Solar Photovoltaic Electricity to hit the Power Grid?
The generation of electricity from solar energy could not have been possible without the discovery of the photoelectric effect in 1839 by Becquerel (described by Einstein in his 1905 paper for which he later received the Nobel price). In 1954 the first silicon based solar cell was invented at Bell Labs and subsequently applied in the Vanguard I space satellite in 1958 where solar cells generated 1Watt of electrical power to drive the radios of the satellite. Since the Bell solar cell, that achieved 4% efficiency, the photovoltaic (PV) research focus has been on improving the efficiency of the conversion as well as lowering the costs of the device.Recently Stephen O’Rourke, a research analyst from Deutsche Bank,[1] as well as others[2]have put statements forward such as in what year electricity generated by solar panels would achieve “grid parity”. Grid parity is reached when the cost price of PV generated electricity starts to compete with the local retail price of the centrally generated grid electricity. Of course this would be without any (government) incentives. Important economic parameters solar systems are:
- - cost per Watt at module level (depends very strongly on the technology used and on the efficiency)
- - cost per Watt at system level (depends on the cost at module level and the costs of the downstream equipment, can be as high as $7/Watt for a residential system)
- - cost per kWh produced (depends on the two line items above and in addition on the lifetime of the entire system, i.e. how many kWh will be cumulatively be produced)
Sourse: Solar Photovoltaic Electricity to hit the Power Grid?
Infinia’s solar Stirling dishes will soon generate electricity
Kennewick, Washington based Infinia (which is venture capital backed energy technology company) plans to launch Stirling solar dish, which is approximately the size of a large satellite TV receiver.
If you are wondering what is so different about Infinia’s solar Stirling dishes, well these 21-foot-high dishes instead of using photovoltaic cells use the sun’s heat to produce electricity. The technology used by Infinia is based on the 19th century Stirling engine design, which uses differences in gas temperature to turn a piston. These solar dishes from Infinia are essentially being targeted at larger organizations such as city governments, though I feel they can also be used in villages across countries like India to provide electricity…and all without a grid connection. (more…)
Solar Integrated BIPVs
That they are pioneers in ”BIPV” technology (building integrated photovoltaics) makes Los Angeles based Solar Integrated a very interesting company. But the what makes Solar Integrated really, really interesting is they very likely have the most inexpensive photovolataic solution in the world today. Solar Integrated’s flexible PV
panels being installed on the
CocaCola plant in Los Angeles. Large scale photovoltaic installations are still […]
Sourse: Solar Integrated BIPVs
Wind Power in India: Preparing for Gusty Future
Right now, the country is the fourth largest generator of wind power in the world after Germany, Spain and United States. Moreover, India was one of the five countries that added more than 1,000-MW wind energy capacity during 2006-07, writes Radhakrishna Rao.
Green energy plan could wither in court: native bands
Two native bands are threatening to tie up the Ontario government’s long-range power plans using lengthy court delays.
In a submission to the Ontario Energy Board, people from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territories argued the province has not lived up to its legal requirement to consult with them on the plan’s impact.
The lawyer for the two communities, near Wiarton on the Bruce Peninsula, spoke earlier this week at board hearings into the Ontario Power Authority’s proposal for new energy sources.
Arthur Pape reminded board members of the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that Queen’s Park has a legal duty to consult with First Nations on the impact the power plan will have on their lives.
“There’s no way the Saugeen Ojibway could participate meaningfully with government to ensure that this part of the plan could be implemented in a way that protects their rights,” Pape told the board.
Pape says there’s still time to negotiate compensation that may be owed to First Nations for the impact of new wind farms, hydro dams and transmission lines on their hunting and fishing rights and way of life.
But he warned that if the government fails to negotiate, it could mean lengthy delays in getting the plan approved.
“If the government won’t work with them to find a way to accommodate those things, they may find themselves applying to the courts, and asking for the courts to not let this plan be implemented,” he told CBC News.
Neither the government, nor the Ontario Power Authority, which drew up the plan, would comment on Pape’s submissions.
The OPA’s new plan, which calls for the provincial government to spend $26.5 billion on nuclear power plants, still requires regulatory approval.
