If you're travelling any part of the 3000km stretch between Darwin and Adelaide in the next few days, don't be alarmed if you see what appears to be alien reconnaissance craft cruising the roads.An array of futuristic vehicles with the sunlight dancing upon their saucer-like tops are taking part in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, a marathon north-south trek across the red heart of Australia undertaken by 40 teams.As the name suggests, all of the cars involved in the race must be powered by electricity generated from the sun. Organisers say they welcome "lateral thinking" in designs, hence the car that has a coating so aerodynamic that dirt doesn't stick to it, thereby avoiding that perilous moment when you have to guide what looks like a shiny door wedge on wheels through the car wash."One of the unique aspects of the event is that we don't prejudge people's ability, we have a class of cars where the only expectation is that you bring your enthusiasm," Chris Selwood, the event director, told Guardian Australia.The enthusiasm will be provided by competitors from 23 countries, including a team of native Americans from a tribal reservation in Mississippi, which excelled in a similar race in the US before heading to Australia."The on-road component is a big adventure and it's exciting," Selwood said. "But essentially this is a design competition to find the world's most efficient electric car."Saint Louis Zoo Installs Solar Power System
The race component, which lasts for four days, has strict rules. The harsh Australian sun could, theoretically, keep the cars running 24 hours a day so a timeframe of 8am to 5pm is set for driving hours.To ensure that the vehicles run on energy derived from the sun throughout the journey, solar cars are allowed a nominal 5kW of stored energy to run off, around 10% of normal total capacity. They then get as far as they can in the available time, often 600km to 700km, before setting up camp in the outback for the night."Early in the morning they'll run off stored energy, mid-morning there will be a balance point of stored energy and energy from the sun and then the middle of the day they will be storing energy as well as using it," Selwood said."It's a unique position to go down the Stuart highway in these cars. There are 140-tonne road trains but it's a lightly populated road with straight lines of 40km at a time. Australia's the best place to come out and play with solar car."Selwood admits the cars aren't built with "the comfort of the driver in mind" but adds the "real heroes" are the people who devise the energy capture and storage.Long term, this unusual vehicular challenge aims to demonstrate the viability of solar energy as an option for transport. While the popularity of rooftop solar panels has soared among Australian households in recent years, cars, buses and trains are yet to make the switch to solar-powered electricity in large numbers."Of course, if you are travelling from Brunswick to the CBD of Melbourne, you probably wouldn't want a huge solar panel on your roof – you'd generally have them on your garage," Selwood said. "If there was the political will, we'd be driving solar cars around our cities now because of the benefits in maintenance. But politicians are too wedded to the status quo."At some point, society will have to make the choice between being powered by brown coal or being powered by solar."
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Saint Louis Zoo Installs Solar Power System
The Saint Louis Zoo now has a new, 31-kilowatt solar power installation on the roof of its Safari Gift Shop at the South Entrance—making solar the primary power supply for the gift shop.
The system’s 96, 3 x 5-foot photovoltaic modules (panels) produce enough electricity to keep three to five homes powered up year round and is expected to save the Zoo $4,500 in net average annual energy costs over the system’s 25-year warranty period ($111,740 total over 25 years). It also offers a source of pollution-free power generation.
Visitors to the Zoo can view real-time and cumulative generation and the system’s air quality benefits (emission reductions made possible by the system) either from the Zoo’s website or from a new digital kiosk found on the South Arrival Experience bridge leading into the Zoo.
StraightUp Solar, a St. Louis-based solar energy integration company, donated the system to the Zoo. Founded in 2006, StraightUp Solar has installed multiple solar systems with a total generating capacity of three megawatts.
In addition to the donation, StraightUp Solar is offering a special $250 customer discount plus an additional $250 donation to the Saint Louis Zoo for each new system purchased now through Oct. 31. To receive these benefits, customers must simply post a photo of themselves standing before the Zoo’s new solar array/kiosk and Zoo sign to both the Saint Louis Zoo and StraightUp Solar Facebook sites.
“This environmental initiative is one among many at the Zoo. As a conservation organization, we work hard to save wild things in wild places around the globe, and we are also committed to conserving resources here at home,” said Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D., Dana Brown President and Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Louis Zoo.
“We have an exceptional recycling program and have significantly reduced water and energy use by installing more efficient systems,” he said. We hope to share our experience with this solar energy system with our guests so that they can evaluate the use of solar energy at their own homes or businesses.”
