May 17, 2013 (Source: Clean Technica) -- Commercial production of solar windows, using the patented SolarWindow spray-on solar power coating system, may be just around the corner. A recent announcement from US building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) developer New Energy Technologies Ltd. (which we’ve been following for years) has us feeling that the time may soon come. As per New Energy Technologies’ recent announcement, the big news is that the fabrication time of the technology has been greatly reduced. The fabrication process, which involves methodically spraying layers of extremely small solar cells onto glass, has been reduced from a couple of days to…
May 17, 2013 (Source: BBC) -- Solar panels have been fitted to more homes in a part of Devon than anywhere else in England, Scotland and Wales, according to official statistics. About 8% of homes in Mid Devon have panels compared with about 1.4% in England. The figures showed 362,000 homes have installed solar panels in England, Scotland and Wales since April 2010. Five of the top 10 areas for solar panels are in the South West, said the government. Renewable energy organisation Regen South West said relatively high sunshine levels in the South West explained the figures. PV INSTALLATIONS PER…
May 16, 2013 (Source: Financial Post) -- Solar panels were cheaper than wind turbines for the first time last year in certain markets, per unit of capacity, and are rapidly closing a remaining gap in the full cost of power generation. Until now, wind power has been the leading low-carbon alternative to oil, coal and gas, outside large niche markets such as Germany, which has seen a huge ramp-up in installed solar. But that could change, with deep implications for the health of both industries if one substitutes the other. As soon as this year, solar could for the first…
May 17, 2013 (Source: Forbes) -- Well, they did it. Just a few months after reporting exceptionally strong growth in the solar sector, Athens announced that they would implement retroactive cuts to state subsidies. Like a number of European states, Greece had implemented a number of funding mechanisms over the last decade aimed at spurring solar growth. However, as the region’s economic reality took hold and massive cuts to government spending became a part of just about everyone along the Mediterranean corridor’s recovery plan, these plans became quick and easy targets. Like Spain, Greece’s cuts were aimed at reducing the country’s energy…
May 17, 2013 (Source: Solar Panels uk) -- The number of solar panel farms continues to grow here in the UK as we strive to achieve the country’s carbon emission reduction targets. Permission has been sought by Roger Reed, who is a developer, for the installation of 960 solar panels to be situated on agricultural land by Long Sutton that is a village near Langport in Somerset. A decision is awaited from South Somerset District Council for the proposed solar panel farm off Langport Road. The site will cover an area of 3,199 square metres and is situated just north of farm…
May 17, 2013 (Source: domestic fuel) -- The Boston/Dedham Commerce Park is the new home of the largest rooftop solar array in the City of Boston. The 974 kilowatt capacity solar project was completed by FireFlower Alternative Energy in partnership with First Highland Management & Development and spans 12,000 square feet. The solar system to produce enough electricity to “fuel” approximately 65 percent of the building’s energy needs. “This is an important milestone for the City of Boston,” said FireFlower founder Kathleen C. Doyle. “Large scale solar installations such as this benefit the environment by providing clean, renewable power at no additional…
May 13, 2013 (Source: Businessweek) -- When we discussed our home solar panel project in mid-2011 with friends, one of the first questions everyone asked was, “What’s the payback period before you break even?” The second question, unsurprisingly, was, “How much is it costing you?” but the focus always ended up on the payback. After all, if you’re going to invest in green technology, you’re hoping that at some point in the near future, you get ahead of the game. It turns out that something we didn’t plan for—our Chevrolet Volt—is actually helping us boost the return on investment and…
May 10, 2013 (Source: Solar Industry) -- Hyundai Motor Co. will install a 10 MW rooftop solar photovoltaic project at its manufacturing facility in Asan, South Korea. Hyundai's Asan factory will host the solar array, while Korea Electric Power Corp. will purchase the electricity produced by the solar modules and sell it to areas near the plant, including Asan. Working with Korea Midland Power Co. Ltd., a thermal power company, Hyundai plans to install about 40,000 solar photovoltaic modules on the rooftops of the Asan facility’s press, welding, assembly and engine buildings by year-end.
