Solar Energy

National Solar Jobs Census 2010 to rise ?

2010-11-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

Though jobs in the solar energy industry are on the rise, Illinois is lagging behind other Midwestern states in solar industry development, according to a new report from The Solar Foundation.

According to the National Solar Jobs Census 2010, the solar industry employed an estimated 93,000 workers as of August, though only 533 are employed in the state, according to Environment Illinois.

Sixteen of those jobs are located at Solar Service Inc., based in Niles, Ill, which began installing solar equipment in 1977 and, according to Brandon Leavitt, president of the company, installed the first solar system in the state.

“I got into [solar energy] because it’s a less expensive way to do something [and] the fuel is free,” said Leavitt. “It’s a real simple choice and you can get out there and talk about it, but talking about it doesn’t change people’s minds. You have to do it and show them how it works.”

While other states in the Midwest, including Michigan and Wisconsin, ranked fourth and fifth in the nation, respectively, Illinois did not make the top 20 states employing individuals in the solar industry.

The report has identified 16,000 solar employment sites nationwide, which combined, contribute to roughly 1 percent of the country’s energy portfolio.

“So many of our issues are linked to energy, [such as] unemployment, health and balanced trade,” Leavitt said, remarking on the country’s need for energy reform and policy changes in Illinois.

Despite Illinois’ shortcomings, many environmental groups are optimistic on the state’s solar outlook.

“We have this window of opportunity right now we need to take advantage of in order to create a lot of jobs, which we know are going to be created across the U.S.,” said Miranda Carter, field associate for Environment Illinois, a citizen-based advocacy organization. “We just want them to be created here in Illinois.”

Despite the poor economy, 50 percent of the national solar industry is expected to add jobs in the next 12 months. According to the report, this comes at a time when the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a rate of 2 percent for the same period.

Environmental organizers in the state seem to agree the barrier to solar industry growth in Illinois is largely a result of the state’s current policy.

“[The outlook] is positive,” said Michelle Hickey, program coordinator at the Illinois Solar Energy Association. “We’re really at a precipice of a great opportunity and now it’s really a matter of policy helping us pave the way for a lot of jobs and growth.”

According to the ISEA and Environment Illinois, there are several policy changes that could help Illinois achieve a more robust solar industry. The state’s net metering program is one of the policies most closely related to individual residents.

Net metering allows homeowners to install renewable energy generators in their homes—at least a portion of the unused energy can then be sold back to the energy grid for retail credit. Under the state’s current law regarding solar equipment, net metering is limited to small installations.
HQRP 20W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel 20 Watt 12 Volt in Anodized Aluminum Frame plus HQRP Coaster

According to Carter, 16 states currently have limits more than 25 times higher than Illinois—allowing more installations to be built by big box stores and communities, among others. She proposes the state raise its limit.

The two groups also agree the state should authorize the financing of Property Accessed Clean Energy, which would allow residents to install solar panels with no out-of-pocket costs. Instead, it would be paid for with savings on their energy bill throughout time.

“In a lot of other states around the country, solar has had a lot of help getting off the ground, so that’s why we’ve seen growth in other states and why Illinois is kind of lagging,” Carter said. “We haven’t had all of those policies that would help it move forward.”

Though solar currently makes up less than 1 percent of the state’s energy output, all three organizations are hopeful of Illinois’ solar future.

“If we’re able to make these steps then solar will do great in Illinois and we’ll get a lot of benefits like job creation and less pollution,” Carter said.

Solar Energy Pros and cons

2010-09-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

Solar Energy Pros:

Solar panels give off no pollution, the only pollution produced as a result of solar panels is the manufacturing of these devices in factories, transportation of the goods, and installation.

The production of energy from the use of fossil and some renewable fuels (e.g. wind turbines) can be noisy, yet solar energy produces electricity very quietly.

One of the great pros of solar energy is the ability to harness electricity in remote locations that are not linked to a national grid. A prime example of this is in space, where satellites are powered by high efficiency solar cells.

The installation of solar panels in remote locations is usually much more cost effective than laying the required high voltage wires.

Solar energy can be very efficient in a large area of the globe, and new technologies allow for a more efficient energy production on overcast/dull days.

Solar panels can be installed on top of many rooftops, which eliminates the problem of finding the required space for solar panel placement.

Another great pro of solar energy is the cost. Although the initial investment of solar cells may be high, once installed, they provide a free source of electricity, which will pay off over the coming years.

The use of solar energy to produce electricity allows the user to become less dependent on the worlds fossil fuel supplies.

Solar Energy Cons:

The major con of solar energy is the initial cost of solar cells. Currently, prices of highly efficient solar cells can be above $1000, and some households may need more than one. This makes the initial installation of solar panels very costly.

Solar energy is only able to generate electricity during daylight hours. This means for around half of each day, solar panels are not producing energy for your home.

The weather can affect the efficiency of solar cells.

Pollution can be a con of solar energy, as pollution levels can affect a solar cells efficiency, this would be a major con for businesses or industry wishing to install solar panels in heavily polluted areas, such as cities.

Overview

Above is a list of many solar energy pros and cons, and although not definitive, you can see how the number of pros relating to solar energy, greatly outweighs the cons of solar energy.

The main reason we are not seeing a large amount of solar energy technology installations is due to cost, and unfortunately, as the price of fossil fuels remains lower than the initial investment towards the currently

What is Solar Energy ?

2009-12-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the Sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used.
Solar powered electrical generation relies on heat engines and photovoltaics. Solar energy's uses are limited only by human ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, daylighting, solar hot water, solar cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.To harvest the solar energy, the most common way is to use solar panels
Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.

The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation (insolation) at the upper atmosphere.[1] Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses. The spectrum of solar light at the Earth's surface is mostly spread across the visible and near-infrared ranges with a small part in the near-ultraviolet.[2]
Earth's land surface, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar radiation, and this raises their temperature. Warm air containing evaporated water from the oceans rises, causing atmospheric circulation or convection. When the air reaches a high altitude, where the temperature is low, water vapor condenses into clouds, which rain onto the Earth's surface, completing the water cycle. The latent heat of water condensation amplifies convection, producing atmospheric phenomena such as wind, cyclones and anti-cyclones.[3] Sunlight absorbed by the oceans and land masses keeps the surface at an average temperature of 14 °C.[4] By photosynthesis green plants convert solar energy into chemical energy, which produces food, wood and the biomass from which fossil fuels are derived.[5]
Yearly Solar fluxes & Human Energy Consumption
Solar
3,850,000 EJ [6]
Wind
2,250 EJ[7]
Biomass
3,000 EJ[8]
Primary energy use (2005)
487 EJ[9]
Electricity (2005)
56.7 EJ[10]
The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, oceans and land masses is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per year.[11] In 2002, this was more energy in one hour than the world used in one year.[12][13] Photosynthesis captures approximately 3,000 EJ per year in biomass.[14] The amount of solar energy reaching the surface of the planet is so vast that in one year it is about twice as much as will ever be obtained from all of the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium combined.[15]
From the table of resources it would appear that solar, wind or biomass would be sufficient to supply all of our energy needs, however, the increased use of biomass has had a negative effect on global warming and dramatically increased food prices by diverting forests and crops into biofuel production.[16] As intermittent resources, solar and wind raise other issues.
Solar energy can be harnessed in different levels around the world. Depending on a geographical location the closer to the equator the more "potential" solar energy is available.[17]
[edit] Applications of solar technology

Average insolation showing land area (small black dots) required to replace the world primary energy supply with solar electricity. 18 TW is 568 Exajoule (EJ) per year. Insolation for most people is from 150 to 300 W/m² or 3.5 to 7.0 kWh/m²/day.
Solar energy refers primarily to the use of solar radiation for practical ends. However, all renewable energies, other than geothermal and tidal, derive their energy from the sun.
Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive or active depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight. Active solar techniques use photovoltaic panels, pumps, and fans to convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive solar techniques include selecting materials with favorable thermal properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air, and referencing the position of a building to the Sun. Active solar technologies increase the supply of energy and are considered supply side technologies, while passive solar technologies reduce the need for alternate resources and are generally considered demand side technologies.[18]
[edit] Architecture and urban planning
Main articles: Passive solar building design and Urban heat island

Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany won the 2007 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. with this passive house designed specifically for the humid and hot subtropical climate.[19]
Sunlight has influenced building design since the beginning of architectural history.[20] Advanced solar architecture and urban planning methods were first employed by the Greeks and Chinese, who oriented their buildings toward the south to provide light and warmth.[21]
The common features of passive solar architecture are orientation relative to the Sun, compact proportion (a low surface area to volume ratio), selective shading (overhangs) and thermal mass.[20] When these features are tailored to the local climate and environment they can produce well-lit spaces that stay in a comfortable temperature range. Socrates' Megaron House is a classic example of passive solar design.[20] The most recent approaches to solar design use computer modeling tying together solar lighting, heating and ventilation systems in an integrated solar design package.[22] Active solar equipment such as pumps, fans and switchable windows can complement passive design and improve system performance.
Urban heat islands (UHI) are metropolitan areas with higher temperatures than that of the surrounding environment. The higher temperatures are a result of increased absorption of the Solar light by urban materials such as asphalt and concrete, which have lower albedos and higher heat capacities than those in the natural environment. A straightforward method of counteracting the UHI effect is to paint buildings and roads white and plant trees. Using these methods, a hypothetical "cool communities" program in Los Angeles has projected that urban temperatures could be reduced by approximately 3 °C at an estimated cost of US$1 billion, giving estimated total annual benefits of US$530 million from reduced air-conditioning costs and healthcare savings.[23]
[edit] Agriculture and horticulture
Main articles: Agriculture, Horticulture, and Greenhouse

Greenhouses like these in the Westland municipality of the Netherlands grow vegetables, fruits and flowers.
Agriculture seeks to optimize the capture of solar energy in order to optimize the productivity of plants. Techniques such as timed planting cycles, tailored row orientation, staggered heights between rows and the mixing of plant varieties can improve crop yields.[24][25] While sunlight is generally considered a plentiful resource, the exceptions highlight the importance of solar energy to agriculture. During the short growing seasons of the Little Ice Age, French and English farmers employed fruit walls to maximize the collection of solar energy. These walls acted as thermal masses and accelerated ripening by keeping plants warm. Early fruit walls were built perpendicular to the ground and facing south, but over time, sloping walls were developed to make better use of sunlight. In 1699, Nicolas Fatio de Duillier even suggested using a tracking mechanism which could pivot to follow the Sun.[26] Applications of solar energy in agriculture aside from growing crops include pumping water, drying crops, brooding chicks and drying chicken manure.[27][28] More recently the technology has been embraced by vinters, who use the energy generated by solar panels to power grape presses.[29]
Greenhouses convert solar light to heat, enabling year-round production and the growth (in enclosed environments) of specialty crops and other plants not naturally suited to the local climate. Primitive greenhouses were first used during Roman times to produce cucumbers year-round for the Roman emperor Tiberius.[30] The first modern greenhouses were built in Europe in the 16th century to keep exotic plants brought back from explorations abroad.[31] Greenhouses remain an important part of horticulture today, and plastic transparent materials have also been used to similar effect in polytunnels and row covers.
[edit] Solar lighting

Daylighting features such as this oculus at the top of the Pantheon, in Rome, Italy have been in use since antiquity.
The history of lighting is dominated by the use of natural light. The Romans recognized a right to light as early as the 6th century and English law echoed these judgments with the Prescription Act of 1832.[32][33] In the 20th century artificial lighting became the main source of interior illumination but daylighting techniques and hybrid solar lighting solutions are ways to reduce energy consumption.
Daylighting systems collect and distribute sunlight to provide interior illumination. This passive technology directly offsets energy use by replacing artificial lighting, and indirectly offsets non-solar energy use by reducing the need for air-conditioning.[34] Although difficult to quantify, the use of natural lighting also offers physiological and psychological benefits compared to artificial lighting.[34] Daylighting design implies careful selection of window types, sizes and orientation; exterior shading devices may be considered as well. Individual features include sawtooth roofs, clerestory windows, light shelves, skylights and light tubes. They may be incorporated into existing structures, but are most effective when integrated into a solar design package that accounts for factors such as glare, heat flux and time-of-use. When daylighting features are properly implemented they can reduce lighting-related energy requirements by 25%.[35]
Hybrid solar lighting is an active solar method of providing interior illumination. HSL systems collect sunlight using focusing mirrors that track the Sun and use optical fibers to transmit it inside the building to supplement conventional lighting. In single-story applications these systems are able to transmit 50% of the direct sunlight received.[36]
Solar lights that charge during the day and light up at dusk are a common sight along walkways.[citation needed]
Although daylight saving time is promoted as a way to use sunlight to save energy, recent research has been limited and reports contradictory results: several studies report savings, but just as many suggest no effect or even a net loss, particularly when gasoline consumption is taken into account. Electricity use is greatly affected by geography, climate and economics, making it hard to generalize from single studies.[37]
[edit] Solar thermal
Main article: Solar thermal energy
Solar thermal technologies can be used for water heating, space heating, space cooling and process heat generation.[38]
[edit] Water heating
Main articles: Solar hot water and Solar combisystem

Solar water heaters facing the Sun to maximize gain.
Solar hot water systems use sunlight to heat water. In low geographical latitudes (below 40 degrees) from 60 to 70% of the domestic hot water use with temperatures up to 60 °C can be provided by solar heating systems.[39] The most common types of solar water heaters are evacuated tube collectors (44%) and glazed flat plate collectors (34%) generally used for domestic hot water; and unglazed plastic collectors (21%) used mainly to heat swimming pools.[40]
As of 2007, the total installed capacity of solar hot water systems is approximately 154 GW.[41] China is the world leader in their deployment with 70 GW installed as of 2006 and a long term goal of 210 GW by 2020.[42] Israel and Cyprus are the per capita leaders in the use of solar hot water systems with over 90% of homes using them.[43] In the United States, Canada and Australia heating swimming pools is the dominant application of solar hot water with an installed capacity of 18 GW as of 2005.[18]
[edit] Heating, cooling and ventilation
Main articles: Solar heating, Thermal mass, Solar chimney, and Solar air conditioning

