Ensuring electricity through hybrid solar-diesel systems

Volker Wachenfeld explains on the Renewable Energy Focus website that industries in remote areas globally with weak or even no grid infrastructure typically use fossil fuel generators to ensure a reliable energy supply. Integrating solar power into diesel-powered systems creates a reliable, resource-friendly and efficient energy supply. Integrating Solar into the Diesel Power Supply … Continue reading Ensuring electricity through hybrid solar-diesel systems →

New developments in domestic batteries

Shane Hickey writes a good article in the Guardian about a London startup that tailors smaller, cheaper batteries for UK households to use more of their own generated solar energy The innovators: how smaller batteries give more power to UK solar households When Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, took to the stage … Continue reading New developments in domestic batteries →

Energy transition in Germany now has to deal with residential security issues

Solar panels certainly are proving their worth. Obviously there is a good black market for them. Chris Bryant explains the unfortunate developments in Germany. Solar panel theft on the rise in Germany It took two weeks for Matthias Kynast to discover thieves had struck the solar park he manages near the German town … Continue reading Energy transition in Germany now has to deal with residential security issues →

Developments in deployment of solar systems in Hawaii – at the forefront of a global upheaval

Diane Cardwell provides an excellent article in the New York Times about the impact the rapid deployment of solar systems is having on the power sector. Solar Power Battle Puts Hawaii at Forefront of Worldwide Changes Allan Akamine has looked all around the winding, palm tree-lined cul-de-sacs of his suburban neighborhood in Mililani here … Continue reading Developments in deployment of solar systems in Hawaii – at the forefront of a global upheaval →

France taking new approach to promote renewable energy

In a few years from now France will have to ensure that all new buildings are nearly zero energy buildings under the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. That will definitely require the deployment of renewable energy technologies. As explained by Agence France Press in The Guardian, in some first steps, France has now decreed … Continue reading France taking new approach to promote renewable energy →

Update on solar developments

Stanley Reed provides an excellent article in the New York Times describing recent developments in the deployment of solar technologies. Outlook for Solar Gets a Bit Brighter Here is a trick question: Which country led the European Union last year in putting new solar panels on rooftops and in countryside energy parks? If you … Continue reading Update on solar developments →

Increased demand from China has boosted renewable energy manufacturers

Pilita Clark and Lucy Hornby write in the Financial Times about how China’s demand for new renewable energy capacity is helping global manufacturers. Even with the increased demand, however, solar manufacturers still remain saddled with severe overcapacity. Chinese demand fuels renewables sector turnround Production of wind turbines and solar panels soared in 2014, as … Continue reading Increased demand from China has boosted renewable energy manufacturers →

Developments in Hawaii’s deployment of solar energy

Erica Gies, for Yale Environment 360, provides a good article in The Guardian about the hurdles that Hawaii, the leading US state in rooftop solar per capita, is facing in trying to achieve its ambitious 2030 targets for renewable energy. Is Hawaii’s solar power surge slowing down? Honolulu’s roofscape is being repainted in blue-black. … Continue reading Developments in Hawaii’s deployment of solar energy →

Potential impact of railway networks deploying solar energy

There is an interesting article in The Engineer about the impact that solar panels could have in reducing overall operating costs. It certainly seems to make sense to use trackside land for such use. Solar panels could slash rail operating costs claims report Track-side solar panels could save the UK rail network up to … Continue reading Potential impact of railway networks deploying solar energy →

How would you find out whether your building was suitable for solar-powered energy?

The Leicester Mercury in England provided an interesting news item about an aerial photography firm that has a prototype website allowing people to assess if a building is suitable for a PV system. This is a very interesting concept. Aerial photography firm Bluesky launches Eagle energy website An aerial photography firm has launched a … Continue reading How would you find out whether your building was suitable for solar-powered energy? →