... "The project, designed for the roof of Thorne, includes 24 glazed flat plate solar collectors, which will make up a 960-square-foot solar thermal array, and the piping to solar storage tanks. " ...Via Bowdoin: Solar Hot Water Project for Thorne Hall
India has lots of gas and diesel powered rickshaws ... these emit significant quantities of pollution ... there is work to outfit rickshaws with batteries and an electric motor. These cost close to 3 x the cost of a traditional rickshaw but the government may offer loans to help offset the cost differential.
" ... Soleckshaw ... can either be pedaled or run off of a 36-volt battery that is charged every 45 miles from a solar charging station ... prototype ... seats three and has electric lights, an FM radio, four mobile phone chargers, and can travel at 12 and a half miles per hour. ..."
Via: cleanechnica LINK
Movie theaters are embracing the the green movement including LEED.
" ... theaters are making an effort to help viewers go green ... including Georgia-based Carmike Cinemas ... built a LEED-certified theater in Chattanooga, Tenn., which opened in November ... "
" ... Environmentally conscious theater construction and design are growing trends ... Some theaters are installing solar panels ... and using recycled building materials for new theaters and existing facilities that are under renovation."
Via: FORBES LINK
Chicago's ConEd is conducting an experiment to determine how consumers manage their energy use when they have metrics on use, cost and use patterns. Home will be outfitted with solar panels and some homes will be allowed to sell back to the grid and others will not.
" ... will install smart electric meters and price the homes’ electric use by the hour. Half of the homes will be able to gain credits by sending stored solar power back to the grid. The other half won’t be able to store their energy."
" ... whether consumers have the ability, with this technology, to become little utilities. They will be able to buy and sell electricity at a real-time hourly price, which is very close to the wholesale price, from their homes."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
where leading talent will tackle challenges such as solar energy economics. ... "On April 8 and 9 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, experts will explore critical needs to develop new medicines and biomedical technologies, make solar energy economical, find better ways to manage and recycle the increasing amount of waste materials produced by growing nations, and transform education to prepare the next generations for facing these and other challenges. "
"PlanetSolar ... topped by a large array of photovoltaic solar panels ... will be both silent and clean. The goal is to navigate around the world at an average speed of 8 knots ..."
" .. will be home to two sailors during the round-the-world attempt, and can accommodate up to fifty people during the promotional trips planned ..."
Via: PlanetSolar LINK
... "First Solar’s management team has confidence in the 2010 financial guidance we gave on Feb 18 as well as the company’s prospects for long-term growth…We continue to execute on our technology and strategic roadmaps ... " ...First Solar CEO Buys and Sells via Seeking Alpha: http://bit.ly/a5gBzN
David de Rothschild has built a boat from recycled plastic bottles and plans to sail it from San Francisco in the US to Sydney, Australia.
Yes he is from the famous Rothschild family.
The boat and crew will travel in a green manner (composting toilets and vertical green garden fertilized by composted poop) Power for on board electronics comes from solar cells and wind turbines. The boat uses glue made from cashew nuts.
Follow the journey and check out the web site for lots of geen info.
Via: Plastiki LINK
" ... solar-powered sensor system developed at the University of Michigan is the smallest that can harvest energy from its surroundings to operate nearly perpetually."
" ...could enable new biomedical implants as well as home-, building- and bridge-monitoring devices. It could vastly improve the efficiency and cost of current environmental sensor networks designed to detect movement or track air and water quality."
" ... can run nearly perpetually if periodically exposed to reasonable lighting conditions, even indoors ... "
" ... could enable less-invasive ways to monitor pressure changes in the eyes, brain, and in tumors in patients with glaucoma, head trauma, or cancer. In the body, the sensor could conceivably harvest energy from movement or heat, rather than light, the engineers say."
Via: University of Michigan LINK
... Each participating school will receive a 10-kilowatt solar energy system with a battery back-up -- complete with installation. The system will provide enough power for critical energy needs such as lighting, communications and essential medical equipment." ...Via University of Central Florida: Solar-Powered Schools
The UTS Tower in Sydney, Australia is may get a proposed upgrade - a solar skin. This PV "wrap" would turn the tower into a very green and energy efficient structure.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Tower "upgrade" is " ... Fueled by the university’s sustainability drive ... turn the building into a “landmark environmental tower” by wrapping it in a photovoltaic skin."
"The sustainable energy system, devised by postgraduate students in 2008, has been funded to allow students to build and test the project."
There are a number of propose upgrades including wind turbines and cogeneration ... the solar skin " ... stretches around walls and roof elements ... the building is covered in a lightweight composite mesh textile that can collect rain water, generate electricity and complement the plan’s passive ventilation system that uses natural convection."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Scientists from CalTech have developed technology that might lead efficient solar cells from silicon nanowires. This could lead to all sorts of configurations for solar cells including fabrics.
" ... CalTech scientists say they have the underlying technology. Silicon nanowires, arranged in arrays, have been engineered that ... grab power from visible light ..."
" ... a cell geometry that not only uses 1/100th the material of traditional wafer-based devices, but also may offer increased photovoltaic efficiency owing to an effective optical concentration of up to 20 times ...”
" ... CalTech’s cells have efficiency comparable to solar panels now being installed on roofs.""If nanowires can be woven into a viable matrix, combined with other material, it means fabrics can double as solar connectors, once they have a way to off-load the power they create."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
A MIT spin-off has created a solar powered refrigerator that can bring cooling to those far from the electric grid - especially those in developing countries like India and China.
