Winning The Solar And Renewable Energy Race

Posted on April 12, 2012 by quest

In the global race to secure private clean energy finance and investment, the United States reclaimed the top spot, after trailing China since 2009. Globally, investment grew to a record $263 billion in 2011, a 6.5 percent increase over the previous year, according to new research on clean energy financing in Group of Twenty (G-20) nations released by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The United States attracted $48 billion in clean energy investment, a 42 percent increase over 2010. This helped propel the addition of 6.7 gigawatts (GW) of wind and, for the first time, more than 1 GW of solar energy, enough to power 800,000 homes. Total U.S. installed renewable energy capacity at the end of 2011 was 93 GW, second to China. However, America will be hard-pressed to sustain last year’s success in the wake of now-expired Treasury grants and the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee programs. Also, the production tax credit concludes at the end of this year.

“In 2011, the global clean energy sector grew again, the U.S. reclaimed its lead as the top destination for private investment, and consumers reaped the rewards of significantly reduced prices for clean energy technologies, such as solar panels, which are now nearly 50 percent cheaper than a year ago,” said Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s Clean Energy Program. “And yet, the yo-yo effect of U.S. clean energy policy hurts the ability of the United States to consistently compete and turn U.S.-led innovation into manufacturing, deployment, and export opportunities. Creative, stable, and transparent policies remain a critical signal to private investors.”Read the full Report - U.S. Retakes Lead From China in Clean Energy Race

Even The Water Commutes To LA

Solar Pioneer To Keynote Solar Exchange At Rutgers

Posted on April 11, 2012 by quest

In partnership with Rutgers University , the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS) and the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA), Solar Exchange East provides an opportunity for dialogue among innovators and thought-leaders in the solar industry, including engineering management, OEMs, end users, developers, solution providers, academia, researchers, associations and financial institutions. After three years, thousands of participants and events at Arizona State University, North Carolina State University and the University of California Los Angeles, the Siemens-hosted Solar Exchange takes its unique industry forum and networking event to Rutgers University on May 16, for a day of discovery and dialogue on the latest emerging topics, innovations and trends within the solar industry

The event, which is geared towards professionals currently working in the solar market, will be held on Rutgers’ campus in Piscataway, NJ. Dr. Ramamoorthy Ramesh, director of the SunShot Initiative and Solar Energy Technologies Program for the Department of Energy will be the keynote speaker. Event host, Siemens, has been committed to the solar industry from as early as the 1950s. “NESEA is delighted to partner with Siemens and Rutgers on this event as it dovetails with our mission to connect sustainable energy professionals to each other and to the cutting edge information they need to improve their practice. The timing for this event is perfect, given the growth of solar power in the Northeast,” says Jennifer Marrapese, director of NESEA.The event is free to attend, registration is required. Individuals interested in participating may register at www.usa.siemens.com/solarexchange.

“This event offers a strong and broad agenda that will include presentations on Rutgers’ current campus solar projects and our research and academic programs supporting solar initiatives,” said Michael J. Pazzani, vice president for research and economic development at Rutgers. “This university has a leadership role in technology development and policy issues connected to solar, so we’re pleased to host such an influential meeting.”The event will feature round-table networking sessions, offering attendees the ability to increase their knowledge about products, solutions, services and associates within the solar industry in the Northeast, gather new perspectives and learn new methods. Topics for the event include solar panel manufacturing, energy storage and related technologies, New Jersey SREC programs and policies, smart metering and net monitoring, solar PV projects on university campuses and the bankability of solar projects in the Northeast. The day includes a tour of Rutgers seven-acre Livingston Solar array and an evening reception.

ClimateWorks Foundation Appoints Julie Blunden New CEO

Kendall Jackson Winery Has A Taste For Solar Power

Posted on April 10, 2012 by quest

U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson and local business leaders convened today at Kendall-Jackson’s Wine Center to celebrate the company’s commitment to sustainability and unveil the solar cogeneration system, now supplying solar hot water and electricity to power the winery’s extensive tank and bottle washing operations.“Our founder Jess Jackson was a trailblazer who made sustainability a core part of Kendall- Jackson’s DNA largely through innovation,” said Kendall-Jackson’s Vice President of Sustainability Robert Boller. “We’re thrilled to take this leadership position with Cogenra by installing the largest rooftop solar electricity and hot water rooftop system to date and two upcoming installations at our other production sites. It’s a win for the environment and our bottom line.”

Cogenra partnered with local installer SunWater Solar to construct the array on the roof of Kendall-Jackson’s Kittyhawk winery. The solar cogeneration system provides up to 60 percent of the building’s hot water needs, with the electricity powering lighting and cooling. In addition to this initial solar cogeneration project, Kendall-Jackson will install Cogenra arrays at their Vinwood estate in Sonoma County and an additional winery in Monterey County. Expanding on Kendall-Jackson’s existing energy and water conservation projects, the 96-module, 241kW hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) and thermal array is expected to save approximately $30,000 in annual energy costs.

“The wine industry, and especially Kendall-Jackson, have been leaders in the sustainability movement,” said Gilad Almogy, CEO of Cogenra Solar. “Solar cogeneration is quickly becoming one of the industry’s most effective tools to maximize the impact of solar energy production to meet both electricity and hot water needs. We commend Kendall-Jackson for their sustainability leadership and look forward to deploying future projects.”“This partnership between two great California companies is proof that business can boost the bottom line while helping the environment,” said U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson. “Innovative new energy technologies, like Cogenra’s, and smart, progressive businesses, like Kendall-Jackson, will drive job creation in the years ahead.”

