One very good example might be the purchase of Warren Buffett; last year the latter bought First Solar, a Californian solar plant, by the means of his company, known as Berkshire Hathaway.

This transaction was turned even more alluring due to the profitable contracts which were made a reality through the government laws in California requiring a 0.33 percent of the government’s electricity to be provided by renewable sources by the year 2020. Nevertheless, this does not simply imply more wind, biofuels and solar. Renewable energy is obtainable from range of varied sources; several of which have not yet come into general consciousness.

Geothermal Power

People who do not have any particular interest in science matters are less prone to know about geothermal energy, however, global installed capacity has exceeded 10,000 MW, with the US which has taken the lead worldwide through the generation of geothermal power of capacity greater than 3000 MW.

This model is rather simple. The globe’s heat content varies from ten to thirty-one power joules; a big amount of energy. While the exploitation of that energy is rather hard due to the globe’s crust, there are still ways to make use of the naturally happening heat of the globe in order to produce electricity by the means of an array of different techniques.

The majority of these methods consist of drilling wells in regions that are volcanically active and subsequently empowering a turbine by the means of steam that is produced from the underground heat. The most familiar plant which is in use is what is commonly known as “a flash steam power plant”. The latter is powered through highly pressurized hot water obtainable from the underground.

Ocean Power

Also known like “Marine Power” or even “Marine Energy”, making use of the sea’s natural heat and movements to produce electricity can prove to be rather an alluring proposition (in case particularly less thrilling to any person staying in Kansas).

In accordance to the yearly report of International Energy Agency for the year 2007, the sea has the capability to generate upto 15,000 GW of electricity by the means of thermal power, currents, waves and tides. One of the greatest problems with solar and wind power is the fact that they are rather unpredictable in nature. Solar plants’ output and that of wind farms can easily be affected by weather patterns and consequently the solar plants will be unable to generate power at night.

On the contrary, sources that are related to the sea are much more stable as well as reliable, thus turning them much more attractive potential as power sources. Oceanic current energy is produced by exploiting kinetic energy of marine currents such the Gulf Stream. Power sources that come from the tide and wave are very familiar hypothesis, searching ways to empower turbines through the use of naturally happening kinetic releases of the sea.

Marine thermal energy makes use of the heat difference between cold profound waters and hotter shallow waters. Nonetheless, probably the most fascinating type of electricity drawn from the sea is salinity or osmotic gradient energy. This consists of using a technique that makes use of the salinity difference between the river and ocean water in order to power osmosis by ion specific membranes which produces energy.

Varied Solar Techniques

Solar remains probably the most familiar type of renewable energy. However, it is not so famous that there exist various different methods of collecting solar power farther than the photovoltaic cell. There are solar plants which are being constructed which utilize an array of novel techniques which are beyond the traditional range of panels. Methods, which comprise of lens and mirrors for focusing on solar power onto a tiny area and exploiting the thermal energy it carries, are the most common ones. Turbines are then empowered by the concentrated heat to produce electricity. The most advanced among these methods is known as the parabolic trough. The latter makes use of curved mirrors which concentrate the solar power towards a pipe found in the middle that consists of a working liquid which is heated and after that used to warm water to empower a turbine. Apart from these types of plants, the other plants comprise of focusing solar power onto a tower in the center of a range.

Source: Equities Editorial

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Specification

1. The machine can provide 15,000 gallons of hygiene and drinking water from rivers, wells, lakes and other potential sources of fresh water.

4. In case energy is required during the night, the machine has 20KWh of battery.
A system is purely environmentally friendly; No noise pollution; No Fossil Fuel.

Haiti – Mobile MaxPure

In Haiti, WorldWater has been operating for several years, even before the earthquake that stroke the country in 2010. In total, there are actually 6 Mobile MaxPure Solar Power Water Purification Systems running in the Haiti Island.

In collaboration with Food For the Poor as well as other active NGOs, WorldWater managed to provide 2 Mobile MaxPure System to Haiti in 2008. It was intended to support the country after severe hurricanes leaving the island in-active for weeks with no grid electricity, flooding and debris on the streets. Due to natural calamities, water sources are left polluted and non-consumable. The self-powered system solved this drastic water shortage issue.

