Skyline Solar Awarded a $1.85  Million Solar Plant Contract with the U.S.A. Military

PowerPulse.net | Monday, January 23, 2012

Skyline Solar, a manufacturer of High Gain Solar CPV arrays for the commercial, industrial, government and utility markets, announced that the company has won a $1.85 million contract from the Department of Defense (DoD) and has since broken ground on the construction of Skyline Solar X14 CPV power plants at two domestic military sites.

Skyline Solar was awarded the contract in a competitive process under the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), a program intended to identify technologies that solve key DoD needs and have the highest potential for widespread deployment. The projects will allow Skyline Solar to demonstrate the Skyline X14 System’s performance in hot sunny climates, while also validating its field upgradability and rapid system deployment capability—key considerations in Skyline Solar being awarded the contract.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on January 24th, 2012 by Editor
Filed under: INSTALLATIONS, MILITARY & SERVICES, SOLAR, TENDERS CONTRACTS QUOTES | No Comments »

Solar panels keep greenhouses cooler in summer, let the sun through in winter

Spain’s ULMA Agrícola consortium and Tecnalia research center have developed a new type of photovoltaic solar panel for greenhouses that can generate electricity without an adverse effect on the crops grown within, while additionally providing cooling in summer. The system is designed to exploit the annual oscillation – the variation in the height of the sun’s path across the sky over the course of the year. In theory, no solar radiation is compromised over winter, but surplus radiation can be diverted to electricity-generation during summer.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on January 16th, 2012 by Editor
Filed under: ENERGY COLLECTION, ENERGY USES, HEATING, PLANTS, SOLAR | No Comments »

THE NEVER ENDING PROBLEM OF SLOW CHARGING BATTERIES COULD WELL BE AT AN END SOON

Yes there are criticisms of electric vehicles, probably the most commonly-heard is that their batteries take far too long to recharge – after all, limited range wouldn’t be such a big deal if the cars could be juiced up while out and about, in just a few minutes. Well, while no one is promising anything, new batteries developed at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign do indeed look like they might be a step very much in the right direction. They are said to offer all the advantages of capacitors and batteries, in one unit.

“This system that we have gives you capacitor-like power with battery-like energy,” said U Illinois‘ Paul Braun, a professor of materials science and engineering. “Most capacitors store very little energy. They can release it very fast, but they can’t hold much. Most batteries store a reasonably large amount of energy, but they can’t provide or receive energy rapidly. This does both.”

The speed at which conventional batteries are able to charge or discharge can be dramatically increased by changing the form of their active material into a thin film, but such films have typically lacked the volume to be able to store a significant amount of energy. In the case of Braun’s batteries, however, that thin film has been formed into a three-dimensional structure, thus increasing its storage capacity.

Batteries equipped with the 3D film have been demonstrated to work normally in electrical devices, while being able to charge and discharge 10 to 100 times faster than their conventional counterparts.

To make the three-dimensional thin film, the researchers coated a surface with nanoscale spheres, which self-assembled into a lattice-like arrangement. The spaces between and around the spheres were then coated with metal, after which the spheres were melted or dissolved away, leaving the metal as a framework of empty pores. Electropolishing was then used to enlarge the pores and open up the framework, after which it was coated with a layer of the active material – both lithium-ion and nickel metal hydride batteries were created.

The system utilizes processes already used on a large scale, so it would reportedly be easy to scale up. It could also be used with any type of battery, not just Li-ion and NiMH.

The implications for electric vehicles are particularly exciting. “If you had the ability to charge rapidly, instead of taking hours to charge the vehicle you could potentially have vehicles that would charge in similar times as needed to refuel a car with gasoline,” Braun said. “If you had five-minute charge capability, you would think of this the same way you do an internal combustion engine. You would just pull up to a charging station and fill up.”

Braun and his team believe that the technology could be used not only for making electric cars more viable, but also for allowing phones or laptops to be able to recharge in seconds or minutes. It could also result in high-power lasers or defibrillators that don’t need to warm up before or between pulses.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on October 24th, 2011 by Editor
Filed under: BATTERY POWER, CHARGING, NEW TECHNOLOGIES, TECHNOLOGY | No Comments »

A NEW TWIST ON POWER WALKING

ELECTRICITY GENERATED FROM WALKING ON THESE TILES

Can you imagine the power of 50,000 steps a day? Well, Laurence Kembell-Cook, the director of Pavegen Systems imagined it and created Pavegen tiles – a low carbon solution that aims to bring kinetic energy harvesting to the streets. Not surprisingly, the tile is receiving a great deal of attention as a solution for power-hungry cities with a lot of walking traffic.

Designed for use in in high foot-traffic areas, the tiles convert the kinetic energy from footsteps of pedestrians into renewable electricity, which can be stored in a lithium polymer battery or used to power low-wattage, off-grid applications like street lighting, displays, speakers, alarms, signs, and advertising.

