Tender Information

Close Date                                                                                     23/4/2011
Bid Opening Dates                                                                         23/4/2011
Last Date for Receiving requests for Tender Document            19/3/2011
Tender Document Cost                                                                   INR 1288
Earnest Money Deposit                                                                  INR 120000

Tender for " Supply, Installation, Commissioning of Solar Photo Voltaic System for EDC Building at NTPC Simhadri. "

Tender Information

Last Date of Document Collection                                            13-04-2011 up to 12:00
Last Date of Document submission                                          14-04-2011 up to 15:00
Tender Opening Date                                                                14-04-2011
Tender Document Cost                                                              Rs 2000-00
Approximate Cost                                                                       Rs 1172450-00

Waltair Division of Indian Railways invites Tender for " 1). Provision of Solar water heater system : for Running room & ORH., 2). Provision of Solar water heater system for Running room & ORH., 3). Provision of Solar water heater system for ORH & Running room"

Tender Information

Date of Opening                                                13 April 2011
Tender Value                                                     Rs. 2.07 Crore
Cost of tender form                                           Rs.10,000/- or Rs.10,500/-(by Post)
Collection of Tender document                        20 days advance and upto 11.00 hrs

Tender invited by Indian Railways for “Electrical work in connection with provision of 10 KW Solar power system at small and medium stations where supply is unreliable at stations over Ambala Division. "

Tender Information

Last date for bid submission                         11 Apr 2011
Time for completion                                    12.Months
Estimate Amount                                         Rs. 5.50 Lakhs



TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DEVASTHANAMS: TIRUPATI invites Tender for " Annual maintenance of Solar water heating system at Srinivasam PAC, TTD, Tirupati for the year 2011-12 "

Tender Information

Closing Date                                        07 Apr 2011 ( 2:00:00 PM )
Cost of tender document                     Rs.200-00
Earnest money Deposit                      Rs25195-00

ONGC, Uran Plant, Uran invites Tender for " Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Solar Steam Generation and Biogas Plant for CISF Canteen at ONGC Uran Plant Uran "

Tender Information

Closing Date                                              06 Apr 2011 up to 3.30 pm
Tender document cost                               Rs. 104
Opening of Tender (Price Bid)                 06 Apr 2011 up to 4.00 pm

Tender for "SUPPLY, INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING AND AFTER SALES COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE OF SOLAR STREET LIGHT ";

Tender Information

Closing Date                                                    31.03.2011 up to 15:00 Hrs
Last date of issue tender documents.             30.03.2011 up to 18.00 Hrs
Cost of tender                                                  Rs 3000/- (Rs. 3500/- by post)
Estimated cost                                                 Rs. 35.0 Lacs approx.
Earnest Money                                               Rs 70,000/-

WESTERN RAILWAY AHMEDABAD DIVISION Invites Tender for “Ahmedabad division - Providing power supply through solar power system for 20 no. LC gates”

Tender Information

Last date for Submission : 2011-03-30 Up To : 5:00 p.m.
Last Date of Document Collection : 2011-03-29.
Opening Date : 2011-03-30 At : 3:30 p.m.
Document Cost Rs 3000/-
Tender Value : Rs 29,84,190
EMD : Rs.59690

South Eastern Railway Invites Tender for “Provision of Solar Light at 16 Nos. of Non-electrified LC. Gates over CKP Division”

Tender Information

Closing Date Time :                                          30/03/2011 11:30.
Document Cost (INR)                                      500.00
Earnest Money (INR)                                      20200.00

COS/NORTHERN RAILWAYS (INDIA) Invites Tender for

“ITEM NO. [1]. SUPPLY , ERECTION , TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF SOLAR BASED WATER HEATING SYSTEM 500 LPD WITH HEAT EXCHANGER TYPE 1 FOR COLD REGION TYPE FOR COLD REGIONS WITH SOLAR FLAT PLATE COLLECTOR CONFIRMING TO IS: 12933 [ PART 1 ] 2003 WITH AMDT.NO. 1 AND 2 , IS: 12933 [ PART 2 ] 2003 AS PER RDSO SPECIFICATION NO.RDSO-PE-SPEC- PS-0094-2008 [ REV. 0 ] .


ITEM NO. [2].SUPPLY , ERECTION , TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF SOLAR BASED WATER HEATING SYSTEM 2000 LPD WITH HEAT EXCHANGER TYPE 1 FOR COLD REGION TYPE FOR COLD REGIONS WITH SOLAR FLAT PLATE COLLECTOR CONFIRMING TO IS: 12933 [ PART 1 ] 2003 WITH AMDT.NO. 1 AND 2 , IS: 12933 [ PART 2 ] 2003 AS PER RDSO SPECIFICATION NO.RDSO-PE-SPEC- PS-0094-2008 [ REV. 0 ] .”

