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Insulating High Temperatures with Foam

on November 25th, 2011%

by Martin Grolms published: 2011-11-24

New melamine foam is in use for insulating the Gobi line of solar flat plate collectors by Heliodyne, Richmond, California, one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of solar collectors in the US. the Gobi line has continuously been refined and optimized for over 30 years. Now Heliodyne chose the new insulating foam Basotect produced by BASF. the new foam is expected to show excellent insulation capabilities as well as long-term, high temperature resistance.Flat plate solar collectors use solar energy to produce hot water for residential and commercial buildings. Water or heat transfer fluid is heated as it passes through panels that are designed to collect heat from the sun. One essential aspect of the collector design is the thermal insulation that is used to retain the heat in the collector. Solar collectors that are stagnant, meaning that the liquid is not flowing through the collector, can reach temperatures that exceed 350°F (~177°C). Basotect can withstand these temperatures unlike other polymeric foam insulating materials that usually start to degrade at considerably lower temperatures.“the new Gobi line of collectors has the thinnest profile available in the US. this improves the aesthetics of the collectors and makes them easier to transport and install”, explains Ole Pilgaard, President and CEO of Heliodyne. “with the smaller profile, though, we only had room for a very efficient and thermally stable layer of insulation. By using Basotect, we not only maintained the product line’s efficiency, we actually improved the overall performance of the collector.”BASF reports that Basotect provides other benefits the solar collectors. because the foam is lightweight, flexible and free of fibers, it is easier to store and assemble than other insulation materials. while other materials may off-gas at higher temperatures, Basotect pledges to release practically no substances that could fog the gas and block solar radiation.According to BASF its combination of various properties like temperature resistant and flame retardant, lightweight, elastic, sound absorbent and heat insulating, Basotect is also suitable for the acoustic and thermal insulation of buildings, vehicles and trains. there are now a number of different thermoset foam grades for various applications available.

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Joint Ventures With the Largest Solar Module Manufactures

on November 23rd, 2011%

Even the smallest enterprise has options of working with multinational giants. this is the new age of globalization and international commerce. in the same context, commerce has also developed other evolutions in the 21st century. while technology has pushed us into an era of open communication and the ‘global village’; technology itself has changed. Products from solar PV module manufacturing units the world over are being harnessed to be used in various industries the world over. there is practically no stream of business that isn’t adapting to green technologies. The world has grown concerned about the adverse effects of rapid industrialization on nature. this is why PV module manufacturers are in demand and supported by governments and international ecology conservation organizations.

The world of global opportunities allows your company a vast open vista of opportunities. Even the smallest production company can work with the largest solar module manufacturers in the world. it is all about whether you realize the advantages of green business solutions. Any good photovoltaic solar panel manufacturer or consumer product company is supported by official agencies. From banks offering huge loans, to tax subsidies, to international collaboration support, your company can tap into a huge sector with immense advantages. you merely need to focus on what particular work you would like your enterprise to develop.

Here are some of the common joint venture possibilities you can enter with multi crystalline solar module manufacturers even with the smallest production capabilities -

Domestic Electronics and Emergency Supplies

The new age of environmental awareness has pushed people into an era where the requirements of green energy have come to the domestic frontier. PV module manufacturers now want to expand their solutions to households around the world. your enterprise could simply outsource the service, maintenance, and marketing responsibilities of such products in your area. With the cost saving advantages of such products, customers should be rather easy to find.

Solar Lighting for Rural Areas

In countries with rural zones that still do not have sufficient electricity supplies; the sun’s immense energy resources are being harnessed. Multi crystalline solar module manufacturers are providing everything from street lighting to home power units for such areas. by using the right government channels and tapping into the right avenues of supply, your company can facilitate such solutions. All you need is a skilled team of people to work in such areas in close coordination with federal agencies. there are also huge advantages in this line of work. Photovoltaic solar panel manufacturers are seeking the right entrepreneurs to undertake such lucrative endeavors.

Small Portable Power Units

Though the investments in this form of business may be a little more due to infrastructural requirements; the opportunities are equally multifaceted. Travelers need to use portable power solutions like trekkers and mountaineers, or educational excursions. this is where your company could work in joint ventures with the largest solar module manufacturers in developing small mobile power units. Solar PV module manufacturing as advanced to the level of making a niche market for such products. it is up to using your capable entrepreneurship and taking commercial advantage.

Solar kit could light African homes, brighten lives

on November 19th, 2011%

EAST WENATCHEE — When the sun set on Claver Hategekimana’s childhood home in Rwanda, he and his family devised clever ways to light their lives.

In an African neighborhood where electrified homes were rare, Hategekimana’s parents and five siblings beat the darkness by playing evening games under city street lamps and completing homework assignments by the glow of candles, wood fires and kerosene lanterns.

Now, at age 40, Hategekimana has devised one more clever way to light Africa’s rural homes — a cheap array of solar-powered lights that, he believes, could illuminate African life by extending the day to allow more education, money-making tasks and family social time.

Light 4 Village, Hategekimana’s project to deliver low-cost power to rural homes in undeveloped countries, uses the most compact and efficient solar technology available to run bright, efficient LED lamps. as a side benefit, the same solar kit can charge cell phones and run a shortwave radio.

“This isn’t rocket science,” said Hategekimana, coordinator of Wenatchee Valley College’s Teaching and Learning Center. “It’s easy, simple, cheap, lightweight and very powerful. I like to say that it’ll light homes and brighten lives.”

Like a bulb lighting up, Hategekimana’s idea for the solar light kit flicked to life when he came to the United States in 1997 and saw highway signs powered by solar panels. a student at Iowa State University, he realized he could use the panels to light up his dorm room and immediately propped one in the window to do just that.

