SunShot to Advance Solar Development In America

Posted on April 13, 2011 by quest

As part of the SunShot Initiative, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the selection of up to $112.5 million over five years for funding to support the development of advanced solar photovoltaic (PV)-related manufacturing processes throughout the United States. The Department’s SunShot Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships will help the solar power industry overcome technical barriers and reduce costs for PV installations, help the U.S. regain the lead in the global market for solar technologies, and provide support for clean energy jobs for years to come.

“Expanding the U.S. solar energy industry is an important part of the Administration’s goals to diversify our electricity supply and rebuild America’s manufacturing base to create jobs now and in the future,” said Secretary Chu. “The SunShot Initiative will not only keep the United States at the forefront in solar energy research and development, but will help us win the worldwide race to build a solar manufacturing industry that produces solar systems that are cost competitive with fossil fuels .”Today’s investments are part of DOE’s SunShot Initiative, which aims to reduce the total costs of photovoltaic solar energy systems by about 75 percent so that they are cost competitive at large scale with other forms of energy without subsidies by the end of the decade. Achieving this goal – equivalent to approximately $1 a watt or roughly 6 cents per kilowatt-hour for utility systems – would allow solar energy systems to be broadly deployed across the country.

The SunShot program will also fund $25 million to the Bay Area PV Consortium (BAPVC) to spur industry-relevant research and development to impact high volume PV manufacturing using a competitive selection process open to all universities. This project, managed by Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, will develop and test the innovative new materials, device structures, and fabrication processes necessary to achieve cost effective PV modules in high volume production. The research will advance technologies that bring down manufacturing costs and improve device performance characteristics to help achieve SunShot’s price targets. An industry board composed of representatives from PV companies will determine the specific topics for research and development to assure close alignment with industry and manufacturing needs.

GREEN CAREERS

Solar In The Mix In Obama’s New Energy Policy

Posted on March 30, 2011 by quest

We meet here at a tumultuous time for the world. In a matter of months, we’ve seen regimes toppled and democracy take root across North Africa and the Middle East. We’ve witnessed a terrible earthquake, catastrophic tsunami and nuclear emergency batter a strong ally and the world’s third largest economy. And we’ve led an international effort in Libya to prevent a massacre and maintain stability throughout the broader region.

As Americans, we are heartbroken by the lives that have been lost as a result of these events. We are moved by the thirst for freedom in many nations, as well as the strength and perseverance of the Japanese people. And of course, it’s natural to feel anxious about what all this means for us.
One area of particular concern has been the cost and security of our energy. In an economy that relies on oil, rising prices at the pump affect everybody – workers and farmers; truck drivers and restaurant owners. Businesses see it hurt their bottom line. Families feel the pinch when they fill up their tank. For Americans already struggling to get by, it makes life that much harder.

But here’s the thing – we’ve been down this road before. Remember, it was just three years ago that gas prices topped $4 a gallon. Working folks haven’t forgotten that. It hit a lot of people pretty hard. But it was also the height of political season, so you had a lot of slogans and gimmicks and outraged politicians waving three-point-plans for two-dollar gas – when none of it would really do anything to solve the problem. Imagine that in Washington. The truth is, of course, was that all these gimmicks didn’t make a bit of difference. When gas prices finally fell, it was mostly because the global recession led to less demand for oil. Now that the economy is recovering, demand is back up. Add the turmoil in the Middle East, and it’s not surprising oil prices are higher. And every time the price of a barrel of oil on the world market rises by $10, a gallon of gas goes up by about 25 cents. The point is, the ups and downs in gas prices are usually temporary. When you look at the long-term trends, though, there will be more ups than downs. That’s because countries like India and China are growing at a rapid clip. And as two billion more people start consuming more goods, and driving more cars, and using more energy, it’s certain that demand will go up a lot faster than supply.

GAIN INSIGHT

California Sets Solar and Renewable Energy Goals

Posted on March 29, 2011 by quest

Today’s passage of SBX1-2 by the California State Assembly is “a major boost” for jobs, clean energy and the state’s economy, says the Independent Energy Producers (IEP) “We appreciate the support of the renewable energy developers, environmentalists, labor and health organizations who worked tirelessly for this victory.” SBX1-2 by Senator Joe Simitian (D–Palo Alto) requires that 33 percent of the state’s energy come from renewable sources by 2020. Previously, the goal was 20 percent by 2010.

“This landmark legislation will help put Californians back to work and provide the clean electricity needed to power our economy into the future,” said Jan Smutny-Jones, Executive Director of IEP California. “The jobs and investment created by SBX1-2 are a major boost for our economy — and a signal to the nation that California is still the innovative leader when it comes to clean, green energy.”While increasing the amount of energy from renewable sources, SBX1-2 also protects system reliability, fosters resource diversity, and produces the greatest environmental benefits for California residents. Over 45 energy, labor, environmental and health organizations joined IEP in supporting SBX1-2, including the California Wind Energy Association, AFSCME, Sierra Club California and the American Lung Association of California.“SBX1-2 will generate billions of dollars in investment, create thousands of jobs and foster local economic development,” said Smutny-Jones. “We appreciate the support of the renewable energy developers, environmentalists, labor and health organizations who worked tirelessly for this victory.”

IEP is California’s largest association of electricity generators, representing over 26,000 MWs of power or about one-half of California’s peak needs — about eighty percent of the renewable energy being delivered in California.

