Solar energy industry is flourishing in Mass.

Massachusetts is no California when it comes to sun. But that isn’t stopping the solar energy industry from flourishing here.

Massachusetts, better known for long, cold winters, gloomy springs, and gale-driven nor’easters, is undergoing an unlikely solar power boom, attracting solar companies from around the country that are installing systems for homeowners, businesses, and institutions.

Only California has a better solar market than Massachusetts, which tied Hawaii in rankings by Ernst & Young, the Big Four accounting firm that tracks the alternative energy industry. Massachusetts was the only northern state to crack Ernst & Young’s top 10, beating Florida (the Sunshine State), Arizona (home of the Sun Devils), and New Mexico (sun symbol on the state flag).

“It’s not a matter of how sunny it is,” said Michael Bernier, a senior manager at Ernst & Young. The “thing Massachusetts has been really good at is setting up an environment that helps renewable energy projects get done.”

That environment starts with New England’s traditionally high energy costs that can make photovoltaic systems more competitive here. Meanwhile, the falling solar panel prices, which have plunged more than 50 percent in the past two years, have combined with solar-friendly local policies to make solar installations even more attractive to homeowners and businesses.

In the past two years alone, solar generating capacity in Mass. has more than doubled, officials say.

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In the past two years alone, solar energy-generating capacity in the state has more than doubled to 105 megawatts, ­according to the state Department of Energy Resources. That’s enough to power at least 15,750 homes.

The number of solar installation firms in the state has also exploded, to nearly 200 last year from about 43 in 2007. In total, state energy officials estimate that more than 1,300 solar energy firms — installers, manufacturers, and others — operate in Massachusetts, employing about 14,000.

SolarCity of San Mateo, ­Calif., a six-year-old installation company with 1,800 employees nationwide, entered the Massachusetts market in early 2011. The company installs solar panels at no cost to customers, then sells them power generated by the system, which SolarCity continues to own. The company is then able to take advantage of federal and state subsidies.

Ed Steins, SolarCity’s regional director, said the company already services more than 800 residential and commercial buildings in Massachusetts and has tripled its local staff to 45 from 15 since September.

Among SolarCity’s customers is Tom McDougall, 53, of Whitman. SolarCity installed a 6-kilowatt system on the roof of McDougall’s two-story Colonial. Since the system began operating in February, McDougall said, he has cut his electricity bills in half, paying SolarCity about $60 a month for electricity, compared with the $115 a month, on average, that he paid his utility.

“I’m starting to reap the benefits of it,” McDougall said.

The state has done much to promote growth in the solar sector as it chases a goal of installing 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity by 2017, enough to power at least 37,500 homes.

For example, the state offers rebates averaging about $2,000 per installation through programs such as Commonwealth Solar, which is funded at about $1 million a quarter through a state energy fund.

In addition, Massachusetts has created a market for solar renewable energy credits, which solar project owners can sell to power plant operators to meet state regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.

The money from those sales helps further lower the cost of solar power.

Such policies have made solar economically competitive in the state, despite less than optimal sun, said Jim Dumas, principal at Solect Inc., a Hopkinton company with 10 employees. Solect is currently installing a 475-kilowatt solar system atop a commercial building in Northborough.

John Parsons, president of Parsons Commercial Group, one of the Northborough building’s owners, said a federal grant subsidizing 30 percent of the project’s cost made solar panels “very attractive.”

“We’re basically going to resell the power to our tenants at a discounted rate,” Parsons said. “It’s a win for us because it’s an income stream, and at the same time we’re doing something environmentally positive.”

Municipalities are also making solar power more attractive. In Boston, the city has cut permit fees for solar installations by about 70 percent, said James W. Hunt III, the city’s chief of environmental and energy services.

The permit application process can also be completed online, Hunt said, saving installers time and money.

These efforts are part of an initiative to get 25 megawatts of solar installed in Boston by 2015. “We’ve been working with industry to make Boston one of the clean energy capitals of the country,” Hunt said.

Vivint Solar, a Utah-based installer that entered the local market earlier this year, said it has found permitting projects in Boston and other Massachusetts cities so easy that it is already planning to expand its workforce here to handle a growing list of projects. Vivint Solar has 35 employees in the state, said president Tanguy Serra, but is likely to need “a couple hundred employees pretty quickly.”

“Boston has a highly sophisticated permitting process. You can get your permit practically the same day, and you can do it online,” Serra said. “In other places like Woburn, Lowell, they’re not online but they are nonetheless very fast.”

Richard K. Sullivan Jr., the state’s secretary of energy and environmental affairs, said the state also has benefited from the diversity of its solar industry, which includes panel makers, solar equipment manufacturers, and installation firms.

“The jobs that are being created in the industry are high-end research and development jobs, but they’re also green collar jobs [for] installers, maintenance, and sales,” Sullivan said.

Take PanelClaw, a nearly five-year-old North Andover company that makes the racks to which solar panels are mounted. Its employees range from warehouse operators who ship and receive products to a PhD who oversees engineering, said president Costa Nicolaou.

“There are now almost a million solar panels installed with our product around the world,” Nicolaou said.

Despite such success, Nicolaou acknowledged that solar energy still needs subsidies and other friendly policies to make it competitive with traditional power generators and utilities. But, he said, the sector is maturing quickly.

“We are so close to having an industry that can stand on its own feet,” Nicolaou said, “and can become truly global.”

Source:http://bostonglobe.com/business/2012/05/26/mass-solar-sells/SHng2cMVXrfKbLVMQYSfjO/story.html

Trade War Seen Looming as China Rebukes U.S. Support for Solar

China’s allegation that renewable- energy subsidies in five U.S. states violate free-trade rules ratchets up a potentially costly trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

“It’s a long, slow escalation of trade and currency wars as we race to the bottom,” said Theodore O’Neill, an analyst with Wunderlich Securities Inc. of New York.
Enlarge image Trade War Looming as China Rebukes U.S. Support for Solar

Chinese solar companies have criticized the U.S. Commerce Department's preliminary decision that they improperly benefit from government subsidies and sell solar cells below cost.

Programs supporting renewable power, including wind and solar, in Washington state, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio and California, violate World Trade Organization policies and trade treaties, according to a preliminary finding of an investigation posted yesterday on the website of China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The announcement followed a preliminary decision by the U.S. Commerce Department last week to impose tariffs of as much as 250 percent on imports of Chinese solar cells. The agency said the units were being sold for less than the cost of production in an attempt to drive out domestic competition.

Both countries have identified renewable energy as a strategically important industry that could provide both jobs and clean power. As a candidate, President Barack Obama campaigned in support of a “green” economy that would replace jobs lost in declining sectors.

At least four U.S. solar manufacturers filed for bankruptcy in the past year even as federal subsidies helped build a $8.4 billion U.S. solar market.

Source:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-24/trade-war-seen-looming-as-china-rebukes-u-s-support-for-solar.html

Problems with our solar war with China

An interesting trade case has been playing out in Washington that has direct implications for Oregon. The Oregonian reports again on the burgeoning trade war on solar panels between the US and China. The war, you may recall has begun with the US charging China with unfair trade practices in solar panels:

“SolarWorld blazed toward victory in its trade fight Thursday as the U.S. government announced plans to slap tariffs ranging from 31 percent to 250 percent on Chinese solar panels and cells.

But managers of the solar company, aiming to preserve jobs that include 1,000 in Hillsboro, hinted that the duties aren’t high enough to help U.S. manufacturers prosper. They hope the U.S. Commerce Department will soon announce additional tariffs, even as China appears set to retaliate as soon as next week.

U.S. solar stocks jumped Thursday on news that the Commerce Department would impose 31 percent tariffs on exports by companies including SolarWorld’s two largest Chinese competitors, Trina Solar Ltd. and Suntech Power Holdings Co.

