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Home My WebLink AboutEcoMotion's '08 Spanish Solar Research Tour REGULAR PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING -AUGUST 28, 2008 XVIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS E. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL o City Council Re�uests for Action: 1. Rec�uest for Approval of Out-of-State Travel for Councilman Ferguson to Represent the City of Palm Desert on EcoMotion's 2008 Spanish Solar Research Tour, October 2-10. Rec: By Minute Motion: 1) Approve the subject Out-of-State Travel for Councilman Ferguson to represent the City on EcoMotion's 2008 Spanish Solar Research Tour, October 2-10; 2) authorize the expenditure of funds for the travel from Account No. 110-4110-410-3120. Action: CITY COUNCIL A IOIv: APPROV�D� L� DENIED REC�IVSD OTHER NI�BTING DATE A YE S: -£�'/ �,1F� `��' '� '�'7 NO�S: P�SEh1T: � �1�ST�IN: VERIFIED BY: ,� Original on File wi City Clerk'� Office * Mayor Pro Tem Spiegel moved to, by Minute Motion: 1) Approve the subject Out-of-State Travel for Councilma.n Ferguson to represent the City on EcoMotion's 2008 Spanish Solar Research Tour, October 2-10; 2) authorize the expenditure of funds for the travel from Account No. 110-4110-410-3120. Mayor Pro Tem Spiegel amended his prior motion to also include authorization for the Director of the Office of Energy Management, Pat Conlon, to participate in EcoMotion's 2008 Spanish Solar Research Tour. The motion and amendment were seconded by Councilmember Finerty and carried by 5-0 vote. � � 1 ECoMotion -- The Power of the Increment EcoMotion, 15375 Barranca Parkway F-104, Irvine, California 92618, (949) 450-7155 EcoMotion's 2008 Spanish Solar Research Tour OVERVIEW August 1, 2008 .�.., ,:... ..q� ,,��.. _�-� ,� .. � � `"* �;.-. Beneixama Solar Park,Alicante, Spain EcoMotion 2008--Spain Solar Research Tour 1 Primary Objectives • Explore the policy foundation for the highly successful Spanish Feed-in Tariff • Compare and contrast Spanish Feed-In Tariff and the California Solar Initiative • Travel by rail across Central and Southern Spain, visiting solar cities and installations on the way • Visit exemplary installations in Madrid, Seville, Alicante, Valencia, and Barcelona • Study the benefits of the solar initiative to the Spanish economy and environment • A week-long immersion in Spain's solar revolution Background In 1998, Spain issued Royal Decree 2818/1998 to give the right of solar producers to incorporate all electric power produced into the national grid, and their entitlement to be paid a price on the wholesale market plus a bonus or premium, called the Feed-in tariff. Subject to revision every 4 years concurrent with the evolution of electricity prices on the market, this decree was later revised in 2004 under Royal Decree 436/2004 to include a guarantee on the percentage of tariff payments. The 2004 reference tariff had a value of €0.072/kWh. The tariff is secure for 25 years and then reduced by 20%. The latest revision is RD 661/2007 which increases the Feed-in tariff of€0.26937/kWh granted for 25 years or until the country reaches 500 MW of capacity. With the attractive financial incentive scheme, the Spanish PV market is likely to become the world's second largest PV market in 2008. RD 661/2007 guarantees a high feed-in tariff for solar electricity generated in solar park projects over a period of 25 years as well, resulting in an influx of dense solar fields across the country. There are indications that the market size in Spain will be more than 250 MW of mainly large power plant projects in 2007. This would imply a growth of more than 400% compared to 2006. The Spanish Solar Research Tour hosted by EcoMotion will be an intensive, week-long trip. It will be an in-depth explaration of a solar incentive model that rapidly developed in the past decade and is now sharing the limelight with such solar powerhouses as Germany and Japan. What is driving the model? How does it compare to the California Solar Initiative? Can Spain's success be imported to America? These issues will be front and center in the working seminars and discussions throughout the week. The tour will focus both on solar policy and developing local solutions to accelerate the United States solar market through lessons learned in Spain. Participants EcoMotion's Spanish Solar Research Tour was inspired mainly by the participants of the German