A new “airnasium,” or solar panel-lined roof on a metal structure constructed by Allied Steel Buildings has helped take the Virgin Islands Montessori School and International Academy off the electrical grid. The school is located in St. Thomas and is the only school in the territory completely powered by solar energy. Electrical costs for the school were nearly $84,00o per …
New Report Shows Wind Energy Continues to Expand
According to a report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), global installed wind energy capacity increased by 19 percent in 2012 to 282,000 megawatts (MW). Canada remains a global wind energy leader as it experienced the 9th largest increase in installed capacity in 2012 (936 MW). Both China and the United States, the world’s wind energy leaders, installed more …
Consortium to Develop 2 Solar Projects in Ecuador
SunWize Technologies is developing two major solar photovoltaic projects in the Republic of Ecuador in conjunction with Solexica Energy Corporation, JCM Capital and Radical Energy, Inc. that have created a North American Consortium to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. The two photovoltaic projects—known as Condor Solar and Solarconnection, represent 30 megawatts (AC) and 20 megawatts (AC) respectively. Combined, these …
Conergy Adds More Solar Capacity in Greece
Conergy has added more solar capacity in Greece. The company has just completed a 500 kilowatt plant on 2.25 acres of roof space at the warehouses of Hellenic Energy S.A. in Agios Ioannis Rentis on the edge of Athens. Conergy acted as main contractor and was responsible for the overall planning, engineering and design of this turnkey rooftop installation, as …
Real Goods Solar Expands Residential Solar Offering
Real Goods Solar has been selected by a leading production homebuilder to deploy solar in certain of its new communities beginning in California and then expanding into other states. As part of the partnership, Real Goods Solar will design, engineer, service and manage the installation of residential solar systems. The systems will be designed to offset a good portion of …
Eastern Winds Report Released
According to a new report, “Eastern Winds,” analyzing the emerging wind power markets in Central and Eastern European countries, plus Turkey, Ukraine and Russia, wind power will become a significant source of electricity production by 2020. In addition, Turkey’s wind power generation capacity will grow even faster as long as there is a stable legal framework in place. The report …
Rice Solar Energy Project Gets Green Light
SolarReserve has been given the green light from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to sell power from its 150 megawatt solar project under an amended 25-year power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). According to the company, the Rice Solar Energy Project will be the first large-scale solar project in the state to include energy storage capabilities. …
More Transmission Key Policy Issue for Wind Industry
Wind on the Wires is an organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota launched about a decade ago to focus on wind policy issues and wind transmission line issues. To learn more about some key policy initiatives for 2013, I spoke with Beth Soholt, Executive Director, who was in Des Moines, Iowa during Iowa Wind Energy Day. The big issue for …
Battery Storage Project at Texas Wind Farm Completed
Duke Energy Renewables has completed a 36-megawatt (MW) energy storage and power management system at its 153 MW Notrees Windpower Project in West Texas. Development of the storage system began in 2009 with a $22 million grant matching from the Department of Energy and in December the project became fully operational. “Battery storage is an important innovation to address the …
Great Model – UK-Ireland Wind Power Project
The Dublin Energy Minister of Ireland and the UK Secretary of State for Energy have paved the way for the export of Ireland’s wind energy to Britain. The hope is that this project will be a model for other countries as the development of a pan-European electricity grid continues. “With greater grid integration the UK and Ireland can expect more …