Other exporters will have to pay 250 percent because Commerce found that government-subsidized Chinese companies engaged in dumping — using predatory prices to undercut U.S. manufacturers of solar cells and panels, an industry backed in Oregon by state taxpayers.“

All of this raises a bunch of interesting questions, some of which I have raised before in this blog. First, it may be true that through their devalued currency, government subsidies and the like China is creating an advantage for their firms. But the US does also – states and cities give tax breaks to manufacturers and the US subsidizes the solar industry as a whole. But the bigger question is, given a level playing field, should the US be manufacturing solar panels at all?

My guess is that we do not have a comparative advantage in solar panel manufacturing and thus trying to maintain the industry here is a bad policy choice. Generally people have a hard time understanding this, “what about those 1,000 jobs in Hillsboro?” they typically ask. Well, it all comes down to efficiency. By insisting that solar panels be manufactured in a higher cost environment you ensure that the price of these panels stays high and thus fewer people buy them. Which is bad for the environment if the goal is to get widespread adoption of panels and reduce the use of fossil-fuel based electricity. There is also a secondary effect which the article discusses – the providers of intermediate inputs, in which the US may have an comparative advantage, and the installers of panels which are a non-tradable:

SolarWorld’s campaign has also bitterly divided the U.S. solar industry between cell and panel manufacturers hurt by Chinese competition and companies that buy and install cheap modules from China.

Managers of companies such as REC Silicon, in Moses Lake, Wash., that make the raw material for solar cells fear that Beijing will retaliate by slapping tariffs on their product, polysilicon. That could happen as soon as next Friday, when Chinese officials announce findings of an investigation into subsidies of solar companies by U.S. states.

SolarWorld Industries America, for example, has received Oregon subsidies worth about $13 million. The company, a subsidiary of Germany’s SolarWorld, maintains the amount is small compared with its investment in the Hillsboro plant and with China’s subsidies of its solar manufacturers.

Jigar Shah, president of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, a group that opposes SolarWorld’s trade case, said a recent study found that a 50 percent U.S. tariff would kill 14,000 American jobs, and 10,000 more if China imposed duties on polysilicon.

Which, of course, was David Ricardo’s basic point: by concentrating on doing stuff in which we have a comparative advantage and trading for the other stuff everyone is better off. But in this case it may also be that the environment is better served by allowing comparative advantage to determine the location solar panel manufacturing.

Source:http://oregonbusinessreport.com/2012/05/problems-with-our-solar-war-with-china/

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installs solar panels at Dillon

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to establish more 'green' initiatives at its Dillon Lake Dam site.

In 2011, the corps became the first government entity in the Huntington District to install solar panels. The Huntington District includes parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.

The panels, which cover the corps' administrative building and a storage building, cost $187,000, but they were paid for through stimulus money from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, said Clif Kilpatrick, project manager.

So far, the panels are saving about $80 to $100 per utility bill, but that likely will increase in the future, Kilpatrick said. The corps' total utility bill could be up to $2,000 per month, but that includes more than just the buildings covered by the panels, he said.

Kilpatrick has been told the panels might pay for themselves in about 20 years, he said.

Other groups in the Huntington District are now looking into solar panels as well, but Kilpatrick is proud to have led the way.

"I wanted to push the green aspect," he said. "I saw other entities in the government going that route, and I said, 'I want to do that."

Source:http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20120522/NEWS01/205220309/U-S-Army-Corps-Engineers-installs-solar-panels-Dillon

Why consumers shouldn’t worry about the new solar tariffs

The federal government’s decision yesterday to slap fairly hefty tariffs on Chinese solar panels has prompted worries about a big rise in costs for consumers to go solar. But the impact will not likely be as significant for two reasons: any price increase will be absorbed along the way by everyone from manufacturers to installers, and the growing competition in the retail solar market will keep the cost to consumers in check.

The Department of Commerce’s decision determined that Chinese companies have indeed been selling products at below fair market prices, and the ruling addressed part of a broader trade complaint filed by SolarWorld and other manufacturers last October. To offset the impact of the below-market pricing, the commerce department reached a preliminary ruling to impose an import tariff of about 31 percent on solar cells from 61 Chinese manufacturers and nearly 250 percent for the rest.

It’s worth noting that the tariffs will affect only silicon solar cells made in China but not solar panels made in China with silicon solar cells from another country. Plus, the commerce department could modify the tariffs when it issues a final decision in October.

Paper tiger

The 250 percent tariff sounds scary, but the fact is the biggest Chinese solar companies such as Suntech Power, Trina Solar, Yingli Green Energy and Canadian Solar will face the 31 percent tariff. While that 31 percent tariff will likely raise the wholesale prices, there are ways to manage it.

For months Chinese manufactures have been brainstorming around ways to lessen the impact of any tariffs. They have been talking to solar cell makers in Taiwan about buying and shipping their cells to China or elsewhere to be assembled into panels. A company like Canadian Solar, for example, could buy Taiwanese solar cells and assemble them in its Canadian factory (most of the company’s manufacturing is in China, hence it’s considered a Chinese company) or hire a manufacturer in Korea. Chinese companies also could set up solar cell production outside of China.

Shyam Mehta, a senior analyst at GTM Research, estimated that hiring Taiwanese companies to make cells will increase production costs for Chinese companies by 6 percent to 12 percent, which “is meaningful but manageable.”

Solar installers

While manufacturers figure out their strategies, solar service providers – from companies that provide consumer financing to roofers who install solar panels – need to come up with plans to cope with higher solar panel prices. People in the solar retail sector, understandably, have strongly opposed the trade complaint. They contend that the solar market growth could slow if they have to pay more for solar panels.

Certainly, profits will shrink if costs increase. But that doesn’t mean retail service providers will raise their prices or raise by a whole lot. They will likely absorb the added costs and still make good money, especially by increasing the sales volumes (the solar market is hardly saturated). We are not talking about razor-thin margins that will be rendered non-existent by the tariffs.

For a while now, investors and solar retail service providers have talked about how they could deliver or receive very good (double digit) and long-term returns. We’ve seen banks and other types of investors such as Google putting up funds in hundreds of millions to finance leases and power purchase agreements, which are long-term contracts in which consumers pay a monthly fee for solar electricity instead of the high upfront cost of installing and owning solar panels. Consumers opt for these financing plans because they take away the hassles of doing research and picking equipment manufacturers, and because they are often promised lower utility bills. That promise of lower utility bills is a key selling point, and any solar retailer who took that away will lose a serious competitive edge.

Competition in the retail sector has intensified in recent years, and that, too, will make it difficult to raise prices and still compete effectively. Venture-backed startups such as Sungevity, SolarCity and Sunrun started in 2006 or 2007 and have expanded well beyond their home turf of California. Many more have shown up and some of them that first made their fortunes in a different business, such power company NRG Energy, home security company Vivint and roof installer PetersenDean. Consumers only benefit when they have more companies to choose from.

Lastly, solar panels don’t make up the bulk of the price of a solar electric system. In fact, they take up around 20 percent, and the rest comes from the costs of other components, sales and marketing, permits and labor. A bigger worry for installers has been these non-solar panel costs, particularly in permitting and marketing and sales. Average prices for a residential system by the end of last year was just over $6 per watt (and less $5 per watt if a homeowner bought a system outright rather than doing a lease), GTM said, while the wholesale price for solar panels was near $1 per watt (it was $1 per watt when I caught up with Chinese solar panel makers at PV America West in March).

The solar industry wants to show critics that solar electricity can be affordable and compete with power from fossil fuels and it deserves government subsidies to help reduce costs. To raise prices in a big way will only give ammunition to critics that solar is far from prime time. That’s one outcome everyone in the solar industry, regardless of which side they are on in the trade dispute, would hate to see.

Source:http://gigaom.com/cleantech/why-consumers-shouldnt-worry-about-the-new-solar-tariffs/

China Rejects U.S. Ruling In Solar Dumping Case

China's government on Friday rejected a U.S. antidumping ruling against its makers of solar power equipment and Chinese manufacturers warned possible higher tariffs might hurt efforts to promote clean energy.

The conflict has worsened U.S.-Chinese trade tensions. The two governments have pledged to cooperate in developing renewable energy but accuse each other of violating free-trade pledges by subsidizing their own manufacturers.

