AIPUR CHENNAI, INDIA—(eSolarEnergyNews)—  SunEdison, a leading global solar technology manufacturer and provider of solar energy services, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Rajasthan Government aimed at developing Rajasthan as the global hub for solar energy.  SunEdison intends to establish 5 GWs of capacity in the form of multiple Mega Solar Projects, with the expected capacity of each Mega Solar project 500 megawatts (MW) or more. The MOU comes at an opportune time following the new Solar Policy announced by the Government of Rajasthan, which aspires to create 25 GW of solar capacity in the state in the next few years. The MOU was signed by the honorable Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje Scindia.

«Under the dynamic leadership and vision of the honorable Chief Minister, Smt. Vasundhara Raje Scindia, this MOU paves the way for socially and environmentally responsible economic growth and prosperity in the State of Rajasthan,» said Pashupathy Gopalan, president, Asia Pacific Operations. «SunEdison is honored to be able to contribute its world leading technology and deployment capabilities to support the emergence of India as a global solar energy leader under the vision and leadership of the honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the honorable Energy Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal.»

Mr. Gopalan reiterated SunEdison’s commitment to India by saying: «SunEdison is committed to the long term development of India’s solar program and supports its quest for energy security. In support of this initiative we are building local and global partnerships to ensure India is at the cutting edge of solar technology and can provide its citizens with clean, reliable, affordable energy solutions.»

SunEdison intends to create state-of-the-art solar facilities to generate and supply solar energy to various organizations inside and outside the State of Rajasthan. Those who will receive renewable energy from the solar projects include nodal entities of the Central Government of the Union of India viz. Solar Energy Corporation of India, NTPC Vidyut Vyaparan Nigam Limited and Power Trading Corporation. SunEdison or SunEdison affiliates, including Yieldcos, are envisioned as the ultimate owner(s) of the solar projects.

The Government of Rajasthan will facilitate the identification of government land suitable for the development of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects as well as allot land on a long-term lease in accordance with the applicable policies of the state government. Additionally, the Government of Rajasthan will create and provide the necessary electricity interconnection infrastructure. In order to complete these requirements, the government has tasked the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation with expediting and facilitating the allotment of land and all other requisite permits and approvals for establishment of the solar PV projects.

As a thought leader in the solar industry, SunEdison will also assist in the development of strategies and policies to facilitate the large scale replacement of existing electric and diesel water pumps with solar powered water pumps via innovative financing and business models. In doing so, farmers will be able to increase their incomes by harvesting crops using the sun’s energy instead of falling victim to ground water depletion and electricity subsidy issues.

SunEdison already has a strong presence in Rajasthan, with over 50 MW’s of large solar generation capacity and more than 1000 solar water pump installations.

WAYNE, PA —(eSolarEnergyNews)—Dynamic Energy Solutions, LLC was recently awarded funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to develop four new clean energy projects in New York State.

The Dynamic Energy solar projects include the following:

•     Environment One Corporation
•     Hamilton Fulton Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services
•     Lansing Central School District
•     Hobart William Smith Colleges 

The awards were part of a $94 million investment in solar through NYSERDA’s NY-Sun program. NY-Sun is a $1 billion initiative of Governor Andrew Cuomo to provide financial support for the development of photovoltaic projects at customer sites that stabilize long-term electricity costs and generate no greenhouse gas emissions.

During his announcement of the awards on September 26, Governor Cuomo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to solar. “Today we are making another long-term investment in our clean energy economy—with nearly $100 million in funding that will dramatically increase our capacity to generate and utilize solar energy across the state,” he said. “New York is quickly becoming a national leader in renewable energy by building a competitive solar industry, and today’s award recipients are an example of how that progress continues to grow.

Dynamic is pleased to help New York businesses and schools lower their energy costs and power their facilities with clean, renewable energy.

About Dynamic Energy
Dynamic Energy is a turnkey energy solutions provider that develops, finances, engineers, constructs and operates projects for corporate, industrial and institutional customers. Dynamic builds energy projects that reduce customer expenses, improve operating efficiency, provide an attractive return on investment and achieve sustainability goals. For more information please visit http://www.dynamicenergyusa.com or call 1-877-809-8884.

