Category Archives: Israel

India-EU Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement as part of the European Commission’s Seventh Framework of Research

Posted on June 8, 2009 | Leave a comment

The 2009 India-EU Call on Solar Energy System to be announced in July 2009 will facilitate India-EU Project mode partnerships with a view to:

  • Catalyzing emergence of solar power as an economically viable, commercially attractive, environment friendly and sustainable energy option;
  • Advancing the transition to clean energy technologies (such conversion of solar radiation into electricity using ST,CSP/SPV) ) that are sustainable, affordable, add to energy security and have no adverse impact on climate;
  • Building institutional tie-ups with EU partners to incubate feasibility of and/or scaling up of research, pilot scale production and creation of new knowledge with output in the form of joint patents and co-authored publications;
  • Achieving cost reduction , higher efficiency & reliability of solar photovoltaic devices and systems;
  • Improving design, fabrication and demonstration of innovative solar thermal power generating technology

Looking for partners…. eu@ags-tech.com

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Posted in Asia, Europe, Israel, Technologies, Thoughts

Solar energy companies were asked to respond to the MoD RFP by the middle of September 2009. The value of the project could reach tens of millions of dollars.

Posted on June 8, 2009 | Leave a comment

Lior Baron, Globes

The Ministry of Defense is considering fixing solar collectors atop rooftops of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bases in order to generate electricity. Sources inform “Globes” that the Ministry of Defense issued a preliminary tender last week for setting up photo-voltaic solar energy systems at IDF bases to produce and supply electricity. Photo-voltaic solar energy systems are small and can generate up to 50 kilowatts. The companies that were interested in the project were asked to present various options of how to go about the project – including BOT (build, operate, transfer) and regular setting up and selling the system. The solar energy companies were asked to respond to the Ministry of Defense with their feedback by the middle of September. Estimates are that the final tender will be published in 2010, with a value of at least several tens of millions of dollars. About a year ago, as part of a strategic plan to make IDF bases more environment-friendly, it was decided to advance the use of solar energy on the bases. Subsequently, the Ministry of Defense set out a preliminary tender to set up a thermo-solar power station to generate 15-20 megawatts at the Nevatim Israel Air Force base, at an estimated cost of $40-50 million. Currently, the Ministry of Defense is considering expanding solar energy usage to smaller installations as well. This followed July 2008 regulations by the Public Utilities Authority (Electricity) which set up an incentive of NIS 1.97 for every kilowatt hour generated by small installations. The defense establishment is one of the economy’s largest energy users. The annual energy cost at IDF bases is estimated at NIS 1.5 billion about 5% of the national total.

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Posted in Israel, Technologies

The price of oil has leapt to nearly $69 a barrel. Another spike may be on the way

Posted on June 3, 2009 | Leave a comment

The Economist
RISING oil prices, believes Ali al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia’s oil minister, may soon “take the wheels off an already derailed world economy”. On the face of things, this concern is absurd. The plunge of $115 in the price of oil from its peak last July to its nadir in December was the most precipitous the world has ever seen. Demand for oil is still falling, as the world economy atrophies. Rumours abound of traders hiring tankers to store their excess oil. Rich countries’ stocks cover 62 days’ consumption, the most since 1993 . The average over the past five years has been 52 days’ worth.

Nor are oil firms pumping nearly as much as they could. OPEC has announced three separate rounds of production cuts since September in a bid to steady prices. In all, it has vowed to trim its output by 4.2m barrels a day (b/d). That leaves them with as much as 6m b/d of spare capacity. Despite this growing glut, however, the price of oil has been rising steadily in recent weeks . On Wednesday May 20th it closed above $60 a barrel for the first time in more than six months. That marks an increase of more than 75% since February. The price of futures contracts suggests that energy traders see the price rising higher still in the coming months and years. (During the day on Friday it appeared to be nearing $62 a barrel.)

The explanation is simple. Oilmen are worried because they believe that many of the factors behind the record-breaking ascent last year remain in place. Much of the world’s “easy” oil has already been extracted, or is in the hands of nationalist governments that will not allow foreigners to exploit it. That leaves firms to hunt for new reserves in ever more inhospitable and inaccessible places, such as the deep waters off Africa or the frozen oceans of the Arctic. Such fields take a long time and a lot of expensive technology to develop. Worse, new discoveries tend to be smaller than in the past and to run dry faster.