"The U.S. ruling is unfair, and the Chinese side expresses its extreme dissatisfaction," said a Commerce Ministry spokesman, Shen Danyang, in a statement.

Shen warned the ruling might harm clean energy cooperation but gave no indication how Beijing might respond. Some American companies that oppose the trade probe have warned China might retaliate against U.S. suppliers.

Thursday's preliminary ruling by the Commerce Department said Chinese producers sold solar cells and panels below fair price and hurt American producers. If that is upheld, tariffs averaging 31 percent could be imposed on Chinese solar-panel imports.

Three major Chinese manufacturers -- Yingli Green Energy Holdings Ltd., Suntech Power Holdings Co. and Trina Solar Ltd. -- rejected accusations they were selling goods at improperly low prices.

Foreign competitors complain Chinese manufacturers get improper government support in the form of low-cost access to land, bank loans and other resources. Beijing acknowledges giving research grants and tax breaks but says those are in line with its free-trade commitments and practices by other governments.

"We will challenge with data all of those assumptions," said Trina's chief commercial officer, Mark Kingsley. In an interview, he said China's subsidies are lower than those provided by Germany and some other countries.

Kingsley said Trina's exports to the United States are unlikely to be affected if Washington raises tariffs. He said any solar cells or other parts affected by the duties can be replaced by components from other countries.

"We already have developed third-country component supply that allows to ship as normal to the U.S.," he said.

Chinese producers also warned that higher U.S. tariffs might raise the cost of solar equipment and hamper efforts to promote renewable energy.

"Tariffs are disruptive and destructive for the entire solar industry," said Yingli's chairman, Miao Liangsheng, in a statement.

The Commerce Department launched its investigation in November following complaints by a group of U.S. producers led by Oregon-based SolarWorld Industries America Inc., a unit of Germany's SolarWorld AG.

The complaints were amplified by the bankruptcy of solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC after the California-based company received a $528 million U.S. government loan. Solyndra cited Chinese competition as one reason behind its failure.

Beijing responded by launching its own probe last November into whether U.S. government support for producers of wind, solar and other renewable energy technology is an improper trade barrier.

The dispute highlights tensions over whether China's heavily regulated economy should be treated as a free market. Beijing has pressed the United States and Europe to officially grant such status, which would make it harder to bring some dumping and other complaints, but none of its major trading partners has yet agreed.

With China treated as a non-market economy, U.S. regulators looked at other countries to decide what production costs for Chinese solar equipment manufacturers would be and estimate how much government support they received.

Shen, the Commerce Ministry spokesman, criticized that approach and said it resulted in an unfairly high comparison price.

"This is not consistent with China's development status, does not conform to the facts of China as a market economy and highlights the tendency of trade protectionism in the United States," Shen said.

Chinese solar equipment manufacturers warned earlier that sanctions could result in a loss of American jobs because U.S. companies are both buyers of Chinese products and suppliers of materials. They said Chinese manufacturers spend some $2 billion a year to buy materials such as polysilicon from U.S. suppliers.

Kingsley said Trina buys silicon from Michigan and manufacturing equipment from New Hampshire, plastic and glass from Japan and South Korea and other components from suppliers elsewhere in Asia.

"These products, by design, are incredibly international," he said. "The vast majority of this value chain is not in China."

Source:http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2012/05/china-rejects-us-ruling-in-solar-dumping-case

Walmart Announces 27 Solar Projects Totalling 10.5 MW

Walmart has announced plans to install solar photovoltaic arrays on 27 of its Massachusetts stores as early as August, adding on-site generation to more than half of its outlets in the state.

The arrays are in the engineering phase and still require permits, the Boston Globe reports. Once operational, the installations should have a total capacity of 10.5 MW, the paper reports. Each solar plant will provide around 10 to 15 percent of its store’s energy.

The retail giant operates 50 stores in the state.

Walmart’s Massachusetts solar plants will be built, owned and operated by Greenskies Renewable Energy LLC. Greenskies will sell all of the energy generated by the panels to Walmart.

The Globe reports that Walmart’s solar development was spurred, in part, by an initiative to encourage such projects enacted in 2008 by Governor Deval Patrick. Patrick had sought to encourage big box retailers to place solar arrays on their large, flat roofs in a bid to increase Massachusetts’ solar offering to 250 MW by 2017.

Walmart has installed, or announced plans to install, a lot of solar power in recent months. In September last year, the company announced plans to complete rooftop solar arrays on more than three quarters of its California stores, with projects planned for up to 60 locations. The projects will bring Walmart’s total number of solar installations in California to 130. Each store’s array will provide 20 to 30 percent of its electric needs. Combined they should generate up to 70 million kWh of renewable energy per year.

In April, Walmart announced six solar projects totaling 2 MW on stores in Colorado. The Colorado solar arrays, to be built by SolarCity, are in the metropolitan Denver area. When complete the Colorado arrays are expected to generate nearly 3 million kWh of renewable energy per year. The solar projects will prevent more than 5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year, Walmart says.

The company also has solar projects in Hawaii, Arizona and Puerto Rico (pictured). It also began building projects in New Jersey, the Globe reports. In total Walmart currently has 50 MW of solar power generating power on its rooftops.

In the EPA’s Green Power Partnership rankings, Walmart ranks fourth for its Texas and California facilities alone. These stores use 872 million kWh of green power a year, through a combination of on-site generation and power purchases from utilities and retail suppliers.

Source:http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/17/walmart-announces-27-solar-projects-totalling-10-5-mw/

Solar Powered System Provides New Meaning to 'Green Printing'

The Artcraft Company has installed a new solar powered system to power its facility in North Attleboro, MA.

The company is a family-owned engraving and printing facility that designs and delivers identity systems and invitations.

More than 1,100 solar panels were installed on the rooftop of company’s production facility. Munro Distributing has performed the installation of the solar powered system.

The President and CEO of The Artcraft Company, John Dumouchel stated that the company was giving a new meaning to the term 'green printing'. The solar powered system was inaugurated on Friday, where Dumouchel commented that with the new solar installation the company was going to make identity systems and invitations that demonstrated environmental responsibility.

The new solar installation will power The Artcraft Company’s engraving facility completely, while solar power will contribute to 50% of the requirements for the offset department. Among the existing printing techniques, engraving is an environmentally friendly method. With the new facility, customer projects will be produced with solar power leading to more environmental and sustainable practices within the company.

The FSC-certified printing company will make significant reductions in its green house gas emissions. Around 5,226 t of CO2, which is equivalent to planting of 209,032 trees, avoiding SUV travel for 6,657,070 mi or 10,774,845 mi of air travel, will be reduced by the new solar powered system.

Source: http://www.artcraft.com/

Source:http://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=16627

Sunny days with solar leasing

The move for renewable energy and greener technologies has been really important to me for years now. Why? Because I’m building homes that are going to be around for years. So if I’m going to do it right, I have to think about the environment these buildings are going to be in today and tomorrow.

Let’s look at the facts: The cost of energy keeps rising. A lot of the resources we use for energy are on the verge of depletion. And the environmental fallout of modern living has reached a critical point. As a homeowner, what do you do? As a builder or contractor, how do you respond?

Many people might look at the current situation and say it’s hopeless, but I don’t. I deal with hopeless situations every day, and time and time again we push forward and make things right.

If we look at what’s going on in the economy and the environment, we’ll see there’s actually a huge opportunity here. For new infrastructures, new technologies, new skills and an economy that gets stronger the more we help our environment. There’s no conflict of interest here.

Another bonus is that green economy creates long-term jobs for different skill levels. This includes skilled tradespeople to manufacture all the parts for solar panels and turbines, contractors to install them and engineers to dream them up.

The good news is more and more governments and organizations are realizing this and they’re working together to build stronger communities for the future. For example, in Ontario we have the Feed-in Tariff program.

This program lets homeowners and businesses feed the electric grid with renewable energy, such as solar, wind, hydro and/or biogas. This is great. The problem is the upfront investment exceeds most homeowners’ budgets. Solar panels and windmills aren’t cheap, folks — at least not yet.

