GreenEnergyForEarth.com - Solar & Wind Power Products

July 2, 2009 - Matthew L. Wald reports in The New York Times, “Algae Farm Aims to Turn Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel.” Dow Chemical and Algenol Biofuels [located in Bonita Springs, Florida] are going to build a demonstration plant that will hopefully produce ethanol from carbon dioxide. Although the ethanol can be sold as a fuel for automobiles, Dow’s long-term interest is to use it as an ingredient for plastics replacing natural gas. When Congress created a tax subsidy for ethanol, it raised the price for nonfuel users like Dow. There are always consequences, seen or unseen. Please leave your comments here.

Jul 2, 2009 - It is a down economy and yet everyone wants to do their part to save the planet and reduce their own personal energy costs. What about the upfront costs in a recession? Matt Jenkins reports in the July-August issue of Miller-McCune in an article titled, “$olar System”, on the novel plans of Francisco DeVries in Berkeley, California. California has less than 0.5% of its homes with photovoltaic systems despite its reputation for green and sunshine. Now, based on his proposal, the Berkeley City Council has created the Sustainable Energy Financing District. Under the program, homeowners join the District, the District issues municipal bonds to finance the systems and the homeowner pays a monthly tax assessment, presumable with the funds that are saved in energy costs. Check out all the details in the article. Many other cities and towns have already contacted Berkeley to see if the details make sense for their communities.

Jul 2, 2009 - Let me help you get the capital you need to grow your project.  If you can send me an executive summary, a use of funds statement and any P & Ls for 2007, 2008, and 2009 to zvika770@yahoo.com I can see what can be done.  Please state how much  needed and if loans or equity or open to either.

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July 1, 2009 - Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) received approval to invest an additional $190 million to bring energy efficiency measures to residential customers, multi-family affordable housing units, municipal buildings and businesses such as cash-strapped hospitals. Approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the Energy Efficiency Economic Stimulus Program is expected to also boost the economy by creating an estimated 688 “green” utility and contractor jobs during the next two years.
This latest energy efficiency initiative expands a $46 million carbon abatement program, approved in November 2008, that has been offering energy audits, programmable thermostats, attic insulation and high-efficiency lighting upgrades to residents and businesses.
In addition to bringing these conservation benefits to more customers, this newest program increases the amount of dollars available to help hospitals in PSE&G’s service territory take advantage of investment-grade audits and steps to reduce their energy use and expenses. Twenty-eight hospitals have already indicated interest in the program. About a dozen hospitals - including University Hospital in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson and Princeton Healthcare in Princeton — are in the process of undergoing investment-grade audits. Another eight will be scheduled as soon as the additional funding becomes available. About 290 of the estimated 688 jobs are expected to be created by the hospital work.
“This program is the latest step PSE&G has taken to boost energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases and create new green jobs,” said Ralph LaRossa, president and COO of PSE&G. “Customers who are struggling in this tough economy are already saving money by using less energy. And just as we are doing with our accelerated capital infrastructure investments, this stimulus initiative will bring new jobs to the state when they are needed most.” During the next year, PSE&G and its contractors pledge to hire at least 100 graduates of the state’s Green Job Training Program, which is overseen by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The new expanded energy efficiency initiative offers programs for various targeted customer segments. Sub-programs for residential homes and small businesses in Urban Enterprise Zone municipalities, multi-family buildings, hospitals, data centers and governmental entities provides audits at no cost to identify energy efficiency measures. Customers could be eligible for incentives toward the installation of the energy efficiency measures. Other components of the stimulus include a program that provides funding for new technologies and demonstration projects, and a program to encourage non-residential customers to reduce energy use through improvements in the operation and maintenance of facilities.
The Board’s decision will allow recovery of the investment through an energy-based charge. The average residential electric customer, who uses 6,960 kilowatthours annually, will pay $2.60 per year. The average residential gas heating customer, using 1,210 therms of natural gas annually, will pay $3.10 per year.

Jun 30, 2009 - Everyone wants to talk about green energy in their advertising. We all know that automobile manufacturing in Michigan is in deep trouble. So, Michigan is trying to attract other businesses to the state. Cascade Engineering and its CEO Fred P. Keller are highlighted in a recent Michigan ad that states, “An innovative company in Western Michigan is bringing wind energy to new places: the roof of your home, to be specific.” The Michigan Economic Development Corporation can tell what incentives the state has available for your business.