May 10, 2013 (Source: Vancouver Sun) -- The Green Party of BC joined forces Thursday with the province's renewable energy sector to offer an alternative to an economy driven by fossil fuels, such as the massive export of liquefied natural gas. Party leader Jane Sterk told a Vancouver news conference that she wants to remove the "impoverished thinking" that places renewable energy behind resource extraction in B.C. The province should be a "green-tech power house," she said, noting the Green party would address regulatory issues to assist renewable energy projects, including making BC Hydro focus on renewable energy. Andrew Weaver,…
May 10, 2013 (Source: China Daily) -- Chinese photovoltaic panel manufacturers face import tariffs of up to 67.9 percent in Europe China is firmly opposed to any punitive duties set by the European Union targeting Chinese solar companies, and the government will defend the rights of domestic companies, a senior Chinese official said on Thursday. "China expects the EU to be cautious in taking any sort of measures," said Yao Jian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, during a news conference. "We don't want to see a trade war." As major trade partners, China and the EU should resort…
May 9, 2013 (Source: CTV) -- A Massachusetts-based aerospace company says it is developing a user-friendly, affordable flying car that will allow "the rest of us" to leave the asphalt and go airborne whenever the mood -- or rush-hour traffic -- strikes. Terrafugia has made similar announcements in the past. The prototype of its Transition plane, unveiled to much fanfare at the New York International Auto Show last year, was touted as being able to fly like a plane, land at an airport, then drive home like a car. It's still in development and slated for release sometime in 2015 with a US$279,000…
May 9, 2013 (Source: Press Citizen) -- MidAmerican Energy Co.’s $1.9 billion investment in wind energy in Iowa will help hold down customers’ electric bills, make the state more attractive to companies looking for greener energy, and create good jobs, state and utility leaders said Wednesday. The MidAmerican Energy project becomes the biggest single economic investment ever in the state, said Gov. Terry Branstad. “We’ve made that announcement a few times lately,” he said. Over the past year, the companies taking the lead have switched off: First, Orascom Construction Industries said it would build a $1.4 billion fertilizer plant in…
May 9, 2013 (Source: Discovery News) -- The sun produces an enormous amount of energy. More than 1,000 watts of per square yard hits Earth’s surface every day. Even a tiny amount of that power could meet the energy needs of the entire planet. But solar panels only capture a small percent of that energy. In fact, most commercial solar panels convert just 20 percent of sunlight into electricity. That’s because solar cells are sensitive only to a small portion of the sun’s whole spectrum of light. Harry Atwater, a physicist at the California Institute of Technology, and his team…
May 9, 2013 (Source: Xinhua) -- EU commissioners backed a proposal to levy punitive duties on Chinese solar panel manufacturers on Wednesday, with many believing that the move will protect Europe's economic interests. But the results could prove otherwise. Anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese solar panels that will come into effect after the European Commission publishes the decision in its Official Journal, will range from 37 to 68 percent, according to media reports. The EU's tariff proposal came after the 27-member bloc accused Chinese solar companies of selling panels below cost in Europe in an effort to gain market…
May 8, 2013 (Source: Telegraph) -- The European Commission has proposed a tough 47pc “anti-dumping” tariff to penalise the imports, it emerged on Wednesday. The move would benefit European manufacturers, who allege their Chinese rivals - whose panels are as much as 45pc cheaper - are unfairly subsidised by Beijing. Chinese solar panel production quadrupled between 2009 and 2011, exceeding global demand, and EU manufacturers say China has now captured 80pc of the European market. However, action against the Chinese imports is fiercely opposed by European solar panel installation companies which have thrived on the cheap supply and claim that…
May 8, 2013 (Source: WSJ) -- In September, Stephen Yu Zhang compared the solar manufacturers he covers to contestants in "The Hunger Games." Some of the world's solar-panel makers needed to die off, in his view, like contestants in the popular book and movie. His thesis was that demand for solar panels wasn't an issue. The problem was supply. "There is just so much supply in China," he says. To figure out who will survive requires a sophisticated examination of debt payments, not technology advantages or even cost. "You have to pay attention to loans," says the 40-year-old. "You can…
May 7, 2013 (Source: BBC) -- Samsung Heavy Industries has secured £6m from Scottish Enterprise to help it develop an offshore wind turbine test centre in Fife. The news came as Scottish ministers granted consent for a prototype wind turbine with a capacity of up to 7MW at the Fife Energy Park in Methil. Samsung has said it wants to invest £100m in developing and manufacturing turbines at the park. It hopes to boost the reliability and efficiency of offshore turbines. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing granted Samsung consent for a single, three-bladed demonstration wind turbine. It will be up to…