In January 2010, a devastating earthquake rendered normal water sources non-consumable. The two MaxPure System was immediately deployed as a life-saving tool. In addition other organization supported and provided a third Mobile MaxPure system.

Other NGOs have thereafter sponsored the deployment of additional Mobile MaxPure systems to Haiti in order to overcome cholera, agricultural issues, provide electricity and to provide consumable water to people whenever the need arose.

Japan –

Just, one month after that Japan had been rattled by the earthquake that hit Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant, Gamesa and WorldWater arranged for 2 Mobile MaxPure System to be airlifted to Japan to provide purified water to people living in a village situated close to the Nuclear Plant.

Iraq

The US Military Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) deployed several of the WorldWater solar powered water purification systems to sustain clean water and energy wherever required.

In the past, Iraqis consumed contaminated and unfiltered water. In 2008, May to July PRT provided 12 MMP to Fallujah, which are used to filter water from Euphrates River. At Iraq Water Treatment Facility the Chief Engineer, Abbas Hassan says that the machine help to solve the key issues such as providing clean water.

Hamid Hamid Ahmed Hashim Al-Alwani, who is the District Council Chairman for Fallujah says that providing clean drinking water by purifying water immediately from Euphrates River with solar power will help to reduce diseases like bilharzias and cholera.

The three years of service in Iraq have worked well.

In another district, Tigris, US Army provided 25 MMP in 2009. From the Tigris River, twenty MMP pumps are used to purify water while five are used as a reverse osmosis system to purify brackish water.

According to Fallujah District Council Spokesman, Sheikh Salam Halbusi says that many children fall sick due to the consumption of non-hygiene water, but now with the MMP the admittance to hospitals has gone down.

The Solar-Powered water filtration technology is a field where US Army has been very successful in helping Iraqis to have clean water and to survive on their own.

Source: World Water Solar

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At University of Buffalo, researchers have already demonstrated that embedding quantum dots into modern photovoltaic cells increase the energy output significantly. It allows the cells to generate energy from infrared light and therefore, the energy that can be harvested from photoelectrons is amplified.

In the Journal of Nano Letters, in May, the research team having Andrei Sergeev, Vladimir Mitin and Nizami Vagidov from the faculty of UB’s electrical engineering department; Kimberly Sablon a nanofabricate expert and John Little from the U.S. Army Research laboratory; John Little; as well as Kitt Reinhardt from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

OPtoElectronic Nanodevices LLC (OPEN LLC) is a company that has been founded by Vagidov and Mitin Sergeev, in order to provide rapid innovation into the commercialized market.

Mitin says that since a decade ago, scientists have been trying to effectively integrate quantum dots to solar panels. It has been known since long that, this would enhance the efficiency by permitting the solar cells to capture invisible (infrared) light. Yet, previous studies have been hit by limitations.

The UB team and the military colleagues have been able to integrated quantum dots, to exploit infrared light, but also they have been able to significantly increase the built-in charge of the dots present in the solar cells.

The built-in charge is highly advantageous, electrons repel and this compels electrons to move within the quantum dots. The advantage of harvesting moving electrons is that electric currents are avoided.

Mitin, a SUNY Distinguished professor at UB’s office of Science, Technology Transfer, and Economic Outreach (STOR) says that the efficiency of the solar cells has increased to 45 percent.

The presence of highly efficient solar cells will bring clean technology to another playground. Solar energy will become cheaper, requiring smaller footprint and provides affordable energy to consumers.

Currently, OPEN LLC is seeking for federal programs as well as private investors to fund the projects to bring the quantum dot with a built in charge to the market. The team has already spent long-days in developing this astounding solar cell technology.

Source: Science Daily and ACS Publications

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It was an over-promised goal, but renewable energy is an exception. The country produced more than twice of the forecast renewable-energy supply. Clean energy in India has been growing steadily since the slogan ‘Power for All’. In the first quarter of 2007, the country had a total installed renewable-energy capacity equivalent to 10.2 GW. AS at the last quarter of 2011, the amounts rouse to 22 GW. Renewable energy currently supplies 11 percent of the country’s total demand.

