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3:49 
Accessory Power SOLAR Charger Power Pak Powerful enough to charge all of your portable electronics using the POWER of the SUN Provides a source of POWER when away from outlets Solar Panels charge and maintain 1400 mAh of power! Providing the Kindle 2nd Generation or Kindle DX (Not compatible with Kindle 1st Generation) up to 3/4 of a full charge. AC power adapter charging 2-5 hours. Computer charging 3-5 hours. Solar Charging 5-7 hours. Includes Plugs to CHARGE and POWER y (more…)
3:29 
How about a solar powered dress made of comfortable cotton?
High tech fabrics are moving from science fiction to reality. It won’t be long before you can rest your head on a pillow to monitor your brain waves, wear a t-shirt that can keep track of your heart rate, or even charge your cell phone with a solar powered dress. And, no… we are not talking solar powered dressing like the teeny, tiny item shown to the left (made up of nearly 500 circuit boards!)
100% cotton threads that have the ability to conduct electric current have been developed in the Fiber Science and Apparel Design laboratory. Although the material is soft and flexible, it has the conduction power of a metal wire. Unbelievably, a knot in the specially-treated solar thread can complete a circuit.
If you think it sounds too far-fetched, think again. A solar powered dress created using the high tech fabric will be featured this Saturday, March 13 at the annual Cornell Design League Fashion Show!
The technology involves coating cotton fibers with electrically conductive nanoparticles. Nanotechnology sounds pretty geeky, but the end result is not only beautiful, but comfortable and practical.
Juan Hinestroza, assistant professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, who worked with a team of colleagues to develop the technique sees great promise in solar powered dressing:
“We can definitively have sections of a traditional cotton fabric becoming conductive, hence a great myriad of applications can be achieved. The technology developed by us and our collaborators allows cotton to remain flexible, light and comfortable while being electronically conductive. Previous technologies have achieved conductivity but the resulting fiber becomes rigid and heavy. Our new techniques make our yarns friendly to further processing such as weaving, sewing and knitting.”
The solar powered dress that will be on the catwalk this Saturday uses flexible solar cells that can power electronics from a USB charger in the waist of the garment. Like a solar handbag or backpack, you could power an MP3 player, cell phone or camera on the fly.
Can you imagine solar powered dressing to re-charge your life?
3:48 
Solar gates and fencing to provide convenient security
In beautiful Central Oregon where I live, there are several things that are abundant here: sunshine and property are two of them. Wide open spaces and sunny skies are a wonderful combination!
Many people here own larger tracts of property that they farm and/or on which they raise livestock. More and more often, I’m noticing solar powered gates at the entrances to the ranches’ driveways. The solar gates are useful for a number of reasons: security, privacy and convenient top the list.
At my in-laws’ 40 acres near Sisters, Oregon, there is a long, metal swinging gate in front of their driveway. Whenever we drive up, we need to get out of the car, unlatch the gate and swing it open. Then we drive through, get out of the car and repeat the process to close the gate behind us.
We firmly believe that they need an electric gate opener powered by the sun. Think of it like a garage door opener for a gate. You can purchase a solar powered gate kit (for several hundred dollars), or create your own. Using a car battery connected to a small solar panel, trickle charging during the course of the day can generate enough free solar energy to power the electric gate opener whenever you need it. A perfect project for DIY ranchers!
There are also beautiful wrought iron solar gates for less rustic properties. Check out the video below:
Single swing solar gate options are also available:
Why not make your life a little easier with a solar powered gate?
3:45 
Aurora Flight Sciences Solar Powered Aircraft
We’ve blogged about solar powered airplanes in recent months, but the interest has seemed to be with respect to their novelty, rather than a real potential way to address the massive amounts of fuel consumed by aircraft (and corresponding CO2 emissions).
Recognizing the need for a variety of aircraft to serve multiple purposes, Virginia-based Aurora Flight Sciences has focused on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be flown without pilots or passengers to carry cameras, computers and other equipment. For military, homeland security and space exploration, solar UAVs would be perfect. Saving on fuel and extending flight time are two of the primary benefits of using the renewable energy resource.
Last week, Virginia-based Aurora Flight Sciences announced that it had finished the fabrication and initial tests of a wing design that could revolutionize solar-powered aircraft. The company, which specializes in the design and construction of unmanned aircraft, created a test plane wing with a span of 22 feet that is constructed of composite materials and lightweight plastics. Advanced solar cells cover the top of the wing, which convert sunlight into electricity for use to power the aircraft and its payloads.
Solar UAV from Aurora Flight Sciences
Aurora CEO John Langford enthused:
“Our very first externally funded study, in 1989, was for a solar-powered version of the Daedalus human-powered aircraft. Today’s designs are for much larger aircraft — literally hundreds of feet in wingspan. The idea of this test panel was to develop and validate designs and manufacturing techniques. Doing this is essential for the accurate planning of any future solar aircraft development program.”
The company has been working on a viable solar plane – and one with long-range capabilities – for some time:
Aurora was selected as a contractor by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (also known as “DARPA”) in 2008 to work on the “Vulture” ultra-long endurance aircraft program. The large solar test panel announced last week was privately funded as an adjunct to the Vulture project. In addition, Aurora funded the development/flight test of SunLight Eagle, another solar UAV (unmaned aerial vehicle) with a huge 114-foot wingspan last year.
6:28 
Solar Power Assisted Bus
Solar powered assist for mass transit is rolling out in California. Sunpods Inc, and San Francisco-based Bauer Intelligent Transportation developed a system in just 6 weeks’ time, which uses thin film solar panels on the roofs of buses to power an on-board battery bank. Solar energy absorbed by the panels provide a solar powered assist system which allows A/C and wireless connectivity equipment to continue operating, even when the engine of the bus is shut off.
Operation of the solar power system will help the company meet stringent California pollution control laws that prohibit the idling of a diesel engine for more than 5 minutes. Of course, it also helps save on fuel consumption, and minimizes CO2 emissions.
Bauer Intelligent Transportation is already a green industry leader as “the world’s most eco-friendly, full-service sustainable transportation company.” For its buses, Bauer IT uses clean Series 60 engines, exhaust gas recirculation systems and diesel particulate filters for its fleet of bio-diesel, propane and EGR vehicles to meet the EPA emission requirements. The company claims that 96% of the miles driven by its fleet are “green.”
Certainly, the new solar power assist system will boost the green credibility, while minimizing CO2 emissions. And that’s a breath of fresh air!
3:41 
Solar panels in your thread?
Weaving solar cells into flexible solar powered threads could be the answer to solar fabrics. A Tokyo-based venture company, Ideal Star has come up with a way to incorporate solar cells into threads that one day will create material for use in energy-generating clothing and curtains.
Because the solar threads are coated, the need for expensive manufacturing equipment is reduced. Once Ideal Star figures out how to make their special threads longer, they will be able to be incorporated into a number of materials, for solar power generating capabilities.
Ideal Star is supported by six Japanese universities and the government. The prototype solar thread is 5cm long and a mere 0.8mm in diameter.
The core consists of polymer material and is surrounded by an electrode layer, and layers for hole transport, power-generating (this layer is made from fullerene), electron transport and another (transparent) electrode layer.
The solar powered threads currently have an efficiency of about 3% (meaning that 3% of the solar energy striking the threads can be converted to usable power). However, the company believes that it can more than triple efficiency to 10%. Ideal Star will continue to work on developing the new technology, with plans to commercialize it within five years.
There is already a market for solar powered fabrics. From handbags to backpacks, you can already get thin layers of solar cells incorporated into everyday items, used to recharge gadgets. The promise of solar curtains to power electronics within your home could be next on the horizon with solar powered threads!
3:02 
Google's New Solar Mirror Technology is on the horizon
Reuters announced last Friday that Google has developed a prototype for new solar mirror technology. Also known as heliostats, the structures are placed on acres of land and used to focus sunlight on a tower to superheat water, which then turns turbines for clean, renewable energy. Google’s technology has the promise of cutting the cost of building a solar thermal plant in half!
Google’s Green Energy Czar, Bill Weihl, commented that the product could be ready for the market in 1-3 years, if development and testing proceed as hoped.
Google’s new solar mirror technology includes use of unusual materials for the reflective surface, as well as the substrate on which the mirror is mounted. The Internet search engine company has worked the past several years to determine whether it could help cut costs of heliostats. It has both invested in companies and conducted its own research on affordable renewable energy options, like solar thermal technology.
The hard work may be paying off! Google believes that its cost effective innovation could be a success. Bill Wiehl noted:
“There is a decent chance that in a small number of years, we could have a 2-X reduction in cost.”
Although the Google solar thermal technology is not yet ready to be tested externally, there is already some interest from eSolar and BrightSource – companies that are currently in the process of developing solar thermal plants.
3:35 
How does solar power square against coal or hydro from an environmental standpoint
I’ve been a land use and environmental lawyer for over 15 years, and one of the most common questions my clients get when developing a large-scale project like a solar farm is, what will the environmental impact be?
It goes without saying that any development, no matter how “green,” will affect the environment to some degree. The question under U.S. federal (and most states) law is whether there will be a significant adverse environmental impact.
Be assured that no large-scale project will be approved by a governmental agency until the impacts are identified, studied, analyzed and determined to have been mitigated to the greatest degree required under law. Somewhat ironic is the fact that solar power plants have been under fire for their potential impacts recently — even though drawing on clean solar power will have an overall diminished impact on the environment compared to coal, natural gas, or even wind power!
Nonetheless, the fact that a clean energy project is proposed does not give it a free pass. Solar adverse impact must still be assessed – and mitigated – before permits can be issued.
In the California Mojave Desert, thousands of acres of land would be directly impacted by proposed solar thermal energy plants. And California is not alone. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management reportedly has 31 solar projects in “fast track” review. In addition, many states are pushing development of solar power plants with aggressive renewable energy standards and timelines, which means more projects will soon be in the works.
What is the impact of solar thermal power plants?
So, when it comes to solar farms, what types of environmental impacts can be expected?
First and foremost is the disruption of what might have been pristine property. Obviously, construction is intensive, but even the fact of having large parabolic solar panels or mirrors taking up acres of land. Migration routes and habitat of wildlife, flora and fauna could be displaced.
Often, new solar installation sites are graded, sprayed with weed control chemicals and shaded. Each one of these steps will change the dynamics of the original function of the land with respect to plant and animal inhabitants. Humans will be present on a more regular basis, likely driving to the site in vehicles and disposing of trash, etc. through maintenance and operation of the solar power plants.
Wondering about the impact of solar power plants?
Although each individual project is analyzed on a case-by-case basis, the general environmental impact of solar farms is under consideration by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The national laboratory is studying how prairie ecosystems are affected by the construction and operation of solar power plants. From prairie dogs and grasses to birds of prey, a range of plants and wildlife are considered. NREL is conducting a comparison between a developed site and one left untouched.
NREL Senior Biologist Brenda Beatty noted:
“The experiments will begin to give us a handle on how PV installations and operations affect vegetation in our portion of the arid West, and the information obtained may be useful for other NREL projects, and for revegetation efforts at other solar installations.”
Solar power is not the only target of the analysis at NREL. The lab is also conducting research on how wind turbines and meteorological towers affect birds and bats.
In the end, however, be assured that no matter the perceived solar adverse impact, environmental issues will be vetted prior to the issuance of any permits. Solar power plants definitely may affect the environment, but the alternative seems less green to me!
3:49 
The perfect source for solar power? Solar Power (photovoltaics) is now a one-billion-dollar industry, and it’s poised to grow rapidly in the near future as more pressure is placed on limited fossil fuel resources and as advances in solar technology drive down the costs of residential solar systems. This book helps readers understand the basics of solar power and other renewable energy sources, explore whether solar power makes sense for them, what (more…)
3:52 
Negotiated prices for solar panels with 1BOG
Group discounts for solar panels? That’s the theory behind the organization called One Block of the Grid, or 1BOG.
For people wishing to install solar panels on their home or small business, there is power in numbers. If a solar company can sell 5 solar power systems, instead of just 1, its a good deal for them. If you can save 10-20% (or more) off the retail price of solar panels… plus the generous federal, state and local tax incentives…. why wouldn’t you want to go solar?
One Block Off the Grid does much of the leg-work for you. You can easily register on the website and see if there are interested people in your community with which you can join. 1BOG does the actual negotiation and collective bargaining with salespeople to obtain bulk pricing.
Find solar communities using 1BOG mapping
One Block Off the Grid has been helping negotiate solar panel group discounts since 2008. Just last year alone, the organization helped facilitate over 600 solar power installations.
Already 2010 is looking bright! The recent infusion of $5 million in venture capital funding, acquired from New Enterprise Associates should allow a 10-fold increase in business and services for 1BOG. And all that new work will lead to green jobs – a tripling in the workforce is projected this year.
The concept of a solar power community is a strong one. After all, there truly is power in numbers. What better way to connect with friends, associates and neighbors than through joining forces for a clean, bright renewable energy future?
Why not register at 1BOG today? Its easy and its free!
3:07 
Nanowire solar cells from CalTech
Three cheers for solar technology advancements!
This latest one comes from sunny Caltech (you might know it as California Institute of Technology). Researchers there have created a new flexible solar cell, which takes long, thin silicon wires and embeds them into a polymer substrate. The result is an inexpensive solar cell that can efficiently convert photons into electrons, using a tiny fraction of the semiconductor materials typically required for conventional solar cells.
According to Harry Atwater, director of Caltech’s Resnick Institute, which focuses on sustainability research:
“These solar cells have, for the first time, surpassed the conventional light-trapping limit for absorbing materials. We’ve surpassed previous optical microstructures developed to trap light.”
When we refer to “light-trapping,” we’re talking about how much solar energy it is able to absorb from sunlight. The silicon-wire arrays in the new flexible solar cells can absorb up to 96% of incident sunlight at a single wavelength and 85% of total collectible sunlight.
As described in “Nature Materials:”
Many materials can absorb light quite well but not generate electricity — like, for instance, black paint. What’s most important in a solar cell is whether that absorption leads to the creation of charge carriers.”
Specifically, the silicon wire arrays can convert 90-100% of the photons they absorb into electrons. That means that the wires are exceptionally efficient! When it comes to solar cells, you want both excellent absorption and conversion.
The result actually surprised the researchers a bit. Notwithstanding sparseness of the wires in the array, a significant amount of light can be absorbed by the silicon wires which helps achieve both optical concentration and high efficiency of the silicon-wire-array solar cells.
The savings in cost are achieved through minimal use of expensive silicon materials. The wires are only 30-100 microns in length and 1 micron in diameter. Of that thin wire, only 2% is comprised of silicon. The rest is polymer-based. That means that the new flexible solar cells require only 1/50th of the amount of silicon of conventional solar cells.
On top of the savings in materials, manufacturing these solar cells is also cheaper than normal. Flexible thin film panels can be created using a roll-to-roll process, which is much more cost-effective than creating brittle wafers used in ordinary cells.
What is the future for these new flexible solar cells? Stay tuned for more information and news!
3:56 
A net meter keeps track of excess solar electricity generated
If you are considering solar photovoltaic panels for your home or business, did you know that you can sell back solar power to your utility?
In other words, if you generate more solar electricity than you use on a given day, the excess is fed back into the grid and is tracked by met meters.
In general, here’s how net metering works:
1. Solar panels installed on your roof absorb sunlight in the form of direct current (DC). Approximately 10-15% of the solar energy that hits the panels is converted into usable electricity.
2. A line runs from the panels to a solar inverter, which is often required to change DC into alternating current (AC) – what you get when you plug in appliances and devices.
3. The solar inverter is connected to an electrical service panel and a disconnection switch (if required).
4. A net meter is also part of the system, out of which a line is connected to the grid.
Go solar and start saving today!
Net metering is only available when you have a solar panel system that is grid-connected. In these instances, you may be buying power during hours the solar panels are not generating electricity. However, you can also sell back solar power into the grid when you generate excess energy. That can allow you to turn your meter backwards and receive a tiny utility bill – perhaps even a credit that you can draw on in the future.
People that have installed solar panels are so thrilled by the immediate effect on their bills as a result of net metering!
Want to try it out for yourself? Take advantage of today’s low prices on solar panels and generous tax incentives. Don’t wait until the hot summer months and high A/C expenses start piling up.
3:45 
Preparing for a solo rowing trip across the Atlantic (image credit: Cleveland.com)
Would you take a rowboat across the Atlantic Ocean? Can you imagine rowing 2,500 miles from the west coast of Africa to French Guiana?
The youngest person ever to make such a trip is about to depart on the challenging journey. A 22-year old female, Katie Spotz, will embark on the three month trip, with nothing but solar panels to provide electrical power for a few gadgets. There will not be a sail, or a motor. Just pure guts and determination (and hopefully some sunny days).
Solar panels will provide the sole source of power for on-board electronics, including a water desalination machine, GPS system, radios, satellite phone and laptop from which Spotz will blog about her experiences.
Lest that sounds luxurious, remember that we’re just talking about a row boat here.
Spotz's Row Boat for her Solo Rowing Trip Across the Atlantic (image credit: Cleveland.com)
Designed by accomplished rower and renowned ocean row boat designer, Phil Morrison, the vessel includes features that allow it to be self-righting and generally weather 3o-foot waves and hurricanes (can you even imagine?) Two air-tight containers at opposite ends of the boat will be filled with supplies, gear and food.
The photo to the right shows the specially-designed row boat.
A solo boat trip across the Atlantic would be challenging no matter the vessel. Going on a solar powered boat trip – in a row boat, no less – ups the ante. Then, when you factor in the fact that a young woman only 22-years of age is taking on the challenge, you cannot help but root (and pray) for her!
We’ll be looking forward to Katie Spotz’s blog posts along the way … courtesy of power from the boat’s solar panels.
Let’s watch history in the making together!
3:49 
Design, Implement, and Audit the Most Energy-Efficient, Cost-Effective Solar Power Systems for Any Type of Building! Solar Power in Building Design is a complete guide to designing, implementing, and auditing energy-efficient, cost-effective solar power systems for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. From basic theory through project planning, cost estimating, and manufacturing methods, this vital resource offers you everything needed for solar power design s (more…)
3:34 
Limitations on solar energy as a primary power source?
As we search for viable renewable energy sources in recognition of the finite, polluting and and politically-fraught aspects of fossil fuels, the question remains. Can we consider solar power as a primary energy source?
We’ve reviewed the disadvantages of solar energy (along with its many benefits), in order to consider the pros and cons for this alternative power resource. Of course, among a number of issues to be considered include the fact that solar is expensive and not particularly efficient, overall…. yet!
The solar power debate will continue to rage on. Yet, the abundance of free solar power cannot be overlooked. New solar technology developments are announced on a regular basis. Efficiencies are increased and prices continue to fall. Certainly we should be able to find a way to harness this endless energy source, especially considering facts like these:
In full sun, you can safely assume about 100 watts of solar energy per square foot. If you assume 12 hours of sun per day, this equates to 438,000 watt-hours per square foot per year. Based on 27,878,400 square feet per square mile, sunlight bestows a whopping 12.2 trillion watt-hours per square mile per year.
How far can we take PV power?
Its high time for us to elevate solar power as a truly significant power source, which can finally get us away from talking about the myth of “clean coal,” or ignoring the fact that oil exploration and drilling is harming the environment in ways that cannot be sustained.
But why solar power, instead of the alternatives?
In part, the answer is found in the very diversity of the renewable energy resource. From solar hot water to solar electricity, you can shower, cook food, warm your home and more. Particularly in developing nations, reliance on solar power just makes sense!
Solar power as a primary energy resource is a proposal that is still under consideration. Yet, we can warmly witness its blooming across desert southwest regions in the U.S., and even in less sunny climes worldwide.
Do we really need to sit in judgment over whether solar power is the way to go for renewable energy? Perhaps we should just wait and watch things unfold? Weighing solar against wind, biomass, nuclear and more is one task. Considering the resource against oil and natural gas is practically a no-brainer.
3:05 
Sundrop Fuels announces its hybrid solar biomass refinery
Talk about biofuels has waxed and waned over the past decade. On one hand, people are excited about an alternative fuel to gasoline or diesel. On the flip side are concerns about the amount of energy it takes to produce a barrel of biofuels. Add into the mix the idea that taking corn off our plates and into our fuel tanks may not make the most sense!
Sundrop Fuels has come up with a way to address these issues, with its hybrid solar biomass refinery. The New-Mexico based company plans to produce bio-ethanol using concentrated solar power (CSP) technology. Instead of the end-product being solar electricity, biofuel is the product created by superheating plant scraps and woodchips with parabolic reflective mirrors.
Solar power is the key component to Sundrop Fuels’ reduction of energy consumption at the refinery. Using a SurroundSun reactor, the technology borrows heavily from the CSP process that is used to generate solar thermal electricity. However, there is an important difference. Whereas concentrated solar power generally focuses solar heat on water and/or molten salts, the hybrid solar biomass refinery will “blast organic materials with super high temperatures…tearing apart the materials at the molecular level…which creates a synthetic gas that can be formed into gasoline or diesel,” said Sundrop CEO Wayne Simmons.
A typical concentrated solar power plant
Using the new technology, Sundrop Fuels claims that it can save up to 1/3 of its energy costs in producing bio-ethanol at the solar biomass refinery. Another downside of biofuel production – competition with food supply – is also addressed through the use of plant scraps and wood chips that would otherwise be burned or discarded.
A call for investors has been made so that Sundrop can build a demonstration project in the next 2 years, by 2012. That one plant alone could create 8 million gallons of alternative fuel each year! The balance of the decade would be devoted to expanding into foreign markets that have demonstrated to be ideal solar power markets (North Africa, China and the Middle East).
3:19 
Honda Solar Fueling Station (image credit: EarthTechling)
What if you never had to visit the gas station again? In fact, what if you could tap into alternative fuels simply by pulling into your own garage?
Honda Motors is about to make your dreams come true! The company announced its new Honda Solar Hydrogen Station this week to accolades from consumers and commentators alike.
According to its official press release, the release that was unveiled at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc., is intended for use as a “home refueling appliance capable of an overnight refill of fuel cell electric vehicles.”
Compact and sleek, the single integrated solar hydrogen station will easily fit in a residential garage and can produce enough hydrogen over an 8-hour fill for daily commuting in a fuel cell electric vehicle (approximately 10,000 miles per year).
In case you haven’t heard about the Honda Clarity – a hydrogen fuel cell EV that only emits H2O, you don’t know what you are missing! The Honda FCX Clarity can travel up to 240 miles between refueling, which is much farther than the average commuter drives in a single day:
Recharge your Fuel Cell EV with a Solar Fueling Station at Home! (image credit: Inside Line)
If you own a Honda Clarity – or any other vehicle that runs on hydrogen fuels – you’ll love the Honda Solar Hydrogen Station! Its an all-in-one electrolyzer and compressor that not only conveniently fits in a residential garage, but runs on solar energy. And, this model is compact, due to the combination of the two components.
In fact, the elimination of a separate compressor is the first in the world for hydrogen fueling stations. Honda’s prototype even improves fuel efficiency by an astonishing 25%! Compact, cheap and convenient – the three “Cs” that automobile owners and consumers in the new decade are craving. And Honda is delivering with both its solar fueling station and the Honda Clarity.
Can you imagine never having to go to the fuel station again? Sign me up!
3:49 
From Booklist
Reviewed with Christine Petersen’s Wind Power.Gr. 3-5. The familiar small, square format and the large, well-spaced type of volumes in the long-running True Book umbrella series have been preserved in this new offshoot, Environment & Conservation. Petersen provides readers with a lucid picture of the sun and wind as natural forces before introducing some of the technology (windmills, turbines, solar panels) used to harness energy on a large scale. A few more diagram (more…)
2:43 
Glass Pyramid-Shaped Solar Cells (image from CASE)
Addressing the often-cited reason that many choose not to install solar panels on their property, news of the development of attractive glass pyramid-shaped solar cells is certainly welcome! Coupled with a reasonable price tag and high efficiency, the solar technology that scientists at the Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) could be the next big renewable energy development this decade.Instead of bulky photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, one day soon you could instead go with a “Dynamic Solar Facade.” The technology will include a glass front with pyramid-shaped solar concentrators which capture light, magnify it by up to 500 times and then redirect it to solar cells.
The Dynamic Solar Facade could have a 60-80% efficiency ratio, using not only UV light, but also thermal heat from the sun, captured with a heat sink. In short, the pyramid-shaped solar cells can generate both electricity and provide energy to heat water, much like a thermal solar panel system.
A good looking, dual-function, highly efficient solar panel system?
Yes indeed! While CASE is still years away from commercializing the product, we could see it by the end of the decade. That wouldn’t be a minute too soon, as attractive clean energy sources are in high demand, particularly for landlords who lease office space. The overall appearance of a building – both inside and out – can increase rents, while saving energy and cutting down high utility bills.
3:55 
Federal funding for solar photovoltaic research
Its budget time for the federal government. While the news has been buzzing about the deficit and cuts in funding, the Department of Energy announced that approximately $12 million has been allotted for solar R&D. The federal funds will largely be provided to several solar photovoltaics (PV) projects that are undertaken in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The goal of the solar technology research – and the provision of federal funds – is to help bring cutting-edge solar tech out of the laboratory to commercial production.
Bringing solar power from the laboratory to consumers
The Department of Energy’s Photovoltaic Incubator Program will receive about $10 million of the funds through the Recovery Act. According to the web site:
The goals of the projects include exploring the commercial potential of new manufacturing processes and products; fostering innovation and growth in the domestic PV industry; establishing an efficient and cyclic funding opportunity; and expanding and diversifying domestic “market-ready” PV technologies.
In short, the DOE aims to take prototype solar tech to demonstration or full-scale projects.
Of the total $12 million in solar research funding, about $3 million will be awarded in 2010 to each of four companies under subcontracts with the Department of Energy. This is the fourth year in a row that funding awards have been presented by the DOE to solar tech companies.
The 2010 funding recipients were announced in January, as follows:
With important funding from the Department of Energy/NREL, solar R&D will be able to continue to develop new technologies that are practical, efficient and affordable, and to bring them to the public for actual use!
We’ve got to agree that investing in a clean energy future is worth every dollar.
18:44 
EADS Astrium Solar Panel Laser: Solar Power That's Out of this World
Europe’s biggest space company, EADS Astrium (an aerospace subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), has announced that its entering the field of space-based solar power. Over the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about space solar power – also known as SSP – but many have dismissed the idea as a little too…. out of this world.
EADS Astrium joins several other companies that believe in the future of this futuristic renewable energy resource and are making investments accordingly. Pulling solar power from space can actually be more efficient than earth-mounted solar panels as you can have exposure to sunlight 24/7 without weather disturbances or the pesky darkness that falls every 12 hours or so on Earth. In addition, the concentration of energy from sunlight gathered in outer space is significantly more intense.
Its one thing to gather space solar power with giant solar panels, but another task to transmit the solar energy back down to earth. EADS Astrium has devised an infrared laser system that will beam the collected solar power to transmittal stations where it can be fed into the grid by utilities purchasing the power.
The lasers will be an improvement over prior SSP designs that planned for microwave transmission systems; these often raised safety concerns and appeared to be relatively inefficient. By 2020, Astrium plans on having a space based solar power demonstration project in place.
Solar Power from Space
Will we enjoy solar power that’s out of this world during our lifetime? What once seemed like science fiction is steadily gaining traction throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. With advances like EADS Astrium’s laser transmittal system, the prohibitive cost of SSP appears to be coming down, while efficiencies increase.
It may be less than a decade before we’re reaching for the stars for solar renewable energy!
3:49 
Heating water with the sun is almost as old as humankind itself, and it is done all over the world. Yet there are strangely few resources on the topic in North America. Solar Water Heating fills this gap. It reviews the history of solar water and space heating systems from prehistory to the present, then presents the basics of solar water heating, including an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy conservation and energy economics. Drawing on the author’s (more…)
3:23
Solar blinds let the light in, while functioning as energy saving insulation
We’ve talked about how an easy way to tap into free solar energy is to utilize passive solar design. No need to install solar panels when you can simply make minor changes to manage the amount of sunlight entering your home or office during certain times of the day or year.
Solar blinds, also known as insulating window panels, are an affordable home improvement project that can help you save 40% or more on annual heating and cooling bills! No wonder they are Energy Star-rated.
Custom Climate Control Solar Blinds provide an environmentally friendly energy saving system that is beneficial any time of the year. By functioning as insulation, they help regulate indoor temperature no matter what outdoor conditions are like.
Because windows are the most susceptible part of the building envelope to heat extremes, insulating window panels can minimize unnecessary swings in temperature inside your home.
Toronto Solar Blinds offers customized insulating window panels. From consultation to design to installation, this company does it all! As for the blinds themselves? Here’s a brief summary of their functions in both hot and cold months of the year:
Solar Blinds function in summer
In the summer:
In the winter:
Even if you don’t purchase specially-designed Climate Control Solar Blinds, you can still capture some of the same passive solar energy benefits by properly opening and closing your own drapes or blinds. Southern-facing windows should be shielded during summer months. Over the winter, you’ll want to allow sunlight in to help warm the house during the day, but close the window coverings in the morning and evening to trap heat indoors.
Do you use passive solar energy techniques to cut down on heating and cooling bills? What works best for you?
2:50 
Scotchshield Technoloy for Solar Panels (image from 3M)
A quarter century ago, scientists at 3MTM first started developing solar energy and mirror films; it was a pioneer in the industry. Today, the company is making major investments in new plastic film production for solar and other renewable energy tech.
For use in crystalline silicon PV modules, revolutionary 3M ScotchshieldTM Film will be manufactured in Singapore. The American corporation has two primary goals: to lower the cost and improve efficiency of solar cells. In fact, 3M has dedicated an entire Renewable Energy Division for R&D in this energy sector. Already, it produces films, tapes, coatings, encapsulants, sealants and adhesives for solar energy, wind energy, geothermal and biofuel businesses.
A U.S. patent was awarded for the new Scotchshield Film in December 2009. A multilayer film will be applied to the back of a solar cell during the PV module lamination process, in order to improve its protection. The 3M film is superior over previous designs with respect to both cost and ease of application.
The layers of the Scotchshield solar film include semi-crystalline fluoropolymer on the outside (.5 to 5 millimeters thick), a polyester intermediate layer (1-10 mils) and an outer polyolefin layer (1-20 mils). Thickness of the individuals layers will be variable based on specific requirements.
Scotchshield solar film is one of several solar and other renewable energy products under development by 3M, which promise to have a major impact on the industry.
