Originally published on Solar Love. This 2014 report from the US Department of Energy provides an empirical analysis of project cost, performance, and pricing trends in the United States. It should be pointed out other utility scale solar projects are also being launched elsewhere in the world. This introductory text, authored by Mark Bolinger and […]
Department Of Energy Updates Report On Utility Scale Solar Read More 👉
Originally published on Solar Love. A couple of months ago, I wrote an article about SolarCity’s “shockingly high MyPower prices” compared to competitors’ prices. The article was based off of an analysis by Pick My Solar. There’s a Part 2 to the story, though. Unfortunately, it’s no prettier. Let me reiterate that I’m long SCTY
SolarCity MyPower Loan Comes With Yellow (Red?) Flags Read More 👉
Originally published on Cost of Solar. If you’d like to reduce your electricity bill, it can pay to do a full energy and efficiency audit of your home, and to then take action on some of the lower-hanging fruit of efficiency measures, such as adding better insulation, installing a smarter thermostat, switching to LED lighting,
Reduce Electric Bills For Decades With Renewable Energy Read More 👉
Off-Grid Electric has raised $25 million in venture capital funding to launch an affordable mobile solar leasing platform in Tanzania. Meeting the energy needs of the poor This innovative renewable energy program is targeting households making as little as $1 a day. The solar electricity program uses mobile money – where customers pay with their
Off-Grid Electric Raises $25 Million To Power African Homes Read More 👉
Solar power is green and clean, but how does it work? We walk you through the inner workings of a solar panel.
How A Solar Panel Works Read More 👉
Originally published on Cost of Solar. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to go solar, you might want to rethink that and start exploring your solar options right now, because there’s never been a better time to install solar in the US. The number of options available for choosing a solar installer is
Price Of Going Solar In US Dropped By Half In The Last Five Years Read More 👉
New Solar panel technologies, including perovskite and organic solar cells, will drive down the cost of solar panels for a faster return on investment.
New Solar Panel Technologies Will Drive Down Costs Read More 👉
In a great show of unified civil disapproval of Spain’s recently proposed “solar tax” law, over 188,000 citizens have signed an online petition against it in less than one week. Penalizing grid-connected solar installations of up to 15kW using battery storage systems, Spain’s new solar tax would be from €8.9 (US$10) per kilowatt for residential
Sign Spain’s Petition: Don’t Tax the Sun! ¡NO al impuesto al SOL! Read More 👉
James Cameron’s 28 foot wide Sun Flower tracks the sun all day and can generate 265 kWh of electricity, more than enough to power a normal household.
James Cameron’s Open Source Sun Flower Read More 👉
Not only posing significant risks for Earth’s natural systems, the effects of global warming on humans and human systems have only recently begun receiving the expanded attention they critically require. From hazardous effects causing potential loss of life, injury, or other negative health impacts, to the potential exposure of social, economic, and infrastructure assets to
Effects of Global Warming on Humans – From 2015 IPCC SYR Data Read More 👉
Solar power is growing like warts on a troll these days. If it were a disease, we’d have a full-blown epidemic. From $0-down leases to $0-down solar loans, there are easy ways to go solar these days. Even your grandmother can do it. But what are the actual pros and cons of solar power these
Solar Power Pros And Cons: Is Solar Power Worth It? Read More 👉
Phoenix, Arizona and Blacksburg, Virginia top this year’s list of the top green cities according to the US Conference of Mayors (USCM). The Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards honor cities for innovative programs that increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An independent panel of judges selected the winners from a pool of applicants. The awards
Phoenix and Blacksburg Top 2015 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards Read More 👉
Storing solar energy in a battery in Spain is more criminal than spilling radioactive waste. That’s the implied message written between the lines of a recently drafted law poised for fast-track approval by the government of Spain. Proposed fines for residential and SME use of solar energy self-consumption will be as high as €60 million
In Spain, Solar Energy Storage is Worse Than Nuclear Spillage Read More 👉
Already dedicated to protecting oceans, waves, and beaches around the world, now Surfrider Foundation members can help mitigate global warming and reduce their carbon footprints by going solar through a new partnership with SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR). SunPower is offering a $500 Mail-In Rebate to Surfrider Foundation members and a $1,000 donation to the Surfrider Foundation
SunPower and Surfrider Sharing Rays and Waves Read More 👉
