First Reserve Corporation Completes acquisition of Gamesa Solar and Ener3

First Reserve Corporation, the leading private equity firm specializing in the energy industry, has completed the acquisition of Gamesa Solar, the leading solar energy company in Spain, for a total consideration of €261 million. Together with the acquisition in Italy of Ener3,which has an established track record of designing and building photovoltaic power plants, First Reserve has created a European renewable energy group with the ability to deliver solar capacity of up to 400MW in Southern Europe over the next four years. The group expects that two thirds of this capacity will be delivered to customers, on a turnkey project basis, while the remaining capacity will be developed on its own account.

Paolo Pietrogrande, who will become CEO of the new group said: “Gamesa Solar has delivered 40MW of photovoltaic projects and with an additional 50MW to be completed within 2008 is a major solar developer and turn-key contractor. Its leading position in the Spanish market provides an excellent foundation to exploit the attractive solar development opportunities that exist in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Over the next four years we will invest €600 million into developing renewable energy generation assets. Our international team has relevant experience in development, construction and operation of wind, small hydro, biogas and solar based power generation. We are delighted that 20 senior managers will be part owners of the new group, reflecting their commitment to its success.”

Mr Pietrogrande previously held positions as CEO of Enel GreenPower, Chairman of Atmos Holding and a director of Trinergy Plc, and has an established track record of successfully leading renewable energy companies.

Antonio Cavallè, who will become Managing Director of Gamesa Solar and has led the company to its current leadership position in Spain, added: “Combining the leading Spanish solar energy business with an established Italian renewable developer and engineer paves the road to further commercial growth in the most promising European market.”

“Between us we have over 500 man-years of renewable energy expertise led by people such as Carlo Zuccaro, one of the pioneers of grid connected photovoltaic projects, who will lead innovation and new technology development. We are a strong team and confident in our ability to build a successful and growing solar energy business.”
tag: Energy Business, Solar News, Gamesa Solar, First Reserve Corporation, energy industry, photovoltaic power plants,

Solar Financiers, Angels of the Sun

We hear a lot of news and projects based of solar energy as our weblog (in a very small way) but there are much bigger projects and groups doing many a things every day. But there are another group of people or companies, who stay behind nudging all these deserving people with much needed support and making some money doing so. Just like angels in the back ground. In fact they ARE angels, I would call them Solar Financiers. Clean Power Finance is one of them. We will be writing about such companies more in the future. But for now, here is a news release from Clean Poer Finance that tells a energy saving story.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 25, 2008 – Clean Power Finance has been selected by Conergy - the world’s foremost leader in renewable energy solutions - as its Preferred Financing Partner for residential, off-grid and small commercial systems. In addition, Conergy plans to deliver a co-branded version of Clean Power Finance’s web-based software suite, CPF Tools, to their vast network of solar integrators.

“To be selected by Conergy, a world leader in renewable energy, is a powerful endorsement for Clean Power Finance,” said Joseph Brakohiapa, president and CEO of Clean Power Finance. “Our end-to-end solar sales solution will provide Conergy dealers with productivity tools and financial services to drive customer projects from interest to installation.”

Up until now, solar integrators have relied on the customer to proactively research and secure their own finance solutions from traditional banks that may or may not be versed in the cost and benefits or the underlying value of renewable energy solutions. CPF Tools integrates financing options into the solar quote, resulting in a fundamental shift in the way renewable energy is sold. By delivering an accurate, professional proposal that spotlights a monthly payment and environmental benefits, Clean Power Finance aims to take solar from the domain of the enthusiast to the millions of cost-conscious, green-minded consumers in mainstream America.

“Clean Power Finance is transforming the sales and financing process by delivering accurate solar estimates that present the customer with a predictable monthly payment,” said Anthony Fotopoulos, managing director for Conergy Americas. “It is this type of integrated and practical financing solution that will offer consumers one-stop shopping and make buying solar easier.”

The Conergy co-branded version of CPF Tools will be introduced to installers at ASES Solar 2008 on May 3. A sophisticated web-based software suite, CPF Tools streamlines the sales process as it flows from access to prospective customers to management of job quotes to live updates on financing status. As Conergy’s “Preferred Financing Partner,” Clean Power Finance will deliver this end-to-end solution to Conergy dealers servicing residential and small commercial customers. These solar professionals will join a community of users that already represents over 20 percent of solar installers nationwide.

Working with a network of 150 lenders, Clean Power Finance can deliver financing solutions to both residential and commercial customers across all 50 states. Financing options available include unsecured loans, equity-based financing, and leasing options (bank-owned equipment). In addition, Clean Power Finance is a leader in the innovation of new financing products that will ultimately make solar more affordable and easier to buy for households and businesses alike. By integrating financing into the solar sales quote and proposal, Clean Power Finance can offer the customer a comprehensive picture of solar benefits, including cash flow analysis, internal rate of return, levelized cost of energy, total lifecycle payback, system resale value, and greenhouse gas reduction.

CPF Tools is available to solar integrators, distributors and manufacturers today. Financing tools are free, and customized estimation, quoting, and proposal generation is available for as low as $49.95/month to Conergy dealers nationwide.

tag: solar energy, Solar Financiers, Clean Power Finance, Conergy,

New Energy Star Specifications for Set-top TV Boxes To Save Billions In Energy Costs

(Washington, D.C. - April 24, 2008) Today, EPA announced a new specification for boxes that deliver television and video content, also called set-top boxes. Effective Jan. 1, 2009, new cable, satellite, and telecom set-top boxes that carry the Energy Star will be at least 30 percent more efficient than conventional models. The new specification is expected to prevent greenhouse gas emissions while allowing consumers to continue to enjoy high-quality content.

“With approximately 148 million set-top boxes installed in the United States and 23 million more set-top boxes expected to ship in 2008, EPA is challenging manufacturers and service providers to deliver boxes that not only offer the newest features, but are also energy-efficient,” said Robert Meyers principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

After this new specification goes into effect, if all set-top boxes sold in the United States meet the Energy Star requirements, the savings in energy costs will grow to about $2 billion each year and greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by the equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions from about 2.5 million vehicles annually.

For the first time, EPA will also partner with the cable, satellite and telecommunications companies that deliver content to consumers. As Energy Star partners, these companies agree to improve the energy efficiency of a significant number of set-top boxes by offering newly qualified boxes to subscribers or by upgrading boxes already in homes to help subscribers reduce their carbon footprint and save money.

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes as well as schools and commercial buildings. Products that have earned the Energy Star prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved more than $16 billion on their utility bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles. For more information, visit: http://www.energystar.gov

Release date: 04/24/2008

Contact Information: Shakeba Carter-Jenkins, (202) 564-4355 / carter-jenkins.shakeba@epa.gov

tag: EnergyStar, EPA, Energy Star, Set-Top Box, greenhouse gas emissions

Progressive to plant more than a quarter of a million trees in U.S. National Forests countrywide.

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio — April 22, 2008 — To thank customers who opt to use less paper and do business electronically, Progressive will plant more than a quarter of a million trees in U.S. National Forests countrywide. Also, this month, Progressive began offering a discount to customers who choose to go paperless.

The program is simple: customers can choose to enroll in the company's Paperless Policy option and opt to receive just bills, or bills and policy documents, electronically. If they do, Progressive will plant a tree in their honor.