Solar House #1 of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, built in 1939, used seasonal thermal storage for year-round heating.
In the United States, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for 30% (4.65 EJ) of the energy used in commercial buildings and nearly 50% (10.1 EJ) of the energy used in residential buildings.[35][44] Solar heating, cooling and ventilation technologies can be used to offset a portion of this energy.
Thermal mass is any material that can be used to store heat—heat from the Sun in the case of solar energy. Common thermal mass materials include stone, cement and water. Historically they have been used in arid climates or warm temperate regions to keep buildings cool by absorbing solar energy during the day and radiating stored heat to the cooler atmosphere at night. However they can be used in cold temperate areas to maintain warmth as well. The size and placement of thermal mass depend on several factors such as climate, daylighting and shading conditions. When properly incorporated, thermal mass maintains space temperatures in a comfortable range and reduces the need for auxiliary heating and cooling equipment.[45]
A solar chimney (or thermal chimney, in this context) is a passive solar ventilation system composed of a vertical shaft connecting the interior and exterior of a building. As the chimney warms, the air inside is heated causing an updraft that pulls air through the building. Performance can be improved by using glazing and thermal mass materials in a way that mimics greenhouses.[citation needed]
Deciduous trees and plants have been promoted as a means of controlling solar heating and cooling. When planted on the southern side of a building, their leaves provide shade during the summer, while the bare limbs allow light to pass during the winter.[46] Since bare, leafless trees shade 1/3 to 1/2 of incident solar radiation, there is a balance between the benefits of summer shading and the corresponding loss of winter heating.[47] In climates with significant heating loads, deciduous trees should not be planted on the southern side of a building because they will interfere with winter solar availability. They can, however, be used on the east and west sides to provide a degree of summer shading without appreciably affecting winter solar gain.[48]
[edit] Water treatment
Main articles: Solar still, Solar water disinfection, Solar desalination, and Solar Powered Desalination Unit

Solar water disinfection in Indonesia

Small scale solar powered sewerage treatment plant.
Solar distillation can be used to make saline or brackish water potable. The first recorded instance of this was by 16th century Arab alchemists.[49] A large-scale solar distillation project was first constructed in 1872 in the Chilean mining town of Las Salinas.[50] The plant, which had solar collection area of 4,700 m², could produce up to 22,700 L per day and operated for 40 years.[50] Individual still designs include single-slope, double-slope (or greenhouse type), vertical, conical, inverted absorber, multi-wick, and multiple effect.[49] These stills can operate in passive, active, or hybrid modes. Double-slope stills are the most economical for decentralized domestic purposes, while active multiple effect units are more suitable for large-scale applications.[49]
Solar water disinfection (SODIS) involves exposing water-filled plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles to sunlight for several hours.[51] Exposure times vary depending on weather and climate from a minimum of six hours to two days during fully overcast conditions.[52] It is recommended by the World Health Organization as a viable method for household water treatment and safe storage.[53] Over two million people in developing countries use this method for their daily drinking water.[52]
Solar energy may be used in a water stabilisation pond to treat waste water without chemicals or electricity. A further environmental advantage is that algae grow in such ponds and consume carbon dioxide in photosynthesis, although algae may produce toxic chemicals that make the water unusable.[54][55]
[edit] Cooking
Main article: Solar cooker

The Solar Bowl in Auroville, India, concentrates sunlight on a movable receiver to produce steam for cooking.
Solar cookers use sunlight for cooking, drying and pasteurization. They can be grouped into three broad categories: box cookers, panel cookers and reflector cookers.[56] The simplest solar cooker—the box cooker first built by Horace de Saussure in 1767.[57] A basic box cooker consists of an insulated container with a transparent lid. It can be used effectively with partially overcast skies and will typically reach temperatures of 90–150 °C.[58] Panel cookers use a reflective panel to direct sunlight onto an insulated container and reach temperatures comparable to box cookers. Reflector cookers use various concentrating geometries (dish, trough, Fresnel mirrors) to focus light on a cooking container. These cookers reach temperatures of 315 °C and above but require direct light to function properly and must be repositioned to track the Sun.[59]
The solar bowl is a concentrating technology employed by the Solar Kitchen in Auroville, Pondicherry, India, where a stationary spherical reflector focuses light along a line perpendicular to the sphere's interior surface, and a computer control system moves the receiver to intersect this line. Steam is produced in the receiver at temperatures reaching 150 °C and then used for process heat in the kitchen.[60]
A reflector developed by Wolfgang Scheffler in 1986 is used in many solar kitchens. Scheffler reflectors are flexible parabolic dishes that combine aspects of trough and power tower concentrators. Polar tracking is used to follow the Sun's daily course and the curvature of the reflector is adjusted for seasonal variations in the incident angle of sunlight. These reflectors can reach temperatures of 450–650 °C and have a fixed focal point, which simplifies cooking.[61] The world's largest Scheffler reflector system in Abu Road, Rajasthan, India is capable of cooking up to 35,000 meals a day.[62] As of 2008, over 2,000 large Scheffler cookers had been built worldwide.[63]
[edit] Process heat
Main articles: Solar pond, Salt evaporation pond, and Solar furnace

STEP parabolic dishes used for steam production and electrical generation.
Solar concentrating technologies such as parabolic dish, trough and Scheffler reflectors can provide process heat for commercial and industrial applications. The first commercial system was the Solar Total Energy Project (STEP) in Shenandoah, Georgia, USA where a field of 114 parabolic dishes provided 50% of the process heating, air conditioning and electrical requirements for a clothing factory. This grid-connected cogeneration system provided 400 kW of electricity plus thermal energy in the form of 401 kW steam and 468 kW chilled water, and had a one hour peak load thermal storage.[64]
Evaporation ponds are shallow pools that concentrate dissolved solids through evaporation. The use of evaporation ponds to obtain salt from sea water is one of the oldest applications of solar energy. Modern uses include concentrating brine solutions used in leach mining and removing dissolved solids from waste streams.[65]
Clothes lines, clotheshorses, and clothes racks dry clothes through evaporation by wind and sunlight without consuming electricity or gas. In some states of the United States legislation protects the "right to dry" clothes.[66]
Unglazed transpired collectors (UTC) are perforated sun-facing walls used for preheating ventilation air. UTCs can raise the incoming air temperature up to 22 °C and deliver outlet temperatures of 45–60 °C.[67] The short payback period of transpired collectors (3 to 12 years) makes them a more cost-effective alternative than glazed collection systems.[67] As of 2003, over 80 systems with a combined collector area of 35,000 m² had been installed worldwide, including an 860 m² collector in Costa Rica used for drying coffee beans and a 1,300 m² collector in Coimbatore, India used for drying marigolds.[28]
[edit] Electrical generation
Main article: Solar power
Sunlight can be converted into electricity using photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and various experimental technologies. PV has mainly been used to power small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to off-grid homes powered by a photovoltaic array. For large-scale generation, CSP plants like SEGS have been the norm but recently multi-megawatt PV plants are becoming common. Completed in 2007, the 14 MW power station in Clark County, Nevada, United States and the 20 MW site in Beneixama, Spain are characteristic of the trend toward larger photovoltaic power stations in the United States and Europe.[68] As an intermittent power source, solar power requires a backup supply, which can partially be complemented with wind power. Local backup usually is done with batteries, while utilities normally use pumped-hydro storage. The Institute for Solar Energy Supply Technology of the University of Kassel in Germany pilot-tested a combined power plant linking solar, wind, biogas and hydrostorage to provide load-following power around the clock, entirely from renewable sources.[69]
[edit] Experimental solar power
Main articles: Solar pond and Thermogenerator

Solar Evaporation Ponds in the Atacama Desert, South America
A solar pond is a pool of salt water (usually 1–2 m deep) that collects and stores solar energy. Solar ponds were first proposed by Dr. Rudolph Bloch in 1948 after he came across reports of a lake in Hungary in which the temperature increased with depth. This effect was due to salts in the lake's water, which created a "density gradient" that prevented convection currents. A prototype was constructed in 1958 on the shores of the Dead Sea near Jerusalem.[70] The pond consisted of layers of water that successively increased from a weak salt solution at the top to a high salt solution at the bottom. This solar pond was capable of producing temperatures of 90 °C in its bottom layer and had an estimated solar-to-electric efficiency of two percent.
Thermoelectric, or "thermovoltaic" devices convert a temperature difference between dissimilar materials into an electric current. First proposed as a method to store solar energy by solar pioneer Mouchout in the 1800s,[71] thermoelectrics reemerged in the Soviet Union during the 1930s. Under the direction of Soviet scientist Abram Ioffe a concentrating system was used to thermoelectrically generate power for a 1 hp engine.[72] Thermogenerators were later used in the US space program as an energy conversion technology for powering deep space missions such as Cassini, Galileo and Viking. Research in this area is focused on raising the efficiency of these devices from 7–8% to 15–20%.[73]
[edit] Solar chemical
Main article: Solar chemical
Solar chemical processes use solar energy to drive chemical reactions. These processes offset energy that would otherwise come from an alternate source and can convert solar energy into storable and transportable fuels. Solar induced chemical reactions can be divided into thermochemical or photochemical.[74]
Hydrogen production technologies been a significant area of solar chemical research since the 1970s. Aside from electrolysis driven by photovoltaic or photochemical cells, several thermochemical processes have also been explored. One such route uses concentrators to split water into oxygen and hydrogen at high temperatures (2300-2600 °C).[75] Another approach uses the heat from solar concentrators to drive the steam reformation of natural gas thereby increasing the overall hydrogen yield compared to conventional reforming methods.[76] Thermochemical cycles characterized by the decomposition and regeneration of reactants present another avenue for hydrogen production. The Solzinc process under development at the Weizmann Institute uses a 1 MW solar furnace to decompose zinc oxide (ZnO) at temperatures above 1200 °C. This initial reaction produces pure zinc, which can subsequently be reacted with water to produce hydrogen.[77]
Sandia's Sunshine to Petrol (S2P) technology uses the high temperatures generated by concentrating sunlight along with a zirconia/ferrite catalyst to break down atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon monoxide (CO). The carbon monoxide can then be used to synthesize conventional fuels such as methanol, gasoline and jet fuel.[78]
A photogalvanic device is a type of battery in which the cell solution (or equivalent) forms energy-rich chemical intermediates when illuminated. These energy-rich intermediates can potentially be stored and subsequently reacted at the electrodes to produce an electric potential. The ferric-thionine chemical cell is an example of this technology.[79]
Photoelectrochemical cells or PECs consist of a semiconductor, typically titanium dioxide or related titanates, immersed in an electrolyte. When the semiconductor is illuminated an electrical potential develops. There are two types of photoelectrochemical cells: photoelectric cells that convert light into electricity and photochemical cells that use light to drive chemical reactions such as electrolysis.[80]
[edit] Solar vehicles
Main articles: Solar vehicle, Electric boat, and Solar balloon

Australia hosts the World Solar Challenge where solar cars like the Nuna3 race through a 3,021 km (1,877 mi) course from Darwin to Adelaide.
Development of a solar powered car has been an engineering goal since the 1980s. The World Solar Challenge is a biannual solar-powered car race, where teams from universities and enterprises compete over 3,021 kilometres (1,877 mi) across central Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. In 1987, when it was founded, the winner's average speed was 67 kilometres per hour (42 mph) and by 2007 the winner's average speed had improved to 90.87 kilometres per hour (56.46 mph).[81] The North American Solar Challenge and the planned South African Solar Challenge are comparable competitions that reflect an international interest in the engineering and development of solar powered vehicles.[82][83]
Some vehicles use solar panels for auxiliary power, such as for air conditioning, to keep the interior cool, thus reducing fuel consumption.[84][85]
In 1975, the first practical solar boat was constructed in England.[86] By 1995, passenger boats incorporating PV panels began appearing and are now used extensively.[87] In 1996, Kenichi Horie made the first solar powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean, and the sun21 catamaran made the first solar powered crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the winter of 2006–2007.[88] There are plans to circumnavigate the globe in 2010.[89]

Helios UAV in solar powered flight.
In 1974, the unmanned AstroFlight Sunrise plane made the first solar flight. On 29 April 1979, the Solar Riser made the first flight in a solar powered, fully controlled, man carrying flying machine, reaching an altitude of 40 feet (12 m). In 1980, the Gossamer Penguin made the first piloted flights powered solely by photovoltaics. This was quickly followed by the Solar Challenger which crossed the English Channel in July 1981. In 1990 Eric Raymond in 21 hops flew from California to North Carolina using solar power.[90] Developments then turned back to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with the Pathfinder (1997) and subsequent designs, culminating in the Helios which set the altitude record for a non-rocket-propelled aircraft at 29,524 metres (96,860 ft) in 2001.[91] The Zephyr, developed by BAE Systems, is the latest in a line of record-breaking solar aircraft, making a 54-hour flight in 2007, and month-long flights are envisioned by 2010.[92]
A solar balloon is a black balloon that is filled with ordinary air. As sunlight shines on the balloon, the air inside is heated and expands causing an upward buoyancy force, much like an artificially heated hot air balloon. Some solar balloons are large enough for human flight, but usage is generally limited to the toy market as the surface-area to payload-weight ratio is relatively high.[93]
Solar sails are a proposed form of spacecraft propulsion using large membrane mirrors to exploit radiation pressure from the Sun. Unlike rockets, solar sails require no fuel. Although the thrust is small compared to rockets, it continues as long as the Sun shines onto the deployed sail and in the vacuum of space significant speeds can eventually be achieved.[94]
The High-altitude airship (HAA) is an unmanned, long-duration, lighter-than-air vehicle using helium gas for lift, and thin-film solar cells for power. The United States Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency has contracted Lockheed Martin to construct it to enhance the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).[95] Airships have some advantages for solar-powered flight: they do not require power to remain aloft, and an airship's envelope presents a large area to the Sun.
[edit] Energy storage methods
Main articles: Thermal mass, Thermal energy storage, Phase change material, Grid energy storage, and V2G

