Sustainability
Colorado House Passes Clean Technologies Act
09 May 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) announced the passing of House Bill 13 – 1001, the Advanced Industries Acceleration Act by the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature. The bill provides for annual allocations of several million per year for the next decade including over $12 million next year in grants supporting seven advanced industries driving the Colorado economy including energy and natural resources.
SolarWorld Sponsors Solar Decathlon Teams, Southwest and West Virginia
08 May 2013POSTED IN Business News
SolarWorld, a US solar manufacturer for more than 35 years, will sponsor a joint team from Arizona State University and University of Mexico as well as a team from West Virginia University in this year’s US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon solar-home-design competition.
PV Cycle and Retela Partner on PV Recycling in Czech Republic
25 April 2013POSTED IN Business News
PV Cycle and the Czech WEEE-scheme Retela announced that they have started to collaborate in the area of PV module take-back and recycling in the Czech Republic.
European Solar Demand Up in Response to Anti-Dumping Duties
18 April 2013POSTED IN Business News
The Scandinavian-German solar module manufacturer Innotech Solar (ITS) has concluded contracts with six new distributors, benefiting from the increased demand for European solar modules from distributors who want to avoid paying backdated anti-dumping duties for purchasing modules made in China.
Hannover Messe 2013: Energy focus with low solar participation
15 April 2013POSTED IN Editors Blogs
Hannover Messe, the largest industrial show worldwide attracted some 225,000 visitors to Hannover, Germany, during the five exhibition days; some 50% came from abroad. Although the theme was “Integrated Industry”, renewable energy and sustainability was a strong focus.
Daytime Cooling Technology Sends Heat Into Outer Space
15 April 2013POSTED IN Research
A new type of passive solar structure designed by researchers at Stanford University in California (US) combines a thermal emitter and a solar reflector into one device that could cool buildings even in full sunshine. The daylight cooling technology, also applicable to car roofs and other structures, sends heat back into outer space and could hold promises for solutions to offset global warming.
Renewable Energy Provides 82% of New Electrical Capacity in US
09 April 2013POSTED IN Applications News
According to the latest "Energy Infrastructure Update" report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) accounted for 82% of all new domestic electrical generating capacity installed in the first three months of 2013 for a total of 1,546MW. The balance (340MW) came from natural gas. Coal, nuclear power, and oil have provided no new generating capacity thus far this year.
SolarWorld Announces Solar-Powered Water Project
22 March 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Today is World Water Day, so it is fitting that SolarWorld announce its partership with Water Missions International (WMI), a host of supply and service donors and dozens of volunteers in celebrating the commissioning of a 100-kilowatt system at the international water-engineering nonprofit’s new headquarters location in North Charleston, South Carolina (US).
PV Recycling: Update on legal and technology issues
17 March 2013POSTED IN Applications Features
Recycling of end-of-life PV modules is not an extremely popular topic in the current economic difficult times for the PV industry. However, legislation in Europe creates a pressure to act.
University of Michigan Next Generation Solar Car
12 March 2013POSTED IN Applications News
The name of the University of Michigan's next solar car, which will be one step closer to resembling a real-world vehicle, is "Generation," the U-M solar car team announced today at the South by Southwest Interactive festival in Austin, Texas.
Trojan Batteries Power Solar Village in Congo
07 March 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Trojan Battery Co. has provided deep-cycle AGM batteries to support a solar-powered village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo called the City of Joy.
Solar World Congress Deadline for Abstracts Now 15 March
04 March 2013POSTED IN Business News
The deadline to submit abstract for the ISES Solar World Congress has been extended to 15 March 2013. Don’t miss this opportunity to participate, submit your abstract and join us for the Solar World Congress 2013 which will be taking place on 3-7 November 2013 in Cancun, Mexico.
UC San Diego Adds Solar, Saves Millions
04 March 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Sullivan Solar Power today announced that it will be installing nearly 784,000 watts of new solar power at the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego). Not only will the additional solar power project save the university about $2 million over 20 years, but it is also showcasing the academic institution as a leader in sustainability while supporting the local and national economies.
Canada Students’ Solar Decathlon House Under Contsruction
26 February 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Team Ontario has broken ground on its Solar Decathlon house, which the college students say will showcase sustainable living and net-zero housing.
Students Break Ground on ‘Desert Sol’ House
25 February 2013POSTED IN Applications News
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, students have submitted plans for their Solar Decathlon entry: a 735-square-foot, solar-powered house called Desert Sol.
Bridgewell Resources Launches Renewable Energy Division
25 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
Bridgewell Resources, a diversified global wholesale distributor, sales organization and supply chain manager,introduced today its Renewable Resources division offering solar, wind, biomass and energy-efficiency products. This addition marks the fourth expansion for the company since its inception in 2010.
Badgers, PV in Harmony on UK Solar Farm
15 February 2013POSTED IN Applications News
Palfreys Barton Farm in the village of Cove near Tiverton is one of the latest farms in Devon to rent out a small percentage of its land to UK solar power generator Lightsource Renewable Energy.
The land will now accommodate a solar farm generating 0.96MW of solar energy, saving about 480,000kg of CO2 emissions annually.
World's Solar Capacity Passes 100GW Mark
11 February 2013POSTED IN Business News
The world's cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity capacity surpassed 100GW in 2012, achieving just over 101GW, according to new market figures from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA).
More Efficient, Cheaper Solar Cells with InP Nanowires
04 February 2013POSTED IN Research
Research at Lund University in Sweden has shown how nanowires could pave the way for more efficient and cheaper solar cells. The indium phosphides (InP) nanowires function like antennae that absorb sunlight and generate power at 13.8% conversion efficiency. What is more, the nanowires only covered 12% of the surface in the experiment, potentially making this solar technology remarkably sustainable for its reduced use of semiconductor materials.
US College Makes Climate Change Central Focus
30 January 2013POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Unity College in Maine, which in 2010 asked President Obama to install solar atop the White House, says it has become the first US college to tie every aspect of its curriculum to the mitigation of global climate change.
