Clipmarks | Solar panels Clips

Two Large Solar Projects Planned for California

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:35:05 GMT

clipped by: Wisco
clipper's remarks: While I'm not extremely keen on these sort of plants -- there's no real reason to centralize solar generation like this -- it's nice to see that solar's being taken seriously. Given recent advances in photovoltaic technology, the price is coming down enough for it to be put anywhere the sun shines. In other words, there's no reason to use up huge expanses of land when you can do the same thing on rooftops.

Still, any time new generating capacity comes from green tech, it's good news.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Companies will build two solar power plants in California that together will put out more than 12 times as much electricity as the largest such plant today, the latest indication that solar energy is starting to achieve significant scale.

The plants will cover 12.5 square miles of central California with solar panels, and in the middle of a sunny day will generate about 800 megawatts of power, roughly equal to the size of a large coal-burning power plant or a small nuclear plant. A megawatt is enough power to run a large Wal-Mart store.

At 800 megawatts total, the new plants will greatly exceed the scale of previous solar installations. The largest photovoltaic installation in the United States, 14 megawatts, is at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, using SunPower panels.

Tags: news

How 2.0: Make a Solar Cell Phone Charger

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:12:04 GMT

clipped by: akipta

Clip Source: www.2pointhome.com

A little soldering is all it takes to make this cool little emergency cell phone charger. Keep it in the glove box of your car, in case you ever get stranded in the woods and start to hear banjo music!

You might be able to find the mini solar panels at a store that sells science or electronics equipment; otherwise you can order them online. Please note, you'll also be cutting the wire on the cell phone charger, so make sure it's not the only one you have! You can often find cheap chargers at discount stores like Big Lots -- it doesn't matter if it's AC or car compatible, since you'll only be using the end that plugs in your phone.

Tags: how-to solar

"IKEA To Sell Solar Panels"?

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:51:57 GMT

clipped by: cakebelly
clipper's remarks: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/07/tech/cnettechnews/main4327038.shtml

Clip Source: www.cbsnews.com

IKEA To Sell Solar Panels?

(CNET)

(CNET) IKEA plans to pour $77 million into clean-technology start-ups within the next five years and could add "green" goods such as solar panels to its inventory, according to Cleantech Group.

The four-person, 50 million euro IKEA GreenTech fund has been operating for eight months, the report said. And it could invest in up to 10 fledgling companies in the next few years, perhaps first in Europe, where IKEA rings up about 82 percent of its sales.

Efforts to commercialize new and affordable green technologies within several years could lead to IKEA selling the resulting products among its growing collection of stores, currently 283 in more than 30 nations. The goods reportedly would relate to energy in the form of solar panels, efficiency meters, and lighting; as well as more sustainable materials, and water treatment and conservation.

Oregon Launching First Solar Highway in US

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:27:25 GMT

clipped by: pperazzo

Clip Source: cleantechnica.com

Oregon Launching First Solar Highway in the US

Oregon is once again taking the lead with renewable energy by installing the country’s first highway solar energy project. The project will consist of a 104 kW solar photovoltaic system that covers 8,000 square feet and produces 112,000 kWh each year. That’s 28% of the energy needed to power the project’s location, the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 interchange in Tualatin.

Electricity for the interchange will be provided by PGE. The solar panels will come into play by producing electricity during the day, giving the power to the PGE grid, and getting the equivalent amount of power back at night from PGE to power lighting on the highway.

The whole project will literally be Oregon-powered, as companies based in-state will provide materials, design, and installation.

Largest solar power plants ever

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:28:58 GMT

clipped by: djbobbydrake
clipper's remarks: We're gettin there

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

The power will be sold to Pacific Gas & Electric, which is under a state mandate to get 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010. The utility said that it expected the new plants, which will use photovoltaic technology to turn sunlight directly into electricity, to be competitive with other renewable energy sources, including wind turbines and solar thermal plants, which use the sun’s heat to boil water.

Tags: energy, solar power

Air Force and Renewables

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:23:00 GMT

clipped by: Andrew Gillies
clipper's remarks: This is a nice read on the role of government's involvement in energy tech. It's also interesting to see SunPower (nasdaq: SPWR) here. That stock is off 40% from a 52-week high but still sells for 5.6 times sales.

