Building-Integrated Solar Air Heating Systems Proving Popular

For some parts of the United States, such as Upper Michigan, the winter of 2013-14 was the coldest in recorded history. In Marquette, for example, the average temperature was a tundra-like 7.5 degrees.

Well, what if I told you that it’s possible to cut your building’s energy use (in some cases by up to half), while protecting the environment, too? Sign me up, right? Simply put, innovative solar heating and cooling systems (SHC), which are growing in popularity nationwide, could be the winning ticket for you.

According to new industry data, a growing sector of the U.S. solar energy industry has reached a major new milestone, with 5 million square feet of building-integrated solar air heating collectors now installed in North America. These systems represent 250 megawatts (MW) of thermal energy and displace nearly 100,000 tons of CO2 each year from the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, building-integrated solar air heating systems are often overlooked in the discussion about renewable energy. It’s time to change that mindset. These cost-effective, energy-efficient systems can reduce by 20 to 50 percent the amount of conventional energy used for heating buildings – or for agricultural or process drying applications. That can represent a huge savings to companies, business owners and farmers nationwide.

Solar air heating systems work by heating incoming ventilation air before it is brought into a building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC), using wall-mounted collectors that are typically made of metal and have 30-plus year lifespans.

By our estimates, we can create more than 50,000 new American jobs and save $60 billion in energy costs over the next 30 years by expanding the use of SHC systems across the United States. Today, approximately 44 percent of all American energy consumption is attributable to heating and cooling. As a nation, it’s time to re-think our strategy for generating energy for our homes, businesses, schools and government buildings.

According to BEAM Engineering, a Boston-based energy consulting firm, SHC is the most efficient renewable technology for generating thermal heat and costs are as low as 6 cents per kilowatt (kWh) hour. Last year, SEIA’s Solar Heating and Cooling Alliance released a comprehensive report, detailing how SHC technologies can help to power the U.S. economy, while significantly reducing pollution. So the next time your electricity meter is spinning like a dog chasing its tail, think about how nice it’d be to spend less money for energy – and more money on yourself!

The information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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Open innovation & solar: a new horizon is in the heart of coal country

Many visions were created and developed over the years, the show in the direction of what calls Economist Jeremy Rifken of the third industrial revolution: a network economy, where the whole system is interactive, integrated and seamless. This integration of energy sources is currently and will create still completely new opportunities for cross-industry relations in the coming years. For Rifken, the third industrial revolution will become a new era of "distributed capitalism" in the existing and new businesses and homeowners energy player. Unfortunately not Rifken the decompress mechanism like distributed capitalism functions on the level of raw materials, i.e. the kind and wise, will be there in which by answering the question below:

How do we create the necessary communication to ensure connections (formally/informally) to the emergence of the third industrial revolution?

Provides an important piece in this puzzle, a team of global pioneers come together to understand to the morphogenesis of human creativity at the base by experimenting with open innovation and solar development synergistically interact to increase technological change over the course of time. A living lab or iLab in the heart of Central Appalachian coal country develop, many organizations that make up the Central Appalachian sustainable development (CASE) network, to identify integrative synergies between traditional and new energy resources.

Barcelona LOW3 derived project of living Labs can be understood as a "holistic infrastructure for research and innovation and have the potential to draw off, tools for teaching, connects all three activities within the creative real world based on user co-creation and open innovation." The iLab open innovation Consortium is to develop exactly that of a peer-to-peer network, where "human creativity" used across multiple connected peers. Each participant of the Consortium provides a portion of their resources iLab participants directly.

Many regional universities, including the West Virginia University and University of Pikeville as anchor institutions serve an integral resource of the Consortium as an open curriculum and participates actively in the implementation of innovative educational strategies, based on experimental or integrative approaches to interdisciplinary research and development. An active member of the consortium of open innovation, explains Professor Peter Hackbert Berea College, that he excited a first course titled "applied sustainability: development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem" start this summer.

The development of an ecosystem open is about solar innovation already underway. This strategy allows partner companies proprietary thresholds to optimise internal returns and competitiveness to identify and identify external or shared innovation opportunities. The iLab-partner, the solar gardens Institute, believes that this innovation strategy provides an ideal setting, for the assessment of new business models.

Managing Director of the Institute garden solar on the joy Hughes, declared that it "their own shared renewable projects develop interest in local community groups to see. In addition, these communities of people, can the already projects - the ' solar gardener "completed have to learn." Hughes said, pointedly if "Tools such as software, business structures, and financial models in an open-source manner between groups, this inevitably can be shared to accelerate the development process."

Professor Hans Shaffer, a member of the iLab development team and a global expert in living Labs, underlined the importance of integrating solar development tools within a central IT platform. "The long-term sustainability of any open innovation strategy is very dependent on created on the quality of relations and effective use of mechanisms to ensure that the relational stability of these relationships in the course of time." Fortunately, the iLab team is one of the leading solar platform development, working with us is for us. "

CEO of geo adjuster, the nation forward and largest solar energy marketplace, David Levine put his enthusiasm for being a part of, what he "next generation" referred to as solar development strategy and regional transition. "The concept of a laboratory for clean-tech life in an environment traditionally used for fossil fuels is exciting." In some cases many residents in the territories are not aware of their dilemma and often that defend practices very, the most destructive to their well-being. It will be interesting to see if we can break this cycle and the kickstart is a culture of innovation, abundance and boost."

In a recent article in home power magazine, Kelly Davidson offers a clear statement that illuminates the transition strategy of the iLab. Companies that are commissioned in this proactive strategy "with the challenge of preparing Williamson for life. after the coal Production slowed in the region, and mining are increasingly automated and less labour intensive, need Williamson and coal to survive communities of new sources of income and new jobs. "

Based on what is commonly known in evolutionary circles, said West Virginia native and global expert for solar development, Murphy Poindexter, that "barriers breed innovation and power is an invaluable asset for this reason West Virginia's low-cost." He continued to openly stating that "solar makes no sense in our State now through this barrier and open innovation, maybe that is the only way to resolve this issue."

This novel approach for solar development can a new precedent for clean-tech innovation nationwide. In collaboration with the Mingo County redevelopment authority, sustainable Williamson expands currently this open innovation strategy on a comprehensive assessment of the integrated energy includes: control and response, memory, large amounts of data and a number of clean-tech - production facilities for the residential, commercial and utility-scale sectors require.

Simply, the evolution of communication has begun.

The information and opinions in this blog are solely those of the author and not necessarily the RenewableEnergyWorld.com and company, the advertising on this Web site and other publications. This blog has been posted directly by the author and has not been reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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Are what are you looking for in an off-grid Solar Inverter

The modern solar industry was through off-grid solar, a market born, remains an important aspect of the industry. Around the world one power of live six people out of reach, but they can rely on off-grid solar power systems. In North America the off-grid solar is especially popular for building in remote areas where the utility grid is not yet reached, or in places, the vulnerable to storms and power outages.

Off-grid solar systems are less common than grid-tie systems for a number of reasons. An off-grid system requires other components such as batteries and charge controllers. With additional components installation is more complex and requires a higher level of technical training. It is also more expensive for the end user, and not all end-user need solar off-grid.

Although grid more complex than grid tie and off-grid market continues to grow there is a shift with experienced installers are beginning to move from the competition-grid-tie market in the more lucrative grid market. Solar product suppliers also work to facilitate off-grid systems. Pay attention to the following offerings:

Off grid packages

Mains-independent system integrators can reduce the complexity of an off-grid system, by providing easy-to-install packages. A package can contain an inverter/charger, solar charge controllers, controls and accessories. The components should work all together, if you take them out of the box. A mains-independent ordering system, such as a package also ensures that all necessary parts are together and superfluous, plunge to contact the suppliers from a construction site to a forgotten part.

Flexible off-grid inverter

Another way, which is to reduce complexity of the off-grid solar projects to find a charger/inverter, the flexible enough to all installation requirements. Search for inverters with intelligent load management to handle a diverse set of energy loads. Load management is incredibly important if you connect your inverter to a generator or the utility network. Some inverters have dual AC input of the generator and the grid, which lowers the additional component system requirements and provides more flexibility for different system requirements take up. Connecting an off-grid solar system to the utility power grid (where possible) end user also gives you the opportunity to sell back excess energy to their energy supplier.

