Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 25 March 2014

Scientists to climate change skeptics: Get real
March 24, 2014 - Much of the extreme weather that wreaked havoc in Asia, Europe and the Pacific region last year can be blamed on human-induced climate change, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

The U.N. weather agency's annual assessment Monday said 2013 was the sixth-warmest year on record. Thirteen of the 14 warmest years have occurred in the 21st century.

Rising sea levels has led to increasing damage from storm surges and coastal flooding, as demonstrated by Typhoon Haiyan, the agency's Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said. The typhoon in November killed at least 6,100 people and caused $13 billion in damage to the Philippines and Vietnam.

Australia, meanwhile, had its hottest year on record. read more>>>

Hybrid concentrated solar system blossoming
March 18, 2014 - Arizona State University (ASU) is developing a hybrid concentrated solar system on the Tempe campus, which employs a solar tulip to concentrate the sun's energy, turning it into electricity. This will be the first ever solar hybrid generating facility at a university in the United States.

The system alleviates the intermittency issues of solar, producing power around the clock and moving seamlessly from solar to natural gas or biogas. At night or when the sky is overcast, the system uses a range of fuels to heat the air and is thereby able to produce power and heat 24/7. read more>>>

Online tool tracks global cleantech deals
March 18, 2014 - A comprehensive online repository that allows the tracking and analysis of financial deals in the global clean technology markets using analytical tools has launched. The Climate Connect Limited website, cleantechdeals.com, will help stakeholders remain informed of the latest commercial developments in the low-carbon sector globally by leveraging big data techniques, including web-scraping to ensure data consistency.

The free tool enables users to track and analyze asset finance, capital markets, government grants, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and private equity deals across a range of cleantech sectors, including renewable energy, carbon capture, adaptation, and energy efficiency. More sectors and deal types are expected to be added soon. read more>>>

Proposed International Green Construction Code changes available for review
March 17, 2014 - The International Code Council has released a monograph of International Green Construction Code (IgCC) proposed code changes that will be considered during the Group C Committee Action Hearing April 27–May 3, 2014, at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis. For the first time ever, proposed code changes were submitted using the new cdpACCESS system.

The changes are for review so participants can prepare testimony and comments to present to the code committees. The hearing will present an opportunity for Code Council members and all code development stakeholders to voice opinions and offer expertise to ensure the 2015 IgCC will complement building safety codes while focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency in the built environment. read more>>>

Why microgrids are making progress in the Midwest
Feb 25, 2014 - As reliability concerns climb and microgrid costs drop, Midwestern universities are installing or investigating microgrids. “Higher education facilities … really need to have reliable power, and unfortunately, the United States’ electrical grid is less reliable now than it was in the past,” said Peter Strazdas, associate vice president of facilities management at Western Michigan University told Midwest Energy News. “That’s driving a lot of this microgrid conversation.” His campus converted a coal-fired plant into a cogen facility in the 1990s and has since stepped gradually towards a microgrid, which is now "90% there."

Other schools have built or announced microgrid projects in the region, including the Illinois Institute of Technology, the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. read more>>>

APAC solar development driving solar plant installations
February 27, 2014 - The value of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) solar photovoltaic (PV) module market is forecast by GlobalData to show modest growth by the end of next year -- from $6.7 billion in 2012 to $8.6 billion by 2015, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.9 percent.

The APAC region's solar PV installed capacity is also expected to increase over the coming years, from 19.6 GW in 2012 to 420.6 GW by 2030 -- a CAGR of 18.6 percent, according to the report. In 2013, China and Japan led the region with a combined total of 77 percent of its solar PV installed capacity, the report says. read more>>>

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New bill reboots the Greek solar PV market
13 March 2014 - The Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change has presented a new bill which reboots the Greek PV market

The new bill, which is to be approved by the Greek parliament by the end of March, lifts an existing ban on solar PV systems implemented in August 2012. It also introduces permanent retroactive cuts of Feed-in Tariffs (FiTS) for operating PV systems. read more>>>

South African Pv industry to meet at AfricaPVSEC 2014
13 March 2014 - South Africa's PV community -- and those hoping to partner in or join it -- will be gathering in Durban 27-29 March 2014 for the Africa Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (AfricaPVSEC).

To date, about 80 speakers have committed to speak on the subject of photovoltaics in Africa, and 11 organizations from 38 countries are already scheduled to be represented.

Following a comprehensive review of submitted abstracts to present at the inaugural AfricaPVSEC, the event organisers’ Scientific Committee has finalised the programme of the first African Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference. read more>>>

Task Force Outlines Measures for Greener Economy
March 18, 2014 - Before a standing-room only crowd, the Boston Zero Waste Task Force, a multi-stakeholder group made up of labor and business leaders, community and neighborhood groups, Zero Waste and recycling experts, and environmental and social justice advocates, held a briefing at City Hall last week to release a set of recommendations for Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston to create quality jobs and grow Boston’s green economy while putting the city on a path towards Zero Waste.

“These recommendations give Mayor Walsh a great opportunity to score big on his economic and environmental goals – support local business, create quality jobs and make Boston a green innovation center,” said Tim Hall, worker/owner of the zero waste cooperative, CERO, and a Task force member. read more>>>

Short on skilled workers? Look to the military
March 18, 2014 - Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU) are launching an aggressive hiring campaign to fill various open positions across its Kentucky facilities, seeking active and former members of the U.S. military.

The utilities already employ more than 300 service members. The available positions transfer the skills gained in the military to available utility positions. Positions include field technicians; trade and craft positions; engineers; administrative; customer services; and industrial electricians. read more>>>


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