DEPTFORD, N.J, —(eSolarEnergyNews)— New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin and New Jersey State Senator Donald Norcross helped Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSEG) mark the start of construction on its largest solar project to date, an 11.18-megawatt-dc (MW-dc) solar farm atop the closed Kinsley Landfill. The Kinsley Solar Farm is the utility’s third project to transform New Jersey’s landfill space into clean, energy-producing solar farms, through its Solar 4 All™ program.

«Two clear goals of New Jersey’s energy policy are to support solar development in the state and maintain our scarce open space,» said Ralph LaRossa, PSEG president and chief operating officer.  «Projects like this one at the Kinsley Landfill allow PSEG to help New Jersey realize both goals.  We are building enough grid-connected solar generation to power thousands of homes while reclaiming landfill space that has limited development opportunities.»

The solar farm will convert 35 acres of the 140-acre landfill site into a solar generation powerhouse. Through the installation of 36,841 solar panels, Kinsley will provide enough grid-connected electricity to power about 2,000 average-size homes annually. Kinsley’s Landfill, Inc. owns the Kinsley Landfill, which closed in 1987.

«Building solar farms on New Jersey landfills is a great way to invest in our state,» said Senate President Sweeney. «It’s good for the environment, for public health and the economy. These projects will create jobs in clean energy, which is a growing sector, and reduce carbon emissions, which protects the environment and the public’s health. Solar farms are part of our future.»

«The Christie Administration is committed to promoting and expanding the state’s solar industry, which is a critical element of our long-term energy strategy,» said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin.  «New Jersey already is a national leader in solar energy, ranking near the top in residential and commercial solar projects, and this latest effort by PSEG is the latest example of New Jersey’s leadership as one of the largest and fastest growing solar energy markets in the United States.»

«I’m happy to see projects like the Kinsley Solar Farm taking place in Gloucester County,» said Senator Norcross.  «This project will provide renewable energy to thousands of homes and businesses while also generating economic development and creating jobs in the area that I serve.  Projects like this are important for Camden and Gloucester Counties because they provide a benefit right now and continue to pay dividends well into the future.»

In the spring of 2015, when the Kinsley Solar Farm is in service, PSEG will have returned more than 110 acres of landfill and brownfield space across the state to good use by installing more than 106,000 solar panels, capable of generating more than 31 MW-dc of solar power, which is enough to power about 5,000 homes annually.

Since 2009, PSEG has invested more than $480 million in its Solar 4 All program, creating more than 1,600 jobs. PSEG estimates that there will be approximately 100 people working on the Kinsley project, including electricians, engineers, heavy equipment operators, ironworkers, laborers and truck drivers.

Conti Enterprises Inc. of Edison, NJ, one of the state’s largest solar developers, was selected as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Kinsley Landfill Solar Farm project.

Solar 4 All is a 125 MW-dc program that utilizes rooftops, parking lots, solar farms, utility poles and landfills/brownfields for large-scale, grid-connected solar projects. There are currently 80MW-dc in service all of which was developed during the program’s first phase.   In addition to the Kinsley project, the Parklands Solar Farm is also under construction as part of the Solar 4 All program’s second phase, which the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved in May 2013.  It focuses on developing 42MW-dc of grid-connected solar capacity on landfills and brownfields during the next several years.

The Northern Mariana Islands are one of several island U.S. territories, lying three-quarters of the way from Hawai’i to the Philippines. Like most islands, their electricity supply has been almost entirely supplied by diesel-fueled generators, at enormous cost.

So why have islanders in the Marianas — such as the residents of Saipan — been struggling to install solar and other renewable power?

The utility, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, has raised the same objections of mainland utilities, that technical barriers inhibit the reasonable uptake of variable renewable energy. But the cooperative utility serving Kaua’i island in Hawai’i is forecasting that 50% of its daytime electric demand will be met with solar by the end of next year. And California utilities are finding solutions to many of the purported technical barriers.

The economics are ironclad: switching from imported diesel to domestic clean energy would save a bundle.  The following presentation explains.

