Serving The Environmental Industry Since 1992
(909) 980-1800
Mon-Sun: 8 am - 7 pm
15 Oct 2016

Enough Solar Energy To Power 1 Million Homes

A California company is planning on building the largest solar power plant in the world. The power plant, which is planned to be built in Nevada, will cost $5 billion and will be able to generate between 1,500 and 2,000 MW of power. That is enough energy to power 1 million homes.

This project should create about 3,000 jobs for almost a decade! With demand growing for clean, renewable energy, this is a perfect outlet for California’s job market. Along with creating thousands of jobs, the plant that is planned to be built is completely emission free.

For more information on this project, please visit: ecowatch.com

01 Jul 2016

Solar-Powered Airplane

A breaking new solar-technology is now in the works. A plane running purely on solar power is being tested in Long Island, New York. The goal here Is to have perpetual flight according to the CEO of Luminati Aerospace in Calverton. This technology is almost guaranteed to revolutionize the aircraft industry. The company is planning to hire around 800 people during the next two to three years.

The company eventually wishes to partner with a bigger company in hopes of better, faster expansion into this new technology. Luminati plans to have a second airplane completed before the end of 2017.

For more information on this project, go to luminati.aero

28 Jun 2016

ESNA 2016

Nominations for Energy Storage North America are now open for admission! ESNA has always been true to the idea and research of energy storage, market growth, and overall changes in solar-powered technology. To be eligible, your project must be some type of grid energy storage system in North America that is installed and fully operational on or before August 1, 2016. Nominations will be accepted in three categories: utility-scale, customer-sited (C&I or residential) and mobility (EVs and enabling infrastructure). Winners will be announced on October 5th, 2016 in an Awards Ceremony that will take place at the San Diego Convention Center.

“As the energy storage marketplace continues to grow and evolve, individual people and projects still play a critical role in shaping the direction of the industry,” said Janice Lin, Energy Storage North America Conference Chair. “With this year’s awards, we will recognize the storage champions and projects that are pushing the industry forward by developing and implementing innovative financing models, technology or grid services.”

To read more about the ceremony, please visit www.esnaexpo.com

11 Jun 2016

Solar Powered Cellphone Charger

Having a cellphone in this day and age is a complete necessity. Even for migrants crossing the Mediterranean and coming to Greece in search of a better life. But which such a long journey ahead, how do these people keep their cellphones charged? This is where a Greece-based solar technology company comes in. A company is called Entec and they have developed a solar powered cellphone charging station. This technology is able to charge hundreds of phone per day. And the best part? It’s all free of charge. Currently, the company has only produced two units, but wants to aim much higher than that. Using money raised from a crowdfunding campaign, their plan is to reach all the camps around Greece to provide help to people on making the journey a little easier.

To read more about this story, please visit www.bgr.com

Photo credit: The Huffington Post

30 May 2016

Using Nanotechnology for Solar Power

Researchers at MIT have developed a new experimental solar cell which could possibly improve and enhance solar power efficiency. By placing the cells one on top of another, researchers are able to reduce energy loss which is a common problem with most solar cells.

However, when we talk about heat, it has nothing beneficial to offer solar cells. The solar cells have nano-tubes built into them that conver heat to visible light. This light is then used by the solar panels.

More research is still needed and researchers are still testing these cells. For more information, please visit thehackednews.com

09 May 2016
Floating Solar Panels

New Floating Solar Panels To Generate Green Power

Floating solar panels located in the Yamakura Dam reservoir in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture are stirring up environemental interest world wide. Renewable energy developers are planning to have almost 60,000 panels floating on top of the reservoir. That’s enougloatih solar power to genergate around 5,000 homes.

Floating solar panels are not just popular in Japan. They are spreading accross the globe with operations in Austrailia and the United States.

Not only do these solar panels produce green, renewable energy, but they also have other benefits. They help keep the water in the reservoir from evaporating, and the water cools down the solar panels making them more efficient than land-based panels.

