EV Charging Facility In Norway Powered By Solar Panels

Norway leads most of the world in making electricity from renewable sources. It has abundant hydroelectric power, so much of it in fact that it sells the excess to other countries, including the UK. In all, Norway gets more than 90% of its electricity from renewables. It also promotes the use of electric cars by offering its citizens generous financial incentives and other perquisites. Recently, Norway has initiated a move to power much of its coastal shipping with electricity.

With Norway’s focus on renewable energy, it should come as no surprise that a new EV charging station at the Asko East industrial park outside the city of Vestby will be powered by solar power. Vestby is situated about 50 miles south of Oslo. The new facility will have ten charging stations under a covered roof. 75 south facing solar panels, each rated at 270 watts per hour, will be mounted on the roof. Together, they are expected to generate up to 16,000 kWh of electricity a year — enough to power a Tesla Model S for more than 47,000 miles.

The solar system is being built by Fusen, Inc. Its CEO, Thor Christian Tuv, tells Pursuits Green, “We have previously been involved in a carport demonstration plant, but this is the first major installation of such a solution in Norway.”  The panels themselves are sensitive to light both from above and below, so that light reflected back from the ground will also help make electricity. Tuv says this is the first time these type of solar cells have been installed in Scandanavia.

Lars Erik Olsen, technical manager for the Asko East industrial complex ,says that solar installations offer more benefits than just economics. He says there are intangible benefits to consider as well, including letting workers and visitors to the site know that the company is investing in clean renewable energy for everyone’s benefit. The solar array is situated so that it is visible to all who enter the facility.

The surrounding buildings themselves are powered by a roof mounted solar system that provides 280,000 kWh of electricity annually. The solar EV chargers are scheduled to be completed and fully operational in January, 2016.

Leif Hansen, who lives in Norway, contributed to this story.

Ford To Build Michigan’s Largest Solar Array

Ford has teamed up with utility DTE Energy to build the largest solar array in its home state of Michigan, as well as the second-largest carport in the entire Midwest. The solar array will provide 360 covered parking spots and 30 plug-in vehicle charging stations, and is expected to generate 1.13 million kWh annually.

That’s enough energy to power about 158 average-sized American homes for an entire year, tough instead the power will be fed into the Ford World Headquarters, offsetting some 794 metric tons of carbon each year. The project is being funded by DTE Energy, and after a carport at the Cincinnati Zoo, it will be the largest carport in the Midwest. Construction will begin this September and is expected to be completed early next year, after which DTE energy has a 20-year contract to operate and maintain the solar-powered carport.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with DTE Energy to bring a more efficient, renewable energy source to our offices,” said Donna Inch, chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Land Development Corporation. “This is an innovative project that will benefit both DTE Energy and Ford, and is yet another example of our work toward building a more sustainable future.”

The two companies have previously teamed up on other solar projects, including a 500-kilowatt system at the Michigan Assembly Plant. DTE Energy has committed to produce 10% of its energy from renewable sources by the end of next year, and this massive solar array gets them that much closer.

“The SolarCurrents canopy project is another example of how DTE Energy and Ford are working to build a more energy-efficient and sustainable future,” said Irene Dimitry, DTE Energy vice president, marketing and renewables. “At the same time, this project will help us come closer to meeting Michigan’s renewable energy goals and diversify our energy portfolio.”

Source: Ford 

Pocono Raceway Solar Farm Hits 15 million kWh

Conversations about renewable energy and IndyCar tend to focus on the series’ use and endorsement of locally-grown, high-octane, low-emission biofuels and E85 ethanol blends. There’s more to it than that, however, especially at the Pocono tri-oval!

First installed at the facility back in 2010, the Pocono tri-oval’s 39,960 American-made photovoltaic modules (or solar panels) have already passed the 15 million kWh mark – and are well on their way to producing a projected 72 million kWh of energy by 2030!

“It is amazing to see the amount of energy produced by the solar farm in this short period of time,” said Pocono Raceway President and CEO Brandon Igdalsky. “To put the amount of energy produced into layman’s terms, the solar farm has saved over 1,215,000 gallons of fuel. This would equal 121,500 trips from New York City or Philadelphia to Pocono Raceway in a vehicle, such as an RV (or large pickup) using 10 miles per gallon of gasoline … (now) when I watch the NASCAR Green commercial during race broadcasts, there is a line which asks Greg Biffle, ‘Go solar to power the sport?’ The amount of fuel we have saved (here at Pocono) would power the top three levels of NASCAR for about two-and-a-half seasons. So, I guess, we really could power the sport!”

