Cleantech Update

Who says a solar company has to choose between conventional silicon and thin-film solar cells? RoseStreet Labs Energy , a Phoenix-based private company, is combining the two in a double-layered cell that it claims can achieve “practical efficiencies” – meaning efficiencies of cells actually available on the market, not just in the lab – of 25 to 30 percent . On Monday, the company announced the world’s first (or as RoseStreet put it, the “first known”) nitride/silicon tandem solar cell, which it plans to produce in the fourth quarter of next year. The potential efficiency might not sound breathtaking considering that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency both announced last year that they had produced cells that achieved more than 40 percent efficiency in the lab. But lab efficiencies and production efficiencies are not the same thing, and the highest efficiencies for mass-produced solar cells hover around 22 percent. SunPower Cor...

By Jeff St. John Comverge ( COMV ) has landed another deal that calls for it to turn down homes' energy use during peak demand times with pagers at first, and with smart meters later on.The deal is with Dominion Virginia Power ( D ), and calls for Comverge to manage about 117 megawatts of commercial and industrial power loads . Comverge will also provide its Apollo software platform to manage demand response devices for about 150,000 homes – representing roughly 150 megawatts of power use – which the utility wants to hook up with smart meters eventually. The idea is to turn down home air conditioners, water heaters and pool pumps – the devices Comverge can now control – using its existing mainly pager-based communication system at first, said Mike Picchi, Comverge's interim president and CEO. Then, as Dominion rolls out its smart meters, made by German manufacturer Elster, Comverge will switch over to using them as the gateway into the home instead, Picchi said. Comverge'...

Until the big chill, the solar energy was red-hot, tearing along with a decade-long growth rate that averaged 50 percent a year. Then the global recession hit – and the fizzling of subsidies in Spain and a credit crunch – which squeezed financing for many solar projects. Production slowed at plants making panels that turned sun into electricity. Prices fell sharply. So now, despite climate-change legislation in the United States and a push for cleaner energy worldwide, a global industry shakeout looms, many analysts predict. And not a small shudder. They anticipate an earthquake of consolidation likely to leave only strong competitors standing. Currently, some 250 companies around the world make solar photovoltaic modules. “In five years, there probably can be only a couple of dozen of them,” says Travis Bradford, president of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development in Chicago. “At most.” Which companies will be the winners? The ones with deep pockets, cutting-edge technol...

The $787 billion economic stimulus package signed into law on Feb. 17 by President Barack Obama contains elements that will bolster housing and the economy, according to NAHB. “While we believe that including a more enhanced home buyer tax credit in the final legislation would have been the best way to spur housing demand and move the economy forward, the new law does include several provisions that should help to put housing and the economy on the right track,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson. Chief among these is an $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit for qualified home purchases in 2009. To encourage prospective home buyers to get off the fence, the tax credit: Does not have to be repaid Is fully refundable Will remain in effect until Dec. 1, 2009 so that consumers can utilize it during the critical summer and fall home-buying months Allows tax credit home buyers to participate in the mortgage revenue bond program Permits state housing finance agencies to help buyers at closing b...

is a voluntary association of certificate tracking systems, regulators and interested market participants that are vested in preventing double-counting and promoting harmonization among certificate tracking systems and emissions registries in North America. Such harmonization will encourage trade, create a common currency for certificates, prevent double counting, and support new and emerging markets. Visit U.S. DOE EERE Green

OREG The Ocean Renewable Energy Group (OREG) aligns industry, academia and government to ensure that Canada is a leader in providing ocean energy solutions to a world market. OREG is a national organization, with over 115 Canadian and international members. Ocean Energy Ocean Energy in Canada information pamphlet The term “ocean energy” is used to describe the harnessing of power found in ocean waves, tidal flows, and salinity and temperature gradients. Wave energy can be considered a concentrated form of solar energy. The sun's radiation heats the surface of the ocean creating wind, which in turn creates waves. Regions considered to have “good” wave energy resources are generally those found within 40 to 60 degrees of latitude, where the strongest winds are found. The largest waves are formed in regions where the wind blows over the water the furthest, the longest "fetch", often the west coasts of continents. Modern tidal technology developments are focusing on the har...

