Even though researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) might have solved some of the technological issues associated with molten salt storage, solar entities operating in the Mojave Desert now seem more willing to use PV panels to deliver affordable solar-powered electricity.
Arizona solar advocates are becoming increasingly concerned that commercial solar funding in Arizona will be cut or severely reduced. Specifically, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is focused on bringing in large utility scale projects while ignoring smaller commercial projects in the local area.
Energy independence and climate change are two of the biggest challenges facing the U.S. But perhaps no other nation understands the link between clean energy and security more than Israel. It relies on imported fossil fuel from hostile neighbors to power its economy, despite having a vast and mostly untapped clean energy source.
As part of energyNOW!’s “The Israel Connection” series, chief correspondent Tyler Suiters traveled to the sun-drenched land to find out how emerging solar technology could lead to greater energy security and a cleaner environment. Suiters also explored the link between Israel’s innovative solar technology and the future of clean energy in the U.S.
Concentrating solar has promised big additions to renewable energy production with the additional benefit of energy storage – saving sun power for nighttime – but there’s a catch. Most of the new power plants are big water users despite being planned for desert locations.
When I was in high school, my older brother used to call home from college in Massachusetts every Sunday sounding like he had never experienced a happy moment in his life. I used to ask what was going on and he would say, “You try living through a winter here…I haven’t seen the sun in 5 months.” Being from Southern California, I was shocked that this was life on the east coast…no sun in 5 months? Inconceivable! Anyway I never asked him about it again… I didn’t want to get beaten up.
A startup company received a loan guarantee from the U.S government to construct the first large scale solar power plant with energy storage that provides electricity even at night.
Well, this is outside the realm of what I normally cover, but this is pretty cool. A commercial home builder, Meritage Homes, has started offering net-zero, super-green homes. With a starting price of $140,000 and incomparable electric bills, these are affordable and green. With solar panels as part of the package, you don’t even have to go through the simple trouble of finding an installer and getting solar added — probably the biggest obstacle to people going solar.
In the short time since President Obama’s alternative energy plan was announced, already the prospects look good for clean energy that is cost-competitive with fossil fuel. That’s without even factoring in the avoidable health costs that that the public currently absorbs from high risk, antiquated fuels. The latest case in … [continued]
Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base flipped the switch on its first solar power installation in 2007, a 14-megawatt behemoth that was the largest of its kind at the time. The Air Force must have been pleased with the performance of solar energy in the three years since then, because according … [continued]
One more giant solar project on Federal land has made it in time for funding under ARRA! Solar Millenium’s Amargosa Farm Road Solar Project is a 500 megawatt project on BLM land, 80 miles from Las Vegas. It is a concentrated solar project comprising two 250 MW parabolic trough dry-cooled … [continued]