Stackable off-grid inverter

Creating an off-grid solar system requires a large up-front investment. It is common for homeowners with a smaller system, with plans to later add to start. Adding more is solar easy when you start with an inverter, which can be stacked together with other inverters. An existing grid tie solar-system it is an off-grid solar power inverter also increasingly by AC coupling. A grid-tie solar system is great, but it requires electricity to operate and turns any utility power outages. Off-grid inverter coupled with batteries only uninterruptible power supply will provide for critical loads.

Customer service

As mentioned previously, off-grid suited to solar systems for building remote sites. Remote sites require additional travel time to reach. Select to return visits to inverter, which have proven reliability and lasts for years. Trust suppliers who were successful financially in the broiler market for many years. Ask for references for older systems, or show you how to test the product internally.

If service is necessary, it is important that the supplier for the troubleshooting and enable quick resolution will be available. The supplier should reach the end user for emergencies. Troubleshooting enables new technology makes faster remote connections to the grid inverter. This can be done by a remote monitoring system. Search for systems that can upgrade firmware even from afar.

The off-grid solar market continues to grow, these offers will ensure that off-grid off-grid solar systems secure, reliable, and cost effective.

By: Ray Barbee, Director of channel development. Stephanie Byrd, marketing communications specialist, us solar, Schneider Electric

The information and opinions in this blog are solely those of the author and not necessarily the RenewableEnergyWorld.com and company, the advertising on this Web site and other publications. This blog has been posted directly by the author and has not been reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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Overcoming the obstacles to rooftop solar

The dramatic decline in the cost of solar power, combined have with a better understanding of its financial benefits on the roof solar more attractive to homeowners in the United States. But some clean energy enthusiasts have discovered that the installation of solar on their land is not as easy as it may sound. Trees, skylights, chimneys, roof structures and aesthetic limitations of homeowners associations may complicate the logistics of a solar-electric installation.

"My already built house was not for solar panels," said Jim McDaniels of Colorado Springs, Colorado "My roof may not strong power requirements enough, or big enough or angle, ideal for the solar cells, I mean must meet." AMECO solar shows that the ideal on the roof of carnivores, South-facing roof with asphalt shingles, a few obstacles (such as skylights and openings) and need not for 10 to 15 years to replace.

"I searched had in solar energy for years, but the challenges on location and buildings, in which a second thought made it", said Greg Gerloff of Breckenridge, Colorado

Gerloff and McDaniels are not alone.

A study by the national renewable energy laboratory (NREL) found that only 22 to 27 percent of the living roofs for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are suitable. Customers, their homes with solar built in the eye who stumbled into roadblocks - such as in the value of Robbins, of Harvard, mass.-home on an East-West axis, a future, South solar array to accommodate built. "I do not Bill to carry that trees grow", Robbins said in a segment of life on Earth. And as soon as he removed trees on his land, as well as its neighbors, Robbins 4 kilowatt balance of its total energy consumption would be less than. "We wanted to do that. We like our wooded setting, '' he said.

In addition to the physical logistics, a living system to install can initially enthusiastic proponents of the roof solar to scare off other obstacles such as upfront costs and length of time in Office. Because customers are today for a system that generates electricity for 25 years or longer, a solar system reported buying energy is all environment America like shopping several decades at the same time. The advocacy group also determines that some homeowners only hesitantly in solar invest, because they can move, before paying the system for themselves, or the remaining value of their arrays in the home resale value are included.

After studying the barriers for solar plants on the roof, NREL recognized: "clear, community options are required to access to solar power for tenants, with shady roofs, to expand and those who decide that a residential system in their homeland out of financial or otherwise install."

And the community solar movement started flying.

Publicly-owned solar, the model of Boulder, Colo.-based clean energy of collective (CEC), pioneer residents to have their solar system, through the purchase of plates in a shared array. This model removes the obstacles to rooftop solar, with options to overcome other obstacles such as length of tenure, ongoing maintenance, cost and financial risk.

The customers can choose how much they want to spend based on the number of boards that buy them; and opt for the financing if they so wish. All CEC arrays are fully insured with guaranteed maintenance for the lifetime of the array (between 20 and 50 years of age). If a customer moves, he or she can sell the panels in the utility service area.

These aspects of community solar made an easy decision for McDaniels, bought 25 boards in the Colorado Springs Community solar array.

"Now I worry about the installation and ongoing maintenance of a home solar system," McDaniels said. "If I sell my house, I have can afford a buyer unable, the cost of the panels or do not want to make solar panels on the House."

Gallegos is an outdoor enthusiast, 26 plates in a Breckenridge, Colorado purchased community array. "I'm excited to see the payback in my monthly bill," he said. "I see the panels every day, this is a great reminder to me about my change on the environment."

The original article was posted on the clean energy collective blog.

The information and opinions in this blog are solely those of the author and not necessarily the RenewableEnergyWorld.com and company, the advertising on this Web site and other publications. This blog has been posted directly by the author and has not been reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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New solar job statistics published, are but other renewables grow, to

Washngton, D.C. non-profit The Solar Foundation just released its National Solar Jobs Census 2013, whichis the fourth annual update of current employment and projected growth in the United States solar industry. Their data for Census 2013 is derived from a statistically valid sampling and comprehensive survey of 15,437 employers throughout the nation.

The Foundation’s conclusion: “Our research shows that solar industry employment has grown by an astonishing 53 percent — or nearly 50,000 new solar jobs — since we first started tracking them in 2010. Leading this growth are businesses in the installation sector, in which solar employment has grown by nearly 60 percent over the four-year period covered by the Census series, representing more than 25,000 jobs created in the sector since 2010.”

As of November 2013, the solar industry has grown to 142,698 solar workers, which is nearly 20 percent greater than the 2012 solar jobs figures and over ten times the growth that the overall U.S. economy experienced during that same time. Over the next 12 months, nearly 45 percent of solar establishments expect to add jobs, while less than 1.9 percent expect to cut workers, yielding an expected 15.6 percent growth in employment.

The study goes on to say:

Solar jobs increased nearly 20 percent since the fall of 2012, which is ten times the national average job growth rate. There are 142,698 solar workers in the United States, up from 119,016 in 2012. Not only did the industry exceed growth expectations, but the hiring pace has quickened, at a rate 50 percent higher than last year, suggesting that the trajectory for growth is even stronger than previously expected. Seventy-seven percent of the nearly 24,000 new solar workers are new jobs (rather than existing positions that have added solar responsibilities), representing 18,211 new jobs created. Since data were collected for Census 2012, one in every 142 new jobs in the U.S. were created by the solar industry.

Solar employment is expected to grow by 15.6 percent over the next year, representing the addition of approximately 22,240 new solar workers. Forty-five percent of all solar establishments expect to have added solar employees by November 2014.

Two-thirds of new solar hires are living-wage installation jobs. Installers added the most solar workers over the past year, growing by 22 percent, an increase of 12,500 workers. Installer jobs, which cannot be outsourced and earn an average of $23.63 per hour, are expected to increase nearly 15,000 next year. This represents a 21 percent year-over-year growth rate. And the report notes that, ”Nineteen percent of all solar workers are women, representing 26,738 solar workers, and one in six solar workers is Latino or Hispanic. With 13,192 U.S. veterans working at solar establishments across the United States, the solar industry is also exceeding the percentage of veterans employed in the broader U.S. workforce.

Solar is not the only clean energy job creator.

Wind: According to a 2012 American Wind Energy Association report, the number of wind-related jobs in the U.S. at the end of 2012, across fields such as development, siting, construction, transportation, manufacturing, operations, services reached 80,700. According to some other 2012 sources, there are 75,000 jobs across the wind industry,

Iowa ranked number one with their significant new wind capacity installed during 2011. Texas, the state with the most wind capacity installed, took the number two spot for wind employment with its continued growth in new wind capacity, established manufacturing.

Illinois, driven by one of the strongest levels of new wind installations during 2011 as well as a strong manufacturing sector, took the number three spot for wind industry employment in 2011. Ohio moved into the number four spot in 2011 with its strong base of wind manufacturing and supply chain jobs, which are now combined with new development and construction jobs. And "Colorado ranked number five in the nation, with an increasing number of manufacturing jobs in the state as well as large installation in the third quarter.”

The Environment Energy Study Institute(EESI) publishes a job fact sheet, and some highlights include:

Hydropower: Navigant Consulting estimated 200,000-300,000 direct jobs currently in the hydropower industry. This estimate assumes 2-3 full-time equivalents per megawatt (MW) to maintain, operate, and license compliance for the existing 100,000-MW fleet.

