Solar Day Pilipinas -- A Yearly Event From Now On

      During this extreme heatwave coming this summer in the Philippines, there lies potential for solar power to grow as our reliance on fossil fuels can be reduced or dimmed. The Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) and the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) has, in fact, celebrated their very first Solar Day Pilipinas 2013 on April 26. PSPA President Dante Briones had described solar power as being a cutting-edge technology and a tool for improving national competitiveness, especially in the Philippines. "The country is actually one of the leading countries in Asia when it comes to solar energy," Briones said.
      Solar power is also estimated to produce 20-30% less emissions of harmful gases than coal power. "Why do we have to thoroughly dig the soil just to look for coal when all we need is to raise our heads to see the sun?" said Claire Marie Yvonne Lee, PSPA Vice President. According to Lee, she observed that many businesses and institutions have already begun to start using solar panels. Some of these, she points out, are Starbucks, the Asian Development Bank, the Makati Medical Center and the Department of Trade and Industry.
       Solar power, however, proves to be quite costly. As a matter of fact, the cost of acquiring one solar panel may exceed the initial savings generated from not connecting to the country's power grid. Though this may be so, PSPA and WWF believe that as costs decrease, solar panels will be economically efficient over time. In addition, solar technology usually is covered by a 25-year warranty. "A solar system is a good investment," said Lee. "Unlike a car or a cellphone, it's not a dead investment," she added.
       At Solar Day Pilipinas 2013, there were products of various solar power developers showcased for the public to view. The products consisted of a range of solar phone chargers to large-scale solar systems for residential areas and commercial establishments. Ten solar power developers present were included as follows: Renewables Made in Germany, MERALCO, Tritec, Transnational Uyeno Solar Corporation, GNB Exite, Maschinen and Technik Inc., Cagayan Electric Power, Sasonbisolar Inc., One Renewable Energy Enterprise Inc., Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc., CEnAG, SunPower Inc., and Propmech. "Solar Day Pilipinas will be a yearly event from now on," said PSPA Founder and Chair Teresa Cruz-Capellan.

Solar Power Traffic Lights Coming Soon

      With the help of a Delhi-based firm under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, officials of Allahabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) have decided upon installing a solar-powered traffic system within 22 crossroads of Allahabad, India. As part of its pilot project in 2012, solar panels, signal lights and other equipment were installed at four major crossroads such as Subhash crossing and Rana Pratap crossing; however, because of Maha Kumbh's preparations, the project has not been processed yet.
       The AMC had focused on starting the project at the earliest convenience. "Once the panel and other equipment are available, the solar-powered signals are to be installed at other major crossings too," Municipal Commissioner R. Vikram Singh had told Times of India (TOI).
        Last year, the solar-power traffic lights system had started phase-wise after AMC had given a no-objection certificate to a Delhi-based firm. In perspective to the fact that the solar-powered traffic signals has been successful in Agra and Bareilly, traffic police authorities have been coordinating with AMC authorities to bring them also to the city. Traffic inspector Indra Pal Singh had remarked to TOI that solar panel rooms are already in place at major crossings and that hopefully, the lights would begin to work within three months.
        Solar traffic lights are usually equipped with photovoltaic cells as well as having a solar panel attached to the top of the pole, which helps convert sunlight into electrical power. A solar charger regulates the voltage coming out of the solar panel. As this occurs, the regulated power obtained is used to charge a battery. Lighting is produced through extra-bright LED lights, which help produce an array of light that can last up to 4 years and are extremely energy efficient.
        Under this project, the previous traffic lights have already been removed and a fresh system of solar traffic lights are to be installed. The officials have also sought public cooperation in the same regard. Legal advisor of AMC, S.L. Yadev, said, "The project would help conserve energy and ensure smooth vehicular movement as solar energy would be operating the traffic lights. While one electric traffic light costs between 4 to 5 lakh, the solar signal costs around 8 lakh. Solar power is an efficient alternative provided enough energy is stored."

Startup's Goal: To Advance Solar Energy in Developing Countries

    At age 19, Eden Full had left Princeton University to develop her invention, the SunSaluter. The $25 solar-panel rotator, which she claims can increase a solar panel's efficiency by up to 40%, is designed to benefit those in developing countries because it is easy to assemble and doesn't require electricity. To start up such an invention, she has spent the last two years attending a schedule of client meetings, research and design, and field testing underwritten by the Ashoka Foundation, the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, and the Thiel Fellowship, which provides no-strings-attached grants of $100,000 to promising young startups.
     While her company, Roseicollis Technologies Inc., generates enough revenue to cover costs, it's expanding in terms of size and reach. She has one full-time employee and three part-time designers and project developers, and is working on partnerships with organizations in South Africa, Indonesia, Kenya, and the Philippines. In 2011, she also has been featured on Forbes' list of 30 promising energy innovators under 30.
      This month, Full had made an appearance on a panel at the Clinton Global Initiative University, an annual event that gathers enterprising college students and big names such as Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and the Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert, to discuss the future of electricity. She is currently aged 21 and living in Berkeley, California, where she plans to return to Princeton University in the Fall while managing her team in between classes via Skype.

Eden Full

      Recently, Full has also been chosen for an interview by Entrepreneur to clarify reasons of how she was able to think of such a brilliant idea as well as having experiences being a young student to suddenly being an entrepreneur. She had discussed that her "first experiment was a desktop solar car I built at age 10, and I kept experimenting from there. I brought the idea of the SunSaluter to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair my junior year in high school, and the girl next to me was from Indonesia. She said 'This is a cool idea. You should deploy it in my country because everywhere outside of Jakarta lacks electricity.' I was so open-minded at the time. It was the first suggestion that came along and it happened to be a good one."
      When asked to also comment on how life has been after Princeton and the benefits and drawbacks of stepping outside the traditional education barrier, she replied, "I felt a lot of freedom to finally be out in the real world and do what I wanted. I moved to the Bay Area. I could say, 'Hi, I don't have a college degree but I'm working on this.' People don't even bat an eye. Thanks to Ashoka Foundation, I had the funding to travel the globe and see what communities in the developing world are like, so I can design something that's relevant to them. We also won an award from the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge that we've directed toward product development and team building."
       Finally, as the interview draws to a close, she comments advice as well to other future entrepreneurs of all ages who are thinking of stepping outside the traditional path: "It can be scary to question one's life trajectory and make a decision to change it. But one of the best things I ever did was learn not to live the default." Therefore, any other future entrepreneurs out there, who also believe they can make it far, don't be afraid to step out. If you think you're able to succeed, then show others you can.