"Promethean Power Systems has developed a solar-powered refrigeration system for commercial cold-storage applications in off-grid and partially electrified areas of developing countries. ... store and preserve perishable food items ... without the need for expensive diesel-powered generators"
" ... a for-profit enterprise. We believe that creating a cost-effective solution for cold-chain food distribution in emerging markets is an excellent business opportunity that could deliver enormous social and environmental benefits."
" ... study revealed a large business opportunity in India for an efficient cold-storage solution targeted to the dairy industry ... Cold-storage at the village level minimizes the number of collection trips and reduces transportation cost in half. Today, the only alternative is to use commercial refrigerators with diesel-powered backup generators, a no-win situation that further exposes the dairies to escalating energy prices. "
Via: Coolectrica LINK
... "Solar Distinction plans to initially operate a 25-megawatt solar panel manufacturing plant, then expand to 50-megawatts within two years. " ...Via Yahoo Finance: NM Photovoltaic manufacturing
The GSA is renovating the 18 story federal building in Portland, Oregon. Green features include a vertical green wall and reduced water usage with low flow fixtures and recycled roof water.
"... part of a $133 million renovation, the General Services Administration wants to grow “vegetated fins” on the western facade of the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building ... save energy year-round using one of Mother Nature’s own tools."
" ... will use 60 to 65 percent less energy than comparable buildings. That translates to an energy cost savings of $280,000 per year."
"Solar panels could also provide up to 15 percent of the building’s power needs. Energy use for lighting will be halved."
"... building in question was already slated for an energy efficiency upgrade, but funds from last year’s federal stimulus package stressed projects that were environmentally friendly."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
... "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
Dow has products for many part of the green economy ... from solar cells to batteries for electric cars to materials for solar cells.
"Dow ... has embarked upon a multi-pronged strategy to capitalize on the demand for renewable energy and low-carbon alternatives to conventional products. ... "
" ... Dow's secret [is] ... Material science, i.e. membranes, coatings and other difficult-to-manufacture items that require a lot of chemical know-how. ... will have a huge impact on ... core green markets ..."
" ... Dow Corning ... brought a silicone sealant originally devised for outer space solar panels to the conventional solar panel market ... Dow signed a multimillion dollar, multi-year research alliance with Caltech to develop next generation solar technologies. ..."
" ... will sell copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar roofing tiles. Initial customers for the tiles, developed in conjunction with Global Solar, include mass market home builders Lennar and Pulte Homes."
" ... is sponsoring Electric Avenue, the electric car hall at the North American International Auto Show .... Dow Kokam, a joint venture, will also discuss batteries for electric cars at the show."
" ... wants a larger part of the water purification and desalination market, buying Rohm & Haas to help it expand ..."
Via: Greentechmedia LINK
" ... 2.5 gigawatts of renewable capacity ... triple renewable capacity in Ontario."
" ... Samsung hopes to translate its expertise in electronics, deep financial pocket, and manufacturing heft into a leading role in building management systems, energy efficient electronics and solar power ... "
"Samsung has already stated a public goal of becoming number one in solar in 2015 ... laid out an ambitious carbon reduction plan ... wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from both its operations and from the use of its products by 50 percent by 2013 on a normalized sales basis...."
In 2008, Samsung and its products emitted 9.4 million tons of greenhouse gases with about 60 percent of the emissions coming indirectly through products. ..."
Via: Greentechmedia LINK
... "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'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
... "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
... "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
... "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
Continue reading "Early Stage Solar Technology Investment" »
... "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
... "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
... "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
In addition to being know for its green efforts (solar panels and highly efficient servers) Google is possibly entering ther power business by applying for a license to buy and sell wholesale power.
"... are other non-utilities already in the power business. Usually other firms with similar heavy power needs. ... Google Energy subsidiary was formed in late 2009 ... putting it into a stronger position to balance Google’s energy needs with its goal to promote the use of alternative energy for electricity generation ... it will shop for the best sources of renewable energy to run its operations ... stated goal is to become carbon-neutral."
Via: ZDNet LINK
... "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
... "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
Continue reading "Ferro Solar Cell Sealing Research Project" »
... "Solar patents in the last quarter tracked approached the level of wind patents, which have been in second place to fuel cell patents ... " ...Via Renewable Energy World: CLEAN ENERGY PATENT GROWTH INDEX
... "largest single rooftop solar power installation in Maryland at Staples' 200,200 square foot fulfillment center in Hanover. The 1.01 megawatt solar installation covers nearly 175,000 square feet of roof space, larger than three football fields. The environmental savings associated with the system will offset more than 43 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) over 20 years, equivalent to removing CO2 produced by more than 4,200 automobiles driving 12,000 miles per year. The zero-emission, silent photovoltaic system will generate approximately 1.2 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, and 21 million kWh during the initial 20 years of the project. " ...Via Staples: Maryland's Largest Single Rooftop Solar Power Installation
... "The Boston company's approach would decrease the total installed cost of a solar power system by half. It would also decrease the amount of expensive silicon material needed to make solar cells by a factor of more than three ... " ...Via New York Times: Achilles Heel of Photovoltaics
Continue reading "Solar Photovoltaic Silicon Manufacturing Transformation" »
... "California should cover every available rooftop with photovoltaic solar panels, especially commercial buildings. The panels can be installed quickly, unlike large solar power plants ... " ...Via San Francisco Chronicle: Small-scale solar
Continue reading "Saturation Solar Scenario for California Rooftops" »
" ... inhabitants on the small Danish island of Samso have ... become one of the first industrialised places in the world to qualify as being totally energy self-sufficient ... Denmark ... can now boast a region that can be used by the rest of the planet as the blueprint for future green energy production ... started in 1997 when Samso won a competition ... to become Denmark's "Renewable Energy Island" by presenting a 10-year plan to convert its energy consumption from oil and gas to clean technology ... 21 wind turbines have been built on Samso ..."
