PUBLISHER’S LETTER
3
This is a true story. Years ago, I knew a lawyer who
worked in the public relations department of a New
York utility and basically did his own thing. He would
get into the office at an ungodly early hour to clear his
desk before planning his day of attending offsite
meetings His bosses never authorized his offsite
activities; he just liked to sit through meetings -period!
I’m reminded of what Elon Musk told the EEI
delegates last year. He lets employees leave his hosted
meetings whenever they wanted to - with impunity.
Well, now it’s World-Gen’s turn to report on
meetings (whether we like them or not!) Meetings are
now held at conventions. Conventions have launched a new lexicon: sales calls are now
called “networking” and products are now “branded.” Exhibits built for the week cost as
much as a Home Depot renovation. They’re being used for meetings and “selfies.”
It’s time to report on our editors’ coverage of the conventions we attended.
Journalists like to find a story or a person that needs to be introduced to its reader-
ship. These are our contributions.
Our cover story is a waste-to-energy renewable fuel power plant built to also include a
ski slope designed by Bjarke Ingels. Go to page 4 for the full story of this unique
collaboration. A first!
World-Gen met ABB’s Gary Rackliffe at D’Tech 2016 in Orlando. We agreed to
publish his presentation on ”Integrating Small Solar Farms.” See page 6 for the
edited version.
Lyn Corum covered the “California Energy Summit” and reports on page 8 that
renewable power is already filling the belly of the “Duck Curve” four years ahead of sched-
ule. Bills are being introduced to balance the oversupply.
Jim Brannen, Class of 2016 shared his Siemens Vision 2020 with an expanded
portfolio, on page 10. He’s the first to head up Siemens’ Oil & Gas since it was formed in
October 2014.
Alison Mason writes on page 12 that Spirae’s Wave software platform harnesses
Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to optimize value and enhance grid performance.
Spirae exhibited at D’Tech 2016.
Marvin Fertel, retiring president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute presented
“Nuclear Outlook 2016.” He underscored on page 14 that nuclear energy is the largest
source of carbon free electricity in the US.
Tim Hurst highlights IRENA’s Annual Review released at the 11th Council meeting.
He said on page 15 renewable energy jobs rose by 5 percent to 8.1 million people
worldwide.
Dr. Fernando de la Vega wants to reduce significantly the cost of producing solar cells
with digital inkjet printing. He points out on page 16 that PV Nano Cells Sicrys™ family
of inks will play an integral role in this growth.
Paul Winters reports from BIO’s 13th Annual Congress in San Diego that one-third
were first time attendees. The event attracted 529 new companies from 32 countries.
Details on page 17.
Graham Smith updates the C&I solar market on page 18. The greatest challenge to
growth is access to financing and he introduces online lending starting as low as half a
million up to $10 million.
Drs. Berkman and Murphy of the Brattle Group prepared a report for Nuclear
Matters that was distributed at BNEF in New York. The report estimated the value of the
entire nuclear industry to the US economy on page 19.
WORLD-GENERATION MAY/JUNE 2016
WORLD-GENERATION
521 FIFTH AVENUE • SUITE 1700
NEW YORK, NY 10175
212.292.5009 •
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
pg. 3
BRING YOUR SKIISTO COPENHILL
BY DICK FLANAGAN
pg. 4
INTEGRATING SMALL SOLAR FARMS
BY GARY RACKLIFFE
pg. 6
CALIFORNIA ENERGY DELIVERY SYSTEM
INTRANSITION
BY LYN CORUM,CLASS OF 2003
pg. 8
SIEMENS VISION 2020
BY JIM BRANNEN
pg. 10
THE FLEXIBILITY OF DER
BY ALISON MASON
pg. 12
NUCLEAR OUTLOOK 2016
BY MARVIN FERTEL,CLASS OF 2012
pg. 14
RENEWABLE JOBS 2016
BYTIM HURST, IRENA
pg. 15
UNLOCKING GROWTH IN SOLAR
BY FERNANDO DE LA VEGA,PH.D
pg. 16
A NEW CYCLE OF INNOVATION
BY PAUL WINTERS
pg. 17
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOLAR
BY GRAHAM SMITH
pg. 18
NUCLEAR’S US CONTRIBUTIONS
BY MARK BERKMAN,PH.D
& DEAN MURPHY,PH.D
pg. 19
Dick Flanagan
Copyright 2016 by The Flanagan Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means without written permission of the publisher.
Membership held in the National Press Club, Washington, DC