Oil-Rich Russia Works to Increase Renewable Energy

     The Energy Ministry of Russia has recently submitted a draft law to Dmitry Medvedev, prime minister of Russia, which is intended to support the deployment of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric power. Russia, however, has failed to meet its renewable energy set goal for 2010, in which it was to obtain 1.5% of the country's electric demand from renewable power plants. In 2011, Russia even failed to reach yet 1%.
      Currently there has been no details concerning tariffs for specific technologies, but notably the new law promises a 14% return on investment. In addition, the electricity is said to be bought through power purchase agreements. If approved, this project would cost an amount of 85 billion rubles (approximately $2,716,396,000). This, in turn, is shown to the public as an incentive scheme that will prioritize projects that are in line with a local content requirement.
      Russia, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) are the few of the largest petroleum exporters throughout the globe. They are each ones of the top 8 petroleum producers yet they acknowledge the environmental consequences of using petroleum, especially UAE whereas the nation aggressively pursues solar and wind energy. The possible reasons for why these petroleum-dependent nations are pursuing renewable energy is as follows: the consequences of climate change, air and water pollution are severe; and the less oil nations consume may lead to more demand in exports causing there to be an increase in foreign exchange revenue and massive petroleum-derived profits.
      This new plan's target goal is for Russia to obtain 2-2.5% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, or 6 gigawatts of installed capacity by 2020. It has also been claimed that the draft law has supposedly been approved by Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev on April 25, 2013, but there has been no information regarding this announcement in the English media as of yet.

U.S. Supports Costa Rica in Clean Energy Initiatives

U.S. ambassador Anne S. Andrew joins representatives from each of the winning projects of the Clean Energy Regional Contest. Winners were announced at the University of Costa Rica Planetarium in San Pedro, east of San Jose, on Thursday

     On Thursday, U.S. ambassador Anne S. Andrew along with University of Costa Rica Vice Rector Carlos Raya had presented awards for Costa Rican initiatives to develop renewable energy and other environmental themes. Announced last year by the U.S. State Department and financed by the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), 20 projects had entered the Clean Energy Regional Contest.
     At the University of Costa Rica Planetarium in San Pedro, east of San Jose, 5 winners had been announced. The following winners include: University of Costa Rica, with a project that will introduce the use of alternative energy including solar, wind and biomass in the coffee industry in Central America; Academia de Profesionales Solares de las Americas, which will train professional individuals on how to use solar energy in their businesses; Purdue University, with a plan to promote the use of solar energy in the Caribbean; SNV, a non-governmental organization that will introduce the use of biogas in livestock and coffee industries; and Yo Emprendedor, an association that motivates entrepreneurship with a project that will help a new generation of business owners develop green companies. These following winning projects will each receive a grant up to a total of $210,000.
      "Our countries (the U.S. and Costa Rica) are taking steps to reduce our dependence on hydrocarbons and to promote clean-energy technologies and policies as well as energy efficiency in all sectors," Andrew said. The U.S. State Department had also donated $1 million from ECPA to Michigan State University, which is currently working with University of Costa Rica, to develop solar bio-energy from waste products.

Solar-Powered Computers for Off-Grid Schools

      In 2009, a 19-year-old graduating senior from Hong Kong's International School, Charles Watson, carrying a rudimentary computer, had took off a year from entering a university to travel to Nepal to work on a project he came up with while still in school: to provide off-the-grid schools with solar-linked computing power. "Once I got to Nepal, I was running a blog, taking photos and so on, saying 'We need computers,'" he says. "I did a fundraising run in Nepal and that raised enough to buy 30 computers at $300 each - $10,000 if you include the solar panels."
      Watson, an American who has be raised in Hong Kong, is currently 23 and still is not attending a university, despite being accepted at the University of Illinois, and doesn't plan on attending any time in the foreseeable future. Instead, he is the founder and chief of SolarLEAP, a nonprofit organization company whose computers are often assembled by his parents at their kitchen table, but they are delivering computing power to schools without reliable electricity, or none at all, in countries as diverse as Nepal, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and, he hopes, across the world.
       "As many as 1.3 billion people, a fifth of the world's population, remain without access to electricity," he says. Ten countries--four in developing Asia and six in sub-Saharan Africa--account for two-thirds of those without electricity. Unless further action is taken, it is projected that close to one billion people will be without electricity still in 2030.

Charles Watson and friends

        Watson has since branched out to Ghana, where he has installed 24 computers, each running on solar power in off-grid schools. After the projects in Nepal and Ghana were completed, demand in rural communities began to grow. Within weeks, organizations in India and Ethiopia were looking for unique low-power consumption computers to run in schools without electricity. Furthermore, Watson was looking for a way to continue the work without his direct, on-the-ground involvement, and thus SolarLEAP was born.
        Today, he has installed 200 of solar-powered computers in five countries with funding from non-governmental organizations and anybody he can solicit money from. "The transformation of schools is dramatic," he says. In 2010, after installation of his computers in Canumay School near Antipolo in the Philippines, the school moved from last place to a first ranking in its school district. He provided the first solar-powered computers to any school in India. "One in four people around the globe don't have access to electricity," he said. "More than 100 million children don't have access to education and a large share of students fortunate enough to be in school don't have access to quality education materials."

