Solar investment remains strong despite warnings!

Renewable energy is becoming big business with large investments by big name players such as Google.org.

 

*Google has recently announced three investments in Alternative energy companies two of which are using solar thermal principles. Solar thermal power stations concentrate sunlight with the use of mirrors to get super hot temperatures. This concentrated energy heats up a liquid (commonly water) to its gaseous state and that gas (steam) is used to drive turbines which in turn output electricity.

 

One of the companies that Google.org has invested in is BrightSource Energy who has announced it has been able to raise investment of $ 115 million from investors which include names like BP Alternative Energy and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. Last month, BrightSource signed the biggest solar deal ever, agreeing to deliver 900 megawatts of power to the California utility, PG&E.

 

**All of this comes at a time where there is some speculation that a bubble may be forming  within the renewable energy sector. A report published by KPMG lists bidder competition for assets as being the force causing these sector prices to become overvalued.

 

***Reports on www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, has reported that many solar based indices are up despite the continuing struggle by the solar industry in the US to secure subsidies that the oil industry has enjoyed for years. According to solar expert J.Peter Lynch, “Solar Stocks have again surprised the street and beaten estimates, some by a wide margin. I do expect that the industry will see some margin pressures in 2009, but for now solar stocks have regained momentum and are for the most part technically strong.”

 

*Source: http://blog.wired.com/

** Source: http://uk.reuters.com/

*** Source: http://money.cnn.com/

Geothermal Energy are we playing with fire?

Thomas R Blakeslee of the Clearlight Foundation wrote an article entitled “The Folly of Fueled Power Plants” recently. In it he explores the folly of burning fuel in order to power our lifestyles rather than taping in to the natural heating capabilities of the magma below the earths crust.

 

Mr Blakeslee presents a convincing argument particularly when he expounds on the thinking that causes us to dig holes in mountains to gather fuel (uranium and coal), extract it and then in effect burn the fruit of our labour leaving dangerous by-products in storage whilst we figure out how to safely dispose of them or worse release those by-products into our atmosphere.

 

He suggests that the gathering of geo-thermal energy is as easy as drilling a couple of holes through the bedrock until we reach a level where temperatures are hot enough to superheat the water to steam. We would then pump water into one and release the steam from the other. The steam is used to drive turbines, which in turn generate electricity.

 

I have some concerns about this and as far as I can see there has been very little research done on the impact that a process like this might create.

 

There is a very real danger that if we start pumping literally tons of water through the earths crust we could be creating a greater environmental disaster – one so large that our very existence may be threatened.

 

One nation doing this may have a limited effect but imagine all the earth’s nations pouring water daily into the earths core. Cooling the core by a few degrees may trigger disasters of unimaginable proportions - ocean currents may cool slow or change course, bigger storms could be created, floods and a possibly major ice age could end life on the earth.

 

Another concern is that by pumping water through the earths crust we may actually create huge fault lines that will cause earthquakes and volcanic activity. When I was younger and living on a farm I remember that if there was a need to remove a large boulder from a field we would light a fire under it until it was hot then douse it with water. This sudden cooling caused the rock to crack and break into smaller pieces. We were then able to carry it away. I cannot imagine that pouring water through the bedrock wouldn’t have the same affect on the rock structure.

 

Right now we have the opportunity to learn to use the sun, wind, waves, tides and water to power our world. I think that messing with something as vital to our existence as the earth’s core is a far greater folly than any carbon based fuel sins that we have committed in the past. We can do so much better than this if we just co-operate and think!

Making Wealth History

In my day to day search to produce useful and valid solar energy related articles I sometimes come across articles and sites which relate to general sustainability. From time to time I may comment on them but normally I prefer to leave that to someone else whose site has readers more interested in this type of topic.

 

However this site is one that I think deserves a special mention: http://makewealthhistory.org/

 

Jeremy has left comments for us here on this site before. His site is dedicated to the eradication of unsustainable consumerism and posses some very thoughtful insights.

 

Like many before him, his campaign may fall on deaf ears but it does not deserve to! It is sites like this that encourage healthy debate and I think that we cannot sidestep these issues any longer.