In the meantime, organizations are stepping up and doing what it takes to help make both ends meet. For example, PURE Energies and the David Suzuki Foundation are working together and it looks like they’re on the right path.
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PURE Energies is a microfit company that facilitates solar leasing. They install, operate and maintain solar power systems on suitable residential homes, at no cost to the homeowner. They’ll also monitor a home’s HVAC system to make sure it runs as efficiently as possible, given the weather and temperature. And even though PURE Energies owns the solar power system, they share the revenues from the energy produced with the homeowner. Everybody wins.

Right now, PURE Energies will make a donation to the David Suzuki Foundation for every inquiry they receive from homeowners interested in a solar power system. And if an inquiry leads to the installation of a system, PURE Energies will make another donation. Why the David Suzuki Foundation? Because they’re helping lay down the groundwork, through science and education, for a shift to sustainable living.

The collaboration is a smart setup. It reinvests in energy conservation and renewable energy solutions. The benefits here are exponential: We’re using solar energy, we’re taking pressure off the grid, we’re putting money toward better green solutions, we’re putting money back into homeowners’ pockets and we’re moving away from combustible energy sources, like coal. Most people don’t know but a side affect of coal-fired power plants is mercury emissions.

There are real facts driving the green movement. It’s important people know what they are and the options they have. Education has always been key to what I do. I’d say it’s the most important part of everything I do. Why? Because building affects the people involved, but education affects everybody.

As a contractor and builder, I take my job seriously. And I don’t take this responsibility lightly.

No matter the project, I always try to go for green options and renewable energy solutions. I could be working on a house for the new series, a custom home, a hurricane resistant house in New Orleans, a children’s village in Haiti or a First Nations reserve. I always try to incorporate green solutions that make sense. Not just for short-term maintenance but also for long-term sustainability. And solar leasing is a good way to start weaning our homes off non-renewable energy.

Solar leasing is on the rise, especially in the U.S. due to their high-energy costs. Currently, Enmax Energy is making solar leasing possible in Alberta. But I want to see more provinces push for legislation that lets solar leasing be an option for all homeowners across Canada.

Source:http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/05/14/mike-holmes-sunny-days-with-solar-leasing/

Trade bodies unite to promote "attractive" solar technology

The four largest trade associations covering the UK solar market have come together today to argue that solar still represents one of the best investments householders and businesses can make.

Over a quarter of a million domestic solar installations have been registered under the feed-in tariff subsidy scheme since it started in April 2010, totalling over 1.3GW of installed capacity.

But a long-battle over controversial cuts to the popular incentive scheme have undermined confidence in the sector and led to a contraction of demand in recent weeks that has left the sector "stagnant", according to a joint statement from the British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA), the Micropower Council (MPC), the Renewable Energy Association (REA), and the Solar Trade Association (STA).

Demand for new installations has collapsed since the start of April, when changes to the feed-in tariff scheme effectively halved the level of incentives available.

The groups are now arguing that the the public has been left confused by gloomy headlines and a fluctuating policy regime, and that as a result people are not aware that despite cuts to incentives at the start of April well placed installations can still generate rates of return of up to eight per cent - a level far higher than most savings options.

To promote the sector, the bodies have issued a joint statement extolling the benefits of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, including decreasing electricity costs, creating a new income stream by selling electricity back to the grid, and helping provide a secure source of energy for the country.

They are also arguing that falling panel costs mean a 4kWp system, the largest size for which the highest tariff is available and almost twice the size of the average domestic system, costs less than £9,000 today, whereas just a year ago it would have been priced at over £15,000.

Meanwhile, policies such as the existing Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, and the soon-to-be-launched Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Green Deal are helping property owners reach an energy efficiency rating of D or above, making their properties eligible for the feed-in tariff incentives.

Gaynor Hartnell, chief executive of the REA, said the financial rewards of investing in solar could still be substantial.

"With gas and electricity prices on the rise yet again, returns for today's investors in solar power are likely to be better than expected," she said.

"By the end of this decade, solar energy costs are expected to fall to the point where it costs the same to generate your own power as it does to buy it from the grid. A technology with this potential is bound to transform our energy future."

Her comments were echoed by Dave Sowden of the Micropower Council, who stressed that "solar PV still offers attractive returns for consumers, in excess of many alternative investment products".

"Improving consumer understanding of solar PV and the Feed-in Tariff scheme is likely to be key to restoring healthy uptake levels," he said. "We are pleased that the policy framework is now on a more stable footing and are optimistic that this will signal a new dawn of consumer confidence in the microgeneration sector."

However, some industry sources remain frustrated that the trade bodies have not done enough to protect the sector as deep cuts to incentives have led to job losses and bankruptcies.

Fears are also mounting that demand could contract still further if the government goes with through with controversial plans to cut incentives again from this July.


Source:http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2174500/trade-bodies-unite-promote-attractive-solar-technology

On renewable-energy priorities, 'a good step forward'

When we talked in January, you had a list of renewable-energy priorities you wanted lawmakers to tackle. How did the Legislature do?

Gabrielle Stebbins: I commend the Legislature for the six renewable-energy bills passed this year. They will ultimately lead towards more clean, local energy and more green energy jobs in our state.

BFP: Let’s talk first about the big renewable-energy bill that passed in the last days of the session. What were its highlights for your members?

GS: The highlight would be the expansion of the standard offer program, which tells developers of community-scale renewable energy projects (up to 2.2 megawatts) that they will receive a certain price per kilowatt hour for what they produce. This program allows project developers to go to a bank and say, I have a contract — if you give me a loan, I can build this project and will be able to pay back the loan. It creates the opportunity for financing.

Farmers, restaurant owners, community-scale wind developers need the standard offer to make their projects buildable. The original program allowed a total of 50 megawatts of standard-offer projects. By the end of this year, 28 megawatts should be built and a lot of projects are under construction. That’s great for a program that is three years old.

Development and installation of renewable energy has a direct impact on jobs in Vermont — on manufacturers, installers, excavators, makers of component parts. Vermont just dropped below 5 percent unemployment. A big part of that was green energy jobs.

So not only do we get job creation, we also see economic stability, because renewable-energy costs don’t go up and down, as fossil fuels do — the sun doesn’t charge a different rate from one day to the next. We also get energy security and independence, by having these projects located here in the state, instead of relying on power from elsewhere.

Source:http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120513/GREEN01/120511029/On-renewable-energy-priorities-good-step-forward-?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

Making the case for 1,000 MW hybrid solar power project

The head of one of Oman's largest electricity distribution companies has mooted the idea of a large-scale solar thermal hybrid project based on a mix of renewable, conventional and non-conventional fuel sources, to help meet rapidly escalating domestic energy demand.

Ahmed bin Saif al Mazrouy, General Manager of Majan Electricity Company (MJEC), which supplies electricity to the governorates of North Batinah, Dhahirah and Buraimi, described the proposed venture as "his dream project of the future".

"What I'm proposing is 1,000 megawatts (MW) of hybrid power comprising a solar thermal power plant in combination with other fuels, such as condensate and waste gas from the oil industry, domestic waste as biomass, and refined sweet coal," the official told delegates at the 2nd Oman Power & Water Summit, which concluded here on Wednesday.

Chairing the closing session on renewable energy, Al Mazrouy, who is well-known for championing 'green energy' initiatives within Majan Electricity's jurisdiction, said the hybrid nature of his proposed power scheme would help ensure electricity generation round the clock and all through the year.

"Oman has plenty of solar energy, with 80 per cent of the landmass exposed to the sun's rays that can be harnessed. With a location like Haima in central Oman, you can tap the sun's energy as the base fuel for electricity generation during daylight hours. For nighttime generation, or when conditions are not ideal for solar thermal power, the plant can use low quality hydrocarbons from the oil industry that are currently flared as part of normal oilfield operations. Additionally, there is also domestic waste, which currently goes into landfills, to consider. Sweet coal, which is suitably refined, is also a fuel option."

