Tag Archives: energy
Solar Power 101
The question “What is Solar Power” tends to mean different things depending on who’s asking. This article is going to attempt to answer the question from every perspective and level of education. Whether you want to know about the physics of the sun’s energy, interested in how this energy gets converted into useable electricity and [...]
John McIlveen Discusses Renewable Energy Investing
The Energy Report: In your last interview, your primary concern in making investment decisions was safety. I know you focus primarily on Canadian companies, but has all the “fiscal cliff” talk influenced your approach to renewable energy investments? John McIlveen: With the fiscal cliff, I could see how renewables might get pushed to the back [...]
Combining Data to Figure out Climate Change
I apologize once again for the usual reasons. First, for the length of time since last I posted–we’ve moved and that was more disruptive this time than the 44 other moves I’ve made as an adult. Second, for returning to direct discussion of climate change, something that is closely connected to energy consumption but so [...]
In Focus: The Solar PV Ecosystem
The solar value chain, meaning its ecosystem, begins with raw material suppliers, winds its way through equipment and consumable suppliers, to ingot, wafer, cell technology manufacturers to module assemblers (most cell manufacturers also assemble modules), to demand side participants (system integrators, modules assemblers, installers, distributors, et al), to developers of balance of systems technology (inverters, [...]
Denver: The First ‘Solar Friendly Community’
Thanks to Denver’s efforts to make it easier for residents to go solar, the Mile High City became the first city awarded Solar Friendly Community status, by the synonymous nonprofit. By speeding and lowering the costs for permitting of solar in Denver City and County, among other efforts, the city achieved recognition with the second-highest [...]
WOW: China’s Clean Energy Output Increases 48%
Bloomberg reports that China has increased its clean energy output from October 2011 to October 2012 by 48 percent. The country now generates 92.1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy. China’s State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) issued a statement last week that clean energy sources, including hydro and nuclear plants, equals 20.4 percent of electricity. [...]
Solar Reserve Gets Final Approval for Massive Crossroads Project in Arizona
Solar Reserve received its last required approval for its Crossroads Solar Energy Project in Arizona last week and should soon be able to begin construction. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Solar Reserve’s conditional use permit for a combined 150-megawatt concentrated solar power and 65-megawatt solar photovoltaic installation that will be able to [...]
Interview: Rick Rule Discusses U.S Energy Independence
The Energy Report: Earlier this week, the International Energy Agency forecast the U.S. would become the world’s largest oil producer and an exporter of natural gas by 2020, and would attain energy self-sufficiency by 2035. Do you agree, and what would that mean? Rick Rule: We stand a very good chance of accomplishing the first [...]
In Focus: President Obama’s “All-of-the-Above” Energy Strategy
A friend of mine who had made some energy-related suggestions to President Obama just received a very thoughtful and well-written note in response, talking up the “all-of-the-above” strategy. I respond: That’s great. From here, I’d like to see some real numbers and commitments to bringing them about. In particular, I want to see us: • [...]