Green Technology

The US Department of Energy is enabling the development of advanced solar photovoltaic manufacturing processes through its SunShot Initiative. 

The agency has selected its initial portfolio of projects for up to $112.5 million of investment over five years. 

The program will create a collaborative network of universities, public labs, and photovoltaic manufacturers focused on commercializing new processes. 

The initial project portfolio:

• Bay Area PV Consortium (BAPVC)
• SVTC will create a contract PV Manufacturing Development Facility
• U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC)

…   “The Department's SunShot Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships will help the solar power industry overcome technical barriers and reduce costs for PV installations, help the U.S. regain the lead in the global market for solar technologies, and provide support for clean energy jobs for years to come.

By engaging multiple companies across the PV supply chain, the SunShot Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships program intends to have broad impact on the U.S. solar industry.

Selected projects will create organizations designed to bring PV companies together in a coordinated environment to address common technology needs. 

The facilities established through these projects will provide services, tools, and facilities to PV companies and suppliers to assist them in developing and demonstrating new technologies and in making the transition to commercial production.”   …

Via Department of Energy: Solar Manufacturing Partnerships.

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The U.S. is acting as the innovation incubator for clean technologies while China provides the commercialization and scalability challenges for green products.  …

…   “Adriaens defines clean technology as a process or business model that targets better use of natural resources, accelerates efficiency, or reduces emissions, such as a zero-emissions car.”   …

Via University of Michigan, Ross School of Business: Clean Technology Trends.

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President Obama gets to see solar technology up close and personal at the Solyndra factory in California.  Solyndra builds cylindrical solar panels that convert more of the sun rays into power.  The company benefited from investments through the Recovery Act.  …

…   “… construction of the new facility has created over 3,000 construction-related jobs and the new factory could create up to 1,000 long-term new jobs.  The Solyndra project is just one of the many ways the Administration is supporting clean energy manufacturing in America.  Today Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman participated in a ground breaking ceremony for Nissan North America’s new advanced batter manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. ”   …

Via The Whitehouse: Make Things.

Supply chain impact of the solar factory investment …

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California solar farm begins operations with generating capacity of five mega-watts.  …

… “CalRENEW-1 consists of more than 50,000 solar panels covering almost 50 acres. Development and construction of the solar farm created scores of green collar jobs and solar installer training opportunities in the Central Valley. Successful completion of the project on schedule and budget demonstrates Cleantech America's competence to marshal and manage the many resources necessary to complete large-scale renewable projects and bring them into commercial operation. ”   …

Via CleanTech: Utility-Scale Solar Farm.

CalRENEW-1 became the first utility-scale solar photovoltaic farm to be approved under California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard program in 2008.

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... "Both bus and rail manufacturing jobs have synergies with other sectors in the clean energy economy that are very crucial, Lowe says. One of the most crucial components is energy storage and advances there will be key to wind, solar and nearly all of those really big green job sectors. " ...

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... "This is an investment in our clean energy future that will create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, said Secretary Chu. It will help build a customer base and begin laying the foundation for American leadership in the growing electric vehicles industry. This is part of a sustained effort to develop and commercialize technologies that will be broadly deployed throughout the American auto industry. Tesla’s planned Model S will consume no gasoline and will not produce any tailpipe emissions. " ...

Continue reading "Tesla Electric Vehicle Clean Energy Future" »

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... "The investment tax credits, worth up to thirty percent of each planned project, will leverage private capital for a total investment of nearly $7.7 billion in high-tech manufacturing in the United States. One hundred eighty three projects in 43 states will create tens of thousands of high quality clean energy jobs and the domestic manufacturing of advanced clean energy technologies including solar, wind and efficiency and energy management technologies. " ...

Continue reading "Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing" »

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... "The billions in government funding being allocated globally in clean technology have begun emboldening private capital, which has in turn helped propel clean technology to the leading venture investment sector, now eclipsing biotech and IT, said Dallas Kachan, Managing Director, Cleantech Group. The two largest venture deals (Solyndra and Tesla Motors) and the largest IPO (A123Systems) this quarter were all recipients of U.S. government funding. ... " ...

Continue reading "Solar Leads Cleantech Investment Space" »

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Go Green Expo for NYC (April 17 - 19) and Atlanta (June 26 - 28) are on the way.  Go Green Expo has already been to LA and Philadelphia ...

