FPL Prefers Nuclear Energy Over Solar

Floridians that had expectations to earn a few dollars by selling electricity generated from the sun to Florida Power and Light (FPL) can forget about it, and should probably plan to continue buying it from them. We need to be clear about this, FPL prefers to generate its own electricity than to buy it from homeowners, even if their energy is not totally clean and renewable, and even if their strategy requires billions of USD in new plants as it has been demonstrated by the 2009-2018 Resource Site Plan. Homeowners traditional role is to consume electricity and not to generate it. FPL most likely prefers homeowners that maintain their consumer position, as to avoid confusion in roles. Therefore, in the new 10 year resource site plan released in April 2009, FPL places all its efforts and money into Gas and Nuclear Power Plants. Net metering from home owners is probably not considered as a true source of supply. Please see "FPL 2009-2018 Site Resource Plan Needs Improvements"

Short Term (2009-2012)
However, not all is lost, because the short term projects include: the conversion of some of the Oil Power Plants to Gas and the implementation of three new solar projects.

Medium Term (2013-2015)
Upgrades to the 4 actual nuclear reactors will forthcome in 2013 and 2014. Maybe this strategy is to allow some time for all the dust to settle down with respect to nuclear energy.

Long Term (>2016)
The two new nuclear plants are not due until 2018 and beyond. So there is still hope that FPL management will reconsider and change their mind and strategy in future Resource Plans.

Homeowners need to maintain their hopes up and keep making the point on how FPL could help the residents, the country and the planet, if only they had ears to listen and eyes to see. Please support Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy (FARE)

FPL could essentially take Floridians, humanity, the Obama's administration and Al Gore initiative in a leap forward, towards Green development, if they accepted to lead the research and development for the Home Power Generator (HPG) based on solar energy, with gas backup. Another R&D project that is urgently required to develop the "electricity storage technologies" for the community hubs. Furthermore, big saving in investment could be achieved if it was the homeowners who bought their solar equipment from FPL, even if FPL served as the guarantor for funding this equipment and providing the income streams needed to pay for the investments. The business model with community hubs was somewhat delineated in the article: "FPL. A New Opportunity, a New Beginning"

HPG can be developed using FPL Grants

As it has been specified, the Home Power Generator (HPG) based on solar energy is not fully develop and integrated. See Compact HPG based on Solar Energy

A few companies affirm they have the technology ready and are proceeding to produce the equipment to install. Infinia Corporation and Stirling Engine Systems are two of such companies. However, these companies have: 1. created equipment with greater capacity, 2. seem to be ready to overcharge for their equipment, 3. apparently have insufficient production to service overwhelming demand. The draw back of their technology is that they have integrated the stirling engine and the power generator to the solar dish, inhibiting the potential for using a gas burner as a backup in cloudy days. Nevertheless the technology produced by these companies could be ideal for FPL's Babcock Ranch Solar Project and for centralized projects like those that Utility companies prefer.

In any case, the HPG of around 3 KWh is still needed to power up remote places, and for poor countries all over the world. The key complication for developing this equipment could be the stirling engine capable of moving the 3 KWh power generator. This engine most likely, can easily be designed by a Mechanical engineer that has an Autocad software. With the engine design, then the prototype can be built in a Mechanical workshop. Probably the cost for the design and the prototype could be built very inexpensively, because the technology is simple and innocuous to human health, it requires no oversight of any kind. If FPL does not want to undertake this activity directly, they can always issue Grants, to empower five Universities with Engineering departments and mechanical workshops, to come up with 5 different designs.

In todays economy and Auto Industry financial condition, there are many auto part makers who would be ready to produce the stirling engine in thousands of pieces based on the design, so that FPL can maintain its position as the equipment integrator and wholesaler. Once the HPG is designed and under production, FPL could supply its HPG components to thousand of small companies in the USA and abroad, who are ready to rise to the challenge of selling and installing the equipment. Please note that the 130 poorest countries in the world would be knocking on FPL doorstep, requesting to buy the HPG. An entire gamma of possibilities would open up to make FPL the great company it should be. Larger than today, and more profitable without the need for leaning on consumers, politicians, nor the planet. The level of complications in Power generation would totally drop as compared to nuclear energy. See Poverty and a New World Order

FPL PLANNING DEPARTMENT

FPL's planning department is probably filled with high level and capable professionals who could develop a much better plan and business model to the one we see. Needless to say, it is management who may be curtailing these people, due to fears that deviation from their current operating models could produce an unsatisfactory outcome. Business simulation model that predict outcome are often use in these cases and FPL should develop, study and determine if this model makes sense. Furthermore, with the simulation model they could predict how many HPG are required for each area, when additional capacities are needed to prompt the installation of more HPG and promote funding in those specific regions. Using the Net Metering system, FPL would buy energy surplus from homeowners and deploy to others who need it. Each Community would require an FPL installation or "Community Hub" to store electricity and provide it on demand.

We the people of Florida, believe that FPL's management is highly knowledgeable and capable of running this company, but arrogance is always a bad advisor to wisdom. We pray to God for greater enlightenment of FPLs management and staff, so they can lead energy development and supply in the best sustainable manner.