Power Of Sun - Energy Solutions

India to Spend $900 Million on Solar

2009-11-21T05:29:00.000-08:00

Indranil Mukherjee/Agence France-PresseA worker arranges the photovoltaic cell components of a solar module panel at a factory near Bangalore.

Ending months of speculation about exactly what it was planning to do to boost the use of renewable sources of energy, India said this week that it will spend about $900 million on solar energy.

The Indian cabinet approved a plan on Thursday that sets out to increase energy production from solar technology to 20 gigawatts by 2022, up from six megawatts today. The government will spend about 43 billion rupees ($922 million) in the first of three phases of the program. The total cost for all three phases could approach $20 billion.

The government had signaled its intention to invest more heavily in solar technology earlier this year, but had been reluctant to share details. Its latest announcement comes less than three weeks before world leaders are set to meet at Copenhagen to discuss climate change.

Though Indian policy makers have softened their tone on the meeting, they are adamant that they will not agree to any mandated reductions in emissions and have said any targets should be calculated on a per capita basis, something that the United States and other Western powers have resisted.

While India’s stated target for solar power appears ambitious — the United States had nine gigawatts of solar energy capacity at the end of last year — there is significant skepticism about whether the country can meet that target.

India has been very slow to add conventional electricity generating capacity. Government officials estimate that they will fall 20 percent short of their target for new power capacity for the five years that end in 2012. Many Indians have only intermittent power and most industrial users build their own captive power plants to ensure that they have a continuous supply of electricity.

Another big challenge will be reducing the cost of solar power to make it relatively competitive with coal, which is India’s main fuel for power plants. In India, power produced by solar cells costs about 2 and a half times as much as power from coal. The Indian government will likely have to subsidize makers of solar equipment for some time if it wants to achieve its target. The country already subsidies fuels like diesel, kerosene and petroleum for drivers and household use.

Indian to launch 20000 MW solar power pla

2009-11-17T00:01:00.001-08:00

According to minister for new and renewable energy, India will soon launch an ambitious plan to boost its solar power generation from 3 MW to 20,000 MW by 2022.

Mr Farooq Abdullah told reporters that “The amount which we are going to talk about is huge. I can only say that much.”

Mr Abdullah said that the policy framework, known in official circles as "The National Solar Mission” will address the high cost of manufacturing solar panels as well as the high price of solar power.

He said that "Our job is to bring the costs down. Whether we are going to give concession on import duties, whether we are going to give a sizeable subsidy to purchase solar power, all will be outlined in the mission.”

A rough rule of thumb is that one megawatt of coal generating capacity costs about USD 1 million to build, while solar capacity costs roughly double that.

Source

Haryana promoting use of solar water heating systems

2009-11-16T23:26:00.000-08:00

CHANDIGARH: In a bid to save energy, the Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (Hareda) has so far installed as many as 1,412 solar water heating systems in the State resulting in a saving on 18.13 million kilowatt of electricity annually.

"Solar water heating technology has emerged as a cost effective and environment friendly option for water heating applications all over the world," State's power and renewable energy minister, Mahendra Partap Singh said.

He said that installation of 1,000 solar water heating systems of 100 litre capacity each could save one megawatt of power and at the same time mitigate the problems posed by global warming.

"A 100 litre solar water heating system could avoid emission of 1.5 tonnes carbon dioxide annually," he claimed.

Singh pointed out that given the utility of solar water heating systems, the state government had made the use of this system mandatory in industries, where hot water is required for processing including hospitals and nursing homes, hotels, jail barracks, canteens, housing complexes set up by the Group Housing Societies or Housing Boards.

To promote the installation of solar water heating systems in the state, a number of incentives were being given by the State Government that included rebate in the electricity bills.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Haryana-promoting-use-of-solar-water-heating-systems-/articleshow/5235939.cms

Samsung launches solar-powered phone

2009-06-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

NOIDA: Leading mobile handset manufacturer Samsung launched a low-cost solar-powered mobile phone, and said it was planning to introduce about 20 more models by year-end.

The new handset, launched under its low-cost line of products -- "Guru" -- at a price of Rs 2,799, has a solar panel on the back, which can be used to charge the battery anywhere the sun is shining.

"We have developed this phone keeping in minds the needs of the consumers, especially for people in areas where the electric supply is unstable," said J S Shin, president and chief executive of Samsung, Southwest Asia.

The phone, christened the "Guru E1107", can provide around 5-10 minutes of talk-time with one-hour of solar charging when the handset is turned off and sunlight has adequate intensity.

"Solar charging can give you enough time to make few important calls when there is no electricity or you are not close to a plug point," said Sunil Dutt, country head of Samsung India. The battery will attain full power with about 40 hours of solar charging.

"But that is really not the intention behind the launch of this phone. It is to enable customers to make a call when there is no electricity," said Dutt.

The handset, the 11th model in the Guru series, will be in shops by month-end. The first few batches of Guru E1107 will be imported from South Korea. Samsung has already launched about 20 models this year and plans to take this number to about 40 across categories.

Asked whether the company would consider introducing solar charging features in high-end phones, Dutt said, "We would definitely consider doing so."

Samsung, which has invested about $44 million in developing its mobile manufacturing facility in Noida, also has ambitious plans for the huge Indian mobile market.

"Our market share is in the early double digits currently. We plan to increase it by about 5-6 per cent this year," said a company official.

The company is also planning to introduce in India its solar-powered touchscreen mobile handset, Blue Earth - unveiled at a technology conference in Barcelona, Spain early this year.

Solar Mobile Charger

2008-09-07T17:41:00.000-07:00

Solar Lanters

2008-07-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

User friendly easy to operate this compact Solar lighting system provides uninterrupted Omni directional light for 4-5 hrs daily.

