Inside Renewable Energy Podcast

Remember back in the good 'ol days of 2008 when manufacturing solar PV below a dollar a watt was a big deal? How quaint that vision seems today.

As more wind projects are developed closer to communities in densely populated areas, a number of homeowners within close range are complaining about noise. This often raises the question: "When does wind become an unacceptable source of noise pollution?"

We are living in a time when the theory of unlimited economic growth is running into the reality of limited energy sources. To solve the problem, it is commonly thought that renewables are simply a drop-in replacement for oil, gas and coal – but many experts are warning about the faultiness of that assumption.

The sluggish economy has hurt renewable energy project developers. In many cases, it's incredibly difficult for companies to sign contacts to sell power. So why is the solar PV market going to grow by 100% globally this year?

This is a unique time in history for energy inventors and entrepreneurs. As the need for clean, scalable sources of energy becomes more important, investors are looking for unique "Black Swan" technologies that could revolutionize the sector. The trouble is, they're not exactly easy to find (or create).

Vertical-axis wind turbines have been around for thousands of years, yet we still haven't seen modern turbine producers make a dent in the wind market. Why is that so?

The renewable energy industry likes to point to the consistent rise in the price of fossil energies as a key driver of growth. That is, until fossil energy prices are low. As today's challenging market illustrates, companies should be focusing more on reducing their own costs in order to compete with relatively low oil and gas prices over the next couple of years.

In just one year, the story line for the renewable energy industry has been flipped on its head. Last summer, as investors tried to figure out the stimulus package, there was a lack of capital and a pent up demand for projects. This summer, there are far fewer projects being developed, but more willingness to lend from financiers.

The world is running out of water. By 2030, the UN projects that 60 percent of the global population will face water shortages, increasing social unrest and creating additional risk for companies.

Demand for wind energy is down. Valuations of wind farms are decreasing. And competition is getting more fierce. It's a tough market out there – so what is a wind company to do? Innovate.