Gaza Hospital Chosen for Solar Power Project

Doctors use a mobile phone for light as they treat a child critically injured during Israel's attacks on Gaza last November

       Power cuts have the capability to affect Israeli hospitals, specifically in Gaza, so severely that medical operations sometimes may have to be carried out under the faint light provided by doctors' mobile phones. Eager to improve such a situation, a Gaza-based scientist has teamed up with an international group to undertake a renewable energy project towards aiding the health industry. Its aim is originally to provide 168 solar panels and other equipment for Jenin Hospital in al-Shajaiyeh neighborhood, which is east of Gaza City.
      Haitham Ghanem, the scientist behind the project, claims his team decided to focus on the site "simply because this sole hospital lies in the densely-populated al-Shajaiyeh neighborhood and serves 250,000 inhabitants, whom are frequently exposed to Israeli violence from the adjacent border areas."
      Dr. Hisham Murtaja, deputy-chief of the hospital, remarks that he is glad that the three-story hospital has been chosen. "We continue to suffer from the power outage problems and sometimes we happen to carry out minor surgeries by the lights of doctors' mobile phones," he said. "It is true that we run a power generator here, which is too costly by the way. But still we continue to often suffer from maintenance problems as well as the problem of providing gasoline for the power generator itself."
     The project, known as Sunshine4Palestine, the project aims to launch in early 2014. It has a target goal of raising $215,000 in donations by the expected time period next year. Achieving this target goal could require much effort as the project has only a total of $7,000 in its funds savings. The project will require construction of a new roof for the hospital at an estimated cost of $38,500. By storing power in batteries, the system would be capable of powering the hospital throughout the day and night.
     According to Barbara Capone, an Italian scientist living in Austria, she believes solar energy could help relieve Gaza's power problems. "In Europe, such panels have increasingly become widespread and many countries, including Italy, have invested a lot in such installations that are cheap and environmental-friendly," she said. "It is true that the Israeli siege of Gaza continues and would likely hinder delivery of the raw materials for the project, but we are planning to ship the materials through an Egyptian seaport then to Gaza," she explained. "Also, we will make sure that local staff are trained by internationals, even in Gaza itself, so we will avoid delays on maintenance of the panels once they are running. The plant will be made of high-quality Canadian products and will likely be sustained for 25 years."

Sachin Tendulkar Helps Light India's Villages

      Sachin Tendulkar, an Indian cricket (the most popular sport in India) player widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen in One Day International, has helped bring light into lives of over thousand residents of Velunje, in Nashik.

Boys in South India playing "Cricket"

Last year, the villagers were specially selected for a pilot project, where they are provided with electricity through free solar home lighting kits, in courtesy to a non-profit organization "Spreading Happiness." Encouraged by the pilot project's results, currently Schneider Electric, a French-based energy company, has another location in India and is offering similar benefits to over 25,000 villages across the country to celebrate Tendulkar's 40th birthday this Wednesday.
     This initiative actually has been started when Tendulkar was introduced to Schneider Electric's "In-Diya Lighting System," an innovative, affordable and flexible solution to bring reliable, efficient and green lighting to people living without proper electricity access. "In-Diya is a specially designed LED-based lighting system that operates on main power supply and/or solar power. It provides a backup of 8-15 hours for indoor use with 50,000 hours of lighting across its life-cycle," said an official.
      Aware of such challenges faced by many Indian villages, Tendulkar expressed a desire to Schneider Electric to help use "In-Diya" to light up the lives of Indian villagers, whom have been living in the darkness for years. "Sachin Tendulkar and Schneider Electric India have come together for 'Spreading Happiness,' a non-profit organization, to provide access to rural electrification by installing solar home lighting systems for the benefit of over 25,000 villagers in India," Schneider Electric said in a release. "This initiative has already begun a pilot project in Nashik and is currently impacting over 1,000 villagers," it added. Commenting on the initiative, Tendulkar said: "As a country, we cannot have our citizens still struggle with darkness in their lives with the setting of the sun. We have to use advancements in technology and the capabilities of international majors like Schneider Electric to deploy solutions which can brighten the lives of our countrymen."

Sachin Tendulkar

ABB bets on Solar Energy of $1 Billion

     
     Swiss Industrial group ABB, also known as the world's biggest supplier of industrial motors and power grids, had announced recently on Monday that it had agreed to pay $6.35 per share in cash for Power-One Inc., the second-largest maker of solar inverters which allows solar power to be fed into the power grids. The offer price is claimed to be 57% above Power-One's closing price on Friday, boosted by $266 million in net cash held by debt-free Power-One Inc. However, if the asset value is to be quoted without the cash involved, Power-One's enterprise value would amount to a total of $762 million.
     As solar power is steadily rising to compete with conventional forms of energy such as gas and coal, demand for solar power is also increasing. There is a similar pattern towards solar inverters as well as they are needed to feed that power into large electric grids from commercial panel installations and smaller units found in factories and homes. "We consider the acquisition of Power-One as a smart strategic move for ABB to broaden its solar power portfolio at the right time," Vontobel analysts noted.
     Mainly because of solar power's relatively complex technology, solar inverters are to be one of the last profitable parts of the solar value chain (for makers of solar cells and panels have suffered drastically from the fact that their products are easy to replicate). However, ABB believes that the solar market is set to grow its way out of overcapacity as electricity costs rise and solar power systems make it a more competitive source of energy. "ABB is currently buying into solar energy because it sees a shift in demand towards emerging markets such as China and the Middle East," said Ulrich Spiesshofer, Head of ABB and Motion, a business that includes ABB's solar activities. "Solar is, long-term, the fastest-growing renewable generation market in the world. ABB believes in this market," Spiesshofer claims in a company video.