Solar Two's thermal storage system generated electricity during cloudy weather and at night.
Solar energy is not available at night, and energy storage is an important issue because modern energy systems usually assume continuous availability of energy.[96]
Thermal mass systems can store solar energy in the form of heat at domestically useful temperatures for daily or seasonal durations. Thermal storage systems generally use readily available materials with high specific heat capacities such as water, earth and stone. Well-designed systems can lower peak demand, shift time-of-use to off-peak hours and reduce overall heating and cooling requirements.[97][98]
Phase change materials such as paraffin wax and Glauber's salt are another thermal storage media. These materials are inexpensive, readily available, and can deliver domestically useful temperatures (approximately 64 °C). The "Dover House" (in Dover, Massachusetts) was the first to use a Glauber's salt heating system, in 1948.[99]
Solar energy can be stored at high temperatures using molten salts. Salts are an effective storage medium because they are low-cost, have a high specific heat capacity and can deliver heat at temperatures compatible with conventional power systems. The Solar Two used this method of energy storage, allowing it to store 1.44 TJ in its 68 m³ storage tank with an annual storage efficiency of about 99%.[100]
Off-grid PV systems have traditionally used rechargeable batteries to store excess electricity. With grid-tied systems, excess electricity can be sent to the transmission grid. Net metering programs give these systems a credit for the electricity they deliver to the grid. This credit offsets electricity provided from the grid when the system cannot meet demand, effectively using the grid as a storage mechanism.[101]
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity stores energy in the form of water pumped when energy is available from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation one. The energy is recovered when demand is high by releasing the water to run through a hydroelectric power generator.[102]
[edit] Development, deployment and economics
Main article: Deployment of solar power to energy grids

Nellis Solar Power Plant in the United States, the largest photovoltaic power plant in North America.
Beginning with the surge in coal use which accompanied the Industrial Revolution, energy consumption has steadily transitioned from wood and biomass to fossil fuels. The early development of solar technologies starting in the 1860s was driven by an expectation that coal would soon become scarce. However development of solar technologies stagnated in the early 20th century in the face of the increasing availability, economy, and utility of coal and petroleum.[103]
The 1973 oil embargo and 1979 energy crisis caused a reorganization of energy policies around the world and brought renewed attention to developing solar technologies.[104][105] Deployment strategies focused on incentive programs such as the Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Program in the US and the Sunshine Program in Japan. Other efforts included the formation of research facilities in the US (SERI, now NREL), Japan (NEDO), and Germany (Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE).[106]
Commercial solar water heaters began appearing in the United States in the 1890s.[107] These systems saw increasing use until the 1920s but were gradually replaced by cheaper and more reliable heating fuels.[108] As with photovoltaics, solar water heating attracted renewed attention as a result of the oil crises in the 1970s but interest subsided in the 1980s due to falling petroleum prices. Development in the solar water heating sector progressed steadily throughout the 1990s and growth rates have averaged 20% per year since 1999.[41] Although generally underestimated, solar water heating is by far the most widely deployed solar technology

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Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used.
Solar power technologies provide electrical generation by means of heat engines or photovoltaics. Once converted its uses are only limited by human ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, daylighting, hot water, thermal energy for cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.
Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels, solar thermal collectors, with electrical or mechanical equipment, to convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.
Contents
About half the incoming solar energy reaches the earth's surface.
The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation (insolation) at the upper atmosphere.[1] Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses. The spectrum of solar light at the Earth's surface is mostly spread across the visible and near-infrared ranges with a small part in the near-ultraviolet.[2]
Earth's land surface, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar radiation, and this raises their temperature. Warm air containing evaporated water from the oceans rises, causing atmospheric circulation or convection. When the air reaches a high altitude, where the temperature is low, water vapor condenses into clouds, which rain onto the earth's surface, completing the water cycle. The latent heat of water condensation amplifies convection, producing atmospheric phenomena such as wind, cyclones and anti-cyclones. [3] Sunlight absorbed by the oceans and land masses keeps the surface at an average temperature of 14 °C.[4] By photosynthesis green plants convert solar energy into chemical energy, which produces food, wood and the biomass from which fossil fuels are derived.[5]
Yearly Solar fluxes & Human Energy Consumption
Solar
3,850,000 EJ [6]
Wind
2,250 EJ [7]
Biomass
3,000 EJ [8]
Primary energy use (2005)
487 EJ [9]
Electricity (2005)
56.7 EJ [10]
The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, oceans and land masses is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per year.[11] In 2002, this was more energy in one hour than the world used in one year.[12][13] Photosynthesis captures approximately 3,000 EJ per year in biomass.[14] The amount of solar energy reaching the surface of the planet is so vast that in one year it is about twice as much as will ever be obtained from all of the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium combined.[15]
From the table of resources it would appear that solar, wind or biomass would be sufficient to supply all of our energy needs, however, the increased use of biomass has had a negative effect on global warming and dramatically increased food prices by diverting forests and crops into biofuel production.[16] As intermittent resources, solar and wind raise other issues.

Applications of solar technology

Average insolation showing land area (small black dots) required to replace the world primary energy supply with solar electricity. 18 TW is 568 Exajoule (EJ) per year. Insolation for most people is from 150 to 300 W/m^2 or 3.5 to 7.0 kWh/m^2/day.
Solar energy refers primarily to the use of solar radiation for practical ends. All other renewable energies other than geothermal derive their energy from the sun.
Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive or active depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight. Active solar techniques use photovoltaic panels, pumps, and fans to convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive solar techniques include selecting materials with favorable thermal properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air, and referencing the position of a building to the Sun. Active solar technologies increase the supply of energy and are considered supply side technologies, while passive solar technologies reduce the need for alternate resources and are generally considered demand side technologies.[17]

Architecture and urban planning
Main articles: Passive solar building design and Urban heat island

Darmstadt University of Technology won the 2007 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. with this passive house designed specifically for the humid and hot subtropical climate[18]
Sunlight has influenced building design since the beginning of architectural history.[19] Advanced solar architecture and urban planning methods were first employed by the Greeks and Chinese, who oriented their buildings toward the south to provide light and warmth.[20]
The common features of passive solar architecture are orientation relative to the Sun, compact proportion (a low surface area to volume ratio), selective shading (overhangs) and thermal mass.[19] When these features are tailored to the local climate and environment they can produce well-lit spaces that stay in a comfortable temperature range. Socrates' Megaron House is a classic example of passive solar design.[19] The most recent approaches to solar design use computer modeling tying together solar lighting, heating and ventilation systems in an integrated solar design package.[21] Active solar equipment such as pumps, fans and switchable windows can complement passive design and improve system performance.
Urban heat islands (UHI) are metropolitan areas with higher temperatures than that of the surrounding environment. The higher temperatures are a result of increased absorption of the Solar light by urban materials such as asphalt and concrete, which have lower albedos and higher heat capacities than those in the natural environment. A straightforward method of counteracting the UHI effect is to paint buildings and roads white and plant trees. Using these methods, a hypothetical "cool communities" program in Los Angeles has projected that urban temperatures could be reduced by approximately 3 °C at an estimated cost of US$1 billion, giving estimated total annual benefits of US$530 million from reduced air-conditioning costs and healthcare savings.[22]

Agriculture and horticulture
Main articles: Agriculture, Horticulture, and Greenhouse

Greenhouses like these in the Netherlands' Westland municipality grow vegetables, fruits and flowers.
Agriculture seeks to optimize the capture of solar energy in order to optimize the productivity of plants. Techniques such as timed planting cycles, tailored row orientation, staggered heights between rows and the mixing of plant varieties can improve crop yields.[23][24] While sunlight is generally considered a plentiful resource, the exceptions highlight the importance of solar energy to agriculture. During the short growing seasons of the Little Ice Age, French and English farmers employed fruit walls to maximize the collection of solar energy. These walls acted as thermal masses and accelerated ripening by keeping plants warm. Early fruit walls were built perpendicular to the ground and facing south, but over time, sloping walls were developed to make better use of sunlight. In 1699, Nicolas Fatio de Duillier even suggested using a tracking mechanism which could pivot to follow the Sun.[25] Applications of solar energy in agriculture aside from growing crops include pumping water, drying crops, brooding chicks and drying chicken manure.[26][27] More recently the technology has been embraced by vinters, who use the energy generated by solar panels to power grape presses. [28]
Greenhouses convert solar light to heat, enabling year-round production and the growth (in enclosed environments) of specialty crops and other plants not naturally suited to the local climate. Primitive greenhouses were first used during Roman times to produce cucumbers year-round for the Roman emperor Tiberius.[29] The first modern greenhouses were built in Europe in the 16th century to keep exotic plants brought back from explorations abroad.[30] Greenhouses remain an important part of horticulture today, and plastic transparent materials have also been used to similar effect in polytunnels and row covers.

Solar lighting

Daylighting features such as this oculus at the top of the Pantheon in Rome have been in use since antiquity.
The history of lighting is dominated by the use of natural light. The Romans recognized a right to light as early as the 6th century and English law echoed these judgments with the Prescription Act of 1832.[31][32] In the 20th century artificial lighting became the main source of interior illumination but daylighting techniques and hybrid solar lighting solutions are ways to reduce energy consumption.
Daylighting systems collect and distribute sunlight to provide interior illumination. This passive technology directly offsets energy use by replacing artificial lighting, and indirectly offsets non-solar energy use by reducing the need for air-conditioning.[33] Although difficult to quantify, the use of natural lighting also offers physiological and psychological benefits compared to artificial lighting.[33] Daylighting design implies careful selection of window types, sizes and orientation; exterior shading devices may be considered as well. Individual features include sawtooth roofs, clerestory windows, light shelves, skylights and light tubes. They may be incorporated into existing structures, but are most effective when integrated into a solar design package that accounts for factors such as glare, heat flux and time-of-use. When daylighting features are properly implemented they can reduce lighting-related energy requirements by 25%.[34]
Hybrid solar lighting is an active solar method of providing interior illumination. HSL systems collect sunlight using focusing mirrors that track the Sun and use optical fibers to transmit it inside the building to supplement conventional lighting. In single-story applications these systems are able to transmit 50% of the direct sunlight received.[35]
Solar lights that charge during the day and light up at dusk are a common sight along walkways.[citation needed]
Although daylight saving time is promoted as a way to use sunlight to save energy, recent research has been limited and reports contradictory results: several studies report savings, but just as many suggest no effect or even a net loss, particularly when gasoline consumption is taken into account. Electricity use is greatly affected by geography, climate and economics, making it hard to generalize from single studies.[36]

Solar thermal
Main article: Solar thermal energy
Solar thermal technologies can be used for water heating, space heating, space cooling and process heat generation.[37]

Water heating
Main articles: Solar hot water and Solar combisystem

Solar water heaters facing the Sun to maximize gain
Solar hot water systems use sunlight to heat water. In low geographical latitudes (below 40 degrees) from 60 to 70% of the domestic hot water use with temperatures up to 60 °C can be provided by solar heating systems.[38] The most common types of solar water heaters are evacuated tube collectors (44%) and glazed flat plate collectors (34%) generally used for domestic hot water; and unglazed plastic collectors (21%) used mainly to heat swimming pools.[39]
As of 2007, the total installed capacity of solar hot water systems is approximately 154 GW.[40] China is the world leader in their deployment with 70 GW installed as of 2006 and a long term goal of 210 GW by 2020.[41] Israel and Cyprus are the per capita leaders in the use of solar hot water systems with over 90% of homes using them.[42] In the United States, Canada and Australia heating swimming pools is the dominant application of solar hot water with an installed capacity of 18 GW as of 2005.[17]

Heating, cooling and ventilation
Main articles: Solar heating, Thermal mass, Solar chimney, and Solar air conditioning

MIT's Solar House #1, built in 1939, used seasonal thermal storage for year-round heating.
In the United States, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for 30% (4.65 EJ) of the energy used in commercial buildings and nearly 50% (10.1 EJ) of the energy used in residential buildings.[43][34] Solar heating, cooling and ventilation technologies can be used to offset a portion of this energy.
Thermal mass is any material that can be used to store heat—heat from the Sun in the case of solar energy. Common thermal mass materials include stone, cement and water. Historically they have been used in arid climates or warm temperate regions to keep buildings cool by absorbing solar energy during the day and radiating stored heat to the cooler atmosphere at night. However they can be used in cold temperate areas to maintain warmth as well. The size and placement of thermal mass depend on several factors such as climate, daylighting and shading conditions. When properly incorporated, thermal mass maintains space temperatures in a comfortable range and reduces the need for auxiliary heating and cooling equipment.[44]
A solar chimney (or thermal chimney, in this context) is a passive solar ventilation system composed of a vertical shaft connecting the interior and exterior of a building. As the chimney warms, the air inside is heated causing an updraft that pulls air through the building. Performance can be improved by using glazing and thermal mass materials in a way that mimics greenhouses.[citation needed]
Deciduous trees and plants have been promoted as a means of controlling solar heating and cooling. When planted on the southern side of a building, their leaves provide shade during the summer, while the bare limbs allow light to pass during the winter.[45] Since bare, leafless trees shade 1/3 to 1/2 of incident solar radiation, there is a balance between the benefits of summer shading and the corresponding loss of winter heating.[46] In climates with significant heating loads, deciduous trees should not be planted on the southern side of a building because they will interfere with winter solar availability. They can, however, be used on the east and west sides to provide a degree of summer shading without appreciably affecting winter solar gain.[47]

Water treatment
Main articles: Solar still, Solar water disinfection, Solar desalination, and Solar Powered Desalination Unit

Application of SODIS technology in Indonesia to water disinfection
Solar distillation can be used to make saline or brackish water potable. The first recorded instance of this was by 16th century Arab alchemists.[48] A large-scale solar distillation project was first constructed in 1872 in the Chilean mining town of Las Salinas.[49] The plant, which had solar collection area of 4,700 m², could produce up to 22,700 L per day and operated for 40 years.[49] Individual still designs include single-slope, double-slope (or greenhouse type), vertical, conical, inverted absorber, multi-wick, and multiple effect.[48] These stills can operate in passive, active, or hybrid modes. Double-slope stills are the most economical for decentralized domestic purposes, while active multiple effect units are more suitable for large-scale applications.[48]
Solar water disinfection (SODIS) involves exposing water-filled plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles to sunlight for several hours.[50] Exposure times vary depending on weather and climate from a minimum of six hours to two days during fully overcast conditions.[51] SODIS is recommended by the World Health Organization as a viable method for household water treatment and safe storage.[52] Over two million people in developing countries use SODIS for their daily drinking water.[51]

Small scale solar powered sewerage treatment plant
Solar energy may be used in a water stabilisation pond to treat waste water without chemicals or electricity. A further environmental advantage is that algae grow in such ponds and consume carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. [53] [54]

