13 yr old invents solar tree bringing him into the spotlight

A young boy named Aidan Dwyer invented a solar powered tree structure mimicking the patterns of leaves and had submitted his project to the Young Naturalist Awards, a national contest run by the American Museum of Natural History, and came out to be one of 12 winners. It had all started 2 years ago when he went hiking with his parents and gazed at the trees all around him wondering if the tree's could resemble a way to generate and improve solar energy. Using the Fibonacci sequence to simulate the patterns of leaves on a tree, he assembled a solar collector with solar panels arrayed like leaves and compared the output to traditional flat solar panels manufactured today and resulted with Aidan's solar structure to be more efficient. Like a superb scientist, Aidan is constantly seeking mistakes and uplifting his design to be flawless. Keep your eyes and ears open for updated news towards the development of his brilliant invention and ongoing success.

Happy Easter!

This Easter as you reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus may you again be reminded of what his sacrifice has meant for you.

5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
John 9:5

New Apartments offer Free Solar Power

     Solterra, a newly found 114-unit apartment project is nearing its completion, is to be equipped with facilities such as a salt-water pool, games-filled clubhouse as well as a stand-up tanning salon. At this era in the declining economy, there is stiff competition for landlords to attract tenants, especially in luxury areas. Therefore, this sweet luxury area to call home opens in May and offers free electricity to residents.
     In San Diego, this may be the county's first "net-zero" energy project, whereas there is enough solar power cells being installed to provide all energy to be obtained by average users as well as common areas at the 4-acre site east of Interstate 15 at Mira Mesa Boulevard. If residents do not exceed the average use projected, they are guaranteed a rebate check in the mail.
     Company President Mike Neal claims that they offer this special incentive to residents because "we want them to choose us," he says. He believes it's the energy-saving features that he hopes will make a difference. "With our apartment communities we've previously put photovoltaics on, we noticed our customers had a real interest in it," Neal said. "Some of them would say 'How could that benefit my unit?' We took it upon ourselves to take this project and try to answer that question by providing it and see how the customer likes it."
     "The target tenant group at Solterra draws from all over the county and from all demographic groups," he said, "and the rental rate of $1,495 to $2,225 is comparable to housing costs in Scripps Ranch."

Solar-Powered Plane's Cross-Country Flight

        Researchers at Moffett Air Field at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, announced on March 28 that Solar Impulse, an ultra-lightweight plane solely powered by solar power, is planned to fly coast-to-coast this spring. The plane is claimed to require no fuel and solely rely on solar panels and battery power.
        Two Swiss pilots of the Solar Impulse, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, desire to complete a flight beginning from Moffett Field to New York City. Along the way, it is planned to stop by in the following locations: Phoenix, Arizona, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Washington, D.C., and either Nashville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia, or St. Louis. The plane is set to fly on May 1 and plans to land in the Big Apple in early July.
         Solar Impulse has a wingspan equivalent to a 747 jetliner, the weight of a station wagon, and the power needs of a small scooter. The solar panels across its wings harness power from the sun during the day, and lithium-polymer batteries store that energy for overnight trips. A carbon-fiber material formed in a honeycomb structure makes up the bulk of the plane, which allows for its feather-weight.
        In 2010, the plane completed a 26 overnight-hour flight and in 2012, it flew from Switzerland to Morocco with no fuel.