Originally published on SolarLove.org Announcing its support for legislation extending the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for both residential and commercial solar installations, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said it will provide a big boost to the US economy, while also helping to fight pollution and climate change. Introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), the
ITC 5-Year Extension Promoted in “New Energy for America Act” Read More 👉
Originally published on EdenKeeper.org Sitting under a tent in the bright, clean sunshine of Qatar, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser listened intently as His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani shared an inspiration with her. It was early 1995, and together the noble couple conceived a plan for the post-carbon, cleantech future of
Qatar’s Inspirational Transition to the Solar Era Read More 👉
Originally published on RenewEconomy by Sophie Vorrath Swedish furniture giant IKEA has announced it will dedicate €600 million to investment in renewable energy, as part of a €1 billion climate change funding plan. In an announcement made to coincide with Thursday’s climate meeting in Bonn, IKEA Group said the majority of the €600 million figure
IKEA Commits €600 Million To Wind And Solar, €400 Million To Climate Action Read More 👉
Originally published on EdenKeeper.org With a population of about 700 people, the village of Sone in West Timor, Indonesia is famous throughout the region for its production of beautiful, traditional fabrics. Located close to a mountain summit, Sone is completely off the electricity grid. With the hope of learning about the challenges of living in
In Indonesia a Lantern Zoo Cuts Out the Darkness Read More 👉
Update: Solar Impulse 2 Has Been Diverted to Nagoya Japan (Video) “It’s going to be the moment of truth,” said Andre Borschberg, the solar airplane pilot ready for the flight of his life. “We’ve done a lot of tests, but we’ve never done this… I’ll tell you, the engineers are quite nervous.” Testing the nerves of
Solar Airplane #Si2 Leaves China on 5-Day Non-Stop to Hawaii Read More 👉
Droughts, lengthy hot spells, heavy downpours, floods, and other extreme weather events are occurring more frequently and intensely every year. Around the world, research teams are analyzing these trends, noting the changes in temperature, rainfall, ice mass, sea level, and many other variables recorded by weather measuring devices. The trends are undeniable: the Earth is
What Causes Global Warming? Read More 👉
Originally published on SolarLove.org An innovative partnership has been sparking children’s creativity across the UK, encouraging them to “get creative” about renewable energy, solar power, and climate change. Good Energy, 10:10, and Solar Schools held an exciting competition for the kids and provided £9,000 ($13968.32) in cash for prizes, to go towards the award-winning schools’
Good Energy & Solar Schools Award Kids’ Creativity Read More 👉
Originally published on SolarLove.org Unhappy with any of the available methods of solar storage, a German inventor and engineer has put his favorite pastime of tinkering to good use. While others are attempting to build a better battery, Wolfram Walter is instead building a better way to use the batteries he already has. It’s not
German Inventor Upgrades Solar Storage Technology Read More 👉
Originally published on EdenKeeper.org From deep down in the Earth, 300,000 barrels of oil a day are filled in the Autonomous Republic of Bashkortostan. Nevertheless, this oil-wealthy majority Muslim nation is expanding its economic energy in the direction of up. High up into the sky to be specific. Turning its energy and attention to the
The Rise of Solar Power in Muslim Bashkortostan Read More 👉
Significantly boosting electricity generation from renewable sources in the upcoming years, Saudi Arabia is expected to experience robust growth in its solar power market, with a special focus on Concentrated Solar Power technology. According to a recently published report from TechSci Research, a “phenomenal” rate of growth is anticipated, especially between 2015–2020. With a plan for
Focusing on CSP, Saudi Arabia to Add 41GW Solar Power by 2032 Read More 👉
Reinforcing its long-term commitment to sustainability and confidence in solar technology, IKEA officially plugged-in the largest rooftop solar array in Kansas. The huge solar array will support the recently opened 359,000 square-foot IKEA Merriam and its 1,200 parking spaces soaking up the rays on 19 acres along the eastern side of I-35 eight miles southwest
IKEA Sustainability Brings Largest Solar Rooftop In Kansas Read More 👉
Fully funded by the Chinese government, Yingli Solar announced that Pakistan’s Parliament House in Islamabad will be powered by 1 megawatt (MW) of high-efficiency multicrystalline Yingli Solar panels. Inaugurated by the leaders of China and Pakistan on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, the new system is scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2015. Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE), also
Pakistan’s Parliament House Is Going Solar Read More 👉
SolarCity and Tesla are teaming up to change the world of electrical power. Battery storage and micro-grids will make utility companies and grids obsolete.