Cooking
Main article: Solar cooker

The Solar Bowl in Auroville, India, concentrates sunlight on a movable receiver to produce steam for cooking.
Solar cookers use sunlight for cooking, drying and pasteurization. They can be grouped into three broad categories: box cookers, panel cookers and reflector cookers.[55] The simplest solar cooker—the box cooker first built by Horace de Saussure in 1767.[56] A basic box cooker consists of an insulated container with a transparent lid. It can be used effectively with partially overcast skies and will typically reach temperatures of 90–150 °C.[57] Panel cookers use a reflective panel to direct sunlight onto an insulated container and reach temperatures comparable to box cookers. Reflector cookers use various concentrating geometries (dish, trough, Fresnel mirrors) to focus light on a cooking container. These cookers reach temperatures of 315 °C and above but require direct light to function properly and must be repositioned to track the Sun.[58]
The solar bowl is a concentrating technology employed by the Solar Kitchen in Auroville, India, where a stationary spherical reflector focuses light along a line perpendicular to the sphere's interior surface, and a computer control system moves the receiver to intersect this line. Steam is produced in the receiver at temperatures reaching 150 °C and then used for process heat in the kitchen.[59]
A reflector developed by Wolfgang Scheffler in 1986 is used in many solar kitchens. Scheffler reflectors are flexible parabolic dishes that combine aspects of trough and power tower concentrators. Polar tracking is used to follow the Sun's daily course and the curvature of the reflector is adjusted for seasonal variations in the incident angle of sunlight. These reflectors can reach temperatures of 450–650 °C and have a fixed focal point, which simplifies cooking.[60] The world's largest Scheffler reflector system in Abu Road, Rajasthan, India is capable of cooking up to 35,000 meals a day.[61] As of 2008, over 2,000 large Scheffler cookers had been built worldwide.[62]

Process heat
Main articles: Solar pond, Salt evaporation pond, and Solar furnace

STEP parabolic dishes used for steam production and electrical generation
Solar concentrating technologies such as parabolic dish, trough and Scheffler reflectors can provide process heat for commercial and industrial applications. The first commercial system was the Solar Total Energy Project (STEP) in Shenandoah, Georgia, USA where a field of 114 parabolic dishes provided 50% of the process heating, air conditioning and electrical requirements for a clothing factory. This grid-connected cogeneration system provided 400 kW of electricity plus thermal energy in the form of 401 kW steam and 468 kW chilled water, and had a one hour peak load thermal storage.[63]
Evaporation ponds are shallow pools that concentrate dissolved solids through evaporation. The use of evaporation ponds to obtain salt from sea water is one of the oldest applications of solar energy. Modern uses include concentrating brine solutions used in leach mining and removing dissolved solids from waste streams.[64]
Clothes lines, clotheshorses, and clothes racks dry clothes through evaporation by wind and sunlight without consuming electricity or gas. In some states of the United States legislation protects the "right to dry" clothes.[65]
Unglazed transpired collectors (UTC) are perforated sun-facing walls used for preheating ventilation air. UTCs can raise the incoming air temperature up to 22 °C and deliver outlet temperatures of 45–60 °C.[66] The short payback period of transpired collectors (3 to 12 years) makes them a more cost-effective alternative than glazed collection systems.[66] As of 2003, over 80 systems with a combined collector area of 35,000 m² had been installed worldwide, including an 860 m² collector in Costa Rica used for drying coffee beans and a 1,300 m² collector in Coimbatore, India used for drying marigolds.[27]

Electrical generation
Sunlight can be converted into electricity using photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and various experimental technologies. PV has mainly been used to power small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to off-grid homes powered by a photovoltaic array. For large-scale generation, CSP plants like SEGS have been the norm but recently multi-megawatt PV plants are becoming common. Completed in 2007, the 14 MW power station in Clark County, Nevada and the 20 MW site in Beneixama, Spain are characteristic of the trend toward larger photovoltaic power stations in the US and Europe.[67] As an intermittent power source, solar power requires a backup supply, which can partially be complemented with wind power. Local backup usually is done with batteries, while utilities normally use pumped-hydro storage. The Institute for Solar Energy Supply Technology of the University of Kassel pilot-tested a combined power plant linking solar, wind, biogas and hydrostorage to provide load-following power around the clock, entirely from renewable sources.[68]

Photovoltaics
Main article: Photovoltaics

11 MW Serpa solar power plant in Portugal
A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell (PV), is a device that converts light into direct current using the photoelectric effect. The first solar cell was constructed by Charles Fritts in the 1880s.[69] Although the prototype selenium cells converted less than 1% of incident light into electricity, both Ernst Werner von Siemens and James Clerk Maxwell recognized the importance of this discovery.[70] Following the work of Russell Ohl in the 1940s, researchers Gerald Pearson, Calvin Fuller and Daryl Chapin created the silicon solar cell in 1954.[71] These early solar cells cost 286 USD/watt and reached efficiencies of 4.5–6%.[72]
The earliest significant application of solar cells was as a back-up power source to the Vanguard I satellite in 1958, which allowed it to continue transmitting for over a year after its chemical battery was exhausted.[73] The successful operation of solar cells on this mission was duplicated in many other Soviet and American satellites, and by the late 1960s, PV had become the established source of power for them.[74] Photovoltaics went on to play an essential part in the success of early commercial satellites such as Telstar, and they remain vital to the telecommunications infrastructure today.[75]
The high cost of solar cells limited terrestrial uses throughout the 1960s. This changed in the early 1970s when prices reached levels that made PV generation competitive in remote areas without grid access. Early terrestrial uses included powering telecommunication stations, off-shore oil rigs, navigational buoys and railroad crossings.[76] These off-grid applications have proven very successful and accounted for over half of worldwide installed capacity until 2004.[41]

Building-integrated photovoltaics cover the roofs of the increasing number of homes.
The 1973 oil crisis stimulated a rapid rise in the production of PV during the 1970s and early 1980s.[77] Economies of scale which resulted from increasing production along with improvements in system performance brought the price of PV down from 100 USD/watt in 1971 to 7 USD/watt in 1985.[78] Steadily falling oil prices during the early 1980s led to a reduction in funding for photovoltaic R&D and a discontinuation of the tax credits associated with the Energy Tax Act of 1978. These factors moderated growth to approximately 15% per year from 1984 through 1996.[79]
Since the mid-1990s, leadership in the PV sector has shifted from the US to Japan and Germany. Between 1992 and 1994 Japan increased R&D funding, established net metering guidelines, and introduced a subsidy program to encourage the installation of residential PV systems.[80] As a result, PV installations in the country climbed from 31.2 MW in 1994 to 318 MW in 1999,[81] and worldwide production growth increased to 30% in the late 1990s.[82]
Germany has become the leading PV market worldwide since revising its Feed-in tariff system as part of the Renewable Energy Sources Act. Installed PV capacity has risen from 100 MW in 2000 to approximately 4,150 MW at the end of 2007.[83][84] Spain has become the third largest PV market after adopting a similar feed-in tariff structure in 2004, while France, Italy, South Korea and the US have seen rapid growth recently due to various incentive programs and local market conditions.[85]

Concentrating solar power
Main article: Concentrating solar power

Solar troughs are the most widely deployed and the most cost-effective CSP technology.
Concentrated sunlight has been used to perform useful tasks since the time of ancient China. A legend claims that Archimedes used polished shields to concentrate sunlight on the invading Roman fleet and repel them from Syracuse.[86] Auguste Mouchout used a parabolic trough to produce steam for the first solar steam engine in 1866, and subsequent developments led to the use of concentrating solar-powered devices for irrigation, refrigeration and locomotion.[87]
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. The concentrated light is then used as a heat source for a conventional power plant. A wide range of concentrating technologies exists; the most developed are the solar trough, parabolic dish and solar power tower. These methods vary in the way they track the Sun and focus light. In all these systems a working fluid is heated by the concentrated sunlight, and is then used for power generation or energy storage.[88]

The PS10 concentrates sunlight from a field of heliostats on a central tower.
A solar trough consists of a linear parabolic reflector that concentrates light onto a receiver positioned along the reflector's focal line. The reflector is made to follow the Sun during the daylight hours by tracking along a single axis. Trough systems provide the best land-use factor of any solar technology.[89] The SEGS plants in California and Acciona's Nevada Solar One near Boulder City, Nevada are representatives of this technology.[90][91]
A parabolic dish system consists of a stand-alone parabolic reflector that concentrates light onto a receiver positioned at the reflector's focal point. The reflector tracks the Sun along two axes. Parabolic dish systems give the highest efficiency among CSP technologies.[92] The 50 kW Big Dish in Canberra, Australia is an example of this technology.[90] The stirling solar dish combines a parabolic concentrating dish with a stirling heat engine which normally drives an electric generator. The advantages of stirling solar over photovoltaic cells are higher efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity and longer lifetime. A stirling engine has an approximate mean time before failure (MTBF) of 25 years.[citation needed]
A solar power tower uses an array of tracking reflectors (heliostats) to concentrate light on a central receiver atop a tower. Power towers are less advanced than trough systems but offer higher efficiency and better energy storage capability.[90] The Solar Two in Barstow, California and the Planta Solar 10 in Sanlucar la Mayor, Spain are representatives of this technology.[90][93]

Experimental solar power
Main articles: Solar updraft tower, Solar pond, Thermogenerator, and Space solar power
A solar updraft tower (also known as a solar chimney or solar tower) consists of a large greenhouse that funnels into a central tower. As sunlight shines on the greenhouse, the air inside is heated, and expands. The expanding air flows toward the central tower, where a turbine converts the air flow into electricity. A 50 kW prototype was constructed in Ciudad Real, Spain and operated for eight years before decommissioning in 1989.[94]
A solar pond is a pool of salt water (usually 1–2 m deep) that collects and stores solar energy. Solar ponds were first proposed by Dr. Rudolph Bloch in 1948 after he came across reports of a lake in Hungary in which the temperature increased with depth. This effect was due to salts in the lake's water, which created a "density gradient" that prevented convection currents. A prototype was constructed in 1958 on the shores of the Dead Sea near Jerusalem.[95] The pond consisted of layers of water that successively increased from a weak salt solution at the top to a high salt solution at the bottom. This solar pond was capable of producing temperatures of 90 °C in its bottom layer and had an estimated solar-to-electric efficiency of two percent.
Thermoelectric, or "thermovoltaic" devices convert a temperature difference between dissimilar materials into an electric current. First proposed as a method to store solar energy by solar pioneer Mouchout in the 1800s,[96] thermoelectrics reemerged in the Soviet Union during the 1930s. Under the direction of Soviet scientist Abram Ioffe a concentrating system was used to thermoelectrically generate power for a 1 hp engine.[97] Thermogenerators were later used in the US space program as an energy conversion technology for powering deep space missions such as Cassini, Galileo and Viking. Research in this area is focused on raising the efficiency of these devices from 7–8% to 15–20%.[98]
Space solar power systems would use a large solar array in geosynchronous orbit to collect sunlight and beam this energy in the form of microwave radiation to receivers (rectennas) on Earth for distribution. This concept was first proposed by Dr. Peter Glaser in 1968 and since then a wide variety of systems have been studied with both photovoltaic and concentrating solar thermal technologies being proposed. Although still in the concept stage, these systems offer the possibility of delivering power approximately 96% of the time.[99] In 2008, John C. Mankins, a former NASA scientist, successfully used radio waves to send solar power between two Hawaiian islands in an experiment funded by the Discovery Channel. Mankins claims that this "proves the technology exists to beam solar power from satellites back to Earth."[100]

Solar chemical
Main article: Solar chemical
Solar chemical processes use solar energy to drive chemical reactions. These processes offset energy that would otherwise come from an alternate source and can convert solar energy into storable and transportable fuels. Solar induced chemical reactions can be divided into thermochemical or photochemical.[101]
Hydrogen production technologies been a significant area of solar chemical research since the 1970s. Aside from electrolysis driven by photovoltaic or photochemical cells, several thermochemical processes have also been explored. One such route uses concentrators to split water into oxygen and hydrogen at high temperatures (2300-2600 °C).[102] Another approach uses the heat from solar concentrators to drive the steam reformation of natural gas thereby increasing the overall hydrogen yield compared to conventional reforming methods.[103] Thermochemical cycles characterized by the decomposition and regeneration of reactants present another avenue for hydrogen production. The Solzinc process under development at the Weizmann Institute uses a 1 MW solar furnace to decompose zinc oxide (ZnO) at temperatures above 1200 °C. This initial reaction produces pure zinc, which can subsequently be reacted with water to produce hydrogen.[104]
Sandia's Sunshine to Petrol (S2P) technology uses the high temperatures generated by concentrating sunlight along with a zirconia/ferrite catalyst to break down atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon monoxide (CO). The carbon monoxide can then be used to synthesize conventional fuels such as methanol, gasoline and jet fuel.[105]
A photogalvanic device is a type of battery in which the cell solution (or equivalent) forms energy-rich chemical intermediates when illuminated. These energy-rich intermediates can potentially be stored and subsequently reacted at the electrodes to produce an electric potential. The ferric-thionine chemical cell is an example of this technology.[106]
Photoelectrochemical cells or PECs consist of a semiconductor, typically titanium dioxide or related titanates, immersed in an electrolyte. When the semiconductor is illuminated an electrical potential develops. There are two types of photoelectrochemical cells: photoelectric cells that convert light into electricity and photochemical cells that use light to drive chemical reactions such as electrolysis.[107]

Solar vehicles
Main articles: Solar vehicle, Electric boat, and Solar balloon

Australia hosts the World Solar Challenge where solar cars like the Nuna3 race through a 3,021 km (1,877 mi) course from Darwin to Adelaide.
Development of a solar powered car has been an engineering goal since the 1980s. The World Solar Challenge is a biannual solar-powered car race, where teams from universities and enterprises compete over 3,021 kilometres (1,877 mi) across central Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. In 1987, when it was founded, the winner's average speed was 67 kilometres per hour (42 mph) and by 2007 the winner's average speed had improved to 90.87 kilometres per hour (56.46 mph).[108] The North American Solar Challenge and the planned South African Solar Challenge are comparable competitions that reflect an international interest in the engineering and development of solar powered vehicles.[109][110]
Some vehicles use solar panels for auxiliary power, such as for air conditioning, to keep the interior cool, thus reducing fuel consumption.[111][112]
There is a new concept that may be developed by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler in a Manhattan Project approach in return for their Bail Out Money. In this approach Overhead Solar Panels and wires are installed above Diamond Lanes on the nation's freeways. Concurrently, new electric cars are produced that do not require batteries, but are recharged as they run down the Electrified Freeway. This system could also control the navigation of all electric vehicles allowing the driver and passengers to be connected to the Internet getting work done or being entertained.
In 1975, the first practical solar boat was constructed in England.[113] By 1995, passenger boats incorporating PV panels began appearing and are now used extensively.[114] In 1996, Kenichi Horie made the first solar powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean, and the sun21 catamaran made the first solar powered crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the winter of 2006–2007.[115] There are plans to circumnavigate the globe in 2010.[116]

Helios UAV in solar powered flight
In 1974, the unmanned Sunrise II plane made the first solar flight. On 29 April 1979, the Solar Riser made the first flight in a solar powered, fully controlled, man carrying flying machine, reaching an altitude of 40 feet (12 m). In 1980, the Gossamer Penguin made the first piloted flights powered solely by photovoltaics. This was quickly followed by the [[Solar Challenger]] which crossed the English Channel in July 1981. In 1990 Eric Raymond in 21 hops flew from California to North Carolina using solar power.[117] Developments then turned back to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with the Pathfinder (1997) and subsequent designs, culminating in the Helios which set the altitude record for a non-rocket-propelled aircraft at 29,524 metres (96,860 ft) in 2001.[118] The Zephyr, developed by BAE Systems, is the latest in a line of record-breaking solar aircraft, making a 54-hour flight in 2007, and month-long flights are envisioned by 2010.[119]
A solar balloon is a black balloon that is filled with ordinary air. As sunlight shines on the balloon, the air inside is heated and expands causing an upward buoyancy force, much like an artificially heated hot air balloon. Some solar balloons are large enough for human flight, but usage is generally limited to the toy market as the surface-area to payload-weight ratio is relatively high.[120]
Solar sails are a proposed form of spacecraft propulsion using large membrane mirrors to exploit radiation pressure from the Sun. Unlike rockets, solar sails require no fuel. Although the thrust is small compared to rockets, it continues as long as the Sun shines onto the deployed sail and in the vacuum of space significant speeds can eventually be achieved.[121]
The High-altitude airship (HAA) is an unmanned, long-duration, lighter-than-air vehicle using helium gas for lift, and thin-film solar cells for power. The United States Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency has contracted Lockheed Martin to construct it to enhance the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).[122] Airships have some advantages for solar-powered flight: they do not require power to remain aloft, and an airship's envelope presents a large area to the Sun.

