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Renewables & Efficiency (Page 44)

Renewables & Efficiency

SolarSummary: January 7 – 13, 2003

by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news BP Solar www.bpsolar.com Duke Solar Energy www.dukesolar.com Evergreen Solar www.evergreensolar.com Kyocera Solar www.kyocerasolar.com PowerLight Corp www.powerlight.com Solon AG www.solonag.de Spire Solar, Inc. www.spiresolar.com Uni-Solar www.uni-solar.com New Products Uni-Solar has announced an exclusive strategic alliance with Solar Integrated Technologies of Los Angeles, California to use Uni-Solar flexible solar electric laminates for integration with single-ply roofing membranes for Southern California. The partnership will produce the first (in North America) building-integrated photovoltaic roofing membrane system for commercial and industrial uses. (SolarAccess.com, 09/01/03) Applications Kyocera Solar has been chosen by the California Fair Industry to provide 2.4 MW of solar modules for electric power generation to fairgrounds throughout the state. The California Fair Industry estimates that the grid-tied solar systems will allow state fairs to take advantage of California’s net metering program and will reduce their energy costs by approximately 20 percent. (SolarAccess.com, 06/01/03) The largest solar electric rooftop system at any university in the world and the largest system in Southern California will be installed at Los Angeles Loyola Marymount University in early 2003 due to a partnership between the university, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the Southern California Gas Company, and […]

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Jan. 8, 2003

Provided by EREN Network News*News and Events GM to Launch Hybrid Versions of Seven Vehicle Models by 2007 Ford Unveils “Model U,” a Hydrogen-Fueled Hybrid Vehicle Ford Agrees to Sell Think Nordic to Kamkorp Microelectronics North America to Unify Energy Efficiency Standards in 2003 Fifty-Megawatt Solar Thermal Power Plant Planned for Nevada New Mexico Adopts Minimum Renewable Energy Requirements U.K. Company Reports Successful Tidal Energy Production *Site NewsSouthwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)*Energy Facts and Tips U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop 1.2 Percent in 2001———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-GM to Launch Hybrid Versions of Seven Vehicle Models by 2007General Motors Corporation (GM) announced on Monday that it will offer hybrid electric versions of at least seven vehicle models within the next five years and could sell as many as a million hybrid vehicles per year by 2007. GM will offer three types of hybrid electric configurations in up to a dozen vehicle models. As announced in 2001, GM is planning to introduce hybrid versions of its GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado by combining a 14-kilowatt motor with a V8 engine and using a 42-volt lead-acid battery pack for energy storage. A so-called “mild” hybrid system, the motor will provide supplemental power to the […]

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Dec. 18, 2002

Provided by EREN Network News*News and Events Tucson Electric Power Activates 2.4-Megawatt Solar Array NHTSA Proposes Increased Fuel Efficiency for Light Trucks Toyota Advances Fuel Efficiency While Cutting Energy Use Nissan Unveils Fuel Cell Vehicle; John Deere in Development New Biodiesel Facility Begins Operation in Iowa DOE Awards $4.4 Million for Energy-Saving Technologies Ocean Power Corporation Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy*Site NewsNew and Renewable Energy Centre*Energy Facts and TipsMulti-Colored LEDs Offer Energy Savings for the Holidays———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-Tucson Electric Power Activates 2.4-Megawatt Solar ArrayThe Western Hemisphere’s largest solar photovoltaic power system is now pumping out power near Springerville, Arizona. Tucson Electric Power (TEP) continues to follow through on its plans to expand the Springerville Generating Station Solar System, which now has a peak generating capacity of 2.4 megawatts. TEP plans to expand the system to 4 megawatts by 2004. Currently, the world’s largest photovoltaic system is a 3.3-megawatt installation in Serre, Italy, although larger systems are now being planned throughout the world. See the December 10th press release from TEP: [sorry this link is no longer available]The TEP installation is rivaling another solar power system being built in Arizona by APS. As reported in the November 6th edition of the EREN […]

