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 

Australian Solar Trading Company Teaming Up with Sharing Energy in Japan

Sharing #Energy, a Japanese renewable energy provider is set to enter into a partnership with an Australian #solar energy trading company known as Power Ledger. This unique partnership will help Sharing Energy promote solar energy consumption and renewable energy usage in Japan. Power Ledger is a cryptocurrency trading platform that is working to decentralize the buying and selling of solar and renewable energies. According to Power Ledger co-founder and chairman, Dr. Jemma Green, blockchain technology is the revolutionary way they are implementing scalable, solar energy solutions worldwide between partners and communities. 

Blockchain Technology 

By using what is known as blockchain-based design, Power Ledger is able to track data and record of solar energy usage in real-time. This blockchain technology is a more efficient and permanent way to track information within a given set of data. The greatest advantage of this type of system is that it makes data nearly unalterable once it has been recorded. Any kind of tampering would subsequently cause data in other blocks to be changed, which is ultimately blocked and prevented in a blockchain design. The information within the blockchain system can also neither be destroyed nor copied. Essentially, this type of trading system enables companies to remain honest and authenticate the legitimacy of transactions made online via cryptocurrency. 

The Purposes of the Partnership  

To initially test the blockchain technology, 100 Sharing Energy customers will be pre-identified and elect to have their solar energy usage tracked. Through the partnership and the utilization of blockchain processing, solar energy usage will more efficiently be recorded and studied. It is through this process that Power Ledger is hoping to help democratize solar energy usage in the region. 

This first testing phase of just 100 households is expected to grow to over 55,000 by the end of next year. By the time of its completion in 2020, the project will also offer its solar energy consumers plans sold via third-party partnerships, in addition to Sharing Energy’s attainment of a retail license. Power Ledger’s influence has helped Sharing Energy invest in furthering their solar energy plans, as well as contribute to global solar energy and renewable resource goals.  

Through the use of a peer-to-peer platform, Power Ledger will be able to facilitate the buying and selling of solar energy in the region in real-time. Monitoring and verifying solar energy trading in this way not only allows for the transparency of such transactions, but also helps researchers determine even more efficient ways of providing solar energy in the future. 

Embracing a New Solar-Powered Era 

Companies all across Japan are embracing solar energy technology and helping to further the worldwide initiative to depend on renewable resources. Companies like Kansai Electric Power Company are working with Power Ledger to create a Virtual Power Plant in order to address current problems with Japan’s solar energy generation. As one of the country’s largest privately-owned electricity retailers, Kansai Electric Power Company is hoping to help Japan reach its goal of increasing solar and renewable energy and reducing carbon emission by at least 26 percent by the year 2030. 

President of Sharing Energy in Japan, Emiko Koga stated that their company is fortunate to work with Power Ledger, an established leader in the solar energy industry. She believes the partnership will impact Japan’s solar energy market in a positive way and supports their intent to provide solar energy to all residents in an affordable fashion. 

About Power Ledger 

Power Ledger is committed to providing solar energy worldwide. Working with Sharing Energy in Japan is just one of many endeavors the company has successfully pursued on its path to bringing reliable solar energy to consumers everywhere. By providing individuals, communities, and companies with access to solar energy through fair trading, Power Ledger is transforming how the market buys and sells solar energy resources. They work to make sure investors and customers alike receive the most stable and affordable solar energy. 

Resources: 

https://www.chepicap.com/en/news/6895/power-ledger-seals-japanese-partnership-with-leading-solar-energy-provider.html 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190122005263/en/Power-Ledger-Sharing-Energy-Announce-Scalable-Partnership 

 

Solar PV Installer Is One of Fastest Growing Professions in US

In accordance with the #Bureau of Labor Statistics, “#solar PV installer” just so happens to hold the title as the fastest growing occupation in America. #Solar PV installer, at the moment, has a projected growth rate of more than 100 percent – 105, to be exact, from 2016 through 2026.

Solar PV Installers and #Wind Turbine Service Techs Are Gaining Steam

Those in the solar power industry might not be surprised by this fact. But to those who do not follow solar statistics, they might be quite astonished. Perhaps you would have assumed the fast growing profession in America was something outside of the world of solar or renewable #energy altogether. If this was your thought process, then you might be equally surprised at the second fastest growing occupation in America – wind turbine service technician! Yes, both of the most rapidly growing occupations in the US happen to be related to renewable energy.

How Do We Know Solar PV Installers Are Going to See So Much Growth?

Bureau of Labor Statistics analyst Bill Lawhorn took the time to answer some questions regarding how it was determined that the fastest growing professions are solar PV installer and wind turbine service technician. Check out some of the information below communicated to CleanTechnica.

Lawhorn explained where the 105 percent growth rate came from for employment of solar PV installers. He communicated that the Bureau of Labor Statistics develops its projections for occupational and industry employment in a series of six steps. Each step is based on a different model or procedure, for instance, labor force; final demand; aggregate economy; industry employment; industry output; and employment and openings by occupation.

This sequence can be repeated in order to guarantee consistency. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Handbook of Methods provides further detail. More information can be found by clicking here.

In terms of the 10-year growth projection for solar PV installers, different data sources have been utilized.

