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Subscribe here. en-us alternative energy Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:58:03 GMT Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:58:03 GMT about-alternative-energy.com http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-links.html Alternative Energy Links and Resources Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:40:06 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Trina-Solar-Gets-$100-Million-Loan-for-High-Efficiency-“Honey”-Solar-Cell-Launch Trina Solar Gets $100-Million Loan for High-Efficiency “Honey” Solar Cell Launch Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:38:06 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#300-New-MW-of-Clean,-Renewable-Energy-for-SDG&E San Diego Gas & Electric (SD&E), a subsidiary of the Fortune-500 company Sempra Energy, has recently confirmed two long-term contracts to purchase a total of 300 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from 8minutenergy and from Manzana Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Iberdrola Renewables, Inc. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:38:06 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#“Hot-Pot”-Bacteria-Could-Make-One-Pot-Biofuel The search for a cheap, simple one-pot process for making biofuel is taking researchers to some mighty strange places. In the latest development, scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory have been scouring the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park on the lookout for bacteria that could help break down biomass for biofuel naturally, and now they think they have found their man – er, make that microorganism. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:38:06 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Report:-Global-Biofuels-Market-Could-Double-To-$185.3-Billion-By-2021 A new report from Pike Research predicts the global biofuels market will double over the next decade, from $82.7 billion in 2011 to $185.3 billion in 2021. Even with this rapid growth, however, significant hurdles remain and could prevent the industry from meeting government mandates. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:38:06 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Floating-Wind-Farm-for-Malta The Swedish company Hexicon, which has developed an innovative type of floating wind farm or two, may soon supply Malta with 9% of its electricity needs via one of these floating wind farms. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:38:06 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#New-Utility-Scale-Solar-PV-Inverter-Technology-Could-Help-Stabilize-the-Grid-(Germany-Case-Study) New inverter technology for ‘utility-scale’ solar projects can reportedly help (big-time) in stabilizing the electric grid 24/7. “A new inverter technology allows inverters to act as phase-shift oscillators, thereby providing the grid with reactive power from solar plants even overnight – and lowering the cost of grid expansion considerably in the process,” Heiko Schwarzburger and Craig Morris of Renewables International write. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:38:06 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#First-successful-repowering-of-wind-farm-in-India-by-Gamesa Repowering of old wind farms is a huge opportunity in India. There are a number of such old wind farms in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu- Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Nagercoil and Kanyakumari districts. These districts include the famed wind belts of Muppandhal, Pannakudi and Kayathar. There are also opportunities in the Coimbatore district. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:25:34 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Refurbished-turbines-and-Repowering-charge-wind-energy-market-in-India Repowering of old wind farms is a huge opportunity in India. There are a number of such old wind farms in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu- Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Nagercoil and Kanyakumari districts. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:25:34 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Do-it-yourself-rooftop-system-kits-from-Gamesa In the Sean Connery starrer, You Only Live Twice, they bring three large suitcases to a terrace and from the contents of the boxes they quickly assemble a fighter plane for the 007. What the wind turbine manufacturer, Gamesa, has in mind is somewhat similar — do-it-your-self kits for rooftop solar-wind hybrid plants. At least, that is the dream of Mr Ramesh Kymal, Chairman and Managing Director, Gamesa India. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:25:34 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#14-more-national-solar-mission-projects-under-NVVN-scanner part from the 14 projects whose bank guarantees have been encashed, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd is looking at deadline compliance of 14 other projects, an official of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said. NVVN, the nodal agency entrusted with rolling out the 1,000 MW, Phase-I of the National Solar Mission, had said last week that it had encashed the bank guarantees of 14 solar projects that had not met the January 9 deadline. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:25:34 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Infosys-enters-into-agreement-to-buy-2.6MW-of-green-power-from-OPG-Group’s-10MW-Waste-Heat-Recovery-Plant Infosys is buying 2.6 MW of green power from Chennai-based OPG Power's 10-MW waste heat recovery plant in TN. “They (Infosys) wanted 4 MW, but we are able to supply only 2.6 MW,” Mr Arvind Gupta, Managing Director of the AIM-listed, Chennai-based power generator, told Business Line today. This translates to about 22 lakh units of electricity a month. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:25:34 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Financial-Services-Firm-Blue-Circle-Acquires-Enelek-Solar-Power Blue Circle Services Ltd, a Mumbai-based public-listed financial services company, has acquired renewable energy firm Enelek Power for an undisclosed sum, the company has disclosed in a statement to the Bombay stock Exchange. Blue Circle will invest Rs 20 crore ($4 million) in Enelek for the expansion of its product line. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:25:34 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/Solar-Energy-Careers.html Information on solar energy careers and jobs in solar energy Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:19:02 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/Wind-Energy-Jobs.html Information on Wind Energy Jobs and Wind Energy Careers Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:18:14 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/SiteMap.html Site Map Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:11:22 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/Solar-Careers.html Top 10 Solar Careers - Administrative Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:08:27 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/Solar-Jobs.html Top 10 Solar Jobs - Technical Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:07:21 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Welspun-Energy-to-invest-Rs-150-billion-in-renewable-projects Welspun Energy, a part of diversified Welspun group, plans to invest about Rs 15,000 crore in solar and wind projects in the country in the next five years. The focus would be on states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for renewable projects, Welspun Energy Managing Director and co-founder Vineet Mittal said. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:33:27 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Bangalore-based-SunPV-Energy-commissions-India’s-first-Nano-Roof-Top-Solar-Photovoltaic-Systems Here is some hope for those having sleepless nights over frequent power cuts. A resident of H S R Layout and an IIT-Mumbai alumnus Ravi Shankar has used the free space on his rooftop to generate electricity using solar energy but it is unlike the domestic solar water heater system that uses heat from the sun’s radiation. NRTSPS (Nano Roof Top Solar Photovoltaic Systems) is the first of its kind in India and has been approved and certified by the CPRI (Central Power Research Institute), BESCOM, Electrical Inspectorate and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:33:27 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Green-Infra-to-add-135-MW-of-wind-capacity-by-March-end IDFC PE-funded Green Infra Ltd expects to add 135 MW of wind power capacity by the end of this financial year, the company's Chief Operating Officer, Mr Sunil Jain, told Business Line last week. Of this, 25 MW would be put under the ‘REC scheme', (where the company will get tradable renewable energy certificates), he said. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:33:27 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Shree-Ganesh-Jewellery-acquires-55%-stake-in-two-solar-PV-firms-for-Rs.-1-billion The Rs 5,800-crore Shree Ganesh Jewellery House Ltd (SGJHL) has entered into solar power generation business by acquiring controlling stakes in two companies – Alex Astral Power Ltd and Alex Spectrum Radiation Ltd. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:33:27 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#80%-of-Solar-Plants-Met-Jan.-Deadline-under-first-batch-of-National-Solar-Mission-in-India About 120 megawatts of solar photovoltaic plants were completed by their January deadline, Tarun Kapoor, renewable ministry joint secretary, said by phone from New Delhi today. Some 150 megawatts of projects awarded by auction in December 2010 under India’s Solar Mission had faced the deadline. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:33:27 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Coolest,-Most-Space-Efficient-Home-in-the-World? Architect Gary Chang has implemented some stunning solutions for small-space living in his Hong Kong apartment. This compact living space represents an inspiring case study for anybody considering the challenges of living in inner city areas with limited space. From the standpoints of density and functional practicality, this Chang design offers great potential. Consider that Chang’s very small apartment space contains not just one room, but 24 rooms using an innovative sliding wall system. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:27:17 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Prefabricated-Zero-Energy-Home-from-LivingHomes Prefabricated home developer LivingHomes has announced the launch of the new LivingHome C6, a smaller zero energy home that has been modestly priced for a small family or couple. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:27:17 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Gold-&-Silver-Nanoparticles-Improve-Efficiency-of-Thin-Film-Solar-Cells-at-Australia’s-Swinburne-University-of-Technology Researchers from Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology and Suntech Power Holdings have developed the world’s most efficient broadband nanoplasmonic solar cells for use in thin-film technology. Project scientists report improving the efficiency of existing thin-film cells by up to 8.1 percent through incorporating nucleated gold and silver nanoparticles. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:27:17 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#The-Global-CDM-Hydro-Hall-of-Shame The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is meant to catalyze climate-friendly and sustainable projects in low-income countries. Instead, it’s provided massive subsidies to hydropower developers while increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Through deception and abuse of the system, at least two-thirds of all CDM projects are likely not additional, and more are slipping in each year. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:27:17 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Floating-Wind-Farm-to-be-Built-off-Fukushima Nameless reports floating around the internet make it clear that Japanese trading house Marubeni is planning on building a floating wind farm off the Fukushima coast in Japan. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:27:17 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Creating-Jobs-in-Homebuilding:-What-Will-it-Take? Creating Jobs in Homebuilding: What Will it Take? Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:48:14 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Cincinnati-Could-Be-Completely-Powered-By-Renewables-This-Year Powering any city with 100 percent renewable energy sources without any significant cost increase for consumers is a no-brainer, right? The answer is definitely “yes” in Cincinnati, Ohio, where city officials are working on a deal that could have only renewable electrons flowing across the city by this summer. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:48:14 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#US-Virgin-Islands-Launches-15-Year-Energy-Initiative-to-Reduce-Fossil-Fuel-Use-60% Targeting new, emerging technologies in locations and environments where they can make the greatest impact makes a lot of sense, and when it comes to renewable energy, island communities, cities, and states fit the bill. A clean, renewable energy movement is afoot in Hawai’i, where proponents are laying out a path to a 100% renewable energy future. A similar initiative is underway in the US Virgin Islands. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:48:14 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Nissan-mulls-to-launch-its-top-selling-electric-car-in-India India might welcome one of the world's top selling highway-capable electric car in the coming years, as the Japanese carmaker Nissan is looking into the possiblity intoducing its electric vehicle, Leaf, into the Indian market. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:18:31 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Gujarat-sports-complex-to-run-on-solar-power In a first of its kind, a sports complex in the city will draw one-third of its power from solar panels installed on its rooftop. The project is being jointly implemented by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) for Memco sports complex in north zone of the city. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:18:31 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#FICCI-calls-for-removal-of-inverted-duty-structure-for-solar-cells-and-modules-in-budget-2012 Budget 2012: Remove inverted duty structure for solar cells and modules, says FICCI Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:18:31 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#KREDL-to-set-up-‘akshay-urja-shops’-in-tier-1-and-2-cities-in-Karnataka With a view to fostering use of small, solar energy-based products, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL), intends to set up ‘akshay urja shops' in several tier-1 and tier-2 cities in Karnataka. These shops would sell off-the-shelf solar products such as lanterns, table lamps and cookers at meagre amounts such as Rs 400. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:18:31 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Infosys,-Wipro-among-top-global-companies-in-smart-grid-software nfosys and Wipro have been named among the top seven vendors in the world of smart-grid software, a recent research report of GTM Research has said. Smart grids are those that have electrical devices with embedded software that can give out a fund of data in order that the grid may be better managed. Software is a key part of smart grids. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:18:31 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Guargaon,-India-Gramin-Bank-opens-five-new-e-banking-branches-powered-by-solar The Gurgaon Gramin Bank has opened five new e-banking branches using green technology, in the form of solar power, in Financial Inclusion Plan villages of Mewat district of Haryana. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:18:31 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#How-Much-Solar-Costs-&-How-Much-You-Could-Save-on-Electricity-in-Your-State How much could you save by going solar? How much would it cost to install a solar system? What’s your estimated return on investment (ROI)? This infographic below, made by One Block Off the Grid (1BOG)* has all the answers, and a few more. Well, they are generalized answers, based on the state you live in, but that’s as good as it gets beyond contacting a solar company and getting a quote. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:11:50 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Deja-Vu-All-Over-Again:-Congressional-Republicans-Intent-on-Nixing-Wind,-Renewable-Energy-Growth Congressional Republicans this past week scuttled an effort to extend the production tax credit (PTC) for wind energy as part of a bill that renews Pres. Obama’s payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits extension. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:11:50 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#New-“Flow”-Battery-Does-that-Cheap-Energy-Storage-Thing Scientists on the lookout for utility-scale, high efficiency batteries are developing new “flow”systems that that store energy more effectively than lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries, but there’s a catch. The flow batteries in operation now are about the size of a house and they cost more than the equivalent in lithium-ion batteries. The race is on to find smaller, cheaper alternatives and researchers at Sandia National Laboratories believe that they are on to the solution, which is, in fact, a solution of liquid salts called MetILs. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:11:50 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Solar-Training-Courses,-More-of-Them Here is information on online solar training courses being offered by Infinite Solar Online. There are other places where you can take online solar training course (or live courses) Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:11:50 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#First-Phase-of-Giant-London-Array-Offshore-Wind-Farm-Underway The first phase of what will be by far the world's largest offshore wind farm, the London Array, has begun construction. The first two 3.6 MW turbines were installed on January 27 and 28 and will be generating electricity by Marc Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:57:19 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Solar-Panel-Startup-Achieves-Amazing-33.9%-Efficiency Semprius, a startup company manufacturing tiny concentrated solar cells that forgo any cooling systems has achieved a truly amazing leap in solar cell efficiency. The company was able to hit 33.9 percent efficiency with their solar panel, the first time a commercially-viable solar technology has passed the one-third mark. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:57:19 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Black-Silicon-Boosts-Solar-Efficiency A process called "Black Silicon Nanocatalytic Wet-Chemical Etch" is allowing increased solar panel efficiency by reducing the light that reflects off of the panels instead of being absorbed. Any light that is reflected away from the solar panel lowers the amount of electricity it produces. The black silicon is especially good at capturing early morning and late afternoon light, which helps improve the overall effectiveness of the panel throughout the day. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:57:19 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/Solar-Panels.html Information on Solar Panels, Solar farms, and Solar Energy Panels Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:39:03 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Study:-Decrease-in-Sun's-Output-Won't-Curb-Global-Warming A new study done by the University of Reading and the Met Office looked at the likely changes in solar activity over the next 90 years and whether a decrease would offset global warming by any significant measure. The answer: no. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:49:02 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Apple-iBooks-2-Sells-350,000-e-Textbooks-in-Three-Days Last week, Apple officially unveiled its iBooks 2 textbook platform where iPad users can download electronic versions of textbooks that are not only interactive, but cheaper too. Apparently, it was just what educators and students were waiting for because early reports are saying that in just its first three days the iBooks store saw 350,000 downloads of e-textbooks. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:49:02 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Developing-Renewable-Energy-Resources-of-Landfill-Gas Landfills are a necessary component of contemporary life. According to the US EPA, the average person in the U.S. produces nearly 1,130 pounds (513 kilograms) of waste per year, and the vast majority of that ends up in landfills. Much of that trash decomposes, and releases methane and CO2, both of which are greenhouse gasses. However, methane is also a gas which can be used as a fuel, and increasingly, landfills are beginning to realize this is an energy resource and are making use of it. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:49:02 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Extended-Range-EV-Trucks-from-VIA-Motors Although the overall tone of this year's North American International Auto Show had a far lower emphasis on "green vehicles" than we've seen in recent years, we were nonetheless surprised to see three different niche companies with electric vehicles present on the main floor. Two of these compaines, Tesla and Coda, had all-battery EVs; the third, VIA Motors, has pickups and vans with electric drive and onboard generator for extended range driving, much like the Chevy Volt. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:49:02 GMT http://www.about-alternative-energy.com/alternative-energy-blog.html#Kodak-Switching-from-Camera-Film-to-Thin-Film-Solar-Cells Kodak may be in the middle of some financial trouble -- it just filed for bankruptcy yesterday and has shut down almost all of its camera film production -- but they're looking at solar energy as a way to a fresh start. The camera and film maker is hoping to use its already existing manufacturing processes to produce thin-film solar cells. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:49:02 GMT