Tender Information

Last Date / Time of Submission                         28.03.11 at 10:30 AM
Date and Time of opening of tender                  28.03.11 at 11:00 AM
Cost of tender document                                    Rs. 10000/- (inclusive of trade tax)
Amount of Earnest money                                 Rs. 10.00 Lacs

UTTARAKHAND RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Invites Tender for “Supply, Erection & Commissioning of Solar Street Lights at various locations in Uttarakhand including 5 Year’s Warrantee/ Guarantee and AMC”

Tender Information

Date and Time of opening of tender                     22.03.11 at 4:00 PM         
Cost of tender document                                       Rs. 1000/- (inclusive of trade tax)
Amount of Earnest money                                     Rs. 0.15 Lacs

UTTARAKHAND RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Invites Tender for “Design, Supply, Installation & Commissioning of Solar Water Heater of Various Capacities at Raj Bhawan, Dehradun & Nainital (Uttarakhand) including 1 Year’s Warrantee/ Guarantee and AMC for 4 Years after Warrantee Period”

Tender Information

Last Date / Time of Submission                     22.03.11 at 10:30 AM
Date and Time of opening of tender              22.03.11 at 02:00 PM
Cost of tender document                                Rs. 1000/- (inclusive of trade tax)
Amount of Earnest money                              Rs. 0.60 Lacs

UTTARAKHAND RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Invites Tender for “Design, Supply, Installation & Commissioning of Solar PV Power Plants of Various Capacities at Raj Bhawan, Dehradun & Nanital (Uttarakhand) including 5 Year’s Warrantee/ Guarantee and AMC”

Tender Information

Last Date / Time of Submission                                   22.03.11 at 10:30 AM
Date and Time of opening of tender                            22.03.11 at 11:00 AM
Cost of tender document                                              Rs. 1000/- (inclusive of trade tax)
Amount of Earnest money                                           Rs. 0.15 Lacs

UTTARAKHAND RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Invites Tender for “Design, Supply, Installation & Commissioning of Solar Pumps at Raj Bhawan, Dehradun & Nainital (Uttarakhand) including 5 Years Warrantee/ Guarantee & AMC”

Tender Information

Date & Time of submission of tenders                    18-03-2011 2.30 pm
Date & Time of opening of tenders                         18-03-2011 3.30 pm
EMD                                                                         Rs 21,4431
Cost of Tender Paper                                               Rs.500-00

FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA, GUWAHATI, Invites tender for “Supply, installation, testing & commissioning of 30 numbers complete set of stand alone CFL based Solar Street Lighting System comprising of 120 W PV module, one 12V 100AH tubular plate battery, one DD charge controller, one luminary with 2x11w CFL, module mounting structure, poles with battery stand, cables, connectors, battery box made of M.S. in appropriate gauge with corrosion resistance paint etc. and with operation, instruction and maintenance manual or as per specification of MNRE SPV programme 2010-11 in FCl, FSD, New Guwahati.”

Tender Information

Tender/Quotations will be received on        18/03/2011up to 1200 Hrs
Tender Quotations will be opened on          18/03/2011at 1600 Hrs
Earnest Money                                            Rs. 1,50,000/-

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT 1 SIG BN CRPF, JHARODA KALAN NEW DELHI Invites tender for “Purchase of 200 Nos. Foldable Solar Battery Charger.”

Tender Information
Last Date of Document Collection         18-March-2011 Up To 2:00 PM
Last date for Submission                         18-March-2011 Up To 2:00 PM
EMD :                                                      Rs.15000/-
Opening Date :                                        18-March-2011 at 2:30 PM

Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited Invites tender for “Supply, installation and commissioning of solar photovoltaic system at FACT Corporate office, Udyogamandal.”

Tender Information

Last Date of Document Collection      17-March-2011 Up To 5:45 PM

Last date for  Submission                    18-March-2011   Up To  11:30 AM

Opening Date                                       18-March-2011 Up To  12:00 PM

EMD :                                                    Rs.49860

Document Cost :                                   Rs.3195-00

Tender Value (INR if not mentioned):      Rs 24,93,010/-

South Central Railway Invites tender for “Provision of solar panel at level crossing gates - 20 Nos (In Khandwa-Purna, Parbhani-Parli, Manmad-Purna sections), for Electrical Department  of Nanded Division.”

Tender Information

Estimated cost (Rs.)                                   Rs. 5,82,000.00

Earnest Money Deposit (EMD)                 Rs. 11,640.00

Tender cost (Non refundable)                    Rs. Rs.500.00

Last Date & Time of receipt of Application       14-03-2011 (16: 00Hrs.)

Last Date & Time of issue of tenders                15-03-2011 (16: 00Hrs.)

Last Date & Time of receipt of tenders             17-03-2011 (11: 00Hrs.)

Last Date & Time of opening of tenders           17-03-2011 (11: 30Hrs.)

BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED Invites tender for  “Procurement of Solar Power Generation System for pilot project for establishment of renewable energy use in shared mobile infrastructure site at Khidarpur in District Dholpur ( Cluster no.65),Rajasthan. (SH:-Balance Work at the risk and cost of the main firm).”