2010 Toyota Prius At the Auto Show

2009-01-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

2010 Toyota Prius at 2009 Detroit Auto Show

Competes with: Honda Insight, Ford Fusion Hybrid
Looks like: You might get noticed driving a new one — maybe
Drivetrain: 98-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder and 80-hp electric motor
Hits dealerships: Late spring
Don’t let the looks full you — this all-new Prius has been radically altered underneath the hood and inside. The most important spec for any hybrid is mileage, and Toyota has delivered with a combined mileage rating of 50 mpg. That beats the current Prius’ 46 mpg combined rating. City and highway mileage has not been released.The entire powertrain has been revised for maximum efficiency, and the Prius now features a full electric mode that drivers can choose to turn on. The car will run on electric power alone for up to a mile under very careful driving conditions, like in a parking lot. There are also settings for sportier driving and for optimum efficiency. 15-inch wheels are standard, with 17-inch wheels optional.The battery is still a nickel-metal hydride, which has fallen out of favor in next-generation hybrids, like the upcoming plug-ins. But it sure doesn’t seem to damage the new Prius’ top mileage.And the rumors are true: The new Prius will have an optional moonroof with solar cells embedded into it. However, the solar cells will only power a ventilation system that keeps the car cool when parked and turned off. The theory is that it takes exponentially more power to cool down a car for every degree hotter it gets, so this should cut down on those gas-sucking A/C blasts on a sunny day. Inside, the interior has been completely redesigned, with more rear legroom and cargo room. We’ll have an up-close look at the interior later today with more details, but Toyota’s photos are below.The 2010 Toyota Prius goes on sale in late spring and will likely be priced slightly higher than the current model’s $22,000 price tag.

solar showers & Earn money at home w/ solar panels ??

2008-12-07T06:31:00.000-08:00

When Ted Curry feels the energy of sunlight streaming into his home, he can’t help but want to capture it.

Curry, who lives in Goulais River near Sault Ste. Marie, is part of a growing number of Ontarians looking to become their own power plant, generating renewable energy with technology such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and selling it back to the province at attractive, government-sponsored rates.

"The environmental reality is that we have to make changes in how we generate power," said Curry, the owner of Superior Energy Solutions. "This is going to be a cornerstone of Ontario’s energy plan."

In late 2006, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), the province’s electricity planning agency, made Ontario the first jurisdiction in North America to allow private citizens to generate and sell their own electricity.

Modelled after programs in Germany and Japan, the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP) pays guaranteed, preferential rates over a 20-year term for wind, solar, hydro or biomass developments that have capacities of less than 10 megawatts and connect to a local distribution grid.

The idea of the program is not to get Ontarians "off the grid," but rather to encourage citizens to help supply the province’s energy distribution network with renewable energy. Solar energy generated under RESOP sells for 42 cents per kilowatt-hour — roughly five times the rate charged by most regional utilities distribution companies. "It empowers folks to be on equal footing with large energy producers like (Ontario Power Generation) in a sense that they can generate power and sell it for profit," said Toronto-based renewable energy consultant Paul Charbonneau. "Americans and Europeans are lauding this legislation."

Trouble is, admits Charbonneau, northern Ontario utilities commissions are "a year behind" southern Ontario in enabling residents to take advantage of the province’s incentives.

"Most of the effort in getting these things up and running is securing the necessary permits to sell power back to the grid," said Charbonneau, who recently presented a seminar on solar energy in Wawa, Ont., and expects to tour the Trans-Canada Highway corridor in Ontario again in February.

Charbonneau is quick to point out that it’s not the utilities companies’ fault in adapting to Ontario’s evolving energy landscape.

"As people learn more about renewable energy and start asking their utilities commissions about it, we’ll see more projects in the north," he said. "It’s only a matter of time."

According to the OPA’s website, northern Ontario has limited transmission capacity, meaning that access to the grid is restricted for new developments.

"Our concern is that we don’t want to buy power in places where it can’t be delivered," said Mary Bernard, the OPA’s corporate communications specialist.

Charbonneau’s Riverdale neighbourhood in Toronto was among the province’s first to take advantage of RESOP. More than 60 households formed the Riverdale Initiative for Solar Energy, which purchased solar PV panels in bulk and lobbied to establish a framework whereby individual energy producers could become "grid-tied" with the city’s electricity distribution network.

Just more than a year later, Charbonneau said there are now more than 450 Toronto households involved.

Still, Ontario is light-years behind its German counterparts. At the end of 2007, only 0.3 megawatts of solar-generated power went toward Ontario’s 31,000-megawatt annual capacity. By comparison, Germany produces 3,000 megawatts of solar energy. (One megawatt of consistent energy production will meet the annual energy needs of about 220 households.)

Germany’s 300,000-plus household-scale solar producers make 83 cents per kilowatt-hour sold to the grid — nearly twice Ontario’s rate. Little wonder, the German solar power sector employs more than 50,000 people.

However, Ontario’s solar economy is heating up. In 2007, the OPA inked deals for more than 140 solar initiatives, including a 60-megawatt facility in Sault Ste. Marie. If completed, these contracts would increase Ontario’s solar output by 250 megawatts. Meanwhile, RESOP has the lofty goal of getting 100,000 solar systems installed in Ontario households.

Charbonneau said Canadians have been slower to accept solar energy because "they need to see it and learn how it works first." His Energy Advocate consulting firm presents seminars such as the one held in Wawa and works with Ontario school boards to bring solar energy into classrooms.

Much of Charbonneau’s efforts have been directed at encouraging the installation of rooftop solar PV panels on schools, churches and other public buildings.
Canadian Press

Air Powered Car ??

2008-11-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

A new carmaker has a plan for cheap, environmentally friendly cars to be built all over the country

An air-powered car? It may be available sooner than you think at a price tag that will hardly be a budget buster. The vehicle may not run like a speed racer on back road highways, but developer Zero Pollution Motors is betting consumers will be willing to fork over $20,000 for a vehicle that can motor around all day on nothing but air and a splash of salad oil, alcohol or possibly a pint of gasoline.

The expertise needed to build a compressed air car, or CAV, is not rocket science, either. Years-old, off-the-shelf technology uses compressed air to drive old-fashioned car engine pistons instead of combusting gas or diesel fuel to create a burst of air to do the same thing. Indian carmaker Tata has no qualms about the technology. It has already bought the rights to make the car for the huge Indian market.

The air car can tool along at a top speed of 35 mph for some 60 miles or so on a tank of compressed air, a sufficient distance for 80% of consumers to commute to work and back and complete daily chores.

Courtesy of MDI

On highways, the CAV can cruise at interstate speeds for nearly 800 miles with a small motor that compresses outside air to keep the tank filled. The motor isn't finicky about fuel. It will burn gasoline or diesel as well as biodiesel, ethanol or vegetable oil.

This car leaves the highest-mpg vehicles you can buy right now in the dust. Even if it used only regular gasoline, the air car would average 106 mpg, more than double today's fuel sipping champ, the Toyota Prius. The air tank also can be refilled when it's not in use by being plugged into a wall socket and recharged with electricity as the motor compresses air.

Automakers aren't quite ready yet to gear up huge assembly line operations churning out air cars or set up glitzy dealer showrooms where you can ooh and aah over the color or style. But the vehicles will be built in factories that will make up to 8,000 vehicles a year, likely starting in 2011, and be sold directly to consumers.

There will be plants in nearly every state, based on the number of drivers in the state. California will have as many as 17 air car manufacturing plants, and there'll be around 12 in Florida, eight in New York, four in Georgia, while two in Connecticut will serve that state and Rhode Island.

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The technology goes back decades, but is coming together courtesy of two converging forces. First, new laws are likely to be enacted in a few years that will limit carbon dioxide emissions and force automakers to develop ultra-high mileage cars and those that emit minuscule amounts of or no gases linked with global warming. Plug-in electric hybrids will slash these emissions, but they'll be pricey at around $40,000 each and require some changes in infrastructure -- such as widespread recharge stations -- to be practical. Fuel cells that burn hydrogen to produce only water vapor still face daunting technical challenges.

Second, the relatively high cost of gas has expedited the air car's development. Yes, pump prices have plunged since July from record levels, but remain way higher than just a few years ago and continue to take a bite out of disposable income. Refiners will face carbon emission restraints, too, and steeply higher costs will be passed along at the pump.

Tata doesn't plan to produce the cars in the U.S. Instead, it plans to charge $15 million for the rights to the technology, a fully built turnkey auto assembly plant, tools, machinery, training and rights to use trademarks.

The CAV has a big hurdle: proving it can pass federal crash tests. Shiva Vencat, president and CEO of Zero Pollution Motors, says he's not worried. "The requirements can be modeled [on a computer] before anything is built and adjusted to ensure that the cars will pass" the crash tests. Vencat also is a vice president of MDI Inc., a French company that developed the air car.

2008-10-13T16:56:00.001-07:00

Wind Power On The New Jersey Shore !

2008-10-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

Regulators in New Jersey on Friday awarded rights to build a huge offshore wind farm in the southern part of the state to Garden State Offshore Energy, a joint venture that includes P.S.E.G. Renewable Generation, a subsidiary of P.S.E.G. Global, a sister company of the state’s largest utility.

The selection, which includes access of up to $19 million in state grants, is part of New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan, which calls for 20 percent of the state’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. It also comes on the heels of decisions by Delaware and Rhode Island to let energy companies install offshore wind farms.

Energy experts say that these approvals could prompt regulators in New York to support projects off the south shore of Long Island and New York City.

The proposal by Garden State Offshore Energy includes installing 96 turbines to produce as much as 346 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 125,000 homes a year. The turbines would be arranged in a rectangle about a half-mile long by one-third of a mile wide. The project, which would cost more than $1 billion, would not start producing electricity until 2013.

The turbines, though, would be between 16 and 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey’s Atlantic and Ocean counties, and thus in much deeper water than other proposed projects. Deepwater Wind, which will work with P.S.E.G to build the wind farm, said it can affordably build turbines in 100 feet of water with the same technology used to build oil and gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and other locations.
Because the wind blows more reliably during the day farther off shore, the company hopes to get better prices for the power it produces. And by putting the turbines that far offshore, the company hopes to blunt opposition from environmentalists and residents who say that turbines diminish ocean views and damage wildlife.

“People don’t have to choose between clean energy and a clear view,” said Nelson Garcez, the vice president of renewable generation at P.S.E.G.

Mr. Garcez said the deepwater turbines would produce enough power to help the company break even in about seven years.

The next step is for Garden State Offshore Energy to seek permits from state and federal agencies to build offshore. The company will also have to get commitments from manufacturers to build the turbines, which would be assembled in New Jersey and could potentially create hundreds of new jobs.

The decision by New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities comes just over a week after the Long Island Power Authority and Con Edison said that they would study whether it is economically feasible to build a wind farm about 10 miles off the south shore of Queens. In August, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said the city would solicit proposals from companies interested in building offshore wind farms and placing turbines atop buildings in the city.

The projects being approved in neighboring states could increase the chances that offshore wind farms could also win approval in New York, where a vast majority of wind turbines are on land and upstate.

“It’s like a rising tide lifting all boats,” said Peter Iwanowicz, the director of the New York State Climate Change Office in Albany. “More projects in the Northeast helps with public acceptance that we need more clean electrons and helps us guard against rising fossil fuel prices and water levels on the coast.”

Solar for yor home $20,000 - $40,000 !