Completely noiseless, smokeless and free from fire hazards, They are especially designed for indoor and well as out door applications, remote areas where conventional electricity is not available this system is designed to work under adverse climatic conditions like, dust storms and 0° or even in minus 0 temperatures.

Solar lantern is a portable light source like a traditional lantern which gives omni-directional pure white light. It consists of a solar photovoltaic module, Sealed Maintenance Free (SMF) lead acid battery, charge controller and DC-AC inverter for lighting the Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CF Lamp). Highly efficient two-step charge controller protects battery from over charging and deep discharging.

Solar lantern is a portable light source like a traditional lantern which gives omni-directional pure white light. It consists of a solar photovoltaic module, Sealed Maintenance Free (SMF) lead acid battery, charge controller and DC-AC inverter for lighting the Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CF Lamp). Highly efficient two-step charge controller protects battery from over charging and deep discharging.

High frequency inverter offers high efficacy, more light output and long service life to the CF Lamp. Depending on the CF Lamp and SPV module wattage.

Features :

Non polluting, inexhaustible energy from the Sun

Omni-directional pure white light

Safe and easy to operate

Excellent protections and indications

Rugged and attractive body made of ABS plastic

http://www.tatabpsolar.com/gifts.html

Tax sops mooted for solar water heaters in homes

2008-07-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

The ministry of new and renewable energy has mooted a proposal to provide income tax benefits to households that install solar water heaters in a bid to promote the use of alternative energy sources and conserve traditional energy sources.

"The proposal is to provide tax benefits to the extent of the cost of installing one such water heater per household," V Subramaniam, secretary, ministry of new and renewable energy, said Tuesday

The proposal is under the consideration of the finance ministry, he said, declining to give further details.

Currently, the ministry of new and renewable energy provides incentives such as low-cost loans at the rate of 2% to domestic users, at 3% to institutions, and at 5% to community users. It also provides Rs 100 per square metre of the area covered by such heaters as incentives.

The ministry is upbeat about energy savings accruing to the state as a result of increased use of solar water heaters.

"One million solar water heaters installed in a city like Bangalore can save up to 1,000 megawatt of energy consumption," said Subramaniam.

India has a capacity to generate about 1,41,000 megawatt of electricity, and has a target to add 78,577 megawatt of generation capacity in the 11th Five Year plan ending March 2012.

The finance ministry, which is under a lot of pressure due to the widening fiscal deficit as a result of several duty cuts, may also support the ministry of new and renewable energy in promoting the use of alternative energy sources, say experts.

"The outgo on the basis of income tax exemption for using solar water heaters will not be huge, when compared to losses from other revenue streams like reduced duties on petroleum products, which may cost the exchequer about Rs 22,000 crore," said Sujan Hajra, economist at Anand Rathi Financial Services Ltd.

"In other countries as well, benefits are given for using alternative energy sources," Hajra added.

School On Army Post Makes Switch To Solar Power

2008-07-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

KOLD News 13 Reporter

With a flick of a switch, the shelter on the school grounds at General Myer is no longer just a source of shade.

It will provide power to the school and cut the school's power bill by thousands of dollars save a year.

Each of the 104 panels puts out 233 watts of power.

"Fossil fuels are not getting any cheaper," said Major General John Custer III, Commander at Fort Huachuca. "With China and India bidding for the same products that we're bidding for, natural gas prices are not going to go down anytime soon. We need to discover other sources of renewable energy."

Through a bond project, Sulphur Springs Electrical Co-op is converting 41 schools in its service area to solar power.

The $11-million dollar investment will likely pay for itself when next fall's kindergartners graduate from high school.

But by taking General Myer School off the power grid during peak times, home owners can expect to see some savings in their utility bills, because of less demand for electricity.

In any event, the co-op says home owners would be able to save even more by converting to solar.

"Call your utility," advocates William Mundell, a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, which mandates 15% of power company customers in the state have solar power by 2025. "Don't be intimidated by it. You can drastically reduce your electric bill if you go to a solar water heater or you go to a whole facility on top of your home."

REVA Car: Pollution FREE - The Eco-Friendly Car

2008-07-08T00:03:00.000-07:00

REVA, the revolutionary Indian car is by all means an environment friendly car as it runs on Electric power with no emissions and pollution. REVA is a battery run car and has an on-board charger to facilitate easy charging, which can be carried out by plugging into any 15 Amp socket at home or work. REVA, India's first electric car, is the best eco-friendly car ever produced. REVA is fully automatic car and has no clutch and gears. Its small turning radius of 3.5m makes it easy to park and navigate in difficult city traffic conditions. REVA is twice as efficient as a petrol driven car and has an operating cost as low as Rs 0.4 / km. REVA is also a very safe car and has safety features like dent-proof ABS body panels, side-impact beams, a steel space frame and dual braking system.

The car REVA comes in three variants, REVA Standard, REVA AC and REVA Classe. The latest addition to the REVA range is REVAi which is a small 2-door hatchback measuring 2.6-metre long, 1.3-metre wide and 1.5-metre high. Weighing in at 750 kg, the car can accommodate two adults of average height in the front and two children in the rear. The rear seats fold down to increase cargo space. Maximum passenger and cargo weight is 227 kilograms.

The REVAi has a quaint appeal to it unlike any other car in the hatchback segment. REVAi's modular design allows easy upgradation of the next generation Electric Vehicle technologies. The body is tall, rising up from a flat windscreen; large wheels ride on a small wheelbase. Features like Climate Control Seat (CCS) and remote controlled AC provide comfort to passengers. Funky interiors incorporate a sweeping dash, thick steering wheel and prominent 'power' switch. Customers have a choice of personalising colour schemes from over 2,000 shades. A remote lever opens the rear hatch without any manual involvement.