Posted by on January 31st, 2008
Scientists over in Grenoble are trying to recover energy caused by the vibration of raindrops as they fall and use it to power electronic devices. What next - using ants to power tiny treadmills? Recouping the heat from sweating dogs to charge up an iPod?
The scientists from CEA/Leti-Minatec, an R&D institute in Grenoble told Physorg.com that you can get up to 12 milliwatts from some of the fatter drops.
Apparently, the system - which uses polyvinylidene fluoride polymer to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy - could be used to generate power in areas where murky conditions make solar a no-no.
Posted by on January 31st, 2008
If you were feeling a little queasy after all the bad news on solar stocks, an IPO out of China seems to be providing a bit in the way of news Alka-Seltzer, after its 29 January debut.
ReneSola, which makes silicon wafer for solar panels, launched its shares at a discount at $13, and saw prices rise in trading, according to Dow Jones.
The IPO comes despite weak performances this year from many alternative-energy stocks after a big run-up in 2007.
Suntech Power, for example, has fallen to $50 a share from near $90 a share just in the past month. First Solar (FSLR) is well below $200 a share after nearing $300 a share during the same time. SunPower (SPWR) is now in the $70s range after trading at $140 about a month ago.
“We believe we are well positioned to address the challenges presented by the current industrywide shortage of silicon raw materials,” ReneSola said in its prospectus.
Apparently, RenSola is hoping to use the cash - reckoned to be $127 million - to fund its expansion.
Posted by on January 31st, 2008
Intel has had an image makeover — not content with presenting itself as the world’s biggest chip maker, it’s now gunning for the title of biggest purchaser of green electricity in the US. Greenbang hopes Intel can come up with something more Guinness Book of Records friendly, like maker of the world’s biggest apple pie.
But back to the green electricity: Intel has bought 1.3 billion kilowatt hours a year of renewable energy certificates to reduce its impact on the environment.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, that makes it the number one green electric happy shopper in the US of A.
“Our renewable purchase is just one part of a multi-faceted approach to protect the environment, and one that we hope spurs additional development and demand for renewable energy,” Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini said.
Posted by on January 31st, 2008
In a press release last year, Envirowise warned that companies are chucking the equivalent of 40 bottles of champagne the drain every minute. Greenbang shuddered to contemplate such a waste of fizz. Then Envirowise explained that it was the financial equivalent of 40 bottles of champagne going down the drain every minute in wasted water. Greenbang still shuddered, just in a different way.
But this week, 21 members of the Food and Drink Federation have pledged to cork such champagne-equivalent profligacy with a pledge to cut their water usage by 140 million litres of water per day – equivalent to 56 Olympic-size swimming pools – and a save themselves a not insignificant £60m a year on water bills.
The signatories are: apetito; Birds Eye Iglo; Britvic; Cadbury Schweppes; Coca-Cola Enterprises; GlaxoSmithKline; Kellogg Marketing & Sales Co; Kraft Foods UK; Mars Snackfood; Müller Dairy (UK); Nestlé UK; PepsiCo UK; Premier Foods; Tate & Lyle; UIN Foods; Unilever UK; Uniq; United Biscuits; Warburtons; Weetabix; and Young’s Seafood. These companies generate a combined annual turnover of over £15 billion.
The Commitment will help FDF members to achieve their water reduction goals, as set out in the Federation’s recently launched Five-fold Environmental Ambition. It will also be central to achieving the industry-wide target in the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy to reduce water use, outside of that embedded in products themselves, by 20% by 2020 compared to 2007.
Companies working with Envirowise will review their current water use and develop site specific action plans to significantly cut water use and costs within six months of signing up to the commitment. They will report annually to Envirowise on water and cost savings made on site. Envirowise will offer signatories a package of support measures to help them.
Posted by on January 31st, 2008
Solar panels can be quite difficult to manage can’t they? It’s always “bring me a sandwich” or “I want to play Playstation” or “I want to go to school dressed as superman”. No wonder solar panel management company Enphase has picked up $6.5 million in funding.
Enphase picked up the funding, which was led by Third Point Ventures, on the back of its micro-inverter technology which is in beta testing and should be out in the wild in the second quarter of this year.
The Enphase system represents a paradigm shift in the solar market from central/string inverter-based systems to distributed Micro-Inverter-based systems. Enphase systems increase energy harvest, increase system reliability, and simplify design, installation and management.
