SunPower to build solar plant at U.S. Air Force Academy

Posted on November 3, 2010 by quest

Construction will begin this month on the 30-acre site, of the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colo to build a 6-megawatt solar photovoltaic power system. The 30-acre, 6-megawatt system at this site is where Air Force cadets and officers alike engage in thousands of training flights each year, will be a testament to the fact that solar power provides a secure, independent power source in the U.S.,” said Jim Pape, president of SunPower’s residential and commercial business group. “Reliability and quality are the hallmarks of SunPower systems. We look forward to working with the Springs Utilities and the Air Force Academy on this very exciting project.”

The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as a result of government requirements for federal facilities to use increasing amounts of renewable energy. SunPower and Springs Utilities will each own 50 percent of the renewable energy credits (RECs) and environmental benefits associated with the system. The system will use high-efficiency SunPower solar panels with the SunPower Tracker(R) system. The Tracker follows the sun’s movement during the day, increasing sunlight capture by up to 25 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems, while significantly reducing land use requirements. The system will be designed to meet USAFA’s stringent engineering design standards.

According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates, the system at the Air Force Academy will avoid more than 9,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, the equivalent of removing 40,900 cars from Colorado’s highways over 25 years. The plant is expected to be operational by summer 2011.

BUILDING GREEN

Solar powers 3G Network on Mt. Everest

Posted on November 2, 2010 by quest

Solar is on top of the world providing power to a eight new 3G stations at the Mt. Everest National Park. The network installed by Ncell a subsidiary of Europe’s TeliaSonera is Nepal’s second largest mobile operator. The network established at the Mt. Everest base camp is 16,994 feet above sea level and provides quality voice and 3G broadband services for local residents and mountaineers from all around the world preparing to climb the world’s highest mountain. Ncell CTO Aigars Benders congratulated the achievement via video, saying: “You are on the peak of the world! With the launch of the 3G station, visitors to the south side of Mt. Everest can share what they see, what they feel, and what they think during their trip to Mt. Everest with their friends and relatives at any time.”

Solar panels were also incorporated in the design to ensure that the station has power supply throughout the year and be environmentally friendly. These features will allow the station to operate at optimal levels even with outdoor temperatures as low as minus 86 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal power usage.

MT. EVEREST PANORAMA

To withstand the high altitude and extremely harsh natural environment of the Himalayas, ZTE a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions provided a tailor-made solution for the Mt. Everest project with a strong “green” environmentally conscious focus. The micro base-station is based on the SDR (Software-Defined Radio) platform, which has a low power-consumption, small footprint, and is easy to install. A one-piece ground tower and heat-insulating Diet shelter are used in the stations, which allow them to be installed quickly without the need for earthwork and foundation construction.

DRIVE ELECTRIC

Drive electric meet up also spotlights solar

Posted on November 1, 2010 by quest

Not long ago SolarWorld a leading global solar panel manufacturer awarded Muhammad Yunus Nobel Peace Prize laureate and micro-finance pioneer, the 2010 SolarWorld Einstein Award for his breakthrough concept of micro-loans for the poor, which have helped millions of people worldwide to escape poverty. Now SolarWorld will serve as the sole Oregon host site of the “drive electric tour” sponsored by Nissan LEAF on Nov. 5, 6 and 7, giving the region’s many electric-vehicle enthusiasts a long-awaited chance to get behind the wheel of a zero-emission Nissan LEAF. The tour highlights mutual aims of electric vehicles and solar power.

The tour stop on SolarWorld’s busy campus points to the advances of two industry pioneers in promoting technologies that affordably curb environmentally noxious gases. Nissan is presenting its LEAF sedan as the first mass-produced, affordable 100%-electric-with-zero-emissions vehicle.The SolarWorld stop on Nissan’s “drive electric tour” is the sixth in a 22-city route that began in October and ends in March. The tour features several display areas, each highlighting a specific attribute or benefit of the car. Visitors will be able to drive the Nissan LEAF with a “co-pilot” to answer their questions and show them of all the interior features of the car. Visitors also can inquire about SolarWorld.

The Portland metropolitan-area market has proven to be an enthusiastic adopter of both the Nissan LEAF and SolarWorld’s solar panels, according to officials of both companies. Consumers there have reserved the Nissan LEAF and selected SolarWorld panels at vigorous rates. “The day of the all-electric Nissan LEAF, as well as expanded production of SolarWorld’s high-performance solar panels, has come,” said Gordon Brinser, President of SolarWorld Industries America Inc. “We are only too delighted that in Oregon the two are arriving in exactly the same place.” “Nissan deliberately chose the SolarWorld campus as an ideal place to showcase our exciting driving solution to the twin pressing needs for high affordability and no emissions,” said Jay Schaffer, Promotions and Lifestyle Marketing Manager, Nissan North America. “Both companies’ visions are lighting the way to a bright future for key products and technologies that do their jobs superlatively well, put consumers on a sounder environmental footing and work for their pocketbooks.”