Recyclable Solar Cells Created using Trees

       Researches have developed recyclable and efficient solar cells using natural substrates from plants like trees. Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University researchers wrote in the journal Scientific Reports about how the solar cells can be recycled quickly in water at the end of their lifecycle. The team's solar cells are capable of reaching a power conversion efficiency of 2.7%.
       During the recycling process, the solar cells are immersed in water at room temperature, and within minutes, the CNC substrates on which the solar cells are fabricated can be separated easily into its major components.
       Georgia Tech College of Engineering Professor Bernard Kippelen, who led the study, said the method opens up the door for a truly recyclable, sustainable and renewable solar cell technology. "The development and performance of organic substrates in solar technology continues to improve, providing engineers with a good indication of future applications," Kippelen, who is also the director of Georgia Tech's Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE), said in a statement. "But organic solar cells must be recyclable. Otherwise we are simply solving one problem, less dependence on fossil fuels, while creating another, a technology that produces energy from renewable sources but is not disposable at the end of its lifecycle."
       Current organic solar cells are fabricated on glass or plastic, but neither is easily recyclable or very eco-friendly. If cells fabricated on glass were to break during the manufacturing process, the material would be difficult to dispose of. The team's cells are made from wood and are green, renewable and sustainable. "Our next steps will be to work toward improving the power conversion efficiency over 10%, levels similar to solar cells fabricated on glass or petroleum-based substrates," said Kippelen. The US forest product industry projects that tens of millions of tons of cellulose nanomaterials from wood could be produced once large-scale production begins in the next 5 years.
        Another new manufacturing method for producing solar cells was unveiled in the journal Advanced Materials in February. MIT researchers described a new process that allows scientists to passivate silicon at room temperatures, which helps with the high price of manufacturing computer chips and solar cells. In the MIT team's process, they decompose organic vapors over wires heated to 572 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating these wires requires less power than illuminating an ordinary light bulb. This process not only opens the door for cheaper solar panels, but also new applications for computer chips.

Source : Lee Rannals for redOrbit.com -- Your Universe Online

Solar Power brings 16Mbps Broadband to Towns without Electricity

     White space networks have yet to revolutionize Internet access but they still have hope in creating a drastic impact in countries that have lack the consistency of Internet access. A new project of the power of white space networks is arising in Kenya as a solar-powered network brings Internet to people who aren't connected to an electrical power grid.
      The previous month, Microsoft, along with Kenyan government officials, deployed the network in various areas in Kenya. It is currently serving a health clinic in Burguret, a primary and secondary school in Male, a secondary school in Gakawa, and a library in Laikipia. The network is planned to be expanded to 20 other locations in the next coming months.
       Director of technology policy at Microsoft, Paul Garnett recalls that "down in the valley, nobody has electricity." However, some areas did have mobile Internet access, but "it's so expensive that nobody ever uses it," says Garnett. Electricity is not completely unavailable but it is said that it is scarce. For example, a school has electricity going into the principal's office but it is unavailable anywhere else.
       This is where solar power comes in; specifically, 4.5 kilowatt hours of energy per day are derived from 7 square-meter panels. "During the day the solar panel is providing enough to run the network and provide some charging capability, and then in evenings there is this battery backup that can continue to provide broadband access, plus you have excess capacity for overnight charging," Garnett said. "Think of the school scenario where you've got a computer lab that the kids can use during of the day, and drain down the batteries in the tablets during the day. And then in the evening you have a charging station where all the tablets are plugged in and can recharge overnight."

New Solar Gear Introduced

            Inverters are the components within powered devices like solar panels and batteries, which helps convert the power generated into usable power. There has been many research efforts involving solar panel inverters as some people may choose to move from a single large central inverter to smaller "microinverters" embedded on each solar panel. However, Empower Micro Systems, a chip startup that has been running for a year and a half now, has furthered this research and developed a low-voltage solar microinverter based on new chip designs, which has became more reliant, cost-effective, and efficient.

            Empower Micro Systems CCO Jon Bonanno has claimed that the company's inverter technology "is a quantum change in how solar is done." This newly developed chip component can be applied anywhere from a solar panel system to a rack or frame. Bonanno also notes that the inverter is 5x more reliable, 5% more efficient, and costs 20% less than traditionally used inverters. The overall solar system cost can be lowered because of the rising potential of a lower inverter cost, in addition to the dropping prices already of solar panels.
           Empower Micro Systems does not plan on manufacturing the inverter box itself but the company tries to respectfully adopt Intel's code in churning out the chips inside the inverter devices. Bonanno is confident of the power of the inverter technology, which is known as the "Universal Micro Power Inverter." He believes it can "replace all solar inversion options, hands down." The key technologies of the solar inverter includes how the system on a chip synchronizes and controls the power flow at a low-voltage rate as well as the design of the inverter box.
           Bonanno remarks that the company has already signed one agreement with a "top-three" module maker (and is in discussions with many module makers and product vendors) to bring this hardware into the market. This year, it is planned for the inverter to be certified and could be produced in pilot production by the third quarter of 2013.

