Whats New

Wrinkled Solar Panels Catch More Rays

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Tiny hills and valleys on the surface of leaves have guided a team of Princeton University scientists in the creation of a new kind of solar cell. By wrinkling up a layer of adhesive, the team designed solar cells that can capture more light, even in the infrared region.

"If you look at leaves very closely, they are not smooth," said Yueh-Lin Loo, Princeton's principle investigator on the project. "We'd like to mimic this geometric effect in synthetic, man-made light-harvesting systems."

The research team worked in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department's laboratory to design a unique surface by curing a layer of liquid photographic adhesive with ultraviolet light. They produced ripples on the surface by introducing stress to the material and controlling how fast it was cured. Solar cells are then constructed with inexpensive plastic placed over the "folded" material. The best results came when a mixture of shallow ripples (wrinkles) and deep ripples (folds) occupied the surface. It makes sense-if you increase the surface area, you increase the number of places where light can be collected.

The new cells produced 47 percent more electricity than their flat-surfaced counterparts along with a significant increase in the notorious infrared region of the spectrum. Conventional solar cells struggle to capture the long waves of light in the red region, but with the wrinkles and folds, absorption in the region was upped by a whopping 600 percent.

Asia to overtake Europe as global solar power grows - EPIA

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"Europe has dominated the global PV (photovoltaic) market for years but the rest of the world clearly has the biggest potential for growth," the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) said in its market outlook until 2016.

The fastest PV capacity growth is expected in China and India, followed by the southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa in the next five years, said the report distributed at a PV conference in northern Italy.

Global installed PV capacity, which turns sunlight into power, is expected to have risen to between 207.9 gigawatts and 342.8 GW in 2016, depending on the level of political support, from 69.7 GW in 2011, the report said.

This year, the world's total PV capacity is expected to rise to between 90 and 110 GW, EPIA's Secretary General Reinhold Buttgereit told the conference.

"The growth will depend on the support of politicians. It's not only about money, it's also about reducing bureaucracy," Buttgereit told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference.

Germany, the world's biggest PV market, is likely to be the main global driver this year, followed by China, the United States and Japan. The pace of growth will slow in Italy, which was the fastest growing solar market in 2011, he said.

China is expected to add between 3 GW and 5 gw this year with new annual capacity rising to 4.5-10 GW in 2016, while to a total capacity of up to 39.1 GW, while the U.S. total capacity is seen rising up to 37.1 GW in 2016, the report said.

Europe accounted for 75 percent the of new PV installations last year when the global added capacity nearly doubled to 29.7 GW on the back of generous production incentives, the EPIA said.

Taking Solar and Wind Out to the Ballgame

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With new solar and wind installations at two of its ballparks, Major League Baseball opens the 2012 season showing America the national pastime is still at the vanguard of social and technological change.

Baseball was the first sport to play under lights, break the color line, pioneer live television broadcasts, end restrictive player-management relations, and lead the way into Latin America and Asia. Now it is swinging for the fences by driving the shift toward distributed renewables.

In the last few years, the Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians installed photovoltaic (PV) solar systems at their ballparks. This year, the Seattle Mariners are joining the movement and the Indians are advancing the cause by adding a cutting-edge small wind turbine complex.

The Minnesota Twins, the Royals and the Mariners are also leading a move to smarter, greener ballpark operations by turning to more efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems and helping fans recycle the wrappings and containers of hotdogs, peanuts and other ballpark treats.

'Electric Highway' opens in Oregon

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Following a trail blazed by Indians and pioneers in covered wagons, electric car drivers hit the road Friday to inaugurate the first major section of a West Coast "Electric Highway" dotted with stations where they can charge up in 20 minutes.

The stretch of 160 miles of Interstate 5 served by eight stations marks the next big step in developing an infrastructure that until now has been limited primarily to chargers in homes and workplaces.

The stations go from the California border north to the Oregon city of Cottage Grove and are located at gas stations, restaurants and motels just off the nation's second-busiest interstate. One is at an inn that was once a stage coach stop.

Spaced about every 25 miles, the stations allow a Nissan Leaf with a range of about 70 miles to miss one and still make it to the next. Electric car drivers will be able to recharge in about 20 minutes on the fast-chargers. The charge is free for now.

Wind Power Goes Big In Ohio For The First Time

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Construction of the Blue Creek Wind Farm, the first large-scale wind farm in Ohio, has been completed, according to the Spanish renewable energy company Iberdrola. This is one of the bigger wind power plants east of the Mississippi River, with 152 2-megawatt (MW) Gamesa G90 turbines combining to give it a generating capacity of 304 MW. FirstEnergy Solutions has already agreed to buy 100 MW of the plant’s power over the next 20 years.

Iberdrola is headquartered in Spain, but runs its Iberdrola Renewables office in the U.S. out of Portland, Ore. Like the rest of the wind industry, it is proceeding cautiously in the United States with the production tax credit—an important factor in making wind profitable—due to expire at the end of this year. The company laid off 50 U.S. employees in January and told North American Windpower that it would suspend new construction on wind farms if Congress doesn’t extend the PTC.

Good call on wind power

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Supreme Court boosted the state's energy future this month when it enabled a proposed wind farm between Columbus and Dayton to proceed. The ruling, albeit on a narrow 4-3 vote, takes another step toward needed diversification of energy sources in Ohio.

Buckeye Wind LLC plans a 70-unit wind farm on 9,000 acres of leased property in Champaign County. The Supreme Court affirmed the Ohio Power Siting Board's due diligence in its review of the project application.

Given its large industrial base, Ohio ranks fourth among states in energy consumption. It relies too much on coal-fired and nuclear power, which are among the greatest recipients of government subsidies and tax credits. Diversification of energy sources would enhance the state's economic security.

Wind power is America's fastest-growing form of energy production. Wind farms usually involve 50 or more utility-scale turbines. Some turbines are nearly 500 feet tall -- 80 feet taller than downtown Toledo's highest building. The Buckeye Wind turbines would be 25 percent taller than the four turbines American Municipal Power installed in the Wood County landfill southwest of Bowling Green in 2003 and 2004.

Ohio's advanced-energy law properly requires at least 12.5 percent of the state's electricity to be generated by wind, solar, biomass, and other renewable sources by 2025. The state's largest solar energy project, the 84-acre PSEG Wyandot Solar Farm near Upper Sandusky, includes 159,200 solar panels made by First Solar.

Wind energy cheaper than coal

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The two most recent contracts approved by the Commission for new wind farm capacity have levelized costs of $61-$64 per MWh. This is significantly lower than the levelized costs of the first wind power contracts.

The Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) recently issued a report that finds that electricity generated from renewable energy sources, at an average cost of $91 per megawatt-hour (9.1 cents/kilowatt-hour), is almost one-third cheaper than the cost of electricity from a new coal-fired power plant ($133 per MWh, or 13.3 cents/kWh).

Further, the report notes, "The actual cost of renewable energy contracts submitted to the Commission to date shows a downward pricing trend. This was the case as of the filing of this report in February of 2011 and continues to be the case, as the two most recent contracts approved by the Commission for new wind farm capacity have levelized costs of $61-$64 per MWh. This is significantly lower than the levelized costs of the first wind turbines contracts submitted in 2009." (emphasis added)

The report is one in a series required annually from the Commission to the state legislature, reporting on the impact of the state's Renewable Energy Standard (RES), which requires utilities to obtain 10 percent of the electricity they provide from renewable energy sources by 2015.

PV Thin-Film Industry Coalition Launched

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Representatives of the thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) industry value chain today announced the establishment of a new industry coalition, PVthin.

An international non-profit organisation under Belgian law, PVthin was created to strengthen global energy security and help create sustainable energy infrastructures by promoting the social, economic and environmental benefits of thin-film solar PV technologies. PVthin represents companies committed to the development of thin-film solar PV products based on chalcogenide (i.e., a term commonly used for sulphides, selenides and tellurides) compounds. The founding members of PVthin are Abound Solar (US), Arendi (Italy), Calyxo (Germany), First Solar (US), GE Energy (US) and 5N Plus (Canada).

According to Andreas Wade, president of PVthin, the organisation "was created to champion the role of thin-film PV and communicate the unique technological, environmental and socio-economic aspects of this cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar technology. PVthin complements the excellent work of umbrella associations such as the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) in Europe, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in the US, and German Solar Industry Association (in German, Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft e.V.—BSW) in Germany and does not seek to create a rival organisation," he said.

As the name suggests, thin-film PV solar modules employ a very thin layer of semiconductor—usually just a couple of microns (millionths of a metre) thick—in place of a traditional wafer. Simpler to manufacture, thin-film PV makes more efficient use of raw materials and energy and results in both lower costs and smaller carbon footprints. Thin-film PV now accounts for around 18% of global PV sales.

MIT Student Awarded $30,000 for Solar Innovation

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Miles C. Barr today received the prestigious $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for his innovative solar technologies and creativity. Barr received his Ph.D. from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2012 and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Practice in 2008. Barr is honored alongside the 2012 $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Collegiate Student Prize winners from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Barr’s most recent inventive breakthrough—a pioneering approach to fabricating solar cells on a variety of everyday surfaces—could lead to widespread adoption of solar power. Barr’s approach, which enables solar cells to be printed directly on common materials like paper and textiles, could reduce the cost of solar energy by eliminating the need for specialized installation.

“There is a huge opportunity to harvest energy from the light that hits every surface around us,” Barr said. “If we can take that energy and convert it into electricity without compromising the aesthetics of everyday surfaces that is extremely powerful.” Developed with the support of the eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Center and professors Karen Gleason and Vladimir Bulovic, Barr’s lightweight and bendable solar technology opens untapped venues for commercial applications, including wall paper, window shades and clothing. The portability of the technology will allow for inexpensive power generation, which Barr not only hopes will increase adoption in the US, but help those in the developing world as well

Clean Energy Becoming a Reality in the Buckeye State

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Supporters of renewable-energy development say First Energy's recent announcement that it's retiring several older power plants in the state is a cue to transition Ohio to cleaner energy sources - and in the process, revive its manufacturing industry as well.

Martin Abraham, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Youngstown State University, says Ohio already has a supply chain in place which can manufacture the parts, including wind turbines and solar panels.

"These are high-precision, large manufactured products that we know how to make here, in this region of the country. We've been doing it for quite some time."

Policies are in place to make clean energy a reality, Abraham says, including the state's renewable-energy standard and tax incentives which encourage investment in renewables. Without more investment in renewable technologies, groups such as the Sierra Club are saying Ohio will miss out on opportunities to lead in the global market.

Green energy puts green in homeowner wallets

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Two and half years ago, Steve Stewart erected a 100-foot windmill at his Barstow, California home. Stewart is no eco-crusader, but he does know a good deal when he hears it.

Although the windmill cost $53,000, Stewart paid only $32,000 thanks to state tax incentives. His electric bill has zeroed out from $2,000 annually before, and most months he can even sell back surplus power to his local utility, Southern California Edison, netting as much as $500 per year.

"For me, it was merely a financial calculation," says Stewart, who estimates it will take about seven years to fully pay off his investment. "I wasn't out to save the planet, just to save myself some money."

Homeowners across the country are doing similar math. Soaring energy costs, generous government and utility incentives plus the falling price of technology are leading more Americans to replace their conventional power or heating sources with renewable ones.

US Launches Research Program to Advance Solar

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced $3 million available this year to support research to significantly lower the cost of solar energy. The funding will enable collaborative research teams from industry, universities and national laboratories to work together in the Energy Department's research centers including the Scientific User Facilities to develop solutions to drive down the cost of solar energy.

By accelerating scientific breakthroughs, these research teams support the Department's SunShot Initiative goal to make solar energy cost competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade—creating jobs, enhancing US energy security, and boosting American competitiveness in the global clean energy economy.

The past decade has seen explosive growth in global solar installations. For American companies to remain competitive in this growing market, they must continue to innovate, lowering the cost of existing products while transitioning breakthrough technologies into production. The Bridging Research Interactions through Collaborative Development Grants in Energy (BRIDGE) funding announced today will enable applied researchers to leverage the tools and expertise of scientists at DOE research facilities so that fundamental scientific discoveries can be rapidly transitioned to existing product lines and projects.

Solar, wind get strong support in Midwestern poll

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Most people in four Midwestern states would pay slightly higher utility bills to boost clean energy and energy efficiency, a poll has found.

The survey of 1,600 voters Jan. 9-15 found that 51 percent of people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio were willing to pay up to $6 more per month on electric bills for energy conservation efforts and clean power sources like wind and solar. Another 37 percent of those surveyed would pay $2 to $4 more, while 8 percent were not willing to pay anything more.

The poll was conducted jointly by Democratic pollster Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Metz and Republican pollster Public Opinion Strategies for the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, a St. Paul nonprofit that supports renewable energy. The poll has a 2.9 percent margin of error.

The poll asked people what energy sources they believed should be increased. The top three were solar (87 percent), wind (86 percent) and natural gas (85 percent), but majorities favored increasing most kinds of energy, including coal and nuclear.

Biomass fared poorly until pollsters explained what it is. Then support shot to 80 percent. Biomass energy comes from grasses, wood chips and other plant matter.

Despite support for natural gas, three of five of respondents opposed hydraulic fracking, the blasting of water, chemicals and sand underground to release gas in shale. The technique, used in Ohio and other states, has boosted output and driven down gas prices.

Environment Ohio criticizes FirstEnergy in its annual clean energy report card

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The greening of Ohio is well under way, and consumers can expect to see more wind turbines and solar arrays as well as utility-sponsored energy efficiency projects, says one of the state's environmental advocacy groups.

In its annual Clean Energy Report, published Thursday, Environment Ohio also graded each of Ohio's four investor-owned utilities. It gave an A to American Electric Power of Columbus and a D minus to FirstEnergy Corp., headquarted in Akron, for its apparent slow start to comply with the state mandates that went into effect three years ago.

FirstEnergy's initial response was disappointment that Environment Ohio used year-old data for its critique.

"By using 2010 data rather than waiting for the 2011 numbers, the Ohio Clean Energy report distorts the fact that FirstEnergy is meeting or has met all of the renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates established by the state of Ohio," FirstEnergy spokesman Mark Durbin said.

Julian Boggs, state policy advocate for Environment Ohio, said the report overall shows that "renewable energy projects are happening and that we are making huge strides on energy efficiency."

By the end of 2011, the state had more than 100 million watts (100 megawatts) of wind turbine generating capacity built and 17 megawatts of solar operating, according to the report. A total of 1,051 megawatts of wind have been approved but not built, with applications pending for nearly 800 more megawatts.

When landfill gas, waste digesters and individual homes with solar or wind are counted, Ohio has licensed more than 3,400 megawatts of renewable energy technologies, according to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Renewable power and energy efficiency on the rise in Ohio, report says.

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Columbus, OH—Ohio is on its way to a clean energy future, according to a new report by Environment Ohio, Ohio’s Clean Energy Report Card, Year 2: Wind, Solar, and Energy Efficiency on the Rise. Two years into the implementation of the state’s Clean Energy Law, which sets standards for both renewable energy and energy efficiency, Ohio saved enough electricity each year to power 82,000 homes, among other significant benefits

Coal-fired power plants still make up the vast majority of Ohio’s electricity supply, and that dependence contributes to making Ohio one of the nation’s largest emitters of soot, smog, and global warming pollution. However as Ohio’s largest utilities are taking steps to retire some of their oldest and most inefficient plants, clean energy technologies are becoming an increasingly important part of Ohio’s energy economy.

“As utilities modernize their electricity portfolios, Ohio’s Clean Energy Law is putting the state on track to replace its dirtiest fuel with the cleanest,” said Julian Boggs, Environment Ohio Policy Advocate. “Ohio is at a turning point, and we can see a clear, bright future ahead of us. Now is the time to double-down on clean energy and not look back.”

Environment Ohio’s report found that the Clean Energy Law had been instrumental in the development of major clean energy projects across the state. In 2011, a 99 megawatt wind farm, the state’s largest, opened in Paulding County. The wind farm was built after American Electric Power signed a long-term contract to purchase electricity from its developer in order to meet their Clean Energy Law targets for renewable energy generation.

Other major projects highlighted in the report include the Turning Point Solar which will break ground this summer in Noble County and is expected to be one of the largest solar projects east of the Mississippi, and a solar array on a Campbell’s Soup factory in Napoleon, which will be large enough to provide 15 percent of that factory’s power. In the short term, however, the biggest boost to Ohio’s clean energy sector has been from energy efficiency programs.

“In the short term, the cheapest, cleanest form of energy is efficiency. Ohio’s Clean Energy Law has been remarkably successful in getting utilities to help their consumers save money and help cut pollution at the same time,” said Boggs. Utility programs saved Ohio consumers $351 million in 2009 and 2010, the first two years of the law, according to the American Council on an Energy Efficient Economy.

Clean energy alternatives are good news for Ohio’s health, too. “Pollution from power plants is a threat to public health, there’s no question about that,” said Dr. Aparna Bole, a pediatrician and sustainability manager at University Hospitals. “By encouraging more investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, Ohio’s policymakers can help make Ohio communities a better place to live.”

Ohio’s growing clean energy economy is seeing jobs benefits as well. "Ohio's Clean Energy Law ensures demand for solar energy that gives us confidence that we can grow our business," said Nael Zayed, a sales engineer with Yellowlite, Inc, a local installer of solar panels. "Because of the law, we’ve been able to grow and hire knowing that there will always be a buyer for solar power."

The report also evaluated individual utilities in their success in developing clean energy in 2010, the most recent year for which a complete data set was available. Dayton Power & Light and American Electric Power earned top marks for their efforts, while Duke Energy and First Energy missed the mark. Duke Energy earned a C-, coming short on securing renewable power, and FirstEnergy’s D- grade largely stemmed from its failure to implement energy efficiency programs.

Despite these shortfalls, the report showed a very positive picture of clean energy development in Ohio. “Every single one of Ohio’s utilities has been engaged in the development of clean energy. Even Duke and FirstEnergy have showed encouraging signs in 2011 and I’m optimistic that their scores will improve in our next report,” said Boggs.

In order to further tap clean energy potential in the state, the report made several recommendations to policymakers including stronger oversight from state regulators on renewable energy and energy efficiency utility programs, and a suite of supporting policies such as stronger building codes and better financing tools. Ultimately, said Boggs, legislators should consider strengthening the standards. “Leading states have solar standards that are 6 times as strong as Ohio’s. As the evidence continues to pour in that clean energy can provide local and sustainable energy alternatives to fossil fuels, we need to continue to be raising the bar.”

Environment Ohio is a state-wide, citizen-based, environmental advocacy organization. To view the full report or find out more, please visit www.environmentohio.org.

U.S. Solar Projects Rose 67 Percent in Fourth Quarter, SEIA Says

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Installation of solar panels in the U.S. surged as much as 67 percent in the fourth quarter as developers raced to qualify for an expiring federal incentive program and panel prices fell 16 percent, a trade group said.

Developers installed 700 megawatts to 750 megawatts of rooftop and ground-mounted systems in the quarter, compared with 450 megawatts in the third quarter, according to preliminary estimates from the Washington-based Solar Energy Industries Association.

Installations this year may grow by 3,000 megawatts to 4,000 megawatts, up from about 1,800 megawatts in 2011, if a U.S. Treasury Department incentive known as the 1603 program is renewed, said Rhone Resch, the trade group’s chief executive officer.

Last year “was an incredible year and 2012 could be even better if Congress extends the grant program,” Resch said in an interview today.

President Barack Obama included 1603 in the proposed federal budget released yesterday and SEIA is lobbying to have it attached to the payroll tax extension Congress is debating now.

Harnessing nature's solar cells

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

MIT researcher Andreas Mershin has a vision that within a few years, people in remote villages in the developing world may be able to make their own solar panels, at low cost, using otherwise worthless agricultural waste as their raw material.

Click the link to watch the video about the process.

Residential solar may reach grid parity in California in 2015

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

California is the nation’s largest solar market in the nation, thanks to its incentives and rebates, which include a 33 percent renewable energy standard and the Million Solar Roofs programs.

And with a number of the largest solar projects in the world planned to start supplying utilities with power beginning to come online (at least partially) this year, it’s no wonder that the market has reduced prices to near grid parity levels. But now some are saying the cost of residential solar could reach grid parity by as early as mid-2014.

Environment California’s Research & Policy Center estimated that when the price of installed solar falls to $5.25 per watt, without rebates, that it will have reached grid parity in the market.

“If progress continues at the same rate it has over the past four years, residential prices will reach this cost-competitive position without rebates in mid-2014. Outside investment analysts place this milestone at around 2016,” the center said in its recent report, Building a Brighter Future.

When Bio and Solar converge: 6 hot projects at the bio-solar-electric frontier

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes down to it, a living organism such as a plant is an incredibly sophisticated next-gen solar panel, harvesting light as well as CO2, water and nutrients for the production of energy, proteins and more.

It’s a concept which the near-to-commercial Joule Unlimited has been exploring – where they use a modified microorganism that uses sunlight, water, CO2 and nutrients to directly produce renewable fuels and chemicals while bypassing the biomass stage – like an insect going straight from pupa to butterfly without the intermediate step of life as a caterpillar. In Joule’s case, the productivity gains are potentially enormous. Where an acre of, say, sugarcane can yield perhaps as much as 800 gallons of fuel, Joule Unlimited’s system, which looks like a field of solar panels, can generate up to 25,000 gallons of ethanol per acre, the company says.

New research is exploring the boundaries between bio and solar in a way that suggests that the two fields may ultimately converge.

Message from SEIA: Take action to extend the 1603 Treasury Program

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Please take a moment to contact your Senators and urge them to include an extension of the successful 1603 Treasury Program in the payroll tax package that Congress is currently negotiating. Be sure to remind them that a failure to extend the 1603 Treasury Program will hurt businesses and stifle job creation.

The 1603 program is hands-down one of the most successful policies ever enacted to deploy clean energy. In only two years, it has generated over $22 billion in private sector investment to jump-start more than 22,000 renewable energy projects across the country. This has created tens of thousands of new American jobs.

Please take a few moments to contact your Senators TODAY. We need to stand together to let Congress know that extending the 1603 Program is critical to keep America working.

Alternative energy educational program could become Michigan standard

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Romeo Engineering and Technology Center (RETC)'s alternative energy program in Michigan, like the industry itself, is making leaps and bounds.

More than $2,000 in recently-acquired grants have fueled the alternative energy class at the RETC, which could potentially become the state's standard curriculum.

The program is funded entirely through grants and sponsorships obtained by instructors Evva Dossin and Craig Bryant, who teach drafting and construction, respectively.

"We've got a bunch of grants," said Dossin. "It really helps out."

The first major project was installing a 20 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array on the roof of the RETC.

Students, however, needed a more hands-on look at such technology, so the next initiative is to purchase a smaller array of solar panels.

A $850 grant from the Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union will pay for such panels as well as an inverter that converts DC power into AC power.

Dossin said the idea is to place the panels on the small "shed roof" the Construction Trades class built. Not only can they safely learn how to install panels, but can use it to study how much power it draws.

Ohio Utilities Seeking Contracts For Solar Renewable Energy Credits

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

FirstEnergy Corp. has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to secure 10-year contracts for solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) to enable its utilities - Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating and Toledo Edison - to meet the renewable energy benchmarks established under Ohio's energy law.

The RFP seeks delivery of 1,000 SRECs produced by qualified generating facilities in Ohio for each calendar year beginning this year and continuing through 2021.

No energy or capacity will be purchased under the RFP. The number of individual
bidders is not limited. Participants must meet and maintain specific credit and security qualifications, and must be able to prove their SREC generating facilities are certified or in the process of becoming certified by the State of Ohio.

To participate in the RFP, bidders are encouraged to submit credit information by Feb. 27, with full proposal information due on March 6.

SELF Launches “Energy is a Human Right” Campaign

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), a Washington, DC-based nonprofit working to eliminate energy poverty through the use of solar power, today announced that it is launching “Energy is a Human Right,” a campaign to provide a voice to the nearly 1.5 billion people around the world living without access to electricity and other forms of modern energy.

Via the campaign’s website, the international development community and general public can learn how to help provide energy access to those living in energy poverty to assist in their economic, education, health and agricultural development.

“Access to energy is foundational to achieving a broad range of basic human rights and all of the Millennium Development Goals,” said Bob Freling, SELF executive director. “Without it, life is very, very difficult as I’m sure 1.5 billion people can attest to.”

Through its Whole Village development model, SELF works with communities to create and implement solar energy solutions to improve people’s health and education, ensure food and water security, and spur economic development.

IKEA Powers-up Solar Energy System at Cincinnati-Area Store

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

IKEA, the world's leading home furnishings retailer, today officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its Cincinnati-area store in West Chester, Ohio. The 128,000-square-foot PV array consists of a 1,026-kW system, built with 4,186 panels. IKEA West Chester's program will produce approximately 1,334,300 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,014 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 180 cars or powering 115 homes yearly (calculating clean energy equivalents at www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html ).

This investment by IKEA reinforces the company's long-term commitment to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology. IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings -- as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) -- and this West Chester installation represents the 14th completed solar energy project for IKEA in the United States, with 23 more locations underway, making the eventual U.S. solar presence of IKEA nearly 85% and a total generation of 30.8 MW.

Obama looks to Mich. to revive clean energy debate

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A Michigan factory that made luxury yachts before the recession and diversified to add wind energy products when times got tough was touted by President Barack Obama at his State of the Union Address as an example of an industry creating forward-thinking jobs — with a little help from the government.

In urging Congress to approve clean energy tax credits, Obama cited Energetx Composites LLC, a wind turbine blade manufacturer in Holland, Mich., that received millions in government assistance. Invited to sit in the first lady's box during the speech Tuesday night was Bryan Ritterby, 58, who went to work for Energetx after being laid off from his furniture-making jobs three years ago.

"Some technologies don't pan out; some companies fail," Obama said. "But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like Bryan."

Without mentioning it by name, Obama appeared to be defending his administration's support of Solyndra LLC, the California solar panel maker that received a $528 million government loan but filed for bankruptcy court protection last year. Energetx is in a somewhat different situation than Solyndra but still must fend off skepticism from critics who contend government-assisted clean energy products often don't produce enough high-wage jobs to make it worth the money.

US DoE Solar Decathlon Teams Selected

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

US Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the 20 collegiate teams selected to compete in the Solar Decathlon 2013 and unveiled the competition's location, the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. The 20 teams from colleges and universities across the United States and from around the world will now begin a two-year process to build solar-powered, highly energy-efficient homes that combine affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence.

Throughout the two-year process, the teams will design, construct, and test their homes before reassembling them at the Solar Decathlon 2013 competition site. As part of the Solar Decathlon, teams compete in 10 different categories—ranging from best architecture and engineering to energy production for heating and cooling—while gaining invaluable real-world experience in a growing global industry.

In fall 2013, the student teams will showcase their solar-powered houses at the Orange County Great Park, highlighting renewable energy systems and energy-efficient technologies, products and appliances that are already available to homeowners. The selected teams and their proposed projects represent a diverse range of design approaches, building technologies, target markets, geographic locations, climates, and regions, including urban, suburban, and rural settings.

World's Largest Solar Boat En Route to Complete Historic Lap Around the Globe

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

PlanetSolar's Turanor, the world's largest solar-powered boat, is about to complete its record-breaking 18-month journey across the globe. The Swiss vessel, which, from the docks, looks like a futuristic speed boat outfitted for a NASCAR race—the hull doubles as a billboard for the trip's sponsor, the watchmaker Candino. From above, it's a sprawling solar-paneled space shuttle. When the Turanor pulls into Monaco in three months, it will be the first engine-propelled boat to make an around-the-world voyage fueled by sunlight alone.

Traveling an average of 4-5 knots, the ship has traversed the equator—where the sun is strongest and shines most consistently—and stopped by a number of ports so the crew could spread the word of their undertaking. They took off from Monaco and pushed westward, anchoring in Miami, Panama, the Galapagos, Hong Kong, and plenty of other ports along the way.

SEIA and the Solar Alliance Merge

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the US solar energy industry, has merged with the Solar Alliance, an advocacy organization committed to establishing solar policies at the state level. Effective immediately, the Solar Alliance will operate under the SEIA brand in an effort to present a unified solar industry voice in all advocacy efforts at the state level. Carrie Cullen Hitt, president of the Solar Alliance, is now Vice President for State Affairs at SEIA, and the Solar Alliance team joins Hitt as part of SEIA's new department for State Affairs.

"The solar energy industry is expanding and it is critical for SEIA to mirror this growth and put our resources and expertise into developing state policy that expand markets for solar energy," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. "Adding Carrie Cullen Hitt and her top-notch staff to the SEIA team is a critical step as we continue to scale the U.S. market and move toward our goal of installing 10 gigawatts of solar annually by 2015."

"We have tremendous opportunities for opening markets for solar across all regions," said Hitt. "With the Solar Alliance now a part of SEIA, we have the unified voice that is necessary on the policy front - both in Washington and in the states - to really take the U.S. solar industry to the next level."

Additionally, SEIA has established more formalized, collaborative relationships with nearly a dozen state and regional SEIA chapters to coordinate efforts. While the state and regional SEIA chapters remain wholly independent entities, this partnership brings additional resources and coordination on efforts that align with SEIA's policy goals in the states.

Urban Green Energy Unveils New Online Energy Monitoring Application

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Urban Green Energy, a global manufacturer of distributed wind turbines and hybrid renewable energy solutions, unveiled ViewUGE, the online energy monitoring application, at CES (News - Alert) this past week. The design of the product was prepared in collaboration with Mesh Systems, a leader in M2M communications.

An ideal product to monitor energy production, ViewUGE has a clean and personalized interface.The application was available at UGE’s booth at CES, and is available now for order through UGE and its network of partners. ViewUGE will be ready to ship March 1st.

“Our goal at UGE is to empower people. It is to allow people and companies to choose where they get their electricity, and in doing so allowing them to live a sustainable life. Renewable energy is inherently variable, making monitoring and connectivity a critical component to broader adoption. ViewUGE enables greater integration by giving the user more control. We couldn’t be happier with the result,” said UGE CEO Nick Blitterswyk, in a statement.

Portland Community Solar Powers Up Big Time

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Historically, the benefits of solar power have been confined to a narrow group — namely, homeowners with good solar orientation who could afford to purchase a solar photovoltaic system outright. Increasingly, however, a new model is emerging, wherein those with roof space (such as privately owned businesses, or schools) partner with local utility companies, solar installers and grassroots investors to get solar up and running in a way that benefits the neighborhood as a whole.

It’s a collaborative concept called community solar, which has already gained some traction in Oakland, California, as well as in Seattle. In the case of the former city, solar panels were installed on the property of a non-profit organization, financed by individual households contributing just $100 a piece to offset a portion of their energy bills. In Seattle, a solar array has been installed in a local park, where solar panels double as the roofs for three picnic shelters at the park, offering residents in the surrounding area the opportunity to buy into its benefits in much the same way (though with a heftier price tag). Now, it’s Portland’s turn.

Already a national leader in green power purchasing, the City of Portland recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) calling for collaborations between private sector entities that have “federal tax liability and an interest in owning solar electric systems” (i.e., businesses that pay taxes and utilities), “public sector entities that own roof space and have policies that support renewable energy development” (i.e., governmental entities, schools), and “non-profit organizations and/or community-based organizations involved or interested in solar energy.”

It’s a mouthful, sure, but the goal of the RFP, issued by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability(BPS), is simple: “to finance and install community-supported solar electric systems on publicly owned rooftops.”

Energy Secretary Steven Chu speaks at City Club of Cleveland

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

These are the remarks prepared by Energy Secretary Steven Chu for his City Club address:

Thank you, President Hugh McKay, for the introduction. It’s great to be at the City Club of Cleveland as you celebrate 100 years of debate and discussion on the important issues facing the nation.

It’s fitting to give an energy speech in Cleveland, home of the country’s first wind turbine to generate electricity and a city at the forefront of the clean energy economy. Today, I want to discuss the choice we face as a nation when it comes to competing in the global clean energy race.

First, I want to go back in history to the birth of America’s aviation industry. There are many nuances to this story that have important lessons for us and the U.S. today.

My story begins with Samuel Langley, a distinguished scientist and Secretariat of the Smithsonian Institution. He was a pioneer in unmanned powered aircraft. It appeared that he was on the threshold of achieving manned flight and received a $50,000 grant from the War Department and $20,000 from the Smithsonian to make the first airplane. After the second crash on take-off from a barge on the Potomac River in December, 1903, Langley abandoned the project.

On December 17th, 1903, only nine days later, the Wright Brothers succeeded at Kitty Hawk. The two young brothers working from a bicycle shop came out of “left field” and triumphed over all competitors in the race to powered flight. It is a story of the great American entrepreneurial spirit.

Click the link to read more.

UK communities taking renewable energy into their own hands

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Late last year we - Co-operatives UK and The Co-operative Group - published a new report which reveals the growing number of people who are choosing to start renewable energy co-operatives in their communities, against all the odds.

What is exciting about the report is that it is the first and most comprehensive guide to what amounts to a new movement of communities who are taking action for greener energy into their own hands.

In a time of doom – when all talk is of cuts, unemployment and rising prices – this report highlights a different story. Despite, or maybe even because, of the wider economic woes, people across the UK are creating a co-operative movement for green energy.

There are now 43 communities who are in the process of or already producing renewable energy through co-operative structures. They are set up and run by everyday people – local residents mostly – who are investing their time and money and together installing solar panels, large wind turbines or hydro-electric power for their local communities.

The report highlights a series of examples. Like Ouse Valley Energy Service Company, which is owned by 250 people who have installed solar panels on a local brewery. Or River Bain Hydro, which installed a hydro electric power generator in its local river with investment of £200,000 from around 200 people.

The report also shows that together across the UK local residents have invested over £16 million in these co-operatives. These range from over £4 million which has been invested by over 2,700 people in Westmill Wind Farm in Oxfordshire, right through to around £38,000 which has been invested by around 34 local residents to install solar panels on a local primary school in Nayland, Suffolk.

U.S. Beats Expectations Saving Energy

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Americans tend to beat themselves up over their imperfections. We eat too much, watch too much TV and owe China too much money. Despite all of our sloth, we can feel good about one area: our progress saving energy.

A report issued this week by the Institute for Electric Efficiency found that we saved enough electricity to power almost 10 million homes in 2010 (about 112 MWh). That’s 21 percent better than we did the previous year. And it looks like when 2011 data comes out, we’ll have done even better.

You’re saying, “Who me? Not possible. I forget to shut off the lights, my computer stays on all the time and my kids won’t get off the Xbox.”

Therein lies the beauty of energy efficiency today; it requires no huge effort on our part. New appliances, light bulbs, thermostats, heating and cooling systems and electric gadgets are increasingly designed with energy efficiency in mind. Those with an energy conscience don’t have to fumble in the dark and cold.

The report studied programs offered by utilities, which spent $4.8 billion in 2010 on energy efficiency, about 28 percent more than the previous year, and $6.8 billion in 2011, a 25 percent increase. Utilities are expanding their energy efficiency efforts so quickly that IEE expects them to surpass optimistic forecasts that they will dedicate $12 billion annually to efficiency by 2020.

Welcome to the Year of the Lightbulb

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Happy New Year! And welcome to the year of light…bulbs. Why you ask? Well, it's not just because LEDs lit up the iconic New Year's ball drop here in New York City again. No, it's because this is the year that lighting will finally become more efficient.

The old, incandescent lightbulb turns 90 percent of the electricity it uses into heat rather than light. And in 2012, it will be phased out in the U.S.—or at least radically upgraded. Lightbulbs will be required to meet new energy efficiency standards. So the old 100-watt lightbulb will have to produce the same light using just 72 watts.

Lighting is the original killer app of modern energy—and one that the world continues to embrace. By adopting lighting technologies that use less energy the nations of the world will cut down on the fossil fuels, often coal, burned to produce that light.

So whether it's new, long-lasting but expensive light-emitting diodes, the swirls of a compact fluorescent or just more efficient incandescents, 2012 will be the year that lighting's environmental impact gets lighter.

German Solar Output Increases by 60% in 2011

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Just weeks after the solar industry installed the one millionth system in Germany, the country's solar trade association announced that the technology accounted for three percent of total energy generation in 2011 — increasing 60 percent over 2010 to 18.6 terawatt-hours (18.6 billion kilowatt-hours).

Even with changes to the feed-in tariff that have reduced solar photovoltaic installations compared with previous boom years, the sector was still the fastest growing among all other renewable energy sectors in 2011, according to preliminary figures.

This follows data released last week showing that renewable energy accounted for 19.9 percent of electricity production in the country in 2011, growing 16.4 percent over 2010. Meanwhile, overall energy use in the country fell 4.8 percent due to warmer temperatures and increasing efficiency efforts, further boosting the value of solar generation.

8 tips for navigating new energy-efficient lighting rules

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What exactly is taking place on Jan. 1, 2012, when a first wave of lighting-efficiency policies under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 goes into effect? Anticipating confusion over the changes, especially amid continued political wrangling on how to enforce them, the non-profit Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union have published a guide to selecting the energy-efficient bulbs that make sense for your personal situation.

The guide, “How Many Tips Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb,” offers eight tips and myth-busting information.

“Contrary to reports, incandescent lights are NOT being banned, they are simply becoming more efficient,” said Mel Hall-Crawford, energy projects director for the Consumer Federation of AMerica. “Consumers will have expanded choices, but will need to understand them so when they go to the store so they can buy the product that meets their needs best.”

Here is the short-hand on the tips. (The guide is only two pages, so I encourage you to download the whole thing.)

1. There are three main choices when it comes to energy-efficient bulbs: halogen incandescents that use much less energy than traditional ones; compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that use 75 percent less energy and offer the best consumer value; and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which save the same as CFLs and last up to 25 years but cost more to buy upfront.

2. Lumens, not watts will help you figure out which bulb is brightest. You’ll have to learn how to translate.

3. Lighting “color” will be different, moving from yellow tints to those that are bluer and whiter.

4. Manufacturers are required to include “Lighting Facts” information on their products, so check the packaging on the bulbs you are considering.

5. Because CFLs contain mercury (a very small amount), they will need to be recycled.

6. Not every bulb can be dimmed.

7. Downlight and recessed lights will require different bulb shapes.

8. Look for the Energy Star label for the most energy-efficient choices on the market.

Solar Paint Research Is Sun Believable At College

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With a conversion efficiency of about 1 percent, researchers at the University of Notre Dame have a long way to go with the “solar paint” they’ve developed. So don’t go running down to your local Sherwin-Williams to pick up a gallon just yet. Still, the idea of being able to easily – and, the researchers say, inexpensively – apply a photovoltaic layer to a surface is a new and exciting twist in the continuing quest to advance solar power technology.

“Sun-Believable” is what the Notre Dame chemists call their invention. What they’ve made is a paste consisting of quantum dots – nano-particles of semiconductors – of titanium dioxide coated in either cadmium sulfide or cadmium selenide and suspended in a water-alcohol mixture. Brushed onto a transparent conducting material and exposed to light, this stuff produced electricity.

A solar hot water collector that makes electricity, too

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The company today announced it raised $14 million in series C funding to commercialize a product that will draw electricity from solar hot water collectors. It will also make small chips able to convert heat from car exhaust pipes and industrial machines into electricity.

GMZ Energy, which was spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston College in 2008, has created an improved material for converting the energy in heat into electric power. The process works in reverse so an electric current will produce heat.

Thermoelectric materials have been used for years in a few applications, such as heated seats in cars and portable coolers. Now a number of companies are trying to make them less expensive and more efficient at the heat-to-electric power conversion.

GMZ Energy claims that its nano-engineered materials make their use viable for many other uses, such as turning waste heat into usable energy. It chose to develop a product in solar because it offers the quickest route to commercializing the technology, said CEO Aaron Bent.

Solar thermal collectors are widely used, particularly in Germany and China, and typically offer a quicker payback than solar electric, or photovoltaic, systems, he noted.

Tiny Solar Cell Could Make a Big Difference

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

How small can a solar cell be and still be a powerhouse? How about six hundred microns wide — about the diameter of a dot made by a ballpoint pen? The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently validated greater than 41 percent efficiency at a concentration of 1,000 suns for tiny cells made by Semprius — one of the highest efficiencies recorded at this concentration. The energy conversion efficiency of a solar cell is the percentage of sunlight converted by the cell into electricity.

Seed money from DOE, together with the experts at the NREL-based SunShot Incubator Program, lifted Semprius from a small electronics start-up with a novel idea to a real difference-maker in the solar cell world.

Semprius' triple-junction cells are made of gallium arsenide. Low-cost lenses concentrate the sun light onto the tiny cells 1,100 times. Their tiny size means they occupy only one-one thousandth of the entire solar module area, reducing the module cost. In addition, the use of a large number of small cells helps to distribute unwanted heat over the cell's structure, so there's no need for expensive thermal management hardware such as heat fins.

US solar installations grow 140%

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The report, U.S. Solar Market Insight: 3rd Quarter 2011 report, from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) shows that the US saw the installation of over 1 GW of solar capacity, surpassing the 2010 annual total of 887 MW.

This includes 449 MW installed in the third quarter alone – a record for quarterly installations and more new solar electric capacity than was added in all of 2009.

1603 must be extended

Much of the growth in solar installations is due to the Department of Treasury’s 1603 programme, which is set to expire on 31 December unless Congress extends it. In the absence of an extension of the programme, the report predicts that there will be a tax equity bottleneck for projects in 2012, leading to a possible slowdown in installations in late 2012 and into 2013.

“The US solar industry is on a roll, with unprecedented growth in 2011,” says Rhone Resch, President and CEO of SEIA.

“Solar is now an economic force in dozens of states, creating jobs across America. But our industry needs stable policy on which to make business decisions, and unfortunately an underlying mechanism for financing solar projects is scheduled to expire on December 31. To keep the industry growing and creating jobs in the US we need Congress to extend the 1603 programme.

Ohio solar installer powers up with gas station retrofit

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

YellowLite Solar in Cleveland, Ohio, is working on solar installations at gas stations.

It’s not as funny as it sounds. British Petroleum started a solar division in the early 2000s, said Ali Buttar with YellowLite. When the oil and gas giant launched its thin-film solar business, it set out to clad a number of its canopies at American gas stations with thin-film solar panels.

The project was a great success when it first got off the ground in 2002 and 2003, Buttar said.

“A few years down the road, they all started having problems,” Buttar said.

The early equipment didn’t hold up, and the transformer finally stopped working, he said.

Lehigh Gas owns and operates eight to 10 BP gas stations outfitted with the solar panels, Buttar said.

YellowLite worked on one of the stations located in Parma, Ohio.

“It was basically a retrofit,” he said.

They checked the 400 thin-film panels on the canopies at the Parma station and installed new transformers. The panels are again producing clean solar power for the gas station and helping Lehigh to offset utility costs.

Buttar said the Ohio solar installer is working on finishing up project certifications. When everything is finished with this first gas station, YellowLite hopes to secure new contracts with Lehigh to retrofit its other solar-clad BP stations.

The commercial installation is one in a growing list of new projects YellowLite is taking. The company just got started in 2009.

“There really weren’t any high-quality solar integrators up here in Northeast Ohio,” Buttar said. “There were no craftsmen, and that’s really what we wanted to be.”

The company has been growing, owner Cody Cooper said.

Buttar said there were some tough times after the competitive $3 per watt solar rebate ran out in November 2010. The market has stabilized now, and things are looking up for YellowLite. The company is now a certified dealer for SunPower.

“This year, 2011, is definitely the best year yet,” Buttar said.

Can We Achieve a "Smart Home" Future?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Some companies are gearing up to release "smart home" technology. At the recent 2011 Solar Power International show in Dallas, Texas, Sanyo announced that it is partnering with Brightgrid to unveil a new solar leasing program. With each contract, they will include a free 3D television. What does this have to do with a smart home? Sanyo revealed that its ultimate goal is to release a home energy management system to be displayed on the televisions it gives away.

Customers will be able to view their energy consumption habits, monitor their renewable system's efficiency, and use social media to share statistics with family, friends and neighbors. "We are trying to make it a community program. People are disconnected today, and we're just trying to reconnect them," said Matt White of Sanyo. Not only will consumers be connected, they will be educated. The system includes games and other features to teach users about energy efficiency. "It's the next step towards a smart home," said White.

LEED School in Ohio Includes Solar

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With Ohio at the forefront of 'green' school projects, local residents can view the evidence in the projects currently under way by Van Wert City Schools and Vantage Career Center.

The U.S. Green Building Council has reported that Ohio has 315 environmentally-friendly school projects under way -- that is more than any other state. The council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program is a requirement for school projects built in cooperation with the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC). The program sets up international standards for energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly methods and materials.

Along with the OSFC project, Vantage also has a side construction project which will install solar panels on the property. The use of solar will cut the school's energy bills.

Superintendent Staci Kaufman said, "It's exciting to know that on a given day, if it is operating at top performance, we might be able to generate up to 40 percent of our power from the sun. Then the AEP power will kick in."

U.S. Solar Energy Industry Sets Record for Installations, Achieves 140 Percent Annual Growth in Best Quarter Ever

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. solar energy industry achieved a new record for installations and growth in the third quarter of 2011 thanks to utility-scale project completions, a strong residential market, effective policies and the plummeting price of solar panels, according to a report released today by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Through the third quarter of 2011, the U.S. solar market has installed more than 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity on the year, already surpassing the 2010 annual total of 887 MW, according to the U.S. Solar Market Insight: 3rd Quarter 2011 report. This includes 449 MW installed in the third quarter alone – a record for quarterly installations and more new solar electric capacity than was added in all of 2009. This also represents 140 percent growth over the same quarter last year.

