The Past, Present, And Future Of Solar Energy

Title: The Past, Present, And Future Of Solar Energy

After this, solar energy began to boom as an industry. Massive solar panels were used by industrial plants and big businesses to create energy. Even the International Space Station has solar panels all around its exterior. For a long time, solar energy was something that only powerful businesses and governments could use. However, in the past decade, this has begun to change.

The Present
As solar technology has developed, solar power has become more widely available to the general public. In fact, many people own home solar panels in Seattle. These can be installed on the roof of the home to collect energy from the sun. This energy is used to power the home's systems and can greatly reduce--or even eliminate--the cost of utilities.

Some residential solar panels generate so much energy that home owners actually get a rebate on their energy usage. Their solar panels create enough energy to power the home, and the remainder can be used by the utility company; the utility company then pays the home owner for the solar energy that they use.

The Future
More and more industries have begun experimenting with solar power. Several governments around the globe have looked into the benefits of installing solar roads in their cities. These roads would be fully functional for transportation, but would also contain solar cells, enabling the roads to collect energy that can then be used by the city. This is something that is still in development, but it is possible that these solar roads will soon be in mass production around the world.

Another possibility that is being explored in solar power is a way to make solar energy even more accessible for the average home owner--and less cumbersome on the home as well. Experts in solar energy have recently developed a completely transparent solar panel. This opens the opportunity for homeowners to have their solar panels installed as windows, which means they don't need to have special mounts installed on their roofs. This cuts the cost of solar panels, reduces strain on the roof (which may even need reinforcements to have panels installed), and keeps homes free of unsightly, bulky panels.

As fossil fuels become less and less available, and people look for "green" energy sources, more and more consumers are turning to solar power for their energy needs. With growing demand, and continuing advancements in technology, the future of solar power is bright. With home solar panels in Seattle becoming more and more affordable, it is only a matter of time before every home in America is using the energy of the sun to power their homes.

Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Home-Solar-Panels-Do-They-Make-Sense-for-You/3025876

Home Solar Panels: Do They Make Sense For You?

Title: Home Solar Panels: Do They Make Sense For You?

Solar panels generate electricity from the sunlight that reaches your home on a daily basis. Using sunlight to provide electricity for your household is good for the environment, because no resources are depleted and you're not creating any hazardous waste. However, you might be concerned that there is not enough sunlight where you live.

While the Northwest doesn't receive as much sunlight as the South of the United States, there is plenty of sunshine to power your home with solar panels. In fact, Germany receives far less sunlight than the Northwest region, but Germans have been using solar panels effectively for a very long time.

Are Solar Panels Efficient?

The next question you need to ask yourself is whether using solar panels is efficient enough to provide your home with the electricity it requires. When homeowners move off the grid, they're often required to make a lifestyle change in order to make do with the electricity they can generate on their own, such as living without air conditioning and dramatically reducing energy consumption. This is certainly not necessary when using solar power.

In the past, solar panels weren't as efficient as they are today you had to install large solar panels just to power a light bulb! Fortunately, with advances in technology, it's extremely plausible to switch your household from mainstream electricity to solar energy. In fact, you'll probably be able to sell some of the electricity back to the city.

Are Panels Cost Effective?

The installation of solar panels cost as much as or more than a new car. Nevertheless, it's a cost-effective energy source because solar panels last for a long time and require only minimal maintenance. Another great thing about solar panels is that you can often find incentives and attractive financing terms that make it affordable for you to switch to solar energy right now.

How the finances work out partially depends on whether you're still hooked up to the regular power grid. In return for selling energy back to the city, you might qualify for different government grants and incentives.

Depending on the cost of the installation, your power usage, and your financing arrangements, solar panels are an investment that will pay off in about 3 to 5 years. If you don't plan on staying in your home for that long, installing sonar panels might still be a good option for you because they could increase the resale value of your home.

Is Your Roof Sunny?

How much energy is generated through your solar panels depends on the weather as well as on the exact position of your roof. The perfect roof for solar panels faces south without any shading and receives plenty of sunlight during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. However, your home doesn't have to meet these exact criteria to be suitable for solar panels.
Your home solar panels in Seattle will still generate enough power to get your meter running backwards even if your roof faces east or west. However, if your roof is in the shade, that could be a deal breaker. That's why you should have a solar energy expert make a thorough inspection of your home before making a final decision about installing solar panels.

Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Using-Refurbished-Solar-Panels-To-Power-Your-Home/1827094%3Futm_source%3Dtwitterfeed%26utm_medium%3Dtwitter

How solar panels are making waves

How solar panels are making waves

Ultimately, integrating DSTATCOMs would mean a smarter grid, reducing headaches for electrical utilities and increasing the integration of renewable energies, Prof Ghosh says. Credit: David TREBOSC

If you think of electrical current flowing like water from the grid to your home, you can start to imagine the waves your rooftop solar panels create when they try feeding current in the opposite direction.