SolarCity and Tesla Will Change The World Read More 👉
Four Belgian energy ministers, the federal minister, and three regional ministers commissioned three scientific partners as part of an effort towards evolving the Belgian energy system in 2011. The three partners are the Federal Planning Bureau (FPB), the Council of Institute and Studies in Sustainable Development (ICEDD), and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). The consortium
Belgium Energy Mix Of All Renewable Energy By 2050? Read More 👉
Using a unique business model to sell solar lights in rural African off-grid communities, SolarAid aims to eradicate the dangerous and toxic kerosene lamp from Africa by 2020. Working in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Uganda, the lives of over 10 million people in Africa are being improved through solar technology. Announcing another record-breaking year,
Solar Lights Replacing Kerosene Lamps in Africa Read More 👉
(Originally published on EdenKeeper.org) As part of its Social Innovations mission to bring energy independence to 20 million people by 2020, SunEdison, Inc. is installing a 100 kilowatt (kW) solar rooftop system on the Ramakrishna Mission Students’ Home in India. Enabling the approximately 700 students to gain energy independence, the new solar installation will help
Energy Independence Donated to Ramakrishna Mission in India Read More 👉
With more than one billion people around the earth celebrating Earth Day this week, you might be looking for something new to do to show your interest in saving the planet. Compiled below are six great ideas that just might inspire you.
Celebrate Earth Day: 6 Ideas to Help Save the Planet Read More 👉
With major solar development and deployment getting underway in the country, Egypt is ramping up to full-speed-ahead. The swell of international finance, development, and construction firms inundating the nation is riding on a high tide of good will and warm welcome. One such international firm enjoying the warm welcome is FAS Energy, the renewable energy
Following Major Solar Development in Egypt Read More 👉
(Originally published on SolarLove.org) The future in which power company customers transitioning to solar electricity generation can choose to either maintain grid connection or cost-effectively generate off-grid has arrived. The implications of this reality, however, are only just beginning to dawn. Rising on the horizon of a new solar energy era, concerns for stranded assets
The Future of Solar Electricity: Grid-Connected vs Off-Grid Read More 👉
While flying around the world in a solar plane, Si2 Pilot Andre Borschberg relates, “Though the cockpit is not big enough, I still do yoga and meditation to keep fit, aware and awake.” Then, taking off once again in the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2), Andre Borschberg piloted the innovative solar plane on the next stage
Si2 Pilots Do Yoga Inside Solar Plane Read More 👉
With a proposed award from the California Energy Commission, Robert Bosch LLC plans to demonstrate the effectiveness of its renewable-based microgrid platform. The project aims to highlight the benefits and viability of a commercial-scale direct-current (DC) building grid, in comparison with conventional alternating-current (AC) grids. The DC building grid will consist of rooftop solar PV
Bosch Building DC Microgrid at Honda Plant in California Read More 👉
(Originally published on SolarLove.org) Secure, clean, and affordable energy is driving the U. S. economy toward a more prosperous future. Solar and wind power generation are making significant contributions to this rising prosperity. And in Texas, where everything is bigger, this is true in a very big way. Solar and wind projects on the ground
Texas Going Big on Solar: 10GW by 2029 Read More 👉
PV solar installations are steadily proliferating in Jordan, with the residential and commercial rooftop sectors expecting to see a significant rise in 2015. Already the leader in the Arab world for utility-scale solar PV installations, Jordan also anticipates an additional 200 MW going online in 2015 as many medium- and large-scale solar farms are currently
Significant News From Jordan’s Rooftop Solar Sector Read More 👉