“I didn’t need electricity for lights,” he said. “It was a freeing thought for me. I knew that somehow this technology could be used to help my family and village — if it was cheap enough.”

Skip ahead a decade. Hategekimana has completed his dissertation, earned a couple of degrees and gotten a job at WVC. not much progress was made, however, on providing lights for rural Rwanda.

But in those 10 years, solar panel, battery and LED prices had dropped dramatically and efficiency had increased. Amazingly, three lights running off a fully-charged battery could last up to eight hours.

Enlisting students in WVC’s industrial electronics program to test prototype systems, Hategekimana moved toward matching the right solar panel with the right lights, battery and connecting box.

“It finally all came together in a good, if not perfect, package,” he said. “We continue to fine-tune the components to gain the most electricity and light for the lowest cost.”

In the last year, Hategekimana has sold and shipped several of the solar lighting kits to his home village — to his parents, siblings and a few friends — and has received testimonies from them on how it’s changed their lives.

Musabyemariya, a friend in Rwanda, wrote, “One of my sisters reminded me of the moonlight, firewood smoke, kerosene lamps and sore eyes that were once a part of our daily lives. But solar electricity has changed that. We no longer worry that darkness will end evening schoolwork. Most importantly, no more sore eyes and headaches from the fumes.”

Another friend, Hillary Kosen, a Kenyan Maasai who runs Kosen Safaris in East Wenatchee, has begun matching up his wealthy clients with village households who would benefit from installation of a solar light kit.

“A willing (safari) guest meets a family and often wishes to give something back,” said Kosen. “Light for education, light for productive work, light for a better life — what better gift for an African family?”

Today, Hategekimana is searching for grants or sponsors to fund shipment of a larger number of the light kits to Rwanda and other underdeveloped countries.

“We believe that low-cost electricity can have big effects on individual families and villages,” he said. “We just need to get the equipment there, connected in the home and the lights turned on.”

Climate Change Bulletin November

on November 19th, 2011%

Monday, 14 November 2011, 12:40 pm Press Release: British High Commission

This is our 18th edition and this month it’s a somewhatbleak view of the Climate Change future .we will take alook at the latest research on Global Warming .and ask thequestion is Phil Jones the scientist at the centre ofClimategate owed an apology ? Also are Britain’s Businessleague tables on Carbon savings just plain misleading andwe cover the Durban Climate Change conference being endorsedby top British politicians. Finally there is a specialGuardian Feature on the World’s shrinking deadline todeal with Climate Change .

• Scientists say theWorld is getting warmer –Climategate or not

• UKcall for leadership over Durban.

• Do the CRCtables flatter British Business

• Carbon taxpasses final Australian hurdle

• Japan maybankroll UK reactors

• Solar powers artscentre in Wales

• Small Yorkshire power stationfunded by local shares

• SPECIAL FEATURE:Willthe World run out of time to deal with Climate Change?

We would appreciate your feedback on the usefulnessof the bulletin. Please let us know if you would like toknow more or if there are other subject areas of interest. Please send any feedback or requests for further informationor research to: uk . if youwish to unsubscribe please contact us.

Globalwarming ‘confirmed’ by Independent study

Weatherstation at airportWeather stations are giving a true pictureof global warming, the group found

The Earth’ssurface really is getting warmer, a new analysis by a USscientific group set up in the wake of the “Climategate”affair has concluded.The BerkeleyEarth Project has used new methods and some new data, butfinds the same warming trend seen by groups such as the UKMet Office and Nasa.The project received funds from sourcesthat back organisations lobbying against action on climatechange.”Climategate”, in 2009, involved claims globalwarming had been exaggerated.Emails of University of EastAnglia (UEA) climate scientists were hacked, posted onlineand used by critics to allege manipulation of climate changedata.

Fresh start

The Berkeley group says it has alsofound evidence that changing sea temperatures in the northAtlantic may be a major reason why the Earth’s averagetemperature varies globally from year to year.

SaulPerlmutterThe group includes physicist Saul Perlmutter, aNobel Prize winner this year

The project was establishedby University of California physics professor RichardMuller, who was concerned by claims that established teamsof climate researchers had not been entirely open with theirdata.he gathered a team of 10 scientists, mostly physicists,including such luminaries as Saul Perlmutter, winner of thisyear’s Nobel Physics Prize for research showing theUniverse’s expansion is accelerating.

Funding came from anumber of sources, including charitable foundationsmaintained by the Koch brothers, the billionaire USindustrialists, who have also donated large sums toorganisations lobbying against acceptance of man-made globalwarming. “Our biggest surprise was that the new resultsagreed so closely with the warming values publishedpreviously I was deeply concerned that the group [at UEA]had concealed discordant data,” Prof Muller told BBCNews.

“Science is best done when the problems with theanalysis are candidly shared.”The group’s work also examinedclaims from “sceptical” bloggers that temperature data fromweather stations did not show a true global warmingtrend.The claim was that many stations have registeredwarming because they are located in or near cities, andthose cities have been growing – the urban heat islandeffect.

The Berkeley group found about 40,000 weatherstations around the world whose output has been recorded andstored in digital form.it developed a new way of analysingthe data to plot the global temperature trend over landsince 1800.What came out was a graph remarkably similar tothose produced by the world’s three most important andestablished groups, whose work had been decried asunreliable and shoddy in climate sceptic circles.

graphTheBerkeley group’s record of global land temperature mirrorsexisting ones closely

Two of those three records aremaintained in the US, by the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (Noaa) and National Aeronauticsand Space Administration (Nasa).The third is a collaborationbetween the UK Met Office and UEA’s Climatic Research Unit(CRU), from which the e-mails that formed the basis of the”Climategate” furore were hacked two years ago.