Now multiply that by 180,000, the number of West Australian homes operating rooftop solar panels, and it's clear our power grid has never been more complicated.

And with complication, comes expense.

Current policy sees ordinary homes hooked up to just one of three electrical phases supplied by the grid, which is perfectly sufficient for powering the average home.

Problems arise, however, when supply from rooftop solar panels exceeds demand, reversing the flow of power in that single phase for that single house, while the power in the other phases are still flowing downstream.

An expensive way past the problem is to connect every home to all three phases, according to Curtin University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Arindam Ghosh.

Since the peaks and troughs of each cycling phase are slightly offset, supplying three phases smooths the current into a more regular supply, he says.

As well as being expensive this solution would be wasteful as it would mean supplying extra wires to customers who don't really require them.

Fix-all for power woes

A more economical solution, Prof Ghosh says, is to use Distribution Static Compensators (DSTATCOMs).

"They're a device that can shape your power supply, a power-quality enhancement device," Prof Ghosh says.

DSTATCOMs could be a fix-all for regulating the quality of Perth's power supply: the devices balance supplied current between all three phases, reducing surges, boosting sags, and ironing out instability and flicker.

"They can also act as energy storage," Prof Ghosh says.

"They can store excess energy in batteries, you could then use this energy to shave off the evening peak energy use."

DSTATCOMs work by taking the single-phase reverse-flowing current your solar panels feed into the grid, then rapidly redirecting that current into whichever of the three phases need it most, balancing supply according to demand.

Prof Ghosh and his team have been developing efficient ways to connect and control DSTATCOMs so the devices will work with existing power transformers.

"Eventually we'll see large uptake of solar, but right now higher penetration will be difficult unless we see policy change," he says.

Ultimately, integrating DSTATCOMs would mean a smarter grid, reducing headaches for electrical utilities and increasing the integration of renewable energies, Prof Ghosh says.

 Explore further: Adding renewable energy to power grid requires flexibility

More information: Farhad Shahnia et al. Circulating the reverse flowing surplus power generated by single-phase DERs among the three phases of the distribution lines, International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems (2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2015.09.021

This article first appeared on ScienceNetwork Western Australia a science news website based at Scitech.

The one thing that could make or break solar energy

The one thing that could make or break solar energy

REUTERS/Carlos BarriaA worker inspects solar panels.

One of the more important and misunderstood parts of the solar industry is the impact policy has on making solar energy viable in the electric grid. Without policies like net metering -- which allow solar customers to send extra electricity back to the grid during the day and only pay for net usage each month -- companies like SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) and Sunrun(NASDAQ: RUN) wouldn't exist. Policies like feed-in tariffs and renewable requirements that promote large solar energy projects in California, Japan, and Germany have also created demand for projects from SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) and First Solar, which has allowed them to grow.

I'm not talking about subsidies, like the US' Business Energy Investment Tax Credit, but rather ways the solar industry gets access to the grid, particularly for very small projects. 

But as the solar industry grows to become a larger piece of the electric industry, it puts a strain on utilities that aren't used to customers creating their own energy and have to deal with the supply and demand changes solar energy brings. As a result, many utilities and governments are either fighting solar or changing the policies that have caused its growth in the first place. Here are some important trends to watch and who might be affected.

Solar policy wins As utilities have tried to fight solar, there have been some important wins for the industry. These are often seen as signs of a positive policy environment, at least in the U.S.

A Wisconsin state court recently overturned regulator-approved charges for solar customers in WE Energies' territory. Charges based on the size of a solar system were overturned because the utility couldn't prove that residential solar really cost it money, especially with extremely low market penetration in Wisconsin. 

In August, after NV Energy said it had hit the solar cap for net energy metering, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission decided that it would allow the policy to be expanded to new customers until the end of 2015 when a new policy could be decided on. 

Arizona's utility proposals to increase grid access charges for solar customers from $0.70/kW to $3/kW was withdrawn after a public outcry against the fight on solar.

In nearly every case where solar energy has been challenged the solar industry has won, either on the regulator level or in court against utilities. But that doesn't mean policy will always be favorable for the solar industry, and changes are definitely coming. 

REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Clouds are forming for solar In Hawaii, regulators recently released solar tariff plans that include a self-supply and a grid-supply option. Self-supply will be great for energy storage assisting self consumption, but it eliminates the ability to feed solar energy to the grid. The grid-supply option reduces what solar customers are paid from the net energy rate to the wholesale energy rate, or from about $0.30 per kWh to about $0.15 per kWh. That's a big reduction in the value solar provides to homeowners. In both cases, it will be less profitable to install solar in Hawaii than it was previously.