Geothermal: The Geothermal Energy Association’s latest estimate of the industry was 5,200 direct jobs as of 2010. Indirect and induced jobs were estimated at 13,100 jobs. Geothermal industry employment is expected to increase by 2,805 jobs this year. In 2008, GEA estimated that direct employment was 4,583 jobs, and induced jobs totaled 11,460 and by 2012, 25,000 jobs.

Biomass: The Biomass Power Association estimates that the biopower industry provides 14,000 jobs in the United States. In 2008, the U.S. biodiesel industry maintained 51,893 jobs. Approximately 70,400 Americans are employed directly by the ethanol industry, with an additional 400,677 indirect and induced jobs being produced.

And, let’s not forget energy efficiency. In 2008, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that 380,000 people were employed in the energy efficiency services sector. Energy Efficiency Services Sector (EESS) is defined as “multi-disciplinary sector that address the design and construction of homes and buildings, and the installation, use, and maintenance of high-efficiency equipment and technologies in homes, buildings, and industrial processes. The EESS includes engineers, designers, economists, marketers, and trades people."

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), robust investment in energy efficiency could save $1.2 trillion by 2020, and the United States could create 1.3 to 1.9 million jobs by 2050 through the deployment of energy efficient technologies. Similarly, the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) projects 1.3 million jobs by 2030, according to the report “Energy Efficiency Services Sector: Workforce Size and Expectations for Growth.”

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), created by the G-8, is an intergovernmental organization that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and they released an international jobs study at the end of 2013.

“The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 5.7 million people worldwide were employed in the renewable energy sector, directly and indirectly, in 2012. The largest number of jobs is found in biofuels and solar photovoltaic, 1.38 million and 1.36 million, respectively," according to IRENA. "The solar heating/cooling, wind power and biomass (heat and power) industries each employ several hundred thousand people. By comparison, biogas, geothermal energy, small hydropower and concentrated solar power are much smaller employers. Generally, better information is available for electricity-generating renewable energy technologies than for those relating to transportation and heating/cooling.”

What differentiates energy efficiency and renewable energy from the more traditional centralized fuels is that the energy generation, distribution, integration, installation and service is much more distributed and distributed evenly across the United State (or for that matter, the world). Whether it’s energy produced along electric transmission lines, electric distribution lines, natural gas pipelines and landfills, behind the corporate or facility fence, or on-in-or near a building — its decentralization (just like cellular towers) is just a natural jobs multiplier.

Just like we have climate change deniers, we have clean energy deniers — but this job growth is just too hard to deny.

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Distributed Solar May Grow to 2 Gigawatts in Northeast US by 2021

Earlier this week the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) released the Northeastern portion of the 6th annual Renewable Energy in the 50 States report. The report focuses on the state of the renewable energy industry across the U.S. and is released in four stages. The most recent release finds that some of fastest growing states for renewable energy are in the U.S. Northeast, led by New York and Pennsylvania. It also anticipated that by the end of 2021 the distributed solar power market (rooftops, small solar farms, commercial buildings, etc.) will grow to 2 gigawatts from 250 megawatts in 2012.

“For several years now the renewable energy sector has been growing at an increasingly impressive rate,” said ACORE’s Research and Program Manager and lead author of the report Lesley Hunter. “This has been especially true in the Northeast. These 11 states — plus the District of Columbia — rank second nationwide in both solar and biomass power capacity and may be on the precipice of a massive offshore wind build-out.” The 11 states covered in the report are: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, D.C.

The report credited the strong growth of renewables in the Northeast to various policies and incentive programs. Among the policies and incentive programs mentioned were feed-in tariffs, renewable energy credits (RECs), green banks (as in New York’s $1 billion green bank), and rebates.

Another important, overarching policy in the region are renewable energy targets and renewable portfolio standards (RPSs). “Many Northeastern states have set targets for solar energy generation, which, coupled with financial incentives, are largely responsible for driving more solar power capacity in the Northeast than in the Midwest or the Southeast,” the report said. There’s also a cooperative effort, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which is helping nine states in the region work toward curbing greenhouse gas emissions and while spurring energy efficiency.

“Various renewable energy technologies may also help to diversify the Northeast’s energy production portfolio beyond conventional energy sources,” Hunter explained. Several states such as New York, Massachusetts, and Maine are major producers of biomass and waste energy, using a number of available feedstocks like municipal solid waste, wood, and landfill gas.

Homeowners in the region also use a lot of wood, Hunter reported. “The availability of wood waste from the local forestry sector allows homes throughout the Northeast to use wood for space heating, water heating, and cooking at nearly twice the national rate, and growth in this sector is expected to steadily continue,” she said.

The information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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Asia report: Revisiting Japan's solar demand and nuclear comeback

New Hampshire, USA -- Japan's solar market continues to race ahead: domestic solar demand is surging, to the point where it's bottlenecked behind expectations. And what's that sound of tiny footsteps approaching?

Japan's domestic solar cell shipments more than tripled from July to September from the same period a year ago, while exports fell by two-thirds, according to the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association. Domestic shipments in the first half of the fiscal year alone (April-September) nearly equal those from the entire previous fiscal year, 3.7 GW to 3.8 GW. Meanwhile, the Okinawa Prefecture is reaching its upper limit in how much solar PV generation it can take on. They're turning to energy storage to help address the problem.

At the other end of the scale, though, mega-solar power plants are producing just a fraction of their authorized output, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), which is mulling the causes of the delays (lack of funding, developers holding out for more attractive profits, grid interconnection complexities, even failure to secure land rights) and may cancel approvals for some developers who aren't progressing quickly enough.

But there's another reemerging energy interest in Japan these days. Japan quickly shuttered its nuclear fleet following the Fukushima disaster (inspiring other nations to quickly followed their example), leading in part to a renewed embrace of renewable energy options. Even the person who came up with Fukushima's nuclear-supportive tagline turned to solar power. But the recently elected Abe government and METI are reemphasizing nuclear as an important baseload power source with additional safety and cost measures, reversing the previous administration's pledge to get rid of nuclear power by 2040. The problem is that replacing nuclear is leading to bringing more fossil fuels and pollution, or choosing non-baseload renewables with higher costs. "You can't fill the void left by nuclear with renewable energy," said one analyst quoted by Bloomberg. The Japan Renewable Energy Foundation points out, though, that factoring in those safety measures and decommissioning costs hikes the cost of nuclear power, erasing any savings vs. today's pricing.

IN THE NEWS

China Doubling its Renewables Pace: China has installed roughly 36 GW of renewable energy capacity this year through October, roughly two-thirds of that from hydro but also with increases in wind and solar power (and nuclear power which is included in their definition of renewable). That's a bit off the hopes set in January of 49 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2013, though China still expects 10 GW of grid-connected solar power capacity by the end of this year.

Toshiba Eyeing German Residential Rooftops: Toshiba and Gagfah, Germany’s largest real-estate company, are launching a joint venture to add rooftop solar to family apartment buildings in Germany, a move that would square up the Japanese company as an independent power producer (IPP) against local and regional utilities. During nonproductive periods (night and cloudy days) the company says it will purchase power from the wholesale markets for customers at the same rate as power generated by the systems. The Japanese company initially plans to install 3 MW of solar power on 750 apartments, and more than 100 MW by 2016, eventually including batteries and Toshiba's smart grid tech.

Biomass and Cold Storage in India: A biomass energy project inaugurated in the Uttar Pradesh village of Sitapur is said to be the first of its kind, powering not only 140 households but also a cold storage unit for harvested fruits and vegetables. It's an interesting and important application for a nation where 22 percent of agricultural produce is spoiled and wasted, valued at Rs 330 billion. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and two Australian aid and research agencies developed and oversee the project, which will be transferred to community ownership after two years.

Slashing Costs for Fukushima Offshore Wind: The Marubeni-led group behind the 2-MW pilot offshore wind project at Fukushima, which started operations about one month ago, describe their goals to reduce the technology's costs in half for the second phase of their project.

CSP in India: Areva says it has commissioned initial steam operation at its 100-MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Dhursar, Rajasthan state. The project, to be operated by Reliance Power, is expected to ramp to commercial operation in March 2014.

