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The Path to a More Sustainable Life

Mar 11

28

Better Living Show 2011

Posted by Mac on March 28, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Electric Vehicles (EV) • Solar  | Tagged With: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I thought the Better Living Show was ... better ... this year!

I just finished three days of walking the concrete floor at the Portland Expo Center. My knees are aching and my dogs (feet) are barking, but it was worth it. This year’s version of the Better Living Show seemed a big success by my observation as there were more attendees this year as compared to past.  There was much activity at the booths, the presentations were good, and lots of stuff to do with/for the kids.  Good energy, indeed!

Our Solar Oregon table was situated between solar professionals in the “Good Energy Pavilion” area across from the Energy Trust of Oregon booth. It was a great opportunity to chat with folks thinking about going solar and to meet new solar pros and sustainability advocates.

Solar Oregon's Claire Carlson set-up our booth

Thanks to all of our Solar Oregon volunteers – you folks are great advocates for solar power.

I think we did get some promotion out there for the Goal Net Zero Tour 2011 scheduled for Saturday, May 7.

http://solaroregon.org/workshops-and-education/tours/goal-net-zero-tour/goal-net-zero-tour-2011

Seemed to me like things were hopping at this year's show

Ford and PGE sponsored electric car displays and demonstrations called PGE Electric Avenue and Ford Drive Green Pavilion that attracted large crowds.  EVs are really gaining notice here in Portland!

Here are some pics from this event to give readers a flavor.

Plug-ins are coming ...

Lots of good energy at the Portland Expo Center

 

EVs come in all shapes & sizes

The Clean Energy House was sponsored by NW Natural Gas this year

I'm looking for water harvesting barrels, but made from fossil fuels? I dunno!

With gas prices climbing, best to prepare for the future

The Blue Home had solar electric and solar hot water features

Someday, garages will house solar inverters and EV car chargers

Boys and their toys ...

Even local sports media personality, John Canzano. was there doing his radio show on "95.5 The Game"

Mar 11

24

Solar Rooftops

Posted by Mac on March 24, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Rants, Raves & Musings • Solar  | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments yet, please leave one

I’ve been asked time and again about projections for installed residential solar on rooftops in America.  Well, I’ve asked others this same question and nobody knows for sure. For the past two years, I’ve done my homework and have come to rely on the National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL) /Department of Energy (DOE) as the best place to find info on America’s residential solar installs – both estimated and hard data.  Of course SolarCity, Sun Run, Sungevity, and others in this business have their numbers too, but we can’t get access to this information and they aren’t sharing.  I figure they’re all in the same ballpark anyway.

No doubt the market is emerging, but it is still too fragmented and diverse to get an accurate and meaningful projection at this time.

My own sources besides NREL are; the Vote Solar Initiative, SolarTech, and ASES. Each one of these organizations has some useful data/information that can be gathered to provide insight.  If you’ve been reading this blog, you already know something about Vote Solar.  SolarTech is a consortium that is working with just about all players along the spectrum to remove barriers to residential solar and they have some useful data.  I appreciate the work they do to “…making solar happen” [their motto]. http://www.solartech.org/

ASES Conference 2011 in Raleigh North Carolina

The America Solar Energy Society (ASES) is holding its annual convention in May 17-21 this year in Raleigh North Carolina. I intend to go, accompanied by several other Solar Oregon representatives, and will sniff around to get any published data on the subject.  I believe this is the best conference to do research on residential rooftop solar in America.  We’ll see.

OSEIA and OREP state their case before the Oregon PUC

What everyone agrees on is that our market is currently “policy-driven” and that is where many of us are fighting to hold and/or extend our incentive programs until the product price and other barriers are either reduced or eliminated.  I’ve been at the Oregon capital twice in the past week monitoring the current policy activities of state legislative committees and PUC re: FIT (actually VIR*), RETC and BETC.  They are all under scrutiny or attack at this time.  I thought the testimonies of Mark Pengilly (OREP*), Glenn Monty (OSEIA*) and a large number of local solar installers, were well presented and quite compelling.  [I’ll blog more about this soon as there’s a lot of stuff going on in Salem, and most other state capitals, that concern us all, with outcomes we’ll be living with for years to come.]

In the meantime, the US Senate has picked up the DOE’s Million Solar Roof Initiative and has introduced  the “Ten Million Solar Roofs and Ten Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water Act” by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) chairman of the Senate’s green jobs subcommittee, along with nine co-sponsors. This legislation will encourage the installation of 10 million solar power (PV) systems and 200,000 solar water heaters (SWH) on the rooftops of homes and businesses over the next decade. It would authorize rebates and other incentives to cover up to half the cost of the solar power and heating systems. Non-profit groups and state and local governments would also be eligible. [That is a big deal right there!] One of the legislation’s co-sponsors is Sen. Jeff Merkely (D-OR) so I will get in touch with his office to gather more insight into how this bill is proceeding and will report back herein.  If passed, this bill will have a significant impact on the entire residential market.

