MicroCSP – the Other Solar

This week we continue our coverage of Solar Power 2006 conference in San Jose.

Barry Cinnamon the Chief Executive Officer of Akeena Solar lead his company to a public offering in 2006. The uniqueness of Akeena’s offering is that it is a first for PV project development and installation companies. His vision has helped Akeena to double in headcount in a year and he see’s massive opportunity in the horizon.

In this episode you’ll learn more about Akeena’s philosophy to the PV project development and installation market and the technologies involved for PV systems.

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This week we visit the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) in Colorado and speak with George Douglas, Media Relations Manager. This show is part 2 of the 3 part series where Mr. Douglas discusses NREL’s work on Solar and Wind technologies.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the nation’s primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D. NREL is the principal research laboratory for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and also provides research expertise for DOE’s Office of Science, and the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.

Solar technologies use the sun’s energy to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, and even cooling, for homes, businesses, and industry. Learn more about solar energy technologies such as photovoltaic (solar cell) systems, concentrating solar systems, passive solar heating and daylighting, solar hot water, and solar process heat and space cooling.

Go to the NREL Solar Site

The mission of the Wind Energy Program is to support the President’s National Energy Policy and departmental priorities for increasing the viability and deployment of renewable energy; lead the Nation’s efforts to improve wind energy technology through public/private partnerships that enhance domestic economic benefit from wind power development; and coordinate with stakeholders on activities that address barriers to use of wind energy.

Go to the NREL Wind Site



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In our final show on the series at the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) we visit with George Douglas, Media Relations Manager and learn about Bio-Fuels.

Biomass is plant matter such as trees, grasses, agricultural crops or other biological material. It can be used as a solid fuel, or converted into liquid or gaseous forms, for the production of electric power, heat, chemicals, or fuels. By integrating a variety of biomass conversion processes, all of these products can be made in one facility, called a biorefinery. NREL is working to develop cost effective, environmentally friendly biomass conversion technologies to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, improve our air quality, and support rural economies. Learn more about biomass.

Go to the NREL Biomass Site

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Background
Hawai‘i, like many other states, has an energy policy that calls for reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels by increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy resources. Despite innumerable plans and studies of energy options over the last three decades, Hawai’i’s dependence on imported fossil fuels has actually increased. This is partly due to the closing of sugar plantations, which burned bagasse for energy. It is also partly due to the cost and pricing structure of alternative energy compared to imported fossil fuels, and the way energy production and sales are regulated in Hawai‘i.

It is clear that to attain a preferred energy future for Hawai‘i, a collaborative effort of government, business, and community is necessary. Thus, the University of Hawai‘i convened Hawai‘i’s major energy stakeholders as the Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum in May 2002. The purpose of the Forum is to develop an energy vision for the year 2030 and to formulate a strategy to ensure its implementation. The Forum is a unique experiment in collaborative energy policy making. It includes representatives of the electric utilities; oil and natural gas suppliers; environmental groups; the renewable energy industry; the state legislature; federal, state and county agencies; the general business community; and major energy consumers (see Forum Members).

The Forum is designed to facilitate discussion of a preferred energy future and the relevant issues and constraints. In addition to the usual energy economics and technology questions, the Forum considers the roles of energy planning agencies, the Public Utilities Commission, and the Legislature in energy decision-making. The intent is to incorporate as many different perspectives and the broadest possible experience into the design of a flexible, forward-looking energy strategy that provides environmentally friendly, renewable, safe, reliable, and affordable energy for the State.

Learn about:
The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum

The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum

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The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) is a nonprofit professional society of 8,500 members in 77 countries. The mission of AEE is “ to promote the scientific and educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry and to foster action for Sustainable Development.??

AEE offers a full array of informational outreach programs including seminars (live and internet based), conferences, journals, books, and certification programs.

Learn about:
The Association of Energy Engineers

The Association of Energy Engineers

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Founded in 1977, the Alliance to Save Energy is a non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders. The Alliance to Save Energy supports energy efficiency as a cost-effective energy resource under existing market conditions and advocates energy-efficiency policies that minimize costs to society and individual consumers, and that lessen greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the global climate. To carry out its mission, the Alliance to Save Energy undertakes research, educational programs, and policy advocacy, designs and implements energy-efficiency projects, promotes technology development and deployment, and builds public-private partnerships, in the U.S. and other countries.

Learn about:
The Alliance to Save Energy

The Alliance to Save Energy

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Sponsored by: The Energy Smart News is a production of the Environmental Sustainability Network a not for profit organization. The Energy Smart News is produced and distributed free for educational purposes. To use any content from the Energy Smart News in your audio, video, print, other media or commercial purposes, please review our Terms of Use.