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add to favorites	China To Ban Some Australian Coal Imports - Energy Matters	Cars - Pickups
Img source:solar battery backup Australia's coal industry is in a flap after an announcement from the Chinese government it would ban the import of certain types of coal. According to the Wall Street Journal, the directive is primarily aimed at low-grade coal mainly coming from Indonesia and Australia. "Effective Jan. 1, the government no longer will allow sales or import of coal with 40% or more of ash content and 3% or more of sulfur content, the National Development and Reform Commission said late Monday. Specifically, it will ban lignite - a low-grade coal burned by power plants - if it contains 30% or more of ash content and 1.5% or more of sulfur content, the agency said. Heavily populated areas will have even tougher standards." Victoria is the only State in which lignite (brown coal) is mined, but as it's largely unsuitable for export due to its filthy, low-grade nature; most of it is burned here for power generation. However, the Sydney Morning Herald reports China is also moving to force power utilities to slash coal import volumes. Up to a quarter of all coal shipped through Newcastle goes to China currently. "Australia exports an estimated 49 million tonnes of thermal coal a year to China, and a large part of this could be at risk with the ban," states the SMH report. It's not just China clamping down on coal - and even the future of high grade coal exports is looking a little shaky as countries move to rein in emissions by turning to renewables. Earlier this year a study warned international coal projects, including Australia's Galilee Basin project, that rely on new export markets such as India face major financial risks. The coal industry is facing multiple threats, including some investors bailing on the industry. HESTA, one of Australia's largest superannuation funds, announced last week it is progressively implementing a restriction on investments in thermal coal across its portfolio. Aside from demonstrating good environmental stewardship, the move may have been influenced or accelerated by the recent launch of Australia's first fossil-fuel free superannuation fund, Future Super. The new fund, founded by Simon Sheikh, says it will focus its energy related investments on renewable energy and energy efficiency. see more at:best lead acid battery
add to favorites	City Of Adelaide Lightens Carbon Footprint By 19 Percent - Energy Matters	Cars - Pickups
Img source:off grid solar power systems Carbon emissions from the City of Adelaide's community have been reduced by 224,000 tonnes since 2007, thanks in part to solar power. Adelaide City Council says enthusiastic uptake of rooftop solar panel systems along with a massive $5.5 billion of investment in wind farms has reduced the carbon impact of South Australia’s electricity supply by 31% between 2004/05 and 2013/14."South Australia and the City community, particularly commercial property owners, have demonstrated that renewable energy and green buildings are highly effective strategies to reduce carbon emissions," said Dr Adrian Stokes, Adelaide City Council’s Program Manager of City Sustainability and Park Lands. "Energy efficiency upgrades in buildings and public lighting have reduced Council’s own energy consumption by 10.3% since 2009/10. In 2013/14, energy efficiency projects saved Council $406,000 on electricity bills and reduced carbon emissions by approximately 1,500 tonnes."Among Adelaide City Council's more unique efforts in also cutting transport related emissions is its 100% solar powered bus - which represented a world first.Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Ian Hunter applauded the community for its embracing of renewable energy and energy efficiency. "The City of Adelaide stands as an example of what we can achieve as a community in our response to the challenge of climate change," said Minister Hunter.Already Australia's wind power stronghold and with a very high residential solar penetration (approximately 24%), South Australia has likely eclipsed its current 33 percent renewables target. Last month, the State Government further boosted the state's target to 50 percent by 2025.The state is home to 38% (1,203MW) of Australia's installed wind capacity and was the first to introduce solar feed-in tariff legislation in Australia.South Australia has also proven a very high level of renewables can be added to the mains grid without causing major problems with regard to network infrastructure. see more at:solar panel charge controller
add to favorites	One In Five Australian Households Have Solar Installed - Energy Matters	Cars - Pickups
Img source:solar power energy storage One in five Australian households use solar energy according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)."We started publishing statistics on solar electricity in 2011, said Karen Connaughton from the ABS, "and back then the numbers were pretty small - only about five per cent of households.""Jump just three years, to 2014, and there are solar panels being used by fourteen per cent of all households. Add in solar hot water heating and we're up to 19 per cent, so one in five households are now using some form of solar power." The figure may even be higher now - the statistics in the ABS publication were compiled from data collected in the Energy Use and Conservation (EUC) Survey; conducted Australia-wide in March 2014The ABS report shows South Australia has the highest solar panel system saturation, with 24 per cent of households using solar electricity. Queensland follows with 20 per cent (although it has more systems installed in total), then Western Australia with 16 per cent, Victoria with 11 per cent, ACT and NSW both on 10 per cent, Tasmania at seven per cent and NT at six per cent. In relation to water heating; more than 50 percent of Australian households used electricity for their hot water system (56%), over one third used mains gas (38%) and 10% of households used solar hot water systems. The ABS notes some households may use more than one source of energy due to multiple hot water services or solar hot water system boosters.The Northern Territory is the nation's stronghold for solar hot water, with 42.3 percent of households having a system installed. Western Australia in next in line with 19.2%. The love affair with solar will continue to blossom among Australians."Many more households are looking to install solar as a way to take control of their rising power bills," said Solar Citizens National Director Claire O’Rourke."The best way the Federal Government can support Australian households in making the transition to solar energy and reducing the cost of power is to keep the Renewable Energy Target strong."Ms. O'Rourke pointed out the Government’s own Warburton Review showed renewable energy would reduce electricity prices for all Australian families in the long-term. "Our political leaders should catch up with the vast majority of the community and the one in five households who use solar energy and support more solar, not less."The Energy Use and Conservation Survey was fully completed by 10,809 people. The full ABS data set and other information can be viewed here. see more at:solar panel energy storage