China has embraced SHW technology - why are we so far behind?

I have seen what 200,000 solar water heaters on rooftops looks like – in China just last month. China’s policy is that all new construction will install solar thermal for hot water, and since everything in SE China is either new or about to be, I probably saw over a million of these SWH during my visit.  Sitting proudly on every rooftop, small or large, single or multi-family buildings, every building had one or more. As I gazed out the bullet train’s window, I saw solar hot water heaters dotting the entire horizon. Miles and miles of them and it was beautiful to behold.  Well, not really, especially through the haze, but the idea of it sure is – and there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be doing the same here in America. No brainer. 

SHW as far as the eye can see

I’ve recently joined OSEIA and since I’ve received emails asking me for quotes on products and projects.  I’ve received them from all over the country and usually not from one of the 25 major US solar cities. I pass these on, but do notice there are a number of potential solar residential projects popping up in places like Idaho, North Carolina, Missouri, and Iowa.  My guess is these small installations are not getting counted or estimated in the data we see at NREL, or any of the big solar residential players like SolarCity, because they’re outside their radar. 

Point is … there may be more solar rooftop business in America going on than we know/think, but it is so small and fragmented (as compared to utility or commercial scale) it just may not be noticed, yet. 

While in China, I was asked by others what I thought the US rooftop market was going to install in 2011/2012 because they all had seen different numbers, ranging from 1-3 GW, and I told them my guess is about 1.5 GW, which is a conservative estimate by most accounts.  This is the best any of us can do at this point. While I realize none of this information is illuminating, the solar residential market in America is what it is … and nobody is certain about the scale/timeline at this juncture. 

With Chinese manufacturing economies of scale solar and the probable glut of modules on the market after Europe settles, the product/hard costs will certainly decline, so this barrier may be temporary … but the “soft cost” barriers in 50 states and municipalities are still entrenched.  It will take a lot of effort to reduce these and create demand because I don’t see the federal gov’t taking much leadership in this area, unless the recent crisis over oil and Japan’s nuclear problem resonate in Congress. 

This remains to be seen.

VIR* = Volumetric Incentive Rate is a performance-based incentive for solar electric (photovoltaics) eligible for commercial, industrial, and residential customers.  Rates and payments vary depending on system size and geographic zone.  Allocation varies.

For more info see  http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=OR134F&re=1&ee=1

OREP* = Oregonians for Renewable Energy Policy was formed in December 2008 by a group of Oregonians wanting to take an active role in the transition from fossil fuels by producing solar energy in our neighborhoods.

For more info see http://www.oregonrenewables.com/

OSEIA* = Oregon chapter of the Solar Energy Industries Association a professional/trade association founded in 1981 to promote clean, renewable, solar technologies. OSEIA works with industry leaders, academic scholars, legislators, government, and non-profit agencies to advocate for solar technologies and raise awareness of its potential to help secure an affordable, reliable, and clean energy future.

http://www.oregonseia.org/

Mar 11

13

Devastation in Japan

Posted by Mac on March 13, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Rants, Raves & Musings  | Tagged With: | 1 Comment

Tokyo Japan

Like most, we’ve been shocked and awed by the terrible events in Japan. Noriko is heartbroken for her country and her people. She is just numb. This jaw-dropping disaster, unfolding hour after hour before our eyes on CNN and NHK, is taking its toll on all of us. In NE Japan, thousands are dead and missing, with total destruction of several communities and a potential nuclear reactor melt-down looming on the horizon. The Miyagi Prefecture is said to be decimated. It is hard to fathom what survivors faced during the massive earthquake and the killer tsunami.  Following that experience they get aftershocks, freezing temperatures, no power, little available food or water – and potential nuclear radiation poisoning. 

Life doesn’t get much more brutal than that! 

Our hearts go out to the good people of Japan. Noriko’s family resides mainly in Tokyo, Chiba and the Kansai region – all far enough away from immediate danger. We’re happy to report everyone in her family is safe and sound, but they face a difficult recovery with rolling power blackouts and probable food shortages. Noriko appreciates everyone who has called, written, or texted, to check up on her and to offer condolences and prayers. She is always touched by the generosity and the kindness of Americans.

On the Mori Tower's "Sky Deck"

We thank you all.

I left Japan just four days before the earthquake.

Yep, the Friday before I was standing atop the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower overlooking all of Tokyo, and I remember thinking to myself, “man I’d hate to be on this baby in an earthquake!” I know … that creeps me out too.

It was a beautiful day in Japan that day and I posted several pictures here taken while gazing on the world’s greatest city.

This is my tribute to my darling’s beloved country and its people.