So oil firms must work doubly hard to replace declining fields and to increase output. Yet the oil industry is short of equipment and manpower, thanks to underinvestment in the 1980s and 1990s, when prices were low. As soon as the world economy starts growing again, the theory runs, demand for oil will once again outstrip the industry’s ability to supply it. In other words, the global recession has only interrupted the “supercycle” of which many analysts used to speak, during which the normal boom-and-bust cycle of oil and other commodities would give way to a protracted period of high prices, as ever-growing demand from emerging markets swallowed everything the extractive industries could produce.

Oil bosses, OPEC ministers and anxious bankers all agree on what is needed to prevent this scenario becoming reality: lavish investment in the development of new fields and in exploration. Yet the reverse is happening. The oil industry is cutting its spending, bringing fewer new fields into production and exploring less. The International Energy Agency reckons that overall investment will drop by 15-20% this year.

In theory, this should not be happening. Big Western oil firms (“majors” in the industry jargon) claim that they continue to invest steadily throughout the cycle, irrespective of gyrations in price. Big fields, they argue, can take a decade or more to develop, and may then produce oil or gas for several decades more. The price of oil at the time the investment is approved is irrelevant; the important thing is to make sure projects will be profitable across a range of possible future prices. If anything, given that most oilmen expect prices to rise in the medium term, you would expect them to be increasing their investment, to capitalise on the good times to come. Nonetheless, the extreme volatility of prices over the past year must have made big firms more cautious about future investments.

Then there are the state-owned firms in oil-soaked countries. These companies control the overwhelming majority of the world’s oil. The better managed and funded of them plan to continue investing despite the downturn. Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil producer, recently completed a five-year scheme to expand its production capacity from 10m b/d to 12.5m b/d, at a cost of $70 billion. But in Russia, the world’s second-biggest oil producer, output is falling largely because private capital has been scared off by a series of expropriations, while the state starves the firms it controls of sufficient cash for investment. And most oil-rich states, naturally enough, are happy to see the price rise. Many have become used to bumper revenues in recent years and have struggled to balance their budgets since the price slumped last year.

Falling costs within the industry will offset the impact of falling investment budgets to some extent. BP argues its slight cut in investment does not really represent a reduction, thanks to deflation. Yet many constraints on expansion remain. For one thing, the world still does not have as many experienced petroleum engineers and geologists as it needs, says Iain Manson of Korn/Ferry, a recruiting firm. He expects it to take a decade or more to overcome the shortage. Meanwhile, he says, wages in the oil industry are not falling by nearly as much as other costs.

Worse, there is little sign that governments are willing to grant oil companies easier access to the most promising territory for exploration. Iraq’s plans to sign big new contracts with foreign firms are years behind schedule, as is its new oil law. American sanctions continue to impede investment in Iran. The Nigerian government has been unable to quell the insurgency in the Niger delta, making it difficult for oil firms to operate there. Even in America, despite years of debate, most coastal waters and much of Alaska remain off-limits to drilling.

So when demand begins to revive, a sharp rise in prices is inevitable. That does not mean that a price spike is just around the corner, however. The speed with which it arrives will depend on the strength of the global recovery. For the moment, global consumption of oil continues to fall, despite the slight brightening of the economic outlook. At the recent OPEC powwow Mr al-Naimi, the Saudi oil minister, argued that a low oil price always sowed the seeds of a future price rise, since it led to underinvestment. The only question this time is how quickly the strain will emerge.

Join the The PeakOilWhen Initiative http://www.peakoilwhen.org/

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Posted in Africa, Asia, China, Europe, Israel, Politics, Thoughts, U.S.

The German Jülich Solar Tower facility, uses an open volumetric-style air receiver capable of withstanding temperatures of as much as 1,200 C and higher

Posted on June 2, 2009 | Leave a comment

The top floor of the 60 meters tall tower houses the solar receiver and boiler. 2,150 heliostats, each 8 square meters in size, reflect solar energy and can produce a total of 8 MW thermal energy, which translates to 1.5 MW electric energy.

The heated air either goes to the boiler as part of the steam cycle or else is directed to thermal storage. Using thermal energy stored in a ceramic heat sink, the Jülich facility can produce its full 1.5 MW output for up to an hour, which could be useful in starting the facility each morning.