Don Cheadle Attending Sustainable Meeting In New York City

California Reaches Milestone of 10,000 Green Homes

The Roof The Roof The Roof Is All Solar

Posted on April 9, 2012 by quest

U.S. Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., recently presented Gloucester Marine Terminal officials with an award letter announcing an $11 million federal tax credit rebate for the recently-completed groundbreaking new rooftop solar power plant project, the largest of its kind in North America. Known as Riverside Renewable Energy, LLC, the $42 million project consists of 27,526 photovoltaic rooftop solar panels covering 1.1 million square foot of rooftop at the Gloucester Marine Terminal, which is owned by the Holt family. It has the capacity to produce 9.0 MW of electricity – enough to power more than 1,500 homes. “The Riverside project is an outstanding example of how we can create jobs that move us towards cleaner, more efficient and cost-saving energy that doesn’t come from overseas,” said Congressman Andrews. “By partnering with the federal government, private industry is able to make strides that are good for job creation and the economy right now, and also for a cleaner, healthier and more energy efficient future here in South Jersey and the country.”

“A lot of things had to happen to make this project come together, and we enjoyed great teamwork from conceptualization through installation and onto completion,” said Leo Holt, President of Gloucester Terminals, LLC. “This project positions Gloucester Terminals for future success in an incredibly competitive field and helps ensure plenty of activity for the Delaware River port community.” The Riverside project sits atop the roof of the Terminal’s refrigerated warehouse near the Walt Whitman Bridge on the Delaware River. Operating on a “24/7″ basis to service food importers, the Terminal is the largest on-dock refrigerated warehouse on the East Coast and a very large user of electricity. Construction on the solar project began in June 2011 and was completed on budget and ahead of schedule last fall.

Riverside will generate the equivalent of up to 80 percent of the Terminal’s power demand. The system is expected to offset more than 8,100 tons of carbon dioxide, approximately the same amount that would be offset by planting 400,000 trees or removing 1,200 cars from the road. In addition to the Holt family, the Riverside project is a partnership involving SunPower, a global solar technology company that designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today; Rabobank, a leading global bank and financier of renewable energy.

Governor Brown Announces $120 Million Settlement to Fund

Electric Car Charging Stations Across California

Even The Water Commutes To LA

Posted on March 28, 2012 by quest

Robert Redford a longtime pioneer in the environmental movement joins his son Jamie Redford to narrate Watershed, a new documentary produced by Jamie Redford who resides in Northern California. The film focuses attention on the human demands being placed on the 250 mile Colorado River. Watershed was recently featured at the D.C. Environmental Film Festival.

Watershed

Advancements in Solar Energy Efficiency

Sometimes breakthroughs in technology are inch by inch. Think of the early days of the personal computer industry when new simply meant faster processors and more disk space. Such is the case with solar panels today. SunPower Corp, a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems today announced that its third generation SunPower Maxeon solar cell is now in commercial production. This world-record efficiency solar cell delivers sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency of up to 24 percent.

$artist Sven Geier fractal art work breakthrough 300x225 Even The Water Commutes To LA$ “We’re pleased to move our world-record breaking efficiency solar cell from the lab into commercial production,” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “With the new Maxeon solar cells, offering efficiencies of up to 24 percent, SunPower continues to lead the industry in technology innovation, delivering to its customers the highest efficiency, most reliable solar panels for guaranteed performance.”The new Maxeon solar cells are currently being integrated into select SunPower solar panels that deliver efficiencies exceeding 20 percent. These panels contain up to 128 solar cells per panel and will be availability in limited quantities in 2012.

The new cell has low reverse-bias breakdown voltage to deliver better performance in shady and dusty conditions, and better temperature coefficient for increased energy harvest in hot environments. The new Maxeon solar cell offers improved aesthetics with a consistent, homogenous, sleek black look.

Solar Powering Viking River Cruises Longships

Maui Brewing Hops Solar Powered

Posted on March 27, 2012 by quest

Conegra Solar the renewable energy company backed by Khosla Ventures recently partnered with Maui Brewing Co. to install Hawaii’s first PV and solar thermal system to power brewing process. “We were searching for a way to maximize the space on our roof. Cogenra’s solar cogeneration technology was the perfect match, producing both electricity and hot water in one compact design,” said MBC founder Garrett Marrero. “Cogenra’s solution helped us maximize our ROI and minimize our environmental impact.”Cogenra’s solar cogeneration array will provide MBC with solar hot water and electricity, enhancing the brewery’s sustainability leadership while reducing energy costs.

The 24-module, 60-kilowatt (kW) rooftop system will occupy less than 2,400 square feet and support the brewery’s existing 100kW solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, supplying renewable electricity for pumps, packaging and cooling. The solar hot water generated will feed directly to the facility’s Clean-in-Place (CIP) and brewing processes.The first of Cogenra’s installations in the State of Hawaii, constructed together with Green Global Communities, the installation will be commissioned in the second half of 2012. The dual energy benefits of Cogenra’s solar cogeneration solution provides a cost-effective solution for Hawaii businesses looking to combat the region’s high operating, labor and energy costs.

“Any business that uses a lot of hot water can profit greatly from solar cogeneration, whose hybrid technology provides two benefits: solar hot water and solar electricity. Customers in Hawaii, with ample sun exposure and high energy costs, are at a special advantage,” said Gilad Almogy, CEO of Cogenra Solar. “Maui Brewing has recognized the unique benefits and cost advantages of our hybrid technology and we are thrilled to provide our solution as part of their sustainability plans.” Conegra also supplies electricity for The Sonoma Wine Company.