SunPower Shines On Solar Impulse

Posted on December 7, 2011 by quest

One has to wonder how the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart would feel to see solar power aviation begin to take flight. Today San Francisco Bay Area solar manufacturer SunPower announced it is providing solar cells to the Solar Impulse project. Solar Impulse HB-SIA is the first aircraft that can fly day and night without fuel or polluting emissions. In July 2010 Solar Impulse was launched by Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg. The flight demonstrated the enormous potential of new technologies for saving energy and renewable forms of energy. The lessons learned from this first prototype are now being incorporated into the development of a second airplane, HB-SIB, which will attempt to fly round the world starting in 2014.The Solar Impulse team has produced a prototype (HB-SIA) solar airplane that, for the first time in aviation history, succeeded in flying for 26 consecutive hours powered only by solar energy. A second solar airplane (HB-SIB) is currently under construction with plans to circumnavigate the globe in 2014. Both planes are powered by SunPower’s high-efficiency solar cells. “We are pleased to partner with SunPower, a leader in designing and delivering high-efficiency solar technologies. SunPower’s solar cells are optimum for this project, as they offer the performance and low-weight that is needed for our revolutionary solar airplanes,” said Andre Borschberg, Solar Impulse co-founder and CEO.

PLANET SOLAR

SunPower is also a sponsor of Planet Solar to power the world’s largest solar catamaran that is currently on an around-the-world tour, arriving at most destinations ahead of schedule, weather permitting. Since 2005, SunPower has supported university students with high-efficiency SunPower solar systems for their solar home entries in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. And in 2009, the company also supported students with their entries in the first Solar Decathlon Europe.

Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO said, “SunPower is pleased to be involved with such an ambitious project as the Solar Impulse airplane as it prepares for its record-setting, around-the-world flight.” As a vertically integrated company, SunPower not only powers distinctive projects such as Solar Impulse, but our high-efficiency, high-reliability solar panels are chosen by residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers worldwide. We are confident that our experience in developing our industry-leading technology with guaranteed performance will help the Solar Impulse airplane to successfully achieve its goal to circumnavigate the globe.”

It’s time to meet 21st century rail

New MegaWatts Of Solar Power Heading South

Posted on December 6, 2011 by quest

Ikea is ahead of the curve in incorporating renewable energy into its growth plans. The Swedish based company has a business philosophy based on minimizing negative impacts on the environment. It was only last month that Ikea began installing electric vehicle charging stations in Southern California and seven other Western US states. Globally, IKEA evaluates locations for energy conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works with Global Forest Watch to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. IKEA a world leader in home furnishings retailer, today announced plans to install solar energy panels on ten additional United States locations – its entire presence in the Southern U.S. Pending governmental permits, installation can begin this winter, with completion expected in Summer 2012. Collectively, the nine stores and one distribution center will total 10.7 Megawatts of solar generating capacity, nearly 45,360 panels, and a projected annual electricity output of 15,248,334 kilowatt hours.

Mike Ward, IKEA U.S. president said, “This investment extends our solar presence to the Southern U.S., further reducing our carbon footprint and the intensity of the electrical grid. IKEA believes we can be a good business while doing good business. The company has a long-term commitment to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology.” IKEA will own and operate each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) – now including its three Texas stores (Frisco, Houston and Round Rock), three Florida stores (Orlando, Sunrise and Tampa), three other stores (Atlanta and Charlotte, and in Woodbridge, VA), and the IKEA Distribution Center in Savannah, GA as listed below with approximate system statistics and corresponding clean energy equivalents.

IKEA already has 12 U.S. solar energy systems operational with 11 more underway. Adding solar to ten more locations increases the company’s solar presence to 75% of its U.S. locations and a total solar generating capacity of approximately 26.8 MW. For the six Florida and Texas stores, IKEA contracted with REC Solar, one of the largest U.S. solar electric providers, with more than 7,000 systems built nationwide. For the four other locations, IKEA contracted with Gehrlicher Solar America Corp., part of Gehrlicher AG, one of the world’s ten largest independent PV project developers and system integrators.

Higher Education Leading On Climate Change

Solar City Returns Solar Strong

Solar Powers Mongolians: Cyclists & Education

Posted on November 30, 2011 by quest

Kyocera Corporation received Japan’s 2011 Minister of the Environment Award for the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming in recognition of the comprehensive environmental activities undertaken with the community by the company’s Shiga Gamo & Shiga Yohkaichi manufacturing plants. This is the second year running that Kyocera has been a recipient, following last year’s award in the technology development. product category for its high-output multicrystalline solar module for industrial and commercial applications. In the summer of 2010 Kyocera in cooperation with the World Bank’s Renewable Energy for Rural Access Project two Mongolian villages Gobi-Altai and Bayantooroi, which are both located in the western Gobi Desert region went solar. The project was handled by Kyocera because of the company’s years of experience in the solar energy business in Mongolia, and the durability of its high-quality modules in harsh weather conditions.

Mongolians Up In The House

For this year’s award, Kyocera was recognized for the comprehensive work done by its two Shiga-based facilities to help combat climate change — including work done with the local community and government, and its implementation of solar energy applications. Specific programs were, Development and sales of the “Solar Cycle Station, Operation of environmental education facilities and Providing “Eco-Lessons” at local schools. The Minister of the Environment Award for the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming was established in 1998 by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment. The award is given every year in December to coincide with Global Warming Prevention Month, and is presented to individuals and groups that have shown remarkable achievements in the prevention of global warming.