California is also discussing what's known as net energy metering 2.0, which will change how much homeowners are compensated for solar energy. This could include lower tariff rates, fixed charges, and other fees that make solar less economical. Initial proposals were submitted earlier this year, and a plan is due later this year.

What's clear is that where solar energy has the highest penetration -- and therefore the biggest markets for solar companies like SolarCity, Sunrun, and SunPower -- there are going to be changes that will make solar less attractive to customers in the near future. That's the bad news.

The light at the end of the tunnel What's good for the solar industry is that any changes to net metering will likely be good for energy storage and a broader range of energy services. SolarCity and SunPower are investing heavily in these new broader offerings, which will be able to take advantage of changing rates or the need for self consumption. If done right, that could be an advantage for both going forward.

Sunrun, on the other hand, will need to adapt its business model to keep up in a new energy world.

Policy is important for the solar investor, and while it may not be something you pay attention to every day it's worth understanding what the trends are. For now, the solar industry is in business as usual, fighting off challenges from utilities across the country and winning. But as the industry grows there is a need for reform in energy rates and utilities, and regulators are learning how best to make solar work for homeowners and the grid. That can be an advantage for a solar company or a threat. So it's important to understand how the stocks you own will be affected positively or negatively by the changes we can see coming a mile away.

Read the original article on The Motley Fool. Copyright 2015. Follow The Motley Fool on Twitter.

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Our Solar Bonanza!

Our Solar Bonanza!

We’ve had solar power energizing our house in Sag Harbor on Long Island in New York for six years now—and it’s a bonanza!

Once the photovoltaic panels are up on your roof, nothing more needs to be done. They harvest electricity from the sun even on cloudy days. Never in the half-dozen years have the 38 panels on our roof needed any care. And frequently, looking at the Long Island Power Authority meter attached to the house, I see the numbers going backwards—we’re producing electricity for LIPA for which LIPA reimburses us.

Then there are the two thermal solar panels heating up water and sending it—very well-heated—into the house. The other day, it was 64-degrees outside but the thermometer on the hot water tank in the basement showed water from the thermal panels coming down at 130-degrees. Amazing! And these panels are also care-free.

Meanwhile, the price of solar panels have plummeted since the panels were installed at our house—and efficiencies have gone up, Dean Hapshe of Harvest Power was saying the other day on a visit to check our installation.

Mr. Hapshe of Patchogue, New York is a master teacher of solar installers on Long Island. He entered the solar energy field in 1980 and with his decades of experience has served as an instructor of others in the industry.

When he and his crew put our system in, the cost of the photovoltaic panels, which produce 7,500 watts—an average-size system—was $6 a watt. “Now it’s down to $3.65,” Mr. Hapshe was saying. The efficiency rate has risen to 21%—getting close to the 25% efficiency of solar panels on space systems such as satellites and the International Space Station. That means more electricity is generated for every ray of sunlight.

The thing about solar power is that the sun sends no bills.

And that has been vexing for electric utilities around the nation.

Indeed, the motto of Harvest Power, which is based in Bay Shore, New York is: “Let The Sun Pay Your Electric Bill.”

“Utilities wage campaign against rooftop solar,” was the headline of an article in March in The Washington Post. The story, by Joby Warrick, a Pulitzer Prize-winner who often writes on energy issues, begins: “Three years ago, the nation’s top utility executives gathered at a Colorado resort to hear warnings about a grave new threat to operators of America’s electric grid: not superstorms or cyberattacks, but rooftop solar panels.”

“If demand for residential solar continued to rise, traditional utilities could soon face serious problems from ‘declining retail sales’ and a ‘loss of customers’ to ‘potential obsolescence,’ according to a presentation prepared for the group. “’Industry must prepare an action plan to address the challenges,’ it said. “The warning, delivered to a private meeting of the utility industry’s main trade association, became a call to arms for electricity providers in nearly every corner of the nation.” The article continued, “Three years later, the industry and its fossil-fuel supporters are waging a determined campaign to stop a home-solar insurgency…”

The New York Times, in an editorial last year titled, “The Koch Attack on Solar Energy,” noted how “the Koch brothers and their conservative allies in state government have found a new tax they can support. Naturally it’s a tax on something the country needs: solar energy panels.”

The Times told of how the Koch brothers, their Koch Industries based on oil refining, “have been spending heavily to fight incentives for renewable energy, which have been adopted by most states. They particularly dislike state laws that allow homeowners with solar panel to sell power they don’t need back to electric utilities.”