The Zoo’s Sunpower E20 monocrystalline solar energy panels are currently the most efficient at converting sunlight into energy when compared with other conventional photovoltaic collector types. This grid-tied, batteryless design ensures that all of the electricity is immediately used on-site at the Zoo. For more information on how solar systems work visit nrel.gov/solar/.
The state of Missouri has a renewable energy mandate that requires investor-owned utilities to obtain 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2021. To address this mandate, Ameren Missouri provides a $2 per watt rebate for solar energy installations.
The system’s 96, 3 x 5-foot photovoltaic modules (panels) produce enough electricity to keep three to five homes powered up year round and is expected to save the Zoo $4,500 in net average annual energy costs over the system’s 25-year warranty period ($111,740 total over 25 years). It also offers a source of pollution-free power generation.
Visitors to the Zoo can view real-time and cumulative generation and the system’s air quality benefits (emission reductions made possible by the system) either from the Zoo’s website or from a new digital kiosk found on the South Arrival Experience bridge leading into the Zoo.
StraightUp Solar, a St. Louis-based solar energy integration company, donated the system to the Zoo. Founded in 2006, StraightUp Solar has installed multiple solar systems with a total generating capacity of three megawatts.
In addition to the donation, StraightUp Solar is offering a special $250 customer discount plus an additional $250 donation to the Saint Louis Zoo for each new system purchased now through Oct. 31. To receive these benefits, customers must simply post a photo of themselves standing before the Zoo’s new solar array/kiosk and Zoo sign to both the Saint Louis Zoo and StraightUp Solar Facebook sites.
“This environmental initiative is one among many at the Zoo. As a conservation organization, we work hard to save wild things in wild places around the globe, and we are also committed to conserving resources here at home,” said Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D., Dana Brown President and Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Louis Zoo.
“We have an exceptional recycling program and have significantly reduced water and energy use by installing more efficient systems,” he said. We hope to share our experience with this solar energy system with our guests so that they can evaluate the use of solar energy at their own homes or businesses.”
The Zoo’s Sunpower E20 monocrystalline solar energy panels are currently the most efficient at converting sunlight into energy when compared with other conventional photovoltaic collector types. This grid-tied, batteryless design ensures that all of the electricity is immediately used on-site at the Zoo. For more information on how solar systems work visit nrel.gov/solar/.
The state of Missouri has a renewable energy mandate that requires investor-owned utilities to obtain 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2021. To address this mandate, Ameren Missouri provides a $2 per watt rebate for solar energy installations.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Plug & Play Solar Power
Plug & Play Solar Power Systems Growing In Use In US, Thanks To SolarPod
If you’re a long-time reader of CleanTechnica, you might recognize the name SolarPod*. SolarPods are modular, plug & play solar power systems developed by Mouli Engineering. I think we first wrote about SolarPod back in April 2012, and then followed up on the technology briefly in May 2012 when SolarPods were shown to be performing well in the field, and again in November 2012 when a house using the plug & play solar power systems won a design award. We recently caught up with Mouli Engineering to see how things are going and whether or not more people have been using its SolarPods. Also, before delving into that, the first section below catches new readers up on this not-often-discussed solar power option.
To start with, I’ll note a few reasons why SolarPod came about in the first place. Mouli Vaidyanathan came up with the idea of SolarPod when he was conducting “legacy type” solar panel installations. In his opinion, “custom design was too expensive and took too much time.” The solar industry needed something easier, more inexpensive, and more adaptable. Of course, all while sticking to high environmental and safety standards.
“SolarPodTM as a company believes in protecting our environment, bringing earth friendly products, highest safety and quality and careful engineering for simple affordable end installation,” Mouli notes.Mouli says that SolarPod is the first company in the US to offer a modular construction solar system product using solar PV panels. I believe he is right. If you haven’t noticed, we don’t really have much news about such solar power systems. And Mouli isn’t just offering SolarPod on the web. He has actually formed relationships with large retail chains in several states that are offering the product, with the plug & play solar power system meeting and exceeding various safety codes and quality standards.Menards, a large home improvement retail store in the US, and Northern Tool, another such home improvement retail store, are two of the retail chains now carrying the SolarPodTM.
If you’re a long-time reader of CleanTechnica, you might recognize the name SolarPod*. SolarPods are modular, plug & play solar power systems developed by Mouli Engineering. I think we first wrote about SolarPod back in April 2012, and then followed up on the technology briefly in May 2012 when SolarPods were shown to be performing well in the field, and again in November 2012 when a house using the plug & play solar power systems won a design award. We recently caught up with Mouli Engineering to see how things are going and whether or not more people have been using its SolarPods. Also, before delving into that, the first section below catches new readers up on this not-often-discussed solar power option.