Modelled on successful solar hybrid plants currently in operation or under development elsewhere around the globe, Al Mazrouy said a 1,000 MW capacity venture in Oman would rank among the largest of its kind in the world.

Large-scale solar thermal power plants currently generate an aggregate of around 1,300 MW of electricity, with several new plants of a similar aggregate capacity under development. Also on the anvil are new projects of a total capacity of around 15,000 MW, he said. Capital costs previously estimated at $6,000 per kilowatt (kW) of capacity are now down to a third of this figure, with prices continuing to fall dramatically, he said. Based on these ballpark estimates, a 1,000 MW hybrid solar thermal power plant would cost around $2 billion -- while a hefty investment upfront would pay off over the lifetime of the project because of its dependency on cheap and abundant, if not free, fuel sources. The sustainability of this conceptual model, as well as its potential to create significant numbers of jobs, also make it an attractive proposition overall, he noted.

Al Mazrouy also emphasised Haima's suitability as a venue for a large-scale hybrid solar power plant.

Located midway between Muscat and Salalah, Haima lies halfway between the oilfields of north and south Oman, allowing for condensate and waste gas to be piped from all parts of the country. Furthermore, a proposed rail network between Muscat and Duqm would enable the supply of domestic waste and biomass by rail, he added.

For non-solar based generation, Al Mazrouy said he envisions a series of boilers each designed to cater to a specific fuel source, be it hydrocarbons, biomass, or sweet coal. These boilers would only kick in at night or when environmental conditions are not conducive for solar-based generation. Fly ash generated as a result of coal-based thermal generation would be trapped and converted into fertilizer, he added.

Later in comments to the Observer, the official described the hybrid solar thermal project as his "personal vision" that he hopes to see materialise some day in line with Oman's quest for renewable energy development.

"We all know our oil and gas resources are going to be depleted one day. Can we then sit and do nothing about it? No! Indeed, a 1,000 MW plant may be too ambitious for starters. But we can try to attract investors looking at, say, 200 MW for example. That would be a good start. Over time, we can hope to see new capacity being added. We will then have a row of power stations with solar panel fields extending over huge distances. Haima would then become a landmark that will attract tourists as well," Al Mazrouy added.

Source:http://uk.zawya.com/story/Oman_Making_the_case_for_1000_MW_hybrid_solar_power_project-ZAWYA20120512050230/

Canadian Solar to make panels in Japan as green power race heats up

Canadian Solar Inc., the world's fifth largest solar module maker, plans to build a plant in Japan as early as fiscal 2013 to become the first foreign manufacturer to produce solar panels in the country, company sources said Saturday.

The Ontario-based firm is among domestic and overseas companies vying to strengthen their position in the Japanese market as a new government incentive program starting this July is expected to spur demand for green energy in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

Canadian Solar expects to invest several billion yen for the new plant with an annual production capacity of 150 megawatts of solar panels.

The company has already announced in March a separate project to construct a 2,000-kilowatt mega solar plant in Tsu, Mie Prefecture with the aim to launch operation by March 2013.

"It will be more efficient to produce (the solar panels) where consumers will be using them," Yu Kaname, president of Canadian Solar Japan K.K., said of the decision to manufacture domestically to meet the anticipated demand in Japan. The firm currently imports its solar panels from China.

The company is reviewing candidate sites in Fukushima Prefecture and other areas devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. It is also considering including a training center for solar panel maintenance and other works at the new plant to help boost employment in the disaster-hit region.

Canadian Solar, which boasts high-quality solar photovoltaic products and low cost structures, currently has a roughly 3 percent share of the Japanese market and aims to raise this to 10 percent in five years.

Under the government's renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme, major electric utilities will be required to buy all electricity generated in principle from solar power by companies, households and others for 42 yen per kilowatt-hour, including sales tax, a price almost equivalent to that demanded by green-energy providers.

"Japan has set a high buyback price, which is very attractive, so there is no reason for foreign companies not to enter the market," said Hiroharu Watanabe, a senior analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

China's Suntech Power Holdings Co., the world's largest producer of solar panels, will revamp its maintenance site in Saku, Nagano Prefecture, in July with a showroom and upgraded equipment to improve customer service.

Meanwhile, Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., also from China, and U.S. energy services provider SunEdison, have also recently announced their full-fledged entry into Japan, at a time when demand for solar in large markets such as Europe is waning.

To fend off the intensifying low-cost competition from foreign players on their home court, Japanese makers such as Sharp Corp., Kyocera Corp., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., and Panasonic Corp. which owns Sanyo Electric Co., mostly boast of high power generation efficiencies.

They have stepped up efforts to expand businesses targeting households and industrial companies in light of increased demand following the quake disaster as well as government-backed incentives.

According to Yano Research Institute, a Japanese private marketing research company, the Japanese market for solar systems in fiscal 2010 had jumped by 70 percent from the previous fiscal year to 655.3 billion yen.

Solar and other renewable energies are drawing interest in Japan in view of the tight electricity supply, especially as the nation is now without nuclear power-generated electricity for the first time in 42 years with operation of all of its 50 commercial reactors suspended.

Source:http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120512p2g00m0bu092000c.html

Yingli brings solar power to the Maracana

FIFA World Cup™ sponsor Yingli Solar has taken a significant step in the drive to make the 2014 FIFA World Cup the most environmentally friendly of all time, with today’s announcement that the iconic Maracana football stadium will be powered by solar energy for the 2014 event. This has been made possible through Yingli’s partnership with Light ESCO, EDF Consultoria em Projetos de Geracao de Energia Elwtrica ('EDF'), and the State of Rio de Janeiro.

One of the key findings from the first wave of FIFA’s Brazil Public Opinion Tracker study which was conducted in 2011 was that 90 per cent of Brazilians believe it to be vital that the 2014 FIFA World Cup is environmentally friendly. FIFA World Cup sponsor Yingli Solar is one stakeholder in the event that takes this topic very seriously indeed, with sustainability at the core of all 2014-related activities.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to supply the most recognisable stadium in Brazil, and to work with two of the pre-eminent leaders of electricity generation and solar power in the country,” said Liangsheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy. “Brazil is an important emerging market for Yingli, and we will continue to grow our presence here as the country’s solar energy potential blossoms.”

Originally built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, better known as the Maracana, will host seven games in the 2014 edition of the event, more than any other venue. This will climax with the final on 13 July 2014. Under today’s agreement, over 1,500 Yingli Solar PV modules will be placed on a metal ring that will encircle the top of the stadium. The strategic placing of the panels will provide a strong visual reminder of the importance of the environment to the 2014 FIFA World Cup story.

“Sustainability is one of the key tenets in our vision for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” said Federico Addiechi, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at FIFA. “We hope this landmark project will be the catalyst to spur other football stadiums to install solar PV systems across Brazil, serving to increase the production and use of renewable power in the country.”

Source:http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/media/newsid=1629456/

Europeans demand political focus on decentralised solar energy

Leaders of the solar energy community representing citizens across Europe called on Brussels politicians to increase their support for solar energy yesterday. In video messages from France, Italy and Portugal, three of the 20 European countries participating in the European Solar Days campaign, national representatives urged policy makers to stimulate further the growth of solar energy across Europe and give citizens more choice over the energy they use. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey 94% of Europeans favour using solar energy, more than for any other energy source.
Europeans demand political focus on decentralised solar energy

This message was heard by representatives of European politics, businesses and organisations at a high-level panel debate in the European Parliament on 10 May hosted by Amalia Sartori, a Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee. The panellists discussed the financial and social potential of solar energy for European citizens, the best policies to stimulate further growth in availability and usage of solar energy in Europe, and how solar energy can help in meeting the EU’s energy and climate objectives.

In an opening speech delivered on behalf of Ms. Sartori, the Vice-Chair of the ITRE Committee, Patrizia Toia said: “Today the economic crisis is at the top of everyone's mind, but this should not cause us to forget the pressing climate and energy challenges. Solar energy is important to help meeting the EU 2020 targets, and to overcome the crisis, creating jobs and innovation in Europe."