So far two solar facilities have been built in Spain, the so-called PS 10, an 11 MW saturated steam facility that began operating in 2007, and PS 20, a 20 MW facility that began operating in April. The German Jülich Solar Tower facility is a 1.5MW project. Next to be announced and operative later this month is the Aora 100KW Samar facility (at Eilot region, Israel), based on innovative receiver and a dual purpose micro-gas turbine, so no use of steam at all. This would be the most advanced solar tower facility worldwide…. Stay tuned for details.

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Posted in Europe, Israel, Technologies

Residential and commercial photovoltaic projects will continue to be important stimulants for job creation and small business growth, but they will be complemented by large-scale photovoltaic and concentrating solar power projects

Posted on June 2, 2009 | Leave a comment

Mike Taylor, director of research and education at The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA).

“The variety of ways solar power is being implemented signals an increased maturity in the market…”We are working with many creative companies to find utility business models that provide solid financial returns, increased renewable energy adoption and customer benefits”.

http://downloads.pennnet.com/sepa/sepa.pdf

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Posted in Conferences, Europe, Israel, Technologies, Thoughts, U.S.

start now a global priority shift

Posted on June 2, 2009 | Leave a comment

Taking over GM is an ultimate opportunity to start a global priority shift and developing, designing and building clean energy technologies and infrastructure. A GLOBAL PRIORITY SHIFT is a MUST. GM could survive and even prosper and we all gain from getting clean energy in place. Join the www.OilAway.org

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Posted in Africa, Asia, China, Europe, Israel, Politics, Technologies, Thoughts, U.S.

Concentrated solar power could meet up to 7 percent of the world’s power needs by 2030 and fully one quarter by 2050

Posted on May 27, 2009 | Leave a comment

Concentrated solar power could meet up to 7 percent of the world’s power needs by 2030 and fully one quarter by 2050.

The 3rd joint report from Greenpeace International, the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTELA) and IEA SolarPACES since 2003. With every edition we have increased the projected market volume significantly, and it finally turned over a billion dollars in 2008, this amount could double in 2009. While we highlighted in our first joint report the huge market potential, we were able to move to another message in 2005 when we launched the second report in Egypt: “CSP is ready for take off!”.

We now are delighted to say “CSP has taken off”, is about to step out of the shadow of other renewable technologies and can establish itself as the third biggest player in the sustainable power generation industry. CSP does not compete against other renewable energies; it is an additional one that is now economically viable.

Fighting climate change is paramount as such it is essential that the power generation sector becomes virtually CO2 free as soon as possible. Greenpeace and the European Renewable Industry Council developed a joint global vision – the Energy [R]evolution scenario – which provides a practical blueprint for rapidly cutting energy-related CO2 emissions in order to help ensure that greenhouse gas emissions peak and then fall by 2015. This can be achieved while ensuring economies in China, India and other developing nations have access to the energy that they need in order to develop. CSP plays an important role in this concept.

The Global CSP Outlook 2009 goes actually one step further. While the moderate CSP market scenario is in line with the Energy [R]evolution scenario, the advanced scenario shows that this technology has even more to offer. Globally, the CSP industry could employ as many as 2 million people by 2050 who will help save the climate and produce up to one quarter of the world’s electricity. This is a truly inspiring vision. Especially as this technology has developed it’s very own striking beauty – the stunning pictures in this report show that saving the climate look spectacular.

 

 

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Posted in Africa, Asia, China, Europe, Israel, Technologies, Thoughts, U.S.

The first Multi-National Task Force for 100% Renewable Energy

Posted on March 8, 2009 | Leave a comment

Quotes from statement of Steven Chu Secretary of Energy before US Senate on March 5, 2009:

“…how we can better nurture and harness science to solve our energy and climate change problems. I have spent most of my career in research labs – as a student, as a researcher, and as a faculty member. I took the challenge of being Secretary of Energy in part for the chance to ensure that the Department of Energy Laboratories and our country’s universities will generate ideas that will help us address our energy challenges. I also strongly believe that the key to our prosperity in the 21st century lies in our ability to nurture our intellectual capital in science and engineering. Our previous investments in science led to the birth of the semiconductor, computer, and bio-technology industries that have added greatly to our economic prosperity. Now, we need similar breakthroughs on energy.