2008-09-07T05:51:00.000-07:00

When you're ready to make the big investment in going solar, there are several offerings that could get you the biggest bang for your buck. On Tuesday's The Early Show environmental lifestyle contributor Danny Seo (www.dannyseo.com)(http://dannyseo.typepad.com) points to some he feels make the grade, as they use the power of the sun to create energy. In Part One of a three-part series, he looks at the biggest and newest solar devices that can power your home. On average, a homeowner can expect to spend $20,000 to $40,000 to install solar panels on a home. The bigger the home, the more expensive. When you install solar panels on your home, you're not taking your own home off the electrical grid. On cloudy or overcast days, when your panels aren't generating optimum electricity, you don't have to worry about your lights going dark. Instead, you're converting your home into a hybrid-powered home: one that uses solar energy and then supplements the excess with traditional electricity. On days that you're actually overproducing solar electricity, your home becomes a mini-power plant, putting electricity back into the grid. That generates a credit on your utility bill. You could eventually be making money from the power company. If this new form of energy interests you, here are a few choices for your home:
Camouflage solar panels: The problem with installing solar panels on the roof is that they can look unsightly. But Sharp Solar (www.solar.sharpusa.com) modules come in a variety of rectangular and triangular modules, which means they fit and blend into even multi-faceted roofs. They are designed to be flush with the roof, not jet out of the roof like traditional panels. Installing Sharp solar panels is a two-step process. First, Sharp does an in-home analysis of your current electrical needs, along with a diagnostics check of your roof's sun intensity. Sharp also offers a quote that includes federal and state rebates and what your true energy goals are: to be completely powered solar or to simply supplement your existing needs. Sharp also coordinates building permits, inspections and rebate forms and then finally installs everything. If you're building a new home and you're not ready to install solar panels, you can do the next best thing: pre-wire for solar technology. Having pre-existing wiring installed during construction will eliminate the hassle of running wires from the rooftop solar panels to your electrical system in the future.
The Brilliance solar energy system by GE: The new Brilliance solar energy system lets homeowners buy the three required components of solar energy all in one purchase. Homeowners have the option of choosing systems ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 watts output. The lower the watt output, the lower the price — but the lower use of solar energy in the home. It all depends on what your needs and goals are.
Solar tent: Even when you're roughing it in the Great Outdoors, you can use the power of the sun to light up your temporary home, your tent. Eureka's "Solar Intent" ($239.99, www.eurekatent.com) has built-in LED lights and integrated solar panels to power the energy-efficient LED lights. The whole tent is just 16 pounds and can accommodate six people.
Solar golf cart: People often forget that golf carts are one of the first electric powered modes of transportation ever created. Additionally, many golf carts feature a flat roof ideal for the installation of solar panels. As most golfers are spending bright, sunny days hitting the courses, it makes sense to have a cart that recharges itself in the sun throughout the day using solar energy. CruiseCar ($6,500, www.cruisecarinc.com is a manufacturer of solar-powered golf carts called SunRay. While the cart itself can be recharged traditionally by plugging it in, it can also be recharged entirely by a rooftop solar panel in as little as three days.

AMBIT ENERGY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

2008-08-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

AMBIT ENERGY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

What has changed in electric and natural gas service with deregulation?
You can now choose to buy residential energy from a different supplier than the original provider for your area. These companies are called Retail Electric Providers (REP) in Texas, Energy Service Companies (ESCO) in New York, and Alternative Gas Suppliers (AGS) in Illinois

How does Ambit Energy reduce my monthly bills?
Deregulation allows REPs, ESCOs, and AGSs - like Ambit Energy - to buy energy wholesale from competitive providers and pass the savings along to customers.

If I switch, where will my power come from?
Your current electric utility or Local Wires Company will continue to deliver your electricity. Your power will come from a regional power pool that includes energy from traditional power plants and other sources like wind, water, sun and natural gas. Your Local Distribution Company will continue to deliver your natural gas.

Will the reliability of my residential energy service change with deregulation?
No. No matter which retail supplier you choose, power will continue to be delivered safely and reliably by a company still regulated by the utility commission or agency of your state.

What happens if I have an emergency or power outage?
Because your local utility is still responsible for maintenance and repair, you will call these regulated firms in the event of an emergency or outage at the number provided on your bill.

Does everyone have the power to choose their energy supplier?
No. City-owned utilities and member-owned electric and/or natural gas cooperatives have the option of giving their customers a choice of providers, or keeping things the way they are today.

What happens if my Retail Electric Provider (REP), Energy Service Company (ESCO) or Alternative Gas Supplier (AGS) goes out of business?

You will not be without energy. You should receive a notice from your retail provider giving you time to select a new provider. If not, your service will revert to your previous provider
your previous provider or a provider designated by the state utilities agency. Rest assured, Ambit Energy is financially solid and works with a very large and very reliable wholesale supplier that moves 1 Billion Dollars a day in the energy market.

To see the latest electricity rates in your area and compare them to your present provider go to;

http://www.electricityratescompared.info

Or call independent Ambit Energy Consultant
Eric S. at 1-866-849-3555

To see the Ambit Energy Opportunity Video and/or to sign up as an Ambit Energy Consultant, go to; http://energyconsultantcareer.com

UNLIMITED INCOME POTENTIAL AS AMBIT ENERGY CONSULTANT

2008-08-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

UNLIMITED INCOME POTENTIAL AMBIT ENERGY CONSULTANT
HOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Ambit Energy offers our Independent Consultants an unequalled income opportunity with unlimited earnings potential. It is a home-based business with flexible working hours. It is a chance to earn some extra money or to start a new career. It is a path to take control of your time so you can spend more of it with your family and friends.

The Perfect Product
Energy is the perfect product to offer: everyone needs it, everyone understands it, everyone uses it every day, and everyone likes to save money on their monthly bills. Energy demand is growing and states all across the country are just beginning to open their energy markets to competition.

The Perfect Timing
Texas is leading the country as a model for deregulation. It is the 11th largest electricity market in the world. In Texas alone, residential customers spend over $24 billion dollars every year and most of those customers are still paying the highest rates in the market. Ambit Energy provides an opportunity to save money and earn income at the same time.

In New York, Ambit Energy serves all five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County. In our service area there are 3.4 million potential customers who pay an average electric bill of $100 a month, and only 10% of those have switched to an ESCO. Statewide, electricity is a $10 billion market, and Ambit has expansion opportunities into the service areas for Orange & Rockland, Rochester Gas & Electric, Niagara Mohawk and KeySpan. And we now offer natural gas service, which can potentially double commissions and bonus income for our Consultants.

In Illinois, Ambit Energy competes for residential natural gas customers in the Nicor Gas service area. In our service area there are 2.1 million potential customers that represent more than $2 billion in annual revenue.

Power Your Future
Ambit Energy encourages the entrepreneur and supports the pursuit of excellence. We are committed to our Independent Consultants. And we are working hard every day to make sure they have the best opportunity available to take advantage of energy deregulation to power their financial future. Join us. We'll make you proud.

The only thing more powerful than an opportunity to save money is the power to earn more of it. Ambit Energy offers you an income opportunity like no other. With Ambit, you can build a business with unlimited income potential and flexible working hours.

Work from home, spend more time with your family and friends. Take control of your financial future and inspire others to do the same. The work you do today can pay off well into the future as a growing number of consumers choose Ambit to reduce their monthly energy bills. Get started now.

Join Ambit Energy and let us help you achieve your goals and dreams.
Chris ChamblessCo-Founder

Knowledge is power only if you put it into action. Deregulation is happening. Customers are waking up to the idea they can switch their energy service provider and save money.
There is no time like the present to take advantage of the opportunity.

Here are five reasons why we think it makes perfect sense for you to get started today:

1. Perfect Timing
Energy deregulation is sweeping across America. Texas, New York and Illinois now allow competition for both residential and commercial customers. Other states will follow in the months and years to come. When markets deregulate, consumers rush to better choices and lower prices. That rush is just beginning.

2. Perfect Product
Energy is a trillion-dollar industry. Everyone understands it. Everyone uses it. Everyone likes to save money. It's easy to explain. Anyone can sell it. Your customers will save money and generate income to you every month.

3. Simple Business
No deliveries, no inventory, no complicated paperwork, and no customer service for you. Ambit Energy takes care of everything. You'll be backed by a solid company with an experienced management team so you can begin your journey to financial independence.

4. Flexible Schedule
Work how and when you want. Work from your home. Enjoy more time with your family and friends. According to the Direct Sales Association, home-based business owners generated over $30 billion in sales in 2005. Over 80% of them worked less than 30 hours per week. Many have replaced the income from their full-time jobs and are now free to pursue a lifestyle they never dreamed possible.

5. Low Start Up Cost
Few ground-floor business opportunities combine such a low start up cost with such huge income potential and such experienced support.

To view online video presentation about this fantastic business opportunity go to;

http://www.energyconsultantcareer.com

Rates are subject to change without notice.. To see the latest and most up to date electricity rates in your area and compare different electricity providers and their rates, go to;

http://www.electricityratescompared.info

Call independent Ambit Energy Consultant Eric S. at 1-866-849-3555

Ambit Energy Compensation Plans In Texas, New York And Illinois

2008-08-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Ambit Energy has one of the most lucrative compensation plans in the industry. Our plan has been carefully designed to help you earn immediate income while you build for the long term.
As an Ambit Energy Consultant, there are five different ways you can earn: ( Download a detailed overview )

1. Jump Start Bonuses
Ambit Energy wants customer gatherers. You can earn up to $400 for customers you gather in your first 12 weeks. You can be one customer. Your Ambit website can substitute for two more. To help you get started, pending customers (those enrolled but not yet switched to Ambit) count, too.

2. Team Builder Bonuses
You are rewarded for sponsoring new customer gatherers. Ambit Energy will pay you $100 every time you sponsor a new Marketing Consultant (MC) into your team and help that MC enroll four customers in their first 4 weeks. Sponsor new MC with 4 customer points in their first four (4) weeks.

3. Customer Residual Income
Ambit Energy will pay you for every active customer in your organization through six levels. The more energy your customers use the more you'll get paid. Over time, the results can be substantial. For instance, if you build a team of consultants who each enroll ten customers through six levels, the monthly residual income is fantastic!

4. Consultant Leadership Bonuses
Anyone can be a leader. It's based on how hard you work and how much you help others succeed. Each time you qualify for a new leadership level, the rewards get bigger. Consultant Leadership Bonuses are paid to unlimited levels of your organization and reach up to $190 for every new MC that enrolls four customers in their first four (4) weeks.

5. Customer Residual Bonuses
As new Consultants join your leadership organization you'll also receive monthly residual bonuses on their customer through unlimited levels. Customer Residual Bonuses range from $0.50 to $2.00 and are paid on every active customer each and every month.

New York

In Texas
Ambit Energy has one of the most lucrative compensation plans in the industry. Our plan has been carefully designed to help you earn immediate income while you build for the long term.
As an Ambit Energy Consultant, there are five different ways you can earn: ( Download a detailed overview )
1. Jump Start Bonuses
Ambit Energy wants customer gatherers. You can earn up to $400 for customers you gather in your first 12 weeks. You can be one customer. Your Ambit website can substitute for two more. To help you get started, pending customers (those enrolled but not yet switched to Ambit) count, too.

2. Team Builder Bonuses
You are rewarded for sponsoring new customer gatherers. Ambit Energy will pay you $100 every time you sponsor a new Marketing Consultant (MC) into your team and help that MC enroll four customers in their first 4 weeks. Sponsor new MC with 4 customer points in their first four (4) weeks.

3. Customer Residual Income
Ambit Energy will pay you for every active customer in your organization through six levels. The more energy your customers use the more you'll get paid. Over time, the results can be substantial. For instance, if you build a team of consultants who each enroll ten customers through six levels, the monthly residual income is fantastic!

4. Consultant Leadership Bonuses
Anyone can be a leader. It's based on how hard you work and how much you help others succeed. Each time you qualify for a new leadership level, the rewards get bigger. Consultant Leadership Bonuses are paid to unlimited levels of your organization and reach up to $190 for every new MC that enrolls four customers in their first four (4) weeks.

5. Customer Residual Bonuses
As new Consultants join your leadership organization you'll also receive monthly residual bonuses on their customer through unlimited levels. Customer Residual Bonuses range from $0.50 to $2.00 and are paid on every active customer each and every month.

In New York
The Ambit Energy compensation plan is one of the most lucrative in the direct sales industry. Our plan has been carefully designed to help you earn immediate income while building long-term residual income.
1. Jump Start Bonuses
Ambit Energy wants customer gatherers. You can earn up to $400 for customers you gather in your first 12 weeks. You can be one customer. Your Ambit website can substitute for two more. To help you get started, pending customers (those enrolled but not yet switched to Ambit) count too.
Download a detailed overview

2. Team Builder Bonuses
You are rewarded for sponsoring new customer gatherers. Ambit Energy will pay you $100 every time you sponsor a new Marketing Consultant (MC) into your team and help that MC enroll four customers in their first four weeks.
Download a detailed overview

3. Customer Residual Income
Ambit Energy will pay you for every active customer in your organization through six levels. The more energy your customers use, the more you'll get paid. Over time, the results can be substantial. For instance, if you build a team of Consultants who each enroll 10 customers through six levels, the monthly residual income is fantastic!
Download a detailed overview

4. Consultant Leadership Bonuses
Anyone can be a leader. It's based on how hard you work and how much you help others succeed. Each time you qualify for a new leadership level, the rewards get bigger. Consultant Leadership Bonuses are paid to unlimited levels in your leadership organization and reach up to $190 for every new MC that enrolls four customers in their first four weeks.
Download a detailed overview

5. Customer Residual Bonuses
As new Consultants join your leadership organization you'll also receive monthly residual bonuses on their customers through unlimited levels. Customer Residual Bonuses range from $.25 to $1.00 and are paid on every active customer each and every month.

Illinois

In Texas
Ambit Energy has one of the most lucrative compensation plans in the industry. Our plan has been carefully designed to help you earn immediate income while you build for the long term.
As an Ambit Energy Consultant, there are five different ways you can earn: ( Download a detailed overview )
1. Jump Start Bonuses
Ambit Energy wants customer gatherers. You can earn up to $400 for customers you gather in your first 12 weeks. You can be one customer. Your Ambit website can substitute for two more. To help you get started, pending customers (those enrolled but not yet switched to Ambit) count, too.

2. Team Builder Bonuses
You are rewarded for sponsoring new customer gatherers. Ambit Energy will pay you $100 every time you sponsor a new Marketing Consultant (MC) into your team and help that MC enroll four customers in their first 4 weeks. Sponsor new MC with 4 customer points in their first four (4) weeks.

3. Customer Residual Income
Ambit Energy will pay you for every active customer in your organization through six levels. The more energy your customers use the more you'll get paid. Over time, the results can be substantial. For instance, if you build a team of consultants who each enroll ten customers through six levels, the monthly residual income is fantastic!

4. Consultant Leadership Bonuses
Anyone can be a leader. It's based on how hard you work and how much you help others succeed. Each time you qualify for a new leadership level, the rewards get bigger. Consultant Leadership Bonuses are paid to unlimited levels of your organization and reach up to $190 for every new MC that enrolls four customers in their first four (4) weeks.

5. Customer Residual Bonuses
As new Consultants join your leadership organization you'll also receive monthly residual bonuses on their customer through unlimited levels. Customer Residual Bonuses range from $0.50 to $2.00 and are paid on every active customer each and every month.

