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on December 4th, 2011% Keywords: solar cell price solar system installation PV supply
The relentless drop in prices has solar manufacturers accumulating nothing but deficits. this has been going on since the start of the year and is showing no signs of easing off in the near future. due to this, solar makers are looking into the end market. this is according to EnergyTrend, the research unit of TrendForce Corp.
Solar manufacturers are bidding for Taiwan and foreign solar system installations through sole proprietorship, joint ventures or strategic alliances. Referring to the global market’s dynamics shift, it is inevitable for Taiwan manufacturers to place more emphasis on the end market that is expected to bring a new challenge, added the research firm.
First, the issue facing Taiwan makers is fund accessibility. if manufacturers are unable to acquire the support from banks or investment firms, it will largely burden the companies’ finance. In mature markets such as North America and Europe, obtaining the Power purchase Agreement is the key to acquiring financial support. As for a certain investment project of an anonymous company, the lack of Power purchase Agreement adds uncertainty to the management of the power plant. Hence, EnergyTrend believes that it more risky to bid for that particular project than for other traditional projects.
Second, EnergyTrend is certain that Taiwan manufacturers will be facing the ‘Local Content Requirement’ issue in the future. Considering the policies of European, Indian and U.S.’ markets, the adoption of the local products dominate the direction of the policies. such logic stems from the goal to increase domestic job opportunities. E.U.’s ‘FIT Premium,’ U.S.’ ‘Buy America’ and India’s ‘Local Content’ are all in line with the logic and a crucial factor for the aforementioned countries to decide whether or not to subsidize the related industries. Regions with great market potential such as China, Southeast Asia, North and South Africa, will be the next major battlefield for the Taiwan solar firms that will also face the said issues.
Source: EnergyTrend.
For this week, spot prices of polysilicon, Si wafer and solar cell price all remained on a downtrend. However, except for the mono-Si wafer price, the prices in the PV supply chain started to alleviate. Lowest polysilicon price stayed at $23/kg, while ASP fell to $25.56/kg, a decrease of 1.12 percent. In terms of Si wafers, lowest multiSi wafer price remained at $1/piece, while mono-Si wafer price was $1.4/piece. this week’s multiSi wafer ASP dipped 1.86 percent to $1.161/piece. Mono-Si wafer ASP fell to $1.609/piece, a decrease of 2.48 percent. The lowest solar cell price was $0.47/W, while ASP fell to $0.518/W, a 0.19 percent drop. In terms of module, PV module ASP fell by 1.19 percent to $0.913/W. looking toward the future, EnergyTrend believes that as the inventory level lowers, the chance of the prices hitting rock bottom is getting slimmer, and the price gap will continue to decrease.
on December 4th, 2011% ![]()
Posted in | Blogging, Business
When it comes to using the energy from the sun, one of the primary concerns that you need to deal with is the solar panel installation. This is a problem that you can easily solve since there are plenty of options for you out there. you can either rely on the do-it-yourself kits and do the job on your own or you could also seek the services from professional companies. Either option will involve the same basic process.
Purchasing solar electric panels is the primary step in the process. Typically, these are mounted on top of the roof of the house or building. Other people also opt for stand alone facilities, similar to a tower. the important thing is to situate the panels in a location where the sun can directly hit it.
The solar panels are also commonly referred to as PV or photovoltaic panels. This uses photovoltaic cells which efficiently converts the energy from the sun to electricity so that it can be used directly. the solar cells or photovoltaic cells are usually encased within a metal frame which is often made out of aluminum. These make up the solar panels.
Since the cells are in a metal casing, it can then be easily mounted or clamped on the roof. Common materials that are needed to have this job done are roof anchors, mounting frame and clamp.
Roof anchors are also made of steel or aluminum. This serves as the base of the mount wherein the mounting frame will be attached. the mounting frame can be securely attached to the anchors by using bolts and screws that are designed to keep it steady even if there is wind or rain. the clamps will ensure that the solar panels are attached properly to the mounting frame. you can choose between the two types of clamps which are the mid-clamp and end-clap. This will be determined by the number of solar panels that you would like to install.
