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on November 29th, 2011% ![]()
State environmental officials, hoping to produce clean power from idle and unwanted land, are urging towns and cities to turn some of nearly 500 former landfills into solar or wind energy farms.
the Department of Environmental Protection has issued permits for 12 such projects since last year, including a solar array in Canton and a wind turbine in Kingston.
Hoping that is only the first wave of proposals, the DEP is working on a guidebook on redeveloping former dumps and touting incentives and smooth permitting.
“My sense is that as these catch on and we create economic models and permitting models to do it, more communities will get involved,” DEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell said recently.
State officials acknowledge not every former landfill is suitable. Towns and cities have to make sure a renewable energy project will not disrupt buried waste or jeopardize soil and synthetic caps that control the spread of waste at many closed landfills. Other sites slope too much or are too far from electrical transmission lines.
However, in the projects the DEP has permitted, officials said they are confident the job can be done safely.
“It’s environmentally friendly,” said Sarah Weinstein, deputy assistant commissioner for the DEP’s Bureau of Waste Protection. “We know all these projects have been properly capped and closed and we know the project is going to work with the cap.”
Solar panels seem to be generating the most interest among city and town leaders, said Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Mass. Municipal Association..
“It’s actually very cost-effective to turn over (landfills) to the production of solar energy and make use of the land that otherwise would lay fallow or be very expensive to redevelop,” Beckwith said.
Massachusetts leaders hope not only to redevelop these sites, but help the state reach its goal of generating 15 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020.
the DEP lists a total of about 860 inactive landfills or dumps in the state, but for renewable energy projects, the agency wants to look at the potential of 496 sites that were mostly closed in the last 40 years.
Municipalities own 348 of the closed landfills the DEP lists as having some potential for renewable energy projects.
Another 132 are in private hands, while the state and federal governments own fewer than 20.
Twenty-five landfills on the list are still active, but are scheduled to close within the next two decades.
“They’re typically cleared, so they don’t have trees blocking the sun, and they’re usually in locations that putting up big arrays of solar panels isn’t going to offend anybody,” Kimmell said. “It’s not a beautiful forest.”
Before installing solar panels or windmills on a closed landfill, towns and cities must conduct engineering studies on everything from whether the project could be done without compromising pollution controls on the sites to preventing additional runoff from the sites.
Developers often finance and build the project themselves and operate it under a lease, cashing in on tax and renewable energy credits and selling energy into the grid.
the municipalities generally buy power from the projects at rates projected to yield savings and ultimately control the facilities when the leases expire.
on November 27th, 2011% ![]()
Residential solar panels are used to run different household appliances and lights. these PV panels are usually made from polycrystalline solar cells. this is because they are able to generate more electricity.
In fact there are many types of PV panels available in the market and installing them on your roof is a journey by itself. here, I’ll briefly describe how you can have solar power generators at home.
Before you make the decision to install residential PV panels, you must take a look at how you currently use electricity. Many homeowners are surprised to find out that some equipment around the house drain more energy than others. By managing these energy vampires, you can usually save about 8 to 10% on utility bills.
As you go around your house, check out your entertainment systems, your pool pumps and your HVAC. this equipment are seldom turned off. Therefore they waste a lot of electricity without giving you additional benefits.
The best way to stop bleeding energy at home is to use a timer. You’ll save a lot of money by the end of the year simply by using such a simple thing.
It is important to know what your electricity is used for. there is no point spending money and effort on an array of solar panels just to waste the energy it supplies. After you are finalized on how much energy you use (on average) every day, you can start to size your solar energy system.
Installing Home Solar Panels
There are many places where you can install PV panels. you can install them on your roof, your car park lot or your backyard. before you decide where to install your PV panels, you have to do a site survey.
A proper site survey helps you identify opportunities and challenges in harvesting solar energy at any location on your property. The standard instrument used for this purpose is a Solar Pathfinder. Looking into a Solar Pathfinder, you can instantly identify the time of the day and seasons of the year when shading becomes a problem to electricity production.
