RenewableEnergyWorld.com, Apple Widens Its Solar Energy Footprint

Apple recently announced that they will be building a new solar installation in Maiden, North Carolina, bringing the company closer to their goal of being completely powered by renewable energy. The solar project is scheduled to be completed in 2020 and has helped Apple become the company that Greenpeace says is making the most strides towards the use and advocacy of renewable energy, internal conservation and improvement in transparency.

  • In 2011 Greenpeace gave Apple a “D” ranking in their “How Green is Your Cloud” report, prompting Apple to announce that it would power the company with 100% renewable energy.
  • Apple now powers all of its data centers with renewable energy and 94% of all its operations are powered this way when the numbers include corporate campuses.
  • The Maiden, NC project is a 17.5-MW project, estimated to cost $55 million.
  • In 2012/2013 Apple finished two 20-MW solar farm projects and they are in the process of building an 18-20-MW CPV plant at their Reno, Nevada data plant.

Article Link: Renewable Energy World.Com

WHNT: Channel 19 news, BBB gives guidelines for solar energy

This summer the Alabama Better Business Bureau wants consumers to have the knowledge they need to make educated decisions about solar energy projects and their homes.  Aware that there is the potential for scams within the industry, the BBB is providing tips for consumers – things to consider and research before signing up with a contractor and locking themselves into a service. The BBB information is helpful and applicable to anyone who is considering making the switch to renewable energy, not only those living in Alabama.

  • Homeowners should talk to their energy company about their monthly bill to determine if they will save money by going solar; the BBB advises that if the bill is usually less than $100, homeowners should think of alternatives besides solar energy.
  • Consumers need to research the tax credits that are available if they generate electricity with their solar panels, how long those credits last and whether the credits could be taxed in the future.
  • Homeowners are encouraged to finalize all of the details of their installation before beginning the project and to be cautious of installers who offer financial claims that sound too good to be true.
  • The Alabama BBB suggests that before they make the decision to switch to solar homeowners find out if their home is in a good location for sunlight and if their roof is in proper enough condition to sustain a solar system.

Article Link: WHNT

Science Daily, Cheap and environmentally friendly: Tofu ingredient could revolutionize solar panel manufacture

Research coming out of the University of Liverpool has the potential to drastically lower the cost of manufacturing solar panels and it’s thanks to an unlikely ingredient – magnesium chloride. Dr. Jon Major, a University of  Liverpool physicist with the Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, has shown that magnesium chloride, a chemical also used in making tofu and bath salts, can not only reduce the cost but it can also increase the panels’ efficiency.

  • Solar panels are currently manufactured using cadmium chloride, a chemical that is both expensive and toxic, requiring special safety measures during both the manufacture and disposal of the panels.
  • Magnesium chloride is extracted from seawater and costs $0.001 per gram compared to the $0.3 per gram for cadmium chloride.
  • Magnesium chloride is currently used in tofu, bath salts and de-icers for roads.
  • Dr. Major discovered that applying magnesium chloride to a solar panel produces the same efficiency boost that comes when a film of cadmium chloride is applied.

Article Link: Science Daily

Eco-Business, World Cup stadium generates more solar power than 11 competing countries: report

Brazil’s recently constructed national stadium, and World Cup venue, the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in Brasilia has been built with the capability to produce a tremendous amount of solar power – 2.5 MW. When combined with the solar power producing capabilities of the other 2014 World Cup venues, Brazil has the potential for producing a total of 5.4 MW of power, more power than any previous World Cup.

  • The Mineirao in Belo Horizonte can produce 1.4 MW; Itaipava Arena in Pernambuco is capable of 1 MW and the Estadio do Maracana has a 500 kW array.
  • Many of the countries competing in the World Cup can’t match the production of the 2.5 MW of solar power made by Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha alone.
  • The 2014 World Cup is sponsored by Yingli Green, a global solar company.

Article Link: Eco-Business

ABC News, More Ocean off Massachusetts Open for Wind Energy

Governor Deval Patrick and United States Interior Secretary Sally Jewell have announced that more than 742,000 acres off the coast of Massachusetts will soon be opening up for commercial wind energy leases. Located twelve miles off shore and to the south of Martha’s vineyard, the area is larger than Rhode Island and will double the amount of offshore acreage currently available for commercial scale wind energy projects.

  • U.S. Interior Scretary Sally Jewell has said that fourteen companies have expressed interest in leasing space in the project so far and this number is expected to grow.
  • The first offshore wind farm scheduled to be built in the United States, the Cape Wind Project near Nantucket, has been fraught with opposition and lawsuits over the past twelve years but has served as a model for federal regulators as they have looked to identify areas going forward that can generate electricity without opposition.
  • The number of wind turbines to be built will be determined as each specific site is examined as well as the associated economic needs and environmental impacts.
  • Governor Patrick, who’s state has no oil or coal reserves, is looking to the Massachusetts’ wind projects as a way to create “Massachusetts-made” energy.

