California: Strongest Renewable Standard Bill Sent to the Governor

California’s pioneering 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) bill, authored by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, passed the California Assembly yesterday, sending a measure to Governor Brown’s desk - which he is expected to sign. The new standard will increase the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 33% by 2020.

Replacing Governor Schwarzenegger’s executive order, Simitian’s bill codifies the 33% RPS, sending a stronger message to investors about Californian’s commitment to clean tech investment. Between 2005 and 2009, California clean tech firms received $9 billion in venture capital funds. By the second quarter of 2010 alone, the state received $980 million in funds - the most in the world.

Speaking to this stunning trajectory, Simitian noted that “Senate Bill 2X sends a signal to renewable energy providers that California wants them here. He predicts that “they will respond, as they have in the past, with billions of dollars in investments that will provide jobs and tax revenues.”

This landmark legislation, which was attempted in each of the past two sessions, is a message that will hopefully reverberate nationally. While Congress continually stalls on clean energy, California is leading the way towards building a diverse, clean and resilient energy portfolio.

Source: Got2BeGreen

Google Invests $168 Million in 392MW Mojave Desert Solar Thermal Plant

 

Google is announcing a $168 million investment in Brightsource Energy's Ivanpah solar power plant in the Mojave desert in California. The solar farm will have a capacity of 392 MW. According to Google, that's the equivalent of "taking more than 90,000 cars off the road over the lifetime of the plant, projected to be more than 25 years."

Google has Invested $250 Million in Clean Energy So Far
 

The solar farm will use heliostat mirrors to concentrate the sun's energy onto a tower where the heat will generate steam that makes a turbine spin. "Power towers are very efficient because all those mirrors focus a tremendous amount of solar energy onto a small area to produce steam at high pressure and temperature (up to 1000 degrees F)."

The Ivanpah Power Tower will be approximately 450 feet tall and will use 173,000 heliostats, each with two mirrors. Construction began last fall and should end up 2013.

Part of Google's motivation is to help the solar power sector reach maturity faster (the more you build, the faster you reach economies of scale)

Google: We need smart capital to transform our energy sector and build a clean energy future. This is our largest investment to date, and we've now invested over $250 million in the clean energy sector. We're excited about Ivanpah because our investment will help deploy a compelling solar energy technology that provides reliable clean energy, with the potential to significantly reduce costs on future projects.

Article by Michael Graham Richard, TreeHugger

Solar Carports – How this Fast Growing Solar Product Works, Solar Carport Structures and Costs, Solar Panel Carport Suppliers, Largest Solar Carports, Charging Electric Vehicles

Solar Carports are a relatively new Solar Energy Product compared to other Solar Products like Solar Heaters and Solar Cooking.Solar Carports are fast catching on as their dual use of protecting,shading a car as well as providing electricity to nearby offices and buildings.It makes use of real estate that would go waste so it provides a lot of value add besides helping in protecting the environment as well.

How Solar Carports Work

Solar Carports work mostly using the same principles like a normal residential solar installation.Solar Panels are installed on the roof of the carport and then connected electrically to the power grid using an inverter.The designing,installation and power connection of the solar carport is done by most of the normal Solar EPC Contractors that work on residential and commercial rooftops.

Solar Carports Costs

If you put up Solar Panels on an existing Carport rather than buying a new structure than the cost of the Solar Carport should not be more than that of putting Solar Panels on the Roof.The Cost of Putting a Solar Panel is around $4-5/watt for small commercial installations and somewhat higher for residential installations.On the other hand buying a Solar Carport Structure with Solar Panels would be higher.Note you would get subsidies for Solar Carports just the same as for Rooftop Solar Installations and probably subsidies for Charging Stations for EVs as well.

Solar Carport Structures

Some companies also sell carports that includes the steel structure which house the vehicle.The whole carport is sold as a single piece instead of putting solar panels on the roof of an existing carport.This structures have the advantage of being customized for generating electricity.Note Solar Carports can be of different designs – a single pole with solar panels forming the roof of the solar carport or a steel structure which is customized for putting up solar panels on top

Solar Carports as Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles

Solar Carports are being increasingly being used as Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles making the Carports totally green.Note Electric Vehicles are being massively subsidized and supported by government around the world.Charging stations for Lithium,NiMH batteries are essential infrastructure for EVs and Hybrid Vehicles.These Solar Carports are ideal for use as Charging Stations as they generate Green Electricity and house Cars as well.Solar Carports and Electric Vehicles are kind of made for each other and make the Electric Car Concept totally Green. Cities such as Los Angeles are increasingly adopting this model .

To see entire article click here 

Article by GreenWorldInvestor