Hydro Tasmania Wants Wind Farm Support: Hydro Tasmania reportedly wants the federal government to help with its proposed $2 billion 600-MW King Island wind farm project, which would be the nation's largest. The project would require an underwater high-voltage cable to connect to the national electricity market in Victoria; a second cable link also is being mulled among politicians.

Tata's $400M Cleantech Investment: Tata Capital and the International Finance Corporation are pledging to jointly invest 25 billion INR (U.S. $401 million) in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in India. Tata Cleantech has participated in group loans for 350 MW of mostly wind projects, and wants to back 2 GW of renewable projects over the next five years.

India REC Demand Doubles: Demand for renewable energy credits in India doubled in November to exceed 300,000 bids, according to data from REConnect Energy Solutions. Demand has been particularly brisk since August when regulators in several states tightened their rules on local distributors who haven't been meeting their targets.

Chinese Hybrid Solar/Hydro Plant Ramps: The 320-MW hydro-solar project near the Longyangxia Dam in Qinghai Province, said to be the largest of its kind in China, has been connected to the grid and commenced trial operations after about nine months of construction, according to media reports. Annual output is projected to be 498 GWh.

CPV Project in China Gets Funding: Focusic New Energy Holding has secured a CNY 200 million (U.S. $32.7 million) loan from the China Development Bank to finance a 20-MW CPV project in Hami, at the edge of the Gobi desert in Xinjiang province. Focusic and Soitec have been working on a 3-MW pilot project since 2011, which is planned to start delivering power to the grid by the end of this year with another phase completed next year.

ON THE HORIZON

Malaysia's 2015 Renewable Energy Target: Malaysia's Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry says it is confident that it can achieve its goal of 5.5 percent of renewable energy in its energy mix by 2015, encompassing solar, small hydro, geothermal, and biogas. Those goals increase to 11 percent by 2020. At the same time, the government separately announced a 15 percent hike in electricity prices for users who consume more than 300 kWh/month, which should spur more energy-saving practices from LEDs to appliances.

Singapore's 10-2020 Renewable Energy Goal: Singapore could meet 10 percent of its power demand by 2020 with renewable energy sources, up from barely 1 percent today, without any government subsidies, according to the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS). The catch: it'll cost S$4 billion from the private sector.

A DEEPER LOOK

Kiribati, The Climate-Change Poster Child: Business Week has an excellent firsthand account of climate change's potential impact, and one its first dramatic victims: the Republic of Kiribati, a far-flung collection of atolls near the equator in the central Pacific Ocean, which is rapidly in danger of being erased from the earth. The Asia Development Bank (ADB) also has a nice infographic tracking the impact of future climate change on vulnerable island nations in the Pacific.

Australia hits 3 GW of Solar Installations: Australia achieved 3 GW of installed solar power capacity earlier this month, spanning about 1.2 million individual systems. That also makes up nearly 10 percent of the National Electricity Market's (NEM) demand, according to market tracker Sunwiz, which takes a closer look at solar's contributions to -- and reshaping of -- Australia's electricity market.

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Solar Is Valuable Resource in Climate Action Plan

As the UN Climate Conference ended with a whimper last week, the U.S. continues to move forward in its attempts to curtail climate change.

President Obama this month issued an executive order establishing a task force of state and local officials to identify ways America can respond and be resilient to the effects of climate change. The order, along with Obama’s Climate Action Plan, is a positive step towards curbing the effects of climate change and reducing our nation’s carbon emissions.

Solar energy represents a massive opportunity to help meet the goals of the action plan, which are to cut carbon pollution in America, prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change, lead international efforts to combat global climate change and prepare for its impacts.

Today, solar is one of the fastest-growing sources of new energy in the United States — last month, solar accounted for three-quarters of America’s new energy capacity!

More than 30 additional utility-scale, clean energy solar projects are under construction helping to reduce carbon emissions from power plants while putting thousands of electricians, steelworkers and laborers to work. These facilities, along with rooftop solar on homes, businesses and schools, will generate electricity for generations to come, reducing our nation’s carbon footprint in the long term.

Across the nation, as we saw this week in Georgia, communities are already stepping up to defend their right to solar power.

Nine out of 10 Americans think we need to develop more solar — because they know how important a clean, healthy environment is for our children and our future.

Taking action on climate by boosting renewable energy is good for more than just the environment — it’s a win for the economy, too. American businesses know that solar is not only a good clean energy source, it is also a good value proposition. Day after day, businesses report they are adding more solar to their portfolios.

The cost of a solar system has dropped by nearly 40 percent over the past two years, making solar more affordable than ever. And as solar continues to scale up, costs will continue to come down.

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Solar and energy efficiency securitisation arising

Organizations are beginning to securitize solar and energy efficiency loans to allow greater levels of investment. Securitization involves pooling loans to create line securities that investors can purchase. Recently, SolarCity securitized $54.4 million in loans for solar photovoltaic installation. So, the green jobs - green NY program has achieved a high bond rating securitized for energy efficiency loans.

"I think, ultimately, securitization through the asset-backed market is the only thing we can do to achieve large scale," said Cisco DeVries, president and CEO of renewable funding. He said it is crucial to get the secondary market to scale to reach national and state solar power and energy efficiency goals.

"We're finally at the tipping point," DeVries said. "We just have enough to make the leap to make the machinery work to access these large, low-cost sources of capital." [We'll be able to get even cheaper, better capital over time."

Many of stakeholders are working in parallel to develop securitization approaches. Some are combining solar and energy efficiency financing into one package. Others are beginning to securitize solar power and setting up the groundwork to support this practice in the industry. The green jobs - green NY program is focusing solely on energy efficiency.

Surprisingly, developers of solar-only programs and developers of energy efficiency programs have rarely shared information until now. Michael Mendelsohn, a senior financial analyst at national renewable energy laboratory, is working to advance solar securitization and is aware of this situation. He said Hey securitization plan to compare notes with organizations working on energy efficiency.

As is true with other loan products, both solar power and energy efficiency securitization benefit from high transaction volumes, standardized documents, and compelling performance data. All of these factors will provide the necessary financial structure to give investors confidence in solar and energy efficiency loans as on asset class.

However, there are significant performance measurement differences between solar projects and energy efficiency projects. It is easier to estimate, measure and report the kilowatt hours produced by a solar project than it is to report the kilowatt-hours saved by on energy efficiency project.

Combining solar power and energy efficiency loans

Renewable funding uses three approaches that can fund both renewables and energy efficiency - bundling unsecured residential financing, aggregating property-assessed clean energy (PACE) loans, and funding on-bill financing through securitization.

First, renewable funding works with the Pennsylvania Treasury, the State of Kentucky, and other partners to run the warehouse for energy efficiency loans (WHEEL) program. The WHEEL program bundles unsecured residential loans. The first securitization is scheduled to take place in mid-2014, DeVries said.

"The capital that we used to finance projects of WHEEL is technology and project-agnostic," DeVries said. "It's a traditional loan product. You can get it funded and closed in a day. It can be used almost anywhere in the country. It's really great to have a loan product that works that way."

Second, the CaliforniaFIRST program, which includes 170 DeVries said cities and counties, works with renewable funding to aggregate its PACE loans. DeVries said he estimates it will be at least ready for securitization one year before the commercial loans are. Residential loan securitization is on the horizon and may take place next year. So far, he said, the program helped has received 140 applications, over of which are for solar projects. The remainder of the applications are for energy efficiency and water efficiency projects.

Third, Hawaii has been collaborating with renewable funding on its Green Energy Market Securitization program. DeVries said this program is likely to issue $100-150 million in bonds early next year. These bonds may find of both solar power and other clean energy projects.

"I think Hawaii's model is the most exciting thing I have lakes in years," DeVries said. "They're taking the child of low-cost capital that has been used to build power plants and making that same child of capital available for homeowners and businesses to put on their roofs." "The Hawaii model is exciting and dramatic change."

DeVries, so said he has heard of a financing program that is combining solar power purchase agreements with PACE.

Securitizing solar power USSR

During the past month, SolarCity announced it has securitized a $54.4 million pool of loans for solar photovoltaic panel installations. This amount is considered somewhat small by several industry writers. The asset has not been rated yet.

Almost in parallel with SolarCity's news on securitization, a group called solar access to public capital (SAPC) just announced a standard solar contract that can be used across the industry.

SAPC is working to facilitate industry-wide conversation about standard practices as part of the movement toward securitization. Mendelsohn of organized SAPC after receiving a grant from the Department of energy to advance solar securitization.