Most of the trees will be planted later this year — with the help of the Arbor Day Foundation — in U.S. National Forests damaged by wildfires, insects or disease.

"This program is a win-win for everyone. Trees are saved and forests restored, and customers eliminate clutter, have increased security, and get faster delivery of important documents," said Christine Johnson, Progressive's customer experience manager. "We can also reduce our costs by conserving resources used to print and ship bills and other policy documents — while also doing our part to help the environment and improve the customer experience."

The Paperless Policy option is available to all Progressive private passenger auto customers — whether they bought directly from the company or through one of the more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies that represent it.

The paperless discount is currently available in Colorado; more states will be added throughout the rest of the year. Customers who buy from an independent agent will receive a 5 percent discount; those who buy from Progressive directly will receive, on average, a 3 percent discount.

tag: Green News, Tree Planting, Progressive

Recallr: "Greenversations," New EPA Blog.

EPA has a new blog, Greenversations, to inform us about Environmental Protection Agency's inner workings by various employees stationed around the country.
Recallr: "Greenversations," New EPA Blog.
tag: Greenversations, EPA, Recallr

It Is Earth Day, Let Us Share!

Thank you for sharing

tag: Earthday, food for car

German chancellor visits CHOREN to mark completion of building phase of world’s first commercial BTL plant

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and more than 100 other guests today marked the completion of the building phase of the world’s first commercial production plant to convert biomass into synthetic diesel fuel.

The plant, built in Freiberg, Germany by CHOREN Industries GmbH, will produce a high performance fuel called BTL from non-food biomass, such as forest residues and waste wood. The use of these raw materials means that a litre of BTL will need less than a third of the land needed for a litre of rapeseed bio diesel.

The fuel also promises to reduce CO2 production by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel and is compatible with standard diesel engines and supply infrastructure.

The next important step will be starting production, which will be in 8-12 months. The plant is designed to produce 18 million litres of fuel per year.

Guests in Freiberg today saw the engineering behind the build of this highly complex, first-of-a-kind plant and heard how the operations team will now go through structured testing of the 113 subsystems. They also looked ahead to future industrial-scale production of next generation biofuels.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “The Freiberg project demonstrates what progress can be achieved in the development of climate protection technology when government, industry and science work hand in hand.”

Tom Blades, Chief Executive Officer, CHOREN said “We have completed one successful stage today, but we still have a long way to go. In parallel with the commissioning of the beta plant we are working on a concept for the first industrial-scale BTL plant, in Germany. The medium-term regulatory framework has to be right for that.”

Rob Routs, Executive Director of Royal Dutch Shell plc, said: “Shell is committed to a secure, affordable and sustainable energy supply in the future. We are working both on making fossil fuels more efficient and on development of alternative fuels. With our investment in next generation biofuels, such as the BTL fuel from CHOREN, Shell is driving innovation in low-carbon fuels for sustainable mobility.”

Shell became a shareholder in CHOREN Industries in 2005 and provides the Fischer Tropsch technology used in the BTL process, with associated technical support.
tag: alternative energy, BTL, CHOREN, Royal Dutch Shell plc, Freiberg project, biofuels, bio diesel, synthetic diesel fuel

Go-Green Goes Live On Earth Day!

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tomorrow, on Earthday, a new environmental web site will be born: WWW.GO-GREEN.COM. The site offers a wealth of information on all things green for both home and business. Everything from how to select a solar energy system for your home, to information about conservation, recycling, green construction, buying and traveling green and much more. You can even learn what those numbers on the bottom of plastic bottles mean. There is a carbon footprint analyzer that lets you know how you’re doing and suggests ways for you to do even better. The results can be saved so you can benchmark! There is no fee to use the site.

Business managers can learn how to operate a green business, conserve energy, green up their power, and build green. Home and business users can search for service providers and products by type, zip code or other parameters. Providers of environmentally-friendly products and services are urged to register and post their wares. Registering on the site is required to post.

The latest environmental news is displayed on the home page. Full and archived stories are easily accessible. Another unique feature of the site allows a user to find out what eco-events are occurring in their area, allowing the site to be a hub for local environmental activism. Environmental organizations can post their events, such as a beach or river clean up, fairs, rallies, etc. Go-Green users can choose to participate or even create their own event. Environmental organizations are urged to visit and post their events. There is no fee to post an event, product or service.

The Global Challenges section presents information on the main environmental issues affecting our future in a clear and understandable manner. Global warming, sustainable development, energy, pollution, transportation, and water and land use are discussed with the most current information. As voter decisions affecting stewardship of the planet will increase over the coming years, the site will be a critical point of reference on the issues confronting our world.

Go-Green sold 100% renewable power in California from 1997-2000 and was the second largest renewable power supplier in the state.

Contacts

Go-Green.com
Rick Kohl, 408-370-2525 ext. 47
info@go-green.com
tag: Earth Day, Go-Green, solar energy system, conservation, recycling, green construction,

Green Apple Festival Joined By More Artists, Join Us.

(New York, NY – April 9, 2008) — Earth Day Network & Green Apple Festival have announced another round of diverse artists joining the eight free simultaneous Earth Day celebrations in landmark parks across the country on Sunday, April 20th. Event cities include Washington DC, New York City, Miami, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

In Washington DC on the National Mall, 19 Recordings/Jive Recording artist Jordin Sparks will perform the National Anthem. An acoustic set by members of rock band O.A.R. will kick off the festivities at noon and the Roots will headline with multi-platinum three-time Grammy award winning artist will.i.am, Ne-Yo, Doug E. Fresh, Talib Kweli and Chrisette Michele. In New York City’s Central Park, The Bacon Brothers have joined the bill. In San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart will be joined by Jon Fishman (Phish) and a troupe of leading African, Cuban and Brazilian drummers. In Los Angeles on the Santa Monica Pier, Escalera (featuring pro-skateboard legends Danny Way and Bob Burnquist) has been added.

"America's Largest Earth Day Celebration" will be presented by Chase in parks across the country - New York City (Central Park), Chicago IL (Lincoln Park Zoo), Miami FL (Bicentennial Park), Denver CO (City Park), Dallas TX (Fair Park), San Francisco CA (Golden Gate Park), Los Angeles CA (Santa Monica Pier) and Washington DC on the National Mall.