add to favorites	AusNet Battery Energy Storage Trial Under Way - Energy Matters	Cars - Pickups
Img source:ups power supply In what's been described as an Australian first, Victoria's AusNet Services is trialling a 1MW battery to support the mains grid during peak demand.The Grid Energy Storage System (GESS) is housed in 4 x 6 metre shipping containers and is located in an industrial estate in the suburb of Thomastown."As an electricity distribution business, we’re committed to finding the right balance between safety, reliability and costs to our customers," said AusNet Services Managing Director, Nino Ficca"As such, we focus on innovative solutions to provide our customers with a reliable supply on the handful of peak demand days each year, which importantly delays or offsets network upgrades."Originally announced in January last year when the company was known as SP AusNet; the trial officially began in December 2014 and is occurring in partnership with ABB Australia and Samsung SDI. ABB is one of the world's leading solar inverter suppliers and Samsung SDI is at the forefront of the energy storage revolution. In August last year, Samsung SDI announced it would also supply a 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) lithium battery system to a solar farm project in Japan.The AusNet Services system also includes a 1MW diesel generator and can transition to island mode to provide power as part of a mini grid when parts of the network become isolated. ABB states its PowerStore flywheel-based grid stabilizing generator's main purpose is to stabilize power systems against fluctuations in frequency and voltage. AusNet says the GESS aim to improve the quality of power delivery, providing active and reactive power support and other power quality functions when connected to the network.Mr Ficca said the trial will establish if a battery storage system is a viable, non-network solution to meet peak demand.AusNet Services is Victoria's largest energy distributor, owning and operating approximately $11 billion of electricity and gas distribution assets. Among these assets are 49 terminal stations, 13,000 towers and 6,500 kilometres of high-voltage powerlines. Additionally, it owns 49,816 kilometres of powerlines and 380,000 power poles supplying electricity to 668,000 properties in Melbourne’s north east and across all of eastern Victoria.AusNet states it provides services to more than 1.3 million Victorian homes and businesses. see more at:smart online ups
add to favorites	India Pledges Funds for Grid Reform, Solar Energy to Curb Blackouts	Cars - Pickups
Img source:solar battery backup MUMBAI --Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government plans to spend 15 billion rupees ($250 million) on programs to boost solar power and reform electricity supply to farmers to end blackouts in India."Power is a vital input for economic growth," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today in his budget speech. "The government is committed to providing 24/7 uninterrupted power supply to all homes."More than 300 million people in India lack access to electricity, equivalent to the total U.S. population. The previous government missed a 2012 target to provide electricity to all households.The proposed budget, which needs to be passed by parliament by July 31, earmarked 5 billion rupees to roll out a program implemented by Modi in his home state of Gujarat, where power feeder lines to farmers were separated from those to other consumers. That enabled Gujarat to ensure uninterrupted electricity to most areas by reducing theft and limiting the volume provided below-cost to farms.While the proposals will improve the quality and availability of power, the resources required to split off rural electricity supply "are far larger than budgeted," said Kameswara Rao, head of energy, utilities and mining in India for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP."This initial allocation should be used to attract domestic and multilateral funds," to supplement the program, he said.Sun PowerThe budget set aside 10 billion rupees on projects to boost the use of solar power. Five billion rupees would be spent on building so-called ultra-modern solar power plants in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir states. Another 4 billion rupees would go toward installing 100,000 photovoltaic-powered farm irrigation pumps, and an additional 1 billion rupees to lay solar panels on the banks of canals.A tax on coal producers used to fund clean-energy programs would also be doubled to 100 rupees a metric ton, according to the budget. The tax, introduced in the 2010 budget, collected about 25 billion rupees in its first year.Jaitley also announced plans to cut or eliminate duties faced by solar manufacturers, wind-turbine makers and builders of biogas plants.Photovoltaic panel-maker Moser Baer India Ltd. rose 4.6 percent to a two-year high of 12.5 rupees in Mumbai. Solar-cell maker Indosolar Ltd. advanced 4.4 percent. see more at:best lead acid battery
add to favorites	DOE Awards $10 Million for Concentrating Solar Power Storage Research	Cars - Pickups