BioSolar announces the Production of BioBackSheet

           BioSolar Inc., a manufacturing company specialized in creating solar panel components, has discovered a technological technique that can help improve solar panels in a drastic way. Solar photovoltaic panels are originally equipped with a clear lamination coating, known as a backsheet, which protects the sensitive solar cells underneath. Generally, this coating would be developed from non-biodegradeable petroleum-based plastic and glass. However, BioSolar has developed a product, BioBackSheet, which is the coating made from cotton and castor beans.
          In some cases, while trying to use renewable energy resources, it can develop waste or pollution when creating and harvesting them. For instance, solar panels have increasingly been used and had produced an extreme amount of toxic and pollution, created by the production of the traditional backsheet. With this problematic issue, BioSolar has developed a solution, whereas a new era in solar power collection may be dawning in that materials, used to harvest energy, will be as clean as its energy source.
           To develop the BioBackSheet, BioSolar processes and uses cotton rags to provide the strength needed to withstand the harsh outdoor environment. Castor beans provide resin, which after processing, can be used to create a material similar to nylon. When combined, the result is a transparent material very similar to currently produced backsheets, excluding the use of petroleum-based materials. BioSolar notes that backsheets are easy to produce, cost-efficient, and are toxic-free from the chemicals needed to traditionally produce backsheets. BioSolar also remarks that the newly produced product has a high degree of thermal conductivity and has electromagnetic properties equivalent to conventional materials as well as the mechanical strength and stability needed for solar panel applications--all in addition to the obvious advantages of using a biodegradable material for manufacturing purposes, particularly as a component in a so-called "green" technology.
           The reason for late widespread adoption of the new biodegradable backsheet can possibly be because of the availability of the caster seeds, which are not grown in the United States due to its natural state being toxic and highly allergenic. For this reason and others, other research efforts are undergoing development in creating caster seeds that do not produce any negative effect.

Japan to build nation's largest solar park

Softbank Corp., Japan's third largest mobile phone company, and Mitsui & Co. joined together to build what may be the nation's largest solar power plant. From previous nuclear disasters in a quarter of a century, Chairman of Softbank, Masayoshi Son’s ambition grew towards installing more renewable energy and had signed a pact with Mitsui & Co to build a 39.5 megawatts in capacity of solar energy. Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, Japan's government had swayed away towards the reliance of atomic energy and moved onward favors of natural gas and renewable energy. Softbanks plans on investing about 230 megawatts of renewable energy, mostly towards solar. Mitsui will be getting 90% of the profit from trading in metals, oil, and gas and had took the role of Chief Executive Officer in project management.

India is installing Solar Power

            Mercom Capital Group, a clean energy consulting company, has announced that India is most likely installing 1300-1400 megawatts of solar power this year. They also claimed that India has installed 980 megawatts last year than the expecting number of 1,090 megawatts. Mercom Capital Group's CEO and Co-Founder Raj Prabhu has said "the difference was largely due to delays in Gujurat  to commission 144.5 megawatts of photovoltaic projects."
           The installations accumulating in India currently is said to be over 1,200 megawatts and if Mercom's predictions are correct: India is likely to add to the number 1,300 to 1,400 more megawatts of solar power. The Indian solar power installations, however, has been arranged and overseen by Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSU), which also holds a goal to install 20,000 megawatts of solar power by 2022, and various state policies and state RPOs (renewable portfolio obligations). Renewable portfolio obligations are regulations that requires increased production of energy from renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, biomass and giothermal.
         Meanwhile, global solar installation numbers for 2012 are likely to be in the 30-32 gigawatt range and in 2013, solar installations may possibly hit 34.5 gigawatts of solar power. Prabhu also notes that "based on current forecasts, it looks like the significant share of installations in 2013 will come from emerging markets like China, Japan, and India."