GREEN WEBINARS

Solar Power Provider SunRun Wins National Award

Posted on March 9, 2011 by quest

SunRun, a San Francisco based home solar company, was honored today as CEO Edward Fenster and President Lynn Jurich accepted the Business & Finance Leaders of the Year Award at the Renewable Energy World North America Conference & Expo.

Since the start of 2011 SunRun has already received two industry awards, garnered national recognition for a report called “The Impact of Local Permitting on the Cost of Solar Power,” and celebrated its 10,000th customer. The company installs more than $1 million in residential solar every day to give Americans an affordable way to go solar. “Residential solar is growing rapidly and SunRun’s successful business model puts them at the head of the pack,” said Renewable Energy World publisher Oliver Strube. “They beat out hundreds of nominees in this category because SunRun’s impressive growth – 300 percent in 2010 – demonstrates they know how to transform a great concept into real results.”

With solar power service, SunRun owns, installs, repairs, and insures the solar panels, while the homeowner simply pays a monthly bill for the power they use. Typically, a homeowner will save between 10-15 percent right away on total electricity bills, plus tens of thousands over time as utility rates increase.”We’re honored to accept this award on behalf of our entire team, as Lynn and I represent just one part of the tireless effort that goes into making SunRun successful,” said Edward Fenster, SunRun CEO. “Today we bring solar to thousands of rooftops, but our goal is to power millions of American homes and we’re on track to achieve that.”

GREEN WEBINARS

SunShot to Reduce Solar Installation Cost

Posted on February 7, 2011 by quest

The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, working in collaboration with the solar industry, will dramatically decrease the cost of electricity from solar energy. The goal is to achieve price parity between solar electricity and fossil-based electricity by the end of the decade, without additional subsidies. Reaching this goal will re-establish American technological leadership, improve the nation’s energy security, and strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness in the global clean energy race.

The SunShot Initiative builds on the legacy of President Kennedy’s 1960s “moon shot” goal, which laid out a plan to regain the country’s lead in the space race and land a man on the moon. Similarly, the SunShot goal aims to restore America’s once-dominant position in the global market for solar photovoltaics (PV), which has dwindled from 43 percent in 1995 to only six percent today. To achieve the SunShot goal of reducing the total installed cost of solar electricity by about 75 percent, DOE will be working closely with partners in government, industry, research laboratories and academic institutions across the country. DOE estimates that if the installed costs for solar energy systems drop to $1 per watt — equivalent to a levelized cost of electricity of 5-6 cents per kilowatt hour — solar without subsidies would be competitive with the wholesale rate of electricity nearly everywhere in the U.S. These reductions in cost will lead to a dramatic increase in the market demand for solar energy technologies, enabling new domestic manufacturing.

A PERSPECTIVE

The SunShot initiative will continue to accelerate and advance the Department’s existing research efforts by refocusing the Department’s solar energy programs — valued at approximately $200 million per year — to support a targeted roadmap to meet the SunShot goal by the end of the decade. The program will emphasize collaboration between DOE offices, including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which focuses on deployment and applied research and development; the Office of Science, which advances early-stage scientific discoveries; and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), which is investing in a range of transformative energy technologies and has related ongoing work on power electronics.

Historically, solar investments have focused on achieving incremental efficiency improvements to solar cells and arrays. SunShot takes a different approach. In addition to investing in improvements in cell technologies and manufacturing, the SunShot initiative will also focus on steps to reduce installation and permitting costs, which are significant contributors to the total installed system price of solar electricity. This includes efforts to streamline and digitize local permitting processes and to develop codes and standards that ensure high-performance over the approximately 20 year lifetime of residential solar products.

GREEN WEBINARS

S F Green Film Festival Features The 4th Revolution: Energy Autonomy

Posted on February 5, 2011 by quest

The San Francisco Green Film Festival will launch March 3-6, 2011 and will be the ﬁrst-ever festival of its kind on the West Coast presenting inspiring programs and discussions that link films and media arts with environmental advocacy and activism.
The Festival will include screenings of over 60 premieres from around the globe and kicks off with an Opening Night Green Carpet Gala on Thursday, March 3rd at the beautiful LEED-certified Bently Reserve (formerly the City’s U.S. Federal Reserve). In celebration of the Opening Night’s “plastic pollution theme,” the Festival will screen the Bay Area premiere of the award-winning ﬁlm BAG IT, in partnership with Berkeley’s Plastic Pollution Coalition.    ”San Francisco is universally regarded as an epicenter of both the global Green Movement and as an activist and issue conscious film community,” says Rachel Caplan, the Festival Founder and Director. “This amazingly diverse city has many film festivals but none that directly and solely addresses these issues and audiences – The San Francisco Green Film Festival grew out of the need to fill that void.”

Festival screenings and events will take place at the Landmark Theatres Embarcadero Center Cinema and the Bently Reserve. These venues, in close proximity to each other, will create a dynamic hub at the Embarcadero, with an exceptional inaugural line-up including Bay Area premieres of award winners and audience favorites from the world’s top film festivals including Sundance, Berlin, SxSW and Toronto.

THE 4TH REVOLUTION

The Festival’s Closing Night film, German Director Carl A. Fechner’s The 4th Revolution: Energy Autonomy, is deemed “…the most inspirational, solutions-based environmental film out there” by the Vancouver International Film Festival.