EcoNews - The Alternative Energy Tech Blog

MIT designs 'invisible,' floating wind turbines

2007-12-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

via CNET

A professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has designed a system to place wind turbines far offshore and out of sight.

Paul D. Sclavounos, a professor of mechanical engineering and naval architecture, worked with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to design a system that uses cables to tether large turbines to floating platforms.

The tethers connect the platform to concrete blocks on the ocean floor in up to about 650 feet of water. According to Sclavounos and the NREL, the arrangement is stable enough to operate even in large waves brought by a hurricane because the design limits the turbine to mainly back-and-forth movements, rather than up and down.

Wind power is one of the fastest-growing clean-energy sectors worldwide, but proposals to build offshore wind turbines have met public resistance in the United States, largely due to aesthetic concerns.

Traditional offshore turbines are placed in relatively shallow water and visible from the shoreline. One notable example is the Cape Wind proposal--a 420-megawatt facility that has drawn opposition.

Encouraged by positive responses from wind, electric power and oil companies, Sclavounos--who previously worked building offshore platforms for deep-sea oil and gas exploration--hopes to install a half-scale prototype south of Cape Cod.

In a statement, he said that the 90-meter-high systems would generate twice as much electricity per installed megawatt as near-shore turbines because the winds are strong and steady farther out at sea.

Construction of the turbines, which would be large, multi-megawatt systems, would most likely take place onshore at a shipyard. They could conceivably be towed to different locations, according to MIT and the NREL.

US pushes green trade proposal in Bali

2007-12-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

via Yahoo News

A joint U.S.-European Union proposal to liberalize trade in green goods and services such as solar panels would boost the availability of technology to battle glboal warming, a top U.S. trade official said Sunday.

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said on the sidelines of the U.N. climate change conference in Indonesia that developing countries have an average of 9 percent tariffs on the list of 43 goods and services.

"The question is, how can we do a better job of making those available and ensuring additional use of climate mitigation technologies?" Schwab said after a meeting of trade ministers at the global warming conference in Bali.

Developing countries at the conference have called on wealthy nations to speed the transfer of climate-friendly technologies to help them reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases blamed for rising global temperatures.

The tariff cuts, made by the U.S. and E.U. last week, would not apply to so-called biofuels, something emerging economies such as Brazil had been pushing for. It is not clear how much support the trans-Atlantic offer will garner in the 151-member World Trade Organization.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, who also handles trade issues, objected to the proposal at a news conference after the trade meeting in Bali, saying that the list of goods was flawed because it omitted ethanol. Brazil is the leading exporter.

"This list is incomplete, it won't do much for climate change, it's not proven what effects that these goods will have on climate change," he said. "The single project whose effect on climate change is already shown and demonstrated, which is ethanol ... isn't part of the list."

Amorim said that use of ethanol over 30 years in Brazil had avoided the emission of 670 million tons of carbon dioxide.

The U.S.-EU proposal would only come into force as part of an overall agreement in the Doha round of trade liberalization talks, which have repeatedly stalled since their inception in Qatar's capital six years ago.

The U.S. and European Union targeted 43 goods "with clear environmental benefits," in order to promote their use worldwide and help combat global warming. But they rejected earlier this month a move by Brazil to include biofuels, such as ethanol.

American and European delegates to the WTO argued that the special environmental tariffs ought to be reserved solely for industrial goods, and not agricultural products. Brazil has been touting its sugarcane-based ethanol around the world as a cheap, eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels that is being held back by high U.S. and European tariffs.

According to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the global market for environmental goods and services is worth several hundred billion dollars each year.

Eco-friendly kangaroo farts could help global warming: scientists

2007-12-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in a bid to cut the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, researchers say.

Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence contains no methane and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who emit large quantities of the harmful gas.

While the usual image of greenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack pushing out carbon dioxide, livestock passing wind contribute a surprisingly high percentage of total emissions in some countries.

"Fourteen percent of emissions from all sources in Australia is from enteric methane from cattle and sheep," said Athol Klieve, a senior research scientist with the Queensland state government.

"And if you look at another country such as New Zealand, which has got a much higher agricultural base, they're actually up around 50 percent," he told AFP.

Researchers say the bacteria also makes the digestive process much more efficient and could potentially save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers.

"Not only would they not produce the methane, they would actually get something like 10 to 15 percent more energy out of the feed they are eating," said Klieve.

Even farmers who laugh at the idea of environmentally friendly kangaroo farts say that's nothing to joke about, particularly given the devastating drought Australia is suffering.

"In a tight year like a drought situation, 15 percent would be a considerable sum," said farmer Michael Mitton.

But it will take researchers at least three years to isolate the bacteria, before they can even start to develop a way of transferring it to cattle and sheep.

Another group of scientists, meanwhile, has suggested Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos.

The idea is controversial, but about 20 percent of health conscious Australians are believed to eat the national symbol already.

"It's low in fat, it's got high protein levels it's very clean in the sense that basically it's the ultimate free range animal," said Peter Ampt of the University of New South Wales's institute of environmental studies.

"It doesn't get drenched, it doesn't get vaccinated, it utilizes food right across the landscape, it moves around to where the food is good, so yes, it's a good food."

It might take a while for kangaroos to become popular barbecue fare, but with concern over global warming growing in the world's driest inhabited continent, Australians could soon be ready to try almost anything to cut emissions.

Nigeria: Why We're Resorting to Solar Powered Street Lights -Commissioner

2007-12-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

via ALL AFRICA

The Yobe state commissioner for environment, Alhaji Musa Dumburi says the proposed installation of 700 street light poles in Damaturu metropolis will reduce pressure on the environment and ensure constant power supply to the streets.

Kanem Trust recalled that the state executive council had recently awarded contract for the installation of about 700 street lights in Damaturu metropolis at the total cost of N679, 000, 000.

The environment commissioner who applauded the initiative said as the world strives to control global warming, the use of solar system as an alternative way of generating energy would go a long way in protecting the environment.

"We are happy that that the underutilized energy would now be fully tapped. We are equally happy that the increasing pressure on PHCN with attendant erratic power supply will be reduced", the commissioner remarked.

Dumburi added that the use of solar energy is equally advantageous in controlling air pollution and by extension "reducing the preponderance of diseases".

"Most importantly", the commissioner added "solar system is very effective and cost effective. It needs less attention and maintenance; you only need to replace batteries after several years of effective services".

He said the state government had approved the sum of N7.5 million for the evacuation of refuse in Damaturu metropolis.

"We have established task force that would ensure operation keep Damaturu clean succeeds. The general manager, sanitation in the state sanitation agency would head the task force", the commissioner added.

California city water plant gets $1.6M solar panels

2007-12-03T18:34:00.001-08:00

via Water Technology Online

SANTA CRUZ, CA — This city is installing $1.6 million worth of solar panels at a water treatment plant to cut down on electricity usage in preparation for a $40 million planned desalination plant which will require a lot of the city’s energy, a December 3 Santa Cruz Sentinel story said.

Mayor Ryan Coonerty said in the story, “Desalination requires a lot of energy. Offsetting our energy usage is not only the right thing to do, it’s required by state law.” State law says that global warming emissions have to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020.

The Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant, which produces 4 billion gallons of water a year, will have panels on two buildings and four water tanks. The panels will produce 205,000 kilowatts a year.

The newspaper was told that treatment of 1,000 gallons of water at the plant requires 2 kilowatts, so the impact of the panels on the plant's total energy needs will be small. However, Water Director Bill Kocher said in the story, “It’s clear we need to be looking at low-hanging fruit to hold our carbon footprint where it is now as we proceed with desalination.”

Kocher said the panels will pretty much pay for themselves within 12 years. The city is also considering a mini hydro-electric project to help with water pressure coming off the Newell Creek dam.

The city is now running a pilot desalination plant program at the UC Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Lab to determine the scope of a proposed larger desalination system.

The solar panels will be funded through water customers and about $338,000 should be reimbursed by PG&E's California Solar Initiative Program, the story said.

First solar-powered billboard erected by PG&E

2007-12-03T18:22:00.000-08:00

via BizJournals

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. unveiled the nation's first solar-powered billboard, at 1000 Brannan St. in San Francisco.

The billboard, visible from the 9th St. exit off Highway 101, is outfitted with 20 solar modules that provide up to 3.4 kilowatts of renewable solar energy to the grid of San Francisco-based PG&E.

That exceeds the power used at night to illuminate the billboard's lights.

PG&E also replaced the billboard's halophane light fixtures with energy-efficient LED lights, the company said.

The solar panels were provided by SunTech Power, PG&E said.

Zimbabwe: Electrification Agency Considers Solar System

2007-12-03T18:13:00.000-08:00

via ALL AFRICA

The Rural Electrification Agency is considering introducing solar mini-grid systems to reduce demand on hydro-electricity in light of the power deficit threatening countries in the Sadc region, an official said yesterday.

REA project manager Mr Emmanuel Midzi said the agency had started installing the solar mini-grid systems in rural clinics and in secondary schools that received computers from President Mugabe.

"We have so far installed 13 countrywide in schools and clinics," he said.

The solar mini-grid system uses inverters that convert direct current generated from solar into alternating current to produce 220 volts.

Conventional solar systems use solar panels connected to a battery and generate 12 volts.

Mr Midzi said advantages of the mini-grid system were that the consumable spare parts such as globes were readily available in the country and it used energy efficiently that the battery would last up to four days without sunshine.

He said the other advantage was that the system used the same wiring infrastructure with the electricity grid so that it did not have to be dismantled when connecting to the national grid. The system could power small fridges and computers and did not require surge protectors in case of power cuts and surges.

"It is an opportunity to introduce renewable energy to those that want it," said Mr Midzi.

As a result of interest the public was showing in the mini-grid system, REA was exploring supply markets for the cost-effective equipment.

Mr Midzi said the mini-grid systems were readily available in most industrialised countries including China and India.

He said REA expected the local industry to participate in the programme by manufacturing the components that they could.

Countries in the Sadc region are facing a power deficit due to increasing demand, with the situation expected to worsen by 2015.

Zimbabwe embarked on electrification of rural areas to improve living standards of communities and curb rural-to-urban migration.

HP turns to sun, wind to power facilities

2007-12-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

via EE Times Asia

Hewlett-Packard has announced relationships with two renewable energy providers—SunPower Corp. in the United States and Airtricity in Ireland—as part of the company's strategy to reduce its global carbon footprint.

Under a power purchase agreement with SunPower, HP will install its first large-scale solar power installation at its U.S. facility in San Diego, California. The contract with Airtricity will ensure that nearly 90 percent of HP's energy use its Ireland facilities is renewable, exceeding the company's 2007 target for carbon emission reductions.

"Switching to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power makes both environmental and business sense," said Pat Tiernan, VP for social and environmental responsibility, HP. "These advances are just part of HP's comprehensive energy-efficiency program, which we believe is the most aggressive in the technology industry."

Wind in Ireland
HP's contract with Airtricity, a renewable energy company developing and operating wind farms across Europe and North America, is for the supply of renewable wind energy to a number of its facilities in Ireland for fiscal year 2008. The electricity supplied by Airtricity is generated by both onshore and offshore wind farms.

Through the contract, HP will purchase more than 80GW-hrs of renewable energy. It is estimated that the agreement will save HP approximately $40,000 over the year-long contract. HP also expects to cut its carbon-dioxide emission by more than 40,000 tonnes, or the equivalent to taking 9,600 cars off the road for one year.

Sun in the United States
HP's agreement with SunPower covers installation of a 1MW solar electric power system and required maintenance of the system for the next 15 years. HP will buy back solar power at a reduced, locked-in rate under the SunPower Access program. The HP solar electric system will be financed and owned by a third-party financier, which allows HP to take advantage of the environmental and financial benefits of solar with no upfront capital costs.

Initial estimates indicate that the project will save HP approximately $750,000 in energy costs during the next 15 years. HP also will earn renewable energy credits as the installation will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1 million pounds per year, or nearly 16 million pounds during the next 15 years.

With this project, HP is taking advantage of incentives provided under the California Public Utilities Commission's California Solar Initiative, which aims to increase solar energy use statewide.

At the San Diego site, the SunPower installation will include 5,000 solar panels atop five of the seven buildings. The panels, which are made up of photovoltaic cells, will convert the sun's light energy into approximately 1,676,000kW-hrs of electrical energy per year—enough to provide more than 10 percent of energy use at the San Diego facility.

Massive deep-water oil find in Brazil challenges technology

2007-12-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

via Yahoo News

This country, famed for its development of sugar-cane-produced ethanol, soon could become one of the world's great oil powers— if its state-controlled energy company, Petrobras , can tap a potentially massive deposit beneath the South Atlantic Ocean.

Experts believe the deposit, in the Tupi field 180 miles off the southeastern Brazilian coast, holds up to 8 billion barrels of light oil and natural gas. If confirmed, the deposit would be the largest petroleum find in seven years and would propel Brazil to the No. 12 position in oil reserves, after the United States and ahead of Canada and Mexico .

Analysts estimate that the deposit could be worth as much as $60 billion and predict that Brazil , which last year for the first time produced as much oil as it consumed,

Brazil could become a major oil exporter.

Yet the find will challenge Petrobras' reputation as one of the world's best at exploiting deep-sea oil deposits.

About 70 percent of Petrobras' oil production comes from deep-water wells, making it the world's biggest oil producer at such depths. But the Tupi deposit is deeper than Petrobras has ever drilled— under 7,000 feet of ocean water and more than 16,000 feet of rock, sand and salt, including a 1.2-mile-thick layer of rock-hard salt.

How to tap into the find has set off a technological race, spurred because the potential rewards of exploiting the deposit are so great— especially as the price of oil nears $100 a barrel.

"It's among the most complicated projects in the world in terms of deep water," said Caio Carvalhal , a Brazil -based research associate with the U.S. consulting firm Cambridge Energy Research Associates . "But Petrobras has proved in the past that it is up to the task."

Company officials have said that years of planning lie ahead, and experts estimate that the Tupi field won't start operating fully until 2013. Although the company announced the find last year, it just released estimates of its size in November. The company will have to drill more wells to better calculate the size of the deposit.

"This was the first time that we arrived at this depth, and the technology is expensive," said Guilherme Estrella , Petrobras' director of exploration and production. "The costs are elevated, but the quality of the oil brings robustness and viability to this investment."

The Tupi field is the latest landmark in a technological race to the bottom of the ocean that many say is the energy industry's future.

Already, about a third of world oil production is offshore, with as much as 15 percent coming from deep waters, said energy consultant David Llewelyn , who's worked extensively in Brazil . Some of the most promising offshore oil regions lie in the so-called Golden Triangle, made up of the Gulf of Mexico and the coasts of Brazil and western Africa .

In 2005, U.S.-based Chevron and its partners drilled the deepest offshore oil and gas well in history at 34,189 feet below sea level in the Gulf of Mexico , according to Transocean , the world's largest offshore drilling contractor, which completed the well. The deepest onshore well, at 37,016 feet, was completed earlier this year on Sakhalin Island , off the Russian coast, for ExxonMobil.

Last year, Chevron announced it had found one of the biggest oil deposits in the United States , as much as 15 billion barrels of petroleum, more than 28,000 feet below sea level in the Gulf of Mexico .

"This is where the industry has to go to make the big finds like this," said Thomas Marsh , the Houston -based vice president of the consulting group ODS-Petrodata, a world leader in offshore exploration analysis. "And a lot of money is being spent on getting the industry going where it needs to go."

Oil companies reach such ultra-deep deposits by lowering drill bits into the ocean floor through a system of pipes connected to a floating platform on the water's surface. The pipes and drills get smaller the farther into the ocean floor they penetrate. At maximum depth, they're only about 8 inches wide, which increases their chances of being damaged.

