Home: Renewable Energy News: July 2011

Renewable Energy News

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Friday 29 July, 2011

California Solar Schools To Save $1.5 Billion In Electricity
California's massive push for solar and related support will see many of the state's K-12 schools and higher education institutions installing solar panels - and saving approximately $1.5 billion in electricity costs over 30 years.

Solar Power Key To 'Clean' Electric Vehicle Charging
As fuel prices soar and consumers turn their backs on costly gas-guzzling cars, more people are switching to electric vehicles (EV) for both environmental and financial reasons.

Thursday 28 July, 2011

Alice Springs' Uterne Solar Farm Completed
U.S. based solar panel manufacturer Sunpower has announced the completion of Australia's largest solar farm to use a solar tracking system.

Making Renewable Energy Products With Renewables
Critics of renewable energy will sometimes point to the fact that solar panels and similar products are often made with energy derived from fossil fuel based electricity generation. A UK company has shown this doesn't need to be the case.

U.S. Uni Students Compete For $2 Million Renewable Energy Prize
The U.S. Government is turning to the nation's university students with a nationwide competition that it hopes will yield the next generation of American renewable energy entrepreneurs.

Market-Ready Thin Film Solar Cell Efficiency Record
Results of tests conducted on a new CdTe photovoltaic (PV) cell from First Solar Inc. show an efficiency rating of 17.3 percent.

Wednesday 27 July, 2011

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 39 - July 27, 2011
In this episode, Virginia covers Cadbury Chocolate's solar initiative, Energy Matters wins Australian Business Awards, solar savvy Queenslanders help the state power past targets and coal cries poor

Renewable Energy Jobs For South Australia
A visit by the federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet and South Australian Premier Mike Rann to a wind turbine tower manufacturing plant in suburban Adelaide has highlighted the economic benefits from growth in renewable energy in the state.

Thermax, Amonix Collaborate To Bring CPV To India
A new deal to deliver baseload electricity in India using concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technology illustrates once again that setting national renewable energy targets can boost green jobs numbers and deliver profits, both fiscal and environmental.

Tuesday 26 July, 2011

California Sets 12 Gigawatt Small Scale Renewables Goal
In the USA, the state of California is currently legislating renewable energy targets that make goals set by some nations look like paltry gestures by comparison. The state is using every means necessary to get there, including the roofs and backyards of its citizens.

Ontario Waves Bye-Bye To Coal Fired Power Generation
Ontario, Canada's most populated province, has seen a boom in renewable energy jobs, with 20,000 employed in the sector. It's not such a rosy picture for the coal industry though, with coal fired power generation in Ontario slated to go the way of the dodo by 2014.

Cadbury Chocolate's Solar Power Initiative For Ghana
There's only one thing better than solar power and that's chocolate. Maybe. Combine the two though and it has to be the best thing in the entire universe. Ever.

Monday 25 July, 2011

Energy Matters Wins 2011 Australian Business Awards
National solar solutions provider Energy Matters has been recognised among Australia’s most progressive organisations, winning the 2011 Australian Business Awards in the categories of E-Business and Recommended Employer.

Another $66.5 Million For Moree Solar Farm
A $66.5 million grant was announced for Moree Solar Farm last week to go towards research and development in relation to the massive clean power generator.

Wind Energy Giant Embraces Solar Power
Danish wind energy giant Vestas is determined to make its new US headquarters, currently under construction in the the renewable energy mecca of Portland, Oregon, as green as possible by installing the city’s largest rooftop solar power system on the 102-year-old Meier & Frank Depot building.

Thursday 21 July, 2011

USA Betting On India's Renewable Energy Future
The United States’ Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has announced it will spend $880 million on renewable energy projects in India under a deal brokered by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

Power From Poop - With The Help Of Solar Energy
How we deal with our own waste is often a terribly resource intensive and polluting exercise. Reinventing the toilet, with the assistance of solar power, could save millions of lives, slash water use and even help power our homes.

Queensland Powers Past Solar Energy Target
Solar-savvy Queensland households have helped the state reach an important solar energy target more than three years ahead of schedule.

Wednesday 20 July, 2011

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 38 - July 20, 2011
In this episode, Virginia covers a study of the cooling benefits of rooftop solar panels, a report on US clean energy jobs paying better than the national average, a ivy leaf shaped solar panel system and solar sisters bringing light to Africa.

Renewable Energy Accelerates - Greenpeace
A new report from Greenpeace International examining trends in the global power plant market paints a promising picture for the future of renewable energy stocks, finding the installed capacity of solar and wind grew faster than any other power source between the years 2000 and 2010.

South Australia Energy Minister - No More Cheap Mains Electricity
According to South Australia's State Energy Minister, Michael O'Brien, there will be no return to cheap power and the fact 90,000 South Australian households had already taken up on solar power rebates and incentives to install systems showed that consumers in the state are "energy savvy now".