The primary benefit of a switch to solar is cost. Upwards of $60 million per year is spent on diesel fuel for power generation, $1,100 per person on the islands. This expensive diesel-powered grid delivers electricity at a minimum cost of 26¢ per kilowatt-hour. Solar electricity would cut that cost by 25 percent, at a minimum. Savings from switching to solar would top $1500 per year for residential customers, and $350 per year for the utility!

Other analysis of a switch to solar (KEMA) suggests that the savings from getting 20 percent of peak energy from solar would be $3.3 million for the utility. At ~70 percent of peak energy from solar, savings are greater than $11 million per year.

For more on the Saipan island electricity system, see these resources:

• Renewable Energy Integration Study (KEMA, 2013)
• Northern Mariana Islands Quick Facts (EIA, 2014)
• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Initial Technical Assessment Report
• Energy Storage: The Next Charge for Distributed Energy (ILSR, 2014)

Photo credit: Shell Vacations Hospitality

This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter or get the Democratic Energy weekly update.

“The market in the U.S. is growing, and it will continue to do so because system costs are coming down,” Solarworld Chief Executive Officer Frank Asbeck said today in a phone interview.

REC, Solarworld and other producers of solar products have suffered from shrinking markets in Europe, where governments have cut subsidies to contain runaway electricity costs. They’re turning to the U.S., where installations will almost double by 2016 to 9.6 gigawatts, up from about 5.1 gigawatts this year, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Solarworld earlier today said its shipments of modules and related kit jumped 50 percent to 270 megawatts in the third quarter. The U.S. was the company’s single-biggest market. Its shares jumped as much as 10.5 percent in Frankfurt to 13.60 euros a share, the highest since Sept. 23.

REC Solar is being helped because its production cost is mostly paid in U.S. dollars, Luc Grare, senior vice president, said today in a phone interview.

“The dollar is a favorable currency for us,” especially if the euro continues its decline, he said. REC Solar is growing production capacity to as much as 1,300 megawatts by the end of next year, from about 950 megawatts this year, he said.

Solarworld has 500 megawatts of module production capacity in the U.S. and plans to expand that, Asbeck said, declining to give more details. The company sees a good fourth quarter and has a “decent” level of orders stretching into 2015, he said.

Copyright 2014 Bloomberg

Lead image: Solar panels via Shutterstock

In March 2011 CPS Energy, the San Antonio utility, announced that the utility and NRG Energy, the majority partner in a nuclear plant expansion, had mutually agreed to suspend talks on two proposed reactors scheduled to begin construction in 2012. CPS currently generates about 28 percent of its electricity from coal, 14 percent from nuclear, 42 percent from natural gas, 13.5 percent comes from wind; solar and landfill-generated methane gas account for the remaining 3 percent (approximate figures from CPS website).

In 2009 CPS installed a 200-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic system, small by today’s standards, but that solar electric system could supply 40 homes with electricity. Then CPS produced a request for proposals that included manufacturing solar and installing it in their territory. That was the beginning of what was dubbed the «New Energy Economy,» which launched in June of 2011.

An unlikely group teamed up and won the opportunity to install solar electric systems in San Antonio. The team includes a solar panel manufacturer Mission Solar Energy, which is a subsidiary of a project developer from Korea named OCI Solar Power, and German inverter manufacturer Kaco — all of which have been steadily increasing the amount of solar electricity being manufactured and installed in the San Antonio area. This program has resulted in the installation of over one hundred megawatts (MW) of solar electric plants on its path to 400 MW by 2016, enough electricity for 70,000 homes. SunEdison is another fully integrated solar company working on system installations in San Antonio as well as Silver Springs Networks. 

San Antonio has also kickstarted work on a grid integration research facility, which will make intermittent electricity from technologies like wind and solar more available and reliable. A small amount of electricity storage attached to the solar system can smooth out the intermittency.   

CPS’ solar work under the New Energy Economy program created more than 378 new, full-time jobs, $21.5 million in payroll, $105 million in construction and $1.2 million in education contributions. When you add it all up, San Antonio’s New Energy Economy has resulted in more than $622 million in investments in San Antonio through April 2014, said Steve Nivin, assistant professor of economics at St. Mary’s University and director and chief economist of the SABÉR Institute. An update to Nivin’s report is due out shortly. This CPS solar program is designed to encourage manufacturing in town, create 800 permanent jobs and result in an annual economic impact of $700 million to Greater San Antonio.