“Ourbiggest surprise was that the new results agreed so closelywith the warming values published previously by other teamsin the US and the UK,” said Prof Muller.”This confirms thatthese studies were done carefully and that potential biasesidentified by climate change sceptics did not seriouslyaffect their conclusions.”

Since the 1950s, the averagetemperature over land has increased by 1C, the group found.They also report that although the urban heat island effectis real – which is well-established – it is not behind thewarming registered by the majority of weather stationsaround the world.They also showed that in the US, weatherstations rated as “high quality” by Noaa showed the samewarming trend as those rated as “low quality”.

‘Time forapology’

Prof Phil Jones, the CRU scientist who came infor the most personal criticism during “Climategate”, wascautious about interpreting the Berkeley results becausethey have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal.”Ilook forward to reading the finalised paper once it has beenreviewed and published,” he said.

Professor Phil JonesThefindings so far provide validation for Phil Jones, targetedduring the “Climategate” affair “These initial findings arevery encouraging, and echo our own results and ourconclusion that the impact of urban heat islands on theoverall global temperature is minimal.”

The Berkeley teamhas chosen to release the findings initially on its ownwebsite.They are asking for comments and feedback beforepreparing the manuscripts for formal scientificpublication.in part, this counters the accusation madeduring “Climategate” that climate scientists formed a tightclique who peer-reviewed each other’s papers and made suretheir own global warming narrative was the only one makingit into print.

But for Richard Muller, this freecirculation also marks a return to how science should bedone.”That is the way I practised science for decades; itwas the way everyone practised it until some magazines -particularly Science and Nature – forbade it,” hesaid.

“That was not a good change, and still many fieldssuch as string theory practice the traditional methodwholeheartedly.”This open “wiki” method of review isregularly employed in physics, the home field for seven ofthe 10 Berkeley team.Bob Ward, policy and communicationsdirector for the Grantham Research Institute for ClimateChange and the Environment in London, said the warming ofthe Earth’s surface was unequivocal.

“So-called’sceptics’ should now drop their thoroughly discreditedclaims that the increase in global average temperature couldbe attributed to the impact of growing cities,” hesaid.”More broadly, this study also proves once again howfalse it was for ‘sceptics’ to allege that the e-mailshacked from UEA proved that the CRU land temperature recordhad been doctored.”It is now time for an apology from allthose, including US presidential hopeful Rick Perry, whohave made false claims that the evidence for global warminghas been faked by climate scientists.”

Richard BlackByRichard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News

UKcalls for climate leadership

The Foreign SecretaryWilliam Hague and the Secretary of State for Climate Change,Chris Huhne, has called on the international community toshow the leadership necessary to forge consensus in the runup to the Climate Summit in Durban.

inforrm.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/william_hague400.jpg

Speaking to an international youth audience at theQuestion Time: Climate Change event held at the ForeignOffice today, the Foreign Secretary said:“Climate changeis perhaps the twenty-first century’s biggest foreignpolicy challenge. we all have a responsibility to tacklethis threat and the decisions we take now will have aprofound effect on future generations. Young people in theUK and across the world play a critical role in the climatedebate, and it is essential that their opinions are heardthrough events such as this. as we approach Durban, we allhave an important duty to show the next generation theleadership needed to build international consensus on thisvital issue.”

The Secretary of State for ClimateChange added:“It’s hugely important young people’svoices on climate change are heard and I’m really pleasedso many took part in the Question Time event. making theshift to a low carbon economy in the UK will create newmarkets and exciting job opportunities for the nextgeneration as well as providing a more sustainable future.we pledged we’d be the greenest government ever, so aswell as the action we’re taking at home we’ll be workingfor further progress towards a global deal at the nextinternational climate talks at Durban in South Africa laterthis month.”

Last week’s event, arranged by the FCO,DECC and the British Council, gave eighty 16-25 year-olds animportant opportunity to debate these aims and theirimplications for future generations. Discussions alsocovered a wide range of climate change issues including theUK’s policies to cut its emissions, and the role of widersociety and young people in the climate debate.

Hosted byRick Edwards, the two Secretaries of State were joined onthe panel by South Africa’s Climate Change Ambassador,N.J. Mxakato-Diseko, and Martin Davidson, Chief Executive atthe British Council.

The event was webcast live to aninternational audience, with FCO posts and British Counciloffices across the world, including in South Africa, the US,India, and several European countries organising screeningsof the webcast for relevant groups. The webcast will also beavailable to view on demand from 9 November.

Video of theevent can be found at: video.webcasts.com/events/felt001/40339/

Source : Foreign Office

Carbon LeagueTable faulted as 800 firms fail to take action

Britishbusinesses have been warned against celebrating the resultsof the government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) leaguetable , after they revealed 40 per cent of firms are failing totake action on climate change.

The inaugural CRC EnergyEfficiency League Table was unveiled today by the Environment Agency, ranking 2,000organisations according to how they manage their energy use.

The government welcomed the figures showingthat 60 per cent of firms are taking action , either by installing smart meters or gaining energymanagement certification from the Carbon Trust or equivalentbody.

But energy management companies expressed concernsthat 40 per cent of CRC organisations failed to take stepsto improve their energy consumption.

A total of 803organisations scored zero points in the Early ActionMetrics, including big brand names such as Xerox, VirginAtlantic, Goldman Sachs, Kraft Foods, ING, Diageo, AstraZenica, and BMW.

Government departments that also scored zero includethe Home Office and HMRC.James Ramsay, head of CRC at CarbonClear, argued that the results show there is still “hugeroom for improvement”.”This is the first time that UKcompanies have been forced to disclose publicly their carbondata, and the results are really quite extraordinary,” hesaid.

“The fact that over 40 per cent – including many bigbrand names – failed to score a single point is a clearindicator that they are not even monitoring their energydata.”

