Home: Renewable Energy News: August 2011

Renewable Energy News

AUGUST 2011 | View archive list |

Wednesday 31 August, 2011

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 44 - August 31, 2011
In this episode, Virginia covers changes to Victoria's solar feed in tariff expected soon, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet seeking to axe more solar incentives, Western Australia's struggle to reach its renewable energy target and wind power is threatening to propel the Earth out of its orbit.

$1.3 Billion Wind Farm Proposed For South Australia's Yorke Peninsula
While Victoria has implemented guidelines that may put the brakes on wind power in the state, South Australia is continuing to attract major wind energy investment interest.

Victoria's Wind Power Setback Policy To Crush Investment
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren says $3 billion in investment would be lost to Victoria as a result of its new planning policy that would further restrict where wind turbines can be established.

Suntech Scores Order For 100,000 Solar Panels
Suntech Power has been chosen by SunPeak Solar, LLC to supply the solar panels needed in the construction of a vast 23 megawatt (MW) solar power plant on the U.S/ Mexico border.

U.S. Solar Industry Holding Its Own In A China Dominated Market
A new report into the state of the U.S. solar industry shows the sector is holding its own in a global market dominated by China, with local solar firms ending the year 2010 with a positive trade balance to the tune of $1.9 billion.

Tuesday 30 August, 2011

NEWSFLASH - Victoria Solar Feed In Tariff Changes 'Imminent'
It's been on the cards for a while - but changes to the premium solar feed in tariff (PFiT) in Victoria for new applications have moved from "soon" to an announcement being made any time now.

Solar Power Could Be The World's Major Electricity Generator By 2060
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), various solar power technologies may account for the majority of the world’s electricity production within 50 years.

Monday 29 August, 2011

$852 Million Loan Guarantee Approved For Genesis Solar Project
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced final approval of a $852 million loan guarantee for a major concentrated solar power (CSP) project, part of the DOE’s plan to double the installed capacity of utility-scale solar energy in the USA.

Latin America's First Solar Soccer Stadium
Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brasil S.A has been awarded a contract for the planning and construction of the photovoltaic system, the first on a soccer stadium in Latin America.

Transmission Line For Major U.S. Solar Farm Approved
A transmission line that will connect a 250-megawatt solar farm to the mains electricity grid in California was approved last week.

Friday 26 August, 2011

UN Secretary General Calls For Renewable Energy Revolution
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called has for a global renewable energy revolution at round table talks in Denver, Colorado, stating the world has ignored the science of climate change for too long; mining its way to growth and burning its way to prosperity.

Wind Power Threatens Earth's Orbit, Solar Panels Sucking The Sun Dry
Video/Satire: A disturbing report suggests the collective "propeller" force exerted by wind turbines installed all over the world may alter earth's orbit - and even solar power poses a threat to our planet as millions of vampire solar panels suck all the energy from the sun.

Thursday 25 August, 2011

Combet Foreshadows End To Solar Power Incentives
News outlets are reporting Climate Change Minister Greg Combet will be seeking to axe some solar power incentive programs.

Western Australia Unlikely To Reach Renewable Energy Target
Less than a month after ending its solar feed in tariff for new applications, the Western Australian government has reportedly admitted the state may not hit its renewable energy target of 20% by 2020.

America's West Needs To Go Wild Over Renewables
A new report on energy investment in the American West over the next 40 years shows that states need to do more than just meet mandatory renewable energy targets if they hope to transition to profitable clean economies - they must exceed current mandates and make significant changes today to affect the future.

Wednesday 24 August, 2011

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 43 - August 24, 2011
In this episode, Virginia covers looming changes to South Australia's solar feed in tariff, Watarrka National Park’s solar diesel hybrid power system, a survey reveals the depth of NSW's solar industry crisis and Australia's only solar panel factory to stop producing solar cells.

Universities Collaborate To Build Oregon's Largest Solar Project
Seven Oregon universities have combined to break ground on a massive solar photovoltaic project which will generate clean energy for multiple campuses.

Japan's Feed In Tariffs Could Accelerate Global Solar Grid Parity
New legislation in place in China and laws about to be enacted in Japan could be the global tipping point for renewables achieving grid parity with fossil fuel based power generation sooner than most expected.

Tuesday 23 August, 2011

Australian Solar Manufacturing Support - Lessons From The USA
Australian policy makers - faced with choices on how to spend billions in carbon tax cash - should perhaps look overseas, where successful renewable energy policies are helping business invigorate stagnant manufacturing industries.

Churches Get Creative With Solar Power
Church buildings often provide a huge expanse of roof space perfect for generating solar electricity. Caloundra Uniting Church utilised their rooftop real estate in a unique way; using solar panels to make a religious as well as an environmental statement - a solar array in the shape of a cross.

Monday 22 August, 2011

South Australia's Solar Power Feed In Tariff Changes Loom
With just 39 days before South Australia's solar feed in tariff rate will be dramatically slashed for new applications, a rush is on to acquire a home solar power system before the deadline.