"Renewables – in particular solar energy – will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in the European energy mix. They become even more important in light of the Energy Roadmap 2050 and the European Renewable Energy Strategy. Given that on average more than 50% of the energy consumed in Europe is imported, solar energy will also contribute to the EU’s energy independence,” Toia concluded.

The panel included Bruno Vanderschueren, Director General and Co-founder of Lampiris, the 100% green energy provider in Belgium; Pirita Lindholm, Member of the Covenant of Mayors Office and Head of Climate Alliance Brussels; Maud Skäringer, Policy Analyst-Policy Coordination, European Commission DG Regional Policy; Boris Klebensberger and Fabrice Didier, board members of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA); and Nigel Cotton and Arthur de Vries, board members of the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation. The group discussed the best ways to support consumers in adopting solar energy technologies.

"Solar energy has huge potential to reduce CO2 emissions and decrease energy costs for European households. We can't take our foot off the pedal now. We are on track to meet our energy targets for 2020 but we need to define new targets for 2030 to maintain the high level of motivation and the fast growth of solar energy", said Reinhold Buttgereit, EPIA Secretary General.

Stressing the importance of investing in decentralised energy production to promote economic growth, Xavier Noyon, ESTIF Secretary General, added: "Decentralised energy sources such as solar thermal and solar photovoltaics have an important role to play in promoting investment at local level, i.e. commercialisation, installation and maintenance. It’s a great way to replace fossil fuel imports by local jobs:"

By the end of 2011, over 50 gigawatts of PV systems and 26 gigawatts (solar thermal energy) had been installed in Europe - enough to supply electricity to over 15 million households and provide domestic hot water to 12.5 million households with an average sized solar thermal system.

Source:http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/articulo-biofuels-20387-75-Europeans%20demand%20political%20focus%20on%20decentralised%20solar%20energy

China Key to Green Tech Innovation'

With U.S. federal funding sources for renewable energy sources already drying up, coupled with a newfound antipathy towards "green" issues issue here in Washington, some are suggesting that China could offer an important opportunity for the future of renewables in the United States and around the world."I would be very bullish for American companies to explore green-technologies-related opportunities in China," Craig Allen, deputy assistant secretary for Asia within the U.S. Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, said on Wednesday. "That would be a tremendous area for cooperation."

While the U.S. and China have been vying for the top spot in spending on green technologies in recent years, China looks set to make massive gains - or at least spend massive amounts of money - in the near future.

The Chinese surpassed the U.S. in wind turbine deployment in 2009. By 2020, the country is supposed to have more solar energy-related infrastructure than the rest of the world combined.

As part of its latest five-year development plan, Beijing has also defined a list of seven strategic emerging industries to receive "special treatment" adding up to some 1.7 billion dollars in government investment. According to Allen, six of those seven areas deal with energy issues.

Allen's presentation came a day after a high-level British government official made a similar announcement, urging the British private sector to use China as an "incubator" for the development of new green technologies.

"There are big opportunities to partner with Chinese companies and pioneer new technologies in the Chinese market," John Ashton, the U.K. government's special representative on climate change, said on his return from an official trip to China. "That will cost you less and get your prices down … faster than it would elsewhere."

U.S. companies are facing a similar spectrum of concerns. While the United States continues to lead globally in terms of coming up with new innovations in renewable energy, the issue of how to proceed beyond that phase has become increasingly problematic.

According to a study released in late April by the Brookings Institution, state-backed support for the U.S. clean energy sector is set to drop by 75 percent, from 44.3 billion dollars in 2009 to just 11 billion dollars.

While much of this defunding is coming from government programmes that are scheduled to sunset in coming months, in the lead-up to the 2012 U.S. presidential elections green tech has become highly politicised.

In particular, the issue of "wasted" government spending has been strongly linked to funding for renewable energy, making it almost impossible to assume that significant U.S. government support for the sector will be continuing.

While none of this sounds a death knell for renewables in the U.S. in the long term, the uncertainty is making investors highly skittish about dealing with the sector for the time being. In turn, that's gumming up the pipeline for new and potentially important innovations.

"U.S. companies have inventions that they can't get off the shelves - they can't deploy them here, they can't get financing for demonstration projects," says Joanna Lewis, an assistant professor of science, technology and international affairs at Georgetown University here in Washington.

"Whereas in China, often they can get these projects built in a short amount of time, get them up and running, and allow investors to get a sense of how viable they are. Then, they can bring that technology back to the U.S. or other markets."

Lewis, speaking along with Allen and others at a panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars here, highlighted the examples of LP Amina, and engineering company, and several car manufacturers, which she said have successfully used this model.

"I think there's a lot of merit in the idea of the United States working with China to test out technologies and approaches that for whatever reason have the potential to work better or faster in China but that would benefit the U.S. economy," Nigel Purvis, a visiting senior associate with the Center for Global Development here, told IPS.

"The key, of course, is ensuring that such programmes do in fact benefit U.S. companies and workers, and working out strong intellectual property arrangements is essential."

Indeed, there are notable and well-documented obstacles to any attempt by foreign entities to invest in China, over and above the tricky politics. As Purvis notes but in a view held by many, the issue of intellectual property remains one of the most sensitive.

According to Craig Allen, many of the investment regulations in place in China today appear to constitute "a mechanism that the Chinese government uses to facilitate the transfer of technology" to its own state-owned entities.

Such chicanery has turned some entrepreneurs off completely. "I don't think American companies can work in China," says Jigar Shah, president of the coalition for Affordable Solar Energy. "I find the whole notion of American companies working in China in a way that is in any way meaningful to be ridiculous."

Shah notes that there is tremendous and growing opportunity in many countries in Africa, as well as India and Brazil. "All of these places are safe to do business," Shah says. "There's just no need to work with China."

Still, other observers note the possibility of achieving a studied balance.

"I am very bullish on 'co-opetition' between the U.S. (or Europe) and China in the clean tech space, but we can't be naive about it," Peter Adriaens, a professor of engineering and of entrepreneurial strategy in the Business School at the University of Michigan, told IPS.

"Western companies have to not just look at 'the huge market' - a simplistic view - but clearly understand China's long-term strategy to make considered decisions," Adriaens continues. "Not doing so has already shown to negatively impact the value of East-West partnerships."

Source:http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/china-key-to-green-tech-innovation

Vivint Solar Now Available to Homeowners in Massachusetts

Over the Last 10 Years, Power Prices in Massachusetts Have Risen an Average of 12 Percent a Year

Vivint Solar(TM), a leading provider of simple, affordable solar solutions, today announced plans to expand services throughout the entire state of Massachusetts after seeing rapid adoption rates in the initial test market area of Boston.

Vivint Solar first began test marketing its simple and affordable solar solutions to residents in the Boston suburbs of Woburn, Lexington, Stoneham and Burlington at the end of February 2012. Since that testing phase began, the company has installed more than 100 solar systems in those areas, and demand for Vivint Solar's services continues to grow, leading the company to initiate immediate availability to residents throughout the state.

"The response we've seen so far in the Boston area has really exceeded our expectations, and we're looking forward to being able to offer Vivint Solar throughout the whole state of Massachusetts," said Tanguy Serra, president of Vivint Solar. "We've found that the residents of Massachusetts are largely green-minded, and we are happy to offer them such robust solar solutions that addresses the desires to both conserve energy and save money."

Over the last 10 years, power prices in Massachusetts have risen an average of 12 percent annually according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. With Vivint Solar's power purchase agreement (PPA), customers agree to purchase the power their solar panels generate at rates significantly lower than their typical power bill. This not only saves money, but the clean energy produced by the panels reduces the carbon footprint generated by the home. In exchange for agreeing to the PPA, Vivint Solar designs, installs and maintains the system for free, allowing customers to enjoy the benefits of renewable solar energy with no up-front investment.

"We had been researching a few different solar companies when a Vivint Solar sales professional came to our home," said Craig Parker, Vivint Solar customer and Woburn resident. "He was very informative, helpful and professional and he very clearly explained how solar works. I like to think we're environmentally conscience since we recycle and drive an eco-friendly car, and Vivint Solar was a natural fit for us."

