Natural Renewable Energy is a for profit LLC that works primarily with electricity
wholesalers and rural electric cooperatives to build “Energy Ranches.” Our
mission is to supplement traditional Texas farm and ranch income with royalties
from clean, renewable energy generated by solar, wind, and hydroelectric
systems. Some Natural Renewable Energy farms and ranches also serve as
experimental stations for testing working prototypes of future grid-distributed
renewable energy systems.
NRE Developers and Integrators bids on, designs, invests
in, and builds medium to large-scale hybrid renewable systems for energy
wholesalers, rural electric cooperatives, and commercial enterprises. NRE Distributors sister company of NRE
Developers supplies Uni-Solar building integrated
photovoltaic (PV) products to solar installers and developers across Texas. In
parts of Texas that are in wind energy Zone 2, we also distribute low wind
generators from Synergy. Other related products for solar, wind, hydro and
geothermal will be added to the distribution portfolio as we progress.
NRE ranches are integrated to
provide not only green energy generation but also to enhance wildlife, protect
endangered species, and improve agricultural management. We believe that incorporating clean energy
into the environment in a way that compliments wildlife habitat provides
maximum benefit to people, livestock, and wildlife.
For example, we build elevated
solar racks that become wildlife shelters.
Barns with building integrated solar panels also serve as rainwater
collection systems. Solar wells make
water available to wildlife and livestock, as well as the human inhabitants of
the same land. These large solar arrays
20’ x 50’, each 15’ off the ground and equally spaced are equipped with water
capture and irrigation sprinkler systems for promoting wildlife and livestock
forage.
Low wind, another form of green
energy, can be harnessed by small to medium size wind turbines mounted on 100’
to 150’ freestanding tilt towers. We
equip these towers with cameras for wildlife censuses and remote area system
security.
Hydro-generation can be
developed by harnessing the energy of water flowing through natural ravines and
water reservoirs. These streams are suitable
for small to medium size hydro generation systems, while providing supplemental
water sources for wildfire and livestock. Run off from the solar arrays can be
fed into the reservoirs using gutters and down spouts. As new technologies become available, we will
incorporate improvements into our already highly efficient production systems.
Properties that implement these
green energy techniques produce more energy than they consume. By feeding this surplus into the grid,
additional power is made available to all Texans. Current state regulations
encourage Texas energy producers to meet Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)
quotas. Our “Energy Ranches” produce
RECs that can be sold to provide investment capital for additional renewable
energy installations. Incorporating RE
systems into current farm and ranch operations also provides rural Texans
another potential source of income. The overall objective is to increase the
quality of life for all Texans, one ranch at a time.
Technological advances continue
to produce smaller, modular, power-producing equipment, capable of being
located close to the point of use. These
systems are cleaner and more efficient than large, central power stations. The
advantages of distributed energy production are:
- For energy producers, distributing their power sources
throughout the grid can reduce peak demand charges and overall energy use,
while ensuring increased power quality and reliability, and reduced
emissions.
- For large utilities, the ability to augment overall system
reliability, avoid large investments in transmission system upgrades,
reduce transmission losses, closely match capacity increases to demand
growth, and open markets in remote or environmentally constrained areas
are all important benefits
- Distributed generation is less prone to disruption from
external sources such as natural disasters and terror related incidents
- The number of "step up" transformers required by the
grid is dramatically reduced by careful placing of distributed generation systems
- Line loss is reduced, as point of use is closer to generation.
- Distributed generation enables energy self sufficiency
The use of affordable
distributed energy is a core strategy in reengineering the nation's energy
generation and delivery systems to support increased power demand of the twenty
first century.