David Symons, director at WSP Environment & Energyconsultancy, warned the lowest ranked organisations arewasting money.

Significantly, he argued that suchcompanies could reduce UK carbon emissions by a total100,000 tonnes, cut £12m off their energy bills, and avoidhaving to buy £1.2m of CRC allowances, simply by installingsmart meters.

“Installing the simplest of automatic meterreaders, and acting on the data these produce, saves firmsaround 10 per cent on their energy bills with little capitalexpense,” he said.

Dave Worthington, director of Camco,also warned that a “large wedge” of organisations had failedto apply measures to cut energy use.

However, he suggestedthat some low-scoring organisations might have been caughtout by confusion late last year about how many credits wouldbe awarded for installing smart meters.

FURTHER READING

• Updated: Manchester United tops CRC league table

• top of the CRC league table – at a glance

Source:Businessgreen

Australian Senate grants final approvalfor carbon tax

Australia has finally passed landmarklegislation that will result in a national carbon tax on thecountry’s most carbon-intensive firms being introduced fromnext year.

The Senate voted by 74 to 72 to pass acontroversial package of 18 new laws, which will result inthe introduction of a carbon tax of A$23 a tonne for 500companies from next July, the development of a nationalemissions trading scheme from 2015, and the roll out of tax breaks and other incentives designed to help businessesandhousehoupload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Juliagillard-CROP.jpg/170px-Juliagillard-CROP.jpgldscope with any increase in energy bills that results from thenew levy.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard hailed the Senatevote as a major victory, after her coalition government defied fierce opposition to steer the package ofmeasures through the upper and lower houses ofparliament.

“Today Australia has a price on carbon as thelaw of our land,” she told reporters. “This comes after aquarter of a century of scientific warnings, 37parliamentary inquiries, and years of bitter debate anddivision.”

The bill raises the prospect of Australiaproviding the world’s third large-scale emissions tradingscheme, following the EU and New Zealand. it could alsoprovide a template for several other countries and regionscurrently moving forward with plans for emission pricingmechanisms, including South Korea, China, California andJapan.

However, despite the victory for the government andgreen campaigners, fears remain that the new carbon levy andpromised emissions trading scheme could prove shortlived.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott, who is currentlyleading Gillard in national polls, has publicly sworn a”blood oath” to repeal the legislation and remove the newcarbon tax should he win the next election in 2013.

Thelack of a political consensus on the future of the schemehas angered many businesses, which have warned that policyuncertainty will make it very difficult to make future investments.

However, Abbott has secured the support of anumber of carbon intensive energy and mining firms whichhave consistently argued that the carbon tax will drive upcosts and result in job losses and diminishedcompetitiveness.

In contrast, the government hasconsistently maintained that the tax will spur investment inclean technology, saving at least 160 million tonnes inannual carbon emissions by 2020, while the package of taxbreaks and other incentives will minimise the impact onhouseholds and businesses.

It has argued that the taxbreaks will be offered to nine out of 10 households, leavingthe majority of households better off even if energy pricesrise as a result of the tax.

Green businesses and NGOswere quick to hail the passage of the bill as an historicbreakthrough for the country’s emerging low carboneconomy.

“We are finally penalising pollution andrewarding clean energy,” said John Grimes, chief executiveof the Australian Solar Energy Society. “This will deliversubstantial investment in solar power and position Australiaas a solar nation.”

His comments were echoed by NathanFabian of the Investor Group on Climate Change who predictedthat the passage of the bills will “provide a platform forfuture investment in renewable energy and low-carbontechnologies”.

“It is in the interests of investors thatit remain in place to maintain a certain regulatoryenvironment,” he added.

Source: Businessgreen

Japanmay bankroll UK Reactors

Japan could bankroll Britain’splans to build a new generation of reactors. Thestate-controlled export credit agency JBIC has promised tounderwrite a €5 billion (£4.3 billion) capital-raising byToshiba, which owns the reactor company Westinghouse.

catastrophemonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/nuclear-power-plant1.jpg

Toshibaand Areva are competing to provide a reactor design toHorizon, the joint venture between Germany’s E.ON and RWEthat will build up to half a dozen new atomic plants in theUK. if its bid is successful, Toshiba will inject money intoHorizon, which is seeking new investors.

E.ON and RWEhave been hit by the German Government’s decision to closethe country’s reactors early after the Fuskushima nuclearmeltdown. Toshiba, which bought Westinghouse from theBritish government for $5.4 billion (£3.4 billion) fiveyears ago, is understood to be the favourite.

To readmore you will have to go to the Times site which is subscriber only : timesplus.co.uk/tto/news/?login=false&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthetimes.co.uk%2Ftto%2Fnews%2Fuk%2F

Source : The Times

Clean energy funds thearts

Description: Description: Description: Artisticenergy: a vast solar park supports an arts centre (left,front) in Wales. Image by Glen Peters.Artistic energy: avast solar park supports an arts centre in Wales. Image byGlen Peters.

In what is claimed as a “globalfirst”, a novel solar array is funding one of the largestarts centres in Wales – by feeding clean electricity intothe local area.

At a time of plummeting arts fundingglobally, Menter Rhosygilwen near Cardigan – which isdedicated to making the arts “an engine of ruralregeneration” – has built a 1.2-hectare (3-acre) solarpark next to its world-renowned concert hall.

The solarpark cost five million pounds and has unobtrusively sited,low-cost, thin film photovoltaic (PV) panels. this willensure the long-term survival of its international artscentre by generating two megawatt (MW) of electricity topower 600 homes, creating a carbon-neutral region inPembrokeshire and Ceredigion – in Wales, part of the UnitedKingdom.

