Plan to attend the European solar conference next month in Spain
The 25th annual European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference is next month in beautiful Valencia, Spain. Combined with the 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, the conference runs from September 6-10, 2010.
As a world-wide leader in solar energy, Spain is the perfect location for the Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference. The official website describes the conference as follows:
The Conference will take place from 6th to 10th September 2010 at the Feria Valencia in Spain. The 25th EU PVSEC will be the most important international Conference in the field of Photovoltaics and will be at the same time the 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
The 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion will unite the three most important scientific and strategic conferences for the global PV solar sector: the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, the 36th US IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference and the 20th Asia/Pacific PV Science and Engineering Conference.
Learn more about photovoltaic solar energy
This year, the conference is expecting 40,000 visitors from over 100 countries. Exhibitions will be spread through 8 large halls at the Feria Valencia fairground, covering an exhibition area of 80,000 sqm.
To register, find out more and contact the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference organizers, click here.
Tags: european solar conference, photovoltaic solar energy, solar conference, solar energy, solar energy conference
Considering the "what ifs" in the wake of the largest oil spill disaster in history
Its probably not a proposition that you’ve considered, even as news that the BP oil spill is more than 3 times the size of the Exxon Valdez catastrophe is released this week. But what if BP spilled solar panels instead of oil?
One Block Off the Grid, which offers bulk discounts on solar panels, has a new blog at which they posited the question with stunning infographics. While you should visit the original post to see their beautiful work, consider these key points:
- The oil spill is large enough to blanket the entire state of Kansas
- If the area was covered with solar panels, the energy that could be generated would keep power on for 25 years for all of the United States – as well as Central and South America
- That same amount of oil could only power the same areas for less than a day
Considering solar power vs. oil in light of the BP oil spill
- BP will likely have to spend $32 billion to clean up the gulf ($32,000,000,000)
- If $32 billion was invested in solar panels instead, the entire Los Angeles County, population nearly 10 million, could be powered for 30 years
- Residents in Los Angeles County will pay an estimated $305 billion in electricity costs over the next 30 years, which could otherwise be saved with solar panel installation
A sunnier future with solar energy
The data in 1BOG’s post are based on figures from Census.gov, Dailyfinance.com, abc.com and calculations considering solar panel and electricity cost.
As noted in its post:
“The figures above come from some intense number-crunching sessions in our office. Feel free to agree, argue, contradict, or correct anything you see here — and we can provide more numbers as needed.”
I wonder where we would be with respect to energy policies if more people considered scenarios like these?
Let’s take the BP oil spill and use it to fuel more renewable energy research and incentives.
Tags: 1bog, bp oil spill, oil spill, renewable energy, solar energy, solar panels, solar power
Solar roadways may be the pavement of the future
In the past, we’ve blogged about solar roadways – that is, driving surfaces covered with PV panels that can generate energy. As we noted previously:
Solar Roadways, a company based in the northern part of Idaho (www.solarroadways.com) … hopes to take its idea of “structurally-engineered solar panels” that can be driven upon, and literally pave the country with them. From highways to driveways, Solar Road PanelsTM could be installed to collect and store solar energy for endless uses.
For the last few years, the idea has been exciting, if not far-fetched. Yet, with this new video, the concept of paving with solar panels may come to fruition soon.
Can you imagine? Thousands of square miles of road surfaces covered with PV panels? It really could happen!
And why not? With paved areas literally sitting there, uncovered for hours during the day, they could at least be absorbing sunlight to convert to clean solar power.
Pavement that can generate power and pay for itself seems to be a great idea in this economy with the energy issues we face ahead.
Driving on solar power will soon be a reality
Tags: paving solar panels, solar energy, solar highways, solar panels, solar power, solar road, solar roadways
Clean up with clean energy at the solar car wash in British Columbia
Finally – a simple and straightforward solar power solution for one of our most pressing needs…. a clean car.
The energy it takes to run an automatic car wash can really add up, especially during summer months when lots of vehicles return from dusty campgrounds and bug-covered road trips. Washing your car at home isn’t the answer either, as soapy runoff isn’t good for groundwater and streams.
Fortunately, RCI Solar has installed a solar car wash system that uses the power of the sun to help clean your car! Skogies Car Washes of British Columbia, Canada includes a solar hot water system to increase the water temperature during the car wash’s soap cycle, without the need for gas or electricity.