Tender Information

Earnest Money     Rs.76000-00

Tender cost           Rs.1000-00

Date & Time of opening of tenders     17-03-11 AT 14.30 Hrs

Metro Railway, Kolkata Invites tender for  “Supply, Erection, testing and commissioning of 20 KWP Grid Connected Solar Power Plant complete with all materials, equipments and accessories as per Spec. no- RDSO/PE/SPEC/PS/0092-2008(Rev-0) Amdt.-3 and annexture-A (Specification covers general and technical requirement for design. Manufacturing testing supply, installation and commissioning of grid connected solar generatory system only but the capacity of the system is as per M. Rly's requirement).”

Tender Information

Last Date of Document Collection : 2011-03-15

Last date for Submission : 2011-03-16 Up To : 3:00 p.m.

Opening Date : 2011-03-16 At : 12:30 p.m.

Document Cost (INR)    3000.00

EMD : 95000

Tender Value : 47,48,637

East Central Railway (India) Invites Tender for “Provision of Solar Light at way side station in Sonpur Division”

Tender Information

Closing Date     16-03-2011 at 3.00 pm

Document Collection Date 16-03-2011 at 1.00 pm

Location       TIRUPATI / ANDHRA PRADESH

EMD

TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DEVASTHANAMS, TIRUPATI Invites tender for “Supply of spares for maintenance of solar hot water systems at SGGH8 blocks, NGGHI, II & III, SVGH and Seva sadan in A.P.S.R.T.C Bus station complex at Tirumala.”

Solar training facility for students from across the United States and Canada

                        As the field of alternative energy resources is on growth, there is good scope of  job opportunity for professionals and skilled artisans of devices of alternative energy. In this regard and as per related source, the premier solar training facility are available at a licensed private school, ‘Infinite Solar’ on the East Coast, for training needs on renewable energy for students from across the United States and Canada. As per related source, the institute offers IREC accredited courses and NABCEP examinations. Details of courses can be checked from source link mentioned below.

Source:-  http://www.solarschoolpa.com/?gclid=COjgpbPUv6cCFcN56wodLQFwFw

Same informative article is also available at Renewables Energy blog with url

www.renewablesblog.blogspot.com

SOLAR ENERGY TECHNICIAN

SOLAR ENERGY TECHNICIAN Training course of 1 year duration is conducted by National Institute of Open Schooling (Under Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India)

As per web resource National Institute of Open Schooling conducts training program on SOLAR ENERGY TECHNICIAN. The information available at its web link regarding course on “SOLAR ENERGY TECHNICIAN” conducted by NIOS are as below;

1. INTRODUCTION

Solar energy is a largest renewable resource freely available everywhere in adequate amounts, making it one of the most promising, clean, non-pollution source.
Currently a number of solar energy devices like solar cooker, solar water heater, solar photovoltaic pumps and solar photovoltaic lighting systems are gaining popularity. There is a need for generating manpower for installing and managing such solar based systems. This module is designed to train technicians who can install, maintain and promote the uses of such solar appliances.

2. OBJECTIVES

After going through this course the student will be able to:
understand the Basic Principles of Solar Technology, Solar Cooker, Water Heater, Solar Photovoltaic Lighting System, Solar Water Pumping etc.
install, maintain and promote the uses of solar applications.

3 JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Those completing this module can find employment in the nodal agencies of the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, voluntary agencies and other organizations promoting the technology at district and block levels.
Entrepreneurial opportunities would also be available in terms of opening shops for spare parts, servicing and sale of solar devices.

4. COURSE DURATION:

One Year

4.1 Scheme of Study: Theory – 40%, Practical – 60%

5. ENTRY QUALIFICATION

Class 8th Pass

6. SCHEME OF EXAMINATION

Maximum Weightage in Theory – 30% Time – 2 hours.
Maximum Weightage in Practical – 70% Time – 3 hours.Passing Marks – 33% to in aggrigate in Public Examination of Secondary level or Grade 'E' as for independent vocational course or Grade 'G' when combined with academic stream.

7. COURSES CONTENTS

Unit 1: Basic Principles in Solar Technology
Solar Thermal Conversion : Principles of Solar Radiation, Solar Collector, Absorption of radiation and Conversion to Thermal Energy, Collection & Storage of Thermal Energy, Solar Photovoltaic Cells:

Unit 2 : Solar Cookers
Flat plate Box Type Solar Cooker, Advantages of Solar Cooker, Limitations, Cooking time, Precautions while using a solar cooker, Concentrator type solar cooker, Basket type solar cooker etc.

