“We are very excited about getting this unique renewable energy project on line,” said Kent Larson, vice president and chief energy supply officer for Xcel Energy. “If this project produces the successful results we expect, this type of solar thermal integration will help move the use of solar energy one step closer to being a potential technology for improving the environmental performance of coal-fired power plants for Xcel Energy and for utilities around the country.”

“We are pleased to work with Xcel Energy on this important innovative clean technology project. We believe that the solar approach being implemented at Cameo will provide a cost effective way of delivering solar energy,” said Santiago Seage, Abengoa Solar CEO.

The project is the first under Xcel Energy’s new Innovative Clean Technology (ICT) Program, an initiative to test promising new technologies with potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions and result in other environmental improvements. Through the ICT Program, the company can pursue the development, commercialization and deployment of new power generation, energy storage and other technologies that support its clean energy strategy. It provides the opportunity to test these technologies and evaluate their cost, reliability and environmental performance at a demonstration scale before determining whether they should be deployed more widely for Colorado customers.

Customers can log on to where they will find more information and video of the project. They will also learn more about Xcel Energy’s commitment to the environment by choosing the environment page under the company tab.

Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company that provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies in eight Western and Midwestern states. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com

Abengoa Solar focuses its activities on the development and application of technology for generating electrical power with the sun (www.abengoasolar.com). Abengoa is a technology company that applies innovative solutions for sustainability in the infrastructure, environmental and energy sectors. The company is listed on the Spanish stock exchange and is present in more than 70 countries, in which it operates through its five Business Units. They are Solar, Bioenergy, Environmental Services, Information Technologies and Industrial Engineering and Construction. More information is available at (www.abengoa.com).

(source www.xcelenergy.com)

The new service can accommodate Radio Frequency (RF) power and voltage on a massive scale. It combines high voltage isolation with screening to 18 GHz, whereby most other facilities only allow for testing at 50 Hz or at low voltage.

Previously the preserve of government establishments, the Roke High Voltage Facility will offer an additional option to both public and private sector organisations that wish to test and commission high voltage and high power RF equipment such as accelerator components, ultra high power RF amplifiers, associated transmission lines plus electrostatic systems.

The high end facility will be targeted at R&D specialists designing systems that require multiple high power amplifiers that have tight synchronisation demands and signal distribution complexity. In a controlled and isolated environment, the energising and test of high voltage power supplies, high power drivers and transmission lines can be conducted in complete safety.

Roke will also use the new high voltage test facility itself, allowing it to develop and test a range of novel high power systems for the RF and electrostatic accelerator community, plus systems for the military, energy and medical markets.

Alastair Cook, Industrial and Medical Business Sector Manager at Roke, said:

“A major issue for organisations wanting to test high power and high voltage systems is the availability of facilities and management of the hazards. Reliance on government or academic services can mean that an organisation outside that sphere of influence doesn’t get priority when booking in lab time or full system tests can’t be done. This presents a serious dichotomy for organisations that want to accelerate time to market for their products, but also need to conduct complex and often hazardous tests first. Our new High Voltage Facility represents the largest single investment Roke has made in testing for a number of years and we hope that organisations across the world will recognise the benefit of this unique and easy to access resource.”

The high voltage facility has two screened chambers, one for the equipment under test and a second to hold test equipment and power supplies. Control is performed from a remotely operated and isolated console from which tests can be controlled and progress viewed via a high resolution camera link and optically isolated test gear. The primary test chamber is 4.8m x 4.5m x 4.5m in volume and has double door access that can allow heavy structures to be maneuvered into position.

To complement the facility there is a team of trained and competent personnel to help customers using the service, along with a robust set of procedures to enable a safe operating environment.

About Roke Manor Research Ltd
Roke Manor Research Limited is wholly owned by Siemens, and based in Romsey Hampshire. Founded in 1956 and wholly owned by Siemens since 1991, Roke is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of innovative solutions and contract research and development. Roke employees 450 staff and has over 430 patents to it’s name. Roke pioneers developments in electronic sensors, networks, and communications technology.

About Siemens in the UK
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 166 years ago and now employs 18,402 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £3.7 billion. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry and health-care. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
(source www.roke.co.uk)

Hybrid cars, Semiconductors, Smart electric Grids, Photovoltaics all require electronic test and measurement equipment during development, production, deployment and maintenance. This will create additional demand for items such as Power Quality Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, Multi-meters, DC Power Sources and DC Loads, Solar Array Simulators, ESD Simulators, Spectrum Analyzers and various other electronic testing devices.

Another trend that complements the alternate energy industry is the design of T&M equipment that is more energy efficient. Some Test and measurement manufacturers are taking a greener approach to their products.An example is the Kikusui PLZ6000R a DC electronic load that regenerates load power to the AC line. Regular electronic loads consume load power by having semiconductor devices convert it into heat. By contrast, the PLZ6000R converts load power into reusable electric power, rather than converting it into heat as is typically done, and feeds this power to the AC line, thereby substantially reducing the amount of waste energy. The PLZ6000R is an environment-friendly electronic load that can contribute significantly to energy saving efforts.

Other examples are the VSP series DC power supplies from B&K Precision, like the VSP2050, these VSP Power Supplies achieve an energy conversion efficiency of 80%.

Protek power supplies include DC sources for Lab, Service, Industrial, or Educational applications and they are designed with an energy saving circuit for cooler, more reliable and efficient operation at all output levels.

Hioki’s Clamp on Power HiTester, a clamp-style power meter, received “Excellent Product Award” from Energy Conservation Center and “Excellent Energy- Saving Product Award” from the Japan Machinery Federation.