To start with, I’ll note a few reasons why SolarPod came about in the first place. Mouli Vaidyanathan came up with the idea of SolarPod when he was conducting “legacy type” solar panel installations. In his opinion, “custom design was too expensive and took too much time.” The solar industry needed something easier, more inexpensive, and more adaptable. Of course, all while sticking to high environmental and safety standards.
“SolarPodTM as a company believes in protecting our environment, bringing earth friendly products, highest safety and quality and careful engineering for simple affordable end installation,” Mouli notes.Mouli says that SolarPod is the first company in the US to offer a modular construction solar system product using solar PV panels. I believe he is right. If you haven’t noticed, we don’t really have much news about such solar power systems. And Mouli isn’t just offering SolarPod on the web. He has actually formed relationships with large retail chains in several states that are offering the product, with the plug & play solar power system meeting and exceeding various safety codes and quality standards.Menards, a large home improvement retail store in the US, and Northern Tool, another such home improvement retail store, are two of the retail chains now carrying the SolarPodTM.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Joining The Argument on Solar Power Panels: Are They Worthy Of It?
Solar panels has existed for many years, but it’s failed to eventually become widely well-known. This may change as power costs continue to grow and oil reserves diminish. Buying solar panel systems is really a major choice that must be produced appropriately. Step one would be to consider the benefits and drawbacks of the significant expense.Prior to any choice is created, those seeking to buy a solar-power system should think about the place they reside in. Some nearby governments cost costs or taxes for using big gear. In Addition, cities and towns have zoning regulations which could need review of the entire property under consideration. This really would assure that setup could be performed safely.The best benefit that solar-power supplies is affordable operating costs. Most solar panel systems are sure to continue for 40 years, that’s longer than any mortgage will require to repay. Following the first expense, electricity is almost free. Along with that, as there aren’t any moving parts, hardly any care is needed. Cleansing the sections per annum is entirely that becomes necessary.sunpower_mainBonuses are yet another excellent reason to buy solar-power. Several energy businesses provide credit for electricity that’s offered back in their mind. In Addition, most authorities provide tax breaks to people using green energy or purchase energyefficient devices.
Yet another reason to choose solar energy is for that autonomy it supplies. There isn’t any must be anxious about energy lines dropping down, transformers coming up, or blackouts. People that create the switch will even lessen the sides’ reliance on nonrenewable petroleum.The past edge is for earth. Solar powered energy does not contaminate or produce greenhouse gases, therefore it does not lead to global-warming. It is tidy, effective, quiet, and replaceable. What more might Our Mother Earth request?The largest disadvantage to solar power systems may be the upfront price and setup. According to energy wants, costs may shoot up extremely fast. Homes consume ranging from 800 to 1500 kilowatts monthly. The original expense in price is really well in the several hundreds in lbs, pounds or bucks and unless folks are sent to their own home they might never realize the cost be outweighed by free electricity. Yet another problem may be the big impact panels must produce enough electricity to energy a home. This produces a difficulty for those who survive little regions of property.
Our Mother Earth can build a drawback within the effectiveness of solar power. Night time, snowfall, rain, and clouds are factors that will impede power era. This is often assisted with a battery to store power for potential use. Nevertheless, constant poor weather may cause stored power to come to an end. Buying a battery and inverter may possibly increase the price of the whole program by a large number of lbs too.Choosing solar power is quite challenging. It may be pricey, but monetary incentives will lower the large cost. Batteries provides protection from energy outages and bad weather. Electric expenses is a matter of yesteryear, which is wholesome for the surroundings. To the stage, solar strength is really a longterm option where the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
Yet another reason to choose solar energy is for that autonomy it supplies. There isn’t any must be anxious about energy lines dropping down, transformers coming up, or blackouts. People that create the switch will even lessen the sides’ reliance on nonrenewable petroleum.The past edge is for earth. Solar powered energy does not contaminate or produce greenhouse gases, therefore it does not lead to global-warming. It is tidy, effective, quiet, and replaceable. What more might Our Mother Earth request?The largest disadvantage to solar power systems may be the upfront price and setup. According to energy wants, costs may shoot up extremely fast. Homes consume ranging from 800 to 1500 kilowatts monthly. The original expense in price is really well in the several hundreds in lbs, pounds or bucks and unless folks are sent to their own home they might never realize the cost be outweighed by free electricity. Yet another problem may be the big impact panels must produce enough electricity to energy a home. This produces a difficulty for those who survive little regions of property.
