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Solar Flight flies again with Sunseeker 2

April 7th, 2009 | Posted in Solar

Solar Flight's Sunseeker aircraft is flying again. After a couple of years, the one and only solar airplane is going to come back with a new design, as Sunseeker 2, and do a series of flights across the European continent. The aircraft's weight is only about 240 kg when fully loaded, and is about 7 meters long. The airplane is propelled by an 8 horse-power motor, supplied with electricity from Li-polymer batteries, used for climbing and taking off.

The airplane's solar power modules kick in when it reaches cruising altitude and speed. The aircraft cruises at around 40 mph, or double that if batteries are used at the same time. Check out the video:


AERO Friedrichshafen from Solar Flight on Vimeo.


Swinburne University of Technology and Suntech Team developing next generation solar cells

April 7th, 2009 | Posted in Solar

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Swinburne University of Technology has partnered with Suntech Power Holdings to create the next generation of solar cells. The research into new solar cells is aimed at achieving cells that are twice as efficient and half the cost of currently available cells on the market. The University will contribute US$3 million to the venture, with Suntech pedging to invest a further 3 million over the duration of the collaboration. Additional funding is being sought from the Victorian government.

According to Professor Gu, leader of the group and Swinburne Centre for Micro-Photonics Director, said the group's combination of research and expertise will enable them to develop and manufacture the new solar cells within five years. According to Professor Gu, the project will be based around the development of nanoplasmonic solar cells. The technology allows collection of energy across a wider range of colors, compared to technology currently being developed in other laboratories around the world. The collaborative research group will be located in Swinburne's new Advanced Technology Centre, a $130 million (AUS) development due for completion by early 2011.

Canadian Solar to supply solar panels to Sichuan province in China

April 7th, 2009 | Posted in Solar

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Canadian Solar announced they were recently selected, in a competitive bidding process, to supply solar panels for 80,000 solar home systems in Sichuan province, China. The total size of the order is 1.6 MW, with solar panels rated for 20 W peak capacity each. The delivery of the solar units is expected to be completed by April.

The company, which has been involved in solar power projects for homes in China since 2004, has a business division dedicated to solar home and solar village systems for rural electrification.

Aquamarine looking into the best sites in the UK for marine energy

April 7th, 2009 | Posted in Hydro

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Recently Aquamarine Power announced focused commitment on further development of the Oyster Wave Energy Converter. They have just commissioned energy consultancy TNEI to identify viable sites around the UK and Irish coastline for the installment of the Oyster converters. TNEI, specialized in grid connection analysis, is assessing sites that would yield a total of about 100 MW of energy capacity from the Oyster system.

TNEI is hoping to be able to answer to the challenge of integrating marine power into the existing power grid, bringing in considerable power potential. Further work involved analyses and recommendations that should make it possible, among other things, for local offshore wave energy projects to be developed prior to any power grid reinforcements. These, and other future developments, are going to help make marine renewable energy mainstream.

EU Climate Policy gets the green light

April 6th, 2009 | Posted in General

The European Union has given final approval for its climate change and energy policies. The policies were agreed upon by EU ministers back in late 2008.  Here are a few highlights of the new climate policy:

  • 300 million EU ETS allowances, worth billions of euro, for part-funding up to 12 Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration plants
  • 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels); this rises to 30% if global deal is reached
  • 20% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020 (UK targets 15%)

Island of Bergö in Finland getting wind power facilities

April 6th, 2009 | Posted in Wind

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Fortum is contemplating five wind power farms on the island of Bergö, Finland. Negotiations about the assessment studies have been started with the Finland Regional Environment Center.

It is expected that the total wind power capacity will be somewhere between 15 and 20 MW, which should be enough to power up to 2700 households (with heating), detached from the main power grid. Once all the necessary permission are obtained, the project could start as early as 2012, with wind power produced electricity available two years after that.

Japan getting US$99 billion stimulus package – clean energy is part of it

April 6th, 2009 | Posted in General

Japanese government has prepared a US$99 billion stimulus package to help its economy come out of the worst crisis since the years after World War 2. The package contains numerous measures, include investments in the clean energy sector.

Renewable energy industry in Japan has seen regular growth over the past years. Major wind power and solar power equipment manufacturers like Mitsubishi and Hitachi, are a based in Japan. The country has plenty of wind farms for example, mostly on the eastern parts of the islands, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Here's a chart showing renewable energy growth over the years:

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Nepal to develop rural hydropower projects

April 6th, 2009 | Posted in Hydro

Federation of Nepal Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said it is planning to develop rural hydropower projects in cooperation with Norway. There are 45 projects planned, pertaining to micro-hydropower (small hydro turbines, couple of megawatts capacity). The total installed capacity should be somewhere between 100 and 150 MW, once the projects are completed.

Nepalese efforts are going to be helped most probably by the Norwegian Development Program (NORAD), and the Norwegian Development Fund (NORFund). Once commenced, the projects are expected to be completed in about two years. The projects are expected to be developed under the public-private model.

Small hydropower plant in Salleri Chialsa, Nepal (Image credit: Iteco.ch)

Small hydropower plant in Salleri Chialsa, Nepal (Image credit: Iteco.ch)

Global hydropower to reach 945 MW by 2015 – Global Industry Analysts report

April 6th, 2009 | Posted in Hydro

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Global Industry Analysts, Inc. released a report about the state of hydropower industry. In short, the hydropower generation capacity is expected to reach about 945 GW by 2015. Depleting reservers of fossil fuel, rising energy consumption, and rising concerns over climatic changes (damage) as a result of increased usage of fossil fuels, are all contributing to hydropower generation enhancement.

Developing countries in particular are expected to grow their energy needs. Hydropower is thusfar the only renewable energy resource that can answer such a rising demand for a longer period of time. It is an economically viable solution when compared to fossil fuel power generation. Few countries in the world use hydropower as the primary source of energy. While developed conutries have used hydropower to a greater extent over the past decades, developing countries are only now starting to tap into the vast potential created by hydro energy sources.

Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America together account for the major share of installed hydropower capacity in the world in 2009, according to the Global Industry Analysts, Inc. report. US and Western Europe are probably going to see an increase in hydro energy capacity through upgrades on existing facilities.

Zambia getting hydropower project in 12 months

April 6th, 2009 | Posted in Hydro

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), said 15 companies have expressed interest in developing the Kafue Gorge Lower (KGL as further reference) hydropower project in Zambia. The winning bidder for project development will be chosen within the next twelve months.

The KGL power plants should produce 750 MW of power once completed, and it will cost between US$1.1-1.5 billion. Construction is supposed to start in 2011 and the completion of the project is planned in 2016. A public-private partnership model will be used to provide the finance backbone of the project. Feasability studies, costing about US$6 million, are going to be concluded soon. The KGL power plant will be located about 65 km upstream from the confluence of the Kafue and Zambezi Rivers, and in the vicinity of the 900 MW Kafue Gorge Upper hydropower plant. The KGL has about 200 m head at its disposal, as 400 odf the 600 m head is already used by the KGU power plant.

Tailrace channel on river damn on Zambezi (Image credit: kafuegorgelowerppp.org)

Tailrace channel on river damn on Zambezi (Image credit: kafuegorgelowerppp.org)

The project should be able to provide enough power to reduce power shortages in country. The bidding companies' names have not been disclosed at this time.

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