Utility Solar Power www.UtilitySolarPower.com By the Renewable Energy Institute Utility Solar Power, Concentrating Solar Power & High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV)  Engineering and Project Development Services  For more information, call/email  the Renewable Energy Institute: info@UtilitySolarPower.com _______________________________________________________ This Site Ranks in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Top Positions on the 1st Page on  All Major Search Engines When Searching for "Utility Solar Power" The Leading Site on Utility Solar Power will be updated to an "Online Newspaper" in 2011 Our new online newspapers or magazines will include the following "sections" Balance of Plant Balance of System Blog Classified Carbon Free Energy Clean Power Generation Concentrated Solar Power Concentrating Solar Power Conferences Demand Side Management Direct Steam Generation EcoGeneration Employment / Jobs Engineering & Engineering Feasibility Domestic Hot Water Evacuated Tube Collectors Flat Plate Collectors Greenhouse Gas Emissions High Concentration Photovoltaic Net Zero Energy Net Zero Energy Building Net Zero Energy Home News Photovoltaic Systems Power Purchase Agreement Products Publications Recycled Energy Renewable Energy Credit Renewable Energy Investments Renewable Energy Technologies Renewable Fuel Solar Cogeneration Solar Energy Systems Solar Engineering & Design Services Solar Heating And Cooling Solar Power Parks Solar Steam Generation Solar Power Parks Solar Thermal Collectors Solar Thermal Systems Solar Trigeneration Support Renewable Energy Trigeneration Waste Heat Recovery The Renewable Energy Institute is the Publisher for Hundreds of the leading energy  and renewable energy websites.  We began acquiring these industry-leading sites in 1997. **** Premium Advertising Spaces Now Available **** Additional Online Newspapers Now in Development by the Renewable Energy Institute include; Anaerobic Digesters,   Biogas Plant,   Biomass Gasification,   Biomethane,  Carbon Dioxide Emissions,  Carbon Free Energy,   Certified Emission Reductions,  Clean Development Mechanism,  CHP Systems,  Cogeneration,  Concentrated Solar Power,   Concentrating Solar Power,   Demand Side Management,   EcoGeneration,  Energy Conservation Measures / Energy Efficiency Measures,  Feed In Tariffs,  Greenhouse Gas Compliance,  Greenhouse Gas Reporting,   Greenhouse Gas Emissions,  Net Zero Energy &  Net Zero Energy Buildings,  Pollution Free Power,   Power Purchase Agreement,  Renewable Energy Technologies,  Solar Energy Systems,  Synthesis Gas,  Trigeneration,  Waste Heat Recovery,  Waste to Energy,   Waste to Fuel  and  Waste to Watts Most of our Leading Sites Rank on the 1st Page on All Major Search Engines, with many  in either the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Position (according to domain name - and search word/phrase). Advertising Your Company on Our Sites Will Produce the Following Results: * New Customers * Greater Market Share * Increased Sales Revenues * "Durable Competitive Advantage"   There's Only One: www.ConcentratingPhotovoltaics.com www.ConcentratingSolarPower.com www.HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com www.UtilitySolarPower.com Website!   For more information, call/email The Renewable Energy Institute info@UtilitySolarPower.com _______________________________________________________ Seeking Partner with $3.5 million to assist us go to market with our HCPV Solar Technology Within 6 hours, desert areas receive more energy from the sun than mankind uses in one year ~ Dr. Gerhard Knies Privately held company with 30 years reseach and development in HCPV solar technology seeking partner with  $3.5 million to assist us in securing UL Certification so that we can begin selling/installing our 41% efficient HCPV solar power parks in the Southwest U.S. UL Certification will take about 18 months. Several electric utilities have agreed to assist us in the certification process as they are very interested in seeing our technology move forward. Demand for high-efficiency solar power has never been higher as the market demands increasing amount of power  that generate zero greenhouse gas emissions. The California Energy Commission has recently approval 2 more  utility-scale solar power parks in the Southern California deserts. These 2 CSP solar power parks have a combined peak nominal production capacity of 650 megawatts. Over the past 12 months, the CEC has authorized about 4100 MW of new CSP solar power parks in the desert areas of California. The Desertec project in Europe is moving forward with solar power parks based on CSP - Concentrating Solar Power - which generates electricity using enormous amounts of water. The World Bank, in 2010, authorized investment of $5.6 billion to begin building CSP solar power parks for the Desertec project.  See:  www.Desertec.org,  www.ConcentratingSolarPower.com  or  www.ConcentratedSolarPower.com for more information. Unfortunately, for these well-intentioned leaders and grand projects, there is little to no water in deserts! Our HCPV technology requires NO WATER for use in operation. We believe our HCPV solar technology is the superiod choice for these desert areas.  Our Company's President, who is an engineer, led our HCPV R&D team and was responsible for securing 17 patents related to our solar technology. For 10 years, we generated electricity from our HCPV solar panel and delivered our power to the electric grid (at our R&D facility in Southwest U.S.) While some of our patents have expired, we possess the best solar technology which is also consider the "lowest cost solar power." See: www.LowestCostSolarPower.com for more information. Compared with the other Solar PV technologies, located in sunny and dry climates, our HCPV solar technology  requires: * No water in operation  * Less land  * Is far less disruptive to the environment than Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)  We believe our HCPV solar techology is positioned to replace traditional PV and CSP solar technologies for  utility-scale projects (Solar Power Parks) located in the Southwest U.S., as well as the Desertec project in North Africa and Southern Europe.  