Villagers inspect solar panels at the Gujurat Solar Park in Charanka village, in Gujurat state. Research suggests that the state, along with Rajasthan and Karnataka, is flooded with enough sunlight to accommodate large solar power plants.

Solar Panels installed in Huntsville, Alabama!

           Solar panel projects are being installed in Huntsville's South Memorial Parkway, Alabama by Southern Solar Systems, a Huntsville-based company specialized in installing photovoltaic solar panels. Not only are solar panels being installed in South Memorial Parkway, but it is claimed to also be installed on the lands that borders the northbound lanes between Charlotte Drive and Bryd Spring Road. According to Chris Shearburn, vice president of Southern Solar Systems, the solar panels should be operational by the following week.
            Southern Solar Systems also reports that they are installing solar panels for the landowner, who will be selling back its power generation back to Tennessee Valley Authority as part of its program, Green Power Providers program. This program helps offer consumers, businesses, and industries across the Tennessee Valley the option to build renewable generation with a maximum project size of less than 50 kilowatts in size.
             Shearburn had noted that the solar panels will be producing about 70,000 kilowatt hours of power a year, which helps the landowner save a revenue of about $1,500 per month. The solar panels are positioned southward and helps them pull in the most sunlight. Shearburn also comments that "in the last year or year and a half, the prices have dropped for solar panels, so the cost of building these (solar panels) is going down."

One of the solar panels on South Memorial Parkway, between Byrd Spring Road and Charlotte Drive

Brazilian-made Plastic Solar Panels

       Brazilians emphasize upon increasing their knowledge in terms of green technology research and have concluded to discover and develop plastic solar panels, which can help revolutionize power generation from such an amazing source of energy.

Tiago Maranhao Alves holding a strip of newly developed plastic solar panel

      This solar panel may seem like it is a thin sheet of plastic, but it is actually a solar panel covered with photovoltaic cells, which converts sunlight into electricity. Unlike other heavy and costly silicon-based solar panels commonly used in society today, this plastic solar panel was created by scientists at CSEM Brazil, a research institute in the southeastern state of Brazil, Minas Gerais.
      These solar panels are similar to transparent sheets of plastic with stripes where they printed with carbon-based organic polymers, in that they were made by incorporating organic photovoltaic cells into common polymers. The technology to produce the organic photovoltaic cells has been studied in Europe and the United States, but Brazil has made further development usage pertaining to the technology.
      "While the capacity for power generation is almost the same, its small size means that it can be given uses that are impossible for silicon panels," said Tiago Maranhao Alves, chairman of CSEM Brazil and physical engineer who directly participated in the research. This material is able to power electrical components of automobiles and in electronic devices such as mobile phones, wireless keyboards and mice. "A panel with a surface of two or three square feet meters can be sufficient to generate the energy needed in a house lived by a family of four," Alves also remarked.
       Transportation is also an advantage of the solar panels, compared to the common silicon-based panels. "Because they are easy to transport, logical costs are lower. In addition, people can take them with them when they move to a new home," Alves noted. The plastic solar panel is able to be used in covering buildings and venues like airports and sports stadiums, avoiding the need to set aside an area for installation of the silicon panels.

Solar is #2 in Sourcing Electricity (with graphs to prove it!)

         Recurrent Energy CEO and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Chairman Arno Harris observed and seen that solar power capacity has been increasing in 2013 than any other electric power source, other than one of natural gas. By 2016, it perhaps may also be claimed that solar power, from this increasing rate of growth in society today, will be the #1 source for electricity.
        This solar power energy source has exponentially grew to be an outstanding presence in society today for a few years back, solar power was very costly as well as not being existent in many areas across the United States. However, as it is noted in a SEIA press release, data is extracted below to provide the analyzing trends in the U.S. solar market today.

