Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 2 May 2014

First Diesel Hybrid PV System Online in Guelph

April 24, 2014 - Canadian Solar Inc. has completed one of the first diesel hybrid PV system in the remote microgrids in northern Ontario, Canada. The 152kW rooftop solar array on the Deer Lake First Nation Elementary School is the first project under the strategic partnership with NCC Development, LP (NCC), a First Nation renewable energy management company, in a commitment to use renewable energy (RE) microgrid solutions to assist the energy needs of off-grid First Nations and remote communities.

NCC has identified more than 80 First Nations and remote communities for potential RE microgrid solution deployment, in an effort to promote photovoltaic services and projects to areas heavily reliant on diesel and challenged by limited access to electricity. read more>>>

Eight major UK renewable energy projects receive government backing

23 April 2014 - The UK government has agreed deals to financially support eight major new renewable energy projects that will power millions of homes.

Five of the schemes are offshore windfarms, which the Conservative party plans to back in its general election manifesto over cheaper but more controversial onshore wind power.

The projects will create 8,500 jobs and add 4.5GW of electricity capacity to the national grid, around 4% of the UK's generating capacity, or enough to power more than 3 million homes. The projects were worth up to £12bn in private sector investment, the government said.Five offshore windfarms and three biomass projects will provide millions of homes with clean power read more>>>

Sustaining Indonesia’s Green Economy by Embracing Green Infrastructure

Apr 24, 2014 - We might have our common curiosity of what could contribute by infrastructure, one of the biggest requirements to fast-track Indonesia’s development.

Meeting adequate infrastructure is already an enormous task for Indonesia. Adding “green” content into the mix brings more work. However, the global push to be green now reaches almost every aspect of development, including green infrastructure. On a small scale green infrastructure can be seen as an approach to support sustainable communities that will provide multiple environmental benefits, including flood mitigation. The latter is something that all stakeholders in the development of Jakarta need to pay attention to.

There are many components of green infrastructure associated with water uncertainty, clean water, drainage, urban environment, spatial planning and other elements that may safeguard critical natural areas. Thinking about green infrastructure is thinking about how we, urban groups, may survive in cities such as Jakarta. read more>>>

Everyone can play role in greener economy

April 23, 2014 - The ability to recycle electronics helps families, businesses, governments, tribes, and non-profits make responsible waste disposal decisions. It also puts our dollars to work supporting green jobs and re-using precious metals instead of mining for new ones.

When we talk about creating a greener economy in America, thoughts often go towards creating more sustainable energy sources like wind, solar and tidal power. Often overlooked is another aspect of being green — what to do with all the waste we currently produce? read more>>>

Solar-electric Generating Capacity Increases Drastically in the Last Four Years

Apr. 22, 2014 - U.S. solar capacity increased significantly in the last 4 years. In 2010, the total solar capacity was 2,326 MW which accounted for a comparatively small fraction (0.22%) of the total U.S. electric generating. capacity. By February 2014, this capacity increased 418% to 12,057 MW, a 9,731 MW gain, and now accounts for almost 1.13% of total U.S. capacity. Reported planned solar capacity additions indicate continued growth

EIA tracks three principal types of solar-electric generating capacity: read more>>>

Top 100 U.S. Organizations Using Renewable Energy - Tech Sector Leads the Way

Apr. 23, 2014 - Today (April 23, 2014), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Green Power Partnership released an updated list of the Top 100 organizations that are choosing to use electricity from clean, renewable sources like wind and solar power.

“By using green power, these companies and organizations are showing that business can flourish while taking meaningful steps to reduce carbon pollution,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. “Making cleaner choices to power our communities, institutions and businesses reduces the pollution that contributes to climate change, protects America's health and environment, and supports continued growth in the green power sector.' read more>>>

EU will host key talks to set 2030 climate targets

Apr. 21, 2014 - The European Commission will hold three meetings this summer that will focus on how industries can meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets while competing in global markets, it said on Wednesday.

The meetings will help to gather feedback on rules determining if companies can continue to receive free carbon permits under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) beyond 2020, when current measures expire.

The issue of how the EU member states can fund the development of clean technologies to help drive GHG reduction will also be addressed. read more>>>

This Is How to Create a Green Economy That Works for All

April 23, 2014 - For most Americans, typically, making sure this month’s rent gets paid unfortunately ranks higher than stopping a future sea-level rise. So in his first term, President Obama framed his environmental messages around “green jobs,” with a focus on the economic benefits of “clean tech,” rather than the less politically popular imperative to curb dirty power industries or avert the impending ecological catastrophe.

But today, with chaotic weather and collapsing infrastructure turning climate change into an immediate social and economic crisis right in our communities, can the economic arguments for a green transition go beyond jobs and toward changing the way our neighborhoods and workplaces operate? read more>>>

Atomic switcheroo explains origins of thin-film solar cell mystery

April 23, 2014 - Treating cadmium-telluride (CdTe) solar cell materials with cadmium-chloride improves their efficiency, but researchers have not fully understood why. Now, an atomic-scale examination of the thin-film solar cells led by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has answered this decades-long debate about the materials' photovoltaic efficiency increase after treatment.

A research team from ORNL, the University of Toledo and DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory used electron microscopy and computational simulations to explore the physical origins of the unexplained treatment process. The results are published in Physical Review Letters (PRL). read more>>>

The Port Solar Charger Turns Any Window into a Power Outlet for Your Mobile Gadgets

04/23/14 - Whenever I arrive at a coffee shop or coworking space, the first thing I do is scope out the power outlets. Between a smartphone, laptop, and occasionally a tablet too, keeping my mobile office up and running requires quick access to power if my batteries get low. Unfortunately, outlets aren’t always available. The sun, however, is much easier to find. The Port Solar Charger from XD Design allows gadget geeks to turn any window into a power outlet – simply attach the circular disk, and anytime you’ve got sunlight you’ll be able to keep your devices charged.

The best aspects of the Port Solar Charger include its lightweight design and USB compatibility. While some solar phone chargers we’ve reviewed in the pass are powerful, they’re also quite bulky and require outdoor placement in direct sunlight. The Port Solar Charger is light (about 3.8 oz) and attaches directly to the window frame to avoid shadows cast by frames or window furniture. read more>>>