KYOCERA Solar Modules Independently Tested Show Excellent Performance After 10 Years of Operation at Europe’s Largest Solar Research Institute Installation at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany is still highly efficient with output degradation of just 5 percent Kyocera Corporation (President: Goro Yamaguchi) announced today that its solar modules installed at the Fraunhofer Institute for …

Advanced software and integration capabilities  Greensmith’s ESS Master Controller  Greensmith Energy Management Systems is a leading provider of energy storage technologies and solutions with over 30 systems deployed utilizing its advanced, battery-agnostic technology platform. The company has seen rapid growth by delivering ever-larger, more sophisticated, energy storage technology solutions for utility, power developer and C&I applications. The company now offers “a …

Project management, financing, installation and other services enable independent solar dealers to concentrate on growth, squeeze out soft costs Soligent, a leader in systems and technologies for making solar dealers more competitive, today unveiled Solar Engine, a modular suite of integrated services that allow independent solar dealers to drive out costs, reduce paperwork and grow their businesses.   With Solar …

Reacting to today’s presidential memorandum requiring the federal government to get 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch released the following statement: “This is a landmark moment in our nation’s history. Today, climate change is a real and growing threat to America and the rest of the world. It’s indisputable. Sea …

Two Billion Kilowatt Hours of Environmentally Friendly and Efficient Fuel Cell Power Generation Major Operating Milestone Reached From Growing Installed Base of Ultra-Clean, Efficient and Reliable Fuel Cell Power Plants FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a global leader in the design, manufacture, operation and service of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable fuel cell power plants, today announced a significant operating milestone with the …

Set to Boom in the Coming Years After years of slow progress, the global market for concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems is entering a phase of explosive growth, with worldwide installations set to boom by 750 percent from 2013 to the end of 2020. CPV installations are projected to rise to 1,362 megawatts in 2020, up from 160 megawatts in 2013, …

The Worldwatch Institute suggests moving toward collective direct action to successfully tackle key environmental issues Many environmentalists today miss the broader political picture by advocating for small day-to-day “green living” acts that in reality are far more symbolic than they are effective. The truth is that most people are proponents of a cleaner environment, safer products and labor conditions, and …

Icebreaker’ Foundation adapts well-proven monopile design to address Lake Erie’s soil conditions and harsh winters The Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) announced today that it has completed a thorough analysis of four different conceptual offshore wind foundation designs and has selected the “monopile” concept to further develop for the Cleveland-based non-profit’s offshore wind project on Lake Erie. “We picked …

Crafting a better enzyme cocktail to turn plants into fuel faster Tapping fungus to unlock energy Scientists looking to create a potent blend of enzymes to transform materials like corn stalks and wood chips into fuels have developed a test that should turbocharge their efforts. The new research, published in October in the journal Molecular BioSystems, is part of a worldwide …

What are Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)? Some homeowners are turned off by how solar panels affect the appearances of their homes. Building-integrated photovoltaics – basically solar panels incorporated into the construction of new buildings – can eliminate the negative visual impact of traditional solar panels; improve appearance and boost resale value. The installed capacity of building-integrated photovoltaics is expected to boom …

What are Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)? Some homeowners are turned off by how solar panels affect the appearances of their homes. Building-integrated photovoltaics – basically solar panels incorporated into the construction of new buildings – can eliminate the negative visual impact of traditional solar panels; improve appearance and boost resale value. The installed capacity of building-integrated photovoltaics is expected to boom …

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 …

The Geothermal Energy Association today released a new report showing continued strong growth signals in the international market for geothermal power. The report, 2013 Geothermal Power: International Market Overview, identifies 70 countries moving forward with nearly 700 geothermal power projects. “The number of geothermal projects continues to grow as more and more countries recognize the potential economic and environmental benefits that geothermal …

Microbial Fuel Cells How can we turn waste water in a fuel source to create electricity? Well this video will show you how it is possible to do it right now. Watch the video and comment below. The next challenge is to scale it up for use in industrial power generation. It now becomes an engineering problem since the bacteria …

More Business Travelers Opting For Green-Certified Hotels According to a new report from Timetric, an increasing number of business travelers are opting for green-certified hotels in an effort to curb the impact of their frequent travelling. Business travellers are increasingly prioritising green-certified hotels, according to a new survey by market research firm Timetric. According to its Global Business Traveler Survey …

Solar Modules Prove Long-Term Reliability in Colorado Mountains KYOCERA modules continue performing efficiently after 10 to 22 years in the field Kyocera Solar Inc. today announced that its solar modules installed on three individual sites in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains have demonstrated long-term reliability and longevity despite extreme circumstances including a racking failure, high irradiance, freezing temperatures and heavy snow for …

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 …

With turbines operating in extreme wind regimes such as the Caribbean and northern Scotland, Northern Power Systems today announced that its fleet of gearless turbines that experience hurricane-speed winds has achieved 1 million run time hours, all without incident. That is equivalent to a cumulative 114 years of continuous, safe, high-performance operation. Proper design and control are essential for a …

Looming on the horizon is a future of high gas prices and disuse for most cars on the road today. More and more drivers are getting on board with alternatively-powered vehicles, and thus, more manufacturers are offering vehicle models outfitted with alternative engines to feed the demand. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 2010, vehicle dealers in the U.S. …

As a commercial contractor, I have had experiences with working with green building materials. I have noticed that today, now more than ever, it’s important to take steps to conserve our natural resources. One way to do that is through the use of green building materials, such as seen at the Ritz-Carlton in North Carolina and the Las Vegas Palazzo …