" ... houses in Samso's 22 villages are heated by power plants that rely on furnaces fired by wood chips and straw and farms of man-sized solar panels inhabit the fields ... project also creates new jobs as ... island's plumbers and carpenters have now all become experts in energy-saving home conversion and insulation techniques, and even get the opportunity to carry out installations in mainland Europe and the US ..."
For more on this project check out this video ...
Via: Power and Energy News LINK
... "The drive-in station was built by Beautiful Earth (using recycled shipping containers) on land it owns just blocks from company headquarters. " ...Via New York Times: Solar Car-Charging
... "However, these lower prices, diversification of the demand base, and positive incentive movement in multiple regions are now expected to drive substantially higher demand in 2010. " ...Via Semiconductor Today: Solar cell growth forecast
... "Bocian cites lack of funding for basic research as the reason why today’s solar cells have only 6-11 percent energy efficiency. But there is hope in Congress’s recent approval of funding for PARC and 45 similar Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) through the Department of Energy. " ...Via UC Riverside: $1 million to study light-harvesting compounds
Continue reading "Solar Cell Efficiency Funding Challenge" »
... "As the aircraft gently took up speed, the huge wing of the Solar Impulse gradually rose into the air under intense admiration of the project promoters, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. After some 350 metres of flight at an altitude of one meter, the prototype graciously landed on the centre of the runway, triggering a frenzied applause from the team. " ...Via SOLAR IMPULSE: SOLAR AIRPLANE
... "Greater Cincinnati Water Works (Hamilton County) - $775,655 to install a 280 kW photovoltaic solar array rooftop system; Hull & Associates Inc, Bedford Office (Cuyahoga County) - $266,254 to install a 93 kW solar photovoltaic system at its office building in Northeast Ohio; Hull & Associates Inc, PNA Solar Project (Wood County) - $680,782 to install a 250 kW solar array project on Pilkington North America, Inc’s (PNA) Plant 21 site. " ...Via Ohio Governor Office: State Energy Program ARRA Solar Awards
... "Greek solar-panel manufacturing company intends to build a production facility at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a development that local officials hailed yesterday as an important step in positioning the city to be a key player in the emerging clean-energy economy. " ...Via Philadelphia Inquirer: Solar-panel factory
... "Allen Upward, a research engineer at the University of British Columbia (UBC) said the system is seven times more effective than traditional solar methods. " ...Via BBC: Solar power technology
Continue reading "Solar Tech Evolution Acceleration is Happening Now" »
On November 12, 2009 Dow and Caltech " ... announced ... a multi-year research collaboration ... in solar energy ... aimed at aligning Dow’s capabilities in CIGS based materials with Caltech’s research in next generati aterials."
" ... research ... will initially focus on direct band gap materials that incorporate elements that are less expensive and more commonly available than those used in today’s thin film PV semiconductors. ..."
"Photovoltaics provide carbon free electricity, however the cost and aesthetics of current PV systems has limited its adoption ... Dow recently announced its first building integrated photovoltaic product, the DowTM POWERHOUSETM Solar Shingle ..."
Via: The Dow Chemical Company LINK
... "The DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design, which represents a multi-functional solar energy generating roofing product. The innovative product design reduces installation costs because conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors - no specialized skills or knowledge of solar array installations are required. " ...Via Dow Chemical Company: Time Invention of 2009
... "The $6 million project will provide about one-third of the energy needed to operate the plant. " ...Via The Pottstown Mercury: Aqua Pa cleans water with solar
Continue reading "Solar Energy Integration Municipal Water Treatment" »
Continue reading "Mars NJ Solar Energy Garden Powers Facility" »
... "Number two for solar electric power, and number one in total solar installations on a per capita basis, is small and not-so-sunny New Jersey, more known environment-wise for its abundance of Superfund sites. " ...Via Yale Environment 360: Solar Development
Samsung is well know for developing greener cell phones -- including the Reclaim ...
Now Samsung introduces the Blue Earth environmentally friendly green cell phone. Unlike other green cell phones this is a full featured phone. Among the green features are ... a solar cell for charging, low power use while in standby mode and fewer harmful materials.
" ... Samsung Blue Earth combines the latest multimedia features ... while achieving lower energy consumption and incorporating eco-friendly materials ... made from Post Consumer Material (PCM), ... extracted from water bottles, helping to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions during the manufacturing process. ... free from harmful substances such as Brominated Flame Retardants (BFR), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Phthalate."
" ... user interface ... designed to draw attention to preserving our fragile environment. With “Eco mode,” screen brightness, backlight duration and Bluetooth can be set to an energy-efficient mode with just one click. ... “Eco Walk” ... allows users to ... calculate the reduction in CO2 emission realized by walking as opposed to using a motor vehicle. ... allows users to see the value of walking by calculating the number of trees that have been saved."
"... the solar panel located on the back of the phone ... can generate enough power to use the device anytime and anywhere. ..."