3:49 
From Booklist
Packaged in a small, square format, this title presents a surprising amount of information about solar power in brief sentences that are calibrated to newly confident readers’ abilities. The short chapters start with essential definitions of terms such as solar system before moving into topics such as renewable energy and greenhouse gases. The selection of well-chosen color photos, which are crisply reproduced on each page, is particularly strong in final chapters (more…)
2:50 
Attend the annual Solar Expo in Portland, Oregon
Its time to register for the 2010 Northwest Solar Expo and Professional Training Conference. The event will be held right here in my home state of Oregon, from April 27-May 2, 2010.
The annual event features three days of Professional Solar Training and certification. In addition to the educational aspects, you’ll be able to network with solar professionals, manufacturers, installers, integrators and potential solar and clean energy customer. Private corporations will be represented, along with government and non-profit agencies.
The official web site notes that:
Many of the Professional Solar Training Conference Courses are approved for NABCEP continuing education credits. The Solar Expo will offer workshops, exhibitors, and seminars to homeowners and business owners interested in clean energy solutions for their homes and buildings.
For general information about the expo and training conference, including conference sponsorships, contact Ericka Katz at 503-236-0367 or ericka@oseia.org. For information on becoming an exhibitor and available sponsorships for the expo, contact Sean Lowery at 503-570-6295 or seanl@prosperaevents.com .
3:30 
Canadian Solar continues its global expansion efforts, announcing this week that it has signed a solar joint venture with Japan’s West Holding. Although it is incorporated in Canada, the company bases its manufacturing operations in China. Canadian Solar’s solar cells and modules are sold worldwide.
On the other hand, West Holding distributes residential solar systems in Japan. The new solar joint venture should help grow its expansion into the Japanese PV panel market. Specifically, West Holding will distribute and sell solar residential rooftop systems designed by Canadian Solar Japan, with a 2010 sales target for this year of about 18 MW.
Under the terms of the deal, the Japanese subsidiary of Canadian Solar will transfer 14% of its shares to West Holding, while retaining the rest.
2:22 
Kudos for solar panels
Did you know you can earn more than kudos for going solar?
Its true! A family in Pennsylvania was the first in the nation to receive a personal carbon credit for reducing their fossil-fuel based energy to the point of saving 1 ton of CO2 emissions.
What does that mean, you may wonder? Here’s how Wikipedia explains personal carbon trading:
Personal carbon trading refers to proposed emissions trading schemes under which emissions credits are allocated to adult individuals on a (broadly) equal per capita basis, within national carbon budgets. Individuals then surrender these credits when buying fuel or electricity. Individuals wanting or needing to emit at a level above that permitted by their initial allocation would be able to engage in emissions trading and purchase additional credits.
Conversely, those individuals who emit at a level below that permitted by their initial allocation have the opportunity to sell their surplus credits. Thus, individual trading under Personal Carbon Trading is similar to the trading of companies under EU ETS.
In other words, saving energy can help you purchase energy!
Installing solar panels can save you in more ways than one
Getting back to the Pennsylvania family… here’s what they did. In 2009, they installed a solar panel system on their home, and also made additional energy savings upgrades. This year, they registered with myemissionsexchange.com, which verifies the amount of CO2 emissions saved and can then sell carbon credits. The Wilsons sent their pre-solar and post-solar electricity bills, and then got the amazing news that they had saved more than a ton of CO2 emissions as a result of the installation!
Next, the Wilsons decided to sell their windfall.
The personal carbon credit was bought for… well… a mere $21.50. Yet, that’s better than a rate hike! And, not only will the family pay off their solar panel system within about 6 years, but they’ll also enjoy property value increase, as well as free energy for years to come. Did I mention the fact that a TON of CO2 emissions will be saved by this one family, alone?
In the years ahead, the extra cash that can be recouped through personal carbon trading could increase – depending on the laws enacted by Congress. Whether we’re talking cap and trade, or a carbon tax bill, a family of four could pocket an additional $1,000 each year…. on top of significant savings on utility bills!
Kudos for going solar definitely go out to the Wilson family. And for many people that are considering converting to solar electricity, its not really about a personal carbon credit. Over time, however, it could be just the incentive to get people off the fence and tapped into solar power.
9:07 
Nanosolar products
Nanosolar recently announced that it will be selling and marketing its copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar panels this year. After intensive R&D, the company has reached 16.4% efficiency in the laboratory, closing in on the nearly 20% solar panel efficiency for a CIGS solar panel achieved by the publicly owned and operated National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL).
Nanosolar’s co-founder, Brian Sager, stated:
“The whole idea here is to buy multiple lines of manufacturing equipment and scale as the market demands. “We’re really only limited by market economics.”
Although details of the amount and type of product that will initially be sold by Nanosolar are unclear, most expect the CIGS solar panels it will sell will have 10-12% efficiency.
The world will be watching. Many place their solar power “chips” on CIGS solar cells with respect to ultimate efficiency and inexpensive manufacturing. While both CIGS and cadmium telluride have theoretical maximum efficiency in the range of 29-33%, CIGS is expected to ultimately prevail in the efficiency race.
With the new release of Nanosolar’s CIGS panels, competition will not be afoot between First Solar (selling panels with close to 11% efficiency and a cost of 87 cents per watt) and Miasole, which sells CIGS cells in the 10-11% efficiency range.
For a glimpse into the near future, here’s a short video showcasing Nanosolar’s roll-to-roll CIGS solar cells:
2:54 
Suntech Solar Panels selling out!
The economic recession had a rough impact on the solar panel market in 2009. Yet, signs of a turn-around are shining brightly. As of the end of the second week of January, solar panels are selling out in 2010.
Suntech Power Holding Company reported that its solar panel projects are sold out through the second quarter of 2010 (ending in June), and perhaps beyond that date. And the strong sales started at the end of last year. Suntech solar panels were hard to find by autumn last year, and projections are that the demand for solar power is fueling a revitalized industry, across the board.
In other words, Suntech is not the only company scrambling to make more solar power products for its customers in 2010. Trina Solar Ltd and Canadian Solar Inc have worked to capitalize on rising demand, turning their low-cost structures into sales, with plans to boost production capacity this year.
Solar panel demand rising
What a welcome change of events, from just about one year ago. During the first 1/2 to 3/4 of 2009, the global credit crisis impacted lending and financing of new solar projects, which resulted in a massive lowering of solar panel prices. This was due in large part to drying-up demand.
Overall, demand for solar power is rising world-wide. Countries like Germany, Japan and China account for a large part of the solar panel market share.
Overall, even with the drop in demand last year, solar panel companies have maintained healthy profit margins. With rising demand for solar power in the new year/new decade, things are definitely looking up these days!
3:00 
Products trademarked HQRP® are marketed and sold exclusively by Osprey-Talon. HQRP Solar Charge Controllers are high quality, efficient and reliable Solar Power Regulators. They are perfect for rural electrification system. They offer a lot of possibilities and benefits. Regulations point: 14.4 Volts; Low voltage Disconnect: 11.1V Volts; Low voltage Reconnect: 13.1 Volts; Microcontroller digital accuracy; Type of Charging: Series PWM & stat of charge(SOC); 4 Stages: equalizatio (more…)
3:28 
See-through solar film for windows
One of the most promising new technologies in building-integrated photovoltaics may be see-through solar film for windows.
New Energy Technologies announced yesterday that its researchers developed a new, patent-pending process for spray on solar cells. When applied to glass, the innovation transforms it into a “Solarwindow,” providing a unique way to tap into solar energy and save costs.
The president and CEO of New Energy Technologies commented:
“The ability to spray solar coatings directly onto glass follows on the heels of our recent breakthrough which replaced visibility-blocking metal with environmentally-friendly see-thru compounds, and marks an important advance in the development of our see-thru glass windows capable of generating electricity.”
Can you imagine generating solar electricity with the windows on your home or building? Dye-sensitized solar cells make it happen!
Solar Windows coming to a building near you soon!
The SolarWindow developed by New Energy Technologies would be available for use by the nearly 5 million commercial buildings and 80 million single family homes in America. The company states that solar coatings would be sprayed directly onto its SolarWindow and would not block views or sunlight from passing through, unlike other solar film.
New Energy’s researchers developed a way to eliminate metal from its spray-on solar film technology. When present, metal is opaque, blocks visibility and prevents light from passing through the glass. It is not easy to remove metal from solar film, however, given that it acts as the negative “polar contact,” which aids in collecting the generated electricity.
At New Energy, scientists replaced the metal negative polar contact with transparent, more environmentally-friendly compounds.
The spray-on solar cells used by New Energy are ultra small and ultra-thin: only 1/1000th of the thickness of a human hair. When combined with the transparent negative polar contact materials, the result is a see-through photovoltaic application.
Transparency is the key to effective, marketable solar windows! With the new technology, commercial and residential property owners can soon enjoy relatively low-cost, yet effective solar electricity generation.
2:43 
Panasonic is making bold predictions for the coming decade
Talk about New Year’s resolutions! On Friday, Panasonic issued its annual report in which it stated its aim to be the top green energy company in electronics by the year 2018. Using its acquisition of SANYO (a leader in solar cells and rechargeable batteries), Panasonic projects it will triple annual sales over the coming three years.
Panasonic is making big plans for its 100th anniversary in 2018. It is counting on green energy to propel it to hold top market shares for multiple products, with at least 10% operating profit and return on equity.
According to a story in TheStreet.com:
In solar specifically, Panasonic’s plan to invest approximately 100 billion yen from fiscal 2011 to 2016 to increase production of SANYO’s solar cells. Panasonic aims for the No.1 market share in Japan in fiscal 2013, and one of the top three companies in the global market in fiscal 2016.
In what is already becoming a trend among corporations looking to increase market share and brand loyalty through adoption and implementation of sustainable policies, Panasonic incorporated “green energy” throughout its business plan. Not only will the company implement environmentally sound manufacturing practices, but it plans to lead the way with respect to solar products, particularly in Asian markets.
However, Panasonic is thinking beyond its Japanese roots – to a global market in green energy.
With many companies ramping up their focus on sustainable policies and products, Panasonic has its work cut out for it in the coming years. If it hopes to achieve its aim to be the top green energy company, it will have to be on the cutting edge of new solar technology, with an eye on its competition.
3:07 
Figuring out what solar panels cost
Its the first question most people ask when considering renewable energy: “what do solar panels cost?” These five simple words do not necessarily lead to a straightforward answer.
In short…. it depends.
There are a number of things that affect the cost of solar panels, from energy requirements to the type of system you are considering. Before you install solar panels, you’ll need to consider various factors to decide how to best (and perhaps most cheaply) generate solar electricity.
Fortunately, in 2010, there are still government tax incentives and rebates to help ease the upfront burden. In fact, some cities and counties may even help you finance solar panels through relatively small increases in your property taxes.
The more people that install solar panels, the cheaper they are!
Across the board, the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels per watt has dropped significantly over the past decade. According an article at Science Daily, “average installed costs, in terms of real 2007 dollars per installed watt, declined from $10.50 per watt in 1998 to $7.60 per watt in 2007, equivalent to an average annual reduction of 30 cents per watt or 3.5 percent per year in real dollars.”
And what a difference two years can make! In 2009, the $1 per watt barrier was claimed to have been broken by First Solar. But experts state that the true cost is closer to $2-4 per watt, when you include mounting costs and other necessary equipment.
Aside from the hard costs for solar panels, what can you do to minimize or reduce the actual financial outlay? Plenty!
First, minimize your energy usage. The less electricity you use, the less you have to generate.
Second, look for a package deal. Some manufacturers will offer reduced pricing if you and several other property owners purchase at the same time. You could either negotiate your own deal, or use a site like One Block Off the Grid to work out the details for you.
Third, consider long-term, as well as short-term savings. Over time, your costs per watt will not rise, even when the utility companies raise their rates. There is real value in this regard. According to the Appraisal Journal, you can increase your property value by $20 for every $1 saved each year in electricity bills. That means that a solar energy system that saves $400/year will add $8,000 to the value of your home. It could pay for itself within just a few years!
You could wait to see what the solar panels will cost in 2011, or you could start saving some serious cash on your monthly bills right away. No time like the present, I say!
3:58 
Prism Holographic Solar Panel
Quick! When you think of solar panels, what are the major drawbacks that come to mind? Cost, efficiency, and bulk top the list.
Companies like Prism Solar Technologies are working to address the disadvantages of solar energy through technological advances.
Prism solar panels are a hybrid between silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells and specially-designed thin-film solar strips – Prism’s patented Holographic Planar Concentrator (HPC).
The HPC strips focus direct, diffused and reflected light onto the PV strips, which substantially increases the amount of light that strikes the solar cells. Of course, more light means more solar electricity that can be generated. And, thin-film strips are less expensive than silicon. So much so that manufacturing costs are approximately $1 per watt.
Here’s a video that explains the process:
Prism Solar claims that the benefits of HPC technology include:
Prism Holographic Thin Film Solar
In short, the holographic thin-film/PV hybrid solar panels developed by Prism may be key to solar powering northern regions of the globe. These solar cells can capture low-angled incident light in the morning and evening, plus reflected light at all times, greatly increasing their efficiency, no matter how indirect the sunlight may be.
Add in the fact that the holographic solar panels can be produced at relatively low-cost, and Prism could be on the verge of significantly changing the solar market with its product.
3:59 
New federal funding for solar projects and incentives on the horizon
Its now 2010, and some important renewable energy provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act could expire at year’s end.
That is, unless the Renewable Incentive Act (S 2899), proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), is passed. Under the bill, federal solar funding is proposed to extend to 2012, in order to keep momentum behind the creation of green jobs and continue efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
As noted on Sen. Feinstein’s official website:
“The bill would primarily extend and expand a popular Treasury Department grant program that was established in Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in order to help diminish the impact of the economic crisis on the renewable energy sector.”
While the text of the proposed law could change as it moves through Capitol Hill, as currently drafted, the following provisions would be included:
1. Allowance for public utility providers to apply for Treasury grants. Commonly known as PUDs, these companies supply power to over 45 million Americans.
2. Expanded funding for solar hot water heaters, both for commercial and residential applications.
3. Establishment a new solar tax credit for consolidation of disturbed private land with high solar value (aka “solarity”). In other words, funding is encouraged to acquire property for solar power projects in areas that have already been developed (factories, mines, etc.), instead of pristine wildlife areas like the Mojave Desert. The benefits of doing so are several: preservation of natural habitat, and also location of already-developed land closer to existing grids and population centers.
Finally, the proposed bill would extend solar funding provisions that otherwise would expire in 2010 to 2012. As Sen. Feinstien states:
Extending the funding to 2012 is just brilliant. I can’t think of a better way to pull America through the recession without resorting to historical means, such as warfare and the manufacture of the materials for it.
I tend to agree.
8:58 
Thinking about installing solar panels this year?
One of the most common questions I get on this blog is: where can I find solar panels for sale? Of course, the answer will vary depending on your location. But there are a number of solar panel and solar cell manufacturers in the USA.
The following is a list of American solar manufacturers from which you can begin your research to determine which solar components might best fit your needs. We are not affiliated with any of these companies, nor is the list meant to be a ranking. In fact, we’ll simply put them in alphabetical order.
1. Advent Solar: Manufacturer of advanced technology solar cells and modules.
2. Alps Technology: Designs, manufacturers and makes solar cell and solar module products for commercial, industrial and telecommunication applications worldwide.
3. AmeriSolar: Manufacturer of solar modules marketed to a range of customers including governments, businesses, military, cities, and rural areas.
Find American solar manufacturers for your project
4. Atlantis Energy Inc.: The world’s first manufacturer of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products. Two product lines include PV roofing shingles and PV glass laminates.
5. Blue Square Energy: Manufacturer of high performance silicon solar cells.
6. DayStar Technologies: Development and commercialization of solar electric power generation technologies, including flexible and rigid PV modules, building integrated components and ultra light weight space PV cells.
7. Energy Conversion Devices: Energy generation, energy storage (batteries), and information technology.
8. Evergreen Solar: Developer and manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) modules, used in remote power and emerging grid-connected markets.
9. Greenbrilliance: Manufactures Poly-Si/Mono-Si PV modules in India. The company distributes/provides solar-power systems & services worldwide.
10. Innovalight: Developer of light-activated power generating products based on a solvent-based silicon nanomaterial platform.
11. Kyocera Solar: Kyocera is the world’s largest vertically-integrated producer and supplier of solar energy products. Our solar division has headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, and regional sales centers on five continents, Kyocera Solar, Inc (KSI), our North American solar products subsidiary, services thousands of customers in both the developed and developing world.
12. Miasolé: Joining together conventional CIGS cell structure with a proven high-volume manufacturing technology, Miasolé is working toward improving cost efficiency and reliability for the solar industry.
In the market for solar panels?
13. Solaicx: Developing and implementing solar-manufacturing technology that yields low-cost, high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic material.
14. Suniva: Developer and manufacturer of high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic cells. Suniva’s focus is solely on silicon PV cell technology.
15. Sunovia: Working to develop a solar cell derived from one of the most advanced infrared materials in the world, to capture a broader spectrum of light.
16. SunPower: Designer and and manufacturer of high-performance silicon solar cells and PV panels.
17. SunWize: Manfacturer, marketer and installer of residential, commercial and industrial solar power systems.
18. TerraSolar: Developer, manufacturer and and marketer of solar power products for distributed residential, commercial, and industrial markets. Incorporates state of the art manufacturing technology to produce lowest-cost solar electric technologies available on the market today.
Time to make 2010 your year to go solar! Why not review the web sites of these American solar manufacturers and find solar panels for sale today?
2:19 
Solar Power Generation USA
Looking to build your solar business in 2010? Then consider registering for the Solar Power Generation Conference USA, January 20-21, 2010, in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada!
Primarily aimed at developers and utilities, the tagline for the Las Vegas solar conference is, “Driving the development of large-scale solar projects.”
A wide range of topics will be covered. You can learn about the impacts of the federal stimulus package, review emerging business models, consider solar projects for the U.S. military, obtain information on smart grid technology and other transmission issues, and review important legal considerations concerning the siting and permitting of large scale solar.
Of course, any conference like this is a great opportunity to network with others in the industry, and to even find out what your competitors are planning for 2010.
If you desire, there are additional events pre-conference on January 19, and post-conference on January 22. You could make it a 4-day business trip! Consider attending a solar economics training forum, get the basics at “Solar 101″, or sit down to review legal issues in structuring solar projects in depth.
Prices vary from $600 to $3700, with a variety of offerings. Discounts may be available for non-profits and/or government agencies. Register 3 attendees, you’ll pay for only 2!
If you want more information, head over to the official conference website. Start making your plans for a sunny business get-away now!
14:30 
Over 1 GW of solar panels were sold by First Solar in 2009
A manufacturing milestone in the solar industry was reached last week! The publicly-held U.S. company, First Solar Inc., announced that it manufactured and shipped more than 1 gigawatts (GW) of its PV solar modules in 2009. Its the first solar manufacturing company to reach this production volume in a single year.
In a short two years, the company achieved a significant leap in production from approximately 75 megawatts (MW) in 2007, to its 1 GW milestone this year. To put this in perspective, 1 gigawatt is the equivalent of 1000 megawatts.
First Solar is the largest manufacturer of thin-film solar cells in the world, and the second largest manufacturer of photovoltaic solar modules – the familiar solar panels you’ll see on homes and buildings.
First Solar states that its solar modules are produced at $0.98/watt, which broke another barrier in February this year (dropping below $1 per watt). According to Wikipedia, the company must continue to reduce price per watt by 6.5% per year and it plans to be competitive on an unsubsidized basis with retail electricity next year.
Regarding the 1 GW production milestone, First Solar’s president, Bruce Sohn observed:
“This proof that the solar industry can achieve the manufacturing scale necessary to fight climate change is especially timely in light of the Copenhagen conference that began last week. Our efforts in scaling our technology are critical to creating a more sustainable energy infrastructure and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Since First Solar began full operation of its line in 2004, it has expanded its manufacturing capacity by an astounding 2,500%, all the while it was reducing manufacturing costs at a rapid pace.
What will 2010 bring? If the past is any indication, First Solar’s prediction of grid-parity next year is a safe bet.
6:59 
Amazon.com
Designed to protect against natural battery discharge and electronic drain in cars, recreational vehicles, SUVs, and trucks, the Coleman solar 1.5-watt 12-volt deep-cycle charger keeps the 12-volt batteries in the vehicle charged so you can run small appliances such as fluorescent lights, coolers, small TVs, or laptops. The solar charger provides an immediate charge when exposed to daylight, even on cloudy day. Illuminated LEDs lets you know the panel is charging, and (more…)
3:44 
Ultra Thin Solar Cells
Recently, Boston College researchers observed the so-called “hot electron” effect in a solar cell for the first time, and then harvested the charges with ultra-thin solar cells.
What does this mean for you and for me? The short answer is: improved solar panel efficiency.
Generally speaking, when UV light is captured in solar cells, it generates free electrons in a range of energy states. In order to capture the charges and convert them to renewable electricity, the electrons must reach the bottom of the conduction band. In the past, one of the biggest hurdles has been the fact that the highly energized “hot” electrons lose much of their energy to heat along the way.
You can see hot electrons in devices like semiconductors. Yet, the high kinetic energy can cause the electrons, also known as “hot carriers,” to degrade a device. For years, researchers have theorized about the benefits of harnessing hot electrons for solar power through so-called “3rd generation” devices.
Thin Solar is In
Scientists are now using ultra-thing solar cells (less than 30 nanometers thick) in a mechanism that can extract hot electrons before they cool. This may effectively open an “escape hatch” through which they typically don’t travel.
Professor of Physics Krzysztof Kempa used the analogy of trying to heat a swimming pool with a pot of boiling water:
Drop the pot into the center of the pool and there would be no change in temperature at the edge because the heat would dissipate en route. But drop the pot into a sink filled with cold water and the heat would likely raise the temperature in the smaller area.
He noted:
“We have shrunk the size of the solar cell by making it thin. In doing so, we are bringing these hot electrons closer to the surface, so they can be collected more readily. These electrons have to be captured in less than a picosecond, which is less than one trillionth of a second.”
With ultra-thin solar cells, an overall increase in efficiency of 3% can be expected with absorbers 1/50th as thick as conventional cells! The Boston College research team determined that the gains were the result of capturing hot electrons and an accompanying reduction in voltage-sapping heat. Currently, the film’s efficiency is limited by the negligible light collection of ultra-thin junctions. However, by combining the film with new light-trapping technology — such as nanowire structures –we could significantly increase efficiency in an ultra-thin hot electron solar cell technology.
3:48 
In the face of steeply rising oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East, there is new urgency in finding a solution to our uncertain energy future. Breakthroughs in new materials and ingenious designs for solar collectors are transforming the technology into a vastly cheaper, more efficient alternative. NOVA presents the latest thinking from solar enthusiasts and skeptics as it investigates cutting-edge research developments. The film introduces viewers to the scienti (more…)
3:54 
Solar Impulse aircraft
Of all the major greenhouse gas emitting sources in the world, commercial air travel is one of the biggest offenders. Now, there is hope for cleaner, greener flights.
The Solar Impulse is a giant, 4-motored electric airplane that is covered with more than 12,000 PV solar cells on its wings, fuselage and horizontal stabilizer.
According to the Solar Impulse web site:
At midday, each m2 of land surface receives the equivalent of 1000 Watts, or 1.3 horsepower of light power. Over 24 hours, this averages out at just 250W/m2. With 200m2 of photovoltaic cells and a 12 % total efficiency of the propulsion chain, the plane’s motors achieve no more than 8 HP or 6kW – roughly the amount of power the Wright brothers had a available to them in 1903 when they made their first powered flight.
Wikipedia states:
The plane is as wide as an Airbus A340. Under the wing are four gondolas, each with a set of lithium polymer batteries, a 10HP motor and a twin-bladed propeller. To keep the structure ultra-light, a customized carbon fibre honeycomb sandwich structure is used.
Wondering how the Solar Impulse can keep flying overnight? One word: batteries. And now 5 words: How much do they weigh?
At 400 kilograms, the batteries comprise 1/4 the total weight of the airplane, but they’ll be equally dispersed across the entire mass. Lithium polymer batteries will be insulated, as well, to prevent freezing at the massively cold -40 degrees Celsius temps at more than 27,000 feet elevation that the solar plane will fly.
The average cruise speed will be 70 km/hr, so it will take approximately a week to complete the trip, which is to be made in four long legs starting on the Persian Gulf, across southeast Asia, then across the Pacific to Hawaii. From Hawaii, a two-man crew will fly two nights straight, landing in Miami, Florida. From Florida they will cross the Atlantic to North Africa and then back to the Gulf. The route of the flight is depicted in a Flash animation.
Are we on the cutting edge of emissions-free airplane travel? Yes, say the project’s promoters. In fact, a second airplane is planned for 2011, which will include a pressurized cabin to allow for trans continental and trans-oceanic flights. And plans for an around-the-world flight are in the works for 2012.
Who would have thought… a solar airplane? Actually, come to think of it, why not?
3:38 
Canada Solar Power is looking up!
Here’s three words you might not expect to see together: Canada Solar Power. After all, the northernmost North American Country is not exactly known for sunny weather!
Yet, surprisingly, there is plenty of good news on the solar front coming from Canada recently. In the northern reaches of this northern country, solar power is heating up! Among other things, First Solar and the Canadian pipeline company Enbridge have recently announced that they will be working together to quadruple the size of a solar farm in Ontario.
Some of the details were reported last week on thestar.com:
Enbridge Inc. has decided to quadruple its investment in Ontario’s solar-power market, announcing Tuesday it is acquiring another six solar farms in Sarnia from California’s First Solar Inc. The Calgary-based oil pipeline giant said it will pay an additional $300 million to add 60 megawatts of solar capacity to the 20 megawatts it purchased in October for $100 million. The solar projects fetch 42 cents per kilowatt-hour over 20 years for the electricity they produce under Ontario’s older Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP).
Lest you wonder about solar power in northern latitudes, we should all take a page from Germany’s book (the world’s leading solar market). That country has shown that its not as important to have optimal solar patterns, as it is for the economics of a project to be well thought-out.
The First Solar-Enbridge venture is not the only newsworthy story to report for Canada solar power. SkyPower and SunEdison also recently paired up to create the third largest solar farm in North America, and the largest PV farm in Canada:
All of this just goes to show that you cannot judge the renewable energy market based on its “cover.” In other words, don’t count out a region just because of a preconception regarding sunny days (or windy ones, etc.).
Because Ontario has a European-styled solar incentive structure, I will bet that we’ll see much more solar energy from the northern regions of Canada in the months and years ahead!
3:47 
Nicole Kuepper Cooks up Solar Panels
Who is ready to cook up some solar panels? How about a 23-year old PhD Engineering student who’s using some unique ingredients: nail polish, inkjet printers and pizza ovens.
No, its not a joke. And yes, its time to be in awe of Nicole Kuepper, a student at the University of New South Wales, Australia, who is working hard to reduce the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.
At her young age, Kuepper has already received two Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, which is the highest scientific award in the country. And I would say, its a highly deserved award!
As a result of Kuepper’s breakthrough discoveries, solar powered renewable energy may be more affordable around the world in the next 5 years. Particularly when it comes to Third World, developing countries, Nicole’s simple solar cell creation process can help bring the technology to many needy areas. As described on CalFinder:
The process uses a simple inkjet printer to spray acetone in an exact pattern onto a nail-polish-coated silicon wafer. It’s not the polish you’d buy at the salon, but it has similar components. The wafer is then covered with an aluminum spray and baked at about 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
This makes me wonder…. I have all of these ingredients, but I cannot cook up a solar panel to save my life. Thank goodness for smart women like Nicole Kuepper!
3:48 
Complete Coverage of the Latest Advances In the FieldEnergy experts predict that wholesale electricity prices could easily rise 35 to 65 percent by 2015. Add to this the growing need for energy independence and the need to reduce carbon emissions and it is very clear that the development of low-cost renewable energy, such as solar energy, is essential for our economy and our national security. With the potential for low-cost, renewable energy that can create jobs while reducing (more…)
3:33 
Portable solar power - coming to a construction site near you!
There are dozens of gadgets on the market these days that provide portable solar power for consumers. Whether you want to recharge your cell phone or laptop, or use a solar powered lantern for your outdoor activities, there are products for you!
Its time to think bigger with respect to portable solar power, however. One company wondered, why construction workers couldn’t use energy from the sun, instead of gas generators to provide free solar electricity to run drills, saws and other power tools? To answer the question… Solaroad Technologies created the GridKicker, which is ever bit as powerful as traditional generators (5,000 watts), yet runs silently without fumes or emissions, and re-charges itself with exposure to UV light – even during use!
From the website:
The GridKicker Generator is a unique device that utilizes photovoltaic’s and lithium ion batteries in a novel package. The generator can provide continuous power and due to its unique construction, it recharges quickly. The device can also take advantage of indirect light, and works well under overcast conditions.
Not only does the GridKicker use clean solar energy for power, its also constructed primarily of recycled materials. You can also scale power output to your own needs. If necessary, plug it in for additional power.
This portable solar power device is perfect, not only for construction companies, but also homeowners who desire a reliable back-up generator, schools, clinics or other sites that could benefit from power during emergencies, or even for those who wish to use solar power in their everyday lives without the hassle or expense of installing solar panels. Why not get rid of all your extension cords and run your lawn care equipment from the GridKicker?
I’m watching my local home improvement store for one of these devices to hit shelves soon!
7:46 
Camels Carry Solar-Powered Refrigerators for Mobile Health Clinics
Combining new technology and an age-old method of transport, communities in Kenya and Ethiopia may soon receive delivery of refrigerated medicines and vaccines from camels carrying solar-powered refrigerators. Reaching these remote areas is not only potentially expensive, but many regions lack electricity needed to safely refrigerate the supplies.
Although camels have been used for mobile health clinics for some time, the off-grid communities have not been able to receive medical supplies that require refrigeration. At least not until now!
The Nomadic Communities Trust recently partnered with California’s Art Center College of Design’s Designmatters and Princeton’s Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM) to create a lightweight solar-powered refrigerator that can be strapped to camels’ backs in order to transport chilled medicines and vaccines, as shown in the image above.
Solar Powered Refrigerators fit on camel backs to provide aid to remote areas
Solar panels on the top of the mini fridge provide power for the appliance, as well as lighting. A durable saddle houses the fridge, and is made of bamboo to minimize weight. It has to be able to endure many miles over rough terrain.
The special saddles and solar-powered refrigerators were designed on a lean budget and were first tested on camels at the Bronx Zoo. Currently, tests are being conducted on camels in Kenya and Ethiopia. However, the mobile health clinics could be implemented in any region with access to camels.
With a push for funding, the hope is that the solar powered refrigerators for mobile health clinics project will be implemented in 2010. If you want to donate to help the cause, go to the Population and Sustainable Network and click on donate.