"We're trying to build out a standard set of contracts across the solar industry - not with any specific state or program - and really get to understanding of how the rating agencies view the asset class," Mendelsohn said.

SAPC is now convening stakeholders, building a system performance database for solar energy called oSPARC, developing best practices for solar system installation, and creating four sample structures for rating agencies to review, Mendelsohn said. Although the rating agency reviews will not be published, a report on the results will be available later. So Mendelsohn said a data structure for solar securitization wants to be publicly available once it is complete.

"The market needs to get comfortable with one technology at a time," Mendelsohn said. "They like things very standardized, and not a lot of risk factors combined. There's definitely a market demand for yield."

Securitizing energy efficiency USSR

Last summer, the green jobs - green NY program began a securitization program for energy efficiency loans that does not include solar power. The bonds have earned AAA rating from S & P and AAA rating from Moody's.

N.Y.. found in unusual way to guarantee these bonds. Through on arrangement with the New York State environmental facilities Corporation, the state is using funds earmarked for environmental purposes to make the bonds competitively appealing to investors.

Jeff Pitkin, treasurer at New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, said in an e-mail that the net interest cost on the bonds will be below one percent. The bonds will therefore benefit from federal qualified energy conservation bond subsidies.

This loan program is one of the first initiatives started by N.Y.. of new green bank, which opened its doors in January.

Two energy efficiency data and standardization initiatives are now in progress. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is developing on energy efficiency loan data specificiation with standard data fields and definitions. Environmental Defense Fund, clean energy Finance Center, and University of Chicago plan to collect, aggregate and publish energy efficiency loan data from sources nationwide.

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NRDC Launches Solar Schools Crowdfunding Campaign

October 31, 2013 |

Over the past few years, the terms 'crowdfunding' or 'kickstarting' have taken off, much like the projects or startup companies that the fundraising campaigns are helping reach fruition. Now a somewhat unlikely organization has jumped into the fray, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which is aiming to install solar on schools as soon as January 2014 through a new Indiegogo campaign.

The campaign seeks to raise $54,000, which will help three to five schools buy and install solar installations. “Our ultimate goal is help every school that wants solar power to get it,” said NRDC Renewable Energy Policy Director Nathanael Greene. “If we can hold fundraisers for field trips and sports teams, we can do the same to get our schools on solar.” He added that switching to solar power helps schools cut their energy costs and allows them to use those funds for other purposes while also reducing the environmental impact of energy use.

NRDC used California’s Firebaugh-Las Deltas United School District as an example. After going solar, the district was able to save roughly $900,000 allowing them to reinstate a music program for 2,300 students. It said students at solar schools also get a chance to see how solar energy works, which can help enrich their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.

“Numerous organizations and programs — mainly through utilities — are putting solar panels on schools,” said Jay Orfield, environmental innovation fellow in NRDC’s Center for Market Innovation. Another company, Mosaic, has also launched crowdfunding campaigns to support solar on schools, community centers and others. However, investments in Mosaic’s projects promise a return on investment over time, akin to a bond. Under the Indiegogo campaign, people can contribute as little as $10 to help a school go solar.

“What’s different about our program is that it aims to make solar an option for any school, anywhere, by beginning with local school administrators, parents, teachers, students and communities and giving them the tools to they need to make solar power a reality,” he said.

The campaign will also include a Solar Schools website that will help potential beneficiary schools apply to the program and for contributors to vote to select a school to go solar. The site, which isn’t up yet, will detail state and local rules about installing solar power in a given community. It will also help connect interested parties with solar installers, and local solar organizations.

Other organizations, including The Solar Foundation, Community Power Network, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (Solar 4R Schools), The Green School Alliance and Three Birds Foundation are partnering with NRDC on the campaign.

While it's NRDC’s first crowdfunding campaign, it is far from NRDC’s first efforts to promote solar. In the past, the organization has worked with professional sports and collegiate stadium owners to develop a guidebook to help them go solar. It’s helped stadiums like the Qwest Field and Event Center in Seattle and Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. go solar.

The original article was posted on SolarReviews.

The information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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How The Solar Decathlon Was Won

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com

New Hampshire, USA -- The Solar Decathlon's mission, at its core, is to showcase one simple fact: that homes can be built today that are innovatively efficient from energy to water usage, in a variety of appealing and generally affordable designs. Judging by our own eyes, and the eyes of this year's judges and thousands of visitors over two weeks in CA, Irvine, this year's Solar Decathlon again accomplished its mission.

Jim is Associate Editor for RenewableEnergyWorld.com, covering the solar and wind beats. He previously was news editor for Solid State Technology and Photovoltaics World, and has covered semiconductor manufacturing and related industries,...

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Solar Decathlon starts despite US Government shutdown

When disappointed some local may be the Solar Decathlon fans it is out that should have been a good year for the event in Washington, D.C.

During budget dispute clouds over the Federal Government and the Capitol loom, throws the bi-annual Department of energy event an own sunshine in Irvine, California.

Decathlon, started in 2002 by Dr. Richard King of the U.S. solar program has University of team designs for solar-powered houses, so spotlight on America's best and brightest minds millions of visitors from around the globe in the last 11 years taken. Competition, DOE site according to should first "Students and the public that money saving opportunities and benefits for the environment through clean energy presents educate about products and design solutions." On the other hand, tries the event, "showing the convenience and affordability of houses, which combine energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems now available the public."

Competition. Innovation. Affordability. Our students show us the spirit of team work can do, how we're fighting here in Washington. In this case, the students are better teaching the lesson.

The Solar Decathlon slogan this year - a path to a better future - pointing a much better prospects. In the solar industry, we find that Americans are finding that solar actually is the bright way.

Residential energy costs are an everyday concern. In the United States 115 million homes consume the energy value $266 billion annually. In its new report on solar heating and cool was the solar energy industries Association, that 72 percent of home energy use related room with hot water, space heating and cooling.

The technologies on display in Irvine for the next couple of weeks face front on this issue. Despite the Government shutdown is the Decathlon happy as planned with the opening of the kickoff Thursday events continue. Visitors of the event can students designed and built by features such as an outer walkway shaded by solar cells, solar chimney with a retractable skylight for natural ventilation and light and houses with enough energy left to your car fuel tour.

Houses of the future? How about houses of today. Already solar provides that concrete income investment for homeowners and businesses alike, while educational programs such as the Solar Decathlon treat visitors the world drawing boards today real options and honor of some of the world's best innovators.

Students urged for their best through a global public competition to sunny skies for us all to create: that is a forecast which could win even some cross-party support.

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Applies cities with solar energy

New Hampshire, USA -- Municipal renewable energy initiatives are hardly a new concept. In many cases the main goal is a heightened environmental sensitivity, and often installing more renewable energy is just one component of broader policies that might also include eco-friendly transportation or more efficient waste management or a district heating system. In other examples, renewable energy has been identified as an engine for economic rejuvenation.

Urban solar initiatives meshed with economic development goals are taking off in numerous global locations. Last year the World Bank launched an "Eco2 Cities" Initiative to spur urban sustainability. Under the European Commission's POLIS research program, six European cities have developed guidelines for tapping urban solar potential on buildings. In Sweden, Stockholm's Hammarby Sjostad district has implemented an integrated orchestra of renewable energy, energy efficiency, water and waste management and recycling for both electricity and district heating, and the city of Malmo is marching toward a broader goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2020, building out a "climate-smart" Hyllie city district and embracing solar energy in other locations. Dozens of Spanish municipalities from Barcelona to Madrid have passed municipal solar ordinances in recent years, largely for solar thermal/solar hot water. In Germany, the Munchen Solar Initiative aims to help building owners, businesses and tenants, identify the possibilities of rooftop solar PV, from financing to installation.

What follows is the story of one large metropolitan area’s realization of the power that renewable energy development holds for urban renewal efforts.

We’d love to hear about more efforts like this, so please tell us your story!

Baltimore’s Plan to Make Money When the Sun Shines

Five years ago, on a plane to San Diego, Franklin Lee was talking with his elderly seat neighbor about the high prices of energy and gas. The smartest thing she ever did, she asserted, was to move 20 years ago from Minneapolis to the warmer climate of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and she was especially proud of her home with its solar power system, which had proven to be an excellent long-term investment. Glancing down at the Southwestern U.S. far below, Lee noticed all the vast empty land with no civilization around and nothing but sunshine above.