Clip Source: www.govexec.com

Air Force pushes the envelope on renewable energy

The Air Force announced a surprising achievement last December: The service now has the largest solar panel array in the Americas. More than 72,000 panels installed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada produce 30.1 million kilowatt hours per year - enough to power more than 13,000 homes during daytime. Through an unusual arrangement among the Air Force, state regulators, a power company and a venture capital firm, officials at Nellis turned 140 acres of unused land into a 20-year power deal that will supply the base with about one-third of its electricity. That's a a utility bill discount of $1 million per year, savings that will escalate to about $4 million annually by the end of the 20-year contract.

The Greenest House in Harlem

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:43:40 GMT

clipped by: zalisan
clipper's remarks: Hope springs eternal.

Clip Source: www.sundancechannel.com

Discover this great New York City townhouse that was recently renovated in accordance with the LEED standard of environmental sustainability. In the middle of Harlem, this townhouse pioneers low carbon footprint dynamics in one of the most famous cities in the world. Featuring solar panels on the roof for power and an innovative use of recycled blue jean fabric insulation, this building's features combine comfort, beauty and utility in one fantastic dwelling.

There is an article in GOOD HOUSEKEEPING [www.goodhousekeeping.com] that goes into greater detail describing this fabulous home. The townhouse will shortly be listed for sale on the open market, so if you are looking for a place to call home, make sure to head over to the MIKA Development Website [www.mikadevelopment.com] for more details.

Tags: leed, carbon footprint, sustainability, green, townhouse, harlem

Quantum Crystals: A Solution to Inexpensive & Efficient Green Energy?

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:34:05 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: Innovalight is already planning to make flexible solar panels available at a cost that could be as much as ten times cheaper than the current solar cell technology.

Clip Source: www.dailygalaxy.com

Those concerned about Earth’s future will be encouraged to hear about the announcement by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy. They reported the discovery of a unique quantum physics effect in silicon nanocrystals, which should eventually help humankind come much closer to the goal of leaving “dirty” energy behind.

The researchers

discovered a new effect called Multiple Exciton Generation (MEG).

The effect occurs efficiently in silicon nanocrystals, resulting in the formation of more than one electron per absorbed photon, the scientists reported.

When today’s photovoltaic solar cells absorb a photon of sunlight, about 50 percent of the incident energy is lost as heat. MEG provides a way to convert energy lost as heat into additional electricity.

The finding might lead to the application of MEG for greatly enhancing the conversion efficiency of solar cells based on silicon.

Tags: solar energy, clean energy, quantum physics

Green, Foldable Motorcycle

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:55:51 GMT

clipped by: birdie-brain
clipper's remarks: oh, I want one!

Clip Source: devicedaily.com

Sun Fold Bike - The Green And Foldable Motorcycle

It’s called Sun Fold Bike and it’s powered thanks to the solar panels which will absorb the energy coming from the sun. If it’s night outside, then don’t worry as the energy in excess will be stored so that it can be used when the sun doesn’t shine.

the materials have to be extremely lighweight because not all the people are weightlifting world champions.

Around the world on zero emissions

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:59:52 GMT

clipped by: chadha_mridul

Clip Source: www.vaildaily.com

MINTURN, Colorado — Louis Palmer has driven thousands of miles through Europe, the Middle East, India, China, Australia, New Zealand and now Minturn, Colorado. He hasn’t spent a dime on gasoline.

His car is the “Solar Taxi.” It’s a sleek blue machine that sits low to the road, doesn’t make a sound while running and pulls a trailer covered in solar panels. The sun is his fuel, and there aren’t any earth warming carbon emissions pluming out a tail pipe.

The solar taxi will be the first solar-powered vehicle to circumnavigate the globe. Palmer, the visionary and leader of the tour, said the big mission is to “show the people of the world that global warming can be stopped, and we can be independent from fossil fuels.”

Palmer and his team began their journey on July 3, 2007, in Lucerne, Switzerland. They’re planning to make it through 40 different countries on five different continents and end the tour at the World Climate Change Conference in Poland in December.

Tags: solar taxi, carbon emissions

the right path to solar

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:06:54 GMT

clipped by: kroqben
clipper's remarks: yes yes yes!

this is a great step in the right direction. we need more money to offer greater incentives to increase solar installation, and that money should definitely be coming out of the windfall oil profits.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Giant Retailers Look to Sun for Energy Savings

In recent months, chains including Wal-Mart Stores, Kohl’s, Safeway and Whole Foods Market have installed solar panels on roofs of their stores to generate electricity on a large scale. One reason they are racing is to beat a Dec. 31 deadline to gain tax advantages for these projects.

