Articles Posted in Renewables

Six months from now, on June 27, 2014, the 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe will kick-off. The Decathlon will be held in Versailles, France and run from June 27 through July 14. The participating teams are:

* Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts – School of Engineering and Architecture * Universidad de Castilla – La Mancha and Universidad de Alcala de Henares University
* Chiba University
* ENSA Nantes, ESB, Audencia Group, Audencia Nantes, Ecole des Mines Nantes, ISSBA, IUT Nantes, Architectes, Ingenieurs Associes, Atlansun, Institut des Materiaux Jean Rouxel, Medieco, Novabuild, SAMOA, and SCE * Technical Institute of Denmark * Academy of Architecture and IIT Bombay * Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria – Valparaiso and Universite de La Rochelle – Espace Bois de I’IUT * Universite d’Angers and Appalachian State University * University of the Arts Berlin and Technical University of Berlin * Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, University Politehnica of Bucharest, and University of Architecture and Urbanism “Ion Mincu”
* Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, and University o Applied Sciences – Erfurt * Delft University of Technology * University of Applied Science Frankfurt am Main * Costa Rica Institute of Technology – Cartago
* Universite Paris-Est, ENSA Paris Malaquais, ENSA Marne la Vallee, ESTP Paris, Ecole des Ponts Paris Tech, ESIEE Paris, ENSG, and IFSTTAR * Universita Degli Studi di Roma TRE * King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi * Universitat Politecnica de Caralunya – Barcelona * National Chiao Tung University * Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and the Center of Research in Industrial Design and the School of Engineering and the School of Arts
Additional Resources: U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon; Solar Decathlon Europe

UPDATE: Environmental News Network, Renewables Now Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels in Australia (Jan. 8, 2014)

Citing to a recent report by Lux Research, Inc., on December 2, 2013, Forbes reported that “[u]tility-scale solar power is poised to become cost competitive with natural gas by 2025.” The Lux Research report entitled “Cheap Natural Gas: Fracturing Dreams of a Solar Future” evaluated the “levelized cost of energy” (LCOE) for unsubsidized solar, natural gas, and hybrid solar/gas technologies under a range of future natural gas prices across 10 different parts of the world. Forbes’ “takeaway” from the Lux Research report is “the LCOE for unsubsidized utility-scale solar globally will be only about $0.02/kWh above the price of power produced by combined cycle gas turbines by 2025.”

It further highlighted that “solar power continues to see strong growth:” “in October, solar projects led new electrical generation capacity installed in the United States … An impressive 504 megawatts of solar power capacity came online in October, out of 699 megawatts total new capacity for the month,” citing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects Energy Infrastructure Update For October 2013.

Additional Resources: Lux Research, Inc.; Forbes; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Go Solar California

On Monday, November 25, 2013, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White, Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability Sergej Mahnovski announced that the largest solar energy installation in New York City will be installed at Freshkills Park on Staten Island. SunEdison was selected through a public bidding process to design, construct, install and operate a solar power facility with the potential to generate up to 10 MW of power on 47 acres of property leased from New York City. This is boasted to be 5 times more than any solar energy system in New York City and enough to power approximately 2,000 homes.

At 2,200 acres, Freshkills Park is 3 times the size of Central Park and reportedly the largest park developed in New York City in over 100 years. This area was formerly the world’s largest landfill and the park represents a remarkable example of land reclamation. It is being transformed into a productive and beautiful cultural destination, symbolizing renewal and an expression of how society can restore balance to its landscape. Freshkills Park’s design, ecological restoration and cultural and educational programming is intended to emphasize environmental sustainability and a renewed public concern for our impact on the earth.

Additional Resources: The Official Website of the City of New York

Related Articles: NY Governor Announces SUNY to Develop First-Of-Its-Kind CNSE Photovoltaic Manufacturing and Technology Development Facility

Photo: Kristine Paulus, Taken Oct. 1, 2011 – Creative Commons

On October 31, 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new concentrating solar power (CSP) project that will be led by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). CSP technology uses sunlight to produce steam, which is then used to generate electricity, and improves the efficiency and performance of traditional fossil fuel-powered plants. The SMUD project will integrate utility-scale CSP technology with SMUD’s 500 MW natural gas-fired Cosumnes Power Plant, and it will help design, build and test cost-competitive CSP-fossil fuel power generating systems in the United States. When completed, the project will feed solar-produced steam directly into the Cosumnes Power Plant’s turbines – generating at least 10 MW of new electric generation capacity. The project will also include energy storage technology to improve system performance and meet peak and off-peak power needs.

As reported by the DOE, “[t]oday, between 11 and 21 gigawatts of CSP could be built and integrated into existing fossil fuel plants in the United States – enough to power to between 3 million and 6 million homes.”