Events will combine environmental addresses by prominent speakers, the presence of a wide variety of environmental organizations and educational displays on the theme of environmental awareness. The line-up ranges from blues legends to Latin powerhouse pop stars, reggae greats, jam band favorites, conscientious hip-hop artists, R&B icons, rock bands and singer/songwriters.__WASHINGTON DC “Earth Day on the National Mall”_The Roots & Friends (Will.i.am, Ne-Yo, Doug E. Fresh, Talib Kweli, Chrisette Michele)_Gov’t Mule_Toots and the Maytals _Thievery Corp - DJ set _Warren Haynes – solo acoustic set _Umphrey’s McGee _DC Boys Choir_City Dance___*The National Anthem with Jordin Sparks_*Acoustic performance with O.A.R.
NEW YORK (Central Park)_Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder_Big Head Todd and the Monsters _The Bacon Brothers _Vusi Mahlasela_Vienna Teng
SAN FRANCISCO (Golden Gate Park)_Mickey Hart’s Mass Drums (with Jon Fishman of Phish and Tommy Lee of Motley Crue)_Yonder Mountain String Band _Brett Dennen

MIAMI (Bicentennial Park)_Menudo _Arrested Development _Baby Loves Salsa _Caravan of Thieves

CHICAGO (Lincoln Park Zoo)_Derek Trucks Band_Dirty Dozen Brass Band _Meshell Ndegeocello _Bassnectar_Chicago Afrobeat Project_Miss Lori Holton Nash _The Gwalla Gwallas _Event MC- Kyle Orton - Chicago Bears____DALLAS (Fair Park)_Los Lonely Boys_Martin Sexton _Junior Brown _Cas Haley _The Steps_George Stanford__LOS ANGELES (Santa Monica Pier)_Taj Mahal _Ziggy Marley solo acoustic _Escalera (with pro-skaters Danny Way and Bob Burnquist)_Juliette and the Licks _School of Rock Hollywood Allstars___The Frequency _Coby Brown___DENVER (City Park) _The Neville Brothers _The Benevento/Russo Duo _Rose Hill Drive

With a "small footprint, large impact" ethos for 4/20, Earth Day Network & Green Apple Festival:

* Chose parks with eco-considerations like the cities' public transportation infrastructures, pedestrian and bicycle accessibility, presence of an organic atmosphere - i.e. parks rather than concrete stadiums.
* Over 125 venues to become "Green Apple Venues" over Earth Day Weekend (4/18 - 4/20), as Festival organizers introduce eco-friendly practices/products as a new way of doing business.
* With Native Energy, a leader in the space of offsets, the entire undertaking will be made carbon neutral.
* Carry out school greening projects in 3 markets, in low-income neighborhoods


About Earth Day Network:

Earth Day Network seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. It pursues these goals through education, politics, and consumer activism. With year-round programs in environmental education, campus activism, global warming and international issues, Earth Day Network combines the forces of its 500,000 activists and members to mobilize action on the most pressing environmental issues. Earth Day Network has a global reach with a network of more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.


About Green Apple Festival:

Now entering its third year, The Green Apple Festival was founded by producer Peter Shapiro and Zenbu Media, a music media company that publishes Relix Magazine, Global Rhythm, Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs and co-produces the Jammy Awards.


Since 2006, when The Green Apple Festival began in New York City, the event has galvanized music fans, environmentalists, progressive consumers and families in a growing number of cities on Earth Day by providing "something for everyone" events with music performances, family entertainment and interactive exhibits at public locations. In 2007, capacity crowds attended Green Apple events in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, setting a one-day attendance record at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, IL, for example, with over 40,000 people present. Lending weight to the Festival's endeavors is their partnership with Earth Day Network - the non-profit organization founded by the creators of the first Earth Day in 1970.

The 39th Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2008.

For additional information regarding Earth Day 2008 and the Green Apple Festival visit:_www.earthday.net_www.greenapplefestival.com


Media contacts:_Lisa Swann/Raquel Garcia _Earth Day Network _202 518-0044_swann@earthday.netThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it / garcia@earthday.netThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sunshine, Sachs & Associates_Tiffany Shipp / Leslie Chasky_212-691-2800_shipp@sunshinesachs.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it / chasky@sunshinesachs.com
tag: Earth Day, Earthday, Earth Day Network, Green Apple Festival,

Earth Day And Beyond According To Google, Earth Day '08

Although Google is known for it's capabilities of search and other internet related services like Gmail, Google Docs, AdSense, YouTube and others, they have been pretty active in the environmental face too. There are quite a few projects that Google is involved in helping our earth to face the global warming problem. The Solar Power project, going carbon neutral, and Progressive Automotive X PRIZE 100MPGe car, some of the big projects that Google involved in and excel in. But there a bunch more and as the Earth Day Nears, Google is working even harder to do more. The following information is from Official Google Blog.
Google is also providing you with tools to tell the world what you're doing for Earth Day (and beyond) by uploading a message to Google's Earth Day '08 site. Get together with friends, family or coworkers, grab a camera, and take five minutes to put yourselves on the map. From the everyday to the extraordinary, we want to hear about your plans to take on climate change and make our planet a greener place.

• Hot on the heels of last week's Google Transit launch in Chicago, a whole new batch of transit agencies have made their data available on Google Maps. From Lubbock, Texas to Walla Walla, Washington, people in communities across the country will now find it easier than ever to leave their cars at home.

• I hope you'll take a moment to download the newest version of Google Earth, which launched earlier today. While you're exploring its fancy new features, be sure to check out some of the latest Global Awareness layers (found in the left-side "Layers" panel) that celebrate the beauty and biodiversity on Earth, like ARKive's Endangered Species and Greenpeace's Stop Climate Change. And I encourage you to visit the Google Earth Outreach Showcase, which features a number of environmentally-focused KMLs that can be downloaded and viewed in Google Earth.
• If you use Google Checkout to donate to a non-profit environmental organization on behalf of anyone you know, we'll generate a personal view of Google Maps that includes a marker representing your donation. The people you donate on behalf of will get an email about your contribution, and if they follow your example, their donation will be marked on your map as well. We'll connect the markers, so that you can watch how your generosity spreads as more and more people donate. Visit Checkout's Earth Day page to learn more.

Official Google Blog: We can't wait for Earth Day
tag: Earth Day, Google, Google Solar Power project, going carbon neutral, X PRIZE 100MPGe car, ARKive's Endangered Species, Greenpeace's Stop Climate Change, Earth Day '08, Google Transit, Google Maps, Google Earth,

MIT and Fraunhofer Cooperate To Design And Build Better Solar Energy Production And To Conduct Other Sustainable Energy Research.

Center aims to significantly reduce cost of solar energy over next five years

April 14, 2008

MIT and Fraunhofer Cooperate To Design And Build Better Solar Energy Production And To Conduct Other Sustainable Energy Research.

MIT and Fraunhofer, a German research organization, have signed an agreement to establish a research center in Massachusetts focused on significantly reducing the cost of solar energy over the next five years. The MIT-Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems will develop cutting-edge technologies and materials for designing and producing better solar modules.

Located adjacent to the MIT campus, the center will be active in other areas of sustainable energy research as well, including developing new technologies to substantially reduce the energy consumption of new and retrofitted structures by adapting state-of-the-art building technology. The center also aims to develop a portfolio of new efficiency and solar technologies that maximize MIT's world-class capabilities in advanced materials R&D and computer simulation.

Professors Ernest Moniz, director of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), and Eicke Weber, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, announced the agreement that will lead to the creation of the new center Saturday, April 12, at the MIT Energy Conference. Also participating in the ceremony were MIT President Susan Hockfield, German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Karl Weiss, chairman of the board of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and Ian Bowles, Massachusetts secretary of energy and environmental affairs, and Larry Reilly with National Grid.

"This partnership will pair the outstanding basic energy research capabilities at MIT with the world-class applied research capabilities of the Fraunhofer Institute," said Moniz, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics. "The research focusing on solar energy and on building efficiency address extremely important technologies for both long- and short-term response to global energy challenges. Also, the strong support of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and National Grid represents the kind of public-private partnership that we will need to succeed."

