Wind Energy Comes Into Focus

Will wind energy bring us a sustainable Energy future? 

Read the lates news from Mother Earth Magazine.

By Lester R. Brown
October/November 2012

Exciting News About Renewable Energy

The world can shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy by 2020 if we adopt the right public policies.

Wind is becoming the focal point of the global energy economy. It uses no water, no fuel and little land. No other energy source can match this combination of features
.
The great energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. As fossil fuel prices rise, oil insecurity deepens and concerns about pollution and climate instability cast a shadow over the future of coal. A new world energy economy is emerging, powered by wind, solar and geothermal energy. The Earth’s renewable energy resources are vast and available to be tapped through visionary initiatives. Our civilization needs to embrace clean energy on a scale and at a pace we’ve never seen before.

Fossil Fuels

We inherited our current fossil fuel-based energy economy from another era. The 19th century was the century of coal, and oil took the lead during the 20th century. Today, global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) — the principal climate-altering greenhouse gas — come largely from burning coal, oil and natural gas. Coal, mainly used for electricity generation, accounts for 44 percent of global fossil fuel CO2 emissions. Oil, used primarily for transportation, accounts for 36 percent. Natural gas for electricity and heating accounts for the remaining 20 percent. It is time to design a carbon- and pollution-free energy economy based on renewable energy for the 21st century.

U.S. Coal Plants Are Being Phased Out. The burning of coal is declining in many countries. In the United States, the No. 2 coal consumer after China, coal use dropped 13 percent from 2007 to 2011 as dozens of coal plants were closed. This trend is expected to continue.

Oil Is Becoming a Relic of the Past. Oil is used to produce just 5 percent of the world’s electricity generation and is becoming ever more costly. Because oil is used mainly for transportation, we can phase it out by electrifying the transport system. Plug-in hybrid and all-electric cars can run largely on clean electricity. Electric motors are so much more efficient than gas engines that wind-generated electricity to operate cars could cost the equivalent of 80-cents-per-gallon gasoline.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/clean-energy-zm0z12onzmar.aspx#ixzz297xgMrk2

DIY Solar Can Save You Money!

You Can Install Your Own Solar And Save Yourself Money

This is an informative article from Mother Earth News about one family's initiative to install their own solar panel system. Check out the tips on rebates and the state incentives database.

Have you been thinking about installing solar panels for your home, but been discouraged because the cost is too high? Here in Montana, my family and I saved 40 percent on the cost of a solar electric system by buying a kit and doing the installation ourselves.

One notable feature of our solar power system is that it uses the relatively new micro-inverter technology. With this system, each photovoltaic (PV) panel has its own grid-tied inverter that is mounted right by the panel. This kind of system is easier for do-it-yourselfers to install, and has other advantages, such as less sensitivity to partial shading, power output optimization for each PV panel, and the flexibility to start small and grow the system as time and budget allow.

We decided to go with a grid-tied system, which is much more cost effective than an off-grid system. One advantage is that you don’t have to buy batteries, which are expensive and have to be replaced from time to time. You can also choose to install a smaller, less expensive system that generates just a portion of your electricity. On the downside, grid-tied systems provide no electricity when the power grid is down.

Planning the Solar Electric System

The first step to planning your system is to evaluate rebate options and obtain permits. Your local power utility has rules you must follow when you hook the finished system to the grid, and building codes may also apply. In addition to federal incentives, states (and even some cities) offer rebates to help with the cost of the system. Most utilities will have an information package and a person who specializes in the utility requirements. We found our local utility and code inspectors helpful and friendly. We didn’t pick up a hint of resistance from them regarding the idea of a homeowner-installed PV system. Permit costs and turnaround times were small. Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) for information on rebates in your state.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/do-it-yourself/solar-panels-for-your-home-zm0z11zphe.aspx#ixzz27qxWyxQ6

Solar Panels That Look Good!

