Rising Seas Add to Bangkok's Sinking Feeling
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SMUD Solar Array Juices Up Electric Vehicles
A new solar array at The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) campus will soon provide enough electricity to generate hydrogen for its small fleet of fuel-cell electric vehicles and provide clean electricity to the grid during peak power demands. The PV array delivers 80 kilowatts of power – enough to provide electricity for about 40 single-family homes or provide hydrogen for about 14 fuel-cell vehicles. Construction on the hydrogen fueling station will be done by the end of the year. Until then, the solar power generated by the panels will feed into the SMUD grid. Designed as a demonstration project, the solar-powered fueling station will fuel the seven fuel-cell electric vehicles that SMUD is testing in a partnership with BP, Ford and Daimler-Chrysler. As the solar panels make electricity, an electrolyzer at the station will use that energy to separate water into hydrogen to make clean fuel for the vehicles. For almost 20 years, SMUD has been at the forefront of testing and adapting alternative fuel vehicles to District business. In addition to the fuel-cell vehicles, SMUD is also testing battery electric vehicles and a plug-in hybrid vehicle that gets 100 miles per gallon. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) […]
J.C. Penney Earns First Retailer Energy Star
Four JCPenney stores are the first retail buildings in the country to earn the Energy Star label for superior energy efficiency and environmental performance. Compared to similar stores nationwide, the JCPenney stores collectively spend $225,000 less a year on energy, and avoid over 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, equal to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity use of nearly 200 homes. Of the almost 5 million commercial buildings in the United States, retail buildings account for the largest energy bills and are responsible for the second largest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. With the recent availability of the Energy Star label for retail buildings, retailers can pursue significant savings in energy costs while fighting climate change. The JCPenney stores that won the award are in Washington State. In total, they cover 460,000 square feet and, on average, use about 35% less energy than typical retail stores nationwide, resulting in about 35% less CO2 emissions than retail stores in their region. As of Oct. 1, 2007, retail buildings can qualify for the Energy Star label if they rate in the top 25% of similar retail buildings nationwide. With EPA’s Portfolio Manager, an on-line energy performance rating […]
Wegmans Adopts Standards for Buying Farmed Shrimp
Wegmans Food Markets and Environmental Defense announced a first-of-its-kind purchasing policy for farmed shrimp. Wegmans will be rolling out shrimp purchased under this policy in all of its 71 stores. The policy, which includes comprehensive and rigorous environmental standards, sets a new bar for the seafood industry and other U.S. retailers. The new purchasing standards require farmed shrimp producers to eliminate the use of antibiotics and other chemicals, avoid damaging sensitive habitats, treat their waste water and reduce the use of wild fish to feed shrimp. Suppliers will be able to demonstrate their compliance with these standards by meeting aggressive performance targets and implementing an auditing and reporting system to monitor progress. Wegmans and Environmental Defense developed the policy in cooperation with Wegmans’ farmed shrimp supplier. It requires that suppliers immediately meet at least nine of the purchasing standards, including strict standards for levels of PCBs and other contaminants, and comply with local laws. Suppliers must meet all 12 standards within one year. Farmed shrimp produced in compliance with this policy will earn a “best choice” ranking according to the criteria used by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program and Environmental Defense. These criteria are used to rank seafood […]
GM to Invest $250M in Shanghai Energy Research Center
General Motors Corp. says it will invest US$250 million in Shanghai Research Center, which will conduct research on alternative fuels. GM says it expects vehicles that use alternatives to gasoline wll likely account for about half its global production by 2010, up from a projected 10% share this year. GM CEO Rick Wagoner said, “We see China as being among the first markets and production sites for alternative propulsion systems.” The research center will focus on bio-fuels, materials for lighter and more energy-efficient vehicles, electric vehicles, and ways to reduce energy use in vehicle manufacture.