Each time someone steps on the tile, a central light illuminates, “connecting” the person to the part they play in producing the 2.1 watts of electricity per hour the tiles can generate (and providing self-sufficient lighting for pedestrian crossings).

The tiles are made from nearly 100-percent recycled materials (mostly rubber) and some marine grade stainless steel. They can be retrofitted to existing structures and are waterproof as well as designed to withstand outdoor conditions.

Pavegen tiles were used as a dance floor at Bestival on the Isle-of-Wright and are currently being tested in East London. They have been successfully installed in a school corridor where they are currently being monitored for durability and performance while helping to power the building. Speaking of durability, each tile is claimed to have a life of approximately 20 million steps or 5 years.

In September 2011 Pavegen received its first commercial order for the London 2012 Olympics Site where they will be used in the crossing between the Olympic stadium and the Westfield Stratford City Shopping Center.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on October 24th, 2011 by Editor
Filed under: ENERGY COLLECTION, FREE POWER, NEW TECHNOLOGIES, POWER GENERATION | No Comments »

ENERGY SKILLS QUEENSLAND TO HAVE ENERGY CONFERENCE

More info here >>>

http://www.fcci.com.au/2011/08/1246/

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on August 24th, 2011 by Editor
Filed under: COUNTRIES, EDUCATION CAREERS, ENERGY COLLECTION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ENERGY STORAGE, ENERGY USES, EVENTS FAIRS EXPOS SHOWS, GOVERNMENTS, INVITATIONS NOTICES | No Comments »

Solar Pioneer Appointed Head Of Singapore Research Institute

Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is hoping that the appointment of Professor Michael Grätzel (often spelled “Graetzel”), will result in advancements in the manufacture of cheaper, more efficient solar cells.

The Swiss professor is the pioneer of applying artificial photosynthesis principles to solar technology

The University says Professor Graetzel will take the lead as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Energy Research Institute at NTU and has established a new Centre for Nanostructured Photosystems aimed at further developing and commercialising Graetzel’s dye-sensitised solar cells; along with other innovations in solar technology.

A dye-sensitised solar cell mimics the ability of plants to absorb sunlight and produce energy. Special dyes are added to the surface of the cells which capture photons from different light wavelengths, like chlorophyll in plants. Also known as Graetzel cells, NTU say they “represent an exciting breakthrough and show great promise as an inexpensive alternative to costly silicon solar cells.”

The Professor’s work won him 2010 Millennium Technology Prize, and to honour the appointment of their VIP chairman, NTU have awarded Graetzel a Doctor of Engineering degree.

At the launch of the Energy Research Institute, NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson said it was vital to foster growth in alternative fields of solar cell technology in an environment of growing concern among governments and industry groups about the sustainability and security of global renewable energy supply.

“The new Centre will be, literally, “taking a leaf from nature” to produce energy harnessed from the sun. Development of sustainable energy solutions is today a sunrise industry, with solar energy being the most abundant and promising renewable energy source on our planet.”
Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Editor
Filed under: APPOINTMENTS, EDUCATION CAREERS, PEOPLE, RESEARCH EXPLORE | No Comments »

Sungevity Inks $50 Million Home Solar Power Deal

Solar power investment in America continues to defy stock market trends, with US solar power company Sungevity announcing a funding deal with Citigroup Inc. to provide for $50 million in residential solar leases that will allow the company to expand into new territory on the East Coast.

Sungevity has experienced rapid growth since 2010, reporting $120 million in residential solar installations. The company offers a zero-dollars-up-front leasing arrangement to homeowners wishing to install rooftop solar power systems. Last month, Sungevity partnered with home US improvement giant Lowes to allow customers in-store access to Sungevity’s iQuote satellite imaging system that can provide customers with instant quotes without need for onsite assessments from technicians.

“Citi’s new tax equity fund will support our rapid growth and momentum, including our recent expansion to the East Coast and our significant partnership with Lowe’s,” said Mac Irvin, Chief Financial Officer of Sungevity. “Citi is a valuable addition to our sources of project finance as we look to provide more customers with our easy, affordable solar lease option and spur the mass adoption of solar.”

The company says that since the solar lease program was introduced in 2010 solar installations have grown ten-fold. This encouraged Sungevity’s launch of its “Rooftop Revolution” in July aimed at new markets in five Northeast states, including New York, Maryland and New Jersey.

According to a company release, “Sungevity is now in a hyper-growth phase and will hire approximately 200 new employees by the end of 2011, doubling its current headcount.”

The Citigroup funding deal could be seen as a signal that renewable energy is a safe bet for the USA in uncertain financial times, with private-sector cash buttressing against unpredictable federal schemes for solar energy projects.
Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Editor
Filed under: FINANCE, SOLAR, TENDERS CONTRACTS QUOTES | No Comments »

U.S. Coast Guard’s Solar  Project for rooftops

Schneider Electric recently announced it had secured a contract with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in Puerto Rico to install 2.89 megawatts of solar panels on renovated Coast Guard rooftops over a 13-month period.