Img source:cheap portable storage units Utah, USA --The Department of Energy announced Wednesday it has awarded $10 million to be split between six research and development projects that will focus on thermochemical storage technologies for concentrating solar power (CSP) systems.This announcement comes hot on the heels of President Obama's recent pledge to make 2014 a watershed year for solar energy.The recipients of the Energy Department's funding are the Colorado School of Mines, UCLA, the University of Florida, the Southern Research Institute, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory. All will work on the development of "novel thermochemical energy storage systems" with the goal of achieving greater levels of efficiency in the storage of higher temperature, higher density solar energy."The six projects that are funded are looking at three different classes of thermochemical systems," said Dr. Ranga Pitchumani, chief scientist and concentrating solar power program manager for the Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative. "These include carbonates, hydrites and perovskite materials."CSP technology employs mirrors that concentrate reflected sunlight onto receivers containing heat transfer fluids. From there, the fluids are used to heat water, which in turn generates the steam that is used to power turbines. Pitchumani said the funded explorations will not only increase the capacity of heat transfer fluids to sustain energy for longer periods of time, but will also result in driving down the cost of utility-scale CSP."Thermochemical energy requires very compact storage and uses less materials, which cuts cost," Pitchumani said, adding that CSP with thermal energy storage is "a key enabling technology" in the nation's future energy generation mix. Though the industry faces some challenges, one of the differentiating factors that sets CSP apart from other methods of renewable energy power generation - including standard PV technology - is that when combined with thermal energy storage technology, it is able to produce electricity around the clock. Additionally, CSP can be adapted to work with traditional fossil-fuel power plants in hybrid scenarios that have been shown to dramatically decrease associated emissions.Pitchumani calls this a win-win scenario for all. "There is a tremendous potential for CSP to go through hybridization with fossil fuel plants," he said. "CSP with thermal energy storage enables greater penetration and also works synergistically with our existing traditional assets."In addition to the announcement of its $10 million award, the Department of Energy also released a report titled "2014: The Year of Concentrating Solar Power" which identifies five U.S.-based CSP plants that are expected to be fully operational within the year. These include the Crescent Dunes, Ivanpah,Genesis, Mojave and SolanaCSP plants. Ivanpah, Crescent Dunes and Genesis began operations earlier this year and Solana started sending power to the grid in late 2013. Once all are in operation, their combined total electricity generation will be 1.26 GW - a figure that will effectively quadruple preexisting U.S. concentrating solar power capacity."This is a very critical and exciting juncture," Pitchumani said. "It's a tremendous time to build on this momentum, and to take the technology forward to meeting the SunShot Initiative's 2020 goal." see more at:off the grid solar systems
add to favorites	Making Life-Cycle Analysis Matter to the Global Solar PV Supply Chain	Cars - Pickups
Img source:off grid solar systems New Hampshire ---A new report seeks to bring lifecycle analysis into the equation when calculating the economics of solar PV supply and demand. Now it's up to policymakers and advocates to decide whether this helps inform and resolve, or just fan the flames, of the ongoing trade wars."We cannot any longer ignore things like carbon footprinting — especially in the energy space, where we should be the people most aware of the issue."The story of solar PV manufacturing today is one of Chinese dominance and the pressures, and allure, of severely low-cost manufacturing. But we shouldn't lose sight of the bigger picture of why we're all fighting for solar and all renewable energy sources in the first place: a cleaner, more responsible energy future. (That's one of the biggest dichotomies about China: its massive renewable energy push is more than offset by its deep reliance on dirtier energy sources.)"The fact is, we cannot any longer ignore things like carbon footprinting -- especially in the energy space, where we should be the people most aware of the issue," pointed out Seth Darling, scientist with the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, co-author of a new study with Northwestern University seeking to close the gap between bottom-line economics and environmental values. "Today it's essentially being ignored."In their new study to be published in the July issue of the journal Solar Energy, Darling and peers examines the broader impacts of supplying Chinese solar panels to European end-markets. In a nutshell, they find that mainstream Chinese-made silicon solar panels have more than twice the carbon footprint than panels made in Europe, and take up to 30 percent longer to offset the energy used to make them. And that doesn't include transportation costs to get them to Europe, which would magnify the discrepancy even more.The key is establishing a lifecycle analysis (LCA) for Chinese PV suppliers, something already established for European and North American supply chains but glaringly underinformed for China where there are different and often less-stringent industrial and environmental rules. The team performed a LCA scenario comparing Chinese and European manufacturing of three kinds of silicon-based solar PV technologies, from mining the raw materials through processing into solar panels, and calculated how long each type of panel takes to offset the energy used to make them. (Monocrystalline was found to have the longest energy payback period despite the best energy output; "ribbon" silicon, stringing out the material from a molten bath, created the least efficient material but did so more efficiently and with faster energy payback.)Carbon footprints of different types of solar panels made in China (CN) vs. Europe (RER). The colors in the bars represent carbon-emission contributions from the different stages of making a solar panel. Source: Argonne National LabsThe same basic LCA comparison and result would similarly apply between the U.S. and China since U.S. energy mix and environmental regulations are similar, Darling acknowledged, though only a fraction of solar panels are made in the U.S. They didn't explicitly explore that comparison using U.S. data within the scope of this study, though.The next step after raising the