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Utilities to Use Renewable Power Sources function getSharePasskey() { return 'ex=1344052800&en=d63cdcfa40d96b86&ei=5124';} function getShareURL() { return encodeURIComponent('http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/washington/05energy.html'); } function getShareHeadline() { return encodeURIComponent('Energy Bill Adopted by House Requires Utilities to Use Renewable Power Sources'); } function getShareDescription() { return encodeURIComponent('Utilities would be required to produce 15 percent of their electricity from sources like wind and solar power. President Bush has promised a veto.'); } function getShareKeywords() { return encodeURIComponent('Electric Light and Power,Law and Legislation,Conservation of Resources,Politics and Government,Nancy Pelosi'); } function getShareSection() { return encodeURIComponent('washington'); } function getShareSectionDisplay() { return encodeURIComponent('Washington'); } function getShareSubSection() { return encodeURIComponent(''); } function getShareByline() { return encodeURIComponent('By JOHN M. BRODER'); } function getSharePubdate() { return encodeURIComponent('August 5, 2007'); }

Fears over energy security and climate change have led to record investment in renewable energy. But a major problem threatens to stall progress towards a more sustainable future: national electricity grids are far from ready to cope with the variable output from the new technologies. A solution might be at hand, though, and would not involve radical changes to the existing infrastructure. Treating groups of dispersed power sources, such as solar and wind generators, as a single entity could solve the problem, creating the virtual equivalent of a single large power station.

The Dutch and Danish power grid operators have announced they are to carry out a feasibility study into the possibility of an underwater electricity cable between the two countries, reports ANP news service. The two firms say the so-called Cobra cable will facilitate the use of renewable power. 'Strong connections between European countries can significantly increase how much wind power can be distributed on European grids,' Peter Jorgensen, one of the directors of Enereginet is quoted as saying. On Thursday the NorNed cable between the Netherlands and Norway – at 580 kms the longest underwater power cable in the world – was officially opened by the Dutch economic affairs minister Mara van der Hoeven. The cable has been operational since May.

And that's not all. We reported recently on this site on the solar powered car making its way around the world. We also covered the concept of solar roads to capture usable energy. We even reported on a sail boat powered with a solar sail. Now the BBC reports   that the U.S. military has held a test run in Arizona of a UK-made solar plane, the Zephyr-6. The plane flew for more than three days, running at night on solar charged batteries. The more than 83 hour non-stop flight was the longest of any unmanned aircraft.

SDG&E says that nearly 80,000 of its customers lost power, but by October 27th, power had been restored to all but 6,700 customers. Over the weekend, the utility expected to restore power to 97% of those affected, leaving only 2,400 without power

On Monday, October 22nd, the state's electrical grid operator—the California Independent Systems Operator (ISO)—declared an emergency when the Santiago Fire in Orange County caused two more high-voltage transmission lines to trip off-line. To avoid reduce stress on the power grid, the California ISO asked two utilities—Southern California Edison (SCE)and the San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E)—to reduce their electrical load by a total of 500 megawatts.

We decided to tackle a large problem—Power.  We were involved in the human power concept and developing the power for the one-laptop project per child project.  We took the opportunity, developing the underlying power technology for it.