If you don’t know how to do this yourself, a solar professional can help you gather more information about the suitability of your home for solar panels installation within hours. The fees you pay him will be more than covered by the increased efficiency of your solar panels.
When choosing solar mounts, make sure you have at least six inches of air gap between the solar panels and your roof. this will allow air to move freely through that space to take away heat from your PV panels. this is important as temperature affects the efficiency of your system.
Installation work requires a lot of involvement and you may need help. So if you are not experienced in this area, it will be good to get a certified contractor to help you. Residential solar panels that are properly installed can withstand the elements of nature. you contractor can also identify possible damages to your solar panels and can help you avert it with proper precaution.
on November 27th, 2011% ![]()
Solar panel systems are undoubtedly a green method to present your own home with electrical power. with most governments supplying subsidies and tax breaks to owners who opt to set up photo voltaic electricity systems, the price of installing residential solar panel systems is considerably lessened. while solar panel systems can provide a serious proportion of one’s household’s electricity wants, adequately sizing solar panel systems is necessary. within this submit, we offer you by using a straightforward, no nonsense manual to sizing solar panel systems for the property. Solar Panel Systems Help
1. Receive a obvious concept of the household’s vitality needs so that you might have a baseline for your target potential from the solar panel method that you need. Assemble your whole electrical expenses for the very last 12 months and seem them about. In case you really don’t have all of these expenses submitted, it is possible to consult your utility business to offer some duplicate copies from their data. you could possibly also glance them up in your on-line account, when you have a single.
2. On the bit of paper, jot down the amount of kilowatt hrs consumed for every thirty day period. There’ll be peaks and dips from a single month to a different, notably in the course of the summer season and winter months. January 469 February 489 March 374… and so forth right until December 469
3. Compute on your typical once a month kilowatt hours by incorporating up all of the once a month totals then dividing it by twelve.
4. Once you have got figured out your typical month to month consumption in kilowatt hrs, divide this determine by the common hrs of daylight that you just receive in your area every month to derive the kilowatt dimension needed to your solar panel method. Usually, this really is established by utilizing the following guidebook: a. Coastal places one hundred fifty sun hrs within a month b. Mountain parts 155 several hours of sunlight inside a thirty day period c. Sunny parts 160 several hours of sunlight within a month
When your normal regular monthly usage is, for example, 347 kW so you depart it a mountain location: 347 divided by 155 gives you 2.2kW. what this means is that you just need to have to install a solar process that features a potential of two.2 kW.
5. Given that providing one particular kW of electricity needs about ninety solar panels, you would like to determine how many solar panels you would like to put in by multiplying the goal capability to ninety. Therefore, two.two x 90 = 198. This implies that you will want to put in 198 solar panels so as to produce the two.two kW you need for the property.
Certainly, this tutorial assumes that you will be making use of the solar panel process to provide your whole home’s vitality requires. Most house owners just start off off with making only about fifty to 80% of their home electrical power intake.
Before you buy Solar panel systems, make sure you check this sites excellent information on Solar panels Cost.
on November 24th, 2011% ![]()
Protecting thousands of dollars every year may be accomplished from the age group of free of charge, renewable energy. the discouraged economic environment implies young people need strategies to cut down fees exactly how Dwelling Solar panel systems do. Cold weather electricity concerns us every single day free of charge along with the sunshine is alter the get it. the previously-raising chew utility bills remove in our revenue is often substituted with converted winter electricity. the table measurements are personalized to match your electricity intake prerequisites. the consumption of electrical power from home kitchen appliances and grow offered by cornered and converted solar energy.