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Dec. 11, 2002

Provided by EREN Network News*News and Events GE Wind Energy Tests Prototype of 3.6-Megawatt Wind Turbine Large Wind Power Projects Slated for California, Minnesota DOE Grant Supports Development of New Products from Corn DOE Project to Create New Life Form for Hydrogen Production Two Solar Cell Companies Cut Costs by Making More from Less Two Groups to Install Superconducting Utility Cables in 2005*Site NewsBetterBricks*Energy Facts and TipsIEA Documents Renewable Energy History, Looks Ahead to 2030———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-GE Wind Energy Tests Prototype of 3.6-Megawatt Wind TurbineGE Wind Energy, the largest wind turbine company in the United States, announced yesterday that it is now testing a prototype 3.6-megawatt wind turbine, which will be the world’s largest commercial wind turbine. The wind machine was installed in Spain in May, connected to the electrical grid in September, and reached its nominal power output in October. Designed specifically for offshore wind installations, the wind turbine has a hub height of 75 meters (246 feet) and a rotor diameter of 104 meters (341 feet). The prototype, however, was installed on a farm, so it is mounted at a hub height of 100 meters (328 feet) to account for the higher wind turbulence over land. The massive […]

SolarSummary: December 3 – 9, 2002

by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news ARISE Technologies Corp AstroPower Duke Solar BP Solar (Eco Solar) Evergreen Solar Matsushita Electric Works Nanosys Incorporated New Horizon Energy Sharp Corporation Emerging Technologies Nanosys Incorporated and Matsushita Electric Works have entered into a collaborative agreement for the development of nanotechnology based solar cells for the Asian building materials market. The collaboration will combine the proprietary inorganic nanocrystal and nanocomposite technologies from Nanosys with Matsushita’s high volume, low cost manufacturing technologies to develop solar cells with dramatic cost and performance benefits. Matsushita Electric Works intends to incorporate these devices into building materials for residential and commercial facilities in Asia. (Solarbuzz.com, 05/12/02)New Products Evergreen Solar, Inc. has announced that it has developed the latest advancement in its proprietary String Ribbon technology for manufacturing solar cells that involves simultaneously growing two silicon ribbons, rather than one, from each crystal growth furnace. The Company expects this development to more than double the output of its crystal growth furnaces. The Company expects to introduce double ribbon into production in late 2003 with new furnaces as well as retrofitting existing furnaces. Evergreen Solar has filed a patent for the process. (Evergreen Solar, 04/12/02) Sharp Corporation has announced the […]

Sustainable Businesses Honored by Scientific American

This November, Scientific American magazine launched a new award to honor “visionaries from the worlds of research, industry and politics whose recent accomplishments point toward a brighter technological future for everyone.” Energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies were among the wide variety of inventors honored with the “Scientific American 50” award. The Business Leader of the Year Award went to Geoffrey Ballard, founder of Ballard Power Systems, Inc., chairman of General Hydrogen for his pioneering work on hydrogen fuel cells. Some of the other winners are: * Randy Howard, Cargill Dow LLC, a bioproduct company making plastics from corn starch; * Ken Deering, The Wind Turbine Company, for designing a more efficient wind turbine; * Manfred Stefener, Smart Fuel Cell AG, of miniature fuel cell developer; * Eddie O’Connor, Airtricity, for bringing offshore wind to Ireland; * Spectrolab, Inc. and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for breakthroughs in solar cells;* Hiroyuki Yoshino, Honda Motor Company, for spearheading the company’s progressive position on fuel efficiency and low emissions; * Fran Pavley, California State Assembly, for legislating carbon-dioxide emissions standards for California vehicles; * Cambridge Display Technology, for developing flexible solar panelsThe full list of winners is on the Scientific American […]

This holiday season, the world's major religions are becoming more aware and devoted to environmental activism.

