Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 31 January 2014

Research rethinks the utility revenue model

January 27, 2014 - A long-term decline in electricity consumption growth, advances in energy efficiency, monitoring, control technologies, and the surprisingly rapid growth in rooftop solar and other renewable generation are all factors challenging the traditional volume-based utility revenue model, according to U.S. energy consulting firm ScottMadden Inc.

Utilities, regulators, and other players in the power ecosystem are discussing the implications of this changing industry environment and the evolution of the utility business model. read more>>>

One step closer to low cost solar cells

January 27, 2014 - The dwindling resources for conventional energy sources make renewable energy an exciting and increasingly important avenue of research. However, even seemingly new and green forms of energy production, like silicon-based solar cells, are not as cost effective as they could be. An OIST research team led by Yabing Qi is investigating solar cells based on organic materials that have electrodes both flexible and transparent, enabling the fabrication of these solar cells at a low cost.

In a recent paper published in the journal Organic Electronics, Qi and his research group characterized the electrodes made with new materials, including plastic, conductive material and zinc oxide. They also successfully identified methods by which to clean the electrodes to restore their conductivity and work function after an extended period of storage, thus contributing to the optimization of making these new solar cells. read more>>>

Ozone-depleting substances 2012

Sep. 17, 2013 - In 1989 the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer entered into force. It has the objective of protecting the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production of substances that contribute to ozone depletion. The Protocol covers over 200 individual substances with a high ozone.depleting potential, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs), carbon tetrachloride (CTC), methylbromide (MB), bromochloromethane (BCM) and trichloroethane (TCA), all of which are referred to as 'controlled substances'.

Within the European Union (EU), the use and trade in controlled substances is regulated by EU regulation (EC) 1005/2009 (ODS Regulation) (EC, 2009). read more>>>

Top 10 Clean Energy Developments of 2013

Jan. 22, 2014 - 2013 was an exciting and inspiring year in many regards. And we’re not just talking the arrival of Prince George or the fact that the new Pope rides an electric bicycle. There were many remarkable clean energy developments that are helping to bring us closer to a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future. Here we list our top ten:

1. Renewables become cheapest option for many utilities

Multiple U.S. utilities added renewable energy to their mix in 2013, because it’s the cheapest option, with no state renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirement calculated in. read more>>>

2nd Generation Wind Turbines

Jan. 16, 2014 - 2nd generation wind turbines are better, more effective, than its predecessor, and succeed in generating more electricity with smaller wind volumes. These wind turbines incorporate two newer technologies, that make them more efficient. Self starting vertical blades and magnetically suspended bearings, which makes them superior to any other.

The self starting vertical blades provide advantages over the horizontal blade wind turbines. These vertical blades are more aerodynamic and capture wind turbulence from any incoming direction, whereas the traditional horizontal propeller type of blades need to be facing the wind and cannot capture wind currents which are vertical in nature (up or down). read more>>>

U.S. Green Building Council Certifies 50,000th Green Housing Unit Under LEED for Homes

01/27/2014 - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announces the 50,000th LEED-certified green housing unit.

"As one of the most rigorous green residential rating systems in the world, LEED for Homes is the standard against which all other such programs are measured," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. "Despite its demanding technical aspects that set a high bar for green residential construction, LEED for Homes has also seen the broadest adoption among its peers -- indicative of its position as the rating system of choice to guide the design and construction of healthier, high-performance homes."

Since the launch of the LEED for Homes rating system in 2007, the growth trajectory of the world's most widely used residential green building program has been dramatic. read more>>>

Solar jobs attracting industry veterans

January 27, 2014 - The Solar Foundation (TSF) has released its fourth annual National Solar Jobs Census, which found that the U.S. solar industry employed 142,698 Americans in 2013, including the addition of 23,682 solar jobs over the previous year -- a 19.9 percent growth in employment since September 2012.

Solar employment grew 10 times faster than the national average employment growth rate of 1.9 percent in the same period.

"The solar industry's job-creating power is clear," said Andrea Luecke, executive director and president of The Solar Foundation. read more>>>

SunPower Announces Program with Bank of America Merrill Lynch to Finance $220 Million in Residential Solar Lease Projects

Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. SPWR +1.02% today announced a new program with Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA Merrill) that will provide financing to support approximately $220 million of residential solar lease projects. The program will assist thousands of homeowners in financing solar power systems through SunPower solar leases, joining approximately 20,000 Americans currently enrolled in the program.

"The SunPower Lease program allows customers to have best-in-class, high efficiency solar on their rooftops with highly competitive terms. This, coupled with our unprecedented level of energy assurance, results in more value to the homeowner and increased retained value to SunPower," said the company's CFO, Chuck Boynton. "More than 20,000 customers are already experiencing our lease program, and our partnership with Bank of America Merrill Lynch will continue to grow this popular financing option." read more>>>

DOE, Sprint partner on rooftop hydrogen fuel cells

January 28, 2014 - With financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Sprint will deploy hydrogen fuel cell technology as backup power to rooftop network sites, allowing for lower network site maintenance and cleaner network energy sources and increasing network survivability during power outages.

This is not the first time Sprint and the DOE have come together to deploy hydrogen fuel cells. Sprint pioneered the introduction of fuel cell technology to ground-based networks in 2005. In 2009, the DOE provided a $7.3 million grant for Sprint to support fuel cell technology advances. Rooftop cell sites comprise almost 25 percent of Sprint's total network locations for which fuel cells have not been an option for fuel cell deployment until now. As much as 30 percent of total network cell sites are located on rooftops in some major metropolitan areas. read more>>>

Construction begins on the UK's first eco town

29 Jan, 2014 - Construction of the UK’s first eco town, North West Bicester (NW Bicester), in Oxfordshire has begun. Lead developer A2Dominion has started preparing the site for building works to commence for the initial phase, which will form part of the long-term vision to provide up to 6,000 sustainable new homes for Bicester.

The first phase of this pioneering development, known as the Exemplar, will see the construction of 393 highly energy efficient, zero carbon homes, creating the UK’s first true zero carbon community. read more>>>