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Category Archives: solar energy
New solar-powered invention can make sea water drinkable
The world is rapidly reaching global water crisis mode with nearly one billion people lacking access to clean potable water. But a new solar-powered invention by award-winning British company Desolenator can turn seawater into drinking water – and may turn this dire situation around in a hurry.
Desolenator’s machine uses patented technology that can transform salt water and other un-potable water sources into pure, distilled water fit for human consumption. Capable of producing 15 liters of water per day, using no power supply other than the sun and with no moving parts or filters – this invention is hard to break and easy to maintain. To make things even better, after the initial purchase the machine needs no extra input of money or consumables – and can provide clean water for a household for a period of up to 20 years.
Related: New Research Shows the Earth’s Water is Older Than The Sun
“Climate change and population growth are setting the stage for a global water crisis,” says Desolenator CEO, William Janssen in a press release. “A massive 97 percent of the world’s water is salt water and our plan to tap into this valuable and available resource to disrupt the global water crisis in an unprecedented way. The process is called desalination and today whilst 0.7 percent of the world’s water comes from desalination, existing technology is expensive, inefficient and disproportionally drains 0.5% of the world’s global energy supply. Desolenator is different from existing desalination and home water technologies. It harnesses solar power in an elegant way, maximizing the amount of solar radiation that hits the technologies surface area through a combination of thermal, electrical and heat exchange . . .”
While Desolenator is still in development, with a fully working prototype available and an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in process to back it up, the invention has already taken second place in the recent Climate-KIC Accelerator program that also won the company a development grant. Desolenator is a quarter of the way towards its $150,000 Indiegogo funding goal, and is hoping you’ll donate to help bring clean water to the world.
+ Desolenator
Images via Joost Nelissen and Joy Holland, Flickr Creative Commons
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Giant tulip-shaped solar plant to bring reliable energy to Ethiopia
Development in rural African communities is often limited by lack of access to reliable power – hospitals, schools and businesses all require a steady source of electricity in order to function. The government of Ethiopia just announced plans to address this need using the AORA Solar-Hybrid system. The AORA system is ingenious because it is modular and uses less water than other systems, but perhaps best of all, the concentrated solar tower looks like a gorgeous energy-generating tulip high in the sky.
The unique AORA design takes up hardly any space – just .86 acres per module and can provide 100 kWh of solar and 170kWh of thermal, all with just 8% of the water typically required by CSP projects. The bulb design isn’t just cute – the shape allows the sun to heat the air inside to create electricity.
Related: AROA’s Second Solar Tulip Power Plant Springs Up in Spain
AORA will help train the local community in Ethiopia on running the Tulip as part of the country’s goal of becoming a middle income, green economy nation by 2025. The Tulip’s uninterrupted 24/7 energy will be an important part of this development. Not to mention the fact that it will look pretty amazing while providing all of that reliable energy.
+ AORA
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If Going Solar is Contagious, What Are You Doing to Get Everyone Infected?
Yet another study has shown how going solar is contagious. That is, when Yale University and UConn researchers analyzed residential solar installation data in Connecticut, they found that solar installations became clustered in the same geographical area, and that was true regardless of the neighborhood’s income level.
But why?
In the words of the researchers, “The effect of nearby [solar] systems diminishes with distance and time, suggesting a spatial neighbor effect conveyed through social interaction and visibility.”
The key words there are “through social interactions and visibility.” Essentially, the researchers are saying that neighbors are seeing a solar installation across the street or next door and they’re either directly asking their neighbors about their installation, or the mere sight of it is making neighbors curious and looking into going solar.
If that’s all accurate—and I’m sure it is—residential solar marketers have to do everything in their marketing power to enable their customers to show off their solar installations and to talk about it. If they do that, then the cluster will only continue to spread from neighborhood to neighborhood.
With that in mind, here are just a few visible and word-of-mouth solar tools that should help “infect” neighborhoods where you install.
- Plant lawn signs. Some HOAs prohibit these, but if they’re allowed, lawn signs can be a very effective marketing tool, especially when the panels aren’t visible from the curb. Make them attractive and ask your customer for permission to place them on the front lawn during the installation…or perhaps even a few days longer. Be sure to fit in your name, logo, website, and telephone number.
- Host solar parties. Solar installers have borrowed this tactic from Tupperware parties and Avon. The idea is to offer a catered party to celebrate going solar. You pay for the soft drinks and pizza or BBQ and attend the event. At a certain point, with the homeowner’s permission, you can do a brief presentation to educate guests about the solar installation and its costs. Most often, installers offer the solar homeowner a fee for every friend who ultimately goes solar. Clearly, your customers should love the job you did, or they will not be open to any parties, let alone referring you. In fact, the opposite may be true.
