Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic

I was just reading an article about somebody combining the two types of solar. Seems like deja vu, the same idea was tried a while ago. A challenge with solar voltaic is heat, and solar thermal (heating water) needs heat, so why not combine the two?

Here's the article. Waste Not, Want Not: A New Approach to Solar from the NY Times.

And now of course I can't find the older work I was thinking of. I did find one on using solar for water purification.

Solar Tax Credit - Not this year

Not very good news today:

Ominous omens for solar tax credit
Bizjournals.com, NC - 8 hours ago
The solar investment tax credit will not be extended on Monday, killing the last best hope for the extension to be renewed before the November presidential ...
Lawmakers at Impasse on Incentives for Renewable Energy New York Times
Solar Roundup: Tax Credits Remain in Limbo, Solar Raises Millions Greentech Media
Congress Bickers, Solar Stocks CrumbleEarth2Tech

Solar Water Heaters - Doing it right

Solar water heaters growing in power-hungry Burkina Faso

Key Points:

• Reduces deforestation.
• Local people taught by NGO how to build solar water heaters.
• Win win for all involved.
  

Still no word on solar tax credit extension

Still no word on solar tax credit extension and House Passes Tax Bill That Could Jeopardize Solar Tax Breaks - I would give it 20% chance of passing this year, before Congress adjourns.

I hope it passes in a form that won't be vetoed.

Nigeria - Rebels overplayed hand?

NIGERIA: Clean, Lean, Mean And On The Offensive

Key Points:

• New army commander because the previous one may have been corrupt.
• Rebels are demanding a cease fire.
• Investigators have been sent to check reports of payoffs to the military in the delta.

Hopefully this will payoff. Lots of corruption in Nigeria with the rebels able to make money by siphoning off the oil, which buys them speedboats and weapons. It looks like as long as they did not cause to much damage they were ignored, as the local government was more focused on lining their pockets. But they did too much damage, so now the military in the area seems to be cleaning itself up and being more effective.

Nigeria has such potential, but the corruption has hurt the country so much.

Solar Thieves

Thieves Are Stealing Solar Panels and Selling them from the NY Times. Pretty sad, but with the high cost if people are stealing copper, why not solar panels?

Solar Tax Credits?

Sunny Day For Solar from Forbes. Looks like the Senate passed them, now the House and Senate need to agree and get the Pres. to sign before Congress goes on break. 50% chance of passage per Forbes.

Chrysler's Electric Car

I wonder if they will name it Colt, instead of Volt.

Oil Roller Coaster

Record single-day increase in oil prices from the SF Chronicle and Oil Rises More Than $10 on US Bailout Plan, Weaker Dollar from Bloomberg.

Next Big Industry - Energy Technology?

Per Thomas Friedman's Column today, Thomas L. Friedman: No Laughing Matter, the next big industry is Energy Technology. And if the US government just focused a little bit on this, it would help the economy of the US tremendously by allowing us to be leaders in this.

It's definitely something to think about.

Why Energy Technology is important:

• Energy is an important part of our economy that when it rises in cost can cause substantial issues.
  
• Global warming as well
• Increased income causing increased pollution in the world and energy usage.
• Example of where Detroit is today (near bankruptcy again) and where Toyota, who invested in the Prius is today.
• Increased Energy efficiency would make the US economy more cost competitive and healthier. There is a lot of potential energy savings in green buildings, transportation, more efficient motors, DC Powerlines, etc.
  

Summary - a lot of challenges to the environment as well as to the economy that could Energy Technology solve.

Traditional Energy's Modern Boom

Traditional Energy's Modern Boom from the Washington Post.

It shows the power of higher prices for energy also leads to the development of more traditional sources of energy, such as more drilling for oil and gas in the Continental US. The articles does not mention, but it also leads to new technology to increase the yields of older oil fields (which the US has a lot of). The percentage keeps on going up with new technology and techniques.

E-waste crackdown needed, GAO study says

I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! - Casablanca.

E-waste crackdown needed, GAO study says from the Mercury News.

E-Waste is a low margin business that does not attract the most wonderful people in the world. It's full of wheeler dealer types that are looking to make whatever they can.

And what's strange is China does not allow the importation of E-Waste. I heard the cost was $100 bill taped to the side per container that had legally been sent to HK.

Senate Vote on Alt. Energy Credits

Wind, solar tax credits up for Senate vote from MarketWatch sounds very positive, but my gut feeling, and I hope I am wrong, is neither side will want to do anything that will seem to help the other in the last couple weeks of an Presidential Election. Republicans want more nukes, and democrats more Wind.

Toyota and Volt - Watch what you wish for...

The Prius was started as a way to meet proposed standards in California per the book, The Prius that shook the world, about the design of the Prius. Per others, it was because of Next Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program that Toyota was not allowed to join because they were a Japanese Manufacter and all the American big three could. John's Stuff - Toyota Prius History has some information. This article has the official Toyota version, Feature Article - The Toyota Prius:

What is missing is how internally, Toyota management set a very challenging deadline (imposible, but somehow it was achieved). I wonder if GM by waving the Volt in Toyota's face is doing the same thing. The Plug In version of the Prius from what I can tell has been slowly developed by Toyota due to quality concerns with the battery life. My gut feeling is with the Volt Toyota may push a plug in version much faster.

