Solar panels can attract breeding water insects ... but scientists propose a simple fix

Solar power might be nature's most plentiful and benign source of energy, but shiny dark solar cells can lure water insects away from critical breeding areas, a Michigan State University scientist and colleagues warn.
Applying white grids or other methods to break up the polarized reflection of light, however, makes mayflies and other aquatic insects far less likely to deposit eggs on the panels thinking that they are water, the group discovered.

"This research demonstrates that solar panels are a strong new source of polarized light pollution that creates ecological traps for many types of insect," says Bruce Robertson, a research associate at MSU's Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners. "This is of significant conservation importance given the radical expansion in solar energy development and the strong negative impacts of ecological traps on animal populations."

Using nonpolarizing white grids, he adds, demonstrates a novel approach to reducing the attractiveness of a false habitat by applying what biologists call habitat fragmentation. That is an effect that usually is harmful to species, but in this case promises to solve a conservation problem.

Robertson's team estimates that adding white markings to solar cells might reduce their ability to collect solar energy by perhaps 1.8 percent, depending on the amount of space the strips cover.

Conventional solar cells share a problem with glass-clad buildings and other expanses of shiny dark surfaces -- even vehicles. Reflected sunlight becomes polarized, or aligned in a single, often horizontal plane, which is how at least 300 species of insect recognize the surface of water bodies to lay their eggs.

When species such as mayflies and caddis flies mistake shiny dark surfaces for water, they set themselves up for reproductive failure and often become easy targets for predators, Robertson and colleagues noted in a recent online article in the journal Conservation Biology. Local population collapse could be a result, with cascading impacts on predators and other species up the food chain.

Humans typically recognize reflected sunlight as glare, which polarized sunglasses overcome by filtering the horizontal waves through vertically polarized lenses.

Robertson conducted his research in Hungary with scientists associated with Eotvos University in Budapest and Szent Istvan University in Godollo, Hungary. Their work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the Hungarian Science Foundation.

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WWF launches fantasy corporate social responsibility game

The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) has joined forces with financial services provider Allianzto launch an online game that allows players to slip into the role of a chief executive and workout business strategies to reduce carbon emissions while still growing the bottom line.

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Solar shines for Sanyo in Italy

Sanyo was acquired by Japanese electronics giant Panasonic in December. Sanyo's solar panel business is expected to play a key role in Panasonic's strategy to shift its business focus to green technology, such as solar power and rechargeable batteries.

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Huhne and Hendry visit Sellafield

“The West Cumbria Energy Coast has a critically important role to play in relation to our nuclear legacy and potentially for new build. That’s why I was so keen to get up to Sellafield to see the scale of the challenge and find out what we can learn from it for the future.”(Secretary of State, Chris Huhne)

Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, continued to acquaint himself with the UK’s key energy infrastructure with a visit to Sellafield in Cumbria on Wednesday.

Joined by Charles Hendry, the Minister for Energy, and representatives from the workforce and the site’s management, he toured the facility and learnt more about the progress and challenges of nuclear decommissioning on the site.

Chris Huhne said: “The West Cumbria Energy Coast has a critically important role to play in relation to our nuclear legacy and potentially for new build. That’s why I was so keen to get up to Sellafield to see the scale of the challenge and find out what we can learn from it for the future.

“Touring the site I’ve felt a real sense of pride from everyone involved in this work – from the site security team to the engineers, right through to the senior management. And there’s a real sense of progress, professionalism and desire to get the job done.”

Charles Hendry added: “This is a most exciting time for the nuclear industry. When I visited the Energy Coast last year I said I wanted West Cumbria to be the foremost centre of nuclear expertise in the world, and what I’ve seen today reaffirms that view.

“The level of expertise and skills that the industry possesses here is world-class. And it means that West Cumbria is extremely well placed to benefit from the opportunities that new nuclear build might bring to the area in the years ahead.”

