Green Options

Europe’s Cap and Trade has reduced fossil energy use and grown renewable energy

Here’s an example of how fossil energy companies could switch to renewable energy.  The Norwegian company  StatoilHydro is celebrating the off-shore wind inauguation this month of their Hywind pilot in the North Sea. Off-shore oil drilling companies are in a good position to leverage their expertize to develop off-shore wind; (just as fossil companies on land could also switch from oil drilling to geothermal drilling.)

StatoilHydro’s $58 million Hywind project draws on the company’s long years of experience in offshore oil and gas drilling to easily make the switch to renewable energy. Because of the long previous experience with suppliers they were able to deliver the off-shore wind project on budget and on schedule.

Siemens built the turbine, while Technip built and installed the offshore floater. Nexans Norway laid the submarine power line to the receiving station operated by grid operator Haugaland Kraft who will deliver the power to the grid

New York City utility Consolidated Edison wants to install a 12 megawatt pilot solar project in the Big Apple.

Con Ed filed its plans with the New York State Public Service Commission late last week. the 18-month project would generate energy for homes, businesses and Con Ed buildings. The utility said 1 MW powers about 1,000 homes. That’s a tiny fraction of the 3 million customers Con Ed serves.

The project would cost as much as $25 million, the utility said.