Macy’s, which has solar panels atop 18 stores, plans to install them on another 40 by the end of this year. Safeway is aiming to put panels atop 23 stores. And other chains, including Whole Foods Market, BJ’s Wholesale Club and REI, the purveyor of outdoor goods, are planning projects of their own.

Analysts are not sure how much power the rooftop projects could ultimately produce, but they say it could be enough to help shave total electricity demand. In many communities, stores are among the biggest energy users. Depending on location and weather, the solar panels generate 10 to 40 percent of the power a store needs.

Fossil Fuel Free Community in Arvada, Colorado

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:22:51 GMT

clipped by: pocketfulofsunshine
clipper's remarks: The community plans to employ both active and passive solar energy collection measures to meet daytime heating and electrical energy needs. Homes will be constructed to maximize solar gain and will feature checkerboard placements for complete access to sunlight, east-to-west floorplans to maximize exposure to the Sun, strategic placement of doors and windows, and scientifically engineered awnings. Rooftops will be outfitted with photovoltaic solar panels that will send their excess power to the grid for storage.

Clip Source: www.inhabitat.com

The United States’ first net-zero community is coming soon to Arvada Colorado! Dubbed Geos, the development will employ a sterling roster of alternative energy strategies to cut its consumption fossil fuels and become completely self-sustainable.

Lately we’ve seen a slew of similar communities springing up around the world, from Canada to India to Estonia and we couldn’t be happier, since it’s future-forward communities such as these that are paving the pathway to a brighter future.

Geos is an innovative net-zero community that will harness energy from the Earth and the Sun to completely eliminate its consumption of fossil fuels. The community will be situated on an area of 25 acres, bordered on the West by the Croke Canal, and on the South by Ralston Creek.

For days when the sun doesn’t shine, geothermal energy will be used to meet the energy needs of the community

Tags: alternative energy

Sun Hopes

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:30:14 GMT

clipped by: solitonix

Clip Source: www.israel21c.org

Israeli inventor puts his head in the clouds

Joseph Cory's helium balloons made from fabric coated with photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. These balloons are much cheaper to build and install than existing solar panels, and also take up far less room, which is significant in an urban environment.

You can tell Joseph Cory is a dreamer. Turn to his company's web site, Geotectura.com, and you see a host of ideas ranging from the wild - a one-meter square movable 'house' for the homeless, to the wacky, electro-magnetic skyscrapers that float above the ground. But out of this riotous imagination, Cory, a new breed of environmental architect, has developed a number of award-winning schemes that could help deal with some of the world's most pressing problems - lack of renewable energy, and water scarcity.

The Israeli scientist, who is shortly to complete his PhD at the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Architecture and City Construction, at Haifa's Technion Israel Institute of Technology

Awesome Anti-Smog Architecture

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:14:10 GMT

clipped by: garcon-fille
clipper's remarks: Not only does this building just have a cool design, but it also utilizes a lot of technology that is good for the environment.

Clip Source: www.greengeek.ca

Anti-smog buildings: Clean air through architecture

Callebaut’s prototype project, being built in Paris, is covered with 250 square meters of solar photovoltaic panels and coated in titanium dioxide (TiO2). The PV system produces electrical energy for the building, with the TiO2 coating working as a catalytic system to clean the air. The TiO2 works with ultraviolet radiation to interact with particulates in the air, break down organics and reduce airborn pollutants and contaminants.

The structure also has a large green space on top for further air purification and rainwater catchment for use within the building. The other part of the building, is a ‘wind tower’, a cylindrical structure that has a spiral pattern that alternates between vertical gardens and embedded vertical axis wind turbines, that generate electricity from prevailing winds.

Vincent Callebaut Architectures via Inhabitat

Tags: environment, architecture

Nation’s first mosque to go solar

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:41:07 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: newsblogs.chicagotribune.com

Members of the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview not only have seen the light, they will rely on it from now on when they pray inside their house of worship.

On Thursday, the Bridgeview mosque earned a distinction as the nation’s first mosque to go solar when leaders installed solar panels on the roof to help heat the building’s water.

The solar thermal system will tie into the existing water heater, powered by natural gas, to provide hot water for people as they wash their hands, face and feet before prayer.

"Islam teaches us to conserve and protect God’s wonderful creation," said Imam Jamal Said of the Mosque Foundation. "This solar hot water system helps us do just that. ... The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was quick to teach his companions: ‘Never waste water even if you have river flowing to your door.’ We will be mindful of his teaching as we wash for prayers with this water warmed by the sun."

Tags: environment, religion, islam, united states