For reservations, times and other details relating to all stops along the “drive electric tour,”

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

Spray on solar an idea that sticks

Posted on November 1, 2010 by quest

If the idea of spray on solar seemed like a novel little cute idea. Think again. Engineers from Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a leading American certification and testing laboratory for solar products and equipment, has validated New Energy Technologies power production modeling calculations for its spray on SolarWindow™ technology. In late September CEO, John A. Conklin introduced the SolarWindow to the press as the world’s first see thru technology of its kind. SolarWindow™ is capable of generating electricity, and able to outperform conventional rooftop solar module installations by more than 300% when applied to the facades of commercial tall buildings and skyscrapers. This could be a serious game changer in the evolving solar technology space which last month saw other solar efficiency innovations from Solar Power International held in Los Angeles. The industry is moving ahead on many fronts so at this point one size won’t fit all.

“We have long anticipated that applying SolarWindow to exterior glass surfaces of commercial towers could generate energy savings several-fold greater than today’s rooftop solar systems,” explained John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. “It’s wonderful to have these power modeling calculations now validated by FSEC, a highly-respected independent solar testing agency.”Engineers modeling a 40-story building, similar to Tampa’s landmark “100 North Tampa,” estimate annual cost-savings of $40,000 to $70,000 when installing New Energy’s SolarWindow™ to exposed window facades. In contrast, mounting today’s popular poly-crystalline silicon modules rack-mounted on the rooftop produces only $20,000 in energy savings per year.

Following their review, FSEC engineers concluded that calculations in New Energy’s SolarWindow power output calculations model are “…reasonable and free of any significant errors.”FSEC is renowned for solar testing, and has a long-standing history of certifying both solar hot water and photovoltaic (PV) modules. FSEC-certified PV modules include products by industry leaders such as: General Electric, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Samsung, Sharp, BP Solar, DuPont Apollo, First Solar, and Suniva, Inc.

FOLLOW WIND AND WAVES

Solar in Vegas Baby

Posted on October 31, 2010 by quest

Nevada Senator Harry Reid in a tight race himself against Sharron Angle had time to breakground for a new solar manufacturing plant in Nevada. The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and attended by dignitaries including U.S. Representative Shelley Berkley, Nevada State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, and City of North Las Vegas Mayor Shari L. Buck. The clean energy company Amonixreceived a competitive Recovery Act tax credit of $5.8 million to open the 214,000 square foot facility where concentrating photovoltaic cells (CPV) will be manufactured. The project will create Approximately 300 new jobs in the city of North Las Vegas. Amonix designs and manufactures concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems used in sunny and dry climates.

In remarks Senator Reid said “But I know just recovering won’t satisfy Nevada. We want to prosper. We want to lead. We want to be the envy of the world.“That’s why we’re not just creating jobs. We’re creating green jobs. Jobs that can never be outsourced. Jobs that will make Nevada the leader in producing and exporting renewable energy. There is simply nowhere better in the world to generate solar energy than right here in Nevada.

Now we have to turn that energy into jobs.“That’s why I made sure the Recovery Act included almost $6 million in tax credits to help Amonix open this facility. Our investment has helped bring in much more private capital to make this possible. That’s exactly how the stimulus was supposed to work. So the next time you hear someone say the Recovery Act isn’t working, tell them to come here. They should talk to the nearly 300 Nevadans who will be working here every day.   “By next summer, hundreds of Nevadans will be making solar modules right here in this building and even this manufacturing facility is green. Amonix received a $5.8 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act competitive manufacturing tax credit, legislation Senator Reid and Congresswoman Berkley championed, to open the new facility. The company said that it has begun hiring area residents to fill management, technical and production jobs, and that 135 local construction workers will build out the facility over the next few months.

DRIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES

A GREEN RENAISSANCE Community News & Views

Posted on October 30, 2010 by quest

QuestPoint Solar Solutions continues to expand it services to those who have an interest in the green movement.Today QuestPoint is providing a new platform for readers to share their news and views on the multi faceted green economy. Just what is the green economy? Environmental Strategist and author Andrew Winston suggest, “A new green economy

is just that – a whole new economy, with job openings at all skill levels, from truck drivers to inventors of new battery chemistry. The solar or wind installer is just the tip of a very large iceberg that’s coming our way.” The days of citizen journalism are upon us. The “Cultural Creatives” as LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) describes them are a growing segment of our population whose impact is not just philosophical and environmental, but their influence is now being felt through all aspects of society.”

The interactive nature of the internet and the tools that it offers changes the dynamic of news and information as we used to know it. Thus the ease at which one can respond to information broadens the opportunity for more voices to be heard. Through its’ expanding information sections QuestPoint Solar Solutions continues to move forward on its intended purpose: to provide a constant and diverse flow of news, information, commentary, and knowledge in the solar, renewable energy and green economy. With all the tech talk about solar, climate change, smart grids and going green QuestPoint makes it easier to understand what the green movement is all about.

We invite interesting and meaningful insight as we move toward a greener sustainable world. Ata Green Renaissance – News & Viewsyou can contribute stories, commentary about events happening throughout the green movement. We are a local and global community, a place to share your news & stories about people & green events near you. You can also listen to A Green Renaisaance podcast updates at: