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With record ethanol production and the lowest gas prices in years, 2014 was a banner year for the renewable fuel industry. This is good news for the farmers, small business owners, and workers who rely upon this growing sector for their livelihoods. As the new Congress gets to work, it's important for them to know that:
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In 2014, biofuels production reached 14.4 billion gallons -- a record -- in the United States. As biofuels production soared, U.S. gas prices fell to their lowest levels since 2008 and 2009.
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The renewable fuel industry now supports more than 852,000 jobs and 184.5 billion in economic output across the country. This means that more jobs than ever are supported by renewable fuels -- especially in America's rural economies. These are homegrown American jobs that can't be outsourced.
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In 2014, three new commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facilities came online in America's Heartland. They will produce the world's cleanest motor fuel from agricultural waste like corncobs.
All of this progress has been made possible by the Renewable Fuel Standard. At a time of crisis and instability around the globe, we have achieved unprecedented levels of energy independence.
With so much on the line, the United States can't afford to turn its back on renewable fuels. Congress, the President, and the EPA should keep the progress going and support a strong Renewable Fuel Standard.
A team comprised of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Soitec, CEA-Leti and the Helmholtz Center, Berlin has just unveiled the world's most efficient solar cell! Boasting an efficiency of 44.7%, the cell breaks the record set by Sharp just three months ago by 0.3%. The four-junction photovoltaic cell is not only dramatically more efficient than the theoretical 33.7% efficiency limit of conventional silicon-based solar PV, but it puts the team well on the road to reaching their goal of 50% efficiency by 2015.
Read the rest of German-French Team Unveils World's Most Efficient Solar Cell!
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Post tags: concentrator photovoltaics, four junction, fraunhofer ISE, green energy, III-V multi-junction, NREL, photovoltaics, soitec, Solar Cell, solar efficiency, Solar Power
Credit: amosrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
The first Renewable Energy Investment Promotion Meet Expo (RE-INVEST), scheduled to be organised in New Delhi from February 15-17, 2015, seems to be pressing the right buttons. The event has managed to trigger a sense of excitement and optimism in the government and the corporate sector alike.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is trying hard to instil confidence in the minds of the investors by creating an enabling environment to accomplish the target of 1 lakh MW of solar energy and 60,000 MW of wind energy over the next five years.
The revised target of installing renewable energy projects in the country has put both the RE industry and the government on their toes. The MNRE, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA), CII, FICCI and the industry leaders have risen up to the task.
In wake of RE-INVEST the government has asked the private players, PSUs and government organisations to pledge their support by committing to set up renewable energy projects. This initiative has been well received by the RE industry, and it is believed that a commitment of more than 1 lakh MW of renewable energy projects have already been signed by various companies and organisations.
It is believed that more and more commitments are expected to come as the event gets closer. It is estimated that the cumulative RE project commitment is likely to be more than the envisaged capacity.
Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Energynext/~3/Au2PmPiQS10/
The post RE industry upbeat about RE-INVEST appeared first on Renewable Electron.
Build Group, Inc. (www.buildgc.com) today announced the completion of the first phase of a massive solar support canopy project at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The company provided design/build services to long time client REC Solar.
Located on the South campus of the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Phase I consists of 3.72 MW of the 6.8 MW of solar carports slated for installation. When complete, the project will be the largest installation of solar canopies on a VA hospital campus in the United States. Build Group kept the parking lots open by carefully sequencing the work to accommodate automobile and pedestrian traffic. The implementation team posted prominent signs and performed meticulous preplanning of logistics to ensure the safety of hospital staff, patients and visitors during installation.
The project design incorporates seven solar panels across each T structure, compared to the industry standard of only six panels. By elevating more panels with the same amount of structure, the per-unit watt return is maximized. Due to temperate winds in the area, the structure is designed to withstand a standard 85 MPH wind. Cost efficient drilled cast-in-place piles were used as well as 240-watt panels.
Build Group utilizes its international and national supply chain of AISC certified structural steel fabricators to source the materials on behalf of clients. With a strong pipeline of manufacturers, Build Group guarantees clients high quality products at extremely competitive prices. Only domestic materials were utilized for the West Los Angeles VA project in accord with the Federal "Buy American Act".
"Our solar canopy expertise allows us to expedite construction thereby minimizing impact on business operations," said Eric Horn, Build Group's Chief Operating Officer. "We are pleased to help the Department of Veterans Affairs achieve their goal of becoming a leader in alternative energy."
"Build Group worked very successfully with us and delivered high quality product and proactive service while keeping the VA's busy parking lots in full operation," said Burke Kascha-Hare, Director of Federal Business Development at REC Solar, Inc. "We rely on them for innovative designs that result in fast, high-quality execution.
With over 27 MW under construction, in design, or completed, Build Group's other notable solar structure projects include: another 3 MW for REC Solar at the West Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital; 8 MW for Chevron Energy Solutions at various campuses throughout Eastside Union High School District in San Jose, California; 1.4 MW for REC Solar at the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Hospital, California;.504 MW for REC Solar at the Martinez Veterans Affairs Hospital, California and 9 MW for Solar City at various school districts in Lancaster, Chico, and Davis, California.
About Build Group
Established in 2007, Build Group is a privately held California Corporation located in San Francisco. The company provides general contracting services to a diverse clientele and specializes in multifamily residential, mixed-use, office buildings, solar support structures, parking garages, retail and restaurants. Build Group self-performs structural concrete and provides services to other general contractors through its sister company, Pacific Structures. For more information please visit www.buildgc.com. A patent pending design of Build Group, Solumbria, provides adaptable and upgradeable solar support structure solutions for private and public projects.
About REC Solar
REC Solar, a Mainstream Energy company, is an industry leading solar power provider specializing in grid-tied residential and commercial installations. With more than 8,000 systems installed in 16 states across the USA, REC Solar has been committed to lowering the cost of solar power through efficient processes, innovative products and outstanding customer service since 1997. For additional information on REC Solar visit www.recsolar.com or call 1-888-OK-SOLAR (888-675-6527).
SOURCE: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/03/24/prweb9321034.DTL
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HEADLINE NEWS: * Noted campaigning organization Avaaz recently sent a petition with the signatures of 2.2 million people to the UN secretary general. It asked all levels of government worldwide to transition to 100% renewable energy. Avaaz is currently aiming to get at least 100 cities around the world to join its campaign. [CleanTechnica] * A slaughterhouse in Kenya converts its waste to biogas it then uses to generate electricity, powering the meat cold room and processing equipment. It also pipes the gas to local hotels. Now the Maasai hope to take the project a step further by selling the alternative fuel in cylinders for half the price of natural gas. [Yahoo News] * A consortium led by Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power International won a EUR1.7 billion contract to build two solar power plants totalling 350 MW in the city of Ouarzazate, Morocco, the Moroccan solar energy agency says. The plants are part of a government plan to produce two GW of solar power by 2020. [Gulf Business News] * An old golf course in Warren, Massachusetts is now home to 57,000 solar panels that are producing enough electricity to power 2,300 homes. It is owned by First Wind Holdings Inc, which now has two solar projects in the Worcester area, and 17 wind projects across the US, with two more under construction. [Worcester Telegram] * California, a national leader in advancing energy storage, envisions this technology as a critical component in reducing global warming, improving air quality and promoting energy independence. The state currently has several pilot projects, and is working toward commercialization of energy storage. [Imperial Valley News] For more news, please visit geoharvey - Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Reference: opengreendoors.blogspot.com