issue of LCA and carbon footprinting is what to do about it. Ultimately these findings point beyond simply advising whether it makes sense to ship panels from China to Europe -- it's about how to assign value to sustainable solar manufacturing, including where it should come from. And that brings the discussion into the ongoing turmoil of regional solar trade conflicts. "The way it's done now, it's Wild West and unfair," Darling said. Policies need to address how to come at the carbon angle, whether by taxing the emitters or placing tariffs on the final products and those who use them. Each has "their own minefields to navigate," he said. Folding their analysis into calculation for the EU/China tariff negotiations, the Argonne/Northwestern team suggests creating a breakeven carbon tariff model of €103-129/ton of CO2, close to reported CO2 capture and sequestration costs, depending on whether and how carbon taxes are finalized by each region. That, the report concludes, "would be a better market- and science-based solution than a solar panel tariff." see more at:off grid power systems
add to favorites	China, Brazil Consider Publicity Blitz to Steer Climate Debate	Cars - Pickups
Img source:ups power supplies New Delhi -- China and Brazil are looking for ways to redirect a global climate debate, which they say unfairly accuses developing nations of delaying limits on fossil-fuel pollution.China wants to blitz attendees at United Nations-led climate talks with pamphlets touting the clean-energy gains made by the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide. Brazil wants more recognition for slowing destruction of the planet's biggest rainforest."We must work on how we sell ourselves better, how we sell our positions to the world," Francisco Gaetani, Brazil's deputy environment minister, said in a closed-door meeting attended by Bloomberg News in Delhi today with counterparts from China, India and South Africa. The four nations, who collectively refer to themselves as the BASIC negotiating group, should draft short position papers and distribute them "as a promotion campaign" at year-end talks in Peru in December and in Paris next year, said Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission.A two-decade divide between richer and poorer nations has hampered United Nations-led negotiations to draft an agreement to fight global warming. Developing countries argue that their wealthier counterparts should lead the way because they are responsible for the bulk of historical emissions. Richer nations want the less well-to-do ones, whose pollution is rising the fastest, to take a bigger role in cutting back fossil fuel emissions.BASIC AgendaThe countries at the BASIC meeting say they're beating rich nations in efforts to mitigate climate change.China's state subsidies have made it the world leader in solar- and wind-power installations, and the country has some of the toughest energy-efficiency standards for buildings and transportation. Brazil's work to limit deforestation in the Amazon River region meant it was able to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from 2005 to 2010 by more than any developed country."We need to tell what has been done by us and what difficulties we've overcome," Xie said, asking his counterparts to instruct their lead negotiators to "send signals to the international community" when attending global talks. The goal is for more than 192 member-states to sign a pact in Paris by the end of 2015 to replace the Kyoto Protocol, the only global treaty on emissions restrictions."The lack of ambition of developed countries in the pre-2020 period should not lead to transferring of responsibilities to developing countries in the post-2020 period," Ravi Shankar Prasad, India's lead climate negotiator, told his counterparts. see more at:back ups
add to favorites	US Solar Power Rises 79 Percent as Residential Panels Beat Warehouses	Cars - Pickups
Img source:sealed lead acid battery NEW YORK --Homeowners and developers installed 1.33 gigawatts of solar panels in the first quarter, the second- largest total on record, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.Installation increased 79 percent from the same quarter a year earlier with utility-scale projects making up almost two-thirds of the total and homeowner demand surging, the Washington-based trade group said today in a statement. Total installations may reach 6.6 gigawatts this year, driven by residential rooftop systems and more than 12 gigawatts of utility projects under development, said Shayle Kann, vice president of research at Boston-based GTM Research, which publishes the quarterly market reports with SEIA. This was the first quarter when residential systems exceeded commercial and government solar.Residential solar has "nowhere to go but up," Kann said. Installation increased 38 percent to 232 megawatts as financing models such as leasing make it easier for homeowners to afford rooftop panels. "The economics just keep getting better."Utility-scale solar farms accounted for 873 megawatts, up from 322 megawatts a year earlier, and there were 225 megawatts installed at commercial, government and non-profit projects.The first-quarter total was lower than the record 2.1 gigawatts installed in the fourth quarter, mainly because of seasonal trends, Kann said.California accounted for about 72 percent of all installations at 959 megawatts, followed by New Jersey in distant second at 64 megawatts and Arizona at 52 megawatts. see more at:12v 7ah lithium battery
add to favorites	Crowd-Funded US Rooftop Solar May Top $5 Billion in Five Years	Cars - Pickups