Tips for Safe and Effective Solar Panel Installation
Aside from the actual components that are needed for the entire system to work, you might also need some tools that would aid you in the process of solar panel installation.
Scaffolding can be a good help. This is a steady ladder which will make it easier for you to access the top of the roof or any stand alone facility. it is more stable to use than the single ladder which could cause accidents especially when you are carrying tools as you climb up.
Before you even permanently set up your solar panels, make sure that you have done proper measurements and markings. Survey the spot which is primarily hit by the sun. Make sure that the panels are facing the right direction.
Attaching the frame is a crucial part. This is done after the anchors have been placed on the roof. Focus on the strength of the attachment rather than making them perfectly parallel to each other. then, set up the PV panels.
Once you have placed the panels properly, start wiring them together. it is important that the wiring is perfectly connected so that the energy from the sun will not be wasted.
If you are apprehensive about your technical skills when it comes to solar panel installation, it is best if you seek assistance from professionals. That way, you would avoid wasting your time and money. you can be ensured that your system will work perfectly too.
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on December 2nd, 2011% You may believe it was inevitable. Sooner or later, production of what is essentially a commodity item like photovoltaic solar panels would prove uncompetitive in Western markets as low-cost emerging markets reached critical mass and, in something of a downturn, flooded the market at prices Western producers could not match. just about everyone commenting on the sector has been predicting the industry will only take off when panel prices drop to a level where electricity generation is economically viable without subsidy.
I should say we are not there yet; solar panels still require subsidy. In parts of Europe, they benefit from feed-in tariffs twice the current cost of power from the grid, guaranteed for 25 years as a government incentive. But panel prices in the US are reported in a NY Times article to have fallen dramatically in recent years. Wholesale prices are currently $1.00-1.20 per watt of capacity today, down from $1.80 in January and $3.30 in 2008.
Most were hoping falls in price would come from technological development and mass production, but in truth much of the fall has come about due to the market becoming awash with Chinese solar panels. From nothing in the middle of the last decade, Beijing has engineered phenomenal growth, both in domestic installed capacity and in exports. Chinese companies now export some 95 percent of the country’s solar panel production and are said to have three-fifths of global production capacity. good news for consumers looking to take advantage of solar power, good news for the environmental lobby keen to see the uptake of renewable energy, and good news for installers for whom lower panel costs have helped fuel an industry that is growing generating capacity at 70 percent per year.
So is everyone happy? no; spare a thought for the domestic US solar panel manufacturing industry. Massive investments were made in production facilities to meet the projected demand. Controversial cases like that of Solyndra, the failed beneficiary of $528 million of government largesse (notwithstanding the impact of Chinese imports) have been dramatic.
Two other major US solar manufacturers that together are said to have represented one-sixth of US production capacity went bankrupt in August, and four others are laying off workers and cutting output. Seven producers led by Solar World, the US subsidiary of a German producer (the six other firms have kept their identities secret for fear of reprisals in accessing China’s market – although how they expect to compete in China if they can’t compete in their home market is unclear) have called for anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases against a wide range of Chinese solar panel makers.
The producers are calling for tariffs of more than 100 percent in retaliation for what they say are unfair government subsidies allowing Chinese makers to sell panels in the US, which would normally be 50 to 250 percent higher in their home market. In a Financial Times article, Timothy Brightbill, a partner with Wiley Rein, the law firm representing SolarWorld, said “China has a system of pervasive and illegal subsidy payments, including government cash grants and subsidized loans to the industry and subsidized raw material inputs.” (Watch MetalMiner’s recent video interview with Brightbill here, where we discussed export restrictions and state-owned enterprises in regards to Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.)
Law requires the Commerce Department to issue a preliminary decision on the anti-dumping claim possibly in mid-January, but no later than late March, and on the anti-subsidy claim, no later than mid-May. many trade experts expect that the decision would include steep tariffs on imports, but the ruling may be too late to save large sections of the US industry.
The issue is a politically charged one in Washington; President Obama made green technology and US jobs an objective by which his presidency would be judged, yet at the same time the US needs another trade dispute with China like it needs a hole in the head. the outcome is likely to be the worst possible for both issues.