….We also need to refocus our scarce research dollars. …. to step up efforts to educate the next generation of scientists and engineers. The FY 2010 budget supports graduate fellowship programs that will train students in energy-related fields. I will also seek to build on DOE’s existing research strengths by attracting and retaining the most talented scientists. Focusing on Transformational Research. The second area that I want to discuss is the need to support transformational technology research. What do I mean by transformational technology? I mean technology that is game-changing, as opposed to merely incremental. For example, in the 1920’s and 1930’s, when AT&T Bell Laboratories was focused on extending the life of vacuum tubes, another much smaller research program was started to investigate a completely new device based on a revolutionary new advance in the understanding of the microscopic world: quantum physics. The result of this transformational research was the transistor, which transformed communications, allowed the computer industry to blossom, and changed the world forever. DOE must strive to be the modern version of the old Bell Labs in energy research. Because the payoffs from research in transformational technologies are both higher risk and longer term, government investment is critical and appropriate.

…We need to do more transformational research at DOE to bring a range of clean energy technologies to the point where the private sector can pick them up, including: 1. Gasoline and diesel-like biofuels generated from lumber waste, crop wastes, solid waste, and non-food crops; 2. Automobile batteries with two to three times the energy density that can survive 15 years of deep discharges; 3. Photovoltaic solar power that is five times cheaper than today’s technology; 4. Computer design tools for commercial and residential buildings that enable reductions in energy consumption of up to 80 percent with investments that will pay for themselves in less than 10 years; and 5. Large scale energy storage systems so that variable renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power can become base-load power generators. This is not a definitive list, or a hard set of technology goals, but it gives a sense of the types of technologies and benchmarks I think we should be aiming for. We will need transformational research to attain these types of goals. To make it happen, we will need to re-energize our national labs as centers of great science and innovation. At the same time, we need to seek innovation wherever it can be found – the new ARPA-E program will open up research funding to the best minds in the country, wherever they may be. I pledge to you we will have this program up and running as soon as possible. Broader, More Effective Collaboration: DOE also needs to foster better research collaboration, both internally and externally. My goal is nothing less than to build research networks within the Department, across the government, throughout the nation, and around the globe. We’ll better integrate national lab, university, and industry research. And we will seek partnerships with other nations. For example, increased international cooperation on carbon capture and storage technology could reduce both the cost and time of developing the range of pre- and post-combustion technologies needed to meet the climate challenge. … The Nation needs better technologies to fully meet our climate and energy challenges, and DOE can be a major contributor to this effort”.

The first Multi-national Task force for 100% renewable energy is definitely the right step in the right direction, but we need to do more.

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Posted in Africa, Asia, Europe, Israel, Technologies, Thoughts, U.S.

Interview with the scientific advisor of the Eilot International renewable energy conference

Posted on February 23, 2009 | 1 Comment

Sustainable pathway for a clean energy future

 

Amnon Samid, an energy expert, Director General of AGS Technologies, founder and chairman of several companies worldwide, has working experience with utilities, government agencies, investment companies and start-ups.  After 30 years in this business, Samid is currently looking at the broader strategic picture. “Clean energy technologies is what we need most not only for reducing global warming effects and impact on earth eco-systems, but for sustainable development, poverty reduction and for dismantling world terror, by reducing dependence on Fossil fuels”, says Samid. “I am most concerned by fossil fuel reserves controlled by hostile forces in the Middle East and South America…they even don’t know or don’t let us know how long could we expect continuous supply of crude oil”.  The Peak Oil question is crucial, regardless of oil prices that are controlled by lunatic dangerous leaders and speculators. That is why Samid is supportive of a worldwide repeated survey executed by D&G Sciences with collaboration of CASE Western Reserve University www.PeakOilWhen.org. But as much as having the updated best estimate for this crucial question is a must, Samid believes that there is no reason why we should not start already developing the ultimate technology or family of technologies for 24/7 energy supply with no need for fossil fuel back-up. “No country has taken such a strategic decision yet”, Samid says with regret, “there are many sporadic innovations that are being transformed into viable commercial projects, mainly in Israel, the US and partly in Europe, but most of them are aimed for a high ROI with fast exit strategy. Hi-Tech successful technology and business people entering into the energy business lately is a blessing, but they brought with them – together with creativity and imagination – also the “exit philosophy” and are looking for marketing channels to push niche innovative technologies, which are not necessarily part of the ultimate solutions.  …We need visionaries and marathon runners to achieve this goal”, Samid emphasizes. 

 

How does Israel fit into this game?

 

“From my point of view”, says Amnon Samid, “without energy independence we cannot achieve national security. Israel has no oil or coal and very little natural gas resources. Israel’s energy supply is completely dependent on import. Israel is surrounded by Arab countries with only one open border: the Mediterranean Sea.

