According to a new report by NPD Solarbuzz, solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in the U.S. have broken through the 10 gigawatt (GW) barrier. During the first half of 2013, more than 1.8 GW of new solar PV capacity was installed according to the North America PV Market Quarterly report. “The U.S. has now joined an elite group of maturing solar …
Obama Launches Power for Africa Initiative
President Obama made his first official trip to Africa last week and while there announced his Power Africa initiative, an effort to bring reliable, safe and affordable energy to the country. One Sunrise, Florida-based company has already been working to provide Africans innovative energy solutions: SKYei – formerly SKY Energy International. The company has recently completely a U.S. $5 million …
Hybrid PVT Solar System Successful In Oahu
The SunDrum Hybrid PVT solar system operating at the Inn at Schofield Barracks, a large hotel in Oahu, Hawaii, has returned 25 percent of its installation costs in the first six months of operation. Installed by AllNuEnergy, Inc., the system is expected to break even in less than two and a half years and provide an ROI of more than …
OnStar & TimberRock Partner on EV Solar Charging
OnStar is partnering with TimberRock Energy Solutions to develop advanced EV solar charging technologies. TimberRock uses aggregation software and solar charging canopies with integrated storage to manage the flow of solar power to the electric grid. The project will be the first “real-world” use of OnStar’s Smart Grid solutions. As part of the project, TimberRock will monitor the output of …
Big Green Biodiesel, Solar Bus on Gulf Coast Swing
Students spreading the gospel of biodiesel and solar are on the southern Gulf Coast swing of their country-wide tour of the U.S. WLOX-TV reports the Big Green Bus, an environmental project from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, stopped in Biloxi, Miss., using biodiesel and solar power to teach about how to go green. “This summer, we are traveling the country …
DuPont Expands Technology Center
DuPont is expanding its Silicon Valley Technology Center to include new innovations and collaborations in the energy and electronics industry. The company plans to use the center to further accelerate product and process development, as well as increase application support to customers around the world. “For DuPont, this expansion is about collaborating more closely on developing technological innovations for the …
SolarStrong Provides Solar for Military Families
SolarCity has begun a project to provide solar electricity to more than 500 military homes at Soaring Heights Communities, a lend-lease community, on Holloman Air Force Base in Otero County, New Mexico. The project, expected to provide 3.4 megawatts of generation capacity, is the latest to be announced under SolarCity’s SolarStrong initiative. The project is also part of Lend Lease’s …
Solar Electric Motorcyle Takes A Win
During the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb held each year in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Lightning Motorcycles finished first in the Exhibition Powersports division, outperforming all its competitors, including those motorcycles running on gas. In addition, the Lightning SuperBike was powered by solar energy. The solar-powered Lightning SuperBike—under rider Carlin Dunne was the top qualifier on June 28 and posted a …
MGM Resorts Goes Solar
During a news conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada featuring U.S. Senator Harry Reid and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell in advance for the National Clean Energy Summit 6.0 on August 13, 2013 at Mandalay Bay, MGM Resorts announced plans for a major solar energy system. The 6.2 megawatt installation, planned for the Mandalay Bay Resort Convention Center, will …
College Teams to Race with SunPower
Nine university teams will race in the 2013 Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) with solar vehicles powered by SunPower’s Maxeon solar cells. Various FSGP race events will be held from June 24 – 29, 2013 and are open and free to the public. According to SunPower, the all-back contact solar cells collect and convert more sunlight into energy when compared …