Solar Power | The Green Economy Post: Green Careers, Green Business, Sustainability

U.S. Utility Solar Market Takes Off

By Eric Paul on January 25, 2011 1 Comment AltaTerra Research, California, Eric Paul, First Solar, Florida, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Jon Guice, juwi solar, Kathy Salvador, Larry Sherwood, photovoltaic, PV, renewable energy, solar energy, solar market, solar power, solar sector, SunPower, utility solar, Utility Solar Market

After lagging behind the utility scale segment of the solar power renewable energy sector is really starting to take off in the US; it is is now on par with the commercial and residential segments in terms of market size and growing at a higher rate. This post summarizes AltaTerra Research’s newest report, “Utility Solar: U.S. Market Takes Off”.

Cleantech Boosts Jobs in Specific Regions and Segments

By John Addison on January 21, 2011 3 Comments algal fuels, and MiaSole, Bay area, biotech, Bright Source, California, cisco, Clean Edge, Clean Tech Job Trends 2010, cleantech jobs, electric buses, electric cars, energy efficiency, energy efficient homes, energy efficient materials, EPRI, global warming, Google, Green Computing, green jobs, greenhouse gas reduction, High speed rail, information technology, Intel, John Addison, LED lights, Los Angeles, Proposition 23, renewable energy, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, silicon valley, Silver Spring Networks, smart grid, solar power, solar roofs, SPWRA, Sun Power, Tesla Motors, wind power

As the nation seemingly and slowly pulls out from deep recession there is indication that cleantech sector employment is helping to lift some areas of the country and is starting to provide some jobs in what has been a painfully jobless “recovery” for far too many. This post, by John Addison focuses on some areas of his home state of California that are helping to drive the California economy and boosting jobs growth.

Wind Solar Water Alone Could Power the World by 2030 New Study Claims

By Chris de Morsella on January 20, 2011 5 Comments base load capacity, biofuel, biomass, breeder reactor, California, Climate Change, concentrated solar thermal, Davis, electric energy, electrolytic hydrogen, energy insecurity, energy policy, fossil fuel, gen IV, Geothermal, hydroelectric, Institute of Transportation Studies, lithium, Mark Delucchi, Mark Jacobson, neodymium, nuclear, permanent magnet, photovoltaic, Platinum, pollution, PV, rare earth element, REE, renewable energy, solar energy, solar power, thorium, tidal energy, transportation fuel, UC Davis, University of California, University of Stanford, water power, wave energy, wind energy, wind power, wind turbine

A new study that is sure to create some controversy proposes that the world can provide for all of its energy needs, including electric, transportation, heating/cooling energy needs using only wind, water, and solar power by 2030.

The Top 20 Green Building Trends for 2011

By GEP- Admin on January 17, 2011 13 Comments Blue, Certified Green Schools, commercial real estate, Construction and Architecture, Developing Green: Strategies for Success, Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis, ENERGY STAR ratings, fresh water supply, green building, Green Building Councils, Green Building Through Integrated Design, Green cities, green government, greening existing buildings, greening the executive branch, Jerry Yudelson, LEED, LEED for Existing Buildings program, LEED Gold, LEED project registration, LEED rating system, Marketing Green Buildings: Guide for Engineering, municipal utilities, Performance Disclosure, rainwater recovery systems, renewable power standards, RPS, solar power, sustainability, sustainable building, Tucson, water consumption, water technologies, Yudelson Associates, Zero-net-energy designs

A list of top green building trends for 2011 is provided by Green building consultant, Jerry Yudelson and Tom Breunig, director of marketing, of Earth Advantage Institute.

Focus on Big Holds Solar Back in U.S.

By John Farrell on January 14, 2011 1 Comment concentrating solar power (CSP) plants, Energy Self-Reliant States, federal government, Germany, gigawatt solar projects, Institute for Local Self-Reliance's New Rules Project, loan guarantees, maximum growth potential, New York Times, renewable energy, Renewable Energy World, shorter-term loans, small-scale solar, solar plants, solar power, solar projects, solar PV, solar PV power plant, solar thermal electricity power plant, United States

While the U.S. government lavishes loan guarantees and expedites review of projects on public land for multi-megawatt and even gigawatt solar projects, it’s small-scale solar that’s turning sunshine into electricity.