I wonder if Toyota would come out with an all Electric versio of the Prius before the Volt came out? Eliminate the Motor and replace it with batteries?

Reference:

• Toyota Plans Electric Car, Earlier Plug-In Prius Test (Update2)

$90 a Barrel Oil

A positive of the drop in the price of oil is in the US, Inflation Eases on Oil Price Drops per the WSJ. But, it is hard to invest in alternate energy when you have no idea will the price of oil keep on going down, and if so, how far down. It's around $90 and that's with Hurricane Ike impact on production (which still has not restarted). The fear is that the world is going into a recession which will decrease the demand for oil in the future.

If the price of oil crashes, I hope the research into alternate energy keeps on going. The Prius was created due to an effort by the US government to develop a more fuel efficient car, the sad thing was the effort got canceled, yet Toyota came out with the Prius over 10 years ago. And if you can believe it, GM still has nothing to compete with it. Bob Lutz once said that hybrids is just a Toyota PR stunt. And per GM, the new Volt will be a money loser for quite few years. So how does Toyota make money on the Prius? Because they were willing to invest in it as a way to learn about the new technology. Like GM should have done with the EV1, instead of killing it. Who Killed the Electric Car?

US Auto Makers Target Battery Gap With Japan

US Auto Makers Target Battery Gap With Japan - sad article about how the US is behind in battery technology. My suggestion is place an order with Yuasa for 5 years and have as part of it a US built factory is required. Yuasa Exide has been making batteries in the US for a while. The challenge is Japanese car makers I am sure have been signing long term contracts with battery manufacturers in Japan for a while.

Balance in Drilling and Conservation

Today's Thomas Friedman's column, Thomas L. Friedman: Making America Stupid and a review of his most recent book, 'Hot, Flat, and Crowded' (great excerpt). Review, A Chilling View of Warming is interesting.

My 2 cents, Mr. Friedman is getting too strident, I believe there needs to be a balance. Mr. Friedman is full of great ideas and his analysis of the Middle East is excellent. I agree with him on the need for alternate energy expansion in the US, the question is what is the best method. In his latest book, he is suggesting forcing it by having higher prices for fuel, such as a gas tax. As well as expanding the solar market through subsidies, that would then produce greater cost efficiencies as production increases.

My opinion is the US needs to:

• Expand drilling offshore, such as in California, as well as allow offshore windmills.
• Set a floor on Gasoline, such as at $4 a gallon. For lower income families, have a rebate so this tax does not hit the poor unfairly.
  
• Make gasoline taxes a percentage of the price of gasoline, instead of being fixed. This allows the transportation budget to stay constant.
• Establish prizes for solar and wind efficiencies.
• Use federal financing to create an interstate DC Power Grid.
• Allow use of oil from oil sands in Canada.
• Establish higher mileage requirements for cars and trucks.
• Establish a plan to wean the US off of imported oil.
• Increase standards for building efficiencies.
  
• Establish tax credits that energy efficiency, unfortunately many businesses unless there is a one year payoff will not do the investment. I admire WalMart's quote, we are not green, it just makes business sense.
• Require solar thermal water heaters on all new houses where it makes sense (South West of the US for example).
  

On subsidizing the solar, wind, and other industries it depends on the cost. There is a learning curve that with increased production, there is a decrease in production costs. I believe every time there is a doubling, costs come down 10%. The issue is how to do this to limit the negative economic impact. And has the previous alternate energy taxes made faster a reduction in solar costs? Germany's huge demand on solar actually seems to have increased the cost of solar cells on a short term basis, especially the cost of silicon. Companies do need have a secure environment in order to do investments, or have a high rate of return. With the price of oil and natural gas being so unstable, this is an issue for investments. What is important is to have stable funding for R&D, instead of every time the price of oil goes up, R&D into alternatives goes up, and when the price of oil goes down R&D crashes. Just think where we would be if the R&D started under President Carter had been continued till today.

Past Related Posts:

• What If - Carter's Energy Policy
• Oil Production, Demand, Technology, and Prices
• Al Gore's Energy Plan
• Solar in the News

Calif Energy Plan

California's Tighter Green-Energy Plan Advances - Goal is to get 1/3rd of CA energy from renewable. Electricity would go up 30% (estimate) to pay for this.

And something for the US to keep in mind - Germany, Korea eclipse California in solar

Interesting comment - Kateley described the near-term scenario for California's solar companies by showing a picture of someone parachuting into a pond surrounded by alligators "This is what the market in California looks like today—very risky," she said.