So, in addition to providing returning champion and Gas 2 favorite Juan Pablo Montoya with a storybook win a few weeks ago, we now have even more reasons to love the “tricky triangle”.

For those of you curious enough to check it out the next time you head to the track, the Pocono Raceway Solar Farm can be located along Long Pond Road, and sits adjacent to Pocono’s storied 2.5 mile tri-oval. I’d try to call ahead for a tour, though.

Source | Images: Racer Magazine.

Solar VW Bus is Built for Adventure

The VW bus you see here was thoroughly refinished and refurbished by the Dangerz, a couple who took the Bus from scrapyard fodder to a solar-panel equipped, trans-continental adventure-mobile that saw them drive from Alaska to Costa Rica. It’s the kind of thing they’d make a movie about, and the kind of movie that would do OK at Sundance and have a bunch of people on Netflix say they love it but that probably wouldn’t do super-well in theaters. Taking a look at the Dangerz’ adventure blog, however, I suspect they wouldn’t have it any other way.

This is a car blog, though, and the main thing we’re into here is the 1967 VW bus (or, more accurately, a Type II) that the Dangerz converted to adventuring duty. Up top, a large solar panel provides electricity while the inside of the bus has been totally redone …

… very much in the spirit of a newer Westfalia-type camper.

Sadly, the Dangerz put their globe-trotting VW bus for sale late last year. Presumably, it’s already been sold, and that’s a shame to anyone reading about the bus today – I’m sure the 135 kW solar panel, propane cooking/heat conversion, and high-quality soundproofing/insulation under all that solid-looking cabinetry would have been a welcome addition to any US garage. Less sadly, though, the Dangerz were good enough to chronicle their bus build on their blog.

So, head over there for (many, many) more pictures of the Dangerbus, then come back and let us know what you think of their project ride in the comments section, below. Enjoy!

Source | Photos: theDangerz, via Inhabitat.

Dutch Toyota Dealer Uses Prius Batteries Used As Solar Backup

A Dutch Toyota dealer has set up an  impressive solar array to power his store, and plans to use Toyota Prius hybrid batteries to house the surplus energy.

While the plans use the Prius batteries are still tentative, the Louwman Hague Toyota store does have approximately 1,000 solar panels on the roof of the dealership, generating clean energy to keep the lights on. Similar efforts have happened here in the U.S., most recently a Honda dealer in New Jersey that uses zero net energy thanks to its solar array.

What is most interesting about this story is potential use of refurbished Prius batteries. As green as hybrid and electric cars are, one of the biggest issues is what to do with the spent battery packs. There are recycle programs in action, but a better second use is a project like this, where the depleted-but-still functional batteries can provide a cheap means of storing excess power from the solar array. That way, when the sun is obscured, the store still has plenty of power.

As hybrid and electric cars begin to take a larger bite out of the automotive market, the demand for re-purposing their battery packs in a green and sustainable way will increase.  This Dutch Toyota dealership is without a doubt an indication of things to come.

Source: Autoblog Green

World’s First Carbon Fiber RV Is Eco-Chic Luxury On Wheels

RV builders have long embraced lightweight designs, and this carbon fiber camper designed in part by Dallara is pretty much the endgame. While it could cost more than a garage full of Ferraris, the high-tech CR-1 camper comes withs all sorts of eco-friendly and luxury-minded options, from solar panels to walk-in closets. Yeah, it’s nicer than my house too.

Built by Global Caravan Technologies, the carbon fiber CR-1 RV was built using techniques developed by IndyCar maker Dallara to forge a new niche for luxury campers. While there are already dozens of different ways to spend insane amounts of money on recreational vehicles, this fully carbon fiber design is the first of its kind. So despite being loaded with luxury features, CEO Charles Hoefer predicts his cutting-edge camper will weigh just 6,000 pounds (depending on configuration). That means 100% to 150% better fuel economy compared to similar campers, and the one-piece body and monocoque are bonded without using any sort of fasteners.

Carbon fiber has become almost old-hat for using on high-end exotics and sports cars, but the strong and light material is working its way into more mass market vehicles like the BMW i3. Yet its use in the RV market is minimal, which is where GCT comes in. As I’ve alrady hinted though, the CR-1 will have an expensive starting price, and only go up from there. You’ll need $170,000 to own just a basic model, which still comes with features like a master bed and bathroom and huge closets, as well as optional items like an integrated generator and 770 watt solar panel system. A fully-customized model could go for as much as $770,000.