Start-up costs of the center will be funded with $5 million from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. National Grid, the principal member of the Center's Partnership with Industry, also committed to support the center with a pledge of $1 million over five years.

"The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems has been highly successful over 25 years in developing technologies in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and transferring these innovations to industry," said Weber. "I expect that our new Center for Sustainable Energy Systems at MIT will be as successful here in Massachusetts and help achieve the state's goals in climate protection."

Nolan Browne, MIT alumnus and founder of the MIT Energy Conference, will serve as the center's managing director. In addition, Tonio Buonassisi, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at MIT and the center's planned scientific director, is one of the leading solar technologists in the U.S. today. Roland Schindler, the center's executive director, is a 24-year Fraunhofer veteran who will serve as a liaison between the MIT team and Germany, ensuring that activities are aligned. Four out of the nine members of the board of advisors are MIT professors.

About MITEI

MIT's Energy Initiative (MITEI) is designed to help transform the global energy system to meet the challenges of the future. This Institute-wide initiative includes research, education, campus energy management and outreach activities, an interdisciplinary approach that covers all areas of energy supply and demand, security and environmental impact. For more information, please visit http://web.mit.edu/mitei/.

A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on April 16, 2008 (download PDF).

tag: Solar Energy Research, MIT, Fraunhofer, Sustainable Energy Systems, solar modules, MIT Energy Initiative, MITEI, Fraunhofer Institute,

Weihai 'Green' City project, BP Solar's Solar Cities Concept Goes To China.

Australia's market leader, BP Solar, was responsible for taking the Solar Cities concept to China, and will be part of a team managing the project's feasibility study.

Brooke Miller, Regional Director of BP Solar Australasia said "We will use the experience we have gained in Australia's Solar Cities programme to develop a comprehensive road map that can assist model cities in China, such as Weihai, in addressing their present and future energy challenges.

"Today, almost every city, and every urbanized country in the world is facing the growing challenge of meeting its peak energy needs, while reducing its greenhouse gas emissions".

"Australia has been at the forefront of developing new technologies and innovative programs that can address this challenge. It makes sense that local industry joins with Government to support our neighbours in the development of a sustainable energy future for the region," she said.

"This project aims to deploy solar technologies at commercial scale, providing a practical example of how bilateral agreements can provide a critical first step in developing a low carbon future."

Through Australia's own Solar Cities initiative, BP Solar has gained considerable experience in the development of successful Solar Cities projects, from Blacktown in the western suburbs of Sydney to the city of Adelaide in South Australia, and across to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

"With a population that dramatically increases in summer due to its popularity as a tourist destination, Weihai has its own distinct peak power challenges. Using technology that is available today, the opportunity exists to develop a truly unique solar city model that not only meets these challenges but transforms Weihai into a showcase for other Chinese cities and indeed the world.

"As a direct consequence of the Federal Government's support for the Solar Cities concept, seven Australian cities will demonstrate how the power of the sun can address their peak energy challenges, reduce the requirement for investment in electricity infrastructure and cut emissions. We look forward to completing the feasibility study and adding the city of Weihai to this list," said Brooke Miller.

Weihai 'Green' City project

• Weihai is based in China's Shandong province
• The Weihai Green Energy City project proposes to transform Weihai into the largest solar city in the world
• The project aims to deploy up to 100MW of solar PV, solar thermal, and energy efficiency applications, thus creating a 'showcase' of solar technologies and energy efficiency of global and national significance.
• The project aims to deliver mutual benefit to both Australia and China.

BP Solar Australia

• BP Solar is Australia's market leader with approximately 35% market share and almost 250 employees at its Sydney Olympic Park facility.
• In 2005, BP Solar's annual PV production capacity in Australia was expanded by 25% from 40MW to 50MW in an effort to accommodate growing demand.
• BP Solar's Sydney Olympic Park facility recorded over AU$90 million in export sales in 2007.

BP Solar

• Part of BP Alternative Energy, BP solar is a global company with over 2300 employees.
• BP Solar designs, manufactures and markets products which use the sun's energy to generate electricity for a wide range of applications in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
• With over 30 years of experience and installations in more than 160 countries, BP Solar is one of the world's leading solar companies having 228MW annual manufacturing capacity in 2007, plus another 700MW capacity under construction.
• BP Solar has solar cell and module manufacturing plants in Sydney, Australia; Bangalore, India; Madrid, Spain; and Frederick, MD, USA; and module manufacturing in Xi'an, China. In Frederick it also has casting and wafering facilities.
• BP Solar invests more than $10m annually in photovoltaic research and development.

tag: solar energy, Solar Cities, BP Solar, Solar Cities initiative, Weihai 'Green' City project, solar PV, solar thermal, energy efficiency applications, solar technologies, Alternative Energy,

Environmental Education Grants For Teachers.

(April 14, 2008 - Newark, N.J.) – Applications are now available for PSEG’s Environmental Education Grant Program, which is being expanded this year in terms of both budget and geographical reach. Teachers who can successfully link their students' understanding of math, science, computer science, and/or technology concepts with an enthusiasm and appreciation for the environment are encouraged to apply.

Grants of up to $3,500 each are available to teachers of grades K-9. The grants may be used to purchase materials and equipment, take field trips, and develop curriculum-related activities.

Applications that focus on the development of one or more classroom units, the expansion of an existing course or curriculum, or the extension of classroom work to community or after-school activities will be considered.

“Our grantees come up with creative ideas each year, finding ways to get their students involved in hands-on activities that directly support what they’re learning in the classroom,” said Jo Ann Dow-Breslin, PSEG’s manager of community affairs. “We’re proud to support educators and their efforts to encourage their students to think about the environment in new ways.”

This grant budget is now $25,000 and teachers from schools in the company’s utility service area, estuary enhancement program area and emergency planning zone can apply. The application deadline is June 6, 2008, and awardees will be announced in October. Visit www.pseg.com/eegrants for more information and an application.

PSEG’s Environmental Education Grant Program developed as a partnership with the New Jersey Business/Industry/Science Education Consortium (NJ BISEC), and designed in cooperation with the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE). Since the grant program started in 1991, more than $296,000 has been awarded to 130 teachers, and a number of them have partnered together on projects..
tag: Environmental Education, Environmental Grants, PSEG, Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education

Energy Efficiency Expo By Southern California Gas Co. To Help Customers "Go Green"

LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2008 – With more California businesses focusing on making their operations environmentally friendly, Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) is showing companies how “going green” can be good for their bottom line.

On April 29, The Gas Company will host its third annual Energy Efficiency Expo, where commercial and industrial natural gas customers can learn about the latest energy-saving technologies and financial incentives available to accelerate the return on investment from energy efficiency.

“California leads the nation in energy efficiency,” said Debra L. Reed, president and chief executive officer of Southern California Gas Co. “How to use energy more wisely to both reduce costs and lessen the impact on the environment is frequently cited by our customers as one of their top priorities, and we’re committed to helping them accomplish this.”

This year’s Expo promises to be the most informative yet, with California Public Utilities Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon delivering the keynote address, titled, “Energy Efficiency in California: Why It Makes Sense for Business.”

Economist Jack Kyser, senior vice president of the Los Angeles County Economic
Development Corp., will lead a breakout session on energy and the region’s economy.

Other breakout sessions include energy efficiency in the food-service industry, compliance with AB 32 (California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) and energy efficiency in the public sector.

