM) can help.
RAM has developed proprietary software that can quickly identify the best green projects for you. We can tell you what states have the highest wholesale power prices, the highest retail power prices, what the green power premiums are in each state, what biomass fuels exist in each state and how much reliable supply is there. We have the data you need.
RAM can help you identify the best state for your type of green power project, whether they are solar, wind or biomass. RAM can help you understand your options and can advise you on how to maximize your project’s value. Sound interesting? Contact RAM to see how we can help you get your projects going forward today.
Rudd Asset Management (RAM) specializes in energy efficient power plant designs that are fueled by green renewable fuels. Let us show you how to put biomass fuels to work for your energy needs. Contact us at (219) 476-6911.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: modeling, project management, risk, Risk management, stochastic analysis
Projects are done based on assumptions. Whether the assumptions are on performance, or cost, or benefits, they are still “assumptions”. How good are they? Can you make them better?
When a typical spreadsheet analysis is done, it is done with ‘deterministic” values. We expect the value to be “6”. Yet, we know that the number could be as low as 4 and as high as 9. We expect 6, but there is a belief that the value could vary. What effect could that variance have on your project?
What happens in a complex project when you have a lot of variables. What happens if all of your assumptions are too high? Too low? Rudd Asset Management (RAM) can help you find out.
RAM can help you model your projects with “stochastic” analysis. We can work with you to understand your assumptions and model them to allow for variance. What happens if everything goes wrong? If you do experience a “big bad outcome”, how “bad” is it? RAM can help you allow for it.
Risk is part of all projects. But, you do not have to ignore it. You can allow for it. You can make better projections. Let RAM show you how!
Rudd Asset Management (RAM) specializes in energy efficient power plant designs that are fueled by green renewable fuels. Let us show you how to put biomass fuels to work for your energy needs. Contact us at (219) 476-6911.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Biomass, Green power. Renewable power, retail power prices, solar, wholesale electric prices, wind power
Today there is a lot of focus on green renewable power. The Federal government has made green renewable power a priority. But, what makes a good green power project? Some states are better than others for various reasons. How do you differentiate them? How do you evaluate them?
Where are the “greenest” pastures? Rudd Asset Management (RAM) can help.
RAM has developed proprietary software that can quickly identify the best green projects for you. We can tell you what states have the highest wholesale power prices, the highest retail power prices, what the green power premiums are in each state, what biomass fuels exist in each state and how much reliable supply is there. We have the data you need.
RAM can help you identify the best state for your type of green power project, whether they are solar, wind or biomass. RAM can help you understand your options and can advise you on how to maximize your project’s value. Sound interesting? Contact RAM to see how we can help you get your projects going forward today.
Rudd Asset Management (RAM) specializes in energy efficient power plant designs that are fueled by green renewable fuels. Let us show you how to put biomass fuels to work for your energy needs. Contact us at (219) 476-6911.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Biomass, Demand Side Management, DSM, Green Power, Renewable Power, Smart Grid, solar power, wind power
Another popular topic that has value in America’s effort to use energy more efficiently is Demand Side Management (DSM). But, what is that anyway.
Simply stated, it attacks the problem from the “demand” side of the economics puzzle. When we build plants to meet America’s energy needs, we are working on the “supply” side. There is a need for both in a good solution for America.
Utilities often like Demand Side Management when it allows them to delay building a new electric generation plant. These plants are very expensive. If the load can be “managed” such that the new plant can be delayed, everyone wins.
I worked for a utility for a long time. I helped design Demand Side Management systems. They are diverse. Some work better than others. But, a well designed DSM program can be a win for everyone.
The ability to reduce load demand when power is in tight supply, the conversion to high energy efficiency lighting, motors, appliances, …. The list is pretty big. The development of a “smart grid” that will allow us to use these tools is coming.
America has a lot of good tools to use to improve our energy supply and independence. DSM is one of our good tools.
If you have interest in DSM, let RAM show you how you can put the power of DSM to work for you.
Rudd Asset Management (RAM) specializes in energy efficient power plant designs that are fueled by green renewable fuels. Let us show you how to put biomass fuels to work for your energy needs. Contact us at (219) 464-7054.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Biomass, CHP, cogen, DG, distributed generation, energy efficiency, Green Power, opportunity fuels, Renewable Power
Some of you that read my site regularly might take a “double take” on this title. You might remember in August of 2008 I said “Pickens got it right”. Have I changed my mind? Nope! Read on.