"U.S. solar is entering 2012 with a sense of cautious optimism," said Shayle Kann, Managing Director of the solar practice at GTM Research. "There are three questions on the mind of everyone in the market: one, what would be the impact of the 1603 Treasury Program's expiration; two, can emerging commercial markets like Massachusetts, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, and Hawaii ramp up as major markets like California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania trend downward; and finally, how will the trade petition against Chinese solar imports impact market dynamics, both in the immediate term and if duties are ultimately levied?"

New Study: Wind Energy Success Story at Risk with 54,000 American Jobs in the Balance

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new study released today finds that with stable tax policy the wind industry can create and save 54,000 American jobs in the next four years, including growing the wind manufacturing sector by one third to 46,000 American manufacturing jobs. This will keep the wind sector on track toward supporting the 500,000 jobs by 2030 projected in a report by the U.S. Department of Energy during the George W. Bush administration.

The report completed by Navigant finds that if Congress allows the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind to expire, jobs in the wind industry will be cut in half, meaning a loss of 37,000 American jobs and a one third cut to American wind manufacturing jobs, while private investment in the industry would drop by nearly two thirds. Meanwhile, extending the PTC will create 17,000 American jobs, Navigant finds.

"American manufacturing jobs are coming back, with tens of thousands of new jobs from wind power," said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). "But these jobs could vanish if Congress allows the Production Tax Credit to expire, in effect enacting a targeted tax increase, and sending our jobs to foreign countries. Congress must act now to keep this American manufacturing success story going."

With the support of a stable PTC, wind energy is powering one of America's fastest growing manufacturing sectors. Over the last six years, U.S. domestic production of wind turbine components has grown 12-fold to more than 400 facilities in 43 states, shifting manufacturing jobs from overseas back to the U.S.

UM-Flint Christmas tree lit with solar power

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

New York's Rockefeller Center has something in common with downtown Flint. Both are using solar power to light their holiday tree.

Some UM-Flint mechanical engineering students helped with the downtown Flint project.

The student involvement with the project started when professor of mechanical engineering Quamrul Mazumder invited Howard Croft, president and CEO of Mid Michigan Solar, to do a presentation to students on renewable energy. The students were invited to help with the upgrading of the original solar lighting equipment.

The project was part of a new, renewable energy course that was offered through the mechanical engineering program.

Solar Grid Parity Is Here

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It's a moment solar investors, boosters, and tree huggers everywhere have been waiting for. But it doesn't come with a Champagne toast or a ribbon cut by a giant scissors. Instead the all-important grid parity for solar power has greeted us with falling stock prices, bankruptcies, and more than a few skeptical looks. But don't let those fool you -- solar is becoming a major factor in energy.

According to a recent study done by Queen's University and Michigan Technological University, we've passed grid parity in many locations. The study also says that quality improvements and more time in the field mean that models should more aggressively account for degradation and predicted cash flows. Until now, models have been fairly conservative on these two counts.

What that may end up doing is lowering borrowing costs for installing solar to better align with traditional energy sources.

Companies propose solar field in North Toledo

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Toledo’s credentials as a solar-energy hub are in for a substantial boost over the next two years.

Two international energy companies have plans to install a giant solar-energy field on top of capped landfills in North Toledo next to I-75. The project would generate enough electricity to power as many as 7,000 homes and would be the largest solar-energy installation in the city.

The two companies — Atlanta-based OCI Solar Power and Boston-headquartered CME Energy — are partners in the project and would invest an estimated $20 million, CME representative Jeffrey Ruggiero said. They plan to build the solar field on about 80 acres of the city-owned Dura and Tyler landfill sites, located close to Chrysler’s Toledo Assembly complex.

Mr. Ruggiero said the solar field would be “huge,” generating between five and seven megawatts of energy a year. Each megawatt is enough to power about 1,000 homes, he said. By contrast, another solar-field at the City of Toledo’s water treatment plant generates just one megawatt a year, environmental services commissioner Tim Murphy said.

Drivers along I-75 would be able to see the solar field, which is expected to be completed in 2013.

“It’ll be very dramatic,” Mr. Murphy said. “This is a great opportunity for the city.”

One Third of World's Energy Could Be Solar by 2060, Predicts Historically Conservative IEA

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The International Energy Agency is notoriously conservative on projections for renewable energy. The agency has embraced the need for more clean electricity and fuels to address climate change and peak oil, but its outlook for the future is usually far more conservative than how reality plays out.

So when an official at the IEA says we could get up to one third of our global energy supply from solar photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, and solar hot water by 2060, that’s a fairly big piece of news. But even that projection may be conservative.

Speaking to Bloomberg News, the head of IEA’s renewable energy unit explained said he thought the target is feasible:

“The strength of solar is the incredible variety and flexibility of applications, from small scale to big scale,” Paolo Frankl, the agency’s head of renewable energy, said in a telephone interview yesterday.

Economic activity will shift toward the sunnier zones around the equator by 2050, making solar energy a viable power source for most of the global economy, the report said. Those regions will be home to almost 80 percent of the human race by the middle of the century, compared with about 70 percent today, and their energy needs will be higher as living standards in countries such as Brazil and India approach those of the U.S. and Europe.

Affordable Solar: It's Closer Than You Think

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It's time to stop thinking of solar energy as a boutique source of power, says Joshua Pearce.

Sure, solar only generates about 1 percent of the electricity in the US. But that will change in a few years, says Pearce, an associate professor of electrical engineering and materials science at Michigan Technological University. The ultimate in renewable energy is about to go mainstream.

It's a matter of economics. A new analysis by Pearce and his colleagues at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, shows that solar photovoltaic systems are very close to achieving the tipping point: they can make electricity that's as cheap—sometimes cheaper—as what consumers pay their utilities.

Here's why. First, the price of solar panels has plummeted. "Since 2009, the cost has dropped 70 percent," says Pearce. But more than that, the assumptions used in previous studies have not given solar an even break.

"Historically, when comparing the economics of solar and conventional energy, people have been very conservative," says Pearce.

To figure out the true cost of photovoltaic energy, analysts need to consider several variables, including the cost to install and maintain the system, finance charges, how long it lasts, and how much electricity it generates. Pearce and his colleagues performed an exhaustive review of the previous studies and concluded that the values given those variables were out of whack.

Video makes a case for solar

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Check out this short video from Clean Technia for an overview on the case for solar:

http://cleantechnica.com/2011/11/10/about-solar-energy-why-solar-energy/

Seven new clean energy, EV, and LED projects

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s some cool clean energy, EV, and LED project news from the past week or so:

1. 3 New Wind Projects in U.S. Order Wind Turbines

2. Apple Switching from Coal to Solar in North Carolina

3. Tower Bridge is Going LED

4. Arizona’s Largest Wind Farm Almost Done

5. Navajo Homes Get Solar- & Wind-Powered Electricity

6. 1st Commercial Wave Power Plant Is Up (.. or Under) in Spain

7. Global Solar PV Installations to Hit 24 GW in 2011

Source: Clean Technica

Solar energy industry brings welcome ray of light to Ohio's jobs picture

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The solar energy industry could be the key to creating jobs in Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio lost 600 jobs last month. State Rep. Peter Beck recently wrote about the job opportunities created by the solar industry, stating that more than 5,000 companies make up the American solar energy industry, and the United States is a $2 billion net exporter of solar materials and equipment. According to the Solar Foundation's jobs census, the number of Americans working in the industry has doubled over the last two years to more than 100,000.

Ohio has made progress in its clean-energy efforts. For example, there is a solar farm near Sandusky consisting of 159,000 solar panels. More projects like this will promote job creation in Ohio and the United States. These projects reduce carbon emissions, creating a more environmentally sustainable state and nation.

Beck reports that the price of solar panels has decreased by 30 percent in less than two years, making solar energy more cost-effective for families and businesses. Studies show that 89 percent of Americans support solar energy efforts. Lawmakers should take steps to accelerate clean-energy development in Ohio, such as asking utilities to generate more electricity from solar energy.

Source: Cleveland.com

YellowLite installing solar on Cleveland safe house

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

YellowLite is generously installing eight solar panels for Mary's Home, a safe house for women in Cleveland who are struggling with addiction. The foreclosed house was purchased by the Urban Minority Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Outreach Program (UMADAOP). Instead of seeking government funding, the project is being funded and completed by the community, for the community.

YellowLite's sister company, The Wireless Center has funded the installation as part of an initiative to give back to the communities that help the companies thrive. The process began last weekend and will continue throughout this week.

Act now to get a tax credit for small wind systems installed before the end of the year

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Act by year-end: If you’ve been thinking of getting your own small wind or wind-solar hybrid system, this is a great time to act. The tax benefits for purchasing systems are significant – 30% of the entire installed system, less incentives, can be claimed as a tax credit, and there are even more benefits if you own a business.

If you are a home or boat owner:

If you install a small wind system by December 31 you can take advantage federal incentives on your 2011 taxes. Installation of Skystream systems can take a month or more with permitting, excavation and concrete work, so it’s essential to act now. Our off-grid battery charging systems also qualify. They can be installed in just hours at your remote, home, cabin, or on your boat or RV. But you must act now as time is running short..

If you own a business:

If you own a business, you can receive a 30% federal tax credit in the form of a deduction on tax liabilities owed for up to 5 years after the installation of the Skystream or you can get a grant from the U.S. treasury if it’s installed by the end of 2011.

In addition, business owners are eligible for a 100% bonus depreciation (write off) on capital investments installed by Dec. 31, 2011. In 2012, the benefit is reduced but still significant. If you’re thinking of investing in a small wind or wind-solar hybrid system for your business, act now to write off 100% of the cost for 2011.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Samsung lights up new line of LED bulbs

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Samsung today announced the availability and pricing of a line of seven consumer LED bulbs, some of which have the conventional screw-in bottom. There are spotlights for recessed lighting cans or track lighting, but there is also a bulb-shaped A19 bulb, a "snowcone" style bulb that gives off light in one direction.

"A light bulb is no longer just a light bulb. It's a digital technology made up of LED chips, drivers, and electronics--familiar turf for Samsung," Kevin Dexter, Samsung's senior vice president of home appliances, said in a statement.

Prices start at just under $20 and go up to almost $60 for a bright halogen replacement spot light. Like all LED lights, they are designed to have a life of 30,000 or 40,000 hours, which can be in the range of 20 years depending on usage. Their power consumption is about one-quarter that of incandescent or halogen lights, according to Samsung.

Samsung isn't the only electronics manufacturer getting into LED lighting. Toshiba and Panasonic already make LED lights and Vizio CEO Ken Howe said earlier this year that the company is developing its own line of LED lights at a "Vizio price."

Source: CNET

FirstEnergy's Ohio Utilities Meet Compliance Benchmarks

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FirstEnergy has announced that its Ohio utilities - Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. and Toledo Edison - held a successful request for proposal (RFP) to secure 10-year renewable energy credits (RECs) and solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) to help meet the renewable energy benchmarks established under Ohio's energy law.

With the successful subscription of this RFP, FirstEnergy's Ohio utilities have achieved their full compliance requirements for this year, including the 2010 shortfall, according to the utility.

The RFP sought and procured the delivery of 5,000 SRECs and 20,000 RECs produced by generating facilities throughout Ohio for each calendar year beginning this year and continuing through 2020.

Michigan farmers taking advantage of solar

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

At least 48 Michigan farmers will be using the sun to power their operations this year, thanks to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). It gives farmers and rural small businesses grants and loan guarantees to become more energy independent.

Grant Toner farms in Bad Axe near Detroit. A solar array funded with REAP help has made his farm energy-independent, he says.

"It supplies all of our power. It supplies more than enough - we actually have a credit with Detroit Edison right now."

Toner says his electric bill has dropped to zero, from $300 to $400 a month. He decided to go solar to gain better control over his costs and future, he adds.

"With the price of commodities and crude oil and everything, it's like we're always dependent on somebody. I don't like being held hostage, so I think it's a good thing to see these wind generators and solar."

Supporters of REAP are concerned, however, because REAP funding was reduced by 25 percent in 2011, and there is talk of more cuts and possible elimination of the program. That would be a shame, Toner says, because REAP funds really made his solar project possible.

Microgenerators use less

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It’s always been our belief that when you understand where your energy comes from, you value it more and use it less. And for years our customers have been telling us as much. As one solar PV generator says, “We use electrical appliances during sunny weather and we turn them off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby.”

So we decided to test our hypothesis that being an energy generator makes you an energy saver by doing some quantitative research. We surveyed almost 500 of our FIT customers and asked them a range of questions about their generation and energy usage, and got some really interesting results.

65% of generators said that they had changed their consumption pattern to match their generation, indicating an increased awareness of how their generation and usage related to one another.
Nearly 55% claim to have reduced their energy consumption since installing their generator -nearly a quarter cutting their consumption more than 20%

Solar is getting cheaper, but how far can it go?

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The usual take on solar power is that it’s a niche energy source, too pricey and erratic to meet more than a sliver of our electricity needs. Bill Gates has mocked solar as “cute.” But, as Paul Krugman reminds us today, that’s changing far more quickly than people realize. “In fact,” Krugman writes, “progress in solar panels has been so dramatic and sustained that, as a blog post at Scientific American put it, ‘there’s now frequent talk of a Moore’s law in solar energy,’ with prices adjusted for inflation falling around 7 percent a year.”

A couple of things are driving the drop in costs. Solar-panel technology is getting more efficient, true, but that’s just part of the tale. China is also heavily subsidizing its domestic industry, driving a 40 percent plunge in prices over the past year (and bulldozing a few U.S. companies into bankruptcy). But it’s not all about over-production from China, either. Solar companies are figuring out how to set up systems cheaply: installation and other non-module costs in the United States dropped 17 percent in 2010.

One big point to add to Krugman’s column is that solar is already being deployed on a large scale. Tom Dinwoodie, chief technical officer at SunPower, notes that the industry has been growing at a 65 percent annual rate in the past five years. In 2010, some 17 gigawatts of solar power were manufactured, shipped and installed — the equivalent of 17 large nuclear power plants. So just how far can solar go?

NPR Report: After Scandal, Solar Industry Looks On Bright Side

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Solar power's image has taken a hit lately with the bankruptcy of Solyndra. The California solar panel manufacturer received more than half a billion dollars in Energy Department loan guarantees before going belly up.

But the industry is still optimistic — that much was apparent at the Solar Power International conference held in Dallas in mid-October. Walking into the big hall of the Dallas Convention Center, it was impossible not to be impressed by the huge array of black solar panels hanging from the ceiling.

Listen to NPR's report from the link above.

Emerging Utility Solar Business Models: Creating New Market Opportunities

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. electric utilities are participating in a growing number of solar projects with an expanding variety of utility solar business models (USBM). These USBMs can effectively, and often uniquely, align utility interests with policies favoring solar development. Many examples benefit both utility ratepayers and utility shareholders, while helping to further develop solar markets.

Since early 2010 utility business models have grown from 22 to 65 programs created by regulated utilities nationwide. This growth in USBMs — which can encompass utility solar asset ownership, community solar programs that expand customer participation at reduced costs, and financing for customer and industry projects — is a nod to the value that innovative methods for acquiring solar electricity can bring to the utility bottom line. The upshot: utility industry innovation and creativity that is helping to diversify solar markets and spur new solar capacity additions.

Utilities are initiating business plans that enable them to play a more integral role in the solar value chain. This trend is positively benefiting utility customers, solar industry and public constituents, as well as the utility’s own financial outlook as solar deployments increase. In some cases, utilities are participating in solar market downstream activities by offering financial incentives or low interest loans to customers and third party developers. In others, utilities are partnering with building and land owners to add PV power systems that feed energy back into the grid. Either way, utilities are beginning to identify strategic solar business approaches that both benefit the PV industry and provide solar electricity access to ratepayers. Seen through this lens the most successful USBM:

Creates a utility role and value proposition in the centralized and/or distributed solar marketplaces;
Coordinates with current public policy and utility customer preferences; and
Sustains a utility solar business that captures the full value of solar to support the grid.

Building-integrated photovoltaics poised for explosive growth

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) currently make up a small but increasing part of the world PV market, and many analysts predict a growth explosion in the sector, resulting in a multibillion-dollar annual market segment. The global BIPV market was estimated at 1201 MW in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach a capacity of 11,392 MW in 2015, according to Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Technologies and Global Markets, a new report from analysis firm BCC Research.

BIPV roofing is the largest near- and mid-term market segment, the report says and the global market for BIPV capacity in the roofing sector was 404 MW in 2010 and is expected to reach 3197 MW in 2015, a CAGR of 51 percent. The BIPV sector had a manufacturing capacity of just 200 kW in that year, but BCC Research expects it to increase at a 670 percent CAGR, reaching a capacity of 5439 MW in 2015.

The current downturn in the global construction industry, the worst in a hundred years, has slowed development of BIPV, but market analysts say this phenomenon is temporary and had already begun to turn around in 2010. China and India especially are experiencing a building boom, and the economies of the US and Europe are so large that their construction and renovation industries have continued to function at high levels even in the throes of recession.

In the current PV market, where manufacturers’ ability to produce mass capacities of solar materials to bring down costs is crucial to their survival, the price of capacity is rapidly approaching grid parity. But to succeed in the BIPV sector, costs must also be balanced by concerns with compatibility with national economies, building structures, aesthetics, and public support systems, the report’s authors believe.

4 Types of Residential Renewable Energy: What is the Return on Investment?

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The payback period, also known as the return on investment, is the time it takes to “repay” the amount of the original investment. With a renewable energy investment, the initial cost is repaid in energy savings.

It is difficult to choose one type of renewable energy that will have the shortest return on investment across the board. This is because a variety of factors affect the payback period of your renewable energy investment, including:

- the availability of the renewable resource in your area (sunlight, wind, ground source heat)
- the size and type of energy load that the renewable energy installation will replace
- the prices of the fossil fuels you are replacing
- local, state and federal incentives

Source: GreenBuildings.com

24% of Americans Consider Themselves Knowledgeable About Energy

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Depending on your faith in the American public, a figure from the University of Texas at Austin indicating that less than a quarter of Americans consider themselves knowledgeable about energy is either comforting -- that is, higher than you thought -- or very scary indeed.

For instance, studies have shown that when prices go up at the pump, people tend to use less electricity, although electricity generation almost never comes from oil in the U.S. -- unless you’re in Hawaii.

But back to that 24 percent. That survey finding suggests that the vast majority of Americans are relatively clueless about energy, a notion that has often been verified in other studies and surveys, including one last year from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: Greentech Media

First-of-Its-Kind Community Solar Project

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

On October 12, 2011, Oakland's Asian Resource Center went solar, helped by an innovative financing program: a first-of-its-kind community solar project.

It's based on a crowdfunding model formed as a collaboration between solar finance company Solar Mosaic and Oakland’s Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. The project connects people who want to invest in solar with community centers, which can benefit from solar power. This project not only enables low-income communities to get cheaper energy -- it also creates jobs.

How does the funding program work? The team of innovators came up with a simple idea: a person invests in the community by buying a tile for $100 through Mosaic. The tiles, which are not physical tiles but a symbol representing a 100-dollar share, are installed on a building that serves the community. When the project reaches a target number of tiles -- in this case, enough for 120 panels -- solar-panel installation begins. The community, which receives the solar project, signs a 20-year lease with Solar Mosaic for use of the panels and agrees to pay the company for the power from the panels at a much lower rate than a utility company charges. The investors are paid back for the investment as the solar creates the energy.

Source: Greentech Media

Survey Says ... 9 in 10 Americans Want More Solar Energy

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

New Hampshire, U.S.A. -- In a time of tense political debate — often focused on the American solar industry — a new survey may help steer the conversation away from legislators and toward consumers.

According to a survey conducted by independent polling firm Kelton Research, nine out of 10 Americans support the use and development of solar technology. Perhaps more telling considering the political climate is that eight out of 10 respondents indicated that the federal government should support solar manufacturing in the U.S. and should give federal subsidies for solar energy.

The broad support for solar seems to cut through party lines. In some cases, the middle of the political spectrum is where the broadest support can be found, a finding that has huge political implications as America heads into its primary and general elections over the next 12 months.

The solar industry is certain to use the results to bolster its case that Congress should extend the wildly popular Section 1603 grant in-lieu of an existing tax credit as a way to both create jobs and continue the expansion of solar.

Wind-farm lease approval generates excitement for Muskegon County, developer

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Seven years ago, Muskegon County officials tossed the concept of placing wind turbines on the county's massive wastewater into the wind.

Two years ago, a prospective wind farm developer floated the idea of placing wind turbines in Lake Michigan off the West Michigan shoreline.

On Tuesday, the two long-pursued initiatives officially joined forces, creating excitement among Muskegon County officials and the development team about the potential of constructing a wind-energy development on the 11,000-acre wastewater site in Egelston and Moorland townships.

Source: Mlive

Universal electric car charger announced for seven major auto brands

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Add convenience to the list of reasons to own an eco-friendly, environmentally responsible electric car.

In a huge win for the green movement, seven of the world's largest automakers have agreed to build a universal vehicle charger to be made available in both the U.S. and Europe, it was announced Tuesday.

The approach integrates all charging scenarios that drivers could need into a single connector and communications system, which should make choosing infrastructure and designing electric vehicles far easier.

Perhaps most importantly, it means electric vehicles from Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen will be able to share the same fast charging stations.

In a statement, Ford said that the standardization will accelerate the installation of common systems and improve the ownership experience for EV drivers.

The system will be backward compatible with existing charging solutions both in the US and Europe, the automakers said.

Source: NY Daily News

Solar Zoo Battle Looms In Ohio

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Add the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo & Aquarium to the roster of U.S. zoos moving in a green direction. The zoo said it has plans to install a solar power system on its grounds in 2012.

Details on the size of the planned installation weren’t revealed – and might be awaiting design finalization – but the zoo has big ambitions. It said it hopes to “host one of the largest nonprofit solar energy systems in the nation – perhaps the largest solar zoo installation” in the country.

Columbus would do well to simply build the biggest solar zoo installation in the state of Ohio. Already, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden boasts a1.56-megawatt system that covers 800 of its 1,000 parking spaces – amounting to about 4 acres of total coverage. The combined output of the Cincinnati system, inaugurated earlier this year, was expected to provide about 20 percent of the zoo’s power needs.

In Columbus, the zoo said its system will have two functions, serving as an “on-site power plant” while also offering “an important educational feature and a very visible icon of sustainability for the Zoo and its partners.”

Detroit Can Revitalize Ailing Economy by Spurring Solar Jobs

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With so many people out of work, bold and creative ideas are needed to revive floundering economies. This is particularly true in Detroit, where recent figures show some areas suffer from 14 percent unemployment.

As an engineering hub and manufacturing powerhouse, Detroit has a chance to develop a solution that could be sold all over the United States. There’s no better place to start than here.

The idea is to get more solar panels on homes and businesses. Lessening the load on polluting energy sources is a much-needed idea in Michigan, which produces 60 to 65 percent of its electricity from coal.

To kick things off, local counties and/or the state government should provide low-interest loans to install solar panels. These loans should be at 15 to 30 years and be at no more than 2 percent interest. The law should stipulate how much electricity the panels must replace, say 75 percent of a structure’s use.

The goal of the program should be participation among 10 percent of the residents of the tri-county Detroit area. This would be over 350,000 households.

If these numbers are reached, it will take millions of tons of carbon and smog out of the air. As a result, the money saved on public health would be considerable. It will also have a significant economic impact on a downtrodden area: creating more jobs.

The Most Energy Efficient States In The Nation

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Energy efficiency--it's all the rage these days. From CFL light bulbs to Energy Star fridges, it's easy to try to reduce your personal energy consumption. But those advances stem, in large part, from regulations and subsidies from local, state, and federal governments. At the state level, there's a tremendous differences in how those regs and dollars hare doled out.

A new study from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economyranks all 50 states in terms of how energy-efficient friendly their policies are. These metrics include how much the state is doing to increase efficient transportation, building, and power production, as well as the standards it enforces on appliances and the programs it has in place to help citizens be more efficient.

Unlike electric car adoption, which hews to a strict red state/blue state divide, the efficient states are spread more evenly across the country (Idaho is just as efficient as Pennsylvania). Still, the states one would expect to be efficient are: Massachusetts leads the pack, with California, New York, Oregon, and Vermont all in the top 10.

But this entirely predictable gallery of eco-friendly states may soon have competition, as budget shortfalls make everyone start looking hard at ways to save. Alabama--ranked 49th last year--was one of the most improved states, rising to 43rd place. Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Maryland, and Tennessee also made huge strides, by doing things like improving building codes, investing in solar, and offering incentives to buy more efficient vehicles. Hopefully, for everyone's sake, the battle for most efficient state is just starting to heat up.

Eco lighting: a buyer’s guide

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As the days shorten and electricity prices rise, there’s a lot of potential savings to be made by choosing greener lighting. Gervase Poulden weighs up the options

Choosing a light bulb used to be so simple: do you go for bayonet or screw? Even then the decision was made for you by the shape of your fittings. But these are radical times in the lighting world. The beginning of September saw new EU legislation outlaw old style incandescent light bulbs, although most had already been removed from UK shelves following a voluntary agreement between the Government and manufacturers. Yet the removal of these bulbs doesn’t mean that people have been left with fewer options.

In fact, there are now more than ever. ‘There seems to be a misconception that consumer choice is being reduced by this phase out,’ says Peter Hunt, CEO of the Lighting Association. ‘But there’s never been such a wide choice of light sources in the history of the light bulb.’ Globally, lighting accounts for 20 per cent of overall energy consumption according to a recent report commissioned by Credit Suisse. In the UK, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) estimates that lighting accounts for 19 per cent of energy used in the home. Choosing the right bulbs can mean lower energy bills as well as being good for the environment, so what’s out there and what’s the best choice?

Ohio lends US$15m for ISOFOTON’s solar panel plant

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Spanish solar PV panel manufacturer announced the plans to invest US$31.2m in its first plant in the USA this summer.

The Ohio Financing Advisory Council and the Ohio Air Quality Development Agency have both approved three loans for the solar PV panel facility. Additionally, the Ohio Development Department has declared its desire to support ISOFOTON with additional credits and incentives totalling another US$15.8m.

The Napoleon solar PV plant project could create over 300 jobs over the next three years.

Source: Renewable Energy Focus

When Utilities Sidestep Renewables Mandates...

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A renewable electricity rule or requirement may be on the books in states such as Virginia and Ohio but that doesn’t mean every utility in that state is going to comply with it. Take the ‘illuminating’ cases of First Energy in Ohio and utilities in Virginia, led by Dominion Virginia Power.

In the Buckeye state, First Energy and its subsidiaries serving mostly northern Ohio are flouting the renewable / alternative energy requirement under a two-year-old Clean Energy Law. So far it’s getting away with it, even while Dayton Power & Light, Duke Energy (serving Cincinnati) and American Electric Power in Columbus are making measurable strides to comply with it amid a heavy reliance on traditional, coal-fired power.

To further insult Ohio’s Clean Energy Law, lawmakers allied with First Energy such as Republican Senator Kris Jordan of Powell now are trying to repeal it. Jordan cited research from the American Tradition Institute (ATI), a Washington think tank that considers green power a “scam.” An ATI report asserts any environmental impact will be negligible because renewable sources are not proven to emit lower quantities of greenhouse gasses. This directly conflicts with a 2010 report from Policy Matters Ohio and the overwhelming science and research widely available, not to mention plain old common sense.

Source: The Energy Collective

US small wind market continues growth in 2010

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

America’s small wind turbine industry saw substantial growth in 2010, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported, highlighted by a 26 per cent expansion in the market for small wind systems with 25.6MW of capacity added, as well as a robust increase in sales revenue.

Nearly 8,000 small wind units were sold last year, totaling US$ 139 million in sales. Growth in 2010 pushed cumulative sales in the USA to an estimated 179MW of capacity. Small wind’s 2010 growth was supported by sound policy at the federal, state, and local levels. Those policies enabled more than US$ 30 million in rebates, tax credits, and grants to go to small wind purchasers, users, and others. Though more than 30 states offered small wind incentives and grants, a long-term and consistent federal policy is crucial to the growth of the country’s small wind industry. The current Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for small wind expires at the end of 2016.

Source: Windtech International

Ann Arbor Embraces PACE

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ann Arbor City Council recently adopted a resolution to launch a PACE financing program. Businesses may apply for financing for renewables and energy-efficiency improvements to their properties. Participants must demonstrate that energy savings will be greater than the cost of the project.

Source: DSIRE

Euclid Celebrates Going Green with Solar Panel Project

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Euclid City Hall and Euclid Library are saving energy and saving money with a new solar panel project. They have partnered with Ohio Cooperative Solar (OCS) who will lease the rooftops and install the panels. The city and library will then purchase the electricity from OCS.

"With utility costs anticipated to continue to increase each year, over the life of the contract the energy produced by the solar systems will cost less than that provided by the utility company, resulting in annual savings to both the city and the library," said Mayor Bill Cervenik.

The project will not only reduce costs but also reduce the carbon footprint. The mayor says using the clean, solar energy is equivalent to taking 25 cars off the road.

Source: Fox 8

Despite Solyndra's collapse, other government bets pay off

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As Republican lawmakers pound the Obama administration for pouring a half-billion dollars into now-bankrupt solar-panel maker Solyndra, a much bigger federal bet on green energy looks to be quietly paying off for California.

Six large solar-power plants to help the state meet its ambitious clean-electricity goals are proceeding on schedule, according to their developers. Like Solyndra, these projects carry federal loan guarantees — $7 billion worth in total — which are considered key to attracting private investment in alternative energy.

The plants are expected to create nearly 4,000 construction jobs over the next five years and an additional 250 permanent jobs after they're up and running. All the power generated will be sold to California utilities at fixed prices under long-term contracts already approved by state regulators.

U.S. taxpayers could still be forced to make good on the debt if any of the projects go awry. Still, the prospect of a financial meltdown similar to Solyndra's appears unlikely, experts said.

Source: The Seattle Times

US$6 Billion Overspend Forces PV Equipment Suppliers to Adjust Strategies

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Global PV equipment spending (including c-Si ingot-to-module and thin-film panel) is now projected to fall by more than 45% in 2012, down from a historic peak of US$13.1 billion this year, according to the latest Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report. As a result, PV equipment suppliers are being forced to redefine their product roadmaps to align with the projected upturn in spending after 2012.
Almost half of PV equipment spending in 2011 has been stimulated by new entrants to the PV industry or from existing tier 2 or tier 3 manufacturers seeking to increase revenues simply by adding more capacity. The majority of this investment has turned out to be supplemental to the capacity required to meet short term industry demand.

Consequently, revenues available to PV equipment suppliers have been temporarily inflated by US$6 billion during 2011. The scale of this over-investment will not only drive the magnitude of the revenue declines during 2012, but will also prolong the spending downturn period into 2013.

According to Finlay Colville, Senior Analyst at Solarbuzz, “Aspirations of rapid market entry or market-share gains from lower tier cell manufacturers have been key factors behind the surplus in equipment spending during 2011. However, the second strong cycle of thin-film investments also peaked this year. This saw considerable funding being allocated to next-generation PV technologies.”

Source: Solar Buzz

Ohio’s Renewable Energy Mandate Creates Jobs

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Across the country, we are seeing efforts to repeal advances in clean energy. In Ohio, a proposal to repeal the state’s alternative energy portfolio standard — which was first put in place in 2008 under then Governor Ted Strickland — has been offered by Republicans in the state Senate.

Repealing the law is a bad idea, not just for the environment, but for Ohio’s economy.

The 2008 law mandates least 25 percent of all electricity sold in the state by 2025 come from alternative energy, of which half must come from renewable sources like solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal or biomass. The remaining half can be met through other ways, such as energy-efficiency programs, clean coal technology or fuel cells.

Now, let’s take a look at Ohio’s economy. The unemployment rate in the Buckeye state equaled the national average — at 9.1 percent — in August. In January of 2001, there were 998,000 manufacturing jobs in the state, but by August of this year only 635,000 were employed in the sector, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While there was an exodus in manufacturing throughout the last decade, growth in the clean energy economy was significant. Even during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the clean economy grew by 2.5 percent annually since 2003. As of 2010, there are over 105,000 jobs in the clean economy, with 106 businesses in the wind power supply chain business — meaning they make components that go into wind turbines — and 63 businesses in the solar power industry.

Source: Earth Techling

Green Tech In A Sustainable Home: Retaining The Human Touch

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

How do green and energy-efficient technologies fit into the whole concept of a sustainable home?

Among the green tech and energy-efficient features being built into a contemporary home under construction in Hingham, Mass., are solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, electronic lighting control, passive solar heating, staggered stud construction, ZIP System structural wall panels and roof sheathing for increased comfort and efficiency.

But for owner-architect Philip A. Smith, keeping the human touch will also ensure that while the house is chock-full of cool energy-efficient systems, it can still be attractive and comfortable for a growing family. Green tech and energy-efficiency technologies, from the solar panels to the wireless Lutron RadioRA lighting control system, operable through an iPhone app, are just one part of a holistic green home design.

The contemporary home featured as part of the recent NESEA (Northeast Sustainable Energy Association) Green Building Open House tour is also the continuation of the owner-architect’s master’s thesis “Technology, Poetics and Place in Sustainable Architecture.”

Source: Earth Techling

Solar Electric Power Association Releases U.S. Utilities in Solar Ranking

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Eastern region has quickly grown into a major solar market. In the National rankings, four eastern utilities placed in the Top 10 megawatts category and three in the Top 10 watts-per-customer. The Eastern region made up approximately 37 percent of the nation’s 2010 solar capacity, with approximately 50 percent from centralised projects.

FPL took this year’s top spot. Its annual solar capacity increased more than 195 percent from its 2009 annual solar capacity of 29.5 MW. PSE&G, which can also attribute a large portion of its annual solar capacity to utility-owned projects, followed closely in second. Additionally, five newcomers placed in this year’s Top 10: Jersey Central Power and Light, Atlantic City Electric Co, JEA, as well as PECO Energy Co and Metropolitan Edison Co both from Pennsylvannia. Overall, the Top 10 represent eight IOUs and two municipal utilities from six states.

The Central region represented less than six percent of the nation’s total annual capacity in 2010. However, despite having limited solar RPS requirements, the region is displaying strong growth, having increased its annual capacity by 350 percent between 2009 and 2010 with Ohio and Texas proving to be growing markets.

This year’s top ranked utility was CPS Energy, the municipal utility for the city of San Antonio, Texas, which had more than seven times the annual solar capacity of last year’s highest ranked utility in this category after the completion of the 14.5-MW Blue Wing Solar project. Ohio Power followed in second place, after signing a PPA for the energy generated by the nearly 10-MW Wyandot Solar facility. These two projects made up about two thirds of the regional total.

This year’s top ranked utilities include four municipal utilities, five IOUs, and one wires-only utility across five states within the region.Utility-owned solar did not play a large role in the region during 2010, with less than one percent of Top 10 capacity coming from utility-owned solar.

Source: Renewable Energy World

IBM developing EV app to let drivers select renewable energy

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

IBM is testing a cloud-based EV charging application in Switzerland that will let drivers choose between fossil fuel or renewably generated electricity to recharge their electric vehicles. By letting drivers schedule recharging at peak renewable energy production times, the new service could help integrate electric vehicles into the market without straining power grids.

The proliferation of electric cars in the market will require only a few more percent electricity than is already produced, according to Swiss utility EKZ. However, if all EVs plugged into the grid recharged at the same time, it could cause widespread blackouts.

IBM is testing a service that could help prevent that situation by letting drivers know when the most--and greenest--energy is being produced. Its Web-based app communicates with the vehicle and power companies to let drivers know when the most wind, solar, or hydro electricity is being produced, and schedule charging during those times.

Source: CNET

Nissan develops 10-minute electric car charger

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Charging an electric car may soon be as quick and easy as refueling at the pump.

Nissan, in conjunction with Japan's Kansai Nniversity, says it has created the necessary technology to charge the batteries needed by vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi iMiEV in a record time of ten minutes.

The findings, reported by Nikkei news agency last week, could represent a huge leap forward in public acceptance of electric vehicles, hindered to date by sluggish charge times -- a full charge of common EVs today can take up to eight hours.

The breakthrough reportedly came by changing the electrode inside a capacitor from carbon to tungsten oxide and vanadium oxide to improve power, reports Asean Automotive News.

Batteries charged using the updated system were complete in ten minutes, with no significant effect on storage capacity or voltage, the reports said.

Source: NY Daily News

Ohio local school board considers adding solar panels

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Wind turbines sprouted up next to Ontario schools last school year. Now the district is considering adding solar panels.

Renewable energy company Ener-G Solution Partners presented a solar power proposal Wednesday to the Ontario Local Schools Board of Education. The plan includes building two solar panel sites, one near the elementary school and another near the middle school and high school.

Michelle Holler, a partner with the Mogadore-based company, said the size of the sites would vary depending on how much energy the district would like to generate. A 100-kilowatt system would require 15,000 square feet of ground space, and the design would take student safety into account. The panels cannot be placed on school roofs because of the pitch.

She said Ontario would enter into a 15-year power purchase agreement with predetermined rates that increase with time, but are lower than what the district would otherwise pay for electricity. The company would receive a tax credit for the project, but it would have to start the initiative this year to qualify.

Source: Mansfield New Journal

Colored solar cells could make display screens more efficient

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new kind of screen pixel doubles as a solar cell and could boost the energy efficiency of cell phones and e-readers. The technology could also potentially be used in larger displays to make energy-harvesting billboards or decorative solar panels.

Jay Guo, a professor in the University of Michigan's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has developed the reflective photovoltaic color filter device that can convert absorbed light to electricity. The research is newly published in the current print edition of ACS Nano.

In traditional LCDs, less than 8 percent of the backlight actually reaches a viewer's eyes. The rest is absorbed by color filters and polarizers, Guo says. "This absorbed light is totally wasted," he said. "It becomes heat. You can feel it if you put your hand close to a monitor. Why not try to harvest some of this energy?" That's just what he has done. Guo's new filter can convert to power about 2 percent of the light that would otherwise be wasted. This could add up to a significant amount in small electronics, he says.

The researchers created the new filter by adding organic semiconductor solar cells to an elegant and ultra-thin color filter, similar to what Guo's lab had created over a year ago. That filter is composed of nano-thin sheets of metal with precisely spaced gratings that act as resonators, trapping and reflecting light of a particular color. The color depends only on the amount of space between the slits.

Source: Energy Harvesting Journal

Newark preparing contaminated site for solar panels

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Newark City Council's Service Committee approved on Monday a resolution authorizing the advertising of bids for remediation of the contaminated former Newark Processing Co. site.

The 66-acre site off East Main Street, empty since the company's closure in 1997, includes heaping black mounds of aluminum dross.

The property will become home to a solar energy field, with 6,000 solar panels generating energy for the city's nearby wastewater plant. The city was awarded a $2 million Clean Ohio revitalization Fund grant.

Source: Newark Advocate

Strategic alliance to produce “ground-breaking” wind-solar hybrid systems

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Southwest Windpower Inc. and Advanced Technology & Research Corp. (ATR) have applied decades of engineering experience and accomplishment in their respective fields to develop what they claim as “the first fully integrated wind-solar hybrid system of substantial capacity”. The combination of advanced small wind turbines with microprocessor-controlled solar tracking technology delivers more consistent energy and represents a new chapter in small-scale on-site power generation.

The initial wind-solar offering, named Skystream Hybrid 6, uses a Skystream 3.7 wind generator, six solar panels and a GPS-controlled tracking mechanism that rotates the panels to capture the best available sunlight. The tracking mechanism delivers up to 35% more energy than fixed panels on a rooftop. The solar panels and tracker are mounted on the wind turbine’s tower, which minimizes the system’s visual impact and reduces the costs compared with separate systems. State and local incentives for solar and wind systems can reduce the overall costs significantly in many locations.

Source: Renewable Energy Magazine

Spanish solar firm receives funding for first plant in Ohio

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Some good news to brighten the gloomy skies over solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer Isofoton. While its workforce in Spain went on strike last Thursday, its North American subsidiary announced it will receive three loans totalling $15 million from the State of Ohio in the US to develop a new solar panel manufacturing plant in Napoleon. It is expected that the plant will begin operations next year.

Source: Renewable Energy Magazine

Three solar trash compactors on trial across campus

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Waste Management loaned three solar trash compactors to Central Michigan University to help the university become more environmentally sustainable.

The compactors are located in front of the Bovee University Center, Warriner Hall and the Education and Human Services Building. They cost about $3,500 per unit to rent, reaching a total of $10,500.

“Waste Management has loaned several units to CMU for a few weeks as a trial,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, in an email. “They were used at the Oct. 1 football game.”

CMU wanted the units to arrive in time for campus tours and the fall football season, because of the increased traffic to campus.

The compactors contain their own solar panels located in the lids, and are paired with a recycling container from Waste Management. Each unit is wirelessly connected to a command center that monitors its functions, such as fullness.

Source: Central Michigan Life

Homeowners and Businesses Embracing Small Wind Turbines

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Most of the buzz about wind power centers on the enormous turbine farms that dot plains and hilltops around the world.

But another segment of the wind business is also gaining traction — small wind turbines, the type that stand alone at homes or businesses.

In a report to be released later this month, the American Wind Energy Association says that the market for small wind turbines in the United States grew 26 percent last year — faster than in prior years. And in Britain, a report in April found growth in the year ending in December 2010 even higher, at 65 percent — making it the “greatest year on year increase” for the small-turbine industry, according to the report. (Both figures represent capacity additions.)

The robust growth, albeit from a very small base, has much to do with government incentives in both countries. In Britain, a “feed-in tariff” introduced last year promises operators of small wind turbines above-market rates for the power they produce.

In the United States, the small turbines have benefited from a 30 percent tax credit enacted a few years ago — the first U.S. incentive to aid small wind turbines since the 1980s — in addition to assistance for rural renewables provided by the Department of Agriculture and state-level incentives.

Source: The New York Times

Students in Kansas and Arizona 'Put Their Heads to the Wind' in DOE Program

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Two recently launched Wind for Schools projects, in Kansas and Arizona, are helping students at all levels to learn about the value of renewable energy -- and preparing them for engineering jobs in the clean energy industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Kansas announced last week that four Kansas school districts will each receive $5,000 in funding to install a 1.9-kilowatt wind turbine to educate students on the importance of wind as an alternative energy source and to promote rural jobs for the future.

The four school districts -- Central Plains USD 112, Eudora USD 491, Halstead-Bentley USD 440, and Jefferson West USD 340 -- are participating in Wind Powering America's Wind for Schools project, which is administered by Kansas State University's (KSU's) Wind Applications Center. The KSU Wind Applications Center in Manhattan, Kansas, was one of the first in the United States. Since it started operations in 2007, the Center has deployed turbines at 13 schools in the state, with seven more under development—including the four USDA-funded installations.

Source: TMC Net

Electric Bills About to Spike

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Already weary of high gas prices and 9.1 percent unemployment, many Americans are about to get another kick in the wallet thanks to large increases in their electricity bills.

From Alaska to Georgia and Wyoming to Florida, utilities are seeking permission to pass on hundreds of millions of dollars in new charges to customers to help upgrade aging infrastructure and build new or retrofitted power plants that comply with tougher environmental regulations, a Daily Beast review of regulatory filings has found.

The influx of requests, many still pending before state regulators, has left energy experts convinced that electricity prices will be on the rise for the foreseeable future as the industry struggles to modernize its aging infrastructure.

“They desperately need to upgrade,” says Bill Richardson, the former New Mexico governor and Clinton-era energy secretary who once famously called America a superpower with a Third World power grid. “You're seeing rate hikes everywhere because this is a widespread, national problem.”

Source: MSN

Small wind heading into boom period, report says

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The small wind industry is about to enter a major growth spurt.

It is poised to grow from a $255 million industry in 2010 to $634 million industry in 2015, according to a recent Pike Research report.

The report attributes a growing interest and expected success in the coming years to the fact that small wind is currently more efficient and, therefore, cheaper on a cost-per-watt basis than solar photovoltaic cells. Because the return on investment can take as little as 5 years to 10 years, depending on area wind conditions, it offers an accessible option to small businesses, farms, and communities even in the absence of state or federal incentives, according to the report.

But perhaps the most interesting statistic thrown out there by Pike Research is that it expects the average price of a small wind turbine system to reach $4,150 per kilowatt by 2015.

Contrast that figure with one from the latest report from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) which puts the average price for a small wind turbine installation in 2010 at $5,430 per kilowatt.

Source: CNET

Dominion Rolls Out At-Home EV Charging

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dominion Virginia Power has begun this week to roll out a pilot program for at-home electric vehicle charging. Dominion's model, which offers customers a couple of plans that incentivize off-peak charging, will be an interesting case study of approaches for reducing EV strain on the power grid, while offering cheaper rates to EV owners.

The company is piloting two plans with different rate schemes:

The first is a plan that's geared specifically toward electric vehicle charging. Customers who go with the 'EV Only' plan will have a second meter installed at their home that's specifically used to measure energy use on a dedicated (potentially higher voltage) circuit. This circuit is specifically for EV recharging with a separate pricing scheme that offers lower off-peak rates.

Dominion estimates that powering a typical EV for a 40-mile commute would cost about $0.54 at the lower rate, as opposed to $1.10 at Dominion's standard residential rate. Rates would be higher for daytime charging, although it's unclear if it would be the standard rate or not. Customers who choose this plan would have to pay an additional service charge of $2.90 per month to cover the second meter.

