Future Engineers Using Solar And Renewable Energy

Posted on January 18, 2012 by quest

Hundreds of future engineering students from all across New Jersey flocked to Rutgers’ University this past Saturday to gain insight and encouragement from New Jersey American Water engineers as they competed in the 5th Annual New Jersey Engineers Future Cities Competition. The competition, held at the Rutgers University Livingston Campus, featured students’ models of future cities designed to meet energy needs and maintain a healthy planet.“The innovation of their cities and the detailed though that went into their design showed that these students are wise beyond their years. New Jersey American Water is proud to have supported this year’s Future Cities Competition and we look forward to coming back for another year.”

Throughout the university’s student center, student vied for more than two dozen awards with models of cities made from recycled materials that showcased different forms of alternative energy such as wind mills, solar power, and magnets. New Jersey American Water sponsored two of the awards: 5th place overall, which was awarded to Iselin Middle School for their city named “Verison City,” and the specialty category of Healthiest City, given to St. Paul Interparochial School for their city named “Findiger City.”Iselin Middle School received a $500 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Grant for materials used in their school’s classrooms as well as the opportunity to be the special guests of the company at the American Water Works Association’s New Jersey (AWW-NJ) chapter’s annual conference held in Atlantic City . St. Paul Interparochial School in Ramsey, NJ will also take a behind the scenes tour of a New Jersey American Water treatment plant.

In between presenting their designs, students stopped by the New Jersey American Water booth to seek academic and career advice, as well as to marvel at the company’s “magic floating faucet” and collect giveaways.“It is so important to encourage students at this early age to explore engineering and technology as a career interest,” said Suzanne Chiavari, New Jersey American Water Vice President of Engineering, and Future Cities Competition judge. “The innovation of their cities and the detailed though that went into their design showed that these students are wise beyond their years. New Jersey American Water is proud to have supported this year’s Future Cities Competition and we look forward to coming back for another year.”

OBAMA TO TURN DOWN XL PIPELINE

U S Military Has 7 Gigawatts Of Solar Energy Potential

Posted on January 17, 2012 by quest

The Department of Defense could generate 7,000 megawatts (MW) of solar energy—equivalent to the output of seven nuclear power plants—on four military bases located in the California desert, according to a study released today by DoD’s Office of Installations and Environment. The year-long study, conducted by the consultancy ICF International, looked at seven military bases in California and two in Nevada. It finds that, even though 96 percent of the surface area of the nine bases is unsuited for solar development because of military use, endangered species and other factors, the solar-compatible area is nevertheless large enough to generate more than 30 times the electricity consumed by the California bases, or about 25 percent of the renewable energy that the State of California is requiring utilities to use by 2015.

DoD is seeking to develop solar, wind, geothermal and other distributed energy sources on its bases both to reduce their $4 billion-a-year energy bill and to make them less dependent on the commercial electricity grid. Such on-site energy generation, together with energy storage and so-called smart-microgrid technology, would allow a military base to maintain its critical operations “off-grid” for weeks or months if the grid is disrupted.

The ICF study looks in detail at the seven DoD installations that are located in California’s Mojave and Colorado deserts: Fort Irwin, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, the Marine Corps’ Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Edwards Air Force Base, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and Naval Air Facility El Centro. The study also looks at two Air Force bases located in the Nevada desert, Creech and Nellis. Read the full report: Executive Summary – Solar Energy Development

ASU Building Megawatt Solar Power Plant

Solar Water Bulb Lighting New Philippine Lifestyle

Posted on January 11, 2012 by quest

When Los Angeles based green entrepreneur and founder of Savor Solar, Susan Rigali first turned me on to this story I was struck by the simplicity of roof mounted bottles of water providing light to communities in the Philippines. Designed and developed by students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Solar Bottle Bulb is based on the principles of Appropriate Technologies – a concept that provides simple and easily replicable technologies that address basic needs in developing communities. Illac Diaz is a Philippine born social entrepreneur who helped bring the Solar Bottle Bulb concept the country. As the financial, environmental and job creation power of solar energy becomes more apparent – alternatives to thin film and silicon based solutions are also coming to the forefront. Light being diffused through bottled water are just part of a wave of innovations in renewable energy which include spray on solar, solar powered boats and airplanes.

A Liter of Light – MyShelter Foundation is a sustainable lighting project which aims to bring the eco-friendly Solar Bottle Bulb to challenged communities throughout the island nation. The program inspired by many innovations from around the world. Many cultures have used glass bottles to allow lighting through the roof, and Alfredo Moser from Brazil began pioneering methods of experimenting with plastic bottles. There has been modifications to the Philippine model, but what must be emphasized is the amount of people whose lives are being affected by this innovation.

Solar Water Blub

Recent statistics from the National Electrification Commission in the Philippines reveals 3 million households still remain powerless outside Metro Manila. And even in the metropolitan Manila families still continue to live in darkness. Government officials report that a large number of fire- related incidents involve faulty electrical connections. Informal settlements are high-risk areas, since local officials do not conduct fire hazard inspections in these communities. MyShelter Foundation is bringing economically- and ecologically-sustainable sources of light that will provide immediate environmental and green job solutions.

