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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
A solar grand plan
A roadmap to getting 70 percent of U.S. electricity from solar by 2050 |
David Roberts |
08 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| OK, having spent an absurd amount of time bashing on a crappy article that came out while I was on vacation, let me turn my attention to an extraordinarily good one (via HillHeat): "A Solar Grand Plan," by Ken Zweibel (NREL), James Mason (Solar Energy Campaign), and Vasilis Fthenakis (Brookhaven National Photovoltaic Environmental, Health and Safety Research Center). Some flaw in my character leaves me much less able to analyze things I like, so mostly I'l ... |
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| Topics: energy, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Solar cheaper than coal and falling
New developments in solar power make 'clean coal' look even dumber |
David Roberts |
26 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Let me be the last in the greenosphere to note that Nanosolar has shipped its first panels, and it's no exaggeration to say that this moment will likely be seen as a historical turning point. For a taste of the breathless anticipation around Nanosolar, read "innovation of the year" over on PopSci (or this recent piece in the NYT). Unlike so many other hyped green tech dreamers, the company is not just talking and researching prototypes. They're building fact ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, solar thermal power, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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The success of solar depends on storage
Storage helps the sun keep shining even on cloudy days |
Kristina & Jason Makansi |
22 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| New project and technology announcements have kept solar energy in the news lately. But, as with wind, the issues of intermittency and the grid still lurk in the shadows. Some still argue that intermittency isn't a problem, or that it can be solved without storage. In a new piece in the Arizona Daily Star, reporter Tom Beal talks about those issues. As we've previously argued here, here, and here, energy storage has a big role to play in enabling sola ... |
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| Topics: Arizona, solar voltaic power, electricity grid, energy (all these topics) |
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Project Better Place
CPR for the electric car |
Adam Browning |
31 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Project Better Place has a new take on jumpstarting the electrification of transportation: they've raised $200 million (about enough to buy, what, three fuel cell vehicles?) to start building infrastructure for charging and battery exchange stations. That's just a down payment. If you play Internet Nancy Drew for a sec you will quickly find out that Israel Corp, a major investor, also has a stake in oil refineries, and 45 percent of Chery, the Chinese car company t ... |
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| Topics: cars, electric vehicles, electricity grid, energy, energy storage, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Bright Lights, Big Shiny
IBM announces new process to reuse, recycle silicon wafers for solar panels |
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31 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 5:45 AM on 31 Oct 2007 Tech giant IBM announced it has developed a simple new process to recycle the silicon wafers it uses in many of its products. The process extends the silicon wafers' useful life, and when that life is finally over, the wafers can then be sold to make solar panels. IBM calculates that if all of the 3 million wafers discarded each year worldwide by the tech industr ... |
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| Topics: business, news, recycling, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Revenue-neutral emission reduction for cities
What if there were more Berkeleys? |
David Roberts |
29 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Imagine if more cities started doing this -- neutralizing the upfront costs of solar. It would stimulate competition and innovation in the solar industry (more than there already are). Pretty soon there would be large economies of scale for solar power and the price would drop (faster than it already is). More cities would be lured into the program, stimulating yet more innovation and lower prices. So on and so on, the cycle of smart long-term investment. Tell me again ... |
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| Topics: California, solar voltaic power, energy, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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Here Comes the Son
On solar holiday lights |
Umbra Fisk |
29 Oct 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, As the holiday season approaches, I'm trying to figure out how to spread good cheer in home decorations while being sensitive to the environment. Years ago, my husband and I purchased strings of lights that we wrapped around the trunks of palm trees in our front yard. Now the wiser, I'd like to use these lights off the grid, if you will. Instead of purchasing new LED lights that are so popular right now (and in turn ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, holiday, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Sun Rise
Berkeley, Calif., suggests innovative solar scheme |
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26 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 4:30 PM on 26 Oct 2007 The Berkeley, Calif., city council will soon vote on an innovative scheme to front the cost of solar panels to homeowners, who would pay the city back over 20 years as a property tax add-on. The amount to be paid back would be roughly what homeowners would save on electric bills by being sun-powered. "This plan could be our most important contribution to fighting global warming," says Berkeley ... |
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| Topics: California, energy, innovation, news, placemaking, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Cities and counties take note
Berkeley shows the way to climate change mitigation at a local level |
JMG |