 

Change is not going to be easy but I think that we are going to have to change or face the consequences later. After all what is wealth – isn’t it the ability to provide a healthy, comfortable existence for our families and those around us. Surely we can do this without destroying ourselves in the process.

 

Perhaps if we all saw ourselves as stewards of what we have rather than owners we would be less inclined to destroy it. Perhaps if our purpose was to improve what we had rather than just consume we would lead more fulfilling sustainable lives. I don’t have all the answers but I think that I am seeing where I need to change.

 

Jeremy made a comment that I thought very pertinent when answering questions on the pollution issues within China. He said we should not see that as a reason to not change and that the rich nations of the future will be those that have learnt to become most self sustaining.

 

I can see in the future that those individuals that have cut their lifestyles and actions to be sustainable and sufficient for their needs will be considered the richest. Why not start today by looking at how solar energy can help you reach those goals.

Solar challenging Fossil Fuels

The Sungri  energy company announced recently plans to begin production of an enhanced solar system that would bring solar energy production costs own to 5 cents per KW. This would leave existing technology far behind.

 

In effect this would make solar energy production competitive with coal and other fossil fuel energy production. If solar energy is to become effective it needs to make economic sense against fossil fuel production.

 

The system called  Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics uses a lens much like a magnifying glass to concentrate sunlight onto a highly efficient photovoltaic cell. Each unit features a lens that magnifies the sun’s rays 2,000 times, focusing it onto a solar cell that converts more than 37% sunlight to energy. The extreme temperatures within the system caused by this process of focusing sunlight (more than 3,000 ºF!), meant that  Sunrgi had to develop a proprietary cooling system that keeps the panels safe and sound.

 

Sungri have tested their prototype and expect that production will begin in 12 – 15 months time.

Bush needs to revisit Alaska plans.

It would seem that George Bush is pushing congress to open up protected areas of Alaska to Oil exploration and drilling.

 

This is his response to soaring fuel prices. He is being opposed by some congressmen but whether they will be able to continue to block him, under mounting pressure from motorists and the transport industry, remains to be seen.

 

Now I am not immune to the rising prices of fuel myself. I do drive and I do have to put fuel in my car but I fail to see the logic in Bush’s push unless oil supplies are dwindling faster than we have been led to believe.

 

I might have missed something  but oil exploration now to reduce fuel prices doesn’t make any sense. Firstly there is the question of how long before that oil –if they find any- actually becomes available. Then will it make a difference to any oil deficit that the Western world has at present – I doubt it.

 

 Furthermore there are now many alternative fuel sources that could benefit from more state and media attention. Surely this would be a wiser and more long term view than risking further environmental damage so that we can fuel up for cheaper for longer.

 

I like the convenience of my motorcycle and car over public transport and I would hope that in the world of the future I can still use some form of either. But I do not advocate the destruction of further tracts of land just so that I can buy cheaper fuel. It’s high time motorists and the transport industry started pushing governments to put more emphasis on the development of alternative fuelled vehicles and subsidising their commercial production.

 

The issue is probably too long and convoluted for us to address properly in the limited realms of a short blog but if we don’t change our thinking AND our habits we are not going to impact the environment positively. My only wish is that our leaders would start leading our thinking.

Solar for All

One of the things that I hope to achieve from the easy-solar-energy site and the easy-solar-energy blog is to awaken people to the possibility of what a little thinking can do to change how we utilise the sun.

 

Most people think that solar energy has to heat either water or power photovoltaic panels. But attention is now being grabbed by the value of building solar grabbers in cool climates or designing homes to take advantage of passive solar energy. Passive solar design can be just as beneficial to homes in hot climates as well as cold – in fact a good passive solar house will be warm in winter and cool in summer.

 

I am all for DIYers working to create their own solar energy solutions. I heard recently of a church that designed their own solar heating system using old tin cans. New York First Presbyterian Church was able to cut their heating bills by 55% When they published their idea – they were able to charge people $1 for the plans which helped provide income for some of their needier members. They then went on to create a company that provided solar heating to people that was capable of paying for itself within a year provided the recipients used their tax relief.

 

My point is this: we can all take advantage of the sun and we can do it in two ways. We can pay a fortune to specialist PV and Solar heating installers or we can learn the principles of solar design. We can throw our money at the problem or we can observe, communicate and ask the right questions. I am all for both actually and I write for both.