A number of residential solar panels may be used to accomplish this procedure. These sunshine cells are personal loan online of partially-conductors performing in concert with solar panels. a substantial section of delaware-in junction in diode is made. the solar panels, when reaching sun rays or solar energy, develop electrical power. Tools like geysers, blenders, heating elements, and so on. is often function from the electricity developed. a major decline in the monthly electricity bill may be the result.
Affordable DIY packages are offered and may entail a drastically smaller expenditure versus great-costed huge Solar Power Panels. a cash capable of assembling the set up them selves also considerably cuts down on expenditure. Cell restore is caused for those who continue to keep a few simple equipment in front of you. Kits normally supply all of the merchandise important for setting up. DIY packages have all of the small merchandise like anchoring screws, posts, bolts, solder, solder firearm, feets, plywood as well as a entire teaching silniki zaburtowe the handbooks are consumer-favorable and straightforward to know.
The installation of Dwelling Solar Power Panels is able to reduce home electric powered fees by 90Percent. You are able to decrease 100 % over electric powered power grip by the installation of many Diy solar panel. within seven days of setting up the outstanding personal savings are detectable. This is a great way undertake a constructive influence on the environment. a great deal of satisfaction is often produced from solar power electrical restore. your satisfaction executing the job is truly one of many benefits you get. Lowering of climatic change is a problem this agreement we will all contribute and this is fantastic method of doing so.
on November 23rd, 2011% ![]() * Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.
Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:31am EST
Amsterdam, 22 November 2011 — AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V., (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) announces the granting of U.S. Patent No. 8,048,221 for mono-crystalline growth methods. The patent was granted to AMG IdealCast Solar Corporation, (“AMG IdealCast”) a wholly owned subsidiary of AMG’s Engineering Systems Division, ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH (“ALD”).
AMG IdealCast believes that its intellectual property position is well established with this patent and four additional core patents that are pending. Mono2(TM) licensable technology gives AMG IdealCast’s customers a competitive advantage now and in the future, as wafer manufacturers upgrade to larger size ingots. AMG IdealCast has completed testing with key customers and is refining ingot growth conditions to fit customer-specific cell processes.
Increasing solar cell efficiencies are the primary method for reducing cost per watt in today’s solar market. Mono2(TM) wafers have average cell efficiencies that are 1% (absolute) greater than that of standard multi-crystalline wafers. AMG IdealCast is offering customers this new production technology with its long-term reliability, stability, and dependability. “Despite the near term challenges faced by the solar industry, there is increased interest for higher efficiency ‘quasi-monocrystalline’ product from a cast-in-place furnace. AMG IdealCast can deliver the Mono2(TM) technology in a stable, production-ready, and cost-effective manner,” said Roger Clark, Chief Operating Officer of AMG IdealCast.
Customers can produce Mono2(TM) Gen 5 (450kg) test ingots on full-scale operating equipment using a SCU450 furnace from ALD at AMG IdealCast’s facilities.
About AMGAMG creates and applies innovative metallurgical solutions to the global trend of sustainable development of natural resources and CO2 reduction. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metal products and advanced vacuum furnace systems for the Energy, Aerospace, Infrastructure and Specialty Metals and Chemicals end markets. AMG consists of two operating divisions, Advanced Materials and Engineering Systems, and owns interests in publicly-listed companies Graphit Kropfmühl AG (Deutsche Börse: GKR.DE) and Timminco Limited (TSX: “TIM”).
The Advanced Materials Division develops and produces specialty metals, alloys and high performance materials. AMG is a significant producer of specialty metals, such as ferrovanadium, ferronickel-molybdenum, aluminum master alloys and additives, chromium metal and ferrotitanium, for Energy, Aerospace, Infrastructure and Specialty Metal and Chemicals applications. Other key products include specialty alloys for titanium and superalloys, coating materials, tantalum and niobium oxides, vanadium chemicals and antimony trioxide.
