Santa Fe, New Mexico provides the envronment for creative artists and renewable energy pioneers. …
… “he uses wastewater to feed algae, pumping carbon dioxide emissions through them to make them grow faster, then harvesting them for biofuel. ” …
Via New York Times: Santa Fe, NM
Weyerhaeuser discusses the company’s financial performance and its growth strategies, which includes biomass and biofuel ventures. …
… “On Tuesday, we announced that we are collaborating with Mitsubishi Corporation to explore the possibilities of a strategic solid biofuel venture. Catchlight Energy, our joint venture with Chevron to develop liquid fuel from biomass remains on track. ” …
Via Seeking Alpha: Weyerhaeuser Q4 2009 Earnings Call
Weyerhaeuser Strategic Biomass-to-Energy Venture: “Bio-pellets are a renewable and carbon-neutral fuel made from biomass, which can include by-products from forest management. The biomass is compressed and molded into small, cylindrical pellets. Co-firing bio-pellets with thermal coal has proved effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants. ”
Oregon receives funding that will further its objectives for green tech educational offerings leading to trained and certified workers entering the renewable energy industry. OIT will collaborate with Worksystems, Inc., community colleges and industry to drive the internship program for Oregon’s energy stakeholders. …
… “The resources will be used to implement the Greening of Oregon’s Workforce project to develop local networks that will deliver training in green occupations. The State’s Green Jobs Council will be responsible for implementing the green jobs strategy which is mandated by Oregon State law, and will link to other state efforts, such as the Networks of Excellence that are emerging around green industries. Training will prepare workers for occupations in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, including occupations that have long-term demand, offer the potential for high wage, career pathway jobs, and support local sourcing and innovation. Program partners will develop new curricula, adapt existing curricula, and complete development of the Oregon Green Tech Certificate. ” …
Via Oregon Institute of Technology: |Renewable Energy Internships
The State of Oregon is focusing on education to create a foundation of green jobs. …
State of Oregon Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) and Training Grant (PDF): “Training will prepare workers for occupations in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, including occupations that have long-term demand, offer the potential for high wage, career pathway jobs, and support local sourcing and innovation. Program partners will develop new curricula, adapt existing curricula, and complete development of the Oregon Green Tech Certificate. ”
Worksystems, Inc. Green Job Training: “World-class local courses on Energy Efficiency through Technology are being brought to you by Worksystems, Inc. and the Oregon Training Network. ”
Governor Ted Kulongoski on Green Training Investment: “The state’s Green Jobs Council will be responsible for implementing the green jobs strategy, and will link to other state efforts that are emerging around green industries. ”
University of Texas scientist, Dr. Mihaela C. Stefan, receives award that will fund her research into polymer chemistry that could drive the adoption of solar energy. …
… “Stefan’s funding will advance research into new semiconducting polymers – plastic electronics – with adjustable, or tunable, energy levels. The use of semiconducting polymers in solar cells is a promising avenue of research aimed at achieving less expensive, more efficient solar cells. Stefan expects to improve the efficiency of organic solar cells by developing and testing new semiconducting polymers with tunable opto-electronic properties. ” …
Via Univ of Texas at Dallas: NSF Award
Research projects include:
Stefan Group Members: “Research project: Synthesis of novel semiconducting polymers containing thieno[3,2-b:4,5-b’]dipyrrole. ”
Aedas is involved in the design of the new NFL stadium in Los Angeles, which will meet LEED criteria and leverages a rammed earth design through integration into a hill. …
… “75,000-seat stadium will be the first LEED-certified building in the NFL and will capture the luxury and drama of the world’s entertainment capital. The project will be completed for the 2011 season. ” …
Via Aedas: Los Angeles NFL Stadium
LA NFL Stadium video.