The week before ... it was a beautiful day!

I’m confident Japan will rebound from this horrible disaster quicker than any other place on the planet.

This catastrophe will bind their entire population, more than Westerners can ever imagine, and it will take that cultural quality to get through this situation in good order. They are a resilient race and I admire their moxie. In the end, we’re all in this together… especially when considering the possibility of radiation leaking into the atmosphere we all share. 

Japan needs our help and I urge everyone to reach out and provide whatever support you can. God bless you all.

Oregonians are making good wishes for the people of Japan

Noriko adds her good wishes to the "wishing tree" for Japan

With Noriko's family at dinner last week

Mar 11

9

The Gathering

Posted by Mac on March 9, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Rants, Raves & Musings • Solar  | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Solar pros and advocates begin to assemble on the capital steps

On the rain-soaked steps of the Salem capital building, they gathered.  They came from near and far to rally and show support for solar.  They had to – there are just too many uncertainties in the current economic and political landscape not to act. I should say we because I was there too compelled by a Facebook announcement for this event. The announcement read, “Oregon State capitol Solar Pep Rally – outer steps March 9 (11am-2 pm)… We need all solar advocates to attend and help share the message about Solar Energy and the future it offers Oregon!  Industry pro’s, happy customers, and people who believe that solar is the future, come show your support!”

And we did.  Ah, the power of social media.  

Matthew Lind (AES) brought us all together

On a wet, gray day that was less than solar-loving, dozens of clean energy professionals and advocates met to show support for solar power in the State of Oregon. Matthew Lind (Advanced Energy Systems) coordinated this rally and brought us together.  At noon he huddled us together under his canopy and we introduced ourselves. 

Sandra Walden spirited the crowd!

Glenn Montgomery (L) of OSEIA and Mark Pengilly (C) of OREP

Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA) was represented by Executive Director, Glenn Montgomery, and a number of its members.  Glenn Monty and Mark Pengilly of Oregonians for Renewable Energy Policy (OREP) provided an overview of the 2011 state legislative agenda and possible outcomes and impacts on the state’s solar business.  These included:

  • State solar tax credits under scrutiny or attack (RETC & BETC);
  • The pilot feed-in-tariff (VIR) administered by Oregon Public Utilities Commission (PUC) being trimmed; and
  • New bills introduced to remove or modify barriers to solar installations.   

Solar Oregon was there too represented by Boardmembers Sanda Walden (Real Energy Solutions) and yours truly.  Sandra was in full “rah-rah” mode and encouraged the crowd to act which included Jamie Hogue of Climate Solutions, Salem Creative Network’s Ross Swartzendruber, consultant Seth Prickett from WinOR, and several private citizens. 

Of course there were a number of solar contractors in attendance too including representatives from Mr. Sun Solar, REC Solar; Lite Solar, but the Team Spirit Award goes to Syncro Solar – as Sarah, Brian, & Randy brought  the entire team. Two solar pros from Denver Colorado also joined to show their support and they give us an overview of some issues impacting their state. 

John Patterson (umbrella) listens in on the conversation

This event was a binding moment for many of us and we agreed to meet again on the steps of the Oregon state capital on May 10thth for another rally for solar.  We agreed to bring friends and solar supporters with us next time in order to have a good showing and allow for media coverage so we can get our pro solar message out to the legislators and the public.  I hope some of you will join us!

PS:  Don’t you think John Patterson looks a lot like our Portland City icon, “Umbrella Man” … ?

VIR* = Volumetric Incentive Rate is a performance-based incentive for solar electric (photovoltaics) eligible for commercial, industrial, and residential customers.  Rates and payments vary depending on system size and geographic zone.  Allocation varies.

For more info see  http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=OR134F&re=1&ee=1

OREP* = Oregonians for Renewable Energy Policy was formed in December 2008 by a group of Oregonians wanting to take an active role in the transition from fossil fuels by producing solar energy in our neighborhoods.

For more info see http://www.oregonrenewables.com/

OSEIA* = Oregon chapter of the Solar Energy Industries Association a professional/trade association founded in 1981 to promote clean, renewable, solar technologies. OSEIA works with industry leaders, academic scholars, legislators, government, and non-profit agencies to advocate for solar technologies and raise awareness of its potential to help secure an affordable, reliable, and clean energy future.

http://www.oregonseia.org/

Mar 11

9

Solar Windows

Posted by Mac on March 9, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar  | Tagged With: , , | 1 Comment

A friend asked me, ‘do you happen to know anything about solar window technology or companies?’  

Just a bit, but only because I’ve been hanging out with LEED architects and have seen prototypes at solar technical conferences. I’m happy to share what little I know.  Green architects will tell you they use solar windows in their passive solar design, but they’re talking about space lighting & heating, and energy efficiency, using existing window design. 