3:42 From the 1967 film, “The Graduate”
Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
Mr. McGuire: Plastics.
Benjamin: Just how do you mean that, sir?
Solarmer Plastic Solar Panels (image from Solarmer)
While plastics surely have changed the world over the past 42 years, Mr. McGuire could hardly have imagined their application in solar technology.
A California startup firm, Solarmer, has been making impressive progress with plastic organic photovoltaic (PV) cells. This month, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory confirmed that the plastic solar cells have broken an efficiency record of 7.9% – and Solarmer is aiming to get to 10% conversion by the end of 2010.
As explained on its official website, transparent, flexible plastic solar panels represent the “next wave” in solar energy:
These solar panels are opening the door for a wide range of new application areas in renewable energy, which are not currently addressable with conventional silicon solar panel technology. Our company’s solar panels have the potential to reduce the cost of renewable energy down to 12-15 cents/kWh and less than $1/Watt, which means plastic solar panels will be the first in solar capable of generating electricity on par with conventional fuel costs.
Solarmer’s use of plastic as the active material to convert solar energy into electricity is practical on several levels. Not only is it a low-cost material, but plastic has extraordinary light absorption capability. The plastics layer in the solar cell is only a few tenths of a micrometer thick – much thinner than in a silicon cell. Solarmer is also cutting costs by using inexpensive printing techniques during the plastic solar cell manufacturing process, which results in reduced cost of equivalent energy (a fraction of that of silicon technology). Overall, less energy is required to make the plastic solar cells than “traditional” PV cells.
While the prospects of flexible applications and low cost of solar energy are exciting, you won’t be able to buy the organic plastic PV cells (OPV cells) until next year. Solarmer is currently working on roll-to-roll technology for use in the manufacturing process, and will bring a few products to market later in 2010.
Can you imagine… plastics used in solar technology? Mr. McGuire and Benjamin would be so impressed….
18:15 
3-D Solar Cell can work underground!
To state the obvious, solar energy cannot be generated without exposure to sunlight. So it may be surprising to hear about a PV solar system that can work underground!
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a 3-D solar cell that is designed to capture solar energy with only the tip of an optical fiber exposed to UV light.
Borrowing technology from the telecommunications industry, the researchers applied zinc oxide nanostructures that were coated with dye-sensitized material to tiny, thin fibers (about 3 times the width of a human hair). Sunlight shining on the fiber generates electricity which is captured with a liquid electrolyte that surrounds the nanostructures.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this new solar technology is the fact that it can be concealed! That’s right – instead of having to endure the aesthetic impact of bulky solar panels on rooftops, a PV solar system can be incorporated virtually invisibly. That knocks out one of the biggest hurdles to PV panel usage!
But what about efficiency? The 3-D solar cells are up to 6 times more efficient than ordinary solar cells within the same surface area. Scientists believe they can more than double the current efficiency of this technology, too.
And cost? Dye-sensitized solar cells are inexpensive to manufacture, flexible and mechanically robust, though they do have a lower conversion efficiency than that of silicon-based cells.
This is just the beginning for this exciting new technology. The more unique ways we can find to tap into solar energy, the better our chances of becoming fossil-fuel-free in the future!
16:49 
Somenath Mitra works on flexible solar cell technology
Flexible solar panels may be one of the most exciting developments in solar technology. Now, paint on solar cells could take that idea to the next level. Imagine being able to literally coat a building or rooftop with solar sheets that can take energy from the sun and convert it to clean, free electricity!
Somenath Mitra, a professor of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, is working on developing a solar cell derived from polymers that could be used to power just about all aspects of our lives. Mr. Mitra holds give patents and is widely published in the field of chemistry. His pioneering solar cell research holds great promise.
For a brief explanation of the carbon nanotube solar technology, this video is helpful:
Instead of constructing typical solar cells of silicon, polymers dissolved in a solvent creates a “paint” or coating that can be applied to any surface – from homes to offices to cars! It’s inexpensive and versatile. Dr. Mitra explains:
When sunlight falls on an organic solar cell, the energy generates positive and negative charges. If the charges can be separated and sent to different electrodes, then a current flows. If not, the energy is wasted. But if you link cells electronically and form what is called a panel, like the ones currently seen on most rooftops, then you’ve got something. The size of both the cell and panels vary. Cells can range from 1 millimeter to several feet; panels have no size limits.
This breakthrough technology could result in a paradigm shift in how we perceive and use solar power. Imagine use of tiny solar cells with a carbon nanotube complex, 50,000 times smaller than a human hair. Now, add the fact that conduction is thousands of times more effective than along any electric wire.
Researchers believe that, eventually these solar cells will be so inexpensive and ubiquitous that people will literally print out sheets of solar cells on home-based inkjet printers using the solar paint “ink.” The produce can then be applied to any outdoor surface for an affordable way to tap into free solar energy.
I am eagerly awaiting that day. It will happen within the next decade!
7:59 
Local solar markets - turn back your electrical meter!
The 2009 edition of “Freeing the Grid” is out, which can help customers like you to review net metering and interconnection standards in an annual “report card.” There is hardly any other policy that can provide as much incentive to go solar and reduce monthly electricity bills.
Time to read how local solar markets can free the grid!
Freeing the Grid includes plenty of good news with respect to solar energy. Overall, many states have shown solid progress with respect to local solar markets and a free grid.
I’m proud to say that Oregon is still the leader in solar energy!
If you want to see whether your own state made the grade, you can download “Freeing the Grid” from Network for New Energy Choice, right here.
Why should you care? Why is this important?
Solar Markets for a new electricity grid
Here’s a brief explanation:
Interconnection standards include technical requirements and legal procedures that allow a customer to plug in its generator to the electricity grid. Governing the process is a transparent set of provisions that help connection to the grid. Overall, you should be able to connect without hassle or extra cost. Yet, some utilities have put up barriers to the connection process, absent state policy that offers those protections.
Net metering allows solar customers to get fair credit for the excess electricity solar energy systems generate during daytime hours. In other words, you can “bank” solar power that you generate, but don’t use (say, when you are at work or when there are a number of extra sunny days) and feed it back into the grid. Currently, there may be some arbitrary limits on the system size or number of customers that are allowed to participate.
Its time to do away with such limits. According to an Environmental News Network article:
We’re working hard to make these policy changes state by state, but it’s incredibly helpful to have folks like NNEC, IREC and DSIRE give state leaders tools for getting it right. This stuff is complex, it’s new to many, and it can be tricky to get right. Freeing the Grid provides an effective roadmap for navigating that great unknown and getting straight to effective policies that are going to build local solar markets.
Specifically, in California, you lose the benefits of net metering once customer-owned solar reaches 2.5% of the overall load in an specific utility territory. But why? Given the popularity of solar in Northern California, it will reach that cap in early 2010. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has volunteered to raise the program cap to 3.5%, in its regions. But hopefully, the California Legislature will take up the issue in 2010, and mandate higher caps for all utilities.
There are net metering issues in New York, too. Its program is interpreted such that most commercial energy systems do not participate. Talk about throwing a road block in the way of the growing solar industry!
Let’s hope that 2010 brings some new laws that encourage and allow local solar markets to free the grid.
2:05 
Review
“Martin A. Green of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, is arguably the most renowned scientist in the field of photovoltaics … The book is well written, covers all the important concepts, and gives the right references. Green manages to keep the reader’s attention in spite of some arduous derivations … Third Generation Photovoltaics will be invaluable as a reference for anyone involved in long-term photovoltaics research and useful as textbook for courses on (more…)
3:05 
Review
‘Few missions are more important than solarizing the developing world – Few people have more experience of this task than Damian Miller. This unmissable book is the story of making it happen.’ Jeremy Leggett, Founder and Executive Chairman of Solar Century, and author of Half Gone and The Carbon War ‘Selling Solar sheds light on the failures, successes, lessons learned and best-practice in the history of solar innovation diffusion in emerging market economies. Its analyses (more…)
3:34 
Downtown San Francisco: Location of the 2nd Annual Thin Film Solar Summit
The second annual Thin Film Solar Summit will be held December 1-2, 2009 in San Francisco, California. Over 300 experts will be in attendance at the Hotel Nikko, downtown near Market Street.
Check out this list of speakers, from the official website:
Applied Materials, Christopher Beitel, MD
What will you learn at the Thin Film Solar Summit?
The Thin Film Solar Conference - Hosted by Thin Film Today
Financing tips from investment banks and experts. Technology advancements – learn how to achieve operational improvements with a-Si, CdTe and CIGS. How to reduce production thin film costs by 40-50%.
In short, getting funding, cutting costs and boosting your bottom line in the production of thin film solar! Why not attend? The full agenda is here.
The leading technology and commercialization experts will be here, giving you an unprecedented opportunity to exchange ideas with the thin-film pioneers who are pushing this industry forward. You will not be able to meet this group of people so effortlessly anywhere else. Manufacturers, Investors, Engineers, Scientists, Project Developers, Researchers and Key Service Providers will all be in the same place at the same time.
Its not too late to register if you want to attend! Just click on this link, and choose which package you are interested in. Prices range from $995-$1995.
8:57 
M&Ms come in a rainbow of colors: why not make them with the power of the sun?
You know what they say about green M&Ms, right? Well, now all of the rainbow of colors produced by the candy giant will have a bit of “green” in them!
Earlier this month, the New Jersey M&Ms candy factory started generating clean solar energy with a new solar array. About 28,000 solar panels at the factory will produce 2 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity – enough to power 1,800 homes.
That translates to 1/5 of the M&M plant’s energy needs!
Its a sound investment for Mars, Inc., which owns M&Ms and provided the land next to the New Jersey facility for the solar panels.
More and more, consumers are looking for environmentally-friendly products. If M&Ms can go greener, that could help it retain its dominance as the premier shelled chocolate treat.
Don’t worry – even though sunshine is now used to make these candies, they will still melt only in your mouth, not in your hands!
Former New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman praised the M&Ms New Jersey solar project as a “blueprint for environmentally friendly business investment.”
What do you think about these greener M&Ms? For me, I’ll take any excuse I can use to treat myself to a bit of candy!
3:32 
Suntech Solar Panels to be made in the U.S.A.
Suntech Power Holdings, a Chinese company, has announced the location of a new solar manufacturing plant right here in the U.S.A. Its the first for the company, which many view as the leader of the global solar market.
The Suntech solar manufacturing plant will be located in Phoenix, Arizona. When production begins next October, Suntech will be the first major Chinese solar panel company to bring green factory jobs to this country.
Solar panel manufacturing
Not only is this great news for residents of Phoenix, but overall, the move should help alleviate concerns about China’s dominance of the green technology market, and potential trade issues that could arise as a result. Dan Kammen, a professor in the energy and resources group at Berkeley commented:
“Suntech’s decision to bring manufacturing here to the U.S. is a great sign of the increasingly important collaboration between Chinese and American leaders in the renewable-energy industry.”
World-wide, most solar panels are produced by European and Asian companies. At the Phoenix facility for Suntech, the initial production will be at a capacity of 30 megawatts (MW) per year, which is enough to power about 7,500 homes. From there, production will grow to 200 MW annually!
You are probably wondering – who will be buying solar panels? What is the demand?
In 2008, production of nearly 500 MW of solar panels was achieved. While the recession affected sales this year, solar panel demand in the U.S. is expected to exceed 1,000 MW next year – a 50% growth rate in a mere 2 years.
Lower prices and more generous tax rebates and incentives can be thanked.
Solar Panel arrays
In 2010, who knows where the leading solar manufacturing plant will be – China or the U.S.A.? Suntech Power Holdings, based in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, is currently the top vendor of crystalline photovoltaic solar panels in both countries.
In fact, you may be wondering why Suntech sited its new solar panel plant in Phoenix? The state of Arizona has a strong renewable energy standard, which requires 15% of all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025. The region also favors distributed generation, which is renewable energy that is generated locally, rather than at sites that require feed-in to the grid and transport across many miles to the end user.
For U.S. customers, it makes sense to locate solar panel manufacturing here. Suntech knows that delivery time, costs, and overall carbon footprint can be lowered when the panels are created here, rather than overseas.
The market for solar panels is set to go through a paradigm shift in the near future. Supply costs are going down, while demand will increase. Government incentives are on the rise, and financing options are getting more creative.
Two or three years ago, who would have thought that we would see Chinese solar panels made here in the U.S.A.?
Its a brave new world in renewable energy!
14:11 
Can we use solar power overnight?
As more and more people turn to solar energy for reliable, clean renewable power, there is still one major stumbling block. You can only tap into solar power when the sun is shining. But what if you could use solar power overnight? How could that work?
Scientists at SolarReserve have come up with the antidote to night skies and overcast days. A solar energy farm can store solar energy in heated molten salt. Up to 7 hours of stored solar energy is held by the heated salt, which creates steam to generate an electrical turbine.
The technology is similar to concentrated solar power (aka solar thermal power). Giant mirrors, called heliostats, follow the path of the sun and reflect sunlight toward a 500-foot tower holding millions of gallons of liquid molten salt. The heliostat field is approximately 2 square miles in size.
As described on SolarReserve’s website:
A tower resides in the center of the heliostat field. The heliostats focus concentrated sunlight on a receiver which sits on top of the tower.
Within the receiver, the concentrated sunlight heats molten salt to over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. The heated molten salt then flows into a thermal storage tank where it is stored, maintaining 98% thermal efficiency, and eventually pumped to a steam generator. The steam drives a standard turbine to generate electricity. This process, also known as the “Rankine cycle” is similar to a standard coal-fired power plant, except it is fueled by clean and free solar energy.
Heliostat field
Researchers believe that the energy generated by the solar power towers will be cheaper than coal or natural gas. The clean electricity is fed back into the grid and purchased by utilities for sale to their end customers. Lest you question the “green-ness” of storing solar power overnight in molten salt, the technology is both safe and inexpensive – not to mention reliable:
The molten salt storage loop enables the plant to generate electricity whenever it is needed – 24 hours per day or during “peak demand” periods. Molten salt is an efficient and inexpensive medium to store energy. The salt used in the process is an environmentally friendly mixture of sodium and potassium nitrate, the same ingredients used in garden fertilizer.
Solar Reserve’s plant will generate between 100-600 megawatts of electricity, depending on the configuration of power load that the utility requires. A single megawatt is enough power to supply approximately 1,000 households. That’s some serious juice!
Talk about solar technology that’s worth its salt!
14:01 
Photovoltaic laminates
Have you heard about peel and stick solar panels? Actually, photovoltaic laminates and shingles are not your typical solar rooftop installations. Many would say that they are significantly superior for the following reasons:
Photovoltaic laminates are flexible and lightweight, encapsulated in UV stabilized polymers. They come in sheets, or as solar shingles. Simply perfect for the property owner that does not want large solar panels marring their roofline.
One of the largest manufacturers of flexible solar modules is UNI-SOLAR. As stated on its website:
UNI-SOLAR is the only flexible photovoltaic product produced in commercially viable volumes. Our performance is proven with over 250MW installed worldwide. UNI-SOLAR laminates are offered through a world-wide network of roofing manufacturers and solar system installers.
The solar laminates are particularly ideal for use on metal roofs. Consider the product for installation on both commercial and residential metal roofs, barns, parking structures, awnings, and more.
As with “traditional” solar roof panels, you can receive federal, state and/or local tax credits and incentives for photovoltaic laminates and shingles. Lower your upfront cost, and then enjoy free solar electricity thereafter!
3:14 
Westinghouse solar holiday snowflake LED lights are powered by an innovative double junction amorphous panel, which charges in both direct and indirect sunlight. Available in white with changing multi colors, solid red or solid green, these solar lights r
6:45 
From the Manufacturer
CCI Moonrays 91225 Solar Powered plastic path light verona style, 10-Pack, black. This set of 10-path light fixtures helps to illuminate any area that needs added safety. They nicely mark the edge of a driveway or sidewalk, garden steps or swimming pool perimeter. The black plastic fixtures have one white LED and cast a soft glow, blending into the landscape of any home. Fixtures have durable plastic construction for longevity in all weather conditions.
3:26 
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development in the United States. Based in Golden, Colorado and with offices in Washington D.C., NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. It is operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy.
NREL has been operating since 1977, initially as the Solar Energy Research Institute. In 1991, the name was changed to NREL when it was designated a national laboratory by the DOE.
Solar research is one of the primary programs at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Its Solar Energy Technologies Program advances research and development in several major solar technologies.
NREL's laboratory in Golden, Colorado
NREL’s Solar Energy Technologies Program includes research on photovoltaics (PV), solar thermal, and solar radiation.
Perhaps the technology with which most people are familiar is photovoltaics. Say the term “solar power,” and the first thing that comes to mind is usually silicon-based PV cells, or solar panels. At NREL, advancements are being made with respect to performance and reliability of PV cells. It is developing standardized tests and performance models to help the industry, and working to accelerate manufacturing capacity of PV technologies.
This research can only be helpful if it can be transferred to the marketplace. As described on the official NREL website:
“A critical part of the Lab’s mission is the transfer of NREL-developed technologies to renewable energy markets. NREL’s Technology Transfer Office supports laboratory scientists and engineers in the successful and practical application of their expertise and the technologies they develop. NREL’s world-class R&D staff and facilities are recognized and valued by industry, as demonstrated through hundreds of collaborative research projects and licensed technologies with public and private partners.”
Another area of solar research at NREL is focused on solar thermal. Concentrating solar power is an alternative way to generate solar electricity that uses mirrors to superheat water to create steam, which then turns generators. Also known as parabolic trough technology, CSP is used in Spain, Portugal and at some California and Nevada locations to generate utility-scale solar energy.
On a smaller scale, NREL is also working to improve efficiency and lower cost of solar hot water systems. These can be installed on homes and businesses to provide hot water, without the use of electricity. At NREL, researchers are working to develop new polymer (plastic) systems for solar water heating.
Solar radiation research is necessary to determine the optimal siting of solar panels or parabolic trough technologies. At NREL, data on solar radiation and other meteorological information is collected at the Solar Radiation Research Laboratory and provided to certain organizations, universities and governmental agencies. That information is then used for climate change models, testing renewable energy conversion systems and general atmospheric research.
Research at NREL spans the range of renewable energy options, beyond just solar power. For more information about what is happening at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, click here.
3:59 
Up, up and away go your electricity bills!
Did you know that lighting is a major source of energy consumption? By reducing the carbon footprint of our lamps, we can literally cut millions of tons of CO2 emissions each year. And consider this shocking fact:
The electricity used over the lifetime of a single incandescent bulb costs 5 to 10 times the original purchase price of the bulb itself.
While many people are familiar with compact fluorescent bulbs, light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs are actually the greener choice. Particularly when they are solar LED lights.
Solar LED lights are used by more than just homeowners. Airports, marine crews, outdoors people, and communities in developing nations all rely on these convenient lighting options.
The soft glow of a solar LED light
There are a number of manufacturers that have started producing solar LED lights recently. Consumers can delight in the many options available these days, from solar garden lights to safety lighting.
Here are a few options with links to websites:
These are just a few of the solar manufacturers who make LED lights. You can not only find the products at home improvement stores, but often directly online – as many of the companies sell to consumers straight from the Internet.
3:40 
The Security Sensor LED Light is a solar powered convenience light with a built-in motion sensor. It is ideal for backyard security and walkway lighting as it turns on whenever movement is detected. With a removable solar panel on a 16 foot cord, it can also be used for lighting garden sheds, outhouses or interior rooms. Since it is solar powered, it is easy for anyone to install. Specifications: Bulb brightness:15pcs super bright 12,000 mcd LEDs Motion sensor passive infrar (more…)
8:00 Today's solar power is a far cry from what was implemented in centuries past
While its the 21st century and solar power is on the rise, some may think that solar is the next, great thing. However, there is actually a long history of use of the renewable resource. In other words, perhaps we are finally catching up with our ancestors in harnessing and using energy from the sun.
One of the earliest uses of solar energy was by the Romans, who positioned bathhouses near southern-facing windows to harness passive solar power to warm the room and the water. In the 18th century, Napolean III watched a demonstration of a solar-powered printing press, and ice machine.
But truly, humans didn’t entirely embrace solar power until they had to.
Although coal is apparently plentiful and cheap, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fear of a coal shortage resulted in interest in solar technology.
So much history and potential for solar power!
While solar had great potential from the start, the discovery of massive oil fields that offered cheap power, literally eclipsed solar power until the 1970s. So what does the future now hold? From a political standpoint, there have been fits and starts for solar power since Carter’s administration (he installed solar panels on the White House) until today.
Here are some fast facts:
Starting in the 1990s, solar technology exploded! From panels on houses encouraged by the Kyoto Protcol, to thin film solar technology showing up on handbags, backpacks, clothing and more…. But its not all about consumerism. In developing third world countries, solar cookers can make a significant difference.
Solar power on the rise here and worldwide!
Today, in my hometown of Bend, Oregon, rooftop solar panels are prevalent! In fact my neighbor across the street just had panels installed last week. Businesses and homeowners alike are enjoying the convenient, free power from the sun.
PV panels generate electricity, and solar hot water heaters use solar energy to provide cheap, emissions-free hot water – for bathing, laundry and cooking.
Solar technology is changing rapidly. New manufacturing processes emerge regularly, and scientists are finding new ways to increase efficiency of solar cells. From utility scale solar plants in Spain and Portugal (the countries generate 40% of their power from solar energy) to individual PV panels installed on rooftops in California under the Million Solar Roofs program, government incentives and lowered cost of panels will result in more solar installations in the coming months and years.
Truly, solar power is on the rise! Its time to get on board.
12:31 
A microscopic view of salt water diatoms (image from Wikipedia)
Researchers at Oregon State University and Portland State University have discovered a way to use algae to increase solar cell efficiency. Using microscopic algae called diatoms, dye-sensitized solar cells can produce triple the electrical output of ordinary solar cells.
When specially-engineered diatoms are used in the production of thin film solar cells, light is captured inside the nano-scale pores of the cells. As a result, incident photons are trapped: electricity generation and efficiency are thus increased.
OSU professor Greg Rorrer stated:
“In our system, photons bounce around inside pores formed from diatom shells making them three times more efficient.”
Dye-sensitized solar cells are considered to be a superior alternative to photovoltaic silicon solar panels from an environmental and cost standpoint, and they can also work in low-light conditions. A thin film of dye molecules is attached to a titanium oxide layer, applied to a glass or plastic substrate. The dye molecules absorb light; excitation of electrons injects them into the titanium layer and from there, they are transported to the negative electrode.
Dye-sensitized solar cells (image from Wikipedia)
The primary advantage silicon panels have over dye-sensitized solar cells is nearly double the efficiency (20%, compared to 10%).
At least until now.
In the Oregon-based research, the engineers provided titanium dioxide to living diatoms, encouraging them to build shells from the photovoltaic material. Organic material was then removed from the titanium dioxide shells, which were mixed into a dye.
The thin-film solar cells created with this process were three times as efficient as thin films that did not include the diatom nanoscale patterning.
The research is encouraging for those in the solar film industry. Of course, it is still in the experimental stage. And, while there will be some added cost using the new technology, increased efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells will likely justify the expense.
12:22 
Beautiful fall colors in Eugene, Oregon
Over the past year, we’ve published a number of articles about Oregon’s leadership in solar power. From headlines like “Oregon Leads the Nation in Solar,” to Solar World Investing in Oregon,” there is much good news about the future of this renewable energy resource in the Beaver State.
Recently, Uni-Chem, a South Korean company that manufactures solar cells, announced its intention to locate some of its operations in Eugene, Oregon. As reported:
Uni-chem Co. signed a memorandum of understanding in August to buy Hynix’s memory chip plant and the accompanying land in Eugene, Oregon, for $50 million, Uni-chem Chairman Lee Ho-chan told The Associated Press.
In addition to Uni-Chem, the Pacific Northwest has attracted numerous solar companies, perhaps in part due to the green lifestyle of residents here, and the fact that there are many incentives for both utilities and customers.
Oregon continues to lead in solar power
Here are fast facts as to why we’re seeing more investment in Oregon solar power:
Installing solar panels in Oregon
Roger Little, the CEO of Spire Solar (working with Uni-Chem to establish solar production in the United States) stated:
“As we look around the U.S. and ask the question, who has the best incentives for starting solar factories, Oregon always comes out at the top. If you can maintain the benefit that ou provide to these companies, then you’ll continue to grow in the solar field. I think its a huge opportunity.”
Projections for solar power are… shall we say… sunny! In fact, some experts estimate that solar module manufacturing will rise 45% annually from 2008 to 2012. By then, we’ll have 3,880 megawatts of solar energy installed.
Let’s do some math. A single megawatt of solar power can power 150-200 homes. That means that three-quarters of a million people can be living on clean, green electricity in the near future. In Oregon alone.
Shyam Mehta, a GTM Research analyst, ranks Oregon #1 for solar manufacturing companies in the United States. He projects that, by 2012, Oregon will account for 59% of the nation’s production of silicon wafers.
I love living in Oregon – fresh air, gorgeous scenery… and my neighbor down the street just installed solar panels on his rooftop! Its exciting to watch the development of the solar panel industry here. I’m looking forward to more great solar news to come from this corner of the world.
19:04 
Solar Energy from the Sahara Desert
Cool news from one of the planet’s hot spots today. A dozen companies joined the Desertec Industrial Initiative which aims to generate solar energy from the Sahara Desert to provide 15% of European energy needs by 2050.
Big companies put up some big bucks (the equivalent of $400 billion USD) for the venture. The goal is for the project to start providing solar electricity to Europe by 2015.
What does the vision entail?
Utility scale solar plants and transmission grids will be constructed in North Africa and the Middle East. In the Sahara Desert, concentrated solar power technology (as is currently in place in Spain and planned for Southern California) will be employed. Rows and rows of parabolic mirrors will line the desert, and will focus solar rays onto water tanks. The water is super-heated and the steam then turns turbines to generate electricity.
Also known as mirror technology, CSP is considerably increasing the efficiency rate of solar power, which is then fed into the grid and is a clean alternative to coal-based electricity.
Parabolic mirrors used in Concentrated Solar Power generation
From the Sahara, the electricity will need to be transported along many miles to Europe, part of which will be under the Mediterranean. High-tech cables will be installed on the grid to prevent conductive loss of power. The investment of the 12 companies into the consortium (based in Munich) will provide much needed funding for the project.
The Desertec Industrial Initiative is considered by some to be a critical turning point in the push for renewable energy deployment in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Solar energy is not new to a number of European countries, but the scale of the project exceeds that of the number of smaller solar operations.
Countries in North Africa will also benefit from solar energy generated in the Sahara Desert. A portion of the power generated will be sold to African consumers, as well.
The twelve companies forming the consortium are: ABB, Abengoa Solar, Cevital, Desertec Foundation, E.ON, HSH Nordbank, MAN Solar Millennium, Munich Re, M+W Zander, RWE, Schott Solar, and Siemens.
7:21 
Solar installations can save you money on your tax bill next year
How would you like a credit on next year’s tax bill? The United States Internal Revenue Service is offering tax credits up to 30% of your cost for solar installations and other energy saving systems (to a maximum of $1,500) for the tax years 2009 and 2010. A tax credit means that the money comes right off the bottom line – what you owe the IRS. Its more generous than a deduction, which is used to figure your actual tax liability.
So, let’s get to the point of how to save some serious cash!
Before we go any further, click right here to access the forms for federal residential energy credits. Now, let’s review how winterizing your home can give you a credit on your tax bill. From the Energy Star website:
Turn that meter a bit more slowly with energy efficient installations
Taking $1,500 right off the top of your tax bill is a great reward for those that are considering solar installations and other energy efficient measures.
But remember…. this is the IRS! You have to carefully document your tax credit claim, or risk owing more than you might otherwise think. Common questions to consider:
1. Do you get a credit for the cost of installation (labor), or just the equipment itself?
2. Are you dealing with a reputable manufacturer? Be sure to check its tax credit certification beforehand.
3. How much will you save in your electricity bill on average over the course of a year?
4. Will your home be more comfortable year-round as a result?
The tax credits are there for the taking! From solar-powered electric systems to solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, wind turbines and fuel cells, there are many ways for you to save on both your tax bill and your monthly utility statements.
4:26 
The Solar Food Dryer describes how to use solar energy to dry your food instead of costly electricity. With your own solar-powered food dryer, you can quickly and efficiently dry all your extra garden veggies, fruits, and herbs to preserve their goodness all year long-with free sunshine! Applicable to a wide geography-wherever gardens grow-this well-illustrated book includes: Complete step-by-step plans for building a high-performance, low-cost solar food dryer from readily av (more…)
4:00 
600 solar-powered bus stops to be installed in Miami
I just read about another bright idea to capitalize on the free, abundant energy from the sun. In sunny Miami, Florida, a media company – Fuel Miami LLC - is working with the city to install 600 solar powered bus stops. The company is donating the bus shelters, which will integrate solar panels for illumination and outdoor advertising to minimize environmental impact of each stop. In short, Miami will get free shelters, and Fuel will receive a place to display its customers’ ads without the need for no electrical outlets.
The project will take 3 years to implement, and will also include trash bins and benches, in addition to the bus shelters.
Michael Freedman, CEO of Fuel Outdoor Holdings LLC, Fuel’s parent, said Fuel has donated the bus shelters to ensure clean illumination and security for nighttime passengers, while eliminating potential negative environmental impact.
Miami is well-known for its sun, being located in the “Sunshine State.” So, it makes perfect sense for a project like this one that can reduce significant amounts of energy usage that many people may not even consider. Most of the energy will be used simply for lighting and safety. Only 100 of the 600 solar bus shelters will include advertising.
Over the course of the 20 year contract, each of the 600 solar stops will save 2 tons of CO2 annually. When you do the math, suddenly, you may start seeing many other ways in which solar energy can be used to reduce unnecessary electricity and waste.
4:53 
Flexible solar panels provide clean power for on-the-go people
Roll-up solar panels may one day be the solar gadget that you cannot live without. These flexible solar panels are created with thin films of solar foil, which absorb sunlight energy from three different wavelengths.
Unlike rigid PV solar panels, these are less costly, more portable, and very easy to use. And, they’ll allow you to charge up your devices without the use of CO2 producing electricity.
Also known as roll-up solar chargers, thin film solar technology, described above, is used to create flexible panels that can simply be rolled out into the sun and used to recharge phones, cameras, computers, iPods – you name it!
Several manufacturers are marketing roll-up solar panels. For example, Brunton makes “SolarRolls,” in two sizes: a 12″ x 22″ panel, which weighs 6.4 ounces and can output 4.5 watts, 15.4 Volts/300mA. At $169, it may be worth stashing in your backpack for your next camping trip. You’ll never be without your cell phone “juice” again.
