Folding Lotus Mobile Solar Array Provides Pop-Up Power Generation

Arizona-based Monarch Power has unveiled a folding, flower-shaped solar array that creator Joseph Hui hopes will take solar power from being “strapped down” to being “light, personal and portable.” While the demonstration of the Lotus Mobile sprouting out of—and dwarfing—Hui’s own bright orange Tesla could make the device appear less than practical, the array in its standalone form is designed to provide pop-up power generation for everything from EVs to remote villages and disaster zones.

Monarch Power hasn’t revealed much by way of specs for the Lotus Mobile, so it’s not clear how much power the array’s 18 petals can generate or just how lightweight the array is—though Clean Technica reports the system is made from plastic and metal, while the modules are mounted on carbon fiber composite boards. Placed on two axes, the Lotus array rotates and elevates to follow the sun, and Hui claims that the array’s circular form can capture thirty percent more energy than equivalent conventional rooftop arrays. Additionally, Hui claims that Lotus Mobile is cheaper than rooftop systems as “70 percent” of rooftop cost is a result of mounting systems and installation.
Monarch Power plans to launch a Kickstarter to support production of the Lotus Mobile, providing the first fifty contributers with their own pop-up solar array for $3,199, while later purchasers will receive an “introductory price” of $3,999. Additionally, Monarch Power—who previously worked on a lotus-shaped portable concentrated solar system—states on their site that future projects will include a solar EV.

Building Integrated Photo Voltaics ( BIPV)

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are photovoltaic (PV) solar energy systems that are specifically designed to blend in with the architecture of a building, combining the economic and sustainability benefits of distributed solar energy generation with the aesthetic appeal of a seamless integration into the overall building design.
BIPV system replaces the conventional building façade materials from different parts of the building’s exterior and significantly improves a building’s economic and ecological balance.
Different types of BIPV panels based on crystalline silicon and thin film technologies that can be incorporated in the buildings include:

1. Transparent PV panels
2. Flexible PV Panel
3. Opaque – Fixed PV panels
    
   BIPV modules can be integrated into a building in different application types, e.g. in Building facades, canopies, pergola’s, roofing, skylights, railings, parking structures, fencing and others.
   
   The feasibility of a BIPV system in a project will depend on various design considerations for e.g., areas available, type of PV module used- Crystalline or Thin film, Building orientation and anticipated energy production.
   BIPV modules support structure is the building itself along with other conventional structural framing. It replace’s the conventional façade material like glazing/granite/marble and also provides onsite electricity which will reduce carbon intensive energy consumption, thereby reducing the net installation cost of the system. BIPV System also reduces thermal radiations into buildings and allows natural daylight pass through and further assists to improve sound and heat insulation of the building.
   Onsite electricity generation maximizes the energy efficiency by eliminating the transmission losses that generally occur when electricity is supplied through the national grid.
   The cost of a BIPV system is similar to a solar PV system, but by replacing the conventional structural glazing material from the building façade, the net installation cost decreases. Along with this benefit, accelerated depreciation and onsite electricity generation the payback period can be as low as 2 to 3 years and free onsite electricity is available through the life of the PV panels.
   Many aesthetically elegant and well-integrated BIPV systems have been installed worldwide and have achieved a good market acceptance. Few project example photographs are as shown below.
   
   
   
   BIPV system installed in a building envelope provides a highly visible public expression of the company’s environmental commitment and sustainability goals.
   The adoption level of BIPV technology is gradually growing in India with increasing number of system awareness and showcase of developments by many solar market players.
   With the conventional energy prices rising very fast, BIPV is a very cost effective solution for introduction of solar PV into building envelope and is one the crucial step in starting a Net Zero Energy building community.
   
