Moon Palace charged by Solar for UN climate meeting

Posted on November 30, 2010 by quest

Moon Palace Hotel in Cancun, Mexico today announced the completion and operation of a solar power project. The 130 kWp pilot project is capable of generating 220 MWh of electricity per year and reducing 110 tons of CO2 emissions annually. Moon Palace Hotel is hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference. This global event has attracted about 20,000 participants from nations around the world. It runs through December 10, 2010, with the objective of discussing future commitments to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

The photovoltaic project team for the Moon Palace Hotel was led by Enel Green Power, one of the leading renewable energy operators worldwide, with support also from the Italian Ministry of the Environment and SEMARNAT, the Mexican Environment Ministry. “Being selected as the solar power provider of choice for this high-level and important global conference location is a testament to the quality and unique characteristics of UNI-SOLAR(TM) modules,” said Mark Morelli, President and CEO of United Solar’s parent company, Energy Conversion Devices. “We believe that solar power will continue to play an important role in addressing global climate change.”

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SunPower Shining on California Valley Solar Ranch

Posted on November 30, 2010 by quest

SunPower Corp. and NRG Energy, Inc. today announced groundbreaking agreements to begin construction next year of the 250-megawatt (MW) California Valley Solar Ranch in San Luis Obispo County. The solar power plant is expected to create approximately 350 jobs during construction, will power about 100,000 homes and will be one of the largest photovoltaic solar power plants in the world, when complete. Under the agreement announced today, NRG will, subject to certain conditions, assume all ownership and financing responsibilities for the California Valley Solar Ranch. SunPower will continue to develop the project, and will design, build, operate and maintain the solar power plant. Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2011, with a portion of the project expected to begin operating by the end of 2011 and the balance coming on line in 2012 and 2013. When fully operational, the solar power plant will help California achieve its 33% renewable portfolio standard.

Howard Wenger, President of the utility and power plants business group at SunPower said “This partnership with NRG Solar and the DOE represents a major milestone in delivering 250 megawatts of clean, renewable solar power to California’s electricity customers. For two years, SunPower has been working to develop this project responsibly, with respect for the environment and the community. We are delighted to have found in NRG a partner that shares our vision to build a solar power plant in San Luis Obispo County that enhances the local economy, protects local habitat and generates emission-free solar power for California. The DOE is playing a critical leadership role in supporting renewable energy that provides economic and environmental benefits, as well as a secure, stable energy supply in the U.S.”

California Valley Solar Ranch has executed 25-year power purchase agreements with Pacific Gas & Electric for delivery of 250 megawatts. The power purchase agreements have been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.

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Biofuels take flight

Posted on November 29, 2010 by quest

Global airline leader Lufthansa is set to begin a six-month trial using biofuel on commercial flights. is set to begin a six-month trial using biofuel on commercial flights. Starting in April 2011 with an Airbus A321 the test program is scheduled on commercial flights of the Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route. The primary purpose of the project is to conduct a long-term trial to study the effect of biofuel on engine maintenance and engine life. “Lufthansa will be the world’s first airline to utilize biofuel in flight operations within the framework of a long-term trial. This is a further consistent step in a proven sustainability strategy, which Lufthansa has for many years successfully pursued and implemented,” said CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber.

At a joint press conference today, Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, with Peter Hinze, Parliamentary State Secretary and Government Aerospace Coordinator, and Professor Dr. Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), presented a biofuel project planned by Lufthansa. The project is backed by the government within the framework of its aviation research program aimed at underpinning the sustainability of air traffic.

About 77 per cent of German aviation research funding (LUFO) is directly or indirectly related to the environment and sustainability. The Germans believe an integrated research approach offers the best chance of achieving the ambitious climate protection objectives by 2020 and, simultaneously, safeguarding the technological competitiveness of the German aviation industry.

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PlanetSolar crosses Atlantic to Miami using solar energy

Posted on November 27, 2010 by quest

It has taken 61 days for PlanetSolar to cross the Atlantic from Monaco to Miami, including stops at Las Palmas and St. Maarten. In total a distance of over 5,500 nautical miles. PlanetSolar, the world’s largest solar powered boat looks as if its a replica of the StarShip Enterprise from the StarTrek movie and television franchises. The big difference however is this is REAL!!! PlanetSolar is on a trip around the world to demonstrate the full capacity of solar energy. The wessel, I mean vessel, sorry got a little too much into StarTrek character Chekov, is 100% powered by the sun. When StarTrek opened with it timeless intro’ Space the final Frontier it’s producers and writers had maybe sorta, kinda overlooked the fact that right here on planet earth the world’s oceans still remain largely undiscovered and taken for granted. Philippe Cousteau, Jr. Co-Founder and CEO of EarthEcho and grandson of famed oceanographer who spoke about the BP oil rig explosion earlier this year put it bluntly saying,”we treat the ocean like it’s a toilet.

