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ePaper created 2014-06-03, 15:03:20 | version 1.30.01
209RENEWABLES 2014 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT G CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER (CSP) (ALSO CALLED CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER OR SOLAR THERMAL ELECTRICITY, STE). Technology that uses mirrors to focus sunlight into an intense solar beam that heats a working fluid in a solar receiver, which then drives a turbine or heat engine/generator to produce electricity. The mirrors can be arranged in a variety of ways, but theyalldeliverthesolarbeamtothereceiver.Therearefourtypes of commercial CSP systems: parabolic troughs, linear Fresnel, power towers, and dish/engines. The first two technologies are line-focus systems, capable of concentrating the sun’s energy to produce temperatures of 400 °C, while the latter two are point-focus systems that can produce temperatures of 800 °C or higher. These high temperatures make thermal energy storage simple, efficient, and inexpensive. The addition of storage—using a fluid (most commonly molten salt) to store heat—usually gives CSP power plants the flexibility needed for reliable integration into a power grid. CONVERSION EFFICIENCY. The ratio between the useful energy output from an energy conversion device and the energy input into it. For example, the conversion efficiency of a PV module is the ratio between the electricity generated and the total solar energy received by the PV module. If 100 kWh of solar radiation is received and 10 kWh electricity is generated, the conversion efficiency is 10%. CROWD FUNDING. The practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people (“crowd”), generally using the Internet and social media. The money raised through crowdfunding does not necessarily buy the lender a share in the venture, and there is no guarantee that money will be repaid if the venture is successful. However, some types of crowd funding reward backers with an equity stake, structured payments, and/or other products. DISTRIBUTED GENERATION. Generation of electricity from dispersed, generally small-scale systems that are close to the point of consumption. ENERGY. The ability to do work, which comes in a number of forms including thermal, radiant, kinetic, chemical, potential, and electrical. Primary energy is the energy embodied in (energy potential of) natural resources, such as coal, natural gas, and renewable sources. Final energy is the energy delivered to end- use facilities (such as electricity to an electrical outlet), where it becomes usable energy and can provide services such as lighting, refrigeration, etc. When primary energy is converted into useful energy, there are always losses involved. ENERGY SERVICE COMPANY (ESCO). A company that provides a range of energy solutions including selling the energy services from a renewable energy system on a long-term basis while retaining ownership of the system, collecting regular payments from customers, and providing necessary maintenance service. An ESCO can be an electric utility, co-operative, NGO, or private company, and typically installs energy systems on or near customer sites. An ESCO can also advise on improving the energy efficiency of systems (such as a building or an industry) as well as methods for energy conservation and energy management. ENERGIEWENDE. German term that means “transformation of the energy system.” It refers to the move away from nuclear and fossil fuels towards an energy system based primarily on energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy. ETHANOL (FUEL). A liquid fuel made from biomass (typically corn, sugar cane, or small cereals/grains) that can replace gasoline in modest percentages for use in ordinary spark-ignition engines (stationary or in vehicles), or that can be used at higher blend levels (usually up to 85% ethanol, or 100% in Brazil) in slightly modified engines such as those provided in “flex-fuel vehicles.” Note that some ethanol production is used for industrial, chemical, and beverage applications and not for fuel. FEE-FOR-SERVICE MODEL. An arrangement to provide consumers with an electricity service, in which a private company retains ownership of the equipment and is responsible for maintenance and for providing replacement parts over the life of the service contract. A fee-for-service model can be a leasing or ESCO model. FEED-IN POLICY. A policy that: (a) sets a guaranteed payment over a stated fixed-term period when renewable power can be sold and fed into the electricity network, and (b) usually guarantees grid access to renewable electricity generators. Some policies provide a fixed tariff or minimum price (see Feed-in tariff), whereas others provide premium payments that are added to wholesale market prices or cost-related tariffs (see Feed-in premium). Feed-in policies are sometimes combined with tendering, e.g. electricity producers have to qualify in a bidding procedure. Other variations exist, and feed-in policies for heat are evolving. FEED-IN PREMIUM (FIP). A type of feed-in policy. Producers of electricity from renewable sources sell electricity at market prices, and a premium is added to the market price to compensate for higher costs and thus to mitigate financial risks of renewables production. Premiums are set as fixed premiums (a fixed amount is added to the market price for a certain period of time) or as flexible premiums (the exact amount is dependent from other criteria, e.g., market price, electricity demand, defined cap, defined floor). Normally, fixed premiums expose electricity producers to higher market risks, whereas flexible premiums mitigate at least some of the market price volatility and the resulting risks. FEED-IN TARIFF (FIT). The basic form of feed-in policies. A guaranteed minimum price (tariff) per unit (normally kWh or MWh) is guaranteed over a stated fixed-term period when electricity can be sold and fed into the electricity network, normally with priority or guaranteed grid access and dispatch. FINAL ENERGY. The part of primary energy, after deduction of losses from conversion, transmission, and distribution, that reaches the consumer and is available to provide heating, hot water, lighting, and other services. Final energy forms include electricity, district heating, mechanical energy, liquid hydrocarbons such as kerosene or fuel oil, and various gaseous fuels such as natural gas, biogas, and hydrogen. Final energy accounts only for the conversion losses that occur upstream of the end-user, such as losses at refineries and power plants.