Solar Energy

Advanced Solar CPV Manufacturing Plant to Open in NC this Month

Semprius and its backers — including the DOE, NREL, Pratt & Whitney, and Siemens — believe record-high efficiency ratings and low-cost production will make the startup’s concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) cells and modules a winner in a global solar market undergoing much turmoil, including bankruptcies, plant shutdowns, slowdowns, layoffs, and cutbacks in government solar incentives and subsidies […]

From Local to National, India to the US, Government Action Key to Low-Carbon Green Economic…

Local governments are taking actions to spur low-carbon green economy development that falls right in line and reinforces initiatives at the regional, national, and international levels, an encouraging sign that real progress can and is being made. Announcements this week from cities and local governments as geographically and culturally separated and diverse as Kolkata and Westport testify to the actions taking place. […]

Peak Wind Power in UK Rises to Over 4,000 MW

Peak wind power recently hit 4,010 MW in the UK. (The previous record of 3.8 GW was set in May 2012.) This was a record for electricity generated by UK wind turbines. At that level, wind power was generating about 10-11% of the UK’s electricity. Renewable Energy UK said the peak level was enough to power about 3 million British homes […]

Make Your Mark in Cleantech via Cleantech Fellows Institute

Are you interested in making the transition to work in a clean technology industry? The Clean Fellows Institute intends to educate a group of proven executives interested in the creation of venture-backed clear technology companies. This is for serious thinkers who desire to transition to fast-growing but still young cleantech business, people who know that they are willing to make a shift, to change their careers, and to become completely involved with sustainable, progressive technology […]

4 Charts Provide Distributed Solar Lessons from California

A new study for the California Public Utilities Commission explores the “Technical Potential for Local Distributed Photovoltaics in California.” Basically, it’s one of the more in-depth analyses of local solar power in the country, suggesting that California has the capacity to add 15 gigawatts (GW) of local solar (20 megawatts and smaller) to its grid by 2020. The study pushes the boundaries of distributed generation by assuming that local solar can be installed sufficient to meet 100% of local demand, far beyond the conservative “15% rule” that utilities typically apply […]