The Green Dude and Green Tech both visited the Phila show and came away impressed by the information available.  Among the neat things I saw were ... 

- solar powered garbage can ... when the trash level crosses a light beam it is crushed down ... it can be equipped with a wireless devise to alert  you when full ...

- paper made from elephant dung ... used for business cards and fine writing paper ... 

- several manufacturers of dry cleaner garment bags ... you take your dry cleaning to the cleaners in these bags and they are returned in the same bag -- eliminating the need for plastic bags.  There were several models available ... from organic cotton to bags made with recycled plastic bags (though a much heavier fabric).

>>> QUESTION to our readers ... I am considering getting one of the dry cleaner bags (permanent end to plastic bags) ... have any of you tried these and how hove your cleaners responded?

Via:  Go Green Expo   LINK

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... "And just last week I visited the Electric Vehicle Technical Center in Pomona, California, which is testing batteries to power a new generation of plug-in hybrids that will help end our dependence on foreign oil. I have to say, Susan, the battery I saw was bigger than that one that's on the desk -- (laughter) -- but that may be the direction we're moving. So innovators like you are creating the jobs that will foster our recovery –- and creating the technologies that will power our long-term prosperity. " ...

Continue reading "Electric Vehicle Battery Testing" »

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... "They are investigating the business parameters of going commercial with an enhanced method for pre-treating biomass from wood waste and plants that can be grown on non-agricultural lands. Lorimer says the new technology promises to solve many problems with existing inefficient and environmentally harmful methods of breaking down the cellulose in these crops into sugars for conversion into liquid fuel. " ...

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... "This includes a new US$20 million investment in Trony Solar Holdings Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese thin-film solar energy and solution provider. Intel Capital also signed an agreement, subject to various closing conditions, to invest in NP Holdings Limited (NPH), a technology company focused on massive electricity storage systems. These are Intel Capital's first two cleantech investments in China and are intended to accelerate local green innovation and new ways to reduce dependency on carbon-based energy generation. " ...

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... "Good opportunities do exist and both solar and biofuels will have long term attractive returns. Energy efficiency, energy storage and carbon sequestration are ripe with opportunity, as are electric vehicles and water. " ...

Continue reading "Navigate Cleantech Investments" »

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... "Bringing together today's most prominent New England-based cleantech professionals, E3 will be a day of educational panel presentations and networking opportunities for all individuals interested in learning about and pursuing careers in the clean energy sector. Panel topics to be addressed include Green Building, Massachusetts Cleantech Cluster Growth, Energy Efficiency and Energy Services, Renewables, Green Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital. E3 concludes with a business expo and all conference activities are scheduled to take place in Olin Hall on the Babson College campus." ...

Continue reading "E3 Cleantech Expo" »

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New York City is hosting the Greener Gadget Conference on Feb 1, 2008.  The one day event details:
 

10am - 6pm
McGraw-Hill Conference Center
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York City, NY

"... industry leaders, entrepreneurs, [and others] ... will gather to discuss the business case for the greening of the consumer electronics industry. ... featuring ...  consumer electronics companies ..., innovators from academic thinktanks, members of startups ... and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and business. Topics to be addressed include: design for sustainability, product life cycle management, take-back and recycling programs, energy efficiency, greener materials, and green lifestyle and product marketing. An attached gallery space will feature a green prototype office display and technology exhibits from companies on the cutting edge of green tech."

" ... will showcase revolutionary design and tech innovations that will shape the future of the consumer electronics and change your world... for the better."

• "Environmental initiatives from leading consumer electronics companies, such as take-back and recycling programs"
• "New environmentally sensitive materials, product lifecycle and design for sustainability"
• "Innovations in renewable energy technologies, such as fuel cells, kinetic energy, wind and solar power"

Via:  GreenerGadgets.com  Link

Continue reading "Greener Gadgets Conference in N.Y.C. Feb 1, 2008" »

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... "The investment will be channelled through the Masdar Initiative, a company that aims to explore, develop and commercialize future energy sources. " ...

Continue reading "Abu Dhabi CleanTech Investment" »

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... "The Blue Energy Ocean Turbine acts as a highly efficient underwater vertical-axis windmill. Sea water is 832 times denser than air and a non-compressible medium, an 8 knot tidal current is the equivalent of a 390 km/hr wind. " ...

