News from Soliclima
The other side of energy efficiency lightbulbs
An enormous demand for energy efficient lightbulbs is starting to be seen around the world due to the prohibition of the use of incandescent lightbulbs and that has led many Chinese entrepreneurs to manufacture them. China is quickly becoming the world's warehouse, but, the conditions under which their workers live, do not resemble at all those of the western world and hundreds of workers who manufacture these lightbulbs, have been hospitalized due to mercury exposure.
Solar energy in Italy
There are many reasons why Italy is now one of the hottest topics within the solar energy world. Both, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energies, experienced a notable increase in 2008.
A wind farm in Texas tests radar to protect birds
In the U.S., wind farms kill around 7000 birds annually, but, a radar system developed by NASA, could avoid the collisions, detecting when birds approach. t could be considered an air traffic control system for birds.
Wind power in USA and its limitations
The U.S. has installed nearly 3 GW of wind power during the first three months of 2009. America is moving full steam ahead, but it will face the same problems that Spain, have encountered, with the integration of wind electricity into the national grid and, because of the size of the country, even bigger problems could arise.
Abengoa keeps betting strongly on solar thermal energy, opening the PS20
Despite the crisis, Spain continues to be an international leader in renewable energies. First was photovoltaic, which after racing last year to complete its projects before the legal framework changed, the Spanish market became the one with the most PV power installed in the world.
The world's largest rivers flow decreases due to global climate change
That is the conclusion reached by a study from the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate. Many people depend on water from these rivers for everything, from agriculture to drinking water. Among them are the Yellow River, the Ganges, the Niger and Colorado, all with a significant decrease in flow.
Climate change: the disappearance of Island Nations
It´s already happened, as we had forecasted and it will happen again and they won´t just be small islands that will disappear under the sea.
Construction of the world's largest offshore wind farm, the London Array, starts
The total capacity of the park will be1GW. Once completed, it will produce enough electricity for one fourth of the London urban area.
American intellectuals propose raising the price of water to fight the drought in California
Recently, we talked about the drought in southwestern Australia. California is also experiencing a drought and there are already voices being raised, demanding a higher price of water, to motivate people to reduce their consumption.
What countries are the leading promoters of renewable energies?
The International Energy Agency, an organization not considered as being pro-environment, has published a study analyzing policies promoting renewable energies in different countries of the world. Its most interesting conclusion is that energy should include in its price the cost of CO2 and other gases emitted during its production, with the goal of curbing down climate change.
Diversification strategies in the photovoltaic market: reduce CO2 emissions during the manufacture o
In the changing current market, manufacturers of photovoltaic modules need good reasons to convince potential customers that their products are better than those from their competition. The Norwegian company REC has approached this issue in a very direct way.
The water economizer: saving energy and natural resources for
Many of our readers ask us how can they save energy and apply renewable energies in their homes. Here we offer some more advise.
Eating less meat would reduce global warming
Many of us often wonder what we could do in our humble daily life in order to reduce CO2 emissions and thereby contribute a little bit in the reduction of global warming. Well, it´s not so much turning off the lights but, eating less meat, since, the livestock industry, contrary to what it may seem, not only consumes energy but, also, the animals emit methane through their belching and from their waste, a gas even more polluting than CO2.
Buildings in Europe will consume Zero energy starting in 2019
To those of us who were already in the renewable energy sector, it seemed, back in 2005, that an energy revolution was approaching before the 2006 Technical Building Code went into effect, which mandated by law, to include a series of measures in all new buildings, such as installing solar thermal energy to generate hot water, or high-performance lighting for the common areas. But that was only the beginning of the energy revolution.
Tucson will soon harvest some of its rainwater and other Arizona cities will follow, next
The nation´s first rainwater harvesting law stipulates that, starting in 2010, developers of new business and commercial and corporate buildings in Tucson, will have to supply fifty per cent of the water needed for landscaping from harvested rainwater.
New legislation in the state of Kansas, mandates 10% of the electric power must be from renewable so
By 2011, 10% of the power generated by the utility companies in Kansas, must meet a renewable energy standard.
Photovoltaic Energy in Italy: the next Spain?
Similarities and differences between the Spanish and Italian photovoltaic market.
India: The Sunny Giant
India is one of the most populated countries of the world, and a tropical country where the sun shines 300 days a year. The economic growth of this Asian giant, second only to China, anticipates that the photovoltaic market will grow exponentially in the coming years. We transcribe an interview with one of India´s photovoltaic energy pioneers.
Renewable Energies in Portugal
The DL 363/2007 Law rewards generating electricity through any renewable energy system with a capacity of less than 3.68 kW. With the exception of biomass, the payment of these
credits is awarded when the solar thermal energy installation is done in the same place. The government's effort to promote solar thermal energy is due to their need of achieving the objectives it had set for 2010. So far, only 390,000 m2 have been installed, less than half the one million that were planned.
Tucson will soon harvest some of its rainwater and other Arizona cities will follow, next.
The nation´s first rainwater harvesting law stipulates that, starting in 2010, developers of new business and commercial and corporate buildings in Tucson, will have to supply fifty per cent of the water needed for landscaping from harvested rainwater.
The world's largest rivers flow decreases due to global climate change
That is the conclusion reached by a study from the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate. Many people depend on water from these rivers for everything, from agriculture to drinking water. Among them are the Yellow River, the Ganges, the Niger and Colorado, all with a significant decrease in flow.