The high efficiency energy produced isdistributed by Green Energy UK. At the time of itsconstruction it is the largest solar array in the UK and thefirst in Wales, and the project will also create a model forsustainable solar farming in rural areas.

Similar parkscould be discreetly sited on farmland anywhere, supplying anadditional “cash crop”, said Dr Glen Peters, the founderof the centre.

The 10,000 solar panels, produced byMiaSolé in California’s Silicon Valley, have beenspecially designed to let rainwater to fall between thearrays. this inhibits grass growth by only 15 per cent,allowing the land to remain in agricultural use withlivestock happily grazing beneath the panels.

“Itreally is a case of us now being able to sing with a hand onour hearts ‘you are my sunshine’ or ‘Sheep may safelygraze’,” said Dr Peters who recently created the WesternSolar Power company that built the solar park. “Thiscompany represents not only a new approach for funding thearts in rural communities but the start of an excitinggrowth industry worldwide that can partner the arts inenvironmental projects,” he added.

Western Solar aimsto pass on the technical know-how gained at Rhosygilwen toothers interested in installing PV systems of their own.over the operational life of the facility, the company willencourage sharing experiences on performance, optimisationand the suitability of large-scale PV projects dealing withweather conditions such as those in west Wales and otherparts of the UK.

The park is already paying artisticdividends. MiaSolé sponsored Rhosygilwen’s recent annualArtAt festival, with art from recycled resources as one ofits themes. Swansea-based Pure Wafer, technical adviser toWestern Solar, also sponsored this summer’s opera Carmen.

The west Wales centre’s advanced copper indium galliumselenide (CIGS) thin-film PV panels are the first of theirtype to be installed in the UK. The solar park represents anew model for funding arts in rural communities,accomplished without government funding, reflecting UK PrimeMinister David Cameron’s concept of the “big society”whereby communities find new ways to fund social andcultural endeavours by their own initiatives.

But thepark also represents a new model for sustaining farming inrural communities. Similar parks tucked discreetly into acouple of hectares of farmland could provide an additionalincome stream to farmers as well as supplying energy withoutimpacting on the environment, said Dr Peters.

Farmerswould be “harvesting energy” as well as traditionalcrops. Industry research expects the market for solar panelsthat use thin-film technology instead of traditionalsilicon-based materials to more than double by 2013.Thin-film now represents 20 per cent of the market.

DrPeters has been a management consultant for 30 years with aninternational firm of accountants, is a Fellow of the RoyalSociety of Arts, and holds a doctorate in the managerialsciences. Link

Source avid Welsh , London Press Service

Small local power station in Yorkshire goespublic.

Community co-operative Whitby Esk Energy has launched a share issue to raise £320,000, in order toinstall a community owned 50kw hydroelectric turbine, usinga fish-friendly Archimedes screw, on the River Esk nearWhitby.

The share issue is an example of communityinvestment, where communities are engaged to invest inthemselves, harnessing the collective investment powers ofwhole communities, to raise large amounts of capital insmall sums.

Community Shares ,a Government-funded action learning research project lookingat new ways for social enterprises to attract finance,explains the unifying feature of diverse examples ofcommunity investment across the country:

Community Sharesis funded by the Office of Civil Society and led by theDepartment for Communities and Local Government, anddelivered by the Development Trusts

The co-operative ispromoting the shares as a social investment, not a financialinvestment, describing it as an ideal way to act locally tooffset carbon emissions and help promote renewable energy.Shares are available through to 18th September 2011 for aslittle as £250, up to a maximum of £20,000. The projectintends to pay up to 6% interest from year 3 and shares willbe withdrawable from year 5..

Whitby Esk Energy steeringgroupThe Whitby Esk Energy steering group on site

Furtherinformation is available from the EskEnergy Group

Source : Nick Saltmarsh SD Scene

Special Feature

World headed for irreversible climatechange in five years, IEA warns

If fossil fuelinfrastructure is not rapidly changed, the world will ‘losefor ever’ the chance to avoid dangerous climatechange

Pollution due to carbon emissions due to rise saysIEA : Coal burning power plant, Kentucky, USA

Any fossilfuel infrastructure built in the next five years will causeirreversible climate change, according to the IEA.Photograph: Rex Features

The world is likely to build somany fossil-fuelled power stations, energy -guzzling factories and inefficient buildings in the nextfive years that it will become impossible to hold globalwarming to safe levels, and the last chance of combatingdangerous climate change will be “lost for ever”, according to the most thoroughanalysis yet of world energy infrastructure.

Anything built fromnow on that produces carbon will do so for decades, and this”lock-in” effect will be the single factor most likely toproduce irreversible climate change, the world’s foremostauthority on energy economics has found. if this is notrapidly changed within the next five years, the results arelikely to be disastrous.

“The door is closing,” FatihBirol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency,said. “I am very worried – if we don’t change directionnow on how we use energy, we will end up beyond whatscientists tell us is the minimum [for safety]. The doorwill be closed forever.”

If the world is to stay below 2Cof warming, which scientists regard as the limit of safety,then emissions must be held to no more than 450 parts permillion (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; the levelis currently around 390ppm . but the world’s existing infrastructure is alreadyproducing 80% of that “carbon budget”, according to theIEA’s analysis, published on Wednesday. this gives anever-narrowing gap in which to reform the global economy onto a low-carbon footing.

If current trends continue, andwe go on building high-carbon energy generation, then by2015 at least 90% of the available “carbon budget” will beswallowed up by our energy and industrial infrastructure. By2017, there will be no room for manoeuvre at all – thewhole of the carbon budget will be spoken for, according tothe IEA’s calculations.

Birol’s warning comes at a crucialmoment in international negotiations on climate change, asgovernments gear up for the next fortnight of talks inDurban , South Africa, from late November. “If we do not have aninternational agreement, whose effect is put in place by2017, then the door to [holding temperatures to 2C ofwarming] will be closed forever,” said Birol.