Continue reading "Turbine Harnesses Power of Tides" »

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... "Ausra's power plants drive steam turbines with sunshine. Locally manufactured solar concentrators made of steel and glass focus sunlight to boil water, generating high-pressure steam that drives conventional turbine generators. New thermal energy storage systems using pressurized water and low cost materials will provide for on-demand generation day and night. Ausra's core technology, the Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) solar steam generation system, was originally conceived in the early 1990s by founder David Mills while at Sydney University. Mills later worked with Graham Morrison to develop the idea between 1995 and 2001. " ...

Via Ausra: Funding to build and operate utility-scale solar thermal electric power plants

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New Jersey's Clean Energy Conference,on September 27 - 28, 2007 will honor nominees that are saving energy and advancing the state of clean energy in New Jersey.  The winner will be named at the conference. 

Nominees include Home Builders, Colleges and Universities, and Vendors. 

The annual conference is in it's 3rd year.  " ...brings together ... leading energy professionals and businesses to learn, network, and discuss the issues shaping the energy market and the New Jersey energy market in particular."

" ... provides an excellent forum ... to learn more about the economics of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and how to hedge against rising energy costs, to leverage the financial and environmental benefits of clean energy."

" .. Conference ... has been expanded to 2 days. New workshops and programs are being added ... A special Municipal track and evening networking session will be the focus of day 1. Day 2 will have new workshops and sessions and the luncheon presentation of the Clean Energy Leadership Awards. ... "

"... Special workshops include:"

• "New Jersey's Energy Master Plan"
• "Energy Project Financing"
• "Combined Heat and Power"
• "Renewable Energy Certificate Markets"
• "Green Building Design"
• "Clean Energy Strategies to Reduce your Carbon Footprint"
• "Energy Programs for Municipalities"
  

Via:   NewJerseyCleanEnergy.com   Link

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... "In total, the utility now supplies 13% of its energy from renewable resources, and it expects that to increase to 20% by 2010. " ...

Via Motley Fool: PG&E

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... "At the Piper Jaffray Alternative Energy Symposium which focused on industry and investment trends in solar, cleantech and biofuels, Ranieri reviewed global biofuels opportunities, the future of cellulosic ethanol and next generation biofuels, such as biobutanol, as replacements for gasoline transportation fuels.

Sample of Dupont's progress in biofuels:

DuPont had more than $300 million in revenues in 2006 and growing at greater than 20 percent per year from seed and crop protection solutions that increase yield per acre and enhance ethanol yield of grain through biotechnology.

DuPont and the U.S. Department of Energy are jointly funding a research program to develop technology to convert corn stover into ethanol.

DuPont's partnership with BP to develop biobutanol is based on its strategy to bring advanced biofuels to market to expand the use of biofuels in gasoline. Biobutanol will be the first product available and offers improved performance. " ...

Via Dupont: DuPont Biofuels Leader Provides Business Update at Alternative Energy Symposium

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... "The company aims to significantly increase commercial crop yields (>10%) through gene enhancement technology licensed from the University of Washington. " ...

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John Doerr, Kleiner Perkins venture capital, collaborates with Al Gore to understand the full potential of investing in green and clean technologies.  The environmental for green technology requires navigating the challenging waters of politics.  ...

Via Financial Times:  The Green Valley ...

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Dupont leader shares company strategy for clean energy, based on technology and bio-materials.  ...

...   "DuPont Bio-Based Materials Vice President & General Manager John Ranieri said the company's strategy for growth in alternative energy technologies is based on a solid product portfolio and a unique pipeline of new technologies that are supported by a strong intellectual property estate.  The world needs new sources of clean energy now, Ranieri said. Alternative energy is already an important market segment across several of our commercial product offerings, and we have strong pipelines that will further drive growth into alternative energy markets.

DuPont's broad-based alternative energy portfolio includes:  Solar Cell Technologies: DuPont supplies eight of the nine key materials in a solar panel. These products include conductive pastes and high-performance films that help the panel achieve higher power output and long life. Ranieri indicated DuPont will invest approximately $100 million in the continued development of products and technologies for solar cells and panels. "  ...

Clean Energy Now: Dupont Call-to-Action: Via DuPont: DuPont Executive Outlines Company's Plan for Growth In Alternative Energy Technologies: Bio-Based Materials Vice President John Ranieri Speaks at CleanTech Conference ...

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