Via: Samsung LINK
... "The electricity produced by the 130 solar panels will be approximately equivalent to the power needed to run the Campus Center Café for a year. " ...Via Smith College: Campus Center Solar Project
... "Jung-Kun Lee intends to produce advanced versions of the technology used in solar panels and flat-panel displays, aiming for more efficient solar-power cells and optoelectronic devices. His $400,000 project will focus on the next generation of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) - the essential technology in solar panels and flat panel displays - that would allow for increased control and energy harvesting of light. Lee will look at molding metallic nanoparticles into novel nanocomposites-materials with multiple nanoscale dimensions that would increase the concentration of electron carriers without sacrificing their mobility. This will lead to more efficient transport of electricity. " ...Via University of Pittsburgh: Emerging Research in Sustainable Technology
... "Using zinc oxide nanostructures grown on optical fibers and coated with dye-sensitized solar cell materials, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new type of three-dimensional photovoltaic system. The approach could allow PV systems to be hidden from view and located away from traditional locations such as rooftops. " ...Via Georgia Tech: Nanostructures on Optical Fiber
... "The application is currently being reviewed by the county. If approved, construction is planned to begin in 2010. The 75-megawatt reserve is the largest PV solar project ever proposed for the Northwest and if built on schedule, would be one of the largest operating in the world. " ...Via Teanaway Solar Reserve: Results of Economic Study (PDF)
... "The Solar Installer Instructor Training network was launched in October 2009 to address a critical need for high-quality, local, and accessible training in solar system design, installation, sales, and inspection. Solar Installer Instructor Training is a 5-year effort intended to create a geographic blanket of training opportunities in solar installation across the United States. " ...Via Dept of Energy: Solar Installer Instructor Training Network
... "Swanson is one of the world's most recognized leaders in the advancement of photovoltaics (PV) and a pioneer in commercializing cost-effective PV power systems. In 2006, he was honored with the prestigious Becquerel Prize for Outstanding Merits in Photovoltaics, and in 2002 he was presented with the William R. Cherry Award by the IEEE for outstanding contributions to the PV field. In 1991, Swanson resigned from his faculty position to focus his attention to SunPower Corporation, a company he founded in 1985 to develop and commercialize cost-effective, high-efficiency photovoltaic power systems. SunPower's all-back contact solar cells powered Honda to victory in the 1993 World Solar Challenge, and were also used to power Helios, NASA's high-altitude solar powered airplane to a world-record altitude of 96,500 feet. " ...Via SunPower Corp: The Economist Energy and Environment Innovation Award for 2009
... "The award recognizes Block’s role in developing the first national standards for testing and certifying solar equipment, for serving as a founding father of the organization and for building UCF’s Florida Solar Energy Center into the largest and most active state-supported solar energy institute in the nation. Block served as FSEC director for 25 years before departing in 2002. " ...Via University of Central Florida: Solar Leadership
Data is presented that shows solar photovoltaic costs decreasing. Over the past decade, photovoltaic module and non-module elements have contributed to the cost decline. ...
... "From 1998 to 2008, installed costs declined by about 3.6% (or $0.3/W) per year, on average, starting from $10.8/W in 1998. Preliminary cost data indicates that the average cost of projects installed through the California Solar Initiative program during the first 8½ months of 2009 rose by $0.4/W relative to 2008, while average costs in New Jersey declined by $0.2/W over the same period. " ...
Via Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Tracking the Sun : The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the U.S. from 1998-2008 (PDF)
... "Rutgers University’s 1.4-megawatt solar farm will generate approximately 11 percent of the electrical demand of the university’s Livingston Campus and reduce the university’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,350 tons per year (the equivalent of removing 230 automobiles from the road). It will save Rutgers more than $200,000 thousand in its first year of operation. " ...Via Rutgers University: 1.4 Megawatt Solar Energy Project
... "Under an agreement signed today, ENN and Duke Energy will concentrate on two types of solar photovoltaic designs: large utility-scale solar farms and commercial distributed generation solar projects. Distributed generation systems produce electricity close to where the energy is used, rather than at large, central power plants. " ...Via Duke Energy: Solar Power Projects Collaboration
... "The grant, from New York based corporation, Prime Source Initiative, Inc., will be awarded in $1.5 million allotments per year for five years. The research will be led by Winston Schoenfeld, a professor in CREOL, College of Optics and Photonics at UCF. He will work on methods to increase the efficiency between the organic material that harvests the sun’s energy and the inorganic semiconductor nanostructures within a hybrid photovoltaic solar cell. " ...Via University of Central Florida: $7.5 Million Grant to Improve Solar Cells
... "Rankings are based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth during the five year period from 2004–2008. Voltaix grew 465% during this 5-year period, representing an average annual revenue growth rate of 54%. Voltaix CEO John P. de Neufville credits the company’s success to its ability to conceive, develop and commercialize innovative materials that help enable high performance semiconductor and solar applications. " ...Via Voltaix: Deloitte’s 2009 Technology Fast 500
... "The higher molecular weight of the polymers, reflecting the creation of longer chains of the polymers, has a major benefit in increasing current density in plastic solar cells by as much as a factor of more than four. " ...Via Science Daily: Organic Solar Cells
... "Millipore worked with several vendors to design and install the solar panel system, which includes 1383 Sharp panels and 4 Solectria inverters. It will produce about 352,000 KWH/yr or, approximately 35 homes worth of electricity, which will be used to augment the electricity purchased from the grid to run Millipore’s facilities. " ...Via Millipore: Solar Energy Project
... "The thin film panels, while less efficient than conventional silicon, were projected to perform better in cloudy weather than silicon. Team Germany got its proof on the competition's fifth day when skies turned slate gray and a cold rain splattered the solar village. " ...Via PhysOrg: Solar Village
... "The Army will partner with the private sector to construct a 500 megawatt solar thermal plant at Fort Irwin, Calif, in the Mojave Desert, that will provide renewable power on the grid and provide the sprawling Army post with added energy security against disruption of power supply. " ...Via Army: Energy Initiatives
... "National Gypsum Company in Mount Holly, N.C., will house a 1.2-megawatt system which includes 5,096 rooftop solar panels; Highwood Properties in Greensboro, N.C., will house a 1.6-megawatt system which includes 7,020 rooftop solar panels; Food Lion, in Salisbury, N.C., will house a 1,292-kilowatt (1.3-megawatt) system which includes 5,616 rooftop solar panels; and Childress Klein Properties in Charlotte, N.C., will house a 532-kilowatt (.5-megawatt) system which includes 2,314 rooftop solar panels. These sites were selected based on their ready access to the electrical grid and solar productivity potential, in addition to other essential lease agreement criteria. Installations will begin immediately, with all phase one systems being installed by the end of the first quarter of 2010. " ...Via Duke Energy: Distributed Generation Solar Sites
Continue reading "Solar Decathlon Germany House Technology Showcase" »
... "Constructed in less than a year, the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center uses over 90,000 photovoltaic panels to turn the sun's rays into electricity to power more than 3,000 homes. The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center is one of three new commercial-scale, renewable, solar power plants FPL is building in Florida, along with solar energy centers in Martin County and at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Together, these will total 110 megawatts of capacity by the end of 2010 and are expected to make Florida the second largest solar power-producing state in the country. " ...Via FPL: DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center
The Dow Chemical company is active in the green energy space with several innovative products. They recently announced their entry into the solar cell market with the " ... POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, ... panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. ... expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and ... more widely available in 2011, ..."
"... integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design, ... design reduces installation costs because the conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors ..."
"... addresses two of the biggest challenges associated with solar power – cost and acceptance. "
... "To meet and exceed energy conservation guidelines, the 56th CES resource efficiency management office has written a base energy plan. The plan outlines new equipment being purchased and installed at Luke must be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certified, as well as meet the 30 percent reduction in energy consumption by federal agencies by 2015 relative to a 2005 baseline. One model for energy savings is the solar system on the roof of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service building, which produces more than 75 percent of the buildings electrical energy. The 56th CES has several energy savings projects in the works. " ...Via Luke AFB: Energy conservation prize
... "Brandeis President Jehuda Reinharz announced that the university will partner with Alteris Renewables to develop one of the largest solar arrays in Massachusetts. Alteris will provide the design, engineering and installation for this 277kW solar system. " ...Via Brandeis University: Solar panel array planned
... "The billions in government funding being allocated globally in clean technology have begun emboldening private capital, which has in turn helped propel clean technology to the leading venture investment sector, now eclipsing biotech and IT, said Dallas Kachan, Managing Director, Cleantech Group. The two largest venture deals (Solyndra and Tesla Motors) and the largest IPO (A123Systems) this quarter were all recipients of U.S. government funding. ... " ...Via The Cleantech Group: 2009 Clean technology venture investment
... "Fluor will provide design optimization to rapidly scale eSolar’s 46 megawatt power plants. The undisclosed contract value was booked in the company’s third quarter of 2009. ... Bill Gross, CEO, eSolar: We believe that Fluor’s superior engineering strength will lead to faster and broader deployment to meet the rising global demand for renewable energy. " ...Via Yahoo Finance: Fluor Solar Plant Contract
Continue reading "Fluor Design Optimization Accelerates Solar Power Plant Deployment" »
... "Natural Fusion is the first residential project to utilize the Solyndra cylindrical photovoltaics, which captures more sunlight throughout the entire day than traditional flat panels, which can only capture the most intense sunlight in the middle of the day. It's a system called Green Roof Integrated Photovoltaics (GRIP V) where the properties of the green roof beneath the panels create greater efficiency in powering the house. " ...Via Penn State: Solar-powered home design
Boston's entry in the Solar Decathlon is called Curio House and is built mostly from off the shelf technologies and powered by the sun. Cobuilt by Tufts University and the Boston Architecture School the building will be on its way to the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, DC in October.
See related post on the Solar Decathlon.
" ... designed to run entirely from solar energy. ..."
" ... team has focused its design on affordability, making an 800-square-foot building using almost entirely off-the-shelf products and technologies. ... lined up a buyer for the home in Cape Cod where it is supposed to be the first unit in a green housing development. ... projected cost of the building, big enough for two people and a small child, is about $200,000. ..."
Via: ZDNet LINK
producing high temperature steam to generate power via a turbine. ...
... "The size of the site has now expanded to include a twelve-square-mile area within the larger Coyote Springs development in Lincoln County. The site is located on private property near transmission lines and, as part of the broader development site, has already received environmental permits from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and various other federal, state and county agencies. The power generated from the Coyote Springs site could meet demand generated in the Coyote Springs development, southern Nevada, as well as deliver power to California. Located northeast of Las Vegas, the Coyote Springs development will also include several residential and commercial components. " ...Via BrightSource Energy: Coyote Spring Solar Thermal Expansion (Release, PDF)
Continue reading "Solar Thermal Expansion at Coyote Springs Nevada" »
... "24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (PVSEC) and Exhibition, to be held in Hamburg, Germany from the 21 to 25 of September 2009 ... " ...Via Applied Materials: 24th Annual PVSEC
... "Photovoltaic metallization pastes are screen printed onto the surface of solar cells in a pattern of grid lines which serve to collect electricity produced by the cell and transport it out. To maximize efficiency in the solar cell, the multiple printing technology will reduce the shadowing effect of wide grid lines on solar cells and improve electrical conductivity. Applied Baccini Esatto Technology together with DuPont Solamet photovoltaic metallization pastes enables narrower and taller grid lines to be precisely printed in two or more layers. In addition to demanding precise alignment of the patterning system, multiple printing requires the paste to be finely tuned to perform consistently during all printing passes. " ...Via Dupont: Solar Cell Efficiency Booster
... "The college recently received approval from state high education officials to offer three solar energy certificate programs: basic solar photovoltaic, solar thermal installation and photovoltaic installation. " ...Via The Citizen Telegram: Solar energy oportunities
The EPA has recognized Applied Materials with a 2009 Green Power Leadership Award for its dedication to green power from on-premise generation and renewable energy procurement. Applied has responded to the EPA Fortune 500 challenge with solar energy generation and the purchasing of green power. ...