The dangers come with the intense water pressure and heat, which can damage even the hardiest of metal drills. Temperatures 30,000 feet below the ocean floor can reach 400 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to turn oil into natural gas.

The biggest technical challenge of the Tupi deposit is penetrating the solid salt layer, which can become a kind of gel that squeezes and resists the drill bit. The salt also can interfere with sound wave-based seismic imaging that engineers use to figure out what's below it.

The deposit's location far from the Brazilian coast also complicates the task of delivering an estimated 53 million cubic feet of natural gas daily to consumers in the project's pilot phase.

Because natural gas can't be stored, Petrobras might have to build an enormous gas pipeline that would stretch 180 miles to shore or install gas liquefaction facilities above the deposit to turn the natural gas into storable liquid.

Despite all the difficulties, Petrobras will rise to the challenge, said Marcio Rocha Mello , president of the Brazilian Association of Petroleum Geologists and a former head of the company's geosciences section.

Before confirming the Tupi find, Petrobras already had drilled 15 wells into the solid salt along Brazil's southeastern coast, mapping an undersea basin of oil and gas stretching about 500 miles long.

"We've already put a lot of training and resources into this," Rocha Mello said. "The technology involved is already fully understood. It's not going to be a problem."

Drilling the first well alone cost $240 million , and tapping the Tupi deposit will require investing at least $5 billion at the outset, Llewelyn said. Petrobras controls a 65 percent stake in the deposit, with British company BG Group and Portugal's Gal Energia controlling the rest.

Petrobras has made such investments pay off in the past largely through innovation. The company pioneered the use of floating platforms to drill wells and store oil and has come up with new ways to heat and transport extracted petroleum.

The company has tried such technology in more than two dozen countries, including in the United States , and shared its know-how with countries also looking at going deep. In the process, Petrobras has lowered its costs for finding new deposits.

And unlike state energy companies in Venezuela and Mexico , Petrobras is known as one of the best-run firms in the industry.

Innovation has come with risks, however, and even tragedy. In 2001, a Petrobras rig that was then the largest in the world caught fire and sank off the Rio de Janeiro coast, killing 11 people.

Despite such setbacks and the enormous investments required, the Tupi discovery guarantees that Petrobras will be exploring the ocean floor off the Brazilian coast for years to come.

"With a find this size, the cost isn't really an issue," said energy consultant Llewellyn. "You really just have to do it."

Siemens sees wind business up 30 percent this year: report

2007-12-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

via Environmental News Network

Siemens expects sales at its wind power business to grow 30 percent this fiscal year to end-September and its profit margin should reach double digits, the head of the wind business told a newspaper.

"We want to be in the top three in the industry by 2011," Siemens' Wind Power unit chief Andreas Nauen told German weekly Euro am Sonntag in comments released on Saturday ahead of publication on Sunday.

Siemens does not break out separate results for its wind power business. Last month, it said it won wind turbine orders from North America worth more than $1.1 billion euros in the year to date.

Nauen said wind power sales and orders had been growing at an annual rate of more than 50 percent and the business's profit margin was more than 9 percent last fiscal year.

He saw great opportunities in offshore wind farms. "We expect that offshore will have a breakthrough in Germany, too, next year," he said.

Germany is one of the world's leading players in onshore wind power but its offshore ambitions have been beset by red tape and environmental concerns.

Google expands into alternative energy

2007-11-27T19:18:00.000-08:00

via Yahoo News

Google Inc. is expanding into alternative energy in its most ambitious effort yet to ease the environmental strain caused by the company's voracious appetite for power to run its massive computing centers.

As part of a project announced Tuesday, the Internet search leader and its philanthropic arm will pour hundreds of millions of dollars into a quest to lower the cost of producing electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun.

If Google realizes its goal, the cost of solar power should fall by 25 to 50 percent, co-founder Larry Page said in an interview.

The Mountain View-based company initially hopes to harvest cleaner-burning electricity to meet its own needs and sell power to other users or license the technology that emerges from its initiative, dubbed "Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal."

"If we achieve these goals, we are going to be in the (electricity) business in a very big way," Page said. "We should be able to make a lot of money from this."

Google joins a long list of other prominent companies striving to become more environmentally friendly amid mounting concern that pollution from coal, oil and other so-called "dirty" power generation is causing potentially catastrophic climate change.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, made a major commitment to renewable energy two years ago. And technology leaders like Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft Corp., IBM Corp. and Intel Corp. are trying to become more energy efficient.

Google's initiative will likely stand out because of its financial muscle and its renowned brand, said Nicholas Parker, chairman of the Cleantech Network, a group that tracks investments in alternative energy.

"This is like a shot across the bow," Parker said. "It shows there are people willing to put their oars in the water to get the job done."

Google ended September with $13 billion in cash — a stockpile that's expected to grow as the company continues to mine growing profits from its search engine, which has become the hub of the Internet's most powerful advertising network.

The notion of an Internet company diversifying into the alternative-energy business isn't as incongruous as it might seem.

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt has often cited the company's ever-expanding power needs as one of his biggest worries, and Page and co-founder Sergey Brin have long been interested in electric cars and other inventions related to alternative energy.

Google's headquarters already draws some of its power from one of the country's biggest solar power installations.

What's more, Al Gore, who won a Nobel Prize for his efforts to educate people about the perils of global warming, has been a Google adviser for several years. Page said the former vice president influenced Google's decision to accelerate its investment in renewable energy.

Just how much electricity Google requires to power the hundreds of thousands of computers that run its search engine and other online services is a closely guarded secret.

But there's little doubt Google's power demands will escalate as the company introduces more free products and services that will require even greater computing capacity.

Next year, for example, the company reportedly will unveil a service that will allow users to store a wide range of their personal files on Google computers. Page declined to comment on the report in The Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed people familiar with the matter.

"As Google grows, we don't want the business to become part of the problem. We want to be part of the solution," said Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org.

Toward that end, Google aims to produce one gigawatt of power from renewable energy at prices below the rates of electricity generated at coal-burning plants. One gigawatt power would be enough to supply the needs of a city the size of San Francisco.

Page predicted the goal could be reached in a matter of "years, not decades."

The push into the energy industry serves as another reminder of Google's belief that it can harness technology to make the world a better place.

"We do like to take advantage of our noted ... position to motivate the world and do things that are good," Brin said during a Tuesday conference call with reporters.

Google intends to spend at least $20 million next year to finance renewable energy research and hire more experts in the field. At least 20 to 30 new employees will participate in the project next year, Page said, though he hopes the number will be larger than that.

Google.org will invest "hundreds of millions" in companies specializing in renewable energy, Page said. The philanthropic arm, which sits under the umbrella of the Google Foundation, will draw upon its holdings of nearly $2 billion worth Google's stock, which gained $7.57 Tuesday to close at $673.57.

Google.org already is working with two outside companies: Pasadena-based eSolar Inc., which specializes in solar thermal power and Alameda-based Makani Power Inc., which specializes in wind power.

DesignerHardware.com - Announces Its High Efficiency Toilets

2007-11-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

The strength and success of Caroma has been built on the foundations of innovation, water conservation and quality. Caroma, an Australian company, Manufacturers a complete range of some of the most cosmetically pleasing and technologically advanced bathroom products in the world; and is considered globally as the leader in reduced flush technology. Innovative design, technical excellence and an environmentally conscious development team have secured Caroma a respected name in the sanitary-ware industry. Caroma has set the standard in its industry by giving the world its first successful two button dual flush system in the nineteen eighties. In the nineties their research and development team responded with the remarkable 1.6 / 0.8 gallon two button dual flush system.

Today, the world is recognizing the necessity of resource conservation and looking to Caroma for answers. The perfect toilet is a unique blend of elegant design, high-performance, water efficient, installer-friendly, maintenance free and a low flow toilet that truly works. Find the perfect toilet: Caroma offers a diverse selection of two-piece and one-piece toilets with matching lavatories that will compliment any decor or personal taste. Their products evoke a sense of quality, durability, functionality and style. At DesignerHardware.com delivering quality products and services are emphasized. Proven through performance and acceptance by use in major hotels around the world, their award winning toilets are both user friendly and capable of saving up to 80% of regular toilets previous annual water usage.

DesignerHardware.com is proud to present Caroma’s two-piece and one-piece toilets. These features: Standard Round Front Plus, Standard Easy Height Round Front Plus, Elongated and Easy Height Elongated toilets. Find the quality, comfort and beauty in every toilet.

Caroma has excelled in the creation of the High-Efficiency Toilet (HET). By employing a dual flush mechanism, the user is able to select a full flush (1.6gpf) or a half flush (0.8gpf). The half flush is capable of flushing all liquid waste and even small solid waste. The full flush is only required for large solid waste. Since the average use only requires a half flush to dispose of waste 80% of the time, the average water consumption of these toilets is less than 1 gallon per flush. In order for this technology to work optimally, the bowl has been redesigned and a larger trap is used. The new 4 inch trap (versus 2.25 inch in standard toilets) allows waste to easily be pushed down with less water. This larger trapway will virtually eliminate clogs caused by excessive paper waste in the bowl. Caroma has truly married high-efficiency and high-performance in their toilet product line.

Some key strengths of Caroma's product include: Water Saving – This is a patented dual flush technology consisting of a 0.8 Gal flush for liquid waste and a 1.6 Gal flush for solids. Caroma toilets can save up to 72% (approx. 18,000 gallons) of annual water usage compared to the traditional 3.5-gallon flush and up to 40% (approx. 4600 gallons) compared to today’s standard 1.6-gallon single flush toilets. Superior Performance - All Caroma toilets offer a 4" trap-way, which is almost double the size of typical North American traps. This feature along with the use of state of the art “wash-down” flushing technology virtually eliminates clogging and the need for double flushing. Elegant Design – Each product is carefully crafted with a Contemporary European design to fit with just about any bathroom décor. Well-rounded corners and an easy closing seat provide easy cleaning. Installer-friendly - Caroma US toilets (most models) can be roughed in at 10" to 12" with the use of a plastic offset outlet connector. A larger footprint makes for easier replacement of old toilets. Virtually Maintenance Free - Dual Flush Technology eliminates the need for flapper, ball cock, chain and handle failure issues. And Complete Fixture Range - The current US line includes a mix of toilets and lavatories for residential and commercial use.

The two button dual flush technology works with practically every sewerage system in the world without the need for modification. Caroma supplies the most comprehensive array of flushing mechanisms designed to accommodate virtually every commercial environment. Included in the range are exposed cisterns, in-wall, in ceiling and induct cisterns to direct mains flush valves both manually and radar operated.

Caroma's vast array of designs should satisfy any professional and non-professional requirements. They are designed to look good and keep on looking good for many years of heavy duty usage. But the design focus goes well beyond aesthetics - all Caroma systems are engineered for ease of installation.

The perfect blend of function and comfort. When selecting Caroma's products world leading water efficient technology is guaranteed.

Suzlon bags Australian turbines order

2007-11-19T18:32:00.000-08:00

via NDTV

India's largest wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon Energy bagged two orders from Australia based companies.

The contracts, totaling over 200 MW of capacity, were signed with Sydney's RPV and utility-major AGL Energy.

"We are very pleased to partner with RPV and AGL Energy to deliver sustainable power solutions in Australia. The large size of the orders, and AGL's repeat-order, demonstrate our ability to deliver total wind farm solutions to the exacting expectations of our customers," Dan Kofoed Hansen, CEO–SEA, said.

The first contract, from Sydney-based Renewable Power Ventures, calls for the delivery of 63 units of Suzlon S88–2.1 MW wind turbine, translating to 132 MW of capacity.

The second contract, a repeat contract from AGL Energy, calls for the delivery of 34 units of Suzlon's S88 turbine translating to 71.4 MW of capacity.

"With its plentiful windy sites and a growing economy, we believe Australia is key market for wind energy," Andre Horbach, CEO of Suzlon Group stated.

Suzlon Energy is one of the leading players in the wind energy industry. The company has come to the fore of the business by strategically focusing on integrated value chain and entering into high growth markets.

Finally, an alternative that works

2007-11-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

via Boston

Alberta Bennett's mission to blaze a pollution-free path is nearly done.

A quarter-century after spending her life savings on a wind-powered turbine for her backyard - it broke shortly after it was installed and hasn't worked since - the Gloucester woman is getting an environmentally friendly home heating and cooling system. The geothermal system is fueled by fluids that are pumped through two wells, each 260 feet below ground, where the earth's temperature is a constant 50 degrees. Workers drilled the wells last week, and the system, largely paid for by a nonprofit agency, is expected to be running by the end of the month.

"Wow, I can't believe this is finally happening," said Bennett, 58, who bundled up in three layers underneath a hooded coat Monday, as she watched a crew drill the wells in near-freezing temperatures.

"I've waited so long for this," she added, "I wanted to see it go in, from start to end."

Bennett had spent years trying to get someone to repair her electricity-generating turbine. Finally, she gave up on wind power, built a greenhouse across the back of her house to help heat it, and started researching geothermal systems. A back injury landed the former nurse on disability in 2000.

Then, two years ago, a nonprofit read about Bennett's long-defunct turbine in Globe North and offered free assistance in fixing it. When that didn't work out, the organization offered to help install another alternative energy source. More complications materialized.

Next came the nonprofit's decision to go with geothermal. Still, there were snags.

"Everybody is idealistic, but it's the details that matter and the details don't always work as cleanly as you want," said Elliott Jacobson, energy director at Action Inc., the nonprofit that came to Bennett's aid. The Gloucester-based anti-poverty agency, in conjunction with another nonprofit, has a state-funded contract to bring alternative energy opportunities to low-income residents across Massachusetts.

Over the past three years, Action Inc. has arranged the installation of solar-powered electricity for 24 low-income residents statewide, and also helped six others receive solar-driven hot water heaters. But Bennett's geothermal system is a first for the nonprofit, and it had a steep learning curve in the permitting process, especially because Gloucester officials, as is the case in many communities, had not yet encountered the technology, Jacobson said.

"If you do it right the first time and nobody's upset, then maybe the second permit takes six weeks, not six months," Jacobson said. "It's always the first one that's the difficult one."

Gloucester Public Health Sanitarian Max Schenk said his department, in addition to the city's engineering department and its Conservation Commission, had no rules or regulations for permitting geothermal systems before Bennett's project was presented to them, so they wanted to proceed carefully. The final permits for Bennett's system were issued last month, but the city has not yet adopted rules for future geothermal projects.

"We want to see this one run through to the end before we put anything in stone," Schenk said. "But at least we have an idea now of what questions we should be asking."

Bennett's system, including installation, cost $30,300, according to Action Inc. Under its state-funded contract, the nonprofit will pay $20,000 and Bennett will pay the rest.

Bennett said she qualified for a $15,000 loan with 1 percent interest to be paid over seven years. In addition to paying her share of the geothermal system, she had to buy a new hot water tank and pay for crews to cut down a willow tree that would have interfered with the system's wells.

Technical specialists working on the project estimate that, compared with Bennett's current electric heating system, her new geothermal setup will produce 9 fewer tons of carbon dioxide each year. That's the equivalent, they say, of what 1.5 cars would produce in a year. According to their calculations, it will also generate significantly fewer nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides, which contribute to smog and acid rain.

Twenty-five years ago, when Bennett remortgaged her small house to pay for her ill-fated wind turbine, there were no programs or special low-interest loans to help homeowners install alternative energy systems, she said. Today, there are many.

"Maybe for other people now, it won't be so difficult," she said.