Unit 3 : Domestic & Industrial Water Heaters
Domestic Solar Water Heater, Industrial Solar Water Heater, System Installation & Test

Unit 4: Solar Dryer
Cabinet type Solar Dryer, Bomboo types Solar Dryer

Unit 5 : Solar Distillation
Simple Solar Distillation Plant and Conical

Unit 6: Solar Photovoaltaic Lighting System
Principle of Photovoltaic lighting system, Solar Array, Battery Bank, Electronic Controller, Inventor, Solar photovoltaic street lighting system, Maintenance of Battery, Cleanliness, Adding water, Kind of water, Discharge limits, Hydometer readings - Specific gravity, Full charge specific gravity, Readings - Written records, Trouble shooting, Basics of Lead-Acid Batteries, Discharge limits of Lead-Acid batteries

Unit 7: Solar Water Pumping
Solar photovoltaic pumping system, SPV modules, Water pump

Source (For details on course please see) link below;

http://www.nios.ac.in/solar.htm

,

This informative article is also available at Renewables Energy blog with url

www.renewablesblog.blogspot.com

Implementation of the programme on “Development of Solar Cities” in India during 11th Plan period including 2010-11

In this tenure of depleting conventional energy resources, the fossil fuels are increasingly becoming more expensive due to scarcity of fuel and increase in demand. In addition to this, the environmental and social impacts of the consumption of fossil fuels are increasingly becoming a concern. These impacts include air pollution, global warming, waste disposal problems, land degradation and the depletion of natural resources. Urbanization and economic development are leading to a rapid rise in energy demand in urban areas. Urban areas have emerged as one of the biggest sources of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, with buildings alone contributing to around 40% of the total GHG emissions.

There is approximately 15% growth in the peak electricity demand in most of Indian cities and towns in India. The local governments and the electricity utilities are finding it difficult to cope with this rapid rise in demand and as a result most of the cities/towns are facing severe electricity shortages. There is a need to develop a framework that will encourage and assist cities in assessing their present energy consumption status, setting clear targets for and preparing action plans for generating energy through renewable energy sources and in conserving energy utilized in conducting urban services.

As per information available from the source, MNRE has conveyed the sanction of the Government of India to the Heads of State Nodal Agencies,Municipal Commissioners/ Municipalities, for implementation of the programme on “Development of Solar Cities”during 11th Plan period including 2010-11.

According to source, an indicative target of 60 cities/towns/Unban Agglomerations (Class I – III) duly notified by the Municipal Authorities/Local Governments with at least one in each State has been set for the 11th Plan period including 2010-11. The targets will be achieved by providing support for preparation of a Master Plan for their city; setting up of a ‘Solar City Cell’ in the Council/Administration, organizing training programmes/ workshops/ business meets for various stakeholders such as elected representatives of the municipal bodies, municipal officials, architects/engineers, builders and developers, financial institutions, NGOs, technical institutions, manufactures and suppliers, RWAs etc. and on creation of public information and awareness. 10 cities within the above target are proposed to be developed as ‘Pilot Solar Cities’, and four cities out of above target of 60 cities are also proposed to be developed as ‘Model Solar Cities’ with part financial support for installation of renewable energy and energy conservation projects/devices/systems in the city.

Apart from above mentioned 60 Solar cities, about 50 new small townships/campuses duly notified/permitted by the concerned Authorities being developed by the promoters/builders, SEZs/ industrial towns, Institutional campus etc. for preparation of Master Plan/DPR including the action plan for renewable energy installations, green campus development, awareness generation and trainings etc. will be covered. The programme will be implemented through State Nodal Agencies/Urban Local Bodies or other corporate houses for respective cities. For townships and Institutional Campuses the respective organizations may also be involved.

 The Goal of the program is to promote the use of Renewable Energy in Urban Areas by providing support to the Municipal Corporations for preparation and implementation of a Road Map to develop their cities as Solar Cities. The objectives behind the programme on “Development of Solar Cities” are;

Ø     to enable/empower Urban Local Governments to address energy challenges at City - level.

Ø     to provide a framework and support to prepare a Master Plan including assessment of current energy situation, future demand and action plans

Ø     to build capacity in the Urban Local Bodies and create awareness among all sections of civil society.

Ø     to involve various stakeholders in the planning process

Ø     to oversee the implementation of sustainable energy options through public - private partnerships.

(This informative article is on basis of the information achieved from official website of MNRE at the internet) ‘Source link is mentioned below’

Source (more details about the programme available at source):-

             http://www.mnre.gov.in/adm-approvals/solarcity-scheme-2011.pdf

This informative article is also available at Renewables Energy blog with url

www.renewablesblog.blogspot.com

Indianapolis International Airport could get 100% power from solar

In reference to news by Amanda H. Miller on clean authority dot com for “Airport could get 100% power from solar, but wants to lease land”. It is interesting that Indianapolis International Airport could get 100% power from solar. The Indianapolis International Airport is seeking development proposals for a solar farm that would be the largest in the state. The airport authority is looking for a company to install 10 megawatts of solar photovoltaic panels on 30 acres of land in its airfield that isn’t suitable for other development. Means the land not suitable for other related developing activities needed for an airport, will be utilized to harness the solar energy. to feed the electric energy requirements. As per writer ‘Amanda H. Miller’ in news stating that according to Indianapolis Power & Light, the facility uses about 10 megawatts of power. So, such installation of solar farm of 10 megawatts may completely offset the airport’s electricity use.