For gadgets that need more power (laptops or camcorders), you may want the 12″x57″ solar panel which outputs 14 watts and 15.4 volts/900 mA and costs $399. The roll-up panels can even be strung together for more output.
I’d even go so far as to say that you may want one of these roll-up solar chargers in your trunk as part of your emergency kit.
Roll-up solar panels are also ideal for servicemen and servicewomen
Xunlight Corporation is another source for roll-up solar panels. Their website describes the manufacturing of flexible solar panels on stainless steel plates that are 3 feet wide and up to a mile long!
The 25MW solar cell manufacturing equipment, a 200-feet long series of connected vacuum deposition chambers, uses a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process to deposit thin-film silicon solar cells on a 3ft wide, one-mile-long thin stainless steel substrate at a speed of 720-square feet per hour. This manufacturing process is inherently lower-cost and more productive than competing technologies, and is designed, developed and constructed by Xunlight Corporation
Smaller, more portable sizes are available, if you don’t need a mile’s worth of solar panel….
Other companies have also announced plans to manufacture roll-up solar panels for a wide variety of uses, and at varying prices. Smaller solar chargers (to be available from Konarka Technologies) may cost as little as $75.
Many experts and other commentators have enthused about roll-up solar panels, noting that their inexpensive cost allows a broad application and use of free solar energy. Those in the construction industry and military – as well as ordinary people who simply enjoy being outdoors – should be able to extend the use of radios, flashlights, cameras and phones with a simple flick of the wrist, and unrolling of these lightweight, flexible panels.
4:02 
Chipotle Mexican Grill Goes Solar
In the past, I’ve suggested that McDonald’s should go solar. Well, its about to be surpassed by another fast food restaurant for bragging rights. Starting soon, you can order a “side of solar,” …. so to speak …. at some Chipotle Mexican Grill locations.
In a deal with Standard Renewable Energy, The fast food chain is installing rooftop solar panels on 75 of its restaurants nationwide in the coming year. In fact, the solar installations have already started in Texas (Austin, Dallas and San Antonio). Participating restaurants are chosen based on their electrical consumption, solar rebates offered by local utilities and access to direct sunlight.
When you combine the power that will be generated by the chain’s solar panels, it will become the largest direct producer of solar power in the restaurant business. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that the solar panel installations will reduce CO2 emissions by about 41 million pounds.
Chipotle’s Chairman and CEO Steve Ells stated:
“Today, we’re following a similar path in the way we design and build restaurants, looking for more environmentally friendly building materials and systems that make our restaurants more efficient.”
Why not install solar panels on rooftops?
Of the fast food chains in the U.S., Chipotle is one of the smallest – dwarfed by McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King and the other behemoths of the industry. Yet, with this first foray into rooftop solar panels, perhaps we’ll see Chipotle Mexican Grill emerge as a leader in a number of respects. Not only can the solar panels help the chain cut costs, but – let’s face it – its increasingly a positive marketing advantage to show your green side.
Lest you think the Chipotle solar panels is nothing short of a marketing ploy… think again. With many of its 830 restaurants located in single-story structures, there is ample rooftop space available for many more installations to occur. With numerous solar incentives offered by both the federal and state governments, why wouldn’t they switch to the ample renewable energy resource?
To put the potential into perspective, consider this information from a related blog post:
The largest single fast food chain, McDonald’s, has 32,000 restaurants operating under its brand in more than 100 countries. . . . Assume that one-quarter of the locations are solar friendly and McDonald’s could crank out upwards of 50 megawatts globally. That’s enough power to displace a small power plant, and is roughly enough to reduce production at the average coal-fired power plant in North America by about 10 percent.
Many see the solar panel installations as an expected progression of the fast food chain’s eco-friendly practices, with LEED-certified restaurants already in existence in several locations, and a stated mission to enhance sustainable practices.
We’re wishing all the success to Chipotle Mexican Grill with its new rooftop solar panels. Someone has to be a leader when it comes to fast food going green. And just perhaps we’ve found a new trailblazer!
20:21 
New development of a utility scale solar project
Today, Duke Energy announced a new agreement with ENN Group (a Chinese energy company and solar panel manufacturer) to develop and operate utility scale solar projects in the U.S. The partnership will be focused on development of large, utility scale solar farms, as well as smaller commercial rooftop solar panels for properties that will operate as distributed generation projects.
With respect to the new partnership, Duke Energy’s CEO stated:
“China is investing heavily in clean energy and we can make greater progress in the U.S. by joining forces and working together.”
The companies are combining forces to tap into the expanding renewable energy market in the United States. The demand is increasing due in part to legal requirements in many states that dictate that utilities use clean energy for a portion of the electricity they sell. Of the 50 states, all but 17 have targets or goals in this regard, notes the U.S. Department of Energy.
Duke Energy, based in Charlotte, N.C. is looking to develop solar farms across the nation. With its partnership with ENN, they can tap into thin-film solar panel technology. Together, the companies will make decisions on vendors for solar panels and other components and services project- by-project, he said.
Their respective backgrounds prove that it could be a match in the solar-powered heavens. Duke Energy already has a 10-MW customer solar installation program. And, ENN operates natural gas and biofuels businesses, while also manufacturing thin-film solar panels.
Stay tuned for more on this exciting partnership!
19:58 
Learn how to lease solar panels
So many people would like to convert to solar power, yet they are concerned about the upfront cost. Government is listening, offering generous tax rebates and incentives, but still, it could take more than ten years for your return on investment. So what else can you do?
Instead of purchasing, you can lease solar panels! There are a number of reputable companies with which you can do business that will install, maintain and even insure the solar system on your home or business, allowing you to reap the benefits of lower electricity bills and a lighter carbon footprint.
So, you want to learn more? You’re in the right place. I will start by saying that before you sign any contract – and a solar panel lease is a binding contract – you may want to consult an attorney. Because I practice real estate and land use law in the Pacific Northwest, I can offer you general guidelines regarding the contract terms you’ll want to see.
Solar panel leases were featured this week on the CBS Evening News. The broadcast focused on a woman named Kathy Nalty who really wanted to install solar panels on her home. She did so through a solar panel lease:
In her typical suburban house, which she shares with kids and grandma, five TVs and four computers, her electric bill went from $200-$300 a month to just $59 a month.
Ms. Nalty is charged $100 a month under the 15-year lease. With her electricity usage down, Nalty says she saves so much on electric bills that she comes out ahead about $100 each month.
Leasing solar panels can defray the initial cost
If you are interested in a solar panel lease, consider the following before you sign on the dotted line (and perhaps hire an attorney to review the contract):
You don’t have to purchase solar panels to convert to renewable energy at your home or business! When you learn how to lease solar panels, you can enjoy the multiple benefits of “going green,” without being overly concerned about how to pay for them at the outset. And, if a lease is not for you, there are many other ways to finance solar panels to consider.
If you have questions or comments, be sure to leave them below.
16:23 
Abundant solar energy from the skies above!
The sun is shining again today in beautiful Bend, Oregon. Fall is an unpredictable time of year here – from 4 inches of snow on October 4, to a 75 degree day on October 14. But you can count on one thing here in the High Desert: abundant solar energy!
The local Chamber of Commerce claims that there are 300 days of sunshine each year. There are times that I doubt that statistic! Yet, even if they are off by 20 or 30 days…. you’ll still see a number of solar panel installations around town. From local businesses to residential developments, many people here are harnessing free solar energy for their power needs. Even a new elementary school has employed solar panels on its roof.
There are local businesses here in Bend that focus entirely on helping people convert to renewable energy, including the Bend Green Team and 3E Strategies. One of the nation’s leading solar inverter manufacturers, PV Powered, continues to grow despite the recession. It has big plans to become the largest employer in Central Oregon! Even utility-scale solar power is on the horizon here, with several projects in development.
While Bend (and Oregon overall) is a leader with respect to solar energy, the industry has a whole has been growing both nation- and world-wide. Component prices have dropped by 50% recently, and there are generous tax incentives and rebates offered at all levels of government. Its a great time to go solar!
Harness the abundant solar energy that reaches earth each day!
To put into perspective the amount of abundant solar energy available to us, consider that the amount of solar energy reaching the earth in a a single year is double that which could be generated by all other types of non-renewables (gas, coal, oil, etc.) combined (source: Wikipedia).
A common myth that many people believe is that it always has to be sunny for solar energy to be effective. Not true. Germany is a leader with respect to solar power worldwide; it certainly is not one of the sunniest locations! However,sSolar panels do need exposure to UV light to absorb the energy, which will be converted to usable electricity. South-facing roofs and adequate space to avoid shading are necessary.
As new laws are passed and additional incentives created to convert to solar power, people will probably wonder one day… what took so long?
In our next post, we’ll review some of the reasons Germany and other European nations are leading the way with respect to solar power. And, we’ll discuss how to increase the use of abundant solar energy in our own hometowns.
20:38 
Review
From the reviews: “A work devoted to the deposition technology and properties of zinc oxide, a transparent conducting material, and its various applications to thin film solar cells. … A list of references accompanies each chapter … of this well-written book. Illustrations are good … . Graduate students, faculty, and professional engineers will benefit from this book, which offers a broad overview of the subject and a thesaurus of useful data. An excellent acquisi (more…)
19:19 
Refract House by Team California (image by Kevin Gardner)
Refract House, built by Santa Clara University and California College of the Arts, together for “Team California,” at this year’s Solar Decathlon, is showcased in the videos below, and pictured above. This energy-efficient, solar powered house is truly a dream come true. For those that think that solar power is too difficult to implement, too expensive, or too awkward, its time to think again!
The Solar Decathlon is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. University students from around the world design, build and operate a solar-powered house. Homes have been showcased over the past two weeks at the National Mall. Today, it was announced that the German Team won the Decathlon. Yet, we think its worth showcasing the Refract House because of many unique features.
The Refract House is a mere 800 square feet in size, and cost about $500,000 to build. As shown in the videos, the structure is a gorgeous blend of functionality, design and efficiency. Commented Mike Splinter, the CEO of Applied Materials (Team California’s top sponsor):
“Energy efficient homes don’t need to be funky. [The students] have shown and proven that it can be beautiful and effective.”
In my opinion, the Refract House is more aesthetically pleasing than the structure created by Team Germany. Unlike the boxy cube that won the Solar Decathlon, Team California’s design is that of a bent tube that helps control the entry of light and energy into the home. A sleek, contemporary design is sure to please the most discriminating of homeowners’ tastes.
Going green should not be a compromise. Solar powered homes should be both functional and beautiful. The Refract House accomplishes both objectives.
While the official Solar Decathlon judges have decided the contest, designing, building and living in a solar powered house depends largely on personal taste. Oh, and cost and efficiency too!
We hope you enjoyed the tour of the Refract House. If you are a contractor or architect, perhaps there are elements you may want to incorporate into your next design?
13:29 
From the Manufacturer
This 10-LED rechargeable solar panel shed light offers 100,000 hours of light. It is ideal for the home, garage, or workplace to automatically and easily illuminate any area to ensure safety and security, all while utilizing solar power. Comes complete with 3 AA rechargeable batteries.
Bring light to your dark shed, without having to connect to your local power grid. This LED shed light features 10 bright LED’s that are powered via a sola (more…)
4:55 
Solar cookers from Africa are both a necessity and a way of life
What may appear to be an interesting gadget for some, is a necessity in other developing areas. For many families in Africa with a solar cooker, they would be unable to prepare healthy meals, due to the lack of electricity and the dangers of cooking over an open fire. Solar ovens also help people boil water to reduce the incidence of disease as a result of dirty drinking water.
Even better, the technology for solar ovens has been around for thousands of years. You don’t need to be connected to the grid to have hot, healthy meals. As a result, is it no wonder that Africa solar kitchens are springing up all over the continent?
There are many models of solar cookers on the market, plus they are easy to make yourself. You can even donate to organizations like aidforafrica.org, which has this to say on its official website:
Solar Cookers International (SCI) spreads solar cooking and safe water awareness and skills worldwide, particularly in developing countries with plentiful sunshine, diminishing sources of cooking fuel and limited sources of safe drinking water. Since its founding in 1987, SCI’s humanitarian and development assistance projects have enabled thousands of families in Kenya, Ethiopia, Chad and Zimbabwe to cook food and pasteurize water with the sun’s energy. Regular use of simple solar cookers improves the health, economic and social status of individuals in the communities and refugee camps where SCI has worked. In addition, tens of thousands of individuals and organizations from around the world have benefited from SCI’s excellent publications, information exchange networks, research, technical support and the internationally recognized Solar Cooking Archive website.
People in Africa need solar cookers. Its no surprise when you consider the substantial benefits, and cheap price tag of about $5-7 a piece. Africa solar kitchens enjoy the following:
Buy a solar cooker to help developing nations
If you want to have your own solar cooker (a great idea, by the way), consider purchasing one from CooKit, because a portion of the price goes to support relief organizations in Third World Countries. Your solar oven can replace ordinary electricity needs, provide a safer way to cook outdoors if you hike, cook or hunt, and can even assist with boiling water.
It may seem like a small thing to those of us that live comfortably, but consider the fact that solar cookers from Africa are not a luxury, but a necessity to those that lack electricity and other basic needs.
For more information, and to donate to the Africa solar cooker cause, see:
Take a minute, review the information and consider donating to help Africa solar kitchens!
16:46 
This year decorate with solar Halloween lights!
Its hard to believe, but its already time to decorate for the holidays. With Halloween upon us, it will literally be the season of lights from now through December. Solar Halloween lights are a great option for you to use to minimize the fright you would otherwise get from opening your utility bill next month!
Small strands of LED lights are the way to go this year! They are economical, easy to use and extremely long lasting. Because solar LED lights are powered by energy from the sun, you don’t need to find an outlet or conduct any wiring. The only thing you’ll need is a place in which to insert a controller box in the ground.
The LED lights can be strung anywhere – around doors, windows, up trees and throughout your landscaping.
Halloween lighting... the LED way
Ghosts and goblins will be able to find your home for decades to come with solar Halloween lights! That’s right – they will last about 20 years, and they are 90% more efficient than regular incandescent lighting. With just a few hours of sunlight, the LED lights will recharge and glow all night until morning. Don’t worry about shutting off the power to save energy.
LED landscaping lights like these come in all colors – orange, purple, white, red, etc. Simply decorate to your heart’s desire. Individual LED lights will never need replacing, either. How nice is that?
I just love the idea in the following video, using different colored solar LED lights to light up the fall foliage:
Lighting your home for the holidays with solar LED lights is so easy…. its spooky!
Here’s a few sites that sell solar Halloween lights, and other holiday lighting options:
16:45 
The GP-5-12module features ploy-crystalline photovoltic cell technology. The 36 square solar cells are encapsulated beneath high transmission tempered glass using an advanced, UV resistant thermal setting plastic. The encapsulant ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) cushions the solar cells within the laminate and ensures the operating characteristics of the solar cells under virtually any climatic conditions. The rear surface of the module is completely sealed from moisture and mechanical (more…)
16:45 
Glass front, framed solar panel, rated at 50 watts.Kyocera solar cells connected in series providing optimum battery charging power. Impact resistant tempered glass surface allows maximum light transmission. Robust anodized light weight aluminum tubular frames includes mounting holes for quick installation. Weather resistant junction box contains bypass diode and is conduit ready with strip connectors. Engineered for the rugged locations to withstand hail, snow and ice.Our 50W pane (more…)
16:45 
The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels. Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system from scratch using photovoltaic solar panels. Accompanying this book is a solar resource website containing lots of useful information, lists of suppliers and on-line so (more…)
8:18 
Is it time to gamble on solar stocks?
There are some glimmering signs that the recession may be coming to an end. Is it time to consider investments for your hard-earned cash? Well, that is something you should discuss with your financial advisor. Yet, if you want to put money in renewable energy, perhaps you want to consider solar stocks.
The most important advice we can give you when it comes to this type of investment is to watch the market carefully. Be a wise consumer. In just the past 12 months, expert advice regarding solar stocks has changed quite a bit.
Here is a clip from one year ago:
Investment in solar cells is the way to go in 2009-2010
According to a recent MSN.com report, there are three solar cell manufacturers that you might want to consider in today’s economy:
SunPower (SPWR, news, msgs), Suntech Power Holdings (STP, news, msgs) and First Solar (FSLR, news, msgs).
When you think about your investments, how do you categorize them? Many people believe that solar stocks are more akin to technology rather than energy stocks. No matter how you slice it, solar stocks have a higher rate of return than energy stocks.
Solar technology is changing at a rapid rate, with efficiencies increasing, while the prices come down. Federal and state tax incentives are encouraging more and more people to install solar power systems on their homes and businesses.
Surprised? Here’s the bottom line:
Electricity produced by solar cells will become cost-competitive with electricity generated by conventional power plants in the sunshine-rich U.S. Southwest without any government subsidies in 2013, investment bank Jefferies & Co. projected in an October 2007 report.
There are so many reasons to be impressed with renewable, solar energy! Why wouldn’t you consider putting your money in a clean, green future?
4:46 
Increase in solar power results in a decrease in carbon emissions
Wonderful news for the environment this week: carbon emissions in the U.S. have fallen in 2009 due in large part to an increase in solar energy in recent months.
In just a single 12-month period, demand for fossil-fuel based energy has dropped dramatically, resulting in 5.9% lower CO2 emissions, according to the Energy Information Administration. Most credit this result due to the recession, most significantly the cut in products like jet fuel and petroleum products.
But a significant part of the reduced CO2 emissions can be attributed to the increase in adoption of solar energy technologies, and the public’s acceptance of a “going green” philosophy and way of life.
Let’s face it, the U.S. carries a large amount of the burden when it comes to global climate change:
Utility scale solar may be the answer to future carbon emissions reduction
Experts predict that the reduction in carbon emissions will continue over the next few years. While homeowners and business continue to install solar panels on their properties, a number of utility-scale solar projects are underway. This will literally bring solar energy to the masses.
Thousands of homes can be supplied with clean, green solar power in the near future. How cool is that?
So, in 2009, we’re seeing nearly a 6% decline in carbon emissions. What will be the figure in 2010? With generous solar incentives and tax credits, we could even see a double digit decline soon.
Have you noticed an uptick in solar panel installation in your hometown? Any other evidence to support the idea that CO2 emissions will continue to fall?
14:47 
Maine solar energy (and other renewable sources)
Last weekend, October 3-4, solar energy tours took place across the U.S. We blogged about several of them in Central Oregon, California, and Ohio. And now, its time to talk about other tours post-event.
The Maine solar energy tour was a success by this review!
On Saturday and Sunday, the skies were a little bit overcast and a storm even passed through, but that didn’t stop a huge crowd of people coming out to witness the power of the sun. The first weekend of October, many homeowners and small businesses in Maine participated in the Maine Solar Energy Tour.
Along the way, tourists got to see Cindy Carusi’s home. She lives in Orono, and uses a solar water tank to help provide inexpensive hot water in her home. Ms. Carusi was thrilled with the effectiveness of her new solar panel system.
“They can look at my installations, they can ask about tax credits, how it was done, what company did it, any type of questions they have while they’re considering doing it in their own homes. A lot of people don’t even know it’s out there. I really didn’t until I started looking into it.”
Maine Solar Home owned by Bill and Debbie Lord
Another featured house on the Maine Solar Energy Tour was the home of Bill and Debbie Lord. As noted on their solarhome website, the couple has been relying on solar energy to provide electricity for the past 15 years. The Lords were very excited to show off their solar powered home during the tour:
“This was a chance for visitors to see a home that has been harvesting the sun for 15 years – offsetting CO2 and other toxic gases. We were pummeled with heavy rain and thick clouds, but an intrepid group showed up from as far away as New Jersey and Connecticut. I spent some time explaining our battery backup system, not realizing that later in the evening a T-storm would knock out grid power. As of this writing, we are the only house for miles with electricity. Hail to our stored solar power!”
It sounds like the Maine Solar Energy Tour was a success in 2009. If you missed it this year and want to get on board next time, just mark down the first weekend in October. That’s when the annual solar energy tours take place.
For those that live in Maine and want more information about solar energy, check out the Maine Solar Energy Association and the Maine Solar House.
15:38 
Is the gateway to the U.S. becoming blocked with tariffs on solar?
After more than 20 years of duty-free trade in solar panel imports, the U.S. Customs has decided to impose a 2.5% tariff. What will this do to the solar industry in America, which has struggled to keep pace with European nations, like Germany and Spain.
Some people are not waiting to see what happens next. According to Rhone Resch, the president of the Solar Energy Industries Association:
“We’re taking it very seriously and we will be responding. … The industry is in the process of preparing a challenge.”
The cost of the new tariffs and potential penalties could range over $70 million per year for U.S. importers of solar panels. And why? Concerns about global climate change should be easing – rather than increasing – restrictions with respect to obtaining solar energy. And, considering the recent federal and state tax incentives which lower the cost of installing solar, why increase the tariff? Isn’t that counter-productive?
If you are wondering what is behind the new fee, the New York Times reported last week that it may link back to a ruling by the U.S. Custom service in January that a panel made by Trina Solar of China was a generator because it contains a diode that allows electric current to pass around shaded areas of the panel. Unusual? No. In fact, one industry official noted that the ruling was a surprise because:
“All solar panels contain bypass diodes and have forever. It’s a safety issue not to have them.”
Given the 35% tire tariff imposed on China several weeks ago and China’s vow to investigate U.S. poultry prices, it looks like this may be a continuation of the trade dispute between the two countries. Or is it? President Obama explains:
Lots of paperwork to be generated with respect to the U.S. solar tariff
So, what can the solar industry do with respect to the tariff? Should American consumers be concerned?
The solar industry is fighting back, in fact. Its first priority is to try to change the minds of officials at the Customs and Border Protection Headquarters. After that, it may appeal to the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, if necessary.
Does this mean that you should wait to install solar panels on your home? Absolutely not! The current rift is between the U.S. and China. It will not dramatically (if at all) impact solar panel prices here in America. More importantly, it will not reduce the tax incentives and rebates available nationwide.
In fact, not everyone agrees that solar panel tariffs are a bad idea. Mike Wessel, a commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission notes:
“Customs’ decision is the right approach to ensure that the domestic industry we have does not get run further into the ground by China’s efforts to dominate this industry.”
Clearly, U.S.-China relations are strained by trade issues and the current global economy. Yet, I believe that solar will continue to be a bright spot for consumers in the U.S. – and worldwide. And – I have to point out – a 2.5% tariff on solar is a far cry from the 35% tire tariff which made big news a few weeks ago.
Calling on all economists and business persons… what are your thoughts on the solar panel tariffs and other aspects of the U.S.-China trade dispute?
4:13 
Building integrated photovoltaics allow use of solar energy without solar panels
Have you dreamed about solar energy to power your home? Do you want to start generating free solar power and enjoy reduced electricity bills? Those large solar panels that are becoming commonplace on rooftops are not your only option. You can indeed have home solar energy without solar panels.
That’s right. Building-integrated photovoltaics is the fancy term for solar roof shingles or solar roof tiles. As described by Alfonso Velosa III, co-author of a coming report on the market for the new field, in a recent interview for the New York Times:
“The new materials are part of the building itself, not an addition, and they are taking photovoltaics to the next level — an aesthetic one.”
Whether you are considering solar panels or solar shingles, the process of converting light to energy is the same:
Solar roof tiles can blend into any type of roofing surface/materials
As a land use attorney, my hope is that building codes will soon be revised to require – or at least give a preference to – new construction to include either solar panels or solar roof shingles. Perhaps the Uniform Building Code Council will take the lead?
But I digress….
No matter what style of roofing you have, you can find solar tiles/shingles in colors and shapes that blend in. From rosy-hued terra cotta tiles to salty, wind-worn gray shingles on oceanside cottages, solar shingles become part of the roofing materials, rather than an obtrusive addition. With federal and state incentives offered for renewable energy improvements, plus the added value your property will enjoy ($20 for every $1 annually saved on energy bills), this is a perfect time to invest.
According to the New York Times:
SRS Energy of Philadelphia is making curved solar roofing tiles designed to blend in with Southern California’s traditional clay tiles, said Martin R. Low, the chief executive of SRS. A solar tile system that met half the power needs of a typical California home would cost roughly $20,000 to install after rebates, he estimated, or about 10 to 20 percent more than solar panels providing comparable power.
The building integrated photovoltaics market is not entirely new, or untested. In European countries including Germany and France, the market is quickly growing due to subsidies and programs that pay people for generating solar electricity ad feeding it back into the grid. On the “other side of the pond,” homeowners can recoup investments in 5-7 years, compared to the 10-20 years it may take here in the U.S.
I do believe the United States will catch on. Demand will fuel the market here, and we do not expect solar subsidies or tax incentives to disappear anytime soon. In fact, when solar looks this good, we could even see new programs to help further defray the costs and encourage a conversion to solar power.
20:17 
New Jersey County goes solar
In news yesterday, Burlington County in New Jersey announced the planned installation of its first solar power system. Just across the border from Pennsylvania, Hessert Construction will build a $1.5 million solar array on the County office building.
This is not first time solar power has been in the news from New Jersey this year!
While the panels on the County Building will generate solar powered electricity, it is also taking steps to improve its environmental report card. Energy-efficient heating and cooling will be installed, the exterior of the building replaced and several offices inside will be refurbished. While this project will take most of a year to complete, other county buildings are taking note and planning to contract for their own eco-updates.
According to news releases:
“Newly hired county consultancy firm Birdsall Services-PMK Group, with 10 offices in New Jersey and New York State, analyzed the project and said it will save the county about $5,000 the first year and up to $19,000 every year thereafter over the course of 30 years – the expected lifetime of the solar system.”
Solar Panels coming to New Jersey County government building
The solar panel system to be installed will be made up of 88 panels which will generate together more than 27,000 kilowatts annually. What does a system like this cost? Nearly $200,000, including the price of the panels, installation and annual maintenance costs of about $500 per year. Rebates through the New Jersey Customer Onsite Renewable Energy (CORE) program will defray over 10% of the cost.
The CORE program provides financial incentives to all the state’s ratepayers, and offsets the cost of a solar system based on its size. Currently, New Jersey’s public RECs are paying about $700 (per megawatt-hour), a value that will decrease to $549 in 2016. Burlington County expects to net about $13,000 a year on its RECs.
Even though the system will generate less than 10% of the building’s energy needs, it’s a great start. Given New Jersey’s net metering policy (no cap and refunds at electric retail rates) the state now boasts more than 3100 solar systems.
Big kudos to the County officials in New Jersey! Hopefully more counties and other municipalities across the nation will also see the benefit of converting to a solar power system.
Have solar news in your hometown? Be sure to share in the comments below.
17:52 
Solar power incentives in Washington
This post follows up on the first one in a series that was entitled “Solar Power Incentives in Oregon.” Washington State, to the north, also boasts a number of generous tax and other incentives to encourage investment in solar power. We’ll review each of them here, including links and information needed to go solar.
With reduced costs and greater efficiency, solar panels are becoming mainstream faster than you can say, “low electrical bills.” And, with every $1 you save annually on power, your property increases in value by $20. Perhaps you’ll save $500 per year? That’s an automatic $10,000 equity boost, right from the start!
Definitely keep this in mind when considering the cost of solar panels.
Install solar panels in Washington state
In order to encourage people to install solar panels, Washington offers several key incentives. These are in addition to federal energy tax credits, which can be combined to reduce the cost of solar panels by more than 50%.
Perhaps most notable is the state law that waives 100% of the sales tax on purchase and installation of PV and/or solar hot water systems, through 2011 (hopefully the Washington Legislature will extend this generous offer).
In addition, if you qualify for a Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)-Renewable Energy Grant, you could save up to 33% of capital costs for purchase and installation of solar power in Washington. Visit their official website to learn more about the application process.
Under the terms of Senate Bill (SB) 5101, consumers can obtain an annual tax credit for small scale solar systems that are connected to the grid. The Department of Revenue requires you to fill out a form that you must submit to your local utility, provided they are participating in the program (most are). If you’ve purchased solar power equipment that was manufactured in Washington, enjoy an additional credit up to $2,000 annually.
All this saving with solar power is worth singing about!
As with the first post on Oregon, here is a list of the solar power incentives in Washington state, with credit to the DSIRE (database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency):
Industry Recruitment/Support
Local Grant Program
Private Grant Program
Production Incentive
Sales Tax Exemption
State Grant Program
Utility Grant Program
Utility Loan Program
Utility Rebate Program
Just a few years ago, Washington State was criticized for not providing adequate, meaningful solar power incentives. Looks like the Evergreen state is stepping up to the plate, now. If you have utilized any of these programs, we’d love to hear your experiences. Please leave a comment below.
And, for more information and resources concerning solar power in Washington, check out Solar Washington.org.
18:05 
Amazon.com
Operate your favorite gadgets anywhere with the Xantrex XPower Powerpack Solar. This portable solar device provides 400 watts of household power to run appliances and electronics. The Powerpack Solar’s solar panel continuously captures, stores, and converts the sun’s energy and extends the runtime of many portable devices. Two AC outlets, a DC socket, and a USB port give you plenty of options for simultaneously operating anything from laptops to cell phones to small TVs. (more…)
13:48 
Rooftops in Spain go solar
Our European counterparts have done a better job converting to solar energy than those of us in the United States. Many rooftops in Spain boast solar panels. In fact, one of the biggest stories in solar energy last year was the solar panels installed at a Spanish graveyard.
Spain also now includes a large concentrated solar power plant near Seville, and there are a number of photovoltaic solar power facilities throughout the country.
As noted in a Wikipedia Article on “Solar Power in Spain“:
“Spain is one of the most attractive countries for the development of solar energy, as it has more available sunshine than any other European country. The Spanish government is committed to achieving a target of 12 percent of primary energy from renewable energy by 2010 with an installed solar generating capacity of 3000 megawatts (MW). Spain is the fourth largest manufacturer in the world of solar power technology and exports 80 percent of this output to Germany.”
Solar power in Spain
Future solar growth in Spain will be in neighborhoods, business sectors and agricultural operations. According to Bjorn Persson, executive vice president of European operations for Premier Power:
“We continue to see substantial growth opportunity in Spain for rooftop and building integrated solar energy systems.”
Recently, three new solar panel projects in Spain were announced. They are planned to be completed by the end of 2009 and will generate an additional 400 kilowatts (kW) of clean solar energy. General Electric is providing the crystalline (photovoltaic or PV) modules for the projects.
Simply put, Spain continues to lead with solar power. Here’s hoping the rest of the world catches up, and catches onto the wonderful clean, renewable resource we have in the sun!
