Is That A Solar Panel On Asimo’s Face?

Posted on April 30, 2011 by quest

ST. LOUIS: Honda’s ASIMO, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, made its debut at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship today in St. Louis, Mo. ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, is a culmination of more than two decades of research and development by Honda engineers.Designed to someday assist people in their homes, ASIMO is being used today to encourage and inspire young students, like those involved in the FIRST robotics programs, to consider studies in math and science. The demonstrations highlight ASIMO’s unique capabilities including walking forward and backward, running nearly 4 mph, climbing stairs and more.

“Honda and FIRST share many of the same values, including inspiring students to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering,” said Erik Wedin, ASIMO North American project leader. “We think a student robotics competition is the perfect setting to share and showcase ASIMO’s capabilities.” Honda is one of the sponsors of the FIRST Championship, where over 11,000 students from 29 countries will participate in three simultaneous robotics competitions. As part of the activities, Honda was conducting ASIMO demonstrations today at the Second Level Atrium of the America’s Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis.

ASIMO visited 17 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces on a North American tour from 2003 through 2005, but this is the first time the humanoid robot has been demonstrated in Missouri. Honda’s innovative research and development efforts during the past decade have yielded such diverse outcomes as humanoid robotics, walking assist devices, HondaJet, fuel cell electric vehicle technology, thin film solar cells, increased rice crop yields and functional nano-materials – in addition to the design and development of automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment products.

Habitat for Humanity’s First Eco-Tourism Village

SunPower And Total New Solar Global Power Makers

Posted on April 29, 2011 by quest

SunPower and Total today announced that the two companies have entered into a broad strategic relationship to shape the future of the solar industry. Total Group will launch a friendly tender offer through a wholly owned subsidiary for up to 60 percent of SunPower’s outstanding Class A Common shares and 60 percent of SunPower’s outstanding Class B Common shares at a price of $23.25/share for each class. The offer price represents a 46 percent premium over the April 27, 2011 closing price of SunPower’s Class A common stock and a 49 percent premium over the April 27, 2011 closing price of SunPower’s Class B common stock, and values SunPower’s equity at $2.3 billion. In addition, Total will provide SunPower with up to $1 billion of credit support over the next five years. Following closing of the transaction, which has been approved by the boards of both companies, SunPower will continue to operate with its current management team.

“Total’s commitment and global presence will help accelerate our growth and solidify our position in the increasingly competitive solar sector,” said Tom Werner , SunPower’s CEO. “With Total’s $1 billion credit support agreement, solar research and development investments and the other resources available through its global network, we have taken the next step in positioning our business for continued growth and long-term success. Our relationship with Total will improve our capital structure enabling SunPower to accelerate our power plant and commercial development businesses, and expand our manufacturing capacity with lower cash requirements.”
“The world future energy balance will be the result of a long-term transition in which renewable energies will take their place alongside conventional resources,” said Philippe Boisseau , President, Total Gas and Power Division. “Over the past years, Total has built up sizeable renewable energy activities. Today, Total is executing on its strategy to become a major integrated player in solar energy. We evaluated multiple solar investments for more than two years and concluded that SunPower is the right partner based on its people, world-leading technology and cost roadmap, vertical integration strategy and downstream footprint.” “Solar is becoming a material addition to the new generation portfolio around the world, with more than 40,000 MW of solar photovoltaic power installed globally,” continued Werner. “Total and SunPower will collaborate to ensure that solar becomes a platform for an efficient, competitive and sustainable energy future. Already, SunPower’s high-efficiency, high-reliability solar photovoltaic power plant costs are competitive with other new resources.”

Chicago Skyscraper to Generate Solar Electricity

Solar3D Delvelops 3-Dimensional Solar Cell Technology

Posted on April 28, 2011 by quest

Solar3D, the developer of a breakthrough 3-dimensional solar cell technology to maximize the conversion of sunlight into electricity, has been featured in articles published by CNBC.com and The Christian Science Monitor. Inspired by light management techniques used in fiber optic devices, the company’s innovative solar cell technology utilizes a 3-dimensional design to trap sunlight inside micro-photovoltaic structures where photons bounce around until they are converted into electrons. Solar3D’s management believes that this breakthrough solar cell design will dramatically change the economics of solar energy.

“It is exciting to see our progress recognized on a national level,” commented Jim Nelson, President and CEO of Solar3D. “The milestones reported in the articles are giant steps toward completion of our prototype, which could in turn greatly affect the economics of solar energy.”Solar3D’s new solar cell will have two principal sections: the Light Collector section and the Micro Photovoltaic section. The articles reported the completion of the Light Collector design, from which structure of the rest solar cell will flow. The company’s research and development team believes that they can soon calculate the increase in efficiency that the overall 3-dimensional solar cell can achieve relative to current technology.