One of our competitor is only about 30% efficiency at the solar module.  They recently secured over $100 million in funding. Again, we are at 41% efficiency at the solar module. This means we generate more power in less space and at greater economic efficiency than our competition. Our HCPV solar technology is superior to any other solar technology as we provide; * Higher efficiency  * Higher energy yield * Lowest overall system cost  * Large target- market We are offering 30% equity in our privately-held company for the right Partner.  Serious inquiries only.  We require our potential partner to be "pre-qualified" by their CPA or tax attorney and ours before we will provide company documentation.  For more information, please review the following information before sending an email to us at: info@HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com or info@ConcentratingSolarPower.com _______________________________________________________ Our > 40% Efficient HCPV Solar Technology Our HCPV Solar technology was designed, built, installed &  operated with financial and technical assistance from:   MORE ABOUT OUR HCPV SOLAR TECHNOLOGY  Our > 40% High-efficiency HCPV Solar Technology  for Solar Power Parks Located in the Southwest U.S. HCPV, or "High Concentration PhotoVoltaic," represents the highest efficiencies available in solar PV technologies. The Renewable Energy Institute, in partnership with a U.S. based engineering company with over 30 years R&D in HCPV technology, is now offering this technology for locations in the Southwest U.S.  The Solar HCPV company specializes in the design, research/development and distribution of this HCPV technology which has surpassed the 40% efficiency barrier. While many of today's solar PV panels are considered "efficient" at 15%, our HCPV technology is already > than 40% efficiency, and in the near future, we will be increasing our efficiency to over 60%.   Even at today's 40% efficiency, our HCPV technology provides nearly 3 times the economic revenues of any 12-15% efficient PV panel. And today, our HCPV technology is already the most efficient, environmentally-friendly solar technology available anywhere in the world. While 15-16% efficient PV panels are still in high demand—mostly due to financial subsidies and incentives—these 15-16% efficient PV panels are NOT profitable without the economic incentives. Our HCPV technology is profitable from day one, even without financial incentives Investment Tax Credits, Feed In Tariffs, or any other government subsidies.  Thus, we foresee our HCPV solar technology to be the technology of choice not only in the short-term, but the long-term as well. Our HCPV equipment is also the most reliable PV technology available today.  Unlike other solar PV technologies, our HCPV is superior due to the materials of construction (and without the toxic and lethal components of Cadmium Telluride used in other PV panels). Finally, and most importantly, our HCPV solar technology does NOT decrease in efficiency with time; which is the case with all other PV technologies available today.  Please review the following information regarding our HCPV solar technology and call/email the Renewable Energy Institute with any questions.  Engineering/project development services available for qualified clients for solar power parks located in the Southwest U.S. 1cm2 Germanium HCPV solar cell mounted on a heat sink, operates at 525 suns concentration, and produces approx. 20W DC power.     Performance characteristics of our HCPV Solar Cells under actual working conditions PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT PV TECHNOLOGIES       Developers/Investors of Solar Power Parks: Our Utility Scale HCPV Solar Power Plants have the Highest Efficiencies & Lowest Operating Costs and  Lowest Levelized Cost of Energy Using Less than 1% of the Water Required by Typical Power Plants  (including Concentrating Solar Power Plants)   Minimum Size HCPV Solar Power System: 1 MW Warranty: 10 Years Approximate Cost: $3.75 million Area required: 3 acres  Time to install: 6-9 months after signed agreement Preferred Minimum Project Size: 10 MW with 35 Acres in Southwest U.S. Location   Now Developing Solar Power Plants With Our Preferred HCPV Solar Technologies in: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico & Texas   Developers of Solar Power Parks interested in our solar power plant development services or HCPV   solar technology call/ email with details relating to your project: info@HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com __________________________________________________________________________ The Leader and Original Developer of "Solar Cogeneration" and "Solar Trigeneration" Energy Systems, Now Offering our own HCPV Solar Technology and Providing;  Power Purchase Agreements, Renewable Energy  Project Development, PPA Funding   & Renewable Energy Investments Services for Qualified Clients * Some services provided by our strategic partners and affiliated companies __________________________________________________________________________ "Concentrating Solar Power - The Technology That Will Save Humanity"  according to Dr. Joseph Romm.  Link to Dr. Romm's article at Salon.com: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/04/14/solar_electric_thermal/index.html info@HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com __________________________________________________________________________ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Market worth $2 Trillion/year by 2012  according to the United Nations  Full story found on following link: http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=433&ArticleID=4792&l=en _____________________________________________________________________________________ Engineering, Feasibility Studies & Consulting Services Provided by  In-house Engineers and Consultants or Through the Renewable Energy Institute Call/email the Renewable Energy Institute: info@UtilitySolarPower.com

