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>>>

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>>>

Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 23 March 2014

Canadian Solar opens microgrid testing center

14 March 2014 - Chinese module manufacturer Canadian Solar today announced the opening of its microgrid testing center in its Canadian base of Guelph, Ontario.

Part-funded by the Ontario Ministry of Energy's Smart Grid Fund, the new center will benefit indigenous and remote communities as well as mining operations in Canada, according to today's Canadian Solar press release announcing the news.

Canadian Solar CEO Shawn Qu said the testing center – which will provide solution testing, system solution design and smart grid assessment services – is the latest part of his company's Total Solutions strategy. read more>>>

UK Government to retain local authority renewable energy powers for new homes

13 March 2014 - The UK Government has preserved the Planning & Energy Act (aka Merton Rule), in the outcome of its Housing Standards Review following an appeal by the Renewable Energy Assocation (REA) and Solar Trade Association (STA)

The Merton Rule is the policy driving the incorporation of renewable energy technologies in new homes. It was first developed by Merton Council in 2003 and required new commercial buildings over 1,000 square meters to generate at least 10 percent of their energy needs using on site renewable energy technology. The impact of the policy encouraged the Mayor of London and many other councils across the UK to also implement it and it subsequently became part of national UK planning guidance. This in turn led to a significant reduction in carbon emissions from new buildings and helped to support the emerging UK renewables industry. read more>>>

PV Platform Romania to be held 9-11 April 2014

12 March 2014 - PV Platform Romania, an event organized by REECO, will be held 9-11 April 2014 at Expo Arad International.

The event will take place in parallel with the 6th edition of ENREG ENERGIA REGENERABILA®, the biggest trade fair on renewable energy and energy efficiency in construction and renovation in the Euro region Dunare-Cris-Mures-Tisa. Despite the decline of investments in renewable energy sector, there are optimistic signs showing that the sector remains attractive in Romania, the organizers say. This decrease reflects a maturing industry and now the focus should be on maximizing investments and implementation on new projects, more so as the renewable energy sector is becoming increasingly competitive in terms of costs. The attention of investors and institutions in the field is this year on small investments for the maintenance of buildings, where the direct beneficiaries will be the consumers - individuals and small companies. For additional information: read more>>>

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tackles renewable energy’s future

13 March 2014 - It would probably not surprise anyone that when Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson considers the question of renewable energy and its place in our future, he speaks most passionately about the potential of solar energy in all of its permutations.

After all, as America’s most well-known astrophysicist, he’s spent a career – and then some – looking up at the sky and imagining its possibilities.

But when the host of public television’s Nova scienceNOW – an offshoot of his “day job” as principal staff member of the Hayden Planetarium at New York’s Museum of Natural History – begins to talk of harvesting the power of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanoes, one quickly sits up and takes notice. read more>>>

Self-powered wireless light detectors

March 13, 2014 - A low-power photodetection system can harness enough energy to power an autonomous sensor and monitoring network.

Light detectors are used extensively in daily life as brightness sensors and as receivers for remote control devices in electrical gadgets, for example. However, operating these detectors requires electrical energy, which limits their versatility.

Now, Kui Yao and colleagues from the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering in Singapore have developed a photodetector that can harvest just small quantities of detected light to generate enough energy to power a sensing signal transmission through a radio-frequency transmitter. read more>>>

The bioenergy grid

March 12, 2014 - As energy costs rise, bioenergy -- renewable energy made from organic sources, such as biomass -- is turning into a viable alternative where the technology has advanced enough that biomass power plants are small enough to fit on a farm and can be built at relatively low costs. Creating a bioenergy grid with these small plants could benefit people in rural areas and provide relief to an aging U.S. power grid, according to University of Missouri (MU) research.

"Transporting power through power lines to remote, rural areas is very inefficient and can be expensive for farmers and other rural citizens," said Tom Johnson, Frank Miller Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the MU College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, and professor in the MU Truman School of Public Affairs. "Farmers already have access to a large amount of biomass material left over each year after harvests. If they had access to small biomass power plants, they could become close to self-sustaining in terms of power." read more>>>

First green mosque 85% complete

March 09, 2014 - The Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) announced the construction of the first eco-friendly mosque in the Islamic world. It’s 85 per cent complete and is set to open doors to worshippers shortly.

Suspended ceilings have been installed in the “Awqat” and Ladies Hall. Marble-inlay work on the walls of the Prayer Hall has been completed. Additionally, exterior plastering on the facades of the mosque, as well as wooden doors and cabinets in the kitchens of the Imam block, have been installed. Meanwhile, Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa) has deployed transformers to the site. The contract for granite works at the entrance of the mosque has been awarded, while the installation of the crescents, ablution chairs and handrails has also concluded.

Tayeb Al-Rais, secretary general, Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, said: “We are delighted to announce the imminent opening of the Islamic world’s first green mosque to worshipers. The mosque will be the largest of its kind in Dubai spread across 105,000 square feet with a built-up area of 45,000 square feet that can accommodate 3,500 worshippers. read more>>>

Green Knesset team, Tel Aviv Porter School explore environmental collaboration opportunities

03/15/2014 - Eager to pursue environmental collaborations with Israel’s educational institutions, members of the Knesset’s management system visited Tel Aviv University’s forthcoming green building.

Knesset director-general Ronen Plot and parliamentary management staff spent Thursday afternoon with the leadership of the university’s Porter School for Environmental Studies, which will open its state-ofthe- art, LEED Platinum building in mid-May.

As part of the parliament’s newly launched “Green Knesset” program, its executives are exploring the possibility of arranging joint research programs on environmental policy and other collaborative ventures with various educational institutions. read more>>>

New England efficiency efforts paying off

March 17, 2014 - Energy efficiency is a valuable and cost-effective resource, as evidenced by growing state investments in this resource. The Northeast region's energy efficiency programs are continuing to pay dividends, according to the most recent (2012) data from the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership's (NEEP) Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED).

The data shows a trend of strong performance, with 3,240 GWh of annual electric energy savings. With a total $1.2 billion cost for electric programs, the cost of saved energy is less than 5 cents/kWh -- significantly less than the cost of energy supply at about 10 cents/kWh.

"[Energy efficiency] continues to be a sound investment of ratepayer funds to help meet our region's energy needs, not to mention reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants emitted from power plants, and other non-energy benefits to customers and the region's economy, including creating new jobs," said Robert Scott, commissioner of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. read more>>>

Engineering school granted $1.5 million for Microgrid facility

March 17, 2014 - St. Thomas announced Monday that its school of engineering received a $1.5 million grant from Xcel Energy for a Microgrid Research and Testing Center.

The grant will give the engineering program access to a small-scale, low environmental impact energy production facility, allowing a variety of technologies to be used and tested.

Don Weinkauf, School of Engineering dean, said the facility will allow the program to go beyond just studying concepts and instead apply them to real-world research. read more>>>