Don't want those unsightly Solar Panels on your home? 

Here's an idea for some Solar style!

New Solar Panels Made With More Common Metals Could Be Cheaper and More Sustainable

ScienceDaily (Aug. 21, 2012) — With enough sunlight falling on home roofs to supply at least half of America's electricity, scientists today described advances toward the less-expensive solar energy technology needed to roof many of those homes with shingles that generate electricity.

Shingles that generate electricity from the sun, and can be installed like traditional roofing, already are a commercial reality. But the advance ― a new world performance record for solar cells made with "earth-abundant" materials ― could make them more affordable and ease the integration of photovoltaics into other parts of buildings, the scientists said.

Their report was part of a symposium on sustainability at the 244^thNational Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, being held in Philadelphia this week. Abstracts of other presentations appear below.

"Sustainability involves developing technology that can be productive over the long-term, using resources in ways that meet today's needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs," said Harry A. Atwater, Ph.D., one of the speakers. "That's exactly what we are doing with these new solar-energy conversion devices."

Solar Panels are available now that look just like roof tiles. We have enough roof space to power our nation right now!  Everyone, wake up and take control of your own power needs. The "powers that be" need not take your money! 

Check out this article from Science Daily:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821093850.htm

Will We Have A Sustainable Energy Future?

Obama and Romney Have Different Views On Energy

This article from Smart Planet illustrates our presidential candidates ideas on Alternative Energy and how each plans to provide sustainable energy for our country's needs.

SMART PLANET

Obama vs. Romney: Who has the best energy plan?

By Chris Nelder | September 5, 2012, 1:48 AM PDT

Future implications

America still does not have an energy plan, and neither Obama nor Romney have cured that potentially fatal flaw. Both have offered general directional strategies and political fodder, not anything you could call an actual plan.

But the directions they would take us in could not be more different, and their implications will echo long into the future.

If my best guess is correct, all fossil fuels will have peaked and gone into terminal decline around 2025-2030. We will have to be well along in the transition from fossil fuels to renewables before that, because after it, building big infrastructure projects will become progressively more difficult and expensive and the rate of deployment will slow considerably. We really have less than 20 years to get most of the job done. Since non-hydro renewables currently produce only about five percent of U.S. electricity, we’ll have to be extremely aggressive about energy transition, starting right now, if we want to avoid the worst outcomes for our economy and our society as a whole.

President Obama’s strategy is clearly the better of the two choices for meeting that challenge. My reading of recent academic research suggests that generating 80 percent of our electricity from renewables by 2035 might be technically and economically possible, if not likely in our political climate. But by 2050, we’ll be grateful for every last kilowatt-hour we can produce from renewablefree fuels. And the “debate” about climate change will be long gone, replaced by a frantic quest for survival and adaptation.

Governor Romney’s energy strategy is painfully regressive and utterly blind to these clear and present dangers. It sounds like an energy policy from 1970, not 2012. Not only are his claims about our current energy situation wrong — for example, citing U.S. oil production at 15 million barrels per day, according to the Washington Post, when the reality is 6.2 million barrels per day — but his expectations for the future of oil are absurd, claiming “we” (meaning North America) will be producing over 23 million barrels per day eight years from now. That’s more than the world’s top two oil producers, Saudi Arabia and Russia, combined.

This is an unfortunate U-turn for Romney, who just two years ago wrote in his book: “But whether the peak is already past or will be reached within a few years, world oil supply will decline at some point, and no one predicts a corresponding decline in demand. If we want America to remain strong and wish to ensure that future generations have secure and prosperous lives, we must consider our current energy policies in the light of how these policies will affect our grandchildren.” I could have given an enthusiastic thumbs-up to that Mitt Romney, but the current Mitt Romney has apparently surrendered to the policy wishes of his fossil-fuel industry donors completely and lost his head.