May 7, 2013 (Excerpt Source: WSJ) -- The usually tranquil world of European renewable energy just got exciting, as a plucky band of rebels led by EU ProSun and SolarWorld launched a last-ditch assault on the Chinese clean energy Death Star that has zapped 80% of their market. At least, that’s the narrative the European Union would like to spread as it prepares to to slap tariffs of around 46% on imported Chinese solar panels, as The Wall Street Journal’s Matt Dalton reports. The EU says imports of solar cells and silicon wafers from China have damaged Europe’s own solar industry because they are unfairly priced…
May 7, 2013 (Source: BBC) -- The 200 panels are being installed on the roof of the stadium this week Northampton Saints has become one of the first major sports clubs in the UK to install solar panels to help power the ground. The 200 panels are being put on the Burrda Sport Stand's roof at Franklin's Gardens. Chief executive Allan Robson said as electricity prices were rising it "made sense" to look at alternative sources of energy. Friends of the Earth said it hoped other sports clubs would follow suit. Northampton Saints said the solar panels would contribute towards…
May 3, 2013 (Source: Businessweek) -- Geodynamics Ltd., (GDY) an explorer seeking to produce power from hot underground rocks, is starting a search for new partners to develop its project in central Australia after Origin Energy Ltd. (ORG) decided to pull out. “We’re interested in bringing in other partners,” Geoff Ward, chief executive officer of Brisbane-based Geodynamics, said by phone yesterday, declining to elaborate. “It’s something that’s commencing and one of my key focus areas.” Geodynamics, trying to become the first company in Australia to start a commercial geothermal plant, expects to start with a 5-megawatt to 10-megawatt project in…
May 3, 2013 (Source: Businessweek) -- Nuclear-power production in the U.S. West climbed to the highest level in three months as Great Plains (GXP) Energy Inc. increased power at the 1,166-megawatt Wolf Creek reactor in Kansas. U.S. generation gained 2.3 percent to 82,420 megawatts, or 81 percent of capacity, according to Nuclear Regulatory Commission data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s the sixth consecutive advance, the longest string since Dec. 7. Output was 3.1 percent more than a year ago with 19 of 104 nuclear reactors offline. Great Plains’ Wolf Creek 1, about 55 miles (88 kilometers) south of Topeka, Kansas, was…
May 3, 2013 (Source: Electric Lights & Power) -- Siemens won an order for a wind power plant with a combined capacity of 144 MW from Sweden. The customer of the project Sidensjö is Nordisk Vindkraft, Göteborg. Nordisk Vindkraft will realize this project on behalf of Stadtwerke München. Siemens will supply 48 direct drive wind turbines with an output of 3 MW each and a rotor diameter of 113 meters. The scope of supply also encompasses servicing of the wind turbines for a period of 15 years. After commissioning, which is scheduled for spring 2015, Sidensjö will supply power sufficient…
May 2, 2013 (Source: Ballpark Digest) -- With the installation of 3,465 solar panels, TD Bank Ballpark, the home of the Somerset Patriots (independent; Atlantic League), is now one of the greenest ballparks in all of baseball. The installation was overseen by Somerset County Improvement Authority. “The initiative of Somerset County and the Board of Chosen Freeholder to reduce the carbon footprint has shown their continued respect and commitment to all those that live and work in Somerset County," said Steve Kalafer, Chairman of the Somerset Patriots. "We’d like to thank the Freeholders, led by Director Peter Palmer and Deputy…
May 2, 2013 (Source: WSJ) -- Turkey's energy minister said Thursday that a Japanese-French consortium will build Turkey's second nuclear-power plant, marking a victory for Tokyo in the long-running competition for the project worth ¥2 trillion ($20.54 billion). The precise structure of the deal, which will be led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. 7011.TO -0.46%and French company Areva SA, AREVA.FR +2.61%remains unclear, but more details are likely to become public after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sign to confirm the agreement on Friday in Ankara. The nuclear-power plant, in the northern city of…
May 1, 2013 (Source: BBC News) -- A next-generation material first earmarked for use in electronics has proven itself a capable clean-up agent for polluted waters. Boron nitride, or "white graphene", is similar to its namesake: sheets of atoms laid out like a chain-link fence. A report in Nature Communications shows the material can preferentially absorb organic pollutants such as industrial chemicals or engine oil. However, it is easier to clean and re-use than other such "nanomaterials". The family of these materials includes much-touted, carbon-based members such as graphene and nanotubes, and are notable in part for their surface area-to-weight…
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