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, it was found that India was the leader in 2011 in terms of growth in renewable-energy investments. They experienced a growth of 52 percent, to a total of $10.3 billion; mainly supported by the galloping growth in the solar and wind market.

Indian businessmen have since long been waved as strong players, by the western world, since they developed the Tulsi Tanti, a giant wind turbine by Suzlon. However, nowadays entrepreneurs are exploiting rural areas For instant, Selco is currently providing rural areas, where there was no access to electricity, power from solar lighting.

The winner of 2011’s Magsaysay Award, Harish Hande is driving this program. The prestigious Magsaysay award is given to people who are devoted to solve systemic poverty, lack of opportunity and poor health in Asia. Investors such as Draper Fisher Jurveston, Shell Foundation, International Finance Corporation, ReNew Wind Power, and Goldman Sachs are helping villages such as Gyanesh Pandey to operate Husk Power systems. It is a system which can generate electricity at a low rate, and can be sold to rural households.

The main buyer of this renewable energy is power distribution companies, and the financial helps are worsening over the years. It is essential that the grid is modernized, so that additional large-scale projected can be connected to the system. To support the slogan ‘Power for All’ it is essential that this modernization to the grid is effected, which can thereafter be concretized with renewable energy.

Currently, interest rates and inflations are alarming, yet, the $4.2 billion invested in India’s solar market in 2011, suggests that 2012 can be a sustainable year.

Source: Bloomberg

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1. Conventional Power Generation & T&D Infrastructure Development will be the strongest and largest source of revenue for power equipment industry.

6. Some major policies emerging from the Durban Climate Change Talks

According to Frost & Sullivan report, in Asia Pacific the strongest driver for renewable energy will be; Energy Security & fuel Diversity; Emphasis on Smart Energy; Growth in Energy Demand and Investment in new Infrastructure. These 4 drivers are going to support a 20 percent growth in renewable energy in the Asia Pacific markets in 2012.

Yet, there are some key restraints such as; economic uncertainty; project cost & currency fluctuation and delayed market liberalization, which is going to act as challenges for a constant growth. Efficient government support will, however, help to tackle a high degree of the restraints.

Source: Frost & Sullivan (Slide 5)

For the field of solar energy, China will act as powerful global manufacture of solar-energy solutions. She will also be one of the fastest growing solar markets in Asia, particularly for on-grid Solar PV. Other markets such as Malaysia have had Panasonic and Bosch investing heavily in PV manufacturing plants. Yet, Thailand is expected to have a weak progress in the solar market due to floods.

In Japan feed-in tariff is will help solar PV to be sustained, and experience a favorable growth. In other countries such as Australia, government policies such as imposition of ‘Carbon Tax’ will support the solar market to grow.

Forecast for Solar PV Installed Capacity in 2012

- Total Capacity installed 5,330 MW
- Market growth of 38.6 percent
- Japan represent 2,600 MW
- China Representing 1,360 MW
- India Representing 450 MW
- Australia representing 450 MW
- Korea representing 150 MW

In 2012, Asia Pacific will remain the world’s fastest growing market, in relation to its new installed capacity followed by North America and thereafter Europe. Besides, in Asia Pacific, china will be the largest consumer of renewable energy due to its strong demand of power. In the China, there will be drive to go towards offshore wind power.

Forecast for Solar PV Installed Capacity in 2012

- Total World Capacity Installed 21, 257 MW
- A Capacity growth of 26.7 percent
- China representing 15,000 MW

Nevertheless, coal fired power plants will maintain the strongest capacity creation. But, the emphasis will be on ultra supercritical boilers and other systems where pollution can be controlled and minimized. In countries like India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mongolia there will be an attractive demand for coal power in 2012. In overall, conventional power can expect an anticipated investment of $130 to $140 billion which represents a growth of 4 to 5 percent, but as mentioned the focus will be on clean coal fired generation plants.

