Solar Car Team Revs Up For World Solar Challenge

Posted on October 12, 2011 by quest

Since the 1980s, engineers have been building, and racing solar cars. With software from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., the University of Michigan (U-M) Solar Car Team has designed a car to compete in the World Solar Challenge in Australia this month. A six-time winner of the American National Championships, the U-M team is competing in the World Solar Challenge—and the car design is lighter and more aerodynamic than ever before. Since 2006 U-M has used SolidWorks software to become the number 1 ranked collegiate solar car team in North America. Next week they will compete on the world stage driving 1800 miles across Australia thanks to the work of over 100 students in various disciplines at U-M. Quantum, the single-seat race vehicle, will travel as far as it can until 5pm each afternoon powered by the sun and 5kW hours of stored energy (the same amount of energy that it takes to power a hair-dryer) or on the recovered kinetic energy from the vehicle.

“Only one U.S. team has ever won the World Solar Challenge,” said Chris Hilger, Business Director of U-M Solar. “This year, we believe we have a winning car design due to the improved aerodynamic shell and significantly lighter weight. SolidWorks helped us model each part to be as small, light, and effective as possible, and this contributes significantly to the car’s speed and maneuverability.”When designing the solar car, the U-M team found systems integration to be the most difficult challenge. Mechanical parts need to be small and light, in order to fit into as small an automotive shell as possible. The U-M team relied upon SolidWorks 3D CAD software to model all of the car components, and determined the amount of space needed for each component. The result is a car that is 30 percent more aerodynamic and 200 pounds lighter than the previous version.

“The U-M Solar Car Team has been able to achieve groundbreaking results with a lighter and faster car,” said Marie Planchard, director of education at Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks. “This extraordinary team is poised to take the lead at the World Solar Challenge, and we’re proud to have contributed to a stellar—and hopefully winning—design.”

Electric Vehicles Driving Energy To The Grid

UN Secretary Calls For ‘Clean Energy Revolution’

Posted on October 11, 2011 by quest

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a “clean energy revolution” to help the estimated three billion people that lack modern power and urged countries to recognize the impact that energy security has on all aspects of development. “Three billion people rely on charcoal or wood for cooking and heating. They are energy-poor. And energy poverty translates into grinding, dehumanizing poverty,” he told participants at an energy conference in Oslo, Norway. “We need energy not only to be universal, [we] need it to be clean – to be sustainable as well. We cannot continue to burn our way to prosperity. The only way to minimize the risks of dangerous climate change is by ensuring that energy is sustainable.” The Secretary-General stressed that sustainable energy is critical for all aspects of human progress and said a departure from existing practices is needed to achieve the goal of universal energy access by 2030.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), financing universal access to modern energy services would cost only about three per cent of total global investments in energy.“Energy poverty is a threat to the achievement all of the MDGs. It holds back economic growth and job creation. We require a radical departure from current practices and existing realities.

That is why we are calling for practical and large-scale action,” he said. To achieve the universal energy access goal, Mr. Ban launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative last month, which has three global targets: providing universal access to modern energy services, doubling energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the world’s energy supply. The initiative will have input from the private, government and civil society sectors to develop its agenda for the next two decades. Participants at the “Energy for all – financing access for the poor” conference explored innovative financing mechanisms that can help countries and regions implement their energy plans. In addition to organizing the conference, Norway launched its Energy+ Initiative, which aims to help mobilize private capital and public resources in support of Sustainable Energy for All.

Electric Drive Transportation Association

Governor Welcomes Solar Maker SunEdison To Cali

Posted on October 10, 2011 by quest

California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today visited the new headquarters of SunEdison in Belmont to mark the company’s decision to establish their world headquarters in California. The company, currently headquartered in Maryland, decided to make the move following actions by Governor Brown and the Legislature to create a friendlier business environment in California.

“SunEdison’s decision to relocate to California is proof that, working together, state government and business can find ways to cut red tape, tackle our environmental problems and create jobs,” said Governor Brown. “Locating the SunEdison headquarters in California, the largest energy market in North America with a longstanding commitment to renewable energy, positions us to support better our customers,” said Carlos Domenech, president of SunEdison. “Being in Silicon Valley gives us access to a wider talent and companies that are motivated to solve the supply and demand challenges that electric power faces. California has long been a trendsetter in technology, business innovation and caring for the environment. Being here will help us to make solar a viable and meaningful source of energy.”

Video Governor Brown in Belmont California

SunEdison globally it produces more than 260 MW of solar energy capacity, has 450 operational sites, and has delivered 730,529 MW onto the grid. In California, SunEdison currently has 278 solar project sites. As a result of the move, SunEdison will bring approximately 200 employees from Maryland, adding to the existing 100 employees they currently have in California. They plan to create approximately 300 new jobs over the next five years.

