

Chevron is testing a number of bold new solar technologies under the banner of the project brightfield. Of 19 companies, photovoltaics, proved effective when given, may soon be backed up and multiply by the oil and gas giant. The project is based on an old Chevron oil refinery site in Bakersfield, California, on which the company has installed 7700 solar panels on 18 acres. All in all, this plant will generate 740 kilowatts of electricity – such as Power to the neighboring oil operations, used some fed into the grid in the region. The seven companies were chosen from a pool of 180 solar energy companies. Six of them are specialized in thin-film solar cells. Thin film is particularly interesting because it is not nearly enough use of expensive silicon – the reduction of costs for manufacturers and ultimately end users (Chevron, in this case). Abound Solar MiaSolé (one of the largest participants), Schuco, Showa Shell Solar Frontier subsidiary, Sharp and Q-Cells subsidiary Solibro are represented. Bringing in German and Japanese solar marks, Chevron is interested obviously in a global approach to its solar challenges. Innovalight, the seventh company is unique in this picks – for the so-called "solar ink" known. It can actually print solar panels on conductive surfaces, including silicon, economical, and that a variety of new applications. Brightfield project is planned for three years – is ultimately a deciding Chevron, which of the technologies in the value of integration in their facilities worldwide. During the process, the participating companies can access data about how their technology is the implementation by various conditions, how they stack up next to competitors and the national average. This is the second time Chevron has once again served up one of its refinery sites to promote development of renewable energies. In addition, allowing 11 wind turbines will be installed at a former Texaco refinery in Wyoming site. It is also to do with a view to in the future, the development of a 1-megawatt solar installation at a concentration of Chevron Mining District in New Mexico this year to the end. The oil and gas giant is really for their bases when it comes to solar technology – works on both sides of the emerging gap between standard photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. It is also a major investor in Bright Source Energy, an Oakland, California company building 2,600-megawatts worth of solar thermal power plants in California. Next Story: DEMO: How start-ups in the social is the next big thing back story Goal: DEMO TV – Spring 2010, Behind the Scenes Videos and Photos cartoon-style confrontation in Hawaii not to laugh in a favorite Simpsons episode, which builds diabolical Mr. Burns force a huge slice of the eclipse and the residents of Springfield, around-the-clock use of electricity from the power plant. It's pitch-perfect comic strip sarcasm, but with one foot firmly in reality: the young U.S. solar industry is facing a series of Burnsian obstacles to the growth in the country. Stop in Hawaii, for example, could with Earthjustice in an apparent effort, the greatest benefits from the government to households and businesses to install solar panels on the roof, a move that strangle native Hawaii's burgeoning solar industry, residents and businesses to save money block, hold and the state depends on imported oil. If there is anywhere where the path should lead to a clean energy future bright, is Hawaii. The islands are abundant with sunshine, blessed wind and waves, still rely on imported fossil fuels more than 96 percent of their energy. Hawaii consumers pay the highest electric rates in the nation. The state is trying to chart a new course, but the benefit is resistance to change and fight to restrict solar access to the local network. In the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is much more than just slows Hawaii. It inhibits an important experiment with solar energy, providing valuable information for consumers, entrepreneurs, owners and political benefits in the entire United States could. Although we must certainly be the use of fossil fuels through the promotion of solar and other renewable energy sources intersect, it is not clear what policy is best for the promotion of its economy on a growth path. In all likelihood, it will be a combination of approaches. Experimentation is crucial to find out what works, and lessons learned in Hawaii was able to answer some important questions for the rest of the country. HECO's obstruction of the myriad challenges of the U.S. solar industry faces, especially in countries such as Hawaii, where the solar system indicative is an absolute breeze. A program that Hawaii is considering calling a feed-in tariff, could be a breakthrough. Here's how it works. Suppose I install solar panels on the roof of my house, which generate more electricity than I need to my home stream. A feed-in tariff policy, I can be beautiful by the local utility for the feeding, the excess electricity to the grid again paid for other consumers to use. This helps to defray the cost of my investment in rooftop solar cells. A year ago, Gainesville, FL was the first U.S. city to implement a feed-in tariff for solar roof in hope, and now also for other cities and states, including Hawaii, that in his footsteps. In Gainesville, was the policy unanimously city leaders who approved the local power company control. Gainesville, the program reached its recruitment quota in a few days. But such popularity is not universal. For-profit utilities, for example, are far less than municipal utilities back to the feed-in tariff for solar roof, because they could reduce their profits or reduce their control over the energy consumption of customers inclined. And, in fact, in the case of HECO, do the benefits of what they can to limit the application of the acceptance. America can not afford to these limitations, as we move towards clean, domestically produced energy. In this rapidly changing energy landscape, where an increase in renewable energy is a major goal, old ways of doing business must change. Many argue for a transformation in which the profits of investors utilities are no longer selling as much power to the utilities connected, but by how effectively they serve their customers. Such a change actually promotes a number of useful programs, such as feed-in tariffs and energy efficiency. Encourage states and the federal government is to overcome the technological and legal barriers to the rapid dissemination of solar energy is crucial. Government can provide the innovation by investing in research to find new ways to use renewable energy, and deliver them cost-effectively to customers increasingly on large scales. For shows for each Burns-style roadblock (or sunscreen), scores of creative and dedicated innovators are finding ways to be transmitted. There is no silver bullet, that our national (and solve global) energy problems. The way forward requires flexibility, creativity and a willingness to try everything clean and renewable under the sun. Anyone may get a good deal more material right here to do with this topic.