Article Link: ABC News

Nasdaq, Solar Energy Breakthrough Could Drop Consumer Price

University of California Berkeley Professor Ali Javey has discovered a new, lower cost method for producing the powerful semiconductors that are used in high-efficiency solar cells. The electrical engineering and computer science professor’s reports suggest that by lowering these costs and creating a more efficient product, the cost of solar panels for consumers will also drop.

  • Solar energy is appealing as a clean, renewable energy source but it is not always economically competitive with traditional fossil fuels.
  • Professor Ali Jarvey has produced solar cells that increase efficiency to 25% compared to the 18% of conventional solar cells, thus decreasing the amount of cells needed per solar panel.
  • Currently high-efficiency cells have semi-conductors that use an expensive crystal which is exposed to vapors in order to create a film to cover the solar cells.
  • Professor Jarvey has created a film for the semi-conductors using metal or glass and he has found an inexpensive vapor to use in the process.
  • The production process is still in the early stages and Professor Jarvey says there is much work still to do before the semiconductors will be ready for mass production.
  • The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has studied Professor Jarvey’s work and has indicated that with the materials he is using he could produce high-efficiencey solar cells that would cost approximately the same as conventional solar cells.

Article Link: NASDAQ

PV-Tech.org, Warren Buffett plans to double Berkshire Hathaway’s investment in renewable energy

When the Edison Electric Institute held their annual meeting in Las Vegas last week, Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., spoke about the company’s sizable investment in renewable energy. Buffett disclosed that the company has previously invested 15 billion dollars in the industry and has another 15 billion “ready to go as far as I’m concerned”.

  • Buffett’s announcement of an investment in renewable energy may have been a surprise to some given the fact that he was speaking at an event hosted by the Edison Electric Institute.
  • Warren Buffett joined the power industry 14 years ago with the purchase of an energy holding company in Iowa that was then expanded into Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a company which not only operates utilities but also invests in solar and wind projects.
  • Industry leaders were pleased and supportive of Buffett’s announcement, citing the industry’s strong need for capital.

Article Link: PV-Tech.org

I want Solar Panels – How Do I Pay for Them?

Solar installations are no different. With the rising cost of electricity and the seemingly monopolistic relationship many have with current providers, it’s now small wonder that cost savings is the top reason homeowners across the country are going solar. Not only can you save major money, and increase your homes value, you also free yourself from being hostage to your utility provider and its rates.  Like all major purchases in life we have to figure out where the money is going to come from in order to buy what we want. Some call it a budget, some call it a spending plan, either way you have options when it comes to putting solar on your home.

If you have the cash (tens of thousands of dollars) to cover the purchase and installation of solar panels, and you aren’t interested in tax incentives, you can simply write the check and forego reading the rest of this article. However, if like the majority of home-owners, you need some help with the financing here’s a few ideas.

How to Determine the Cost of Solar Panels

First, make the lease or buy decision. If you decide to lease, the financing issue is almost non-existent. With leasing, you purchase your electricity from the company who owns the panels attached to your roof.

Not only are leased systems installed at a very nominal price (often at zero cost), most leased systems offer zero maintenance fees. With a lease option the homeowner provides the roof, the utility company installs and maintains the equipment, the utility company takes all the power generated, then sells that power back to the homeowner through a monthly utility bill – albeit generally at a reduced rate.

Leasing provides the doing good for the environment feeling and saves a bit on the utility costs. No (or minimal) up-front costs also means minimal savings. If you are looking for a bigger return on your investment, purchasing a solar system may be what you are looking for.

Today there are tax credits, rebates, and other incentives available to those who choose to join the renewable energy movement and purchase and install solar energy panels. These incentives are available through Federal, State, and local government entities and can lower the cost of a solar energy system by up to 50%. By capitalizing on these incentives rebates, a solar energy system can quickly pay for itself.

Residential tax incentives come in many forms including Federal and State income tax credits or deductions, sales tax rebates, and local property tax credits. These can all be used to reduce the up-front costs of purchasing a solar energy system.

While the tax incentives are nice, the money to purchase the system usually comes out of the consumer’s pocket. To help with that, some solar companies will credit your account for the federal incentive up front – don’t forget to ask your provider about this. And for the rest of the money, consider a home equity loan to pay the remainder of the costs. A home equity loan gives you additional tax benefits over paying on a credit card. If you don’t have sufficient equity in your home, try a home improvement loan or financing through the company you are purchasing the system through. Even though the up-front costs can be a huge chunk of cash, the rewards of cheap electricity can help you see a return on your investment quickly.

Remember that tax laws change often. Always consult your accountant, attorney, or tax advisor for up to date information prior to making a purchasing decision based on possible rebates or tax credits.

Interested in learning how much you can save with solar? Click here to get a free quote and have all your questions answered for free.