Kyocera began manufacturing solar modules in San Diego in the U.S in 2010. The company’s initial production target is 30 megawatts per year; to begin with the line will include solar modules ranging from 210 watts to the company’s latest 235-watt modules. Kyocera stated that it developed the line in order to meet “the U.S. market’s growing demand for clean, sustainable solar electric generating systems.” In October of 2011 Kyocera Solar and the Associated Students of San Diego State University announced the completion of a 355.9 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic energy system on the school’s campus, part of a student-approved plan to build a new LEED Platinum student union building.

RFK Jr Calls Out Sock Puppets

Solar City Returns Solar Strong

Posted on November 30, 2011 by quest

It was in August that U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the offer of a conditional commitment for a partial guarantee of a $344 million loan to help secure financing for SolarCity’s “SolarStrong” project. The project, partnered SolarCity with the country’s leading military housing-privatization developers to install 160,000 rooftop solar installations on as many as 124 military housing developments across the US. Then after the Solyndra shutdown in September the DOE withdrew from the project. But today SolarCity and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have announced that they have agreed to terms on financing for SolarStrong, SolarCity’s ambitious five-year plan to invest more than $1 billion in the solar power project. As part of the project, SolarCity plans to partner with the country’s leading privatized military housing developers to install, own and operate rooftop solar installations and provide solar electricity at a lower cost than utility power. SolarStrong is ultimately expected to create up to 300 megawatts of solar generation capacity that could provide power to as many as 120,000 military housing units. SolarStrong would be the largest residential solar photovoltaic project in American history. Solar City is a leading national solar services company.

After the Solydra failure and the Department of Energy withdrew their commitment from the Solar Strong project, skeptics were predicting doom for the entire green sector however, Lyndon Rive, SolarCity’s chief executive officer said, “BofA Merrill never wavered when the loan guarantee wasn’t finalized and worked with us to create a financing structure that works without it.SolarStrong makes affordable clean energy available on a much greater scale. This is uncharted territory for residential solar. The fact that SolarStrong can move forward without a federal loan guarantee is a clear indication that long-term incentives such as the investment tax credit are working.”“This project demonstrates the long term viability of large-scale, distributed solar generation,” said Jonathan Plowe, head of New Energy and Infrastructure Solutions at BofA Merrill. “We are excited to see the project through with SolarCity and extend our expertise and financing capabilities to propel residential solar to the next level.”

SolarCity now expects SolarStrong to create thousands of full-time and temporary jobs. The company says it hopes to provide as many of those jobs as possible to U.S. veterans and military family members, which have been among those hardest hit by the economic downturn. SolarCity has added more than 1,200 new, full-time workers since the recession began in December 2007; creating more than one new job per workday in that timeframe. “This is a groundbreaking transaction that represents a key milestone for the U.S. solar industry,” said Tim Newell, managing director for USRG Renewable Finance, financial advisor for SolarStrong. “We’re proud to be part of this project that will invest in military communities across the United States.”

Green Jobs Future Here Now

Green For All On Recycling

Solar Energy To Power UN Climate Conference

Posted on November 29, 2011 by quest

A newly built 500 kW solar-energy facility will power the United Nations Climate Change COP17 global gathering, and will be officially inaugurated by South African President Dr. Jacob. G. Zuma on December 4. Soitec a world leader in generating and manufacturing for the electronics and energy industries, has built a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) power plant next to Durban, South Africa, as the flagship project for the 17th annual Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), being held November 28 to December 9. More large scale commercial and utility scale projects are being started or switched on around the globe. Bloomberg New Energy Finance is reporting,”that for the first time in history, investments in renewable energy installations surpassed investments in fossil fuel plants. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, last year $187 billion was invested in renewable energy installations, which exceeded the $157 billion that was invested in new natural gas, oil and coal plants.”

“CPV offers South Africa huge potential for its natural resource and climate protection,” said André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé, president and CEO of Soitec. “After proving our Concentrix™ technology’s performance in the region with last year’s installation of a 60 kW power plant at the Aquila Private Game Reserve in Touwsrivier, we are proud to continue supporting the country’s young but growing renewable-energy sector. Sustainable energy, as we all know, is a prerequisite for a sustainable future.”

Soitec worked closely with the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DEA) of South Africa and the local eThekwini Municipality to build the CPV solar plant, which feeds into the area’s power-supply grid. The CPV plant was constructed in just one month using the combination of Soitec’s international expertise and the local work force. Group Five, an integrated construction services, materials and infrastructure investment group operating in Africa, was the local construction partner for the project.

Electric Vehicles Hitting The Road In South Africa

Honey Do’s May Include Solar House Painting

Posted on November 28, 2011 by quest

I can see it now…”Honey don’t you think it’s time to paint the house? Why don’t we try some of that spray on solar or solar paint? The Jones’ have those solar panels on their roof and Pat tells me their electric bill have gone from $175 a month to $20 and they didn’t even have to pay for it upfront. Some kind of lease or PPA purchase or something like that? Sweetie come on the house is starting to look at little tired and these electric bills are out of control.With more money each month we could that take that vacation you promised me we would take to Tahiti someday. You know I mean?”

Look up for Solar Power

We’ll we see how it plays out. But in the world of solar solutions, innovation won’t only include just improvements in silicon and thin film efficiency. As reported here a Florida company; New Energy Technologies, Inc. is working on spray on solar and solar windows. If the idea of spray on solar seemed like a novel little cute idea, check it out and think again. And low and behold Mitsubishi Chemical also researching this alternative to silicon panels. And then there’s Pythagoras Solar Window which won the GE ecomagination challenge earlier this year for their work as a provider of Photovoltaic Glass. Their solar window technology is an industry first that simultaneously delivers energy efficiency, high power density and transparency. The GE ecomagination Challenge, recognized the most promising building energy innovations.

To the north Canadian researcher Ted Sargent, has been talking up, paint-on solar cells for years. Seems in solar energy innovation, the imagination is the workshop of the mind.