Bill Poulson, Managing Director of Sellafield Ltd., welcomed the Ministerial visit and their early engagement on the issue, saying: “Sellafield Ltd and Nuclear Management Partners were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State, the Minister and their party to Sellafield so soon after taking up their new roles.

“The visit gave us a good opportunity to outline our work programme, showcase our priority areas such as risk and high hazard reduction, and our commitment to safety.

“It also allowed us to demonstrate the progress we’ve made on site since NMP’s arrival in November 2008.”
Tony Fountain, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, added: “We are delighted to have welcomed both the Secretary of State and Energy Minister to our most significant site so early into their term of office. Sellafield represents our most complex decommissioning and clean-up challenge and we were pleased to be able to show them the progress that is being made.”

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Chris Huhne welcomes confirmation of Energy Bill in Queen's Speech

Chris Huhne welcomes confirmation of Energy Bill in Queen's Speech

"The Queen's Speech and last week's programme of Government make clear that energy security and taking real action to tackle climate change aren't add on extras for this new Government, but are vital to our national interest."(Secretary of State, Chris Huhne)

Legislation will be introduced to improve energy efficiency in British homes and businesses, to promote low carbon energy production, and to secure the UK’s energy supplies, it was announced today as part of the Queen’s Speech.

The Energy Bill is to provide a step change in the provision of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses, and to put in place a framework to deliver a future with secure, low carbon energy supplies and fair competition in the energy markets.

The Queen’s Speech said that the Government would also seek effective global collaboration to combat climate change, including at the climate change conference in Mexico later this year.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

“The Queen's Speech and last week's programme of Government make clear that energy security and taking real action to tackle climate change aren't add on extras for this new Government, but are vital to our national interest."
"The Energy Bill is designed to help consumers put a stop to wasting energy in their homes through a green deal while making sure our energy system is fit for the 21st century."

Energy Bill 2010

This Bill would deliver a national programme of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses.
It may also introduce powers to regulate the emissions from coal-fired power stations, reform energy markets to deliver security of supply and ensure fair competition, and put in place a framework to guide the development of a smart grid that will revolutionise the management of supply and demand for electricity.

The main elements of the Bill are:

Implementation of a “Green deal” to deliver energy efficiency to homes and business – delivering a framework including potential incentives to energy suppliers and households that will transform the provision of energy efficiency in the UK by enabling a ‘pay as you save’ approach.

The Bill may also contain measures to:

Regulate the carbon emissions from coal-fired power stations reform energy markets to deliver security of supply and ensure fair competition put in place a framework to guide the development of a smart grid that will revolutionise the management of supply and demand for electricity require energy companies to provide more information on energy bills in order to empower consumers and to ensure fair access to energy supplies ensure that North Sea infrastructure is available to all companies to ease the exploitation of smaller and more difficult oil and gas fields create a Green Investment Bank to support investment in low carbon projects to transform the economy.

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Government confirms DECC ministerial briefs

Ministerial portfolios at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) were finally announced last night, confirming that Lib Dem secretary of state Chris Huhne will have full control over the influential department's strategy and budgets.

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India proposes renewable energy certificate scheme

The Indian government is reportedly working on plans for a new renewable energy certificate (REC) scheme designed to drive investment in low-carbon energy projects.

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Huhne Backs Aberdeen's Energy Industries

“My in tray is heavy with two massive responsibilities - cutting dangerous carbon emissions and ensuring secure and reliable energy supplies. This city has a crucial role to play in both of these and our ambition to create a low carbon economy” Aberdeen today received a vote of confidence from new UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne.

Visiting only a week after taking up office, Mr Huhne toured stands at the All Energy renewables exhibition, visited oil firm Apache and met industry leaders at Oil and Gas UK.

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DECC confirms Lords appointment, as Huhne meets with energy industry

The Department of Energy and Climate Change confirmed late yesterday that Conservative peer Lord Jonathan Marland has been appointed to the department's ministerial team.

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National Grid seeks £3.2bn to upgrade Britain's ageing network

National Grid blind-sided shareholders yesterday by launching a rights issue designed to raise £3.2bn to help upgrade the UK grid in order to accommodate new renewable energy projects over the coming decades.