Thar's Gold In Them Thar Solar Cells
Researchers from the University of California (UCLA) say that by incorporating gold nanoparticles into the structure of organic solar cells they can capture more light from the solar spectrum, maximising power conversion by up to 20 percent.

U.S. Coast Guard's Solar Rooftop Project
Schneider Electric recently announced it had secured a contract with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in Puerto Rico to install 2.89 megawatts of solar panels on renovated Coast Guard rooftops over a 13-month period.

Friday 19 August, 2011

Solar PV Challenging Solar Thermal
In what is being described by some as a 'dark day' for solar thermal power in the USA, Solar Trust Of America has announced it will switch the first 500 megawatts of its construction work at the Blythe facility from Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) to PV technology, conceding that CSP technology is simply not viable in current market conditions.

Watarrka National Park's Solar Diesel Hybrid Power System
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Minister Karl Hampton recently announced the completed installation of a new hybrid solar power system at the Watarrka National Park ranger station.

Thursday 18 August, 2011

ASU To Lead New U.S. Solar Power Research Center
Faculty from Arizona State University (ASU) will spearhead a new Engineering Research Center (ERC) aimed at creating high-efficiency solar technologies and manufacturing methods to increase solar energy uptake.

Survey Reveals Depth Of NSW Solar Industry Crisis
A recent survey of 91 solar businesses in New South Wales has shown 25% have closed or will close their doors in the next month due to conditions sparked by the NSW government's handling of the state's Solar Bonus Scheme.

Sungevity Inks $50 Million Home Solar Power Deal
Solar power investment in America continues to defy stock market trends, with US solar power company Sungevity announcing a funding deal with Citigroup Inc. to provide for $50 million in residential solar leases that will allow the company to expand into new territory on the East Coast.

Wednesday 17 August, 2011

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 42 - August 17, 2011
In this episode, Virginia covers a call to extend Victoria's solar feed in tariff, Australia's solar soldier project, IPART requests public comment on New South Wales' feed in tariff and a team of students who have invented a solar powered clothes dryer.

UPDATE - Australia's Only Solar Panel Factory NOT Closing
In another blow to New South Wales' already troubled solar industry, the ABC is reporting Australia's only solar panel manufacturing facility, operated by Silex Solar, will be closing its doors after less than 2 years in operation.

Electric, Solar Powered Flight About To Go Mainstream
Elektra One is a single seat electric aircraft with a fly time of 4 hours and a range of 500 km. Instead of being directly powered by solar energy, it will come complete with a solar panel-studded hangar to recharge the plane for carbon emission free flying.

Tuesday 16 August, 2011

Floatovoltaics - Floating Solar Farms
Farm dams can be put to work to host floating solar farms that not only create clean, renewable electricity, but also reduce water evaporation.

U.S. Army Establishes Energy Initiatives Office
The United States' Army says its many large-scale renewable energy installations would become vital to mission security in the event of failure to the civilian electricity grid. The Army has established a new Energy Initiatives Office (EIO) Task Force to manage an estimated $7.1 billion in investments on future renewable energy projects.

Victorian Government Urged To Extend Solar Feed In Tariff
With the Victorian Government reportedly preparing to slash Victoria's premium solar feed in tariff rate for new applications soon, solar power industry bodies have called for a sensible approach to avoid a meltdown similar to what has occurred elsewhere.

Monday 15 August, 2011

Solar Pioneer Appointed Head Of Singapore Research Institute
Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is hoping that the appointment of Professor Michael Grätzel (often spelled "Graetzel"), will result in advancements in the manufacture of cheaper, more efficient solar cells.

IPART Invites Submissions On NSW Solar Feed In Tariff
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has released an issues paper in relation to New South Wales' solar feed in tariff and is inviting public comment.

Stanford University Unveils New Solar Car
Stanford University will be competing in this year's World Solar Challenge, to be held in Australia, with what it says is its fastest solar car to date - and hopes to be the first American team to win the race since 1987.

Friday 12 August, 2011

Under A Rising Sun - Diggers Going Solar
The Australian National University (ANU) says it has developed solar technology that could revolutionise electricity generation for Australian soldiers in the field.

Students Develop Solar Powered Clothes Dryer
Electric clothes dryers are real electricity guzzlers. According to Ausgrid (previously known as EnergyAustralia), they use about fifteen times more energy per cycle than an equivalent sized clothes washing machine.

Thursday 11 August, 2011

Ford Teams Up With SunPower For Solar Powered Electric Vehicles
Ford Motor Co. is partnering with solar panel manufacturer SunPower to provide US customers with specially designed solar power systems to charge Ford’s upcoming Focus Electric Vehicle (EV).

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 41 - August 11, 2011
In this episode, Virginia covers the deepening crisis in the NSW solar power sector, a study that finds solar panels add to a home's sale value, Victoria's feed in tariff to be slashed soon and why Australia missed out on a major solar project.