... "Applied Materials was one of only three organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for the on-site generation of green power. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves using on-site renewable energy applications, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy projects. Applied Materials is currently generating 3.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually in the U.S. using on-site solar power generation at the company’s California and Texas facilities. In addition, Applied Materials purchases more than 31 million kWh of green power annually. In total, the company uses enough green power to meet more than 15 percent of its electricity use. " ...
Via Applied Materials: EPA Green Power Leadership Award
Continue reading "On-Site Green Power Generation Leadership at Applied Materials" »
As both wind and solar power are intermittent - unlike gas, coal, oil or nuclear fired power plants - there is a need for an effective way to store these energy sources until they are needed. The ability to smooth the supply with the demand is becoming more impor
tant as solar and wind start to power the grid.
Compressed Air Energy Storage - CAES " ... stores off-peak energy, in the form of compressed air in an underground reservoir, and releases this energy during peak hours. ... used for load management of intermittent renewable energy resources or as a stand-alone intermediate generation source for capturing energy arbitrage, capacity payments and ancillary services. ..."
"Renewable power sources are critical to addressing climate change. CAES greatly enhances the value of renewable power sources by (1) storing energy produced by renewables when demand is low and releasing it when it is needed, and by (2) rapidly providing power in the event of a sudden loss of renewables generation. ..."
Via: Energy Storage and Power LINK
1366 Technologies, an MIT spinoff, brings incremental improvements to the solar design and manufacturing process, that are resulting in cheaper and efficient cells. ...
... "The company’s first technology - texturing - etches silicon wafers with a honeycomb pattern that refracts more light into the base of the cell. " ...
Via Xconomy: Solar cell design
... "About 150 homes and businesses are participating in the Illinois Solar Tour next month. Some people are looking to purchase systems and they'd like to talk to homeowners as opposed to installers to really get a greater understanding of the energy difference. " ...Via ABC7 Chicago: Solar tour
Continue reading "Illinois Solar Tour Highlights Efficient Homes" »
... "Google is looking to cut the cost of making heliostats, the fields of mirrors that have to track the sun, by at least a factor of two, ideally a factor of three or four. " ...Via Reuters: Google solar mirror power
... "Located in Luckenwalde near Berlin, the fully-automated factory processes Nanosolar cells into finished Nanosolar panels using innovative high-throughput manufacturing techniques and tooling developed by Nanosolar and its partners. The panel factory is automated to sustain a production rate of one panel every ten seconds, or an annual capacity of 640MW when operated 24x7. " ...Via NanoSolar: Germany Panel Factory Completed
... "Phase 1 will be a 30 megawatt demonstration project that will begin construction by June 1, 2010 and be completed as soon thereafter as practicable. Phases 2, 3 and 4 will be 100 megawatts, 870 megawatts, and 1,000 megawatts. Phases 2 and 3 will be completed in 2014 and Phase 4 will be completed by 2019. " ...Via First Solar: Major Solar Power Plant in China
... "Placencia's project proposal aims to resolve three issues: remounting of the existing photovoltaic panels and reinstalling a wind turbine at David Douglas High School; designing and installing the monitoring system; and designing and installing the human-machine interface, which will provide the interactive features of the system. " ...Via Oregon Institute of Technology: PGE Grant funds project
... "Fab 2 is designed to produce 500 megawatts per year. The new facility will enable Solyndra to fulfill its announced contractual backlog of over $2 billion and create additional jobs. Solyndra's two Fabs will produce enough solar panels over their lifetime to cut over 350 million metric tons of CO2 emissions or 850 million barrels of oil. " ...Via Solyndra: New 500 Megawatt Solar Plant
... "Sustainable Waves, a company that provides solar-powered sound and staging, was in charge of the Eco Lands section located at the Panhandle Stage in Speedway Meadow. " ...Via San Francisco State University's Golden Gate Xpress: Sustainable Concert Event
... "A second phase for the Loveall farm will add more solar panels, plus move an existing 66-foot wind turbine next to the barn to produce wind power to allow the farm to be 100 percent energy independent. " ...Via Solid State Technology: Energy Independent Farm in Indiana
... "Building Teams should assess the remaining life of the existing roof covering as part of a PV project, says Dregger. He says serious consideration should be given to replacing the existing roof covering as part of a PV project. " ...Via Building Design & Construction: Rooftop installation tips
Continue reading "Solar Installation Advice from the Voice of Experience" »
... "The U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., independently tested the efficiency of the Spectrolab cell in June, validating that it surpassed the previous record of 41.1 percent held by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany. High-efficiency solar cells in concentrator systems require fewer cells to produce the same electrical output as conventional solar cells. " ...Via Spectrolab: World Record Solar Cell Efficiency
... "This year, a new net-metering contest will evaluate each home’s ability to produce its own power. The competition focuses on cutting edge energy efficient and renewable energy innovation while providing a unique green jobs training opportunity for each of the students. " ...Via Department of Energy: Solar Decathlon 2009
Prairie Bunkers LLC is repurposing WWII ammunition depots into secure energy efficient data centers. These structures are built to withstand force 5 tornadoes.
In addition to the green aspect of repurposing an existing building ... there are others green features.
"Saves approximately 5000 cubic tons of carbon emission which would be produced by construction of a similar structure ... electrical provider .... has a high percentage of renewable energy, including hydro, wind and nuclear ... On-site solar and wind energy systems in planning stages ... Air Economizers to use “free cooling” from average annual temperature of 54 degrees ... Optional active geothermal ... heat pump system ... Passive Geothermal, provided by the bermed earth covering on three sides and top of bunkers ..."