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Solar power manufacturing makes good business sense for governments, study finds

Canadian and provincial governments could spend $2.4 billion to build a large scale solar photovoltaic manufacturing plant and then give it away for free and still earn a profit in the long run, according to a financial analysis conducted by the Queen's University Applied Sustainability Research Group in Kingston, Canada

Queen's University Mechanical Engineering Professor Joshua Pearce conducted the study -- to be published in the August edition of the academic journal Energy Policy -- to find out if it makes economic sense for governments to support solar cell manufacturing in Canada. He was surprised to discover the answer is an overwhelming yes even in extreme situations and feels governments should be aggressively supporting this industry to take advantage of the financial opportunity.

"This study uses hard financial numbers. Everything we did is transparent and all our equations are in the study," says Professor Pearce. "The benefits of encouraging solar manufacturing in Canada are clear and massively outweigh the costs."

The report looked at six different scenarios: everything from building a plant and giving it away or selling it to more traditional and less costly loan guarantees or tax holidays for a private sector company to construct the plant. In all the scenarios, both federal and provincial governments enjoyed positive cash flows in less than 12 years and in many of the scenarios both governments earned well over an eight per cent return on investments ranging from hundreds of millions to $2.4 billion.

The revenues for the governments of nearly $500 million a year, were determined from taxation (personal, corporate and sales), sales of panels, and saved health, environmental and economic costs associated with offsetting coal-fired electricity.

Queen's started the study last summer, before the Ontario government announced a $7-billion power production and manufacturing deal with Samsung in January. Some criticized the deal but Professor Pearce says Canadians are the winners.

"Canada will really make out if Samsung comes through with what they said they are going to do. We gave them a little bit of incentive and Samsung will give us a lot of jobs, less pollution, and a long term substantial source of revenue. We are absolutely winning on this deal -- there is no question," Professor Pearce says. "The market is much larger than the Samsung deal. The question now is how to bring even more photovoltaic manufacturers to the province."

The Energy Policy report, co-authored by Queen's student Kadra Branker, studied the financial impact in Ontario but Professor Pearce says the numbers can apply to all provinces in Canada.

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Huhne Backs Aberdeen's Energy Industries

Aberdeen today received a vote of confidence from new UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne.

Visiting only a week after taking up office, Mr Huhne toured stands at the All Energy renewables exhibition, visited oil firm Apache and met industry leaders at Oil and Gas UK.

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Figueres calls for "more ambition" at climate talks

Christiana Figueres yesterday used her first interview after being confirmed as the next head of the UN's climate change secretariat to call for a step-change in the international talks to replace or extend the Kyoto Protocol.

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UK could be net energy exporter by 2050

The first study to put a financial value on the UK's offshore renewable energy resource has concluded that the nascent sector could transform the country from a net energy importer to a net energy exporter by 2050.

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Sunny Cornwall promises to maximise feed-in tariff returns

Cornwall-based solar panel installation firm Plug Into The Sun yesterday launched an innovative service designed to help private and commercial investors maximise financial returns from the UK's new feed-in tariff (FIT) incentive scheme while also helping to increase the country's renewable energy capacity.

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Jinko Solar pulls off New York IPO

Chinese solar panel manufacturer Jinko Solar successfully completed its debut on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, raising $64.2m (£44.4) in an IPO that sent mixed signals to other clean tech firms currently preparing stock market listings.

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Half of UK firms mulling renewable energy investment

Almost half of British companies are considering installing some form of renewable energy, according to a new survey of over 520 board level executives that reveals growing corporate interest in the renewable energy sector following the launch last month of new feed-in tariff incentives.

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Chinese supply deal inked for France's largest solar PV farm

Plans for the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar farm in France took a major leap forward yesterday, after the Spanish company behind the project confirmed that it has signed a supply contract with Chinese solar panel manufacturer Yingli Green Energy.

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Post-it note solar energy technology?