Working in the later stages of the Carter administration, this civil rights lawyer had been drawn to the drumbeat of solar energy as the "pathway to energy independence for America. He came to believe that the key to broader adoption of solar energy is financing: how to prevent residential rooftop solar systems from becoming a prohibitively luxurious add-on for most residents? Later he participated in the DOE's SunShot initiative to develop innovative financing for solar power to make it more affordable for average residents, and he watched organizations around his native Baltimore begin to embrace solar energy, from the Maryland Science Center to longtime local business anchor McCormick Spice Company. His thinking expanded to consider the potential of a large-scale urban solar initiative: residents and businesses could spend much less on electricity, keeping that money within the city limits to support the local economy. Solarizing even half the city's 600,000-plus residents would generate "a significant income stream," he realized.

In 2009 Lee joined the greater Baltimore Leadership Program, an annual program in which a few dozen community leaders collectively examine major social and economic problems confronting the city (homelessness, public safety, education, facilities, etc.) and craft visions for addressing those problems. Recalling that inspirational flight over the southwest U.S., Lee considered all the city's unused land — vacant plots, abandoned manufacturing plants, brownfield sites — and realized what must be done. "Some people [in the leadership program] had visions for expanding a nonprofit, or eliminating homelessness," he said. "Mine was to remake Baltimore into the city that makes money when the sun shines."

Economic Challenge Leads to Solar Opportunity

Facing a deepening fiscal challenge, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and her staff developed an idea to reverse the city's slumping economy: attract thousands of families to the city over the next decade, address the issue of urban blight and economic development, identify high-growth markets, and find new projects and procurement processes that especially reflect the city's demographic profile, which is 65 percent African-American and minorities.

Thus the Mayor’s economic challenges and Franklin Lee's solar vision are united: solar energy provides a fresh and sustainable economic boost for residents and businesses for whom it matters by offering energy savings and encouraging reinvestment in those communities.

Creating a local solar industry made up of residents from the most economically disadvantaged areas of the community including minority/women-owned businesses "create[s] opportunities for populations that have heretofore been locked out of the mainstream marketplace," Lee said. "It's going to generate good-paying jobs, for taxpaying residents, create new streams of revenue for the city, and at the same time improve the quality of life [and] make urban living more affordable."

As part of the regulatory approval for its recent acquisition of local utility Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E), Exelon pledged tens of millions of dollars to the state to assist in energy efficiency efforts. Part of that money will be used by the city of Baltimore to retrofit thousands of homes, Lee said, using trained residents from those communities to do everything from better insulation to new thermostats to energy-efficient windows and doors. That could save 30 percent on residents' energy bills, maybe from $200/month down to $130/month on average; "for low-income residents that's a huge, significant savings," he said.

City officials have calculated that city-controlled property and facilities — schools, transportation buildings, parking garages, unused and brownfield lands, planned community housing — could support up to 50 MW of solar energy installations. Already they have identified an initial ~15 MW of solar energy on municipal-owned property, including a 5-MW expansion at the Back River water treatment plant, which is already home to a smaller solar array and 2 MW of combined heat/power.

Solar energy development also represents a potential new revenue stream for the city. With Maryland's net metering policy BG&E buys back surplus solar energy at market rates, which are currently around US $0.09 per kWh. New community housing with solar could attract residents; the solar could even be hooked up before the housing is completed to get a head start on revenues. "There's monetary value in all this surface area," Lee said. "We waste ever single day we don't have a solar panel collecting sunlight."

On the flip side, once installed, solar could also help the city reduce costs. Many municipal facilities need backup power generation, and solar can contribute some portion of that. It won't displace other power sources, but it can help lower demand charges, Atwood explained. The PJM grid uses the five heaviest load days to set its "capacity tag" fee [aka demand charge] every three years. Over the past six years, Baltimore's demand charge has increased tenfold to $4 million. By adding solar, which peaks during those heaviest load days (summertime afternoons), the city could significantly lower that demand charge.

Another unique aspect of Baltimore's plans is how the city wants to pay for it. Other urban solar initiatives across the U.S. "have relied upon PPA models, leases of rooftop space, or PACE financing programs," Lee asserted, but Baltimore is exploring a different path: municipal revenue bonds in conjunction with public/private partnership models. Leveraging municipal bonds could broadly finance solar PV installations, using debt obligations to repay the loans over 20-30 years at very low interest rates. In the case of new community housing, developers would gradually transfer ownership to the residents, who would take on debt obligations, as well as a slice of the surplus that's sold back to the utility.

Next Steps

This fall the city of Baltimore and its partners are mapping out goals, methodologies, and metrics, and identifying potential participants. They also need to determine how to calculate whether its initiatives are being successful. Possible criteria include: lower monthly electricity costs, tax revenues for new residents, how quickly the new solar-integrated community housing sells compared with similar properties, how much energy is consumed and how much surplus power generated. "I think we can achieve all of these objectives," Lee said. "And if we can, there's no reason why you wouldn't want to replicate this" in other metropolitan areas.

And that's another impetus behind the initiative: make Baltimore a positive example, a leader for other economically challenged cities across the nation, inspiring other urban economic redevelopment efforts. And it just might put a smile on the face of a certain old lady from Albuquerque.

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Dominican Republic to large solar Park

London-the Dominican Republic soon must project developers announced its first large solar farm.

German renewable-energy developers Wirsol building (PV) Park in the Dominican province of Monte Plata has begun on a 64-MW solar photovoltaic, the company says. WIRSOL plans for combining an initial 32 MW on the grid until the end of 2013.

"President Danilo Medina Sánchez personally the country first power purchase agreement has given us", said Markus Wirth, Member of the Wirsols Board of Directors. The PPA was Estatales (Meng), which means that electricity from the project will be sold directly to the State by the Corporación Dominicana de empresas Electricas.

In the Dominican Republic, a current population growth and rapid economic growth have combined to create the demand for electricity. The island State still diesel and gas engines is mainly based on fossil fuels widely, and although the Sun 50 percent higher than that of Germany, there was very little solar energy in the region developed. In 2011, the Worldwatch Institute reported that the largest solar plant on the island a 100 kW roof mounted system on a water purification and bottling plant in Santo Domingo. But analysis firm NPD Solarbuzz predicts that the PV demand in Latin America and the Caribbean could see explosive growth by 2017 with a predicted 45 percent annual growth rate.

After Matthew Fellmeth, analyst at renewable energy firm Reznick think consulting energy Caribbean Governments to support the development of the projects start with renewable energy as utilities and independent power producers. The Dominican Republic wants to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2025, and to reduce its CO2 emissions by 25 percent by 2012 levels by 2030. The nation law offers financial incentives such as tax exemptions, a feed-in tariff (FiT), and a National Fund for renewables for renewables.

But, says Fellmeth, even with support for the development of renewable energies, there are still significant obstacles to overcome.

The island grid system has one of the highest rates of distribution losses around the world, must Institute sustainable energy roadmap, while excessive bureaucracy has currently slowed down development - project developers go through a 14-step process the Worldwatch, received a renewable energy royalty, said roadmap.

According to Worldwatch Dominican developers generally lacks the capital required, project development and the conditions, the banks for renewable energy projects are offered not cheaper than that for conventional. Only Banco Hipotecario Dominicano (BHD) offers low-interest loans for small and medium-sized renewable energy projects.

Mark Konold, Worldwatchs climate and energy Caribbean project manager, said recently in a blog post that "the Dominican Government has introduced growth already some strong mechanisms for the promotion of renewable energies, but it currently not their potential use is."

Although the Government offers net metering for PV and to promote growth of the sector its laws on renewable energies, said Kanungo "restore decision makers are decisions that entrench the country of dependence on fossil fuels," including delete or reduce the country revamped incentives for renewable energy and new coal-fired power plants electricity generating capacity replace heating oil.

"Held exempt renewable energy support, the Dominican Government should strengthen the mechanisms that will promote a cleaner, sustainable and independent energy sector," said Kanungo. "There should be more support for the development of the financial sector also direct ability to draw major projects." Right now, renewable projects confined to a pool of money that supports smaller projects with payback Windows of only five to seven years."

Andreas Margara, a spokesman for Wirsol said that Monte Plata project is additional challenges. "Transport and logistics, and on the island are very difficult," he said, and the installation is done during the hurricane season.

WIRSOL subsidiary company Wirsol Caribbean planning more projects on the Islands, including possible to develop "Smaller roof systems, for the local industry and especially more solar farms, solar", Margara said.

