While the future for most things is looking bleak, thanks to global warming, the Solar Tent Concept from Orange comes across as a revelation that inspires humans to do better with the natural resources available. I would still say that Solar energy is the most under used resource and the tent tells us how to spruce up the usage.

Orange Solar Tent Concept

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More every day the number of record-breaking hot summer days is increasing. Ice bergs are melting and some geographic regions experience unusual waves of heat.

This trend has created a high air conditioning demand for houses, hospitals, hotels, workspaces and other commercial buildings. People turn to the conventional air conditioning systems; however the problem is only getting worse because the AC is an energy-guzzler.

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Solar Powered Robot Takes Various Shapes

The current challenge for mankind is to seek the advantages of alternative energy. We are not quite sure whether we have reached a level where we can actually use solar energy to entertain ourselves but, if someone creates an “android” based on the same theory, we’re going to hail the development first and than be caustic.

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A United States-based company is seeking to produce the tiniest solar cells ever made. Semprius, based in Durham, North Carolina, was inspired by research conducted by Professor John A Rogers and his team at the University of Illinois.

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Pacific Gas & Electric on Wednesday announced it has gone into solar-power contracts with Oakland’s BrightSource Energy to produce a total of 1,310 megawatts of electricity. That’s enough to power 530,000 California homes during peak hours— 12 noon – 7pm.

Solar farm by BrightSource Energy

Go California! Wait! Let me check my PG&E bill. Somebody has to pay for this.

The new agreement includes seven power plants. This is in addition to a deal the two companies struck in April 2008. In that deal 900 megawatts would come from solar thermal power.

BrightSource now has 2,610 megawatts under contract. The new PG&E contract is the largest. BrightSource folk say their output represents more than 40 percent of all large-scale solar thermal contracts in the United States.

“The solar thermal projects announced today exemplify PG&E’s commitment to increasing the amount of renewable energy we provide to our customers throughout Northern and central California,” senior vice president of energy supply for PG&E, said in a statement. “Through these agreements with BrightSource, we can harness the sun’s energy to meet our customers’ power requirements when they need it most — during hot summer days.”

CEO of BrightSource Energy, said the additional contracts came about after BrightSource showed off its technology in Israel with results that were “at or above all the specifications.”

“It proved to them that our technology works. They saw us executing and delivering” efficient solar energy production.

Gov. Schwarzenegger terminated in “more evidence that reliable, renewable and pollution-free technology is here to stay and sunshine will eventually power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across our golden state.”

Construction costs for BrightSource will be at least $3 billion and the facilities will be located in the southwestern deserts of California, Nevada and Arizona. The first plant, a 110-megawatt facility at Ivanpah in eastern San Bernardino County will begin operation by 2012.

What I want to know is who is going to pay for this? More specifically, how much will my PG&E bill be going up each month to fund this new venture?

Palmdale was set to be the location for a new international airport in LA. However, it never got off the ground. Today, however, there is good news! Apparently the authorities have finally come up with a plan for the location. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power wants to install a solar farm on some 4,000 (largely undeveloped) acres of the land.

Palmdale Regional Airport

With solar power becoming the energy source of choice as the most effective and environmentally friendly way to power buildings, LA official have decided to set up a solar energy structure that can generate as much as 100 megawatts of environmentally friendly energy.

The whole plan looked like a good deal considering that a pending proposition requires Los Angeles to produce at least 400 megawatts via solar power by 2014. This project alone could provide 1/4 of the energy needed to meet the city’s goal. No problems, right?

Wrong!

If all passed with no complaints, Los Angeles could be well on its way to a cleaner and greener future.

But…but… is there anyone who could oppose such a fantastic proposition? Indeed there is. Apparently there are other activists who think it is unnecessary to build such a large solar power facility and want to use the land for something else.

It’s hard enough when the environmentalists and land grubbers can’t agree. It’s even harder when the environmentalists can’t agree among themselves, eh?

Image by gtarded

Solar energy is still running well despite the bad economic environment and while people are searching for green alternatives, designers are trying hard to come up with stylish and innovative options, that blend creativity with utility. Designed by Jongoh Lee, the beautiful, ergonomic and natural looking streetlights merge seamlessly into the natural canopy around to harness solar power effectively. The cute and leaf-like streetlights capture sun’s energy throughout the day and use it to power what looks like their LED lights during night.

Dubbed the ‘Invisible Streetlights’ they have a flexible body that allows to be part of any natural tree that lines up the streets of the big cities. However, the problem with the model is obvious: it needs a clear top above the light to tap into the sun’s rays and clear space beneath, to emit light at night.

Of course, it works great as even interior lighting option if you could modify it to suit your needs!

[via Ecofriend]

Mitsubishi and Libya’s Al Fateh University will sign a memorandum of understanding to begin joint research and development of reusable energy sources.

The Japanese trading company will put up the money for research into reusable energy by Libya’s largest university. Japan will also supply test materials and send specialists to Al Fateh from 2009 to 2011. The two will also engage in field-tests of solar power generation systems at the university.

Libya is one of the world’s leading oil-producing countries. The country is also working to develop green energy. Libya is a prime location in that it has hours of intense sunlight each day. Mitsubishi and Al Fateh U want to develop technology and expertise. After that, they will cultivate leaders for the new industry.

Wind power is also on the docket because of the strong gusts that buffet the country’s coastal region.

Mitsubishi wants more trade with Africa. Libya is seeking technology from advanced countries. Win-win, eh?

Source (sub req!!)

A Japanese group was able to charge a Li-ion secondary battery with DC power generated by solar cells and supply it to home appliances without using AC conversion.

The test was part of the Development Project of Energy-saving Technologies for Weak Energy Storage Type Eco House.

The program was conducted by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment with an aim of developing technologies to prevent global warming.

Until now, existing home-use solar power systems converted DC power into AC power before supplying it to homes. Power generated by solar cells had to be converted twice because home appliances use DC power.

This new system can boost efficiency use because it directly supplies generated power without converting it, much less converting it twice.

CO₂ emissions generated by a typical home over a period of four hours can be cut by 40%.

Next up, a wooden laboratory building that uses the DC power supply system by 2010.

Get this – the group aims to cut CO₂ emissions by charging Li-ion secondary batteries with hydroelectricity generated by:

1. a waterwheel set in the drain in the bathroom
2. by a light breeze that blows through a room
3. by a man riding on a fitness bike.

Go Japan!

Source: NikkeiBP (Image by Marufish)

Jason Keath at “Jason Keath – Where Old Media Goes to Die” offered up his 5-step plan to “Green Hosting”.

1. Buy Your Own Offset Credits -Resources: How to buy carbon credits (Ehow.com) | Carbon credit price comparisons. Read Jason’s tip.
2. Use Hosting that Buys Credits – Jason’s recomendation – One good option in this direction is Dreamhost.
3. Use Hosting that Buys Green Energy – Better than buying credits when you use energy from wind farms, solar panels, and so on. Jason’s Resources: ThinkHost | HostPapa | HostGator
4. Use Hosting that Produces Green Energy -
   Some, but not all, in this category (from Treehugger.com):

   WebCtel – Solar

   SolarWebWorks – Solar

   EcoSky – Solar & wind

   The Green Web Host – Mixed sources, mostly wind I think

   Locomotive Media – Wind

   Elfon – Wind

   SustainableMarketing – Wind

   Aiso – Solar

   Taproot Hosting

   SolarHost – Solar

5. Use Your Own Green Powered Servers. Build you own wind turbine or hang solar panels.

Great ideas, Jason! Thanks!

Image courtesy of Nico Macdonald