SUEZ acquires 50 per cent share in leading French wind energy producer

2007-11-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

via Power Engineering

Through its subsidiary, Electrabel, SUEZ has made a €321m ($471m) acquisition of 50.1 per cent of Compagnie du Vent, which was the first company to connect wind power to France's electricity grid.

Compagnie du Vent has a 148 MW production capacity in operation and at an advanced stage of construction. Its production base includes 180 wind turbines located throughout the Brittany, Languedoc Roussillon, Nord Pas de Calais, Picardy and Pays de la Loire regions.

In France and abroad Compagnie du Vent is said to hold one of the largest wind energy project pipeline in the sector, with over 6500 MW of production capacity in the design phase or under development.

The company is also engaged in solar energy with a target photovoltaic power plant installed capacity of 55 MW by 2015.

Through various projects currently underway, Compagnie du Vent plans to increase its wind power production capacity by 2015 to nearly 2000 MW. It is expected that this ambitious development programme will give the company a 15 per cent stake in the French market.

SUEZ will support this programme by providing the resources, support, and skills necessary for the construction of these wind farms.

SUEZ will increase its investment in Compagnie du Vent to 56.8 per cent at the conclusion of a rights issue reserved for SUEZ. The balance of the company's capital will be held by founder Jean- Michel Germa, who will remain as its chairman and CEO.

This acquisition is consistent with the SUEZ's strategy to expand its renewable energy production assets (wind, biomass, hydraulic, and photovoltaic). Currently, 40 per cent of SUEZ production capacity is carbon-free.

SUEZ has 30 wind farms in Europe, generating 550 MW (Portugal - 447 MW; Belgium - 67 MW; France - 34 MW), in addition to wind farms under construction with a capacity of 210 MW, plus a portfolio of wind energy projects of over 1200 MW.

Illuminating carbon's unified energy

2007-11-19T18:07:00.000-08:00

Arguments about striving for a carbon-free economy are ignorant.

IT SHOULD never be forgotten that a carbon economy underpins life on earth.

Next to the spark of life, the greatest marvel is the plant. We must remember our childhood awe at seeing the shoot from the seed push through the soil, raise itself into the air and turn green by nightfall.

This turning green indicates two things, interdependent, but vital for life: Firstly, that the plant is capturing solar energy from that virtually inexhaustible supplier, the sun. Secondly, in this process the plant is taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil and forming carbohydrates.

In these, carbon is bonded to the other elements, hydrogen and oxygen and these bonds are the energy store. The process of green plants capturing this energy is photosynthesis.

These carbohydrates are the real stuff of life. Some may be molecules made up of a short chain with perhaps six carbon atoms or many more: there are various forms. Organisms can use these carbon compounds, breaking them down to access the energy. Plants make their own. Other living things, such as animals or most insects, use plants as their source.

This process of breaking down carbohydrates and releasing energy is called respiration, in a sense the reverse of photosynthesis, freeing carbon dioxide and hydrogen again and releasing energy. For animals we associate this with breathing — oxygen in, carbon dioxide out.

Some carbohydrates are used in body building, especially with nitrogen added to the carbohydrates to make amino acids, which in chains form proteins.

Proteins lead us to a third marvel — the capture of nitrogen from the atmosphere by the legume plant family by providing a "home" for certain bacteria on their roots and exchanging carbohydrates for nitrogen compounds.

Uniquely, legumes can access atmospheric nitrogen through these bacteria, a huge saving on using energy to make artificial fertilisers.

Some carbohydrates have only a short life — they are used up soon, for example as the energy source for the plant that made them. Some last a bit longer as the "body" of the organism, perhaps eaten by an animal, perhaps only broken down after a plant's death.

Wood is an interesting example: complex, long life carbohydrates largely resistant to rotting — such as breakdown by some other organisms — and so lasting perhaps hundreds of years. This is why trees are so important in locking up — sequestering — carbon.

Some carbohydrates or their derivatives have a long life. The "bodies" of the organisms have become trapped when earth-forming processes occur and deeply buried in the earth's crust. Because these are well away from oxygen, when changes occur they may form what we call hydrocarbons.

Again, some are short chains with a low number of carbon atoms, and these tend to be gases such as methane. Longer chains are liquids — such as high-octane petrol and kerosene. Really longer ones are solids — greases and coal.

Then soils, though mineral in origin, "work" best for us as a place for plants to grow if there is plenty of carbon material — organic matter — in them, some in the many organisms, some as more inert soil organic matter. With lower carbon levels, soils become hard and inhospitable and unproductive and often erode.

Furthermore, highly productive crops and pastures do a lot of photosynthesis — taking up a lot of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

While it sounds complicated, it is really orderly and systematic. The most important thing to recognise is the unity of it all, the centrality of carbon and how it begins with that shoot "plugging in" to the sun. Therefore we have short-term solar energy, captured and used the same day; longer term in plant storage organisms such as grains and tubers, and, as we eat them, in our bodies; much longer-term solar energy storage as in trees; and long-term storage in things such as coal, oil and gas.

The common thread, the unifying element is carbon: it is ignorant to talk about a carbon-free economy. It is not sinful or stupid to use some solar energy from the food we eat, or some other short-term stored solar energy, such as wood, or even some long-term stored solar energy, such as oil or coal.

It is nonsense to suggest, as Tim Flannery does in Weather Makers, that oil and coal are "rascally fuel" and that we are "pilfering the buried bounty of this alien world".

As with so many processes and activities, it is vital to understand and measure the effects: if intrinsically bad, we ban them. But in other cases, as with oxidising to produce carbon dioxide, it is the rate and balance that matters, so we must regulate them, manage to a balanced, sustainable level.

Sustainability is not about the arrival of any one system: it is about identifying problems, researching solutions and adopting them.

This particular problem — excessively fast oxidation of carbon to form too much carbon dioxide — connects everyone through the atmosphere. Perhaps, just as carbon is the life thread on the planet, this will be the cause that binds all humankind. Perhaps the world is one or none.

Government of Canada Invests in Clean Solar Energy

2007-11-19T18:03:00.000-08:00

via Marketwire

The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced $1.1 million for demonstration projects promoting photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal power technologies for commercial and residential use. PV technology converts sunlight directly to electricity. Solar thermal technology uses the sun's energy to heat air for space heating.

"These hybrid demonstration projects will turn the exteriors and roofs of homes and businesses into clean-energy systems." said Minister Lunn. "This initiative is another example that our Government is getting the job done to protect the health of Canadians and our environment."

The four demonstration projects are in Ontario and Quebec. In addition to support from the Government of Canada, the initiative is being led by the Solar Buildings Research Network (SBRN) out of Concordia University, which brings together two dozen researchers from academia, governments and industry.

SBRN project partners include: Day4Energy Inc., Conserval Engineering Inc., Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd., Sevag Pogharian Design, Les Maisons Alouette Homes, Regulvar Inc., Hydro-Quebec, l'Agence de l'efficacite energetique du Quebec and the City of Toronto.

Renewable energy technologies for generating electricity and heating and cooling are becoming more popular in Canada. Through its ecoENERGY Renewable program, the Government of Canada is investing more than $1.5 billion in two initiatives - ecoENERGY for Renewable Power and ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat - to make clean, low-impact renewable energy less expensive and more available to Canadians.

Is the future for solar energy really so bright?

2007-11-19T17:57:00.000-08:00

via Telegraph

It is hard to imagine a healthier backdrop for alternative energy companies than that provided by today's nervous times. The oil price has $100 in its sights, politicians are engaged in a greener-than-thou race to the environmental high ground and energy security is right at the top of policy-makers' agendas as geopolitical tensions continue to simmer.

Here in Britain, and with half an eye on David Cameron's ostentatious greening, Gordon Brown has been persuaded that early action on climate change is imperative. Britain's renewable energy targets, demanding as they are, now look like being just the starting point. Similar voter-led policy developments are happening worldwide.

It is hardly surprising then that a new report from Swiss private bank Sarasin should present such a bullish view of the outlook for growth in the global solar energy industry. Photo-voltaic cell production rose 44pc last year, Sarasin says, and it forecasts 50pc a year growth for the rest of this decade and then a further 22pc a year until 2020.

Put that on a chart and the numbers for annual installations start to head pretty steeply up the page. The power of compounding means the size of the industry quickly becomes serious. The performance of the solar industry's publicly quoted companies - the main index of solar stocks has doubled so far this year - looks understandable, if dizzying.

Matthias Fawer, the author of Solar Energy 2007 - The Industry Continues to Boom, which is published today, believes growth in the industry might be close to a tipping point. Dramatic reductions in costs, he says, will make solar power competitive with conventional forms of electricity or heat within 10 years.

The industry is currently fuelled almost wholly by government subsidies, but once the big power generators see "grid parity", solar bulls argue, the economics change completely.

Currently, solar is two to three times too expensive to be competitive, says Bruce Jenkyn-Jones at environmental investor Impax, compared with a few percentage points for rival technologies like wind. But developments in areas such as thin-film technology are rapidly bringing costs down. Solar's time may really have come.

It's not just traditional photo-voltaic cells either, Sarasin's Fawer believes. He thinks larger-scale solar thermal power stations and elaborate mirror-based solar collectors are becoming ever more interesting to institutional investors. Air-conditioning based on solar thermal power is a growth area for the future.

Fawer is the first to admit that all this breathless talk about the future sounds reminiscent of the internet bubble eight years ago. But he says there is one key difference: "There are some really strong companies here that are actually producing something. They are really making money."

He even thinks some of the racy multiples in the sector are justified because they are matched by equally optimistic growth forecasts. Although price-to-earnings ratios are in many cases way above market averages - from 25 to as high as 60 or more - so is expected growth. PEG ratios, which compare a stock's price-to-earnings ratio with its estimated growth rate, are in many cases around one. The ratings are justified by excellent prospects, he believes.

Jenkyn-Jones is not so convinced and he believes trouble is on the horizon in the form of oversupply. "Pricing is very strong and there will be reductions," he says. "There's been a shortage of silicon and as that is relieved there will be huge competition. There's no shortage of sand."

According to Sarasin, global solar cell production jumped from 1.7 gigawatts to 2.5 gigawatts in 2006 as a bottleneck in the manufacture of solar-grade silicon cleared. That's good news for consumers and policy-makers but less exciting for the producers of silicon, wafers, cells and modules - which is almost every quoted solar company. Fat margins, which together with growth expectations have fuelled nose-bleed share prices, look set to tumble.

The share price of America's SunPower Corporation traded at $24 in the summer of 2006 and last month hit a high of a few cents short of $150, up six-fold in a year. Today, the shares have fallen to about $117. Another area of concern is the flood of Chinese companies into the sector. Fawer says there has been a rush to market in China by companies such as Suntech, Yingli Green Energy and LDK Solar, eager to raise cash for expansion while the boom continued.

In today's report, Fawer ranks the 26 biggest listed companies in the solar industry on the basis of key performance criteria such as technical know-how, reliability of supply and critical mass. None of the Chinese companies finished in the top 10 despite China emerging as a major player in the industry's expansion.

The biggest concern for investors in the solar sector is its reliance - for the next few years at least - on government incentives such as feed-in tariffs and subsidies. Michael McNamara, a solar expert at US investment bank Jefferies, warns: "The next 12 months will be critical for the solar industry. The key issues will be the evolution of solar incentive programs and what medium and long-term impact they will have on demand."

The meteoric rise in the German solar industry, for example, has been almost wholly due to its government's staunchly pro-solar incentives. Growth from 44 megawatts in 2000 to 959 megawatts in 2006 was not a reflection of Germany's sunny climate.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with investors taking advantage of the way the political wind is blowing. But they need to understand that the gusts can change direction or blow themselves out completely.

Eco-investors have made plenty of hay while the sun has shone but, with markets looking peaky, I can think of safer havens than a group of government-policy dependent stocks trading at 30 or 40 times earnings.

Solar roofing tiles comes to tract housing

2007-11-15T20:36:00.000-08:00

via CNET

DRI Energy has developed roofing tiles with solar cells built in them. For commercial customers, it has solar panels that literally glue onto flat roofs. The products, branded under the Lumeta name, will be available in the second quarter.

The green tech company sells to builders of commercial constructions, like retail outlets and office buildings, and developers of tract housing, large developments of new homes.

The problem with installing solar electricity in these types of developments is that builders don't want to work solar panels and the racking systems, said Stephen Torres, chief operating officer at DRI Energy. "They don't do rack installs unless they have to," he said.

In the southwest United States, where DRI Energy operates, many roofs aren't strong enough to support a large installation of solar panels, he added. And residential customers in many cases would prefer not having visible panels.

At the same time, there is growing interest in solar power because it's cleaner and it's a hedge against rising electricity prices. So, DRI Energy has designed roofing tiles that have the solar cells within them.

They start with standard terra-cotta colored s-tiles or flat concrete tiles and add a cavity to hold the wiring and solar cells which convert light to electricity. The added photovoltaic cells make their roofing tiles slightly thicker than tiles but are far less noticeable than adding flat panels, Torres said.

For business customers, it has designed solar panels that stick onto a flat roof with an adhesive. That "peel and stick" approach eliminates the need for brackets, said Torres.

Placing panels flat on the roof does have drawbacks. The panels will not generate as much electricity as others that are tilted to optimize the sun angle. Also, they will get hotter than rack-mounted systems which benefit from an air flow below them. That extra heat will lower their overall efficiency.

The company hopes to make up that loss with lower installation costs because there is less labor involved and they eliminate the cost of the racking, Torres said.
DRI Energy has a partnership with Chinese solar manufacturer Suntech Power to supply the cells and manufacturer the panels and solar tiles.

Geothermal Energy Exploration: Deep Drilling For 'Black Smoker' Clues

2007-11-12T18:15:00.000-08:00

via Science Daily

A project to learn more about extracting energy from hot rocks on land should give clues about "black smokers," hydrothermal vents that belch superheated water and minerals deep below the ocean.

As part of the Iceland Deep Drilling Project, researchers from UC Davis, UC Riverside, Stanford University and the University of Oregon plan to sink a deep borehole into a site on land where seawater circulates through deep, hot rock. Most such sites on land have circulating fresh water, with very different chemistry.

"It's the dry land version of a deep sea hydrothermal vent," said Robert Zierenberg, professor of geology at UC Davis. Zierenberg and another geology professor, Peter Schiffman, are the UC Davis members of the research team. "It's the first opportunity to look at rocks and fluid together and in situ."

Deep ocean hydrothermal vents support unique communities of living things that, unlike most ecosystems on Earth, draw no energy from the sun. The vents also generate unusual, and possibly valuable, deposits of copper, zinc and other minerals.

Zierenberg said it is technically challenging to drill into rocks that are under high pressure and bathed in corrosive fluids at 450 degrees Celsius (840 degrees Fahrenheit), but it is easier than trying to drill deep below the sea floor in the deepest parts of the ocean.

"We hope to understand the process of heat transfer when water reacts with hot volcanic rocks and how that changes the chemistry of fluids circulating at depth," Zierenberg said. "We know very little about materials under these conditions."

The Iceland Deep Drilling Project is supported by the Icelandic power industry and government, in collaboration with U.S. government agencies. It aims to drill deep boreholes to learn more about processes in deep, hot rocks, with the goal of producing more energy from a single geothermal well. Iceland already gets half of its electrical power and meets much of its needs for space heating and hot water from geothermal energy.

In Iceland, geothermal heating is used at a community level: hot water is pumped up and circulated around a town or neighborhood. The island nation generates more than half of its electrical power from geothermal energy. Hot water and steam from boreholes can be used to run turbines for electricity or directly to heat homes and businesses. Iceland meets the rest of its electricity needs from hydroelectric power, and imports fossil fuels only for transportation.

