Clipmarks | Naomi-K's 'solar energy' clips

Solar Desert Land Grab

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:53:17 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: A very interesting use for otherwise less valuable desert land.

That's putting it mildly. A solar land rush is rolling across the desert Southwest. Goldman Sachs, utilities PG&E and FPL, Silicon Valley startups, Israeli and German solar firms, Chevron, speculators - all are scrambling to lock up hundreds of thousands of acres of long-worthless land now coveted as sites for solar power plants.

It's not just a federal-land grab either. Buyers are also vying for private property. Some are paying upwards of $10,000 an acre for desert dirt that a few years ago would have sold for $500.

No doubt the prospect of potential riches is overheating expectations. But California and surrounding states have mandated massive increases in renewable energy in the next few years. That has led some experts at Emerging Energy Research of Cambridge, Mass., to predict that Big Solar could be a $45 billion market by 2020.

Grid Parity

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:53:43 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: Indeed the 'holy grail' of solar energy. As solar becomes more commercially viable, the speed of its development will also increase.

Clip Source: www.citywire.co.uk

The solar industry is inching towards the holy grail of ‘grid parity’ as solar companies invest aggressively in building capacity, according to sector analyst Dean Cooper.

ReneSola announced a US initial public offering last Friday (29 May) to raise money by selling 8.15 million shares. It will use the $70 million of the money raised to expand its solar wafer manufacturing facilities and a further $100 million to invest in polysilicon manufacturing over the next two years, Cooper said.

Solar Energy Speed to Market

Fri, 30 May 2008 08:11:34 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: A Nuclear Energy Plant takes 10 years to build. Solar Energy is very fast.
This installation: 2.25 kilowatts' worth (enough to power half a home) of their proprietary Lumeta PowerPly modules on a roof in San Leandro in just under 35 minutes.

Clip Source: www.triplepundit.com

The key innovation in the Lumeta PowerPly is the use of standard roofing adhesives to affix the modules to the roof, rather than traditional racking systems. There are two advantages here - one, roofers everywhere work with these adhesives, and so are familiar with their performance and how to use and install them; and two, by eliminating the drilling and bolts associated with a racking system, the contractor not only saves a ton of time (did I mention this installation went up fast?), but also saves the integrity of the roof system: the last thing you should want to pay for is to have someone go up on your roof and put a bunch of holes in it.

Moore's Law and the Cost of Solar Energy

Tue, 27 May 2008 00:22:23 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: Interesting. I like to see patterns emerging in technology trends.
This one makes sense, but the fact is that there are many different types of solar panels, including solar thermal and solar hot water, that are already competitive.

Clip Source: www.fanboy.com

Photovoltaic Moore's Law Will Make Solar Competitive by 2015

"In recent years, global PV production has been increasing at a rate of 50 percent per year, so that accumulated global capacity doubles about every 18 months. The PV Moore’s law states that with every doubling of capacity, PV costs come down by 20 percent. In 2004, installing PV cost about $7 per watt, compared to $1/W for wind, which at that time was beginning to stand on its own feet commercially, Last, year, as recently noted in this blog, average global solar costs had come down to between $4 and $5 per watt, right in line with the PV Moore’s law. Extrapolate those gains out six or seven years, and PV costs will be below $2/W, making photovolatics competitive with 2004 wind."

Tags: solar cost, photovoltaic cost

Cheaper than Coal...

Sat, 24 May 2008 10:37:43 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: Several solar companies have announced that they can produce solar panels that have a cheaper dollars per watt price tag than coal.

While these don't seem to have reached the domestic market yet, it's and interesting development.

Clip Source: www.solartradingpost.com

I think that’s probably the first question that comes into people’s minds when considering buying solar panels for their home.

How much will it cost? And will it save me more than it costs?

To know this, you will need to calculate the photovoltaic cost per kilowatt for a home.

Because the cost of photovoltaics, or any solar panel, is not just the initial cost. It’s calculated over its lifetime. It’s rather like buying a house. You could say ‘is this an expensive house?’

Similarly, solar energy prices are relative. As other energy prices change (like coal, gas or hydro-electric,) solar energy becomes relatively more or less expensive. So at the moment oil prices are rising. That makes solar electricity a bit cheaper compared with oil. However coal is still relatively less per watt than solar.

Photovoltaics - How they Work

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:30:20 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: It'd be nice to see a video of this....
The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839.
The first photovoltaic cells were made in 1918.

Since then Einstein developed photovoltaics. There was a lot of research and development during the 1960's Space Race, when satellites were powered by solar panels.