________________________________________________________

Utility Solar Power
www.UtilitySolarPower.com

Utility Solar Power Engineering & Project Development

What is "Utility Solar Power"?

Utility solar power is electricity generated from "solar power parks" specifically for a utility's transmission and distribution system.

High Concentration Photovoltaic
www.HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com

HCPV & Concentrated Solar Power Project Development, Engineering, 
Feasibility Studies and Consulting Services

Email:  info@HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com

What is High Concentration Photovoltaic or HCPV?

"High Concentration Photovoltaic" or "HCPV" power plants are fueled with the energy from the sun. HCPV power plants operate at much higher efficiencies compared with typical solar PV panels.  Our HCPV technology is now at 41% efficiency, as compared with standard PV panels that are around 12% to 17% efficiency.  HCPV "concentrates" large amounts of solar energy onto small amounts of active solar material. 

Best of all, our HCPV solar power plants use about 99% less water than typical concentrating solar power plants.  And, our HCPV solar power plants generate 1 MW of electricity on 50% less land than concentrating solar power plants at about 40% less cost.

There is nothing in the solar industry that can compete with our HCPV technology!

What is "Concentration Photovoltaic" or "Concentrating Photovoltaic"? 

Today's typical photovoltaic ("PV") solar panels and energy systems are stationary flat-plate photovoltaic panels that are seen on roof-tops of homes and commercial businesses.  These photovoltaic systems are costly, covered with solar cells, and rely upon the direct illumination of sunlight on the entire surface of the PV panels. Unlike these typical PV panels, systems, "concentration photovoltaic" systems use a Fresnel lens that is located between the sun and the solar cells to focus and magnify sunlight onto the solar cells that are anywhere from 250 to 500 times smaller than the typical "one-sun" PV solar panels.  Concentration photovoltaic systems effectively replaces inexpensive plastic (Fresnel) lenses in place of the expensive silicon solar cells.

The efficiency of any solar-electric system increases if the sun is "tracked" to absorb the most direct normal sunlight.  Today's concentration photovoltaic solar systems integrate "track" the sun, to maintain maximum energy transfer from the sun to the solar cells. They are completely automated and integrate a tracking software control system that is hydraulically-driven.  Concentration photovoltaic solar systems integrate the Fresnel lens, solar cell, and solar receiver plate into the system.

We provide Concentration Photovoltaic, High Concentration Photovoltaic and Concentrating Solar Power:

• Project Development

• Project Finance/Investments

• Engineering

• Feasibility Studies 

• Legal

• Finance/Funding/Investments

• Power Purchase Agreements

• Interconnection Agreements

and other related consulting services.

Our work is performed on a strict adherence to "vendor-neutrality."   We seek to maximize the return on investment from both the economic and environmental aspects while simultaneously minimizing the operational expenses for our clients.

High Concentration Photovoltaic
www.HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com

High Concentration Photovoltaic
www.HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com

Power Purchase Agreement
www.PowerPurchaseAgreement.com

We develop renewable energy projects, and specialize in turnkey solar power and energy projects, utilizing  our Power Purchase Agreement for qualified clients. For approved clients, this means there are zero up-front costs required by our clients, for the installation of our solar energy system.

Our company provides the total, turnkey solar energy system design/engineering through installation, "in-house."  This means we provide the following; 

• project identification

• project analysis

• design/engineering

• finance (through investors and joint venture partners)

• installation or construction

• ownership (with PPA)

• operations

• maintenance and service or our solar energy systems

We have successfully completed "turnkey" installations of our solar energy systems for clients that include residential, commercial, industrial, and government.  Our present clients and projects include a large pipeline of solar energy systems projects that are now in design &/or under development or construction. Our present projects range in size from:

100 kW to 90 MW

We recently completed a 160 kW solar energy system for a major hotel wherein we self-funded their new "Rooftop PV System" with our Power Purchase Agreement.

Our solar power and energy project development services and capabilities include multiple solar technologies, including;

• Concentrating Solar Power 

• Concentrating Photovoltaic 

• High Concentration Photovoltaic

for utility scale solar power plant applications.