3M and NREL to develop low-cost thin-film photovoltaic technology. 3M , better known as the company behind Post-it, has teamed up with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop technology for the creation of low-cost thin-film photovoltaic modules.

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Cameron fleshes out DECC team

The ministerial team at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was fleshed out with the appointment of Conservative MPs Charles Hendry and Greg Barker as ministers of state to work alongside the Liberal Democrat energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne.

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Rethink required for climate change policy

Following last year's climate policy meeting in Copenhagen, a group of establishments were commissioned to chart a new way forward in tackling the issues raised


The result was the Hartwell Paper which argues that a "radical change of approach" is required to produce any real reductions in greenhouse gases.

Gwyn Prins, an author of the Hartwell Paper and professor at the London School of Economics & Political Science, commented on past failures: "We have to recognise that tied to those hyperbolic oxylateral negotiations with all the countries in the world simply will not work because the record of 20 years is that we have achieved absolutely nothing. We have made no material change in the world whatsoever." He added that a better way forward would be to "pursue objectives that people actually want and which are uplifting" instead of punishing damaging activities.

The Hartwell Paper comes as research from the University of New South Wales and Purdue University suggested that global warming could make much of the earth unfit for humans within in the next few centuries as temperatures may rise by as much as ten degrees Celsius.

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Solar City snaps up green building firm

US solar installation and financing company Solar City has moved into the energy efficiency business by acquiring Building Solutions, agreen building firm that specialises in home energy evaluations and the installation of efficient heating and cooling systems.

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Mapping system for photovoltaic surfaces to improve performance of solar panels

A group of researchers of the University of Cádiz has designed a new mapping system for the study of photovoltaic surfaces.

The system can detect, at the micrometric level, all the defects existing in a solar panel. This should have a significant influence on the overall performance of these photovoltaic cells. The team headed by Professor Joaquín Martín Calleja has developed the methodology for detecting faults in photovoltaic solar panels resulting from manufacturing errors.

The defects identified can then be made good and the overall performance of the panel will be enhanced.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy

This device, which has now been patented by the University of Cádiz, determines whether or not the cells mapped present irregularities in their functioning, according to the particular zone of the surface that is analyzed. These defects have a negative effect on the overall performance of the panel, since the defective cell will generate photoconversion values that are lower than the maximum theoretically possible.

The mapping of the photosensitive surfaces allows the possible causes of the reduced performance of the panel to be determined. Although devices that make point-to-point measurements of the cell by laser currently exist, none of these has achieved the accurate emulation of solar light. The majority of these systems are not available on the market, and they suffer from evident limitations through utilizing only monochromatic light as the source of irradiation. This represents a serious limitation since the photoconversion panels function when exposed to sunlight; therefore measurements obtained with laser beams are not true to the real conditions to which these solar panels are subjected.

Faced with this situation, the research group on the Simulation, Characterization and Evolution of Materials (FQM-166) has developed a system based on "trying to adapt the theories of vision to this system by mixing three laser beams (one red, one green and another blue). We perform the same scanning with each laser, having adjusted their strength in such a way that a species of light is generated whose chromatic composition is similar to that of solar light," explains Professor Martín Calleja.

"The objective is to study how the surface behaves by analyzing it point-to-point, at the micrometric level of the solar cells, under conditions as close as possible to actual sunlight," according to the head of the research group. And, he stresses, "This system can detect all the defects that there may be in a solar panel at the micrometric level. In the overall performance of such a panel, the reduced efficiency of the bad points is compensated by the high efficiency of the good points. However, if we can identify precisely which are the bad points and detect the causes giving rise to their negative functioning, this deficiency can be made good."

This work therefore offers three clear advantages over previously developed systems:

It provides the simulation of a source of white light that matches the specifications of a solar emission. It enables high resolution maps of photoconvertor efficiency to be obtained. It allows possible manufacturing defects in photoconvertor surfaces to be detected.