The plan also proposes doubling the amount of renewable energy on the grid by 2025 and phasing out coal-fired generation by the end of 2014.
Several energy providers are considering building more wind farms on the Bruce Peninsula to bring power to the south of the province.
Much of that energy will require new transmission lines to be built.
Sourse: Green energy plan could wither in court: native bands
Saverclip for Electricity
By Michael Kuser US Secretary of State electricity july turkmenistan Rice was in Istanbul
By PATRICK HEALY DES MOINES Faced with a question, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton often begins her answers with a single word Well. Co founder Paul Allen succeeds in acquiring spectrum at the Federal Communications Commission auction in January, it will add to an existing batch of the valuable airwaves. For Democracy and Human Rights in Turkmenistan. The mixed signals leave enough room for both optimists and Celebrity drug rehab to claim they are right. This report is based on interviews conducted with people in Turkmenistan to gauge their mood at the end of an eventful year.
Sourse: By Michael Kuser US Secretary of State electricity july turkmenistan Rice was in Istanbul
Blackouts open the door to nuclear power
THERE has never been a better time for the proponents of nuclear energy to make their case than present-day South Africa.
As the entire country experiences waves of “load-shedding”, the public is less choosy than ever about where the electricity comes from, so long as the stove stays on while supper is being cooked.
Sourse: Blackouts open the door to nuclear power
Iran Recognizes Only IAEA As Nuclear Negotiator - President
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that Iran officially recognizes only the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as a party to talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
The Iranian president made the statement during his meeting with Mohamed ElBaradei, the IAEA director general, who is in Tehran for talks with the country’s leadership on Iran’s controversial uranium enrichment program.
“Iran officially recognizes only the IAEA as a party to talks on the nuclear program. Of course, this does not obstruct our dialogue on different issues with other countries,” the president said.
Several Western countries, particularly the United States, suspect Iran’s nuclear program is geared toward the production of atomic weapons. Iran denies the allegations, saying it intends to use nuclear power purely for electricity generation.
Two sets of UN Security Council sanctions are currently in place against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment. A further round of more stringent sanctions has so far been blocked by China and Russia.
Ahmadinejad said he hoped the IAEA would not yield to “pressure from powerful states” and would abide by its commitments, meeting legal criteria.
ElBaradei said in turn that the process of resolving disputes over the nuclear program was on the right track and called for active cooperation on all issues.
Source RIA Novosti
Sourse: Iran Recognizes Only IAEA As Nuclear Negotiator - President
Switch to Ambit Energy Service Electricity and Natural Gas with Confidence
The process for switching your energy service is quite simple AND FREE. All the consumer needs to do is contact the Retail Energy Provider (REP) you’d like to establish service with. More than likely, the price for service will be lower than what you’re paying now.
Deregulation is a process that is designed to help the consumer. Until deregulation, the consumer did not have a choice of electricity providers. This meant that the electricity provider could charge virtually any price it wants. The main goals of deregulation are to drive the prices of electricity down, and open up the marketplace to competition. This does not always happen. There are times when the prices actually go up. However, that is extremely rare.
Even though the consumer in Texas has had a choice of REP’s for a couple of years, at a minimum 70% of the market has not exercised that choice. Most consumers site unreliability as a main reason for not having switched. This is not an issue. The equipment, the power grid, which are the wires through which the electricity flows are owned and maintained by a seperate company. No matter who supplies you with electric power, it will ultimately travel across the same power lines.
The result of this is that no one from your new REP has to come out to your home for any reason. The same meter reader will come next month, just as last. The ONLY differences are that the price should be lower, you’ll have to write the check to the new REP. Because the prices are regulated by the area government, price gouging will not occur.
At Ambit Energy Service, once you’ve made the decision to switch to Ambit, a customer service representative will contact you by phone within just a few minutes. They will verify that you indeed are switching to Ambit. Once the verification process is complete, you will receive your first bill from Ambit Energy Service on your next normal billing cycle.
Please note that no matter who you choose to contract with for energy service, the process is the same.
By law, the consumer has to choose. So, choose wisely and know that it’s a winning situation for the consumer.
Sourse: Switch to Ambit Energy Service Electricity and Natural Gas with Confidence
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