Solar and eco friendly marine technology benefit environment

Posted on December 2, 2010 by quest

San Francisco based Hornblower Cruises & Events has signed off on a multi-million dollar project with Statue Cruises for Derecktor Shipyards in Bridgeport, CT to complete the world’s first Hybrid Ferry using Hydrogen fuel by April 2011. Hornblower Cruises & Events is the concessioner authorized by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior to serve the public at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

The New York Hornblower Hybrid follows the 2008 launch of the San Francisco Hornblower Hybrid, the United States’ first hybrid ferry. San Francisco-based Hornblower Cruises & Events created both vessels. The new 1,400-horsepower Hornblower Hybrid will run on a combination of energy generated by clean Tier 2 diesel engines, hydrogen fuel cells, solar panels and wind turbines. Power will come from a proton exchange membrane fuel cell that turns hydrogen into electricity. In addition, solar panels and wind turbines will help power the vessel. Efficient Tier 2 diesel engines kick in to cover additional energy needs.

Terry MacRae, CEO of Statue Cruises and Hornblower Cruises & Events said “We expect this pioneering project to inspire continued industry innovations. By combining hydrogen, solar and wind power, Hornblower will minimize its environmental impact as we transport guests to popular national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Our goal is to reduce emissions to the greatest extent possible, with a goal in the future to eliminate them entirely during a cruising day. “We expect this pioneering project to inspire continued industry innovations. The technology on the Hornblower Hybrid is now scalable for other hybrid ferries, hybrid yachts and even hybrid tugs. Some may say we are at the turning point in modernizing marine technology and Hornblower plans to be leading the way.”

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Upsolar and Focused Energy Re-up solar agreements

Posted on December 1, 2010 by quest

San Francisco based Upsolar, a leading international solar module supplier, today announced it signed a 6 MW distribution agreement with Focused Energy, a wholesale distributor of residential and commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) products. Troy Dalbey, Managing Director of Upsolar America Inc., said “Upsolar has been a trusted module supplier in Europe for years, and we’re now building a leadership position in the developing North American solar market. Gaining access to Focused Energy’s broad customer base is an important part of that story. The more North American customers are aware of our products – and recognize that our modules are backed by an industry-leading warranty and performance guarantee – the more growth we can expect.”

Focused Energy will offer Upsolar’s line of modules to its North American customers throughout 2011. In June Focused Energy began shipping Upsolar’s modules on a trial basis and opted to expand the distribution agreement for 2011.“Our goal is to enable solar integrators to meet any customer need, which means aligning ourselves with technology providers who can offer an assortment of attractive solar options. Upsolar’s module customization options, including Zep frames and AC-enabled junction boxes, make the company an ideal partner,” Paul Benson, Focused Energy CEO, said. “We are also drawn to Upsolar’s commitment to quality and affordability, and we’re convinced the company will be a valuable asset to our distribution portfolio for years to come.”Upsolar’s “Excellence at Each Step” approach to manufacturing allows it to realize unusually high quality standards.

DRIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES

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.”

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

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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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

Solar cell production takes off

Posted on November 23, 2010 by quest

Spectrolab, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, has started mass production of its newest terrestrial solar cell, the C3MJ+. With an average conversion efficiency of almost 40%. At 39.2 percent, C3MJ+ will be the industry’s highest-efficiency cell. Spectrolab is the world’s leading supplier of multi-junction photovoltaic solar cells, solar panels, searchlights and solar simulators have powered satellites since 1958 and have contributed to the on-orbit success of numerous commercial, national security, and civil space missions. Today, Spectrolab cells power 60 percent of all satellites orbiting the Earth, as well as the International Space Station. Spectrolab has made significant investments to meet the increasing demand of the terrestrial concentrator photovoltaic industry and expects to achieve a 40 percent average production efficiency for terrestrial solar cells in 2011.

Cape Wind creates Energy and jobs for Massachusetts

Jim Gordon, President of Cape Wind said, “Massachusetts is now in a position to become a global leader in offshore wind power creating thousands of new jobs and a more secure, hopeful energy future.” Cape Wind passed another major milestone today with the approval by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) of the 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with National Grid to buy Cape Wind’s energy, capacity and renewable energy credits.”Today’s approval validates that Cape Wind is a good value delivering clean energy without all of the associated costs of fossil fuels. This long-term contract not only secures an abundant, inexhaustible clean energy resource but protects consumers from rising fossil fuel and environmental compliance costs.”

The DPU decision culminates a comprehensive six-month review of unprecedented scope, including 13 days of evidentiary hearings with testimony from 15 witnesses, 1,362 exhibits and nearly 3,000 transcript pages. This project announcements powers the creation of over 1,000 new manufacturing, staging, assembly, construction, and operations jobs in Massachusetts. In addition, Siemens has opened their North American Offshore Wind office in Boston because of Cape Wind.