Pentti Itkonen Chosen as Energy Ambassador

Joanna Schroeder

EnergyVaasa, the largest energy cluster in the Nordic countries, recently chose 25 year old engineering student Pentti Itkonen as their Energy Ambassador. In a press conference held at Citec’s premises at Navi Mumbai, India, it was announced that Itkonen will embark on a global tour, beginning in Kittilä in Northern Finland to Norway, USA, Ecuador, Brazil, Spain, Thailand and India. …

Alternative energy, Clean Energy, International, Renewable Energy

Argonne National Lab Releases Updated GREET Model

Joanna Schroeder

The Argonne National laboratory has announced the release of the updated GREET fuel cycle model. The GREET model was first released in 1996 and since its release, Argonne has continued to update and improve the model. GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable …

Alternative energy, Alternative Vehicles, biofuels, feedstocks, Indirect Land Use

DOE Awards $60M in Solar Projects

Joanna Schroeder

Energy Secretary Moniz has announced $60 million in funding to support innovative solar energy research and development. The awards are part of DOE’s SunShot Initiative and will help lower the cost of solar electricity, advance seamless grid integration and support a growing U.S. solar workforce. “The tremendous growth in the U.S. solar industry over the past few years is helping …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Crowdfunding Campaign to Connect Schools to Solar

Joanna Schroeder

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has launched a unique crowdfunding campaign to support a new initiative to help schools purchase and install rooftop solar systems. The crowdfunding campaign – a first for NRDC – initially seeks to raise $54,000 through the site Indiegogo to help three to five to-be-determined schools move forward with solar rooftop projects. At least one …

Alternative energy, Education, Electricity, Solar, Video

KiOR Receives $100M in Equity Financing

Joanna Schroeder

KiOR, has announced the execution of $100 million in committed equity related financing in two separate private placement transactions to support the Company’s recently announced expansion of production capacity in Columbus, Mississippi, called the Columbus II Project. Once completed with the planned technology enhancements for both Columbus facilities, the Columbus II Project is expected to achieve overall positive cash flow …

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, Cellulosic

Colorado Solar Opportunities Continue to Grow

Joanna Schroeder

Three new community-owned solar PV facilities have gone online in Colorado this week. There are now 10 shared utility-scale arrays operating in the state. In addition, Clean Energy Collective (CEC) has an additional 10 facilities, representing nearly 5 MW, are in development. The resort town of Breckenridge, Colorado is now host to two 500 kW community-owned solar facilities that will …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Solar

WEC Issues 10-Point Action Plan for Sustainable Future

Joanna Schroeder

The World Energy Council (WEC) has issued a 10-point action plan for how governments, industry, and key decision-makers should refocus their efforts and resources to achieve real progress in resolving the energy trilemma. The World Energy Congress is taking place in Daegu, Korea this week. The report, “World Energy Trilemma: Time to get real – the agenda for change,” provides …

Alternative energy, conferences, International

NY-Sun Initiative Features New Solar Project

Joanna Schroeder

The largest solar project to date has gone online under the New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative. Owens Corning, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Constellation have completed a 2.7 megawatt solar project at Owens Corning’s thermal and acoustical insulation plant. The solar installation was designed to supply approximately 6 percent of the …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Solar

EC&R Climate Dedicates Two Solar Projects

Joanna Schroeder

E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) has dedicated two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the Tucson, Arizona area with a combined total of 15 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity. Both projects have long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Tucson Electric Power (TEP). According to Dr. Christophe Jurczak, CEO of E.ON Climate & Renewables Global Solar, these two projects are among the …

Alternative energy, Energy, Solar

WW2 Air Raid Bunker Converted to “Energy Bunker”

Joanna Schroeder

A former air raid bunker has been transformed into an “Energy Bunker” in the district of Wilhelmsburg, located in Hamburg, Germany. The project was part of the 2013 International Building Exhibition Hamburg (IBA) that kicked off this week. The massive building had been derelict for several decades but is now the host of a regenerative power plant supplying the surrounding …

Alternative energy, biogas, energy efficiency, International, Solar, Wind