But worldgovernments are preparing to postpone a speedy conclusion tothe negotiations again. Originally, the aim was to agree asuccessor to the 1997 Kyoto protocol, the only bindinginternational agreement on emissions, after its currentprovisions expire in 2012. but after years of setbacks, anincreasing number of countries – including the UK, Japanand Russia – now favour postponing the talks for severalyears.

Both Russia and Japan have spoken in recent weeksof aiming for an agreement in 2018 or 2020, and the UK hassupported this move. Greg Barker, the UK’s climate changeminister, told a meeting : “We need China, the US especially, the rest of the Basiccountries [Brazil, South Africa, India and China] to agree.if we can get this by 2015 we could have an agreement readyto click in by 2020.” Birol said this would clearly be toolate. “I think it’s very important to have a sense ofurgency – our analysis shows [what happens] if you do notchange investment patterns, which can only happen as aresult of an international agreement.”

Nor is this aproblem of the developing world, as some commentators havesought to frame it. in the UK, Europe and the US, there aremultiple plans for new fossil-fuelled power stations thatwould contribute significantly to global emissions over thecoming decades.

The Guardian revealed in may an IEAanalysis that found emissions had risen by a record amount in 2010,despite the worst recession for 80 years. Last year, arecord 30.6 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide poured intothe atmosphere from burning fossil fuels , a rise of 1.6Gt on the previous year. At the time, Biroltold the Guardian that constraining global warming tomoderate levels would be “only a nice utopia” unless drasticaction was taken.

The new research adds to that finding,by showing in detail how current choices on building newenergy and industrial infrastructure are likely to committhe world to much higher emissions for the next few decades,blowing apart hopes of containing the problem to manageablelevels. The IEA’s data is regarded as the gold standard inemissions and energy, and is widely regarded as one of themost conservative in outlook – making the warning all themore stark. The central problem is that most industrialinfrastructure currently in existence – the fossil-fuelledpower stations, the emissions-spewing factories, theinefficient transport and buildings – is alreadycontributing to the high level of emissions, and will do sofor decades. Carbon dioxide, once released, stays in theatmosphere and continues to have a warming effect for abouta century , and industrial infrastructure is built to have a usefullife of several decades.

Yet, despite intensifyingwarnings from scientists over the past two decades, the newinfrastructure even now being built is constructed along thesame lines as the old, which means that there is a “lock-in”effect – high-carbon infrastructure built today or in thenext five years will contribute as much to the stock ofemissions in the atmosphere as previous generations.

The”lock-in” effect is the single most important factorincreasing the danger of runaway climate change, accordingto the IEA in its annual World Energy Outlook, published onWednesday.

Climate scientists estimate that global warmingof 2C above pre-industrial levels marks the limit of safety, beyond which climate change becomes catastrophic andirreversible. though such estimates are necessarilyimprecise, warming of as little as 1.5C could causedangerous rises in sea levels and a higher risk of extremeweather – the limit of 2C is now inscribed ininternational accords, including the partial agreementsigned at Copenhagen in 2009 , by which the biggest developed and developing countriesfor the first time agreed to curb their greenhouse gasoutput.

Another factor likely to increase emissions is thedecision by some governments to abandon nuclear energy,following the Fukushima disaster. “The shift away fromnuclear worsens the situation,” said Birol. if countriesturn away from nuclear energy, the result could be anincrease in emissions equivalent to the current emissions ofGermany and France combined. Much more investment inrenewable energy will be required to make up the gap, buthow that would come about is unclear at present.

Birolalso warned that China – the world’s biggest emitter –would have to take on a much greater role in combatingclimate change. for years, Chinese officials have arguedthat the country’s emissions per capita were much lower thanthose of developed countries, it was not required to takesuch stringent action on emissions. but the IEA’s analysisfound that within about four years, China’s per capitaemissions were likely to exceed those of the EU.

Inaddition, by 2035 at the latest, China’s cumulativeemissions since 1900 are likely to exceed those of the EU,which will further weaken Beijing’s argument that developedcountries should take on more of the burden of emissionsreduction as they carry more of the responsibility for pastemissions.

One close observer of the climate talks saidthe $400bn subsidies devoted to fossil fuels, uncovered bythe IEA, were “staggering”, and the way in which thesesubsidies distort the market presented a massive problem inencouraging the move to renewables. he added that Birol’scomments, though urgent and timely, were unlikely togalvanise China and the US – the world’s two biggestemittters – into action on the international stage.

“TheUS can’t move (owing to Republican opposition) and there’sno upside for China domestically in doing so. At least Chinais moving up the learning curve with its deployment ofrenewables, but it’s doing so in parallel to the hugelydamaging coal-fired assets that it is unlikely to ever want(to turn off in order to) to meet climate targets in yearsto come.”

Energy demandEnergy demand Source: IEA

ENDS

Solar Advisory Group

on November 17th, 2011%

aleo’s modules will power the 1MW system in Vittorio Veneto.

AS1 ETR 16.90 0.00 (0.00%) 5:36PM CET

aleo solar has helped finance and equip a new 1MW PV system in Vittorio Veneto, Italy. The Germany-based module manufacturer joined forces with Ailita Engineering and Italian bank BIIS on the project, which was connected to the grid in May.

In its first year of operation the aleo-powered array is expected to generate more than 1.2 million kWh of electricity. Building work on the project took less than two months and was carried out by Ailita.

“Together with the installer and aleo partner Ailita Engineering S.r.l. as well as the Bank BIIS (Banca Infrastrutture Innovazione e Sviluppo) we founded a special purpose vehicle in order to offer both a technical and a financial solution,” said Giovanni Buogo, aleo’s European sales manager.

