Two Bay Area Companies Donate Solar Power to Local Food Bank-

Two companies in California’s Bay Area have made a collective donation to Second Harvest Food Bank. The cash offering will fund a $1.1 million, 322-kilowatt rooftop solar power system at the food bank’s facility in San Jose, CA. SunPower contributed their solar technology and Cypress Semiconductor supplied $700,000 to support the project. Two types of SunPower solar roof tiles will be utilized. Over the 25 year life of the system, it is anticipated to save the food bank roughly three million dollars on their electricity bills. “The rooftop solar system, so generously donated by Cypress and SunPower, will help us to continue meeting the needs of our community,” said Kathy Johnson, CEO of the food bank. The SunPower tiles are already built into a frame, so they can be installed more swiftly when compared to a standard rooftop solar system. SunPower CEO Tom Werner said, “We hope this unique solar gift will shine a light on hunger, and encourage other businesses to support this worthy cause.” Since 1989, Cypress Semiconductor has donated approximately five million dollars, and around 500,000 pounds of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank. They raised the $700,000 for the solar project through employee fundraisers, and grants. T.J. Rodgers, the company’s president said, “Cypress is pleased to help reduce the organization’s operating expenses so that it can focus on what it does best–feeding the community.” The project is expected to wrap up in September.

New Brush Prototype Boasts Bacteria Removal Simply Using Sunlight-

The Shiken Company of Japan has developed a new solar-powered toothbrush which is so powerful that it may eliminate the need for toothpaste. Two dental researchers with the company, Dr. Kunio Komiyama and Dr. Gerry Uswak, are set out to determine whether the innovative brush will do a better job of reducing plaque and bacteria than the standard. The two doctors are searching for 120 teens willing to use the prototype and sit in a dentist chair for an array of inspections. Komiyama’s first model, which was featured 15 years ago in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, contained a titanium dioxide rod in the neck of the brush just below the nylon bristles. It begins to operate when light shines on the wet rod, which in turn releases electrons. As those electrons react with acid in the mouth, it helps to break down plaque – sans toothpaste. According to Komiyama, his newer model — the Soladey-J3X — works twice as effectively compared with the original. The Soladey-J3X includes a solar panel that extends past the base of the brush, which transmits electrons to the top of the toothbrush through a lead wire. However it cannot be used in the dark, as it requires the same amount of solar energy that a solar-powered calculator would need to operate. Komiyama has tested the newest brush on cultures of two types of bacteria which are major causes linked to periodontal disease. “You see complete destruction of bacterial cells,” he said. Last month, at the FDI Annual World Dental Conference in Dubai, the company’s poster illustrating the lab research snagged first prize out of 170 entries.

Pluggable Solar Panel Kit to Lower Cost of Solar Installations-

Installing solar modules is typically a job reserved for certified professionals — however with renewable technologies advancing at such a rapid pace, solar panel installations may soon be as simple as 1,2,3. The “Sunfish”, designed by Chad Maglaque and Clarian Technologies, is a comparatively inexpensive solar module kit anticipated to release in stores by spring 2011. To begin installation, consumers would need to purchase a power module, circuit monitor and pluggable solar panel(s) from their local hardware store. Next, they must swap out a regular electricity outlet for the circuit monitor (which is as easy as installing a grounded outlet), plug in the 18-kilogram solar panel into the power module and mount it on the most sun-exposed side of their residence. The power module must then be synchronized with the circuit monitor using power metering software, such as Google PowerMeter. Once setup is complete, renewable energy will be readily available. “We’re talking about a [do-it-yourself] handyman on the order of cable guy level of installation,” Maglaque says. Depending on the consumer’s budget, one to five panel arrays may be implemented and can generate as much as 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month — enough electricity to offset one major appliance, such as a refrigerator. According to the company, one panel, with the module and circuit monitor will cost around $799. “I see that being $599 in the not-too-distant future,” Maglaque adds. “Solar continues to come down in price.” Although, to be realistic, it would take as much as four years to pay back that cost in electricity savings even with government rebates and tax credits. The system price is nominal when compared to a solar installation using a licensed contractor, however, which can skyrocket the total cost to around $20,000. Not to mention, an added benefit of the “Sunfish” system allows the consumer to tote the entire system with them if they happen to relocate to a different residence. The power modules, circuit monitors, and panels that make up the “Sunfish” are set to undergo thorough UL testing to certify the endurance and efficiency of the system.

“Solar for Free” Offers in the UK Aren’t Quite as they Seem-

Experts have warned homeowners agreeing to new “solar for free” offers that they could double their financial savings by paying for the panels themselves. Since a government financial incentive was launched in April 2009, solar PV installations have skyrocketed in the UK. This has left many homeowners vulnerable to a massive amount of companies offering to fit their homes with solar panels for free. Under the “rent your roof” model, the companies receive the tariff worth roughly £835 (approx. $1,100 USD) a year and the homeowner receives savings of around £110 (approx. $150 USD) off their electricity bill each year — substantially meager in comparison. According to the Guardian UK, homeowners would likely benefit more if they paid for the solar panels themselves, even with a loan interest for the upfront cost of around £10,000 ($13,200) for a typical home. “Looking at the figures, it [paying for panels yourself] looks like a better deal on paper,” Liz Laine, energy expert at Consumer Focus, told the Guardian. She added that consumers should go into such deals “with their eyes open”. With the “free solar” deal, a homeowner would save around £2,750 (approx. $3,600 USD) on energy bills over 25 years, the length of the tariff offer. However, paying for their own solar panels with a loan at 7.7 percent interest repaid over ten years and earning income from the feed-in tariff, they could save approximately £6,506 (approx. $8,600 USD) over the same period.