(agmetalminer.com) MetalMiner is the largest metals-related media site in the US according to third party ranking sites. with a preemptive global perspective on the issues, trends, strategies, and trade policies that will impact how you source and/or trade metals and related metals services, MetalMiner provides unique insight, analysis, and tools for buyers, purchasing professionals, and everyone else for whom metals and their related markets matter.
on December 1st, 2011% ![]()
Instead of buying new solar panels, buying used ones can help you gain substantial savings. they could still be used to generate electricity for you home. they are cost effective and environmental friendly way to reduce your electricity bills.
You can get a used panel from various sources. try to find homeowners with solar panels that look old. Broken photovoltaic panels can be found at recycling centres which could be used.
The best way is to contact a contractor or an agent who is a specialist in photovoltaic panel installation. many people throw away their used ones before installing a new one. you can also contact a building contractor. they often renovate houses installed with solar panels and are happy to get someone dispose such things for them.
A lot of people may give you their old solar panels if you offer to transport them away from the site. Some of them could be unwilling to give away their owned photovoltaic panels. Perhaps a small amount of money may get then convinced.
If you find a used panel with beat-up model, you can easily dismantle the good cells to make your own homemade photovoltaic panel.
Before you buy an used up panel, you need to look out for few fatal flaws that may make your panel unusable.
1. Broken connections, cracked glass, condensation under glass are few common problems that may lead owners to part away with their panels.
2. you might not notice the loose connections when you visually inspect them. These faults can be made out by a resistance meter, and high resistance joints are re-soldered together.
Even tough used photovoltaic panels are cheap, they have few disadvantages. they have a low output efficiency. they become less effective after being exposed to sun for a decade or two. As they have a shorter lifetime, thus they can be utilized just for their remaining years to come.
The low cost of used solar panels allure a lot of people to buy them. if the panels have good efficiency and good lifetime period left, then it could be an excellent investment.
on November 30th, 2011% ![]()
We are all encouraged to conserve energy if we want to bestow a better future for the children of tomorrow. the risk of depleting resources has pushed humans to look for alternative energy resources that are both efficient and renewable. probably one of the best sources of energy is the sun. Solar power is converted into usable energy through PV cells found in solar electric panels. There are different ways of solar panel installation depending on the type of roof and energy required by the user.
A household who wanted to use solar energy in all their electrical needs must purchase solar electric panels from a wide variety of producers or may research online. Solar panels are usually mounted in roof and building tops, or installed using stand alone facilities where it can get the best sun exposure. Solar panel installation may be done by homeowners using the installation tips found on the web or may be done by a professional solar panel installer. the PV cells are usually encased together in a metal frame, most of the time aluminum.
This will allow the panels to be screwed or clamped easily on roofs. the materials needed for installation are: roof anchors that are made of steel or aluminum, it is used as the base of the mount and where the mounting frame is attached; the mounting frame that is secured to the roof anchors using a special locking system and bolts to screw it tightly, it is where the panels are attached using clamps; and the last material you need is the clamp, used to secure the solar panels on the mounting frame. the clamps may be end-clamp and mid-clamp depending on the number of panels that need to be secured.
After you have all the components needed for solar panel installation, the process can now begin. most of the installation team will survey the area most especially the location where it is mounted.
• Scaffolding. this is actually placed by the installation team before the installation process begins. It is usually erected to reach the roofs for easy mounting. Ladders are incorporated to ensure safety in accordance with the Health and Safety codes.
• Positioning the roof anchors. before these are installed to the roof, it is first surveyed, properly measured and marked to indicate correct positioning of panels. Positioning phase is very vital in every installation to ensure that the panel frames are in its correct locations.
• Attaching the frame. after the roof anchors are secured properly on the roof, the aluminum mounting frame or bars are attached. There is a need to ensure that these are parallel to each other before locking it in place.
• Installing PV panels. this is done after the bars where the frame is placed are mounted properly. It may be in rows or columns depending on its roof space.
• Wiring the panels. These panels must be wired together to produce a complete electrical system.
