We’re taking our popular podcast series on the road and to a live audience. Solar Speaks Live will be at Intersolar North America in the Unirac booth from July 13 to 14, 2015. Solar Power World editors will interview industry thought leaders and about their unique solar industry perspectives, involvement and outlook. Interviews will be
The SunSpec Alliance, along with its official media sponsor Solar Power World, has announced the lineup for the PV Finance Conference and Solar Asset Symposium, which will take place at Intersolar July 13 and 14 at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco. Now in its fifth year, the expanded SunSpec Solar Finance Conference and Asset
Quotes for very large solar photovoltaic projects in sunny parts of the United States are coming in at an astounding 5 to 6 cents per kWh. Certainly these projects enjoy economies-of-scale advantages compared to smaller or rooftop photovoltaic projects. There is, however, one other very important technology advantage—because the utility-size systems are ground mounted, trackers
By Andrew Savage Cutting costs has been the key to solar’s rapid expansion this decade. The lion’s share of cost reductions in the solar industry has come from reductions in module prices. The $4 per watt you’d have paid in 2006 for modules alone gets you the entire residential solar system installed today. And then
JuiceBox Energy has announced its new 8.6-kWh lithium-ion energy storage system for solar energy storage and smart home connectivity. With this product release, JuiceBox enters the rapidly growing residential energy storage market with a safe and reliable, web-connected product that can be installed on new and existing solar energy installations. Distributed energy generation is at
Global single-axis tracker revenues are expected to grow 120%, to reach nearly $2 billion in 2019, according to IHS, a global source of critical information and insight. For the first time, single-axis trackers will be the preferred type of structural balance of system (BoS) ground mount in the Americas in 2015. Overall global ground-mount solar
The Vote Solar Initiative, a non-profit organization aiming to make solar mainstream, has launched a beta version of Project Permit. The interactive website scores local permitting practices. “It’s designed to help solar stakeholders, municipal officials and people like you understand how their town’s permitting practices stack up and what can be done to improve them,”
by Steven Bushong/Contributing Editor Two undergraduate students at Georgia Tech’s School of Architecture recently claimed top honors in a competition to aesthetically combine land art and electrical generation. James Murray and Shota Vashakmadze’s design, called Scene-Sensor, would rise 90 ft over New York’s Freshkills Park and produce an estimated 5500 MWh annually. The students say two…
The following is an excerpt from an article written by SKF. The company featured in its Evolution business and technology magazine. Many bearings operate in high temperature environments – but few lubricants can withstand the heat. SKF has developed bearings that incorporate dry lubrication for extreme temperature applications, providing benefits for customers, among others in
Initial findings from The Solar Foundation’s third annual National Solar Jobs Census shows that solar energy jobs have experienced strong growth in the U.S. over the past year, despite global economic challenges. The full National Solar Jobs Census 2012, with analysis of employment trends across the entire solar industry is scheduled for release on Nov.
CanWEA 2012, Canada’s largest windpower event, has concluded, but our coverage has just begun. We had the privilege to meet with great companies, view their products, and hear their stories. We’ll be writing about this for a while. To start…
When it comes to public surveys, analysts find few subjects that enjoy overwhelming support. Solar is an exception. To hear an analyst talk about the uniquely ubiquitous support for solar power, listen to the podcast below. An annual Solar Energy Industries Association poll conducted by Hart Research Associates has found that nine out of 10 […]
Likely voters in the 2012 election cycle overwhelmingly support solar energy and would like to see the federal government do more to foster the growing industry, according to a national poll released today. The survey, conducted by independent polling firm Hart Research Associates, showed for the fifth consecutive year that Americans maintain a very favorable […]
The U.S. market is a bright spot in a tough global environment for solar, says a quarterly market report from Solar Energy Industries Association, or SEIA. Manufacturers in Europe are selling to the expanding U.S. and Chinese markets – the latter of which has seen explosive growth – as their own economies falter and manufacturing […]
In its second year, the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) Later Stage Awards received a record 200 nominations for its 10 Best-in-Class categories. The 200 innovative mid- to later-stage companies have been nominated in a variety of cleantech areas including solar and lighting energy efficiency, waste, and water. Each nomination came from the GCCA’s 40-member […]
Eleven solar companies have climbed into the upper tier of the Inc. 500/5000 lists, including Maryland’s Astrum Solar, which was ranked second. We’ve put together a brief on each company that made the Top 500 and included its position. Interestingly, all the companies were founded in a four-year period between 2004 and 2008, according to […]
A photovoltaic technical training program consisting of 11 in-depth sessions is planned Solar Power International. The training sessions are the newest addition to the SPI conference program and have been developed in partnership with Solar Energy International and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. The sessions are included in both full conference and […]
V-Band Clamps encounter many extremes. When it comes to turbochargers, which are increasingly used in light trucks and cars to deliver the power of a V8 engine in a V6, the clamps seal off hot exhaust, forcing compressed air into the intake. The result is lighter vehicles and better fuel economy. But component temperatures around…
Editor’s note: This article comes from sodar manufacturer Second Wind Measuring wind in complex terrain is becoming increasingly critical as more of the ideal, flat, windy sites available for windpower are developed. Ground-based, portable remote sensing is ideal for measuring wind in complex terrain because it’s hard to put up towers, and developers can measure […]
Editor’s note: This report is from the National Center for Policy Analysis The U.S. could add jobs and strengthen national security by developing rare earth mining domestically and in other countries to break China’s 97% monopoly on the global supply of these critical minerals, according to a new report from the National Center for Policy […]
Women of Wind Energy recognized the 2012 Rudd Mayer Memorial Fellows at the group’s annual luncheon at the Windpower 2012 Conference and Exhibition in Atlanta. The 2012 Fellows are: Anna Pesola, Oregon Institute of Technology, Renewable Energy Engineering Christina Chang, University of Houston, Mechanical Engineering Clara St. Martin, Pennsylvania State University, Meterology Holly Johnson, Iowa […]
A wind turbine manufacturer is reporting strong numbers for the first quarter of the year. Nordex says it has counted an 8.3% increase in sales, to €198.3 million. As expected, business volume accounted for just under 20% of the forecast full-year sales. This cyclical effect is typical of the wind industry. Sales were particularly underpinned […]
As the maritime industry steps up its pursuit of viable carbon-alternate fuels, a ship named Cape Flamingo will be used as testing grounds for the viability of offshore windpower aboard commercial fleets. An autonomous wind-monitoring system from Totempower has been installed where the best wind conditions and most relevant environmental data (wind speed, direction, and […]
The Alliance for Rural Electrification has launched its Small Wind Campaign, which the group says aims to eliminate bottlenecks and misconceptions keeping decision makers in developing countries from using windpower in rural communities, even when it’s one the most cost-effective solutions. “Under favorable natural conditions, small and medium wind generation prices are significantly lower than […]
Encoders are available with an enhanced monitoring feature that signals potential failure of the encoder. Baumer says the HS35F EMS encoders provide positioning and speed control and endure extreme mechanical strain. The encoders let manufacturers improve the safety and reliability of processing lines and minimize downtime. A microprocessor monitors the device, and if a failure […]