Additional Sources: U.S. Department of Energy

On November 1, 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy opened the competition to select up to 20 collegiate teams to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015. The teams selected will begin a 2-year project to build solar-powered, highly energy-efficient houses that combine affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence. The U.S. Department of Energy reported in its announcement that, for the first time in the Decathlon’s history, the houses constructed for the U.S. Solar Decathlon 2013 all generated more electricity than they consumed during the 10-day competition.
The Vienna University of Technology won the U.S. Solar Decathlon 2013 that took place in Irvine, California in October.

The U.S. Department of Energy released a funding opportunity announcement (“FOA”) to support the participation of up to 20 college and university teams in the Solar Decathlon 2015. Important dates for the Solar Decathlon 2015 teams FOA:
• Issue date: Nov. 1, 2013 • Submission deadline: Dec. 20, 2013, at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST • Expected notification date: Feb. 14, 2014 • Expected timeframe for award negotiations: Feb. 14 – Apr. 14, 2014.

To apply to theFOA, applicants must register with and submit application materials through EERE Exchange, the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s online application portal. Questions regarding the FOA must be submitted to solardecathlon2015@go.doe.gov no later than 3business days prior to the application due date.The Solar Decathlon 2013 Rules will be the basis for the Solar Decathlon 2015 competition, though the rules will be revised prior to the 2015 competition based on lessons learned and technology advancements at Solar Decathlon 2013.

Additional Sources: Vienna University of Technology Shines at US Solar Decathlon 2013

Photo: Dept of Energy Solar Decathlon (Oct. 12, 2013) – Creative Commons

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday that, as part of the Department’s SunShot Initiative, it will provide $60 million to support innovative solar energy research and development. It confirmed that will be investing/awarding:

• “more than $12 million across 17 companies to help commercialize a wide range of technologies and services – from online tools that can map a rooftop’s solar potential in seconds to automated installation systems for utility scale photovoltaic plants”
• “approximately $16 million to four projects that will help develop solar devices that near the theoretical efficiency limits of single junction solar cells, or about 30 percent efficiency”
• “about $7 million to develop stronger, more reliable solar components as well as dependable performance tests for microinverters and microconverters”
• “about $8 million to help utilities forecast and integrate high levels of renewable energy generation into the grid, while ensuring reliable and affordable power”
• “about $15 million to develop power engineering curriculum and launch four regional training consortiums.” These consortiums, led by U.S. universities, utilities, and industry, will train the next generation of energy engineers, system operators and utility professionals.
• “about $1 million to Delaware State University and the University of Texas at Austin to provide solar energy research and education opportunities to minority students”

The Department estimated that the “U.S. solar industry employs about 119,000 workers at more than 5,600 companies across every state.” It also estimated that, since 2010, the solar industry has created nearly 20,000 new American jobs. These investments and awards are expected to “help lower the cost of solar electricity, advance seamless grid integration and support a growing U.S. solar workforce.”

Additional Source: U.S. Department of Energy; U.S. Department of Energy, SunShot Initiative

On Saturday, October 12, 2013, Team Austria from the Vienna University of Technology, the first-time U.S. competitor, was recognized as the winner of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. The Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the Decathlon is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

Team Austria also won first place in the Communications Contest, tied for second place in Market Appeal, and tied for third place in Engineering. In measured contests, it received first place in the Hot Water and Energy Balance contests.

University of Las Vegas Nevada won second place in the overall competition, and Czech Technical University won third place.

Earlier in the day, Team Ontario from Queen’s University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College won first place for the Engineering Contest. Czech Technical University from the Czech Republic won second place, and Team Austria from Vienna University of Technology, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and University of Nevada Las Vegas tied for third place. The Engineering Contest jurors evaluated the houses’ energy-efficiency savings, creative design innovations, and the functionality and reliability of each system.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte won the People’s Choice Award, an award that gave the public the opportunity to vote for its favorite house.

The 10 contests were:

• Architecture Contest (juried)
• Market Appeal Contest (juried)
• Engineering Contest (juried)
• Communications Contest (juried)
• Affordability Contest (juried)
• Comfort Zone Contest (measured)
• Hot Water Contest (measured)
• Appliances Contest (measured)
• Home Entertainment Contest (measured and juried)
• Energy Balance Contest (measured)

The Scores & Standings for the Decathlon competition teams were as follows:

1. Team Austria: Vienna University of Technology – 951.922
2. University of Nevada Las Vegas – 947.572
3. Czech Republic: Czech Technical University – 945.142
4. Stevens Institute of Technology – 939.176
5. Stanford University – 933.125
6. Team Ontario: Queen’s University, Carleton University and Algonquin – 926.478
7. Team Capitol DC: The Catholic University of America, George Washington University and American University – 920.267
8. Middlebury College – 920.262
9. Team Alberta: University of Calgary – 913.574
10. University of Southern California – 906.203
11. Santa Clara University – 888.929
12. Norwich University – 876.928
13. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte – 870.210
14. Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology – 868.666
15. Kentucky/Indiana: University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky – 850.079
16. Missouri University of Science and Technology – 840.455
17. Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico – 823.165
18. Team Texas: The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College – 776.454
19. West Virginia University – 774.742

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Additional Resources: U.S. Department of Energy

Photo: EvelynGiggles, Taken Jan. 24, 2009 – Creative Commons

The U.S. Department of Energy confirmed that the Solar Decathlon 2013 competition and XPO will commence as originally scheduled despite the Government shutdown. The Decathlon will take place October 3 through 13, 2013, at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. The competition houses will be open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Thursday, October 3 through Sunday, October 6, 2013, and Thursday, October 10 through Sunday, October 13, 2013.

