Solar Visions

Something a little different today. Thought I would share some favorite solar images I found. A little solar flare if you will….

De Llevant a Ponent

Vesprada del 5 de gener, vesprada de la Cavalcada de Reis. Els xiquets tenen tota la il·lusió en saber quin regal tindran. A nosaltres, la vesprada ens va fer un bon regal: l’espectacle de la posta de sol.

Tarde del 5 de enero, tarde de la Cabalgata de Reyes. Los niños tiene toda la ilusión en saber qué regalo tendrán. A nosotros la tarde nos hizo un buen regalo: el espectáculo de la puesta de sol

Author:Salva Mira

Spain – Barcelona – Solar Array – sq

I rather liked this sculptural Solar Array (by Torres & Lapena, Architects) on the waterfront at the Port Forum, Barcelona. It forms part of the largest in Europe and when I get a few minutes it’d be interested to see just how many typical houses this powers.

"The 10,500 m² solar array on Forum Esplanade has reduced Barcelona’s carbon emissions by 440 tonnes a year. The solar array on Forum Esplanade is the city’s sustainable landmark, creating a distinctive cityscape along the beach promenade.

Barcelona’s solar energy regulations have become a model for other municipalities that have adopted the initiative – in some places with even higher ambitions. More than 20 Spanish local authorities have followed Barcelona’s good example."

Source : sustainablecities.dk

Author:Darrell Godliman

Sipea siège 38

Sipéa builds and runs social housing in Poitiers, central France. This new building houses their headquarters. It was conceived so that its operating cost would be negative : the selling to the grid of the electricity produced by the photovoltaïc array incorporated into the south-facing side ot the roof more than offsets the running costs of the building (heating, ventilation, etc.). This is achieved not only by producing energy locally (photovoltaïc array : 80m², 8,2 kWp, 9 000 kWh/year), but also through a sharp reduction in the heating and cooling requirements of the building, thanks to careful design and construction. The roof is a see-through photovoltaïc installation : the cells are spaced out between two sheets of glass, mouted in a double-glazed sun-roof. The roof lets natural lighting though, affords protection against direct solar glare, reduces heat loss and produces electricity. The yearly operation of the building requires very little active heating, thanks to an oustanding insulation (22 cm of cellulosic wool in the outer walls) and no active cooling at all. Because the building was well conceived, construction costs were kept at 1500 €/m² (roughly $207/square foot) and yearly operating costs run 30 000 € less than their previious headquarters, which were smaller than this building.

Author:paspog

Welcome to the Anthropocene

Future generations will probably look back on the Petroleum Age with a certain amount of disbelief: "They burned it? All those lovely organic molecules, and they just burned it?" (Ken Deffeyes, oil geologist)

Landscapes with a long tele lens it’s not my comfort zone. Keeping an heavy 300mm steady under strong wind it’s not an easy job, even with a solid tripod and a trigger releaser. Under the circumstances, however, it was the best solution I found for an uninteresting foreground that made my wide angle useless.

Author:Retinol

Central Solar Fotovoltaica da Amareleja 2 – Solar Energy Pool – Panneau Solaire

Portugal – Amareleja é uma freguesia portuguesa, com +/- 108 km² de área e cerca de 2 800 habitantes, pertencente ao Concelho de Moura – Distrito de Beja.
É neste momento a maior Central do mundo deste tipo e foi planeada e construída para produzir energia não poluente durante 25 anos.

Author:miguel jose cardoso

Solar Energy Panels at Death Valley, California

Solar photovoltaic array at the Death Valley National Park visitor’s center.

Author:Desert Vu

Spain – Barcelona – Solar Array 01

I thought I’d upload a few more images of the Pergola Fotovoltaica of the Forum Esplanade. Co-incidentally I saw the structure featured on a car add last night which seemed somewhat ironic as I don’t think it was for an electric car.

Author:Darrell Godliman

Solar Panels

Oroville Wastewater Treatment Plant, (Butte County, Sacramento Valley) 2004

Author:Great Valley Center

Solar Near Solomon

This is a tidy looking system. It has been here for awhile, but it must have been installed this year because if you view the house with Google Map’s "street view" the roof is bare.

@ Fothergill and Solomon Streets. Fremantle, Western Australia.

Author:suavehouse113