Coal Cries Poor - Making $1 Million Per Employee
The coal industry has moaned about Australia's carbon tax increasing the cost of a tonne of coal by less than $2; while reportedly making a million dollars profit per employee.

Tuesday 19 July, 2011

Gold FM Roadies At Energy Matters This Thursday
VicSuper has nominated Energy Matters as VicSuper Business of the Week on Melbourne's popular radio station, Classic Hits - Gold 104.3.

The Rush Is On For Solar Schools Funding
The National Solar Schools Program (NSSP) 2011-12 application round has re-opened, but schools will need to be quick as it may close as early as 30 September 2011.

Solar To Power Hawai'i Air Force Base Community
An Air Force base in Hawai'i will become one of the largest solar powered communities in the USA, with solar energy systems to be installed on 600 homes at a Pearl Harbor military estate.

New Battery Material Can Store Solar Energy 'Indefinitely'
MIT researchers have revealed carbon nanotube based structures could provide a new approach to storing solar energy for use whenever it’s needed - an important discovery in the evolution of solar farms able to provide baseload power.

Suntech Designs High Tech Solar Panels For Israel
It’s hardly surprising when discussing the potential of solar energy, statements from Israel get biblical. After all, it is known as the Holy Land.

Solar Panels As Rooftop Insulators
If you're looking for an additional reason to go solar, here it is. Solar panels aren't just an environmentally friendly way to generate power and to save on rapidly escalating electricity costs - they can assist in keeping your house or place of business cool too, helping you to save even more on energy.

Monday 18 July, 2011

Solar Power Gets Red Carpet Treatment In Israel
The recent opening of Israel’s first ground-mount solar energy plant was more like a gala awards ceremony than a standard ribbon-cutting event. The energy-starved nation says this highlights just how vital solar power infrastructure will become in the future of the Israeli energy mix.

5MW Solar Farm Constructed In 6 Weeks
The Victorian Government recently expressed concerns an early closure of Hazelwood Power Station, one of the world's filthiest coal-fired facilities, would threaten the state's electricity supplies. News of the recent opening of a solar farm in the UK, built in just 6 weeks, should help allay those fears.

Harris Tea Going Solar
We've written before about coffee companies going solar - now it's tea's turn.

Friday 15 July, 2011

Solar Goes Ivy League
The University of Utah has taken the term 'ivy league' to another level with the purchase of specialty solar installation that attaches to the walls of buildings and resembles the vine that covers so many elite institutes of learning.

Solar Sisters Bring Light To Africa
Solar Sister is a social enterprise training and supporting women in Africa in the creation of solar micro-businesses that help address rampant energy poverty through the sale of simple solar powered lights.

Thursday 14 July, 2011

Clean Energy Jobs Pay More
A report from the USA’s Brookings Institute has found that the nation’s booming clean energy sector offers more opportunity and better pay for many American workers than other jobs in the national economy - and also now employs more than the fossil fuel industry.

ACT Solar Feed In Tariff Scheme Closes (Again)
Further proving the point that the best time to buy solar is often "right now" given the popularity of solar rebates and incentives often results in programs being changed or axed, the ACT Government has announced its generous solar feed in tariff scheme has closed - again - to new connections. It looks like this time it's for good.

ASU Students Take To Solar Powered Flight
Electrical engineering students at Arizona State University are looking at ways of making solar-powered aircraft a more viable flight technology.

Suntech Launches New Solar Panels, Extends Product Warranty
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. has announced the launch of two new high performance solar panel models and also an extension of product warranty on all the company's standard solar modules.

Wednesday 13 July, 2011

New Thin Film Solar Cell Efficiency Record Claim
Thin-film solar panel technology took another step forward this week, with US manufacturer United Solar announcing it has achieved a world record efficiency of 16.3 percent for its recently patented Nano-Crystalline thin-film silicon solar cells.

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 37 - Carbon Tax Special
In this episode, Virginia covers stories relating to Australia's recent carbon tax announcement and a spotlight on El Hierro, a small Spanish island breaking free of its addiction to fossil fuels for electricity generation.

Renewables Accounted For 20% Of Power Generation In 2010
2010 saw renewable energy well and truly moving out of the realm of fringe and into mainstream power generation according to statistics from the REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report.

Tuesday 12 July, 2011

ACT Solar Feed In Tariff Cap Nearly Reached
Households and businesses wanting to participate in the ACT's generous solar feed in tariff scheme will need to be quick - only just under a quarter of the installation capacity cap remains.

Carbon Price Signals Early End To Hazelwood Power Station?
Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria has the dubious distinction of being one of the filthiest coal-fired power plants in the world. Australia's carbon price may be the final nail in its long-prepared, but yet to be occupied coffin.

The Paper Solar Panel
A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have released details of a new development in the field of solar technology: the paper solar panel.