Japan Endorses Solar Energy to Ghana

      In the midst of Ghana's energy crisis, Japanese ambassador to Ghana, Naoto Nikai, has urged Ghanaian authorities to invest in solar energy. At an event to inaugurate the first stage of the 315 kilowatt Solar Electricity Generation System at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) in Accra, Nikai had stated: "The utilization of renewable energy, such as solar power, is the future and the utilization of it will enable us to better sustain our planet and our lives."
     In addition, Ghana is to be seen as a country plentiful of sunlight shining upon them throughout the year, which brings solar power to be an appropriate option for them. Nikai has claimed that in 2010, the government had extended a grant of 610 million yen (approximately $7.6 million) for the project aimed at introducing clean energy through solar electricity generation system for the Noguchi Institute.
     "I hope that the government of Ghana will fully utilize the system and ensure the provision of necessary resources to maintain it in good shape for years to come," said Nikai. Professor Kwadwo Ansah Koram, Director of NMIMR, also said the design and procurement processes were currently underway for the second stage of the project, which will increase the generation capacity by another 400 kilowatt hours, accumulating to a total of 715 kilowatt hours. He notes that this will add on to the electricity power generation in the country as well as adding the excess power to the power grid to supply the rest of the university. "Besides the immediate cost of savings," he said, "additional benefits will accrue in terms of reduction in carbon emissions and less delirious impact on the environment."
      Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, said "the first phase of the 315 kilowatt solar park is unique because it is the first large-scale project to be commissioned since the passage of the Renewable Energy Bill into Act (Act 823), which seeks to create the enabling environment for the development of renewable energy sources in Ghana." He also said the project was a clear demonstration that solar energy could contribute to cost-effective energy conservation and management, as well as government institutions.

Las Vegas Flips Power on 15,000 Solar Panels

Tom Perrigo, chief sustainability officer of the city of Las Vegas, "flips the switch" on their new three-megawatt solar panel installation on April 18, 2013

   
     With the action of Tom Perrigo "flipping the switch" on their newfound solar panel installation, city officials are celebrating for the installation would help provide energy to a nearby wastewater treatment plant. The ground-mounted panels have been tightly packed on 25-acres of city-owned land near Vegas Valley Drive and Nellis Boulevard. This site had previously been a vacant strip of land the city had used as a buffer for its wastewater treatment plant, which processes all of the city's wastewater on its way to Lake Mead.
      During the dedication ceremony, Mayor Carolyn Goodman had announced that the project was known to being part of the city's comprehensive sustainability plan, which includes renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling and waste management. "It's all about sustainability for the city and our citizens to make sure that we're using every resource that we can to keep down the costs of energy," she said. "The council wants the financial resources we have available to go as far as they can."
      The $20 million project will generate 6 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to provide approximately 20% of the treatment plant's power. "Because the plant accounts for a third of the city's annual energy bill, the solar panels will provide a big savings," Tom Perrigo, the chief sustainability officer, said. "Our energy spend breaks down to about a third for wastewater treatment, a third for street lights and a third for city buildings," he said. "By providing solar here at this facility, we're able to make a big impact on the city's overall energy consumption."

Largest Solar Plant in Africa

    Recently, it has been announced that the largest solar plant in Africa has been ceremoniously brought online in Mauritania. The 15-megawatt plant will be expected to meet a full one-tenth of the nation's electricity demand and keep lights on in some 10,000 homes. Mauritania is currently crippled by its severe energy shortages and thus, its frail power grid is upheld by an unstable network of diesel generators. Therefore, with the help of the Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Plant, this brings good news to Mauritanians everywhere: the country's power demand is quickly growing and with the help of this fresh blast of solar power, it gives power to those in need during peak hours.
     If the name of the solar power plant is a bit unusual, it would possibly be because the construction was done by Masdar, Abu Dhabi's national clean energy company. If the name Masdar brings any recollection, it may because there is such a city as Masdar City, a futuristic town on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi which eventually is to be the world's first 100% carbon neutral city. However, Masdar is currently in the clean energy business worldwide and such as the solar power plant's creator, the Mauritania project is also.

   
    The solar power plant consists of some 30,000 thin-film micrograph panels which are stacked into the ground instead of cemented into a concrete foundation in an installation process that helps decrease the costs and necessary materials needed. "Energy access is a pathway to economic and social opportunity," Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said. "Electrification, through sustainable sources of energy, is critical in ensuring our people have access to basic services and is a step toward improving our infrastructure and long-term economic development."

France Works on a Solar-Powered Stadium

      France has recently been claimed to embark upon a landmark renewable energy project concerning the construction officially commencing on a solar-powered stadium in the southwestern city of Bordeaux. The Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, situated on the banks of the Garonne River in the Bordeaux Lac region, is a large-scale sports facility with a designated audience capacity of up to 42,000 spectators.
      While large-scale football stadiums do not have any spectacular image to them, the Bordeaux project is predicted to break new ground in Europe by deriving much of its power from solar photovoltaic installations. The stadium's car park is said to feature an extensive solar photovoltaic panel structure, which fulfills the dual function of shielding vehicles from the elements (such as sunlight, precipitation, wind, etc.) and to supply electricity to the entire stadium. In addition to such innovative renewable energy capabilities, the stadium is also set to be a landmark architectural work, which will help make a pivotal contribution to the aesthetic character of the city.
      The Swiss firm enlisted to work on this project, Herzog & de Meuron, is also responsible for a variety of architectural projects, including Beijing's "bird's nest" National Stadium, which was one of the defining emblems of the 2008 Olympics. However, the Bordeaux, France stadium is expected to be completed in 2015 and will serve as a host for one of the 2016 European Football Championship matches held by the Union of European Football Association.