- Have a referral program. Even if you never host a solar party, offer a $200 to $500 Thank You Gift to customers who refer a neighbor or friend that also goes solar with your company. If you’ve done a great job, your customers should refer you without any monetary gift, but other customers may see the program as a way to further reduce their upfront solar costs or as a way to make extra income. Write up some referral materials to explain how the program works and let customers decide. You can also offer to donate the referral fee to the charity of their choice, such as a school program or a child’s sports league.
- Write SEO friendly blog posts that include your customer’s neighborhood. You might think that a blog post is far removed from a neighborhood, but don’t forget that neighbors may not actually talk to each other about those new solar panels. Instead, they’ll search for “Your Town solar installers” on the web. If you’ve written a few blog posts that include those key words “Your Town” and “solar installers,” Google will reward you with first page search results, and you’ll be one of the first websites that your customer’s neighbors visit to find out about solar in “Your Town.”
- Have amazing customer service. You want to inspire word-of-mouth in the neighborhood about going solar, right? Then do something inspirational worth talking about. Perhaps it’s bringing treats to pets, or perhaps it’s doing free lawn care after the installation is done. Maybe it’s scheduling a series of onsite inspections during the first year for quality assurance. Whatever it is, be generous and be genuine to your company values and mission. Your customers will be impressed and tell their friends about how you sincerely cared about them and their home.
- Use door hangers and/or direct mail. You’re in the neighborhood already, so perhaps hire people to spread some door hangers around the neighborhood. Better yet, be less intrusive. Instead, buy a direct mail list for the neighborhood and include messaging that says that a neighbor (keep it anonymous) has recently gone solar and that solar is now affordable for people in Your Section of Town.
These are just a few ideas to getting neighborhoods infected with the solar bug. However you inspire the conversation, please be ethical, be creative, and always… UnThink Solar.
Tor Valenza a.k.a. “Solar Fred” is the founder and CMO of UnThink Solar, and the author of Solar Fred’s Guide to Solar Guerrilla Marketing. For more solar marketing info, sign up for the UnThink Solar newsletter or follow @SolarFred on Twitter.
Top 10 PV Module Suppliers for 2014: Same Group, Different Order
New Hampshire —
The 2014 rankings for solar module suppliers have been released from the newly combined Solarbuzz and IHS Technology solar research team. The team predicts that the global top 10 PV module suppliers will stay the same, although some reshuffling will occur. The rankings are based on full year shipment estimates.
The group is forecasting Trina Solar to be the largest module supplier in 2014 in terms of global shipments. IHS said that Trina is expected to break industry records for both quarterly and annual PV module shipments in Q4’14. Yingli Green Energy, the holder of these previous records, is expected to be come in as the 2nd largest supplier having adopted a new strategy to prioritize profitability.
JA Solar is forecast to gain most ranking places amongst the top 10 and should come in as the fifth largest supplier in 2014, said IHS. JA Solar’s module shipments are expected to double from 2013 level, outpacing all of the other top 10 suppliers. IHS attribute this growth to JA’s successful transformation from a major cell manufacturer into a leading module supplier.
China, Japan, and the U.S. have been the largest three PV markets in 2014, and unsurprisingly were the key markets for all of the leading PV module suppliers. Japanese suppliers, Sharp Solar and Kyocera leveraged high brand awareness and acceptance in their domestic market to retain positions in the top 10 rankings in 2014.
The 2014 top 10 PV module suppliers are almost the same group of companies as one year ago. SunPower entered the top 10 in 2014 and was ranked joint 10th largest suppliers alongside Kyocera according to IHS estimates.
Many of the top 10 suppliers also accelerated the use of a large quantity of PV modules for internal solar projects in 2014, especially Trina Solar, Yingli, JinkoSolar, and JA Solar. Total unrecognized module shipments that will be used in internal projects will reach 1.4 GW in 2014 for these four companies combined, reflecting these companies efforts to shift towards PV project development, which was pioneered by Canadian Solar, First Solar, and SunPower, said IHS.
Lead image: Top 10 Via Shutterstock
Solar Uniquely Positioned to Help States Meet New Regulations
After more than five months of listening to both pros and cons, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finally closed the public comment period on its proposed plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants. Now it’s time for the EPA to make a good plan even better.
In detailed comments submitted this week to the agency, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) made a persuasive case that «solar contributes to a balanced portfolio of energy resources,” which can help states meet proposed new carbon regulations under the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, benefitting both the economy and environment.
Simply put, the steady decline in solar energy costs makes it a cost-effective solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, modernizing grid operations, increasing energy independence, addressing water supply challenges, while simultaneously lowering long-term electricity supply costs and providing significant economic benefits.
