Sometimes we’re spot-on when we predict the future. Other times we blow it horribly. Take smart homes, the forerunner of today’s smart grid. Back in the 1980s, prognosticators thought we’d have millions of smart homes by now and that they would achieve remarkable feats. For example, a United Press International article from 1986 said that a child would be able to stick …

Charge Across Town Invites Public to Get Behind the Wheel of an EV Charge Across Town is driving forward the adoption of electric vehicles in the Bay Area with “EV Week 2013: San Francisco to Silicon Valley” – a three-city, five-day series of events and activities designed to engage, educate and excite Bay Area drivers about the benefits, ease and …

US-Made Silicon Energy Modules Outperform Top Photovoltaic Companies in Severe Environmental Testing Silicon Energy’s double-glass Cascade Series Photovoltaic (PV) Module outperformed standard PV modules for durability under extreme environmental conditions, in an experimental testing process by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Sustainably manufactured in the US, the company’s Cascade Series PV Modules are built to last using the highest …

Energy Focused Grant Applications Rodman & Rodman has prepared numerous 1603 applications and, based on our experience with the application process, we have a come up with a top 10 list of helpful tips.  Listed below are some application tips and additional documentation that we recommend you have on hand, even though the initial application does not require you to …

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 …

The EPA reports that 36 percent of total energy use and 65 percent of electricity consumption comes from buildings. When these numbers approach 0, mankind will have taken a major step towards fossil fuel independence. Exciting new green energy technologies are leading us towards a promising future at a more rapid pace than many have imagined. Recent developments in solar …

According to EnergyTrend, the green energy research division of TrendForce, the demand in PV market remained sluggish. Outlook for September appears bleak, and the expected demand rebound may not occur. On the other hand, shrinking end-market subsidies has affected the return on investment (ROI) of solar systems. Manufacturers and makers have become less flexible when it comes to cost control …

It’s not a difficult formula: the lighter a car is, the less fuel it needs to consume. So why aren’t all of our cars lighter and more fuel-efficient? The answer is a little more complicated. These days, drivers want a host of safety, entertainment and comfort features that ultimately make cars heavier. Lighter weight cars are more fuel-efficient, but they …

— FuelCell Energy Solutions, GmbH Acquires Select Assets from MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH — European Joint Venture With Fraunhofer IKTS to be Finalized by June 30,2012 FuelCell Energy, Inc. a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable fuel cell power plants, today announced that its German subsidiary, FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH, is acquiring select assets from MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, a subsidiary …

According to EnergyTrend, the research division of TrendForce, Germany’s ruling coalition has come to a consensus regarding the nation’s revised photovoltaic subsidy policy. In addition to partial subsidy adjustments, an installation cap is also being implemented. According to EnergyTrend research, the German government has laid out the initial progressive feed-in-tariff (FiT) reduction schedule for 2012-2017. If the number of installations …

At this weeks PV America show in San Jose CA we caught up with SEPA CEO Julia Hamm for a discussion of the state of the solar power industry and where she thinks things are going in this alternative energy business. While price drops in the last year have certainly sparked a great deal of interest in solar projects there …

Dramatic increase in solar use witnessed over two decades Washington, D.C. March 19, 2012 2012 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). During that time, solar energy has advanced from a niche resource with limited applications to a significant energy source for electric utilities and their customers across the U.S. In 1992, a new organization was …

Formerly HCL CleanTech, Company Unveils New Brand and CEO; Officially Announces the Closing of $30 Million in Private Financing and $75 Million Loan Package from the State of Mississippi REDWOOD CITY, Calif.— March 6, 2012—Virdia, formerly HCL CleanTech, a leading developer of cellulosic sugars, today announced major company milestones, including a new brand and CEO, its latest funding round, and …

$30,000 Lemelson-MIT Collegiate Student Prizes Awarded to Inventive Students at Three Leading Universities CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (March 7, 2012) – Miles C. Barr today received the prestigious $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for his innovative solar technologies and creativity. Barr received his Ph.D. from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2012 and a Master of …

A lot of people today have gone on and on about the positive aspects of solar energy. Even though theoretical arguments are constantly interesting, what about day-to-day applications? Uses for Solar In Each day Life Solar energy is an crucial advancement inside the effort to save the atmosphere. Maybe essentially the most effortlessly usable and most convenient with the renewable …

Axion Power Chosen for Battery Mini Power Cube in Zero Energy Building in Washington DC Naval Yard NEW CASTLE, Pa. , Jan. 4, 2012 — Axion Power International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AXPW), the developer of advanced lead­carbon PbC® batteries and energy storage systems, announced today that it was awarded a purchase order from SilTek Inc. confirming their participation in …

New Solutions Meet Diverse Energy Demands of Commercial, Institutional and Residential Customers HILLSBORO, Ore. – November 29, 2011 – ClearEdge Power, a manufacturer of scalable, continuous onsite power systems, today expanded its product portfolio to meet the increasingly complex energy demands of commercial, institutional and residential customers. With the addition of two new product designs, ClearEdge Power now offers a …

It is pretty amazing how much of a significant difference wind turbines can have, of course you have to think about certain factors. Changing wind power into electrical energy is actually the purpose of wind generators. If you envision a plane propeller sitting on top of a tall tower, this is exactly what a turbine looks like. When the wind …

If you’re thinking of joining the numerous Americans who have switched to solar energy to power their houses or companies, you might have questions about the process of solar installation. That’s only natural considering that this will need major alteration to your property and this is also the reason why you need to select a qualified solar installation business. Whilst …

by Courtney C. Capshaw, Lockheed Martin Member of the Con Edison Green Team Office buildings consume more energy than any other building type, according to the U.S Energy Information Administration. These buildings use 198 billion kWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed by 18 million American homes annually. The cost of this energy usage is …