The university research project is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the International Continental Drilling Program. The researchers expect to start drilling in the summer of 2008.

Solar Power For Homes

2007-11-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

via American Chronical

The energy crunch and the continued concern over the environment is forcing the average person right up to people sitting in some of the highest elected offices to consider their use of energy. For the average person this comes down to their monthly utility bills and the energy they need to power their home. For politicians, it is about making decisions that will provide a reliable source of energy supply for the community. Both are mindful of the environment when it comes down to these sorts of decisions. In states like California, solar power and other alternative energy sources seem to be embraced by the average person and politician alike. Indeed, California has one of the most generous incentive packages for home builders and individuals to adopt solar power panels in their homes. This is partly because the climate is ideal for solar power and also that grid type electricity is extremely expensive. Many other states and countries throughout the world are being faced with similar dilemmas. Traditional energy costs are rising as fossil fuels get harder to find. Many governments seem to want to adopt renewable energy supplies but feel that they can't deliver the quantity at a reliable rate. Hence many governments seem to be edging towards nuclear power stations as a mean to supplying the communities energy needs. This article will discuss some of the benefits of solar power in homes.

After installation of solar panels and the other equipment needed to create electricity from the suns rays, the energy is free. Most people start by having a solar panel installed by the utility company. This is the easiest way to start using solar energy. The Utility company takes care of everything and you continue to use grid electricity. You are billed for the electricity that you use but the energy that is created by your solar panels is deducted from the electricity that you. Thus your bills should be less than without solar panels.

As you become more experienced with solar panels and the technology you can start to move towards and off grid solution. The crux of going off grid is that you need to store electricity and have a contingency plan if you use too much energy or the sun does not shine for an extended period of time. Thus you will have a battery network to store direct current. This can later be converted to alternating current using an inverter so that it can be used in the home. You should also have a combination of back up energy sources. These could be a standard generator or some form of wind power. Another important consideration if you plan to eventually go off grid is to make your home as efficient as possible. If you are heating a house you want to ensure that no heat escapes and that insulation gets the most out of the energy that is used. You can save a significant amount of energy if you insulate you home to a high standard. This will put less strain on the solar panels to produce large amount of energy.

In climates that are conducive to solar power it is only a matter of time before most homes adopt the solar system. The cost of producing solar paneling is going down. More research money is put into making solar systems more efficient. This means that solar powered energy can only really decrease in cost over time. The same can't be said for grid electricity that will only get more expensive.

Solar power can be applied to many home and garden products. In recent years the cost of these appliances have become very affordable and saved money on energy bills. Learn more about solar powered appliances at http://www.solarpowerappliances.com . The site has features on solar water heating , solar lighting for the garden and solar ovens.

Western Wind seeks wind turbines for Calif project

2007-11-12T18:10:00.001-08:00

via Reuters

Canadian wind developer Western Wind Energy Corp is working with turbine developers to acquire up to 120 megawatts of wind turbine generators for its proposed Windstar project in Tehachapi, California.

Western Wind hopes to take delivery of the turbines in late 2008 with commissioning expected in the second quarter of 2009.

Officials were not immediately available for comment.

Western Wind, of Coquitlam, British Columbia, operates about 34.5 MW of wind power in California and has projects under development in Arizona and California.

Report on wind power cost disputed

2007-11-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

via Delmarva Online

A new report commissioned by Delmarva Power says average electricity customers will pay between $21 and $34 more per month if a proposed offshore wind farm is built.

The report, done by PACE Global Energy Services, a Virginia-based consulting firm, says the project would be financially unstable because the developer, Bluewater Wind, has opted to absorb increases in commodity costs instead of passing them on to customers.

"Given the magnitude of the impact to our customers, we felt it was important to bring in a fresh perspective," Delmarva President Gary Stockbridge said in an interview Friday, when the report was released. He said the report was unbiased and would hold up to scrutiny.

The PACE study came under immediate and heavy scrutiny from Bluewater and its allies, who questioned the consultant's methods and assumptions.

Bluewater Wind spokesman Jim Lanard said the report was "sloppy" and had "many flaws that should be of concern to any serious reader."

Bluewater wants to build a 150-turbine wind farm 11.7 miles off the coast of Rehoboth Beach, and sign a 25-year power purchase agreement with Delmarva Power for its residential customers.

Four state agencies are expected to discuss the proposed wind farm at a meeting on Nov. 20 at Legislative Hall.

The report says the wind farm, standing alone, would result in a $22-per-month increase to the average Delmarva customer. If the project is backed up by a natural gas plant, it would cost $34 per month if NRG Energy built the backup, and $21 per month if Conectiv built it, the report said.

Buying on-shore wind would cost $11 per month above market prices, the report noted.

PACE's report identifies a higher "green premium" than the one outlined in a Public Service Commission staff report last month, which suggested the wind farm alone would cost the average ratepayer $11.71 per month over market.

The difference is largely because the PACE report projects a lower price for buying traditional electricity off the grid, said Greg Adams, who co-wrote the report for PACE.

University of Delaware researcher Jeremy Firestone said the report also assumes Delmarva Power would be buying more electricity from Bluewater than the PSC staff report identified. That would boost the price, he said. He called the report "not particularly transparent."

Adams confirmed the larger electricity estimate, saying it was based on independent research the company had done from federal wind data.

PACE recently gained attention for authoring the report that effectively sank the Long Island Power Authority's proposed offshore wind farm in Uniondale, N.Y., by noting electricity from that project would cost twice the amount of buying from traditional sources.

The Long Island report was commissioned by the Long Island Power Authority, which had originally championed the proposed wind farm there. Conversely, the Delaware report was commissioned by Delmarva, which has consistently fought the wind farm project.

The Delaware report notes that the Long Island offshore wind farm would have resulted in an increase of just $5.75 per month for LIPA customers, compared with the $21 to $34 Delaware premiums.

But the Delaware wind project would deliver more wind power to a smaller population. LIPA wanted to build a wind farm less than one-third the size of the Delaware project, spread out over more than three times the population.

On a per-megawatt-hour basis, the Delaware project is less expensive, the report said.

Long Island project developer Florida Power & Light offered an average levelized price of $291 per megawatt hour, according to PACE's Aug. 22 report on that project. That's compared with the Bluewater cost of $172 per mwh.

In September, Bluewater and Delmarva had agreed to allow the price of wind power to increase as the commodities used to build a wind farm, such as steel, increase. The PSC staff said that could create massive cost overruns. On Tuesday, Bluewater announced it would agree to remove the "escalators."

But even with the "escalators" gone, the Bluewater proposal has risks of price instability, the consultants wrote. Instead of increasing the price of wind power as commodities go up, Bluewater takes the risks upon itself, adversely impacting the company's credit and the stability of the project itself, the consultants wrote.

Removing the "escalators" allows Bluewater to begin its project and seek more money at a later date as commodity prices "financially impair their financial condition."

"This creates a large and uncapped risk for Delmarva," the report says.

"The risk doesn't go away, and may come back to affect Bluewater's ability to maintain the project's viability," Adams said.

Lanard replied that Bluewater's parent company owner, Babcock and Brown, believes any risk is "narrow," and it is a large enough company to honor its price despite any changes in the market.

The report describes other risks to the Bluewater project, including the possibility of the cancellation of a federal tax credit, volatility in the offshore turbine market, and the possibility of stranding Delmarva ratepayers with higher costs while customers leave for competing suppliers.

The report says it made no effort to quantify the health benefits of a wind farm in dollar figures.

Lanard said the state has the power to address stranded costs; the federal tax credit would be locked in once the turbines begin construction, he said.

"It's just one series of what-ifs after another," Lanard said.

Airtricity approved for second Dutch wind farm

2007-11-12T18:01:00.000-08:00

via Energy Current

Dutch authorities have given the green light to a second offshore wind farm from Irish developer Airtricity. The Breeveertien II site, 60 kilometres (37.5 miles) off the coast of IJmuiden, has a potential capacity of 350 MW and could deliver electricity to about 260,000 households. The turbines will be erected in waters which are between 19 and 25 metres deep (around 63 to 82 ft).

Airtricity won permission for a wind farm at West Rijn last year. That scheme is set to be sited around 40 kilometres (25 miles) off the Dutch coast near Scheveningen. West Rijn will have around 284 MW of capacity.

Xanterra reveals solar plans for Death Valley

2007-11-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

via Denver Business Journal

Xanterra Parks & Resorts will install a solar power plant in the sunniest place in the United States -- Death Valley.

The Greenwood Village company said Monday operates lodges, restaurants and concessions in national and state parks, and has made its mission to become an environmental leader in the hospitality industry.

Temperatures in Death Valley reach as high as 130 degrees in the summer, and there's seldom any rainfall there, so what better place for a solar power plant than Death Valley National Park?

The 1 megawatt plant will generate enough electricity to supply more than a third of Xanterra's operations there, which includes the Furnace Creek Inn and employee housing.

Xanterra will own the plant and the energy it produces. The plant itself will be built by SPG Solar Inc. of California and should be operational by March 2008.

Xanterra estimates that over the next 30 years, Xanterra's solar system will eliminate the emission of more than 284,000 tons of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, all of which contribute to global warming and acid rain. Simply put, that's equal to planting more than 54,200 trees and taking more than 3,700 cars off California highways.

Wind farm to generate electricity and tax base for city, school district

2007-11-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

Next year, the wind rushing through Spanish Fork Canyon will do more than disrupt golf games.

It's going to generate electricity, as well as money, for the city of Spanish Fork and Nebo School District.

Construction quietly began in October on a wind farm at the mouth of the canyon, to the east of the Fingerhut distribution center. Tracy Livingston, chief executive officer of Wasatch Wind, said the project should be operational by June at the latest, providing electricity for Rocky Mountain Power.

"It will be a good example of the benefits of wind turbines," Livingston said. The project should also help Spanish Fork with extra tax revenue and the prestige of being a Utah city on the cutting edge of renewable energy.

"It's just kind of cool to be the host of the first wind-farm project in Utah," Mayor Joe Thomas said.

Currently, the only other wind farm is at Point of The Mountain. Those wind turbines, visible from Interstate 15, generate electricity for Camp Williams. But the 660-kilowatt turbines are not as large as the ones near Spanish Fork.

Livingston said that project consists of nine 2.1-megawatt turbines to generate nearly 19 megawatts of electricity - enough to serve 19,000 average-size homes - that will be sold to Rocky Mountain Power. The turbines will be mounted on 470-foot towers.

Livingston said the canyon is a more ideal site for a wind farm than Point of the Mountain, because its winds are consistent and stronger than Point of the Mountain breezes.

But there's more to the project than just generating electricity. Livingston said it will help by reducing dependence on fossil fuel, which in turn will help stabilize prices.

Since wind is free, Livingston said power consumers will not be subjected as much to the price swings of coal and natural gas, which are used to power most of Utah's electric plants. Wind power is one of the options the governor's energy task force has proposed.

It also has the potential to reduce air pollution. Wasatch Wind estimates the reduction in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide from the plant each year would equal 11,377 cars being taken off the road.

To get the plant going, the city had to offer Wasatch Wind a 70 percent property-tax rebate for the first 10 years. Thomas said the agreement was a good deal for the city and the Nebo School District.

"Part of the land is owned by Spanish Fork City. The land would have sat there undeveloped," Thomas said. "It's certainly a win for the tax base in the county."

But the biggest winner, Thomas said, would be the school district. It will receive nearly $5 million in property taxes in the first 40 years and $3.6 million every 20 years thereafter.

ClimateMaster Endorses Eco-Friendly Loan Program Offered Through GE Money & Electric & Gas Industries Association

2007-11-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

via Business Wire

ClimateMaster, Inc., a leading manufacturer of water-source and geothermal heating and cooling systems, today endorsed the GEOSmart Loan program offered through a partnership between GE Money & the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum in Washington, D.C.

The GEOSmart Loan program, sponsored by EGIA and funded by GE Money’s Sales Finance unit, provides both installment and revolving financing options and is available through EGIA-approved contractors to assist consumers looking to purchase a ClimateMaster geothermal heating, cooling and water heating system for their home. “The level of long-term financing provided through the GEOSmart Loan program is something that has long been needed in the geothermal heat pump (GHP) market,” said Daniel Ellis, president of ClimateMaster. “GEOSmart financing makes these systems more affordable for consumers retrofitting existing homes.”

“GHP technology harnesses energy stored near the surface of the earth to provide heating and cooling,” says John Bailey, senior vice president of sales for ClimateMaster. “This stable underground temperature reservoir is maintained by solar energy and is a clean and renewable resource available in all 50 states. GHPs tap into this reserve to reach 400 to 600 percent energy efficiency, in terms of energy delivered versus energy drawn from the grid to operate the system.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space-conditioning system for most locations in the U.S.

“With buildings accounting for nearly 40 percent of all U.S. energy consumption and heating, cooling and water heating being the largest contributors, GHPs are one of the best ways to reduce your energy bills and your footprint on the environment,” said Ellis. “And they are a proven technology, with hundreds of thousands installed nationwide since their introduction in the late 1970s.”

“ClimateMaster’s line of geothermal heating and cooling systems are an excellent choice for providing and utilizing sustainable, affordable energy,” said Bruce Matulich, executive director of EGIA, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. “We are pleased to be able to promote both ClimateMaster’s products and the GEOSmart program to distributors, contractors and our utility partners across the U.S.”

Due to significant consumer energy savings, the positive impact on utility peak load conditions and the substantial environmental benefits, a growing number of utility companies are supportive of GHP technology and are offering rebates and other financial incentives to encourage consumer installation of GHP systems. The GEOSmart loan program is already being integrated into leading utility and state sponsored energy efficiency programs, providing homeowners with a comprehensive financing solution that makes it easy for consumers to invest in energy efficient home improvements.

“At GE, we’ve made a commitment to continue investing in and providing products and services that are eco-friendly,” said Bruce Christensen, vice president and general manager, Home Improvement industry, GE Money – Sales Finance. “We’re proud to partner with EGIA and are excited that ClimateMaster has chosen to endorse the GEOSmart program.”

Training the solar-tech generation

2007-11-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

via Newsday

Seven years ago, the Long Island Power Authority, KeySpan Energy and a coalition of community groups joined a national drive to equip a million homes with "solar roofs" by 2010.

They set an ambitious goal for Long Island - to have 10,000 homes with rooftop solar power systems by the end of the decade.

Don't count on it. Today they're only a little more than 1/10th of the way toward that goal, with nearly 1,100 home systems installed.

It's not for lack of effort by solar power's champions, including Yelleshpur Dathatri, director of Farmingdale State College's Solar Energy Center.

His center has trained more than 400 people, mostly electricians and electrical contractors, to install solar cells and the accompanying systems to produce electricity and hot water.

Dathatri, a 59-year-old college professor whose nickname is Harry, can tick off the reasons solar makes sense. Oil is on the brink of hitting $100 a barrel. The sun is an abundant and lasting source of energy, while oil supplies can be cut off by wars and hurricanes.

It's suited for Long Island, which gets ample sunshine, more than much of the rest of New York State.

Solar power systems don't release greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. For every kilowatt hour of power produced by solar, we avoid creating 1.25 pounds of carbon dioxide. So when we burn oil, Dathatri says, the question we have to ask ourselves is: "Are we justified in doing this for our children or grandchildren?"

Yet, at the same time there's another question about solar power: Why is it making such painfully slow progress?

The simple answer is that, even with $100 oil, solar isn't yet nearly as cheap as burning oil and coal. Rebates and tax credits narrow the gap, and improving technology will narrow it further. But it still costs a lot of money to install a solar system.