I assume what you’re asking about is nanotechnology*, right?   

In that case, “solar window” refers to transparent thin film technology, a photovoltaic (PV) material which is being tested for use in windows and transparent solar panels – that generate electricity while letting in light.  Many scientific journals and magazines have published articles about thin film, that unlike a traditional silicon-based solar cell, is composed of metal nanoparticles embedded in a transparent composite matrix.  One advantage of this composite is that it can be coated onto window glass so that windows in buildings can become power generators.  

Several research universities, labs and corporations, have touted new technology that creates a solar window that provides solar energy to building facades by spraying an electricity-generating coating onto glass.  Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory have created a new type of self-assembling transparent thin film material that could boost the cost-effectiveness and scalability of solar window production. The material consists of a semiconducting polymer doped with carbon-rich fullerenes. When the polymer is applied to a surface under controlled conditions, the pattern repeats over a large area. 

Chemistry is cool.

There is a list of things the Los Alamos Labs folks are working on in order to bring this technology mainstream, the most basic being that it has been difficult to blend composites that will generate a charge while absorbing light, especially over a large area.  You get energy by absorbing sunlight; therefore an efficient solar cell should essentially be black. [Non-visible light could be selectively absorbed except that a lot of UV in sunlight doesn't get through ordinary window glass and the infrared solar spectrum is relatively low energy. There is research being done in this area too, but it is lagging, not leading.]  Chris Binns, Professor of Nanotechnology at Leicester, U.K. says, “Obviously some light has to be absorbed in order to generate power, but the windows would just have a slight tinting. Conversely the structural material of the building can also be coated with a higher degree of absorption. This could be side panels of the building itself, or even in the form of clip-together solar roof tiles.”  Leicester researchers say they’ve created nanotech prototypes that do just that.

Sounds promising, but I’ve been hearing about this technology for years and have yet to see a single product come to market.

Solar Technologies are evolving rapidly!

That being said, I just came back from Japan where I noticed Sony is promoting their new solar window design. Work of art, really. Sony says this nanotech approach will cost less than the average solar (cell) technology today and it installs easily into already existing buildings.  http://www.slashgear.com/sony-demonstrates-solar-power-window-panels-14119477/.  That’s great, but Sony can’t tell us when these cells will be available commercially … and at what cost. They only say that it is “still a year away from the market”.  That figures! 

This is one of the many issues surrounding this technology – and one of the reasons why there are many skeptics.  For years we’ve been told this technology is coming, to no avail, but there are questions that still need to be answered and/or require further research or development, such as:

  • We know nothing about costs.
  • What about durability? 
  • What about efficiency?
  • Can manufacturing be scaled?
  • What health risks are involved?  Some people caution that safety aspects have not been properly considered because nano-based coating (film) health hazards (e.g. abrasion, inhalation of particles, food-chain contamination etc…) are not yet completely known.

Nevertheless, a Norwegian solar power company (EnSol) http://www.ensol.no/r&d.htm has patented a thin film solar cell technology designed to be sprayed on to various surfaces. EnSol seeks to achieve a cell efficiency of at least 20 percent, and say they’ll have product ready for the commercial market by 2016.  Reading this online, an anonymous contrarian commented:  “Once again we see a picture of a transparent solar cell – when are we going to learn?! …For commercial buildings you’d have to replace the integral sun-blocking film with the PV material, otherwise very little UV or IR would be getting to the cells. They (Ensol) imply something like twice the efficiency of monocrystalline cells i.e. >35% which goes beyond improbable since the cell depicted appears to be transmitting more than 65% of the incident light. …The bottom line is either you capture light and turn it into current – (in which case your cell looks dark ) – or you don’t.”  

Today, based upon the stats the life expectancy of the product is inferior to silicon-based cells. It is also much less efficient at converting light into electricity (6% efficiency) regardless of recent claims.

So, as this scientific debate goes on the promise of this technology is still intoxicating. Imagine the application!  If I were a betting man, I’d bet these researchers and companies get these issues figured out quickly, especially now that research money is flowing into nanotech.  I saw evidence of thin film operations in China last month, so this technology is spreading very fast and there’s no doubt someday almost every window will be a solar window.

In a future post, I’ll talk more about the possibilities of GIGS solar technology** GIGS = Copper indium gallium (di)selenide.  http://gigaom.com/cleantech/how-cigs-solar-thin-film-can-become-mainstream/

Check out these links to learn more.

Solar Today: ASES Pub (March 2011) http://www.solartoday-digital.org/solartoday/201103?pg=11#pg11

Chemistry of Materials Journals:  http://pubs.acs.org/journal/cmatex

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/09/spray-on-solar-window-unveiled

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/09/hua-qin-solar-glass-generates-electricity-lets-most-of-the-su/

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology

** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_indium_gallium_selenide