Paris, the beautiful capital city of France commonly thought as one of the major global leaders within the clean technology industry, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability. As not only the capital of a major European country, but as one of the most influential cities on the continent, Paris looks to lead the pack when it comes to clean
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Renewable Energy
It’s easy to get the impression that technology game-changers happen in a near flash. And the stories of Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Apple leave us thinking that genius pops right out of the dorm room.
But in the energy industry it’s not that easy. The innovation we see today often stems from years of
The United Arab Emirates, much like some of the other countries throughout the Middle East, is doing what it can to ensure it becomes much more energy efficient and starts using more renewable sources of energy. Dubai, much like its neighbor Abu Dhabi, is doing what it can to ensure the entire state becomes much more clean technology friendly. This includes
Just over a week ago, the largest solar park in New England was inaugurated by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, when he switched on Westford Solar Park, a 4.5 MW solar farm in Westford, developed by Cathartes Private Investments and Nexamp.
The park, spreads across 22 acres and features
Summer is nearly here, and we’re urging Albany to put more of that New York sunshine to work already! It’s time to show lawmakers that solar power is a priority for New Yorkers.
We’re teaming up with an incredible group of organizations to do just that at free community
London, United Kingdom is seen as a leader throughout the entire European continent. As such, it needs to take a leg up when it comes to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. London looks to be a global cleantech leader and guide other European cities as well as cities around the world with the information and advice needed to become
Solar thermal energy technology has taken an important step further with a new collaboration between 3M’s Renewable Energy Division and Gossamer Space Frames. The companies yesterday unveiled a new parabolic trough solar collector technology designed to reduce costs and equipment for concentrated solar power systems. CSP is a solar system whereby
San Antonio is not new to clean technologies as Texas is one of the leaders in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Not to be done under like other cities, including Houston and Austin, San Antonio has numerous projects, initiatives, and institutes in the city with two major goals in mind – promote clean technologies across the nation and
The United Kingdom seems to always be trailing the European renewable energy starting line-up of Germany, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, and any one of Holland/Finland/Portugal.
As we’ve observed in our offshore wind, small wind,
Puerto Rico currently generates an estimated 70 percent of their electric energy from fossil fuels. Due to the rising cost of fossil fuels and compounded by concerns over climate change, Puerto Rico has realized that they have an obligation to promote healthy economic development and a healthy environment. Puerto Rico’s Constitution supports the
We’ve all seen majestic images of solar arrays: row after row of shimmering solar panels converting the sun’s rays into clean, renewable energy. While these fixed installations are undeniably impressive, one thing they’re not is mobile.
No problem. Thanks to the intriguing work of some pioneering companies, we might be coming close to a world where solar power is available wherever it’s needed.
For sheer audacity, the PlanetSolar team might take the cake in the “portable solar” category: this international group has built the world’s largest solar-powered boat. At 35 meters long, the PlanetSolar boat features an astonishing 537 square meters of solar panels on its decks that supply six blocks of lithium-ion batteries with 93.5 kilowatts of power. This stored energy is more than enough to power the 26.8 horsepower engine, which consumes 20 kilowatts per hour.
Since September 2010, the boat has been circumnavigating the globe—powered only by the sun’s rays. The visually striking craft is scheduled to complete its world tour in May 2012, when it docks in Monte Carlo.
The giant catamaran is dubbed the Tûranor PlanetSolar. Tûranor means “power of the sun” in the mythology of the novelist JRR Tolkien—a fitting name for a vessel successfully making the first trip around the world using solar energy.
Meanwhile, back on dry land, California-based clean technology company SunPods has chosen “solar power on demand” as its mission. The company designs and manufactures modular solar array units that can be installed in virtually any location with minimal site preparation and no onsite construction.
Unlike the majority of conventional ground-mounted solar arrays—which require extensive construction and assembly on site—SunPods are configured in the factory and then delivered fully assembled to the project site. This process reduces installation time by up to 85 percent, helping to make solar power significantly more accessible.
Each of the pre-manufactured, self-contained units is capable of generating 2.8 kilowatts of power—enough to power a small residence. Thanks to its modular design, customers can simply connect multiple units together if they need to scale their energy needs upwards to tackle larger projects, either on an ongoing basis or for a one-off event.
The idea has caught on with the marketplace: SunPods have now been deployed for commercial, residential, educational, and agricultural projects across the country. A cluster of three SunPods generates 750 kilowatts per month for a private home in Hollister, California, for example, while a cluster of 25 SunPods generates 10,000 kilowatts per month for a high school in Presidio, Texas.
SunPods have been equally successful providing power on a temporary basis. At the Phoenix Open golf tournament this past February, a massive, two-story hospitality tent—featuring flat screen TVs and other amenities—was powered entirely by SunPods. And at the Uncorked Wine Festival in San Francisco this May, a SunPods unit will power the Latin Rock band “Diamante” as they play on the main stage.
Whether at sea or on land, mobile solar power is an idea whose time to shine has clearly arrived.
In a sharply worded analysis that will cause fear and trembling in the U.S. cleantech industry, a group of three research and policy organizations have produced a report saying that a cleantech collapse is imminent in this country unless subsidies, incentives, and federal policies are extended and reformed. Entitled “Beyond Boom & Bust,” the lengthy report from the Brookings
Recently, Belgium created the Belgium Plan, providing the required steps the European country will need to achieve in an effort to meet their renewable energy and energy efficiency objectives. As the capital of Belgium, the city of Brussels is looking to do its part to streamline the objectives and have Brussels
Water and wasterwater facilities in California, Arizona and Nevada will be enjoying the benefits of solar power thanks to a new partnership struck with Kennedy/Jenks. Water treatment is an energy-hungry method, therefore introducing clean, renewable energy can reduce its environmental footprint.