But the airport authority is having some different opinion and it is very clear from the news that, the airport board is not looking to make the capital investment itself or even use the energy generated from a solar array on its property. The Indianapolis Airport Authority would not own the system, and will lease land to a solar developer that would then sell its power to the local utility, Indianapolis Light & Power, through the grid. According to airport publicity for the project, this proposed 10-megawatts system would be the biggest in Indiana and would generate enough energy to power 6,000 homes.

In view of such initiatives to develop solar farm, on its land by the airport not of use for its aero related development, is a very good step both at environmental and economical factors.

Thanks to writer of news ‘Amanda H. Miller’ to give such interesting information

Source :-

http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/indianapolis-airport-to-install-10-mw-solar-system-022311/

This informative article is also available at Renewables Energy blog with url

www.renewablesblog.blogspot.com









Adoption of Biotech crops at a high spirit

Biotech Crops Surge Over 1 Billion Hectares

In just 15 years after commercialization, accumulated biotech crops exceeded 1 billion hectares in 2010  a milestone that signifies biotech crops are here to stay,  according to Clive James author of the annual report released today by ISAAA (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications).   This indicates that adoption of biotech crops at a high spirit is very much accepted in commercial farming.

In 2010, for the first time, the ten largest biotech crop growing countries all had more than 1 million hectares in production, providing a broad and stable base for future growth. In hectarage rank order, they include: USA (66.8 million), Brazil (25.4 million), Argentina (22.9 million), India (9.4 million), Canada (8.8 million), China (3.5 million), Paraguay (2.6 million), Pakistan (2.4 million), South Africa (2.2 million) and Uruguay (1.1 million). There everywhere is adoption of Biotech crops at a high spirit.  The 1 billionth hectare was planted in 2010 by one of the 15.4 million farmers in 29 countries who now benefit from the technology. With an unprecedented 87-fold increase between 1996 and 2010, biotech crops are the fastest-adopted crop technology in the history of modern agriculture, according to James, chairman and founder of ISAAA.  As Biotech Crops Surge Over 1 Billion Hectares, it is significant that willing for Adoption of Biotech crops at a high spirit is developed in commercial farming.

For the second consecutive year, Brazil had the world’s largest year-over-year increase in absolute biotech crop plantings, adding 4 million hectares in 2010 -- a 19 percent increase -- to grow a total of 25.4 million hectares. Only the United States leads Brazil in total cropland devoted to biotech crops. Australia, which recovered from a multi-year drought, saw the largest proportional year-on-year increase in biotech crop plantings at 184 percent. Burkina Faso followed at 126 percent growth with 80,000 farmers planting 260,000 hectares, a 65 percent adoption rate.

The five principal developing countries growing biotech crops – China, India, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa – planted 63 million hectares of biotech crops in 2010, equivalent to 43 percent of the global total. The 19 among the 29 countries that have adopted biotech crops are developing nations, which grew at a rate of 17 percent or 10.2 million hectares over 2009 compared to only 5 percent growth or 3.8 million hectares in industrialized countries.

According to James, more than 90 percent of biotech crop growers are small-scale farmers. Of the 15.4 million farmers using the technology in 2010, 14.4 million were small-scale, resource-poor farmers in developing countries; these farmers are some of the poorest people in the world and biotech crops are contributing to the alleviation of their poverty, . China and India now have the most small-scale farmers using biotech crops, with 6.5 million Chinese farmers and 6.3 million Indian farmers planting biotech crop seed.

In 2010, three nations grew biotech crops commercially for the first time, and one nation resumed planting biotech crops. Approximately 600,000 farmers in Pakistan and 375,000 farmers in Myanmar, planted insect-resistant Bt cotton, and Sweden (the first Scandinavian country to commercialize biotech crops) planted a new biotech high-quality starch potato approved for industrial and feed use. Germany also planted the same biotech potatoes in 2010, resuming its place among the eight EU nations now growing either biotech maize or potatoes.

Source :- ISAAA Brief 42-2010: Press Release 

               URL for source is as below;  http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/42/pressrelease/default.asp

This informative article is also available at Renewables Energy blog with url

www.renewablesblog.blogspot.com

Super-Efficient Cells Key to Low-Cost Solar Power

U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed New Solar Technology – Concentrated Photovoltaic or CPV Generator

Recently in U.S.A, the combined talents of a solar company, Amonix and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) resulted with development of solar power concentrator that generates electricity at prices competitive with natural gas. The Amonix 7700 Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) Solar Power Generator, developed by Amonix and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is the size of an IMAX screen but costs much less than comparable generators, partly because of the efficiency of its small solar cells. It delivers more "energy per acre" than anything yet available in the solar energy world. The 7700 uses acrylic Fresnel lenses to concentrate sunlight up to 500 times its usual intensity and direct it onto 7,560 tiny, highly efficient multi-junction PV cells.