From the statistics shown above, photovoltaic installations have grew 76% over time in 2011 to total 3,313 megawatts in 2012 (estimating market value of $11.5 billion)

Above is shown a graph with U.S. states increasing the numbers of photovoltaic installations from 2011 to 2012

Japan Proposes to cut Solar Power Price

         Recently, it has been discovered that Japan has submitted a proposal to cut solar power prices by 10%, leaving, in its midst, a place for incentives to trigger increasing amounts of solar power installations. Researchers have observed that the prices for solar power would be assumed to be cut in the beginning of April this year while payment for the wind energy sector prices remain unchanged. However, of course, the Japanese government has to consent to the proposal before solar power prices can be enforced and utilized.
         In the previous year, Japan has invested on non-residential solar projects totaling the estimate value to be 222 billion yen, or in other words, $2.3 billion, adding 580 megawatts of solar power capacity. This year, however, the country is claimed to have spent 438 billion yen for 1,460 megawatts.
          Hisao Kayaoka, secretary general of the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association, has claimed that the proposal may not change circumstances for the solar market is expanding but, the proposal will provide continual growth in the market. The association member companies consists of the following companies: SunTech Power Holdings (STP) Company, Kyocera Corporation, Solar Frontier K.K. and Sharp Corporation. These companies help make solar panels while another member of the association, Kansai Electric Power Company, is responsible for power utility. The proposed incentives actually aid companies, such as Kyocera Corporation, in giving them opportunity to construct solar stations while also encouraging Softbank Corporation, a mobile-phone provider, to develop solar power plants.

Shirashi Daiichi Elementary School received a grant of up to 30 million Japanese yen ($369,000) to purchase and install solar power equipment. In this photo featured above, it is shown that the pupils are touching the solar power generator installed.

Mexico is Increasing its Solar Power!

       Driven by wealthy households and first large-scale power plants, Mexico has the potential to increase its photovoltaic capacity nearly tripling this year. Alvaro Lenz-Herrera, president of Asosiacion Nacional de Energia Solar, has commented in an interview that solar installations may double estimating from 30 megawatts to 60 megawatts, in which 30 megawatts are currently operating and may triple if its state-owned utility power grid, Comision Federal de Electridad (CFE), calls for a tender for increasing photovoltaic capacity.

Mexico initially desires to increase the awareness of solar power energy towards their generation and to reach their goal of having 35% of their power generating from clean, renewable energy sources by the year 2026. The country offers tax incentives in terms of solar power energy projects as well as providing possible long-term relationships with their power grid (CFE).

Photovoltaic capacity is expected to increase by the result of the falling solar panel prices and low system costs, which are claimed to be estimating 20% cheaper than solar power energy projects funded in the United States. Alvaro Lenz-Herrara also remarks that he predicts growth towards solar energy will increase in 2014 and 2015.

Walmart in Ohio is now powered by solar!

Walmart has announced that it has worked with SolarCity on progressing towards 12 Walmart stores & Sam's Clubs all over Ohio with installing solar panels that generates up to 6,000,000 kWh of energy, enough to power more than 820 homes and is also apprehended to accumulate about 5-20% of each store's energy consumption. Walmart has committed to increasing the use of renewable energy on all the stores in Ohio and across the country. Pretty effective knowing almost all Walmart stores are open 24 hours and finally being able to say bye bye to those outrageous electric bills.