The Middle East is the main supplier of oil to the world, and most of suppliers are very hostile to Israel.

 

Could Israel be Energy Independent?

 

“With the right vision and government strategic decision – definitely yes, but it will take several years and require an international collaborative effort.”

 

What is required to make Israel, as well as other countries, Energy Independent?

 

“It seems like the “64 billion dollar question“; However, any serious policy maker MUST get ongoing – updated best possible answers to this question. There is no straight answer here. It seems that the best way to do it is by integrating a spectrum of opinions, using methodologies of choice for a fair integration of diverse opinions and refer to the integrated answer as the “best estimate”. Such estimate should be repeated often to evaluate trends and to incorporate the emerging new data.  We at AGS are doing it using in-house innovations (BiPSA™).”

 

What are the main bottlenecks for implementing renewable energy solutions into the Grid?

 

“No matter what the solution or basket of solutions will be – one thing is for certain: Without a viable and cost effective energy storage solution – no renewable energy source will be able to replace fossil fuels. Utilities consider dispatchable plants to be of greatest operational value to their systems. Another bottleneck is the cost effective and reliable integration of renewable energy into the grid, with minimal impact on grid stability. Also, transferring high capacity of electricity from areas that are blessed with solar energy or wind and available land to populated areas that are lacking the sufficient solar energy and wind is also an interesting challenge.”

 

Can you point out a preferred solution for exploring the energy storage issue?

 

“Currently there are no proper and economic feasible solutions. That is why I call upon governmental agencies to collaborate on developing such a solution. Local energy storage solutions are being developed and built in Spain, Italy and the US, but neither of them are candidates for becoming the ultimate solution, One approach that was neglected for many years is the concept of utilizing off-peak energy accumulation via compressed air. It has high thermodynamically and hence economical benefits. The accumulation of energy by means of compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a proven technology, but is being used only in a very few places. It consists of generating of compressed air during slack hours by means of motor compressor discharging into storage. During peak hours the air driven out from the storage is used as fuel for a gas turbine alternator.  Usually CAES depends on fossil fuel for feeding the combustors, where the stored air must be heated before expanded through a turbine inorder to maximize the output of the turbine. This dependence on external energy sources decreases the effectiveness of CAES systems. There are several developments incorporating solar energy and CAES.  The working fluid, which is the compressed air, could be heated at a recuperator by exhaust air from the low pressure gas turbine. Afterwards it is further heated at the solar radiation absorber up to 1000ºC or even higher and only then expanding through a high pressure turbine. That creates a more attractive way of effective transfer of heat energy from compressed air. There are also some innovative developments using a vortex tube as energy separator of the high pressure air from the storage, where it is separated into two flows – one cooled and dry (that is being used for cooling the air charging into the storage) and the other heated and moist. Afterwards they are mixed and delivered to the turbine. In that way, less external energy is required.” 

 

Could CAES be viable also in Israel?

 

There are no abandoned mines in Israel suitable for storage of compressed air. However, preliminary geological and hydrological analysis as well as evaluation of fluid flow and heat transfer were done by the electric company in several aquifers. Several were found promising candidates, like Beeri, Caesaria and Givat Shmuel. But the work was not completed; Further confirmation is required by performing on site data and laboratory tests. Underground salt mines are non existent in Israel. Nevertheless, Mount Sodom, southeast of the Dead Sea is comprised of a large size unmined salt structure, 10 Km long, 2 Km wide and 5 Km deep. The Sodom formation was found to be suitable for development of a solution Cavern for storage of liquid hydrocarbons. The site may also be suitable, with respect to its water thickness, for a CAES reservoir. However, Mount Sodom is located in the most arid part of Judea desert; therefore the substantial quantities of water, that should be used for dissolving a cavern in the salt structure, would have to be conveyed from remote sources at comparatively high cost, unless the Red-Dead Sea canal will be established.”

 

In that case could it be a viable project?

 

“There are good prospects that a solution cavern similar to Huntorf plant in Germany could be developed in Mt Sodom.”

 

What are you suggesting? 

 

“My vision is to develop synergetic partnerships with global companies, while we at Israel provide innovation and creativity. We are trying to initiate an international collaborative work plan. The purpose is to increase the effectiveness and attractiveness of the compressed air energy storage (CAES) concept, by developing a Combined Cycle CAES connected to solar power stations with possible  backup of wind turbines and if not available – by natural gas. It is possible to store large volumes of high pressure air in several modes of storage including below ground facilities, like aquifers, solution-mined salt caverns, mined hard-rock caverns and depleted natural gas fields, as well as above ground storage – smaller in size, lower pressures and modular systems.”