Solar-Powered Sports Stadium in Bordeaux, France

Solar-Powered Clothing made of Natural Fibers

     Designers at Colorado State University at work in designing and developing solar-powered clothes from natural fibers that holds the ability to charge a variety of devices, including phones, tablets, and GPS units. Professor Eulanda Sanders and associate professor Ajoy Sarkar in CSU's department of design and merchandising, as well as four of their students, are making prototypes for solar-charging apparel that can be worn while biking, snowboarding, skiing or hiking.
     Clothing with solar panels have been done before so the concept of it is not amazing as it was perceived before, but they usually rely on petroleum-based materials rather than natural fibers. A prime example would be seen in California-based Silvrlining's GO Solar Power Collection, which puts solar power into microsuede clothing. While certainly looking fashionable, the director's jacket alone amounts to a total of $1,180.
    Instead of the traditional standard of making clothing relying on petroleum-based materials, Sanders and Sarkar have the desire to produce clothes from cotton and linen that are safe and strong enough to handle the elements. According to the university, the group was able to modify natural materials to make them more durable. From that procedure, they continue on to incorporating flexible solar panels within the apparel. Their goal with these greener clothes is ultimately to make solar clothing not only comfortable and fashionable, but also to be highly functional and easy to clean.

Apple Inc. owns Largest Private Solar System in U.S.

       Apple Inc. had announced on Friday that fully 75% of its corporate facilities as well as their data centers are powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro and geothermal power. This is because Apple has built the nation's largest privately owned solar array for its Maiden, N.C., data center.
       "In 2012, we completed construction on the nation's largest end user-owned, onsite photovoltaic array on land surrounding the data center," the company had disclosed on Friday, announcing plans to shoot for 100% renewable power sources. "The 100-acre 20-megawatt facility is able to produce 42 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy sources," Apple said. "And we're currently building a second 20-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility on nearby land that should be operational in late 2013."
        Apple has also operated a 10-megawatt fuel cell installation at Maiden, which uses biogas to create 83 million kilowatt hours of energy. "It's the largest such facility not operated by a power company in the country," the company had claimed.
        Greenpeace International senior IT analyst Gary Cook had applauded Apple Inc. for how far it has come, while also noting the challenges ahead. "Apple's announcement shows that it has made real progress in its commitment to lead the way to a clean energy future," Cook said. "Apple still has major roadblocks to meeting its 100% clean energy commitment in North Carolina, where renewable energy policies are under siege and electric utility Duke Energy is intent on blocking wind and solar energy from entering the grid," he added.
        Apple proclaimed, "Its goal was not for just North Carolina but for facilities across the country and around the world. We won't stop working until we achieve 100% throughout Apple."

Apple has built the nation's largest privately owned solar array for its Maiden, N.C., data center

Volta Racer -- World's First Solar-Powered Car (for Kids!)

       ToyLabs Inc. (Silicon Valley start-up) has unveiled its latest production as well as being the world's first solar-powered toy called Volta Racer. This toy has the components of a flexible polycrystalline silicon solar panel that helps capture sunlight to power up the toy. As produced initially to have children learn the advantages of green power and harnessing the sun's energy to power up future gadgets, ToyLabs has made the solar-powered toy from eco-friendly recyclable damage resistant materials cut at roundish angles so that it doesn't cause any damage to the kids. 

       Interestingly, the device can be assembled in a matter of 15 minutes, giving more insight on how kids can learn the basic concepts of solar electricity and mechanical engineering. Volta Racer can also traverse easily upon any terrain and only moves in either a straight line or roundish path depending on the setting of axle by the user.

The Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Panel

      Not being able to be remote-controlled may be the only downside to this remarkable yet educational toy for your kids but one is able to purchase the Volta Racer for only $25, which also gives you a variety of five color options to choose from. Even though it may not be remote-controlled, I'm sure it'll still bring enjoyment to kids as well as making them realize the importance of harnessing natural sources of energy in the not-so-distant future.

The World's First Solar-Powered Helicopter Takes Flight

      As projects like the Solar Impulse and NASA's Helios wing has been recently developed, the idea of propelling aircraft using solar power isn't as fanciful or impossible to accomplish as it seemed before, even if they are still in experimental stages. Before long, we'll surely be able to see solar power used to aid traditional airplanes, even if it is not accompanied by main fuel.
     To show what is possible, a team of master students from the United Kingdom have built what they believe to be called the world's first "solar-copter," a quadrotor that flies solely on solar power. At the moment, it is capable only of short flights but the team had claimed that it should fly longer soon, once they enabled it to have a storage system as well.

     "The Solar-copter is a quadrotor design that incorporates a solar panel providing the power for the propulsion system," the six students had commented. "It is controlled in the same way as a standard battery-powered quadrotor. Optimum thrust-to-weight ratio was mainly achieved through an efficient propulsion system, unique frame design and an optimized solar panel."

     Future versions may be useful in activities such as surveillance, search and rescue, and tracking animal migrations, perhaps in Africa, Australia, Middle East, and Southern Europe, where there is more sun than in England. Its technology could also help increase the range of conventional choppers, and perhaps give other solar aircraft, such as the Solar Impulse, better maneuverability and control.

"Artificial Leaf" is able to use Dirty Water to Convert it to Clean Energy!

     Imagine one day you walk into a dollar store, buy a thin, flat device in the size of a playing card, dunk it in a quart of dirty bath water, and use it to generate 100 watts of electricity 24 hours a day, you can thank the Air Force. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, along with other federal agencies,  have been constantly funding their latest project: the development of an "artificial leaf," a low-cost solar-powered device which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen for powering fuel cells.

     This "artificial leaf" concept actually occurred a few years ago when lead researcher Daniel Nocera had claimed it to being "the Holy Grails of science." The device, which is in a compact size (similar to the size of a playing card), is able to create energy from sunlight and water. This device is simply designed as a slim wafer of silicon coated with catalysts that break water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen cases, which then can be stored in tanks and used as fuel in hydrogen fuel cells.
     The initial research associated with the "artificial leaf" has had commercial potential but required purified water. Otherwise, naturally occurring bacteria creates a film on the wafer, which interferes with its efficiency and eventually prevents it from working together. However, in a convention of the American Chemical Society, Nocera has revealed a new iteration of the device that is capable of working perfectly fine chugging down contaminated water. The trick, he noted, was to "tweak" the catalyst so that it creates a rough surface, preventing biofilm from forming. While that involves making part of the catalyst fall apart, it also has the capability to heal and reassemble itself.
     However, don't be led astray: the artificial leaf is not to be developed to be an efficient device. Its aim, behind Nocera's research, was to develop a simple, durable device that could help provide affordable, renewable energy to the billions of people who currently do not have access to conventional energy and clean water. Aside from general quality of life improvement, low-cost devices such as the artificial leaf could help provide sustainable alternatives to the widespread use of primitive cookstoves, which cumulatively have a significant impact on the global climate with an increasing force of "black carbon" emissions and deforestation.