June 30, 2009 - Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world’s largest crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, today announced that it has opened the first state-of-the-art PV module testing laboratory in China to be awarded the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Witness Testing Data Program (WTDP) Certificate.
Located at Suntech’s headquarters in Wuxi, the world-class PV module testing facility is the largest in China with 1,400 sqm and 7,000 sqm of indoor and outdoor testing space, respectively. The cutting edge test equipment includes pulse and continuous solar simulators, walk-in climate chambers, mechanical load and hail testers, electroluminescence testers, and high precision infrared cameras to evaluate all aspects of module quality and performance. All the equipment and testing procedures accord with the stringent standards of UL1703, IEC61215 and IEC61730-2. Through UL’s WTDP, PV module tests may be conducted under the supervision of highly experienced UL personnel and subsequently awarded certification enabling Suntech to bring solar products to market faster.
Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech’s Chairman and CEO said, “This new state-of-the-art PV module testing laboratory reflects Suntech’s goal of producing the highest quality and most reliable solar panels in the industry. Underwriters Laboratories has exceptional, globally recognized expertise in quality testing, and it is an honor to be the first solar company in China to be awarded with the Witness Testing Data Program certificate. In close collaboration with UL, this witness testing program will enable us to accelerate the testing and qualification of Suntech PV modules so that we can bring the latest solar technology to our customers as fast as possible. In the current environment, we believe that there is a flight to quality module producers and that customers value our commitment to ensuring the reliability of our products.”
Scot Webster, UL’s SVP of CAS Engineering and Laboratory Operations said, “It is excellent to see the world’s largest crystalline silicon module manufacturer taking the lead in module quality with the establishment of this world-class test laboratory. Suntech has already garnered a reputation for producing premium quality solar products and this new lab will no doubt enhance customer confidence in Suntech products. We look forward to building UL’s relationship with Suntech to certify the safety and quality of ongoing evolutions of solar technology.”

Jun 30, 2009 - Alex Tullo reports in “A Mature Plastic” in C&E News that ABS polymer producers are targeting its incorporation into photovoltaic cells and lenses for concentrated solar power modules and in lenses for LED bulbs.

Jun 30, 2009 - What does nylon have to do with saving energy & fuel? Alex Tullo reports in “The Ole Standby” in C&E News that nylon that has been around since invented at DuPont in the 1930s can be used more in automobiles and thus reduce the weight of the vehicles. For example, Mercedes-Benz has developed a nylon and cast aluminum oil pan module that saves 2.5 pounds versus a wholly aluminum part. Also, BASF helped develop a nylon oil sump for the Mercedes Actros truck series. The less weight in the car, the greater the fuel efficiency.

Jun 30, 2009 - FutureGen is an initiative to build a first-of-its-kind coal-fueled, near-zero emissions power plant. The plant, to be located in Mattoon, Illinois, will establish the technical and economic feasibility of producing electricity from coal (the lowest cost and most abundant domestic energy resource), while capturing and sequestering the carbon dioxide generated in the process. The initiative will be a government/industry partnership to pursue an innovative “showcase” project focused on the design, construction and operation of a technically cutting-edge power plant that is intended to eliminate environmental concerns associated with coal utilization.
The project will employ coal gasification technology integrated with combined cycle electricity generation and the sequestration of carbon dioxide emissions. The project will be supported by DOE’s ongoing coal research program, which will also be the principal source of technology for the prototype. The project will be led by the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc., a non-profit industrial consortium representing the coal and power industries, with the project results being shared among all participants, and industry as a whole.
Under the terms of the provisional agreement between DOE and the FutureGen Alliance, the following activities will be pursued from the end of July 2009 through early 2010:
• Preliminary design activities;
• Completion of a site-specific preliminary design and cost estimate;
• Expansion of the Alliance sponsorship group;
• Development of a complete funding plan; and
• Potential additional subsurface characterization.
The Department of Energy’s total anticipated financial contribution for the project is $1.073 billion, $1 billion of which comes from Recovery Act funds for carbon capture and storage research. The FutureGen Alliance’s total anticipated financial contribution is $400 million to $600 million, based on a goal of 20 member companies each contributing a total of $20 million to $30 million over a four to six year period. The Alliance, with support from DOE, will pursue options to raise additional non-federal funds needed to build and operate the facility, including options for capturing the value of the facility that will remain after conclusion of the research project, potentially through an auction of the residual interests in the late fall.