On Long Island, support for solar power by LIPA—created with a mission to advance the development of solar and other forms of renewable energy on the island—has gone down and down. The once hefty rebate LIPA provided for solar installations has now descended to a paltry 20 cents a watt.New York State, however, still provides up to $5,000 in support for an installation, and the federal government offers a tax credit of 30% of the cost of a solar system. But this program needs to be extended at the end of next year.

The capacity and economics of renewable energy are simply wonderful. The New York Times recently ran a front-page story headlined: “In Texas. Night Winds Blow in Free Electricity.” It told of how in Texas “wind farms are generating so much electricity” that it is now being “given away.”

There are those who seek to profit from expensive electricity generated by oil, gas, coal and nuclear power—and they would try to suppress the renewable energy revolution now underway. They must be stopped, and the windfall of safe, green, inexpensive electricity be allowed to flow.

Can I Start A Solar Power Business with $300

Can I Start A Solar Power Business with $300

The answer is YES

You can easily become an affiliate to sell solar power systems across the United States and Canada ( In June 2016) For the amount of $300.

Here is what you get

• You get a full training and get certified in order to learn about the do's and don't of the specific business.
• You get a back office to keep track of your sales.
• You get to build a team which you can benefit from and share techniques to grow even faster.
• You get an operator from Solarcity to handle everything from the very beginning.  All you have to do is bring them potential customers.

You can start your own website to advertise independently and then bring them to your back office.  The advantage of that is that the sales can be done from anywhere.  That is my approach since I am in Canada.  Solarcity is coming here this summer.

What is more than just a business is that it's very rewarding in other ways than money.  Aside from the different levels and prize that you can win within the business, you get the satisfaction of changing the world and making it better.  One home owner at a time.

Why should we join this business?

My first reason apart from changing the environment would be that the trend is just taking off and the projected number for such an on line business are outstanding.

The projection numbers are 8 trillion dollars from now until 2020.  I can tell you that no other program will make you that kind of money.  You can sell advertising software or e-books, crocodile boots or cell phones and never come close to that.  Because it's a product that is needed and very much wanted.

How much does it pay?

We get $250 dollars per installation sold.  There is obviously no limits on how many solar power systems can be sold.  I was talking about prizes earlier, That comes into effect if you have a team under you.  I can't put a number on how much you could make because I am not you or the people you will work with.

Is it hard to sell?

Not at all.  1 out of 5 customers will say yes.  The reason being that there is no money out of pocket to get the system.  If your electric bill from the utility is $200 a month, you would pay around $170 for your own power on a lease.  So you end up saving every month from the very first month. Control your own power and sometimes, even get credited by the utility company for power returning in the grid.  After the lease is over, you own everything.

Why Solarcity and not my neighbor's?

Solarcity is a monitored system.  They have the best reputation in the United States.  You can go directly to them but what I am offering you is better.  To build a team is where the money is.  You help each other and you will benefit greatly.  Solarcity was created by Elon Musk.  Mr. Tesla car himself.  Space X his also his as well as co-founder of Paypal back in the day.  A determined man.  Modern Iron Man as they call him.  He just came out with the most efficient solar cell on the market as well as the powerwall which is a battery bank, mounted on the wall, allowing you to be totally off the grid in power outages.  

I could go on and on about the advantages.  There are many.

So if you need more information you can contact me here.

We can also talk on Facebook where I often can be found.

Follow me on my blog here and check out information regarding solar.  It's the way to go.  Be part of those who will benefit from the trend.

