Virtual power plant: that sounds like part of a video game like “SimCity” or “Cities: Skylines” — but it’s not. The virtual power plant (VPP) is a real, up-and-coming energy source. It’s a widespread collection of modest power systems with one control site that runs them like a single power plant. The control room increases or decreases production or …

Go turn off all your lights. Feel better? You should, because you just saved some money on energy. Sure, we might be talking just a few cents, but those cents add up. Keep those lights burning around the clock and watch how your power bill will skyrocket. Turning off lights is not only a fast fix for saving on energy …

JuiceBox Energy’s Innovative Energy Storage Technology is Game Changer for Nevada’s Solar Economics Las Vegas, NV, USA, April 11, 2016 – Nevada residents continue to seek alternative energy solutions for their homes that increase their use of renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce their reliance on the centralized utility model, and provide daily economic returns on their investment. While recent …

This post originally appeared on Modernize.com where you can find comprehensive solar information from industry experts.   America’s energy policy has been the subject of much recent debate: From the Pope’s public advocacy of environmental stewardship to the EPA’s toughened regulations on pollution from petroleum refineries, the sources that power our society have rarely been so widely scrutinized. Once regarded as a subject …

Many US states are struggling to figure out where they stand with regard to renewable energy. A history of oil and coal development hamstrings many states who feel beholden to the companies who have built huge infrastructure around oil and coal. Other states wonder how much to lean on renewable energy in their development planning. But one state has jumped …

Martifer Solar has connected a new solar PV rooftop plant on rooftop in San Salvador, El Salvador, which represents the company’s commitment to grow the market in Central America The PV plant was developed Martifer Solar’s local partner, DESENI and was built for one of El Salvador’s leading distribution companies, DISZASA Martifer Solar, a subsidiary of Martifer SGPS, has completed …

The global market for grid-connected residential photovoltaic (PV) solar installations coupled with energy storage is predicted to grow tenfold to reach more than 900 megawatts (MW) in 2018, up from just 90 MW in 2014, according to new analysis from IHS Technology (NYSE: IHS). This expanding opportunity for PV companies and battery manufacturers largely will be driven by the increasing …

  The global market for grid-connected residential photovoltaic (PV) solar installations coupled with energy storage is predicted to grow tenfold to reach more than 900 megawatts (MW) in 2018, up from just 90 MW in 2014, according to new analysis from IHS Technology (NYSE: IHS). This expanding opportunity for PV companies and battery manufacturers largely will be driven by the …

WELTEC Optimises Wastewater Plants In the future, the anaerobic fermentation and utilisation of sludge from wastewater plants will play an increasingly important role. To ensure an economically and ecologically sustainable solution, more and more municipalities decide to optimise the energy potential of their sewage plants. For a plant dimension of 20,000 to 30,000 PE (population equivalent), biogas plant manufacturer WELTEC …

  In Northeastern Brazil, energy companies are erecting wind farms to capitalize on the constant winds that have challenged farming families for generations.   CAETITE, BRAZIL — With its abundant dams and rivers that carry more fresh water than any other country, Brazil — big and bountiful — essentially runs on hydropower. But it turns out that the country can …

The global energy industry must play a greater role in the transition to sustainable energy systems if United Nations development goals are to be met, warns a report launched today by the World Energy Council (WEC). The potential for billions of people benefiting from sustainable energy systems in future decades hangs in the balance without increased private sector support, it …

New Worldwatch Institute study examines the global market for solar and wind energy production Global use of solar and wind energy continued to grow significantly in 2012. Solar power consumption increased by 58 percent, to 93 terrawatt-hours (TWh), and the use of wind power increased by 18 percent, to 521 TWh. Although hydropower remains the world’s leading renewable energy, solar …

Shelton Group Study Shows Decline in Energy-Efficient Product Purchases and Home Improvements Shelton Group, the nation’s leading marketing communications firm entirely focused in the sustainability and energy efficiency sectors, announced today that its latest Utility Pulse study shows that energy-saving habits have declined in the last three years. The national poll shows decreases in behaviors such as: Replacing incandescent bulbs …

Sometimes energy makes headlines, sometimes it doesn’t.  But it almost always has important implications for the global economy, the environment, and our day-to-day lives. Here are 10 energy statistics from 2012 that capture some of the most noteworthy trends of the year, and that will shape the energy world in the years to come. Natural gas, one of the three key fossil …

Solar power is one of the most eco-friendly forms of energy available to consumers. Solar technology draws energy from sunlight, which is converted to electricity by exterior-mounted solar panels. One of the disadvantages of solar panels is that a large field of these panels is required to provide the power necessary to fuel a single home, let alone a neighborhood …

Energy benchmarking can help you better understand your commercial property’s energy use and monitor performance over time. It allows for comparisons among similar building types and helps identify which ones could operate more efficiently. The Environmental Protection Agency and its ENERGY STAR® Program offers a free online tool called Portfolio Manager that allows users to track and assess building energy …

Industry Says Even Greater Assurance Possible Hardly a week has passed since Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association, TREIA,hosted the Electric Generation Adequacy & Reliability Forum at the Texas State Capitol on Tuesday, May 8 where Texas PUC Commissioner Pablos and industry leaders spoke to a standing room only audience about issues facing energy industries in Texas. TREIA President Steve Wiese …

Committed to sustainability and preserving the environment, The Cliff House Resort & Spa has installed one of Maine’s largest solar thermal systems. The installation uses 2,100 tubes on 70 collectors. That’s 10 times the size of an average solar project. The solar installation will save an estimated 11,000 gallons of propane annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than …

Mix of GIS, technical and financing advice helps countries shift from high-carbon imports to low-carbon domestic energy By embracing an integrated mix of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and grid technologies, countries can put their energy systems on a more sustainable path while developing economically, according to a new report from the Worldwatch Institute. The report, Sustainable Energy Roadmaps: Guiding the …

Our continuing coverage of the PV America show in San Jose CA this past week as we highlight our conversation with AlsoEnergy CEO Robert Schaefer who gives us a breakdown of their solar power monitoring service. This technology helps solar power installations monitor remotely the efficiency of the solar power system output and many other onsite factors so an operator …