Featured Articles
InterSolar North America 2012 - Tradeshow Report
07/17/12, Brandon Hetherington, AltEnergyMag.com
InterSolar North America 2012 was held in San Francisco from July 10 - 12. Intersolar North America focuses on photovoltaics and solar thermal technologies. Exhibitors include PV cell, module and inverter manufacturers, components and mounting systems suppliers, manufacturing system suppliers, service companies as well as manufacturers of solar thermal applications including heating and cooling, among others.
InterSolar 2012 Special News Report
07/17/12, AltEnergyMag
News and Product Announcements from the show.
Fuel of the future
07/17/12, Igor Dormuth and Elena Schmidt, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service
In July 2011, the EU Commission defined ambitious sustainability standards for biofuels. Which certification schemes apply and what aspects do biomass producers have to take into consideration to exploit the full potential of their biomass production? The biofuel pros at TÜV SÜD provide an overview and offer impartial third-party support.
Reliable Communication Networks for Electric Power and Smart Grid Applications
07/17/12, Andrejs Rozitis & Glenn Longley, FreeWave Technologies, Inc.
Wireless communication networks allow operators to become knowledgeable about the health of the grid. FHSS wireless data radios help decrease wasted energy and loss of power by sending critical data to an operator's fingertips. Wireless I/O, in particular, can be utilized to monitor and control critical electric power applications.
How to choose and implement current sensors for designing high-performance and cost-effective power
07/05/12, Pierre TURPIN, LEM Energy & Automation division
Many new installations benefit from solid core transformers, and split core technology is not designed to compete with these. However, existing machines and building equipment have no way to add solid core devices without a costly shut-down of the system. New materials and technologies equip advanced split core current transformers for immediate retrofitting of high-performance and cost-effective condition monitoring, power metering and facility supervision systems.
Geo-T Geothermal Water Heater
07/05/12, Hal Slater, Hal Slater
“EarthHeat”, the next generation water heating system – less expensive and more efficient than gas, electrical or solar powered water heating systems currently on the market. Here is how it works.
EcoCAR 2 Teams Spread the Word on Alternative Energy
07/05/12, Kimberly DeClark, Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions, Argonne National Laboratory
When many college students were heading to the beach for Spring Break, the Mississippi State University EcoCAR 2 team was at the Gulf Coast Children’s Fair in Biloxi, Mississippi. The two-day environmental event organized by the Gulf Regional Planning Commission and the EPA gave MSU students a chance to talk to local elementary students about pollution and the benefits of keeping the air clean.
The Solar Gold Rush
07/05/12, Donald E. Bowen, Jr., PLS and Jonathan J. Markey, PE, Meridian Associates, Inc.
Solar Developers are finding that land use considerations add a level of complexity unrelated to their experience with installations of building mounted solar PV systems. Delays may result from a lack of understanding of land use considerations and can cost the project proponent unanticipated time and money.
We need a Long Term Energy Plan and Here It Is !!!!!!!
06/20/12, Contributed by, Peter Lynch
In this intimate talk filmed at TED's offices, energy innovator Amory Lovins shows how to get the US off oil and coal by 2050, $5 trillion cheaper, with no Act of Congress, led by business for profit. The key is integrating all four energy-using sectors—and four kinds of innovation.
Power a Waste Water Treatment Plant Solely by Renewable Energy
06/13/12, Richard Leverton, Hybridyne Power Systems Corp.
Since the renewable energy electrical system would routinely deliver more electricity than the WTP would use, the extra power ( above and beyond what was stored in the battery system) would be converted into Hydrogen (and oxygen) using a 20kW fresh water Electronic Hydrolyzer .
What’s new with connectors for the solar photovoltaic industry?
06/13/12, Michele Moon, Anderson Power Products
Getting a jump on proposed UL 6703A standard
Magnetic Energy
06/13/12, Len Calderone
Is a perpetual magnetic generator impossible? Maybe, but there have been several patents issued on this theory and as the cost of energy keeps rising, more scientists will be searching for ways to make a working practical perpetual magnetic generator.
Biofuels for the future
05/31/12, Len Calderone
We still need a lot more research into different biofuels to see which source will be low cost and environmentally safe. Using a weed, pond scum, municipal waste and manure are future possibilities of biofuels that help, rather than damage our food sources and the environment.
Short-Term Politics Stifles Pentagon's Green Energy Ambitions
05/31/12, Jen Alic , OilPrice.com
Undermining the Pentagon's alternative energy plans can only be political, and specifically a Republican attempt to undermine the largely energy-focused campaign of President Barack Obama. After the elections, it should regain lost traction the next time it comes around for a vote.
New Guidelines Encourage Biodiesel Production in Texas
05/31/12, Jeremy J. Sanders, BoyarMiller, PC
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has introduced new state guidelines which allow for biodiesel to be blended at any ratio into any compliant fuel.
Just How Green is Google
05/31/12, Jen Alic , OilPrice.com
In the realm of clean energy and the US drive to reduce dependency on foreign fuel imports, Google and other IT giants could wield a significant amount of influence, both on the public and on policy.