“For us as a public institution, secure financing and a cooperation with reliable partners were in the forefront of the tendering process and the project,” Vittorio Veneto’s Mayor, Gianantonio Da re added. “aleo solar and its partners provided quality both in terms of products, as well as service in the different phases of the project.”

The Vittorio Veneto development is further evidence of the successful expansion aleo’s downstream business outside of Germany, highlighted in last week’s Q3 financial results. Growth in Italy and several European countries inspired a 54% rise in international revenue, from €118.6 million in the first three quarters of 2010 to €183.5 million for the same period in 2011. Total revenue for the opening three months of the year came in at €344.6 million, a 16.4% decrease on 2010’s corresponding figure.

on November 17th, 2011%

Has Cameron Given Up ‘Greenest Government’ Pledge? By Adrian Ramsay

As Christmas presents go, the coalition government’s plan to slash feed-in tariffs and jeopardise the future of the solar industry is a pretty miserable one to say the least. It’s all very well hugging a husky in promotional photos, but we need action from this government if it is to deliver on even its own targets for greenhouse gas reductions – and yet the government’s actions seem to be taking us in the wrong direction.

So why the fuss? Solar panels or photovoltaic panels use the energy emitted in solar rays and convert it to electricity. this way of sourcing energy is not only environmentally friendly but also a secure way of meeting our energy needs and keeping prices down in the future.

The UK is a long way behind other European countries in terms of the proportion of our energy that is produced from clean, renewable sources – even though we are blessed with huge potential from wind, wave and solar power.

Since the solar feed-in tariffs (FIT) were introduced in April 2010 we have started to catch up. Organisations and individuals have seen that they will be able to get a financial return on the investment they put into solar installations and this has given the UK solar industry the kick-start it needs. There have been some 100,000 solar installations, the creation of more than 25,000 jobs and almost 4,000 new businesses.

But the government plans to cut FIT payments from 43p per Kwh to just 21p – a move which will dramatically undermine the progress we have been making. and furthermore the date when the new rate is brought in has been moved from 6 April 2012 to 12 December 2011 – earlier than the deadline for its own consultation on the issue!

Not only does this further undermine the credibility of government consultations but it is putting many solar businesses at risk whilst forcing other organisations and households that have been planning solar installations to think again. Thousands of solar panels will be delivered to businesses gone bust. Thanks to the lack of notice of the change, residents who have bought into the scheme but not yet had their panels installed are now being hung out to dry by the government. Many customers have cancelled orders concerned that they wouldn’t be able to meet 12 December deadline.

At a time when the UK is being held to ransom by the big energy companies and dwindling fossil fuel reserves thrusting 5 million into fuel poverty, I am unable to understand the logic of the government’s decision. the solar industry was expecting a review of the FIT rate, but not one that cut it by halve and not one that came in four months earlier than planned.

As a country we urgently need to be investing in measures that will create a secure energy supply for the future and tackle fuel poverty. this means a nationwide programme to insulate people’s homes and investment in clean, renewable energy. this is a far more efficient use of taxpayers’ money than the huge government subsidies needed for new nuclear power stations. but sadly this government is taking us in the wrong direction and seems to have completely given up on its pledge to be the ‘greenest government ever’.

As always it is those on the lowest incomes who will suffer the most. this cut will jeopardise free solar schemes for people unable to afford the upfront costs of solar panels and is forcing councils to review schemes to install solar panels for council tenants and on other council buildings – schemes which, under the current FIT rate, were enabling local councils to generate a profit that can be invested in services that are under threat from government cuts.

By investing in renewable technologies, not only does the government help combat climate change and create jobs but it gives councils a further incentive to help the fuel poor and increase local authority revenue. it seems perverse that the solar industry should be so dramatically punished for doing well at a time when financial institutions are being rewarded for failure. this topsy turvy mentality appears to be the hallmark of this government

huffingtonpost.co.uk/adrian-ramsay/david-cameron-greenest-government_b_1084832.html?ref=uk-politics

Home Solar Energy Panels – Something To Consider

on November 16th, 2011%

Saving a huge amount of of dollars each year may be carried out by the era of free of charge, renewable energy. the poor economic environment indicates we all require strategies to decrease expenses the way House Solar panels do. Thermal energy involves us every day free of charge of charge and the sun may possibly be the only approach to get it. the ever-increasing bite power costs remove of our earnings could possibly be replaced with converted thermal energy. the solar panel sizes are tailored to fit your energy consumption needs. the consumption of electrical power from home appliances and grow to be supplied by trapped too as converted solar energy.

Numerous solar panel products may be used to accomplish this procedure. these sun panels are made up of semi-conductors working in concert with solar cells. a large location of p-n junction in diode is carried out. the solar cells, when coming in contact with sunlight or solar energy, create electrical power. Equipment for example geysers, blenders, heaters, etc. could possibly be run by the energy produced. a revolutionary reduction inside the electric bill each month will be the result.

Economical DIY kits may be found and will involve the considerably smaller investment than the high-priced large Solar Panels. 1 great solar panel guide is Earth4energy. You’ll be able to read much more about it at Earth 4 Energy Reviews or Green DIY Energy.I also reviewed this informative guide and you may get the particulars from Green DIY Energy Reviews. a diy guy capable of putting together the package on their own also considerably reduces the investment. Panel restore is facilitated need to you keep a couple of simple resources at hand. Packages typically supply all the items needed for installation. Do-it-yourself kits have all from the little items for instance screws, poles, mounting bolts, solder, solder gun, meters, plyboard too as a total instruction manual. the guides are user friendly and straightforward to comprehend.