12:39 
Renewable Energy Finance Forum West
Next week, renewable energy finance professionals will gather at the 2nd annual Renewable Energy Finance Forum - West (REFF-West) in San Francisco on September 29-30. The event organizers hope to build on the success of the first REFF-West, held in Seattle, Washington in 2008.
The Renewable Energy Finance Forum West will be held at the Palace Hotel in downtown San Francisco, California. If you attend, you’ll be networking with over 300 professionals in the industry, with an incredible opportunity to discuss trends, incentives, new technologies and so much more.
Want to learn more about the viability of solar power, what challenges face wind energy, or whether geothermal is a wise investment? According to the official website:
“The conference agenda will cover a range of renewable and clean energy technologies, with a particular focus on developments in the Western US. Topics covered at REFF-West include project financing, venture capital, renewable power generation, green buildings, energy efficiency, transmission and smart grid, government policy, and carbon finance. The conference will also offer an unparalleled networking opportunity, allowing you to meet senior representatives from both the energy and financial sectors who are focusing on renewables and clean technologies.”
Here’s a video from a prior REFF conference:
This month’s conference in San Francisco includes 10 sessions, in a jam-packed 2-day agenda. From government initiatives and policy drivers to global financial markets… renewable energy and cleantech companies to strategic and corporate sources of capital. REFF-West will have over 30 speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including government and private industries.
If you would like to register now for the 2nd annual Renewable Energy Finance Forum West, go online at www.reffwest.com, email energyevents@euromoneyplc.com, or call: (US) +1 212 224 3789 (UK) +44 20 7779 8999. Discounts on tuition are available to members of American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), government, academic and nonprofits.
We would love to hear from attendees of this event, or past REFF conferences! Please let us know what you think in the comments below.
4:15 
This digital document is an article from E, published by Earth Action Network, Inc. on November 1, 1999. The length of the article is 769 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Catching Some Rays.(building roofs with solar shingles can reduce energy consumption)(Brief Artic (more…)
7:45 
Solar Incentive Program in New York
This week, there is welcome news for New York residents who wish to add solar panels and other features to their properties. A new solar incentive program will be offered by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) which joined forces with the Municipal Electric Utilities Association and the New York Association of Public Power.
In addition to federal tax rebates and incentives, New Yorkers can receive approximately 50% of the installed cost of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, up to 10 kilowatts. The solar incentive program in New York will help meet the state goal of 45% of its electricity generated by renewable energy by the year 2015, also known as the “45 by 15” plan. Under the program, residential, commercial and municipal facilities are all eligible to participate.
We expect many people to tap into this program. If you live in New York and are wondering what solar panels will cost, be sure to use a Solar Calculator, and then factor in the additional savings provided by the local solar incentive program. Don’t forget the added home value when you install solar!
There are many benefits to solar power:
Solar panels in New York will now be more affordable
New York is not alone in offering a solar incentive program. Other utilities across the country have implemented efforts to encourage solar investments, including the solar incentive program offered by Snohomish County PUD in Washington State. That program allows up to $10,000 for qualifying solar installations.
The New York Power Authority is the country’s largest state-owned power organization. It provides low-cost electricity in New York State, and operates 18 generating facilities, plus 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. Regarding the solar incentive program, Richard Kessel, the NYPA’s CEO stated:
“In these difficult economic times, it is critical to do everything possible to alleviate the burden on New Yorkers coping with high electricity costs.”
NYPA anticipates it will be able to provide funding for approximately 50 to 80 photovoltaic systems statewide under the program. All 51 municipal systems and rural cooperatives and participants are eligible to participate.
For more information about the program, or how to qualify, be sure to visit the NYPA official website.
4:58 
California Solar Panels
The Golden State has quite a large segment of its population interested in solar energy. Perhaps its the sunny climate, or the fact that many people are healthy and “green.” In any event, California solar panels are in big demand.
Here’s some fast facts from a related post:
“California Solar Energy on the rise has increased the number of rooftop solar panels from about 500 to 50,000 in a mere ten years. Of course, there is still a ways to go to reach the Million Solar Roofs called for by Governor Schwarzenegger, but a 100 x fold increase is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, over the past three years alone, sales of solar panels in the Golden State have doubled.”
If you want to find out where to buy solar panels in California, you’re in the right place. In fact, there are even ways that you can finance the panels through programs like the Solar Energy Loan Program offered earlier this year in Palm Desert. We’ll go over those in more detail in a future post.
Rooftop installations are particularly popular for property owners:
Go solar in California!
Before we get to where to buy solar panels in California, you’ll need to determine your budget. My favorite resource is Go Solar! California. This helpful site provides extensive information on tax credits, rebates and other incentives for solar energy. You will also find links for developers, builders and contractors.
The California Solar Initiative is also hot news, with the state providing $2.1 billion over the next 10 years to homeowners, businesses and other property owners to install solar panels. As explained on the official website:
“The CSI Program expanded state support for solar technology and is the product of Governor Schwarzenegger’s “Million Solar Roofs” vision for the State of California. The CSI Program was authorized by the CPUC through a number of regulatory decisions throughout 2006…. When it launched in January 2007, the CSI Program built upon nearly 10 years of state support for solar, including other incentive programs such as the Emerging Renewables Program (ERP) and the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). Both programs still exist to provide incentives for other technologies but have been closed to new solar projects as of the end of 2006.”
Solar roofs in California
The California Solar Initiative program includes a goal to reach 1,940 MW of installed solar capacity by the end of 2016.
You can help reach that goal when you know where to buy solar panels in California! Did you know that many major hardware stores now carry solar panels? That’s right - from Lowe’s to Home Depot, even Costco sells solar products. Perhaps you want to go with a specialty retailer? Well, although we’re not associated with any of these companies, you might want to check out:
One tip is that when you purchase from a retailer, you often get assistance with installation and filling out the paperwork necessary for incentives and rebates. This is a great way to make sure you do it right, and make a sound investment.
Now is the time to invest in solar energy - prices are lower than ever, efficiency has increased, and the government is handing out money to help you convert. If you’ve installed solar panels on your property in California, we’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below.
4:15 
Girl Scouts Go Green with Solar Panels on Council Office
Great green news in scouting this week! To showcase the importance of safeguarding the environment (and to save on energy costs), a solar powered Girl Scout Council office is located deep in the heart of Texas. The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC) located in Houston, should be proud of their new solar array on the council building, installed by the Austin,Texas Green Mountain Energy Company.
The Girl Scout council office now boasts a 10.08 kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic (PV) solar panel system, donated by Green Mountain! Not only will the solar array generate clean, green electricity, but an educational station inside will help instruct families on the importance of reducing your carbon footprint through similar measures.
Girl Scouts and visitors will be educated about the benefits of solar energy. A sign describing the benefits of solar energy will be displayed in the lobby of the GSSJC building and a monitoring web site will also be linked to the array, and will display real-time energy output data.
The scouts were pretty enthusiastic this weekend when they got to officially “flip the switch” of the solar array at the GSSJC. Perhaps even more exciting is the fact that the GSSJC will be hosting the Girl Scouts of the USA National Convention in 2 years. Right where the solar powered Girl Scout Council Office is located!
Protecting the future for all girl scouts!
Here are some fast facts on the solar powered Girl Scout council office:
Green Mountain Energy is probably almost as excited as the scouts! Paul Markovich, Sr. VP of Residential Services gushed:
“Green Mountain Energy Company is proud to partner with the Girl Scouts, an organization that not only represents leadership and character, but is also deeply committed to the environment and the benefits of renewable energy. Donating solar systems like this helps Green Mountain give back to the Houston community where our customers and employees live, work, play, and attend school, while supporting our mission to change the way power is made.”
Personally, I think its exciting to hear that Green Mountain obtained funds for the new Girl Scouts solar array through a program by which its customers can choose to support other solar panel installations in Texas by paying an additional (small) utility premium. Here in Oregon, we have the Blue Sky Program through my local utility, Pacific Power. For as little as $2 per month, you can fund renewable energy projects if your state has a program like Big Texas Sun Club or the Blue Sky Program (stay tuned, this will be the subject of a future blog post!)
The GSSJC President, Mary Vitek is also very proud and excited about the solar powered Girl Scout council office:
“Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is thrilled to partner with Green Mountain to set an example for others and demonstrate our commitment to being good stewards of the environment. This array will allow us to reduce our carbon footprint, but also teach girls the importance of conserving the environment and working together to tackle a real issue. The impact will be felt for years to come.”
Solar panels on the GSSJC Building in Texas are the next great thing
So, before we leave to go taste-test some thin mint cookies, consider these amazing facts regarding the GSSJC:
Consider the clean, green efforts of the Girl Scouts next time they come knocking on your door with delicious cookies.
While the solar powered Girl Scout council office is newsworthy in Texas, I will bet a box of Thin Mints that other Councils will get into the solar swing of things soon!
17:26 
Google's Mirror Technology
Google, the well-known Internet search corporation, is getting into the solar energy business. It is working on mirror technology to be used in solar powered turbine plants. These plants use solar thermal power: sun shines on specially designed mirrors which focus the energy to superheat water which is then used to turn turbines, generating electricity. This type of power generation is also known as concentrated solar power.
You might be wondering… what does Google have to do with solar power? Well, its headquarters are in sunny California and, perhaps more than anything else, however, it has resources to invest! Google has partnered with two solar thermal companies, eSolar and BrightSolar to develop cheaper mirrors and turbines.
The company has a “green energy czar,” Bil Weihl, who has this to say about Google’s mirror technology:
“We’ve been looking at very unusual materials for the mirrors both for the reflective surface as well as the substrate that the mirror is mounted on.”
They are also working to develop turbines that run on solar power, rather than natural gas, which will increase electricity savings even more for utility customers.
In order to understand the basics of concentrated solar power, consider this primer:
Solar thermal technology improving with Google's R&D
At a recent conference in San Francisco, Google announced that the new technology could cut the cost of manufacturing heliostats, which are the fields of mirrors that track the sun’s path across the sky and concentrate its energy. And not by a small amount, either. Google’s mirror technology could result in savings by a “factor of three or four.”
When might we expect the results of Google’s R&D? Internal review should begin within a few months, which means that we could see on-the-ground installations within a year or two. Perhaps sooner?
Google is predicting that the mirror technology will allow the creation of renewable solar energy at a price less than coal. And, its putting $50 million where its mouth is, through investing with eSolar and BrightSolar.
We hope to see more companies follow Google’s lead and invest sums towards energy R&D that will help our country get off of fossil fuels, and towards a brighter future.
4:04 
Home solar lights to bring brightness to your night
With summer fading away and shorter days on the horizon, its time to think about outdoor lighting again. Whether you want safety lighting for the exterior, or maybe you just enjoy decorative garden ambiance, there is a broad range of home solar lights from which to choose.
Most solar garden lights are compact units like … shown to the left. Each light includes its own panel, light sensor, battery, and LED. You can also find solar light sets where the panel is separate from the light, which can allow you to light up darker areas, provided the panel itself receives sunlight during the day.
Solar garden lights are relatively inexpensive and incredibly easy to install. You can find them at major home improvement retailers, priced from $5 per light to hundreds of dollars. Typically, these garden lights come in packages of 6 or 8. Simply select your favorite style, metal finish - there are even plastic options, as well.
Because you don’t need to fiddle with wiring, your solar garden lights can be shining within hours of your installation. Position the lights in a place where they will receive at least 8 hours of UV light exposure daily. Over night, they will glow with a soft light, fading until morning when the sun comes up.
Beyond solar garden lights, you can illuminate your patio for those late summer evenings with a solar umbrella. They give off light like flickering candles (but much safer). Trust me, these small lights powered by the sun can even make leftovers in the backyard feel special!
Home solar lights are not just limited to decorative or walkway lamps. Why not consider a solar lamppost, solar wall-mounted lights, or general solar outdoor lights? Functional, directional, snazzy or plain. You can even find dual-function solar lanterns that repel bugs, too.
Consider the ease and reliability of home solar lights for your next home improvement project.
Your neighbors will be “green” with envy!
15:24 
Color Me Green
Color me green at Crayola! The company is best known for creating colorful crayons, delighting kids and parents alike. Now, it has announced plans to develop a new 15-acre solar farm in Forks Township, Pennsylvania.
Crayola is moving forward with a partnership with UGI Energy and PPL Corporation to develop the solar park, which will be comprised of about 26,000 solar panels on the site owned by the crayonmaker. The two energy companies will provide the equipment, installation and maintenance.
By early 2010, the Crayola solar park should be operational, generating clean, green solar electricity. Crayola will purchase 100% of the solar power from the park, which will offset about 10% of its annual energy costs. Company spokespersons estimate that about 1 billion crayons will be “extra green,” as a result!
A new Crayola solar park is in the works
The cost of the Crayola solar park will be defrayed in part by a $1.5 million grant, funded by federal stimulus monies from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Matching funds from private sources will bring in an additional $10.5 million.
In order to showcase this solar achievement, Crayola will install a solar energy display at its Easton “Crayola Factory.” But even if you can’t make it to Pennsylvania to see the exhibit (or to view the solar park itself), you can still bring home a piece of the action each time you pick up a box of Crayola Crayons.
Next time your child draws a picture, you’ll know that there is a piece of sunshine in those vibrant crayon colors!
17:29 Solar calculator gives you cost of solar panels
You want to convert to solar power, but before you plan to do so, what is the cost of solar panels? There are several tools that you can use to help you calculate the expense of a solar system, based on the size of your building. But before we get to the solar calculators, consider these fast facts:
We have found several solar calculators to use in determining the size and cost of solar panels you may wish to install. Just click on the links below and follow the instructions. Keep in mind that the resulting figures are only rough estimates and some do not include federal or state tax incentives or rebates.
Coolerplanet.com solar calculator
Calculate your solar panel costs with online tools
Just remember that using a solar power calculator is only the start of your inquiry. Prices for solar panels may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Ask around and see if there are any specials or other discounts. In fact, you may be able to save even more if you join together with neighbors who are also considering solar panels. Group discounts can be negotiated by companies such as One Block Off the Grid.
Your true cost of solar power can be less (or perhaps more) than shown by solar calculators. In a related post we reviewed the factors to be considered in determining solar panel cost:
Solar panels are a significant investment, but one that you often hear people say that they are glad they made. Use a solar calculator to determine cost of solar panels, but do a thorough investigation. You could save even more!
Good luck!
15:54 
Thermal solar in Lancaster, CA
My good friend Leslie (aka @LaMamaNaturale on Twitter) wrote an exciting solar energy post on the Eco Child’s Play blog. There is good reason to agree that Lancaster, CA could become the solar energy capitol of the United States!
That’s right - the relatively small town of 475,000 is the new site of a 5 megawatt (MW) solar demonstration plant, recently unveiled by eSolar. The utility-scale solar power plant uses thermal solar technology, combining 24,000 mirrors and two tower house boilers. The mirrors focus solar energy onto the boilers, which superheats the water inside, creating steam which then drives turbine generators. Many believe that thermal solar is more cost-effective than photovoltaic (PV) solar panels in generating inexpensive, efficient solar energy.
The Lancaster project, known as Sierra SunTower, was completed in 14 months, and is already distributing enough clean, renewable energy to Southern California Edison to power 4,000 homes!
Just to put the amount of energy the new solar thermal development can create - and save - consider these fast facts:
Powerlines in Lancaster, CA
eSolar’s CEO, Bill Gross, considers the Lancaster solar power plant to be an “economic miracle:”
“…the sun provides ten thousand times more energy than the whole Earth uses- but solar only contributes less than one tenth of one percent of all the energy the Earth needs.… It is the first solar plant that delivers the lowest cost solar electricity in history and finally competes with fossil fuel electricity directly, we currently compete with natural gas and as we continue to drive down the costs we will even compete with coal.”
Understandably, my friend Leslie and other people who live in Lancaster are very excited about the new solar energy plant. The mayor himself, R. Rex Parris, has noted that the City has the potential to become “the Alternative Energy Capitol of the World.”
Given the fact that it the new solar thermal facility is the “first of many clean, green power generation facilities planned for the Antelope Valley,” as noted in the local Outlook magazine, I think the mayor and other citizens of Lancaster are correct in considering it as the solar energy capitol!
19:38 
Solar panels 50% more affordable
What a difference a year makes! Solar panels are up to 50% more affordable now than they were 12 months ago. Add to that price differential the generous government incentives and tax rebates, and people are finally thinking that it may make sense to go solar. How would it feel to have free electricity each month? And, you’ll be able to guard against future rate hikes too!
The cost of solar panels does vary from state to state, depending on the market. While some areas are enjoying a 50% drop in solar panel prices, other regions are still experiencing at least a 40% reduction in retail cost.
So what has driven the price drop? Analysts at the investment bank Piper Jaffray notes that an increase in supply of polysilicon, which is an important element for solar panels, has had the effect of lowering prices. The combined effect of lowered prices, plus federal and state rebates, has reduced the ROI (return on investment) time period to about 13-15 years (not including calculations of increased utility rates and improved home value as a result of renewable energy installations). Oh, and don’t forget the green factor!
The increased supply of polysilicon has been flowing from China and other countries. A recent New York Times article examined this supply/demand effect:
“A ton of production, mostly Chinese, has come online,” said Chris Whitman, the president of U.S. Solar Finance, which helps arrange bank financing for solar projects.
Not only did the supplies increase, but demand dropped - at least in Europe, which has been the largest solar market. Chalk that up to the economic crisis in Spain, which cut its subsidy for solar panels last year due to budgetary concerns.
Solar panel prices are declining
If a 40-50% drop isn’t enough for you, solar panel prices are projected to continue to decline. And that bodes well for consumers, as well as manufacturers! This is because, as more people install solar panels on their properties, their friends and neighbors will become interested in doing so, too. Once solar becomes more of a “norm,” perceptions will change and others will consider investing in solar.
To quote one of my favorite sayings: All ships rise with the tide. In other words, more people installing solar panels helps the solar industry, as well as consumers!
How might the fact that solar panels are 50% more affordable help you? Consider this example, from the New York Times article:
“Mr. Hare in Texas cited the larger tax credit, which sliced about $23,000 from his $77,000 bill, as a major factor in his decision to go solar, in addition to the falling panel prices. Sensing a good deal, he even got a larger system than he had originally planned — going from 42 panels to 64. The electric bill on his 7,000-square-foot house and garage has typically run $600 to $700 a month, but he expects a reduction of 40 to 80 percent.”
Have you been considering solar panels? Now might be the time - before tax rebates and incentives are slashed, and while prices are low!
21:09 
Liquid solar cells make painting solar energy easy (image from skidrd on Flickr)
Would you believe me if I told you about liquid solar cells? Yep, instead of installing traditional silicon solar panels, you can tap into solar energy through spray-on solar ink. This new, exciting development is the renewable energy of the future. Soon, you’ll be able to literally paint solar cells onto buildings and rooftops.
New nano-ink technology may eventually be the gold standard for manufacturing solar cells. Not only will they be less expensive, but also more reliable.
The cost aspect is perhaps the best feature. Not only because some people balk at paying for solar energy, but because utilities are required to provide their customers with the cheapest power available. Until now, that has been fossil-fuel based energy. With liquid solar cells, solar panels can be affordable for everyone.
So, what is solar ink, anyway? Compared to silicon solar panels, liquid solar cells include copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) — sunlight-absorbing nanoparticles, which are 10,000 times thinner than a strand of hair.
Liquid solar cells work as follows:
“We make a solution of these nanocrystals, and we spray paint them onto a substrate,” said Matthew Panthani, a doctoral student and graduate research assistant.
Tap into Liquid Solar Cells (image from sundials from Charmichaels on Flickr)
Eventually, you may be able to use liquid solar cells to print ink, like a newspaper. And, nanocrystals could be sprayed on paper, plastic or foil, maximizing their flexibility. The goal is to develop liquid solar cells that can convert 10% of the UV light they absorb into electricity. If that can be achieved, we’re looking at technology that can be used in a few short years.
What does that mean for consumers that are interested in liquid solar cells for themselves? Well, you could expect to be able to paint solar ink onto a building in the near future. In fact, see-through solar cells could even be painted on windows.
All of this solar energy research and development is quite exciting! In fact, did you know that the cost of producing solar panels has been cut in half in just the past year.
With news like this, we can expect to see liquid solar cells and other solar technology continue to improve. I’m willing to bet that it won’t be long before solar panels are the norm for homeowners and small business owners.
What do you think about these new solar developments? Do they make you feel more or less inclined to go solar? Why or why not?
16:22
Amazon.com
The ICP Solar iSUN Motorola flat phone plug allows you to connect your iSUN to Motorola phones. This adapter is flat.
8:49 Install solar panels with the help of do-it-yourself solar panel videos
You want to install solar panels, and you don’t want to pay a contractor. Fortunately, there are many do-it-yourself solar panel videos that can walk you through the process, step by step. From solar panel kits to actually building your own solar panel array, you can find instructional videos for every solar panel need.
We have gathered a few of our favorite solar panel videos together here. After you watch them, you’ll be able to decide whether this is truly a DIY project, or whether you should hire a professional.
Considering the investment associated with a solar panel system, you want to make sure that you do it right, not only to protect the solar panels, but also to wire it correctly so that you save the maximum amount of money on clean, free solar energy!
The first couple of videos are from Expert Village. There is an entire series of do-it-yourself solar panel videos for viewing at YouTube, from wiring to inverters and more. The next videos can help you shop for materials and actually build your own solar panels. Get out a pen and paper before you watch!
This should be a good start for anyone wanting to install solar panels themselves. DIY solar is a hot topic these days, with the generous government incentives available for renewable energy installations.
Get out there now while the weather is still nice and the days long enough!
20:03 
How clean is solar energy?
Why is it that, even though the U.S. invented much of modern solar technology, other countries around the world are generating more solar power than we are? In spots such as Colorado and even my hometown of Bend, Oregon, there are more than 300 sunny days each year. Why not tap into these abundant resources?
Could it be that there are concerns about how clean is solar energy?
Compared to other energy sources, solar energy does not need to be mined or transported, both of which can harm the environment. It shines right here in our own country, so global politics do not come into play. Still, PV panels are made from silica, which is not in itself hazardous, but they also include other ingredients that are mildly dangerous to health. Nonetheless, they are not more so than those associated with painting vehicles or building furniture with resins and stains.
Its helpful to know how solar panels are made when deciding how clean solar energy is.
Clean solar energy?
If you work around silica dust, you will need a mask. You won’t want to breathe it on a daily basis. Still, even if you are involved in the manufacturing of PV panels, that is much safer than nuclear, coal, or other types of energy.
Unlike other types of energy, PV panels can produce clean electricity for more than 3 decades, and it is truly home-grown power. That means that its not dependent on the state of the electrical grid (let alone utility rates and practices).
When you install solar PV panels, you should not have to worry about the cleanliness of solar energy - relative to coal-based electricity, its considerably more eco-friendly. If you are off-grid, you merely need to consider an appropriate battery unit, in which excess energy can be stored. When you do so, consider that the federal and state tax incentives and credits are applicable not only for solar panels, but also inverters and batteries.
Even if you can answer the question, “how clean is solar energy,” it may not be more widely adopted until its cost comes down. Currently in the United States, coal and other fossil fuels are genearally a less expensive resource. Yet, they will be depleted someday. And, we import a great deal of that energy, which leads to political implications.
Its time for us to put aside the preconceptions of solar power being expensive and dirty. We need to complete the shift to clean solar energy - and soon!
12:11 
Where to buy solar panels (image from clownfish on Flickr)
If you want to convert to solar energy, you have to know where to buy solar panels. Fortunately, there are so many more options than there were just 10 years ago. You can buy solar panels at a hardware store, through a distributor, or even find used solar panels at a great discount! Finding solar panels for sale is so much easier these days. Once you install them, you can start enjoying free solar power right away.
As we observed in a related post:
“Did you know that solar panels are for sale at many local hardware stores? That’s right - you don’t necessarily need to shop online, nor do you need to find a specialty solar panel store. Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Costco and many other chain stores now carry solar panels. They also have relatively inexpensive (or free) assistance to help you select your PV system and perhaps even install it. Some outfits even assist with tax rebate/incentive paperwork.”
Learn who sells solar panels
With government programs and tax incentives offered, more and more people are investing in solar panels for their homes. Once you know who sells solar panels, you can compare costs and determine what system is best for your property. When you choose a retailer carefully, they can help you get through the paperwork for potential financing options, as well as qualifying for government loan programs, and/or tax rebates.
Of course, some people don’t want to go through the hassle of buying solar panels at a retailer or online. For them, a do-it-yourself (DIY) solar panel kit is the answer. These often can help offset, but not entirely replace, “traditional” electricity. Solar panel kits are also convenient for RVs and boats.
Finally, you can join a group of other property owners who are also considering going solar. By doing this, you can negotiate a group discount for solar panels, which can be done through businesses like One Block Off the Grid.
In short, its easy to find out where to buy solar panels. The bigger questions will be, what can you afford, what type of system do you want, and what are your overall goals for going solar?
Good luck!
4:43 
Interested in solar panels for your home?
Solar panels for your home are a great investment to make, both to help lower electricity costs and improve the value of your residence. Did you also know that its a great time to install solar panels, given the significant tax credits and rebates currently being offered?
Whether you want to build your own DIY solar panels, put together a solar panel kit, or purchase a solar array, it is much easier to find residential solar panels than it was a decade or so ago. This means several things: (1) you can get a better price, with more competition, and (2) you can find more reliable solar contractors.
If you’re considering solar panels for your home, you are definitely not alone.
Many types of residential solar panels on the market
Depending on the size of your roof, your budget and aesthetic preferences, you can install a photovoltaic panel array, or even invest in solar power roof shingles to help generate clean, free solar energy. You may also want to consider solar thermal panels, which can defray your hot water bills each month.
The upfront cost of solar panels - prior to government incentives - varies from $200 to over $20,000. Again, this will depend largely on the type of panels you install (PV or thermal), the size of the system, and the extent of work that you will put into the project, from construction, wiring, installation, etc. How quickly you recoup your investment also hinges on the amount of your electricity use, the rising rates of grid-based electricity in your region, and the increase in home value that many see from a correlated drop in annual utility bills.
Many solar financing options are available if you are serious about solar panels for your home. You can elect to buy or lease solar panels, and may want to take advantage of a no-money-down program, or even financing through local governments and/or utilities themselves.
Take a look at your monthly electricity bills and estimate both your current and projected annual utility costs over a 5-year period. It may make sense for you to move forward with residential solar panels, with most payback periods ending within 10 years. Plus, how great will it feel to see your electricity bills drop 200-300%, or more (one homeowner now has monthly bills of $18, down from over $200). That’s not something you can put a price on!
13:57 
FOLLOW THE SUN TO MORE EVIL FUN! Let the sun shine on your evil side - and have a wicked amount of fun on your way to becoming a solar energy master! In this guide, the popular Evil Genius format ramps up your understanding of powerful, important, and environmentally friendly solar energy - and shows you how to build real, practical solar energy projects you can use in your home, yard - even on the road! In Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius, high-tech guru Gavin (more…)
4:13 
Saving Money with Solar Energy is Easier than you Think
Saving money with solar energy has become easier than ever recently! Don’t believe me?
Well, let’s go over a few fundamentals. These are among the top reasons to go solar:
As reported on a recent San Francisco, California news broadcast:
“Most people can expect their energy bills to go up, but those who use solar energy say the opposite is true. So, it is no wonder that solar may be one of the few recession-proof industries around.”
One person interviewed for the story stated:
“This most recent bill was $3.50. The same billing cycle the year before we got solar was $82.60.”
Reasons to go solar are abundant!
In areas of the world, like sunny California, people agree that there are reasons to go solar because the sun shines often. But even in cloudy locales, such as Germany, you can be saving money with solar energy in no time. This is because excess energy generated on brighter days can be sold back into the grid, with the consumer receiving a utility bill credit in the next cycle. Plus, new solar technology has increased the efficiency of solar panels, even to the point of working after the sun goes down.
Turning back to the San Francisco solar story, there is more great news for the price of solar power:
Lynn Jurich, the president and founder of San Francisco-based Sun Run, says her company’s business increased 300 percent this year.
“Solar is on sale. The price has dropped about 20 percent over the last year,” she said.
Part of this can be attributed to a glut in the solar panel market, which has resulted in a price drop. And, with the many ways to finance solar panels, including leasing, more people are taking the plunge to use this abundant renewable resource.
What additional reasons do you need to start saving money with solar energy? Haven’t you had enough of paying high and ever increasing costs for electricity each month?
10:14 Save Money with Solar Power
Did you know you can save money with solar power? Its a common misconception that solar is prohibitively expensive. Quite the opposite is true. With today’s government incentives for renewable energy, it only makes sense to install solar panels to guard against future rate increases and also enjoy a dramatic drop in your monthly utility bills. And, for every $1 you save in annual energy costs, the value of your home increases by $20. That’s quite a return on your investment!
I know - you’re probably thinking about the upfront costs for solar. While a solar panel system may retail for $10-20,000, tax credits and rebates from both federal and state programs may allow you to recoup up to 80% of that cost. You can also negotiate group discounts for solar panels through sites like One Block Off the Grid. Other government programs allow for financing like solar energy loan programs, and even special deals on mortgage loans when homeowners go solar. Heck, you can even rent or lease solar panels! If you’re curious about how to finance solar panels, check out a two-part series:
How to Finance Solar Panels (Part 1)
How to Finance Solar Panels (Part 2)
Solar power is more affordable when you consider all associated costs
There are so many ways to save money with solar power. But you also need to think beyond current circumstances. Many people who consider the cost of solar energy only think about the price of panels and their existing utility bills. They fail to contemplate the rising cost of power, against which they can guard by using free solar energy. They do not think about the environmental cost of continuing to burn fossil fuels, or the price we’ll pay as a planet if we do not change our ways.
We’re not just talking about the loss of polar ice caps or species extinction. Global climate change will literally cost us money from our pockets as we continue to respond to catastrophic events like Hurricane Katrina.
But even if environmental considerations are not at the top of your list of reasons to go solar, we can all save money with solar power if more of us invest in the renewable energy resource. One article noted that:
“Enough sunlight falls on the state of New Jersey in 4 hours to supply all of its electricity for the year, if we could collect and convert it all perfectly!”
Its true - you can save money with solar power. Why not invest in a solar panel system now so that you can avoid the higher winter utility bills this year? Your wallet and the planet will thank you!
4:58 
Studies have shown that the average North American family will spend more than a quarter of a million dollars on energy in a lifetime. What many other countries, including Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, China, Brazil, and even Iceland, have realized is that there is a better way to power our homes, businesses, and cars by using renewable energy sources. Recently, the United States has begun to understand the importance of reducing its reliance on coal, natural gas, nuclear power, (more…)
22:41 
Ultra compact, tough and powerful, the powermonkey-eXplorer is water resistant, made with a rubberized casing so it can take whatever life throws at it, yet it remains the lightest, most versatile charger available today.