" .... Native vegetation landscaping minimizes irrigation ... Fire suppression agent has zero carbon foot print ... UPS Options including flywheel technology ... Recycled building products including flooring tiles and cable trays ..."
Via: Prairie Bunkers, LLC LINK
... "Through processes initiated by Suniva founder and CTO, Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, and further developed in Suniva’s R&D lab, the company has achieved certified efficiencies of more than 20 percent on screen-printed cells in the lab (certified by NREL). Suniva plans to steadily raise its commercial cell efficiencies above 20 percent through a series of incremental design and processing innovations. " ...Via Suniva: Solar Cells Surpass 18% Efficiency (Release, PDF)
Gainesville Regional Utilities, Gainesville, Florida's utility pormots solar and offers assistance to businesses and residences that will install solar.
" ... energy-producing solar panels in Gainesville has skyrocketed since the city implemented its new solar incentive program ... waiting list for the program - which is the first solar feed-in tariff in the United States and offers above-market-rate prices for electricity produced by privately owned and installed solar panels - now stretches until 2016."
Between the price GRU offers for the electricity and state rebates for solar panel installation, the feed-in tariff should prove lucrative for those installing solar photovoltaics in the program.
However, the program is limited on a first-come, first-served basis to 4 new megawatts of electricity a year from solar power - more than double the megawatts produced locally a year ago.
The first change proposed Thursday would allow those people waiting in line to install solar panels in 2010 to install the panels now and be paid market rate for the energy the panels produce until the contract they've signed up for kicks in and they are able to receive the higher rate.
"We don't have anything in the program that allows us to pay them for electricity," said Ed Regan, assistant general manager of strategic planning at GRU. "If they're in the queue for 2010, a year for which we know the price, then we would let them build it early."
Another part of that is that GRU is proposing to reinstate the commercial net-metering system that was discontinued when the feed-in tariff was adopted.
Net metering allows people with solar panels to use their own electricity, and if there is any excess energy produced, GRU credits the bill.
The other changes are largely administrative in nature.
"There was a fair amount of gaming or jockeying for position that made us institute additional rules," Regan said of the somewhat unexpected rush that filled up all 4 megawatts of solar panels for the first year in a matter of days.
At least one person has challenged technical terms in the ordinance, arguing the language in the ordinance allows more solar energy to be installed every year, or that the ordinance has fixed prices out to the year 2030.
Regan recommended the commission approve language for the ordinance specifying that only 4 megawatts will be permitted in the program every year and that the ordinance should be changed so that the payout rate after the year 2010 says "to be determined."
"I think Gainesville can be proud to be on the forefront," Hunzinger said. "We have heard some criticism saying 'do not use Gainesville as a model.' To me that's personally, professionally disturbing to hear. However, I do understand there will be criticism. No good deed goes unpunished. The primary reason for implementing the (feed-in tariff) was to encourage solar PV installations in our service area."
Via: GRU.com LINK
The small German town of Dardesheim (fewer than 1,000) and neighbors in Halberstadt in what was East Germany "... want to become 100% renewable using solar, wind, and biomass."
" ... Four pioneering wind turbines were installed in the mid-1990s, collectively producing one million kWh per year ..." 
"In 2006 they developed a 62 MW wind project comprising 28 Enercon E70s and one E112, a giant 6 MW turbine ... wind turbines will generate from 120 to 130 million kWh annually, enough to meet the needs of nearly all the 80,000 residents of the county."
" ... also installed nine different solar PV plants ... During their first year of operation the combined 380 kW of solar PV generated nearly 250,000 kWh, about one-third of the Dardesheim's domestic electricity consumption."
Via: Wind-Works LINK
Gainesville Florida has been active in alternative energy since 1997 offering rebates for solar water heating and now for solar PV. They are now looking to increase the amount of PV electricity generated by offering more incentives.
" ...offered solar water heating rebates since 1997 and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems rebates since 2007 ... now ... created a solar feed-in-tariff (FIT) program to increase the number of solar PV systems in Gainesville."
" ... May 2009, ... approved a 30-year contract between GRU and Gainesville Renewable Energy Center ... build, own and operate a 100-megawatt biomass power plant ... fueled by forestry-waste material generated by ... paper pulp, chip and saw timber – as well as urban wood waste. "
" ... using biomass ... will promote our energy independence, add diversity to our fuel supply and shield customers from anticipated increasing fossil-fuel prices. ... allow Gainesville to achieve its carbon-reduction goals, which are based on the Kyoto Protocol."
" ... plan to purchase energy that G2 Energy, ... generate from methane gas collected at the Marion County Baseline Landfill ... "
Via: Gainesville Regional Utilities LINK
Imaging a ZERO energy home. Sound realistic? GE thinks so !
GE's “Net Zero Energy Home” ..." ... combines GE’s most efficient appliances and lighting, GE’s new energy management systems, and GE power generating and storing technologies. ... together, the system will enable a homeowner to achieve net zero energy costs by 2015."
" ... the Home Energy Manager, the central nervous system for the Net Zero Energy Home. ... smart thermostats will also be introduced ... to work in tandem with the energy manager. ... plans to develop residential power generation products like solar PV and residential wind products that will also contribute to the net zero concept."
" ... respondents in the U.S. and ... in the U.K. say they are willing to pay an increased monthly rate for smart grid technology if there is a corresponding reduction in overall energy costs by 15 percent."