Lawhorn further explained how other fast-growing occupations compare with solar PV installer jobs; he discussed, specifically, how coal jobs compare with solar PV installer jobs. He explained that from 2016-2026, the second fastest growing occupation is projected to be wind turbine technicians. Of course, other occupations are also expected to grow quickly; however, these are smaller jobs that are not expected to add many jobs overall. Combined, they are anticipated to add less than 20,000 jobs over the 10-year timeframe.

Solar Beats Coal Mining

Employment in the coal mining industry is expected to drop by just under 7 percent from 2016-2026. But even more interesting, the possibility of PV solar installer jobs increasing beyond 105 percent is possible so long as the demand for solar power continues to increase. Of course, fluctuating economic factors can cause job growth rates to be lower or higher than anticipated values. As the decade progresses, demand for solar power might continue to increase, tax incentives might change, and other changes such as material costs can cause the numbers to fluctuate overall.

Projections for the period of 2018 to 2028 are going to be released in the fall of 2019. It will be interesting to see if the numbers change or even increase when it comes to wind turbine service technicians and PV solar installers. The fact is, no matter how you look at it, solar power is becoming incredibly popular, not just in America but across the globe.

What Does It Take to Be A Solar PV Installer?

Generally speaking, one would need to have a high school diploma or the equivalent of this. A person can expect moderate on the job training and they can expect to be compensated fairly. A solar PV installer will generally assemble, install and then oversee the maintenance of solar panels, which could be installed on rooftops, parking garages, and so on.

Continue to follow solar news, as you are sure to discover information that impresses you. Is solar power being taken advantage of in your community? Have you noticed solar panels going up near your home? Keep your eyes peeled and keep reading to discover the benefits and changes being made in the world of solar and renewable energy!

Sources:

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/01/26/solar-pv-installer-wind-turbine-tech-are-fastest-growing-occupations-in-us/

http://redgreenandblue.org/2019/01/27/solar-wind-tech-fastest-growing-jobs-us/

 

Solar Energy Being Transformed into Storable Liquid Energy

With the primary intention of their research being #solar thermal #energy storage, scientists at Chalmers have looked at certain compounds in the sunlight that can be rearranged so that they become storable, liquid solar energy. After years of research, as well as experimenting with multiple chemical processes, Chalmers University scientists have discovered a new way to capture the sun’s energy. 

To help them harness sunlight and create storable liquid solar energy, researchers have used a norbornadiene compound that reacts to sunlight. This compound helps to rearrange and recombine the carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen atoms in the sunlight’s molecules. After this process has been achieved, the compound forms a new isomer, or chemical compound, known as quadricyclane.  

Isomers are chemical compounds that have a certain number of chemical properties that are identical to other molecules, except their structure has been rearranged. This process of rearranging the molecules effectively creates a new compound. The same chemical formula is present in both compounds, but there is a fundamental difference in structure, orientation, or bonding of the compounds.  

The isomer researchers have created at Chalmers University for the purposes of solar energy production is a special type of solar energy storing isomer that can hold up to 250 hours of energy per kilogram. This solar energy is then able to be stored for an extended period of time, even long after the compound cools down. In fact, researchers are confident the length of storage for liquid solar energy will be somewhere around 18 years. This process of taking solar energy and turning it into storable liquid energy has the potential to solve multiple energy problems being faced worldwide and in certain regions. Because solar energy is transportable once it has been turned into liquid solar fuel, this breakthrough means we may be able to solve current energy crises across the globe and fuel our planet more effectively. Northern and southern countries, especially, have been kept in mind throughout this research. Such regions have made progress in utilizing hydro and thermal energy systems, but solar energy processes themselves are falling behind. 

Solar Energy Storage through MOST  

Using a solar energy storage system called MOST, an acronym for Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage, scientists were able to effectively store solar energy for usable means. Since the eventual goal is to become one hundred percent reliant on the earth’s renewable resources to fuel our planet, solar energy researchers at Chalmers University and elsewhere have been focused heavily on how to store solar energy. Especially during inclement weather, in regions that are particularly cloudy, and even at night, researchers have been striving to store solar energy so it can be used even during times when sunlight is not visible. 

Additionally, traditional solar panels are expensive. They can also take up space, which may make them impractical for certain regions or cities. Solar panels are great for centralized locations. Innovations like community solar gardens have helped to expand the reach of solar panels, but it has still been a challenge for researchers to find more effective ways to really harness the sun’s power.  

Solving Energy Problems with Liquid Solar Power 

While solar energy is helping us take advantage of clean fuel already available to us on this planet, there are still many challenges that need viable solutions. Turning solar energy into liquid fuel is a positive step forward. Storing and shipping solar energy worldwide would ultimately revolutionize the way we process and use energy utility as a species. Since sunlight is a free, renewable resource we have available to us, the possibilities of the kind of future we can create are endless. With the strides that have been made in recent years, it is becoming more and more probable that our planet might, indeed, be saved for generations to come. 

To learn more information about how scientists have been able to turn solar energy into liquid, storable fuel, as well as other information on other developments in the field, check out this video here: https://youtu.be/8FdFhgEVp5w 

Resources 

https://bigthink.com/technology-innovation/liquid-solar-fuel-storage?rebelltitem=1##rebelltitem1 

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/01/06/turning-solar-energy-into-liquid-fuel/