CleanTech OC Daily - 6/20/12

Ice Energy Finds Profits in Thermal Energy Storage

Ice Energy is focusing on utilities for its Ice Bear rooftop units (thermal energy storage) and then finds the customers willing to have units installed as a utility asset. Executive VP of Corporate Development explains that the building owner gets cheaper power, and the utility gets a solution to its peak power problems. Ice Energy has recently relocated to Glendale in order to work with their biggest customer, Southern California Public Power Authority – they are nearly half-way through fulfilling the 53 megawatts of Ice Bear units.

US Geothermal Energy State of the Union, 2011-2012

Geothermal energy is predictable, relatively inexpensive and there are bountiful resources across the globe - but why isn't geothermal a larger part of the U.S. energy plan? Mainly because the U.S. government doesn't engage in consistent, long-term energy policy. The GEA gave an update on the industry this morning, coinciding with the release of a Q1 2012 and 2011 market report. One promising take away is that geothermal firms are currently developing 147 new projects in 15 states.

California Grid Hit Record Solar Peak

According to the California Independent System Operator, the Californian power grid hit a record peak of solar generation on June 8, 2012 - 849 megawatts of solar generation. This record will continue to be broken as the days get longer. FYI - according to GTM Research the cumulative amount of solar installed in the U.S. at the end of Q1 2012 was 4.943 gigawatts.