In the expansion of smart grids, companies such as Schneider, CISCO and Toshiba will start to invest more attention. They will foster strategic international partnership to deploy new smart grid technology into countries. The expected investment is US$ 10 billion, which represent a growth of 60 to 70 percent, since 2011. The key markets for smart grid in Asia Pacific will be China, Australia, Korea and Thailand. There are currently smart grid projects which are reaching its completion stage in Korea and Australia.

Source: Frost & Sullivan (Slide 15)

Source: Frost & Sullivan

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The report says that the solar market has experienced as strong growth in 2011; with falling cost and rising employment creation. Some facts of the Solar Market in 2011 have been recorded in this article:

1. Solyndra – was part of a Growing Industry

Unfortunately, Solyndra filed for bankruptcy in August 2011. However, this doesn’t mean that the market was weak. On the contrary, the market expanded by 140 percent and cost decreased by 40 percent. Solyndra failed to compete but the solar-energy market remains strong, as ‘90 percent of Americans believe that it is critical to progress towards the expansion of solar energy.

2. U.S Solar Industry Employees Above 100,000 Americans
In the recent years, the solar industry has become a growing employer. In America above 5,000 companies are employing more than 100,000 Americans in small, medium and large green solar companies. According to the solar Foundation’s national Job Census 2011, people were employed as engineers, administrative professionals, sales people, installers, electricians, plumbers, contractors and roofers. New job opportunity in the solar industry has been beneficial during the severe economic downturn.

3. Currently, the Solar Industry is one of American’s fastest growing sectors.

Most American companies support the growth of solar industry; This includes companies such as Google, Whole Foods, Target, Johnson & Johnson, Walgreens, Safeway and others, which have invested significantly.

4. Cost of Solar Panels has Decreased by 40 %

In U.S there are approximately 1.5 million houses having solar water heaters while solar energy is currently powering 730,000 households. Yet, with increasing research and development as well as bulk production solar panels are getting cheaper. Since 2010 to 2011, the price of solar cells has decreased by more than 40 percent while only 2011’s second to third quarter experienced a fall in price by 14.4 percent.

5. Cut-throat competition in a Growing solar Industry
United state have experienced a tremendous growth in the export of solar technology, which highly positive for the domestic industry with job creation. In 2010, the net export of solar products reached $2 billion.

Companies in the solar industry are operating in a very uncertain environment with high dependency on governmental support. These investment mechanisms are determining the market losers as well as winners. In 2011, more than 22,000 energy projects were completed across the 50 states, with a total private investment amounting to $23 billion. The Congress is pushing for additional support to promote the industry over 2012.

In America, Solar really works well, and 2011 was a great year for the solar industry. Yet, constant struggle and devotion are required to drive the industry in 2012 together with well devised energy policies.

Source: Clean Technica

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Recently, on Google’s Green Blog, they communicated their intent to invest 94 million in 4 solar projects. Some equity was also provided by SunTap Energy RE LLC as well as a venture with KKR for the investment.

Three of the project already have 20-year contracts with the utility district. In total, more than 13,000 households will be powered.

Three out of the 4 projects will be completed in early 2012 while the 4th one will be completed within the same year. For KKR, it is their first US renewable-energy investment. It has in the past invested in Spanish solar-energy company as well a French wind farm operator.

Google has now invested 915 million in renewable energy, while in 2011, they invested a total of 800 million. This included investment in wind farms in Oregon, California and North Dakota and solar projects in Germany and California, as well in US’s East coast in offshore wind farms.

Google has had a lucrative year in the growth of clean energy investments. This includes projects such as Brightsource Ivanpah Project – 450 MW Tall Solar Tower at Mojave Desert, which cost 168 million, and constitutes the company’s largest single investment in renewable energy.

For Google, investing in green energy is one of their continuous initiatives to reduce dependency on coal, and to be able to be entirely powered by clean energy 2030.

Axel Martinex who is Google Treasury Assistance says that they believe in the renewable energy sector, and that it will generate a new source of capital as well as reliable solution for a sustainable future.

In addition, Google has been donating a total 40 million in grant to various organisations during the holiday season.