To promote solar energy with mirror neurons in the brain

Gate 'Solar Fred' Valenza, UnThink solar

Watching a scary movie, and the main character will open the door or press this button, which we all know, that slide should not. If you feel fear of the character and "jump", when a spirit or an innocent kitten out of the closet, congratulations. You're a man, and you will feel that the effects of mirror neurons in the brain.

Before marketers can let these mirror neurons solar market such as solar let me say that this no evil capitalist conspiracy, solar products and services of a brainwashing subjected customers to purchase of our. From my understanding of non-scientists, raise awareness about the effect of mirror neurons is easy to visually communicate a way about our solar products and services.

After a simple definition, I Wikipedia found in:

A mirror neuron is a neuron that is raised when an animal is and when the animal observes the same action by another.

So "the neuron" mirrors the behavior of the other, as the viewer itself would be.

So, these neurons force anybody to not act, but they help people feel what others are experiencing. There are many nuances for human biology, but we take this definition at the most basic level: when we see a person do something in or brain, it is, as we are doing same action itself.

If you think about it, we use our mirror neurons all the time. There is the above mentioned movie experience where we feel what the character on the screen feel, and it is also the real life experience of us just someone on a chocolate sundae Gorge and suddenly feel like we want to. Likewise we see laughing people, although we do not know the context, we smile or laugh with them. We can even strangers on the street, fearful or sad to see and feel as anxious or sad without knowing the cause. Words alone can images in our minds, as if we read Harry Potter adventure. In our minds, we feel, that we are also prisoners of Azkaban, aware know we are sure in our reading chairs.

Back in our solar marketing world we try to communicate more the advantages of solar energy or our solar products. We usually do this through lengthy explanations and one or two photos, but if we would rather communicate through our mirror neurons, then the old adage "A picture is worth 1000 words" is less a proverb and more of a solar-communication technology.

And that's where creative solar takes over marketing. It's easy to install photos of a solar Installer panels show, but if we want to most effectively use the mirror neurons, then the customer (probably an Installer) must visualize yourself on the roof and the feeling of satisfaction, to install quality Panel. It's hard to convey in a single image, but perhaps easier to do, mixing the information with the mirroring action with short videos.

We must also consider in the living room, visually how to convey the excitement and satisfaction of getting a solar system on one's home with images, videos and unique stories, with consumers mirror neurons connect installed.

The scenarios for all solar industries and products are numerous. All you have to do is... Looking to enable mirror neurons and UnThink solar.

Tor Valenza also known as "Solar Fred" is a solar marketing and communications consultant and author solar Fred's Guide to solar guerrilla marketing. For the solar-Fred-marketing newsletter sign to you, or contact him through UnThink solar. You can follow on Twitter also @SolarFred.

The information and opinions in this blog are solely those of the author and not necessarily the RenewableEnergyWorld.com and company, the advertising on this Web site and other publications. This blog has been posted directly by the author and has not been reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

UnThink solar is a strategic marketing and communications agency solar companies. Panasonic, a block off the grid, hot water and other solar PV and thermal companies which have to stand out in an increasingly competitive clients included among other things...

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Solar Decathlon: Spotlighting American innovation

If the US Department of energy its first Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in 2002 instead of American energy issues grew nervous for the first time in decades. Natural gas prices had skyrocketed, California had recovered just from rolling blackouts and the events of 9/11 and our continued dependence on foreign sources of energy were foremost in our minds.

In the meantime as America his drop in rankings in mathematics and the sciences, request for stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skilled workers increased to the point that the STALK grew three times faster than other positions jobs. While we lag behind many Asian and European countries stem areas, there were advance studies in the fields of STEM a growing movement in education policy and curriculum elementary school and college-level, to improve the competitiveness of the United States in these areas intended.

Energy and education met in this timed Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C., culminating in more than a dozen solar 2002 apartments temporarily erected in front of the Capitol and toured driven by thousands of visitors from all over the world. Office of energy efficiency and renewable energy solar technology program made possible, reinforced this new, experimental program outside the traditional work of the DOE through the initiative of Dr. Richard King, and together moved to college students from different academic fields of architecture, engineering, natural sciences, communications, interior design and others - the most cost effective, attractive, and energy efficient solar-powered home.

Decathlon used a "If you build it, they will come" - bring strategy, the solar energy as a viable solution for our energy and education challenges in the foreground: when you train and encourage innovative thinkers to the students, the students will turn in educating the public about affordable renewable energy systems available today. The program encourages innovation while driving product awareness, promotes growth in new markets; In the meantime require promoting STEM skills in our students, the creative integration with other areas. The most important physics had to work hand in hand to make the landscape gardener, the home function as a system.

The prosperity and the Solar Decathlon to reach over the past decade (there are programs in China and Europe the Solar Decathlon now), as well as larger programs such as the SunShot initiative that 2011 has funded since the beginning, more than 150 solar technology work to leverage private dollars and innovations. Leaving alive their birthplace of Washington, for the first time, biennial Solar Decathlon will start in California this year with a bevy of collegiate teams from around the nation - and worldwide - presented like solar's role in the diversification of the energy mix of the country and growing.

With 120,000 Americans at more than 5,600 enterprises builds the U.S. solar industry helps our houses and shops makes; and presented by the new technologies and designs on the Solar Decathlon, it is clear that the United States is a global competitors - both in education and solar deployment.

Ask the way, as she and her team their solar house for this competition planned every hard-working students at the Solar Decathlon in Orange County, and between the talk of blinds you hear a themed panels, LEDs, light, and water treatment,: it is built to win. And this is good news for all of us.

Solar Decathlon: Spotlighting American innovation

If the US Department of energy its first Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in 2002 instead of American energy issues grew nervous for the first time in decades. Natural gas prices had skyrocketed, California had recovered just from rolling blackouts and the events of 9/11 and our continued dependence on foreign sources of energy were foremost in our minds.

In the meantime as America his drop in rankings in mathematics and the sciences, request for stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skilled workers increased to the point that the STALK grew three times faster than other positions jobs. While we lag behind many Asian and European countries stem areas, there were advance studies in the fields of STEM a growing movement in education policy and curriculum elementary school and college-level, to improve the competitiveness of the United States in these areas intended.

Energy and education met in this timed Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C., culminating in more than a dozen solar 2002 apartments temporarily erected in front of the Capitol and toured driven by thousands of visitors from all over the world. Office of energy efficiency and renewable energy solar technology program made possible, reinforced this new, experimental program outside the traditional work of the DOE through the initiative of Dr. Richard King, and together moved to college students from different academic fields of architecture, engineering, natural sciences, communications, interior design and others - the most cost effective, attractive, and energy efficient solar-powered home.

Decathlon used a "If you build it, they will come" - bring strategy, the solar energy as a viable solution for our energy and education challenges in the foreground: when you train and encourage innovative thinkers to the students, the students will turn in educating the public about affordable renewable energy systems available today. The program encourages innovation while driving product awareness, promotes growth in new markets; In the meantime require promoting STEM skills in our students, the creative integration with other areas. The most important physics had to work hand in hand to make the landscape gardener, the home function as a system.

The prosperity and the Solar Decathlon to reach over the past decade (there are programs in China and Europe the Solar Decathlon now), as well as larger programs such as the SunShot initiative that 2011 has funded since the beginning, more than 150 solar technology work to leverage private dollars and innovations. Leaving alive their birthplace of Washington, for the first time, biennial Solar Decathlon will start in California this year with a bevy of collegiate teams from around the nation - and worldwide - presented like solar's role in the diversification of the energy mix of the country and growing.

With 120,000 Americans at more than 5,600 enterprises builds the U.S. solar industry helps our houses and shops makes; and presented by the new technologies and designs on the Solar Decathlon, it is clear that the United States is a global competitors - both in education and solar deployment.

Ask the way, as she and her team their solar house for this competition planned every hard-working students at the Solar Decathlon in Orange County, and between the talk of blinds you hear a themed panels, LEDs, light, and water treatment,: it is built to win. And this is good news for all of us.