Img source:48v solar charge controller NEW YORK --Crowd funding may supply the rooftop solar projects with $5 billion of investment within five years, more than 50 times the amount raised to date.That would represent more than a quarter of all annual investment in that segment of the solar industry, said Tim Newell, vice president of financial products for San Mateo, California-based SolarCity Corp., which is the biggest U.S. solar power provider by market value. A growing number of rooftop solar developers are soliciting funds directly from retail investors, often through websites that tap a large number of small contributions. This so-called crowd funding model has attracted almost $100 million in the U.S. to date, Newell said. It offers one of the few ways for individuals to back renewable energy projects, which give steady, long-term returns from selling electricity." New Energy Finance conference in New York today. "Crowd isn't a niche thing. It's everything but that top handful of institutions."Money that otherwise would have been poured into the municipal or corporate bond markets or sat idle in investors' bank accounts will find its way into supporting solar systems, he said."You'll see a surprising amount of assets move through this channel in the next few years," Newell said. "And we don't say that just because of misguided optimism. We're saying it because we take a hard look at it and spend a lot of time talking to investors."U.S. homeowners installed 792 megawatts of solar power last year, up 60 percent from 2012, according to data compiled by the Solar Energy Industries Association. see more at:20KW off grid inverter
add to favorites	BYD Betting On "Glass-Glass" PV Modules	Cars - Pickups
Img source:energy storage systems One of the major players in the solar energy, electric vehicles, and next-gen batteries markets -; BYD Company -; will be pursuing “glass-glass” photovoltaic (PV) module technology as it begins expanding its solar panel manufacturing operations, according to recent reports.The company's General Manager of Global Solar Sales, Tom Zhao, recently stated that owing to the cost reduction potential of glass-glass photovoltaic modules, the company will probably transition away from conventional module production completely (completely).In recent years, glass-glass PV modules have become increasingly common in the broader solar energy market (see: SolarWorld Introduces Glass-Glass Solar Panel, Amid Debt Crisis; for an example). The main driver for this is that glass-glass modules possess longer working lifetimes, and come with longer warranties (as well as reduced balance-of-system costs), owing to the protective glass encapsulation on both the front and the back.Part of the reason for the use of the approach are the recent developments in the area of cost-competitive thin solar glass -; thereby facilitating cheaper production.All of this being true, dual-glass modules still make a minority position in the broader market. With a growing and notable firm like BYD backing the technology, though, this may soon change.“I don’t want to produce traditional modules anymore,” Zhao stated bluntly in a recent interview with pv magazine. “This is because with traditional modules there is no further chance for cost reductions.”Whereas, elsewhere, cost reductions can be achieved “because its 430 silica gel module is frameless, that one process step and material cost can be removed. Reducing silver usage is also a cost reduction lever targeted by BYD production of the module.” Other reasons for the choice include: “improved” module performance, reduced potential induced degradation, and improved balance/of-system costs.“The most important thing is that this module is not only reducing the cost of the module itself, but also it is the first module that reaches high voltage to 1500V DC, and it is the first module of its type in the market now.”“We have the strong confidence to go 100% glass-glass because the cost advantage is very significant and as the volume of production goes up the cost comes down even lower,” stated Zhao.A timeframe for the transition is currently unclear, though. Zhao was unwilling to state anything firm on that subject. see more at:storage system
add to favorites	Human Challenges of 1st RTW Flight by Solar Impulse (Videos)	Cars - Pickups
Img source:ups sale “A great historic first: for such an adventure, as for any premiere, there are no references. We were, and will be, faced with a number of challenges, leading us to push the limits of technological, human and piloting performance,” the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) team writes.Crossing the Pacific and Atlantic oceans introduces a new kind of difficulty for Si2 pilots and co-founders, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. The long flights — up to 5 or 6 days and nights in a row — in an unheated and unpressurized cockpit are a challenge of endurance and vigilance, according to the Si2 team.Solar Impulse 2 airplane logistics challenges aren't restricted to piloting the solar aircraft. There are many preparations to be made on the ground to include the arrival and departure at different locations and duration of stops, as well as the use of the inflatable hanger exclusively designed by Solar Impulse for the Si2 RTW project. This video above from Solar Impulse gives us a peek into the team’s daily work!Data: Human ChallengesThe #RTW Solar Flight will represent approx. a 35,000 km, or 22,000 miles, journey. Although achieved in several legs, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will accumulate around 500 flight hours in the tiny Solar Impulse 2 cockpit. Discover the experience by the numbers:500 hours total flight time3.8 m3 cockpit — 3.8 cubic meters or 134.20 cubic feetup to 5 or 6 days and nights in a row in the single seater cockpit-40°C to +40°C, -40°F to +104° F weather conditions? pressurization system6 oxygen bottles onboard1 parachute1 life raftfood and water for a week“What is really special, is that it is the first and only airplane in the world which has unlimited endurance. We have an airplane which is fully sustainable in terms of energy, and our challenge now is to make the pilot sustainable as well,” said André Borschberg.The video above follows the unloading of Solar Impulse 2 from the B747 that flew the solar airplane from Switzerland in the video above.Living Up In The Sky, For DaysThe pilot will be living in the 3.8 m3 — 3.8 cubic meters or 134.20 cubic feet — cockpit for 5 or 6 days and nights in a row during the longest flights over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.The cockpit volume provides enough space on board for oxygen supplies, food, and survival equipment, while also meeting the optimal ergonomic requirements for these flights. Multi-Purpose SeatA multi-purpose seat functions both as reclining berth and toilet.A parachute and a life-raft are packed into the seat-back. When fully reclined, it allows the pilot to perform physical exercises. It allows more legroom, has an ergonomic inflatable cushion, and has been developed for minimum weight.Extreme TemperaturesIn the absence of any heating, the cockpit and the pilot will be facing extreme temperatures: from +40°C à -40°C, -40°F to +104° F!Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg are protected against the ambient cold or heat by high-density thermal insulation in the cockpit structure. This is an adventure and a symbol of sustainability that you can be part of!You may want to know more about the Si2 Patronage Committee, and in support of this historic mission you can adopt a solar cell and get the Solar Impulse 2: Round-The-World Solar Flight Badge & Book. All revenues from the badge go to the Solar Impulse Foundation, which will help fund educational activities during the #RTW!You may also want to get ready for the solar flight around the world by gearing up at the very cool Solar Impulse Online Store. see more at:ups for home use
