A COMMUNITY hall is set to benefit from the power of the sun with a new roof of solar panels.
The environmentally friendly technology has been installed on the Wintherbotham Memorial Hall, in Cam, and with the last few weeks of sunshine the panels are proving to be a big success.
Jeremy Clutterbuck, a member of the memorial hall committee, said it was already producing enough electricity for the hall and more.
"It is working brilliantly already, We have had some really sunny days and it has been working at full capacity, but even on cloudy days it still produces some power," said Mr Clutterbuck.
The green technology should power all the lights and other electrical equipment in the hall, cutting carbon emission by about four tonnes annually.
Inside the hall a live display system will show how much solar electricity has been generated and how much carbon dioxide has been saved.
Any surplus electricity will be exported off site, providing an income and savings of about £2,000 each year, which can be invested back into the community hall.
Dr Keith Pearce, a member of the memorial hall committee leader of the solar energy project, said: "The project is part of our overall effort in the village to reduce energy use. It is well worth the effort.
"Our building is situated by the busy A4135 and presents an opportunity to show thousands of people what can be done to reduce our impact on the environment."
The £64,000 cost of the solar panels was met by £31,000 from the Government’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme, £21,500 from Stroud District Council’s Cheers programme, £9,500 from EDF Energy’s Green Fund and £2,000 from Cam Parish Council.
The solar panel project fits into Cam Parish Council’s ongoing project to reduce the community’s energy use.
Hundreds of low energy light bulbs have been distributed around the village and the parish was also the first to pilot a scheme which involved switching off one in every three street lights in the early hours of the morning.
John Hudson, chairman of Cam Parish Council, said: "There is always something people can do to reduce their energy use, from insulating their home to changing their habits, without their lifestyle suffering. Anyone can act now to reduce their carbon footprint – we just want to inspire people to do it."
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sand miner US Silica plans 15-acre, rotating solar panels
COMMERCIAL TWP. - Mayor George Garrison has announced that U.S. Silica, a sand mining operation, will create a 15-acre solar panel farm with panels that will rotate to follow the sun at its Mauricetown facility.
It will generate enough energy for 90 percent of the needs of the plant, he said.
The township committee has introduced a 2009 budget, but it is far from ready to adopt.
Garrison said it was being introduced early with the hope that an appeal to the state for a special appropriation will be successful.
"This is a very proactive move for green energy," Garrison said.
The budget, as introduced, includes $3.3 million in total appropriations and calls for $280,000 to be raised for municipal purposes, or the local purpose tax.
The 2009 budget notes no outstanding debt.
No surplus is listed as being used as a revenue source and no tentative tax rate has been estimated.
It will generate enough energy for 90 percent of the needs of the plant, he said.
The township committee has introduced a 2009 budget, but it is far from ready to adopt.
Garrison said it was being introduced early with the hope that an appeal to the state for a special appropriation will be successful.
"This is a very proactive move for green energy," Garrison said.
The budget, as introduced, includes $3.3 million in total appropriations and calls for $280,000 to be raised for municipal purposes, or the local purpose tax.
The 2009 budget notes no outstanding debt.
No surplus is listed as being used as a revenue source and no tentative tax rate has been estimated.
Webel-SL Energy to Start Second Solar Panel Plant
NEW DELHI -- Webel-SL Energy Systems Ltd. Friday said it is investing around 1.8 billion rupees ($35.7 million) to build a second factory in eastern India to manufacture solar photovoltaic cells as it seeks to tap into rising global demand for clean energy.
"It (the new factory) will be operational within a month," Ambarish Bangur, Webel-SL marketing manager, told Dow Jones Newswires by telephone from Kolkata, where the company is based.
The new plant is being constructed on the outskirts of Kolkata and will increase Webel-SL's annual manufacturing capacity to 42 MW from the current 12 MW, Mr. Bangur said.
Webel-SL now generates about 95% of its total sales from exports to the U.S., Europe and Australia, he said, adding: "We get only 3% to 5% of our sales from India."
But he said also that the company is witnessing rising local demand, helped by an increasing focus on renewable energy in the country.
On news that China plans to subsidize up to 50% of the installation cost of rooftop solar panels, Bangur said that "China is a big potential market," but the company has no plan to set up a factory there.
"Our products are 10%-15% cheaper than those made in Europe," he said. "If there is demand, we can compete with other companies in China by exporting from India."
"It (the new factory) will be operational within a month," Ambarish Bangur, Webel-SL marketing manager, told Dow Jones Newswires by telephone from Kolkata, where the company is based.
The new plant is being constructed on the outskirts of Kolkata and will increase Webel-SL's annual manufacturing capacity to 42 MW from the current 12 MW, Mr. Bangur said.
Webel-SL now generates about 95% of its total sales from exports to the U.S., Europe and Australia, he said, adding: "We get only 3% to 5% of our sales from India."
But he said also that the company is witnessing rising local demand, helped by an increasing focus on renewable energy in the country.
On news that China plans to subsidize up to 50% of the installation cost of rooftop solar panels, Bangur said that "China is a big potential market," but the company has no plan to set up a factory there.
"Our products are 10%-15% cheaper than those made in Europe," he said. "If there is demand, we can compete with other companies in China by exporting from India."
Solar panel makers vulnerable: Barron's
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of First Solar Inc (FSLR.O) and Energy Conversion Devices Inc (ENER.O), which make low-silicon solar panels, look vulnerable as falling silicon prices narrow their cost advantages versus rivals that rely more heavily on silicon, Barron's reported on Sunday.
A key selling point for the "thin-film" panels sold by First Solar and Energy Conversion was that they used very little silicon, and were therefore lower-cost alternatives to traditional panels, Barron's said.
With silicon prices dropping, silicon panels could become so cheap that they take share from the lower-cost substitutes, Barron's said.
A key selling point for the "thin-film" panels sold by First Solar and Energy Conversion was that they used very little silicon, and were therefore lower-cost alternatives to traditional panels, Barron's said.
With silicon prices dropping, silicon panels could become so cheap that they take share from the lower-cost substitutes, Barron's said.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Residents learn about renewable energy, earn cash for solar panels
In the third of a series of lectures in Andover on renewable energy, John Rogers, a senior energy analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists, spoke Tuesday night about the possible impacts of climate change on Massachusetts and about the options to address it.
Rogers emphasized what he believes is the potential for reducing global warming pollution by increasing energy efficiency and using more renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. As an example, he presented analysis released this week by the Union of Concerned Scientists showing the positive economic and environmental effects of requiring utilities across the U.S. to use at least 25 percent renewable energy by 2025.
"Our choices about the way we make and use energy in our homes, on the road, or at work," Rogers said, "will make a tremendous difference in how severe global warming will be, and on the kind of world we'll leave to our children and grandchildren."
He also pointed to the importance of voluntary efforts such as the state-sponsored Clean Energy Choice program. Under that program, residents and businesses have earned more than $45,000 in grant money for Andover, $30,000 of which is available to obtain solar electric panels for a public building in Andover. An additional $30,000 is available for the panels under the state's new Commonwealth Solar program.
The fourth and final lecture in this series at Andover houses of worship will be by Scott McClintock, director of sales at Nexamp, Inc. and an Andover resident. He will speak on March 31 at 7:30 p.m. at South Church on Central Street, about how solar technology can help lower electricity bills. A new citizens' group, the Andover Climate Team, will meet over an informal dinner at 6 p.m. prior to McClintock's talk at South Church to discuss additional actions needed to realize their goal of obtaining a solar panel for Andover, according to Bill Schroeder.
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