For every solar panel installation, it is necessary to plan it first before undergoing the mounting procedure. It is also advisable that it is done during roof construction or re-roofing.
on November 28th, 2011% ![]()
Google Inc has abandoned an ambitious project to make renewable energy cheaper than coal, the latest target of Chief Executive Larry Page’s moves to focus the Internet giant on fewer efforts.
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Google said on Tuesday that it was pulling the plug on seven projects, including Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal as well as a Wikipedia-like online encyclopedia service known as Knol.
The plans, which Google announced on its corporate blog, represent the third so-called “spring cleaning” announcement that Google has made since Google co-founder Page took the reins in April.
The changes come as Google is facing stiff competition in mobile computing and social networking from Apple Inc and Facebook, and as some investors have groused about rising spending at the world’s No.1 Internet search company.
“To recap, we’re in the process of shutting down a number of products which haven’t had the impact we’d hoped for, integrating others as features into our broader product efforts, and ending several which have shown us a different path forward,” wrote Google Senior Vice President of Operations Urs Holzle in the blog post.
Google said that it believed other institutions were better positioned to take its renewable energy efforts “to the next level.”
Google began making investments and doing research into technology to drive down the price of renewable energy in 2007, with a particular focus on solar power technology.
In 2009, the company’s so-called Green Energy Czar, bill Weihl, told Reuters that he expected to demonstrate within a few years working technology that could produce renewable energy at a cheaper price than coal.
“It is even odds, more or less,” Weihl said at the time. “In three years, we could have multiple megawatts of plants out there.”
A Google spokesman said that Weihl had left Google earlier this month.
on November 27th, 2011% ![]()
How some people that want solar panels installed in their homes can still have them without thinking about how much money is it going to cost them.
With the popularity of solar-panels on homes growing, the neighbors want to be like the joneses. But there’s an issue, photovoltaic solar panels cost a pretty penny and not everyone can afford to install a $25000 solar system in their homes in this economy. The good news is that there is a solution to the problem.
John actually is a guy that could not afford the photovoltaic solar panels, because the cost was to high for his home, but he figured out a way that he could still do it. The best part is that John didn’t have to spend $17,000.00 to have someone install the system in his home so he could save money like his neighbor Mike. if you’re like John and you’ve thought about buying a solar system, think again. You not only can save money in the installation of the system, but enjoy the electrical savings that solar panels create using the sun’s energy, while saving the earth.
9 things that John did to save himself, $19,000.00 on his solar panel system:
- He went online and search for ways to save money on solar panel systems.
- Contacted people that already saved on their installation
- Asked them how they did it.
- Looked on forums to see if people were successful at building their own systems.
- Contacted those people that did succeed.
- Asked them for help to build his own.
- Bought a guide recommended by some forums on how to build your own professional solar panel.
- Began building his first panel
- You know the rest.He build an entire system that replaced all the electricity he was consuming.
As you can see it was not a simple task. But he did saved himself a big amount of money in doing it himself. unless you’re rich and you have the money, John said go for it, because the only con is that it took him two months to get it all put together. although it was a great experience for him because he is now helping a few of his neighbors do it too, and they are paying him, so now he’s even making a few extra thousand for helping them. It’s amazing he says, this project has basically only cost me time because all the money he spent on materials has paid for itself with the two projects he’s helping his neighbors build.
So you see, it’s not too bad after all, to do this project on your own, if you’re the type of person that doesn’t have a lot of money this is the perfect alternative if you want PV panels to cost you less. give it a shot. just remember that if you want to do it right, you’re going to need a PROGRAM that helps you follow the installation step-by-step. maybe from building your own solar panel you can help your neighbors and make a few thousand like John did.
on November 27th, 2011% ![]()
When most people think of green or clean energy they picture rows of solar panels positioned on the roof, or a group of wind energy generators producing electricity from the wind. although these are correct views of energy sources create clean energy, it leaves out one of the most efficient, and applicable of all alternative energy installations – solar heating tubes. this kind of of clean energy technology is used to provide hot water to homes and commercial buildings.