And our Super High Efficiency Solar Cogeneration & Solar Trigeneration Energy Systems:

• Solar Cogeneration Energy Systems  

• Solar Trigeneration Energy Systems

for commercial, government, industrial and municipal clients. 

What is a Power Purchase Agreement? 

A Power Purchase Agreement is a legal agreement wherein our clients agree to buy either the power (electricity) or the power and energy (hot water, steam and/or chilled water for air-conditioning) - or both - directly from us, for a term of 10 to 20 years, where we have installed, own and operate our solar energy systems. 

In nearly every case, once we have installed our solar energy systems at our client's facility, we can immediately reduce our (commercial) client's electricity expenses by 10% over what they were paying for their power electricity from their electric utility.

The right Power Purchase Agreement, solar cogeneration or solar trigeneration energy solution, may save your company hundreds of thousands, and possibly millions of dollars over the term of the agreement.  

Simultaneously, having the wrong or poorly drafted PPA can cost your company thousands or millions of dollars.  You wouldn't consult a brain surgeon to treat your child's broken bone!  Selecting the wrong attorneys, law firm or team to promulgate or re-negotiate your Power Purchase Agreement can leave you "powerless" and penniless - and still requiring the skills and expertise of competent and qualified professionals to resolve the situation.

Because a Power Purchase Agreement is at the "heart" and underlying foundation of our projects, we can help your business with the selection and oversight of PPA's. 

We can help your city or community create a Municipal Utility District or Public Utility District that may then qualify for our very competitively priced energy and electricity rates. Now is the time for cities, municipal and governmental clients to consider having our company install one of our renewable power and energy systems that will generate "clean" power and energy, lower costs, and avoid the coming electricity shortages and grid congestion problems!  

Products and services provided by us include the following power and energy project development services: 

• Project Engineering Feasibility & Economic Analysis Studies  

• Engineering, Procurement and Construction

• Environmental Engineering & Permitting 

• Project Funding & Financing Options; including Equity Investment, Debt Financing, Lease and Municipal Lease

• Shared/Guaranteed Savings Program with No Capital Investment from Qualified Clients 

• Project Commissioning 

• 3rd Party Ownership and Project Development

• Long-term Service Agreements

• Operations & Maintenance 

• Green Tag (Renewable Energy Credit, Carbon Dioxide Credits, Emission Reduction Credits) Brokerage Services; Application and Permitting

More about Power Purchase Agreements

A Power Purchase Agreement is "behind" almost every power plant.  A PPA is a contract involving the generation and sales of electricity - which is normally developed between the owner of a power plant generating the electricity, and the buyer of the electricity. PPA's can be quite lengthy agreements that may exceed 100 pages in length and take several months to even 1-2 years to finalize.  

The basic information contained in a Power Purchase Agreement include the following items:

          * Definitions
          * Purchase and Sale of Contracted Capacity and Energy (such as steam, hot
             water and/or chilled water in the case of cogeneration and trigeneration
             plants
          * Operation of the Power Plant
          * Financing of the Power Plant
          * Guarantees of Performance
          * Penalties
          * Payments
          * Force Majeure
          * Default and Early Termination
          * Miscellaneous
          * T&C's

For more information about Power Purchase Agreements, call or e-mail us today. 

High Concentration Photovoltaic
www.HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com

Advertise Your  Company, Product, or Solar Services
at the BEST website address for HCPV!

www.HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com

Advertising inquiries may be directed to
The Renewable Energy Institute

info@HighConcentrationPhotovoltaic.com

What Is a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA)?

A Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) is a financial arrangement in which a third-party developer owns, operates, and maintains the photovoltaic (PV) system, and a host customer agrees to site the system on its roof or elsewhere on its property and purchases the system’s electric output from the solar services provider for a predetermined period. This financial arrangement allows the host customer to receive stable, and sometimes lower cost electricity, while the solar services provider or another party acquires valuable financial benefits such as tax credits and income generated from the sale of electricity to the host customer.

With this business model, the host customer buys the services produced by the PV system rather than the PV system itself. This framework is referred to as the “solar services” model, and the developers who offer Solar Power Purchase Agreements are known as solar services providers. Solar Power Purchase Agreement arrangements enable the host customer to avoid many of the traditional barriers to adoption for organizations looking to install solar systems: high up-front capital costs; system performance risk; and complex design and permitting processes. In addition, Solar Power Purchase Agreement arrangements can be cash flow positive for the host customer from the day the system is commissioned.

How do Solar Power Purchase Agreements Work?

Figure 1 below illustrates the roles of all participants in a Solar Power Purchase Agreement.

A host customer agrees to have solar panels installed on its property, typically its roof, and signs a long-term contract with the solar services provider to purchase the generated power. The host property can be either owned or leased (note that for leased properties, solar financing works best for customers that have a long-term lease). The purchase price of the generated electricity is typically at or slightly below the retail electric rate the host customer would pay its utility service provider. 

