Setting Alternative Energy in Motion

05-Jan-2009

The push for energy independence will affect automation systems

Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor -- Design News

Among the technologies that will play a role in America's growing desire for energy independence, motion control and automation systems don't get much attention. But they should. Motion control and automation systems already play a big role in wind and solar energy applications and stand to play an even larger one.

Both wind and solar have been growing quickly over the past couple of years. According to the American Wind Energy Assn., the annual growth rate of wind energy capacity in the U.S. stood at 29 percent for the five years ending in 2007. The association also projected U.S.-installed capacity will increase from 17,000 MW at the end of 2007 to 25,000 MW by the end of last year.

Solar power is growing at a fast clip, too. The Solar Energy Industries Assn. puts the photovoltaic capacity growth at 45 percent last year, while the capacity utility-scale solar concentrators grew 17 percent just from the opening of a 64-MW plant in Nevada. The growth looks likely to continue now that the U.S. Congress has re-upped the tax credits that help propel these technologies.

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