Solar Powered Plane Traverses the Pacific Ocean Highlighting the Importance of Renewable Energy (Video)

The Solar Impulse, a plane powered by nothing other than the sun has succeeded in crossing the Pacific Ocean. This amazing accomplishment highlights the capabilities and the importance of renewable energy. This record setting voyage was flown by pilot Andre Borschberg. The 118-hours it took to make the journey breaks a record for the longest nonstop solo flight ever.

Solar Plane in the Process of Setting a Record by Circumnavigating the Globe

A solar powered plane is making its way around the world. The lightweight plane is called Solar Impulse 2, it has a wingspan wider than a 747. The carbon fiber and polymer impregnated paper plane incorporates high performance energy management software, advanced lithium-ion batteries powered by 17,000 high efficiency solar cells.

The two rotating pilots hope to fly the plane into the record books. The flight began in Abu Dhabi on March 9 and is expected to conclude its global voyage in July of this year. The first leg of the journey took the plane to Muscat, Oman and then on to India on March 10.

President Clinton on What the American Public Needs to Know about Renewable Energy

As reviewed in a Renewable Energy World article, former President Bill Clinton made some very interesting points at Solar Power International 2012. Clinton was the keynote speaker for the September event where he addressed what the American public needs to know about renewable energy. His speech focused on the topics of government investment, the environment, economics, jobs, Solyndra, subsidies and the future of energy in America.

 Clinton emphasized the importance of private-public cooperation in the development of America's renewable energy potential. He mentioned the dire need for the solar industry to set the record straight regarding the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy.

Solar Power International 2012 (Event)

Solar Power International (SPI' 12) will be held on September 10th to 13th 2012 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Florida. SPI '12 will host 21,000 professionals from solar energy and related fields for the industry's largest, most comprehensive solar energy event in North America. If your success is connected to the solar energy industry, you need to be in Orlando this September.  Network with manufacturers, distributors, installers and contractors, engineering firms, architects, builders and developers, investors and financiers. Meet face to face top suppliers and manufacturers. Compare new solutions, side by side—you’ll find product categories together on the exhibit floor. Check out your competition and spot new trends. Build up your knowledge base in the most extensive B2B conference program in the industry. Stay on top of policy developments that could affect your business—and talk to the policy makers themselves.

Introduction to Solar PV (Course)

Green Power Academy presents Introduction to Solar PV. This one day course will take place on August 2, in London, UK. The course will provide a solid introduction to photovoltaic technologies Including their economics and business case. The course objectives include understanding Solar PV power generation. It describes and illustrates geographic variations in solar resource, explains the various technologies and system components required to create a project and discusses the business case issues such as costs, competition and regulatory frameworks. Challenges (and solutions) in integrating solar into the grid on a large-scale are included as are the pros and cons of competing power generation options (both renewable and fossil).

Introduction to PV Design and Installation and Exam Prep (Course)

Between Monday June 18th and Thursday June 21 a class on PV design will be taking place at the Atlantic Cape Community College, Mays Landing Campus East (an NABCEP approved training provider. The NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam is based on a set of learning objectives developed by NABCEP Committee of PV subject matter experts. PV design and installation concepts will be reviewed.

Solar Maghreb 2012 Congress and Exhibition (Event)

On May 22-23 May 2012, Solar Maghreb will convene in Morocco. This is the most established congress to focus exclusively on the North African solar markets. After dramatic changes in the region over the past year, Solar Maghreb will welcome official delegations from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Libya to formulate the next steps for the region's solar market.

Duties on Chinese Solar Higher than Expected

On May 17, 2012, The US Department of Commerce announced stiff anti-dumping tariffs that were much higher than expected. These duties amount to around 31 percent on crystalline silicon solar panels imported from China. The duties come in response to the Chinese government's dumping of solar panels below the cost of production.