The 1970's saw the beginning of residential solar use. For houses living far off the electricity grid, photovoltaics made financial sense.

Prices have since fallen from $30 a watt down to $7 a watt for residential installations.

Now due to technology advancing and power costs rising, the price of solar energy is still falling. The future of solar energy looks bright indeed.

Clip Source: solartradingpost.com

To understand how photovoltaics work, you first need to understand a bit about solar energy. Basically, sunlight is loaded with photons. Think of these as little packages of solar energy. Photovoltaics are panels that turn this sun power into electricity. They are usually made from silicon and small amounts of boron.

When the photons from sunlight hit a silicon molecule, they knock loose one of its free-floating electrons. This electron hits another silicon molecule, shunting it's electron out of it's molecule. This starts a chain reaction, rather like one domino striking another, which knocks over another, and another....

The final result of this chain reaction is what is known as an flow of electrons, or an electrical current.

Solar Stocks

Thu, 08 May 2008 01:42:00 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: It's interesting the connection between oil and electricity.
Part of it is psychological. On the other hand, oil prices do effect electricity, especially coal based electricity. Oil is used in the transport and extraction of coal.
And also, oil is so central to all our commerce that its price has multiple side effects on our economy.

Clip Source: www.forbes.com

Solar Sector Sucked Into Oil's Wake

The gains though were not limited to the oil industry or rational behavior. Even though oil accounts for 2% of electricity production in this country--a negligible amount--the high-flying solar sector rallied on the back of black-gold's gains.

"It's more psychological than operational as the price of oil has no direct bearing on the price of electricity," said Michael Carboy of Signal Hill Group. "What happens though is rising oil prices are equated to rising energy prices and solar gets a good tailwind as a result."

Where the Real Power Lies- in the Distribution Network

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:14:00 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: This article touches on one of the great strengths of solar energy - the ability to produce power in many de-centralized locations and distribute it widely with very little loss.

And as in the spread of telephones, electricity, tv and railway, the real power is held by those who own the distribution network.

What's especially interesting here is that you can draw parallels between solar power and the biggest network around at the moment - the internet.

The way in which both these mediums are alike is that they inherently resist centralized control.

While you can build giant solar power stations, there is still the capability for a homeowner to have their own mini-power station on their roof.

This democratization, of information by the internet, and electricity by solar power, is, I think ,a good thing. Both for the environment and for the individual.

Clip Source: www.cleantechblog.com

Mr. O’Donnell made the point that building roads in the U.S. was a local phenomenon subject to a patchwork of regulations and constraints – until President Eisenhower broke down the barriers with the creation of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950’s. He further noted that high voltage DC technologies now readily available – such as those offered by ABB (NYSE: ABB) – could transmit large blocks of power across the whole continent with losses of only about 11% (excluding the conversion facilities at each terminal).

We in the cleantech community haven’t talked much about it, instead focusing on the sexy/cool generation/storage/consumption technologies, but maybe it’s time to ratchet the discussion about the so-called “smart grid” up to another level.

Solar Energy in Bangladesh

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:21:44 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: Large government investment in Bangladesh grows solar industry.

In remote rural areas, solar panel installations can rapidly improve living conditions. These reduce the urgency for large electricity infrastructures to be built.

Clip Source: energybangla.com

Bangladesh Govt. Goes All Out to Explore Renewable Energy Sources

He said, "As per declaration we plan to reach a 100 MW production target from hydro-sources. We are also keen to see the evaluation report on the Kutubdia wind pilot project as the fate of this project will say what we could do with our islands in so far as electricity is concerned.

The Power Cell in a study paper has said that around 2,200 MW of power could be generated by using alternative energy sources. It said that currently 4 MW of power is being produced by home solar systems and the future prospect of power generation by using solar energy is around 300 MW.

It has been learnt that different non-government organisations have helped to install 75,000 home solar systems in remote rural areas under a rural electrification and renewable energy development project.

Green Collar

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:02:58 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: A new term to indicate a new sector of our society. And a possible upheaval to come in this sector.

Clip Source: www.redorbit.com

Nearly 9 million new jobs and $970 billion in revenue were generated by the national energy industry in 2006, yet industry insiders are concerned that the growth will level off if Congress does not extend renewable energy tax credits.

Figures, and estimates, vary - the California Solar Energy Industries Association of Rio Vista says that up to 7,000 workers statewide are employed at solar energy companies, while some national organizations estimate that one out of four jobs in 2030 in the nation will be green-related.