Solar Tour 2007. They were part of a great German solar industry immersion EcoMotion 2008--Spain Solar Research Tour 2 and discovered how Spain had crept up to become a contender in the great solar race. How can we learn from it? We're looking for inspiration. The tour is geared for city officials, utility officials, solar installation firms, and non- profit solar advocates familiar with solar energy. Already, the level of solar expertise in the group is very high. Thus little time will be spent on solar fundamentals, allowing for precious learning of policy and local regulatory dimensions that have enabled Spain's rise in solar stature. Tour Leaders Ted Flanigan, President of EcoMotion, will lead the Spanish Solar Research Tour. Flanigan has traveled extensively, leading study tours for Italian and Japanese groups, and in Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark. In the early 1990s, Flanigan was an early consultant for the Urban CO2 Reduction project, an ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives)project involving European and North American cities that grew into the current and successful Cities for Climate Protection program. CCP has enrolled hundreds of cities in dozens of countries in its campaign; its European operations are based in Freiburg. Ted Flanigan began his career in"smart energy management" at the New York Power Authority, and later held management positions at Rocky Mountain Institute and Los Angeles Department of Water& Power. Along the way, he was funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to study highly successful efficiency and alternative energy programs throughout the U.S., and in Europe and Asia. Current EcoMotion works include Solar Santa Monica and Palm Desert SOLAR. Johnny Weiss, Executive Director of Solar Energy International, will co-host the Spain 2008 Solar Research Tour. Johnny is a solar educator, consultant, Industrial Trainer and solar building professional. He has over twenty years experience teaching the practical application of the renewable energy (RE) technologies of solar, wind and water power. As an Associate Professor for ten years at Colorado Mountain College, he helped develop and teach a hands-o vocational training program I solar thermal, photovoltaics, energy efficiency and construction skills. Johnny has extensive practical experience as a natural house builder and general contractor. He is knowledgeable in the environmental building technologies of earth and straw construction. Johnny regularly warks with Native Americans training programs. He works in international sustainable development programs and projects, helping transfer renewable energy technologies to the developing world. Travel Logistics Participants are responsible for arranging their own international travel. (However, EcoMotion can certainly recommend flights and our tour travel agent.) Once the group assembles, all course fees, hotel fees, meals, and ground transportation will be provided EcoMotion 2008--Spain Solar Research Tour 3 by EcoMotion. We will all stay at the same hotels. Participants are urged to use ATM machines in Spain that provide for currency conversions. The Study Tour is limited to a week, and will intensively focus on the topic at hand. Participants can expect long days gaining a complete understanding of the Spanish solar model. Participants are encouraged to block out additional time before or after the tour for sight-seeing and R&R. The group will travel from city to city via rail and the extraordinary Alta Velocidad— AVE-train. Busses, vans and taxis will be hired by EcoMotion for travel to solar installations; professional drivers will be hired. Particivants are required to pack li�htiv as there will be manv nlane, bus,train,van, and taxi transfers en route. Optimal traveling gear should be limited to one rolling bag—that can be managed at all times by the participant -- and one small carry-on-sized luggage piece (such as briefcase or backpack). Professional attire is mandatory for all site and policv visits. The weather will range from 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit so please pack accordingly. Research Tour Costs The preliminary cost of the trip is $3,695 per participant. (We can accommodate a spouse for double occupancy at a cost of$5,565. Spouses are welcome throughout the tour for all policy and site visits) Prices exclude international transportation. Registration forms