At least as far as energy policy is concerned, there isn’t really a choice between the two candidates at all. One is leading us toward a semi-realistic future, while the other would leave us in the lurch as fossil fuels decline. And while it’s true that elections are about more than energy issues, if energy becomes the biggest challenge of this century as I expect it will, then maybe that’s all you really need to know.

More at: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/energy-futurist/obama-vs-romney-who-has-the-best-energy-plan/573?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660

Check out the comments at the end of this article to see some different views on carbon emissions, climate change, ethanol production and other important issues. Alternative Energy is in danger of losing some government support.

7 Great Reasons To Go Solar Now!

Solar Energy is becoming a cost effective alternative energy source!

Installing Solar Panels is not as costly as you think. If you live in Nevada you are paying the second highest utility rates in the country. In most parts of the U.S. you can put solar panels on your home and reduce your reliance on grid tied energy. Check out this article from Vast Green Concepts.

Take control of your future with a solar panel array. 

Smart people like you are thinking seriously about installing solar panels on their rooftop. When you own a solar panel array, it is really your own renewable energy generating power plant. You make your own power, you use it and you’re free from the power company for good. It used to be that solar panels were something that was just for “rich tree-huggers.” Not anymore! Prices on solar panel arrays have come down by over 70% since just 2009. Today, solar panels are an affordable investment in your future that guarantees a 15% or better payback for the next 25 years. You’ll get incredible satisfaction from knowing that your rooftop system is helping you AND your neighbors by providing your family with long term energy security. Because you pay for your solar panels up front, you enjoy a fixed, predictable cost, yearly income, and a cleaner planet. When you add in the 30% federal tax credit and the yearly income from the sale of your PECs, plus the money you’ll save on your power bill from day one, typical payback time on a solar array in Las Vegas is UNDER 6 YEARS.

7 Great reasons to go solar now!

• You’re installing your own clean, reliable energy generation that you can feel good about for the next 25+ years.
• You’ll be sending some of that clean, green energy to the surrounding homes and business … and getting paid to share!
• It’s not all or nothing. Because we use cutting edge Enphase microinverters, you can start small and add to your solar array as your budget allows.
• You’ll enjoy increased property value on your home and boost resale appeal with no increase in property taxes – ever!
• Not only will you enjoy those tiny power bills, your system will pay itself off in less than 6 years!
• Pay off your system even faster with a yearly cash payment from the utility and a one time 30% federal tax credit.
• You can select the right financing option for your family’s budget.     

The Solar Panel market is changing rapidly and now is a great time to think about adding solar to your home. In the article you can see an example of a bill that was sent with no charge to the customer. Check it out: 

http://vastgreenconcepts.com/solar-pv/#.UDiFRqllQ3g

See some solar panels here.

Tidal Power For Green Energy

A Great way to make Green Energy!

A company called TideGen has developed a generator that rests underwater to provide a reliable and predictable source of Alternative Energy. This article comes from the New York Times.

The Search for Energy Takes a Turn Underwater

By JESS BIDGOOD

Published: August 9, 2012

EASTPORT, Me. — The fearsome tides that sweep out from the easternmost shores of the United States have for more than 80 years teased engineers and presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, who have dreamed of harnessing their force to make electricity.

And next week, a device that looks a bit like an eggbeater turned sideways will be lowered into the water here to catch the energy of the rushing water, spinning a generator that, come September, is scheduled to begin sending power to the grid.

It is an experimental, expensive and promising project, fueled by the knowledge — shared by Roosevelt, who spent summers across the bay on Campobello Island, and modern engineers — that the tides here are both powerful and predictable.

“When the wind blows, you get electricity, but you don’t know when that’s going to be,” said Chris Sauer, the chief executive of the Ocean Renewable Power Company, which built and will operate the turbine generator unit, called TidGen.

The Bay of Fundy has some of the world’s highest tides, causing extreme currents that are pushed even faster by the inlets and islands that speckle this rocky coast. They will propel the turbine’s blades, which twist around like the helix shape of DNA.

