This is the kind of story that illustrates perfectly the beauty of solar power and alternative energy in general. The Red Cross is testing solar power for its pop-up hospitals in emergency areas where there is not enough diesel fuel to keep generators working around the clock.
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The cost of photovoltaic solar energy systems is not nearly as expensive as some energy analysts have projected, according to a new study from Queen’s University in Ontario.
In fact, Queen’s researcher Joshua Pearce predicts that solar photovoltaic systems are approaching the
Will Rush Limbaugh save the solar industry?
Looks that way for Toni Lynch in Allentown, Pennsylvania. And Spiro Basho in Hicksville, New York.
Like lots of other solar installers, the financial tsunami of 2008 wiped out a lot of customers of both Lynch and Basho. And like a lot of other electrical
President Obama’s comprehensive energy plan included the pairing of investments in research and development with process improvements to reduce the bottlenecks and red tape associated with clean-energy technology deployment. The Department of Energy responded
The internet really is a territory of limitless possibilities. Almost on a daily basis we can find something that amazes and inspires us.
Springwise, a website dedicated to spreading the word on new entrepreneurial ideas, has an article on Do The Bright Thing, which certainly has amazed me.
The Dutch website invests 10 per cent of every
No surprise that Fox News isn’t exactly presenting spin-free rhetoric when it comes to talking about our nation’s growing solar industry. Take the case of just last week when Bill O’Reilly of the eponymous Fox Business show made a claim that he’d go solar if only he could find somewhere it was available . .
BioSolar works to make solar power energy cleaner and cheaper by using bio-based materials from renewable plant sources. The company last week announced that it finally received the Relative Thermal Index (RTI) recognition from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for its BioBacksheet. RTI is the
A roof is more than a way of keeping the rain off. Nowadays many people think of a roof as a place to put solar panels to collect all of that free sunshine. The problem is that not all roofs are created equal. Scientists from the University of Gothenburg have launched a tool that uses the actual conditions to
Anyone vaguely interested in international news is probably aware of Greece’s economic crisis. But despite that, or perhaps because of that, the country’s Energy Minister has big plans for solar power.
According to a report on Bloomberg, Minister George Papaconstantinou said he expects that an
While I was visiting my family in the Region of Lorraine – North Eastern France – I came across two distinct news illustrating the possible future of the region, and in a way, of the whole country.
The first one is about dirty polluting fossil energy as to Elixir Petroleum, an Australian company, there would be massive quantities of shale oil and gas in Lorraine’s soil. To the volumetric estimates, there would be no less than 164.7 billion barrels of shale oil and 649.7 trillion cubic feet of shale gas. Large amounts of more traditional oil and gas has been found as well.
This announcement took place as France has been the first country to ban fracking. As the local newspapers note, this announcement is little credible and is merely done to keep the exploration permits as the law is changing.
The enormous quantities found reminded me that US geologist recently estimated there is FIVE times less shale oil and gas in the American soil as it was previously stated by companies. I have no doubt that the situation in Lorraine will be the same if not worse.
I agree that local populations could benefit from jobs as the worst economic crises of our time is striking. But the countryside and its various cultures and fruits is a wonder we have to keep. Whoever ate mirabelles knows what I am referring to.
Now let’s have a look at something that is already taking place, and which holds a better future: cleantech!
A former military air base near Toul (in the Département of Moselle) will be cleaned up and 400 hectares of solar panels will be installed. The total capacity will be of 143 MW, enough for 62,000 people.
This project is a direct consequence of the new legal background enacted by the French government earlier this summer. See my post for more : France Issues New Regulations for Large Solar PV Installations
A few green jobs will also be created: 150 for the construction and an additional 15 to maintain the plant.
The plant will bring 1.3 million euros per year in revenue to the Région, the Département and the three cities where the air force base is located.
EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), a subsidiary of the national utilities Electricité De France may work with First Solar, which could provide the solar panels for the plant.
The company plans to invest no less than 434 million euros in the next ten years for this plant alone.
Trees will be planted in the remaining parts of the old air base and a little museum dedicated to renewable energies will be created as local authorities are willing to transform this as a touristic attraction.
France is moving forward on cleantech. Of course, there has been setbacks, but we can globally be satisfied. Let us hope it will continue doing so whoever will be elected as President in the Presidential elections next year.
Photo: Julien Hillairet, Flickr
Besides hydrogen double-decker buses, London will get another alternative energy feature on one of its icons.
Blackfriars Bridge, which runs parallel to London Bridge, is undergoing a massive reconstruction. When the new bridge and accompanying train station are delivered to the public, solar panels will
Here’s an opportunity to save some money while switching to a solar power system.
Progress Energy Florida’s solar photovoltaic rebate program kicked off this week and it expects great demand from its customers to apply for subsidies for the cost of solar panels. The utility has allocated $1 million for residential customers and another $1 million for commercial