Source: Green Tech Media

Solar Discovery Shakes Century-Old Science

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Physicists at the University of Michigan have made a breakthrough discovery that could change the way solar panels are constructed, making them cheaper to manufacture.

The team, led by Dr. Stephen Rand, a professor in the departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Physics and Applied Physics, discovered that at the right intensity, light traveling through a material that does not conduct electricity can generate magnetic effects 100 million times stronger than previously estimated. That magnetic power, could be used to create an "optical battery," Rand said.

"This could lead to a new kind of solar cell without semiconductors and without absorption to produce charge separation," Rand said. "In solar cells, the light goes into a material, gets absorbed and creates heat. Here, we expect to have a very low heat load. Instead of the light being absorbed, energy is stored in the magnetic moment. Intense magnetization can be induced by intense light and then it is ultimately capable of providing a capacitive power source."

Source: AOL Energy

Over 3,000 Call on Largest U.S. Stadium to Go Solar

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Football teams, basketball teams and more have been putting solar panels up to power their stadiums. But not all have done so yet, of course.... Now, there's a big push, created by the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center, to get the University of Michigan to put solar power on its stadium, the largest football stadium in North America.

"The UM stadium has the potential to be the largest athletic venue in North America with solar panels, which is fitting with the University's claim to be 'the leaders and the best'," said Monica Patel, policy specialist at the Ecology Center. "Even though the electricity generated won't solve the climate crisis, it will go a long way in terms of solar energy education - just think of the awareness raised among the 100,000+ fans there on Game Day, and millions of others who tune in. The move would also give real support to Michigan's growing solar energy industry."

The Ecology Center has teamed up with Change.org and has a petition with over 3,000 signatures on the site now.

The petition targets University President Mary Sue Coleman, Athletic Director David Brandon, and Director of Campus Sustainability Initiatives Terry Alexander and, aside from collecting signatures online, activists will be collecting signatures at the stadium this year as well.

Source: Reuters

Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles hit U.S. market this month

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Shiny, metallic roof shingles that power your home are hitting the U.S. market this month.

At its Annual Investor Day, Dow Chemical Co. officials announced that its Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle will enter the U.S. market this month, starting in Colorado and rolling into targeted states through 2012.

The Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle is a roofing product that protects a home and creates power from built-in solar cells. In New York Tuesday, Dow Chemical Chief Executive Officer Andrew N. Liveris said the solar shingle is "integral to Dow's transformation, and a key part of its strategy to invent and innovate new technologies.

Source: M Live

Green Energy Ohio Tour highlights renewable energy tech

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Green energy was the subject around Ohio this weekend and on Sunday, a group of interested people gathered at Vantage Career Center to listen to discussions about solar and wind energy in the state, hear how the school was preparing workers for jobs in the industry, and take advantage of the opportunity to see the wind turbine farms in the Van Wert area.

The Green Energy Ohio Tour took place around the state on Saturday and Sunday and involved more than 260 open houses in 51 counties. In other parts of the state, energy efficiency, biomass, and other green technologies were the main topics of discussion but in Van Wert, the concentration was on wind and solar energy.

Bill Spratley, Executive Director of Green Energy Ohio, chose to attend Van Wert's open house because of one reason: his excitement over the progress of the green energy projects in the area.

"It's a very exciting day for me personally," he said. "I've been working on solar and wind for 11 years in the state and I was in the wilderness for a long, long time. But in the last three years, we have had a virtual explosion after the legislation passed a law that said the utilities in this state had to get a certain percentage of their power from renewable energy. Four-and-a-half years ago, we brought 5,000 people to Cleveland for a national solar conference and we couldn't even show one megawatt of solar. (Vantage) is going to put up half a megawatt - that's more than the whole city of Columbus has at this hour. This is huge."

Source: Times Bulletin

Ohio Statehouse adds electric car charging spots

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus is adding six charging stations for electric vehicles at its parking garage.

Staff at the Statehouse say they believe it's the first in the nation to provide such charging stations for the public. The nearly $36,000 project is funded through contributions from several companies and a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and the nonprofit group Clean Fuels Ohio.

The director of board that manages the Statehouse says adding the charging stations shows the facility "is committed to going green and promoting clean energy."

The board says the stations produced by Eaton Corporation resemble gas pumps and will allow drivers to plug in and charge vehicles. They will be charged 50 cents per hour to pay for the electricity they use.

Source: Chron.com

Ypsilanti going solar

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

SolarYpsi, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the usage of solar power, hosted tours and discussions Saturday in six spots across Ypsilanti to promote the increasing usage of solar energy.

All six locations ó the Corner Brewery, Riverstreet Bakery, Ypsilanti Food Co-op, Ypsilanti city hall, Adams S.T.E.M. Academy and an apartment unit located at 403 S.Huron ó are already running partly or fully on solar power.

The Food Co-Op was the first building in Ypsilanti to have solar panels installed. The Co-Op currently runs on 40 percent solar power produced by its 12 solar panels.The SolarYpsi tour has been held annually during October since 2005. Since then, more than 1,400 people have attended the tours.

According to Lisa Bashert, a SolarYpsi volunteer, a major benefit of solar power is it is generated on-site rather than being produced at an energy plant where energy is lost in simply moving the power from one place to another.

Source: The Eastern Echo

Feds guarantee $1 billion in new solar loans

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Days before the expiration of its loan program, the Department of Energy, under fire for backing more than a half-billion dollars in loans to now-bankrupt solar panel maker Solyndra LLC, announced Wednesday more than $1 billion in new loan guarantees for other solar projects in Nevada and Arizona.

Citing a need to invest in “innovative technologies,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu said a $737 million loan guarantee to Tonopah Solar Energy for a first-of-its kind solar tower in Nevada — to be taller than the Washington Monument — would produce electricity for about 43,000 homes.

“If we want to be a player in the global clean energy race, we must continue to invest in innovative technologies that enable commercial-scale deployment of clean, renewable power like solar,” Mr. Chu said. The Energy Department also announced a $337 million loan guarantee to Sempra Energy for a solar generation project in Arizona.

The awards come eight days after Republican lawmakers wrote to Mr. Chu expressing concern about whether a rush to meet deadlines would result in officials approving loan guarantee deals before they have been fully vetted.

Source: The Washington Times

OSU Solar Decathlon Team Shows Solar Can Grow Jobs, Save Money for Ohioans

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

“We wanted to eliminate the utility bill. And we wanted to show we could build an economy around Ohio production.” That’s what Ohio State University mechanical engineering student Ellen Gentry told me about her team’s entry into one of the most exciting intercollegiate competitions happening this fall: the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon.

The Solar Decathlon, which takes place now through Sunday on the National Mall in Washington DC, pits 20 teams from around the globe against each other in a competition as exciting as any college bowl game, and it’s got rules I can actually follow. After six events, Ohio State’s team is now in second place, behind the Terps from the University of Maryland. Go Bucks!

The college groups are competing for bragging rights over who can create the most affordable, well-designed, 1000 square-foot home that produces all of its own energy. Of course, in this competition, it’s not just hard-working college students who win. All of us do. The Solar Decathlon proves our country can break free of our fossil-fuel addiction, if only we apply the brain power and creativity of our young people.

Source: Switchboard

First Grid-Tied Solar Energy Storage System

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

S&C Electric Company today announced the successful deployment of a 750-kilowatt (kW) PureWave Storage Management System (SMS) to PNM Resources.

The system, installed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the nation's first solar storage facility that is fully integrated into a utility's power grid. The PNM Prosperity Energy Storage Project can produce 500kW of power and uses high-tech batteries to create firm and dispatchable energy derived from a renewable energy source.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Michigan Tech unveils solar panel research facility

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Keweenaw Research Center will dedicate Michigan Tech's first facility devoted to solar energy research on Wednesday.

MTU's solar photo-voltaic research facility, located near Houghton County Airport, is now home to 10 solar panels and an advanced monitoring system.

Researchers will study the design and materials of the solar panels and micro-inverters. The goal is to advance education in solar energy and also to study the winter climate effects on the equipment's durability.

Source: Upper Michigan's Source

Google Introduces the 'Smart Home' System

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Google is all set to enter your home. At the Google I/O, the company unveiled elaborate plans to take the market for "smart home" products by storm, including LED bulbs that can be controlled from an Android device. Instead of using available home-automation protocols or Wi-Fi, it uses its own wireless protocol, which is meant to prevent it from interfering with other networks.

Source: The Motley Fool

One Step Closer to Vehicle-to-Grid?

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Selling power from an electric vehicle’s battery back to the power grid has been touted for years as one of the future advantages for this new class of cars. But the reality is much more complicated. There are issues at the levels of the carmaker, utility and grid operator that would have to be resolved to make that transaction not only possible, but also financially attractive.

That will likely change as the regulatory and technical kinks are worked out. To prepare for the future, NRG Energy announced on Monday it is forming a company with the University of Delaware called eV2g, to commercialize the technology that will allow electric vehicle owners to sell back to the grid.

“As more electric vehicles hit the road and charging stations -- such as those provided by NRG’’s eVgo network in Texas -- continue to proliferate, EV-to-grid technology is the next logical step in the electrification of our transportation network,” said Denise Wilson, President of NRG’s Alternative Energy Services.

Source: Greentech Media

Google to Create Fund for Financing Home Solar Panels

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

If you've been hankering after an alternative energy solution for your home to avoid the costs and whims of your public utility, but you just can't quite find the money to finance that purchase of solar panels, Google may have a new program just for you.

Google recently announced a new program in which it will invest $75 million to help 3,000 homeowners install solar panels on their roofs, reports the Associated Press. The money will be established in a fund that solar panel retailers can tap into to enable them to offer financing plans to buyers (and encourage prospective buyers to make the purchase).

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that this $75 million is just an “initial investment” in a new fund operated by Clean Power Finance, a start-up company that is backed by Google's venture capital arm and other investors.

Source: Green Technology World

Toledo-area solar firms shining bright through some dim spots in market

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Xunming Deng believes the clouds are beginning to part for his start-up solar panel company, Xunlight Corp.

The Toledo firm faced setbacks, including dozens of layoffs, this year when an Italian customer delayed receipt of a large order of solar panels. Since then, Mr. Deng said, his small business has slowly climbed back, securing new customers and considering a partnership with another solar firm that could lead Xunlight to expand its production beyond traditional solar panels.

Mr. Deng said Xunlight’s retooled strategy could make the company stronger.

“The industry has changed and is changing, and we have to constantly rethink and constantly look for various opportunities to broaden our product line and attract new customers,” he said.

Although solar experts say the domestic market for photovoltaic panels is growing, Toledo-area solar firms are working to overcome hurdles at the state, federal, and global levels. Companies such as Xunlight, First Solar Inc., which has its only U.S. manufacturing plant in northwest Ohio, and Willard & Kelsey Solar Group LLC of Perrysburg face an economic downturn, numerous competitors worldwide, and the potential end of renewable-energy policies and subsidies that help drive panel sales.

Source: Toledo Blade

ANN ARBOR: City Council supports Property Assessed Clean Energy Program

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ann Arbor City Council unanimously supported the intent to establish a Property Assessed Clean Energy Program at its Sept. 19 meeting.

The proposed PACE program would provide special assessments for energy projects on commercial properties.

The next step in the process is to hold a public hearing 7 p.m. Oct. 3 in the City Council Chambers in the second floor of the Guy Larcom Municipal Building, 301 E. Huron St.

A report on Ann Arbor's proposed PACE Program is available for review by the public at the front counter of the Clerk's Office on the second floor of Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., and online at www.a2energy.org.

The establishment of a PACE program would allow the city to raise capital to use for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on commercial properties located within Ann Arbor city limits.

The availability of PACE funding is expected to support economic stimulation, create jobs and reduce operating costs for business owners.

The properties repay the city through the use of the voluntary special assessment. This approach is intended to provide more attractive financing to property owners by offering fixed interest rates and a longer re-payment period than offered through traditional financing.

Source: Ann Arbor Journal

State of Ohio Awards $15 Million to Isofoton

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Isofoton North America will receive three loans from the State of Ohio, totalling $15 million, to develop a new solar panel manufacturing plant in Napoleon, Ohio.

In July, the Spanish solar panel manufacturer announced its plans to invest $31.2 million in its first plant in the US. In response to the commitment by Isofoton, The Ohio Financing Advisory Council and the Ohio Air Quality Development Agency both approved three loans, stimulating job creation in the energy sector. Additionally, the Ohio Development Department declared its desire to support Isofoton with additional credits and incentives totalling another $15.8 million. The Napoleon project will create over 300 jobs over the next three years, with Isofoton being the only solar panel manufacturer in North East Ohio to use crystalline silicon technology.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Ann Arbor 350 petition calls for solar panels on Big House

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Big House might be one of the largest stadiums in the country, but one group wants to also make it one of the most environmentally friendly.

The Ecology Center, an Ann Arbor-based nonprofit group, started a project called Ann Arbor 350, which aims to convince the University to install solar panels on Michigan Stadium. Though the project has been met with a mixed response from the University, the group started a petition calling for the installation and has collected more than 530 signatures as of last night.

A similar petition was also started on www.change.org and has garnered about 3,000 signatures in 15 days. Ann Arbor 350 has a goal of reaching 10,000 signatures on its petition, according to the project website.

University alum Monica Patel, who organized the Ann Arbor 350 petition, said though the Ecology Center cannot determine the exact feasibility of the project, Patel is urging University officials to show support for using solar energy.

“(We want) to use the Big House as a tool for education about the industry,” she said.

Source: The Michigan Daily

Solar Decathlon 2011: Ohio State University, enCORE

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

For this year’s Solar Decathlon, Ohio State University‘s team decided to make a home that was suitable for a family but still dealt with the growing energy issue in the world. The result was enCORE, a family home arranged around a central core, as the name suggests, of mechanical and plumbing systems.

enCORE uses a flat-plate solar thermal system that works with a heat pump water heater for optimal efficiency, and has a solar thermal hot air system that provides comfortable temperatures while using a minimum of energy. The thin-film PV array is manufactured locally in Toledo, Ohio. Tying it all together, residents can monitor and control the house’s electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems by way of a touch-screen display.

Source: Earth Techling

Green jobs are real and growing, Energy Dept. insists

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

US Department of Energy (DOE) appears to be trying to raise its voice over a chorus declaring green jobs as a bust and clean energy as a scam.

According to the department, Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman on Thursday plans to publicly highlight the clean-energy jobs created under the Obama administration.

The DOE today also began promoting a new brief video profiling an employee at an A123 Systems manufacturing plant in Romulus, Michigan. In the video, production technician Annette Herrera describes having been out of work for nearly 2 1/2 years before finding the job with A123. The company, which manufactures advanced lithium-ion batteries for cars and grid-based energy storage, opened two manufacturing facilities in Michigan after receiving $249 million in federal stimulus funding, and recently hired its 1000th employee in the state.

Source: Greenbang

Governor's energy summit explores economic possibilities in Ohio

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The governor spent the day in the front row of the audience, often firing questions to panelists. He intends to use information from the summit to develop a comprehensive energy policy over the next several months.

Nearly 40 speakers discussed, debated and, in the case of the electric utilities, sparred about energy issues.

Electric utilities also are important to whatever energy policies Kasich develops because of a 2008 state law requiring utilities to gradually add power generated by renewable technologies such as solar and wind and advanced technologies like fuel cells.

Some Republicans want to weaken or even eliminate those requirements, along with requirements that utilities help customers adopt energy-efficient lighting, appliances and equipment. Kasich, has not given a clear answer on his position, dodging a question about the renewable requirements Wednesday.

AEP plans a 500-acre solar farm and is already buying powr with a long-term contract from a smaller solar farm in Northwest Ohio.

FirstEnergy is not going to build solar but is seeking power from smaller projects. Both have contracts to buy wind power.

Other than the utility panel, speaker after speaker talked the rest of the day about the unprecedented opportunity for economic development that shale gas represents.

Source: Cleveland.com

Clean Cities awards electric cars to local towns

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Leaders throughout Northern Indiana converged on South Shore Clean Cities' headquarters Wednesday as 13 communities received new electric vehicles.

"This is a great day not only for Northwest Indiana but for all of the state of Indiana," said Carl Lisek, executive director of South Shore Clean Cities.

Lisek said the vehicles can help "reduce of dependence on foreign oil while helping with economic opportunities here in Northwest Indiana and northern Indiana."

Representatives from Cedar Lake, Chesterton, Crown Point, Dyer, Gary, Hammond, LaPorte, Michigan City, Schererville, Whiting, Angola, Elkhart and South Bend were on hand Wednesday to receive keys to their vehicles.

The vehicles were being awarded through funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the state of Indiana and a grant application from South Shore Clean Cities.

Source: NW Times

Clean Cities awards electric cars to local towns

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Leaders throughout Northern Indiana converged on South Shore Clean Cities' headquarters Wednesday as 13 communities received new electric vehicles.

"This is a great day not only for Northwest Indiana but for all of the state of Indiana," said Carl Lisek, executive director of South Shore Clean Cities.

Lisek said the vehicles can help "reduce of dependence on foreign oil while helping with economic opportunities here in Northwest Indiana and northern Indiana."

The vehicles were being awarded through funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the state of Indiana and a grant application from South Shore Clean Cities.

Source: NW Times

Can An Electric Car Cut Solar Panel Payback Time?

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

To illustrate the point British Gas installed a 2.52 kWp solar panel installation at the home of British actor and electric vehicle advocate Robert Llewellyn, who hosts the FullyCharged web TV series and is a regular on the TransportEvolved podcast.

Llewellyn, who currently has a 2011 Nissan Leaf on loan, was able to use the solar panels on his house to provide 85% of the total electricity required to power his car 2,680 miles.

According to British Gas’ math, that means that Llewellyn was able to drive 1,000 miles in his Leaf for just over $8 of electricity -- instead of the estimated $54 cost to charge the car using a standard electricity tariff or over $200 in gasoline.

Based on an average mileage of 12,000 miles per year, British Gas said it would be possible for an electric car owner to see a complete payback on a 2.5 kWp solar installation in as little as 4.5 years thanks to an estimated FIT income of $1,626 per year and over $2,600 in saved gasoline bills.

Source: Green Car Reports

Solar Fastest Growing Industry in America

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The average cost of going solar in the U.S. decreased significantly in 2010 and through the first half of 2011, according to a report released today by the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Solar advocates applaud the report as the latest indicator that solar is ready to power America’s new energy economy.

“The impressive cost reductions highlighted in this report did not happen by accident. It took business innovation and market-building policies at all levels of government to achieve the necessary economies of scale. There has never been a better time for customers or utilities to harness the sun for power. It’s time to double down on our nation’s investment in this job-creating, homegrown energy resource,” said Adam Browning, Executive Director of the Vote Solar Initiative, a grassroots organization working to make solar power a mainstream energy resource across the U.S.

The latest edition of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s “Tracking the Sun,” an annual report on solar photovoltaic (PV) costs in the U.S., examined more than 115,000 PV systems installed between 1998 and 2010 across 42 states. Key findings include:

The cost of going solar fell significantly for consumers over the past 18 months.

Market-building policies are effectively driving costs down.

U.S. solar incentives are delivering an increasing return on investment.

Increased market scale would likely achieve additional near-term cost reductions.

Source: EV World

Walgreens Installs Solar Across Ohio

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Retail pharmacy chain Walgreens is installing 90 solar systems throughout Ohio.

The first 53 installations will be completed by the middle of November, bringing Walgreens' total number of solar stores to 136 - one of the largest rollouts to date for a US retailer.

Chicago-based solar developer, SoCore Energy, will own and install the systems, which will have a total capacity of about 2 megawatts (MW). Walgreens will lease the arrays from SoCore for 10 years.

SoCore has chosen SolarWorld (SWV.DE) to supply the solar panels and Power-One, Inc. (Nasdaq: PWER) for the inverters.

In May, the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority gave SoCore a $5.2 million loan for the 53 rooftop solar systems across the state. The remainder of the project's $9.9 million cost is being funded by SoCore and a federal solar tax credit.

"Walgreens' impressive sustainability efforts include this substantial commitment to solar power and on-site renewable energy," says Pete Kadens, SoCore Energy president. "These projects are certainly indicative of Walgreens intent to be one of the most environmentally considerate retailers in the world."

Source: Sustainable Business

Editorial: Energy, economy, ecology

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Gov. John Kasich is sponsoring a conference this week on energy and economic issues in Ohio. Organizers have recruited an impressive array of industry executives, government officials, educators, and -- hearteningly -- environmentalists to discuss the kinds of energy policies that will help the state keep and create jobs and promote business growth.

The governor, who has said that "Ohio essentially has no energy policy," could do two things that would set a positive tone for the meeting. He could repudiate a proposal by some Republican lawmakers that effectively would repeal the state's clean-energy standard. Such a regression would wipe out northwest Ohio's burgeoning renewable-energy industry, costing the region thousands of current and potential good-paying jobs.

And as Mr. Kasich rhapsodizes about the economic benefits of oil and natural gas discoveries in Ohio, he could outline effective, reasonable, detailed rules for extracting these riches while protecting the state's water, air, and land.

A 2008 state law, enacted with near-unanimous legislative support, requires electric utilities that do business in Ohio to meet a 2025 deadline to supply at least 12.5 percent of the power they sell from renewable energy sources: wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower. Half of that power must be generated within the state. Utilities must supply the same share of power from advanced energy sources: "clean" coal, nuclear power, fuel cells, solid waste, cogeneration.

The mandate has helped make Ohio the second-leading state for solar manufacturing, much of it in this region by companies such as First Solar and Xunlight. The solar panel maker Isofoton says the plant it plans in Napoleon will employ 330 workers by 2014. A major wind farm is under construction in Van Wert, Hardin, and Paulding counties.

Source: Toledo Blade

Bulb Myths Debunked

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s a bright idea: It may be time to get with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Soon, standard incandescent bulbs are going away as a result of continued demand for more energy-efficient lighting products as well as U.S. federal lighting efficiency standards.

This means energy-efficient alternatives such as CFLs are becoming even more commonplace.

Though CFLs save considerable money on electricity bills and light homes with a bright, white light, myths still surround them.

To help, industry-leading experts from GE Lighting are shedding some light on myths and questions, including lighting legislation changes, at www.gelighting.com/2012. Among the myths:

• Myth: CFLs contain high levels of mercury. GE CFLs contain a very small amount, 2 milligrams on average, which is smaller than a ballpoint pen tip. By comparison, older home thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take literally hundreds of CFLs to equal those amounts.

• Myth: If I break a bulb, I need to see a doctor. Scientists employed by the Environmental Energy Technologies Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that the amount of mercury a person is exposed to in cleaning up a broken lamp is equivalent to a bite of tuna, and even the worst-case CFL breakage scenario measured by one state EPA was equivalent to eating just a single meal of albacore tuna.

• Myth: CFLs are too expensive. CFL costs have decreased significantly in recent years. Some cost less than $2 when part of a multipack.

• Myth: CFLs produce an unattractive blue light. Today’s CFLs can produce a soft, white light in color ranges similar to incandescents. Look for Kelvin numbers on packaging. Bulbs with a 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin (K) number emit a warmer, yellower color. Those with a 3,500 K to 6,500 K number emit a bluer or whiter light.

• Myth: CFLs give people headaches. Anecdotal reports of headaches are very rare, and there is currently no scientific evidence that CFLs cause headaches. While older, long-tube fluorescent bulbs in industrial settings could have caused headaches due to their noticeable flicker rate, today’s CFLs operate at a faster frequency to eliminate flickering.

Source: GE Lighting

EP Ohio installs a lithium-ion system

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The electricity from wind energy and solar power needs to be used almost immediately, even if those power sources may not really be needed at the time.

Thanks to a green metal box, power failures could become a rare occurrence for a cluster of houses in Gahanna. The box, about the size of a small refrigerator, was lowered into place yesterday by American Electric Power workers, part of a test to see whether the lithium-ion batteries that are housed in it -- and boxes like it -- can be used as a backup for traditional electricity sources.

AEP is installing 80 of the boxes in and around Gahanna. This is part of the utility's gridSMART initiative, a $150 million project that gets about half of its money from the U.S. Department of Energy, that is scheduled to continue until 2013.

While customers like the promise of reliable electricity, environmentalists see the batteries as a tool to deal with some of the challenges presented by renewable energy. The electricity from wind turbines and photovoltaic panels needs to be used almost immediately, even if those power sources may not really be needed at the time.

Batteries, if deployed on a large scale, provide a place for the power to be stored, said Samir Succar, staff scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an advocacy group that is not affiliated with the AEP project.

Source: EV Wind

Poll: Ohio Voters Support Stronger Energy Efficiency Standards

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ahead of next week's Governor's Energy Summit, a new poll finds a majority of Ohioans wants lawmakers and utilities to help them become more energy efficient.

The Public Policy Polling survey found 74 percent of voters support expanded use of energy-efficiency technologies, and more than 60 percent strongly support the government setting minimum energy-efficiency standards for various household products.

Dave Rinebolt, executive director of Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, says it's clear Ohioans recognize the value of energy efficiency.

"They understand it will save them money, it will be an insurance policy against rate increases, it will reduce pollution and, obviously, it employs a large number of Ohioans."

Rinebolt's statewide network of nonprofit agencies has hired and trained more than 700 new employees in the past two years to deliver expanded efficiency programs. He says that's just one example of how energy efficiency investments are critical to rebuilding the state's economy.

Source: Public News Service

Volkswagen Debuts NILS Concept for Urban Travel

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Frankfurt Motor Show going on this week is teeming with a lot of EVs, most of which are mere concepts but could be vehicles we shall soon see driving on the road.

Volkswagen featured its own contribution to the EV market, the NILS concept, a one-seater car that weighs less than 1,000 pounds. The body is composed of an ultra-light all-aluminum chassis with aluminum skin and polycarbonate door panels. According to the automaker, overall length is just 120 inches.

The 33-horsepower electric motor weighs just 42 pounds, and the vehicle’s pulling power comes from a 5.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The range is about 40 miles and charging takes just two hours.

“In Germany, 90 percent of car commuters are alone in their car,” says Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research.

Source: Green Technology World

Ohio comunity encourages households to redeem light bulb coupons

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Cuyahoga Falls Electric System (CFES) is encouraging residential electric utility customers to take advantage of the GE manufacturer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb coupons mailed to households a few weeks ago.

The manufacturer coupons are part of the CFES Public Power residential energy efficiency initiative in partnership with Efficiency Smart to assist Cuyahoga Falls households in conserving energy and energy costs through the replacement of inefficient light bulbs with high-quality CFL bulbs.

Many local stores carry a variety of energy-efficient light bulbs for which these money-saving coupons may be applied, according to city officials.

This first round of coupons will expire Sept. 30; however, a second mailing of coupons will accompany a fall 2011 community energy-efficiency education and awareness outreach, according to city offcials.

For more information or store locations, contact the city of Cuyahoga Falls at 330-971-8201, or Efficiency Smart at 877-889-3777.

Visit www.efficiencysmart.org for detailed information on residential and commercial energy-saving opportunities available for CFES electric customers.

U.S. Solar PV Pipeline Up to 24 GW

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

That vaunted American solar PV pipeline just got a whole lot wider.

According to a recent report by SolarBuzz, the 17 gigawatts (GW) of non-residential PV under development have now grown to 24 GW, largely because of the continued drop in module prices throughout the summer.

The September 2011 edition of the United States Deal Tracker database released by Solarbuzz this week identifies 1,865 non-residential projects totaling 25.9 GW either installed, being installed or in their development phase since January 1, 2010.

According to the report:

California, which currently accounts for 61 percent of the total U.S. project pipeline, has benefited from the state’s aggressive 33 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard target and the recent trend of solar projects switching from concentrated solar power technology to PV. The top six state pipelines measured in megawatts are California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, New Jersey and New Mexico. In total, 44 states now contribute to the pipeline.

Utility-driven project activity is identified across 35 states, while other non-residential projects below 1 MW account for 771 projects being monitored.

Source: Renewable Energy World

FirstEnergy Ohio Utilities Launch Request for Proposal for 10-Year Renewable Energy Credits and Solar Renewable Energy Credits Generated in Ohio

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FirstEnergy Corp. announced that a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be conducted to secure 10-year Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) for customers of its Ohio utilities - Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating and Toledo Edison - to help meet the renewable energy benchmarks established under Ohio's energy law.

The RFP seeks delivery of 5,000 SRECs and 20,000 RECs produced by generating facilities in Ohio for each calendar year beginning in 2011 and continuing through 2020. RECs and SRECs represent the environmental attributes of renewable and solar renewable electricity generation, respectively. For every megawatt hour of renewable or solar renewable electricity generated, an equivalent amount of RECs or SRECs are produced.

No energy or capacity will be purchased under the RFP. The number of individual bidders is not limited. Participants must meet and maintain specific credit and security qualifications, and must be able to prove their RECs and/or SRECs generating facilities are certified or in the process of becoming certified by the State of Ohio.

The companies established a website to provide bidders with a central source of documents, data and other information for the RFP process. This information is available by accessing www.firstenergycorp.com/2011LongTermRECRFP . Questions will be answered directly through the website.

To participate in the RFP, bidders are encouraged to submit credit information by October 11, 2011, with full proposal information due by 3 p.m. on October 18, 2011.

Source: PR Newswire

Is Distributed Wind Power the Answer?

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Tough times don’t last, but small wind does, according to Bill Bergey, President of small wind sector standout Bergey Windpower and President of the Distributed Wind Energy Association.

Bergey went into the business in 1977. By the mid-1980s, Carter-era incentives were disappearing, natural gas prices were plunging and Bergey’s competitors were dropping like dominoes. “Almost all of them were out of business by [1987],” Bergey said. “We saw a 90 percent revenue drop in two years. There was almost room left for one company.”

Bergey named two keys to his company’s survival. “We had the most reliable name brand with the lowest warranty cost,” Bergey said. And they went out and found new markets, supplying off-grid electricity for emerging North African and Indonesian rural electrification programs.

Three-fourths of Bergey Windpower’s 1- and 10-kilowatt turbines now sell domestically (as will the soon-to-debut 5-kilowatt model aimed at newer, more efficient homes). The other quarter still sells internationally. “But there were times when those numbers were reversed.”

2009 and 2010 were good years for Bergey, thanks to the Recovery Act’s extension of the 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) for small wind. Bergey Windpower saw a 50 percent year-on-year sales volume growth in 2009. Final 2010 numbers, Bergey expects, will show 20 percent to 30 percent growth.

Source: Green Tech Media

Are Solar Shingles Cost-Effective Yet?

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Back in 2009, Dow Chemical revealed that they had developed a solar shingle that could be incorporated into asphalt-tiled roofs for residential homes. Dow announced that they contracted with Arizona’s solar company Global Solar to manufacture the solar cells for the solar shingles.

Cobblestone Homes participated in testing the product, and installed solar shingles on new homes in 2010. Pleased with the results, Dow is now building a manufacturing facility in Michigan that will begin production of Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles in 2012.

The solar shingles work like conventional roof shingles, both in the way that they are installed and in the weather protection that they provide. Jane Palmieri, Managing Director of Dow Solar Solutions, said the residential solar shingles are attached to the roof like any other shingles.

Source: CalFinder

Legislator wants to repeal Ohio's renewable energy standard

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Environmental groups are worried that Ohio's developing clean-energy programs will be squelched under legislation a Republican lawmaker has introduced.

The proposal to repeal Ohio's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard by State Sen. Kris Jordan, R-Powell, is "an awful and economically destructive piece of legislation," said Nolan Moser , energy program director for the Columbus-based Ohio Environmental Council.

Jordan's proposal "could cripple" one of the fastest-growing sectors of Ohio's economy, he said.

Wind and solar projects planned for Ohio would be scrapped and jobs would be lost, said Brian Kaiser, director of green jobs and innovation for Moser's group.

In Senate Bill 216, Jordan wants to repeal Ohio's clean-energy standard that requires major utility companies to supply at least 12.5 percent of their electricity by 2025 from renewable sources, including wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and other clean-energy means.

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

Ohio school's solar panels will do more than just heat water

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Dublin Jerome High School near Columbus, Ohio, to showcase the school's new solar panels.

The solar panels were installed on the roof of Jerome to harness the energy needed to heat a 512-gallon hot water tank at the school.

The pilot program is part of the district's energy conservation initiatives and its commitment to "going green" and preserving natural resources, district officials said.

"We are proud to be a part of this initial program," said Cathy Sankey, Jerome High School principal.

She said it has both practical and educational applications.

"One of the greatest benefits of the solar project for us is that it will provide our students with authentic educational experiences in math and science," Sankey said.

Students in Chuck Crawford's science class at Jerome were involved in project planning and during the year will be monitoring the new water heater's efficiency as well as potential cost savings for the district.

Equipment at the school will monitor the temperature of water that the panels heat, district officials said.

Students will have the opportunity to observe the unit and make predictive calculations about tits future efficiency.

The solar panels are expected to save enough money in natural gas to pay for itself in five to seven years, district officials said.

The solar panels are part of the district's $5.6 million energy conservation project, funded by an interest-free loan.

Source: Columbus Local News

Nissan develops cheaper car charger

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Nissan has developed a charger for electric vehicles that costs about half the price of the current product and is also smaller than the one available just now, making it more affordable and easier to install.

According to officials at Nissan, Japan's second biggest carmaker, the new charger will go on sale in the country in November and will reach markets in the US and Europe on later dates which have yet to be announced.

Yokohama-based Nissan, which makes the Leaf electric vehicle, is targeting the sale of 5,000 of the new chargers in Japan by the end of March 2016.

Source: Press Association

Residential Solar Business Gets A Rooftop Boost

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Can't afford the upfront costs of rooftop solar panels, but really want them anyway? No problem, especially if you live in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio or Pennsylvania and get your power from Constellation Energy.

The electric company announced on Wednesday a new residential solar leasing program to customers in those states with a choice of a low down payment or a 20-year prepaid lease. Customers will also be able to choose the solar module that best fits their needs and budget.

"A solar installation can help supplement 40-50% of household electricity use," said Kevin Klages, president and CEO of BGE HOME, Constellation's Maryland subsidiary that will manage the solar contracts in that state.

And for customers struggling to make ends meet, the leasing program can help with the initial investment in solar power that could potentially save them in electrical bills for years down the line. In states with substantial renewable energy tax credits (RECs) those savings could be multiplied.

Source: AOL Energy

Dow Event Center in Michigan goes solar

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Saginaw Spirits, a farm-league hockey team in Saginaw, Mich., which recently sent four players to the National Hockey League, will soon be playing under lights powered by the Dow Event Center’s new solar array. The center is installing a 34-kilowatt photovoltaic array that should be completed by Sept. 15.

The project is supported through a $340,900 grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which the county of Saginaw won this March. The award was made under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as part of an Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant Program, according to the event center. The demonstration project was approved to support urban redevelopment of Saginaw.

The 8-foot tall, 250-foot-long solar installation will have high visibility on the center’s south-facing wall adjacent to the entrance of Wendler Arena, said Terry Minor, an electrical engineer and vice president of William Kibbe & Associates, the architectural firm that’s designing the system.

Source: Clean Energy Authority

YSU adds solar panels

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Martin Abraham said he hopes that his students will expand their knowledge of green technology beyond the classroom at Youngstown State University to other areas, including Warren.

Abraham, dean of YSU's College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, on Tuesday helped unveil a 4,100-square-foot solar photovoltaic array on the roof of Moser Hall at the university.

YSU plans to use the system to generate power for Moser Hall, where the STEM college is located, and as a teaching tool for students in the STEM college, Abraham said.

By working through YSU's partnership with the Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center in Warren, the university looks forward to one day having the ability to provide an alternative energy option to area schools, businesses and homeowners.

Source: Trib Today

More NW Ohio companies turning to solar power

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Solar power is being used by an increasing number of northwest Ohio companies wanting to save money on energy costs.

The Blade (http://bit.ly/orH1Pg ) reports that companies in the region say potential cost savings and financing deals that helped them afford the projects prompted their solar investments.

Source: WFMJ

The Rise of Photovoltaics

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Roofs with solar panels are spreading rapidly as renewable energy products are becoming more efficient and mainstream. Costs for PV installations continue to drop, caused by oversupply and reduced governmental incentives. Furthermore, there is an increasingly positive consumer sentiment for renewable energy. Solar panel installations are no longer a geek gadget but more a smart investment. This applies to residential, commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic installations all around the world and especially the United States.

United States estimated to lead the change in 2012

According to a report by Greentech Media Research, the US PV market has the potential to become a truly sustainable, long-term market. With one of the largest demands for electricity in the world and large areas of sun-exposed land for PV development, the US market is one of the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for project developers, installers, financiers, and other PV service providers. According to a Barclays Capital report, North America is supposed to outperform Germany, the world’s biggest solar market by installed capacity, with regard to the number of new PV installations in 2012. Currently, the highest demand comes from states like California, New Jersey and Florida

Source: Environmental Leader

Solar Power Incentives Grow In Michigan

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Perhaps nothing incentivizes people to put solar panels on their roof so much as the promise of receiving a check from the utility company every month. In order to increase the amount of solar energy in its portfolio, Consumers Energy in Michigan is promising to do just that.

The utility, which provides electric and natural gas service to nearly 6.5 million Michigan residents, just announced the expansion of its popular Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP). The next round of the production-based incentive program will incorporate 3 megawatts (MW) – 1.5 MW residential and 1.5 MW commercial – of customer-owned solar photovoltaic (PV) systems into the utility’s generation portfolio. The pilot EARP program, completed in June, provided for the long-term purchase of solar energy generated by 2 MW of new solar PV systems installed in Michigan

Source: Earth Techling

Volvo Cars, Siemens Plan Partnership to Build Electric Vehicles

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Volvo Car Corp. and Siemens AG (SIE) said they plan a partnership to develop electric vehicles and aim to start testing the autos by the end of this year.

Siemens, Europe’s largest engineering company, will develop electric motors and charging systems with Gothenburg, Sweden- based Volvo. Siemens will try out as many as 200 Volvo electric cars under real-life conditions by late 2012 following test- track studies in coming months, the manufacturers said in separate statements.

“We are moving ahead quickly in this area, Volvo Chief Executive Officer Stefan Jacoby said in the carmaker’s statement. ‘‘Our aim is to be first with the latest technology within electrification. The partnership reinforces our aim to pursue the fast-growing market for electric cars.’’

Volvo, which Ford Motor Co. (F) sold last year to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., aims to more than double sales to 800,000 vehicles by 2020 from 373,525 last year. Doug Speck, head of the Swedish carmaker’s U.S. operations, said in January that the company is making introduction of hybrid-powered and fully electric models in that market a higher priority than introducing diesel vehicles there.

Source: Bloomberg

ANSI & IREC to pursue joint accreditation to bolster workforce readiness for clean energy economy

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), coordinator of the U.S. voluntary standardization system, has announced a partnership with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) designed to help bolster the American workforce for the growing number of clean energy jobs of the future.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed July 28, ANSI and IREC will pursue an independent, joint accreditation program for credit or non-credit energy efficiency and renewable (excluding hydro-power) energy-related certificate programs offered in formal educational institutions and other legal entities. The initiative is being undertaken with advisory support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The goal of the IREC’s ISPQ assessment program is to assess content, quality, and resources across a range of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and weatherization training programs. This process leads to defined workplace knowledge and skills, and ensures the legitimacy of what is being taught and by whom.

Source: ANSI

Michigan approves DTE wind energy plan

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

DTE Energy Co. on Thursday received approval from state regulators for a $485 million, 20-year renewable energy contract to buy 120 megawatts from Tuscola Bay Wind LLC.

DTE will buy the energy — enough to power more than 30,000 homes — from a 9,000-acre wind farm in Tuscola, Bay and Saginaw counties. The farm is expected to be operational late in 2012.

The farm will be owned by NextEra Energy Resources LLC, Tuscola Bay Wind's parent company, which expects to invest about $250 million in the project, said Steve Stengel, director of communications for Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources.

NextEra bills itself as the largest owner and operator of wind energy in North America. It does not have a Michigan presence.

Source: The Detroit News

Consumers Energy Accepts Applications From Business Customers Interested in Installing Renewable Energy Generators

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Consumers Energy of Michigan has begun accepting applications from business customers interested in developing their own renewable energy sources.

Consumers Energy had previously contracted to purchase 2,000 kilowatts of power from customers that installed photovoltaic solar panels at their homes or businesses. The utility's current solicitation is seeking applications for an additional 250 kilowatts of photovoltaic solar installations located at commercial or industrial customers' businesses.

Applications will be due on or before September 28, 2011. Applications and instructions are available at: www.consumersenergy.com/EARP. Additional solicitations for photovoltaic solar installations from both residential and business customers are planned for the next three years.

Source: The Sacramento Bee

Toledo's solar picture bright early

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Sunny summer weather is turning into solid savings for Metzgers Printing and Mailing.

The Toledo firm installed about 230 kilowatts of solar panels late last year on the roofs of its two buildings. The installations have saved Metzgers about $3,000 a month so far on its energy bills, which used to total about $22,000 a month.

President Joe Metzger said solar energy is working out so well for his company that Metzgers might install another rooftop solar array on a third building that the company plans to buy later this year.

"Our customers are excited about it," said Mr. Metzger, who has 78 employees and had about $13 million in sales last year. "Our employees are excited about it."

Solar energy arrays have been popping up around town in recent years, particularly at companies that want to trim their costs while promoting themselves as being environmentally friendly. Companies in northwest Ohio that recently have gone green include glass manufacturer Pilkington North America Inc., real estate investment firm Health Care REIT Inc., and Toledo-area Walgreens stores, which are set to have rooftop solar arrays installed this fall.

Campbell Soup Co. announced in February that it will construct a 9.8 megawatt solar array at its Napoleon plant, which is the New Jersey company's largest production facility.

Source: Toledo Blade

Mitsubishi Develops Spray-on Solar Power Technology

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Earthquake followed by a tsunami that devastated Japan back in March has spawned a veritable cleantech revolution, both on the research and governmental fronts.

Now Mitsubishi Chemical Corp has announced it has developed a spray-on solar power technology whereby solar cells can be applied to buildings, vehicles and even clothing, just like painting. The solar cells are very thin (less than 1 millimeter thick) and weigh less than one tenth of crystalline solar panels of the same size.

According to a report in the UK Independent newspaper, the solar cells use carbon compounds which as semiconductors when dried and solidified, generating electricity when exposed to light. The potential to save space required by conventional solar panels and the versatility of the technology could hail a new era for solar power.

Mitsubishi Chemical’s prototype spray-on solar cells offer a light-to-electricity conversion rate of 10.1 per cent. Traditional crystalline silicon solar cells offer up to 20 per cent, so the new technology still lags behind. But Mitsubishi said it hopes to improve efficiency to 15 per cent by 2015.

Source: Clean Techies

Port Authority approves solar panels for 2 local businesses

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Libbey Glass Factory and General Motors Powertrain Facility are going green and getting roof top solar panels, but they don't come cheap.

The entire project is expected to cost up to $19 million. $12 million is slated for Libbey and $7 million for GM Powertrain. This morning the Port Authority approved financing for part of the project.

"These kind of projects fit well in any business planning for energy and transforming the way they use energy." said Kevin Moyer.

Both businesses have a 20 year power agreement, which means they are locked into a fixed rate for that period of time. This project will also create jobs in northwest Ohio. Local contractors will be installing and maintaining the solar panels for this major project.

Paul Toth says, "Projects like this take a long time to structure and develop but we've got the tools in place to be able to make it a reality and we're going to continue doing that for the community." Toth is hopeful the panels will be up and running by the end of the year.

Source: ABC Local

Small-wind technology seeks consumer notice

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes to wind power generation technology, the utility-scale deployments get much of the media attention. But small-wind technology — turbines with a rated capacity of 100 kilowatts or less, and rotor diameters of less than 63 feet — is starting to get more visibility. Especially since home improvement stories including Lowe’s, Home Depot and the Ace Hardware chain have started selling some of the vendors seeking mainstream attention.

Half of all the small-wind generation capacity — about 50,000 megawatts — was installed between 2007 and 2010, according to the American Wind Energy Association. It helps that there has been a federal incentive of up to 30 percent of the installed cost in place to help offset the investment. A guide from the U.S. Department of Energy should help interested consumers research their buying decisions.

Source: ZDNet

University of Michigan discussing possible North Campus solar energy installation with DTE Energy

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Michigan is discussing a deal with DTE Energy to build a ground-level solar panel installation on its North Campus in Ann Arbor, a school official said.

The project could materialize within the next six months, said Terry Alexander, director of U-M's office of campus sustainability.

A DTE official said Wednesday that the former Pfizer campus, which U-M acquired and renamed North Campus Research Complex, is being eyed for an installation. But the DTE spokesman declined to provide further details. He said talks have been ongoing with U-M for about a year.

DTE is running a pilot program in which it builds, owns and maintains large solar panels on suitable southeast Michigan properties, and then pays the property owner for the energy it generates.

It's part of the utility's efforts to meet Michigan's Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires that utilities derive 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2015.

Source: AnnArbor.com

Big ideas for small wind turbines in rural areas

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

For the Lewes Fishhouse, the two small wind turbines out in front, facing Del. 1, are more than just a way to generate power from the winds blowing off the nearby coast.

They're also good advertising for his store's environmental commitment, owner Chuck Donohue said.

"They do make a statement," he said.

Donohue has two tall Skystream 3.7s, made by Southwest Windpower, a company based in Flagstaff, Ariz. The company is working with the state of Delaware to move its headquarters to the state.

Industry observers say such small wind is primed for growth.