The Engineering Systems Division designs, engineers and produces advanced vacuum furnace systems and operates vacuum heat treatment facilities, primarily for the Aerospace and Energy (including solar and nuclear) industries. Furnace systems produced by AMG include vacuum remelting, solar silicon melting and crystallization, vacuum induction melting, vacuum heat treatment and high pressure gas quenching, turbine blade coating and sintering. AMG also provides vacuum case-hardening heat treatment services on a tolling basis.
Graphit Kropfmühl AG is a majority controlled, publicly listed subsidiary of AMG. Based on its secure raw material sources in Africa, Asia and Europe, Graphit Kropfmühl is a specialist in the production of silicon metal and the extraction, processing and refining of natural crystalline graphite for a wide range of energy saving industrial applications.
Timminco Limited is a publicly listed affiliate of AMG. Timminco produces silicon metal for the chemical, aluminum, electronic and solar industries. Timminco also produces solar grade silicon, using its proprietary technology for purifying silicon metal, for the solar energy industry.
With over 3,000 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Czech Republic, United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Poland, India and Sri Lanka and also has sales and customer service offices in Belgium, Russia and Japan (amg-nv.com).
For further information please contact:AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. +1 610 975 4901Jonathan CostelloVice President of Corporate Communications
DisclaimerCertain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. when used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. by their very nature, forward looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward looking statements will not be achieved. these forward looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward looking statement is based.
AMG announces mono-crystalline solar patent
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients.The owner of this announcement warrants that:(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of theinformation contained therein.Source: AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. via Thomson Reuters ONEHUG#1565875
on November 18th, 2011% ![]()
Princely U.S. government subsidies have made developing wind, solar and other clean energy nearly risk-free to investors — and that’s bad. But the price of this domestically produced power has tumbled, thanks in part to such aid. that helps clean energy compete with the fossil kind, which is definitely good.
So this is not quite the wasteful Washington outrage that foes of such subsidies make it out to be. President Obama’s clean-energy program — funded in his stimulus bill and added to President George W. Bush’s earlier push — mostly makes great sense. It strengthens America’s position in the booming business of renewable energy while creating much-needed jobs. After all, other governments, such as China’s, are pouring money into their new-energy industries.
But gosh, shouldn’t Obama’s people have written this thing to force the players to have, as they say, more of their own skin in the game? of course, they should have. Mistakes were made, and more will surely be found. But let’s hang in here. the outcome should be worth it.
In the sunny states of California, Arizona and Nevada, the cheapest solar power already undercuts conventional electricity at peak-hour rates, according to the Economist magazine. and tech advances will bring the cost down further. Oil imported from hostile countries or extracted locally using filthy processes may become a thing of the past.
Did we hear the word “Solyndra”? Solyndra is the California solar-panel maker that declared bankruptcy after receiving over $500 million in federal loan guarantees. A scandal brews over reports of Solyndra’s alleged political favor-seeking. one concern centers on a high Energy Department official who pushed for the loan while his lawyer-wife represented the company.
House Republicans are investigating the Solyndra deal, as they should. But again, while the public financing process may not have been spotless, the company’s innovative technology was the real deal. Solyndra had developed panels that didn’t use silicon, then an expensive substance. A later glut of solar panels — with China possibly selling them here below cost — ended Solyndra’s price advantage and put it out of business.
China now commands over half the U.S. market for solar panels. American makers have accused it of dumping, and the Commerce Department is investigating the charges.
Meanwhile, Washington’s generosity has greased most every search for new energy — whether help was needed, not needed or not needed as much. and that taxpayer largesse was not always carefully shepherded.
Fossil fuels have received a ton of subsidies. the coal business was handed land. Billions in tax breaks flow to oil companies. and it’s hard to forget the disastrously expensive (to taxpayers) program to make synthetic fuel from coal.
The public subsidizes these energy sources in other ways. How many of our defense dollars have gone to protecting foreign oil supplies? for example, the Persian Gulf War was launched 21 years ago for one reason alone — to liberate Kuwaiti oil fields from Saddam Hussein’s grip. that military action may have turned out well, but it did require sending 500,000 American souls into potential danger.