The structure of CPS as a municipal entity means that its job is to satisfy the people in the community, not to satisfy the shareholders like an investor-owned utility. The municipal structure enables open discussions on major electrical generation decisions. Other municipal electric utilities have successful solar programs like Sacramento, Austin, San Jose, Palo Alto and Colorado Springs. However these towns haven’t brought the manufacturing jobs as San Antonio has.

Discussions continue around what choices CPS will make for their long-term electrical needs that may include nuclear. This solar experience is showing that there is a place for solar, which creates jobs for community minded electrical utilities.

Lead image: Texas map via Shutterstock

SANTA MONICA, CA —(eSolarEnergyNews)—  SolarReserve, a leading global developer of large-scale solar power projects and advanced solar thermal technology, today announced its acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) business. The acquisition includes intellectual property (IP) rights and patents related to molten salt technology for concentrating solar-thermal power and electricity storage applications, as well as heliostat designs and collector field control systems. The key personnel at Aerojet Rocketdyne with critical knowledge of this technology are joining SolarReserve along with the technology acquisition. This includes Chief Engineer, George O’Connor, a 35-year veteran at Aerojet Rocketdyne who brings extensive technical leadership experience on the solar programs while at Aerojet Rocketdyne in addition to his expertise on rocket propulsion and advanced power systems.

«The technology acquisition further demonstrates SolarReserve’s industry leadership in solar thermal energy storage, and our ongoing commitment to technology innovation and operational excellence through investments in advanced technology research and development,» said SolarReserve’s CEO Kevin Smith. «With this acquisition and continued advancement on the technology, SolarReserve is well positioned to capture a significant portion of the projected $75 billion CSP market expected to develop through 2025.»

«We are excited to have the industry’s top solar thermal technology experts join SolarReserve from Aerojet Rocketdyne,» Smith added. «The integrated SolarReserve technology organization will further innovate, improve performance and reduce deployment costs of this leading edge technology.»

SolarReserve has commercialized the world’s leading solar thermal energy storage technology with the capability to deliver clean, reliable electricity «on demand» at any time, day and night, whether or not the sun is shining.  This game changing technology enables the company’s solar thermal (CSP) power plants to operate 24/7, providing a stable and predictable electricity product similar to that of conventional fossil fuel-burning power facilities, but without the associated harmful emissions and without any fuel costs.

45 °Celsius and no electricity: a situation typical in many parts of India during the languorous dry season. In places boasting electricity, air conditioning units run at full power to battle the heat, heaping more strain on the grid and triggering early power cuts. Such a situation occurred in June, when a heat wave drove up energy demand in the northern federal state of Uttar Pradesh. The resulting blackout stopped fans, refrigerators and water pumps and left over 70 million people without electricity. In 2012 the media spoke of one of the greatest power outages of all time, when 12 out of India’s 35 states, as well as New Delhi, lost electricity. More than 600 million Indians sat there without energy – and so for several days. Subway systems, traffic lights and trains stopped working, and hospitals had to rely on their emergency generators to keep the lights so and their patients cared for.

720 million people of India´s over 1.23 billion inhabitants endure frequent power failures, sometimes for several hours a day; and 480 million live without any grid connection at all. The problem of insufficient power and a reliance on an old, overburdened, low-capacity grid are well known; and energy industry representatives have regularly called for greater investment in adequate power provision. Despite inadequate power generation capability, regular conflicts between power accessibility and environmental pollution haunt the country. For instance, New Delhi´s intense energy use has led to high levels of smog, often reaching 400 micrograms of particulate matter per 1,000 liters of air, exceeding even the measured data in Beijing, China, and causing widespread respiratory diseases and ill-health.

To improve human and economical conditions, and to develop the economy further, access to reliable, clean, and affordable energy is paramount. Solar off-grid and hybrid solutions offer eco-friendly and cost-effective power whenever and wherever it is needed. Customized system design, good component quality, and professional service during and after installation are important for a successful system operation. The following examples provide an overview of possible markets and system designs and the advantages that off-grid systems offer.