"This new mapping equipment has not been designed with a direct commercial objective; rather, it is a scientific development that will facilitate our research work for future studies. However, this advance may be of interest to those universities working with energy conversion systems, and who may be doing research in this field. It could similarly be made available commercially to laboratories of companies engaged in the design and manufacture of solar energy equipment and who may be carrying out their own research work," states Professor Joaquín Martín Calleja.

He also wants to emphasize that "the studies we have carried out in these cells were made possible by our collaboration with the department of Environmental Sciences of the University of Pablo de Olavide. In fact, we are also studying jointly with researchers of the UPO a non-commercial type of cell that is being developed fundamentally for research purposes, and is designated DSSC. These cells are based on a technology different from that of silicon: titanium oxide activated with a colorant. We make these cells utilising not only synthetic but also natural colorants, from petals of bougainvillea and other flowers, as activators.

Obviously the output obtained with them is much less than that obtainable with commercial silicon cells; but they are a good system to study since their fabrication does not require very substantial technological resources, to which universities do not usually have access."

After outlining the advances made, it only remains to say that "our most immediate future task is to improve the system patented and, to this end, we are already working on some modifications."

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Cutting central government emissions by 10% in 12 months

‘Greenest Government ever’ – Prime Minister New Energy and Climate Change Ministers start work

Carbon emissions from central government will be cut by 10% in the next 12 months, Prime Minister David Cameron announced today. This is the most ambitious commitment on UK Government emissions ever made – and will provide strong and decisive leadership on green issues helping to deliver better value for money and make a contribution to reducing the record deficit.

Government department headquarters will also publish online in real time their energy use so that the public can hold ministers and civil servants to account for their carbon footprint.

A government steering group will be established to ensure the delivery of this emissions target. The steering group will be chaired by the Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, and comprise representatives from key departments and the private sector.

The Prime Minister will write to all colleagues to reaffirm this shared commitment and invite them to bring forward their plans to help meet this common target.

Speaking to staff at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Prime Minister said:
“I don’t want to hear warm words about the environment. I want to see real action. I want this to be the greenest government ever.

“In fact, we’ve made a good start. Someone pointed out when you mix blue with yellow – you get green.
“So today, taking our lead from 10:10, I commit us to a ten percent reduction in carbon emissions across central government in the next twelve months. You’ll be driving this forward. But I have also made sure all Cabinet ministers are involved, developing plans to show how they will meet their share.

“And the public will be involved too - because we're going to publish the energy use of government headquarters in real-time, so people can hold us to account for our performance.
“And to those who say this is insignificant, remember this: the UK’s public sector has a bigger carbon footprint than the entire waste industry; if we do this, we’ll cut the Government’s energy bills by hundreds of millions of pounds.”

“I don’t want to hear warm words about the environment. I want to see real action. I want this to be the greenest government ever.”(Prime Minister David Cameron addressing DECC staff today )

The new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne has now started work, joined by Charles Hendry and Greg Barker as Ministers of State.

Chris Huhne outlined his priorities in his new role:

“Climate change is the greatest threat to our common future. We have a very short period of time to tackle the problem before it becomes irreversible and out of control.

“A lot of progress has been made, but we must now go further, faster and turn targets into real change.
“This is a coalition to provide strong and stable government for this country. The benefits of the low carbon economy are agreed between both parties, this is a priority agenda common to both manifestos.
“Together we have the opportunity to make this the greenest government in our history. And to put energy security, for too long a second order issue, at the heart of the UK's national security strategy.
“I intend to make decisions put off for too long to fundamentally change how we supply and use energy in Britain. “To make it far easier for people to make their homes more energy efficient to reduce wasted energy and cut their bills. “To give the power industry the confidence it needs to invest in low carbon energy projects.
 “To create jobs and growth right across the low carbon economy. “And to use every influence we have internationally to get a global deal to tackle climate change.”

