Featured Articles

Feed in Tariffs - the proven road NOT taken…Why?
11/16/11, Peter Lynch, SunSeries.net
Complacency is always a barrier to change. Just as the Captain and crew of the Titanic became complacent when the ship was deemed “unsinkable” we must not become complacent and not do what is proven and obvious – Feed in Tariffs.

Despite Solyndra’s Death, the future of Solar Energy is Sunny
11/16/11, Steven J. E. Pleging, Quantum Solar Power Corp.
As with the dotcom crash, the death of Solyndra, Evergreen and others will usher in a more robust solar industry not signal the disappearance of PV as a viable alternative for future energy needs. Both companies were a tiny fraction of an enormous and rapidly growing global market.

Energy Storage and Variable Renewable Energy Sources
11/16/11, Contributed by, CALMAC
Climate change, national security, energy independence, jobs and energy cost are some of the factors that are merging to reinvigorate efforts in energy storage development.

Case Study: Solar Installation at the University of Delaware
11/16/11, Standard Solar
The clean energy provided by the solar array will result in 1,810,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide being emitted annually, while reducing the University’s energy costs by 30%.

Getting off to a Smart Start
11/16/11, Jamie Robinson, Scottish European Green Energy Centre
To become a smart city requires a comprehensive city-wide sustainability plan, strong leadership from local authorities, effective public/private partnerships and enthusiastic buy-in from citizens with several EU funding opportunities there to help out along the way.

Optimizing solar thermal performance with data loggers
10/27/11, Evan Lubofsky, Onset Computer Corp.
By measuring and monitoring solar thermal system performance, installers can correct mistakes and fine-tune and optimize systems. As a result, US consumers are likely to regain confidence in the technology, spurring what is expected to be a burgeoning market for solar hot water heaters.

Weathering the Storm: Fluoropolymer films protect solar modules and ensure performance
10/27/11, Nikhil Bhiwankar, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
Recent advances in materials science have led to the development of innovative new materials that provide enhanced durability to photovoltaic modules. Unique polymeric thin film technologies, such as ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) frontsheets, provide modules with the protection they need to perform at high levels even when exposed to the elements.

Case Studies from EarthKind Solar
10/27/11, Gerhard Klier, EarthKind Solar
Bard College and Hawthorne Ridge Retirement Community are two examples of down to earth solar energy projects that make a difference.

Understanding Solar Power Purchase Agreements
A Guide to Hosting a Solar Energy System
10/13/11
Under the terms of a solar PPA, a solar services provider installs solar equipment at a host business, government site, university, or other organization, and the host agrees to buy the solar electricity generated by the system for a fixed price and term, usually 5-20 years.

On Energy Management, Manufacturing and Factory Automation
10/13/11
I wrote this article for HomeToys.com, our Home Technology website but it applies to Alternative Energy as well. It's not enough to monitor our energy use. We don't really care about that unless it does something to change our lives or save us money. So, let's put a solar system on the roof. Now that can do both of these things and should attract our attention. But let's take it a step further. With that solar system there is a new variable in the mix --- FREE CLEAN ENERGY. What can and should we do with it.

Don't Forget: NREL are the Good Guys. And so is solar energy.
10/13/11
The Denver recently reported the NREL was going to lay off 10 percent of its employees. It took about two light seconds for a popular Washington D.C. news site to pronounce the layoff a “scandal,” because NREL had taken federal stimulus money. That is silly. NREL, of course, is where the Department of Energy tests and develops new materials and techniques for solar, wind and other kinds of energy.

Q & A about Solyndria and the Clean Energy Industry
09/30/11
In 2009, there were 2.2 million green jobs in America, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By July of this year, the number was 2.7 million, according to the Brookings Institution. That compares with 375,000 jobs mining coal, producing oil and gas and turning fossil fuels into consumer products.

Iowa Now Gets 20% of Electricity from Wind
09/30/11
Iowa has led the nation in attracting wind energy manufacturers and building a robust supply chain that supports more than 2,300 jobs and involves over 80 Iowa businesses.

Plug Power Case Study: Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
09/30/11
The idea of using hydrogen fuel cells instead of lead- acid batteries in the material handling equipment was introduced because of significant benefits offered by the alternative energy power source—increased sustainability, less maintenance requirements and operator self-sufficiency.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) - Global Market Size, Competitive Landscape, Regulations & Investment
09/30/11
In 2010, global CSP investments primarily came from Spain and the US. Of total investments in 2010, 59.2% were made in Spain and 28.8% in the US. Spain also recorded the highest number of installations in 2010. Annual CSP capacity additions reached 350MW in 2010 due to the introduction of the FIT scheme.

Production Cutbacks Insufficient to Prevent Solar Module Inventory Buildup
09/30/11
Current Production Plans and Demand Outlook Suggest Oversupply Will Be Maintained into Next Year

End of Summer Fuel Cell Road Trip
09/30/11
Many fuel cells are being used at locations that people would never expect. To follow up on our series of fuel cell road trip articles (http://www.altenergymag.com/emagazine/2010/02/fuel-cell-road-trip/1450), we’ve found some up and coming fuel cell destinations that are worthy of a stop on your next summer vacation.