California Solar Power

' California Solar Power  How To Get A Free Quote On  A Solar Power System  For My Home Or Business? Solarcity will lead you into  all your inquiry My name is Pierre Godin and I am a representative of Solar Power Installation.  I will help you get all the information you need to get a  solar power system implemented quickly.  The system can be bought out but I am offering you to get it financed.  Solarcity offers a chance to get your own power with no money down.  You end up paying less the very first month that you have a  solar power system on your home or business. You have an average credit?  You pay more than $80 a month in electricity to the big energy company? You have a sunny south roof? Those are the main criteria to qualify.  Why SolarCity? We're America's  #1 full-service solar energy provider. We've created clean, more affordable energy solutions for Fortune 500 companies, cities and schools throughout the U.S. See how we can help your organization.  Solarcity will take care of everything. from designing your soalr panel system on the roof to monitor in case of problems. The average home needs a 10 KW system which would be very expensive to have to pay for at once. This is a no brainer. It's like someone giving you money every month for going with a solar power installation. And you have control of your power. Take advantage of this short time promotion and be a fighter for the environment. Not by signing petitions or holding up a sign. It never got us anywhere. Lead by example.                       Experience We currently install 1 in every 3 residential solar power systems in the U.S., but we also think big. We've helped businesses, governments, schools and other agencies install large scale commercial solar power systems to help them meet their sustainability and financial goals. Our clients include eBay, Walmart, the City of Sacramento, Los Angeles Unified School District, Boulder Valley School District and more.                        High quality Our emphasis on quality goes beyond solar panels and software. We've hired the brightest talent in the solar industry. Our team includes numerous NABCEP-certified supervisors overseeing your projects. That's the highest accreditation in the solar industry. It a perfect match for our "A" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Latest solar technology We evaluate and select only best-in-class technology for your solar energy project based on performance, quality and cost effectiveness. Once your system is up and running, our proprietary monitoring system tracks both your energy production and usage to give you a more complete picture of your energy needs and costs. Zep Solar commercial solutions One of the secrets to our success is our proprietary solar panel mounting technology. Zep solutions substantially reduce the cost and complexity of designing, shipping, warehousing and installing PV systems. Solar financing advantage Switch to solar with no upfront capital costs and start saving on electricity as soon as you turn on the power. Our Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is just one of the flexible financing and purchase options we offer. Direct financing, instead of financing through a third party, means that you'll have a single point of contact for all of your solar financing needs. Competitive price We've installed thousands of solar power projects across the country. Each one has helped us fine-tune our project management system and drive down costs. Operating on this scale lets us build strong relationships with our suppliers who give us volume discounts that we pass along to our customers. Environmental stewardship We're on a mission to drive down the cost of clean solar energy. We've received many environmental leadership awards from the Aspen Institute and Acterra for our efforts. We were also recognized as the a Green Power Supplier of the year by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 2010. Join us. Take control of your energy cost while helping to build a cleaner future. Full solar energy service We’re your all-in-one solar energy provider. Our in-house team will take care of every part of your project including financing, custom engineering, solar panel installation and ongoing system monitoring. You’ll also get a dedicated SolarCity Sales Manager who will keep you up-to-date on your project status and answer any questions you may have.

Can one person in seven billion make a difference?

Can one person in seven billion make a difference?

You

 Despite the madness over government reports and international conferences, climate change is a problem of personal consumption. Swiss scientists say humanity could limit the effects if each person used just 2,000 watts of power a year. The average American consumes 12,000. A Bangladeshi uses 300. The challenge is conscientious reduction in the West, writes Naomi Klein in This Changes Everything. Lifestyle choices, such as travelling less plus better regulation and technologies will help the numbers drop.

Tiny House Footprint

Since 1973 the average U.S. home has ballooned by 60 percent to 2,657 square feet. A warmer world may favor a reverse trend. Jay Shafer (at left in photo), the California pioneer of living in tiny houses, built a lifestyle in 96 square feet (layout provided)—and helped others build pint-size homes. Developers in New York City and San Francisco have created the urban equivalent: micro-apartments

. Article source:  National Geographic

The Energy Cartels still win!

The Energy Cartels still win! 

Yes it is true. As it is them who will sell you the Solar Panels, and it is them that will buy the extra power you produce BACK from you CHEAPER than they sell it for.

Who is set up to sell Hydrogen? HHO? Shell Oil! That's who. They might not even lose, with 100% employment. Not in the short term anyway. Probably not in their Generations. Yet they will NOT move, until you force your Governments to do it. Your Governments MUST force caps, and they MUST force taxation on Fossil Fuels, and they MUST invest in Alternative Energy. They MUST lead the way. As the Energy Cartels know it is the best way to go, but they are being controlled by the Stockholders who demand high returns. If they fail to do that, they will be fired. They MUST be forced by Government, and YOU have to force your Government to do it.

Yes! 100% Employment is possible for the Entire World, adopting my "Free Energy" Solar/Wind/Geothermal and Hydrogen Storage. HHO for your vehicles. When I came to this North America, I did so, because I saw that North America would be the Voice of the World. The Beacon of the Future. I wanted to show what my technology could do, FIRST in North America, and then the entire World would adopt it.

Well, today the "tide has turned". It is the WORLD that is leaving North America in the dust.

According to UNEP's 9th "Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2015", prepared by the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance — the past year brought a rebound of green energy investments worldwide with a surge of a solid 17% to $270 Billion. Brushing aside the challenge of sharply lower crude oil prices this sudden increase reveresed the investment dip of the past two years and was mainly driven by investments in solar and wind energy.

1. Denmark sets world record for wind

Denmark set a new world record for wind production in 2014, getting 39.1 percent of its overall electricity from the clean energy source.

The latest figures put the country well on track to meet its 2020 goal of getting 50 percent of its power from renewables.

Denmark has long been a pioneer in wind power, having installed its first turbines in the mid-1970s, and has even more ambitious aims in sight, including a 100 percent renewable country by 2050.

Last year, onshore wind was also declared the cheapest form of energy in the country.

2. UK wind power smashes annual records

In the UK, wind power also smashed records in 2014, as generation rose 15 percent from 24.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) hours to 28.1 TWh.