CNBC.com and The Christian Science Monitor (which picked up the story from CNBC) also cited Bill Mazotti, of National Semiconductor, who finds Solar3D’s technology intriguing, especially with the tremendous pressure put on the solar industry to reduce the cost of generated electricity.“We are pleased that people recognize what we are trying to do,” continued Nelson. “We have taken up the gauntlet thrown down by (US Energy Secretary) Steven Chu to reduce the cost of solar power to $1 per kilowatt hour. The increased efficiency of the 3-dimensional solar cell, coupled with decreased costs of production we are designing in, will reduce the cost considerably.”

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

Americans Ready For Electric Vehicles

Posted on April 27, 2011 by quest

Plug-in electric vehicles may just be entering the market, but most U.S. consumers are ready to buy them. E Source recently analyzed data from the Nielsen Energy Survey and found that 85 percent of U.S. consumers say they would purchase a battery-driven car either right away (3 percent), when their current car needed replacement (57 percent), or when the technology is proven and it becomes more mainstream (25 percent). The caveat is that consumers strongly prefer (58 percent) plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) versions such as the Chevrolet Volt. PHEVs have greater range than electric-only cars like the Nissan Leaf and only 8 percent of consumers prefer them. “We are seeing a substantial willingness for drivers to move to plug-in electric vehicles, but only if the manufacturers can provide the easy extended range of travel that Americans are used to,” says Bill LeBlanc, senior advisor at E Source.

E Source also reports that younger drivers are more willing than older drivers to purchase the electric-only cars, and people who describe themselves as liberals are similarly more inclined to desire the all-electric cars than those classified as conservatives. “We see that all ages and all political mindsets like the plug-in hybrid vehicles equally,” says LeBlanc. “But when it comes to the all-electric car, it appears to be seen as more of a ‘green’ purchase, rather than as a practical upgrade to a more-efficient vehicle.”

Another factor that E Source looked at was how far people drive each day and how that affects their desire for a plug-in electric vehicle. Daily driving habits don’t seem to affect desire for the all-electric vehicle; however, desire for the PHEV grows as people spend more time in their cars. “Overall, the survey supports the existence of a huge untapped market for electric vehicles that can be charged at night at home. People seem very ready to move to the next generation of cars and dramatically decrease the frequency of their visits to the gas station,” reports LeBlanc.

GREEN CAREERS

Monaco Acting On Green And Solar Ideals

Posted on April 24, 2011 by quest

The Principality of Monaco, with its idyllic Côte d’Azur location, has a rich sporting and cultural legacy – from the F1 Grand Prix and Tennis Masters to Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic and Opera companies – and, for more than 150 years, a deep commitment to protecting the environment. Long before ecological and environmental issues became world headlines and a cause célèbre, Monaco’s “Navigator Prince”, Albert I, sailed the globe’s oceans seeking ways to preserve them. More recently, Prince Rainier III ensured Monaco was at the forefront of environmental awareness and protection. During his 56-year reign, and alongside the Principality’s artistic and sporting evolution, Monaco became one of the most environmentally sensitive countries in Europe and one of the first nations to use reforestation to preserve its spectacular mountainous backdrop.

As part of environmental action, the Monte-Carlo SBM (Hotels) has set up an action plan aiming to encourage eco-friendly conduct and to meet international goals in environmental matters. This plan features 23 measures covering the following areas: information and awareness, energy and water consumption, waste management, reduction of greenhouse gas emission, use of recycled paper and eco-friendly products, and the reduction of the use of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in green areas. The implementation of the plan in all SBM hotels and restaurants is subject to annual evaluations.

This month The Monaco Government Tourist Office is partnering with The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) to donate solar car classroom kits that require assembly. It’s part of the The IRF’s 18th Annual Incentive Invitational April 27 to May 1, 2011 in Las Vegas. To show support for the local Las Vegas community, the solar car kits will support science projects in schools and educate the next generation about solar energy resources and going green with solar cars – Monaco Grand Prix style! The Pavilion will be open to all attendees from 12-3pm on Thursday and Friday at the Invitational registration location.

ENVIRONMENTAL INSIGHT

Solar Energy A Source For Brighter Earth Days

Posted on April 22, 2011 by quest

As we welcome the 41st Earth Day it is interesting to look around and take stock of where we are; as going green continues to go mainstream. It is almost impossible not to heed two events that are calling on all human beings around the world to bring about change to our environmental mentality.

The most recent has been the devastating Tsunami that hit Japan and that subsequently caused the explosion at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. And of course the other was the catastrophic BP oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. At this point you might expect that the blame for the events should lay at the feet of big oil and nuclear power companies, after all they build them. And yet the responsibility for allowing toxic energy producers to continue, lies with each of us. Much of the early debates about the environment have centered around the idea of saving the birds, trees and environment, as if humans aren’t a part of it. But what new believers of environmental change are conveying is that what we are talking about is saving the earth so humans can live here.

Solar and other renewable energy sources such as wind and biomass offer a far, far less destructive method for providing the energy we need, and do so in a way that provide air we can breathe; water we can drink and an earth that’s healthy enough to sustain life for all living creatures. In that regards California and other states and cities are implementing attractive and innovative incentive programs to encourage renewable investments. The hope is that this will lead to even healthier and brighter Earth Days in the future.