The World Bank’s Clean Technology Fund (CTF) has approved financing of US $750 million, which it said is expected to spur an additional $4.85 billion from other sources, to accelerate global deployment of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). The funds will be used for projects in five countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia.
EIB Provides €80M CSP Project
November 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a €80 million loan to Gemasolar 2006 SAU to finance the construction and commissioning of a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Fuentes de Andalucía, Seville.
Commercial Concentrated Solar Power for Rooftops
October 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The scientists and researchers at “Sopogy” have created the world’s first concentrating solar power technology designed for commercial rooftop installation.
Called “SopoFlare”, it’s supposed to have a unique mounting and fastening system for rooftop installation. Sopogy has come up with their own solar tracker and storage solution which beats their competitors by being 30% cheaper. Sopoflare is 8ft long and 2.5 ft wide making it easier to install on commercial and industrial rooftops.
They will be exhibiting at the “Solar Power International” conference going on in Anaheim CA right now through Friday Oct. 29th.
* Check out the SopoFlare at Sopogy.
* If in the Anaheim CA area check out “Solar Power International ’09 Conference.“
National Geographic Video on Concentrated Solar Power
August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Stirling Engine Addresses Large-Scale Solar Power Concerns
August 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Like many others in the solar world, I have my concerns about large-scale concentrated solar power (CSP). These center around the paradoxical use (and potential abuse) of thousands of acres of…
Something New Under the Sun: Solar in the Sahara
August 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
In July, twelve of Europe’s leading corporations, including financial giants Munich Re and Deutsch Bank, the mega-utility E.ON, and engineering powerhouses ABB and Siemens, signed onto an agreement to build what could be the world’s largest concentrated solar power array.
10 Solar Funding Opportunities
June 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Photo credit: Real Goods Solar
At the end of May, President Obama announced over $117 million in new solar funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. Their proposed end being to support “the widespread commercialization of clean solar technologies and to scale up U.S. Solar manufacturing and production.” The means will likely entail more public-private partnerships between government institutions, laboratories, and universities with private sector firms.
Complementary to the increase in funding are two specific funding opportunities. These will be the first two of the following 10 examples of solar funding opportunities, the vast majority of federal examples distributed via the Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP).
- Solar Market Transformation. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is meant to “address market barriers” to the spread of solar technologies. It will focus on the Solar America Cities Projects and solar installer training. The funding is available to the current group of 25 Solar America Cities for projects that are new — no funds available for the renewal of previous government funded projects.
- High Penetration Solar Deployment. This FOA deals specifically with solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, ranging from the development of “improved modeling tools” to modular power architecture, demonstration projects, and energy storage. The goal is to discover, develop, test, and employ PV models and projects that can better penetrate our national grid distribution system.
- Minority University Research Associate (MURA) Program. MURA is meant to encourage minority students to pursue careers in science and technology, with up to $1.8 million available for solar energy research and development. Undergraduate and graduate students, plus their faculty advisors, are eligible for up to $300,000 for study topics including PV, concentrated solar power (CSP), solar manufacturing, testing, and studies of applications and markets.
Rooftop vs. Concentrated Solar: 20 Points of Comparison
May 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Photo credit: All Seasons Roofing
At first everything was peachy-keen for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants. Everyone from the president to the average eco-friendly observer was (many still are) excited at the prospect of solar power plants easily and Green-ly taking over for the dirty smokestacks of fossil fueled energy. Then, as the first few plants went online around the world, and the massive land rush took off here in the States, many onetime proponents started having second thoughts — and the debate is on.
As we rush to utilize renewable energy ASAP, some environmental groups and consumers are growing concerned that we’re moving too fast. In an effort to spur on this debate, below are 20 points of comparison between rooftop solar and utility-scale solar power plants (typically CSP). But first, a personal disclaimer:
Throughout the course of my writings here at CalFinder Solar, I’ve made it no real secret that I’ve grown to support rooftop solar, or more formally, distributed generation over concentrated solar power. I assert, however, that my preference is not because I work for a solar installer, nor due to the fact that CalFinder is a “residential” solar website. It is simply that I believe the benefits of rooftop solar outweigh those offered by CSP.
With that out in front, and to spell it all out (however briefly), here are 20 points of comparison between rooftop and concentrated solar. Please note that I resist my bias: CSP does have its unique benefits which I do not deny and by which strong arguments are made.
The Rooftop vs. the Power Plant
- Transmission. A big one: Rooftop puts solar power directly into the home and existing grid. CSP would require massive upgrades to an already suffering national grid.
- Land. Solar plants require massive amounts of land for the large collector arrays. Rooftop solar requires none that hasn’t already been developed.
- Water. A very hot aspect of the debate at present: CSP thermal plants require a lot of water for cooling. Unfortunately they are to be located in desert regions already suffering from water shortages.
- Flora. A big complaint from environmental groups regarding solar plants is that it would ravage desert ecosystems by “scraping” the land clean.
- Fauna. At the same time environmentalists argue that rarely-visible-but-nevertheless-existent desert wildlife would be transplanted (i.e., the desert tortoise).
Ernst & Young Release Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices
May 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Ernst & Young has released the latest edition of its Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices. The firm has introduced a revision to the Solar index, to reflect the increasing role of solar thermal in electricity generation. Changes to weightings in the index have resulted in overall rises in solar score for countries such as the U.S., Spain and India which have strong concentrated solar power (CSP) potential, while some countries such as Germany and France, with strong solar photovoltaic potential, have seen drops in overall score driven by a low potential for CSP generation.
Ernst & Young Release Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices
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