The Gas Company also will honor the biggest energy-saving projects of 2007, including that of a South Gate, Calif., oil refinery that received a $195,000 incentive for equipment upgrades that have reduced the refinery’s annual energy costs by more than $1 million.

Customers attending the Expo, which will be held from 8 a.m. to noon April 29 at The Gas Company’s Energy Resource Center in Downey, Calif., will learn how to take advantage of the $18 million in incentives available to commercial and industrial natural gas customers this year. Business customers can register for the Energy Efficiency Expo by contacting their account representatives, by calling (800) 427-6584, or by visiting www.socalgas.com/erc.

Media Contact: Rachel Laing The Gas Company (877) 866-2066 www.socalgas.com
tag: Going Green, Going Green EXPO, environmentally friendly Business, Southern California Gas Co, Energy Efficiency Expo, natural gas,

American Samoa Honored At 10th annual Environmental Awards

(04/14/08) SAN FRANCISCO -- During the agency's 10th annual Environmental Awards Ceremony in San Francisco today, U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri presented plaques to over two dozen organizations and individuals throughout the Pacific Southwest including one from American Samoa in recognition of their efforts to protect and preserve the environment in 2007.
“The EPA is pleased and honored to acknowledge the innovative and far-reaching environmental work achieved by this impressive group of organizations and individuals. They set an example for all of us to follow,” Nastri said. “All of this year's winners -- in fact, all of this year's nominees -- have made commendable efforts to protect and preserve our air, water and land or increased our awareness of the environmental challenges we face.”
The Region 9 Environmental Awards program acknowledges commitment and significant contributions to the environment in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands and tribal lands. Twenty nine groups and individuals were selected from over 130 nominees received this year from businesses, local, government officials, tribes, media, environmental organizations and citizen activists.

The Pacific Islands winner:

American Samoa EPA
Piggery Compliance Program, Pago Pago, AS

A significant percentage of American Samoan families raise pigs for, among other things, use in family and village celebrations, which often feature a roasted pig as a central part of the feast. As the population has grown, so have the number of pigs and the concern that pig waste contributes to pollution and disease. The common practice of locating a pig pen above or adjacent to a stream and washing pig waste into the stream has led to many cases of leptospirosis, a disease associated with the urine of pigs and other animals, which can infect people in contact with contaminated water. The American Samoa EPA created the Piggery Compliance Team to take action to reduce the piggery problem. Identifying over 1,000 families that owned piggeries, the team conducted outreach, educating families on how to comply with regulations, followed up with inspections, and where needed, compliance actions. By the end of 2007, its efforts resulted in the closure of 69 non-compliant piggeries, and helped 57 other pig owners comply. Nutrient loads to nearby waters were reduced by over 11,000 pounds of nitrogen and 4,000 pounds of phosphorous. One watershed saw a reduction in bacterial contamination by over 90 percent.

For the complete list of winners.

tag: EPA, Environmental Awards Ceremony, American Samoa EPA, Piggery Compliance Program, Pago Pago,

Basho's Trail, ( Oku no Hosomichi, ) A Journey We All Should Take.

Photograph by Michael Yamashita

The following paragraph about Oku no Hosomichi, (Narrow Road to a Far Province) by the poet Matsuo Basho written almost 300 years ago, sums up what we all trying to achieve by doing all the hard work that is necessary to keep this earth of us from destroying. I like Japan (I lived there for a while and plan to return.) for it's simple gestures at life and how the nature blends into our lives. We go where flowers bloom in spring, summer we swim in the seas, autumn we go looking at the change of colors in the forests and in winter we warm ourselves in natural hot springs. Yet Japan is like any other country, having similar resources, only difference is how we look at or treat what we got! But Followed the path.
Instead of my ugly lecture (I am better at lecturing Physics! ;)) here is the story;

The splash of a frog, a cricket chirping from beneath an empty samurai helmet, "the cool fragrance of snow": Such closely observed moments in nature, often marrying unlikely elements, distinguish Bashos poetry. Haiku (a three-line verse) originated as the first verse of longer poems. Using plain language in the service of spiritual insight, Basho raised the form to literature, each poem like a polished stone that, when dropped in water, creates an infinity of ripples.
See all the photographs at National geographic
The feature article.
tag: Nature, Basho's Trail, Oku no Hosomichi, Matsuo Basho,

World Health Day: Global Warming And Human Health

7 APRIL 2008 | GENEVA -- Scientists tell us that the evidence the Earth is warming is "unequivocal." Increases in global average air and sea temperature, ice melting and rising global sea levels all help us understand and prepare for the coming challenges. In addition to these observed changes, climate-sensitive impacts on human health are occurring today. They are attacking the pillars of public health. And they are providing a glimpse of the challenges public health will have to confront on a large scale, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan warned today on the occasion of World Health Day.

"The core concern is succinctly stated: climate change endangers human health," said Dr Chan. "The warming of the planet will be gradual, but the effects of extreme weather events -- more storms, floods, droughts and heat waves -- will be abrupt and acutely felt. Both trends can affect some of the most fundamental determinants of health: air, water, food, shelter and freedom from disease."

Human beings are already exposed to the effects of climate-sensitive diseases and these diseases today kill millions. They include malnutrition, which causes over 3.5 million deaths per year, diarrhoeal diseases, which kill over 1.8 million, and malaria, which kills almost 1 million.

Examples already provide us with images of the future:

• European heat wave, 2003: Estimates suggest that approximately 70 000 more people died in that summer than would have been expected.
• Rift Valley fever in Africa: Major outbreaks are usually associated with rains, which are expected to become more frequent as the climate changes.
• Hurricane Katrina, 2005: More than 1 800 people died and thousands more were displaced. Additionally, health facilities throughout the region were destroyed critically affecting health infrastructure.
• Malaria in the East African highlands: In the last 30 years, warmer temperatures have also created more favourable conditions for mosquito populations in the region and therefore for transmission of malaria.
• Epidemics of cholera in Bangladesh: They are closely linked to flooding and unsafe water.

These trends and events cannot be attributed solely to climate change but they are the types of challenges we expect to become more frequent and intense with climate changes. They will further strain health resources that, in many regions, are already under severe stress.

"Although climate change is a global phenomenon, its consequences will not be evenly distributed," said Dr Chan. "In short, climate change can affect problems that are already huge, largely concentrated in the developing world, and difficult to control."

To address the health effects of climate change, WHO is coordinating and supporting research and assessment on the most effective measures to protect health from climate change, particularly for vulnerable populations such as women and children in developing countries, and is advising Member States on the necessary adaptive changes to their health systems to protect their populations.

WHO and its partners -- including the UN Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the UN World Meteorological Organization -- are devising a workplan and research agenda to get better estimates of the scale and nature of health vulnerability and to identify strategies and tools for health protection. WHO recognizes the urgent need to support countries in devising ways to cope. Better systems for surveillance and forecasting, and stronger basic health services, can offer health protection. WHO will be working closely with its Member States in coming years to develop effective means of adapting to a changing climate and reducing its effects on human health.

"Through its own actions and its support to Member States," said Dr Chan, "WHO is committed to do everything it can to ensure all is done to protect human health from climate change."