Our Mother Earth can build a drawback within the effectiveness of solar power. Night time, snowfall, rain, and clouds are factors that will impede power era. This is often assisted with a battery to store power for potential use. Nevertheless, constant poor weather may cause stored power to come to an end. Buying a battery and inverter may possibly increase the price of the whole program by a large number of lbs too.Choosing solar power is quite challenging. It may be pricey, but monetary incentives will lower the large cost. Batteries provides protection from energy outages and bad weather. Electric expenses is a matter of yesteryear, which is wholesome for the surroundings. To the stage, solar strength is really a longterm option where the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Overtaxing energy industry could slow economy
The energy industry is adding to the U.S. economic recovery with the International Energy Agency predicting that we will be the largest producer of crude oil by 2020. The unemployment rate in North Dakota is 3.1 percent and 3.9 percent in South Dakota due to the expanding oil industry.Yet the Obama administration continues to call for selective tax increases on the oil industry that would hamper this economic engine. While there is good reason to simplify the tax code, the administration is instead targeting a particular industry.One example is the repeal of what is known as intangible drilling costs, such as site preparation, that can be up to 80 percent of the cost of a well. This deduction has been available since 1913 and its repeal would increase oil prices and discourage domestic exploration.A second example is the repeal for only oil and gas companies of a deduction that Congress enacted in 2004. The deduction is available for domestic production for manufacturing for a number of industries, including extractive ones. While one may question whether the Section 199 deduction is efficient tax policy, it surely is not efficient to eliminate it for one particular industry.A third example is the re-enactment of Super Fund taxes that would fall most heavily on the oil and gas industry although its products are not responsible for a significant portion of Superfund liability.There are several other components to the administration’s selective taxation of the oil and gas industry, leading to a total cost of more than $90 billion. It does not make sense to impose taxes on an industry that is helping a economy struggling to grow.More than four years into the recovery, the economy has grown at less than 2 percent in each of the last three quarters.Much of the problem is due to uncertainty in what the rules of the game are, thus discouraging domestic investment. The uncertainty of governmental actions is a significant reason that investment as a percentage of gross domestic product has fallen from 18.2 percent in the second quarter of 2002 to 15.7 percent in the last quarter.Oil and gas exploration has bucked this trend. Yet the administration continues to single out the industry for increased taxation, threatening to further dampen the economic recovery.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Building work starts on village wind farm
Work started on the new Langford wind farm on Thursday (August 8), seven months after the controversial facility was approved by the Planning Inspectorate.The Co-operative Group began work on the main turbines on land north of Edworth Road.Work is expected to last until late September.Since January – when the Planning Inspectorate controversially overturned Central Beds Council’s refusal of the Co-operative Group’s planning application – the company has been busy preparing the site for construction.It has also warned that there may be some traffic delays and obstruction in the weeks to come.Rob Ellis, sustainable energy manager at the Co-operative Group, said: “Construction of the main wind turbines has begun and will continue through until late September.“During this period residents may experience some minor traffic delays around junction 10 of the A1 where it meets Edworth Road, as the vehicles carrying the components will be travelling slower than normal construction traffic due to their size.“We are working with the council and the Highways Agency to ensure that this has a minimal impact on residents and road users.”Global Graphene Technology Market Forecast to Grow at 55.54% CAGR till 2023
He added: “Once up and running, the 10 turbines will generate approximately 20 megawatts of clean, green electricity – enough to power 11,400 homes.”While many villagers campaigned against the plans on grounds of noise and the visual impact of the wind farm, readers commenting on the Biggleswade Chronicle Facebook page were not all against the development.Liz Cox said: “Very pleased. I think we should all be mightily grateful to be getting a wind turbine when other communities are facing the prospect of having their local landscapes destroyed by fracking.”Andy Hopkins added: “Really pleased it’s finally going ahead. I actually think wind turbines look great on the landscape.“Would people prefer wind turbines or a coal, gas or nuclear power station on their doorstep? I know what I would prefer.”But Rachel Eastwood-Vauls said: “I’m assuming the people who are for the wind farm don’t live in Langford.“I’m not against green energy but I am against the proximity of the turbines to the village.”