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Dec. 4, 2002

Provided by EREN Network News*News and Events Honda and Toyota Deliver Fuel Cell Cars to California Coleman Powermate Launches Fuel-Cell-Powered Generator Nevada Utility Signs Contracts for Wind, Geothermal Power Report Shows Large Benefits from Energy Star Program Projects to Produce Energy from Waste are Gaining Momentum Religious Groups Seek to Make Driving a Moral Issue*Site NewsFuelcell Propulsion Institute*Energy Facts and TipsRenewable Energy Gains Ground as EIA Looks Ahead to 2025———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-Honda and Toyota Deliver Fuel Cell Cars to CaliforniaHonda Motor Company, Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. both delivered their first fuel-cell-powered cars to customers in California on Monday. The City of Los Angeles took delivery of a Honda FCX, a hydrogen-fueled vehicle that seats four, has a range of up to 170 miles, and performs much like a standard Honda Civic. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will provide the hydrogen fuel and fueling infrastructure for the city. Los Angeles is leasing the vehicle for $500 per month and plans to lease four more in 2003. Honda plans to lease about 30 vehicles in California and Japan in the next two years, but has no current plans for mass-market sales of fuel cell vehicles. See the December 2nd […]

SolarSummary: November 19-25, 2002

by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news BP Solar: www.bpsolar.com Carmanah Technologies: www.carmanah.com Gamesa Solar: www.gamesa.es Heliotronics: www.heliotronics.com Solagen:www.solagen.com Spire Solar Chicago: www.spiresolarchicago.net Sunteg Energy AG: www.sunteg.com ThyssenKrupp Stahl: www.thyssen-krupp-stahl.com Yunnan Semiconductor: www.ynsolar.com.cnEmerging Technologies Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has reported a discovery that it claims could dramatically improve the efficiency of electricity generating solar panels. The research lab, based in California, has been working with crystal-growing teams at Cornell University and Japan’s Ritsumeikan University. Together they claim their research has led to a single system of alloys incorporating indium, gallium and nitrogen that can convert virtually the full spectrum of sunlight from the near infrared to the far ultraviolet to electrical current. If this is the case, then solar cells made with this alloy will be strong, relatively inexpensive and the most efficient ever produced. (Solarbuzz.com, 18/11/02)New Products Heliotronics, a designer and developer of educational electronics and software for the PV industry, has introduced a new 600V current/voltage transducer. The new transducer addresses the industry trend toward higher voltage PV systems. (SolarAccess.com, 21/11/02) Applications The English city of Bristol is installing approximately 150 solar powered LED school crossing flashers worth $125,000. The Dual Flash IQ units were purchased from Carmanah […]

SolarSummary: November 12-18, 2002

by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news ARISE Technologies: www.arisetech.com AstroPower: www.astropower.com BP Solar: www.bpsolar.com Energy Conversion Devices: www.ovonic.com Heliotronics: www.heliotronics.com NREL: www.nrel.gov PowerLight Corp: www.powerlight.com Schott Applied Power Corp: www.schottappliedpower.com Sharp Electronics Corp: www.sharp-usa.com SOLARA AG: www.solara.de Solar Works Inc.: www.solar-works.com Spire Corp www.spirecorp.com SMA Americas New Products AstroPower has announced that it has introduced a new line of residential solar electric power systems featuring solar power arrays that fully integrate into a home’s roof. Benefits of the new systems include faster installation time, reduced installation cost, and enhanced aesthetics when compared with traditional rooftop-mounted solar power systems. AstroPower’s new products will be offered initially to homebuilders as part of the company’s SunChoice(TM) program. (AstroPower via Solarbuzz, 12/11/02) Schott Applied Power Corporation has introduced a new addition to the SunRoof product line, the SunRoof FS. The SunRoof FS is a freestanding solar electric system for flat-roof commercial scale buildings that requires no roof penetrations and no ballast. The lightweight mounting structure has a stainless steel base and is made of rugged materials designed for long life and severe weather conditions, including winds up to 100 mph. (Solarbuzz, 14/11/0) Applications Three companies are testing technology to supply London network operator […]

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