The Decathlon is funded, in part, by last year’s federal funding and, in part, by at least 30 private-sector sponsors. Federal employee participation will be limited to personnel essential to allow the show to proceed.

Additional Sources: U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

The 20 collegiate teams competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 and XPO are gearing up for the start of the Decathlon on October 3. This award-winning program challenged 20 teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive with the ultimate winner being the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The competition houses will be open to visitors for 8 days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily: (A) Thursday, October 3 through Sunday, October 6, 2013, and (B) Thursday, October 10 through Sunday, October 13, 2013. The event is open to the public free of charge.

After successfully maneuvering through the rigorous selection process, the 20 chosen teams spent two years designing and building a solar-powered house that will be cost-effective to build, energy-efficient and attractive. If that were not enough, their houses must be capable of transportation to the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California (distances ranging from 41 miles to 16,000 miles). Since the shipping containers arrived in Irvine, the 20 teams have been focusing on reassembling their houses, appliances and furniture for the public exhibit. The teams have only 9 days to reassemble their houses before the start of the competition. As the houses near completion of the reassembly process, they will undergo a variety of inspections, including building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and final safety inspections, to ensure compliance with local building codes.

Like the Olympic decathlon, the Decathlon consists of 10 contests designed to gauge how well the houses perform and how livable and affordable they are. Each contest is worth a maximum of 100 points and teams can earn points 3 ways: (1) task completion, e.g., cooking, washing dishes, and doing laundry, (2) monitored performance, (3) jury evaluation. Jurors who are experts in their field (such as architecture, engineering, and communications) award points for features that cannot be measured (such as aesthetics and design inspiration). Contests based on task completion or monitored performance are called measured contests; contests based on jury evaluation are call juried contests. The 10 Decathlon contests are:
—Architecture Contest (juried)
—Market Appeal Contest (juried)
—Engineering Contest (juried)
—Communications Contest (juried)
—Affordability Contest (juried)
—Comfort Zone Contest (measured)
—Hot Water Contest (measured)
—Appliances Contest (measured)
—Home Entertainment Contest (measured and juried)
—Energy Balance Contest (measured).

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of these contests will be announced at 10 a.m. in Hangar 244 at the Orange County Great Park: (1) October 10 — Affordability Contest and Market Appeal Contest, (2) October 11 — Communications Contest and Architecture Contest, and (3) October 12 — Engineering Contest. On October 12 at 10 a.m., the other winners of the Decathlon contests will be announced and the competition awards ceremony will take place at Hangar 244 of the Orange County Great Park.

Docents will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to provide 30 to 60 minute walking tours of the Solar Decathlon village with tours departing every 15 minutes from each end of the Solar Decathlon village. Each Decathlon team will provide tours of its competition house during public exhibit hours.

The XPO itself will feature the SunShot Innovation Pavilion, the Bosch Community Fund Powerful Ideas Classroom, the Transportation Zone, the Palm Court Arts Complex, the XPO Food Pavilion, the Foundation for the Great Park Powerful Ideas Symposium, the Competitors Pavilion, the Farm + Food Lab, the ABC Green Home. The XPO.org provides information for guests of the Decathlon and XPO, including driving directions from Interstate 5, Interstate 405 and the 133 Freeway/241 Toll Road.

Additional Sources: Oct. 3-13: U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 & XPO; The-XPO.org; U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon; Energy Blog

Photo: U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 collegiate teams gather at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif. on Friday, January 11, 2013 for an all-team photo taken by Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy – Creative Commons.

Did you know that the U.S. Department of Energy’s website hosts a database for tax credits, rebates, savings and, in some cases, loan programs available across the nation to a variety of persons and entities for numerous categories of energy saving improvements? It also identifies loan programs for certain types of energy saving improvements. Searches can be performed using filters, including categories for the state, eligibility, energy saving improvement (“savings for”) and sponsor of the energy saver program. Once a tax credit, rebate, savings or loan program is identified, the database provides a brief summary of the program, and a link to the program sponsor’s official website.

The categories of those eligible to enjoy energy saver credits, rebates, savings and, in some cases, loans include, just to name a few, commercial, industrial, institutional, installer/contractor, residential, retail supplier, schools, etc. The credits, rebates, savings and, in some cases, loans are available for a wide variety of types of energy saver improvements, including but not limited to weatherization, design and remodeling, windows, doors, and skylights, cooling, heating and cooling, appliances and electronics, lighting, water heating, water, solar, etc.

Additional Sources: U.S. Department of Energy
Photo: March 9, 2009, Sushiina – Flickr Creative Commons