New Rooftop Solar Project Will Power 120 Homes

Ontario's newest rooftop solar installation is bringing more clean electricity online while creating good jobs for families.

The rooftop solar project at Jamieson Laboratories' manufacturing plant in Windsor is one of the largest rooftop solar projects to come online since Ontario's Feed-In Tariff program was introduced.

The project, to be completed this fall, will have a total of 4,500 solar panels. Once completed, this project will generate 1.3 megawatts of clean electricity -- enough to power 120 homes each year. During its peak construction period, this project is expected to create about 70 jobs.

Through the manufacturing, construction and installation of this project, Solar Power Network is partnering with suppliers in Windsor, Mississauga, and Wallaceburg.

Growing the clean energy sector is an important part of the McGuinty government's plan to create and support jobs for Ontario families while ensuring we have the electricity we need to power our homes, schools, hospitals and the economy.

Source:http://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2012/07/ontario-brings-more-clean-solar-power-online-creates-jobs.html

Solar powered cold storage launched

PT Contained Energy Indonesia has launched a solar powered cold storage solution .

developed and deployed as a stand-alone, off-grid, 100 per cent solar-powered cold storage facilities it uses thermal energy storage (TES) technology in combination with ultra-efficient compressor packages.

The system operates without external power source and thus has zero energy costs.

The first two units 20 m3 installed, one on a remote island in Wakatobi and another in Pacitan, Indonesia, were designed to keep 1000 kg of fish at -2 deg C, in ambient temperatures of up to 40 deg C, with the capacity of adding and cooling 200 kg of ‘un-iced’ fish per day (for a total cooling load of 30 kWh per day), but the system can just as easily be deployed for agricultural produce, dairy chilling, ice-making and other purposes as well.

It is energized by a 6.4 kWp solar array through a 3-phase Outback inverter system, backed up by a relatively small 10 kWh VRLA battery bank.

One of the unique features of the system is that it incorporates a large volume of Phase Change Material (PCM) in the ceiling, capable of storing 15 kWh of cooling capacity at -4 deg C.

This thermal energy storage technology allows the compressor package to do most of its ‘work’ during the day, when the solar power is available. This saves a substantial quantity of battery storage that would otherwise be required.

The unit features walls, ceiling and floors constructed from 15cm insulated modular panels, stainless steel door with heating element, aluminium chequered floor plates, lighting and a programmable digital control system.

Source:http://www.racplus.com/news/solar-powered-cold-storage-launched/8633815.article?blocktitle=Latest-news&contentID=2332

Photovoltaic solar power tariffs may hurt EU industry

China’s Ministry of Commerce said Friday that protectionist measures will harm the European solar energy industry and the two sides should resolve the dispute through negotiations.


The move came after a report revealed that Germany’s SolarWorld and other European solar panel makers filed a complaint this week seeking import tariffs on Chinese-made products.



The ministry has taken note of relevant reports and is verifying the information, said an official with the ministry.



“Thanks to low prices of raw materials and technological progress, Chinese solar energy products are more price competitive than European Union (EU) ones. That’s not dumping, as accused by some European companies,” the official said.



The import price of polysilicon — the major material for solar photovoltaic panels — has fallen to less than $30 per kilogram from nearly $300 in 2008, according to her.



Meanwhile, Chinese enterprises have invested heavily in improving technology and scaling up production, she added.



“Dumping allegations are groundless,” the official said on condition of anonymity.



She noted that Chinese enterprises only have advantages on the production side and they have to import most of the raw materials, equipment and manufacturing technologies from the EU and the United States.



China’s solar industry not only contributes to fueling EU exports of materials and equipment, but also helps create many job opportunities in the debt-ridden zone, she said.



The EU solar industry provides over 300,000 jobs for local people, and more than 80 percent of employees work in upstream and downstream industries, including raw material supplies, equipment manufacturing and system design, according to previous reports.





“The two sides should resolve the dispute through negotiations in order to maintain a healthy and stable industry environment. Amid global economic uncertainties, a stable free trade environment guarantees common development of solar photovoltaic industries on both sides,” she said.



Her comments came as the latest salvo in a battle between China and the EU over the solar product trade.



Chinese experts on Friday warned of a possible trade war if the EU imposes anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese-made solar products.



“No one will be a winner in a trade war. Both China and the EU should work to avoid it,” said Meng Xiangan, deputy director of the China Renewable Energy Society.



The country’s four major solar panel makers — Yingli, Suntech, Trina and Canadian Solar — issued a joint statement Thursday rejecting allegations that they have received illegal subsidies and dumped solar products in Europe and urging the government to take “necessary measures to protect our legitimate rights and interests.”



“The EU should be very clear that any kind of limit on market liberalization may destroy the balanced development of the photovoltaic industry, hinder energy reform and undermine global efforts to fulfill long-term energy-saving and emissions-reduction goals,” the statement said.



SolarWorld spearheaded a similar initiative in the US, leading the country to impose duties of about 31 percent on solar panel imports from China in May.



In response, China launched investigations into imported US solar-grade polysilicon last week.



China will likely initiate anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probes on EU-imported polysilicon if the EU decides to penalize Chinese solar companies, Meng said.



Chinese experts and entrepreneurs denied that the Chinese government has provided any illegal subsidies to its own manufacturers, saying many US and EU companies, as well as global industry associations, have agreed that SolarWorld filed the complaint primarily to ensure its own commercial interests and its allegations were groundless.



Many overseas economic organizations and industry groups have voiced opposition to imposing duties on Chinese-made solar products.



“Like a crazed agent provocateur, SolarWorld is fueling global solar industry infighting for its own selfish interests. On behalf of tens of thousands of US solar workers, we are very disheartened by SolarWorld’s unnecessary and destructive actions and urge the EU to reject their petition,” said the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) in an email interview with Xinhua.



The CASE is a coalition of American solar companies representing 97 to 98 percent of jobs in the US solar industry.



On Thursday, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) announced that it has filed a formal letter of protest to the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission against tariffs on Chinese photovoltaic cells and modules.



As the premier economic development group for the Greater Phoenix, Arizona area, GPEC said a solar tariff of 50 percent will result in the loss of 14,877 to 43,178 jobs by 2014.



The tariffs will not only force solar companies to alter their business models, but also make future Chinese investment in Arizona more challenging, according to GPEC President and Chief Executive Officer Barry Broome.

Source:http://www.evwind.es/2012/07/28/photovoltaic-solar-power-tariffs-may-hurt-eu-industry/

Turning Clothes into Solar Energy Powers Start-Up

It’s hard to make a more personal commitment to renewable energy and reducing the carbon footprint than by wearing clothes and accessories that create solar power.

That’s the business plan behind Salt Lake City, Utah-based Exotic Solar, a start-up that has developed a technology to make cheap and foldable solar panel fabric that can be attached or integrated with clothes to convert the sun’s energy into power.

The company is led by chief executive officer and president Surabhi Pandey, who was a textile designer in India and has a degree in knitwear designing from India’s National Institute of Fashion Technology.

Other team members include chief technical officer Ashutosh Tewari, a tenured associate professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Utah and director of the Nanostructured Materials Research Laboratory there; materials scientist Gene Siegel, a Ph.D. student at the University of Utah who worked with Tewari to develop the technology; and Indian American chief business development officer Vini Joseph.

Exotic Solar’s patent-pending technology miniaturizes and strengthens high efficiency solar cells using ultra-light fiberglass. They are then embedded in a soft polymer matrix to render them flexible.

Silicon, Tewari told India-West in a phone interview, is currently the industry standard semiconductor for fabricating solar cells. “Silicon-based solar cells give 15 to 16 percent efficiency, are very stable and reasonably inexpensive. However, these solar cells are brittle and very fragile. As a result these need to be protected inside metallic frames, which make them very heavy.”

“We take brittle solar cells, cut them into small pieces and put them together on a polymer sheet. They are strong, flexible and light. They can be arranged in patterns and attached to just about anything.”

Pandey told India-West she started the company with about $1.5 million from venture capitalists. Her fashion skill fit perfectly with the technical breakthroughs from the University of Utah researchers.

She said she decided to market the products (see photos) directly to consumers.

“The sun gives us tremendous amount of energy every day,” she told one journal. “If we can convert even a tiny part of that into useful electricity, it will fulfill all our electricity needs. This is the promise, riding on which photovoltaic industry has emerged as one of the fastest growing industry in the world.”

Tiwari, who has Ph.D. in matter physics from IIT-Kanpur, said cables are connected from accessories such as the “sling” product (see photo) and then attached to power batteries on cell phones and devices.

The company is even looking into deploying the technology for water purifiers and solar tents, Pandey added.

Source:http://indiawest.com/news/5718-turning-clothes-into-solar-energy-powers-start-up.html

Solar power systems to back up ATMs during power cut

In an attempt to tap renewable energy sources, State Bank of India, Tiruchi, has installed solar power systems to provide back-up power supply to five automated teller machines (ATMs) in the city. The five ATMs, functioning on the branch premises, would now be powered by solar energy, though as a back-up to start with to keep the machines functional at times of load shedding. The bank would gradually move towards using solar power for the machines fully, officials said.

Currently, the bank has rented out a solar system for the ATMs and hoped to achieve substantial savings on power expenditure. Another ATM at Nannilam has been functioning fully with solar power. Bank officials claimed that the SBI was the first to go in for solar-powered ATMs in the State. The ‘Green ATMs’ in the city was formally dedicated by Collector Jayashree Muralidharan at a brief ceremony on Thursday. Ms.Muralidharan also handed over five Braille typewriters, each costing about Rs.25,000, to the Government Girls School for the Blind at Puthur, donated by the bank and educational assistance to a girl child adopted by the bank as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives. The bank authorities also formally handed over 500 tree guards to the Collector on the occasion.

Ms.Muralidharan commended the bank for donating the Braille typewriters to the blind school, which she pointed out had achieved cent per cent results in public exams. The visually challenged girls were proving that they could outdo normal children, if given the right opportunities. Referring to the greening drive taken up across the district, Ms.Muralidharan said that much more needs to be done to improve the green cover, especially within the city limits where the pollution levels are high. She appealed to the bank to come forward to donate more tree guards and adopt traffic islands in the city.

Arun Agarwal, deputy general manager, SBI, said the bank has taken up a slew of measures under its corporate social responsibility initiatives and has adopted 85,000 girl students across the country. B.Manivasagam, AGM, SBI, Tiruchi, and senior bank officials were present.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/article3691923.ece

Chinese solar panel firms fear Europe trade war

The plea came after European competitors asked the EU to investigate whether China was helping its firms to export cheaper panels unfairly.

Four big Chinese solar panel firms asked their government to "immediately seek high-level dialogue with the EU to find a way to improve the situation".

In May the US imposed tariffs of about 31% on solar panel imports from China.

The US Commerce Department ruled that Chinese firms were flooding the US market with government-subsidised products.

Most of the top Chinese exporters are affected, including Suntech Power Holdings and Trina Solar.

The ruling came after several US manufacturers, led by SolarWorld, asked for government action against Chinese companies dumping low-priced products on US markets.

On Thursday the focus switched to Brussels, as the European Commission received a complaint from SolarWorld and other European manufacturers over alleged Chinese dumping.

"Chinese companies are offering their products below manufacturing costs despite their own massive losses," said Milan Nitzschke, president of the manufacturers' group EU ProSun.
Green energy tensions

Bloomberg news says increased Chinese competition has hit European wind- and solar-power firms hard, and several of them now face bankruptcy.

The issue is particularly sensitive for the EU, which has been spearheading global efforts to switch to renewable energy.

Four Chinese firms warned against escalating trade tensions on Thursday - Yingli, SunTech, Trina and Canadian Solar.

"If the EU were to follow the precedent of the US and launch an anti-dumping investigation on Chinese solar products, the Chinese solar industry would suffer a fatal blow," said Wang Yiyu, chief strategy officer at Yingli Solar.

"The investigation would also trigger a whole-scale trade war between China and the EU, which would cause huge losses to both parties," he told a briefing in Beijing.

Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18996975

New transparent solar panels could be used as windows

The sun keeps pounding out energy and meanwhile, I'm paying a monthly energy bill like a sucker. Fortunately, researchers at UCLA have developed a transparent solar panel that could be used as a home window.

"Probably not sufficient to power the whole house, but the idea is to turn all the windows in the house or buildings so they become solar panels to generate electricity," says Prof. Yang Yang at UCLA. He says other solar panels are too dark. It would be like your house wearing sunglasses. The breakthrough here is that you can see right through these new panels.

"Our plastic is actually a transparent because it only picks up the light in the infrared part," says Yang. That's the part our eyes can't detect.

Paul Weiss of the California NanoSystems Institute worked on the project and says that in order to harness solar power while staying transparent, the panels, our future windows, use invisible silver. Weiss says, "What really Yang's group came up with and we helped a little bit was a way to make silver into a very tiny wires that remain sufficiently clear that you can see through them, but sufficiently conducting that we can still pull the electrons out."

The panels are not at your hardware store yet but they're expected to be inexpensive when they arrive.

**

Tonight, I'm reading a book before bed instead of going online. I don't want to get depressed. See, I know about the hamsters.

Tracy Bedrosian is part of a research team at Ohio State.

Source:http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/new-transparent-solar-panels-could-be-used-windows

Solar power manufacturing-to-generation deal announced in San Antonio, about 800 jobs

A solar energy deal has been announced for the San Antonio area in a project that backers say should create about 800 jobs.

Leaders of CPS Energy and OCI Solar Power LLC signed the manufacturing-to-generation agreement Monday. The 25-year contract is for solar power purchase and other economic development.

Officials say several manufacturing facilities will be established to create solar panel components, including a San Antonio unit to be built by Nexolon America LLC. At least five solar plants are expected to be built across Texas.

CPS Energy is the nation's largest municipally owned natural gas and electric utility. The company serves about 728,000 electric and 328,000 natural gas customers in the San Antonio area.

Company officials say the solar project should provide enough electricity for nearly 70,000 households.

Source:http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/96f01303bdf24ab7b41a837ebfe5a4a7/TX--Texas-Solar-Power

Solar panel installations halved, figures show

Solar panel installations are 54% less than the weekly average for the previous year, following a cut to the government's feed-in tariff incentive scheme in April.

While the number of installations has recovered slightly since the 90% drop seen in the weeks immediately following the halving of the subsidy on 1 April, they have failed to match the level of installations in the previous year.

In an article on the Solar Power Portal website on Friday, energy and climate minister Greg Barker claimed weekly installation rates were up 50% compared to this time last year.

However, figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change paint a different picture when installations are viewed on a weekly average, rather than comparing one week at the end of June with the equivalent week a year ago.An average of 8.4MW of solar photovoltaic capacity has been added each week since the introduction of the lower tariff rate in April 2012, 54% down from the weekly average for the previous 12 months of 18.2MW.

A further cut to the amount paid to those installing solar panels will take place on the 1 August, one month later than planned, when the rate is to be cut to 16p per kilowatt hour of electricity generated. The rate was cut from 43/kWh to 21p/kWh on 1 April.

Future rates will be assessed every three months, based on the number of panels installed in the last quarter.

Leonie Greene, head of external affairs for the Solar Trade Association (STA), said: "We would have liked a longer period for the solar market to recover before further tariff reductions are made. Nevertheless the returns in August will still be attractive and solar will continue to make very good sense for householders - certainly compared to anything you can get in the bank these days.

"The public should not be put off by the regular tariff reductions. Because the technology costs are falling the tariffs need to come down to maintain a sensible rate of return."

The STA claims returns of 9% for systems installed in August, after the cut, factoring in government forecasts for energy bill rises. After 1 August, the feed-in tariff payments will only last for 20 years, rather than the 25 years for people who have installed previously.

While smaller solar installations may be dropping, larger projects are still being approved.. Earlier this month, the UK's largest solar project, an 8MW farm set on a 37-acre site near South Brent, Devon run by TGC Renewables, was given the go-ahead.

Two even bigger projects in Cornwall are currently in the early stages of planning. Utility company Good Energy is looking into applying for planning permissions for a 25-30MW project on 224 acres near Week St Mary, while the German firm Kronos Solar is looking at a 120-acre site near Launceston for a 25MW installation.

Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/23/solar-panel-installations?newsfeed=true

Solar Power Generating Windows

Researchers from UCLA have developed a new transparent solar cell that is a significant step towards giving the windows in homes and other buildings the ability to generate electricity while still being transparent.

The research team “describes a new kind of polymer solar cell (PSC) that produces energy by absorbing mainly infrared light, not visible light, making the cells nearly 70% transparent to the human eye.” They created the device from a photoactive plastic that generates an electrical current from infrared light.

“These results open the potential for visibly transparent polymer solar cells as add-on components of portable electronics, smart windows and building-integrated photovoltaics and in other applications,” said study leader Yang Yang, a UCLA professor of materials science and engineering, who also is director of the Nano Renewable Energy Center at California NanoSystems Institute

Yang also said that there has been a definite world-wide interest in polymer solar cells. “Our new PSCs are made from plastic-like materials and are lightweight and flexible,” he said.

“More importantly, they can be produced in high volume at low cost.”

“Polymer solar cells have attracted great attention due to their advantages over competing solar cell technologies. Scientists have also been intensely investigating PSCs for their potential in making unique advances for broader applications. Several such applications would be enabled by high-performance visibly transparent photovoltaic (PV) devices, including building-integrated photovoltaics and integrated PV chargers for portable electronics.”

“Previously, many attempts have been made toward demonstrating visibly transparent or semitransparent PSCs. However, these demonstrations often result in low visible light transparency and/or low device efficiency because suitable polymeric PV materials and efficient transparent conductors were not well deployed in device design and fabrication.”

“A team of UCLA researchers from the California NanoSystems Institute, the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science and UCLA’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have demonstrated high-performance, solution-processed, visibly transparent polymer solar cells through the incorporation of near-infrared light-sensitive polymer and using silver nanowire composite films as the top transparent electrode. The near-infrared photoactive polymer absorbs more near-infrared light but is less sensitive to visible light, balancing solar cell performance and transparency in the visible wavelength region.”

“Another breakthrough is the transparent conductor made of a mixture of silver nanowire and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which was able to replace the opaque metal electrode used in the past. This composite electrode also allows the solar cells to be fabricated economically by solution processing. With this combination, 4% power-conversion efficiency for solution-processed and visibly transparent polymer solar cells has been achieved.”

“We are excited by this new invention on transparent solar cells, which applied our recent advances in transparent conducting windows (also published in ACS Nano) to fabricate these devices,” said Paul S.Weiss, CNSI director and Fred Kavli Chair in NanoSystems Sciences.

The new study appears in the journal ACS Nano.

A number of researchers and companies have been working on solar windows over the years. It will be interesting to see who comes out with the first commercial product.

Source: University Of California – Los Angeles

Source:http://planetsave.com/2012/07/22/solar-power-generating-windows/

Solar Power and Massachusetts: A Great Fit

New Jersey solar installations currently generate the most electricity output among East Coast states, but Massachusetts is quickly rising.

Massachusetts may not seem as ideal a location as warm weather states like California and Arizona for solar electric power. However, it receives more sunlight than many might think. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the state on average receives enough sunlight per day to provide sufficient electric power for more 1,000 homes via 100,000 square feet of solar panels.

Massachusetts right now generates 118 megawatts of solar power, but has many incentives in place to up that number.

The state offers multiple financial incentives to encourage solar photovoltaic panel installation. In particular, the state has three main tax exemptions in place to encourage residents to turn to solar energy.

When Massachusetts homeowners buy a new solar photovoltaic power system, they usually qualify for a 15 percent income tax credit for reimbursement, totaling up to $1000.

On top of the income tax credit, most solar power equipment is exempt from sales tax. Plus, a number of towns and municipalities in Massachusetts offer property tax exemptions for the value a solar photovoltaic system adds to a home.

To top it all off, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Commonwealth Solar II program provides for direct rebates for the installation of solar-powered electricity producing systems. As of July 10, the program had more than $1.3 million left to disperse for solar energy initiatives.

National Solar Power Incentives
Even beyond Massachusetts-specific solar power incentives, there are other reasons why state residents should consider solar electric power and solar water heating.

In addition to the Massachusetts-specific tax incentives, the federal government has established a 30 percent tax credit for residential solar installations. That tax credit lasts for eight years after the installation.

Plus, solar panels help to increase a home's market value. Homes with solar power installations sell for up to twice as much as conventionally powered homes, according to the Department of Energy.

Also, the power source needed for solar hot water and solar electrical systems is free. Overall, solar energy can help reduce heating and electricity bills by more then 50 percent in some communities, according to the Energy Department.

The tax credits at the state and federal level help to decrease initial costs, and the price of solar panels has dropped over the past five years. According to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research, the cost of a residential solar power installation went down by about 7 percent over the past year. Non-residential installation costs decreased by about 11 percent of that same period, according to the report.

Source:http://www.getsolar.com/News/Solar-Energy-Facts/General/Solar-Power-and-Massachusetts:-A-Great-Fit-800822637

Community Solar Power is Growing

Shading, a good angle, available space and many other factors play an important part in determining the feasibility of a solar installation. In fact, most households are not suitable for a solar panel installation. Is the bigger part of the population therefore not able to generate their own electricity with solar power?

Just in the last few years, new business models, which moves the solar panels from the rooftops of each individual home and into “community solar gardens”, has started appearing all over the country. These systems have many significant advantages over conventional solar setups; most important is the idea that everyone can participate, which undoubtedly will expand the solar market and spur new growth.

Net metering, or feed-in tariffs (used in some parts of the world), enables homes with solar panels to make use of their excess electricity production. When production exceeds consumption, homeowners can sell excess electricity back to the utility grid and receive bill credits (net metering) or direct payments (feed-in tariff schemes) – electricity that otherwise would require an inferior and expensive battery storage system, or even worse, be wasted.

Virtual net metering has been established in several states around the country, and is in the planning stages in many others. With a virtual net metering program, households can share their net metering “tab”, and each one of them can get credited on their energy costs according to how much they chipped in. This is the basic gist of how one community solar model could work, but as a matter of fact, virtual net metering is not necessarily required for a fully functioning solar garden.

The electrical utility or individual companies could operate the solar gardens, be in charge of installation, maintenance and manage subscribers.

Head over to The Solar Gardens Institute for a map over current established community solar gardens, and for more information on the topic.

Source:http://www.greenerideal.com/alternative-energy/0720-community-solar-power-growing/

AREVA Installs a Concentrating Solar Power Test Center in Beaumont-Hague

AREVA (Paris:AREVA) has chosen the Beaumont-Hague site as the location for a test center for its Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology, thereby renewing its commitment to developing French industrial know-how. This unique project will be developed in the Research Hall of Beaumont-Hague (Hall de Recherche de Beaumont-Hague – HRB), where more than 80 researchers from the group are already working on nearly 3,000 m² of pilot facilities.

Planned to be operational by the end of 2012, the main purpose of the test center will be to optimize the performance of AREVA’s CLFR (Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector)1 technology, through research into the surface coating of receiver tubes.

Eventually, a team of 15 experts will collaborate on the development of the next generation of tubes which will equip AREVA’s thermodynamic solar power plants.

“AREVA is proud to actively contribute to the development of French industrial know-how, thanks to the implementation of strategic activities with high added value for the group. This project is a key investment for AREVA, since it represents the future of CLFR technology”, stated Louis-François Durret, CEO of AREVA Renewables.

1 CLFR technology uses mirrors which concentrate the sun’s rays towards receivers containing tubes which water flows through. The concentrated sun’s rays vaporize the water within the tubes, directly generating superheated steam. This is then used to produce electricity, or for industrial processes which use steam.

AREVA supplies solutions for power generation with less carbon. Its expertise and unwavering insistence on safety, security, transparency and ethics are setting the standard, and its responsible development is anchored in a process of continuous improvement.

Ranked first in the global nuclear power industry, AREVA’s unique integrated offering to utilities covers every stage of the fuel cycle, nuclear reactor design and construction, and related services. The group is also expanding its operations to renewable energies – wind, solar, bioenergies, hydrogen and storage – to be one of the leaders in this sector worldwide.

With these two major offers, AREVA’s 48,000 employees are helping to supply ever safer, cleaner and more economical energy to the greatest number of people.

Source:http://www.evwind.es/2012/07/19/areva-installs-a-concentrating-solar-power-test-center-in-beaumont-hague/

Local, Chinese Firms Propose Solar Plant Costing $200m

Chinese state company Shanghai Aerospace Automobile Electromechanical and a local solar panel firm, Basel Investindo, have announced plans to build a 200 megawatt solar power plant, with a total investment of $200 million.

The president director of Basel Investindo, Edwin Henawan Soekowati, said Indonesia should be one of the countries with the most potential to utilize solar power, thanks to its tropical climate.

He said Indonesia should be serious in developing renewable energy such as solar power as its oil reserves dwindle.

“Indonesia is now a net importer of oil. Looking forward, fossil fuel is getting more expensive. Now the government is chasing coal, but that will also run out one day. That’s why solar panel technology must be developed,” Edwin said.

He said Basel and SAAE had signed a memorandum of understanding with the directorate general for renewable energy at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. The signing was done at a renewable energy exhibition in Jakarta.

“The Chinese state company has expertise in making solar panels ... this kind of technology suits the need of Indonesia’s rural areas, which have not yet been touched by electricity,” he said.

The $600 million plant will be built in Indonesia’s eastern region.

Edwin admitted that the cost of building a solar-powered plant was more expensive than a coal-fired power plant. He said it would cost $3 million per megawatt of electricity capacity generated from solar panels, while using coal only costs $1.5 million per megawatt.

However, he argued that solar panels were cheaper to maintain.

Apart from Basel, Sharp, Samsung and Infinity are also developing solar panel technology in Indonesia.

Source:http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/local-chinese-firms-propose-solar-plant-costing-200m/531281

Solar Power Resources & EV Driving Potential Estimated with Free Solar App (iPhone & Android)

You can now use the screen of your smartphone to simulate the active surface area of a solar panel, and receive an estimate of the solar resources in that position.

In addition to that, the free app, available for iPhones or Android phones, also gives you information such as "hours of light generated, CO2 emissions avoided and even the distance traveled by an electric car with the energy generated by the PV installation!"

All you have to do is place the smartphone in the same position that your installation would be. The results will vary depending on the inclination and rotation used, so you can compare different setups and locations. Here's more from the solar blog:

Isn't it extraordinary that an installation measuring just 10 m2 can, over the course of a single year, generate enough electricity to power an electric car for more than 10,000 km?

In order to make these calculations we have developed a simple, intuitive photovoltaic-estimation tool which is available for free on our website and can be used on any device.

For a better understanding of the results, the app translate the estimated energy into hours of light, electric car mileage and CO2 emissions avoided thanks to the clean energy generation.

Onyx Solar app is available on both Apple and Android devices and completely free. Thus, it can get downloaded from Apple Store or Android Market.

You can learn more here.

You can get the android version or iPhone version now.

If you check it out, let us know how it compares to the solar panels suitability app we recently wrote about!

Source: Onyx Green Building

Source:http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20120718/solar-power-resources-driving-potential-estimated-with-free-solar-app-iphone-android.htm

Largest solar power plant on the Maldives goes online

The Maldives is accelerating the energy turnaround in its own country with the commissioning of the largest solar power plant so far. A new 294 kilowatt photovoltaic plant has been supplying power to hospitals and schools on six islands since last week.

"As solar radiation here is about 70 percent higher than in Germany, photovoltaics is the central component of the energy turnaround on the Maldives", says Stefan Riel, co-founder of Wirsol Solar AG. It is the first German company which has installed solar systems in the sunny paradise with an output of 652 kW. The global project developer from Baden-Württemberg wants to build at least 20 MW more over the next few years.

Power is almost exclusively produced by diesel generators on the Maldives. Noise and air pollution are the consequences for the island state in the Indian Ocean. The roughly 1,200 islands in the Maldives predominately lie no more than one metre above the rising sea level.

This type of power production is also extremely expensive. The costs for one kilowatt hour of diesel are currently about 29 US cents. The Maldives spend roughly 17 percent of its gross national product on the import of diesel, while the price for fuel is constantly rising. The island state has therefore decided to be the first country to produce its entire power requirements by using regenerative energy sources. It wants to achieve this ambitious goal by 2020.

The Maldives are mainly being supported with their energy turnaround plans by Germany. "German companies have been able to gain a global advantage in the project development of photovoltaic systems. These engineering qualities are now benefiting a region, which is more drastically affected by climate change than almost any other", says Christian von Stetten, Honorary Consul of the Maldives and Member of the German conservative Party CDU.

The solar plants installed by Wirsol Solar AG are already producing about 1.1 million kilowatt hours of power a year now. Up to 316,000 litres of diesel are saved and roughly 770 tons of carbon dioxide are prevented with these photovoltaic installations alone in the same period. "Solar plants are an economical means for replacing conventional energy production with diesel fuel here", explains Dr. Thomas Walter, head of Wirsol Asia Pacific (APAC).

Wirsol, who operates the photovoltaic plants on its own account, has formed a joint venture with Renewable Energy Maldives (REM). The climate-neutral power produced in this way is sold on to the state energy supplier STELCO.
"Further savings of up to 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide in total should be
achieved with the new installations of solar plants to the tune of 20 MW",
says the head of the joint venture, Dr. Ibrahim Nashid.

Source: http://www.pv-magazine.com/services/press-releases/details/beitrag/largest-solar-power-plant-on-the-maldives-goes-online-_100007775/#ixzz20tGb2ZAE

Solar power cuts shipping costs for Kyocera

SCOTTSDALE, USA:Kyocera Solar, Inc. announced a new solar products warehouse in Cherry Hill, N.J. to augment its established distribution points in San Diego and Scottsdale, Ariz.

The new warehouse will help ensure fast, cost-effective service for Kyocera customers on the U.S. East Coast. “Kyocera’s newest warehouse location enables us to significantly reduce shipping costs for solar modules to our growing list of East Coast solar customers,” explained Chris Brown, eastern regional sales manager for Kyocera Solar, Inc. “In addition to reducing costs, we now offer 24-hour shipping to major markets in the eastern corridor.”

Kyocera partnered with NFI, an international provider of logistics, warehousing, and distribution services, for its new warehousing location. The company began shipping from the New Jersey facility in late June.

“NFI is a proven strategic partner for Kyocera’s distribution and logistics on the West Coast, so it is a natural expansion for them to support our East Coast location as well,” Chris explained.

Kyocera also partnered with NFI Solar, a developer of solar electric system installations and subsidiary of NFI. In 2010, Kyocera provided more than 6,100 solar modules for a 1.3-megawatt installation on the roof of the 290,000-sq.-ft. building where Kyocera solar modules are now warehoused. The installation is capable of producing a majority of the warehouse’s annual energy, helping to reduce NFI’s electric bill considerably, it adds in a press release. Kyocera adds that it supports many solar customers and programs including residential, commercial, standalone, off-grid systems, government and utility-scale projects.


Source:http://www.ciol.com/Enterprise/News-Reports/Solar-power-cuts-shipping-costs-for-Kyocera/164363/0/

Barnstaple Free Solar Power Tips at the North Devon Show Umberleigh 1 August

Solar Systems will be at the Umberleigh event on Wednesday 1 August to provide information about the benefits of solar power and tips on how to be environmentally friendly.

The company specialises in the design and installation of solar photovolaic (PV) and thermal panels.

Established in 2008 the Solar Systems has worked with homeowners and businesses across the South West.

Phil Grabham, Managing Director of Solar Systems, said: 'We are delighted to have been invited to the show.

'In the current economic climate, where people are looking for alternative, eco friendly ways to power their homes and businesses, solar panels can be a great option and we will be happy to answer any questions people may have.'

Phil added: 'During recent months the cost of solar panels has dropped, giving a financial return on the investment of around 10-12% which is tax free, indexed and guaranteed for 20 years.

'The electricity generated is free and the Government's Feed in Tariff pays for each unit that is produced.

'Any surplus electricity will get exported back to the grid for an additional sum.

'Solar PV panels do not require direct sunlight to work. Even on a cloudy day electricity will be generated, which is a plus considering the unpredictable weather in the UK.

'With energy prices increasing, PV panels are a great way to cap inflation and reduce your greenhouse emissions.'

The North Devon show will take place at Umberleigh Barton Farm in Umberleigh, North Devon on Wednesday 1 August from 8am to 6pm.

Source:http://www.barnstaplepeople.co.uk/Barnstaple-Free-Solar-Power-Tips-North-Devon/story-16539277-detail/story.html

IIM-Shillong campus is now solar powered

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday inaugurated a solar power plant at IIM-Shillong campus to meet the needs of the institute.

Gogoi, who is on his first visit to IIM-Shillong, inaugurated a 50 KW solar power plants aimed at providing clean energy to the IIM campus here.

"We should also conserve ground water and take up rainwater harvesting," he said.

The Assam chief minister pointed out that the main factor for insurgency in the region was lack of industrial development and employment opportunities.

"Armed revolution is not a solution. It can be resolved only through economic development and by providing employment opportunities," Gogoi said.

Earlier, he was shown black flag on Friday by activists of Khasi Students Union.

The activists gathered at the main entrance of the IIM-Shillong as a mark of protest against Assam government's stand on the border dispute with Meghalaya.

Source:http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-iim-shillong-campus-is-now-solar-powered-3524433.html

Seda Targets 2,000 Houseowners In Solar Power Investment This Year

The Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) has targeted 2,000 houseowners this year, and 10,000 the next, to invest in solar power which could earn the latter an average of RM500 monthly for 21 consecutive years.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn said, each house which had to be installed with solar panels could generate four kilowatts of power for sale to Tenaga Nasional Berhad.

The biggest encumberance for mega participation in the renewable energy investment was the financial capital involved in the installation of the project, he said.

"One kilowatt would incur a cost of RM10,000, so for four kilowatts, RM40,000.

"To encourage owners of terraced house, bungalows and low-cost houses, Seda is in discussion with some commercial banks to ease the loan process," he said in a media conference here Friday.

Source:http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsgeneral.php?id=680469

California Hits Solar Power Milestone

1.255 GW of solar power is now generated from more than 122,000 rooftops across California. The migration to solar by low- and middle-income homeowners is the main reason behind the popularity of solar power in the Golden State. The data is revealed in the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) 2012 California Solar Initiative (CSI) Annual Program Assessment, which was issued a few days ago.

“California’s solar success is unmatched in the nation,” said CPUC President Michael R. Peevey. “In the first quarter of 2012, there has already been 97 megawatts of solar installed. This means that the CSI Program is on track to reach 1,000 megawatts in installations by the end of the year.”

In January 2007, California began an unprecedented $3.3 billion effort to install 3,000 MW of new solar energy over the next decade and transform the market for solar energy by reducing the cost of solar generating equipment.

CSI is the USA’s largest solar program, with a $2.4 billion budget and a goal to install 1,940 MW of solar capacity by the end of 2016.

The report also reveals that costs for residential solar systems have decreased by 28 percent since 2007. Besides, CSI projects in low income markets (areas with average incomes of less than $50,000) have increased by 364 percent since 2007. Approximately 1,500 low income homeowners, with help from the Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program, have installed solar panels to generate energy and improve their monthly cash flow.

Virtual Net Metering has allowed thousands of low income tenants to receive the direct benefits of solar as reductions in their monthly electric bills. In just over two years of operation, the CSI-Thermal Program, which provides rebates for solar water heating systems, has received 704 applications for $4.87 million in incentives.

Source:http://theenergycollective.com/energyrefuge/92686/california-hits-solar-power-milestone

Solar Power: Understand the Benefits of Solar Panels

As energy demand worldwide increases, alternative energy sources such as solar power continue to gain popularity. There are many benefits to the science of harnessing the sun's power in order to convert it into usable energy. Here are just a few benefits that you may, or may not, know:

Solar panels aren't just for powering your lights.

Did you know that you can use solar energy to heat your home and even produce hot water? According to Solar-Panel-Options.com: "In many places, a solar heating system can give a satisfactorily high percentage (usually between 50 to 75 percent) of domestic hot water energy." Percentages like that can put an impressive dent in your monthly energy bill. For instance, if your monthly electric bill is around $150, you could save $75 to over $110 per month. The site goes on to say that, "Solar heating systems use the energy of sunlight to provide heat [that] can be used to heat water (either for shower or for washing) or a swimming pool, or to supply heat for a heating circuit (usually radiators or floor heating coils) that makes inside the house warm."

Solar power is as green as you can get.

It is not only a clean, natural and renewable energy source, but also is a sustainable resource that gives off no harmful emissions or greenhouse gases. And it goes without saying that harnessing the power of the sun for energy, while it may be an initial cost investment to purchase and install, after that is a completely free energy source. And did you know that all you need is a relatively decent amount of daylight to produce usable energy? A common misconception is that only traditionally sunny geographies warrant installing solar panels, but even overcast skies can produce enough sunlight to make solar panels worthwhile. (Not-so-sunny Germany is actually the #1 solar power country in the world these days, by far.)

Solar panels are virtually maintenance-free.

With the exception of installation, solar panels are virtually maintenance-free, since they have no moving parts and since solar cells never really expire. According to Solar-Panel-Options.com, the functional lifetime of a solar panel is over 30 years (we're not actually sure how long they tend to last, since we haven't been manufacturing them for very long). Because they have been created to live on your roof, their durable construction makes it so nature's elements (like hail, snow or rain) cannot harm your panels, except under the most extreme weather conditions.

A solar-powered home is buyer-friendly.

As the solar power trend continues to gain widespread popularity, the money you put into your home to increase your home's energy efficiency will likely pay off in the long run. Not only will it save you money on energy costs over the life of your mortgage loan, but it will also be a great selling point when the time comes to put your house on the market, as more and more home buyers are looking for eco-friendly products in their homes.

However, a solar panel system for your home doesn't come cheap. In order to calculate when you will see your savings, you must subtract the initial investment, which includes the purchase of the panels and installation, from the amount you will save each month. Once your initial payment has been returned, you will then begin to essentially earn money on your investment. Many experts agree that the return on an investment solar paneling your house takes approximately seven years. But this depends a lot on your location (due to varying degrees of solar potential and different state and city solar incentives).

If you're looking for a way to finance this or other more costly home projects, consider using a home equity line of credit to pay for it. An equity line of credit is a great way to use the equity you've built in your home to harness the power of the sun. It's just one more way you can wisely invest in your home.
As energy demand worldwide increases, alternative energy sources such as solar power continue to gain popularity. There are many benefits to the science of harnessing the sun's power in order to convert it into usable energy. Here are just a few benefits that you may, or may not, know:

Solar panels aren't just for powering your lights.

Did you know that you can use solar energy to heat your home and even produce hot water? According to Solar-Panel-Options.com: "In many places, a solar heating system can give a satisfactorily high percentage (usually between 50 to 75 percent) of domestic hot water energy." Percentages like that can put an impressive dent in your monthly energy bill. For instance, if your monthly electric bill is around $150, you could save $75 to over $110 per month. The site goes on to say that, "Solar heating systems use the energy of sunlight to provide heat [that] can be used to heat water (either for shower or for washing) or a swimming pool, or to supply heat for a heating circuit (usually radiators or floor heating coils) that makes inside the house warm."

Solar power is as green as you can get.

It is not only a clean, natural and renewable energy source, but also is a sustainable resource that gives off no harmful emissions or greenhouse gases. And it goes without saying that harnessing the power of the sun for energy, while it may be an initial cost investment to purchase and install, after that is a completely free energy source. And did you know that all you need is a relatively decent amount of daylight to produce usable energy? A common misconception is that only traditionally sunny geographies warrant installing solar panels, but even overcast skies can produce enough sunlight to make solar panels worthwhile. (Not-so-sunny Germany is actually the #1 solar power country in the world these days, by far.)

Solar panels are virtually maintenance-free.

With the exception of installation, solar panels are virtually maintenance-free, since they have no moving parts and since solar cells never really expire. According to Solar-Panel-Options.com, the functional lifetime of a solar panel is over 30 years (we're not actually sure how long they tend to last, since we haven't been manufacturing them for very long). Because they have been created to live on your roof, their durable construction makes it so nature's elements (like hail, snow or rain) cannot harm your panels, except under the most extreme weather conditions.

A solar-powered home is buyer-friendly.

As the solar power trend continues to gain widespread popularity, the money you put into your home to increase your home's energy efficiency will likely pay off in the long run. Not only will it save you money on energy costs over the life of your mortgage loan, but it will also be a great selling point when the time comes to put your house on the market, as more and more home buyers are looking for eco-friendly products in their homes.

However, a solar panel system for your home doesn't come cheap. In order to calculate when you will see your savings, you must subtract the initial investment, which includes the purchase of the panels and installation, from the amount you will save each month. Once your initial payment has been returned, you will then begin to essentially earn money on your investment. Many experts agree that the return on an investment solar paneling your house takes approximately seven years. But this depends a lot on your location (due to varying degrees of solar potential and different state and city solar incentives).

If you're looking for a way to finance this or other more costly home projects, consider using a home equity line of credit to pay for it. An equity line of credit is a great way to use the equity you've built in your home to harness the power of the sun. It's just one more way you can wisely invest in your home.

Image Credit: Solar panel installation via shutterstock

Source: Planet Save

SourcE:http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20120711/solar-power-understand-benefits-solar-panels.htm

Solar power could meet 16% of heating and cooling energy demand by 2050

Almost a sixth of the world's low-temperature heating and cooling energy could come from solar power by the middle of the century, say energy experts.

The move would stop around 800 megatonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year, says the International Energy Agency (IEA) - more than 1.5 times the annual emission in the UK.

For the low-temperature and cooling targets to be reached by 2050, governments across the world would need to invest in new technologies. They would also need to produce long-term policies for solar heating and cooling and introduce economic incentives and more quality-control standards, says the IEA.

The IEA's 50-page Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Roadmap points to ways of best developing and adopting solar heating and cooling technologies.

The Paris-based IEA says that unless decisive action is taken, energy-related emissions of CO2 will more than double by the middle of the century and increased demand for oil will raise fears of how supplies can be kept secure.

IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven, says, "We can and must change our current path, but this will take an energy revolution and low-carbon energy technologies will have a crucial role to play.

"Energy efficiency, many types of renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, nuclear power and new transport technologies will all require widespread deployment if we are to reach our greenhouse gas emission goals. Every major country and sector of the economy must be involved."

The roadmap recommends that governments fund and support research, development and demonstration so new technologies can reach high-volume commercial production within a decade.

It is particularly important that developing countries quickly deploy mature and competitive solar heating and cooling technologies, the roadmap states.

With concerted effort from industry and governments, solar power could produce 16% of final energy use for both low-temperature heat and cooling each year - a 25-fold rise in the deployment of technology over 40 years, it says.

Paolo Frankl, the Head of IEA's Renewable Energy Division, says solar heat can make a significant contribution in tackling climate change and strengthening energy security.

Solar energy could replace fossil fuels used for heating and electricity for hot water and heating buildings.

The technology would particularly benefit those counties like South Africa that receive a lot of sun, but do not have renewable or alternative power and a third of homes in South Africa currently use electric water heating.

Thermal cooling technology powered by the sun to cool air can also help reduce the reliance on the electric grid by replacing electric air conditioners.

One area of industry that can make more use of the technology is in sectors that need use low and mid-temperature heat to wash, dry, pasteurise and cook.

In fact, solar energy could meet a fifth of worldwide industry demand for low-temperature heat, says the roadmap.

The autonomous International Energy Agency was launched in 1974 to promote energy security of member countries through collective response to physical disruptions in oil supply, and provide authoritative research and analysis on ensuring reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond.

Source:http://www.earthtimes.org/energy/solar-power-heating-cooling-demand-2050/2078/

Solar Power in Germany Increases 40 Percent

Solar power accounted for 10 percent of Germany's total electricity production in May, an increase of 40 percent from the previous year, as reported by the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry. The significant jump stemmed from heightened capacity complemented by sunny days. This surge in green power generation reveals that the nation is well on its way to expanding the proportion of renewables in the energy mix. The strong market is paving the way for new foreign investors such as bSolar, an Israel-based solar PV cell company. Solar industry experts from Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) will be at booth #7635 at the Intersolar North America Exhibition in San Francisco from July 10-12 to discuss opportunities within the sector.

"Germany's decision to replace nuclear energy with other sources is proving to not only be possible, but is creating many valuable prospects for the renewables sector. The continued strength of the solar market has sparked greater investment from abroad," stated Tobias Homann, photovoltaic industry expert from Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

With the support of GTAI, bSolar established a plant in Heilbronn that produces high-efficiency bifacial cells. Its decision to invest in Germany reflects the country's longstanding status as the world's key PV market. The rooftop cells have the ability to produce more electricity at lower costs.

"Germany is one of the largest producers of PV technology as well as the biggest consumer of per capita solar energy worldwide," said Dr. Yossi Kofman, Co-founder and CEO of bSolar. "Strong demand partnered with a highly skilled workforce, intensive R&D and a political framework supportive of renewables make Germany an obvious point of investment," Kofman continued.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Source:http://www.businessrevieweurope.eu/press_releases/solar-power-in-germany-increases-40-percent

Solar power, wind energy a missed opportunity for Cuba

The reality in Cuba today is that wind power and solar energy sources are almost exclusively for local consumption and there has been little attempt to expand them to augment the national grid.

Solar power, wind energy a missed opportunity for Cuba
The sleepy country setting that farmer Juan Alonso calls home hasn't changed much since he was born 74 years ago, with the two rustic wooden houses nestled among palm trees against a backdrop of green hills and clear skies.

Incongruously perched atop the homes are the only visual clues that his 150-acre farm inhabits the 21st century: the gleaming solar panels that revolutionized the lives of Alonso and his family.

"Just imagine, you toil all day in the field and then when you get home you have to grope around doing things with a gas lantern, with a torch to illuminate the patio at night," Alonso said, describing life during decades past. Now his family has electric lights, a television and a DVD player. "It's a change as radical as night to day."

Cuba is proud of its success in using alternative energy to bring electricity to isolated hamlets such as Ramon Gordo, 90 miles west of Havana. Some 2,000 schools and at least 400 hospitals are lit up by solar panels in rural areas not plugged into the national grid.

But scientists say that the island, blessed with year-around sunshine and sea breezes but plagued with chronic energy shortages, could be doing much more on the national level, and that its communist government is missing a golden opportunity to reduce its dependence on subsidized oil from strong ally Venezuela, where President Hugo Chavez is sick with cancer.

It is vital that Cuba expand its energy horizons 'so it doesn't remain at the mercy of political changes in the region that could affect it adversely," said Judith Cherni, an alternative energy expert at the Imperial College London Center for Environmental Policy.

The urgency to find alternative energy sources was driven home last month when an exploratory offshore oil well drilled by Spanish company Repsol turned out to be dry, a setback to Cuba's hopes for a big strike that could be a boon for the limping economy, though exploration continues.

Despite recent essays by revolutionary hero Fidel Castro on impending global catastrophe due to climate change, Cuba gets just 3.8 percent of its electricity from renewables, a pittance even by regional standards and far behind global leaders.

In the nearby Dominican Republic, where a 2007 law establishes tax breaks for investment in alternative energy, renewables account for 14 percent of electrical generation. Germany, the gold standard for high-tech green energy, gets 20 percent of its considerably larger electrical consumption from renewables, mostly from wind power.

The reality in Cuba today is that wind and solar energy sources are almost exclusively for local consumption and there has been little attempt to expand them to augment the national grid, which is powered mostly by fossil fuels. Scientists say the country lacks the investment and expertise for such a move.

Around the region, examples abound for Cuba to emulate. Central American nations are using hydroelectric facilities to harness the power of rivers. Caribbean islands are passing laws stimulating foreign investment in renewables. Wind and solar farms are popping up where viable. Faraway in Europe, and nearby in the United States, individuals with solar panels can get paid for any extra energy they generate that goes back into the grid.

"Possessing apt natural resources to generate energies is a tremendous boon, but that alone is not enough to create energy," Cherni said.

'Special Period'

Another obstacle to boosting renewable energy is a stubbornly fixed mindset that equates development with oil.

Memories are still vivid here of the "Special Period" of the 1990s, when the island's economy tanked with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, ushering in years of hunger, prolonged blackouts and fuel shortages.

To cope, Cuba began installing its first solar panels, building small hydroelectric plants, restoring old windmills and extracting gas from animal waste.

But after Chavez's election in 1998 in oil-rich Venezuela, Cuba once again embraced fossil fuels wholeheartedly with the appearance of a new benefactor and ideological ally willing to help keep the lights on. Today Caracas provides nearly half Cuba's petroleum needs, shipping about 100,000 barrels of oil a day to the island on beneficial terms while Cuba sends doctors and technical advisers to Venezuela.

"Cuba is a nation that is dependent on oil, yes, but in addition the culture of its leaders and technicians, of its common citizens, is one of fossil fuels," said Alejandro Montesinos, a renewable energy expert at Cubasolar, the island's chief NGO for sustainable energy.

In Havana, the fear is that the oil spigot could be turned off if Chavez is forced to leave office because of health problems or electoral defeat. Cuba has pinned its hopes on offshore oil deposits in the Gulf of Mexico that could hold between 5 billion and 9 billion barrels, but those have yet to be quantified, an initial exploration well came up dry and production is still years out in a best-case scenario.

"In the imagination of the people, there is this idea that oil is going to appear in the Gulf of Mexico and this country's problems will be solved," said Montesinos, who says that Cuba and its leaders must embrace the idea that expensive investments in solar and wind will pay off over the long run.

A push for green energy would also match well with the ecological leanings of the Castro brothers. Current President Raul Castro said June 21 at a summit meeting in Rio de Janeiro that there was an urgent need for "a transcendental change" and a shift to sustainable development if the planet was to be saved.

Cuba began an alternative energy program in the 1980s and ramped it up the following decade. It has installed 9,000 solar panels and built four experimental wind farms, according to Manuel Mendez, director of renewable energy at the Ministry of Basic Industry. It also burns biomass from sugarcane, currently the island's largest source of renewable energy in Cuba, and officials plan an expansion.

Source:http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=19593

Rooftop solar getting cheaper than the grid in Brazil

It’s happening! The cost of electricity from rooftop solar power is becoming cost-competitive with grid-supplied electricity in Brazil—and sometimes cheaper. That’s according to a new report from the country’s energy department, Empresa de Pesquisa Energetica. As South America’s largest country and likely it’s wealthiest, having the price of rooftop solar come to parity with grid-based electricity is an important bellwether.

As recently as June, during the World Renewable Energy Forum, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that Brazil would join a growing number of countries where solar is at parity with grid-supplied electricity. He noted that prices for grid-supplied electricity in both Italy and Spain are at parity with solar now. “Australia has now dipped below that and can now dip into this mode of: ‘Oh! That's cheaper. By 2013 Brazil will slip in and California is on the cusp. This is residential,” he said.

The report found that the cost of a 5 kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic array in Brazil costs about 602 reais per megawatt hour produced. That’s equivalent to about $299 a megawatt hour, according to Bloomberg.

The report found that of the country’s 63 utilities 10 of them had rates higher than 603 reais per megawatt hour by early 2011. The rates ranged between 240 reais and 709 reais per megawatt hour, according to a Google Translate version of the report.

The report said it shows that residential solar already is cost-competitive in some situations and, and in some situations actually beats the cost of grid supplied electricity.

The cost of solar in Brazil can be further lowered if homeowners buy their panels through the government’s Proesco program, according to Bloomberg. Under that program the costs of residential solar fall to 586 reais per megawatt hour, the news outlet said.

While costs for residential power are becoming lower than grid-supplied electricity, the same can be said for commercial applications. The cost of PV for the commercial sector is 86 percent of the cost of the residential sector in Brazil, according to the translation

Source:http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/brazil-may-get-pv-for-less-than-grid-070712

Solar power facility for Nagaland's offices soon

The Nagaland government has planned to install solar power facility in buildings housing various departments in the state Capital this year.

The Department of New and Renewable Energy (NRE) Director T S Angami said the Union Ministry of New and Renewable energy has allocated fund to Nagaland for commissioning 670 KW of solar power during 2012-13.

As part of this project, the Civil Secretariat building and State Assembly complex would be brought under solar power of 100 KW each while Naga Hospital would be fitted with 50 KW very soon, he said.

In the next phase, the government offices at district headquarters would be taken up for solar power installation.

He also encouraged the private building owners to install solar power as the department is providing 30 percent subsidy for this and engaged two private companies for installations.

Source:http://www.igovernment.in/node/43439

London’s largest solar panel installation reaches half way point

The project to install London’s largest solar panel array on the roof of the new Blackfriars station spanning the River Thames has reached the half way point.

Today the 2200th solar panel out of a total of 4400 Panasonic modules will be installed on the new station roof by contractors Solarcentury.

Network Rail is building the new station on top of the Victorian Blackfriars bridge to accommodate longer trains and give passengers more room.

The 6000 m2 solar installation on the 250 m-long roof is expected to generate 900,000 kWh of electricity annually, providing up to 50% of the station’s energy needs and saving over 500 tonnes of CO2.

“We’ve rebuilt Blackfriars on a 125 year old rail bridge, creating a 21st century, solar-powered station on Victorian foundations,” says Network Rail’s senior programme manager for Blackfriars, Paul Byrne.

The station will be opened for passengers this month, with work completed on the bridge and the solar panels later in the year.

Byrne described the development as a “showcase for the potential of solar power”, which will become a benchmark for Network Rail’s efforts to use sustainable technology.

“Blackfriars will be one of the world's great solar power installations,” says Frans van den Heuvel, CEO of Solarcentury. “Architecturally challenging, the project demonstrates just what is possible with this versatile technology in dense urban areas.”

The challenges of working over water and live train lines has made the project one of the most complex, says Heuvel, but “it’s a great feeling to be half way there.”

When complete, Blackfriars will be the largest of a handful of solar bridges in the world. A solar footbridge was constructed in Brisbane, Australia in 2009 and earlier this year 16,000 solar panels were installed on top of a train tunnel in Belgium.

Source:http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/articles/i/5243/?cid=3

Solar Power Helps Homeowners Melt High Energy Bills

Savvy consumers are now turning to solar energy to beat utility price spikes.

Thanks to technological advances and attractive rebates, home solar-electric systems are more popular and affordable than ever. Last year, Americans installed 33 megawatts of residential solar systems, enough to power the equivalent of more than 41,000 homes.

In Southern California, Cheryl and Robert Boland faced electrical bills that averaged $300 a month and spiked to nearly $600 during the dog days of summer. Then the Bolands installed solar panels on the roof of their Apple Valley home. "Now our utility bill averages about $1.75 each month," said Cheryl Boland.

"When I compare the cost of installing the system with what we will save on our bills over the next two decades, solar gives us an incredible return on investment. For us, it was all about the money."

For homeowners interested in using solar panels to combat high energy bills, here are four important points to consider:

The right installer. Experience and reputation are critical in selecting a solar installer.

The solar professional will not only design your system and install the panels, but he or she will guide you through the process of obtaining tax incentives and rebates, potentially saving you thousands of dollars. To find a qualified installer in your area, visit www.solarworld.com/meltmybill.

Smart system design. A residential solar system must be designed to produce the right amount of power for your home and lifestyle. A good installer will review your previous year's energy bills along with the orientation and shading of your roof. Check your installer's credentials for signs of credible certification, for instance, as a manufacturer's authorized installer.

Reputable panel manufacturer. Because home solar-energy systems should last for at least 25 years, homeowners must know theirs is built to last. Many customers find assurance in purchasing products made by manufacturers with proven longevity. "It was important to us to choose a panel from a long-standing American producer," Boland said.

Guaranteed power output. A factory process called "plus sorting" ensures that solar panels are tested to meet or exceed their nameplate power rating. Plus, a 25-year linear warranty and 10-year workmanship warranty provide consumer protection.

Source:http://www.taosnews.com/online_features/home/article_11b3a20d-ab88-5687-9bc4-77dbf3950f08.html

SOLAR POWER TRANSFORMING LIVES

Solar power is improving the living conditions of thousands of Mozambicans living in rural areas not connected to the national electricity network. The solar panels have been installed by the National Energy Fund (FUNAE) to provide electricity for homes, schools, health units, police stations, public lighting and public buildings.

The project to install the solar panels has been implemented with financial support from the European Union.

A team from FUNAE recently visited some of the zones covered by the project in northern Mozambique to analyse the socio economic impact.

The team visited the districts of Chiure and Meluco in Cabo Delgado province, Nipepe in Niassa province and Monapo in Nampula province. It found that residents are using the energy for lighting, refrigeration, and charging mobile telephones.

In the health units the power is being used for refrigerators to conserve medicines and to provide lighting so that patients can be treated at any time of day.

The team also found that night schools are being organised for adult education and computers are being introduced into classrooms.

Nationally, about thirty per cent of the population have access to electricity, of whom twenty per cent have access through the electricity grid.

FUNAE intends to provide solar power to 2.1 million Mozambicans as part of a fifteen year strategy for the development of new and renewable energy.

Other forms of electricity generation that are being investigated include the use of small hydro-electric generators, wind generators, geothermal systems and biomass from organic material such as sugar cane. The strategy also covers power generation from the sea, using wave and tidal energy, and temperature variations in the ocean

Source:http://www.power-eng.com/news/2012/07/03/solar-power-transforming-lives.html

Japan launches generous solar power incentives

Japan yesterday kicked off a new era in renewable energy with feed-in tariffs for solar power, as well as other renewables, that are expected to turn the country into one of the world’s biggest markets.

The new premium feed-in tariff price for solar electricity is around triple the level for conventional power and is designed to drive uptake of the technology to plug the gap left by nuclear power.

Japan has turned off all its nuclear power stations, which provided around 30% of the country’s power, in the wake of the Fukushima crisis last year.

According to media and financial reports, utilities will now pay ¥42 per kilowatt hour to solar generators with installations over 10 kW for a 20-year period, almost twice the rate in Germany, which has been a market leader in solar power.

Japan, which is currently ranked sixth in the world in terms of solar capacity, has plans for 3.2-4.7 GW of new solar capacity next year to add to its existing 5 GW.

The growth means that Japan will be second only to China in terms of solar capacity growth, becoming an attractive market for investment.

The feed-in tariffs announced by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which are among the highest in the world, also cover wind, hydro, geothermal and bioenergy technologies.

But Japan has a lot of ground to make up. Currently, the country only ge

Source:http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/articles/i/5233/?cid=4

PSC backs solar power generation

A decision Friday by the V.I. Public Services Commission gave the green light to the territory's new solar energy project.

In a unanimous vote, the commission approved six power purchase agreements between the V.I. Water and Power Authority and three solar companies - Toshiba International Corporation, Lanco Virgin Islands and Sun Edison.

Under the agreements, the companies will invest about $65 million to build, operate and maintain multiple solar arrays on St. Thomas and St. Croix to produce a total of 18 megawatts of power.

WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge Jr. said the solar project will supply the utility with about 14 percent of the territory's peak load demand.

On St. Croix, three solar array sites will be placed throughout the island - one east, one west and one mid-island. The mid-island site will be next to the Home Depot.

On St. Thomas, the majority of the solar panels will be constructed on the roof of Tutu Park Mall, as well as on the roof of a canopy covered parking at the mall that will be constructed soon. Ground-installed solar arrays also will be located in the Donoe area near Home Depot.

Each solar array will sell power to WAPA at a different rate based on the cost to produce the electricity. Hodge said the cost to purchase the solar power will be between 14 and 24 cents per kilowatt hour, with a weighted average of between 16 and 17 cents per kilowatt hour. The rates represent the average terms for the life of the power purchase agreements, which are about 20 years.

Hodge said the rates are far below WAPA's avoided cost - the amount it would cost to produce the same amount of energy in its power plants.

Hodge said the solar project provides stability for the utility, because the rates will not change as they do being dependent on the volatile fuel oil market. Additionally, the peak load hours - during the day - are when the sun is shining and the solar panels are producing the most energy, he said.

Public Services Commission consultant Jim Madan recommended at Friday's meeting that the commission approve the power purchase agreements.

"The projects will reduce price volatility and increase WAPA's fuel diversification, and we think those are important objectives," he said.

Madan said the average residential customer using 500 kilowatt hours a month will see a decrease in their bill by about $1.55 to $1.75 once all the solar panels are operational.

Commercial customers using 5,000 kilowatt hours a month will see bills drop by about $15, and those using about 20,000 kilowatt hours a month will see a $62 savings, Madan said.

Public Services Commission Chairman Donald Cole said the time has come to move to alternative energy.

"I think WAPA has done an excellent job in going out and procuring this so we can diversify our energy here in the territory," Cole said.

Source:http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/psc-backs-solar-power-generation-1.1337231