PlanetSolar helps us all see the relationship between clean renewable energy in transportation and the conservation of the worlds oceans. PlanetSolar has an impressive CREW and a group of supporters such as IMMOSOLAR, Candino Swiss Watch, SunPower and Jean Verne, Great-Grandson of the writer, Jules Verne who writes,” In the spirit of the PlanetSolar project that calls upon scientists, technicians, industries, financiers and scholars who are working together on an “extraordinary voyage into known and unknown worlds,” I am writing these few words at the same time our society is asking the unthinkable question of its own survival. A special thanks to my Great-Grandfather Jules Verne who has given the PlanetSolar team the idea, the will, the audacity and who has inspired such an exciting, valuable project.”

The leading-edge solar catamaran (without flaps) boosts 101 feet length, 52 length in width, and approximately 1,171 square feet of solar panels as the solar generator. The specially developed energy storage should permit the boat to move for approximately 3 days and nights without sunlight. The MS TÛRANOR PlanetSolar was designed by the extraordinary designer and constructor Craig Loomes and his company LOMOcean (New Zealand). It has been built by high-performance yacht builder Knierim, based in Kiel (Germany). The boat is navigating under Swiss flag.

The goal of the PlanetSolar is to circumnavigate the globe driven exclusively by solar energy.The current routing around the globe foresees stopovers in Miami, Cancun, San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and returning to Monaco. The project PlanetSolar will inform the public about the importance of sustainability and renewable energies. PlanetSolar has already made technological developments possible in many fields such as the production of composite materials and structures, and also the production and storage of solar energy. Each stage in the project and each day that PlanetSolar sails will enable science to progress. At the heart of this project is the conservation of our planet by the promotion of solar energy, energy efficiency and eco-mobility. This is a great occasion to advance knowledge and to inform and make the general public aware of the importance of renewable energy.

PODCAST

Oceans to receive deeper exploration

Posted on November 27, 2010 by quest

“Our world’s oceans and the life that inhabits them are finally beginning to receive long overdue and badly needed attention and resources,” said Dr. Ellen K. Pikitch, executive director, of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University (SBU). Dr. Pikitch is among a group of scientists who are teaching the first course offered through a new graduate program, M.A. in Marine Conservation and Policy. SBU’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) launched the new program at the start of the 2010 fall semester. It is the first program of its kind in New York State and one of only a few such programs in the country.

The one-year M.A. program balances coursework in marine science, marine conservation biology, and quantitative analysis with classes in marine management, economics, policy, or law. And, through a collaboration with the SBU School of Journalism’s Center for Communicating Science, the program also aims to equip students with skills that will help them communicate more effectively with the public, public officials, and the media. From Stony Brook, New York

SOLUTIONS FROM BIOMASS

An electric vehicle partner in Asia

Posted on November 27, 2010 by quest

This year China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced the New Energy Vehicle Promotion Plan, whereby the government will invest over 100 billion Yuan during the period 2011 – 2020 to promote energy conservation and develop the “new energy vehicle” industry supply chain. China is on a path to become the world’s largest car market. At the same time, the Chinese government is working actively to promote the development of the electric vehicle market in China through the use of policy tools. During the period of implementation of China’s 11th Five-year Plan, the Chinese government will be investing 7.5 billion Yuan in the development of vehicles powered by alternative energy sources, and a government subsidy of 60,000 Yuan will be provided for every electric vehicle sold.

According to Snow Tsao of the Department of Investment Services in Taipai, Taiwanese firms benefit from sharing a common linguistic and cultural background with their Chinese counterparts. Some Taiwanese companies have been active in the China market for two decades, and have acquired an in-depth understanding of Chinese business culture. This insider knowledge will be very helpful for international corporations seeking to develop the business opportunities that the Chinese electric vehicle market offers. Foreign companies can also benefit from Taiwanese firms’ expertise in both large-volume manufacturing and the small-volume manufacturing of large numbers of different product types; by working with Taiwanese partner companies, international corporations can rapidly reduce their manufacturing costs and retail prices.

“Smart” electric vehicles constitute one of the four “smart” industries whose growth the Taiwanese government is promoting. Taiwan’s Executive Yuan has approved the Intelligent Electric Vehicle Development Strategies and Action Plan, whereby a “model” pilot project will be initiated in 2011. In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has formulated the Key Points Regarding the Provision of Subsidies and Incentives for Electric Vehicle Development, under which the government will be subsidizing the purchase of electric vehicles by consumers in Taiwan. Through these measures, the Taiwanese government is actively promoting the development of the electric vehicle industry in Taiwan.