Solar Project Could Generate 800 MW in Arizona & California

On foxbusiness.com (March 25, 2010), there is a Dow Jones Newswires article entitled, Sempra Generation Unit Eyes 800 MW Of Solar In Ariz, Calif by Cassandra Sweet.

It reports the following:

Sempra Energy is considering a major solar energy project with the potential to generate 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity in Arizona and 200 MW in an area near Los Angeles.

Specifically, the company’s merchant generation unit is looking at tapping solar energy in California’s Tehachapi Valley and near Phoenix, Arizona.

Western states, such as California and Arizona, have renewable energy requirements for utilities. Jeff Martin, president of Sempra Generation, mentioned the possibility of surpassing those minimum requirements under the right circumstances.

Chevron Solar Test Site

In Sunday's Courier-Journal (March 28, 2010) there was an article entitled "Chevron puts solar technology to the test" by Tiffany Hsu of the Los Angeles Times. The article talks about how the oil company Chevron will convert an old refinery into a solar energy testbed. The eight acre site will become home to over 7,000 solar panels from a variety of different manufacturers.


Since 1992, Chevron has been using hydrogen fuel cells and photovoltaic energy sources to cut its dependence on traditional power generation by one-third. The company estimates it has saved about 3 billion dollars. Of the money saved, Chevron is planning on spending $2 billion on renewable power over the next several years.


Currently, Chevron has launched Project Brightfield to test the usability and efficiency of solar panels from these companies: Sharp, Abound Solar, Schuco, Solar Frontier Limited, Solibro, MiaSole, and Innovalight. The electricity from the panels estimated to amount to 740 kW will power Kern River oil field facility. The project is to last three years helping Chevron evaluate the different panels.

The Solar Daffodil

The flowers are beginning to bloom here in Louisville, Kentucky. This daffodil reminds one of the sun. One might think of it as the solar daffodil.

U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturing Facility

According to a Reuters article entitled "BP Solar Closes Its Maryland Manufacturing Plant" by Dana Ford, a solar cell plant has been shut down in the United States. The Frederick, Maryland plant was closed on Friday, March 26, 2010. About 320 jobs were eliminated leaving R&D, sales, marketing, and project positions. BP Solar estimates they have approximate one gigawatt of installed solar systems.

The AP had a story on this was well by David Dishneau who mentions the manufacturing facility was created in the 1970s by the company Solarex. It was later owned by Amoco with a 50% stake controlled by Enron. BP Solar acquired both stakes to become sole owner of the plant.

So much for these "green" manufacturing jobs for the United States.

I Want You for Solar Energy

Poster to try to get volunteers for the Louisville Solar Week.

Courier Journal Article on Nature's Electricity

Here is an article about two participants in the 2009 Louisville Solar Tour, Dr. Don Feeney, Jr. and Tim Darst. Readers should check out this article and its coverage of a number of alternative energy sites around the Louisville, Kentucky and southern Indiana area.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010303170037

Tim also has a blog on the KentuckianaGreen.com site that can be found here.

Applied Materials Solar Moves to China

The New York Times has an informative article about "green" jobs being moved or created in China by American companies. See "China Drawing High-Tech Research From U.S." by Keith Bradsher from March 17, 2010.

Of course how so the United States compete when companies can find engineers with master's degrees for about $700 a month. The company highlighted in the story is Applied Materials, maker of the equipment that produces computer displays, semiconductors and solar panels.

After reading some of the comments on the New York Times website, I was surprised by some the well thought out posts. The one post made an interesting observation about the focus of where American public, "it's technology that makes or breaks a nation not financial gimmicks..."

The United States better start changing course!

U of L Solar Water Heater

The University of Louisville documented on the Internet how they installed a solar hot water heating system at Burhans Hall on the Shelby Campus in 2009. It was partially funded with money from the Kentucky Instutite for the Environment and Sustainable Development (KIESD).

Read more and see pictures of the installation at this webpage.

Sign-up for the Kentucky Resource Center for Environmental Sustainability here.

Louisville Regional Science Fairs

Saturday, March 13, 2010 was the 46th Annual Louisville Regional Science Fairs allowing area middle and high school students to demonstrate their scientific prowess. Congratulations to all the students who entered and hopefully the experience will lead to rewarding careers.

Here is a video from the overall winner of the 2010 Intel Science Talent Search talking about improved methods for navigating the solar system.



Louisville Science Fairs list condensed from the one published on the Courier Journal website.

Of particular interest are the students who created solar related exhibits:

1st Place
Senior Division
Physical Sciences
Megan Mercer
11
Ballard High School
A New Solar Energy Material Search Strategy

3rd Place
Junior Division
Physical Sciences
Teddy Kamer
7
St. Francis of Assisi School
Generating Electricity from Temperature Differentials in Metals

Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
Senior
2nd
Jaclyn Ochsner
10
Assumption High School
Which type of liquid running through a solar collector will capture and transfer the
most heat?

Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering
Senior
1st
Hannah Maddox
10
Ballard High School
How Safe Are your Shades?

Energy & Transportation
Senior
2nd
Kevin Brand
10
Ballard High School
Solar Absorption of Different Colored Light

Energy & Transportation
Senior
3rd
Daniel Chon
9
Ballard High School
Making Wind Generators Exceedingly Efficient

Microbiology
Junior
3rd
Induja Nimma
8
Meyzeek Middle School
Water Disinfection with Solar Energy

Energy & Transportation
Junior
1st
Arjun Agarwal
6
Meyzeek Middle School
Renewable Solar Energy Question: Does a Magnifying Glass Improve Solar Panel Output?

Energy & Transportation
Junior
2nd
Sarah Asseff
8
Newburg Middle School
Solar Water Heater Operation in Cold Weather: A Continuation

Solar Energy Lessons from Spain

Image World Nature by Danilo Rizzuti
www.freedigitalphotos.net

After reading the informative New York Times article, "Solar Industry Learns Lessons in Spanish Sun" by Elisabeth Rosenthal on March 8, 2010, it provides a story of how government incentives can run amok.

With well-meaning intent, the Spanish government subsidized solar generated electricity to 58 cents a kilowatt hour. This subsidy was the highest in the world in 2007 and caused a solar energy production boom. The coal producing area around Puertollano, Spain was a primary beneficiary with 20% unemployment dropping to below 10% with solar industry setting up shop there.

Energy production reached 400 megawatts by 2007 and 2500 megawatts in 2008. The energy output was great but for the fact that inefficient plants were being kept operating by Spanish government money. So now the government is adjusting the money paid to 39 cents per kilowatt for plant produced electricity and a different rate for rooftop panels.

This rate change caused solar panel manufacturing plants and production facilities to close. The article does not list what the 2009 solar electricity production values.

Lessons for the United States, be careful how subsidies are set and do allow the production/capacity to grow too fast.

Louisville Solar Tour and Week 2010

Greetings!

This blog is intended to highlight solar energy production/uses and compliment the Louisville Solar Tour and Week.

The Louisville Solar Tour and Week are events that will educate and encourage the citizens around the Louisville, Kentucky area about alternative forms of energy generation. Since 2007, the Louisville Solar Tour has existed to help people see the variety of solar installations in the Louisville vicinity. This event is part of the world's largest grassroots solar event called the ASES National Solar Tour.

Please check out our website at louisvillesolartour.org

We need people and places to help make 2010 a success for solar energy in Louisville!