From PV hybrid solutions for homes …

The Pjamijara family lives in a wealthy suburb of Pondicherry in South India. They regularly had to put up with two hours of power shortage almost on a daily basis. During the dry season or when the grid was undergoing maintenance work, they even had to go without energy for entire days. Blackouts were also a usual occurrence during the lengthy rainy season, when the rain would knock down trees and power lines. In many cases, the resulting damage to the grid left them without electricity for days.  

The Pjanmijaras grew fatigued with this situation and decided to protect themselves against future power failures. The family had already installed a backup system consisting of a 48-volt battery bank and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that delivered energy for different loads. This solution did not provide enough power to handle every outage, however, so in order to have reliable electricity at all times, they installed an off-grid solar system.

To meet the family´s needs, the system integrator expanded their existing battery and UPS system with an additional off-grid solar system consisting of 500-Wp solar panels and a reliable charge controller. It controls the current from the solar panels to the battery bank and makes sure the batteries are not overcharged. The charge controller plays an important role as it prolongs the lifespan of the costly batteries and reduces maintenance costs. Since the batteries use a higher system voltage (48 volts), with the higher voltage CX48 charge controller from Phocos, the system current is lower due to less energy loss. Smaller wire gauges can be used, resulting in lower system investment costs. Battery charge status is continuously displayed via a circular bar graph, which can also display the input and output current of the battery (e.g. overloading or load short-circuiting). An audible alarm and a programmable nightlight feature are standard on all CX controllers.

When the grid stops providing power or when the family just wants to save on energy costs, the off-grid solar system switches on. This can save a lot of money, even when energy costs are relatively low. The PV hybrid system also offers the family more comfort and safety, providing power for ten lights, a TV, a PC, a fan, and a water pump. Mrs. Pjanmijaras, who lives in the house, said: “My husband is often on business trips. During this time, I stay alone with my two children in the huge house. Thanks to the installed off-grid system, I feel safer and more comfortable knowing that we have reliable energy all day.”

… to a solar-powered juice stall

In Pondicherry, South India, stall operator Mr. Ramadass has created a new business selling juice drinks chilled from a solar powered stall. Every day the stall attracts hundreds of customers at the sea front in Pondicherry. Depending on the time of day, Mr. Ramadass transports his cart and refrigerator/freezer along the promenade in search of the juiciest business, and all the power he needs for this venture comes from the solar panels fitted to the top of his cart. The panels also serve as a roof for the cart and can generate around 1,000 watts of solar power. An implemented charge controller regulates the energy flow and prolongs the battery lifetime. A SL-LED-lamp (3 W) and a cooling device work on 12 and 24 volts DC basis, whereas an inverter transforms the DC-energy to 230 V, allowing the operation of an AC-mixer.

The new Phocos FR240 refrigerator/freezer offers 240 liters of capacity. “The reliability of the solar system means I am able to prolong my opening hours from 6 until 10 p.m.,” Mr. Ramadass says. The FR240 is also very flexible, as it can be used both, as fridge or as freezer in the temperature range from minus 18 °C to plus 6 °C. That means ice cream could be added to Mr. Ramadass product portfolio as well. The fridge features a low voltage disconnect, protecting the battery and prolonging its lifespan. A maintenance-free brushless DC compressor also helps extend lifetime. The cooling refrigerant (R-134a) is eco-friendly and the 12-cm polyurethane layer for thermal insulation makes the FR240 very energy-efficient. Its patented low-frost system reduces the formation of condensation and ice. A drainage opening at the base simplifies the interior cleaning.

Phocos India managing director Shanmuganandam Veerasamy said: “The aim of building the stall was to create awareness of solar powered products among the public. Solar off-grid products are getting a high response from people in North India, and awareness is growing in South India. The demand for energy and off-grid systems is rising day by day.”

That is no surprise. The World Bank´s latest population development statistics show that India´s population has surged from 730 million in the early 1980s to more than 1.23 billion people today, and is growing at an even faster rate. Compared to China, India has just 120,000 million fewer inhabitants but almost three times the population density. If this trend continues, India will soon be the world´s most populous country, placing even more strain on the energy infrastructure and increasing the need for more off-grid solar solutions as well.

Susanne Kircher
International Marketing Director
Phocos AG