Solar Power Purchase Agreement rates can be fixed, but they often contain an annual price escalator in the range of one to five percent to account for system efficiency decreases as the system ages and inflation-related costs increases for system operation, monitoring, maintenance, and anticipated increases in the price of grid-delivered electricity. A Solar Power Purchase Agreement is a performance-based arrangement in which the host customer pays only for what the system produces. The term length of most Solar Power Purchase Agreements can range from six years (i.e., the time by which available tax benefits are fully realized) to as long as 25 years.

The solar services provider functions as the project coordinator, arranging the financing, design, permitting, and construction of the system. The solar services provider purchases the solar panels for the project from a PV manufacturer, who provides warranties for system equipment.

The installer will design the system, specify the appropriate system components, and may perform the follow-up maintenance over the life of the PV system. To install the system, the solar services provider might use an in-house team of installers or have a contractual relationship with an independent installer. Once the Solar Power Purchase Agreement contract is signed, a typical installation can usually be completed in three to six months.

An investor provides equity financing and receives the federal and state tax benefits for which the system is eligible. Under certain circumstances, the investor and the solar services provider may together form a special purpose entity for the project to function as the legal entity that receives and distributes to the investor payments from the sale of the systems kWh output and tax benefits.

The utility serving the host customer provides an interconnection from the PV system to the grid, and continues its electric service with the host customer to cover the periods during which the system is producing less than the site’s electric demand. Certain states have net metering requirements in place that provide a method of crediting customers who produce electricity on-site for generation in excess of their own electricity consumption. In most states, the utility will credit excess electricity produced from the PV system, although the compensation varies significantly depending on state polices.

Some of the above information from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency with permission.

What are "renewable energy resources?"

"Renewable energy resources" include; 

• Biomethane  

• B100 Biodiesel

• E100 Ethanol

• Hydrogen Fuel

• Solar Power & Energy (for homes and businesses)

• Synthesis Gas

• Utility Scale Solar Power Plants

• Wind Power Generation

What is "carbon free energy?"

"Carbon free energy" is energy that is produced or generated without producing any carbon dioxide emissions.  Even nuclear power plants generate "carbon free energy." Renewable energy technologies that are used in the production and generation of carbon free energy include;

• Anaerobic Digesters

• Biogas Plants

• Biodiesel Refineries

• Biomass Gasification

• Concentrating Photovoltaic

• Concentrating Solar Power

• Decentralized Energy

• Dispersed Generation

• Distributed Generation

• Distributed PV

• EcoGeneration

• Evacuated Tube Collectors

• High Concentration Photovoltaic

• High Voltage Direct Curent

• Hydrogen Fuel Cells

• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

• Net Zero Energy

• Net Zero Energy Buildings

• Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells

• Plasma Gasification

• Solar Absorption Cooling

• Solar Cogeneration  

• Solar Desalination (Clean Water and Clean Power!)

• Solar Electric Power Systems

• Solar Energy Systems

• Solar Heating And Cooling

• Solar Power And Energy

• Solar Thermal Collectors

• Solar Trigeneration

• Thin Film Photovoltaics

• Trigeneration

• Waste To Energy 

• Waste to Fuel 

Energy Efficiency Measures and Energy Conservation Measures such as Automated Demand Response and Demand Side Management and Energy Efficient Lighting, while not "generating" carbon free energy, provides significant increases in efficiencies, thereby reducing the overall need for energy, which may come from central power plants that are very inefficient and generate significant amounts of carbon dioxide emissions.

Even nuclear power plants generate "carbon free energy."   These are just some examples of carbon-free renewable energy. The purpose of all these methods is to combat the increase in greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our impact on the environment as a whole.

_______________________________________________________________________

What is Polycrystalline Silicon?

Polycrystalline silicon, also referred to as "semicrystalline silicon," "polysilicon," "poly-Si," or just "poly," is a material consisting of small silicon crystals. Polycrystalline silicon cells are recognized by their visible grain known as the “metal flake effect.”

Semiconductor grade as well as "solar grade" polycrystalline silicon is converted to "single crystal" silicon - meaning that the randomly associated crystallites of silicon in "polycrystalline silicon" are converted to a large "single" crystal.  Single crystal silicon is used to manufacture most Si-based microelectronic devices. Polycrystalline silicon can be as high in purity as 99.9999%.

What is "Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide?"

Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CuInSe2) is a material that provides an extremely high absorption of light ( 99%) to be absorbed in the first micron of the material. Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide is projected to be the revolutionary material that some are saying, could put typical "central" power plants and some electric utilities, out of business, as it will be much cheaper for customers to generate their own onsite power with Thin Film Photovoltaics made from these materials.   