A case for low cost and affordable Energy Management Devices
09/30/11
There is continuous and increasing demand to manage and control the usage in order to reduce costs. The need for lower consumption and cost savings runs across all sectors inclusive of local, state and the Federal Government as well as utilities, commercial and residential consumers of energy

Sponsored Articles

Solar Power International 2011 Report
10/21/11
Solar Power International 2011 took place in Dallas, Texas, with a goal to generate powerful new ideas, connections and business opportunities for the solar industry. An estimated 24,000 professionals and over 1200 exhibitors from businesses spanning the entire spectrum of the industry will be on hand for four days of product exploration, discussion, professional enrichment and networking. The AltEnergyMag team has taken some time to put together a list of some of the interesting new products and services seen at this year’s show.

Removing the Rare Element Limitations from Solar Energy
10/13/11
Many of the cutting edge thin-film technologies require rare elements that are a finite resource already in short supply. There simply is not enough material on the planet to make these devices for worldwide consumption.

Lithium-ion batteries for efficient storage of renewable energy and mobile power solutions
09/30/11
Lithium-ion technology is currently more economically and environmentally viable than other existing battery technologies. It will likely be both the present and the future of sustainable storage of renewable energy and mobile power solutions.

Interviews

AMSC’s SolarTie™ System
11/16/11, Jason Fredette, AMSC
The SolarTie System was designed to lower the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar power plants. A great deal of attention is being given to reducing the LCOE, which defines how much the energy produced really costs.

MicroCSP (Concentrated Solar Power)
10/27/11, Darren Kimura, Sopogy
MicroCSP power projects all include sun tracker and thermal storage. The cost is around the same as PV but you generate more electricity per day because of the tracker/storage combination so you have a lower cost of energy.

LEED Standards and the Global Carbon Market
10/27/11, Jem Porcaro, The CarbonNeutral Company
Research has shown that LEED buildings consume over 25% less energy, have 13% lower maintenance costs, 27% higher occupant satisfaction and a 33% reduction in GHG emissions compared to the average commercial building.

Harvesting Energy from Organic Materials
10/13/11
Harvest uses a platform of technologies – including advanced composting, anaerobic digestion, and material recovery – to harness the full carbon, energy and nutrient value from discarded organic materials.

The OPDE Group
10/13/11
OPDE is a Spanish corporation with a global vision that specialises in photovoltaic solar energy systems. We have three business lines. OPDE develops, builds, and carries out maintenance of photovoltaic solar plants; PROINSO supplies modules, inverters, trackers, and other equipments for photovoltaic installations; MECASOLAR specialises in the design and manufacture of solar trackers, fixed structures, and foundation screws.

The Wind Industry in Canada
09/30/11
Wind energy has increased almost ten-fold in the last six years in Canada as governments seek ways to meet rising energy demand, reduce environmental impacts of electricity generation, and stimulate rural and industrial economic development.

Smart Grid Technology
09/30/11
The Smart Grid is destined to become a platform, much like the Internet is a platform. Once the Grid is in place other technologies, new feature sets, and capabilities will inevitably spring forth. There is no limit to the functionality that might emerge from this platform once the implementation and adoption is widespread.

More Articles

Investor Interest in U.S. Biofuel Production Set to Soar
09/30/11
Wall Street's big money boys, the Carlyle Group and Goldman Sachs, have already begun discreetly investing in biofuel production in the U.S., but given the size of the recent government's pronouncement, there is still plenty of largesse to go around. Smart investors will be watching developments closely.

The south knows where the wind blows: forest sites in focus
09/30/11
Innovative technologies ready for large-volume production unlock onshore wind potential in Southern Germany. Commercial forests offer particularly attractive new wind-farm sites.

Bright Spots in U.S. Solar Industry Growth
09/30/11
California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Colorado Shine Light on Power of Sun

Un-Analytics: How Google Went Solar
09/30/11
If some panels go bad, you need panel level monitoring to o find the bad panels. But most systems monitor power at the system level, but as Google found out, that is that useful for detecting catastrophic failure, but not much else.

The Solar Decathlon 2011 - Part 4
09/13/11- Bob Hetherington - AltEnergyMag
This is the last group of entries into this years competition --- Next stop --- Washington DC

The Solar Decathlon 2011 - Part 3
09/06/11- Bob Hetherington - AltEnergyMag
Here are 5 more entries in this years Solar Decathlon for your interest and enjoyment.

The Solar Decathlon 2011 - Part 2
08/17/11 - Bob Hetherington - AltEnergyMag
Here are 5 more entries in this years Solar Decathlon for your interest and enjoyment.

Atlantis Energy Systems, Inc. Proves its Metal as Fixture in the PV Marketplace
08/17/11 - Kelly Jon Andereck for Atlantis Energy Systems, Inc.
A Case Study of an Atlantis Energy Systems, Inc. Collaboration Future House USA

The Solar Decathlon
07/31/11 - Bob Hetherington - AltEnergyMag
Here are 5 of the entries in this years Solar Decathlon for your interest and enjoyment. More to come in future issues. These students have earned the support of us all. Thanks for giving us your view of the future!