That’s more than any other year, and the country now generates enough wind energy to supply the needs of more than 6.7 million UK households.

A combination of grid-connected wind farms and standalone turbines produced 9.3 percent of the UK’s electricity demand in 2014, up from 7.8 percent in 2013 and the latest data follows a string of wind power records announced in the second half of last year.

3. Renewables provide biggest contribution to Germany’s electricity

Renewable energy was the biggest contributor to Germany’s electricity supply in 2014, with nearly 26 percent of the country’s power generation coming from clean sources.

That’s according to Berlin-based think-tank Agora Energiewende.

Electricity output from renewables has grown eightfold in Germany since 1990, and the latest data further highlights the dramatic shift towards clean energy taking place in Europe’s largest economy.

4. Scotland sees “massive year” for renewables

With another record month experienced in December, 2014 was a “massive year” for renewables in Scotland.

Last month, wind turbines alone provided around 1,279 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity to the national gird, enough to supply the electrical needs of 164 percent of Scottish households, or 3.96 million homes.

The latest figures further highlight the record year seen for renewables in Scotland, with wind turbines providing an average 746, 510 MWh each month—enough to supply 98 percent of Scottish households electricity needs.

Over six months of the year, wind generated enough power to supply more than 100 percent of Scottish households, while in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness there was enough sunshine to provide 100 percent or more of the electricity needs for an average home in June and July.

With figures like these it is no wonder new research out this week said the country’s power grid could be 100 percent renewable by 2030.

5. Ireland hits new record for wind energy

Windy conditions in Ireland meant the country saw not one but two wind energy records set already this year.

According to figures record by EirGrid on Wednesday (Jan. 7), wind energy had created 1,942 MW of energy, enough to power more than 1.26 million homes.

And while we are still only a week into 2015, this announcement marked the second time this year the country has seen this record broken. On the Jan. 1, wind energy output was at a previous high of 1,872 MW.

Facing Methane just Spewing out of the Arctic, because of all the CO2 we have pumped into the Atmosphere since we began using Fossil Fuels (against my advice) on a Grand Scale, humanity might quickly cease to exist. Unless you heed my call this time, and listen to an Old Man from more than a Century Ago.

If you want to control your own energy, contact me here

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/teslarelease/

Solar power, National Geographic

Solar power, National Geographic


 Every hour the sun beams onto Earth more than enough energy to satisfy global energy needs for an entire year. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun's energy and make it usable. Today, the technology produces less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand.
Many people are familiar with so-called photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, found on things like spacecraft, rooftops, and handheld calculators. The cells are made of semiconductor materials like those found in computer chips. When sunlight hits the cells, it knocks electrons loose from their atoms. As the electrons flow through the cell, they generate electricity.



On a much larger scale, solar thermal power plants employ various techniques to concentrate the sun's energy as a heat source. The heat is then used to boil water to drive a steam turbine that generates electricity in much the same fashion as coal and nuclear power plants, supplying electricity for thousands of people.

In one technique, long troughs of U-shaped mirrors focus sunlight on a pipe of oil that runs through the middle. The hot oil then boils water for electricity generation. Another technique uses moveable mirrors to focus the sun's rays on a collector tower, where a receiver sits. Molten salt flowing through the receiver is heated to run a generator.

Other solar technologies are passive. For example, big windows placed on the sunny side of a building allow sunlight to heat-absorbent materials on the floor and walls. These surfaces then release the heat at night to keep the building warm. Similarly, absorbent plates on a roof can heat liquid in tubes that supply a house with hot water.

Solar energy is lauded as an inexhaustible fuel source that is pollution and often noise free. The technology is also versatile. For example, solar cells generate energy for far-out places like satellites in Earth orbit and cabins deep in the Rocky Mountains as easily as they can power down town buildings and futuristic cars.

But solar energy doesn't work at night without a storage device such as a battery, and cloudy weather can make the technology unreliable during the day. Solar technologies are also very expensive and require a lot of land area to collect the sun's energy at rates useful to lots of people.
Despite the drawbacks, solar energy use has surged at about 20 percent a year over the past 15 years, thanks to rapidly falling prices and gains in efficiency. Japan, Germany, and the United States are major markets for solar cells. With tax incentives, solar electricity can often pay for itself in five to ten years.

Article source:  National Geographic

So what are the benefits of solar power?

Check it out here

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Why We Should Go Solar, Very Important Information

Check this out.  This is why we need solar power.  Fight the good fight.

Watch it in my theatre or view on youtube if you are viewing from a mobile.  Please share.  It has great important content.