When additional small amounts of Gallium is added to Copper Indium diSelenide, this increases its' light-absorbing band gap, thereby making the solar panel more closely match the solar spectrum of the sun.  This, in turn, increases the voltage and the efficiency of the Thin Film Photovoltaics solar panel. 

Solar panels produced with Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide cells have reached efficiencies of more than 20% - which is much higher than the other Thin Film Photovoltaics. 

Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide solar panels create more electricity from the same amount of sunlight than other Thin Film Photovoltaics panels.  This translates into a higher conversion efficiency. 

The conversion efficiency of Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide PV technologies is very stable over time, meaning its power output remains stable over many years, while the power output of many other PV materials can rapidly decline with time. 

What are "Building Integrated Photovoltaics?"

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) are solar energy systems that are integrated into a part of the building, that serve as the building's exterior or the building's skin. 

Commercial buildings and facilities (including houses) that integrate their own solar power systems into the building's exteriors, are referred to as "power buildings."

The technology that makes this possible is "Thin Film Photovoltaics."

What are Thin Film Photovoltaics?

Without a doubt, the most exciting technology in the solar power industry is "Thin Film Photovoltaics."  Thin Film Photovoltaics technology represents the next big thing in renewable energy and solar power as it integrates nanotechnologies into the production of solar photovoltaics. 

According to the Department of Energy, the recent technological advances in thin film photovoltaics make this a very exciting time to be in the solar energy industry.  These advances have led to many new developments in the components and manufacturing of thin film photovoltaics. This has made thin film photovoltaics cheaper to manufacture as they are also now easier to install since they are extremely versatile, flexible, bendable, and much lighter.

Thin film photovoltaics  have led many to believe that as much as 50% of our nation's future power will be generated by "power buildings" that integrate "building integrated photovoltaics" or "BIPV" into the building's skin or exterior surfaces, that convert sunlight into "pollution free power" for use in the building.  This also designates these buildings (and homes) as "Net Zero Energy Buildings" and make the option for going grid-free, or not connecting to the grid, a real possibility.

According to the Department of Energy, the market potential for printed electronics will grow into a $47 billion market by 2018.  Thin film photovoltaics represents a significant portion of this market - and based on this heavily researched solar technology, thin film photovoltaics now represents a $20 billion/year industry in the U.S.

The solar PV panels produced under the thin film photovoltaics umbrella have the potential to produce power significantly cheaper power than today’s typical silicon-based PV panels.  The panels are usually made in the form of a monolithic piece of glass, upon which various thin films are deposited, although a number of firms are working on depositing the materials on a substrate, such as stainless steel or plastic.

Types of Thin Film Photovoltaics – there are primarily three types of thin film photovoltaics and include:

1. Amorphous Silicon

2. Cadmium Telluride

3. Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide

Amorphous Silicon had the largest share of the thin film photovoltaics market through 2006. It has been researched for the longest period of time, may be the best understood material of the three and has been commercial for the longest. 

Cadmium Telluride, a very toxic chemical and has the remaining share and is growing. 

• Lower cost of production of the 

• Lower production facility cost per watt - CapEx

• Uses as little as 1/500 of the amount used in standard silicon cells

• Lower energy payback – amount of time until the product produces more energy than was utilized in its manufacture.

• Produces more power/watt

• Superior performance in hot and cloudy climates

• Integrates seemlessly in homes and buildings – see Building Integrated Photovoltaics 

• Produces the lowest cost power

_______________________________________________________________________

About Us

We provide renewable energy engineering services and turnkey installations of our solar energy systems for commercial, municipal, government, schools and utility clients with projects located in the U.S., Canada Central America and the Caribbean. In many cases, we may also be able to provide project finance or investment. 