Potentially incorrect beliefs currently prevalent in the Solar Energy Industry
05/31/12, Richard Leverton , Hybridyne
It is entirely technically reasonable to amortize the financing of a well engineered solar array over 30-40 years, not just 20.
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Interviews
Solar Leasing
07/17/12, Tanguy Serra, Vivint Solar
The best moment for a customer is when you turn them on for first time and the meter slows down and then starts to go backward. The worst is the moment the sun sets and they're not producing power anymore.
Advanced Battery and Energy Storage Product Commercialization Center
07/05/12, Dr. William Acker, NY-BEST
The New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST) is creating the NY-BEST Battery and Energy Storage Commercialization Center to translate the State’s technology investment into manufacturing and job growth.
Gasplasma® Technology
06/13/12, Rolf Stein, Advanced Plasma Power
The Gasplasma® process delivers higher energy efficiency than alternative waste-to-energy processes. Converting waste to a gas to generate electricity directly in gas engines, turbines or fuel cells dramatically improves energy conversion efficiency and maximises electrical output.
Assessing the Risk of Cleantech Projects
06/13/12, Randy Heffernan , Palisade Corporation
Early risk analysis saves time and money by avoiding costly mistakes at later implementation and rollout phases of projects. It is important to fully assess the profitability and viability of projects using risk modeling techniques before embarking on them.
Momentum / Inertial Energy
06/13/12, Gare Henderson, Gravitational Systems Engineering, Inc.
Where M/I shines is in the delivery of vast amounts of energy with no fuel cost. When compared to other non-fuel sources, [solar, wind and hydro-electric] a dense 1 mile M/I installation will generate, during rush hour, as much energy as a 3 square mile photovoltaic installation on a very sunny day.
The Renewable Energy Market Climate
05/31/12, Chaim Lubin, Lincoln International
Regulation continues to be a key influencer and driver of the overall solar marketplace. Despite the advantages of solar as a virtually free energy, the market relies on regulation in order to deliver desired returns on investment.
The Army's $7 Billion Renewable Energy Contracts
05/31/12, Robert Tritt, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
The military services want the private sector to design, build, own and operate the alternative energy generation capacity and sell the energy to the military services.
What is the Cleantech Fellows Institute?
05/31/12, Wayne Greenberg, Cleantech Fellows Institute
The program addresses the need for experienced, successful cleantech executives to maximize the many technological and business opportunities available in clean technology.
Cox Enterprises Expands Alternative Energy Use
05/31/12, Steve Bradley , Cox Enterprises
Cox started focusing on alternative energy projects in 2007 when Cox Conserves, our national sustainability program, was created. Cox Chairman Jim Kennedy is passionate about the environment and wanted to make sure our company is being a good steward of the environment.
PV Fleet Management
05/17/12, Jeff Ressler, Clean Power Research
PV by nature is an intermittent energy source that can be affected greatly (even over the course of seconds) by weather influences such as passing clouds. While this variability may not be a concern for the individual PV system owner, it is for utilities or system operators that may have tens of thousands of grid-connected PV systems within their service territories.
Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
05/11/12, Scott Wiater, President, Standard Solar
PPAs are best for organizations that own their own buildings or homes. Or plan to occupy their space for an extended period of time. Also, a property owner who has a large open property or rooftop space (such as a warehouse or distribution center) may also enter into a PPA in connection with a rooftop or property lease as a means to generate not only renewable energy, but also revenue from energy sales to the local utility.
Solar Project Insurance
05/11/12, David A Schroeder, Assurant Solar Group
The inability of some solar project developers to secure the right coverage coupled with concerns about the long-term viability of equipment manufacturers has created fear and uncertainty in the marketplace, preventing some investors from financing projects.
More Articles
Solar energy’s vital role in our energy future
05/31/12, Michael Lamb, eIQ Energy
Much of the industry press coverage lately has focused on multi-100MW projects. Yet these large, centralized production facilities are not really the best use of solar energy. They certainly have their usefulness, but distributed generation offers an even better approach.
Going Green in Indian Country: Two Sides of the Buffalo Nickel
05/11/12, Ryan Dreveskracht , Galanda Broadman PLLC
Hopefully both sides of the coin – cultural property protection in the face of any callous non-Indian energy development, and streamlined tribal energy development for sake of tribal self-determination – can be realized by the revised S. 1684. The protection of Indian Country, both in the long and short term, quite literally depends on it.
Case Study: William G. Mennen Sports Arena
05/11/12, Contributed by, Tioga Energy
Tioga helped facilitate a first-of-its kind financing program (“the Morris Model”) in which taxable bonds were issued to finance the solar program
Woody Biomass: An Emerging Bio-Energy
05/11/12, Imogen Reed
The WBUGP provides financial support to projects ( up to a maximum of $250,000) that responsibly use woody biomass to produce energy. It also supports projects that seek to remove economic and market barriers that restrict the use of woody biomass as a source of renewable bio-energy.
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