Monday 11 July, 2011

Rooftop Solar Power And Australia's Carbon Price
The boost that large scale solar will receive as a result of Australia's carbon pricing scheme will be welcome, but additional targeted support for small scale and medium solar energy seems to have been overlooked.

Clean Energy Council Welcomes Carbon Price
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) says the Federal Government’s carbon tax is a "once in a generation" opportunity for Australia to boost the renewable energy sector and transition to a low-carbon economy.

Australia's Carbon Price Will See 'Big Solar On Steroids'
Australia's Government has announced details of its carbon pricing scheme and a big winner in the renewable energy sector will be large scale solar power.

Friday 08 July, 2011

NSW Householders Robbed, Solar Industry Imploding
The Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) have stated the NSW Government has again refused to help households cut residential power bills by not supporting a fair price for solar-generated electricity.

El Hierro - The Renewable Energy Powered Island
A small Spanish island is breaking its fossil fuel addiction by using solar energy and wind power to supply all its electricity needs.

Global Renewable Energy Investment Surged In 2010
Renewable energy investment boomed last year, according to a financial summary from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Thursday 07 July, 2011

Scrapping Renewable Energy Support Won't Curb Electricity Price Rises
A new study out of Canada shows the vilification of small-scale renewable energy isn’t just an Australian phenomenon. It also backs up what has been proven here at home in numerous reports: scrapping renewable schemes does nothing to curb rising energy prices.

California Experiences Record Rooftop Solar Power Growth
Generous incentives and government rebates are seeing the rooftop solar market in California rocketing and prices of solar panels plummeting.

Free Solar Power Systems For 200,000 UK Residents
200,000 people living in council and public housing accommodation in the UK will receive free rooftop solar installations under a £1.2 billion deal between project financial specialist AD-ECO and Yorkshire-based solar energy system provider Solar Europa.

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 36 - July 7, 2011
In this episode, Virginia covers additional changes to the ACT's solar feed in tariff program, a South Australian student invents a solar powered sprinkler, South Australia's solar revolution being driven by average households and a Melbourne PhD student awarded for solar cell innovation.

Wednesday 06 July, 2011

Solar Fuels Key To Solving Energy Crisis
Scientists from four UK universities have collaborated to develop a revolutionary process that uses solar energy to produce clean fuels, which they say could help solve looming global energy shortages.

New South Wales Losing 73 Solar Jobs A Day
The Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) says a policy void in New South Wales is responsible for the loss of dozens of jobs each day in the solar power sector and is urging the state's Government to implement a solution put forward to arrest the damage now occurring.

Solar Power Rises Out Of Fukushima's Ashes
The Japanese government has directed high-volume electricity users serviced by embattled Tokyo Electric Power Co. to reduce electricity demand by 15% in the face of the ongoing nuclear crisis at Fukushima, giving rise to on-site renewable energy production.

Tuesday 05 July, 2011

Cling Film Solar Panels
UK scientists say they have developed a new technique for making polymer solar panels that could usher in a cheap renewable energy future.

32,000 Sanyo HIT Panels Power Solar Farm
What is believed to be the world's largest Sanyo HIT solar panel based PV farm has commenced operations in the Apulia region in Italy.

Mortgage Belt Driving South Australia Solar Power Uptake
In South Australia, rooftop solar power isn't a rich person's toy - "mortgage belt" suburbs and towns are leading the uptake in the face of rapidly increasing electricity costs and in order to take advantage of government rebates and incentives before they evaporate.

Melbourne PhD Student Awarded For Solar Cell Innovation
A PhD student from the University of Melbourne has been recognised as a leading innovator in the field of renewable energy for his work on cutting the cost of manufacturing thin film solar cells.

Monday 04 July, 2011

More ACT Solar Feed In Tariff Changes
The ACT's solar feed in tariff program for households has been given new life - but it appears it may be at the expense of medium scale solar power in the Territory.

NSW Solar Summit 2 A Fizzer
According to the Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES), last week's government-convened Solar Summit in New South Wales was dominated by speakers with little or no expertise in the solar power sector.

Sunday 03 July, 2011

Australia's Carbon Price Will See 'Big Solar On Steroids'
Australia's Government has announced details of its carbon pricing scheme and a big winner in the renewable energy sector will be large scale solar power.

Friday 01 July, 2011

DOE Provides $4.5 Billion In Solar Farm Loans
In a struggling economy staring down the barrel of a double-dip recession, the USA continues to bank on the construction of large-scale solar energy facilities to fuel job growth and forge a path to energy independence.

The Solar Powered Sprinkler
Rainwater tanks are a common feature in homes throughout Australia, but the low water pressure they provide means that watering usually needs to be done with the assistance of an electricity-hungry pump - and using sprinklers with pumps can present some problems. Enter the Solar Sprinkler.

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