"The grid is pretty overloaded," said Richard Kessler, U.S. online editor of ReCharge, an industry publication. "There's brownouts, other cutbacks of electricity supply. Having a small wind-turbine unit, depending on what your needs are, can help."

Source: Delmarva Now

Solar energy project to power Campbell Soup building in Ohio

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

BNB Renewable Energy Holdings and Enfinity America Corp. partnered on a 9.8 MW solar power project at the Campbell Soup Co.’s (NYSE: CPB) facility in Ohio.

Under terms of the agreement, Enfinity will arrange project financing of the project and will co-manage the installation, contracts and future operations. SunPower will be the engineering, procurement and construction provider and will use its Oasis Tracker system and solar modules.

Construction began in early June and is expected to be complete by the end of 2011. Campbell will buy all of the electricity generated by the project.

Source: Power Engineering

Grid parity is like an object in the mirror

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

That is to say: ‘closer than it appears.’

Incentives for the residential California solar market are down to $0.35/W (down from $4.50), or about 4% of the average reported cost of a system. And June set a new record for the largest amount of new installations since the program began. Grid parity–when solar can generate electricity at the same price as or lower than retail rates– is not something way off in the future. It’s more or less now.

Play around with the stats here: http://www.californiasolarstatistics.ca.gov/reports/monthly_stats/

Source: The Vote Solar Initiative

Solar Power Coming To 90+ California Schools

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

More than ninety schools in California are taking advantage of the California Solar Initiative and installing solar projects. The California Solar Initiative is an incentive program to get companies, schools, and homes to switch to solar power. The program gives cash back for installing solar power, California hopes to move the state towards running completely on clean energy, from using a coffee maker in the morning, to opening your garage door, California wants its residents to operate on solar power. The program almost works like a rebate program, where residents are reimbursed for installing solar power and then receiving incentives on their bill.

The California School Boards Association has partnered with SunPower to bring solar installations to more than ninety schools across the state, including elementary, secondary, and higher-level schools. This project to bring schools solar power is being launched as the Solar Schools program.

Source: Clean Technica

The Future of Light Is the LED

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Brett Sharenow is presiding over the Pepsi Challenge of lightbulbs. The CFO of Switch, a Silicon Valley startup, Sharenow has set himself up in a 20-by-20 booth at the back of the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, and he’s asking passersby to check out two identical white shades. Behind one hides a standard incandescent bulb, the familiar lighting technology that has gone largely unchanged since Thomas Edison invented it 132 years ago. Behind the other is a stunning, almost art- deco-style prototype that holds 10 LEDs and a secret fluid. It’s a liquid-cooled bulb, as radically different from Edison’s invention as anything that’s ever been screwed into a standard socket and, Sharenow hopes, the next big thing in the $30 billion lighting industry. The challenge: Can you tell which is which?

It’s day one of Lightfair, the annual international trade show for everything that glows, glares, flickers, or shines—500 exhibitors and 24,000 visitors prowling row after row of light after light.

This is the last Lightfair before new regulations governing lightbulb efficiency begin to take effect in the US in January, and there’s a real sense of history and urgency on the show floor. Ready or not, the way we light our homes and offices is about to change, and the technology that will lead the way is somewhere in this hall.

Source: Wired

New energy storage device could recharge electric vehicles in minutes

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It has all the appearances of a breakthrough in battery technology, except that it’s not a battery. Researchers at Nanotek Instruments, Inc., and its subsidiary Angstron Materials, Inc., in Dayton, Ohio, have developed a new paradigm for designing energy storage devices that is based on rapidly shuttling large numbers of lithium ions between electrodes with massive graphene surfaces. The energy storage device could prove extremely useful for electric vehicles, where it could reduce the recharge time from hours to less than a minute. Other applications could include renewable energy storage (for example, storing solar and wind energy) and smart grids.

The researchers call the new devices "graphene surface-enabled lithium ion-exchanging cells," or more simply, "surface-mediated cells" (SMCs). Although the devices currently use unoptimized materials and configurations, they can already outperform Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors. The new devices can deliver a power density of 100 kW/kgcell, which is 100 times higher than that of commercial Li-ion batteries and 10 times higher than that of supercapacitors. The higher the power density, the faster the rate of energy transfer (resulting in a faster recharge time). In addition, the new cells can store an energy density of 160 Wh/kgcell, which is comparable to commercial Li-ion batteries and 30 times higher than that of conventional supercapacitors. The greater the energy density, the more energy the device can store for the same volume (resulting in a longer driving range for electric vehicles).

Source: Physorg

For the military clean energy saves lives

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

One out of eight U.S. Army casualties in Iraq was the result of protecting fuel convoys.

This statistic, derived from an Army study looking at fuel convoys in Iraq from 2003 to 2007, is a powerful incentive for the military to move away from oil and toward renewable energy, and that's exactly what it's doing.

From experimental solar-powered desert bases for the Marines to Navy robots that run on wave energy, the military is quickly becoming a leading buyer of cutting-edge renewable energy technology.

For the armed services, the benefits extend beyond reducing fuel convoy casualties. A fighting force that isn't restricted by the reach of a tanker truck or weighted down by heavy batteries is more nimble and, as a result, more lethal.

For renewable energy companies, the military is proving to be a vital customer, buying the latest in clean energy gadgets and encouraging private investment. The hope is the armed services can shepherd this technology to the point where it becomes commercially viable, much like it did a generation ago for GPS systems or the Internet.

Source: CNNMoney

US wind power capacity grows 72% in H2

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

US wind energy continued to rebound in 2011, with 2,151 MW of electrical generating capacity installed in the first half of the year compared to 1,250 MW during the same period in 2010. This was a growth of 72%, says the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

According to the US Wind Industry Second Quarter Market Report 2011, an additional 7,354 MW of new capacity was under construction by 1 July 2011, more than at any time since the third quarter of 2008.

The wind sector averaged 3.2% of US electricity over the strong wind months between January and April 2011, according to the US Energy Information Administration's EIA’s) Electric Power Monthly report. The AWEA says wind energy remains ahead of schedule to generate 20% of America's electricity by 2030.

Source: Reinforced Plastics

County offers peek into solar power

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The solar panels on the roof of Trumbull County's Job and Family Services Building don't need washing. Snow doesn't need to be removed. The bases are stainless steel and thus rust proof. When the electricity is out, the inverters power down automatically and when the grid comes back online, so do the inverters.

Plus, a 25-year warranty covers the panels, and some extra cash was spent on an extended warranty for the inverters.

''The system is virtually maintenance free,'' said Trish Nuskievicz, assistant director of the county planning commission and the force behind getting the system installed and running.

Nuskievicz on Thursday presented the system and allowed for a tour to Eastgate's Environmental Planning Advisory Committee, a forum the metropolitan planning organization provides to talk regional environmental issues.

Trumbull County installed the panels with a $302,000 federal stimulus package grant in 2010. Since the switch was flipped on June 1, the county has saved about $3,100 on its utility bill and avoided the release of about 15.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equal to more than 1,732 gallons of consumed gasoline.

Source: Trib Today

Building Integrated Solar Hot Water

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan-based Great Lakes Electric has a solar hot water product with evacuated tubes that allows for creative building-integrated solar hot water. By releasing the restriction of roof mounting, as with typical solar hot water products, GLE’s unit allows for more innovative placement and ends the worries of roof penetrations and units looking like large black rooftop tarps.

These evacuated tubes are made of two concentric tubes, the center filled with water in the collector pipe and a second to form the vacuum. The vacuum gap between the collector pipe and exterior allows for a reduction in heat loss over flat pane collectors.

Evacuated tubes generally outperform traditional solar hot water designs in cloudy or cold conditions while flat pane systems typically have the efficiency edge in direct sunlight conditions. (Similar to the comparison between the thin film amorphous silicon (peel and stick) solar vs traditional PV panels).

Source: Jetson Green

Ohio Events Highlight Link between National Security and Clean Energy

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The links between national security, energy independence, the economy and climate change will be discussed at events in northeast Ohio today. Former Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and retired Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn will be among the leaders participating in discussions in Akron and Cleveland to focus on the benefits of accelerating the clean-energy economy.

Climate change, Warner says, can impact the nation by threatening energy supplies, damaging military bases, increasing food and water shortages and stressing the economy.

"In the four deployed areas, particularly Afghanistan, energy is just as important as ammunition. And a shortage of one results in the inefficient use of the other."

McGinn, who serves on the military advisory board for the Center for Naval Analysis, says there's great opportunity in Ohio to advance clean-energy technologies and boost job creation.

"This state is a very, very key leader - tremendous technology heritage, entrepreneurs, great infrastructure - and could really be a key part of leading America into the future of a clean-energy economy."

Source: Public New Service

Michigan county presented with proposal for thousands of electric vehicle charging stations

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A West Michigan Strategic Alliance plan theorizes that Muskegon County and the rest of West Michigan need to install charging stations so customers will buy electric vehicles.

However, as some Muskegon County commissioners asked, county residents don't see many electric vehicles currently driving around, so is the investment in charging stations necessary now?

Strategic Alliance President Greg Northrup presented to Muskegon County commissioners this week the regional-collaboration group's proposal to purchase and install more than 4,000 charging stations in West Michigan over the next four years. Northrup said thousands of charging stations would saturate the region, reducing prospective electric-vehicle buyers' anxiety about not having enough access to recharge.

The alliance's basic plan is for Muskegon, Ottawa and Kent counties to agree together as a three-county group to bond to raise money that businesses, governments and others can borrow for purchase and installation of charging stations. Those businesses, governments and others would repay the loan through a property-tax assessment.

Source: M Live

US and California PV installs soaring

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

US PV installations will spike 166% in 2011 to 2.4GW, doubling the 80% growth seen in 2010, with California leading the way, according to new reports from IHS iSuppli.

The number of PV installations will climb 25% this year to 49,000, according to the firm. Ground-mount installs make up a little more than half of US PV installs (1.4GW), well ahead of commercial projects (710MW) and residential installs (270MW).

After this year, though, IHS iSuppli predicts a big pullback in US PV install growth -- to "only" 29% growth (to 3.1GW), tracking to about 5.5GW by 2015. Europe is expected to suffer a downturn in 2012, but the US will keep its growth thanks to US DoE loan guarantees to help large projects secure lower-cost capital.

Among US states, California is the unsurprising leader by a wide margin, accounting for just under 1GW this year (967MW), almost 4× as much as No.2 New Jersey (260MW) and No.3 Arizona (240MW). New Mexico (140MW) and Nevada (120MW) make the list decidedly Southwest top-heavy, with mostly East-coasters rounding out the top 10 (Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Colorado).

Source: Electro IQ

Ford EVs to come with household solar-panel option

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ford and solar-panel maker SunPower have created a solar-powered electric-car package.

Buyers of Ford's electric vehicles will have an option to have SunPower's rooftop solar panels installed for about $10,000 after a federal tax rebate. The companies estimate that the 2.5-kilowatt array will generate enough juice, about 3,000 kilowatt-hours a year, to fuel a car for about 1,000 miles a month of driving.

The "Drive Green for Life" program means drivers can cut the cord on fossil fuels by generating power during the day and charging at night, according to the companies.

Ford plans to release an all-electric Ford Focus and its C-Max Energy plug-in hybrid in 19 states next year and in Europe in 2013.

Source: CNET

PUCO allows FirstEnergy to miss solar requirement

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FirstEnergy Corp. of Akron, parent company of Toledo Edison, which serves most of Toledo and other parts of northwest Ohio, has been excused from complying with the state requirement for solar energy credits and production for the second year, provided it gets into compliance this year.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio stated in a new order that the utility will be granted a waiver for failing to meet its 2010 obligation "contingent upon FirstEnergy meeting its revised 2011 [solar energy resources] benchmark, which shall be increased to include the shortfall for the 2010 SER benchmark, including any shortfall carried over from the Company's 2009 SER benchmark."

The utility also got a waiver for 2009, the program's first year.

Failure to comply can lead to penalties of $1.2 million or more.

Source: Toledo Blade

Law allows renewable energy districts

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A bill that would allow for the creation of a special local government district that could build and operate renewable energy facilities, including wind turbines, and sell that electricity has been signed by Gov. Pat Quinn.

The legislation (HB 1487) was promoted by officials in Champaign County and sponsored in the Legislature by Rep. Chad Hays, R-Catlin, and Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Champaign.

It allows for local citizens to petition for the establishment of a renewable energy production district. After holding required public hearings on the proposed district, the local court would certify a referendum within the boundaries of the district. If approved by a majority of those voting, the production would be formed and governed by a five-member board that would serve without compensation. The board would be able to construct, operate and maintain renewable energy facilities, or contract with private or public entities to do the same. It then would be allowed to sell the renewable energy with all of the proceeds going back to the county government.

Source: The News Gazette

Commercial Solar Hot Water Arrives in the Midwest

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In this unobtrusive mid-country, which is frozen stiff for at least six months of the year, a new model and implementation of commercial solar hot water has been successfully completed. In downtown St. Paul, Minn., there is a new solar hot water heating plant that is now producing a large share of the heating for the city’s Saint Paul RiverCentre convention center. The RiverCentre offers 162,000-plus square feet of convention and ballroom space, and is connected to the Xcel Energy Center, situated on a six-acre adjoining site encompassing another 650,000 square feet of open territory.

This newest of commercial-grade solar technology was created by the local utility, District Energy St. Paul, a non-profit corporation that was founded through a public-private partnership with the City of St. Paul, the St. Paul Building Owners and Managers Association and the State of Minnesota, among others. Its initial and continuing purpose is to provide an efficient and centralized hot water district heating system to serve downtown St. Paul and surrounding areas.

The system begins with solar collectors on the roof of the St. Paul RiverCentre. There are 144 such collectors in two arrays. Each collector is 8-by-20 feet in size – that’s 23,040 square feet of solar collectors. The system is designed to produce 1 megawatt of solar hot water power. So far the system has hit as high as 1.2 MW. Once the energy is collected on the roof it is channeled through a series of highly insulated conduits an approximate distance of a few hundred feet to where the balance of system is located in the lower levels of the RiverCentre. The BOS includes the piping, holding tanks, pumps, valves, gauges, expansion tanks, controls, data loggers and monitoring systems.

When the demand requires more hot water for heating the building, the system switches to provide more of its generated heat (hot water) to meet that call. When there are events at the RiverCentre and the building needs more hot potable (drinkable/sanitary) water for cleaning, dishwashing, etc., the solar system switches its output (or a portion of it) to meet that need.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Price Collapse Stimulates US PV Market Growth in 2011

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Despite a struggling domestic economy, the US solar photovoltaic (PV) market will double in 2011, according to the latest Solarbuzz® United States 2011 PV Market report. 2011 growth rates vary significantly by market segment, an outcome of the vast movements in incentives and policies at the federal, state and local government level over the past 12 months.

“With rapid declines in factory gate prices over the past eight weeks as manufacturers and distributors focus on depleting module inventories, demand has picked up across residential, corporate and government segments,” noted Craig Stevens, President of Solarbuzz. “This acceleration is being supplemented by explosive utility demand and the rush to install before federal cash grants are scheduled to expire at the end of the year.”

The US is forecast to become the third-largest solar photovoltaic market, behind Germany and Italy in 2011. While the US currently comprises 5% of the world PV market, Solarbuzz projects an increase to 12% by 2015.

Source: Solarbuzz

Solar-Electric Car Chargers Good for Business

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

If electric vehicles are ever going to grab more than a sliver of the U.S. auto market, there needs to be a robust infrastructure of EV charging stations. At least that is the common wisdom. But public charging stations also act as infrastructural billboards; market signals to the consumer that public charging is simple and readily available. In other words, the benefits of new electric car charging stations are not only the tangible kind — that they provide a place where people can charge their car's batteries and (perhaps) spend money at the business associated with the charger — the benefits also come in more abstract forms — they help erect the psychological infrastructure many consumers need to be in place before they jump into EV ownership.

Source: Earth & Industry

Side by side: LED, CFL, and incandescent bulbs

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Philips recently released its Ambient LED 17/75-watt-equivalent retailing for $39.97. As it indicates, the bulb gives off roughly the equivalent light of a 75-watt incandescent bulb, but uses only 17 watts of power to do it.

Philips estimates the bulb costs $2.05 a year in electricity if you use it for three hours a day and your electricity company charges you 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. The average price for residential electricity in the U.S. as of February 2011 is 11.2 cents, but it ranges between 7.31 and 17.6 cents per kilowatt-hour within the continental U.S. and Alaska. Hawaiians pay an average of 31.4 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The Philips LED feels heavy and sturdy in your hand. Its hefty plastic and metal casing is obviously less breakable than an incandescent glass light bulb or CFL. When I was done testing it out, I threw it around and dropped it from different heights onto different surfaces. (That's probably not something recommended by the manufacturer, but at $40 a bulb who's going to try this if not a tech journalist?) It survived with absolutely no perceptible damage. And, of course, if I had managed to break it, I would not have been exposed to mercury, which can happen with a broken CFL. Like all LEDs, the Philips LED does not contain any mercury or lead.

Source: CNET

GE WattStation Wall Mount EV Charging Station

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

GE today announced an electric vehicle (EV) charging solution, the GE WattStation Wall Mount for EV owners, fleet managers, home builders, parking lot owners and municipalities. The product will be available later this month.

The GE WattStation Wall Mount delivers a full-cycle charge to a 24 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery in only 4 to 8 hours. Plugging an EV into a standard electrical outlet would require 12 to 18 hours to provide the same level of charge.

Suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations, the GE WattStation Wall Mount is National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) 3R rated to resist rain, sleet and even ice. The unit measures only 24 inches (~61 centimetres) tall, 16 inches (~41 centimetres) wide and 6 inches (~15 centimetres) deep. A flexible cord conveniently wraps around the unit to keep it organised and off the ground.

Operating on a 208 volt (V) to 240V alternating current (AC) circuit, the GE WattStation Wall Mount can be installed in new or existing construction and can be either hardwired for more permanent installations or plugged into a NEMA 6-50 receptacle for simple removal. GE's three-year warranty, offered as a standard feature with the unit, delivers around-the-clock customer support.

Source: Solar Novus Today

US Government Invests in Solar Manufacturing

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a $50 million investment over two years for the SUNPATH program, aimed to help the nation reclaim its competitive edge in solar manufacturing.

SUNPATH, which stands for Scaling Up Nascent PV At Home, represents the second solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Initiative (PVMI) supporting the Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative.

As recently as 1995, the United States maintained a dominant global solar market share, manufacturing 43% of the world's PV panels. In steady decline, US market share shrank to 27% by 2000 and to 7% by 2010. SUNPATH will help return the United States to the forefront, driving innovation and assuring continued leadership in the 21st century clean energy economy.

PVMI Part II: SUNPATH seeks to increase domestic manufacturing through investments that have sustainable, competitive cost and performance advantages. SUNPATH will help companies with pilot-scale commercial production scale up their manufacturing capabilities, enabling them to overcome a funding gap that often curtails domestic business at a critical stage. By bridging this gap, SUNPATH will help ensure that innovative, low-cost solar technologies are manufactured in the United States.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Feds Approve Discontinuing 100-Watt Incandescent Light Bulbs

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Because of a new federal energy act, 100-watt incandescent light bulbs will disappear from store shelves in the United States starting next year.

The bulb will no longer be available because of a new energy act that mandates all light bulbs be 25 to 35 percent more efficient. The federal act means more consumers will be forced to buy more energy efficient bulbs like compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs.

In addition to CFL bulbs, newer LED lights are hitting the market, which are usually more expensive. Clark Howard, WJAC-TV's consumer advisor, said switching incandescent bulbs with energy efficient bulbs can save some people $300 a year in electric costs.

Source: WJACTV

Townhouses being pre-wired for Nissan Leaf rechargers

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

City Ventures, which bills itself as an eco-friendly developer, is partnering with Nissan on three townhouse developments in California. City Ventures is constructing a total of 190 townhomes with garages and parking spaces that are pre-wired for rechargers in case tenants want to buy an electric car like Nissan's Leaf. The initial projects are in the Southern California communities of Signal Hill, Santa Barbara and Alhambra. In addition, the units are solar-powered and all-electric, eliminating dependence on natural gas for heating and air conditioning.

"They'll never have a gasoline or gas-utility bill again, resulting in a win-win for their pocketbooks and the environment," says Herb Gardener, president of home building at City Ventures.

Other experiments in incorporating electric cars into home garages are going on around the world. In Japan, for instance, Nissan is showing how "smart homes," like the one pictured above, can use the electric car as a two-way street. Not only does the car get charged in the garage, but its battery can serve as an emergency power source.

Source: USA Today

Xenia manufacturer boasts largest solar array in Greene County

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A Xenia manufacturer has had installed what it calls the largest solar panel array in Greene County.

SAS Automation, a producer of robotic tooling, announced a photovoltaic solar array, saying in a news release that it has had 222 solar panels installed, each providing 230 watts for a total of 51.2 kilowatts.

The installation was completed by EnergyWize LLC of Xenia, SAS said.

The total project cost $280,000, SAS said. The company received $140,000 in an Ohio government grant and a 30 percent federal tax credit. The company also will be eligible to sell solar renewable energy certificates, allowing the equipment to “pay for itself within three years and showing a positive income thereafter,” it said in its press release.

Source: Dayton Daily News

FirstEnergy Seeking Solar Energy For Ohio Utilities

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

FirstEnergy Corp. has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) for customers of its Ohio utilities - Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. and Toledo Edison - to help meet the renewable energy requirements established under Ohio's energy law.

The SRECs being solicited include solar energy from Ohio-certified generation facilities, as well as from certified SREC generation facilities in states contiguous to Ohio.

No energy or capacity will be purchased under the RFP. The number of individual bidders is not limited. Participants must meet and maintain specific credit and security qualifications, and must be able to prove their SRECs are certified or are in the process of becoming certified by the State of Ohio.

Source: Renew Grid Magazine

Solar panels saving thousands for Trumbull County

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Trumbull County is saving thousands of dollars thanks to more than 200 new solar panels.

The panels were installed on the roof of the Jobs and Family Services building.

The system was powered up June 1st, but on Monday the county ceremonially flipped the switch. In the first two months the solar panels have cut the building's electric bill by $3,400.00.

Trish Nurkievicz, with the Trumbull County Planning Commission, says, "If we continue on that path and take a little bit off for the winter months and the shorter days I'm still going to conservatively estimate about $20,000.00 a year."

The $350,000.00 system was paid for entirely by stimulus money.

Source: WFMJ

Researchers Look at Wind, Sun, and the Cloud for Distributed Energy at Data Centers

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In a recent white paper, Greenpeace International noted that data centers currently consume more than 3 percent of U.S. electricity, and about 1.5 percent to 2 percent of global electricity. With data center energy usage exploding exponentially—too fast for the legacy power grid to keep pace—switching to on-site, distributed power generation would seem to be the next step.

Now, a team of academic, and public - and private- sector researchers has convened at a university in Upstate New York to explore renewable energy sources for data centers—specifically wind power and solar generation.

In New York State, data centers account for 3 percent of all electricity consumed, and demand in this sector is expected to double over the next five years. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is investing $300,000 in the project, which will leverage an additional $374,000 in private funds.

NYSERDA has partnered with Potsdam, New York-based Clarkson University; Palo Alto, California- based Advanced Micro Devices (AMD (News - Alert)) and Hewlitt-Packard (HP ); and other private businesses to demonstrate how a network of wind- and solar-powered data centers could create a new model for data center and renewable energy operations. Because wind and solar-derived energy can be intermittent, this study will also examine critical questions of how to automatically shift a compute load between data centers and maintain reliability.

Source: Green Technology World

Now is the Time to Go Solar

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The incentives to go solar at home are better than ever.

Government guarantee schemes and increasing electricity bills, combined with dwindling fossil fuel resources and the dire need for solutions to climate change make solar panels a compelling solution for the eco- and budget-conscious homeowner. Below is a little more info on that, as well as answers to a few common concerns about going solar.

So What is Solar Power Anyway?

I know regular CleanTechnica readers know all about solar, but for anyone dropping in who doesn’t, here’s some basic information on solar power:

Solar power uses photovoltaic (PV) cells on the roof of your house to convert light from the sun into electrical energy which can be used in your house or fed back into the national grid. A chemical reaction creates a flow of electrons in the solar panel (direct current or D/C), which feeds into an inverter to convert this into alternating current (A/C) to power your house.

What if I Don’t Live in a Sunny Climate?

Solar panels don’t actually need sunshine to work — the photovoltaic cells react to daylight. So, even on a completely overcast day, solar panels can generate 40% of their potential electricity yield. And you are still connected to the electricity grid, so outside of daylight hours you can draw from the grid just as before. Plus, any extra electricity from your panels which you don’t use will be fed back to the grid and you’ll actually get paid for it!

Source: Clean Technica

GM will build solar-powered recharging station for Volt at Parma plant

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A plan by General Motors to build a solar-powered recharging station for a new electric car model has been approved by the Parma Planning Commission.

GM will build the station outside its Parma plant on Chevrolet Boulevard. The station will power the new Chevrolet Volt, a hybrid vehicle that can run on both electricity and gasoline.

Councilwoman Mary Buchholz-Galinas told the commission that she was excited to see GM construct the station — which GM calls a solar-charged canopy — in Parma.

“It’s a great chance for all of us to become greener,” Galinas said.

GM hopes someday to have similar recharging stations throughout the United States, said GM spokesman Tom Mock.

The station — 12 solar-powered chargers under a canopy — will be used only by GM Parma employees who buy the Volt, Mock said.

The GM Parma plant will also show the station to visitors, Mock said.

Mock said GM plans to build solar-powered recharging stations at all of its plants. In fact, a station at GM’s Lordstown plant is due to be finished Friday, he said.

Source: Sun News

GE planning full line of LED lightbulbs

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

General Electric plans to double down on LED home lighting over the next 16 months.

In November, GE plans to start selling a 13-watt LED lightbulb that matches the light emission of a 60-watt incandescent bulb. That option will be followed by 75- and 100-watt-equivalent LED bulbs by fall 2012, the company said. The bulbs can deliver light "for over two decades" if consumers use them for no more than three hours each day, GE claims.

LED lightbulbs are widely considered the next big thing in home lighting. And for good reason. Aside from lasting an extraordinarily long time, they also run cooler than incandescent bulbs, a bonus on hot days. Even better, unlike energy-efficient bulbs that don't use LEDs, they offer full brightness as soon as they're turned on. And those who don't like having to worry about bugs will be happy to know that some LED bulbs don't attract insects.

Source: CNET News

How to Lease Your Roof to Make Passive Solar Income

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The renewable energy industries, especially solar, are growing rapidly thanks to government incentives and increased consumer awareness about the negative environmental impact of conventional fuels.

Individuals and entrepreneurs are slowly realizing that solar energy is and will continue to be extremely profitable. Some third-party companies are actively seeking property owners with whom they can set up solar leasing arrangements. This can be extremely lucrative, especially for commercial property owners.

There are two different kind of solar leasing arrangements. In the first, the customer leases a solar array from an installation company for 10 – 20 years, reaping the benefits of cheaper energy without the upfront cost of ownership. In the second, the focus of this post, the consumer leases their roof space to an installation company so the energy produced can be sold back to the local utility.

Source: Ecopreneurist

Video: What Can We Expect for the Solar Project Finance Market?

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It seems as though solar enthusiasm is more abundant than ever before. But with close to 30 GW of solar in the pipeline, and three times more tax equity demand than available, competition is fierce. Many are left wondering what will happen to projects struggling to receive financing. With an uncertain incentive climate what can we expect in the near future? How many of these projects can realistically be financed? What makes one project more attractive than the rest?

Source: Renewable Energy World

Interest Sparks in PACE Loans for Clean-Energy

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Look for municipalities to begin issuing a new type of securitization backed by loans on clean-energy equipment.

The deals would stem from the Property Assessed Clean Energy program, an initiative in which local-government entities lend money to owners of residential and commercial properties for the installation of improved insulation, solar panels and other energy-saving items.

Since the program formally launched in 2008, so-called Pace loans typically have been funded via municipal-bond issues. But word has begun circulating that some of the participating municipalities want to start selling paper underpinned directly by their credits — deals that would be structured as taxable asset-backed securities. The first such issue could come as early as October.

In a Pace loan, the borrower agrees to repay his or her debt through a special property-tax assessment that remains in place for 10-20 years. In that way, securitizations of the credits would differ from a planned spurt of bond issues from private-sector players including NRG Energy, SunRun and SolarCity that lease solar-power equipment to homeowners.

Source: Asset-Backed Alert

Ohio schools using solar to reduce electric bills

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A solar energy initiative at two Adams County, Ohio Schools is generating the equivalent of enough energy to operate more than 1,000 computers for a year.

The installations, completed by SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc. and Dayton-based Kastle Solar and Wind, generate nearly 600 kW of solar energy through two systems, a 287-kW array at Peebles and a 299-kW array at North Adams.

The projects have lowered energy bills at both schools, which, along with West Union Elementary School, were built to LEED Silver Standards to accommodate the application, officials said.

The applications are estimated to save the districts $40,000 per year.

Source: The Ledger Independent

Lockheed's HALO blimp is a solar powered insta-satellite

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The HALE-D is a high altitude long endurance demonstrator — thus the acronym. In other words, it's a big fat robot blimp that can float up really high and then not come down for a long time. It's designed to operate up around 60,000 feet, using a big solar array on its upper surface to power itself and its payload. The HALE-D floats up above the jet stream and then uses its motors to keep itself parked in one spot, offering a 600-mile field of view for short and long range missile warning, surveillance and target acquisition, communications, environmental monitoring, and whatever else you can come up with.

Source: Dvice

Rooftop turbines give new meaning to being green

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The apparatus affixed to Ted Klein's roof looks like a giant black bicycle wheel, turning many heads and stopping walkers in a residential neighborhood off Wayne Road.

The 84-year-old retiree is believed to be among the first in southeast Michigan to buy a Honeywell Wind Turbine by WindTronics, a gearless turbine measuring six feet in diameter that can generate electricity with wind speeds as low as 2 mph.

"I thought maybe in some small way I'm one of the pioneers for a greener America," said Klein, who sold Ford Motor Co. stock to cover the more than $8,200 cost for installation and the turbine that rises several feet above the roofline of his two-story house. It's been up — and turning — for about six weeks.

Muskegon-based WindTronics created the 241-pound turbine and manufactures it in Windsor, said Brian Levine, vice president of business development and marketing for WindTronics.

The turbines, which have directional fins to capture wind, have been available commercially since late last year and can be installed on roofs and poles. Nationally, the turbines are available through energy dealers (including 26 in Michigan) and even at some Ace Hardware and True Value locations.

WindTronics has sold the product internationally, including in some Third World countries that lack electricity, said Levine, who added the company has a licensing agreement with Honeywell International Inc. to use its name.

Source: The Detroit News

Google’s Android Bulb to Run on 6LowPAN Standard

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It consumes very little power. The chips and software behind it are cheap and getting cheaper, and the name incorporates an absolutely insane combination of capital letters and numbers.

What is there not to like about the 6LowPAN standard?

The Android bulb -- a networked LED bulb coming out later this year from Google and Lighting Science -- will connect to Android phones and other devices through the above-mentioned standard, according to Ted Russ, chief business development officer for the company.

NXP Semiconductor, other sources have said, will supply the chips for the bulbs. It figures. NXP -- which was spun out of the Philips conglomerate a few years ago -- supplies low-powered NFC (near field communications) chips to Android phone makers already and is a leading expert in energy-efficient, light-bandwidth communications. NXP also announced a component family, called GreenChip, for LED bulbs based around the standard back in May, a few days after Google and Lighting Science announced the Android bulb. JenNet-IP, an open-source software stack, complements GreenChip. TCP, a light manufacturer, already supports GreenChip.

Early GreenChip controllers range in price from $1.70 to $3.60, according to NXP releases, but the actual prices for customers buying in volume will be far lower.

The Android bulb is one of the biggest announcements so far this year in lighting. The idea behind the networked bulb is to allow users to be able to turn off and/or program their lights to save power without having to think about it too much. When you walk into the room, your phone can sense your presence and turn on the lights. The life force has arrived! When you leave, it can dim the lights automatically. Plus, integrating networking into the bulb itself dramatically reduces the headaches and hardware required for home automation. Consumers won't have to insert power line networking into their existing wires or put power-over-ethernet cables into the walls. If they have an Android phone, all they will have to do, presumably, is screw in a light bulb and click a few menu boxes on their phone.

Source: Green Tech Grid

Small Wind Turbines Rise in Popularity as Home Depot Starts Selling Them

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Small wind turbines are growing in popularity and Home Depot will begin selling them in stores in some of the windier parts of the country.

Arizona-based Southwest Windpower, one of the pioneers and leading manufacturers of small wind turbines, says its Skystream 3.7 turbine will be available at stores in Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and California, and will expand to other states.

Southwest says the turbine is the first compact, all-inclusive grid-connected personal wind turbine with controls and inverter built in.

Designed for use on farms, homes and businesses, the turbine can produce up to 400 kWh of clean electricity per month depending on the wind resource and site location. The average US home uses about 930 kwh per month according to government figures.

Source: Reuters

Wind Energy Research and Development Center Founded in Ohio

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Timken Company, Stark State College and the Stark County Port Authority officially broke ground on a Wind Energy Research and Development Center today, the first of its kind in America. At the facility, Timken will develop ultra-large bearings and seals on sophisticated equipment that replicates the operating environment of large multi-megawatt wind turbines.

The $11.8 million research and development center represents a collaborative effort between Timken, Stark State College, the Stark County Port Authority and Stark Development Board. The center will anchor Stark State's new Emerging Technologies Airport Campus on 15 acres of property adjacent to the Akron-Canton Airport, on the borders of the City of Green in Summit County and Jackson Township in Stark County, Ohio.

The 18,000-square-foot center will secure 65 jobs directly, while creating a unique research practicum and technical certification program for Stark State College students, offering them critical experience conducting research, developing new designs and testing large wind-turbine bearing systems. It also will provide critical training for current and future technicians across the spectrum of operating services required by today's wind turbine manufacturers and operators.

Source: PR Newswire

2010 Global Recap: A Year of Continued Growth

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Renewable energy continued its global surge in 2010, accounting for about half of the 194 gigawatts of new installed capacity, according to the REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report.

“The global performance of renewable energy, despite headwinds, has been a positive constant in turbulent times”, said Mohamed El-Ashry, Chairman of REN21’s steering committee. “Today, more people than ever before derive energy from renewables as capacity continues to grow, prices continue to fall, and shares of global energy from renewable energy continue to increase.”

In 2010, renewable energy supplied an estimated 16 percent of global final energy consumption and delivered close to 20 percent of global electricity production. Still led by hydropower, renewable capacity now comprises about a quarter of total global power-generating capacity.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Industry group says Ohio is 2nd in solar output

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A solar-industry trade group says Ohio is the second-leading state in solar manufacturing.

Oregon is the only one that tops the Buckeye State.

The Solar Energy Industries Association says Ohio's production rose by 50 percent during the first three months of this year, topping big solar-producing states like California and New Jersey.

The Toledo area is becoming a hub for solar research and production. The Blade newspaper in Toledo reports that three solar panel makers in northwest Ohio are expecting to start or increase production over the next year.

The Solar Energy Industries Association says solar panel production nationwide was up 31 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared with a year ago.

Source: News Talk Radio WHIO

Firm Nets $750K for ‘Solar Parking Lot’

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot, so the Joni Mitchell song goes.

Now two Idaho entrepreneurs want to turn that parking lot into a solar-energy source with the help of a $750,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant.

Solar Roadways, based in Sagle, will use the funds to create a prototype solar parking lot, with road-level panels encased in thick glass that drivers ride over, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. The panels are linked by underground wires and connected to the power grid.

Co-founded by Scott and Julie Brusaw, the company has already received a $100,000 federal grant to develop a highway in which asphalt is replaced by sturdy solar panels embedded in the driving surface. The roads include LED-lit lane dividers and a heat source to clear snow and ice.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Wind Speeds Elevated Across the US in Q2 2011

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

3TIER, a global leader in renewable energy risk analysis, today released a wind performance map for the second quarter of 2011. The map illustrates that wind speeds were above their seasonal averages for a majority of the continental United States.

3TIER’s second quarter map indicates departures from long-term mean wind speeds that range from -20% to +20% and provides an indication of how wind projects should have performed relative to their long-term production average based on their location. This type of analysis enables financiers and owners to perform portfolio analysis across regions and quickly view the effects of weather anomalies on both existing and proposed investments.

Looking at wind speeds during the second quarter of 2011, the pattern is 5 - 10% above normal for nearly the entire US. Especially strong positive wind anomalies centered over the southern Mississippi Valley and the southern Rocky Mountains. Some areas within these regions exceeded 25% above normal wind speeds when averaged over all of April, May, and June.

The only areas that experienced wind speed conditions below average were North Dakota along the Canadian border, isolated areas of California, and along the Carolina coast down through Florida. These areas saw minor negative anomalies of about 5% with the exception of Florida where wind speeds were up to 15% below normal.

Climate conditions across North America during the second quarter of 2011 were influenced by a weakening of the La Niña event that occurred this past winter in the tropical Pacific Ocean, leading to neutral El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions by the end of the quarter. This quarter was also affected by a gradual transition in the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) from a positive state at the start of the quarter to a negative state at the end.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Bulb Bill Fails in Congress, but Debate Will Chug On

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A Republican effort to repeal light bulb efficiency standards failed in Congress today, but you can count on the debate continuing.

The final vote on the Better Use of Light Bulb (BULB) Act came to 233 in favor and 193 against. Thus, it won a majority, but it was brought to the floor in a manner that would have required a two-thirds majority to pass. Thus, the bill failed.

The BULB provision sought to reverse light bulb efficiency standards contained in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The law -- passed by former President George Bush -- effectively forces manufacturers to phase out conventional 100-watt incandescent bulbs in 2012 and eliminate conventional 75- and 60-watt incandescents by 2014. LED bulbs and compact fluorescents would begin to take their place. Although some manufacturers continue to tinker with efficient incandescents, the regulations pave the way for LED bulbs, which use about one-tenth of the power.

Incandescent bulbs are incredibly inefficient. Only around five percent of the power injected into them gets converted into light; the other 95 percent becomes heat. That is why Easy Bake Ovens and lizard terrariums come with incandescent bulbs. Many other countries -- Australia, Canada, the EU -- have passed similar legislation. Many manufacturers, including those that have already shut down incandescent factories and invested in LEDs, support the regulations and opposed BULB.

Source: Green Tech Enterprise

'No Pane, No Gain,' with World's First Solar-Powered Window

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

An Israeli startup company is marketing the world’s first solar-powered window—a double-glass pane embedded with PV cells that deliver energy efficiency, high-power density, and transparency.

Pythagoras Solar, a provider of photovoltaic glass unit (PVGU) technology based in Jerusalem, came to public attention in late June, when the company was selected as a winner of the GE ecomagination Challenge, which recognizes the most promising building energy innovations.

According to Pythagoras, when the windows are installed, they:

1. Produce enough power to enable buildings to generate their own electricity.

2. Shade buildings like any blind, while still remaining transparent.

3. Reduce air conditioning usage and makes building more energy-efficient.

Source: Green Technology World

Back on PACE: Congress to the Rescue!

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Remember PACE, the innovative local energy retrofit program that ran into a roadblock in the form of Fannie, Freddie and their regulators at the Federal Housing Finance Agency? Well, next week Congress will introduce new BIPARTISAN legislation to fix the situation and get these money saving efficiency and renewable programs back on track. And that means, it’s time to shout your support from the (weatherized) rooftops!

The “PACE Assessment Protection Act of 2011,” to be introduced shortly by Congresspersons Nan Hayworth (R-NY), Daniel Lungren (R-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), addresses three key issues:

It undoes the damage. The Bill rescinds the 2010 guidance from the FHFA, OCC, Fannie and Freddie that derailed PACE in the first place. It further prohibits these groups from discriminating against homeowners and communities participating in PACE programs.

It resolves the legal question. Much of the FHFA’s legal arguments against PACE have been founded in the erroneous assertion the programs administer loans rather than assessments. This isn’t semantics – a loan is the purview of the FHFA, but an assessment is a 100 year old constitutional right of local government. This Bill correctly defines PACE as an “assessment” rather than a “loan” once and for all.

It virtually eliminates risk to Fannie and Freddie. Nobody wants to see these mortgage giants, already over $150 billion in debt with taxpayer dollars on the line, go further into the red. The Bill establishes national PACE program standards to further reduce the chance that a participant would default: participant underwriting criteria, consumer protections, qualifying improvements and qualifying contractors.

This bill doesn’t cost money, doesn’t impose any government mandates, or touch non-participants’ taxes.

This bill does restore states rights, leverage private capital, and puts America to work saving homeowners money.

All of that is to say, if passed, the bill would let the 27 states that have enabled PACE programs over the past couple years get back to business reducing energy use, saving homeowners money, and creating local jobs.

Source: Vote Solar Initiative

New study shows PACE creates jobs

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

ECONorthwest and PACENow have released a new study on PACE. The Economic Impact Analysis of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) study examined the economic output, jobs, and federal, state, and local taxes generated by spending on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in representative communities around the U.S. (including San Antonio TX, Long Island NY, Santa Barbara CA, and Columbus OH). Extrapolating from their results, the spending initial spending of roughly $54 million on projects in Sonoma County, Palm Desert, Boulder County and Babylon generated $142 million in economic output, $9 million in federal taxes, $6 million state and local taxes, and over 800 jobs, nationwide.

Source: PACENOW

After a Blowback in 2010, Global Wind Power Capacity to Triple by 2017

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

After years of expansion, the wind energy industry suffered a significant slowdown during the global economic recession of 2010 – and the boom years may still be behind us. But a study just released by Boulder, Colorado-based Pike Research forecasts that total onshore- and offshore wind generation capacity will increase from 194.3 gigawatts (GW) in 2010 to 562.9 GW by 2017, representing a $153 billion global industry.

Given the 18-month project cycle for a wind farm from feasibility study to electricity production, the global downturn had a delayed impact on the pace of new wind power installations, Pike reports. Wind power experienced strong cumulative growth in 2008 (29 percent) and 2009 (32 percent), due to the large volume of projects initiated in late 2006 through 2008. However, 2010 results (22 percent growth) reflect the impact of the recession on what is still one of the world’s most significant renewable energy markets.

Today, turbine deployment activity remains strong and overall capacity will continue to rise at a healthy, if not a hectic, pace.

“Despite the challenging market conditions for the wind energy industry, this is a dynamic time for innovation in the market,” said senior analyst Peter Asmus. “Equipment vendors are pushing turbines to sizes never before thought practical or economical. Some of the world’s top engineering challenges of the 21st century are taking place in factories longer than football fields. But there is also much at stake, as the companies push technological limits and take major market risks in an increasingly competitive sector.”

Source: Green Technology World

Toledo's TARTA to construct solar array at its offices

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority has received a $1 million grant to build a solar-panel array at its Central Avenue headquarters and replace the facility's lights with modern, energy-efficient equipment.

"Toledo is increasingly recognized as the solar capital of the Midwest, so this award is particularly fitting," said U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), who announced the Federal Transit Administration grant. "It will not only help TARTA harness the power of the sun, but also lower its operating costs and reduce its carbon footprint."

James Gee, the transit authority's general manager, said the grant was not unexpected, as the funds had been included in a transportation appropriations bill passed last year, but the transit administration's action makes the grant "active" and TARTA can proceed with the projects.

The solar array on the roof at TARTA's 1127 West Central offices and bus garage will be collaboratively designed by the transit agency and the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, he and Miss Kaptur said.

Source: Toledo Blade

For Ohio home solar projects, funding forecast is cloudy unless lawmakers revive 10-cent monthly fee

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The sudden burst of solar has a lot to do with the state grant program, installers say.

The Advanced Energy Fund, managed by the Ohio Department of Development, has awarded about $44.6 million in grants since Dec. 31, 2005, to nearly 700 projects, more than 400 of them solar projects with a total generating capacity of more than 9.5 megawatts (9.5 million watts).

The awards went not only for solar power arrays, but also for solar heating systems, more than 150 wind turbine systems and more than 60 energy efficiency projects.

The grants, according to a Plain Dealer analysis of a current report obtained from the state, have gone to more than 300 residential projects, about 180 commercial businesses, nearly 70 industrial projects, about 10 farms and about 70 institutions such as schools, colleges, churches and foundations.

Ohio electric utility customers bankrolled the fund by paying 9 cents per month on their electric bills. Residential, commercial and industrial customers paid the same amount.

That figured to an expense of $1.08 per year, whether you were a homeowner or a factory.

But now the fund is drying up because the law requiring the electric utilities to collect the 9 cents expired at the end of 2010. And the Republican-dominated Ohio Senate refused to approve a bill extending the law.

Source: The Plain Dealer

Solar power station coming to Ohio brownfield

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

An abandoned warehouse site that sits behind a child care center and the former Excel Academy Activities Center east of Dayton Road is set to become the home of a solar energy field.

The former Newark Processing Co. site has been empty since the company's closure in 1997. Portions of concrete walls still stand on the 66-acre site, surrounded by heaping black mounds of aluminum dross.

By the end of the year, the site should be remediated and cleared of current structures, creating the foundation for 6,000 solar panels that would generate energy for the city of Newark's nearby wastewater plant.

Source: Newark Advocate

Solar research budget on track to get $10 million boost

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Another $10 million would go into the national program for research and development of solar power for 2012 under an amendment passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Friday.

That’s potential good news for the Toledo area, which is recognized as a growing center of solar manufacturing.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) authored the measure to raise spending on solar research from its current budget of $166.1 million. That’s still about $87 million less than the government spent in the 2011 fiscal year, and it’s less than half of what President Obama requested for the 2012 fiscal year.