In New York
The Ambit Energy compensation plan is one of the most lucrative in the direct sales industry. Our plan has been carefully designed to help you earn immediate income while building long-term residual income.
1. Jump Start Bonuses
Ambit Energy wants customer gatherers. You can earn up to $400 for customers you gather in your first 12 weeks. You can be one customer. Your Ambit website can substitute for two more. To help you get started, pending customers (those enrolled but not yet switched to Ambit) count too.
Download a detailed overview

2. Team Builder Bonuses
You are rewarded for sponsoring new customer gatherers. Ambit Energy will pay you $100 every time you sponsor a new Marketing Consultant (MC) into your team and help that MC enroll four customers in their first four weeks.
Download a detailed overview

3. Customer Residual Income
Ambit Energy will pay you for every active customer in your organization through six levels. The more energy your customers use, the more you'll get paid. Over time, the results can be substantial. For instance, if you build a team of Consultants who each enroll 10 customers through six levels, the monthly residual income is fantastic!
Download a detailed overview

4. Consultant Leadership Bonuses
Anyone can be a leader. It's based on how hard you work and how much you help others succeed. Each time you qualify for a new leadership level, the rewards get bigger. Consultant Leadership Bonuses are paid to unlimited levels in your leadership organization and reach up to $190 for every new MC that enrolls four customers in their first four weeks.
Download a detailed overview

5. Customer Residual Bonuses
As new Consultants join your leadership organization you'll also receive monthly residual bonuses on their customers through unlimited levels. Customer Residual Bonuses range from $.25 to $1.00 and are paid on every active customer each and every month.
Download a detailed overview

In Illinois
The Ambit Energy compensation plan is one of the most lucrative in the direct sales industry. Our plan has been carefully designed to help you earn immediate income while building long-term residual income.
1. Jump Start Bonuses
Ambit Energy wants customer gatherers. You can earn up to $400 for customers you gather in your first 12 weeks. You can be one customer. Your Ambit website can substitute for two more. To help you get started, pending customers (those enrolled but not yet switched to Ambit) count too.
Download a detailed overview

2. Team Builder Bonuses
You are rewarded for sponsoring new customer gatherers. Ambit Energy will pay you $100 every time you sponsor a new Marketing Consultant (MC) into your team and help that MC enroll four customers in their first four weeks.
Download a detailed overview

3. Customer Residual Income
Ambit Energy will pay you for every active customer in your organization through six levels. The more energy your customers use, the more you'll get paid. Over time, the results can be substantial. For instance, if you build a team of Consultants who each enroll 10 customers through six levels, the monthly residual income is fantastic!
Download a detailed overview

4. Consultant Leadership Bonuses
Anyone can be a leader. It's based on how hard you work and how much you help others succeed. Each time you qualify for a new leadership level, the rewards get bigger. Consultant Leadership Bonuses are paid to unlimited levels in your leadership organization and reach up to $190 for every new MC that enrolls four customers in their first four weeks.
Download a detailed overview

5. Customer Residual Bonuses
As new Consultants join your leadership organization you'll also receive monthly residual bonuses on their customers through unlimited levels. Customer Residual Bonuses range from $.25 to $1.00 and are paid on every active customer each and every month.

To see the Ambit Energy Opportunity Video and/or to sign up as an Ambit Energy Consultant, go to;

http://energyconsultantcareer.com

To see the latest electricity rates in your area and compare them to your present provider go to;

http://www.electricityratescompared.info

Or call independent Ambit Energy Consultant
Eric S. at 1-866-849-3555

solar car

2008-08-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

In early July, various print and online media announced that Toyota would offer a rooftop solar panel as an option on the next generation Prius due in 2010. Some hybrid fans got excited about the possibility of on-board solar energy generation, while solar power and automotive experts cast the news aside as fluff. The experts understand that there’s a mismatch between the amount of solar power that can be delivered and how that energy might actually be used by the Prius.

Some journalists and hybrid fans initially speculated that a Prius solar roof could extend the car’s electric range or radically boost miles per gallon. After all, solar-powered cars have achieved remarkable results, especially in competitions like the 21-year-old World Solar Challenge. However, cars that run solely on the sun are specialized units, super lightweight with very expensive optimized solar equipment—and typically not featuring any consumer features. Some don't even have brakes. By contrast, the Prius solar panel will more likely be limited to running a small ventilation fan while the car is parked. That was the function of the solar panels embedded in the glass sunroof of the 1992 Mazda 929. (There literally is nothing new under the sun.)

Aftermarket kits from companies like Solar Electric Vehicles have allowed individuals to emulate a factory-installed solar panels. The cost of the kits can range from $30 to $4,000, depending on the amount of voltage produced. The biggest users of automotive solar panels are RV owners, who have the largest space on which to deploy them and thus can produce the most power. But even with the most expensive system, the power is typically channeled into running accessories like laptops and other electronic gadgets
But what if Toyota routed energy from the solar panels directly into the batteries, instead of just pushing the power to a small fan? That has genuine potential. HybridCars.com asked Daniel Sherwood, a solar energy engineer and the founder of 3Prong Power, a Berkeley-based plug-in hybrid conversion start-up, to do some “back of napkin” calculations. Let’s assume that you could cover a full third—very optimistic—of the Prius’s 7.6-meter top surface with the Kyocera panels that Toyota is planning to use. According to Sherwood, an “average solar day” in California produces 10 kilowatt-hours of energy per square meter and the Kyocera panels are 16 percent efficient. That means a car parked all day in the driveway could produce 1.6 kilowatt hours of energy—more than enough to top up the Prius’s 1.3 kilowatt-hour battery pack. Because the Prius can go about three or four miles on a kilowatt-hour, you could conceivable enjoy as much as five miles of all-electric driving on the full battery packs—a fuel-efficiency boost of 10 percent of more.

But hold on. Unlike a plug-in hybrid or a conventional hybrid with additional battery capacity, today’s Prius is not set up to take advantage of this opportunity. Even with an EV button—like the one available on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid—the Prius’s computer control system will baby the battery packs and only give you a mile or so of gas-free driving. And that’s with a light touch on the accelerator. The solar panels could push the upper limit of that capacity, but again, that’s only after a full day of charging and very careful driving mostly in the city.

Using the power from the rooftop solar panels to run the air-conditioning might hold more promise. Most hybrid drivers know that blasting AC kills mileage. But given the considerable power required by AC systems, and the need to generate power while the car is driving, the best you could hope for is a small “offset” of the AC’s power requirements.

Where does this leave us? Not very far from where we are today. For Toyota, bringing the solar panel option to the market adds a little more green sheen to the Prius halo, but is unlikely to significantly improve the vehicle’s actual environmental and energy performance.

Wind Turbines on top of new york city buildings & Bridges ?? Why Not have Solar on top of the buildings To ??

2008-08-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

By M. BARBARO

In a plan that would drastically remake New York City’s skyline and shores, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is seeking to put wind turbines on the city’s bridges and skyscrapers and in its waters as part of a wide-ranging push to develop renewable energy.

The plan, while still in its early stages, appears to be the boldest environmental proposal to date from the mayor, who has made energy efficiency a cornerstone of his administration.
Mr. Bloomberg said he would ask private companies and investors to study how windmills can be built across the city, with the aim of weaning it off the nation’s overtaxed power grid, which has produced several crippling blackouts in New York over the last decade.
Mr. Bloomberg did not specify which skyscrapers and bridges would be candidates for windmills, and city officials would need to work with property owners to identify the buildings that would best be able to hold the equipment.
But aides said that for offshore locations, the city was eyeing the generally windy coast off Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island for turbines that could generate 10 percent of the city’s electricity needs within 10 years.
“When it comes to producing clean power, we’re determined to make New York the No. 1 city in the nation,” Mr. Bloomberg said as he outlined his plans in a speech Tuesday night in Las Vegas, where a major conference on alternative energy is under way.
He later evoked the image of the Statue of Liberty’s torch, saying he imagined it one day “powered by an ocean wind farm.”
But the mayor’s proposal for wind power faces several serious obstacles: People are likely to oppose technologies that alter the appearance of their neighborhoods; wind-harnessing technology can be exceedingly expensive; and Mr. Bloomberg has less than 18 months left in office to put a plan into place.
Turning New York City into a major source of wind power would likely take years, if not decades, and could require a thicket of permits from state and federal agencies. Parts of New York’s coastline, for example, are controlled by the federal government, from which private companies must lease access.
Mr. Bloomberg is known for introducing ambitious proposals that later collapse, as did his congestion-pricing plan for Manhattan.
But aides said he was committed to developing alternative energy sources in the city, and wanted to jump-start the discussion now.
“In New York,” he said in his speech, “we don’t think of alternative power as something that we just import from other parts of the nation.”
Asserting the seriousness of his intentions, aides said, Mr. Bloomberg met privately with T. Boone Pickens, the oil baron who is trying to build the world’s largest wind farm in Texas, to discuss possibilities for such technology in New York.
And on Tuesday afternoon the city issued a formal request to companies around the country for proposals to build wind-, solar- and water-based energy sources in New York. “We want their best ideas for creating both small- and large-scale projects serving New Yorkers,” Mr. Bloomberg said.
Rohit Aggarwala, the director of the city’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, said that turbines on buildings would likely be much smaller than offshore ones. Several companies are experimenting with models that look like eggbeaters, which the Bloomberg administration says could be integrated into the spires atop the city’s tall buildings. “”You can make them so small that people think they are part of the design,” Mr. Aggarwala said.
“If rooftop wind can make it anywhere, this is a great city,” he said. “We have a lot of tall buildings.”
Creating an offshore wind farm, he said, requires “pretty much the same level of difficulty as drilling an oil rig, but you don’t have to pump oil.”
“You could imagine going as much as 15, 20, 25 miles offshore, where it’s virtually invisible to land,” he said.
Mr. Aggarwala said that developing renewable energy for New York would take considerable time. “Nobody is going to see a wind farm off the coast of Queens in the next year,” he said.
But “the idea of renewable power in and around New York City is very realistic,” he said. “The question is what type makes the most sense and in what time frame. That is what we are trying to figure out.”
The city has experimented with wind power before. It put a turbine on city-owned land at 34th Street and the East River several years ago, but found that the technology was not efficient enough to expand.
The mayor’s plan includes the widespread use of solar panels, possibly on the roofs of public and private buildings. One proposal is to allow companies to rent roofs for solar panels and sell the energy they harvest to residents.
The city is already using tidal turbines under the East River that provide energy to Roosevelt Island. That technology could be widely expanded under the mayor’s proposal.

Ambit Offers Green Electricity In Texas And New York

2008-08-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

DALLAS, TX (October 29, 2007)

Ambit Energy, L.P., announced today it will begin offering environmentally friendly electricity rate plans to residential customers in Texas and New York. The company's new green service offerings, called Ambit Certified Green plans, are certified by the Green-e Program to reduce the environmental impact of the energy used by Ambit customers.

Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Chambless said, "By offering green electricity products, we enhance the ability of our Consultants to provide service to customers in a growing market segment. And because we are Green-e certified, customers on our Ambit Certified Green plans can be confident that the energy use is better for the environment."

"Consistent with our vision to become the finest and most respected retail energy provider in the country," said Ambit Co-founder and CEO Jere Thompson, Jr., "we continue to lead our industry by offering Ambit Certified Green plans at a price point in New York and Texas that is lower in most cases than even the standard green products offered by our competitors."

Ambit Green-eGreen-e is the nation's leading independent renewable certification and verification program. The logo provides an easy way for consumers to quickly identify environmentally superior options provided by certified renewable energy.
More information about Green-e can be found at their website.

To get information about Ambit Energy Service including the Green E certification, go to;

http://electricityratescompared.info

or call Eric S. – Ambit Energy Consultant at 1-866-849-3555
Energy Consultants wanted in all 50 states, free training provided.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ENERGY DEREGULATION

2008-08-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

(FAQ) AMBIT ENERGY

What has changed in electric and natural gas service with deregulation?

You can now choose to buy residential energy from a different supplier than the original provider for your area. These companies are called Retail Electric Providers (REP) in Texas, Energy Service Companies (ESCO) in New York, and Alternative Gas Suppliers (AGS) in Illinois.
My add; it is also possible to buy GREEN wind/solar energy from a retail energy provider such as Ambit.

How does Ambit Energy reduce my monthly bills?
Deregulation allows REPs, ESCOs, and AGSs - like Ambit Energy - to buy energy wholesale from competitive providers and pass the savings along to customers.

If I switch, where will my power come from?
Your current electric utility or Local Wires Company will continue to deliver your electricity. Your power will come from a regional power pool that includes energy from traditional power plants and other sources like wind, water, sun and natural gas. Your Local Distribution Company will continue to deliver your natural gas.

Will the reliability of my residential energy service change with deregulation?
No. No matter which retail supplier you choose, power will continue to be delivered safely and reliably by a company still regulated by the utility commission or agency of your state.

What happens if I have an emergency or power outage?
Because your local utility is still responsible for maintenance and repair, you will call these regulated firms in the event of an emergency or outage at the number provided on your bill.

Does everyone have the power to choose their energy supplier?
No. City-owned utilities and member-owned electric and/or natural gas cooperatives have the option of giving their customers a choice of providers, or keeping things the way they are today.

What happens if my Retail Electric Provider (REP), Energy Service Company (ESCO) or Alternative Gas Supplier (AGS) goes out of business?

You will not be without energy. You should receive a notice from your retail provider giving you time to select a new provider. If not, your service will revert to your previous provider or a provider designated by the state utilities agency. Rest assured, Ambit Energy is financially solid and works with a very large and very reliable wholesale supplier that moves 1 Billion Dollars a day in the energy market.

For more information, to compare electricity rates, or to sign up go to;

http://www.ambitenergyservice.info/

or call 1-866-849-3555

Solar HighWay Project

2008-08-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

Oregon takes up the building of First Solar Highway Project!
Attitude: I always thought that it was wind energy that would be more likely looked at with highways being ideal to harness the energy of the gusting winds in open space. But Solar Energy seems as much an impressive alternate to explore, if not more, and the...Attitude:
I always thought that it was wind energy that would be more likely looked at with highways being ideal to harness the energy of the gusting winds in open space. But Solar Energy seems as much an impressive alternate to explore, if not more, and the state of Oregon is doing exactly that by undertaking the project to build the worlds first solar highway project. When completed the project will not only produce more energy and look spectacular but it will induce others across the planet to take up similar projects.
The project will be installed at the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 interchange in Tualatin, where it will cover around 8,000 square feet and produce 112,000 kilowatt hours per year. The total cost for the 104-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system is $1.3 million, and believe it or not, it should be completed and operational in December of this year.
What is most impressive is the rate at which this project will be completed unlike many other eco-projects which are slated to be done a long time away from now. This shows both pro-active undertaking and intent to complete the project as early as possible. That really is paving green path forward at an impressive pace!