DOE: Solicitation for 2008 Solar America Cities
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the solicitation for 2008 Solar America Cities. DOE seeks to provide support to cities ready to take a comprehensive, systemic, city-wide approach to solar technology that facilitates mainstream adoption and provides a model for other cities. DOE will award up to 12 cities with funding and technical support to develop a fully scoped, city-wide, solar implementation plan to: * Integrate solar technology into city energy planning and facilities * Streamline city-level regulations and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and local businesses (e.g. permitting, inspections, local codes) * Promote solar technology among residents and local businesses (e.g. outreach, curriculum development and/or implementation, incentive programs, etc. Any U.S. city with a population of 100,000 or more (as defined by the 2000 U.S. Census) is eligible to apply. DOE will provide up to $2.4 million in financial assistance to the competitively selected, cost-shared, two-year projects. And it will provide up to $3 million over two years in hands-on technical assistance from technical and policy experts to help cities integrate solar technologies into city energy planning, zoning, and facilities; to streamline city-level regulations and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and local businesses; […]
ImageTree Raises $4.5M
ImageTree, based in Princeton, N.J., has raised $4.5 million in a second round of financing from Battelle Ventures. The 2-year-old firm has developed a remote sensor technology that can assist forest-management trusts, government agencies and conservation groups to accurately monitor and measure carbon being absorbed by forests. As carbon-offset markets develop it’s critical to know whether forests are actually absorbing carbon – whether “carbon sinks” are working. Currently, a “manual” method is used – foresters walk through a small section of forest taking measurements and then project the results to the overall forest. ImageTree brings clear standards and measurement tools to the assessement process. The company says it can measure 80% of a forest using GPS, color infrared and light detection.
GreenVolts Raises $10Million
GreenVolts, which is developing concentrating photovoltaic technology and wholesale distributed energy, has secured $10 million in Series A funding. The company also announced its CarouSol tracking system has begun to generate energy at Avista’s Clean Energy Test Site, and is on track for deployment of its GV1 plant in late 2008. Pacific Gas & Electric Company selected GreenVolts to build GV1, a 2MW plant that will be the world’s largest concentrating PV plant. The first phase should be completed by late 2008. Greenlight Energy Resources led the investment round in Greenvolt. “Our investment threshold begins with applications that will advance the adoption of renewable energy. GreenVolts’ technology will enable utility-scale solar near the point of use at competitive prices – an important milestone for solar applications,” said Jim Trousdale, Director of Greenlight Energy Resources, Inc. “GreenVolts brings all the major pieces together – a next-generation technology, customer traction, and an experienced management team to grow the business.” GreenVolts CarouSol tracking system concentrates 625 times the sun onto its solar cells, producing twice the energy at half the cost of conventional solar panels. The system doesn’t require large tracts of remote land. It can be plugged into the grid close to […]
Memo to MEMC Investors: Seen Conergy Lately?
URL: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/greenberg/2007/10/bad-timing-for-memc/ Website: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/greenberg/2007/10/bad-timing-for-memc/
Optimal Technologies Raises $25M from Goldman Sachs
Optimal Technologies International Inc. has raised $25 million in financing from Goldman Sachs International to accelerate its growth and expand its market presence. Optimal will complete the development of its technology that optimizes electric power systems from origin to end-user. Optimal’s product suite includes supply side electric power grid optimization and analysis software, called AEMPFAST(TM) (pron: aim-fast), and a demand side energy efficiency and automation system called SUREFAST(TM), to be launched in 2008. “Global demand for power is expected to increase by as much as 60% over the next 20 years, and one of the best ways to manage this reality is to maximize the utilization of our existing power infrastructures. Optimal’s mission is to make it easy for utilities, businesses and consumers to analyze and manage energy usage for complete optimization and efficiency,” said Roland Schoettle, founder and CEO of Optimal Technologies. “This financing from Goldman Sachs supports us in developing leading global solutions for both the supply and demand sides of energy management.” AEMPFAST technology provides utilities of all sizes with the capability to make power grids more efficient, more reliable and more environmentally responsible. The company’s SmartGrid analytics allow any power system to optimize the “flow” of […]
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