• Automated Demand Response

• Biomethane 

• Carbon Dioxide Emissions Consulting

• Carbon Emissions Consulting & Solutions

• Carbon Free Energy

• Clean Energy Parks

• Clean Power Generation

• Concentrated Solar Power

• Concentrating Photovoltaic

• Concentrating Solar Power

• Decentralized Energy

• Demand Side Management

• Distributed Generation

• Evacuated Tube Collectors

• Geothermal Power Plants 

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions consulting

• Ground Source Heat Pumps

• High Concentration Photovoltaic

• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

• Onsite Power Generation

• Natural Wastewater Treatment Plants 

• Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells

• Pollution Free Power

• Power Purchase Agreements

• PPA Funding

• Renewable Energy Capital

• Renewable Energy Centers

• Renewable Energy Credit consulting

• Renewable Energy Funds

• Renewable Energy Investments

• Renewable Energy Parks

• Renewable Energy Technologies

• Solar Cogeneration

• Solar Desalination

• Solar Electric Power Systems

• Solar Energy Systems

• Solar Heating And Cooling

• Solar Power And Energy

• Solar Power Purchase Agreements

• Solar Thermal Collectors

• Solar Trigeneration

• Thin Film Photovoltaics

• Trigeneration

• Waste To Energy 

• Waste to Fuel 

• Wind Farm Development

• Wind Power Generation

_____________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Linked to 
the Loss of Polar Bears

Monty Goodell, MBA
Founder and Chairman
Renewable Energy Institute

The Renewable Energy Institute (REI) does not take a stand in the debate on global warming, and if there is global warming, is it "anthropogenic" or is it caused by the sun, or the sun's normal cycles.  Or, if there is " climate change," is it "global cooling" caused by the water vapor in the atmosphere? The stand we take is that we need to invest in renewable energy technologies, producing clean, renewable energy that doesn't pollute the planet, and end America's addiction to crude oil from foreign countries where we now spend OVER $1 Billion/day, to buy the oil we need, and some of those suppliers (muslims in foreign countries) take our dollars and make bombs and bullets and send our boys back in body bags. We need to stop this, and put American's back to work, generating "green power and energy" right here at home.

At the Renewable Energy Institute, we are waiting for the "true" scientists who doing the real research, to provide us with the science and answers critically needed to formulate correct policy - and not the phony " scientists" who are following politically-motivated and profit-driven agendas of the United Nations and government leaders. These phony scientists are not interested in conducting real scientific research.  Their very livelihoods are dependent on the government grants to fund their phony research that have pre-determined conclusions before and "research" is conducted.  

Political-interference by governments, governmental agencies, and bureaucrats that hand out billions of tax-payers dollars to phony scientists to conduct "junk science" and research,  expect the conclusions that supports anthropogenic global warming, or climate change. 

When scientists conclude in their research that they find no evidence of anthropogenic climate change or global warming, they are summarily dismissed, and black-balled from their communities and colleagues, and never again receive funding or grants.  Grants and funding by government bureaucrats with politically-driven agendas to "scientists" expecting their pre-determined results and conclusions supporting anthropogenic global warming must stop.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2007

• the solar industry received $198 million in subsidies.

• the oil and natural gas industry collected $2.1 Billion in tax-payer subsidies.

• the coal industry coal received $3.2 Billion in tax-payer subsidies.

And since 1960:

• the nuclear industry has received nearly $70 billion in tax-payer incentives and tax-payer subsidies. 

Taxpayers have bankrolled the oil and gas industry, and the coal industry for 100 years now, and the nuclear industry for 50 years, to keep these dirty fuels and energy "cheap." Take away the tax-payer incentives and tax dollars, and we believe the real cost of gasoline, would be similar to the gasoline cost in Europe - $7.00 - $8.00/gallon!

In the meantime, our U.S. Military is spending billions of tax-payer dollars each year protecting the Straits of Hormuz where much of the world's crude oil is produced and shipped through the straits' international shipping lanes.  Each day, hundreds of "very large crude carriers" pass through the Straits of Hormuz carrying oil from OPEC and the Middle-East to the U.S. and many other countries. 

Isn't it time we take some of the tax-payer dollars supporting the nuclear, coal and oil and gas industries, and start incentivizing clean, renewable energy technologies that don't pollute or harm the environment in any way?  Isn't it time that America ends its reliance on non-sustainable energy sources and stop over $1 billion every day, to oil suppliers from foreign countries, and start putting this money in "solar on every rooftop?!?

Mercury Emissions from Coal Fired Power Plants Far More Harmful to the Planet and People than Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Regarding the harm being caused to our planet from energy use, far more harm is being done to the planet, as well as to people and plants and animals, particularly fish, from the mercury emissions from coal fired power plants than from the coal fired power plants' greenhouse gas emissions.  We surmise that if any polar bears have died as a result of an environmental problem, it was more likely from the high levels of mercury in their food chain, than from greenhouse gas emissions. 

The Renewable Energy Institute is supporting and advancing renewable energy technologies, as well as reducing and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and the fossil-fuel problems related to America's oil addiction and ending our dependence on foreign oil.  The renewable energy technologies we support are already deemed to be economic, viable and practical. Solutions such as Solar Trigeneration energy systems (see www.SolarTrigeneration.com for more information) for any kind of facility or building - office buildings, shopping centers, data centers, university campuses, etc. 

Since 2003, a Solar Trigeneration energy system has been providing 100% of the power and energy for a 5,300 sq. ft. office building near downtown Los Angeles, and doing so without any connection to the electric grid, whether its 12 noon or 12 midnite!  

The Renewable Energy Institute is also involved in research and advocacy of "Net Zero Energy" (see: www.NetZeroEnergy.com for more information) and "Net Zero Energy Buildings" (see:  www.NetZeroEnergyBuildings.com for more information).  Net Zero Energy Buildings generate as much (or more) energy than they use, and export their excess power to the grid, which we believe needs to be updated into a "Transmission Superhighway."