For more information on this new technology, visit www.nytimes.com

20 Apr 2016
Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy Out Ranks Fossil Fuels

We are seeing for the first time that renewable sources of energy, such as solar power, are becoming a majority of new electricity-generating capacity added around the world. This great news came from a study from the United Nations saying that more than half the $286 billion invested in wind, solar and other renewable energy occurred in emerging markets like China, India and Brazil — also for the first time. These numbers come as great news for the future of renewably energy as it seems we will be able to replace highly carbon-intensive coal and other fossil fuels.

Not only does switching to renewable energy sources help the planet, but it will also have extraordinary health benefits to people and animals around the world. An analysis by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that widespread solar adoption would significantly reduce nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter emissions, all of which can cause health problems.2

For more information, please read more from our friends at nytimes.com

 

Sources: www.nytimes.com
2 www.energysage.com

01 Apr 2016

South Africa’s Solar Power Progress

Africa now reportedly installed solar solutions in 14 African countries. Unfortunately, these resources have not been evenly distributed. Only 2 in 5 people have access to a reliable supply of energy throughout the day. Overall, 625 million people are without power in sub-Saharan Africa alone — that’s 68 percent of the population, according to the International Energy Agency.

THE GOOD NEWS

Major investments are underway. The World Bank’s Africa Energy project portfolio currently carries 48 projects totaling US$3 billion. Ugandan energy company Umeme is reportedly dedicating $80 million dollars to upgrading its network. And Kenya could house the largest wind farm in Africa if the 40,000-acre Lake Turkana Wind Power Project is completed.

It’s not just institutions that are providing relief, but even wealthy individuals: Hip hop artist Akon announced plans to help provide electricity to some 600 million Africans without power in 2015.

And finally, the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant was switched on in Morocco in February 2016, harnessing the power of the African sun.

 

For more information on the solar power progress of Africa please visit www.cnn.com

22 Mar 2016
Cleaning Your Solar Panels

Solar Myth Mondays: Solar Panels Require Too Much Maintence

A common myth is that solar panels require a lot of maintenance. This is untrue. Since solar panels do not have any rotating parts, they do not require regular maintenance. The most work you have to do is hose the panels off, say once a year or so. Tough work, huh? Most solar panel owners never actually clean the panels and just let mother nature do the job. First try if your garden hose alone does the job. If a lot of dust and dirt has accumulated, you might need to clean more thoroughly. Fill a bucket or spray bottle with warm water and soap – no other special equipment is needed. Clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth or sponge.

However, if that big oak tree in your yard decides to take a nose dive on your precious solar panels, then you should have our professionals at SolarGem check it out to assess the damage.  No worries though, you can rest assure we’ll be here to answer all of your other solar panel system myths!

 

For more information, check out energyinformation.org

05 Mar 2016
Nuclear Power Fossil Fuels

Why We No Longer Need Nuclear Power

In this day and age with all the advances we’ve had in renewable energy, there is little doubt that fossil fuels can hold their own in the future. We’ve talked a lot of fossil fuels, but what about nuclear energy? The first question to answer would actaully be what is nucleal energy?

Nuclear energy is the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion, especially when used to generate electricity. So….what does that mean? Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus (core) of an atom. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together. Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity. But first the energy must be released. It can be released from atoms in two ways: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. In nuclear fusion, energy is released when atoms are combined or fused together to form a larger atom. This is how the sun produces energy. In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing energy. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to produce electricity.1 So, you’re probably asking yourself, if this is how the sun produces energy, why is it bad? Well, one major disadvantage of nuclear energy is radioactive waste. And not just a little bit of waste, we’re talking about  approximately 2,000 metric tons a year.

For more information on the damaging effects of nuclear energy, please visit www.renewableenergyworld.com

1 http://www.nnr.co.za/what-is-nuclear-energy/

2 http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-nuclear-energy.php