The information and opinions in this blog are solely those of the author and not necessarily the RenewableEnergyWorld.com and company, the advertising on this Web site and other publications. This blog has been posted directly by the author and has not been reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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Analysis the hype of the musk solar powered Hyperloop transportation system

Last week technology billionaire Elon Musk revealed his ideas for "Hyperloop", a speculative new means of transport, high speed. The system would be at 1,000 km/h car Middle compartments low-pressure pipes (such as pneumatic tubes once used, move e-Mail messages about Office building) drive.
Musk says that San Francisco and Los Angeles (through a proposed $20-collective, 35 minutes) connect the system would cost about $7 billion, or one-tenth of the baseline cost of California raged high speed rail system would connect cities - and can be built in less than a decade.

Of course this bold idea immediately attracted criticism, for example a United States today articles to list on secular reasons is that it don't work like "Round would slow" and "The towers would be harmless." Of course others fell over themselves praising the plan, that musk's vision is so awesome that even if it turn out quite as planned, nor is it great, and always would. The concept of getting simple, overly excited or too skeptical about what a dose of DataPoints is helpful:
If musk had suggested, it would not be value attention. Musk is a very successful entrepreneur, after it quickly rejected as futuristic ideas into successful companies several times: electronic money (PayPal moves $150 billion per year), electric vehicles (Tesla is profitable and the cars are expensive but acclaimed), solar energy (SolarCity gets Luxs coveted "Strong Positive"), space (SpaceX, which developed a national-grade space program in seven years and makes a profit). Musk solid plate lends credibility to an otherwise fantastic Idee.Das system requires no exotic new materials, properties of matter or unproven technologies. Musk 57-page detailed explanation of idea explains how the system could work with relatively commercially available technologies. It admits that there are many technical problems solved, and offers the concept as an open-source concept - a starting point for something actually feasible. So many solid criticism of the plan actually change it.Musk announcement should be seen wrapped in a construction as political commentary. The white paper is opened not with a visionary problem, but with the statement, "If high-speed rail was approved California, I was pretty disappointed, was like I know, that many others were also. How could it be the home of Silicon Valley and (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)-incredible things like indexing the world's knowledge and Mars Rovers - put would build a bullet train, both most expensive per mile and is one of the slowest in the world? "As many California musk taxpayers are frustrated, because by the cost overruns, delays and mediocre performance of the State high-speed program and the political problem is the musk probably be solved should."Of course, a tech entrepreneur political commentary is not newsworthy, and there is speculation prevalent, whether the apparatus could musk - or anyone - created successfully. Pneumatic transport is versions not new and similar - though much slower - of pneumatically driven people pushers were introduced, and even provided a long time ago. In the 1870s, Paris and New York had air-operated public transport. The vacuum tubes variation of that at present, suggests musk has been studied recently in China and of Switzerland. How can the concept of a technical examination withstand?

The Hyperloop costs per kilometre would be as revolutionary as his speed. California high-speed rail is also a consequence of the political and environmental issues as the technology high costs per kilometre, and Hyperloop, also dog would probably have these concerns. Musk suggests an increased, high-tech solution that indeed use problems such as land, but such systems are more expensive: the Shanghai Pudong monorail cost to build $1.3 billion and is $1.2 billion for 12 km costs 30 km long ($40 million/km), while the monorail Airtrain in New York range ($100 million / km). A way to deny the cost could look for the route with other State spanning infrastructure together. With the same route for a natural gas pipeline or energy transmission lines with PG & E, fiber-optic cable (which are routinely sewer side by side located within city) or water part of the calculus might be.The passenger pod cousin, Tesla, could provide on board power technology. On board batteries are not technological hurdle, because the initial Acceleration (and subsequent increases) must be through external, meets stationary linear electric motors and their energy sources would. The on-board batteries would be used then a big electric compressor fan on the front of the Hyperloop first and foremost for the power supply. The resulting battery would likely order of magnitude of 200 kWh - about three Tesla model S can be transplanted in the value of energy storage capacity, today's battery technology. In addition, these batteries would contribute less than 0.1 per cent - to the entire cost of the Hyperloop, only a sliver - enables in the shadow of infrastructure such as pylons construction and land.Even in sunny California, the solar-powered system backup storage should be. While the musk plan takes over the energy consumption of the system be achieved could, with solar energy - maybe he hopes that SolarCity will receive the installation contract - solar panels would operate grid storage on the expected load. Helps during solar power, would be the greater energy storage facility in the stationary batteries needed to operate the Hyperloop linear electric motors in the night or in bad Wetter.Das, open-source model, an open invitation to the rail system manufacturer, as Bombardier Siemens crowdsourcing is Siemens and ABB, test - drove through the opening of the engineering software to the local motor dimensions, with the now available rally fighter vehicle a certificate for their success. As with other "great innovation" would the spin-offs of R & D on Hyperloop benefit in addition to technologies and promote the process of collaborative design. Manufacturers of other high performance vehicles, such as automotive, aircraft, and spacecraft - like musk of SpaceX or the NewSpace community - should join the Hyperloop amount.

This article appeared originally on the Lux populi and was published with permission.

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Habitat for humanity-reinforced with solar power

Habitat for humanity were turn increasingly to the Sun for energy solutions, the homeowners save money on bills.

A donated solar plant at Newark, Delaware will help with two disabled sons power costs a family. Now, they can afford better medical care they need. This is just the latest in a long string of recent announcements about Habitat homes to compensate for solar energy, cost of living for the working poor in the United States and abroad.

The Newark project has donated solar panels from Motech and service of leasing company Sungevity.

"This is a hard-working family seeks to provide the best possible care for their children under difficult financial and emotional conditions" Sharon o' Shea, Marketing Director Motech said in a statement.

And the company was happy to be able to help.

But Habitat for humanity makes created for families with low incomes a regular inclusion in the houses solar.

The nonprofit last month announced that it an eco-village in Wisconsin will be powered with 18 net zero houses, heated and cooled by solar photovoltaics and geothermal features building.

"The project is an impressive model of sustainable community development that has the potential benefit families economically and socially", Larry Gluth, senior Vice President of Habitat said for humanity, in a statement.

In Washington, D.C., two families in an ultra-energy efficient duplex, which built began as the "Empowerhouse", for the biannual Solar Decathlon two years ago after a story on www.thinkprogress.org moved in this month.

Students from Caltech, Parsons the new school design and Milano School of International Affairs, management and urban policy developed Stevens Institute home more affordable to build something the winner.

With foot thick walls and triple-glazed Windows the House is built, use little energy, what, that makes it means the whole place not many rooftop solar panels needs.

Habitat for humanity a second floor on the 1000 Solar Decathlon house built. Finally, half-duplex houses cost $200,000, which is similar to other Habitat Prize in the D.C. area. And the owners save $72,000 to utilities over the lifetime of their 30-year mortgage.

Habitat commitment to solar energy and energy efficiency, but goes beyond the borders of the United States

The nonprofit has 127 thermal solar hot water systems on homes in Eurasia, save these families the 20 per cent of their monthly household income, which pay would have installed for the hot water.

Habitat helped install a in-site power generation also solar panels on houses in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami, the families of the disaster recover and prepare for the future.

This story originally appeared in www.cleanenergyauthority.com.

The information and opinions in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog has been posted directly by the author and has not been reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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Plugging In to Military Solar

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is historically one of the greatest catalysts of technological innovation. Through its procurement power alone it has the ability to transform markets.

In recent years, the Navy, Army, and Air Force each implemented clean energy targets that will drive 3 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy installations by 2025. Specifically, PV accounts for 58 percent, or 1.1 GW, of identified DOD renewable energy capacity additions from 2012 to 2017.

With this massive solar ramp-up from one of the biggest energy users in the world, the solar industry has to navigate complex financing structures used by the military for their solar projects and installations. They are using power purchase agreements, enhanced use leases, and energy savings performance contracts to meet their targets.

Dale Freudenberger President/COO and Co-Founder of FLS Energy, the company behind the largest military installation of solar at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, will be bringing his expertise to SEIA’s Finance and Tax Seminar in New York next week. The seminar will identify the critical elements of securing a successful solar deal with the military.

Here at home, the military has utilized large utility scale solar projects to power bases, as well as smaller distributed-generation systems to energize thousands of buildings and homes. To date, there are more than 130 megawatts powering the armed forces in at least 31 states and the District of Columbia.

The solar industry stands ready to help bring solar energy to America’s troops, their families, and the surrounding regions. Be prepared to plug in to these opportunities and more with SEIA’s Finance and Tax Seminar, in New York, NY, July 25-26.

Tom Kimbis, General Counsel and Vice President of Executive Affairs at SEIA

The information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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