It takes 10 or 11 years to pay back that cost, according to Dathatri. Systems that use solar to provide just hot water for a home cost less and recoup the cost in four or five years, he says.

Dathatri has opted to have both kinds of systems in his Farmingdale home. With a small electric system, his LIPA bill is down to $50 a month, and he spends about $80 a month on natural gas for heat and hot water.

To supply virtually all of the typical home's electric needs, a homeowner would require enough solar cells to power a 6-kilowatt system. The cost: about $48,000. LIPA offers a rebate program which at current rates would pay $22,500 toward the system. Federal and state tax credits would pay for another $7,000, leaving the homeowner's bottom line at $18,500.

So installing a solar system is a long-term investment. One proponent, Gordian Raacke, director of the nonprofit Renewable Energy Long Island, argues for it this way: "You've got two choices. You can take your money and send it to LIPA every month, or you can take that money and invest it in your own rooftop power plant and get equity."

Once the system is paid off, your electric power is essentially free. "The sun is a very reliable power source," he says. "It's not expected to go away anytime soon."

Raacke thinks Long Island could still hit the goal of 10,000 solar roofs by 2010 - if LIPA ramps up its solar program and homeowners can get financing as easily as they can get a loan for a new car.

LIPA's new chief executive, Kevin Law, says the goal won't be met. "I'm supportive of our Solar Pioneer program and I'd love to be able to do more, but the unfortunate thing is that it's not a whole lot of power saved at the end of the day," he says. "Until it becomes a little more attractive financially with additional federal and state incentives, I'm not sure how much more participation we're going to get."

Yet, from his office on the fourth floor of the Omni building in Uniondale, Law does see a stronger future for solar power on Long Island.

"I'm looking out the window at the Coliseum, the two EAB Plazas, the Marriott hotel, Nassau County Medical Center - big, wide-open roofs with not a tree to be found. With photovoltaic cells on their roofs, we could get a nice little addition to our grid," Law says. "The question will be, What types of rebates and incentives could we offer them to do it?"

There's a catch: Homeowners with solar electric systems can get the thrill of seeing their electric meters spinning backward when the sun is shining, meaning they can earn credit that erases all or part of their power cost. But owners of commercial buildings don't have the right to this payback, known as "net metering."

Law wants to examine whether LIPA can offer commercial net metering on its own, even without passage of a law - stalled so far - to do it statewide.

Stony Brook University's new Advanced Energy Research Center is also pushing for large companies and building owners to go solar. Jim Smith, assistant vice president for economic development at Stony Brook, points out that the most expensive form of energy on Long Island comes from gas turbines that kick in to meet the peak summer electric demand, which comes when high temperatures strain air-conditioning systems. That's also when the sun is shining brightly.

Smith is lining up companies that would be willing to blanket their roofs with solar cells. He says he has five chief executives on board and plans to approach solar-cell manufacturers to try to get a discount on what would be a very large buy. The executives, he says, "are not just doing it for the dollar savings, it's really a statement ... they want to move in an environmental way, a green way."

While Law, Smith and others push for sweeping policy changes, Dathatri is continuing the training of solar installers, with his next full-week workshop slated for Dec. 17-21. By the end of the workshop, the participants put together a small solar system and test it to make sure it works safely and effectively.

When the workshops began five years ago they were subsidized by LIPA and a federal grant and cost $100; now they cost $500, but Dathatri says the college just breaks even on the sessions.

"The interest has increased tremendously," he says. "This technology along with wind and geothermal is the right answer to the energy needs of Long Island."

It's not the whole answer, though. If you ask Dathatri what's the biggest way you could save energy right now, the answer would be simple and cheap: replacing your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.Title: Distinguished service professor and director, Solar Energy Center, Farmingdale State College

YELLESHPUR DATHATRI, 59

BACKGROUND

Born: Mandya, India (about 37 miles from Bangalore)

Education: bachelor's and master's degrees, Bangalore University; master's from Stony Brook University. Licensed as a professional engineer.

Came to the United States: 1982, sponsored by his brother, a medical doctor

First job here: Worked for two years for BK Instruments, a defense contractor in Hauppauge. Laid off when the company lost a contract, then rehired a week later when it got new business. "This gave me a shock," he says, prompting him to take a teaching job at Farmingdale.

Family: Wife, Geetha, is a caseworker for the Suffolk County social services department. Two children in California: a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University and an education instructor at Yosemite National Park.

Geelong's geothermal goldmine

2007-11-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

via The Geelong Advertiser

Green energy could become Geelong's newest industry with a $20-million push to discover if the region is a geothermal goldmine.

Greenearth Energy Ltd yesterday launched a share offer to raise the money to further explore promising local geothermal sites.

Greenearth Energy general manger Enrico Bombardieri said a geothermal energy industry in Geelong could supply cheaper electricity and create jobs.

"It's the opening up of an exciting new industry with tremendous potential," he said.

Conventional geothermal energy has been around for thousands of years and involves tapping into natural underground hot water reservoirs.

A newer, less-proven technology involves injecting water down to about 5km underground where hot rocks, such as granite, heat the water before it returns as energy-generating steam.

Greenearth Energy hopes both systems could be used at two sites about 20km south of Geelong, one at a well, named Bellarine No.1, where Greenearth Energy's parent company, Lakes Oil, has drilled for gas; and another at Hindhaugh Creek, which was drilled in 1969.

The company wants to further investigate the sites after a geologist's report found the area was a potential geothermal energy resource.

Mr Bombardieri said if successful, the clean renewable energy could be used by local industries, including Alcoa's Anglesea power station and cement works.

If all goes to plan, the company hopes to drill in the area within two years.

Mr Bombardieri said the area was ideal because a layer of sedimentary rock had acted like a doona, insulating underground heat while its proximity to transport infrastructure and the Melbourne and Geelong markets would make it economically viable.

Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindross said geothermal energy could be a great leap forward as long as the drilling sites did not harm protected land.

In May, Greenearth was granted three permits by the State Government covering nearly 18,800 km squared land to explore for geothermal energy in Victoria.

Two of the permit blocks were in the Latrobe Valley/Gippsland region and the third stretched from western Melbourne to Daylesford in the north and past Anglesea in the south.

All the permit areas were found to be potential geothermal energy sites.

A New Generation

2007-11-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

via WSJ

Two years ago, after Stan Gelber had retired and started an Internet company out of his home in Santa Cruz, Calif., he took a good, long look at his $3,000-a-year utility bill and decided to make a change.

"My electric bill was skyrocketing," he says. "I really needed to get a handle on what was going out, versus what was coming in."

Mr. Gelber's solution was to purchase a solar-power generator for his home, with rooftop photovoltaic panels. He says that while concern about the environment played a role in his decision to go solar, economics convinced him to take the plunge.

"I'm in support of anything that will address global warming and our power consumption," the 65-year-old Mr. Gelber says. "That's very important to me. But I think that's secondary to the economics of it. It's going to pay for itself in eight to 10 years, and essentially I have free electricity for the rest of my life."

As electricity prices rise and government incentives and technology improvements make renewable-power systems more affordable, a growing number of people are embracing self-generation. And while as much as 85% of the demand for home solar-power generation is in California -- the state with the most generous financial incentives -- the market is growing in other states, including New Jersey and New York, and could take off nationwide if more states implement favorable rules and funding, advocates say.

"This market wouldn't be happening without these government incentives," says Lisa Frantzis, managing director of renewable and distributed energy at Navigant Consulting, an independent consulting firm in Burlington, Mass. "There's a convergence with prices coming down, concern about climate change, volatility in the power market and people concerned about energy security."

California Takes Lead

By far, the most widely used home renewable-power systems are rooftop solar panels that absorb the sun's rays and convert them into electricity.

In California, people who install their own solar power or other renewable generators can get rebates of as much as $2.50 per watt of electricity produced. Residential customers of San Francisco-based PG&E Corp. utility Pacific Gas & Electric Co., who install an average-size system of about 4,600 watts, can expect to obtain a rebate of at least $10,000, utility spokesman Keely Wachs says. California's rebates are based on the electricity output of the solar generator. The highest-performing, most efficient system would qualify for the full $2.50-per-watt rebate, whereas systems on roofs that have heavy shade, or smaller surface areas, for example, would qualify for a lower rebate amount, such as $2.20, $1.90, $1.55 or less per watt, Mr. Wachs says.

In the first nine months of this year, requests for solar rebates -- from both residential and commercial customers -- covered 160 megawatts of electricity generated, the California Public Utilities Commission has reported. That is slightly less than the 198 megawatts of solar power installed in California over the previous 26 years, the regulators said. Almost 90% of this year's 5,109 applications are from consumers eager to generate their own electricity.

Mr. Gelber says that after rebates, his solar-power system cost about $28,000 to install. The system, which gets full sun, generates about 4,500 watts of electricity, enough to satisfy Mr. Gelber's daytime energy needs, including multiple computers and appliances. After dark, Mr. Gelber and his wife, Jean Pierog, rely on power supplied by PG&E.

Mr. Gelber's system feeds electricity into the utility grid, and any surplus is used as a credit toward the cost of power purchased from the utility on cloudy days or at night, a process known as net metering. If a resident like Mr. Gelber produces more power than he or she consumes, the home's utility bill is zero. Mr. Gelber says he ends up paying PG&E about $225 a year.

The Long Haul

Installing a home solar-power generator can take quite a bit of effort.

California requires extensive documentation before it pays a rebate, and building permits are required to install a solar-power system, as are scheduled inspections by the local utility, county and city. Mr. Gelber also had to replace the roof on his house to ensure that it would be able to handle the extra weight of the solar panels and converter.

"There's a lot of work putting them in," Mr. Gelber says of solar-power generators. "It's not a spur-of-the-moment thing."

In its Northern California service territory, PG&E charges tiered rates for electricity, between 11.4 cents and 36.4 cents a kilowatt-hour, depending on usage. (A kilowatt-hour equals the energy needed to run a 100-watt bulb for 10 hours.) Utility spokesman John Tremayne says the average PG&E customer pays about 15 cents a kilowatt-hour, including surcharges and fees.

Solar power generated with photovoltaic panels, meanwhile, will run a homeowner about 18 to 19 cents a kilowatt-hour, assuming a cost of $24,000 to install a system that produces 4,300 kilowatt-hours of electricity, over 30 years, according to Barry Cinnamon, president and chief executive of Akeena Solar Inc., a solar-power installer based in Los Gatos, Calif.

Some customers have managed to cut their installation costs to as little as $15,000 after state rebates and a $2,000 federal tax credit, which, over a 30-year period, would produce power for about 10 to 14 cents a kilowatt-hour, according to Mr. Cinnamon, who says PG&E rates in his area are around 36 cents a kilowatt-hour, after surcharges and fees.

Gold Standard

California's incentive program is the gold standard among advocates of solar power. When demand exceeded expectations last year, regulators expanded the state's self-generation incentive budget to $342 million from $42 million. This year, the state earmarked $3 billion for solar-generation incentives over 10 years, with a goal of installing 3,000 megawatts by 2017.

New Jersey has a rebate program, too, but it ran into trouble last year when demand far exceeded allotted funding. New Jersey consumers now have to wait, sometimes a year or more, for a rebate. But the state has a separate funding program under its renewable-power mandate for utilities that offers consumers 20 cents to 30 cents a kilowatt-hour for their solar generation. In return for those payments, the local utility collects renewable energy credits that it can use to comply with New Jersey's requirement that all power providers use renewables for 20% of their retail power by 2020.

The U.S. currently has about 700 megawatts of installed generation from solar panels connected to the grid, according to research by the consulting firm Navigant. That represents less than 1% of all of the electricity generated in the U.S. About half of that generation comes from residential solar generators. If state policies remain unchanged, generation from solar panels in the U.S. -- both from commercial and residential generators -- is expected to grow to 6,000 megawatts by 2015, with 3,000 of those megawatts in California, according to the research Navigant compiled for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Growth in the home solar-power market won't take off until more states adopt favorable net-metering rules, advocates say. Not only do such rules help offset the cost of installing a renewable-power system, they also prevent electricity from being wasted.

If every state that currently limits the amount of self-generated renewable power that can be sold back to the grid lifted those caps, an additional 3,000 megawatts of solar-panel generation would likely be developed in the next eight years, Navigant said in its study for the DOE.

A separate report published by New Energy Choices, a nonprofit clean-energy research firm in New York, graded states on their rules for net metering and interconnection, or allowing home generators to connect and send power to the grid. As of September, 39 states had adopted programs and rules for compensating consumers for sending self-generated renewable power to the grid, according to the report, which was produced with help from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland garnered the highest marks for net metering, while a number of states received low scores because of barriers in their policies, such as requirements that force consumers to purchase extra equipment or pay extra fees to participate, says Shaun Chapman, a spokesman at New Energy Choices.

States without net-metering rules didn't make the list at all, Mr. Chapman says. Those states include South Dakota, Kansas, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Arizona, though the latter two states are working on adopting such rules.

"While it's true we don't have rules, most of our utilities now have net metering," says Kristin Mayes, a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates the state's electric utilities. Small utilities that serve about 5% of the state don't have net-metering programs, however, "which is why we're adopting statewide rules," she says.

World's coal use carries deadly cost

2007-11-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

via Yahoo

Digging coal deep underground, Luo Xianglai learned to listen hard to the sounds the rocks made when struck with his pickax.

A dull thud usually meant solid rock and safety. A whistling noise signaled an impending cave-in.

"Usually you could tell it was coming," said Luo, a squat 33-year-old with broad shoulders, a buzz cut and a worried look. "The rocks would start singing, letting off a whistling sound. We would get out in a rush."

On a cold December day two years ago, the rocks did not sing, but disaster struck anyway. A cave-in buried Luo under fallen ceiling planks and more than 6 feet of rock, 300 feet down a mine shaft. His right leg was crushed, returning him to the life of an impoverished farmer — this time, with a steel rod in his leg.

Coal mining remains one of the world's most dangerous trades. In China, more than 4,700 people died last year in coal mines.

The deaths underscore the human cost of a worldwide boom in coal use, driven by economic growth in China and India and a return to coal for cheap electric power in the U.S. and elsewhere. While Chinese miners toil for a couple hundred dollars a month, mine owners in Taiyuan, the sooty capital of Shanxi province, drive BMWs and invest in real estate in Beijing, the capital.

Miners themselves are often complicit in the deadly bargain. Many face reprisals if they report accidents. And some do not want to see their mine shut down for an accident investigation, depriving them of work.

"Some miners fear poverty more than mining disasters," said Cao Yu, a senior at Hunan Normal University who conducted surveys among miners in Hunan province in 2005 and 2006. "Mining accidents create great stress. For them an accident means a colleague has departed the world but it also means the mine will stop work."

Even in wealthy nations, where mining is more mechanized and safety regulations better enforced, risks remain.

The U.S. has had three major fatal accidents in the last two years. Most recently, a collapse at Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine in August left six miners presumed dead. Federal inspectors had warned of hazardous conditions, though another federal agency had approved the work.

"Mining is inherently high risk and will always remain so as long as it is done by people," said Dave Feickert, an independent mine safety consultant based in New Zealand, who has worked extensively in China. "All underground mines face the same problems. It takes eternal vigilance to stay on top of it."

In northern India, 50 miners died in a methane gas explosion last year in the hilly coal country around Dhanbad. Small operators cut corners, putting profits ahead of safety, inspectors and miners say. "We are often trapped in the coal mines during monsoon," said Jeetan Ram, who recalled a mine flood that drowned 29 fellow miners in 2001. "We are at the mercy of the rain god."