For further information contact:

Sari Setiogi
Telephone: +4122 791 3576
Mobile +4179 701 9467
Email: setiogis@who.int

John Rainford
Telephone: +41 22 791 3982
Mobile +41 79 516 3709
Email: rainfordj@who.int

Nada Osseiran
Telephone: +41 22 791 4475
Mobile +41 79 445 1624
Email: osseirann@who.int

tag: global warming, healthy living, World Health Day, UN Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, UN World Meteorological Organization,

NanoPower Solar Window to Address the Energy Crisis .

Octillion Corp.’s NanoPower Solar Window to Address the Energy Crisis

The rapid growth of population as well as economic development in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America is driving a rapid expansion of world energy use … The scarcity and non-renewable status of the most important energy sources are making the high energy price environment to become a permanent feature of current reality.

In addressing the energy price challenges, energy technology innovation must play the leading role. Technology advancements can offer a solution to the world energy crisis by offering environmentally friendly and reliable energy source alternatives that meet the world’s basic energy needs and provide sustainable basis for economic development.

Octillion Corp. is a technology incubator currently developing a patent-pending technology that could adapt existing home and office glass windows into ones capable of generating electricity from solar energy without losing significant transparency or requiring major changes in manufacturing infrastructure.
Octillion reported that the process of producing silicon nanoparticles is supported by 10 issued U.S. patents, seven pending U.S. patents, two issued foreign counterpart patents and 19 pending foreign counterpart patents. The company’s current research efforts target refining the process of the deposition of silicon nanoparticles onto glass, quality control and consistent replication of lab-scale samples.
In March 2008, Octillion announced that it succeeded in replacing previously established protocols for producing lab-scale prototypes; a traditionally time-consuming and cumbersome process for depositing nanoparticles onto glass has been successfully replaced with a faster, cost-effective and commercially available deposition technology. This advancement will allow the company to accelerate the NanoPower Window technology development and move from the laboratory to larger-scale testing and production.
Octillion
tag: Solar Energy Research, Solar Energy, NanoPower Solar Window, Energy Crisis, silicon nanoparticles, Octillion,

The University of Colorado And Agilent Technologies Team Up To Detect Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, And Other Organic Contaminants In Water

I was very licy to have my father as my father. When I was little and he was detecting DDT in everything, human tissues, breast milk and chasing behind the companies that was using third world as dumping grounds for then illegal chemical DDT. I learned how to use LC/MS instruments at tender age. But I did not like Chemistry and I choose Physics to be my path to the future, much to my fathers disbelief. But I still can run the instruments when called for.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., and BOULDER, Colo., April 7, 2008

The University of Colorado's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering today announced the opening of the Center for Environmental Mass Spectrometry (CEMS), a laboratory focusing on the detection of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic contaminants in water and evaluating the effectiveness of methods for removing these compounds. Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is providing the core liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer (LC/MS) instrumentation for the lab.

The topic of pharmaceuticals in drinking water recently gained increased visibility when an Associated Press survey revealed that an assortment of drugs including antidepressants, antibiotics and birth control prescriptions were detected in the municipal drinking water of 24 major metropolitan areas serving 41 million Americans.

CEMS was established at the University of Colorado by Imma Ferrer, research Ph.D.; Karl Linden, Ph.D.; and E. Michael Thurman, research Ph.D. Thurman, a 30-year veteran of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in water testing, also spent five years in Spain, where Ferrer and he worked at the first LC/MS accurate mass facility in Spain for the analysis of pesticides in food. Ferrer is the chief analyst of CEMS and is responsible for the highest quality accuracy measurements and operation of the laboratory. Professor Linden directs research on the treatment of pharmaceuticals in water and plays a key role in laboratory development and design. Furthermore, CEMS has a collaborative agreement with Larry Barber, Ph.D., of the USGS for the sampling and analysis of pharmaceuticals in the environment.

"Pharmaceuticals are biologically active compounds designed specifically to affect the human body," said Thurman. "Low concentrations of parts-per-billion or parts-per-trillion generally aren't considered dangerous over the short term, but no one knows about the long-term human and ecological effects. There are also troubling effects on wildlife, such as male fathead minnows that are becoming 'feminized' from traces of the human birth-control compound EE2 in streams at concentrations of parts-per-trillion. This is noteworthy on a number of levels."

"Agilent is proud to support this innovative lab because few things are as fundamental to quality of life as clean drinking water," said Mike McMullen, vice president and general manager, Agilent Chemical Analysis Solutions Unit. "Over the years, global markets have demanded greater and greater analytical power in the quest for a cleaner environment with safer food, water and air. This is an excellent example of how our technology is being used for the greater good."

Barber and Thurman, co-authors of a 2002 USGS white paper titled "Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams, 1999-2000." have worked closely together on this topic and will continue their collaboration through CEMS. The paper captured the imagination of the scientific community, becoming the most-cited article in the history of the journal Environmental Science & Technology. It described the first nationwide reconnaissance of pharmaceuticals, hormones and other organic wastewater contaminants (OWC) in 135 streams in 30 states. Samples were tested for 95 compounds, and at least one OWC was detected in 80 percent of the streams sampled.

"Traditionally, the topics that scientists were working on didn't enter the public consciousness for about 10 years," Thurman observed. "Now, people are much more educated and sensitive about health and environmental matters, because they recognize how factors like pollution, diet and lifestyle affect them personally."

Accurate Mass Spectrometry.

To measure trace amounts of compounds and detect unknowns in complex water samples, CEMS requires an LC/MS system with very high mass accuracy, mass resolution, sensitivity and speed. Through their previous work in food testing with Agilent applications scientist Jerry Zweigenbaum, Ph.D., Ferrer and Thurman became aware of the Agilent 6220 Accurate Mass Time-of-Flight LC/MS system, and Agilent agreed to loan a complete system to the lab at no charge. The system's list price is approximately $270,000.

"The mass accuracy of the Agilent TOF rivals much more expensive FTMS and orbital trapping instruments," said Ferrer, chief analyst of CEMS. Ferrer and Thurman showed the power of accurate mass in Spain by measuring the mass of an electron by LC/TOF-MS on several pharmaceuticals, publishing this paper in 2005 in Analytical Chemistry.

The new Agilent LC/MS system with resolving power of approximately 20,000 was introduced last November, and it contains a number of design features that are well-suited for environmental analysis where scientists must detect very small quantities of chemicals in complex mixtures.

The Agilent instrument is sensitive down to the attomole (one quintillionth, or 10 to the negative 18 power of a mole) range, and offers better than two parts-per-million mass accuracy, which gives scientists high confidence in their data and helps them easily identify the compounds they find. The 32 Gbit/second high-speed data acquisition electronics provide very high mass resolution to 20,000. The system incorporates proprietary dual-gain analog to digital (ADC) time-of-flight electronics for a tenfold improvement of dynamic range -- now approaching up to five orders of magnitude. MassHunter Workstation software is included with the Agilent 6220 system, providing advanced data mining functions.

Linden agrees with the Associated Press study that pharmaceuticals enter the water supply because drugs are only partially absorbed by people; metabolites and some parent compound are being excreted into sewage systems that are not designed to specifically remove these compounds. Animals are another source of drug contamination. Commercial chicken-raising operations, for example, frequently include antibiotics with the chicken feed, and residues can enter groundwater.

