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Currently, the largest player in wind energy in the United States is Florida-based FPL Group. Its subsidiary, FPL Energy, has nearly 60 wind facilities in North America. These turbines have a generating capacity equivalent to 30 percent of the nation’s wind-generated electricity. The company intends to add 8,000 to 10,000 megawatts by 2012.

“[Wind energy] is an important element of our growth strategy,” says FPL Energy spokesman Steve Stengel. “By the end of this year, we will have approximately $8 billion invested in our wind business.”

New approaches to biofuel

It’s estimated that the biofuels market will increase from $25.4 billion to $81.1 billion by 2017. However, opinions differ on what will be the biomass feedstock of choice among future manufacturers.

At the University of Georgia, researchers recently announced an acid-free pretreatment technology that significantly increases the simple sugars released from grasses for conversion to ethanol. It’s a discovery that builds upon claims scientists made at BioMass 2008: The best energy yields come from native grasses, not corn or soy.

The technology behind Melbourne, Fla.-based PetroAlgae sidesteps the food versus biofuel dilemma, as it does not require arable land to convert algae into oil. PetroAlgae claims it can produce 200 times more oil per acre per year than soybeans. This oil can be used in many applications, including transportation, bioplastics and cosmetics.

2008 has proven a banner year for algae-based biofuel companies, attracting $179.5 million in venture capital as of September, according to the Cleantech Group.

In Boca Raton, Fla., Citrus Energy LLC President David Stewart plans to take advantage of the state’s yearly 5 million tons of citrus waste by building a first-of-its-kind, commercial-scale plant, turning orange and grapefruit peels into ethanol. Once in operation, the facility’s equipment will be used for further energy crop research during the citrus off-season.

“Citrus peel does not carry the carbon and energy burdens of having to plant, fertilize, harvest and transport a dedicated feedstock for ethanol production,” Stewart says.

No matter which technologies push to the forefront, it’s evident that fossil fuels are no longer the only players in the energy market. The International Energy Agency estimates $600 billion needs to be invested annually to meet the projected demand for new electricity and fuel sources worldwide. With such a great need, companies that make it their business to produce clean energy are certainly positioning themselves for a greener future.

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