8 Solar-Powered Mobile Chargers!

Whether you're waiting at a bus stop or on a bus, you look down at your phone and it's flickering that familiar light indicating low battery. What to do next? Well, one option can be to buy yourself a "Snow Lizard SLXtreme Case," though the price may be a bit steep.

This case is a rugged, waterproof, solar-charging case for the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5. It was originally a Kickstarter project that had received more than twice its funding goal.

Price : $129.99


Fancy yourself an altoid when your breath stinks or just out of habit? Maybe you'd also be interested in this charger for a change.

Featuring the Altoids Solar USB Charger, this nifty DIY charger is available as a set from Brown Dog Gadgets. This runs on AA batteries and it will also power up any of your USB gadgets.

Price : $34.99


Not all solar panels come in large sizes like a rooftop; it may also come in small packages such as the latest developed "Gomadic Sunvolt."

This charger is a thin yet amply sized solar panel that, even on a cloudy day, can quickly charge multiple electronic devices as if charged by a wall outlet. The SunVolt also comes with a custom-designed carrying case that looks similar to a compact laptop case.

Price : $99.95
(SunVolt MAX is $129.95)


If you're working at the office and you forgot your charger at home and your coworkers don't seem to have one in handy for you, this may come in handy: "XD Design Solar Window Charger"

This XD Design Solar Window Charger is sleek and easily mounts to your window with reusable silicon paper. It can also charge any USB device.

Price : Approximately $65


If you just moved in a new place and you're thinking of possibly getting some artwork or decor to decorate your home and make it feel like your "home sweet home" to relax to after a stressing day at work, then maybe this will perk your interest.

This bonsai-inspired sculpture is pricey but if you're willing to spend some extra bucks on decorating your home, it's not too out of the question. Vivien Muller's Electree will charge your USB device before your guests can stop talking about it.

Price : $450


There also is another handy charger made for those iPhone lovers: WakaWaka Power Compact Solar Charger!

After a day in the sun, the WakaWaka compact charger can fully charge your phone. There also is a perk -- for every charger you purchase, WakaWaka gives one of those in need (and it manufactures parts in Haiti, which is still reeling from natural disasters).

Price : $79


Are you looking for that one extra piece to make your living room look spectacular? With the Solio CLASSIC2, it can also come in handy for designing your room to give it a retro look.

If the award-winning design of Solio CLASSIC2 doesn't reel you in, maybe some specs will: When fully charged, the CLASSIC2 can recharge the average phone up to 2 times (approximately 15 hours of music).

Price : $100

Real sunflowers use the sun to thrive so why not use some digital photosynthesis for your smartphone?

Featuring the XD Design Solar Sunflower, it can charge both USB and mini USB devices.

Closer Details of Mosaic's Crowdfunding Projects

       Mosaic, a solar crowdfunding service, had announced on Monday that it had received permission from California securities regulators to offer $100 million in new investment opportunities in the state. Therefore, on Tuesday, the first of the projects Mosaic had to offer, which was a 114-kilowatt array on the roof of the Ronald McDonald House in San Diego, was quickly fully subscribed. It only took Californians simply 6 hours to invest $157,750 in the project, which happened to offer a 4.5% annual return.

2012 Mosaic-financed project in Oakland

"The future is distributed clean energy, funded by the people. These are investments in infrastructure and they offer competitive returns," Mosaic President and Founder Billy Parish said. "More projects will be coming online soon."
        The public is already prepared for such projects to be offered for Mosaic had originally launched in January with four projects totaling to an amount of $313,000 and had sold out in less than 24 hours. More than 400 investors had invested between the amounts of $25 and $30,000, with the average investment being approximately $700.
        Solar financing in the United States is said to be held mainly in the province of Wall Street, with the likes of big corporations as Citi, Credit Suisse and U.S. Bancorp reaping the returns from the steadily growing industry. By Mosaic existing, it is trying to overturn the way things are (especially the way solar financing is done) at a very small scale to start.
        However, questions are arising as to whether crowdfunding solar might put inexperienced investors at risk. A recent analysis by Rocky Mountain Institute consultant Jessie Morris largely put those fears to rest, while recognizing that returns never came without risks. Not only this but Mosaic has moved to backing up its claim to offer "high-quality projects" by backing truSolar, an effort to develop standards for rating solar projects by risk. Founding members of truSolar include Mosaic, DuPont, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Rocky Mountain Institute, Booz Allen Hamilton, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Assurant.