"Basic water-treatment technology, both for wastewater and for drinking water, has changed in recent years, now including treatment by ozone, UV and carbon," Linden observes as the lead scientist on water treatment at CEMS. "We're looking at the problem from a number of angles. First, to help define this growing problem and to underscore the need for more testing and treatment at the municipal level. We also intend to work with people around the world to help find solutions such as evaluating various water-treatment options."

About The University of Colorado's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering

The University of Colorado at Boulder is ranked 19th of all environmental engineering graduate programs in the U.S. The program has eight faculty members specifically focused on environmental engineering and is engaged in nationally funded research relating to wastewater, drinking water, water reuse, emerging contaminants, metals, natural organic matter, pathogens in aerosols and water, natural systems, and bioremediation. Project sponsors include the NSF, AwwaRF, WateReuse Foundation, USEPA, CDC, NIH, and several utilities. Current research expenditures are over $1 million/year and a new research center on water reuse is planned. Approximately six new Ph.D. students are graduated from the environmental engineering program each year. CEMS researchers will be a significant component of a planned new center to develop water-reuse technologies and evaluate environmental and health impacts.

tag: environmental engineering, University of Colorado, NSF, AwwaRF, WateReuse Foundation, USEPA, Environmental Mass Spectrometry, CDC, NIH, Agilent instrument, attomole, LC/MS system, USGS, Mass Spectrometry,

Forklifts Become "Vehicles" To Texas' Efforts For Clean Air.

Release date: 04/04/2008

Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – April 4, 2008) They have been the muscle behind manufacturing and warehousing for decades, and now forklifts are putting power into North Texas efforts for clean air.

Deford Lumber, Ltd., of Dallas is one of several companies helping forklifts become the newest “vehicles” for clean air as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP). The company received more than $130,000 from the state-run program to replace the aging diesel engines in four of its forklifts and two haul trucks with cleaner, less-polluting models. In doing so, Deford will prevent more than 13 tons of nitrogen oxide from polluting North Texas air.

Other grant recipients from the Dallas-Fort Worth area include Land Lumber Co., Inc.; Mitchell and Bourland; Pam Heart; Neal Gay; James O. Worley; Robert Boyer; Bret Sapp; and Wayne Carroll. Together, their individual grants total more than $718,000 towards new engines for haul, cement, and dump trucks. They will also prevent the release of more than 71 tons of nitrogen oxide, which is one of the key contributors to ground-level ozone, or smog.

Businesses interested in greening their fleets still have time to apply for TERP grants by the April 11, 2008, deadline. Individual application assistance is available at Community Help Desks in Arlington, Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth until April 10 to help applicants with questions. For more information, interested applicants can visit www.terpgrants.org or for immediate assistance call (800) 919-8377.

TERP is managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and serves as a national model for replacing and retrofitting older diesel engines. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports local efforts to encourage participation in TERP as a way to improve air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

More about activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/audio.htm#audio040408_forklifts. tag: Clean Air, Texas Emissions Reduction Program, TERP, nitrogen oxide, ground-level ozone, r smog, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

DELL Goes Completely Green At Global Headquarters.

Round Rock, Texas, April 2, 2008

* Green Power Supplied by Waste Management’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant and TXU Energy Wind Power
* Company Ahead of Schedule to Meet Carbon-Neutrality Commitment

Dell is now powering 100 percent of its 2.1 million square-foot global headquarters campus, home to more than 10,000 employees, with 100 percent green power, the latest step in meeting the company’s 2008 carbon neutral commitment.

“It’s time for our industry to take a lead role in creating a clean energy future,” said Paul Bell, president, Dell Americas. “Today, we are challenging every technology company to work with their suppliers and partners in integrating green power and energy-efficient strategies into their operations.”

“Powering an entire campus with green power, in partnership with these two leading companies, is an important step in becoming the greenest technology company on the planet and the right thing to do for our shared earth,” said Mr. Bell. “At the same time we’re using green technology to drive operating expense down.”

Dell is using all of the power generated from Waste Management’s Austin Community Landfill gas-to-energy plant, meeting 40 percent of Dell headquarters’ campus power needs. The remaining 60 percent comes from existing wind farms and is provided by TXU Energy.

Dell also announced today it is increasing green power use for its Austin Parmer Campus, provided by Austin Energy, from eight to 17 percent. The company is a leading participant in Austin Energy’s GreenChoice® power program. Dell also is powering its Twin Falls, Idaho, facility with 100 percent green power, 97 percent of which is wind power and three percent solar.

In September 2007, Dell announced it would make company owned and leased facilities “carbon neutral” in 2008 through a strategy of improving energy-efficiency in its operations and maximizing the purchase of renewable power. This commitment is part of the company’s climate strategy which also seeks to minimize carbon impact of supplier operations and customer product use.

Operational initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce electricity use already implemented on Dell’s central Texas campuses are expected to save the company nearly $2 million annually in operating costs and cutting CO2 equivalent emissions by nearly 12,000 tons per year. The purchase of green power gives Dell price certainty on its operational costs for power, and the company expects it may see cost benefits to using green power in the future.

Dell’s green technology solutions include the OptiPlex 755 and Inspiron 531 desktops, Latitude D630 laptop, PowerEdge M-Series blades and PowerEdge Energy Smart servers. The company’s desktop systems alone have helped customers save more than $2.2 billion and avoid approximately 22.4 million tons of CO2.

“We’re very pleased that our Austin Community Landfill’s gas to energy project will play a key role in Dell’s commitment to using renewable energy. This project is part of our company’s environmental initiative to increase the production of waste based energy. Today, we create enough energy for the equivalent of 1 million homes each year and by 2020 we expect to double that output, producing enough energy for the equivalent of more than 2 million homes,” said David Steiner, chief executive officer of Waste Management, Inc.

“This is yet another example of TXU Energy’s commitment to offering renewable power choices that are good for business and the environment,” said Jim Burke, chief executive officer for TXU Energy “TXU Energy is dedicated to improving our use of renewable power and encouraging greater energy efficiency, both of which help preserve our environment.”

“For Dell to partner with Waste Management and TXU to source renewable energy on this scale is great news,” said Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group. “Greening the company’s Texas operations not only underpins Dell’s bold carbon neutral commitment but helps drive clean energy investment and tackles climate change.”
tag: Green News, Climate Group, Waste Management’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant, Energy Smart servers, OptiPlex 755, TXU Energy Wind Power, Inspiron 531, green power, Landfill gas-to-energy plant, Austin Energy, GreenChoice®, carbon neutral,

Near-Zero Emission BMW Hydrogen 7

Argonne tests find near-zero emissions for BMW Hydrogen 7

(Download printer-friendly, PDF version.)

ARGONNE, Ill. (March 28, 2008) – Independent tests conducted by engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory on the mono-fueled version of the BMW Hydrogen 7 prototype have found that the car's hydrogen-powered engine surpasses the super-ultra low-emission vehicle (SULEV) level, the most stringent emissions performance standard to date.

"The BMW Hydrogen 7's emissions were only a fraction of SULEV level, making it one of the lowest emitting combustion engine vehicles that have been manufactured," said Thomas Wallner, a mechanical engineer who leads Argonne's hydrogen vehicle testing activities. "Moreover, the car's engine actively cleans the air. Argonne's testing shows that the Hydrogen 7's 12-cylinder engine actually shows emissions levels that, for certain components, are cleaner than the ambient air that comes into the car's engine."