“Enphase Energy’s system harvests more solar energy and provides better management of solar panels than anything we’ve seen, which means better return on investment for its customers,” said Robert Schwartz, Managing Director of Third Point Ventures. “This compelling value proposition, along with the management team’s strength in semiconductors, software and solar, has made us very bullish on the prospects.”
Posted by on January 30th, 2008
It seems if you’re in solar at the moment, just shake the nearest tree and a VC with a big fat wad of cash will drop out, fall to his knees and ask to buy a stake in your company. Today’s tree shaker is Solel, an Israeli solar panel maker that specialises in parabolic troughs.
Solel, which is in the middle of constructing 150MW of solar thermal plants in Spain and already has a supply agreement with PG&E, has just revealed it’s attracted $105 million in financing from Ecofin.
Solel is the world’s largest solar thermal company with over 20 years experience in the sector. It specialises in the commercially proven technology – parabolic troughs which have been operational since 1985 in the Mojave Desert. These nine solar energy generating system (“SEGS”) plants produce 354MW of clean, renewable electricity per annum using Solel equipment and technology. They supply the needs of half a million consumers and eliminate the need for 2 million barrels of oil a year.
Posted by on January 30th, 2008
Desalination is one method of tackling water shortages under consideration around the world. Here’s another, from Science Daily:
Amid growing water shortages in parts of the United States, more communities are considering tapping their sewage treatment plants as a new source of drinking water.
The conversion of wastewater into tap water could help meet increased demand for one of life’s most essential resources, according to the article “Treating Sewage For Drinking Water” scheduled for the Jan. 28 issue of Chemical & Engineering News.
And perhaps it could. But Greenbang has a sneaking suspicion that whoever wants to start running a sewage to drinking water conversion plant will need some serious support on the marketing side.
Posted by on January 30th, 2008
Wal-Mart is often seen to the environmental lobby as Pete Doherty is to the anti-drugs movement or Jeremy Clarkson is to dress sense. But the mega-retailer is making a few steps in the general direction of renewable energy.
Just this week in fact it announced the completion of a project with solar company SunPower, which has seen a 390-kilowatt solar power system strapped to a store in Chino.
And there’s more: seven more in fact.
The store is the first of seven Wal-Mart facilities in California to receive high-efficiency SunPower solar power systems, totaling 4.6 megawatts, and is part of a major purchase of solar power from SunPower and other solar power providers for approximately 22 Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers in Hawaii and California. The stores included in the pilot project are expected to achieve savings over their current utility rates as soon as the first day of operation.
Each solar power generating system installed may vary, but on average it can provide up to 30 percent of the power for the store on which it is installed. “By Wal-Mart’s estimates, installing the solar power systems will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8,000-10,000 metric tons per year,” said David Ozment, director of energy for Wal-Mart. The solar power pilot project is a major step toward Wal-Mart’s goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy.
On the roof of Wal-Mart’s Chino store, SunPower installed the proprietary SunPower(R) T-10 solar roof tile, which tilts at a 10-degree angle to increase energy capture. SunPower solar panels, which are 50 percent more efficient than conventional solar panels, are used to maximize power generation and financial savings, especially on rooftops with constrained space.
Posted by on January 30th, 2008
In between inventing new words, like normalcy, looking simian and generally embarrassing himself with quotations like “More and more of our imports come from overseas”, George Dubya has decided to ape the Canadians and set up his own green tech fund with $2 billion.
Bush made the announcement in his state of the union address, which went a bit like this:
Together we should take the next steps: Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power. Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future. Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.
This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride. The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology.
It’s all a bit broad-brush strokes from Bush Jr - no real details on what type of tech will be backed - mind you, can you image George even being able to say photovoltaic?
Posted by on January 30th, 2008
In November, Greenbang was thanking the pun gods for the news that wave power firm Oceanlinx was planning a float. Well, it’s once again time to wade through that sea of puns: now it appears that the float plans have been sunk, in favour of private equity.
Reuters has the lowdown:
Oceanlinx, which has made a prototype unit that sits in the sea off Australia and harnesses wave power, had been trying to list and raise 25 million pounds ($50 million) to 35 million.
A private fundraising is seen as reducing the short-term risks for Oceanlinx’s investors, who want it to float on the market once it has built more devices and has a longer financial track record, the source said.
The IPO plan hasn’t been permanently buried at sea, though: Reuters reckons Oceanlinx could float in around two years’ time.