 

I will be publishing in future the principles behind some of these ideas so that others can take advantage of them and experiment themselves but until then you can improve your knowledge and understanding here.

Make mine big and hot!

I find it exciting to see how Solar energy is gaining in popularity across the globe.

 

This hasn’t been lost on the energy companies either. As the price of fossil fuels increases solar thermal energy stations are becoming so much more popular

 

Thanks to Ira Flatow at  Science Friday for the link to this resource.

 

It seems that some of the largest solar thermal stations are now based in the USA. See the ecowordly.com article here: biggest solar  thermal projects.

 

It seems that finally energy companies are getting the message but it has been a message based on the economies of scale and not on what people really want. Still it is better than nothing. Long let it continue.

Check out this video.

Useful info if you can ignore the umms.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyiPbiPLmoM&feature=related

 

Save Yourself Money Then Get Paid For Doing It!

Most people do not believe me when I tell them that currently there are millions of dollars worth of grants available for energy projects. These can be in the form of grants or tax incentives.

 

It is a mammoth task to list every single initiative as these are changed regularly and are spread over local, state, provincial and national governments. Also, policies on kinds of renewable energy sources that may benefit from solar energy grants change from time to time. Here are some of the most recent and best Government funding initiatives from around the globe.

 

 Solar Energy - USA

In the USA the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is probably your best first port of call. EERE is engaged in many strategies to increase the use of renewable energy and improve the required technology.

 

The Solar America Initiative provides significant funding opportunities for partners to develop, improve, and deploy solar energy technologies. Initial funding provided $159 million to U.S. Department of Energy partners. Future funding is estimated at $200 million, subject to congressional approval.. It is not involved in individual incentives but you can access a comprehensive US solar energy grants database here. http://www.dsireusa.org/

 

For direct solar energy grants to you, and for other incentives you should contact your local government authority first. This may feel a bit long winded but should lead to grants and rebates tailored to your solar water heating system, or other form of renewable energy appliance.

Also, there is good general information available on all kinds of solar energy grants and tax incentives. http://www.energytaxincentives.org/

 

  Solar Energy - United Kingdom

In the U.K The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform BERR (where do they get these names?) sponsors the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

 

Householders can apply for grants of up to £2,500 per property towards the cost of installing a certified product by a certified installer. To find out more about the programme, the technologies that are funded and how to apply, see here. http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/about/

 

The UK Government not only funds schemes that produce energy there are also a number of schemes providing up to £2,700 to households on certain benefits to improve their heating and energy efficiency. In England the scheme is known as Warm Front, in Northern Ireland it is Warm Homes, in Scotland it is Warm Deal and the Central Heating Programme and in Wales it is the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme. The eligibility criteria for the schemes differ between countries - with some schemes you need to be in receipt of certain benefits, whilst others are available to anyone over a certain age. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i_do_today/energy_saving_grants_and_offers

 

  Solar Energy - Australia

The Australian Federal government’s Office of Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) administers the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET). Try saying that with your mouthful!

However, the ORER does not provide Australian Government assistance in the form of grants or rebates to companies or individuals.

Renewable energy power stations, some solar water heater installations and small photovoltaic, wind or mini hydro-electric system installations may be eligible to create renewable energy certificates (RECs) under the MRET.

These REC’s can be traded like shares or money.

Don’t dismiss them as mere play money!

For a two panel solar hot water system, the REC currently equals about AUS$1,000, dependent on the geographical location of the water heater.

Update:  In 2007 the Australian Prime Minister introduced a rebate programme for certain types of renewable energy sources. These can be as much as $1000 for solar water heaters. There are also rebates for Photovoltaic energy sources. This is well worth a look at: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/rebates/

 

Three further Australian Departments that offer information on solar energy grants and assistance for research or development projects or new renewable energy power stations are

Australian Greenhouse Office

Department of Environment and Heritage

Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources

 

Australian State and Territory governments offer more direct incentives, including to

Households

Community groups

Schools

Business

Research and development organisations

Local government, and

State Government agencies

All State and Territory governments have their equivalent programs and you should seek these out.

