Google Reinventing Floating Solar Panels in Taiwan

Google has recently purchased a large fishing pond in Taiwan that will be used for a new floating #solar #energy production site. In Tainan City, Google is the first international company to take advantage of the Taiwan Electricity Act, which was established in 2017. This act allows companies to buy and manage solar and renewable energy programs in Taiwan. This also marks the first water solar energy-based investment Google has made thus far in its history, as well as the first time Google has entered into the Asian solar energy market. 

How Google’s Floating Solar Panels are Different 

Traditional floating solar panels are known as “floatovoltaics,” a term coined using a combination of the words floating and photovoltaics. These types of solar energy productions sites are becoming more and more popular worldwide for several reasons. The number one perk is the ability to construct solar energy production sites where there is limited land space. Some areas may not have adequate land or rooftop space to build solar panels, but they may have bodies of water nearby. Floating solar panels solve the problem many urban areas face when it comes to implementing solar energy. In addition to conserving land space, floating solar energy panels provide shade for the bodies of water they float on. This prevents excess evaporation overall, helping to conserve water.  

Google is aiming for an improved design for its floating solar panels. The proposed 10-megawatt floating solar farm will be built using poles that will elevate the panels above the water. While the panels will still technically be floating on the water, there will be more space between the solar panels and the surface of the water. 

The Benefits of the Canopy Design 

Utilizing the space above bodies of water has plenty of advantages, but Google is hoping to improve conditions even more. In Tainan City, fishing is a primary economic and agricultural staple and multiple fish farms can be found near the coastline. In order to protect this the fish farms, Google has been experimenting with a new floating solar design that will make it so the panels are hoisted just above the surface. Google is referring to this design as a canopy system.  

It is also projected that the canopy solar panels may even increase fishing yields for fishermen in the area. Increased space between the panels and the surface of the water, in addition to increased shade, may provide the perfect environment for local fish to thrive. These findings, found through an experiment conducted by the Fisheries Research Institution and Taiwan Council of Agriculture, only emphasize the logistical benefits of floating solar panels. The project is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2020. 

More Solar Projects from Google 

Google is currently the largest corporation investing in solar energy utility and production. With over 30 solar, wind, and renewable energy projects currently underway worldwide since 2010, it is no surprise that Google is already working to reinvent solar energy as we know it. Mike Terrell, Google’s head of energy and market development, told CNBC that entering into the solar energy market makes “business sense.” Price reduction in the solar market has undoubtedly influenced their decisions over the past decades.  

The project in Taiwan is not the first creative or challenging renewable energy project that Google has become involved in. Google also works with the El Romero Solar PV Plant in Chile to cultivate and purchase solar power. The plant is located in Chile’s remote and extremely dry Atacama Desert, making it both ideal for solar power production, but a challenge in and of itself. 

The international solar production sites themselves are just a part of Google’s overall solar energy involvement. Google also constructs and manages data centers, with the newest being established in Tennessee and Alabama. To create the Tennessee facility, Google has teamed up with Tennessee Valley Authority, NextEra Energy, and Invenergy. This marks one of the largest partnerships Google has entered into yet in the solar energy industry. These and other ground-breaking moves indicate that Google is only just getting started when it comes to solar and renewable energies. 

Resource:

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/15/google-is-building-a-solar-power-project-above-fishing-ponds-in-taiwan.html 

http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/google-moves-forward-with-its-first-floating-solar-energy-project/8536959/ 

Granite City Bar & Restaurant Runs on Solar

Eddie’s Lounge in #Granite City, IL is a bar and grill that has worked its way onto the map by becoming a regional leader in clean #energy. Jim Dunn is the proud owner, and he recently installed enough #solar panels to generate all the electricity for the building. You’re probably wondering what sort of number this equates to. Get ready to be impressed – Dunn has almost completely wiped out his $15,000 annual electric bill, thanks to the power of #solar.

Here’s some quick background information: Dunn, 69, believes his move toward solar makes sense economically. He spent many years living in Granite City but has since relocated to North St. Louis.

Solar Benefits

Dunn realizes that utility savings are not the only benefits of going solar. Dunn also plans on taking full advantage of state incentives and federal tax breaks, thanks to the 2016 Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act. Moreover, because Dunn is an environmentalist, he has a desire to lessen his carbon footprint, and recognizes that going solar is just one way to do so.

Located at 2900 Nameoki Road in Granite City, the building has, since the 1930s, housed bars. Eddie’s was purchased by Dunn more than 30 years ago, in 1981. He ended up adding a second floor and expanding the main floor over time, so the total area is now approximately 6,000 square feet. So, where does solar come into play?