Featuring an LCD screen that displays battery capacity and the level of charge, the powermonkey-eXplorer also has short-circuit protection, over-charging protection and over-discharging protection. The included mains charger has interchangeable heads for UK, Euro (more…)
15:47 
Studies have shown that the average North American family will spend more than a quarter of a million dollars on energy in a lifetime. What many other countries, including Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, China, Brazil, and even Iceland, have realized is that there is a better way to power our homes, businesses, and cars by using renewable energy sources. Recently, the United States has begun to understand the importance of reducing its reliance on coal, natural gas, nuclear pow (more…)
4:05 
Solar panel system for swimming
I sure wish we lived closer to Portland, Oregon! Solar panels on the East Portland Community Center help power and heat the water at the first LEED platinum natatorium (that’s a swimming facility, in case you need a vocabulary lesson). This week, the community center celebrated the completion of the new solar panel system.
By adding solar electricity and a solar water heating system, the East Portland Community Center was able to achieve the highly-sought after U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED platinum rating, the highest “green construction” recognition available in the United States. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
The natatorium opened earlier this year and immediately set a new standard for energy efficiency in Oregon. Before the solar panels went up on the roof, the project was already 60% more efficient than required under current building code standards. Now, the East Portland Community Center includes an 86-kilowatt (kW) solar panel system that will generate approximately 90,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) each year, off-setting 15% of the center’s energy requirements.
Portland Oregon
Kudos go out to the Energy Trust of Oregon and Portland General Electric, which worked with the City to install the solar panel system on the natotorium. The cost for the panels and installation will be covered through a public/private partnership between Portland and Commercial Solar Ventures, Sentry Financial Corporation and BEF Renewable. Portland is leading the roof space on the community center and will purchase electricity generated by the solar panel system at market rates.
Children that go to the East Portland Community Center can even get a quick renewable energy lesson in the lobby! The Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s Solar 4R Schools program is setting up a kiosk to show how much power is generated by the solar panel system on the roof.
Talk about a win-win situation! Reduced energy needs, a solar power lesson, plus national attention as the first LEED-platinum natotorium. Way to go East Portland Community Center!
4:17 
Solar Thermal Power (image from afromusing on Flickr)
Solar thermal power, also known as concentrated solar power, is used to make solar energy more efficient - in other words, you get more electricity from the same amount of sunlight. Unlike photovoltaic solar panels which you might have seen on rooftops or powering traffic signals, solar thermal power is generated by huge satellite dishes that are fitted with special mirrors. The curvature of the mirrors focuses sunlight into a small, 7-inch area. As you might imagine, this focus area is blisteringly hot. Actually, unimaginably hot: the equivalent of 13,000 suns!
At the Solar Thermal Test Facility, owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, six solar thermal power dishes stand in the desert near Albuquerque. The official site notes:
The primary goal of the NSTTF is to provide experimental engineering data for the design, construction, and operation of unique components and systems in proposed solar thermal electrical plants planned for large-scale power generation. In addition the facility can provide: high heat flux and temperatures for materials testing or aerodynamic heating simulation; large fields of optics for astronomical observations or satellite calibrations; a solar furnace; a rotating platform for parabolic trough evaluation.
How does solar thermal power work? As the focus area in the center of each dish is superheated, the energy runs a “Stirling engine,” the operation of which is described in a San Francisco Gate article:
“The heat . . . creates mechanical energy from an external heat source, as opposed to the internal fuel combustion that powers most automobile engines. Hydrogen gas in a Stirling engine’s four 95 cc cylinders expands and contracts as it is heated and cooled, driving pistons to turn a small electric generator. The configuration of the dish and engine represent the fruit of more than a decade of steady improvements, developed in collaboration with Arizona-based Stirling Energy Systems.”
Concentrated Solar Power
In general, concentrated solar power is said to be 25% efficient, more than double the average 12% efficiency rate of ordinary photovoltaic solar panels. However, the dishes at the Solar Thermal Test Facility exhibited a 31.25% conversion efficiency - the highest ever recorded in a commercial solar device.
What’s equally exciting is that the energy comes from the heat of the sun, not the sunlight itself. Heat can be better stored so that solar energy continues after the sun goes down. The Solar Thermal Test Facility in New Mexico is just the beginning. More solar thermal power is coming in the future in Arizona, and additional concentrated solar power plants exist in the Mojave Desert in California.
The Department of Energy predicts that solar electricity will be less expensive than than grid prices by 2015. That’s just six years from now. We’re starting to see what the future of solar power looks like!
23:58 
Amazon.com
The ICP Solar battery saver battery clamps make it easy to connect and disconnect your solar module from the battery. This set includes two universal battery clamps.
17:28 
Improve Home Value with Solar Panels
Did you know you can improve home value with solar panels? Its true. And the government may even help you pay for them.
To provide incentives for homeowners to install solar panels, some government officials are considering offering benefits beyond mere tax credits for renewable energy installation. The creation of a new mortgage would allow consumers to get additional credit on their loan applications when they commit to installing solar panels or other energy efficiency features.
The proposals are being debated, along with other provisions of the Clean Energy Bill that is currently before the Senate, after passing the House of Representatives in Congress. With respect to the new mortgage provisions:
Proposals currently range from making mortgages 5 percent larger for people to make energy upgrades with, to ways to boost a mortgage applicant’s qualifying income based on the amount they plan to spend on things like home photovoltaic panels.
Install solar panels
Among various reasons the government wants to encourage you to install solar panels is the simple fact that you’ll realize improve home value from day 1 after putting them on your home. The United States EPA reported in the Appraisal Journal that a home’s value increases by $20 for every $1 decrease in annual electricity bills. So, let’s say that you save only a portion of your utility costs… $300 per year (for us, that’s about 2 bills in the winter time). Well, you’ll increase improve home value with solar panels by nearly $6,000, based on today’s utility prices. And you’ll guard against future rate increases as well.
Consider that when you add the savings you receive from government incentives and tax credits, plus the potential new mortgage benefits, I’d say its time to find solar panels for your home! Even solar energy loan programs are being offered by some local governments.
With all these incentives, why wouldn’t you look into home photovoltaic panels for your home?
14:56 
More Solar Roadways in Oregon?
On the heels of its successful solar highway project, the state of Oregon is said to be considering more solar roadways. At the interchange between I-5 and I-205 near Portland, Oregon, a 104-kilowatt solar array provides a quarter to one third of the energy needed to light area with clean solar energy. Earlier this month, the Oregon Solar Highway Project reached a record milestone, producing 85 kilowatts of energy by mid-day (on average, the 8,000 square foot array creates 58 kilowatts daily). Power generated by the solar panels feeds into a grid owned by Portland General Electric.
While Oregon’s solar highway is the first of its kind in the nation, it certainly will not be the last. Other areas in the state could certainly be improved with similar projects to generate electricity for roadway lighting, or even additional power demands. Other states, as well, are hoping that their thoroughfares are transformed into solar roadways.
For example, In Idaho, a different type of solar roadway is being tested. Instead of a solar array installed in an adjacent right-of-way, durable solar panels could be installed directly onto the road’s surface. And, the Green Roadway project is another effort conceived by a pair of inventors who believe they can develop an “alternative energy roadway system” along highways across the nation.
As reported in the Deseret News last week:
“In Utah, all you need is $1 million to bid on the Green Roadway Project’s licensing agreement to tap into the technology for possible use on up to 67,300 miles of roadways that traverse the Beehive State. Licensing agreements are up for grabs in all states via a sealed bid auction to be held Thursday. The minimum reserve starts out as low as $125,000 for some states and goes up to $1.5 million for exclusive rights to California roadways.”
The future of such a solar roadway project would not only include power for the highway system itself, but also nearby cities and towns. Even plug-in electric car recharging stations would be powered by solar energy from the highways.
View of Mt. Jefferson from a sunny Oregon roadway
Many people are watching the prospect of more solar roadways, in Oregon, and across the nation, with great interest. Private capital venture capitalists, governments and renewable energy companies may choose to invest, given stimulus funds and other incentives (tax credits and rebates) that are offered for solar energy.
Considering the photos above - taken by me in sunny Central Oregon - leaves me wondering just how long it will be before we’re all driving on solar roadways?
15:47 
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10:46 
How to Live off the Grid & be 100% Self Sustainable & Debt Free. Stop oil & utility dependency, Stop paying high gas & utility costs. Live self-sufficient & lower monthly utility bills from an average $500 to $0.00 per month, even sell energy back to the power companies earning an additional $500+ per month income. The book teaches you How to move & Live off the grid, set in a Easy to Read Beginners level format (process made simple). (The resources, tips & tricks provided were tes (more…)
4:52 
St. John's University
The state of Minnesota will soon see its largest solar power installation at a local university. The photovoltaic array at the College of St. Benedict (aka St. John’s University) will generate about 20% of the campus energy requirements with an 1,800 solar panel installation.
The college and the Order of St. Benedict will work with Westwood Renewables to put together the project, which is expected to produce 575,000 kWh each year. This amount of clean, free solar energy would power 65 homes.
The other great aspect of St. John’s University solar array is to quell the fears and concerns of solar energy doubters. The state of Minnesota sits at the same northern latitude as Germany, which is a leading country with respect to solar energy production.
A key component to the project is to raise public awareness that, even in locations farther north, solar energy is a viable, green alternative. Minnesota can help demonstrate that PV technology can be successful outside of sunny states like California, Florida and Arizona.
Any solar energy production taking place in your home town? Please share the details below.
4:19 
An example of solar street lights
Uruguay lights its streets with solar power - at least in Suarez - which has switched to solar street lights in its town square, using solar energy and LED technology. The reasons for the transition are multiple, including a need to save money, increase safety and a desire for better reliability than traditional street lamps. Leonardo D’Andrea of the local town council explained to BBC Mundo:
“We decided to try out solar energy lamps in the town square and if it works, then we will apply it to all public lights in the town,” he said.
Uruguay is also suffering the effects of the global recession. Rising electricity costs forced Suarez to consider a way to combat rising electricity/energy costs. The plan is to install better technology, and then say good bye to lighting bills. For the mere cost of about $30 a month, per lamp, Suarez will save 70-90% on its energy costs. To put this into perspective, the annual electricity bill for Suarez is $400,000, 70% of which is due to the costs of power for street lights.
The LED (light emitting diodes) lamps are bright, but use little energy. Conveniently, the street lights can be charged with solar energy, or electricity, and can run for four days without needing to recharge.
In order to save money and create local jobs, the LED lamps are manufactured right in Uruguay. This not only helps the local economy, but it also saves the expense of purchasing solar power street lights from countries in the far East.
Other towns in Uruguay are watching Suarez to see whether to adopt a similar approach. And Suarez itself will decide whether to install solar power street lights throughout the town, as well.
4:31 
Solar Energy Workshop in Oregon
On Wednesday, July 22, a solar energy workshop in Oregon is scheduled to take place along the southern Pacific Coast in Coos Bay. As reported in “The World,” the region’s local newspaper, the event will be in North Bend, Oregon next week:
“Coos County homeowners and business owners can learn how to earn substantial cash incentives for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects. The workshop is set from 7 to 9 p.m. at the North Bend Community Center, 2222 Broadway Ave.
Attendees will hear from a panel of experts about cash incentives, tax credits and grants for energy efficiency improvements and renewable resources such as solar.”
The solar energy workshop in Oregon is hosted by Energy Trust. The company provides incentives for a range of green improvements including “new construction and upgrades to existing lighting, HVAC, pumps, motors and insulation, as well as for installation of renewable energy systems such as solar and wind.”
Energy Trust has a number of videos and commercials for general viewing, including this one:
When it comes to solar energy, Energy Trust is a leading resource for Oregonians. Solar energy is a key focus of Energy Trust, particularly given the ample quantities of the resource in Oregon! As indicated on its official website, consider the following steps to go solar:
- Attend a free Basics of Going Solar workshop or review our solar fact sheet and get all your questions answered.
- Learn about our cash incentives for solar electric and solar water heating systems.
- Choose a contractor from our list of qualified and trained professionals.
For more resources, expert advice or to register for a free workshop, visit the Solar Now! campaign at www.SolarNowOregon.org or call toll free 1-877-546-8769.
4:08 
Solar Incentives in Washington State
Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) is offering solar incentives in Washington State. As noted on its website:
“Costs for photovoltaic systems installed in Western Washington average $8,500 to $11,000 per kilowatt (kW) installed, depending on system size and complexity. An optimally located 1 kW system in Snohomish County or Camano Island will generate approximately 1,100 kWh per year.”
This week, the Herald Net (based in Everett, WA) published a report that the PUD has been giving rebates to its customers who go solar with solar hot water systems and/or PV panels.
“Commercial, industrial and municipal customers that install new PV systems can receive a cash incentive of $500 per installed kW, up to $10,000 for pre-approved qualified systems.”
Snohomish County PUD in Everett, WA
And, for residential customers, the following solar incentives are offered:
“Customers may choose a cash incentive of $500 per installed kW, up to $2,500, for pre-approved, qualified new systems. Optionally, customers may apply for a 2.9% APR loan of up to $25,000 to finance the installation instead of the cash incentive.”
To set the best example possible, the company is installing solar panels itself on its headquarters this year.
Fortunately, Snohomish County PUD is not the only utility that is taking the lead with respect to solar power systems. Spurred on by tax incentives and rebates, many companies are helping their customers become more energy efficient and “green.” You can expect to see many more homeowners install solar arrays in the coming years with government supporting efforts to become less reliant on fossil fuel-based energy.
Want to see more about the green power program in the Evergreen State:
Time for more utilities to step up and offer solar incentives for their customers.
Have any success stories to offer with respect to your own electric company? Please share below!
8:42 
Finding Solar Panels for Sale
Finding solar panels for sale is getting easier and easier with each passing year. Just a few years ago, in fact, many people scoffed at the idea of buying solar panels as something that only a person with a lot of money and passionately concerned about the environment would do.
Did you know that solar panels are for sale at many local hardware stores? That’s right - you don’t necessarily need to shop online, nor do you need to find a specialty solar panel store. Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Costco and many other chain stores now carry solar panels. They also have relatively inexpensive (or free) assistance to help you select your PV system and perhaps even install it. Some outfits even assist with tax rebate/incentive paperwork.
Of course, you can always install a DIY solar panel system (solar panel kit) at your home or small business. There are a number of sites that can walk you through the process. Not to mention a few helpful videos:
Buying solar panels is easy and affordable
You can even purchase second-hand solar panels! Buying solar panels is a wise investment - despite what some of the critics say. You’ll guard against rising electricity rates (some are going up double-digits this year), and even improve the re-sale value of your home or small business. Plus, government tax incentives are generous. Both federal and state monies are available to defray the costs of going green.
If you want to start small, perhaps you should try a solar attic fan, or even a solar dog house! Its true, there are many options out there for people who want to go solar. Give yourself 2-3 months and notice the difference in your power bill. Then, you may want to install a complete solar array!
Finding solar panels is now as easy as opening up your phone book, browsing the Internet, or walking into your local hardware store. So get going! Use the power of the sun to electrify your life!
4:28 
Solar Electric Power Association
The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) just released its schedule for monthly webinars (seminar on the web) for the remainder of 2009. If you want to keep up to date with solar energy information, then be sure to catch the monthly SEPA events, hosted live!
As explained on its official website:
SEPA is comprised of over 560 utilities and solar industry members. From national events to one-on-one counseling, SEPA is the go-to resource for unbiased and actionable solar intelligence. Breaking down information overload into business reality, SEPA takes the time and risk out of implementing solar business plans and helps turn new technologies into new opportunities
Offering this free monthly resource is just one of the benefits of the Solar Electric Power Association. Where else can you get reliable information and networking opportunities with respect to solar energy? Whether you want to learn the basics about solar panels, or tips on where to find the best solar resources online, SEPA is your resource.
The SEPA webinars are hosting at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time; afterwards, stick around for a facilitated question and answer dialogue. If you are a member of the solar electric power association, you can attend for free. Otherwise, the cost is $125 for non-members. Conveniently, you can register right online!
Did you miss a recent SEPA webinar that you want to catch? Fortunately, you can check out the archives (free for members and at a purchase price for non-members). You can learn all about solar power with a simple click of the mouse.
4:24 
Coming Soon: A Raleigh Solar Farm (image courtesy of Suzie T on Flickr)
Yesterday, a new PV installation was approved in North Carolina. The City Council approved a Raleigh Solar Farm on city-owned property at a local wastewater treatment plant. The new development is sure to be a boon to the community as a whole. And, its one of several new solar farms unveiled this week.
The Raleigh solar farm (also known as a solar field) will be online within the next 9-10 months and is expected to generate 1.7 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean electricity each year, reducing carbon emissions by over 1300 tons annually. It will be constructed, owned and operated by a consortium made up of Progress Energy Carolinas, Southern Energy and NxGen Power, partnering with the City.
Congratulations to Raleigh! We hope that the new solar farm is a success, and that it spurs on more PV developments.
Meanwhile, we also heard another monumental announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar:
New solar farms will be on the horizon
Last week, the Department released information that it intends to fast track solar developments on public lands, including those owned/operated by the Bureau of Land Management. As reported on thestreet.com:
The Bureau of Land Management will evaluate the solar suitability of 24 zones of land designated Solar Energy Study Areas in six states — Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. In all, the land comes to 670,000 acres. The department also said it’s opening one of four renewable energy coordination offices in Nevada to help evaluate applications for energy projects. So far, the BLM has received 158 solar-related applications.”
The study areas under consideration could produce about 100,000 megawatts of electricity from solar energy. To put this into perspective, a single megawatt of solar electricity can power 800 homes per year. Multiply that by 100,000 and you can power 80 million homes. That is more than 8 times the population of the City of Los Angeles!
It is so exciting to hear about solar energy on the rise! As Secretary Salazar observed,
“With coordinated environmental studies, good land-use planning and zoning and priority processing, we can accelerate responsible solar energy production that will help build a clean-energy economy for the 21st century.”
I think we’re on our way.
Do you know of any new solar farms in your region? Please share in the comments below.
4:49 
Solar Energy Loan Program Starts in Palm Desert Today
Today, in sunny southern California, hundreds of people are in line to submit applications for a solar energy loan program starting this morning in Palm Desert. The city will start accepting applications at 8:00 a.m.
Finally, after more than a year, the 300-plus people on the City’s waiting list for solar loans may finally be able to get a decision on their applications. Up for grabs is $1.25 million in financing for solar power projects.
As reported in the Desert Sun yesterday:
“Part of the city’s five-year drive to cut energy use by 30 percent, the Palm Desert program offers residents affordable loans for major energy-saving home improvements, such as solar panels and high-efficiency air conditioners. Long-term payback of the loans is linked to homeowners’ property taxes.”
Solar loans offered today in California
As people consider renewable energy options for their homes and small businesses, there remains a concern about cost. Programs that allow you to finance solar panels help defray upfront costs (as do government tax incentives). Its a win-win for both property owners and local governments. Here’s a brief summary:
“This type of financing is the latest and greatest! For example, in California, municipalities have the authority to create special tax assessment districts. These allow residents within the district to borrow money from the city and pay it back through an increase in property taxes over time.”
With respect to Palm Desert, the solar energy loan program has already made $5 million in loans. However, since February this year, the City has been looking for funding from outside sources. Now, it has secured the monies and is ready to roll again. About half of the newly available $2.5 million will be allowed for solar loans, while the rest will be offered only for other green, eco-friendly projects to conserve energy.
If you live in the Palm Desert area of California, you’d better log off and get in line right away! Other readers should look into municipal websites and information to see if their locality also offers solar energy loan programs.
Have you applied for a solar energy loan program? If so, what was your experience? We’d love to hear about it.
8:27 
These transparent solar beads were made with an ingredient that detects UV (Ultraviolet Light) and change to brighter color when detecting stronger UV. *** In the sun, you can enjoy watching the plain beads transforming into bright blue, red and yellow colors and go back to plain when out of the sun.
*** Children can make their own bracelet, necklace, pony rubber band…. especially with the bigger size blue beads provided as the center pieces. *** Small packages great for party-ac (more…)
8:50 No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.
8:29 
This Solar charger is ideal for charging rechargable batteries where ever the sun shines… which is just about anywhere.
It has a wheather resitant one peice cover so you can leave it out in the rain. It has a blocking diode to prevent reverse flow at night so you can leave it out over night. It can charge Ni-Cd or Ni-Mh rechargable batteries.
The chargeing times varies with the different batteries as well as the quality of sunshine. For example it will charge two AA 500mA bat (more…)
12:59 
This is the “Direct to Air” Solar Heater that comes “out of the box” ready to heat a room, a home, commercial building or anywhere supplementary solar heating is desired. Think of this unit as a “heat exchanger” for the sun. It simply converts solar energy into usable heat and blows it into the building. Depending on your insulation levels, it can heat up to 1,000 sq. ft.!
This is not a toy. Measuring 39 1/2″ x 78 3/4″ x 6 1/2″ (2 metres x 1 meters x 16.5 cm), this unit is design (more…)
18:02 
Space solar power
There have been a number of articles recently discussing space solar power. That is, harnessing solar energy from the stratosphere. More and more these days, companies are joining the ranks of people who agree that solar power from space could help solve the global climate change and energy crisis problems.
In fact, some say that its the only answer to our future energy demands.
In my home state of Washington, PowerSat Corporation (based in Everett - home of Boeing too), has filed for a provisional patent for two technologies it claims could help make the transmission of solar power from space more cost-effective. In addition, Solaren, another space solar power company based in Manhattan Beach, California is now working with PG&E to provide solar power from above.
Not to put too many eggs in one basket, but there are some people that believe - without solar power from space - we’ll be unable to meet energy demands in less than 100 years.
Space solar power is stronger and more reliable than on earth
SSP could very easily be the source of the future. Why? Because it can provide nearly unlimited, carbon-free power! And, above the atmosphere, solar energy is 5 times as powerful.
As noted by PowerSat:
“Now, PowerSat has come up with two technologies that it claims could shave off roughly $1 billion in launch and operation costs for a 2.5-megawatt power station. The first of these is called BrightStar. Instead of one large satellite, Brightstar uses a cluster of hundreds of small ones, which work together — similar to cloud computing — to transmit the power as a group.”
If that doesn’t work, Solar Power Orbital Transfer is next in line. This technology uses a solar array for wireless power transmission, which provides energy for electronic thrusters to boost satellites thousands of miles above the planet’s surface.
All this exciting news aside, the biggest hurdle for space solar power is funding. As you might expect, its a very expensive venture, and not all investors are convinced of either the need for it, or whether it will produce promised results.
Space may in our lifetime always be the “final frontier.” Still, I hope that the dreams lead to some serious “real life” solar power for our lives here on Earth one day soon.
8:51 
Light and Information When You Need Them Most! This dynamite duo gives you two failsafe essentials to get you through any power failure. Top-of-the-line combo includes two of Freeplay’s best: the Freeplay Sherpa Wind-up Torch and a special edition of the Freeplay EyeMax AM/FM LED Radio with the addition of the NOAA Weather Band. The Freeplay EyeMax Radio runs for 35 minutes after just 30 seconds of winding, or for 25 HOURS when fully charged. It can also be charged with the built i (more…)
4:48 
Why not get a solar automower for Dad?
Its Sunday, June 21: Father’s Day in the United States. While it may be too late to shop now, you can still give him the promise of a great gift - how about a solar automower for Dad?
This cool solar gadget is made by Husqvarna and is similar to the idea of the infamous “Roomba” cordless, robotic vacuum cleaner. Powered by small solar panels on top, the solar automower will trim your lawn without expending any energy…. electric or human.
Its the essence of what dads love best - a clean looking yard, and the ability to drink a beer or catch a game inside while all the hard work is done:
While you can get an automower for about $1,200, you may need to shell out nearly $3,000 for the solar powered option. Before you panic, I have found several sites at which you can get a solar automower for $1,650-1,800.
Here’s a description of the device, from the official website:
“The product uses considerably less energy than any conventional mower. That’s because in addition to a charging station, it comes with a large integrated solar panel. When there is daylight available, the solar cells enable the mower to extend its cutting periods before it needs recharging. That means a cut lawn in a shorter time, even lower power consumption and an extended battery life. So now it takes even less energy to mow the lawn. Suitable for lawns up to 1/2 acre, depending on light conditions.”
If your father enjoys saving energy, while relaxing at the same time, you should definitely consider a solar automower for Dad!
Happy Fathers Day to all!
14:19 
Solar Panel Instructional DVD & Plans for water heating. A simple step-by-step, DIY, easy to follow solar panel construction DVD. No special tools required. Sleek design, professional look and ease of fabrication. Heating system fully integrates into your existing pool piping network. 3500 watts (12,000BTU) of free solar power per panel. 10+degrees F increase in water temperature in one day. Engineered for maximum robustness and weatherability.
3:14 
Attic solar fan
Summer time is here - long, hot days, and warm, still nights. Are you sweating yet? Not if you have an attic solar fan! This great little gadget is perfect for fanning hot air from the top of your home right outdoors, allowing for a much cooler, comfortable interior. Consider that:
Installing a solar attic fan (or two) can help you reduce your air conditioning costs during warm months, cut down on damaging moisture that can lead to a number of structural problems, and even help save items that you may have in storage. In short, a small investment with a huge return!
Lest you think that a solar attic fan is only useful during summer months, it can also help reduce humidity and keep a more consistent temperature all year round.
In the rafters of your home, temperatures can get to a sweltering 150 degrees F. All that extra heat makes your A/C system have to work even harder - and you get to sweat even more. Plus, when that electric bill comes each month, you’ll really get steamed!
An attic solar fan only costs you the price of the kit. Once its installed (usually a do-it-yourself project), you can literally forget about it. It draws energy from the sun and converts it into usable power. No need for plugs or wiring. Consider that the attic fan will have a lifetime of 10-20 years - perhaps longer than you’ll own your home.
Want to see how easy it is to put in a solar attic fan at your home?
So how much do solar powered attic fans cost? This is truly the best part! We’re talking several hundred, as opposed to thousands of dollars for a solar panel system.
Prices range from $300-600, and you may even be eligible for renewable energy tax incentives to help defray investment. Variation in cost is due to the manufacturer, ventilation capacity and whether you choose to include optional features such as a thermostat.
Like other solar panel systems, an attic solar fan can also increase the value of your home. Many people are in the market for clean, green energy. Its an additional selling point that could bring in a buyer - even in this tough market.
Do you have a solar attic fan? Let us know what you like best, and if there is anything you would change if you could.
12:10 
Whether you’re building a new house or have an existing one, “Basics of Energy Efficient Living” shares the principles behind energy efficient living. Have you ever wondered: What is R-value? How much energy could I get from my creek? Can I use alternative energy in the city? How much heat will it take to keep my house warm? How much heat will I lose if I put in a bigger window? Learn what it takes to save energy, then take the next step and collect your own. Find out how much (more…)
10:33 
Solar Power is not just a buzzword anymore. It is a viable way for you to save time and money, while at the same time make a conscious effort to save the environment and the planet. Solar power has been revolutionized and new technology is allowing it to not only power your home, but to power personal devices such as cell phones, personal entertainment systems, and other electronic devices that you could use in virtually any situation. In this e-book you will learn how to make, and (more…)
5:48 
Design, Implement, and Audit the Most Energy-Efficient, Cost-Effective Solar Power Systems for Any Type of Building! Solar Power in Building Design is a complete guide to designing, implementing, and auditing energy-efficient, cost-effective solar power systems for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. From basic theory through project planning, cost estimating, and manufacturing methods, this vital resource offers you everything needed for solar power design (more…)
4:29 
Driving towards the Oregon Solar Highway Project
I’ve driven past it probably hundreds of times, but was not aware of the Oregon Solar Highway Project until recently. The first in the nation, a demonstration project was installed last year to showcase the use of highway rights-of-way for solar power generation.
Lest you think that Oregon is the capital of solar power (it probably is, in the U.S.), Germany and Switzerland have had solar highway projects in place for 2 decades! Plus, Idaho - right next door to Oregon - has now joined in, installing its own solar highways recently.
Back to Oregon, however. This is a really great video on the ODOT solar project:
Oregon's Solar Highway Project
At the interchange of I-5 and I-205, a 104 kW solar PV system, consisting of 594 panels have been installed. The solar highway project generates nearly 30% of the electricity required for the lights and signage at the interchange. A great start, don’t you think?
But what if we want to use solar energy to power the entire Oregon Highway system? Only about 20 more miles of similar installations would be required.
Hopefully, we’ll go down that road, and cross that bridge soon. With thousands of miles of highways in Oregon, we should be able to find a few more suitable sites for solar panel installations.
3:44
15:34 
The GP-40-12 40 Watt Solar Electric Power Panel features ploy-crystalline photovoltic cell technology. The 36 square solar cells are encapsulated beneath high transmission tempered glass using an advanced, UV resistant thermal setting plastic. The encapsulant ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) cushions the solar cells within the laminate and ensures the operating characteristics of the solar cells under virtually any climatic conditions. The rear surface of the module is completely seale (more…)
4:32 
Build a solar panel system for free energy
We’ve posted before about easy, DIY solar energy kits for your home. With electricity costs rising quickly, don’t you think its time to build a solar panel system for free energy?
Trust me - you don’t have to live in the desert southwest or near the equator to tap into solar energy. Nor do you need to spend tens of thousands of dollars for an investment. Just a bit of UV light each day, and PV panels that are unobstructed and angled to the south (in the northern hemisphere).
Heck, even the government wants to make it easy for you! With generous federal and state tax incentives, you can re-coup up to 80% of the cost of a solar panel system.
Home solar power system
There are many benefits you’ll realize from a home solar power system:
• No greenhouse gas emissions. Solar energy is not only free, its carbon-free! There are no emissions or byproducts from generating electricity from the sun.
• Free energy. Your only cost is for the solar panel system. After that, electricity is free, and reliable (no blackouts during storms or emergencies). After a few years, you’ll recoup the cost of a home solar energy system in utility bill savings, plus increased property value.
• Extra reliable. WIth our recent thunderstorms and power outages, I realized that solar energy is the way to go! Its so easy to store extra energy to give you reliable backup in the case of grid failure. You can have the ability to pump extra power back into the grid - or stored in a battery - 24×7, so the lights will always be on at your home!
Solar panels have a life expectancy of 20-40 years, so you know that an investment today for free energy tomorrow is a sound one! Soundless and almost maintenance free, its so easy to go solar today with a home solar power system.
Are you in the market for free energy? Let’s build a solar panel system today!