It was not an easy task to measure the Hydrogen 7's emissions. "A gross polluter is easy to measure, but the cleaner the car the harder it is to test," said Don Hillebrand, director of Argonne's Center for Transportation Research. "Most labs test at the SULEV level. Argonne's vehicle testing facilities are unique in that they are able to detect even trace levels of emissions. In this case, it was near-zero emissions."

After an extensive evaluation by BMW, "Argonne's Advanced Powertrain Research Facility was found to be the only public test facility in North America capable of testing hydrogen vehicles at these low emissions levels," said BMW's Wolfgang Thiel, manager, operating support emissions analysis. "Zero is a very small precise number – we are pushing the boundaries of emissions testing."

Technical and program information about the Hydrogen 7 tests will be presented by Wallner and BMW North America's Jason P. Perron Wednesday, April 2, during the National Hydrogen Association Annual Hydrogen Conference, March 30-April 3, in Sacramento, Calif. Argonne will join BMW's Christoph Huss, senior vice president, science, traffic and vehicles regulations, in a press conference to present the test results during the Society of Automotive Engineers 2008 World Congress, April 14-17, in Detroit.

BMW has put the bi-fueled hydrogen model into limited series production. Although the vehicle is not yet available for sale to the general public, it is being made available to "influential public figures," whose use demonstrate a new era in clean energy, BMW has said. In the meantime, the greatest challenge to widespread use of hydrogen cars is the limited number of hydrogen refueling stations.

Argonne has conducted cutting-edge transportation research for more than 30 years and employs a multidisciplinary staff of engineers and scientists involved in engine, battery, fuel cell, vehicle systems and applied materials research.

Argonne's transportation research program and facilities are primarily funded by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which supports the development of vehicle technologies and alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on foreign oil and enables the U.S. transportation industry to sustain a strong, competitive position in domestic and world markets.

Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

For more information, please contact Angela Hardin (630/252-5501 or ahardin@anl.gov) at Argonne.

tag: super-ultra low-emission vehicle, SULEV, BMW Hydrogen 7, bi-fueled hydrogen BMW, mono-fueled hydrogen BMW, Argonne National Laboratory, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy,

Hydrogen From Photosynthesis As A Renewable Fuel

Algae could one day be major hydrogen fuel source

(Download printer-friendly, PDF version.)

ARGONNE, Ill. (April 1, 2008) — As gas prices continue to soar to record highs, motorists are crying out for an alternative that won't cramp their pocketbooks.

Scientists at U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory are answering that call by working to chemically manipulate algae for production of the next generation of renewable fuels – hydrogen gas.

"We believe there is a fundamental advantage in looking at the production of hydrogen by photosynthesis as a renewable fuel," senior chemist David Tiede said. "Right now, ethanol is being produced from corn, but generating ethanol from corn is a thermodynamically much more inefficient process."

Some varieties of algae, a kind of unicellular plant, contain an enzyme called hydrogenase that can create small amounts of hydrogen gas. Tiede said many believe this is used by nature as a way to get rid of excess reducing equivalents that are produced under high light conditions, but there is little benefit to the plant.

Tiede and his group are trying to find a way to take the part of the enzyme that creates the gas and introduce it into the photosynthesis process.

The result would be a large amount of hydrogen gas, possibly on par with the amount of oxygen created.

"Biology can do it, but it's making it do it at 5-10 percent yield that's the problem," Tiede said. "What we would like to do is take that catalyst out of hydrogenase and put it into the photosynthetic protein framework. We are fortunate to have Professor Thomas Rauchfuss as a collaborator from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana who is an expert on the synthesis of hydrogenase active site mimics."

Algae has several benefits over corn in fuel production. It can be grown in a closed system almost anywhere, including deserts or even rooftops, and there is no competition for food or fertile soil. Algae is also easier to harvest because it has no roots or fruit and grows dispersed in water.

"If you have terrestrial plants like corn, you are restricted to where you could grow them," Tiede said. "There is a problem now with biofuel crops competing with food crops because they are both using the same space. Algae provide an alternative, which can be grown in a closed photobioreactor analogous to a microbial fermentor that you could move any place."

Tiede admitted the research is its beginning phases, but he is confident in his team and their research goals. The next step is to create a way to attach the catalytic enzyme to the molecule.

Funding for the research was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

For more information, please contact Brock Cooper (630/252-5565 or bcooper@anl.gov) at Argonne.

tag: renewable energy, Renewable Fuel, DOE, hydrogen gas, hydrogen by photosynthesis, hydrogenase enzyme, Algae, biofuel crops, photobioreactor, microbial fermentor, Argonne National Laboratory,

MARS, A Wind Power Anywhere™ Solution

We all are good at innovation when the need arises. We develop thin film photo voltaic cells that are printed and we create inflatable solar collectors, all in the name of efficiency and ease of renewable energy generation. But all these companies and technologies are relatively new. Then I found a company that has been perfecting wind energy conversion for last 28 years. I like the concept and the implementation of MARS.

Magenn Power's MARS is a Wind Power Anywhere™ solution with distinct advantages over existing Conventional Wind Turbines and Diesel Generating Systems including: global deployment, lower costs, better operational performance, and greater environmental advantages.

The Magenn Power Air Rotor System (MARS) is an innovative lighter-than-air tethered device that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, efficiently generating clean renewable electrical energy at a lower cost than all competing systems. This electrical energy is transferred down the tether to a transformer at a ground station and then transferred to the electricity power grid. Helium (an inert non-reactive lighter than air gas) sustains the Air Rotor which ascends to an altitude for best winds and its rotation also causes the Magnus effect. This provides additional lift, keeps the device stabilized, keeps it positioned within a very controlled and restricted location, and causes it to pull up overhead rather than drift downwind on its tether.

The distinct advantages of the Magenn Air Rotor System design are as follows:

• Magenn Air Rotor System is less expensive per unit of actual electrical energy output than competing wind power systems.
• Magenn Power Air Rotor System will deliver time-averaged output much closer to its rated capacity than the capacity factor typical with conventional designs. Magenn efficiency will be 40 to 50 percent. This is hugely important, since doubling capacity factor cuts the cost of each delivered watt by half.
• Wind farms can be placed closer to demand centers, reducing transmission line costs and transmission line loses.
• Conventional wind generators are only operable in wind speeds between 3 meters/sec and 28 meters/sec. Magenn Air Rotors are operable between 1 meter/sec and in excess of 28 meters/sec.
• Magenn Air Rotors can be raised to higher altitudes, thus capitalizing on higher winds aloft. Altitudes from 400-ft to 1,000-ft above ground level are possible, without having to build an expensive tower, or use a crane to perform maintenance.
• Magenn Air Rotors are mobile and can be easily moved to different locations to correspond to changing wind patterns. Mobility is also useful in emergency deployment and disaster relief situations.

These points are mutually inclusive. The advantages above combine to make Magenn the most cost-effective wind electrical generation system.

tag: wind energy, wind turbines, lighter than air wind turbines, Wind Power Anywhere, Magenn Power Air Rotor System, MARS, Magnus effect,