Climate Change, Global Warming or Global Cooling?

The past 10 years indicates the opposite of "global warming" has occurred - that the "Earths Fever" has and that global cooling has taken place. 

Weather, on a daily basis, or even an annual basis, is not climate, and climate is not weather. 

"Climate change" is always taking place, from one day to the next, and one week to the next, as well as one year to the next. The planet's climate is an ever-evolving, changing and dynamic process.  

Again, researchers and scientists need to refrain from being political, and stay out of politics, and politicians need to stay out of the way of the scientists and researchers, and let them do their work.  Politicians, government leaders and bureaucrats scientists need true and accurate data and climate research from scientists that do not have a political agenda.

In the meantime, as there may still be 30 years of research before there are conclusive answers concerning anthropogenic climate change, can we "risk" 30 years of our children and grand children's future, should there is a link between climate change and greenhouse gas emissions?  Should we not err on the side of caution?

Hubbert's Peak Oil Predictions Now Proving True?

Marion King Hubbert was a geologist and scientist who worked at Shell Oil company's research lab in Houston, Texas.  Hubbert made several important contributions to geology, geophysics and petroleum geology.  Hubbert is most recognized for the "Hubbert Curve" and " Hubbert Peak Theory" which is now referred to as " Peak Oil. 

Hubbert's life work determined that the world has a finite amount of petroleum that can be produced.  (Similarly, there is a finite amount of coal.) Many scientists and engineers believe we have reached Hubbert's "peak oil" limit.  Hubbert's espouses that when 50% of domestic crude oil production has been reached, that there will be such significant upward demand on prices of the limited supplies of oil production, that the U.S. economy will experience severe economic, social, and political turmoil.

Hubbert's Peak Oil predictions have proven to be true and this is validated as the U.S. in the early 1970's produced about 60% of its' oil demand and imported 40%.  That equation has flipped since then, because our domestic oil production has been on the decline since 1970, so now, due to our declining domestic oil production, we have to import 60% of our oil supplies, to meet our country's oil/energy demands.

The Next Oil Shock Could be the "mother" of All Oil Shocks

How severe our economic calamity and next "oil shock" will depend upon a number of factors, including when this occurs, as well as the following:

1.  the dependence of the individual country upon its own crude oil production to meet its energy needs and to subsidize consumer imports; 

2.  the rate of relative decline in crude oil production; 

3.  the degree of difficulty encountered in replacing missing energy inputs; 

4.  the degree to which our country had prepared in advance for this inevitable geological and economic calamity.

Examples of past "oil shocks" and the economic and political calamities that followed:

United States: Our peak crude oil production of domestic oil occurred in 1970; the first "oil shock" and oil crisis followed in 1973 with the Arab/OPEC Oil Embargo.

Iran: Their peak crude oil production occurred in 1974; They had their islamic revolution 1979 that overturned government and replaced it with radical islam.

Soviet Union: Their peak crude oil production was in 1989; what happened next? 
Their country disintegrated and the collapse of the Soviet Union followed in 1991. 

Indonesia: Their peak crude oil production was in 1991; their financial and government crisis followed in 1997.

Iraq: Iraq's crude oil production was in 1989; they then invaded Kuwait (for their oil) in 1991.

Using Mr. Hubbert's predictions, that beginning around 2000  we would see peak (global) oil production, then, if the country's not weaning themselves off of their oil addiction, and had not begun making the switch to renewable energy, that the negative economic and political calamities would soon follow, including ever-increasing prices of energy that is from fossil fuels. 

Now is the time to begin weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels and making the transition to and increasing the use of renewable energy. If you don't believe in climate change, or global warming, GREAT! Join us in the switch to renewable energy and a fossil-free economy!

America's "Clear and Present Danger"

America Has INCREASED its' Dependence on Foreign 
Sources of Energy by 50% Since 1973.

America is even more "addicted" to foreign oil today, than we were in 1973 - 1974 when OPEC, Saudi Arabia and other suppliers from the Middle-East  stopped selling us their fossil fuels, and created a significant blow to our economy.

___________________________________________________________________________

For More Information, Visit One of the Following Sites

Our following EcoGeneration technologies, including our Biomethane, B100 Biodiesel and Synthesis Gas Fuels Generated from our "Waste to Fuel" technologies are Carbon Free Energy and Pollution Free Power solutions that will:

* forever change the way energy is generated and used.

^{_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

The information contained on this site is copyright protected and 
cannot be reproduced in any form or manner without our consent.

Utility Solar Power
www.UtilitySolarPower.com

info@UtilitySolarPower.com

Renewable Energy Institute

Copyright © 2007
All Rights Reserved