The scientific and technical knowledge supporting this kind of clean energy have already matured as to have commercial and industrial applications, as well as domestic ones. Millions of individual homes and residential buildings that depend on such systems for their hot water supply are able to significantly reduce their electric power costs. In fact, China is the leading user of solar heating tubes, and it has been reported that as much as 30 million homes (which covers homes or apartment units) derive from 60 to 70 percent of their hot water from solar heating tubes and not from traditional electric power sources.
Why only 60-70% and not their entire hot water requirement? this is the only glitch with clean energy that depends on the sun’s radiant energy, and it happens because of the patterns of nature. keep in mind that, the sun goes up and down each day. As a result, solar heating tubes are only able to operate when sunlight is at its peak, which is usually from around 9 AM to 4-5 PM. However once the sun sets, it’s like the energy source of the hot water equipment has been turned-off. And yet, solar heating tubes still get around sixty percent efficiency because the large storage tanks it uses can stay hot for several hours after the sun has set. this is the reason why most renewable energy professionals place optimal energy savings at the sixty percent level.
So what does actually mean for the commercial or residential building owner or landlord? For the most part, it means that, they would still have to use some electric power from their utility company or fuel supplier, to maintain a steady supply of heated water. so what does it mean from a financial point of view? Let’s examine this topic more carefully.
You need to take into consideration that you will need to purchase the solar heating system and spend money for its installation. this can be substantial capital investment, and most property owners will use the equity in their building to put their equipment purchase on a type of payment plan, like a second mortgage or business loan to cover costs. but the solar power system is going to begin working as soon as it is set-up, which means that electric expenses are going to drop significantly immediately. this drop in electricity expenses generates money savings that can be applied to the repayment on the loan for installation. What makes this investment more beneficial to property owners is that, most solar power systems can be repaid in a period of two to five years;and after this period the financial savings will go straight into the owner’s wallet. And from then on, the building can be supplied with hot water at an incredibly lower cost.
Aside from the reduction in expenditures and shorter period to receive your return on investment for the equipment, there is also a wide array of tax benefits available through such an investment. these too can help the owner of the property to recover the purchase price of the solar equipment quickly.
Craig Axelrod is a partner for Emmy Energy, a NY solar energy operation installing solar heating tube systems & solar pv systems in the Northeast.
on November 26th, 2011% ![]()
Paul Krugman’s recent article in the NY Times is a weak attempt to convince those who have been led astray by our “fossilized political system” that solar power is somehow becoming a rising star of reliability since, as he claims, it is now “cost-effective.” this pipedream is of course followed by a casual alarmist condemnation of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). It seems Krugman has gotten a little too solar-happy based on his overt distortion of both solar and fracking facts.
First, let’s get the sun out of our eyes and the buzzing Krugman out of our ears so the reality of solar energy can come into focus. Holman W. Jenkins’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal shatters Krugman’s application of solar energy under “Moore’s Law,” explaining the real reasons behind the decrease in solar energy price, which Krugman claims was actually the “technological success” of Solyndra’s failure. In Jenkins’s piece, he uses a fictitious acceptance letter from Herbert M. Allison, a former chief financial officer of Merrill Lynch, recruited by the White House to counsel on the Department of Energy’s “green” loan program, who was recruited after the collapse of Solyndra. he states:
“Solar-panel prices have come down sharply, it’s true, but the reason is not big efficiency gains. Under Moore’s Law, computer chips doubled their capacity every 18 months. it took 25 years for commercial solar panels to double their efficiency to today’s 10% or so, and no “transformations” appear to be in the offing. Solyndra went bankrupt because its panels, with 12% efficiency, couldn’t be delivered at a competitive price.
The solar-panel price collapse has two causes: Chinese overproduction and decisions by governments around the world that it no longer is politically feasible to subsidize the industry. Listen to the words of Chairman Michael Ahearn of first Solar inc. on a conference call last week: “Declining subsidy pool … Shrinking subsidy programs … European countries reducing their subsidies … No significant new state-level solar programs … Moving downward in terms of subsidies … A much lower subsidy level … Solar industries feeding mostly off of legacy subsidies in California.’”
There you have it. So much for Solyndra’s shot at a success story.