Nanotechnology used to make Solar Energy 25% more efficient

        Sol Voltaics has announced recently that by using nanotechnology, it is helping build solar cell modules to be 25% more efficient than the solar cells marketed in society today. If the company is able to deliver SolInk as how it is perceived in advertisements, then this could mean it would help make it excessively cheaper to introduce solar cells to a more broader set of customers.
        This nanotechnology is said to have the capacity to make solar power in residential areas and business environments more affordable, which can be necessary to increase adoption of solar energy and to help compete at the same cost of electricity produced from fossil fuel plants. This argument alone has helped Sol Voltaics raise $11 million in funding from public and private Scandinavian investors.
         CEO of Sol Voltaics, Dave Epstein, has claims that with nanotechnology, "we can increase the efficiency of energy capture, conversion and storage. There's no smoke and mirrors here." With two advances, it is made possible. The team, led by founder Lars Samuelson (a Lund University professor), created a technology known as Aerotaxy, which makes it cheaper to create nanomaterials. With this, they are able to create gallium arsenide nanowires that can serve as solar collectors and that they can integrate directly into solar wafers, known commonly as solar cells.
          As a material, gallium arsenide has been used in solar for years because of its high reliability and high efficiency at converting light into electricity. However, gallium arsenide is expensive to manufacture. SolInk dramatically reduces the cost by minimizing the amount of materials being used. In addition to SolInk's benefits, rivals such as Innovalight (bought by DuPont) can boost a solar panel's efficiency from 15% to almost 16.1% while SolInk is claimed to build the efficiency from 15% to almost 19% or from 20% to 25%. The theoretical limit in converting sunlight to electricity is approximately 27% to 29%.
         With Aerotaxy, it helps build nanomaterials by mixing vapors in the air in just a second. The active materials, then, bond to form larger, uniform structures while in motion. Nanowires are literally able to grow in the air. Also, with Aerotaxy, it helps generate tens of billions of nanowires per second on a continuous basis. "It's like cranking out nanowires with a popcorn popper instead of a craftsman. That's the makings of an affordable and scalable technology for mass production," said Epstein.
          According to Greentech Media, demand for solar is growing globally as we know it, with the total number of gigawatts expected at 29.8 in 2012 to 50.8 gigawatts in 2016. Epstein figures that solar is here to stay, since the sun is the only resource that will surely outlast fossil fuels, wind, and other clean energy sources in the run. "In spite of what you might hear, solar is a healthy market," said Epstein.

CEO of Sol Voltaics, Dave Epstein

Japan and Taiwan: Growing with Clean Energy

        Japan has continuously thrived towards solar energy and other renewable energy sources (as well as being a nation of energy storage), after an earthquake occurred in destroying Fukushima, a nuclear power plant, in March 2011. The government had put in place generous amounts of subsidies for alternative energy development. Both IHS and Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that Japan will be growing extensively towards solar energy than any other country, with the exception of China, in 2013.
        The natural disaster affecting the destruction of Fukushima has also triggered Taiwan to re-evaluate its nuclear power policy and has stirred protests against the construction of a fourth nuclear power plant, which is nearing its completion.
        Taiwan is also subsidizing clean energy and is planning to increase solar and wind energy development. Late last year, the government had raised the 2013 target for new solar energy by 30% to 130 megawatts. Not only this but Taiwan is actually home to major solar cell makers. By promoting more production of solar energy, this would help Taiwan's domestic solar manufacturers, who have been lately devastated by an oversupply of solar cells in the global market over the past two years. This, in turn, has caused prices to crash and forced many solar manufacturers to go out of business.
        However, one of the largest Taiwanese solar cell makers, Neo Solar Power, recently had announced a survival plan to merge with another Taiwanese solar cell maker, DelSolar. Neo Solar had claimed that the combined company will have "close to 2 gigawatts" of production capacity, which would be comparable to First Solar Inc.'s capacity of 1.9 gigawatts.

Miaoli, Taiwan

150 MW California Solar Power Plant is Bought!

      The 150-megawatt Solar Generation 2 photovoltaic power plant, located in Imperial County (California), was recently bought by First Solar, Inc. The construction of this solar power plant is planned to start this year and is set to be completed next year. Once completed, the new photovoltaic solar power plant is to produce enough electricity to power more than 60,0000 homes while displacing more than 115,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. This solar power plant will estimably save around 93,000 metric tons of water per year.
      The San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E) has agreed to purchase the electrical output under a 25-year power purchase agreement. Once this agreement is started, the photovoltaic solar plant is expected to provide over 800 construction jobs within Imperial County, which has been overcome with high unemployment.
       "We are very pleased to help SDG&E meet its clean energy goals and provide clean, reliable, renewable power to their customers," said Dana Diller, First Solar Vice President of U.S. Business Development. "We are also proud to once again bring the economic benefits of utility-scale solar development to Imperial County, where both county officials and the Imperial Irrigation District, with which this plant will interconnect, have been extremely supportive."
        The financial details of the new purchase is still unknown but it does include 40 megawatts of solar modules that the project had previously purchased from another supplier. First Solar, Inc., is actually planning to integrate those modules into construction and make up the difference with their own modules in order to complete the construction of the power plant. In addition, First Solar will be providing project development, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and grid integration services.

New Bill Could Help Georgia Grow as a Solar Market

      Local Public Service Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Jr., had noted that "Georgia is the third best state for solar energy in the United States but ranks 35th in actual solar installations, even the cost of panels have decreased 33%." In fact, the state has the same solar potential as central Africa or India, with most areas of the state generating between 4.92 and 5.21 kilowatt hours per square meter per day.
      With all this to be considered, Georgia represents an unmarked opportunity to grow. Therefore, it's no surprise that Georgia Solar Utilities company is backing the "Rural Georgia Economic Recovery and Solar Resource Act of 2013." This bill is enabled to create a unique financing model for solar energy, wherein third parties (like Georgia Solar Utilities) can submit proposals to the Public Service Commission for financing and aggregating solar energy.
      Some of the details enlisted in the bill have the capacity to help Georgia grow in terms of the solar market. The statute clears roadblocks like interconnection and grid access for generating assets and this entire program is on an opt-in basis. Competitive bidding on construction and installation will be creating market incentives to help lower the soft costs of solar panel installations. Since photovoltaic and solar farms are covered under the statute, neighborhood homes in Atlanta could have solar power on their roofs while unused fields in the country can yield 30-megawatt solar farms. If the sun decides to shine in either place, ratepayers in both areas reap the benefits as well as this geographical distribution also brings about less variability.
     "The world has changed for the economics of solar in Georgia, but we're stuck with 40-year-old laws that block us from taking advantage of it," said Robert Green, CEO of Georgia Solar Utilities. "So we're offering a conservative, no-brainer proposition: let a private company bear all the downside risk for investing in solar with no upward pressure on utility rates, and let ratepayers reap the upside of future cost savings as solar prices fall."

Columbus, GA solar installers

As Summer comes, how useful is a Solar-Powered Bikini?