“Another advantage is, you don’t see a thing,” Mr. Sauer added, speaking to a criticism that has dogged many wind farms.

More at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/us/turbine-to-harness-the-tides-to-generate-power.html?_r=1&ref=science

We must take advantage of every available source of Alternative Energy to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. This is a great idea for power and more innovative ideas are needed. To learn more about adding green energy sources to your own home, check this link.

Battery Storage for Alternative Energy

Alternative Energy relies heavily upon batteries for energy storage and there is a major interest in developing more cost and energy efficient batteries for power use. This article from R&D magazine describes a different type of battery process.




FAST COMPANY

New battery helps breaks barriers for low-cost energy storage 


University of Southern California-led team develops a battery that could help California transition to renewable energy sources A team of researchers has developed a cheap, rechargeable and eco-friendly battery that could be used to store energy at solar power plants for a rainy day. Led by Sri Narayan, professor of chemistry at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the team developed an air-breathing battery that uses the chemical energy generated by the oxidation of iron plates that are exposed to the oxygen in the air—a process similar to rusting. "Iron is cheap and air is free," Narayan said. "It's the future." Details about the battery will be published July 20 in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society. As currently developed, Narayan's batteries have the capacity to store between eight and 24 hours' worth of energy. His patent is pending, and both the federal government and California utilities have expressed interest in the project. Iron-air batteries have been around for decades—they saw a surge in interest during the 1970s energy crisis, but suffered from a crippling problem: a competing chemical reaction of hydrogen generation that takes place inside the battery (known as hydrolysis) sucked away about 50 percent of the battery's energy, making it too inefficient to be useful.

Narayan and his team managed to reduce the energy
loss down to 4%—making iron-air batteries that are about 10 times more efficient than their predecessors. The team did it by adding very small amount of bismuth sulfide into the battery. Bismuth (which happens to be part of the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol and helps give the pink remedy its name) shuts down the wasteful hydrogen generation. Adding lead or mercury might also have worked to improve the battery's efficiency, but wouldn't have been as safe, Narayan said. "A very small amount of bismuth sulfide doesn't compromise on the promise of an eco-friendly battery that we started with," he said.

More at:http://www.rdmag.com/News/2012/08/Energy-Chemistry-Electricity-New-battery-helps-breaks-barriers-for-low-cost-energy-storage/

This team focused on using a method of energy storage that is safe and eco-friendly. Alternative Energy methods will rely heavily on new methods of storing the energy they produce. As we move into times of increasing energy use, our power needs will be closely tied to our ability to store power.

Flexible Solar For Clothing

An interesting side to Alternative Energy is the development of Solar clothing. In April Bloomberg News printed an article about printing solar cells on paper and clothing. This innovation was invented by Miles Barr an MIT engineering student. As an update Here's an article from Fast Company about the military's use of Flexible Solar for clothes. http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/lemelson-student-prize-barr.html

Miles Barr, winner of the 2012 $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize.
Photo courtesy of the Lemelson-MIT Program

Fast Company

Solar Soldiers: MC10's Testing Its Flexible Energy Harvesters With The U.S. Army

BY NIDHI SUBBARAMAN | 08-02-2012 | 8:38 AM

The U.S. Army and MC10 will work together to scale up the flexible solar panel prototypes and assess their efficiency as functional battery chargers.

Flexible solar energy harvesters that can be sewn into the jackets and backpacks of U.S. soldiers could soon be powering up electronic devices in the field. MC10, a Cambridge startup that specializes in flexible electronics, has signed a contract with the army to develop and test its solar cell technology for military use. Over the course of this next year, the U.S. Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center and MC10 will work together to scale up the flexible solar panel prototypes MC10 has already built, and assess their efficiency as functional battery chargers.

