Walmart Partners with Solar City on Solar Installations in Arizona and California

Walmart is planning to add solar systems to an additional 20 - 30 in California and Arizona using new technology lower cost PV cells.

The systems are expected to provide about 25 % of the total energy needs of each location.

The systems:
- can product up to 22.5 kW / yr - equiv to the energy needed for 1750 home / yr
- avoid 11,650 metric tons CO2 - equiv to 3000 cars

The technology planned includes gallium selenide and cadmium terruride films and are exected to use less raw materials then earlier versions of PV cells.

SolarCity will do the design work as well as install, own and maintain the systems.


Via:  Walmart  LINK

Clarian Power - Low Cost Plug and Play Solar for the DIY'er

Solar power for consumers has lots going for it ... renewable energy, clean power, being green ... and one near term stumbling block --- cost.  Most systems are EXPENSIVE for the initial capital outlay.
 
Clarian Power Inc may be able to help lower the price with both affordable and easy to install (DIY type install) products.  Payback can be 3 - 4 years after factoring in rebates and credits.


"Sunfish™ is a plug-in solar power module that’s affordable and easy to install ... SmartBox™ technology allows homeowners to plug solar power into an existing outlet ..."


Via:  Clarian Power Inc.  LINK

PenPack Plastic Packaging: Recycled Materials Made with Solar Energy

I noticed the apples at my local Costco were packaged in plastic containers to keep the apples from bruising.  What really intrigued me was the information on the plastic containers.  Made by Peninsula Packaging of California ... they are:

- made from 70% recycled drink bottles
- made with 50% energy from the sun

" ... as much as 70 percent recycled ... are themselves recyclable ..."

" ... 10-acre photovoltaic "sun farm" generates 1.1 megawatts ... produces about one-percent of all of California's solar generated power."



Via:  PenPack  LINK

The GSA is renovating the 18 story federal building in Portland, Oregon.  Green features include a vertical green wall and reduced water usage with low flow fixtures and recycled roof water.

"... part of a $133 million renovation, the General Services Administration wants to grow “vegetated fins” on the western facade of the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building ... save energy year-round using one of Mother Nature’s own tools."

" ... will use 60 to 65 percent less energy than comparable buildings. That translates to an energy cost savings of $280,000 per year."

"Solar panels could also provide up to 15 percent of the building’s power needs. Energy use for lighting will be halved."

"... building in question was already slated for an energy efficiency upgrade, but funds from last year’s federal stimulus package stressed projects that were environmentally friendly."

Via:  SmartPlanet  LINK

Danish Island of Samsø : First "Town" to be Completely Energy Self-Sufficient ?

Danish Island of Samsø: First "Town" to be Completely Energy Self-Sufficient ??

It is one thing to be energy independent; it carries a little more weight if you are both energy independent and industrialized.


" ... Danish island of Samsø ... 30 miles long and 15 miles wide ... began its push toward sustainability in 1997. In just over a decade ... erected 21 electricity-producing wind turbines and a heating system fueled by wood chip- and straw-burning furnaces accompanied by several small solar panels."

"Eleven ... turbines are onshore and ten are offshore; all generate one megawatt each ... onshore turbines produce more electricity than the island consumes — enough to offset 690,000 gallons of oil — ... offshore turbines produce enough power to handle the island’s transportation energy budget ...invests excess power in new energy projects."

" ... inadvertently transformed the island’s workforce into green collar workers. Plumbers and carpenters regularly perform energy-efficient home conversions, and their expertise has allowed them to work on green projects elsewhere, including mainland Europe."

This video tells it all ....







Via: SmartPlanet LINK

Dow Launches Solar Array and Eduction Center in Midland, Michigan

Dow is a player in the green space with heat transfer fluids for thermal heating systems and BIPV (building integrated photo voltaic) roofing materials.  Now they are getting into the education game....