For eco-friendly, off-the-grid living that doesn’t sacrifice comfort, the CR-1 offers an interesting proposition. On the inside it looks more like a New York City loft than a camper, and the ability to move it anywhere could make it an excellent alternative for antsy retirees, or anyone who wants to say they live in a race car.

I mean, close enough, right?

Source: Global Caravan Technologies | Autoblog

Is Tesla's Solar City Sibling The 'Energy Company Of The 21st Century'?

Some solar-energy companies have had a hard time in recent years, but SolarCity may look a little more promising.

That isn't just because Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is the company's chairman, either--though it can't hurt.

Instead, says The Atlantic (on Mashable), it's because the company is starting to use Tesla battery packs for energy storage, as part of its solar array systems--a move increasingly thought to be an essential part of the push towards greener electricity.

Energy storage offers the best way of regulating and buffering the inconsistent flow of energy from renewable sources like wind, solar, and tidal generation, ensuring supply will be sufficient to meet energy needs when demand is highest--and reducing wasted energy when it isn't.

By charging the batteries when power generation--in this case, from photovoltaic solar panels--is at its highest, customers can make use of greener energy in the most efficient way.

As demand creeps up around peak times (which don't necessarily match the peak times of generation), power can be used from the battery pack. SolarCity calls it 'DemandLogic', as it ensures customers avoid paying extra "demand charges" to their local utilities if they use power during the highest-demand hours.

SolarCity's Tesla-based battery packs are ideal for this, with high capacity for maximizing storage. Battery packs can be customized for each business, but the goal is to store roughly 30 percent of the electricity generated by the solar array.

SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive says DemandLogic could save commercial customers as much as 20 percent in demand charges.

There are other benefits too, such as emergency power should the grid go down in a storm. The backup battery power could be essential for keeping small businesses running if their external power source is knocked out.

It's not all commercial, of course. Some homeowners in California have already started using Tesla packs, installed by SolarCity, to cover their peak energy usage by storing power from solar arrays on their rooftops.

Thanks to strong incentives--subsidies of 60 percent in California, writes The Atlantic--customers pay relatively little for the battery packs.

Tesla itself actually uses grid storage at some of its Supercharger sites, where solar-generated electricity generated actually outstrips demand from Model S customers visiting the DC quick-charging stations.

Existing electric utilities are less keen on the idea, predictably, but with the DemandLogic system they aren't pushed out entirely. Businesses remain connected to the grid, and still draw much of their energy from it.

Rive says SolarCity is a "secondary provider" that can be viewed more as a cost-reducer than a sole energy provider.

SolarCity has big plans, however--aiming to become "the energy company of the 21st Century".

Those don't sound like the words of a company that wants to remain a "secondary provider".

And as the idea of demand-based energy storage and solar arrays catches on, Tesla's battery packs and SolarCity's solar arrays may start to become a familiar (and cost-reducing) sight.

Source: Green Car Reports

Roadtrek Adds Solar Power, Biodiesel to Its RV Lineup

We have maintained for a while now that the best way to convince someone that nature is worth preserving is to get them out into it. It seems like the people at Roadtrek agree- and they’re going a step further by offering a new B+ class motorhome that not only uses recycled materials in its construction, but is capable of operating entirely free of fossil fuels!

Built on Mercedes’ Sprinter van platform, Roadtrek’s eco-friendly E-Trek is powered by a 3.0 liter Mercedes diesel engine that’s 100% bio-diesel capable. The diesel is used as the primary power plant to drive the RV, and is also capable of feeding the E-Trek’s electrical system and batteries. When parked, the diesel generates 3.5 KW of power that gets bumped up to 5.5 KW while it’s on the move. Still, that’s not the most visible “green” feature on the E-Trek- that award goes to the roof-mounted, 245 watt solar panel array that continuously charges a bank of 8 AGM batteries and a 5000 watt power inverter (you’ll need that to plug standard 110/220 appliances into the outlets).

Roadtrek calls the E-Trek “the most eco-friendly motor home in the universe”. It’s not just an empty claim, though- they back that up with the batteries, solar panels, biodiesel engine, and even the composite body of the RV, itself, which uses a recycled cotton and denim insulation to help regulate temperature and a recycled, paper-based material in the counters and cabinets. Roadtrek is helping cut back carbon emissions and push back against harmful fracking operations as well, by totally eliminating propane and natural gas (full-timer RV staples) from the E-Trek’s operations.

You can find out more about Roadtrek’s latest E-Trek motorhome, and find a local dealer, at Roadtrek.com. Check it out, then let us know what you think of the E-Trek in the comments, below.