20:35 
Time to use solar energy without the investment
You already know that power from the sun is free, clean and renewable. But maybe you’re not using solar power because of the expensive equipment. No worries. You can harness solar energy without the investment!
For centuries, people effectively used solar energy without PV panels, inverter boxes and wiring. You too can tap into your inner pioneer and use solar energy on a daily basis with a few simple tips.
1. Dry your clothes on a clothesline. Its the original solar dryer. No electricity required, just a nice day and a fresh breeze. Not only are you saving money for using solar energy without the investment, but your energy conservation will put an extra $150-200 in your pocket each year if you forgo the electric dryer.
2. Cook your food with an easy-to-make solar oven. There are many DIY models out there, with detailed videos to show you how to build a solar cooker, but I saw one online the other day that is simply a cardboard pizza box, covered with foil, and sealed with plastic wrap. I’m thinking about making my own, homemade pizza in this easy-bake solar oven.
3. Grow your own fruits, vegetables and herbs. All you need to buy are the seeds. Rain, sunshine and the miracle of nature can provide you with a bounty of fresh food from the garden (with a little bit of TLC, as well). Plants don’t grow without solar energy, so consider this as an easy, nearly-free way to harness the power of the sun.
4. Heat your home with passive solar measures. Position your windows to be south-facing and keep blinds and drapes open during the winter. Just be sure that during warm months, you have shrubs for shade and can pull window coverings tight. Another popular passive solar option is a Trombe Wall. Minimal cash outlay for this extra insulated wall, sometimes filled with water, can cut heating and cooling costs by 90%.
5. Finally, this last tips requires a small amount of cash, but for a big return! Why not get some solar chargers to provide free solar energy for your electronics while you are on the go? You can recharge cell phones, iPods, computers, cell phones and more, for a minimal investment. My pick: get a solar backpack. I can see that my laptop use is a huge energy drain. With the solar chargers, I can tap into solar energy on the go, and I’ll never be stuck with a dead battery again.
It may be cliche to say, but you truly can save green while going green!
Got any other free solar energy tips? Please share below!
13:36 
Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power Your Home For Dummies takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! This friendly, hands-on guide is packed with tips for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. (more…)
3:39 
Think Out Loud on Solar
My favorite public broadcasting station here in Oregon, OPB is running a program today on its popular show, “Think Out Loud.” The topic: solar energy in Oregon and whether its worth the investment.
Having just blogged on a similar topic this week, I decided to check out the OPB website and see whether I would participate by leaving a comment, or even calling in! For those of you that don’t live on the West Coast, OPB is a National Public Radio member station.
You don’t have to live in Oregon to share your opinion!
Here’s an excerpt of what the online OPB piece, written by Bree Hocking, says:
It might seem like an oxymoron in the rainy Northwest, but when it comes to renewable resources solar is actually Oregon’s most abundant. But it’s also the most expensive — so expensive that Jeff King of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council says its difficult “to justify spending lots of money on solar built in the Northwest when it so obviously appears to be more suitable for the Southwest.” King asserts: “We’ve got much lower cost renewables available for development.”
Solar energy in Oregon?
Readers and listeners are encouraged to call in, or log in, to leave comments with their thoughts on a number of questions. These include:
Significant solar investments arguably hang in the balance, as the Oregon Legislature stands to consider a number of bills that may help boost solar energy production and use in the state. Among other things, one proposed bill would establish a pilot program to force investor-owned utilities to buy back excess solar energy produced from new solar panels at a set price.
Want to join the debate on Think Out Loud, on solar? Call 888-665-5TOL, or log in to the website to leave a response!
4:34 
The Sunforce 37010 60 Watt Crystalline Solar Panel is designed for RVs, homes, boats, back-up and remote power use, 12-volt battery charging, and solar power stations. Built with high efficiency crystalline cells, this weatherproof panel is easy to install and comes equipped with wiring, brackets and screws. And for more power, you can easily connect multiple panels. This panel has a maximum output of 60 watts and 4 amps.
5:31 Solar panels worth the investment, especially for cities
Many people have asked: are solar panels worth the investment? Well, you might guess my opinion as the author and editor of this blog. But what about people that are “on the fence?” Should you buy solar panels? Why or why not?
Solar energy is one of the fastest (if not the fastest) growing renewable energy industry in the world. Solar power can provide clean, free electricity and also clean, free hot water. From solar-powered flashlights to solar phone chargers, photovoltaic and thermal panels are showing up everywhere.
Is it time to part with the green in your wallet to go green?
Consider the following video that postulates that solar is the new oil for transportation:
Despite the fact that solar panels will pay for themselves in a few years through energy savings and increased property values, you can also save money through federal and state tax credits/rebates. Even some power companies themselves now offer incentives to people that wish to install rooftop solar panels.
Install solar panels
For example, I read that Duke Energy wants to rent rooftops for solar panel installation. Do you have some empty space to lease out? The corporation will maintain the panels and take care of all the “dirty” clean energy work. I think its safe to say that we can look for other companies to follow Duke’s lead.
But if you are more of a DIY kind of person, or perhaps don’t want to jump through corporate hoops, consider hiring a college-aged person to help you install solar panels. Its not too difficult, and with a bit of training and/or experience, you can get assistance in putting up your new renewable energy system in a matter of days, if not hours.
Are solar panels worth the investment? Only you can decide. But with electric utilities across the nation raising their rates, wouldn’t it be nice to be locked in to free solar power for the rest of your life?
6:41 
“Save Money & At The Same Time Save The Environment By Powering Up With Solar Power For Energy! It’s Time To Do YOUR Bit For The Planet!”You have probably heard about solar power and how it is the new and upcoming alternative energy source of the future. It’s just not a buzzword anymore. It is a viable way for you to save time and money, while at the same time make a conscious effort to save the environment and the planet. Solar power has been revolutionized and new technology is (more…)
4:52 
From the Manufacturer
Constantly charges repeller’s battery. Solar Power Panels convert sunlight into electricity. Wire sequentially conducts the electricity to batteries where it is stored until needed. Electricity is then used directly from batteries, to power DC (direct current) appliances like your repeller from Bird-X. Solar Power Panel, Note: You must purchase a 12-Volt DC battery in order to utilize the Solar Panel. The panel can only charge the battery: it cannot power the r (more…)
4:07 
Solar inverter
Privately-held PV Powered, a solar inverter manufacturer in Bend, Oregon, is set for new growth. The company can thank not only generous government tax credits for clean energy, but also a multimillion-dollar investment recently. Its CEO, Gregg Patterson is predicting that PV Powered could double or triple in size in a mere 2 years.
As a resident of Central Oregon, I witnessed, first hand, the buzz that resulted from then-candidate Obama’s stop at PV Powered in spring 2008. Obama toured the facilities and made a stirring speech about renewable energy that many believe catapulted him forward in the hotly-contested Democratic race.
So what is going on now at PV Powered? First, and perhaps most importantly, they’re hiring! Recently, the company added a few additional employees to its workforce of about 55. Now, they plan to hire approximately 10 more to meet additional demand for its solar inverter product.
Second, there is reason for optimism about the new growth of PV Powered. Some analysts are predicting 5-fold increases in the solar market by 2011. Because the products of PV Powered are so highly respected, it can ride the coat-tails of renewable energy expansion fairly well.
New growth in the pv-powered industry
Here in Central Oregon, in particular, news about solar industry growth is especially welcome. Unemployment rates vary regionally from 16-20%. PV Powered is predicting that, one day, it could be the area’s largest employer.
The success of this company is due in considerable part to its products. Right now, it is working on a 260-kW inverter that is able to process solar energy for 50 homes. It also has developed embedded software that converts DC to AC, which can then be fed into the electrical grid.
PV Powered also is experiencing growth due to a deal with Kyocera, the extension of the federal solar investment tax credit last year, the stimulus bill, and the aforementioned multimillion dollar investment, by Evans Renewable Holdings II, LLC. Stated one of Evans Renewable Holdings’s principals, Mark Fleischauer:
“Over the last 18 months, we’ve invested multimillions (in PV Powered) and now have committed more so they can fully reap the benefits of the stimulus package. We like their technology, we think they’ve got the best product on the market, have a tremendous management team and think they are very focused now on what they need to do to capitalize on the marketplace.”
Now is a great time to invest in solar! Regardless of whether you live in Oregon, or use PV Powered’s solar inverters, did you realize that by installing solar panels on your home, you’ll have a 7-12% return, which is better than putting your cash into a CD?
With that kind of success, no wonder PV Powered is set for new growth!
14:31 
From Booklist
Learn a new vocabulary! Take a refresher course on the electrical power of the sun and the wind! Although the enthusiasm of renewable-energy experts Ewing and Pratt might get a bit wearing, they’ve developed a nontechnical reference and guide for home owners thinking about pulling the plug on their utility connections. In fact, after a look at the table of contents, the appendixes just might be the right place to start figuring out whether photovoltaic panel installati (more…)
14:16 
Review
Including scientific fundamentals as well as recent developments in solar energy applications, this comprehensive book covers a broad range of topics interest to students and professionals. This edition deals with areas such as heating and cooling, passive solar applications, detoxification, and biomass energy conversion. This textbook provides examples of methods of solar engineering from around the world and includes examples, solutions, and data applicable to international (more…)
Find safety 1st strollers information and articles.
5:19 
Solar Powered Radio on the horizon
A San Francisco radio station, KGO Newstalk AM 810, became the first solar powered radio station in California, with a flip of the switch by Speaker Pelosi last fall. Solar panels were installed on the rooftop of the station’s transmitter site in Newark, California in order to offset its electric power consumption.
The popular news radio station is considered one of the top in the Bay Area.
Towers transmitting KGO Newstalk AM 810
Although the PV panel installation will only offset a portion of the 50,000 watts of power required for operations over a 24-hour period, the hope is that the high visibility of the panels will remind the approximately 80,000 commuters who drive past the building each day of solar power’s potential.
There are three solar panel arrays that can be seen from areas near the Dumbarton Bridge. Not only will it reduce use of fossil-fuel based electricity, but Pacific Gas and Electric Company is using the KGO project to showcase renewable energy usage for its current and potential customers.
Have you seen the solar panels on the KGO rooftop? Would they inspire you to go solar?
5:00 
Israel sunset
A new solar farm in Israel confirms the country’s leadership in the world for solar energy. Sunshine is a prime natural resource in this region of the world. In fact, Israel is at the top of the list worldwide when it comes to number of sunny days per year.
Recently, Israel announced the launch of a breakthrough solar farm that many hope will be so affordable that it will lead to a meaningful reduction of fossil fuel usage. As reported in Christian Science Monitor:
“The technology, a system of rotating dishes made up of mirrors, is capable of harnessing up to 75 percent of incoming sunlight – roughly five times the capacity of traditional solar panels. In addition, using mirrors to reduce the number of photovoltaic cells needed, it makes the cost of solar energy roughly comparable to fossil fuels.”
As noted in the above video, Israeli company, ZenithSolar, working in conjunction with Israel’s Ben-Gurion University, has come up with a way to use a water-based cooling system to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells, while also creating thermal energy.
The news is an Internet sensation!
ZenithSolar’s CEO, Roy Segev, proudly talked about the fact that the company is the first that can both tap into sunlight for both solar electric energy, as well as thermal heat energy. Mr. Segev noted:
“This flagship plot of 16 dishes known as “Z20”s – which look like semiflattened satellite dishes with the texture of a disco ball – will generate about half of the total energy needs of this community of some 200 families.”
This truly is the new solar. Using both the electricity-generating properties of UV light, as well as its heat potential, is the way to maximize clean, green energy.
The new solar farm in Israel can show us the way!
4:54 
Red or Blue doesn't matter - where are the top U.S. utilities for solar energy located?
A new report from Wired.com indicates the top U.S. utilities for solar energy. Not too surprisingly, they are mostly clustered in the Southwest corner of the country, with all but one of them with locations in California. Hawaii is second on the list with three solar energy plants. Of the remaining top U.S utilities for solar energy, you’ll find installations in Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Jersey and New York.
Why should you care where the top U.S. utilities for solar energy are?
Quite simply because solar power is on the rise - and quickly. Installations at utilities went up 25% in 2008, compared to the previous year. Many utilities doubled their solar power output. As of the end of last year, the 10 top solar utilities boast an impressive 882 megawatts of capacity from solar energy. But that is a mere drop in the bucket with respect to future predictions. More than 7,500 megawatts of solar capacity is planned to be installed within seven years.
Big companies like Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric (both California-based), combine to hold the lion’s share of the sun-powered wattage. However, smaller, publicly-owned utilities are making headways and headlines with massive increases in solar watts per customer, like San Francisco PUC.
Utility-built solar fields can increase our solar energy megawatts
Observes the executive director of the Solar Electric Power Association:
“This year’s report demonstrates that solar electricity is finally on the radar screen of utilities across the country. Solar plants large and small are ready for significant build-out, and the utility industry is moving towards mass adoption to meet a variety of business needs.”
So just who are these “shining stars” in the U.S. solar energy market? With respect to total solar megawatts:
For solar watts per customer:
I cannot wait to see what next year’s lists look like!
4:51 
Convert to Solar Air Conditioning
With temperatures rising as summer approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, its time to think about cooling down. A solar air conditioner, also known as solar evaporative cooler can save you from the heat - and the high electric bills associated with running a conventional A/C.
A startling fact to consider: One-sixth of all electricity use in the United States is for air conditioning! Can you even imagine all the CO2 emissions as a result? Not to mention millions of dollars that do not have to be wasted in this way when solar energy is clean and abundant - especially during the sunny, hot summer months.
There are a number of ways to go about using the sun to actually lower the temp in your home, apartment, or even a tent.
As shown in this first video, a homeowner hooked up an air conditioning unit to a photovoltaic solar panel. As the panel absorbed solar energy, a converter switched the direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), required to power the device. Bingo! Free solar energy!
This is a perfect DIY solar project. Instructions are available at www.livingonsolar.com.
After you view the first video, consider the next one about a solar absorption cooler.
Solar absorption coolers do not release CFCs into the atmosphere. The cooling unit is 100% self-contained, unlike the solar A/C units shown above.
Granted, the cost may be too high for homeowners (at this time), but I suspect that one day soon, we’ll see this technology on our own streets. I would love to visit the Audubon Environmental Center in L.A. to feel - and see - this solar absorption cooler in action.
Would you use one of these solar air conditioners? Chances are, you could save $75 a month in cooling costs over the summer!
4:17 
A great place for the first solar powered city in the U.S.
The first solar powered city in the U.S., called Babcock Ranch, will be 100% powered by the Sun. The 20,000 home community will be located near Fort Meyers, Florida, on the gulf coast of the Sunshine State. Babcock Ranch is a joint venture between a utility - Florida Power & LIght - and a developer, Kitson & Partners.
In addition to thousands of homes, more than 6 million square feet of retail, office and light industrial space is also included at Babcock Ranch. Future-looking from its inception, the first solar powered city in the U.S. will have wireless Internet throughout, as well as plug-in electric vehicle charging stations.
Solar panels catch the sun in Florida
During the day, Babcock Ranch will run on 100% solar energy. In fact, so much power is expected to be produced that excess clean electricity can be sold back into the grid.
The CEO of Kitson said the project will serve as a model to other communities and be a “living laboratory for companies, workers and families ready to reap the rewards of innovation.”
You might be wondering when you can move to this solar community? Construction is currently scheduled to start a year from now, in the summer of 2010. And talk about green jobs! More than 20,000 people will gain clean, green employment from working at Babcock Ranch.
I wonder if we’re going to have to wait for the success of the first solar powered city in the U.S. before more are planned, permitted and constructed? I sure hope not.
9:08 
Solar Panels on red roofs evidence Germany creates green jobs
As the world struggles to emerge from a global recession, there is a bright spot in Europe: Germany creates green jobs at an impressive pace. In fact, word is that the green sector in Germany will be larger than its automobile industry by 2020.
Obviously, renewable energy investment is good on a number of levels: (1) employing people in well-paying green jobs; (2) reducing greenhouse gas emissions to curb global climate change; and (3) saving consumers money on their electric bill. Schools in Heidelburg have even received additional government funds based on money saved from implementing energy saving measures.
As Germany creates green jobs, the following has occurred:
With respect to solar power alone, Germany is a world-wide leader. In a related post, I discussed the fact that residents of Freiburg (aka “Solar Valley”) with solar panels on their homes are saving 5 times as much on their utility bills as neighbors that do not use solar energy. The country’s green economy is strong: $240 billion is generated each year through its R&D, and exports of green technology.
Not surprisingly, the German Government is 100% on board. Leading by example, the Reichstag Building, its Parliament Building runs exclusively on renewable energy.
Could you believe that solar power would be so successful in a northern European country? Its time for other nations to follow Germany’s strong, green lead.
4:08 
Solar Stadium in Taiwan
A brand new solar stadium in Taiwan was unveiled this week, in preparation for the 2009 World Games. Unlike other solar stadiums in the world, this one is 100% solar powered. That is, all electrical usage at the stadium will be powered by the 8,884 photovoltaic panels installed on the 50,000 seat arena.
Yep - each and every one of more than 3000 lights, plus two jumbo vision screens, will rely solely on solar energy. Perhaps even more fantastic is the fact that it takes only 6 minutes of UV light exposure to power-up the entire stadium system.
The stadium, shaped like a dragon, was designed by the well-known Japanese architect, Toyo Ito. You can see the solar panels incorporated into the design (above), which resemble scales on the dragon’s skin. No official name yet, other than the “World Games Stadium,” but it will be officially open in time for the Games, scheduled for July 16-26, 2009.
Toyo Ito
Going solar is not the only green element of the new solar stadium in Taiwan. Nearly 1/3 of the 19 hectare site is reserved for public parks and other green spaces. The design team also used recyclable, locally-made materials for construction.
Local residents benefit in more ways than one from the solar stadium. Surplus energy generated by the solar panels will be sold back into the grid, providing 80% of the community’s energy needs with clean, green electricity. By generating over 1 million gigawatt hours (gWh) of solar energy each year, the solar stadium in Taiwan will prevent 660 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
I would love to travel to Taiwan to check out this amazing architectural jewel, sparkling in the sun that provides it power!
3:56 
Solar Power Your Drive
With gas prices on the rise again and concerns about global climate change that do not abate, the good news is that you’ll soon be able to solar power your drive.
Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles are being developed all over the world, and will even be more widely available in the United States in the next 12-18 months. In order to facilitate the transition, and to make ownership and operation as easy as possible, regions are working hard to build the infrastructure required for a transition to 100% electric drive.
Better Place is one of the organizations that is leading the way. Among other things, they have developed a battery switching station at which you can drop off a depleted battery and exchange it for a fully-charged one. Instead of filling up at the gas station, just drive your electric vehicle up and get a recharged battery. You’re on your way again, just as quickly (just over a minute for the entire automated process)
One is already operational in Yokohama, Japan:
Recharging a plug-in vehicle
According to the New York Times, Green Inc. blog:
One hundred of the stations — which cost around $500,000 apiece — will be rolled out in Israel by 2011, with additional stations slated for Denmark and later, Australia, California, Hawaii and Ontario.
This is truly great news! Better Place hopes that “traditional” gas stations will be swapped out as fast as a battery that needs recharging, for these renewable-energy powered battery stations. Using solar power to provide the electricity required for charging the batteries, can result in a zero-emissions commute.
If you are driving less than 100 miles, you can plug in your car to recharge in the parking garage when you’re at work, or leave your vehicle to recharge at a solar-powered park and ride facility. PEHV batteries can fully recharge in about 6-8 hours.
I cannot wait to solar power my own drive!
8:24 
Solar Powered Boat Lift
Last weekend, we were enjoying the sunshine near Olympia, Washington. I noticed a small solar powered device next to the boat lift on my parents’ dock. Yes, in often rainy, cloudy Washington, there is still plenty of UV light for a solar powered boat lift.
In fact, many marine speciality stores and websites offer a range of solar powered items for boat enthusiasts. A smaller battery is positioned on the dock or canopy where it will be exposed to as much sunlight as possible (avoid shady areas and those covered by vegetation). Solar panels cover the battery component and recharge it by converting the direct current of solar energy.
Whether you need energy to lift your boat out of the water with a hydraulic system, provide solar dock lighting, or power a security system, solar energy and boating go together well. And, when you invest in solar energy, you may be eligible for a renewable energy tax rebate to help defray costs.
What kind of system will you need? Here is an example from Solar Boat Dock for a single solar powered boat lift:
Solar Boat Dock one lift Assumptions.
Lift Power Usage
Lift Amps 6
Lift Wattage 720
AC voltage 120Used over the weekend for 20 minutes or to make 4 lifts.
Wattage used over weekend 240w
Amps Used at 12 volts 20a12 volt load while lift is running 60 amp
Recommended Inverter Size 1000 watts 12 volt inverter
Recommended Battery Bank Size 240 amp-hour at 50% discharge
Battery bank run time 2 hoursRequired Solar power in Wattage 288
Recommended solar wattage with 12% power loss 322.56Recommended charge controller size in amps 26.88.
Solar Power and Boating go together
If you are not sure what type of solar powered system you’ll need, just talk to a sales representative. They can explain amps and wattage in simple terms. Many can even help you with the paperwork associated with securing a tax credit or rebate.
Solar powered boat lifts are available in a range of sizes and prices to accommodate all types of boats and even personal watercraft (jet skis).
Let’s face it - you will normally enjoy recreational boating on sunny days. It makes sense to use solar energy as part of the experience. Avoid running electric lines to your dock, or worrying whether you need to recharge your battery. With regular UV light exposure, a solar powered system will reliably operate to help lift your boat out of the water (and lower it back in).
Now, get out and enjoy the sun!
6:00 
Cool Solar Gadgets
There are many cool solar gadgets on the market these days. There’s no question that its hip to go green with power from the sun. Not to mention, being able to charge your electronics on the go is practical and cost-saving.
If you are outdoors at all during the day, its time to hook you up with some solar gadgets to re-power your phone, iPod, computer, camera and more.
Don’t ever suffer from a dead battery again. Nor do you have to worry about tossing out old batteries, or finding a suitable recycling station. Solar powered gadgets are truly the new best thing!
Do you like to backpack or camp? You can get cool solar flashlights or solar backpacks. Even on cloudy days, the UV light from the sun will recharge your batteries along the way (however, less time is required for recharging on bright sunny days).
Solar backpacks are a cool solar gadget
Green entrepreneurs are a growing breed. You can find so many cool solar gadgets on the market these days. From SolarBulbs to Solar Lampshades, and Solar Doghouses to Solar Dollhouses - the options are endless! You can even get a car solar battery charger!
Before you pick up your next electronic device, consider whether you can re power it with energy from the sun. I’ll bet the answer is yes!
Time to choose from the many solar gadgets that are on the market. Put aside your traditional battery-wasting ways. Solar gadgets will literally free you to enjoy your life, without worrying about environmental impact of tossed batteries and wondering when and where you can recharge your devices.
When you love being outdoors as much as I do, you’ll be looking for reliable solar gadgets. Rest assured, there are many you can purchase and use.
Do you have any recommendations for other readers? Or perhaps a word of caution?
We always love to read real-life experiences with the products we discuss.
6:21 
Solar 2009
The American Solar Energy Society “Solar 2009″ national solar conference is next week: May 11-16, in the Buffalo/Niagara, NY area. And, its not too late to register! However, I would recommend doing so online instead of at the conference itself to save an extra $100.
Buffalo Niagara Convention Center
Convention Center Plaza (153 Franklin Street)
Buffalo, NY 14202
This is the place to connect with solar power entrepreneurs, innovators and other leaders in the industry. In short, let’s get pumped up about solar energy! The annual event is now in its 38th year:
“This national conference helps you understand the new drivers and hidden opportunities in the trillion-dollar green economy. With today’s market volatility, you can’t afford to fall behind. Attend SOLAR 2009 – and gain the insight and build the connections you need to stay ahead.”
Looking for solar training?
Can’t attend Solar 2009 this year? Fortunately, you can live vicariously through the blog. Among many highlights of the conference is the “Solar Success!” training program, offered on a number of days. Whether you have a solar start-up business, or are already experienced, if you are going to Solar 2009, this is probably worth your time:
“The future of solar energy has never looked brighter with enhanced federal tax incentives for businesses and homeowners, new state rebate programs and strong support in the economic stimulus package for renewable energy and green job creation. Small businesses are poised to take advantage of these tremendous opportunities. Now is the time to accelerate your solar business!”
Those companies that are a part of Solar 2009 will reach more than 4,000 people looking for solar products. Not only is the conference well attended, but more than 90% of attendees have rated the conference as “good to excellent.”
But what if you don’t have a solar business? No worries! Solar 2009 is still for you. Next Friday and Saturday (May 15-16), public events are scheduled to help you learn how to use solar energy at your own home or business. Its super affordable, at a cost of $5 online or $10 for adults over age 18. People younger get in free!
If I was in the New England area, I would seriously consider attending Solar 2009!
What do you think? Will you be there next week?
7:13 
Solar World Coming to Oregon
The NY Times published an article this weekend about SolarWorld investing in Oregon. Specifically, the solar giant is continuing work on its solar panel facility in Hillsboro, Oregon - just outside Portland.
This is newsworthy for a couple of reasons. Putting aside the obvious thrill that renewable energy supporters experience when hearing about a new plant, the most exciting thing is the fact that SolarWorld is continuing with its significant investment in the midst of a global recession. As noted by the Times:
“Buoyed by the potential promise of a green economy, Mr. Klebensberger, who heads the American branch of SolarWorld AG, a company based in Bonn, Germany, is ramping up production of solar cells in a retrofitted factory that had its grand opening last October — in the teeth of the financial crisis.”
Solar Investment makes sense
The company is investing $500 billion in its Oregon plant, which currently produces enough solar cells to fit 1,700 panels per day. Its the biggest facility of its kind in the country. Still, some may be surprised at the influx of funds, given that Oregon suffers the second-worst unemployment in the nation.
Don’t tell that to employees of SolarWorld, or the residents of Hillsboro!
“SolarWorld’s presence is a welcome boon. Its employees enjoy being in start-up mode, while others like the cachet of working for a renewable-energy company — which goes down well in outdoorsy Oregon.”
Even though production and demand for solar panels have slowed during the economic crisis, incentives to encourage renewable energy are boosting the industry overall. Add that to the fact that the U.S. is not a huge solar manufacturing company, compared to other - perhaps “unlikely suspects” like Germany. This means that, while somewhat risky, investment in solar in America is a great opportunity. Specifically, Oregon has put its money where its renewable mouth is, providing SolarWorld with $40 million in business tax credits.
It also helps that the corporation has access to a great number of employees that are “green” with experience. Since October 2008, SolarWorld has obtained 500 qualified workers - about half of its goal of 1,000 employees by 2011. Each Monday, new employee orientations are held. Talk about a green jobs opportunity!
Still, SolarWorld has some economic challenges ahead. Solar panel prices have declined due to economics. There is rising competition among other panel manufacturers. But the company expects Q2 and Q3 results to look better than the first results of the year. Given that we have reached (or are close to the) bottom of real estate markets, people will likely take the risk of investing in their homes again. People are looking to invest in the future - whether for an economic or environmental purpose… or both!
SolarWorld is investing in Oregon because it believes that solar energy will help provide green jobs, as well renewable resources so desparately needed.
I think they have their priorities in the right place.
14:13 
Oregon Convention Center to Install Solar Panels
The Oregon Convention Center announced its intentions to install solar panels last week. Because the Center is currently the site of a conference for the solar energy industry, it decided to set a good example for attendees (as well as save a bunch of money on its electricity bill)! If you are in the area, be sure to attend the Northwest Solar Expo & Clean Technology Showcase, running through Sunday May 3.
Unfortunately, I am old enough to remember when the Oregon Convention Center was being constructed in the late 1980s. Located in Portland, Oregon, one of the “greenest” cities on the West Coast, the Center is already a LEED-certified sustainable structure:
The Oregon Convention Center is the first convention center in the nation to achieve recertification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) at a higher rating.
The Center is calling for proposals for the solar panel work, no later than June 5, 2009. Managers are seeking a company that can help finance, design, build, operate and maintain a solar panel array on the roof of the structure. The winning bidder would sell electricity back to the Oregon Convention Center, as a utility, through a Power Purchase Agent.
Solar panels will soon grace the Oregon Convention Center
This approach would help avoid the debt associated with installing the panels. As a result, there will be no direct cost to the Center. In short, the solar company will assess the property and lock the Center into a power usage rate in a 20-30 year deal. The company installs the panels at its own cost and the Center receives a guaranteed lower power rate for the term of the deal.
And, “free advertising” will be conveyed to the thousands of people traveling along the Interstate who will be able to see the solar cells on the roof of the Convention Center.
So, the next time there is a green conference in Portland, Oregon, exhibitors and attendees can be inspired by the location itself. By practicing what the solar experts preach, the LEED-certified Oregon Convention Center is taking sustainability a step further than most.
I’m willing to bet that the improvements result in the scheduling of even more exhibitions and shows on the benefits of solar power and living green. If (when?) I start my own solar business, you can bet that I’ll be showcasing it in Portland.
20:29 Double-Duty Solar Panels
If you are relatively conversant about solar energy, you know that there is thermal solar power and photovoltaic (PV) solar power. But perhaps you’ll be surprised to hear about a Solar Wall that serves double-duty for solar power? That is, its a combination of both thermal and PV power!
An international company based in Toronto, Ontario, has a solar product that will keep you from shopping twice. SolarWall developed technology that combines a thermal wall with photovoltaics to create a PV/T “co-generation system,” that can maximize solar efficiency.
“By adding a solar thermal component to a PV array to capture excess heat, the total solar efficiency was boosted to over 50%, compared with the 10-15% efficiency typical of most stand-alone PV modules.”
In short, you can pre-heat outdoor air for use with a solar air heating system or perforated plate absorber for commercial or industrial applications.
Just watch how it works:
Not only can you save the environment by using this heating/electricity component, but it will also save you money over its 25-30 year lifespan. Customers rarely pay a heating bill with its use. Its a great consideration for government and industrial buildings. Add in current government tax incentives of at least 30% for renewable energy, and it looks even wiser!
The United States Department of Energy rates the SolarWall technology as in the “top two percent” of energy related innovations. Use of the solar wall at just one location in Canada is the equivalent of taking over 100 cars off the road, and saving more than $25,000 of heating costs! Investment payback is less than 5 years.
Considering the benefit to the environment, who wouldn’t want to install one of these systems?
21:04 
Solar beer from Budweiser
I’m always on the look-out for innovative ways that people are using solar power. In particular, I love showcasing corporations that are using solar energy for their operations, from Costco to Google, many companies are now relying on the power of the sun to charge up operations.
