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
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
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
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
Friday, May 4, 2012
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
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
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