26 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The city of Berkeley, Calif., shows how to take serious action on climate disruption by paying up-front costs to help residents switch to solar power. This could be done at any scale, from village to nation. All that is needed is wisdom and an understanding that any "ROI" (return on investment) calculation that doesn't include the risk that failure to respond to climate disruption will bankrupt us (in addition to its moral bankruptcy) isn't worth the paper it's prin ... |
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| Topics: California, energy, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Assuming There Will Be a Future, Of Course
New report makes suggestions for sustainable energy future |
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23 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 2:52 PM on 23 Oct 2007 Coal is the enemy of the human race, but don't take our word for it: 15 national science academies pooh-pooh the evil black rock in their new report "Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future." The report also rah-rahs solar and wind power and energy efficiency, and is warily supportive of nuclear energy and cellulosic biofuels. sources: Th ... |
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| Topics: cellulosic ethanol, coal, energy, energy efficiency, news, nuclear power, solar voltaic power, wind power (all these topics) |
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Coal is the enemy of the human race: Survey says edition
New poll finds public wants renewables over coal |
David Roberts |
19 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| And the bad news for coal / good news for humanity just keeps rolling in. According to a new poll (PDF): 75 percent of Americans -- including 65 percent of Republicans, 83 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of Independents -- would "support a five-year moratorium on new coal-fired power plants in the United States if there was stepped-up investment in clean, safe renewable energy -- ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, renewable energy, solar voltaic power, wind power (all these topics) |
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They've got solar
Solar decathlon underway in D.C. |
Sarah van Schagen |
17 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The Solar Decathlon is underway on the National Mall this week, and Inhabitat's got some great coverage, including a Flickr set of the fully solar-powered homes built by university students. |
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| Topics: energy, green building, solar voltaic power, Washington DC (all these topics) |
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Orbit Torrent
Satellite solar power plants could be coming soon to an orbit near you |
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11 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 3:10 PM on 11 Oct 2007 Ooh, shiny: A federal study has concluded that orbiting solar power plants could soon become economically competitive, thanks to rising oil prices. Over a one-year period, sunlit satellites could generate nearly the equivalent of all the energy available in the world's oil reserves, says the report from the National Security Space Office. In other news, we have a National Securi ... |
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| Topics: energy, news, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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The growth of renewable energy markets
In which I come to the defense of Shellenberger and Nordhaus -- sort of, anyway |
Adam Browning |
04 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| I was planning on sitting out the Nordhaus/Shellenberger debate. But then I thought: Adam, you are not the top-rated Gristmill blogger (see list at left) for nothing. People want to hear from you. So, here's my take:The first place Nordhaus and Shellenberger go wrong is their predilection for publicity photos that resemble '80s album covers.After that, they get it mostly right. Carbon legislation is good and helpful, sure, but it's about 30 percent thought-through, eno ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, climate change mitigation, energy, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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No news is good news
The Solar Power Conference revealed no breakthrough solar tech -- and that's a good thing |
David Roberts |
03 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The following is a guest essay by Jim Raras, Jr., COO of Inpower Systems. ----- Every year the biggest players in the solar industry convene at the Solar Power Conference in Long Beach, Calif., to discuss the latest advancements in solar technology. This year, one of the most notable facets of the meetings was what was not said. During a 90 minute CEO panel discussion about the current and future state of the solar industry, the word "breakthrough" was ... |
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| Topics: solar voltaic power, energy, tech (all these topics) |
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Coal-solar hybrid
It doesn't make sense -- and that's the point |
Adam Browning |
30 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| More than a few people were taken in by a guy peddling a coal/solar hybrid system at Solar Power 2007. "But, smokestacks on the roof -- that just doesn't make sense," said a government bureaucrat, who shall remain unnamed pending resolution of my grant proposal. Indeed, it doesn't. As the less credulous might have predicted, it was a marketing spoof by Sharp Solar: This, fight fans, is textbook campaigning in the YouTube era. Come up with a shtick that ... |
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| Topics: coal, electric vehicles, energy, hybrids, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Solar Power 2007
Increasingly popular solar power conference mirrors growth in the industry |
Adam Browning |
27 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The heart and soul of the world's solar industry is gathered this week in Long Beach for the annual SEPA/SEIA solar conference. Five years ago, this conference drew 200 people to a dingy hotel ballroom in Reno. This year, it's sold out the Long Beach Convention Center, and you can't get a hotel room for love or money within a 20-mile radius. It's like the Super Bowl is in town. Solar has come a long way -- and there's a lot of things to thank for what's brought t ... |
