April 17, 2014
The ASES National Solar Conference today posted its schedule of presentations for Solar 2014, coming to San Francisco, July 6-10, concurrent with InterSolar NA.The conference includes a dozen technical division meetings, the ASES chapters caucus and annual membership meeting, and more than 75 technical and policy papers presented in more than 34 sessions.
Tracks are offered in resource applications, building science, photovoltaic technology, solar thermal technology, energy and water conservation, sustainable transportation, and issues in policy, incentives and marketing.
In addition, ASES will join with the International Solar Energy Society in celebrating their shared 60th Anniversary.
Registration at the conference includes admission to the Intersolar technical sessions held concurrently, and to the Intersolar NA exhibition hall. More
DoE Offers $10 Million for Biofuel Production Advances
The Energy Department will provide up to $10 million in funding to advance the production of advanced biofuels, substitutes for petroleum-based feedstocks, and bioproducts made from renewable, non-food-based biomass, such as agricultural residues and woody biomass. This supports the Department’s efforts to make drop-in biofuels more accessible and affordable, as well as meet the cost target equivalent of $3.00 per gallon of gasoline by 2022. More
FLS Plans 37 MW for North Carolina
FLS Energy announces the purchase of 13.2 MWs of solar PV modules to be used in a 37 MW portfolio of utility scale projects throughout the state of North Carolina. The modules are being provided by JA Solar and are scheduled to be installed by the end of the second quarter of 2014.
The PV farms will consist of a total of 43,309 modules and will power approximately 1900 North Carolina households. FLS Energy will finance, design, construct, own and operate the portfolio of projects. More
Arizona Gets Its First Zero Net Townhomes
Eight townhomes now under construction in Scottsdale’s downtown entertainment district are expected to average $0 in annual energy costs (or zero net energy), with sale prices starting at $399,000. Energy saving features include spray foam insulation, low-E windows, high-efficiency heat pumps, hybrid hot-water heaters, and Energy Star appliances. Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels produce the energy required to power the homes. More
Subarctic Village Uses Solar to Offset 50% of Diesel Generation
Canadian Solar has completed the first diesel hybrid PV system in the remote microgrids in northern Ontario. The 152kW rooftop solar array on the Deer Lake First Nation Elementary School is the first project under the strategic partnership with NCC Development (NCC), a First Nation renewable energy management company, in a commitment to use renewable energy (RE) to assist the energy needs of off-grid First Nations and remote communities. More
Vivint Hiring in Maryland
Solar installer Vivint plans to hire 85 employees as it expands its service area in Maryland. The company has announced it will build solar arrays in North Baltimore and Frederick. More
EIA Shorts Solar
A 32-page study from the SunDay campaign challenges assertions by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) that renewable energy sources will provide only 16% of the nation’s net electrical generation by the year 2040. Using EIA’s own previously published data, the analysis shows that it’s more likely the 16% level could be reached within five years. More
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Chan Named CEO at Andalay
Andalay Solar has appointed Steven Chan as CEO and President. Chan has held executive positions at NRG Energy, GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and Suntech Power Holdings. His priority will be full commercialization of the Andalay product line, which pioneered the integrated PV array concept. More