But the death toll in China is on another scale. By official count, 4,746 workers died last year in coal mines. China's fatal accident rate of two deaths per million tons of coal mined is 50 times higher than America's and nine times that of India. Many more deaths and injuries go unreported at China's smaller mines, which routinely cover up accidents, as Luo's did.

Efforts to buttress mine safety are being made worldwide. A fatal methane gas explosion at a West Virginia mine in early 2006 set off a flurry of new regulation in the United States. Likewise, China has cracked down on unsafe practices in the past two years, bringing down the number of deaths by 20 percent from a peak of nearly 7,000 in 2002, even as coal production has increased.

But gaps remain. U.S. inspectors acknowledge they failed to carry out mandated quarterly inspections at every underground mine this year. A new federal law requires air packs, which give miners about an hour's worth of oxygen in an emergency; while 125,000 have been distributed, an equal number remain on back order.

In China, the progress has come mainly at large, state-owned mines, the best of which now have safety levels approaching western standards. But 80 percent of the casualties occur at small operations, many of which dodge government crackdowns, often aided by local officials who sometimes are part-owners.

It was into that world that Luo entered. Raised in an isolated valley of terraced fields, about 20 miles down a dirt road that hugs mountainsides, Luo never thought about becoming a miner. Farming small plots of wheat and corn has been the way of life ever since his ancestors migrated north a century ago to the central China town of Chang'gou — a name that means "long gulch."

But China's economic boom led to previously unimagined opportunities and a growing income gap between cities and countryside. As countless other young rural Chinese have done, Luo left his village in 2002 for Xi'an, the provincial capital 150 miles to the north.

"When you farm, all you can do is make ends meet," Luo said. "If you want to live otherwise, you have to leave home and find work as a laborer."

Like many migrants, Luo found the city hard going. He picked up low-paying jobs as a carpenter, a baker and a brewery worker hauling crates of bottles. Soon he headed four hours east to the coal fields in neighboring Shanxi province, with an introduction from hometown friends who had worked as miners.

At the Zhaoduo mine, Luo did odd jobs for a month before getting a chance to dig. He lived in a dorm room with two or three others and shared a communal shower with 200 miners.

Water often seeped into the mine, making it damp and cold. When there was no water, the air was dense and hard to breathe. Luo worked 10-hour shifts, with no breaks, and a day off every 10 days. Diggers were paid by the number of carts they filled, so no work meant no pay.

"Basically you had to see how much your body could take," Luo said. "If you could take it, you kept working. If not you rested."

Luo found he was good at digging. For the first time in his life he had money, about $160 a month, nearly as much as he made in a year back home.

He moved to a bigger mine for better pay, then up a road clogged with coal trucks to the Dayangou mine, a small two-shaft operation set in eroded hills below bluffs farmed by villagers. Its owners were furiously trying to ramp up production in the 650-foot-deep shafts.

Along the way, Luo's per-cart pay rose with the market price of coal, from a low of 75 cents to $1.75, raising his monthly income to $250. His wife and daughter joined him, the family living in one room next to the mine. They bought a television and were flush with cash when they visited their village for the Chinese New Year.

"When I was working, all I thought about was making money and meeting my responsibilities to care for my family," he said.

Accidents were commonplace, Luo said. He saw three miners die: one fell down a shaft, another was crushed in a cave-in and the third smashed his head on the mine roof when his clothes got caught on an automated coal lift. And he heard about many more deaths — talk that mine bosses tried to suppress with threats of dismissal.

"If someone died in the tunnel next to you, you wouldn't know about it," Luo said. "The mine bosses would keep the miners in the shaft and tell them not to talk about it to anyone. You would think, 'That's not fair.' But you were always worried about losing your job."

Such fears are pervasive in Chinese mines. At the Huayuan Mining Co. in eastern Shandong province, miners said they continued to work as water began seeping into the mine last summer, because they feared fines or dismissal. When a rain-swollen river breached a dike in August, the mine flooded, drowning 172.

"To enter the gates of the Huayuan company was to enter a prison," said a handwritten letter by a miner who asked that his name not be used out of fear of reprisals.

On Dec. 27, 2005, Luo was strengthening ceiling beams when part of the shaft started to crumble. Another miner shouted to Luo to help repair the breach.

"The ceiling beam, the lifeline of the mine, came down on me," Luo said.

A Dayangou mine official denied any collapse occurred. Zheng Hailong, a straight-backed wiry miner of 30 years and deputy manager of the mine, said Dayangou has a perfect record on safety and the environment.

"Safety here is guaranteed," Zheng said, repeating the government's campaign slogan: "Safety first, production second."

Dayangou produces more than 100,000 tons annually, according to mine officials, though it is only licensed to produce 30,000 tons. The county says it owns the mine, but Luo and others say it is privately owned.

A government safety campaign is closing down mines that produce less than 300,000 tons a year. Two hours' drive west of Dayangou, in Shanxi's Liang mountains, inspectors have repeatedly raided mines, sometimes dynamiting miner dormitories and destroying weighing scales to prevent the mines from reopening.

But the crackdown never reached Dayangou. After his accident, Luo said, mine employees drove him 155 miles across the province to the People's Hospital in Hejin so that no one would know of his injuries and the mine could deny there had been an accident. After 45 days, when he could walk again, hospital administrators told him to leave, handing him $1,200 that the mine had left for him.

Luo spent another three months on crutches in a rented room in Hejin, still hoping to return to the mines. But he finally gave up.

"I realized I would never be the same, never totally healed, so I came back," Luo said at his half-acre farm in Chang'gou.

He has no money for an operation to remove the rod in his leg. Standing for long periods is painful. He finds it hard to till his plots of wheat or climb the trees to gather chestnuts, which are the area's sole cash crop. But he has no choice: He must feed a family of four — his wife gave birth to a son early this year.

Though he misses the money they once had, he now says he would not return to mining, even if he could. "I've learned a bitter lesson," he said. "Life above ground is better than life below."

Solar Energy System for Google Headquarters

2007-11-10T14:09:00.000-08:00

Google Inc. plans to build a massive solar-electricity system to help power parts of its Mountain View, Calif., campus that it says will benefit both the environment and its bottom line. The system, to be built by EI Solutions, a unit of Energy Innovations Inc., of Pasadena, Calif., will use 9,212 solar panels and have a total capacity of 1.6 megawatts, or enough electricity to supply 1,000 average California homes. That will satisfy 30% of the campus’ peak electricity needs. The installation at Google’s headquarters, known as the Googleplex, will begin next month and will be completed in the spring. It will be the largest solar-power system ever constructed at a U.S. corporate campus and one of the largest on any corporate site in the world, EI Solutions said.

Solar power plant opens next month in Greenville

2007-11-10T13:27:00.000-08:00

via Everything Michigan

In the rush to open its first Greenville solar-power plant, United Solar Ovonic did not slow down for a celebratory ribbon-cutting, a stirring salute from the marching band or a handshake from the governor.

Instead, the Auburn Hills firm quietly launched production Nov. 1, a month early, in a race to fill orders as fast as they roll in.

The company plans two local plants, each with two production lines --although the campus can accommodate up to six solar-film factories.

"We are in a very large market opportunity, with an excellent product for selling onto rooftops. We're selling out," said Mike Morelli, new president and chief executive of parent company Energy Conversion Devices Inc.

Morelli, who joined the company in September, formerly was president of Carrier commercial refrigeration, a division of United Technologies Inc.

In two months, Morelli has taken charge of the solar-film sector, locking in on the high-growth, high-profit potential side of the inventive company. The first quarter ended Sept. 30, and orders this quarter already outpace available capacity, he said.

Nearly 90 percent of the company's first-quarter sales were for solar-power flexible film, commonly termed PV, or photovoltaic, laminates.

Sales were $47 million, with the solar sector selling $41.9 million of that total. That's a 31 percent increase from the previous quarter and 76 percent over this time last year.

Demand for the Uni-Solar laminates is growing in the U.S., Italy, Germany and South Korea.

The hectic pace of construction combined with a major turnover of leadership led to a $7.6 million loss, or 19 cents per share. Restructuring costs hit $2.5 million, while another $2.5 million went for plant costs and support for the booming solar business.

Morelli vowed the company would reach a profit and stay in the black by June, the end of fiscal 2008.

He is overseeing another seismic change, telling investors the company is moving from research and invention to profitable production.

The upbeat outlook sounds sweet in a community with one of the state's highest unemployment rates.

When Greenville's Electrolux AB refrigerator plant moved to Mexico two years ago, 2,700 people lost their jobs and Montcalm County became a poster child for the downside of globalization.

Greenville weathered those losses.

Now, City Manager George Bosanic is more than pleased with the new company in town.

"It's just been a wonderful experience. It's actually fun to work with them, and we're working very, very hard," he said.

"We stand ready to do whatever it takes to enable them to look at Greenville for further expansion."

All the solar film produced now is destined for commercial rooftops, including a roof for a General Motors Corp. plant in Fontana, Calif. But residential applications are in the works.

Solar owners 'could be paid for power'

2007-11-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

via Fairfax Digital

Families who installed solar panels on their roofs would be paid top dollar to sell electricity back into the grid under a plan by a coalition of lobby groups.

Solar panels could be placed on the tops of one million Australian homes and businesses within 15 years, saving four million tonnes of greenhouse emissions, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said.

The ACF, Investa Property Group and RI Industries on Saturday called on the federal government and Labor to commit to introduce a feed-in tariff to encourage the rollout of clean energy.

A feed-in tariff allows households and businesses with solar panels on their roofs to sell solar energy back into the grid and be paid a premium price for it, based on the cost of electricity at the time of peak demand.

At present, Saturday's solar-panel owners are paid only a fraction of the peak price when they sell electricity into the grid, the groups say.

"We should stop wasting the abundance of sunshine that falls on Australian rooftops," ACF executive director Don Henry said.

"If we are to secure a clean, safe energy future for our kids, it is vital we have a solar feed-in tariff alongside a strong renewable energy target."

Investa spokesman Craig Roussac said solar panels produced clean and reliable energy that could be used at peak demand times.

"So from our perspective it makes sense that it should be priced at a premium rate," he said.

"We see solar PV (photovoltaic) as a technology for the future. We would incorporate it into our projects if we could get a commercial return on our investment."

Steve Jaques, spokesman for solar panel distributor RF Industries, said a strong feed-in tariff would help grow the solar industry.

Families that installed small solar panels at their homes could recoup the cost in less than 10 years if they were paid a better price for selling energy back into the power grid, he said.

The groups called for the government and Labor to commit to a nationally consistent solar feed-in tariff for homes and businesses and a target of one million Australian solar rooftops by 2022.

Verizon Has Bright Idea To Use Solar Power At Central Site

2007-11-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

via Trading Markets

Verizon will soon be using solar power to run the equipment that makes telecommunications possible in the Tampa Bay area.

By the end of this week, the company will complete the installation of 140 solar panels at its central office building in Carrollwood on Zambito Road. The Verizon office is one of 80 in the area that houses equipment used to manage phone calls and transport Internet data.

The solar equipment will generate 19 to 21 kilowatts of power a day, or about 23 percent of the building's electricity needs, Verizon said.

The savings could be significant, but Verizon spokesman Bob Elek said he wasn't sure how long it would take to recoup the cost of the project -- $300,000.

"It will take a while, but there's no question that the cost will be recovered," Elek said.

Verizon has completed similar solar projects in California and New Jersey.

"Those central offices have to be kept fairly cool because of the equipment that's in there," Elek said. "You can't let them overheat."

Elek said the company may install more solar panels at office buildings in a six-county area that includes Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Solar ships coming to San Francisco in 2009

2007-11-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

via CNET

In two years, tourists will likely be traveling to Alcatraz on green energy.

Australia's Solar Sailor has come up with a way to make large solar panels that can also act like sails. Put one or more of the sails on a boat and the boat gets converted into a hybrid. The boat still has a diesel engine, but it mostly gets around on wind or sun power. A tour boat in Sydney Harbor has an array of eight small solar sails.

"It makes three runs a day and uses 1/10th of the fuel," says CEO Robert Dane.

The sail itself is solid and not flexible like cloth sails, but it functions like regular sails, he said. The solar panels, which are made with the assistance of a German company, are also lighter than typical silicon solar panels.

Hornblower Yachts in San Francisco is currently trying to get Coast Guard approval for a ferry powered by one of Solar Sailor's sails. If all goes well, the boat will be ferrying passengers in 2009. The picture shows Dane and a model of what the San Francisco boat will look like.

Solar Sailor also won a contract to deliver a set of sails for a 150-passenger boat in Shanghai. Additionally, it is working on a contract for four 100-person ferries in Hong Kong.

Like hybrid cars, boats equipped with the company's solar sails get their best mileage results in short-haul trips. The results, so far, are pretty impressive, Dane notes. In Sydney, the boat with the solar sails can go 6 knots on either wind power or solar power. Wind and sun together allow the boat to go around 10 knots. (Cumulatively, the sails on the Sydney boat can generate 16 kilowatts.)

The San Francisco boat will likely be able to go several knots on wind power alone.

Solar Sailor doesn't make the boat. It makes the sail and consults with the boat builder to ensure that it gets integrated properly and safely. The San Francisco boat will likely cost $8.5 million. Of that total, $1.5 million will be for the sail.

The sail on the San Francisco boat will approximately be 15 meters high. The boat will only have one sail. The Sydney boat has eight shorter sales that can be sailed in unison or individually. Computer studies, however, convinced Dane that the best design involves only one or two sails.

Geothermal energy will save money over time

2007-11-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

via RGJ

If you can handle a hefty initial expense in exchange for long-term savings, it might be worth taking a deeper look at geothermal heating and cooling systems, which the Environmental Protection Agency has called one of the "most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies currently available."

Most of us have experienced the underlying concept of geothermal heat simply by stepping into a cave. The earth maintains a year-round temperature of 50 to 70 degrees. A geothermal heating system uses a water/antifreeze solution, circulating through systems of buried polyethylene pipe, to transfer that energy throughout the home.

Most homeowners install vertical closed-loop systems, which reach depths of 150-300 feet. Horizontal systems are less expensive but don't transfer as much heat, says Mike Dempsey, owner of American Heating & Air Conditioning in Cincinnati.

How it works

In the winter, the liquid in the pipes absorbs the heat and carries it to coils in a heat exchanger. The heated air is distributed through the home via traditional ductwork. In the summer, the flow reverses, carrying hot air down and transferring cool air up to a condenser, compressor and evaporator where the air is chilled and dehumidified. Most systems also provide hot water for the home.

This transfer of heat is powered by an electric heat pump and generates four to five kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity used, according to ClimateMaster, a manufacturer of geothermal units.

A hefty investment

Drilling is the most expensive installation charge, and often the most stressful for homeowners.

"You've just got to accept that it's going to be a mess for a while," says Nancy Craig, who had a geothermal system installed for her Cincinnati home in August.

Both homeowners and installers stress that geothermal is a long-term investment.

"The drawback is that there is a large initial expense, but in my case it was worth it," says James B. Helmer Jr. In January, Helmer and his wife, Deborah, installed 20 vertical loops to support five geothermal systems in their home.

"The main reason you do something like this is, over time, it will pay for itself," Helmer says.

The (eventual) payoff

Geothermal systems start at about $20,000, versus $7,000-$10,000 for a high-efficiency natural-gas furnace and air conditioning system, says Dempsey, who installs both types.

The payback comes monthly. A comparison from ClimateMaster estimates the annual heating cost for a home using a basic geothermal system is $347, compared with $1,768 for a 91 percent-efficient gas furnace.

