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.
View the original article here
Showing posts with label systems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label systems. Show all posts
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Building-Integrated Solar Air Heating Systems Proving Popular
Saturday, April 19, 2014Ярлыки: BuildingIntegrated, Heating, popular, Proving, solar, systems 0 коммент.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Battery Maker A123 Systems Files for Bankruptcy
Friday, October 19, 2012
The filing may fuel further political debate over government financing of alternative-energy and transportation businesses. Federal grants and loans to companies including A123, Fisker Automotive Inc. and Tesla Motors Inc. have drawn scrutiny from congressional Republicans following the September 2011 bankruptcy filing ofsolar-panel maker Solyndra LLC two years after it received a $535 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Energy Department.
“This action is expected to allow the company to provide for an orderly sale of the automotive business assets and all other assets and business units,” A123 said in a press release. Johnson Controls Inc. plans to acquire A123’s automotive business assets in a deal valued at $125 million and will provide financing of $72.5 million to support A123’s continued operations, according to the release.
The company listed assets of $459.8 million and debt of $376 million as of Aug. 31 in Chapter 11 documents filed today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware.
The Waltham, Massachusetts-based company said yesterday it expected to fail to make an interest payment due yesterday on $143.8 million of notes expiring in 2016.
Shares Fall
A123 fell as much as 17 cents, or 73 percent, to 6 cents a share in over-the-counter trading as of 10:48 a.m.
A123, which received a $249.1 million federal grant in 2009 to build a U.S. factory, needed a financial lifeline after struggling with costs from a recall of batteries supplied to Fisker, the plug-in hybrid luxury carmaker. A123 announced in August that it was working on a deal with Wanxiang Group Corp., China’s largest auto-parts maker, for financing in exchange for a majority ownership stake.
Wanxiang plans to invest as much as $465 million in A123, giving the Hangzhou, China-based company a stake of as much as 80 percent, A123 said in an Aug. 16 statement. In yesterday’s filing, A123 said it was considering strategic alternatives including “one or more potential transactions” to address its liquidity problems. There is “no assurance” that A123 will be able to find a way to continue to operate its business as a going concern, the company said.
The company and its debtor and non-debtor affiliates, collectively, have about 1,763 active employees, located in 10 facilities across the U.S., China and Germany, according to court papers. Its businesses consist of three primary business segments: transportation; grid energy storage; and commercial.
A123 Securities Corp., a non-operating company that holds a large portion of the company’s cash, and Grid Storage Holdings LLC, a shell entity formed “for the sole purpose of facilitating certain contemplated grid projects which ultimately were not completed,” also sought protection, according to court papers.
Obama’s Call
President Barack Obama called A123 Chief Executive Officer David Vieau and then-Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm during a September 2010 event celebrating the opening of the plant in Livonia, Michigan, that the company received the U.S. grant to help build.
“This is about the birth of an entire new industry in America -- an industry that’s going to be central to the next generation of cars,” Obama said in the phone call, according to a transcript provided by the White House. “When folks lift up their hoods on the cars of the future, I want them to see engines and batteries that are stamped: Made in America.”
Electric-vehicle sales since 2011 totaled fewer than 50,000 through September, just 5 percent of Obama’s target to have 1 million such vehicles on U.S. roads by 2015.
The debtors’ two largest customers are Fisker and AES Energy Storage LLC and its affiliates, which accounted for about 26 percent and 24 percent of their total revenue during the year ended December 31, 2011, respectively, court papers show.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said last month that Obama has picked “losers” for alternative-energy loans and grants. His running mate, Paul Ryan, has called for all green-energy subsidies to be eliminated.
A123 has posted at least 14 straight quarterly losses. Its shares have fallen 85 percent this year to 24 cents at yesterday’s close in New York and traded at 16 cents at 8:29 a.m. before the start of regular trading.
The case is In re A123 Systems Inc., 12-49658, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).
View the original article here
“This action is expected to allow the company to provide for an orderly sale of the automotive business assets and all other assets and business units,” A123 said in a press release. Johnson Controls Inc. plans to acquire A123’s automotive business assets in a deal valued at $125 million and will provide financing of $72.5 million to support A123’s continued operations, according to the release.
The company listed assets of $459.8 million and debt of $376 million as of Aug. 31 in Chapter 11 documents filed today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware.
The Waltham, Massachusetts-based company said yesterday it expected to fail to make an interest payment due yesterday on $143.8 million of notes expiring in 2016.
Shares Fall
A123 fell as much as 17 cents, or 73 percent, to 6 cents a share in over-the-counter trading as of 10:48 a.m.
A123, which received a $249.1 million federal grant in 2009 to build a U.S. factory, needed a financial lifeline after struggling with costs from a recall of batteries supplied to Fisker, the plug-in hybrid luxury carmaker. A123 announced in August that it was working on a deal with Wanxiang Group Corp., China’s largest auto-parts maker, for financing in exchange for a majority ownership stake.