Ammonia Fuel Network Mission: To promote the implementation of anhydrous ammonia as an affordable, sustainable, carbon-free fuel for transportation and stationary power applications, thereby enhancing economic security, reducing fossil-fuel dependence, and helping save the environment. Anhydrous ammonia is an ultra-clean, energy-dense alternative liquid fuel. Ammonia is the only fuel other than hydrogen that produces no greenhouse gases (GHG) on combustion. Ammonia will power diesel and spark-ignited internal combustion engines, direct ammonia fuel cells, and even combustion turbines. And, ammonia can be manufactured from simply water and air using clean renewable energy. info@ammoniafuelnetwork.org

According to a July 2008 IREC Report: over 80,000 solar installations were completed in 2007. The average size of a grid-connected PV residential installation has grown steadily from 2.2 kW to over 4.7 kW from 1998 to 2008. The size of a non-residential system has also been growing in recent years with an average of 67 kW DC in 2007. Source NABCEP

U.S. Green Building Council The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization composed of leaders from across the building industry working to advance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. USGBC’s vision is that buildings and communities will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation

United Nations NGO Committee On Sustainable Development The future of humanity depends on our ability to develop in a sustainable way. The UN NGO Committee supports the integration of the three components of sustainable development — economic development, social development and environmental protection — as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars.

Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA) is a non-profit 501(C)(6) trade association established in 1984. TREIA’s stated purpose is “To promote the common business interest and to improve the business conditions of persons in Texas engaged in renewable energy industries.” TREIA supports its members in numerous ways, including trade shows, conferences, workshops, and business referrals.

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) promotes energy efficiency for a cleaner environment, a more prosperous economy, and a higher quality of life in the Southeastern region of the United States. Based in Atlanta, and working in eleven states, SEEA brings together businesses, utilities, governments, public utility commissions, energy service companies, manufacturers, retailers, and others.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership's (REEEP) goal is to accelerate the global market for sustainable energy by acting as an international and regional enabler , multiplier and catalyst to change and develop sustainable energy systems. REEEP works with Governments, Businesses, Industry, Financiers and Civil Society across the world in order to expand the global market for renewable energy.

The Need Project The NEED Project is dedicated to promoting a realistic understanding of energy. The NEED program includes curriculum materials, professional development, evaluation tools, and recognition. NEED teaches the scientific concepts of energy, provides objective information about energy sources and includes information to educate students about energy efficiency and conservation.

National Venture Capital Association The NVCA represents approximately 480 venture capital firms in the United States and is committed to advancing those public policies that are conducive to innovation, entrepreneurship, and US competitiveness.

National Association of State Energy Officials NASEO is the only organization representing the nation's state and territory energy officials. We work with states on energy efficiency and renewable energy program implementation, dissemination, best practices and technical assistance.

Mountain States Hydrogen Business Council T he Mountain States Hydrogen Business Council (MSHBC) is a 501 (c) 6 non profit trade association representing a diverse membership of industry, academic, and government leaders whose aim is to build a business base for hydrogen energy in the mountain states of the US west. The MSHBC exists to promote the business interests of its members, facilitate joint efforts and to advocate for state and regional legislative activities that remove or mitigate barriers to the commercialization of hydrogen energy.

Latin American Wind Energy Association (LAWEA) The Latin America Wind Energy Association is non profit organization working fot the promotion of Wind Power in Latin America. Our members are committed with the development of this Renewable Energy in the region.LAWEA also hosts the main Wind Power show in Latin America, WIND EXPO www.windexpo.org .

International Green Energy Council The mission of the International Green Energy Council is to provide advice and to render opinions pertaining to all of the issues affecting the “Green” industry Internationally and on all Federal, state, county and municipal levels of government; to maintain surveillance, review and analysis of all governmental activities, whether International. federal, state, county or local in nature, which affect the “Green” industry, whether legislative, executive or judicial in form and scope; to maintain liaison with all levels of government; and to initiate, defend, and otherwise support environmentally sound initiatives that support sustainable energy practices and the sustainable industry in all its forms.

iCAST is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing appropriate and sustainable technology to underserved communities around the globe. We work on projects ranging from developing renewable energies to creating sustainable economic business. iCAST employs a service learning component in all is projects where students from around the world collaborate to find solutions for real-world problems.