Government A Backer Of Innovation And Clean Energy

Chicago Approves Urban Farm and Nature Preserve

California Colleges Flow With Renewable Energy

Posted on October 6, 2011 by quest

The University of Southern California announced today that a partnership led by Caltech, UCLA and USC have been selected to receive a $360,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a national business plan competition for young cleantech entrepreneurs. The winning proposal is one of six awarded regionally as part of a three-year, $2 million program, funded by the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to develop competitions that inspire students to come up with innovative business plans involving clean-energy technology. Called First Look West (FLoW), the partnership will also include Chapman University, the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego, energy company OnGreen, Inc, and student leaders from campus groups, such as eClubs, Net Impact, Engineers for a Sustainable World and NOBE, the National Organization of Business and Engineering. FLoW builds on First Look LA, a program organized by Caltech, USC, and UCLA that showcases research and innovation to investors and has been successfully nurturing academic entrepreneurship in Southern California for five years.

The regional contests will be completed by May 1, 2012. Regional winners, selected by a panel of judges, will each receive $100,000 from the DOE and a chance to compete for a National Grand Prize in the final competition held at the DOE in Washington, D.C. in early summer 2012. The competition is part of Startup America, the Obama Administration’s campaign to inspire and promote entrepreneurship. The purpose of this national initiative is to provide student participants with the skills needed to start new businesses, and transform promising energy technologies into innovative energy products that will create jobs, boost American competitiveness, and strengthen the economy.

“Creating new industries in clean-energy technology is a necessity for Los Angeles and an opportunity that cannot be missed,” said Dean Yannis C. Yortsos of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. “In today’s global economy, which is based more than ever before on the creation of intellectual property, the Los Angeles area needs the entrepreneurship ethos and the intellectual capital and dynamism offered by our three partner institutions. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is very excited about engaging young engineers and entrepreneurs in this field and looks forward to the development of a flourishing innovation ecosystem in the area.”

20,000 Rally To Occupy Wall Street

The Language of Solar – Solar Dictionary

Chevron To Use Solar Technology For Oil Production

Posted on October 3, 2011 by quest

Chevron Technology Ventures, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. that identifies, evaluates and demonstrates emerging technologies, today launched a unique demonstration project to test the viability of using solar energy to produce oil. The project uses over 7,600 mirrors to focus the sun’s energy onto a solar boiler. The steam produced is injected into oil reservoirs to increase oil production. The project is the largest of its kind in the world.

“Through this demonstration, we want to determine the feasibility of using solar power for enhanced oil recovery,” said Desmond King, president of Chevron Technology Ventures. “This technology has the potential to augment gas-powered steam generation and may provide an additional resource in areas of the world where natural gas is expensive or not readily available.” One of America’s oldest oil fields, the Coalinga Field began operations in the 1890s. Because the heavy crude oil produced at the field does not flow readily, it is more difficult to extract than lighter grades of crude.

Chevron enhances oil production from the Coalinga Field by injecting steam to heat the crude, thereby reducing its viscosity and making it easier to produce. This steam is currently generated by burning natural gas. The solar-to-steam project will supplement the gas-fired steam generators and help determine the commercial viability of using heat from the sun instead of natural gas to generate steam. Throughout the course of the day, more than 7,600 mirrors track the sun and reflect its rays to a receiver positioned on a solar tower. Using heat from the concentrated sunlight, the solar tower system produces steam that is distributed throughout the oil field and then injected underground for enhanced oil recovery. The solar demonstration generates about the same amount of steam as one gas-fired steam generator. Chevron contracted BrightSource Energy, Inc., as the technology provider and for engineering, procurement and construction. The project will be operated by Chevron Technology Ventures.

Paris Tests Rentals of Electric Cars

The Thrill Of Solar Decathlon Victory

Posted on October 3, 2011 by quest

The University of Maryland won the Prestigious Clean Energy Competition, the Solar Decathlon. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the winners of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. The University of Maryland won top honors overall by designing, building, and operating the most cost effective, energy efficient and attractive solar powered house. Purdue University took second place followed by New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington) in third place.

“This competition to build innovative, highly energy-efficient homes has been two years in the making, and all of these teams must be commended for their hard work,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “The houses on display blend affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. These talented students are demonstrating to consumers the wide range of energy-saving solutions that are available today to save them money on their energy bills.”

All teams competed in 10 contests during 10 days that gauged each house’s performance, livability and affordability. The teams performed everyday tasks, including cooking, laundry, and washing dishes, that tested the energy efficiency of their houses. After all contest results were tallied, Maryland earned 951.151 points out of a possible 1,000 to win the competition, followed by Purdue with 931.390 points, and New Zealand with 919.058 points. Student teams in the 2011 competition hailed from five countries across four continents, including the United States, Belgium, Canada, China and New Zealand. The application process for the sixth U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, to be held in fall 2013, has already begun.