Intersolar North America Focusing Energy Storage

Posted on May 30, 2012 by quest

Intersolar North America will feature a close look at advanced energy storage and its impact on renewable energy generation. Intersolar North America, the premier solar industry exhibition and conference in North America for solar professionals to exchange information and develop business opportunities in the U.S. solar market, returns to San Francisco July 9-12, 2012 for its fifth year. Co-located with SEMICON West, the event is expected to draw approximately 900 exhibitors and more than 22,000 registered visitors from more than 80 countries to provide a true global perspective of the solar industry.

This year, Intersolar North America features a new special exhibit that promotes innovative energy storage technologies. PV Energy World, located in the Moscone Center, North Hall will offer expert presentations on energy storage and grid integration. The informative exhibits and display boards will stimulate discussion among visitors. As the North American solar industry matures, energy storage has emerged as a key technology to optimize renewable energy generation. Storage enables greater flexibility for the power grid, thus accelerating the deployment of affordable solar energy. The successful commercialization and integration of new energy storage technologies promises to help boost the capacity of solar projects, ease concerns over grid strain and bring more large-scale plants online.

Janice Lin, Executive Director of the California Energy Storage Alliance said,”Energy storage offers the solar industry the opportunity to bring several goals to fruition, including faster grid interconnection, more precise timing of output, fewer curtailment and imbalance penalties, and the potential to secure valuable new revenue from wholesale ancillary services and capacity markets. Advanced  energy storage is poised to have a huge, positive impact on the solar industry in California and beyond, and the storage industry is very excited to see Intersolar North America cover this formative topic in such depth at this year’s conference and on the exhibition floor.”PV Energy World is supported in part by the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA), an advocacy coalition committed to expanding the role of energy storage to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. CESA counts storage technology manufacturers, renewable energy component manufacturers, developers and system integrators among its members, and this year marks the first time Intersolar will partner with CESA.

Manitoba Hydro Place LEED Platinum

Chabot College Center Achieves LEED Certification

Posted on May 17, 2012 by quest

Chabot Community College in Hayward, Calif., recently achieved LEED Platinum certification for their sustainably-designed student center building with the help of SageGlass dynamic glazing. The Community and Student Services Center (CSSC) is the centerpiece of the college’s “green intelligent building initiative,” serving more than 15,000 students, staff and faculty. Architects at tBP/Architecture wanted to incorporate as much glass as possible into the CSSC to flood the interior with daylight and keep a connection to the outdoors for the well-being of the students. The architects needed to find a way to maintain outside views and keep people comfortable inside, while simultaneously minimizing energy consumption to achieve the project’s LEED goals. Although conventional low-e glazing, automated interior blinds and automated exterior louvers would have managed the sun and solar heat gain, this approach would also have obstructed outside views and compromised building aesthetics.

The CSSC uses SageGlass as a strategic element of an integrated daylighting control system to manage sunlight and heat gain. The dynamic glazing tints or clears within minutes, significantly reducing energy consumed for air conditioning, heating and lighting. SageGlass glazing keeps glare and temperature under control throughout the day, making effective use of the natural ventilation system. In addition to SageGlass, the facility features a variety of other advanced sustainability technologies designed to achieve LEED Platinum accreditation through aggressive energy-efficiency levels and maximum occupant comfort.

SageGlass was instrumental in helping Chabot meet its ambitious sustainability initiative, which includes attaining LEED Silver rating as a minimum for all new construction,” said Doug Horner, Project Manager with Chabot Community College. “This one-of-a-kind facility exceeds this standard by using advanced design elements, which provide natural daylight in all occupied spaces and access to outdoor views. The CSSC also controls the amount of light to reduce heat gain as a means of increasing the comfort level of occupants.”

Sexy Celebrity Environmentalists Making A Difference

Solar Trees Powering New Las Vegas City Hall

Posted on March 6, 2012 by quest

Yesterday Las Vegas City Hall dedicated its newly completed facility designed by Forest City Enterprises. Company officials joined Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman, City Manager Betsy Fretwell, members of City Council and other civic leaders for an evening dedication ceremony that showcased the building’s iconic architecture and computer-controlled LED lighting. Forest City’s Real Estate Services subsidiary developed the City Hall for Las Vegas on a fee basis. The company owns three additional adjoining blocks of land which it intends to develop into a new civic district with a mix of uses including office, retail and services that support the City Hall and other nearby governmental buildings. Construction of the City Hall is part of a broader strategy by Las Vegas leaders to stimulate job creation and economic revitalization of the city’s historic downtown.