Ed Begley Jr. Shinning For Panasonic Solar 

Posted on January 10, 2012 by quest

Jim Doyle, President of Panasonic Eco Solutions North America has announced an exclusive brand license and endorsement agreement with noted environmentalist endorsement of Ed Begley Jr. for Panasonic HIT solar panels. “Mr. Begley is not only a well known actor but his view of helping the environment matches Panasonic’s mission to be the number one green innovation company in the electronics industry by 2018, the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding. Ed will be a recognizable and trusted voice to the customer about how they can help the environment by installing solar panels.”

“Environmental lifestyles have changed much over the past few years. Solar has become an alternative to people who want to do something sustainable in their lives as well as save money. Solar can help them do both with quality solar panels like Panasonic’s HIT, government incentives, and solar leasing,” said Mr. Begley. “This agreement will help me reach customers and educate the public on the benefits of going solar. It has always been my mission to help people make greener lifestyle choices, and consequently create a brighter, healthier future for all of us.”

HIT stands for “heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer”, and the solar cells used are a hybrid with a unique structure comprised of a thin mono-crystalline silicon wafer surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers. HIT solar modules are known for having one of the world’s highest conversion efficiencies and excellent temperature characteristics, allowing HIT modules to generate more power throughout the year, even during peak summer months, compared to other types of crystalline modules. The panels were originally developed by Sanyo Electric, which Panasonic Corporation acquired on April 1, 2011.

California Focusing On 2020 Solar Vision

Solar Forces Unite

Posted on January 9, 2012 by quest

The Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade association for the solar energy industry, recently announced that it has officially merged with the Solar Alliance, an advocacy organization committed to establishing solar policies at the state level. Effective immediately, the Solar Alliance will operate under the SEIA brand in an effort to present a unified solar industry voice in all advocacy efforts at the state level. Carrie Cullen Hitt, president of the Solar Alliance, is now Vice President for State Affairs at SEIA, and the Solar Alliance team joins Hitt as part of SEIA’s new department for State Affairs.“The solar energy industry is expanding and it is critical for SEIA to mirror this growth and put our resources and expertise into developing state policy that expand markets for solar energy,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “Adding Carrie Cullen Hitt and her top-notch staff to the SEIA team is a critical step as we continue to scale the U.S. market and move toward our goal of installing 10 gigawatts of solar annually by 2015.”

“We have tremendous opportunities for opening markets for solar across all regions,” said Hitt. “With the Solar Alliance now a part of SEIA, we have the unified voice that is necessary on the policy front – both in Washington and in the states – to really take the U.S. solar industry to the next level.” Additionally, SEIA has established more formalized, collaborative relationships with nearly a dozen state and regional SEIA chapters to coordinate efforts. While the state and regional SEIA chapters remain wholly independent entities, this partnership brings additional resources and coordination on efforts that align with SEIA’s policy goals in the states.

In 2012, SEIA will present a unified voice in policy issues ranging from international trade, extension of the Section 1603 Treasury Program, and improved access for solar developers on public lands to the policy efforts in the states. State efforts will entail a number of different policy efforts including net metering, a financial tool for recognizing value of distributed generation on the grid, and removing barriers to grid interconnection and permitting. The combination of state and federal policy has driven access to energy markets for solar project developers across the country. In 2010, 17 states installed more than 10 megawatts of new solar capacity compared to only four in 2007.

EPA On Lead-Safe Renovation Requirements

New Energy Solutions At Las Vegas CES

Posted on January 9, 2012 by quest

A cleaner and smarter energy future – available today – is on display at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.“Consumers have the power to move clean energy forward,” said Jason Few, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of NRG. “We are making solar power and electric vehicle charging easy and affordable. We’re empowering consumers with information, tools and plans to help them manage the electricity that runs all the incredible innovations at CES. With our investment in large-scale solar generation and repowering our generation fleet with cleaner technologies, we are forging a more sustainable energy future.” NRG is at the Consumer Electronics Show for the second time to highlight how innovations from NRG and two of its consumer businesses – electricity retailer Reliant and electric vehicle charging network eVgo – are pioneering cleaner, smarter energy choices for consumers.

NRG’s interactive exhibit features the largest gadget ever seen on the CES floor, The Reliant Smarter Home on Wheels. In addition, the prototype of DeLorean’s DMCev, the all-electric version of one of the most iconic cars in automotive history, will be on display at the NRG booth. In the ‘Human NRG’ backyard at the NRG CES booth visitors and people linked in through social media will be able to use their energy to help raise funds for two national charities, Rebuilding Together and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In addition, those who visit the booth in person or via Facebook will have the chance to win an all-expense paid trip to Houston to drive the prototype DeLorean DMCev, the only automobile of its kind in the world.

The NRG booth at CES features The Reliant Smarter Home on Wheels, Electric Vehicle Charging at Home and On the Road, The Human NRG Backyard and Solar for Consumers – the nation’s largest developer of solar energy – on top of the Smarter Home on Wheels show how solar is working – today. NRG and its retail businesses provide consumers with options that make solar easy, affordable and convenient without a large upfront investment as well as options that allow consumers with solar installations to sell electricity back to the grid.