T. Boone Pickens got it right in the sense that America needs to free itself of its dependence on foreign energy sources. The reliance on people who “don’t really like us” is dangerous for America.
I am in complete agreement that we need to develop renewable energy sources. Wind and solar all have their place in the mix. But, let’s not forget biomass.
Take a moment and close your eyes and imagine the area that you live in. Imagine the buildings are gone for a moment. What do you see; probably a “sea of green”. You are surrounded by biomass fuel sources.
My company focuses on the generation of green renewable power using biomass sources of fuel. Since it is an annual renewable fuel source, it is “carbon neutral”. We do not add to the CO2 level in the atmosphere.
The difference in my generation is that I build power plants using Combined Heat and Power designs that result in getting my plant efficiency up from a typical power plant’s efficiency of 35 – 40 % to over 90 %! I use Distributed Generation designs to keep the generation plant size smaller and place it closer to the electric power user. This avoids the need for hundreds of miles of transmission lines and needless line losses that occur as the power travels along the wires.
Pickens almost got it right. America can do it right!
Rudd Asset Management specializes in energy efficient power plant designs and in the development and operation of green renewable power. Contact us at (219) 464-7054.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Biomass, Carbon Neutral, cogen, distributed generation, Green Power, opportunity fuels, Renewable Power, waste fuels
Occasionally you may read the term “carbon neutral”. This is often mentioned as a value of biomass fuels. But, what is it and what does it mean?
The simple answer it is part of a repeating cycle. It does not increase the amount of carbon released to the atmosphere. It simply cycles over and over again.
In fact, coal and natural gas could be thought of as carbon neutral. Both of these fuels are formed when plants grow, taking CO2 out of the air. Then, the plants may become trapped in a swamp or at the bottom of the sea and slowly, over millions of years, the coal and natural gas is formed. But, note the time frame, millions of years! Because the carbon being released into the air from burning coal or natural gas has not been in the atmosphere for millions of years, it is effectively “adding” to the carbon accumulation.
Biomass is different! Its “cycle” time can be months! Selected plants are grown as “energy crops”. They are grown to be used for energy. An example might we switch grass. As the crop grows, it removes CO2 from the air through normal photosynthesis. The carbon does not go away. It stays in the plant. The oxygen is given off as the plant cleans the air.
Once the plant is harvested and burned for its energy, it gives the carbon off again. But, the cycle is quickly repeated, so the amount of carbon remains fixed. It is carbon neutral. Depending on the length of growing season of the energy crop, the cycle may be less than a year in a nice warm, southern, climate!
So, we say biomass can be “carbon neutral”. It is yet another advantage of the abundant energy source that is all around us!
Rudd Asset Management specializes in energy efficient power plant designs and in the development and operation of green renewable power. Contact us at (219) 464-7054.
Filed under: Biomass, Green Power, Power, Renewable Power, cogen, distributed generation, methane, opportunity fuels, solar power, waste fuels, wind power | Tags: Biomass, cogen, distributed generation, methane, opportunity fuels, Power, Renewable Power, solar power, waste fuels, wind power
Those of you who read my blogs have heard us talk about green renewable fuels. RAM is focused on green renewable power development using biomass fuels, opportunity fuels and waste fuels. Today, people are very interested in green renewable power sources. America has an addiction to oil and it has to stop! But, how?
Waste fuels can be a part of the solution! We at RAM are discovering ways to use things that others view as waste and making them a positive contribution to America!
It can be manures from animals, animal carcasses, sewage sanitation plant materials, landfill gases, old discarded food stocks, tires, ……… Yuk! The list is long and the energy content can be quite high. This is precisely the “energy” that America can use to break our dependence on imported oil!
RAM looks for ways to use efficient plant designs to take a “waste” and to make it a “resource”. By building efficient generation close to energy demands using waste fuels, we get a “two fer”! We rid our country of a “waste”. We create a fuel source!
Lets help America break its dependence on imported oil! Lets clean up our environment. Let’s secure our energy future! Perhaps your site can use a waste to fuel energy supply! Give Rudd Asset Management a call to find out!
Rudd Asset Management specializes in energy efficient power plant designs and in the development and operation of green renewable power. Contact us at (219) 464-7054.