Tesla Motors

San Jose officials say Tesla auto plant would bring more than 1,000 jobs - surprises me locating in such a high rent area with an auto plant. But I guess that's part of the brand. Most of the new fabs are being built in lower cost areas because the bay area has become so expensive. Nummi (joint venture of Toyota and GM) is still in Fremont, but California has lost all the other car manufacturer plants. Some day I am going to take a tour of Nummi! The Toyota quality/production system fascinates me.

Paper and School Spirit

I went to my daughter's high school today, and it was amazing the amount of paper that was being used for posters for school spirit and such. I wonder if it's going go be recycled, or if even the idea of being environmental has been thought of. I am sure they face the same team year after year, so every year they make new paper banners? Any thoughts of recycling? Just some random thoughts.

A race to use less gas in the long haul

A race to use less gas in the long haul from the LA Time. Great article to read!

• 1992 model year, car buyers had the choice of 33 cars that had a combined city and highway EPA rating of at least 30 miles per gallon. For the current model year, there are 12.
• General Motors Corp. currently doesn't have any cars that top 30 mpg.
• Cars today are more powerful being the priority, with lower gas mileage.
  

Solar Up or Down?

Solar Shares Collapsing; Where’s The Bottom? from Barrons,

or

a Press Release Examine the Global and China Solar Polysilicon Industry 2008 ... MarketWatch - 2 hours ago The rising price of oil is pushing the solar energy industry towards new highs. People are choosing fuel ethanol, solar water heaters and solar batteries.

My guess, the drop in the price of oil has made Solar less interesting, and there is a feeling there will be further drops in the price of oil. As well as the lack of action by the US congress on an renewable tax credit, stronger dollar, and high poly silicon prices.

Oil Prices - What caused the fall?

Saudi's per this article Green Ink: Oil Caught Between Ike and OPEC increased production, combined with lowering of demand caused the prices to fall. No mention of speculators.

It's interesting who wants to keep oil prices high, and how the Saudi's are saying the price to extract oil tars is the new bottom for oil pricing - $65 per barrel.

California anti sprawl legislation

LED's and Prius in Denver at Cedia

When I was out getting lunch at the 16th street Mall, I saw a Prius taxi. This was after getting honked at by a regular taxi.

And in the show there was a booth selling LED's and I had a nice talk with the person. They new the practical side, but not the bigger picture. It's interested they are doing RGB LED's both in the doping as well as in the packaging, so you can get as many colors as you want. And with the power supply, you can put it 100 ft away using 10 AWG wire at 10Volts.

At a place selling power protection, the guy had no idea what he was selling. I spent 10 years in the UPS industry. I stopped by APC and they had a smart power strip, that when the main power plug was not drawing power it shut down the other plugs to save power. Neat idea so that printer is not on when the computer is off.

Denver Airport Car Rental

May be I am just from California, but it was a bit strange for me to see all these trucks just waiting to be rented. We wanted something with a trunk to hide our luggage since we were going directly to the tradeshow, and we had reserved a full size car because we had four people. We get there and most of the vehicles are trucks. We finally end up with a PT Cruiser that is somehow considered a full size car.

DALI, Cedia, and Standards

I stopped by a Lighting booth for a mfg, I won't write their name to they avoid the embarassment. I asked about Dali, and they said it was used on some commercial equipment, and it was overkill for consumer stuff. And the person I spoke with had no idea about the lighting market in Europe.

First reaction - wow! Future Road Kill...

1. The lighting industry in the US is still into their proprietary methods, instead of open standards.
2. Silicon to do Dali is cheap! The excuse on cost is just that.
3. The company is just throwing away a longer term opportunity for home automation.
4. When Apple finally gets a real home controller (music, video, lights) the companies that are not ready for that, like the one I spoke with, will be roadkill.
5. I hope Apple does this soon! It's still a major challenge to create a smart house.

Lead in Artificial Turf

Jerry Brown, who I still have a wonderful coffee cup from his previous time as Governor, Brown is Green, has a suite against 3 artificial turn companies for having lead in their grass. And what is very worrisome is many schools are adding this. And as the grass gets older more lead dust comes out, and it's easy to get into the mouth. Lead is not good...

Turf war: California sues artificial-grass makers over lead content from the LA Times.

Gas Prices

Oil was up to $147, call it $150, t0 $110, 25% decrease. Gas was up to $4.11, but now is only down to $3.68, a 11% decrease. So assuming the price of gas tracks 100% to gas (yes, I know about the taxes), gas should drop to $3.08. Figures per a NY Times article on Despite Oil Prices, Little Relief for Consumers. Auto Club I believe thought if the price of gas got below $3 a gallon, there would be an increase in driving back to normal levels.

Green - who actually acts green?

Hassles, negative feedback affect green actions from the San Jose Mercury News.

Great Quote:

"people not defining themselves as green doing green things, and others that said they were green and drove SUVs and had big houses," she said.

This is also so true in the "Green" industry. I like Walmart's comment where they are not being green for the sake of being green, but because it makes economical sense "we are not green".

My opinion, it's called making everything more efficient which is common sense, which is unfortunately not that common.