Source: Gas2.0

Volvo Develops Body Panel Batteries For EVs

Big, heavy, expensive batteries are one of the main bottlenecks preventing mass adoption of electric vehicles, as whole cars have to be designed around the bulky batteries. Volvo may have developed a solution, however, by integrating the batteries themselves into specially-formed carbon-fiber body panels. Clever, but certainly not cheap.

Working with independent research groups, Volvo is exploring the possibility of using nano-structured batteries and supercapacitors integrated into carbon-fiber body panels. Research is headed by the Imperial College of London, which makes me wonder if British EV proponent Lord Drayson (who is running a similar body panel battery research experiment)  is somehow involved.

After three years, researchers have built a functioning truck lid and engine cover battery, which feature teeny-tiny nano batteries and supercapacitors sandwiched between two layers of carbon fiber. These battery body panels not only eliminate the need for bulky batteries, but can also be recharged and discharged much faster. The panels are also more energy dense, cost-effective, and eco-friendly than traditional batteries, though cost-effective doesn’t necessarily mean “cheap”.

The new body panels are also stiffer too, meaning conventional combustion engine cars can also benefit from the technology. According to researchers the new body panels are stiff enough to replace the sway bars in most cars, while storing enough energy to stand in for the traditional lead-acid battery used to start most vehicles.

The potential for this technology is almost impossible to comprehend, as it could completely alter the structure and design of almost every vehicle. This could be the battery breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.

Source: Volvo

IKEA To Start Selling Solar Panels In The UK

In a few short months, flat-packed solar panels will be sold at all 17 IKEA stores in the United Kingdom, and if the panels prove to be a hot seller, they could even find their way into American stores soon. A pilot program is already up and running and began in July in IKEA’s Lakeside store in the U.K. where, according to IKEA, a solar panel system is now sold almost every day.

You can already buy solar panels from a varity of big box stores here in the US, but IKEA has a very different target audience. While Home Depot is a place for serious DIY types, IKEA offers inexpensive, space saving, home furnishings for weekend warriors with a basic toolbox but few skills. It seems likely that IKEA is betting that their customers will be attracted to solar panels based on the idea of energy savings and, maybe, the popularly of “getting off the grid” and energy saving status symbols like driving a Prius. Just imagine driving your Prius down to the Whole Foods and then back to your solar powered, IKEA-furnished home. For some that would be pure bliss.

Unlike most IKEA products though, the installation of the roof top solar panels will not be something the typical customer can handle. Full installation is currentlyoffered in collaboration with Chinese energy giant Hanergy. There will be a nine step installation process, a design system simulation for your home, and a fully managed personalized web portal for IKEA solar panel buyers all through Hanergy. All told, these solar panel systems could cost buyers as little as $10,000 from IKEA, and the company could help proliferate solar panels throughout the UK, and perhaps eventually America too.

Could IKEA prove to be an important tipping point for the adoption of solar panels in the UK and America? It certainly seems like the company has the potential to do just that, bringing clean energy to a wider audience.

Source: Washington Post

Spray-On Solar Cells Show Promise For Cheaper Sun Power

What if you could get solar panels in a can?

A team of researchers at the University of Alberta has developed a solar cell made from a spray-paint like material, Mashable reports.

While it won't necessarily be applied with a rattle can, this spray-on solar cell could make sun power cheaper.

The cells are made of zinc phosphate nanoparticles. These particles can be dissolved to form an ink, but after they've been sprayed onto a surface and allowed to dry, they are responsive to light.

Since this new type of cell is based on two common elements -- zinc and phosphorous -- it should be easier and cheaper to manufacture than conventional solar cells.

It will also be easier to install. The spray-on cells are attached to a plastic base, not the heavy, expensive silicon base used in typical solar panels. In addition to being cheaper overall, the plastic-backed panels' lighter weight means they can be mounted to roofs without extra support.

That could make spray-on panels an attractive option for plug-in electric car owners looking to charge their cars in the greenest way possible, among others.

SolarCity

A large number of California electric car owners already use solar.

A February 2012 study by the California Center for Sustainable Energy found that ,of 1,419 plug-in car owners surveyed, 39 percent had solar installations at their homes. This was when there were only 12,000 plug-in cars on California roads.

A May 2013 followup found that the same percentage of plug-in owners used solar.

The cost of home solar panel installation is already dropping; it's currently around $5.30 per watt for systems under 100 kilowatts, and $4.60 per watt for larger systems. The cost of panels dropped $2.60 per watt from 2008 to 2012.

If cheap, lightweight solar panels proliferate, they could exacerbate the challenges for utility companies, who are already starting to view home solar as a threat to their business.

Source: Green Car Reports