"Walmart's installation of solar on 12 store rooftops is the largest solar commitment ever made by a retail business in Ohio," said Bill Spratley

China is leading; no surprise there

       China begins to expand the most towards the $77 billion solar energy industry and is being featured as providing global solar installations to a heaping record. Recent researchers have claimed that this new generation capacity has reached estimating 14% this year to 34.1 gigawatts, whereas in the previous year, it was 4.4% growth due to the government subsidies being cut in Italy and France.
       After constructing many factories, China has been able to cut solar panel prices down 20% in the past year and, in turn, has become the largest consumer of the devices. These price cuts essentially are helping many installers such as SolarCity Corporation, SunPower Corporation while also drastically hurting manufacturers including LDK Solar Company of China and Norway's Renewable Energy Corporation.
        Studies are proven that solar demand is steadily increasing in its growth as European markets slump for SolarCity and SunPower have indeed been gaining 38% and 109% of installations. These low-cut prices may be driving many installations to be done but they are not aiding manufacturers much help in terms of their profit margin cuts. As China had opened many factories and the prices for solar panels dropped, manufacturers' profit margins crashed, stock markets drastically changed and, in result, pushed companies into the option of bankruptcy.
       Even Germany, which has been the country that prospered in being known as the largest solar market in 2013, may be getting unsettled by the thought of China possibly taking over the reputation. However, many sources have claimed that projects have been multiplied in providing financial aid services to its fellow solar companies in a bid to help diversify Germany. Shi Dinghuan, government advisor, has commented that China plans to install 35 gigawatts by the year 2015, compared to a previous goal of 21 gigawatts.

Employees assemble photovoltaic panels (solar panels) at SunTech Power Factory

Pyongyang's solar powered street lamps

It has been reported in North Korea state TV that the capital city of North Korea, Pyongyang, started developing street lamps powered by solar energy. Since North Korea is a very isolated country in international trading, an associate professor from Kim Chaek University named Cho Hyon Ho, developed a solar panel and battery combination onto street lights. Although the technology used for the development isn't advanced compared to the production of solar panels from Japan and China, this can be summarized as a new approach for North Korea and their future endeavors.

The Solar Pocket Factory

        In 2012, solar power has been given an outlook of being expensive and there has been conflicting problems in the portable solar panels, which after a couple of years, lose charging capabilities. That's where Shawn Frayne and Alex Hornstein has thought of plans how to give portable solar charging stations the longevity and price to make them commercially available worldwide and founded "Solar Pocket Factory."
        This project is a kickstarter project, which they attempt to make a perfect development of the pocket factory (and then they claim it to help make a new panel every 15 seconds to ensure the longevity of receiving solar power). For more information, visit here!

Lancaster, California Requires Solar Panels on Homes by 2014!

        In a recent announcement made by Mayor Rex Parris, there is a requirement that states solar power systems are to be implemented within every newly built single-family houses within the city by January 1, 2014. These recent stated requirements will be written into Lancaster's "Residential Zones Update." It specifically states as followed: "The purpose of the solar energy system standards is to encourage investment in solar energy on all parcels in the city, while providing guidelines for the installation of those systems that are consistent with the architectural and building standards of the City."
         With these requirements in place, residential homes on lots larger than 7,000 square feet will need to possess a system of 1.0-1.5 kilowatts. If there are residential homes in rural areas which holds lots up to 100,000 square feet, they are required to possess a system of at least 1.5 kilowatts. Homebuilders, though, have an alternative in forgoing these requirements by providing proof of purchase of solar energy credits from a solar energy development located within the city.

Mayor Rex Parris is shown, speaking at an event in Lancaster to celebrate the 100th solar-powered home.

          Mayor Rex Parris may be a Republican but he is an extreme solar power advocate for he strongly supports his intentions to make Lancaster, California "the solar energy capital of the world." In the year 2010, Lancaster has had a partnership with SolarCity to launch a successful solar financing program for nonprofit organizations, businesses and residential areas. It is known as "Solar Lancaster" and this 1.45-megawatt program extends towards helping solar finance the city hall, the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Clear Channel Stadium, churches, schools, and other areas. Solar Lancaster is expected to generate $1.5 million annually through 2017 and then $800,000 per year for the next 20 years. In addition, Lancaster is scaled with many solar production plants, including the infamous eSolar's Sierra Sun Tower.

eSolar's Sierra Sun Tower

       

North Shore YMCAs in Washington undergo energy efficiency changes!