MC10 specializes in re-engineering stiff, brittle parts of electronics into sleeker, softer, and stretchier versions of their former selves. MC10 has made steady headway in applying its techniques to build thin, soft sensors for use in surgeries and is testing those at partner sites like Boston's Mass. General Hospital. The company is perhaps furthest along in the devices they are building or for athletes. The sensors, which look like a square inch of tape, cling onto an athlete's forearm and record biological information like temperature, heart rate and hydration over time. In a recent partnership with NASCAR MC10 tested a sensor on race car driver Paulie Harakka as he competed.

More at:http://www.fastcompany.com/1844480/mc10-solar-cells-military

Mobile Solar Power

Can you take it with you?

This article from the Australian describes the use of Solar Power on the move. It's an interesting idea whose time has come.

How to travel with sun power

• BY:BY SCOTT PODMORE 
• From:escape 
• July 29, 2012 12:00AM

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TRAVEL-FOCUSED solar power is enjoying its moment in the sunshine, and its future is bright.

Just ask solar products expert Jack Wilde of NomadNRG in Byron Bay, a global company that sources mobile power accessories for road-trippers, campers, hikers and business travellers. "Solar products are going off," Wilde says.

"Green has become the new black, and modern solar products are proving as popular with backpackers on a budget as for business travellers wanting to charge their smartphones or laptops."

Wilde believes travellers are more environmentally conscious of the way they "power up" on holiday or business trips. The sight of a solar panel leaning on a tree outside a tent or on top of a caravan is becoming more common. And now it's built into our travel gear.

"I think over the past 20 years we have witnessed great changes  - the explosion of eco-tourism as a billion-dollar industry being a good example of that," Wilde says.

"We know all too well the freak-out everyone faces each day just trying to keep their mobile device powered up to keep their communications flowing; not to mention when travelling or being on the road all day, in and out of meetings, when it can be embarrassing to walk in and ask to use a power point."Having a natural power solution with you is the only way to go, whether for business or leisure."

Wilde says the most important consideration when buying solar products is that "if it's not quality, it may well be useless".

With new technology comes solar panels that pack a bigger punch than ever.

NomadNRG (nomadnrg.com) has a range of products using UVA technology developed in Europe for low-light environments, so it continues charging in dim conditions and rain.

I test-drove a solar-power case for my iPad and, even in a cafe in average light conditions, the unit was charging on the table.

The regular sunshine in Australia means solar products become even more efficient, with "about 20 minutes of recharging in direct sunlight generating up to 15 minutes' talk time", Wilde says.

Learn more at:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/travel-old/how-to-travel-with-sun-power/story-fn30263y-1226436886957

As we become more electronically mobile it might be a good idea to consider mobile solar power. You can find mobile solar here:  Portable Solar

Fell free to comment: Do you need a portable solar charger?

Is Green An illusion?

The Book Green Illusions talks about Alternative Energy

The new book by Ozzie Zehner has set off a heated discussion about the use of Alternative Energy sources and whether or not they are the Green solutions that people think they are. Join in the debate! Here's some news from the Huffington Post:

Tom Zeller Jr.

GET UPDATES FROM TOM ZELLER JR.

Ozzie Zehner's 'Green Illusions' Ruffles Feathers

Posted: 07/27/2012 1:29 pm

If his goal was to capture attention by tweaking the nose of clean-energy enthusiasts everywhere, Ozzie Zehner might well have succeeded. His new book, published last month and provocatively titled "Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism," takes on what Zehner considers the sacred cows of the green movement: solar power, wind power and electric vehicles, among others.

Of course, the book is much more than just this, and Zehner, a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley's Science, Technology & Society Center, describes himself as being neither for nor against any particular energy source. Indeed, his core objection appears to be with technology fixes in general, or the conviction that any bit of technological derring-do -- be it a high-efficiency photovoltaic cell or a low-emissions vehicle -- will be sufficient to nudge the planet from unpleasant trajectories like global warming.