The EPA estimates it takes three to five years for the average homeowner's monthly savings to make up for the additional cost of a geothermal system. It took Helmer about 10 years to recoup the cost of his previous system, installed in 1995. It was expected to take seven to eight years.

Although there are incentives for geothermal energy, Helmer says the tax savings don't compare with the incentives offered by the federal government when he installed solar panels on a previous home in the late 1970s.

"We'll maybe save $300 in taxes" on this system, Helmer says. "That's not the reason to do it."

A new method in development by the Department of Energy's Building Technologies program could drop the price of geothermal systems by placing the geothermal loops in the home's foundation and eliminating the need for drilling.

"Geothermal is much more affordable if you can incorporate it into new construction rather than retrofitting," says Ed Pollock, residential team leader with the Building Technologies program.

Integrating a geothermal system into the home's construction also allows homeowners to finance it as part of their mortgage, Pollock says

Geothermal heats up the Twin Cities

2007-11-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

via Twin Cities Daily Planet

What do the Twin Cities and Iceland have in common? Well, literally speaking, in some Minnesotan winter months you might feel like you are living in an iced country. Actually, the Icelandic sea climate is much more moderate and there is rarely snow. Despite their differences, Minnesota and Iceland share at least one common ground: the use of geothermal energy.

Throughout Iceland about 90% of the population heat by geothermal. "A lot of people coming to Iceland are surprised because of that strange smell in the air. It’s the smell of sulphate originated by the many underground hot water sources across the country," says Erlingur Óttar Thoroddsen, an Icelandic exchange student at Hamline University.

Iceland is located on what geologists call a “hot spot.” Due to the newness of the land itself (approximately 16-20 million years), the crust of the Earth is thin, which accounts for the huge number of hot springs around the country. In Iceland, these geothermal resources are used for heating, and also harnessed to generate electricity. The Icelandic profit highly from these natural resources. "Although living costs are high in Iceland and Reykjavik is considered to be one of the most expensive cities worldwide, we’ve got one thing that is very, very cheap, and that’s energy," Erlingur says.

Unfortunately, the best geothermal resources around the world are concentrated in areas of volcanic activity and are not widely distributed. The main high temperature resources suitable for electric power generation are found only in Italy and Iceland. Most parts of Europe and the United States are dominated by intermediate- to low-temperature geothermal resources. These resources are more suitable for direct uses such as: space heating, district heating, greenhouses, bathing, and geothermal heat pumps dominate.

Compared to European cities in general and Icelandic cities in particular, the use of geothermal heating in the Twin Cities is still rare. Nevertheless, the Science House of the Science Museum, the Green Institute and a couple of residential houses use geothermal heat pumps to heat and cool the building.

The shallow ground of the earth maintains a nearly constant temperature between 50° and 60°F (10°-16°C). Like a cave, this ground temperature is warmer than the air above it in the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of this resource to heat and cool buildings. Through a system of underground pipes, they transfer heat from the warmer earth to the building in the winter, and take the heat from the building in the summer and discharge it into the cooler ground. Depending on the geology of the area, the size of the home and the location of the home/property, different types of geothermal systems may be used.

The geothermal system at the Green Institute, which was installed in 1999, is a vertical system with 120 feet-deep wells. Out of one unit of electricity to run the pumps it produces three units of heating. Although the start-up costs were high, the system proves to be highly efficient. "At the beginning, we expected a nine-year payback, but since gas prices increased, the payback period was just five or four years," Carl Nelson, Director of Community Energy at the Green Institute, explained.

Chris Shields, Editor and Deputy Communications Director of the think tank "Minnesota 2020," and his wife just moved into their new, energy-efficient town home in South Minneapolis. Their home uses a geothermal ground source heat pump. "It’s been working great; we didn’t have to turn on the heat so far," Shields said on DATE. "In fact, I turned the thermostat a few degrees cooler. I suppose this comes with the territory when you’re living in one of Minneapolis’ green homes."

The most difficult part of geothermal heat pumps seems to be the installation. "It’s not like installing a furnace or something," Carl Nelson says. The challenge is to find the appropriate size of the system and because of the technical knowledge and equipment needed to properly install the piping, it’s not a do-it-yourself project. Nevertheless, "as long as you properly install it, you don’t have problems," Nelson says.

Although the use of geothermal in the Twin Cities won’t pave the way for living in an energy dreamland like Iceland, it’s at least one step toward a cheaper future.

LURC OKs wind farm

2007-11-09T18:35:00.000-08:00

State regulators unanimously approved a proposal Wednesday to build New England’s largest wind farm on a remote ridgeline in northern Washington County.

Members of the Land Use Regulation Commission voted 6-0 to rezone 4,800 acres on Stetson Mountain so that Evergreen Wind Power can erect 38 wind turbines on the ridgeline located between Springfield and Danforth.

Evergreen Wind still must submit final plans to the commission before beginning construction of the turbines, each of which will measure roughly 390 feet from base to blade tip.

But once operational, the wind farm is expected to generate 57 megawatts of pollution-free electricity annually, which company officials said is the equivalent of the annual electricity demand of 27,500 Maine households.

"It’s a good day, and we’re really pleased with the outcome," said Matt Kearns, director of project development for UPC Wind Management, the parent company of Evergreen Wind. "These kinds of decisions require careful consideration and balance, and we’re excited to take the project to the next step."

The vote undoubtedly will not go over as well for some local residents who fought the proposal, citing concerns about turbine noise and impacts on recreational activities, scenic views and wildlife.

But several environmental organizations hailed the decision as a positive step in Maine’s effort to promote clean, renewable energy sources.

"It’s certainly a watershed event," said Jody Jones, a biologist with Maine Audubon.

In many ways, LURC’s resounding approval of the Stetson project was also a sign of how things are changing in Maine’s Unorganized Territory.

LURC has only given preliminary approval to one other large wind farm in the commission’s 36-year history — a mammoth project in the Boundary Mountains consisting of 639 turbines. A final plan was never filed, however, and the preliminary approval expired in 1997.

There are now three sizeable wind proposals pending with the commission, including Stetson, and more are expected. In fact, UPC Wind is seeking LURC authorization for another testing tower to monitor wind conditions in another site not far from Stetson Mountain, Kearns said.

The two remaining western mountains projects pending before the commission — known as the Black Nubble and Kibby projects — could come up for a vote in the coming months.

UPC Wind is no newcomer to wind energy. In addition to facilities in New York and Hawaii, the company operates Maine’s only other large wind-energy facility in the Aroostook County town of Mars Hill.

LURC staff recommended approval of the Stetson application after finding that the project would have "low potential" for undue impacts on natural resources or public use of the area.

Staff also cited the wind farm’s anticipated economic contribution to Washington County, which struggles with high unemployment and poverty rates. UPC Wind predicts the local tax revenue from the Stetson facility will exceed the $500,000 generated by the Mars Hill wind farm.

The project also had strong support from local and Washington County officials.

Electricity generated from the Stetson project will flow into the New England power grid. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is currently reviewing the proposed transmission line connecting the wind-energy facility to local electricity infrastructure.

Stetson Mountain is located in a sparsely populated area of Washington County’s northernmost border with Penobscot County and Canada. It’s a scenic area with rolling, heavily forested hills that help support the local timber industry.

Hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other forms of outdoor recreation are also an important part of both local culture and the regional economy. So UPC’s proposal to build 38 wind turbines, each standing nearly 400 feet tall, has not gone over well with everyone.

The turbines will be visible from Baskahegan Lake and several other local fishing spots as well as from some local residences and roads.

At an August public hearing, local homeowners and guides expressed concern about how the facility will affect the outdoor recreation industry and wildlife populations.

Opponents also raised concerns about noise from the turbines, which has been a problem for some homeowners near the Mars Hill farm.

Speaking Wednesday, Kearns said the company is sensitive to the concerns and will monitor the noise levels. He also said a portion of the company’s taxes will be earmarked for nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation.

Dylan Voorhees, clean energy director with the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said he hopes Wednesday’s vote bodes well for the Black Nubble and Kibby wind-energy applications pending with LURC.

China to mass produce maglev wind power generators

2007-11-09T18:24:00.000-08:00

Construction began on the world's largest production base for magnetic levitation (maglev) wind power generators in Central China on Monday.

The Guangzhou-based Zhongke Hengyuan Energy Technology Co Ltd invested 400 million yuan (US$53.62) in building the base for the generators, from which it expects a yearly revenue of 1.6 billion yuan.

The base will produce a series of maglev wind power generators with capacities ranging from 400 to 5,000 watts in the first half of 2008, said a company statement.

The maglev generator co-developed by the company and Guangzhou Energy Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences is expected to create new opportunities for harnessing wind power in low-wind-speed areas, as it can utilize winds with starting speeds as low as 1.5 meters per second.

The problem of the traditional wind turbines was that they require high wind speeds to start, because of the friction caused by their bearings, said Li Guokun, chief scientific developer of the new technology.

The frictionless maglev generator would cut the operational expenses of wind farms by up to half, keeping the overall cost of wind power under 0.4 yuan per kilowatt-hour, said Li.

Since it was unveiled at the Wind Power Asia Exhibition 2006 in Beijing, the technology has garnered interest in a dozen Chinese cities and more than 50 countries and regions in the world.

The Zhongke company said the generator could be used on islands, in observatories, and television transfer stations, and even provide roadside lighting along highways by utilizing the airflow generated from passing vehicles.

China urged to take the lead in wind power

2007-11-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

Long criticised at home and abroad over the destruction of its environment, China has a chance to alter its polluting ways by becoming a global leader in wind power, industry experts say.

The strong winds that blow through China's arid northern plains could be harnessed to help reduce the nation's carbon-dioxide emissions and help lead the fight against pollution, they said.

"With greater policy support to wind energy, China could become one of the top three wind energy markets in the world by 2020," Li Junfeng, an alternative energy expert, told reporters in Shanghai.

Li's comments came with the Paris-based International Energy Agency set to distribute Thursday a major review of China's voracious energy needs.

China is already the globe's second largest consumer of fossil fuels after the United States.

According to a Dutch environmental study released in June this year, it has also quickly caught up with the United States as the world's biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming.

But China is also quietly emerging as a global force in renewable energy technology, and nowhere is this more evident than in the nation's burgeoning wind market.

China, which ranked 10th two years ago in terms of annual installed wind mills, now is number five after the United States, Germany, India and Spain, with rapid industry growth expected to catapult it to second spot by 2008.

Although the Chinese regulatory environment has often not favoured the development of wind power, the Asian giant still managed to add this year 1,300 megawatts of wind power, an amount equal to that of two average size nuclear power stations.

"Two years ago people thought (wind power) was a joke," Li said.

"Nobody thought it possible to reach a target of 30 million kilowatts of wind power by 2020," he added, noting that if the government had lent greater support 20 years ago, wind power could already be a major component of its energy mix.

Despite production capacity of 2.6 gigawatts last year, that is still less than one percent of China's energy mix, compared with 70 percent provided by polluting coal.

"Accelerating the development of wind energy should be part of China's strategy to reduce dependence on coal while meeting its energy demand," said Yang Ailun, Greenpeace China campaign manager for climate and energy.

Worldwide, the wind power sector is enjoying a major boom as countries try to reduce their dependence on increasingly expensive fossil fuels and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions to fight global warming.

Last year, 23 billion dollars worth of new wind generators went online across the world, lifting total capacity by a quarter to more than 74 gigawatts, according to industry figures.

In China the annual growth rate of wind power capacity over the last 10 years has averaged 46 percent, and by this year's China's installed capacity will be five gigawatts, nearly three years ahead of Beijing's target.

"In many ways China is leading the pack," said Steve Sawyer, secretary of the Global Wind Energy Council, a Brussels-based forum which seeks to promote development of the sector.

For one, Chinese lawmakers passed a new law on renewable energy in 2006, which created a fund through mandatory public contributions to cover the additional costs of wind power, although unstable pricing remains a major issue.

However if the government were to give wind energy full backing, capacity could exceed 120 gigawatts by 2020, accounting for up to 10 percent of total installed country capacity.

"The global fight against climate change cannot be won without China playing a major role," said Sawyer.

Canada invests in largest wind energy project

2007-11-09T18:11:00.000-08:00

via The Hindu

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, was at the Prince Wind Energy Farm to announce more than $53 million in funding, over ten years, for the largest wind energy project in Canada, says Eurekalert press release. Minister Clement, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, was joined by Mr. Harry Goldgut, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Power, to make the announcement.

“We need energy to power our economy, and we need clean energy to protect our environment — that’s a priority for our government and the foundation of our practical, balanced approach to climate change,” said Minister Clement. “By investing in projects like this one, we are making sure that clean, renewable power from the wind, the sun and the tides will form an increasingly important part of our energy mix for the future.”

The Prince Wind Energy Farm, situated on 20,000 acres of land northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, qualified for the one cent per kilowatt-hour incentive under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power initiative. The wind farm’s 126 turbines are capable of generating up to 189 megawatts of clean, renewable power, enough to power nearly 40,000 homes. Over ten years, this ecoENERGY program will provide about $53 million to the wind project and ensure that renewable energy generated at the wind farm can be delivered at competitive prices for Canadian consumers.

"As a global renewable power company based in Ontario, we are proud to be the developers of Canada’s largest wind energy farm. The approximately $400-million project took a little over twelve months to construct and has now been generating clean renewable energy for the past year,” said Mr. Goldgut. “The project’s success is a tribute to the members of the local community, the First Nations community, our employees and construction partners, and the federal, provincial and municipal governments and their agencies.”

SunPower to build three solar power plants in Spain

2007-11-09T18:04:00.000-08:00

via CleanTech

The three plants totaling 21 megawatts will be built for the Naturener Group.

San Jose, Calif.-based SunPower announced a deal to build three solar power plants in Spain for Madrid's Naturener Group.

Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

SunPower, a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor, said the three plants, totaling 21 megawatts, would be constructed in the Castilla La Mancha region.

"We are pleased that the Spanish market continues its rapid adoption of solar power and that Naturener has chosen SunPower's innovative solar tracker technology as part of our turnkey solar solution," said Marco Antonio Northland, general manager of SunPower's European operations.

The company said its tracker system enables solar panels to automatically follow the sun throughout the day to maximize energy generation.

"We anticipate that these three solar power plants will be in operation by the summer of 2008 and will add them to our existing renewable portfolio of hydro and wind generation," said Rafael Sanchez-Castillo, CEO of Naturener Group.

Corporate affiliates of the Naturener Group will own the three plants located in Tinajeros, Manzanares and Almuradiel, covering a total of approximately 90 hectares.

SunPower said the projects are expected to be financed by a Spanish bank syndicate.

With this agreement, the company said it now has an aggregate of 140 MW in its tracker technology under contract or previously sold in Spain.

Oakland's Port Fires Up Solar Power System

2007-11-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

via AHN

California's Port of Oakland Thursday activated a 756 KW solar power system able to deliver 1 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy.

SunEdison, the port's partner in the project, funded, built and will maintain the 4,000 solar panels projected to eliminate 17 million pounds of green house emissions over the program's 20-year lifespan. In return, Oakland will purchase renewable energy from SunEdison under a long-term fixed-price contract.

The solar project is part of the Port of Oakland's goal of obtaining 20 percent of its electricity

Space-Based Solar Power Beams Become Next Energy Frontier

2007-11-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

via Popular Mechanics

The idea of using satellites to beam solar power down from space is nothing new—the Department of Energy first studied it in the 1970s, and NASA took another look in the ’90s. The stumbling block has been less the engineering challenge than the cost.