“This project and the benefits it will bring Las Vegas are examples of the power of public-private partnerships to revitalize our cities,” said David J. LaRue, Forest City president and chief executive officer. “Great cities have strong downtowns, and it starts with great public buildings, like the new City Hall. We congratulate Las Vegas and its leaders for the vision that enabled this project to become a reality.” Forest City Enterprises, Inc. is an NYSE-listed national real estate company that is principally engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate and land throughout the United States.

The City Hall is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. According to the city, the new building will reduce the city’s energy costs by more than $400,000 annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2,400 metric tons. Thirty-three “solar trees” on the plaza and solar panels on the building’s roof will produce approximately 290,000 kilowatt hours of power for the City Hall annually.

Hawaii Green Certified Tour Operators

Solar Smart Windows Reflecting Growth

Posted on March 4, 2012 by quest

After many years of being no more than a niche, the smart windows market is starting to reflect growth says a report from NanoMarkets in its latest report on “Smart Windows Markets 2012. NanoMarkets is a leading provider of market research and industry analysis of opportunities within advanced materials and emerging energy and electronics markets. The firm believes that several factors are combining to make this happen. The most obvious perhaps is that there is a growing awareness of energy conservation, green building and fuel efficient transportation by building owners and governments. Smart windows will further provide a growth platform for architectural glass manufacturers and window manufacturers. Already “pricey” architectural glass and window products can be sold at incremental price increase, while providing valuable additional features such as energy savings with smart coatings on the windows and glass facades.

For the construction and architectural side of things, NanoMarkets believes that firms who focus on LEED design and construction, and who adopt smart windows technologies, will benefit the most. As smart windows technology grows and pervades the marketplace, it will eventually become a “required technology” for LEED design and construction. Therefore, architectural and construction firms that are early adopters of smart windows technology in their building designs will gain a sustainable competitive advantage for growing their businesses.With all these developments in mind, NanoMarkets is publishing this new report to pinpoint and quantify where the money will be made – and lost – in the worldwide smart windows business. The report covers both traditional passive smart windows, as well as the new breed of active electrochromic and thermochromic smart window technologies. It also discusses the numerous challenges that will have to be overcome in this market to make new products a success.

This report analyzes the markets for self-dimming windows, self-cleaning windows and the smart windows of the future that will combine window functionality with the ability to serve as either lighting or solar panels; or both.

Universities Offering Joint Program in Energy Law

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 To Power Leading Wind Power Maker

Posted on July 23, 2011 by quest

Portland Mayor Sam Adams has announced solar panels from SolarWorld, the largest U.S. manufacturer of solar technology for more than 35 years, have been selected to power the North American headquarters of Vestas, a leader in providing high-tech wind power systems. “As Portland seeks to become the capital of the global green economy, collaborations among our leading clean energy firms are key,” Mayor Sam Adams said on July 20. “I’m excited to announce this unique partnership. It’s an excellent example of how two companies can come together and make something great happen in Portland.” The move links two of the top U.S. producers of renewable energy systems and underscores the companies’ confidence in the vitality of American manufacturing and the value of sustainability.

The announcement came outside the 102-year-old Meier & Frank Depot building in downtown Portland, future home of Vestas’ continental head office. The building’s redevelopment will feature a 112-kilowatt photovoltaic system, the largest roof-mounted solar array in Portland’s central business district. The system will cap an impressive list of cutting-edge energy and environmental features that are expected to position the historical building on Northwest Everett Street to pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. The SolarWorld panels will supply about 12 percent of the building’s electricity needs.

Both SolarWorld and Vestas have their headquarters for the Americas in the Portland area. SolarWorld employs more than 1,000 workers at its main U.S. site in Hillsboro, Ore., and more than 250 in Camarillo, Calif., where it has operated a solar-panel manufacturing site since the late 1970s. Vestas employs about 400 people in Portland and 3,000 nationwide. The company, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Portland next year, has sold more than 11,000 wind turbines in North America. When complete in spring 2012, the building will measure 172,000 square feet, including an addition on the fifth floor featuring an eco-roof terrace and garden and tenant and retail space on the first floor.