The cells, originally developed by NREL scientists, can convert 41.6 percent of the sunlight that shines on them into usable electricity in a laboratory setting, a world record. But the multi-junction cells on the Amonix 7700 are achieving 31 percent efficiency at the module level and 27 percent at the system level in the field, the highest ever achieved for an operating CPV concentrator. Such unprecedented efficiency supports to reduce costs and reducing land use — both key for solar electricity to reach cost-parity with fossil fuels. Observing the potential for game-changing cost cuts, Amonix, with technical support from NREL's High-Performance PV Project and financial support through DOE and its Solar Energy Technologies Program, redeveloped its flagship CPV system using the multi-junction cells.

A six-inch square silicon wafer in traditional photovoltaic (PV) panels produces about 2.5 watts of electricity. That same-sized wafer, cut into hundreds of square-centimeter cells in the Amonix 7700, each teamed with a Fresnel lens, produces more than 1,500 watts. It reduces the required area for cells 500 times. The 7700 also keeps down costs by integrating the lenses, the cells and the mounting structure into a single unit that eliminates most of the parts and costs associated with other concentrator designs. The seven MegaModules that make up the 53-kilowatt system can be hauled on two flatbed trucks, then assembled in the field in hours, rather than weeks. The key breakthrough that lifted the 7700 to a 50 percent greater power output than previous generations of Amonix generators was the substitution of the multi-junction cells made of gallium indium arsenide and gallium phosphide for the more common silicon cells. Cells made from gallium, indium and other elements from the III and V columns of the periodic table are more expensive to produce today, but also can be more efficient at converting the sun's photons into usable electrons for electricity.

As per California’s Market Price Referent, the 7700 already has driven the price of electricity from solar down to the price of electricity from natural gas, which establishes a proxy price for electricity generated by a new state-of-the-art natural gas plant. Solar power is at or near price parity in six other states that share California's sunny and dry climates — Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas.

Source:-           http://www.nrel.gov/features/20110216_low-cost_solar.html

This informative article is also available at Renewables Energy blog with url

www.renewablesblog.blogspot.com

British Initiative to develop the next generation of solar energy harvesting

£5 million of government funding to be utilized by Fifteen British businesses and seven universities, so as to get enabled to do research to find the use of novel nanoscale technologies to develop the next generation of solar energy harvesting.

This is regarding efforts and keen initiatives exerted by UK for becoming an early and competitive adopter of the novel technologies, placing British companies in a good position to take a share of a global market with rapidly increasing demand.

 As per related resources, The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Technology Strategy Board are investing under RCUK Programme, Nanoscience through Engineering to Application, in four industry-led collaborative research and development projects. This research program is to address challenges in building the supply chain and scaling-up technologies. The aim of the investment is to help ensure that the UK can become an early and competitive adopter of the novel technologies, placing British companies in a good position to take a share of a global market with rapidly increasing demand.  The research and development projects to be funded are:

Ø     Project title: Development of Prototype High Efficiency Multi-Junction Organic Solar     Cells
    Partners: Kurt J Lesker (lead), University of Warwick, Asylum Research, Imperial     College London, Molecular Solar, New World Solar
    Contact: Dr Robin Holmes, robinh(at)lesker(dot)com, 01424 458100

Ø     Project Title: Nanocrystalline Water Splitting Photodiodes II; Device Engineering,     Integration & Scale-up
    Partners: Tata Steel UK (lead), TWI, Teer, University College London, University of     Strathclyde
    Contact: Dr Tim English, tim(dot)english(at)tatasteel(dot)com 07824 402647

Ø     Project Title: Scalable, low-cost organic photovoltaic devices (SCALLOPS)
    Partners: Pilkington Technology Management Limited, Imperial College London,     University of Bath, Solvay Interox Limited, NPL Management Ltd, RK Print Coat Instruments Limited, Flexink Ltd
    Contact: Dr. Troy Manning, troy(dot)manning(at)nsg(dot)com 01695 54915

Ø     Project Title: Enhanced solar energy harvesting in dye sensitized solar cells using     nanophosphors and nano-structured optics (CONVERTED)
    Partners: Intrinsiq Materials Ltd, G24 Innovations, Exxelis Ltd, Brunel University
    Contact: Dr Paul Reip, paulreip(at)intrinsiqmaterials(dot)com 01252 399790

Source :- (Detailed news can be seen at link of source mentioned below)

               http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/2/prweb8151730.htm

This informative article is also available at Renewables Energy blog with url

www.renewablesblog.blogspot.com

www.altenergyandfuels.blogspot.com

Innovative research to produce Biodiesel from microalgae grown in wastewater

Rochester Institute of Technology, NewYork is initiating research for developing biodiesel from microalgae grown in wastewater. Algae are much simpler organisms that uses photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy. Only water—ponds or tanks are needed by Algae to grow in—sunlight and carbon dioxide. Algae—as a renewable feedstock—grow a lot quicker than crops of corn or soybeans. The advantages of Algae are, they are cheaper and faster to grow than corn, which requires nutrient-rich soil, fertilizer and insecticide. Cold weather is an issue for biodiesel fuels. One of the major drawback of biodiesel is that it does freeze at a higher temperature. It is fact that if any kind of diesel fuel gets too cold, it will be too much hard to start the engine, as at low temperature the diesel gels up. It’s possible to blend various types of biodiesel—algae derived with soybeans or some other type—to generate a biodiesel with a more favorable pour point that flows easily.