 

  Solar Energy - New Zealand

Energy Wise New Zealand offers grants for those wishing to install Solar Heaters to their homes up to $500. There are certain criteria that must be met - one that seems a little strange is that loans must be taken through their recommended loan provider. http://solar.energywise.govt.nz/consumers/financial-assistance

 

  Solar Energy - South Africa

The Department of Minerals and Energy has a white paper on funding available. This appears to be more for those that are involved in Solar Energy as a business. It is interesting to note however that a country that has so much sunshine and such a large population of people that could benefit from Solar Energy is doing so little too promote it themselves. http://www.dme.gov.za/pdfs/energy/renewable/refso_finance.pdf.

 

  Solar Energy - Canada

The ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program which runs from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011. Incentives are offered to the industrial/commercial/institutional sector to install active energy-efficient solar air and/or water heating systems. The incentive will rebate 25 percent of the purchase, installation and certain other costs of qualifying systems. Eligible projects must be completed and commissioned within six (6) months of the signing of a contribution agreement with NRCan.

 

In addition, pilot projects conducted with energy utilities, energy service companies and non-governmental organizations will explore ways of making solar water heating systems more accessible to Canadian homeowners. While the program will not be offering incentives directly to homeowners, these large-scale pilot projects are designed to install solar water heating systems into several thousand homes. http://ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/heat-chauffage/index-eng.cfm.

 

This is free money just waiting for you to take advantage of it.  I hope that this has helped you. So there you have it not only can you save yourself money by getting a sustainable energy solution at home but you can also get paid to do it.

 

Until the next time - stay green and keep the bills lean!

 

Why Grid Free and Debt Free go Hand in Hand.

Many of the people that I speak to on a daily basis are working hard for their money and getting further and further in debt every month. Those same people complain to me often about the cost of their electricity and gas bills. Then they go off to the shops and buy stuff on credit because it makes them feel a little better. Of course they’ll tell you that they needed those designer sunglasses, the latest design in helmet and leathers or that fab Gucci bag!

“So what has all this got to do with solar energy?” I hear you ask. Well quite a bit actually – lets face it most people are looking for cheaper energy bills because they do not have enough money to pay them. The flip side of this is that it takes money to install a solar energy system or any alternative energy system for that matter that will save you energy.

With that in mind here are my top tips to getting out of debt fast and start saving money both on your credit cards and on your energy bills.

1.Call and speak to your credit card company. When my wife and I first started getting our debt under control we did not even know what our APR was on our cards. We called the first lender and asked what our APR on the card was. The person on the phone told us it was 24. 9 % but he could lower it for us to 15% - we hadn’t even asked for a reduction! Heartened by that we started calling all the others and asked them to reduce the APR out of 6 cards all but one agreed. Guess which card we paid off first!
2.Get a good financial planner. The best will be willing to come to your home and talk to you about your needs. If all that they do is try to sell you a product without offering you a plan then show them the door. If you are in the U.K. you can get a free visit and a free plan by this
 address.
3.Pay more than the minimum. Our advisor showed my wife and I how long it would take if we paid off just the minimum balances on our cards and we were shocked. By adding just £5 per month to one of our debts we reduced payment time by 6 years. Then he showed us the next system.
4.Stack your debt. This is simply paying off one debt and using what was normally going out to furnish that debt to pay off another and then another. This was amazing and after we saw how we potentially could knocked nearly 10 years off of our debts we became sold on getting out of debt. With our plan it became easy. This works best if you let an advisor figure out the best way to stack these debts.
5.Freeze your cards. Some banks will allow you to freeze your cards so that no more credit can be used on them. The alternative is to put them in a big container full of water and literally put them in your freezer. The next time that you want to use them you will have to wait for the ice to melt first and even then there are no guarantees that they will even work!
6.Start putting a little aside every month. You would be surprised at how quickly your money can grow this way. This is your off grid fund. Once you have a large enough fund look to install a small grid
tied solar system make sure that it is modular – you will add to this as finance allows. Once this is done save the money that you have been putting aside and the savings off your bills and when the cards are paid that amount to – you’ll be surprised at how quickly this will accumulate until you can get fully off the grid.
One final word of warning. Please do not be tempted to buy your solar energy equipment on a credit card. This increases the price of the equipment that you buy by whatever your APR is and with current prices the chances of ever seeing the system pay for itself is slim at best.