" ... new solar array and education center, and construction is under way at a new factory in Saginaw County to produce a key specialty gas for the solar energy industry ...The Dow Corning Corp. plant next to Hemlock Semiconductor’s polysilicon factory is expected to employ about 30 people initially, ...to be completed in 2011, it will manufacture high purity monosilane, used in the manufacture of thin-film solar cells and liquid crystal displays. ... also unveiled a new solar panel installation and solar education center at its corporate headquarters in Midland. ..."


" ... expand our feed stock offering and will further reinforce Dow Corning’s position as a material supplier across multiple solar technologies ...solar installation at Dow Corning headquarters features 136 solar panels and will produce approximately 30 kilowatt-hours of power — the amount of electricity consumed by approximately seven to 10 homes in a year. ...

Follow the link below for the full story ...


Via: MidlandIssues LINK

The Dow Chemical company is active in the green energy space with several innovative products.

They recently announced their entry into the solar cell market with the " ... POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, ... panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. ... expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and ... more widely available in 2011, ..."

"... integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design, ... design reduces installation costs because the conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors ..."

"... addresses two of the biggest challenges associated with solar power – cost and acceptance. "

Via: The Dow Chemical Company LINK

WattMe Portablke Power with Solar Charging

Wattme produces portable power systems that are charged by solar panels sold as GoBe. These simple devices can provide safe reliable power where non previously existed.

" ... story begins in the Democratic Republic of Congo ... much of the country lacked reliable power with the majority of villages having no ... electricity. In some cases homes were found with car batteries providing power with electrical posts and battery acid dangerously exposed."

" ... the GoBe power system was born ... a portable power pack that could provide light, and with numerous outputs, charge a variety of devices. With the accessory solar panels, the GoBe remains charged."

" ... the GoBe can keep a 5 watt LED light on for a week ... can extend the battery life of laptop for up to an additional 4 hours."

Via: WattMe LINK

Gainesville Florida - Solar Map

Florida's Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) is committed to solar power and assist customers with loans. This map shows approx. current stats on GRU solar installations.

" ... we have offered Solar Rebates since August 1997 ... we exceeded our latest goal of 40,000 Watts of solar energy for our area. Take a look at our interactive map and see who is using solar energy."


From the map you can see a large number of residential systems are in place !

Via: Gainesville Global Utilities LINK

Solar One - Largest Solar Installion in Nevada

"Nevada Solar One, one of the biggest solar projects in recent U.S. history ... is outside Las Vegas in the sunny desert, where rows of mirrors bounce the sunlight into receptors ..."






Via: zdnet.com LINK

PSEG to Double its Solar Capacity by 2013

PSE&G will double its installed solar capacity with (1) pole mounted distributed solar panels and (2) solar gardens and roof installations.

"... invest $515 million in 80 megawatts of solar projects ... creating green jobs ... expects to complete the installations by the end of 2013."

" ... installing a solar unit ... on 200,000 utility poles in PSE&G’s service territory ... the largest pole-attached solar installation in the world ... power ... sold into the PJM wholesale grid."

" ... effectively double the size of New Jersey’s installed solar capacity ... more solar capacity than ... any state other than California ..."

Via: PSE&G LINK

Every wonder just how a solar cell works today .. and how they might work in the future?

Listen to this video from" Paul Altivisatos, interim director for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at UC Berkeley, ... how the solar energy of the future, via a solar fuel generator that converts energy the same way plants do, can become more efficient. ..."




Via: ZDNet News LINK

SunChips® are Powered by the Sun in Modesto, California

In addition to packing SunChips® in plastic bags made from plants and working on a compostable packing bag ... SunChips® are made with solar energy ( see LINK).

" ... plant in Modesto, California, solar collectors track the sun from dawn to dusk, gathering all the energy they can ... transfer that energy into heat, ... you get a snack that's not only better for you, but better for the planet as well."


CLICK to download a pdf to learn how they did it !


Via: Sunchips® LINK