Tag Archives: japan

Recycling 201: Things You Didn’t Know Could Be Recycled

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Image Credit: Pixabay   Have you ever heard the myth that all your recyclables just end up in the landfill anyways? Or that if you don’t properly wash out your spaghetti sauce jar, it ruins the entire batch of recyclables it is commingled with? Those, among others, are not true and are just the tip of the iceberg of things …

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Solar panels floating on water are a beautiful solution to two problems

We can save land and water by building floating solar panels   Singapore, a country half the size of Los Angeles, is home to 5.4 million people. This makes the island city-state one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with roughly 7,500 people packed into each square kilometre. When almost your entire population lives in a high-rise, …

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North American wood companies have the world largest ORC-based biomass power plants

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West Fraser’s 2×13 MW biomass power plants operating commercially since beginning of 2015. Maine Wood Pellet’s 8 MW power unit to start up early in 2016 in the United States.   Brescia, October 7th, 2015 – Turboden, a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), leader in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power systems for distributed generation from renewable sources and …

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China to Install More Solar than Europe in 2014

Asia Drives Global PV Installations to 46 GW, IHS Predicts Global solar photovoltaic (PV) installations will grow by a robust 22 percent in 2014, largely as a result of recent policy changes in the two largest markets, China and Japan, according to IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS). Worldwide installations in 2014 will rise to 46 GW (gigawatts), 5 GW higher than …

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Geothermal Potential in California

Still Largely Untapped, Industry Group Tells CARB As the California Air Resources Board is examining their new scoping plan for implementing the state’s ambitious climate law, AB 32, the leading geothermal industry group has issued a status report on the state’s geothermal resources that says they are still largely untapped. Geothermal power is “a viable, cost effective, and plentiful renewable energy …

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Solar Market Predictions for 2014

This is an IHS News Flash covering the top predictions for the global photovoltaic (PV) market in 2014, from a new white paper issued by the IHS Solar service at information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). “After two years of a punishing downturn, the global solar industry is on the rebound,” said Ash Sharma, senior research director for solar at IHS. …

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Global PV Prices Will Increase Nine Percent in 2014

     New report forecasts global module prices by country and provides detailed market outlook for suppliers This year, the solar PV supply chain began to stabilize due to robust demand growth, capacity retirements and mothballing by uncompetitive firms, trade conflicts, and a general focus by suppliers on margins over sales growth. According to a new report by GTM Research, PV Pricing Outlook 2014: Value …

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Solar Energy Installs To Continue Rise

Global Solar Installation Growth Set to Hit Three-Year High in 2014 Global photovoltaic (PV) installations are forecast to rise at the fastest pace in three years in 2014, exceeding 40 gigawatts (GW) for this first time and generating installation revenue of more than $86 billion, according to IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS). Annual solar installations are predicted to expand at a …

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Japan’s Zero Nuclear Power Issue Triples PV Market Demand in 2013

Regular inspections have been conducted on the No.4 reactor at the Oi nuclear power plant. However, delay on the inspections has once again led to Japan’s “zero nuclear power” status. Since nuclear power is still the major source of base-load electricity while other units are still applying for re-activation, it’s estimated that it will take at least half a year …

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Global Market for Geothermal Continues Upswing

The Geothermal Energy Association today released a new report showing continued strong growth signals in the international market for geothermal power. The report, 2013 Geothermal Power: International Market Overview, identifies 70 countries moving forward with nearly 700 geothermal power projects. “The number of geothermal projects continues to grow as more and more countries recognize the potential economic and environmental benefits that geothermal …

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The Era of Low-Cost Chinese Solar Modules in Europe Ends as Tariffs Drive Up Pricing

The European Union’s antidumping tariffs are spurring an increase in prices for Chinese solar modules, marking the end of a period when available inexpensive photovoltaic (PV) devices enabled fast growth of installations in the region. After declining for 48 months since the first quarter of 2009, with a seasonal uptick in February 2013) , average pricing for Chinese crystal polysilicon …

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Solar In Japan Now Booming

Japan Set to Become World’s Largest Solar Revenue Market in 2013 as Installations Boom in Q1   Japan’s solar installations surged by a stunning 270 percent (in gigawatts (GW)) in the first quarter of 2013, positioning the country to surpass Germany to become the world’s largest photovoltaics (PV) market in terms of revenue this year.   Although Japan is forecast …

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Wind Turbines Working in Extreme Wind

With turbines operating in extreme wind regimes such as the Caribbean and northern Scotland, Northern Power Systems today announced that its fleet of gearless turbines that experience hurricane-speed winds has achieved 1 million run time hours, all without incident. That is equivalent to a cumulative 114 years of continuous, safe, high-performance operation. Proper design and control are essential for a …

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The Rise of Solar’s Secondary Market

The solar industry has suffered recent blows as manufacturing plants have closed and capacity has been reduced. The European crisis and the trade war between China and EU have also added themselves to the changing market. Continually falling feed-in-tariffs (FITs) have also caused some conflict. Short-term market uncertainty has made some investors wary of solar, yet, long-term predictions for the …

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Offshore Wind Power

  The road to building out renewable energy whether it be solar, bio fuels, or wind is fraught with issues whether they be regulatory or industry hostility that prevents real progress. This is an interesting read from the Huffington Post about a fellow who has tried for years to build offshore wind power in the North East. In 2001, Jim …

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Ten Energy Numbers You Need To Know

Sometimes energy makes headlines, sometimes it doesn’t.  But it almost always has important implications for the global economy, the environment, and our day-to-day lives. Here are 10 energy statistics from 2012 that capture some of the most noteworthy trends of the year, and that will shape the energy world in the years to come. Natural gas, one of the three key fossil …

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Challenge Filed To Protect Solar Tax Credit In Hawaii

Sierra Club, Earthjustice File Legal Challenge to Protect Solar Tax Credit in Hawai‘i State tax proposal would slam the brakes on solar energy, Hawai‘i jobs Today, the Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice, filed a legal challenge in state circuit court to the Hawai‘i Department of Taxation’s recent decision to cut back on tax credits for residents and businesses that install …

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Japan Nuclear Crisis Review

Organizations from across the U.S. will announce Thursday at 11 a.m. EDT that they are formally petitioning the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to suspend, on an emergency basis, all pending U.S. nuclear reactor licensing decisions.

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Japan Nuclear Crisis – Worse Than Ever?

This article from the NY Times featuring leaked info from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission points out some very real dangers still posed from the damaged nukes in Japan. This is important reading folks!

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