Jun 30, 2009 - Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc . (NASDAQ:ASTI ), a developer of state-of-the-art, flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules, announced that the company has manufactured a monolithically interconnected 5 meter long flexible light weight module on a polyimide substrate.
Ascent Solar Sr. Vice President for Production Operations Dr. Prem Nath stated, “This is the largest monolithically interconnected CIGS module on polyimide and may be the largest of any CIGS module regardless of construction. The size and efficiency of this module make it a breakthrough for the emerging opportunities of flexible CIGS photovoltaic modules.”
The CIGS based thin film material used in this module was manufactured using the company’s unique 1.5 MW roll-to-roll manufacturing line. The module was encapsulated during the testing and qualification of equipment that will be used for its 30 MW plant under construction. Based on internal test and evaluation, this 5M long module weighs 2 kilograms and produces 123 watts (under standard test conditions) with an aperture area efficiency of 9.1%. This length is a baseline for the company’s development of large area flexible building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products with our strategic BIPV partners.

Jun 26, 2009 - At Kennedy Space Center, Sen. Bill Nelson and Reps. Suzanne Kosmas and Bill Posey joined officials from Florida Power & Light Company and NASA to celebrate the groundbreaking of FPL’s Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center.

The new solar photovoltaic power facility is the result of a unique public-private partnership between FPL and NASA and demonstrates both organizations’ commitment to bringing clean-energy solutions to the state.

“The Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center is an important part of Florida’s clean-energy future.  I grew up in Florida, seeing NASA as the home of historic American achievements, so I love the idea of FPL helping to power the space program,” said FPL President and CEO Armando J. Olivera.  ”Like NASA, FPL is looking beyond the horizon.  We are building more emissions-free solar power with the quality of life of our children and grandchildren in mind.”

“The partnership between NASA and FPL is an excellent one that comes at the right time,” said Robert Cabana, director of Kennedy Space Center.  ”It will help provide clean, renewable power to Florida residents, it will help support America’s space program by supplying electricity directly to Kennedy Space Center, and it helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and improves the environment.”

The Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center will be located on NASA property at Kennedy Space Center and, when completed, will produce an estimated 10 mw of clean, emissions-free power for FPL customers, which is enough energy to serve roughly 1,100 homes.

FPL is also building a separate solar facility of approximately 1 mw that will provide clean power directly to Kennedy Space Center, helping NASA meet its renewable energy goals.

“There’s no better time than right now to start using the sun and other clean sources to power America,” said Nelson.  ”And, perhaps, there’s no better agency to help lead the way than NASA. Let’s hope power companies all over the country take a cue from this partnership.”

“Florida is poised to be a leader in America’s growing clean energy economy, which naturally includes solar power,” said Kosmas. “Bringing new clean energy jobs to our communities is one of my top priorities.  This joint effort between NASA and FPL is an example of how we can create jobs while investing in common-sense solutions to the economic, environmental and national security challenges we face today.”

“As a member of the Congressional Renewable Energy Caucus, I have a strong commitment to renewable energy and am pleased to see this project going forward right here on the Space Coast,” said Posey. “This is an important step in the development of future sources of renewable energy and is one way we can reverse our dependence on foreign oil.”

The Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 227,000 tons, which is the equivalent of removing 1,800 cars off the road each year according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  It will also save approximately 122,000 barrels of oil and 2.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas over its lifetime.

Additionally, the solar array will provide about 100 jobs during construction, helping to boost the local economy in Brevard County. FPL expects to complete the project by the middle of next year at the latest.

The facility will feature approximately 35,000 highly efficient solar photovoltaic panels from SunPower, a global leader in commercial-scale solar power technology, across 60 acres at Kennedy Space Center.  The panels are 50% more powerful than conventional solar panels. Last month, SunPower and FPL Group announced a supply agreement beginning in 2010 through 2012. SunPower has also committed to locating a research and development center in Florida if the state continues its robust solar program.

The Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center is one of three solar facilities that FPL is currently building in the state of Florida, totaling 110 megawatts of clean, renewable energy generation. The Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center in Indiantown will be the world’s first hybrid solar thermal facility to connect to an existing fossil fuel plant. It is the largest of the three at 75 mw and is scheduled to be complete in 2010.  FPL’s contractor on the project, Lauren Construction & Engineers, is currently hiring about 1,000 workers to complete the work.