Installing House Solar Power Panels can decrease home electric expenses by 90%. You’ll be able to drop totally off the electric grid by setting up several DIY solar power panels. Inside a week of installation the extraordinary savings are apparent. it is actually an outstanding approach to have a positive impact on the ecosystem. a great deal of enjoyment may be produced by solar panel repair. Your enjoyment doing the function is amongst several benefits you obtain. Reduction of climatic change is an problem to which we can all contribute and this is 1 superb approach to do so. In case solar panel systems are not for you, I advise you have a take a look at magnetic energy generator.

Totally free Photo voltaic Panel Businesses And What Do They Provide

on November 16th, 2011%

If you are seeking for a company that provides free photo voltaic panels in the Uk then this post is heading to provide you with the information you need to know. What free of charge photo voltaic panel businesses are there and are they truly cost-free.

You will want to know about which organizations are presently presenting to offer and set up photovoltaic panels at no expense to you. Why they are offering them for free and if there are any catches. And finally must you get these installed on your possess house.

At the time of composing there are presently a few specialist accredited installers in the United kingdom offering to provide and set up photovoltaic solar panels on your home. these are the sorts of panel that produce electrical power rather than very hot drinking water. the firms are A Shade Greener, ISIS Photo voltaic and HomeSun. They are all United kingdom dependent businesses that belong to the MCS scheme which implies they are licensed to install solar panels that qualify for the feed in tariff scheme.

You may uncover it odd that non-public corporations can pay for to give absent these panels and also match them on your residence at no value. the cause they are undertaking this is that they get paid by means of the feed in tariff scheme set up by the federal government which implies that they far more than recoup their charges. In return you get all the green electricity your photo voltaic panels can produce.

You do however require to meet a handful of criteria on buy to qualify. They will only install the panels on your roof if they can be sure that the panels will produce enough electricity to make it worthwhile. This implies that you require a south facing roof that is not overshadowed. if you are unsure you can get in touch with them right to discover out.

If you do qualify must you get these panels set up on your house? It does suggest you are dedicated to the panels remaining on your roof for twenty five years. For most people this will not be a difficulty and if you market your home the new operator will benefit from the cost-free electric power, also a wonderful offering position as photo voltaic panels on properties market more rapidly and boost the house worth.

So there you have it, you can take gain of this offer you offering that you meet the standards. It will in no way value you anything as the organization that installs them takes care of the routine maintenance. you might nonetheless want to take into account spending for the panels your self and using benefit of the generous tariff scheme which means you will earn again your original investment and get all the electrical energy that they make.

Solar Panels Companies

Solar Power The Best Alternative Energy Source

on November 15th, 2011%

Decades For now, many countries are adopting alternative and renewable energies. most common are, the wind power, hydropower, biomass and solar energy. but people Might ask the which of these is practical and ideal for residential usage. Let us narrow down Things First: Wind power gets its energy from the wind through wind turbines. Hydropower derived its energy from moving water. Biomass is derived from living organisms Such as wood, wastes, forest residues, etc. Solar energy gets its energy from the sun through solar panels. Solar power energy is ideal for residential use. Setting up solar panels for your home do not require large space fields, it can be mounted on your rooftop or on the walls. it saves a lot of space and there are a lot of DIY solar panel kits available to install your own. Solar power is practical in the sense That sunlight is always there and always touches your very own roof or house. Comparing to other alternative energy, wind power requires large turbines so it requires a big space, and the turbines can also bring hazards to bird. Hydropower needs a moving body of water, in most cases, residential areas are not situated near the ocean or stream so hydropower is not really typical. Biomass can still be achieved in your home but it can be messy as you need a lot I mean lots and lots of living organisms for this to work, so may need to have numbers of trees or you could use the waste for the process. I’d say solar power is the best alternative energy Because Wherever you are, the sun always shines, if not directly Towards you, you could Be very sure That within your reach, there are sun’s rays. Today, finding cheap solar panels could be an easy task as there are more and more companies making these to help conserving the environment.

2 Reasons Why Credible Solar Panel Installers For Homes Are Important

on November 15th, 2011%

The rising energy prices in the country is causing many UK homeowners to have solar panels installed in their homes. Apart from the need, they are also realising the significant financial benefits they can receive from utilising solar energy for their homes. Whether you are considering to have solar thermal or PV solar products for your home, you need to have them installed by a credible, professional, and certified the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

With only a few minutes of searching, the Internet can help you find many companies certified by the MCS. Once you go online, you will be able to find websites offering services that connects you to a large database of certified solar panel installers and providers. moreover, these websites ask you to fill up an easy form to receive three quotes from MCS certified installers.

So why do you need to hire credible companies? Here are two reasons why you must look for credible solar product companies.

They provide safe installations for your home.

Solar panel installations are relatively easy to do. They do not require more than 5 days to be installed. Also, there are many Do-It-Yourself solar product instruction guides to follow. These can teach you how to produce your own solar panels and the proper way to connect them to your home power supply. These are cheaper yet require physical labour on your part.

Despite that, solar panel installations need to be done by experienced professionals to ensure the correct fitting, efficiency of the panels, and safety of the homeowners. They also make sure that the materials used are following the specifications according to the MCS standards. Investing on solar products has a guaranteed return on investment thanks to the Feed in Tariff scheme.

They are needed for your solar panels to qualify for the Feed in Tariff incentive.

Once you have your solar products installed, you can now use it for your domestic use. Apart from generating free electricity, the government promises users of solar energy a beneficial incentive scheme. the Feed in Tariff is an attractive offer many UK residents can profit from. And for residents to receive these benefits, their solar equipment must be installed by accredited installers using MCS approved materials.

Your solar panels need to be certified by the MSC to receive the cash back incentives. These installers will also give you advice on how you can apply smoothly for the Feed in Tariff. the MCS gives certification to homeowners using microgeneration technologies that produce electricity and renewable heat.