Sunpath Lights The Way For US Solar Manufacturing

Posted on August 3, 2011 by quest

For over two years the Sunpath program, a $50 million investment from the US Department of Energy has been at aimed to helping the nation reclaim its competitive edge in solar manufacturing. Sunpath, which stands for Scaling Up Nascent PV At Home, represents the second solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Initiative (PVMI) supporting the Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative. “This investment provides a necessary boost to domestic solar manufacturing businesses, encouraging them to keep jobs here and establish America’s leadership in the world’s growing clean energy economy,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “In addition to invigorating clean energy manufacturing, this program will help achieve the SunShot goal of making unsubsidized utility-scale solar cost-competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade.”As recently as 1995, the United States maintained a dominant global solar market share, manufacturing 43 percent of the world’s PV panels. In steady decline, U.S. market share shrank to 27 percent by 2000 and to 7 percent by 2010. SUNPATH will help return the United States to the forefront, driving innovation and assuring continued leadership in the 21st century clean energy economy.

Sunpath seeks to increase domestic manufacturing through investments that have sustainable, competitive cost and performance advantages. SUNPATH will help companies with pilot-scale commercial production scale up their manufacturing capabilities, enabling them to overcome a funding gap that often curtails domestic business at a critical stage. By bridging this gap, SUNPATH will help ensure that innovative, low-cost solar technologies are manufactured in the United States. The PV Manufacturing Initiative accelerates the cost reduction and commercialization of solar technologies by coordinating solutions across industry. The initiative will help create a robust, domestic PV manufacturing base and develop a workforce with the critical skills required to deliver reliable, affordable, clean energy.

The Department of Energy is seeking applicants with industrial-scale demonstrations of PV modules, cells, or substrates that offer lower-cost solutions in line with the SunShot goal. Applications are due by October 28, 2011. More information and application requirements can be found at the Funding Opportunity Exchange.

The Few The Proud The Brave Go Solar

Solar Decathlon Considers New Venue for 2013

Posted on August 1, 2011 by quest

Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy is considering offers for a new site for Solar Decathlon 2013. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a competition that challenges collegiate students from across the globe to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, highly energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in. For the first time, in an effort to expand the excitement generated by the competition and encourage participation from new communities, the Department is inviting venues across the nation to compete for the opportunity to host this award-winning event. The Solar Decathlon has attracted thousands of people to experience first-hand the benefits of homes that incorporate clean energy technologies, and, as a collegiate competition, supports the Obama Administration’s comprehensive efforts to build a 21st century clean energy economy by helping to train the next-generation of American engineers and architects.

“The Solar Decathlon challenges the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to become pioneers of clean energy technology and efficient building design,” said Secretary Chu. “This is a great opportunity for these talented students to showcase cutting edge technologies that will change the way we build homes and save families money.”

Solar Decathlon Students

Solar Decathlon 2011 will take place at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., September 23 through October 2, 2011. This year’s competition will be the Department’s fifth Solar Decathlon; previous events were held in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2009. Open to the public free of charge, the Solar Decathlon enables visitors to tour the houses and learn about money-saving clean-energy solutions for their own homes.

Rainwater A Source of Drinking Water in King County

Rolls Royce Electric Vehicle Preps for World Tour

Posted on August 1, 2011 by quest

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently took its Phantom Experimental Electric prototype to the MIRA research facility in Warwickshire for a series of laboratory-controlled temperature tests. Engineers want to learn how extreme conditions such as high temperatures and humidity levels affect battery performance while in use. This information is critical as 102EX will shortly embark on a global tour that will take in markets such as the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and North America. “The tests have furnished us with important data about the effects of heat and humidity on 102EX’s battery and management systems,” commented Andrew Martin, 102EX chief engineer. “For example we are clear that the battery management system, which maintains safety and optimal operation of individual cells, will inhibit charging at extreme temperatures. Practically speaking, this may mean finding locations in which the car’s cells can cool after test drives before a re-charge can begin.”

The tests have also reinforced expectations of the temperature range in which the car can be driven. In general, the car’s 96 cells will continue to operate at temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius and in relative humidity as low as 30%. This is well within temperature ranges expected while on tour, however battery performance will continue to be monitored by engineers as the car is taken to typically hot locations such as Dubai. 102EX began its tour in May with events at the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. This was followed by drives in London and the South East of England, then Manchester and Edinburgh. The car departs for international events in the following locations: Asia-Pacific Region: Singapore and Beijing (Early August 2011) North America: Pebble Beach, LA (Tuesday 16 to Sunday 21 August 2011) Europe: Regional tour (September 2011) Asia-Pacific Region: Japan (final week of September 2011) Middle East: Dubai (October 2011) North America: New York, Los Angeles Motor Show, Las Vegas, Florida and Art Basel, Miami (November and early December 2011).

CLEAN LA Solar Investing $2 Billion In Rooftop Solar

Supertrees of Singapore Elevate Renewable Energy

Posted on July 31, 2011 by quest

Supertrees are uniquely designed vertical gardens rising to over160 feet in height, with emphasis placed on the vertical display of tropical flowering climbers, epiphytes and ferns. They are made of concrete and steel with designs to accept living skin. Developed for the Gardens by the Bay project in Singapore, they are projected to cost over $800 million dollars. The Gardens by the Bay project will set new standards for using sustainable and renewable energy in a ground up systems approach. Part of of a massive ecological project the size of 177 football fields the project will also incorporate environmentally friendly technology, such as the ability to harvest and reuse water and solar panels.