add to favorites	Panasonic's Yoshihiko Yamada on Smart Towns & Gigafactory (Exclusive Video)	Cars - Pickups
Img source:lithium battery charger This year's Zayed Future Energy Prize winner in the “Large Corporation” category, as you already know, was Panasonic. I was excited, since Panasonic is involved in a few disruptive cleantech markets -; battery storage, solar power, smart technology -; and is especially well known for its electric vehicle battery leadership alongside Tesla Motors.Naturally, at the Zayed Future Energy Prize press conference, I got a question in to Yoshihiko Yamada, Executive Vice President of Panasonic Corporation since April 2014. I just wanted to hear him talk more about these technologies and the future of energy.Unfortunately, his response was a bit “meh.” It quickly touched on a “smart town” it is building, a model which it intends to expand even to the US; and lithium-ion batteries it produces for electric vehicles, including a few words on the Gigafactory Panasonic is building with Tesla Motors. He also briefly mentioned that this energy storage technology could be utilized to help store electricity from solar and wind power. All of these things are wonderful, but Mr Yamada essentially just made matter-of-fact statements, when I was hoping for some more inspirational and broader talk about the future of energy, disruptive technology, and how Panasonic was planning to take over the world.Anyhow, to see Mr Yamada's full response, check out the video:*Full Disclosure: My trip to and accommodation in Abu Dhabi for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, World Future Energy Summit, and other Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week events was covered by Masdar. That said, I have full editorial control over the work and am publishing it without feedback. see more at:lithium battery charging
add to favorites	US Renewable Energy Could Go From 7.5% To 27% By 2030	Cars - Pickups
Img source:off the grid solar systems Originally published on Sustainnovate.A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) notes that renewable energy’s share of the US energy market can more than triple by 2030 — going from 7.5% of the mix to 27% of the mix using reasonable yet ambitious assumptions. Renewable energy’s share of the electricity market could increase from 14% to 50%, the leading energy organization notes.If this future holds true, as well as other scenarios laid out by IRENA, the United States would be the second-largest user of renewable energy in the world in 2030, only trailing China. Based on trends in recent years and renewable energy growth targets, that seems more likely than not anyway. Of course, on a per capita or per GDP basis, things would look very different, and neither country would be at (or even near) the top. Still, the growth of renewable energy in these huge countries and markets is critical.“As the second largest energy consumer in the world, the US must continue to play a leading role in the global transition to a sustainable energy future,” said Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of IRENA. “The recent agreement between the US and China to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a groundbreaking step, but this report aims even higher, showing that more can be done at limited cost.”Unfortunately, while 27% renewable energy by 2030 is very possible, current policies and politics are only likely to lead to 10% according to IRENA’s forecasts. Annual investments in renewable energy need to jump from $38 billion to $86 billion. While that may sound like a lot, the annual savings for society that result from all factors (including health improvements) are estimated to be $30–140 billion under the 27% renewables scenario. This is the key factor that so many forget when looking at the “costs” of renewable energy. To put it in more human terms, it may cost ~$10 more a day to eat a balanced diet, but the savings from better health come to ~$15… plus, you don’t have to suffer through health problems as much. For this reason alone, massive renewable energy investment and policies to support it should be a given. We’ll see how things turn out.This new report, Renewable Energy Prospects: United States of America, is part of IRENA’s REmap 2030, a global renewable energy roadmap for 2030.I’m sure we’ll have more great news from IRENA as the 5th assembly of IRENA gets underway in Abu Dhabi this weekend. see more at:off grid energy systems
add to favorites	SunEdison expects strong US Solar growth post-ITC	Cars - Pickups
Img source:12v 50ah lithium battery Major renewable energy development business SunEdison expects substantial US marketplace development post-ITC, contrary for the general view that the US PV market could be hit tough by the tax advantage reduction.SunEdison’s CEO, Ahmad Chatila said at the company’s Capital Markets Day that it was targeting an all-in distributed generation (DG) installation cost of only US$1.5/W in 2017, which would allow retail grid parity in over 25 US States. Chatila noted that its best-in-class fully-loaded OPEX (Operating Expense) would aid help the US$1.5/W DG installation price as well as its hugely flexible vertically integrated technology supply chain.Marketing and advertising, sales, G&A and R&D costs combined are also targeted to reach US$0.40/W in 2017, down from US$0.62/W in the second half of 2014. SunEdison noted that these costs could be reduced to US$0.52/W in 2015.SunEdison also noted at its Capital Markets Day that it expected important DG installation development across markets served in 2015. The corporation is targeting more than 400MW of DG projects in 2015, up from around 150MW in 2014.Therefore the US PV market place and SunEdison in particular are expected to continue to grow strongly after the planned reduction in the ITC. see more at:grid energy storage