The big plus for oil from Canadian tar sands is that it comes from a friendly neighbor. But the process for extracting it emits huge amounts of greenhouse gases and uses large amounts of fresh water. and a proposed pipeline to bring that oil to refineries in Texas could put Nebraska’s fragile Sand Hills at risk and threaten the irreplaceable Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies water in eight states.
With perseverance and patience, the glass in our energy future could overflow with nonpolluting power, produced at home. the path getting there may not be politically pristine, but in our perpetual search for energy, it’s been a lot uglier.
on November 18th, 2011% ![]()
Solar panels for the home are being considered a safe and cost-efficient investment. We are fast running out of our natural energy resources. We also are aware that we are causing a lot of damage to the environment and the changing climatic conditions around the world, is a cause of worry and concern for the entire planet. Solar panels or photovoltaic systems for the home are probably the solution to the above dilemma.
Apart from contributing to the environment and the society, you will find that your monthly electricity bill will not be a burden on your pocket any longer. A solar panel can give you the desired results. the sun is the principle source of energy and a photovoltaic system has the ability to absorb solar energy and then converted it into electrical energy for our consumption at home. Even when there is no sunlight the energy stored in the photovoltaic system allows it to generate enough power for your home.
These days you will see many photovoltaic systems on rooftops. It is recommended that you install your solar panels for the home in an area that gets maximum sunlight. this will increase the efficiency of your photovoltaic system. they are easy to assemble, you can make your own panels and satisfy your energy requirement. if you want your solar energy panel to cost less than you should go ahead and make your own photovoltaic system. the one that you will purchase from the market will be costlier. You might have to shell out some money initially but in the long run your cost is recovered. Return on your investment (ROI) would be quite high.
Solar energy panels are made of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. Each panel consists of a group of solar cells that form a panel and then these are arranged in layers. Crystalline silicon panels are generally used for making a solar panel. Crystalline silicon being a good semiconductor absorbs sunlight more efficiently. Arrange these panels in a box. You will need a battery, a DC meter and a DC input. Connect DC meter and DC input to the battery using insulated wire. It is the DC meter that converts the solar energy into electrical energy.
Your investment on solar power panel will not go waste. You will be contributing towards society by keeping a pollution free environment in and around your neighborhood. this will also encourage others around you to install solar panels for the home. Word of mouth publicity is best form of publicity. this is the only way to save the environment. You will also save a lot of money because you are now no more dependent on electricity. We all should work towards saving the environment and making this world a better place to live in, this is the least that we can do for our children and the future generation.
on November 18th, 2011% ![]()
The vast benefits of homemade solar panels are the main reason why they are considered the number one source of residential alternative energy production in most countries at present. The long-standing negative effects of conventional forms of harmful electricity production such as coal and fossil fuel have led to rapid developments in solar technology. Though It was seen as a complex device a few decades ago, it wasn’t late when the market figured out various ways to implement the technology to make life much easier.
Rising electricity costs and the increased demand for solar technology has created a competitive market for solar generators. Many developed nations are now offering government subsidies and tax breaks for residents who install a solar electricity system for their houses. Installing a solar generator could be done in three different ways. they could be contracted out to a company who does everything for you, you could the panels and necessary equipment and simply install the system on your own or you could build your own solar panels from scratch. Out of the three, the benefits of homemade solar panels outweigh the benefits of other methods. Here’s why;
1. same Source of energy: Regardless of how you install them solar PV panels use earth’s most infinitely available source of energy, the sun. Therefore, building an equally efficient panel would work the exact same way.
2. Availability of required parts: The parts needed to build your own solar generator are easily available in the market. The most important component of a solar panel, which are solar cells, could be easily purchased online.