Via: GE LINK
" ... SolarChill ... aims to create a stand-alone solar powered refrigerator that not only preserves food, but also meets the World Health Organization's standards for vaccine storage ... One SolarChill unit can serve a population of 50,000 people for preserving vaccines. ... for use in emergency relief where electrical supply has been disrupted by war or natural disaster."
" ... energy is stored in ice instead of batteries. An ice compartment keeps the cabinet at desired temperatures during the night. ... key to the technology is the use of a direct current compressor ... first ever application of a direct current hydrocarbon compressor in the world."
"SolarChill is currently at the prototype field-testing stage. ... in Indonesia, Cuba and Senegal...."
Via: Greenpeace LINK
Via: SolarChill LINK
... "The solar power project is the third between a FedEx operating company and BP Solar and the fifth solar power project for FedEx. The 2.42 megawatt solar power system will cover approximately 3.3 acres of rooftop space with approximately 12,400 solar panels. When completed, the system will be capable of producing approximately 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year and could provide up to 30 percent of the hub’s annual energy needs. " ...Via FedEx Ground: NJ Rooftop Solar Power System
Berkeley, California is into solar and wants to help residents and businesses make the move to solar. To help they offer two tools ...
> One tool is a solar portal that allows property owners to look at their roof and determine both the solar potential and the cost.
>A second tool provides financing paid by by taxes
" ... Solar Mapping ... estimate the solar potential of their rooftops and view existing solar installations. ... get an estimated size of a photovoltaic (PV) system that would fit ... obtain detailed information on tax rebates and choose from a listing of available installers ... map reflects elements such as rooftop structures, the slant of the roof, shading ... and ... azimuth of the sun for PV panel placement."
" ... Berkeley FIRST program, a solar finance program ... provides property owners an opportunity to borrow money ... and repay the financing through property tax bills."
Via: MatterNetwork LINK
... "On the appointment of Bill Sims, as president and CEO: In addition to his proven leadership and record of operational excellence, Bill has direct experience bringing new technologies to market against long-established incumbents --- in Joule’s case, fossil fuels. We’re thrilled to see the company emerge and build a successful path to energy independence under his guidance. " ...Via Joule Biotechnologies: Solar Startup
Continue reading "Liquid Fuel from Solar Energy and CO2 using Biotech Process" »
... "The latest in Nanometrics’ Trajectory product line, the TSM is designed to rapidly measure the thickness of various thin films in order to enable fast feedback and excursion prevention in the manufacture of all types of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, and further expands Nanometrics’ metrology system footprint into the segment of rough and textured PV film layers. " ...Via Nanometrics: Metrology System for Solar PV Applications
... "Now, with both systems in place, there are about five months in the year when he only pays 10 dollars for electricity from a conventional power plant ... " ...Via Scienceline: Solar thermal energy
... "Scientists measure the amount of sunlight falling on specific locations at different times of the year. They then estimate the amount of sunlight falling on regions at the same latitude with similar climates. Measurements of solar energy are typically expressed as total radiation on a horizontal surface, or as total radiation on a surface tracking the sun. Radiation data for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems are often represented as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m2). " ...Via Energy Savers: Solar Radiation
... "The DESERTEC concept, developed by the TREC Initiative of the Club of Rome, describes the perspectives of a sustainable power supply for all regions of the world with access to the energy potential of deserts. " ...Via DESERTEC Foundation: Industrial Initiative
Continue reading "Desertec Industrial Initiative DII Solar Thermal Power Network" »
... "The Teanaway Solar Reserve is the largest photovoltaic solar project ever proposed for the Northwest. Once completed, it will be tied to the utility grid and generate up to 75 megawatts of clean, renewable energy ... " ...Via Teanaway Solar: Reserve
... "PG&E awarded the SOLON Corporation a contract to produce photovoltaic modules and build a 2 MW power plant, which is planned to be completed in December 2009, in a multi-stage bidding process involving several top North American solar companies. The power plant is a pilot project for PG&E aimed at enabling the utility to develop more photovoltaic power plants in the future. As part of its solar energy initiative, PG&E plans to use photovoltaic power to deliver more than 1,000 gigawatt hours of electricity each year by 2015. " ...Via SOLON: PG&E Picks SOLON
... "The project will be the first utility-scale solar power project located on local government property in the state. This is the fifth and largest solar array project announced by Progress Energy Carolinas, bringing the total amount of solar-generated electricity scheduled to be purchased by the company to more than 5 megawatts. " ...Via City of Raleigh: Solar Array Project Agreement Reached
... "The three-year program is designed to accelerate commercialization of an ultra-thin protective film -- more than 3,000 times thinner than a human hair -- that prevents moisture from degrading the performance of thin-film PV modules, a key challenge in the past. " ...Via Dupont: Thin Film Solar Research with DOE
Fat Spaniel Technologies provides real time monitoring of your solar PV system. Read their case studies of Jay Leno's car garage and SF International Airport.
Track your actual generation / performance and see ... "... display total power generated by ... day, week, month, or year ... local irradiance, cell temperature, and ambient temperature ... avoided greenhouse gases (CO2, NOx and Sox) over the lifetime ..."
It can be used to proactively guide behavior changes ... " Generate Energy 
Savings Via Behavior Modification ..." ... Educate ... by publishing real-time and historical data ... Cut electricity usage up to 10% by changing habits of building occupants ..."
" ... Fat Spaniel provides ... an industrial-grade, Software-as-a-Service renewable energy plant management system that enables plant operators to: ... Manage renewable energy plants in real-time ... Communicate and interact with mobile personnel ... Generate revenue utilizing back-end services for regulatory agency reporting, renewable energy certificate (REC) registration, and environmental reporting"
Via: Fat Spaniel Technologies LINK