The EPA’s Clean Power Plan recognizes and bolsters the current opportunity to reduce carbon emissions by transitioning United States electric grid from a fossil fuel dominant fuel mix to a balanced energy portfolio that includes higher penetration of renewable energy resources. The plan will require affected electric generating units (EGUs) within each state to reduce their carbon emissions, thus presenting the opportunity for utilities and states to shift towards sources that generate energy with little or no carbon emissions such as solar energy.
As an organization, we are completely supportive of the EPA’s overall goal – which is to cut damaging carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent by 2030 – and believe the Clean Power Plan will significantly help to fight the devastating impacts of climate change. To its credit, the EPA has included solar as part of its definition of “best system of emission reduction” (BSER), but we also believe it’s important for the agency to include, among other things, distributed PV as part of its final rule. Today, distributed PV is one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the renewable energy market and needs be part of the BSER in order to maximize the future effectiveness of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
This year, the United States will install an estimated 7.4 gigawatts (GW) of solar – a 42 percent increase over 2013 – making it the best year ever for solar installations in America. What’s more, solar accounted for a record 53 percent of all new electric generation capacity installed in the first half of 2014, pushing solar to the front as the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in America.
Today, the solar industry employs 143,000 Americans and pumps nearly $20 billion a year into the U.S. economy. This remarkable growth is due, in large part, to smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). By any measurement, these policies are paying huge dividends for both the economy and environment, putting us in a unique position to be able to help states meet future obligations under the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
Lead image: Solar panels via Shutterstock
JinkoSolar to Supply 21.4 MW of Solar PV Modules for Project in Gujarat, India
SHANGHAI,CHINA —(eSolarEnergyNews)— JinkoSolar, a global leader in the PV industry, today announced that it has supplied 21.4MW of solar PV modules to Harsha Abakus Solar Pvt. Ltd. («Harsha Abakus»), a solar energy solutions provider and a subsidiary of Harsha Engineers Group, for a ground mounted solar PV project in Gujarat, India.
Located in Charanka, Gujarat, which is one of the highest solar irradiation zones in India, the project deploys seasonal tracking technology to improve plant performance. The project is expected to generate approximately 34.24 million kWh of electricity and remove 30,000 tons of CO2 annually. Once connected to the grid, the solar plant will be one of the first solar parks commissioned under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission Phase II Batch I with a fixed PPA rate. The project will be jointly owned by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited and Gujarat Power Corporation Limited.
«With over four decades of operations in Gujarat, Harsha Abakus has sound operational track record,» commented Mr. Xiande Li, Chairman of JinkoSolar. «JinkoSolar is selected as a partner due to our solid brand reputation and excellent product quality. We share a common commitment to developing clean energy with Harsha Abakus, and view this project and the local Indian Government’s support as a tremendous opportunity for us to grow our business in India and help diversify the country’s energy mix.»
Missouri’s Largest Investor-Owned Utility Scale Solar Energy Center Goes Into Service
ST. LOUIS, MO. —(eSolarEnergyNews)— For the first time in company history, solar energy is part of the energy mix being delivered to Ameren Missouri’s 1.2 million electric customers. Following more than a month of successful testing, the O’Fallon Renewable Energy Center, Ameren Missouri’s first solar center and the largest investor-owned utility scale solar facility in Missouri, is online.
The center features more than 19,000 solar panels covering more than 19 acres and generates nearly 6 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Ameren Missouri’s grid. Groundbreaking on the facility in O’Fallon took place this past April. It created almost 70 construction jobs. The facility is one of Ameren Missouri’s investments on behalf of customers for cleaner air and renewable energy.
«This is an exciting milestone for Ameren Missouri,» said Michael Moehn, President and CEO of Ameren Missouri. «The solar energy center is a clear example of Ameren Missouri’s commitment to power the quality of life for customers with cleaner energy from a diverse mix of sources.»
Ameren Missouri plans to significantly expand its renewable energy generation portfolio. The company’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) calls for construction of a second solar energy center in 2016 that would be the largest in the state of Missouri. Also under the IRP, Ameren Missouri will add renewable generation using wind power, hydroelectric and landfill gas. The IRP was filed earlier this year with the Missouri Public Service Commission.
Ameren Missouri has a strong history of renewable energy investments that extends back more than a century. The company’s first hydroelectric energy center, the Keokuk Energy Center, opened in 1913 and continues to supply customers with renewable energy to this day. In 2012, the company opened the Maryland Heights Renewable Energy Center, one of the largest facilities in the nation turning landfill gas into energy, or «methane to megawatts.» For more information about Ameren Missouri’s commitment to renewable energy, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/renewables.