The company says the rooftop solar rollout, part of its comprehensive $50 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with the Coast Guard, will see electricity production of more than 4 million kilowatt-hours per year.

Combined with new “cool roofs”, the solar power systems will slash the annual cooling load of the buildings by 3.9 billion British Thermal Units, resulting in an overall reduction of utility-purchased electricity by an estimated 40 percent.

The cool roof measures included insulation, reflectivity and improved drainage, with energy and operational savings offsetting the costs of implementation.  Other pilot projects carried out by Schneider Electric for the Coast Guard examined HVAC measures, lighting and water conservation.

“Reducing the Coast Guard’s energy consumption and developing renewable energy solutions in Puerto Rico not only helps the Coast Guard meet federal mandates, reduce green house gas emissions and stabilize energy costs, but it also can help create green collar jobs in Puerto Rico. This project will have a significant impact on the industry there,” said Capt. John Hickey, commanding officer of Coast Guard Shore Maintenance Command in Seattle.

Schneider Electric has a presence in more than 100 countries and currently employs over 110,000 people. In 2010, the company achieved sales of more than $26 billion. Schneider Electric says it has helped clients around the world save nearly $1 billion on energy costs in the last 20 years.

Schneider Electric is probably best known in Australia for its range of Xantrex solar inverters – a relatively common sight in Australian solar households. Solar inverters convert the direct current (DC) generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) suitable for use in the home and for exporting to the mains grid.
Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Editor
Filed under: SOLAR, TENDERS CONTRACTS QUOTES | No Comments »

U.S. Army Establishes Energy Initiatives depot

The United States’ Army says its many large-scale renewable energy installations would become vital to mission security in the event of failure to the civilian electricity grid. The Army has established a new Energy Initiatives Office (EIO) Task Force to manage an estimated $7.1 billion in investments on future renewable energy projects.

The EIO task force will focus on facilitating partnerships between the military and the private sector using commercial investment and expertise to install primarily large-scale renewable energy projects – over 10 megawatt (MW) capacity- such as the proposed 500MW concentrated solar photovoltaic (CSP) plant at Fort Irwin in California, and a 14MW solar facility at Nellis Air Force Base.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh said that meeting the Army’s goal of 25-percent renewable energy by 2025 was a key strategy in combating rising fuel costs and winning the battle for energy independence.

“The Energy Initiatives Office Task Force will help the Army build resilience through renewable energy while streamlining our business practices so developers can invest in and build an economically viable, large-scale renewable energy infrastructure.”

McHugh said the Army has currently has 126 renewable energy projects in operation, but the EIO task force would need to raise a further $7.1 billion from industry over the next 10 years in order for the Army to generate 2.1 million megawatt  hours of renewable power annually needed to reach the 2025 goal.

According to McHugh, developers would be guaranteed a life-long customer with the Army, while excess power from the project could be sold to civilian utilities.
“The task force I announced today is specifically directed toward basically power production,” McHugh said. “We’re looking to meet our goal of renewable energy utilization by 2025.”
Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Editor
Filed under: MANAGEMENT SUPERVISION, RENEWABLE ENERGY, SERVICES | No Comments »

Floatovoltaics – Floatation Solar Farms

FARM DAMS USED TO FLOAT SOLAR PANELS
Farm dams can be put to work to host floating solar farms that not only create clean, renewable electricity, but also reduce water evaporation.

One of the criticisms of ground-mount solar farms is the amount of space they occupy. In rural areas, this could mean land suitable for agriculture sometimes being used to produce electricity instead of food.

One answer is better utilisation of rooftop real estate through roof mounted solar power systems on farm buildings. Another is to utilise farm dams.

We’ve written about floating solar farms in the past – an Australian company announced a deal in March with India energy giant Tata Power for the construction of floating solar farm in India by the end of this year. Another company, Israel-based Solaris Synergy, is currently developing what it calls the Floating Concentrating Photovoltaic (F-CPV) system.

Another system announced earlier this year was the “Floatovoltaics” concept by SPG solar, the second generation of floating solar farm solutions produced by the company. It not only provides clean electricity, but also reduces water evaporation up to 70% and the shading improves water quality by reducing algae growth. The water below the panels also helps cool the modules, which results in improved power output by around 1% says the company.

Forbes has an article on a winery in California’s Napa Valley that is using SPG’s Floatovoltaics system – and from the air it looks to be quite an impressive sight.

How such systems would stand up to Australian conditions where farm dams often run dry, leaving a boggy mess at the bottom, is not known – however, by reducing evaporation dramatically, perhaps this situation can be avoided in all but the most extreme droughts. SPG’s system also has a number of cables securing the array to the dam sides, which may prevent the racks from ever touching the base of the dam.

According to information from Australia’s National Program for Sustainable Irrigation, as much as 40% of water stored in a farm dam can be lost through evaporation, depending on the depth of the dam and its surface area

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Editor
Filed under: ENERGY COLLECTION, FARM RURAL AGRICULTURAL, SOLAR, WATER | No Comments »