66 Days Until The 2011 World Solar Challenge
The stage is set for this year's World Solar Challenge where 42 teams will drive their high-tech cars 3,000 kilometres from Darwin to Adelaide - powered only by the sun.

Wednesday 10 August, 2011

Hybrid Solar System Extracts Hydrogen From Water
Imagine a rooftop solar power system that converts sunlight into hydrogen and stores it in a fuel cell, providing your home with a virtually endless supply of cheap, clean energy. An innovative hybrid system, developed by a young engineer from the USA’s Duke University, does exactly that.

Asia Pacific To Account For 25% Of Global PV Demand By 2015
The Asia Pacific region's hunger for solar panels looks set to continue; and by 2015 will account for a quarter of global demand.

Tuesday 09 August, 2011

IKEA UK To Invest Millions In Wind Energy And Solar Power
IKEA says it will invest heavily in solar and wind power sources for its 18 UK-based stores, as part of the Swedish furniture company’s "IKEA Goes Renewable" project.

Thames Water Installing Over 100 Solar Power Systems
The UK's Thames Water will be harvesting the energy of the sun with solar panel arrays at 103 of its locations.

NSW Solar Crisis Deepens
The New South Wales solar industry and households wanting to make the switch to solar have suffered greatly in the last few months due to State government policy - or more accurately, lack thereof - and the crisis could continue until at least April next year.

Monday 08 August, 2011

Study Finds Solar Power Systems Add 3% To A Home's Value
A recently released research paper concurs with another U.S. study that found a rooftop solar power system boosts the value of a home.

Heliotube - The Inflatable Solar Power System
Last week we covered the development of inflatable wind turbine technology - now it's solar's turn.

Friday 05 August, 2011

Solar Powered Irrigation Helps Egypt's Desert Bloom
Farmers in Upper Egypt have turned to harvesting the energy from the sun for irrigation, with help from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute

The Inflatable Wind Turbine
An Israeli company called Winflex is developing inflatable wind turbines using a design they say is feasible from one hundred kilowatt units to multi-megawatt capacity models.

Thursday 04 August, 2011

NEWSFLASH - Victoria's Solar Feed In Tariff To Be Slashed Soon
In a meeting held today between the Clean Energy Council (CEC) and the Department of Primary Industry (DPI) to discuss the existing Victorian Premium Feed-in Tariff (PFiT) incentive, the DPI reportedly stated the current program would be phased out for new connections soon.

Why Australia Missed Out On A Solar Tower Of Power
Renewable energy media has been abuzz in recent days regarding a massive solar tower to be constructed in Arizona. The company behind has its roots in Australia - so why is this 750 million dollar project being constructed on foreign shores?

BrightSource's New Generation Of Solar Thermal Plants
BrightSource Energy Inc. has released details of its latest large-scale solar thermal power plant design that utilises molten-salt technology for storing surplus energy, allowing plants to operate at night.

Wind Power In The EU To Triple By 2020
The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has published projections for onshore and offshore wind power deployment in the European Union out to 2030.

Wednesday 03 August, 2011

Energy Matters Video News - Episode 40 - August 3, 2011
In this episode, Virginia covers the suspension of Western Australia's solar feed in tariff program and the ensuing backlash, the Tiny House movement and thousands of South Australian households being slugged an extra 17% for electricity.

Power Your House With Solar - And A Nissan LEAF
Nissan has unveiled a system that enables electricity stored in the Nissan LEAF's lithium-ion batteries to be used in the household; effectively acting as home battery backup system with enough storage to run the average Australian household for over a day.

Sydney Home To 100% Solar Powered Billboard
Sydney's urban skyline can now boast a world-first in advertising - a 100 percent solar-powered billboard.

Tuesday 02 August, 2011

Renewable Energy Powered Portable Data Centers
A New York research group is teaming up with some of the biggest names in the computing industry to demonstrate how a network of wind and solar-powered data centers small enough to fit inside the average shipping container could revolutionise operations for businesses with high energy demands.

South Australians Slugged 17% More For Electricity
As of yesterday, thousands of South Australian households will be paying over 17% more for their electricity.

Western Australia's Government Slammed For Solar Shutdown
The sudden end to Western Australia's solar feed in tariff yesterday for new connections has been widely criticised by the solar industry and its supporters.

Monday 01 August, 2011

UPDATE: Western Australia Solar Feed In Tariff Suspended.
WA's Energy Minister Peter Collier announced a few hours ago that Western Australia's feed in tariff installation quota has been reached and the program suspended for new connections.

Communities Compete For U.S. $1.5 Billion Solar Farm Project
Florida’s National Solar Power has announced a shortlist of seven communities vying to become home to its planned 4000-acre solar farm

Solar Powered Tiny House Project
In the USA, and to a lesser degree Australia, 'McMansion' style housing has been popular. At the other extreme, the "Tiny House" concept is also gaining traction