In 2008/09 central government, covering 8,000 buildings, was responsible for 1.45 million tonnes of carbon emissions, about 7% of public sector emissions. The annual energy spend was £195 million. The Government today committed to reduce central government carbon emissions by 10% in the next 12 months. The target is an aggregate reduction with individual departments’ contributions to be determined by the Office of Government Commerce. A working group chaired by DECC will be established to oversee implementation of this decision. The Government also committed that central government headquarters will publish their energy use in real time online. The Office of Government Commerce provides performance management support to departments in delivering their sustainable operations and procurement commitments. Information about government environmental performance.

Greening government case study:

DECC Energy use in DECC offices has been cut by nearly a third in the past year despite a large increase in staff numbers. The cut means 250 tonnes of carbon was saved between October 2009 and March 2010 compared with the same period in 2008-09, which should shave about £60,000 off energy bills. This comes despite a 60 per cent rise in the number of people using the building. DECC has improved the energy efficiency rating of its London headquarters’ building. The latest monthly rating is an E – a major improvement compared to the previous rating. This has been achieved by things like adjusting the software controlling the boilers to make them more efficient and a major overhaul of the air-conditioning system. In addition timers have been put on lights and the use of very low energy computer monitors. DECC will also soon install Real Time Displays in its London headquarters to help staff measure and reduce energy consumption.

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Chris Huhne confirmed as Energy and Climate Change Secretary

Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne was confirmed as the new energy and climate change secretary late yesterday, and will today take up the reins at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

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Sonys energy saving TVs watch you while you sleep

Sony last year launched a new addition to its Bravia range of TVs, which features facial recognition technology similar to that found in the electronics giants' most advanced cameras. As a result, the TV is able to "watch" you and can turn the picture off if you nod off in front of Match of the Day, saving the energy used by the backlight.

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Low carbon businesses hail "greenest election"

The 2010 election campaign has left low carbon businesses unsure whether to celebrate the "greenest election" on record or commiserate at the way environmental issues were sidelined by economic concerns.

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Solar energy "Club Med" touts technological advances

Solar energy boom centred on the mediterranean reached another milestone this week as Spanish renewable energy company Renovalia Energy unveiled what it claims is the world's first "second-generation" thermal solar plant.

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German parliament slashes solar subsidies

The German parliament yesterday approved long-expected cuts to solar energy incentives prompting US shares in solar companies to tumble amid fears that demand from one of the world's largest markets for solar panels will now fall.

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Cameron makes "open and comprehensive offer" to Lib Dems

Conservative leader David Cameron has made a transparent attempt to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats that could see the two parties worktogether to accelerate the development of Britain's low-carbon economy.

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All is flux for the low-carbon agenda

The election of the country's first Green MP has understandably failed to dominate the headlines on a day when the British political scene was thrown into an historic period of flux, but Lucas' victory represents a remarkable breakthrough that will only help to drive environmental issues ever further up the political agenda.

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US government throws $106m at "disruptive" clean tech

The US government last week distributed $106m in funding to potentially "disruptive" clean tech projects in the fields of biofuels, electric vehicle batteries, innovative materials and carbon capture.

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Fisker feeling flush after fresh funding

US green car start-up Fisker Automotive has confirmed that it is to move forward with ambitious expansion plans after securing multimillion dollar loans from both the federal and the Delaware State government last month.

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Spain Pricks Solar Power Bubble, Loses Investors as Greek Fate Looms

Spain is lancing an 18 billion-euro investment bubble in solar energy that has boosted public liabilities, choking off new projects as it works to cut power prices and insulate itself from Greece's debt crisis.

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Bulgaria cashes in on wind energy gold rush

Bulgaria has become the latest Eastern European country to bolster is wind energy ambitions this week, inking two major deals that will significantly boost its renewable energy capacity.

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German carbon fraud investigation moves to UK

German prosecutors today confirmed they have arrested four people in Germany and the UK following raids on more than 50 homes and offices this week in connection with an alleged €180m (£156m) carbon fraud.

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Enel sets sights on October for green IPO

Italian energy giant Enel is planning to complete a €4bn IPO for its Enel Green Power renewable energy unit in early October, according to reports yesterday.

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