CESA Releases Solar Group Purchasing Guide

Joanna Schroeder

There is a new guide available for state program managers who are looking at the opportunity of community group purchasing for solar energy. “Planning and Implementing a Solarize Initiative: A Guide for State Program Managers,” was produced by The New England Solar Cost-Reduction Partnership, a coalition of five New England States managed by the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA). This …

Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar

OCI Solar Power Fires Up New Solar Farms

Joanna Schroeder

Three new solar projects have been fired up by OCI Solar Power adding 45 MW of solar energy. The newly operational Alamo 4 project in Brackettville, Texas, generates 39 MW for CPS Energy, San Antonio’s community-owned utility. The solar farm features more than 150,000 solar panels and covers 600 acres of privately-owned land. Alamo 4 is OCI Solar Power’s first …

Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar

Kyocera’s Largest Floating Solar Farm Underway

Joanna Schroeder

Kyocera Corporation, Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation and Ciel et Terre International will begin construction this month on what they say is the world’s largest floating solar installation. Kyocera TCL Solar will develop and operate utility-scale floating solar power plants utilizing Ciel et Terre’s Hydrelio floating solar platforms in two installations, totaling 2.9 megawatts (MW) at Nishihira Pond and Higashihira Pond …

Electricity, International, Renewable Energy, Solar

Duke Energy to Build Los Vientos V Wind Project

Joanna Schroeder

Duke Energy Renewables has announced it will build, own and operate a 110 MW wind power project known as Los Vientos V located in Starr County, Texas. Garland Power & Light, Greenville Electric Utility System and Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) have signed 25-year agreements to purchase the power produced by the project. With an expected completion date in late 2015, …

Electricity, Renewable Energy, Wind

Groups Congratulate Project LIBERTY’s Success

Joanna Schroeder

Groups from all around the country are congratulating POET-DSM Advanced Bioenergy on their successful start-up of Project LIBERTY, a 25 million per gallon per year cellulosic ethanol plant located in Emmetsburg, Iowa. This is the first commercial-scale biorefinery in the country that uses agricultural waste, such as residue from corn fields, to produce cellulosic ethanol. The Department of Energy helped …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, POET, Renewable Energy

Project Liberty Opens Its Doors for Business

Joanna Schroeder

After years of hearing about the future of ethanol and Project LIBERTY, the first commercial cellulosic ethanol plant located in Emmetsburg, Iowa using corn stover and corn cobs is officially open for business and in production. The POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels project is a joint venture between POET and Royal DSM. Project LIBERTY, was formally opened in the presence of His …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Renewable Energy

SunShare Helps Students Learn with Free Solar

Joanna Schroeder

David Amster-Olszewski, founder of SunShare, Sally Sorte, principal of Academy 360 public charter school and Denver, Colorado Mayo Michael B. Hancock recently announced a new program to provide free solar energy to all families of children to attend the school. “We are grateful to SunShare for helping us bring green, sustainable solar energy to our families. Not only are we …

Education, Renewable Energy, Solar

Texas A&M Students Help African Villages with Solar

Joanna Schroeder

Three senior Mechanical Engineering students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Bryan Hunt, Cody Collins, and Andrew Schippers recently returned from Hanga, Tanzania where they brainstormed ideas for several renewable resource projects including the use of solar energy for refrigeration, lighting, Internet and improving hydroelectric power. Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering Michael Cornachione is assisting the students with their projects. “The …

International, Renewable Energy, Solar, water

Short Rotation Woody Crops Ideal for Energy

Joanna Schroeder

Research from the University of Tennessee Center for Renewable Carbon has found that fast growing, short rotation wood crops (SRWC) are ideal as a biomass source to produce bionergy and biofuels. The research will be featured over the next three months as the Southeastern Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems’ (IBSS) Woody Crop Whistle Stop Tour that will feature Auburn …

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, biomass, Renewable Energy, Research

Masdar Completes First Samoan Wind Farm

Joanna Schroeder

Somoa has its operational first wind farm. The ‘cyclone proof’ project is located on the Samoan island of Upolu. Home to nearly 75 percent of the population the wind farm will supply 1,500 MWh of power per year, delivering U.S. $475,000 in annual fuel cost savings. The pioneering project in Samoa includes two 55 meters high turbines that can pivot …

Electricity, International, Renewable Energy, Wind