If you pull up to the parking lot, you might notice four giant canopies. These are topped with solar panels. Often, people stop and stare, and some even call to ask for information on said solar panels. Not only is Dunn indirectly raising awareness about the benefits of solar power because locals end up asking if the solar panels can power the entire building, and if they reduce his electric bill, but he is providing his customers with covered parking. This is a win-win.

Eddie’s is described as a bar and restaurant with a “Cheers” vibe. It’s popular for its tacos, shrimp and chicken wings, as well as its impressive light fixtures. On weekends, there is live music, but from Sunday through Friday afternoon, it’s a standard bar and grill for locals to enjoy and listen to good music on the jukebox.

The Cost of Solar

Many are curious about how much it cost Dunn to set up the solar panels. Dunn admits the first phase of his solar installation cost a little more than $180,000 back in 2011. However, his annual electric bill has dropped substantially, from roughly $15,000 to less than $12,000 thanks to the 24 kilowatt capacity. Primarily, electricity is used for air conditioners and walk-in coolers. At the time of the #solar system installation, Dun was given a $50,000 state rebate, and he takes advantage of incentives such as a 30 percent federal tax credit.

He could have dropped his installation cost further (by roughly $20,000) had he put the solar panels on the roof of his building. But he knew the solar panels would be more visible if they were placed on the canopies, which he rightfully expected to help raise awareness about solar.

Solar Panels: Phase Two

Back in December, Dunn put in roughly $194,000 to install phase two of his solar project. This entailed setting up two more canopies with solar panels over the parking lot. Doing this added a 75 kilowatt system. The numbers are enlightening –Dunn ended up tripling the capacity of his original system.

Solar panels are increasing in production as the labor costs drop, according to director of marketing for #Day & Night Solar in Collinsville, Melinda Kershaw. Day & Night Solar designed both solar systems.

More to Gain

Dunn will, once again, get a 30-percent federal tax credit (to the tune of roughly $58,300) in addition to a depreciation deduction. And don’t forget about the Illinois solar renewable energy credits, which can be purchased by utility companies ($17,800 on an annual basis for a period of five years) and a rebate of just under $19,000. The expectation is that his leftover $11,800 in yearly electric costs will be eradicated.

If you do math, here’s what you will come up with – the second part of the solar system should end up paying for itself in a period of less than three years.

Granite City locals are very supportive of Dunn’s solar power endeavor.  Keep following solar news to learn about interesting new ventures in your area!

Sources:

https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article226096420.html

https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article226163490.html

 

Get Ready for Hyper-Efficient Solar Panels to Shake Things Up

How much power can one actually get out of sunshine? That’s a good question, and lately, it seems as though we are pushing the limits, or at least raising them. #Insolight is a company that has come up with a new and improved approach to #solar cells. Sure, the proven methods of utilizing #solar cells and #solar panels have been effective, but there is always room for progress and development. There is a clear goal across the globe to lessen our carbon footprint, to save money, and to keep our planet clean by taking advantage of renewable #energy, such as solar power. Insolight is about to shake things up.

What is Insolight?

Insolight is a company that aims for simplicity and reliability, according to their website. The company has the goal of essentially concentrating sunlight on a smaller solar cell. Their outlook is very positive: when it comes to solar energy, the belief is that sunlight can be concentrated into one place. This consequently enables savings in terms of materials, while making solar cells themselves even more affordable. If this sounds like a win-win, that’s because it is!

Insolight employs ground-breaking technology in the sense that sunlight is redirected toward the concentrator, which can be mounted in the same way as traditional solar panels. The result? Inexpensive solar electricity costs.

Generally speaking, solar cells collect sunlight and convert electricity at less than 20 percent efficiency. At the end of the day, roughly 85 percent of energy is lost in the conversion process. Efficient cells are typically very expensive, which is a problem many find themselves facing – high costs.

In a nutshell, Insolight wants to see solar cells become more efficient by working to concentrate sunlight. This will save money all around, too.

How Will the Innovative Process Work?

Efficient cells are set down on a grid. Above the grid, you will find a lens array that fundamentally bends light into a slender beam which is only concentrated on the small cells. As you know, the sun doesn’t stay in one place – so as it moves, so does the cell layer. This keeps the beams on the proper mark. Insolight has demonstrated up to 37 percent efficiency overall in terms of testing, as well as 30 percent efficiency in designs for individual consumers. In comparison to typical solar panels, this is twice the power. Below, you will find a little bit more detail about this process, as it is quite interesting and certainly worth explaining.

To elaborate, the cell array that has been developed will essentially shift each day only by a few millimeters in order to track the sun. Everything is enclosed in a thin module, comparable to traditional solar panels. This offers protection to mechanical parts. This innovative product has the same look as traditional solar panels and it can be mounted with ease on both the ground and rooftops.