Toshiba Develops World’s Highest Efficiency Artificial Photosynthesis Technology for Generation of Fuel and Feedstock from Carbon Dioxide
TOKYO, JAPAN—(eSolarEnergyNews)—Toshiba today announced the development of a new technology that uses solar energy, the power of the sun, to generate carbon compounds from carbon dioxide and water, and to deliver a viable chemical feedstock or fuel with potential for use in industry. Toshiba introduced the technology at the 2014 International Conference on Artificial Photosynthesis (ICARP2014) on 26 November, at the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center in Japan.
Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, widely understood to be a major cause of global warming1, continue to increase. There are also concerns about the exhaustion of fossil fuels, which are spurring interest in adoption of renewable energy sources2. Artificial photosynthesis technologies that use solar energy to generate carbon compounds from carbon dioxide and water are seen as promising means to resolve both issues.
Toshiba has developed an artificial photosynthesis technology that converts energy into carbon compounds from carbon dioxide at an efficiency of 1.5%, the highest level yet recorded3. Sunlight converts the carbon dioxide and water into carbon monoxide, a source for production of methanol, which can be used as a substitute for gasoline and as a feedstock in the manufacture of diverse products, including adhesives, medicines and PET bottles.
Other artificial photosynthesis technologies use materials that absorb UV light from sunlight to reach the high reaction energy required to convert carbon dioxide into a fuel. However, their low level of light utilization efficiency drags down the energy conversion efficiency, and practical application requires increased efficiency.
Toshiba’s technology uses a gold nanocatalyst via nanoscale structural control technology applied to a multijunction semiconductor that absorbs light in the visible range with high light utilization efficiency. The company’s research work centered on investigating manufacturing conditions for the nanometer-order gold nanocatalyst, in order to increase the number of active sites that convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, and the development of an efficient electrolyte.
The long-term goal of the research work is to develop a technology compatible with carbon dioxide capture systems installed at facilities such as thermal power stations and factories, utilizing carbon dioxide to provide stockable and trailerable energy. Towards this, Toshiba will further improve the conversion efficiency by increasing catalytic activity, with the aim of securing practical implementation in the 2020s.
IKEA to Increase Size of Michigan’s Largest Rooftop Solar Array by Approximately 25% Atop Detroit-Area Store in Canton, MI
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA.—(eSolarEnergyNews)—IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced plans to increase the solar array atop its Detroit-area store that opened eight years ago in Canton, MI. In September, IKEA began work on a 44,000-square-foot expansion to the store, atop which new panels will be installed beginning Spring 2015, with a completion by Summer.
The 40,000-square-foot solar addition will consist of a 240.9-kW system built with 765 panels, and will produce 287,490 kWh more of electricity annually for the store. Including the existing system, IKEA Canton’s total 1,218.5-kW solar installation of 4,925 panels will generate 1,426,490 kWh of clean electricity yearly, the equivalent of reducing 984 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 207 cars or powering 135 homes (calculating clean energy equivalents at www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html).
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to increase the amount of solar energy generated and used by this store,” said Matt Hunsicker, IKEA Canton store manager. “This is another example of the IKEA commitment to create a more sustainable life for communities where we operate.”
For the development, design and installation of this store’s enhanced solar power system, IKEA selected Inovateus Solar LLC, an industry-leading solar power distributor and integrator specializing in large-scale solar installations.
Expanding this array contributes to the IKEA solar presence of nearly 90% of its U.S. locations with a total generation goal of 40 MW. IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) – and globally has allocated $1.8 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2015, reinforcing its confidence and investment in solar photovoltaic technology. Consistent with the goal of being energy independent by 2020, IKEA has installed more than 700,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns approximately 157 wind turbines in Europe and Canada, with 104 more being built in the U.S. Other IKEA arrays have been expanded too.
IKEA, drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, aims to minimize impacts on the environment. Globally, IKEA evaluates locations regularly for conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. Specific U.S. efforts include: recycling waste material; incorporating energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas, and water-conserving restrooms. Operationally, IKEA eliminated plastic bags from the check-out process, phased-out the sale of incandescent bulbs, facilitates recycling of customers’ compact fluorescent bulbs, and by 2016 will sell only L.E.D. IKEA also has installed EV charging stations at 13 stores.
Located on approximately 30 acres along Ford Road off I-275 at Haggerty Road, the 311,000-square-foot IKEA Canton opened in June 2006. In addition to 10,000 exclusively designed items, the store presents 52 different room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a Children’s IKEA area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, play areas throughout the store, and preferred parking. Also, IKEA installed Michigan’s largest solar array atop the roof of the store in 2012.