Such beliefs, Zehner argues, can blind policymakers and other stakeholders to the attending downsides of any new innovation (there always are downsides); to other, arguably less expensive solutions; and to other pressing global problems.

As the basis for thoughtful discussion, all of this is perfectly reasonable. But Zehner is also clearly playing the provocateur here, and it appears to have been a wise gambit, given the sonorous harrumphing the book has generated in green circles.

In a review of the book, Chris Meehan, a contributing writer at CleanEnergyAuthority.com, a solar energy news and information resource, used the terms "alarmist" and "misleading" to describe Zehner's take on solar photovoltaics. Jim Motovalli, an environmental writer and frequent contributor to The New York Times, described Zehner's book as being "out to reach a conclusion -- green energy is bad."

There's much more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/ozzie-zehner-green-illusions_b_1710382.html

Ozzie Zehner just wants to put a realistic view of the actual impact of Alternative Energy and show some of the information that's being left out of the story. In the article he makes it plain that he is neither for or against the technologies and simply want to put the real effects of the industry before the people. 

Share this with your friends. Feel free to comment about Alternative Energy. 

Do you think that going Green is the answer to our energy needs?

Home Energy Solutions

Solar energy and wind power are the most often touted alternative sources of power for the home. In certain places you can add what is known as microhydro, a water powered system. Here's an article from Home Power magazine.

Making electricity from falling water can seem like magic, and that’s led to lots of misconceptions. Here, we’ll separate fact from fiction when it comes to what microhydro systems can and cannot do.

Residential-scale microhydro-electric systems have the reputation of being the holy grail of home renewable-energy (RE) systems. While they lack some of the hype, magic, and bling of solar-electric (photovoltaic) systems, microhydro systems are a simple technology that most people can understand…at least in general. In this article, we’ll look at some common microhydro system misconceptions, most of which come from folks looking for shortcuts to the reward of cheap electricity. 

Modern microhydro equipment comes from proven technology based on designs that have changed very little over the decades. Pelton and turgo wheels, the typical spinning water-wheel component, were invented in 1870 and 1919, respectively. The point is, this technology has proven its reliability and functionality with more than a century of performance.

The cost of these systems, and thus the cost of the resulting electricity, also has the reputation for being very reasonable when compared to other renewable or home-generated sources. While PV module prices have recently dropped, they are still a high-tech and expensive commodity. Microhydro systems can arguably be considered low-tech, with civil works and pipelines often being the majority of the system cost. Of course, the actual cost varies significantly from site to site, and from system to system.

 Courtesy of DOE (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)

Another element that keeps microhydro-generated electricity low in cost, and thus high in desirability, is the system’s continuous duty cycle. While PV systems only produce electricity when the sun is shining (and wind-electric systems when the wind is blowing), microhydro systems aren’t affected by nightfall or weather blocking the sun. Even a small hydro resource can provide electricity 24 hours a day, and often 365 days a year (if the water source is year-round). The bottom line for any renewable energy system is the amount of energy it can produce annually. A low power source working all of the time can often produce a lot more energy than a more powerful source that only works intermittently.

So, why doesn’t everyone have a microhydro system? Herein lies the challenge. A viable hydro resource is dependent on the availability of falling water at, or near, the site of the electrical loads. It is the weight or pressure of that flowing water that spins the turbine to produce electrical energy. Not everyone has access to a stream or spring of adequate volume on their property, nor does everyone have the topography to create the vertical drop needed to pressurize that water with gravity. See the “Microhydro Rules” sidebar for a formula about how water flow and vertical pressure (head) combine to determine the power available from a potential hydro site. That site-assessment formula will help debunk some of the myths that follow.

More at: https://homepower.com/articles/microhydro-myths-misconceptions

People who live near water sources can check to see if the area is good for adding a hydro-electric system to produce Alternative Energy for their homes. Home Power can come from many sources and this is one to think about if you have the resources nearby.