Wanxiang plans to invest as much as $465 million in A123, giving the Hangzhou, China-based company a stake of as much as 80 percent, A123 said in an Aug. 16 statement. In yesterday’s filing, A123 said it was considering strategic alternatives including “one or more potential transactions” to address its liquidity problems. There is “no assurance” that A123 will be able to find a way to continue to operate its business as a going concern, the company said.
The company and its debtor and non-debtor affiliates, collectively, have about 1,763 active employees, located in 10 facilities across the U.S., China and Germany, according to court papers. Its businesses consist of three primary business segments: transportation; grid energy storage; and commercial.
A123 Securities Corp., a non-operating company that holds a large portion of the company’s cash, and Grid Storage Holdings LLC, a shell entity formed “for the sole purpose of facilitating certain contemplated grid projects which ultimately were not completed,” also sought protection, according to court papers.
Obama’s Call
President Barack Obama called A123 Chief Executive Officer David Vieau and then-Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm during a September 2010 event celebrating the opening of the plant in Livonia, Michigan, that the company received the U.S. grant to help build.
“This is about the birth of an entire new industry in America -- an industry that’s going to be central to the next generation of cars,” Obama said in the phone call, according to a transcript provided by the White House. “When folks lift up their hoods on the cars of the future, I want them to see engines and batteries that are stamped: Made in America.”
Electric-vehicle sales since 2011 totaled fewer than 50,000 through September, just 5 percent of Obama’s target to have 1 million such vehicles on U.S. roads by 2015.
The debtors’ two largest customers are Fisker and AES Energy Storage LLC and its affiliates, which accounted for about 26 percent and 24 percent of their total revenue during the year ended December 31, 2011, respectively, court papers show.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said last month that Obama has picked “losers” for alternative-energy loans and grants. His running mate, Paul Ryan, has called for all green-energy subsidies to be eliminated.
A123 has posted at least 14 straight quarterly losses. Its shares have fallen 85 percent this year to 24 cents at yesterday’s close in New York and traded at 16 cents at 8:29 a.m. before the start of regular trading.
The case is In re A123 Systems Inc., 12-49658, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).
View the original article here
Ярлыки: Bankruptcy, Battery, Files, Maker, systems 0 коммент.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Los Angeles California incentive programs for small and large solar systems
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
For those of you who may not know, has the Los Angeles Department of water and makes a solar developed incentive program (SIP) in support of solar energy in Los Angeles. This solar incentive program will help you with the cost of the installation of a new solar system. The solar feed-in tariff program that unused energy back, is allowed, that owners of large on grid-connected solar systems sell currently in work.
This solar incentive program was created to meet the goal of Senate Bill 1, essentially an extension of the California Solar Initiative (CSI) and the Energy Commission new solar homes partnership (NSHP). Basically, the aim of the program to promote the solar LADWP is customers to help achieve its energy goals California. By a financial incentive to homeowners, the grid-connected photovoltaic systems, install, LADWP homeowners invest in solar energy to promote hopes.
LADWP customers who have installed photovoltaic systems, can a lump sum in advance based on the expected performance of your new system receive. To an estimate to calculate the expected performance, Buydown (EPBB) based has the LADWP website an online calculator. This provides a sense of energy, annual kWh, CEC AC rating, design factor CSI evaluation and incentive amount. With this information can LADWP to find out, how much money of the customer to pay in advance.
There are benefits that go beyond this one-time payment. According to the LADWP website:
"Customers to qualify and a full installation equipped with a 'net meter'." "When produced a customer system solar more energy, as they use the excess energy as a credit on their Bill is calculated and backward their counters."
This means that if a LADWP customer system excess energy produced solar, it goes back into the grid. The timer is running backwards and LADWP is able to credit energy on their electric bills to their customers.
Conversely, LADWP is currently developing another system to promote the use of solar technology in the context of solar feed-in tariff programthe clean LA program. Although solar incentive program customers not for the clean LA program are qualified, designed this program mainly for larger commercial use.
Produced on this system feed-in tariff customers produce 30kW and later, to a contract for the sale of 100% of the energy in their establishment to LADWP to a fixed interest rate for up to twenty years.
Here a brief collection is on such as the previous function stages:
Application: To qualify for this program, applicants must go through a six-week process of application. Applicants can find the base price for the energy, proof of the site control, and full equipment and an online charts. You must also provide a 24-hour 12-month energy expected profile, required documentation, and numbers a registration fee depending on the scope of their project. For small systems, 30kW 150kW, the registration fee is $500. The registration fee is $1,000 for major projects between 151kW and 999kW.
Interconnection process: After the potential seller the application process is complete, they give an interconnection agreement, which includes an interconnection study fee of $750 for small projects or $1500 for large projects.