Singapore has a population of 4.6 million people and a land area of about 3.5 times the size of Washington DC. Gardens by the Bay comprises three gardens around the Marina Channel in the southern part of Singapore. The Gardens will be built on land that was reclaimed from the sea some 30 years ago. The new downtown Marina City is being developed around Marina South. In January 2006, an international master plan design competition for the Gardens was launched. Some 70 teams comprising 170 firms, from over 24 countries, including 35 from Singapore , participated in the competition. An 11-member Jury comprising local and international experts shortlisted eight teams and two winners were announced in September 2006; namely Grant Associates for Bay South and Gustafson Porter for Bay East, both from the United Kingdom. Bay Central will be developed later.

Gardens by the Bay Singapore

Utilizing the latest in biomass renewable energy technology the Gardens by the Bay in the downtown Marina City will actually be producing enough energy to reduce Singapore’s carbon footprint. After close to two years of construction, the Flower Dome was fitted with the last panel of glass by Minister for National Development Mr Mah Bow Tan, marking the completion of its façade. Exterior works for its sister structure, the Cloud Forest which will replicate the cool-moist climate of the Tropical Montane region, will be completed later this year. The conservatories will be an amalgamation of architectural, environmental engineering, and horticultural excellence in the heart of Singapore’s new downtown, Marina Bay. Designed with the environment in mind, they will apply cutting-edge technologies that provide energy-efficient solutions in cooling.

A Green Career Path Taken

Sugarcane to Supply Rio Buses with Renewable Energy

Posted on July 29, 2011 by quest

Amyris Brasil Ltda., a subsidiary of Amyris, Inc. has announced that it will supply renewable diesel during a 12-month fleet test involving 20 city buses in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The renewable fuel derived from sugarcane, known locally as Diesel de Cana, will be blended at a 30 percent rate with petroleum-derived diesel and used in Mercedes-Benz buses operated by Viação Saens Peña, a Rio-based bus operator. The Rio transportation federation, FETRANSPOR, will use the data collected during this fleet test to evaluate the engine and environmental benefits of Amyris’s renewable diesel. The results of the fleet test will be presented at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) taking place in Rio in June 2012.

“We are ready to meet the growing demand for cane-derived renewable fuels in Rio as the city prepares to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.”“We are thrilled to expand the use of our renewable diesel to Brazil’s second-largest city. This will be the first large-scale use of our Diesel de Cana at a blend of 30 percent in Brazil,” said John Melo, CEO of Amyris. “We continue to see strong demand for our renewable fuels, particularly as more engine suppliers and transport operators validate their performance.”

Lady on the Bus Sonia Braga

The city of Rio de Janeiro has more than 8,000 buses consuming about 280 million liters of diesel per year. The Rio fleet test is expected to validate the significant reduction of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions evidenced in recent Mercedes-Benz engine tests with a 30 percent blend of Amyris’s renewable diesel. “Rio’s government and public transportation authorities are committed to leading by example in addressing climate change, and Amyris—along with our partners Mercedes-Benz, Petrobras, Michelin and BNDES—is honored to play a role in addressing Rio’s transportation needs,” said Paulo Diniz, president of Amyris Brasil. “We are ready to meet the growing demand for cane-derived renewable fuels in Rio as the city prepares to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.”

Elektra One A New Solar Powered Plane

SunPower and Citi Add $105 Million To Solar Projects

Posted on July 28, 2011 by quest

SunPower Corp. today announced a new fund for approximately $105 million in residential solar lease projects. SunPower will use the fund to extend its SunPower Lease to customers in eight states, expanding the financing options available to homeowners interested in high-efficiency SunPower solar power systems. Citi is contributing $80 million to the fund. “Citi’s global financial leadership combined with SunPower’s leading technology and quarter century of experience offer customers an unprecedented level of assurance that is vitally important when a homeowner enters into a 20-year lease agreement,” said SunPower CFO Dennis Arriola. “We are proud to partner with Citi, and applaud its commitment to promoting the use of solar power.”

“This important initiative builds upon Citi’s robust track record in environmental sustainability and affirms our commitment to renewable energy finance by helping our clients provide economically attractive options for homeowners to save money and generate clean energy,” said Marshal Salant, head of Citi’s Alternative Energy Finance Group. Citi was named “America’s Greenest Bank” in 2010 by Bank Technology News and “Most Innovative Investment Bank in Climate Change and Sustainability” by the Financial Times’ Banker Magazine in 2009 and 2010 for its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. The global financial services leader is in the midst of a 10-year, $50 billion initiative to support the commercialization and growth of alternative energy and clean technology in markets around the world. To date, Citi has directed over $30 billion as part of this initiative.

“SunPower is a leading manufacturer of rooftop solar power systems in the U.S. because our customers know they can rely on high-efficiency SunPower technology to maximize the power generated on their roof – and their monthly savings,” said Jim Pape, president of SunPower’s residential and commercial business group. “Homeowners have many financing options when they choose a SunPower system, from cash purchase to loans to leases, and SunPower dealers work with customers to ensure they choose the financing option that is right for them. We are very pleased to extend the lease option to more of our U.S. customers.”Homeowners can also obtain SunPower systems through cash purchase or SunPower’s loan program, which offers a variety of low-interest loans.