   ..Omega Green Energy..
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

REC Trading Report

REC Trading Data – March, 2013:
Solar RECs  
Buy Bid       : 7,610
Sell Bid        : 3,816
Cleared Volume  : 3,183
Price Discovered @ IEX : 13,400/-
Price Discovered @ PXIL: 13,000/-

Non-Solar RECs
Buy Bid         : 4,27,871
Sell Bid          : 19,19,432
Cleared Volume: 4,27,871
Price Discovered @ IEX : 1,500/-
Price Discovered @ PXIL: 1,500/-
REC Inventory
Solar RECs
Available in Today’s Session    : 3,816
Redeemed in Today’s Session : 3,183
Unredeemed                               : 633
Available in Today’s Session     : 22,04,167
Redeemed in Today’s Session  : 4,27,871
Unredeemed                                : 17,76,296

Wind Power

In an era where the use of fossil fuels has been proven to be harmful to the environment (and humans in general) alternative sources of energy and electricity are sought. One of the obvious sources is the wind to produce wind power.
Wind power means using the wind - harnessed by either a turbine, wind mill, wind pump or even sails (for ships) - to generate the desired amount of electricity to be used for home and commercial purposes. This provides an efficient power alternative that is clean, abundant and completely environmentally friendly.
Many countries have embarked on wind power ventures and have shown remarkable successes in generating power for their citizens. The drive now is to convince more people (and governments) to convert to wind power to meet their energy needs and demands. Once this has been achieved it is estimated that even more power can be generated than is currently being done making use of fossil fuels.

What is Wind Power?

Wind power means that the wind is harnessed in one of a variety of ways to generate power or energy/electricity. This means that a natural resource is used to produce clean, environmentally friendly power. The most common ways of harnessing the power of the wind is using sails to propel ships and sail boats across the water. The most desirable way of using the wind to generate electricity is by erecting wind turbines.

Types of Wind Turbines

In order to understand how wind turbines work and how they manage to produce the amounts of energy that they do, one must understand the types of turbines that are currently in use.
There are two categories of wind turbines: the horizontal axis design (HAWT) and the vertical axis design (VAWT). These are based on the Darrieus egg-beater model. Since it is the more practical and popular, the HAWT enjoys more attention than its sibling, the VAWT.
The HAWT has its main rotorshaft at the top of the column along with the electrical generator. The turbines must be pointed into the wind and is positioned favourably by either a small weathervane or a wind sensor.
The rotor shaft and gearbox of the VAWT are positioned vertically and are also installed near the ground. This makes it more accessible for maintenance and other necessary adjustments. One of the reasons why this type of wind turbine is less popular is that it can produce what is known as pulsating torque.

Wind Turbine Parts

In order to understand how these machines work, it is important to know what they consist of.
A standard wind turbine consists of sixteen main parts grouped into three main components:

• The rotor component is the first of the components of the turbine and contributes approximately 20% of the total cost of the entire turbine.
• The generator component contributes 34% of the total cost and consists of parts like the electrical generator and the gearbox.
• Contributing only 15% to the cost, the structural support component is the least expensive part of the entire turbine.
  

Making up these components, the following parts (in alphabetical order) are crucial to the proper functioning of the turbine:

• The anemometer is responsible for measuring the wind speed. It then transmits this information to the controller.
• Most turbines consist of blades. There are usually two or three blades that will start turning when the wind blows.
• In an emergency the turbine can be stopped by applying the brake. This can be done either mechanically, electrically or hydraulically.
• When the wind speed reaches 6 - 16 miles per hour (10 - 26km per hour) the controller starts the machine up. When the wind speed reaches 55 miles per hour (88 km per hour) the controller then shuts the machine off as winds speeds in excess of this speed may damage the blades.
• The gearbox works the same as the one found in a car - it is meant to control the rate at which the turbines accelerate.
• There is an off-the-shelf generator that is meant to provide the initial start-up electricity.
• The high speed shaft drives the generator, while the low speed shaft turns at 50 - 60 rotations per minute.
• On the top of the tower the nacelle houses the gearbox, the two shafts, the generator and controller as well as the brake.
• The pitch turns the blades out of the wind when necessary and in this way controls the speed of the blades.
• The rotor consists of the blades and the hub.
• The tower provides the height and support to the blades in order to catch the wind.
• Because it faces into the wind, this turbine is called the wind direction.
• Wind direction and speed is measured and communicated to the controller by the wind vane.
• The yaw drive ensures that the turbine continues to face into the wind.
• While the yaw drive controls the turbine, the yaw motor controls the yaw drive.