FOCUS-EMPOWER-GROW - Solar Lighting for Africa - Hult Global Case Challenge (Video)

A basic explanation of one of the principles of the EIT's innovative solution to help Sunny money sell 1,000,000 solar lamps by 2013 and help eradicate the use of kerosene lamps by 2020.
Related Posts
Implications of US Duties on Chinese Solar
Countervailing Duties on Chinese Solar Cells (Video)
Outlook for the Chinese Solar Industry in 2012
How the West can Capitalize on the Growth of Chinese Cleantech in 2012
US Regains Lead from China as Clean Energy Leader
US Solar Energy Review and 2012 Forecasts
Renewable Energy in 2012: The Global Economic and Environmental Climate
Will 2012 be the Best Year Ever For Clean-Tech Investment?
Renewable Energy Is Our Only Hope
India is the World Leader in Cleantech Investment Growth
The EU Debt Crisis did Not Curb the Growth of Renewables in 2011
Cleantech the Next Great Investment Opportunity

Countervailing Duties on Chinese Solar Cells (Video)

SolarWorld says the countervailing duties leveled against Chinese solar cells is "validating." In this video Ben Santarros speaks with Steve Leone about the International Trade Commission's ruling against Chinese cells. The US Government has found that illegal subsidies were indeed at play. This interview was published on March 21, 2012 by RenewableEnergyWorld.

Related Posts
Implications of US Duties on Chinese Solar
Outlook for the Chinese Solar Industry in 2012
How the West can Capitalize on the Growth of Chinese Cleantech in 2012
US Regains Lead from China as Clean Energy Leader
US Solar Energy Review and 2012 Forecasts
Renewable Energy in 2012: The Global Economic and Environmental Climate
Will 2012 be the Best Year Ever For Clean-Tech Investment?
Renewable Energy Is Our Only Hope
India is the World Leader in Cleantech Investment Growth
The EU Debt Crisis did Not Curb the Growth of Renewables in 2011
Cleantech the Next Great Investment Opportunity

Implications of US Duties on Chinese Solar

The US Department of Commerce is imposing duties on Chinese solar manufacturers who are unfairly benefiting from China's export subsidies. The countervailing duties (CVD) is 3 to almost 5 percent. These modest duties were arrived at by the math done by the Department of Commerce in their ruling. Based on the Department of Commerce's numbers, Chinese solar companies aren't as heavily subsidized as many believe.

Cuts to UK Solar FiTs Could Prove Deadly

On October 31st 2011, Greg Barker, Minister of State at DECC, announced a controversial proposal to halve the feed-in tariff (FiT) rates for solar installations in each band up to 50kW, with smaller cuts in the bands from 50kW to 250kW. These cuts to FiTs are jeopardizing the UK solar industry. A FiT is a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies. It achieves this by offering long-term contracts to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation of each technology. Cuts to homeowners solar power could prove deadly to the fledgling UK industry in addition to threatening tens of thousands of jobs.

Outlook for the Chinese Solar Industry in 2012

The Chinese solar industry will achieve unprecedented growth in 2012, adding between 2.8 and 5 GW. The strong growth of Chinese solar in 2012 is due to both the 12th Five Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development (2011-2015) and their feed-in tariffs (FiTs).

Sun Powered Entrepreneurship in Ghana

There are a number of green entrepreneurs popping up in Africa. One such entrepreneur is Addosolar, this company offers portable solar products for the people of Ghana. Their goal is to help address the need for light due to daily power outages in the nation, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

Arab Spring Fueling the World's Most Ambitious Solar Project

There are early indications that the environment could benefit from the Arab Spring. A $550 Billion plan for the world's most ambitious solar project could be producing energy by 2015.

Princeton is Building the Largest Solar Array of Any University

Princeton University is planning to build a 27-acre solar field consisting of 16,500 photovoltaic panels making it the largest solar field for any US college or university. It will produce enough energy to power 700 households. The EPA estimates that the solar array is equivalent of taking more than 1,200 cars off the road, which translates to a reduction of 3,090 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Solar Powered Schools In California

An increasing number of California's schools are using solar electricity installations as a teaching tool. The Foundation for Environmental Education has partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric Company to bring renewable energy education into under-served communities through highly-visible solar installation systems. The Foundation for Environmental Education is a non-profit organization that is seeking to build the next generation of thinkers who will carry the renewable energy torch far into the future. California's Solar Schools initiative will help the state save over $1.5 billion in energy costs over the next 30 years.

The UK's Sandal Magna Community Primary School

The Sandal Magna Community Primary School in Wakefield, England is one of the UK's most carbon efficient schools. Designed by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, the complex incorporates reclaimed materials, energy conservation, and renewable energy. The school recently won the RIBA award for both its green efforts and its unique looks.