Get more info about microhydro here.

Solar Energy Pays Off

Solar Energy in the News

As the price of solar cells continues to fall more people are adding solar panels to their homes. The state of California reports a huge amount of Solar Energy production and is a leader in the U.S. in the amount of power produced by homeowner solar installation.

Check out this report by Hydrogen Fuel News

A DAILY CHRONICLE OF THE ADVANCEMENTS IN HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

State’s support for solar energy seems to be paying off

California has long been a hotbed for alternative energy. Solar energy, in particular, has been a favorite for the state, which receives a large amount of solar radiation each year. The state serves as home to numerous solar energy projects of varying types and success and has become one of the most attractive places for such projects to take root. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has announced that the state has reached a significant milestone in its generation of solar energy, detailing this milestone in the 2012 California Solar Initiative Annual Program Assessment.

Report shows more than 1.255 GW of solar energy generated in the state

The report shows that more than 1.255 gigawatts of solar electricity is generated from 122,000 rooftop solar panels spread throughout the state. The majority of these solar panels can be found on low and middle-income housing. The popularity of solar energy amongst this particular demographic is driven by the state’s ambitious solar energy feed-in tariffs as well as the initiatives launched by companies promoting the adoption of alternative energy.

Solar energy program may be able to meet its goals ahead of schedule

According to the CPUC, California’s successes in solar energy are unmatched throughout the entirety of the U.S. The agency notes that more than 97 megawatts of solar energy systems was installed in the first quarter of 2012. This suggests that the California Solar Initiative is poised to facilitate the installation of more than 1,000 megawatts of solar energy systems by the end of the year. The program currently has an overarching goal of installing 1,940 megawatts of solar capacity in the state by the end of 2016.

Price of residential solar energy systems continues to drop

The report indicates that the cost of residential solar energy systems has dropped by 28% since 2007. This is partly due to state government policies and the saturation being seen in the solar panel market. The state is expected to continue its support of solar energy for the foreseeable future.

More at: http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/solar-energy-reaches-milestone-in-california/854739/

In these times of uncertainty it's a good idea to think about a self-sufficient plan for energy. With the low cost of solar cells and new technology in converting power it's a good time to start planning for your own Solar Power system. 

Comments are welcome. Please like this site if you are interested!

Solar Energy's Dramatic Rise

Solar Power Continues to Dominate the News

As the need for power soars the solar industry is in the midst of putting up mind-boggling numbers when it comes to energy output. This article from Smart Planet shows how far the Solar Power companies have come even in the wake of American solar companies going bankrupt!

smartplanet

Graphic of the day: solar’s dramatic rise

By Kirsten Korosec | July 9, 2012, 10:53 AM PDT

The increase in solar photovoltaic capacity has been well documented in reports here and elsewhere over the years. But nothing quite captures solar PV’s dramatic rise in capacity like a good graphic. Or three graphics, for that matter.

Solar power generating capacity grew by 73.3 percent in 2011, according to the 2012 BP Statistical Review of World Energy. That’s the fastest growth since BP started tracking that data in 1996. Total capacity grew by 29.3 gigawatts to reach 63.4 GW. Capacity has grown almost ten-fold over the past five years, according to BP’s annual report.

BP released its annual statistical review last month and at the time, the graphic, which is pictured below, stood out to me.  I proceeded to promptly forget the visually striking data until today, when I spotted a series of renewable energy graphics based on BP’s stats created by Robert Rapier of R-Squared blog at  ConsumerEnergyReport.com. Rapier’s renewable energy graphics are part of a larger graphical series on energy.

Here’s BP’s graphic, which accompanied the report.

You can check out the rest of the article which shows the dramatic rise in the use of Solar Power worldwide and how the drop in prices of solar cells is changing the way we think about using energy! Check out more graphics at :

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/graphic-of-the-day-solars-dramatic-rise/17454?tag=nl.e660