Considering the concepts and taking help of chemistry major Emily Young, isolated and extracted valuable fats, or lipids, algae produce and yielded tiny amounts of a golden-colored biodiesel. The researching group is growing the algae strain Scenedesmus, a single-cell organism, using wastewater from the Frank E. Van Lare wastewater Treatment Plant in Irondequoit, NewYork. The Algae will take out all the ammonia—99 percent—88 percent of the nitrate and 99 percent of the phosphate from the wastewater.

Professor Jeff Lodge, associate professor of biological sciences at RIT and Eric Lannan, who is working on his master’s degree in mechanical engineering at RIT ramped up their algae production from 30 gallons of wastewater in a lab at RIT to 100 gallons in a 4-foot-by-7-foot long tank at Environmental Energy Technologies. Professor Lodge and Eric Lannan’s research bridges the gap between cost efficiency and environmental conservation and is a perfect example of how old problems can yield to new and creative solutions. The researchers are planning to build a mobile greenhouse, in the spring,  at the Irondequoit wastewater treatment plant and scale up production to as much as 1,000 gallons of wastewater. One of the biodesel firm, Northern Biodiesel, located in Wayne County, will purify the lipids from the algae and convert them into biodiesel for the RIT researchers.

Source at url  http://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=48113

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Exploring Geothermal Heat from hot water through 6,562ft (2,000m) deep hole at Newcastle (England)

In this tenure of depleting conventional energy resources, renewable energy is hope to keep the energy needs fulfilled. Various expeditions are on way or carried by the engineers and scientists to explore best results from these Renewable energy resources like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal energy. A similar expedition started its journey in England, regarding exploration of Geothermal Heat at Newcastle through 6,562ft (2,000m) deep hole. This geothermal project of budget about £ 900,000 is initiated by team of Newcastle and Durham Universities. The project is funded for £500K by the Newcastle Science City Partnership and £400K by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The team plans to sink a hole 6,562ft (2,000m) below the planned Science Central site, in the city centre. This drilling of hole deep below Newcastle is carried in the search for a renewable energy source. The project is initiated with hope of results to pump out water  at a temperature of about 80C (176F). This project started is expected to be completed in six months with hope to pump out the first hot water in June 2011. The aim of this project is to utilize the heat energy of hot water from the rigged hole to heat the site and surrounding city centre buildings. The expedition is running with hope that if the results will be positive and oriented with pumping up of at such elevated temperatures, it would mean a fully renewable energy supply for a large part of the city centre.

Source

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-12547313

http://blogs.journallive.co.uk/journalblogcentral/2011/02/all-set-to-explore-newcastles-hidden-energy.html

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Science-Powered Photovoltaic innovations introduced to increase the efficiency and lifetime of solar modules

DuPont, a science-based products and services company, has introduced a suite of science-powered photovoltaic innovations which are designed to increase the efficiency and lifetime of solar modules and reduce overall system costs to help lower the cost of solar energy vs. other forms of electricity. DuPont innovations in photovoltaics are key to the manufacture of both crystalline silicon and thin film solar cells and modules. They include films, resins, encapsulation sheets, flexible substrates and photovoltaic metallizations, as well as high-performance seals for solar cell manufacturing equipment, wet-etch additives for semiconductor texturing and metallic sodium. The most recent additions to DuPont’s innovative photovoltaic portfolio include: Four new Solamet® metallization pastes which have been developed to enhance the efficiency of solar cells, DuPont™ PV5400 series thin ionomer-based encapsulant sheets that protect sensitive and cost-effective thin film solar modules, and a new Tedlar® PV2400 polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film offering extends the availability of long life backsheet material to better meet mounting demand in the industry. The details regarding advantage of above mentioned DuPont innovations are as below;

v      Four new DuPont™ Solamet® photovoltaic metallizations to enable the industry goal for conversion efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells of greater than 20 percent in 2012;

Ø       Solamet® PV17x, a new generation of frontside silver photovoltaic metallization pastes formulated to deliver advanced efficiency and adhesion for solar cells.

Ø       Solamet® PV361 and PV362 photovoltaic metallization pastes that outperform conventional aluminum compositions by delivering up to 0.8 percent greater conversion efficiency for solar cells when used in Local Back Surface Field (BSF) designs.