SolarDay 2011

SolarDay takes place on Saturday June 18 in Canada, the US and the UK (November 19 in Australia). This is the third annual SolarDay event, it celebrates solar energy and its capacity to help protect the planet from global warming. SolarDay includes events by cities, non-profits, companies and the solar industry.

SolarDay 2010 events were held in 26 US cities and included municipal proclamations declaring an Official SolarDay. One 2011 SolarDay event in New Orleans involved multiple non-profit organizations working in concert with the city.

Members of the U.S. Congress Supporting SolarDay 2011 include California Senator Dianne Feinstein. Congresswoman Doris Matsui is also supporting SolarDay with letters on the SolarDay website to encourage public participation and awareness of how solar energy can reduce monthly energy bills - while provided much-need "green" jobs for the US economy.

Event organizers see solar as the next step in the "Greening of America" movement that includes driving a hybrid car, shopping for organic and sustainably-farmed foods, doing business with green companies, recycling, saving energy and avoiding, as much as possible the burning of finite and polluting fossil fuels that play a significant role in the production of greenhouse gases and global warming.

Costly fossil fuels are a finite resource that threaten the planet and all its inhabitants. By some estimates, we have 50 years of oil reserves, 200 years of coal reserves and at least 5 billion years of solar energy. It is clear that our energy future is dependent upon the renewable energy we can harvest from the sun.

For more information, or to find local events in your area, visit the SolarDay site.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Post
Global Wind Day 2011

Spain Renews its Commitment to Clean Energy at the G20 Conference

Spain is already a leader in clean energy and they are looking to green to grow their economy and provide jobs. Spain also acknowledges the need for reforms in markets driving the energy sector in order to help expand the green economy.

Ahead of the recent G20 conference in Seoul, Korea, European Commission President Jose Barroso said the G20 must remain committed to a sustainable green economy. In a statement he said, "The G20 must not waiver in their efforts to come to a more sustainable management of our resources and a greener economy,"

"Subsidies for fossil fuels must be gradually withdrawn," said Barroso. "We also must continue our efforts to reduce the price volatility of oil and other commodities," he added.

The Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said the green economy will help to address high unemployment in Spain. Zapatero indicated that ecologically sustainable industries could produce around a million jobs in the country over the next decade and help the country climb out of the economic crisis.

"The green economy represents a great potential to generate employment in the future and also to help with technological advances and to make economies more competitive," Zapatero said on the Spanish television network RTVE.

Spain has ambitious yet realistic goals including doubling the amount of freight that travels by rail in the next 10 years. Spain also aims to have 250,000 electrically powered cars on its roads by 2015.

At the G20 conference, Zapatero highlighted Spain's dedication to renewable energy and indicated that his country has set a new record by having 70 percent of its energy needs being supplied by clean sources, including wind and solar.

Zapatero also stressed that leading economies need to work towards market reforms as the world prepares for COP16 scheduled for the end of November in Cancun, Mexico. Spain is leading the way through sustainable economic growth and green jobs.


Related Posts
The G20 and the Transition to a Greener Economy
The G20 and the Green Economy
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
UN Hopeful about G20 Climate Finance
Greenpeace's G20 Checklist
Video on Green Growth - Korea's Key to a Better Future
Korea's Green Growth and the New Expanison Paradigm
UN Chief Asks G20 to Focus on a Sustainable Recovery
G20 Summit in Toronto Ends with Little Action on Climate Change
G20 Must Cooperate for a Sustainable Recovery
G20 and Central Bank Governors Joint Communique
G20 Disagreements and Global Economic Reforms
Program and Plans for G8 and G20 Summits in Canada
UN Climate Change Initiatives Post Toronto
G20 Security Concerns Force Cancellation of Sustainable Supply Chain Event
G20 Protestors Dilute Green Message
Canadians Disappointed with Conservative's Lack of leadership at the Toronto G20 Summit
The G20 and the Developing World Disagree on Proposed Climate Change Protocols
Competing National Priorities
End Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Local Business Promotes Green Agenda for G20 in Pittsburgh
G20 Lays the Foundation for a Better World
Global Warming Exposes Resources but Arctic Meeting Leaves Some Out in the Cold
G8's More Aggressive GHG Targets