      After many years of studying and researching, the North Shore YMCA gymnasium of Washington has launched energy efficiency programs to improve standards of the organization's social responsibilities, to save money and, most importantly, to save energy. These programs are featured in a project, which is known as "Greening our Y," and the project is to be commenced in the following YMCA locations: Haverhill, Ipswich, Beverly, Salem, Marblehead, and Swampscott. The locations have actually been undergoing many changes in their buildings such as obtaining new pool covers, new solar panels, new efficient boilers, computerized lighting and heating control.
      YMCA CEO Jack Meany commented, "We think that in doing something like this it can be replicable for not only YMCA but other organizations as well. And we think that it's pretty innovative."
       A recent announcement has claimed that this project was devised three years ago, where YMCA had submitted a work proposal to 20 Energy Savings Corporations (ESCO) that work with organizations (such as YMCA) to help develop and create plans to make their buildings more energy efficient while they are guaranteed a payback in savings over a lengthy period of time. In the first ten years of the payback period, 85% of the savings will be accumulated towards the debt service owed to ESCO to developing the program and 15% of the savings will be towards the organization itself.

New Solar Energy Generator installed inside Fiji!

Bernadette Careon - Fourth Estate Cooperative Contributor

Suva, Fiji (4E) - Fiji got a new commercial solar power generator.

Sunnergise, the new Pacific-wide renewable energy company, marked the completion of its inaugural installation at Port Denarau Marina on Thursday.

According to Fiji news, the system is the largest solar installation for a marina anywhere in the world, and was also Fiji's largest on-grid commercial solar power generator. 

"The 122 Kilowatt (KW) systems weathered Tropical Cyclone Evan intact are meeting its daily power  requirements thanks to Nadi's abundance of sunshine hours," it added.

The 333-island archipelago is located east of New Zealand and Australia and southwest of Hawaii, with only about 100 islands inhabited. The entire population is less than 900,000. 

Renewable energy has been developing in Fiji for some time now. In fact, the Fiji government has adopted a Strategic Development Plan as part of its ambitious goal to become a 100% renewable energy power-reliant by 2011.

Article @ AHN -- All Rights Reserved

A Closer Look into SolarCity

      SolarCity has gone public during a rough time in 2012, where they were forced to close 47% above its $8-a share initial public offering price because investors were being initially unreceptive. The original offering price SolarCity had in mind was estimating between $13 and $15, causing it to raise $141 million. However, since they were forced to lower their share prices, they raised $92 million.
      Besides Enphase Energy (ENPH) opening public in March, SolarCity is actually the first clean technology company to get involved publicly while the stock market, in reference to solar energy, has been failing (due to the Chinese leading because of its low prices). Enphase Energy, a company which makes products to help improve solar efficiency, has had its stock price lowered by half. BrightSource Energy, another solar company planning to go public in April, had cancelled its initial public offering price.
      Recently, SolarCity has been able to make a comeback and raise their stock price from $8 to $19. The reason for this was released in an interview by Fortune Magazine; SolarCity comments "our business is totally different. We're an energy company. We install solar systems for free, and we sell the electricity at a lower rate than you can buy it from the utility. So given the option of paying more for dirty power or paying less for clean power, what would you take?"
     SolarCity has previously commented that they install solar systems for free but this option is only available as long as you reside in the 14-state territory where their locations operate. They also took consideration in deciding what states to hold their operational locations in by looking at the current price of electricity, observing how much sun the market receives, and looking at the state's tax incentives. For example, in Arizona, there is cheap electricity but they obtain an incredible amount of sun. In Oregon, there isn't a great amount of sun but Oregon has a strong state incentive, whereas they want to see residents adopt clean energy.
     SolarCity also operates in marketing their products in Home Depot. While potential customers walk into Home Depot to purchase products, solar consultants explains that they can get a free solar system and pay less for electricity. They only pay Home Depot per customer they sign up.
     There seems to be some great potential in SolarCity because they indeed have a different business model. Who wouldn't love to indulge in a free solar system, where you're able to pay less for electricity? Now, if only they opened their locations in many areas in the East Coast.