Solar hot water systems are increasingly being used in commercial settings – from breweries to garden nurseries, even at dairy farms. If you need hot water for your business, it only makes sense to use sunlight to heat the water. At Skogies Car Wash in Kelowna, they estimate a 60% savings in hot water heating costs, slashing the average operating cost of $10,000 per month during the peak car washing season in half.
A solar hot water system
The solar hot water system is perfect for automatic car washes, which require a lot of hot water! And, the hotter the water, the fewer chemicals are needed to degrease dirty vehicles (which further saves both money and the environment). Even during cold winter months, solar hot water systems can keep water at an average of 70 degrees F. Minimal electricity or gas is then required to finish heating the water. Of course, during summer months, no additional power is needed!
Perhaps the “coolest” aspect of using solar hot water at the automatic car wash is that the solar loop can also be used to feed into a radiant floor heating system at the entrance and exit of the wash bay. This can prevent dangerous ice build-up, without the need for salt or chemicals.
Skogies Car Washes are excited about the new solar car wash system. They expect to upgrade other car washes in the chain with the eco-energy solar car wash in the future!
Tags: eco-energy solar car wash, rci solar, solar car wash, solar hot water, solar hot water system, solar panels, solar power
One heck of a solar array on an RV!
My sister and her family are heading out this month on a cross-country RV trip. The rig is loaded with games and movies for the kids, cameras, computers, cell phones and all the necessities of 21st century life.
But how will they keep everything running if they cannot find an RV lot each night at which to recharge the batteries? With solar panels for RVs, re-charging can be done on the road and/or at any place they choose to park overnight… plug or no plug!
Cleaner and more quiet than a fuel-powered generator, portable solar panels easily power your batteries directly, or can be used to provide energy for a solar generator. Many of the RV solar panels on the market are foldable and/or light. Depending on your electrical requirements, you can fully power your parked RV on 100-400 watts. That will generally require 2-6 solar panels, sized 4′ x 2′ (typically generating 75 to 100 watts). Or you could purchase an all-in-one solar panel kit for $200 or less.
Here are some PV panel kits to consider for your RV – to either fully power your needs, or to provide back-up battery recharging:
5 Watt/12 Volt Portable Solar Panel
Sunlinq Portable Solar Panel 6.5 Watt (Foldable)
Xantrex Technologies AC/DC PowerPack Solar
Solar panels are a convenient way to provide power on camping trips
Before your next RV trip, consider solar panels for your back-up energy needs!
Tags: portable solar power, PV panel kit, recreational vehicle, rv battery, rv solar panels, solar panel kit, solar panels rv
Lest you wonder whether the housing market will ever recover in the U.S., now comes word that the nation’s two largest mortgage lenders – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – have effectively killed solar financing. What next, you might ask?
Will PACE loans be available to help you install solar panels in the future?
Property Assessed Clean Energy loans (commonly known as PACE), which allow homeowners to install solar panels or make other renewable energy or efficiency improvements through low-interest loans that are paid off through a voluntary increase in property taxes, are no longer available in California.
Whether the other 20 states that provide for PACE programs will also be affected remains to be seen.
The decision last week follows a court ruling that seems to be responding to the announcement of the Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA) that claimed PACE programs could not take precedence over primary mortgage loans. In a cautionary move, California pulled $30 million in federal stimulus funds that were originally earmarked for PACE programs in 5 counties.
Sadly, the programs would have resulted in the creation of 4,400 green jobs, while offsetting 187,000 tons of CO2 emissions over the next 2 years.
What can we do to help make solar panels more affordable?
So, what next?
California AG, Jerry Brown, has filed a lawsuit against the FHFA in an effort to save PACE. Beyond that, U.S. Congressional Representatives are introducing legislation to override the FHFA.
There are three main activities that you can engage in to help out.
- Contact your Member of Congress and Senators today – and urge them to pass legislation immediately to save PACE
- Contact your local newspaper
- Pass a resolution in your city or county supporting PACE
California Governor Schwarzenegger’s California Recovery Task Force has requested full reallocation of the PACE funding by September 30, 2010.
Stay tuned to find out what happens next with PACE programs….
Tags: cost solar panels, fannie mae, freddie mac, PACE, property assessed clean energy, solar energy, solar financing, solar power
Solar lights along a walkway
Last weekend, we replaced our old grill on the patio. That led to planting some containers of flowers, which made me want to string lights along the back deck for extra ambiance. Its so easy to improve your garden with solar lights!
Whether you want to light up your patio (like we did), illuminate a pathway, or bring attention to garden specimens, solar lights are easy and convenient to use. No need for wiring or digging trenches. Simply place the lights where you want them, and your home improvement project is done. Simple as that!