This week, I heard about solar beer from Budweiser. That is, the “King of Beers” is now relying on solar power through the installation of PV solar arrays on 6 acres of land at its Fairfield, California plant.
The new solar panel installation is the result of an arrangement made last year between the beverage company and SunEdison, which installed and operates the Anheuser-Busch solar energy system. While I applaud Budweiser, I am somewhat disappointed at the idea they could have done more:
“The system, which has a capacity of almost 1.2 MW, generates the equivalent about 3 percent of the brewery’s electricity needs. The company is considering whether to expand the solar installation and diversify the facility’s on-site generation of renewable energy by putting in a wind turbine.”
But, still, 3% is better than nothing. And, I am impressed by the projection that the company expects use of renewables at all locations to exceed 15 percent by the end of the year. That translates into the power to produce 5 billion 12-oz. bottles of beer!
Do you find it hard to believe that the Wassup guys could be that green?
While Budweiser gets more and more green, consider this fact.
“Anheuser-Busch is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders Program and has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for all U.S. operations to 5 percent below 2005 levels by 2010.”
What is your brew doing for you? And the environment?
8:40 
Fast facts about solar energy
When considering renewable energy options, there is so much information out there. How can you know what is true and what’s not? We’re here to help. Here are 10 fast facts about solar energy, including why we need it!
Read and consider whether you are doing enough to conserve energy and reduce use of fossil fuels (source: National Geographic):
1. Each hour, of each day, more energy from the sun reaches our planet than is used by the entire global population in an entire year.
2. The projected annual growth rate for renewable energy sources is 7.2%, the fastest rate.
3. Over 3,500 square miles of federal land are currently awaiting permits for solar power development.
4. The U.S. ranks 5th in the world among nations producing the most CO2 home emissions (behind Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE and Estonia).
Solar power development
5. Use of electric lights results in 1/2 the pollution of all the cars on the road. Switching to LED lights use 75% less energy.
6. Solar PV is rated number 1 in growth for energy technologies.
7. MIT scientists have discovered a way to store solar power after the sun goes down (how cool is that?)
8. Every 2 months, a typical U.S. home uses one ton of coal to generate electricity.
9. Switching to a solar hot water heater (using solar thermal panels) can drastically reduce fossil fuel use. According to Wikipeida:
The typical 50 gallon electric water heater uses 11.1 barrels of oil a year, which translates into the same amount oil used by a typical 4 door sedan driven by the average consumer.
10. Between lower costs and tax incentives/rebates, PV solar panels are a viable option for just about any homeowner with a south-facing roof. Payback on investment, through energy savings, is about 7-9 years.
Why not switch to solar energy? Whether you install PV panels, thermal panels, or merely use smaller solar-powered devices to charge appliance batteries, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint.
We can all tread a bit more lightly.
6:27 
Big Solar Project in New Jersey
A big solar project in New Jersey is planned. In February this year, Public Service Electricity and Gas announced that it would install solar panels on 200,000 utility poles. In addition, schools, municipal buildings, and low-income housing would be fitted with solar panels.
In all, 120 MW of clean, renewable electricity would be generated, which would represent 7% of New Jersey’s goal of generating 22.5% of its power through renewable sources by 2020.
As is normally the case, the panels on utility poles would generally power items like traffic lights and signals. However, the solar panels would also be connected to the electrical grid, allowing the utility to sell the power on the wholesale market. As a result, costs of the installation could be quickly offset. The utility will be able to earn income from selling the renewable energy credits that will accrue during production of solar energy.
As stated in the New York Times:
“[S]olar power is the most prominent renewable energy source in New Jersey, which ranks second behind California in producing solar energy. As a result, the number of companies that install solar energy equipment has blossomed. By starting such a” large-scale project, the utility is providing much-needed stimulus to the state’s economy.
While the big solar project in New Jersey sounds great, its not without some hurdles. For example, the panels on utility poles would be rigid - unable to rotate to follow the sun. This will limit their productivity. Also, not all of the poles can be used for panel installation, if they sunlight is blocked by shade from buildings or trees.
Fortunately, the utility can start looking to recoup its investment right away. Even more noteworthy is the important precedent the project will set. Other states and municipalities can follow the lead of New Jersey, in considering ways to reduce use of fossil fuels and save rate-payers and taxpayers money along the way.
Have a similar story to share in your hometown, please let us know in the comments below!
6:45 
The growing season in Bend, Oregon where I live is very short - less than 2 months. But, its sunny more than 300 days a year. That’s why I’m thinking solar greenhouses for our home gardening.
While its true that all greenhouses are designed to trap solar energy, solar greenhouses both collect energy during the day and also store heat for use when its not sunny outside - at night or during inclement weather. As with solar dog houses, described two days ago, solar greenhouses may rely on passive solar energy, or they may incorporate PV solar panels into the design.
The following video is a great example of how passive solar greenhouses work:
Solar greenhouses differ from conventional as follows:
Passive solar greenhouses may be the best choice for homeowners or small farms because they are less expensive than solar panels, but can still help extend the growing season. Well-designed solar greenhouses use supplemental energy to heated air or water from collection areas to other regions of the greenhouse. Many experts agree that using greenhouses with solar panels is not cost-effective unless you are producing high-value crops.
There are a number of sites that sell solar greenhouses, including:
We are not specifically recommending any of these sites, but can definitely say that if you want to take it to the next step, you can compare and contrast to see what options are available with solar greenhouses.
Just keep in mind: (1) your budget; (2) your needs; (3) whether passive or active solar makes sense for where you live; and (4) whether you want an attached or detached greenhouse.
Have fun extending the sun with your solar greenhouse! See you at the home improvement store…
6:08 
In the Solar Dog House
Does your dog cock his head with concern when you open your electricity bill? Maybe Fido wants to help you go green! Its true, you can build a solar dog house to harness the free power of the sun and keep your best friend warm.
What will they think of next?
There are several ways that you can employ solar technology in a dog house design. Perhaps the easiest is to construct a passive solar dog house. No solar panels are required. Passive solar construction requires positioning of the structure to capture maximum daylight energy, using greenhouse principles. Insulation and caulking helps keep the heat trapped inside. Step-by-step instructions to build your own passive solar dog house are found at eHow.com.
Another alternative is to construct a dog house with a solar heat collector on the south side of the structure. As described at All About Doghouses:
“The collector is made from a glass window positioned over a black water-filled mattress that rests against the inner layer of the roof. The water in the mattress heats up during the day and functions as a radiator to provide warmth for a good portion of the night. To help retain the heat, a “shutter” with a reflective foil coating on the inside is placed over the collector at nighttime.”
Solar power can even help you cool things down for your pooch, as shown in the following video. The homeowner set up a solar powered fan in the dog house, connected to a solar panel mounted on the roof:
Checking in on your energy usage
If you don’t want to engineer or build your own solar dog house, you might want to purchase a “K-9 Comfort Cottage,” which includes 3 solar panels on a white, reflective roof. Perfect for heating or cooling needs for your pooch, it also includes a fan which is said to be “tail-safe.”
When you build a solar dog house, you can rest at ease that your pet will have a safe, temperature-controlled environment to spend the day, or evening. Solar heating and cooling, whether with panels or passive design is an easy home improvement project.
Who knows… putting in a solar dog house may even inspire you to go solar in your own home. Talk about getting out of the dog house with respect to your utility bills!
6:00 
RV Solar Panels - a clean, green way to travel
On your next trip, you can not only travel to the sun, you can vacation with the sun! With RV solar panels, free solar energy can provide power for all the appliances, your computer and cell phone too. And they are both inexpensive and easy to install. Depending on the amount of wattage you desire, RV solar panel kits range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
Th solar panel kits come with panels, battery (or 2), controllers, cables, and mounting hardware. Vacationing in a recreational vehicle is truly a grid-free experience. You’ll need power from some source because you can’t just “plug-in.” Going solar is cost-competitive with gas powered generators used by many RV owners. But the panel kits are more environmentally-sound and silent in operation. Not to mention the fact that you’ll never need to “refill” your solar panels, as you do generators. Also, you won’t need to worry about your battery going dead. With a solar installation, recharging is continuous.
Did I mention free energy?
(I just can’t help it - I have to include a clip from the recent movie “RV,” starring Robin Williams):
RV Solar Panels
Let’s face it, people who own or drive RVs like to adventure. And they may be more cost conscious than other travelers. No hotel rooms or expensive booking fees. Just you and the road ahead. It makes sense to consider RV solar panel kits for energy needs. As long as the panels are exposed to UV light, they’ll provide power for the occupants. Freedom from power worries is what we all want, especially while on vacation!
RV solar panels will sit right on top of your vehicle (as shown in the photo to the left). They are easy to install and even easier to maintain. There are many online retailers selling the panel kits. Just shop around and make sure you get both a good price and a decent warranty. Installation assistance may also be offered, if you want it.
You know, when I was a kid, I always wanted my parents to get an RV. It seemed like one big party in the back of the big, traveling hotel room. So now, I have a new dream…. a vacation with the sun…. in a solar-powered recreational vehicle!
6:28 
Texas is a Shining Star for Solar Energy
Texas has been leading the nation with respect to wind development. Now, the Lone Star state is also a shining star for solar energy. Will Texas lead the nation in solar power too?
Last week, the Texas senate considered so many bills concerning the state’s incentives for solar power, the legislative session has been called the “solar session.” Now, that’s some powerful momentum!
Whether its based on true concern for the environment, or just a “don’t mess with Texas,” attitude with respect to being the best at anything on which the state sets its mind, the bottom line is that 50 of the 69 renewable energy bills before the state legislature address solar energy.
According to David Power, deputy director of Public Citizen Texas:
“There are senators and representatives that are talking about solar that have never mentioned the word probably in their lives. We’ve actually heard the term ‘global warming,’ and two years ago that was called ‘the G word’ — you didn’t talk about it.”
Solar Power in Texas
Earlier in March, the city of Austin unanimously gave a go-ahead to a private company to build the largest photovoltaic plant in the U.S. That will give the stat more than just bragging rights; the local utility, Austin Energy, can buy the electricity produced.
To be fair, Texas does have more than its fair share of sunshine. And, as shown in the video below, the 2nd largest state in the nation produces ample amounts of CO2 emissions too.
Can any other state mess with Texas’s title for the most solar power produced? Even though there are plenty of sunny days in the Lone Star State, that is but one piece of the renewable energy puzzle. As long as the sun is shining (even behind clouds), other states can capitalize on solar energy, too.
Well, as long as the shining star resides in Texas, I’ll tip my big hat for making such a push with respect to solar energy!
10:17 Stimulus Package is Creating More Solar Interest
The passage of the United States Stimulus Package earlier this year has had its critics. Some believe that the money earmarked for renewable energy projects like solar and wind was not a sound investment, particularly as the industries have recently lagged with lack of investment. Many others criticized the amount of monies provided, with fears of how future generations will pay down the debt.
Personally, I’ve wondered how future generations will survive if alternative energy solutions do not get off the ground so that we can get off foreign oil and greenhouse gas emitting fuels. Worry about the debt may be a secondary concern.
Critics aside, it appears that the Stimulus Package is creating more solar interest. After a tough quarter from December through February, Ron Kendi of Sharp Solar remarked last week:
“I call this the green shoots period. We’re seeing new growth.”
What, exactly, is happening to revive solar growth? How is the Stimulus Package helping?
Solar Power under construction
At the top of the list is the new willingness of banks to provide funds for solar projects. Until recently, money was basically frozen and unavailable. Capital is now flowing more freely.
We’ll also be seeing more small-scale solar projects with the monies provided to local governments through conservation-oriented block grants. Municipalities can more easily invest in the renewable energy future of their communities, as a result.
Craig Mataczynski, of Renewable Energy Systems Americas, commented:
“I would characterize the situation as ‘the fog appearing as if it is starting to lift.’ [There is] talk of additional projects that people are looking to build.”
Another outcome of the Stimulus Package is the ability of the Department of Energy has to issue loan guarantees to solar manufacturers. Last week, the DOE issued its first guarantee to Solyndra.
A Treasury grant program should also continue to spur solar energy growth. Grants can be given based on tax credits held by the grant applicant.
The flexibility and range of options to finance solar projects will only continue to increase interest with respect to investing in the industry. Whether as a bank, a governmental entity, or a consumer looking to install solar panels, the time is right now!
7:20 
Solar Energy storage?
One of the vexing issues for successful solar power has been adequate storage for excess power. Now, solar energy can be stored in liquid batteries. This helps to address issues related to use of solar power at night or on cloudy days. The future of solar power now looks a little bit brighter!
Leave it to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to find a solar power solution:
“Donald Sadoway, a materials chemistry professor at MIT, and his team have fabricated prototypes of the liquid battery, and have demonstrated that the materials can quickly absorb large amounts of electricity, as required for solar energy storage.”
Even though the following video is in German, it gives you an idea of solar battery issues:
Liquid Batteries to store solar energy
MIT has been a leader in solar power research recently. The new liquid battery would be comprised of three layers of liquids: two electrode liquids on the top and bottom (electrodes are usually solid in conventional batteries), and an electrolyte liquid in the middle. The liquid may be made of molten metals such as magnesium and antimony, with a molten salt in the middle (sodium sulfide).
Here’s how it is supposed to work:
“As electrons flow into the battery cell, magnesium ions in the electrolyte gain electrons and form magnesium metal, rising to form the upper molten magnesium electrode. At the same time, antimony ions in the electrolyte lose electrons, and sink to form the lower molten antimony electrode. At this point, the battery is fully charged, since the battery has thick electrode layers and a small layer of electrolyte. To discharge the electrical current, the process is reversed, and the metal atoms become ions again.”
So, that’s all well and good, but what makes the liquid batteries superior for solar energy storage?
Three reasons: (1) it costs less than regular batteries; (2) it has a longer lifetime; and (3) its electrodes can operate at currents 10s of times higher than other batteries, which allows it to absorb large amounts of electricity very quickly.
Within the next 5 years, researchers hope to have the liquid batteries on the market.
While that may seem like a long time, we’ve been waiting forever for a viable solar battery. I cannot wait! It will be here before we know it.
7:12 
GE Ecomagination Solar Panels
GE Ecomagination (a division of General Electric) has a line of solar panels and related products on the market. It solar modules range in size from 66-200 watts. It also offers a “Brilliance Pre-Packaged Solar System.”
Why am I telling you about the GE Ecomagination Solar Panels? Well, I am constantly researching solar panel products and technological advancements. And, I have seen a number of innovative, entertaining commercials of GE Ecomagination. So, it only made sense that I looked into the products that GE offers in the solar panel market.
GE’s website does an excellent sales job, not only for its own product, but for solar panels in general. Consider this:
“If 1 percent of U.S. households were to install solar electric systems powered with GEPV (General Electric Photovoltaic) 200 watt modules averaging 2.5 kW (kilowatt) per household, the expected annual emissions avoided from traditional U.S. grid sources would exceed 1.8 million metric tons of CO2. This is equivalent to the annual impact of removing over 350,000 passenger cars from U.S. roads.”
GE Ecomagination
GE’s Ecomagination Solar Panels are designed to tap into the clean, unlimited energy of the sun to generate noiseless, emissions-free power. The beauty of going with a company like GE for your solar panels is that you know you have a solid name standing behind your investment.
Speaking of investment, GE can even help you cut your energy costs with its products. And, you can even apply for one of its loan products to help you finance solar panels, if you desire.
GE has a lot to offer at its website. I encourage you to visit, take a look around and see why their original tagline, “We Bring Good Things to Life,” applies now more than ever!
7:22 
You can finance solar panels
Two days ago, we went over some of the ways you can finance solar panels for your home or business. You don’t need to have cold, hard cash in order to trigger the power of the sun. There are a number of options that could allow you to finance solar panels to start a cleaner, greener life right now.
Be sure to check back to the original post to see the pros and cons about financing solar panels, first!
Continuing from the first 5 tips, add the following to your list:
6. Cash Out Investments. Well, these days, you may not have anything left with stock market plunges and the economy in a deep recession. However, some people have considered cashing out CDs, money market accounts or even borrowing against their 401(k) investments. My advice: talk to a financial advisor first before deciding on this route.
7. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). These agreements are becoming more common in both the commercial and residential markets. Under a PPA, the provider will finance, install and own your solar panels, and you put in 0 money! The way this works is that the provider acts in many ways as your utility company. You will be billed for the electrical output of the solar panel system at a discounted rate. During the term of the PPA you may have the ability to purchase the system yourself. The benefits include the fact that the provider assumes risk, but the downside includes the possibility of onerous terms. You may want a lawyer to review a PPA before you decide to go this route.
Finance solar panels for your home or business
8. Local Government Loans. This type of financing is the latest and greatest! For example, in California, municipalities have the authority to create special tax assessment districts. These allow residents within the district to borrow money from the city and pay it back through an increase in property taxes over time. One of the leaders in this financing opportunity is Berkeley, CA, which has adopted a Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology (FIRST). You can get up to $37,5000 per solar panel installation without even saving for a down payment. One word: wow.
9. Energy-Efficient Mortgage (EEM). The federal government supports EEMs by providing insurance through the FHA or VA programs. These mortgages (secured by equity in your home) allow financing of energy-efficient installations, including solar panels. The Energy Star program partners with lenders who provide EEMs. Those lenders can then use the Energy Star brand in their advertising.
10. Bank Loans. Either secured, or unsecured, loans offered by banks have expanded into the PV system market. If you go the secured route, your money will likely be backed by the equity in your home. Check with your tax consultant to determine if interest on the loan is tax-deductible. Unsecured loans do not put your home equity at risk, but they will not result in a tax benefit to you. Ask around, because these loans are getting more prevalent.
Now you have a number of options to finance solar panels. Of course, like any loan, you may end up paying more than if you paid cash up front. Be sure to consider your specific circumstances before entering into any agreement in this regard. You’ll want to make the best decision from a financial and tax-based standpoint.
Enjoy your new solar panels!
7:15 Can you finance solar panels?
We all know that a solar power system is not cheap to purchase and install. Even though tax credits and incentives are generous, you may still be wondering whether you can finance solar panels. Would that even be a wise decision?
Under certain circumstances, you may be able to get a loan for solar panels. There are benefits and drawbacks to consider before you make such a decision. And, even if you decide to finance solar panels, you should consider the type of loan you’ll want to seek.
Due to the large number of solar panel payment options, we’ll break this into two posts. Part 2 will be published tomorrow!
When You Should Consider Financing:
You can get loans for solar panels
When You May Wish to Reconsider Financing:
O.K., so if you’ve decided that financing solar panels is a sound decision for you. The following options are available; you may wish to consult with a financial advisor before signing up, however!
1. Credit Card. Yep, you can charge them. Before you slap down your plastic, however, make sure your credit limit is high enough and interest rate low. Unlike home equity loans, the interest will not be tax-deductible. Also, make sure that your bank is not adjusting interest rates upwards as some are currently doing.
2. HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) or Home Equity Loan. I’ll be honest. These were a lot easier to obtain several years ago than now. Still, for people that retain ample equity in their homes, this option is generally the favorite for financing solar panels. Often times, the interest on the loan is tax-deductible, but always check with a professional beforehand. Interest rates can vary widely between HELOCs and home equity loans, from 4.5-8%
3. Refinancing a First Mortgage. Similar drawbacks and cautions to the notes above, except that you can be certain that interest payments will be tax deductible. The question is, can or should you refinance your mortgage in today’s market? This won’t be an option for you if you owe more than your home is worth.
4. Lease Solar Panels. As shown in the video above, you could consider an operating lease as a way to finance solar panels. Expect a lease term of 7-20 years, and payments that will be at or below expected utility costs. Similar to a car lease, you can purchase the panels at the end of the term, or simply renew the agreement. Check the terms of the lease for any restrictive requirements before signing!
5. Direct Vendor Financing. Reputable companies like Sharp Solar and BP Solar offer financing to qualified customers that wish to purchase their panels. The upside is that the payments are usually low and spread out over a long period of time (15-30 years), and incentives such as no payments for one year may be enticing enough to lure you in. Not surprisingly, you’ll get a better interest rate depending on your credit score. If you are working directly with a solar panel dealer, be sure to ask if they offer financing and get a clear picture on the terms of the loan.
Haven’t seen a good answer to the question of how to pay for solar panels yet? Check back tomorrow when we publish 5 additional options to finance solar panels.
Would you get a loan for solar panels? If so, what type of vehicle would you use?
20:23 
Solar Cell Facilities in Oregon
In October 2008, the largest solar cell facility in North America was opened in Hillsboro, Oregon. SolarWorld USA now has a plant that will generate 500 megawatts of energy per year by 2011.
More than $500 million have been invested to allow for cell manufacturing equipment and crystal growing. These efforts can be attributed in large part to Governor Ted Kulongoski, the Oregon Department of Energy and the city of Hillsboro.
As its COO stated:
“The Pacific Northwest possesses a hotbed of talent in both silicon manufacturing and clean technologies. Oregon is the obvious choice for where the undertake this new level of solar cell manufacturing.”
To give you some perspective, 500 Mw is enough to power 150,000 homes (about 300,000 residents). My hometown of Bend, OR has a population of about 80,000, so this one facility alone could provide clean, renewable energy to about twice the size of my community.
Shell Solar was recently acquired by SolarWorld. Before then, it manufactured crystalline PV modules. But now, SolarWorld is exclusively dedicated to solar energy. For a better idea of the global solar efforts of SolarWorld, check out this video:
With the opening of the largest solar cell facility, SolarWorld will create more new high-tech jobs and more photovoltaic power for a number of countries located in North America and beyond. Oregon is truly leading the way in solar production.
Perhaps SolarWorld will be expanding to your neck of the woods. What is your community doing to encourage PV power for future generations?
13:16 
Watch out for stolen solar panels
Stolen solar panels are turning up on the second-hand market with increasing regularity. Thieves looking to make a quick buck may rip off panels from homes, businesses and even utilities, and then sell them to unsuspecting consumers. Purchasers may not even be aware that the solar panels are “hot,” because Craig’s List and similar classified ad sites do not include a rating system for sellers.
Interest in installing solar panels to defray electricity costs and reduce carbon footprints has lead to a growing second-hand solar panel market. Used solar panels can be found on the Internet and probably even around your hometown.
If you don’t want to get caught in the middle of a theft ring, be sure to purchase from a reliable, reputable source.
Tempting to solar panel theives
Retailing for approximately $1500 a piece, the panels may be offered at bargain discount rates if they are stolen solar panels. And just because they are in good shape doesn’t necessarily mean that they are legit. Some people in the solar panel industry have been caught in the theft rings, utilizing their knowledge of assembly and dis-assembly.
To prevent becoming a target of solar panel thieves, home and business owners have been installing security video cameras and alarms. In Europe, where solar power is more entrenched, some even engrave serial numbers on panels and use hard to unscrew versions.
A solar energy investment is at the level of purchasing a new, luxury car. In a single swipe, you can lose $30-50,000 worth of panels, depending on the system and your location. Schools, government buildings and even highway signs are all potential targets.
Have you been the victim of solar panel thieves? How would you guard against stolen solar panels?
13:57 
Find Solar Companies on Twitter
Want to find solar companies on the Internet? Twitter may be your new tool of choice. Sure, anyone can Google phrases like “find solar companies,” or “solar panel installers,” but Twitter can give you much more information that Google is simply not set up to capture.
I would even go so far as to say that Google compared to Twitter is like wise old grandpa vs. hip young teen.
Why would I characterize these two web applications so differently? For starters, you have to work harder to get certain relevant information from Google. Google definitely has the “answers,” but its hard to pinpoint the right search query to give you insights on a solar company’s investments, interests, and even philanthropies. Plus, Google is fairly static. Websites and URLs go up, but there is no interaction with people inputting search terms. In short, Google is relatively old and reliable, but not much personality.
With Twitter, there is definitely a youthful, coolness associated with using it. When you start following certain companies or people, they may not follow you back. That’s O.K. You may have to first prove that you’re worthy.
He might be able to help you find solar companies on Twitter
When you hang out at Twitter, it may feel like you are the wall flower at a social club gathering, but sit back and just enjoy watching the conversations. See what items are being “re-tweeted” and what priorities rise to the top. If you are thinking about hiring a solar contractor, you’ll be able to determine whether they reach out to other Twitterers, or if its all just about them and making money. This kind of social networking savvy plays out in real time 24/7. You’ve got to catch up and keep up - much as with a group of teenagers.
The downside of this youthful exuberance is that a foundation of knowledge is sometimes required before you play in the Twitterbox. That means you may have to start with a Google search, and then really do some investigating through Twitter.
So, how can you find solar companies on Twitter?
Sign up for a free account at Twitter.com. Once you are set, you can do a search for a user name, or first and last name. This is where Google comes in handy because you can start there to build a list of potential solar companies, and then head over to Twitter to discover their tweets. Because “going green” is so hip these days, chances are that you’ll find many of the solar companies for which you’re searching on Twitter.
Sift through the tweets to see if a solar company seems like the type of business with which you’d like to work. Do they have information regarding new solar technology? Do the solar companies post information about tax credits and incentives? Are they displaying a knowledge of new legislation? Do they encourage followers to contribute to solar development in Third World Countries? Can they get a message across in 140 characters or less?
Try this:
What are you doing?
“Searching for a reputable solar company in [fill in your city or state]….”
If a solar company follows you back, you can send them a DM (direct message) in which you can ask questions that could help you decide whether to do business with them, as well. The DM feature is like instant messaging. This is much more efficient than sending an email or trying to make a phone call!
If there is a big disparity between the number of those following a solar company and the people/organizations that the company is following, it could be a potential red flag. You get followers by contributing to the social side of Twitter and offering information that is helpful to the group - not just to get a sale! Mass marketing by following a ton of people can turn off some users.
I encourage you to try out the site and get comfortable with it, if you’re not already a user. You’ll soon discover that Twitter is a great tool for both solar companies and their potential customers. “I found you through Twitter,” is music to a marketer’s ear.
Love Twittering? Have a great success story? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow me at [twitter.com] .
6:11 
Solar panels in the desert
Two things that solar panels need to operate efficiently: unobstructed exposure to sunlight and… sunlight! For these reasons, installing solar panels in the desert makes a great deal of sense. For ground-mounted systems, remote desert locations also help minimize view impacts and concerns about aesthetics.
Last week, I read about an endeavor by Southern California Edison to build the largest solar array in the world. That is quite a claim. Today, they are claiming it to be the “largest solar deal.” Pure and simple. And why not?
A recent summary of the solar project follows:
“The utility has an agreement with BrightSource Energy to buy electricity from a planned suite of solar-thermal power plants — arrays of mirrors that heat fluid to drive turbines — with a total capacity of 1,300 megawatts.”
Solar panels in the Mojave Desert
The video above is an example of solar panels in the desert. But what is really happening in California right now?
Last week, Southern California Edison’s press release stated that it would be working on a 100-MW solar panel array in the Mojave Desert. Construction is slated to start this year, with renewable power flowing to customers by 2013, provided the project gets approval. The panel array would be the equivalent of about 1/8 of an average coal-powered plant, which generates 800 MW of dirty electricity per year.
Consider this development on top of existing solar panel arrays in the California desert, as described on Wikipedia:
“There are several solar power plants in the Mojave Desert which supply power to the electricity grid. Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) is the name given to nine solar power plants in the Mojave Desert which were built in the 1980s. These plants have a combined capacity of 354 megawatts (MW) making them the largest solar power installation in the world. Nevada Solar One is a new solar thermal plant with a 64-MW generating capacity, located near Boulder City, NV. There are also plans to build other large solar plants in the Mojave Desert. The Mojave Solar Park will deliver 553 MW of solar thermal power when fully operational in 2011.“
It is exciting to consider the expansion of solar energy in California, especially in light of the recession woes. In the Golden State, Governor Schwarzenegger is mandating a “renewable portfolio standard” that requires 20% of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2010. If you haven’t looked at a calendar recently… that is just next year!
With the Mojave Desert installations, it sounds like California is well on its way. Add in some great tax incentives and money from the stimulus bill, and the goals for 2010 should not be too challenging.
17:32 
Industry milestone reached for solar energy
This week, a solar industry milestone was reached by a company based in Tempe, Arizona. Long criticized for being too expensive as a renewable energy option for many people, solar energy now can be generated below the $1 per watt level, says First Solar.
Take that, “clean coal” and nuclear proponents! We don’t need your dirty, dangerous options for energy.
I’ve always said that solar power has a bright future. And it just got a whole lot sunnier.
According to a press release:
“First Solar, which has produced modules for solar installations in several countries in Europe, said it had brought costs down to $1 from $3 over the past four years through economies of scale by increasing its production capacity by 50 times, and by passing on those savings to consumers.”
The dramatically lowered cost for solar energy was also achieved with the use of feed-in tariffs. Solar operators like First Solar are allowed a higher cost per watt produced for a grid with solar energy than utilities that use coal or other fossil fuels. This helps off-set the higher cost of energy production for renewable sources.
What do you get when you add improved technology with feed-in tariffs, plus government incentives/tax credits? A very compelling case to install solar panels on your home or business!
Even more exciting are projections that the solar industry will not even need subsidies by 2012. With government support for renewable energy now, solar power should be able to match peak-hour pricing by coal and natural gas in just a few short years. Then, the programs can be phased out.
Can you imagine solar power at 65-75 cents per watt? Its on the horizon!
18:50 
Should you be buying solar stock?
Wall Street is not high on the lists of places to invest these days, but have you thought about buying solar stocks, regardless? Seems like if any industry has a growth future, its renewable energy. Unlike retail, banks or other corporations, there is one sector of the economy that has potential for expansion in the near future. With the passage of the U.S. Stimulus Bill, billions will be funneled to energy, infrastructure and science. President Obama has placed a high priority on creating green jobs in the solar industry during his Administration.
If you buy solar stock now, you could get a bargain when prices start to rise in the future, as companies start to make money and we pull out of the recession. Wait until you see signs of the turn-around, and you will have missed the boat.
While I am an investor, its only because I have a 401(k) and College Funds for my kids. I am certainly not an expert with respect to solar stocks. So, I watch the pundits and talking heads, like Jim Cramer from Mad Money. Here are Jim’s views on purchasing solar stocks:
Well, Jim says that it might not be a good time to buy solar (at least as of 3 months ago). But if you want more information about buying solar stocks, check out this clip from about one month ago:
I noted above that I am not a stock market expert with regard to companies in which you should be investing. I can tell you, however, that if you are invested, it is best to not pull your money out of stocks unless you need it in the next 10 years. If you are in your 30s or 40s, just coast out the recession and wait for things to turn around. If you’re not into green investments, perhaps its time to watch things for a bit and decide when to jump in to the stock market.
I’m interested in reader comments. Do you have solar stocks? Would you invest? If so, where?