Forward with agreements:Then the applicant of a development of deposit of $50 per kW, interconnection costs 10% down payment, insurance forms, and L.A. City compliance with business forms. This is when the applicant signs the reference offer PPA. LADWP sets then the fixed rate contract, the price corresponding to the applicant previously was offered. The interconnection agreement and the PPA standard offer run at this point.
Progress, it is now the seller's purchase the necessary permits and follow through with the construction of their project.
Monthly payments: Once the project is completed, a reliable revenue is meters, provided that LADWP can calculate the monthly payments to the seller. The seller receives an invoice over the energy sent monthly payments by LADWP based on the amount of energy by the sales counter. These payments based on the sum of the system energy collected by the hour, which multiplied by every hour is determined by the base price for the energy and the time of delivery. This means that sellers get more money for energy during peak hours of the day.
It is important to note that a separate metering system account for the energy consumption of the seller's plant is installed. The power required, coming to the system from the network itself and not from the power produced locally because 100% is sold to LADWP.
It is the seller, its own system according to the contract and LADWP to offer a report every two years.
One thing solar incentive program and the feed-in tariff is on that they promote the development of clean, local energy.
If in Los Angeles thinking about getting started with solar energy, life, and you notice GoGreenSolar.com go.
By Thomas Jackson
View the original article here
This solar incentive program was created to meet the goal of Senate Bill 1, essentially an extension of the California Solar Initiative (CSI) and the Energy Commission new solar homes partnership (NSHP). Basically, the aim of the program to promote the solar LADWP is customers to help achieve its energy goals California. By a financial incentive to homeowners, the grid-connected photovoltaic systems, install, LADWP homeowners invest in solar energy to promote hopes.
LADWP customers who have installed photovoltaic systems, can a lump sum in advance based on the expected performance of your new system receive. To an estimate to calculate the expected performance, Buydown (EPBB) based has the LADWP website an online calculator. This provides a sense of energy, annual kWh, CEC AC rating, design factor CSI evaluation and incentive amount. With this information can LADWP to find out, how much money of the customer to pay in advance.
There are benefits that go beyond this one-time payment. According to the LADWP website:
"Customers to qualify and a full installation equipped with a 'net meter'." "When produced a customer system solar more energy, as they use the excess energy as a credit on their Bill is calculated and backward their counters."
This means that if a LADWP customer system excess energy produced solar, it goes back into the grid. The timer is running backwards and LADWP is able to credit energy on their electric bills to their customers.
Conversely, LADWP is currently developing another system to promote the use of solar technology in the context of solar feed-in tariff programthe clean LA program. Although solar incentive program customers not for the clean LA program are qualified, designed this program mainly for larger commercial use.
Produced on this system feed-in tariff customers produce 30kW and later, to a contract for the sale of 100% of the energy in their establishment to LADWP to a fixed interest rate for up to twenty years.
Here a brief collection is on such as the previous function stages:
Application: To qualify for this program, applicants must go through a six-week process of application. Applicants can find the base price for the energy, proof of the site control, and full equipment and an online charts. You must also provide a 24-hour 12-month energy expected profile, required documentation, and numbers a registration fee depending on the scope of their project. For small systems, 30kW 150kW, the registration fee is $500. The registration fee is $1,000 for major projects between 151kW and 999kW.
Interconnection process: After the potential seller the application process is complete, they give an interconnection agreement, which includes an interconnection study fee of $750 for small projects or $1500 for large projects.
Forward with agreements:Then the applicant of a development of deposit of $50 per kW, interconnection costs 10% down payment, insurance forms, and L.A. City compliance with business forms. This is when the applicant signs the reference offer PPA. LADWP sets then the fixed rate contract, the price corresponding to the applicant previously was offered. The interconnection agreement and the PPA standard offer run at this point.
Progress, it is now the seller's purchase the necessary permits and follow through with the construction of their project.
Monthly payments: Once the project is completed, a reliable revenue is meters, provided that LADWP can calculate the monthly payments to the seller. The seller receives an invoice over the energy sent monthly payments by LADWP based on the amount of energy by the sales counter. These payments based on the sum of the system energy collected by the hour, which multiplied by every hour is determined by the base price for the energy and the time of delivery. This means that sellers get more money for energy during peak hours of the day.
It is important to note that a separate metering system account for the energy consumption of the seller's plant is installed. The power required, coming to the system from the network itself and not from the power produced locally because 100% is sold to LADWP.
It is the seller, its own system according to the contract and LADWP to offer a report every two years.
One thing solar incentive program and the feed-in tariff is on that they promote the development of clean, local energy.
If in Los Angeles thinking about getting started with solar energy, life, and you notice GoGreenSolar.com go.