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| Topics: energy, innovation, progress, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Solar So Far
Solar-powered homes a bright spot in California housing market |
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25 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 12:34 PM on 25 Sep 2007 Take that, housing market: Solar-powered homes in California are outshining the competition. source: Los Angeles Times see also, in Grist: Utility will pay for solar on Habitat for Humanity houses in California From the Archives We Really Needed Some Disclosure. More companies disclosing and mitigating emissions, says new report. Connecting the DOT. DOT offici ... |
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| Topics: business, California, energy, news, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Shiny Happy People
Utility will pay for solar on Habitat for Humanity houses in California |
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21 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 4:57 AM on 21 Sep 2007 Recognizing that solar electricity is a good investment in the long run but a bit spendy up front, utility Pacific Gas and Electric has agreed to pay for solar power on some 65 houses built by Habitat for Humanity in northern and central California next year. PG&E will donate about $1.2 million for panels and installation; low-income residents will see radically reduce ... |
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| Topics: California, energy, environmental justice, news, placemaking, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Residential solar PPAs
On buying solar electricity, not panels |
Adam Browning |
19 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| One of the biggest hurdles to going solar is the large up-front costs. That's why solar power purchase agreements (PPAs in wonk-speak) have been so popular. With this model, a third party designs, installs, and owns a system on your roof. You simply sign a long-term contract to buy the output on a kWh basis. You avoid the need for financing, and shift performance risk to the service provider -- you only buy what the system produces. Check out this article for more. ... |
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| Topics: energy, energy at home, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Plane to See
Solar-powered plane breaks world record for longest unmanned flight |
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10 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 12:39 PM on 10 Sep 2007 Ooh, fancy: A lightweight solar-powered plane has smashed the official world record for the longest-duration unmanned flight. The plane flew for 54 hours, through two sunless nights, and was controlled remotely from the ground and by autopilot. And manned (excuse us, personed) flights are on the horizon: A Swiss man has plans to circumnavigate the globe aboard a solar-powered plane ... |
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| Topics: energy, innovation, news, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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The solar power you don't hear about
Solar thermal power deserves more attention, due to its lower cost and relative ease of storage |
Joseph Romm |
30 Aug 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Solar thermal power is back! Solar thermal gets less attention than its sexier cousin -- high-tech photovoltaics -- but has two big advantages. First, it is much cheaper than PV. Second, it captures energy in a form that is much easier to store -- heat -- typically with mirrored surfaces that concentrate sunlight onto a receiver that heats a liquid (which is then used to make steam to drive a turbine). Back in the 1980s, Luz International was the sole commercia ... |
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| Topics: California, energy, renewable energy, solar thermal power, solar voltaic power, Spain (all these topics) |
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'If you were really green, you would have walked here'
Is Burning Man living up to its Green Man intentions? |
Judith Lewis |
29 Aug 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The headline refers to a sign that appears as you drive (or as I drove, in a huge white pickup truck) into the Playa at five miles an hour, and it's not a bad summary of the enviro discussion here at Burning Man. How can you really be green at an event you have to drive hundreds of miles to, mostly through desert, with all your heavy crap in the car? Where will all those plastic water bottles end up? Is there such thing as a petroleum-free camp? What about all those Zip ... |
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| Topics: art, ecological footprint, energy, green living, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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On the Ball: Obscure football edition
Ball-kickers power stadiums with renewables |
Sarah K. Burkhalter |
28 Aug 2007 |
Gristmill |
| And you thought by 'football' in my title I meant football? Pssh. I do love me some obscure European soccer news. So with no further ado: Scottish soccer team powers its stadium floodlights with wind power! Swiss soccer team has the world's largest stadium-integrated photovoltaic system on the roof of the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern! Heh heh. Wankdorf. |
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| Topics: energy, green living, renewable energy, solar voltaic power, sports, wind power (all these topics) |
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How much wind and solar could we have gotten for the cost of the Iraq War?
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David Roberts |
27 Aug 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Paul Gipe does the math. |
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| Topics: energy, national security, politics, solar voltaic power, wind power (all these topics) |
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