Solar in the News
Get the latest on solar energy, photovoltaic news and learn about all things under the sun across the country, from KMB Design Group, a Solar Engineering Company.
Turning Point for Solar
Renewables, including solar energy, continues to drop in price as the cost of coal and gas projects are on the rise. Most of the companies in the US have bought into clean energy. And for the first time, widespread adoption of renewables is effectively lowering the capacity factor for fossil fuels. As more renewables are installed, coal and natural gas plants are used less. Read more about the economic advantages of wind and solar over fossil fuels on Bloomberg Business.
Government to Spend Millions on Solar Power Research
Researchers developing new solar power technology are receiving more than $100 million in grants from the federal government as a way to reduce the cost of solar power and expand access to low-carbon energy. As part of the Obama administration’s Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $52 million in new funding to universities, corporations and national laboratories to find ways to reduce the cost of solar energy, and $50 million for solar photovoltaic technology research and development.
Car Racing Boosts Solar in US
30 experimental race cars powered only by the sun and built entirely by college kids will race in the World Solar Challenge, an epic 1,800-mile trek across Australia. Seventeen of those students are from the University of Michigan. Read more about this solar race on Wired.
Solar Technology Developments
Science Daily reports that researchers have demonstrated an efficient new way to capture the energy from sunlight and convert it into clean, renewable energy by splitting water molecules. The technology relies on a configuration of light-activated gold nanoparticles that harvest sunlight and transfer solar energy to highly excited electrons, which scientists sometimes refer to as “hot electrons.”
World’s First Solar-Powered Airport
The Huffington Post reports that one of the world’s three biggest polluters, India, just took a big step toward reducing its greenhouse emissions and embracing renewable energy sources. The Cochin International Airport is now “energy neutral” thanks to a 12-megawatt solar system generating up to 60,000 units of electricity daily. The panels are expected to last 25 years.
How Does Your Company Compare?
SolarEnergy.net grades 10 companies’ commitments to solar in a report card layout with an analysis for the letter grade given. The corporations in the headlines include REI, Duke Energy, Citigroup, Costco, General Motors, General Electric, WalMart, IKEA, Apple, and Google. How does your company compare?
Solar Energy and PV Design Services with KMB
KMB Design Group is at the forefront of the escalating solar industry, and is considered a leading consulting firm in the renewable energy field providing photovoltaic design and engineering services. Our Solar engineers will give you full analysis and let you know how much energy can be drawn with considerations such as location, obstructions and orientations. We will also provide you with the best commercial solar power designs to give you maximum output. Licensed in 49 states, we have the ability to work nationally without limitations.