 

What are the next steps?

 

- At the first phase of this work we prefer to use as much as possible off-the-shelf components. Nevertheless existing equipment will need to be modified inorder to enable optimal use of CAES. The main components that should be modified are the solar field and receiver that will enable achieving the highest temperature possible (above 1000ºC), the turbines & compressors should be redesigned for high pressures and temperatures and efficiencies, and naturally the control system is a challenging issue. Also is required a cooperation of an existing utility that will allow running the CAES in their dispatch model just to “get a feeling” on a realistic situation.

 

What is your vision regarding renewable energy?

 

“Integration of Renewable energy sources into the grid – is a huge challenge. Also transmission of large power blocks over long distances is challenging. But the benefits for security and sustainability of power supply are enormous. My vision is to establish ‘The Peace Smart Grid’, which could start in Israel and be applied globally. I think that deregulation & privatization and the unity we see in dealing with the current financial crisis – could lead to a global collaboration for implementing these ideas.”

 

Why Israel?

 

“Israel is blessed with creativity, advanced technology education, self defense need & experience and a combination of hi-tech and skilled people. Israel, as a Geography and Technologically focal point in the Middle East, connecting Asia – Africa – & Europe —— could start this global process, by first solving required technological issues (in collaboration with worldwide companies and organizations) and implementing it as a catalyst for regional development that will lead to peace with its rational neighbors, and defeat the evil forces in the Middle East.”

 

amnon@cleanenergy.co.il

 

 

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Posted in Conferences, Europe, Israel, Technologies, Thoughts, U.S.

Top US Energy leaders in Israel now

Posted on February 19, 2009 | 1 Comment

Influential energy leaders from America visit Israel to Top US Energy leaders in Israel now attend the most important international energy event of the year hosted by Eilot regional authority, organized and managed by Noam Ilan, head of Eilot renewable energy technology center and Amnon Samid, Executive Chairman of the AGS group and scientific adviser of the conference. Among the American guests in Israel now are top energy officials from the U.S. Government, the business world and the not-for-profit sector. While in Israel, the guests will meet similar leaders to share information, such as how to take action towards a post-fossil fuel economy.

Hosted by Project Interchange, an Institute of the American Jewish Committee, the hand-picked group of 11 American specialists, include Adam Zellner, the Former Director of Policy of New Jersey; Gregory Fox, the Director of Business Development at Constellation Energy; Geoffrey Brown, the Legislative Director of Pew Charitable Trusts; Seth Portner, the energy representative from the office of the Governor of Colorado, as well as Tamra Spielvogel, the national Energy Director from the National Conference of State Legislators, and several more. A Look-See At High-Priority Field “Timed to coincide with the Eilat Energy Conference, this special Project Interchange seminar gives our guests an opportunity to interface with those attending the conference on possibilities for future collaboration,” says Ida Singelenberg, the U.S. program director for Project Interchange. “This group is coming for a look-see at Israel at the dawn of a new U.S. administration that has established energy and sustainability as a high priority. Some are already attracted to the clean technology opportunities in Israel; this seminar might take their involvement to another level.”

The 6-day visit of these policy makers, business leaders, and NGO directors will take advantage of one of the most important energy events of the year, the Eilat-Eilot International Renewable Energy Conference, from February 17-19. During the conference, a $20 million U.S.-Israeli Energy Cooperation Act, passed two years ago by the U.S. Congress, will be launched, and U.S. guest Zellner, is expected to deliver a talk to Israel and nations around the world, eager to save the environment and cut dependence on foreign oil. Known for its advances in solar energy, wind, and creative renewable energy technologies, an Israeli company BrightSource is now building the world’s largest solar energy project in California; Israeli companies such as Ormat are already working in America to create clean energy from geothermal sources, with more cooperation in store. Making America A Better Place In Israel, the visitors will meet with a number of policy makers, and business entrepreneurs, as well as tour the new Environmental Education Park at Kibbutz Lotan, and learn about the Dead Sea–Red Sea Peace Canal, at the Dead Sea. Project Interchange will also introduce the American guests to representatives from Better Place, the electric car initiative, now signed on in the States of California and Hawaii.

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Posted in Conferences, Israel, Technologies, U.S.