Lab results suggest that a more efficient version of solar cells can be manufactured at a low enough cost for commercial usage, and efficacy can be tweaked over time.

Without a doubt, this solar endeavor brings some complication to present-day mass-manufactured arrays that might be adequate, but could be better. Worth noting is the fact that the new solar panels don’t differ in shape or size, as touched upon, nor do they necessitate the utilization of specialized hardware. The tests being run are demonstrating that these #hyper-efficient solar panels are very effective.

According to Insolight’s CTO, #Mathieu Ackermann, the solar panels have been continually monitored and worked through winter weather, heat waves and even storms. This means the solar approach is effective even on days when the sun is hidden by clouds.

Insolight is currently working with solar panel manufacturers, in an effort to integrate this amazing technology with existing strategies.

Continue to follow solar news, as Insolight panels are anticipated to hit the market in the next two years. In 2022, you can expect some cool changes, to say the least!

Sources:

https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/19/these-hyper-efficient-solar-panels-could-actually-live-on-your-roof-soon/

https://insolight.ch/vision/

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/02/20/record-29-concentrating-solar-cell-aims-at-low-cost-manufacturing/

Photo Source: techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/panels_summer_1280x720.jpg

 

Solgami Solar Energy Blinds Reinventing Urban Solar Energy Access

In the race to bring #solar #energy to every corner of the world, the biggest issue researchers and manufacturers of solar energy have faced is that of limited space. Especially in crowded environments, rooftop solar panel installations and other means of bringing solar energy to those areas are limited. Inventions, such as shared panels through solar community gardens have helped bring solar energy to some areas, but most major cities are still without practical renewable energy solutions. Architects and engineers everywhere are working to find a solution that will bring affordable and efficient solar energy to even the most populated cities. One Australian architect, in particular, has created an ingenious invention that will help larger cities receive solar energy. It is born from a surprising mix of window blinds and origami. 

How Solgami Works 

Solgami is an alternative to window blinds. The blinds themselves are constructed using a combination of thin solar cells and reflective, ink materials. The solar cells and the reflective materials are then placed onto transparent sheets and folded into triangular, origami-like shapes. Multiple triangular solar cells and mirror shapes are then placed together to form blinds that are approximately the size and width of plantation shutters. Any light coming through the window is then reflected through the blinds, moving through the mirrors and the solar cells. The mirrors in the Solgami solar structure help light to reach areas of the room typically not reached just from opening standard blinds. In addition to the light offered, solar energy is generated as sun passes through the blinds. There are three positions that users can choose from to place the solar blinds, ranging from completely closed, open, and somewhere in between. 

Solgami Competition 

Since 2015, the Solgami has undergone several revisions and design changes. It is also not the first city-focused solar energy project proposed in recent years. However, it is one of the most practical solutions offered thus far. One example of a similar solar energy project comparable to Solgami is Tesla’s SolarWindow. The biggest difference between the SolarWindow model and the Solgami is that the Solgami blinds do not require the same construction as the SolarWindow. The ease of installation offered by the Solgami can dramatically decrease costs and help large cities bring solar energy to businesses in crowded areas with greater ease. 

Solgami has received significant support from the solar energy industry, even recently landing a place as a finalist in the Lexus Design Awards 2019 competition. Lexus is now helping to fund a prototype for Solgami that is scheduled to be revealed at Milan Design Week this upcoming April. Out of over 1,500 entries, Solgami was selected to compete with 5 other finalists. By April 8, a sole winner will be announced and full production of the prototype will be explored.  

About the Solgami Creator 

Ben Berwick, lead architect and creator of Solgami, emphasizes that his Sogami solar blinds are a way to connect with the resources already here and the world around us. Utilizing the power of the sun is crucial to a renewable future and a philosophy that has guided Berwick’s design. His Solgami creation could potentially help millions of residents who live in urban areas worldwide. Figures are only expected to rise in coming decades when it comes to population growth in urban locations. Solutions like the Solgami make this future seem less daunting, knowing solar energy access and control may soon be easier than ever. 

Berwick has spearheaded several other solar energy projects through his architecture company known as Prevalent. Founded in 2017, Prevalent is based out of Sydney, Australia and works with both private and commercial solar energy customers. Burwick has over 4 years of commercial architecture experience in Sydney and 2 years of experience working with various architecture firms in Japan. Prevalent ultimately pushes for social change that will have an impact on the local environments in a positive way. 

Check out Solgami’s website to watch a video demonstrating how their solar blinds function and reflect light: https://www.solgami.com/ 

Resources 

https://www.inverse.com/article/39395-how-these-windows-could-rival-tesla-s-solar-roof-for-renewable-energy 

https://www.inverse.com/article/53172-these-origami-solar-panels-generate-electricity-for-apartments