The money isn’t new spending, but rather will be transferred out of an administrative budget of the U.S. Department of Energy.

The measure passed the House on Friday with 212-210 votes. U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green) voted yes.

Miss Kaptur said the solar energy industry creates jobs and reduces American dependence on imported petroleum. She said the U.S. economy is anticipated to increase jobs by just 2 percent in the next year, while solar-related jobs are expected to increase by 26 percent.

Source: Toledo Blade

MIT Works on Thin, Flexible, Pocket-size Panels

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

No thicker than a piece of paper - because it practically is a piece of paper - a solar panel created by an MIT researcher can be shoved into a pocket or made into a paper airplane, and it will still create energy when exposed to sunlight.

The trick is in the way it is made. The panel is printed like ink onto a sheet of paper. Even folded up like a letter, it retains its ability to convert light to electricity.

With her colleagues, Karen Gleason, a professor of chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published a paper last week in the journal Advanced Materials, demonstrating how they created a solar panel by printing tiny, lightweight layers of electrodes and semiconductors on a piece of paper.

Traditional solar panels are made through high-heat or wetting processes that would fry or soak paper. Gleason and her collaborators have developed a method they call vapor printing, which allows them to lay down the conductive material at moderate temperatures. She compared it to the process used to create the metallic inner layer of a potato chip bag.

Source: Boston.com

Energy Storage and the Smart Grid

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As the electrical grid is integrated with more renewable energy sources, energy storage will be instrumental for microgrids and smart grids.

Energy storage systems (ESS) combine energy-dense batteries with bidirectional, grid-tied inverters and communication systems to allow interface with the electric grid, provide valuable services and are programmable to run in various grid-support modes.

Grid-support services enable further penetration of intermittent resources such as solar.

Recently, U.S. utilities and system integrators have initiated several demonstration pilot programs to prove energy storage viability and its potential impact on the grid.

Also, organizations such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) are evaluating the efficiency and cycling performance capabilities of energy storage batteries.

Besides grid stabilization and load leveling, storage systems potentially can provide backup power to thousands of residential and commercial customers, especially when solar or wind is not available.

Source: Electric, Light and Power

Ohio's Trumbull County aims to sell power

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Going green is saving some green for Trumbull County, which now wants to use the green energy project on the roof of the Job and Family Services building to make some green for the county.

"We want to apply to have our solar, the Trumbull County solar project, designated as an Ohio renewable energy generating facility," said Trish Nuskievicz, assistant director of the county planning commission.

That means the county would be able to sell solar renewable energy credits to power providers, for instance, to FirstEnergy. There is a list of energy providers that can purchase credits, including FirstEnergy. The county can sell the credits to any company that receives the designation, Nuskievicz said.

Commissioners today are expected to OK requesting the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio certify the system as a renewable energy resource generation facility.

Kim Wissman, PUCO department of energy and environment director, said if the commission certifies the request, Trumbull would be registered in a tracking system to make sure the credit isn't being sold more than once.

Source: Trib Today

Green jobs rise in Ohio, but U.S. behind competitors

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Dayton area has 6,232 jobs related to the renewable energy economy, up from 4,263 in 2003. That’s an average annual increase of about 5.6 percent, and the jobs pay $37,000 per year on average.

Nevertheless, the United States is falling behind its global competitors in the race for renewable energy, a report from the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program said.

The report, “Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Jobs Assessment,” shows that market challenges and national policy uncertainty are hindering the sector’s ability to keep pace with other nations. For example, China has twice the installed renewable energy output as does the U.S.

There have been some positive announcements recently. Earlier this month, it was announced that a solar-panel factory will locate in northwest Ohio.

Isofoton, based in Spain, said it selected Napoleon near Toledo for the 330-worker plant. The largest solar-power project in the Midwest, a 50-megawatt facility, will be built in eastern Ohio in Noble County. Construction begins next year.

Source: Dayton Daily News

Green Tech Chatter: A Solar, Wind HOA Debate

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In an era where more and more people are interested in installing solar panels or small wind turbines on their properties, many people are running into a problem–that problem is the homeowners’ association. Homeowner associations (HOAs) are found in residential subdivisions like condos and gated communities, and are set up by real estate developers to market, manage, sell and maintain housing units. They also set rules about changes made to the units, exterior decor and the like. While some are fair and reasonable, horror stories about HOAs have come to the fore, and recently, they have been a traditional opposition to the installment of solar and wind power devices on individual units.

This is not to say that all HOAs are against renewable energy. In addition, state and federal laws are changing to allow for residents to install renewable energy devices without the approval of HOAs.

Source: Earth Techling

Berea College campus goes green with Ecovillage

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Berea College's “Ecovillage” at the historic liberal-arts college in Eastern Kentucky's Madison County combines student-family housing with environmental research and an early childhood education program.

Richard Olson, a Berea professor and director of its Sustainability and Environmental Studies, is less geared toward national policy changes and more toward equipping people and communities to live in ways that don't require multistate power grids and food shipped from distant states.

Some methods are high-tech, such as photovoltaic solar panels.

Many are low-tech, including clotheslines, food composters, and systems for recycling “gray” water used in households for sinks and showers. They also include methods for raising fish and vegetables in small buildings and yards.

“The biggest complaint I get in my classes is, ‘You're so doom-and-gloom,' ” Olson said. “At least half of what I do in any of my classes is solutions. But you can't come up with solutions unless you understand the problems.”

The Ecovillage includes 50 townhouse units for students with spouses, children or both.

Source: Courier Journal

SolarEdge PV Inverters Approved for US DOE's Recovery Act-Funded Project

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

SolarEdge Technologies Inc., a leading provider of end-to-end solar power optimization and monitoring solutions, announced today that its solar PV inverters qualify for US local, state and federal projects, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), and administered by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), of the US Department of Energy.

The SolarEdge leading technology complies with a waiver of the Recovery Act Buy American provision and is therefore eligible for nationwide US projects and programs. The waiver approves use of inverters that permit optimal output of four or more types of modules per array connected to one inverter, as presently no product manufactured in the United States has been found by EERE applicable to satisfy the needs of ARRA funding grantees utilizing arrays of diverse types and sizes of modules.

Source: Renewable Energy World

PV Equipment Spending to Fall by Nearly Half in 2012

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

PV equipment spending for c-Si ingot-to-module and thin-film panels is forecast to decline sharply in 2012 to US$7.6 billion, down 47% Y/Y from a record level of US$14.2 billion in 2011, according to the latest Solarbuzz® PV Equipment Quarterly report. This decline in equipment spending will impact 2H’11 PV equipment revenues and also result in lower corporate guidance for 2012.

The collapse in equipment spending—coming immediately after Y/Y revenue growth rates of 84% in 2010 and 33% in 2011—is a consequence of ambitious c-Si cell/module and thin-film capacity expansions committed during 2010 and 1H’11 by tier 2 and tier 3 PV manufacturers. Coupled with market oversupply and strong inventory build through 2H’11, this capacity-demand imbalance will usher in a significant cell manufacturer shakeout phase during 2012 to 2014.

Equipment spending for Q2’11 reached US$3.6 billion, declining 3% Q/Q. This represents the first negative growth rate for PV equipment spending since Q2’09, indicative of an inflection-point within the current PV capital equipment spending cycle. The PV book-to-bill ratio also dipped below parity in Q2’11, continuing its sequential Q/Q downward trend from a high of 1.74 posted back in Q2’10, as new order intake reflected the slowdown in capacity planned for 2012.

Source: SolarBuzz

Family is first in Twinsburg to use solar panels on roof

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Reducing energy usage and living green has been a priority for Lockwood Oval resident Ken Riley for some time. He and his wife, Nora Suder-Riley, often turn off their air conditioner until the temperature is above 90 degrees, and use high efficiency light bulbs in their light fixtures.

Recently, the couple took their green initiative a step further by installing 12 solar panels on their roof.

"After being installed for just 24 hours, they produced 15 kilowatt hours of electricity," Ken said June 30. "We have used about 10."

It is estimated that the panels will produce 65 to 70 percent of the electricity the family uses in a year.

The inspiration for installing the solar panels and other green initiatives came in 2006 when the Riley's watched Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."

"Then I spent three days in Nashville being personally trained by Al Gore to give a version of the presentation that he gave in the movie," said Riley, a science teacher for the Waterloo School District. "I have done volunteer talks over 100 times since September 2006."

Suder-Riley, a Twinsburg High School science teacher, said family and friends have been supportive of the solar panels and other green endeavors.

Spanish solar jobs to shine in Ohio

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Isofoton, a leading solar energy technology company, chose the small town of Napoleon, Ohio as the new home for its North American manufacturing facility, according to news Wednesday from the Ohio Department of Development, which is making it possible with $15.8 million in taxpayer assistance that triggers a pledged of $16.4 million from the company.

Ohio, under former Gov. Ted Strickland, made solar energy an industry cluster sector the state has embraced, although not as much as others states have.

The Isofoton-Napoleon factory will initially consist of a 50 MW crystalline silicon PV module assembly line with fully automated REIS technology, a report from ODOD said, adding that Isofoton expects a short-term ramp-up to a 100 MW assembly line, with plans then to add a 100 MW cell line. The factory will start off creating 121 clean energy manufacturing jobs and ramp up to 330 direct jobs within three operational years. Indirect job creation, a vital part of the Isofoton’s “all-Ohio” economic development strategy should amount to 1,000 additional jobs beginning in 2012.

Source: Examiner

Sky Power Solutions Designs Solar Power Generation System with Unique Capabilities

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Sky Power Solutions, a specialist in the development and marketing of next generation lithium-powered batteries and concentrated solar collector electric generating power systems, announced it will display a stand-alone residential solar concentrating electrical power generation system during SOLAR INTERNATIONAL 2011 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas from October 17 - 20, 2011.

The new solar collector electric generating power system is unique because it can produce in excess of 2 Kilowatts (kw) of electric power with zero emissions using sunlight as the only fuel, and features built-in heat recapture to provide free hot water to users.

The Sky Power Solutions residential solar power station is capable of reducing the average user's monthly electric grid consumption by up to 30-40 percent with zero emissions and a zero carbon footprint; using only the power of the sun, according to company officials.

Source: Green Technology World

DTE Energy to Build Solar Installation on Mercy High School Roof

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

DTE Energy and Mercy High School in Farmington Hills today announced the signing of a 20-year agreement that will provide the utility's customers with renewable energy generated from the sun.

The 400-kilowatt, $2.5 million photovoltaic system will be installed using 125,000 square feet of roof on the high school at 11 Mile and Middlebelt roads. The solar array should be operational this fall after design and construction is completed.

The installation is part of DTE Energy's pilot SolarCurrents program that calls for photovoltaic systems to be installed on customer rooftops or property over the next four years to generate 15 megawatts (MW) of electricity throughout Southeast Michigan.

"We're pleased that Mercy High School will be the first private high school to participate in SolarCurrents, which is one of the largest distributed solar programs in the country," said Trevor Lauer, DTE Energy vice president, Marketing & Renewables. "We're seeing that the program has encouraged the development of new renewable energy projects by providing financial incentives to commercial and industrial customers interested in solar energy."

DTE Energy plans to invest more than $100 million in the program, in which customers participate for a 20-year period. The solar energy systems will be owned, installed, operated and maintained by the company. In return, Mercy High School and other customers that participate will get an annual credit on their energy bills, as well as a one-time, upfront construction payment to cover any inconvenience during installation.

Source PRNewswire

AEP signs pact for solar farm in eastern Ohio

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A solar farm in eastern Ohio that could create hundreds of jobs is one step closer to breaking ground.

Columbus-based American Electric Power Company Inc.’s AEP Ohio subsidiary said Tuesday that it signed a deal with New Harvest Ventures and Agile Energy, joined as Turning Point Solar LLC, to cooperate on the project. Both parties in October signed a memorandum of understanding that lines up AEP as the buyer of the facility’s power.

Envisioned for about 750 acres of former coal-mining land in Cumberland, southeast of Zanesville, the $250 million solar farm could see construction begin as early as next summer. AEP, which is contributing $20 million toward the project’s development, said the build-out will take three years.

The project could create up to 300 temporary construction jobs at peak and spark another 330 full-time jobs, but that’s contingent upon Spanish manufacturers Prius Energy SL and Isofoton securing state and local incentives to build plants in Ohio to manufacture panels and solar trackers needed for the site.

Source: Columbus Business First

Solar panels may take over Ohio town soccer fields

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A small tract of land along the Little Miami River that accommodates hundreds of children's soccer games a year could be filled within a year or two with long rows of solar panels - 1,100 panels to be exact.

Loveland, which owns 7.6-acre Betty Ray Field on Betty Ray Drive in Symmes Township, is considering installing the solar panels to generate 90 percent of the electrical power required to operate the three water wells and the treatment facility on the site.

No other local suburban community has a solar panel array that size.

"This is something we've been contemplating for over a year," Loveland City Manager Tom Carroll said.

The use of solar power would save the city $7,500 to $12,000 in annual energy costs. But the primary benefit, Carroll said, would be 20 percent reduction of Loveland's carbon footprint. That would result in a reduction in the city's use of carbon fuels for its operations and provide more of the electrical power from renewable resources, he said.

Source: Cincinnati.com

EIA Report: Renewables Surpass Nuclear Output

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

According to the most recent issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), renewable energy has passed a milestone as domestic production is now greater than that of nuclear power and is closing in on oil.

During the first quarter of 2011, renewable energy sources (biomass/biofuels, geothermal, solar, water, wind) provided 2.245 quadrillion Btus of energy or 11.73 percent of U.S. energy production. More significantly, energy production from renewable energy sources in 2011 was 5.65 percent more than that from nuclear power, which provided 2.125 quadrillion Btus and has remained largely unchanged in recent years. Energy from renewable sources is now 77.15 percent of that from domestic crude oil production, with the gap closing rapidly.

Looking at all energy sectors (e.g., electricity, transportation, thermal), production of renewable energy, including hydropower, has increased by 15.07 percent compared to the first quarter of 2010, and by 25.07 percent when compared to the first quarter of 2009. Among the renewable energy sources, biomass/biofuels accounted for 48.06 percent, hydropower for 35.41 percent, wind for 12.87 percent, geothermal for 2.45 percent, and solar for 1.16 percent.

Looking at just the electricity sector, according to the latest issue of EIA’s "Electric Power Monthly," for the first quarter of 2011, renewable energy sources (biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) accounted for 12.94 percent of net U.S. electrical generation -- up from 10.31 percent during the same period in 2010. Non-hydro renewables accounted for 4.74 percent of net U.S. electrical generation.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Solar-Powered ATMs for Miami, Florida

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Expert Financing, Inc. announced today that it will deploy the Southeastern US's first solar-powered automated teller machines (ATMs) in high-traffice outdoor areas in Miami, Florida.

The solar panels that power these ATMs are installed on the top of the ATM. The panels are connected to a circuit-breaker board that feeds a power controller. Part of the collected energy is stored in the power controller for the ATM's night operations.

Miami is the largest city in Florida and has sunny blue skies throughout the year. The city is encouraging the hotel, sports and tourism industries to use solar power.

Source: Solar Novus Today

First Solar DOE Loans Full Speed Ahead: 1,300MW, $4.5B

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The DOE Loan guarantee office has provided $4.5 billion to three massive solar farms. The award will allow First Solar to supply approximately 20 million solar panels to the three projects from U.S.-based manufacturing sites. Yes, that's 20 million panels.

Any complaints about the speed of the Loan Guarantee program might have been squelched by the torrid pace of the series of loans provided in the last two months. (Complaints about the loan guarantee process remain.)

First Solar is today's winner with the DOE offering:

* A conditional commitment for a $680 million loan guarantee to support the Antelope Valley Solar Ranch 1 project

* Conditional commitments for partial loan guarantees of $1.88 billion in loans to support the Desert Sunlight project

* And conditional commitments for partial loan guarantees of $1.93 billion in loans to support the Topaz Solar project.

First Solar is sponsoring all three projects and will provide Cd-Te thin-film solar PV modules for the projects from a new manufacturing plant that has begun construction in Mesa, Arizona, as well as from its recently expanded manufacturing plant in Perrysburg, Ohio.

The company expects that the projects will create a combined 1,400 jobs in California during peak construction.

AV Solar Ranch 1 is a 230-megawatt project that will be located in the Antelope Valley area of the Western Mojave Desert, approximately 80 miles north of Los Angeles, California. The project is expected to generate 350 construction jobs and will feature a utility-scale deployment of innovative inverters with voltage regulation and monitoring technologies that are new to the U.S. market. Power from the Antelope Valley Solar Ranch 1 project will be sold to Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

Source: Green Tech Media

Photovoltaic Tracker Company TecnoSun Solar USA Launches In Ohio

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

TecnoSun Solar USA Inc., a provider of solar tracking systems and the U.S. branch of Germany-based TecnoSun Solar AG, has begun operations in Toledo, Ohio.

"Our goal is to become the premier manufacturer of solar tracking systems in North America by leveraging the German engineering excellence from our parent company with the American manufacturing expertise available locally," says Greg Knudson, CEO of TecnoSun Solar USA.

TecnoSun Solar USA will be housed at the University of Toledo's Nietzsche Commercialization Complex and is expected to have demonstration systems operating at locations on the university campus by early fall. The firm says it will offer single-axis and dual-axis PV tracking systems featuring EcoSystem, a control system that collects real-time atmospheric data to optimize operating efficiencies while repositioning trackers and the solar modules during severe weather conditions.

Source: Solar Industry

Wind turbine starts up in Euclid above Lincoln Electric Co.

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The sprawling blades on Ohio's largest wind turbine started turning 278 feet above the headquarters of Lincoln Electric this weekend in Euclid.

Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik said Sunday that he anticipates this as only the beginning of his city's place in becoming a symbol of clean alternative energy.

"We have a lot more planned," Cervenik said of the massive wind turbines. "We're hoping this is the start of putting Euclid among the leaders in the nation."

Toward the end of the summer, Cervenik said the city is expecting two more turbines to be erected, for William Sopko and Sons Co., at East 227 Street and Lakeland Boulevard. The two turbines for Sopko will be considerably smaller than Lincoln Electric's, Cervenik said, and more versatile, with more interchangeable parts.

Euclid wants to put solar panels on City Hall and city libraries, the mayor said.

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Michigan City Considers Possible Spots for Electric Car Charging Stations

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Rochester officials have already agreed that DTE Energy can install two electric car-charging stations in the city.

Now they need to decide where the stations will go and how users will pay for their charge-ups.

The effort is part of a Department of Energy grant the Detroit energy company received; according to Rochester City Manager Jaymes Vettraino, DTE officials were looking for "forward-edge communities" with downtowns in which to install two of the charging stations.

Rochester City Council approved DTE's request at a meeting this month. On Monday night, council members heard an update from city officials.

Vettraino said he met recently with DTE representatives to choose potential locations for the charging stations, each of which would require one parking spot.

Source: Patch

Sunnier days ahead for toxic lake?

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ground was broken for a new solar energy plant Thursday which will help support an effort to clear away algae at Grand Lake St. Marys.

The plant, run by SolarVision, provided the funding for Celina, Ohio to buy the land for its Renewable Energy Center, which the plant is a part of.

The solar facility is expected to provide up to 5% of the city's energy needs by using 12,000 solar panels planted in a former field.

That center will also include a bio-gas facility which will take algae-filled water from the lake and store it in ponds. The water will go through an anaerobic digester, which will convert it into energy.

The process may slowly start to clean-up the lake, which has been plagued by the toxic algae in recent years.

"I don't want to overstate it," Celina's acting Safety-Services Director Kent Bryan says. "It's going to take years for this to help, and this isn't going to be the only facility in the years to come."

Source: WDTN

Top 5 Coolest Ways Companies are Integrating Renewable Energy into the Grid

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Intermittent renewables at high penetrations will bring new challenges for the grid. But how big will they be? And is it true that wind and solar will necessarily need storage or natural gas back-up at high levels?

The International Energy Agency wanted to know, so it modeled a variety of high-penetration scenarios in eight geographic regions around the world. Hugo Chandler, a senior policy analyst with the IEA explains the organization’s findings to Climate Progress:

Variability is not just some new phenomenon in grid management. What we found is that renewable energy is not fundamentally different. The criticisms of renewables often neglect the complementarities between different technologies and the way they can balance each other out if spread over certain regions and energy types.

Grid operators are constantly working to balance available supply with demand – it’s what they do. There are always natural variations that cause spikes in demand, reductions in supply or create disturbances in frequency and voltage.Once you see there are a variety of ways to properly manage that variability, you start whittling away at the argument that you always need storage or a megawatt of natural gas backup for every megawatt of renewable energy.

Theoretical modeling is important. But what companies are doing in reality?

Here’s five of the top methods for integrating renewable energy into the grid – proving that intermittency isn’t the show-stopper that critics make it out to be.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Solar Energy Project to Create Thousands of US Jobs

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A consortium of leading financial, real estate, and renewable energy companies —Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Prologis, and NRG Energy —announced on June 22 that they have an offer of a conditional commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office to help finance the largest distributed rooftop solar generation project in the world.

The loan guarantee supporting $1.4 billion of debt facilitates a total project size of about $2.6 billion, which is being financed entirely by the private sector over the next four years.

This distributed solar project will generate employment across 28 U.S. states and will create the equivalent of more than 10,000 full-year jobs. Once fully funded and completed, these installations are expected to provide approximately 733 megawatts (MW) of distributed solar energy, which is enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 100,000 homes.

Source: Green Technology World

Paris Air Show Featuring a Solar-Powered Plane

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Paris Air Show is underway this week, and while the event is generating a lot of press releases, the real press enthusiasm is about the Solar Impulse, a light aircraft powered by the sun.

But don't look for a passenger flight on a solar powered airplane anytime soon.

The Solar Impulse, a prototype aircraft piloted by Andre Borschberg, carries only one person – the pilot – and is often delayed because there is too little sun or too much wind, reported the Associated Press.

Borschberg is on record as the first pilot to fly for 24 hours in an entirely solar-powered plane. But that doesn't mean he flew very far, because the plane itself is none too speedy. It took Borschberg 16 hours to fly from Brussels to Paris — five hours to make the flight and another 11 hours circling over the airport, waiting for wind to die down enough for the plane to land.

Source: Green Technology World

Brown to Green: A New Use For Blighted Industrial Sites

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A study by researchers at Michigan State University found that Michigan’s brownfields could eventually generate 5,855 megawatts of wind and solar power, enough to provide electricity to nearly half the state’s homes. Developing these Michigan sites would also attract $15 billion in investments and create more than 17,000 jobs, the Michigan State study found.

Converting brownfields to renewable energy sites faces no real opposition, although some developers caution that communities should make sure that a green energy project is the best long-term use of a former industrial site.

“In the short term, it makes great sense to take land that is otherwise not usable and put renewable energy on there,” said Jesse Silverstein, executive director of the Colorado Brownfields Foundation, which is working to put solar panels on a former landfill in Colorado Springs. But since solar arrays typically have a lease lasting 20 to 30 years, if the area around a proposed renewable energy site is projected to develop in other ways, then that spot may be better suited to different redevelopment options, Silverstein said.

Source: Environment 360

Cutting-Edge Technology Could Radically Reduce Price of U.S. PV Solar Cells

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced funding for a project that could radically reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar cells—making America more globally competitive and leaving other manufacturing processes, literally, in the dust.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has made a conditional commitment for a $150 million loan guarantee to 1366 Technologies for the development of a multicrystalline wafer manufacturing project. The project will be capable of producing approximately 700 to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of silicon-based wafers annually using a revolutionary manufacturing process called Direct Wafer.

The Direct Wafer process, invented by 1366 Technologies, casts the wafers from molten silicon at the desired dimensions — 200 microns thick, or about eight-thousandths of an inch — rather than slicing them from a big block and losing up to half the material as dust.

Source: Green Technology World

PV Racking Introduces New Slide-In-Place Racking System

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Churchville, Pa.-based PV Racking has debuted a new solar racking system that allows solar modules to slide in place, making solar installation virtually clamp-free for both ground-mounted and roof-mounted systems.

By eliminating the use of tedious clamps, this system makes the installation of solar modules faster and easier than with traditional systems, according to the company. Two people can install 30 kW in a single day, thus reducing labor costs by up to 30%.

Source: Solar Industry

University of Michigan Researchers Create Solar Power without Solar Cells

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a way to make an “optical battery” that generates power from the magnetic components of a light beam.

This surprising discovery could eventually rival or replace the traditional semiconductor-based solar cell, according to Stephen Rand, a professor in the departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Physics and Applied Physics.

It already has overturned a century-old tenet of physics.

“You could stare at the equations of motion all day and you will not see this possibility. We’ve all been taught that this doesn’t happen,” said Rand, an author of a paper on the work published in the Journal of Applied Physics. “It’s a very odd interaction. That’s why it’s been overlooked for more than 100 years.”

Source: Green Technology World

AAA to Offer Roadside Charging Service Starting This Summer

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

AAA, the nation's largest motor club, announced to members of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) on Friday that it has a fully functioning electric vehicle mobile charging unit ready to deploy for its roadside assistance operations.

The Orlando, Florida-based motor club said that it will unveil the latest addition to its fleet of roadside assistance vehicles at the Plug-In 2011 Conference & Exposition in Raleigh, N.C., July 18-21, and begin initial deployment in select cities across the country later this summer.

Source: Green Technology World

Ohio homeowner harnesses wind power to save money

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A retired Ohio GM worker is harnessing the power of the wind to save money on his own electric bill.

He says his bill is down to zero. But it did cost him $3500 to have a turbine installed in his backyard.

The installer of the turbine says, the Engleman's will get energy credit cards, when they produce more electricity, than they use.

Source: WKYC

Nortech sees $30 billion potential market for Northeast Ohio advanced energy companies

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Efforts to build advanced energy and high-tech manufacturing in Northeast Ohio are about to accelerate at an unprecedented pace.

NorTech, a regional nonprofit, economic development group, has been working for months with more than 30 companies, NASA Glenn Research Center, Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron to create a game plan - a roadmap to growth based on the region's existing strengths.

The idea is deceptively simple: First figure out what companies are already here and whether there are enough of them to create a competitive concentration, or "cluster."

Then get them talking while you do an analysis that includes a look at whether there is a market for their products and whether the "cluster" has the potential firepower to beat the competition, whether it is located in another state or around the world.

Source: Cleveland.com

One Million Bangladesh Homes Now Powered Solely by Solar

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The number of households powered by solar energy in Bangladesh has passed the one million mark – the fastest expansion of solar power in the world, according to Bangladeshi officials. In 2002, only 7,000 households were using solar panels.

Bangladesh had previously set a goal of powering one million households with solar energy by 2013, but achieved the landmark 18 months ahead of time. By 2014 Bangladeshi officials are aiming to power 2.5 million homes with solar energy.

In August 2009, the World Bank agreed to loan Bangladesh $130 million to install solar energy panels to power 300,000 households. That loan, as well as low-cost government/private sector financing to install solar panels, have fueled the unsurpassed growth.

Source: Green Technology World

Amid Boom, U.S. Solar Industry Fears End of Government Incentives

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. solar energy installations are poised to double in 2011 for the second year in a row, but the industry could fall short of its lofty, long-term goals for growth if two key federal programs dry up, officials say.

"We are in reach of our goal of installing 10 gigawatts of solar annually by 2015. That's enough to power more than 2 million homes with clean reliable solar energy each and every year," Tom Kimbis, vice president of strategy and external affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), told reporters on a conference call.

"But to reach that goal, Congress needs to make the right investments in solar energy," he said.

Around 1,800 megawatts of solar power will be installed in the U.S. this year, up from the 887 megawatts installed in 2010, Shayle Kann, managing director of solar research at GTM Research, said on the call.

"This is going to be a time when we see enormous changes ... and everything that comes with the maturation of a sector is going to be compressed into a very short period of time over the next year and a half in the U.S.," Kann added.

Source: Reuters

US offers $275M loan guarantee to Ohio solar plant

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The federal government has offered a $275 million loan guarantee so a solar products company can bring hundreds of jobs to north-central Ohio.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Thursday that Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Calisolar Inc. is expected to set up a manufacturing operation within a former General Motors Co. stamping plant in Ontario, Ohio. Calisolar estimates the project about 60 miles north of Columbus will generate up to around 1,100 permanent jobs and 1,000 construction jobs.

The facility will produce silicon for solar-power panels.

Chu says in a statement that Calisolar utilizes an innovative manufacturing process that will help the U.S. "out-innovate and out-compete" solar industry competitors.

Source: The Sacramento Bee

End of Chinese Subsidy Good for Ohio

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced that China was ending a subsidies program that encouraged wind-power manufacturers to use Chinese-made parts rather than purchasing imported parts.

The United States, in a case filed with the World Trade Organization in December, argued that the program was the equivalent of an illegal subsidy.

"Subsidies requiring the use of local content are particularly harmful and are expressly prohibited under WTO rules," Kirk says. "We challenged these subsidies so that American manufacturers can produce wind-turbine components here in the United States and sell them in China."

Source: Today's Energy Solutions

Solar v. wind: which gets more government love?

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It wasn’t so long ago that solar firms were worried they might lose funds to their counterparts in the wind industry when it came to divvying up the stimulus package. But as key programs from the stimulus package draw to a close, the score card shows that while solar gets more loan guarantees, wind projects get more cash grants, which offset 30 percent of a project’s cost.

The results reflect the maturity of the two technologies as well as the designs of the federal aid programs that seek to boost job growth via clean power. The cash grant program, run by the U.S. Department of Treasury, doled out large awards going quickly to big wind farm projects in the early days of the program’s deployment.

The story is different with the loan guarantee program that is commonly referred to as the Section 1705 program. Solar projects have been big winners, particularly large solar farms that are set to rise in sunny and arid regions of California and other southwestern states. The U.S. Department of Energy announced not one, but two more loan guarantees for solar projects yesterday. The DOE offered a $1.2 billion loan guarantee to Abengoa Solar for the 250 MW Mojave Solar project in California. The DOE also offered a $681.6 million loan guarantee for a 250 MW project being developed by NextEra Energy Resources. The guarantees reflect the amount the government promises to pay lenders if borrowers can’t.

Source: Reuters

U.S. Solar Energy Industry Continues Record-Setting Growth in 2011

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. solar energy industry continued to be one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy in Q1 2011 according to the U.S. Solar Market Insight: Q1 2011 report released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®) and GTM Research.

In total, cumulative grid-connected solar electric installations have reached more than 2.85 gigawatts (GW), enough to power nearly 600,000 U.S. homes.

In the first quarter of 2011, the United States installed 252 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected photovoltaics (PV) or 66 percent year-over-year growth over Q1 2010 installations. Two major factors drove this growth: falling solar energy equipment costs and a rush to take advantage of the Section 1603 Treasury program that was expected to expire in 2010 (the program was eventually extended through the end of 2011).

All three PV market sectors (residential, commercial and utility) continued to grow, with commercial installations showing the strongest gains.

Source: Green Tech Media

All-electric Wheego LiFe arrives at local dealer

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

When you hit the accelerator, the Wheego LiFe sounds like a jet, even though it looks more like a hatchback that got hit by a mad scientist's shrink ray.

The subcompact car is the first all-electric vehicle available in central Ohio, now being sold at Auto Center Southeast in Groveport.

Wheego, based in Atlanta, is one of several electric-car startups.

The LiFe, a name that refers to the lithium-iron battery system, has a top speed of 65mph and a range of about 100 miles on a full charge. The sticker price is $32,995, before a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

Solar PV Poised for Cost Parity with Fossil Fuels

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Within the next 10 years, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have the potential to be the most economical form of generating electricity, even compared to traditional fossil fuels, say solar energy experts from IEEE, a professional association for the advancement of technology.

To achieve this cost parity, the global industry must continue to improve the efficiency of solar PV cell technologies and create economies of scale to further decrease manufacturing costs. IEEE has several initiatives to encourage these advancements.

Solar energy is the earth's most abundant energy resource. The rate of energy from sunlight hitting the earth is on the order of 100 petawatts (PW). Just a fraction of that is needed to meet the power needs of the entire globe; it takes approximately 15 terawatts (TW) to power the earth (1PW = 1000TW).

According to the International Energy Association (IEA), global solar PV capacity has been increasing at an average annual growth rate of more than 40% since 2000. By 2050, it is expected that solar PV will provide 11% of global electricity production, corresponding to 3000 gigawatts (GW) of cumulative installed capacity. That would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2.3 billion tons, equivalent to reducing emissions from electricity use from 253 million homes per year, nearly the combined populations of Russia and Japan.

Source: Solar Novus Today

SEPA Utility Solar Rankings Report Shows Utilities Grew 100% in 2010

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Consisting of America's electric utilities and solar companies, Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has released its latest report in which its research has revealed that utilities are increasingly expanding their solar power generation portfolios and astonishingly most of these solar instalments are materializing outside of California.

SEPA's Fourth Annual Top 10 Utility Solar Rankings that analyzes utility solar electricity markets in the United States found that in 2010, utility integrated solar grew 100% from 2009. Of the Top 10 ranked utilities, seven of which are from outside of California contributed 561 MW of solar electric capacity. Actually, SEPA found that 63% of the utilities from outside of California are the largest percentage accounted. In 2010, thirty utilities reported owning 140 MW of solar which is a drastic 300% increase from 2009.

Source: Solar Novus today

U.S. Falling Behind In Green Technology Manufacturing

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A Pew (News - Alert) Charitable Trusts study noted that while the clean energy market is expected to be worth $2.3 trillion worldwide, the U.S. is taking home a shrinking slice of that pie. The report concludes that the U.S.'s competitive position is “at risk” because of “uncertainties surrounding key policies and incentives.”

Hal Harvey, an engineer at Stanford University and a former policy adviser to both the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations, told the NY Times, “This is a $5 trillion business and if we fail to be serious players in the new energy economy, the costs will be staggering to this country.” Harvey is now the chief executive of a San Francisco-based energy and environment nonprofit organization called Climate Works. While a 2009 federal stimulus bill provided about $45 billion in incentives and funding for green technologies, those funds have largely dried up and have not been renewed.

Source: Green Technology World

Ford to Triple North American Production of EVs and Offer More Models by 2013

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ford Motor Company announced on June 9 that it is tripling production capacity of its complete electrified vehicle (EV) lineup by 2013—further boosting volumes of its all-new C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which will be in showrooms by fall 2012. Production capacity is scheduled to reach more than 100,000 EVs annually by 2013.

“Customers have come to expect fuel efficiency with every new vehicle Ford delivers today, and now we are further differentiating our electrified vehicle lineup with something else people truly value – choice,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s Group Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service. “Whether people want a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or full battery electric vehicle, we have a family of vehicles for them to consider, providing a range of options to best meet their needs and support their driving habits and lifestyles.”

Source: Green Technology World

Google Installs 70 EV Charging Stations

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Google has expanded its electrical vehicle infrastructureto over 220 charging stations with the addition of 71 faster Level 2 chargers from Coulomb Technologies.

The charging stations will used by staff-owned electric vehicles, as well as by GFleet, the company’s growing employee car sharing program, which includes Chevrolet Volts and Nissan LEAFs. Google is planning an additional 250 charging stations and has a goal to make five percent of campus parking EV-ready.

The company will manage its charging stations via Coulomb’s ChargePoint Network, which offers controlled access via smartcards. Online station management will help Google track and report energy usage, greenhouse gas and gasoline savings data.

Source: Environmental Leader

Parma, Ohio will shine solar spotlight to help businesses go green

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The city is hoping that a tiny step into the world of solar energy will lead to big savings for Parma businesses exploring alternative energy forms.

On Monday, City Council approved the purchase of a “solar spotlight.” The city will place the device somewhere on City Hall property.

The sun will power the spotlight’s battery. City Hall might use the device to light an American flag at night, said Shelley Cullins, the city’s economic development officer and grant writer.

Cullins added that the city has not yet determined how it will use the solar spotlight.

The spotlight will cost $365. The city will pay just $50 of that amount and the money is not due until 2036, under an agreement council approved Monday.

The rest of the money will come from the First Suburbs Development Council, a group of 16 Greater Cleveland communities, most of them inner-ring suburbs like Parma.

The FSDC is financing the Parma project — and others like it among FSDC communities — because it is creating an “alternative energy special improvement district.”

Source: Plain Dealer

Ohio Senate extends tax break for renewable energy

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Senate today passed its versionof the state’s biennial budget, which included a three-year extension of a tax benefit for renewable energy projects. The Senate’s budget is now sent to conference committee, where details will be hammered out before a final vote of the General Assembly and Governor John Kasich’s final sign-off.

The legislation states that qualified projects are exempted from real and personal property taxation. The tax measure was originally passed as Senate Bill 232, and was scheduled to sunset at the end of 2011.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Ohio Senate extends tax break for renewable energy - Columbus Green Activism | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/green-activism-in-columbus/ohio-senate-extends-tax-break-for-renewable-energy#ixzz1OooGGlqy

Source: Columbus Examiner

MIT Team Invents Liquid EV Batteries that Make 'Getting Pumped' Fast and Easy

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A group of students and academics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology has radically redesigned the batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The new, liquid batteries can be refueled in minutes, or swapped out like tires at a pit stop. And if that’s not enough, they are also lightweight and inexpensive. Although they are now in prototype stage, the introduction of smaller, lighter, easily rechargeable batteries could be a game-changer in the auto industry, making EVs fully competitive with conventional gas- or diesel-powered vehicles.

According to an article by David L. Chandler in the MITNews, the batteries rely on an innovative architecture called a semi-solid flow cell, in which the battery’s active components — the positive and negative electrodes, or cathodes and anodes — are particles suspended in a liquid electrolyte. These two different suspensions are pumped through systems separated by a filter, such as a thin porous membrane.

Source: Green Technology World

Company purposes solar-power garbage bins for city

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The cofounders of an environmentally sensitive business have joined forces with the Downtown Nassau Partnership to introduce an eco-friendly device for the upkeep of Bay Street.

Torry Ferguson, 26, and Dewit Duncanson, 24, of the two-year-old company CleanGreen Bahamas, yesterday unveiled the BigBelly Solar Compactor - a compacting trash receptacle completely powered by solar energy.

Mr Ferguson said the receptacles can hold "five to six times" as much garbage as the regular bins now lining Bay Street.

"Regular garbage bins holds about 20-25 gallons of garbage.

"The solar compactor can hold up to 120 gallons. That's five to six times as much garbage, so it eliminates the number of times trucks have to come to Bay Street and most importantly it saves energy and is environment friendly."

The increased capacity cuts operating costs, fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Source: The Tribune

The 10 Million Solar Roofs Act of 2011

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., have introduced the 10 Million Solar Roofs Act of 2011, which is designed to lower the cost of solar power and put the U.S. on track to install 10 million solar systems on homes and businesses by 2020.

"This legislation will make it more affordable for families and businesses to install solar, by helping communities reduce the costs associated with solar energy permitting," Sanders said.

"A simplified permitting process will make solar energy more affordable," added Boozman. "I am especially pleased that our bill is fully offset and uses existing authorized spending to spur improvements in solar permitting and encourage the deployment of solar energy systems."

In addition to establishing a goal of powering 10 million homes and businesses with solar energy by 2020, the measure would provide grants to communities to help them make their solar energy permitting process less costly and more efficient.

Source: Solar Industry Magazine

Celina, Ohio to Break Ground on Renewable Energy Center

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Celina Renewable Energy Center will break ground this month in Celina, Ohio. The center includes a 3 MW solar energy field on a 20-acre tract, in addition to a biogas plant, lake sediment ponds and man-made wetlands.

Under Phase II of the plan, which was signed into contract on April 12, the City of Celina will receive a licensing fee of $700,000 to build an additional 2 MW of solar power on an additional 10-acre tract.

The system will encompass approximately 12,000 solar panels on 20 of the 60-acre tract, which also houses an existing cell tower.

Source: Solar Industry Magazine

Solar panels to be dedicated at Ohio water treatment facility

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What was once a vacant lot behind the Washington C.H. Service Department now houses solar panels that will generate approximately 30 percent of the neighboring water treatment plant's electrical power, at no cost to the city.

"Typically, large scale environmental projects come with large capital investments," said City Manager Joe Denen.

Solar energy is no exception. Solar panels are expensive to install and require a large amount of space. Government tax breaks are given to offset the cost for those wanting to go green, but government agencies do not qualify. The city's best option was to cooperate with a private company for a project of this nature.

Legislation approved by city council authorized the city to enter into an agreement with Solar Vision LLC to produce and sell solar generated electricity.

Solar Vision paid for the installation, and is responsible for the upkeep and operation of the panels after completion. The city then buys the electric generated by the panels for 10 percent less than their current provider's rate.

Source: Record Herald

Midwestern potential to harness solar power

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Today, solar energy is the fastest growing energy technology in the United States. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), a DC-based non-profit trade group representing 1,000 companies across the supply chain, the deployment of solar technology has exploded since 2005 – in fact, it has achieved more than a 100 percent market growth rate in each of the last two years. Solar electric capacity doubled between 2009 and 2010. Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are projected to double again in 2011.

In 2010 there was enough solar technology installed in the U.S. to power almost 200,000 homes. Overall, the 2,600 megawatts of solar power now in place is enough to power more than a half-million homes nationwide.

Seven states have Renewable Portfolio Goals (RPG), including North and South Dakota, which call for 10 percent of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2015. Minnesota has an RPS requiring 25 percent by 2025.

With cold and often long winters, Midwesterners may wonder if this region even has the potential to explore solar power. The answer is yes. Photovoltaic solar works pretty well in most places, according to the SEIA. A striking example is Germany – Germany is the largest solar market in the world, and it has the solar resources equivalent to Anchorage, AL. That should speak volumes that this region, too, can participate fully in solar technologies and what they can mean to the economy.

Source: Prairie Business Magazine

Dow Hangs Out its Solar Shingle at New Plant in Midland, Michigan

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Dow Chemical Company has started construction on its new manufacturing facility for production of Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles at the company’s Michigan Operations site in Midland.

The Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle was named one of the 50 Best Inventions of 2009 by Time magazine, shortly after it was introduced as a prototype by Dow, as the first in a portfolio of building-related solar energy generating products. Designed as a roofing product that protects a home, it also produces clean power from built-in solar cells. Similar in hue to traditional asphalt shingles, the solar shingle – at an individual size of about 12 by 86 inches of surface area – blends in surprisingly well with deep, dark-colored roofing materials.

The $249 million photovoltaic plant, designed to manufacture residential solar shingles, will be built with $141 million in various state, federal, and local incentives. The facility is expected to roll out its first Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles in late 2012.

Source: Green Technology World

Volt charging station now in Mid-Michigan

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It's a first in the nation and it located right here in Mid-Michigan. We're talking about a unique charging station for Chevy Volt at a Grand Blanc Township dealership.

It kind of looks like a gas station, but it's called a 'solar canopy.' And if you own a Chevy Volt, it's where you can recharge.

It's like a 24 hour gas station, only without the fuel.

"The solar energy hits the panel, energizes the electrons, get that activity going creates electricity. Goes through invertors engaged in columns and that is turned into electricity that goes right into the vehicle," said Mary Alice Kurtz, the GM renewable energy manager.

The solar canopy is located in Grand Blanc Township at the Al Serra Auto Plaza.

Sourc: ABC12

Plug-in Volts set to show up at Central Ohio dealerships later this year

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Greg Kuss is one of the first Chevrolet Volt owners in central Ohio, a compact car that is only available in a small number of markets. Area dealers will begin selling the vehicle by the end of the year. The plug-in hybrid can run about 35 miles on electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in, representing a technological leap at a time of rising fuel prices.

"I love that sound," Kuss said.

The noises are subtle. When he pressed the button to start the car, the sound resembled the rush of air from starting a computer. Cruising, the car is almost silent. When accelerating, the car sounds almost like an electric golf cart.

Source: Columbus Dispatch

Envision Solar Files for US Patent for Tracking Solar Tree System

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Envision Solar International, Inc., a leading sustainable infrastructure designer and developer, announces the company has filed for a US patent with the Patent and Trademark Office. for its multi-axis EnvisionTrak solar tracking systems, which are designed to increase energy output by approximately 20% over a standard fixed PV array.

Initial installations of the technology are currently underway in Warren and Milford, Mich., New Castle, Penn. and in San Diego this summer.The patent application describes a “Device for Continuously Reorienting a Solar Panel.” Envision Solar Founder and CEO Robert Noble and company President Desmond Wheatley invented the technology.

Source: Solar Novus

Capital Returns to the Energy Sector

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It's widely recognized that the market for clean and renewable energy has been in a down cycle over the last several quarters. While capital investments were not actively pouring into the space, other factors played out to slowly create momentum in the market including the maturation of technologies, particularly in the waste to energy, biofuel and solar sectors.

After an exhaustive analysis of the market in the last quarter of 2010, Cascadia asserted its belief that the financing market was coming back, even though that was not reflected in the market data at that time. This belief was validated over the last several months with $2.65 billion in venture capital and private equity being infused into the sustainability sector across 165 deals. The month of March alone saw $1 billion of financing.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Solar Thermal Assisted AC in India

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Air conditioning in India has not been common due to the extreme demand that it puts on a notoriously unreliable electrical infrastructure. But when you think about when air-conditioners (AC) would be most used in tropical countries like India, it coincides with the time when the sun is blazing its heat in the peak afternoon. Dr Upendra Kamdar, founder of Suryashakti Systems came up with air conditioning unit that is powered in part by direct solar heat. Because units often have to fit into limited space, the systems are small because solar PV panels and batteries are not needed.