The UK develops incentives to renewable energy for households and other small scale implementations. …
… “The renewable heat incentive, which would be the first of its kind anywhere in the world, is to come into effect in April 2011 and guarantees payments for those who install technologies such as ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers and air source heat pumps. ” …
Via Wall Street Journal: UK Green Power Incentives
Via UK – Department of Energy and Climate Change: Cash Rewards for Low Carbon Electricity and Heating: “The heat incentive could help thousands of consumers who are off the gas network lower their fuel bills and gain a cash reward for greening their heating supply. ”
Tesla Roadster sighting at the 2010 Philadelphia International Auto Show. …
More Tesla Roadster pictures after the jump. …
If you can’t afford the car, you may be able to own a few shares of the company after its stock is publicly traded. …
Tesla Motors files for an initial public offering: “has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. Tesla Motors designs, manufactures and sells high-performance fully electric vehicles and advanced electric vehicle powertrain components. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. ”
Serendipity had a hand in the discovery of solar photovoltaics. Passionate play in solar and renewable energy research can help us achieve continuing innovations. …
… “One of the scientists involved in the research of silicon-based semiconductors accidentally left a sample of silicon doped with impurities in the sunlight. What a surprise it was when he noticed an electric signal coming out of the detector that the sample was connected to. ” …
Via UCSF Synapse: Science
Intel will implement solar generation at a number of its campuses across the country. Each installation will generate significant power through roof-, and in one case, ground- mounted solar panels. …
… “Intel’s new solar installations are planned to be completed over the next 7 months. Each project would currently rank as one of the 10 largest solar installations in its respective region if activated today. For example, the panels planned for Intel’s Chandler and Ocotillo campuses in Arizona would each currently be the fifth largest in SRP service territory or the second largest when combined, according to the utility company. All of the solar panels will be installed on the roofs of Intel’s facilities, with the major exception of the largest installation, an approximately 1-megawatt solar field in Folsom, Calif. The Folsom installation will span nearly six acres of land on campus, which would make it one of the largest non-utility ground-mounts in California at the time of this release. All of the installations will use the power generated at their respective site, making them an efficient source of electricity with savings on grid delivery losses. ” …
Via Intel: New Solar Installations
Duke Energy acquires the fourteen megawatt Blue Wing Solar Project from juwi solar Inc. The solar installation has a 30-year power purchase agreement to sell its output and renewable energy credits to CPS Energy. …
… “Blue Wing will be the first commercial solar power project Duke Energy will own and operate. Duke Energy Carolinas, part of the company’s regulated business, is installing solar panels on select business and residential customers’ rooftops as part of a $50 million program. ” …
Via Duke Power: First Commercial Solar Power Project
Duke Energy Solar Plans: “Although Duke Energy plans to wholly own the Blue Wing project, the company continues to look for opportunities to jointly develop commercial solar power projects in the U.S. with China-based ENN Group, pursuant to an agreement signed in October 2009. ”
Significant solar capacity will come on-stream in 2010. States with solar potential will begin to reap the benefits of power from photovoltaics. …
… “Among states, California is expected to maintain first place, and New Jersey is likely to come in second, with Florida making a strong showing for the first time. ” …
Via New York Times: Solar Power
Department of Energy Secretary Chu announces a construction loan for Tesla Motors, enabling the company to build its assembly and power-train manufacturing facilities in California. The Energy Secretary sees this investment as establishing the nascent US electric vehicle industry. …
… “This is an investment in our clean energy future that will create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, said Secretary Chu. It will help build a customer base and begin laying the foundation for American leadership in the growing electric vehicles industry. This is part of a sustained effort to develop and commercialize technologies that will be broadly deployed throughout the American auto industry. Tesla’s planned Model S will consume no gasoline and will not produce any tailpipe emissions. ” …
Via Dept of Energy: 465 Million Dollar Loan to Tesla Motors
The Department of Energy was appropriated $7.5 billion by Congress to support up to $25 billion in loans to companies making cars and components in US factories that increase fuel economy at least 25 percent above 2005 fuel economy levels.
Confluence Solar will manufacture silicon for solar photovoltaics application in Clinton, Tennessee. …
… “The facility will produce premium quality mono-crystal silicon ingots for photovoltaic solar power generation. The company’s HiCz brand products increase the efficiency of solar cells by 15% or more, helping manufacturers of solar panels generate electricity more efficiently at a cost equivalent to or better than can be done using multi-crystal silicon ingot. ” …
Via Phil Bredesen, Tennessee Governor: $200 Million Solar Manufacturing Facility
Solar plant launch video.
Discussion of silicon solar cell materials via EERE: Single Crystal Silicon: “To create silicon in a single-crystal state, we must first melt high-purity silicon. We then cause it to reform or solidify very slowly in contact with a single crystal seed. ”
Confluence Solar, Inc., a manufacturer of high quality single crystal silicon for the solar photovoltaic industry.
Anderson County, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce.
Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory makes investment in emerging solar energy technology to accelerate its commercialization. Semprius, in Durham, North Carolina will receive a multi-million dollar grant. …
… “Semprius will focus efforts toward a massively parallel, microcell-based CPV receiver. This approach combines the benefits of unique-to-solar manufacturing techniques with the performance and operational benefits of microcell concentrating photovoltaics. ” …
Via National Renewable Energy Laboratory: $12 Million Funding for Early Stage Solar Technologies
Semprius, concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules: “The core of Semprius technology is micro-transfer printing. ”
Solar cell printing process, through inks, targets the reduction of manufacturing costs. …
… “The nanoparticle inks that we are making could ultimately be printed onto nearly any substrate, using low-cost roll-to-roll processes — manufacturing a solar cell would be like printing a newspaper. ” …
Via Univ of Texas at Austin : Solar ink
Printed Solar Cells: “Brian Korgel, a University of Texas at Austin chemical engineer, is hoping to cut costs to one-tenth of their current price by replacing the standard manufacturing process for solar cells”
DuPont increases capacity of its Tedlar film for solar photovoltaic backsheets. The expanded capacity leverages manufacturing assets at its Circleville, Ohio manufacturing site. …
… “The film line expansion will be located at the DuPont Circleville, Ohio, facility using existing and retrofitted assets. This expansion provides Tedlar oriented film capacity to support global demand of over 10 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic module production. The investment will deliver DuPont technology to help meet increasing needs for energy and environmental sustainability. This reflects the company’s recently announced commitment to focus on meeting four emerging global trends, one of which is decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. Film production is scheduled to start up in September 2011. ” …
Via DuPont: PVF Film Expansion for Durable Photovoltaic Modules
Dupont expands solar film capacity based on its market position and growth forecasts. …
Backsheet Materials for Photovoltaic: “DuPont Tedlar PVF film has been viewed as the industry leader for providing durable, weather-resistant backsheets for photovoltaic modules. ”
Walmart solar power pilots could lead to wider adoption across the enterprise. Target Stores is also progressing with solar roof installations and other energy efficiency enablers. …
… “The WalMart at 4210 East Highland Ave. is one of three locations recently retrofitted with solar panels. … The system generates about 900,000 kilowatts per year, or about 30 percent of the stores total energy usage … ” …
Via San Bernardino County Sun: Wal-Mart solar panels
Walmart Solar Energy Pilot in Puerto Rico: “Under a solar power services agreement with Walmart, SunEdison will finance, own, build and operate the photovoltaic solar energy systems, which deliver long-term, low-risk returns to project financiers. Construction on the first 895kW rooftop system at Walmart Supercenter Caguas is scheduled to begin before the end of 2009. ”
Walmart’s solar roof pilots include these five locations: Sam’s Club Rexville: 795kW; Sam’s Club Ponce: 936.44kW; Walmart Super Center Ponce Baramaya: 1239.84kW; Walmart Super Center Manati: 854.44kW; Walmart Super Center Caguas: 895.44kW;
Solar Roof at Livermore Movie Theater.
Industry players look to address solar challenges through the material sciences. Dupont, Henkel, Mitsubishi and emerging startups are solving durability and resilience requirements in the solar cell backsheet. …
… “Extreme hydrolysis is a particular problem, and the adhesives especially need to exhibit enormous resilience. UV resistance is also paramount as the backsheet must not be allowed to yellow. ” …
Via Design News: Photovoltaic Effectiveness
Bio Solar: “Its proprietary line of BioBacksheets, made from renewable plant sources rather than petroleum, meets or exceeds the characteristics of various testing and performance standards for the PV industry and are expected to cost significantly less than current petroleum-based films. ”
Ohio Department of Development awards research grant to Ferro Electronic Materials to support the development of advanced sealing systems for solar cells that exhibit greater durability in the field. Ferro will explore adaptation of its glass frit sealant material to sealing thin-film solar at lower manufacturing temperatures. …
… “In this project, Ferro will engineer a vitreous frit system to provide reliable air-tight and water-tight seals for second- and third-generation thin-film solar cells. Ferro will collaborate with the Edison Welding Institute, StrateNexus Technologies, and The Ohio State University, all of Columbus, Ohio, in developing, testing and commercializing this new technology. If successful, the new sealing materials will enable Ferro to solve a significant problem with second- and third-generation thin-film solar cells. As with all solar cells, thin-film cells require a hermetic seal to operate reliably for their expected lifetimes of 20-plus years. This can be a problem because most current thin-film solar cell modules are designed to be sealed with organic sealants that typically lose their hermeticity in time, especially if exposed to sunlight containing UV radiation. ” …
Via Ferro Electronic Materials: Low-Temperature Sealing Methods for Thin-Film Solar Cells
Ohio focuses investment on its nascent solar industry. …
Third Frontier of Ohio’s Photovoltaic Investment Program: “The goal of the Ohio Third Frontier Photovoltaic Program (PVP) is to accelerate the development and growth of the photovoltaics industry in Ohio by direct financial support to organizations seeking to: investigate near-term specific commercial objectives with respect to products, processes, or services; ”