Ø       Solamet® PV701, the newest generation of Metal Wrap Through (MWT) technology for backside interconnected silicon solar cell designs that enable up to 0.4 percent greater conversion efficiency for solar cells.

v      DuPont™ PV5400 series thin ionomer-based encapsulant sheets have been introduced to protect sensitive thin-film solar modules, while offering manufacturers new ways to cut costs, speed throughput and deliver more power over the life of each unit; and,

v      Tedlar® PV2400 film and processing technology for photovoltaic backsheets. This novel technology enables backsheet to be produced in a single step and is a key element of DuPont’s strategic intent to significantly increase the availability of DuPont™ Tedlar® films and backsheet offerings and to extend the lifetime of photovoltaic modules.

Source:-http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=DupontNew&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=119672&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=False

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Innovative research initiatives undertaken by team of RMIT University researchers and with MIL-Systems, to find better ways of integrating home-generated solar power into the electricity grid

The involvement of renewable energy generators such as solar panels and wind generators has supported and helped to reduce emissions. Whereas the surplus energy from household renewable energy sources fed back into the grid can lead to challenges for electrical distribution networks to deliver a high-quality electricity supply at a regulated voltage. This Surplus renewable energy fed back into the grid can change the direction of energy flow and hence the voltage profile along a distribution line. Hence there are significant challenges in controlling the voltages between the utility substations and the end-use consumers. Voltage levels can rise above safe limits in the grid and the electrical supply to that part of the network may fail.

Professor Grahame Holmes, Innovation Professor in Smart Energy at RMIT, and his Power and Energy Research Group within the RMIT Platform Technologies Research Institute are working with MIL-Systems, a local inverter manufacturer, to address these challenges. They are developing a leading edge reactive power control (RPC) inverter to better regulate the flow of power within the grid that results from energy injected from renewable systems. The team is also working to resolve the issue, “How to control large numbers of RPC inverters to maintain voltage regulation along a distribution line as local loading conditions vary”.

The solutions presently available are quite expensive so such alternative approaches to regulating electrical energy distribution are gaining significant interest across the world. This research project is supported with a grant of $647,000 by Victorian Department of Primary Industries Sustainable Energy Research. The project will drive improvements in energy efficiency and facilitate investment in sustainable energy supply sources to support the continuing competitiveness of industrial base. Such innnovative research is an essential precursor to allow the widespread implementation of enhanced voltage regulation for electricity grids with integrated solar energy systems. Professor Grahame Holmes states that once their research project work will be completed, appropriate regulatory standards related to solar energy systems could be amended to allow the implantation of RPC inverters in the community.

                                                        

Source 

    http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=lnyx1gdmgbow

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A new Solar Integration System (SIS) introduced by Sunverge – Allowing solar energy to be stored at home, and released by the utility company during times of peak demand

Sunverge Energy (Sunverge), a California-based company, has introduced a new Solar Integration System (SIS) allowing solar energy to be stored at home, and released by the utility company during times of peak demand. The Peak solar generation typically occurs in the afternoon, several hours before peak energy demand. This new Solar Integration System (SIS) captures solar energy when it is most abundant and stores it for use when the cost of grid-tied power spikes, and so it effectively shift a household’s load from higher- to lower-priced power.

Sunverge’s SIS offers a number of distinct storage–related advantages. Customer–owned storage can be used to manage increasing costs by time–shifting low–priced energy. During peak loads, the cost to produce and deliver electricity is at its highest. Reliability is at its lowest. This SIS is designed considering the need to address the problems of peak and super–peak loads. The trouble with traditional solar systems is that peak generation typically occurs several hours before peak demand, and therefore does little to mitigate the highest costs of producing and delivering energy. In a Sunverge model, generation is distributed across multiple locations on the demand side of the meter, thereby eliminating delivery bottlenecks and ensuring reliable supply. This increases power quality, increases transmission and distribution asset efficiencies, and reduces line loss and congestion charges. The distributed storage also enables utilities to provide differentiated electric service with higher quality and/or reliability at a premium price. The integration of solar + storage in Sunverge’s system enables utilities to use distributed stores of solar energy in demand response programs. As Sunverge’s SIS is networked with the utility, demand response becomes automatic, requires no third party to initiate and no behavior change on the part of the consumer. The advantages of a properly located Sunverge Solar Integration Systems (SIS) are:

Ø     reduce congestion of existing electricity transmission and distribution

Ø     extend the life of aging grid infrastructure underground cables

Ø     reduce the need for additional transmission capacity

Ø     defer the need for expensive sub–transmission and distribution upgrades.

Ø     provide utility planners and engineers with flexible, reliable and arguably less–risky alternatives to investments in conventional, inflexible T&D capacity.

The inclusion of battery storage means that demand response is guaranteed, even when it isn’t convenient for consumers to reduce power use. Through the Sunverge Data Processing Gateway (SDPG), utilities can aggregate system–wide information in real time and control localized loads and storage deployment based on sophisticated, aggregated, control algorithms. This helps utilities to better predict needed investment in generation and delivery infrastructure and more accurately forecast day– and hour–ahead demand.

Resource:- http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/02/prweb5023304.htm

                  http://www.sunverge.com

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