For additional information on Vivint Solar services and availability, visit http://www.vivintsolar.com .

About Vivint Solar

Vivint Solar, a subsidiary of Vivint, Inc., is a leading provider of simple, affordable solar solutions. Vivint Solar is an early adopter of the power purchase agreement (PPA) model, which allows it to deliver simple, affordable solar solutions to customers throughout North America. Backed by the award-winning customer support and proven infrastructure of its parent company, Vivint, Inc., Vivint Solar is dedicated to saving customers money and protecting the environment. For more information, visit www.vivintsolar.com .

SOURCE: Vivint Solar
Source:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/vivint-solar-now-available-to-homeowners-in-massachusetts-2012-05-09

Experts talk options for going solar

Farmers and ranchers already use solar panels to power electric fences, water wells and tank heaters. But two energy workshops held recently in Northeastern Colorado were designed to provide rural residents with information about how to make solar a bigger part of their energy portfolio.
While wind energy makes up a much larger portion of the state and federal renewable fuels standard so far, going solar is an increasingly popular option in sun-drenched states like Colorado.

“Why all the buzz? It’s creating a lot of jobs here in Colorado,” said Rebecca Cantwell, senior program director for the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association based at Boulder. She spoke at back-to-back meetings in Holyoke and Fort Morgan coordinated by the Colorado State University Extension Service. “The fuel is free. And an aspect that is increasingly important in Colorado is that it doesn’t use any water.”
The commercial market for solar energy grew 127 percent in 2011, she said. When it comes to the installation of photovoltaic solar panels, Colorado ranks fifth nationally while New Mexico is fourth.

In addition, Colorado has some of the best solar thermal potential in the country. One system in the San Luis Valley uses mirrors to heat water that creates steam to run a turbine, she said.
Innovation is lowering costs and making installation quicker and easier, she added.
“I think in five years you’ll be able to go to Home Depot and buy a solar system you can plug in at your house. Well, maybe not completely, but close to it.”

Consider cooperative approach
Bob Mailander, one-time eastern Colorado regional representative with the governor’s energy office and a former cooperative development expert with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union who now raises organic alfalfa near Holyoke, attended the meeting and said it’s hard to get qualified installation contractors to remote rural locations. He and several neighboring farmers had looked into bringing an installer to the area to put up several systems, but the effort eventually fell through.

“If it wasn’t so difficult, we might have done that,” he said.
Tim Edgar, a CSU community energy coordinator based in Sterling, agreed renewable energy was an opportunity for further job training and economic development in rural Colorado. He pointed out that the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment received a federal grant last year to train more green energy entrepreneurs.

Source:http://www.agjournalonline.com/news/x1120196854/Experts-talk-options-for-going-solar

Verengo Solar Partners With GRID Alternatives to Install Solar Panels for Qualifying Homes

Verengo Solar, the leading residential solar integrator in California, today announced that it is partnering with GRID Alternatives to install solar electric systems for low-income families through GRID's Sub-Contractor Partnership Program (SPP). Verengo and GRID Alternatives celebrated this new partnership on April 16, 2012 by installing a Verengo rooftop system on a low-income home in Lindsay, CA.

"Our first GRID Alternatives project was successfully installed and signed off on by the city inspector in the same day," said Tom Sweeney, Verengo's Northern California General Manager.

"We want to thank GRID Alternatives and everyone who contributed in moving this unique job forward," added Sweeney. "A special thanks to our Fresno installation team who performed flawlessly, resulting in another satisfied customer."

As a sub-contracting partner, Verengo will provide GRID Alternatives with complete residential solar systems including installation and permitting at below cost value, bringing the power of solar energy to low-income households in 2012. Each GRID sub-contracted project also requires Verengo to hire an eligible job trainee who will gain valuable hand-on experience and a paid job while working alongside Verengo's installation team.

"Partnering with GRID Alternatives dovetails perfectly with Verengo's corporate commitment to do good and to do well," said President and Verengo Co-Founder Ken Button. "By providing GRID Alternatives with the highest quality solar installation, Verengo is helping families in need reduce their electricity costs. At the same time, our employees get the opportunity to interact with and educate local communities about the value of solar."

"We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Verengo Solar," said GRID Alternatives Central Valley Program Director Tom Esqueda. "Verengo's support for GRID Alternatives' mission means thousands of dollars more in long-term savings for low-income families that need them most, and paid learning opportunities for green job seekers."

Source:http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/verengo-solar-partners-with-grid-alternatives-install-solar-panels-qualifying-homes-1653478.htm

Powering green energy with information

The faces are surprisingly young. But what did I expect? This is 2012, we are in an economic downturn, and these faces — lacking the imprint of doubt and disappointment — are faces of promise and change, faces that analyze the present in order to forecast the future, and possibly help to reshape it. These faces are the Boston team of Greentech Media. And I’m here to meet its CEO and co-founder, Scott Clavenna.



OK, let me get my metaphors out of the way now, since solar energy is the primary focus of Greentech Media’s Boston office. Clavenna has a sunny disposition. He’s warm, welcoming, unassuming, and he speaks glowingly — with no prompting from me — about the bright minds working hard in the open room adjacent and visible from his office. Clavenna says, “The biggest lesson we learned here is that the personnel is so much more important than the business idea. The people can totally make or break this business. Yes, we adapt our business model a lot. You have to be nimble. But man, the individuals. That’s the most frightening thing about a business like this. The people you hire is so huge.”



Clavenna says the solar market is global and complex, with many moving parts, and his team helps companies understand what the market is all about. According to their website, ‘‘Greentech Media provides critical and timely market analysis in the form of concise and long-form market research reports, monthly newsletters, and strategic consulting services.’’ Most of this interaction is done within the supply chain, not directly to the consumer.

What does this mean? Let’s say the glass company wants to sell to the module company. (In layman’s terms, the module company is basically a solar panel company.) The module company might need to know which global markets are heating up or cooling down, the implications of policy changes and finance trends, the pricing and availability of raw materials, and who’s grabbing market share, as well as who has the most competitive manufacturing cost model. Greentech’s market reports provide all of that information and more.

So I ask Clavenna why his company decided to focus on solar power. “We got lucky and took advantage of a generous introduction. I was fortunate to meet Travis Bradford who was running a non-profit. He was doing unparalleled economic research on the solar industry. Bradford felt if the solar industry got better economic analysis it would do better as an industry. He was publishing reports and basically giving them away for free. Over two lunches at Harvard Square we realized it was a great fit. We were building this big online website and all this infrastructure for doing market research and online news. He was creating this great content. We launched Greentech Media (Greentechmedia.com) in March of 2007 and released our first report in June of that year. We came right out of the gate with world class content.”

Source: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/x2069498643/Ghose-Powering-green-energy-with-information#ixzz1u5lbUFw7

Earn More With Photovoltaic Solar Panels Before July Deadline

Experts in the photovoltaic industry have urged Government Ministers to consider scrapping proposed cuts to the lucrative feed-in tariff scheme.

The 21p/kWh tariff currently connected to photovoltaic solar panels, allows homeowners to make excellent returns whilst generating free electricity, because of the falling price of installations.

The solar industry fears that further cuts to the scheme will take away the opportunity to make a profit with photovoltaic panels. What's important to remember though, is that investing before July 1 will guarantee the top tariff rates for 25 years, no matter if future cuts are made.

Essentially, investing in solar panels before July 1 and you'll:

-- Have a system that generates free electricity for more than 25 years -- Receive a guaranteed fixed income for 25 years, with the rate of 21p/kWh -- Earn a return of investment between 10% and 15% -- Add thousands of pounds to your home's value with free energy potential

But, if you delay a photovoltaic installation you lose these benefits, instead:

-- Not making a high return on your initial investment -- Receiving a reduced income, with rates dropping more than 25% -- Not adding the high value to your property

David Hunt, Director of Eco Environments, has joined the campaign Cut Don't Kill, in an effort to convince the DECC not to continue with their photovoltaic proposals.