He added: “Once up and running, the 10 turbines will generate approximately 20 megawatts of clean, green electricity – enough to power 11,400 homes.”While many villagers campaigned against the plans on grounds of noise and the visual impact of the wind farm, readers commenting on the Biggleswade Chronicle Facebook page were not all against the development.Liz Cox said: “Very pleased. I think we should all be mightily grateful to be getting a wind turbine when other communities are facing the prospect of having their local landscapes destroyed by fracking.”Andy Hopkins added: “Really pleased it’s finally going ahead. I actually think wind turbines look great on the landscape.“Would people prefer wind turbines or a coal, gas or nuclear power station on their doorstep? I know what I would prefer.”But Rachel Eastwood-Vauls said: “I’m assuming the people who are for the wind farm don’t live in Langford.“I’m not against green energy but I am against the proximity of the turbines to the village.”
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Global Graphene Technology Market Forecast to Grow at 55.54% CAGR till 2023
Graphene is an emerging conducting material with the potential to substitute traditional electrode materials such as Indium tin oxide (ITO) in electrical and optical devices. It has several beneficial characteristics including stumpy sheet resistance, high optical lucidity and exceptional mechanical and physical properties. Latest researches have concurred with increased interest in the application of graphene as an electrode material in transistors, integrated chips, solar cells, nano-intermediates, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), smart packaging and flexible devices. Graphene technology is a set to become a booming sector of the electronics market. It can be referred as any electronic device or product which uses graphene in their production process to produce graphene materials, graphene devices and products.
The global graphene technology market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 55.54% from 2013 to 2023. In terms of technology, CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process accounted for the largest market revenue in 2013, and is expected to grow with CAGR of 53.15% from 2013 to 2023. The industry is also witnessing a flourishing of other technology mapping such as graphite exfoliation, scotch tape method, synthesis on silicon carbide (SiC) and more.
This report based on an in-depth research study on the graphene electronics market and its related industries, focuses on the complete global market for all types of graphene technology products which are available commercially and which are yet to commercialize in the near future (before 2023). The report presents a detailed insight on the current graphene electronic industry, and identifies key trends of various segments of the market with in-depth quantitative and qualitative information. The report segments the global graphene electronics market on the basis of types of materials, products and devices, technologies, application, and geography. Further, it contains revenue forecasts, and trend analysis with respect to the market's time-line. The following provides an overview of of each segment of the report.
The graphene technology market is divided on the basis of materials, products and devices. The material market is divided into five major segments; Structural Materials, Electronic (Computing, Memory & Storage) Materials, Nanotechnology Materials, Electric & Conducting Materials and Photovoltaic Materials. The device market divided into eight major segments; Transistors (FETs & others), Capacitors, Sensors (NEMS & so on) ICs & Chips, Electrodes, Lenses, Spintronics and Pseudo Spintronics. The product market is divided into seven major segments; Computing &Consumer Electronic Products, Memory & Storage Products, Display & Touch Products, Wearable Technology Products, Electric & Photovoltaic Products (Solar/PV Cells, Conductive Films & so on), Nanotechnology Products and Other Products (Antennas, RFID, Imaging & so on).
The global graphene technology market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 55.54% from 2013 to 2023. In terms of technology, CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process accounted for the largest market revenue in 2013, and is expected to grow with CAGR of 53.15% from 2013 to 2023. The industry is also witnessing a flourishing of other technology mapping such as graphite exfoliation, scotch tape method, synthesis on silicon carbide (SiC) and more.
This report based on an in-depth research study on the graphene electronics market and its related industries, focuses on the complete global market for all types of graphene technology products which are available commercially and which are yet to commercialize in the near future (before 2023). The report presents a detailed insight on the current graphene electronic industry, and identifies key trends of various segments of the market with in-depth quantitative and qualitative information. The report segments the global graphene electronics market on the basis of types of materials, products and devices, technologies, application, and geography. Further, it contains revenue forecasts, and trend analysis with respect to the market's time-line. The following provides an overview of of each segment of the report.
The graphene technology market is divided on the basis of materials, products and devices. The material market is divided into five major segments; Structural Materials, Electronic (Computing, Memory & Storage) Materials, Nanotechnology Materials, Electric & Conducting Materials and Photovoltaic Materials. The device market divided into eight major segments; Transistors (FETs & others), Capacitors, Sensors (NEMS & so on) ICs & Chips, Electrodes, Lenses, Spintronics and Pseudo Spintronics. The product market is divided into seven major segments; Computing &Consumer Electronic Products, Memory & Storage Products, Display & Touch Products, Wearable Technology Products, Electric & Photovoltaic Products (Solar/PV Cells, Conductive Films & so on), Nanotechnology Products and Other Products (Antennas, RFID, Imaging & so on).
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