Beyond Jenkins’s outline of why solar doesn’t work, solar energy has inherent inefficiencies that are impossible to circumvent in an economically sound way. according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, of the 8 percent of renewable energy sources consumed in the U.S., solar comes in last, providing a 1 percent of the total energy consumed in the U.S. though the capacity for solar electricity has increased in recent years, it faces multiple hurdles to become a stable source of energy. the Institute for Energy Research points out that because solar power is available only when the sun shines and varies with the seasons of the year, reports on how solar units can generate enough electricity to serve a large number of homes are deceptive. Since a solar energy is so unreliable, dispatchable generators (usually fossil-fuel) are required to supply back-up power to the system.
Solar power also much more land intensive than fracking, along with any fossil fuel production, producing far less energy per acre than oil, gas, or coal. “Though solar technologies are improving, meeting current U.S. electricity needs with today’s photovoltaic (PV) technology would require about 10,000 square miles of solar panels—an area the size of new Hampshire and Rhode Island combined. Moreover, if PV power is established in those areas of the country like the desert southwest where sunshine is abundant, consideration must be made for transmission lines as well as the “line loss” that accompanies electrical transmission over great distances” (Instituteforenergyresearch). Like most renewable resources, solar is often available only in remote areas, so building transmission lines to deliver power to large metropolitan areas is expensive.
Thus, solar power’s “environmental footprint” is much bigger than is the case with hydraulic fracturing. Fracking utilizes the efficient technology of horizontal drilling, which allows access to multiple shale gas deposits from a single drill pad. now, half as many wells are required to produce the same quantity of energy as 20 years ago. the size of a drill pad ranges anywhere between 3 to 5 acres and the land is reclaimed after the drilling is complete. Horizontal drilling is what allows shale gas to flow from the shale formation at high enough rates to justify the cost of drilling.
As for Krugman’s comments on drinking water contamination caused by fracking: they are groundless. though the flowback water of fracking results in wastewater, there is still zero evidence that the process of fracking has contaminated the aquifer. many experts have claimed that since fracking requires such deep drilling, it is virtually impossible that fracking chemicals could reach the water table.
As you can see, solar power is anything but cost-effective, which gives credence its complete dependence on taxpayer subsidies and government renewable-resources mandates in order for it to survive. And if a solar can’t make a go of it with $535 million dollars, I think it’s safe to say the sun is setting on an American future of solar sustainability.
on November 26th, 2011% I go through dozens of sources and thousands of articles so you don’t have to
Here’s some cool clean energy, EV, and LED project news from the past week or so:
1. 3 new Wind Projects in U.S. Order Wind Turbines
“Vestas has received a 59 MW order from Exelon Wind for 33 V100-1.8 MW turbines for the Harvest II Wind Project in Huron County, Michigan, USA,” Vestas announces. “the contract includes delivery and commissioning along with a 10-year service and maintenance agreement. Delivery is scheduled for mid-2012, and commissioning is expected in late 2012.”
Vestas has also received orders for two first Wind projects, in Washington and Maine, that total to 139 MW. 77 V100-1.8 MW turbines were ordered for the 104.4-MW Palouse Wind project in Whitman County, Washington (58 wind turbines) and the 34.2-MW Bull Hill wind power plant in Hancock County, Maine (19 turbines).
2. Apple Switching from Coal to Solar in North Carolina
“Apple, ranked the least green of the big tech companies earlier this year, is moving quietly to repair its reputation by switching its vast east coast data centre from coal to solar power,” the Guardian reports. “Local officials in North Carolina say the company is preparing to build a solar farm adjacent to its $1bn data centre in Maiden.”
3. Tower Bridge is Going LED
Tower Bridge in London is about to get a lot prettier.. at least to us Greens. the 117-year-old bridge is going LED and is going to cut its electricity usage by about 40%! h/t Crisp Green
4. Arizona’s Largest Wind Farm Almost Done
“Coconino County’s first wind farm, the state’s largest, plans to begin generating electricity in December,” azdailysun.com reports. “Contractors building these turbines are from all over, including Florida, Texas, Iowa and Minnesota.” (Clean energy doesn’t create jobs, right?) the project includes 62 wind turbines, each 398-feet-tall, and has an installed power capacity of 99 MW. it can supply power for about 29,000 homes when running at peak, and 8,700 homes on average. “the wind farm is to operate from this December or January 2012 into 2042 or beyond.”
