Schneider Electric switches on renewables research network
The site's multinational perspective should be useful for companies investing in renewables in several countries.
Add another bookmark to the list of online resources catering to organizations interested in researching renewable energy projects — this one backed by powerful global energy management and building infrastructure company Schneider Electric.
The New Energy Opportunities (NEO) Network, officially launched Tuesday, is a forum meant to link corporate energy buyers with project developers, investors, law firms and other organizations that have a vested interest in getting more renewables projects off the ground.
The idea is to offer information about everything from the pricing associated with various options and markets to commentary and details about local regulatory policies or financing options that might affect contracts or power purchase agreements.
"Solar or biomass? Grid connected or not? PPA or lease? The endless questions and combinations make it difficult for companies to move their sustainability programs forward with confidence," said Steve Wilhite, senior vice president of energy and sustainability services for Schneider Electric, in a statement. "Add in the falling price of renewables and storage, and a mass of new industry players, and the picture gets even more blurred."
Someone might have the same question pertaining to several different locations, and the answers might be very different."
One thing that makes NEO Network unique is the global perspective that visitors will find. Although North America is the first region for which data will be available, information for up to 50 more countries and markets will be added over time, said John Hoekstra, director of sustainability and cleantech for Schneider Electric.
"Someone might have the same question pertaining to several different locations, and the answers might be very different," he said. "This allows them to go out and discover what opportunities might exist."
Hoekstra is managing director of the initiative, which already includes a staff of moderators that have been adding information for the past several months. Schneider Electric manages about 40 gigawatts of electricity contract in more than 100 countries, so its view on overall trends is extensive and valuable.
Other "founding" participants include sports and event arena company AEG, pharmaceutical giant Allergan, fuel cell technology provider Bloom Energy, data center operator Equinix and apparel company VF Corp. Among other things, these organizations will share best practices from their own experiences.
"As we take steps toward our 100 percent renewable energy target, the NEO Network is a tool to help navigate the complexities in the market more efficiently, and gather and share best practices," said Letitia Webster, vice president of global corporate sustainability for VF, in a statement.
Organizations will pay an annual membership to access information about specific project opportunities, have questions answered or participate in moderated discussions. Hoekstra declined to cite the specific fee, saying only that it will be "thousands of dollars" annually, depending on the size of the participant and the industry that the organization represents.