The patented hybrid system works by using solar thermal energy to further expand the refrigerant coming out of the compressor, thus reducing the compressor load and saving electricity consumed by the system. Heat is absorbed from the atmosphere and also from hot air exiting from the air conditioning system, which is usually discarded as waste heat.

Source: Solar Novus Today

PV Installations to Exceed 21GW in 2011

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

IMS Research predicts that more than 21 gigawatts (GW) of new photovoltaic (PV) capacity will be installed in 2011, up from ~18GW in 2010 according to its latest quarterly report on PV demand.

The market research firm has raised its outlook for this year based on new information on supply chain pricing which will help stimulate demand in major markets. However, the firm also cut its long-term forecast slightly due to decreasing incentives in several markets.

IMS Research's latest analysis of global PV demand revealed that installations will grow just 15% in 2011 and that prices are falling rapidly enough to create another surge in demand in markets such as Germany.

Source: Solar Novus Today

SEIA: 'Solar is the Fastest-Growing Industry in the US'

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) hosted a press teleconference last week to discuss an emerging trend in the utility-scale solar market toward diversifying solar technologies in utility-scale power plants. But the call strayed from the diversification topic and addressed some of the major issues confronting the U.S. market in 2011.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Rhone Resch, President of SEIA, said that the solar industry employs 100,000 Americans and that that number could double in the next two years. Within a few years, the U.S. will be the world's largest solar market, according to SEIA.

1603 Tax Grant Program and Solar

Resch said that the 1603 tax grant program has filled the void in the collapse of the tax equity market and that the grant program has doubled the efficiency of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). He remarked that it is scheduled to expire despite the tax equity market not having fully recovered. (The 1603 program provides a 30 percent grant in lieu of the tax credit.)

Resch said, "We have found it to be absolutely critical in the last two years." Resch added that SEIA wants the1603 program extended through 2016 "so we have business certainty. We've found that the 1603 program is an extremely efficient policy for job creation." In the last two years, the solar industry has created 50,000 jobs, according to Resch, adding that the U.S. market will double from 1 gigawatt in 2010 to 2 gigawatts in 2011 and could possibly double again if the tax credit is extended.

Source: Green Tech Media

Pennsylvania Plants Turning to Solar

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Although Pennsylvania developers are facing diminished state funding, solar energy systems are starting to help power some Schuylkill County manufacturing plants, like Sterman Masser Potato Farms and FesslerUSA.

Edward V. Johnstonbaugh, extension educator, Agri-Energy Economic Development Penn State Extension, said the solar energy systems being built in Schuylkill County are some of the largest in Pennsylvania.

According to Johnstonbaugh, though the highest capacity systems in the state are about 3 to 4 megawatts - or 3,000 to 4,000 kilowatts - some in the county are considered large-scale.

One of the largest recently completed systems in the county is the 1-megawatt solar energy system at Sterman Masser Potato Farms, Sacramento.

The western Schuylkill County potato processing plant in Hubley Township, which also harnesses alternative energy by transforming landfill gas into electricity, finished an energy system May 19 in which solar panels cover four acres of farmland just off Fearnot Road. The panels capture energy and convert it into power for the entire operation at the plant.

The system is expected to produce about 1,107,000 kilowatt hours of energy each year.

Source: Republican Herald

Illinois City Provides Free Charges for Electric Cars

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Anyone needing a boost for an electric car now can get it at Alton City Hall parking lot, perhaps the only free public charging station in Southern Illinois, its donor says.

"It's the first we know of that is free to the public," said Jeff Dale, 59, of Alton. "You can get quite a bit of charge the first hour."

Gateway Electric Vehicle Club, of which Dale is a member, donated the charger after sending him to a U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities meeting.

"They are trying to get a network of charging stations throughout the area," he said about the club.

Dale and his cousin, Bill Dale, will pay electricity costs the first year the charger is in place.

Hamburg Electric of Hamburg, Ill., installed the Clipper Creek, Level 2, 240-volt, J1772 (J-Plug) charger a couple of weeks ago.

Source: The Telegraph

Chevy Volt owners plug-in to the sun

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Mark Hildebrandt developed an interest in clean energy in the 1970s. Over the years, it became his vocation – he owns a company that installs solar panels – so it’s only natural that he counts on the sun to create the electricity to charge his Chevrolet Volt.

"I made the switch to renewable energy a while ago, and thus with solar energy, I can power my house, charge my Volt and pump energy back into the grid, which I get credit for," said Hildebrandt, owner of Sunventrix in Saline, Mich., and one of the first Volt purchasers in the state.

"As more Volts are sold, I believe the demand for solar charging stations will increase," he said. "I have spoken to a handful of Volt owners in Michigan that are really interested in charging their Volts from solar energy."

Hildebrandt isn’t alone in harnessing the sun for battery power. ZD Wines' winemaster and CEO, Robert deLeuze, has run his Napa, Calif.-based winery exclusively on solar power since 2007, and today you can often find deLeuza’s Volt among the grape vines charging from the winery’s photovoltaic system.

“Solar power generation makes sense, and I think the Volt will help generate more interest in home installations” said deLeuze. “ZD Wines has had a solar power station for the past three years and purchasing my Volt was a driving factor in installing a solar photovoltaic system at my house.”

According to OnStar data, many Volts are going up to 1,000 miles between gasoline fill-ups.

“The majority of miles driven by Volt customers are powered electrically by the Volt’s battery,” said Cristi Landy, Volt marketing director.

Source: GM Media

Special Report: Solar industry polishes its green image

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Virtually no source of energy can claim to have zero impact on biodiversity. Fossils fuels are the obvious worst offenders, as their burning emits gases which contribute to climate change and desertification. Nuclear accidents and oil spills, meanwhile, can decimate wildlife, as recent examples have shown.

However, even renewable sources of energy can pose problems. Wind turbines can upset the migratory patterns of birds and have triggered protests among some rural communities for causing noise or spoiling pristine landscapes.

The issue of deforestation directly or indirectly caused by the cultivation of biofuel crops has proven divisive within the industry, and has stirred a huge debate on the green merits of agri-fuels. Hydroelectric dams, which still account for the overwhelming majority of renewable electricity production, require flooding local habitats.

Solar energy appears to be largely free from these problems, a fact industry proponents are keen to emphasise. In December of last year, the German Renewable Energies Agency, with the backing of German ministry of the environment and private renewable energy companies, published a study on the benefits of solar parks to biodiversity.

The study found that "as well as making an important contribution to future energy supplies, solar parks can also provide a refuge for plants and animals."

Similarly, many environmental activists have enthusiastically backed solar energy for its low impact on biodiversity. Speaking to EurActiv, Friedrich Wulf, a biodiversity campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE), said that of the major energy sources "solar energy so far has the least impact on biodiversity".

Source: EurActiv.com

New Solar Panel System Integrated into Facade

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ruukki is the first company to have developed a photovoltaic system that has been fully integrated into a facade to convert sun rays into energy.

The solar panel facade has been designed for application in buildings of a high architectural standard that comply with increasingly stricter environmental regulations. Developed and patented by Ruukki, the system is fully integrated into the facade. The system enables power to be produced even in areas with no direct sun rays because the technology can also use sun rays in cloudy weather. In snowy areas and next to water, the system increases output from reflected rays.

A sun panel facade is ideal not only for office and commercial construction, but also for residential and commercial construction. The system does not limit choice of base materials or type of building and the facade can be installed in newbuild and renovation construction and on different bases.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Grants can help farmers with energy projects

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Before Jason and William Buck committed to joining the solar revolution, they did their due diligence in seeking financial assistance from the state and federal government.

Although a $615,000 solar-array project was a major investment for their 17,000 breeder chicken facility on Houtztown Road in Jackson Township, the payback has already started.

"We are not paying an electric bill," Jason Buck said. Seldom Rest Farms' monthly electric bill was about $1,200 prior to the solar project, of which about 75 percent was related to the chicken business. The Bucks also have between 40 and 50 head of dairy replacement heifers.

The Bucks received a USDA Rural Energy for America Program grant that covered 25 percent of the project's cost. Combined with a Pennsylvania Sunshine Rebatement Program grant that covered 8 percent and a U.S. Treasury Energy Grant through the Recovery Act for 30 percent, a total of 63 percent of the project's expenses were paid for by grants.

Source: Lebanon Daily News

US buys first electric cars, charging stations

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration said Tuesday it is buying more than 100 Chevrolet Volts and other electric cars as it moves to improve fuel efficiency of the government's massive fleet of cars and trucks. The plan by the General Services Administration to buy 116 plug-in electric cars marks the government's first purchase of road-ready electric vehicles, a GSA spokeswoman said.

The cars represent a tiny fraction of the 600,000 vehicles the GSA manages. But Energy Secretary Steven Chu and other officials said they were an important symbol of the administration's commitment to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

The government also said it is installing 100 car-charging stations in five cities: Washington, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.

President Barack Obama has called for a one-third reduction in oil imports by 2025 and wants to put 1 million plug-in electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

Source: Associate Press

Ohio Third Frontier Commission awards more than $3.5 million in grants

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Third Frontier Commission has awarded $2.9 million to a group developing solar technology as well as $642,000 to two internship programs in Northeast Ohio.

The money was part of $12 million the commission awarded through the Third Frontier program, an initiative designed to stimulate Ohio's economy through investments in technology.

The $2.9 million grant went to a group developing technology meant to help solar panels last longer. The group is led by Case Western Reserve University and also includes DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, Xunlight26 Solar, Q-Lab, eQED and Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

Two internship programs in Northeast Ohio each received $321,000.

Source: Crain's Cleveland Business

Solar panels to be fitted in all Japan's new homes and buildings by 2030

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Naoto Kan, the prime minister, is expected to confirm the "Sunrise Plan" initiative in a statement on the nation's energy policy at the forthcoming Group of Eight Summit opening this week in France.

Mr Kan is expected to tell other leaders that Japan will continue to use nuclear energy following industry-wide improvements on safety standards, according to Japanese media reports.

However, he is also expected to highlight the nation's future efforts to boost the use of renewable energy sources, in particular solar power for which the nation is already among the world's top users.

Source: The Telegraph

Survey reveals consumers prefer plug-in hybrids over EVs

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Given the choice between full electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, consumers prefer a battery-powered car that comes with a built-in backup plan, according to Accenture.

The consulting group conducted a survey of 7,000 people in 13 countries to gauge consumer readiness for the new clean automotive technologies coming to market. Accenture found that 58 percent of drivers were in favor of battery-powered vehicles replacing conventional gasoline-powered cars, but they weren't ready to give up gasoline all together. If they had to choose between a a plug-in hybrid or a pure electric vehicle, 71 percent of the responders favored the more conservative plug-in hybrid vehicle, and only 29 percent would prefer an all-electric car.

Source: cnet

Youngstown to Become Sister City with Largest Chinese Solar-Producing Cities

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Officials from Youngstown and Warren will sign sister-city agreements today intended to create economic opportunities for both cities and the Mahoning Valley as a whole.

This morning, Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien is expected to sign a sister-city agreement with Dezhou, Shandong Province, China, one of the largest solar-energy producing cities in the world, confirmed by the fact that it hosted the World Solar Congress last September. O'Brien is visiting the Chinese city, and was personally invited there after meeting last July with Shandong Province and Dezhou officials, according to a news advisory released by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.\

"In the past, sister-city relationships were more about cultural sharing. While that is still an interesting aspect, we plan to use the sister-city relationship to foster economic development inroads," said Eric Planey, the chamber's vice president for international business attraction.

Source: Business Journal Daily

Ohio Program Offers Solar and Wind Technology Training

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Youngstown-area electricians can learn to work with wind turbines in a two-week course being given by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 573.

The course is among a growing number of programs being offered to help residents capitalize on the burgeoning green energy movement.

"We are doing training in the installation of wind turbines, solar panels and how to perform energy audits," Eric Davis, training director at Local 573, said.

The Ohio IBEW received a $4.8 million grant in January 2010, which is being divided among the 18 IBEW training centers and expires in January 2012.

Since the program began, approximately 50 local IBEW members have taken the solar classes, 25 have taken wind turbine classes and another 25 have taken home energy audit classes.

Source: TribToday.com

Huge Growth Expected for North American Solar Industry

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama recently stated in his 2011 State of the Union Address: "Instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's." Shortly thereafter DOE secretary Chu launched the SunShot initiative, geared at research to drive down the costs of solar PV aggressively.

As Conference Committee Chair of Intersolar North America for the past three years, I witnessed the ebb and flow of policy, regulation, investments and its effect on the solar industry. The U.S. solar market has the potential to double once again in 2011, making it a contender for the world’s largest solar market by 2015. The 'perfect storm' of incentives, regulations and affordability, makes it well positioned for strong growth. According to Jay Holman, lead analyst for IDC Energy Insights' Renewable Energy Strategies program, "While subsidies undeniably underpin much of the solar PV industry's recent growth, the industry has been rapidly innovating in ways that make solar PV systems more cost effective, easier to install from both an economic and an installation labor perspective, and easier to maintain." Triggered by decreasing costs and the world’s quest for clean energy we are witnessing the start of a global solar tidal wave, with a 17 GW world market in 2010, and the US will be an important part of it.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Renewable Integration Still a Challenge for Utilities

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The renewables revolution is already well under way. In 2008, renewables contributed around 19 percent of the global electricity supply. By 2030, wind power alone could be providing 10 percent of the total global electricity supply and in excess of 20 percent by 2050—a massive expansion considering that in 2009 wind power met just 1.8 percent of worldwide electricity demand.

However, there are a number of potential challenges inherent in integrating renewable energy into the existing grid—due in large part to its intermittent and distributed nature—that utilities will need to address in order to capitalise on the renewables opportunity. The lack of an effective electricity storage system means utilities must deal with unwanted supply during low-demand hours and insufficient supply during peak-demand times.

It's an issue that will be further exacerbated by the prospect of greater use of electric vehicles, which poses utilities with an additional supply and demand dilemma. Analysts suggest an electric car consumes about as much power per year as an average European household, and the rapid increase in demand will force utilities to offer so-called smart metering solutions to cope.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Ohio school to operate partly on solar power

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Viveka Hulyalkar was a high school sophomore when she and then-senior Kara Walsh envisioned Lake Ridge Academy’s Green Society positively impacting the North Ridgeville school community.

Now preparing to graduate, Hulyalkar, in partnership with AP Environmental Science teacher Andy Wright, has helped contribute toward a lasting legacy in the form of a 480-foot long row of solar panels to be installed along the school’s shared property line with the Ohio Turnpike, as well as two 131-foot long arrays.

According to North Ridgeville City Council documents, all three arrays would be about 10 feet high. Paul Swazie, the academy’s director of facilities, said the arrays could represent about 17 percent of the campus’ energy demands.

Source: Cleveland.com

Effective SREC Market Design

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Since 2004, several U.S. states have designed and implemented markets for Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). These markets are intended to serve several purposes in supporting the growth of solar energy within the state. 2010 was a banner year for the SREC concept as solar growth in these seven markets outpaced the rest of the U.S., turning the East Coast into a focal point for solar companies in California and across the world. No two SREC programs are the same and some markets will fair better than others. Understanding why some markets are successful while others faulter will become increasingly important as other states look to SRECs as the way to incentivize solar.

In 2007, SRECTrade conceived an online marketplace powered by competitive monthly auctions for SRECs. Since launching in New Jersey, the transaction platform has expanded to all seven key SREC markets, adding Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. Through the experience gained developing SREC markets and aggregation services, SRECTrade takes a look at the components of an effective SREC market, the challenges that they face and some recommendations for how to avoid some of the design flaws found in existing SREC programs.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Hands-On Training at the National Solar Conference

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The 40th American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Solar Conference began this week in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Raleigh Convention Centre.

The conference has attracted installers, manufacturers, architects, builders, academics, government officials, policy makers, scientists, researchers, and others interested not just in solar, but in all renewable energy technologies and issues.

One of the key events taking place is Solar and You! Training, which ASES sponsors in partnership with National Solar Trainers (NST), a leading solar education provider. Through a series of training sessions held today through Friday, installers and others learn about advanced topics in solar technology, business management, market trends, residential and commercial installation and more. Participants can earn in a single conference all 18 continuing education credits needed for recertification by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Citizens Urge Ohio Power Company to Move Toward Clean Energy

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

An energy giant in the Buckeye State heard from a group of concerned citizens this week. Like other electrical generation companies in the state, First Energy is under a mandate to improve efficiency, and shareholders today will vote on several resolutions, including one that specially asks the company to examine future investments in coal. Members of communities affected by coal-fired power plants will gather outside to ask First Energy to transition beyond coal to a clean-energy future.

Source: Public News Service

South Euclid likely to shine solar spotlight on community center

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

South Euclid is one of 15 cities that make up the recently formed Northeast Ohio Advanced Energy District. The assemblage of communities, through federal stimulus money, will seek to encourage both commercial and industrial businesses within their borders to become more energy efficient.

Each member city must also undertake a project on public land. In South Euclid’s case, that project will entail installing a solar powered spotlight in front of the city’s community center, 1370 Victory Drive. The spotlight will shine on the sign in front of the center.

“We were looking for a project that would be visible to the public and that would demonstrate how green energy can be utilized in an efficient, effective manner,” said Community Services Director Keith Benjamin.

The spotlight will cost South Euclid only $50. The district, using its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money, would pay the remaining $365 cost.

City Council is expected to approve the expenditure for the spotlight at its May 23 meeting.

Other cities that are members of the Northeast Ohio Advanced Energy District are Bedford, Bedford Heights, Berea, Brooklyn, Brook Park, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Euclid, Fairview Park, Garfield Heights, Lakewood, Parma, University Heights and Warrensville Heights.

The non-profit organization, besides Cleveland, is made up of cities that comprise the First Suburbs Development Council.

Source: Cleveland.com

1,800 EV Charging Stations Spring Up Across the USA

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration is growing a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations fertilized with economic stimulus funds.

More than 1,800 electric vehicle chargers have been installed across the country to date under the Obama administration's economic stimulus law, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on Friday.

Secretary Chu made the announcement at an event in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, marking the installation of the 500th charger by Coulomb Technologies, which received a $15 million grant under the Recovery Act. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Coulomb Technologies founder and Chief Technology Officer Richard Lowenthal attended the event.

Coulomb Technologies, ECOtality, General Electric and others have been installing the charging stations as part of the Obama administration's investments in U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing and alternative vehicle infrastructure.

BMW picks home rechargers for next electric-car foray

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

BMW has chosen a company called AeroVironment to install home recharging units when it starts its next big test of electric vehicles, its BMW ActiveE program.

Charging stations will be installed with a 240-volt electric circuit in drivers' home garages as part of the vehicle's total driving system. The cars can usually be charged with a standard 110-volt wall outlet, but that can take hours longer.

Source: DriveOn USA Today

Rural small business grants offered

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program has several grant and loan guarantee programs for rural small businesses and agricultural producers.

For agricultural producers, small rural businesses, corporations formed under Section 17 or those similarly organized, rural electric and telephone companies, and certain other utilities, according to the release:

• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency grants and loan guarantees are available for purchases and installation of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. The application deadline is June 15.

• Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Grants are available for feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. The deadline is June 30.

For more information: visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Home.html.

Solar power, wind energy shine at Maryland expo

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The exhibition hall at the Timonium, Maryland Fairgrounds was transformed into an energy saver's paradise as part of the part of the second Solar and Wind Expo last week.

The event is the brainchild of George Lopez of Pasadena, who spent 25 years as a contractor, but started looking for a new line of work when the recession sent his construction business into a dive. What he found was a wind and solar energy market that was growing, but was still largely untapped.

Lopez is putting on another expo in Pennsylvania next month and hopes to eventually expand to Ohio, New York and beyond.

Source: Honmetown Annaplois

100 Percent Renewables: The Resources are There, Says UN Report

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Renewable energy sources are expected to contribute up to 80 percent of global energy supply by 2050, according to a new report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

“The report clearly demonstrates that renewable technologies could supply the world with more energy than it would ever need, and at a highly competitive cost,” said Steve Sawyer, secretary general of the Global Wind Energy Council. “The IPCC report will be a key reference for policy makers and industry alike, as it represents the most comprehensive high level review of renewable energy to date.”

The 1,000-page report, which was adopted by 194 governments after marathon negotiations on May 9, considers the potential contribution from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro, and ocean energy, as well as their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, their integration into the energy networks, their contribution to sustainable development, and the policies which are needed to put them in place. Following a review of 164 scenarios, the IPCC found that renewables will play a key role in any successful plan to combat climate change.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Lowe's and Sungevity Partner Up

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Lowe’s, the world’s second largest home improvement retailer, and Sungevity, the nation’s fastest growing residential solar company today announced a new agreement that will offer homeowners the easiest and most affordable solar solutions in the marketplace, marking a significant step in the mainstream adoption of residential solar.

Through the agreement, Lowe’s will provide consumers with Sungevity’s quick, easy and proprietary iQuote, a process that utilizes satellite images and aerial photography to calculate a same-day, firm installation estimate, eliminating the need for a home visit. As part of the interactive, in-store experience, consumers will be able to view a rendering of the proposed installation and get a firm understanding of the cost-savings related to Sungevity’s innovative solar lease program.

Source: Solar Novus Today

GM Receives $3 Million Solar Investment for Volt Plant

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

According to a GM press release, the 516-kilowatt project, announced Wednesday by GM and DTE Energy, will generate electricity capable of charging 150 of the electric cars with extended-range capability every day for a year – a total of 54,750 Volts. The 264,000-square-foot project is expected to be completed at the end of the summer and will save the facility approximately $15,000 per year over the 20-year easement agreement. The Detroit-Hamtramck facility was chosen because it has available space for the array and because it is home to the Volt.

Source: Torque News

Georgia Solar Tax Credits Spur Economic Growth

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

With the signature of Governor Nathan Deal, Georgia's solar energy tax credit is increasing to $5 million annually in 2012, 2013 and 2014 from the current $2.5 million yearly limit. The new law, which the General Assembly approved last month, helps ensure that the vibrant solar energy industry in Georgia continues to thrive, creating jobs and new investment opportunities statewide.

Businesses are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in tax credits to offset the cost of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating systems, and homeowners are eligible to receive up to $10,500 in tax credits for residential solar energy systems. The tax credits must be taken over four years. If the $5 million ceiling is reached in any year, eligible taxpayers on a waiting list will have priority over taxpayers that apply for the credits in subsequent years. The Georgia Department of Revenue will determine other administrative details about the tax credits.

Georgia Solar Energy Association (GSEA) Board Member and Advocacy & Education Committee Chairman Greg Chafee, head of the Energy Practice at Morris Manning & Martin, said Governor Deal's leadership made a crucial difference in creating the new solar investment opportunity.

Seattle's first commercial electric car charger

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

So far, Seattle electric car owners have had to depend on car dealers, government or their own charging stations to fill up.

But Wednesday, a major Seattle property company announced the opening of what it claims are the first commercial chargers in the city.

Unico Properties offers three new Blink commercial charging stations in the underground parking lot of it's Rainier Square building. Right now the service is free, but officials say they may impose a small fee ($2.00 or $3.00 for a full charge).

Source: KING5

Guest column: Ohio's energy efficiency law effective, creates jobs

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio's Advanced Energy Portfolio Standard or Senate Bill 221 received such strong bipartisan support because it was a forward thinking jobs bill that would help transform the state's economy. We find it puzzling that anyone would want to repeal Ohio's energy law that passed in 2008 with complete bipartisan support.

While the legislation was only enacted three years ago, already, it is a proven success. To date, investments are popping all across the state. Right here in Cincinnati, the zoo recently installed 6,400 solar panels on the parking lot canopy. This will provide 20% of the zoo's power and allow them to keep their energy costs down well into the future. In Southeast Ohio, the largest solar array east of the Rockies will be built. This project, which is on an old abandoned coal strip mine, will produce enough power for 30,000 homes and will create 600 new jobs - including the attraction of two new solar manufacturers to Ohio. Also, in Northwest Ohio, construction has begun on the Blue Creek Wind Farm, which has created 300 jobs, involves 18 Ohio companies, and will build 152 wind turbines. This project was originally slated for Indiana, until Ohio's lawmakers passed our energy law.

Source: Cincinnati.com

Duo-Gard Presents New Solar Charging Station Design

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As interest in electric vehicles and solar power is on a rise, Michigan-based Duo-Gard Industries decided to develop a new sort of solar-powered charging stations for cars, bikes, scooters, carts and motorcycles. The company’s new line of solar stations includes standard and custom models.

Duo-Gard’s solar-powered stations feature a turnkey approach that includes in-house design, engineering, fabrication and installation services, as well as technical support to specify, plus field support on photovoltaics, inverters and metering required to connect to the grid.

Also, a structure’s canopy of solar panels is engineered with continuous components, completely sealed against rain and snow.

Source: Auto Evolution

Solar power firms fight for subsidies

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hawaii's solar energy industry rallied last month to preserve renewable energy tax credits that were targeted for elimination by lawmakers looking for ways shore up the state's shaky fiscal position.

A bill (SB 756) that would have ended renewable energy tax credits by 2015 and impose a one-year delay on tax credits claimed in 2012 died when legislators failed to bring it before a conference committee in the last days of the legislative session.

Current law allows homeowners and businesses to claim state tax credits of up to 35 percent for solar and 20 percent for wind energy systems.

The Hawaii Solar Energy Association launched an unprecedented effort in late April to fight the bill, asking employees and customers of its 50 member companies to call a group of key lawmakers and register their opposition to the bill.

Best Buy wants to sell electric cars

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The largest electronics retailer in the nation, which already offers home chargers for electric vehicles, is already talking to small and large automakers considering to sell electric vehicles in its stores. Imagine a startup, which makes small electric cars, all of the sudden having a dealership chain of more than 1000 stores.

One of Best Buy's senior directors Chad Bell, who oversees the retailer's efforts to get into mobility and transportation segment of the market, tells Automotive News that the company is now talking to start ups about selling electric cars. In fact, judging from what Bell says, the electronics chain already has some partnerships, which they can't discuss yet. "I would say the conversations are going well. We are very excited about several partnerships that we can't talk about yet," Bell says.

Source: Torque News

Solar Panels Installed at Cincinnati Zoo

Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Cincinnati Zoo is now the greenest zoo in the nation, thanks in large part to these 6,400 solar panels in the zoo's Vine Street parking lot. On a sunny day like today, when the A/C and the heat aren't running for the zoo's critters, the solar panels are producing all of the energy the zoo needs and then some. That extra energy is then returned to the grid.

Annually, the panels will produce about 20 percent of the zoo's energy. It's clean and reduces the zoo's carbon emissions. This is a $12 million project, but the zoo didn't pay for it. Melink, a company based in Milford, Oh., owns and built the canopy, and PNC Bank provided reasonable financing. Energy and tax credits also helped with the cost. The zoo buys the energy the panels produce. The cost doesn't fluctuate like other energy sources.

Source: WKRC

Solar Panels Cause Neighborhood Power Struggle

Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

An Omaha couple is facing a civil lawsuit from their neighborhood’s home owners’ association over their alternative energy choice. Dr. Tim Adams and his wife, Cindy are proud of the home they've created for their eight children in their South Shore Heights subdivision, south of Lake Zorinsky. They’re especially proud of solar panels they had installed on their roof last fall.

The neighborhood covenants state, among other restrictions: “No … solar heating or cooling device… shall be constructed, erected, placed or permitted…” There are exceptions, if the H.O.A. has granted permission.

Adams says the wording in his neighborhood’s covenants is outdated. He said the term “solar heating or cooling devices” applies to a completely different energy source than the modern, low-profile solar panels on his home.

Source: WOWT

40th ASES National Solar Conference Features More Than a Dozen Industry-Leading Speakers

Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Attendees of the 40th annual ASES National Solar Conference (SOLAR 2011), May 17–21 in Raleigh, N.C., will gain valuable insights, experience and training from 14 industry-leading speakers. The speakers represent government, utilities, nonprofits, national environmental organizations and other groups essential to increasing renewable energy use. They will discuss advances in technology and mass deployment of renewable energy and efficiency, national security, jobs creation, how to market solar PV and thermal, legislation to encourage further growth of renewable energy and much more.

Sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES, www.ases.org), the ASES National Solar Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center is the industry’s most comprehensive educational event for everyone interested in the nation’s rapidly expanding clean-energy economy.

Source: Renewable Energy World

groSolar to Open Leading Edge Summer Training Series to Everyone

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

White River Junction groSolar, North America's premier solar distributor, with more than 1,500 nationwide solar dealer-installers, is rolling out a summer webinar series tomorrow. Each one hour webinar, consisting of a presentation and Q&A session, will be given by training and product managers from groSolar's leading manufacturers, including Astronergy, IronRidge, Canadian Solar and SolarEdge.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Solar-Thermal Flat Panels Could Generate Residential Power

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Boston College and MIT used nanotech materials to obtain seven to eight times higher efficiency than previous flat-panel solar thermoelectric generators, opening up solar-thermal electric power conversion to residential and industrial use.

Photovoltaics, typically in the form of flat panels, convert sunlight into electric current, and solar-thermal devices use light-absorbing surfaces to heat water with sunlight. Solar-thermal systems are usually used to produce electricity only in large power plants. When used residentially solar-thermal systems can generate hot water for household use.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Solar Infrastructure Company Launches Mobile App

Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Unirac, Inc., North America's leading provider of infrastructure for solar power systems, has expanded its "Digital Advantage" initiative with the launch of three mobility-related solutions: U-Clinometer, the only inclinometer application offering tilt and angle that is compatible with the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad; the Unirac QR-Code Reader; and Unirac Mobile 2.0, a new version of the Unirac website optimized for mobile devices.

As the first solar company to launch a mobile platform, in 2008, Unirac offers apps and websites specifically tailored to meet the needs of solar contractors and installers, regardless of location. In addition to the U-Clinometer, Unirac QR-Code Reader and the mobile website, the Unirac Digital Advantage makes it easier for installation teams to get the job done via resources such as web portals, Microsoft Photosynth for 3D views, and online configurators for bills of materials and price and engineering — all without leaving their rooftop location.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Should Washington Stop Subsidizing Energy?

Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Should the federal government stop doling out dollars to energy sources ranging from renewables to fossil fuels?

Debate is heating up on Capitol Hill and elsewhere about how much money Washington policymakers should give to energy sources, including oil, natural gas, wind, solar, and ethanol. Renewables and ethanol companies receive temporary tax credits that Congress votes to renew or not each year. Both industries say the subsidies are essential to their growth.

Read responses and submit your view.

Source: National Journal

Western North Carolina farms get renewable energy grant

Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

RALEIGH — Assistant Secretary Henry McKoy of the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Community Development Division has announced the launch of the 21st Century Communities Program partnership with Asheville’s Community Development Specialists and Green Brothers Solar to install 10 renewable energy demonstration projects on food producing farms in 21st Century Counties in western North Carolina. The project was awarded by the North Carolina Green Business Fund with funds from the federal Recovery Act.

The grant, totaling $149,480, will help install seven solar thermal and three small wind turbine installations in the 21st Century Counties of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Mitchell, Rutherford and Yancey.

The total amount of renewable energy generated by the installations will exceed 28,000kwH annually, a savings of at least $320/yr/farm for up to 20 years for a total savings of at least $64,000 for the farms, and will create at least 10 jobs.

Source: Citizen-Times

USDA money available for renewable energy, efficiency

Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A federal grant program that's funded several East Tennessee renewable energy projects is again accepting applications, and has been expanded so that projects including urban farms and biofuel pumps can qualify.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program is available to small businesses and agricultural interests in rural areas with populations of 50,000 or less, as well as farms within metropolitan regions.

A total of $1.2 million will be available this year in grants and nearly $1.6 million in guaranteed loans for solar, energy efficiency, biomass, wind, geothermal and biofuel pump projects in Tennessee. Of the grant dollars, $767,563 are devoted to requests of more than $20,000 and $461,018 to requests of $20,000 or less.

The USDA's state office evaluates applications and sends them to Washington, D.C., for final approval and funding. The office has received 35 applications so far. Last year, about 50 projects were approved.

'Once again we're seeing a large influx of solar projects across the state,' says Will Dodson of the agency's Nashville office. 'Also, we're seeing energy efficiency improvement. And a third technology that is really gaining is biomass,' particularly in Middle and West Tennessee.

Source: Knoxvillebiz.com

Infrastructure key to unlocking electric vehicle industry

Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Connecticut company Control Module Industries has installed three charging stations and has 10 more going out this year, including at Figaro Restaurant in Enfield. The company’s focus is pitching parking garages and hotels, places where people will park for extend periods of time and will need an electric vehicle charge.

The problem Bianco runs into in selling his charging stations is consumer return on investment. With modifications to wiring and infrastructure, a station can cost $14,000; but an electric vehicle owner isn’t going to use more than $1 or $2 of electricity. Other than goodwill created by reducing dependence on oil, a charging station owner isn’t going to make any money.

While Bianco doesn’t mind competing against the likes of Fairfield conglomerate General Electric — which has its own charging station business in Plainville — he says he can’t go up against California companies that are subsidized by state and federal grants.

At an electric vehicle forum on April 26 — where Connecticut officials researched ways to make the state an electric vehicle leader — Bianco said the government needed to level the playing field. He wants incentives for his customers to install charging stations and needs state help in securing federal grants.

“If we have a strong unified front here in Connecticut, we will get some of that money,” Bianco said.

Connecticut already is a leader in the emerging electric vehicle industry. Under former Gov. M. Jodi Rell, the state launched an infrastructure initiative to make the state appealing to electric car manufacturers. Connecticut has 11 existing and 18 proposed charging stations.

Source: Hartford Business Journal Online

Electric Car Boom Could Deliver a Surge in Grid Power

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Utilities Telecom Council trade group report, prepared by The Shpigler Group, takes a rather optimistic view of how popular plug-in cars are going to be. It predicts electricity demand from plug-ins will grow from 146,000 megawatt-hours in 2010 to 2.6 million kWh by 2020.

That’s a fraction of overall grid demand, but it’s largely the way people will plug in their EVs that could make it particularly hard for utilities to deal with the trend. Each plug-in car adds roughly the equivalent of a new house to the local grid’s electricity demand, which is something most neighborhood distribution feeders and substations weren’t built to supply.

Blown transformers, neighborhood blackouts and other problems could emerge as a result of too many EVs in concentrated areas getting plugged into neighborhood garages en masse. Pacific Gas & Electric has identified hot spots like Berkeley — home of the plug-in Toyota Prius hybrid retrofit market — as neighborhoods that might be facing this kind of problem soon.

Source: Reuters

Nissan accelerates LEAF deliveries to U.S. consumers

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Nissan Americas announced Wednesday, April 20, it will accelerate the U.S. market launch of the Nissan LEAF, an all-electric vehicle designed for the mass market. Beginning May 1, the company will reopen reservations to select consumers as both vehicle production and U.S. deliveries move into the many thousands. Nissan completed its first reservation session in September 2010 after achieving its goal of 20,000 U.S. reservations, three months prior to the first Nissan LEAF delivery.

Reservations first will reopen in the launch states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Individuals who already have registered on the Nissan LEAF website – a group that now totals 340,000 potential owners – will be given the first opportunity to reserve a spot in line to purchase a Nissan LEAF.

Source: Business & Heritage Clarksville

Chevron 1MW CPV Solar Field in New Mexico

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Chevron Mining Inc., a division of Chevron U.S.A., announced the start of one of the country's largest concentrating photovoltaic solar facilities located on the tailing site of CMI's molybdenum mine in Questa, New Mexico, previously impacted land.

Chevron installed concentrating photovoltaic technology that uses lenses to collect and focus direct sunlight onto layers of high efficiency cells. This technology is expected to work best in areas like northern New Mexico that have higher direct solar radiation.

The Questa solar field covers approximately 20 acres and includes 173 solar trackers, each about 18 feet by 21 feet in size.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Electric Car Maker Kick-Starts Sales with Rebate Program

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Hoosier, Indiana residents have a chance to buy a Th!nk electric car for cheap, thanks to a rebate program. According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, the car maker hopes the rebate program will give a boost to sales.

Hoosier residents will get a $9,000, and with a $7,500 federal tax credit, the cost of a Th!nk car would be just under $20,000. The Indiana rebate is being paid for with Department of Energy stimulus funds and the Project Plug-In program.

Project Plug-In has helped move 100 Th!nk vehicles into corporate and government fleets.

Ohio's Ashland County Not Moving Forward On Solar Panel Project

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ashland County Commissioners in Ohio will not be moving forward with the idea of using solar panels on some of the county's buildings to save money.

Commissioner Kim Edwards says the terms involving the length of the lease agreement presented a problem. Edwards says the length of the agreement was 20 years and the commissioners wanted an agreement with fewer years.

Last week, the commissioners heard a presentation from Al Berger, president of MKC Associates of Mansfield and representatives of Solar Vision about using solar panels for the county buildings.

Source: WFMD

University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio Holds Annual Conference

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio is holding its fifth annual conference on April 26 and 27 in Columbus, where it will showcase the work being done at those centers and work being done by students. The Toledo-based organization has worked with a wide array of academic, government and business entities to further business-university partnerships in advanced energy.

The conference will offer breakout sessions on a variety of topics including energy projects under way in Ohio, intellectual property issues surrounding university-business partnerships, policy issues around advanced and alternative energy and the opportunities and challenges of doing business in Ohio.

Also at the conference, the UCEA will roll out a new database that Harf says will provide advanced energy companies and others with current information about individual researchers and the work they do, programs of study available to those who are seeking degrees in alternative energy and on facilities and equipment available to businesses to further their technology development.

New Carlisle home shines on Earth Day

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

On a cloudy, cold and all around gloomy Earth Day, the 40 solar panels on John and Alycia Lee’s roof still got to shine.

Their home on Milton-Carlisle Road became a sort of showroom Friday for energy efficiency, with representatives from the company that recently installed the panels on hand to talk to interested neighbors and the director of the state’s Environmental Protection Agency present to celebrate Earth Day.

“They went from being energy consumers to energy producers,” said Michelle Waldgeir, vice president of marketing for Astrum Solar, the company that installed the 40 panels.

Source: Springfield News-Sun

Former Mich. governor on national clean energy tour visiting Ohio conference, business leaders

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is visiting Ohio to talk about the economic benefits of investing in clean energy.

Granholm was a two-term governor of Michigan. She now serves as senior policy adviser to the Pew Clean Energy Program. She is scheduled to be the keynote speaker Wednesday at the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio's annual conference in Columbus.

Ohio is the latest stop on Granholm's nationwide tour to promote clean energy. She told an earlier audience in Little Rock, Ark., that promoting alternative energy technologies such as wind, solar and biomass can spark innovation and make America more globally competitive.

Source: The Republic

Evidence That Solar Power Increases Home Value

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The US Department of Energy (through the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) just released a report yesterday finding strong evidence to suggest that homes with installed photovoltaic systems sell for a premium over homes without solar systems.

The study was conducted in California and analyzed a dataset of more than 72,000 homes that were sold from 2000 through mid-2009. 2,000 of the homes in the study had solar systems installed at the time of sale. The average size of the PV system was 3,100 watt capacity. The study found that homes with PV systems in place on average sold for $17,000 more than their non-PV installed counterparts. That translates to approximately $3.90 to $6.40 per watt.

The report also found that newer systems fetched a higher premium than older systems. This price disparity is to be expected with any cutting edge technological system, but particularly with solar, where the technology is still being refined and a new system is likely to be more efficient than an older system.

Westinghouse Solar System for Flat Roofs

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Westinghouse Solar, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems, recently announced the release of a new lightweight, non-penetrating flat roof solar power system designed especially for commercial rooftop projects.

Westinghouse Solar has combined its new 235 watt high efficiency solar panel with a new lightweight, aluminum and stainless steel flat roof mounting system with two very important benefits to commercial building owners and installers. First, the system is non-penetrating (no holes in the roof), thereby reducing the possibility of roof leaks and preserving roof warranties. Second, the system has been aerodynamically designed with extensive wind tunnel testing to resist high winds, thereby minimizing the ballast weight necessary for the system. The integrated rooftop system weighs 2.7 pounds per square foot.

Source: Solar Novus Today

Online Search Data Shows Growing Interest in Solar in Ohio

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

This Earth Day, the three R’s take a back seat to more revolutionary technology as searches on Yahoo! Green for “recycling” are down 56% this month compared to the same period in 2010, and down 93% from 2009. Online searches indicate that the recent nuclear crisis in Japan is making consumers think about alternative energy sources such as wind and solar energy. Consumers are more interested in solar energy and organic green living this year with searches for “solar energy” spiking 208%

Women may be more interested in organic food and green living, but men seem to be more interested in alternative energy sources as 61% of searches this month for both “wind power” and “solar energy” are by males, with Illinois, Ohio, Texas and New Jersey searching the most on Yahoo!.

Mansfield City Council Considers Energy Saving Projects

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Mansfield City Council in Ohio is considering two energy saving projects that includes having a private entity construct a solar panel array at the Mansfield Wastewater Treatment Plant on South Illinois Avenue.

Mansfield Mayor Don Culliver says the projects could save the city thousands of dollars.

The power generated from by the solar panel would supplement the treatment plant's power supply from Ohio Edison.

The additional component of the project involves making electric transformer improvements to the Mansfield Administration Building.

Culliver says the combined saving from the two projects would be close to $25,000.

Source: WMFD

Vanadium installs solar power system at its spent catalyst recycling facility in Ohio

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group, in connection with Earth Day 2011, has installed a demonstration solar photovoltaic system at AMG Vanadium, Inc.'s spent catalyst recycling facility in Ohio. The solar panels used in this installation feature Timminco Limited's Upgraded Metallurgical Silicon ("UMG-Si") and will produce approximately 230,000 kilowatt-hours of power-the amount of electricity consumed by approximately 20-25 homes for a year.

AMG Vanadium is the world's largest recycler of spent refinery catalysts used to produce ferrovanadium and ferronickel-molybdenum for the carbon steel and stainless steel industries. This unique process ensures safe environmental treatment of hazardous waste streams from oil production. AMG Vanadium offers an environmentally responsible "full-circle" solution that promotes the intelligent use and conservation of natural resources.

This solar facility, the largest of its kind in Southeastern Ohio, is a key component of AMG Vanadium's environmental stewardship and its commitment to the local community by providing clean, alternative energy to the electrical grid. This solar power system is estimated to eliminate over 200 tons of CO2 per annum compared to traditional fossil fuels.

Agriculture Warms Up To Solar Energy

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

As reported in April's American Agriculturist, Lippy Brothers' Sunnyside Farms at Westminster, Md., for instance, put up a solar panel array covering almost one acre. The 936 solar panels provide power for about a third of four poultry houses. When the net-metered system produces more electricity than Sunnyside uses, the excess goes to the grid. The farm gets credited on its power bill.

Payback on the $882,000 project is estimated at five years or less – due to grant incentives. A $220,500 USDA Rural Energy for America Program grant knocked 25% of the cost. A $50,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration plus a 30% federal investment tax credit made the deal sweeter.

Those deal-sweetners account for about 850 Northeast farms with solar systems. According to the 2009 U.S. Ag Census, 44% of solar installation costs are covered by outside sources. It's higher than that in most Northeast states – with New Jersey topping the region with 64%.

Source: American Agriculturist

Westinghouse Solar Launches Residential Large Format Integrated AC Solar Panel

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Westinghouse Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:WEST), a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems, today announced the release of their second-generation AC solar panel. This new panel will be available in the second quarter at a very attractive price point.

Westinghouse Solar's new AC panel has been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of residential rooftop installers. Improving on the original patented design, the racking, wiring, grounding and inverter are built into a larger-format 235-watt panel, thereby delivering higher performance and lower installed cost.

In 2007, Westinghouse Solar pioneered the concept of integrating the racking, wiring and grounding directly into the solar
panel. This revolutionary solar panel, originally carrying the "Andalay" name, quickly won industry acclaim. In 2009, the company again broke new ground with the first AC solar panel, reducing the number of parts for a rooftop solar installation by 80 percent and reducing labor by 50 percent. This first AC panel -- which won the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award -- has become the most widely installed AC solar panel. Continuing on their path of innovation, Westinghouse Solar's second generation AC solar panel is based on a large format design, and includes a number of differentiating features that contribute to the panel's reliability, performance and safety.

Source: Renewable Energy World

Michigan Kicks Off 2011 Great Lakes Bay Region Solar Summit

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Mark Clevey, the manager of consumer education and renewable energy programs for the state of Michigan, opened the 2011 Great Lakes Bay Region Solar Summit by telling the crowd we're not in the middle of energy crisis.

"We are in the midst of an energy opportunity," Clevey said. "It's something we need to capitalize on."

Clevey, who opened the event at Saginaw Valley State University, said the state already has many solar assets, including status as a world-class manufacturing state and a business and economic development community that's pushing for more solar incentives.

"We don't really need anything, except to learn how to connect the dots better," Clevey said. "We have what we need, the question is can we reorganize it and deploy it differently."

Source: Michigan Live

Ohio Developer Has Vision to Build Largest Solar-Powered Building in U.S.

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Englewood, OHIO (WDTN) - An Englewood developer said he is battling Dayton city officials over a prime piece of real estate.

The clash involves the old air cargo hub used by UPS and once Emery.

Mark Herres has a vision for the site and founded Builders Development Group with a goal of turning Emery Place into the largest solar powered building in the U.S. and birthing the first solar powered airport.

Herres said, "I've talked to Google. I've made contacts with Apple. A lot of people who are interested in this project can't make a commitment to it because I don't own it yet. But, soon as I get a commitment from the city I've got letters of intent from multiple companies."