can be requested from Tiffany Tay at EcoMotion, (949) 450-7154 and/or ttay�,ecomotion.us. Reservations must be confirmed by August 22,2008 at 5 PM by receipt of Deposit. Deposit is half of total cost: $1,847.50 for single participants and an additional $935.00 for spouse. For more information, contact EcoMotion's President Ted Flanigan at (949) 450-7155 tflani an e,ecomotion.us, Virginia Nicols at (949) 450-7153 vnicols(a�ecomotion.us., or visit www.ecomotion.us and click in International Study Tours for more information on our EcoMotion Spanish Solar Tour 2008 and other tours. EcoMotion 2008--Spain Solar Research Tour 4 Last edited by Tiffany on August 1, 2008 The EcoMotion Spain Solar Research Tour 5 October 2008 — 12 October 2008 DRAFT AGENDA Saturday, 4 October 2008 U.S. travelers leave for Madrid, Spain evening flights Sunday, 5 October 2008 U.S. travelers arrive in Madrid, Spain 6:00-9:00 Individual transportation to Hotel EI Prado Hotel EI Prado Calle del Prado, 11 (28014) (Centro) Madrid www.hotelelpradomadrid.com European travelers arrive in Madrid, Spain no later than 15:00 Check in at Hotel EI Prado 8:00-15:00 Oqtional afternoon activities in Madrid: 14:30-17:30 Plaza Mayor(2.6 km from hotel) Palacio Real (3 km from hotel) Almudena Cathedral (3 km from hotel) Opening Reception at Hotel EI Prado 18:00-19:00 Welcome to Spain! 19:00 Ted Flanigan and EcoMotion Team Spanish Photovoltaic Industry Association representative Dinner: La Percha Restaurant TBD C/Toledo 28 28005 Madrid 913 664 000 Monday, 6 October 2008 Breakfast at Hotel EI Prado 8:00-8:30 Opening lecture on the Spain Feed-in Tariff 9:00-10:30 1 Spanish Photovoltaic Industry Association Dr. Arce 14 28002 Madrid (+34) 915 900 300 Solar Site Visit#1: Isofot6n Polysilicon Plant 11:00-12:30 Montalban, 9 28014 Madrid (+34) 91 414 78 00 Lunch: (to be determined) 13:00-14:00 Solar Site Visit#2: EcoBox 15:00-16:00 Fundacion Metropoli Headquarters Alcobendas, Madrid Transportation to Hotel 16:00-16:30 Dinner: (to be determined) Tuesday, 7 October 2008 � Breakfast at Hotel EI Prado 7:00-7:30 Transportation to train station: Alta Velocidad Espanol (High Speed Train) 8:45 Arrive in Andalucia region Seville Station 11:15 Transportation to hotel: 11:30 Hesperia Sevilla Av. Eduardo Dato 49 41018 Sevilla Lunch: (to be determined) 12:30-13:30 Solar Site Visit#3: Seville 11 MW Solar Tower 14:30-16:30 Sanlucar de Mayor Solar Site Visit#4: (to be determined) Dinner: TBD Wednesday, 8 October 2008 Breakfast at Hotel Hesperia Sevilla 7:00 Transportation to train station 8:00 Arrive at Alicante train station 10:50 2 Check into Hotel Lunch: Cantina Villahelmy Calle Mayor 37 Solar Site Visit#5: Benexaima Solar Park 14:00-16:00 Solar Site Visit#6: Solar Sky Spain Tour 17:00-18:30 C\Federico Garcia Lorca, Pinoso 03650 Alicante Dinner: Thursday, 9 October 2008 Breakfast at Hotel 7:30-8:00 Transportation to train station 8:45 Arrive in Valencia 10:00 Check into Hotei: Abba Acteon 10:30-11:00 Calle Vicente Belitran Grimal 2 Lunch at Hotel 11:00-12:00 Gather at lobby for transportation 12:30 Solar Site Visit#7: ATERSA 13:30-15:00 P. Ind. Juan Carios I Av de la Foia, 14 46440 Almussafes +34 902 545 111 Solar Site Visit#8: SENER 16:30-18:00 Avda. Blasco Ibanez, 26 46010 Valencia +34 963 394 290 Group transportation back to dinner 18:30 Dinner: La Lonja del Pescado Frito TBD Calle Eugenia Vines 243 Friday, 10 October 2008 Breakfast at hotel 7:00 3 Transportation to train station 7:30 Arrive in Barcelona 11:30 Transportation to Hotei Avenida Palace 12:00 Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 605 L'Eixample Barcelona 08007, Spain Transportation to Barcelona Energy Agency 13:00-15:00 Nil Fabra, 20 bajos Barcelona 08012, Spain Tel +93 237 4743 Fax+93 237 08 94 Working lunch provided Tour of Barcelona's "Solar Pergola" 16:00-17:00 Transportation to hotel 17:30 Dinner: TBD Bar Celta Carrer de la Merc� 16, Barri Gbtic +93 315 00 06 Saturday,-11 October 2008 - Cultural Immersion Day Breakfast at Hotel Avenida Palace Activities and sites: Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) art gallery Museu Picasso (museum and art gallery) La Rambla, shopping center with street performances Pla�a de Sant Josep Oriol Dinner at EI Paraguayo (South American) 19:00 Carrer del Parc 1 Evening Event: Closing reception and "Putting Spain into Perspective" 20:00-21:00 Sunday, 12 October 2008 Breakfast at Hotel Avenida Palace Participants disband 4