DOE Announces $50 Million Funding for Solar Grid Parity Demonstration Program

By Chris de Morsella on December 16, 2010 1 Comment BLM, Bureau of Land Management, coal, concentrated photovoltaic, Concentrated Photovoltaic Power, Concentrated Solar Power systems, concentrating photovoltaic energy, concentrating solar thermal power, cost-competitive solar energy, cutting-edge solar, Department of Energy, department of interior, DOE, Energy secretary Steven Chu, fossil fuel, Funding Opportunity Announcement, grid parity, innovative technology, Nevada, Nevada National Security Site, NV, photovoltaic, PV, renewable energy, SESAs, solar demonstration program, Solar Demonstration Zone, solar electricity, solar energy, solar energy industry, Solar Energy Study Areas, solar power, solar proving ground, solar;, southwestern United States, Steven Chu, sustainable energy, sustainable energy future

Department of Energy (DOE) secretary Steven Chu announces $50 million in funding for solar energy grid parity demonstration program for innovative solar technologies leading to cost-competitive solar energy that helps solar reach this important milestone.

Retooling Incentives for Renewables

By Tyler Caine on November 10, 2010 1 Comment Cash-for-Clunkers program, cash-rebate programs, Con Edison, federal tax credit, Federal Tax Incentive, financial incentives, High Speed Rail subsidies, Income Tax Credit, increased efficiency, investment capital, job growth, New York City, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), on-site power generation, peak power load, PVs, renewable energy, renewable industry, renewable subsidies, solar panels, solar power, State of New York, system of consumer-grade subsidies, system of incentives, tax abatement, tax-based incentive, tax-based subsidies, taxpayer dollars, technological innovation, umbrella of sustainability

Only a small portion of renewable energy producers are benefiting from the tax credit system that is being implemented by the federal government. Our government’s lack of clear preference in perhaps trying to please everyone–ends up ratcheting down the positive long term effects of the program.

Rising Hopes that Electric Cars Can Play a Key Role on the Grid

By Yale Environment 360 on October 25, 2010 2 Comments Center for Carbon Free Power Integration, Chevy Volts, Claus Ekman, Denmark, electric vehicle, electric vehicles, electrical grid, Europe, EV, Frederiksborgvej, green tech, green technology, Italy, lithium ion battery pack, Mitsubishi, natural gas, Nissan LEAFs, plan to start producing V2G-ready cars by mid-decade, rechargeable batteries, renewable energy, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, solar power, Sweden, system operators, transportation, United States, University of Delaware, V2G, vehicle-to-grid, Willett Kempton, wind, wind power

Will electric cars one day become part of a network of rechargeable batteries that can help smooth out the intermittent nature of wind and solar power? Many experts believe so, pointing to programs in Europe and the U.S. that demonstrate the promise of vehicle-to-grid technology.

Leading the Charge to Make Solar as Cheap as Conventional Electricity

By Chris de Morsella on June 25, 2010 3 Comments battery systems, China, coal, cost per watt, electric generating plant, energy systems, First Solar, fossil fuel, grid connectivity, grid electricity, grid parity, installation costs, inverters, mining, MIT Review, module assembly manufacturing, Moore’s law, nuclear, photovoltaic, PV market, silicon, solar cells, solar energy, solar power, solar PV, Suntech, supply chain, thermo electric energy, Zhengrong Shi

Suntech CEO, Zhengrong Shi, a prime mover in helping to turn China into a global force in photovoltaic technology, has been a major influence in bringing China’s solar PV cost structure down and making China a powerhouse in photovoltaic technology–and became a billionaire in the process. Shi’s ambition is to make solar power as cheap as conventional electricity.