Source: WDTN

Wind Energy Blows Strong In U.S.

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

though the U.S. isn’t currently leading the way for the world in wind power at the moment, data released from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) indicates that wind energy in the U.S. is showing growth, despite a slow economy and “unpredictable policies.”

Statistics from the AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report show that wind is a strong player in the nation’s energy sector, second only to natural gas in new energy generation capacity and responsible for “adding 35% of all new generating capacity since 2007.”. The reason, according to Elizabeth Salerno, Director of Data and Analysis and Chief Economist for AWEA, is that wind energy generation is affordable. Salerno points to the fact that new wind turbine technologies have led to “better performance without a big price tag.”

Wind power’s increased affordability was enhanced by the 1603 investment tax credit program which the AWEA says jump-started new project starts and new manufacturers in 2010.

Source: Earth Techling

Go Solar for $0 Down Solar Lease in San Diego

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Stellar Solar is now offering a $0 down SunPower residential solar lease and solar financing for homeowners in San Diego County, California who want to go solar.

According to Michael Powers, vice president of sales and marketing at Stellar Solar, the SunPower Lease is a $0 down solution that can reduce or eliminate your existing electric bill. The SunPower financing program is also a viable option for homeowners as it enables them to also go solar for $0 down and still gain the financial benefits of owning their systems.

Source: Solar Novus Today

National Green Grant for Smart Grid Technologies

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

National Instruments (NI) today announced its 2011 Green Engineering Grant program, a competitive program that fosters rapid design, prototyping and commercialisation of promising new renewable energy, energy efficiency and smart grid systems worldwide.

Through the program, NI will donate up to $25,000 (USD) equivalent in NI Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW) graphical system-design software tools and training to eligible start-ups to help advance clean energy development in applications such as solar, wind and biofuel technology. The 2011 program has a special focus on technologies that improve the smart grid and provide a foundation for a clean energy future.

To date, the NI Green Engineering Grant program has delivered NI software and training to more than 40 start-ups and small companies working on a variety of revolutionary renewable energy applications. The following examples demonstrate how past grant recipients are using NI tools in their renewable energy solutions:

• Powering remote villages with portable airborne wind technology

• Producing quality transportation fuels from inedible plants

• Generating electricity by harnessing ocean thermal energy

Ribbon Cut on Detroit Edison Solar Installation at MCCC

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

MONROE, Mich., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials today cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the completion of the Detroit Edison solar installation on the Main Campus of Monroe County Community College.

The 500-kilowatt, $3-million photovoltaic system on the extreme eastern side of the campus covers three acres and connects directly to the Detroit Edison grid.

The system officially began producing energy at 1:31 p.m. Feb. 22.

"There is no more perfect and appropriate way to ring in Earth Week than a solar installation at Monroe County Community College – where innovation, technology and training are central to the curriculum," said U.S. Rep John D. Dingell (D-Dearborn).

"My dear friend Dr. David Nixon is a true visionary. His leadership in advancing solar technology in Michigan and many other renewable energy initiatives at MCCC will not only benefit our environment in the short-term, but it will also train a new generation of green leaders who will secure a cleaner future for generations to come. I thank DTE Energy for their partnership in this investment at MCCC and for their other renewable endeavors all around Southeast Michigan."

"Monroe County Community College, in collaboration with DTE Energy, continues to be on the cutting edge of technologies for green energy that will provide electrical requirements for future generations," said state Rep. Dale W. Zorn (R-Ida).

In July 2010, Detroit Edison – a subsidiary of DTE Energy – and MCCC announced the signing of a 20-year agreement to provide the utility's customers with renewable energy generated from the sun.

The installation is part of Detroit Edison's pilot SolarCurrents program that calls for photovoltaic systems to be installed at DTE Energy facilities or on customer property or rooftops over the next four years to generate 15 megawatts of electricity throughout Southeast Michigan.

MCCC is the first educational institution to participate in the program. Its installation is one of the largest in Michigan and Detroit Edison's largest SolarCurrents array on a college campus.

The SolarCurrents program requires customers to participate for 20 years. The solar energy systems are owned, installed, operated and maintained by the utility. In return, customers get an annual payment or credit on their energy bill based on the system size, as well as a one-time, upfront construction payment to cover any inconvenience during installation.

Ohio solar project moves forward

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

At their last meeting, Yellow Springs Village Council members came close to backing away from a proposed solar farm in the village, due to pressure to make decisions more quickly than felt comfortable. But that changed at their April 4 meeting, after Council heard from an energy expert from the Dayton Development Coalition, along with several villagers, who urged Council to take advantage of an opportunity for green energy that may not be available for long.

“I’m hearing citizens saying loud and clear that we need to move forward to make this work,” Lori Askeland said, stating that she was leaning in support of the project.

After an hour-long discussion on the solar farm, Council voted 5–0 to request that Village Manager Mark Cundiff bring to Council’s April 18 meeting an ordinance for the solar project. Council members stated they want to be ready to vote on the project at that meeting if outstanding questions on the solar farm are answered satisfactorily by that time. If Council votes favorably at that meeting, the project could still move ahead by May, which is the deadline set by the project’s backers.

The solar proposal, whose backers are MeLink of Milford, SolarVision of Westerville and Yellow Springs Renewable Energy, would produce about 2 megawatts of solar energy on some as-yet-unspecified 12-acre site in the village. The Village would be required to provide the land and a 20-year agreement to purchase power at, for the first 10 years, $.07 per kilowatt hour. That price is comparable to the Village’s current electricity fee per kilowatt hour, but is lower than the actual price that villagers pay, since AMP, the Village’s municipal electric supplier, adds on a variable power purchase fee each month.

In return, the Village would receive an upfront payment of about $400,000, and an agreement that MeLink and SolarVision would maintain and operate the solar project. And the Village would also be adding more renewable energy to its portfolio, which is in line with the goal Council set several years ago when Yellow Springs was one of the only Ohio municipalities to turn down AMP’s plan for a new coal plant.

Source: YSNews.com

Solar Power Without Solar Cells: A Hidden Magnetic Effect of Light Could Make It Possible

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A dramatic and surprising magnetic effect of light discovered by University of Michigan researchers could lead to solar power without traditional semiconductor-based solar cells.

The researchers found a way to make an "optical battery," said Stephen Rand, a professor in the departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Physics and Applied Physics.

In the process, they overturned a century-old tenet of physics.

Light has electric and magnetic components. Until now, scientists thought the effects of the magnetic field were so weak that they could be ignored. What Rand and his colleagues found is that at the right intensity, when light is traveling through a material that does not conduct electricity, the light field can generate magnetic effects that are 100 million times stronger than previously expected. Under these circumstances, the magnetic effects develop strength equivalent to a strong electric effect.

"This could lead to a new kind of solar cell without semiconductors and without absorption to produce charge separation," Rand said. "In solar cells, the light goes into a material, gets absorbed and creates heat. Here, we expect to have a very low heat load. Instead of the light being absorbed, energy is stored in the magnetic moment. Intense magnetization can be induced by intense light and then it is ultimately capable of providing a capacitive power source."

From Science Daily.

Department of Energy Offers Conditional Commitment for $1.187 Billion Loan Guarantee to Support California Solar Generation Project

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Recovery Act-Supported Project Estimated to Create Over 350 Jobs and Avoid over 430,000 Tons of Carbon Dioxide Annually

Washington D.C. --- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the offer of a conditional commitment for a $1.187 billion loan guarantee to support the California Valley Solar Ranch project, sponsored by SunPower Corporation. The project, which is being built in San Luis Obispo County, CA, includes the construction of a 250 megawatt alternating current photovoltaic (PV) solar generating facility and associated infrastructure. California Valley Solar Ranch is expected to create 350 jobs during construction and 10-15 permanent jobs. The project is also expected to avoid over 430,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually and produce enough to power for nearly 60,000 homes.

"The efficiencies created by the California Valley Solar Ranch project will help lower the cost of solar power and encourage more utility-scale solar deployment," said Secretary Chu. "The project will also create hundreds of jobs and will generate clean, renewable power to fulfill increased energy demand."

"President Obama and Secretary Chu are to be commended for helping California's green economy grow with this investment in the California Valley Solar Ranch project," California Governor Jerry Brown said. "By committing to more than $1 billion in loan guarantees, the Department of Energy is jump-starting a project that will power 60,000 homes and create hundreds of clean energy jobs."

California Valley Solar Ranch will be the largest utility-scale PV project in the U.S. to utilize tracking technology combined with an innovative monitoring system that will improve annual output by approximately 25 percent compared with traditional fixed PV installations. The project will utilize single-axis trackers controlled by the innovative wireless tracker monitoring and control (TMAC) system to orient the PV modules toward the sun and maximize solar collection. The TMAC monitoring system receives real time weather updates so the solar array can be stowed in harsh weather conditions to preserve the life of the solar modules. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the largest utility in California, will purchase all the output from the project.

The Department of Energy, through the Loan Programs Office, has issued loan guarantees or offered conditional commitments for loan guarantees totaling over $19 billion to support 21 clean energy projects. The program's 10 generation projects will produce over 23 million megawatt-hours, enough to power over two million homes. Additional DOE-supported projects include two of the world's largest solar thermal projects, two geothermal projects, the world's largest wind farm and the nation's first new nuclear power plant in three decades. For more information, please visit the Loan Program Office website.

Federal Green Energy Loan Program Lives On

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A federal program to support the development of clean energy technologies escaped the budget ax this week and the Energy Department wasted no time announcing major commitments to fund two of the world's largest solar projects.

SunPower Corp received a conditional commitment on Tuesday for a $1.187 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy to finance a 250-megawatt photovoltaic power plant in central California that will generate enough electricity to power 100,000 homes.

That announcement came a day after the government finalized a $1.6 billion loan guarantee for privately held BrightSource Energy Inc's 392 MW Ivanpah solar thermal project.

South Bend hosts solar summit

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Participants in a recent three-day PV Power Up Summit, led by Inovateus Solar, urged care to avoid the mistakes such rapid growth risks.

"I think the underscoring thought is to do it responsibly," said Rob Haddock, director of the Metal Roof Advisory Group Ltd., at a panel presentation in the opening session moderated by Tom Polega, Inovateus Solar's vice president of engineering and construction.

In a review of 2010 and preview of the future, T.J. Kanczuzewski, executive director of Inovateus Solar, said solar production totaling 17.5 gigawatts was installed last year, up from 7.1 gigawatts in 2009.

The United States, with just 878 megawatts, had only 5 percent of that market -- less than the Czech Republic -- while Germany and Italy combined for two-thirds of the market.

By 2015, Kanczuzewski said, the United States will have 16 percent of the global market, partly because of rapid growth in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

"There's a lot of emerging markets in the United States," said Kanczuzewski, who called South Bend "the Solar Capital of the World," to chuckles, and pointed out that global leader Germany gets about as much sunshine as Alaska.

"The amount of sunlight an area gets has nothing to do with the demand for PV," he said. "We definitely have the potential here in the United States."

Which US States Are Leading the Clean Energy Charge? There's Some Shockers on the List.

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Index of Clean Energy Leadership finds Midwestern upstarts mixed among the usual suspects.

In the absence of clear federal leadership, a lively and varied innovation landscape has taken shape across the country. Beyond the usual suspects like California, Oregon, Massachusetts and Washington state, Midwestern states -- blue, red and purple -- have used state funds and incentives and recent federal stimulus money to build on local strengths and become leaders in things like electricity generation and cutting-edge research.

California is far and away at the top of December’s Clean Energy Leadership Index (http://www.cleanedge.com/leadership/) from industry consultants Clean Edge. The index charts 80 different measures, from pro-climate policies to the number of smart electricity meters to hybrid cars per capita to research institutions and green MBA programs in each state.

But in places like Iowa, Michigan and Ohio, there is also much intrigue.

Michigan, meanwhile, has the most clean energy patents awarded of any state in 2009, the result of an aggressive push by university and private auto-industry researchers to retool cars -- and Detroit’s rusted reputation -- for a cleaner era. The patents are for things like battery technology and electric vehicle parts, fuel cells and even some solar innovations.

Both Michigan and Ohio are undergoing a transition from Steel Belt to Solar Belt, with close to 8,000 jobs in solar manufacturing between them as of October 2010. Stimulus funds have helped companies like DuPont revive shuttered factories in the region.

“Detroit and Michigan have near perfect infrastructure, and they have managerial know how,” says Ron Pernick, Clean Edge’s managing director. “If any place can capture the transport electric market it’s going to be Michigan or California.”

40th ASES National Solar Conference to Help Thousands Learn about and Benefit from Fast-Growing, Renewable-Energy Economy

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the nation struggles with concerns about nuclear energy, fossil fuel dependency and a sluggish economy, thousands of renewable energy professionals and interested consumers will gather at the 40th annual ASES National Solar Conference (SOLAR 2011) May 17–21 in Raleigh, N.C. Organized by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES, www.ases.org), the event will bring together leading experts to discuss advances in technology and mass deployment of renewable energy and efficiency, with benefits for national security and jobs-creation. North Carolina alone has added more than 100 solar companies and 1,500 solar jobs since passing a renewable portfolio standard in 2007, according to ASES chapter the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association.

Being held at the Raleigh Convention Center, the ASES National Solar Conference is the industry’s most comprehensive educational event for everyone interested in our nation’s rapidly expanding clean-energy economy. The conference will attract a wide audience, including installers, manufacturers, architects, builders, media, academics, government officials, policy makers, scientists, researchers, engineers, investors, energy utilities and consumers interested in clean energy to learn about the latest renewable energy technology, products, trends, installation techniques, policies, energy efficiency and high-performance building methods.

“There’s never been a more critical moment for solar professionals to convene to exchange expertise and developments to help our nation quickly realize the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency,” explained Shaun McGrath, the newly appointed executive director of ASES. “SOLAR 2011 will connect, train and empower businesses that already are leading, or will soon lead, our clean-energy economy.”

SOLAR 2011 is the longest-running educational event in the U.S. for solar energy professionals. It was developed by and for solar- and renewable-energy experts working in technology, buildings, policy, professional education, workforce development and consumer education. More than 5,000 attendees are expected.

In partnership with National Solar Trainers (NST, www.nationalsolartrainers.com) — a leading provider of unbiased solar education — ASES’ SOLAR AND YOU! training will provide installers and other interested participants exceptional skill development in advanced topics in solar technology, business management, market trends, residential and commercial installation, and more during early-conference training sessions May 17 and 18. As a first, participants can earn in a single conference all 18 continuing education credits needed for recertification by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.

“Public Day” is Saturday, May 21, and will feature presentations in the three main areas: “Green Careers,” “Greening Your Home or Business,” and “Understanding Renewable Energy Technology, Policies and Incentives.” Also happening as part of SOLAR 2011 is the 36th National Passive Solar Conference; the Sixth Renewable Energy Policy, Advocacy and Marketing Conference; and a renewable energy products and services trade show.

“Attending the National Solar Conference during the last few years has been the most important activity my business and I have pursued,” explained Darryl Thayer, a renewable energy contractor and consultant from Minneapolis, Minn. “ASES has provided us with great training, networking opportunities, and the ability to see the latest solar technologies and components available. If you’re in this business and don’t attend, you’re really missing out.”

Special, pre-full-conference registration pricing is being offered as follows: until April 17: $739; April 18 through May 16: $839; on-site: $939. Free registration for qualified media.

http://www.nationalsolarconference.org/solar2011/public/Content.aspx?ID=74&sortMenu=110000

SOLAR 2011 will feature high-level government and industry officials leading the green economy, including SunPower’s Richard Swanson, Architecture 2030’s Edward Mazria, and Plug-In America’s Dan Davids. A complete list of Solar 2011 speakers is available here.

KEY SOLAR FACTS:

* Utility PV installations more than tripled in 2010 to reach 242 MW, up from 70 MW in 2009.*
* 52,600 PV systems were connected in 2010, bringing the cumulative number of grid-connected PV systems in the U.S. to 152,516.*
* The grid-connected PV market more than doubled in 2010 to 878 megawatt (MW) installed. Prior to 2010, the U.S. PV market had grown at an average annual rate of 69 percent over the previous 10 years, rising from just 3.9 MW in 2000 to 435 MW in 2009.*
* U.S. manufacturing of PV components increased substantially year-over-year for wafers (97% growth), cells (81% growth), and modules (62% growth).*
* “Within the decade, solar power is expected to be competitive with nuclear power without subsidies.” (“Solar and Nuclear Costs – The Historic Crossover,” July 2010.)
* Complete guide of solar rebates offered, by state: www.dsireusa.org/.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY

Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation’s leading association of solar professionals and grassroots advocates. Supported by more than 13,000 members, ASES’s mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. It advances research, education and policy. ASES publishes the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine (www.solartoday.org), presents the ASES National Solar Conference (http://www.nationalsolarconference.org), rallies citizens to build a Solar Nation (www.solar-nation.org), and leads the ASES National Solar Tour, the world’s largest grassroots solar event. www.ases.org.

*(From the March 2011 report, U.S. Solar Market InsightTM, a collaboration between the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®) and GTM Research, http://www.seia.org/cs/research/.)

CONFERENCE INFORMATION: http://www.nationalsolarconference.org, Kate Hotchkiss, National Solar Conference director, (303)443-3130 x111, KHotchkiss@ases.org

The United States Joins the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The United States today deposited its instrument of acceptance to join the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), becoming the 63rd member. IRENA formed in 2009 in response to growing international interest in the adoption of renewable energy technologies to meet the challenges of sustained economic growth, energy security and climate change. IRENA’s mission is to support and expedite member countries’ transition to greater renewable energy use by helping identify and facilitate adoption of appropriate and optimal policies, business practices and technologies.

To date, 148 countries are IRENA signatories. The United States is the 63rd country to ratify the IRENA statute.

Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, IRENA is the first truly international organization based in an Arab country. In addition to the Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, IRENA also has a Liaison Office in Vienna, Austria, and an IRENA Innovation and Technology Center in Bonn, Germany.

Site of environmental disaster in Ohio slated to become solar power plant

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A 136-acre former tire dump that burned in Ohio in 1999 and took nine years to clean up could be reincarnated as a solar farm.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has signed off on a proposal that would release the owners of Kirby Tire Recycling from the $65.4 million they owe in fines with the caveat that it will be sold to a solar developer and turned into a green energy farm, said Ohio EPA spokeswoman Dina Pierce.

From Clean Energy Authority.

Site of environmental disaster in Ohio slated to become solar power plant

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Rain or shine, researchers find new ways to foreca

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers have developed a new system to monitor how clouds affect large-scale solar photovoltaic power plants. By observing cloud shape, size and movement, the system provides a way for utility companies to predict and prepare for fluctuations in power output due to changes in weather. The resulting models will provide utility companies with valuable data to assess potential power plant locations, ramp rates and power output.

Manufacturing cost per watt at First Solar falls t

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Thin-film module manufacturing costs took a significant fall in the second quarter as First Solar continued to lead the PV industry in the lowest cost-per-watt race. The CdTe thin film producer saw manufacturing cost decline 13% year over year, reaching US$0.76/watt in the second quarter, another new industry record. Annual throughput per line was up 6% quarter over quarter to 59.0 MW. On a total capacity basis, the increase would push operating capacity from 2.1 to 2.2 GW by 2012. Conversion efficiencies, which had remained static for several quarters, actually inched higher to 11.2%, compared to 11.1% in preceding quarters. Quarterly net sales were reported as US$587.9 million, compared to first-quarter 2010 revenues of US$568.0 million.

First Solar forecasted net sales of US$2.5 billion to US$2.6 billion in 2010, reflecting reallocation of module capacity from its systems business to meet increased demand from European customers. However, the company projected net sales of between US$2.6 billion and US$2.7 billion for the year in the previous quarter's guidance. Lower ASPs were to blame for the revenue guidance decline.

Further, there was a manufacturing excursion which led to approximately 4% of production between June 2008 and June 2009 being affected, which would result in modules experiencing a permanent power loss. First Solar said that affected modules had already been replaced in many instances and that the replacement program went beyond the normal warranty conditions.

Executives said that approximately 30MW equivalent of modules had been identified as faulty and would cost approximately US$23 million to replace.

The cost-per-watt declines were said to have been achieved by higher throughput of manufacturing lines as well as higher conversion efficiencies and lower material costs.

However, First Solar said that demand continued to exceed supply in 2010 and that it would continue price declines to drive sell-through in the market and keep 2011 factory utilization high.

The pushout of U.S. utility-scale projects to meet demand in key markets such as Germany would continue in 2010. Should demand slow in Germany and Italy on the back of FiT cuts, the utility market would fill the gap, the company said.

Capital spending was guided as between US$575 million and US$625 million in 2010.

The company also announced a few details concerning its new CdTe Series 3 modules. First Solar said that the new series had higher efficiencies than the previous Series 2 modules. The new design also enabled up to 50% more modules per string and has a new locking connector with tactile feedback.

New Photovoltaic Solutions At European Photovoltai

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Dow Chemical Company will showcase its new solutions designed for photovoltaic manufacturers at this year's 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (PVSEC) in Valencia, Spain (stand L3/H4/B4, Hall 4, Feria Valencia).

Dow's photovoltaic solutions can help increase solar cell efficiency and solar module durability, improve device performance at lower cost, and enable widespread adoption of solar energy. Solutions being showcased include:

+ Dow's ENLIGHT cleaning, texturizing, imaging and metallization solutions to enhance performance in solar cell manufacturing,

+ Dow's ADCOTE and MOR-FREE adhesives for module fabrication for long-term durability with improved environmental profile,

+ Dow's new innovative ENLIGHT Polyolefin Encapsulant Films used as protective encapsulants help lower total module system costs and provide for improved productivity and extended reliability,

+ DOWTHERM and SYLTHERM heat transfer fluid solutions for solar grade silicon production,

+ Dow's Polyglycol CF fluid for a higher quality experience in slicing silicon wafers.

Solar cell efficiency is the primary measure of device performance. Higher cell efficiencies translate into lower costs, which enable widespread adoption of this renewable energy alternative. Dow Electronic Materials business' ENLIGHT metallization, imaging, cleaning and texturizing materials enable improvements in solar cell efficiency, and lower the solar cell manufacturing cost.

As the leader in front side metallization using plating chemistry, Dow's products have successfully been used in commercial scale cell production.

Long-term durability is another key performance measure for photovoltaic module producers. An industrial user or consumer installing a solar panel on its roof expects it to keep running for the next 20 to 25 years. Thus durable materials are selected by module producers to build photovoltaic panels.

Dow Adhesive and Functional Polymers business offers a range of durable adhesives for photovoltaic applications. ADCOTE adhesives exhibit excellent bonding strength properties, good UV stability, high thermal resistance and very good hydrolysis resistance. MOR-FREE solventless adhesives offer demonstrated laminating capabilities with an improved environmental profile.

ENLIGHT Polyolefin Encapsulant Films are used in the protective layer of photovoltaic modules. The processing and performance benefits of these films can reduce cycle times and improve productivity when the module is produced, and help extend module reliability and service life when in use.

Dow's innovation for photovoltaic extends beyond the above products. As the global leader for heat transfer solutions, Dow offers SYLTHERM and DOWTHERM Fluids not only for Photovoltaic polysilicon purification process, but also for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) industry. The fluids provide a wide choice of solutions for high and low temperature environments, with outstanding thermo-stability.

In addition to products being showcased, Dow Polyglycols, Surfactants and Fluids business is dedicating resources to the research of a new carrier fluid for the specialized slicing of silicone wafers.

The carrier fluid disperses the abrasives, carries away heat, and provides more lubricity. The next generation fluid will enable a more stable and better quality cutting experience, promoting a reduction in slurry consumption.

Researchers report solar energy advance

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Scientists say a new process utilizing both the light and heat of solar radiation could double the efficiency of electricity-generating solar panels .

Stanford University researchers say the technology, called "photon enhanced thermionic emission," could lower the costs of solar energy production to the point where it is competitive with oil as an energy source, a university release said Monday.

Unlike current solar panels, which become less efficient as temperatures rise, panels using the PETE process excel at higher temperatures, the release said.

"This is really a conceptual breakthrough, a new energy conversion process, not just a new material or a slightly different tweak," Stanford Professor Nick Melosh said. "It is actually something fundamentally different about how you can harvest energy."

Such devices could be made with cheap and easily available materials, the release said.

Melosh's team found that coating a piece of semiconducting material with a thin layer of the metal cesium produced a material able to use both light and heat to generate electricity.

"The PETE process could really give the feasibility of solar power

a big boost," Melosh said. "Even if we don't achieve perfect efficiency, let's say we give a 10 percent boost to the efficiency of solar conversion, going from 20 percent efficiency to 30 percent -- that is still a 50 percent increase overall."

New solar cell uses that other thing the sun emits

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A team of scientists has invented a new type of solar cell that converts both the sun's heat and light into electricity, potentially giving a boost to the efficiency of solar energy harvesting devices. The cell combines a photovoltaic process that turns light into electricity with another that converts heat; combined, they beat the current record for solar energy efficiency, as well as the theoretical efficiency limit of a cell of this design.

The most popular type of solar generator in use today is the photovoltaic cell. They operate by taking in solar photons of certain energies and using them to excite electrons into racing to conductors, creating current. While photovoltaic cells have been an important step towards harnessing the sun's energy, they are fairly inefficient and leave a lot of room for improvement.

The average cell can harvest only about 20 percent of the solar energy that lands on it, and the fanciest of photovoltaic cells can't capture much more than 40 percent. This isn't the fault of the sun, as there is a phenomenal amount of energy beating down on the earth all the time. That leaves a lot of photons ripe for plucking.

The problem with photovoltaic cells is how picky they are about which photons they will work with. Photovoltaic cells use light that's typically limited to the visible spectrum, some of which is reflected, while any photons that are not energetic enough are lost as heat. A group of researchers realized that they might be able to harvest the wasted heat photons and put them to work in the cell, if they could find a suitable way to rework the design.

They noticed that there was another mechanism, called a thermionic energy converter (TEC), that can be used to turn heat energy into electricity. The converters work by sending electrons from a hot cathode to a cooler anode (these were developed under the aegis of NASA and the Soviet space program).

TECs aren't used very frequently, though. They require the cathode to be quite hot, a state that isn't easily achieved naturally. But the researchers realized that this type of converter would thrive sitting in direct sunlight. Once modified, it could be used in tandem with the photovoltaic process, putting all that normally wasted heat energy to use.

The new device the researchers came up with combines photovoltaics and TECs into a process called photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE). The PETE process uses an anode and cathode like a TEC, but the cathode is a semiconductor rather than a metal plate. In the PETE cell, light energy gets photons only halfway to their destination by exciting them to the surface of the cathode. Once there, they build even more energy by absorbing incoming heat.

The heat distributes evenly along cathode and, as the electrons become more and more excited, they are propelled off the cathode and travel through a vacuum toward the anode, creating a usable electric current. By requiring the system's electrons to use both kinds of energy to reach their final destination, researchers found that much less energy was wasted.

If the sun's energy was concentrated 100 times, researchers found the PETE process had an efficiency of 32 percent, well above the standard photovoltaic average of about 20 percent. Concentrating the sunlight to 3,000 times its normal intensity, the cells had an efficiency of 47 percent, well above the Shockley-Quiesser limit for an ideal single-junction solar cell, which is 33.7 percent.

Still, there are some downsides to the device. For example, its highest efficiencies were reached at temperatures of 800 to 1000 degrees Celsius. You can get there with sunlight concentration, but probably only in the hottest, driest parts of the world—otherwise, you need to use an external engine to maintain enough heat in the cathode. Likewise, directing the equivalent of 3,000 suns at the cell would require a pretty sizable, specially shaped mirror to maintain a high enough temperature.

PETE sets no absolute records—multiple junction cells still win out, efficiency-wise—but the authors speculate that even less-optimized versions could outstrip many of the photovoltaic or thermal systems currently in use. Likewise, they note that, if more modern materials were used, such as plasmonic devices and nanostructures, the efficiency could be pushed even higher, potentially putting the cells on the level of their beefier multiple junction counterparts.

New Solar Energy Conversion Process Could Double S

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new process that simultaneously combines the light and heat of solar radiation to generate electricity could offer more than double the efficiency of existing solar cell technology, say the Stanford engineers who discovered it and proved that it works. The process, called "photon enhanced thermionic emission," or PETE, could reduce the costs of solar energy production enough for it to compete with oil as an energy source.

Stanford engineers have figured out how to simultaneously use the light and heat of the sun to generate electricity in a way that could make solar power production more than twice as efficient as existing methods and potentially cheap enough to compete with oil.

Unlike photovoltaic technology currently used in solar panels -- which becomes less efficient as the temperature rises -- the new process excels at higher temperatures.

Called "photon enhanced thermionic emission," or PETE, the process promises to surpass the efficiency of existing photovoltaic and thermal conversion technologies.

"This is really a conceptual breakthrough, a new energy conversion process, not just a new material or a slightly different tweak," said Nick Melosh, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, who led the research group. "It is actually something fundamentally different about how you can harvest energy."

And the materials needed to build a device to make the process work are cheap and easily available, meaning the power that comes from it will be affordable.

Melosh is senior author of a paper describing the tests the researchers conducted. It was published this week in Nature Materials.

"Just demonstrating that the process worked was a big deal," Melosh said. "And we showed this physical mechanism does exist, it works as advertised."

Most photovoltaic cells, such as those used in rooftop solar panels, use the semiconducting material silicon to convert the energy from photons of light to electricity. But the cells can only use a portion of the light spectrum, with the rest just generating heat.

This heat from unused sunlight and inefficiencies in the cells themselves account for a loss of more than 50 percent of the initial solar energy reaching the cell.

If this wasted heat energy could somehow be harvested, solar cells could be much more efficient. The problem has been that high temperatures are necessary to power heat-based conversion systems, yet solar cell efficiency rapidly decreases at higher temperatures.

Until now, no one had come up with a way to wed thermal and solar cell conversion technologies.

Melosh's group figured out that by coating a piece of semiconducting material with a thin layer of the metal cesium, it made the material able to use both light and heat to generate electricity.

"What we've demonstrated is a new physical process that is not based on standard photovoltaic mechanisms, but can give you a photovoltaic-like response at very high temperatures," Melosh said. "In fact, it works better at higher temperatures. The higher the better."

While most silicon solar cells have been rendered inert by the time the temperature reaches 100 degrees Celsius, the PETE device doesn't hit peak efficiency until it is well over 200 degrees C.

Because PETE performs best at temperatures well in excess of what a rooftop solar panel would reach, the devices will work best in solar concentrators such as parabolic dishes, which can get as hot as 800 degrees C. Dishes are used in large solar farms similar to those proposed for the Mojave Desert in Southern California and usually include a thermal conversion mechanism as part of their design, which offers another opportunity for PETE to help generate electricity, as well as minimizing costs by meshing with existing technology.

"The light would come in and hit our PETE device first, where we would take advantage of both the incident light and the heat that it produces, and then we would dump the waste heat to their existing thermal conversion systems," Melosh said. "So the PETE process has two really big benefits in energy production over normal technology."

Photovoltaic systems never get hot enough for their waste heat to be useful in thermal energy conversion, but the high temperatures at which PETE performs are perfect for generating usable high temperature waste heat. Melosh calculates the PETE process can get to 50 percent efficiency or more under solar concentration, but if combined with a thermal conversion cycle, could reach 55 or even 60 percent -- almost triple the efficiency of existing systems.

The team would like to design the devices so they could be easily bolted on to existing systems, making conversion relatively inexpensive.

The researchers used a gallium nitride semiconductor in the "proof of concept" tests. The efficiency they achieved in their testing was well below what they have calculated PETE's potential efficiency to be, which they had anticipated. But they used gallium nitride because it was the only material that had shown indications of being able to withstand the high temperature range they were interested in and still have the PETE process occur.

With the right material -- most likely a semiconductor such as gallium arsenide, which is used in a host of common household electronics -- the actual efficiency of the process could reach up to the 50 or 60 percent the researchers have calculated. They are already exploring other materials that might work.

Another advantage of the PETE system is that by using it in solar concentrators, the amount of semiconductor material needed for a device is quite small.

"For each device, we are figuring something like a six-inch wafer of actual material is all that is needed," Melosh said. "So the material cost in this is not really an issue for us, unlike the way it is for large solar panels of silicon."

The cost of materials has been one of the limiting factors in the development of the solar power industry, so reducing the amount of investment capital needed to build a solar farm is a big advance.

"The PETE process could really give the feasibility of solar power a big boost," Melosh said. "Even if we don't achieve perfect efficiency, let's say we give a 10 percent boost to the efficiency of solar conversion, going from 20 percent efficiency to 30 percent, that is still a 50 percent increase overall."

And that is still a big enough increase that it could make solar energy competitive with oil.

The research was largely funded by the Global Climate and Energy Project at Stanford and the Stanford Institute for Materials Energy Systems, which is a joint venture of Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, with additional support from the Department of Energy and DARPA.

Cell Phone Chargers to go Green

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Today cell-phones have become an integral part of our life and are the most used mode of communication. More prevalent the use of cell-phone, more imperative is the need to curtail eco-pollution that emanates from the huge number of still-in-use and out-of-use cell phones. Toxic products like lead, mercury, cadmium and other materials pose a real threat to our ecosystem. Handset manufactures, recognizing the need of the hour, are showing great interest and emphasis on manufacturing not only environmentally-friendly handsets but also eco-friendly chargers.

Next generation phones:

The need for mobile communication to go green has brought forward innovative new designs with latest technology & expertise to satisfy the customers. Solar energy, kinetic energy and wind energy are a few of the energy sources that will be harnessed to power the handsets.

Solar energy for towers:

India with one of the largest markets for cell-phones has proposed plans for cell-phone towers that are powered by solar energy. China Mobile, the leading Chinese telecommunication operator, has already set up the world’s biggest solar-energy-powered base station in China.

Nokia is trying to manufacture cell-phones that will use ambient radio waves. Their prototype can harness 50mW of power from radio waves. This is sufficient to power the cell-phone in standby mode.

Solar power for cell-phones:

All major players in the cell-phone manufacturing industry are now busy into launching solar-powered cell-phones. Pop by LG, Blue-earth by Samsung and two other Sharp Models are all new prototypes using solar power.

Cell-phone chargers:

With eco-friendly cell-phones gaining popularity, cell-phone chargers are also going green. Many are the chargers that will be made with environmentally friendly materials and powered by renewable energy sources.

More future ideas:

Since solar power is unavailable at night time, the idea of using kinetic energy to generate electrons is now being explored. Motion of any form is utilized to generate power for charging the phone. Using airbed foot pumps to drive an embedded turbine to generate energy and convert it to electric power is now being tried.

Unconventional sources:

There are a number of plans on the anvil like fuel cells which can generate power from water; generating power from sources that are unconventional like cold drink or alcohol. So the day is not far off when the mobile communication goes totally green and uses only power made from renewable energy.

Apple Patents Solar Powered iPod and iPhone

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The next next-gen iPhone might feature solar cell directly into the touchscreen. Sounds amazing, but like said: it’s not the new iPhone 4G – it’s the one after this, or the one after the next. Yeah, it sounds tiring, but Apple is constantly working in providing new technologies and the Cupertino-based company has filed a patent which demos how an iPhone can be powered via solar cells.

Most of you might think that the solar cells would be implemented on the back cover, but that would be bogus because how many of you keep the smartphone face-down? We have to look at the screen and we cannot leave a device with its face down therefore Apple has found a way to integrate the solar cells into the iPhone’s multitouch screen.

It would be a breakthrough technology for smartphones and if Apple can’t do it then it can’t be done. Don’t hold your breath until the iPhone will be powered by solar cells embedded into the touchscreen, but you could check our homepage for new iPhone 4G / HD news!

Solar cells: Cut-rate chemistry

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

(Nanowerk News) Photovoltaic cells made from organic compounds, rather than silicon wafers, are set to transform the solar energy industry. Because organic solar cells are made using solution processes, they can be spread onto flexible substrates, like films or fabrics, in the same manner as inks or paints. These properties open the way for intriguing new applications, such as light-harvesting clothes and window coatings — but only if scientists can find organic materials that combine high solar conversion efficiency with favorable behavior in solutions.

Prashant Sonar and co-workers from the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering in Singapore have now synthesized a class of molecules, based on substances called diketopyrrolopyrroles (DPPs), that may make organic solar cells cheaper and easier to produce ("Solution processable low bandgap diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) based derivatives: novel acceptors for organic solar cells "). These new compounds are set to replace the use of electron-transporting materials based on fullerenes — spherical hydrocarbons shaped like mini soccer balls — in organic photovoltaic devices. While fullerenes are excellent electron acceptors, their specialized structures make it difficult to fabricate them reliably and inexpensively.

Silicon wafers used in photovoltaic cells to harvest solar energy may soon be replaced by organic molecules that can be manufactured cheaply and reliably.

The search for an efficient, solution-friendly material led Sonar and his team to DPP, a molecule containing four pentagonal aromatic rings and sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen functional groups. This compound has an electron-attracting, conjugated framework that can be easily modified to improve solvent compatibility. "Because these materials have strong absorbance in the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared light regions, as well as straightforward synthesis, suitable energy levels, solvent-dependent morphologies and promising charge-transport properties, they can, in principle, achieve high efficiencies in organic photovoltaics," says Sonar.

Converting photons into electricity using organic molecules requires the fabrication of devices known as bulk heterojunction (BHJ) cells. In these systems, electron-donating materials are blended with acceptors so that light-generated charges can be dissociated and transported to their respective electrodes, creating an electric circuit. To improve the energy levels of DPP for BHJ devices, Sonar and his co-workers modified its structure by adding fluorine-based acceptor units on either side of the central rings. In just a few synthetic steps, this produced small molecules with enhanced optical capabilities that are suitable for solution processing.

New Breakthrough Regarding Solar Energy: Black Sol

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) just discovered that etching thousands of tiny holes into a silicon wafer causes it to be almost black and thus able to absorb almost all of the sun’s rays, and more absorbent solar cells mean more efficient panels.

This type of cells absorb a wider range of light then normal ones and one of the main motives of that is the color: black (no color can absorb the light better then it) . And in addition to this black has the property to not let any photons bounce back.

The idea came after some researchers from Munich mixed up a cocktail of gold and chemicals. The result was sprayed onto a silicon platform. At the room temperature they could do this in about 3 minutes. If the temperature is risen at about 100 degrees Fahrenheit the job can be done in less then one minute.

But this was not the hard part. Now they have to implement this technology into creating solar panels to be used in solar energy.

Major Hurdle Cleared For Organic Solar Cells

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Solar energy is an environmentally-friendly way of producing electricity and is considered to be one of the most appealing options for the future.

The basis for solar energy is absorbing light and then effectively disassociating electrical charges. As Yana Vaynzof, a University of Cambridge researcher, reports in the American Institute of Physics' Applied Physics Letters, conjugated polymers are excellent materials for such a system, thanks to their light absorption and conduction properties.

Unfortunately, poor charge disassociation in these materials tends to inhibit their performance. Photo-induced charges remain closely bound and recombine before they can be collected for electricity.

With a goal of working around this, Vaynzof and colleagues studied the charge disassociation at an interface between an organic polymer, in which the light is absorbed, and an inorganic oxide layer.

"In particular, we discovered that modifying the interface with a self-assembled monolayer of molecules results in an increase of charge disassociation efficiency to nearly 100 percent," says Vaynzof.

"Our measurements revealed that the molecular modification alters the energetic landscape of the interface so that the light absorbed in its vicinity is disassociated into charges that are then swept far from each other - preventing them from recombination, much like two balls rolling away from each other on opposite sides of a hill."

This has significant implications for the organic solar cell industry because it offers an interesting solution to one of the field's most significant problems.

Kicking around solar cell materials

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Sheffield's David Lidzey working with Athene Donald of the University of Cambridge and experts from Cardiff University and Nick Terrill at the Diamond Light Source, the UK's synchrotron facility in Didcot, have investigated the structure of solar cell materials to help them improve photovoltaic efficiencies. The research into understanding the structure of plastics used in new-types of low-cost solar cell based on fullerenes could improve their efficiency significantly.

Photovoltaic semiconductor devices have the potential to generate low-cost renewable-electricity simply by absorbing and converting the energy of sunlight. Current silicon-based devices are expensive and fragile so researchers have been looking for alternative organic-based materials with the right optical and electronic properties. A photovoltaic film made from plastic would be far less expensive than silicon as well as being flexible and easier to fabricate to fit particular devices, roof profiles, or other areas where renewable energy might be needed.

The development of plastic photovoltaic devices will inevitably rely on being able to control morphology of thin organic semiconductor films at the nanoscale where charge-generation and charge-extraction occur. Specifically, the researcher say, "The power conversion efficiency in a conjugated polymer-functionalized fullerene bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic (OPV) device [turns out to be] dependent both on the electronic properties of the constituent materials and on the nanoscale morphology of the active semiconductor layer thin-film."

Earlier research has investigated thin film structure after casting the materials from solution. But, members of the Sheffield-led collaboration wanted to understand the dynamic processes that occur as the semiconductor thin-film blend is first being deposited. This, they hoped, would give them insights into the structure and morphology of the film in real-time as the solution dried. Such dynamic information would allow them to uncover the basic mechanisms of film formation and so provide new clues to the design and production of improved materials.

"This is the first time we have unravelled the nanostructure evolution from random, long chains into densely packed nanocrystals," says Sheffield team member and post-doctorate researcher Tao Wang. "The results will direct us to better control our device fabrication process for high efficient large-area plastics solar cells."

The data obtained using the very bright synchrotron X-rays generated by Diamond to carry out grazing incidence X-ray scattering (GI-XS) combined with the equally powerful technique of spectroscopic ellipsometry (carried out at Sheffield) has given the team just such information. They investigated molecular self-organization in thin film formation from a solution of a polymer blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and the all-carbon material fullerene in the form of [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Both are required in their photovoltaic material for electrical charge generation.

The data showed that the drying process and consequent crystallisation take place in three main stages, with the second stage of rapid polymer crystallisation being the most important. "We illustrate the evolution of the extinction coefficient from a solution to a solid, semi-crystalline state," the team explains. "We show that once the solvent fraction in the film falls below 50%, the P3HT undergoes rapid crystallization via heterogeneous nucleation; a process that is complete in seconds." A higher degree of crystallinity is associated with more rapid electrical charge-conduction and therefore more efficient device operation. As such, the team adds that the mechanistic insights into film formation revealed by their study demonstrate how the deposition processes might be optimized for large-area organic photovoltaic manufacture. The team is now working on manipulating the crystallisation of various polymers.

As the University of Sheffield launches Project Sunshine, aimed at bringing together scientists from various disciplines to tackle the challenge of solar energy, Lidzey enthuses about his team's work: "This has been a very exciting experiment for us - we have used Diamond Light Source to carry out some important science on a technologically important class of materials," he says." This has allowed us to understand a process that has so far remained unexplored in these materials. This information will quickly feed into our solar-cell research programme."

"Operational devices based on this material system have been around for some time," Lidzay told SpectroscopyNOW. "However, lots of groups are trying to understand how the structures that self-assemble in the active layers of devices confer efficient (or otherwise) operation. Once we understand this better, we can apply knowledge to the design and processing of new photovoltaic materials that chemists are currently synthesizing to make even more efficient devices."

Creation Of Glass That Optimizes Use Of Solar Ener

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Construction Unit at Tecnalia (in conjunction with the University of Cantabria) has taken part in the Sunglass project, the aim of which is to develop a new building product. This involves a glass that augments the efficiency of photovoltaic solar systems, in such a manner that it boosts having more renewable energy in the construction sector.

The term "photovoltaic" literally means "light-electricity". This technology arose in the 1950s and currently has great possibilities of making contributions in the transition towards sustainable development in the building sector.

To this end, the challenge for the Sunglass project is to boost the use of photovoltaic solar energy by means of increasing the performance of the currently existing solar panels (their performance goes up to 15 % now).

Research carried out to date has focused on modifying the semiconductor material to make use of a greater part of the solar spectrum. Nevertheless, the Sunglass project puts forward an alternative approach, involving the "conversion of frequencies" phenomenon - based on absorbing photons of certain frequencies and emitting another range of frequencies.

Study on photoactive compounds

Various photoactive compounds were investigated for the project. The objective was to determine their capacity to absorb high-frequency radiation in order to subsequently emit it at ranges more effective for solar cells, as well as the possibility of implementing these materials in the glass coating of solar panels.

These compounds were used to develop the special glass for these photovoltaic applications. In this way, substituting the current glass of solar panels by the new product, an increase in energy efficiency was obtained.

By means of the "conversion of frequencies" produced by the glass, the radiation incident on the solar cells is more effective and gives rise to a significant increase in their efficiency (about 2-3 %), and which will have huge repercussion in the building industry.

This new technique will boost the production of clean energy without acoustic contamination and will avoid greenhouse effect gas emissions, besides being able to be used as a complement to other energy sources and provide great flexibility in its applications.

New Product: SunSil’s ‘Integra’ offers embedded el

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Product Briefing Outline: SunSil of Denmark has launched its SunSil 300 module which is a fully integrated system producing a nominal 300W 240V AC that will increase yields for its owner by up to 30% per annum as well as reducing initial costs, making solar electricity significantly more financially appealing. The company sums it up as ‘Sun in – AC out.’