Green Collar Workers

A Wikipedia entry defines green collar workers as "employed in the environmental sectors of the economy, or in the agricultural sector. Environmental green-collar workers satisfy the demand for green development."

The credits will expire in 2008. Navigant Consulting Inc., a consulting firm based in Chicago, reports that 116,000 jobs and $I9 billion in U.S. investment could be lost in a one-year span if the credits are not renewed.

Solar TPower in Africa

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:41:03 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: An interesting economic proposition . Countries that were previously disadvantaged by desert and arid land have the potential to become the main suppliers of solar energy.

Clip Source: www.bdafrica.com

David Mataen
March 19, 2008: Never in the history of modern civilisation was there so great need for energy like now.

Ironically, the most abundant, most renewable, most free of all renewable resources is the sun. Emerging every day unfailingly from the east, shinning all of 13 hours at the equator and discharging on average 300 watts per square metre.

A plant in Acciona in Las Vegas, United States, called “Nevada Solar One” can generate up to 64 megawatts, equal to the capacity of Olkaria II at Naivasha.

CSP provides an answer to PV’s main pitfalls, it does not involve expensive silicon wafers and wide, shiny, inviting panels open to abuse and vandalism.

Some designs provide power round the clock by storing energy in the form of molten salt. Undoubtedly, this is the solution that Kenya and in deed Africa has been waiting for.

A technological quantum leap, a classic revolution in energy affairs.

Solar City in Alice Springs

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 23:38:18 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: Interesting idea. However, one of the major benefits of solar energy (in my opinion) is it's decentralizing of energy.

In effect, each person can be responsible, to a degree, for their own electricity.

This ownership by the individual is both empowering and democratic.

This gives greater responsibility to the individual. I think this is one of the major changes that needs to happen for our consumption to be more sustainable.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Alice Springs will today become the fifth official Australian Solar City.

General manager of the Solar Cities initiative Brian Elmer says although energy-saving measures are not compulsory, the project is about finding ways in which residents can voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

He says the city will become a test piece for nationally reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"The idea of a solar city project across Australia is to test how energy efficiency measures - solar energy. smart metering and changed energy payouts - can impact on greenhouse gas emission reduction," he said.

Thin Film Photovoltaics

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:32:07 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: One of the fastest growing areas in the the solar panel industry.

Clip Source: hubpages.com

Thin Film Solar has several qualities that could be developed in surprising ways.

Firstly, the panels can be flexible. This makes seemingly way out ideas like solar sails for yachts a possibility.

Thin film light aborbing dye panels can also be transluscent. This leads to speculation on solar windows, skylights and billboards.

Thin film photovoltaics are also very light and portable. They have already been used in products like solar camera-bag chargers and portable cell phone chargers. As efficiency increases, portable solar may become much more widely used.

Simply put, thin film photovoltaics are solar panels. Very thin solar panels. In fact, some of them have layers of silicon only a few micrometers thick.

They produce electricity in a variety of ways, depending on what material they are made of.

Tags: thin film photovoltaics, solar energy, solar power, photovoltaics, solar panels

Solar News Roundup

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:56:59 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K
clipper's remarks: It appears solar and renewable energies are inching closer into the main stream economy. Especially in the building and housing industry.

Clip Source: communicate.usgbc.org

Congress Has Yet to Extend Crucial Tax Incentives

In May, the U.S. House approved critical extensions of several renewable energy and energy efficiency tax credits that recently lapsed or are set to expire at the end of 2008.

$18 billion tax package that would extend: the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings, the tax credits for production of and investment in renewable energy, and the tax credit for energy efficient appliances, among other provisions.

House Committee Considers Incentives for Energy-Efficient Homes and Mortgages

seeks to promote consumer access to energy efficient homes by providing incentives to lenders and banks that offer low-interest mortgages and other benefits.

Maryland Enacts Landmark Green Building Law for Public Facilities and Schools

green building legislation requiring large public buildings and K-12 school projects using state funds to achieve LEED Silver certification or a comparable green building certification system

Tags: solar news

Thin Film Photovoltaics

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:16:22 GMT

clipped by: Naomi-K

Clip Source: www.physorg.com

Honda announced its plan to begin mass production in 2007, of an independently developed thin film solar cell composed of non-silicon compound materials, which requires 50% less energy, and thus generate 50% less CO2, during production compared to a conventional solar cell. A mass production plant with annual capacity of 27.5 megawatts will be established at Honda’s Kumamoto factory.