Archive for the ‘Commercial Solar Analysis’ Category
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
As Congress begins debate on the Climate Bill, those attending Solar Power International 2009 got an update on solar progress in Washington. The 11:00 am session on issues that affect everyone in the industry was surprisingly under-attended. Perhaps that reflects a dazzling exhibition hall and our perennial frustration with Congress.
John ...
Posted in Cap and Trade, Commercial Solar, Commercial Solar Analysis, Commercial Solar Finance, Department of Energy, Energy Policy, Feed-in Tariffs, Renewable Energy, Solar Cash Grants, Utility-scale Solar Power | Comments Off
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
Urban environments can be a challenge to solar development. When evaluating a building's solar power potential, solar installers and consultants often turn to Google Earth or Bing Maps to get an early impression of the building; it's the analog of real estate 'drive-by'. Even knowing the pitfalls, it's hard to ...
Posted in Commercial Solar, Commercial Solar Analysis, Green Buildings, Renewable Energy, Urban Planning and Solar | Comments Off
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
Oregon, ranked 27th by population, is ranked 9th in US solar energy according to the Solar Energy Industry Association. At the close of 2008, Oregonians had installed 4.8 MW, a 330% increase over 1.1 MW in 2007. Oregon is 7th overall in cumulative US installations with 7.5 megawatts.
This is due ...
Posted in Commercial Solar, Commercial Solar Analysis, Commercial Solar Finance, Commercial Solar Ventures, Energy Policy, Oregon, Portland, Renewable Energy, Solar Cash Grants, Utility-scale Solar Power | Comments Off
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
All across the West, firefighters are forging through a long hot summer of wildfires. Along with their boots, helmet, Nomex clothing, fire shelter, and canteen they carry a pocket-sized reference of "Ten Standing Orders" and "Ten Situations that Shout Danger."
A red skull and crossed bones smiles at them from ...
Posted in Commercial Solar, Commercial Solar Analysis, Commercial Solar Finance, Commercial Solar Ventures, Department of Energy, Energy Policy, Renewable Energy, Solar Cash Grants | Comments Off
Monday, August 31st, 2009
What's the cost of installing a solar power system - on or adjacent to a commercial building - and how much energy will you save?
As always, location is a key factor. Below are the numbers for a small 2,800 SF office building in Portland, Oregon.
Basic Cost & Payback
In Oregon, a ...
Posted in Commercial Solar, Commercial Solar Analysis, Commercial Solar Finance, Department of Energy, Oregon, Portland, Renewable Energy, Solar Cash Grants | 2 Comments »
Friday, July 17th, 2009
Cost/benefit analysis is certainly nothing new. Leed 2009 NC adds a new twist when your design team compares maximum LEED points against maximum potential energy savings from on-site solar.
Project budgets are especially tight in the current economic downturn, and a 'least cost' point strategy may be attractive. LEED 2009 ...
Posted in Commercial Solar, Commercial Solar Analysis, Commercial Solar Finance, Green Buildings, LEED, LEED 2009 | Comments Off
Monday, July 13th, 2009
LEED 2009 introduces new standards for on-site solar power: "To encourage and recognize increasing levels of on-site renewable energy self-supply to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use."
What are the basics, and what are the implications for LEED point calculations and actual energy cost reductions? What ...
Posted in Commercial Solar Analysis, Green Buildings, LEED, LEED 2009 | Comments Off
Friday, June 19th, 2009
The Green Wombat today alerted the Twitter world to a San Jose Mercury News post that California's largest utility, Pacific Gas and Electric, opposes two pieces of legislation pending in the California legislature. Together, the two bills would play a significant role in achieving California's climate goals, the Million Solar ...
Posted in Commercial Solar, Commercial Solar Analysis, Commercial Solar Ventures, Energy Policy, Utility-scale Solar Power | Comments Off
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
Much has been written about upstream development in US renewable energy. Tech advances are impressive, and there is a reason why renewable technology continues to attract venture funding.
However, the US is failing on the downstream - the installation side of the renewable equation. SEIA reports that all US grid-connected solar ...
Posted in 2008 Commercial Solar Report, Commercial Solar, Commercial Solar Analysis, Commercial Solar Ventures, Energy Policy, Urban Planning and Solar, Utility-scale Solar Power | 1 Comment »