Problem: For Solar Electricity to really take off the return on investment (ROI) for the installation has to be improved which breaks into two parts – the capital costs and the yield. The solar panel industry has been shaving the costs for panels by outsourcing the labour intensive work of soldering the strings of cells together to ever cheaper labour markets but this has reached rock bottom with no more savings to be made. The cells need to be sorted precisely to match each other within a panel, with an expensive logistics operation to reduce losses in the cell production and handling chain. In addition, due to the fact that the installation is made up from several different components – panels, converter, inverter and wiring, every installation is a custom design which takes time and money. Replacing damaged components or adding more capacity at a future date again requires careful calculation and sourcing. The panel design, with typically four strings, is very vulnerable to shadows, leaves, snow etc. A leaf on one cell means that an entire string ceases to function and output is reduced by 25%. A shadow that stretches across the width of the panel knocks out all strings and the output drops to zero.

Solution: The SunSil solution combines several innovations into one solution that claims to improve the PV systems ROI. All the components of a standard PV system are combined into one standardised module that includes a micro-inverter to produce a nominal 300W 230V AC from the plug at the back. The modules can be simply daisy-chained together with up to 14 modules in a single row. This dramatically simplifies installation as it now is just a matter of fitting the required number of modules together on the roof and then connecting the AC output to the grid in the country appropriate manner. And, as the modules standardisation covers the size and the 230V AC output, it means that it is incredibly easy to replace or add units in the future in true plug and play fashion as it makes no difference what the wattage of the module is. This reduces the installation and capital expenditure costs. Each standard cell is laser cut into eight microcells. These are connected together to form a cluster of 12 microcells generating around 6 volt and each cluster is controlled by an embedded ASIC that optimizes the performance of the cluster should shadows or dirt affect any of the microcells. This patented design of ‘Dynamic Microcell Optimisation’ ensures that the module as a whole can keep producing electricity under circumstances when the conventional string arrangement would have partially or completely shut down. There are 48 clusters per module giving a level of fine tuning and optimization that enables the company to achieve up to 30% better electricity harvesting over a year compared to conventional string panel designs. In addition, the module achieves efficiencies of 94% thanks to the DMO and the company’s own design of micro-inverter that is 95% efficient as the 48 clusters are arranged in series to feed in around 300V DC so that the losses in AC conversion are minimal. Combined together these innovations significantly reduce the payback time.

Applications: A wide range of applications ranging from commercial to residential markets. They can also be used for small solar farms which don’t have dedicated on site staff as the inbuilt electronics can provide monitoring and alerts to a central station.

Platform: The SunSil 300 is assembled in the company’s fully-automated and high-throughput

SoloPower Launches Breakthrough Flexible CIGS Modu

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

SoloPower has announced the launch of its debut CIGS-based, thin-film, lightweight, flexible SFX1-i Photovoltaic module. SoloPower produces high-power, lightweight, flexible Photovoltaic modules utilizing a low-cost, roll-to-roll electroplating process.

The SFX1-i module (80Wp, 0.3m x 2.9m, 2.3kg / 5lbs.) represents the first of several products of SoloPower's flexible module product line which includes the SFX1-i3 module (260Wp, 0.9m x 2.9m, 6kg / 13lbs.) and the SFX2 module (170Wp, 0.3m x 5.8m, 3.6kg / 8 lbs.).

Unique Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing Process

SoloPower's roll-to-roll manufacturing process offers unique cost advantages including low capital expenditures, high line throughput and excellent material utilization.

This low-cost structure combined with the optimized product design creates an unbeatable value proposition.

"SoloPower's lightweight, flexible, CIGS modules represent a true breakthrough in the solar industry," said Tim Harris, CEO, SoloPower.

"The SFX1-i3 lightweight module is optimized for commercial and industrial roofs, allowing our customers to increase their profitability and to complete projects that would not have been possible with other technologies."

New Energy to Unveil World's First-of-Its-Kind See

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

University of South Florida Research Foundation Grants New Energy Exclusive, Worldwide License for Technologies to Enable Commercial Development of SolarWindow(TM)

BURTONSVILLE, Md., Jul 20, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- New Energy Technologies, Inc. /quotes/comstock/11k!nene (NENE 0.56, 0.00, 0.00%) is pleased to announce that researchers developing its proprietary SolarWindow(TM) technology have achieved major scientific and technical breakthroughs, allowing the Company to unveil a working prototype of the world's first-ever glass window capable of generating electricity in the upcoming weeks.

Until now, solar panels have remained opaque, with the prospect of creating a see-thru glass window capable of generating electricity limited by the use of metals and various expensive processes which block visibility and prevent light from passing through glass surfaces.

New Energy's ability to generate electricity on see-thru glass is made possible by making use of the world's smallest working organic solar cells, developed by Dr. Xiaomei Jiang at the University of South Florida. Unlike conventional solar systems, New Energy's solar cells generate electricity from both natural and artificial light sources, outperforming today's commercial solar and thin-film technologies by as much as 10-fold.

Click here to view press release, announcing test results which show New Energy's see-thru SolarWindow(TM) cells surpass thin-film and solar in artificial light: http://www.newenergytechnologiesinc.com/NENE20090624.html

New Energy's SolarWindow(TM) technology is under development for potential application in the estimated 5 million commercial buildings in America (Energy Information Administration) and more than 80 million single detached homes.

"We're always keen to see innovations in our laboratories turn into meaningful commercial products," stated Valerie McDevitt, Assistant Vice President for Research, Division of Patents and Licensing, University of South Florida. "We very much look forward to the commercial development of New Energy's SolarWindow(TM) technology, which, if successful, could literally transform the way in which we view the use of solar energy for our homes, offices, and commercial buildings."

The University of South Florida Research Foundation has licensed Dr. Xiaomei Jiang's groundbreaking discovery and important commercial processes and applications to New Energy Solar Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Energy Technologies, Inc.

"It's very exciting to see that our ongoing research has led to several significant breakthroughs with transparency and the production of electricity on see-thru glass," explained Mr. Meetesh V. Patel, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. "For the first time ever, these advances have allowed us to develop an early-scale working prototype of the technology, which I very much look forward to unveiling in the upcoming weeks."

In recent months, numerous technical milestones have been surpassed by researchers developing New Energy's see-thru SolarWindow(TM) coatings, including:

-- The use of the world's smallest functional solar cells, measuring less than 1/4 the size of a grain of rice, and shown to successfully produce electricity in a published peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy of the American Institute of Physics. Importantly, these cells generate electricity from both natural and artificial light sources, outperforming today's commercial solar and thin-film technologies by as much as 10-fold;

-- Development of a novel, patent-pending process to spray SolarWindow(TM) coatings onto see-thru glass using commercially available technologies (presented in AZoNano's Journal of Nanotechnology Online; Dec. 20, 2009, "Nanotechnology Thought Leaders" series); and Click here to view press release, announcing development of patent-pending technology to spray SolarWindow(TM) coatings onto see-thru glass: http://www.newenergytechnologiesinc.com/NENE20100111.html

-- The ability to spray SolarWindow(TM) coatings onto glass at room temperature, eliminating expensive high-temperature or high-vacuum production methods commonly used by current solar manufacturers.

About University of South Florida

The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of only 25 public research universities nationwide with very high research activity that is designated as community engaged by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded $380.4 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2008/2009. The university offers 232 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The USF System has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 47,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.

About New Energy Technologies, Inc.

New Energy Technologies, Inc., to

The Only Way Is Up: CSP Builds Up Heat

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Despite a slowdown because of stalled credit markets and regulation, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) finds itself ready to add multiple gigawatts of new capacity.

by Elisa Wood, US Correspondent

Published: July 29, 2010

London -- If you're wondering where the Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is heading from here, crane your neck and look upward. Forecasts show industry growth climbing steeply from 2010.

The International Energy Agency says the resource could account for 11% of global electricity demand by 2050, with North America as the largest producer, followed by North Africa and India. Emerging Energy Research (EER) forecasts the addition of 20 GW of CSP globally by 2020, up from about 1 GW today.

For now Spain continues to dominate the market. ‘Spain is driving the industry and it will likely do so for the next three to five years’, says Reese Tisdale, author of EER’s ‘Global CSP markets and Strategies 2010 to 2025’.

Concerned about run-away solar expansion, Spain has placed new controls on CSP and requires developers to pre-register projects to receive the feed-in tariff. Developers must also show the ability to secure financing and off-take contracts. Projects totalling about 2.3 GW have pre-registered, and of that about 500 MW will be granted feed-in tariffs over the next four years, Tisdale said.

The only utility-scale US project in construction is in the southeast, where Florida Power & Light is building a solar/gas hybrid. However, it is the southwest US where most future action will take place. The second major worldwide hotspot for CSP, the region is home to about three dozen project proposals that will generate almost 10,000 MW, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The Southwest is also home to the world’s first CSP plant, a series of projects developed in the Mojave Desert by Luz International in the mid-1980s and completed in the early 1990s.

On the plus side, utilities have signed long-term power purchase agreements with several projects, particularly in California. But because of a sour credit market and permitting delays, ‘you are not going to see a whole lot in the US until 2012’, Tisdale said.

US projects have also been delayed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which owns large swathes of desert in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and California. ‘BLM hasn’t developed a process in which it can permit and award approval to applications yet’, Tisdale added. ‘That has been ongoing for several years now and is expected to continue through this year. They should have a draft process in place in the third or fourth quarter of his year and final approval in 2011.’

The first projects developed on BLM land will be those deemed by the federal agency as most ready-to-go and put on a fast track for approval. If cleared by December 2010, the projects will be eligible for federal economic stimulus money. The fast-track projects are listed in Table 1.

In June, 2010, BLM reached a milestone when it published rental rates for land use by solar projects, which includes both base rates set by the counties and a per megawatt capacity rate. Depending on location, the federal agency will charge about US$15–$313/acre ($6–$126/ha). In addition, once in operation, projects must pay a capacity rate of $6570/MW for CSP without storage capacity and $7884/MW for CSP with at least three hours per day of storage capacity. By way of example, the BLM said rental for 4000 acres (1616 ha) in Clark County, Nevada, would be $753,360 per year. Added to that is a capacity fee, which for a 400 MW CSP plant with storage would be about $3.2 million per year for five years.

CSP works best in the dry, remote deserts where there are large swathes of available land. But these areas lack the water needed to cool plants. They also require new transmission infrastructure. While dry technology exists to reduce water use, this approach adds costs to CSP’s already relatively high price tag, Tisdale said. Thus, CSP’s water and transmission needs put it at a disadvantage to concentrating solar photovolatics, which require little of either. Conversely, CSP offers energy storage capacity not available to PV.

Still, the IEA sees CSP becoming a competitive source of bulk power for peak and intermediate loads by 2020 and of base-load power by 2025 to 2030. While the US and Spain dominate in 2010, about a dozen other countries have projects under way. Plans are being made to build CSP in China, India, the Middle East, and Africa, with Northern Africa positioned as a possible exporter of CSP to Europe, according to the IEA. Australia also is making a move into CSP with a programme underway to develop 1 GW of solar through 2014. In May the Australian government’s Department of Resource, Energy, and Tourism shortlisted four CSP project developers for funding through its A$1.5 billion ($1.25 billion) solar programme.

Above: eSolar already operates the 5 MW Sierra SunTower in Antelope Valley, California. Credit: eSolar

Parabolic Troughs

By far the most proven and commonly used CSP technology, parabolic troughs typically consist of two rows of curved mirrors to focus the sun’s rays and steel tubes that act as heat collectors. The tubes are coated to absorb solar radiation and reach temperatures of around 700oF (371oC). In the heat exchanger, water is preheated, evaporated, and superheated into steam, which runs a steam turbine. The water is cooled, condensed, and reused in the heat exchangers. Most of these plants have little or no storage and use combustible fuels for backup to firm capacity. For example, in Spain natural gas produces 12%–15% of CSP generation, according to the IEA. Newer parabolic trough plants do often include significant storage capacity.

In the US, parabolic trough technology accounts for most of the new projects in the development queue. One of the largest is the 1000 MW Blythe Power Project, owned jointly by Solar Millennium and Chevron Energy Solutions and consisting of four adjacent 250 MW parabolic trough units. Under review before the California Energy Commission as of June 2010, and on fast-track for BLM approval, the project will occupy a little less than 6000 acres (2424 ha), eight miles (13 km) west of Blythe, California in an unincorporated part of Riverside County.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi’s government-backed Masdar Initiative in June selected Abengoa Solar and French oil company Total to partner in its development of a 100 MW parabolic trough project. Called Shams I, the project is scheduled to begin construction in 2010 and take about two years to complete. Expected to be the largest solar plant in the Middle East with 6,300,000 ft2 (585,900 m2) of parabolic trough collectors, its construction is in keeping with Abu Dhabi’s goal of reaching 7% renewable energy by 2020.

Abengoa Solar is no stranger to CSP. A Spanish multinational company, it also has projects in Algeria, Morocco and the US.

Among Abengoa’s parabolic trough projects are:

• The 280 MW Solana station, outside of Gila Bend, Arizona. The plant is expected to be operating in 2013.

• The Solúcar Platform, a 300 MW trough and tower project in Seville, Spain, which will consist of 250 MW in troughs and 50 MW of towers. Currently producing about 90 MW from its various solar technologies, the plant is expected to be fully operational in 2013.

• Abengoa also is participating in the construction of two integrated solar-combined-cycle plants, or ISCC, which are hybrid solar/fossil fuel facilities. The ISCC projects, 150 MW in Algeria and 470 MW in Morocco, will each supply some 20 MW from parabolic troughs.

Power Towers

Solar tower central receiver systems use thousands of moving mirrors or heliostats to track the sun in two dimensions and reflect the light to a boiler on top of a tower. When the concentrated sunlight strikes the boiler, it heats the fluid inside to about 1000°F (538°C). Some towers use molten salts for both the heat transfer fluid and thermal storage capacity.

After parabolic troughs, solar towers represent the largest number of new CSP projects underway in the US. eSolar already operates the 5 MW Sierra SunTower in Antelope Valley, California. And about a dozen others are in development, including BrightSource Energy’s 400 MW Ivanpah installation, a project fast-tracked on BLM land in the Mojave Desert. Ivanpah received $1.4 billion in loan guarantees from the US government earlier in 2010.

‘We expect to receive final permits this summer and begin construction in the fall. Ivanpah will be the first commercial-scale solar thermal power plant constructed in California in nearly two decades. Once constructed, Ivanpah will represent the world’s largest solar energy project, nearly doubling the amount of solar thermal electricity produced in the US today’, said Keely Wachs, BrightSource’ senior director of corporate communications.

BrightSource chose tower technology because of its efficiency, relatively low cost and environmental benevolence, according to Wachs. ‘We have lower capital costs due to commodity-based inputs – heliostat mirrors are simpler to manufacture and less costly to install than parabolic mirrors’, he said. ‘We use air instead of water for cooling – dry cooling – which reduces water consumption by 90%, up to 25 times less than other solar technologies’, he added.

Meanwhile, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a United Technologies Corporation company, received $10.2 million in 2010 from the Department of Energy to design and develop power tower technologies that lower solar electricity costs. Currently, solar electricity is significantly more expensive than fossil fuels and this project is considered a step towards competitive solar pricing.

The IEA Technology Roadmap Report predicts that CSP technologies will become competitive with fossil fuel-based generation in the sunniest countries by 2020 for intermediate loads and 2030 for base loads.

Dish/Engine Systems

Parabolic central receiver dishes reflect sunlight onto a focal point above the dish, while also tracking the sun. Most dishes have a small generator at the focal point. They do not require a heat transfer fluid or cooling water, and boast the best solar-electric conversion rate among CSP systems. The dish recievers reach up to 1200oF (649oC). However, they are relatively small in size, which means that many dishes must be combined for large-scale energy production.

Stirling Energy Systems, a pioneer in CSP dish-engine technology, manufactures the SunCatcher solar dish, which has an estimated daily energy generated per unit area of 629 kWh/m2 (parabolic troughs typically produce 260 kWh/m2 and power towers some 327 kWh/m2). The technology also lays claim to significantly lower water usage than other CSP technologies.

When built, the company’s Imperial Valley Solar project (previously known as Solar Two) is expected to generate 750 MW on more than 6000 acres (2424 ha) of land in Imperial County, California. The caveat of dish systems is, of course, that you need a lot of them – phase I of the planed construction would include 12,000 SunCatchers and phase II a further 18,000. That’s 30,000 individual dishes each producing 25 kW. This project is also on BLM’s fast-track for approval.

Linear Fresnel Collectors

Fresnel collector systems, which still represent a relatively small portion of the market, consist of long, parallel, rows of flat mirrors (in contrast to the curved mirrors used by parabolic troughs) that track sunlight throughout the day, and reflect sunlight onto a central receiver in a fixed focal line above the mirrors. Operational Fresnel collectors currently use water instead of oil or molten salts as the heat transfer medium, so steam can be generated directly inside the receivers. While Fresnel collectors are generally considered less efficient than other CSP technologies, in their favour they also offer lower initial investment costs due to the use of cheaper flat mirrors and a simplified design.

Schott Solar, which manufactures high-performance evacuated receivers, recently signed a deal with Fresnel specialist Novatec Bisol. Schott’s receivers will be used in the high-temperature area of Novatec’s collectors. In April Novatec broke ground on its first Fresnel project, the 30 MW Puerto Errado 2 plant in Murcia, Spain.

Ausra, acquired by Areva this year, operates the 5 MW Kimberlina Solar Thermal Energy in Bakersfield, California and a 3 MW plant in New South Wales, Australia, that supplies solar-produced steam to the Liddell Power Station. The company touts the ability to offer efficient heat storage with natural gas backup systems, ensuring reliability and smooth integration into the grid. Ausra says it can achieve 50% more energy production per unit area than competing technologies.

Given the range of developments underway, and in particular in the hotspots of the southwestern US and Spain, it is evident that CSP technology in all of its various guises continues to attract the attention of technology companies, developers and policy-makers. Certainly, the market has developed enough for the IEA to believe that CSP has a significant role to play in securing future supplies of low carbon energy. And, with a range of competing technologies under development, it seems that the winning players have already likely taken a seat at the table and stake in the game.

New Product: Varian’s implanter ‘Solion’ reduces s

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Product Briefing Outline: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates (VSEA) has entered the solar cell processing market with a specifically developed ion implanter, dubbed the Varian Solion. The implanter is based on Varian’s dual-magnet ribbon beam implant architecture and VIISta platform, used in the semiconductor industry. The company claims the tool enables the manufacture of high efficiency silicon solar cells through superior P-N junction formation while lowering the cost per watt through process simplification by eliminating PSG clean and edge isolation steps.

Problem: Solar cells may require doping to improve efficiency. This doping may either be blanket doping of the entire solar cell surface of selective doping where only specific areas of the solar cell surface are doped. In the past, solar cells have been doped using a dopant-containing glass or a paste that is heated to diffuse dopants into the solar cell. The process, however, does not provide sufficient precision to allow selective doping of the various regions of the cell. Moreover, if voids, air bubbles, or contaminants are present, non-uniform doping may occur during blanket doping.

Solution: Ion implantation is a technique for introducing conductivity-altering impurities into a substrate. A desired impurity material is ionized in an ion source and extracted. The extracted ions are then manipulated into an ion beam and accelerated to a prescribed energy, and directed toward the substrate and implanted. After annealing the substrate the ions are disposed in the substrate\'s lattice to form a region having a desired conductivity. Solar cells could benefit from ion implantation as it allows precise doping of the solar cell and enables selective doping. Selective doping of solar cells, however, may require a certain pattern of dopants of that only certain regions of the solar cell substrate are implanted with ions. Doping may improve cells where a surface of the solar cells includes a grid of conductors that collect photocurrent. Increasing the dopant dose under these grid lines will reduce the series resistance and increase the solar cell efficiency.

Applications: Enables the manufacture of high efficiency silicon solar cells through superior P-N junction formation. Substrate may be a single crystalline, polycrystalline, microcrystalline, or amorphous substrate, or a micro-porous substrate requiring precise and selective doping.

Platform: Solion is based on the VIISta single wafer platform using dual-magnet ribbon beam implant architecture and includes a proprietary Precision Patterned Implant (PPI) technology which enables junction engineering.

Hybrid Organic Solar Cells Now More Efficient

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Success greets the research team of National Research Council’s National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and the University of Alberta. The plastic solar cells have now an operating life of 8 months instead of mere hours. And they are low-cost, environmentally efficient, unsealed plastic dollar cells – a green energy source. Developing economically viable plastic solar panels and to produce them in large scale has been the long time goal for the scientists as the cost of ultra high-purity silicon used in the traditionally manufactured solar cells is quite prohibitive. These are the solar cells of future – to be available to common man easily. A University of Alberta-NINT team has been focusing on this for quite some time.

Prototype solar cell:
A multi-disciplinary team has been successful in developing a prototype solar panel. It was operating at high capacity for about 10 hours. After that, problems developed within which reduced the efficiency of solar cells. They found that electrode’s chemical coating was the root cause of the problem. For past few months, work has been going on to correct this problem.

Role of electrode:
Producing power from solar cells is the key responsibility of electrodes and the research team found that the unstable chemical coating started leaking around the circuitry of the solar cell and reduced production capacity. They developed a new coating which solved this problem.

New polymer coating:
The team led by David Rider, consisting of Michael J. Brett, Jillian Buriak from U of A-NINT has been successful in developing a durable and longer lasting coating of polymer for the electrode which stopped the chemical leaking that reduced the production capacity. This new polymer coated electrode makes the solar cell work at high capacity continuously.

Success story:
At the time David Rider and colleagues presented their research paper in Advanced Functional Materials on June 22, 2010, the solar prototype cell had performed already for 500 hours at high capacity. In the highly competitive field of plastic solar-cell technology, this research by U of A-NINT team is considered to be a great achievement. And the cell continued to work for 8 months altogether before being damaged in transit between laboratories.

Future:
The future looks bright for hybrid organic solar cells. In Rider’s words “Inexpensive, lightweight plastic solar-cell products, like a blanket or sheet that can be rolled up, will change the solar energy industry”.

World’s First Molten Salt Concentrating Solar Powe

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

You are probably familiar with concentrating solar power (CSP), but a new type of CSP plant, a molten salt CSP plant, has just gotten rolling and you may not yet know why that is important.

The “Archimede” (as this new power plant is called) was built by the Italian utility Enel and ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development. It is a 5 MW plant located in Priolo Gargallo (Sicily), inside Europe’s largest petrochemical district.

Older CSP plants, completely reliant on direct sunlight, can only operate in daytime. Newer CSP plants, however, use molten salts storage so that they can operate for longer. But Archimede is the first CSP plant that is using molten salts to collect heat from the sun, not only store it.

This is good because molten salts can work at higher temperatures than the synthetic oils used in traditional CSP plants (up to 550°C rather than 390°C). So, efficiency and power output of the plant is higher.

Such plants can also operate for much longer. They can go 24 hours a day for several days without sunshine.

Additionally, no oil-to-salts heat exchangers are needed and safety and environmental concerns related to the use of oils are also eliminated. As Carlo Ombello of Guardian News writes, “molten salts are cheap, non-toxic common fertilizers and do not catch fire, as opposed to synthetic oils currently used in CSP plants around the World.”

Additionally, here is a big one: “the higher temperatures reached by the molten salts enable the use of steam turbines at the standard pressure/temperature parameters as used in most common gas-cycle fossil power plants. This means that conventional power plants can be integrated – or, in perspective, replaced – with this technology without expensive retrofits to the existing assets.”

The problem with molten salt CSP plants is that salts tend to solidify at around 220°C, and in order to address that, some expensive technological developments were needed that currently drive the price of the plants up a bit. Archimede was built for a whopping €60 million ($77.5 million)! Quite a lot for a 5 MW power plant. But, Ombello writes, “there is overwhelming scope for a massive roll-out of this new technology at utility scale in sunny regions like Northern Africa, the Middle East, Australia, the US.” We will see.

Envision Announces the LifeVillage, a ‘Solar City

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Envision Solar International, Inc., (OTCBB:EVSI), a leading solar planner, architect and inventor of clean energy systems, announces its newest solar innovation, the LifeVillage™, which offers rapid and widespread deployment of safe, system-built, solar-integrated buildings that provide shelter and clean energy in times of crises.

Using the most cutting-edge and efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, Envision Solar’s LifeVillage offers clean energy and durable steel-framed buildings where traditional electrical power generation and the associated transmission and distribution infrastructure cannot go. At 3,500 square feet of habitable area, the LifeVillage has the unique potential to provide a solar powered clinic and/or schoolhouse, residences, purified water, refrigeration and modern communications facilities.

The LifeVillage can also be tailored to an extensive array of applications, depending upon the situation and need. At up to 50kW of generation capacity, the LifeVillage can provide electricity to the surrounding community, offering power for such needs as charging cell phones, solar lanterns, and batteries for hundreds of families.

Integrated with large battery systems, the LifeVillage provides clean and reliable power at any hour of the day or night which is especially beneficial in times of crisis. These solar integrated buildings can be rapidly installed on site in just a few days by unskilled workers.

In an effort to build the best possible product that could be shipped to remote locations, Envision Solar partnered with Nuconsteel to frame each LifeVillage using light gauge steel. Envision Solar’s partnership with Nuconsteel includes access to the Mobile Framing Solution, roll former and light gauge steel technology, all of which offer a distinct and easily-deployable feature for the LifeVillage product.

By assembling the LifeVillage onsite, Envision Solar can cut down on the need for a manufacturing plant, costs, time, and labor significantly. Fabricating onsite also considerably reduces costs associated with shipping, and allows commoditized steel to be sourced in-country, if available.

“In light of the recent earthquake activity and rebuilding efforts in countries like Haiti, it is crucial for under-developed nations to have a quick, reliable energy solution, like the LifeVillage, in times of crises,” said Robert Noble, CEO of Envision Solar. “The LifeVillage is comprised of very simple, moderately-sized buildings that can do very big jobs - like provide purified water, refrigeration, medical facilities and transmission capabilities for cell phones, Internet, radio and television – in a time when recovering communities need help the most.”

Breakthrough in Thin-Film Solar Cells: New Insight

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ScienceDaily (July 19, 2010) — Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Mainz have made a major breakthrough in their search for more efficient thin-film solar cells. Computer simulations designed to investigate the so-called indium/gallium puzzle have highlighted a new way of increasing the efficiency of CIGS thin-film solar cells. Researchers to date have achieved only about 20% efficiency with CIGS cells although efficiency levels of 30% are theoretically possible.

Thin-film solar cells are gaining an ever increasing proportion of the solar cell market. As they are only a few micrometers thick, they offer savings on material and manufacturing costs. Currently, the highest level of efficiency of about 20% is achieved by CIGS thin-film solar cells, which absorb the sunlight through a thin layer made of copper, indium, gallium, selenium, and sulphur. However, the levels of efficiency achieved to date are nowhere near the levels theoretically possible.

The research team at Mainz University headed by Professor Dr Claudia Felser is using computer simulations to investigate the characteristics of CIGS, whose chemical formula is Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2. This research forms part of the comCIGS project funded by the Federal German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU). IBM Mainz and Schott AG are collaborating with the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the Helmholtz Center Berlin for Materials and Energy and Jena University in the project that is targeted at finding ways of optimizing CIGS solar cells. The researchers focused in particular on the indium/gallium puzzle that has been baffling scientists for years: Although it has been postulated on the basis of calculations that the optimal indium:gallium ratio should be 30:70, in practice, the maximum efficiency level has been achieved with the exactly inverse ratio of 70:30.

With the support of IBM Mainz, Christian Ludwig of Professor Felser's team undertook new calculations with the help of a hybrid method in which he used a combination of density functional calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. "Density functional calculations make it possible to assess the energies of local structures from the quantum mechanical point of view. The results can be used to determine temperature effects over wide length scale ranges with the help of Monte-Carlo simulations," Dr Thomas Gruhn, head of the theory group in Professor Felser's team, explains the methods used. Christian Ludwig is able to use a mainframe for his investigations that was recently donated to Mainz University by IBM as part of a Shared University Research (SUR) science award.

Production at high temperatures promotes homogeneity of the material

With the aid of the simulations, it was discovered that the indium and gallium atoms are not distributed evenly in the CIGS material. There is a phase that occurs at just below normal room temperature in which the indium and gallium are completely separate. If the material is heated to above this demixing temperature, differently sized clusters of indium and gallium atoms do form. The higher the temperature, the more homogeneous the material becomes. It has now become apparent that gallium-rich CIGS is always less homogeneous than indium-rich CIGS. Because of this lack of homogeneity, the optoelectronic properties of the gallium-rich material are poorer, resulting in the low efficiency levels of gallium-rich CIGS cells -- an effect that has now been explained for the first time. The calculations also provide a concrete indication of the best way to manufacture CIGS solar cells. If it is produced at higher temperatures, the material is significantly more homogeneous. To retain the desired homogeneity, the material then needs to be cooled down sufficiently rapidly.

In practice, it was the limited heat resistance of the glass used as a substrate for solar cells that has always restricted process temperatures, but a significant breakthrough has also recently been made here. Schott AG has developed a special glass with which the process temperature can be increased to well above 600°C. The cells that result from this process are considerably more homogeneous, meaning that the production of cells with a much greater efficiency level has become possible. But the comCIGS project researchers are already thinking ahead of this. "We are currently working on large-format solar cells which should outperform conventional cells in terms of efficiency," states Gruhn. "The prospects look promising."

The work of the scientists in Mainz, conducted as part of the federal government-funded comCIGS project, has been published in the latest edition of the journal Physical Review Letters.

Graphene OPV - or will T-shirts soon power cell ph

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A University of Southern California team has produced flexible transparent carbon atom films that the researchers say have great potential for a new breed of solar cells.

"Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells have been proposed as a means to achieve low cost energy due to their ease of manufacture, light weight, and compatibility with flexible substrates," wrote Chongwu Zhou, a professor of electrical engineering in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, in a paper recently published in the journal ACS Nano.

The technique described in the article describes progress toward a novel OPV cell design that has significant advantages, particularly in the area of physical flexibility.

A critical aspect of any OPV photo-electronic device is a transparent conductive electrode through which light can couple with active materials to create electricity. The new work indicates that graphene, a highly conductive and highly transparent form of carbon made up of atoms-thick sheets of carbon atoms, has high potential to fill this role.

While graphene's existence has been known for decades, it has only been studied extensively since 2004 because of the difficulty of manufacturing it in high quality and in quantity.

The Zhou lab reported the large scale production of graphene films by chemical vapor deposition three years ago. In this process, the USC engineering team creates ultra thin graphene sheets by first depositing carbon atoms in the form of graphene films on a nickel plate from methane gas.

Then they lay down a protective layer of thermo plastic over the graphene layer, and then dissolve the nickel underneath in an acid bath. In the final step they attach the plastic-protected graphene to a very flexible polymer sheet, which can then be incorporated into a OPV cell.(see diagram)

The USC team has produced graphene/polymer sheets ranging in sizes up to 150 square centimeters that in turn can be used to create dense arrays of flexible OPV cells.

These OPV devices convert solar radiation to electricity, but not as efficiently as silicon cells. The power provided by sunlight on a sunny day is about 1000 watts per meter square. "For every 1000 watts of sunlight that hits a one square meter area of the standard silicon solar cell, 14 watts of electricity will be generated," says Lewis Gomez De Arco, a doctoral student and a member of the team that built the graphene OPVs. "Organic solar cells are less efficient; their conversion rate for that same one thousand watts of sunlight in the graphene-based solar cell would be only 1.3 watts."

But what graphene OPVs lack in efficiency, they can potentially more than make for in lower price and, greater physical flexibility. Gomez De Arco thinks that it may eventually be possible to run printing presses laying extensive areas covered with inexpensive solar cells, much like newspaper presses print newspapers.

"They could be hung as curtains in homes or even made into fabric and be worn as power generating clothing, I imagine people charging their cellular phone or music/video device while jogging in the sun," he said.

Graphene marks a major advance over another OPV design, one based on Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) in at least one crucial area. In the USC team's test of ITO based solar cells and graphene based cells, the ITO cells failed at a very small angle of bending, while the graphene based cells remained operational and sustained repeated bending with more than twice the stress angle of the ITO solar cells. This would give the graphene solar cells a decided advantage in some uses, including the printed-on-fabric applications proposed by Gomez de Arco.

The USC researchers say graphene OPVs would be major advance in at least one crucial area over a rival OPV design, one based on Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO). In the USC team's tests, ITO cells failed at a very small angle of bending, while the graphene-based cells remained operational after repeated bending at much larger stress angles. This would give the graphene solar cells a decided advantage in some uses, including the printed-on-fabric applications proposed by the USC team.

Zhou and the other researchers on the USC team - which included Yi Zhang, Cody W. Schlenker, Koungmin Ryu, and Mark E. Thompson in addition to Gomez de Arco — are excited by the potential for this technology.

Their paper concludes that their approach constitutes a significant advance toward the production of transparent conductive electrodes in solar cells. "CVD graphene meets the most important criteria of abundance, low cost, conductivity, stability, electrode/organic film compatibility, and flexibility that are necessary to replace ITO in organic photovoltaics, which may have important implications for future organic optoelectronic devices."

Frost & Sullivan: Emergence of New Photovoltaics P

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Propelled by aggressive R&D activities, third generation photovoltaics (PVs) are poised to take a huge leap forward, according to Frost & Sullivan.

The exploratory mass production of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC)-powered consumer durables is likely to alter the future course of research in this segment. Some of the first commercial third generation products are DSSC-powered backpacks and mobile phones. Several developers are working to take advantage of DSSCs' ability to power various non-grid-based lighting applications.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Third Generation Photovoltaics: Strategic R&D Portfolio Management, finds that consumer electronics appear to be a near-term market for third generation PV technologies, while the on-grid market offers a longer-term opportunity for third generation PV technologies.

"G24 Innovations, one of the DSSC manufacturers, has recently announced its mass scale production of DSSC modules to a Hong Kong-based consumer electronics bag manufacturer," notes Technical Insights Senior Research Analyst Avinash Iyer. "The PV panels will be integrated with consumer durables such as backpacks; these panels harvest energy when used outdoors, and repower mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones, e-books, cameras, and portable light emitting diode (LED) lighting systems."

Sony has developed a DSSC-powered lantern, while Corus and Konarka are experimenting with their products in roof-integrated photovoltaics (RIPV) applications.

The analysis noted however that there are many formidable challenges for manufacturers of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices to overcome. Topping the list is the power conversion efficiency (PCE). Though the performance shown under standard test conditions in laboratories is satisfying, it cannot be the sole parameter to consider large-scale production. Some of the fundamental issues that must be addressed are bandgap, interfaces, and charge transport.

If these bottlenecks are dealt with, the prospects of gaining a better share of the commercial market will be enhanced. The optimum PCE values are yet to be achieved because the methods to allow morphology control and the principles that underpin them are still being heavily researched upon. Many researchers have traditionally avoided non-aqueous dispersions containing inorganic nanoparticles and hydrophobic polymers. Depletion aggregation is a barrier in optimizing morphologies for the nanocomposite photoactive layers.

"There are many methodologies followed in various R&D organizations in improving the performance of a third generation photovoltaic cell such as a hybrid polymer solar cell," says Iyer. "One of the possible ways of improvising could be to enable moderately large nanorods to be distributed within hole transporting polymer films without using methods that result in the nanoparticles being encapsulated by a non-conducting layer."

Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team wit research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of growth strategies.

New Breakthrough Regarding Solar Energy: Black Sol

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

But this was not the hard part. Now they have to implement this technology into creating solar panels to be used in solar energy.

Solar Panels

Hi it is testd by sami

Solar Array Design: Parallel Wiring Opens New Door

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States -- Fordecades, designers of solar power systems have faced a knotty set ofinterlocking challenges. Solar panels produce DC at relatively low voltages,but inverters require a relatively high input voltage to be able to convert thepower to AC and send it to the grid. Solar panels can be wired in series to sumtheir voltages, but their combined output fluctuates with even small mismatchesamong panels on a string.

Strikinga balance between these factors is traditionally one of the grand challenges ofsolar power system design and also a significant element in determining whethera given location is suitable for a solar installation in the first place.However, today new doors are being opened by innovators in a vibranttechnology-driven industry and the advent of parallel wiring architectures forsolar arrays promises to create new levels of freedom and flexibility fordesigners.

Series: The Old Way

Series-wiredsystems are governed by the principles of voltage. A solar array must provide ahigh enough voltage to enable its inverter to operate at an efficient level;this has traditionally required series wiring, so that panel voltages sum.Similarly it is important to make sure that the system can never go above themaximum voltage permitted by code, usually 600VDC in the U.S.

However,the inverter is sensitive to operating voltage levels. It can suffer majorswings in efficiency when the input voltage varies in relation to its fixedoutput voltage. The larger the variation, the harder it is for the inverter tooperate at optimal efficiency. Currently inverter efficiency is shown at asingle operating point when actual operating efficiency varies as systemvoltage changes, real operating efficiencies can be off several percentagepoints from the optimal operating efficiency.

Toaccommodate these physical demands, all series-architected solar installationsmust abide by a set of design rules. The result of these rules is to define theminimum-sized building block (string) used for a given installation. Once thisis defined, that exact footprint must be used for the entire array. This canlead to serious challenges, as designers are forced to manage the always-uniquegeometry of the proposed array location. In many cases, these challengestranslate into increased cost of deployment, smaller system sizes or even adecision to forego the installation completely.

The New Parallel Solar Universe

Theenabling technology for parallel solar deployment is a new generation oflow-cost, high-efficiency electronic devices that allow a solar module todeliver a fixed DC voltage to a DC power bus. This DC power bus can be set tothe single best point for the inverter or can float to whatever level theinverter requires, allowing the inverter to concentrate simply on optimizingits AC-to-DC conversion efficiency, as opposed to worrying about whatcompromises it might need to make to effectively harvest power from the solarmodules. This mechanism provides an effective transport of power to a centralinverter where AC conversion efficiencies can be optimized.

Inthis parallel solar paradigm, the PV technology of the module no longermatters, as each module operates with complete independence from its neighbors.Because each module can produce the voltage level needed by the inverter,voltage summing with strings of modules is not needed. This means that a solararray can now be designed and installed just like a lighting system. Eachmodule represents a current source and as long as the array’s wiring is sizedappropriately and its branches are capable of handling the current produced,the system will work at optimum efficiency; no other design rules apply.

Whatdoes this mean to the system designer? The biggest advantage is that systemscan be built using variable-sized blocks of modules ranging from 200 watts to31,000 watts. This enables designers to maintain installed cost targets whilealso taking complete advantage of all available space at an installation site.If the geometry or aesthetics of a project require multiple azimuth angles,different angles of tilt or shading, there is no longer a need to incur thecosts or design limitations of multiple inverters. The solar power system canaccommodate the architecture of the building, rather than requiring the buildingarchitecture to provide an ideal platform for the solar array. Different PVmodule technologies can even be applied to a single inverter (that is, thinfilm and crystalline).

Butthis new technology also allows us to think a little further out of the box. Wenow have a new tool available for optimizing a system’s production capabilitiesin multiple environments. We are only scratching the surface of what we canachieve with this new capability. For example, rather than using a technologylike a tracker, we might use different materials technologies to optimizeproduction across multiple seasons and environmental conditions.

Mathematics of Parallel Solar Power System Design

Parallelsolar design reduces the number of variables that need attention during solarpower system design. Voltage is no longer a factor, so Voc overhead andtemperature drift are no longer concerns. We are also freed from worry aboutthe NEC 600V upper limit and its restrictions on the number of modules we canwire together. This simplifies the calculation of wiring loads.

Threebasic decisions must be made at the outset: size of the installation in kWh,modules to be used and inverter to be used. With these in mind, we can start toenvision the system. As an example, let’s consider a 180 kW building blockusing 30 kW units with 230 watt solar modules operating at a Vmp of about 40VDC. The math here is simple: we will need about 132 modules (30,000/230 ‚âà132). We will assume that the inverter’s peak efficiency point is at about 330VDC. From this, we can calculate that at maximum power output, we will have todeal with 92 Amps of current into our inverter (132 modules × 230W/330V = 92amps (P/V=I)).

Thinkingabout this as a lighting circuit, we can look at using six branches of 15 Ampseach, a conservative level for #10AWG PV USE-2 or RHW-2 cable outside ofconduit. Each branch would have an inline 20 Amp fuse connecting it to a #4 AWGPV backbone that runs directly into the inverter through a 125 Amp fused DCdisconnect.

Wecan also go a bit larger and design a parallel solar power system for 500kWproduction capacity: module power density, 230 W; voltage input to theinverter, 330 VDC; total power capacity of system, 550,000 W.

Thiswill tell us the number of modules we want to use: Total System Capacity/ModulePower 500,000/230 = 2,174 modules.

Tofigure the total current the system will need to manage we take the total powerand divide it by the voltage. Modules×Module Power in Watts = System Power.System Power/Voltage to Inverter = Current. Thus, 2,174×230/330 = 1,516 Amps.

Fromhere it is a simple matter of working out the number of branches needed tomanage the current flow. If we assume use of three of our 180 kW building blockcircuits (506 Amps each) to connect to our inverter, we can place theirterminating points close to the array to minimize our use of conduit. If wewant to minimize our terminations, we could use #4 AWG PV wire into ourbuilding block combiner units, with each handling 85 Amps.

Tominimize I2R losses we can take a conservative approach and use 20-Amp in-linefuses harnessed into the #4 AWG PV backbone, giving us six branches using #10AWG PV. Each of our three combiners then will have 167kW of power concentratedinto a single pair of conductors, handling a total run of 506 Amps into thecentral inverter. This array would need just six physical field terminations atthe combiners, and six at the inverter. If the combiners are placedstrategically at the edge of the array, the conduit runs would likewise belimited to three: one from each combiner to the inverter (see figure 1, below).

Thedifference between parallel and series architecture for solar power systemdesign is as simple as the difference between current and voltage. In a seriessystem, the voltage of the module drives the design and therefore the economicsof the installation. Parallel wiring lets the voltage be set as a constant,which allows the system to be driven by current.

Currentis a much easier variable to work with on several levels. First, it is afamiliar, well-understood design variable for designers and installers; thesame one used in all lighting system design. Second, the current variable ismuch easier to regulate and control with existing safety systems. Third, we canoptimize the efficiency of the DC-to-AC conversion by regulating theoperational voltage of the solar array to the voltage of the grid that thesystem is providing power to.

Perhapsmost importantly, parallel solar wiring allows different PV technologies tofeed a single inverter. This promises to open new vistas for architects andsystem designers as they search for better ways to integrate solar technologyinto our everyday lives. It will allow PV manufacturers to optimize productsfor very specific environmental conditions without having to carry the load ofan entire system’s production capacity. It may also make new materials morefeasible by isolating each module from the rest of the system, allowing it towork at whatever native voltage is most efficient for that particulartechnology. All of these new possibilities open the door .

New Photovoltaic Solutions At European Photovoltai

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Dow Chemical Company will showcase its new solutionsdesigned for photovoltaic manufacturers at this year's 25th EuropeanPhotovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (PVSEC) in Valencia,Spain (stand L3/H4/B4, Hall 4, Feria Valencia).

Dow's photovoltaicsolutions can help increase solar cell efficiency and solar module durability,improve device performance at lower cost, and enable widespread adoption ofsolar energy. Solutions being showcased include:

+ Dow's ENLIGHTcleaning, texturizing, imaging and metallization solutions to enhanceperformance in solar cell manufacturing,

+ Dow's ADCOTE andMOR-FREE adhesives for module fabrication for long-term durability withimproved environmental profile,

+ Dow's new innovativeENLIGHT Polyolefin Encapsulant Films used as protective encapsulants help lowertotal module system costs and provide for improved productivity andextended reliability,

+ DOWTHERM and SYLTHERMheat transfer fluid solutions for solar grade silicon production,

+ Dow's Polyglycol CFfluid for a higher quality experience in slicing silicon wafers.

Solar cell efficiency isthe primary measure of device performance. Higher cell efficiencies translateinto lower costs, which enable widespread adoption of this renewable energyalternative. Dow Electronic Materials business' ENLIGHT metallization, imaging,cleaning and texturizing materials enable improvements in solar cellefficiency, and lower the solar cell manufacturing cost.

As the leader in frontside metallization using plating chemistry, Dow's products have successfullybeen used in commercial scale cell production.

Long-term durability isanother key performance measure for photovoltaic module producers. Anindustrial user or consumer installing a solar panel on its roof expects it to keep running for the next 20 to25 years. Thus durable materials are selected by module producers to buildphotovoltaic panels.

Dow Adhesive andFunctional Polymers business offers a range of durable adhesives forphotovoltaic applications. ADCOTE adhesives exhibit excellent bondingstrength properties, good UV stability, high thermal resistance and very goodhydrolysis resistance. MOR-FREE solventless adhesives offer demonstratedlaminating capabilities with an improved environmental profile.

ENLIGHT PolyolefinEncapsulant Films are used in the protective layer of photovoltaic modules. Theprocessing and performance benefits of these films can reduce cycle timesand improve productivity when the module is produced, and help extend modulereliability and service life when in use.

Dow's innovation forphotovoltaic extends beyond the above products. As the global leader for heattransfer solutions, Dow offers SYLTHERM and DOWTHERM Fluids not only forPhotovoltaic polysilicon purification process, but also for Concentrated SolarPower (CSP) industry. The fluids provide a wide choice of solutions for highand low temperature environments, with outstanding thermo-stability.

In addition to productsbeing showcased, Dow Polyglycols, Surfactants and Fluids business is dedicatingresources to the research of a new carrier fluid for the specialized slicing ofsilicone wafers.

The carrier fluiddisperses the abrasives, carries away heat, and provides more lubricity. Thenext generation fluid will enable a more stable and better quality cuttingexperience, promoting a reduction in slurry consumption.

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