Copper end use trends

Energy efficiency programs aren't new. They have been around for 30 years or more in many states, since the energy crises of the 1970s. But according to a new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), energy efficiency programs have grown and developed to become "a low-cost, high-value energy resource for electric utilities and their customers."

Resulting from a five-year development programme involving Nexans’ technology centres in France and Belgium, this innovative overhead line technology consists in a thermal resistant aluminium conductor wrapped around a composite carbon core. Compared with a traditional ACSR (Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced) which uses steel core, the composite carbon core of the same diameter is much lighter and 50 percent stronger. Most importantly, the carbon core’s coefficient of thermal expansion is roughly one tenth of that of steel, so it expands (and ‘sags’) much less when heated by the high current flowing in the conductor, enabling the vital safety clearances to be maintained between the conductor and the ground, even at high operating temperatures.

Aluminium power cable technology for wind turbines took a giant leap forward today with the introduction of HELUKABEL’s HELUWIND WK POWERLINE ALU. This diesel locomotive (DLO)-like power cable is made of finely-stranded aluminium and is highly flexible, offering customers the performance capabilities of a standard copper cable, but at a fraction of the cost. “Since the POWERLINE ALU is made of aluminium its weight is reduced by nearly 50 percent, it is quicker and easier to install, as well as being less expensive than comparable copper power cables,” says Uwe Schenk, Global Segment Manager – Wind at HELUKABEL. “Given the uncertainty of the PTCs and the need for reducing turbine costs (manufacturing, installation and maintenance), the POWERLINE ALU is our attempt to further the development of the industry in the United States and Canada by making wind turbines more affordable.” 

The ethical, environmental and social performance criteria that will compose this new standard are expected to be defined by 2014, following multi‐stakeholder consultation to ISEAL specifications. Once defined and publicly launched, the expectation is that aluminium industry organizations will want to adopt these criteria to produce, use or re‐use aluminium.

But as interest in energy storage technologies continues to increase, it will create new opportunities for TES and lead to steady growth, according to a report from Pike Research. Pike estimates installed TES capacity will nearly triple in the U.S., from 2.7 GW in 2011 to 7.2 GW in 2020.

Nautilus Minerals has announced that an initial resource estimate shows an inferred resource of 410 million tonnes at its seafloor mining project around Tonga.

Each vehicle will be equipped with enormous 130kw/h batteries – giving them a 100-mile range and a capacity equivalent to around six Nissan Leafs. The buses will receive regular top-up charges throughout the day from the three wireless charging points installed along the routes. Charge pads on the underside of each bus will sync wirelessly with pads installed under the road, in a process known as induction charging. Drivers will park over the pads for their 10-minute break, replenishing two thirds of the electricity used to cover the 12.5-mile route without interrupting the timetable. The consortium of companies behind the scheme – which include bus manufacturer Wrightbus, wireless charging firm Arup, bus operator Arriva and Milton Keynes Council – believe that the switch from diesel to electric will cut tailpipe emissions by around 500 tonnes every year. Running costs will also be slashed, as annual fuel costs for a diesel bus are around £23,000 per year compared to an estimated £10,000 for an electric one. And maintenance costs will be lower, too.