FPL’s DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, a 25-mw solar photovoltaic facility in Arcadia, will be the nation’s largest photovoltaic array when it is complete later this year.  The project has brought more than 200 construction jobs to DeSoto County.

Jun 24, 2009 - Longwei Petroleum Investment Holding Ltd. (OTC Bulletin Board: LPIH), a leading China-based energy trading company operating in Shanxi Province, China, announced its plans to complete construction on a 70,000 metric ton capacity oil storage facility in the city of Gujiao, a major industrial center located in Shanxi Province.  The new facility will more than double the company’s storage capacity to 120,000 metric tons and will potentially increase revenue by 100% within 24 months following completion. Longwei has already allocated approximately $23.8 million toward construction of the facility.  The company hopes to complete the facility in 2009.

Longwei’s Gujiao project has been approved by Shanxi Province Economic and Trade Committee and meets the regional development planning and national industrial policy requirements.  To date, Longwei has completed the construction of the 70,000 metric ton oil tank area, including 11 new oil storage tanks.  Remaining construction includes work on the private railway system, handling system and ancillary facilities. T he new facility will allow Longwei to service customers quickly and efficiently in Gujiao and surrounding areas, expanding their market in Shanxi Province.

“The new facility is strategically located in Gujiao’s fast-growing industrial zone, providing a prime marketplace for Longwei’s oil,” said Cai Yongjun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Longwei. “The coking plants and electric power plants of this region will certainly be an abundant market for us, and we are encouraged by the interest already being expressed for our products. We believe the industrial growth in Gujiao will make this an important oil base and create a good economic foundation for the future profitability of Longwei and the Gujiao oil depot,” added Mr. Cai.

At present, mainland China ranks third in the world for finished oil products consumption.  Experts predict that in 2010, China’s finished oil products demand will be 185 million tons to 189 million tons and will grow 6% each year for the next 10 years.

Shanxi Province is the largest energy-producing region and the third largest consumer of petroleum products in China. In 2008, the province’s road freight volume was the fifth highest in China. Currently, there are 4,692 gas stations servicing approximately four million cars in the province, providing a strong market for finished oil products. Gujiao, located west of Taiyuan City, is the energy center of coal, coke and electricity for Shanxi Province and for China. The power plants in Shanxi provide Beijing — China’s second largest city and capital — with 30% of its electricity.

Jun 23, 2009 - Jeff Johnson wrote “Angst Over Cap and Trade” in the June 15, 2009 issue of C&E News.  “Climate-change legistlation that cleared the House Energy & Commerce Committee last month contatins a key provision intended to help chemical companies and other energy intensive industries that are operating in a globally competitive environment.”  It will allow these industries to emit greenhouse gases without penalty for a few years.  Now the industry wants more.  The declining cap in the bill [HR2454] has goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the US to 83% of 2005 levels by 2020 and to 17% of 2005 levels by 2050 if we haven’t destroyed the planet by then.  The bill is not final and there will be more changes, amendments and horse trading before a final bill is sent to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.  The bill is sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman [D-Calif] and Rep. Edward Markey [D-Mass].

Jun 23, 2009 - Melody Voith writes “Sneaky Solar” in the June 15, 2009 issue of C&E News.  She points out that solar energy developers are seeking to move beyond clunky rooftop panels.  Owners of high end houses want to keep the aesthetics of their house even if they install solar panels on their roof.  Manufacturers are attempting to get the panels incorporated into building materials.  These are called BIPV, or building-integrated photovoltaics.  Europe’s BIPV in 2008 was only 40 MW or $300 million, less than 3% of the solar market.  Thin film technology will be a factor in this technology.  Players in thie market include  Global Solar Energy of Tucson, AZ; Suntech Power, Kyocera, and United Solar Ovonics.

Jun 23, 2009 – Angel Streeter wrote “Rescuers train for hybrid crashes” in the Florida Sun-Sentinel on June 19, 2009. Who would have thought? Capt. Joe Nelson of the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said, “They have large batteries and high-voltage cables. Those are hazards our guys aren’t used to dealing with.” Extricating individuals from crashed vehicles requires new skills to avoid cutting high voltage [200 – 600 volts] cables. Also, the vehicles have different seat belts and airbags. The local Palm Tran bus has cables with 900 volts running through them and a large battery with 20 gallons of caustic liquid potassium hydroxide. Have you heard of any special problems with rescues from hybrid autos or buses? Please leave your comments here.