The wind turbines will most likely replace electricity provided by burning natural gas. Coconino County officials expect to plan and build more wind power projects after this one is complete. “State regulations set by the Arizona Corporation Commission require utilities to supply 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025, and Arizona Public Service is now getting about 3 percent of its electricity from renewable resources.”
5. Navajo Homes get Solar- & Wind-Powered Electricity
An off-grid solar and wind power generator now provides electricity to 200 Navajo Homes in new Mexico. CNET has more, & pictures.
6. 1st Commercial Wave Power Plant Is up (.. or Under) in Spain
Voith Hydro Wavegen handed over its “first grid-connected marine power plant to the Basque Energy Board in the north of Spain” last week, Business Green reports. “the 300kW wave power plant comprises 16 turbines and is housed within a breakwater at the port of Mutriku. the plant has produced 100MWh since generating its first power in July, and is expected to provide enough electricity to power 250 homes during its 25-year life.”
7. Global Solar PV Installations to Hit 24 GW in 2011
A new report out by IMS Research finds that global solar PV installation will hit 24 GW in 2011, rising 24% from the 19 GW hit in 201o. However, European installations will only rise 3%. Other notable findings from the report are that:
- Italy will pass up Germany as the world’s leading PV market;
- over 8 GW of solar PV were installed in the first half of 2011, while about 15 GW are projected to be installed in the second half;
- Asia and the Americas will account for 80% of the global growth in 2011 (and a similar trend is expected in 2012);
- you can also see in the second chart below that a lot of the growth is in the utility-scale market, but there’s also significant growth in the large and medium commercial market and in the residential market.
8. Poland Getting its Largest Rooftop Solar Array
“Photon Energy will take part in the construction of a 311 kWp rooftop PV installation in Ruda Slaska, Southern Poland,” Solarbuzz reports. “When completed in mid 2012, it will be the largest rooftop solar power installation in Poland…. it will be will be located on the roof of the Upper Silesian water utility company – Górno?l?skie Przedsi?biorstwo Wodoci?gów S.A. (GPW), the largest water supplier in Poland, which will also act as an investor in the project.”
9. 3 EV Charging Stations now at Indianapolis Airport
They are GE WattStationTM Wall Mount EV charging stations. “An ongoing collaboration between Purdue University and GE Energy is at the heart of the new airport charging option,” GE reports. “Purdue acquired the units with funding from Energy Systems Network through a grant from the Indiana Office of Energy Development.”
“Purdue’s faculty and students will collect data from the airport chargers to use in electric vehicle and smart grid research,” Eric Dietz, associate professor of computer and information technology and director of Purdue’s Homeland Security Institute, said.
But, there’s a lot more green going on at the Indianapolis Airport than that, actually:
Additional sustainability initiatives at the airport include IAA’s recent completion of relighting projects in its parking garage and at the Indianapolis Maintenance Center that produce combined yearly savings of more than $250,000 and annually reduce CO2 emissions by 5,233 metric tons, equivalent to removing more than 1,000 gasoline-powered cars from the city’s roads each year.
IAA also has announced plans to develop one of the largest airport-based solar farms in North America, which will annually produce more than 15 million kilowatt hours of power, enough to meet the electrical energy needs of more than 1,200 average American homes for a year. the renewable power it generates will prevent approximately 10,700 tons of CO2 from being released into the environment each year, roughly equivalent to removing 2,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road annually.
10. Maui Looking to be EV Leader
“Chalk up Maui as the next hot spot for electric vehicle infrastructure. this month the Maui Electric Vehicle Alliance was launched with the support of the University of Hawaii Maui College, Hawaii State Energy Office, Honolulu clean Cities from neighboring Oahu, and a host of other partners from government and business,” Greentech Media reports. “with the help of a $300,000 from the US Department of Energy, the group’s goal is to design a plan to prep the island for large-scale EV use through increased EV infrastructure development.” (Note that I also wrote about a leading smart grid demo project in Maui last week.)
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