By Thomas Jackson
View the original article here
Ярлыки: Angeles, California, incentive, large, programs, small, solar, systems 0 коммент.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Michigan company provides production EV systems
Monday, April 30, 2012The Energy Department on 16 April announced the opening of an electric vehicle (EV) component production plant in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. Factory Magna E-car systems received $ 40 million in American recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds from the Department of energy of the system is Ford focus EV components to the EV systems, including those in the 2012. It supports EV anywhere the Department challenge to have a broad-based initiative of EVs within the next 10 years making today's gasoline-powered vehicles more affordable and more convenient.
The production site of 50,000 square metres will produce a variety of EV components in the high-volume under one roof, and next year it will produce 500,000 EV components. Production has already begun, and at full production, the plant be full electric vehicle drive systems allows for the production of electric motors, power electronics, battery chargers and vehicle controller to assemble. The Magna E-car systems plant is one of the 30 battery and electric drive expanded production facilities from the Recovery Act supports. See the press release of DOE and the vehicle technologies Web site.
Ярлыки: company, Michigan, production, provides, systems 0 коммент.
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
US energy solar systems rose in 2011: report
Tuesday, April 03, 2012The U.S. solar energy industry 1.855 megawatts installed a record (MW) photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2011, according the latest US solar market insight report. The amount represents a growth rate of 109% compared to the previous year and ranges, makes more than 370,000 homes. The sum more than doubled the annual record of 887 MW category in 2010. The results came from GTM Research and the solar energy industries Association, an industry trade group.
This growth was partially inspired by falling installed solar photovoltaic (PV) system, prices 20% last year on the back of lower component costs, improved installation efficiency fell, funding opportunities and a shift towards larger systems expanded nationwide. In addition, drove the Treasury's 1603 program, with the 31 December 2011 expected expiration of the US Department, developer on the project of the Commission ended before end of 2011.
The report includes also an update on the concentrating solar power (CSP) market. While no new concentrating solar thermal electric capacity 2011 online, a total of 10 concentration PV projects came online. The year saw also meaningful progress on a number of projects with some capacity is expected later in 2012 online and an increase in the expected to be in 2013. Today, more than 1,000 MW CSP - makes enough 200,000 houses - are under construction.
At the end of 2011, cumulative PV capacity in the United States reached almost 4,000 MW and capacity 500 MW crowned cumulative CSP. Together, these provide enough solar to capacity makes almost one million households.
The market why is shown, the United States always a focus of attention for global solar, according to Milnor kann, Managing Director of GTM Research solar practice. Can be noted that 2011 was the first year with meaningful amounts of PV plants, added that there were 28 individual PV projects over 10 megawatts in 2011, up only two in 2009. Can also said that the market remains at the national level to diversify; eight States installed more than 50 megawatts of solar each last year compared to only five in 2010. US solar market intelligence report projected that 2012 will once again predicted a strong year for the PV industry, with installations of more than 2,800 MW. See the press release for the report.
Ярлыки: Energy, report, solar, systems 0 коммент.
Monday, November 28, 2011
$7 Million help trim "Soft" costs of DOE's of solar systems
Monday, November 28, 2011This is an excerpt from EERE network news, a weekly electronic newsletter.
DOE is $ 7 million of the SunShot incubator program to help reduce the not hardware costs of living and solar energy installations such as installation required.
IMG credit: Craig Miller Productions
DOE announced on 15 November up to $7 million as part of the initiative to reduce the not hardware costs of residential and SunShot solar energy installations. The Fund supports the development of tools and approaches, the non-hardware - or "soft" costs such as cost for installation, allows to reduce interconnection and inspection. Turnout may total less than half of the cost of a residential system. This work is supported by the SunShot incubator program, and make the process of the purchase, installation and maintenance of solar energy systems faster, easier and less costly.
The incubator focused to solve previously to hardware challenges. This new funding round applies to the soft costs for the installation of solar systems and confirmed the great potential for cost savings in this area. The balance of system soft costs through this funding opportunity all non-hardware aspects of an installed photovoltaic system, such as work, approval and control, customer acquisition, financing, and the award of contracts are fixed. Funding will be awarded in two stages. Level 1 includes prices up to $500,000 with a cost share of 20% over 12 months to speed up the development of innovative approaches non-hardware-. DOE awards in this category can deliver about 3-5. Level 2 prices includes more than 18 months transition innovative systems and solutions the demonstration stage, and finally full deployment million with a cost of 50% up to $5. DOE awards in this category can provide approximately 1-3.
The DOE SunShot initiative is a collaborative national effort to reduce the cost of solar energy by about 75% by the end of the Decade. A key objective of the program incubator SunShot is to start new start-up companies and new business units within the existing commercial entities. Concept paper applications for the financing of soft costs are by January 16 2012. finding you the DOE press release ©, the funding opportunity announcement, one energy blog post and the SunShot initiative Web site.
Ярлыки: costs, million, solar, systems 0 коммент.
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