     When you're at the beach and you forgot to charge your MP3 or phone, what do you do? Do you wait in the car charging up your device while your friends are having fun in the sun? If so, this may come in handy: a solar-powered bikini!
      Invented by a Brooklyn-based designer, Andrew Schneider, this invention is able to power up your electronic devices but is able to be completely safe to wear in the water. Not only that but Schneider is actually accepting custom orders for the bikinis as well.

Schneider spends about 80 hours on each bikini, hand-stitching super-slim flexible photovoltaic film strips together using conductive thread

The swimsuit also comes with a USB connector that you can plug into your phone or mp3 to power up your device using the sun's rays

Saving Energy also means Save Money on Taxes

      In early January, it has been claimed that Congress had extended a policy of federal tax credits for energy efficiency users. In other words, it means that homeowners can earn as much as $500 per year for investments in energy-saving windows, water heaters, air conditioners, and a variety of other home improvements. "Rest assured, if you're doing something that's uniquely beneficial for the environment, there's likely a tax credit there," says Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, a tax-return preparation firm headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.
     According to Steber, insulation, windows, and furnaces are known as being the most commonly used home improvement that qualifies for tax credits. Air-conditioning, water heaters and roofing also are accountable for the tax credits. These home improvements must have been made by 2012 but Steber notes that it's possible to amend tax filings as early as 2009 for earlier purchases.
    For simpler items, homeowners are able to receive a tax credit for 10% of the cost up to $500 or a specific amount from $50 to $300. Solar power systems, geothermal pumps, and other more advanced items are eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost with no upper limit until December 31, 2016.
    To be applicable for tax credits, homeowners are required to submit a 5695 Form with their 2012 taxes to receive such tax credits. No receipts? "No problem," says Steber. "Credit card statements, bills, and other evidence of the purchase can serve as adequate documentation."

Philanthropy helps NRG Solar Profits?

    CEO of NRG Energy, David Crane, has opened his eyes to the helpless in Haiti after encountering a life-changing experience with a naked young boy of about 10, emerging from underneath his car. He and his daughter had traveled to Port au Prince to volunteer with the Clinton Global Initiative and had left the reception to return to their hotel when they noticed a body from underneath the car. "This kid looked at me," Crane remembers. "There was no life in his eyes. No hope. Complete nothingness. I was so shocked. There were many things I could have done for that kid. I just stood there and did nothing, except act like a dumb American."
    Since then, NRG energy had committed an amount of $1 million through the Clinton Global Initiative and has a partnership with Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) to bring solar power to rural areas in Haiti. Crane hopes that this charitable action will spur the power of solar energy to develop economically in financially poor countries. This also helps create business opportunities in the Caribbean for the company. "The basic idea is demonstrate the flexibility of solar, particularly in distributed applications, and the difference it could make in a country that does not have a functioning electricity system," he said.
    In these last couple of years, NRG and its partners have developed many projects in Haiti to help in terms of their lacking of stable power. They have worked together to install a number of small-scale solar systems such as completing projects in 20 schools already and at a fish hatchery known as Lashto Fish Farm. The company also participated in installing solar panels at an orphanage run by the nonprofit organization, Partners in Health.

Solar Market Needs Investors

       According to Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the cost to install solar panels is declining as the solar panel prices have dropped 41% last year compared to 2011. This, in turn, has helped United States solar installations grow 75% in 2012, from the amount of 1,855 megawatts in 2011 to 3,300 megawatts. Because of this steady growth in the solar market, researchers believe that by 2016, solar installations will continue to progress to an estimating amount of 9,000 megawatts.
      However, because there is a lack of investments in the solar market field, these solar projects will never be built or obtained. Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts that the industry will need $3.1 billion of equity investment in 2013, compared to $1.8 billion in 2012. Also, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is committed to helping expand the number of investors in solar projects as the opportunity of investing in such projects would yield much profit and it will enhance sustainability in society today.
      Large investors are able to choose between two strategies in terms of investing in these solar projects. The commonly used method would include making investments in large, utility scale projects. For example, recently, there have been residential solar developers creating funds for investors to take stakes in a large number of residential and small commercial solar projects. The other strategy is to have homeowners, whom don't have the upfront capital to purchase solar systems (which estimates the cost up to $15,000 or more), given the option to pay nothing down for solar equipment.
    EDF continues to plan an effort to reach out to potential solar investors to make the environmental case for investing in solar and other renewable projects. After all, investing in solar energy helps spur economic development, create American jobs, allow for energy independence and lessen our carbon footprint.

Solar "Power" Couple Wins Award

        Dr. Jianhua Zhao and Aihua Wang were joint recipients for an Advance Global Australian Award for contributions to the field of clean technology. The award ceremony, organized in partnership with the Australian Government and the Australian Financial Review, was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney on March 21, 2013.
        The pair, who are the first Chinese-Australians ever to receive this award, also won a special Australia in the Asian Century Award for their contribution in the Asia region. Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, also made a video speech to them to endorsing the award. "Jianhua and Aihua were excellent students and staff members here at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and prolific researchers," says Scientia Professor Martin Green, Director of the AFC Photovoltaics Center of Excellence, and who nominated Dr. Zhao and Dr. Wang for the award. "They took us to the position where we can now make the most efficient cells in the world and nobody yet has been able to catch up. They are both well-respected internationally and have played an influential role in establishing China as a major producer of solar power and PV technology."
        In 1999, the pair developed the high efficiency crystallized Silicon PERL cell and set a new record, demonstrating 25% energy conversion efficiency, which remains the highest level achieved in the world so far.
       In 2004, Zhao co-founded the Chinese solar cell and manufacturing company China Sunergy, where he is now Chief Technology Officer and Director. Wang, who also completed her Ph.D. degree and worked at UNSW for more than a decade, is the company's Vice-President of research and development.
       The duo are now leading China Sunergy's participation in an 863 program, a National High Technology Research and Development Program in China that supports and encourages the development and commercialization of solar cells with a high efficiency rate (over 20%) and a low production cost.

Source : UNSW