Calculating the energy production of a wind turbine

The bottom line with a wind turbine is how much energy it produces.  Do not confuse this with the maximum power output!  Rated power output is only achieved at rated windspeed, which will only occur from time to time.  The energy produced depends on the average power and not the peak power.  This in turn depends mostly on the turbine’s physical size (diameter) and the site average windspeed.  Most of the energy will be produced while the turbine it generating less than its rated maximum power.  In these everyday winds, the power depends on the size of the turbine, and not it’s power rating.
Here is a chart I did that estimates annual energy production for different sized turbines in different annual mean windspeeds.  It is a bit pessimistic (turbines do exceed these predictions in many cases) but it shows the basic trends.

 

Manufacturers will offer similar looking estimates of the energy production of their turbines in kWh per year assuming various different site average windspeeds.  These figures can also be calculated, using the data for the wind turbine’s power output versus windspeed (the Power curve) and the data for how many hours per year the wind will blow at different windspeeds

The Feed-in Tariff (FIT)

Solar Powering UK Homes!

The new UK Feed-in Tariff allows UK home-owners to claim an attractive rate for the green electricity generated by their PV system. Below we have summarised the need to know info and the nice to know info on the Feed-in Tariff available for PV installer in the UK (not Ireland).

Feed-in Tariff - need to knows:

1. From April 1st 2010 a home installed PV system can earn a whopping 43.3p/kWh. As a comparison UK homes typically buy electricity from suppliers at around 12p/kWh.
2. In addition to the Feed-in Tariff, savings are made to your home electricity bills.
3. There is also a Feed-in Tariff Export bonus of 3p/kWh available from the government.
4. A 4kW(peak) PV system in the UK, costing £16,000 to install, could earn over £1,600 a year.
5. The Feed-in Tariff is guaranteed for 25 years at 43.3p/kWh
6. The Feed-in-Tariff (and export bonus) is linked to inflation (RPI)
7. The Feed-in Tariff income is Tax free
8. All new systems on existing homes will qualify ('new build' homes with PV installed before occupation get 36.1p/kWh)
9. Limit of 4kW(peak) to claim for the highest payment of 43.3p/kWh. A 4 kW(peak) system could be twenty 200W panels covering 30m2 of your roof and cost around £16,000).
10. The scheme favours early adopters - this high rate is guaranteed for 25 years only if claimed before 31/3/2013 - to encourage a good take up in the first two years of the scheme. (It then falls to 37.8 p/kWh over 25 years).
    

Why is solar energy the most popular source of energy?

The popularity of solar energy is at all-time high, not just in United States but the rest of the world too. Here are some of the most important reasons that explain this surge in solar energy popularity:

1. Solar energy is the most abundant form of energy available on our planet. In fact, a miniscule of available solar energy would be enough to supply entire world with enough power.
2. Solar panel prices continue to decline, meaning that they are becoming affordable option for an increasing number of homeowners. The prices of solar panels have on average dropped by about 50 percent over the past two years, according to a GTM Research.
3. Tax benefits and many other incentives are available for people who install solar panels. In United States, for instance, federal incentives now account for approximately 30 percent of the price of a solar panel.
4. People are increasingly worried about the environmental condition of our planet, particularly in form of climate change, and using more solar energy is one of the best options to help save our planet.
5. Solar energy can provide both electricity and heat, and in process decrease our dependence on expensive foreign oil import.
6. Solar energy industry is the fastest growing industry in United States, and therefore creates plenty of new jobs.