Clean Energy News: Buying a Solar Electric System

2008-08-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

I hope one day the prices of solar system will be cheaper for average americans so they can install in your home ! your thoughts??

Energy Facts

2008-08-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

Energy Facts
Energy Consumption
Though accounting for only 5 percent of the world's population, Americans consume 26 percent of the world's energy. (American Almanac)
In 1997, U.S. residents consumed an average of 12,133 kilowatt-hours of electricity each, almost nine times greater than the average for the rest of the world. (Grist Magazine)
Worldwide, some 2 billion people are currently without electricity. (U.S. Department of Energy)
Total U.S. residential energy consumption is projected to increase 17 percent from 1995 - 2015. (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
World energy consumption is expected to increase 40% to 50% by the year 2010, and the global mix of fuels--renewables (18%), nuclear (4%), and fossil (78%)--is projected to remain substantially the same as today; thus global carbon dioxide emissions would also increase 50% to 60%.
Among industrialized and developing countries, Canada consumes per capita the most energy in the world, the United Sates ranks second, and Italy consumes the least among industrialized countries.
Developing countries use 30% of global energy. Rapid population growth, combined with economic growth, will rapidly increase that percentage in the next 10 years.
The World Bank estimates that investments of $1 trillion will be needed in this decade and upwards of $4 trillion during the next 30 years to meet developing countries' electricity needs alone.
America uses about 15 times more energy per person than does the typical developing country.
Residential appliances, including heating and cooling equipment and water heaters, consume 90% of all energy used in the U.S. residential sector.
The United States spends about $440 billion annually for energy. Energy costs U.S. consumers $200 billion and U.S. manufacturers $100 billion annually.
Global Warming
Worldwide, 1995 was the warmest year since global temperatures were first kept in 1856. This supports the near consensus among climatologists that emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases are causing global warming. (Chivilan and Epstein, Boston Globe)
On average, 16 million tons of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere every 24 hours by human use worldwide. (U.S. Department of Energy)
Carbon emissions in North America reached 1,760 million metric tons in 1998, a 38 percent increase since 1970. They are expected to grow another 31 percent, to 2,314 million metric tons, by the year 2020. (U.S. Department of Energy)
The United States is the world's largest single emitter of carbon dioxide, accounting for 23 percent of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide. (U.S. Department of Energy)
An average of 23,000 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted annually in each American home. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
The transportation sector consumed 35% of the nation's energy in 1990; this sector is 97% dependent on petroleum.
Fossil fuels are depleted at a rate that is 100,000 times faster than they are formed.
Health
Approximately 30,000 lives are cut short in the U.S. each year due to pollution from electricity production. (ABT Associates study)
About 81 tons of mercury are emitted into the atmosphere each year as a result of electric power generation. Mercury is the most toxic heavy metal in existence. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Burning fossil fuels to produce energy releases carbon dioxide and other global-warming-causing gases into the atmosphere. Global warming will increase the incidence of infectious diseases (including equine encephalitis and Lyme disease), death from heat waves, blizzards, and floods, and species loss. (Chivilan and Epstein, Boston Globe, April 10, 1997)
Transportation
The United States consumes about 17 million barrels of oil per day, of which nearly two-thirds is used for transportation.
The United States imports more than seven million barrels of oil per day.
While the world's population doubled between 1950 and 1996, the number of cars increased tenfold. Automobile congestion in the United States alone accounts for $100 billion in wasted fuel, lost productivity, and rising health costs. Still, analysts project that the world's fleet of cars will double in a mere 25 years. (Worldwatch Institute)
Americans use a billion gallons of motor oil a year, 350 million gallons of which end up polluting the environment. (Department of Energy and Maryland Energy Administration)
A car that gets 20 miles per gallon (mpg) emits approximately 50 tons of global-warming-inducing carbon dioxide over its lifetime, while a 40-mpg car emits only 25 tons. Over the average lifetime of an American car (100,000 miles), a 40-mpg car will also save approximately $3,000 in fuel costs compared to a 20-mpg car. (Natural Resources Defense Council)
The cars and trucks reaching the junkyards this year have higher gasoline mileage, on average, than the new ones rolling off dealers' lots, for the first time on record. (Matt Wald, The New York Times, August 11, 1997)
Renewables
Only 7.5 percent of total U.S. energy consumption came from renewable sources in 1998. Of that total, 94 percent was from hydropower and biomass (trash and wood incinerators). (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
For the 2 billion people without access to electricity, it would be cheaper to install solar panels than to extend the electrical grid. (The Fund for Renewable Energy Everywhere)
Within 15 years, renewable energy could be generating enough electricity to power 40 million homes and offset 70 days of oil imports.
Photovoltaics
Providing power for villages in developing countries is a fast-growing market for photovoltaics. The United Nations estimates that more than 2 million villages worldwide are without electric power for water supply, refrigeration, lighting, and other basic needs, and the cost of extending the utility grids is prohibitive, $23,000 to $46,000 per kilometer in 1988.
A one kilowatt PV system* each month:
prevents 150 lbs. of coal from being mined
prevents 300 lbs. of CO2 from entering the atmosphere
keeps 105 gallons of water from being consumed
keeps NO and SO2 from being released into the environment
* in Colorado, or an equivalent system that produces 150 kWh per month
Wind
Wind power is the fastest-growing energy source in the world. (Worldwatch Institute)
The wind in North Dakota alone could produce a third of America's electricity. (The Official Earth Day Guide to Planet Repair)
Wind power has the potential to supply a large fraction--probably at least 20%--of U.S. electricity demand at an economical price.
In 1990, California's wind power plants offset the emission of more than 2.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, and 15 million pounds of other pollutants that would have otherwise been produced.
Using 100 kWh of wind power each month is equivalent to:
planting ½ acre of trees
not driving 2,400 miles
Solar Thermal
Research shows that an average household with an electric water heater spends about 25% of its home energy costs on heating water.
Solar water heaters offered the largest potential savings, with solar water-heater owners saving as much as 50% to 85% annually on their utility bills over the cost of electric water heating.
You can expect a simple payback of 4 to 8 years on a well-designed and properly installed solar water heater. (Simple payback is the length of time required to recover your investment through reduced or avoided energy costs.)
Solar water heaters do not pollute. By investing in one, you will be avoiding carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and the other air pollution and wastes created when your utility generates power or you burn fuel to heat your household water. When a solar water heater replaces an electric water heater, the electricity displaced over 20 years represents more than 50 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions alone.
Alternative Fuels
Using biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine substantially reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particulate matter.
Biodiesel:
can be used at 100% levels or mixed in any proportion with No. 2 diesel or No. 1 diesel.
Contains no nitrogen or aromatics
Typically contains less than 15 ppm sulfur - Does not contribute to sulfur dioxide emissions
Has characteristically low carbon monoxide, particulate, soot and hydrocarbon emissions
Contains 11% oxygen by weight
Has the highest energy content (BTUs) of any alternative fuel and is comparable to No. 1 diesel.
Over 4,000 electric vehicles are operating throughout the United States (with the largest number in California and the western United States).
More than 20,000 flexible-fuel vehicles are in operation.
Over 75,000 natural gas vehicles in U.S. and nearly 1 million worldwide.
Energy Efficiency
By taking appropriate energy-saving measures, by 2010 the United States can have an energy system that reduces costs by $530 per household per year and reduces global warming pollutant emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels. (Energy Innovations report)
Just by using the "off the shelf" energy-efficient technologies available today, we could cut the cost of heating, cooling, and lighting our homes and workplaces by up to 80%. (U.S. Department of Energy and Maryland Energy Administration)
Replacing one incandescent lightbulb with an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb means 1,000 pounds less carbon dioxide is emitted to the atmosphere and $67 dollars is saved on energy costs over the bulb's lifetime. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Alliance to Save Energy)
A decrease of only 1% in industrial energy use would save the equivalent of about 55 million barrels of oil per year, worth about $1 billion.

Boone Pickens Plan Working ??

2008-08-18T06:56:00.000-07:00

A Personal Note from T. Boone Pickens
Over the past couple days, I met with both Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama. I think it's safe to say that you and I have gotten their attention.
They both mentioned the TV ads about our campaign to end America's addiction to foreign oil.
I told them both about you and the others who have joined with me in building this army. They are smart men. They know what it means to have over 4 million people visit your website. They know what it means to have hundreds of thousands joining.
And they knew what it meant when I told them that there will be over a million of us by the time this election happens - that we'll be ready to make big things happen when one of them becomes the next president.
These meetings would not have happened if you hadn't taken the time to come to the website and sign up - I can't thank you enough.
T. Boone Pickens

The Plan

2008-08-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

America is addicted to foreign oil.
It's an addiction that threatens our economy, our environment and our national security. It touches every part of our daily lives and ties our hands as a nation and a people.

The addiction has worsened for decades and now it's reached a point of crisis.

In 1970, we imported 24% of our oil.
Today it's nearly 70% and growing.
As imports grow and world prices rise, the amount of money we send to foreign nations every year is soaring. At current oil prices, we will send $700 billion dollars out of the country this year alone — that's four times the annual cost of the Iraq war.

Projected over the next 10 years the cost will be $10 trillion — it will be the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind.

America uses a lot of oil. Every day 85 million barrels of oil are produced around the world. And 21 million of those are used here in the United States.

That's 25% of the world's oil demand. Used by just 4% of the world's population.

Can't we just produce more oil?

World oil production peaked in 2005. Despite growing demand and an unprecedented increase in prices, oil production has fallen over the last three years. Oil is getting more expensive to produce, harder to find and there just isn't enough of it to keep up with demand.

The simple truth is that cheap and easy oil is gone.

What's the good news?

The United States is the Saudi Arabia of wind power.

Studies from around the world show that the Great Plains States are home to the greatest wind energy potential in the world — by far.

The Department of Energy reports that 20% of America's electricity can come from wind. North Dakota alone has the potential to provide power for more than a quarter of the country.

Today's wind turbines stand up to 410 feet tall, with blades that stretch 148 feet in length. The blades collect the wind's kinetic energy. In one year, a 3-megawatt wind turbine produces as much energy as 12,000 barrels of imported oil.

Wind power currently accounts for 48 billion kWh of electricity a year in the United States — enough to serve more than 4.5 million households. That is still only about 1% of current demand, but the potential of wind is much greater.

A 2005 Stanford University study found that there is enough wind power worldwide to satisfy global demand 7 times over — even if only 20% of wind power could be captured.

Building wind facilities in the corridor that stretches from the Texas panhandle to North Dakota could produce 20% of the electricity for the United States at a cost of $1 trillion. It would take another $200 billion to build the capacity to transmit that energy to cities and towns.

That's a lot of money, but it's a one-time cost. And compared to the $700 billion we spend on foreign oil every year, it's a bargain.

An economic revival for rural America.
Developing wind power is an investment in rural America.

To witness the economic promise of wind energy, look no further than Sweetwater, Texas.

Sweetwater was typical of many small towns in middle-America. With a shortage of good jobs, the youth of Sweetwater were leaving in search of greater opportunities. And the town's population dropped from 12,000 to under 10,000.

When a large wind power facility was built outside of town, Sweetwater experienced a revival. New economic opportunity brought the town back to life and the population has grown back up to 12,000.

In the Texas panhandle, just north of Sweetwater, is the town of Pampa, where T. Boone Pickens' Mesa Power is currently building the largest wind farm in the world.

In addition to creating new construction and maintenance jobs, thousands of Americans will be employed to manufacture the turbines and blades. These are high skill jobs that pay on a scale comparable to aerospace jobs.

Plus, wind turbines don't interfere with farming and grazing, so they don't threaten food production or existing local economies.

A cheap new replacement for foreign oil.
The Honda Civic GX Natural Gas Vehicle is the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle in the world according to the EPA.
Natural gas and bio-fuels are the only domestic energy sources used for transportation.

Cleaner
Natural gas is the cleanest transportation fuel available today.

According to the California Energy Commission, critical greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas are 23% lower than diesel and 30% lower than gasoline.

Natural gas vehicles (NGV) are already available and combine top performance with low emissions. The natural gas Honda Civic GX is rated as the cleanest production vehicle in the world.

According to NGVAmerica, there are more than 7 million NGVs in use worldwide, but only 150,000 of those are in the United States.

The EPA estimates that vehicles on the road account for 60% of carbon monoxide pollution and around one-third of hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in the United States. As federal and state emissions laws become more stringent, many requirements will be unattainable with conventionally fueled vehicles.

Since natural gas is significantly cleaner than petroleum, NGVs are increasing in popularity. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach recently announced that 16,800 old diesel trucks will be replaced, and half of the new vehicles will run on alternatives such as natural gas.

Cheaper
Natural gas is significantly less expensive than gasoline or diesel. In places like Utah and Oklahoma, prices are less than $1 a gallon. To see fueling stations and costs in your area, check out cngprices.com.

Domestic
Natural gas is our country's second largest energy resource and a vital component of our energy supply. 98% of the natural gas used in the United States is from North America. But 70% of our oil is purchased from foreign nations.

Natural gas is one of the cleanest, safest and most useful forms of energy — residentially, commercially and industrially. The natural gas industry has existed in the United States for over 100 years and continues to grow.

Domestic natural gas reserves are twice that of petroleum. And new discoveries of natural gas and ongoing development of renewable biogas are continually adding to existing reserves.

While it is a cheap, effective and versatile fuel, less than 1% of natural gas is currently used for transportation.

The Mechanics

We currently use natural gas to produce 22% of our electricity. Harnessing the power of wind to generate electricity will give us the flexibility to shift natural gas away from electricity generation and put it to use as a transportation fuel — reducing our dependence on foreign oil by more than one-third.

How do we get it done?
The Pickens Plan is a bridge to the future — a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives, and buy us time to develop even greater new technologies.

Building new wind generation facilities and better utilizing our natural gas resources can replace more than one-third of our foreign oil imports in 10 years. But it will take leadership.

On January 20th, 2009, a new President will take office.

We're organizing behind the Pickens Plan now to ensure our voices will be heard by the next administration.

Together we can raise a call for change and set a new course for America's energy future in the first hundred days of the new presidency — breaking the hammerlock of foreign oil and building a new domestic energy future for America with a focus on sustainability.