A Pentagon report released in October could mean the stars are finally aligning for space-based solar power, or SBSP. According to the report, SBSP is becoming more feasible, and eventually could help head off crises such as climate change and wars over diminishing energy supplies. “The challenge is one of perception,” says John Mankins, president of the Space Power Association and the leader of NASA’s mid-1990s SBSP study. “There are people in senior leadership positions who believe everything in space has to cost trillions.”

The new report imagines a market-based approach. Eventually, SBSP may become enormously profitable—and the Pentagon hopes it will lure the growing private space industry. The government would fund launches to place initial arrays in orbit by 2016, with private firms taking over operations from there. This plan could limit government costs to about $10 billion.

As envisioned, massive orbiting solar arrays, situated to remain in sunlight nearly continuously, will beam multiple megawatts of energy to Earth via microwave beams. The energy will be transmitted to mesh receivers placed over open farmland and in strategic remote locations, then fed into the nation’s electrical grid. The goal: To provide 10 percent of the United States’ base-load power supply by 2050.

Ultimately, the report estimates, a single kilometer-wide array could collect enough power in one year to rival the energy locked in the world’s oil reserves.

While most of the technology required for SBSP already exists, questions such as potential environmental impacts will take years to work out. “For some time, solar panels on Earth are going to be much cheaper,” says Robert McConnell, a senior project leader at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. “This is a very long-range activity.”

What is Hydrasolar???

2007-11-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

Hydrasolar

The Hydrasolar is a solar tracking device, for solar panels, that does not rely on electric motors or computers to track the sun.
About the Inventor

Michael Patterson has been involved in engineering in one way or another for his whole working life. He describes himself as lazy and says, he is always looking for easier ways to improve the return for effort.

He has worked as an aircraft sheet metal worker. Went on and did a teachers course and taught ‘Tech Drawing’ and ‘sheet metal working’ to secondary school and TAFE.

His main focus is selling the solar trackers. He came up with the concept seven years ago. Now, 20 prototypes later, he had a market ready version and has started to sell them.

For more information about Hydrasolar, contact the following:
www.portasoltrackers.com.au
Email: info@portasoltrackers.com.au

Power station harnesses Sun's rays

2007-11-07T17:32:00.000-08:00

via BBC

There is a scene in one of the Austin Powers films where Dr Evil unleashes a giant "tractor beam" of energy at Earth in order to extract a massive payment.

Well, the memory of it kept me chuckling as I toured the extraordinary scene of the new solar thermal power plant outside Seville in southern Spain.

From a distance, as we rounded a bend and first caught sight of it, I couldn't believe the strange structure ahead of me was actually real.

A concrete tower - 40 storeys high - stood bathed in intense white light, a totally bizarre image in the depths of the Andalusian countryside.

The tower looked like it was being hosed with giant sprays of water or was somehow being squirted with jets of pale gas. I had trouble working it out.

In fact, as we found out when we got closer, the rays of sunlight reflected by a field of 600 huge mirrors are so intense they illuminate the water vapour and dust hanging in the air.

The effect is to give the whole place a glow - even an aura - and if you're concerned about climate change that may well be deserved.

It is Europe's first commercially operating power station using the Sun's energy this way and at the moment its operator, Solucar, proudly claims that it generates 11 Megawatts (MW) of electricity without emitting a single puff of greenhouse gas. This current figure is enough to power up to 6,000 homes.

But ultimately, the entire plant should generate as much power as is used by the 600,000 people of Seville.

It works by focusing the reflected rays on one location, turning water into steam and then blasting it into turbines to generate power.

As I climbed out of the car, I could hardly open my eyes - the scene was far too bright. Gradually, though, shielded by sunglasses, I made out the rows of mirrors (each 120 sq m in size) and the focus of their reflected beams - a collection of water pipes at the top of the tower.

It was probably the heat that did it, but I found myself making the long journey up to the very top - to the heart of the solar inferno.

A lift took me most of the way but cameraman Duncan Stone and I had to climb the last four storeys by ladder. We could soon feel the heat, despite thick insulation around the boiler.

It was like being in a sauna and for the last stages the metal rungs of the ladders were scalding.

But our reward was the cool breeze at the top of the tower - and the staggering sight of a blaze of light heading our way from down below.

So far, only one field of mirrors is working. But to one side I could see the bulldozers at work clearing a second, larger field - thousands more mirrors will be installed.

Letting off steam

I met one of the gurus of solar thermal power, Michael Geyer, an international director of the energy giant Abengoa, which owns the plant. He is ready with answers to all the tricky questions.

What happens when the Sun goes down? Enough heat can be stored in the form of steam to allow generation after dark - only for an hour now but maybe longer in future.

Anyway, the solar power is most needed in the heat of summer when air conditioners are working flat out.

Is it true that this power is three times more expensive than power from conventional sources? Yes, but prices will fall, as they have with wind power, as the technologies develop.

Also, a more realistic comparison is with the cost of generating power from coal or gas only at times of peak demand - then this solar system seems more attractive.

The vision is of the sun-blessed lands of the Mediterranean - even the Sahara desert - being carpeted with systems like this with the power cabled to the drizzlier lands of northern Europe. A dazzling idea in a dazzling location.

Waste wafers give solar power a silicon boost

2007-11-03T14:22:00.001-07:00

via NewScientist

A simple method of recycling waste silicon from microchips that could help ease the shortage of refined silicon for solar energy panels has been developed by IBM.

The company has devised a simple way to remove the integrated circuit patterns from discarded scrap semiconductor wafers made out of silicon. These can then be sold to the solar panel industry for use in photovoltaic cells that generate electricity on rooftops.

The process involves coating the surface of a silicon wafer with water and scraping it with an abrasive pad. The primary goal is removing the proprietary circuit patterns from the surface of the wafer.

Every day about 250,000 wafers are produced globally to make chips for products from cellphones to computers, and to monitor and control manufacturing, according to an industry group.

IBM estimates that 3.3% of these wafers are normally scrapped before they reach the market, which adds up to nearly 3 million discarded wafers per year. It reckons the silicon from these discarded wafers could make solar panels capable of generating 13.5 megawatts of energy.
Rapid growth

That is a small amount of the overall solar market, however. The world's largest solar panel maker, Sharp, makes about 710 megawatts' worth of solar cells per year. But Eric White, an IBM semiconductor engineer who helped develop the recycling process, says that, as the semiconductor industry grows, more of the wafers could become available for the solar industry.

And new silicon could provide relief for the solar industry. Solar power currently generates much less than 1% of global electricity, but in recent years solar panel sales have seen 30 to 40% annual growth.

This year, the solar industry has tied with the computer industry as the world's largest consumer of refined silicon, a material that requires high temperatures and large amounts of energy to produce.

"One of the challenges facing the solar industry is a severe shortage of silicon, which threatens to stall its rapid growth," Charles Bai, says chief financial officer of Chinese solar energy company ReneSola. "This is why we have turned to reclaimed silicon materials sourced primarily from the semiconductor industry to supply the raw material our company needs."

Light-absorbing materials could cut solar power cost

2007-11-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

via EngineerLive

Scientists at Durham University in the UK are developing light-absorbing materials for use in the production of thin-layer solar photovoltaic (PV) cells that are used to convert light energy into electricity.

The four-year project involves experiments on a range of different materials that would be less expensive and more sustainable to use in the manufacturing of solar panels. Thicker silicon-based cells and compounds containing indium, a rare and expensive metal, are more commonly used to make solar panels today.

The research, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Supergen Initiative, focuses on developing thin-layer PV cells using materials such as copper indium diselenide and cadmium telluride. Currently the project is entering a new phase for the development of cheaper and more sustainable variants of these materials.

The Durham team is also working on manipulating the growth of the materials so they form a continuous structure, which is essential for conducting the energy trapped by solar panels before it is turned into usable electricity. This will help improve the efficiency of the thin-layer PV cells.

It is hoped that the development of more affordable thin-film PV cells could lead to a reduction in the cost of solar panels for the domestic market and an increase in the use of solar power; solar power currently provides less than one-hundredth of onepercent of the UK's home energy needs.

The thin-layer PV cells would be used to make solar panels that could be fitted to roofs to help power homes, with any surplus electricity being fed back to the national electricity grid. This could lead to lower fuel bills and less reliance on burning fossil fuels as a way of helping to generate electricity.

Professor Ken Durose, director of the Durham Centre for Renewable Energy, who is leading the research, says: “One of the main issues in solar energy is the cost of materials and we recognise that the cost of solar cells is slowing down their uptake. If solar panels were cheap enough so you could buy a system off the shelf that provided even a fraction of your power needs, you would do it. But that product is not there at the moment. The key indicator of cost-effectiveness is how many pounds do you have to spend to get a watt of power out? If you can make solar panels more cheaply, then you will have a winning product.”

To aid its research, the university has taken delivery of a E2.5million (£1.7million) suite of high-powered electron microscopes, funded by the Science Research Investment Fund, which have nano-scale resolution that enables scientists to see the effects that currently limit the performance of solar cells.

One of the microscopes is the first of its kind in the UK. Professor Durose says: “This instrument will put the North East right out in front. We are working on new ideas in renewable energy and this opens up tremendous opportunities in research.”

Green firm’s solar-power fridges win Ghana deal

2007-11-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

via icWales

RENEWABLE-ENERGY company Dulas has secured a major new order from Ghana’s health ministry for its solar-powered vaccine fridges.

The deal for the Machynlleth- based firm comes after promoting its vaccine fridge at the MedicAfrica exhibition in Lusaka, Zambia, two years ago.

One of these fridges was presented to the Zambian Government as a gift from the Welsh Assembly Government at the trade show and Dulas representatives also delivered a letter to Zambia’s President Mwanawasa from First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

The donation of the fridge, at a cost of more than £3,000, was funded by the Assembly Government as part of an extensive programme of support to Dulas’s worldwide sales drive and to make an active contribution under the Wales for Africa initiative – the Assembly Government’s sustainable development action plan to make a positive contribution to the millennium development goals.

Ian Draisey, director of Dulas, “MedicAfrica is a major event that attracts interested parties from all over Africa and when the Minister for Health came to receive the gift it created quite a splash and attracted a lot of attention.

“The seeds of our recent success were sown then.

“It helped us demonstrate the significant advantages of our product and established an excellent working relationship.”

Since the event two years ago Dulas representatives have stepped-up their efforts to secure orders in the region, most recently with an export visit to Ghana supported by the Assembly’s overseas trade arm International Business Wales (IBW).

It has resulted in an order for 30 vaccine fridges from the Ghanaian government, with the prospect of significant further orders in the next few years following their specification in the tender.

Dulas’s solar-powered fridges are used to store blood and vaccines, often holding more than £200,000 worth of vaccines.

Solar-powered vaccine refrigerators and other solar-powered items of medical equipment have been important specialisations for Dulas since 1985, the firm being one of a handful of companies world-wide to qualify as approved solar system suppliers to the World Health Organisation and Unicef.

Dulas solar medical installations cover a wide range of solar power applications, including ice pack freezers for vaccine transportation, operating theatre and general lighting, ceiling and desk fans, medical centrifuges, water pumps and purifiers (from deep borehole to floating surface pumps), and integrated generating systems providing electricity for singular appliances or entire hospitals.

It has equipped many remote hospitals and clinics in Africa, Asia and Latin America with solar medical equipment.

Ms Draisey added, “We have had one of the company’s busiest years in respect to fridge production and water supply, fuelled by increasing worldwide demand.

Over the last two years the company’s turnover has increased from £4m to £7m.

Minister for the Economy and Transport Ieuan Wyn-Jones said, “The Assembly has been delighted to support the company’s efforts in Africa and this recent export success justifies the hard work of the company and our officials that have been involved in the process.

“We should also be very proud that innovative technology developed here in Wales will play such an important role in saving lives in poorer nations.”

Ausra’s Solar Thermal Power

2007-11-03T13:58:00.001-07:00

via EcoWorld

Utility scale solar thermal power is something you still don’t hear much about, but along with photovoltaic power, it is a big part of the reason solar power is possibly the only source of renewable energy that is not only absolutely clean and sustainable, but capable of exponential growth for decades to come. And Ausra, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, has perhaps the most promising solar thermal design we’ve ever seen.

Solar thermal power uses mirrors to reflect sunlight onto heat exchangers, in order to heat a thermal transfer fluid to drive a turbine, which turns a generator to produce electricity. Only about 500 megawatts of solar thermal power capacity exist in the world today, most of it at Kramer Junction in California’s Mohave Desert.

Compared to total worldwide energy production, solar thermal electricity production is negligible, only about one 20th that of photovoltaic energy production, which itself represents less than one-twentieth of one percent of worldwide energy production. But this is about to change, and solar thermal technology will race photovoltaic technology neck and neck, as together they grow to a significant share of global energy production.

There are three basic ways to concentrate solar energy - one is a “power tower” where a boiler sits atop a tower surrounded by 2-axis tracking mirrors that each individually move each day to reflect the sun’s light onto the boiler. Another design is a field of parabolic mirrors, each of them equipped with a 2-axis mechanism to track the sun all day, with each of them having a heat exchanger positioned at a single reflective focal point a few feet away from the center of the dish. Finally, the most cost-effective design appears to be the parabolic trough, where only a single axis tracking mechanism moves curved, mirrored troughs each day from east to west, with a heat exchanging tube suspended at the reflective focal point above each trough. All of these designs have been tried with some success.

What Ausra has done is taken the parabolic trough concept, with the simpler single-axis tracking mechanism, but designed a solar field where one heat-exchanging tube, running north to south, is suspended several meters in the air above several lengthwise tracking mirrors. Because the heat exchanging tube is further away from the mirrors, they don’t need to be as curved, reducing costs. Because several mirrors share one tube, there is a greatly reduced need for plumbing. And single-axis rotation, simply moving east to west with the sun, requires far less mechanical elements, and far less maintenance.

Yesterday we had a chance to speak with John O’Donnell, a physicist who is now EVP of Ausra. He explained several additional reasons why Ausra’s design is destined to become the standard for solar thermal power stations. Each of the mirrors is designed just small enough to fit in a standard interstate multi-mode shipping container. Each mirror requires just eight minutes to be manufactured on an automated production line. They are light weight and primarily require only flat glass and raw steel in their manufacture. The heat exchanging tubes are single lined and require far less maintenance than earlier designs. The heat transfer fluid is water; not molten salt, or some other expensive, corrosive, toxic substance - just water, of which nearly 100% is recycled. Ausra’s elegant, least cost design, according to O’Donnell, “has generated explosive interest around the world.”

Something we never would have guessed is that the incremental costs for building an oversized steam storage unit are not significant; O’Donnell noted both that the storage unit would not consume very much space, and even if it were built out to allow 20 hours of operation per day, it would add less than 10% to the cost of the entire power station. A clear advantage of solar thermal power is this ease in stretching the hours of operation into the evening when power consumption is heaviest. O’Donnell stated the current designs have a steam storage unit sized to stretch the daily hours of electricity generation through 8 p.m., which is when peak demand typically begins to subside. Ausra believes they can sell electricity using their technology for $.10 per kilowatt-hour; a price that is definitely competitive with today’s rates, especially during peak hours.

A brief report on solar thermal power would not be complete without noting the space required to generate electricity using this technology. In “California Land Use Choices” we estimated you can get 130 megawatts from a one square mile solar thermal power station. A utility scale photovoltaic power station of the same size would generate about twice that, but would cost far more to build. According to O’Donnell, the plant they are in the permitting phase for right now, to be located just south of Paso Robles in sunny Central California, is going consume exactly one square mile, and it is designed to generate 175 megawatts. Unlike biofuel, the land required to power the world with solar thermal or photovoltaic energy is simply not significant.