Net Metering
Consumers using solar energy systems to generate their own electricity feed their unused electric energy into the grid. Net metering provides credit to the system owners for this unused energy. Solar system owners will only pay for the electricity that they use which is above and beyond what is produced by their systems. Customers who generate a net surplus of energy will receive a payment for that energy. States offer different implementation and legislation so the benefits of net metering will vary for solar energy system owners depending on their location.

http://www.seia.org/policy/distributed-solar/net-metering

http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/solar_basics/net_metering.php

 

Photovoltaic (PV)
Another word for Solar Electricity. Photo means light and voltaic means electricity. A photovoltaic device generates electricity from the sun. Photovoltaic devices can be used to power electric devices or to send electricity to the grid. Photovoltaic cells are made of layers of semi-conducting material, generally made from silicon. Sunlight shines onto the material, freeing electrons and creating an electrical field. Solar cells are small and on their own do not generate much electricity. Cells are usually combined in groups of 40 called modules. Modules can be combined together to create arrays. Arrays can be connected together to create systems that will generate electricity. The power generated by a Photovoltaic cell is measured in kilowatts peak (kWp).

http://www.seia.org/policy/solar-technology/photovoltaic-solar-electric

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating-energy/Choosing-a-renewable-technology/Solar-panels-PV

http://solareis.anl.gov/guide/solar/pv/index.cfm

 

Utility Grid
Also known as the Electrical Grid. The system that brings electricity from power plants to homes and businesses. A network of power providers and consumers who are connected and working together to distribute and transmit electricity over a large area. The continental United States contains three systems: the Texas Interconnect, the Western Interconnect and the Eastern Interconnect. The Utility Grid is divided into a transmission system which moves large amounts of high voltage power from power plants to sub-stations and the distribution system which provides low and medium voltage power from substations to customers.

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/electric-grid

http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001247

http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-energy-glossary#E

 

AC Current
A type of electrical current, or flow of electrical energy, also known as Alternating Current. The direction reverses at regular intervals/cycles. The standard in the United States is 120 reversals, or 60 cycles per second. Transformers are used to increase or decrease AC voltage. Electric power is delivered to businesses and residences in the form of AC Current.

http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-energy-glossary#electric_current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current

 

DC Current
A type of electrical current, or flow of electrical energy, also known as Direct Current. DC current does not reverse directions. Sources that produced DC current include solar cells and batteries.

http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-energy-glossary#electric_current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current

 

Solar Panel
Also known as a Photovoltaic panel, a connected group of Solar (photovoltaic) modules, that are being used to generate electricity. Panels are made from thin sheets of silicon. Panels are placed in the direction that will absorb the maximum amount of rays from the sun. The sun shines on the solar panels and the electrons in the silicon begin to move around, flowing along wires within the panel’s cells, generating electricity. Solar modules can be arranged in different ways, creating a variety of panel sizes.

http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-energy-glossary#photovoltaic_panel

http://www.solarenergy.org/answers-younger-kids

http://www.solarenergy.org/answers-older-kids

 

Kilowatt (kW)
Unit of electrical power that is equal to 1000 watts. A kilowatt equals the energy consumption rate of 1000 joules per second. It measures the rate of energy conversion. kWh (kilowatt-hour) is a unit of energy equal to 1,000 watts of power acting over a period of 1 hour.

 

Solar Home Battery
Used to store energy so that electricity may be used during a power outage or natural disaster. The newest version of storage batteries are lithium-ion .Homeowners can use their batteries to decide when they use wish to use electricity, allowing them to store solar power when electric rates are low and using it when rates are high.

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/11/06/solar-power-storage/

 

Solar Leasing
A financing option that makes solar energy systems more readily accessible to homeowners. Consumers lease or rent the equipment needed for the solar system and have the option to purchase it at the end of the lease term. Lease terms for homeowners may range from 10-20 years and commercial leases from 7-15 years. The company leasing the equipment is responsible for the system’s maintenance, performance and repair throughout the lease terms. Any incentives such as rebates, tax credits, etc. would belong to the leasing company.

http://www.energysage.com/solar-lease/lease-ppa-whats-the-difference

 

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
Customers agree to purchase power generated by the solar energy system from the company at a set price per kWh. This price may be fixed throughout the term of the agreement or it may increase at set rates each year. Term lengths can range from 10-20 years. Customers have the option to purchase equipment at the end of the term or they can extend the contract. Maintenance, repairs and performance of the equipment over the term are the responsibility of the company.

http://www.energysage.com/solar-lease/lease-ppa-whats-the-difference

http://www.seia.org/policy/finance-tax/third-party-financing

 

Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM)
A mortgage that takes a home’s energy efficiency and credits that back to the home’s mortgage. Borrowers can finance alternative energy systems as part of a single mortgage. EEMs can be used to purchase new homes that are already energy efficient. EEM may also refer to Energy Improvement Mortgage which is used to purchase an existing home that will then have energy improvements made to it. Homeowners can also use an EEM to refinance a mortgage for the purpose of financing energy efficiency improvements. EEMs will usually require a home energy rating so that lenders may estimate the monthly savings and the value of the energy efficiency system.

https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=mortgages.energy_efficient_mortgages

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/eem/energy-r

Energy 101: Solar PV

How does a  Solar Panel Convert Energy from the Sun?

 How Solar Panels Work

An Animated View of How Solar Panels Work!

Animated Educational Solar Video “The Pros and Cons of Solar”