My theatre

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U.S. Residential Solar Overview

Source: GTM Research, Solar Energy Industry Association

U.S. Residential Solar Overview

Over the past decade, there has been a surge in residential solar installations in the U.S., as the benefits of going solar have become increasingly clear. A tiny market in the early 2000s, residential solar has grown almost 75% annually since 2008 due to significant declines in manufacturing costs and increased economies of scale.

More solar panels have been installed in the U.S. over the last 24 months than in the previous 30 years combined. This rapid growth has been driven by Homeowners looking to save money, increase the value of their homes, help the environment and achieve energy independence. While solar adoption was once inspired primarily by a desire to support the environment, the compelling economic benefits of solar are now a key reason many Homeowners are making the decision to go solar.

Simplified installation processes, coupled with significant cost savings, are supporting the projections for continued high growth in U.S. solar for the foreseeable future. We are accelerating the adoption of solar with our solar loan product, which shifts even more savings to the Homeowner and provides a full service offering, including performance and maintenance guarantees.

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Solar Jobs and Energy Independence

Source: GTM Research, Solar Energy Industry Association

Solar Jobs and Energy Independence

Today, the U.S. solar market remains relatively small when compared to the overall U.S. electricity market, but still generates enough energy to power 3 million American homes. With the widespread adoption of solar, the U.S. can move closer to energy independence and limit spending on foreign oil imports.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, imports accounted for nearly 40% of U.S. oil consumption last year. The cost to import this oil: almost $300 billion! Solar, in contrast, is a practically limitless clean energy resource that can be generated locally.

The solar industry is now a significant contributor to employment in America, with over 140,000 people now working in solar. Job growth in solar is ten times higher than the national average, helping fuel the U.S. economy. By going solar, you can reduce our country's reliance on foreign oil imports while supporting job growth in the U.S.

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The Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy

The Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy

The environmental benefits of solar energy are clear and create a significant positive impact on the world around us. Solar helps to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases by limiting the burning of hydrocarbons for power generation. A standard 6 kilowatt hour (kWh) system performing for 25 years can reduce your carbon footprint by over 150 tons of carbon dioxide , equivalent to:

• Planting over 3,500 trees
• Not burning 15,750 gallons of gasoline
• Recycling 50 tons of waste
• Displacing carbon emissions from the annual electricity use of 19 homes

Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, ucsusa.orgThe burning of fossil fuels has polluted

the environment and accelerated global warming. Clean, renewable energy sources provide an attractive substitute – by going solar, you can contribute to keeping the environment healthy for generations to come.

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How Solar Increases the Value of Your Home

Source: Berkeley National Laboratory

How Solar Increases the Value of Your Home

Solar energy systems are an attractive asset for Homeo wners looking to sell their homes, as rooftop panels have been shown to increase the value of the home while reducing its time on market.

A 2013 study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory indicates that a medium-sized residential solar system can add more than $20,000 to the value of a home. In addition, according to a study that was sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, home values can increase on average by $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills. Savings of just $40 per month could lead to a $10,000 increase in the value of your home.

The addition of a solar energy system has proven to draw increased interest from home buyers, leading to shorter periods of time on the market. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes with solar sell at up to twice the rate of their conventional counterparts.

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Save Money by Going With A Solar Power Sytem

Save Money by Going With A Solar Power Sytem

The cost of electricity for home and business owners has gone up in 28 of the past 30 years, with an almost 40% increase in the last decade alone. History indicates that Homeowners who remain completely grid-dependent will pay more in utilities next year than they do now, and will continue to pay more with each coming year.

But using are Solar power system, you are very likely to save money on your energy bill immediately. Solar panels generate electricity you can use to power your home, which can drastically reduce the amount of energy you need to buy from your utility company. In addition, your system may generate power that you don't use, and in most states this surplus energy can be sold back to the utility company for other people to use – providing you with further savings on your utility bill.  In some cases, Home owners' utility bills can drop to $0.

Source: US Energy Information Administration

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Solar Power Systems No Money Down In Those States

Did you know you could have solar power on your roof in a couple months from now?  

If you do, do you know how and where to get it?

I am a kind of activist.  I used to sign petition to be heard.  But I found a better way.  Solarcity was created by Elon Musk.  You know, space X, Tesla car and Paypal.  All successful enterprises from Mr. Musk

I decided to affiliate myself with them and tell you about their work.  But I will only share about the solar power installation that they offer.  I was always finding it hard to succeed with backyard inventions to reduce my electric bill and reduce pollution.  I always needed money for some parts so it could be safe.  My lack of knowledge in some of those area was also very limited.

I was amazed that finally, there was a solution for home owners so that they could have a solar power system without having to save money for years.  Solar power is very reliable so I decided to look at their offer.

Lets start by the eligible areas right now.  Here is a map.  

So if you are in the blue area, consider this.