3. Easy to build: Building a solar generator is considered the easiest among primary DIY electricity generators. This is one of the great benefits of solar panels that motivate many to take up the task.
4. Multi-purpose: If you are the type of person who lives literally on the go and who likes exploring, you could take your solar generator in your camping adventures to generate enough electricity to power up basic electrical equipment, provided its compact enough.
5. Cheaper solution: everyone wishes to have a solar electricity generator attached to their house’s electricity supply. Hiring a company or purchasing ready-made panels end up costing a lot more compared to building them by yourself. not only will you enjoy building homemade solar panels, but you gain lots of experience which will make it much easier for the next panel you will build.
These are some of the key benefits of homemade solar panels which has also made it a popular trend among house owners at present for DIY electricity. by building your own solar panels not only do you achieve a vast number of benefits, but you also end up saving a great amount of money compared to opting for other methods of installation and you also increase the value of your property.
on November 17th, 2011% ![]()
“We did not remain unscathed by the price declines caused by the strong surplus supply, mainly from state-subsidized low-price providers,”
Seriously? This CEO cracks me up. SolarWorld has received over $500 Million USD in US Government and State subsidies for their Oregon & California operations. if that’s not state-subsidized I don’t know what is.
Mr. Asbeck, you’re throwing bricks in your own glass house.
Low Cost supplier? pure consumerism at work, the most price competitive win. Wal-Mart anyone?
This industry had a very small TAM (total available market) in the 1970′s, 80′s, 90′s, 00′s and now in the 2010′s.
If you build factories that need to manufacture millions of units to break-even for a market that only demands thousands of products – your firm will go bankrupt and you were a fool to overbuild the production capacity – even if the US Government backed your investment.
As well, if you think you are the only company going after a market, think again. that’s Capitalism: the leanest, strongest and most adaptive survive.
Simply put, you should have done better SWOT & PEST analyses.
on November 17th, 2011% ![]()
There are several different kinds of residential solar power systems that are now available. it has really gotten a lot easier to right size a system to fit your needs and your bank account. the three main different systems are the grid-tie, the utility-interactive, and stand alone systems.
The most affordable option is the grid-tie system. Solar panels generate electricity in DC current so the first thing you need is an inverter to change your DC to AC so that it can be used for your appliances. Basically with this system you have your solar panels connected to an inverter which in turn connects to your existing utility service, there are a couple of safety devices that will also need to be in the circuit though.
With this setup you don’t have any batteries so you are still relying on the power company for a portion of your electricity needs, especially at night. during the peak sunlight hours you can actually generate enough electricity to spin your meter backwards. When you manage to spin your meter backwards then the power company is now buying electricity from you. the fall back is that you don’t have any batteries to enable you to store electricity so even though you are saving money from your electricity bills you are still very reliant on the power company.
The next kind of system will cost you a little more but it provides some extra functionality at the same time. This system is the utility-interactive system and it still connects to the grid in much the same way as the grid-tie system does. Staying connected to the grid means that you will not experience any power problems during peak power demands.
This system uses batteries so that you can actually store power from your system when the system is generating more power than you are using. This means that during a blackout or at night time you can still use the power that is stored in your batteries to continue to supply power to your home. While this system is more expensive than the grid-tie system it does have some definite advantages.
The third kind of system is the stand alone system. it is basically the same as the utility-interactive but does not connect to the power grid at all. This system is primarily used in areas where there is not any utility service available in the first place.
While this system removes you completely from the power grid you will need to make sure that you have enough power generating and storage capability that you will not exceed the abilities of your system. the biggest draw backs of this system are a very high initial cost to ensure that you can produce your power needs and the fact that you won’t have the utility company to fall back on if you need it.
With the variety of residential solar power systems that are available today it is making it easier for us to do our part in reducing fossil fuel consumption. most people can’t afford to just completely remove themselves from the grid because of the high start up cost but we can start using the grid-tie systems to ease the strain that the high fuel costs are causing.
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