Originally published on Cost of Solar. It wasn’t that long ago that the dream of affordable home solar electricity was really just more for the upper class, and for the ultra-technical and early adopters. But over the last couple of decades, and in the last few years in particular, not only has the cost of
Rooftop Solar Is Now Cheaper Than The Grid In 42 Of Top 50 US Cities Read More 👉
A recent Floridians For Solar Choice news release relates a breakthrough for Florida and hopefully a bright note for diversity in a backwards state. A broad coalition of Floridians have put forward a ballot initiative for more renewable energy in the state, via policies allowing more renewable energy business models. Conservative groups and others have gathered with lefty
Originally published on Cost of Solar. A rooftop solar mapping and assessment tool developed at MIT could eventually make it dead simple to discover the solar potential of every single rooftop in a city. The tool, called Solar System, uses high resolution mapping data to create a 3D model of the entire community, including roofs
3D Mapping Tool Calculates Rooftop Solar Potential For Every Building In The City Read More 👉
Here’s a really interesting interview with the head of Tesla Motors, SolarCity, and SpaceX — Elon Musk. This is perhaps the most interesting interview I’ve seen with him, as it runs through life stories from age 6 to today. For some reason, it took me ages to get to this, and it is actually from 2013, but
Best Elon Musk Interview Yet? Read More 👉
Prices for German solar power storage systems have reportedly fallen 25% since the spring. The data come from the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar). Also according to BSW-Solar, approximately 15,000 German households now use battery storage combined with solar power, and that number has been growing faster and faster as the costs have come down. As an example
Solar Power Storage Prices Drop 25% In Germany… In <1 Year Read More 👉
One of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world, the producer of the most efficient commercial solar modules on the planet, and a large solar developer — SunPower* — is teaming up with Sunverge Energy, a producer of “advanced Solar Integration System (SIS) energy storage solutions to residential customers and utilities.” Basically, the two
SunPower & Sunverge Team Up For Solar + Storage In US & Australia Read More 👉
There has long been a huge gap in the solar market, a gap between large, utility-scale solar projects and rooftop solar projects. It would be a disservice to numerous companies, organizations, citizen investors, and solar-supportive politicians to say that there has been nothing between those two installation types, but this middle space has long been
Community Solar Power To Blow Up With First Solar Jumping In Read More 👉
Originally published on Solar Love. The SEIA/GTM Research US Solar Market Insight™ report for the 3rd quarter was released today. Over on CleanTechnica, Josh covered the continued growth of the US solar power market. In this article, I want to quickly run down the pricing side of things. The short story is that solar prices continue
Residential Solar PV Prices Keep Dropping In US Read More 👉
Originally published on Solar Love. SolarCity last week unveiled a new app that improves the solar customer experience, just for SolarCity customers of course. SolarCity customers can schedule appointments, track SolarCity crews headed to your house, track electricity production from their solar power systems, track their home energy use, as well as interact with the SolarCity
New SolarCity App Looks Fun & Useful Read More 👉
The government of France recently launched a new 400 MW request for proposals for solar PV projects larger than 250kW in size, according to recent reports. Of this new 400 MW request, 50 MW is for solar projects in parking facilities, below 4.5 MW in size; 150 MW is for rooftop solar projects; and 200
France Unveils 400 MW Solar Power Program Read More 👉
It’s the holiday season, and the promotions and deals for products of all sorts are on the rise. Many of them are for extraneous products that, frankly, create more harm than good. But you can also find some for truly useful, consumer- and planet-friendly products. One of the top such products out there is a solar
Your Chance To Win A Solar Power System! Read More 👉