Your electric bill might be $200 a month.  You get financed for a certain amount of time and the rate you are in will be locked in.  Up to 20 years lease lets say.  Imagine what the cost of electricity will be in 10 years.  So your bill is $200 a month, and with the lease, lets say your payment is now $160-$170 a month.

You don't have to lift a finger.  They can check your house from Google and tell you if you have a nice sunny roof that makes you suitable for an installation.  Then then would send someone over to check the quality of your roof.  To see if it's in good condition.  If it's not, they can work it in the financing and fix the roof.  Change the shingles or whatever needs to be done.

Then they would design the array of solar panels to look good and not look like an eye sore.  They would then submit the design to you.  

A team of professionals would come and install everything in one day if the roof is good.  You would be hooked up to the grid and get credited by the electric company for the power returning to them.  Your solar system would be monitored.  

In case of outages, the monitored system would alert the company to make sure your system gets taken off the grid so that the regular electric company employees can work on broken lines if necessary.  You would then be running on the Battery.  The average system for a home is around 10 kilowatts I believe.  That is what it takes to run a house without needing the electricity from the regular company that provides everyone else.

You can even monitor how much pollution you are preventing.

It just feels good to know we are doing the right thing.  If we don't do something now, it will be irreversible.  Not tomorrow but, now.  

For mor information on how you could get your own electricity and save every month, fill the contact form here and I will take the steps necessary to answer all your questions and, if I can't, someone will contact you and answer what I can't.

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Thank you for your consideration.  Your children will thank you too.

Alternative Energy, which one can I use today?

What is your take on alternative energy.

I have been a backyard inventor all my life and I have tried many options.  I always encounter the same problem which stops me from implementing the plan I aim for.  Money!

I have made hydrogen producing devices which are very effective for cooking and heating.  I would like to implement them on a solar.

I also made a friction heater which is very simple.  A solid core spinning in a tube and heating up.  The faster I spin it, the more heat I get.  The problem I face with this is that it builds pressure.  I would need to have it in an open container so that pressure could be released.  I thought of then using a simple toilet valve to keep the water container filled and run it all on gravity.  I would need my tank in the attic or something higher than the floor's main level.  My problem with it is the weight of it all.  Having a 250 gallon tank up above is a lot of weight.  over a ton.  I could go with a smaller tank I imagine.  I can run the whole thing on less than a 1000 watts motor.  All is needed is 2500 rpm and more which can be implemented with pulleys to speed up or reduce the speed.  And a thermostat to cut the motor off when it's warm enough.

It brings me back to the power itself.  I made some batteries with copper pipes and zinc rods.  It is also simple to make and it does work. It's a matter of recycling a bit of material here and there. The problem I have with it is the time it takes to trickle charge a battery at such low amperage.  I would need a small field of it.  I thought of a windmill but it takes money and, if I was to make my own, I would need more knowledge and still need money to make something safe and decent.  Always the same problem.  Money

You can make a generator with any motor that is on magnets.  Or you can alter an alternator.  They are called PMA.  Permanent magnet alternator.  You'll have to figure out how to reduce your voltage likely.  In order to charge the batteries at the right amount.  You would also need a charge controller to not burn the batteries.  You need to buy deep cycle batteries for it.  I was testing one with an old motor that has a capacitor on top.  You can change the capacitor to a couple of oil based capacitor.  If you want 110 volts, I would use a capacitor rated for at least 3 times that.  You also need to remove the cover of the motor and bypass the limit switch.  Again you will have to regulate the power coming out of it.

That is a lot of solutions and a lot of tinkering.  If you don't have a budget for it it will sit on your shelve.  I know because, that is where mine are sitting except for the friction heater.  I'd like to use it on a solar power system.  They are great.  It would take me less energy to run everything since it heats up on low watts.  My hot water tank runs on 8000 watts.

Anyway I thought I would get your ideas and advices on what you have tried and you conclusion on it all.  I have a better solution now with no money out of pocket.  And I don't have to touch anything.  But it's not yet in Canada.  If you have a solar power company of any kind and you would like someone to help sell your items, I have a website I am working on right now to do just that.  My reason is that we are wrecking the planet and something needs to be done now.  Solar power installation is the way to go.  It's the next trend just like the phone was.  Share your ideas and comments and if there is enough feedback, I can make videos on my stuff or on the stuff I came across on the internet.

Reach me at info@solarpowerinstallation.ca

Or contact me here

Or leave a comment below.  We need to sort the pollution problem out and it's something very possible right now.  The problem is that we don't have much time to reverse the effects of pollution.  Lets act quickly.

If you are interested in a Solar power system from the best company in the USA, I can get you in touch with them today.  I wish they came to Canada soon.  I heard rumours about June 2016.  I sure hope so.

You can also join me on my mission on Facebook.com/solarpowerinstallation

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