Indian Parliament to Install Solar & Biomass Plant-

Through an arrangement with the Indian Parliament, the Punjab Energy Development Agency has invited bids for installing an 80 kW solar PV system. The solar array would provide battery backup for the Parliament building in the off-chance of a blackout, however over 50 percent of the generated power would be fed back into the grid. The project would help promote the use of solar PV systems which remain unpopular due to the high costs and lower efficiency when compared to other forms of clean energy. The installation is anticipated to initiate solar PV policy initiatives in homes and commercial buildings throughout the nation. Not to mention, the system would also serve as a demonstration of the feed-in tariff mechanism which is mostly untested in India. Some major companies have submitted bids, including Punj Lloyd, Wipro Ecoenergy and the Solar Energy Group of Reliance Industries. If this initiative is a success, the overall installed capacity could skyrocket to 20,000 MW over the next 12 years. Meanwhile, a new solar thermal system with a 2,000-liter capacity and a 0.5 tonne capacity biomass plant are also expected to be installed at the Parliament House.

Uninhabited Islands Around the Globe May be Used to Generate & Store Energy for Later Use-

Gottlieb Paludan, a Danish architectural firm, has come up with a revolutionary plan to store green energy which may help to solve the world energy crisis. The firm has proposed to take the world’s uninhabited islands and turn them into Green Power Islands, in which energy would be generated on land through wind or solar — depending upon the climate — and the surrounding water would be used to store the power using pumped hydro. Pumped hydro is an efficient and feasible way to store energy and, not to mention, has been successfully used around the world for years. Renewable energy can be particularly unreliable, since the blowing wind and shining sun is only available throughout a portion of the day. Thus, pumped hydro allows the energy captured throughout the day to be stored effectively and can be used at a later time when the need arises. The firm has specified many areas around the globe which would be an optimal site for the Green Power Islands: their native Denmark, the Florida Keys, Jiangsu in China, Manama in Baharain and Tamil Nadu in India. Each of these areas are saturated with unsettled islands and boast an ample supply of either wind or sun. Their plan intends to drive at least 75 percent of the energy captured into the grid. For more information, please visit the Green Power Island website.

Government Grant for NMSU will Support Sustainable and Renewable R&D-

The International Relations Institute at New Mexico State University will receive $200,000 in federal funds to support the development of innovative energy sources for New Mexico farmers and ranchers. Most of the cash — $125,000 to be exact — will be apportioned to projects under the university’s Renewable Energy, Water and Arid Lands Task Force. Projects include a new solar system for a biodiesel project fueled by algae, a new solar power system for water distribution, and a solar system for an animal watering station. The remaining $75,000 will go toward a Migration and Immigration Task Force, as NMSU students and faculty are researching and teaching about immigration trends in New Mexico.

Renewable Energy Could Supply U.S. Army with Clean Water, Power & Agriculture-

On top of the dangers of fighting a war against a terrorist-ridden nation, a huge challenge for the soldiers in Afghanistan is obtaining power, clean water and diesel fuel for military bases around the rural countryside. Soldiers sent out to gather clean water and refuel are put at major risk of attack. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been working in Afghanistan to develop other sources of power to diminish the necessity of such trips — which are costly, dangerous and sometimes deadly. The NREL reports that many soldiers are pushing to implement renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to offer dependable electricity — as power generators are not always efficient. The nation of Afghanistan has abundant sunlight and plenty of open ground to build solar photovoltaic arrays; however, with bomb-wielding terrorist organizations lurking in the shadows, its tough to obtain money to erect such costly technologies. If implemented, solar power could be used to supply hot water and electricity for the bases. Not to mention, it could also power deep wells that would allow soldiers to obtain clean water. Once the soldiers vacate the areas, the PV arrays could be hooked up the a smart grid system to provide renewable energy to local residents. The NREL scientists are also working on technologies to generate power from the waste the base produces.

World’s Largest Solar Facility to Use CPV Technology-

Cogentrix Energy, a leading power developer owned by Goldman Sachs, has announced a deal to build a 30 MW solar power plant near Alamosa, Colorado. The facility will use concentrated photovoltaic systems (CPV) provided by Amonix, and will be the largest of its kind across the globe. Cogentrix will develop the project to provide power to the utility Public Service Company of Colorado, part of Xcel Energy. Amonix’s CPV technology uses lenses that reflect light onto small multi-junction solar cells, as well as a dual-axis tracking system to follow the sun throughout the daytime hours. Located in the San Luis Valley, the plant is anticipated to generate enough electricity to provide about 6,500 homes with renewable energy. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2011, with the project to wrap up around the second quarter of 2012. Robert Mancini, CEO of Cogentrix and a Managing Director of Goldman Sachs, said: “It has become apparent that cleaner and more sustainable electric power generation is going to become a larger component of the nation’s energy mix and Cogentrix is excited to be at the forefront of this evolution.”

Democratic Nominee for California Governor Boasts a Clean Energy Jobs Plan-

On his website over the weekend, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brown announced his jobs plan to create jobs in the renewable energy industry and promote private businesses. His plan calls for California to generate 20,000 new megawatts of renewable energy, as well as to place solar panels on roofs and along highways throughout the state. “Most new jobs should and will be created in the private sector, but government can play an important role in establishing a favorable climate for job creation,” Brown writes in his proposal. “California is the preeminent leader in environmental and energy technology because early on we adopted policies and incentives that encouraged efficiency and renewable energy… It is absolutely imperative that we continue to lead and not back off these policies..that is the fundamental point of difference between Meg Whitman and me.” Brown also says he will consider offering tax incentives to manufacturers, which will reduce regulations to keep businesses thriving and commit much needed funds to education and infrastructure. A spokeswoman for Republican Meg Whitman called the plan “half-baked” and said Brown’s record does not support his words.