add to favorites	Mitsubishi JV inaugurates 21MW solar farm in heartland of recent disputes	Cars - Pickups
Img source:72v lithium battery An inauguration ceremony has been held in Tokushima, Japan, to mark the start of operation of a 21MW solar farm constructed by Mitsubishi Corporation and its joint venture (JV) partner Nippon Paper Industries.The plant was completed at the beginning of February, using the official ceremony held on Friday. The 25-hectare site is in Komatsushima-Shi, Tokushima Prefecture, which is on the island of Shikoku, just south on the main Japanese island Honshu. PV Tech reported around the project in May 2013, as planning got underway.The two partners within the project have a 50% stake each, through their JV, Nippon Paper Mega Solar Komatsushima Limited Liability Enterprise. Mitsubishi claims to have developed 140MW of solar to date at utility-scale locations in Japan, although Nippon Paper Industries intends its solar power generation business to become the company’s primary source of revenue in future.Electricity in the 21MW Tokushima project will be sold under the feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme to local utility Shikoku Electric Power, which is responsible for the island’s electricity sales as well as its grid infrastructure.Shikoku Electric Power had been among the 5 Japanese electric power corporations that stopped considering applications for utility-scale solar projects late last year. This had happened as a result of a single utility, Kyushu Electric, raising concerns that it would within the near future be struggling to add approved projects towards the grid as it neared full capacity.The resumption with the utilities’ consideration of PV projects for their respective grids and a review of your FiT itself, has led to a resolution of sorts. Several commentators are satisfied using the need for a review and for changes to be made towards the grid connection process, but nonetheless described some with the measures taken as strict. Another continuing source of controversy is the question of when Japan’s shuttered nuclear reactors will go back online - not only because of antipathy towards nuclear itself, but also because available grid capacity that could go to PV projects is instead being ‘kept aside’ to accommodate all 50-plus of Japan’s returning nuclear facilities - even though it is likely they will only be switched back on at a rate of two or 3 a year at most. However, going forward, the return of nuclear power could mean that inside the short term solar will get a boost, because the Japanese government is keen to put together a policy around the total energy mix. By working out how much in the total energy supply should come from each and every source, including nuclear, the government will also set a definite target for renewable power.It seems also that long term, Japan is willing to bet on technologies such as batteries and hydrogen fuel cells to ease its relatively weak energy supply situation. Also forthcoming is the long-awaited energy liberalisation policy that will effectively ‘divorce’ the utilities from their regional grid infrastructure and allow consumers a greater choice of electricity supplier. Expected to start in 2016, the issue seems to be growing in importance, with next week’s Tokyo PV Expo co-located using a show dedicated to power market liberalisation, as well as shows dedicated to batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Many solar sector businesses have already expressed an interest in joining the electricity retail industry.Read more about Japan's latest challenges and the domestic solar industry's outlook for the future in Volume 2 of PV Tech Power, available to read online now. see more at:12v 10ah lithium battery
add to favorites	Why Do-It-Yourself Solar Kits Are the Vision of the Future	Cars - Pickups
Img source:ups 3000va The majority of the countries in the world are becoming increasingly aware of the crisis facing the world's energy resources. Many are taking steps to become increasingly energy efficient and are looking to find alternative ways of generating power for our homes. This is where do-it-yourself solar kits come into play. Thanks to the advances in solar technology, these kits are more readily available for purchase by those who wish to generate their own electricity. They make it possible for you to start to generate your own power in as little time as a few days. Let us take a look at what these kits have to offer. Do-it-yourself solar kits have been designed to make the most of the amount of sunshine your home receives. However, it is essential to find the best place to house your solar system to ensure that it receives the greatest possible amount of light. There is an online tool called PV Watts and this allows you to determine the amount of energy a solar system would generate in one whole year in your locality. The majority of solar kits feature grid-tied solar panels. This is the simplest system you can purchase. These systems are to be mounted to your home. Once mounted, the solar panels each tie into a gathering box which is then wired to an inverter. This inverter turns the direct current electricity generated into the alternating current electricity utilized by your home. Furthermore, the system gets tied into your home's electric meter. The connection between the meter and the grid must be made as a bi-directional meter must be installed in order for the meter to spin backwards whenever the amount of electricity generated exceeds the amount used. However, since we are encouraged to use renewable sources of energy, the majority of utilities do not charge a fee for this service. Do-it-yourself solar kits typically include all that is needed to generate your own electricity. They provide instructions that are easy to understand and system installation often will not require you to use any tools that you will not already have on hand. However, it is essential to enlist the expertise of an electrician to test your newly installed system so remember to budget for this. Furthermore, before installing a solar powered system for generating electricity, ensure that you acquire any necessary permits. An added advantage of do-it-yourself solar kits is that you can expand them in the future. While you may only have enough money to buy a few solar panels for the time being, you can add more components later. So, do not let your carbon footprint remain as it is - take steps to generate your own electricity today with solar power kits for the home. see more at:solar charge inverter