Source: Zee News

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According to Zhu’s team, it was found that the efficiency of harnessing electrons from a single photon of sunlight could be doubled by the use of organic plastic semiconductor material.

Zhu says that plastic semiconductor solar cell has several advantages such as low cost, capability for synthesis thanks to molecular design and this makes it possible to exploit solar energy at far more efficient levels than currently.

This break-through was published by Zhu and his team in Science, 16th of December 2011.

Currently, conventional silicon solar cell can reach a maximum theoretical efficiency rate of 31 percent, and this is because most of the sunrays that struck the cell are too strong to be converted into electricity. The ‘hot electron’ is heat energy that is practically lost. Solar cells that could capture hot electrons could boost up the energy conversion rate of solar energy from 31 to 66 percent.

Recently, in 2010, Zhu and his team showed that it is possible to harness hot electrons by the use of semiconductor nano-crystals. However, Zhu admits that introducing such technology is extremely complex.

According to Zhu, an efficiency rate of 66 percent can only be captured when sunlight is focused on the solar panel not only raw sunlight. So there is a need to develop a new engineered device that ensures higher concentration of sunlight.

The team found a solution to this, when they found that a photon can make a dark quantum or so called ‘shadow state’ whereby two electrons can be captured via the use of a semi-conductor pentacene.

The use of this simple mechanism would practically increase converstion rate of solar cells by 44 percent. There would also be no need to develop a new device to have a concentrated solar beam. According to Zhu, it is a technology that could be pervasively used by the public.

Main Facts in the Findings:

1. When a photon is absorbed in a pentacene semi-conductor, it makes a so called excited electron-hole pair, which is known as an exciton.
2. An exciton is practically a pair of quantum forming a dark ‘shadow state’ which is known as multiexciton.
3. When an electron material is used like fullerene, the dark shadow state can very efficiently absorb two electrons.
4. The Dark Shadow state can increase the efficiency of solar cells by as much as 44 percent.

The National Science Foundation as well as the Department of energy sponsored this research that was spearheaded by Wai-lun Chan; One of Zhu’s postdoctoral fellows. In the team, other postdoctoral fellows were involved including Luis Miaja-Avila, Loren Kaake, Manuel Ligges and Askat Jailaubekov.

Source: Science Daily and Zeitnews

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Apparently, the world’s largest polluter is investing most in green technology. This shows the country’s intention to rapidly reduce greenhouse gases. And to change her reputation as a polluter to a green economy.

A country with 1.5 billion inhabitants is spending an unprecedented sum on the spurring green industry.

This is an important footstep for Beijing residents who are seldom able to see the sky, due to thick layers of smog emitted by coal-fired power plants, transportation, industrial pollution as well as the construction sector. This thick cloud of polluting particles is common for most cities in China.

The greenhouse gas has reached an alarming level in China. It is even affecting productivity and attendance rate of workers. In other words, it is affecting corporate performance. On a yearly basis, it was estimated that 410,000 Chinese people decease from pollution according to CLPmag.org.

The crisis of pollution is an ongoing challenge, acting as a vicious circle; works fall sick due to high pollution levels; this reduces productivity and also profit levels. As a result, companies are pushing the government to induce severe environmental regulations. The cost of investing in green energy is clearly higher than inaction.

The progress is fascinating; China has become the World’s largest manufacturer of solar panels, as they exceed U.S in the End of 2011. Only a minor percentage is being exported, most solar panels are being used to replace the typical coal-fired power plants.

Yet, the astounding rise in demand for electricity is forcing the country to build a new coal-burning power plant every week. So has the trend been since 2008. A figure that is alarming as every one tonne of coal burned in the power plant emits 2.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The Chinese government has plans to generate 100 MW of electricity, which will be able to power up to 62,000 households by:

1. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) -100 MW plant cost around $ 700 million

The cost of having the sun generating energy from curved mirrors is practically zero after the initial investment has been done. In modern CSP plants, it has been noted that energy can be produced on a 24-hour basis, as molten salt can be used to store thermal energy. It is a technology with practically no greenhouse emission and the cost of maintaining a CSP plant is relatively cheap.