He said: "After this date, the FiT rate will drop dramatically to 15.7p and potentially lower still, which will make a domestic solar PV scheme appealing only to the really green investors rather than those who are coming at it mainly for the eye-watering financial returns."

The Government cuts, which would come into force on July 1, could see the feed-in tariff reduced from 21p to 16.5p or 15.7. Depending on the popularity of solar in the first half of 2012, it could even drop to 13.6p/kWh - crippling potential returns.

Hunt says: "This is the final chance for consumers to secure a fantastic return on investment if they go ahead with a solar PV installation before July 1.

The tariff rates already dropped over 50% on March 3 of this year and Solar Trade Association's chief executive, Paul Barwell, said: "Despite all the reported ups and downs for the solar industry in recent months we want to get the message across to householders that solar is a good investment at current tariff rates."

If you're interested in generating free electricity using a natural energy source, whilst earning a fixed income, you should have photovoltaic panels installed before July 1. To guarantee fantastic returns you must have the panels registered before July or you'll lose the main incentive for installing.

This is a series of guest posts written by Luke Kyte, copywriter for lead generation company Quotatis. Quotatis are Europe's most popular consumer matching service for the home improvement market and offer up to four free photovoltaic solar panel quotes.

Source:http://www.power-eng.com/news/2012/05/05/earn-more-with-photovoltaic-solar-panels-before-july-deadline.html

New Solar Collector Heralds New Era in CSP

Solar thermal energy technology has taken an important step further with a new collaboration between 3M’s Renewable Energy Division and Gossamer Space Frames. The companies yesterday unveiled a new parabolic trough solar collector technology designed to reduce costs and equipment for Concentrated Solar Power systems. CSP is a solar system whereby sunlight is converted to heat and then the heat is converted to electricity. The demonstration system is installed at the Sunray Energy facility in Daggett, California.

3M and Gossamer’s collector is called Large Aperture Trough (LAT 73). It features a concentration factor of over 100x and an aperture size of 7.3m. It also features 3M’s high reflectivity Solar Mirror Film 1100. These panels are 50 percent lighter than glass and they offer 94.5 reflectivity.

It is a combination of optical performance and light weight that made possible the design of the large aperture collector. The system has been verified by the National renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which measured an optical accuracy of more than 99 percent. The companies add these collector’s specs are worldwide benchmarks for the industry and promise a cost reduction of 25 percent.

“The LAT technology is an exciting development for the CSP industry, as it demonstrates the possibilities in solar concentrating technology,” said Dr. Dan Chen, business development manager at 3M Renewable Energy Division.

Source:http://theenergycollective.com/energyrefuge/84021/new-solar-collector-heralds-new-era-csp

Scientists at USC develop solar cells that can be painted onto plastic surfaces

We’ve seen solar panels utilize spinach which was used to replace the more expensive silicon components, and if going green is your thing, you might be interested to hear that scientists at the University of Southern California have managed to develop a new type of solar cell made from nanocrystals that are apparently so small, you would be able to fit 250 billion of them onto the head of a pin! Thanks to their size, these nanocrystals can be made into an ink and painted or printed onto clear surfaces, thus allowing solar cells to be printed on materials like plastic that can be bent and shaped to fit just about anywhere.

Not only are these liquid nanocrystal solar cells smaller and more flexible, they are also cheaper to produce compared to the more traditional silicon wafer solar cells. The only drawback is that at the moment, the nanocrystal solar cells aren’t as efficient at converting sunlight to electricity. The coating used (cadmium selenide) is also considered to be toxic and cannot be used commercially. Either way the scientists are still pretty optimistic about their discovery and are working on looking for an alternative to cadmium

Source:http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/05/scientists-at-usc-develop-solar-cells-that-can-be-painted-onto-plastic-surfaces/

Colorado Acrylic Manufacturer Reynolds Polymer Technology Goes Green with Installation of Solar Power

The installation of solar panels at RPT’s Grand Junction, Colorado facility expects to reduce traditional energy consumption by 10 percent. The panels are part of an ongoing effort to improve sustainability at the high desert acrylic manufacturing facility.

Grand Junction, CO (PRWEB) May 02, 2012

A few months ago, all the power Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc.">Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc.(RPT) needed to run the ovens that form the acrylic for commercial aquariums, power the computers in use throughout the building, or simply turn on the lights all came from one place – the power company. That’s all changing now, thanks to a new solar panel array installed on RPT’s roof.

The 404 panel solar system with nine inverters will save RPT about $1,000 each month in electric costs. With electricity rates increasing each year, those savings will increase, too. Calculations predict that those savings will add up and the array of panels will pay for itself in less than 5 years.

“We’ve been focusing on practical ways to reduce our carbon footprint for several years,” said Roger R. Reynolds, III, CEO of RPT. “Installing this solar panel system offered a good way to do this. It reduces our traditional energy consumption by 10 percent and was the right time for us to move forward with this project.”

The 100 kilowatt photovoltaic system ties into the traditional power grid. All solar power generated gets distributed throughout the building with any surplus solar polar sold back to the power company.

All the panels and power inverters are US-made and installed using a ballasted roof installation to prevent any penetration through the roof structure or roof materials.

The addition of solar power complements the existing efforts in place to improve RPT’s sustainability. A water reclamation system started in 2009 currently reduces water consumption by 41.3 percent, changing to high efficiency lighting saved 50 percent on the lighting bill, the painting of the roof white reduced energy consumption as it keeps the shop floor cooler in the summer, and various recycling programs in place ensure as much waste as possible is kept out of the landfill.

About Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc.
Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. has completed more than 1,600 projects in 53 countries in their nearly 30 years in business. RPT is known as the leading manufacturer, fabricator, designer, and installer of R-Cast® acrylic and resin sheets. In fact, RPT is the only acrylic aquarium panel manufacturer in the U.S. Their products have been used extensively in the architectural, signage, aquarium, water-retaining, and scientific industries worldwide, including major projects in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. RPT is constantly raising the standard for what can be done with acrylic and resins. Headquartered in Grand Junction, Colorado, RPT also has operations in Rayong, Thailand.

SOurce: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/business/press-releases/article/Colorado-Acrylic-Manufacturer-Reynolds-Polymer-3526738.php#ixzz1tj5Xxm8m

Solar lily concept has energy sitting pretty

A Green Dot Award winner from ZM Architecture in the U.K. uses the concept of large lily pads, modified to attain the highest possible level of photosynthesis, as the central principle of this nature-inspired repurposing of unused waterways to capture solar energy on a utility scale.

In doing so, the design also hopes to stimulate activity around the multitude of unused and largely ignored canals, rivers and tributaries around the globe, perhaps by encouraging neighborhood revitalization or the construction of new, energy efficient green housing, or simply an influx of tradespeople large and small to provide a riverside shopping and dining experience like a large, open mall.

ZM Architecture calls its winning entry "Solar Lily," and imagines that these approximately 100-foot diameter constructs are anchored to the riverbed and turned via integrated motors that function as the equivalent of solar tracking devices used on land. That is, they turn the lily pads to optimize solar collection during the day. The solar lilies can also be disconnected, dismantled and moved should the situation require it.

Given the stamp of approval at the 2007 International Design awards, and taking second place at the 2008 Green Dot Awards, the solar lilies have drawn attention from municipal agencies and other organizations in Asia, Brazil, Europe and Korea. They were also shown in Vilnius, Lithuania, at the 2009 European Capital of Culture exhibition, Vilnius being one of two cities to capture that cultural award, and at the National Design Triennial.

The solar lily pad concept was tested in one small output canal on the River Clyde, Scotland, and the Glasgow City Council has intimated it would like to test the solar lilies, again on the river, with the cooperation of the Glasgow Science Museum, which opened its door in 2001.

The solar lilies are not to be confused with the iPad's solar charging case called the LilyPad, which we reported on last year, or with the concentrating solar technology used in the floating solar panel prototype by Solaris Energy and EDF Group, which was also launched in 2011.

Source:http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/63082-solar-lily-concept-has-energy-sitting-pretty