Dan Ilett - Greenbang (Page 27)

Study: Even for the skeptical, smart meters pay off

Rolling out smart energy meters makes financial sense for utilities and customers even in regions where electricity costs are low, fossil fuel generation is high and the public is skeptical about climate change, according to a new report. The paper from the Institute for Electric Efficiency (IEE) shows that, for

analytics

New IBM lab aims to speed up innovative services

IBM has created a new Services Innovation Lab aimed at speeding up both its technology service offerings and capabilities. The lab of some 200 technology experts hand-picked from around the company will focus on such projects as applications for mobile computing and smarter networks, cloud computing, advanced analytics and service

photovoltaics

Denver airport is tops in solar energy

Denver’s International Airport (DIA) can now say it generates more solar power than any other commercial airport in the US. With the completion of a 4.4-megawatt, ground-mounted solar energy system, the airport now produces more than 8 megawatts of power from three large-scale solar projects. Constellation Energy built,

renewables

5 more US veterans hospitals to go solar by 2012

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to install solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems at five VA hospitals by next summer. The $56.7 million program is part of the agency’s ongoing energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts. “The benefits of using solar power are profound, from reducing

wireless communications

Cellular South, SmartSynch target smart-utility market

Mississippi-based smart-grid company SmartSynch has come together with Cellular South to introduce an advanced communications solution for the utility market. Utilities that are looking for residential code division multiple access (CDMA) support to automate their electricity grid can now access Cellular South’s CDMA wireless network services by using SmartSynch’

lighting

Indian cities aim to save energy with LEDs

Three cities in India are installing LED (light-emitting diode) lamps as part of a global effort to switch to better, more energy-efficient lighting. Thane, Kolkata and Haldia have all joined The Climate Group’s global LED project and are working to replace existing streetlights with longer-lasting, high-efficiency LEDs. Kolkata expects

green buildings

Taipei boasts world's greenest skyscraper, TAIPEI 101

TAIPEI 101, one of the world’s tallest buildings, is also now the world’s greenest skyscraper. The 1,667-foot (508-meter) tower in Taipei has earned the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification, the highest level for energy efficiency and environmental design.

energy storage

Battery backup could be wind-power 'game-changer'

A Minnesota wind farm aims to boost the reliability of its energy supply with the addition of a 1-megawatt advanced energy storage system. Juhl Wind plans to install the system from Zinc Air at its recently acquired Woodstock Hills wind farm located near the company’s headquarters in Woodstock, Minnesota.

energy storage

Hangzhou to test battery system for wind-energy storage

An energy company in China is installing a large battery system at its plant in Hangzhou to test how advanced energy storage can help deal with the challenges posed by the country’s rapid wind-energy growth. The 500-kilowatt system from A123 Systems is set to be installed at Dongfang Electric

photovoltaics

First Solar hits new PV cell efficiency record

Arizona-based photovoltaics (PV) firm First Solar says it’s achieved a new world record in efficiency for a cadmium-telluride (CdTe) solar cell. The test cell made using commercial-scale manufacturing equipment and materials reached an efficiency of 17.3 percent, according to the company. The test cell’s performance, confirmed by

networking

Malaysian mega-development eyes digital living

Nusajaya, a 24,000-acre real-estate development on the southwestern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, is working to become a “smart,” digitally connected city. The initiative supports the government’s goal of creating a Digital Malaysia master plan for a more integrated, interconnected and innovative economy. Nusajaya’s development will be

energy monitoring

In smart-meter pilot, a majority change energy habits

More than two-thirds — 71 percent — of the people who took part in a smart-meter pilot program in Texas last fall say they have changed their energy consumption habits as a result of the usage data they could view on in-home displays. A survey of the 500 participants was released today

innovation

DiCaprio, Nasheed join Zayed Future Energy Prize jury

Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed and Oscar-award-winning actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio are among the new members of the jury for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, which recognizes innovation, leadership, long-term vision and impact in renewable energy and sustainability. Other new jury members include: * Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy

energy

Joule awarded patents for 'fuel from sun' innovation

Joule Unlimited Technologies, which is working to produce “Liquid Fuel from the Sun,” has been awarded its first two US patents for its new ethanol production method. The patents relate to Joule’s methods for increasing the ability of a photosynthetic microorganism to produce ethanol. According to the company, its

Arctic College visualizes, then builds, more efficient buildings

Software from Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) helped Canada’s Arctic College improve the energy efficiency of two of its Nunavut Research Institute (NRI) buildings. Located in a remote part of Canada with extremely high heating demands and energy costs, the Government of Nunavut Community and Government Services (GN CGS) brought

photovoltaics

DuPont acquires solar-cell innovator Innovalight

DuPont has boosted its position in the solar energy market with the acquisition of Innovalight, a company that specializes in advanced silicon inks and process technologies that increase the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. DuPont reported more than $1 billion in

energy storage

With fresh cash, Altairnano eyes growing energy storage market

Advanced battery company Altair Nanotechnologies has closed on a $57.5 million investment from Canon Investment Holdings Limited. The investment was first announced in September of 2010. “While this transaction took considerably longer to close than expected, the Canon investment allows us to now focus on growing the business and

smart buildings

Agilewaves aims to make buildings smarter than ever

Agilewaves, a building energy management firm based in California, has developed a turnkey system that meets the requirements of the new LEED Advanced Energy Metering credits. The Agilewaves Building Optimization System supports: * Permanently installed meters with recording intervals stored in 5-minute increments * Measurements for consumption, demand and power factor * Ability

energy grid

New rules aim to improve US grid planning processes

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this week changed its requirements for transmission planning and cost allocation. The changes are aimed at helping consumers by enhancing the electricity grid’s ability to support wholesale power markets and ensuring transmission services are provided at “just and reasonable rates.” The new

energy

Challenge aims to find world's top 10 energy innovations

A new initiative announced today aims to find the top sustainable energy innovations that can be quickly and cost-effectively brought to both developed and developing countries on a large scale. The LAUNCH: Energy Challenge is the third challenge to be tackled by LAUNCH, a program led by the US Agency

cleantech

Green technology investors seek safer havens in 2011

As federal stimulus funding for cleantech development runs out, market activity is shifting to safer technologies with quicker and more predictable returns, according to a mid-year update from Peachtree Capital Advisors, an investment bank that offers advice on mergers and acquisitions. The “2011 Mid-Year Greentech M&A (merger-and-acquisition) Review”

peak demand

US sees record power demands during heat wave

An extreme heat wave that’s now moved into the northeastern US and Canada pushed electricity demand to its highest level ever in the Midwest and eastern states, although the grid has so far remained stable. The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) reported that electricity demand in its 12-state

smart metering

UK agency investigates benefits of energy meter data

ELEXON, which provides balancing and settlement services to the UK electricity industry, plans to investigate the potential benefits that could come from using more accurate, up-to-date data from smart meters in homes and small businesses. In a just-launched consultation, ELEXON is seeking public input into how smart meters could help

City picks Tantalus for 'gee-whiz gadget' communications

The Missouri city of Fulton is enlisting the help of Tantalus to provide the communications backbone for its smart grid. The city’s smart-grid deployment is funded by a US Department of Energy grant with strict performance requirements. City officials say their selected Tantalus based on a number of criteria,

GE completes purchase of Irish smart-grid firm

GE has finalized its acquisition of FMC-Tech, a smart-grid technology provider based in Ireland. The acquisition, first announced in May, expands GE’s presence in the emerging smart-grid market in the UK and Ireland. FMC-Tech provides real-time monitoring capabilities for power lines. ESB Networks, an Irish electricity distribution operator, has