A CSP plant generating 100 MW reduces annual carbon emission by 164,000 tons.

2. Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant – 100 MW cost roughly $300 million
The cost of photovoltaic is steadily falling and in addition is becoming more efficient. There is practically no fuel emission involved in generating electricity via Photovoltaic cells. The only huge cost is the initial investment, after that, the maintenance cost is extremely low.

A photovoltaic solar power plant generating 100 MW reduces annual carbon emission by 164,000 tons.

For a coal-burning power plant of 100 MW – the cost is $250 million, and this is a cost which is increasing; in contrast to green technology having a falling price. There are also a constant maintenance cost and new technology to make coal-fired power plants greener is adding additional millions to the power plants.

For coal generated electricity, the cost of construction is only one of the various costs involved. The real effect is transcended to the consumer.

China had 620 – coal power station as at the end of 2010, which burned above 3 billion tons of coal a year. In other words, it is an excessive amount of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, airborne mercury, nitrous oxide as well as other toxins emitted. The construction and manufacturing industry emits only 7.2 billion tons of carbon emission per year.
The Chinese government has effectively lowered the emission of nitrous oxide, yet all the emission levels will at least experience a one-fold increase by 2020.

In China, the annual cost on coal is as much as $375 billion only for coal power plants, while shipping and railway are in addition to that figure. The supply of the coal comes as far as from U.S and western Canada.

All figures are expected to increase significantly by 2020. So if nothing is done to the energy sector, the expenditure on power will reach alarming heights.

China’s Ultimate Solution: Green Technology

Not only is the cost of coal power high in China – it is causing 410,000 death per year, together with deteriorating air, food, land and water. There are strong reasons why China is firmly determined to promote green-tech solution so as to enhance the environment.

For China to go Green represent a step to save hundreds of thousands of lives per year, while equally lower the healthcare cost.

China’s government understands the various importance of clean energy; for people and the economy – and they are now clearly displaying their interest as they are becoming a world-top investor in solar and other green technologies.

Source: Huffington Post & EVwind

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The renewable-energy minister says that companies are bidding at rate as low as 7.49 per unit for the construction of solar plants this year. It might not be long until solar-energy reaches ‘grid parity’, which will make solar energy even more demanded as a source of energy.

The Joint Secretary Minister, Tarun Kapoor says that the price will constantly fall year-by-year. Previously, the aim was to reach grid-parity by year 2022. However, the industry is given a positive indication that this target can now be reached by 2017. In addition, the cost of coal projects has gone up from 5.50 to 6 per unit due to the lack of local supply of coal and the need to import.

In the bids given on the National Solar Mission, the average price per unit was 8.78 while the lowest bid was laid by a French company, SolaireDirect, at as low as 7.49 per units for a typical 5 MW project.

In the round of bids, there were 28 suggested projects and each company could be given a maximum of 3 projects:

- 8 project of 20 MW
- 5 projects 15 MW
- 10 project of 10 MW
- 6 projects of 5 MW

Azure Power was given projects to construct solar power projects matching 35 MW. Their CEO, Inderpreet Wadhwa says that solar power does nowadays have the same market potentials as computers had in 1970s. The cost of solar power will be further pushed down with technology enhancement and innovation. In the first round in 2009, the company had given a quote of 17.91 per unit while for the current bid, the price has been laid at 8.21.

This remarkable improvement in the cost-competitiveness of solar power is showing that large investment can take place in India’s solar industry.

It is encouraging at an international level to see how India is driving price down. It is the only country of the few emerging countries that are supporting solar energy at a very large level.

The director from Renewable Energy Ministry did in the previous month’s Central Electricity Regulation Committee (CERC) emphasis on the decreased capital cost for typical collar cells. This is considered as a prime reason for the reduction in price. The cost of solar power will constantly fall to enable solar power to reach grid-parity.

The so called cost per megawatt is expected to fall even more; to 10 crore in 2013 from 14 crore in 2012.

Yet, reasons such as improvement in technology, international fall in the cost of solar cells and efficiency are other forces pushing the price of solar power down.

Source: Economic Times

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