add to favorites	Home Solar Kits	Cars - Pickups
Img source:40 amp solar charge controller Home solar kits are revolutionizing the renewable power marketplace. Many folks, who as soon as believed that they could not afford solar energy systems, are now developing and installing them. The advent of directions for creating do it yourself solar energy guides has made this possible. Nonetheless, you'll find still individuals who would really substantially like the chance to own low-cost solar systems, but are apprehensive about following a DIY guide for 1 explanation or yet another. So lets take a look at what these guides definitely present. The first thing to bear in mind, is that these guides will let you know the best way to assemble a property solar kit to generate electrical energy. In the event you adhere to the guidelines, you can be saving plenty of funds, when building a solar energy technique which is just as effective as any commercially sold system. Most effective of all, you are able to get began for about $200. By selecting to create your own program, you might save lots of cash. To fully replace your electricity requirements, will imply creating much more than 1 solar panel, but you'll be able to add for your method over time. Commercial systems normally price a huge number of dollars to get and set up. The do it oneself home solar kit method allows you to spread the price with time to fit your price range. These house solar power guides are simple to comply with. It is just a myth that you simply will have to have the aid of an expert in this field that will help you create your residential solar energy program. Even though that you are not technically inclined among these guides will walk you via every step. You will also get loads of diagrams and video tutorials, so you will not get stuck at any point. Full lists of all of the accessories and tools you can need to assemble your house solar kit are included together with the guide. Once you have got successfully completed this project, you might realize what priceless knowledge you might have gained. As soon as you study ways to create and set up your very own solar power program, you are able to make use of this understanding by construct and sell such systems to your buddies and neighbors. They'll most absolutely ask concerns once they discover in regards to the success of one's project. You are able to then use that opportunity to acquire some shoppers for the new company. Utilizing a DIY guide to place with each other your own household solar kit has quite a few benefits. The price tag tag is far more desirable than that of a industrial program. You are able to construct at your individual pace to match your budget. Plus, you might obtain worthwhile expertise. You are able to buy a do it yourself guide on the net and begin constructing your own personal house solar kit right now. see more at:battery backup power
add to favorites	What 1 Need to Know About Solar Inverters	Cars - Pickups
Img source:off grid power inverter A Solar inverter plays a very important function in ones property solar installation. Diy Solar Panels for residence use characteristically many PVs (photovoltaic modules). One particular unit by itself is just not sufficient to produce the power you're probable to need, so numerous cells are they may be grouped jointly in what exactly is known as an assortment. A solar photovoltaic modules array produces a DC (direct existing) of electrical energy. Alternatively, in North America in any case, the electrical delivery made use of is an AC (alternating present). Our electrical gadgets as well as other appliances are set up to accept alternating present energy. Consequently, your Diy Solar Panels have to have a solar inverter to alter the present from direct current to alternating current. It is important to know how the conversion actually performs. The electricity that seems at our houses is usually an alternating current of 50/60Hz. (Some discrepancies may perhaps seem amongst localities). Electricity is frequently delivered more than long remoteness as alternating current instead of direct current because this strategy will be the most resourceful way to restrain losses. Once you turn on an electrical appliance, the machine might consume the alternating current energy straight, nonetheless most use a tiny transformer to alter it back into direct current. For those who wanted to utilize your house solar power directly exclusive of converting it into alternating existing, you could do so, nonetheless you would must re-wire each electrical machine that you simply make use of. A number of people today test by building a bit solar arrangement that they utilize to function only some machine, maybe a single or two lights that they have re-wired. There are actually fundamentally two types of solar inverter. In the event you can see the alternating current that we get in our homes, it would seem to become an up-down sine-wave. This can be termed as sinusoidal. There are actually two distinct sorts of solar inverter. The first type, named a "true-sine-wave" is both far more reliable and more expensive. The second form is often a "quasi-sine-wave" or at times a "modified-sine-wave" comes with a lesser value tag, nevertheless features a down-side that you simply may well want to keep away from. Some Diy Solar Panels have found that the quasi-sine-wave inverters have seldom delivered an overwork with consequent harm to a handful of electrical devices. This takes place for the reason that this sort of solar inverter conveys present in the form of a replicated sine-wave instead of an authentic sine-wave. It truly is not smart at all to hold back around the solar inverter which you use in the course of the whole process of installation. This solar inverter is accessible within the market place and in nearby regions with diverse stipulation, which includes a wide selection of power outlets and input voltages. Probably the most pricey solar inverter comes with enhanced characteristics also as safety from excess, guard from tiny and heftier design and style. see more at:charge controller inverter