Small solar panels absorb sunlight during the day and, at nightfall the garden solar lights automatically come on. The light from these devices is soft and pleasing and will glow for 6-8 hours. There are also solar-powered security lights that work even if the power is out!
Strands of lights can also be solar-powered
You can find solar lights at many home improvement stores, as well as major retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, etc. They come in a wide variety of colors and styles to fit your personal taste. Even strands of lights for the holidays can be solar-powered.
Here’s some of our favorite solar powered lights:
Moonrays Vernona Style Solar Powered Path Lights
Wild Grass Solar Powered Lights
Designers Edge Solar Panel Shed Light
International Development Solar Snowflake Light
MAXSA Innovations Solar-Powered Security Floodlight
Solar Powered Security Light and Motion Detector
Good luck with your home improvement project this weekend! Be sure to incorporate some garden solar lights!
Tags: garden solar lights, home improvement, improve garden, solar deck, solar garden lights, solar lights, solar patio, solar powered lights
No matter where you are in the world, solar power can be harnessed for clean, fossil-fuel free energy.
On the island of Tenerife (the largest of the Canary Islands), a utility scale solar facility draws on the sunshine from this area known as “Eternal Spring,” off the western coast of Africa. Even though its a territory of Spain, the 7-island Canary Islands archipelago is located about 100 km from Morocco and Western Sahara.
Sunshine is abundant in this area of the world, which makes installing solar panels a smart idea for clean energy generation.
As shown to the left, this image of the southeastern part of the island illustrates a diamond-shaped artificial structure at the foot of Mt. Pelada, about 5 kilometers east from the airport, which includes is solar panels to generate electricity. At this site, there are several groups of solar panels and wind turbines which together produce renewable energy.
You might wonder why Tenerife for solar power generation?
Actually, Spain and Germany are the European leaders for solar energy in this area of the world.
The solar power generation plant in Tenerife was constructed in 2008 by a Japanese company. Its a utility scale solar plant with the ability to generate 12.6 megawatts (MW) of electricity each year for the next 25 years. Every 12 months this solar power plant will produce 7,200 tons less CO2 than a thermal power plant.
Bottom line – go Spain, and go Tenerife when it comes to solar power! What a great example of how sunny tourist destinations can host more than hotels….
Tags: canary islands, solar energy, solar power generation, solar power plant, solar spain, solar tenerife, tenerife, utility scale solar
Residential solar panel installation
The housing market is still trying to come out of its slump here in the U.S. In order to lure potential home buyer, developers are adding unique features you might not otherwise expect — like solar panels! Solar energy efficiency with new Portland, Oregon homes will be showcased this week in the city’s Alberta Arts community.
The project, which will be part of five new Earth Advantage Gold developments, will be open to the public on July 29, 2010 at 5110 N.E. 17th Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Contemporary design and luxurious touches are part of the reason its is a winner of the Street of Dreams Award, the Most Innovative New Home Product Award, and the Realtors Choice Award for best curb appeal and best kitchen. But perhaps more noteworthy is the fact that a 2.4 kilowatt (kW) solar system is included with the home, which means that you could get a Federal Tax Credit to defray a portion of the $419,000 purchase price. In addition, homeowners will be able to use a wireless monitoring device to gauge solar energy efficiency of the panels, and determine if they will be able to receive net metering credits on next month’s utility bill.
Beaverton-based solar installer LiveLight Energy, and its partner Solar World of Hillsboro, offer warranties on the solar panel system: Solar World panels have a 25-year performance warranty, while solar inverters have a 10-year warranty. LiveLight also provides a 2 year installation warranty.
A green home with energy efficient features? Now, that’s one way to bring out the new home buyers!
Tags: alberta arts, earth advantage gold, home solar panels, residential community, residential solar, solar energy efficiency, street of dreams
Amazon.com
Operate your favorite gadgets anywhere with the Xantrex XPower Powerpack Solar. This portable solar device provides 400 watts of household power to run appliances and electronics. The Powerpack Solar’s solar panel continuously captures, stores, and converts the sun’s energy and extends the runtime of many portable devices. Two AC outlets, a DC socket, and a USB port give you plenty of options for simultaneously operating anything from laptops to cell phones to small T (more…)
Tags: gadget charger, Inverter, portable solar, Powerpack, Solar, solar charger, solar charging, solar device, solar energy, solar power, Xantrex, Xpower